We Have a Winner!!!

Thank you to everyone who participated in my Super Cute Contest!

I am happy to announce the winner!!! 

Congratulations goes out to....

Easy Red Chile for Burritos

Growing up, when I thought of burritos, the only thing that came to my mind was the bland, ground beef, Taco Bell style burritos. It was all I knew, so I was okay with it.

When I met my husband, I learned what a REAL burrito tasted like! And it was definitely NOT bland!
It took me a few years to acclimate myself to the heat of spicier foods, and since then, I have been able to palate a much larger and more delicious variety of flavors.

Nowdays, to me, burritos no longer mean bland ground beef. They are either chile verde or chile colorado. More simply put, green or red. If you ask me which is my favorite, I would probably say verde. But there are times when only a good chile colorado burrito will hit the spot. So today, I will share with you a very easy way to make red chile for burritos.

Looks yummy, huh?

Super Link Party #7

It's that time again! I had so much fun checking out last week's links and pinning them all! I hope you all checked them out too! Thank you everyone who participated!|

Are you ready for this week's features? Remember, if you are featured, your button gets a "Featured Guests" spot in my right sidebar!

"Most Clicked On" Feature:

My Merry Messy Life shared 
How [Her Family]) DitchedToilet Paper and Went to Toilet Cloth

"My Favorites" Features:

Tutus and Tea Parties shared her fun Under the Sea Unit: Fish & the Ocean

Watch Me Play and Learn shared this yummy 5 Minute Fudge.

Thanks for sharing and Don't forget to grab your featured button!

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Now on to this week's party!

Crochet Sippy Strap

This pattern has been moved. Please click the link below the photo to go to the pattern.

Crochet Sippy Strap

Cute Crochet Flower

 I used this little flower on a couple of crochet projects that I will be sharing with you soon. It's a fast, and easy little flower, and I think it makes a great decoration. My 1 1/2 year old agrees. As soon as she saw the ones I made, she kept taking them and hiding them from me!

Cute Crochet Flower
What You Need:
a small amount of yarn in 2 colors (I used Peaches & Creme cotton yarn)
crochet hook (any size you wish, I used an H for the one above, and an F for the ones on the right)

What You Do:
Flower Base: (color A)
Round 1: Ch 4, slip st to first ch to form a loop.
 *ch 3, slip st to the same first ch.* repeat *to* 3 times.
Round 2: working in the ch 3 space, *sc, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc, sc*
Repeat *to* in each ch 3 space.
Finish off.

Flower Middle: (color B)

Round 1: Ch 4, slip st to first ch to form a loop. *ch 3, slip st to the same first ch.* repeat *to* 3 times.
Finish off.

Flower Center: (color A)

Round 1: Ch 4, slip st to first ch to form a loop.
Finish off.



Now, attach the center to the middle piece and then attach that to the base. Finished!

Click here for copyright and sharing info. 

Quick and Easy Pasta

Occasionally we will have a night where we all eat something different for dinner. This is a good way to use up leftovers and a good time for some of us to have a meal that the others aren't very fond of.

The other night, we did just that.
The boys fixed something on their own.
I cooked up some spaghetti noodles, and I served my 5 and 7 year olds some the way they like it- butter, a dash of garlic salt, and cheese...and a dash of Italian seasoning  for the 7 year old.
Then I made a quick and yummy pasta dish for my oldest daughter, my youngest daughter, and myself.

This dish is super easy and very adaptable, but most importantly, it tasted really good!

Super Link Party #6

It's that time again! I had so much fun checking out last week's links and pinning them all! I hope you all checked them out too! Thank you everyone who participated!|

I'd like to introduce you to this week's guest host, Jessica! She blogs at The Thriftiness Miss!

Be sure to stop by and thank her for guest hosting, and while you're there, check out some of her super-awesome posts! 

Are you ready for this week's features? Remember, if you are featured, your button gets a "Featured Guests" spot in my right sidebar!

"Most Clicked On" Feature:

Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational
shared this fun Hide & Seek Camouflage Game!

"My Favorites" Features:

Nature's Nurture shared how she makes  Homemade Almond Milk and Almond Meal and Homemade Almond Butter!

Love and Laundry shared this beautiful Patriotic/Military Tribute Photo Frame Tutorial.

Thanks for sharing and Don't forget to grab your featured button!

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Now on to this week's party!

The Sunshine Award

I was very excited to learn that Jessica from The Thriftiness Miss nominated me for the Sunshine Award! Thank you so much Jessica! If you haven't been to her blog yet, you should totally check it out! I mean come on... a Diaper Motorcycle for a baby shower gift? What's not to love? And you have to see her Scrappy Flip Flop Refashion! My girls and I are already planning on making some!

Oh, and did I mention....???
Jessica is going to be Guest Hosting my Super Link Party this week!!! How awesome is that? I now I'm excited about it!

Super Cute Contest/Giveaway!

I am super excited to announce my first contest!!!

I am teaming up with Meg from Posies and Petals for the giveaway portion of this contest, and if you take a look at her Etsy Shop, her website, and her Facebook Page, you can see how I got the idea to call this a "Super Cute" contest! (Etsy will be down for a couple of hours on Sunday for routine maintenance. So make sure you check back if you can't get on there right away. You seriously have to see all of the cute little posies and petals!!!!)
I would like for you to meet Meg, first, then I will tell you about the contest!

I’m Meg-the person behind the posies.  I taught preschool and kindergarten and worked in many different roles in education before my children were born.  Now my days still revolve around children, but a much smaller group.   I love being with my two kids (3 ½ and 15 months) full time and watching them grow and change together. 

My children are hilarious, vibrant, and entertaining people, but I enjoy having things that are just mine… non-mom related! For me those things are running and Posies and Petals.  Running is such a release for me! It clears my head and allows me to regain focus on what is really important.  Although sometimes this is hard to do if you’re pushing a stroller and holding a leashJ  

Posies and Petals has been a tremendous experience.  The teacher in me is a lifelong learner. Opening my shop has provided so many new opportunities to continue learning and being creative! 

I truly enjoy working with clients to create accessories that they are happy with. Nothing makes me happier than receiving personal feedback or pictures from clients and friends about the enjoyment they get from using the items they helped to create.   

I would love for you to visit Posies and Petals!   Please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions or comments-remember everything is handmade specifically for you! 

Thanks Meg! Now... on to the contest!

Mythbusting: Quiet a Nighttime Cough

So.. have you heard the one about the Vicks Vapor Rub relieving kids' coughs at night?
It is said that if you rub a layer of it on their feet and cover them with socks, they won't cough at night.

I first heard this a few years ago, and I was pretty skeptical. I read online about others trying it and swearing by it. They all say it works.
I was STILL skeptical.

Well, we've been battling a cold virus in our household for the past week, and my five year old was up all night coughing.
The next night, before bed, I was dealing with my 1 1/2 year old's "snotterfall" (a term coined by my 18 year old, used to describe a seemingly continual flowing runny nose) and I was about to put some Vicks Baby Rub on her chest to help her sleep when my five year old insisted that she needed some too. That's when I remembered the feet thing! I was about to find out once and for all, first-hand, if this crazy home remedy really worked.

I got her a pair of clean socks and grabbed her feet... the look on her face as I started slathering the goop on them was priceless. I am pretty sure she was convinced that I had completely lost my marbles!

I got her socks on her and as she drifted off to sleep, I was already drafting this post in my mind. I was preparing to tell you all that this old wives tale was just that... a tale.
Totally false.
Myth busted.

Throughout the night, I listened. I waited for her to get up and have a little coughing fit.
I listened...
And I waited...

I didn't hear her cough once all night long!

She did cough when she woke up, and she coughed more off and on throughout the day. But that night... not a peep.

It actually worked!

Go figure!

Flat Bread Your Way

A while back, I posted about making Naan. Well, I've worked with the recipe and made a few changes here and there in the technique, and experimented with adding other ingredients. I felt it only fitting that I share these super yummy changes with you!

Super Link Party #5

It's that time again! I had so much fun checking out last week's links and pinning them all! I hope you all checked them out too! Thank you everyone who participated!

Are you ready for this week's features? Remember, if you are featured, your button gets a "Featured Guests" spot in my right sidebar!

"Most Clicked On" Feature:

Two Sasters shared their awesome tip on How To Customize Your Favicon!
(I still need to do mine, so I will definitely be needing this!)

"My Favorites" Features:

The Nerdy Farm Wife shared this awesome Grain Free Maple Cinnamon Granola recipe.

Taking Time To Create shared her Strawberry Jam and her cute Made By You Jam Labels.

                     

Thanks for sharing and Don't forget to grab your featured button!

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Now on to this week's party!

Setting Up For Future Contests

Howdy Everyone!
As soon as I started this blog, I had it in mind to host contests. I haven't gotten around to doing any yet, but I'm working on it.
About a month ago, I started using Inlinkz for my link parties and I really like how they work. There is a voting option, so I am hoping that I can use them for my contests as well.
I don't know about you, but I learn by doing. And if you read my blog often, you probably know that I tend to jump into things like this with both feet first.
Well, this time... I think I'll dip my foot in.
That's what this post is about.

Summer Project: Plan a Trip (Or a virtual one!)

Summer is creeping up on us, and for many people this means that school is out and the kids are home all day.
For homeschoolers, it means that it is time for a break and a more laid back learning environment.
Despite the relaxed schedules, I think that we can all agree that we don't want our kids' brains tuning to mush over the summer!

I have the perfect project to avoid mushy brains! It is a lot of fun and it has some exciting learning opportunities for all ages.
Are you ready?
Let's go!

Guest Hosting: A Pinteresting Party!

Hi! I am very Honored to be guest hosting A Pinteresting Party! this week!!!

Thank you Tutus & Tea Parties & Here's to Handy Andy!
I look forward to checking out everyone's links and hopefully meeting some new bloggy friends!

After you are finished linking up here, I would like to invite you to check out my weekly Super Link Party and link up there, if you like.

Now on to the party...

As Seen Online...

When I saw a No Sew Pillowcase Dress on Pinterest, I knew I had to make one!
The instructions are so easy to follow and the entire dress took me less than 30 minutes to make.

It was inexpensive, too!  I went to Walmart and found:
2 bandanas for $1 each;
a package of Stitch Witchery for under $2 (it's 20 yards, so there is a ton left over!);
And I found the perfect color of ribbon in the little $1 bin!

This was my first time working with Stitch Witchery, and I have to say it was very easy! The entire project was easy, easy, easy! Thank you Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom for such a great tutorial!

Here is the dress I made!

 I am sure I'll be making more!

Microwave Mac N Cheese (recipe)

...only don't call it mac n cheese around my kids!
If you do, they will turn up their noses and not touch it. When it comes to mac n cheese, these kids are blue box, Kraft purists! NOTHING else will do.
So, to them, I called this "Cheesy Pasta".
It worked.
They ate it up.
I felt like a genius.

Last week, I needed to make lunch. I had pasta shells and I had cheese. I vaguely remembered a microwave mac n cheese recipe shared by my Quality Cook friends a  few years ago. (By vaguely, I mean that I remember that there was a recipe for it and that I needed a big bowl so that the liquid didn't boil over).
I poked around online and looked at a few different recipes, but they all called for flour. I was out. Yes. Me. I was out of flour!
I couldn't find what I wanted/needed, so I decided to try something on my own.
And it worked!
I liked it and the kids liked it. They even asked for more!

Banner Comic: Issue #6

Thank you to my daughter at The Merry Lurker's Workshop for creating Issue #6 of my Banner Comics! I think she did great!

All of you Moms out there... you know this one, right?
Why is it that they never do something cute when you want them to?

Super Link Party #4

It's that time again! I had so much fun checking out last week's links and pinning them all! Thank you everyone who participated!

Are you ready for this week's features? Remember, if you are featured, your button gets a "Featured Guests" spots in my right sidebar!

"Most Clicked On" Feature:

Once again, we have a tie for the most clicked on feature!!


             NZEcochick shared this beautiful               And Chicken Scratch NY shared a great

             lampshade redo!                                          gardening tip!

"My Favorites" Features:

           Saavy Savings shared her                And On The Homefront shared this yummy-looking 

           Diva'd up pillowcase dress.              chicken salad with berries!

Thanks for sharing and Don't forget to grab your featured button!

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Now on to this week's party!

Buttons and Bows Hair Clips (5 minute craft)

This pattern has been moved to my new crochet site. Please click the link below, for the pattern.

Buttons and Bows Hair Clips

Link Party Link-Up

Are you looking for a link party?
Do you host a link party?

I've been looking for some link parties to join in on lately.
I thought it would be fun to invite everyone to link up their own link party here, this way everyone can benefit.
You can advertise your party, and it is easy for everyone to find a party to join! Win-Win.
I will also be pinning this on Pinterest, so hopefully a lot of people will see it and share it.

Please help spread the word!
The party will be open to new links for over a year, so check back from time to time to see the new link-ups.

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Make Your Own Pom Poms

We were watching a kids' sing along video a couple weekends ago, when the song Take Me Out to the Ball Game came on. They showed kids playing baseball... and ....
CHEERLEADERS!!!
My five year old jumped up and started jumping around like the little cheerleaders she saw on tv. She loved it!
Every time my kids see something like that that they like, they immediately start planning their Halloween costume. I think they've each decided on at least 25 different costumes, so far!

Well, my five year old decided that a cheerleader would be a great thing to dress up as. She got all excited and told me that she can even make her own pom poms! I asked her how she would make them and she says, "Just get a paper towel tube and cut it and get some ribbons and cut them and put them in the paper towel tubes and you have pom poms!!!!" Yeah... she said it all in one breath, just like that. Impressive. I was even more impressed with her idea! We had to make it happen!

I'll show you how you can make your own.