Mommiedom

I have professed my love a few times for Pinterest on here and I see so many crafts I just love on there. This one today was inspired by one I saw on there and it cost about 5 bucks to make so if you made more than one it is still really cheap. Everything I got was from the dollar store which amazed me. Just walk down there craft aisle you will be surprised at all the things there.

I used the following items:
- a glass vase
- two bags of pebbles
- 2 sets of black bamboo (each pack is two five foot pieces).

I just filled the vase up with the rocks, and trimmed down the bamboo which was easy. I stuck them in and put some more rocks in for stability. I am going to decorate it for Easter but I haven't decided with what yet and will show picks when I finally do it.

This week's article on Macaroni Kids is here.

I was sad to see Valentine's come and go. I love the reds, pinks and whites in all the decorations. I figured it was time to move on to the next holiday in the Queen Mommie's house so slowly shamrock green is creeping in. I took my wreath  that I created back in January and pulled off all of the hearts. I let it dry out some from hanging on door for the past month in what seems like constant rain here in Houston. I than punched out some of the pennants using the petite pennant punch. I also punched out 8 hearts to form the shamrock as well as the little letters to spell out Happy St. Patty's Day. I think it turned out really cute and I was happy that I could the wreath again to create another holiday centerpiece for my door.

There has been so much canvas art that I have seen every where. People have been creating there own so I tried my hand at it.

I used some simple things:
- Black vinyl that is sticky
- Blue Vinyl that is sticky
- Canvas
- Tool to smooth vinyl down
- Lots of cutting and punching out!

I have made many versions of this over the last year or so. Each time trying something new with it and I think this time was the best. The only thing I would add that I forgot was my green or red pepper. I always like to make a nice family dinner on Sunday nights where we all sit around to discuss the past and coming week. I know it sounds old fashion but these are the things my kids will remember not the new toy we buy them.

This has become a family favorite and this time I used something different which was fat free so it didn't add much in that area but lots of taste. My husband said it was the best one yet so that is a winner. The only thing is my meatloaves are never anything to look at even though I try and try to get something like my grandma use to make.

Ingredients
2lbs of ground beef
3 slices of whole wheat bread cubed
1 egg
1/2 stick of cream cheese soften to room temp
1 can of tomato sauce (the smaller ones)
Diced mushrooms
Diced Red or Green Pepper
1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (Optional)


I mixed everything but the tomato sauce and mozzarella  together in a big bowl. You know got your hands dirty and than formed the meatloaf on a baking sheet. I than added the tomato sauce on top coating it. I than baked it in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 75 minutes. For the last 15 minutes I sprinkled on the mozzarella cheese and let that melt over the top of the meatloaf.

As an added bonus you could use 1 lb of ground beef and 1lb of ground Italian sausage to make the meatloaf. I have made this version as well and it is equally as good.  Though I know sometimes you can or can't find ground Italian sausage (when I don't and need it I just buy links and slice them open).

I also made a side of green bean casserole with it. Green beans are not a favorite vegetable but for some reason in a mixture of cream of mushroom, cream of celery, and cream cheese makes it edible to me.

Ingredients
1 bag of frozen green beans (thicker cut ones)
1 can of cream of mushroom
1 can of cream of celery
1/2 stick of cream cheese soften to room temp.
French Fried Onions

I just mix it all together and  stick it a Pyrex dish. Top with the onions and also bake for 90 minutes at 30 degrees. This is a very saucy version of it and the casserole gets better as it sits so left overs are a plus.

I topped dinner off with our new favorite dessert by Ree Drummond. I made it slightly different this time and cut the sugar by a 1/3 using 2/3 cups instead and not topping it off with a sugar dusting.

We were all stuffed and enjoyed the time together. We try and eat most nights together but Sunday is the vital one that we maintain each week. It is a good way to be a family especially with all the hectic lies we live.

Yes I tackled another sewing project which took up most of my afternoon while the little one napped. I have had this charm square pack for awhile and wanted to make a bag out of it. The line of fabric is called Central Park from Moda- yeah my favorite fabric company.

I think the bag turned out really nice. I used every single charm in the pack and needed some extra fabric which I had in my stash to make the yellow handle. I used like 16 charms for the outside and 16 for the inside. I guess if I wanted to I could turn it inside out but the outside is quilted where the inside isn't. I than just took the inside layer to create the binding around the top. I finished it off by making handles and attaching using some key rings. The metal works well with this fabric and I can attach stuff to them like my phone case. t is the perfect size for me and not heavy because i used lighter batting for the inside.

It was so dreary today and it rained on and off, so with it being Sew Wednesday I went to work on some sewing projects.

My first one which is showcases in this post is something I have been wanting to make. I had a ton of scraps in my stash to make this and it took 2 12x12 pieces of red fabric, and some charms from a solid color charm pack I have had for ages (I think I won it at the quilt store).

So I went to work on cutting, and adhering it onto the fabric to create my very own TARDIS pillow as my homage to Doctor Who. I know this is so geeky and my husband laughed when I showed him. I think it turned out really cute and who doesn't want a blue police box in their house!!