Slacker!

I've been MIA in the blog world for awhile. I have every intention of being a diligent blogstress but I just haven't had the time. Well, I have had the time..I have just chosen to do other things with it. Anywho, I promise to pick it back up and bring you all some wonderful new projects (I say this like people read this thing).

Coming hopefully in the not so distant future will be a tutorial on how to make these adorable toddler aprons! It will be my first time making a tutorial so bear with me!

 

There is just one project that has to be completed before I can get my sew on again. That would be my new and improved craft room! Pictures soon! 

 

B is for BIRTHDAY!

Warning: PHOTO BOMB AHEAD!!

 

 

The letter of the day was B.

 

 

 

It just so happened to be Kenzie's 4th Birthday!

 

Daddy took her to see the Croods. Doesn't start with a B, but oh well :)

 

 

We spent the evening at Frederik Meijer Garden's Butterfly exhibit!

 

The girls all ready to go..

 

 

 

 Butterflies!

 

 

Exploring

 

 

 

Mya being cute :)

 

 

 

There were even quails

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fountain!

 

Cactus'



 

 

Kenzie telling us how Butterflies are made

That was our first time going to Fredrick Meijer Gardens and we will definitely going back. The plant life there was amazing and it's just such a nice environment! It's also a sculpture park so once the weather warms up we will be going back to check that out.

 

We ended the night at AppleBees where they brought Kenzie cake and sang to her!

 



Letter of the day - A

We have started a new theme around the house

 

LETTER OF THE DAY!

 

Today was the first day and the letter was "A"

 

 

 

 

We had Ants on a log for a snack

 

 

 

 Then, we made mini Apple pies for a special birthday treat to eat tomorrow!
 

A martini glass was the perfect size to cut out the dough

 

 

We even used our "4" cookie cutter to make the top crust!

 

 

 

I used Knit and Bake's recipe. They were delicious!

 

Wait until you see what we have planned for tomorrow!

 

"B" just so happens to be for Birthday and Kenzie is turning 4!

 

 

 

PS- Little man enjoyed his first taste of a banana today :)

 



Chicken Pot Pie Cupcakes

Another Pinterest dinner for the win!

 

Chicken Pot Pie Cupcakes

 

Easy. Delicious. The kids love that they look like cupcakes!

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Picky hates carrots so I made broccoli and cheese ones especially for him

 



 

You can find the recipe over at SunnySlideUp

 

..and I'll even paste it here for convenience :)

Ingredients

• 2 cups of cooked chicken breasts diced
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup frozen mixed veggies
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 tablespoon of dried thyme
• 1/2 tablespoon of dried basil
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 2 (10 oz) cans Pillsbury biscuits

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 400.
2. In a large bowl, combine the cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, frozen veggies, cheese, herbs and spices.
3. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin and place the Pillsbury biscuits into each cup, pressing into the bottom and up the sides.
4. Evenly spoon the pot pie mixture into each biscuit cup. Slide into the oven and bake for about 15 minutes. Check at the 12 minute mark.
5. Let rest for about 3 minutes and dig in!

 

 

 



DIY Earring Holder

I went through this earring phase a few years ago. I actually enjoyed wearing them for awhile. The problem was that I had all these earrings and no where to put them! I took matters into my own hands and solved the problem. All it took was an old picture frame, wire mesh, and a staple gun. The wire mesh is the same as a screen door, so if you have an old screen door laying around that's a bonus.

 

Just take an old frame and staple the wire mesh to the back. Simple as that!

 

The finished product:

 

 

I love the vintagey look and it hangs right on the wall!

 

 



Toddler Halter Top

I really need to get my butt in gear and bust out my sewing machine. I haven't sewed anything since before Mason was born...5 months ago!

 

Here's a throwback. Toddler halter tops! I made these when Kenzie was a wee one. It was my first time utilizing biased tape and it was surprisingly simple.

 

 

 

 

Awww isn't she adorable. She was 16 months here. She is going to be four NEXT week!!

 

 

 

 

Front:

 

Back (it really wasn't lop sided, I just didn't adjust it before the picture):

 

You can find the tutorial for these toddler halter tops over at The Green Wife



Laundry Organization

The day before I was induced with Mason we took a trip to Menards. We purchased an $80 shelf for our laundry room. My mom put it together for me while I was in the hospital and stocked it with laundry baskets. It was definitely nice to come home to! I was terrified of all the laundry that comes along with having a 3 year old, 1 year old, and a newborn. This made things SO much easier!

 

 

I'm horrible at putting away laundry. If I attempt to put it away when the kids are awake they are throwing around hangers and knocking over the folded clothes. I can't put it away after they go to sleep because, well, that is where their dressers and closets are! Don't get me wrong, I definitely do laundry..it's just that the clean clothes are stuffed into laundry baskets and then scattered throughout the house.
 

Well, that's not the case anymore! Those baskets stuffed with clean clothes are now neatly placed on my wonderful shelving unit. The clothes come out of the dryer and are placed directly into each child's basket. Once I get a chance to put them away I just grab a basket of presorted clothes. I even used my handy dandy label maker and labeled the baskets and their spot on the shelf. It is also a huge help to my husband because when I ask him to grab me something he doesn't get lost.

Our shelf holds 12 regular sized laundry baskets and we even have room left on the top for storage!



Smothered Chicken

I really wanted to share the recipe for one of our most delicious dinners to date. It's chicken smothered in a creamy spinach sauce and mushrooms. MMMM..it was seriously so good! My husband is very picky and he loved this dish. He has requested it once a week!

The roasted asparagus was a little too tough for our liking. Since then we've been wrapping it in tin foil and grilling it in butter. It's SUPER tender that way :)

Thumbs up from Mr. Picky!

If a 1 year old clears her plate then you know it must be good!

This recipe was taken from Bacon, Butter, Cheese & Garlic

PS- I left out the red onion and the white wine.

SMOTHERED CHICKEN

FOR THE CREAMED SPINACH:

1 large bag of spinach leaves

4 ounces cream cheese

1/4 C shredded parmesan cheese

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 T red onion, minced

2 T olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

FOR THE SAUTEED MUSHROOMS:

8 ounce package of mushrooms, sliced

1/2 stick butter

2 T olive oil

1/2 C white wine

2 cloves garlic, minced

Salt and pepper to taste

FOR THE CHICKEN:

4-5 boneless chicken breasts

8-10 slices Mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/8 inch slices

1 T garlic powder

1 T seasoned salt, like Lawry's

1 teaspoon pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle the garlic powder, seasoned salt, and pepper on both sides of the chicken. Bake for 16 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the creamed spinach. Over medium-high heat, melt 2 T olive oil in a skillet. Add in the onions and saute 2-3 minutes. Add in the spinach and garlic. It will shrink ridiculously. When it's cooked through, stir in the cream cheese and parmesan cheese. Continue cooking and stirring until the cream cheese is melted. Remove from heat.

For the mushrooms, melt butter and 2 T olive oil in a skillet. Put the mushrooms in and cook until browned all over. Don't season with salt until they are browned or they will never brown. Deglaze the pan with the wine. Add in the garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook until most of the wine is cooked out.

Flip the chicken pieces over. Divide the spinach and mushrooms over the top of each breast. Lay two slices of cheese over each piece of chicken. Cook another 12-14 minutes or until cheese is browned and chicken is done.

I really hope you enjoy!!!