The Art of Paper Cutting

I saw this idea on Pinterest and knew I had to make it!

I just printed it big and used that as a pattern.

I think it was a success.

What more could a man want?

A friend of mine discovered this site.  http://www.tacticalgrilling.com/  So when his birthday came around I knew what I would be making. Anyone who knows me knows I will try to make something myself BEFORE I will buy one made. So I set out to make my own. 

Webbing to hang his favorite modular accessories. Specialized apron ones can

 be bought here. (will have to try to create some someday) http://www.tacticalgrilling.com/shop/category/tactical-grilling-accessories

 A metal D ring to make it adjustable.

 Velcro for his favorite morale patches. http://www.gmstactical.com/morale.html

 It was a victorious success!

Where in the US have you been?

Here's my map. I have some work to do. I know I rode a bus from Kansas to Florida but I don't know what states we went thru.

 

Want to go to many more in my lifetime. :-) Make your map here! 

College Scholarships

I am doing the scary thing and going to college for the first time at 42.At this point my goal is a nursing degree.

 I have found this website very helpful in helping you find scholarships that meet your likes and school choices.

We need all the help we can get in this day and age to cut the costs of higher education.

 Scholarship Help

That Sweet Clean Feeling

Why do we feel soooo good when we get an area of our lives deep cleaned? I got my bedroom and specifically my closet cleaned up today. I do admit to purchasing a shoe rack and a sweater holder but it made such a huge difference well worth the cost. Now I wish I had taken before photos! :-)
And a sweet  trick I learned was to turn all your hangers  backwards. Then once you wear the item turn it correct direction. In 6 months (you will go thru the hot and cold seasons) donate or restyle the clothing that is left.

Shirt Redesign Long sleeve to Tank Top

I was inspired by the above shirt on Pinterest. And I bought a basic long sleeve t shirt  for the college I am about to start attending. Plus a basic black t shirt for the alternative fabric. I knew I had to alter it because that much yellow right next to my face would make me look ill~ LOL So I combined the inspiration of the shirt above and followed the instructions on the top of this shirt from Poppy Juice.

(Click Link!) I didn't do the spaghetti straps because I wanted black around my face. I also did not change the length. It still has the original hem. I did however make sleeve facing from the sleeves I removed. Thanks Pinterest and Poppy Juice for inspiring me. :-) 

Enjoying the Sunshine in Kansas

Getting Loved by a little Sweety!

Taco Soup

One of my families favorite meals. :-)  From my dear friend Deborah.

2 lbs ground beef frowned w/onions

1 large chopped onion
small can chopped green chilies
15 oz can corn
2 cans pintos
1 can kidney beans
3 cans stewed tomatoes
1 pack taco seasoning
1 pack ranch dressing mix

Cook 1 hour on low heat

Enjoy!

Hints: to serve a larger group, just add more beans or more of your favorite ingredient. Also, I add my own cooked up beans and tomatoes...just to keep from using so much prepackaged foods. 

Opus was Leighed

Crashed Out

Spaghetti Limone

When I was in NYC visiting my brother he took me to Lil' Frankie's  in East Village. I had the best Italian food I have ever had there! If your ever in NYC you have to go there. I  had fresh arugula salad; simple and fantastic, Mozzerella di Bufala, and Pizza.  One of my favorite things was Spaghetti Limone..  So today I did a Pintrest search and found a recipe. That I altered slightly. I got the recipe from Smitten Kitchen.

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Spaghetti Limone
1 lb dry spaghetti
salt
3 lemons
1/8 cup olive oil
1/8 cup butter, no substitute.
1/2 cup Parmesan
pepper
handful of basil, arugula or spinach

Cook linguine or spaghetti in well-salted water to your al dente tastes in a large, wide-bottomed pot. (You’ll have fewer dishes to wash if you use this pot to assemble the dish as well.)
While pasta is cooking, zest lemons until you have a little shy of a tablespoon of zest. Juice lemons — you’ll have anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 cup lemon juice.
Drain pasta, reserving 1 1/2 cups of pasta cooking water. Dry out your pot, then boil the olive oil, butter, cream, zest and 1 cup of the reserved pasta water together for two minutes over high heat. Return pasta to pot and stir until coated. Add the cheese and 1/4 cup lemon juice and toss, toss, toss everything together. Add more pasta water, 1/4 cup at a time, if you’d like your dish a little looser. Quickly taste a strand of pasta and see if you want to add the remaining lemon juice (we did). Stir in basil or arugula and season generously with salt and pepper.
Serve immediately, drizzling individual portions with a bit of extra olive oil and sprinkling with extra Parmesan. cheese.

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