Wall Storage Folder

I saw this on a blog and set out to do my own right away. This is a super cute way to store all those pesky loose papers that add up so fast.



All you need is an old book that you're willing to sacrifice, some scrapbook paper or fabric, and some ribbon.

I'm not so good at taking step by step pictures you can look at the step by step tutorial that I used here.

Here's my brief tutorial:
I couldn't find any books in the house that I wanted to sacrifice so I went to DI in search of big (larger than a piece of paper) hard cover books. The only problem is that I kept finding the perfect size book but it would be a great recipe book and I didn't want to tear it apart.
Anyway, I finally found 3 books for only $1 each.

I decided to cover mine in fabric so after I cut the pages out of the book and had only the cover left I plugged in my hot glue gun and set to work covering the outside of the book. Then I used some scrapbook paper for the inside of the book, because some of it will be seen.

I followed the tutorial when I made my holes for the thread. I used embroidery thread and coordinating buttons , but you can use anything.

I know my tutorial is very vague but if you follow the link, it tells you everything you need to know.

This takes less than an hour to make and you may already have everything in the house to make it.

Hair Bow & Clippy Holder re-do

I wasn't very pleased with the first hair bow holder I made. The black and hot pink just didn't fit in DD's room. So I started again and I am much happier this time.

Hair Bow & Clippy Holder & Covered Baby Wipe Case

After having the entire family, myself included, down for a couple weeks with H1N1, I woke up with an urge to to something crafty. After blog stocking my favorite inspirational blogs, I decided to make a hair bow & clippy holder for DD.

I went to DI and found a the perfect sized frame for $1. Then I went to Wal-mart in search for fabric & ribbon. I found some really adorable fabrics but the thrifty girl in me could not resist the clearance fabric. I found hot pink and black pinstripe fabric for $1.50/yard. I got some coordinating ribbon and headed home.

Here's what I started out with:And this is what i ended up with:

This is really the easiest little project. The most difficult task was deciding how to place the ribbon.


While I had everything out I decided to try another little project. You can find a tutorial for it here. It's not great, but I think it's a pretty good first attempt. I'm excited to get better at it and give them out for gifts.
I have to share this great DI find: This cute little coat rack was only $1 at DI and perfect for DD's room. It was brand new, still in it's package. I love DI!

Creamy Potato Soup

Swine flu has been rampant in my house. Before DH got it and he was taking care of me, I asked him to make this recipe that I found on Recipezaar. It is surprisingly delicious!


Creamy Potato Soup:

4 cups chicken broth
4 cups peeled and cubed potatoes
1/4 cup minced onion
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, cut into chunks


Combine broth, potatoes, onion, and spices.

Boil on medium heat until potatoes are tender.

Smash a few potatoes to release their starch for thickening.

Reduce to low heat.

Add cream cheese.

Heat, stirring frequently, until cheese melts.

My baby girl's first birthday party

We had a birthday party for my beautiful daughter on Sunday. I woke up sick on Saturday morning (and later found out that it's swine flu) so this party was tough on me but I was determined to give her a good party.

Here's her ducky cake. It took 3 hours to decorate. The stupid beak was impossible to get right. I finally gave up. Below the cake are sugar cookies then cream puffs and strawberry cupcakes.

My mom couldn't believe that I let her ruin that ducky cake, but it was her birthday, so of course she got to have it by herself.

Not my baby anymore

My baby girl turned one today. She's growing up way too fast!

Caprese Flatbread

This is an all-time favorite recipe. I first had Caprese Flatbread at Olive Garden. I love that they post recipe's on their website. They have this recipe and even a video tutorial that you can see here.

After making this dozens of times, I have made some alterations to the recipe. The following recipe is my version of Olive Garden's Caprese Flatbread.

8 Roma or plum tomatoes, diced
1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
3/4-1 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
2-3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
20 medium fresh basil leaves, stemmed and chopped (about ½ cup), or basil pesto
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
14 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
11 oz container of refrigerated thin crust pizza dough

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Dice tomatoes into small pieces. Transfer to a mixing bowl.

Add garlic, salt, pepper, ½ of chopped basil (or 1 TBSP basil pesto), and 4 Tbsp olive oil.

Set aside and allow mixture to marinate for 10 minutes.

Flatten pizza dough into rectangle pan as indicated on package, reaching to pan edges.

Drizzle dough with olive oil and brush it over dough.

Bake dough at 350ºF for 10 minutes on center rack. Remove crust from pan and place on center rack of the oven until bottom is crispy.

Remove from oven and allow to cool completely, about 10 minutes.

Increase oven temperature to 450ºF.

Combine mayonnaise and garlic powder in a mixing bowl. Evenly spread onto the bread’s surface.

*** If using basil pesto instead of fresh basil, spread a thin, even layer of pesto on top of the mayonnaise mixture.

Top with shredded mozzarella to evenly cover surface.

Drain tomato mixture and spread evenly over the bread.

Srinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.

Return flatbread to oven for 5-7 more minutes or until golden, crisp and bubbly.

Garnish with remaining chopped basil and serve.

***I prefer to make my flatbread with pesto instead of fresh basil. But to do this you need a really good pesto.