V-Day Project : : Tutorial

Since being snowed in with over 26" of snow the last day and a half (and it's still coming down), I have had some time to play with a few items I had laying around. This entire project was completed this morning and I spent only $ 2.26 (not including tax)

Start by gathering your materials. You will need:

Wood block (Michael's $.54)
Styrofoam heart (Michael's $.59)
Dowel Rod (Walmart $.34)
Bird (A.C. Moore Christmas clearance $.79)
Paint (on hand)
12x12 Patterned paper (on hand)
Mod Podge (or similar item-on hand)
Paint brush (on hand)
Glue (on hand)
Ribbon (on hand)
Metal Key Embellishment (if you choose)

Start painting your block which ever color you chose. I used Heirloom White. Then tear your paper in .5" strips. I did not measure this, I just looked to make sure it was as thin as I wanted it.
Use the mod podge (I have a love-hate relationship with this stuff) or whatever medium you choose, and start gluing the paper pieces to your heart. Like this:

Soon you will have a completely covered paper heart.

Next step is to grab your (or your honeys) drill with a drill bit large enough to fit your dowel rod. Center the hole on your wood block, unless of course, you don't want it centered. Be sure not to drill straight through as it will make it difficult to hold your dowel rod in place.

Once the hole has been drilled drop some glue into it and put the dowel rod in. I used Scotch Quick-Dry adhesive. I am In LOVE with this glue-it's holds anything, even metal!

Once that is complete, take the drill and just push it through the Styrofoam heart to make the hole, no need to drill it in. Again, add some glue and slide the heart onto the dowel rod. Let dry.

You now have a simple heart on a stick, we need to make it a little more festive. Tie some ribbon at the base of the heart and glue your cute little bird to the wood block. (At this point you can choose to add a key, I thought it looked pretty cute with the bird holding it in his beak. Just use hot glue when attaching it).


Once he is glued on there stand back, and enjoy.


You have created a fun little Valentine's Day decor.

My Weekly Meal Planner :: Giveaway

The last two days {posts} have been about organizing your recipes and creating an easy, time-saving method in which you can have all of your meals planned for a month or longer.

As I mentioned earlier, I have a great (and super cute) weekly planner that helps me with my grocery shopping.

I flip through my recipe book and find 6-7 recipes I want to make this week. (this process takes me a little while b/c I am also looking at the sale flier for the grocery-thus, helping me to determine which meals to make)


Then I grab my oh-so-stylish weekly planner and fill in which meal to have on each day of the week.


Next, I take a quick look through my pantry and fridge and take stock of what I need to purchase for each meal. In the column to the right, add the items needed from the store to complete each meal.



Viola! Meal planning and list making were never so easy and fun.

Now for the truly fun part: GIVEAWAY time



Do you want your very own recipe book (magnetic) and weekly planner? Yes?! I thought so! (color may not be the same as my recipe book-not sure if I still have that paper)

4 chances to win: Leave me a comment, follow this blog, follow me on twitter, or follow my face book page.

Leave a comment for each one you do. Deadline for this contest is Friday. I will choose a winner Tuesday morning and ship that same day.

Filling your recipe book

As previously mentioned, I have a fabulous method for my meal planning. You all have made your super cute recipe books by now right? Ok, good! Now we need to fill them.

Start by thinking of your 5 favorite dishes.



Then think of 2-3 dishes you KNOW your family LOVES.



Next, think of 2-3 super easy, quick meals. Ya know, the ones you make on nights that little Johnny has soccer practice at 4 and little Suzie has ballet at 4:05 and they both have piano lessons at 5:10, and Big Brother has to be picked up from chess club at 5:15. What are your meals for those days?



Got that list made? Good, now go through all of your floating recipe cards and bazillion recipe books, track down those recipes and get the ingredients and prep/cooking instructions.

Once all that is done, add them to your new recipe flip book. {I am giving you one of my favorite recipes to get you started}

Taco Soup

1 lb. ground turkey or beef
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 can chili beans in sauce
1 can black beans (rinse and drain)
1 can Ro-tel (original or spicy, depending on your taste)
1 can white shoepeg corn
1 packet Taco seasoning
1 packet Ranch dressing mix

Cook the beef first and drain, if needed, then dump it all in. You may need to add water to thin it some. Enjoy!

Note in the above picture I did something silly. Please don't copy my mistake. Make sure you write the directions on the back of the card in the same direction as the front. It makes reading your recipe book much easier.

Once you have completed this last and final step, Enjoy! Realize, that you now have a small handy book to reference and it is filled with 11 recipes that are tried and true. You know your family will enjoy them and you now have the next two weeks of meal planning done! DONE!

Continue to add recipes until you have 30. That is a whole month of planned meals. Once you have reached that number, add 20 more, 50 recipes to get you through, such a time saver!

I can't tell you how much I use mine, ok well, yes I can. I use it every week. And I am so thankful for it. It makes my grocery shopping much less painful as well. I currently have 38 recipes in my book, still working on the other 12. I use this, combined with my weekly meal planner and the local grocery store sale flier. I save time and money!

Weekly Meal Planner you ask? Check back tomorrow!

Simple Recipe Book :: Fill in your own

Just a quick little tutorial to show you how I have made the best thing ever since sliced bread! Ok, well, sliced bread is much yummier, but this is a close second, not that you can eat this.... or that you would want to...

First, you want to start with a blank spiral bound pack of index cards. Then get yourself some cute font stamps, great ink, super cute paper and matching ribbon.

Measure (or in my case, trace) the pad onto the cute paper and cut out. Do this for both side of the pad.

Glue those down and then stamp "recipes" however you would like it appear on your pad.


Once both sides are glued on tie some matching ribbon on the spirals for a little pizazz. Hey, every great item needs it accessories. And a ribbon accessory is a must!

Now that you have successfully completed decorating your "recipes" book, it needs to be filled. I have a very special method for filling this beauty. It will make your cooking, your week, your month and yes, your entire life, so much more enjoyable! You will actually WANT to cook every night, and you will be able to! How?

Become a follower and find out tomorrow. ;-)

Ribbon Bookmarks

Here is my version of a tutorial from Jeanne Winters. These are so super easy to make and so much fun.


I made these for the ladies in my bible study. I will be taking them in tonight, hope they like 'em.


Please feel free to email me if you need further instruction.