M.I.A.

Have you missed me?

Well we have taken some much needed time off and have been crazy getting in the "back to school" mode, as I am sure most of you are too.

I know that my creative soul is aching for a good GW trip and crafting something new and exciting. But that is going to have to wait a couple of more weeks.

We took some time to head back down to Dallas and catch some Yankee’s vs. Rangers games.

This is just about as close as we will ever be to Jeter

A-Rod

And Swisher.

I can’t forget this player

He would have hit balls all 9 innings if we would have let him.

What you can’t see, or should I say feel, is the 106 degree heat! It was insanely HOT and made me wonder why we Americans ever decided to settle here.

Yep, it was so hot that right after I took this picture


My camera threw in the towel!

{This is how my son rides EVERY ride...even the Titan that took him 25 stories up and dropped him at 85 mph...should I be worried?}

So no pictures of our fun filled days to Six Flags {107*} and dragging the kids to every store known to man for back to school shopping. Or all the fabulous places we ate!

Eat here, order brisket tacos and call me to say thanks!

D-E-L-I-S-H!

All I can say is thank heavens for hotel swimming pools!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of The Year...

Halleluiah! Halleluiah!


I know many Halleluiahs have been shouted by moms across the country as the kiddos head back to school.

As always we MUST take our traditional first day of school pictures.

I do my best to make sure that the sun is eye blinding in front of my sun fried geraniums.

Fill little man’s heart full of joy for his first day of kindergarten. You think he could at least fake some excitement.

Fresh back packs ready to be drug through God knows what over the next 9 months.

As I look at this picture I realize that outfit #2,626,258 is a tad bit short in the back. I have my fingers crossed that it’s just her back pack hiking it up for her.

Thumbs up heads down it’s time to head to school!

My hope is the new shoes don’t cause long lasting blisters and much unneeded drama.

There had been much discussion with me walking Gabe to his class the first day of kindergarten. He did not want ANY part of that. But I had a plan…

Telling him I was just going to get out of the car to take a picture in front of the school. Then he paused and started at the front doors. I asked him if he wanted me to follow him. He shrugged his shoulders and said I think so.

So I followed him to his class {no hand holding} when he turned and yelled stop!

And off he went without evening looking back. I realized that my job was done and he was eager to start on his new adventure.


Sniff…Sniff…

Aloha!

This past weekend we had a little Luau of some friend to attend.


And when I saw her cookie creations I knew that I would have to share them with you.

How stinkin’ cute are these flip flop cookies?

She used Vienna and Milano cookies, yum!

Using pre- iced cupcakes she simply added a few candies and a party umbrella.

Gabe enjoyed towering above everyone

And shooting silly string on us all.

Hannah wacked the piñata so hard

That she became headless.

We love a good party especially when they serve up Sno Cones!

Monday I am going to share with you some really cute gift ideas for birthday's and weddings that I have used this summer!

Framing Book Pages

You know the look…everywhere you look it seems people are doing it, framing botanical prints in wall groupings. I love the look and have been looking for a used botanical print book for about a year. When I came across this…

If you are a reader of this tiny little blog you know my love for NYC. So I thought these 1920 drawings of the city by Tony Sarg would look perfect framed for a wall grouping.

I picked eight different pictures.

China town

Broadway and Grand Central Station


You can find a black frame ,with a wide mat, just about anywhere now days.


We settled on a grouping of eight and it was just perfect. Not only adding color but reminding me of the city this country girl loves!

We had some out of town family visiting us this weekend so I was super excited when my upholstery lady called me last Friday night to tell me my chairs where ready!



I could hardly wait to bring them home.

Here is what they looked like before…

And here is what they look like now.

I got both wingback chairs for $10.00 from my neighbor’s yard sale early this spring. I had been looking for wingback chairs for almost a year. So I was giddy when I carried them, one by one, back across the pasture that we share with our neighbor.

They sat and waited patiently has I hunted for fabric that would complement this crazy chair that we already had.

I asked her to add tufting to the back.

And antique nail head trim.

My overall cost for both of these chairs was far less that what I would have paid to purchase one at my local furniture store. I hope to talk her into teaching me how to upholster; I can’t imagine anything more exciting to learn!


Notice those pictures above the chairs? I can’t wait to tell you about those tomorrow!

Mrs. Hill's Meat

Last week I posted that my kiddo’s favorite meal that I make was Mrs. Hill’s Meat.



So I thought today that I would share it with you. Honestly it is a very heart healthy recipe. I have tried to substitute ground turkey for ground round. My kids would not eat the ground round version nor will they eat Salisbury Steaks, LOL.


Here is what you will need.

1 lb Ground Turkey
1 envelope beefy onion dry soup mix
2 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbs. butter
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms (or 1 can)
¾ cup chicken broth
¼ cup tomato paste


Combine turkey, 2Tbs of soup mix, 1Tbs Worcestershire sauce and mix well. Shape into patties

Cook patties in hot oil until brown…turn once…remove patties, set aside.

Sauté garlic and mushrooms in butter…until tender

Add broth, tomato paste and remaining Worcestershire sauce and soup mix…

Stir, scraping up browned bits…

Return patties to skillet; spoon sauce over the patties.

Cover, cook med-low heat for 8-10 mins.


If sauce gets to thick add more broth

Makes for a fast delicious dinner every time.




Click HERE for a print friendly copy.


I will be linking up to these great blogs Tempt My Tummy - Tuesday at The Table - Tasty Tuesday

Beloved Christian Comedian Anita Renfroe parodies Carrie Underwood's video for those who may need to reconsider that next trip to the fridge. Hysterical!!!

I have had FAR to many days like this!