home office

This my office although here, it looks like Shelby's huh?! In order to get some work done a few days back, I brought the laptop up, put it on the ironing board, down low at her height, she got a Hannah Montana stool from his sister's room and was all set. A little apple juice and Webkinz and she really did allow me some time to work. I still cannot manage work phone calls very successfully when she is around, she tends to forget to be quiet and not interrupt, but I can do my computer work or gasp!, just plain fun stuff.

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checking a few things off my to do list

I picked up all my photos today: both my cards and all the 5x7's that I am cutting down to make a desk calendar for my family. I printed all my envelopes too. You can see a little sneaky of my card, nice work from Costco, huh?!
Next, is the 2008 version of Shabby Princess CD calendar that I updated for 2009 with dates and new pics.. This is my 3rd year of making these, and I do believe I have it down to a science now. Or at least it has gone MUCH quicker! I bought new dates from Little Dreamer. Here is my helpful advice:
1) merge down the files and then plop each one down onto a 5x7 new document, married up to the left corner and snug across the bottom. This will save you in trimming them later. I had mine printed at Costco and they look just great.
2) even if you are going to use these in a CD holder, printing on photo paper makes them stand up much nicer and look sharper, than cardstock
3) last year, I had them bound at Office Depot, which I plan to do again. They added the cardboard "stand" and the binding for $4-5, I cannot remember.

(This is the cover of last year's version, but it shows the stand and binding)

These were such a big hit, my family is requesting them. Heck, my Mom asked for two, one for work and one for home. So, I have 5 of these already to head to Office Depot and I am feeling pretty good about my sense of accomplishment.

I also need to shout out a huge thanks to my carpool partner who generously took Shelby to a Burger King playland, giving me an extra 2+ hours today to do all this in.

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how about a blog giveaway?

Leave a comment before Friday night at midnight (Eastern Standard Time) and I will randomly draw a name and send out this cute zippered pouch sewn by me and embellished with a thrifted wool and felt flower (also made by me!). I will post the winner on Saturday, it will be like a St. Nick gift in your stocking...but for adults! The bag measures 5"5x6.5" and is lined with the same fabric as shown on the outside. One side is striped, the other floral. I use a similar one for carrying my little digital camera, that is shown in the last picture. There is still plenty of room in there for credit cards, cash, lipstick etc. I hope you like it. Suddenly I feel driven to create these little posies and I am becoming a regular at my St. Vincent DePaul store. Today I found an Abercrobmie wool sweater for $4.49. That seems too nice to cut up! I need to get my act together and whip up a few more for gifts. If I were to use these as a hostess gift, what would be a clever, yet inexpensive item, to put inside? I also thought about making them large enough to fill with either handmade tags or notecards. What do you think?

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comfort foods

My nose is nearly running off of my face yet still, I cook. There is plenty left to put away from our trip, laundry yet undone, a house not particularly clean and the looming holiday decorating and shopping yet I choose...to cook.

I borrowed this photo but since the recipe that followed mirrored mine exactly, I feel it is OK to show you! I use a recipe from the Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust box and it is the best:

Classic Pot Pie

Filling:
1-15 oz. Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust
1/3 c. butter or margarine
1/3 c. chopped onion
1/3 c. flour
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 ½ c. chicken broth
2/3 c. milk
2 ½ cups cooked chopped chicken or chicken breasts (you can buy this pre-cooked in the refrigerated case)
1- 10 oz. bag frozen mixed vegetables, thawed (one with corn, beans, and peas etc.)

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Prepare pie crusts as directed on package for a two-crust pie using a 9 inch pie pan.
In medium saucepan, melt margarine over medium heat. Add onion; cook 2 minutes or until tender. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until blended well. Gradually stir in broth and milk; cook, stirring constantly until bubbly and thickened.
Add chicken and mixed vegetables; remove from heat. Spoon chicken mixture into pie crust. Top with second crust and flute; cut slits in several places.
Bake at 425 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until crust is golden. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

I place the pie pan on a baking sheet covered with foil b/c this inevitable cooks over making a big mess!

***My super Mom and sister visited yesterday and brought me Thanksgiving leftovers so I used turkey breast instead of chicken tonight. Yum.

I had also thawed out some ground beef so I made super quick vegetable soup:

30 minute vegetable soup

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 c. chopped onion
1 tsp. garlic
1 jar 20-30 oz. chunky garden style pasta sauce (I used Ragu, about ¾ of a jar)
water to taste (start with 1 soup can) (I actually omitted this, I like thick soup)
2 cans beef broth
1 can 10 oz chopped tomatoes and chilies
1 bag 16 oz frozen mixed vegetables, thawed if you have time

Sauté meat, onion and garlic together in stockpot. Drain any fat. Next, add everything else. Remember to add only part of the pasta sauce. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Toss in fresh spinach if you’d like (I did not) until wilted, about 1 minute. Serve with grated cheddar or parmesan for garnish.

I was so sick of eating out, and particularly eating fried food, that some home cooking should be exactly what I need to get me on track for life in the real world. And for snow :)

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christmas card photo

The one that did not make it! I had a few really cute choices from last week and I totally love this tree on the beach in Captiva but I had a better shot of my girls and I chose it. In the interest of saving time (and money!) I actually ordered a ready made photo card from Costco. I have designed my own for the past few years but sometimes, a girl has to do, what a girl has to do. I am soooo behind this year so I am happy to check one thing off of my list and they had some super cute choices. Maybe this will free me up to do a few more crafty things I had in mind.

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