Tooth Pouch

My little guy lost his first tooth!  Lucky for me, the day before he lost his tooth I came across this Tooth Fairy Pouch from Make it and Love it.  Such a cute & quick project that made his day!  If I were to do it again, though, I would have purchased a size bigger of button covers.  It was so easy to make, I might just buy some bigger button covers and make another.

Thanksgiving Tree

I've had this one on my to-do list for a long time... well, this year is the year (Kimi, get that Silhouette warmed up).

This Thanksgiving Tree would be a fun activity to do with the kids this week in preparation for Thanksgiving.  Young ones can even draw pictures of what they're thankful for.  You could even do it on turkey day while you wait for the food & need to keep the kids occupied.  Fabulous idea from Skip to My Lou... a great way to count your blessings.  And you get a darling centerpiece out of it :)

Young Women Values Subway Art **Free Download**

Happy 11.11.11 to you!!  Here's a free download to celebrate!  No it has nothing to do with today, I have just been wanting to make a YW values subway art and finally got around to it.  Click HERE for the download :)

Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken

This sweet n' sour chicken is absolutely delish.  Pretty sure my family thought this came from our favorite Chinese restaurant.  In their defense, I did stop and get chow mein take out to go with it.  It's true.  If you're a better wife/mom/cook than me (you've got a good shot), you'll probably serve it with homemade stir fry veggies.  I have breaded this before, but tried it this time without the breading (my feeble attempt to cut calories), and liked it just as well.  It's really that good - no one will miss the breading except your waistline.  Enjoy!!

SWEET N' SOUR CHICKEN

4-5 chicken breasts, chopped into 1-2" pieces
3 Tbs cornstarch
1 1/2 c brown sugar
2/3 cup red wine vinegar (can substitute with apple cider or just plain white vinegar, but you'll lose that reddish color)
2 Tbs soy sauce
1 can pineapple tidbits, drained
1/2 green pepper, chopped

Mix cornstarch and brown sugar in saucepan.  Stir in vinegar, soy sauce, pineapple and peppers.  Bring to a boil and continue boiling 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently.  Place chicken pieces into a 9x13 baking dish, greased with non-stick cooking spray.  Pour sauce over chicken and cover with foil.  Bake 20 minutes, remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes.

Serve over rice.  White rice if you like it super delicious.  Brown rice if you're healthy like Kimi.  Or serve it next to ham-fried rice if you're like me and got the chow mein.

printable Keep Calm and Scary On **FREE DOWNLOAD**

Love the Keep Calm signage out there... I thought this Halloween version, Keep Calm and Scary On, from Craftily Ever After was fabulous!!!  Thanks to Jessica for the free download!

Clutter-Free Entryway

I think this would be totally perfect for Missy's house (and mine).  Check out the entryway organizing potential from iheart organizing- love her blog, SO inspiring!

Printable 9 Be's **Free Download**

LOVE this free printable of President Hinckley's 9 "BE"s... fun fonts and a clean look (just my style).  Thanks to Key Lime digital designs for the free download!!

Stenciled Cupcake Stand

This one is so stinkin' cute, it speaks for itself.  Love, love, love this stenciled cupcake stand (if you love the aqua paint, you should check out Shelley's aqua door).  Seriously.So.Adorable (but would you expect any less from The House of Smiths?).  Can't wait to try this one.

Bathroom Wall Art *FREE DOWNLOAD!!*

So it took a while, but as promised, here is a free download for an original Bathroom Wall Art... click HERE.

LOTS of colors to choose from (even more than pictured here), so there's a good chance you can find one that matches your decor.  Or if you're like me and your towels rarely match and your decor consists of a basket of tub toys, maybe one of these will inspire you to pick a color scheme and get decorating :)

Hope you like this!  Let me know if you have another cute saying you'd like to see in wall art (or another color I somehow missed) - I love making them!

PS - What show?  Can you name the movie this saying is from?

School Paper Organizing (with a free download!!)

 Anyone that knows me, knows that I completely lack the organizing gene.  And paperwork is my kryptonite.  I just don't know what to do with the endless incoming paper, so it just piles up.  The thought of adding school papers back into the mess makes me reach for the Mylanta (or the Xanax).  Seriously.

I love this mail organizer (also perfect for holding the homework assignments in progress), but I was thrilled to see this school paper organizer from iHeart Organizing for all those reports and cute art projects I just can't toss (and report cards).  Just a simple file box, but Jen provides the free download for the labels and the coversheets (hooray!).  One file box for each kid - one folder for each grade.  Neatly labeled, neatly contained.  Love it.  Thank you, thank you, Jen!  So glad you came to my rescue!!

Crocheted Flower Coasters

I knit a little, but I absolutely love to crochet.  So imagine how excited I was to see a tutorial for these adorable crocheted flower coasters! and how cute is that teapot?? Thanks to Rebecca of Nook for posting this over at Versus.  LOVE THEM!!!  (Check out the cute way she gifted them... and don't miss her super cute granny square blanket).

Zipper Pouches

I think these zipper pouches are just the cutest thing!  I love zipper flowers (like these), but I've never seen a zipper pouch.  The greatest part?  It's just a zipper and some ribbon... yup, that's it.  Thanks to Utah's Crafty Chick for the tutorial!!

Chicken & Biscuit Casserole *Quick Meal*

2 c cooked, chopped chicken

1 can green beans (or 1 1/2 c fresh green beans, cooked)

1 can cream of chicken
1/2 c Miracle Whip (or mayonnaise)
1-2 c shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp lemon juice
1 can refrigerated flakey biscuits (8 biscuits - I buy the store-brand version of Pillsbury Grands)

Combine all ingredients except biscuits in saucepan over medium heat until cheese melts.  Pour into 9x13 baking dish.  Open the biscuits and try not to have a heart attack when it explodes (I seriously jump every stinkin' time).  Peel each biscuit in half (so they're half as thick).  Place the biscuits side by side on the mixture in the baking dish, 3x5.  Yes, that's only 15... if it's just for your family and doesn't have to look pretty, just squeeze that extra one in somewhere - otherwise, just toss it out (or put it in a pie tin and bake for 8 mins).

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.  YUM!!!

This is a recipe Kimi got from a host-family while touring with a choir, so I don't exactly know whom to credit this one to. Thank you to the anonymous creator!!  This quickly became a family favorite - quick & delicious!!

Garlic Scapes

What are garlic scapes, you say?  I wondered the same thing when I read this post at The Art of Doing Stuff.  I wish I could say that I looked it up in a gardening book or encyclopedia, but I don't have either of those.  And since I'm not currently growing any garlic, I just googled it.  Apparently garlic scapes are the curly stalks that grow up from the first leaves (you can learn more about them here).

I'm sure all you avid gardeners know to trim the scapes off so the bulb can grow.  But did you know that they are edible?  It turns out that garlic scapes also make beautiful arrangements... check out these beauties.

Thanks to Karen at The Art of Doing Stuff for the inspiration.  If you haven't been to her blog yet, take a minute to check it out... tons of great ideas (plus she'll have you in stitches in no time!).

Summer Reading Log

I cannot wait to make this Summer Reading Log this week with my kids.  I think it will definitely get them inspired to keep reading.  Thanks to eighteen25 for the fun idea and download!!

Ruffled Streamers

Wow - who'd have thought that you could turn plain ol' paper streamers into darling ruffled ones?  Apparently Dana at Made (wish I could say it was me).  Thanks for the fun inspiration!  Click HERE for the link.

4th of July Subway Art **Free Download**

I love this Fourth of July Subway Art... I think the fonts are just perfect for Independence Day.  Kudos to Jamie at The Crafting Chicks for the free download - thanks for doing all the work for us!

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

This delicious black bean and corn salsa is the perfect complement to any southwest or mexican dish.  We had it with these baked taquitos - so yummy together!  It's also great to serve at a party instead of traditional chips and salsa.  Enjoy!!

1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
1 cup frozen corn (no need to thaw - or substitute one can corn)
1/4 c chopped fresh cilantro
1/8 c chopped red onions
2 chopped roma tomatoes (about 1 cup)
1/3 c italian dressing
juice of one lime
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
salt and pepper to taste
 
In large bowl, combine beans and vegetables.  Stir in dressing and lime juice.  Add cumin and salt and pepper.  Cover and chill at least 2 hours or overnight.

Stuffed Fabric Turtles

Ashley at Make It and Love It has posted a tutorial with free printable patterns for these a.dor.able stuffed fabric turtles.  I'm seriously in love.  I've decided to take a sewing class to finally learn how to sew brush up on my skills - and this will definitely be one of the projects I'll be working on!!  Love it!

Butterfly Dress

I have a little niece who just recently celebrated her FIRST birthday (Happy Birthday Lu!!).  When I saw this Butterfly Dress on Sewing in No Mans Land- I knew that's what I wanted to make her.  The pattern is great and the tutorial easy to follow- I had a little bit of trouble with the front opening, but I'm sure next time I'll do better... I would suggest practicing on a scrap before doing it in the actual dress.  This was also the first time I'd ever used bias tape- fun to try something new!  I also copied her tutorial for this headband.  I loved the way it turned out (and if it looks huge in my picture, it was- apparently the size of my 2 1/2 year old's head is WAY bigger than a one year old girl.  Luckily too big was easy to fix).