Kids St. Patty's Day Projects

Check out our latest post on Creating Our Cozy Home!  Kids St. Patty's Day Projects, have fun celebrating!

Announcement

It was nice to have a break from the computer world.  The hubs got a new job so our schedules are pretty close to opposite!  The past two weeks we were able to hang out a few times, where normally I would be a little too focused on my crafts!  Not that I don't enjoy this blog, it is really relaxing for me, but I realized I need to take time now and then to focus on my family! :)  So because of his new schedule and wanting to find more time to spend together now comes the Announcement! 

My sister Melissa and I will be joining our project blogs to create Creating Our Cozy Home!  We are so excited to work on this together!  Melissa is a mother of two beautiful girls (I may be a little biased but it is so true!), and has so many wonderful talents!  She is so great at organizing and finding fabulous easy meals to make for her family.  She loves to create whether it is scrapbooking, or crafting with me!  I hope that all of you will join this new creative collaboration, we are going to have so much fun!

{Just For You} St. Patty's Day Printables!

I am very excited to share my first Printable with you today!  I hope you find them as fun as they were for me to create.  I wanted to post them today so you would be able to have them printed and ready at the beginning of March! 

The first is White background with Green lettering!

The second is Green background with White lettering!

The second is definitely my FAVORITE!

Now choose the size you will need for your project (I choose 5 x 7) and print!  I hope you enjoy this free printable, and check out many more to come throughout the year!  I will post pictures of what I did with this printable soon!



{Inspiring Blog} Brassy Apple

I was ecstatic when Megan from Brassy Apple agreed to be spotlighted today!  She is such a talented mother and wife, who is nothing short of amazing!  I have been following her pretty much since the beginning of Brassy Apple!  I am always finding inspiration from her and appreciate to time she takes to share her creativity with her readers. 

I like to ask my spotlights "What their favorite project has been?" So when asking Megan I thought I would ask "What her favorite has been so far this year?!"

And Megan's response.... "Favorite project of 2011 so far, Sweater pillows!"

"This project is simple, but makes a BIG impact! They add great texture, color and design to any room. I love that they are each unique and can be created on any budget."

I am in love her Heart pillow!

Now that Valentine's Day has come and gone I thought that I would ask those I spotlight to tell us what they did to celebrate?!

Megan: "Valentine's day means more crafting around my house.  Each year we create valentine boxes to slip our own love notes into.  This year we got really creative.   My daughter took an oatmeal canister and turned it into the Queen of Hearts. My son transformed a cereal box into a Valentine hungry monster, and my little guy's went from pizza box to "Infinity and beyond!"  He just loved to make it fly around the house.  Of course my hubby and I needed one too.  I covered a shoe box with book pages and used some playing cards to represent us the King and Queen."

"We also spent the night before Valentines cutting out and hanging hearts over our dining room table.  Then on Valentine's day we spent a great evening together sharing a meal as a family and opening our cards under a shower of love!"

What a perfect day.  Your family is so creative, I love all of your boxes!

Thank you Megan for your inspiriation, go check out her amazing blog full of fabulous tutorials and more!

{Inspiring Food} by Mel's Kitchen Cafe!

Mel's Kitchen Cafe I am telling you I can't get enough of her recipes!

Poor Man's Stroganoff

Ingredients:

*Serves 4-6

1-2 teaspoons olive oil
6 ounces turkey bacon, diced
8 ounces sliced mushrooms
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 ½ pounds lean ground beef or ground turkey
1 medium red or yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
¼ cup flour
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup low-sodium beef broth
1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
½ teaspoon paprika
1 cup sour cream, light or regular
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley or 1 tablespoon dried

Cooked egg noodles or rice, for serving

Directions:

In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1-2 teaspoons olive oil and saute diced bacon over medium heat until crispy. Transfer bacon to a paper-towel lined plate and set aside, leaving any grease/oil in the pan. Add sliced mushrooms to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, for about one minute (if the pan is too dry, add a teaspoon of oil as needed). Add salt. Continue cooking until the mushrooms are softened and have given up most of their juices. Transfer them to the same plate as the bacon.

In the same skillet, brown the ground beef or turkey with the onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook until the meat is no longer pink. Drain the grease.

Stir in the flour and tomato paste to the meat mixture and mix to combine well. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, for 1 minute. Add the beef broth and bring the mixture to a simmer, whisking to combine all the ingredients. Simmer vigorously for 3-5 minutes until the mixture is slightly reduced and thickened. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and paprika. Cook until flavors blend, about 5 minutes on medium heat. Add sautéed mushrooms and bacon back to the skillet. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the sour cream, mixing well to avoid lumps. Stir in the parsley. Serve over egg noodles or hot, cooked rice.

Go check her out!



{Book of the Month} Princess Academy

I have to say that the Princess Academy is an all time favorite of mine!  My mom told me about it, so I knew it would be pretty good.  Shannon Hale is such a great writer.  Her books are considered for young adults, but I think most of her books can be for all ages!  She never fails to bring the characters to life!  You instantly fall in love with Miri as you go along this interesting journey with her. 

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did, let me know what you think!

A Valentine's Breakfast

Swedish Pancakes

Ingredients...

• 4 eggs
• 1/2 c. milk
• 1 c. flour
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3 tbs. oil

Directions....

• Mix the eggs and milk together.  Add dry ingredients; flour, sugar, and salt.  Then add the vanilla and oil and whisk all together.  Medium heat (not hot)! 

•  Last add a little or a lot of syrup and/or jam! They are delicious!

~Have a Happy Valentine's Day!~