Taking a Break

You may have already noticed, but I am taking a break from blogging. There are a lot of changes going on right now in my life and the thought of blogging just stresses me out. Hopefully I can get back soon...

Going Private...

After receiving several weird comments, I have decided that this blog will be going private. I feel really sad, because I hate when I can't see other people's blog! As long as you are not the people leaving the weird comments (creep on, dude!) I am happy to have you look at our blog! Also, I have been wanting to share Claires first day of Kindergarten pictures, but they all have her school or other kids in them and it made me too nervous! :) So, I'm planning to go private in about a week or so, so start sending those emails in to me! Seriously, I welcome any and all persons who would like to keep up with our family. And, if you are already private and have not invited me shame on you! Kidding, but invite me too at: clairesmom05(at)gmail(dot)com

Thanks for understanding my lameness!! :)

I'm on the Naughty List....

I have something to tell you.

This is harder than I thought it would be...I'm all sweaty...and my stomach hurts....

Okay, here it is....

I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC FOR A WEEK!!!

(Sickening I know)

Stay tuned for a cutie fall project though! :)

Pretend Fried Zucchini

I don't know about you, but I love fried zucchini! The last time we went to Red Robin (Yummm! Did you hear the song?) we ordered an appetizer of fried zucchini and it was....not good. It was not seasoned at all and was kinda mushy. Mushy from grease. 'Cause it was fried. For some reason that just really grossed me out that day! After stewing it over for a bit, and checking out about 10 recipes, I came up with this delicious, healthy, firm to the bite, perfectly seasoned recipe! The secret to the goodness? They are BAKED! Like in the oven baked, not like Willie Nelson baked. On this night I served them with crock pot french dip sandwiches (recipe coming soon!) and ranch dressing to dip them in. And a truly embarrassing dishwasher destroyed plate. (*blushing*)

Here's the scoop:
cut the zucchini into about 1 1/2 - 2 inch chunks (I usually get 3 per zucchini)

Cut each chunk in half

Cut each half into half- ya with me?

Then cut each of those in half. You should have 8 wedges now.
(Oops! No picture for this step!)

Then dump them into a bowl of Italian Dressing, stir, and let marinate for 15 or so minutes. I normally use the fat free, but was out this night so I just used the rest of a Sundried Tomato Italian I had left over. Didn't really make a difference, so use what you have on hand.

After good and marinated dump into the bowl of seasoning. (recipe below)

Then shake, shake, shake. Shake, shake, shake. Shake your booty! Shake your booty!
Is that now in your head? Your welcome! ;)

Then line up on a baking sheet sprayed with a little Pam.

Bake for 15 or so minutes @ 400 degrees. (I usually flip them half way and judge them to be done when the color looks good enough to eat!)

Did you just drool on your keyboard too? I thought so....
(I'm thinking now that I should have shared this recipe when zucchini was in season. Whoops!)

Baked Zucchini Seasoning:

1 cup breadcrumbs
1 t Italian Seasoning
1t salt
1/4 t pepper
1/2 t garlic powder
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

I usually triple this and store the rest in a container in the freezer to use for next time. Saves a few minutes for you the next time...and trust me, there will be a next time!

**Special Announcement**
My friend Sherri and I are starting a fun new blog dedicated to crafts, cooking, decorating, scrap booking and anything else that tickles our fancy!! Check back soon!

Linked up with:

House of Hepworths*Someday Crafts*The Shabby Chic Cottage*Yesterday on Tuesday*
What Allie's Making Now*Today's Creative Blog*Hope Studios*Blue Cricket Design
*My Backyard Eden*Sew Much Ado*

EAT IT!!

Here's a little story for you.

Once upon a time Heidi was inspired. Heidi was inspired my someone who painted and distressed a wooden spoon and glued it on some cute fabric and stuck it in a frame. Now this magical person had a name and a blog, but Heidi is dumb and didn't save it in her "Inspiration" bookmark.
Bad, bad, dumb Heidi. The End.
- Author Unknown

Moral of this story?
Don't be a Heidi.
(If you know who this magical person is, or if in fact you are this magical person, please let me know so I can give them/you some major props, yo!)

Clearly the pictures below aren't wooden spoons, but when I went to the thrift store to find some (I wanted the old school kind that had the hole in the middle...now that I think about it,
what was the purpose of that?) they didn't have any!
Curse you D.I.!!!
Then I happened upon bins and bins of old, intricately patterned silverware. Pretty, pretty!
Bless you D.I.!
And thus one half of this wall in the kitchen was saved!!
(the pictures are HORRIBLE, but I was so excited that this was done I couldn't stand the thought of waiting til morning to take nicer pics...maybe another day...probably not though. I'm lazy like that. There will be no judging on this blog!)

I giant, pink, glittery, puffy heart this frame. It's so chunky!
("I like 'em big. I like 'em chunky." 2 points for whoever names that movie!)

I simply sprayed the silverware, frames, and giant fork. Sanded/stained. Sprayed with sealer.
Easy, peasy!
Then I covered a piece of cardboard with burlap, stuck it in the frames and hot glued those little suckers right on.

Cost breakdown:
1 CHUNKY frame (already had the other..thanks Mom!)....$1
Silverware @ 10 cents each.....$.60
Giant fork.....$3
EAT letters @ 99 cents each....$3 (approx)

I already had everything else in my stash from other projects.

Total: $7.60

BOO YAH!!!
(just keepin' it real)

Linking up with:

House of Hepworth* The Shabby Chic Cottage*What Allie's Making Now
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating*Just a Girl*Tatertots and Jello
While he was Napping*Funky Junk Interiors*Blue Cricket Design*My Backyard Eden
*Sew Much Ado*

Falling for my Porch

Whew! Finally the stupid porch is done!
This is how it went down: do something on the porch...stare at it off and on for a few days...tweak...tweak again...stare again. Repeat for 3 weeks.
Seriously, not only were the juices not flowing, they had gelatanized. (word?)

Behold, the porch in all it's falloween glory!
(spell check is not happy at all with this post!)

I had found a hanging planter at the thrift store for only $.25 each (yahoo!), but didn't want to put yet ANOTHER item in the overflowing garage, so I wrapped some leaves through it and stuck in a fake pumpkin that I got at a garage sale for $1.
I quite like it! :)

I made the wreath last year with stuff from the dollar store that I picked up for $3 and a thrift store grapevine wreath that I got for $1.50. I always have up the grapevine and just switch out different ribbons, flowers, etc with each holiday/season. For Fall I have 5 hanging pumpkins and some ball things cut from a vine that I got at a yard sale 2 years ago for free!
Cute, cheap, and easy!! (that's what he said!)

I had the pail empty to begin with, but the height difference between the scarecrow and the other two things were buggin, so I may or may not have cut branches from the bushes in the landscaping next to our house...did I mention that we rent? I also added some leaves from a vine bought at Wally World 6 years ago and the rest of the ball vine things.

I want to paint that bench, but I can't decide what color. I think I would also paint the hanging basket the same color. Any suggestions?

So all in all I spent $0 on the porch for this year!
I think that means that I can spend some money for the Christmas porch...oh wait...
already did that...
(yes, I bought Christmas decorations in October. I clearly have issues.)

Linking up with:

Tatertots and Jello

House of Hepworths

The DIY Showoff

The Shabby Chic Cottage

Yesterday on Tuesday

Just a Girl

What Allie's Making Now

Funky Junk Interiors

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Someday Crafts

Greek Food = Love

My title rings true! I really think that Love is a main ingredient in Greek food. That and crack, because seriously I am ADDICTED!!

I also think I am addicted to the men....

Anywho, while out and about last Saturday we came across the Greek Food Festival in Ogden. Score!!
Claire has never tried Greek before, so we stopped in. (this was all for Claires sake, not mine...)
The smells were AMAZING! The line was not.

This is us standing in line for 20 min. Clearly we are too excited by the smells wafting our way to get too annoyed...mmm...

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! Love on a plate! (my stomach is growling at the memory)

Although her face would indicate otherwise, Greek was a hit with Claire! She tried everything we offered her, but especially loved the flat bread. (Hey, no judgment here. I love it too!)

Spencer picked up this cool Greek soda...tasted like a simple syrup. Hey, Stavros, stick with the food will ya? The drink was utter failer!

I love that Claire tries new food, and pretty much always likes it! So far she has tried:

Greek
Sushi
(I know that's a menu item, but it deserved to be on the list)
Indian

and although not as impressive she also loves:

Chinese
Mexican
Italian

We are raising a child of the world. Take that Brangelina!!