Wildcard Wednesday: Grinch board

One of my favorite Christmas movies is "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." I love how it demonstrates that Christmas isn't about all the stuff we get. 

So I got a bit creative this year and decided that I needed a board outside for Christmas like I did for Halloween.  But I wanted something unique and not just "Merry Christmas" or "Santa Stops Here." so I designed up the vinyl for this using my Silhouette machine and me a cute new decoration.  I love it and can't wait to put it out.  

And  if wood crafts aren't your forte, I made up this printable for you to have with the same saying.  I used a kit from Leaving a Legacy Designs called "All Wrapped up"  

(You can find it here if you want you own...there are tons and tons of papers and elements)

Download here

You can choose either 8x10 or 5x7.  Both are included in the file =)

Sweet Tooth Tuesday: S'more Cookies

Yes, I know I have done s'more cookies before, but this is a different version.  And my husband's new favorite.  I recently made these and took them to the job I am working during the holidays...trying to bribe my way into making everyone like me.  It worked =)  Well...until they ate more and more and ruined their diets and now they don't like me for that =) These are super good and you should go make them right now!!

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups flour
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup Hershey Bar chunks (I crunched up a king sized bar) you can use chocolate chips instead
1/2 cup Jet Puffed Mallow Bits (the min marshmallows you find in hot chocolate packets), they are found in the hot chocolate isle at Walmart and Target

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. Using a mixer, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat for an additional 2 minutes.

 In a separate bowl, whisk together the graham cracker crumbs, flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and mix on low speed until the dough just comes together. Add the chocolate and marshmallows and stir to combine.

Place tablespoon sized scoops of dough onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes.

Makes 2 dozen cookies.

Foodie Friday: Brocolli Cheese Soup

Once the cold weather sets in, my favorite thing to do is make soups!  Which bugs my hubby because he isn't a soup person (he is a meat and potatoes type person)  But oh well, every once in awhile I have to cook a meal that is for ME and not everyone else and they just have to deal with it.  You get what you get and you don't throw a fit! =)  I love broccoli and cheese soup but the canned stuff has way too much salt for me.  So when I found a recipe that didn't have any canned stuff I had to try.  I think this is a keeper!

3 tbsp. oil

1/3 of a yellow onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped or minced

salt and pepper to taste

3 tbsp. flour

2 1/2 c. chicken stock or broth

3/4 c. milk

1 1/2 c. broccoli florets

2 c. white cheddar cheese, shredded, plus extra for garnish (you can sub yellow cheddar if you want)

1 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded

seasonings to taste (I used some roasted garlic and herb seasonings)

In a large saucepan, heat oil.  Add onions and saute.  Add garlic and salt and pepper.  Cook until onions are translucent, about 3 minutes.  Add flour to pan and stir until the moisture is soaked up, and cook for 1 minute.

Add stock a little at a time, mixing to incorporate all ingredients and work out any lumps.  Add milk.  Bring mixture to a simmer and add broccoli.  Simmer over medium heat until soup has thickened slightly, about 10-15 minutes.  Remove from heat and break up chunks by putting some in a blender or food processor.  Do as much or as little as you want, depending on how chunky you like it.  Return soup to heat and simmer for another 5 minutes.  The stir in cheese.  Stir until all the cheese is melted and thickened.  Ladle into bread bowls and garnish with extra cheese if desired.

DIY Book Safe

I try really hard to get people gifts that I know they will love, but there are some people that are harder than others. Like my brother in law. Love the man to death bu the is hard to shop for. So for his birthday this year I stalked him on Pinterest to try to get some ideas. And amid the video games and the pictures of tanks I found this fun idea. Make your own book safe. 

DIY Thursday: Thanksgiving kitchen dress towel

A few days ago my mother in law gave me this cute towel that she made. I thought it was too cute not to share! I'm not one who sews, but it looks as if it would be incredibly easy to make. All it needs is some fabric, a dish towel, and ribbon. I took a picture close up so you can see how to exactly attached everything. Go ahead and try to make one! If you're not someone that sews I know that Quilted Bear sells some cause I was just in their yesterday and saw a booth with some! Wouldn't this be cute and good to use on Thanksgiving Day!?!

Foodie Friday: Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

2-3 chicken breasts

3 celery stalks

3 carrots

1 onion, minced

2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 tsp dried basil

2 bay leaves

6 cups broth (I used about 7-8 bouillon cubes for mine...I like the extra flavor)

plus any extra seasonings you like.  I added minced garlic, and I have this super yummy roasted garlic and herb seasoning that I put on.

2 1/2 c. uncooked egg noodles

Slice your celery, thin.  Shred your carrots. Place the celery, carrots and onion in the bottom of the slow cooker.  then put your chicken on top.  I did mine whole and still frozen.  Pour the broth in.  Then let it cook on high for about 4 hours, or until the chicken is cooked thorough.  When it is done, shred the chicken (I put it in my kitchenaide and let it do the work).  Then let it cook to get some flavor soaked in.  While that is happening, cook your noodles.  Once the noodles are done, add them in the soup and let them cook for about 1/2 hour on low, to soak up some of the flavor.

This was the perfect meal for a rainy day.  I like my soups chunky and this is definitely chunky and full of lots of stuff.  You can add more broth if you like more liquid.  It is a very forgiving recipe =)  Serve it up with some nice warm rolls and YUM!!!!!!

Foodie Friday: Hawaiian sammies

This meal was super easy and quick to do.  It could easily be something you can throw together for a luncheon, party, family get together or picnic because the rolls taste good cold after they are cooked. (I may have snacked on one in the middle of the night....)

1 package of 12 count Hawaiian Sweet rolls

1 onion, minced

1 stick of butter or 1/2 c. margarine

3 tbsp. dijon mustard (I used spicey brown mustard)

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

3 tsp. poppy seeds

1/2 pound shaved ham

8 slices swiss cheese

Melt the butter in a small skillet and onions.  Combine mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and poppy seeds into butter/onion mix.  Let it simmer for several minutes to thicken a bit.  

Slice your rolls as a group length wise and place the bottom in am aluminum lined 9x13 pan.

Spread 3/4 of the onion mix on the rolls.  layer the ham and then the cheese and top with the top layer of rolls.  Then spread the remaining mixture over top.  Bake covered with foil for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

DIY Thursday: Peace Craft from Crafty Wood Cutouts

 Hey everyone it's Tifany! I had the opportunity to do a craft for Crafty Wood Cutouts. For those of you who may not know anything about the store, they are similar to the Wood Creations store that we have done guest posts for before in the past. I enjoyed creating and want to thank Macie at Crafty Wood Cutouts for the opportunity to do a craft.  These guys are located in Orem and have lots of cute unfinished wood crafts. Check them out by clicking on the links. You can find them on Facebook, Pinterest, and their Website.  

 My finished product

 What you need:

• Scrapbook paper
• Paint that matches your paper
• Mod Podge
• Wire
• Ribbon
• Hot glue gun
• Jewels or any other kind of embellishments

This is what the craft looked like when I first got it: I just needed to sand a few of the edges before beginning to paint and create.

Step 1:  First I traced and cut out my letters on scrapbook paper. You can use sandpaper to file off any excess paper that hangs off the edge of the wood.

Step 2:  Paint the letters as well as the star, and baby manger. The front surface of the letters doesn't need to be painted because that is where the scrapbook paper is going to go.

 Step 3: Apply a THIN layer of mod podge on each letter, doing so one at a time, and carefully place your scrapbook paper on. Smooth out your surface and let dry. It should dry pretty quick.

Here is all the letters with the scrapbook paper on them.

Step 4: Once your mod podge has dried, file off any excess paper that is hanging off. You can use sandpaper or I have found that using a nail file works really well. This is pretty easy.

Step 5: Apply your finishing touches. Apply another thin layer of mod podge over the paper to seal and protect it, curl your wire if you wish and glue it on, glue together the manger, tie on some ribbon, and place on some jewels if you wish. It's kind of hard to tell from the picture, but I also put some glitter on the star and then mod podge over it to seal it. Once you do that you have a cute new Christmas craft!

Now go out and get your own PEACE letter set!

Wildcard Wednesday: Dino Birthday Card

Need a fun birthday card for that cute little boy?  I made this fun dinosaur card.  Here is the link so you can download it yourself and print it off!!  Just fold in half and fill out the middle with that special message =)

Download here

I used this super fun digital scrap book kit to make.  Did you know that you can do more than just scrapbook with this stuff?  You can make all sorts of printables!!  So if you have a dino themed party, you could make some awesome invites, labels, games, or even make your own stick puppets with the dinosaurs!!!

Joyful Expression's Store

Sweet Tooth Tuesday: Hot Cocoa Cookies

Do you like those mini marshmallows that are in hot chocolate?  I love them but it seems like there are never enough in the package.  Well...I found these fun things so I don't have that problem again!!  

They sell the mini marshmallows separate now!! 

 I found them at Walmart and Target.  Plus, there is a great recipe on the back for some yummy cookies!!  so of course I had to make them.  I think they were a hit and will be repeat visitors to my oven =)

1 1/4 c. butter, softened

1 c. sugar

2/13 c. brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

3 1/4 c. flour

4 pkgs. instant hot cocoa mix (don't use sugar free)

1 1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 c. chocolate chips

1 c. Jet-puffed Vanilla Mallow bits

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Beat butter and sugars together.  Add eggs and vanilla.  combine flour, cocoa mix, baking soda and baking powder in a separate bowl.  Gradually mix into butter mix.  Stir in chocolate chips and marshmallow bits.  

Drop 2 tbsp. dough, about 2 inches apart.  Bake about 9-11 minutes (I did mine 8-9 but I like my cookies soft)  Cool on a baking sheet and enjoy.

Foodie Friday: Easy breakfast

Are your mornings ever crazy and hectic?  Do you ever feel bad just giving the kids cereal everyday?  I sure do!  Mornings are always busy with school now because I like to sleep as long as I can.  So here's my solution:  freezer meals!!  What I do is one day, usually a Saturday or Sunday, when I actually have time to make breakfast, I make a double or triple batch of whatever I have planned.  It really isn't much extra work to make extra pancakes or waffles.  Then whatever doesn't get eaten, I throw in a freezer bag and freeze.  Then the kids can just grab them and throw them in the microwave, add butter and syrup.  I also do breakfast burritos and pancake muffins.  It makes it nice that they can have a variety and I don't have to cook every day!!