Downloadable 5 by 7 quote

Here's a five by seven jpg you can download if you'd like! I did this for my new baby's nursery.

Free nursery art

Of course... this project was free 'cause I had all the supplies, but it wouldn't be expensive anyway.

 

 

Take small wooden plaques and Mod Podge your paper on. I did a layer of cute brown paper and then a layer of a plain paper because I wanted my letters to stand out. I then Mod Podged over the paper again to make sure it was all sealed up.  I had to paint my chipboard letters white (they were blue) before I could glue them on. To make sure they stayed well I used E-6000 to glue on my letters.

Pick some ribbon.

Cut one end of your ribbon (it will hang down so make it cute!)

Again, I used E-6000, but you could use hot glue. 

I then glued the ribbon straight down the backs of my little plaques. I also took the top bit of ribbon and glued it into a loop for hanging.

Hang on your wall and voila: cute, cheap (or free) nursery wall art. I used the letter Q,R,S because I wanted to do something a little different than your typical A,B,C.

Spinach Pesto Alfredo Sauce {healthy-ish}

There are certain vegetables my kiddo lurves. But then there are others I cannot get him to eat. Pretty normal, right? Problem is: I don't want cucumbers or broccoli every single night.

Last night (sorry, my husband took my camera) I made tortellini with alfredo sauce BUT!!! I made it healthier. I do not do "super skinny" alfredo, it's just too good when it is fattening... but I do try to make it a little healthier when I can. This time I snuck in some vegetables.

So my {mom's} recipe for killer Alfredo sauce:

1 stick butter (I use half)
1 brick cream cheese (I buy Neufchatel. It is easier if you let it soften.)
3/4 C. real Parmesan cheese (I don't skimp here)
1 to 1 1/2 C. milk (I use skim. I use 1 1/2 for thinner sauce)
Garlic powder (to taste)

Melt butter. Add milk and Parmesan. Whisk. Whisk in Neufchatel cheese and garlic powder. Cook until bubbly and thickened. Serve over pasta or as a dipping sauce with bread sticks.

Here's the thing. I love to cook and I make up my own recipes or alter other people's recipes more often than not. And I never measure (unless I am baking). So my alterations are all approximate. Use the ingredients I add, but add as much or as little as your {family's} taste dictates.

My alterations to make this Spinach Pesto Alfredo are as follows:

1 C. frozen spinach (Of course, of course. Use fresh if you have it)
2 T. {approximately} dried basil (really I just filled up my palm and dumped it in)
1/2 stick butter
3/4 C. Parmesan
1 C. skim milk
1 brick Neufchatel (softened)
Garlic powder (to taste)
Toasted pine nuts (optional)


Blend milk, Parmesan, basil, and spinach in blender until smooth (feel free to add some toasted pine nuts if you want. I didn't have any so I didn't add any).
Melt butter. Pour in spinach mixture. Whisk until warm. Whisk in Neufchatel cheese and cook until bubbly and thickened. Add garlic powder and more basil if you need it.
Serve over cheese tortellini or fettuccine noodles.

If your kids don't mind green food, they won't know they are eating spinach and the lure of tortellini is enough for my picky eater.

Happy Eating!

On Toilets

When we moved into our home about a year ago, the toilets were sad. I mean, sad. We have had some MAJOR toilet rings. Ew. I have tried a bunch of different brands of cleaners, but none of them worked.

Then I saw on Pinterest a suggestion to buy a $10 tool on Amazon called "The Pumie". Well, I would have spent that ten dollars to get my toilets clean...

BUT I DIDN'T HAVE TO!!!!

At Wally-world right next to the toilet bowl cleaners I found this:

It cost me less than two dollars.
About five minutes (or less) per toilet and my rings are GONE. Like, totally gone.

Yes, sadly, I had to get up close and personal with my toilets, but the use of yellow rubber gloves helped me make it through ;).

You just dip your little pumice scouring stick in some water and scrub from side to side. The stone breaks down and all the little bits just scrub away that mineral build up. It's supposed to be safe for porcelain, and my toilets aren't scratched, so I suppose it is!

I was not paid to advertise this product. I am just one very happy customer.

A recipe for Quick French Bread I found...

Here's a recipe for homemade French Bread in under an hour and a half.

Quick French Bread

I found it on Pinterest and am making it right now. I'll let you know how it turns out!!

*Update: So first off, yum. My house smells divine.

         I used two packages of active dry yeast since I don't have a bottle of yeast to just measure from. The bread rose just fine.
         I did set my oven to warm (145*-150*) for the bit where my bread needed to rise and that worked out great.
        I used half whole wheat flour and half white. My bread is a little dense, but that is to be expected.

Let me know if you try this. It really only took about an hour and a half including cooking time to make and it makes two loaves.

Why I am always behind.... a Valentine's project

The title seems ironic... Valentine's isn't here yet. How can I be behind?
Well, usually I am on top of holidays and ready long before they get here. And you could argue that since it is still a month away I could still say that. But I feel behind. And there is something to be said for that. Ever since having my kiddo I have felt perpetually behind. And I can't seem to catch up. Does anyone else feel this way? I always plan to get organized, to be prepared, to make elaborate things and REALLY get into holidays. But. Anyway. I have caught the Valentine's bug and had to make something today. All of this came from stuff I had lying around in my craft... blob. So, free. Bonus.

Wooden plaque. White paint. Heart cutouts. Bakers twine. Rub-on "love". Mod Podge.

You know the drill. Paint the plaque. Mod Podge the hearts down. Rub on the "love". Mod Podge to seal. Tie mini knots. Dip paint brush end in Mod Podge. Put paint on knot. Press. Dry. Voila! I have put mine resting in a black five by seven picture frame. Which is in a plate rack... thing. You could glue ribbon to the back and hang. You could drill holes. Whatever.

Have a happy day. Looks like we may actually get some snow. Better now than May, I suppose.

Cocoa bar plus a project I just thought I'd repost

 So, blurry. But. You get the point. I had a cocoa bar when some friends came over. I know it was before Christmas, but I thought I'd share it now. January and even February get me down. The cold and gray are really depressing. So why not have some friends over and do a hot cocoa bar to liven up the un-lively winter?
I did:
Crushed butterscotch candies
Crushed peppermint candies
Crushed Butterfingers
Marshmallows
Toffe bits
Coconut

 Not very earth-friendly, but Styrofoam cups are inexpensive and easy to clean up.

And to top it off? Whipped cream of course! I didn't take the time, but you could cut some wrapping paper or scrapbook paper and wrap it around the whipped cream can so it looks classier. I had a soup tureen with the hot water, but I also had a pitcher of cold water because I'm always thirsty after so much sweet stuff.

Do you remember this post? Well it has been a while since I made a pair of these baby shoes from this site. After all, my kiddo has been in "real shoes" for a while. I have a fab new friend who is just about to have her first baby so I had to make her some; especially since I haven't had the excuse to make anything girly in a while.
These shoes are perfect for babies. They're soft and flexible so when baby is trying to learn to walk they can still feel the floor. Or, if they haven't started learning to walk they're comfortable for those sweet little baby feet.
Hint: you can enlarge (or shrink) the pattern with a copier. If you enlarge them, you could even make slippers for your grown up kids. If you shrink them, you can make them for newborns (the pattern said they are for 6-9 months).