It's Summertime!

Incase you didn't know, I love summer. 

I also love wine.  

And love country music. 

 This is a fun little summer song by Kenny Chesney.

I made this sign with some of the lyrics. 

This was the first time I had made a 3 slat board to put something on. It was also the first time I used real transfer paper (LIFE CHANGER!) for the vinyl, and the first time I covered it in poly!

To make the sign, I used 3 boards leftover from my table, 2 1x2's, and wood glue.

I sanded it to make it smooth.

I used 2 coats of spray paint. 

  

Eventually, I want to find a way to hang it up on my patio.

 But for now, it is on the way out to the patio!

Craftaholics Anonymous Gift Exchange

Twice a year, Craftaholics Anonymous hosts a Handmade Gift Exchange for readers and crafters everywhere. Participants make a handmade gift for another crafter with whom they are paired. This is a great way to make a gift.

I thought this would be a fun summer project for me, and it was! I was paired up with a lady from Georgia, who sews.  We used Elfster to make wish lists and ask questions about each other to make the perfect gift.  

After finding out that she liked tea, bible verses, and lived in GA. I decided to maker her this cute little sign and tea container.

Here is the little note my Secret Elf sent back!

Dear Secret Elf,
I received my awesome gift today! I LOVE them!! I have filled the tea container up already (although I love the tea flavors you sent!) and I have found the perfect spot for the plaque! You could not have chosen a better quote for me. This has been a really fun experience! Thank you so much!!!!                                                                                    

This is what I got in exchange! It is a Boho Sling style bag. The inside is chevron! 

It will be perfect for my upcoming trips! I have been wanting to make one, but her sewing skills are WAY better than mine! 

Thanks, Sandra! 

You can check her out on Facebook on Sew Sandra Here

Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork

We made this at the lake! It was super easy and a great summer meal. We were able to leave it on all day while we were on the water, and when we got home, dinner was ready!

Ingredients: 
1 onion
1 20 oz. Dr. Pepper
pork butt (I used 6 lbs, but you could do this with 2 too!)
1 bottle BBQ sauce

Directions: 
Slice onion into quarters and place at the bottom of the crock pot.
Add pork and Dr. Pepper.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours, depending on the size of your pork.
When you are about ready to serve, remove most of the liquid and add the BBQ sauce.
Cook for another 30 minutes on warm.

Serve alone or on a sandwich.

Water on the MacBook!

I had 3 projects lined up to work on using my Silhouette. Jocelyn was 30 minutes away from coming over to work on wedding stuff, my sister had called me to work on some wedding stuff for her, and I had a play date with Tasha and the twins to make onesies. 

Then it happened. I spilled water all over the keyboard of my MacBook! It immediately went dead. AHHHH! I didn't care that the water landed all over the floor and table and rug. I rushed to my computer and flipped it over. I got a towel and wiped it off. Then I grabbed my iPad, and googled "spilled water on MacBook." 

The message boards had all sorts of differing opinions.  Some said rice, some said flip it up-side-down, some said take it right to the store. Most of them said, it's dead. You ruined it.

If you know me, I am all about DIY. I like to try things myself, first, then, pay someone to help me. I went on a hunt for a screwdriver, I couldn't find a screwdriver that fit. So I ran across the street and asked the neighbors. Luckily one of them had one! I unscrewed the back screws on the computer. 

There was water inside. I dried off as much as I could with a paper towel. Inside, there were big signs on the battery that said don't take it apart. I listened to the warnings and said a few prayers to the computer gods. Then I got out my hair dryer. I have a COOL setting on my hair dryer. I used it at a distance on the cool setting.  Then I waited. And waited. 

20 hours later, IT TURNED ON! 

Jocelyn was able to bring her computer, and mine came back on in time to go see the babies! 

Bacon Wrapped Green Beans

I love fresh green beans! I love them even more when they are sweet and wrapped in bacon! I made these as a side dish to go with some grilled chicken. They stole the show!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound fresh green beans
• 10-12 slices of thick-cut bacon
• 2 T butter
• 1 T brown sugar
• 1 t garlic, minced

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Wash and dry green beans. I also snapped off the ends. Bundle together about 5-8 green beans. Using a slice of bacon, wrap it around the center of the beans to hold it together. Lay the bundle bacon seam side down in a 9x13 pan, sprayed with cooking spray, to hold it together. Repeat with remaining beans.

Heat a small saucepan over low heat. Add butter, brown sugar and garlic and stir until melted and combined. Pour the mixture over top of the green beans. Cover the bundles with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 10-15 minutes more.

I'm sure you could do a version of this on the grill, but I haven't tried it yet!

Adapted from: http://www.howsweeteats.com

Farmhouse Table: Part 2

You may remember Farmhouse Table: Part 1 from way back in NOVEMBER! I finally got around to putting the final coat of poly on it! I used Minwax Fast Drying Polyurethane in the clear satin. I also bought a nice natural bristle brush. Before I started I used a tack cloth to make sure there was nothing stuck on the table. I also stained a few more spots that needed it. Make sure you let the stain dry!

                                    

table before poly

Coat 1 still wet! 

After coat 1 

I put 2 coats on. I did not sand in between. I attempted it, in a small area, but it didn't look good, so I just let it be! When I was painting it on, I went all the way down the table and went back over thick places a few times. 

It is so much easier to wipe down now, and I don't have to worry about staining or warping it.

Sorry for the millions of photos, I was trying to get all angles! :) 

                                                

Next up, figuring out the chairs!!!

Chicken Tacos & Easy Guac

What do you make when you have nothing to cook with? No stove, fridge, oven, silverware, microwave? You have to get creative! I went to help my friend Abbey move into her new house in Mac town.  They hadn't moved much, and still didn't have appliances.  I did pack a cutting board and knife, knowing that our resources would be limited.  I racked my brain, looked at the 2 cookbooks she had (no Internet  too!), and came up with chicken tacos! 

I went to Dillon's and bought cheese, rotisserie chicken (the last one, which was garlic and herb), salsa, tortillas, avocados, tomato, and red onion. I had brought lettuce from my garden. 

                                                  

She did have serving bowls and ramekins! So I had fun chopping each topping (onion, tomato, lettuce, avocado) and placing them in the ramekins. I shredded the chicken and made some guac.  I set it all up and we were ready for a nice taco bar! We devoured the tacos! 

Easy Guac

Ingredients: 

2 avocados

1 tomato, diced

1/4 cup salsa

salt

2 T red onion, diced

Directions: 

Mix all ingredients together and smash, in my case, cut up a lot with a knife! 

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Family Gallery Wall

I had the opportunity to help one of my besties move into her house.  As a little house warming present, I made her a vinyl wall cling.  We spent the weekend turning her house into a home.  Initially, we were going to do a huge gallery wall with lots of pictures in her entry way. Then we got tired and scaled it way back to this. We LOVE how this turned out. It is simple, clean, and really showcases their beautiful family. The empty frame is for the new baby! 

Strawberry Lemonade

After going strawberry pickin', I had 3 pounds of strawberries to use in a variety of ways! I made this delicious Strawberry Mint Lemonade to enjoy on the patio.

Ingredients: 
Simply Lemonade
Sliced Strawberries (you can add a little sugar to them if you want!)
Mint- 3-4 leaves
*optional- Strawberry Vodka

Directions
Muddle the strawberries & mint in a glass. Add ice and lemonade! Enjoy!

I Love Dad

I made this tutu, bow, and iron on for sweet Annie! Her mom had her wear it for her Daddy's birthday and will wear it again for Father's Day!

Strawberry Pickin'

Last weekend I visited the Wohletz Farm U-Pick Strawberry Patch. It is a family owned farm, right outside of Lawrence.  I saw a nice article in the KC Star, and really wanted to do it. I sent it to my friend, and she picked a date! I love fresh strawberries! Together we picked 14 pounds of strawberries! I think the the girls ate a pound too, right off the plants!

When we got there, they gave us buckets, and we were assigned an isle to pick from. There was no shortage of strawberries! They were easy to find and pick.  It was a great experience, and we can't wait to go back. 

Look at me and open your eyes! This is what I got.

               

The Strawberry Thief!
 I think she ate a pound right off the plants!

Books & Birds

A little summer spruce up for my wood table. I used scrapbook paper to cover 3 books that I had already read.  I used washi tape to tape them on.  I found a few accessories around my house and made a cute little display.  The A mug was a gift from Megan from Anthro, the bird is from JC Penny Outlet, and the candle is from 5B! Love 5B, if you are in KC you need to check them out!

Panty Line Poem

For Jocelyn's Bachelorette party, her sister Kelsey found this cute poem. We each were assigned a pair of panties to buy. We hung them from this banner that Kelsey made. 

Of course, Erin had to re-write the poem, as she has a wonderful way with words! 

I have a secret I can’t hide

About our JoJoBear

She is obsessed with panties,

The many kinds her hot buns wear

So for our little panty queen

We made a panty line

And hopefully most of these underpants

Will escape unscathed from our Vegas crimes

Jocelyn, these undies are to last you

All throughout your life

And Seany will be pleased to say

He has a sexy wife!

So listen up to hear about

Your lifelong panty plan

These underwear, we have no doubt

Will last your whole life span

But hopefully not, because that would mean you’d wear them for about 70 more years

But hey, there are worst things than sexy grandma-aged ladies to fear!

The first are for your wedding day

Of course they are pure white

We know Seany will shout, “YEAH GUUUURL”

When you both stumble into bed that night

The next are for your honeymoon

They’re sexy and all lace

We hope you’ll leave your hotel room

’Cause Jamaica is such a gorgeous place!

Minus the drugs and criminals that lurk outside the resort

You probably shouldn’t wear panties out there,

Or else you’ll face some time in court

On Valentine’s you’ll wear this pair

Before you hit the bed

‘Cause Cupid’s arrow in the air

Shoots tushies that are red

You know who else has rosey buns?

The monkeys in the zoo.

We don’t think Sean won’t be reminded of apes

With these sexy panties on you!

After a year has passed you’ll face

Anniversary number one

With these you’ll surely have a blast

’Cause leopard’s so much fun!

Then when the time is right for you

And don’t be saying, “Maybe”

You’ll wear your little pink or blue

In honor of your baby

And when your years of wedding bliss

Become the big 2-5

Don’t worry – you’ll just slip this on

And you’ll be the hottest MILF alive!!!

When finally you’re old and gray

With these you can’t go wrong

’Cuz sorry Jocelyn but at that age

You just can’t wear a thong

Groovebook

My new find, 100 pictures in a cute book for $2.99!

Do you have pictures on your phone that you love, but never get printed?

Download this app, for free. Every month you get to pick 100 pictures to print in this little book. If you don't take 100 pictures, then you can get multiples of the ones you like.

It has the time and date on the edges, and you can rip out pages or keep them in your book!

 I got mine today and LOVE IT!

Try it! CREMER4 is the code you can use for a free one!

http://www.groovebook.com/

*I was not paid for this post. I just really like it!

Life is Better at The Lake!

I love summer. I love water. I love the lake. My family has a house at the Ozarks. We make a few trips down a year. I made this for the lake. I used contact paper as my stencil and washi tape around the edges! 

Kraft Mac & Cheese

Sometimes you just have to go back to your childhood!