Recipe of the Week #223 - Pineapple Fried Rice

Pineapple Fried Rice
3 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp ginger powder
1/4 tsp white pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, diced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup frozen peas
3 cups cooked brown rice
2 cups diced pineapple
1/2 cup ham, diced
2 green onions, sliced

In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger powder, and white pepper and set aside.
Heat olive oil in a skillet and add garlic and onion. Saute until onions are translucent. Stir in carrots, corn, and peas, cook for 3-4 minutes, until veggies are tender. Add rice, pineapple, ham, green onions, and soy sauce mixture Cook until heated through, stirring constantly.

Note: my bag of frozen corn and peas had green beans, too.

This was the best new recipe I've tried in awhile. I made it on date night figuring that my hubby and I would like it because we love the mixture of ham and pineapple. Boy, was it good! I can't wait to have it again.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

The works of the Lord are great

Psalm 111:2

This post is linked to USS Crafty, Tuesdays With A Twist, Between Naps on the Porch, Lil' Luna,
Life With Lorelai, and Crafts a la Mode.

Happy Memorial Day!

Here's the definition of Memorial Day:

Memorial Day (n): Also called Decoration Day. a day, May 30, set aside in most states of the U.S. 

for observances in memory of dead members of the armed forces of all wars: 

now officially observed on the last Monday in May. 

I hope you all enjoy this day and reflect back on those who have served and died for our country.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

I will praise the Lord with my whole heart

Psalm 111:1

Flashback Friday: DIY's Using Old Books

It's the last Friday of the month, so we're going to flashback to some previous DIY's.

This time we're looking at five projects using old books.

I love vintage books, so I'm always up for projects using them.

I love how this vase cover turned out.

It's two book covers fastened with twine.

Go here to find out how to make it.

After cutting the covers off the books for the above project, 

here's something you can make using the leftover pages. 

I used twine to tie four books together and stamped the word love onto the pages.

A little chalkboard paint made this book into more than just a . . . book.

You can read more about it here.

I love using covers from old books and turning them into Junk Journals.

This baby girl themed one is one of my favorites.

This is a table runner made from book covers.

How cool is that?

What do you think?

Are you feeling like running out to a thrift store to find some cool old books?

Swing by my house. I can give you a few.:)

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

This is the message you heard since the beginning: 

We should love one another.

1 John 3:11

This post is linked to Too Much Time, I Heart Naptime, I Gotta Create,
Funky Junk, and Artsy-Fartsy Mama.

Thrifty Thursday #217

Usually when I go to the thrift stores, I just go to browse and see what I can find.
This time I went with a mission in mind.
I wanted three glass bowls in which to display some cards.
I found just what I was looking for at my first stop.
What are the odds of that happening?

I paid less than two dollars for all of them.
I have coupon cards for an upcoming show The Vintage Market Days
that I am supposed to share with the nurses at work.
I thought it would be fitting to display them in a cute dish.

This was my bonus find: two old style clipboards. And they're longer than the standard size.
Fifty cents apiece, Baby!

So I spent just three dollars and about thirty minutes and came away with these gems.
Gosh, I love thrift stores!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

If anyone wants to be first, 

he must be the very last, 

and the servant of all.

Mark 9:35

This post is linked to Blue Willow House, A Morning Cup of Joe, Life With Lorelai,
and Crafty Blog Stalker.

Lovelies That I Love

There are so many vintage things that I am just drawn to- perhaps I was born in the wrong era?:)
One of those things I have a fascination with is typewriters.

 I did learn to type using an electric typewriter, which by today's standards probably makes me old.

Anyway, I found several typewriter themed pretties today. . .

What do you think of this vintage typewrite pendant?
Would you wear it?
I think it would be cute paired with a t-shirt.   

 I'm a sucker for cute pillows.
This typewriter covered pillow cover would look darling on my couch.

I think this bracelet is so quirky.
I love the typewriter image and the large clasp.

This messenger bag is so awesome that I'd carry it as a purse.

Being a fan of vintage typewriters, I'm drawn to jewelry made from typewriter keys.
Check out this bracelet- it says "love."

Any of these items your type of thing?:)

I'm not affiliated with any of these companies; I just like their stuff.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth;

yes, I will praise Him among the multitude.

Psalm 109:30

     This post is linked to Skip to My Lou, The Crafted Sparrow, Lil' Luna, and My Girlish Whims.

Recipe of the Week #222- Brownie Batter Dip

Brownie Batter Dip
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
5 Tbsp flour
5 Tbsp cocoa powder
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp milk
chocolate chips for garnish

Using a mixer, whip together the cream cheese and butter for 1-2 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar. Mix well. Add flour, cocoa, brown sugar, vanilla, and milk and mix until smooth. Add additional powdered sugar and/or milk until desired consistency is reached. The dip should be soft enough to easily dip a pretzel in.
Garnish with chocolate chips. Serve with pretzels, graham crackers, or animal crackers.

This dip is just as good as it sounds. I served it with chocolate animal crackers. Yum!

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,

and Your glory above all the earth

Psalm 108:5

This post is linked to That DIY Party, Gingersnap Crafts, Sugar Bee Crafts,
 and Simple Nature Décor.

I Heart Junk Shows!

I love old stuff.

So I get pretty excited when a junk show comes to town.

There are three coming to our local fairgrounds over the next few months.

The first, Junk Utopia, was here this past weekend.

My hubby and I got there right when it opened.

This was the first booth we saw when we walked in.

So inviting, huh?

Some of the booths were full of old, beautiful stuff.

Some had funky jewelry made from old, beautiful stuff.

This end table was one of the coolest things I saw.

It's made from an old piano!

There was lots to see.

Here's what I got.

This lovely typewriter key necklace.

I got it at the TAB Typewriter Key Jewelry booth.

I had the best time talking with the owner Andrea.

It was an awesome way to spend a Saturday morning:)

If a junk show sets up near you, go to it.

You'll love it.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah  41:10

This post is linked to USS Crafty, Tuesdays With A Twist, Indie Crafts,

Tatertots and Jello, and Between Naps on the Porch.

Vintage Postcard Garland DIY

I just love paper paraphernalia- especially if it's vintage.
In my secondhand shopping, I've come across several good postcard finds.
I hate to just let these beauties sit in a stack.
So I decided to display them. . .

as a garland.

I chose ten postcards to display.

Half have the pictures showing and half have the message showing.

Then I attached them to twine using mini clothespins and mini bull clips.

So pretty and vintage, don't you think?

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; 

let us really love them, and show it by our actions. 

1 John 3:18

This post is linked to Craft-O-Maniac, A Morning Cup of Joe, That DIY Party,
and Tatertots and Jello.

Thrifty Thursday #216

Well, I went to a rummage sale at a church around the corner from my house last weekend.

I never know what I'll find at a church sale. They're usually pretty big.

This one sure was.

All I bought were books, though.

I couldn't resist these old cookbooks.

The only thing that would be better than getting these four is getting the rest of the set!

 

I also picked up this old cookbook.

The graphics are great.

I plan to use them in a recipe themed scrapbook.

I adore old textbooks.

I got both this English one and this Spanish one.

I love the covers on these books.

I also picked up these three old looking books.

The red one is an old dictionary.

I got all the books that I've shown you so far for a friend who is planning to redecorate her bedroom.

I also got these two yearbooks.

I'm not sure what I'll do with them yet.

I just love the poses in the sports section.

I got all these books for just $3.
What good stuff have you found recently?

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

O Lord, You are my God.

I will exalt You, 

I will praise Your name,

for You have done wonderful things

Isaiah 25:1

This post is linked to Blue Willow House, Too Much Time, The Crafted Sparrow,
 and Simple Nature Décor. 

Layout of the Week #131

Are you feeling like doing some scrapbooking?

Me too! 

I've got a quick layout today that features several photos.

Here's the layout we'll be making.

To create it, you'll need: 

one piece of 12"x 12" pattern paper

one piece of cardstock measuring 11 1/4"x 11 1/4"

letter stickers for title

stickers in your theme

6-7 pictures

Sharpie marker for journaling

adhesive

paper trimmer

Adhere the cardstock to the center of the pattern paper.

Line up your photos across the cardstock leaving a little edge of cardstock around the outer edges of all the photos.

I started using four vertical photos on the left and in the center.

Then I cropped my last three photos to fit along the right side.

You could use six vertical photos if you'd rather.

Using your letter stickers, add your title in the center of the two photos on the left.

I actually used two different kinds of letter stickers for my title.

Now add some of your stickers.

I placed three in the lower left corner, three overlapping the bottom right photo,

one at the top right photo, and two overlapping the top left photo.

Because the photos fill the entire layout, 

I used my Sharpie marker to journal directly on the pictures themselves.

You can add as little or as much as you'd like.

That's it- we're done!

Quick and easy, huh?

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

For Your mercy is great above the heavens,

 and Your truth reaches the clouds

Psalm 108:4

This post is linked to Skip to My Lou, The Dedicated House, Crafty Blog Stalker,
I Heart Naptime, and Ginger Snap Crafts.

Recipe of the Week #221- One Pot Pizza Pasta

One Pot Pizza Pasta
1 lb beef
16 oz rotini
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup sliced pepperoni
2 -15 oz jars pizza sauce
2 1/4 cup water
1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

In a skillet, add the garlic, onions, and the meat. Cook until meat is browned. Stir in water, noodles, pepperoni, and pizza sauce. Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes until pasta is tender, stirring frequently.

Note: I use the mini pepperoni for this dish.

This is a quick, easy, and delicious dinner! My teenage son has helped make it twice. We serve it with corn and garlic bread. It's a repeat recipe at our house.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

I will sing and give praise

Psalm 108:1

This post is linked to Between Naps on the Porch, Life With Lorelai, and Plucky's Second Thought.

Some of My Favorite Reading Material

We are heading out for a three day mini-vacation, so I don't have a project to show you today.

I do, however, want to share with you what I'll be reading in the car.

I have a subscription to this magazine,

 and I am giddy when I open the mailbox and see it sitting there waiting for me.

I just saw that Walmart has it in their newsstand as well.

Or you can go here to get your own copy.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples

Psalm 108:3

This post is linked to My Girlish Whims, Artsy Fartsy Mama,
Lil' Luna, and Tuesdays With a Twist.

Chalkboard Made From a Cabinet Door

I have a stash of old cabinet doors that I've gotten while curbside shopping.

They look like they are large frames, so I've had a good time using them in projects.

For today's project, I turned one into a chalkboard.

I sanded around the edges, then painted the center with chalkboard paint.

Then I added a drawer pull at the bottom to hold chalk.

 

If you happen to see a stack of cabinet doors out at the trash pile, pick them up.

You can do so much with them.

Go here and see how I turned one into a clipboard

and here to see how I turned one into a chalkboard tray.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Trust in the Lord forever

Isaiah 26:4

 This post is linked to Lil' Luna, That DIY Party, The Crafty Blog Stalker, and Too Much Time, 

Thrifty Thursday #215

I always enjoy Thursdays because I get to share cool things that I find while secondhand shopping.
Sometimes I find great stuff, but I don't buy it. 
Today I'm going to show you some of those great finds that I saw, but didn't bring home.

Last Saturday, my hubby and I went to an estate sale out in the country.

I always have high hopes for country sales:)

We were there on the last day, so everything was half off the sticker price.

I spotted this old Singer sewing machine right off the bat.

While I loved it, I didn't really have a need for it.

It was marked $18.

I saw this funny little thing.
I guess it's a repair kit for a lighter.
I wouldn't have gotten it, but I thought it was pretty unique--- and old!
I didn't see a price on it.

Look at this beautiful, old Montgomery Ward catalog.
The photos were just awesome.
It was priced at $90.

I sure did like this old movie projector.
It was $20.
I love these, but I already have two. . .

Would you have picked any of these up?
With the last day discount, most of them would've been great buys.
I just can't buy every cool old piece I find. . . not with my hubby there, anyway:)

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

Prov. 25:11

  This post is linked to Blue Willow House, The Cottage Market,
Craft-O-Maniac, and My Girlish Whims.

Lovelies That I Love

I hope you're all having a great week.
We've already got summer weather here.
Stay cool and check out these darling finds. . .

 

I am completely in love with these amazing upcycled spools.

They're made using vintage Bingo cards and milk bottle caps.

Words cannot describe how awesome I think these are.

 

You know that I love globes, and this one is so beautiful.

I love the size, I love its beautiful silver stand,

and I love that it says, "I will love you to the ends of the earth."

The contrast of the bright colors on black on this print is great.

 Just put it in a pretty frame and you're set!

How can you not love this ring?

Can you believe that this is a rug?

It's a large crocheted doily rug.

I've recently learned to crochet, but in no way could I do anything like this.

Isn't it beautiful?

Any of this intrigue you?:)

I'm not affiliated with these companies; I just like their stuff.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord,

for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 106:1

This post is linked to Plucky's Second Thought, Between Naps on the Porch,

Life With Lorelai, Tatertots and Jello, and Simple Nature Décor.