I'm baaaaaccccckkk!

I give in. I'm back. I keep wanting to write about the crafts and things that I'm doing on my family blog but then, I think about how it won't fit in when I want to print that blog to a book. And that I don't want.... With the invention of Pinterest, I have become a crafting queen! I pretty much always have a project going on right now. So I think I am going to resurrect this blog so I can tell all about my crafty and culinary successes and disasters. I don't have photos to put up now, I'll have to work on that. But in the meantime, here's what I've been up to....

Valentines Day garland
Curtain for the front door
Mod Podge chalkboard Mason jar
Piggy Bank
Valentines Day Mason jar
Magnet board for the kitchen (which my father in law did 90% of)
Lots of new recipes
hair clips for the wee one
An ornament
A sock monkey
Nest necklaces
Tshirt headbands
Mailbox out of a cereal box

Yes, all of that. This is pretty much what I do with my time after Livy is in bed. I think Andrew's tired of hearing the sewing machine.

Progress, Backwards

I digress. Am I even using that phrase correctly? I don't think so. But it sounded good. What I really mean to say, is that I am not getting better, only worse! But, I am trying to look at the bright side of things..... at least I'm consistent. And if I can get even a little bit closer to hubb's moms talents, then I'm doing great!

So, tonight I made this

Hubby Rating: 2.5*s

Improvements: Dried Tomatoes, a little bit more olive oil, chop up artichokes more, more garlic

Changes I made: I put fresh garlic in, in addition to the garlic salt. I also served the pasta with peas, which hubby ended up stirring in, so for the leftovers, I just mixed it all together (for tupperwares sake) I think it actually tasted better. ;) I also added a little bit of parmesan cheese. (to taste) Not that my opinion counts for much, but I thought it was pretty good.

In closing, I have to give myself a little bit of a pat on the back for cooking so much this week!

Mod Podge, I love you.

You know how you have tons of papers laying around? Bills that you don't really want to look at but know that you need to get to eventually.... But you don't want to spend money to buy anything to organize all of it? Well, I found a solution!

Last night I made these, from the blog, Babblings from Brook.

Mine turned out like this:

This is a great idea because if you eat cereal, and you are already a crafter, you're bound to have the other stuff around! Very cute idea, and very personalized!

P.S. Mod podge is this girl's new best friend. ;)

Try #2

Tonight, I made this.

I'm trying really hard to use ingredients that I already have in my kitchen, and not buy anything else when I don't have to. And, I didn't do a very good job in planning all of my meals out ahead of time as I would've liked. Not to make excuses but....when hubby goes grocery shopping with me, I always feel rushed! And sometimes he questions what I'm buying! Does anyone else have this issue? Needless to say, I'm going to have to find some way to ditch him for my grocery shopping trips. Somehow though, I ended up with one of those significant others who likes to spend every moment that he can with me since we don't see each other at all during the day. How was I so blessed?=)

Changes that I made.....

I did not include ham. Partly because I do not like ham. (Sam I am). And partly because I had none in my kitchen (probably because I don't like it). I also didn't use mozzarella cheese. And two changes that I made because again, I made due with things that I already had... used garlic powder instead of fresh garlic (gasp!), and I used the pre-bagged brown rice from Trader Joe's, that we had left in the freezer.

I served it with broccoli. I just took the first bite, on my own (because Andrew is on a business call) and I have to say, TASTY! I do believe that this one will be going on my list of quick and easy go to recipes in my permanent book! That is, if I get the hubbies stamp of approval.... we shall see!

Also, I took a container full of last nights cookies to work today. They got two thumbs up from every person that ate them! So, see yesterdays post for a link to the recipe.

Hubby's Rating:

2.8*'s--which is a controversial score. I asked him what I could do differently. He said nothing, I did the best with what I had. And I said, "so then it's a 5*?" And he said no. So in this case, I'm going to say that actions speak louder than words.... he gobbled a huge bowl up! He said 2.8, but I think it's doubles night....we'll call it a 5!

Culinary Disaster!

I have a confession to make......

I'm a culinary disaster. Really, I am. Somehow, in my teenage years, I never grasped the whole cooking thing. I accredit this to the fact that sports were the center of my middle and high school world. I was too busy playing basketball, volleyball, soccer, running and rowing, to pay any attention to anything having to do with the kitchen, unless it was to make myself a grilled cheese sandwich because my mom wouldn't at the moment..... (I really wasn't a spoiled brat, I promise). Thus, I feel as though my cooking growth was stunted, or rather, never really began.

And so, friends, almost two years into my marriage, I have decided that I will make a really true, honest effort, to perfect my non-existent talent. And my journey begins here. I'm going to utilize this blog to keep you up to date on my culinary adventures, as well as my crafting adventures. Because I believe that they are very closely related. All creating something, and helping to make my home a better place.

So come with me as I embark on this new journey!

And as a side note and disclaimer: my husband is what I like to call a "food snob." Or what some others like to call a "foodie." Thanks to his mother, my husband was spoiled with amazing food as an adolescent. I don't think that there's anything that she makes that isn't amazing. And so, I have her standards to live up to. Which gives me an idea: after each meal that I make, I am going to ask for his rating, on a scale of 1-5, 5 being the best, and also to get his opinion on what he thinks could make it better. For next time, if there is a next time.

One more disclaimer: Hubby is not a sweets connoisseur. Take it or leave it for him. Needless to say, I am a little bit more apprehensive to ask his opinion on these types of things. However, in the spirit of this blog, I will anyway. And if he rates it a 5*, you will know that it truly was amazing!

Bon apetit!

Tonight, I made this

And these

Hubbies Rating:

Southwest Egg Rolls: 1.5*'s

Change: more spices; green peppers, more black pepper, salsa (in addition to avocado sauce). Sauce had too much ranch and maybe try sour cream in it next time. And chunkier chicken.

Cookies: 3.7 *'s, (he says, probably higher if you like chocolate)

Change: a little bit less cocoa and add macadamia nuts or walnuts. (quote: "whole walnuts would have been amazing in that!)

Hi! I know that it's beena terribbly long time since I've done anything crafty!

Believe me, I have many, many crafts in the cue. I just need to find the time to do them! It's hard working full time and trying to take care of a husband AND myself AND craft!

Rest assured.... I will be back soon with projects!

Trial and Error

This my friends, was a craft of trial and error. One canvas I liked, one, not so much. That being said, the one that I don't like nearly as much, has still made an appearance on the wall in our bathroom. And the one that I did like, is making an appearance on my 7 year old sister in law's wall.

Let me start by saying that the way that these turned out, is not anywhere near how they began. I started by painting them a goldish color that I thought would be really pretty. My husband was convinced that they were orange, not gold. And I did not want a gold canvas hanging on my wall. So, I used some different paint that I had laying around. I painted one black, and one a tan color. I used my Cricut to cut out all of the letters.

We'll start with the canvas that I didn't like.....

I used a quote that my brother shared with us at the beginning of his mission that I just love. I used regular paper cut out the words in order to use as a stencil. Lay your stencil onto the canvas and use paint and a brush to fill it in. I also used tape around the edges to paint a border.

Reasons I don't like it:

I used the same size and type of font for all of the words, yet the g's look like they're smaller. And number two, for some reason, I'm straight line challenged. I just cannot put anything in a straight line!

And the canvas that I love......

I took President Hinckley's 6 Be's and made a canvas for my sister in law. I used a different patterned scrapbook paper for each Be. I cut out each one, in a different size, but same font. Such as:

Be Clean-size 2", purple paper

Be True-4", green paper

I then used just regular glue to glue down the first Be. Then I started the next Be right next to it, I let them all run into eachother and into the next line, for character....

Lastly, I used a few coats of Modpodge to seal the deal. And once it's dry, you get this!......

(Sorry the picture is sideways!)

I have soooo many crafts in the cue and I'm trying to find the time to try my hand at them. I quit my second job so I now have more time on my hands. So expect some heartfelt tries at some craftiness!