They only taste like you're cheating!

Sugar-free cookies (healthy no-bakes)

2 cups sweetener of choice
1/2 cup milk
3 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter (don't use margarine)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup pure peanut butter (just crushed peanuts)
3 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup nuts (optional)

Instructions:
Boil sweetener, milk, cocoa and butter together for 1 minute.  Then mix in vanilla, oatmeal, nuts, and peanut butter.  Drop by teaspoon on waxed paper and let set until firm.

The best thing for bums.......

 (Just so you know - I am not being paid to endorse this product.  These are purely my experiences and opinions.)

THIS STUFF IS MAGICAL!!!!!  I have had two premature babies with extremely sensitive skin that was very prone to diaper rash.  I have very dry skin on my hands that tends to crack easily.  My son has dry skin on his cheeks frequently. 

Because of these situations, I have tried almost every diaper rash ointment, lotion, and cream.  The only one that really worked for us, in every situation, was Aqaphor.  It is amazing.  Put it  on a diaper rash and by the next morning, it will be almost completely healed.  I put it on my cracked hands and on my son's cheeks.  I highly recommend it for any sort of skin issue.  You will love it!

Easy (good for you) dinner....

Tin Foil Packet Chicken with Roasted Parmesan Zucchini:

This meal is delicious and so easy. 

Pre-heat your oven to 400.

 Slice 2-3 zucchinis into thin slices and place it in a medium sized bowl.  Sprinkle some salt and pepper over them and then sprinkle 1/4 cup Parmesan over that.  Toss until each zucchini is coated.  Place them on a sprayed cookie sheet.  For less cleanup you could line the cookie sheet with tin foil.

 For the chicken, I bought pre-seasoned lemon and herb chicken breasts.  They were in the freezer section.  You can just as easily add some lemon and herbs inside the packet yourself.   Place a frozen chicken breast in a square of tin foil and fold to create a packet.  Place packets in a baking dish fold side up.  Put them in the oven for 20 minutes.

 After 20 minutes, add the zucchini right alongside.  Leave another 30 minutes or until the zucchini is golden brown.

Take the chicken out, open the packet, and check for doneness.  Make sure there is no pink inside.

The Parmesan creates a wonderful crust on the zucchini and the chicken is moist and delicious.  Healthy and easy!  Enjoy!
p.s. If you want your zucchini a little more crispy - simply put it under the broiler for a minute.  Make sure to watch it so it doesn't burn.

Pizzadillas

We have been on a quest as of late to translate our favorite foods into healthier versions.  We love pizza.  I have been making my own whole wheat pizza dough but we found a much faster, easier way to to it.  Pizzadillas!  Basically it's a quesadilla with sauce and toppings added. 

 These are the tortillas we have been using and they are delicious.  We actually prefer them to white flour tortillas now.  They have a great sort of nutty flavor and the texture is awesome.  Beware though, not all whole wheat tortillas are yummy - you will have to trust me on this point.  :)  This brand is awesome!

 Spray your griddle with nonstick spray and put your tortilla down, add sauce, cheese and whatever toppings you want.  BTW  you can get turkey pepperoni now and it's really good. 

 Just top it with another tortilla, toast both sides and you're done.  Couldn't be simpler and the kids LOVE it!

We use the leftover spaghetti sauce as dipping sauce.  That is the kids favorite part.  Enjoy!

Lid Art.....

I really love the embroidery hoop with the fabric in it look.  I think displaying vintage fabric on your walls is so stylish and if I had embroidery hoops and vintage fabrics, I would do that.  I wanted to recreate that look for less and this is what I came up with. 

I had a lot of old lids lying around.  You know those babies in the bottom of your lid drawer that definitely don't have a container to match.  Yup, those.  I had 5 or 6 plastic lids that used to go on ice cream tubs. I decided I liked the shape and I could make something with them.

I went to Michaels and bought some scrap booking paper that looked like vintage fabric patterns, some craft adhesive, and that was it.  I think it adds a nice softness to a space that has mostly hard edges. 

Step One: Pick out your lids.  You can do any size.  I chose to have them all the same but it might be fun to have different sizes and shapes.  Make sure that they are clean and dry.

Step Two: Paint them.  I used white paint but it would be equally cute with a color.  Just be careful that the paint color you choose doesn't change the look of your paper. 

Step Three: Cut decorative paper to fit inside the top of the lid.  I traced the lid and then just cut in 1/2 inch and that worked fine.  Spray the back of the paper with craft adhesive and then apply it to the lid.

Step Four: Ink the edges of the lid.  Just take a stamp pad and run it along the edge.  This gives it some dimension and ages it a little. 

Step Five:  Hang it up and enjoy.  They are light weight and easy to hang.

I think that a grouping of these with baby themed paper would be adorable in a nursery.  Try a collage of different shapes and sizes.  It's virtually free and sooooo easy.  I love how it turned out.

God Bless My Little Kitchen

God bless my little kitchen,
I love it's every nook.

And bless me as I do my work,
wash pots and pans and cook.

And meals that I prepare,
be seasoned from above.

With Thy blessing and Thy grace,
but most of all Thy love.

As we partake of earthly food,
the table for us spread.

We'll not forget to thank Thee, Lord,
who gives us daily bread.

So bless my little kitchen,
and those who enter in.

May they find nothing but,
joy and peace and happiness therein!

Stephanie Vlaanderen

15 ideas for Valentine's Day.....

I know, I know, Valentine's day isn't until the 14th of February.  I thought I would put a little bug in your ear about it now.  My husband and I trade off who is responsible to plan our anniversary and Valentine's day.  It is fun because we really try to do something special for the other person.  Thus, I am reminding you of Valentine's day with plenty of time to get ready. 

Here are some ideas to consider for your someone special:

1* Trade babysitting with another couple you know - that way you can spend all of your fun money on the date and not childcare.

2* DIY  lingerie = go through that pile of clothes you don't want anymore and pick out an outfit for each of you.  Put each outfit in a gift bag with a pair of scissors.  On Valentine's night, you each get to create the other person's lingerie.  Fun!

3* Have a pedicure together.  I know, not the usual thing for the guys but that's what makes it special.  I think most men would love it.  Go somewhere nice that has massage chairs and a good atmosphere.

4* Find a restaurant that has meaning to you - my husband and I both lived in Brazil for several years so last year he found a really nice Brazilian restaurant.  Any little extra effort makes it so much more meaningful.

5* Go for a long walk, just the two of you.  Hold hands, talk about what you love most about each other.

6* Go see a play - or go to a dinner theater.  It's fun and is a little different than your typical dinner and a movie.

7* Get a couples massage.  My husband and I have done this and it's so relaxing and nice to spend some time together.

8* Give them a little gift for every year that you have been married.  It would be extra nice if you found something that represented each year.  That way you could talk about good memories with each gift.

9* Have something sent to them at work.  It's an oldy but a goody!  Try sending something unique like a tray of cookies he can share with his co-workers or takeout from his favorite restaurant.

10* Drop the kids off with the Grandparents and take your spouse camping.  Surprise them by having the car all packed - pick them up from work and take off.

11* Leave a trail of Hershey kisses from the door to the bedroom.  Put a sweet note inside each kiss.

12* Heart his car - no this is not just for teenagers and newlyweds.  Cut out paper hearts and cover his car in them.  Another way to do this is fill his car with red and pink balloons.  Put a love note inside each balloon.

13* Watch the video from your wedding day or look through your wedding album and talk about how wonderful the day was. 

14* If it's close by, reserve the hotel room where you spent your wedding night.

15* If you keep journals - read passages from important days to each other.  Days like when you first met, when he proposed, your wedding day, etc.

Whatever you choose to do - get planning!  Make it special.  It doesn't necessarily take a lot of money to show someone  you love and appreciate them.  The effort is what is important.  Happy Vaentine's Day planning to you all! :)

Here are some other websites with good ideas:
http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/2010/02/14-days-of-love.html
http://mudpiestudio.blogspot.com/2011/12/101-valentine-ideas-for-under-5.html
http://www.bhg.com/holidays/valentines-day/cards/make-your-own-valentines-day-gifts/#page=11
http://getbuttonedup.com/2011/02/09/tool-free-printable-top-5-things-i-heart-about-you-list/

Mudroom transformation part two...

I finally got around to part two of my mudroom transformation.  I never liked the back door that leads into the garage.  It was flat, white, and constantly covered in fingerprints.  I decided that it could be a canvas instead of an eyesore.  First, I painted the door a dark charcoal grey.  I love that color!  Then it was just figuring out what to paint on it.

I have wanted a wall stencil for quite some time but since they sell for about $100, I never got one.  Then I remembered that I used to cut my own stencils years ago.  I blew up an image I found online for about $2.  Then I bought some plastic sheet protectors for $1.50 and joined them to make one large piece of plastic.  So the total cost of my wall stencil was $3.50.  That's the kind of price I like.

Here's the process.

 I put the blown up image on the table and covered it with a sheet of glass I took out of a picture frame.  Make sure you tape the image to the table so it doesn't shift on you.

 Place plastic sheet over that and tape it down.

 This is a wood burning tool.  They are about $15 dollars at the craft store. Plug it in and wait just a minute or two to heat up.  Don't wait too long because they can get too hot and then it doesn't give you a sharp cut.

 Trace the image with the burner and it will cut the plastic beautifully.  Then once it is all cut, just pop the excess plastic out.  Voila!  You have a wall stencil.

 Spray the back of the stencil with a light coating of craft adhesive and stick it to the surface.  Then tape the edges.  This helps prevent the paint from bleeding underneath the stencil and also just holds it in place.  Don't worry - the adhesive won't stay on the wall.  It will dry right along with the paint. 

Use a stencil paint brush and lightly dry brush the paint on - you use a dabbing motion with very little paint until all of the open portions of your stencil  are covered.  Take you time with this. 

 Slowly pull your stencil off and your image is revealed.  I love how this turned out.

 The finished doorway.  It's so fun and welcoming.  I have a saying made of vinyl that will be the finishing touch. 

I took my sister-in-law's advice and added hooks at 40" so that the kids could hang up their own things.  I love how it turned out. 

This is how the mudroom looks today.  I am still working on accessories and I'm looking for a small chandelier but that will come in time.  This is a fun, easy project that doesn't cost much but makes a huge impact.  Give it a try.  :)

Tuxedo front dress.....

My sewing machine is to me what a computer game is to my husband.  :)  I have been having so much fun with it lately.  I strongly encourage you to make the most of yours.  Read the manual and then read it again.  I am not a great seamstress by any means but there are just so many fun things to sew.

Here is my latest project. I didn't use a pattern so I will try to explain how I did it. At the bottom of the post I will show links to different tutorials that have helped me.

I used the same bodice pattern for this dress that I made for the sheet dress only shorter.  All you do to make this is find a dress with a bodice that you like, lay it out on a large sheet of paper or plastic, trace it, and then cut it out leaving yourself a 5/8" seam allowance. I cut the back exactly the same as the front.  I wanted it lined and the seams not to show so in actuality I cut 4 of the same pattern.  Does that make sense?  :)  Two for the front panel, and two for the back.   

When you sew the lining together with the outside pieces it hides your seams.  Lining at least the bodice of a dress is nice for modestly issues as well as maintaining the color of the fabric.  In the back I made a slit and then sewed in a loop of elastic.  This is an easier closure than a zipper (in my opinion). 




For the front ruffle, I simple cut a 4" wide strip of fabric and hemmed the edges.  You can serge them if you want to do it faster.  Then change your stitch length longer.  Run a stitch down the center of the fabric (don't back stitch of either end).  To ruffle your fabric, hold onto the back thread and scoot the fabric down.  I hope that makes sense. 


Then attach this to the front of the bodice, trim off the excess and sew on the buttons.  I chose high contrast fabrics because I like that look but I think monotones would be just as beautiful.  I found this fabric on a clearance sale.  I got 2 yards for $3.25.  I love the turquoise with the red. I added a band of red to the bottom of the bodice and skirt to tie it all together.

For the skirt, I simply made a wide tube, pleated it, and sewed it onto the bodice.  Don't forget to overcast or serge the inside seams so that you don't get a lot of fraying when it's washed. 

Here is the finished product.  I absolutely love it.  I would have normally done a gathered skirt because it is a little easier but this striped fabric was just screaming for pleats.

I ended up completely opening the back and adding more buttons because it was hard for her to take on and off by herself.  I also added ties when I sewed the bodice up so that it would always fit well at the waist. 

Here is a closeup of the front.

 I love it paired with a little white cardigan.  Great for winter or summer. 

 Helpful websites:
http://www.craftinessisnotoptional.com/2011/01/anthropologie-dress-knock-off-tutorial.html
http://fromanigloo.blogspot.com/2010/04/bubblegum-jumper-tutorial.html

Baked Brown-Sugar & Pepper Bacon!!!

 This is the easiest and most delectable bacon I have ever tasted.  You will love it.  All you need is a package of bacon, pepper, and brown sugar (or brown sugar substitute).

Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees.
Lay the bacon out in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with tin foil.



Sprinkle pepper over the bacon and then brown sugar.  Kroger has an excellent brown sugar, zero calorie substitute that works beautifully.

 Bake it for 20 minutes.  The fat will render onto the tin foil.  This is a breeze to clean up.




Place the bacon on a few sheets of paper towel. 
There you have it.  Crispy, peppery, delicious bacon.  The best part is that you put it in the oven and then you are free to prepare the rest of your breakfast.  It is great on BLT's, in salads, you name it.

Be back on Monday!!

Sorry about the complete lack of posts for the last few days.  We have a pretty sick little girl in our house.  Daily posts will resume on Monday. 
Thanks and have a great weekend!

Strawberry freezer jam... (sugar-free)

My Mom and Grandma always made freezer jam.  Freezer jam is not cooked - making it taste much more like fresh fruit than it's canned counterpart.  It is created using a pectin that forms a gel with far less sugar than traditional jams.  It is the only jam I like and is extremely easy to make.  This is a sugar free version but you are welcome to use regular sugar.  My children love it!  It is very economical to make especially considering you can use the jars over and over again.  Something to note:  I make a large batch, you can easily cut this recipe in half. 

Here are the things that you will need:

8 cups crushed strawberries (frozen or fresh)
2 pkg pectin - it will say freezer jam pectin
approx 6-8 plastic jars with lids
3 cups sweetener of your choice - sugar or artificial

That's it!  Now lets get started!

If you are using frozen strawberries, place them in a bowl and either let them thaw in your refrigerator or defrost them in the microwave before you make the jam.

Once the strawberries are thawed then put them in your food processor and pulse them until you like the consistency.  You will probably need to stop and stir it a little to get the top strawberries incorporated.

I am not a "chunky jam" fan so I blend mine pretty well but it's completely up to you.  You can leave it chunky or make it absolutely smooth - whichever your family prefers.  

Pour  the sweetener or sugar in a bowl and add the pectin.  Stir these together.  Pour the blended strawberries in a bowl. 

Slowly add the sweetener/pectin mixture to the strawberries while you mix it in.  Make sure you mix it well until it is completely incorporated.   Then set your timer and stir for 3 minutes.

Ladle the jam into your clean jars and put the lids on.  These jars can be purchased at most grocery stores in the canning section.  That is also where you will find the freezer jam pectin.  Let the jars sit on your counter for 30 minutes to set up.   

Put the jars in your freezer.  They can stay like this for up to a year.  All you need to do now is pull one out, put it in your refrigerator until it thaws and enjoy!  It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 months.  You will be amazed at how much better it tastes than the store bought version.  It is far less expensive also.  Then when these are all used up, just pull out your jars and make another batch. 

Spread it on whole wheat toast for a nutritious breakfast.  Pair it with natural peanut butter and you have a fantastic sandwich.  You can do this!  :) 

P.S.  You can make freezer jams with a lot of different fruits - raspberry, apricot, peach, etc. 

Also something to note - jam made with real sugar will be sweeter than that made with artificial sweetener but both are equally yummy!