Random Wednesday... Our Garden is Growing!

My Father-In-Law LOVES to grow a garden every year.  

So, around Easter each year, he and my husband begin plowing and planting our new garden.  It's quite large (I think, but I don't farm and know relatively nothing about farming except 'pick it and eat it').

However, I did venture out on my own the other day (on the golf cart, of course) to explore the garden and check out how close we were to 'pick it and eat it' time.  

I'm pregnant and ready for fresh veggies!  

Here are just a few pictures of what I found:

Everything is growing and such a pretty color of green.  We've had some good rain this year, and with some warm sunny days I think that our garden will out grow the weeds!

This row is our Squash and Zucchini......Mmmmm, can you smell the Zucchini bread baking?  I sure can.  I see a yellow bloom on this plant.

Now, I'm not the expert, but I do believe that this is one of our Cucumber plants.  I didn't see any Cucumbers, but there are a ton of blooms.  Ready for my Salad soon!

I checked on our Blueberry bushes and they have lots and lots of Blueberries growing.  I'm just waiting for them to ripen up.  Then it's time for Blueberry Jam, Blueberry Pancakes, Blueberry Cobbler, Frozen Blueberries and we may even try Blueberry Ice Cream.

I'll post some of my Recipes when the Blueberries are ready ; )

I think I'm just hungry!

Talk to you soon,

Let's Make It Monday... Beef Burgundy in the Crockpot

Happy Memorial Day!

Since I know that everyone will be out playing in the pool, or lake, or yard... I thought I would share a crockpot recipe that I like.  This way you can fix it and forget it, while you play!

This week's recipe is Beef Burgundy, yummy!  I found it on the blog Time 2 Eat Yall.  There are some great recipes for all occasions, so check them out.

Here is what you need:

2 lbs Beef Stew Meat

2 cans Golden Mushroom Soup

1 cup Red Wine

1 pkg of Onion Soup Mix

1 6.5oz can of Mushrooms plus the juice

Here's what I used.  

SIDE NOTE:  

Have you guys ever used the Slow Cooker Crockpot Liners from Reynolds?  They are GREAT!!  Just put one in before you add your ingredients, then pull out and throw away when you are done.  NO CLEAN UP.  Fantastic!

Directions:

Put all of the ingredients in the crockpot, cover and cook on low for 6 hours.  Stirring throughout if you can, but I couldn't and it turned out great.  

When done cooking, serve over Egg Noodles.

Here is my finished product:

Yum!  I think I'm getting hungry!

THAT'S IT!  

Even I can't mess this up!  

Critics comments:  my Husband AND Daughter both ate it, liked it and said that they would like to have it again.

SCORE for the no work Dinner!  ; )

Talk to you soon!

Random Wednesday.. I Forgot Mother's Day!!

Holy Moly!

I totally forgot to share my pics from Mother's Day!

I really enjoyed Mother's Day this year. On Saturday, Gracie and I took my Mom to the Stowe Botanical Gardens.  It is so beautiful!  However in April, not everything is in bloom, but what we saw was wonderful.  Here are a couple pictures from the Gardens:

My wonderful Mother, Debbie, and Gracie.

Me, Mom & Gracie

This was taken in the Gardens looking at the main Building.

This was Gracie's favorite part.. the shooting water.

After the Botanical Gardens we visited a craft fair, then we had lunch on the water at Boardwalk Billy's.  It was a beautiful Saturday to spend with two of my favorite people!

Then on Sunday, we got together with my Husband's family and had lunch and LOTS of Desserts!!!  Yummy!  

My husband with his Mother, Donna.

Gracie with Maw Maw Donna.  How Sweet!

Me with my sweet Gracie!

Happy LATE Mother's Day to everyone.

I hope you all had wonderful days with the women that you love.

Talk to you soon!

What I Made Monday... Dresser Upcycle

Hello all and Happy Monday!

If you remember, a few weeks ago, I posted this picture of a dresser converted in to a changing table:

From LittleCrownInteriors.com

I just loved the thought of having all of the drawers underneath to put things in and the baskets to hold everything you need for a new baby..  not to mention when you are my height 5'10"ish, a high dresser is great on the old back!  

So... I confiscated my husband old dresser from his parents house and got to work.  Here  is a picture of the before:

Minus a few drawers and the mirror on top.

So, I found a soft flat off white paint on the clearance rack at Home Depot and thought that this dresser/changing table would look great painted.  Here it is after being sanded, you can see all of the years of abuse the top took from my husband growing up:

After a good coat of Kilz and two coats of paint, it got better... I actually think that my husband was impressed with the finished product (I know I was).

I sanded the edges to give it a weathered look:

And sprayed the handles with an antique spray paint, so that they would match the baskets.

I think the changing table is now ready for the newest Nichols.  She'll be here soon!

Did I mention that we are converting my husband's hunting room in to the baby's room?  That explains the deer antler lamp in a baby girls room.  

Now off to my next projects:  changing pad covers (in pink of course), and a pressed wood armoire that will be painted the same color as the changing table.

Have a wonderful Monday!  

Talk to you soon!

What I found Friday.. BABY STUFF!!

Happy Friday!

I KNOW I'm going to totally overwhelm everyone with baby girl stuff that I've found online, now that we know what we are having......all I can say is SORRY! 

So here goes:  I found a couple of awesome websites that give tutorials (or direct you to them) on how to sew your own baby stuff.  I'm pretty Cheap Thrifty when it comes to buying new items.  Especially when you have to buy a lot of stuff at one time.  I just hate to pay full retail, or buy over priced items just because they are cute.  And then you only use them a short time, and when you're done... they still look brand new! Uggggg!

So, I'm on to my newest project...we'll call it....  Wait for it......

SEWING FOR BABY!!!!  

(ha, it sounds like a contest.  trust me, it's not, I would lose.)

So here are a few items that I've found that are on my 'Sewing for Baby' list:

The Bapron from Craftiness Is Not Optional

How functional is this?  And, it didn't look TO difficult.

The Stroller Bag from Make It - Love It

I'm not sure that I think it's awesome just because of how useful it is, or the cool black and white fabric that they used....?

Baby Onsie from Feathers Flights

Made from an old t-shirt.. this is fantastic!  I can totally see our sweet, new baby girl in a Save the Ta Ta's onesie.  That would be Baby Fabulous! (I just felt my husband roll his eyes!)

Burp Cloths from See Kate Sew

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED burp cloths when my first daughter was born!  And not just to clean up baby messes... they were great for: spilled drinks, wiping hands and in a pinch, one good swipe across the TV stand before guests walk in the house!

So, those are the first 'Sewing for Baby' projects on my list.  Now that we know were having a Girl, I can pick out all of the fantastic Pink fabric that I want.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Have a wonderful Friday, and Weekend!

PS... today, 5/18, is visit your relatives day.  I think I'll visit with mine this weekend.  Good luck!

Random Wednesday.... THE BIG NEWS!!!!

Welcome Back!

I know I'm a little late with Random Wednesday this week, I actually bumped my original Camping post (hope you don't mind) but..... I have exciting news!!!!!  ; )   

IT'S A GIRL!

Just Chillin.... and Yes, that IS my Uterus.

So our appointment yesterday was late in the day, and this little cutie was NOT cooperating!   She stayed balled up and did not want to have her picture taken.  

But we finally got her!

We are all sooo excited! 

Gracie had declared a few weeks ago, that if the baby was a boy, she was leaving!  So last night I told her that I was happy that she didn't have to leave, since the baby is a girl, and she said " Me Too!".  

Isn't she already beautiful!  

Have a Wonderful Random Wednesday!  

Let's Make it Monday...

Happy Monday!

Here is a look at What I Made......

CHICKEN POT PIE

A yummy & very easy recipe that I found on the Campell's Kitchen website.

Ingredients:

1 can Campbell's Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup

1 (10 oz) Pkg frozen mixed Veggies

1 cup cooked chicken or turkey

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

1 cup all-purpose baking mix (I used Bisquick)

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2.  Mix soup, veggies and chicken in 9 inch pie plate.

Everything mixed and in the Bowl!  Looking good!

3.  Mix milk, egg and baking mix.  Pour over chicken mixture.  Bake 30 minutes or until Golden Brown.

Mmmmm.... Fresh out of the Oven.

And here is the view from MY plate!

Yes.. that is a hot dog bun turned garlic bread....use what you got ladies!

Thanks for checking out what I made this Monday!

This will be made again in my kitchen!

Talk to you soon!

What I Found Friday...Mothers Day Inspiration

This Sunday is MOTHER'S DAY!!  

And as a tribute to all of the fabulous Mothers out there (with fabulously creative daughters scouring for gift ideas), I thought I would post some of my finds for Mother's Day Gift Ideas.  

I'm actually still up in the air as to what to get my Mom and my MIL..... so maybe this will give me some more inspiration!

Here is a Cute, Cute, Cute planter that looks pretty easy to assemble.  I found this at Positively Splendid, with the tutorial on how to put it together (for the non-planters out there, it was needed).

How awesomely cute is this!!!

Also, from Positively Splendid, these cute little Flower Magnets would make a great addition to the planter above:

Adorable Right?!  But what Mother/Grandmother would leave these outside in a planter.

Next, I found a canvas bag (it was actually made for a teacher appreciation gift, but I thought a Mom or Grandmother would love one), at The 36th Avenue.

Wouldn't it be cute if it said "M is for... Mom" or "G is for... Grandma".

And now, geared toward the fix-it-herself Mom, I found a cute "women's" tool belt tutorial at That's My Letter.  My Mother is ALWAYS fixing, making or creating something (I'm just like her), which makes this little tool belt perfect!

CUTE!!!

So there is MY inspiration for Mother's Day (sorry Mom if I spoiled your surprise).  I'll be doing one of these, just not sure which one.  Hmmm...  And of course, add a beautiful plant or flower and all will be perfect. 

Happy (early) Mother's Day to all of the wonderful Mothers in Blog Land!

Talk to you soon!

Thought You Should Know Thursday!

So I came across a couple of good FREEBIES...

1st is the website:  Out To Eat With Kids
This site will find local restaurants that have 'Kids Eat Free Nights"!  And who doesn't love to go out to eat when you get ANYTHING for FREE!!  Check it out, just enter your zip code and it finds restaurants in your area!

2nd Living on the Cheap just posted a link to get a 1 free Rental from Redbox for Mother's Day.  You have to have a Facebook account and send a card via Facebook to your friends and they will get the free offer.  Then they will text you the code for a free movie...

Wow... I'm all for FREE!!!  Happy Thursday!

Talk to you Later!

EARTH DAY 2012 - Random Wednesday

If you didn't already know, Earth Day was the 22nd of April... Yeah Earth!  

Our local museum, the Schiele Museum, has an Earth Day celebration every year and Gracie absolutely LOVES to go!!!  I will admit, it is pretty interesting!  This year we got to watch someone shear a sheep and we touched a LIVE alligator!  Wow! Now that just ain't the things that we normally do around here!  HA!  

Any way.. I thought that I would share some of the pictures from our Earth Day.  

1st we headed to Lowe's Home Improvement for their FREE Build and Grow Kids Clinic.  This was the first clinic that we've ever done, and Gracie loved it!!  She made this cute little Terrarium all by herself using a hammer and nails.  

She was very proud of her work and earned a Patch to put on her Lowe's apron.

Next it was off to the Schiele Museum for some Earth Day fun...

Gracie made a Panda Mask.

She made a CUTE bracelet out of flowers and  tape.

Played some Bongos!

Gracie and a sheep.  He had already been sheared.

Poor little guy... but we did find out that for hygienic reasons they have to be cut once a year.

He doesn't look too happy..

And that sums up our adventurous Earth Day activities....  Now, if we could just get everyone to go GREEN!

See ya soon!

What I Made Monday.. Yumminess!

Happy Monday!

On Saturdays when we are actually at home, and not running around crazy... my daughter and I love to make our special lunch together:  Pizza Bubble Bread.

I actually made this in my 7th Grade Home Ec. class, and for some reason I've managed to keep the recipe since (many many years).  It's very easy to make and Gracie loves to help, and lick her fingers along the way.  It's a very good Saturday afternoon lunch!

Here are the ingredients:

1 Pkg of Refrigerator Biscuits 

(If it's for just me and Gracie, I'll use one pkg.  But if my husband is going to snack, I'll use 2 pkgs)

1 Cup of Pizza or Spaghetti Sauce

1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese (I always use more)

Any other toppings you would like.

Here are all of my ingredients.  We always add pepperoni!!

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.  Spray pizza pan with Pam.  Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces and put into a small bowl.  Add sauce to biscuits and stir until all pieces are coated.  Using a fork arrange pieces in a circle on pan making sure pieces touch each other, but are not on top of each other.  When I use two cans of biscuits I'll leave a thin open strip right through the middle so that I cooks evenly throughout. 

It's a little messy, but Gracie loves to stir and arrange!  (and sample the sauce when I'm not looking)

Once all of the cut pieces of biscuit are arranged on the pan, sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese and add any other toppings that you would like.  

Gracie made a face out of the Pepperoni.  This is before we put it in the oven.

Once you are finished decorating... stick it in the oven for approx 10 to 15 Minutes, depending on your oven (I usually leave mine for 20 Minutes), or until the cheese has browned.

Right out of the Oven!

And here is a piece that I cut (on my fabulous, everyday paper plates).  You can pull the pieces apart with your fingers. YUMMY!!!

I think I'm getting hungry now!  Let me know if you try it.

Thanks for stopping by!