Kitchen Remodel Complete

As promised here are the before and after pictures...

BEFORE: Dated cabinets, awful tile on the counters and floors and it was closed off from the living room. Oh and look at that classy light fixture...

 

DURING: The wall came down but you can still see the awful floor and carpet.

 

AFTER: Now it is one open space.

I am so thankful for my amazing husband, who did all of this by himself... I am blessed!

Easy Berry Cobbler...

Here is another Pinterest success story... 

Ingredients:

2-3 bags frozen berries
1 white cake mix
1 can of diet 7-up or Sprite

Easy as:
 1. Spray the pan with non-stick spray and toss in the berries  (I used 2 bags, next time I will use 3)

2. Combine the cake mix and soda and pour over the top of of the berries.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until toasty brown

Enjoy with some ice cream ... Mmmmm

A Grad Gift for Tyler

As my addiction to Pinterest grows, I have actually started creating some of the great things that I pin. Here is the most recent. A very simple graduation gift. Instead of giving cash in a card, Why not give a money dispenser. Here is how:

You will need:
Tape
Cash
Kleenex Box
Paper

Step One:

Tape the Dollar bills together lengthwise and then roll them up. I left enough space between the bills so that they can be easily cut apart.

Step Two:

Attach one tissue to the end of the roll and then put the roll in the box with only the tissue showing. I put a little sign that said pull when needed. Here is the finished product... By the way, Tyler is a fisherman, so this box was a perfect find...

Post-it Notes

One of my besties made me a Post-it holder for my birthday... I love it so much i decided to make one for a friend... This is my version.

It is super easy to make... just a pretty piece of paper, a plastic frame, a tag, some puffy letters, ribbon and a Post-it pad... Hot glue it all together and VOILA, adorable gift.

	Tank top re do! My adorable husband bought me this tank top at an event he attended for his friend who lost his life in the avalanche... Its cute that he thinks I am an xsmall, but since that is not reality and since I didn't want to get rid of something that has meaning, I decided to sew up the bottom and add a bow for a new beach bag.... What do ya think?

Stuffed Chicken ala Nick

As I have mentioned before, my husband is a genius in the kitchen... I am always in Awww when it gets towards the end of the week and we need to go to the grocery store as we are running out of everything, and I come home to this beautiful, healthy and EXTREMELY YUMMY meal... This is what I get when we are down to the last few vegetables in the drawer and a few boneless breasts of chicken.... Mmmmm

Chicken is stuffed with spinach, tomato, peppers, onions and garlic, then topped with some Mushroom soup... Green beans are firm and tasty and the brown basmati is cooked to perfection topped with a bit of fresh parmesan. Yes I am a lucky girl!!! Thank you Babe!

I promise to start posting some pictures of what we eat when we actually plan a meal! =)

I love when I have a brilliant idea to make my life easier...

I was tired of trying to funnel protein powder into my water bottles and making a mess... VOILA... Infant formula containers! Holds three premeasured Protein shakes, just add to water bottle and shake after your workout! No mess!

What a difference a week makes....

After two weekends in a row with spring snowfall, it finally looks like we may start getting some spring weather... As much as I love the beautiful snow, there is nothing better then living in the mountains during the spring.... Here is my Home Sweet Home! =)

Two Weeks Ago:

Today:

Oh and here is the Driving range and putting green Nick is building in the back yard... Don't worry about the neighbors house, there is actually a net on a pulley that you can't really see in this picture..

My little salsa garden is really starting to grow, will post some pictures soon... Happy Easter Everybody! He is Risen!

Before and After

There are wonderful things about living an a cabin with all sorts of character. The down side is obvious in the pictures below. 2 of our 4 bathrooms were already renovated but Katherine's bathroom needed help. We decided to go with the re-glazing technique that they use on HGTV. The cost was $350 as opposed to all new tub and tile approx. $2000. Now you tell me, Money well spent???

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Fragrant Fire Starters

This was a gift I made at Christmas. Super easy, here is how I did it...


You will need:
1 Roll of brown craft paper
1 Roll of twine
Broken pieces of pine cone
Pine needles
Twigs
Fragrant oil
A basket 
Whatever you want to decorate the basket, I used spruce

Steps:
1. Cut a 12"x 14" piece of brown paper
2. Add pine cone pieces and pine needles and twigs
3. Add a few drops of your favorite smelling oil (or potpourri if you prefer)
4. Tie the ends with twine

I put 5 in each basket... 

Connected by MOTOBLUR™

Lemon 321 Cake

The best 150 calorie dessert I've ever had... Mmmmmmm

See the 321 Cake recipe below... I used lemon this time! 


Connected by MOTOBLUR™

Did I mention my husband is a master in the kitchen??

Homemade Ceviche... I know I really need to use the camera instead of the phone to get some good pictures, but you get it.... Mmmm it is Yummy!!! Since he never uses a recipe for anything, all I can tell you is that he mixed together Tilapia, shrimp, Lime juice, cilantro, tomatoes, onion, garlic and seranno peppers

Salsa Garden

I love the idea of putting seeds in some soil and getting food from it... and yes there are some things I can grow in the mountains... I thought I would start with the main ingredients to my husbands wonderful salsa...

3,2,1 Cake

That's right... All it takes is 3 tbsp of cake mix, 2 tbsp water and 1 minute in the micro... Voila... Top with Cool Whip and maybe some Berries and enjoy a very low cal, low fat dessert! The best part is that the big ziplock is ready when you are. I tried Lemon, it was yummy!

INGREDIENTS:
1 box Angel Food Cake Mix
1 box Cake Mix - Any Flavor
2 Tbsp Water
Makes 1 serving.

DIRECTIONS:
In a ziploc bag, combine the two cake mixes together and mix well. For each individual cake serving, take out 3 Tablespoons of the cake mix combination and mix it with 2 Tablespoons of water in a small microwave-safe container. Microwave on high for 1 minute, and you have your own instant individual little cake!

KEEP remaining cake mixture stored in the ziploc bag and use whenever you feel like a treat! You can top each cake with a dollop of fat free whipped topping and/or some fresh fruit.

Helpful Tips:
This recipe is called 3, 2, 1 Cake because all you need to remember is
"3 tablespoons mix, 2 tablespoons water, 1 minute in the microwave!"

TRY various flavors of cake mix like Cherry, red velvet, pineapple, lemon, orange, etc. Just remember that one of the mixes has to be the angel food mix; the other is your choice.
The flavor possibilities are endless!

NOTES:
The best thing is, you open both cake mixes into a gallon storage bag, one that 'zip locks' or 'self-seals', or a container that seals tightly, shake the two cake mixes to blend and then make the recipe. Storage of mix is simple, put it on a shelf. No need to refrigerate, since the mix is dry.

Remove from the glass quickly

A lot has happened in a year...

Wow, I guess it's been awhile...

I am now a newlywed...

My son was Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles but decided to stay in College one more year, He is having an amazing season at Azusa Pacific University

 

My daughter will be graduating with honors in two months and was accepted to her college of choice, California State University Fullerton

...last but not least we rescued a Chihuahua (don't laugh) that somebody abandoned in the canyon leading to our house... Meet Gizzy

I promise I won't stay away so long this time