Menu switch up!

I'm hungry but nothing sounds good. Familiar? I get bored with my usual menu sometimes and lately it has felt, well...eh. Not exactly excited to make a meal when I feel this way. So I decided to hit my handy dandy Pinterest boards and switch it up. Spring is here right? (Well the calendar says so. Ha!) Out with the stews and roasts and in with the lighter springy menus! So here are 3 MUST TRY,( like right now) meals that we just love!

#1) Pollo Fundido aka Cheesy Chicken. This is our new favorite. Plate licking good! And thank you for introducing me to Mexican melting cheese! So many uses. This one won't disappoint!

http://theneaglesnest.blogspot.com/2010/07/pollo-fundido.html

#2) Logan's Firehouse Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta. OMG! So cheesy and creamy! Kid tested with second and third helpings!

http://amysnewkitchen.blogspot.com/2010/03/chicken-cordon-bleu-pasta.html

#3) Cheap Korean Beef. This is the easiest meal ever! So fast it can be made in a jiff on a busy week night!

http://elizabethbryant.blogspot.com/2010/05/korean-beef.html

Visit the links for the recipes! These are so worth adding to your menus! And while you visit, check out their other recipes! So many good ideas!

-Happy Pinning!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Happy St Patrick's Day! May the luck of the Irish find you! I love these little holidays but mostly because I get to do something extra fun with the kids. Usually this involves some sort of sweet treat! Today I decided to make Shepherd's Pie for dinner and green rice Krispy Treats made with Lucky Charm marsh mellows with  green milk for dessert! And we didn't forget to build our trap to try and catch a leprechaun! So here are a few fun ideas for today! Oh, and don't forget to wear your green!

This is just like the trap we made! We used green construction paper to form the hat and we bought shamrock stickers and gold coins to lure the Leprechaun up the pretzel ladder! Have fun and make it your own!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/83316661828800809/

This is my favorite Shepherd's Pie recipe and I have tried many. Its so simple and delicious! You could make it in individual bowls or just like pictured. Tis an Irish meal that's filling and warm! Also perfect for those kiddos who don't like cabbage and corned beef!

http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2013/05/shepherds-pie.html

These treats are just too much fun and you cannot go wrong! Just fancy rice krispy treats with a bit of green food coloring and marshmallows from Lucky Charms cereal. Serve with a cup of green milk! The kids will have a blast!

http://www.classyclutter.net/2014/02/st-patricks-day-rice-krispie-treats-with-lucky-charms-marshmallows.html

You don't have to spend big bucks to have fun on these little holidays. Just take a moment to add a little fun into it and your kids will think you're the coolest mom or dad on the block!

Happy St Patty's Day and Happy Pinning!

Happy Spring Wreath!

My sister Rachel sent me a VERY cruel text message yesterday. It was her weather forecast from Las Vegas, NV of 80 degrees and sunny. Jealous! It's not even close to that here! Its gray, windy, bitterly cold, and feeling far from spring. This is the time of year I long to go back south, but when its 115 degrees in July, I get to return her taunt with our forecast of 90 and gorgeous. Ha!

SO wherever you are, whatever your temps, here is a little bit of spring! I made this wreath for a friend that needed a gift for her Mother-in-Law. She told me that her Mother-in-Law was always giving her crafty gifts and wanted to give her a bit of spring. I tried my best. Some happy colors and some little lady bugs to stomp out that dreary gray and bring in some color and sunshine. The possibilities, color combos, and embellishments could be endless!

It was super easy and I highly recommend updating your porch wreath with some fun colors. My next wreath is going to be a gray chevron wreath for Easter so stay tuned! Here's the how to for our Happy Spring Wreath:

Supplies:

1) Straw or foam wreath form ($5 at Hobby Lobby)
2) Burlap ribbon or regular burlap cut into long strips($4.99 at Hobby Lobby for ribbon or $3 a yard for regular)
3) Red Chevron Burlap Ribbon ($4.99 at Hobby Lobby)
4) Yellow Chevron Burlap Ribbon(I already had on hand but also $4.99 at Hobby Lobby)
5) Pearl pins ($1.89 at Walmart)
6) Lady bugs ($2.99 from Hobby Lobby)
7) Hot glue gun and glue sticks (hand on hand)
8) Twine (had on hand)

Wreath How To:

1) Take the burlap ribbon and wrap it around the wreath form covering it all. Secure with hot glue.
2) Make burlap flowers in the colors or patters of your choice. Secure with pins until you are satisfied with your arrangement. Then glue permanently with hot glue. (Here is a link for a good how to on burlap flowers: http://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/burlap-roses-tutorial)
3) Place your lady bugs, or other type of detail, where you desire and hot glue to secure.
3) Make your bow and place in desired location.  Hot glue to secure. You may also use wreath wire if you have some to double secure it if your bow is large or heavy.

Bow How To:

1) Take your ribbon and from end to end (about a 12 to 16 inch strip) and make a circle. Ends slightly overlapping each other.
2) With your hands, grip the center tightly with the end to the back(you should see a bow shape) and wrap twine around the middle. Hot glue the twine at the back of the bow. Ta da!
3) You can add the long ends that poke out from underneath by adding a strip underneath the bow. Cut the ends for the V shape if desired. Super easy!

As always if you have questions, leave a comment!

I hope this happy colored wreath inspires some spring crafts! Lets will in Spring and see green grass and sun again!

Happy Pinning!

Mood boost- Beauty finds!

Its February already?! Goodness! Its been an adventure in my home the last 2 months and things are finally finding their groove again. I don't know about you, but January is always this kind of dreary month. The weather is grey and unyielding, and I get a bit of cabin fever. Somehow this always translates into a trip to the drug store for a few bright new shades of lipstick or nail polish to try to lift my spirits. Now more than ever I need that little mood boost post-pregnancy! Today I want to introduce you to a few of my new favorites!

I am so pleasantly surprised by this stick foundation! It is by Drew Berrymore's new line of Flower make-up. It goes on so smooth and is super easy to blend. It covers perfectly but isn't cakey or thick.  To top it off, no testing on animals! Did I also mention its only $8.98 at Walmart?

http://flowerbeauty.com/face/detail/2

I LOVE bright blush! This is also one of Drew Barrymore's new Flower line. I am using the color called Pure Petunia. Its a bright pretty pink, but it goes on soft and light. Its a cream blush so just a quick dab with your finger and your face is instantly brightened! It retails at $7.98! Quite the bargain!

http://flowerbeauty.com/face/detail/11

I was given a fun new make-up bag for Christmas and inside were these Pencil Lip Gloss sticks. I LOVE them! They are by E.L.F. cosmetics. They go on so smooth with subtle color and not too much shine. I have three colors : Summer Nights, Pink Umbrellas, and Flirty & Girly. Its hard to chose what color is my favorite! These are $2 a piece at Walmart. So affordable and so fun!

(This photo is from makeupfu)       http://flowerbeauty.com/face/detail/11

Lastly, my hair needs some perking up when its so dang dry and cold! I have been using a shampoo and leave in conditioner by Sexy Hair called Healthy Sexy Hair Reinvent Color Care. I dye my hair so it needs tender love and care. :)  I also use their Soy Leave-in conditioner. Smells so good and leaves my hair silky soft! 

http://www.sexyhair.com/p/healthy-sexy-hair

I love dabbling in the world of make-up. It's so easy to change the color of your lips or the tint of your eye-liner for a refreshing change! I follow a make-up blog called Maskcara at www.Maskcara.com. Her name is Cara Brooks and she is adorable! So many fun tutorials and tid bits. She does fun make-overs and give aways. Go check her out! Update your make-up bag with a few new colors and feel a bit of spring on your face, real or not! :)

As always, Happy pinning!

Happy New Year!

I want to give a big THANK YOU to all those who have visited my blog this past year! I have had so much fun and hope to continue to come up with fun ideas to share. As some may know, I have been out on maternity leave. The baby was born in December and I hope to be back up and running in February(I'm not one of those Mom's who have figured out how to do it all!). So please stick with me and I promise some fun spring projects! I built a table and am doing our dining area, I am doing a little boy room make-over, a little girl room make-over, a fun Spring wreath, and some new fun recipes! All on the agenda for the upcoming months!

Thank you again for all your support! I leave you with a photo of my new cutie pie. :)

Christmas Fun!

Ok, so the baby is playing stubborn and hasn't made his appearance yet. So, I thought I'd do a Holiday Idea post. There are so many fun holiday crafts out there and all over Pinterest of course, that its hard to choose from, but here are a few I thought were fun and I will be trying. :)  If you couldn't tell I have a snowman theme going on this year!

Melting snowman cookies! Make for yourself or a fun treat for friends and neighbors! So Easy!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/208995238931012655/

Capture the prints of those precious toes and make some foot print art! This will be our third year to do this fun tradition!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/208995238931489207/

Need a fun and inexpensive centerpiece? Snowman ornaments in a glass vase. So easy! Just sharpies or a little paint and ta da!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/208995238930951425/

Want to give out a little gift to impress neighbors? Cookie mix in a mason jar! So easy to do!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/208995238927216019/

There are so many fun ideas to do with the kids that its hard to choose. I know the baby will be here soon, but we've already started our holiday traditions. I hope you all have a great holiday season! To your house from ours! Happy Holidays!

-Amanda

Christmas Burlap Wreath!

I realize I have done a ton of wreath posts, but I can't help my love of burlap! Ha! I had some supplies left over that were lying around driving me crazy(nesting?). So I sat down and made one last wreath. I LOVE it! It was done in about an hour, and to my benefit, I managed no glue gun burns this time! You may be thinking, Christmas? Yes, Christmas. Its just around the corner. I believe only 7 Saturdays left. Yikes! And I have a baby arriving sometime in between there. Better get on the rest of it! So here it is, my fun and easy burlap Christmas wreath. The kind that will last thru more than one year and doesn't die or crumble. Did I mention its under $20 to make?

Here is the link to my original tutorial/post for this type of bubble burlap wreath: http://pinterestandthepauper.blogspot.com/2013/08/yes-another-burlap-wreath-and-again.html


The difference is only the embellishments. I used a burgundy burlap($5 at Joann's) for the bow and roses,  and got some pine cones, a Merry Christmas sign, and berries from Hobby Lobby($1.50 each).  I must add that while I was there they were having a huge 50% off sale on all Christmas, ribbon, and floral items this week. Get into your local Hobby Lobby and check it out!(No, they aren't my sponsor. Ha!)

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Holiday season! This will most likely be my last post until the new year. A baby is arriving any time! Maternity leave if you will.  I thank all of you who have stopped by my blog this year! It has been so much fun! I appreciate all your comments and feedback. You're awesome!

Have a Happy Holiday!  And as always, Happy Pinning!

-Amanda from Pinterest and the Pauper