Sneak Peek

Fall decor is coming out tomorrow and my new rag garland is almost ready. I am loving the colors and mix of tetures. I am not loving tying knot after knot after knot!

Diptastic!

Boo Mama is holding a Dip blog party in honor of football season (at least college) starting this weekend. Football is a perfect excuse to eat for hours- you just munch a little in the first half, refill your plate during halftime and then munch through the second half! We always eat the same meal to celebrate the opening of football season- pigs in a blanket, chunk cheese slices and apples with caramel dip. It is all in my kitchen ready for next Thursday when NFL kicks off.

Here are my 2 favorite dips- one salty and one sweet. SUPER SIMPLE SPICY BEAN DIP

I know my second bean post this month!

2- 16 oz. cans of refriend beans

1- 11 oz. can condensed nacho cheese soup

1/2 c. bottled salsa

sour cream to taste

green onions to taste

In a small slow cooker, combine beans, soup and salsa. Cover and cook until thoroughly heated. I am certain you can microwave if in a crucnh. When ready to serve, add sour cream and green onions to garnish.

This is great with chips or tortillas. You can use the leftovers in your burritos!

CANDY APPLE FRUIT DIP

1- 8 ounce pacakage cream cheese
3/4 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1/4 c. white sugar
1 T vanilla

Combine all ingredients, blend lightly, chill and serve with fruit or graham crackers.

Super Low Fat Bean Burritos

Bean Burritos

FF flour tortillas
FF refried beans
Tostitos Queso Dip- sold in the jar on the chips aisle
Salsa- I used a higher end roasted tomato salsa
Canned Enchilada Sauce

Inside tortillas, spread beans, 1 T cheese and 1 T salsa down strip in the middle. Fold into casserole dish. Repeat for each burrito. Pour can of enchilada sauce on top and 1 T of cheese and salsa per burrito. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

They were super tasty- like frozen burritos which I love! You could easily add meat and still keep them lowfat! This version is only 5 Weight Watchers points for 2 filling burritos.

Welcome Fall

According to my local Starbucks, fall is officially here. I mean, they wouldn't be selling Pumpkin Spice Latte in the summer. No way!

So, to welcome fall I am off to the fabric store to get something new to display when my fall decor goes out in the next few weeks......

Nesting Place calls this a Ragamuffin Garland and I just love it! I have been wanting to make one of these, but wasn't sure what theme to use. I've decided to make a fall one with pear green, deep reds, rusty oranges, golden yellows and chocolate brown. I think it'll be great as a runner on my dining room table or piano or even on the fireplace amongst the many pumpkins I have been storing for 10 months!

I'll be sure to post my tips on how to make one as I go. If you are anxious to do your own right now, just click on the link above for Ragamuffin Garland and you'll find the directions.

September 2009 Desktop

Click on the desktop photo above. Right click on the photo and save as desktop background.

Extra Special Baby Spoon

I attended a baby shower this weekend and my crafty friend Melanie gave the Mom-to-be a super cute spoon. I took a close look at it and quickly realized I have everything I need to make a set myself!

Here are the supplies (plus a wire cutter sold in the jewelry aisle at stores like Hobby Lobby). The wire is 22 gauge although I think you could go a little thickers and still be fine. I would not go thinner. I used scrap beads leftover from numerous jewelry making projects. If you don't have small beads lying around, you can buy a package of coordinating small beads at Hobby Lobby while buying your wire cutter.I cut a piece of wire a little longer than my nose to fingertips. Wrap the wire around the spoon (closest to the rubber part) about 10 times. Wrap it good and tight and make sure it is snug with the wires lying side by side. Next, drop 1-3 small beads on the wire and wrap it around the spoon. Repeat. After each beaded wrap, I wrapped the wire an additional time.
Repeat this process keeping the wraps tight and the beads close together. When near the end, wrap 10 times around again really tight and cut the wire. Make sure the starting and ending piece of the wire are on the back side.

This is what the back looked like when finished.


And, this is what four super special spoons look like! Seriously, how much fun would this be to give as a gift. You could easily tie it on the outside of the package of make a complete set of spoons for a special Mom.

Here is a detailed shot of the beads. I love the variety of colors and that three of the four are really gender neutral. This same process could be used to make beautiful serving utensils for a wedding shower gift.

Enjoy beading!

More Digital Projects

I'm having lots of fun creating notecards, invitations, and notepads for friends and family. The software I use is Scrapbook Factory Deluxe. It is $40 new and can be found online or at Best Buy. It comes with a basic set of graphics, but lots of websites also sell sets that include papers, accessories, and letters. Here are some of my favorites-

Shabby Princess

The Shabby Shoppe

Sweet Shoppe Designs

Polka Dot Potato

Designer Digitals

The software can be used for printed items, but also website and blog designs. Many of the sites have free items to download and others have a minimal cost.

Big thanks for my girlfriend Erica for getting me started!

Fall Decor

This is the fireplace decorated for fall at our old house. I love love love fall- the candle scents, football, cooler weather, dark orange and rusty red colors, football, soups and warm casseroles, hearing the HS marching band on Friday nights from my front yard, football and the decor!

My husband thinks I jump the gun in decorating for fall. I need your opinion- when is the right time to start decorating with pumpkins, little red berries, and cinnamon sticks? Keep in mind, this isn't witches and jack-o-lanterns which are for Halloween.

Can I pull it all out after Labor Day weekend? Is that too early?

This Week's Digital Projects

This week I had the pleasure of making a little boy's birthday invitation and notepads for a girlfriend. I love both of these projects. I seriously could play in this software all day long! If you want something made, just let me know! I'll be happy to do it!

2009 Tailgate Party

Saturday night was our church's 3rd annual Tailgate party. We all get together the Saturday before college football kicks off for family fun, punt, pass and kick competition, outdoor food, and team spirit.

Look at how happy my baby girl is to be supporting her Red Raiders! She is likely happy to be flying, with wind in her face and water, but whatever!
This is a sweet girl who loves Bama. Aren't her pig tails precious! Love her and them! Here is a group of the 60 or so people watching the athletic feats of others. We have an obstacle course, punt pass and kick competition and all around fun!
Me, Johnna and Lori trying to fit in the picture!
We had a wonderful time with everyone and are really ready for some TTU football!

Here is the 2008 Tailgate Party fun!