The C & M Press

It's coming...

2012-04-24T14:42:00.001-07:00

and sooner than you think! ;-)

Moving on Up...

2012-04-12T11:31:00.003-07:00

Remember a few weeks back when I talked about moving? Well it is time to let the cat out of the bag...Lovin' Our Chaos is moving! Don't worry...you won't have to do anything. No moving boxes or packing tape needed. Lovin' Our Chaos will still be found here at lovinourchaos.com, but it will be on a different blogging platform, called wordpress. Again, that really doesn't effect you. It means that I will have a new and improved layout. I will own my own content and there will be plenty of space and opportunity to grow!

This blog originally started in September of 2007, when Moriah was 4 months old. I was inspired by a mommy friend of mine who had chronicled her entire pregnancy on their family blog. Being a former scrapbooker, I was intrigued by this new digital format of scrapbooking my children's lives. Thus, the C and M Press was born. It started painfully slow and in a different format. Trial and error and error won. I needed a different blog host, one that didn't require readers to sign up for an account and have to be invited to read. After a little research, I found a home and after a rocky start, the C and M Press moved forward.

Then Lincoln was born. And the C and M Press needed an L in there somewhere. The C and M Press morphed into Lovin' Our Chaos and here we are today.

But like all things in life, times are changing and my little blog is moving on up to the bigger wordpress!

What to Expect:
~ You will STILL be able to find lovinourchaos.com at the same web address
~ I will be blogging about life, love and everything else.
* This will include crafts, DIY projects, re-modeling, life after loss, simple meals, plus I will still be blogging about my kids!
~ A new look and updated header picture

But...you might have to keep up with Lovin' Our Chaos differently than you have before. If you have followed with Google Friend Connect, it supposedly is not compatible with WP and we may not show up in your reader.

But don't be in despair! You will be able to subscribe to Lovin' Our Chaos via a RSS feed or email. Plus, you can still find me pinning away on Pinterest.

I hope you come along on this new journey with me, I promise it will be fun! Thank you for reading and being so patient as I make this transition!

And here is a sneak peek at the new site:

7 years

2012-04-09T04:54:00.004-07:00

Another year, another anniversary. Yet not a day goes by that I don't think of you and the hole in my being that was left when you passed from this life.

I can remember you telling different people after you were diagnosed, that you couldn't die because your children and grandchildren NEEDED you. I didn't realize then just how much I needed you or would need you.

You raised us three kids and were just starting to enjoy your grand-kids. 5 years just doesn't seem like enough time. You only had 5 years. And yes, I am pretty bitter about it.

You never got the chance to see them go to school. You never got to hear about their accomplishments, you will never attend awards ceremonies or first days of school. Papa does his best, but I can only imagine what it would be like if you were still alive.

The last few months have left me longing for you more than ever before. I have always heard that 'it gets better with time'. Really? What gets better? The pain of losing you is felt each and every day of my life. The impact of your death has reverberated time and time again. We will never be the same.

I turned 32 a few weeks ago and feel so cheated. Out of everyone in the family, I got to have the least amount of time with you. Angie was 33 when you died, I am only 32. What I wouldn't give to have had you over these last few years and for one more year. I can't call you up and ask you to say a prayer for me, when I am frustrated and overwhelmed with life. I can't have lunch or go shopping with you. I can't hug you tight or even get a glimpse of your beautiful face. You were right, I NEEDED you.

I try and be positive and exemplify what you were, a ray of sunshine and pure goodness. A true lady. An example of a real Christian. But sometimes I just feel like being honest. And often times honesty is not always beautiful or positive.

I guess that today is the day that I choose to be 'negative' and say what I really want to say. Life sucks with out you. There, I said it. I know that you wouldn't like me to say that and I am pretty sure that those are not 'lady-like' words, but there are very few words that describe how you were taken so swiftly out of our lives and the impact that was left.

Today is not Mother's Day or your birthday. I reserve those days to remember your beauty, both inside and out. On those days, I choose to think, speak, and write about the legacy that you left and the many wonderful things that you passed on to me. I choose to relish the good memories and the joy you were in the many different lives you touched. I choose to be positive and think, talk and write about the good.

But not today. This is not a happy day. Today is the day that you were so quickly taken from our lives. This will never be a happy day. There are no amount of tears that can make it feel better. No comforting words. It is what it is.

Today we will make our way out to your final resting place today and do the only thing that we can do for you. Bring flowers to mark your grave. It really sucks.

Favorite Pinterest Pins from this Week

2012-04-01T15:22:00.002-07:00

Another week gone. And Hello April!! The party season has started at our house and will continue until May, with a little break until Lincoln's birthday in July. Then we are done with birthdays in our immediate family until next year. Not quite as much time this week to browse and pin, but Spring Break is here and I am sure I will have more to share next week.

Here are a few of my favorite pins from this week!

Source: lemontreecreations.blogspot.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

I have a bunch of leftover plates from my gallery wall and plan on using them like this. Plan to put them up on the pot shelf in my kitchen!

Source: icandyhandmade.blogspot.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

Love this idea as well, although I have no idea where I can put it.

Source: homemademamas.net via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

I can always use some good tips for whiter clothes!

Source: positivelysplendid.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

I think this looks looks adorable! May have to try something similar during Spring Break with the kiddos!

Source: duitang.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

I have the perfect sweater to turn into a bag, but WARNING...the directions are in a foreign language, so just use the pictures as your guide!

Source: simplypix.tumblr.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

Just beautiful!

What about you? What were your favorite pins this week?

Happy 5th Birthday to our Princess!

2012-03-31T14:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful daughter a mommy and daddy could ask for!

Dear Moriah.
Happy Birthday Princess! Today you are five years old and while you are enjoying your special birthday shopping trip to the toy store with Papa and Nanny, I will be thinking of that beautiful day when you were born.

Just like today, you were born on a Saturday. Daddy and Mommy were so excited to finally get to meet you. What would you be like and who would you look like? Little did we know that you would surpass our expectations and dreams of what we ever envisioned you would be like.

The past five years have flown by and we are so blessed to call you our daughter.

You are kind and sweet.

You are considerate of others feelings.

You love God and have been feeling drawn to His spirit.

You are such a little Mama to your little brother, although he is about as big as you.

You have a huge imagination and I hope you continue to expand it.

You love babies and love to nurture.

You are smart.

You are loving and you melt my heart every time you throw your arms around my neck.

You are funny and have an adorable laugh.

You are beautiful and have the prettiest blue eyes.

You are ours and now...

You are five!

5 years old

4 Years Old

3 Years Old

2 Years Old

15 Months Old

1 Year Old

Almost 1 Year Old

9 Months

8 Months Old

4 Months Old

1 Month

DIY Camera Bag

2012-03-27T02:00:00.001-07:00

Let me start by saying that I love taking pictures and I have a fairly nice and $expensive camera (Canon Rebel T3i). Over the last few months, I have learned how important it is to have a special camera bag to carry your camera in, but all of the bags that I have found, have been $50 or higher and I really cannot justify spending that amount for a camera bag. I am sure that those bags are fabulous and are of great quality, but this mama just doesn't roll like that! DIY and inexpensive is right up my alley!

I decided to make my own bag and it turned out perfect, so I wanted to share how I did it!

Materials Needed:

~ Your choice of bag (inside needs to accommodate your camera, lenses, etc, plus extra room for the padding)

~ 1/2" foam (purchased from Jo-Anns)

~ Sewing Machine; thread, scissors

Here is my bag that I purchased from Wal-Mart for $10! It has a magnetic closure and inside pocket for business cards, memory cards, etc.

Inside of this bag has a simple lining

I ripped the seam out of the bottom of the lining, which granted me access to the insides of the purse.

Next, I took my foam and folded it in half and worked it into the bag, through the open lining. I trimmed the foam, so it fit and stayed flush with the bag.

I quickly re-sewed the seam and pushed the lining back into the bag, to complete a fabulous bag that fits my camera perfectly!

I love how I am able to fit my camera in this nicely padded bag, which keeps it protected, but it also doesn't scream CAMERA BAG, which invites thieves and little children who 'accidently' drop cameras! ;-)

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Come back soon for easy, inexpensive, DIY projects!

Favorite Pinterest Pins from this Week

2012-03-26T07:32:00.002-07:00

It has been a busy around here the last few days. Blog posts to come about a certain Minnie Mouse party and an easy tutorial. In the meantime, here are my favorite Pinterest pins from last week.

Really adorable way to display cutlery at a baby shower.

Source: creative-baby-shower-ideas.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

Love this idea of storing metal bobbins.

Source: domesticadventure.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

One of my own...a shameless plug for Missy Prissy Bow Boutique. A sample of made to match (M2M).

Source: Uploaded by user via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

'Skinny' Monkey Cookies

Source: onceamonthmom.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

Not as many pins this week, I have been a little busy. ;-) What were your favorite pins this week?

Winner, Winner!!

2012-03-21T17:01:00.001-07:00

And the winner of the Rapunzel braid is comment #22, who is...

MarabianMar 17, 2012 05:51 AM
Adorable! I'd love to win one for my granddaughter!

ReplyDelete

This was chosen by random.org
True Random Number Generator
Min:
Max:
Result:
22
Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Please contact me by Sunday March 25th to claim your prize. If prize is not claimed, another random comment will be chosen.

Congratuations!

Totally Rad 80's Party, Dude!

2012-03-19T20:50:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, Sis Vanessa from our church had an 80's themed birthday party and boy was it fun to see everybody all dressed in their 80's clothes! I bought most of our stuff at Goodwill, but Chandler's sunglasses came from the party store.

Here is the birthday girl and her husband. Happy 25th Birthday!

Our 80's Family

You know, you think it is going to be easy to try and find 80's clothes at the thrift store, right? WRONG. I found Jeremy's outfit and a shirt for me, that I cut the neck out of, but finding outfits for the kids was near impossible. Some of my crafting blog friends suggested Bill Cosby sweaters and such, but I just couldn't find them in kids sizes. Chandler was a little sad that I only brought him home the crazy sunglasses, but then I had a bright idea. I took one of Chandler's long sleeve shirts and cut a V down the front. Next, we found 3 matching buttons and hot-glued them directly to the bottom of the shirt. This gave it an 80's cardigan look. Finally, after much convincing, I talked Chandler into gluing on a skinny tie made out of felt on his t-shirt. Voila. 80's fo' sure!

Lincoln, rockin' the 80's glasses

All the boys that were at the party. A little ninja, body builder, Jackie Chan, tie dye look. LOL!

All of us girls that were dressed in our 80's gear. Too funny!

All of the guys. Whoa, a blast from the past.

The Delgados. I think this is Revenge of the Nerds?!

A little Michael Jackson and Madonna...

And Sis Tina with Nicholas and Danielle sporting their 80's attire.

This party was a blast and now Chandler is already planning his 'theme' party!

Favorite Pinterest Pins from this Week

2012-03-18T12:06:00.002-07:00

It was a great week on Pinterest for me! I finally reached the 1,000 pin mark (yea!) and the Rapunzel Braid Tutorial that I featured in the post below, has been pinned and re-pinned numerous times!! Thank you!

So, here are a few of my favorite pins this week...enjoy!

Love these dollar store serving pieces to use for parties.

Source: decorchick.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

I really want to do something likie this in my kid's toy room.

Source: bhg.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

I really want to try this as party favors for Moriah's b-day party this week!

Source: dollarstoremom.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

Mmmm Mmmmm, this looks AMAZING!

Source: sandandsisal.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

I love broken glass, like this sea glass and think this is a really great idea. (Plus, this blogger is one of my friends!)

Source: sandandsisal.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

So, what great pins where your favorite this week?

Rapunzel Braid Hair Clip ~ DIY Tutorial

2012-03-15T19:50:00.006-07:00

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Raise your hand if your princess loves Rapunzel. Raise your hand (or your princess's hand) if she would love a Rapunzel braid to clip in her hair...

A few weeks ago, one of my loyal customers contacted me and asked if I could make a Rapunzel braid hair clip for her daughter's birthday. I jumped at the chance to make something different than what I normally do and decided that I just had to share it on my blog.

And for those of you that love to look at crafts but would rather buy, you can purchase one through missyprissybowboutique.com

Rapunzel Braid Hair Clip

Supply List

Yarn (I chose a soft cotton blend)
Felt
French clip
Scissors
Hot Glue
Rhinestones or Buttons

1. Started off by using my two barstools to wind the yarn. Once I got a nice thick section of yarn, I cut it through both ends and combined. This provided me with a good section of yarn hair for the braid. I also used a small piece of yarn to tie around and secure it.

2. Next, I cut out 2 felt circles, in which I would secure the braid to.

3. I then braided the yarn, just like a normal 'human' braid.

4. Glued a felt circle on each side of the braid and then glued the excess felt together. This makes a strong backing that can hold the weight of the braid.

5. I cut out a few different size and colors of felt flowers and glued them together, stacking when necessary. The big flowers were glued to the round felt pieces and the small flowers were glued to the braid itself.

6. This flower was slightly smaller and was glued to the bottom of the braid.

7. Here it is on the bottom of the braid, with the tail of 'hair' sticking out.

8. Next, I took my french clip and removed the spring from it and ran a bead of glue on the back. I then secured it to the felt circle.

9. I glued a small piece of felt over the clip and replaced the spring.

10. Voila! A Rapunzel Braid Hair Clip, fit for a Princess!

Favorite Pinterest Pins from this Week

2012-03-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Source: godblessournest.blogspot.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

Love this sweet & easy burlap crystal mobile/chandelier!

Source: somewhatsimple.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

Really great tip for hanging pictures or frames.

Source: theburlapbag.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

Very useful tip for ridding your clothes of those pesky pills!

Source: bedifferentactnormal.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

Favorite idea of this week...balloons with dollars inside and shipped to birthday child! Can't wait to do this for my niece and nephew this year!

What about you? What were your favorite pins this week?

Guest Post from Amy @ Modge Podge Rocks

2012-03-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

So excited to have my first guest blogger today and it is none other than the FABULOUS Amy from the MEGA blog Mod Podge Rocks! Thank you Amy for guesting today and for the easy tutorial!

This is Amy from Mod Podge Rocks, so pleased to be here at Lovin' Our Chaos today! I have been blogging for almost four years at MPR, and I am (as you can guess) addicted to crafts and DIY. I love creating, but I also love writing. I co-own Decor Hacks with Heather Mann, and I contribute to Babble.com's The New Home Ec. Not to mention that I have a new book coming out this June called Mod Podge Rocks. You could say I keep busy.
I hope you enjoy my button coat rack. I had a blast making it, and the more colors the better (in my humble opinion). Customize a coat rack to fit your decor! Here's how I made mine.

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I’ve been obsessed with buttons since I was little. I’m also obsessed with shopping bags, and so I decided to bring the two loves together in this button coat rack. Are you one of those people that has a healthy bag collection? Me too – and there’s nowhere for the bags to go except jammed into the bottom of my closet. I decided to remedy that situation by organizing my bags on a coat rack distressed and accented with buttons. Here’s how I did it.

Wood coat rack

FolkArt Acrylic Paint

Assorted Buttons

Craft Glue

Flat Paint Brush

Stencil Décor Stencil Tape

Candle or piece of wax

Sandpaper – medium grit, one piece

Basecoat the rack with a color – I used a shade of pink. This color is only going to show through the overcoat slightly, so don’t worry about doing a bang-up job. I just painted two coats and I did NOT paint the hangers. Allow to dry.

Your next step is to rub the candle or piece of wax in certain areas on the rack that you would like distressed. I just picked random patches on the front of the rack and edges. Rub a little wax here and here.

Now that your coat rack has been waxed like a pair of skis, paint over it with another paint color. I chose a shade of white and so had to paint about three coats to fully cover the pink. This time I painted the hangers. Once you are satisfied with the coverage, allow to dry.

Take your rack outside and begin sanding with your paper. Check out the picture – do you see the pink starting to show through? Those are the areas I waxed! The paint just sands right off. Don’t sand too hard or you will sand down to the wood. Sand very lightly for less distressing and a little more for a more distressed look. Stop when you are happy with the effect. Wipe the sanding dust off of your rack.

I love stripes – did I mention that? I decided while doing this project that stripes would be a nice backdrop for my buttons. I used stencil tape to make stripes going in different directions. The thickness of the stencil tape doesn’t matter, you just need to space the pieces so that you have the thickness of stripes that you want. I wanted mine to be relatively thin, as you can see. Paint the stripes (I did three coats with a blue) and then remove the tape immediately. Allow to dry.

To jazz my rack up even further, I used more stencil tape and a lighter blue to make stripes going in other directions. Same applies as before – paint about three coats, and then remove the tape immediately. Allow to dry.

Finally, I added the buttons with craft glue. Before I glued anything down, I laid all of the buttons out to make sure that I was happy with the way they looked and the colors. I highly recommend ALWAYS doing this before you glue anything down.

Now my bags have a place to go and I have a crazy button rack like I’ve always wanted. The world is good.

Quinoa Fiesta Salad ~ Simple Meals

2012-03-08T17:20:00.002-08:00

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Another family favorite at our house! Quinoa Fiesta Salad

Never heard of Quinoa? Well simply put, it's a whole grain and super nutritious! I generally buy mine from Trader Joe's, but I am sure you can find it at other grocery stores as well.

1 cup of Quinoa, cooked with broth
2 cups of broth (I found that it doesn't matter what kind)
15oz can of Black Beans
2 cups of Roasted Corn Kernels (I buy these at Trader Joe's)
1/2 cup onion, finely diced
3/4 cup Cilantro Salad Dressing (Trader Joe's)
1/2 bunch of cilantro, washed & chopped
Splash of Olive Oil
Splash of Lime juice
Sea Salt & Pepper

Optional Ingredients:
1 Avocado, sliced into 1/2" pieces
1 pint Grape Tomatoes

1. Begin by making the Quinoa according to the directions
2. While the Quinoa is simmering, combine the black beans, corn, and diced onions. Mix well.

3. Add the chopped cilantro and dressing. Mix well.

Quinoa cooks really fast and this is what it looks like when it is ready.

4. Add the cooked Quinoa to the fiesta blend and mix well. Add splash of olive oil, lime juice, salt & pepper to taste.

5. Quinoa Fiesta Salad is now complete and ready to serve.

At our house, we eat it with tortilla chips or just plain. It is also delicious just made or straight out of the refrigerator cold!

Enjoy!

Linking up to:

FREE Vista Print Offer for Kids

2012-03-08T11:41:00.006-08:00

I love, love, LOVE these kiddos! Chandler is doing phenomenal in school and has been a real help at home. Moriah has been learning to set the dinner table by herself and has been using her manners on a regular basis. And Lincoln, well he is Lincoln! ;-) Lincoln has been learning to put his dishes in the sink and help clean up the toy room. I can honestly say that all three kids have been a big help since the beginning of the year and I am sooo proud of them. Now, getting along and not arguing, bossing and fighting...THAT is another story. Just keeping it real...

VistaPrint has this really cool offer of 6 different products for kids...for FREE! Just pay shipping!

Check out the offer here:

(Offer ends at midnight{cst}TONIGHT!)

Personalize a notebook with one of 24 designs and your own text to fit your child’s style. A lucky pen will help remind any kid that his parents believe in him! With over 100 designs to choose from, you’re sure to make the perfect gift certificate for any situation. Choose from more than 800 designs and create a set of funny, sentimental, or just plain encouraging note cards. Then, add your own personal note to sneak into your child’s backpack for surprise encouragement. The products are FREE just pay shipping and processing.

Shipping Prices start at:
Notecards: $4.66
Note Pad: $4.54
Sticky Notes: $4.56
Notebook: $4.74
Pen: $4.60
Gift Certificate: $4.67

Maggianos Night Out

2012-03-07T17:40:00.001-08:00

Saturday night we went out to one of our ultimate favorite restaurants...Maggianos! Mr. Chaos did a favor for an out of town couple who was getting married and in turn, they bought our meal at Maggianos. The favor, you ask? Allowing them to borrow several of Jeremy's handguns with silencers for a few of their wedding pictures. This was right up Jeremy's alley. Oh, if he could only convince me to love guns as much as this new bride apparently does. :-) LOL!

Sis Leah & Moriah

Lincoln showing off his pasta eating skillz! ;-)

Papa's Girl...she knows who has all the sugar!

The H Family - Our good friends

Our little family

So glad that our good friends and my dad got to join us for yummy food and good conversation!

Claritin Day Here in Windy Las Vegas

2012-03-06T16:09:00.001-08:00

The last few days have been soooo windy here in Las Vegas. And that means ALLERGIES. Wind + Allergies = Bad Mix & unhappy person :-(
There is not much you can do to escape the crazy wind, except stay inside. And even then, the settling of all the dust and pollen that was in the air is enough to send your allergies into hysterics. Just take a look at my two crazies, hanging out in the wind...

So, here is a coupon for $4 off of Non-Drowsy Claritin-D Allergy Relief

And a $4 off coupon for regular Non-Drowsy Claritin Allergy

I hope this coupon helps you save a little $ and that the Claritin brings some relief to your sinuses!

Happy Windy Tuesday from our chaos to yours...

Favorite Pinterest Pins from this Week

2012-03-05T09:45:00.001-08:00

Source: tobi.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

Sparkly Shoes!!

Source: duitang.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

I LOVE this idea!! <3

Source: Uploaded by user via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

I really want to try this and see if it 'works' and if it is tasty.

Source: madiganmade.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

I want to try this at my next party! Sooo ingenious!

Source: Uploaded by user via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

AMEN!! That is one thing I like about subbing...as soon as the day is over, I can shut the door and leave!

Happy Birthday 10th Kennedy!

2012-03-04T15:20:00.000-08:00

My beautiful niece turned 10 back in February and her birthday wish was to go to the Red Rock Buffet for her birthday dinner, to Charming Charlies and to Build-A-Bear to get the 'boy' Koala bear. Because you know...every girl needs a girl AND a boy baby! ;-)

Kennedy at her birthday dinner.

Kennedy & Moriah at her shopping trip to Charming Charlies

My sister, Kennedy, & Moriah

Me, Kennedy, Moriah, & Lincoln

Picking out the baby boy Koala and the little girl bunny.

Stuffing their babies with love!

Giving their babies a bath and a brush.

Kennedy dressing her new baby boy!

Yes, even baby bunnies NEED underwear!

Moriah's bunny got a princess shirt, jean skirt, & sparkly shoes!

Kennedy and her new baby 'Jonathan'.

My sister, Kennedy, and the name baby Koala, Jonathan.

So much fun, now we are ready to take our babies home!

Kennedy & Moriah after their shopping trip to Build-A-Bear.

Happy 10th Birthday Kennedy...We love you!

DIY Frozen Cookie Dough

2012-03-02T12:40:00.005-08:00

I don't know about you, but I LOVE chocolate chip cookies! And for years, I have been a HUGE fan of the pre-made cookie dough. I usually buy the pre-made dough from Chandler's school fundraiser or on a pretty regular basis, at the grocery store. Well on Tuesday, I had a very strong desire from some yummy, SOFT, chocolate chip cookies. And lo and behold, I had a HUGE bag of chocolate chips leftover from making desserts from my Dad's party. I could make my OWN cookie dough! What a novel idea, right? LOL! Here are my easy directions for making your own Ready to Go Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

First, I followed the directions on the back of the Nestle chip bag and made my own cookie dough.

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Next, I used my handy Medium scoop from Pampered Chef and scooped my cookie dough into ready size cookie dough balls.

The final step was to put the already portioned cookie dough balls and put them into a freezer bag and plop in the ice box.

Now we have our own Home Made Frozen Cookie Dough...move over Betty Crocker, I am on a roll!

Roos-N-More Field Trip

2012-03-01T23:18:00.006-08:00

Today we went on a field trip to the fabulous Roos-N-More, with Moriah's school. How have I lived in Las Vegas for 21 years and not known, or even heard about this fabulous 'zoo'?! Located in Moapa, which is about an hour north of Las Vegas, this non-profit animal sanctuary is a true jewel in the Nevada desert.

Alpacas, a zebra, camels, armadillos, plenty of Kangaroo, and a variety of other animals can be petted, fed, or even held, while visiting this amazing zoo.

I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of interaction that the kids were allowed to have with the animals. I think that with the exception of the otters, they were given the opportunity to either pet, feed, hold, or enter into the animal's enclosure, for a hands-on educational experience. You can't beat that. And I promise, that my Moriah and Lincoln won't forget this field trip!

So if you get a chance, pack up the kids and head on out to Moapa for an experience that your kids will love! Or even better yet, schedule a private tour with your home school group, play group, or pre-school. I promise that YOU will even have fun!!

By the way, did you know that a baby Kangaroo is the size of an adult fingernail when it is born? And that it stays in the mother's pouch until it is about 9 months old?

Stuffed Bell Peppers ~ Simple Meals

2012-02-28T21:45:00.002-08:00

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By now, I am sure that you know that I like simple meals. Tasty, but simple. Not 25 ingredients and a bunch of spices that I can't pronounce, just simple and pretty quick. I am not into labors of love in the kitchen, now the craft room, that is another story! ;-)

So a family favorite in our house is my version of Stuffed Bell Peppers. Simple, fairly quick and loved by everyone! My kind of happy.

Ingredients

3-4 Green Bell Peppers Halved
1 - 1.5lbs Ground Beef or Ground Turkey
1/2 cup chopped Onions
1 can of Diced Tomatoes
1 cup Rice
1 2/3 cup Water
3 Tbs Garlic Salt
2 Tbs Italian Seasoning
1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce
1 cup shredded Cheese

Pre Heat oven to 375
1. Sautee onions, then add ground beef/turkey and brown.
2. Add Garlic Salt & Italian Seasoning

3. Add can of tomatoes, rice, water and bring to a boil.
4. Turn on low heat and cook till all liquid is absorbed by rice. (Time will vary according to what type of rice you use.)

5. While rice mixture is simmering, bring a pot of water to a boil.
6. Wash, cut, and halve green bell peppers.

7. Add bell peppers to boiling water and boil for 5-7 minutes. This softens the bell peppers.

8. Take bell peppers out of boiling water and pat dry. Place bell peppers in casserole dish and spoon rice mixture into each bell pepper. Sprinkle cheese on top and put in oven for 15 minutes. Take out of oven, let cool, serve & ENJOY!

Stolen or Lost Wallet and Monitoring your Credit

2012-02-27T22:19:00.002-08:00

A little over 3 weeks ago, my husband did a side job after work and while he was out, he stopped off at Burger King. Who cares, right?

Well, that was the last transaction he made with his debit card, before it was stolen or lost, along with his entire wallet. We are not exactly sure as to which it was, only that someone did try to use one of his debit cards at Red Box a few days later.

Of course panic set in as soon as we knew 'officially' that his wallet was gone. To be honest, we thought he had misplaced it and the wallet was going to turn up somewhere in the house. Nope, it was gone and we now had to go and cancel all of our cards and check to see if any of his other cards had been used. Oh what a pain in the neck that is to do.

Now, three weeks later, the new cards have been issued and he has replaced his drivers license and is working on getting duplicates of all of his union certificates for work. Oh my, what a process this has been.

But is it really over? What if somebody did get ahold of all of his personal information and tries to get credit cards in his name? Well, I have found the answer to that question...

Let me introduce you to Credit Sesame, the best way to manage your credit, loans, or debt...and it is FREE!!

Credit Sesame is a 100% free personal finance credit and debt management tool with no credit card required, nor does it have one of those 'tricky' trial periods. Credit Sesame gives an instant view of your current credit, including Experian credit score, which is refreshed monthly, plus it's free. Credit Sesame also makes managing personal credit online, owing less in interest and saving on mortgage, loan & credit card payments easy. CreditSesame.com is always free and secure to use. There are no credit cards required, no trial periods and no gotchas to sign up. They will update your credit score and debt profile for free, each and every month.

I am so glad that CreditSesame.com will be helping us to monitor Jeremy's credit score every month and for the grand price of FREE, it is a steal!!

Thank you CreditSesame.com! You have alleviated my throbbing head!

Try CreditSesame.com for FREE today, and I promise that it will take a load off of your mind as well!

Favorite Pinterest Pins from this week

2012-02-27T13:51:00.004-08:00

So, my intention is to post this each and every Sunday. But as usual, I am a little behind in blogging about some recent family events and I got delayed, but better late than never! ;-)

Here are some of my favorite pins from this week:

Source: lh4.ggpht.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

Love this storage idea!

Source: tumblr.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

Beautiful saying...

Source: cafemom.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

Really cute and inexpensive party decorating idea.

Source: thegalleygourmet.net via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

Yummy! Maybe our next party appetizer?

Source: plumadorable.com via Abbie @ Lovin' Our Chaos on Pinterest

I have been saving glass jars and this is the perfect idea! I can't wait to try it!!

So, what have been your favorite pins this week? Feel free to comment with a link to your Pinterest boards and I will follow you!

Craft and Sewing Room Organization

2012-02-27T00:47:00.007-08:00

Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved to get into my sister's things. There was just something about going into her immaculate room, which was so splendidly organized. I can remember waiting impatiently for her to leave for school, so I could find a way into her room and scribble with her unblemished, unused crayons, eat her chapsticks, or play with her perfectly dressed dolls. Oh how I LOVED her perfect little paradise.

And that has not changed.

Here we are, years later and she is still the more perfectly organized sister. Me? I am the more 'creatively, chaotic' sister.

I just love my sister's little sewing and craft utopia. I know that she spends countless hours sewing and creating and I am so glad that she has the perfect place to do it!

We were down visiting her this weekend and had the chance to spend a little time in her sewing/craft room. I took some pictures and couldn't wait to share them with you all...
Enjoy!

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