{ Slow Cooking Thursdays }

I'm sorry this is going up so late, unfortunately I caught some sort of stomach bug yesterday afternoon and it's just been really hard to get anything done.

On to today's slow cooker recipe. 
Thank you to Life’s Ambrosia for another winner.

Honey Chipotle Slow Cooker Ribs

2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 pounds baby back pork ribs
1 onion sliced
Honey Chipotle BBQ Sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 (7 ounce) can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce


Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
In a bowl combine kosher salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, cumin and olive oil in a bowl. Stir to make a paste. Rub mixture all over ribs. Transfer to preheated baking sheet.

Place in oven and cook for 15 minutes. Turn and cook for 15 more minutes.
Place the sliced onion on the bottom of the slow cooker.
While the meat is cooking combine all of the ingredients for the BBQ sauce in a food processor and process until smooth.

Transfer ribs to the slow cooker. Pour BBQ sauce over the top.

Cover and cook for 6 hours on HIGH.  But check around 4 hours, mine were already done and falling apart.
Serve.

Yarn Along

This morning I'm joining in with Ginny over at Small Things, for the Yarn Along.

I love yarn, I love needles whether crochet or knitting and I just love the peace and calmness it brings me when I'm immersed into a project.

Working on my Blooming Pillow.  It's going slowly because I'm so busy with other stuff but I love how it's turning out so far....

And as for reading, I've got Wishes & Stitches from Rachael Herron.  It will be reviewed on my blog soon.

I think it's the perfect book for us knitting/crochet lovers and so far I'm really enjoying it :)

If you want to join in the Yarn Along, go on over to Ginny's blog "Small Things".  Be prepared to browse for a while, there are so many wonderful entries to go through and marvel at the beautiful yarn alongs.

Mollie Makes Winner

Thank you all for participating.  I hope you all get a chance to find the magazine and leaf through it yourselves, it's such a good crafter's mag.

I used Random.org to get a winner and this is the result:

Congratulations Trisha over at Whose Idea was this?

I will be contacting you shortly to get your address!

{ Happy Homemaker Monday }

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Much cooler temps, we have actually had at least one day that felt like Fall :)  It's 70 degrees right now.


Things that make me happy:
Letting my creative juices flow


Book I'm reading:
Got tired of the Union Quilter's so I switched to The Shape of Mercy.


What's on my TV today:
I have no clue actually, I'm thinking I'll find something though.


On the menu for dinner:
Ground Beef Burritos


On my To Do List:
Homeschooling
Mop floors
Might do a little more sewing


New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Just baking some cookies to fill the cookie jar.  Iced Pumpkin Cookies and Chocolate Chunk

In the craft basket:

More pincushions
Blooming Pillow
Fabric Bookmarks


Looking forward to this week:
Just having a good week with the family :)


Tips and Tricks:
Check out my post this weekend about making your own air freshener


My favorite blog post this week:
No blog reading last week

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
Look above


No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:
The word "CAN'T" does not exist in my house.  Yes you can and you will.  Just because something looks difficult or out of the norm for you doesn't mean you can't do it.


On my mind:
Homemade Gifts
Homeschooling
Lots of projects and other creative things are overflowing through my mind


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:


Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Psalm 103:1

{ My Crafty Corner - Crocheted Pincushion and Purse Organizer }

I just sewed on the buttons a few minutes ago.

Would you believe me if I told you that I made the pincushion last night in 30 minutes???  Or it may actually have been less, these whip up SO SO fast.

The original idea came from Liselotte in Denmark, check out her blog.   Terri over at Purple and Paisley was kind enough to translate the pattern into English, be sure to go on by and check out her blog as well.   Mary Grace over at Hooked on Needles helped Terri with the pattern so here it is:

Liselotte's Crocheted Pin Cushion in English, via Terri and me!

Start with magic loop of 6 (video of Magic Loop Method coming shortly!)

NOTE: Do not join rounds. Put a marker or piece of scrap yarn in the first stitch of each round to help keep track.

2 sc in each sc - 12 stitches
*1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc* Repeat from * to * around - 18 stitches
*1 sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc Repeat from * to * around - 24 stitches
*1 sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc Repeat from * to * around - 30 stitches
*1 sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc Repeat from * to * around - 36 stitches

Continue increasing in this manner until you have 72 stitches, or until the piece is the size you want it.

Make another one in the same manner and the same size.

Join the 2 pieces together at the outside edges, using single crochet with wrong sides together. Before closing up the last 10 stitches or so, stuff pretty firmly with polyester fiberfill, then continue crocheting the opening closed.

Using a doubled piece of yarn, wrap the yarn from the center, around the outside, making pie-shaped wedges spaced evenly around the outside. Pull each one tightly to make the petals puffy. Tie off yarn securely and embellish as you like.

I used re-purposed buttons on the top and bottom of mine. Terri crocheted a little flower for her center. Here are her directions for that:

Start with magic loop of 5 (or how ever many petals you want)
Join with sl st to first sc of the 5 sc in your magic loop.
In that same st, sc, 3 dc, sc and sl st - 1 petal made.
Sl st into next st, sc, 3 dc, sc and sl st - 2 petals made.

Continue around until all petals have been made.
Finish with a sl st in the first petal.
Attach to center of pin cushion.

So let me show you mine.

Stitch Markers....what a pain in the behind, I know many like them but they actually confuse me and seem to always get in the way, and after a run in with a closed marker when I first started crocheting, I just decided to do away with them forever.  Yes, I ended up stitching the marker into the crochet LOL

Easier way is to grab a piece of yarn and just drape it over your row of stitches, keep crocheting all the way around, when you get to the beginning, drape it back over again, you'll find that you will either be laying it to the back or bringing it to the front, but anyway you end up with that row of stitches.  Just pull one of the ends and it will come right off :)  (Just make sure it's a contrasting color)

I'm so thrilled with the end result, this was so easy to crochet and so quick too, I am telling you I don't even think it was 30 minutes.

Now because this was the first one I made, I will admit that I got so confused with the last part of making the wedges with the thread and I ended up with 8 wedges instead of 6, but really, what does it matter?

The best part about these, is that they're reversible, this is the other side.

I kept this one simple with just one button.....

Ahhhhh such prettiness......

So there you have it, another really simple and spectacular project which would make great Christmas gifts too :)

Now I'm going to pull out my sewing machine and work on another Purse Organizer.

This pattern comes from The Giving Flower in Germany and it's another that you can make really really fast, it's so simple and the results are magnificent.

I hated having all my stuff just floating around the bottom of my bag.....this keeps them all organized and easy to reach for.

These are the ones I made it for, but I'm going to make a second one today for other random odds and ends and you know being a mom there is ALWAYS some random/weird/unexpected stuff floating around the purse.

Look at all that extra room inside....makes me so happy to see things organized.

Alright, I'm out of here, have another organizer to make and maybe some other stuff, not sure yet what :)

Hope you're all having a great Sunday and by the way, I'll be choosing the winner of the Mollie Makes Magazine tonight :)

Stop wasting money!

Don't know about you but when someone says that to me, I get happy because it usually means that they're going to follow that statement with some idea that will help me save.

As much as I love a simple life and have said often enough here that I wouldn't mind living in the old days and how technology is such a pain in the behind and ruins so many things, I have to also admit that the internet is a thing of beauty, or more specifically, Pinterest and my Google Reader are a thing of beauty.

I find myself constantly inspired by such amazing women out there, always pushing me to be the best mom and wife, homemaker I can be.  And then I get emails daily from my blog readers telling me that I'm one of those women and that just touches my heart, because I really don't feel like I am, I don't even think many read the blog LOL

But, putting me in the same category as any of these other ladies, is such an honor, so thank you to those of you (you know who you are) that constantly send me words of encouragement and praise, you hold a very special place in my heart  ♥

Now I don't have much time to sit on pinterest, honestly when I first found it I was so addicted to it, I couldn't stop myself, I spent every spare moment pinning and browsing and drooling over SO many things, nowadays, I am able to make it over there every two weeks if I'm lucky and this morning was one of those days, and the minute I opened it up I saw something on the front page that made me jump up and grab what I needed.

I love the plugins, I love that I control how strong the scent is and that every single room can have one going all the time.  One thing I DON'T love?  The refills, having to buy them all the time and they're pretty expensive, almost 3 dollars each one and that adds up.

So what if I told you that you can make your own?  No I'm not kidding!

Holy Crickey is a tumblr website dedicated to DIY's and showing us great ideas on how to save money and do make stuff at home.  MY kind of place :)

So here we go, let me show you how easy this is, you'll be as shocked and happy as I am.  My husband thinks I'm a genius and then I have to remind him that I didn't come up with this, but he doesn't care, he likes the fact that I'm saving us money LOL


:::: Grab your empty refill bottle.  

:::: If you look at it closely or feel around the top, you can see a little groove that allows you to pop that whole top right off.  It's pretty tight on, so I just took a small knife and gently (PLEASE be careful), popped it out.

:::: Then wash it out really well.    Grab your favorite essential oil, I'm using Jasmine but I am going to do Lavender, Warm Vanilla and a few others for the remaining ones in the house.

:::: Pour the oil into the bottle, about 1/3 of the way.

:::::  Fill the rest up with water, just don't go ALL the way to the top otherwise when you pop in the wick, it will splash all over.  Shake it up nicely to mix the oil with the water.  Don't worry if it doesn't exactly mix all the way, you can always give it a little shake now and then. 

Now pop it back into the plug part and plug it in. Ahhhhhhh!

Cheaper, and much healthier. I haven't told you this yet but I'm about to shock some of you with what is in these things.

VOC stands for “volatile organic compounds” and they are highly toxic chemicals with a low boiling point.

VOC cause all sorts of problems in your body: infertility, headaches, nervous system disorders, memory loss and cancer for both your pet and you.   Ummmmm yeah I don't think I want these things in the house anymore.

So thank you again to Holy Crickey, I feel much better knowing that my house is being freshened with the good stuff that won't affect your health.

Hello Autumn.....

It's official, we are entering Fall, though that really doesn't mean much for us unless we get in the car and drive about 2 hours north.

I've been so busy this week, have had so much going on that I've found myself neglecting my little corner here.  It always makes me feel a little discombobulated, like it throws my whole week out of whack.

I wish I had some exciting things to show you, or share with you but I truly don't.

We took some School Pictures this week, because even though we're homeschooling it doesn't mean that we don't take those anymore, it just means that we don't pay ridiculous amounts of money for packages including sizes that we really don't want and being stuck with pictures that the photographers clearly didn't take any time checking to make sure that hairs were brushed or mouths were clean........yes I'm speaking from experience, I still have Nicholas First Grade photo with spaghetti all over his mouth.  Ridiculous.

They are growing so fast, I find myself wanting to reach out and physically stopping them from growing anymore.  But I think that's something all mama's feel. :)

Cooking meals is another thing that keeps me busy, I am glad I enjoy cooking so much because I don't know how I would feel if I didn't and realized how much hours are spent in the kitchen.

Banana Cream pie ::::



Pumpkin Spice Latte, at home ::::



And in the afternoon, an Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte ::::



Grilled Ground Beef Gyros ::::



See?  Nothing really out of this world going on, just normal life. 

I've also been messing around with my camera, learning new things, following tutorials and trying to figure out how to use it to the best of it's ability.  It's so much fun :)

Now I'm going to sit down and enjoy my night of shows.  New Season premieres for Ghost Adventures and Supernatural, plus my Haven.

I do hope you've all had a good week and enjoy the weekend, I will be back tomorrow with a post.  And don't forget that there is not much time left to enter my Mollie Makes Magazine Giveaway. :)

{ Happy Homemaker Monday }

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Enjoyed a week of cooler temps but we're back to the heat again.  It's always around this time of the year that I really start missing Idaho.

Things that make me happy:
Sewing, sewing and more sewing


Book I'm reading:
The Union Quilter's by Jennifer Chiaverini.  Loving it so far.


What's on my TV today:

Eureka
Warehouse 13


On the menu for dinner:
Drunken Pork Chops and Baked Zucchini Fries


On my To Do List:
LaundryMop floors
Homeschooling


New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Not new to me, but a few I posted on the food blog.  Chocolate Chip and Banana Pancake Squares, Roast Chicken and Beef, Banana Peppers and Provolone Sandwich.

In the craft basket:

Lots of yummy fabrics to sew neat projects with
Blooming Pillow


Looking forward to this week:
More sewing


Tips and Tricks:
I am drawing a complete blank here, sorry LOL


My favorite blog post this week:
Pois Cafe e Alfama - Aahhhh this was like a trip down memory lane for me.  It really makes me miss Portugal :)

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
After Hours -  Love this blog :)


No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:
That I'm DONE trying to please people.  I come first, my kids come first, my husband comes first and that's just how it is.  I'm tired of worrying about what other people think about me, it's not my problem how others perceive what I say or do.  Enough is enough, I am who I am.  God loves me and that is all that I care about.


On my mind:
Christmas....yes I know a little early, or is it?  Gifts, homemade gifts, who and what to buy etc.


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.

Proverbs 18:6

{ Weekend Roundup }

It's been a pretty busy weekend around here, lots of errands to run and some sewing in between, which always makes me happy.

I have gone months without touching my sewing machine and now it's like a new found love for it that has me rubbing my hands together in anticipation of my next project.

So let me show you what I've been doing this weekend.

::::: Saturday

Hot coffee and toast with Spiced Apple Butter



Few errands to run, a stop at Walmart and a few goodies to add to my sewing stash



First two projects made yesterday.  A Hot and Cold Comfort Bag and a new Checkbook cover for my purse



Roast Chicken and Potatoes for dinner



Then I stepped outside with my camera, it was so beautiful and felt amazing, just the perfect weather for watching the stars.  I am an avid astrophotographer, even though a total amateur at it but you can't get good if you don't practice right? 

So I've been trying with different settings and changing this and that and I took this picture of the huge orange moon, though it doesn't look like it, hubby says I caught the Little Dipper too.  YAY!

But a wonky tripod leg busted right as the pic was taken so it looks like I'm drunk Hahahah




::::: Sunday

Chocolate chip and Banana Pancake Squares for breakfast



We had to make a run to Best Buy this morning for some headphones for my husband, but ran into Barnes and Noble too where I was thrilled to find my Mollie Makes magazine and an extra for a lucky reader. 

Back home I got right to my next project which included using this fabulous bird fabric and turning it into a strap for my camera, no more ugly black uncomfortable strap.  

Dinner had been cooking all day in the crockpot and by the time we sat down it was droolworthy.

Beef, banana peppers and provolone cheese sandwiches.  YUMMY!



And I'm now going to sit down with my new Mollie Makes and ooh and aah for a bit before getting to bed.

God bless,

Mollie Makes Issue #4 - Giveaway

So while running my errands earlier today, I ended up close to Barnes and Noble and decided to run in and see if maybe, just maybe I would be lucky enough to find Mollie Makes. 

And I did, there were only 4 issues left so I quickly snagged mine and did a little jig.  Now granted that I have issue #1 and now #4 but nothing in between, and that is a bummer, but I'm not complaining because honestly, after months of searching for the mag, the mere fact that I found it is enough to make me smile.

This issue is filled with as much eye candy and goodness as the first one, I mean the cover itself is delicious.

I haven't had time to read through the magazine because I literally JUST stepped in the door, but after quickly browsing through I couldn't get enough of these pages, what a stunning house.  It belongs to Sarah in Rye, East Sussex. Sarah is currently in the process of opening her own design lead family store, Lion Street Store in Rye.

Oh I love it so much :)

I'm totally digging those little monster pillows on the couch, how cute is that???

Anyway, this issue like I said above, looks to be just as good as the first one.  If you want you can look at your local Barnes and Noble or Joann Fabrics for the Mollie Makes magazine, but take it from someone who's been on the hunt for it from the first issue, it's NOT easy finding it, it seems to sell like hot cakes.

So what did I do?  I picked up my copy AND an extra to giveaway, because I love my readers and because I would love to share this magazine with as many people as I can, if only I was rich, I would buy everyone a subscription.  I love it THAT much.  Heads up though because most of these mags don't seem to bring the Kits attached that you would get through subscription, so don't come hunt me down when you get your mag and the Kit is not here, I promise, I didn't get one either :)

---- all you need to do, if you haven't already is to follow Diary of a Stay at Home Mom on Facebook, 

---- then leave me a comment here and let me know that you're already a follower or are following now, 

---- also let me know if you know about Mollie Makes or if this is the first time you're hearing about it and if the issue will be for you or someone else.  (I'm assuming if you're like me, you won't give it to anyone and you'll clutch it tightly in your hands).

That's it.  Open to US and Canada residents only.  I will draw a winner next week Sunday, the 25th.

Good Luck, and if you think your friends would like a chance to win the mag, let them know too.  :)

{ Slow Cooking Thursdays }

NOTE:  I've received some emails asking if they can  still post normal recipes because they don't have a slow cooking one at hand.  The answer is YES.  Post the recipe, just when you add the link, in brackets put a * so that we know it's not a slow cooking recipe. :)


Wow it's been forever since I've done these and I have to admit, I miss it so so much that I'm thrilled to be going back to my roots, so to speak.

If you've been one of my long time readers, you may remember the first ever Slow Cooking Thursday, back in 2006.  Ahhhhh :)

Do you have some great crockpot recipes to share, or perhaps you're looking for some delicious ones to give you a reason to pull out the ol' crockpot?  

From today until the end of the year, Cooking Thursday is going back to it's roots.  It's ALL about Slow Cooking, especially as the cooler temperatures come around.  So pull out your family favorites, or share a recipe that you've been meaning to make or just sit back and take note because I'm sure we'll have tons of amazing mouthwatering meals to add to our menus.

Crockpot Grinders
Adapted from: Big Red Kitchen

one round loaf Artisan Italian Bread
slices provolone
slices ham
pepperoni
jalapeno peppers
onion slices
oregano
Slice bread 13 times, almost all the way through but leaving 1/2 inch space at the bottom. (the only bread I could find was presliced, but all I did was made sure not to push the cheese and the meats all the way to bottom)

 

Layer slices of cheese and top with ham, pepperoni, onion slices, jalapeno peppers and then sprinkle on some oregano. Repeat until you have enough filling for as many sandwiches as you’re making.

 

Fold each bundle in half and tuck down between every other slice of bread. Now it may look like the sandwich is starting to separate, all I did was put some heavy mason jars on either side to keep it from opening all together.

 

Once all done, wrap the whole bread tightly with foil….two times. So double the foil.
In the crockpot, I made some balls out of foil and placed them on the bottom, it’s just so the sandwich doesn’t sit directly on the base.

 

Pour in 1/4 cup of water, then place the sandwich on top of the foil balls (haha, sorry it always makes me laugh).
Cover and cook on low for 2 to 4 hours. To serve, just unwrap from the foil, separate the sandwiches and enjoy.

 

The center sandwiches are pretty big so I sliced those in half.

 

I served mine with a simple salad.  Got big thumbs up from the family