I linked up with ....

There are some really great Easter projects listed! Go check it out!!!!

Do-It Yourself-er's Organizer!

I found this handy dandy paper organizer at Dollar Tree and KNEW exactly what I was going to do with it being I had the most fabulous paper stash courtesy of Moxxie! We are all staying in our homes a little longer, now with the housing market in the dumper. I figured we are all doing some improvements on our current homes. This little project is super handy for Dad's desk or the kitchen counter. The organizer is just great for keeping all of your project info in one convenient space! I think any Dad would love it for Father's Day!

I embellished the organizer with patterned paper and stickers from the "Do It Yourself" line from Moxxie. I made a few cuts with my Cricut and added a few vintage buttons and rhinestones (which my hubby says made the crown look girly- TISK TISK, I SAY!). I know it can be modified for Mom and made into a coupon/ grocery organizer or a receipt holder. Anything to make Mom or Dad's life a little easier!

Tfl!!!!

xoxox~
Rachel

Ironic post about rainbow bread...

on Passover! Yes, I am preparing for the second Seder but must share this bread I found earlier in the week for my boys lunch (at Publix Supermarket! We ate the bread before the holiday started.... only Matzo for us!

Let's just say I was in the lunchroom visiting my kids at school and the bread caused quite a stir! I even had my son tear a few pieces of his sandwich to let the other kids see it really tasted like butter bread!!!

I'm a Beautiful Blogger!

What a compliment... I received an award from 2 people this week for my blog! http://abitofthisadashofthat.blogspot.com/ and http://tracystreasures-tracy.blogspot.com/ . I have to bend the rules a little since I received the very same award a few weeks prior and really have no one new to award this honor too nor do I have anything else interesting to point out about myself.

I will however tell you what I like about each of their blogs!

Tracy at http://tracystreasures-tracy.blogspot.com/ has 3 beautiful daughters and they love to get all glamed up for unique photo shots. Now that may sound mundane if we were talking about a bunch of 4 year olds, but they are in their early 20's - teens! In fact I did the same thing with my girlfriends when I was in high school but I was not as photogenic as her girls and when I did it, it seemed a bit corny! Her girls just glam it up!!!!

Bella at http://abitofthisadashofthat.blogspot.com/ has the most unique low- calorie meal ideas. I am not such a low calorie meal lover but her recipes are definitely inspiring and creative!!!

Father's Day ideas coming this week!

I got a wonderful stack of manly man papers from Moxxie a few weeks ago and thought up a few fun projects for Dad! The papers are from the Do It Yourself collection. They have tools, nuts and bolts, moving boxes and manly plaids! I love when I find a good guy paper :) Being the only girl in a house with 4 dudes, manly scrapping supplies are at a premium around here!

I love my Daddy and I love that I got to peruse old photos of when I was toddler!

Stay tuned, I have a few more, fun and unique projects planned for sharing this week!!!

XOXO!
Rachel

Cupcake Extravaganza ...

Yesterday I made over 5 dozen cupcakes for the boys school. Half was for the Yearbook Club end-of year party and I made the other half for the teachers. Every quarter, the PTA members make and donate snacks and treats to the teachers on conference night. I love doing this for our teachers, they all work so hard and deserve a sweet treat more often than not! Smore's CupcakesYellow Cupcakes

Chocolate and Chocolate Roasted Marshmallow Cupcakes!

TFL!
Rachel

Another Easter Cross Stitch Loom Wreath

Cross stitch (2) looms wrapped in Moxxie paper. Moxxie Easter stickers and paper for the flowers. I also embellished it with vintage buttons, lime green velvet ribbon, chenille pom-pom trim and vintage floral ribbon!

See the pretty little wreath on the bird cage? It's kind of like i-spy, except I told you where to look for it ;)

TFL!
xoxo

Rachel

Easter Wreath from a cross stitch loom!

Yup, I made this cute mini wreath from yarn and 2 different sized cross stitch looms! I bought them for a few cents when I was junking and didn't know what I would use them for and then it hit me... A WREATH!

I wrapped the lime colored yarn and twine around the looms and tucked the ends in, I actually used no glue at all for that part! I glued paper Easter grass to the bottom and wired sparkly eggs around the loom. I purchased a bag of them at Dollar Tree! The festive stickers and PP I mounted them on is Moxxie!!!! The chocolate bunny is a Cricut cut.

Thanks Kelley for the bag of buttons! I put a few to good use already!

Voila!

TFL!!!!
Rachel

Spring is in the air!

I got a new box of goodies from Moxxie (shown here = http://gotmoxxie.typepad.com/ ) a few weeks ago and instantly fell in love with the festive Easter collection! All of the vibrant pastels were so inspiring, it was easy to start and finish a project I was proud of.

Here is an example of a wreath (one of 3 I made this weekend), I decided to uses some unconventional wreath forms for the background. The backing of this one is a paper plate! The paper I used for the scalloped squares were the green/ orange combo and the pink/ purple for the flower.

And a vintage bingo card and plastic cookie cutters for good measure ;)

Chicken Fried Rice {recipe}

I have been making loads and loads of extra rice as my hubby has been on a rice pudding kick! And let me tell you, girls, he is a kick butt rice pudding chef!

So I needed to find a recipe to use up some of the rice he didn't need and I decided to try chicken fried rice!I am very bad at measuring when I make up a recipe but I will do my best trying to give you an amount for the ingredients!

Start with 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast, raw, diced into bit sized pieces.
2 tbsp Sesame oil; 1/2 cup Soy Sauce; Fresh clove of garlic, minced; 4 cups cooked white rice; 1 medium minced onion; 4 peeled and diced carrots and 1 cup frozen peas.
In a large bowl, mix the sesame oil with 3 tbsp soy sauce and minced garlic to the diced chicken. Add to large saute pan and stir fry the chicken in about 3 tbsp hot vegetable oil for about 10 minutes on high heat, continually stirring.

When it is no longer pink, add the onions, carrots and peas. Continue to monitor your stirring.

When the veggies are soft and tender....

Add the rice and the remaining soy sauce. You may need to add a few more tbsp of vegetable oil since the rice acts like a sponge. Break up the rice clumps and mix thoroughly with the chicken and veggies. Continue to watch the rice carefully and stir often. In fact, don't leave the pan at all. You shouldn't need too, this is a one pan meal! Cook for about 10 minutes, the rice would have absorbed the soy and turned a lovely shade of brown at this point.

Yummy! Enjoy :)
Rachel

Happy St. Patty's Day

In honor of one of the most colorful and fun-loving holidays... I am posting a few of my favorite green and rainbow photos from my laptop (I store photos on my desktop too but I am on my laptop right now!)

Enjoy and Happy St. Patty's Day!!!
Rachel

Delight, Pure Delight!

I wanted to share a few of my favorite new Spring decorations with you...

I found these pretty little custard cups and crocks at a yard sale a few weeks back for a total of $1, yup, A BUCK! Isn't the iridescent peach color unique? I about plotzed when the owner told me the set was un dollero. Yay, me! And one of my pretty little milk glass gems :) I put in crinkled paper Easter grass and glittered foam eggs (from Tuesday Morning).

My favorite new purchase for Spring, the wrought iron bird cage from Michael's! I added Spanish Moss and a Dollar Tree birdie!

Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Rachel

Spring Has Sprung

Alright, it may just be Daylight Savings time, but I have been dying to share these photos with all of you!

I love pastels so I love getting any chance I can to decorate with those colors. Being in a house of all males, you can tell my color palate is normally earth tones. Now is my time to GIRLY IT UP!!!I made this frame and Spring banner last year. Out of all the banners I have made and packed up, this is by far the one I was most excited about unpacking! I love the colors and I love the frilly soft tones... I just love it!Here is a shot of my infamous dining room table scape (ok- infamous to me, myself and I!)and the Foyer when you walk through the front door... the butterfly is actually a year-round art piece I keep hanging there! No shortage of milk glass, you see ;)I just adore this little wrought iron bird cage I bought @ Michael's a few weeks back. I added a Dollar Tree bird and some moss (I think I may have actually plucked that Spanish Moss right off of the Oak in the front of my house.)A close up of my table scape with all my thrift store, antique shop and junk sale finds proudly displayed! The sea foam green, Melamie, diner style coffee cups and saucers were actually $.50 for the set and my favorite! The little sugar and creamer set on the oval tray were also at the same junk sale for a buck! I love JUNK!!!

And this tea towel was a find at a local antique market for $1.50 and it was actually my inspiration piece that motivated me to decorate in a vintage style :)

Please feel free to link you spring decorations ... I love inspiration!
TFL! Rachel