Cords, Cords and more Cords!

I have been on somewhat of an organization kick lately. I think it is because when school starts up again my schedule gets so crazy that I just want to have things as organized as possible so I don’t have to worry about it. Anyway I found this cool idea on this blog, Folding Trees, that I happened to stumble upon the other day and I thought I would try it. I have a drawer that I use to keep all of my cords, it’s really messy and tangled so I thought this would work great. 

The idea is to decorate a toilet paper roll with wrapping paper and use them to hold the cords. They are the perfect size to keep them from getting tangled. You don’t have to decorate them but its just cute!

Here is the drawer before:

Here is the drawer after the new toilet paper roll makeover!!!

Looks better doesn’t it?! And it only took like 20 minutes!

Fridge Organization.

I recently decided that my fridge was annoying me and I wanted to organize it. It just gets so cluttered with pictures and invitations and coupons and so on and so on…so I decided to do something about it and because I share just about everything with you guys I decides that this was no exception!

So here is what I did:

I found this pouch at Target to hold invitations, coupons, etc.  I love it!

I also got these frames at Target but I’ve seen them in several different home stores. They are great for keeping your pictures from getting damaged and double as a magnet! They come in 5 x 7, 4 x 6 and wallet sizes.

Lastly, this is an idea I got from Kelly’s Korner. I always get lots of photo Christmas cards every year which usually end up on the fridge forever. I never know what to do with them because I hate to throw them away but I can’t have them crowding the fridge so I started this little scrapbook of Christmas photo cards. Isn’t it cute?!

I wish I had taken a before picture of my fridge because believe me this is a big improvement but I am sure you get the idea!

Funny Photo Friday

 

Great tip!

Every time I visit my Aunt Mary she gives me a few new tips for cleaning, cooking etc. and I thought I would share one she gave me on this last trip to Michigan that I am SUPER excited about! Prepare yourself because your life may be changed forever with this one!

Debbie Meyer’s Green Bags!! My aunt gave me one of these puppies to try and I LOVE it. If you have never heard of them they are bags that “prolong the life of your fruits & vegetables” (as stated on the official website). I had seen the infomercial and to be honest I enjoy watching infomercials but I never believe what they are saying so I never gave them a second thought, well I was wrong because they really do work! Now I’m starting to sound like an infomercial….Yikes! Anyway, we go through fruit pretty fast in my house but I am ashamed to admit that lettuce doesn’t exactly go as quickly:) Here is a picture of some lettuce I bought over a week ago:

Keep in mind this is red romaine so the dark color is normal.

Looks pretty fresh doesn’t it! Thanks Aunt Mary!

Next Food Network Star!

I am partly writing this because friend amy recently got a celebrity comment on her blog and I was very jealous so I am hoping that this might generate a celebrity comment of my very own!!

I am also writing this because I actually like the Next Food Network Star and this week is the finale. I am totally rooting for Lisa! I know she is a bit snooty (that might have just ruined my chances for a celebrity comment) but Lisa if you’re reading this, you know it’s true but you can tell she is the only one on the show that can cook and perform. Adam is funny but I’m just not feelin’ his cooking ability and the other one, I can’t even remember his name because he’s just kinda forgettable.

So go Lisa!!!

Who are you rooting for??

ps. I don’t actually believe that a food network star contenstant would read my blog…couldn’t have you thinking I am THAT crazy:)

Another new summer recipe.

I love saffron. Its a subtle flavor but good. I found this recipe for saffron orzo and thought I would try it. It was really simple and really yummy! It is a Giada (from the food network show Everyday Italian) recipe. I love her food so I new it would be good. I did make a few changes to the original so here is my version

Saffron Orzo: 
5 cups chicken stock
1 teaspoon saffron threads
1 pound dried orzo 
3 tbls extra-virgin olive oil
1 lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

 

In a large pot, bring the chicken stock to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, bringing the stock to a simmer. Add the saffron, stir, and allow the saffron to bloom, about 5 minutes. Return the heat to medium-high and the stock to a boil, then add the orzo and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring frequently, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and parsley. Toss to combine.

For the chicken I just seasoned pre-cut chicken strips with salt and pepper then dredged it in egg and then panko breading. (Panko breading is a really crispy type of breading) I pan fried it for about 3-4 min. on each side and that’s it…very simple stuff!

(I also think the orzo would be really good with sauteed shrimp or any kind of white fish)

Am I smart or what?!

You may remember my recent post about getting Jonas a tricycle. If not scroll down its still on this page. Anyway he loves it but he wasn’t getting the whole keep your feet on the pedals concept which I didn’t expect him to, but instead of using the pedals he would keep his feet stretched out during the entire bike ride and it just looked so uncomfortable…bless his heart he had a smile on the whole time but still I couldn’t take it! So I had the genius idea to buy Velcro and strap his little feet to the pedals. I figured that he may not start pedaling but at least be able to rest his poor feet. Well we tried it out for the first time today and it was a SUCCESS!! At first he was a little annoyed that I had confined him to the pedals but after about 5 minutes into the bike ride he actually started PEDALING and laughing out loud while doing it, it was the cutest thing!!! I was elated!! Now I know that I am not the first one to think of Velcro on pedals (I think they even sell some that way) but for about 5 or 10 minutes, I felt like the smartest mom ever:) I was also so proud of him. As I have talked about before Jonas learns in a unique way, he often needs alot of modeling and coaxing before he is able/willing to learn something new so to see him grasp something this quickly was really exciting and encouraging!!

Check him out:

picnik fun.

I found this great website over at kelly’s korner, it’s called picnik.com. It’s a photo editing website that is really user friendly and has alot of fun features. One of the features is making photos look old so I thought I would put it to the test and I also thought it would be fun to compare baby pics of Jonas and myself. I wouldn’t say that it captured the full effect of old photos but not to bad (don’t let it deter you from using the site it’s a really fun website)

So what do you think…does he look like he belongs to me??

The list revisited.

The summer is going by REALLY fast and I thought I would revisit my list to see how I’m coming along.

1. Spend time with my husband. This isn’t completely crossed off because well its ongoing but we have really got some quality time in this summer. Just last night we were able to go out to dinner and a movie. We saw Dark Night…it was GOOD!

2. Scan more old photos so I don’t have to worry about them getting ruined or lost.

3. Take Jonas to the zoo and take lots of pictures for the blog   If you missed it you can see the pics here.

4 .  This isn’t an activity that I am doing but my friend Katie is having her baby this summer so that will be really exciting!!!As mentioned in my previous post she had her little girl last week…YAY!!

5. Steam clean my carpets (boring I know)

6. Help Dawn with wedding planning. ie. the shower, decorations, dresses etc. etc. etc. Wedding is in 2 weeks…so just last minute stuff left.

7. Go to the beach as often as possible to get tan for the wedding! I really worked HARD on this one.

8. Read for pleasure!!! I started a bible study and it has kinda kept me busy in the reading department.

9. Go camping in St Augustine with Craig, Carla and miss Grace in the RV . If you also missed this you can view the pics here.

10. See Dave Matthews with my husband! Didn’t happen explained in last update.

11. Learn more about using my camera. Still working on this one

12. Try and make at least one new dish a week that I haven’t made before! Most weeks I do.

13. Organize my closets.

14. Get Jonas some swim lessons.  He was all that into the swim lessons maybe next summer.

15. Watch all the movies I wanted to see but had to study instead.

16. Fly to Michigan for my cousin’s wedding!!

17. And of course head to key west in August for Dawn and Bob’s Wedding Extravaganza!!!

I was thinking of adding a few more but I think I am just going to try and relax as much as possible before heading into my FINAL semester in nursing school…almost done…WOO HOO!!!

FINALLY!!!

I have been back since Tuesday and when I came home my internet was down!!! It has been just awful. I was so excited to write about my trip and it has been torture. For you as well I am sure:) As you can see we are back up and running so without further ado…here are some pics from my trip.

The trip started out a bit rough, our flight got delayed til the next morning, they lost our luggage, all that bad stuff, my sister and I actually had to buy a dress for the wedding like 2 hours before it started. That was a bit crazy but it all worked out and we had a great time!

My cousin’s wedding was on Friday. It was a beautiful wedding and for me the best part of any wedding is the food and let me tell you the food was ridiculous. They had bacon wrapped scallops, what more do I need to say!

This was the attendant table…huge! They had something like 14 people in the wedding party!!  

My cousin and his beautiful new bride! 

The whole fam damily! We were being a bit goofy in this picture which is why it is my favorite! 

Ok this is proof that we had a good time. It is rare to see my dad laugh THIS hard:)

 

The next day we went to see my Aunt Karen to celebrate my cousin’s daughter, Chelsea’s 3rd birthday. It was so nice to see everybody (it really doesn’t happen enough!) and Jonas got to meet all of my Aunt’s grandbabies and there are lots of um’! It was a fun day and I can’t wait for our next visit!! Here is a pic of the birthday girl fishing for prizes in the pool.

I was also able to get in a quick visit with my good friend Lora. We have been friends since college and we don’t get to see each other much so I was so grateful that they made the trip over to see me:)

 Jonas also got to hang out with my cousin Mike’s little guy Steven I don’t have any of the 2 of them together but here’s one of Steven. Isn’t he a cutie??!!

It was a great week! And when I got back, the week got even better because my good friend Katie had her little girl and I got to hold her on Wednesday! She is so tiny and perfect and I can’t wait to hold her some more!!!