Tuesday, December 31, 2013

NEW YEAR"S DAY SUPPER... soo yummy!

In case you missed this last year, this is our tasty New Year's Day supper...

 & I just have to share our little southern tradition it with you... 

If you make this yummy meal, you are almost GUARANTEED LUCK & MONEY for the New Year, & I'm not gonna make you make it, I'm just saying... who wants to test not having those things?!...

cabbage rolls for money, black eye peas for luck, cornbread for just good ole bellie yumminess!






My Recipe (Keep in mind I do a little of this and that, so add to your taste, it's made w/ground turkey, but can also be made with ground beef)


Soak Black Eye Peas

Then bring to boil, add chopped onion, garlic lots of salt, chicken cube,  turn down and put a lid on - slightly open, keep checking every so often to see if they need more salt. I throw in a bunch of fresh spinach a couple minutes before serving.

Take apart the cabbage leaves and lightly steam them, cut off or thin the stem part (makes it easier for rolling up bundles)
In the pot put a little bit of tomatoes so bundles won't burn

Now

in a big bowl add ground turkey, a bit of white rice (not too much or your bundles will blow up and be super dry, I did that once), a can of whole tomatoes - makes it so fun for squishing; Nyla loves that part!, a bit of cinnamon, lots of salt, pepper, some sugar and pats of butter.

Add change, this is the most important part!!


Roll

Nyla likes to add money to each roll, but you can throw it in the pot, we did both.  Ours never turn out perfect by any means and by the time I serve them there kinda like bundle blobs but I love them just the same, its not about perfection. Careful with the toothpicks, I always prick my fingers.

Put bundly rolls in Pot, Pour left over mixture over rolls (this is how I see if their done, when rice is cooked their usually ready), add more can tomatoes, maybe a little bit of water and some more butter.  Our house likes them good and juicy, my Mom use to put a gravy pitcher on the table with the juice in case they were dry.  


Bring to a Boil, then simmer for awhile probably about 30-45 min. but this is kinda a no hurry meal so as long as their on low their good!, Check on them, when white rice is done they should be ready.  



Meanwhile, make a pot of yellow rice.


Cornbread

Straight out of the box, Jiffy!  It's the best, I just add a small can of cream corn per box.








Since we're a small family, we'll be eating the left overs for a few days, still super yummy, this makes a perfect winter time meal too, just without the money :)



(Be careful of money and toothpicks when eating)


This is a going to be a great year, I'm loving this moment of reveling in the possibilities! 


post signature

Sunday, December 15, 2013

SCRAMBLED EGGS... WAFFLE STYLE!


When you have your heart set on waffles but realize your out of waffle mix, you improvise, at least I did.   I made my scrambled eggs in my waffle maker this morning; of course the ratio was a little off and the eggs gushed out all over & onto the counter but hey, this is what I came up with and it was yummy!

One egg waffle made 4 mini open-faced breakfast sandwiches.

My scrambled eggs were nestled on pumpernickel bread w/spinach, tomato & cream cheese :)  I also pressed the bread in the waffle maker for that groovy look.

Ya know, sometimes when your out of something - it ends up being the best ever :)

post signature

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

SNOWMAN till summer!...


Just make a mini snowman & plop it in your freezer & giggle throughout the seasons. Every time you open your freezer you will get a cheery little reminder of the fun of winter :)


I got this super cute idea from some of Nyla's BFF's (Hey Gabby & Gianna!) It was such a cute, unexpected surprise when I opened their freezer last year, I, umm we just couldn't wait to make one for our home :)  Thanks guys for being our inspiration!!

It seems like were gonna get some more snow, looks like I might have a party in my freezer by the end of the season :)

Nyla also added to the freezer some snow for snowballs & snowy icecream, let the party begin!  

post signature

Thursday, December 5, 2013

SNOWFLAKE HANDS!...super easy craft!


I know its kinda crazy to think of people not knowing what snow is all about; especially when your living in the frozey cold... so this crafty is for our warm climate friends :)  

This will make a perfect little gifty to let them know were thinking of them as their hanging on the beach while we swoosh in the snow.



I just got some gloves (2 sets for $1.50) and sprayed the fingers with spray glue then sprinkled pretend snow on them.  I used 2 kinds (only because I still had some from last year) one was a little more iridescent.  For my nephew, Caleb I didn't use as much of that kind and used black gloves.  Then I flipped them over and did the same thing to the other side.  Super easy & done, now I just have to finish my hot chocolate and get these in the mail.  

For that added frozey feel you can slip into the gloves a "booboo" pack.  (not sure of proper name but the little cold things you keep in the freezer for owies)

Hey for all our warm weather friends, can you send some of your warm sunbeams :) That would totally make our day!

I hope your having a blast where ever you are!!

post signature

I'm hanging here come join me!


Made in a Day
ThePinJunkie

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

SANTA CLAUS...EASY CRAFTY!!


Create some Santa giggles and smiles with this super easy crafty!!  The hardest part was trying to take the picture :)


Just grab some red paper, glue, cotton balls and freestyle draw a hat & beard; glue the cotton balls to the beard and bam your done!




I have our Santa face in the bathroom for added surprise but any mirror will do.  Have fun & umm Santa's always watching you... 



Thanks to this movie, Love at the Christmas Table, they had the Santa Claus mirror in one of their scenes (unfortunately, this clip doesn't show it, but if you haven't seen this movie, its a cutie :)



post signature

I'm hanging here, come join me for super fun ideas!

The Girl Creative

Friday, November 29, 2013

I'm back!...


It's been a little crazy the last couple of months; all crazy good though!  I've been a little out of touch with blogland and well kinda most technology.  I have to say its been a little frustrating but also in some ways a huge relief!  It seems sometimes, I'm too busy capturing the moment rather than living it and that's where I'm torn right now...

We took a little trip to Costa Rica; what an amazing country! (I'll write more about this trip later, but here is one of my favorite times)  A couple of days into our trip my phone stopped working, (I brought it just for the camera).  Throughout the trip I kept checking to see if it would work and every time I turned it on the phone kept going back in time, finally by December 1999 I gave up :)

I can't lie and say I was totally over it but WOW, it made me realize how much I "check" my phone! And then I realized everyone was always checking their phone, everywhere I went!    

So now that I'm back, I'm realizing I'm falling back into the phone thing. But now I'm realizing for me, I need to keep myself in check, instead of phonezupzuping just to fill time - I'm going to think of a million other things to do with real people (as I sit here typing away haha :)  I guess you can tell I'm wobbling on the fence with all this but... 

I'm glad I brought the camera though because I got this shot of Nyla, its my absolute favorite!! She's really into cartwheels right now and she was so happy and proud doing them!  Even though I have the "shot" in my memory, I'm super happy that I did have some technology with me because looking at this picture makes my heart sing with sunshine and happiness.  



For some more pics & post on Costa Rica click on the little Costa Rica tab up top :)

post signature  

Thursday, October 31, 2013

SPY 9 SECRET AGENT KIDS PARTY!...


For Nyla's 9th birthday party she decided she wanted a Spy/Detective party.  YAY! I have to tell you I umm WE had so much fun!!

Invitation:
I had the lunch bags & red tape, so I thought why not make a secret agent invite. So easy! I just typed up some party info and Nyla customized each one. Just cost a regular stamp to mail. This invite was undercover cheap!




Party Favors:






Every Secret Agent needs a spy stash! We used discarded old books and cut out the middle.  Wrapped them in brown paper, added initials to customize and stuck a wallet in there. We also included a mustache, magnifying glass & notebook.

Agent ID's:
We had "Agents" randomly pick a color from a hat and a name from another hat
and came up with some super funny Spy names.
(We used paint samples for the colors and I pre-printed & cut out the names. After they picked them I taped the names to the color and slipped them into the plastic name tags)

Spy Training:
1.  Fingerprinting:  After the spy's in training picked out their spy names then of course they had to be fingerprinted & pick out their trench coats & mustaches.  Spy's had the choice of pink or black ink.  (totally needed wipes after) It was so cute seeing their tiny fingerprints, hopefully, that's the only time huh!!
2. Truth Serum: Of course every spy comes
across some truth serum at some point! (I filled little florist tubes-Thanks Andy!)  with a variety of Nyla's favorites & added straws-  "Spys" got it, loved it,quesion it &/or hated it - which all are perfect "spy" qualities. 
3.  Laser Beam Obstacle course:  We had our little spy's maneuver a "laser beam" obstacle course.  Which they totally loved, this was by far the best part of spy training! Simply tied a bunch of black yarn on our porch.  It was awesome!  
4.  Missing Evidence Game:  Simply filled a suitcase with stuff, let them look then closed it, took stuff out & had guess whats missing.  We did this a couple of times.  
5. Toss the dynamite:
This game happened so fast, my head was spinning! It seems toilet paper rolls filled with candy makes quite a quick blast!

6.  Target practice:  At the last minute, Nyla disguised herself, I snapped a picture, printed it & she cut it out.  I still had some red paper, cut it out in a circle and bamb! Shoot the villian was born.
Mission:
During spy training, I snuck & rang the door bell, leaving an envelope. The mission was simple,  "Dr. Evil Chaos" stole the goodie bags & threatened to blow them up.  The clues were funny, basically we had the kids run all over the place & they LOVED it!

(the bomb was simple; oatmeal container, egg timer, left over wire, tape & loaded it with candy)

I typed a bunch of clues, one of them was on edible decorating paper with a food marker, kids got a big kick out of it, but first they were so excited that it was in a cereal box, they ripped it, then had to put it together and finally "eat the evidence"
We also had 9 balloons; 1 with a clue & they had to pop the balloon bombs to get the clue.  


EVIDENCE:First we had pizza but quickly had to get back to the mission!  & Almost forgot to go back & have the cupcakes!!!


Basically, this was the easiest, funnest party ever!!  Just some typing, printing & a bunch of tape.  The main thing was having Nyla's best buds there to celebrate! She sure does have a great bunch of friends :) Thank you  little "Spy, Secret Agents" we love you all!!! Our "spy dogs", Dodger & Martine were pretty good too! It was a great day!


Super Spy thanks to these amazing blogs, we got so many great ideas from them!!!  I couldn't have done this without you! :)

FRUGAL FAMILY TIMES  passports & other cool stuff! 
BIRTHDAY BLUEPRINT "Dr Evil Chaos"
MYSTERY FACTORY game ideas
THE DECOROLOGIST mystery
GROW CREATIVE (cereal box clue)

post signature

Thursday, October 24, 2013

MONSTER SMILES...


I fell in love with this toothy treat!


Just bake some cookies, let cool, cut cookie in half, spread some yummy Nutella on each side (one side bottom side down), then top with mini marshmallows and press together.  Then let the giggles and yummy in my tummy begin! :)

(I packed this little monster in Nyla's lunch- got rave reviews, totally kid approved!)


Super thanks to Pillsbury's Halloween booklet for this fab recipe!  



post signature

I'm hanging here, come join me!!

ThePinJunkie

Monday, October 21, 2013

UPSCALE WATER BOTTLE FLOWER... DIY


Nyla & I went to a fun-filled artsy day at the Noyes Museum.  It was loaded with all kinds of fantastic artsy inspiration, here's one I just had to share!





Cut water bottle to create flower shape using the top of the water bottle, save cap, prime white and paint!   How easy, huh?! 

To create a "field of flowers" just attach flower to one side of chicken wire screen & screw the cap to the other side.

Thanks Noyes Museum for always inspiring me! :)

post signature

Friday, October 18, 2013

SUPERHERO STYLE DIY...

I grabbed some cool duck tape and with a BAM & POW I'm done :)


I just recently painted our kitchen white (yes, I know why white... well, I just couldn't decide on a color and I can glam it up with splashy accessories)  


So, I changed our beige light switches to white but the flip switch part is still boring beige. Who knows when I can get to switch that part out but now I don't have to worry about that for awhile :)

Have fun today, superhero style!!

post signature



Come join me!!
ThePinJunkie