2017!!

Can you believe that it's 2017?!! Ahh. I have so much I want to accomplish this year. I have so much I want to share with all of you. I will say I haven't been good at posting but I really want to try and get more out there. My addiction to Pinterest hasn't stopped and I want to show you how it's inspired me. What are your goals for 2017 and what are you excited about?  Please tell! Stay tuned with me.

Since I've been gone, my husband and I added a little being.  We are so happy with our life right now. God has truly blessed us.
 
Happy New Year everyone and stay tuned!!

Oh how I love the Fall!

WITH FALL BEING MY FAVORITE SEASON, HALLOWEN IS MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY!

Oh how I love the Fall! You can't beat the smells, the colors, or just the sounds of leaves crinkling underneath your feet. This year I took the time to carve a  pumpkin. I have never really taken the time to design a fun pumpkin but this year I thought I would. In the picture it's me, in my braces and full smile. I'm hoping that this is the last year of ortho.

I tried to figure out what look the most like brackets. I don't know if what I did is the best but it's the only think I could come up with.  I used Six Nail per tooth to make it look like a bracket and then twisted a hair tie around the nail to make it look like they were banded. It ended up turning out very cute and was a big hit at work.  The question is, I have two more pumpkins left: Should I carve them?  Carving pumpkins is a must for the fall season and I'm so glad I did!  Problem is I wish the "look" would last longer.  What design did you carve this year?

A Card For A Loved One

I will say, I really like to challenge myself. 

I am part of a card exchange where there are 16 ladies that get together once a month to exchange handmade cards of the same category (pre-chosen). I usually get my ideas from Pinterest and then alter then depending on the materials I have or use the idea to inspire me.  When I am looking for an idea, I try to keep it simple. Simple means I hopefully can complete 16 cards in one evening adding up to 3 or so hours.  Yeah, this card on Pinterest looked easy but it took longer than I thought.  Check it out below to see how I made it!

You will need (6) 2x2 pieces of paper. This was a great opportunity

for me to use up my scrap paper. As you can see below, I have already

made 3 envelopes and still need to make 3 more. The next step will

 show you how I made an envelope.

 



 

Take the 2x2 piece and fold it in half but just add pressure to the center

of the fold.  Then unfold and turn the paper and fold again in half with just pressure

causing a crease to happen in the center.

 

Open up the fold.

 

 

As you can see, you will need to flip the paper over with the design facing

the bottom.  Bring in two corners to the center so the corners meet in the middle. This

takes some practice. HINT: Follow the the fold line from your initial creasing. This will

help you keep things a bit more square so the next step turns out.

 

With the two corners meeting in the middle, take one of the ends and

 fold until it meets the other corners in the middle. If you initial two corners don't

meet up correctly,this fold may not either. This is where practice comes in.  If you

tried and it doesn't cover the white completely, try the other end.  Once you

 have this step completed, take the other corner and bend in half way. 

This end will be folded again 3/4 of the way up the envelope.

 

Once folded 3/4 of the way up, add glue as seen below. Avoid glue on the tiny

triangle since that area will need to be cleared for the paper once glued together.

 

 

Pressure down and allow the glue to dry. I had placed my envelopes under

stacks of books to make sure they were flattened during the drying process.

 

I am a fan of Stampin' Up so as you see I have ink, a Big Shot Die Punch, and a

 stamp below from their product line. We tend to use Invitation Envelopes for all of

our cards to that we don't need to include envelopes in our exchange.  I have

 folded my paper, 5.5 x 8, in half as you can see below. I also glued

my 6 envelopes to the Big Shot Punch to add some dimension. 

 

Here is the final Product.  I also cut little sheets of white cardstock to

add to each envelope waiting for a special message. This card could be

used for an Anniversary, a Thinking of You, or anything you wanted.

 

 

 

Hope you enjoy this card as much as I do. Thanks for Looking!!

 

 

Adult Diaper Cake

It's been too long since I've blogged! I have some awesome post coming that I want to share with everyone, so you will have check back. But for now... 

Something that I'm really excited to share with you is a diaper cake I made for my mothers 50th Birthday Party. I'm definitely at the age where everyone is having babies and so I thought how fun would it be to make one with Depends.  I am proud of it since this is my first experience making this type if cake. I think it turned out cute; What do you think?

 

 Items I Used To Make The Adult Diaper Cake

 

20 Adult Diapers, I used the cheapest I could find

20 Rubber bands

Black Charger (from Michael's)

Hot Glue

Black Ribbon

Black Flowers

Happy Birthday Table Decor

Over the Hill Accessories I used:

   Glasses

   Bunion Cushions

   Alka Seltzer Tablets

   Denture Adhesive

   Pill Container/ Organizer

   Hemmroid Creme

 

 

 

A Bit of Organizing

I want to share something I use to organize my ribbon. I do believe I have a ribbon problem. I can't turn down a ribbon deal. If Michael's has it 50% off, I buy. Ok, I over buy. Don't you! Please share your organizing secrets.

Life is crazy but I've accomplished so much!

Life gets crazier and crazier but I love it. I don't even have kids, yikes!

I know what your thinkin, how can it be crazy without kids? I do it to myself. One thing that kept me busy was organizing a Scrapbooking fundraiser in November. I offered a 6 ft table to scrapbook all day from 9am-9pm at a local church for a cost. I prepared all the food, did all the organizing and in the end donated all the profits. I was able to donate $250 to a local Church youth group. What a great feeling.  I think I'm going to do it again in Feb to help out a local family dealing with cancer. I need to deal with Christmas first,

I've decided to open up an etsy account since I enjoy crafting so much. I want to share my creations with others.  What I've been the most interested in at this point is baby things. I'm at that point in my life where every is having babiesnornadding to the family. Currently listed on etsy are fashion headbands for little girls. Check it out!

www.etsy.com/shop/UtterlyLovable?ref=search_shop_redirect

Well I hope thebHolidaysnarent stressing you out. Take a deep breath and enjoy each moment you can. Happy Holidays!

Oatmeal Mini Pieces Cookies

I found the best cookie recipe ever, ok maybe not the best, but the best in awhile.  I love to bake.  Of course if you bake, you must try.  I did more than try and taste these cookies. I ate 3 at one chance. If I don't freeze most of them, betweeen my husband and I we will eat them all.

 

Oatmeal Mini Pieces Cookies

2/3 cup shortening

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons milk

1-1/2 cups rolled oats

1-1/3 (10-oz pkg) REESE'S MINI PIECES Candy

 

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease cookie sheet.

 

2. Beat shortening, brown sugar and granulated sugar in a large bowl until fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add alternately with milk to sugar mixture. Stir in oats and candy pieces. Drop by scant 1/4 cupfuls onto prepared cookie sheets.

 

3. Bake 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 10 minutes on cookie sheet. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.. Cook completely. Makes about1 dozen cookies.



Casserole or Hot Dish?

One of my favorite recipe books is the one I've had the longest, my family Church Recipe Book. Even with online resources, I will start first by looking in this book for a specific recipe. Easy, homemade recipes with no strange seasonings, you are guaranteed a good recipe with each one made. One of my favorite recipes that brings me to my younger years is the Tator Tot Hot Dish. Five easy ingredients and a meal all in one dish. It's a must try and a Midwest recipe that you'll make again.

 

 I omitted the onion today.

Tator Tot Hot Dish

1-1/2 lbs ground beef
1 med onion, chopped
2 cups Tator tots
2 cups mixed vegetables, frozen
1 can cream of mushroom soup
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Add hamburger and onion in frying pan and brown. Fry until hamburger fully browned.

2. Mix hamburger, frozen vegs, and cream of mushroom soup. Put in ungreased 8x8 pan and add Tator tots over top.

3. Bake at 350 degrees F for one hour.

 

Enjoy!

A Nascar Weekend

It's funny what things I've ventured into since I've been married. 

I am the oldest of three girls. Growing up in a small rural community, I was surrounded by many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. My parents made the best with the money they had. Not poor, nor wealthy but truly content as a whole.  We never really traveled. My first airplane ride wasn't until I was 17 when I didn't travel with my family but a friend. As a family, we made yearly outings to Wisconsin Dells doing tours, riding go-Karts and enjoying our time away from  home. We didn't travel far around the Midwest. Being married just ONE year, it has been filled with some new adventures.  One that is the most recent was a weekend in Chicago surrounded by Nascar Fans. My husband is a sports fanatic like most guys in this area.   He enjoys watching almost anything related to sports including daily viewings of "Sports Center". 

Our trip to Joliet was an eye opener to me.  Nascar for most isn't the most exciting sports to watch.  On TV, watching a race is like watching a fly buzzing around your head.  You know there's a reason but ya just don't get it and you wonder when it will end.  For those who don't really get into sports you know what I mean.  Again surprised, I enjoyed myself. When going to a race, you purchase tickets for the whole weekend, watching qualifying and final races for both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup series. 

 

As you probably can tell, Shane likes Dale Earnhardt Jr. and so I guess I support him too! Sitting in the stands and experiencing a race isn't something you can explain. The noise, the smell and the overall environment makes the sport exciting.  Spending the weekend at Chicagoland Raceway was a weekend that I will never forget leaving me with a positive impression of the sport I had never watched before taking this venture.

 

Have you attended a sporting event that you were unsure about?

Homemade Granola

Lately I've been on a yogurt kick.  I could eat it with every meal. I like it plain, in smoothies, or with fruit or granola.  I've noticed the granola I've been buying has been full of sugar and extra additives.  I don't eat organic and maybe I should, but I've been trying to be smarter about what goes into my mouth. I found this recipe in the "Better Homes and Garden: New Cook Book".  It's kinda weird I say book in which I have tons of recipe books, but I normally go for online recipes. I love the idea of having reviews and alternative recipe suggestions out there. Online has been a great tool for that but I was reading through the BHG recipe book and found this.  My review: Awesome!  It has a great texture and crunch that most store bought granola has without a great deal of sugar.  Of course granola is going to have sugar but this recipe only calls for 1/2 cup of honey or maple syrup. Can't get any more natural than that. To keep it fresh, store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Or store in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months. This will last me for a while.

 

Granola

2 cups regular rolled oats

1 cup coarsely chopped sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, or chopped pecans

    *I used 1/2 cup almonds, 1/2 pecans. You could add more nuts if you wanted

1/2 cup coconut (optional)

    *I used it and really can't taste it in there

1/2 cup shelled sunflower seeds

1/4 cup toasted wheat germ

1/4 cup flax seeds

1/2 cup honey or maple-flavored syrup

2 tablespoons cooking oil

1 cup dried fruit

 

1. Grease a 15x10x1 baking pan; set aside. In a bowl combine oats, almonds, coconut (if desired), sunflower seeds, wheat germ, and flax seeds. In a bowl combine honey and oil; stir into oat mixture. Spread evenly in the prepared pan. Bake in a 300 degree F oven for 30 minutes to 35 minutes or until light brown, stirring after 20 minutes. If desired, stir in dried fruit.

 

2. Spread on a large piece of foil to cool. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Or store in freezer bags and freeze for up to 2 months.

 

 



EEK!!!

Halloween is coming fast and I really can't wait. I love Halloween. It brings me back to my younger years going from house to house accumulating a bag full of candy from all of our neighbors. Living in a small community, our neighbors gave us a lot of candy, sometimes even a full size candy bar.  I love the smell of Fall and the sound of leaves crunching from underneath with every step. Halloween is a Holiday that really gets my senses going.  So I've been working on a few projects.  The Halloween wreath is almost done, I'm hoping to finish tonight; just adding some detail.  I just finished decorating the letters "EEK".

 

I found some letters at a local store and mod podged them with Halloween paper and added some detail.  Allowing the letters to be separated leaves options open for placement. It turned out great!

A Recipe from Duluth, MN

We always have a few bananas that go rippen before we even eat them and so I am always looking for new recipes. Last year, we went to a Bed and Breakfast in Duluth, MN called the A.G. Thomson House and had an amazing time. If your in the area, you should check it out. http://thomsonhouse.biz/  They had made the most delicious breakfast ever and so this recipe is one that they served us.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

1 ½ cups unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
3 very ripe bananas
6 tbsp sour cream
½ tsp salt
1 ½ tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
¾ tsp baking soda
2 ½ tsp baking powder
9 oz Mini Chocolate Chips

Cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs, bananas, sour cream, salt, and vanilla. Fold in the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Gently fold in the chocolate chips.

Spray two loaf pans with non-stick cooking spray. Divide the dough into each one. Bake at 350 degrees for about 65 – 75 minutes or until center comes out clean. You could also use muffin liners in muffin pans to have single servings and to speed up baking time.

Halloween Wreath

Wow, can you believe it, It's the end of August!  This year is flying by. Before you know it, it will be Christmas.  At this point in my crafting, I am working on a Halloween Wreath. I'm getting closer to done and I am super excited to share the final project. It really has taken longer to finish than expected.  It includes, Fabric, Wooden letters, and a Wire Wreath Frame.  Again another Pinterest idea. Halloween is my favorite Holiday. I will be posting pictures soon so stayed tune!!

A Shot of Wisconsin

The landscape in Wisconsin isn't something you are going to see everywhere. The Midwest really has some natural beauty.  Today we took a walk amidst some land in Buffalo County and here is what we seen.

So quiet, well except for all the bugs.  Life in the country is the way I would love it. It's too bad its a distance to work. I love Wisconsin and the rolling hills.

Baby Scrapbook Pages

Scrapbooking is one of my hobbies. Costly, yes. Could I do digital, of course. But cutting, taping, and designing brings me back to my younger years. I have always enjoyed creating with my hands.  I will admit, sometimes my creations aren't worth sharing. I have found that my creativeness comes out near the end of the day, bedtime.  That is good and bad. Good because I usually accomplish something and don't feel stuck but bad because I usually hit a peak of tiredness.  My patience and ideas usually stop at a halt at that point. Pictured above are three pages I recently finished for a baby book.

Green Bean and Mushroom Medley with Cheese and Chicken Shells

All I can say is that I love Pinterest!!  Tonight I tried two different recipes and both turned out amazing.  If you're looking for something light and somewhat healthy, these are some good starters.  

 

The Green Bean and Mushroom Medley was a great side dish.  With the summer here and the farmers' market as an option, the ingredients in this dish can be made for very little. 

 

GREEN BEAN AND MUSHROOM MEDLEY

• 1 pound fresh green beans, cut into 1-inch lengths
• 2 carrots, cut into thick strips
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

1. Place green beans and carrots in 1 inch of boiling water. Cover, and cook until tender but still firm. Drain.
2. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onions and mushrooms until almost tender. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 3 minutes. Stir in green beans, carrots, salt, seasoned salt, garlic salt, and white pepper. Cover, and cook for 5 minutes over medium heat.

Reference: allrecipes.com

 

 

The Cheese and Chicken Shells were advertised as a Weight Watchers Recipe and it didn't disappoint. The recipe calls for ricotta cheese but I prefer cottage cheese for more flavor and used dry seasonings instead of fresh.  If you choose to do the same, remember to reduce the amount of the dried seasonings to avoid a strong flavor of oregano and basil.

 

CHEESE AND CHICKEN SHELLS

• 12 jumbo pasta shells
• 1 1/2 c pasta sauce
• 2 large egg whites, gently beaten
• 1 1/2 c part skim ricotta cheese
• 4 oz. chicken, cooked and diced
• 1 c frozen spinach (chopped) thawed (drain all excess water)
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp oregano
• 1 tbsp chopped basil
• 3/4 c part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/3 c grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook shells in boiling water according to the directions on box.
3. Rinse with cold water and set aside for later use.
4. Lightly spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray and spread 1/2 c of pasta sauce evenly over the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
5. For filling: Stir together egg whites, ricotta, chicken, spinach, garlic powder, basil, and seasoning. Stir in 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.
6. Fill each shell with mixture and place filled shells in the baking dish on top of the sauce. Spread remaining sauce on top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Bake for 30 minutes.

Reference: lifeinthegreenhouse.com

I hope you enjoy them both as much as we did.

Ziploc Zip' N Steam

I have to share a product I love.  As I try to eat healthy, the idea of boiling vegetables doesn't sound so appealing anymore.  Boiling foods makes them lose their nutrients, get water logged, and frankly takes too much time.  The Zip' N Steam bags have been a great find.  They are a quick way to eat healthy. Simply put your food in the bag, add a bit of water and seasoning and microwave.  On the outside of the bag, detailed instructions are given in regarding to certain food items and the length of time needed to be microwaved. Today I tried fish. From the freezer to the bag, three fillets took 6 minutes.  The flavor was cooked completely through each fillet.  I added season salt, lemon pepper, a TBLS of butter and a splash of water and the taste was very vibrant and the texture was moist but not soggy. You could use this bag to steam fresh or frozen vegetables, seafood, poultry and so much more.  I give this product 5 STARS!

So hear I am, dabbling in the "Blogger" world. Not quite for sure where it is going to take me but it has always intrigued my senses.  So here it begins  . . .