Memory Notebook Tutorial

I made this notebook with the idea that inside would be written memorable things that my children do and I want to keep track of.  For example, those hilarious things that only children say and do and makes you crack up for like a week or amazing moments that are so precious you just don't ever want to forget.  

I gathered some fun things accessories and went for a distressed antique feel.  The first step is covering the notebook with your chosen paper.

Then add your ribbon.  I cut up a whole bunch of ribbon and started tying them onto the end until you couldn't see the rings of the notebook.

Then I added my accessories (some lace, beads, title, jewels, a big button...) 

Here's the result--I've already started writing some memories down on the inside too...

Here's one I made for my sister and sister-in-law for their Mother's Day gift:

I entered the first one into DDSB & Cuttlebug Challenge for doiles and lace and this last one into Dutch Dare's challenge! 

My Fourth Of July Garden Decor

Have a safe and happy 4th of July holiday weekend (people in the US) and leave a link to your fun holiday decor if you have any up!  :)

Welcome! And Welcome Back!!

A new plant for the front porch sporting an awesome garage sale pot ($1)!!  It grows pretty white bushy flowers.  You can see one on the branch.  I feel like I've added another member to my front porch fam!

My parsley is back! Yea! How fun that something went away and now is sprouting again. I am a new gardener and this is my first time I've had a repeat.  What a funny joy I have about it :)

I couldn't resist showing another picture of my mixed flowers that are still growing in.  I love the variety even in the greenery!

Eat Your Veggies! Spaghetti

A lot of people know how to make spaghetti, but I wanted to share this recipe because I know a lot of my friends and I have trouble feeding veggies to our kiddos and this recipe my kids love and (shh!) it's packed with vegetables!  Look at all those veggies hiding under the sauce...

Directions: Brown 1 1/2 lbs ground beef or turkey with about 1 Tbsp olive oil in your skillet.  Add diced garlic, about 2 cups diced carrots, 1 diced onion, and some of your favorite spaghetti spices (I usually do basil, parsley and bay leaves when my herbs are grown in...but fresh from the garden or straight from the cabinet, add how much you like...a sprinkle of this a little of that..).  You can also add pretty much whatever veggies you have in your fridge (bell peppers, celery, ...).  Let your vegetables become soft and flavor the meat (about five minutes).  Add 1/2 cup of cooking wine and let simmer for another five minutes.  Add a large can of diced tomatoes, a jar of spaghetti sauce, and 1/2 cup water.  I add the water to the sauce jar rather than directly to the skillet and then dump that into the sauce.  It gets more sauce from your jar that was sticking to the edges.  Lastly, I add a small spoonful of brown sugar to sweeten it up.  Bring your fabulous sauce to a boil and then simmer for a total of 30 minutes.  That's when I do my noodles, get the table ready and make some garlic bread.  This should feed about six, but if you added another jar of sauce it would feed ten.  

I make a lot of the sauce, eat half with the noodles, and then put the other half in the freezer in a Tupperware dish.  That way the next spaghetti night I only have to heat noodles, drain them, put the frozen sauce in the pan with the noodles, let it heat up, and bam--another veggie filled dinner!  

Car Caddy

I found a tutorial on another blog and had to make this cozy car caddy (click here for tutorial and to check out Jill's blog--it's awesome)!! My son has been so into matchbox cars and he also really likes putting things in pockets and taking them out again so this was perfect!  The main thing I did different from the tutorial if you want to make one is I used a purchased stencil from the craft store for my numbers rather then using the numbers provided.  I was so excited I made four to give as gifts too... I can't wait to go out to eat and bring our new toy! :)

"Baked" Macaroni & Cheese

To make this yummy homemade baked macaroni and cheese you will need: a large bag of macaroni noodles, a stick of butter, 32 oz shredded cheese (i like a lot!), about three cups of milk, pepper to taste (I usually put about 2 Tbsp).  Cook the noodles in boiling water until just soft (don't overcook because we'll be putting the dish in the microwave and the noodles will cook more there).  In a large bowl, throw in the drained noodles, butter, milk, cheese and pepper.  Then put into microwaveable pot and top with cheese (I bought the Emeril 5-quart casserole dish just for this meal!).  You can refrigerate now and reheat in microwave for 15-25 minutes when you are ready to eat, or just throw it in the microwave right away and eat.  Don't you just love making food ahead of time?!  This will feed a lot of people or what I do is feed my fam, then put the leftovers in one-person meal sized Tupperware and have it for lunches later in the week--it reheats super well.  This is one of my most favorite meals so I hope you enjoy!

Broccoli Grape Salad

We had our first annual church park picnic today and I made this delicious broccoli and grape salad!  OK, I tried this at a friend's son's birthday party and thought it might be kinda funny tasting, but I tried it and loved it!  It has a refreshing summer taste with softness and crunch and juiciness.  I looked online and there's a lot of recipes for this guy, but the way my friend Jodie makes it uses less ingredients and I really think it's yummy that way and i guess pretty unique too since I didn't find any other recipes exactly like this one.

Salad Ingredients: 3-4 bunches fresh broccoli cut into bite sized pieces, 1 small chopped red onion, 1 bunch of red grapes halved, 1/2 lb bacon cooked and crumbled (I bought the pre-cooked bacon), 1 cup sliced almonds, 1 cup sunflower seeds 

Dressing Ingredients: 2 cups light mayonnaise, 1/2 cup sugar, 3 Tbsp plus 1 tsp vinegar

Directions: Place prepared salad ingredients in bowl except for nuts and seeds.  In a small bowl, combine dressing ingredients.  Pour dressing over broccoli mixture, stirring until combined.  Cover and refrigerate for several hours to overnight allowing the blending of flavors.  And nuts and seeds just before serving.  

Other things people add: celery, raisins, pine nuts, cauliflower, craisins, bacon bits, minced sweet onion, green onion.

Fruit Salad

Made this fruit salad the other day and thought I'd share...So fresh and yummy!

BBQ'd Corn on the Cob

So, I think corn on the cob is one of the most amazing foods ever and come to find out--it's super easy to make on the BBQ!  All you do is buy some ears of corn or if you grow corn pick some from the garden.  Rub with butter and sprinkle with white sugar.  Then wrap in tin foil and throw on the BBQ with your steaks or whatever you are preparing for about 30 minutes.  Voila!  Yummy corn!

Dad's Coupon Book and Photo Album

This memory album I made with the idea that every year I will give pictures of "dad" and kids from that year.  He can write on the side memories and there are about 200 slots so if I give 10 pictures per year--he could have this book for 20 years!  What a fun thing to look back on :)

This year I also made for the dads: BBQ Cupcakes, a Memory Game, and a Tool Belt Gift Box

Dad's BBQ Cupcakes

I saw this idea in a magazine and had to make them!  The "cupcake" is actually brownie which you make according to the package.  Then you use grey icing for the grill rack and sprinkles for the fire embers.  The steak is a tootsie roll I shaped and then added black gel icing with a toothpick for a grilled effect.  The hot dogs are hot tamales with the same black decorators gel frosting applied with a toothpick.  The skewers are toothpicks with dots candies for the pineapple, tomato, onion, and bell pepper, and taffy for the chicken. 

Growing Growing Growing

My flowers are still growing! That last flower picture is my favorite one of the bunch.  It's like he's leading the rest.  It is so fun to see them grow from seed, but I am also starting to get anxious and wanting to see my flowers in full bloom already!!

Snail Traps

After finding a snail farm and every day finding new snails in my flower beds and veggie garden, I have decided to take action.  I have set three different types of "organic" snail traps and have captured to date about 100 or so snails/slugs.  The snail trap that I have heard of before is to take a masonry jar, put it level with the dirt and then fill it with a little beer overnight.  This way works well with snails.  Some snails drown, but they might not all die and since they come out at night when it's cool you have to check on the jars early in the morning to catch more.  Another way I tried, my favorite, is a yeast mixture.  Same thing with the jars, but instead of beer you put a mixture of 1 cup water, 1 tsp flour, 1 tsp sugar, and 1/2 tsp dry yeast.  This is especially attractive for the slugs. I had about thirty slugs in one night.  This mixture is less likely to kill the pests so if you are into ridding them for good the best way is to step on them or crush them with a stick.  If you want the little guys to live, put them into your lawn clippings bag and they'll feast in there.  The last way I tried is by putting milk into the jars.  This really did not work at all and instead gave me another pest--flies.  

Dad's Tool Belt Box

Re-purposing a Capri Sun Box, I made a tool belt gift box to wrap my dad's gift in.  I covered the box in brown paper, added stitching with a black marker, the silver buttons I found at the craft store and I made the tools by simply drawing and cutting.  

Memory Game

Here's a look at the Father's Day gift I made for my husband's dad and my dad.  I took a regular playing card, covered the back with decorative paper, added a frame with a black gel pen, and distressed the sides with ink.  On the front side of the card I put a picture of my kids, their hand prints, and a coloring one of my sons made.  I made two of each image so when flipped with backs face up you could play the game of Memory.  

Baby Girl Quilt

Here's some pictures of the quilt I made for my niece.  It's just like the one I made for my house.

I switched up the back and did every other colors with the pink and green.