SHE'S CRAFTY.....AGAIN?!

Since the two older boys are in school and I just have one little sweetie home with me I feel like I have a little more time to do things.  I have done lots of crafty projects and even cleaned out and organized my pantry.  I am NOT an organized person so this is a huge deal.  Everything has a place in that pantry.  It doesn't really feel like my pantry because it is so uber organized! 

One of my little crafty projects is made out of this really ugly picture below:

I really love to shop at thrift stores and find things that are cheap.  I am really a frugal type of gal and I don't like spending lots of money on home decorating.  I saw this picture and about ripped it out of another ladies hands.  Luckily she put it down first.  I swooped it up and noticed that the price on it was $4.98 and I was so excited.  After seeing a picture of my picture I know you are now wondering if I was high or drunk.  Well, I was neither!  I only wanted this for the frame.  I am not into white washed with gold accent frames but I knew that if I painted this it would be beautiful.  I hoped anyway..  Here is a closer look at the detail:

I have read alot about chalkboard paint and really wanted to turn this into a chalkboard to put on a very neked kitchen wall.  I wanted to have this chalkboard to use as a daily calender of sorts.  The kids have so many dang activities that this chalkboard will let me just quick reference it in the morning and I will know WTH is going on for the day.  Here it is after one coat of lime green paint.

It was a bit bright so I decided to "age" it a little with some glaze.  You just put it on and wipe off.  It all comes off except in all of the little cracks.  Can you see a difference?

Next step was to do the chalkboard part.  I just painted right over the existing picture.  I kind of felt bad because it was some sort of a religious painting that someone probably spent alot of time on.  But here it is all chalkboarded up.

And here it is on my neked kitchen wall.  I haven't turned it into a calender yet but at least when you walk into my house from the garage this greets you instead of a bare wall.

I totally found this idea with on my new favorite website http://www.pinterest.com/.  So many crafts, so little time.

Jules

CRAFTY TIME

  I have been OBSESSED with Pinterest lately.  If you don't know what pinterest.com is then now is the time you can thank me for introducing you.  It is like a virtual bulletin board for ANYTHING you can think of.  I started just looking at grey painted bedrooms because that is what I want to do with my bedroom and before you know it I was looking at pictures of anything and everything I could think of.  WARNING...it is a HUGE time suck.  You can follow people's "pinboards" and you can have "followers."  It is totally awesome.  I was looking at crafty ideas and came across a picture of the lovliest mason jar vases. I had to copy this idea so

 I went to my local salvation army and found these beauties for .99 cents a piece. 

The website for these little pretties are http://www.centsationalgirl.com/.  I'm always looking for cheap and different ways to decorate my house.  Here they are after one coat of the "paint" which was a little Elmer's glue, a little water and a little food coloring.

One coat was not enough as you can see.  They aren't really fully covered.  I figured out that the more glue you use the better the color sticks.  I know....common sense!  Here they are completely done.

I just tied a little Jute around the neck of the mason jar and cut some of my flowers from out back and viola a new mason jar vase!  My husband said they looked old ladyish!  He said it matched the apron that I was wearing because I was making dinner too.  The nerve!  I don't care though.  I like my apron AND my new vases.  Aren't they pretty on my mantel?

I think so.  Cheap and easy!  Whatcha think?

NINE IS SO FINE!

My first baby turns 9 today.  Although he isn't a baby anymore I still view him that way.  When I look at his maturing, thinned out face I still see the chunky big cheeked baby that he was.  His body is thin and defined.  You can see tiny muscles forming under his tan skin.  He is turning into a young man right before my eyes.  9 years isn't very long yet it seems like a lifetime ago that he blessed us with his presence.

Jake has significantly changed my life for the better as all of my boys have.  Jake more or less taught me how to be a mother.  Before him I had no patience.  I still lack in the patience department but I am worlds ahead of what I thought I would ever be.  He taught me how to love unconditionally.  He taught me how to sacrifice and be happy doing it.

At 9 Jake is a super sweet and affectionate kid.  He is very self conscious right now.  He about died when we were at a party not to long ago and I called him, "babe".  Geez!  I call him stuff like sweets, baby, and Jakey pie all the time and don't even think about it.  I guess I better be more conscious of it as to not embarrass the little man.  Jake is definitely an old soul and he is very mature for his age.  Don't worry-he's still a kid but just a little beyond his years in my opinion.  I do love that about Jake but sometimes I wish he would loosen up a little.  I think I am part to blame because of the way I raised him when he was little.  I was very regimented and scheduled.  I would have a nervous breakdown if the "schedule" didn't flow like it was supposed to.  I can't be certain but I think this has alot to do with the way Jake is today.  He is very regimented and likes to know what is going on everyday and what time.  He is extremely meticulous with his schoolwork.  His teacher even told me that he has a hard time finishing his assignments in the allotted time because he is so particular.  I wasn't surprised one bit and I actually think that this is a good trait to have. Jake's favorite things lately are collecting baseball cards, playing with friends, nerf gun fights, swimming, baseball, playing/fighting with his middle brother.  He thinks it is a HUGE deal when he gets a real Coke.  I let him drink diet coke sometimes but barely ever do I let him drink real Coke.  Tonight at his party he gets a Coke.  I swear he thinks the stuff is liquid gold!  He has finally grown out of the "character" undies.  I know this seems weird to mention but this is a big deal to me.  He was obsessed with his Star Wars, Spongebob, Bakugon undies and now he only wants plain colored boxer/briefs.  I am dying a slow death I swear.  He won't be caught dead in his character undies.  At least Brady still likes them (for now).  I had to get him a cup the other day and I'm not talking about the kind you drink out of.  A cup for God's sake!  Let's just say at a baseball game he totally got nailed with a ball in his "special area" and never again will he wear his baseball pants without a cup.  I don't know how I'm going to handle all of this growing up stuff but I guess it's a good thing it happens in stages. 

The favorite part of my day is when it is bedtime and Jake wants to have "talking time."  This is where it is just he and I (a rarity around here) talk about whatever he wants to talk about.  Sometimes it is about our day and sometimes he likes to ask really complex things like last night he wanted to hear all about the day he was born.  He wanted details too!  Some nights he loves to tell me all about his Pokemon cards and what cool baseball cards he has.  He will even be so candid as to let me know the girls he thinks are cute and who he kinda likes. This is such a treasured time for me as I know it won't last forever.  I really do, no matter how tired I am, try to be very present and attentive during our "talking time".

Happy Birthday to my first baby!  I can't believe next year will be the double digits!  We love you so much!  I still don't know how he went from this:

to this:

pretty much overnight.

EMBRACE THE CAMERA!

I haven't done an "embrace the camera" in a looooooong time.  Go here to see details.  Seeing as we just got back from vacation I have several photos with me and the kiddos.

This isn't very exciting. It is me and Brady in our hotel room in San Antonio.  I love his silly face.  It's almost impossible to get a good pic of Brady because everytime I pull out the camera he makes silly faces.  Go check out http://www.andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com/ and check out the other embracers!

JULES

FAMILY VACATION

We like to do an annual summer vacay every summer and this year we decided to go down to Texas.  We were leery to do the drive with a two year old but we sucked it up and took our chances.  We are and were kinda sick of him ruining our plans.  That sounds super mean but really a vacation with a baby isn't so much fun.  Last year we sat out in the vacation department and just did a staycation instead.  Much to our surprise the two year old did wonderful on the drive to and from Texas. 

I was a bit apprehensive for several reasons but a big reason was that my husband was put on a medication 1 day before the trip where he was told that side effects may be extreme irritability and sleeplessness.  Really?  Right before a family road trip with three kids. I seriously thought we were all screwed.  Well let me just say that the husband and I didn't have one fight and there were no roid rages at all.  He slept well too!  Thank GOD for that!

We were gone for a whole week visiting the river walk in San Antonio, family in Austin and some more family in Houston.  It's always so nice to visit family that you don't get to see very often.  I think I scared my in-laws a little?  It's got to be a little disruptive and shocking to have a party of  5 come invade your space when you don't even have any kids.  I sort of felt like the Griswalds when we were unloading the car and pulled in about 50 pieces of luggage.  I'm sure my SIL was like WTH? She didn't show it though and was extremely hospitable as was my BIL. 

Here are a few pics from our adventurous week:

The boys waiting for the boat tour of the river walk

A cool bridge we went under

I had to get a patriotic photo being independence day and all

Beautiful front door to the Alamo

Brothers: Best friends and worst enemies!

Nick at the Children's museum of Austin

Alamo architecture

Restaurant on the River walk

All in all a great family time where good memories were made (I hope).  It feels so good to be home though!

Jules

WHOO HOO! NICKY'S TWO!

Terrible two's...we are finally here!  This would normally be the case but not with my Nichols.  He is such a happy boy.  He has meltdowns and temper tantrums but I still wouldn't call it the terrible two's yet.  He is such a sweetie and literally makes everyone who comes in contact with him smile.

At two he is just recently starting to put multiple words together and it is so cute that I can hardly stand it.  Sometimes it REALLY makes me want to have another baby.  Please don't tell my husband though because that would disturb him.  He LOVES his "doggy" which is really a lamb but let's keep that a secret, K?  He won't sleep without doggy.  He loves his brothers more than anything in the world.  His day is ruled by doing or trying to be included in whatever his older bros are doing.  He is borderline obsessed with baseball.  He wears this baseball helmet all the time while carrying a baseball glove and ball.  He wears this to the store, restaurant's, friends houses where ever.  He gets extremely upset at naptime, bedtime and bathtime when I make his take it off.  At his brother's baseball games he stands behind the fence at home plate and screams, "GO GAYKEY" or "GO BAYDEY!"  It is hysterical.  He loves the pool and is pretty fearless which is good and bad for obvious reasons. He is an excellent sleeper...sleeps in his own crib for about 10 hours a night!!!  Can I get an AMEN?!  He easily keeps himself entertained and really doesn't need me to keep him occupied.  I'm telling you he is the easiest baby in the world.  By far the easiest (thus far) out of my three boys.  He is so quiet that sometimes I forget about the poor little guy.  I'll finally say "where the heck is Nick?"  He's usually jumping on "Baydey's" bed or playing quietly with some toys.  He is not the best eater.  I don't really know many two year olds that are.  He LOVES sweets though.  But so do I so what can I say?  His favorite tv shows are Sesame Street and Yo Gabba Gabba.  He even got an Elmo cake for his birthday.  My friend Heather of Colleens Cakes and Cookies made it.  Go check out her website at http://www.colleenscakesandcookies.blogspot.com/.  The girl makes some cool stuff!

I'm so happy that he is two but I am also a little sad.  When I walked into his room to get him up from his nap yesterday he said plain as day, "hi Mom."  It sounded so grown up and if I wasn't looking I may have mistaken it for my 6 year old uttering those words.  I got a little nostalgic and just realized that my baby really isn't a baby anymore....sniff, sniff.  Time sure does fly.  I'm sure I'll blink and he will be three.  It's so freaking sad!

Love this picture!

I realize his ears look really big (his ears are actually kinda big but not this big!)  He loves to wear his brothers shoes and hats.  The hat makes his ears dumbo..ish!  I love it!

Look at his legs.  Even his baby chunky legs are disappearing.  Okay...now I'm sobbing.

Nicky's favorite people.  Well, besides me and his Daddy of course!

Happy birthday little man.  May your second year of life be full of excitement, learning and potty training!!!

NEW RECIPE #8: EASY STROMBOLI

I know I have been a slacker on the "new recipe every week" issue.  That was my New Year's Resolution.  We all know New Year's Resolutions only last 2-3 months at best right?  Well at least for me they do.  I always start the new year with great intentions and by March it's over.  I actually have done more than 8 new recipes this year but have been to lazy to blog about it.  I need to continue because recently my husband told me that he has really enjoyed all of the new experimentation in the kitchen.  I have found some killer recipe's as well!

Last night I made something called easy stromboli.  I am a calzone/stromboli type of gal.  If you give me the option between stromboli or pizza I will almost always go for the former.  My kids are picky so they are always my judges and they gave me 2 thumbs up for this one.  Brady even said mid bite, "this is soooooooo good."  Awesome!  Mission accomplished!  Let me add that this was so quick and easy that it almost felt criminal. There was minimal clean up too.  Recipe as follows:

EASY STROMBOLI:
1 can Pillsbury Country Italian Bread Dough (13.2 oz)....I couldn't find this so I just used Pillsbury refrigerated thin pizza crust dough.
6 slices Genoa Salami (can add more)
2 pinches Kosher salt (plus more for the top)
A good sprinkling of Garlic powder
A few Pinches of dried oregano, crushed between your fingers (plus more for the top)
A couple pinches of red pepper flake
A liberal sprinkling of freshly ground Parmesan (plus more for top)
6 pieces Provolone cheese, broken in half to facilitate rolling
several slices of pepperoni
pizza sauce for dipping

PREP INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350.  Place a piece of parchment paper on a rimmed sheet pan.  Unroll the bread dough and place on a lightly floured surface.  Unrolling this kind of dough can be challenging, so have patience.  When unrolled, the dough should form a rectangle.  Lay the dough so that the long edge is closest to you.  Make sure the dough is not overstretched in some spots, or the filling will burst out in those areas.

Place 6-8 slices of salami on the dough, leaving a 1/2" border around the edges.  Sprinkle on a little kosher salt, some garlic powder, oregano, and red pepper flakes.  Add the Parmesan and provolone cheeses. 

It's easier to roll the dough when you break the provolone in half when adding it to the top of the dough.  Finally, add as much (or as little) pepperoni as you want on the top of the provolone, making sure to leave a 1/2" border around the rectangle of dough.  Starting from the edge closest to you, roll the dough like a jelly-roll (or cinnamon-roll style).  As you roll the dough, make sure to keep all of the ingredients tucked inside and pinch the ends as you roll to keep the filling from slipping out as you roll.  Carefully pinch the seam shut (and the ends).  And place on the sheet pan seam-side down.  I made two because I have hungry kids and I was hoping for leftovers.  It's a little phallic looking or maybe I just have a dirty mind?

Anyhoo...lightly sprinkle the top of the dough with kosher salt, dried oregano, and grated Parmesan.  Bake for 25 minutes or until the crust is a deep brown.

Let rest 5 minutes before cutting into 1" slices.  Serve with some warm pizza sauce for dipping.

Like I said....2 thumbs up!

I got this recipe from http://www.ourbestbites.com/.  I'm already searching for my recipe for next week.  Stay tuned!

Jules