For the Birds

As you all know. I have really been into birds and burlap.  Here is a simple craft I made using a gorgeous bird from Michael's.  I got it for only .89 cents on a clearance table.

This is what I started with.  I traced the bird onto some pretty fabric and cut it out, some burlap, and a twig.

I painted my bird white and distressed him a little.

My thought was to mod podge the fabric onto the bird, a little burlap for the background and a burlap wing. I was going to put into a frame resting on top of the twig.

However, I just like the simplicity of this.  A burlap wing on a painted and distressed bird.

I painted a frame white and used a light green background paper, and the twig.

What do you think?  Does it need more?  Maybe a sun or anything else??????

Here is what he looked like with the fabric.  I just hated for it to go to waste, so:

I repurposed my eggs in a nest frame again (it was also used for my St. Patty's buttons).

A little tacky glue.

I think I like this better.

What do you think?

Have a Tweet Day ; )

Chorizo Breakfast Burrito

A Happy Monday to all.  Wow, another weekend gone, my kids at work and school, my house full of little ones, and here I am spinning.  I had my kids clean their rooms this weekend, and I found where they stashed all their stuff.  I went into the laundry room and there was no floor.  I tried to get to my dryer and I swear something reached up from the bottom and grabbed my ankle -- looking around, there was nothing to hold on to that wouldn't go down with me.  I felt a little anger rising up, so, I decided to leave the laundry for tomorrow.  Wow, do you think that has something to do with the mountain of dirty clothes???  Do you ever have those moments?  I always have such great plans to get organized and stay that way (this time).  When I saw the  52 Week Organization Challenge, I quickly climbed aboard.  I kept thinking, what a great idea.  I was feeling pretty good about myself for about two weeks.  I have since fallen off the wagon, was run over, and I am now being dragged behind, hanging on for dear life.  I hope you stay tuned, because, I will attempt to organize and schedule my way out of this mess, yet again.

Now, my two college kids are still living at home, so, my mornings are still really crazy.  I am up at 5 a.m. because I like to take a few min. to do a little bible study and have a cup of coffee before life hits the fan.  My oldest daughter coaches her old High School's JV cheer team and is out the door at 5:50 a.m.   I get my first little one between 6:15 and 6:30 a.m.  My remaining three kids leave at 7:40 and 8:20.  While fixing my kids' breakfast and listing to them ask, "Where is?  Have you seen?  I continue getting little ones until I fix their breakfast at 8:00.  Now, my poor husband just sneaks out sometime around 6:30.  I think he is just feeling happy to have gotten out with his life clean clothes and a warm cup of coffee.   So yesterday, I made some breakfast burritos to help me in the morning.  No extra pans, bowls, and time to spend on four different breakfasts because, this is one that all my kids love.  It makes me happy to know that they got off with a decent meal to help them focus at school, and, I think I saw a couple in my hubby's hand on his way out.  YEAH.  Sorry you had to listen to me rant before I tell you how I did it:

I just bought a couple packs of Pork Chorizo.

I cubed some red potatoes and boiled them in a little salted water for about 8 to 10 min.  Here they are drained and ready.

Squeeze the chorizo into the pan and cook it off.

Add the potatoes and crack a few eggs in there and continue to cook until all the eggs are done.

Put a little of the mixture on a flour tortilla (I like Lala's) and add some cheese.

I wrap them in plastic wrap so they are easy to pop in the microwave.  Not only is it quick, but, the dishes are done and there is nothing to clean up but the plastic wrap.  I almost feel like I have super powers.  oh wait, the laundry.....  

What do you do to make your mornings easier?

Rhonda

DIY Decorative Balls

I have always wanted decorative balls, however, I don't want to pay those high prices for them.  Well, I was at Michael's, cruising down the clearance isle, when I found this. 

Don't you love it?  I wish they had more, but, this was the only one I could find, so, I bought it anyway.  Who could pass it up, it was only 99 cents.  I couldn't even buy the styrofoam ball for that price.

When I got home, I got into my stash, and found that I had some styrofoam balls and twine, so, I wrapped one on up with that.

Raffia anyone?

This is the one I truly fell in love with.

I wrapped it in my burlap leftovers.  I just cut thin strips, twisted them, and

Ouch...........

That's better!

Too much brown, so, I made a sweet white rosette one (I might make another one to balance it out a little -- what do you think?).  Now, where to put them?! 

How about my pedestal bowl?

I don't like it.

I think I like the iron basket.

I like the pedestal bowl with my plant in it.

Any thoughts?

Happy crafting!!

Rhonda

My Burlap and White Obsession Continues

I have been working on my little closet office and needed a trash can:

I got the white trash can at The Dollar Store.  I glued on a band of burlap and attached a flower.

I have wanted to get an initial for a while.  I was at Michael's a few weeks back and picked up this awesome "C" on clearance which I fell in love with at first sight.  To keep with my theme, I added burlap, a white flower and perched it on top of a silver candlestick. 

Nothing is safe from my burlap and white flowers?

Rhonda

Fish Tacos and This Week's Chicken Feed

Happy Monday All.  I hope you had a great weekend.  We celebrated Grandpa's 86th birthday.  He is doing better and is now home with a little help for him and Grandma.  Anyway, I have been really busy -- sometimes I think I am just busy to be busy!?  Here is this week's plan, let's see if I can stick to it.

Monday:       Pork Chops, Smashed potatoes, mixed veg.

Tuesday:      Chicken Casserole (Prairie Woman), Salad with apple and blue

                  cheese

Wednesday:  Salmon Patty Sandwiches, Pineapple Coleslaw

Thursday:     Crock Pot Meatloaf, Veg

Friday:         Stromboli, Salad Italian style

My fish tacos are a fast fix and my kids love them.  I just use frozen fish sticks, but, you could use any fish you would like.  I have even made it with fresh Salmon. 

I started by putting fish sticks in the oven, following the box instructions.

While they are in the oven, I soften corn tortillas in a dry skillet (I love cast iron for this).

I put them in a clean tea towel to keep them warm and pliable.

For the first topping, I put a bag of coleslaw in a bowl.  I squeeze about a 1/2 of a fresh lime, chopped cilantro, a couple three green onions (white and green parts) and about 1 T. of olive oil and mix.  Oh, and a little salt and pepper to taste.

The second topping is a mango cut into cubes, 1/2 of a red onion, fresh cilantro, lime and a little olive oil.  Mix and add a little salt to bring out the sweet in the mango.

The third is a quick topping or side dish.  Drain and rinse a can of black beans.  In a bowl, add the beans, green onion, a drained can of white shoe peg corn, you could add a tomato, although, my kids are not big fans of tomatoes so I don't add them in, fresh cilantro, lime and olive oil.  Mix with a little salt and pepper.  It doesn't take much time to do all three sides, I am done before the fish is out of the oven.

When the fish is done, put a couple pieces on your tortilla,

Then the toppings you like.  I like the coleslaw and mango on top,

Black bean salad on the side with a grape tomato.

This has no mayo, or cheese.  I think it is pretty healthful and my kids will ask for it when I don't make it for a while

Enjoy!

Rhonda

Menu Plan Monday

Easy, No Sewing Machine, No Glue Gun Burlap Ruffle Lamp Shade

I have never been a lamp girl.  I don't know why, I guess I was just in dark - ha ha.  I have been really impressed by the shades I have seen around blog land, and, I just had to try one.   

I got this lamp at my favorite thrift store when things were 1/2 off (I just love those days).  The lampshade I got, was the wrong size, so, I traded it with my standing lamp in the living room.  I still think it is a little large and I will trade it out when I find a smaller one. 

I used burlap garland from Michael's and twine.

Just like I did for my burlap chair cushion, I ran a bead of glue at each end of the burlap so it wouldn't unravel.  I measured the twine to fit the shade with a little left over to tie.  I tied it to one end of the garland.  I measured 2 1/2 times around the shade for the burlap.

I found a big needle and threaded my twine.

Ran the needle right down the middle to make a ruffle.

This is great part.  I just tied it off.  No gluing or permanent damage to my shade.

The shade is still too big, but, I can always adjust my ruffle to fit a smaller shade or just take it off.

I really like it and hopefully it will encourage me to find a smaller shade.

I think I have finally seen the light.

Have a great weekend.

Rhonda