Sunday, February 28, 2010

March Desktop

This is the month of Spring- of flowers blooming, pedicures for flip flops, and sunshine! To use the desktop, simply right click on the picture and save as your desktop background. You'll have a calendar handy all month long. See you next month!

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Girl Scout Casserole

My mother bought me a cookbook for Christmas and I am challenging myself to use it and others to try a new recipe each time I go to the grocery store. I discovered Girl Scout Casserole and we fell in love with it last night. I had been looking forward to making it all week!
GIRL SCOUT CASSEROLE

2 lbs. ground beef
1 small chopped onion
2 small cans tomato sauce
1 can corn, drained
6-8 slices American cheese
2 cans biscuits

Brown beef and onion. Drain and return to pan. Place heat on low. Stir in tomato sauce and corn. Top with American cheese and biscuits with sides touching. Place lid on top and cook for 15 minutes. The steam will cook the biscuits like dumplings.

Seriously, that easy and good! Plus, it makes 5-6 generous servings! Enjoy!

PS- I have no idea how it got it's name. My guess is that a troop Mom would make it on the nights she had GS meetings. Anyone else know?

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Green with Envy

Saint Patrick's Day is only a few weeks away- are you ready?
Leave the house in these green shoes and you are sure to show your Irish spirit. I think they'd be super cute with all black or jeans and a t-shirt! At under $40, they are a fun addition to your Saint Patrick's Day plans!
Wake up with your feet warm and cozy in these GREEN slippers from Kate Spade. The bottom says "wink". Leave it to Kate to cover the details!
You could always carry a green bag to save yourself from little pinchers! The Mia bag from Big Buddha is gorgeous!
This cute and cheap ($39.99) trench comes in bright green! I buy most of my coats from Chadwicks. They have a great selection and deep discounts this time of year!
If you need to be dressed up, this one is just beautiful. It is a Nordstrom's splurge, but could also transfer nicely to Easter.
This ruffled tank from Old Navy (only $14.50) would look great with a jean jacket for Spring and with khakis this summer.
Gap Preppy Crewneck, on sale for $30 will be worn on more than just the 17th!
Think green and make sure you have your Saint Patrick's Day wardrobe ready to go!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Pretty Paisley

I love paisleys and these earrings are to die for! Maybe my dear husband reads this and will buy them in silver for my birthday :)

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Chicken Enchilada Quiche

I made a Mexican quiche for dinner this week and it was fabulous and super easy! Enjoy it with Spanish rice or refried beans. Super yum! Chicken Enchilada Quiche
courtesy of Pillsbury
1 refrigerated pie crust
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup milk
12.5 oz can chicken, drained
1.5 cup broken tortilla chips
2 cups shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup picante sauce
4.5 oz. can green chiles
1/2 t. salt

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place pie crust in pie pan and press down. Mix all ingredients and pour into pie pan. Sprinkle pepper on top. Bake 1 hour. Let stand 10 minutes to set before cutting and serving.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Southern Living Recipe

Southern Living magazine has given me many of my favorite recipes, including this flavorful slow cooked brisket. It is wonderful!

Southern Living Beef Brisket

Note- you marinate this the day before you cook it. Plan ahead.

4-6 lb. brisket

5 oz. liquid smoke

1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce

12 oz. BBQ sauce

chopped onion

2 t. garlic salt

2 t. salt

Pleace thawed brisket in large shallow pan. Cover in liquid smoke, onion, garlic salt and salt. Cover and chill for 8 hours.

Remove brisket from pan and place on a large piece of foil. Pour Worstershire sauce over brisket and close foil to seal meat in. Please on broiling pan and cook at 275 for 5 hours.

Uncover and pour BBQ sauce on top. Bake for 1 more hour uncovered.

Slice and enjoy!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Birth Announcement

Look at this cute little boy! His Momma sent me a sample of another announcement she loved and I was able to use it as inspiration for this card.
The simplicity really puts the focus on him. Love it!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

I think I have to have one of these!

I haven't been to Hobby Lobby in weeks and am dying for a new project. Doesn't this look beautiful! Here are the directions if you need one too!
I'll be sure to post my wreath when finished!

Honest Scrap Award

I am having a week filled with lots of bloggy love! Katy at What the Heart Wants gave me this wonderful award. Funny little story... Katy and I do not know each other, but I do have a good friend named Katy. Blogger Katy sent me a comment about one of my recipes and I responded to IRL Katy assuming it was her. IRL Katy thanked me for the recipe, but let me know it wasn't her in the original email. So, I had to go find blogger Katy.
Since I just shared 7 things about myself, I'll just skip that part and share this award with some of my favorite honest scrappers...
Tiny Greek Goddess- her honesty makes me laugh in real life and on the computer
Being Billingsley- this Momma makes me laugh outloud most often
Thanks Katy!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

ETSYcetera- Rosette Bib Necklaces

I've been looking around on Etsy lately and I am in love with rosette bib necklaces? Have you seen these beauties?
Or, this one?

There are over 740 of them on etsy right now! Well, 738 because these two belong to me now.
These are a great statement necklace. Each of them was under $40 and there are many available for less than $20. I love the top one with a black sweater and yellow shoes. The pinky red one looks great with a white shirt and jeans.
If you are feeling crafty and thinking, I can make that. Etsy also has PDF tutorial on making these necklaces for sale. They are just $5!

Monday, February 15, 2010

Beautiful Blogger Award

A big thank you to April at Cup of Delight for the Beautiful Blogger Award and for holding post as the Top Commenter on this board! I'm certain we'd be friends in real life. With this award, I am to tell you 7 interesting things about myself and then pass it onto another Beautiful Blogger.

1. I have a Master's Degree in Communication and Adult Education from Texas Tech University. I wrote my Master's Thesis on the impact fashion worn by college faculty plays in their end of semester student evaluations. I was a 21 year old teaching assistant and struggled with looking cute or looking like a mature and respectable TA.

2. I love Sweet Tea. Really, really love sweet tea. I eat BBQ more than most men and always wash it down with sweet tea.

3. I have been married for almost 11 years to my college sweetheart. Our daughter Abigayle is 13 months old and came to us via in vitro fertilization. I know the heartache of infertility and now the joy of motherhood. I could not have asked for a better husband to parent our daughter with. She will be an amazing woman based upon the relationship she already has with her doting father.


4. I am a major football fan- more NFL than NCAA. I once proclaimed my undying love to Denver Broncos' QB Brian Griese via a marriage proposal on a poster board on Thanksgiving Day at Cowboys Stadium. He signed my baseball cap after the game and a friend of his took my picture to place on his refrigerator. My husband accompanied me to that game, but refused to hold my sign while I went to the restroom.


5. I love God and am abundantly blessed by my relationship with Him. I am not Catholic, but regularly participate in lent. One year I gave up shoes. I could not buy shoes for 40 days. It was tough!


6. I don't eat colored tortilla chips, seafood or meat on a bone. I don't like water- it tastes like mouth.
7. I was a Stock Show Queen in HS. I grew up in a small suburb of Austin, Texas. It now feels like South Austin and isn't as country as it was. I am much more of a city girl now and the thought of washing sheep, cleaning out rabbit pens or wearing western clothes is foreign to me.
I want to share this award with 2 friends of mine who do a wonderful job of sharing themselves on their blogs. Their honesty makes me think and makes me laugh! Alison and Erica, you are beautiful bloggers!

Mmmonkey Bread

I know it isn't Christmas, but Monkey Bread this good really should be enjoyed year round!










Easy MmmMonkey Bread

18 frozen rolls (I use Rhodes brand)
3/4 c. pecans, chopped
small box Vanilla cook and serve pudding
1/2 c brown sugar
1 T cinnamon
1/2 c melted butter

Spray nonstick Pam on bundt pan. Cover bottom with pecans. Cover pecans with frozen rolls. Combine pudding, sugar, and cinnamon. Sprinkle over rolls. Pour melted butter on top. Leave mixture on countertop overnight, about 10 hours. It will rise magically!

Bake inside a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes. Cool for 5-10 minutes. Invert onto plate and serve!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Love is in the Air

I couldn't spend much money on Valentine's decor this year, so I had to get creative!

I displayed pink melamine plates I use when entertaining and turned my framed fork into Valentine decor with pink scrapbook paper leftover from another project. I displayed an angel from my decor overstocks
and some old Valentine's I bought for less than $5. They work perfectly in my floral frog.

Finally, I filled my apothecary jars with various seasonal candies. I had to take the picture before the Twizzlers were long gone. No wonder I had to spend my holiday money on dental work!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day filled with love! For those without a special someone, I pray you feel the love of your family and friends and remain hopeful.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

More Valentine Cards

My girlfriend Alison asked me to design Valentine's cards for her three kids to pass out to their friends. I had so much fun with these! I went looking for some new images and found a great new site with some cute designs- Funky Playground Designs.
This digital kit is called Sweet as Honey. I have to use this for something with my daughter- love the bumblebees! The entire kit was $2. This is 4 year old Georgia's card. G is my kind of girl- she loves accessories, colors and sparkle. Me too! This set is called Girls Rule and Boys Drool. The letters of her name are part of the set- there are some really cute options. It would be great for printing out flashcards for a nursery.
Gus needed some manly cards and he is all trains all the time! I asked my husband if he could think of anything Valentine's related with trains and he imediately said, I Choo-Choo-Choose you. I looked at him in amazement and he fessed up it is an old Simpsons bit. It worked well!

I hope everyone enjoys sharing the love tomorrow! I've always loved Valentine's Day!

Friday, February 12, 2010

I want to talk back!

I upgraded the site today with Disqus. Hopefully you have seen it and used it with other blogs. I hate not being able to comment back to you all and hope this helps. When you leave a comment, you'll be asked your email address and your blog site if you have one. It'll make my life easier to meet you all and respond to your questions and loving comments.

Thanks for continuing to play along!

If you are interested in better managing your comments, Disqus is free and easy to install!

Valentine's Dates and Gifts

When Marcus and I first got married, we took the recommendation of a co-worker of mine and would alternate who the honoree was for Valentine's Day. One year I would spoil Marcus and the next he would spoil me. Valentine's Day really is about the girls, but I love to give as much as I love to receive, so it was a fun and more balanced way to celebrate.


One of the memorable years we celebrated him included this because he wanted to eat with a big one of these!
I always pick my restaurants based upon the bread or chips that come out first or the dessert that comes out last. I am a simpleton with food which totally contradicts my career as an event planner!
We don't exchange large gifts- no diamonds or massive floral deliveries. Honestly, I often pick out my gift and email him the link. I try to make it easy for him and ensure I get something I like. He, on the other hand, never tells me what he wants because he has no idea. I just have to listen for ideas on my own!
This year we are eating at a nice restaurant tonight within a mile of church with friends from church. It is Parent's Night Out so our daughter can play and we aren't too far away maximizing our child care window. I'm looking forward to Cornmeal Pineapple Upside Down Cake and Marcus is looking forward to a big knife!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Hi, My Name is Anna...

... and I don't know most of you! I love seeing new followers and looked recently only to find that I don't know most of you in real life. That is the fun part of blogging for me! I catch myself in conversations saying a friend said this or a friend recommended that and those "friends" are bloggers I have never met! I love when those "friends" do a Q&A post and am hosting one here. Ask me anything- family, job, crafts, decor, cooking, etc. I'll leave this post up for a couple of days and come back with answers at the end of the week.
I can't wait to hear from you!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Craigslist China Cabinet Reveal

Isn't she lovely? Isn't she beautiful? This is the china cabinet in it's original form as I found it on Craigslist for $100. When my husband picked it up, we were told it was the seller's grandmother's cabinet from the 1940s. I hope she doesn't mind a little update :)
My sweet husband took on this project since I just couldn't find the time! He sanded, removed knobs, filled in holes and painted it for me!
We bought a high gloss black paint from Home Depot and vintage crystal knobs from eBay. To make the back of the open part pop, I used black hounds tooth wrapping paper cut to size. I was originally planning to use zebra scrapbooking paper, but decided to go this route at the last minute. I'm so glad I did. I think the print it more appropriate for the time period of the cabinet.
I love love love it and love him for making it so pretty for me! My craft room redo is just about done- I'll share the pictures soon! The entire redo was about $500 and was completely funded by the sales of unused craft supplies on eBay! Gotta love that!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

A Long Way

I still think a hand written note and a homemade treat still go a long way to say THANK YOU. Do you agree?

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Patience Pays Off

I have been sale stalking this bag since Big Mama listed it on Fashion Friday in November or December. I bookmarked it and looked at it twice a week. Today, my patience paid off and it went on sale! It was $68 and is listed now for $49.99. With my Retail Me Not coupon code "THINKSPRING" I got it for $39.99. How great is that?
It comes in peach, raspberry, black and grey. I went with grey. I am loving grey and ruffles right now!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Favorite Beauty Products

Show us Your Life with Kelly this week is about beauty products!
If the heater in your home is killing your skin- this product is for you! Olay Body Winter Retreat Body Wash has a sweet vanilla smell and is so full of moisturizers! I use it every morning and my skin has more shine, more color, and isn't chapped. I found it at the grocery store or Target. Less than $5 for healthy skin- I'm in!
My husband and I are HOOKED on Olay Body in shower Body Lotion. You rub it on after you have cleaned your body and then rinse it off. It smells great and you literally feel a layer of lotion on your body. So much easier and less messy that real lotion. My legs were so dry this winter and this and the body wash have really made a difference! I bought it at Target for less than $5.
I can not say enough good things about Pureology products. I have thin hair and this volumizing shampoo and conditioner gives me thick hair. I'm not kidding! It is expensive (like $25 per bottle), but worth it when I don't have to fuss with my hair or spend money on lots of other products to make it look good every morning. Click here for a location near you that sells Pureology. I read about this product on another blog and bought it on Amazon and it really does work! It is a little bottle, but you need a little bit. It is a white powder and you rub it in your roots where you want volume. I place it on the crown of my head and through the day I can lift that hair and it stays! It is pretty reasonable, under $15.




Last Minute Super Bowl Treats

One thing I don't discuss much on this blog is football, but you should know I am a die hard NFL fan. I play pick 'em games online, own more than one jersey, can name most players, coaches and stadiums, and placed second in both of my Fantasy Football leagues. I love football and Sunday is a mixed blessing- I love the Super Bowl and hate the Monday after when we enter the black period of waiting 7 months for kickoff. I know 2 seasons- football season and waiting for football season.
Super Bowl foods are also fun- you graze for 5 hours! Here are a few of my favorite easy recipes previously posted that you might enjoy grazing on with friends and family Sunday night.
Three Ingredient Turtles
Super Simple Spicy Crockpot Bean Dip

Make Ahead and Freeze Crabbies Go Colts!



Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Wanna Stalk with Me?


So, I've been digging around and have added some fun new (to me!) craft blogs to Your Little Birdie. I wanted to share them with you. I'll feel better about my blog stalking ways if you stalk with me!
I love a good polkadot- so cute! Check out more polka dots at Design Dazzle.


Look at these sweet gloves, A Pocketful of Posies made these along with other winter goodies and hung them across a window with glitter clothespins. I love glitter clothespins!




Cute belt! Learn how to make it on The Polka Dot Chair and her list of tutorials.






U Create is a fun blog that looks to just feature projects found all over the wide world of blogging. Love someone to funnel the cute stuff into one place. Cute stuff, like this lace tee. I'd love this under a denim jacket!

Monday, February 1, 2010

February 2010 Desktop

May your month be filled with love and laughter! Your Little Birdie desktops are fun and easy. Just click on the picture to enlarge and then right click to save as your desktop background. You'll have a calendar at your fingertips all month.