Tryin to be Crafty!

So, I told you how I wanted to create a clipboard for my BSF discussion leader. She is always carrying her lesson on a clipboard so when I saw these in the blog world I decided it would be a nice thing to make for her as a "thank you" for the year. I'm pretty sure she doesn't read my blog so I don't mind posting about it. Our last BSF is Monday so I'm going to give it to her then.

I have seen a few tutorials for these, like this one. If you want a good tutorial you can go to the linked blog and it will walk you step by step. One day I'll be so crafty I'll be the one doing tutorials...ah, the dreams I have!

Here's the finished product. Abby loves purple so I went with purple paper for her clipboard. Now, there are a few blemishes but I hope she likes it.

I put ribbon at the top were I didn't cover it with paper. This is still something I have to tweak, being able to cover the entire board.

I put a ribbon along the line where the two pieces of paper meet and then glued a heart button for a little accent.

So, there you have it...me tryin to be crafty. I love this kind of stuff so I hope to be able to keep the groove going!

Chicken Club Wrap

Rondell and I really enjoyed watching 3 hours of Lost last night. I have SO many questions, but that is not the point of this post...so, I'll move on.

We decided to have an appetizer while watching and so I made chicken club wrap. The first time I had this is when my friend Erin would make it and I was immediately hooked (and mine still never tastes like hers...oh well). The recipe comes from Pampered Chef, but I don't follow the recipe to a T as you will see below.

Chicken Club Wrap

2 cans of crescent rolls

3 cups coarsely chopped cooked chicken (I usually boil mine for about 15 - 20 minutes and then shred)

4 slices of bacon, crisply cooked, drained and chopped (I cheated and used Oscar Mayer's real bacon bits)

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1 tsp Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley (OK, I've never used this...didn't realize till now that it was in the recipe)

1 garlic clove, pressed (I use Tastefully Simple's Garlic, Garlic season)

2 plum tomatoes, sliced (I don't use this because we're not big tomato fans)

1 egg white, lightly beaten (OK...so I stray a little...I don't use this either, but I'm sure it makes it pretty. I just always think "well, what will I do with the yolk?"...anyways.)

In a bowl, combine chicken, mayo, mustard, cheese (saving a little for the top if you'd like), parsley, and garlic.

Take the crescent rolls and make a ring (shown above). Looks kind of like a sunflower!

Spoon mixture on top of dough. This is when you'd add the tomatoes on top if you wish to have them. My wrap is tomato free!

Wrap the ends (points) around the mixture and tuck under middle of ring (I'm kind of at a loss of how to explain this, so I hope I make sense). This is when you'd brush with egg white and sprinkle with more Swiss cheese if you'd like to do that.

Bake at 375 for about 20-25 minutes (depending on your oven). You can slice it and leave it in the ring or plate the pieces. Ron and I just sliced and ate...yum.

Enjoy!

Bittersweet

Tonight is the season finale of LOST. I'm very excited and sad at the same time. Lost is our favorite show right now (Friends is still an all-time favorite though!) and we watch each week without fail. So, tonight we are going to have one of our favorite appetizers...chicken club wrap (I'll have to post the recipe tomorrow). And for dessert, oatmeal raisin cookies (the break and bake kind so no recipe!).

Lost is one of those shows you either like it or you don't and we love it. We didn't start watching until the second season and we had so much fun renting the first season and catching up (I wanna say we did that while we were off after Caleb was born).

This is sad because now we'll have to wait until next year to wrap it all up...next year is that last season. I've never been so happy at the same time for a show to end because then finally I should have all the answers to all of my questions...and trust me there are a lot of questions.

So, don't call me after 8 because I will not answer...I wonder if I can get the kids to be in bed at 7:30????

Do you watch Lost?

Wordless Wednesday - Pool Pass Here We Come!

Check it Out - Updated

You have to check out this blog that I found. She has some really cute crafts and great tips on saving!

Also, if you love my blog layout (I know I do), then head over to Joanna's because she's having a half off sale!

The Simple Woman's Daybook - May 11, 2009

For today...

Outside my window...partly sunny and cool. It's supposed to be a pretty nice week.

I am thinking...about too much, so I need to write it all down. Calls I need to make, signing Jamison up for camp...these are when my lists come in real handy.

I am thankful for...my mom. She was sick yesterday, but stayed at my house anyways to spend time with me. She even pattied the hamburgers (because she knows my hate for touching raw meat!).

From the kitchen...food on the grill! Yesterday we had such a great meal...baked beans, pasta salad, deviled eggs, brats, hamburgers, steak and short ribs. I think we all ate too much but it was worth it. Tonight we will be having leftovers.

I am wearing...red! And tennis shoes because in the mad rush of the morning I could not find my black shoes. Shh...don't tell.

I am reading...my BSF notes. I've been going through my notes from this year and writing key points in my Bible. This way when I look at the passages again I'll have the notes right there. I got this tip from my discussion leader and I love it.

I am hoping...to get my brain organized this week.

I am creating...the clipboards still. I went to Michaels and got some additional items to use and I plan on finishing them this week (I've found some great tutorials) and I'll show you the finish products.

I am praying...that my mom is feeling better today.

Around the house...finish the front flower beds. My mother-in-law helped me put mulch down yesterday and I need to finish this week. I am going to do my pots on Wednesday. I also need to get back into a groove. I was doing really well with doing little projects when Rondell worked in the evening and after the kids went down, but I've slacked off. So, I need to get back into doing that, organizing a drawer, doing a craft, working on this problem (still needing some help)...

One of my favorite things...Strawberry ice cream from Graeter's. That's what I had last night and it was so yummy.

A few plans for the rest of the week...LOTS! Tonight is my last discussion and lecture for BSF for the year (sniff), tomorrow I'm going to my friend Lyndsey's to work on a little project, Wednesday sign up for our pool pass, take Jamison to the eye doctor and yard work, Thursday is our last Crown group (sniff), Friday...NOTHING!, and this weekend yard work.

And you?

I Love Being Their Mom...

These two are the reason that I get to celebrate today. I love both of them so much and thank God that He blessed me to be responsible for them. I love:

- their kisses

- their hugs

- the snuggles I get while reading

- playing together

- the "I love you's"

- their innocence

- their energy (I just want a fraction)

I wish all of you a WONDERFUL Mother's Day!

I Have a Problem...Just Keepin it Real!

My desk...my desk is an issue. There are so many things wrong with this area:

1. It's in my room! If I had a finished basement (ahh, the dream) it would be there, but it's not...so it's in my room.
2. It's surface space is small. It's OK if I only want to use it for the computer, but if I wanted to sit at my desk and write a list or update my planner or do a craft, I can forget it...there's just not enough room. Do you see the printer sitting at the top...it's hanging on for dear life!
3. Look at the chair. It's the chair from my very first table set from my very first apartment. Not comfortable, not cute, doesn't match...
4. See the plastic drawer thing next to the desk...yeah, not working for me. There are all kinds of things in those drawers and I just can't figure out what I want its purpose to be. Does it hold important papers, pictures, bills? Again, not cute, doesn't match and needs a purpose.
5. Lastly, there's stuff all on it. Now granted I took this picture in the middle of cleaning it off but if it was an organized area then the things would already be in their places and not on top of the desk taking of what little space I have!!!!

How is a person who loves to be organized supposed to live like this? It's true I love to be organized, I love organizing...it's just coming UP with the system that stumps me. I'm coming up blank for ideas. I need something for a bill system, I need a place for all of my little things, like pens, calculator, envelopes, I need to figure out if I toss the plastic drawer thing or am I not seeing its true potential?

So, this is where you come in...have you had a space like this, tackled it and now it's the best space EVER? What are your secrets, who are your resources? Help a sista out...comment, email me, whatever! I know each person's space is different according to her needs but I need all the help I can get...all ideas welcome, nothing turned away...get your creative juices working.

Later, I'll tell you all the tips I learned and show you all what I finally do with this lovely (gag!) space.

I Want...

these bowls:

A Summer Giveaway by Another Kelli

Kelli (now I blog with three of them...how cool), is having a cool summer giveaway. Stop over her blog and check it out. She's up to 100 posts!

Did You Know...

that at Trader Joe's they have a kit for you to make your own chocolate filled croissants? For Small Group yesterday my friend Tonya brought croissants and when I asked her where she got them she told me that she made them...that she got the kit from Trader Joe's.

They were warm and yummy. So, if you have a Trader Joe's near you and you love chocolate, you must run there, right now and buy some!

A New Friend...and She Comes with an Award!

WOW! Three posts in one day...I sure am busy this Monday, so don't forget to scroll down.

I met a new blog friend...don't you just love that. Her name is Carrie and she has two of the most adorable children. I have had fun chatting with her and getting to know her better. You have to stop over her blog and check her out!

Well my new friend gave me this award because she thinks I'm Awe-summm:

Check out that crown! It's so sparkly and pretty. Here are the rules:

I am to list 7 things that make me Awe-Summm and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers I love. Make sure to tag the recipients and let them know they have won! Also link back to the Queen that tagged me.

1. I love being a wife and mom. Both can be difficult at times, but I wouldn't trade either for anything. They are my rock and my joy.

2. I love organization. Now my home has a bit of a ways to go, but I love organizing and once it's all done it will make our lives much more smooth.

3. I am a great friend. You need someone to talk to in the middle of the night, I'm there...you need to get away and go to dinner, I'm right with you...need a sitter, I'm you girl...got a secret or need some prayer, I deliver! Us girlfriends have to take care of one another.

4. I'm a growing Christian. This makes me awe-summ because I know my faults and I still have a desire to grow with Christ. I try to remember that ultimately it's God who is in control and I am His humble servant.

5. I make a mean lasagna. I got the recipe from my mom and have tweeked it just a bit. It's a real treat in our house.

6. I try and always have a smile, even if I'm a little down. There's just something cheery about a smile.

7. I keep Target in business. Seriously, if it weren't for my weekly trips there I think they would have to fold. I'm sure they think I'm pretty awe-summm too!

Now for my 7 awe-summm friends:

Jodie

Meredith

Amy

Joanna

Amy

Jennifer

Kelli

The Simple Woman's Daybook - May 4, 2009

For today...

Outside my window...overcast. I think it's going to be a pretty gloomy week. Good week to get more cleaning done.

I am thinking...a few things: I'm annoyed that people don't follow directions, I'm cold (and I'm never cold), I hope Aunt Roni was able to deliver the water that I signed up to bring to Jamison's school for teacher appreciation week...

I am thankful for...Aunt Roni being able to do little errands for me since I don't stay at home (like dropping the water off at Jamison's school).

From the kitchen...Last night the kids and I made homemade pizzas. It was so much fun. I used Pillsbury dough...one day I'm going to make the crust from scratch. But, I have no meal plan for the rest of the week...I'm not doing so well with that.

I am reading...the end of Deuteronomy...Moses is going to die soon, sniff.

I am hoping...For a productive week. I got some little things done this weekend, but looking over my master list I still have quite a few things to do. I have to go back to my MOVE movement.

I am creating...a banner for my brother's graduation. I'm thinking of some ideas and I'm really excited about it. I'm also buying some Modge Podge today to make clipboards for Jamison's teacher and my discussion leader for BSF. Wish me luck (and feel free to give me any tips that you have!).

Around the house...I'm still working on my master To Do list. My room is the big place that I need to tackle! Pray for me.

One of my favorite things...catching up on DVR shows with Rondell.

A few plans for the week...visit a friend tomorrow, buy mulch for the yard, make the clipboards, clean...

What are you thinking?

Friend Makin Monday

Today FMM is being hosted by the wonderful Amber. Here's what we are to share:

What 5 of your favorite toys from your childhood were?

1. Cabbage Patch Kids - I still remember coming home and seeing my first CPK sitting on the couch in her cute yellow dress. My daddy surprised me.

2. Barbie - I would play for HOURS!!!! I will say that my favorite was Skipper because she was more like my age.

3. Atari/Nintendo - Nothing beats Pitfall, Frogger, and the original Super Mario Brothers.

4. Coloring - My mom and I would color all the time. I still love to color with Jamison. It's so relaxing and we had/have the best conversations while coloring.

5. Little People - Back in the day when they didn't have arms.

Come on...be our friend...join us!

Friday Tid Bits

Well it's the end of the week and I am very happy! I thought I'd share a few tid bits from the week:

• My discussion leader that I mentioned on Monday is doing better and was back at our Crown Study last night. Praise God!

We missed church on Sunday because of my allergic reaction to laundry detergent and Jamison was SO upset. It kind of made me happy that she enjoys church that much that she was sad to miss it.

I got to go to one of my favorite stores (twice), Archiver's. I went there to get some pens to write in my Bible. The pens I got the first time didn't work out so I went back yesterday. I saw so many things I wanted to buy. I asked if they carried the Cricut and they don't, but they carry a machine that's called the Silhouette. It's cheaper than the Cricut and you don't have to buy the expensive cartridges. Something to keep on my wish list.

I received this CD in the mail. I won this contest that my friend Jen was having and she sent it to me. How sweet of her to hear a good CD and then share the love. This CD is jazzy and R&B combined...right up my alley.

I also won this contest (mine is the second story) and should be getting my Starbucks gift card in the mail soon. Thanks Meredith.

I started making my BSF binder. I want to have a binder to keep all of my lessons in for the Life of Moses. That way I can go back and reference my notes.

I'm counting down the days till I get my pool pass...only 12 more days to go (even though the pool doesn't open until Memorial Day)

Finally I won this award from my friend Kasey:

She thinks my blog is alluring, amusing, bewitching, impressive, and inspiring! I'm supposed to pass this onto 5 blogs that I think are alluring, amusing, bewitching, impressive and inspiring (so many to choose from)...

Meredith

Jen

Carrie

Amy

Heidi

How was your week?