Healthy, MICROWAVE Potatoe Chips!

Yes, that is what I said...no oil, crispy from the microwave!!!

Who Knew??!!??!!??

This is a recipe from The Kitchn, and I am in awe of anyone who would even TRY this with any expectations toward having an edible product! I am quite sure if I experimented this way, I would end up with mush...so I am ever so glad that someone else did try and was successful!

http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-crispy-potato-chips-in-the-microwave-166718

Photo, Recipe & Link are The Kitchn.com

Simple Soup Recipe

I love a recipe that helps me to get a healthy meal on the table with minimal effort!

This recipe seems to fit the criteria...

I will be trying it soon!

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/mexican-meatball-soup-00000000031457/index.html

Recipe, Photo & link are from Real Simple . com

Yummy Food For Your Next Get Together!

I am in love with easy, fun, party recipes....

I keep a log of them, and pull them out for the appropriate party.

This one would be a great appetizer or game day eat.

http://blogchef.net/bacon-wrapped-jalapenos-recipe/

Recips, Link & Photo from Blog Chef . net recipe blog.

Who Can Go Wrong With Cheese & Bread!!!

This is from the kitchn and looks simply AMAZING!!!
http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-pull-apart-spicy-wisconsin-cheese-bread-166432

I think I may just have to try this for my next party!!
Have an amazing weekend everyone!!!

I love this idea!!!

I Know....another link!

But, this is a really cool DIY and I am so very busy this week,

with things like cleaning playdough off my floors

and the glitter off my table and chairs

which, by the way, does NOT go away, ever!!

Sending you this link and thanking twigg studies for this creative idea!!

http://twiggstudios.blogspot.com/2012/02/plantable-seed-paper-tutorial.html#more

All That Glitters....

Melts my heart.

 

Mary, Mary, How Does Your Garden Grow???

I am happy to report

that mine is doing quite will at the moment...

even tho my name is not Mary!

State Of A Floor....

You know,

you have heard the saying "state of affairs"....

well, I am sharing the state of my floors!

And I am in love with it all!

Simple Joy

Little fingers making cookies.

Have an amazing weekend! I know I will...

smooching little faces that belong to these little fingers!

DIY Clothes Hamper!

This is an amazing DIY...

smart looking and something that we ALL use daily!

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/make-a-vintage-inspired-wire-hamper-for-cheaphow-to-164532

My thanks to Apartment Therapy for this cool hamper DIY!

Another DIY Link

I will probably be linking alot this week and next, as we have family in and out and my time is crazy!!

But I do like this

(as with all my links, I would not put anything on my blog that I did not personally like!)

and know that the "hunt" for the flee market frame

is the most fun of the entire project!

Challenge is what I like...find the best frame for the least amount of money and turn it into something amazing...love it!!!

http://homehappyhome.blogspot.com/2012/02/diy-photo-frame.html

Have a great Wednesday everyone!!!

Thank you to homehappyhome blogspot for the link and photo!

DIY For A Mother's Day Gift~

I know, I know!

It is Valentines Day and I am throwing out a Mother's Day suggestion...

What is my problem???!!!

I am a planner.

I am an idea saver.

I think ahead when I can (most of the time)

And I like plenty of time to get my "ducks in a row".

Or, I am just a freak of nature!

Your call.

But here it is, an idea that you can do with your children for your Mother

Providing that your Mother likes gardening of course.

I think it is saweet!

Twigg Studios is the creator and photo taker,

and here is the link with full instructions!

http://twiggstudios.blogspot.com/2012/02/herb-garden-gift-idea-tutorial.html

Traveling

I spent the weekend traveling...

Gone from our home to spend some precious moments

in a hotel

with my wonderful husband,

lovely daughter in law and

3 of the most amazing humans that God ever created.

It was a very busy weekend,

a long two days,

alot of time in a car

and completely worth it!

I will expound on things later,

but for today,

I will watch the show falling

and take a few short moments

to recoup from this amazing weekend.

Valentine "Pencils"

Super Cute Valentine Gift,

DIY and great for teachers of all kinds!

I am giving you the link to ivillage for all instructions and even more ideas!

Have a superb weekend!

http://www.ivillage.com/our-favorite-diy-valentines-valentine-rolo-pencil-kid-made/6-b-423316

Photo from ivillage.

Favorite Quote of the Day

Let me say, this is a sassy one,

(and a bit out of my character to share this)

but made me laugh out loud,

so I simply had to share....

I guess I am "sassy" that way!

"Women are angels.

And when someone breaks our wings,

we simply continue to fly....

on broom sticks.

We're flexible that way!"

Author Unknown

Have a great Thursday!

"Can" You?

How many of ya'll have one of these? Just lil' ol' me? (I am practicing my southern drawl, as we are headed to MO this weekend, OK I'm done)

You know, it is one of "those" cans you get at Christmas filled with popcorn, AWFUL popcorn...

did I just say that?

OK, my hands just said that out loud! Oops!

Well, I am not one to leave well enough alone,

or throw things out,

so a painting we shall go!

While painting, be sure to remove all of your husbands tools from the area,

because he just may not want a celery green dremel tool box!

Orrr, maybe he will!

And this is my painted tin!!! How cool is that!

Now, it will be a storage container or a chip tin when we have barbeque's in the spring and summer or a knitting tin (if I knitted) or a flour tin or a...you get the picture, the possibilities are endless!

Seed Starting

I planted my seeds last night. I am starting plants for our garden.

Organic (certified) soil to start them in...our soil in our outdoor garden is unblemished by pesticides and other harmful things. The only thing that we do to ward off rabbits from eating our plants is to put baby powder around them when they are first planted. Rabbits hate baby powder and will stay far from your precious plants if you use it.

I will keep you updated on the growth of my seedlings.

There are 4 different types of Tomatoes and 3 different types of peppers thus far.

I will be starting my flowers in the next couple of days.

Yes, it DOES save money...my seeds were free,

as I harvested them from the tomatoes of friend gardens, our own garden etc. and the peppers the same way. When my husband likes a tomato we have been given, I am quick to save seeds and start plants to enable us to have those types of tomatoes for our next years harvest!

Have an amazing Tuesday!

Simple Joys

Yesterday, I received two phone calls within minutes of one another.

The first, from my brother who lives about 5 hours from us. It was just a "Hey, what are you doing today? Where's Mom?" and filling me in on his life at the moment. Loved it!

The second from our Son "E", who lives about 15 hours from us. It was just a "Hey, what are you doing? Where's Dad?" and filling me in on his life at the moment. Hmmmmm, I guess boys are all about the same!

There was more to the last conversation, but funny to me, that they both started off with the same thoughts and words.

My family is, after my relationship with my Savior, my BIGGEST JOY.

Family. Joy. Sighs of contentment.

Favorite Quote of the Week

“And the only life worth living is the scandalous one: scandalous love, offensive mercy, foolish faith.” 

Author Unknown.

As for me and my house, we WILL serve the Lord.

Have an amazing weekend!

Pretty, Pretty Pillow Shams...

And you can make them!!!
Here is a link with a tutorial on how to make your own decorative pillow shams.
Beds Beware!!! Many of you will be much more beautiful in the weeks to come!!!

http://brittanyandmattcoleman.blogspot.com/2012/02/how-to-sew-pillow-cover-with-flanges.html

Thank you Brittany from the Coleman Chronicles!

Something Borrowed, Something Blue

I am in love with these shades of blue.

I simply wanted to share with you these pictures today...

Maybe they will cause you to crush on blue too!

 Pintrest

This picture courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

What Can You Make Out Of Dusty Basement Things?

Well, I have one of those dusty things in my basement...

OK! LOTS of those things, but zeroed in on this one.

A Lonely Lamp.

So, this is how the story goes...

You can see the literal dust, I was not kidding about that!

I cleaned the lamp, and very lightly sanded it...emphasis on lightly.

Next, I used blue painters tape to keep

the paint from getting where I did not want it to be,

the socket and cord.

Then I proceeded with spraying the paint.

You must take your time in this,

many thin layers give a much better finished product

as apposed to trying to cover all in one coat.

Oh, by the way, this is the lampshade.

Sad little lamp shade.

I must do something about this!!

Disclaimer here.
I have asthma,
so spray painting and using a spray adhesive all in the same night,
was not an option. And as it is 50 degrees here and damp,
doing this outside was also not an option.
I chose to use craft tacky glue instead.
Keeping it a light, even coat gives the same outcome as the spray,
just more time consuming and messy.

I actually bought this material!
The only thing that I purchased in this DIY project.
Total cost, $2.50 with tax. Sweet!!
Taking care to keep the material wrinkle free,
you will get a very good outcome.
After you apply the material,
carefully trim and finish the edges by
running a bead of glue around the inside rims (upper and lower)
and rolling the material to the inside of the shade.


And this is the finished product!

I am always amazed at what a little bit of paint

that was just sitting around in the basement,

waiting to be a creative catalyst,

and a bit of material can do!!


I mean, really.....it WAS a dust collecting, unused, table lamp.

And now IS one pretty amazing light!

And if my youngest daughter actually reads my blog through to the end,

and chooses to comment on it, the lamp is hers!!!

Not kidding!

Check back to see if "A" responds to this.

Will she get the lamp?

Or will it be put to good use in OUR Home?