Sunday, April 10, 2011

Weekend Madness!

This weekend was crazy busy!  
Saturday I walked over to a neighbors garage sale ~ look what I found!!
 3 mirrors (Big Gold one $1, Tall wood one $1, Square wood one $.75, Picture Frame $.50)
 Adorable Elephant Magazine Holder $1. (He is on the paint & Modge Podge List!)
 This awesome solid wood end table (its big!) for $5. (This is also on my paint & Modge Podge List).
 Here is the after of the mirror above.  (I primed one coat with kilz primer & then 2 coats of white gloss from Rustoleum) I just love the details on this one!
Stay tuned for more makeovers! 
I have a pink dresser in progress plus lots of sewing projects ;-)

ALL THAT PLUS...
Baked 80 choc chip cookies for kids activities this week 
(they're in the freezer so I can pull them out when its time) 
 
And this awesome Lasagna ~ its SO yummy!!
 
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for pan
1 pound ground beef or turkey
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (14.5-ounce) can stewed tomatoes, chopped
1 (8-ounce) jar tomato sauce
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
1 (8-ounce) box no-boil lasagna noodles
2 large eggs
1 cups cottage cheese
1 cup Ricotta Cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1 teaspoons dried chopped parsley leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 (8-ounce) bag shredded mozzarella
1 (8-ounce) bag shredded Cheddar
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking dish.
In a large saute pan, over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon oil and saute meat, onion, and garlic until meat is browned, breaking up
meat with a wooden spoon. Drain pan of fat and add stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Cover and simmer for 15
minutes, stirring occasionally.
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, then mix in cottage cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan, parsley, salt, pepper, and seasoning salt.
Spread a little of the meat sauce in the bottom of the prepared pan. Lay half the noodles in the bottom of the baking dish, overlapping by
1/2-inch. Spread half the egg and cottage cheese mixture evenly on top. Sprinkle half the mozzarella and Cheddar evenly over the
cottage cheese mixture. Pour half the meat sauce on top. Repeat layering in same order. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan on top.
Bake in center of oven 30 to 35 minutes until sauce is bubbling around the edges. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Friday, April 8, 2011

I have discovered.... Modge Podge!!

I am pondering 'why' I never tried Modge Podge before?  Where has this gem been all my life?  It's so simple and so amazing!  Before our bedroom side table that I thrifted from Goodwill for $2.99.

Then this week after I discovered Modge Podge & Scrapbook paper together are AMAzing!
I also discovered what I can use that range hood in my kitchen for!  It makes an awesome heat setter for Modge Podge ~ I could have let it air dry but why when I finally found a purpose for the heat setting of the fan?
Next up?  Can you guess what I'm going to try to do with this?
Stay tuned this weekend for the 'after'! I've got a busy weekend planned:
1. Its my cook like a crazy person with my girls and stock the freezer weekend - stay tuned for favorite recipes.
2.Visit my neighbors garage sale for fun makeover finds.
3. Work on a Dresser make-over, petal tank, 2 pillow covers, baby blanket, ect...
Its all on my 'list' but some items will get 'bumped' in favor of cuddle time & board games with the family ;-)

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Thrifted Thursday

 Today I had a couple fabulous finds at a local thrift store 
(TOTAL $1.87)!  
First 4 brand new zippers for only $.19 each!  I have a couple pillow slip covers in the works and these will be a perfect fit!
Then I found this gem wedged between 2 shelves on the bottom shelf behind a pile of pans.  There was no price tag and honestly I didn't want to pay more than $2 for it (since I'm not generally a stone fan).  I asked the cashier 'How much?' she replied '$.99' ;-)  YIPPEE!  
It's from Home and Garden Party Stoneware Collection & its already worn in.
 Here is what I'll be baking on it this weekend!  This is a recipe I whip up at least once a month because it is by far the best pizza crust I have had!  Plus I can pull one out of the freezer and top it in minutes.  We love it with garlic butter and mozzarella cheese for a pasta night side dish too!


April's AWESOME Freezer Pizza Crust Recipe
(This recipe makes 4 - 12" crusts)

1 1/2 Cups Very Warm Water ("like a hot shower")
4 tsp Sugar
3 tsp Yeast
4 Cups Flour
2 tsp Salt
5 tsp Oil (I used EVOO)

1.) Whisk the warm water, sugar & yeast together & let sit until it looks slightly foamy.
2.) Mix the flour, salt & oil together & combine with the yeast mixture to form the dough.
3.) Kneed pizza dough for 10 minutes until it becomes elastic. (I let it go in my mixer with bread attachment for about 5 min)
4.) Cover & set aside in a warm place to rise for 2 hours. It should double in size.
5.) After the dough rises preheat your oven & pizza stone to 400 degrees
6.) PUNCH the dough down & divide it into 4.
7.) Roll out your crust- carefully transfer it onto the preheated stone - smooth it out & lightly prick it several times with a fork to prevent bubbling.
8.) Bake each crust for 6-7 minutes which will slightly bake it.
9.) Cool the crusts on foil wrappers. Once they're cooled wrap them tightly in foil & place in your freezer.

When you later bake your topped pizza - Preheat your over & stone to 400 degrees & Bake for approx 8-10 minutes depending on your toppings.

You know what goes great with Pizza?  Brownies - especially these ones!
 

Symphony Bar Brownies

  • 1Family Size (9x13) Brownie Mix
  • 3 (7-ounce) Symphony candy bars with almonds and toffee chips
-Prepare the brownie mix according to package directions.

Line a 13 by 9-inch cake pan with aluminum foil and spray with vegetable oil cooking spray. Spoon in half of the brownie batter and smooth with a spatula or the back of a spoon. Place the candy bars side by side on top of the batter. Cover with the remaining batter.

-Bake according to package directions. 
-Let cool completely, then lift from the pan using the edges of the foil. This makes it easy to cut the brownies into squares.
 

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Welcome Home Wednesday

Today welcome to our main bath!  
The before will scare you... 
The after hopefully elates you...
Before, checkout the flowery wallpaper, melamine tile walls, ugly light fixture & peeling vinyl floor.
 After!  I found the circle curtain and fell in love (I am obsessed with circle decor!) and color matched the teal.  When I first chose colors I was determined to have color everywhere (due to lack-of-color-renters-syndrome). 
It was like going to the public pool every day ~ AQUA ~ it was fun while it lasted....
Here is the now!  Updated the curtain, repainted all those tiny tiles (took me 8 hours each coat of paint!) I know the sink & counter are dated but honestly I really like it just the way it is!  I think it brings back happy childhood memories of my grandparents farm house bathroom.
 
We laid tile down (I love new flooring!)
New Shower Curtain!
Found this awesome HUGE clock at Big Lots for $20 plus 20% off Friends & Family Day Discount!
New Lighting from Lowe's (its tough to find bath lighting that hangs from the ceiling.)
Our window wasn't 'private' so I grabbed a can of 'window frosting' from Menard's, measured out some squares with painters tape and sprayed away. Note I did remove the tape before allowing it to dry. 
Vase from Pier One originally $30 I got it at Big Lots Close out for $3!  This is a great way to keep your girly accessories organized and brighten up a room!  I stuffed some dried floral arrangement in the vase and clip each hair flower to a different stem!  I'll post my how to make the flower at another time (super easy gift & fun craft for adults & kids!)

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Petal Tank

I love this blog The Sisters 4 say.... More is more and this Scrappy Petal Tank!  I have lots of scraps and this poor tank that needed some mending...
 And this cute fabric that I had picked up for $1 a yard at Wal-Mart this winter
 I cut cute little petals - stitched them back to back.  Then all in a row.  Finally around the hem
 I added a couple Yo Yo's at the top just like the blog I read!  Check out the final product!
I picked up 2 more tanks this weekend with plans to make a couple more for other little girls in my life!

Weekend Bargains

I didn't make it to any thrift stores this weekend but did find a few bargains!
 Joann Fabrics had Simplicity Patterns for $.99!  I restrained myself and only picked up 5.
#2171 - Sarah Rose Kids Rumba shorts and sundress
#2302 - 18" Doll Pattern - for American Girl Dolls
#2283 - I like the vest pattern
#2289 - Pullover poncho
#2285 - Outerwear (I've been looking all over for a cute poncho for spring/fall and decided to just make one)
 All Scrap booking supplies were 40% off!  The felt I want to make some cute hair accessories I've seen on blogs & the paper is for a modge podge project side table (pics below)
 This is my Goodwill side table I picked up
I pained it cream but still feels like its missing something... I think some cute animal print paper modge podged will dress it up!  (will post after pics)

Friday, April 1, 2011

Fedora Friday!

I get so excited about accessories!  I love them, especially hats ;-)  My passion for hats rubbed off on my oldest daughter.  We were out doing our Friday shopping at Wal-Mart and she wondered down an isle and returned with 4 hats in her hand.  
She was elated they were only $3 each!
I had fun posing with them...

We ended up with 2 hats ~ a pink one and a black one. 

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