Happy Halloween!

I've set a goal for the month of November...more about that tomorrow! So even though it was Halloween AND Saturday AND would have been easier to grab a quick bite out...I decided to make dinner at home.  That is actually quite a feat on a Saturday:)

I got this recipe from Boiled Hot dogs.

  

Tamale Corn Cakes with Carnitas

I liked it for 3 reasons:

1. It was a small amount of food, which is good on a holiday where you gorge your face with candy and don't have much of an appetite for a big meal.

2. It used up the last of my pulled pork.

3. I could cut the corn cakes into pumpkin shapes, so I felt like I was being festive!

We all liked this meal.  I felt like the corn cake needed more kick, so I think I would add more cayenne the next time.  I also didn't have time to make any pico de gallo, which I think would have made the meal even better.  My cousin thought the pork was too sweet when she made it...but I LOVE sweet pork, so it worked for us.

....and for dessert....

as if we needed more sugar in the house?! I love to frost sugar cookies, but never make them.  I figured I should use my Halloween cookie cutters for once.  Luckily, we went to a friends for a little Halloween party (you can see pics here) so I got to get rid of some of them.  It's never good when there are cookies in the house...if you know what I mean?!

We had a very fun Halloween...and after a short trip around the neighborhood...Lil D is tuckered out from all the door knocking and we are headed to bed.  Hope you all had a Happy Halloween too!

One more project...

While I was in Seattle, my sister and I hit a fantastic bead store in Lacey, WA....Shipwreck beads. It was HUGE and maybe a little overwhelming...but we managed to find some great stuff and for WAY cheaper then the local bead stores...I was pretty excited.  Especially, because my other sister and I are going to do a bazaar in Tacoma in November, so I needed lots of new materials to make up some new jewelry...can't wait! Anyway...Vicki wanted a red glamour cuff...and what Vicki wants, Vicki gets:)

I'm not totally in to red...but I think it is so pretty...love the darker reds with the lighter ones, and the button we found at Joann's was perfect...especially when you get 3 for $1.49...any one else need/want a red bracelet?...I have some extra stuff:)

A bloggy award...SO Nice....

PK over at Room Remix was SO very nice to pass on this award to me...

(you should really check out all of PK's great ideas)

For this award I am to:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people may not know.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each.

I am nominating the following 7 Kreative Bloggers.  (It really is hard to narrow it down to so few)...but these 7 do things that I am simply in AWE over...amazing women I tell you!

1. Ruffles & Stuff

2. Design A Peele 

3. Shanty 2 Chic (you are welcome to both do your own list of 7 things:)

4. Sutton Grace

5. Just a Girl

6. It's the Little Things

7. Jamie's sweet creations

7 things about me...that you all may not know...

1. I am the 3rd child of 8 kids (4 sisters and 3 brothers)

2. I have a secret desire to host my own cooking show.  However, I would have to be handed the show, because I could never survive a reality show like "The Next Food Network Star".

3. I have to have all of my clothing, in my closet, organized by color...and ONLY white hangers are allowed (this kills my husband). 

4. When my child was a baby I often dressed us in the same color because it was the "color I was feeling that day"...most of the time I didn't even realize it till hours later.  NOW...my child wants to wear whatever color shirt I am wearing...or if my husband is home what color he is wearing....so basically, my family matches A LOT!

5. Speaking of clothes....when I was in jr. high (maybe into HS)...I always wanted to borrow my older sister's clothes, so I would fake cry that I "had nothing to wear" until she felt bad enough to loan me her hard earned clothing...worked every time:) (love you Vic)

6. I LOVE to throw things away...clean it out...organize it...toss it away...if you aren't using it today...it can go...now if only I could get my husband to let go of a few more things.

7. I used to be a social worker...for 7 years....I loved my jobs and the kids and families I got to work with...I miss it once in awhile...really glad I don't have to do it anymore....but I did love it...

Parties I like to play in.

Mondays:

Market Yourself Monday at Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Make it 4 Monday at Cottage Instincts

Craftomaniac Monday

Meal Plan Monday at The Organizing Junkie

Motivate me Monday at Keeping it Simple

DIY project parade at The DIY Show-off

Just Something I whipped up at The Girl Creative

Tuesdays:

Toot Your Horn Tuesday on a Silly Little Sparrow

Tot Tuesdays at Delicious Ambiguity

Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios

Teach Me Tuesday at Living with Lindsey

Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog

Wednesdays:

Show & Tell at Blue Cricket Designs

Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking

Show us What You're Working With at Me and My Bucket

Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts

Thursdays

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Get Your Craft On at Life as Lori

Giveaway Directory at Someday Crafts

Strut Your Stuff at Somewhat Simple

Fridays:

Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring decorating

Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum

Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous

Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge

Look at Me I'm so crafty at Fun to Craft

What are little boys made of at 733

Saturdays:

Saturday Spotlight at Craft eNVy

Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Weekend WrapUp at TaterTots and Jello

Monthly/Seasonal:

DIY day at ASPTL

I Made it without my husband at Shanty2Chic

Before and After Party at The Thrifty Decor Chick

ABC bench

It's DIY day at ASPTL!

I actually finished this project a few weeks ago, but the only time I think about taking pictures is when Lil D is sleeping...I finally remembered today to snap a few shots after his "non-nap nap".

I saw THIS great idea over at Evangeline's Vine.

I was so excited, as I had been looking for something to do with the little bench I bought for Lil D's room. I had a couple different fonts of chipboard on hand, which actually ended up working better (and was a "free" project). I was able to do the whole alphabet, straight through.  The letters are standing up right and on their side, so they would fill the whole space!

I had already painted the bench white...so I used spray paint to spray it again and to get the letters. I ended up having to use a paint brush and white paint to get in all the nooks and crannies...then sprayed one last time so everything was even and shiny and pretty.

I found this cute alphabet fabric at Pine Needles and loved that the colors are his room colors, only muted.

I wish I could spell the word "bench" like he says it...it's SO cute.  He loves his little bench and points out any bench we see out and about..."like my bench"

I had lots of fabric so I made 2 more pillows...

For his window seat!

It may not serve much of a purpose...but it fills the last blank wall in his room which makes me happy!  and when he sits on it...he's happy...win win!

PS...with all the projects I have been working on...I have drug Lil D to Joanns one too many times this past week.  I call it the "craft store"...he must not hear me clear...he calls it the "crappy store" (my husband fully agrees)...whenever we pull in..."we go crappy store mom?".  Yep, Lil D...we go crappy store!

I am my mother's daughter...

It seems like the more I have to do...the more I take on...

what is that about?

So after a morning of running all over the place...

I finally finished this project

then I moved on to more prep work for the Halloween Party for my ward...no pictures till the night of the event (on the 27th...the day I fly home after a 5 day excursion I will share more about in another post).

Then I got these all put together...

found the faux make-up idea here

Can you believe how great these look?!

and they fit perfectly into my make-up bags

Then I worked on more of these...

I am mid process of a couple black ones...

and the green ones are next on the list...

then I dealt with this problem...

and because I had nothing better to do....

I finally made these:

(recipe here)

I made them in little loaf pans so I could use 3 of the 4 for this...

Every year someone in the neighborhood starts this going round...it's one of my favorite things about this holiday!  Love getting treats...and getting an excuse to make some myself to pass out to others.  Decided this was the perfect opportunity to try the raspberry sour cream cake.  Let me tell you....delicious...hope my neighbors agree!

and now it is way too late to be up...and tomorrow is another busy, busy day!  

See you then!

I DID IT!

I joined the Procrastinator's Party a while back...in the hopes it would motivate me to take care of a few "organization" issues I was having, and for some reason, never seemed to want to take the time to take care of...until now.

I give you this...

that now looks like this...

(funny what some hooks and bins can do...oh and ditching the coats we never wear)

aren't those puppy tails the cutest...I got them forever ago at Ikea...and now they have a home, along with Lil d's coats (that he can hang up himself).

and this embarrasing mess...

looks like this...

(so organized that all the "office" stuff is in the newly organized cupboard)

It is so clean and organized, I don't have anything to put on the counter...

except maybe some fall decor...love it!

Maybe if I hired a secretary she could do all my filing for me and this would never be a problem!

See more afters here!

Thank you Melissa for hosting and for kicking my butt into gear!

Halloween welcome sign dangles

I have a love for The Wood Connection...and things wood that they have there for me to paint...

I try not to have new dangles for every month...mostly holidays and seasons...

I just can't help myself...I love it!

I'm linking to the Fall Festival Week #7

What's in your freezer?

I mentioned last week that my freezer was over flowing with food, and barely had room for my pie crusts and pizza dough...so this is the week when I clean it out...hurray! 

Can you cook for a week from your freezer?

Lunches from the freezer:

mini pizzas on english muffins (loved these as a kid...husband never had them...he loves them now...)

spicy black bean burgers

chicken nuggets and tater tots (Lil D will love this)

I will be making some serious zucchini bread to try and rid myself of the many bags of shredded stuff leftover from last year's garden!

Dinner:

Sunday: Crockpot vegetable beef stew with rolls. 

Monday: Fish Tacos: chips, salsa and guac.

Tuesday: BBQ pulled pork sandwiches and corn

Wednesday: Pasta dish...psuedo lasagna

Thursday and Friday...the boys are on their own:)

Grocery shopping purchases for my dinner menu:

Sunday: stewing beef, rolls

Monday: shredded cabbage, avacados (I forgot cilantro, so will need to pick some up)

Tuesday: nada

Wednesday: pillsbury pizza dough to make some breadsticks

*On a side note...do you ever buy the bags of corn or white corn tortillas, but don't use them all.  I wish I could buy them in 10 count bags...and I hate to freeze them because they just don't taste the same to me.  SO...after using a few to make tortilla strips for this meal...and saving a few for our fish tacos for this Monday night....I cut up the rest into chips and did a little frying.  I'm not sure how you feel about them...but "homemade" chips are delicious.  Fry 'em up...add salt...eat them hot...YUM!  Store the rest in a paper bag and I've got chips to side with my fish tacos.  And the beauty, didn't have to "buy" any chips and didn't "waste" my remaining tortillas....

I told you I had a lot to do...

I'm reposting for Knock Off Knock Out!

If you want to buy a certain necklace at my fav beadstore...you can pay $95

If you want to buy the materials and make it yourself...you can pay $45

If you want to buy the pattern and use what you have at home...you can pay $10

I'll go with the $10 route.

Mix up a bunch of colorful seed beads of varying (tiny) sizes

string 'em on some flex wire with some crystals, a crystal square and crystal window...

and you get this...

Total cost out of my pocket today...$20...not bad for a $95 necklace.  And I think I can make it for even cheaper...I'll let you know when I make the next one.  Stringing seed beads on flex wire can be hard on your eyes and I may need a few days for them to focus better:)

since I was in the beading mood...I made up 2 more of these and used the rest of my blue stones.  I think I shall gift one to my little sister who was released from the Germany, Hamburg mission today and after spending the next 10 days galavanting the country side with my mom and step-dad will be headed back to the states after 18 months away!

...and so my oldest sister doesn't feel left out...I finally finished her bead watch...

and my mom was complaining about not having a beaded bracelet so I made her something too!

and now I am tired and need to go to bed.

mini make-up bag tutorial

I wanted to make little make-up bags for the "faux make-up" my friend and I are making tomorrow.  I didn't have a pattern...just an idea in my head of what I wanted it to look like and how to make it.  I made the blue one first...then learned a few things and made the floral/stripe one. All of the materials, I had on hand (score) so I feel like I made them for free!

I actually wanted this one to be mainly the floral fabric, but I had very little of it...so I used it as the front piece.

The front piece (one each of each fabric) is 5 X 9 (totally random...but seemed like a good height and the width fits my makeup. Stitched them, right sides together...turned them right sides out and stitched the closure...

 

The back piece, I cut 9 inches wide and 7 inches tall (2" turn down).   Then I notched in 1/4" (seam) in on the side and top and cut a diagonal, so the folded down part looks more finished (professional?:)

Stitch the two pieces together again and turn out and stitch closure.

Then I stitched the front and back together (I stitched with the floral in so when I flipped the floral would be facing out on the finished product).  I just stitched the bottom half and left the fold down part alone. (am I making sense yet?)

I DID NOT want to do a button hole...so I stitched on a snap. I learned from the blue case that it looks better when it is stitched just through one layer of fabric (no stitches showing on the top flap).  I also learned to hide the thread when moving from one hole to another, to take the needle/thread under the snap...

perfect...

Even though I didn't do a button hole...I added a button to both, just to add a little something more to the make-up bags.

The perfect size for a 4 year-old...don't you think?

naptime project...and beyond.

I know we aren't even to Halloween yet...but I have started on some Christmas presents.  I have a good excuse...I need to have them down in the next month so I can send them home with family visitors coming to my house, who will then travel back to their homes and can keep some for themselves and deliver the rest (make sense?).  Just trying to save money on shipping...you can call me cheap.

These are little make-up bags for little girls. (I'll post my tutorial tomorrow...I'm too tired to make much sense at this late hour).  I'm more excited about what goes in them, which is my Friday project.  Best thing about these...I didn't spend one penny on them (well, today any way).  Had the fabric (from projects a few years ago), had the snaps (from my Halloween costume...which I still need to make) and the buttons (from bracelet projects)...and away we go!

Then I made another one of these.  I went for blue with a touch of brown (clear brown so it's not too much). Still took me way too long to make it.  Not sure how to go any faster...but I LOVE them!

I felt pretty productive today...and Lil D was a trooper letting me work.  He is really into playing on his own with his cars.  He talks to them and they talk to each other.  Sometimes I respond to him and he gets upset, "no mom...I'm talking to my cars"...sorry for interrupting:) Hopefully, he will be just as good the next couple days, I have way too much to do before next Thursday!  So much to do!

Dinner at the Thompsons

Tonight Lil D and I made pizza stuffed pretzels...the recipe is here. They were VERY good.  Lil D  kept telling me, "pizza really good mom".  You can see him helping here (if you care to see his sweet face). I have chosen not to upload pics, because mine didn't turn out quite as "pretty" as they did for Kristen at "From My Tiny Kitchen"...:) I'm thinking they may be dinner again tomorrow, since we made 4 and only ate 2...I'm sure I won't hear complaining from the little guy...pizza is one of his favorite things.  In fact, you drive past Costco..."Mommy..look...Costco cheesy pizza"....nice right?!

Something that made laugh....

Background: Mr. T is a transportation consultant (civil engineer)....don't ask, just go with me. After starting his own business over 3 years ago, he has had to attend even more town meetings/public open houses. He often forgets to inform me about these "after hours" meetings which often conflict with my dinner plans. I give him a hard time ALL the time about giving me notice...and that would be more notice then calling at 3:30 to "remind" (tell me the first time) about a town hall that day....heaven forbid he write it on my "Family calendar" hanging in the kitchen.

Current story (that brought tears from all my laughing): We were watching the news as they were discussing a major transportation project that he is working with UDOT on:

News Anchor: It takes 20 minutes to travel from "point A to point B" headed west bound, but only 6 minutes to travel east bound

Mr. T: stats provided by me

News Anchor: blah blah blah....(something about) "flex lanes"

Mr. T: thanks to us for coming up with that term (turning to me)...Mel actually came up with it.

****More information about the project*****

News Anchor: The project will be open to public opinion at a city council meeting held in Taylorsville this Tuesday.

ME: Do you have to go to that?

Mr. T: CONSIDER THAT YOUR NOTICE!

***see, it's making me giggle again!

It's okay if I am the only one that laughs at this...but really, if I had a dollar for every meeting I wasn't told about until the day of....I could redo my kitchen the "real" way I want to...I'm just saying!

***I just read again to proofread, and again I'm laughing...sorry, it is just funny to me. Maybe my family and friends who know David will get a laugh out of it too!

Dinner at the Thompsons (and a little dessert)

It's 9pm on thursday night...time to read some recipes...get my tummy growling and start munching on some snacks...'cause it's....

and I'm reposting and Linking up...

(scroll down for dessert)

Quiche with Artichoke Hearts and Parmesan

recipe at Boiled Hot Dogs

mine does not look as good as the pic on Boiled Hot Dogs...whatever...still tasted VERY good.  Mr. T and I both really liked this.  Lil D took his bite...but was not a fan of the onions and wanted me to pick them out:) I fried up some ham steaks on the side and of course since we were having "breakfast" for dinner...we had to have:

Strawberry Julius:

1 C milk

1 C water

1/4 C sugar (you can do less or none:)

capful of vanilla

two handfuls of strawberries (depending on the thickness you like)

*you can also add a banana

By way of the Quiche...I'm not sure if I would change anything. I LOVE artichokes...especially anything with artichoke hearts in them...so this was right up my alley.  Oh...and I LOVE quiche. I think I might add some other ingredients to the quiche...maybe shredded chicken and/or corn.  Make it more "dinnery"?!  Just a thought.  But all in all, we really liked it!

And tonight, I even went all out and made dessert.

Pumpkin Spiced Doughnuts

(saw this recipe last year on my cousin-in-law's blog and I requested she email me the recipe...took me a whole year to get around to make them...sure glad I didn't wait any longer)

Pumpkin Spiced Doughnuts

Makes about 18 doughnuts and holes

Total time: 1 hour

Whisk Together; add:

1 egg

1 egg yolk

1 cup canned or fresh pumpkin puree

1/2 C sugar

1/2 C buttermilk

1/4 C brown sugar

3 T unsalted butter, melted

4 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

Fold in; pat out: 

3 C sifted all-purpose flour

Fry in; vegetable oil

Whisk egg and yolk together in a large bowl until frothy.  Add pumpkin, sugar, buttermilk, brown sugar, and butter; whisk until combined. Stir in baking powder, pie spice, salt and soda.

Fold flour in gradually until a sticky dough forms; cover with plastic wrap and freeze 15 minutes. 

Meanwhile, heat 2" of oil to 370* in an electric skillet, deep fryer, or straight side pan over medium.  Pat dough on a well-floured surface to 1/2" thick, then cute with 3" and 1" biscuit cutters dipped in flour.  Transfer doughnut and holes to a floured baking sheet using a spatula that has been dusted in flour.

Fry doughnuts and holes in batches in the oil until browned, about 3 minutes, turning once (holes cook faster).  Dry on a paper towel lined baking sheet.  Finish with sugar or glaze.  Note: toss in the sugar while doughnuts are hot.  Dip in glaze when doughnuts have cooled.

Apple cider glaze: 1/4 C apple cider-pinch of salt-3 C powdered sugar.  Heat cider and salt in small saucepan over low until hot.  Off heat, whisk in powdered sugar until smooth.  Dip cooled doughnuts in glaze and let stand about 5 minutes.

Cinnamon sugar: 1 C sugar-1 tsp. ground cinnamon.  Mix sugar and cinnamon in a small paper bag.  Toss doughnuts and holes in sugar mixture while hot.

*I didn't do the glaze because I didn't have any apple cider...will definitely try that next time.  

**I liked the doughnuts...but like the holes better.  I think in the future I will mainly cut out 1" holes...Lil D loved them..."mom...more doughnuts in my bowl for me to eat?"

***Makes LOTS of doughnuts so it's a good dessert to share with neighbors!

Dinner at the Thompsons

Asian chicken rolls with plum dipping sauce

recipe here @ Boiled Hot dogs

(thanks Hannah for another great recipe)

My sous chef: Lil D

"I do push...get chair...'scuse me...sorry...need chair here"...

a couple things about the recipe:

1. it doesn't say to cook the chicken first...may be obvious...just wanted to point out that you do cook it first.  I did mine in a pan on the stove with some "EVOO":)

2. it calls for water chestnuts, I am not a fan, so I left them out and didn't miss them.

3. this is the first time I have let the pastry shell thaw properly (40 minutes on the counter) and rolling it out was SO much easier (I guess following directions isn't a bad thing)

4. when I rolled the first roll up the ends were open and I had to pinch them closed at the end, not well (it leaked a bit) the second one I folded in the ends as I rolled and it worked better and looked prettier:)

5. I just happened to have white sesame seeds on hand (from who knows what or when) so I put those on top...if I didn't have them, I wouldn't have used them...I don't think you would know the difference.

6. I LOVE my food processor...thanks Mr. T...best "no christmas gifts this year" gift (from 4 years ago)...I'm just saying!

dinner is served...

The window guy was at our house while I was cooking (yep...new windows coming soon) and informed me that dinner smelt great...thank you window man...I totally agree!

This was good...Mr. T and I both enjoyed...Lil D had to be threatened with his room (again) to take even one bite...but he ate it and said it was good (correct answer lil man).

A few things I would change:

1. the chicken tasted dry (not sure how to fix this) and Mr. T seemed to think it needed more flavor.  I am thinking I used too much chicken...it calls for 1 lb...but since I pull my chicken out of a costco size bag, I'm not exactly sure how many tenderloins equals a pound.  I'll try a few less next time! 

2. Even with less chicken, I think I would still add more of the other ingredients...especially the cilantro and garlic chili sauce.

3. I cooked it for 25 minutes...I will be cooking for at least 30 next time...the pastry wasn't cooked all the way through.

4. the dip/sauce was good...but a little too sweet for me...I'll have to play with it next time.

5. I love that you can put pretty much put anything into puff pastry and my mind is reeling with ideas...it may be my new favorite thing to cook with.

If you haven't checked it out...you should really head over to Boiled Hot dogs...she has some fun recipes to try...not recipes I typically pick out...but if Hannah is willing to try it and like it...I will give it a whirl too!