Gourd Windchime

I got this idea from the Michaels website over a year ago, but it is no longer there. As soon as I saw it, I thought of my mom. So I went down to the craft store to get the supplies and was shocked at how much the gourd cost! Well a few weeks later, I happened to be at Michaels and the gourd was on super sale (I think I only paid $2 or $3 for it!) so I got one and put it in the closet until just a few days ago. I made this for my mom for her birthday last week.

It is kind of hard to see from the picture, but the windchime part at the bottom is sticks of bamboo that I painted. After painting the three sticks of bamboo (from an existing windchime) I attached them to the bottom of the gourd using the screw hooks they came with. To get the hooks into the gourd I stuck a push pin in to create a pilot hole.Then I printed out a fancy M on the computer and cut it out with an xacto knife creating a stencil (word of advice: if you are going to do this, paint the initial before you screw in the bamboo!). I traced it with pencil, since my stencil wouldn't lay flush with the gourd, and then painted it, drilled two holes in the top and laced some wire and ribbon through to hand it by. 

Also linked to The Idea Room

Tasty Thursdays #3 - Fall Recipes

I would love to see your favorite Fall recipes! Here is one of mine...

*photo from Make It & Love It

Pumpkin Sausage Pasta found via Make It & Love It last year.

Shirt Dress

I'm sure by now you've probably all seen at least one version of a shirt dress. Well this is mine. It is a combination of several tutorials I've seen floating around the web.
It's perfect for dancing like a princess...

or feeding the birds.

A view of the back:

 And when asked for a pretty smile, this is what I got:

Not quite what I had in mind, but it made me laugh. :)

Let me know if you're interested in a tutorial for my take on the shirt dress and I can put one together!

Tasty Tuesdays - Crockpot Fiesta Chicken

Looking for a super easy, delicious Mexican dish to serve for dinner tonight? Then you've got to try the Easy Crockpot Fiesta Chicken from The Girl Who Ate Everything.

We used this chicken mixture as burrito filling and as quesadilla filling. It was delicious!

Tasty Thursdays #2 - Linky Edition

Here is one of my favorites. I adapted this from a Betty Crocker cookbook that I got for my wedding. In the cookbook it is called something along the lines of "Rustic Vegetable Baguette" but in my house we call them "avocado subs".
The picture isn't the greatest...it's from a few years ago before I really started blogging.

Ingredients:
Sub rolls - one for each person you intend to feed
Italian dressing - approximately 1 tablespoon per sub roll, enough to cover one side of the bread
Cheese - we like colby-jack, cheddar, or Mexican blend
Roma Tomatoes - 3 or 4 slices per sub
Avocados - I like a lot of avocado, so we use one medium avocado for every 2 subs, but you could use less

1. Slice tomatoes
2. Smash avocado...in the food processor works great, or you can just scoop the flesh out into a sandwich bag and smash it in your hands...it's super fast and easy cleanup!
3. Slice sub rolls lengthwise
4. Spread Italian dressing on one side of each roll
5. Sprinkle cheese on the other side of each roll, just enough to cover the bread
6. Broil until the cheese is melty and bubbly
7. Lay tomatoes on one side of subs and spread the avocado on the other. I find it works best to put the tomatoes on top of the cheese and spread the avocado onto the dressing side.
8. Eat and enjoy!!!

Let's see some more of your recipes!!!

Want to Craft That Wednesday - Tin Can Windsock

How cute is this tin can windsock from Under the Table and Dreaming!

I love this flag version...but the possibilities are endless for how you could decorate it!

Tasty Tuesdays - Muffles

Muffle (muhf-uhl) - Noun 1.the delicious baby of a waffle and a muffin 2.muffin batter baked in a waffle iron.

My sister told me about muffles a few months ago and we made some recently, so I thought I'd post about it. Muffles are super easy to make. Take your favorite muffin batter and instead of putting it into a muffin tin and baking in the oven, get out your waffle iron and cook it in there! The taste is the same as when baked as a muffin, but the texture is different. It isn't quite the same as either a muffin or a waffle...it is just kind of it's own thing. And it is delicious!

Tired of the same old blueberry muffins/waffles/muffles/pancakes??? Sometimes I add in a bit of cinnamon and other times I add in chopped up white chocolate chips and coconut! YUM! You should seriously try that combination.

Tasty Thursdays #1 - Linky Edition

Cheddar-cornmeal Waffle BLT's

This is a great take on a blt...but I recommend you follow the recipe! I tried to use a boxed cornbread instead of making them from scratch and the waffles kept falling apart! Oh well, live and learn.
Cheddar-cornmeal Waffle BLT's from Taste Buds.

What are you loving to make in the kitchen lately? Let's see those recipes!
The link will be open until Monday evening...if you want me to lengthen or shorten the time frame allotted for the linky party let me know! Also I would love to know if you have any requests/suggestions for themes for future linky parties.

Want to Craft That Wednesday - Cozy Cone Motel

Yep, two in one day...my folders are that out of control!

Cozy Cone Motel from One More Moore.

There aren't any instructions for this...but it can't be that hard to figure out.

Want to Craft That Wednesday - Scrabble Magnet Board

Part of the reason I created this blog was to put links to ideas I want to try. It's time to start doing that again, because my bookmarks folders are getting super out of control!

Scrabble Magnet Board from The Twice Remembered Cottage

Scrabble isn't really my cup of tea (I'm not great with words) but I love this idea. It actually makes me think of a few of my siblings.

Tasty Tuesdays - Caramel Brownies

I have a goal to post more often on this blog, since I feel that I've neglected it a bit over the summer. A new recurring post I plan to have is "Tasty Tuesdays" & "Tasty Thursdays - Your Recipes". On Tuesdays I will post a recipe I tried recently (or the link to where you can find it) and my honest thoughts. Thursdays will be linky parties where you can upload your recipes. I would like to have Tuesday's recipes be one of the Thursday links, so start digging through your recipe boxes for things you would like to share with us!

Caramel Brownies 
*Warning: a spoon may be required*
 
The recipe and photo are courtsey of Kristan from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen. This is one of my new favorite food blogs. I've tried several of her recipes and LOVED them all and her posts are hilarious!

Caramel Brownies

I didn't make the brownies from scratch like in the recipe...I just used a boxed brownie mix and they turned out great. They were a little goopy though, so instead of pretty squares like Kristan had I got a big ol' mess (hence the warning at the top). These were a huge hit at family dinner on Sunday and I'll definitely be making them again!

Another CSN Stores Review coming soon!

Are you in need of some new Corelle dinnerware?

     

How about a new frying pan? 

I'm super excited to be getting one of these items in the mail soon to review for CSN Stores. Have you checked them out yet? If not, go do it...now! :)