N.Y.C. Canvas Art

It seems as if I have been working on Hannah’s room redo for months! Heck, who am I kidding it has been months!



Though I am happy to say I am about halfway completed. Just lacking the painting of walls and ceiling, first with primer and the two coats of paint… Sewing of four window panels... Taking apart the bed to take outside and paint…but that’s about it. I love to save the best for last! Ha…ha…ha…


One thing I have completed is her N.Y.C. canvas art painting. I really think creating canvas art for a child’s room  gives you the most bang for your buck.

It all begins with an inspiration piece.

I purchased my large canvas for $17.00 at Michaels.

Spray painted half of it with the accent color we are using in Hannah’s new room.

Using a pencil I free handed my design onto the canvas.Traced it with a black sharpie, and filled in with black craft paint.


And tada!

A perfect way to create art for and ever changing tweens mind.

 I will be linking up to these great blogs today stop by and check them out Backyard Eden  - Show and Tell 

Guest Post: Rae Gun Ramblings

Hi, I'm Marissa from Rae Gun Ramblings. I blog about all things crafty, tasty, pretty and just plain life. I'm an insanely huge fan of young adult fiction (love Potter and Hunger Games), can't stop making cheesecake and homemade pasta, and have recently become obsessed with making stuff for my home. I also run a handmade baby and toddler clothing shop on etsy called Rae Gun. Hopefully you'll stop by my blog and shop and see some of my latest adventures.

Today I want to share with you one of my most requested recipes -taco mac and cheese. It's so easy that I can make it on nights that I don't get home until late, but yummy enough that we have it a couple times a month.

What You'll Need

• 2TBS flour
• 1/4 to 1/2 pound ground beef (depending on how meaty you want it, I've done it both ways)
• 1 C shredded taco cheese (or whatever cheese you have on hand)
• 2-4 TBS taco seasoning (depending on your taste, how strong your seasoning is and how much meat you use
• 1 C milk
• 1/2 C corn 
• 4 oz. short pasta (my favorite are the small elbows but we've used other pasta too), cooked pasta
• 1 avocado
• salt and pepper

What To Do

• In a skillet (or wok like me) brown the ground beef when it's almost done add some of the taco seasoning, I have a big costco bottle and do a couple of big shakes probably 2 TBS
• When meat is cooked remove meat leaving the drippings. You want about 2 TBS grease so if you don't have that much add some butter
• when butter is melted add the flour, stirring to make a roux. Cook it for a couple minutes on medium
• Slowly add milk stirring so it becomes a cream sauce
• If you haven't started cooking the pasta do it now. If you need to cook your corn throw it in the water when the pasta is about 50% done
• Add back in meat and cheese. Taste it, if it needs more flavor add more taco seasoning and/or salt.
• Take 1/4 cup pasta water and stir in.
• Drain pasta and corn and reserve some pasta water. Add pasta to the sauce, if it's to thick add some of the pasta water, if it's too thin just stir and cook a little longer until it thickens.
• Right before serving top with avocado.

This makes 2 hearty adult servings. This can be easily multiplied for more people. I hope you stop by and visit my blog and I'd love to hear if you try it out.

Hannahkate Photography

I finally took a leap of faith and turned my passion and hobby into a business!



Introducing…

Yes, I am newbie with LOTS to learn but I can’t wait! The pictures you see on the site are SOOC {straight out of the camera}. I plan to purchase Photoshop in the very near future along with a new lens and a hand held flash. This will allow me to give my images a more “professional look”.


Thanks to my first few clients who were a joy to work with and get to know. It was you who helped me realize just how much I wanted to pursue this adventure.


I hope you’ll take a moment to pop over and visit Hannahkate Photography.

And a HUGE thank you to Jessica at The Frilly Coconut. Jessica, you were such a huge help to me creating the design for the new site. Bloggers, when you are looking for a new look or just a touch up The Frilly Coconut is the only place to run too!

He has risen...

Matt 28:5-6    And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.


Matt 28:6      He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.


Below I wanted to share with you a message from Angel Ministries and Anne Graham Lotz, Wishing you and your family a blessed Easter.

We Can't Earn Salvation

By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.


Ephesians 2:8-9, NKJV


On the hill of Golgotha, When Jesus was stripped of His physical clothes, the execution squad of soldiers divided what little He had between them-His belt, sandals, and other things. But when it came to His beautifully woven inner garment, they decided that instead of tearing it into four pieces, they would gamble for it. So while Jesus hung slightly above them, groaning in excruciating pain, they callously ignored Him and tossed the dice. (John 19:23-24) Their ribald laughter and the clatter of the dice as they were thrown made a sharp contrast to His pain-wracked sobs so near by.


People today still toss the dice for the robe of His righteousness. While coldly ignoring His death on the Cross, they gamble for His "robe" by betting their eternal lives on the chance that they can earn acceptance with God through their religiosity, or their sincerity, or their morality, or their philanthropy. But the only way to obtain it is to exchange it for your own filthy shreds of righteousness at the Cross.


Blessings,

Lego Table Number Two

I scored another  low rider coffee table and decided to make my nephew {an avid Lego lover} his very own Lego table.

This table was perfect and so much sturdier than the first one we transformed!

Rather than placing four large Lego sheets, I decided on just two.

And then painted the other two squares a kelly green. Perfect for driving all those Lego creations across.


****Stop back by Monday for my BIG announcement***

Linking up here this Friday The Shabby Nest - Finding Fabulous - Just a Girl - Miss Mustard Seed - Tidy Mom -

Quick Slip

Had to share with you a fab new product I have been using these past few months. Now, I rarely buy any products for my hair...it's hard to justify throwing money out the window. But I am in love with this one!


Let me introduce …Paul Mitchell Quick Slip

No, I’m not getting a kick back for telling you about this. I just like it when I can hear about a product from a consumer that has no strings attached.

My hair is long and think and I HAVE to wash it every day or I feel gross, ya' know what I mean? Quick Slip does not build up and decreases my drying time.

It took me a while to find it locally but it ended up being stocked at the salon in my local Wal-mart. Or you can find it here online. One little ole’ bottle has lasted me 3.5 months.

Easter Egg Crate Goody

A few weeks back I stumbled upon a great FREE little printable from here.

I thought it was just the cutest little idea and have been on the “look out” for some cheap egg creates to wrap them up with.


Then why picking a few things up from Wal-mart I saw these…

Perfect!

I broke them off in groups of four and six.

Tossed some Easter eggs filled with candy and a scripture I printed off

And wrapped ‘em up!


Perfect for our Sunday school teachers and friends. Linking up at these great blogs today  Show and Tell - Be Inspired - Backyard Eden


Blessings

Bunny Pops

 I saw this in a magazine I knew that I had to make them.

Not only are they super cute but super simple to do.

You will need one box pre-made rice kirspie treats, dark and white melting chocolate, sucker sticks and pink food coloring.

Unwrap all rice krispie treats and place stick in bottom of treat, place on a plate. Melt your chocolate and dip the treat coating all sides.

 Place on wire rack.

When you have finished dipping the treats place the wire rack in freezer until chocolate is set.

 Add food coloring to melted white chocolate and place chocolate in plastic zip lock bag. Snip corner and use to make ears. Use a sucker stick to make the eyes and nose. Place back in freezer to set. Wrap each individually.

Perfect for Gabe’s preschool Easter Party this week.

**** After having finished these, I have a few steps that I think will make them even easier. Use almond bark, it melts better and is much easier to work with. Rather than using pink chocolate for the ears place Easter colored candy corn upside down to create ears. ****

I will be linking up to all these other great sites Tempt my Tummy - Tuesday At The Table - Tasty Tuesday - Thrifty Decor Chic

Seeds, Sunscreen and a Light Bulb Moment!

I went into this new t-ball season excited about Gabe playing on a new “competitive” team. Yes, you read that right, a competitive T-BALL team. Crazy, I know!



Why you ask would parents do that to a six year old child?


I’ll tell you…my son LIVES to play the game, is very competitive and if I do say so myself not to shabby of a player. So we wanted him to be on a team that challenged him, and not bore him. A team where he was NOT the “star” to give him a reality check!

Well, did I ever get my wish.

The light bulb should have gone off when practice started, three days a week!


Then it was games twice a week, plus practice.


I, being the “young” naive thing that I am was thrilled when I saw the schedule and noticed we didn’t have any games on the weekends.

Light bulb moment #2… weekends are saved for you to travel and play tournaments, Ha…Ha…Ha…!

So, this past weekend we had our very first tournament, and guess what?

We won the whole thing!

And Gabe got his very first trophy.

I was looking forward to working in my veggie garden Saturday until his coach called last night…Guess what?

We have another tournament this weekend!

Praise God we only allow the kiddos to play one sport!

Championship Snocones anyone?

I did however get one of the things marked off my "I need" list...sunkissed legs...and arms...and face!

Stud Muffin

I wanted to share with you today yet another freezer paper t-shirt I made.

I’m sure there are a few of you out there with your own “stud muffin” that would love to be sporting this tee.


Here is what I used…

Wal-mart t-shirt for $4.50.
Exacto knife
Freezer paper
Fabric paint



Simply lay your freezer paper over your pattern and trace onto freezer paper.

Then cut the design out using your exacto knife. I like to place a legal size notepad, backside up, to cut out my design.

Place pattern onto t-shirt and set with an iron.

I like using these small round sponge brushes to paint my tee’s with.


Allow to dry for about and hour and peel the freezer paper off, using tweezers to remove the small pieces.

Then allow to dry overnight!


Here are the templates that I used. Please feel free to double click and save for your own use.


MUFFIN
S T U D

I will be linking up to these great sites Backyard Eden - Show and Tell - Me and My Bucket - Somewhat Simple - Shabby Chic Cottage - creative juice

World's Smallest Post Office

A few years back I shared with you how I sent Hannah a birthday card from the world’s smallest post office.


Well look what they have for Easter this year…

A super cute note sent in an Easter egg. How fun is that?

Then I saw these trade tokens

 Knowing my kiddos , they would think these were awesome.

Sometimes it really is just the “little” {no pun intended} things that get the biggest smiles.

Happy Monday!

Just wanted to share with you a smile form the cutest little man I know!



We have been playing lots of ball games and we have LOTS more to go. I got him to slow down just long enough for me to snap this picture of him.

He likes to look just like all of daddy’s players.

Right down to what he calls his “ogles”!

Sigh... don’t ya’ just love a guy in uniform {smile}!

The stitches are gone and we are left with what, I think, looks pretty good compared to what he looked like three weeks ago. Got a feeling that people will be telling him he needs to wipe off his mouth for a few years to come.

I Need...

My garden planted


A winning lottery ticket


A cure for allergies


A magic genie to clean my house


My milky white legs sun kissed


My toilet to stop making a ghostly sound each time we flush her


My 6 year old to learn how to wipe his own backside, so we no longer have to wear black undies to school


A package of marshmallow peeps


A pedicure, so I can stop curling my toes when I wear flip flops out


My British Lab puppy to stop digging his way to China via my back yard. It’s starting to look a little “WT” back there.

 Take a deep breathe…tomorrow is FRIDAY!


Then its t-ball and soccer tournament time…again…


Good times, right?

So tell me what YOU need!

Free Knock Off Cherry Twigs Thingies!

Have you noticed lately, this spring, that cherry blossom twigs are popping up just about everywhere?



So a few weeks back when I was throwing out a floral arangment, these twigs caught my eye.


And I decided to make my own knock of cherry twig thingies!

I gathered up some dry navy beans, a glass, hot glue gun, clippers, a couple of leftover fake flowers and my twigs.

I poured my beans into the glass and arranged my twigs to my liking.

Then I snipped the flowers off their stems.

Making sure to get real close to the bud as to make it easier to hot glue onto my twig.

Then randomly placed them on the twigs where I best saw fit.

For me, this project was “free” but buying a few things like flower buds can be just a few bucks.


I’ll be linking up at over at these great blogs today. Stop by when you can…  Backyard Eden - Show and Tell