DIY: Love Your State Wall Art

When thinking up new wall art ideas for our master bedroom, I wanted something simple and personal. I've been seeing a lot of state themed art online and we love where we live...so it only seemed natural to incorporate it into our room somehow.

Wanna make your own? It's super simple! Here's how I made mine:

1. Traced the outline of our state off the computer.

2. Traced my template onto some cardstock and traced the edges with a black marker.

3. Cut out a tiny heart where our city is and glued it on. Then I glued it to another piece of cardstock and framed it.

Done!

We love our state! Do you?

FREE Printable!

I created this print in Photoshop for our master bedroom and thought it would be fun to share! I printed the cream one for us, but thought I would make some more in my favorite colors:)

Click on the link below the print you would like to download. Each print is an 8x10.

*Also, these are for personal use only, not to be duplicated and profited from.*

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Happy Friday!

The Perfect Sugar Cookie: Mickey Mouse Version

I've struggled with making cut out cookies. I haven't seemed to find a recipe I like and then comes the whole bother of rolling on a floured surface and then the cursing that comes about 1 hour into the process.

Yup, makes for some great Christmas memories.

I finally rented the book Cookie Craft.

I was skeptical. But Bakerella said it worked...and well, you listen to anything she says.

So, I tried it.

And it worked.

It totally freakin' worked!

I won't be posting the recipe here since it's copywrited (and you really need to read the whole book anyways, because it's amazing). But I have never made such wonderful sugar cookies that looked great, tasted great, and didn't leave me in tears!

I am loving the Mickey Mouse cookie cutter I recently ordered off Ebay. I made up some plain to decorate later, but I also decorated some with sprinkles before baking and they turned out great too.

Now off to find some more fun cookie cutters since cut out cookies don't scare me anymore!

DIY: Earrings from Scrapbooking Embellishments

I have started loving stud earrings lately. I found these metal scrapbook embellishments at Joann this week and I thought they would make adorable earrings.

I attached hot glued them onto some earring studs I already had and that was it! Normally hot glue wouldn't hold onto metal, but I think since these flowers are so thin, it seemed to bond well.

 Now I have three new pairs of earrings for about $2.50. Not a bad deal.

Recipe: Chicken and Spinach Calzones

The 30 Day Food Challenge is going well! If you are following on Facebook or Twitter...you can see I haven't given up yet. Thanks for keeping me accountable, guys;)

What I'm finding is after the first week of the challenge...it got pretty darn easy! I am able to make two and three meals at a time and I love when I don't have to worry about dinner

(you know, when it's about 10 minutes before the hubs is home, I have a four year old that is practicing her sass, and am 8 month old who decided he either needs to pull my laptop off the end table or be held every other minute)

CHICKEN AND SPINACH CALZONES

(makes 4)

REFRIGERATED WHOLE GRAIN PIZZA DOUGH (or home made)

1 cup COOKED CHICKEN

1/2 cup FROZEN SPINACH (thawed and drained)

1/2 cup ALFREDO SAUCE

1 GARLIC CLOVE

1 cup shredded MOZZARELLA CHEESE

STEP1: Grate garlic clove into alfredo sauce (I use a hand grater). Mix in chicken and spinach. You can add more sauce if you like...you just want the consistency to be like chicken salad...not too runny.

STEP 2: Roll out pizza dough onto cookie sheet, pressing evenly and using the whole pan. Cut into four equal pieces.

STEP 3: Divide mixture evenly on one side of each dough piece (with room to fold the other side over)

STEP 4: Sprinkle top of mixture with shredded cheese. Fold over other end of pizza dough and roll the bottom dough up over the top dough, sealing the edges.

STEP 5: Bake per dough package instructions.



These are great to serve right away, or make them ahead of time to reheat for lunch.

Happy Monday!

Become an Email Subscriber

I wanted to update you all on the new email subscriber link I have on the right side of my blog. I love getting questions and comments, and I finally got around to hacking into my blog template so I can reply directly to you!

YAY!

Unfortunately, through Blogger, you will not get notified immediately of my responses, but you will if you subscribe via email! Plus you can stay up to date on all the shenanigans that go on here...so that sounds like a win, win, right?

30 Day Food Challenge

I don't know what I've gotten myself into.

I've given myself the challenge of eating at home for 30 days.

Yikes.

Not sure I can do it, but I know that we will feel better, save money, and have more meals together at our dinner table.

It's not really that we eat out a ton or that we are eating a lot of fast food (but seriously, if I eat at Chipotle one more time...I might puke). I have just gotten lazy about cooking at home while I'm working on a few projects. Some exciting things have been happening with this little blog and it has redirected my focus on being intentional with my time in the kitchen. My lack of energy to cook has made me sad because I really do love it. I love coming up with new recipes and making good, nutritious meals for my family.

In order to not freak out my husband completely (the man loves his Jimmy Johns on the weekends), we will splurge on one weekend meal, but the others will be at home, together.

In order to keep myself accountable, I will be posting one meal photo a day on Twitter and Facebook.

Wanna do it with me? Share your Twitter or Facebook page and we can do it together!

Besides, it can't be all bad to have some extra money for some vintage shopping in the end, right?