Paper Flowers

A co-worker showed me a new card-marking idea at work this week (one one of the few days I was actually in the office and not off doing site visits this week).  I think it is really cute and I can't wait to use it on a card.  I put a couple together today just to see exactly how to make them and it was fairly simple.  I did have to make a trip to Michael's when I was in Montgomery this morning to get some large brads (all I had were small ones), but I already had everything else in my crafting arsenal.  So here is the finished product:

Cute right?

What you need to make one:

double sided scrapbook paper (one sheet is more than enough)

scrap card stock (enough to punch one circle with your hole punch)

large circle hole punch (I used a 1.75" diameter punch and ended up with a 3.5" flower)

double sided tape

large colorful brad (big enough to cover where the points of the circles meet)

How to assemble:

1. Punch a 6 circles in your double sided scrapbook paper and 1 circle in your scrap card stock.

2. Fold one edge of one of the double sided scrapbook paper between .25" and .5"

3. Fold adjacent edge the same distance making a point with the other edge.

          *You will end up with a triangle that has one curved edge.

4. Mark the center of the scrap stock circle and place double sided tape around outer edge of circle.

5. Assemble folded circles on tape around center of scrap stock, with points toward the center.

          *You may need to adjust the folds to make all 6 circles fit without extra space or overlap when you to them together.

6. Stick brad in the center of the flower.

My BOC has arrived!

Ok I am not going to lie.  I was starting to get anxious to see what was in my BOC (Bag of Crap from Woot.com) .  And it finally came yesterday! So without further ado........

TADA!  My Bag of Crap!

It contained:

• A 2011 woot! calendar
• 2- 6" HDMI cables
• One crappy black and white reusable shopping bag
• a SuperFly Mini flying monkey key chain....yes it screeches!

All in all I would say a pretty crappy haul, but for $3 I can't be picky.  I have heard of other wooters getting much better stuff but I had heard of worse stuff.  My friend at work got  2 cedar grilling plank 6 packs, 3 baby bottle drying racks, the crappy bag and 4 pairs of earmuffs.  Not a bad haul if you ask me.  I am still waiting to hear what my brother got....

Plus I am very proud of my screeching monkey key chain...she is so cute!

Awesome Grocery Store Find = Awesome Dinner

A couple of weeks ago as I was perusing the aisles at Publix, I ran across a BOGO sign in the pasta aisle.  I stopped to check it out (of course) and it was the Bertolli Pasta Sauce brand.  I am quite a snob when it comes to spaghetti sauce since the only spaghetti sauce that tastes good to me is my mother's homemade sauce.  I occasionally buy already prepared sauce but only for ravioli or other non-spaghetti pasta dishes and ONLY if they are on sale.  As I was looking at the options, one jar caught my eye:

This stuff is fantastic!

Something in me said to buy it, so I did, and I am so glad I did.

We have been super busy the last couple of weeks and I have only cooked once, yes ONCE in the 2 weeks during which this jar has been in our fridge.  So last night I made the decision I was cooking and I was using the Vodka Sauce.  I just made the recipe up as I went, using all of the things in our fridge that I like (of course).  Here is my fabulous made-up recipe: (4 servings)

Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1-2 cups balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing (for marinating)
6 garlic cloves, minced (I like garlic a lot)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
fresh herbs, chopped (I used basil, thyme and rosemary because that is what is in my garden)
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
1- 8oz container sliced mushrooms
1 box bow-tie pasta
1 jar Bertolli Vodka Sauce
mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions

• Marinate chicken in balsamic dressing and 2 minced garlic cloves for at least 1 hour (the longer it marinates, the better it tastes).
• Grill chicken until done.  I did ours outside because it was so pretty last night.
• Cook pasta and drain.  Set aside.  
• In a large skillet saute remaining garlic cloves, fresh herbs, chopped onion and mushrooms in Extra Virgin Olive Oil until mushrooms and onions are soft (5-10 mins).  While veggies are cooking cut chicken into strips or bites and add to veggie mixture. Pour entire jar of Bertolli Pasta Sauce into skillet and stir until veggies and chicken are coated and sauce has been heated. 
• Divide bow-tie pasta evenly among plates.  Do the same with the chicken, veggie, vodka sauce mixture.  Top with mozzarella cheese and microwave each plate 30 seconds (to melt the cheese) and serve immediately.

I did not get a picture of the finished product because we were both starving.  Eric and I both LOVED it we will definitely cook it again....just have to wait for another BOGO sale!

From the Garden....

Some roses that came from the rose bush in our yard...so pretty!