A Few New Things

The sun is shining.

The flowers are blooming.

I have my first sunburn of the season,
 a new lease on life...

Tip Tuesday: Homemade Dumplings

Well, since today decided to be Winter.... even though it's SUPPOSED to be Spring... grrrr.... I decided that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em... and I'll go ahead and show you how we make old-fashioned dumplings.

Tip Tuesday: Red Or White Wheat?

 Have you ever wondered what the difference is?  I have.  So, I thought you might have, too.

I've been using both for several years now.  And I can tell you from experience that neither one is red or white.

Tip Tuesday: Homemade Playdough

 Hi guys!  After much trial and error, I'm happy to report that we have found a winner!!

Because, you know that not everything you read on the internet is true.... and that also goes for recipes. But this one is super easy and turns out perfectly!

Love

A Cute Cheap Craft

OK, well, TODAY I'm gonna solve my photo/blog dilemma... but right now I'm going out to the garage to hammer.  I have so many cute, cheap crafts to share with you guys!  But for now, I'll just share a link to one that I'm def gonna make with the kids this year...

Have you ever heard of "One Good Thing by Jillee"?  Well, you're gonna love her!

And these salt votives are so cute!

Now I know why I felt compelled to save every single blessed jar I ever emptied!

Adios Amigas.

: )

Paying for Pictures and the Family Glue

So, I've got a bit of a crisis on my hands here at the big happy nest.  Blogger has told me that I've reached my limit.  I could have already told them that!  Yep, I've reached my limit, y'all.

No more pictures for me.

Man.

Tip Tuesday: Cooking Beans For Later

So, I was having another one of those exciting homemaker-type conversations the other day... discussing the best and cheapest way to eat beans.  Everybody knows that they're a cheap and good-for-you and everything.  The problem is that canned beans are overpriced and you've got to plan waaaay ahead in order to cook dry beans for dinner.  Since I'm more of a thirty minute style cook, that just won't do.

New Bling and a Giveaway!

I'm so excited about this new jewelry creation!  I just had to let you guys know about it.

 First of all, I really think the idea was a download from God.  How do I know?  Well, I was praying about a new business idea for several weeks... just wanted to help out our family budget a little  (and eventually help other moms help their own family budgets by being involved in jewelry making).

 I've had an Etsy shop for a while now, but never really tried to promote it or anything.  I love to make jewelry, but hate promoting it.  But now I'm realizing that I've got to do both in order to keep doing the part I love-- jewelry making.  I just felt like I needed something unique and worth sharing.

 That's where these new designs come in...

Tip Tuesday: Turning Flare Into Skinny

Do you have any perfectly good, great-fitting jeans packed away in the back of your closet... hiding there just because they're a little too flare-ey?  We do.  Lots of them!

Never fear!  With only a few simple steps and just a little bit of sewing know how, you'll be back up to fashion par in no time!

 All you really need for this easy project is a pen, pins, thread, scissors and your old faithful sewing machine.

And just so you know how really easy this was...This post took me longer than the sewing job!

The Best Homemade Brownie Mix Ever

Don't ya just love my table setting?  

Once you make these I'm pretty sure you will agree that these are the best.
Trust me.
We're brownie conniseurs.

We used to buy brownie mix by the case and mix 'em up every time we had company stop in...and also every time we felt like having some brownies.  Which was often.  But I haven't bought a mix in quite a while.

Tip Tuesday: Homemade Taco Mix

Homemade mixes are one of my favorite cooking tips-- they not only save money, but also the annoyance of not having what you need on the spur of the moment.  You know, like at 4:30, when you're trying to decide what to make for dinner at 5:00?

Tip Tuesday: A Handy "Spanker"

Hey there!  I just got back from vacation this past week and now school is in full swing so I haven't had much time to talk with you guys.  I missed ya!  I'll post a bunch of pictures as soon as our Mac gets back from the doc.... again.  Yeah, now there's a tip for ya...  macs are great and very user-friendly--when they're working.  But, if they break, it's gonna be expensive and you sure can't do-it-yourself.  So, I'm on a borrowed pc, yet again.  And all of my pictures are out there in limbo somewhere.  But that's all beside the point, right?

So....what's up with this "spanker"?

W.W.?.D.?

 

Thanks to my crazy busy life, I haven't been keeping up with the ole blog too much lately.  But, here's an oldy that I thought some of my new blog friends might appreciate....

Remember the old WWJD days? Yep, been there, done that, even got the T shirt. When faced with a dilemma, you were supposed to ask yourself, "What would Jesus Do?", and then you'd supposedly know what to do. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Only one major problem... Jesus was a single guy.

Tip Tuesday: Amazing Vinegar

I've been meaning to tell you guys about my various vinegar experiments for quite a while now.  But I was concerned that you might think I'm weirder than I actually am.  Which would be hard for me to handle.  Since I'm already realllly weird.

Tip Tuesday: Two Unusual Cleaning Products

Have you ever heard of this?
 I have my sister-in-law's mom to thank for this tip!

You know that weird, black grime that accumulates on the plastic floor of your walk in shower stall?  Well, this is the stuff that will get rid of it!

Fresh Homemade Salsa!

Tomatoes & Peppers & Cilantro, Oh My!
This is one of the best things about summer.  Food wise, anyways!

Painting Together

 Here's a really fun project that you can do with your kids this summer.  I've had this old canvas in my art stuff for years, but could never quite figure out what to do with it... until yesterday!  We decided to do a "family painting."

Tip Tuesday: Cream of Anything Soup Mix

Ooh, you guys are gonna love this one!  How many times have you planned out the meal & gathered up the ingredients only to find that you're one can short of a casserole?

Never again!  Just mix up a batch of this super easy instant mix and you'll be back in business in no time.

The Best Dang Quesadilla

Yes, it's true.  Every single time I eat or even think about a quesadilla I also think about Napoleon Dynamite.  And pronounce it "kaysadilla."  I know, it's weird.

But these here dang quesadillas are amazing.  And easy.  And amazing.  So, you'll want to make them soon.  Because they don't heat up the kitchen much.  And the ingredients are simple.  And they're amazing!