Sunday, September 2, 2012

Crock Pot Cooking

Hello blogging world!

The Fiance and I are all moved in and working like real adults and all, one hour commute on the way home plus 4 days a week in the gym = not much time to actually cook real food! The temptation to pick up junk food on the way home is way to easy.  So.....how do you have time to work, drive home, work out, and still manage to have a healthy home cooked meal for dinner?!

CROCK POT!

So I've been scouring the internet world and several cook books to find easy to prepare, healthy, and so easy to put together in the mornings I have no excuse to put it in the crock pot in the morning before I leave in the morning!!

Here is my theory on crock potting - pick out 4-6 recipes make your shopping list, including some freezer bags, spend 2-3 hours chopping and preparing the meals (and make a mess of your kitchen) then throw them all in the freezer and call it a day!

We have the Hamilton Beach Set N' Forget it from Target for about $50, although we got ours on sale for about $39 I think.


Next up....awesome recopies
Lucky you I'm sharing a few of our favorites!

Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps
3 Chicken Breasts
1 stalk celery
1/2 cup diced onion
1 cup chicken broth
Put everything in a freezer bag and mix, freeze
Cook on low 6-8 hours
Shred chicken
Place back into crock pot with 1/3 cup of the chicken broth with 3/4 cup buffalo chicken sauce
Cook on high 25 minutes
Put on lettuce leaves, shredded carrot, and ranch dressing.
Makes 4-6 servings

Not your average Red Beans and Rice
1 lb of spicy smoked sausage, cooked and sliced
Two 15oz cans red beans drained
1 Green and 1 Yellow bell pepper chopped
1 Jalopeno seeded and chopped
One 15 oz can of peeled diced tomatoes in juice
1 small red onion chopped
Put everything in a freezer bag and mix, freeze
Cook on low 6 hours
Serve over rice
We like 1/2 brown rice and 1/2 white rice
Makes 6-8 servings

Slow Cooker Fajitas
2lbs of flank or skirt steak, sliced (great if you can find it on sale!!)
1 onion sliced
1 Red or Green bell pepper  (or both)
1 Garlic clove crushed
1 Jalepeno seeded and chopped
2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup veg oil
1Tbsp lemon juice
Put everything in a freezer bag and mix, freeze
Cook on low 6-7 hours
Serve with warm tortilas, avacado, sour cream, cheese, lettuce and pico
Makes 8-10 servings

Jambalaya
2-3lb of chicken, cubed
1 Onion chopped
1 finally chopped green bell pepper
3 carrot sliced
1 garlic clove minced
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp of: pepper, paprika, red pepper flake
One 14oz can tomatoes cut up
Put everything in a freezer bag and mix, freeze
Cook on low 4-6 hours
Then add shrimp and cooked rice- cook on high 30 minutes.
(we like the popcorn shrimp or salad shrimp)
Makes 4-6 servings

Italian Meatballs
1-2lbs lean ground beef
1/2 cup of bread crumbs
2 eggs beaten
1/4 cup milk
2 tbsp grated parmesean
1/2 tsp salt, season salt, oregano, basil
1/4 tsp pepper
1 garlic clove crushed
Combine and form 2 inch balls, put them on a cookie sheet and into the freezer until frozen solid then add to a freezer bag with
One 6 oz can tomato paste
2 cups beef broth
Cook on low 4-5 hours
Serve with angel hair pasta, or add cooked Italian veggies to the broth to make a stew, also good on subs with provolone cheese!

**Disclosure I have found recipes from all over the place, I do not take credit for creating these personally, just passing them on!!**

Enjoy!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

I'm baaaaaaaaaaack

Hello Crafty blog world!

I'm back!  So since my last post a few important things have happened...I moved back home to Houston, completed my 3rd and final year of my Master's in Physician Assistant studies, graduated, took my national certification exam, and have a job....whoa right?!?!

Also Nick and I will be moving into a place somewhere in Houston closer to both of our jobs, and new place means I can again establish a sewing room...or area at least.  Which means more fun crafty tutorials for you guys!! YAY!!

Over the last year I've been doing my clinical rotations throughout Texas, I spent some time in San Antonio, Tomball, College Station, Downtown Houston, and various other places....what that means is ALL of my stuff, except for a suitcase of clothes/shoes was in storage, including all of my fabric and crafting supplies ... GASP!  Can you imagine a whole year of sewing withdrawal - oh the horror.

So stay tuned, because hopefully very soon my sewing machine, fabric and I will be re-united and we can get this craftiness started!!

Until then, I miss you all and can't wait to see what you have been up to as well!!


-Christina

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Nifty and Thrifty: Vistaprint.com

Through various trial and errors I've learned the ins and outs of Vistaprint.com

What's that you say, never heard of it?!?! Basically it is a website that specializes in anything printed or customized for businesses or families. Everything from custom invitations, thank you cards, t-shirts, totes, business cards, post cards, etc.

It is awesome if you are planning parties and want custom items for cheap (but still pretty good quality), custom Christmas/Holiday cards, Custom gifts (t-shirts, hats, mugs, mouse pads, pens, etc) for friends and family members for birthday's or holidays, or if you have a business that you are trying to get off the ground!!

As you guys know, Nick and I are planning for our wedding for November 2012, and I'm a thrifty grad student with some extra time on my hands and money that needs to be saved.

I just want to give you my current tally of Vistaprint purchases so you can get an idea of how amazing they are.

Through 8 separate orders, I bought the following:

  • 2 "Just Married" Car magnets
  • 10 Custom Tote Bags
  • 100 Folded Note Cards (Thank you cards)
  • 280 Address Labels
  • 1 Grooms shirt
  • 25 Kiddo Activity Brochures. 
  • 10 Pages of Matching Letter Head
  • 100 Custom "Save The Date" Postcards
  • 2 Pens
  • 2 Sticky Notes Pads
  • 2 Note Pads
  • 2 Notebooks

Normally all of this would have cost about $480
But I only paid $76.94

Awesome right?!?!

Here are a few pictures of the items













Okay so you want to know how I did it right??

Everything I bought was free, I just had to pay shipping and handling. Okay, yes I know you don't believe me, but I promise it is true!!

First I went to this website -- a fellow blogging bride, and learned some tips and tricks from her.  She has a "sample email" page that has a bunch of links to vistaprint for free stuff.

Then I figured out a few tips of my own:


You can "buy" multiple free things per order (ie 1 free tote bag + 10 free note cards + 1 free car magnet)





If you want to buy two of the same thing (ie 2 tote bags) but you don't want to pay S&H twice, design one through the "Business" section, and another through the "Home & Family" section, they have different product numbers, but they are the same product.






Set up an account with them, and leave several items in your cart at all times, they will send you money saving coupons to your email reminding you of the items in your cart






If you buy several orders within a day or two of each other, they will put them all in one box, so if you need it fast pay for express shipping for one order, then standard or slow shipping for the rest -- they will combine the slow ship items into the fast ship box.


Design your own logos and images for a truly custom product (Nick's Groom shirt I designed via Google images and Microsoft publisher).  Save the logo as an image, and you can upload it (most of the time for free).  If you are unsure about how to save a file as an image you can always take a "screen shot" of it (PC users = windows logo + "S") it automatically puts it into Microsoft OneNote, you can then save the image as a photo.


I've notice that if I design multiple free items that are all in my cart, after a few days they go back to original price -- to fix this "remove" items from your cart, then go to your portfolio under my account, and "order" them again.  This usually restores the prices back to "free"

You can also close the window, and re-open vistaprint through this web address:
www.vistaprint.com/winter2011

I'll keep you guys updated on any other awesome vistaprint deals I find!!!

-Christina

Thursday, February 17, 2011

I am a procrastinator!

What can I say? Nearly a month in between blog posts is kinda sad and pathetic. I promise I am trying!!

As promised here is my Aunts big fuzzy blanket I made (like 2 weeks ago?)


(Sorry the picture is kinda crappy)

I didn't take pictures of the process, but it was pretty simple and I think I can talk you through it.

You need:
4 fuzzy blankets (cheap as you can find, I found them at the grocery store for $5 a piece)
Washer/dryer
Sewing machine
Scissors
Measuring tape/ruler

First: Wash and dry your blankets!! Cheap material tends to shrink a lot, and not exactly uniformly.

Now take two blankets that will make up the front, and put them face to face making sure they are nearly the same size. Pin, and sew 1/4 -1/2 inch seam.

Do the same for the other side of the large blanket.

Now put your two large blankets face to face, pin all along the edge except for a 2 foot space at the bottom.

Sew all the way around, turn the blanket right side out

Sew the opening close, using a straight, small stitch as close to the edge as you can.

Now pin 1-2 inches from the edge of the blanket to make the "border" all the way around. Sew the edges to keep the blanket from folding funny.

If you wish you can quilt this to make it a little more sturdy.  These fuzzy blankets are incredibly warm, and this one is just shy of the twin size.

I promise to post again soon!!

Thanks for stopping by!

-Christina

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Just another day

Good morning Blogger land,

Nothing fun to show you today, I have to do boring stuff, like tailor some ($11) dress pants I got while home in Houston AND study for my pharmacology exam that is in 6 days (eek!)

However I do want to share this little tidbit with you...especially for all you coffee drinkers.
I found this a while back and just had to share!


Caffeine is my shepherd; I shall not doze.
It maketh me to wake in green pastures:
It leadeth me beyond the sleeping masses.
It restoreth my buzz:
It leadeth me in the paths of consciousness for its name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of addiction,
I will fear no Equal™:
For thou art with me; thy cream and thy sugar they comfort me.
Thou preparest a carafe before me in the presence of The Starbucks:
Thou anointest my day with pep; my mug runneth over.
Surely richness and taste shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the House of Mochas forever.
~Author Unknown

I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, I'm going to attempt to recreate my Grandpa's "big and tall" blanket for my Aunt...perhaps I'll remember to take pictures so I can share!
Also on the horizon
  • More studying 
  • Big and Tall fuzzy blanket tutorial
  • Bringing back Medical Mystery Mondays 
  • Spring quilted purse tutorial
  • Re-stock Etsy shop
  • Knit more squares for the orphans
Now that I told you guys my ideas....I'm committed!! I must overcome the procrastination!!

Stay Crafty!!
-Christina

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Wedding Inspiration

If you are anti-wedding, turn away now because there is about to be a wedding explosion!

Nick and I are getting married 11.3.12, and in Texas the Fall isn't really a big deal, we don't have fall color changes in the trees, everything just kinda turns brown and falls off

Our colors are fall colors with an emphasis on Maroon (We are Aggies of course we are going to have a maroon wedding!). We decided to go with a "Live Oak" themed wedding because at Texas A&M University we have a Century Tree, that is believed to be well over 100 years old. It is just beautiful and it is a common Aggie tradition to walk under the tree with one you love and you will be with them for eternity....so of course Nick and I visited the Century Tree



The following are "inspiration collages" for our wedding


Centerpieces




Ceremony Decor



Wedding Favors, and Gift bags for out of town guests



This is a snap shot of the inspiration we liked best 
(also sneak peek of our save the date)


I promise I wont blog about wedding stuff again for awhile...it is just so exciting!!!  Back to crafting!!

-Christina

Monday, January 17, 2011

Cute Custom Onesies Tut

Good morning everyone! Happy Martin Luther King Jr day!!

Here are a few pictures of some custom onesies I made for a close friend of mine who had her handsome little bundle of joy over the summer. His name is Weston, and I made three long sleeved 6-9 mos onesies, and three 9-12 mos onesies so he could wear some now and later on when he gets a bit bigger.

By far my most favorite!! 



His Daddy is an airtraffic controller so I thought an airplane would be just perfect!








Here is the little guy modeling his new fancy tie onesie!! Isn't he just the cutest?!


Here is another one of Weston ***NOTE***No music was playing in the headphones


So these onesies were pretty straight forward, I didn't take any pictures of the process but I think I can talk you through it!

Materials:
  • Onesies (duh)
  • Computer/printer/paper to print off pictures
  • Light weight interfacing
  • Fabric scraps
  • Iron
  • Pinking shears
  • Sewing machine
  • Matching Thread
  • 2-3 hours 

How to:
  • First find some "clip art" style pictures by googling images you are interested in, such as Tiara, Cat, Train, Car, Tie, etc.  Be sure there aren't too many skinny parts in the picture or intricate turns that may be hard to do on a standard sewing machine
  • Print pictures off, estimate if it is the right size for the onesies (this may take a couple tries)
  • Take similar size scrap of material and interface it FIRST
  • Then trace pattern, and cut with pinking shears to prevent major fraying
  • Pin on onesie, making sure it is centered
  • Sew using a medium sized straight stitch, making sure to lock your stitches.
  • You can add detail by zig-zagging (see airplane above)


To make a truly custom baby gift, make a small blanket, quilt, burp rags, or nursing cover using the same material!  Quick and easy to throw together! 

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial!!! More to come!

-Christina


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