Winner!

A big giant thank-you to Doodle Graphics for being part of the blog this week! If your walls need some gorgeous graphic art, then check out her shop.

Random.org pick # 38-Loopy Loop Creations!  E-mail me @ lilbirdz1@yahoo.com with your address to claim your prize.

Giant Spool of Thread-storage

I decided to make some more giant notions. They make feel like Alice in Wonderland.

 I bought 2 wooden disks at Hobby Lobby for $1.47/ a piece.

I wrapped some oatmeal canisters in brown paper. I couldn't decide if I like the tall or the short, but I settled on the short.  (Next time, I'm at the craft store, I'll but some more discs and make a tall one.)

Then wrapped it in yarn.  I think it looks pretty sitting up my shelf next to my giant pin cushion and I can even store stuff in it.  I think I'm going to keep my embroidery thread in it.

Linking up here.

12 Healthy Meals That Actually Taste Good

I'm working on #7 of my 40 by 40 list-Complete 12 weeks of Body for Life.  Basically, I'm trying to eat meals that are high in nutrition, low in fat and have equal amounts of carbs and proteins. (I get to eat whatever I want on Saturdays-yippee) I'm on week 3 and have lost 6.8 pounds so far, but mostly I just want to be healthier.  I'm always looking for healthy food that tastes good.  Here's some of my favorites.

Spinach Salad(we eat this a few nights a week)

 Naan(kid's fav healthy meal)   

 

Curried Cranberry Chicken and Couscous

 Spinach Salad #2    

Skinny Cordon Bleu (Best healthy thing I make) 

Tailgating Turkey Dinner  

Cherry-limeade Frozen Yogurt      

White Chili   

Black Bean and Corn Salsa (football food)  

Swanson's Golden Chicken 

Grillled Mango Chicken (you'll want to eat the salsa straight out of the bowl)  

  

What I eat almost every day: Apple Crisp Oatmeal

I'll throw in a 13th recipe for luck:

Cauliflower poppers by Delighted Momma

 I saw these on pinterest and tried them last week.  We thought they were pretty good.

If you have any healthy recipes, please leave a link in the comments-I've got 9 weeks to go.

Linking up here

Breakfast worth waking up for-Apple Crisp Oatmeal

As I mentioned before, I'm on week 3 of my 12 week Body For Life Challenge.  I eat 6 small low-fat meals, each with equal portions of carbs and proteins. One of my favorite meals is this Apple Crisp Oatmeal and an egg-white omlette.  I eat it almost every day.




1/3 cup Steel Cut Oats
1 cup water
dash salt
dash of cinnamon
1 small tart apple-chopped (Granny smith)
2 packets of Splenda
dash of Molly Mc Butter


Bring first four ingredients to a boil in small saucepan.  Simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and add the rest of the ingredients.
Serves 2.


(If I'm in a hurry, I use old-fashion oats, but it's not the same).

Swanson's Golden Chicken

Cambell's Kitchen Page

I've been making this for years.  It's yummy and satisfying, high in nutrients and protein and low in fats and carbs.  I love it, but in a effort of full disclosure, it is the bane of my son's existence.

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 1/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1 cup Swanson® Chicken Broth or Swanson® Chicken Stock

2 tablespoons minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crushed

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2 cups fresh or frozen whole green beans

• Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 10 minutes or until well browned on both sides. Remove the chicken from the skillet.
• Stir the broth, garlic, rosemary, thyme, black pepper, potatoes and green beans in the skillet and heat to a boil.  Cook for 5 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to low.  Return the chicken to the skillet. Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are tender.(18 carb, 33 protein, 4 g fiber)

More Curtains for Dummies

In my never-ending attempt to drive my husband crazy, I never finish one project before moving on to another.  The craft room is still a mess, but after I made it cute curtains, I thought the laundry room needed some pretty curtains out of this pattern too. So I made these.  Instead of buttons, I added bows. I also added some black piping, because I just really like piping.

 

Linking up here and 

Curtains for Dummies

I found the perfect fabric to make curtains for my craft room  the office.  If you look at it close there are all kinds of sewing stuff-thread, scissors, sewing machine etc.  I'm in love.  I whipped up some curtains using this quick and easy pattern. Well it would have been quick if, even though I checked 4 times, hadn't to still manage to cut it out upside down and have to drive clear across town for more fabric.  It made me feel a little "dumb.  I trimmed it with a black dot fabric to add a little fun and help them pop against my wall.

 Simplicity 4997

I sew a lot and people always say how they'd love to learn.  If you're a newby, then I'd recommend starting w/ one of these patterns.  (this isn't a book-it's just a regular pattern) The directions are super simple and if you hit a sale you can get them for .99.

Are you in need of some really great V-Day Day decor?  Well you're in lucky, I'm giving some away in this week's link party.

Linking up here.