My Lost Data...

So I figured out what went wrong with the missing post. I was working on my blog the other night when a thunderstorm came through and knocked out the power and turn off my computer and deleted some of my recent post. I'm working on getting them re posted. It is a little frustrating!!!!!

Couponing

I'm so into the new show Extreme couponing on TLC. I think that it is awesome that people can pay $30.00 bucks for $600.00 dollars in grocery's. I hate grocery shopping and the money I spent to eat. I how ever do think that some people are a little extreme like having 4,000 tubs of toothpaste or enough diaper for the first 1 1/2 years of a baby's life with out having any kids. How ever it is great to see how these people use the system to save them big bucks. I have started a little competition of my own against myself but have had some friends jump in as well. To see how much time I would have to spend to save and how much I would save in 1 month with using coupons. So I use coupons for local craft stores to save but not so much on food, personal care, pets and cleaning products so I thought why not give it a try. Well  to my surprise 13 days in I have to say it's going much better then planned with not to much effort on my part. As of 5-13-2011 I have saved a total 60.67.
First I get my coupons from my mom and friends from the Sunday paper. I browse quickly and only keep the coupons for product I will buy and use. I browse some coupon web sites and print coupons from their. I eclip to my Advantage Card I have with Giant Eagle. So I break my efforts up to varies days about 5- 10 minutes tops. Then the day before I go to the grocery store I look at the sales flyer plan my meals 7 days at a time, 5 lunches for me and Kaitlyn, husbands lunches, pet food, beverages and ect. Then I make my grocery list and after completed I pull out my coupons which from memory I already know what coupons I need and then I double check to make sure their is not any other coupons I can use in my coupon binder. Example: I know I have a $2.00 coupon for 2 lipton 12 pack teas which my husband likes to take to work to drink so I already know I need this coupon. I had a $2.00 coupon for 12 pack of mighty dog moist dog food and my dogs like this product so I use it. I also group coupons together with a paper clip if it's something I buy weekly to save time. I spend about 1/2 on my quest to saving a week which I feel is pretty reasonable. I have also received several coupons form dairy queen (buy one get one free) which me and my husband have been fine with using I mean buy a banana split get one free who's going to complain about that we saved our selves 3.69 on just this one fast food coupon. I also use a McD's one for a free Big Mac $3.39 savings. So I keep the fast food coupons in the car and pull them out and use them when we can. I never did this before. I love going to a craft store and saving 40% on one non-sale item so this is like doing the same thing. I'm thrilled with my savings so far this month. I love a deal and saving money. It makes me feel empowered and in control when at the grocery store.

Mad....

So some of my recent post have been lost and I'm not happy about that. I'll try to re-write and post.

Dance tutu bag

So I came across these tutu bags months ago when searching for cute dance gear for my daughter. These bags are so cute and made by stay at home mom's like me and they sell them on Esty for the extra cash. A good well made bag can run $25.00 to $30.00 bucks. So as always I had to have one but I'm never willing to pay the asking price and as always with any thing I like and know I can make I'll study it over and over, I'll fall asleep the next few night thinking about my game plan, draw up some plans, make my shopping list and will come up with a figure on what it will cost to make... which with every project I take on I always make it for 1/4 of the cost. I also always buy my needed items on sale to help me save. So here is my finished Tutu bag I made for Kaitlyn's dance items. Cute and stylish that's how we roll!!! LOL

Kaitlyn was invited to her First Birthday Party!

So one of the many cute little girls in Kaitlyn's dance class McKenna has invited Kaitlyn to her Birthday at the dance studio where they take classes together. Kaitlyn is so excite to be attending her first Birthday Party. We have been discussing what she wants to wear because they get to come dressed like little Princess. The parent's giving the party has asked each guest to bring a donation for the Akron Children's Hospital instead of a gift for the Birthday Girl. I really thought that this was a wonderful idea on the part of the parent's. So I started racking my brain to what would be a good gift to buy to donate. Well I just could not think of what would be the right gift to purchase and of all the years I have spent in health care the answer... is just to contact someone in patient relations. So this is exactly what I did. To my surprise they told me that the best donations are brand new stuffed animals the children love them and they never seem to have enough to go around. Well that was simple now this weekend we will be heading off to buy some stuffed animals to donate.
 I have seen and heard about parent's asking guest to donate items for a good cause instead of gifts. My new favorite show Quintuplets by Surprise on TLC just did their Quintuplets 2nd Birthday and asked their guest to donate a new coat instead of a gift for their children. It does teach children at a young age to think of others instead of them selves. My daughter sure does not go with out. She has more opportunities then I had at her age and definitely more toys. So a great lesson to learn and to teach your child is to look outside the box and think of others whom are 1. Less fortunate or 2. They have to over come hurdles in life like medical problems/ issues and 3. Helping others should be more rewarding then receiving.

New Recipe I have to share!!!

So my neighbor was telling me about a new recipe she just made with stove top stuffing, chicken and jumbo pasta shells with a cream chicken/ cream of mushroom sauce. Well a few days later I thought about her recipe something new to make for dinner sounded good. Well thank God for the web!!! Typed in a few key words and walla several recipes. So I went with this recipe and add a few of my own touches.
You will need: 1. 4- boneless skinless chicken breast (I buy frozen 3lb bag of boneless skinless chicken tenderloins at Giant Eagle when on sale for $5.97 I can get about 2-3 meals out of it.) 2. Twin box of stove top stuffing. 3. 1- box Jumbo large pasta shells. 3. 1- can of each cream of mushroom soup and cream of chicken soup. 4. 2- cups shredded mozzarella cheese. 5. 1- cup mayo 6. 1/2- can milk.

I place my frozen chicken in a baking/ casserole dish sprayed w/ pam to cook. (I like to add some Italian dressing and 2 tbsp of butter, 1 tbsp minced garlic and some seasonings.) Cook until chicken is fully cooked, then chop up in small pieces. Cook shells according to box directions. I cooked the hole box of shells but realized I only needed 1/2 box to fill a casserole dish 13 x 10. Cook the stove top stuffing according to box directions. I cooked both bags of stove top stuffing but really only needed a bag  & 1/2 of stove top stuffing. In a large bowl place 1 cup mayo, stove top stuffing when completely cooked and diced chicken along with (I add) 1 1/2- cups shredded mozzarella cheese. Add some seasoning and mix well. Have a casserole dish sprayed with pam. Take your cooked shells drained-rinsed and fill with the stove top/chicken/ mayo mix. Should be enough shells to fill a 13 x 10 casserole dish which my family of 3 only ate a 1/4 of. (They where great the next day for lunch!) Now mix/whisk your 1 can of  each cream of mushroom soup and cream of chicken soup with 1/2 can milk. When well mixed pour over stuffed shells and bake for 45 min. on 350 or until hot. Last add some mozzarella cheese on top place back in oven a few extra minutes until melted. This was easy to make, not bad on cost, if to much split and freeze 1/2 for a later time. You can make this meal in advanced then baked prior to dinner.

My creative ideas... and time!!!

I have a notebook of over 100 pages of creative ideas of crafts I want to make post/ share along with so many past projects I need to post/ share. My life has been so busy lately and I do not even have enough time to post but as soon as I get some time I'll get some craft ideas posted!

Baking Cupcakes & Decorating them.

So I have been inspired lately to bake or make good, cute cupcakes. It must be because of DC Cupcakes or watching Cake Boss. So I found a cute idea at Halloween... cupcakes w/ chocolate spider web. Well all that could go wrong did. DISASTER! I have been asking others who bake for good frosting recipes and tips. I love the Internet so many ideas out there and helpful tips.
 I found a cute idea from another fellow blogger on cupcakes in a ice cream cone. Kaitlyn, Garret and I gave it a whirl and they came out wonderful but u always learn from your mistakes. Next time I will fill the cones about 1/2 to 3/4 full and I think it will allow for a higher top. Now on to frosting,  I tried using canned frosting and getting creative with piping it on w/ a decorative attachment but every time my bag would blow out. They make it look so easy on DC Cupcakes. Since I have not tried out any of the frosting recipes I have gotten yet I have been sticking w/ canned store bought frosting.
Last night me and Kaitlyn made cupcakes and once again I tried to use canned frosting but this time I bought a coupling ring and a better decorating attachment but the frosting was to hard to pipe and if I continued to apply pressure I would have another blow out!!! What to do??? THINK, THINK, THINK?? So it hit me heat up the frosting a little in the mic so I did and finally success. My cupcakes looked better w/ the frosting piped on then spread w/ a knife and it even helped the sprinkles stick better. No one ever thought of this or what? I never read anywhere to give this a try so a break through. My piping was not as perfect as DC Cupcakes but I was pleased. So I can still cheat with store bought cake mix and frosting and make cute cupcakes quickly. Next thing after I prefect my cupcakes is making creative, cute cakes w/ fondant.

My love for Tutu's

First I like to say I glad I had a daughter. I get to be extra crafty on girly things!! I had a friend about 2 years ago tell me how easy it is to make a tutu. (Thanks, Annie) So I did my research with some online info and You Tube video's. Annie was right. So I made my first tutu for Kaitlyn's 2nd Birthday. Then again for Halloween 2010 when my daughter want to be a bee. The tutu was so cute w/ black and yellow. Their is no limit on imagination w/ tutu's from adding feathers, rhinestones, ribbons and buttons and so on. They are also quick to make but depending on your child's age and the length of the tutu will reflect the cost. I love making tutu's for my daughter with tulle and ribbon. Long or short I just love them. They are great for dance, pictures, parties, dress up/ play and Halloween costume the ideas are endless. Some examples for Halloween are: lady bug, bee, butterfly, fairy, pumpkin, cat and flower and so on. The photo studio I work for tutu's are all the rage w/ young girls. I've seen people make tutu's in red, white or pink for Valentine's Day, Greens or white for St. Patrick's, pastel colors for Easter, fall colors for fall and the ideas are endless. I also seen them in football teams colors. So If you have a little girl I highly recommend making her a tutu.

Kaitlyn's 1st tutu. This is her 2nd Birthday Party.

I found this shirt "Birthday Girl" and make a hat and tutu to match! It was so cute!!!!!!



This is Kaitlyn 2010 Halloween costume a Bee and it turned out so cute!!!



The back of her costume/ tutu.

What you can not see is the cute yellow and black stripe tights. Remember fun, simple, cute and easy!!!

Making a light pink and hot pink tutu and a purple and white tutu will take a picture of Kaitlyn in them and post when finished.

Photography- Scrapbooking

I love to scrapbook and their are 2 important factors: 1. Good photography 2. Page creativity & layout. Both are equally needed to tell your story of that moment you captured. Capturing memories is important to me! So getting the opportunity to work seasonal (Halloween, Christmas & Easter) and then here and there when needed for CPI which is located in the Sear Store as The Sears Portrait Studio has been a blessing! I love getting to work with other creative people and I'm always picking up new ideas and techniques. I love capturing memories that will last a life time. I love to provide my customers with the wow factor because I want a wow factor on my own personal pictures. Every parent loves to brag and show off their child or children and pictures are great for this propose. I am guilty of it myself. I love my Studio it provides you with so many more backgrounds and props then other local studios. I had a really bad experience @ JC Penny's studio when my daughter was younger and never went back. Most people would never think of all the possibilities there are for capturing events and the moments of your life.
We also have varies purchasing packages and levels to met every ones needs. We offer a High Resolution CD that show cases all your photo's and the copy right for your own private use. We offer print on site, collages, cards, large framed art and blankets etc. the possiblities are endless. Our valued costumer's get coupons for free collages or 20%, 30% & 40% off.
I love meeting other scrapbooking moms. I love new ideas and sometimes those ideas are from other creative mom's on poses and props for their own photo's. The big thing now is the tutu's and large flower head pieces. My favorite thing to photograph is the smash cake for babies first Birthday! Love IT!!!
Just the other day I had a mom come in with her daughter for Birthday pictures and she had her daughter in a tutu w/ hot pink, black and zebra print. Hot pink shirt and black tights with knit hot pink boots and her baby doll was dressed the same way. It was so adorable and what a creative idea. Now I'm think of doing the same w/ my daughter I loved it so much!!!
I wish I had more time to scrapbook but  it can be difficult at times w/ my every day life or because I'm so active in so many other crafting fields. I also make pages for my "second child"  cousin Garret. I'm planning the kids upcoming Easter/ Spring Pic's now and I can not wait to see how cute they turn out or how my new ideas work out.