Just (Be) Have More...FUN!

Hello!

Sorry I have been MIA this week.

My work schedule has been kind of hectic, and has left little time for...well, anything.

However, I wanted to stop in today, and end the month with another JUST BE MORE... post.

(This is actually a JUST BE HAVE MORE...post, but the same general idea still applies). :o)

Anyway, over the Summer I want this to be my focus:

Since Picnik is no more I have had to change my Just Be More...template. 

See, N8dogg and I don't really have much planned for this Summer. We have a couple of fun and exciting little things planned here and there, but nothing major. Plus, we both have a couple of not so fun things planned too.

So, I was starting to feel pretty sorry for myself about our NO Fun Bummer of a Summer when I started seeing a bunch of Summer Fun Charts and Calendars all over Blog Land, and had a thought...

What if I made a Summer Fun Chart for myself just as a reminder to have Fun this Summer?

So, that's exactly what I did!

I found these fun Mini Book templates over at Wild Olive...

And made some Fun Books!

Each book is only a week long (so I can fill them out as my schedule changes), and every day has something "Fun" to do on it.

Some days are a lot of Fun...

And some are just a little Fun...

But mostly every day is just a reminder to Have Fun!

Do you have anything Fun planned this Summer? 

I hope so! :o) 

Happy Thursday!  

Happy Sappy Saturday!

Hello, and Happy Saturday!

I hope you are all enjoying your Memorial Day Weekend! 

Memorial Day is an especially hard Holiday for me, but it is also a very important Holiday that needs to be observed. 

So, whether you are packing for picnics or preparing flowers and flags, have a great Memorial Day; and remember to not only honor those you have lost, but to LOVE those you still have. 

Happy Sappy Saturday!

Copycat Cardigan Refashion.

So, the other day I was browsing some of my favorite Blogs, and I saw THIS over at See Kate Sew.

I thought it looked familiar, and then realized that I own that same shirt!

It has been in my closet forever, but I never wear it because I had the same problems with it that Kate did.

So, I decided to play copycat, and refashion it into a cardigan just like Kate's. :o)

I picked up some Green Bias Tape at JoAnn's...

Cut the shirt up the middle, and sewed it on.

TA-DA!

There you have it, a super simple copycat refashion...with a little double stitching just because. :o)

So, what do think?

Pretty cute for a quick little refashion, huh.

Oh, and the best part is I have already worn it, and I love it!

Yay!

Happy Thursday! 

Cream Cheese Rangoons!

So, remember my Smoke Detector Saga from Yesterday?

Remember these:

N8dogg and I love Cream Cheese Rangoons, and after Sunday night we needed some love. :o)

So, I got out my supplies, and fried up a batch.

And since they are so good I thought I would share the recipe with you. :o)

You need:

• A package of Won Ton wrappers (found in the produce section of your grocery store)
• 1 (to 2) 8 oz packages of Cream Cheese (depending on how full you stuff your Rangoons) 
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup of water
• A couple of cups of oil for frying (we use our Fry Daddy, but you can use a pan too)

Ok, first thing you want to do is set up your wrapping station.

I lay out everything on a cutting board.

1. Open a package of  Cream Cheese, and set on plate with a spoon. 
2. Mix your egg and 1/4 cup of water in a small bowl to make your egg wash. 
3. Open your Won Ton wrappers, and set a stack on your cutting board.
4. Get out a cookie sheet to place your wrapped Rangoons on. 

Ok, once you have everything set up your ready to start wrapping. 

First, grab a Won Ton wrapper from your stack...

Then, add a little Cream Cheese...

Real Quick: We just use plain old Cream Cheese as filling, but really the possibilities are endless. You could add Chives (like Panda), Onions, Garlic Powder, or Worcester Sauce. Really anything goes. :o)

Also, I have found the best way to add the Cream Cheese (or whatever mixture your using) is to use a tea spoon, and then use the back of another tea spoon to scrap it off onto the wanton wrapper. It's kind of like working with cookie dough, and making really small cookies. :o) 

Ok, after you have added the Cream Cheese brush the sides of your Won Ton wrapper with the egg wash. I just use my finger, because I have found it works the best, but you could use a kitchen brush or even a paint brush to do this.

Next, just fold your wanton wrapper into a triangle, and press the sides firmly together.

Ta-Da! 

Now, just put your Rangoon on the cookie sheet, and start again.

Then, after you've made a few...or a bunch.

It's time to fry!

Like I said before we use our Fry Daddy, but you could just as easily heat the oil on the stove. Just be really careful, because Hot Oil is extremely dangerous.

I like to fry about 3 at a time, and give them one to two minutes on each side until they are golden brown.

If you are making a big batch, then I would set up another cookie sheet with a couple of layers of paper towels. However, since we were making a small batch I just placed some paper towels on a plate.

Give them a couple of minutes to cool off, and then eat and enjoy!

Then make some more, because they are really addicting. :o)

Happy Wednesday! 

The Smoke Detector Saga...

Hello, and Happy Tuesday!

How was your weekend? 

Mine was interesting...

I had to work Friday and Saturday night, and thankfully both nights were uneventful. However, Sunday was a different story... 

N8dogg and I were planning on going to Kanarraville to see the Eclipse, but he ended up having to work. We were really bummed, but got to spend the whole morning together, which was nice. :o)  

Anyway, after N8dogg left for work All. Hell. Broke. Loose!

It all started when my smoke detector started going off. First the one down stairs would beep a couple of times, and then the one up stairs would beep a couple of times. I checked it out, and the Carbon Monoxide light was flashing, but since we have had this issue in the past I just silenced it and went on my way. 

5 minutes later it did it again. I silenced it, checked them all again, and shrugged it off. 5 minutes later it did it again, and this little scenario continued for 20 very confusing minutes. 

I finally called N8dogg, and he told me to check everything out again, turn on the AC, open the windows, and then call him if it continued. So, I did everything he told me to do...and it still continued. 

I called N8dogg again, and he asked me if I was feeling light headed? No, I didn't think so. However, I had been working all night, and hadn't had any sleep so I felt tired and kind of run down, but was it more than normal? I didn't know?

So, after about a hour of this N8dogg said I needed to call the Washington City Non-Emergency number to see what they wanted me to do. So, I gave them a call, and told the dispatcher what had been going on for the the last hour and a half. She said she would send a Fire Truck.

What! 

A Fire Truck! 

Yep, at 6:30 PM a Fire Truck, and 3 Firefighters pulled up in front of my driveway.

Oh, and while all of this is going on all my neighbors are outside watching the Eclipse...in my front yard...because I had the best view.

Oh, and did I mention that my cats freaked out, and ran outside as soon as the first alarm started. Seriously, I thought they would never come back in. They watched all the excitement from the hill next to our house. I am pretty sure they are still mad at me.

Anyway, the Firefighters did their test, and sure enough no Carbon Monoxide. However, we did learn that our smoke detectors are faulty, and that I wasn't the first person in my neighborhood to call the Fire Department.

After 20 minutes the Firefighters determined that my house was safe, helped me reset my smoke detectors, and headed back to the Fire Station.

I reassured the neighbors that everything was okay, watched the remainder of the Eclipse, and wrangled the cats back into the house. Then, about an hour after things had settled down, both smoke detectors started going off again.

I literally cried, and finally ended up just disconnecting them.

What was supposed to be an awesome day with N8dogg turned into this nightmare. I was both physically and mentally exhausted, and decided that before I passed out I needed a pick me up.

So, I made these for dinner:

Because deep fried goodness makes everything better, but more on that later. :o)

Happy Tuesday!  

Happy Sappy Saturday!

So, guess what I found on Netflix last night...

Cruel Intentions!

Yay!

Ok, so let me explain. Cruel Intentions was one of my favorite movies when I was a teenager, along with  She's All That, Drive Me Crazy (also on Netflix), and 10 Things I Hate About You. (1999 was a good year!) 

I love, and own all of these movies! (Yes, that is my copy above). However, I have not watched them in a very long time, and I have to say watching Cruel Intentions last night was a real eye opener to how innocent and naive I was as a teenager.

There was a lot more "lovin" going on than I remember, and now that I actually understand what they are talking about it's a lot dirtier than I remember too. It's actually classified as a "Dark Movie" on Netflix, and after watching it last night I completely understand why. 

Anyway, like I said, I just LOVE this movie. Now, don't get me wrong the acting is awful, the plot is cheesy, and I had a hard time finding Ryan Phillippe sexy because he was so. freaking. young. but I still LOVED it! 

I loved how it made me feel like I was a teenager again. I felt young and twitterpated, and loved every minute of it! Which, I am pretty sure that feeling is the only reason I ever get the urge to watch any of these movies; because let's face it, they are all pretty much crap. :o) 

Happy Sappy Saturday! 

A Custom Frame for Mama Jo.

A Couple of months ago I asked my Mom what she wanted for Mother's Day.

I was expecting the usual, "Oh, I don't know. I don't really need anything. Whatever you get me will be great."

However, that's not what I got.

Instead, the conversation went something like this:

Kami: "So Mom, what do you want for Mother's Day?" 

Mama Jo: "A Frame."

Kami: ? "A Frame."

Mama Jo: "Yep, I want you to build me a frame for 9 5x7 photos that I can hang in my living room. Oh, and I want it to be black." 

Kami: "Ok...I can do that."

And so it began!

I started off with a hundred ideas, but could never quite materialize any of them. 

Then, I saw this Frame over at the Dear Lillie Blog, and got an idea to do the same thing but on a larger scale.

I started with a piece of wood that was 24x48 from my local Home Depot.

Next, I started collecting frames. I looked all over town, but could never find any that I really liked.

I ended up changing my frame plans altogether, and finally bought these at Kohl's.

I laid them out on my board, and determined where I wanted them to go.

Then, I got out the spray paint, and started painting.

First, the frames...

Then, the board.

Then, after a few coats of paint I laid the frames out a second time to make sure everything looked right.

Once I was happy with the layout I mounted the screws, did one final coat of black, and then finished everything off with a clear coat.

Then, once everything was dry I put the glass back in my frames, and hung them on the board.

Ta-Da!

What do you think?

I don't think my pictures do it justice.

It actually turned out really cool, and it looks amazing with my Mom's family photos in it...

Which I completely forgot to get a picture of.

Oops!

Well, hopefully she will hang it soon, and I can get a good picture of it on the wall instead. :o)

Happy Tuesday! 

Presents for the Wee Baby Caleb!

So, I finally finished and sent the Wee Baby Caleb his presents!

Yay!

Want to see what I sent?

Well, I sent him a faux chenille blanket...

That ended up being kind of a hot mess.

This is only the second one I have ever made, and it was most definitely no walk in the park.

It's crooked, the binding is pretty uneven, and I liked the green a lot better before I washed it...

But I figured at the very least he could use it to spit up on. :o)

Tutorial found HERE.

I also sent him some freezer paper stenciled onesies.

Aren't the cute! (Even though the picture isn't...Stupid Camera).

Freezer paper stenciling is so fun, and the results are amazing!

Definitely a must try.

Tutorial found HERE.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering...

Random Fun Fact: The kids call Uncle N8dogg "Doodee". 

I know, really random, but also really awesome. :o)

Anyway, along with the blanket and the onesies I threw in some plaid shorts, a super cute Muppet's onesie, and these babies:

Cute, huh!

Since we have a small sunglasses obsession I thought it was only appropriate that we share the UV Love. :o)

We love you Baby Caleb! Welcome to our Family!

Happy Monday! 

Happy Sappy Saturday...on Sunday!

Hello, and Happy Mother's Day!

We just got back from an amazing weekend with family. 

We played and partied all weekend long. 

It was awesome!

However, we are pretty exhausted. 

N8dogg is passed out on the couch as we speak, and I think I am right behind him. :o) 

I took my camera everywhere this weekend, and never took ONE PHOTO!

*Sigh*

The only picture I took all weekend was with my phone.

N8dogg and I ate at Cluff's, and I had to snap a quick picture of my lunch for Happy Sappy Saturday! 

Seriously, this place is the best!

If you are ever in Fillmore it's a must. :o) 

Anyway, I have a ton of fun stuff to show you this week.

Yay!

So, we will talk soon. :o) 

Happy Sunday! 

Just Popping In...With Some Mother's Day Links.

Hello!

Sorry I have been MIA lately.

I had a nice relaxing weekend...that was apparently too relaxing because I missed my Happy Sappy Saturday post...

So, I guess this just means that I have to be extra Happy this week to make up for it. :o)

Anyway, since Mother's Day is on Sunday I wanted to share a couple to links for some super cute free printables.

Yay!

Isn't that card cute!

I found it over at Amanda's Parties TO GO as part of her free Mother's Day Brunch Printable.

This is seriously one of the cutest bunch of printables that I have ever seen, and the best part is that it's free!

So, if you want to download Amanda's free Mother's Day Brunch Printable just head over to Facebook, and like her PAGE.

Also, if you are looking for some last minute gift ideas check out THESE free frameable printables over at Lil Blue Boo.

Happy Wednesday!