DIY Money Tree! For those hard to shop for! A post from the archives!

We all have a few of them on our lists!

   You know! Those hard to shop for friends and family! For me it is a handful of teen and pre teens! My daughter and I shopped aimlessly with little luck! I finally surmised that we could just get them a gift card or money.... Money is the ultimate gift after all. Your recipient is free to do as he or she pleases, but it has always felt a little impersonal to me! I give you the Christmas money tree!

Start with two pieces of felt. Trace a tree pattern, cut and either sew or glue them together with hot glue. Leave about a half inch border and a hole for stuffing the tree at the bottom! Next stuff your tree! Do not be afraid to get into the corners.

I used a small dowel cut into equal pieces for the trunk! To create the candy cane striping, paint first your base color. Then when dry apply painters tape in a spiral around the dowel and paint your secondary color! Once you remove the tape touch up and even out where necessary! These blocks that I used for the base were only .30 at Hobby Lobby! I painted a primary color then topped it with ivory and sanded the edges for that unique look! Once your base is completed use a cute piece of scrapbook paper to cover the top!

So Cute, Easy and Affordable!

Assemble by closing the opening to the tree around the dowel! Use a small amount of hot glue to attach the trunk to the base! Decorate!

Use ornaments that reflect the personality of the intended recipient!

 I found tiny clothespins at Wal Mart. Use them to attach money or gift cards! Have fun! 

          What are you working on?

A little inspiration...

        The Holidays are approaching! Are you getting ready? Or waiting a few more weeks?

     We are doing things a little different this year. We typically are not completely done with shopping and/or decorating before Christmas Eve. Sincerely. I couldn't really tell you why. It is just how it has been. Our "style" you could say. This year we are in new territory! Our shopping is very nearly done, and I have a jump start on our decorations! I must say.... It is kind of nice! This lull, the quiet before the holiday storm. Taking advantage of this slow time has been most productive! Now ordinarily crazy time will be spent snuggled up in a blanket downstairs with my cute family. Christmas lights glowing on the tree.... Yes! We even have one of two trees up!

    Last Saturday while the hubs was pheasant hunting my gals and I headed into town. Our little valley is the newest to welcome Tai Pan Trading. Really exciting! I did not want to leave. I was completely enamored  by the hanging Christmas wreaths they had displayed. As I quickly began formulating a plan to duplicate the wreath, the total started to creep upwards. Although completely head over heels with the store and their wholesale pricing, I could not bring myself to spend the nearly sixty dollars it would have been to purchase all the supplies.... and really, sixty is not bad, but cursed am I with a frugal mind.

 
    A simple Christmas garland can be purchased for less than a traditional wreath. I wrapped a tree garland around an old grapevine I already had. Then secured it with wire. I used white string to attach silver snowflakes at different lengths to the grapevine on the outer edge. My old reliable friend jute was used to hang the ornaments from the ceiling first then through the middle of the wreath after it was hung.  I literally only spent $10 on this wreath! Hobby Lobby is having a fantastic 50% off sale on all of their Christmas items. I bought 5 large ornaments. Everything else I had from previous years! The cute deer? Dollar store!

  Inspiration and creativity are endless. It is really what we do as bloggers. Inspire one another. Make our own special touches and contributions. I really love Tai Pans wreath. Like, love it! I really love mine too! Maybe a little more. Something rewarding about creating for my family.

    How have you been inspired this Holiday season?

Out with the old! In with the.... Old?!

    Good old Tuesday! One day down in the week. I'm in a bit if a rush today. Ever notice how incredibly slow Blogger is when you just want to post! Its probably not Blogger, but my impatient, antsy old self.

     My to do list is brimming. My want to do list growing. Today I get to take not one, but two Iphones to the Apple store. Insert: frown. Teens and pre teens are tough on things! Good grief! After that the lil one and I will hit a few stores for a jump on Christmas shopping. Insert:... I'm not sure how I feel about this yet. Somewhere in there I get to grab supplies for my newest beloved piece of furniture. Has that ever happened to you? You just know even before the first stroke of sandpaper you are going to fall in love! This UEA weekend we were visiting family. My mother in law sent me home with a true treasure.

    My sweet husband does not understand this old soul that lives deep inside, and normally probably would not have loaded said treasure into the trailer and dragged her home, BUT... we need another dresser. After seven years of marriage you would not think that I am still trying to piece our bedroom together.... I am. We have never had matching furniture in there. That bothers me some. Like teens in a dorm room sort of bother. Styles change. Tastes change. When we got married we were trying to combine two households into one. Now we have accumulated seven more years worth of stuff. We could afford a new set, but just simply have not gotten around to it, and I don't mind. I love to create for my family!  Last month when the hubby was deer hunting (when I do my best work) I tackled our existing dresser:

    Not to shabby! I replaced some of the missing handles sanded here and there, slapped some primer plus paint on and voila! So are you ready?! Here is the newest addition!

 Wah Wah Wah!

 Can't you see the possibilities though! Ugh! Im so excited! Nerd alert! The first place my eye was drawn, was to the lovely "brass" handles. No worries! After a quick removal, and I mean quick! I cleaned them up good with a baking soda paste and lightly sanded them with a 220 grit sandpaper. have you ever used Rust-Oleum's Metallic paint and primer?  Oil rubbed bronze is the bomb! The stuff is a God send! I have updated fixtures like a mad woman around the house!

    The cost of all new hardware can get a little pricey. I am still planning on purchasing a few different handles so this dresser matches the other dresser, but my cost for a simple update using what is already available is right around $10, for the paint and sandpaper!

Now I'm really excited! Happy Tuesday!

A Family Favorite! Easy Peasy Sweet and Sour Chicken!

    The baby is eating eggs and crunchy, crumbly toast in our bed, my side this time. The washing  machine is whirling and twirling around the first of at least five hundred loads of laundry. The gorgeous fall sun is warming up the house and soul. Kiddos are off to school, besides the one littering the bed sheets with tiny toast crumbs of course. My amazing guy is out the door for the day. Its just me, my coffee, Dr. Meredith Grey (How did life exist before Netflix anyway?) poised to take on the day!

    Ahhhh! The quiet lull in between the summer and the holidays. A few quiet weeks between mayhem. Local pumpkin walks with toasty mittens and melty hot chocolate. Leisurely afternoons with my best girls. Perhaps that's really why I prefer Fall? Besides the warm aromas. Crisp morning air filling your morning run lungs. Beautiful scenery..... and on and on. Fall really is special. Last week as we bribed and begged with the little one to smile and pose one more time for the 2015 family photo spectacular, I mused about the year that has so quickly passed us by. Time as usual is flying by.

    All we can do is cherish today. Savor these minutes that will come, and most assuredly go.  Sit down together at the family dinner table and remember this day, this season. The times their faces aren't glued to their phones. The statistics on family dinners are amazing. After the world has its way with your family, welcome them home with a favorite. Enjoy the quiet times in between the whirlwind of life. Here is one of our favorites. From our family to yours!


                                                      Sweet and Sour Chicken

    You will Need:
For the sauce
* 1 cup sugar
* 1/2 cup vinegar
* 1/4 cup pineapple juice
* 1/4 ketchup
* 1 T soy sauce
* 1/2 t salt
* 1/2 cup pineapple chunks
* (optional) diced onions and peppers

For the chicken
* 4 chicken breast cut into bite size pieces
* 3 eggs slightly beaten
* 2 cups flour
* salt
* pepper
* olive oil

Directions:
Pre heat oven to 350. In a large skillet heat about a tablespoon of olive oil. In batches, dip the chicken pieces in the egg first followed by the flour. Make sure the pieces are well coated. Place them in the large skillet season with salt and pepper and allow them to brown, flipping occasionally. After browned place in a baking pan in a single layer.

       Allow the crust to set for about 10 minutes while you prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan, mix all of the ingredients. Heat the sauce over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved and sauce is bubbly. We prefer a little extra sauce. This sauce will thicken in the baking process. If you would like a little extra sauce for dipping, simply double or repeat the sauce recipe.

    Once sauce is prepared pour sauce and pineapple chunks over chicken. If you doubled recipe, only use half of the sauce over the chicken. Place chicken in the oven and bake for one hour. To keep the chicken coating crisp, allow the chicken to bake for at least 35 minutes before flipping. While the chicken is baking start your rice cooker!

 Enjoy! I'm off to fold laundry. Sweep the bed. Snuggle a lil one while we work on the alphabet. Perhaps grab a shower.... Bring it on Tuesday!

Vintage desk upcycle and milk paint!

    Baby Keeg, Ab and I loaded into the car and hit the local Deseret Industries! Living in a DIY valley, finding treasures is a rarity! We lucked out! I found this great desk, a matching head and footboard, and fantastic set of shutters! My mind was racing as we crammed our prizes into our small car! We were certainly a sight! 

    

    Milk paint is making such a comeback! I was just about to hit the checkout button and purchase milk paint over the web.... then me, being me thought "I have to try to do this on my own!" I try everything once! It was amazing! I highly recommend the following recipe! I started out with the Martha Stewart recipe, but after 24 hours had few curds. I did a little experimenting and was very pleased! Not to mention I saved so much learning how to create my own!

1 quart skim milk (must be skim!)

1 cup white distilled vinegar

acrylic paint

cheesecloth

strainer

Allow skim milk to reach room temperature. In a large bowl combine milk and vinegar. Let the mixture sit overnight. The next day cover a strainer with cheesecloth and pour milk mix in to separate the whey from the curds. Rinse well and place the curds into a mixing bowl and mix until smooth. Add a few drops of color and continue adding until you reach the desired hue! I got about 2 cups from this recipe. enough for three coats on the desk. Do not mix until you are ready to use. It is important you use it quickly, as it will not store.

    If you have never used this type of paint before.... Be patient take your time and figure out how to apply it. The first coat is very nearly transparent. Making sure your surface is properly sanded and prepped is crucial! It will begin to lift itself off as it dries. So it will just fall off of any unprepped surface. It will not stick to a varnished surface real well. I promise you will love it once you figure it out! If you love that chippy, vintage paint look... this is the paint for you! I used to spend hours painting, sanding, and distressing! This paint does it for you!

   

       I was able to keep a reasonable budget with this project by using what I had on hand! Using a little spray paint and spare buttons, I covered unsightly areas. The original hardwood seat was upholstered. This desk is solid wood. Very sturdy! It has a functioning book rack, and desktop! Made even more fun with a few chalkboards! Perfect for any corner in your home! The desk was finished and sealed with several coats of polyurethane and furniture wax! 

AND.... she's for sale! Available for pick up in Cache County Utah! Asking $100 If you would like more information please email: curiouswisdomlj5@gmail.com

Tar paper fireworks!

I love the 4th of July! 

 Back and refreshed from a vacation I was ready for some cute outdoor decorations! A set back from being "back and refreshed" is my wallet now needs to be refreshed:) I pondered for sometime trying to figure out what I wanted...

 and on a next to nothing budget!

I was just about to paint over my Halloween pumpkin logs, to transform them into fire works when I saw the roll of tar paper in the back corner of the shed. I admired the shape of the roofing paper and had an idea....

I cut a piece and then secured the top and bottom with a staple to create my cylinder shape.

Then used hot glue along the seam.

Grabbed a few buckets of leftover paint! Spray paint would work fine, but I liked the instant thick coverage I was able to achieve with the latex paint. 

Once my tubes dried I cut a square of the paper, poked a wire through the center and secured the inside end with hot glue...

Then trimmed and painted the top. Twist the wire around  a pencil for a fun look!

I used a stencil to decorate my fire works and then created the "fuse" by tying several strands of yellow ribbon to the wire.

My total cost for this crazy cute DIY $0.00 I simply used what I had around the house!

Share your fun 4th of July ideas!

                                                                          

Salted Caramel Sticky Rolls...

    It has been snowing here for three days straight! For our family this is not bad news, unless you have to survive work, school and all the other responsibilities of the week before you can play! We are chomping at the bit to get out and ride! Patiently waiting for Saturday to arrive, I decided to appease my crowd with a warm ooey gooey treat!

    I often try out new recipes and experiment with rolls. I have yet to find one my heart is set upon in my quest for bakery perfection. For this batch I found a pretty tasty recipe at Lost Recipes Found. The name of the recipe? Giant Glazed Cinnamon Rolls! YUM! You too can try this amazing recipe here. I substituted half of the AP flour with whole wheat flour and used applesauce in place of the butter in the filling!

    While these were rising I reached for the cream cheese. Realizing it was fat free, I had a problem! You see I do not mind fat free cream cheese and in fact prefer to indulge in healthy options. My husband however would never stand for this! I was already pushing it with the whole wheat flour and apple sauce filling! LOL!

Hmmm! 

    I have been learning how to make salted caramel. My kiddos eat it up! If you have tried your hand at salted caramel you know it can be a pain! I have actually had to throw a pan away! By the time I had removed the hardened sugar crystals from its surface the Teflon was flaking off into our food! "Wow! You put a lot of pepper in the soup!" Bleh! It was not pepper!

    So here is my salted caramel recipe. Along with a few beginners tips! 

*First: While heating, do not stir your sugar water! I learned this the hard way! Stirring causes the quick evaporation of the water and you are stuck with a hard dried up chunk of sugar, even if you add more water you will have a difficult time achieving the right consistency, and it will keep drying up. Combine your water and sugar in a saucepan and stir until dissolved over low heat until dissolved. Once dissolved do not stir again!

*Second: Every time I remove my amber colored sugar from the heat and add the cream, no matter how slowly I whisk it in, it still sets up too quickly! Again making hard clumps. Once the sugar is colored a deep amber simply turn the heat to low and add the cream, and butter. I like to keep it over heat because it will keep it warm enough that your caramel will stay nice and smooth! I am no pro! Just a few tricks I have learned that have kept me from pulling my hair out!

Salted Caramel

1/2 cup white granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup water

3/4 cup heavy cream

3 1/2 Tbs unsalted butter

1 t salt

     In a large saucepan combine sugars and water. Stir until dissolved. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Do not stir during this phase! Boil the sugar water until it is a deep caramel color. Usually 5-6 minutes. Turn heat down to low and slowly stir in the heavy cream. The mixture will be hot so be careful! Keep stirring to prevent any clumping, gently crushing any lumps that may form. Add butter and salt. Keep stirring over heat until smooth and creamy. Transfer to a glass container and allow to cool. To reheat simply microwave in 10 second increments.

The gift of service.

    I was running around frantic! Somehow in between my other daily responsibilities I had found myself overwhelmed with the "task" of service. Several hearts were in need of mending. There were dinners to be made. Babies to hold. A run to be ran. A pile of laundry to the sky. An after school play. Somewhere in the madness and anxiety I found peace. I felt that even though my load was... well, overloaded! Everything would be fine. Silently praying I began to reflect on the wonderful gift of service. I began to really focus on how and who I was blessed with serving on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon...

    Nearly eight years ago I took a leap of absolute faith! With nothing to lose and everything ahead,  I packed up the sparse items my daughter and I owned and set on a grand adventure. Thirty miles away from home our new life began to form. These were tough days. Going back to school in my late twenties with a baby in tow was nothing short of a miracle. We were able to qualify for housing, and I was not allowed to hold a job at this time because I was the recipient of a generous state program that paid my tuition in full. We had to survive on a government stipend that was under $400.00 a month.  My objective was to complete school as quickly as possible and become employable. At times I felt as if the weight of the world was upon my back. I knew however this was the only way to make a better life for the two of us.

    Not long after we had moved into our apartment we began to experience the humble service of others. I would often return home late in the evening, sometimes just long enough to give my sweet girl a bath and kiss her goodnight. On our porch I would often find small packages of toddler clothing. Or bags of food items, blankets and toys. Twelve days before Christmas a baby doll and a hand mixer, the first I had ever owned and a dolly she has to this very day. We had nothing, yet because of the kindness of others we had it all! The gifts continued throughout our time in that apartment and I learned a very wonderful lesson from our angels. I may never know who these silent angels were. Keeping watch over us, but I vowed when I could, when I had enough to give....

 I would! Not once. Not twice. Every chance I got. I would serve those in need. I would show my gratitude.

    Fast forward several years, my husband and I are sitting close together fidgeting on our couch. Across from us the Stake President! In our home to commend us for an act of service we had just completed. "We just did what anyone would have done." I offered meekly. Knowing in my heart of hearts that is simply what we are meant to do. Take care of one another...

    Back to the eye of the storm within my kitchen. I felt a warmth spread through me as I recounted the many times I have been blessed by service. Knowing that I posses the power to serve. That it is indeed a gift. Understanding the power of being a blessing in someones day. The blessings that come back three fold.

    We are all capable of great service. As mothers we serve our families daily. Its the warm batch of cookies awaiting school children. Their arms around your waist. The prepared dinner for the returning husband, a kiss upon his cheek as he teases you about your yoga pants. The clean house full of love. Or perhaps a disastrous house that you didn't get to because you were too busy playing peek a boo and painting tiny toe nails.  As friends we serve as a patient heart willing to listen. Help me to understand. Let me take your kids...

Sisters, Brothers, Aunts and Uncles, Neighbors, cousins...

    Service does not require an invitation, but rather intuition. Who will you bless today?

WHOOO WHOOO is ready for Halloween!

    With Halloween right around the corner I had been dragging my feet some! Knowing I would need to come up with something fantastic for my little one! Whilst the older kiddos were still busy pondering the correct look for their Halloween debut I started gathering items from around the house to get the creative juices flowing! 

HMMM?!

    In my search around the house I found a couple of old dresses and an idea began forming!

     I first covered the bodice in strips of brown felt. Once the felt is in place, carefully snip the ends to create a feather like look! Next grab a few cups out of the cupboard and create the eyes! So far fairly simple and my cost $0.00!

    I did have to purchase tulle, but found Hobby Lobby just happened to have theirs on sale! Saving half at the register! With the dress on the wiggly intendee, use a ribbon to measure the circumference of the skirt! I used three layers for extra fluff! Remove from wiggly body and carefully pin the layers into place. Then glue or sew onto the dress!

    With a long sleeve brown under shirt, fuzzy brown tights, and....

    We have a winner! Paint an old pair of shoes and use scraps of felt to create one of a kind Halloween goodies! Total cost for this "Hoot" of a costume: $6.00

Simple Halloween decor!

    October is finally here! Hooray!! Time to get real crazy! If you are on a budget, finding funds to create can be frustrating! I am big at looking around the house to see what I can use that we already have! Kids always have construction paper! Cut out some fun characters! Cost $.00

    Dig out those old vacant frames! I need to find some fun round ones! Cost $0.00

    Get creative and have fun! Use chalkboard paint for a unique spin! 

A Jutorial and Burlap Spiders!

    As the Fall season begins and the chilly air moves in I have found myself a little busy! Busy creating! Here is a fun, fast, low cost, and unique Halloween decorating tutorial! 

   

    For the jute spider web it is easiest to find a semi heavy blanket you can lay out on the floor! This was my second web! The first one was held down on my kitchen counter with coffee mugs! It worked, but this is much easier!

1. Cut jute to desired lengths.

2. Pin strands of jute to the blanket to secure it while you work!

3. Fire up the glue gun.

    Working in between strands create your web! It is easier to cut the inner stands as you go! I tried one continuous piece and the look was not the same! Cut and glue as you work around the web. Once you have the look you like, remove the pins and hang it in an awesome location! 

Does your web look empty....

   

     These cute burlap spiders are the perfect occupant for your new jute web!

1. Fold a 5x7 strip of burlap in half and cut the head and body shape.

2. Glue or sew the inner edges of the burlap, leaving about a 1/2 inch border from glue to edge, and leave a small hole near the shoulder of your spider.

3. Stuff stuffing through the small hole. Fill it up full! Glue or sew access hole shut.

4. Use a piece of tulle to separate the head from the body, and for a cute bow!

5. Cut eight pieces of wire to the same desired length.

6. Carefully use hot glue to secure and wrap jute around each wire. If the ends are fraying add a small drop of hot glue. When the glue is cool enough to handle, but not set... roll it between your fingers until the fray is gone!

7. Fold up the sides where the 1/2 inch border is on the body. Hopefully your burlap is frayed and will create a "fur" up against the body. Use glue to secure.

8. Sew or glue the legs into place! Once in place you can bend them however you choose!

Happy Haunting!

Avocado dressing

  A few days ago as I ran numerous errands I passed Cafe Rio and was instantly hit with a sweet pork salad craving! Of course my hard earned money had other places to go....

   So I picked up a side of pork ribs while at the store, but forgot tomatillos for dressing! Yesterday as my mouth watered over the aroma wafting from the crock pot I was scratching my head! I pan fried corn tortilla's to top yummy pork salads but still just needed that unique taste!

    Not in a big rush to head out to the store I looked around the kitchen. Avocado's! Surely you must be able to create something with these green gems! I did a little searching...

    This is the Paula Dean version with of course a few of my own tweaks!

1 large peeled and pitted avocado
2 T fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup light mayo
1/2 cup light miracle whip
1/2 cup low fat sour cream
1/2 Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup minced onion
2 cloves pressed garlic
1 t salt
1 T taco seasoning mix

    I used my Magic bullet which is perfect for ventures such as these, but a food processor works too! Puree avocado and lemon juice. Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth!

    Enjoy!

You will Have good luck....In the tub!

  
  I am not spoiled just loved! My Kindle Fire HD is amazing! I love it so much! I have done everything but read on it! We have added so many movies, games and MP3's to our family account! While I was happy to hand down my old Kindle Fire, I still have a soft spot for my paper white 3G Kindle! It comes in handy all the time! So if you are not yet convinced E readers are for you....you gottta try one! I love to use it in the kitchen! Anyway.....

   Fortune cookies! 

This really is the good idea of our kids I am just the baker! Fortune cookie Valentines! I had to do a test bake so that on February 13th I sorta knew what I was doing with over sixty cookies! I found a great recipe and tutorial Fortune Cookies I had to of course add my own twist.. With a recipe that uses what you already have around the house it is a truly great, inexpensive idea!

With food coloring, sprinkles and a toothpick I was able to create a more Valentine looking cookie! I used two sided paper to write love notes....Then my creative juices were really going!

    There are so many awesome ways to give these cute little Valentines! Both these glass pieces were only a dollar! Perfect for teachers, grandparents, friends!