Taco Potatoes

Knowing that I'm big into trying new and easy recipes my parents brought me back a cookbook from their fall trip down to Sedona Arizona.  Full of mouthwatering southwestern favorites, it's a bunch of recipes from Red Rock Country.  For those of you unfamiliar with Sedona it's north of Phoenix and famous for its spectacular red rocks. 

This taco potato recipe I've made multiple times and really enjoyed.  It's a great side dish, or if you're a potato lover like me, its a whole meal.  

Recipe from: Sipapu Lodge
Servings: 6

Ingredients

6 medium Potatoes (with or without peels)
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Cumin
1/2 tsp Paprika
1/2 tsp Oregano
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1 small Onion, diced
1/4 cup Butter
Garnish: Sour Cream and Parsley


Directions

1. Cube the potatoes and cook with or without the peels, then drain thoroughly.

2. Place the potatoes in a baking dish and combine all the other ingredients, except the items for garnishing.

*Note: I cook the onion in a skillet while the potatoes are cooking and add the cooked onion to the baking dish to cut back on the raw onion flavor.  Also added Red Bell Pepper and it works too.

3. Heat in oven until heated and butter is melted.

4. Serve with sour cream and parsley as garnish.

*Note: I have served it with cilantro as well. And you don't even have to garnish it at all and it's great!

Glitter Wine Glasses

Two summers ago, I was able to help a friend's sister and husband by being the event coordinator for their wedding reception. The reception was held at the beautiful TCF stadium on the University of Minnesota campus. We set up each table with a mirror, centerpiece bouquet and ten surrounding stemless wine glasses. The wine glasses were the guests' favors and had the happy couple's names and wedding date printed on them. We filled each wine glass with water and then alternated each with a floating candle or a small floating rose. The glasses looked cute with the centerpieces and made fun favors. However, many of the guests did not take theirs home due to forgetting them or not wanting to dump out their contents. The result was a number of extra boxes of wine glasses. I was offered a small box to take home and soon began to wonder what I would do with them. They sat in storage for some time until I recently pulled them out. I decided that I didn't need cups with an old wedding date on them but hated the thought of throwing them out. So I came up with a fun solution: I glitterized (yes I know, this word doesn't actually exist) the glasses!

Supplies:

Wine glasses (Stemless or with stems, found at the dollar store or Ikea for $1 per glass)

Glitter in desired color(s)

Painting Tape

Glue (Mog Podge works well)

Paint brush or sponge

Directions:
1. I began taping around the center so that the printed words would be covered by the glitter. For wine glasses with stems, you can glitter the bottom of the stems, the center or in any pattern you'd like! I used painting tape because it peels right off and doesn't leave sticky residue.
2. Using a paint brush or sponge, begin gluing in the area desired. I spread the glue within the taped areas to cover the copy on the glass.
3. Sprinkle glitter in the glued area. Some of my glasses took two coats of glue and glitter to get the look that I wanted.
4. Allow some dry time before carefully pulling away the tape.

Note: For a Bachelorette party, I have also accessorized wine glasses with patterned duct tape. The tape goes on smoothly and makes the glasses much more fun!

Check out some more Pinterest ideas for other glittered and decorated wine glasses. The other awesome aspect of this project is that no one will confuse their wine glass with anyone else's due to the glitter colors!

Cedar Cove Series

Author: Debbie Macomber

The Cedar Cove series has gained the attention of romance readers!  For those of you who haven't read the books, you may have gotten a taste of them through the Cedar Cove series on Hallmark channel.  What makes this writing different then her other books is Debbie Macomber's decision to have each chapter jump to one of the characters.  Although each chapter switches perspective each book focuses primarily on a family and is titled after their home address!  Meanwhile other relationships and drama are unfolding throughout the book.  As you progress into the series and get hooked by the characters and plot, you stay updated on what is transpiring between characters in the previous books.  So there's no wondering, "How did their situation turn out?"  If you're watching the TV series on Hallmark get your hands on the books, they're better!  And if you haven't read about Cedar Cove, well..... I suggest you head to your library and check it out.

Series:

16 Lighthouse Road

204 Rosewood Lane

311 Pelican Court

44 Cranberry Point

50 Harbor Street

6 Rainier Drive

74 Seaside Avenue

8 Sandpiper Way

92 Pacific Boulevard

1022 Evergreen Place

1105 Yakima Street

1225 Christmas Tree Lane

Additions:

A Cedar Cover Christmas

Christmas is Cedar Cove

5B Poppy Lane

Banana Split Bites

These little skewers make a perfect pre-dinner or post-dinner treat. You could customize this recipe by using different fruits or creative drizzles. I went for the standard banana split ingredients and the result was an easy, fresh and sweet pop of flavor. And who could complain about the little chocolate drizzle or dip on top?

Banana Split Bites

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

- Banana, cut into half inch slices

- Strawberries, cut in half

- Pineapple, cut into half inch chunks

- Almond bark or melted chocolate chips

- Toothpicks or small wooden skewers

Directions:

1. Cut fruit into desired sizes and amounts. 

Note: the banana will brown if you prep these too early. To make the recipe more time efficient, cut the strawberries and pineapple but wait to cut the bananas and wait to assemble until right before serving.

2. Skewer sticks in desired order with the banana, strawberry and pineapple.

3. Melt chocolate and either dip each skewer into chocolate or drizzle the chocolate over skewers after they are all assembled.

4. Refrigerate before serving and then enjoy!

Circus Themed Baby Shower

When I found out that my oldest brother and his wife were expecting my family's first grandchild, I was beyond ecstatic. When we found out it was a boy, it became even more fun. My brother has a Jr title since he is named after my dad and he had been telling us for years that he wanted to name his first boy Robert the Third. So we were able to call the little growing person, who we were excitedly waiting for, by his name (RJ) before we had even met him. 

I was honored to plan a family shower for my sister-in-law and the little mister. I did a little research and found so many cute ideas, it was hard to pick a theme! Good thing there will be more showers to come :)

RJ's Cirque Du Bebe Shower

Invite: Circus themed! I used an evite with a little lion on it.

Colors: Red, Blue, Yellow and Lime Green

Decor:

• Yellow feathers
• Elephant and giraffe figures
• Baby toy cups on top of the cake and table

Food: We did a brunch for the shower to keep it low key. However, we used a few cute pieces to spruce up the table.

• Circus tent napkins
• Circus tent food picks, used to display the ingredients in the eggs. (Egg Cup Directions)
• Silly straws in red, blue and yellow

Favor: We used circus tent paper bags filled with popcorn as favors. Each bag read, "Thanks for popping in!" to tie in the circus theme and the fact that the mother-to-be was about to pop!

Other Baby Shower themes on the blog:

- Little Pumpkin
- Little Man
- Peter Rabbit
- Minnie Mouse  
- Pumpkin Diaper Cakes 
- Traditional Diaper Cakes
- Building a Baby Basket

Painter & Poet Prodigy - Akiane Kramarik

Prince of Peace

An artist I am not.  But an appreciator of art I am.  Specifically paintings have always been my favorite medium.  I lean towards the older styles and classics. Something in them fills me with wonder, an an appreciation for someone so talented they can put a moment, a feeling on canvas.  There are some paintings that just stun me when I see them.  The Prince of Peace, Father Forgive Them and many of Akiane Kramarik's works do just that. 

Akiane is known as a painting prodigy considering she started at the age of 4 and was making pieces each that were true works of art.  At her young age she was also doing something else extraordinary...she was visiting heaven and received a life-changing spiritual transformation.  Although she has blown up in popularity on the media years ago I hadn't viewed any of the exposure.  She's now an internatoinal painting prodigy with her art pieces selling at thousands of dollars up to $3 million.  Guess I'll have to settle for enjoying her pieces on the computer screen. 

It was when I read Heaven is for Real, a book I'll be writing a post on around Easter (seemed fitting), that this painting prodigy was referenced.  Now some may be skeptical of Akiane's connection to heaven, but once you see her work, it's hard to believe she wasn't blessed with the gift for a reason.  Her parents, originally atheists, have converted due to their daughter's experiences and message of God's existence.  And Akiane continues to try and spread the message through her painting and poetry.  It's incredible to think that at age 7 she was writing poetry, and that even at that young of an age her poems arrive fully conceived.  What a precious gift to have.

Father Forgive Them

Mother's Love

Her Prince of Peace, a rendering of Jesus is the real deal.  And confirmation of this portrayal of Jesus is confirmed by Colton, the boy in the Heaven is for Real book who died at the age of 4, visits heaven, and comes back to share his story with others. WOW!!! Right?!  The Jesus that Akiane painted has some differences compared to typical portrayals of God's son.  There's something so human and relateable about his image yet an aura of importance, of specialty.  Her other one of Jesus pleading to God to forgive us for our sins grabs my heart.  The detail in his hands, his expression and the mood is stunning. Go look at the piece on her website, since the coloring and detail is more pure.  Another fave is Power of Prayer, a scenic painting she made at the age of 10 that she dedicated to all sincere prayers.

She paints many scenes and people, and writes poems that accompany the pieces well.  I was completely absorbed when checking out her website.  When I see what she created at each age as she was growing up, it's utterly remarkable.  Go look. You too will be amazed!  It's not everyday that you get to feel such a celestial connection through a painting created nowadays. 

She wants to be an inspiration to others and a gift to God.  Akiane's simple goal is to share God's love and message with others, so help her to pass on the good Word.

Before I Fall

This was author Lauren Oliver's debut novel and boy did it capture everyone's attention.  She gained recognition as a good read from NY Times, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the list goes on.  Plus, made it onto numerous state reading lists since it supports the common core standards. 

Why so much hype? Personally I had no idea the book had received so much attention when I uploaded it to my Kindle this summer.

Sometimes I just browse books and if a cover jumps out at me (I mean look at it), like this did and the title, "Before I Fall"...... (hmmmm sounds interesting) makes me ponder a minute, I'll read the summary.

 If the summary sounds interesting, (a high school girl has a chance at a do over when she unexpectedly dies... hmm... okay I'll take the bait) I give it a try.  This was one of those special cases.

This book is intense.  In that it asks thought provoking questions about love, death, and how one persons life can affect so many others.  Not nearly enough books do this and help to gain more of an interest in reading for young adults.  A prefect book for high school students since it's easily relateable to that level.  Some of the situations the characters face were not close to my high school experience at all, but for some it might be right up their alley.  At that age many teens are focused on themselves and what is going on in their own life (we all go through it).  They tend to consider themselves invincible, but this book is a reminder that for an unlucky few that isn't the case. A reminder that life and the daily decisions we make are precious.  

It's one of t-h-o-s-e books.  The kind that after I finished reading I put it down and just laid back staring at the ceiling, deep in thought, unable to do anything but let the book sink in. Not my typical upbeat read, but man it's a doozey.

Summary:
Popular High School senior Samantha Kingston believes Cupids Day, February 12th, is one big party.  And it is... until she dies in a terrible accident that night.  The shocker is she still wakes up the next morning. But not only that morning, but the next too, because Sam lives the last day of her life 7 times.  It's then she realizes that by altering pieces of her day she may hold more power than she thought possible. And discover the true value of everything that she's in danger of
losing.

Bacon and Egg Cups

Egg cups are incredibly easy and make typical brunch food extraordinary! I made these last year for a family brunch and again this last spring for my nephew's baby shower. The fun part is that you can make a ton of different variations. Grab some eggs and your favorite ingredients and let's get cooking!

Ingredients: 
- Eggs (2 doz = Around 18 cups) 
- Bacon 
- Other suggested ingredients: Feta cheese, Fresh Basil Leaves, Sausage, Tomato (Diced), Onion (Chopped), Green Pepper (Chopped), Cheddar Cheese 
- Salt and pepper 


Supplies: 
- Muffin pan(s) 
- Non-stick cooking spray 
- Funnel 

Directions: 
1. Spray muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray. Take one bacon strip and line the outside of the first muffin cup. Continue with bacon as desired. 
2. In mixing bowl, beat all the eggs together. 
3. Using the funnel, fill each muffin cup 2/3 full with egg mixture. 
4. Add ingredients as desired. (I used feta, basil and tomato in a few cups. Sausage, onion and pepper in another. Etc.) 
5. Salt and pepper to taste. 
6. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until the middle is not runny.

DIY Weekly Framed Calendar

Busy. Our lives seem always jam packed with things to do, places to go and people to see.  Thank goodness for calendars. How else would I keep my life straight? Well I could probably survive without one, but being able to organize and plan, well it keeps me happy.

We all have our preferences when it comes to calendars.  Some of us like to plan months in advance, others live from month to month, and others like to display their lives each week.  I showed you how my sister-in-law and I had made our own calendars out of paint chip samples, which you can check out under DIY Paint Chip Calendar posted on January 7, 2014 under the Craft Corner tab.  But I thought I'd offer you another option that you can create yourself, a calendar made for you weekly planners out there.

A weekly calendar, such as the one my friend Melanie made, is great.  It lets you see what activities you have planned for each day, and even has space for an additional To Do List. I also like how she placed it right in the entry way, so you can't help but notice what the game plan for each day is.  Helps remind everyone in the family what to expect, so that one person isn't left in charge of remembering everything. We all know it happens. That something gets forgotten, and you say, "It was on the calendar" and they look at you like "It was?" "Wait, what calendar?" "We have a calendar? When did this happen?"

Maybe a weekly calendar is the answer to your prayers. Interested in creating one?  It's simple.  And here is how Melanie says to do it.

Materials:
A collage picture frame with 8 slots
Punch-out cardstock letters or stickers (days of the week)
Scrap paper for 8 slots (all the same or varied)
Elmer's Liquid Glue
Scissors or Paper Cutter
Dry erase marker
Eraser

After you've picked out the look you want to create and purchased all the items you're ready to create!

Assembly:

1.  It's best to arrange the paper in the frame openings first to see how the colors and patterns look next to each other and to achieve balance. What's great is that you can make this project fit any decor and it's easy to update if your space's style changes.  

 2.  My papers were a little too big for the openings. A great way to cut the paper to size is to remove the paper inserts that come with the frame and use them as guides to cut around so you get the perfect size.

3. For the day headings I used cardstock letters made for scrapbooking, but stickers or hand writing the days of the week would work too. I just needed a small amount of glue on each letter. 

A tip: remember to allow a border on the edges of the paper that will be covered by the frame. Don't glue your letters to the very outside edges.

4.  I like to include all the original pieces and backings that come with frames, so when assembling, I put in the scrapbook paper, paper insert I used as a guide, and the cardboard before putting on the backing.

5.  We keep a dry erase marker and eraser in our mail holder on the opposite wall of the entry way for easy additions to our weekly calendar. 

Note: You could attach the marker with a string directly to the frame if no space nearby to store.

Congratulations! Now you have your very own, specially made by you, Weekly Framed Calendar.  This should help make your weekly planning easier and aid in organizing your busy life.  Yet, even if you don't get it updated every week, this makes a colorful piece of art for any wall!

Three Great Makeup Discoveries

BB Cream
I recently discovered the incredible thing that is BB cream. I will admit that I had to read up on the difference between AA, BB and CC cream. It looks like a nasty math problem, I know! BB cream, or beauty balm, is an all in one product that was created to replace everything from your moisturizer and primer to your foundation and sunscreen! For some people, this one cream may all they have time to use in the morning. I don't use this every day but it is perfect in my gym bag for post workout or for a morning that I don't have time or energy for my full makeup routine.

My favorite brands are Dr. Drandt Flexitone (conforms to your skin color!) and I really love Dr. Jart's Beauty Balm as well.



Highlighter
Highlighter is one of my prized finds within the last year. It's a quick and fun way to spruce up any look. Try adding a little to your cheek bones, brow bones and middle top of your lip. The highlighter will allow the light to bounce of those areas and will quite literally highlight those features. It brings a subtle glow to your face. More exciting news is that Elf (Found at Target) makes a great highlighter pencil and cream and they are both under $3! I also received a Chella highlighter pencil in a recent Birchbox that I have enjoyed using.

Clinique Chubby Stick
Last week, I walked into Macy's to purchase a refill of my Clinique lotion and found out that they were doing a promotion for their Chubby Stick Lip Balms. They asked that I do a quick consultation, which resulted in a new eye shadow find as well trying one of their Chubby Stick lip balms. I chose the bright "Mightiest Maraschino" color and I adore it! It's the edgy, bright lip color that I have been looking for but with a soft, easy wearing and smooth balm finish. Definitely check these out if you like to play around with lip color. But be forewarned that you may get hooked. They just rolled out Chubby Stick Shadow Tints too!