Who Doesn't Love FREE?

Click HERE to get a free sample of Betty Crocker Potatoes.

Pop on Over......ASAP

It is finally our 100th post! And to celebrate we are giving away this watch band.

To win become a follower and leave a comment about 1 or more of your favorite posts you have enjoyed from our site. Good Luck! The winner will be announced on Wednesday!

Weekly Menu

Monday: Breakfast for dinner (Bacon, Eggs and Pancakes)

Tuesday: Skillet Lasagna, Salad, Garlic Bread

Wednesday: Eat Out

Thursday:Quesidillas

Friday: Chicken Roll-Ups and Veggie

Saturday: Marinated Grilled Chicken, Onion Soup Potatoes, Veggie

Sunday: Popcorn Shrimp, Baked Potatoes, Veggie and Rolls

Blog Swap {Somewhat Simple}

We are so excited that Stephanie let us do a blog swap with her! She has a great website with so many fun ideas! I love her Menu board, what a fun thing to have in your kitchen!

I am the creative mind behind somewhatsimple.

I come to you all the way from sunny Arizona- the place I have called home for the last 4 years!

I am just your average stay-at-home-mom who loves to craft in any spare time I find! I am married to my favorite person in the world and together we are raising 3 pretty fantastic kids.

I love the color blue, traveling, eating, shopping, playing with my kids, cooking & creating fun crafts.

I hate Peeps candies, the weeds in my garden than never stay away, running as a form of exercise (so boring!), and nude sun-bathing neighbors!

I started somewhatsimple because I wanted a creative outlet to share craft ideas, tutorials and yummy recipes!

Here are a few of my recent creations:

Right now I have a "Popularity Contest" going on- jump on over to somewhat simple and you could be the lucky winner of some pretty awesome projects!

I love getting to know other bloggers out there who share the same crafty passions as I do!

Alish & Whitney are so fantastic!!! (Isn't this blog awesome?!)

Special thanks to them for letting me take over this blog for the day! I feel so special! (Can I be your honorary sister?!) he he...

Have a great weekend everyone!

Altered Purse Notebook

I absolutely love how this project turned out. I was inspired to make this from Inking Idaho HERE. I love so many of the projects she makes. This was fairly simple and so fun. My daughter is loving me!

Here are the steps to make a composition notebook into a purse.

1. I used an exacto knife to trim the corners off of both sides. I did not measure it. But just did what looked good to me. I continued to use the knife to trim all the layers of papers and the bottom cover.

2. I then covered both sides with scrapbook paper applied with mod podge. After it dried I trimmed off the excess.

3. I then hot glued on the ribbons for the handles.

4. Then I cut a tab to fit between the handles and seemed to be the right size for the look I wanted. I mod podged it onto the back. Then I used a velcro circle to secure the tab onto the front of the notebook.

5. Last add embellishments to spice it up.

I love these and would love to make more.

Free Red Box Mondays

Did you know that you can rent a Red Box every Monday for free?! You can sign up to have the code text messaged right to your phone by signing up HERE!! The code will be sent to you every Monday! You can also sign up for e-mails that will send you special offers! Who doesn't love free?

Grilled Salmon & Rice Packets

I found this recipe HERE at Betty Crocker. I love salmon. I know seafood is one of those things people either love it or hate it. If you love it, like I do, this is a great recipe. It is really easy, tasty, and hardly any clean up. I simplified a few things. Here is my version.

2	cups uncooked instant rice
1 3/4	cups chicken broth
1	cup matchstick-cut carrots
4	(4 to 6 ounces each) salmon fillets
1	teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
1/2	teaspoon salt

Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat. Spray four 18x12-inch sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil with cooking spray.

Mix rice and broth in medium bowl. Let stand about 5 minutes or until most of broth is absorbed. Stir in carrots.

Place salmon fillet on center of each foil piece. Sprinkle with lemon pepper seasoning and salt; Spoon rice mixture around each fillet. Fold foil over salmon and rice so edges meet. Seal edges, making tight 1/2-inch fold; fold again. Allow space on sides for circulation and expansion.

Cover and grill packets 4 to 6 inches from low heat 11 to 14 minutes or until salmon flakes easily with fork. Place packets on plates. Cut large X across top of each packet; fold back foil.

Don't these look Yummy?!

I have got to make these Chocolate Carmel Pretzel Rods!! Found them here!

Weekly Menu

Sunday:BBQ @ my parents- Cool and Creamy

Tuesday:Taco salad, black bean salsa

Wednesday:Swedish meatballs, baked potato, corn on the cob

Thursday:Skillet Lasagna

Friday:Sour Cream Enchiladas

Saturday:Steak, potato, corn on the cob

If you want any of these recipes just let us know!

"Cool" Neck Wrap

My mom recently made these neck wraps for the youth she went on the trek with. I think they would work great if you have kids that are involved in any activities outside! (softball, track, hiking, etc.) Click here for some great directions I found.

She bought the beads to go in them at Michaels. You could find them at any craft store.

Circus Birthday

To Celebrate my 1 year old's birthday, we had a Circus Party. It was so fun!



The Guests:
This was my favorite part.
I made all the party guests take a photo wearing clown gear. I think they turned out so fun. Here are some of the photos.

The Cake:
It was so easy. It is a 9" round cake on the bottom with cupcakes stacked on top. I layered 7, 3, and 1 on the very top. My kids helped decorate it (I am sure you can tell) with gummy lifesavers, skittles, and sprinkles.

The Clown:

My little sister volunteered to be the clown at the party and the kids loved it!

The Fun:
My husband and sister did face painting on the kids.

Bean Bag Toss

Bouncy Ball Croquet

Obstacle Course

The Party Favors:
I filled popcorn containers with fun masks, bubbles, treats, etc. for the kids to take home.

Coupon Shopping

Someone asked a question on where is a good place to find coupons. Your local newspaper usually comes out with coupons on Sundays. There are also lots of online coupons out there too!
Here are some great sites for coupons.

coupon.com
bettycrocker.com
redplum.com
smartsource.com

There are also some sites that I love that teach and help you get the best deals. They give great examples and pictures so you understand what is going on. I have found that I can usually get the best deals at Albertsons. Happy Shopping!

My favorite sites:
krazycouponlady.blogspot.com
athriftymom.com
pinchingyourpennies.com

Altered Magnet Board & Clips

I absolutely LOVE how this magnet board turned out! I was inspired HERE by nanny goat.
I bought a plain magnet board with frame from Robert's Craft. I painted the frame chocolate, cut the scrapbook papers to cover the board and frame and mod podged them on then added embellishments for the finishing touch.


A couple of close ups.

These are the clothes pin magnets I made to go with the board.
I cut paper to fit on the clothes pins and then used mod podge to glue them on and inked the edges.

On the back, I used magnet strip and cut them the right size to fit. And even though they already had adhesive on the back, I hot glued them on to secure them better.

Weekly Menu

Monday: Sloppy Joes, veggies with dip

Tuesday: Cajun Chicken Pasta

Wednesday: Southwestern Egg Rolls

Thursday: Whole Chicken (in the crock pot), rice pilaf, veggie

Friday: Bean & Cheese Burritos

Saturday: Skillet Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Salad

Sunday: Grilled Chicken Brushetta, Potatoes, Veggie, Cool & Creamy Fruit Salad

Coming Up!

We are excited that our 100th post is coming up soon. To celebrate, we will be having a Giveaway. One lucky reader will win a fabulous prize made by us. To win you have to be a follower and leave a comment on our 100th post. Stay Tuned!

Coupon Organizer

I found this file in the dollar stop at Target. As soon as I saw it, I knew it would be the perfect way for me to reorganize my coupons. I love how it is the perfect size for all those coupons I print online and still small enough to fit in my purse.

VT August 2009

Learn S,more

HERE is a darling idea for your August Visiting Teaching from a bushel an a peck of fun.
Melissa, Ammie and Kelly don't be surprised if I show up at your door with this soon.

Showers-n-Stuff

I LOVE this shower cleaner! A friend told me about it and I am so glad I bought it. It works so great! I got it from Don Aslett's cleaning supply store. I just spray it on and let it sit for a couple of minutes then scrub away!

Chocolate Crinkles

These have been one of my favorite cookies since childhood. I loved when my mom used to make them. A little messy, but so yummy!

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

1/2 c. shortening
1 2/3 c. sugar
2 eggs
2-1oz bakers chocolate squares unsweetened (melted)
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1/3 c. milk
2 tsp. vanilla

Cream shortening, sugar, eggs and baking squares together. Then add flour, salt, baking powder, milk and vanilla. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Then roll into 1 inch ball and roll in 1/2 c. powdered sugar. Then bake cookies at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes.

Cooking tip: If you do not have baking squares you can use cocoa and butter or shortening.

1 baking square=3 Tbsp. cocoa + 1 Tbsp. butter or shortening

Melt in microwave and mix together.

Hearty Chicken and Noodle Casserole

1 Can mushroom soup
1/2 C. milk
1/4 Tsp. ground pepper
1/4 C. Parmesan cheese
1 C. frozen mixed veg.
2 C. cooked cubed chicken
2 C. cooked egg noddles
1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese

Stir soup, milk, black pepper, Parmesan cheese, vegetables, chicken, and noddles in 1 1/2 qt. casserole dish. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until hot. Stir and then top with cheddar cheese.

Post-it Note Holders

I just love these, and can't wait to make them.

They were found HERE at Kerry's Craft.

Backpack Tags

Last year, I made the mistake of writing my kids' names and phone number on their backpacks in permanent marker. When they wanted/needed new ones all the information was still on them. So, this year I made backpack tags for each of them. On the back of the tag it has all their personal information. I love that these can be moved from bag to bag each year.

To make them, I used a baseball card holder. They are thick and very durable. I found these at Walmart. Then I scrabooked a cute front and back and printed off the personal information and pasted it onto the back of the tag. Then punched a hole and added the metal ring. It was really quick and easy.