DIY 4th of July Wreath

Well Hello Everyone! I'm so happy to be back posting after taking a week off.

As Promised it's my monthly wreath making post. For July, it's easy it's all about Independence Day.

I bought 7 different fabric quarters. in red, white and blue colors. 

Then I picked out a heart shaped wire wreath. I spent 17.43 for the fabric quarters and 4.99 for the Heart Shape wire wreath.  My budget was 30.00 I only spent 22.42. BUDGET GOAL MET!

With the extra fabric quarters I'm going to make an Apron. I can't wait!

Than I sat down and cut all my fabric into strips. Followed by tying each strip onto the wire wreath.

I started with red and as I continued I figured out the pattern I wanted, I had been playing in my head

a few different ways I wanted to work the colors.  When I started this I thought to myself "what did I get myself into? This is going to take FOREVER!"  It did take sometime between cutting the fabric and tying it onto the wreath. 

One note: when cutting the fabric it does not have to be perfect. I made my fabric different sizes when I cut my strips. I felt and feel it adds some dept to the wreath.

What 4th of July decorations or even July decorations are you going to make? I'd love to hear.

Recipe of the week: White Beans with Spinach and Sasuage

This dish surprised me. It was really good. It was really good re-heated for lunch the next day. It was also quick and easy to make! Now with that said. I am not going to be posting anything on my blog until June 30. Life is really busy right now and finding time to post is hard. The next post I will be posting will be my July Wreath!

Ingredients

1 lbs of Sausage links
2 cups chicken broth
2 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cans of  Cannellini beans
1 Can of petite diced tomatoes
6 cups baby spinach leaves
Freshly cracked pepper to taste

 I cook the sausage  before adding to the beans. I like to sear it well on the sides then cut it up Once it’s all cooked I add it along with whatever juice/grease that the sausage made from the pan and add it into the beans.

• Pour chicken broth and garlic into a large pot. Place on medium high heat and bring to a simmer. Add in the oil and oregano then beans. Stir it up before adding in tomatoes. Heat through till the beans are tender. It takes about an hour or more depending on heat variation.  If using canned it won’t take long at all. Once beans are tender add in the spinach and cook just until the leaves are wilted. Stir it in and sprinkle cracked pepper on top.

This weekend

I know I didn't post Saturday's Craft.I was planning on posting it after the hubby and I came back from searching for Sleeper Sofa's. I wanted to go to a new store that opened in the Dallas area called Nebraska Furniture. As we drove up to the store we noticed it had it's own 6 floor parking Garage  and the building it's self went on on and on forever. I looked at my hubby as we parked and said "what did we just get ourselves into?"

When you walk into the building you have people standing the to greet you and than they say this "Here is a Map of our store." Wait what? We are going to need a map of this place. I was actually happy to have the map because I thought I got lost at one point. IT"S THAT HUGE!

We found what we were looking for finally. The couch section is huge I finally asked where were the sleeper sofas at, because  my hubby was going to wear himself out looking under all the cushions of each couch. I had looked at everything online and the prices in the store were 100.00 cheaper. My wonderful hubby and I found one we liked and he said "Ok let's get this financed!" UMMM No back up this bus here Mister. I only came to look and pick one out so I can save the money for it. I don't want to ending up spending  600.00 for a couch that is only 399.00. No it didn't cause an fight, my hubby wants me to build credit so we can buy a house. I like living way under our means and he completely gets it. He knows I am trying very hard to pay of the car we bought in March.
So after I wrote down the price and what couch it was we were off to explore this HUGE store!

When we were done there (we were there for a long time and I had found 2 more things I wrote prices down for) it was time to pick up  the teenagers from work. I still had more errands to run. So my daughter and hubby went with me. My daughter's light on her crappy ceiling fan doesn't work and we decided to replace the fan with just a light. Habitat for Humanity has an awesome store called the Re-Store. It's fairly cheap. We picked up and light for her room for 7.95.

So by the time we got home from all the running around that day it was time for me to start getting ready for our double date with our friends at Addison's Londoner. This was our WOO HOO last weekend to be out late because the boys (step sons) are coming up for the summer Monday night. Both of us know how it is important to carve time out for us to go on dates but we both know how important it is to spend what time we have with my hubby's sons when they are up. If my hubby could see them everyday he would. He used to see them every Wednesday night until they moved to Austin 3 years ago. We still see them every 1st and 3rd weekends thru the month. It's important for my hubby to be a part of their lives! Now we do miss school functions and football games they are in (it Sucks!) but we try to make the most of it when they are here.

I also wanted to share something I found online. I think it's great for kids in the summer time. It's called Kiwi Crate. It's for children ages 4-8 they have other crates for older children as well. I thought it was awesome!
http://www.kiwicrate.com/

The older children's crates are called :
Tinker Crate 9-14 ages
Doodle Crate 9-16 ages

This Saturday was Landon's 10th birthday! He is the youngest out of all of our children. WOO HOOO DOUBLE DIGITS! That was the 1st thing we did was calling him as soon as the hubby woke up!
Whew! So back to why I wrote all of that I didn't have time to post the craft. I will be posting 2 crafts this coming up Saturday!

Sunday was spent in bed until 11:30am . Hubby lt me sleep to late! LOL
I still had to go get some groceries from the store. Kroger's has Nature's brand Bread on sale for .99 Cents!
I mainly spent my day doing chores and Cross stitching. It was a quiet day for me. The Hubby worked on Abby's light in the bedroom and Abby taught herself how to put together her floor fan for her room. I love quiet Sundays!

Monday's Menu

Good news! We had no leftovers other than the crock pot chicken and I am still using the chicken for some of the meals this week. (I froze it after it cooled down last week) I am adding lunches to this weeks menu. I am having to make sure instead of cooking for 2 people  for lunch I'm cooking for 4 people so now  I have to carefully plan the meals for this week, everyone in this house an be picky!

I don't know why but I love this picture!

Saturday:

Tacos

Sunday:

Broccoli Beef Stir-Fry with Rice.
With the leftover rice I will add it into tomorrow's lunch.



Monday:
For Lunch: Black Bean Rice Burritos. The crock pot chicken will be in it as well.
For Dinner: Leftovers or fend for yourself.
We are doing 2 leftover nights this week. The reason for this on it because I have my exercise class at 6 and We have to meet up to pick up the step sons at 9. So I will not have anytime to cook.


Tuesday:
For Lunch: Pasta Salad. Again I will use the crock pot chicken for the meat in this salad
For Dinner: Frito Pie. Landon's favorite dish and his birthday was Saturday.


Wednesday:

For Lunch: Jalapeno Poppers
For Dinner: Chorizo Burritos


Thursday:

For Lunch: Southwest Grilled Chicken Jalapeno Popper Salad with homemade Dressing
For Dinner: Left overs

Friday:

For Lunch: Lasagna  Soup
For Dinner: Homemade Pizza Rolls and a Salad. (Either the Pasta Salad or the Southwest Grilled Chicken Jalapeno Popper Salad)

Product Review, Ipsy June bag

Well I finally got my 1st Ipsy bag! I was super excited to open up the pick envelope to see what was inside.

 My 1st impressions of the bag was, Oh how cute!

This month it's about Swim into beauty.

What I got was the following:
OFRA Eyeliner in  the color of Turquoise. It's nice and smooth when applied and gives a velvety finish.

tre'StiQue Mini shadow crayon that is in the color of Kona Coffee. It went on smoothly.

Smashbox photo finish foundation primer. Now I had to look it up to see how to apply it and when; because it did not have any directions.

The body butter from Lavanila is wonderful! super smooth and smells wonderful!

Last I got nail polish from Formula X I didn't really like the color.

In all it was a good bag. The eyeliner alone was worth it!

Great things happening in June!

Hello Hello!

 Have you every had the problem where you have so many things you wants to say on your blog running through your head, then you sit down to type it all out and you can't remember half of it? I have this problem non-stop. If I don't write up my post for the week on Sunday then I have to do it after work through the week and I'm "brain dead" by then. So what I have done to try to so this is I started writing down key things I want to share with you!
 This month is my Parents 50th wedding anniversary! It a rare thing these days to have someone last 10 years so I am so happy I get to see it! I am blessed to have 2 parents that have stayed together through thick and thin and a very spoiled red headed teenager!

They are a great inspiration in my life. 

 Last weekend my wonderful Hubby and I were talking when he said something that shocked me! He said "I think we need a serious lifestyle change!" 

 I have been thinking that as well. I read a quote on the web last weekend that was so true and I shared it with him after he had said it.

 "A man's day from work is is sitting on the couch and relaxing

 A woman's day off from work is running around doing all the chores she couldn't do through the week"

I asked him what kind of lifestyle change is he talking about? His answer was "To become healthier and more active and to stop watching so much T.V." LOL well that is an easy fix in my book.

I started making a list for frugal fun places to go, Things we need to do around the house and weekly chores to clean the house, oh and Crafts he can do. He wants to learn how to make chain mail. The 1 thing we need to sit down and talk about is I know he likes watching T.V. but how he can cut back on it. We've cut the cord with the cable company and he streams everything. Also what are our NEEDS not our WANTS and it what order do we accomplish them.

Remember we had Operation Clean the Garage planned but due to all the rain in May it never happened. So we put that on our June list.

Also Make-over Landry room went on June's List.

AND the flower beds in the front yard. 

As for healthier We have been eating Healthier and he doesn't even noticed the healthy stuff in the food! LOL If he knew he wouldn't eat it. We are going to walk the dogs every night around the block as a couple. He has a gym membership and I have a workout class so we are set in that department.

And I bought a book that I feel we should read together. Danielle at Blissful and Domestic has released her book! YAY! http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com/  If you have never been to her blog I strongly suggest it. I have gotten great tips from her on how to live on a budget. You can get it on Amazon,

Also on June's list is having both my teenagers in a driver's ed! /GULP... My days as Taxi driver are numbered! 

June and July is also when my Step sons come up from Austin and stay with us. So I have to rework the budget for them. We always enjoy having them around, I get to plan little day trips to take them on. (Kicking and screaming because it's not video games LOL) 

As for my crafts... I'm still working hard on them when I get the chance! I can't wait to show you what I've done!

Recipe of the Week!

Hello all! It's that time of the week again. This recipe I made for a fun side dish. It can also be used as an appetizer. It's so yummy quick and easy to make!

Stuffed Mini Peppers

1. bag of mini-peppers

2. 10 string mozzarella cheese

Yes that all you need! 

What I found that worked best was cutting the tops of the mini-peppers off, the seeds come out easier.

Than you stuff the string cheese in the pepper. 

Turn your oven on Broil and place mini-peppers in oven for 10 minutes.

Presto Stuffed Mini-Peppers. Now you want to keep an eye on the peppers as they cook. The cheese does like to fall out, as you can see in the picture.

Here is my picture. It's not the best. BUT my mouth was watery and it was Delicious!!

I love the colors it's so festive and went well with our Chicken Burritos.

My Grad!

The last weekend of May was one busy weekend! My son graduated high school. I was one proud mama.

He is my middle baby. As I look at the all 3 kids I can see the complete different personality they have. I am so proud of each one of them!

Monday's Menu

So I did it! My monthly shopping was done. First I went through my pantry and freezer and made a list for everything I had.

Then I made a list of 30 recipes and a grocery list for everything I would need.

I spent $324.00 for the whole trip. However I found ground beef on sale for $2.25 a pound and I over bought for next month.

So here is our menu for this week! I hope you enjoy it.

Saturday:

Baked Ravioli

Sunday:

Oven Tacos



Monday:
Slow Cook Whole Chicken


Tuesday:
Chicken and Basil Cream with Green Beans


Wednesday:

White Beans with Spinach and Sausage


Thursday:

Leftovers

Friday:

Meat Loaf with Mac n Cheese

Saturday Craft - June's Wreath

I wanted a wreath of yellow flowers for my June wreath. I had an idea and when I went to Micheal's I was in luck! They were having a huge sale on their flowers. I spent $20.00 on flowers and ribbon. The wreath I used was the same one for March's wreath. 

As I pulled all the flowers out of the bag to get started I was trying to figure out how to arrange the flowers. 

I was going to use my glue gun but I found it easier not to use it. It took me an hour to cut the steams and find the placement for everything. 

 

I love how it turned out. I love the color it's very summery!

Do you have a craft you did for June?

Recipe of the week

Hello all! I know I usually have this posted 1st thing Wednesday morning. It's been a very busy week! Plus we are still getting over the weekend! It was a busy one!

This week's recipe is very easy to make! It's mouth watering good!

Chicken Marsala

http://www.bakeatmidnite.com/2012/03/chicken-marsala.html?m=1

This is what you need:

• 6 oz.sliced, fresh mushrooms
• 1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 2 large cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbs butter
• 1 tbs olive oil (plus additional to saute mushrooms)
• Seasoned Breadcrumbs/Coating Mix*
• 2 cups Marsala wine
• 1/4 cup heavy cream 
• Cooked pasta (optional) 

Slice mushrooms and pound chicken breast with a mallet between 2 sheets of wax paper to about 1/4 inch.  

Dredge breast in seasoned crumbs 

Heat a heavy stainless or cast iron pan (don't use non-stick).  Add the butter and the olive oil till butter melts and is bubbly.  

Add chicken breast and brown on both sides

Remove browned breast and Add additional olive oil and saute mushrooms and garlic  and Deglaze pan with wine

Add browned chicken breast back to pan.  

Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 min.

Remove chicken from pan.  Add cream and reduce sauce 50%.

Monday's Menu

Saturday:

Babe's Chicken
My Son's Graduation Dinner

Sunday:

Crock Pot Sausage, Potatoes and Green Peppers



Monday:
Shepard's Pie and Steamed Broccoli
.


Tuesday:

Turkey Rolls and green beans


Wednesday:

Chicken & Bean Burritos with Stuffed mini-peppers
This is a new Recipe

Thursday:

Leftovers

Friday:

Baked Ravioli