happy wednesday

This little carrotlollypop was so photogenic I couldn't resist.

another coffee cups paintinglove the choice of colors by my sister in law :)

We love pillow case dresses!The red one came yesterday, Gigi- so cute!!!!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Thanks so much to organized people who kept their directions for the free Glidden paint can! Check the comments to yesterdays post for the instructions (thanks, Kristy. And Sue for your e-mail). Although I like Sarah's comment too-- you must be very strong :)

also.............

Don't forget to enter my giveaway- one more day! I will draw the names tomorrow sometime- probably evening.

I am sure you have heard of the Pioneer Woman- if not- just read this post and look at the pictures- you can just taste it, and smell it- I know Dave would be the happiest man alive if I made that for him.

her closet needs help

Our darling needs a little help in the organizational dept......


Much more organized....but.....wouldn't it be cute to take the doors off and paint the closet purple????


It just so happens that I have purple paint on hand. I just can't get it open!!!! HELP! Who has gotten a free quart of paint from Glidden? How do you get that white ring off the top? (my methods were not working)

taco filled pasta shells {makes 2 casseroles- one for now and one for the freezer}

2 lbs ground beef
2 env. taco seasoning
1 pkg (8oz.) cream cheese
24 jumbo pasta shells (I used manicotti shells)
1/4 c. butter, melted

Additional ingr. for each casserole
1 c. salsa
1 cup taco sauce (I omitted this because I had forgotten to buy it)
2 cups shredded cheddar
1-1/2 cups crushed tortilla chips
1 cup sour cream
3 green onions chopped (I omitted these too- but I am sure they would make it even better)
*******************************************
Cook beef- add taco seasoning; prepare according to pkg directions. Add cream cheese; cover and simmer for 5 min. or until melted. This is what made the recipe delicious- I told Dave that forever on I can only make tacos with the added cream cheese---yummy!

Transfer to a bowl, chill 1 hr. Cook pasta; drain. Gently toss with the butter. Fill each shell with about 3 tbsp of the meat mixture.

Place 12 shells in a greased 9" square pan cover and freeze up to 3 mo.

To prepare remaining shells: spoon salsa into another 9" baking dish- top with stuffed shells and taco sauce. Cover and bake at 350 for 30 min. uncover- sprinkle with cheese and chips. Bake 15 min longer or until heated through. Serve with sour cream and onions.

To use frozen shells: Thaw in frig for 24 hours (shells will be partially frozen). Remove from dish.
Add salsa to dish; top with shells and taco sauce. Cover and bake 40 min (at 350) uncover add cheese and chips and bake for 15 more min.

*************************************

The reason I post this recipe is because my family loved it so much- it may not be much to look at in the photo- but when my picky 8 year old told me it was a "home run" I could not keep this recipe to myself :)

**************************************

Don't forget to enter my giveaway- see here

Palm Sunday

Wow- just thinking about Jesus and what a week it was for Him- coming into Jerusalem with crowds shouting praises to Him...and then to be later nailed on a cross....but He didn't stay dead, did He?!?He rose again and lives forever!!!!!!!!!!!

********************************************
It is so much fun to get your comments/entries for the giveaway. I love to read comments from my faithful readers- but you new ones too! I always try to get to your blog and "meet" you if you have never commented before. And if you don't have a blog- I enjoy your comments too :)

If you have not entered the giveaway- please do so here (or scroll down to Saturday's post). You have until Wednesday.

Give-away {2 winners} + new paintings for sale

New in my etsy shop- see here (16"x20" painting on canvas cost- $45 plus shipping...this is a special spring sale- most of my new 16x20's sell for $70 plus shipping)


New in my etsy shop- see here (11x14 painting on canvas- special spring sale - $35 plus shipping)


This is the original Love & Dreams! Painting on 11x14 canvas plus decoupage- for sale here. Price: $35


Black & White and patchy all over- for sale here. Price: $30

One of my all-time favorites. 10"x10" painting on canvas- for sale here
SOLD

............................................................................
***************************************************
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Giveaway:

PRIZE # 1
11x14 Patchwork decoupage painting (value $50) + Dave's latest relaxing piano CD (value $1000, but sells for $15 :) + a stack of my business cards- I know, can you believe I am giving those away?!

PRIZE #2

3 of my hand painted cards + Dave's CD + a wooden painted bracelet + a stack of my business cards (value = priceless :)

********************************************
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

TO WIN: Just leave me a comment to be eligible to win- you can comment about anything or tell me your favorite food (just for fun). I will pick 2 names, the first name will get prize #1, second name will get prize #2.

**For an extra chance to win- buy anything in my etsy store and I will put your name in there twice. (get your gifts early for mother's & father's day!)

Thanks to my faithful blog readers- I appreciate you so much! You all make the creative process so much better - it is so much fun to share my art with you. I wish I could give you all a little gift of appreciation.......

in our Easter basket

How is it that an animal can bring such joy into a home?!? We love this little thing :) She was only tolerating me taking her picture in the basket. She is looking at me like- what in the world are you doing to me, Mommy. And what is on my head?!?!? I gave her 2 treats when we were done for being such a good girl :)

getting ready for the big day......{April 1}

You know we love April Fool's day here at our house. Lots of fun cooking up treats that look like regular food. Here is a cute one from family fun- sweet sushi


Love these! Tricky taco shells (found on parenting.com)- this would be perfect for Dave since he hates chunks of tomatoes- he would be happy to find out it was strawberries along with peaches, chocolate cake crumbles, candy lettuce, and a cookie taco.


******************************************************************

Here are some treats that we made last year:

The shamburgers: made from nilla wafers and a peppermint patty


Dave getting a surprise when he bit into the "strawberry chocolate" pie to find that it was mashed potatoes and beef :)

Ideas from Family Fun.

And here is a Cute list of 15 jokes to play on April Fool's day.

thrift store goodies

my "new-to-me" polka dot shirt

I LOVE shopping at thrift stores! So much fun- you never know what you'll find- and what great deals! This past weekend I got about 8 things for $17. I can always find cute clothes- it just takes a little time. Time and hardly any money. So worth it, tho. I just don't have as much time to browse the thrift stores anymore like I used to. In high school and college I almost totally wore thrift store clothes- my wardrobe was mainly Ralph, Calvin, Tommy, Gap....at about 5% of the original cost! (I am trying to convince you to go into a thrift store and look around if you have never done it. But go with someone who has been there and don't be afraid to dig around and try stuff on!)

Shirt, bag, & leopard shoes average $3 each

I know some people don't want to wear used clothes- I have no problem with it {after I wash it}- hey, they are already broken in and shrunk if need be.....most thrift store clothes are in good condition, too- more than you would think. I think most people throw away ripped and stained clothes and take the rest to Goodwill.

polka dot sweater & the comfiest AE jeans ever- average $3 each

thrifted flower clogs!

POLL:
Do you shop at thrift stores for clothes and shoes? (leave a comment and/or see poll on the sidebar)

the important things..........

I forgot to show you this!

And this......done a few years ago- but I recently saw it again when we were at Kristen's house.


But painting these 10 chubby little toes and 10 tiny fingernails...........definitely the best painting project going on around here.....:)

It's the small everyday moments that I want to bottle up and keep forever........

if you have time......

read this adoption-in-process story- you will get goose bumps for sure.

look at these adorable chicks!!! Reminds me of Meg's blog and her posts about her trip to Africa- so worth the time to read about it. You will know why hard boiled eggs reminded me of her story.

Check out the cuteness! DIY fabric wall decals- I am going to try this for sure.

help me decide which eggs to do this year....

or these eggs??

********************************************************

Remembering last year's chocolate nests and Robin Eggs.....

And last year's Easter puppy :) :)

Fun Books

Boss of the Plains By Laurie Carlson, illustrated by Holly Meade
Great story and pictures about John Stetson and how he came to invent the cowboy hat.

Sky Boys by Deborah Hopkinson & James E. Ransome
This book was so interesting- lots of facts about how the empire state building was built.....the boys had to make their own:

be yourself

Since I have discovered my style {kindergarten chic}- I see it everywhere in our lives- the way I cook- the way I dress- the way I talk- shows we watch (Barney....). The art*house has never claimed to be a sophisticated place to be.....it is bright and colorful and positively kid-like.


Lately I have been analyzing my personality and looking at others- wishing I was more like them. The ones who always know what to say (I never know what to say, but say it anyway :), the ones who are calm, cool, and collected- that is not me. But God (in His goodness and wisdom) has shown me in various ways that He has made me who I am for a purpose- no, not everyone is going to like me- everyone is not going to appreciate my style and love of loud colors and polka dots- but that is OK! God made me this way to minister to certain people- my family for one- and then there are people that maybe I can minister to in a way that other people could not.... (such as 5 year olds....see it all comes back to kindergarten :)


Brings to mind that song- Brighten the Corner Where You Are....we don't have to try and get the whole world to love us- we need to faithfully encourage those around us...the ones that God has specifically put in our paths....


So I guess my thought for the day is to be yourself! Don't worry all the time what other people think about you (this is a hard one! So hard for us to do on a daily basis...or maybe it is just me....).....worry about what God thinks of you and then you'll realize- Oh! He is the One who made me! He loves me no matter what! How great is that?!?!?

On a totally different subject- we are thanking God today for Alisa and her surgery- they have heard that the tumor is not cancerous- what a HUGE, HUGE blessing this is as you can imagine for a little girl and her family.
Thanks to you who have commented about my different projects and who have asked questions.....I cannot give you advice on my painted chair- I used regular craft acrylic paint and I am sure that that will not last forever- but then we can just change the color scheme!

A few of you have asked about the kitchen and the process of the patchwork wall. I just used masking tape to tape the scraps to the wall and covered it all with clear contact paper.

And I cannot wait to do a post about our daily routine (thanks for asking!) I love to talk about our routine- but then that is usually the time that the routine starts changing again- so I will have to hurry and post about it!

Thanks for reading my blog :) I love, love the interaction with you- other artists, other moms- what a great way to learn and grow and hear different view points- I love this blogging!

what dave has been raving about this week

As you can see by the picture I could not even get a photo fast enough- even the kids gobbled it up.
Crunchy Chicken Salad
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. water
1/4 c. oil
1/4 c. ketchup
3 tbsp. vinegar (the recipe called for cider vinegar, but I only had regular on hand)
1 -2 heads romaine lettuce (I think I used 1 and a half)
2 c. cubed cooked chicken
1 c. cashews
1 can (3 oz) chow mein noodles

mix together the first 5 ingr. Then combine everything in a large bowl.




S'more Bars
1 pkg chocolate cake mix
1/2 c. butter, melted
1/3 c. milk
1 jar (7 0z) marshmallow creme
chocolate chips (about 1 cup)
about 3 sheets graham crackers crumbled into small pieces

Mix dry cake mix, butter, and milk until blended. Press 2-thirds onto bottom of greased 9x13 pan. Bake 12 min at 350. Cool 3 min.

Top with spoon fulls of marshmallow creme, and spoon fulls of the remaining batter- toss the chocolate chips on there. Bake 18 min or just until center is set. Top with the cracker pieces. (I made half with the crackers and half without.....it is good either way.



Can't Leave Alone Bars
1 pkg yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 c. oil
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
1 c. semi sweet chocolate chips
1/4 c. butter

Combine cake mix, eggs, and oil. With floured hands press 2-thirds of the mixture into greased 9x13 pan.

Microwave the milk, choc. chips, and butter 45sec. Stir, melt 45 sec more until smooth. Pour over crust. Drop spoonfuls of the remaining batter mixture on top. Bake 350 for 20-25 min until lightly browned.


The polka dot plates! I could not pass them up at Target-- .99 cents each!!!!!

The green one looks right at home in the window beside the clump of weeds we call a centerpiece :)

it's a....................

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
mean joke.........sorry.............I am definitely NOT pregnant.

We are having a yard sale this Saturday and cleaning out the bathroom cupboards- look what I found. Can't believe we kept it.....who keeps an old pregnancy test???? And how much will I get for it at the yard sale..............:)

love

oh to be 4 again....
(we love stripes)

we always have these little "dumplings" who like to try and ruin our photos....

there- that's better- just me and my love. (no, not the scarf- I mean Dave....although I am pretty attached to the scarf as well :)

Hope you are having a good weekend. It has been good- the clouds giving way to beautiful sunshine. To be sitting here in my quiet kitchen on this Sunday afternoon, enjoying the peace - my heart goes out to my cousin's daughter, Alisa, who will be having surgery tomorrow. Praying for her (only 7..or 8? years old) and to have gone through all the pain she has had....(how, as a mother, do you watch your child in pain? Prayers going to you too, Kari).

Thinking of the people in Haiti who every day still struggle with what they have lost and trying to survive each day....

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹ In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (I John 4:7-10)