Sorry

Just want to apologize for my absence here recently and in the coming week or so. We are currently in the process of moving today and tomorrow so I'll be back once we get settled.
=)

Refrigerator Recipe Card Holder

How To Do It:
1. Draw a 13 in x 7 in rectangle on a piece of cardboard with no folds and no bends. Carefully cut out using box cutter and ruler.

2. Make the remaining measurements as shown in the photo.

3. Cut along the four bold lines.

4. Fold along dotted lines. Now it's easier to bend.

5. This might be the most confusing part. Carefully peel the paper and middle layer from the four flaps you just cut. you'll want to leave the paper side that does NOT have measurements on it.

6. Use a glue stick on all four corners you just peeled. Fold up to form a little box and secure flaps onto outside of box.

7. Mod Podge on your favorite scrapbook paper. I then used a paint marker just to write "Recipes" and used a layer of Mod Podge again to seal everything.

8. Don't forget to add magnets!


Now you put it up on your fridge and this is where we will put or "30 planned meals".!!

Make Your Own Recipe Cards

Once I got together some recipes we like as well as a few I know we've tried before ((but have been hiding in the recipe box forever...))

I then designed my own recipe card, typed up my recipes and printed.

**No need when you are typing them up to get stressed over organizing the recipes at this point. We simply want to type them up so they are easier to read than our handwriting can be at times**

Here's an example of the design I'm doing for mine..

My Kitchen is currently a black and white small plaid with red accents.. but since we've been renting there's not a whole lot of elaboration on that and recipe cards just add some extra color. =)

I've got two examples for you to use on your own meal planning adventure..

This one is without lines.

 

And with lines.

I'm not extremely familiar with making my files able to be downloaded so let me know if these don't work for you.


**Another note:: I wanted to laminate these for durability in the kitchen but didn't know anyone with a laminating machine and didn't want to have to buy one for myself. I'm in the process of moving though so there's one thing I had an abundance of that was more friendly to my budget... clear packing tape. I put strips of  tape across the front, and smoothed it out. Then flip it over and repeat. You then cut out your card from the strips that are no completely cover it (like being laminated) and voila! Your own fancy shmancy recipe cards! 

=)

30 Day Meal Planning

Anybody else out there get tired of 5:00 coming around and you [still] have no idea what you are cooking for dinner that night? This has happened in my family on more occasions than I like to admit and breakfast for dinner is our usual fall back.

I'm getting tired of breakfast.. 

I've also noticed that like other people, I use the same 7-10 recipes over and over. Even with cookbooks and a recipe file I still probably only use 15 of those compiled recipes. Why not have a group of recipes that your family LOVES instead of such monotony??

To help remedy this problem I am going to give 30 day meal planning a try. 

I know lots of you out there are trying this method..What does or doesn't work??

Let's make this a journey we can all take together and learn to establish this routine as we go.

Part 1:

The first thing I'm going to do is to make a list of all the foods my family likes to eat.

I'm also going to put to test any recipes I come by and see if they make the grade. After trying each new one, we will decide if we want to add it to our recipes or toss it and move on to the next one.

We'll see how it goes. Are we the only ones bored out of our minds on our eating habits that are trying this to add some variety??

Wall Art for my Little Lady

I made this simple wall art to hang in my little lady's new bedroom. One fabric I'm using in her quilt is red with white polka dots and we are doing black accenting.

To make this::
I painted a white canvas 8 in x 20 in with two coats of red paint.
I then used a compass to lightly trace circles onto the red background using a pencil.
With a white paint marker, I filled in the circles and ended up going over them about 3 times to really make them bright.
I then just free handed the "little lady" using a black paint marker.

I also had a few small wooden ladybugs I painted and affixed to the canvas.

I'm also thinking about attaching black ribbon to each top corner and tying a bow to hang it with..What do you think?

Family Rules Canvas

These super easy Family Rules canvases are all the rage right now so of course I had to make one for myself. 

I saw Lindsey this project a while back on The Pleated Poppy and I immediately put it on my list of projects to do in 2011.

Here's how I did it::

1. Get canvas. I got mine for half off at a local craft store. I think it's a 24" x 30". Paint the edges around the canvas. They will show but you don't have to worry about them being perfect.
   Pick out scrapbooking papers that coordinate well together. I got mine in a DCWV stack
2. I then typed and printed my rules directly onto the scrapbooking paper. Cut to desired height and after lining them the way you like, you will mod podge them onto your canvas. I knew I had too many rules to fit without layering so I started at the bottom and layered them all the way to the top. I then had room at the top to put a little "Family Rules" title.
3. Once it is completely dry I used a paint marker pen to go over the rules so they would be easily read. Mod podge over the entire canvas and let dry. If you want to make sure it's really sealed you can do another coat of mod podge for good measure..
    

Our rules are::

always tell the truth, keep your promises
use your manners, practice forgiveness, be kind
family comes first, always be there
husband adore her always - wife love him forever
don't go to bed angry
have fun, be kind, ask first, no fussing, no whining
hands are for hugging, not hitting
be creative & work hard
be thankful for what you do have...don't envy others
sing silly, dance crazy, hug often, snuggle daily
take a deep breath and count to three
obey your parents
always say I love you
say your prayers, thank god for this family home and day

{linked to- Tatertots and Jello}

2-in-1 Stroller & Messenger Bag

I seriously fell in love when I saw what Ashley over at Make It & Love It was cooking up with her genius. 

How annoying is it to go shopping and still have to carry your bags because your diaper bag is occupying the lower basket of your stroller??

Or how about trying to hang all the bags on your stroller handles? Not to mention when they hit your legs as you walk and potentially crash into the back of your stroller waking up your little one? I think you get the point.  

Either way, this bag is perfect! 

This messenger style bag has extra snapped straps that loop to hang perfectly on stroller handles, leaving your basket ready for all those little shopping bags. =)

This is my bag I made using Ashley's tutorial. I also added a side pocket on the outside for easy bottle storage and access.

 Outside

 Inside

And I felt the need to cover a coordinating wipes case.. =)

To recover wipes case I hot glued felt onto the top to cover the smaller opening. 
I then cut my fabric to cover to and bottom and to hang about halfway on the sides. 
Hot glue fabric onto wipes case
Hot glue adorable trim around edges to give a finishing touch.

To make the flowers I simply used a knit fabric and used a loose basting stitch down the middle for the entire length of the strip.
Gather by pulling top thread.
I then arranged them nicely into circles/flowery shapes and hot glued it down like crazy.
Glue a coordinating button on top.
Insta-flower!

Follow this link for complete bag tutorial.

{linked to- Tatertots and Jello}