Back...been back for awhile

i was in disneyland earlier this month. i've been home for some time but haven't posted anything b/c i'm really busy. i'm posting real quick between dropping the kids i'm babysitting off at school and visiting teaching and turning in an application for a new job. if that makes sense. here are some pictures from disneyland. i had a post planned out to write what i did on the days but decided that's really boring so i'll just put a couple pics up.
at one of the hat stores. i ended up getting some pirate mickey ears-they have a pink bandana and skulls on the ears. they're pretty legit. too bad i can't wear them anywhere else.

the QUEEN. talk about wench bag. she almost ran me over. jasmin ended up getting her signature but she never stopped walking or frowning. we had to chase her.

ROB C FROM SURVIVOR AMAZON AND ALL STARS! he was standing 2 feet from me and i didn't get his signature...i'm such an idiot!!!!!!! he's my favorite survivor EVER.
this was in california adventure...screamin' california. not scary even though it goes upside down and all around. we had our hands up the whole time. we're cool. i love how they guy is the only one holding on. haha
i loved these cars. besides sully from monsters inc. these were my favorite "characters" from pixar at C.Adventures.

ok there may be more later but i have to get stuff ready for the day. so bye.

DisneyLAND

tomorrow morning at oh eight hundred thirty i will be on my way to DISNEYLAND! (please note that time measurement might be written wrong 8:30 is what i mean). I am going with my aunt and her three kids, i'm not excited AT ALL... don't let my running and jumping around the house singing Disneyland over and over again fool you. i made up a song to count down the days, and now i have to revise said song to document the HOURS...that's right...hours. I will be gone until next thursday at which time i will madly scramble to try to put together a baby shower for that weekend, yay me!
ANYWAYS i won't be on here for that time. don't be too sad... i have a few plans for a little idea i had. i am going to make a What Not to Wear Disneyland slide show. i'm going to coach my cousins and aunt to stand so it looks like i'm taking their picture but i'll really be taking undercover bad outfit pictures. i'll have to make up a word to say to them so they know when to pose...like pineapple or chap stick. i might just be included in some of these photos, just a warning. i'm going for comfort and cool--just like most of the people i might be taking pictures of. so i still have several things i have to pack and get ready for my absence, i'm realizing i have to prepare everyone else for me going away more than getting myself ready.

here's a picture just so this post isn't TOO boring. my pretty organized suitcase.

alright i have to finish things up so i'll be done know. i'll think of you when i'm having lunch with the princesses, eating at the fancy pirates of the Caribbean ride/restaurant and spinning endlessly on the teacups.

Slouchy Hats

for the last two months i have been wanting a slouchy hat. those ones that everyone wears when they are having a bad hair day. but i couldn't justify spending $20 on a hat i didn't know if i would even wear (not so much a hat person). i had searched raverly high and low for the perfect slouchy hat to make with my new 100% alpaca yarn (AMAZING BTW usually costs $18per skein but i have connections and got it for $6). after trying to make 4 different versions i finally found the pattern i wanted to make from google (i can't find the link now so that's great).
then i couldn't find the right needles so we searched literally high and low for the huge set i got my mom and found them after an hour. i went to the deck and started. i had the hat finished later that evening. size 13 needles are pretty amazing.
here is the so soft alpaca yarn. i only wish they came in more unnatural colors...if that makes sense.

the next day i decided i needed a green hat b/c i LOVE green. so i made it yesterday. i made a few changes from the original pattern to make it a little slouchy-er. and not so pointy on the top.

here's a bad picture of part of the backside. i love them. i don't think i look good in hats still but i love that it hides my gross-in a bad need of a haircut hair.
oh and here are some cupcakes i made for a baby shower a few weeks ago. they came out a little dry i guess that's what happens when i don't follow the recipe and over bake them b/c my hands are covered in pink chocolate and can't get them out of the oven. my life would do that.

i made some white buttermilk cupcakes (not so sure buttermilk is my favorite FYI- VERY dense) and a big batch of cream cheese frosting that i tinted an ivory color. then i melted some pink chocolate and piped it onto parchment paper in binky shapes. then i melted regular chocolate and piped curly hair (which turned out terrible, they all kept breaking!!). after the binkies were set, i piped a tiny bit more pink chocolate onto the smooth side and stuck a white lifesaver to it. then just pipe some chocolate eyes and a little frosting nose. thank goodness people in this world can come up with things like this to make my life easier.

Scrapbooking Stuff

When i made this blog, the intention was to post scrapbooking and crafty things, however this blog has turned into something completely different-mostly just random stuff i feel like posting. today however i really will post a scrapbook page and a card.

yesterday my neighbor and i were downstairs scrapbooking and i made this page for ty's Fight the Shun scrapbook. for those who don't know, fight the shun is the band he is in. i plan on making a whole scrapbook but i'm really a slow scrapbooker so i might just do 4 pages and call it good.



the picture is one from our recent photo shoot. their favorite picture since it says good music on the wall. i cut an old record i found at the salvation army for 70 cents, using a scroll saw (not sure if that's it's main purpose but it worked). i got a little worried when pieces started flying off at my face. you might notice the bottom of the album is kinda broken in a weird way.

anyways onto the cards. my friend is having a baby in about 2 months and so, her sister claudia, our friend chrey and i are throwing her a baby shower. i put myself in charge of invites. after a few weeks of putting it off i finally came up with an idea a few days ago. i bought paper at joannes when it was 5 for $1 but i didn't have a design in mind so i didn't end up having enough paper so these are just variations of the same card.

where you see the ribbon behind the scallop, there is a pocket for the invitation to be stuffed. i just have to print them out and cut them to the right size. they took a LONG while but i'm finished with the card part at least.

so there you go, an actual scrapbooking post. yahooo!

Make Your Own "Beads"

i found some old "beads" i made several years ago and wanted to show you. I think they are pretty cool, they may be completely stupid but i don't care. here are the first ones i ever made:
i want to make them into earrings. they are made out of magazines. we have a plethora of old magazines so i have lots of options, here's what you do

pick a pattern you like, remember not much of it will actually show.

make sure you have toothpicks, siccors, gluestick, and clear fingernail polish.

cut your patterned magazine into strips depending on how wide you want it to be

trim off the extra sides. flip it over and slather it with glue.

wrap it tightly around your toothpick. the longer the piece of paper, the thicker the "bead" will be.

after it's wraped around paint the whole thing with the clear fingernail polish.

stick it somewhere to dry completly. then slide it off the toothpick and do whatever with it.

i don't know if this is weird, probably, but i think they look kinda cool. you can cut your paper on an angle to get a different look. i don't have everything to make them into earrings but maybe soon and i'll post pictures.

Photography Props

I didn't know which blog to post this on, my photography blog or this one. i decided to do it here since i use this one more. lately i've been all about the photography props. i love all sorts of stuff, baskets, rugs, blankets, pillows, chairs, sticks, old gas pumps, old suitcases tables, etc....some people may not understand some of the ideas in my head for my pictures but i have ideas that seem silly to others but they trust me and go with it, and usually love it. ANYWAYS the past few weeks/months i've been collecting props (mostly for babies/toddlers). i've spent some money but i try to get things on clearance/sale or from value village. on all the props on here today i spent between $150-200. i figure it's a good investment. ok on to the pictures (which ironicly are terrible)
this little jewel was found at value village, it was $3. i almost didn't get it then i did and i'm so happy. i sanded it and spraypainted it.

i actually don't know if this will work it's a potting basket i found in the garage. it's a little flexible so we'll see.
this chair came from the goodwill, it was $20. i'm planning on getting it upholstered soon but i have a disneyland trip coming up so i'll wait :)

i got this blanket from pier one on clearance for like 8 dollars. and i knitted that baby cocoon with yarn we already had. i plan on crocheting a chunky one soon...maybe
PILLOWS! i have other covers too from ikea. the two small ones were just a few dollars at ikea canada and the big blue one was from TJ Maxx for $7. it was leftover from when linens and things closed...a $40 pillow!
i love this green stool also from ikea. i believe it was $7ish.

ok long one, i got the black fabric underneath everything for $4 from walmart. there is that white fabric on the left corner, it's heavy-duty duck cloth that i got for $17...40% off. then the fuzzy white fabric was also 40% off and cost $7ish

now this little guy is really larger than it looks. i don't know if i'll keep it though. it was $24 at walmart in the garden section. it's a flower pot. maybe it would be good for newborns with a pillow/blanket on the inside.

mmmm baskets, this was 40% off at joannes and i LOVE the color. i think it works for boys or girls.

ok i love this one too. also 40% off from joannes. i can just picture a newborn laying in this (with a blanket of course) on top of a cool dresser or something.

this was a little pricer, i got it from TJ Maxx for $50. but i couldn't help it. i walked away from it, then kept going back to look at it more. i think i'll like it lots.

and last but not least, my new backdrop holder thing. i made it all for under $15 from PVC pipe. i was going to buy one online but they are around $500 each so i figure this will work until i make the big time (ha)...it's really tall like 6 ft 6 in. and i have big heavy duty clips to hold the fabric up. when i cut the pipe, i did it so it can be only 3 ft high if i want/need it to be. i made it all by myself i even figured out the scroll saw. now i'm just going to spray paint it black. it's why i bought that fabric. i'm also going to get other patterned fabric/shower curtains for backgrounds. anyways if you made it through all of that...well probably nobody did. i can't even make it through....

Pampered Chef

Alrighty it's been awhile, and I'm sure everyone has been waiting with bated breath....ha or not...anyways long story very short, i got really sick and I'm still tired all the time and my legs get a little shaky if i walk for too long.
now that that's over. i haven't made or done anything exciting for quite some time so I'll use this post to let you all know about my Pampered Chef Partay! it will be on Friday April 24th at 7pm. I'm actually having it at my neighbors house so we can have a better kitchen layout. every party has a theme and my party's theme is.... dun dun dun

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE!

now we're not really planning any deaths but just in case we will have an ambulance on site. and by ambulance on site i mean, nobody will really die. even if you don't want to buy anything you are welcome to come and eat because it's not called death by chocolate for nothing :). this is what i want PS:

the bowl...and i guess i'll take whatever's inside too if you twist my arm.
so anyways if you would like to come you are welcome if you need any more details you can ask. i do have regular invitations to hand out too but i thought i'd post a link if anyone would like to buy anything online click, here for the link. every purchase made through that link will be counted for my party FYI. woohoo. i love pampered chef.
what brought this whole thing on was my aunt had one a few months ago so i set up a party. at my aunts i bought (among other things) this smokey bbq rub. it smells kinda gross but seriously the tacos that thing cranks out are AMAZING. i usually don't like tacos but these are good. next time i make it i'll post the recipe.

well i'm done. i just wanted to put it out there. it will be one hoppin' night. well as hoppin' as cooking parties can be.

Uugggg being sick sucks

last week i had a bit of a cold, no big deal right? i got over it in a couple days. well that weekend it came back, a little worse. still not that big of a deal. well tuesday i was doing good, no more cold for me :). then wednesday i woke up with the chills to end all chills. every bone in my body ached, when i stood up, i just fell right back into bed. i was supposed to visit teach, get my haircut, take baby pictures, wash my car and go to YW, needless to say, none of that happened, or has yet to happen. i thought i was feeling better yesterday, but i guess my body was just playing a trick on me. after taking NyQuil last night, i fell asleep around 11pm, and woke up promptly at 2am and have yet to go back to sleep, it's now 10:12. i think i have strep i can't swallow, my head has it's own heartbeat and those darn bones are still killing me. i'm going to the walk-in here in the next hour or so, i hate doctors, HATE going to the doctor but i guess i need antibiotics if i want to get over this in the next 14 days. ok i'm done complaining i just don't know what to do with myself, i feel terrible.

Chicken Pizza 2 Ways

we love pizza in this house. it's the one thing that everyone will eat but we were sick of the same old pepperoni and it's not the best for us, so one day many months ago i came up with my own version of pizza, this is my story: (sorry i couldn't resist..too much intervention i guess)
maybe i should tell you what kind of pizza we're making, BBQ Chicken and White sauce, spinach, feta, & chicken 'za. it's goooood i tell you

First: Dough
i don't like bread machines for making bread, i like them for making dough, the pizza dough recipe i use is just one that came with the recipe book for our machine. usually i make whole wheat dough but we didn't have any fresh ground and i couldn't find the wheat grinder so i used white flour. i get 3 thinner crusts out of one recipe. i make dough about an hour and a half before i want to have dinner done. but it could be done earlier or buy already made dough.

Second: Chicken

I don't have a picture but i think everyone has cooked chicken before. i make a dry rub using garlic and onion powder, a little salt and a little chili powder just to add some taste to the chicken. make enough to cover 3 pizzas. i make this in advance like hours before just to have it out of the way. just store it in a ziplock in the fridge.

Third: White Sauce

very simple: 1 Tbl. dry ranch mix, 1/2 scant C mayonnaise (i used 1/2 C the first time and found it was too much so i cut it down a bit the 2nd time), 1 Tbl. minced garlic---mix all ingredients together, i usually have to thin it out a little bit with some ranch dressing from the bottle. i make this beforehand too and stick it in the fridge for the flavors to become friends.--don't be turned off by the little bit of mayo, i was a first but it turns out ok.

Fourth: Ingredients

here are the ingredients, spinach, chicken, white sauce, olive oil, bbq sauce, cheese mix & feta optional but not pictured: caramelized onions---gag me i avoid this at all cost.

Assembling:

BBQ:

after rolling out the dough, spread enough bbq sauce on to cover the whole thing, don't go overboard but put enough. i use an offset spatula, best invention ever.

layer the chicken on top of the sauce then top with cheese. you don't need too much cheese. sometimes we put pineapple on it just for fun.

the finished product! mmm. it holds up pretty nice after it's sliced (i sound so weird).

Spinach, Feta, Chicken & White pizza:

again roll out the dough, then i pour a little bit of extra virgin olive oil and spread it around. don't put too much just a little bit. next spread the white sauce over the EVOO, i don't put too much of this either b/c i don't like it too saucy but i thinly cover it.

put the spinach all over the sauce, it cooks down a bit so use a little more than you think. put the chicken on top of that.

then put a little bit of the regular cheese mix on i accidentally put a little too much. then put the feta all over the top of that...mmmm put lots please.

and the finished product again! i always bake this kind on the stone, if anyone cares. they are both baked at 425 for about 15 minutes, until the crust is light brown.

if you are over the same old same old pizza, this is a nice change and even the boys will eat it which is a miracle in and of itself.

i'm not the best food photographer when i'm covered in flour and sauce so don't judge the pizza by my poor pictures. if anyone would like the dough recipe i can email it or just use one you already have.

alright i'm not feeling very good so i'm going to finish drinking my mint herbal tea with honey and lay down for a bit and watch amazing race. woohoo. go short guys! and guy who wrote school of rock! and the hillbillies (oh wait they are gone).

Oatmeal. Attempt #1--and Final Attempt.

i can't remember the last time i had oatmeal, the only thing i remember is how disgusting it was. so last night as i was laying in bed watching TV- john and kate plus 8 thankyouverymuch- i started craving oatmeal....weird to crave something you hate....so i decided oats were healthy so i would make up a batch in the morning for breakfast. i don't do breakfast usually but my thought was if i eat breakfast, it would help me not be so ravenous by lunch.
after i woke up this morning after taking 2 sleeping pills at 11pm (bad idea if you want to wake up at a decent hour) i started boiling some water and i measured out my oats and i put the two together. about this point i'm deciding this was a bad idea b/c it looks a lot like baby food. to make it taste good i added a few of my favorite breakfast-y type items, blueberries and bananas and a little (cough) brown sugar.
the first bite i took had everything on it, it was all i could do to not spit that stuff up everywhere. DISGUSTING. it's like gross mushy mush that tastes like elemers glue and toilet paper. i didn't want to waste the fruit though so i ate around the oats but it still made me gag just smelling the stuff.
overall, i'm not impressed and i don't care if it's good for me, i don't want it ever again. unless someone has some secret to masking the mushy gross taste. if you do by all means please let me know. i guess i'm not a breakfast person after all. (last week the same type of thing, late at night i was watching alton brown and he was making pancakes the next morning i decided to try his recipe since i'm not a fan of bisquick or really any kind of pancake usually, and it failed miserably, it was gross.) oh well. sorry this was so long and random i'm just waiting for the call so i can go get my new LG VU touch screen phone. booya.