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Saturday, May 12, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
New Website!
Head over to www.firesidedreamers.com to check out our new website! It will be taking place of this blog, and it will now be a joint effort between Eric and I. We are super excited about it, so check it out!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Rewind- Christmas Gift Giving
I have been anxiously awaiting doing these next few posts!
I had a lot of fun this year making DIY Christmas presents. Since I just started my new practice, money was a bit short this year. But I took it as a great opportunity to make handmade gifts, which in my opinion are equally as awesome as expensive store-bought ones.
These two presents were given to my sisters-in-law.
I got caught up in pre-Christmas madness and forgot to take a picture of the final product, but you'll get the idea. This is a bulletin board for her room! I remembered that Jillian painted her room blue and green, so when I saw this fabric print I thought it was perfect.
I bought a bulletin board and took off the wooden frame.
Then cut the fabric to fit around the board
And used the staple gun to fasten the fabric around the board.
I'll have you know that I broke my staple gun in this process...it was replaced by a hardcore, much more durable and manly staple gun of which I'm very proud of
I'll just explain how I finished it off since I don't have the picture to show!
I used lime green ribbon on two of the corners and also stapled those on the back. That is where Jillian cut tuck pictures into rather than tacking them on the board.
Finally, I painted the wooden frame with flat white spray paint and attached it to the board.
I think it turned out super cute, and I hope Jillian is enjoying it in her room!
My other sister-in-law is in her first year at college! So I thought about the things I needed (or wanted) in college, and came up with a handy dandy dry-erase board. I can just picture her and her roommates writing little notes on it to one another.
So I started out with a store-bought frame
Then picked out some cute scrapbook paper and measured it to the length and width of the frame
Then I wrapped twine around the marker and stapled the twine to the back of the board so the marker will stay in place.
I wrote this message to Ashley on the board, but it's as easy as wiping it off to write something new.
Ash, I hope you and your roommates are enjoying your dry-erase board!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
California Cobb Salad
Eric and I had an amazing california cobb salad as part of our New Year's Eve dinner. We knew we had to make it when we got home...so that's just what we did.
I'll be honest, I'm not crazy about salad. But this one changed my mind...mostly because it has BACON! You can really add or subtract any ingredients to make this salad what your heart (and stomach) desires, but here is what we topped ours with:
Spring salad mix
Lots of crumbled bacon
Grilled chicken
Bleu cheese crumbles
Avocado, chopped
Sauteed mushrooms
and Ranch dressing!
Friday, January 6, 2012
Sweet Gifts
Get it? Sweet gifts. Sweets that are gifts!
I just thought I'd share a couple amazingly easily and scrumptious recipes that I used this year as Christmas gifts.
I think both candies are perfect for really anyone that enjoys sweets...but you just might have to try them and determine that yourself.
Candied Pecans- These really couldn't get easier. They're made in a crockpot for goodness sakes! I sprinkled these pecans with powdered sugar for a festive touch.
Saltine Toffee- If you haven't tried it, do it, and do it soon.
Saltine Toffee
- 40 pieces Saltine Crackers
- ¾ cups Butter
- 1 cup Light Brown Sugar
- 2 cups Milk Chocolate Chips
- 1 cup Chopped Almonds
1. Line a baking sheet or jelly roll pan with aluminum foil and grease or spay with PAM. Lay saltine crackers in a single layer in the pan.
2. Preheat oven to 400F. Meanwhile, in a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, stirring constantly. Add brown sugar and stir until combined. Bring to a rolling boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and pour butter/sugar mixture over saltines.
3. Bake at 400F for 5 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Remove from oven and before crackers cool, sprinkle chocolate chips over the top. Allow it to set for 5 minutes or until the chocolate chips are melted. Spread the chocolate across the crackers with a knife or large spatula. Sprinkle chopped nuts across the top, if desired.
5. Let tray cool in the refrigerator for approximately 2 hours, or until candy is chilled. Break into pieces and store in a tin for up to 3 days.
Candied Pecans
- 16 ounces pecans or walnut halves
- 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Turn slow cooker to HIGH about 15 minutes in advance. In hot slow cooker, stir together the nuts and butter. Add the powdered sugar, stirring to blend and coat evenly. Cover and cook on HIGH for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to LOW and remove lid; cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 2 to 3 hours, or until the nuts are coated with a crisp glaze.
Transfer the nuts to a bowl.
In another small bowl, combine the spices; sift over the nuts, stirring to coat evenly.
Let cool before serving.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
An Ode to a New Year
It blows my mind that 2011 is gone. I feel like both 2010 and 2011 have flown by and have really been two of the most life-changing years for me so far. But I have to say, it's all been very positive changes.
Some of the biggest of those in 2011 have been leaving my agency job to take the huge plunge into private practice, becoming co-coach of the high school dance team, and really just redefining my life in Sidney by making new friends, learning more about myself and becoming more involved in the community. Luckily, I have the most supportive husband who helped me easily transition into the new changes. I could not have done it all without him.
Even though it's fun to reminisce on what 2011 brought, I couldn't be more excited to see what 2012 will bring. We are excited to put in a second bathroom in the house, which Eric is diligently working on (I'm sure that will need a blog in itself). AND with the new year will be a new blog, written by both Eric and me where we will share our home DIY projects and adventures. We'll be sure to share the new website address when it's up and going. Get excited!
We spent a whopping 10 days in Kansas for the holidays. During that time, we had the opportunity to visit with a lot of the people the mean the most to us. Here's a little snapshot of what the trip entailed....
Bowling with the siblings...I'll have you know that I bowled a 109. Boom, baby.
Had a great time with our friends, the Beals!
Insert picture of Jena and Jordan here (hehe). We had a wonderful time with them too, although we don't have the picture to prove it.
Cousin love.
The New Year's Eve party girls
This was by far the best New Year's Eve I've had so far. What a fun group we got to ring in the new year with!
Family!!
:)
I have jumped right back into creating new culinary concoctions since we've been home. Pictures and recipes are to follow shortly.
I hope everyone had a safe and peaceful holiday!
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