tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64591507950875793022024-02-06T19:46:19.266-08:00Obsessively Pinning!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-41236714220765524932015-06-01T14:21:00.001-07:002015-06-01T14:21:14.401-07:00Cracked Marble NecklacesA few months ago I finally did a Pin from Pinterest that I've been dying to do for like forever. Cracked Marble Necklaces. I saw <a href="http://www.craftsunleashed.com/jewelry-main/cracked-marble-necklace/" target="_blank">THIS</a> tutorial and began brain storming how I could use it as a youth activity for my church. The funny thing is, at the time I wasn't even serving with the youth! I was ready to do a tutorial all my own, but decided that she did the job just fine. What I would like to do is share my analogy that I came up with to make it church worthy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0o5KilMrEU_7fYikUSH3N6eRqoUu5Jtzkrp1ZQ343X9untWrVuNhqg3FldQWo4xMtOQMchZNKIqE8TUfYDMUvgsYsIEXPEpr0gIQEqPuhkhOqkYSVSv3wmkLvx3CO7gjxBN8lZAx6dmR/s1600/marble+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0o5KilMrEU_7fYikUSH3N6eRqoUu5Jtzkrp1ZQ343X9untWrVuNhqg3FldQWo4xMtOQMchZNKIqE8TUfYDMUvgsYsIEXPEpr0gIQEqPuhkhOqkYSVSv3wmkLvx3CO7gjxBN8lZAx6dmR/s320/marble+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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finished without the chain. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAfB20VLwjNZ55rx15n6-dx26O4_zcdRX6LymdgUOyN9bzbuqs9bvCiDk2xmbm6GXxIW-Fsaf4V1pUdkCfXVnhNYlSdQCSC7v49ZI0Dgv_6P-5dqfWibJymio_SE-jRrwWOFIeDnQ_9Hw/s1600/marble+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAfB20VLwjNZ55rx15n6-dx26O4_zcdRX6LymdgUOyN9bzbuqs9bvCiDk2xmbm6GXxIW-Fsaf4V1pUdkCfXVnhNYlSdQCSC7v49ZI0Dgv_6P-5dqfWibJymio_SE-jRrwWOFIeDnQ_9Hw/s320/marble+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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before and after</div>
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We start with such beautiful glass marbles. They are clean, clear and pure. The marble represents us as human beings. The oven (place marbles in oven for 20 minutes at 425 degrees) represents the trials in our lives. The hard times. (Place HOT marbles in a bowl of ice) The ice is our Savior. We don't get to choose what trials we go through, and they can be HOT! But when we turn to Jesus Christ he helps us through them and we come out more beautiful than when we started (cracks.) </div>
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I know it's simple, but I'm quite proud of my little story. I know our trials can make us stronger and better, especially if we turn to the Lord. I'm so grateful for this knowledge. I know this activity is not my idea, but the analogy is and I would appreciate the acknowledgement (just mention you found it here) instead of claiming it as your own. </div>
<br />Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-38221586490181761922013-04-17T11:05:00.001-07:002013-04-17T11:05:08.324-07:00Mother's Day Bookmarks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So, at church I am a leader of girls ages 8-11 (Activity Days.) We have 1 hour meetings twice a month mostly doing things that will help them become closer to Christ and become good women and mothers one day. ANYWAY, at our meeting today we are making Mother's Day bookmarks for their moms. I thought I'd share my work with you in case this project might come in handy for you too! They are going to color them and put it on a colored piece of card stock. Then they are going to think of words that start with each letter and we will laminate them and add a ribbon to the top :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzy5J_199PM3WZNap_Weppw9LiasbJF2FwPYf0Pn3Ru9YBFu96GPZrqEDz1DT9Le5Ajer5tL7Hw5ZUNPsm3hsJdMOIH6YXMD0Is6_ufg_aL2X9x9QjdOAjmnFl8xHSUbyzDDgdAlW8jwjj/s1600/scan0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzy5J_199PM3WZNap_Weppw9LiasbJF2FwPYf0Pn3Ru9YBFu96GPZrqEDz1DT9Le5Ajer5tL7Hw5ZUNPsm3hsJdMOIH6YXMD0Is6_ufg_aL2X9x9QjdOAjmnFl8xHSUbyzDDgdAlW8jwjj/s320/scan0002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklwz4Va56A36GOHj3ezwgHCXz0757j_tH8oBx4O9h1s7YWh8hEc2tg3piQ-CQAH3wclKvTfRhw2OujKLiEuGI1-9YWAQz6perD26SXJewr0coCEwQk6aVv58XP1qmBXNpL6mI90mWcLDs/s1600/mother's+day+bookmarks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklwz4Va56A36GOHj3ezwgHCXz0757j_tH8oBx4O9h1s7YWh8hEc2tg3piQ-CQAH3wclKvTfRhw2OujKLiEuGI1-9YWAQz6perD26SXJewr0coCEwQk6aVv58XP1qmBXNpL6mI90mWcLDs/s320/mother's+day+bookmarks.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I am hoping that just clicking on the image and printing them will work. Let me know if it doesn't and I can email them to you.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-13971448518876893522012-09-02T13:07:00.000-07:002012-09-02T13:07:03.156-07:00Modge Podge in a Doll HouseWell, what fun! After a year and a half of having this doll house sitting in my garage with my husband begging me to throw it away and me almost agreeing, my daughter and I finally finished it! PHEW! And the reason I am sharing it here is because I used the homemade Modge Podge to do it! I don't have specific link to this pin because I don't know that I ever actually pinned it. I saw it enough times to memorize it! LOL! But then, how hard is it to remember equal parts white glue to water? Hehe! I got my white glue on sale during back to school for 25 cents and used the entire bottle to do all the "wall paper" in the house. I painted the walls with it and then painted the back of my scrapbook paper and put it on like wallpaper. Turned out pretty good in my opinion. You be the judge...<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LyrrMGH5jcxxOuXyRl-rY8gtClAd6jgXwTK4FU_3Ue4yHKR42DCp0ft4VX6W7vh1D3KI-HSYrGgD9elgk7X0nGub6-OCWaD0qhv7vEiO59f4ij8E2eXnUejZzQsKJr02yWzwZGnyRNzW/s1600/IMG_1006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LyrrMGH5jcxxOuXyRl-rY8gtClAd6jgXwTK4FU_3Ue4yHKR42DCp0ft4VX6W7vh1D3KI-HSYrGgD9elgk7X0nGub6-OCWaD0qhv7vEiO59f4ij8E2eXnUejZzQsKJr02yWzwZGnyRNzW/s320/IMG_1006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzH9ct9DA_kseSiFHj-ws2gx4ZHhSWMUVvexSgwb-i1zjSsK3snLpNzJR5xO-2l9y01w8z9zo1_DqZt47cZ1B0XWA2gftJ8QdRQjwuF1WX2xt1UVgtZoae_YmIHkMjzNeALAPpnjzkE8b/s1600/IMG_1010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzH9ct9DA_kseSiFHj-ws2gx4ZHhSWMUVvexSgwb-i1zjSsK3snLpNzJR5xO-2l9y01w8z9zo1_DqZt47cZ1B0XWA2gftJ8QdRQjwuF1WX2xt1UVgtZoae_YmIHkMjzNeALAPpnjzkE8b/s320/IMG_1010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a little closer view of some walls. :)</div>
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I have before pics, should I post them? hmmm...</div>
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Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-62510236715418259372012-03-27T11:44:00.000-07:002012-03-27T11:44:22.375-07:00Lots of projectsRight now we are working as fast as we can to finish up our house (and some tips and helps I've found on Pinterest!) So, I've been slacking with the blog. I have a few things ready to post, but just haven't done it, but this one is the next project I want to do!......<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53ZErH9i8y6pQNpUP105prIy17N_BWAJlsx3GSh2DLX5YrWQPMTpBKSPyh8XIkUFlvpkf6WFjFBNiLIDZ1WO9jCTTEUNe1SEF2WcVihyphenhyphenJi906Cq3lBjExTRUie4CWEY41wb2xkJH-bwqK/s1600/Family+Proclamation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53ZErH9i8y6pQNpUP105prIy17N_BWAJlsx3GSh2DLX5YrWQPMTpBKSPyh8XIkUFlvpkf6WFjFBNiLIDZ1WO9jCTTEUNe1SEF2WcVihyphenhyphenJi906Cq3lBjExTRUie4CWEY41wb2xkJH-bwqK/s640/Family+Proclamation.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>The Family, A Proclamation to the World is an amazing proclamation made by beloved leaders of my church expressing how important family is in this crazy world and explains the various roles in family. So, why not make a craft out of it? My friend Lisa made this one with her family pics all around and then put her FHE (Family Home Evening) chart underneath! Genius! I've made our *FHE chart, but never got around to doing the names so we could all rotate jobs. Now's my chance to do both projects!<br />
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*FHE is a once a week thing we do with our families. Generally it's a short lesson and a fun family activity, kinda like game night that a lot of families do, but just add a moral/scriptural lesson to it! :)<br />
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I'm so excited! Thanks Lisa, for the idea/motivation!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-87870199557610499892012-02-14T13:26:00.000-08:002012-02-14T13:26:27.834-08:00My Jewelry Shelf<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm sure most of you have seen the huge variety of this being turned into jewelry holders. I've seen a ton! I decided that his shelf, that no longer had a home in our house, would be the perfect redo for my jewelry hanger! I desperately needed one and this cute little shelf was just sitting there with nothing to do!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1I2wLvwuVsHHduwdphPHdqtw15BR2eCIk9mQy9M_PzNy56iAZkpKvJ2cKhLk1lVIYLr03rUkgOQ6uCxPR7TnKWJUEQGIO9efUJ_DRWjxoW7f26mKqpoypSU2984SEjXP3chM3CN34Vj6O/s1600/IMG_0698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1I2wLvwuVsHHduwdphPHdqtw15BR2eCIk9mQy9M_PzNy56iAZkpKvJ2cKhLk1lVIYLr03rUkgOQ6uCxPR7TnKWJUEQGIO9efUJ_DRWjxoW7f26mKqpoypSU2984SEjXP3chM3CN34Vj6O/s320/IMG_0698.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Before</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fcQX9Cp9CyqAL54bvttzMY7VwRMDKhgcBls3_hWpNNQw5KTpSQeA6DhaJWLTofeXjVB8dtR12AR5MxGLLuuPkfTIWdIr6Ezex1wLCQfZ9b7KjQgYaWDP1tLtj_lPupD7xxHYwJmX5AhB/s1600/IMG_0699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fcQX9Cp9CyqAL54bvttzMY7VwRMDKhgcBls3_hWpNNQw5KTpSQeA6DhaJWLTofeXjVB8dtR12AR5MxGLLuuPkfTIWdIr6Ezex1wLCQfZ9b7KjQgYaWDP1tLtj_lPupD7xxHYwJmX5AhB/s320/IMG_0699.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Here are my little helpers!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNE31Z-pvpd8if32vA2jwkWeWhyvcK8l2X40tkngiKbgDdG9t96WmkFCzIe2kCGx2PSqSXT6By4yv0aimzsUpsCnjZ4El_mYfs18WUu0rT-9xPVokeKhyGcOO-mVY2lQvPEAYoMSkPq4xz/s1600/IMG_0700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNE31Z-pvpd8if32vA2jwkWeWhyvcK8l2X40tkngiKbgDdG9t96WmkFCzIe2kCGx2PSqSXT6By4yv0aimzsUpsCnjZ4El_mYfs18WUu0rT-9xPVokeKhyGcOO-mVY2lQvPEAYoMSkPq4xz/s320/IMG_0700.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Aren't they cute?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6wcF_YssNM_25ZFsA28EKXRVJD4_Zm9f2L6ZtRw92CwaGqTPnKrw76LWl5YnuPjJbAnesA2LBfLjHo7c4_IsfEeM4QyRk5hUy-8_IcOP7eOOL4XZ79pkaTq01ZM255ubDluW1XHgc_Ga/s1600/IMG_0701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6wcF_YssNM_25ZFsA28EKXRVJD4_Zm9f2L6ZtRw92CwaGqTPnKrw76LWl5YnuPjJbAnesA2LBfLjHo7c4_IsfEeM4QyRk5hUy-8_IcOP7eOOL4XZ79pkaTq01ZM255ubDluW1XHgc_Ga/s320/IMG_0701.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I took the hardware off and gave it a little light sanding, so the new paint would adhere. I wiped it down when I was done to get all the extra dust off and began spray painting! The greatest thing is that after I did my first light coat of paint I realized that with this original finish and the black paint I was using, it gave it the same kind of look as our bedroom furniture. The cappuccino finish, with some lighter touches of "wood" shining through. So, instead of doing it jet black I just did one more really light coat of black to fill in any spots that still needed a little more color and I have this...<br />
<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirv2e6yxZFeW_zgQ713u8f4BE670YGjsXluNHT0gfSiETDSVIXaAAd3uS4hVhnB-hL_pwJJDMOq9JsPUdEQ9WqXJCPmA7laImOCxglRYuMT8Nlj-Obka7IB0MjFwVAZb3ZA0zgYn-wYsDj/s1600/IMG_0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirv2e6yxZFeW_zgQ713u8f4BE670YGjsXluNHT0gfSiETDSVIXaAAd3uS4hVhnB-hL_pwJJDMOq9JsPUdEQ9WqXJCPmA7laImOCxglRYuMT8Nlj-Obka7IB0MjFwVAZb3ZA0zgYn-wYsDj/s320/IMG_0803.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I'M SO EXCITED!!! I've been waiting to take a picture because I was waiting for my husband to hang it on the wall, but I decided to just do it myself! :P I couldn't be happier!</div><div><br />
</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-17397739701268763852012-02-13T15:27:00.000-08:002012-02-14T13:25:19.257-08:00100th Day of School Project!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Valentine's Day just happens to be Kennedy's 100th day of school! And she's in kindergarten, so of course they are celebrating 100! I saw this idea somewhere on pinterest. No idea where, but I cutified it! We drew a heart around her monster instead of a circle and made hands and feet. I think it's pretty cute!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48afeRnNT88hyt7e4egP089BV2e3_f9M0kOi7UeWgQ_xZucUZmIhC8Ad7sCcQnF_VawsRsB5FxfWcggisbj1qp7yyeAk-jb0TaOnygEg_My5BBSB2gof7AHlTLSiYGZUpX4LEaIFC6cci/s1600/IMG_0798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48afeRnNT88hyt7e4egP089BV2e3_f9M0kOi7UeWgQ_xZucUZmIhC8Ad7sCcQnF_VawsRsB5FxfWcggisbj1qp7yyeAk-jb0TaOnygEg_My5BBSB2gof7AHlTLSiYGZUpX4LEaIFC6cci/s320/IMG_0798.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Just glued them on with fabric glue that is okay to wash and wah lah! I used dry erase marker, for the reason of, it's what I had and I've learned from my experience as a mother that it doesn't come out of clothes! LOL!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShoazg3glJKzVP-6rdZITWQ4sYl4pgdMsBEo9NPD2OQHG3VPw-EzjrCf0wnWYbnRbVbB5zwv3JbDAzBGsPVqU4LzZapwu66YYLIiihO-hhe8AP2HFXRkCx7xq5s7jNxRx7_9YptJhq17a/s1600/IMG_0799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShoazg3glJKzVP-6rdZITWQ4sYl4pgdMsBEo9NPD2OQHG3VPw-EzjrCf0wnWYbnRbVbB5zwv3JbDAzBGsPVqU4LzZapwu66YYLIiihO-hhe8AP2HFXRkCx7xq5s7jNxRx7_9YptJhq17a/s320/IMG_0799.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The sun was in her eyes, but I think it's pretty cute, and will look even better tomorrow with jeans! :)</div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwizYFdwPNZ7wpxXTeiFBNtp34A30ncbsFY2h2lL95-e9NmiceoY77LfDPjgClh0EHB1uzyDcCenQSjouaMZfo8lfO1wAa6z50HkyFrMwIVWyK-yxzmH3TvkclVkDq7rTo6WXm5BsUEUVM/s1600/IMG_0800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwizYFdwPNZ7wpxXTeiFBNtp34A30ncbsFY2h2lL95-e9NmiceoY77LfDPjgClh0EHB1uzyDcCenQSjouaMZfo8lfO1wAa6z50HkyFrMwIVWyK-yxzmH3TvkclVkDq7rTo6WXm5BsUEUVM/s320/IMG_0800.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">*And here she is all ready for school!</div></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-37632755085288634522012-02-04T13:10:00.000-08:002012-02-06T12:17:46.818-08:00Ruby Cake!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(From Max and Ruby) Not bad for my first attempt. Sad thing is I did this cake so I could play with my new Cricut fondant cutter, but I procrastinated making it so long that I didn't have time to take it out and play. I think it would have been way cuter if I had! But, I'm pretty proud of myself!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7QVpAQgItxoq7ooQ8R-XTFGDpqjEtA6XFytrVMS_xV8RKntn4Hli9JiBEW4cXklSZ63Agu9KH7ilyAmV_P3DfMxlckF3SdXx2oTz6laxCVfceuHjTOjgsiV9q_R-K_oemvb002DXLs4n/s1600/IMG_0730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7QVpAQgItxoq7ooQ8R-XTFGDpqjEtA6XFytrVMS_xV8RKntn4Hli9JiBEW4cXklSZ63Agu9KH7ilyAmV_P3DfMxlckF3SdXx2oTz6laxCVfceuHjTOjgsiV9q_R-K_oemvb002DXLs4n/s320/IMG_0730.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Reegan just LOVED it! The only tragedy was when I took the head off to cut the cake! She was a little taken back and not too happy, but we all laughed and she got over it! LOL! I got the recipe for the fondant from <a href="http://seddy5.typepad.com/blog/2010/05/how-to-make-marshmallow-fondant.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. I thought about doing instructions on here for it, but really I couldn't do it justice. So, go check out the instructions on that blog and start making cakes! </div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-81904042835945092522012-02-03T13:17:00.000-08:002012-02-03T13:17:15.315-08:00More hats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'll add the patterns I used another time, but I wanted to share these cute hats I made! I'm donating them to our Young Women program at church. The girls are doing an auction to raise money for their summer camp! I hope people love them and buy them! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKSqpl_tgHXQoaQKYnsslQ28PTWsYwYGQd7Qj8z17mQaWne7AIpHvCUAUwCE32v5y5RXA5XrpJaItdNnjtf7S8-hP7vZoAbXFZCAHdjYMN7gKSwx_sHauk0KtSUzCZH3oJ3fpv7MNcpDO/s1600/IMG_0719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKSqpl_tgHXQoaQKYnsslQ28PTWsYwYGQd7Qj8z17mQaWne7AIpHvCUAUwCE32v5y5RXA5XrpJaItdNnjtf7S8-hP7vZoAbXFZCAHdjYMN7gKSwx_sHauk0KtSUzCZH3oJ3fpv7MNcpDO/s320/IMG_0719.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9SA5Xz6BEfBm18mTnlL4LhlYigItl1YpQyXwX_EVG2D5GFegyfMG1rd9rWmWdI8085Y_dlhqkH7Mx-42cR36bOl0ztBNGMPxRM7u5o6OYfA6Z8iUdi3E5PLilm0zUQQntJ43ka_ciE_b/s1600/IMG_0723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9SA5Xz6BEfBm18mTnlL4LhlYigItl1YpQyXwX_EVG2D5GFegyfMG1rd9rWmWdI8085Y_dlhqkH7Mx-42cR36bOl0ztBNGMPxRM7u5o6OYfA6Z8iUdi3E5PLilm0zUQQntJ43ka_ciE_b/s320/IMG_0723.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-29276063761447054352012-02-03T13:15:00.000-08:002012-02-03T13:15:47.742-08:00Craft Stick Puzzles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course I found this idea on Pinterest and I sent the picture to my mom. She made these for my kids for our Sunday bag! Now that it's done I've come up with ideas to make it better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQu9eA6tHCgC7spBRMyToI8YkJrye9dObvJAg7TV05OVAEJsuttvLm-p-N7DK8Fp35BuTQOLRH4F4PrdKJTDK_0yZPxkv0vpjkVyXOjQYBVVh9LtqM6DIyErXKrq35sXuV036fnHkUkmQa/s1600/IMG_0728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQu9eA6tHCgC7spBRMyToI8YkJrye9dObvJAg7TV05OVAEJsuttvLm-p-N7DK8Fp35BuTQOLRH4F4PrdKJTDK_0yZPxkv0vpjkVyXOjQYBVVh9LtqM6DIyErXKrq35sXuV036fnHkUkmQa/s320/IMG_0728.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First thing, use white glue. My friend tried making these after she saw ours, but she used a hot glue gun and the pictures are all bumpy and it was kinda a mess. Second, center the picture on the sticks. Can you see the left edges are getting all bent? There should be some stick showing on each side. And lastly, my mom said when she did it, she glued the picture on the sticks and didn't leave enough room for her razor blade in some spots, so she ended up cutting some of the wood. So, leave just a tiny space big enough to get the blade through. I plan to make more of these with family pictures. My kids love them!</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-57654154004023565352012-02-03T12:35:00.000-08:002012-02-03T12:35:11.586-08:00What is it?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you tell? Haha, I doubt it! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKLIH5Y_J_TC3gMv6fwmWLPGprnxozp_hLVMQpi6k-ueFOkexfMC1UVw828usCUNGvkf84bH7P0XQVhyphenhyphendkgYDWJbuvds1VLlbhlRhqfS_MUrz_imrIgqCSQOoa6i_zmiu7ooPB0Cw9-fQ/s1600/IMG_0724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKLIH5Y_J_TC3gMv6fwmWLPGprnxozp_hLVMQpi6k-ueFOkexfMC1UVw828usCUNGvkf84bH7P0XQVhyphenhyphendkgYDWJbuvds1VLlbhlRhqfS_MUrz_imrIgqCSQOoa6i_zmiu7ooPB0Cw9-fQ/s320/IMG_0724.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> What about now?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYG0WMvbbX2YVlRrzfa9FPIKSFDANE9jbblO2SPXBZTcpbbtbCbuoM773gEifBsAaj1HT2fq-8EN8E-pge-fFHmko2IjKLljOZwKaa9B522SABo40sATWZf-AsrrKZEcxEiNCix47rvcZF/s1600/IMG_0725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYG0WMvbbX2YVlRrzfa9FPIKSFDANE9jbblO2SPXBZTcpbbtbCbuoM773gEifBsAaj1HT2fq-8EN8E-pge-fFHmko2IjKLljOZwKaa9B522SABo40sATWZf-AsrrKZEcxEiNCix47rvcZF/s320/IMG_0725.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHVrgazVXbqu3uU0IwNrfuOtY3bEUaC4C880iZ7BjUigDou8Xtq_ugAvvd2zbVily0E_coAqvMNEZAqY6ax8oBlbiX-9Lnc8-oeWwokeQyVq49RUWRcqzTJx7QZZZfy7nBHWQAPqDwcTw/s1600/IMG_0727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHVrgazVXbqu3uU0IwNrfuOtY3bEUaC4C880iZ7BjUigDou8Xtq_ugAvvd2zbVily0E_coAqvMNEZAqY6ax8oBlbiX-9Lnc8-oeWwokeQyVq49RUWRcqzTJx7QZZZfy7nBHWQAPqDwcTw/s320/IMG_0727.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>Yep, I made my girls sleeping bags for their 18 inch dolls! And the best part is it only took me 5 minutes for each sleeping bag! How? I went to Ross and bought cloth place-mats and sewed them together! Line them up, fold down the top edge of one and sew along the edges. Add a ribbon in the back so it can be rolled up and Wah Lah! A beautiful sleeping bag! Don't worry, my girls didn't know what they were either, but they love them!<br />
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</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-86037007324814172942012-01-20T12:27:00.001-08:002012-01-20T12:27:09.120-08:00I guess I'm behindIt just dawned on me that I didn't post some of the things I made for Christmas! I guess I was just glad to finally have them done! So, this weekend I'll get on that!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-33672851313128150592012-01-10T12:34:00.000-08:002012-01-11T12:33:01.718-08:00Ranch House Crock Pot Pork Chops and Crock Pot Mashed potatoes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found this recipe from realmomkitchen.com</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxL0QXd11z0BNRBH0lYa7_HecrP43czF0L3rCoeXZdJHNEn764wlHsDy3CFws94NKyp8luzyJYmPCQro9SFPw966xVYOEVzR2_nVRW69ktZOGhEdX3-S_6XlruLrNARhpTmRtZYrHofCC/s1600/IMG_0676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxL0QXd11z0BNRBH0lYa7_HecrP43czF0L3rCoeXZdJHNEn764wlHsDy3CFws94NKyp8luzyJYmPCQro9SFPw966xVYOEVzR2_nVRW69ktZOGhEdX3-S_6XlruLrNARhpTmRtZYrHofCC/s320/IMG_0676.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The original recipe was for pork chops, which I did do the first time. We loved them! YUMMY! This time I didn't have pork chops, so I made it with chicken and Justin loved it even more. He prefers chicken over pork though. And the gravy from the meat is awesome on the potatoes!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's what I did:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; font: normal normal normal 16px/1.5em Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">Ranch House Crock Pot Pork Chops or Chicken Breasts</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; font: normal normal normal 16px/1.5em Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">4-6 pork chops, 1/2 inch thick or boneless chicken breasts<br />
1 packet dry Ranch Dressing Seasoning<br />
2 (10 oz) cans Cream of Chicken Soup<br />
Place pork chops, Ranch seasoning and soup into a medium sized crock pot over high heat for 4 hours or low heat for 6 hours or 3.5-4 hours on high for chicken.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXsXStIDXj0-2zzE4ix27pnKlR6dVH5bIb8y3NtHKKyEnntrtzyXH124jRyHhcXEg_oJ2HVhVVTfkkGY8Oa-DaxTp71wbn7e545eGH9eQdTFVcI2BH0ZGrbYLBqgCJUReS7ulUwWqXUAT/s1600/IMG_0667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXsXStIDXj0-2zzE4ix27pnKlR6dVH5bIb8y3NtHKKyEnntrtzyXH124jRyHhcXEg_oJ2HVhVVTfkkGY8Oa-DaxTp71wbn7e545eGH9eQdTFVcI2BH0ZGrbYLBqgCJUReS7ulUwWqXUAT/s320/IMG_0667.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTe2295K0T_V0VKtfa4BIe5VVyyROwWOtpLMNkXeF-qRP-VzHp4nmvbroxV44T5KYJcFe53zr7e0lAB4-1zoA5_QsuPALAY9FaySbk7M3K3UAQJKtsOpCXAOO9Xo4db3X5iKRBXNjDWft6/s1600/IMG_0668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTe2295K0T_V0VKtfa4BIe5VVyyROwWOtpLMNkXeF-qRP-VzHp4nmvbroxV44T5KYJcFe53zr7e0lAB4-1zoA5_QsuPALAY9FaySbk7M3K3UAQJKtsOpCXAOO9Xo4db3X5iKRBXNjDWft6/s320/IMG_0668.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Did you know you could do mashed potatoes in the crock pot? Yep! That's right! This is my new favorite thing to do because you don't have to watch them and make sure they don't over boil and make a mess and constantly check them to see if they are done!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXVAOmc-ny82ZW15YbOVxRCdOF56QW0evgSKYlVuqnI4RxpuJoTVKghWiqw-zGt-2_QRlfSxkdd9Yc-7H7F5qVYXODZoWu3Hh3a_pWLH0tL98zr0xOOoqHiQftBPbXdWdLajKCR46dLgo/s1600/IMG_0669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXVAOmc-ny82ZW15YbOVxRCdOF56QW0evgSKYlVuqnI4RxpuJoTVKghWiqw-zGt-2_QRlfSxkdd9Yc-7H7F5qVYXODZoWu3Hh3a_pWLH0tL98zr0xOOoqHiQftBPbXdWdLajKCR46dLgo/s320/IMG_0669.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Crockpot Potatoes:<br />
2.5 lbs potatoes peeled and diced (I used about 10 red potatoes)<br />
2 tbsp. butter<br />
1 1/2 cup chicken broth (I use water and chicken bullion)<br />
milk and salt<br />
Place the potatoes in the slow cooker. Pour chicken broth over and top with butter. Cook on high for 3-4 hours. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpBetmvB51zWYGVD9Qe6WGK3hlZDsgdQ9trVxsOXB86gUyu8hvdsONmxOFIeDBamik8lQD6sUNEu7anG9tMFaJHzrsTCj_B74B9EMpuNLvzVBd0w8SamZXcbCGwAplPR3Ef_0bRMEsAKh/s1600/IMG_0672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpBetmvB51zWYGVD9Qe6WGK3hlZDsgdQ9trVxsOXB86gUyu8hvdsONmxOFIeDBamik8lQD6sUNEu7anG9tMFaJHzrsTCj_B74B9EMpuNLvzVBd0w8SamZXcbCGwAplPR3Ef_0bRMEsAKh/s320/IMG_0672.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>I used a small slow cooker for my potatoes (see picture below) so my potatoes were done in 3 hours!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWtBe5fglSUMncIArwBq9yGNohJz5rhcWnRxB_vt0RvLk-Du2k1XOZ5iy9M2IVGkg5pijQaurVdjm-B-wANKZ8p7d-7YWSmKGe8eccdgDC2e_da16uT3Y55PrSfMWa1QoJYQS7h9orovZ/s1600/IMG_0671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWtBe5fglSUMncIArwBq9yGNohJz5rhcWnRxB_vt0RvLk-Du2k1XOZ5iy9M2IVGkg5pijQaurVdjm-B-wANKZ8p7d-7YWSmKGe8eccdgDC2e_da16uT3Y55PrSfMWa1QoJYQS7h9orovZ/s320/IMG_0671.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> I'm not sure how many quarts my small slow cooker is, but my big one is 7 qt. So, I took this picture to give you an idea.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgK7puupWgouFTdToogLrXn7moI5WI5EkpAN5xpKyHEv9G7EyFSgKgxtaL88WhyphenhyphenTY05_k_yFAJamBmL_wDgIuU5BrwBCRuO0VMjbcok98TlHuIth5mBYkdND3btpzAqlKTrSKqQqddqC0E/s1600/IMG_0673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgK7puupWgouFTdToogLrXn7moI5WI5EkpAN5xpKyHEv9G7EyFSgKgxtaL88WhyphenhyphenTY05_k_yFAJamBmL_wDgIuU5BrwBCRuO0VMjbcok98TlHuIth5mBYkdND3btpzAqlKTrSKqQqddqC0E/s320/IMG_0673.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Add milk to desired consistency as you mash them and salt to taste. You can add other seasonings too like garlic or cheese, even sour cream (at the end.) Get creative!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-1618430834595308942012-01-05T12:51:00.000-08:002012-02-01T13:31:35.977-08:00Crochet Pot Holders!<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3OF6SXrfXQLSekLRrt1q6SkaPhqjku3bbbSa_muoSjFa-ejQE70GiZwSFdvmVQ74vxEDzY5YrsP6t8D4JzrNeJou_8JdHjMvVOmKr2V3k_nsyj2C1PkGPU_9bThzPy_2lGMNOiYVBuzf6/s1600/IMG_0678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3OF6SXrfXQLSekLRrt1q6SkaPhqjku3bbbSa_muoSjFa-ejQE70GiZwSFdvmVQ74vxEDzY5YrsP6t8D4JzrNeJou_8JdHjMvVOmKr2V3k_nsyj2C1PkGPU_9bThzPy_2lGMNOiYVBuzf6/s400/IMG_0678.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I'm sure some of you have seen or even crocheted a "Magic Pot Holder." This is not that! My friend Andrea taught me how to make these really awesome pot holders. They are by far my favorite to use and even Justin loves them! I was trying to help a friend (who lives far away) make them too, so I made these videos to help. They are far from good videos, but they do the job. I had to put the camera on a box and try to crochet in the site of the lens. It proved to be quite difficult! That is partly why I ended up doing 3 videos and also because in one of them my stitching was too tight, so I couldn't see where to put my hook! LOL!</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the Pattern as best as I know how to type it:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">100% Cotton yarn (Sugar'n Cream and Peaches 'n cream are good ones)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hook Size: G (4.25) Originally I posted H (5.00MM) but the G will give it the tighter stitch I was looking for.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chain (ch) 31 and turn</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Skip the first chain and sc (single crochet) in each ch across until the end</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ch 1 and turn</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Insert hook in back loop of the sc and in the back loop of the beginning chain (pic 1) and draw up loop and yarn over and pull through loops (sc) Do this all the way across then ch1 and turn</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">You will feel like you are doing it wrong, I promise! But keep going and you'll see after about 4 or 5 rows that you have a really thick square starting. Here are the pics my friend Andrea did to show me what to do, then I will add the videos I did to help my other friend.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-e1f8FmwgfzApiV3uj5Cdc8Q7l6LbxZTFA5S6pKDzzGden_jDH8m2EMMo0dMsXDSw6OgT3M9qFD9xhYLzXAEiV37B1RunrucqfP5hj2g6s9hIu7D1LU9_CWp3L_JDKrETF9C02UpPcr7/s1600/potholder1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-e1f8FmwgfzApiV3uj5Cdc8Q7l6LbxZTFA5S6pKDzzGden_jDH8m2EMMo0dMsXDSw6OgT3M9qFD9xhYLzXAEiV37B1RunrucqfP5hj2g6s9hIu7D1LU9_CWp3L_JDKrETF9C02UpPcr7/s400/potholder1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcngbSvOVC-edX8_S8mIoFB820bMTJdkP0ekuAMuuW0h8n8PFzk6i9nv4xYmgO8esvc3pIT-xuvncY_qZi0mNJPBx8mXnEPknRQb1JZi84qxNsnzSDGicOQsjUuY0lKZmQg3q9SK9km9v/s1600/potholder2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcngbSvOVC-edX8_S8mIoFB820bMTJdkP0ekuAMuuW0h8n8PFzk6i9nv4xYmgO8esvc3pIT-xuvncY_qZi0mNJPBx8mXnEPknRQb1JZi84qxNsnzSDGicOQsjUuY0lKZmQg3q9SK9km9v/s400/potholder2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOaoEtqXnZshKhy1BiUcs084yk4klYGSmVrwLqFeb3HJYZVnszynaSiqycmBERI7OsI_6rLz6yXLAkbscZyce75M5KC6FBsBitaSmVgPl5OQnW_R4p6jwc4P44pX0n1gg5VRyniJ5pGQZ/s1600/potholder3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOaoEtqXnZshKhy1BiUcs084yk4klYGSmVrwLqFeb3HJYZVnszynaSiqycmBERI7OsI_6rLz6yXLAkbscZyce75M5KC6FBsBitaSmVgPl5OQnW_R4p6jwc4P44pX0n1gg5VRyniJ5pGQZ/s400/potholder3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">To finish it off (when you have made a true square) you will go through all three loops (so both loops from the single crochet and the one bottom loop) doing a single crochet. That will give you a nice finished edge. Let me know if that doesn't make sense and I'll do a video.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20Zmv1ci2f7Hs7Nen8zi1qLN0-j0CIUQSo5U7ZCvliSTIcwGk0BFb4vdA9ioU2V9tk-T9K8IRZbZQLoVWDLL2nV2fWUfsTnQB8LCoFpV3ziDv7JtNPvEiy7OsGOMgUDDdBXPOXOkwkgNz/s1600/IMG_0680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20Zmv1ci2f7Hs7Nen8zi1qLN0-j0CIUQSo5U7ZCvliSTIcwGk0BFb4vdA9ioU2V9tk-T9K8IRZbZQLoVWDLL2nV2fWUfsTnQB8LCoFpV3ziDv7JtNPvEiy7OsGOMgUDDdBXPOXOkwkgNz/s400/IMG_0680.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Here's a close up. See how nice and tight she made them! I'm working on making mine tight, but it's hard for me to do certain things tight. Love love love these pot holders!</span></span></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-29234445450590708652012-01-05T08:44:00.000-08:002012-01-05T08:57:18.785-08:00How to clean Stainless Steel!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm sure there is a "right" way to clean stainless steel, but I haven't found anything that works until yesterday! I was scrubbing my stove top with baking soda like I do every time I scrub it and I decided to just do the stainless part, on the back splash where the digital controls for the oven are, with baking soda too. I've always left this part to do separately because I knew you were supposed to clean it a special way. Everything I've ever tried to clean it hasn't worked, so I figured, why not? This is the part of my stove that gets all the oil splashes and then I can't get them off! A little baking soda paste and wah lah! All clean! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lONO6dD9aXxmCuYFsYqE9QTrK-dwCW09BzJLGT8xqHaAWqSPMgISZKelDpOeB9bl1hM38emPJACygghtAqrq8MxBfenGVpAlSNe2ebDFWKy8tJmV76cuOSBfn17R0T_Zc7bpFZTeua7w/s1600/IMG_0655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lONO6dD9aXxmCuYFsYqE9QTrK-dwCW09BzJLGT8xqHaAWqSPMgISZKelDpOeB9bl1hM38emPJACygghtAqrq8MxBfenGVpAlSNe2ebDFWKy8tJmV76cuOSBfn17R0T_Zc7bpFZTeua7w/s320/IMG_0655.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This is the bottom of my microwave because I didn't think about posting this until my stove was all clean. Look how gross it is! It also gets a lot of grease and is hard to clean because it's right above the stove.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEP6fj1B8V89VuQZXbnnlrp1AfxYbSk7ETOFXbVCdkUpMMmjo9NypzkAlx3ejnk-PwGZX5WL0MdMuByuy4A_lxn_i_XbYC-xI4vF2tfh08ojbcrym0AwgXOvRD4MR5hRitx5CVzUgwUWoj/s1600/IMG_0656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEP6fj1B8V89VuQZXbnnlrp1AfxYbSk7ETOFXbVCdkUpMMmjo9NypzkAlx3ejnk-PwGZX5WL0MdMuByuy4A_lxn_i_XbYC-xI4vF2tfh08ojbcrym0AwgXOvRD4MR5hRitx5CVzUgwUWoj/s320/IMG_0656.JPG" width="213" /></a></div> Take a wet (non scratch-able) scrubber and put a generous amount of baking soda. You need a paste to clean with baking soda. It's not like Comet or Ajax where you can just put a bit on and have a really wet rag, you need more baking soda than water.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzWeeyqlk9POZIRtxisRU3rOwQQHNJUbFQG0KQoFMaAvIzuVnC2US-3YPfTDYgl6e6hF0O4EkPKacxS0kLlpr2HBclnuo06fvZgxn1Xcg26x2AehGTE6lb3H6yrq6iBukJhjrpTo70JT6/s1600/IMG_0657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzWeeyqlk9POZIRtxisRU3rOwQQHNJUbFQG0KQoFMaAvIzuVnC2US-3YPfTDYgl6e6hF0O4EkPKacxS0kLlpr2HBclnuo06fvZgxn1Xcg26x2AehGTE6lb3H6yrq6iBukJhjrpTo70JT6/s320/IMG_0657.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Then scrub...wipe clean, sometimes takes a few rinses to get the residue off. And dry with towel. If you don't dry with a towel you may now have water deposits all over your stainless, not pretty! :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwPsWKnKMK-fMtI6CCQCCxhkrK2vQiB5_EEKk2sIznAq0zHaqVYhyphenhyphenuEV_tLXaAImBRiitaVZRoDQO1Z1QGvhFo3385HssxXE6m_mDKoQb8qrv5FSQx9tT1Ab8SOGk2SrlmtLWxYNNd4D8/s1600/IMG_0659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwPsWKnKMK-fMtI6CCQCCxhkrK2vQiB5_EEKk2sIznAq0zHaqVYhyphenhyphenuEV_tLXaAImBRiitaVZRoDQO1Z1QGvhFo3385HssxXE6m_mDKoQb8qrv5FSQx9tT1Ab8SOGk2SrlmtLWxYNNd4D8/s320/IMG_0659.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div>See how pretty it is!?! The front of my oven was really really bad, so when I was done there were still marks on the steel even though it was clean, so I used the magic wipes (they call them that, not me) and it seemed to help moisturize it. The wipes claim to clean, protect, polish and be fingerprint resistant. I've only found them to polish, but it was just what I needed.</div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXH7ceq0f8ASMF09IjMV_a6A67hUnlmmYESOyiaqHZ-Ur6z0qHC4483pcUlwtDHLZ1l5wzxyelA2vIKSnab_Ga-fwTtmfTjC1Nk0uU0E2E_apw-VVpJ4fCFcbot2pY9Ia5vomg0npxXA1/s1600/IMG_0665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXH7ceq0f8ASMF09IjMV_a6A67hUnlmmYESOyiaqHZ-Ur6z0qHC4483pcUlwtDHLZ1l5wzxyelA2vIKSnab_Ga-fwTtmfTjC1Nk0uU0E2E_apw-VVpJ4fCFcbot2pY9Ia5vomg0npxXA1/s400/IMG_0665.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>These are the wipes I mentioned. I found them at Lowe's or Home Depot.</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-21204468423659248182012-01-04T21:22:00.000-08:002012-01-11T12:35:29.702-08:00Shredded Pork Loin Roast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The website I got this recipe from is working out some bugs, so I don't know what link to give you, but I got it from Crockin' Girls!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For sure interesting and also tasty. I'm not sure that it's my favorite shredded pork, but still good :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">*Edit: the leftovers were awesome! Way yummier than the original! I drained most of the extra juices and poured a bit more bbq sauce over top before I put them in the fridge. A few days later I ate it for lunch and it was super yummy!*</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 24px;">Shredded Pork Loin Roast:</span></strong></div><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">1 (5 lb.) pork loin roast</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">1 bottle of Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">1 can Dr. Pepper</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Onion powder, to taste</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Garlic powder, to taste</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">This is a recipe that you can use for several different recipes. Such as:</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">1) BBQ pork roast sandwiches served with lettuce, tomato, chips, and a pickle</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">2) BBQ pork roast loaded baked potato served with sour cream, butter, and chives</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">3) BBQ pork roast nachos served with chips, refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, black olives, and shredded cheese</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">4) BBQ pork roast Corn tortilla tacos served with broccoli slaw and avocados</span><br />
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<strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Directions:</strong><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Place roast into the slow cooker and season with onion and garlic powder. Cover with BBQ sauce and then pour Dr. Pepper over the roast. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours until pork is tender. Shred with forks.</span> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZBdphpT-zTRiqOwYLM9eNMklhPgCJq5cY22OA85iVKHHMBfRT3-qS5eQaALhQlF4_NtNbx5tZSBZrqk-UmNQFmQowVGb7qVGGma2o96ilPsYW9CH_aIQg7AIsNHjQ-Afs4T2fb-vFS-v/s1600/IMG_0660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZBdphpT-zTRiqOwYLM9eNMklhPgCJq5cY22OA85iVKHHMBfRT3-qS5eQaALhQlF4_NtNbx5tZSBZrqk-UmNQFmQowVGb7qVGGma2o96ilPsYW9CH_aIQg7AIsNHjQ-Afs4T2fb-vFS-v/s400/IMG_0660.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jlewTRIS8WJQJ9xFgyvW9cpHcsTiHRwl9Eag_P2p2h9m6gGlc2Lxp4jv2cDCjPANHw0XwKX9xQvt3a_LrwV-yUpiGcAiuS9im9URoOIMPvRue8nsW0140fcgnzsb1IXO2ZzEWFQt14ua/s1600/IMG_0661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jlewTRIS8WJQJ9xFgyvW9cpHcsTiHRwl9Eag_P2p2h9m6gGlc2Lxp4jv2cDCjPANHw0XwKX9xQvt3a_LrwV-yUpiGcAiuS9im9URoOIMPvRue8nsW0140fcgnzsb1IXO2ZzEWFQt14ua/s400/IMG_0661.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> This is a little trick I learned from Pinterest as well! Who knew you could use your Kitchen-Aid to shred your meat? I will never use 2 forks again! I got a blister once doing that! And Bonus, I got to use my brand new Kitchen-Aid twice today!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-DUK6S_NL2wWQHWX5R9PxRY3zrj9YcVllxssYeEnzimrbIN71mRnIoDXwbrvh7Tz-B9pmjXmVVY85TQ4YtCDHV60OFeCH8r7bWhmFfB0yxOpmu3XjkTOhG9P9FdbNvtgVIw_nWv4SNoK/s1600/IMG_0662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-DUK6S_NL2wWQHWX5R9PxRY3zrj9YcVllxssYeEnzimrbIN71mRnIoDXwbrvh7Tz-B9pmjXmVVY85TQ4YtCDHV60OFeCH8r7bWhmFfB0yxOpmu3XjkTOhG9P9FdbNvtgVIw_nWv4SNoK/s400/IMG_0662.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphv2JVo1I5abP2fMGqW_6uQla6eX0fNJmArEODrnKAkBl9HKmb74cYaR_lAf5-5JYRKImrTcWbJLJVNYD9sfYCz3WcjqSHvQZI7784xCxpEvm51XObDFiQGhV5mvqLi0kr-x3x0oP1FCi/s1600/IMG_0664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphv2JVo1I5abP2fMGqW_6uQla6eX0fNJmArEODrnKAkBl9HKmb74cYaR_lAf5-5JYRKImrTcWbJLJVNYD9sfYCz3WcjqSHvQZI7784xCxpEvm51XObDFiQGhV5mvqLi0kr-x3x0oP1FCi/s400/IMG_0664.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I thought it would be easier to put the kids in a hotdog bun and I was right! My older kids loved it and my younger 2, well, they don't eat much of anything, so you know...Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-85144834912559083602012-01-04T21:14:00.000-08:002012-01-04T21:14:18.586-08:00SchedulingI've tried for years to plan what day each week I'm going to clean/do what so that I can have a super clean house and be uber organized. It's been a fail each time, but this time I think I have it right! See, I have delegated some of my chores over the last year or so and now it will all be easier! My kids empty the dishwasher and my husband does the dishes! How awesome is that? And now my two older kids are doing their own laundry! (When I remember to force them to, of course!) So, I've simplified my list. I think I always took on too much thinking I could have a really clean awesome house all the time and my 4 kids wouldn't ruin it 5 seconds after I just cleaned it. Reality check! Oh, and my husband does his own load of clothes and even washes our whites! (He can't mess up the whites!) BONUS! Okay, so I have planned 1 day each week, not including Sundays, to do one load of wash. <br />
<br />
Monday: Sheets<br />
Tuesday: Reegan and Bronx (my 2 younger kids)-this is one load total<br />
Wednesday: Mine<br />
Thursday: Whites (if Justin hasn't done them, so if he has I get a free day! YAY!)<br />
Friday: Towels<br />
Saturday: Madison and Kennedy do their load each<br />
Justin can do his laundry whenever he feels like it, lol!<br />
<br />
Then I picked one chore besides general pick up, because that is NEVER ENDING at my house.<br />
<br />
Monday: Back Yard (somehow my kids are super awesome and making that place look like a dump!)<br />
Tuesday: Front Yard<br />
Wednesday: Scrub the kitchen (since you know no one bothers to do when they are doing the dishes)<br />
Thursday: Dust (can you tell Thursdays are my busy days, because if the Whites don't get washed, Justin will do it and if the dusting doesn't happen, who cares! HAHA!)<br />
Friday: Scrub both bathrooms. Great thing about this one is that my oldest 2 also get to do this chore with my guidance! So I almost get a free chore day here too! :)<br />
Saturday: Clean our rooms<br />
<br />
My only real goal for the year is to do better with eating and exercising and to be ready for the day by 9am. For some of you that may sound silly, but as a mother of 4 who is in a carpool (so 2 out of 3 weeks I don't drive) sometimes it's really easy to not even get dressed! So, I've set up my above schedule so that it's something I can do really quick in the morning, hop in the shower and be ready. Then I have the rest of the day until the older kids get home to chase the little ones around and do what mothers do! Once the older kids get home it's running/biking time, homework, piano, dinner, showers and bed, so it's a full evening! If I can be productive without overwhelming myself before the day even begins it will be an awesome 2012!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-73983872650322601762012-01-04T20:26:00.000-08:002012-01-04T20:27:41.677-08:00"Gingerbread" Nativities!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was a lot of fun and one of our new family traditions! The kids had a blast, and so did my husband and I! We made 2 so we could take one to our neighbor who had just moved a few days before.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjq_muR-acIGX1rnxAvm5iIGDGmSuvIGcT1jyOOd0nfm-9fKtdnAyLsSqFmkT8mY3S_k3ZgWS0z1dJ1QfVGRItafvENTJ9PwxnLaH-Em_gfuQuZYfP1mMFp2dfvQdQd1YvNOtRmrJkm5O/s1600/IMG_0562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjq_muR-acIGX1rnxAvm5iIGDGmSuvIGcT1jyOOd0nfm-9fKtdnAyLsSqFmkT8mY3S_k3ZgWS0z1dJ1QfVGRItafvENTJ9PwxnLaH-Em_gfuQuZYfP1mMFp2dfvQdQd1YvNOtRmrJkm5O/s320/IMG_0562.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> We used black licorice for the face and legs of the marshmallow sheet, gumdrops for the shepherds and wise men, and my husband even got creative and made some animals with toothpicks and gumdrops! The hay is coconut with yellow food coloring.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSuIyiqMTZx_cVqxqBuXh9nvStn-eQ2nUdU9el7F5O62ygzsvRL_q-OnMvCD6V6ROgjydSKq2JGUc5-18u1eNhD8eYx5jGJhVRqQjAs6nuQ2z90Ky6c8agi63iVyAroSIuVtbh_1gQ_U5/s1600/IMG_0564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSuIyiqMTZx_cVqxqBuXh9nvStn-eQ2nUdU9el7F5O62ygzsvRL_q-OnMvCD6V6ROgjydSKq2JGUc5-18u1eNhD8eYx5jGJhVRqQjAs6nuQ2z90Ky6c8agi63iVyAroSIuVtbh_1gQ_U5/s320/IMG_0564.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Next year I'll buy the bigger gum drops because they were really tiny compared to the rest of the display. And figuring out how to do an angel would be cool too. We used fruit roll ups for the head pieces. Something else may work better, but the kids thought it was great! Really you can't go wrong, just buy some candy and get creative!<br />
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</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-34350091996827055012012-01-04T19:34:00.000-08:002012-01-04T20:35:35.790-08:00Pumpkin Donut Holes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of my kids favorite after school snacks! They love them so much, they ate them all today! That won't be a norm, but I love that they love them! I got the recipe <a href="http://www.polishthestars.com/2011/09/pumpkin-spice-donut-holes.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>, but changed it, so my recipe is below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS37veJXkpGg2INkvesbdLXfqNlLetn82wH42yhbwtJ1sGz7PID-JOBLcDJFhkpXtDYzePuswQPf6F4JqrEMB054vW7-2iD8P_fgIedpjzO_10L-wFq82dfP3C32yYWO3ZoeQKWymLPam9/s1600/IMG_0652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS37veJXkpGg2INkvesbdLXfqNlLetn82wH42yhbwtJ1sGz7PID-JOBLcDJFhkpXtDYzePuswQPf6F4JqrEMB054vW7-2iD8P_fgIedpjzO_10L-wFq82dfP3C32yYWO3ZoeQKWymLPam9/s400/IMG_0652.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Donuts:<br />
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour<br />
2 tsp. baking powder<br />
1/2 tsp. salt<br />
2 tsp. pumkin pie spice (if you can't find that or don't have it on hand use: 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, 1/2 tsp. allspice and 1/8 tsp. ground cloves)<br />
1/3 cup vetetable oil<br />
1/2 cup packed brown sugar<br />
1 egg<br />
1 tsp. vanilla<br />
3/4 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)<br />
1/2 cup milk<br />
<br />
Cinnamon Sugar Coating:<br />
1/2 cup melted butter <br />
2/3 cup granulated sugar<br />
1 Tbsp. cinnamon<br />
<br />
Preheat oven to 350*F. Spray mini muffin tins with cooking spray.<br />
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In medium bowl combine dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, pumpkin pie spice. Set aside and combine the remaining ingredients in mixer until smooth. Add dry ingredients and stir until just combined.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlC3x_MJaNhSps2rXNhUMKcQOHo8myBX8c6t3fC7kk0yUpppJB4PjPq20kbWgefPm5RabwUlm3gS5dp7EWP0TYnd2_N06nlFh5XwoMXfpQeYQlZpNb0UDZBWpn-FEdBuB46iDis8ItopH/s1600/IMG_0642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlC3x_MJaNhSps2rXNhUMKcQOHo8myBX8c6t3fC7kk0yUpppJB4PjPq20kbWgefPm5RabwUlm3gS5dp7EWP0TYnd2_N06nlFh5XwoMXfpQeYQlZpNb0UDZBWpn-FEdBuB46iDis8ItopH/s400/IMG_0642.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHKPVBbUPR-0rfZvw3LQ2aE9KAxBesG_Co7EFoOHpWkWTA3gqDmsH3IBnesEZRCoC0qUuCT1vVkLUatjUJclLDOKvOwiBjHPdkT68fHJF5Azv-RAr-AE52Czi0bk3D4IT7eHMRcwL3Wmm/s1600/IMG_0645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHKPVBbUPR-0rfZvw3LQ2aE9KAxBesG_Co7EFoOHpWkWTA3gqDmsH3IBnesEZRCoC0qUuCT1vVkLUatjUJclLDOKvOwiBjHPdkT68fHJF5Azv-RAr-AE52Czi0bk3D4IT7eHMRcwL3Wmm/s400/IMG_0645.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I used to cookie scoop to fill my muffin tins. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean.<br />
Meanwhile, melt butter in one bowl and combine sugar and cinnamon in another bowl. Let muffins cool for 2 min. Dip each muffin in the butter and then in the sugar mixture. So yummy! I can only handle a few because it's a lot of sugar! I need to find a way to make less sugar adhere to the donut, but they are good! :)Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-7878914131476490232012-01-04T14:54:00.000-08:002012-01-04T21:23:25.572-08:00Marshmallow Popcorn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This recipe isn't linkable because it was just a picture someone uploaded and put the instructions as the caption. I ended up doing it my own way anyhow (not on purpose, lol!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtDj1q9YXdQNid02dAKJOP84wT1mgI8krkA08x5uhFejXKYACb1ly2kuTipZ7qfpVtny7844w_LVPxGx9e7jabdSE9Cwi1VxsMAa4RkMIIzoqK2HIRulPqmQfHzO0dJZlxTm4xjcrjgr9/s1600/IMG_0650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtDj1q9YXdQNid02dAKJOP84wT1mgI8krkA08x5uhFejXKYACb1ly2kuTipZ7qfpVtny7844w_LVPxGx9e7jabdSE9Cwi1VxsMAa4RkMIIzoqK2HIRulPqmQfHzO0dJZlxTm4xjcrjgr9/s320/IMG_0650.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #211922; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3-4 bags popcorn (pop and take out extra kernels) </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #211922; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 sticks of butter (1/2 cup) </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #211922; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16 oz bag of marshmallows </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #211922; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup brown sugar </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #211922; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Microwave butter, marshmallows, and brown sugar for 2 1/2 min. Take out and stir. Microwave again for 1 min. Repeat until thin sauce. When done pour over popcorn and mix. YUM!</span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-B4xb_HkcUpSIgt9xhpABdCdHA4Lq3rCwsNk-GoooAjrnqASuUFyNkuhTDzHT8BKeQKoOfY4H-PbDH31Qx4QkjyLUzyzybyO-auX84rRkIJNpjlusN-MFELGOwftY7EylvAsxfg-wiRn/s1600/IMG_0621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-B4xb_HkcUpSIgt9xhpABdCdHA4Lq3rCwsNk-GoooAjrnqASuUFyNkuhTDzHT8BKeQKoOfY4H-PbDH31Qx4QkjyLUzyzybyO-auX84rRkIJNpjlusN-MFELGOwftY7EylvAsxfg-wiRn/s320/IMG_0621.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The difference between what I did and the original recipe is the butter and the amount of popcorn. The first time I accidentally only used 1 stick of butter instead of 2 and I liked the results better with less butter. These pics are of the second attempt doing it "right" and I wasn't as pleased. It was runnier and easier to mix on the popcorn, but it made the popcorn mushier and stickier. I made them the first time for all my friends and neighbors for Christmas and got raving reviews, so I know it's not just me ;) I also felt the need for a bit more popcorn, hence the 4th bag.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aqi1-5roZ8w_QLoXy9wu6SLCf5KamPB3jMCA8BZjeQ6yRfzaZfcTvXfDepna_vGD__ZU8_oRq10ukcjBIfxMqaClb5tLvDdb1oommDMUAfoVh0hA-4V5ehhuootznKwm55IYJSl-Wdk9/s1600/IMG_0622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aqi1-5roZ8w_QLoXy9wu6SLCf5KamPB3jMCA8BZjeQ6yRfzaZfcTvXfDepna_vGD__ZU8_oRq10ukcjBIfxMqaClb5tLvDdb1oommDMUAfoVh0hA-4V5ehhuootznKwm55IYJSl-Wdk9/s320/IMG_0622.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWYoo8ODiBmrt8EIJuORhvc6cvvtYw1M6jJDgkWUYDQved3ITaEj98yE7kLa5sTWDOUwcbVeQVmfX0QDhUXEwoYEDXbuqOWocQNf-BjIuX34oiuIk3Qvavu9r40Se7LixjnKew_uAo1cs/s1600/IMG_0623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWYoo8ODiBmrt8EIJuORhvc6cvvtYw1M6jJDgkWUYDQved3ITaEj98yE7kLa5sTWDOUwcbVeQVmfX0QDhUXEwoYEDXbuqOWocQNf-BjIuX34oiuIk3Qvavu9r40Se7LixjnKew_uAo1cs/s320/IMG_0623.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxgN0cYc8u9oko6t8SiZLwGh9-4SOV169zOcW0eDWuqMjwCdEYzbi8w0AtRU4YRi5vNkci1fNPRKK3cloXHJMmPtmmmwMhL4XOmvw5jaVODJDuRuF8Ji8sofPnSalMDxTPrYtw1BGaX-P/s1600/IMG_0624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxgN0cYc8u9oko6t8SiZLwGh9-4SOV169zOcW0eDWuqMjwCdEYzbi8w0AtRU4YRi5vNkci1fNPRKK3cloXHJMmPtmmmwMhL4XOmvw5jaVODJDuRuF8Ji8sofPnSalMDxTPrYtw1BGaX-P/s320/IMG_0624.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28gF3XH5G3qCBcT5RTmQBF_TGfFDQ1l1TXgyiRTjf1xDPCI9_J34LdDJfbC8yJagkw_0uIj-imMJTPvpb5RUWkKCgmBaSp4XXk3fOV5g4HdoDz0Ii17QhxYjieMd653pnntf_lp_KokZI/s1600/IMG_0625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28gF3XH5G3qCBcT5RTmQBF_TGfFDQ1l1TXgyiRTjf1xDPCI9_J34LdDJfbC8yJagkw_0uIj-imMJTPvpb5RUWkKCgmBaSp4XXk3fOV5g4HdoDz0Ii17QhxYjieMd653pnntf_lp_KokZI/s320/IMG_0625.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlUI-XRK133ZwjiZzg6ghbYnJrZVCILKo8Ddjaj5U3Pg_lxb6jN-kofudgWlXuOnFWaHZ4sg0IO94avElpNdVSnqkEscpxlKfx9Rk57iS5hFzcfCgJAucDDkp_VCq7kIieTu97gwt8brW/s1600/IMG_0626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlUI-XRK133ZwjiZzg6ghbYnJrZVCILKo8Ddjaj5U3Pg_lxb6jN-kofudgWlXuOnFWaHZ4sg0IO94avElpNdVSnqkEscpxlKfx9Rk57iS5hFzcfCgJAucDDkp_VCq7kIieTu97gwt8brW/s320/IMG_0626.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">OH SO YUMMY! Enjoy!</div><div><br />
</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-56467026831035350032012-01-04T13:20:00.000-08:002012-01-04T13:20:36.531-08:00Homemade Lip gloss!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So easy and fun! Petroleum Jelly and Kool-Aid! Found the idea <a href="http://www.meetthedubiens.com/2011/01/make-your-own-lip-gloss.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What you'll need:<br />
<br />
1 tub petroleum jelly (vaseline)<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 pkg of kool-aid drink crystals - whatever flavor you want, or you can make a few</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">lip gloss containers</div></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">labels printed out on sticker paper</div></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">scissors or 1 inch paper punch</div></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Directions:</span></div></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">1. put about 1 cup vaseline in a microwave safe bowl</div></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">2. heat the vaseline in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between each heating. It took me about 5 minutes to melt each batch of vaseline. It will be liquid when it is fully melted. It will be very hot! Make sure you wear gloves or oven mitts and make sure children are being supervised.</div></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">3. take out of microwave and stir in kool-aid drink crystals until desired colour is reached - I used the whole package for each batch. Stir until the crystals are completely dissolved.</div></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">4. if starting to solidify you can heat again for another 30 seconds - skip this step if it is still liquidy</div></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">5. pour into your lip gloss containers and leave to solidify - a couple hours</div></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">6. repeat this whole process if making more flavors</div></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">7. print out labels on sticker paper</div></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">8. using either a 1 inch punch, or scissors, cut out the circle labels and attach to your lip gloss container</div></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">9. give to all your favourite people, but remember to save a few for yourself too!</div></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CegLIj9kLkq3wxfzmpew2WZRYZlaPMD2xlPiaVvOznJ7BpGHw4md8TnmMmiyiEXIWalGzUErE6q4kxV2eW44HhKmsBJrY2SvEfymzLxju-N8Kqr8I7yqmvIVlryk_1VM0qEywjbqohgX/s1600/IMG_0556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CegLIj9kLkq3wxfzmpew2WZRYZlaPMD2xlPiaVvOznJ7BpGHw4md8TnmMmiyiEXIWalGzUErE6q4kxV2eW44HhKmsBJrY2SvEfymzLxju-N8Kqr8I7yqmvIVlryk_1VM0qEywjbqohgX/s400/IMG_0556.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I found these containers on ebay. I believe you can also find them on Amazon.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnL9L1zpxE5yKF8ZDrKvMnYz2nPTE9e-ha5l7CHS8NFuZLnxV1fYyxSsOHZycrTXCewEtHeQKPn2XLbpFwjTLgDvjNLTVj-735i1WBHLOd5mtdgSG1eHPjEDEsPTDkTQ1CMlxc4uB3iC6g/s1600/IMG_0557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnL9L1zpxE5yKF8ZDrKvMnYz2nPTE9e-ha5l7CHS8NFuZLnxV1fYyxSsOHZycrTXCewEtHeQKPn2XLbpFwjTLgDvjNLTVj-735i1WBHLOd5mtdgSG1eHPjEDEsPTDkTQ1CMlxc4uB3iC6g/s400/IMG_0557.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I got the 5g and would even go as big as the 10g next time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4m2SntvMoMGiorE_bBUEi5XhA7mmqeJeISioA92uNGgj4gVHVuCcIHAdy__ir4uYo0jYIktK5LZeeUnRVb2YXUutf0E6Ftbb8x2S30kgKvDJlt53tAEnicZgQ1cZRIMFrTRyRuo7EEalH/s1600/IMG_0552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4m2SntvMoMGiorE_bBUEi5XhA7mmqeJeISioA92uNGgj4gVHVuCcIHAdy__ir4uYo0jYIktK5LZeeUnRVb2YXUutf0E6Ftbb8x2S30kgKvDJlt53tAEnicZgQ1cZRIMFrTRyRuo7EEalH/s400/IMG_0552.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Starting to get liquidy after a few minutes of stirring.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSky5q0sTI48qBk_szWbW-ibakX8vW8QjEkXg5xH9xzSfwj031pmpDyGxprSZa8znA61qfLZs0ELIudnKt3JZq6ObuTQXGqSnZJQdGPxNaTN_-qIvTr5LeAwYY4X14gEjGLKIHhyphenhyphenSdh4uv/s1600/IMG_0559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSky5q0sTI48qBk_szWbW-ibakX8vW8QjEkXg5xH9xzSfwj031pmpDyGxprSZa8znA61qfLZs0ELIudnKt3JZq6ObuTQXGqSnZJQdGPxNaTN_-qIvTr5LeAwYY4X14gEjGLKIHhyphenhyphenSdh4uv/s400/IMG_0559.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Almost done!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxkGnK1kOvl2F2FOTudHK-nZtt9G5OzUBo3hSyiJzJImkh8Nj8RL_Q0Uj1WncrAOjrliHS5cg5PLAftg_YxfWSE4RFS-a0wSU1FF-k23-qmnOw4-glf_WcGIixUhUDuCpJPP2e04DBIEa/s1600/IMG_0560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxkGnK1kOvl2F2FOTudHK-nZtt9G5OzUBo3hSyiJzJImkh8Nj8RL_Q0Uj1WncrAOjrliHS5cg5PLAftg_YxfWSE4RFS-a0wSU1FF-k23-qmnOw4-glf_WcGIixUhUDuCpJPP2e04DBIEa/s400/IMG_0560.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Clear and ready for the Kool-Aid! It only took about 5 minutes for me, but others were saying it took them longer! Spoon the melted lip gloss into the containers and let cool. Add a cute label and Wah lah!</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-3362460435392746782011-12-20T10:58:00.000-08:002011-12-20T10:59:25.832-08:00Washer JewelryI am really excited about my most recent project. I found the idea <a href="http://jenshappyspot.blogspot.com/2011/08/washer-jewelry.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. It cost me under $5 to make all 3 necklaces and I think they turned out great!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqq99KAjf0KCK46-mP_twX4tbHZBf_OruXVHESi5CBbGWfqjFf3IKFjOKQ1-g1KEaofvMenZqZ46YOLNaR8YOSRfGtSs6S5URdpHo-c_Ts1auMhnn9Trqw5ev2aGW7JpoNZeG5SdKkKc6/s1600/DSC02057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqq99KAjf0KCK46-mP_twX4tbHZBf_OruXVHESi5CBbGWfqjFf3IKFjOKQ1-g1KEaofvMenZqZ46YOLNaR8YOSRfGtSs6S5URdpHo-c_Ts1auMhnn9Trqw5ev2aGW7JpoNZeG5SdKkKc6/s400/DSC02057.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Items needed:<br />
1 small washer<br />
1 larger washer (you pick the sizes you want)<br />
white glue<br />
Mod Podge (mine is homemade)<br />
scrapbook paper of your choice<br />
beads, jewel etc. to decorate<br />
Cording for the necklace strap<br />
(I also ended up using glitter puffy paint)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pf7rEz2JsFvLn5Sm5qZ0gezyJGOUyIsfbSTbbgtLEveGW86MV_fdObwR4SZPpPEu3rXSIHUTDf69GWV3g3F7e_f8RDEwebCmvTJHRgs-PL8iITrT5KVdX8rZFTPuAosGfbd0XaMW_d3T/s1600/DSC02046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pf7rEz2JsFvLn5Sm5qZ0gezyJGOUyIsfbSTbbgtLEveGW86MV_fdObwR4SZPpPEu3rXSIHUTDf69GWV3g3F7e_f8RDEwebCmvTJHRgs-PL8iITrT5KVdX8rZFTPuAosGfbd0XaMW_d3T/s400/DSC02046.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Good old washers from the hardware store</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGPzx4lqCNj3JWuVouaCOaeMF2xY4aYgFhU9Q_TkgTCAEQJVW9txKxPxX6dMJe_rU0v7JxFgJQef7v_rHpABxkM8GifvhCWDd0UWif-D8bU-6b2oMnfWYD1T-PEG3fxgEsxNDBmLsw14C/s1600/DSC02039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGPzx4lqCNj3JWuVouaCOaeMF2xY4aYgFhU9Q_TkgTCAEQJVW9txKxPxX6dMJe_rU0v7JxFgJQef7v_rHpABxkM8GifvhCWDd0UWif-D8bU-6b2oMnfWYD1T-PEG3fxgEsxNDBmLsw14C/s400/DSC02039.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I traced the washers on the back of the scrapbook paper so the lines wouldn't show. Making numerous circles ended up being in my cards because I needed extras to play around with and see what I liked best. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrebSx3wIRPDLAbk_Ro-ICShmYE7uxSRH3S5wW0uIAFhdBcQO0lceSr4lBOu2hsFQqYNlqvIUqWR4RFpBsAxmvt3dH7APzK5YlRFb2KvbyeET2EYCfafneJsZJ2OiV5Md5PRD2Syh0TcL/s1600/DSC02047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrebSx3wIRPDLAbk_Ro-ICShmYE7uxSRH3S5wW0uIAFhdBcQO0lceSr4lBOu2hsFQqYNlqvIUqWR4RFpBsAxmvt3dH7APzK5YlRFb2KvbyeET2EYCfafneJsZJ2OiV5Md5PRD2Syh0TcL/s400/DSC02047.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once you have the circles cut our glue them on the front of the washers. When they are dry use your Mod Podge (equal parts white glue and water, mixed) to paint over top of the paper. Put your smaller washer on top of the bigger one (I used extra white glue for this step just in case the mod podge wasn't strong enough.) Then decorate as you wish. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgKlukPTsmBnLQPllOqJMHAx-h6JPwGHVFNXT59GHnIV39iLEdw7kvPghEMS066Sg2hiy9DPwVhCzFNY26U7MZ9fXMhOon2Gx2O6Iym_CXeFCfP-zuoSVnzkUsUMfhtpQXOAP3UCmojkP/s1600/DSC02053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgKlukPTsmBnLQPllOqJMHAx-h6JPwGHVFNXT59GHnIV39iLEdw7kvPghEMS066Sg2hiy9DPwVhCzFNY26U7MZ9fXMhOon2Gx2O6Iym_CXeFCfP-zuoSVnzkUsUMfhtpQXOAP3UCmojkP/s400/DSC02053.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Here is my homemade mod podge. I used 1 tbsp. water 1 tbsp. white glue, knowing that this isn't something I'm going to use all the time. I didn't even end up needing it, because while I was looking for a few things I found my glitter puffy paint and decided to use that in place of the mod podge. It made a huge difference in the end result! My girls are going to be so excited!</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-63053070885443007442011-12-19T21:42:00.000-08:002011-12-20T22:33:22.401-08:00Christmas Ornaments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, I decided this year for my kids' ornaments (they get a new one each year) we were going to make them! And what's more fun than paint and hand prints? Especially for the older kids that don't ever seem to do hand prints anymore! <a href="http://www.asortafairytaleblog.com/2010/12/diy-babys-1st-christmas-ornament.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> is where the idea came from.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LazAV66x4OaDF3vVi2tBqCnv3QOa6Yf4sL0ufWnlsWWBicBnRJuNNq0DutVY30rmNvR-PwrTMbYC6HbwVpp85WQ2y0FADqTuN7eslNa-2GxDgwwhZy-04DFmV7vmGr0QdYXKbr-Tpg3X/s1600/DSC02030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LazAV66x4OaDF3vVi2tBqCnv3QOa6Yf4sL0ufWnlsWWBicBnRJuNNq0DutVY30rmNvR-PwrTMbYC6HbwVpp85WQ2y0FADqTuN7eslNa-2GxDgwwhZy-04DFmV7vmGr0QdYXKbr-Tpg3X/s320/DSC02030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I didn't do what she said to do, just got the idea from her. These are plastic ornaments from Micheal's and I put fake snow in them. Then each kid picked the color they wanted and we made hand prints. I wasn't as organized as I had hoped because I forgot about the glitter until it was too late! They turned out cute, but I think they need a little something, so I'm going to have to spice them up a bit later (I'll add pics when I do.) And getting Bronx to do his (14 months) not such a success! I think I'm going to try his again with a different color (lime green this time, something else next time.) He really didn't want to open his hand and he hated the feeling of the paint! LOL!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-avwif-hF0R1_AuKGISX3Dm_rggZisYpHq6S1ePj6rca2rGpnCrIQKuX16U87K1HOZT_ZoHaCziiQLuMzlLdWZ6GR0YsPJEq9vAfT8dWhyRUvw4Uthv_mkUTVsHAOGMp0W7HXSggmn8S/s1600/DSC02031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-avwif-hF0R1_AuKGISX3Dm_rggZisYpHq6S1ePj6rca2rGpnCrIQKuX16U87K1HOZT_ZoHaCziiQLuMzlLdWZ6GR0YsPJEq9vAfT8dWhyRUvw4Uthv_mkUTVsHAOGMp0W7HXSggmn8S/s320/DSC02031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38juSRFiOl1D4ggTX6BdgNi2tro99rvicKWolpdqF-Vy-53QBIh7rQog8l9Cmqrr1m0sXdTtToLQMBtEzCZZFkBi8zeeygToyAs3-iGAOZ5WQjAG6CMaL873SCFYqNS-vURW5XaMYQfhm/s1600/DSC02032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38juSRFiOl1D4ggTX6BdgNi2tro99rvicKWolpdqF-Vy-53QBIh7rQog8l9Cmqrr1m0sXdTtToLQMBtEzCZZFkBi8zeeygToyAs3-iGAOZ5WQjAG6CMaL873SCFYqNS-vURW5XaMYQfhm/s320/DSC02032.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div>Not super great pics because they were hanging to dry, but I'll get better ones later when I've added some fun to them!</div><div><br />
</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-63075872077663552412011-12-19T21:27:00.000-08:002011-12-19T21:27:34.846-08:00Slow Cooker Lasagna!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I made this recipe once before and to me it was a bomb. Justin said it was fine, but I thought it was flavorless and mushy. So, <a href="http://creatingthroughlife.blogspot.com/2011/10/crock-pot-lasagna.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> is where I got the recipe and this is what I did to make it yummy...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 lb. ground beef</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2 large cans Spaghetti sauce (26.5 oz. each) mine was garlic and onion flavored, but when I tasted it, you couldn't tell.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">8 oz. package lasagna noodles uncooked</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4 cups mozzarella cheese</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2 cups cottage cheese (16 oz. container)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">onion and garlic to season meat </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxcwMPVV8GOrtWoM46aFZb8mtPaHkXLNjmaotziZpsGbX-tvTBGzstxYiiXLqPVs2ALmgFNIxeFNj3M9kWaIDJnzmGMY8hjwU6Fc1SGCh_c_XfPQ488SehZ1zKShsdjJAOudi75ncOzow/s1600/DSC02022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxcwMPVV8GOrtWoM46aFZb8mtPaHkXLNjmaotziZpsGbX-tvTBGzstxYiiXLqPVs2ALmgFNIxeFNj3M9kWaIDJnzmGMY8hjwU6Fc1SGCh_c_XfPQ488SehZ1zKShsdjJAOudi75ncOzow/s400/DSC02022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Seasoning the meat in the original recipe was a side note, I feel it must be done!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I used about a half and onion and 1 tbsp. minced garlic, but to each their own on this, it just needs some flavor! Once browned add the sauce.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iM4CKLkS4p4HZbOeNaNSel1uuc2S3Da0cHk-dNJHptNS42Lo6OOPz1HOMfGef-PSVexJLpkjP3AKjC9rSUCtVJW-f11gQSPxRvSRGylNTJPX06tMT-uQIX4M87ktm_HAKlfgYd9p3SQN/s1600/DSC02023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iM4CKLkS4p4HZbOeNaNSel1uuc2S3Da0cHk-dNJHptNS42Lo6OOPz1HOMfGef-PSVexJLpkjP3AKjC9rSUCtVJW-f11gQSPxRvSRGylNTJPX06tMT-uQIX4M87ktm_HAKlfgYd9p3SQN/s400/DSC02023.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I forgot to take a pic with each layer, and then my flash wouldn't work :P</div><div style="text-align: center;">Spray with cooking oil and then put 1/4 the meat sauce in the bottom of the dish.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Layer 1/3 of the noodles to cover as best as possible. Then mix up the cheeses and put 1/3 on top of noodles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeKewLB2Me4xICkgcTZhsWsB9IUhpP8Ff6xgfPvwJr2yTOoBgZGRQPAx7ufniCn0XAPHOhdK9akBLFYVMWLgmZ5aE9aHcUnk-YSXBjaZreSDrOda5FxdTT1UgINRRRF2k2gNmsni38A3h/s1600/DSC02026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeKewLB2Me4xICkgcTZhsWsB9IUhpP8Ff6xgfPvwJr2yTOoBgZGRQPAx7ufniCn0XAPHOhdK9akBLFYVMWLgmZ5aE9aHcUnk-YSXBjaZreSDrOda5FxdTT1UgINRRRF2k2gNmsni38A3h/s400/DSC02026.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Continue with this pattern until you end with meat sauce on top</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifI5kRmYsob1jZA6YdDbZ0wiqGyGVKnfzu6opxoS1aQ5i6063DdL-R7WjN2xjTIdIfEE8XTTZMY8v8pYU5JLFQAKC9c3YyNQCGFsWknPUZDKs-h-yc9KlcCd3A-h7RLjQZ8Mt8tJDrsO5/s1600/DSC02029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifI5kRmYsob1jZA6YdDbZ0wiqGyGVKnfzu6opxoS1aQ5i6063DdL-R7WjN2xjTIdIfEE8XTTZMY8v8pYU5JLFQAKC9c3YyNQCGFsWknPUZDKs-h-yc9KlcCd3A-h7RLjQZ8Mt8tJDrsO5/s400/DSC02029.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Cook on low for 3 hours</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbinSkm1hBK_0DFFx7Mie41GR5JRBET2avYDLrNUBmkYNCzSCEu8cdyF3C7sDIIfJYAWjT_TeKoW-3nw4ta_leDhfTtD4ZqpKtGRbq2hLcs70rq7xFROMnUASRoTXJM80h4VG6-uYjTSeR/s1600/DSC02034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbinSkm1hBK_0DFFx7Mie41GR5JRBET2avYDLrNUBmkYNCzSCEu8cdyF3C7sDIIfJYAWjT_TeKoW-3nw4ta_leDhfTtD4ZqpKtGRbq2hLcs70rq7xFROMnUASRoTXJM80h4VG6-uYjTSeR/s400/DSC02034.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Let stand 10 to 20 minutes (with lid off) to set.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8esw5EsHmJBxMEGEGYGaNGLGaXUoviDq0jhgvwwJGCeXN4hMRT9QHQSYNA-kxakWmWqcFH3lxBAJ1-_QBxVbcS6-mXatrtJ-sXC7fAS8KDfAXZS1y-rjp5E3S8b7l_b01xt2evirEPsj8/s1600/DSC02038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8esw5EsHmJBxMEGEGYGaNGLGaXUoviDq0jhgvwwJGCeXN4hMRT9QHQSYNA-kxakWmWqcFH3lxBAJ1-_QBxVbcS6-mXatrtJ-sXC7fAS8KDfAXZS1y-rjp5E3S8b7l_b01xt2evirEPsj8/s400/DSC02038.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">*Note, I am using a 7 quart slow cooker, so that is why I ended up needing so much sauce! Next time I will use my smaller slow cooker to do this, because we didn't even eat half. But, this time it was yummy because I didn't use tomato sauce like the original recipe said and I cooked it less time and used a lot more seasonings. So to do a smaller batch I'd say 1 can of spaghetti sauce would do, but have an extra one on hand just in case.</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-16231211352068490352011-12-16T18:41:00.000-08:002011-12-16T18:41:38.773-08:00Chicken n Dumplings in the Slow CookerThis is one of our new favorite recipes for the slow cooker! It's so good that I'm going to have to double it for my big family so that we actually have some leftovers! YUM! I found the recipe <a href="http://www.bubblecrumb.com/2010/02/14/crock-pot-chicken-and-dumplings-recipe/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. That recipe calls for the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">grands flaky refrigerator biscuits, but those aren't in my budget and I don't really care for them to begin with, so here is what I did. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnG2s8bU8BrM3Kd-kpBg9nPqPdgnbverXOFJLCbA0jF_lwdymrJi8AcMs8ftP1hZzbAsHRUV2abW0ANb41nMw6W1_JXsrnqPoK-YmQp3d2MEhlqDciHmgOA63xGj7Dm18R1PK6fOsWvK0/s1600/IMG_0551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnG2s8bU8BrM3Kd-kpBg9nPqPdgnbverXOFJLCbA0jF_lwdymrJi8AcMs8ftP1hZzbAsHRUV2abW0ANb41nMw6W1_JXsrnqPoK-YmQp3d2MEhlqDciHmgOA63xGj7Dm18R1PK6fOsWvK0/s400/IMG_0551.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
Total cooking time 4 hours on high (the original recipe calls for 4-6 hours on high, but I find that the chicken is dry if you cook it that long.)<br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">2-3 Large boneless skinless chicken breasts </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">2 tablespoons butter</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">2 cans cream of chicken soup</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">1 can chicken broth (I always use water and chicken bullion because it's cheaper and easier on my storage space.)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">1 onion diced</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">1 tablespoon dried parsley</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16px;">1-2 cups frozen veggies (we always add extra peas, yum!)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">Dumplings:</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">2 cups Bisquick (I would have used my Jiffy Mix, but I was out.)</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">1/2 cup Milk<br />
Mix Bisquick and milk together to form dough. Powder your hands with some Bisquick flour and roll out dumplings. I usually make mine about the size of a small bouncy ball. I make them ahead and put them in the fridge just so that when it's time to put them in they are ready.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfxbQKQNXCUY8ncrVnu6teyPTBaGplOWXQkybHD7bht0S7xqFhBlyXKJwukfJGstoAi5kZ0zFRm5lQ1AOWNXTjsnv5qIEVDaat0Boz91Dmc9lUFlV8jINQglg4F71sX9dP50Wrt0s5Zky/s1600/IMG_0541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfxbQKQNXCUY8ncrVnu6teyPTBaGplOWXQkybHD7bht0S7xqFhBlyXKJwukfJGstoAi5kZ0zFRm5lQ1AOWNXTjsnv5qIEVDaat0Boz91Dmc9lUFlV8jINQglg4F71sX9dP50Wrt0s5Zky/s400/IMG_0541.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Put the chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker and the butter on top (I was doubling it, but it ended up being too much chicken)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKVZif538GlVroxMuITKz8VZMUKSInWB6iWy1u2eLax_USEX9H3J4XL5kC4h8kP4imP6aUKstblKyF2FcAhOI96ZMQ9vAWPz5MgqH8WWzZwIAYXC3DlYHxdAGhMFikEbfP4fD5JQ7ulyW/s1600/IMG_0542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKVZif538GlVroxMuITKz8VZMUKSInWB6iWy1u2eLax_USEX9H3J4XL5kC4h8kP4imP6aUKstblKyF2FcAhOI96ZMQ9vAWPz5MgqH8WWzZwIAYXC3DlYHxdAGhMFikEbfP4fD5JQ7ulyW/s400/IMG_0542.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Pour the cream of chicken soup and chicken broth on top</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ELEX6rvGTKCZCg08SDitNM76o1NnNkruan5qnTmZ93bqnBoTMkMyCPibAsPu6hw7sFLa00fYlHpvHI-3KpMipTMM4lCOpI-kVjr4HrRsMMJeU7Qq2AE8h_zaQOL02Q_pptVFko9Zo7-Q/s1600/IMG_0543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ELEX6rvGTKCZCg08SDitNM76o1NnNkruan5qnTmZ93bqnBoTMkMyCPibAsPu6hw7sFLa00fYlHpvHI-3KpMipTMM4lCOpI-kVjr4HrRsMMJeU7Qq2AE8h_zaQOL02Q_pptVFko9Zo7-Q/s400/IMG_0543.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Add the veggies and mix a bit and cook on high for 3 1/2 hours</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZawRK0PT-slvdfjje9Ytufe112IPNrtP2pEb8dtPf3KEL4zr0NtbvTVdx5s2nDZjavfHSp5Auc_UIIBwOK4id2uUDf_tJXcu8ZlmclGeLQUfn1Tyz7Xw9pBXm0TtD-ok38eWpseFG27N/s1600/IMG_0544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZawRK0PT-slvdfjje9Ytufe112IPNrtP2pEb8dtPf3KEL4zr0NtbvTVdx5s2nDZjavfHSp5Auc_UIIBwOK4id2uUDf_tJXcu8ZlmclGeLQUfn1Tyz7Xw9pBXm0TtD-ok38eWpseFG27N/s400/IMG_0544.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Shred the chicken then...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-XSXQAhnyxAOIA5UsQDoGgfK-Ergzbmtmx7hiUOZYIKe8XxT8zlN7G2VyffqaRSIKEFFWOVsPyVuvk8dte8b2ZxNKW-T3jvv6mXq3ZL6k0_o2G__b-PnUAHFpU-lW9Jyh6yuNLBHOUIu/s1600/IMG_0546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-XSXQAhnyxAOIA5UsQDoGgfK-Ergzbmtmx7hiUOZYIKe8XxT8zlN7G2VyffqaRSIKEFFWOVsPyVuvk8dte8b2ZxNKW-T3jvv6mXq3ZL6k0_o2G__b-PnUAHFpU-lW9Jyh6yuNLBHOUIu/s400/IMG_0546.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Add the dumplings</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nT6aMkOdQzrqkTtNjGgPjvhOlKDN0iQx7GwH3HCcbRIhqvjN9NTIrXvCG5aeZpj8yiUTw9aeO4colE6Xm_jIt_aE5TQVTO7yleenzdQ_j14c35BqYX881l5KNKTksPSWSDXBampI7euA/s1600/IMG_0547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nT6aMkOdQzrqkTtNjGgPjvhOlKDN0iQx7GwH3HCcbRIhqvjN9NTIrXvCG5aeZpj8yiUTw9aeO4colE6Xm_jIt_aE5TQVTO7yleenzdQ_j14c35BqYX881l5KNKTksPSWSDXBampI7euA/s400/IMG_0547.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">After I put the dumplings in I try to cover them with sauce. (these look extra big because they start to expand right away, but I made them about the size of a small bouncy ball.) Place the lid back on for 30 minutes and serve.</div></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6459150795087579302.post-71296555507364833772011-12-15T21:04:00.000-08:002011-12-15T21:07:50.910-08:00Cheesy Vegetable Chower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found this recipe <a href="http://luluthebaker.blogspot.com/2011/09/cheesy-vegetable-chowder.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. It took me about an hour and half to make including all the chopping. It was a huge hit! We love creamy soups in our family!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxviMMhibHLZyt1p2OJ5PPWq1kwHj5TOPd1ANVH8NkOSp06xP8Is07qpkASlaxuHT0QKD1eA-ulMVBuJ95aA7M9OZmQq6SUbaKxp3uGXIWv5R-XdtOM21XOfgp7wVUj_zrkTMJ3rY-bE8X/s1600/DSC02007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxviMMhibHLZyt1p2OJ5PPWq1kwHj5TOPd1ANVH8NkOSp06xP8Is07qpkASlaxuHT0QKD1eA-ulMVBuJ95aA7M9OZmQq6SUbaKxp3uGXIWv5R-XdtOM21XOfgp7wVUj_zrkTMJ3rY-bE8X/s400/DSC02007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2 Tablespoons butter</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 cup chopped onion</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1 cup finely chopped carrot</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1 stalk celery, finely chopped (feel free to add more celery if you like celery; I don't, so I don't add much)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1 Tablespoon minced garlic</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">4 cups chicken broth (I usually use a mixture of low-sodium chicken broth and broth made with chicken soup base because it gives it such nice flavor)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2 large baking potatoes, peeled and chopped</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1 Tablespoon flour</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 cup water</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2/3 cup milk</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2 cups chopped broccoli</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2 heaping cups shredded cheddar cheese</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Melt the butter in a large soup pot. Add onions, carrots, and celery and saute over medium heat until tender. Add garlic and cook 1 or 2 additional minutes. Add chicken broth and potatoes, bring to a boil, and cook until potatoes are tender. Mix flour with water, add, and simmer until soup is slightly thickened. Add milk and broccoli and cook until broccoli is just tender and soup is heated through. Stir in cheese, allow to melt, and serve.</span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bgnO6UJyul8xlvnJtDLEsRSUU73_l38uzYJEiPN9jU_nGvwcKqfLDE-VmNBudL4LkY2ggs4MGBRRs394vGD4GpQwB2Ol7ZCgCibibiglcYQejWbz29aphFv48PqmqOe-UnTSyYrrHhCj/s1600/DSC02002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bgnO6UJyul8xlvnJtDLEsRSUU73_l38uzYJEiPN9jU_nGvwcKqfLDE-VmNBudL4LkY2ggs4MGBRRs394vGD4GpQwB2Ol7ZCgCibibiglcYQejWbz29aphFv48PqmqOe-UnTSyYrrHhCj/s400/DSC02002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Veggies in butter, yum!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9kjuYJ__t0nclO-9QmP_hEoDSgfWl7fJUcLfUtGf3CcOBtD5COgMxOMKCULLHtUZHsmc-BWq4-xNdeLdmhoqp1VztrM3EOAUfq74VhcXPG6_olk7X0JUr3OZ0a0sEH-DbAbVYMQVmV7W/s1600/DSC02003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9kjuYJ__t0nclO-9QmP_hEoDSgfWl7fJUcLfUtGf3CcOBtD5COgMxOMKCULLHtUZHsmc-BWq4-xNdeLdmhoqp1VztrM3EOAUfq74VhcXPG6_olk7X0JUr3OZ0a0sEH-DbAbVYMQVmV7W/s400/DSC02003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Veggies after the broth was added.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5fsOGdwHqck37YqBsA85vNBf-vDvs1je6aOshV9CTg5Q4juJ0nO9HSqN8ngj5_Kg3qvrk11aQic2toqpLJF1QF7PIZhXHmP1PG1JZzP-NFFXnYroYu3t5pyCh1XNaAswJgTBjysHp_oQ/s1600/DSC02005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5fsOGdwHqck37YqBsA85vNBf-vDvs1je6aOshV9CTg5Q4juJ0nO9HSqN8ngj5_Kg3qvrk11aQic2toqpLJF1QF7PIZhXHmP1PG1JZzP-NFFXnYroYu3t5pyCh1XNaAswJgTBjysHp_oQ/s400/DSC02005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">After the flour mixture and milk were added it started to look more like a creamy soup, but it still wasn't thickening like I thought it should. My potatoes ended up getting overly done (which I love) because I had to let the soup boil for so long trying to get it to thicken. Then I added the cheese, which helped, but not as much as I would have liked. I thought maybe when I cooled it would thicken. It did a little. Anyway, it was yummy and my 2 year old went back for seconds! That's huge since getting her to eat anything is hard!</div></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944418701277617533noreply@blogger.com0