Fabric Covered CorkBoard

I am not the most crafty person, but I like to fake it sometimes.

There was a gap on the wall by my desk just screaming to be filled with something and clutter on my desk of things that could really use some sort of cork board. I found some cork board squares at the dollar store and picked out some fabric I had that I liked. I really liked the fabric but the small peice I had was not quite big enough to wrap around the edges, so I added ribbon around the edges to give it a more finished look.

I cut one board into two smaller pieces and let the glue gun the work! I like how they turned out, I still need to pick up some thumbtacks so I can get some stuff off my desk :)

Good Food Box

I don't know about you but we go through so many fruits and veggies here. I was naturally pretty excited when I discovered the 'Good Food Box.'  About once a month you can order a small/medium or large box of fresh produce, you pay in advance for whichever size you want then pick it up on a designated day. When I added it up I figured I was getting things for about half price and it was making me experiment with new things I never buy like eggplant and beets. You can find more info for Calgary locations where you too can get cheap produce here.There are no pick-ups through the summer but it will be back up and running in the fall.

Foodie Friday - Scones

These scones are one of my favourite things to put in my baking jars, when we have soup it is so easy to throw together a batch and have some fresh scones. mmmmm. The recipe is really simple but lately I have been adding things like basil or chopped up spinach to make them even more tastey. Without further adieu.

SCONES

4 Cups Flour - I use at least half whole wheat
4 Tbsp Suger
1 tsp Salt
6 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda

1 Cup Butter (you can cut this down if you feel so inclined, just add a little more milk or water)
1 1/2 Cup Milk (you can substitute half of it with water if you feel like it)

Bake 450 for 12-15 minutes.

Slather with butter and enjoy.

Chalkboard Cupboard

 

I bought myself chalkboard paint awhile back and started dreaming up things I can paint with it. I seem to have a re-occurring problem that when I run out of something I think I will magically remember I need it when it comes to grocery list making time, this does not usually work out great. This led to project #1: a chalkboard inside one of my cupboards so I can write things down right away when I run out.

I taped off the edges and painted away!

I had seen this idea on pinterest that you can put an elastic around you paint can and use it to wipe off instead of the side of the can and therefore keep the sides cleaner. I gave it a try and it works great! 

 All my bamboo needed a new home so while I had the paint out I painted this terracotta pot and will transplant my bamboo to it.

 I have way too many other plans for my chalkboard paint but am pretty happy with these two, I use my cupboard list all the time and have my pot on my desk with one of my favourite sayings on it for while I am working, 'Workflow not work-slow.' I bought a chalkboard marker (don't ask me how it works) and it writes great without all the dusty mess. Win-win.

Photoshoot Gone Wrong

Sometimes photoshoots with my girls work out great and sometimes, not so much. I've learnt to never have my heart set on anything inparticular but to just have fun with them and roll with it.

What is going on? - If I can't see you, you can't see me - So bright!

Unamused - Unamused - Trying to be amused but it is so bright

mmm, sucking my food - Look a tree - Sttiiiiiilll Bright

Mmm, suck, suck, suck - Hi, I am the cutest thing ever -  I think I might be done

Sucking on my food still - Where is K going? - I am done

Still sucking my food - horray- hooray, I still don't like the sun

Here is a photoshoot that did go well :) 

Ever have trouble getting pictures of your kids?

Foodie Friday- Crockpot Chicken Chowder

Ever since you read this post about me putting crockpot meal sin ziplocks I bet you are dieing to know what the other recipe was, well your wait is over! Here it is!

Chicken Chowder

1/4 Butter
1/4 C Flour
1 Tbsp Garlic Salt
1 Tbsp Thyme
1 Tbsp Paprika
1/2 tsp Pepper
2-4 Chicken Breasts (depending how chicken-y you are feeling)
2 Cans (14.5oz) cream corn (typing this out I realize I only put one in last time I made it, it worked out fine)
1 Can Condensed Chicken Broth
1 1/2C Diced Onion
1 cup Diced red pepper
1 cup diced green pepper

Put all that in the crockpot and cook on HIGH for 3 hours, or until the meat is cooked 
Pull your meat out and rip it apart into bite size pieces and return to crockpot
Add:

1 Pound chopped mushrooms
 1 can (14.5 oz) Diced Tomatos

Cook on HIGH for 30 minutes
Add:

1 1/2 Cups Heavy Cream
1.2 cup chopped cilantro or parsley

Cook about 15 minutes to reheat and add salt and pepper if needed.

Enjoy!

Sorry, I generally am too excited to eat to take pictures of my food so I guess you will have to make it to see how creamy and delicious it looks!

Go Bag

Once upon a time quite a long time ago we took our young twins to see my younger siblings Christmas play, I brought my diaper bag full of the essentials: diapers, wipes, garbage bag, water, etc. But it was my mother who had what we needed that night. The girls, being quite young, were not that interested in watching and quickly got restless and out of my Mom's purse came a little ziplock bag with a couple little books, then crayons and paper, then a little toy to play with. You would think that first, since her children were far beyond needing to be entertained like this she would no longer carry this little bag but that is not how she is and second that I would be more prepared. I resolved I would also have a bag of goodies in my purse and FINALLY got around to putting something together, it took all of 5 minutes and I have already used it a couple times. The great thing is it hardly takes up any space so I can carry it all the time in my purse without adding unnecessary bulk, which I hate. So here it is!

Here is what is in it:

-Pad of post-it notes
-a few stickers
-a few crayons
-2 tiny books
-2 hotwheels cars
-a handfull of these bracelets, they were cool a few years ago and now I found them on clearance at Staples for next to nothing and my girls love them!

 That is it! Do you have tricks or treats you carry along with you everywhere for when you are ina  situation where kids need to be entertained?