Making a Mini Album

Friday, May 29, 2015 1 comment
I made a few of these little mini albums lately using paper mache boxes.  I did a picture tutorial a few weeks ago, but now....here's a little video tutorial, with the help of my dog, June.


 

French Dip Done Right

Tuesday, May 26, 2015 No comments
During the summer I will do anything to avoid turning the oven on for long periods of time.  It doesn't hurt when the results are delicious....and more than that-easy!  I found the recipe for this sandwich at joyfulmommaskitchen and I gave it a go.  The results?  Yum!
French Dip
Ingredients:  3-5 lb boneless chuck roast, 1 c. water, 1/3 c. brown gravy mix, 1/4 c. worchestersire sauce, 1 t garlic powder, 1/2 t salt, 1/2 t pepper, 1/2 c hot water, 1 T brown or yellow mustard, 4-6 hoaggie rolls or baguettes, slice provolone cheese, 1/2 c butter (softened)
Instructions:
1.  Place the roast in a crockpot.  Stir together 1 c. water, 1 pkg brown gravy mix, 1/4 c worschestersire sauce, 1 t garlic powder, 1/2 t salt, 1/2 t pepper.  Pour over the roast and cook 6-8 hours (should be falling apart).  Pull out of crockpot and shred with a fork, but keep the juice in the crockpot.
2.  Skim the grease off the top of your dish when it's ready. Add 1/2 c hot water and 1 T mustard to your slow cooker drippings.  Stir together and turn cooker to high and let it heat together until you are ready to serve.
3.  Cut the bread in half and butter both sides.  Brown on a skillet until golden brown.
4.  Put together beef, cheese, and pour Au Ju over the whole thing.

Baseball Tutu

 Last year I helped host a couple's shower.  I knew the dad to be was a baseball fan, and so I decided I'd put together an outfit he could appreciate (I knew I'd be attending an all girls shower after that where there would be plenty of pink).  I found a cute little onsie on Etsy and ordered it, and then I went to work on a tutu and bow.  Conveniently, this tutu would work for the 4th of July too...when baseball is in it's prime.
To make the tutu I sewed a piece of elastic together.
Sizes:
Newborn=13 inches
3-6 months=14 inches
6-12 months=15 inches
1-2 years=16 inches
3 years=18 inches
4 years=21 inches
5 years=24 inches
I cut up two yards of tulle into 18 inch by 2 inch strips (make it longer for a flowing tutu).  Then I simply tied it in a knot to the elastic.  I tied about three pieces of the same color together so they would stand out more.
 Once I finished up, I scrunged it up to make it fluff out.
I also added this bow I blogged about making yesterday.

Baseball Baby Bow

Monday, May 25, 2015 No comments
 I made a little baseball outfit (coming soon) for a friend of mine who was having a baby.  Her husband follows a team OTHER than the one I follow, though the colors are the same.  I'll post the rest of the outfit soon, but first....where all outfits should start-the bow.  These little guys are so easy to make.
I bought some fabric and cut out four circles, and then I grabbed some buttons-baseball shaped buttons (found these little guys at Hobby Lobby).
 I left one flat, but I folded the other four in half, and then in half again until I had a quarter of a circle.  I glued these together at the point (from the inside).
I glued all four folded quarters around the flat circle, then added the ball to the middle.  I added some elastic to the back (again, with the glue).  I covered up the elastic with a scrap of fabric.  Easy...and about 2 bucks cheaper than even the cheapest flower at the craft store.
As for the elastic piece, the sizes usually range around the following sizes:
Newborn-13 inches
0-1 year-14 inches
1-6 year-14 inches
7-teen-15 inches
Adult-17.5 inches

Baseball Bridal Shower

Friday, May 22, 2015 9 comments
 Recently my friend Sonia and I hosted a shower for our friend, Mary's daughter.  She met her fiance at a Ranger's game...and it's been a huge part of their relationship.  It just so happened to fall on Opening Week, and the bridal party had planned the bachelorette party for the next day....at the Ranger's game.  I'll pretend that timing was all part of the deal.
I found some adorable ticket invites online and had my friend Kelly help me make it happen.  
 I found a 'vintage style' cracker jack tin on ebay and purchased that to put some flowers in for the shower.
 I put together some baseballs to be signed by the guest party with advice...or rather, 'the game plan' for a happy marriage.
 I found some bottled cokes (at Costco) and tied on one of my current favorite things-paper straws.
 I have a collection of random glass containers from other events I filled with baseballs, peanuts, Babe Ruths, gum etc.  I borrowed all the baseballs from my only mail coworker....bet he didn't see that coming, but...he used to play and had a ton in his garage.
 Laura is not a fan of ice cream or cupcakes, so....we went with cookies and a yogurt bar for dessert.
 We also threw in some wine for those that aren't into cokes and water.
 I made baseball and glove shaped sugar cookies.
 I also found these mini helmets on the magical world of Amazon.  This was for the yogurt.
 I also found vintage style cracker jacks online and added little tags....b/c everything is better with raffia and bling.
 My friend Mary makes quilts for all her children, this was one of her gifts to the bride and groom.
 The bridesmaids also passed out shirts they were going to be using the next day at the bachelorette party-My last swing before the ring.  How cute is that?  Laura got white, all the bridesmaids got red.

Sweet and Sour Chicken on the Grill

Thursday, May 21, 2015 1 comment
Last summer I went through a grilling season and this was one of the recipes I tried out and loved.  The original recipe is from adashofsanity and it was easy to put together, and tasty to consumer-which are my two criteria.  As a side note, it's also a pretty healthy recipe.  If your standards also go along these lines, here is the recipe.
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Ingredients: 2 lbs of chicken tenders or chicken cut up into tender size, 1 T rice vinegar, 2 T soy sauce, 3/4 c. sugar, 1/4 c.+2 T ketchup 1/2 c. apple cider vinegar, 1/2 t. garlic powder, 1 bell pepper (chopped into large chunks), 1 purple onion (chopped into large chunks), 2 c. brown rice (cooked and prepped by package directions), grill skewers (metal or bamboo)
Instructions:  Marinate your chicken by mixing all the ingredients except for the rice.  Cut the chicken into large chunks and leave it in a bowl in the fridge for at least an hour or overnight.
Soak bamboo skewers for 30 minutes.  Thread chicken, onion, and green peppers by alternating to fill the skewers.  Save marinate.
Place chicken on the grill over medium heat.  Cover and cook for 3 minutes.  Turn and baste with marinate.  Cook 3 more minutes.  Check the center and see if they are finished.  The chicken usually takes about 10 minutes to cook.

Lemon Glazed Cookies

Tuesday, May 19, 2015 No comments
I made these for a lemon loving friend a few months ago when I dropped by to see her new baby.  They were really easy to put together and had a soft texture I really dug.  All you need is....
Lemon Glazed Cookies
Ingredients for Cookies:  Lemon Cake Mix, 2 eggs, 1/3 c. vegetable oil, 1/2 c. powdered sugar (set aside).
Ingredients for the Glaze:  1 1/2 T water, 3/4 c powdered sugar
Instructions for Cookies:  Mix the dry cake mix, 2 eggs, and 1/3 c. vegetable oil.  Grease a cookie sheet.  Roll the dough into 1 inch balls, flatted slightly and roll the top of the cookie in your powdered sugar.  Bake for 6 minutes at 350 degrees.  Cool.  
Instructions for Glaze:  Mix the water and powdered sugar (if it's too runny, add up to another 1/4 c. powdered sugar).  Drizzle over cooled cookies with a fork.