Decoupaged Can

Ever since I was little I've loved to decoupage 

[dey-koo-pahzh]. There's just something about the simplicity of using glue to transform an object. 

I've had this can sitting in my kitchen for about a month now. It's been staring at me, taunting me, "Do SOMETHING with me, or throw me in the recycling bin." I also recently snagged Mr.Perfect's old Boy Scout Handbook. They went together like macaroni & cheese. Well... not really.

I gathered a clean can, some fun pages from the book, a paintbrush and my trusty Mod Podge (glue).

Using the paintbrush I covered an area of the can with glue.

 Then I placed the paper on the glue.

I continued covering the can in paper.

 Next, I brushed a layer of glue over the paper. 

I made dinner, while the glue dried clear.

Done!

 Trouble will be using the 'new' can as a tooth brush holder.

It could also be used for marker or pencil storage.

Wash the Dog!

As I've said, many people in Central Texas suffer from allergies to the cedar pollen this time of year. I try to reduce the amount of pollen that gets into our home by using air purifiers, dusting often, running the AC and keeping windows closed. But did you know that your dog traps pollen in their fur? Yep, even if they stay indoors most of the time.

Who Me?

Our dog, Molly (MsNotSoPottyTrained), just spent the week with Nana & Papa while we were on vacation. I hear the weather was fantastic and that Molly was able to play outside with her friend Hailey every day for hours. Yep, outside in the POLLEN!

Tips for Washing the Dog

• Before you get your dog, gather all the things you'll need and prepare the bath area. Have the tub filled with a few inches of warm water.

• Have a lot of towels on hand.
• Place a rubber mat on the bottom of the tub to prevent your dog from sliding and getting hurt.
• Close the door! Don't let your pet see an escape route or get very far if he prematurely gets out of the tub.
• Thoroughly soak the dog with water (not the head). Then pour dog shampoo along his back. Use your hands to spread the suds all over the dog's body.

• Completely rinse all the shampoo off the dog.
• Use a wet washcloth to clean their cute little face. Keep soap away from their eyes!

• Remove your dog from the tub and dry with lots of towels.

Molly loves this part.

There is a puppy in here.

All clean and pollen free!

PS- Don't forget to wash those wet dog towels with some vinegar.

Colorado Vacation

I may have seemed a little distant lately...went on a VACATION! Yay for vacations! I live for family vacations, they make such wonderful memories.

Mr.Perfect, Trouble and I packed up our winter coats and went to Colorado. We spent 4 days in Copper Mountain, a little ski resort about 75 miles west of Denver. 

 It was heaven! We went mid week to avoid the weekend crowds and had the slopes to ourselves.

See, no skiers!

Trouble went to their Ski School for two days, where he learned the fundamentals of skiing 

(how not to die on the chairlift).

 Mr.Perfect and I enjoyed the empty slopes while Trouble was at school.

Trouble skied with us on our third day... and we survived! Although at one point I was worried. Trouble fell getting off the chair lift and just covered his eyes and said, "They are going to run me over, I'm going to die!"

Ah.... good times! 

Great memories!

Pop Rocks Valentines

 Trouble is 7 years old and in the second grade. He spends his free time climbing trees with this friends and rolling around on the floor with MsNotSoPottyTrained. I often find rocks and acorns in his pockets and in the washing machine. In short, he is a BOY! Unfortunately, Trouble doesn't like appreciate the cutesy Valentine ideas I had for him to pass out to his classmates this year. He wants something 'BOY' and with candy. He found the Pop Rocks I had in the record bowl and decided that was what he wanted to give his friends for Valentine's Day, Pop Rocks.

This is the result. A no frills, un-girlie, Pop Rocks Valentine.

 I started with Pop Rocks, black card stock, and red envelopes.

 I cut the black paper to fit the envelope.

I added "You Rock!" & "Happy Valentine's Day" and attached a packet of Pop Rocks.

 

Other phrases:

• You Rock Valentine!
• Hope your Valentine's Day rocks!
• Have a rockin' Valentine's Day!
• U ROCK!
• Dude, You Rock!

Baked Potato Soup

I made this baked potato soup back when I was bakin' bacon. I honestly don't use the entire package of bacon for the soup. I cook the whole package because people start dropping by the kitchen to grab a strip.  Of course I don't partake in any bacon sampling... it's those 'other' people that live here.

What you need:

• 1 package of bacon, cooked & crumbled (reserve 1 tablespoon of the drippings)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup carrot, chopped
• 1/4 cup celery, chopped
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 5 medium baked potatoes, halved lengthwise and potato scooped out (potatoes that have already been baked)
• 1 cup milk
• shredded cheddar cheese
• sour cream
• chopped green onion

 What you do:

1. Saute onion, carrot and celery in the bacon drippings until tender.
2. Stir in flour, salt, basil and pepper.
3. Slowly add broth. 
4. Bring to boil. Let mixture simmer for about 15 minutes. 
5. Add the potatoes and milk. Let simmer until you are ready to serve. Feel free to add more milk or broth if you desire a thinner soup. For a smoother soup use a hand blender.
6. Garnish soup with lots of bacon, cheese, sour cream and green onions. 

PS- Please don't throw away those potato skins, make baked potato skins. I'll show you how I make mine someday.

Chicken Pot Pie

Remember the rosemary roasted chicken I made on Friday? Well, we only ate half the chicken for dinner. That means leftover chicken, and leftover chicken means... chicken pot pie. I love this recipe because it's ridiculously easy and quick to throw together.

What you need:

• 2 cups frozen veggies, thawed (any kind you like)
• 1 cup cooked chicken
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup biscuit baking mix
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 egg

What you do:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Mix veggies, chicken and soup. (Feel free to salt & pepper the mixture.)

3. Put veggie mixture in individual oven safe bowls or one large pie plate.

4. Mix the Bisquick, milk and egg in a measuring cup.

5. Pour batter on the veggie mixture.

6. Bake for 30 minutes.

I make Trouble a mini pot pie in this little ramekin.

He loves it!