31 Days of Pinterest, Days 21 and 22

CH is away and I have been feeling like a proper house wife. Cooking and cleaning and content to stay at home taking care of my family and getting things done.

This morning I came to the realization that I really seem to have a mental block when it comes to CH being home and my ability to get things done.  I suppose subconsciously, I feel like if he isn't doing anything but what he wants (sleeping) then why would I be cleaning out the fridge or washing the floors?  It is not really okay and I need to work on that. I have an appointment on Wednesday. ;)

So what has been happening around here?

Well, Baby J was born.

J for Josephine since The Mouth's actual name is Josh and The Boss' actual name Jamie I suppose they thought it would be cute to keep the J theme going - and it is.  I have to wonder if they will name subsequent children with J's as well.  Subsequent children?  perhaps I am getting a little ahead of myself!

Strangely, I think she looks like her mother.  First Ihas in history to not look like an Ihas, but still cute as a button. LOVE LOVE LOVE her hair.

I am very much looking forward to meeting her but at the same time I am a little terrified.  I will save that drama for another day.

{via}

So what else?  Nothing Pinterest worthy I am afraid.  I have been trying to do some de-cluttering.  With CH gone, it is easier to throw stuff in the trash or take it to the Sally Ann - when he is here we tend to feed off of each other's hoarding tendencies. ;)

Yesterday I loaded up a black garbage bag full of miscellaneous junk I still had in bins and what not from the shop.  That's right.  The shop. The one I closed a year ago and I am just now finding the time to sort through stuff.  Maybe a little part of it is that I didn't have the heart for it and now I just want a clean, clutter free home!

So, I might make some cookies today.  (The little man asked me to, we shall see if I can find the time.)  If I do, I will be using this best every chocolate chip cookie recipe from Martha Stewart.

They are so good it hurts but they are so very very bad.  Pretty much sugar, butter and, as The Little Man said, fry it and you are done. In my house we call them Auntie Surely's Chocolate Chip Cookies.

They are so, so good.  I dare you to eat just one.

31 Days of Pinterest, Day 1

I'm doing it again! The Autumn always feels like a new beginning for me which is kinda strange considering everything around me is dying or going dormant but, heh, whatevs. ;)

So new beginning, this is so it, I'm back in. I am going to go all the way. I'm going to get back to my faithful blogging starting with a 31 Days kick off. So many pins - 2537 pins and 1612 likes; which are basically pins waiting to be pinned. I like to check out the link before it goes on my boards. Anyway, point being - that's a lot and I should use them - or at the very least entertain you with them! :)

Super Yummy Cheesy Vegetable Chowder

Highly recommend it. It was easy to make and was delicious. As usually my shorties were luke warm on it but CH and I both loved it.

See you tomorrow! :) Tina

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Something New

I just ordered some business cards from Vista Print and since I put this web address on the card, I thought I had better post about something I made (or in this case am about to make) rather than going on about CH or the brats of whatever else crosses my mind in a day.

I just finished a big batch of owls but ran out of stuffing so they are going to have to wait until tomorrow. First batch with my labels - and I think it makes a huge different!

I am a messy worker (no comments please PITA) but I always tidy up in between projects. Went to clean off my cutting table to start a fresh batch of bags and I just couldn't disturb her.

We have a guest Pom-chi the last couple of days and I think she is tired from torturing him. ;)

So I put the garment I was going to cut up on my ironing board and then thought - oh my, I need to post about this.

I could not help but wonder who in their right mind would wear a pumpkin orange crush velvet turtle neck!? Seriously. Who?

I am going to cut it up and make orange flowers out of it to add to the turquoise velvet bag I am making for myself. Pretty excited about that.

I made more of the yummy potato soup that I posted about here, and made some bacon as a garnish. I got distracted (again no comments please PITA). It really is easier in the oven but I advise you too set a timer. ;)

Burnt to a crisp!

:) Tina

 

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Very Pinteresting

This week I made a lot of bags and owls, including this one that I found on Noodlehead, via Pinterest (of course!). I actually bought this pattern. It has an interior zipper to close the bag and I need to learn how to do that so I splurged. I, of course, being a rule breaker will follow none of the other instructions and just do it my way...

I also, stumble upon the receipt for Amish bread sour dough starter on Saturday and got started on it on Sunday - I was pretty excited I had made this super delicious Amish Friendship bread that was like a cinnamon vanilla pudding monster cookie in my past life and H1 THREW MY STARTER AWAY! I still have the recipe and I am sure I could have Googled it or something but suddenly, there is was.  As if it were calling my name telling me to bake.

Last week my fabric stash was calling my name, this week it is, apparently, my recipe box. ;)

When I make it, I will post the recipe for my version of this yummy bread (cake) and if you live near by I will be more than happy to share my starter with you.  All you need to do it COMMENT and ask. ;)

:o)  Tina

Mmm Bacon

I made two full packages of it bacon in the over for the first time ever (never going back to stove top cooking bacon - never, not ever!)... for the delicious potato soup that I made again...

I have not been doing much sewing, been pretty sleepy.  Still holding onto what ever it is that has been plaguing me... CH and the Shorties have been having a great time making fun of my voice.  I am getting a little tired of it and would like to yell at them all again some day soon.  At the moment I have to knock on walls or furniture to get their attention as they are collectively too noisy to hear me at all!

Tonight I am going to try to sew some zipper pouches, which has not gone very well for me in the past but I have found yet another tutorial and I am hoping this one will satisfy my overly fussy nature.  I often wonder - do the people who buy my stuff even notice how much attention I put into the little details.  I hope so.

Anyway, it is 9:41.  If I am going to do it.  I had best get on it.

:o)  Tina

Soup is On!

I have been spending A LOT of time on Pinterest lately - I am not to sure why (oh wait maybe because it if packed freakin' full with awesome ideas that somehow manage to inspire me and make me feel totally inadequate all at the same time!!).

I am over 2,000 pins now, with like 1,200 likes.  Pretty crazy.  I have been doing a little organizing and have two boards for pins that I have used - Pinned It. Did It. and Pinned It. Cooked It. There are a few cool things on them that you wouldn't want to miss!  I do not know what I did before Pinterest.  I really love it.

Since Christmas I have tried two new recipes, one of them I am making again tomorrow. :o)

Ham and White Bean Soup
{via}

The first one was not a hit.  In fact, no one - not even CH - would try it.  I think the smell of the (boiled) ham was just too much and nobody but me is really into beans.  It sounded so good that I think I might try it again  and use something other than our Christmas ham.  Perhaps if it where just a ham bone and then chopped ham added or maybe none at all...  I really wanted to like it!

The second one was not much of it with the Shorties, The Mouth and CH both slept through it - The Mouth because he is a lazy neurotic teenager and CH because he was, as he often is, under the weather.  I loved it!!  It was like a delicious slow baked fully loaded potato and lord knows I love baked potatoes.  I had it pinned three time from three different people, it is apparently a copy cat recipe of the Outback Steakhouse Potato soup but as I have never been there I would not know.

I am going to make it again tomorrow so that CH and The Mouth can have some (I gave the rest of the last batch away).  I will make the Shorties Kraft dinner or hot dogs. :o)

Slower Cooker Potato Soup
{via}

Okay, so that is this Monday, next week I will go for something craft!

:o)  Tina

31 Days of Pinterest, Dinner for Hockey Night in Canada on Day 6

So here we are, another day of fun with Pinterest!  Tonight I made this super yummy pulled beef thing.  I liked it, the shorties tolerated it and the men folk (Josh, Jack, and CH) loved it. As you know, everyone in our house watches the hockey and this the perfect hockey night dinner!  I put it all together in the crock pot after dinner the night before and turn it on in the morning as I am heading out the door to work.  When I get home it is done and the part that takes me the longest is washing the crock pot!  I will make this many many times I am sure.

This is the image with from Pinterest, with the receipe attached. Try it.  You will like it!

Source:  artsyfartsymama.blogspot.com via Tina on Pinterest

Yummy - talk to you tomorrow!

:o) Tina

31 Days of Pinterest, Chicken Bleck on Day 5

Well, this one was a bit of a flop... but I tried.  It sounded really good but it wasn't really for us.  I used low fat cream cheese and low fat cream of chicken soup maybe that was the problem.  I put it on pasta instead of rice... was that the problem??  I don't know.  The chicken was delicious but the sauce, meh.

It seems there are a lot of people who really like this recipe so don't let me dissuade you. I might try it again with less seasoning...  I don't know.  It seems like I should like it and it was so very easy.

From forkinit.blogspot.com via Tina on Pinterest.

Better luck next time.

:o)  Tina

Last Night's Dinner and This Morning's Surprise

Last night I made potato wedges for dinner and they were so yummy.  I am a really great cook but, as with everything else, I can sometimes be a little slow out of the gate.  I am trepidatious about trying new things...  but they were so good - and so easy!

From Pinterest! (Yeah, Pinterest)

All I did was peel russet potatoes and quarter them, length wise.  Coat them in oil, salt, pepper, and seasoning salt.  Cooked them for about half an hour at 450, rotating them after about 15 minutes.

Easy peasy and everyone but Penelope loved them.  (She loves Honey Nut Cheerios, honey ham, chicken nuggets  McDonald's cheeseburgers, and just about every fruit or veg you can dream up.  However, potato wedges are not on her personal menu!)

I am feeling very Susie-Homemaker lately so expect more recipes.  I always get cooky in the Autumn. 

As I have little else to do, when I am cooking dinner I am usually doing thinking (yikes!) and last night I suddenly thought - Oh!  Post a need for Pinterest and maybe, you will get an invite.  This morning, there it was.  Thank you so much Karen - if I could I would totally buy you a Starbucks!  You made my day!

So... that means, I have invites to pass on, let me know if you need one (if you only want one you have clearly not been to see Pinterest) and I will happily pay it forward.

Happy Wednesday!

:o)