Saturday Mornings

BLOG FOR SALE!!!

2012-01-09T12:56:00.002-06:00

As I have no time to maintain my lovely Saturday Mornings website, I am putting it up for sale! There is no set price, it will go to the highest bidder. Please email danajeanward@gmail.com to tell me you are interested and how much your bid is. I will announce here when the blog is sold. Here are a few details:

Over 1,000 followers!

The domain www.thesaturdaymorningsblog.com was JUST renewed two weeks ago, so it is paid for a year!

According to Alexa, over 160 backlinks!

595 Google indexed pages!

Ranked #2 blog overall in 2010 by Bog Catalog!

Replacements

2011-11-09T15:46:00.000-06:00

With the economy, I know many people are constantly on edge about keeping their jobs. I was in a situation once where I had inside information that the company I worked for was going to be laying people off. I started to feel as though everything I did was wrong, and the paranoia set in.

In episode 18, Sarah worries that the CIA is replacing them with Casey's extremely efficient team, but Chuck considers himself irreplaceable with the Intersect. Have you ever felt like you were in jeopardy of being replaced? Has there ever been a time where you have been made to feel outdated? If so, how did you remedy your situation? Did it end well?

In season four, the geek gone spy is putting everything on the line, available for pre-order here: http://bit.ly/r3n2er

I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for Chuck: The Complete Fourth Season on DVD/Blu-Ray

Ring Bearer

2011-11-07T20:54:00.006-06:00

Again, have you ever had to lay trust in someone to make your family happy? Watch Chuck!

Morgan has been avoiding his mother's house so he wouldn't have to face Big Mike. Big Mike reveals that he is proud of Morgan’s new role in the company. After spending months out at sea, he has realized that Morgan's mother is the source of his happiness, and reveals his intention to propose. Morgan hires him, and Big Mike entrusts Morgan with the proposal ring until Morgan judges him "worthy of his mother's love." How would you have handled this situation? Would you have given Big Mike your blessing?

In season four, the geek gone spy is putting everything on the line, available for pre-order here: http://bit.ly/r3n2er

I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for Chuck: The Complete Fourth Season on DVD/Blu-Ray

A Proposal

2011-10-24T16:35:00.002-05:00

You have probably seen clips on TV where a guy really outdoes himself with a marriage proposal. You may have even had that happen to you. But proposals can be just as meaningful if they are private and personal. I want to know your proposal story. If you are single, tell me what you would imagine it to be like! Every story is unique... some romantic, some funny, and others outrageous! Let's hear them all!

In one of my favorite shows, Chuck, Chuck finally proposes to Sarah in the hospital hallway. She accepts, kneeling with him and kissing him as the scene fades. Was this delightful and epic episode of Chuck everything that you had been waiting for? What was your reaction to Chuck’s quiet and successful proposal to Sarah?

In season four, the geek gone spy is putting everything on the line, available for pre-order here: http://bit.ly/r3n2er

I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for Chuck: The Complete Fourth Season on DVD/Blu-Ray

No Guts, No Glory

2011-10-17T10:45:00.002-05:00

Not too long ago, I had taken up bike riding again. I was breezing through the neighborhood, feeling like a kid again. Out of nowhere, a huge dog came running at me. I was pretty sure it was the bike and the spinning wheels that were making the dog act this way, but he was literally gnashing his teeth at my heels. I knew I could not possibly beat the dog in a race uphill, and that I should stop, but adrenalin pumped through me and I took off. After about a block of the fastest bike riding I have ever done, I jumped off and ran through the front door. WHEW!

In the fourth season finale of Chuck, Sarah has been shot by the “Norseman” device and only has twelve hours left to live. Chuck turns his back on the CIA and despite all warnings sprints throughout the episode to find Volkoff and the antidote. Have you ever been in a situation that despite all odds and warnings you decided to make a run for it? How did it end up working out?

In season four, the geek gone spy is putting everything on the line, available for pre-order here: CLICK HERE!

have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for Chuck: The Complete Fourth Season on DVD/Blu-Ray

Initial Here

2011-10-07T11:00:00.000-05:00

Yes, I am crazy about initials right now. First name, last name, nickname, I don't care, initials are in! I had another "eureka" moment at the thrift store when I found this faux pumpkin for 80 cents. Yep, you heard me right! 80 CENTS!

I scooped this pumpkin up (not out ha!) and took it home to do a little pick-me-up on the sad little guy. Every time I go shopping lately, I see these adorable pumpkins with initials on them, but even when they are on sale I cannot justify buying one. Good thing, because I just made it for less than a buck! It is just as cute as the one in the store and this is not a miniature decoration! It is almost a foot tall, so I feel like I really scored on this project. Just a dab of paint and lonely, dusty pumpkin became the star of the show for Halloween!
UPDATE! TIP: Another way to easily get this look is to print the letter on a printer, cut it out, and Mod Podge it on your pumpkin!

Pumpkin: $0.80

Paint: on hand

Total Cost: Less than $1.00

Similar decor I have been dying for: $14.99

When It Rains, It Pours

2011-09-29T14:37:00.003-05:00

Have any of you been wondering if perhaps I was now in the witness protection program, or maybe I was in hiding... in Antarctica? Well, I'm out from under my rock, and wanted to give you an update on Nutrisystem. I am now down 25 pounds! I just got a new order in, and I am still loving the food, A LOT! I feel great when I stick closely to the plan, and plan to continue the program for several more months!

What I am loving...

At breakfast, I love the pancakes and the cinnamon buns!

At lunch, my favorites are the Italian wedding soup and the steak and cheese melt!

Dinner is probably my favorite. A burger, a plate of lasagna, and a pepperoni pizza top my list!

Golden pound cake or a fudge brownie top my day off and taste delicious! I must say, it's like having your own personal chef that cooks healthy and delicious food.

I knew you would be drooling! Join me on this adventure and start your Nutrisystem journey with me!

Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 888-853-4689 or by visiting Nutrisystem online by clicking here!

Disclosure: Nutrisystem is providing me with food and access to all of their weight loss materials, free of charge, in exchange for sharing my experience on this website. All opinions are my own. Individual results may vary.

Looney Tunes Scene and Sound Machine App

2011-07-29T13:31:00.000-05:00

Daffy Duck’s made an app out of himself along with his Looney Tunes costars! The first Looney Tunes app is here, making you the director of your own digital world with your iPhone or iPad. Choose from a cast of fun characters with unique, colorful backgrounds and props at your fingertips. Amaze (and annoy) your friends with entertaining voices and sound effects. Put your favorite character—you—into a Looney Tunes photo frame and share it with your friends. Email it or put it on your Facebook page. It’s your world! And don’t forget to watch the all-new The Looney Tunes Show on Cartoon Network!

I created the scene above using some of my favorite characters and had a lot of fun doing it!

Download the Looney Tunes Scene & Sound Machine App from the iTunes Store here today: HERE!

I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote The Looney Tunes Scene & Sound Machine Application

PeePee TeePee Tutorial and Rafflecopter GIVEAWAY!

2011-07-15T17:07:00.001-05:00

I don't know about you, but when it comes to baby gifts, the same old thing is getting very boring. Luckily, a friend of mine and I ran across a blog, Make It and Love It , which gave us the idea for a fun and inventive gift!

Pee-Pee Teepees are the latest craze in baby boy gifts, and now I can make them myself! So can you! They are very easy and you can make them to fit any baby boy's style.

All you will need, besides the usual sewing gear, is a small amount of basic printed fabric and some coordinating flannel. Trace a circle about six inches in diameter and fold in half for the pattern. Cut this pattern out onto the print and the flannel.

With the right sides of the fabric facing each other, sew the arch portion of the half circle together, leaving a small inseam.

Turn right side out, and pin the arch portion to flatten. Sew this portion again to get the best outcome, and sew as close to the edge as possible. Fold in half again, with the right sides of the pattern facing each other. Sew the raw edges together, using a straight stitch, and then resew with a zigzag.

Trim, turn right side out, and you now have the most adorable handmade gift!

Sew a few, put them in a bag, and round it out with this poem I found on SevenThirtyThree...

Changing a baby girl is not all glitz and glory;

Changing a baby boy is another horror story!

You hold his feet with one hand

and the diaper with the other;

The whole time praying,

"Please, don't pee on your Mother!"

and some handmade packaging...

and walla!

Want to win this set of peepee teepees? Win it right here, right now! There are three in the package, and the three fabrics are baseball, football, and basketball. Plus, we all love the new Rafflecopter style giveaways, right?!

Bittersweet Independence

2011-07-06T16:55:00.000-05:00

Written on July 4, 2011:

I have struggled all day about whether I should write this and I will be undecided until it is complete. One of the most important and influential people in my life left this earth today. During many eras of my existence, she was my confidant, my best supporter, and often my best friend. She saw me in my best light and my darkest hours and never judged me. She only loved me. And I loved her back with all of my heart.

My grandmother was a huge part of my life that I will never be able to replace. Alzheimer's took her life and her joy away from her. It has been a long battle, and she was resilient and tough through the end. But her suffering was enough. So she passed away on Independence Day, 2011. I can see now that this was her Independence Day... from a disease that took over her life.

I know that a lot of you that read what I write often enjoy hearing about bits of my life. This was something that I felt I could share with you. We all have ups and downs and we struggle to get through them. But we can all relate when it comes to losing someone that we love with every inch of our soul. So all I ask is that in memory of my Grandmama, you go out today and do something kind and unexpected for either someone you love or a complete stranger. It will make you feel good. And we all just want to feel good, right...

Fourth of July Party Recipe Ideas: Appetizers, Dips, and More!

2011-07-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

We have been lucky enough to see Independence Day fireworks in Chicago and at our wedding reception, but we have never celebrated at home... until this year! So I gathered up a few friends, recipes, and decorations for a get together last night! I wanted to share these with you, as they were all a big hit! Here is a sneak peek at my front entrance!

Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Cocktail Sausages

1 package cocktail sausages

1 lb. bacon

brown sugar

Heat oven to 325. Cut each bacon slice into thirds and toss in a bag of brown sugar.

Wrap one of the pieces of bacon (1/3 of a whole piece) around each sausage, and secure with a toothpick. A good tip when using toothpicks in the oven or wooden skewers on the grill is to soak them for a couple of minutes in water before use. This prevents them from burning or catching on fire!

Heat in oven for 40-50 minutes, or until bacon is crisp and sugar is bubbly. I turned the temp up 25 degrees for the last ten minutes. These are delicious and will go fast!

I found this recipe at My Busy Little Kitchen!

All American Summer Sour Cream Dip

16 ounces sour cream

1 packet Italian dressing dry mix

1 teaspoon minced garlic

Mix ingredients well, refrigerate for several hours. I served this with sliced cucumber, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, and crackers.

Delicious Sausage Cream Cheese Dip

1 lb. Owen's or Jimmy Dean hot sausage

16 ounces cream cheese

2 cans Rotel

Brown sausage. Heat all ingredients over low in a large sauce pan or slow cooker until melty and hot. Serve with chips and salsa! I do not have a picture of the dip because it got eaten up right away!

Red White and Blue Strawberry Delights

1-2 pounds whole fresh strawberries

1 can cream cheese icing

blue sprinkles

Stem the strawberries, and then cut an X into the top of each one, leaving the base attached.

Using an icing tool of choice, fill the inside of the strawberry with icing and top with blue sprinkles!

I was able to grab some decorations on clearance and spruce up the house a bit. My favorite thing was the metal flags I found for about $1.50 each and made our walkway flower bed patriotic for guests coming to the front door! (See top picture)

I also got some decor that went great with my red front door!

I hope you all have a safe and happy Independence Day!
Tell me what you did, how you decorated, or what you ate!

Positive Female Role Models

2011-07-04T10:07:00.000-05:00

Growing up, I never felt that I was held back as a female. I had very strong women in my life and was always encouraged to go out there and do what I wanted. I know, however, that there are many women who are still lacking that in their lives, not just around the world, but even in our own country. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not to be labeled a "feminist" or any thing like that, but I do love to see shows that show strong women.

Rizzoli & Isles are two women in powerful positions who can accomplish anything they put their minds to while having an influence upon others. As such, the show empowers women with both characters coming from different points of view and background while remaining true to themselves in getting their job done. As a testament to this, Rizzoli & Isles won Best Drama at the 'Women's Image Network Awards' in 2010.

See the reason why Rizzoli & Isles won Best Drama at the 2010 Women's Image Network Awards. The first season is now available on DVD HERE

Disclosure: I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Rizzoli & Isles Season One on DVD.

No Rules Link Party Linky Fun! Show Off Here!

2011-07-01T11:50:00.000-05:00

No rules, just link up and have fun, "like" other links, and have a happy Independence Day!

Countertop Makeover: Rustoleum Laminate Coating

2011-06-29T12:00:00.000-05:00

This post was done about seven months ago, when hundreds of you had never even heard of Saturday Mornings. This was such a big project that I wanted to bring it back and put it out there for others who may need an inexpensive fix for their kitchen or bathroom counter tops!

We have done a lot of work on our home. In the kitchen we were blessed with custom cabinets that came with the house, and after a frozen pipe burst last winter we replaced the vinyl flooring with porcelain. The kitchen was really starting to come together and to top it off, we bought a new stainless steel convection oven a few months ago. However, there was one big eyesore that we have been longing to get rid of. Baby blue laminate counter tops. Everyone that comes over claims that "they are not that bad and at least they are in good condition." They ARE that bad! I liken it to a nice looking man with an expensive suit on....but he has a mullet. There is no overlooking that. So here they are.

Yep, I told you they were awful! Well, I heard about a product that you could actually "paint" over linoleum with to give it a new color and new look. I really wanted to try it, but I knew if I told my husband I was painting the kitchen counter tops he would think I had lost my marbles! So what did I do, you might ask? I went to Plan B. Plan B was this: wait until he left town one weekend and do it myself! This weekend was opening season so he went home to hunt. I called in backup (Nicolle) and we went to work. There were a few scary things about using this product. First, you literally have to pick your color from a half inch picture on top of a box!

Second, we learned that this stuff was no joke! It is highly flammable and toxic as well. The helpful guys at Lowe's (no I am not getting paid for this, I love Lowe's and if you work at Lowe's and would like to pay me to mention your little company I would probably consider your offer) suggested that we turn off all gas and pilot lights in the house, and instructed us to take breaks while applying to get fresh air. We were told that if we become lightheaded, nauseous, or vomit, we should at least stop, and possibly go to the hospital. So, big nod to Nicolle for sticking in there after all of this! We taped off the area, got our supplies ready, and started laying it on the linoleum.

The odor is very strong, and during the second coat I started feeling funny, realizing I had not been outside in a while. Fresh air did the trick, and now I have a whole new look! This stuff made my kitchen look like a different person, and I cannot wait for the husband to get home and see it for himself!

Countertop Treatment: $20

Paintbrushes/Rollers: $22

Painter's Tape: $9

Total Cost: $51

Replacing the Counter Tops: $500 to $2500

Steve's Yummy Yellow Squash Casserole Recipe

2011-06-28T19:51:00.000-05:00

I have really been trying to eat tons of veggies. At some point, my method of cooking becomes mundane and I seek out new ways to make summer vegetable taste delectable. My mother in law shared a recipe with me recently that I thought you might enjoy as well! She calls it Steve's Squash Casserole because she found it in her local paper and it was submitted by some guy named Steve. So just for fun, I added yummy and yellow to the name! And as always, I have added a few of my cooking tricks throughout, so make sure you read it all the way through!

Here is a list of everything you need to get going:

2 medium to large yellow squash

Non-stick cooking spray

Large casserole dish

Salt and pepper

1 large onion

12 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

2 sleeves Ritz crackers, crushed

12 ounce can evaporated milk

1 stick butter, cut into pats

Heat the oven to 350 degrees and coat your casserole dish with cooking spray. Slice the squash into 1/8 inch thick round slices - think hamburger pickle slices!

Dice the onion. I use yellow onion on mostly every dish that calls for onion, but white is fine as well. A good trick for onion dicing and slicing is to light a candle and set it by the cutting board. The onion's scent will tend to flow towards the heat, and this cuts down on onion tears and burning eyes!

Cover the bottom of the dish with a layer of squash, and top with a thin layer of onion. Top this combo off with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Next, put a nice layer of cheese, followed by a layer of crushed crackers. Repeat these steps until you have used all of the squash. Mine came out to three layers, but the squash I used was very large! Top the dish off with pats of butter, and pour the evaporated milk over the entire thing. Cover, and bake at least one hour. Squash should be tender, and cheese should be melted. Enjoy! I bet even the kiddos will enjoy this one!

Unlikely Friendships

2011-06-28T15:41:00.000-05:00

With social media at it's best, it seems like you never really lose touch with your friends anymore. I have a friend that I have known since elementary school, and it is funny sometimes to see how different we are as adults. The question is, if I had just met them today, would we be such good friends? Probably! Difference of lifestyle and opinion make for great conversation, and mutual respect keeps the friendship going.

This reminds me of one of my new favorite shows, Rizzoli and Isles. The two main characters are best friends but couldn't be more different. Are you a fan of the show as well? Let me know! I love it! The second season is starting soon and you can pre-order the first season on DVD HERE!

Tell me about a good friend you have that is very different from you! Does that make the friendship even better?

Disclosure: I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Rizzoli & Isles Season One on DVD.

Best Burger Recipe Ever

2011-06-27T15:41:00.000-05:00

I am a lucky girl. Yep. My deep freezer never goes without. My husband's parents (Hi Jamie) raise livestock and at any given time I have an almost endless supply of every cut of beef you can think of. I could go on like Bubba and his shrimp... ground beef, chuck roast, tenderloin, short ribs, ribeye, you get the point right. Here is a picture of my JUST the bottom drawer of my deep freezer taken today.

Another great thing about this is that the beef is very lean. I can brown some ground beef and there will be almost no fat to drain off! There is one catch, however. This makes for a somewhat dry hamburger. I have been trying out all kinds of tricks and recipes to make these burgers better, and I have finally found the perfect blend of tricks and additions. So if you buy lean ground beef or if you want to make your normal burger even better, try this recipe out. You will love it!

In a large bowl, mix two pounds of of lean ground beef with the following items:

1 package dry onion soup mix (1 ounce)

1 lightly beaten egg

2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon A1 sauce

3/4 cup rolled oats

1/4 teaspoon each of garlic powder and black pepper

This should make six nicely sized patties. I use a tool made for making the perfect sized patties, but if you don't have one, press your thumb into the center of the patty just before grilling to keep them from becoming too thick in the middle. After patties are formed, place a pat of butter into the center of each one.

Seal the burger back around the butter, and put those babies one the grill! Trust me, the butter trick is KEY!

You will love the taste and the juiciness of these burgers! Of course, I top mine off with cheese, but now it's time to personalize it however you like! These would be great for the upcoming Independence Day weekend!

Tell me what toppings you love on your burger!

A Word From Our Sponsors...

2011-06-24T15:43:00.000-05:00

I want to introduce you today to one of our lovely sponsors, ChangeUp! They create one of a kind upcycled clothing for people of all ages! The best part about their pieces is that no one will ever be walking around with the same thing you or your child has on! Here is a glimpse at what they have in store right now...

How fun and adorable is this dress for a toddler?!

GET IT HERE!

I LOVE the look of this outfit! Classy, sophisticated, and fun, all at the same time!

GET IT HERE!

When I asked Sheila, the owner, to tell me a little more about ChangeUp, this is what she said...

"Ecofriendly kid's wear doesn't necessarily mean expensive organic onesies. Check out ChangeUp!

ChangeUp re-fashions pre-loved clothes into new, one of a kind children's and women's clothing. A pocket from a pair of

pants and lace trim from a dress are sewn on a top that becomes an up-cycled, one of a kind piece of wearable art! Take a look

at ChangeUp, and you might find that surrounding your child, or yourself, with unique custom clothing it will nourish your creative spirit and at the same time help ensure products stay out of landfills and in the materials sphere."

Look Fabulous*Live Well*Do Good

Check out ChangeUp and see what one of a kind must haves you can find!

Fourth of July Picture Frame Makeover

2011-06-23T16:01:00.000-05:00

Wow! It has been quite some time since I have done a project. Did you miss them? I hope so! Well, I saw a really cute idea on A Love 2 Create and did my own twist on it. This is an easy, low cost decoration that can add to the spirit of Independence Day around your home! I can see this popping up on other holidays this year!

You just need an old picture frame and some window clings! I painted an old frame white and roughed up the edges slightly with sandpaper to give it some character.

Now, if you don't know what window clings are, they are gummy-like pieces that stick to glass. Kids love them, and you can snag some for around a buck. I found red and blue stars on clearance. Perfect!

Since you are not using the back of the frame, you will want to glue the glass on so that it does not fall apart. You can then arrange the clings however you like on the back of the glass. They stick well but are easily removable, so play around with it until you are happy!

Once the glue is dry, you have a fun decoration for next to nothing!

Picture frame and acrylic paint: on hand

Window clings: $1.25

Total cost: $1.25

Turn Your Blog Into a TV Show?

2011-06-22T16:53:00.000-05:00

I hear of many people that turn their blogs into a book, but what if you could turn it into a TV show? I have been watching a show lately called Rizzoli and Isles that is based on a book, and with a great written history already in place, it makes the show that much better to watch!

Rizzoli & Isles, a TNT drama series starring Angie Harmon as police detective Jane Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles, is based on the Rizzoli/Isles series of mystery novels by Tess Gerritsen. Tess was quoted as saying that the adaptation was a dream come true. If you could adapt your blog into a TV series, what would it be about?

Pre-order your copy of Rizzoli & Isles Season One on DVD here today and catch all 10 'must see' episodes: CLICK HERE !

I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Rizzoli & Isles Season One on DVD.

Link Party and Features from Last Week!

2011-06-16T15:17:00.000-05:00

It is so nice to know that I can take a break from blogging, and as soon as I come back, all of my readers are still here! I was very inspired by some of the things you have all been working on, so before you link up this week, take a look at some of my favorites!

Fun and easy 4th of July wreath by Surviving Motherhood

Magazine/Music Organizer by Two Sides of the Rainbow

IKEA makeover by Homeroad

OK, now I am ready to start some projects! When you find a link that you like in this week's list, make sure you "like" it so that I can tell you next week which ones were most popular! There is a button on my sidebar if you would like to add me to your own blog. Thanks for linking!

I'm BAAAAACK! Link PARTY!

2011-06-07T16:48:00.000-05:00

Well, I have been somewhat MIA lately, but I am back and ready to see what you have all been up to! So here, for the first time in a long time, is the Strut Your Stuff link party! Since it has been out of commission for a while, I would love it if you would grab the Strut Your Stuff button and spread the word! Now, show me, inspire me, share with me...

Allergies, Makeup, and a Great Tip!

2011-05-09T11:52:00.000-05:00

Well, I was in love with the weather this weekend, but my allergies were on fire! I seem to have sensitivities to not only the normal seasonal pollen, but also to beauty products and certain foods. Some of you have told me that you have the same problems, so I will be sharing some tips with you as I come across them. Today, I want to show you a line of high quality (but not high-priced) makeup that offers some hypoallergenic options. La Belle Femme Cosmetics has just introduced a new line, called the Studio Collection, that I can't wait to try out!

Here is a little about La Belle Femme...

Please feel free to browse our store of pure minerals makeup in 2 collections, our DIAMOND, and RADIANT collections. ALL INGREDIENTS ARE COSMETIC GRADE ONLY and hypoallergenic-SPF 30. No Bismuth or additives in our formulas.
The Radiant collection is a matte, flat mineral makeup powder with little to no shimmer or shine. The Diamond collection is a soft, smooth mineral makeup powder that has a slight, healthy glow/shimmer thanks to formulating with premium products and silica, which helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines and is perfect for women over 40.
Our newest products are from our Studio collection and are makeup artist/professional formulations, ready to use, of highest quality. These are pressed and NOT powder. Please see description of products or FAQ's page for more details.
We use the highest quality premium pure minerals in formulating all of our products including foundations, blush, eye colors, concealers, lip products and more!
We do sell Radiant in bulk and wholesale (see wholesale category in left navigation bar on this page or email us with any questions).

FREE SAMPLE WITH EVERY ORDER based on your color selections.

I don't know about you, but when pollen and other things are already making my eyes itch, getting crazy chemicals from my makeup rubbed into the mix does not help the situation!

I really want to try their new eyeliners and some of their beautiful colors of shadows and blushes!

The great thing about this company is that before you commit yourself to a certain shade or product, you can snag one of their "Try It" kits, which have several color samples in your shade selection.

Every year about this time, I restock my makeup stash for summer. I often buy low quality products to save money, or spend too much trying to get the perfect thing. So this year, try out La Belle Femme Cosmetics for a high quality, low cost combo and start your summer off with a bang for your buck!

Nutrisystem Update: 8 Down, Still Going Strong!

2011-05-06T15:08:00.001-05:00

Many of you have been asking how my Nutrisystem journey has been going. Well, it has been great! I am still enjoying the food, and I am still losing weight! As of today, I have lost 8 pounds! I thought today I might share with you some of my favorite foods that they have to offer, as that has been another popular question from all of you.

What I am loving...

At breakfast, I love the pancakes and the cinnamon buns!

At lunch, my favorites are the Italian wedding soup and the steak and cheese melt!

Dinner is probably my favorite. A burger, a plate of lasagna, and a pepperoni pizza top my list!

Golden pound cake or a fudge brownie top my day off and taste delicious! I must say, it's like having your own personal chef that cooks healthy and delicious food. Eight pounds in two weeks is a great start for me. At this rate, I will be beach ready this summer!

I knew you would be drooling! Join me on this adventure and start your Nutrisystem journey with me! Let's get ready for summer!

Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 888-853-4689 or by visiting Nutrisystem online by clicking here!

Ribbon Storage Tutorial and a Surprise Guest!

2011-05-06T08:37:00.000-05:00

Hello friends! I want to start you off today with a tutorial from a good blog friend, Megan, from In the Loop. I know many of you are already fans of hers, but if you haven't checked out her blog, make sure you do so after reading this great post of hers!

I've been checking out various ribbon storing methods. There were some pretty good ones out there, but they all seemed like a lot of work. And considering I don't have many ribbons I wanted something easier and smaller. Plus I think it looks pretty dang cute. What do you think?

I bought some Ball jars on the cheap from Hobby Lobby. They were on the small side.

Then I bought some velcro at Home Depot.

I modge podged some paper onto a ready made board I bought at Hobby Lobby and attached the jars to the board.

Voila! Ribbon storage. I will say you couldn't store anything super heavy on something like this, but it works for ribbons and other light items.

P.S. Can you tell this is in my new craft room? I'm just waiting on hanging a few things and I'll do the big reveal!

How to Make Cute Leash Hangers

2011-05-04T13:45:00.000-05:00

Every time the dogs go for a walk, or we take them for a ride, we toss their leashes in a different spot. And then we can't find them. I decided to make something to hang the leashes from that would be fun and functional at the same time.

The dogs are named Allie and Jackson, so...

This project is an easy one, and you can customize it and make it your own! Any wooden or cardboard pre-cut letters will work, I chose these big chip board ones because they were on sale! I also happen to have a collection of scrapbook paper that is pet themed, so I cut them to the shape of the letters.

I then adhered the pattern to the front of the letter using Mod Podge! To hang them from a wall, simple picture hangers will work, but make sure the nails are small enough not to pierce through to the front. This is your next step.

A simple hook can be screwed into the bottom of the letters. I needed a total of three, so I spread them out. I also chose to use rubber covered hooks because they came in a good color!

One here,

and two here! Perfect!

I must share a picture of the furry family members that I made these for. This was taken last weekend, when it was nice and sunny!

So, I hung them on the wall next to the sliding glass door that leads to the backyard. Like I said before, fun and functional!

Chip board letters: 80 cents each

Hooks and picture hangers: $1.50

Scrapbook paper and Mod Podge: on hand

Total cost: about $3.00

Leash racks online: $15.00 each

$1,000 in prizes! Please read! Great cause!

2011-04-26T14:17:00.000-05:00

Please go to www.projectkidsonline.com and enter the raffle! All details, pictures, prize descriptions, etc. are on that site. And spread the word! The above pictures are just two of the over twenty prize packages up for grabs! Now go join in on the fun!

Link Up for Best of April 2011

2011-04-16T09:58:00.000-05:00

PLEASE VISIT AND BECOME A FOLLOWER AT WWW.PROJECTKIDSONLINE.COM BEFORE YOU LINK UP!

Well here we go again! Remember, each weekend, a new group of finalists is announced. So each week you have a new opportunity to be crowned Best of April 2011, get showered with prizes, and get your very own brag button! Plus, at year's end, there will be a Best of 2011 award from the winners of each month! I am talking mega prizes, mega exposure! So link up ~~anything that you want, but links to Etsy shops and other retail websites will not be considered when judging~~ ONLY THINGS FOR THE BEST OF CONTEST. I had someone completely take advantage of this linky service that I pay for, and sadly, they ruined it for everyone. Sorry, no Etsy shops! It must be linked to your blog or website and the post should be tutorial style. The links can be from any time, and you can link up as many as you would like!

Grab the button above please, and add it to your blog or post. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a spotlight on Saturday Mornings. Proper credit will be doled out, of course!

Is there something different about you today? IMPORTANT POST!

2011-04-15T13:37:00.000-05:00

Did you stop by Saturday Mornings this week and wonder if you were at the right place? I know at least a few of you did. Between the Photobucket lockout and the face lift on my blog, I chose to refrain from posting for the past week. The blog was looking crazy, pictures were hit and miss, and I did not want to take the risk. Did all the rest of you experience the Photobucket frustrations that I did?

What do you think of my new look?! Courtney, at Not So Homemade, who has done all of my previous designs, did a bang up job yet again! I LOVE IT! Please tell me that you do too! And grab my new button too!

&lt;center>&lt;a border="0" href="http://danajeanward.blogspot.com" target="_blank">&lt;img src="http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab145/DanaJeanWard/SMNewButton2.jpg" />&lt;/a>&lt;/center>

I have some giveaway winners to announce as well! It could be you, so keep reading!

The winner of the Headcessories giveaway is...

SHIRLEY

The winner of the Kidorable giveaway is...

JENNIFER

The winner of the Distinctive Decor giveaway is...

Congrats to all of you! I have a lot of exciting things coming up, so get pumped! Also, the HUGE giveaway over at Project Kids starts this weekend! You could win $50 to PF Chang's, a gift set from Carters, scrap booking gift baskets, and tons of other great things! So make sure you are a follower of Project Kids and have read about the great things they do!

Link Up for Best of April 2011

2011-04-09T10:59:00.004-05:00

PLEASE VISIT AND BECOME A FOLLOWER AT WWW.PROJECTKIDSONLINE.COM BEFORE YOU LINK UP!

Finalists for Best of April Round 2

2011-04-08T13:00:00.000-05:00

A few announcements before I get to the list of finalists:

If you have not already become a follower of this new website, please do! The website was designed to benefit children in need. And this website needs you! And please spread the word!

Please check the left sidebar for giveaways! They have had low numbers lately so your odds are pretty good!

Here are the round two finalists! Don't forget to join in on round three! You could be the Best of April 2011...

Dressing Up Onesies by

My Creative Heart

Goodwill Table by

Living in the Woods

Anthro Inspired Necklace by

Of Pinks and Fairy Tales

Peppermint Meltaways by

AJ Crazies

Sewing Machine Cover by

The Crafter's Apprentice

Congratulations! Grab your "I was featured" button and get ready for voting at the end of the month!

Lou City

2011-04-06T14:10:00.000-05:00

Are you wondering where in the world Lou City is? You can find it right here! Every city has a history to it, and Lou City Goods is no different. Meet CJ, who spearheads Lou City Goods...

Here is a little about CJ:

"I in St. Louis, MO with my husband (will be married two years this summer). I work a full time job in retail management in addition to running my shop. No kids, but two cats who run "the factory" as my husband calls it. Favorite vacation spot is Hawaii (hence my pineapple picture).

I really dug into my shop within the last year. I always said I would make things that I loved and that I loved to make...so far I have held true to that. My focus is a small selection of baby items and fun giftable accessories. It all started with one key fob because I wanted to learn to make them for myself and it just grew from there. Recently I have added pocket mirrors to my shop and hope to bring in magnets and bottle openers as well with an option for the seller to have them made with their own photos.

Fabric is an addiction (no seriously...I need 12 steps here). Great fun patterned paper is also a weakness...so I am thankful I have now found reasons to purchase both!"

Well, CJ, I am right there with you on teh fabric addiction! I am loving her fun shop and great gift ideas! Lou City Goods is not only friendly, but affordable as well!

I am so glad to have CJ and Lou City Goods as part of the Saturday Mornings family! Take a look around Lou City to see other goodies you can find!

NEW WEBSITE!

2011-04-05T16:43:00.000-05:00

Please, please, I beg you, go and check out my new website and follow through email or Google friend connect. Project kids has really gotten big now that I have a team backing me up. Plus, the new site is having a HUGE giveaway with tons of prizes and winners coming soon. The giveaway benefits underprivileged children, so we need all of the support on this site we can get. Thank you in advance!

www.projectkidsonline.com

Finalists for Best of April Round 1

2011-04-03T20:31:00.000-05:00

Here they are! In no particular order! However, one thing is different this week! We have guest judges!

We have Jen, who was best of February 2011

And Megan, who was best of January 2011

It is always so hard to choose that I called in backup!

So, with the help of two of this year's winners, here are your round one finalists!

Cherry Blossoms by

I'm a Mom Not a Professional

Spring Green Wreath by

Elizabeth and Co.

Wooden Home Decor by

Peppermint Plum

Raspberry Crumb Cake by

AJ Crazies

Summer Dress by

To Sew with Love

Congratulations!

Oh, Fudge!

2011-04-03T14:46:00.000-05:00

Meet Julie...

"After living in Oregon for the better part of 30 years, I decided to leave behind everything familiar and embark on a journey alone to the big city of Las Vegas. I had been dealing poker as a side job for several years, and thought, “what better place to be than Vegas”. With a lot of hard work and perseverance, and a little luck, I managed to achieve one of my biggest goals! I am now a poker dealer in Las Vegas, have dealt at the highest level possible, and at the most prestigious events in the world!

For me, my true passion has always been somewhere else though. I love to create! I am a writer, an artist, a crafter, a baker, but not yet a candlestick maker! For as long as I can remember, I have been baking and making treats of all kinds. My Great Grandma and I would bake cookies and crochet together. My Grandma Fishie (named so because her and Grandpa Fishie raised rainbow trout) and I baked and cooked together every chance we had. We would cook huge meals with the Meals on Wheels ladies, then make deliveries together. When Grandma Fishie passed away, at ten years old I took on the responsibility of keeping Grandpa Fishie’s sweet tooth satisfied. For the next 17 years, I would fill his outside freezer with bags and bags of cookies and breads.

Grandpa Fishie’s sister, my Great Aunt Helen, handed over her pumpkin bread recipe to me, and after years of making it for friends and family with rave reviews, I decided to give it a go as a business! In 2009, I launched the baked goods section of my Etsy shop, Jewel of the Lion, and sold only varieties of Aunt Helen’s Pumpkin Bread. I had finally begun to fulfill a lifelong passion! For the 2010 holiday season, I restarted my store, this time ready to make it a full-time business. I introduced Great Grandma’s Icebox Cookies first, and soon after that I went totally fudge crazy!

The fudge varieties are all my own recipes, something I am so proud of, and know that all the bakers throughout my life are looking down from heaven and smiling about! For now my business remains an online venture, but very soon I hope to launch a brick-and-mortar bakery/cafe. Who knew I had to leave home and come to Vegas to find my passion for baking?? I’m truly “livin’ the dream”, as they say, and couldn’t be happier.

I have recently added about 15 new fudge flavors, and am currently working on a cookie collection, maybe expanding in the muffin department, and definitely adding brownies too! I will be also working very hard on a Sugar-Free line of goods, as well as a Gluten-Free line of goods. At the moment, all of my crust-less fudges are already gluten-free."

VISIT JEWEL OF THE LION HERE!

"Best Of" LINK UP Round Two for April

2011-04-02T12:23:00.001-05:00

PLEASE ENTER THE GREAT GIVEAWAYS AFTER YOU LINK UP! SUPER SIMPLE ENTRIES!

Grab the button above if you feel nice today, and add it to your blog or post. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a spotlight on Saturday Mornings. Proper credit will be doled out, of course!

Winner for the Best of March 2011

2011-04-02T09:34:00.000-05:00

What a close race to the winner's circle! Out of over 700 entries, you have determined who is the Best of March 2011. Round two for April will be up today, and the finalists from round one will be announced today as well! Here is your winner...

Kristen from Ink Blots and Polka Dots

with her Drop Cloth Ruffle Pillow!

Congratulations! Well deserved!

Here is the rest of the top five...

Runner up

Cupcake Bathrobe by My Busy Craft Life

Third Place

Anthropologie Inspired Bedding by Simply Delicious

Fourth Place

Sweet spring Baby Mobile by Stay at Home Meagan

Fifth Place

Cheddar Ale Soup by Will Cook for Smiles

All great entries! Thanks for joining in, and hope to see you in the April contest!

Spaghetti and Meatballs for April Fool's Day

2011-04-01T18:23:00.001-05:00

Please hear me out. Think about it. If any guy claims they can cook, ask them what their best dish is. I bet that at least 80% of the time, they will tell you they can cook a mean and delicious spaghetti. But let's face it, they boil noodles and dump a jar of sauce on top. This is an ongoing discussion between my husband and I. So he keeps telling me that if I think it is so easy, I should make it from scratch. So, I told him this morning I would make my own version of spaghetti with meatballs for dinner. I vowed that I would not use a jar of Prego or Ragu. I also promised that not only would it be ready and plated when he walked in, but the house would smell scrumptious because of my dish. All of that was true. But he forgot it was April Fool's day!

See that plate of Italian food? It is a bunch of cupcakes! I found this fun recipe at Our Best Bites and I knew I had to try it! They have other fun ideas for cupcakes, like peas and carrots or mashed potatoes! First, either buy unfrosted cupcakes from a bakery, or make some in your favorite flavor. Make sure the color is not too dark, though. When they are nice and cool, you are ready!

I chose strawberry, and I baked them, but there are many options! Next, choose a frosting flavor that is white or off white, and fill a heavy duty Ziploc bag with the frosting. Snip a small piece out of one corner. SMALL.

Sqeeze the frosting through the corner, while moving the cupcake around, to create the noodles. Cover as much of the cupcake top as possible. Do this for each cupcake, and plate close together for the best look. Next, you will want the Ferrero Rocher fine hazelnut chocolates to stand in as meatballs. Microwave a small bowl of strawberry or other berry flavored jam with a small amount of water to dilute, for about 30 seconds.

Dip each chocolate in the mixture, cover well, a set on top of a cupcake. Drizzle the jam over the cupcake to create the look of spaghetti sauce.

Next, grate some white chocolate or almond bark on top to create the look of Parmesan cheese. You now have a plate of spaghetti and meatballs!

APRIL FOOL'S!

Mod Monkey First Birthday Banner Tutorial

2011-03-31T18:08:00.000-05:00

One of my professors has a child who just turned one. She wanted to have a monkey themed party, but did not want to pay through the nose for the decorations. They can get to be upwards of forty bucks, even on Etsy! So she enlisted my help. Now I can share the tips and tricks with you that I learned by helping her. First, let's go through the banner making process. Here is what it looked like when I finished it.

First, you will want to choose a theme and colors. Of course, this one was monkey themed, so yellow, green, and brown seemed appropriate. Gather a mixture of scrapbook papers and card stock. Cut them to the size desired, matching prints with solids to create a "framed" look around each banner piece. I used stencils I already had to create and cut out the letters and then began to find the best arrangement by laying it all out on the floor.

After I found the right look, it was time to adhere it piece by piece. I used Mod Podge for every part of this. It works great as adhesive, as well as a final coat to glaze it over and seal the look. I first put the paper and card stock together, and then put the letters on top. For the monkey faces, I found the most frugal thing to do, instead of buying stickers or prints, was to find what I wanted through Google images, print it out, and trim it to fit. Here is the image if you would like to use it as well!

After each piece was complete, I went over the entire surface with a final coat of Mod Podge matte. This ensures that it looks polished, and papers do not separate from each other.

Once it all is all dry, use a hole punch to punch holes in the upper corners of each piece. Cut equal lengths of ribbon to go between each piece. You will tie knots in the ribbon behind the hole, on the back side of each piece. The knots will help to make sure the ribbon does not slip through the hole. Depending on the size and material of your ribbon, you may need to tie more multiple knots on top of each other for added security. For the end pieces, use a long piece of ribbon to make sure it can be easily hung. You may want to use books to flatten it over night, as the Mod Podge may tend to make thinner papers curl slightly. Now you have a custom banner for a fraction of the online cost!

Paper and card stock: $2.00

Ribbon: $1.00

Mod Podge, stencils: on hand

Total cost: $3.00

Online custom banner: average of $20.00

Headcessories Giveaway - One Entry per Person - FUN!

2011-03-31T15:50:00.000-05:00

We have another giveaway today! Our sponsors are wonderful! I think the groundhog was a little off on his prediction this year. I live in the south and it is in the thirties today! Good thing Headcessories is offering a stylish and unique accessory that will keep someone a little warmer! Look how beautiful this scarf is!

And it will look great on the winner! Play it casually, dress it up, just have fun with it!

Want to win it? Just visit Headcessories and tell me something else that you would love from there! Good luck!

*Ends 4/8*

April Showers KIDORABLE GIVEAWAY!

2011-03-31T12:27:00.001-05:00

Well, April showers seem to have come a few days early around here. Do you have your rain gear ready? How about the kids? My nieces sport Kidorable's rain boots and umbrellas, and I think their products are so fun! The girls love them, and you will often see them running around in their boots, rain or shine.

Here is a closer view of their gear:

In celebration of the rainy season, Kidorable is going to give one of you an umbrella of choice! They make them for boys and girls. Here are a few of the options you have. To see more, visit the Kidorable website.

Two easy ways to win! First, you must "like" Kidorable on Facebook. Let me know you did so!

If you want a bonus entry, subscribe to my blog by email (left sidebar) and confirm the subscription. It's a fun new way to get your Saturday Mornings fix!

*ENDS 4/7*

Why I Caused a Traffic Jam Today

2011-03-30T18:16:00.000-05:00

Yes, I caused a traffic jam. On a major interstate. Today. Before I tell you the story, remember to sign up real quick for the giveaways on the left sidebar! Now... for the good stuff. I am keeping my brother's dog while he is in Washington DC and I took her to the vet today. So she experienced this with me on our way home from work. She was just cruising along with me, listening to the radio...

when all of a sudden, the car in front of me slammed their brakes on! I know, you are thinking, OK, you rear ended that car! Nope. As a matter of fact, all was well, but traffic slowed. As it began to pick back up, my car did not. I was trapped in the left lane, and while everyone was gearing back up to 70 mph, my car just would not accelerate. I noticed the RPMs were going wild, and people were getting angry. I squeezed into the right lane, put my flashers on, and finally found a place to pull over, all the while not able to get above 20 mph. I waved an apologetic wave to the road-ragers flying by, and went to put my car in park. It was then that I realized something. Amid all of the confusion, I did not realize that when I initially had to brake the car for the slowing traffic, poor Hayley, the dog, slid forward and put my car in neutral! Now go laugh. It is funny. The not funny part is by this time, with my lane change and side of the road vehicle, I had caused a traffic jam! EMBARRASSED! Please share a funny story and make me feel better! I am still bright red, an hour later!

What's For Dinner? UGH!

2011-03-29T20:10:00.000-05:00

Please, please, I am begging you. Tell me something. Am I the only who loves to cook but by the time dinner rolls around, I am exhausted and have a bad attitude about it? Well, I have said this before, and now I want to tell you again, because I have a special offer extended to you, my readers! Five Star All Natural Marinade is great on any type of meat, and you just marinade and let it soak until you are ready to toss it in the oven, on the grill, or wherever fancies you. Easy, fast, and delicious!

But now, the owner has a great deal for you! I am telling you, this is great on chicken, beef, fish, game, and just about anything you can drum up! So for a limited time, buy four bottles, at a mere five bucks each, and get a fifth bottle FREE! That is a 20% savings, and you can give one or two as a gift, although I have a feeling you will be keeping them for yourself!

This offer is good for anyone who mentions this post, follower or not. I have a testimonial from someone who I sent this to:

Jan said, "We let our fish soak in it overnight and then baked them for a healthy and flavorful meal. No sugar and no fats is what got my attention. But now I know it tastes great. We have since tried it on our steaks. We dip our steak pieces directly in the sauce and it really tops off the flavors we already use!"

If you are diabetic, on a diet, or a healthy eater, this is for you! I am amazed at how much flavor comes from such a healthy marinade! Visit Five Star All Natural Marinade to get your special offer!

Four Winners and a NEW Giveaway!

2011-03-29T13:45:00.001-05:00

I am happy to announce four winners today of giveaways past! Also, we have a new giveaway starting today, maybe even two if you are nice! Here are the winners...

The winner of the Sweet Pickles Designer Cat Collar is...

Pixel the Cat, and her owner, Jennifer N!

The winner of the Five Star All Natural Marinade is...

Gretchen P who wants to try it on chicken first!

The winner of the Dream by Day custom banner or button is...

The Bowie Bunch, who just opened a new Esty shop!

Finally, the winner of the Fetch a Passion custom pet ID tag is...

Pattie, who has three rescue dogs! How deserving!

Now, we have a new and exciting giveaway from one of our sponsors, Distinctive Decor! Just for visiting her shop, you have the chance to win this adorable hand painted picture frame with FREE personalization! How cute! I wish I could win it!

$25.99 VALUE!

All you have to do is visit Distinctive Decor and tell me what other item or items you love there!

I will give you one more chance to win, since this is such a nice prize! I just opened the option to subscribe to Saturday Mornings by e-mail. So subscribe and confirm, and you get an extra entry. There is a spot in the left sidebar near the top. Good luck!

*ENDS 4/6 AT MIDNIGHT CST*

Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas

2011-03-28T18:49:00.000-05:00

I have shown you a recipe for enchiladas before, and it was super healthy. This one, not so much. However, it is so good that it is a staple at our house. A friend of mine gave this to me a while back, and I am so thankful! After trying them once, you will find yourself craving them! I have kind of made this recipe my own with a few tweaks, so I hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

2-4 frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts (depending on size)

1 cup water

1 small can chopped green chilies

2 tbs dry minced onions

2 tsp minced garlic

2 tbs butter

8 oz package cream cheese

8-10 large flour tortillas

2 cups heavy whipping cream

2 cups shredded mozzarella

DIRECTIONS

Place chicken breasts and water in slow cooker, cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours. After cooking, mash with potato masher to create shredded chicken.

Preheat oven to 4oo degrees. Strain the water out of the chicken. In a large saucepan, saute chilies, dry onion, garlic, and butter over medium-high heat.

Add shredded chicken and cream cheese, turn heat down to medium-low. Stir constantly until thoroughly mixed and melted.

Fill each tortilla with a spoonful of the chicken mixture. Roll, and place seam side down in a large casserole dish.

Pour whipping cream over the pan of enchiladas.

Cover evenly with cheese and bake for 20-25 minutes.

When cheese begins to brown, the enchiladas are done. They are very filling, so we eat them by themselves, but they would be great with chips and salsa!

Chicken: $1.50 (buy frozen in bulk)

Green chilies: $1.00

Garlic, butter, dry onion: on hand

Tortillas: $1.50

Cream Cheese: $1.50

Mozzarella Cheese: $1.50

Whipping cream: $1.50

Total cost: $7.00

Cost per serving (4-6 servings): $1.70

A Few Things to Tell You

2011-03-27T15:37:00.000-05:00

I wanted to let you all know that you can now subscribe to Saturday Mornings through e-mail! This is great news if you want to be alerted of new postings and happenings around here. There is a place to enter your e-mail on the left sidebar, and then it will send you a confirmation request. Fun!

Next, we have THREE giveaways ending tonight, and they are all quick entry, no jumping through hoops, fantastic prize giveaways. So go enter before you miss out! Entries are low right now so your chances are astronomical! Those are also located in the top left sidebar! Good luck!

Best of February 2011 Spotlight Post

2011-03-27T14:51:00.000-05:00

While many of you are out voting for the March winner, I wanted to introduce you to the Best of February! Jen, from Scissors and Spatulas, is a great blogger and do-it-yourselfer. I think I just made that word up, but it totally describes her. Meet Jen.

You will feel right at home while visiting Scissors and Spatulas. Here is a sneak peek at some of her posts that inspire me.

She saw this design in her Ballard catalog. These topiary pieces ranged from $49-$65 each! Ouch!

So what did Jen do? Well, she made her own for $3.50 each! And personally, I like hers better! See her post here.

She does a ton of amazing projects, and shares her secrets for getting them done on a budget!

Want to see more? I am always looking forward to her posts! Come join me while I pull up a chair at Scissors and Spatulas and drool over her creations! See you there!

VOTING for Best of March 2011 HERE!

2011-03-26T20:09:00.000-05:00

Just as I was writing this post, one of my long time readers wrote me to point out that I have 999 followers! What an exciting moment! My next new follower will be the 1000th... will it be you? Thank you to all of my readers who have allowed me to reach this point in less than a year of blogging! Now, on to the part you came here for!

Look through the finalists, and vote for up to five, once per day from each computer or mobile device. Voting ends April Fool's Day, but this is no joke! The winner gets their very own custom button to display proudly on their blog, a feature post during the month of April, a $25 gift card to CSN stores, and a prize pack put together by none other than myself! Look for a feature from February's winner in the next few days! Ready to get in the running for April? Round one is going on here! There were over 700 entries for March, and here are your 23 finalists!

FINALISTS: PLEASE GO TO THE LOWER RIGHT SIDEBAR TO GRAB YOUR BUTTON FOR DISPLAY ON YOUR BLOG! GOOD LUCK!

Rockin' Lobster Sliders by

Simple Sweetness

Drop Cloth Ruffle Pillow by

Ink Blots and Polka Dots

Paper Fan Banner by

My Girlish Whims

Gift Card Bracelet by

A Creative Princess

Happy Birthday Pennant Ruffle Banner by

Diary of a Crafty Lady

Anthropologie Inspired Bedding by

Simply Delicious

Chicken Piralan by

Treat and Trick

Ballard Provost Plaque by

Fussy Monkey Business

Herringbone Tile Job by

Straight Stitches

Sweet Spring Baby Mobile by

Card Wallet by

Cupcake Bathrobe by

Cheddar Ale Soup by

Watermelon Propane Tank by

Forever Decorating

Spring Mantel by

Craftberry Bush

Shabby Chic Dress by

Anne's Antics

Spring Fling Dress by

Sun Scholars

Chest Redo by

Rustic Renditions

Homemade Tortillas by

Little Country Corner

Goody Bags by

The Weekend Homemaker

Wheeled Coffee Table by

Reef Botanicals

Pan Fried Pork Chops by

The Country Cook

Wooden Block Display by

A Little Knick Knack

Round Four Finalists for March

2011-03-26T13:23:00.002-05:00

Here are your last group of finalists for March. You know what that means! Get ready to start voting! The voting will begin later today, and the prizes will be announced at that time. You will also get a good look at each of the finalists from the entire month, so get ready for a big group of amazingly talented people coming your way! Also, don't forget to enter the giveaways on the left sidebar. They aren't complicated, and the prizes are amazing!

Here are your round four finalists in no particular order...

Spring Fling Dress by

Sun Scholars

Chest Redo by

Rustic Renditions

Homemade Tortillas by

Little Country Corner

Goody Bags by

The Weekend Homemaker

Wheeled Coffee Table by

Reef Botanicals

Pan Fried Pork Chops by

The Country Cook

Wooden Block Display by

A Little Knick Knack

Congratulations to all of you and good luck in the voting round!

Strut Your Stuff for April LINK UP Contest Round One

2011-03-26T11:17:00.001-05:00

Well, you may or may not have noticed that I just took off for a solid week. That is my first "leave of absence" from this blog, so please forgive me. However, it was a much needed week of rest. We went to the White River, camped out, trout fished, hiked, cooked over a fire, and most importantly, did not use a computer or watch a TV for five straight days. Round four March finalists will be announced shortly, and voting for March will begin later today. Also, due to the fact that I was MIA for the week, I will give you one more chance to enter all of the giveaways listed on the top left sidebar. They will all end Sunday night. Most are easy one entry giveaways with super prizes, so take a minute to get in the mix!

Well here we go again! Remember, each Friday, a new group of finalists is announced. So each week you have a new opportunity to be crowned Best of April 2011, get showered with prizes, and get your very own brag button! Plus, at year's end, there will be a Best of 2011 award from the winners of each month! I am talking mega prizes, mega exposure! So link up anything that you want, but links to Etsy shops and other retail websites will not be considered when judging. The links can be from any time, and you can link up as many as you would like!

Strut Your Stuff for March LINK UP Round Four

2011-03-19T17:55:00.001-05:00

Check out the left sidebar for giveaways! My giveaways are short and sweet, so make sure you catch them before the end!

Well here we go again! Remember, each Friday, a new group of finalists is announced. So each week you have a new opportunity to be crowned Best of March 2011, get showered with prizes, and get your very own brag button! Plus, at year's end, there will be a Best of 2011 award from the winners of each month! I am talking mega prizes, mega exposure! So link up anything that you want, but links to Etsy shops and other retail websites will not be considered when judging. The links can be from any time, and you can link up as many as you would like!

Delicious Marinade - Healthy, Sugar Free, Great on Everything!

2011-03-18T16:46:00.000-05:00

I hope you have all been enjoying my recipes! Let me know if you have tried any of them! Today I want to tell you about a marinade that tastes great on fish, poultry, and meat! I love when I discover something that is so tasty that I crave it. And it is very good for you!

-No sugar

-No MSG

-No fat or oils

-No preservatives

Can the news get much better than that? Let me share with you some ways I have used Five Star All-Natural Marinade!

I love it on baked chicken! I just let the chicken soak in the marinade for at least 24 hours and then bake it or grill it! It is great on grilled or baked fish, too! And when we whip up a tasty steak, I dip my steak in the sauce as I eat it. It is dee-lish-ous!

What I plan to try Five Star Marinade on next:

Duck, pheasant, and pork. Yep, my husband is a hunter, so we eat a variety of meats. And I am pretty sure I would love this stuff on anything! It smells so good I could drink it from the bottle! Plus, you can leave it marinating for days and throw it on the grill or in the oven when you are ready! No extensive prep work, no long list of ingredients... just this bottle of goodness, and you are set!

I took this excerpt from their website. Burt, the owner, is a super nice guy. I have actually spoken to him directly and so I can attest to the product and the people! A plus all around! Here is what he says on his website:

"While growing up, holidays were special for many reasons. Getting together with family, good food and lots of laughter. Most meals were potluck, making it easier on those hosting the event. We always had the traditional turkey or ham as a main course, but my Grandmother would provide another meat with her marinade. Everyone loved the flavor so much that often the family dinners would break tradition serving only her meat dish. Little did Grandma know that her marinade was a healthy substitute for sugar or molasses based barbeque sauce.

Grandma is gone now but I have taken the recipe and bottled this great taste for everyone wishing great flavor without the worry of calories, preservatives or fat. The marinade is easy to use and is excellent for barbeque, broiling or baking making it enjoyable all year no matter the weather.

My marinade is just the thing for those on restricted diets such as those on low sodium, sugar free, gluten free or Diabetics."

I really want you guys to try this, so I will personally ship a bottle to one of you! I just ask that you like them on Facebook! You will be glad you did! Let me know you did and what you want to try it on!

Best of March Round Three Finalists

2011-03-18T12:13:00.002-05:00

It is always hard to choose, and I try to pick a variety. Sewing, cooking, crafting, easy, difficult, etc. However, the following you have plays no part in the decision process. This is about promoting fun and creative people, even if they are just starting out. You guys are so full of ideas, I am always amazed! Round four will be open later today, so if you aren't in the finals yet, don't give up! And yes, you can get more than one entry in the finals. To get more details on the contest, go here. Here are your round three finalists, in no particular order!

Card Wallet by
Nancy's Couture

Cupcake Bathrobe by
My Busy Craft Life

Cheddar Ale Soup by
Will Cook for Smiles

Watermelon Propane Tank by
Forever Decorating

Spring Mantel by
Craftberry Bush

Shabby Chic Dress by
Anne's Antics

CONGRATULATIONS! GET YOUR VOTING PALS READY FOR THE BEST OF MARCH VOTING NEXT WEEKEND!

Fun Crafty Articles

2011-03-17T15:50:00.000-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I wanted to share a few links to interesting craft articles today. Just a quick post, with some great ideas!

Here are some of the best recent articles on Crafts:

Origami Craft Ideas: Origami Wedding Craft Ideas via Craft Supplies

Customizable Cross-Stitch Projects: Cross-Stitch Projects via Martha Stewart Crafts

Popular Trends in the Arts and Crafts World: Arts and Crafts Trends: An Overview was recently featured on online business degree

Fun Spring Crafts for Kids: Spring Theme Crafts via Toddler Crafts

ART though ready for something affordable?

2011-03-16T13:00:00.000-05:00

Throwback post! This is one of my favorite projects from last summer that many of you have probably never seen.

I have one room that has yet to be given a "look." It has no identity, and when I ran across some paper from a collection titled "Paris" today, I knew at that very moment what was in store for this room. Black and cream look so good together, and since everything else in my home revolves around brown, I thought it would be fun to do something different. Here is the first project geared toward new exciting room! I picked up some blank canvases at a craft store, at a 40 percent discount.

You should be able to get these for a few bucks each. Next, I picked out four coordinating papers. Mine were specialty papers, so they were pretty thick and some had texture. Using Mod Podge or spray adhesive, wrap each canvas with a different paper. The hard part is getting the edges right, and this may require you to put your scissors to work. make sure all sides are completely covered. The back will not show so it can look hideous with no ill effects.

After all four (or six or whatever number you choose) are covered and dry, add a hanging mechanism on the back, and space them evenly apart so that they look like they belong together. And there you have it! New, affordable wall art! It should set you back less than ten bucks but look like a million!

Canvases: $8.00
Papers: $0.50 (buy them in bulk!)

Total Cost: $8.50
Similar art at local gift shop: $60.00

Your Thoughts Needed

2011-03-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

The time to reward the sweet group of kids in my Project Kids work is coming up quickly! I will be hosting a huge giveaway to help raise money one last time for this project. I have had some great donations of items and ad space for this event. My plan is to give each person one entry for every dollar they donate through Paypal into the Project Kids account.

The idea is to raise as much money as possible, but I want to make sure this goes over well and we have a lot of participants. So I need your ideas. Please leave me your thoughts on the following things. I would greatly appreciate it. And, as I do from time to time for the people that truly read and give feedback, one comment will win a prize pack filled with craft supplies!

-What is the best way to get the word out for a massive giveaway?

-Do you think one dollar per entry is reasonable, as it goes for a good cause, and will you participate?

-When winners are drawn, should they be able to choose their prize? One big giveaway or many winners? In other words, what is the best way to set this up to attract the most people?

-Do you have anything you can offer to help? Perhaps a commitment to blog about this during the giveaway, or a prize donation?

Custom Blog Banner or Button GIVEAWAY!

2011-03-15T20:23:00.002-05:00

I am always amazed at the people out there that can do graphic design. I told you once about a sponsor here, Dream by Day, who creates blog buttons, Etsy banners, logos, and more. She is super talented! I wanted to show off my brand new Etsy button that Dream by Day created for me, and give you the chance to get your own custom banner or button for free!

How adorable is that?! Well, one of you is going to win your own session with Dream by Day for a free blog or Etsy button or banner! This is a TWENTY dollar value, so you do not want to miss this opportunity! She will make it to your specifications! Look at her button! I adore it as well!

Want to know how to win? EASY! Like Dream by Day on Facebook, and let me know you did so! Good luck!

Want an extra entry? Blog about this giveaway! EASY again!
*ENDS 3/27 at midnight*

Why My Cat Loves Sweet Pickles and a Giveaway

2011-03-15T16:45:00.001-05:00

My cat is not a huge fan of collars but she loves Sweet Pickles! Huh? Oh, yes, I forgot to mention that Sweet Pickles' Designs is a company that hand makes designer cat collars! My cat Macy actually seems to be enjoying this collar, and I think it is because it is so cute and trendy! She sports the Gotham collar. Isn't it cute!

Here it is in more detail!

Established in 2010, the inspiration for Sweet Pickles' Designs was no other than the owner's kitten, Pickles. Ever since Pickles was little, she was competing with her three dog siblings for cute accessories. Living in a dog world, it soon became apparent that Pickles' fashion deserved to match her personality.

After searching high and low for stylish accessories, it became clear that cat couture was very far behind the dog couture. This little fashionista was going to have to take on the cat fashion world and start her own label so she too could express herself.

This whimsical line of cat accessories was created with a vision that cats deserve to share their fashion sense too. All collars feature breakaway buckles and are handmade with love in Portland, Oregon.

Do you want to own your own collar from Sweet Pickles' Designs? They are giving one away! All you have to do is visit Sweet Pickles' Designs and tell me which collar you would choose and what your cat's name is!

I am giving away a bonus entry this time if you like them on Facebook! Good luck!

*Giveaway Ends 3/27 at midnight*

Fetch a Passion Giveaway!

2011-03-13T17:02:00.003-05:00

I told you before about our wonderful sponsor, Fetch a Passion Tags. They make the most adorable ID tags for your pets, and we all know it is important to keep our pets safe! They are going to give one reader an ID tag of choice for your pet. Here are some of the great options you have to choose from!

Heartwarming and adorable!

Do you have a special needs animal?

Give them a voice in case they get lost!

So many to choose from!

If you have figured it out already, I am an animal lover, and I would love for you to win this! All you have to do is like Fetch a Passion Tags on Facebook and leave a comment here saying you did so. Feel free to tell them I sent you! Good luck!
*ENDS SUNDAY, 3/20 AT MIDNIGHT*

Baby Boy Necktie Bib Tutorial

2011-03-12T15:39:00.000-06:00

I recently found out that a good friend of mine is having a boy, so I immediately started tossing ideas around in my head! Last year, I bought a package of bibs for a friend and only used a few, so I had some leftover. I knew I had to use some of my fun fabrics combined with bibs! I decided to make the bib look like a tie!

This is a very easy and quick project. All you need is a plain bib and a scrap of fabric. I chose this swatch of upholstery fabric because it resembled denim.

Draw the tie to your desired size and shape, cut it out, trace it onto the fabric, and cut your fabric tie out.

Pin the tie to the bib so that it doesn't slip or become crooked while you are sewing. Then simply sew the tie onto the bib, getting as close to the edges as you can.

Imagine all of the possibilities of color combinations! I am definitely going to make more! Plus, if you buy the bibs in a package, you get can them for next to nothing!

Bib: $1.00

Fabric: on hand

Total cost: $1.00

Necktie bib found online: $10.00

Finalists for Round 2 of March

2011-03-12T14:31:00.002-06:00

It is always so tough to choose, but it's gotta' be done! You guys are so fun and creative, I see things every week that I plan on trying out! Round three is open, so if you aren't in the finals yet, don't give up! And yes, you can get more than one entry in the finals. To get more details on the contest, go here. Here are your round two finalists, in no particular order!

Anthropologie Inspired Bedding by

Simply Delicious

Chicken Piralan by

Treat & Trick

Ballard Provost Plaque by

Fussy Monkey Business

Herringbone Tile Job by

Straight Stitches

Sweet Spring Baby Mobile by

Stay at Home Meagan

Congratulations to all of you! See you in the finals and keep linking up great stuff!

Strut Your Stuff for March LINK UP Round Three

2011-03-12T13:43:00.001-06:00

Check out the left sidebar for giveaways! My giveaways are short and sweet, so make sure you catch them before the end!

Easter Bunny Bean Bag Game (Baggo)

2011-03-11T13:39:00.002-06:00

I asked for thoughts on what to do with my fabric collection, and you all had great ideas. I will be trying most and featuring them here. Today, I decided to start working on an Easter project for my nieces that was shared by Me Sew Crazy. The idea is that you make six or so bean bags that look like bunnies, and kids can make it a tossing game, like Baggo, if any of you have played that! Kids just stand a few feet away from their Easter basket and toss the bean bags, trying to make it into the basket.

One fat quarter of fabric will make three or four bunnies. The first step is to cut the pattern and trace it onto your fabric using a disappearing sewing marker. You can get this pattern here.

Two of the bunny cutouts will make one bean bag.

Place them together, right sides facing each other, and sew with a small stitch, close to the edge. Leave about one inch open at the bottom to insert a funnel.

Using the opening, turn the bunny right side out. With the help of a funnel, fill with poly beads, rice, or beans. I used navy beans, because they are cheap and small. Pin the opening shut.

Sew the opening to seal the bean bag, and you are one bunny down, several more to go. I plan on making two sets in different colors, so that the nieces can play on teams. Thanks, Me Sew Crazy, for the great idea!

For two sets of three:

Fabric: $2.00

Beans: $2.00

Total Cost: $4.00

Traditional Baggo Game: $99.00

Angel Chicken

2011-03-10T20:05:00.000-06:00

Another success in the kitchen tonight. Actually, it was a slow cooker meal, so an all day but super easy ordeal. I had a class this morning and during our discussion, we somehow started talking about my blog, and the idea of posting my recipes. We tossed around some great ideas, and I came home determined. I was going to throw some frozen chicken in the slow cooker! After a little research, I combined a few recipes and made a delicious meal... angel chicken!

Ingredients

3 whole boneless skinless frozen chicken breasts

1/4 cup butter

8 ounces cream cheese with chives and onions

1 packet dry Italian dressing mix

1 can condensed golden cream of mushroom soup

1/4 cup dry white wine

angel hair pasta, cooked

In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Add Italian mix, soup, wine, and cream cheese. Melt and mix thoroughly.

Add frozen chicken breasts to bottom of slow cooker. Top with mixture from saucepan. Cook on low for six hours, stirring occasionally.

Serve over pasta, and with bread! Delicious!

Price breakdown:

Chicken: $4.00

Cream cheese: $1.50

Wine: $3.00

Italian dry mix: $1.00

Soup: $1.00

Butter: on hand

Pasta: $1.00

Total Cost: $11.50

Servings: 6-8

Cost per serving: $1.65

Cheesy Yummy Meatloaf for Picky Eaters

2011-03-09T09:00:00.001-06:00

Meatloaf has a bad rap. It looks like a loaf of bread, but it is made of meat, and it scares people. It is alien, foreign, and unknown. I have a meatloaf recipe that just about anyone will love! I have yet to feed this to someone who did not ask how to make it.

Ingredients

1.5 pounds lean ground beef (or turkey)

1 egg

1/2 cup plain bread crumbs

1/4 cup Heinz 57 sauce

1 cup shredded cheddar

1/4 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper

Heinz 57 sauce (for topping)

OPTIONAL: 1/8 cup dried minced onion

*Preheat oven to 350*

My husband is not an onion fan, but the dry minced onion is practically invisible and adds great flavor. First, mix all of your dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

Add remaining ingredients, besides the extra Heinz 57 for topping, and mix thoroughly with your hands. This is an occasion that you will want to remove rings for. Place two slices of bread in the bottom of a loaf pan. If you are always throwing away the heels of the bread, this is a great use for them, as they will not be eaten. They are simply there to soak up any fat that drains to the bottom of the pan during cooking. Great trick.

Take your mixture from the bowl and place into pan, flattening on top. Drizzle Heinz 57 over the top, as desired.

Bake for 45 minutes, remove, and cover with cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes more, serve, and enjoy!

Price Breakdown:

Ground Beef: $3.00

Cheese: $1.00

Bread crumbs: $0.50

Egg: $0.15

Milk: $0.25

Heinz 57 (store brand): $0.50

Total Cost: $5.40

Servings: 4-6

Price per Serving: $1.08

A Couple of Winners!

2011-03-08T16:28:00.000-06:00

I need to announce a couple of winners! First the winner of the Pixels to Paper giveaway was Traciet and she has claimed her prize! Congrats! Next, I had a post asking for your opinions last week and mentioned at the bottom that I would randomly choose one commenter to win a cooking and craft goodie pack! Thanks for your overwhelming response! The winner will get the following items:

Iron on applique and rick rack, handmade gift tags, tomato pin cushion, bottle of acrylic paint in burnt umber, Swarovski crystal fairy beaded bookmark, bottle of Cavender's Greek seasoning, collection of three recipes, and various other items!

The winner is...

DEVONAY! If you want to know how excited she is, read this post! Congratulations!

Want to be Featured?

2011-03-08T13:12:00.000-06:00

If you are looking to grow your blog, try a featured ad spot with Saturday Mornings! Not only will your button be proudly displayed here, but you will get your own feature post! Check out my advertising page for traffic details, testimonials, and to purchase the spot! See you there!

Did WhoopdWhoop Work for You?

2011-03-07T12:34:00.001-06:00

Many of you, hesitant to sign on to something new, have asked me about my experience with WhoopdWhoop. If you did not read my original post, you can see it here. Well, so far, it has been great! I have received my first swap request, and I have also made a swap request! I was able to get a custom made Mallory cross body bag with my points!

The person making it let me choose the fabric, and all correspondence has been wonderful! So, I would say WhoopdWhoop is going to be a success! If you have not joined, I would get in early on the sign up, because I am sure at some point they will reevaluate their point system! If you have already signed up, leave your thoughts here! I would love to hear other experiences!

What's Your Addiction?

2011-03-06T16:29:00.001-06:00

I've got a little confession to make...

I am slightly addicted to fabric. As a matter of fact, is goes as far as me having it stacked and color coordinated like the fabric stores. I use it to make pillows, small projects that you have seen on here, or whatever tickles my fancy. But only after a good inventory check did I realize that I have a lot of it. Enough to make some people jealous and others gag. So, I want to show you my stash and ask for fun ideas on what to do with some of it. Most of the cuts are at least a quarter of a yard. So if you have done small projects, big projects, creative projects, etc., with fabric, please share a link here! I need some new ideas! HELP!

Yep, these are all mine! Now, what to do...

Round One Finalists for March

2011-03-06T13:52:00.002-06:00

Here are your Best of March Round One Finalists! Be sure to link up to round two here! And remember, finalists get grouped together and voting begins after round four. Prizes will be announced before voting begins! Last month, the Best of February won over $75 in prizes! We had nearly two hundred entries this week, so again, it was tough! Now, in no particular order...

Rockin' Lobster Sliders by

Simple Sweetness

Drop Cloth Ruffle Pillow by

Ink Blots and Polka Dots

Paper Fan Banner by

My Girlish Whims

Gift Card Bracelet by

A Creative Princess

Happy Birthday Pennant Ruffle Banner by

Diary of a Crafty Lady

Winner for Best of February 2011 Announcement

2011-03-05T15:38:00.000-06:00

There were over 1500 votes! And the competition was stiff! But we have your winner! This person wins the title of Best of February 2011, as well as $45 to CSN Stores, a prize pack, and more!

And the winner is...

SCISSORS AND SPATULAS

with their Old Junky Windows Project!

Congratulations, and thanks to everyone who voted and participated! Here are the four runners-up!

FIRST RUNNER UP

Bits of Everything

with their money jars for kids

SECOND RUNNER UP

Uniquely Chic

with their vintage nightstand

THIRD RUNNER UP

Funky Polka-Dot Giraffe

with their Valentine's yummies

FOURTH RUNNER UP

A Love 2 Create

with their decorative plates

March's contest is underway, so be sure to link up! Round two started today and can be found here. Round one finalists will be announced today!

Strut Your Stuff for March LINK UP Round Two

2011-03-05T11:19:00.001-06:00

Check out the left sidebar for giveaways! My giveaways are short and sweet, so make sure you catch them before the end!

My First Recipe Post: Colorado Enchiladas

2011-03-04T15:38:00.001-06:00

COLORADO ENCHILADAS

Thanks for your response letting me know that 99% of you would love for me to share my cooking adventures, as it is a big part of budgeting. So here is the first one, and it was a huge success!

Ingredients

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 jalepeno, seeded and diced

1 small can diced green chiles

30 oz green enchilada sauce

8-10 corn tortillas

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

optional - salsa

optional - diced tomato

Directions

Cover the chicken with water and boil for about 20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked all the way through. Then shred chicken, using two forks. Set chicken aside. It should look something like this:

In a non-stick skillet, over medium-high heat, saute jalepeno and green chiles for about three minutes.

Now, add a third of the enchilada sauce, as well as the chicken. Cook and stir for about seven minutes.

Pour the remaining enchilada sauce into a bowl and microwave for about two minutes. Dip each tortilla into the sauce, and fill with about an eighth (or a tenth, depending on how many tortillas you use) of the chicken mixture. Roll, and place seam side down in to a casserole dish. The tortillas are pretty fragile, so be gentle when rolling. A few breaks are OK! I use white corn tortillas, but yellow is fine as well.

Continue until all of the chicken is gone. Pour the rest of the sauce (from the bowl) over the enchiladas.

Sprinkle the cheese on top. and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly!

I like to top my enchiladas with diced tomato and a spoonful of salsa. But make them your own! Try sour cream, olives, lettuce, whatever makes them good for you! These are delicious, and despite the jalepeno, they are not very spicy. They are great leftover, and we can barely eat two a piece, so it makes more than plenty for a family or, as in my case, dinner for two plus lunch the next day!

Cost breakdown of items used:

Chicken (we use two frozen breasts from a bulk package) - $3

Tortillas - $0.75

Enchilada sauce - $2

Green chiles - $0.50

Jalepeno - $0.25

Cheese - $1.00

Total cost: $7.50

Servings: 4-6

Cost per serving: $1.50

THESE ARE VERY HEALTHY AS WELL!

Sorry!

2011-03-03T13:16:00.001-06:00

The last link was a bad link. Here is the correct one. CLICK HERE! What are your thoughts on this?

Guest Post from India!!!

2011-03-03T11:58:00.003-06:00

Hello ! Greetings from Adithis Amma of Adithis Amma Sews. I would first like to Thank Dana from Saturday Mornings to give me this opportunity to meet you all wonderful readers.

I am from India, and share my Sewing & pattern making expeditions on my blog, where the emphasis is on Indian and Indo-western outfits. I learn as i create new outfits for my Darling Daughter & dear sister and for self at times and share the knowledge that i gain while learning.

Wanted to share with you all, something special and part of Indian tradition over on Saturday Mornings. 'Potli Bag' as it is known in India is the simple drawstring bag made using regal fabrics like brocade and silk with 'zari' / resham thread embellishments and were used by Royalty. In today's modern world, they continue to be used by 'regal fashioniastas'. It is actually pretty simple to make and can be made in many variatiosn, i am sharing my way of sewing it. Use your imagination to create variations.

Materials Required

Main fabric - less than a quarter yard
Lining fabric - less than a quarter yard
Satin Ribbon if desired
Trims for embellishment
About half an hour of your 'Valuable' time

Now repeat the same steps with lining fabric (with exclusion of Step No.2- embellishment /trims)

Now that we have 2 separate cylinders with closed bottom! its time to converge them!

Use your imagination to create different kind of closures which will also act as handles for the 'Potli Bag'

'Potli Bag' along with a dazzling 'Saree' = Nothing stops you from getting all the attention!

You can view the Potli Bags i had created earlier . Interested in seeing the 'Indian Silk Skirt - Pattu Paavadai for which i have made these Matching Potli Bags, please Click on them

Neck and Neck for the Goal

2011-03-02T18:01:00.000-06:00

Have you been voting for the Best of February contest? You can probably squeeze in 3 more votes, from now until Friday. These fantastic bloggers are literally neck and neck for the goal! The top two were only one vote apart last time I checked! Who is your favorite? Go here to cast your vote!

Celebrate OZ

2011-03-02T12:54:00.003-06:00

Many of you know about my Project Kids fundraiser. I had a super sweet person donate to it and I told her I would let you guys know about a fun thing going on at her blog. So, without further ado, here is what she has to say...

We're so excited here at Casa de Cuckoo. We only have to wait 16 more days and then we can show you what we've cooked up for CELEBRATE OZ.

As of today we have 21 lovelies that are going to share their love of Wizard of Oz in all of it's manifestations. Some will share pictures of ozzie things, some will tell of their love, some have written new twist on the ozzie theme and then some will just share a thought or poem or rememberance.....whatever the gift they are planning to give, we will all be thrilled to share in it.

But hey, there's still time to sign up if you would like to join in CELEBRATE OZ. Just leave me a comment and I'll add you to the side bar of participants.

I must tell you a lovely and heart warming tale of what blessings I have received because of this celebration. First, unexpectedly, I received a package. I wasn't expecting it and didn't even know it had been delivered. When the sender, who has asked to be kept anonymous let me know I had a package. When I opened this wonderous gift, I discovered the entire original set of Wizard of Oz ornaments from Hallmark, just for me. The fun part is that this lovely knows (obviously) that I have a tree for every flippin' holiday known to human kind. What the lovely didn't know was that I had spied this bright, shiney green tree in the after holiday sale bin at JoAnn's and bought it, thinking that I could make some ornaments to have a CELEBRATE OZ tree.

Do you lovelies know this Olde Bagg or what? I had already started making the yellow brick road garland when the package arrived. The sender is such a sweetheart and generous to a fault. I am so pleased to accept this lovely offering of love and will show it off for time to come. As a matter of fact, tomorrow I will add the pictures of this darling tree to the sidebar as a welcome to all to come and play.

I will have a posting everyday from now until March 19 with some ozdom or another. I also need to share with you that a very talented and lovely lady will be starting her three part story of OZness on March the 5th, again on the 12th and will finish on March 19. So make sure to visit Magaly to read her story.

So lovelies, start your engines, or fire up your hot air balloons or jump on the tornado express to CELEBRATE OZ.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes...Turn and Face the Strain

2011-03-02T10:50:00.001-06:00

I know my niche. I love to create, I love to knockoff expensive items. But I cannot do that every day. If you read my post about my real life, you know that there are mere nooks and crannies in the day where I can do these projects. Part of the reason I started this blog was to share with others how I am surviving and thriving on a budget.

Part of that budget that I never mention is food. I love to eat out. That is probably the thing I struggle the most with. After working, studying, hammering out a blog post, and squeezing in a workout, sometimes the last thing I feel like doing is cooking. But I have to, and I need some accountability on this. So, in Saturday Mornings tradition, I will be adding recipes that I try out and ones that I rely on to eat for less. They will all be budget friendly, mostly healthy, and hopefully all delicious. I will include cost of ingredients just as I do in my projects. I hope you enjoy them.

I have a few questions for you now. Please, please take some time to comment. I want to hear from you, and you guys have been great in the last few days with the feedback!

1. Do you want to read my recipe adventures? Will you try some of them?

2. Are there any other topics you would like me to discuss, such as blogging tips, etc? What ideas do you have for me?

OF THE PEOPLE WHO LEAVE FEEDBACK HERE, I WILL BE DRAWING A WINNER AND GIVING AWAY A GOODIE BOX OF CRAFTY AND COOKING SUPPLIES! I DID NOT ANNOUNCE THE GIVEAWAY ABOVE BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE TRULY READ AND CARE ABOUT THIS POST. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR FEEDBACK. YOU HAVE UNTIL SUNDAY, MARCH 6TH TO BE ELIGIBLE, BUT KEEP THE COMMENTS COMING AS LONG AS YOU WISH!

*THE WINNER WAS CHOSEN...
DEVONAY!!!!
AND HAS 48 HOURS TO CLAIM THE PRIZE!*