Pondered.Primed.Perfected

When that little voice inside your head says "paint the bed"...you paint!

2013-05-20T15:33:00.002-07:00

My parents gave us a King Sized Sleep Number adjustable mattress. They decided they would be better off with another type of mattress and so they generously brought their sleep number up and delivered it to us. Many thanks to my wonderful parents! We also got brand new memory foam components from the Sleep Number company.

You have no idea how much we appreciate you and your generosity, Mom and Dad!!!

So here is how our Master bedroom looked on Friday night. How's that for red and dated? (below)

We were so excited to be getting a dual adjustable bed, especially because Scott likes his bed FIRM and I like my bed SOFT. Can you believe it? On another note, it is our 13th wedding anniversary today! And that's about how long we've had this knotty wooden bedroom set. Actually, I think we bought it when I was pregnant with Alex so we would have room in our bed for Scott, Myself and my big belly!

Of course getting a new mattress fueled the fire to change our bedroom. It was long overdue. I've had the paint for months...many months. Sometimes I get all 'painted out' for awhile. But it was time for that decade old, dated red TO GO! It sucked all the light out of our room. Great for sleeping but not so good for anything else. We needed calm and peaceful, BUT we also wanted light and cheerful. And so I pulled out all the painting supplies and got busy Friday night after work painting the walls with my helper, Alex. Best to get the walls painted while the old mattresses were off the bed and it would be easier to move, right? So I pulled the bed out from the wall and got to painting. But that little inner voice in my head just kept at me, saying "You know you want to paint the bed...you've wanted to for a long time." And I knew it was true but darn, painting the entire room: the walls, the trim, PLUS the bed, was a lot of work in one busy weekend! And I really did not want to take that bed frame apart and carry it downstairs by myself while Scott was away at tennis championships. NO WAY! And the thought of not finishing and being left without a bed for any number of nights...NOT GOOD. It is our anniversary today...did I mention that!? ;)

But late Friday night while Alex was sleeping and Scott was away, that inner voice started whispering to me again..."Now's your chance! There's no mattress in the way, you've cleared the room and you've already got all of the painting supplies up here." And so I grabbed a little roller and started painting the bed with some white paint...right there in the middle of the night...in the middle of the room...

Turns out a bed CAN be painted right where it sits. Some cardboard under each leg so I could paint all the way down without getting paint on the floor was all it took. Being extra careful not to paint the carpet or anything else in the room was important. I just went with white because that's what I had and I'm very happy with the decision. Even Alex and Scott like the white. Yes, those men that are forever teasing me that I paint EVERYTHING white, said they really like it. And so do I. It is a nice, subtle contrast with the soft blue/grey of the walls. And I like that the wall color makes it feel like we are floating on a cloud.

And the bed can be set to the perfect firmness for Scott AND me. We feel like we are in heaven! Thanks again Mom & Dad.

There's still much left to be done in this room, but for now we are loving the changes and taking our time deciding what color to paint the other furniture in the room. If we decide to paint it. Although the changes feel pretty good.

We still have an end table...

A big dresser with a mirror...

And the secretary desk (that came from my sweet grandma) I use as a side table to possibly paint....

A few more details and we might have an entire room makeover to share. I think I just wore myself out thinking about all the things that still need to be finished...shwew...it may be awhile now! Haha. Let's hope not. :)

Thanks for stopping by today to see what we've been up to!

We love that you are here! Please take the time to click on your favorite method to follow (on the sidebar or that little purple bar conveniently located at the bottom of the page). THANKS!

Sherry

DIY Chair Planter ~ In the Flower Garden

2013-05-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

I have had a thing for chairs for awhile. I don't know exactly what it is. Maybe it's because there are endless varieties of chairs. Maybe it's because when you have lots of chairs everyone has a place to sit and make themselves at home. That's always nice. I just find chairs so charming.

But lately I'd noticed a couple of chairs that didn't have a place around here anymore. They were looking tired and worn out and they had cracks going through the seats. Not so charming. Not the kind of chairs you want to offer to your guests, for sure!

They were destined for the next donation drop off...

But then all this Creative Planter talk going on got me to thinking....

About what I could add to these chippy "old" chairs to turn them into some fun garden planters.

I removed the cracked and broken seats and screwed the chains of wire hanging baskets right to the seat frames. These hanging baskets have had a good life too...just like the chairs. Notice all the cracked and faded charm they have?

I started out trying to cut a circle into the seat, BUT the seat was so badly cracked that it just came apart while I was sawing through it...so this ended up being the best solution. Work with what you've got, right?

I quickly popped off the seat of the 2nd chair by turning it upside down and hammering it fiercly. We call this therapy around here. :)

I lined the wire baskets with some of this green moss.

(It's grown right here in The Pacific NW ~ how's that for local!).

Many stores also sell the liners for these wire baskets, BUT they were out at the store I went to today. I was so determined that nothing would thwart my chair planting project that I just grabbed the moss and moved on.

I also grabbed these shade happy geraniums, some quick growing vines and those adorable little "mega-white" Bacopa flowers that are great filler in hanging pots. Just enough to fill my baskets with a little growing room left over. I know these plants will need room to grow and mature so I didn't want to over do it.

My first chair planter finished!

Here are both chairs in the garden with a cute little girl playing peek-a-boo behind the tree. :)

I'm so excited to watch them mature and fill in. The vines I bought said on their insert that they are good with part shade and are FAST growing. Just what these planters need.

I'm hoping they will become big bushy mounds of flowers growing over the seat area and vines cascading down the sides just like the big beautiful hanging baskets.

I can already picture it!

I'm loving this sweet little vignette in the corner of our yard.

We are completely surrounded by fences, sheds and other people's houses, so it's nice to have something pretty to distract from all of that "fenced-in" feeling.

For more fun Creative Planter Ideas check out this Google Hangout hosted by Kelly Elko of Eclectically Vintage and some other talented bloggers.

Enjoy your Spring Gardens!

Sherry

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The Love of a Dog. Happy 7th Birthday Sadie!!!

2013-05-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

Today was Sadie's birthday! She turned 7 years old.. Seven years that she's been a part of our family. That means Alex was just three and a half when she came to live with us.

I did this painting of Sadie and Alex from a photo I took of them when they were just wee little ones together. I posted about the painting HERE. (I still need to do some finishing touches...sheesh, maybe I should finish it.)

She was six weeks old when we got her. I remember I could carry her in the palm of my hand...she was that tiny. We're convinced she thinks she's human too. You should see how jealous she gets when we all cuddle together on the sofa as a family without inviting her up. How dare us??? She sure knows how to make us feel bad about leaving her out of the group!

And I almost forgot her birthday today. I was so caught up in worrying about her....

Two days ago we noticed a hard little lump on her throat, underneath her collar. It is definitely new because we like to move her collar and scratch her neck right there. That's her favorite scratch spot. :) So Wednesday when Alex was scratching her favorite spot he first noticed the lump. It was maybe the size of a gumball. I figured I would watch it and see what happened over the next day or two.

When I checked her neck Thursday the lump had grown quite a bit. It was more the size of a walnut and had spread horizontally a bit. And the bottom of her neck under her jawline seems swollen and stiff as well. I thought maybe she got stung by a hornet since she likes to chase them and try to catch them in her mouth.

She has been chomping on hornets and bees for years. She gets a bit obsessed with catching them. She's been stung inside her mouth a couple of times before and the side of her face has swollen up pretty big, making her all lopsided and funny looking. You would think she'd give up on the hornet chasing after getting stung once or twice, right!? Nope. Not Sadie.

She's really been the best friend our boy could ask for. Here she is incognito with Alexander.

And I've learned that she likes to model in my blog photos. Matter of fact it's a challenge taking a room picture without Sadie in it. So I just let her have her day in the limelight. Maybe she'll be famous someday, right?

Plus she's inspired some great blog projects like this silhouette dog bag.

Going to the park with the kiddos is one of her favorite activities. Just don't tie her to a picnic table though! She gets a bit boisterous if you tie her up. Free spirited pooch that she is.

Here she is modeling her pink winter jacket. Everyone kept calling her "HE" so I thought I'd give her something really girly to make a point. Plus she gets cold so easily with that short fur of hers. Boxers are definitely indoor dogs.

Although she does enjoy a good snow day!

Here she is tearing it up in the snow. She ran and ripped through the snow for a good 15 minutes or more this day. It was hilarious!

This picture was taken on a late night snow excursion. We were too afraid the snow would melt by morning so we snuck out to play in the dark.

She also loves play dates with her bestie. She loves hanging with friends!

And believe me, Sadie is friends with EVERYBODY! And everybody LOVES Sadie. She is quite a social butterfly. (I just noticed how grey her face has gotten this last year or two...not much black left).

She can nap in the sunshine with the best of us.

She's been here for so many of our fun life events...like trick or treating with Alex, The Mad Scientist...

And napping with all the babies that have grown up in this house. She just cannot resist a baby laying on a blanket....EVER!

As a matter of fact, I think kids are her favorite people. She is the most gentle, loving dog we could have asked for.

She even won Scott over. He never really wanted a dog. He just went along with it to keep the rest of the family happy...wonderful man that he is! But he certainly fell in love with her just like the rest of us.

Here she is looking to catch a Bullfrog. It was her mission on this little walk around the pond....luckily they were too fast for her. And she doesn't like to swim much. ;)

Today is Sadie's Birthday and I wanted to honor her and all of the joy she has brought to our family. I still remember those first years. Years when she thought her name was "DOWN" instead of "Sadie". And the numerous times we chased her through the neighborhood calling and begging her to come to us. She just wanted to run free and visit each and every neighbor. DAILY. We survived those early years. I'm still not sure how. I remember when people would tell us how adorable she was we would respond with "You want her?" And back in those early days it may have been tempting to give her away. The spunky, mischievous little puppy she was! Thank God we made it through and have enjoyed so many unbelievably rewarding years with our beloved pooch.

Here she is lounging in what became known as "Sadie's Chair". Sadie just loved to sit in it right next to the front window ~ where she could keep an eye on the yard and driveway and all of the comings and goings!

This morning she did not come downstairs to eat her breakfast. That never happens. When I went up to find her I noticed her neck had swollen up huge overnight and she was barely able to move. She appears very stiff in her joints. Sometimes she holds her front paw up off the ground and she seems reluctant to sit or lay down again once she stands up. It's clear she is feeling awful.

I pray she feels better soon. She has an appointment with the Veterinarian at 1:30. I hope that it's nothing serious and they can help her feel better quickly. I hate seeing her feel this way.

We love you so much, Sadie!

Update:

Sadie made it in to the Veterinarian's. The Hope Animal Hospital was so sweet and caring. They let me rush her in right away because her swelling was increasing so rapidly and I was so anxious about her condition. They gave her an antihistamine shot and a steroid shot. They felt she was having an anaphylactic reaction to a sting or bite. Her swelling is going down and she's not nearly as stiff. Already she seems better and we have more antihistamine medicine to give her. Let's just hope she stays away from the hornets, wasps and bees from now on.

Class is now in Session ~ Mrs. Hines' Class

2013-05-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

Well Hello Friends!

Blogging has been such a blessing in my life. At a time when I was feeling like there was really something missing in my life, I stumbled upon blogging. It awakened the creative side of me that had been dormant for way too long. That in itself was a huge boost to me...but that's not the only benefit of blogging. It has opened up an entire world of amazing people that I otherwise would never have had a chance to meet. The blog world is full of talented, smart, creative, funny, inspirational, and driven women who choose to share their stories and inspiration through blogging. I am continuously surprised and amazed by the talent and skill of my fellow bloggers. And it's not just talent and skill that is found in blogland. The amount of love, friendship, encouragement and support offered by fellow bloggers is heart-warming! Some of my favorite people are fellow bloggers that I have never met in person, yet we've developed strong friendships.

Today I thought I would share with you just one of the Amazing Bloggers I have had the pleasure to "meet" through this awesome blog world:

Sharon of Mrs. Hines' Class!

Sharon says,

"Welcome to Mrs. Hines’ Class, a virtual classroom where I share the creative process behind turning my house into a home. I enjoy sharing recipes. I love sharing home decorating ideas that prove a beautiful home doesn’t have to be expensive. And, it’s so rewarding to acquire a new set of skills after completing a DIY project, and then sharing what I’ve learned with you. But my real motivation for all of this, is my love of family. I hope after spending time in Mrs. Hines Class, that you will be encouraged that above all else, love makes a home. So, please join me for the lessons that await in Mrs. Hines’ Class."

When I first "discovered" Sharon and her blog back in my early days we were running into each other at many of the same link parties. Link parties are a great place for beginning bloggers to share their work and meet others. Sharon would come by and leave some sweet comments on my posts and I ALWAYS read her blog name as Mrs. SHINES' Class. The funny thing is I still picture Sharon like that! She just seems to radiate light and warmth in all that she does and shares, so "Mrs. Shine" just seems so fitting!

Here are some samples of the types of lessons you will find at Mrs. Hines' Class

Vinegar as a Household Cleaner

Sharon shares so many great cleaning and organizing tips on her blog. I'm always up for some good "get your house in tip-top shape" advice. Yes, she shares tips on making your home shine!

Garden Design & Landscaping Tips

Don't stop on the inside. We want our outdoor spaces to be attractive and inviting too! Sharon has some terrific tips on Garden Design and Landscaping as well.

A Simple Side Dish ~ Spanish Rice

As busy as we all are we can really use some simple recipes and meal ideas....you'll find those "lesson plans" in the classroom.

Bed & Breakfast Room

I've noticed that Sharon is really laid back and not afraid to step outside of the box every now and then. You can see this in the choices she makes in her home decorating. One of my favorite spots in her home is this little bed & breakfast area. Yes, I did say bed & breakfast! She put a day bed in the dining area and I swear it was brilliant!

What a great spot to chill with a cold beverage and a good book.

DIY Painting Tips

Sharon has been DIYing her home to create a warm, welcoming environment for her family and all who visit. She shares her tips learned through personal experiences. It's nice to get advice from someone who has already done a project before...it saves us so much trouble trying to figure out the best way to accomplish our projects.

Memorable Moments

And what I love most about Sharon is how she infuses her blog and posts with her sweet personality and love of life. She encourages us to look at life with a positive attitude and enjoy the little things more, like good times with family and creating lasting memories.

See You In Class!

Mrs. Hines' Class

Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you will head over to discover what other treats Sharon has for you in her virtual classroom.

Have a great weekend!

Sherry

Dangly Earring Storage & Display DIY

2013-05-08T14:42:00.000-07:00

I sent my big jewelry box off to be photographed by Somerset Home awhile back in the hopes that I'll see one of my projects on the pages of a magazine someday. That would be a dream come true for me! Ever since then all my jewelry has been thrown together in a basket. Not a convenient way to store jewelry, let me tell ya.

Whenever I tried to find earrings I couldn't seem to locate a matching pair. So, not much earring wearing happening around here lately. Something needed to be done and quick...

Then I remembered this little wooden house I had found at a thrift store eons ago. I think it cost .50 cents. It's a simple little shadow box made out of wood. I've seen these at Michael's and Joann's for a few dollars, I think. When I bought it I intended to put fun family photos in each section. Wouldn't that be cute? But now my wheels were turning about using it to display some of those dangly earrings that were getting all tangled together in a basket.

(FYI ~ Dangly isn't really a word but it's what I like to call my long dangling earrings like the ones below.)

So I painted my little shadow box house with white gloss spray paint. I added some little metal loops that screwed into the wood pretty easily. I screwed these in with my hands because the wood is fairly soft. You could use small pliers for this step too.

Then I added some scrapbook/crafting decals to give this little house some personality. Apparently some 80's personality since one of the stickers says "gonna dress you up in MY LOVE".

I did love that song waaaaaay back when! :)

Just a couple of nails attach it to the wall next to where I get ready. I might wear earrings every day now!

My dangly earrings have a new home and they are loving it.

Now what to do with all those post earrings...

Sharing With:

http://www.everydayhomeblog.com

http://igottacreate.blogspot.com/

http://www.artsyfartsymama.com

Key Lime Cheesecake Trifle by Making Home Base

2013-04-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hey Friends! I have a special treat for you today! My new friend Chelsea has come by and all I can say is YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE HER! I've just recently discovered her but her warmth and love of family and life come across so clearly in her blog posts. And she is sharing a low fat version of one of my most favorite desserts EVER! But I will let her tell you all about it...

Meet Chelsea!!!

Hello Pondered Primed Perfected friends! I'm Chelsea from Making Home Base. My blog is where I share fun crafts, DIY projects, and the occasional recipe to satisfy my sweet tooth. Today I'm going to share one of my favorite spring time sweets that's low fat and delicious!

A couple years ago my husband and I visited Key West, Florida for a week. It was such a fun vacation! We snorkeled, ate, swam, ate, and kayaked, and ate some more. My husband got hooked on key lime pie. They have these incredible key lime pie slices on a stick and then dipped in chocolate. Can you imagine? Yeah. They are that good! I know I can't come close to making a replica of that delicious treat but I did come up with a key lime treat that incorporates two of my favorite desserts: cheesecake and trifles!

Let's get to the recipe shall we? This yummy dessert has three layers: "diet soda cake," sugar free cheesecake pudding, and fat free cool whip. Ingredients: Cake layer: Box of white cake mix 10 oz Diet 7 Up 2 egg whites 1 3 oz box of lime jello 1 cup boiling water 1/2 c cold water Pudding: 1 box of cheesecake jello pudding fat free milk Juice of half of one lime Cool Whip Free Lime for garnishment (optional) Directions: Make cake by mixing cake mix, Diet 7 Up, and egg whites. Bake according to directions on the box. After the cake has cooled poke all over with a fork. Mix jello mix and boiling hot water. Stir for two minutes or until jello mix is dissolved. Add cold water. Pour over cake and refrigerate for 3 hours. Prepare cheesecake jello pudding according to directions on the box. While whisking, add in the juice of half of a lime. Let set for 5 minutes in the refrigerator. To prepare the trifles, put a layer of cake on the bottom, then a layer of cheesecake pudding, then a layer of cool whip. Garnish with a slice of lime. Serve right away.

You can make these mini trifles (because everything is cute miniature) or you can make one large trifle with several layers. I love this low fat guilt free treat! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! For more yummy treats and craft and DIY projects come by my blog. I'd also love to connect with you on Facebook, Pinterest, or Hometalk! Thanks so much for having me Sherry! It's been so fun!

Chelsea, thanks for coming by and sharing this irresistible looking dessert...and low fat even! I can't wait to get home from Hawaii and try it! Okay, I jest! I don't want to come home from Hawaii but when I do get home I'm totally going to make these for the family. :)

Thanks for stopping by today. If you haven't already done so please hop on over to Chelsea's blog, Making Home Base. You'll be glad you did!

Redhead Can Decorate Is In The House!

2013-04-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

Guess who's visiting Pondered Primed Perfected while I'm off on vacation?
It's Julie of Redhead Can Decorate! You've got to see some of her projects. This redhead really can decorate...and remodel...and cook...and so much more! Her kitchen makeover is unreal. I have to tell you I am so envious of that kitchen with the big island in the center. What a wonderful family central!!

So give a big welcome to Julie of....

redheadcandecorate.com

Hi there! My name is Julie, and I am the redhead over at redheadcandecorate.com.
Sherry and I have a lot in common and have become close friends over the past year.
We both love DIY home projects, and we both love to cook.
Sherry is always inspiring me!
Hopefully right now she's flipping off her flip flops and sipping (gulping)
a tropical drink out of a coconut!
While Sherry is busy doing that (lucky girl),
feel free to check out what I do over at our house.
Maybe I can convince you try some of my innovative and affordable ideas in your own home. I may even make your tummy growl!

DIY Kitchen Makeover

White Master Bedroom

Dining Room Turned Office

Hutch Turned Tool Bench

Thank you for hanging out with me at Sherry's place...
can't wait to hear how her vacation went.
Time to get back to work little Sherry!
Like I always say to Rick, my hubby,
"What? Are you on break?"

By the way...you can find redheadcandecorate.com on Facebook , Pinterest, and I am also an Ambassador over at Looksi. Hope you will follow along! I would love to hear from you.

Love,
Julie

Thanks so much for holding down the fort for me Julie!!!

Love, Sherry

The Ultimate Spring Cleaning Mega Giveaway!

2013-04-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

Ready to tackle your spring cleaning and organization projects with a BANG?

You could win one of 10 amazing prizes...including the GRAND PRIZE of a $160 Target Gift Card, an entire Shaklee Starter Kit, Nostalgic Bulbs Vintage Light Bulbs and a Board Dudes Organizational System. Nine runners up will also win Board Dudes Organizational Systems worth $50 each.

Please Note: This give away is only open to residents of the continental US.

HOW TO ENTER:

Step One:

Please follow the below hostesses and hosts on Pinterest:

Step Two:
Follow the instructions via Rafflecopter below to complete your entries
{It may take our friend, Rafflecopter, a moment to appear}:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We will draw on April 27th and publish the winners here. Winners will also be notified via email and will have 24 hours to claim their prize before we choose another winner.

RedheadCanDecorate.com's Curated Collection of DIY Decorating For Less

2013-04-18T10:34:00.000-07:00

Guess What?

I'm being featured on Looksi Square today!

Yep, my sweet friend Julie of Redhead Can Decorate has her Curated Collection up today and it is all about DIY Decorating For Less. So I'm among some pretty talented DIY company.

(Just click I will take you there)

Here are just a few examples of what you will see there:

Garden Hose Wreath ~ Create Craft Love
Dresser Makeover ~ Bliss Ranch
DIY Dining Room Makeover on a Budget~ I Should Be Mopping the Floor
Beachy Buoys~ A Button Tufted Life
Reupholstered Chairs ~ Debbie Doo's
Painted Hutch ~ Homework

Julie, has done a beautiful job compiling her favorite DIY Decorating Projects on Looksi! Hope you can go by and see what she's sharing.
And don't forget to come back here on Tuesday because Julie will be visiting here and sharing DIY Decorating projects she has done in her own home. She's a talented gal, that Redhead!

And there's more. Miss Julie has a lot of exciting things going on right now but you will have to come by and see her here on Tuesday to find out!

I'm excited for her!

Thanks for stopping by today :)

Tank Top Beach Bag

2013-04-14T20:57:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just have to take what you've got and make it into something better or more useful. Like this tank top I turned into a beach bag. I never wore the tank top, not even once, but this beach bag is about to take a trip to Hawaii with me!

I bought this tank top on clearance at a little boutique a few years ago. It was adorable! I loved how it looked...

...ON THE HANGER!

It was adorable with the sweet fringed neckline and the sheer pleated body. So romantic. A bit sexy.

But it didn't look cute on me!

The color is too close to my skin tone so it washed me out bad. Not good!

That will teach me to try things on before I buy them.

Even if they are only $5.00 on clearance.

So I put it in the donate bag and there it sat. Until the other day when I saw some tank top totes on Pinterest. I didn't pin them because I had no intention of making one so I can't share who made those particular totes I saw that day. There are numerous versions you can find online though. Just type tank top tote/bag into the Google or Pinterest search bar and see what comes up. :)

Then the other day I was thinking about what I would carry my towel, sunglasses, book and sunblock in while in Hawaii and those tank top totes popped into my head. And I pulled out my tank that had never been given it's day to shine and here's what I did:

I grabbed a piece of scrap fabric I had that was a nice tropical print on a cream background. This would become the lining for my beach bag.

I measured how deep I wanted my bag and cut the lining that long. I traced the arm holes and straps because these would become the handles of my new tote.

Once the measuring was done I folded and cut out my lining fabric to size.

I also cut a couple of strips of lining fabric for reinforcing the tote handles.

I sewed up the sides of the lining fabric. The bottom was the fold so it didn't need to be sewn.

Here's how it looked once the sides were sewn up. (above: I turned it right side out for this photo)

This piece gets turned inside out again and put inside the tank as a lining. My tank was so sheer and "stretchy" from those pleats that I wanted to give it some form with this lining fabric.

I folded the handle pieces over and sewed down the edges then turned them right side out using a safety pin to push through.

The bottom of the tank was sewn with a zig zag stitch, the excess cut off and turned right side out again.

The lining was put inside and stitched all around the edges with a zig zag stitch to attach...sewing the little handle reinforcements under the straps.

This isn't much of a step-by-step tutorial but honestly, it wasn't too difficult.

If you use a tank with a more substantial fabric you could create a bag without adding a lining at all...just hem up the bottom and voila!

It's the perfect size to carry my beach stuff around.

It's cute enough to carry into a restaurant or shop as well.

And that's just what me and my new bag will be doing when we arrive in Hawaii next weekend...bumming it on the beach or shopping the open air market and sipping Mai Tai's at local restaurants.

Wish I could hide you all in my bag and take you with me :)

I hope you come and visit next week when I've got a couple of wonderful guests coming to share their fabulous~ness with you while I'm gone! You won't want to miss them.

Aloha!

Sherry

Sharing with:

http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/2013/04/mop-it-up-monday-63.html

Lemon Crepes filled with honey-lemon Greek Yogurt

2013-04-08T13:17:00.001-07:00

Crepes just sound so French and Sophisticated, don't they?

I like feeling French and Sophisticated from time to time. :)

This weekend I decided to try my hand at making crepes for the very first time.

I found the best crepe making advice from a wonderful post by Yummy Mummy Kitchen.

You really should go see Marina's Crepes and exquisite photos! Since she seems to know much more about making crepes than I, I would suggest following her step-by-step directions. You can view her post HERE.

No special equipment was used to make these crepes....just a large, good quality non-stick skillet.

I modified Yummy Mummy Kitchen's recipe as follows (since I didn't have all of the ingredients that her recipe required on hand and I didn't want to run to the Grocers'). They turned out delicious and I was thrilled at how simple they were to make.

Ingredients

Blueberry Sauce:

3 cups frozen blueberrries

juice of 1 orange

Crepes:

1 cup skim milk

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

2 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 cup flour, I used all-purpose flour

Filling:

2 cups Greek yogurt, I used Zoi Traditional Greek in Honey flavor

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1 Tablespoon of honey

1/4 cup fresh raspberries for garnish (optional)

I simmered and reduced my blueberries and orange juice just as Marina's recipe indicated I should.

I whipped up the crepe ingredients as Marina described and poured the batter by 1/3 cupfuls into my non-stick skillet...swirling the pan around immediately to make sure they are nice and thin and round.

I mixed my Greek Yogurt with the lemon juice and honey...then added a couple dollops on each crepe and rolled them up.

Sprinkle some powdered sugar, add a spoonful of blueberry sauce and these crepes are finished off perfectly!

Just a touch of subtle lemon in these light crepes makes them dreamy good.

Thank you so much, Marina, for sharing your crepe making expertise with us so that we may enjoy feeling French and Sophisticated from time to time.

Egg Salad Sandwich lightened up :)

2013-04-05T08:10:00.003-07:00

It's nice to change up the routine and add some variety to our meals.

Plus I had some hard boiled eggs left over from Easter :)

How about some egg salad on wheat for lunch?

Two hard boiled eggs (leftover from Easter 156 cal)

Tablespoon light mayo (45 cal)

tsp yellow mustard

dash of Mrs. Dash seasoning ~ hehe!

Franz 9 grain thin Sandwich round (90 cal)

Spring Mix

Mini Sweet Peppers and Pepperoncini as garnish

Tasty and satisfying.

Simple.

Light on the calories.

Nice change of pace from a green salad.

Perfect for a healthy lunch.

Devoured. :)

Quick, Easy and Low-Cal ~ Blended Mocha Frappe

2013-04-04T13:27:00.000-07:00

This tip is so easy I'm almost embarrassed to share it.

But I'm going to share it anyway...just in case.

Of course you might already know how to make a blended frappe.

It's not like it's rocket science. But I have a tip or two that may make it quicker, easier and maybe even creamier and tastier!

One of the hardest things for me in my battle against the bulge is feeling deprived of many of the treats I really love.

I really love my coffee.

And chocolate.

And I especially love them together...

If you want to keep enjoying delicious frappes without all the calories you can make your own version at home. You could use your leftover coffee from that morning or you can use one of these Ready Brew packets from Starbucks. There are other versions you can use (like Folgers) at your local grocery store too. You could even use some of those instant coffee crystals that come in a jar if you choose.

I like these decaffeinated Ready Brews for days when I'm craving a frappe in the afternoon but don't want to lay awake half the night regretting my decision. Although that's when I get to watch all the best Vampire shows on Netflix or Hulu...shhhhh!

You'll need a blender of some sort. Ours isn't anything fancy but it works great.

Add to blender:

Two cups of lowfat or nonfat milk

Two cups of crushed or cubed ice

1 or 2 packets of Ready Brew or individual serve instant coffee (depending on how strong you like it)

1/2 packet Jell-O chocolate flavored, sugar-free * fat-free instant pudding (save the other half for next time)

Blend until creamy. Serves two...I make one for my sweetheart too. He makes coffee for me in the morning before I wake up and I really appreciate that! He's such a sweetheart. :)

Pour into your favorite treat glass and enjoy!

The pudding mix is the secret ingredient that gives the chocolate flavor AND the creamy consistency of a full calorie, full fat frappucino. Oh so yummy!!!

I also added a little dollop of fat-free whip cream and sprinkled some chocolate on top.

What are you waiting for?

Sugar-free, low-fat, and even caffeine free if you want...

Who said being good had to be boring?

Welcome Spring Door Hanging

2013-03-31T21:54:00.001-07:00

Hi! I hope this finds you enjoying some sweet Spring sunshine.

Are you a wreath person?

Do you put a new wreath out for each season or holiday like clockwork?

Or maybe just at Christmas time?

(Hopefully you don't still have your Christmas wreath hanging. Not that I would mind, it's your door!)

Do you make your own wreaths?

Out of grapevines and wire wreath forms and pool noodles?

I admire you if you do.

Here I am...a 'so called' DIY Home Blogger with absolutely no wreath making skills.

It's a little bit shameful...hanging head in embarrassment. ;)

Sigh.

And Pinterest is no help.

About every 6th pin is another DIY wreath tutorial. Ugh. So many reminders that I'm failing in the wreath creating department.

But recently I was inspired by a couple of talented and creative bloggers:

Ann of On Sutton Place

and

Chelsea of Making Home Base

Ann did an amazing wreath making tutorial that I am hoping will inspire me to dive in and make my very own wreath creation:

Ann's How To Make A Wreath Post

Ann is an amazing decorator...and not just wreaths.

You should click through to her site and see the way she makes everything special!

And the sweet and creative Miss Chelsea fashioned a gorgeous Spring Door Hanging that made me forget my wreath envy:

Just click photo to be taken to Chelsea's post!

Isn't it lovely!? I am in love with Chelsea's blog. Her creative perspective is so young and fresh. I can't get enough of her projects! You'll just have to go see for yourself. :)

So, today I compromised and started creating a Spring door hanging using a plastic wall planter I bought at a yard sale last summer.

First I had to cover over that horrid green. Hey, green is my favorite color but THIS green just isn't doing anything for me.

A nice crisp white will be so much fresher, don't you think?

Add in some pretty pastel flowers with staying power (aka faux)

Pretty and fresh to welcome our guests!

And I love the fact that I can change out the flowers for Summer and other special occasions. I even have a few dollar store Easter decorations I might poke in there for this weekend....Yeah!

Okay, I've now got a floral door hanging under my belt. Thanks Chelsea, for the inspiration! And Ann, I'm going to be tackling an actual wreath project next...using your wonderful tips as my guide!

Painted End Table ~ a Makeover ~ 3rd Time's a Charm(er)

2013-03-28T17:21:00.001-07:00

Here's our little roadside rescue end table.

It came home with us looking like this:

but it had so much potential...

I thought I would give it some color and try my hand at spray painting.

So it became this:

And we loved the rich blue. For a time.

Eventually I wanted to use it in another space and the blue just wouldn't work.

So I gave it a couple coats of white paint,

then added in some Maison Blanche in Cobblestone giving it an entirely new look...

A quick coating of wax with a bit of dark stain mixed in gave it a little bit of aged character:

It's neutral enough now to go in almost any room in my home.

This is good because if you know me you know I love to move things around...a lot. :)

For now it finishes off this space nicely.

It definitely needs some oil rubbed bronze on those little knobs for some contrast.

I'm trying to decide if I want to give it a monogram on the door front.

The white raised panel seems to be asking for something but I ran out of the Cobblestone color so I couldn't finish it with that even if I'd wanted.

What do you think? Gold on the edges of the door panel?

A Monogrammed Letter for our last name? Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

Sharing With:

http://thefrugalgirls.com/2013/03/chic-and-crafty-party-328.html

http://www.createcraftlove.com

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http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com

http://www.504main.com/2013/03/tickled-pink-139.html

http://www.settingforfour.com/2013/03/project-inspired-no-7-linky-partywelcome_25.html

http://www.myturnforus.com/2013/03/freedom-fridays-47.html

http://romantichome.blogspot.com

http://thebestblogrecipes.blogspot.com/

http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/

Guilt Free Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies

2013-03-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

Being on a diet SUCKS!

You probably don't need me to tell you that.

That's why I'm not dieting. :)

I'm enjoying these amazing Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies today...totally Guilt Free too, I might add.

So, do I have your attention now?

I truly believe that it's time for us...(yes this is me speaking for an entire unnamed group of people)...anyhow ;)...It's time for US to quit 'dieting' to get to where we want to be with our weight and overall health. We truly need to change our habits and lifestyles. We can bury our heads in the sand and continue eating processed, modified, genetically altered foods because they are easy, convenient and inexpensive. And we can continue to wonder why we are experiencing so many health and wellness problems and feeling a general decline in our energy.

We can change the way we look at food in general.

We can choose all-natural foods whenever possible.

We can limit our intake of processed carbs and sugars to an occasional treat.

And we don't have to feel guilty about having a treat now and then. We don't have to 'fall off the diet wagon' if we allow ourselves something good.

If we just exercise some common sense and self~control when are making choices.

Anyway...I'm stepping down from my soap box now. I have some cookies warm from the oven that are calling my name!

The best thing about these cookies is they are just a tiny blip on the radar of my allowed calorie intake for the day. Oh yeah!

Mini Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (Weight Watchers Online recipe modified)

If you have a family you may want to double this recipe because you are going to need the extras!

These taste just like regular chocolate chip cookies and if your family likes chocolate chip cookies they will devour them.

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

2 Tbsp salted butter, softened

2 tsp vegetable oil or canola oil

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/8 tsp salt

1 large egg white

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a medium mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar and oil. Add vanilla and egg whites; mix thoroughly.

In another small bowl combine flour and baking soda; stir into batter. Add chocolate chips and stir to distribute evenly.

Drop dough by half teaspoons onto two large nonstick cookie sheets leaving a small space between each cookie.

I like to cover my pans with parchment paper...thank Martha Stewart for this tip!

Bake until golden brown on the edges, about 5 minutes; cool on wire rack.

1 cookie per serving

1 WW point per cookie

Approximately 25 calories each! (3g carbs, 1.35g fat)

Seriously, grab a few and enjoy.

They are absolutely delicious and they won't ruin your whole day of eating healthy ~ if you stick to just a few. :)

They go great with a glass of ice cold skim milk.

I'm just so happy that I can eat healthy and still enjoy some of the treats that I love.

I don't even have to add a bunch of extra Cardio into my routine to offset these little puppies...Yeah!!!

Enjoy!

I'm not the only one baking up some cookie goodness in the kitchen today. My friend Julie made these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies over at Redhead Can Decorate:

http://www.redheadcandecorate.com/4/post/2013/03/oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookies.html

Julie and I must be on the same anti-diet wave length today...after all...why should we be forced to give up cookies!? Eat responsibly people!!!

But baking isn't all that Julie's been up to lately...check out this bedroom!!! I haven't laid a hand on my bedroom decor in 8 years. She's really inspiring me to get in there and make it beautiful again.

Go see how she transformed this room from an earthy green that wasn't growing on anybody to a fresh and tranquil white retreat. White just has a way of opening a room up, doesn't it?

Hey, have you linked up to the BEAT THE BULGE link party yet? We would love for you to share any light and healthy recipes, or fitness tips. Success stories would be great too. Did you lose weight or start an exercise program that changed your life? Have you overcome food allergies and health issues by changing your diet? Share those stories here to encourage others that are trying to make healthy changes!

Sharing with:
http://thefrugalgirls.com
http://www.504main.com
http://www.settingforfour.com/2013/03/project-inspired-no-7-linky-partywelcome_25.html
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http://thebestblogrecipes.blogspot.com/
http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/

My 5 Healthy Eating Tips and Tricks

2013-03-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

6 pounds !!!

Okay, I've just passed the two week mark since we started the Beat the Bulge link party and Facebook Support Group (Come Join Us Here)...I'm down 6 pounds, I completed another 5k run, and I'm fitting into jeans I haven't been able to wear in MONTHS! I feel really good about my progress so far. I've had a few over~indulgences that may have slowed my progress a bit (like eating almost the whole package of mini rice cakes instead of a single serving) but I'm not going to dwell on them. It feels good to finally see my numbers going DOWN on the scale.

Six pounds doesn't sound like any BIG THANG, but my commitment to healthy eating combined with strength training sessions and running are definitely showing some awesome results in the way I look and feel. That is the main goal so WOOHOO!!! Celebrate each success! ~ Just not with fattening food! ~

Here are some of my tips for staying on course with a healthy diet. Take 'em or leave 'em. :) We each have to do what works best for our individual lifestyles, preferences and health needs.

1. KEEP SOME CONVENIENT VEGGIE AND FRUIT SNACKS FRONT AND CENTER IN THE FRIDGE so you won't get stuck searching for the first yummy thing you can find when hunger strikes. If you work outside the home prep a few individual sized baggies or snap top containers with fresh fruits and veggies at the beginning of the week so you can just grab and go each morning.

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vegetables-and-fruits/

2. INVEST IN AN OIL MISTER FOR COOKING...You can fill it with healthy olive oil and forgo the not-so-healthy oils or the fat free cooking spray that doesn't seem so healthy once you know what's in it. We need the good fats found in olive oil anyway, and this kind of mister will help keep you from going overboard on calories.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/26/health/five-things-olive-oil

http://www.examiner.com/article/5-reasons-not-to-use-commercial-cooking-sprays

3. KEEP YOUR FREEZER STOCKED WITH FROZEN FRUITS FOR SMOOTHIES. When that sweet tooth starts screaming for some indulgence, you can satisfy the craving with a delicious and nutrient rich smoothie. We freeze fresh fruit (fresh strawberries, local blueberries, and discounted ripe bananas) and toss them into a blender with a splash of pineapple juice and some nonfat milk for a satisfying sweet treat. You can add low-fat yogurt or even some concentrated orange juice to up the flavor factor. Just keep track of the calories going in. It's easy to go overboard if you aren't paying attention.

Hey, throw in some spinach and nuts too if the urge strikes...it's all good!

http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/fruit-nutrition.html

http://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/flat-belly-diet/smoothies-weight-loss-flat-belly-smoothie-diet-recipes

4. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER! Yep, I bet you've heard this one before. Well, I can attest that drinking my fair share of water seems to make a huge difference in my overall success rate AND the way I feel. I like to throw some fresh lemon in to give it a punch. I won't preach all the health AND weight loss benefits to you because you've probably heard it all before. I have included a couple of links below for anyone interested in reading more about the benefits of keeping hydrated.

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/6-reasons-to-drink-water

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/08/23/drink.water.lose.weight/index.html

5. SALADS DON'T HAVE TO BE BORING. JAZZ UP YOUR SALADS with some tasty ingredients that will take them beyond your average tossed veggies into the realm of gourmet all-in-one meals.

Here are a couple of my favorite salad masterpieces of late:

Greek inspired goodness!

Start with a bed of Spring Mix,

Layer with a few marinated artichoke hearts,

Low fat feta cheese sprinkles,

Chopped Tomato

Chopped Cucumber

95% Fat Free Turkey slices

Green Olives (not pictured)

Greek Style Vinaigrette

*This salad would be great with a few slices of sweet red onion thrown in too

Tangy Sweet Asian

Start with a bed of fresh Spring Mix.

Layer with chopped fresh tomatoes,

Mandarins (no sugar added),

A handful of walnuts (almond slivers would be good also),

A sprinkle of Feta cheese (low-fat or fat free preferable),

2~3 ounces thin sliced grilled steak

A spoonful of Craisins on top

A side of Sweet Pea Pods and Lime

Top with some store bought Asian dressing or create your own.

{I created my own dressing blending the juice from the mandarin can with some peanut sauce, red pepper flakes and a smidge of Cherry Pomagranate Habanero Sauce...yum!}

For more great salad ideas check out this beautiful Pinterest Board of SALADS:

http://pinterest.com/goodhealth/amazing-salads/

I have to say I'm really enjoying this 'healthy eating' a lot more than I thought I would be.

Our Beat the Bulge link party is still going strong. Don't forget to link up!

Quick~change magnetic desktop photo display

2013-03-17T17:44:00.004-07:00

Do you crave change?

Do you move your furniture around often just to give yourself a fresh perspective?

Do you like to switch out the decor and items displayed in your home often?

I do.
I've been referred to as a chronic re-arranger. Yep, that's me. And proud of it.

Plus you never know what you might find behind that tv cabinet (think arsenal of nerf darts at my house)...or under the couch (enough money for an ice cream bar ~ if you're not on a diet!)

I've moved some pretty hefty furniture by myself too. Scott has come home on occasion and questioned who may have helped me. No secret furniture moving boyfriends around here though. Promise ;)
I think I get 'super furniture rearranging powers' when the desire overtakes me. Maybe.

But on to the desk frame :)

This wooden piece is what remains of an inexpensive desk clock after I robbed it of it's clock-works.
(You can see what I did with all those clocks HERE.)
I couldn't bear the thought of chucking these little wooden frames. There had to be something useful for them. A few ideas have come to mind, so expect to see more of these cuties later...

This one has become a quick~change magnetic desk frame

I painted it with acrylic craft paint using a dry brush technique, which left some of the wood peaking through.

I bought this metal plate for .79 cents at the hardware store. My plan was to wrap it with this fabric and attach it to the front of the frame. I cut a piece of the fabric...

Folded it around the metal plate and taped the corners and edges down.

BUT

When I put it on the front of the wooden base it looked kinda like a quilt square...

not the look I was going for. Scratch that. I didn't even leave it there long enough to take a picture. Sorry.

I ended up painting the metal with a coat of white acrylic paint and glueing it to the front of the wooden base with E6000.

A couple strips of ribbon were then glued to the top and bottom of the metal.

I glued a scrapbook flower to a small round magnet with E6000 also.
This holds the photos in place.

Now all those darling photos can be swapped out regularly...giving all our lovely friends and family their day in the limelight.

Right where we can see them!

And if I want to go beachy I just swap out the flower for this starfish magnet. :)
(Isn't that Farmers' Market Basket cute? You can find that HERE too.)

Okay, that's one wooden clock base down and only...hmm...11 more to go!

What would you use these wooden bases for? I would love to hear your ideas.

And thanks for stopping by today.
Loved having you here!
Sherry

sharing with:
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http://thefrugalgirls.com

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Guilt Free Taco Salad ~ Part of a Low Calorie, Low Carb Lifestyle

2013-03-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

Hmmm . . .Taco Salad . . . That doesn't sound so new, does it?

What's new about this taco salad is I've eliminated the parts that I don't need in my diet. Like the deep fried tortilla bowls or the corn chips that come loaded with fat, carbs and calories. Traditional taco salads aren't all that light with all those chips, tortilla bowls and refried beans, now are they? Well, you don't need to include those ingredients to enjoy a completely satisfying taco salad.

I am really trying to eat healthy and lose some weight. I don't want to call it a diet because my main focus is to actually change my habits and the way I look at food in general. What I'm hoping to do is break the cycle of filling up on processed carbohydrates that seem to leave me feeling lackluster and only wanting more. I would like to limit my overall carb intake to whole grains and unprocessed carbs. As much as possible anyway. Unfortunately removing carbs from your diet can leave you feeling deprived and limited in your choices. There goes all the yummy breads, noodles, chips, and tortillas that make up so many of our go to meals, right?

What's really challenging is creating meals that will satisfy a need for variety as well as a desire for savory, spicy, crunchy, cheesy, sweet and tasty meals.

Today I'm sharing one of my favorite salads with you:

Guilt-Free TACO SALAD

That's right...guilt-free. Here are the stats:

calories carbs fat protein

Cheddar Cheese, 1 oz

114

Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year round average, 1 wedge (1/4 of medium tomato)

Ground beef, lean, 3 oz

225

Del Monte Sweet Peas no salt added, 0.25 cup

Salad, Spring Mix Salad, 2 cup

Rosarita Salsa Verde (Green Salsa), 2 tbsp

Master's Touch Vine Sweet Mini Peppers (3 peppers), 1 serving

Knorr Tomato Bouillon with Chicken Flavor, 1 tsp/4g, 4 gram(s)

Baby Carrots, raw, 1 large

Cilantro, raw, 1 tbsp

TOTALS:

440

Preparation:

Start by cooking low-fat ground beef...then reducing the fat content even more by draining and rinsing the meat after cooking. (After draining the excess grease into my grease can, I rinse the ground beef with hot water and then drain again. This removes a lot of excess grease that we don't need to be putting into our bodies. You could prepare this with white meat ground chicken or turkey as well.)

While the meat is cooking, you can prepare your salad fix-ins in a bowl and set aside.

Today I used:

Spring Mix, Mini Sweet Peppers, Carrots, Sweet Peas, Diced Tomato, Diced Onion, Diced Cilantro

Next add some flavoring and seasonings to the cooked beef.

Knorr Tomato Bouillon (1 tsp),

Chili powder

Cayenne pepper

Cumin

Paprika

Garlic powder

Onion flakes

Oregano

Red Pepper Flakes

(I generally just guesstimate my spices since I've been making my own seasoned taco meat for years. If you want detailed measurements for the seasoned meat you can check out the recipe at allrecipes.com.)

There should still be a bit of excess water (from rinsing the meat) which will work well to mix and cook these seasonings into the meat. If you drained out all the water just add a splash back in. There is no need to add any additional salt because the tomato bouillon contains sodium and you probably won't want (or need) any more.

Add your seasoned ground beef on top of your salad fix-ins and sprinkle with a bit of grated cheese.

You could save yourself 114 calories by eliminating the cheese, but I appreciate this little splurge. I make up for it by using Green Taco Sauce as my dressing and skipping any sour cream or other dressings containing fat.

You could substitute seasoned black beans for the meat, saving yourself another 111 calories but upping your carbs by 25g. I'm not ready to give up my meat yet either. ;)

Here are a few other options you might consider adding or substituting for something above. I've included the approximate nutrition information for each so you can make good choices:

calories carbs fat protein

Jalapeno Peppers, 1 pepper

Olives, Black, Sliced - 1 Tablespoons, 1 serving

Light Sour Cream, 2 tbsp

Beans, black, 0.5 cup

114

Salsa, 0.25 cup

Cheddar Cheese Low Fat Shredded, 0.13 cup

Avocados, California (Haas), 0.5 cup, pureed

192

Salads don't have to be boring or plain . . . enjoy your salad!

Don't forget we are having a healthy eating, weight loss and fitness link party. So come link up . . . just click on the image below to be taken there:

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Caldo de Camarón ~ a.k.a. ~ Spicy Shrimp Soup

2013-03-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

I promised you I would share one of my most favorite recipes and I meant it. I love to order shrimp cocktail or seafood soup at authentic Mexican restaurants. Their shrimp cocktail is totally different than what you would get if you ordered one at an American Restaurant. It's really more of a soup and it's De~licious!

This recipe is very similar to what you would get at a Mexican restaurant, but it's MY version. It's one of my most favorite light meals EVER. The only real difference I can tell is that I just don't serve mine in a big margarita glass like the Mexican Restaurants do. Sorry. :)

{ I need those margarita glasses for real margaritas . . . shhhh }

CALORIES

CARBS

FAT

PROTEIN

I use frozen cooked shrimp from Costco (peeled/tail off), so all I do is submerge them into boiling water until they are heated thoroughly. You can use fresh shrimp from your grocer if you prefer, just clean it and cook it accordingly.

Use approximately 12 oz. of shrimp to make enough for four servings

Add cooked shrimp to a pot with:

3-4 Cups Tomato juice (Clamato or Spicy V8 can be used if preferred)

2 Cups Diced Tomatoes

Juice of 3-4 limes

2-4 Diced Jalapenos

2 cloves Diced Fresh Garlic

2 Cups Chopped Cucumber

1 Cup Diced Sweet Onions

1 Packet of Sweetener or Tablespoon of Sugar (optional)

Salt & Pepper to taste (optional)

A pinch or two of Red Pepper Flakes to add heat (optional ~ a must for me, but I love spicy)

Bring JUST to a boil then remove from heat and add:

1 Bunch Diced Cilantro

2 Large Diced Avocados

Caldo de camarón

Serve with a wedge of lime.

This dish is so fresh and satisfying. Of course, I really spice mine up with the jalapenos, red pepper flakes and sometimes I use the Spicy V8 also. The Clamato has clam juice and adds more of a seafood depth to the soup. If you love seafood this would be for you. I listed the sweeteners as optional but in my opinion it is just not the same without that slight sweetness, but it's up to you. Enjoy!

Note: Many Mexican Restaurants will serve with Saltine crackers and tomato ketchup on the side. The tomato ketchup adds sweetness and would replace the packet of sweetener or sugar listed above. These ingredients are optional and I have not included them in my nutritional values below.

per serving calories carbs fat protein

Cucumber (peeled), 0.5 cup, pared, chopped

Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year round average, 0.5 cup, chopped or sliced

Vegetable Juice Cocktail (V8), 1 cup

Shrimp, cooked, 3 oz

Avocados, California (Haas), 0.5 fruit without skin and seeds

144

Limes, 1 fruit (2" dia)

Jalapeno Peppers, 1 pepper

Cilantro, raw, 1 tbsp

Onions, raw, 0.25 cup, chopped

DINNER TOTALS:

345

Don't forget to link up or even just check out the amazing healthy recipes, fitness tips, personal challenges and inspirational posts going on at our link party NOW:

AND!!! . . .

Don't forget to enter the Saint Patrick's Giveaway for a $165 Target Gift card that I'm Co-hosting HERE:

Who couldn't spend $165 at Target???

I swear I did just that on Saturday. :)

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Sherry :)

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Saint Patrick's Giveaway Event

2013-03-11T07:11:00.001-07:00

Hello Friends! Thanks for stopping by. This week I'm taking part in group giveaway. Hope you will join us:

Somehow Chaotic | Chestnut Mocha | Marine Wife, Mommy, Life

Little Country Girl | The Frugal Foodie Mama | Britt Renee

The Domestic Fringe | Dear Brighton | Beauty Without Limits

Pretty Little Inspirations | One of Five | Pure Joy

Peace It All Together | Sunday Charm | This Little Light

Pink on the Cheek | Giveaways & Sweepstakes / Famous Free Samples | The Life of a Not So Ordinary Wife

Dreaming About Someday | Do Small Things with Love | Gone Yonkers

Pondered Primed Perfected | Glossy Blonde | Delightful Dream

So excited to be teaming up with all the fabulous ladies above to bring to you another fabulous giveaway except this time we are celebrating Saint Patrick's Day :) If it wasn't for the ladies above this giveaway wouldn't be possible so please take a second to visit their blogs and say thanks! We are giving away a $165 Target giftcard to one lucky person.

Giveaway Details:

+You MUST be a My Beautiful, Crazy Life reader

+This giveaway will end on March 16 at 11:00p.m. so get your entries in before its too late!

+Winner will be verified, so make sure your doing what you say you are :)

+Winner will be contacted via e-mail & need to respond within 24 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

Good luck :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by today!

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Beating the "Blog Bulge" and a Link Party!

2013-03-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

Did you know March is National Nutrition Month? It is. Perfect timing for taking a look at what we're feeding our bodies...

If you visit P3 often you've probably figured out that I am constantly working on being a healthy, happy person. Aren't we all? Remember my Scale In Front of the Fridge post? One of my biggest challenges in the battle to being healthy is my weight. It's not something that's easy for me to talk about. Well, maybe it's a little easier here on my blog with you than it is anywhere else. You are all so positive and supportive to me. Thank you for that.

My weight is one of my biggest insecurities. My size. I've never been considered a "skinny" person and I guess that's okay. But I have been within what is considered a good healthy weight range for my height and age before. A few times! Ha ha. What does that tell you?

Let me start from the beginning:

When I was in grade school I think someone must have teased me about being a little thick. I wasn't really overweight in grade school, but like I already mentioned, I've never been "skinny" either. I remember coming home and asking my mom why my legs were thicker than some of the other girls'. My sweet mom told me that my legs were nice and curvy ~ healthy ~ and that I didn't need to worry about it.

You can probably guess which one I am in this pic...the tall brunette in the back row, left.
How did I end up in this group of cute little blonde girls?

And she was right. But I did. Worry, that is.

At the time I was a very healthy weight for my height and age. What I didn't understand as a young girl is that some girls were just naturally very thin. I wasn't.

I'm not. To give you some perspective, I am just under 5'8" and I wear a size 10 shoes. I could never be considered petite. Even at a healthy weight I would not drop down below a size nine. I would look thin in a size nine. I want to be a size nine.

Jump forward to middle school years when EVERYONE was hyper aware of their appearance, not to mention everyone else's. Add in social stresses, puberty, pressure to do well in school and I was already turning to food to satisfy my emotional needs. I found myself eating when I felt lonely. I was eating to ease sadness. Oh, I was eating to celebrate accomplishments too. Each and every social occasion became another opportunity to treat myself to something extravagant and eat way more calories than I needed.

Ugh. This picture. But I do love grandma's knee highs! This is my family circa 1985.
That's me in the back, right side. Ignore my crazy hair . . . I'd just been swimming in the river.
Again, I'm not seriously overweight, but enough that I had a complex about it.

By the time I was in High School I had put on some extra pounds. I was unhappy and insecure about my weight and appearance. My insecurities inhibited me from doing things that I may otherwise have done. But I also did not know how to change my lifestyle. I had learned to use food to deal with life's stresses instead of eating only to feed my hunger. I was the poster child for low self-esteem.

Skip ahead a couple more years. By the age of twenty I had committed to losing my extra weight and had done a pretty good job of it. Partly just from depriving myself of food and also because I was a young working woman out on my own (read broke). I had gone from a size 18 to a size 9 and I felt so good about how I looked. My confidence in social situations had gone way up. It's amazing how much confidence we have when we feel good about our appearance, isn't it? But this weight and confidence did not last long because at the age of twenty one I became a new mom and quickly put back on all of the weight that I'd just recently lost. Shucks!

Imagine that.

After the birth of my beautiful daughter in 1990, it took me several years to get the weight off again. This time I did it the right way though ~ eating healthy and exercising instead of just depriving myself. I kept the majority of the weight off for years. When I got married 13 years ago I wore a size 12 wedding dress. (Oh how I would love to wear size 12 soon.)

In 2002 I gave birth to my darling baby boy, Alex, and again started the journey to lose that "baby fat" that I'd put on with the pregnancy. Eventually I did. It took some time though. I'd gotten better at changing my habits and recognizing that I tend to use food as an emotional crutch. I'd also gotten older and the weight just doesn't come off as quickly as we age.

Me in my early forties

When I turned 40 I started running. I actually ran my first 5k three days before my 40th birthday. It was a challenge for this "non-runner" body of mine, but I made it across the finish line and started a brand new chapter in my life. I like to think of it as the chapter where I finally became comfortable in my own skin and truly happy with who I am. I've been running several 5k's a year and doing other challenges ever since then.

That's me on the left after running the Twilight 5k in downtown Portland.
The gorgeous lady to the right is my friend Gina.

These events give me motivation to stay active.

After the Warrior Dash last September. My sister Loma is on the right and I'm on the left. I do love how the mud patches on her shirt make a frog face!

When I was asked to take part in this challenge with the other ladies I was nervous. Talking about my weight publicly did not sound appealing. But maybe that's the point. Maybe I just need to come to terms with where I'm at and commit full force to reaching my goals. It's not really a secret that I could be slimmer. I'm currently between a size 14 and 16. Cringe. Anyone who sees me knows I could lose a few pounds (gross under exaggeration here). And I am a self professed food lover. Yes, it's true. But I love healthy foods too (think salads, lean meats, avocado, fruits and veggies)...

Mmmm . . . very satisfying healthy meal I make called Caldo de camarón, or Shrimp Soup.
I will share the recipe with you very soon.

So here I am . . . taking part in what I like to think of as DIY for my body and health. I won't bore you with all the daily details, but I'll keep you posted from time to time on my successes and challenges along the way. And I'll share my favorite low-cal recipes and healthy tips. Wish me luck!

Here are my goals:

Eating a healthy diet within my calorie range (1200 ~ 1500 as indicated by my height, age, and sex)
Preparing a weekly food plan to follow
Logging my foods daily (so I can see where I may be getting off track)
Running or Cardio exercise 2 -3 times per week
Strength training and core building 2 - 3 times per week
Finding healthy alternatives for my favorite treats (so I'm not feeling deprived and tempted to cheat)
Drinking my suggested water intake and taking multi-vitamins.
Losing 20~30 lbs.

I've already invested in a gym membership and find this to be an invaluable part of my fitness routine. Going to the gym and working out with a couple of very encouraging ladies has been vital in getting me back on track. Now if I can just get my calorie intake down to where I am actually losing weight.

Here is my first TIP for losing weight:

If you are the type of person that needs to follow a plan ~ I have the place for you. You could use Weight Watchers ~ they have a very high success rate and come highly recommended, but it does cost you. I've found a site that offers pretty much the same thing and it's FREE . . .

SPARKPEOPLE.

Visit http://www.sparkpeople.com. It is a FREE weight loss website that has some great resources, including personal Trackers. Think Food Tracker, Exercise Tracker, Weight Tracker, etc. You can even record your water and supplement intake and your body measurements if you want. Their Food Tracker has tons of pre-programmed foods and if your particular food is not listed you can add it in using the nutrition label info. If you need help staying on track this website is AWESOME. I like it just to keep tabs on my calorie intake. They also have meal plans, fitness plans, networking and challenges if you are wanting more options. Did I mention shopping lists??? Or recipes??? Yeah, they have those too. Okay, that's my take on SparkPeople. I love this website. :)

I hope you will join with me and these other beautiful ladies in changing our lifestyle and improving our health, appearance and self confidence in the process.

If you've already accomplished your goals ~ share your story. If you are just beginning ~ share your goals and challenges. Come on . . . what are you waiting for?

I would like you to meet the TEAM that will be hosting and encouraging all of us through this challenge:

Top row left me Sherry of Pondered Primed Perfected

Top row center Claire of A Little Claireification

Top row right Tammy of Curb Alert

Middle row left Kristin of 9th & Mayne

Middle row right Amanda of Mommy is Coo Coo

Bottom row left BJ of Joy 2 Journey

Bottom row center Lori of Vintage Charm Restored

Bottom row right Julie of Redhead Can Decorate ~ the Mastermind behind this party!

Go visit them and say HI. Read their stories and personal challenges. Let them know you are taking part. We would love to have you join us on this journey.

The great news is, you are welcome to join us in the private Facebook group if you are looking for some support. Here is the link to our group if you would like to check it out.
You do not have to be a blogger, and all you have to do is ask to join the group when you go to this link.

"Blog Bulge Babes Group"

The other good news is that if you have a blog, you are welcome to share this "Blog Bulge Link Party" on your blog if you would like to inspire your followers. We would love to share the code with you if you join the group.
Inserting the code into your post will bring up all of the links below and allow others to link their posts at your place.

<div align="center"><a href="http://ponderedprimedperfected.blogspot.com/" title="Pondered Primed Perfected"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wFOoMTBU1kI/UTVaNiCE36I/AAAAAAAAWEw/rv__wI1QNTE/s1600/blog+bulge+image.jpg" alt="Pondered Primed Perfected" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Don't forget to grab this button code and share it on your post or sidebar.

Please link up healthy recipes, weight loss/gain stories, weight loss tips, favorite exercise plans, anything "getting healthy" below.
This party will run until June 6th unless we decide longer (it takes time to get back on track).
You can keep coming back to link up more than one post and find inspiration on your visits.
Please copy/paste the Blog Bulge pink button above and share somewhere on your blog with the image linking back to this party (found under the button).
Only family friendly links will be approved.
OUR FAVORITES WILL BE FEATURED on Facebook, Pinterest, G+, and Twitter.

And hey, thanks for being here. :)

********************************************
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Styling a Spring Shelf

2013-03-03T17:49:00.000-08:00

This shelf came from our son's room when he got some new furniture.

It really wasn't appropriate for a boys room anyway with the scalloped edges.

But we had no other place for it.

I wasn't ready to part with it but I needed to find a place for it to go.

That's how it ended up here in my craft room and office.

I'd put a few things on it but hadn't spent any time making it look pretty.

Until today that is.

I put the two wooden bottle crates up there and one thing led to another.

I decided to put all the little ceramic pieces inside one of the bottle crates.

I didn't think to take a picture until after I had started because I didn't realize it was becoming a full on project ~ until it was too late.

A little tweaking and moving things around until I found the right mix.

A few things removed and a few more added...

I love my little egg cups!

Some spring color with lemons and limes. A grapevine wreath brings an element of nature.

A platter with a basket weave, white ceramic pitcher and green creamer.

Some of my favorite books and thrift store binoculars.

My painted horse book end lightens up a corner.

Large white ceramic bread bin from a junk shop.

Wooden pear painted white with twine bow added.

Tiny ceramic cup and saucer with spring green interiors.

Displaying the white ceramics together like this creates a nice collection.

Magazines stored in a .50 cent green wire basket from a thrift store. Lucky find!

Green is my favorite color...then white. ;)

The green accents in honor of St. Patrick's Day.

The white because it's fresh and bright for Spring.

Just some of my favorite things.

Eventually this shelf will get a makeover, but for now...

I'm loving how it looks.

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Hanging out here:
http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/
http://eclecticallyvintage.com
http://www.bystephanielynn.com
http://www.alderberryhill.com
http://www.craft-o-maniac.com
http://www.thegirlcreative.com
http://makingtheworldcuter.com
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com
http://homastyle.com
http://www.mom4real.com
http://www.therusticpig.com
http://diyshowoff.com
http://www.allthingswithpurpose.com

Spring Inspiration

2013-03-01T13:42:00.001-08:00

Are you ready for spring? I am so ready!
For the sunshine and all the beauty that comes with it.
These photos from the past couple of Spring seasons were a nice reminder to me..
So I thought I would share some.

I hope you enjoy them. :)

Smelling fresh flowers and herbs:

Getting dirty hands in the garden:

Marveling at how quickly strawberries grow:

Having impromptu 'Car Washes':

Watching the Littles when they don't know anyone is paying attention:

Doing messy projects outside:

Laying in the yard soaking up the sunshine:

Enjoying Nature:

Searching for treasures:

Trimming the Grass:

Admiring Sidewalk Artwork:

Climbing Trees:

Playing Make Believe:

What do you love most about Spring?

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Chevron Stripe Table Makeover ~ a.k.a. Folding TV Tables

2013-02-21T07:22:00.000-08:00

Our new coffee table slash folding tables a.k.a. tv trays, being presented to you by the beautiful Miss Sadie!

These tables were passed on to Scott and our family by an amazing relative who was fondly called Grandpa Chuck. He was grandpa by marriage but that didn't matter to us. He was the greatest. He was always tinkering away in his wood shop. He made all kinds of toys and furniture for the family. It was a privilege to receive something made by Chuck. When he wasn't in the wood shop he was in the garden growing some gorgeous flowers and veggies while Helen was in the kitchen canning and preserving. We used to go visit them at their home near the beach and play Pinochle with them for hours. Then we would pig out on sugar free ice cream (because Helen was diabetic) and sit and talk until bedtime. They were always bantering back and forth...so cute. Such great memories of the good times we had together. They were so fun. They taught us so much. Miss them bunches!

So these folding tables carry with them a lot of fond memories.

We wouldn't want to part with them.

BUT...I did want to lighten them up a bit. Give them a little bit of fun personality to go with our space. I don't think Grandpa Chuck would mind. I hope not!

First I painted them with a crisp white.

Then, as you see in the picture above, I taped off a large chevron stripe

(or arrow) on each table. I used Maison Blanche paint in Cobblestone to add the stripe detail. I wanted the stripe to be somewhat subtle and not overpower the rest of the room, but still add interest.

(Maison Blanche paint is available at Fox Hollow Cottage if you are interested)

Once the chevron stripe was completed I removed the masking tape:

Much better!

They just needed a couple of touch ups where the white paint had chipped and they were done.

Now they look good enough to use as a coffee table in this room.

Perfect for setting a steaming mug of coffee on, or holding a laptop. Easily moved out of the way and folded up for when I exercise in here.

They can even be pulled apart and used as "t.v. trays" from time to time. ;)

Although we don't have a television in this room.

My orchid (minus blooms!) looks great here too. (Anyone have any orchid care or advice for me - I'm open to hear it. Poor little thing just won't bloom.)

(Let's just pretend you don't see the primed end table in these pics...it's mid makeover :)

What do you think about the new look?

Better, right!?

Partying with Liz Marie :)
and Miss Mustard Seed
Roeshel at DIY Showoff
Diana's Pin Me Party
and Chic on a Shoestring
Oh and Courtney at French Country Cottage!
Alderberry Hill
I Should Be Mopping the Floor
Monday Funday
The Rustic Pig
The DIYers Link Party
The Dedicated House
http://makingtheworldcuter.com