Friday's Fancy

Happiness is...

The joy you get when you can watch your puppy sleep

All curled up and as snug as a bug in a rug!

So Peaceful!

Wishing you a blessed weekend!

Hopes for Spring

Hey There! I don't know about you but I am getting spring fever. With March just a few days away I can't wait to see the crocuses and tulips start to pop out of the ground. Tho, we here in New England need all this snow to melt. Come on snow MELT!

As I dream of spring, I have been browsing around Pinterest and the Web looking at gardens and gardening tips. I though today I would share a few with you.

Living in a condo with limited outdoor space (Oh I dream of the day, when the Hubby and I will purchase our own piece of paradise (a home) and I can have a glorious garden). Until then I will make due.

Last year to save space I converted an old pallet into an herb garden. It worked out great! You can read about how to create one for yourself here.

I also use lots of containers in my garden. I use them for my tomato plants and flowers.
You can read about how I re-purposed items as containers in my garden here.

I found this great chart on when to plant a vegetable garden.

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I just loved raised vegetable gardens and came across this guide.

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I though I would finish with some images of vegetable gardens that make my heart sigh...

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Now a girl can dream... right!

Enjoy your day!

an Idaho Sunrise

Hi Friends! I hope you had a great weekend. We survived yet another 6" of snow. Who would have thought our warmest day yet, a mere 42 degrees, would have brought us snow. Now we are back down into arctic temperatures. My word has this been a cold winter.

I am not one to eat breakfast during the week, my tummy seems to take a while to wake up. So on the weekends I like to make a late breakfast for me and the Hubby. I love to cook and I am always on the hunt for new recipes. 

I stumbled across this recipe on my friends Facebook page. I admit…I was initially drawn to it because I though it looked pretty interesting. (I love anything in a “bowl”!) But I was won over by how incredibly simple this recipe was to put together. And the fact that the Hubby said, "You have to make those!"

This is definitely a fun twist on the typical eggs, bacon and hash browns. Plus, this is a great way to use up leftover baked potatoes, or you can bake them ahead of time, or right before you need them. 

Idaho Sunrise (Baked Eggs & Bacon in a Potato Bowl) 

INGREDIENTS: 

2 large baked potatoes (cooked) 

1 Tbsp. butter, melted

2 eggs 

2 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled 

2 Tbsp. shredded cheddar or any cheese of your liking

1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped 

salt and freshly ground black pepper 

DIRECTIONS: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Lay the first baked potato on its side, and use a knife to carefully cut off the top third of the potato. 
3. With a spoon, hollow out the middle of the potato to make a "bowl", leaving the potato as thick or thin as you'd like. (Just remember, the more room you leave, the more room for eggs, bacon and cheese!) Repeat with the second potato. 
4. Brush inside of each potato with melted butter and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Sprinkle a layer of shredded cheese into each potato and add fillings as desired (vegetables, diced meat, etc.)  
5. Fill each potato about 3/4 full.  
6. Crack one egg into each potato.  Sprinkle with a little more salt and pepper.  
7. Top with additional cheese and toppings if desired.
8. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes, or until the egg whites are set. 
9. Serve immediately. 

Try this Idaho Sunrise recipe today! 

They turned out so delicious, your morning favorites in a brand new package! You'll love it! 

Happy Monday,

Friday's Fancy

Happiness is...

When you happen to mention in passing, "Oh, those are so cute"

and your Hubby then buys them for your birthday!

Don't I have an awsome guy!

Have a great weekend,

Winter is Casserole Time

Hi! I hope you are having a great week so far. We have been having some crazy cold weather here. I don't know about you but once winter hits I hear the call of the casserole and stew. I just love cozy, stick to your rib meals. Don't they just warm you from inside out?

I have this great recipe for you, Chicken Alfredo Casserole. It is so easy, utilizing rotisserie chicken and most items you have in your pantry. Better yet, you can also make this ahead of time and then finish it when you are ready to bake. It is a great weekday dinner.


Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp butter
• 2 Cups sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1/2 Cup chopped onion
• 1 Jar Alfredo pasta sauce (16 oz)
• 1/4 Cup milk
• 2 Cups chopped cooked chicken (rotisserie)
• 2 Cups frozen broccoli florets, thawed
• 1 Can sliced carrots (you can also add peas, diced potatoes – make it your own)
• 2 Cups frozen broccoli florets, thawed
• 1/4 tsp dried basil leaves
• 1 Can Pillsbury refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (7.5 oz)
• 1 Tbsp butter, melted
• 1 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
2. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Cook mushrooms and onion in butter, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in Alfredo sauce, milk, chicken, broccoli (other veggies you my like) and basil. Cook until mixture is thoroughly heated and bubbly, stirring constantly. Spoon into baking dish.
3. Separate dough into 10 biscuits. Cut each biscuit in half crosswise. Arrange around edge of baking dish, overlapping slightly. Drizzle biscuits with melted butter; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
4. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown.
   

    Make ahead version

1. Mix all casserole ingredients the night before (set 2). Place in refrigerator.
2. When you are ready to eat, cook casserole for 40 minutes or until bubbly. 
3. Remove from oven, then follow from step 3 above.

 What meals do you make when the weather gets cold?

My Favorite Builds of 2014

Happy Monday and Welcome!!!

We just went through some crazy weather here in New England. We were lucky and did not get much snow, but the wind, oh my word the wind. We had gust of 30-50 mph. Our windows rattled, the house shook, and Otis kept barking at all the noises. The temperatures are only in the teens, oh spring please come soon!


I have found a new passion, love if you will, in building things with wood. This passion comes from my Grandfather (my Mom's Dad). He was amazing when it came to building anything. If you mentioned you needed a sofa table, boom he built a sofa table. If you mentioned in passing you thought about adding a deck to the house, the next day he already had the plans written down. Here is one example of how talented he was: he had this old print, from a calendar, of a photograph of a grist mill that he loved. So in his spare time he built the grist mill from scratch, to scale, only as a smaller version.  For a special added touch, when you crank the water wheel is turns while playing music. It is so amazing you guys. Look...

Well since the weather is so down right cold and I can't get into my detached garage to work on some new builds... I figured why not recap a few of my favorites for you.

So here are my top 2 favorite build projects of 2014. Just click on the title to link to an easy to follow tutorial.

 1. My First Toolbox

 2. Decorative Ladder

Please spring come soon, so I can get out there and use my power tools.

I am going through some serious withdrawals...lol!

Have a great week!

 

Friday's Fancy

A girlfriend of mine posted this image on her Facebook page and it just resonated with me.

When things get a little tough

Sometimes all you need is just a little reminder.

Have a blessed weekend,

Luanne

My Established Sign

Hiddy Ho Friends!  Here in New England we made it through yet another snow storm. We have another small one coming through tomorrow afternoon. Then we will be bracing ourselves for some down right frigid temperatures. Our normal temps should be around 35 degrees, this weekend day time temperatures are expected to be 2 – 10 degrees with an over night temperature of -5 – -10. 

Holy cow will someone shut the window it is getting cold in here! 

Today I am sharing with you a project I have wanted to do for a long time. Ever since I starting browsing around Pinterest I have come across Established Signs. I love them! I had to make one and I knew this would be a perfect project for my Silhouette Machine. I also knew exactly where I would hang it, the wall you face as you enter our home.

I know I wanted to use some sort of frame, so I began searching for the perfect frame. I looked high and low, many different store, none caught my eye. I have been looking for months. Then last week while strolling around in Hobby Lobby I went through their clearance aisles. There it was, the PERFECT frame. It was like a light shining down from heaven, I might of even heard angels singing... lol. 

Isn't she a beauty!!! Red being my favorite color and it has just the right amount of rustic touches!

Now my work began, I measure the inside of the frame so I could figure out how I wanted to layout our names. Once this was done I printed it on my Silhouette Machine in red sticky vinyl.

I then put down some blue painters tape so I had a way of lining up the printed vinyl so it was centered.

Next was to lay down the graphic. 

Then I applied pressure, with a plastic scraper, to the back to adhere the letters to the frame and peeled off the backing.

Are you ready...

Here it is...

Beautiful, right? 

This project was well worth the time it took to find the frame. Now all there is left to do is for the Hubby to hang it. 

If you follow me on Instagram I will post the final picture there.

Have a great hump day!

No Call Center, it's True!

Hi There All! I hope you had a fantastic weekend. The Hubby and I hung out all weekend, it was great. As I mentioned before I was laid off from my job. As part of that I find myself needing to roll over my 401k funds. As I am a creative person I have no understanding of this or investing for that matter. It's like being a fish out of water. 

A friend of mine gave me a referral to a gentleman, Bob, who works for Edward Jones. Now I'm sure, like me, you have seen their commercials on TV describing how personable they are, no automated call center. 

Well it's true! I have to say I was truly shocked when I called his office and a live person answered the phone on the 2nd ring. Karen, his assistant, was so sweet and helpful taking down my information. When Bob got on the phone, it was like talking to an old friend. He made an appointment with me the next morning and came right to my home. A house call, didn't that only happen back in the day? 

He arrived on time and didn't even mind my overly excited puppy, Otis. He said he loved dogs and has 2 of his own. We sat down and went over all my paperwork. Bob was so helpful, explaining things for a lay person. He asked me a few questions to get to know me better, so he can have a better understanding of how to invest my funds. He also told me his wife just went through a similar situation as me, loosing her job. Experiencing the challenge of creating a resume and the anxiety of the interviews. He said, like his wife, I will end up with a better opportunity. 

It is such a relief to have this taken care of and in just one meeting to have the confidence that I have in him. I'll say it again, it is so refreshing to call an office and have a life person answer. There is something to be said about having a face-to-face personal relationship over an automated call center. 

Have a great day!

I was not compensated for this post. I just had to write about what personal service I received in a time of most companies using automated call center.

Friday's Fancy

With all the changes the new year has brought, I’ve decided that this is the year of trusting. It’s okay to not have everything figured out. No over-thinking. To tackle the hard things and be okay if everything doesn’t fall into place as planned.  Instead of fearing the unknown, I’m going to embrace it and trust that everything will work out in the end.

So, here’s to truly trusting. Trusting there will be good days, bad days, and a few ugly days. But with a little luck, hopefully there will be amazingly great days too.

 

My Favorite Crafts of 2014

Happy Hump Day!!!

I love crafting, boy to I love it! I am toying with the idea of creating some items so I can open my very own Etsy shop. I started thinking of what projects to sell, so I started with scanning my blog to see what I have done and thought... why not recap a few of my favorites for you.
 

So here are five of my favorite craft projects of 2014. I'm starting with number 5 and working my way to number 1. Just click on the title to link to an easy to follow tutorial.

No 5: Easter Burlap Banner

No. 4: Patriotic Mason Jars

No. 3: Placemat Transformation

No. 2: Fabric Pumpkins

No. 1: Felt Pinecones

What are some of your favorite craft projects?

 Here's to more crafting in 2015!! 

Thanks for joining me – I am truly grateful!!

A Deliciously Light & Simple Sandwich

Hi there all! I hope you enjoyed your weekend. We are in the midst of getting more snow today... Yippee. I realize that as I get older the fun of a snow day is dwindling. I find myself worrying more and more since the Hubby has to drive in the mess all day long.

On another note, I am doing my best to navigate this new land of unemployment. I trying to keep myself busy by working on my resume and portfolio, searching the internet for a job, redecorating the house, and (this is the fun part of staying home) crafting. 

I also get to spend some time on my other love... cooking. Which was sometimes hard to do while working a full-time job. I typically stuck with recipes that are old favorites because experimenting after a long day of work was hard, especially if we wanted to eat before 8 pm. 

On Friday with my new found freedom I tried a new recipe for a great vegetarian sandwich. 

Avocado, Tomato & Swiss Melt (Oh my word it was soooo yummy!). Here is how you can make one for yourself.

Ingredients: 

• 2 Slices of Bread, Toasted 
• Spread of your choosing, I used Honey Mustard 
• 1/2 Avocado, Mashed 
• 4 Slices of Tomato 
• 2 Thin Slices of Swiss Cheese 
• Salt and Pepper to taste 

Directions: 

Set the oven/toaster oven to broil. 

Place the toast onto a baking sheet, spread each side with honey mustard and divide the mashed avocado atop each piece.

Next place 2 sliced tomatoes on each side. Salt and pepper to taste. Top each piece with the swiss cheese. 

Place under the broiler until the cheese is nice and melty. 

Carefully remove from the oven and place one half of the sandwich on top of the other. 

Cut and ENJOY! 

This is my new favorite sandwich, I am certainly making this one again! 

I would love to hear what is your favorite (or go to) sandwich?

Happy Monday!