Pinterest Success!

I love it when a Pinterest idea works out! This was super easy and super cheap. I already had the ribbon so I just bought cards. I am sure they are cheaper at the dollar store but I paid $3 at the grocery store. Super cute and I am going to make another to hang in my office. It took me all of 30 minutes while watching Breakfast at Tiffany's ("Thursday! It can't be! It's too gruesome!") and sipping wine by the fireplace.

October?!

It is seriously October? Where has this year gone? It cannot believe it is already Fall and the holidays are on their way. I sort of have this love/hate relationship with Fall. I love the holidays and the activites that go along with them. But I loathe cold weather. And in my mind, anything below 75 degrees is downright freezing. I want to live somewhere that allows me to wear flip-flops and sundresses every day of the year. Oh well, I will have to comfort myself with yummy Pumpkin Spice Lattes to make up for the cold weather.

BUT...you want to know what I love the most about October? In my city, October means it is time for the Balloon Fiesta! I cannot really describe the ballon fiesta...it is just really cool. I mean, hot air balloons are cool anyway but hundreds in the sky at once is an AMAZING sight. I cannot wait to take pictures with my big girl camera. Here a couple pictures taken from my son's school the other night (taken with my phone).

Speaking of my big girl camera...I am a project 52 dropout. I do take pictures daily but I am just really overwhelmed and really bad about getting pictures up here in a timely manner. I know, loser. :( But I am still plugging along. Always practicing and trying to improve.

Let's see, what else is new? Well my baby is 14-months-old now. Craziness. He just started walking about two weeks ago. I mean, who wants to walk when you have 4 older siblings that carry you around like a little prince? He is generally a really happy baby. He has been kind of crabby the last week which I believe is from teething. He has this lovely new trick where he sticks his hands all the way in the back of his mouth to rub his gums. Great job at self soothing, right? Wrong. When trying to self soothe he occasionally gags himself when self soothing..which has led to accidental vomitting on more than one occasion. Generally, it is not a bog deal. Kind of yucky and pain in the rear but puke happens right? Except it sucks when you are at large family gathering at Olive Garden. Here is my cutie moments before vomitting all over the table after attempting to rub his gums. Good times.

Happy Fall everyone!

Happy 4th of July!

Just another day in paradise...

Today my biggest baby turned 14...! How did that happen? I told her she could have anything she wanted for dinner, anything at all. She chose slow cooker chicken and dumplings. I was surprised. But I never make it because her and I are the only ones that like it. lol My kids generally dislike anything that involves cream soups (and anything that involves breading but that is another story). It is so easy to make. I just threw some frozen chicken breasts in the crock pot and cooked on low until I could shred them (about 4 hours).
Then I added cream of chicken soup and diced carrots, celery and onions. Now you can do this yourself or just buy Mirapoix or the Trader Joe's blend like I do (I am a cheater).

Then I cook a couple more hours.
When there is about 30 minutes left I mix up some Bisquick and drop it over the top.

Cook for another 30 minutes or so and enjoy!
I have also made the recipe where I threw in the frozen chicken, veggies, and soup all at once and let is cook on low all day. When I got home I made the Bisquick and added it for 30 minutes and that works fine too. I just happen to be home today to make it in shifts.

The boys enjoyed burgers instead. And in my house no celebration is complete with out my pretty pink dishes (for all) and Corona (for the adults). ;)

And then we all enjoyed some tastey birthday cupcakes in honor of the pretty birthday girl.

Valentine's Day Craft

My poor mantle looks so sad without the stockings. I decided to dress it up a bit. I first attempted to make a paper garland that resembled Sweetheart candies but that was a giant fail. This is what I came up with instead.

Materials:
-small embroidery hoop
-ribbon
-hot glue gun
-embellishments of your choice (I used buttons, flowers, tulle, decorative straight pins, and felt shapes)


I wish I had a couple more hoops so I could have made a total of six. But this is what I had on hand.

Taking down Christmas

I barely got around to taking down my Christmas tree and decorations today. I know, I know. I always procrastinate because I just love my Christmas tree, it makes my heart so very happy. I love each and ever ornament that adorns my tree (even the Batman and Star Wars ornaments that seem to dominate the tree). Plus it is a little tricky trying to get things done with a sweet baby that is still nursing every 2 hours. But I managed to get all the tree decorations off and tomorrow I will get all the rest of the odds and ends and pack them away until next year. Bittersweet.

My Christmas decorations make me so very happy so it is hard to put them away. When I was a little girl my sister and I used to fall asleep listening to cassette tapes (yes, I am dating myself). One of our favorites was a Sesame Street tape that included the song "Keep Christmas With You All Through The Year." Like the nerd that I am, that song runs through my head constantly as I pack away all those decorations.


*sigh* Goodbye Christmas 2012.

I Wish It Were Christmas Today...

Merry Christmas!

DIY-Christmas Ornaments

When I was a child my mother started a collection of ornaments for my siblings and I so that when we left home we would have our own complete collection. Over the years the collection has grown and every Christmas I look forward to decorating our Christmas tree. I love pulling out the boxes of ornaments and each one has a special memory.

For that reason, I love to give ornaments as gifts. I like to give them to friends when they have a new baby. I like to give them to teachers as gifts each year. We give them to special family friends along with some yummy baked goods every year as well.

I am always on the look out for a new ornament to make and give as a gift. I have made many ove the years but this one is my tried and true favorite.

You will need:
Clear glass ornaments (I bought mine at Hobby Lobby)
Scrapbook paper (double sided works best)
ribbon

You can add other items of you desire such as feathers and flowers. I have also printed song lyrics or sayings onto vellum paper and put them into the ornament as well.I always get so many compliments and people always want to know how to make them. They are so simply and inexpensive.

Halloween crafts

I love holidays of any type because they give me an excuse for holiday crafts! Paper pumpkins made from strips of scrapbook paper, ribbon and brads. So easy and so festive!