Recipe Binder

As I said before, I finally finished my recipe binder!  My favorite recipes are now easier to find, and take up less space in the kitchen. So here it is:

The binder is a 2'' Staples Better Binder

 I got the stickers and paper from A.C.Moore

 Labeling with my label maker

 The dividers and contents page are made by Avery (at Staples) This particular one is the 10-tab extra wide dividers. I put the contents page inside a page protector and labeled the outside in case I want to change it, I can just peel off the label.

 In the first page, I have substitutions, equivalents, and average cooking times for meats, etc. The sleeves are Avery, exclusively in the Martha Stewart office collection. They have 4 pockets per sheet with top flaps to keep the contents from falling out. I love them! You can also get them for small binders.

 I can quickly and easily see all my favorite recipes!

 In the back of the binder, I have take out menus inside secure top sheet protectors, also Avery, I think.

 Then in the back pocket, I have my food processor manual and some undated Ball canning coupons.

I also stuck in a few extra empty sheets for adding recipes in the future.
 I got the idea for this binder from www.alejandra.tv
 Hope you liked it, and it inspired you!

Homemade Christmas Ornament And 101st post!

I sanded the cookie, wood burned it, then put several coats of shellac on it.
This is an actual piece of our first tree.

The ribbon is from Dollar Tree :) I don't use a lot of ribbon usually, so a buck for 6ft wasn't bad, I didn't think.
 ~It took over a year but I made it to my 101st blog post!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Zebra!!!!

Zebra turned 6! Birthday party theme: Tea Party!

Tomato ladybugs on Ritz

 Zebra cake, crafted by the Vet

Chocolate dipped and drizzled strawberries

 For one of her gifts, Zebra got a giant handmade "Rainbow Dash" (from My little Pony) made by the Vet's friend, Abby.

 Silly goobers with their tea party pals

 Garfield and Gramps

 Oddie and Grammie

 Make a wish!

Pregnant Bellies! I'm 39 weeks and my sister-in-love is 25 weeks...Babies!

~The Nursery~

I am very happy to say that the nursery is finished, and (in my opinion) beautiful! I am happy with how it turned out. Here are the before pictures...

And now...the after...

 Darlin put the floor in for me. He did a beautiful job, I love how it turned out. We got it at Marden's for $1.29/sq.ft. and it is pre-padded (floating floor).

Cross stitch pictures from Aunt Michelle

Plaque from Aunt Ginny and Uncle Hubbie

 Car seat with monkey head support, a hand crocheted blanket from Mom, also a weather cover from Mom Linda.

My rocking chair that Grampie fixed and Grammie finished ( I love it!). A quilt that Grampie Mayland gave little Jackson, and a Boppy pillow from cousin Kylie.

A diaper three wheeler from my friend, Debbie Swan, my teddy bear from my Uncle Sean, assorted books, and a ready-to-go bath basket.

An end table I "stole" from my kitchen and painted to match the room. It sits next to the rocking chair with burp cloths and nursing supplies, on top is a monkey soap dish with pacifiers on it. The cheetah print place mat is from the dollar store. 

 Basket of stuffed animals, and little shoes.

Changing table with all the goodies; extra soaps, diapers, wipes, clothes, and little baskets of socks, hats, and booties.

Hanging monkey sorter with receiving blankets, towels and sleeper gowns. This is hanging next to the changing table.

Removable jungle wall stickers from Burlington Coat Factory. 

The crib. Underneath is a laundry basket with blankets from family and friends which I plan to "rotate" so that they all get used. 

 In the closet, tubs of clothes ranging from 3/6 months to 18 months. Diapers in different sizes, from the baby showers and a few mega packs of wipes.

 A cute denim jacket that Darlin used to wear when he was a little "whipper snapper".

Stained wooden name letters. I mounted these to the wall with one of my new favorite tools; Velcro squares with sticky backing. I got them at Tractor Supply for less than $3.

 An ultimately cool outfit from my brother Chance. Aren't the little socks cute?

This is a little crib that we are borrowing from Darlin's buddy, Stroker. Stroker slept in it when he was an infant, and is a family heirloom, we are grateful to use it. It fits on my side of the bed perfectly, which is awesome because there isn't much room for furniture in our room.

I took all of these pictures around 5a.m. and they all came out nice and bright as if it were in the middle of the day-the flash on the camera is awesome!

Hope you all have a good day!

Everyone Cooks Pork Chops At Four In The Morning

Hello! I'm back on "blog land"! First, I would like to say "Thank you!" to Patrick and Elise for the early Christmas present... a new digital camera! So awesome! (Needless to say, I'm psyched!). I've been snapping photos already this morning! I can now post pictures of things like the finished nursery, my finished recipe book,  and all sorts of other things!!!! Especially baby Jackson, if he ever shows up! Sometimes it feels like I will be pregnant forever...
 Darling is off to work this morning. I cooked pork chops that I had thawed yesterday, at four this morning for his lunch lol. My sidekick is curled up in 'her' chair, snoozing as usual. One morning, a few weeks ago, she was sleeping in our bedroom with us. We got up, Darling went to work and I went about my day. That dog didn't even wiggle until 9:00 a.m.! She came downstairs with a stretch and a big yawn, unrolling her large, lazy tongue lol. She cracks me up.

WOW

I have exciting posts, just waiting to be published, and now, blogger is having an issue. So, I will keep checking and as soon as problems are worked out on their end, I will publish new posts with pictures.
-"Give me a break man, really??!!"

Thought for the Day

                                                                            Google Images
I got to thinking:
  Since Heaven will be a "continual feast", and God isn't racist, that means I can have unlimited crab rangoons in Heaven! Lol.

Here we go again

Google Images

At three thirty this morning, I was wide awake. And for an hour I laid there, looking at the clock with "baby on the brain". Thinking about everything it seemed...

• I was arranging nursery furniture in my mind
• Counting how many small baskets I want to get for little socks, mittens, etc.
• Making a mental note to throw in a roll of quarters when I pack the hospital bag for Joe's snacks
• What to put on the table next to the rocking chair
• Thinking I've got to wash the rest of the baby clothes
• What size shelving I will need for the closet
• I've got to get some Christmas gifts/cards
• I needed to finish baby shower "thank yous"
• Who will water/feed the chickens, goats, pigs?
• Who will let the dog out while we're gone and fill the stove???
• I've got to get some paper plates
• What if I'm forgetting something?

Finally, I just had to get up. I couldn't sleep, and I couldn't take the questions and to-do's hammering at my mind anymore. So I made some coffee and got dressed. Started a load of laundry, folded and put away the load from yesterday, washed the dishes, swept the floor, got the fire going, took all the tags and labels off the baby clothes and threw them in the wash. I guess I'll try to settle my mind and make a list for when I get groceries and get paper plates, baskets a few gifts, etc. I just feel like I have to be doing something! I want to wave a magic wand and have everything done right now so I don't have to worry about it! Oh well, I haven't found one yet so I guess I'll have to get things done the old fashioned way lol. 

  I think I'll make banana muffins for breakfast. Hope you have a good day!