Gettin' Crafty on Hump Day....

Hey everyone, its that time again!!!!!! I apologize to anyone that I didn't get to your post to leave you some comment love last week. With the holiday and then sickness in the family, its been a crazy week! I'll try to be better this week, I usually make sure to comment on each and every link :)

Ok, so no solicitations, and please leave some comment love if ya post :)

Last week our most popular link came from Buns in a Row with this AWESOME PB knockoff wreath:

Isn't she purdy?!?!??! I have all the makings for an "Eddie Ross" Christmas bulb wreath...now I just need to find a wire hanger and I'm set to go! :)

Ok, so party hardy ya'll...

To deep fry, or not to deep fry...

I know there are a lot of "traditionalists" that think deep frying your Thanksgiving bird is a no no, but I have to tell you, we ate a baked turkey this year for the first time in forever, and I MISSED my deep fryer!!!!!!

But they say the proof is in the pudding, so check out this photo of the last deep fried turkey I made:

Look at that perfectly browned and crisp skin, not to mention the tender and juicy meat...that's it, I'm buying another deep fryer before next year.......

So how do you cook your turkey? Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!!!!!

Gettin' Crafty on Hump Day....

Hey guys, its time to PARTY!!!!

And for your viewing pleasure, check out some of my recent posts...I haven't been so good at linking them up to parties like I normally do...

If you're looking for ways to strategize for Black Friday, click HERE

If you want to see how I make a ZERO calorie cake, click HERE

And last but not least, if you're into freezer cooking, check out my BEST freezer cooking recipe, click HERE

Ok, please leave comment love if you link, please don't list any solicitations, and please list my button somewhere on your blog if we're party friends :)

Oh, and, it seems like every week just a couple of people have trouble with the linky. I've contacted them, but haven't heard back yet. I am checking into it though! :)

On your marks, get set...SHOP!

Well folks, my favorite holiday is fast approaching. Yep, you guessed it, black Friday. Oh, wait...what? Oh, its not? Well it SHOULD be! :)

Anywho......I put a lot of thought into my black Friday shopping, and if you're planning on trying it I suggest you do the same. Ya gotta have a game plan cuz you don't want someone pullin' a hail mary and taking the last item of your desire right in front of you. It happened to me once, believe me, its not fun!

I feel I should also stress that black Friday isn't for sissy's. If you want a good deal, you need to get yourself in there and get it. And don't take no gruff from any of those other black Friday shoppers cuz....well...cuz they're CRAZY!

And my best piece of advice, take a friend! Preferably a friend that is looking for the same things you are. That way, you can be grabbing deals from TWO locations! Also, if you're talking to the other shoppers and you find some friendly people, or you see a familiar face, don't be afraid to ask them for help!

Example, if you see Susie from back in the day standing by the portable DVD player you would like, but you're too busy laying across the pallet of GPS units to get one, ask her to get you one!!!!!! Most of the time, people are more than willing to do it because really it takes no more effort to grab 2 than it does to grab one. Now if the item is like HIGH on the wish list, I wouldn't recommend asking for help. Because Susie may smile and say "sure, no problem," but remember, shes the same slut that tried to steal your boyfriend in high school!

And my last tip is simply.....be VERY nice to your spouses on that day. Its a harrrrrdddddddd day for spouses. A stressful day for spouses. Take mine for example, Daddy Warbucks(my new nickname for him) waits by the phone, in casesecurity calls him to come pick me up, or the police call him to let him know I'm at the precinct. And now-a-days of course, hes always worrying about me be trampled. But the worst part for them, is when you come home, with the receipts. I swear poor Daddy Warbucks sprouts a gray hair every year....

Still worth it! :)

A no calorie cake?!?!?!?!??!

This is an oldie, but I figured I'd post about it anyway! It started with a JUMBO pack of Pampers diapers I found at Goodwill for $2.99 (now you know its an oldie because these days Goodwill would have marked it around $30.00 *rolls eyes*).

My sister in law was having a little girl, so I took said pack of diapers, added a little security blanket, some dollar store decorations and little baby toys and a princess hat from a dog costume that I got on MEGA clearance, and VOILA....



I kinda love it...and it was super cheap... :)

Gettin' Crafty on Hump Day....

Do you know what time it is????? Raise your hand if the words "Tool Time" popped into your head when you read that? Still...tool time is not the correct answer, sorry :)

Its time to LINKY PARTAY!!!!!!!!

Last week our most popular link was from Can't Stop Making Things who blessed us with a lovely tutorial for Pottery Barn Knock Off Candles!!!!!

Aren't they PURDY?!?!?!?!? I think so :)

Ok, so, please link up them awesome projects!!!!!! I'm sooooooo needing some inspiration for Christmas gifts...anyone got a linky for that?

Please no solicitations, and please leave some comment love, and list my button on your blog. I sound like a nag, but I gotta say it :)

Oh, and I know a few people mentioned having trouble with the linky last week, if you do, pleaseeeeeee leave me a comment letting me know what type of error or error message you are getting so I can look into it...

On your marks, get set, LINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My FAVORITE freezer cooking recipe...

Lately I haven't done freezer cooking as much as I did at one point, but I still find time to make some of my favorite freezer recipes on occasion. For anyone that is not familiar with freezer cooking, there are a million ways to do it...some cook a whole months worth of meals in a day, some cook two weeks worth. And then theres me...basically, whenever I make a recipe I know freezes well, I make a double batch and freeze half. The main perk of freezer cooking, there is nothing like feeling NO motivation to cook and being able to pull a delicious home cooked meal out of your freezer and serve it up like you've slaved all day! Plus, it takes little more effort to make a double batch of something and by doing so you save yourself time on another day.

This recipe came from a Taste of Home magazine, and in fact it won grand prize in the freezer recipe contest...and oh yeah, those are deliciously crunched up Doritos on top! See recipe below...this is a kid friendly recipe too...my little man LOVES "taco noodles" lol

PS-yes, I plated my food for my blog on a paper plate. Sorry folks, thats just how I roll :)

Taco-Filled Pasta Shells:

2 lbs ground beef

1 C diced onion

2 envelopes taco seasoning

1 8oz package cream cheese

30 uncooked jumbo pasta shells

1/4 C butter or margarine

Additional ingredients (for each casserole)

1 C salsa

1 C taco sauce

Shredded cheese (recipe calls for 2 cups, but use your discretion! lol)

1 1/2 C crushed tortilla chips (I use doritos)

1 C sour cream

3 green onions chopped

In a skillet, cook beef and onion until done, drain. Add taco seasoning; prepare according to package directions. Add cream cheese, cover and simmer for 5-10 minutes or until melted. Transfer to bowl and chill in fridge for 1 hour.

Cook past according to package directions; drain. Gently toss with butter. Dump in 9x13 dish and stick in freezer for a few minutes to quick cool.

Fill each shell with approx 3 TB of meat mixture. Place 15 shells in a greased 9x9 square dish. Cover and freeze for up to three months.

To prepare the remaining shells, spoon salsa into a greased 9in square baking dish. Top with stuffed shells and taco sauce (if you don't like taco sauce omit it...we do). Cover and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with cheese and chips. Bake 15 minutes longer or until heated through. Serve with sour cream and onions.

To use frozen shells:

Thaw in the fridge for 24 hours (shells will be partially frozen still). Remove from dish. Add salsa to dish; top with shells and taco sauce. Cover and bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Uncover; continue as above. Yields 2 casseroles (6 servings each)

Anyone else do freezer cooking? What are your fav recipes?

Giving IS better than receiving...

I just wanted to take a second to share with you a charity that I think is absolutely amazing, and definitely a worthwhile venture! Here is a short video all about it:

I took my son to my FAVORITE place yesterday (the dollar store) and we were able to fill a box with stuff for a child that has NOTHING. I think about how excited these kids get about TOOTHBRUSHES, and then I remember the fight I had with my 4 year old this morning who didn't want to brush his teeth.

We are so fortunate, SO SO SO fortunate, I feel it is a great responsibility of mine as a parent to teach him how important it is to be generous to those that aren't as fortunate!

We also draw names off of the angel tree at Walmart and things like that (once we even drew names off of a senior citizen tree), but I ADORE the message and the mission of Operation Christmas Child and I absolutely had to share it with you all!!!!!! If you are interested in donating a gift for a child in need, please visit:

Samaritan's Purse

When I watch that video, and I see the look of sheer delight on those children's faces, and then I realize, I spent less on that present than I do for my family to go to McDonald's...its amazing what an impact such a small amount can have. Tis the season...

Gettin' Crafty on Hump Day....

Hey everyone, its time!!!!!!!!! Lets link! Last week, our most popular link was brought to us by Welcome Sunshine Home with her spectacular ribbon & gift wrap storage:



Isn't that incredible?!?!? So, lets see what YOU'VE been working on this week :)

Please no solicitations, and please leave me some comment love if you link up. And please make sure my button is somewhere on your blog :)

OK, have at it:

Gettin' Crafty on Hump Day....

Hey ya'll, its time to PAR-TAY! This week I have a small craft to share...nothing too major.

In our house, we're a "drop your stuff at the door" kind of family. Which makes for a very messy entryway. I decided I should attempt to teach my son a different way, and when I saw these hooks at the Dollar Tree, I knew I was on to something.



So with a little help from some scrapbooking supplies I came up with this....

Ahhhhhh, I feel organized already. B is for Backpack, and C is for Coat. Fun AND educational, man I am on FIRE!!!!! Please divert your eyes from the left side of the photo where about 3,000,000 pairs of shoes are attempting to fall out of my closet in an avalanche. Oh well...maybe I'll come up with a shoe organizing craft another day..... :)

In the meantime, get to linking!! Please comment if you link, and leave some comment love on other links you visit. And no solicitations....pretty please :)

Its no picasso but....

My favorite Dollar Store is full of items that for whatever reason didn't sell in a regular store, and end up getting bought in bulk and sold for...yep, dollars. Sometimes, I find the most AMAZING treasures, and I think "HOW DID THIS NOT SELL?!?!?!" I wish this was one of those times.

Would anyone care to take a guess at why this magnificent piece of artwork didn't sell?

You, in the back? Yes, EXACTLY what I thought. Its because the dogs aren't playing poker. Some people have NO respect for real art...

Since I don't really have a room or closet or trash can where the dog/duck theme fits in, I decided to snatch this up for $2 and do something else with it. The frame has gorgeous coloring and is wonderfully banged up and distressed.

Then one day while roaming around my local Dollar Tree I spotted these AWESOME gift bags:

Finally, REAL art :oP

So, I dug out my scissors, got busy with my Modge Podge, went into my mad crafter mode and......

LOVE :)

I realize it would be better if the birds were playing poker, but they just didn't have any bags like that...sorry to disappoint :oP