Architecture of a Mom: April 2013

Month in Review -- April 2013

12:59:00 PM

April has been an eventful month for Architecture of a Mom. I kind of feel like I’ve become a real blogger.

Oh, the changes aren’t significant. You probably haven’t even noticed. But I’m excited, okay? Humor me a little while I share the changes!

First, I went from having a blogspot URL to a “vanity” url. In fact, if you have been using your old shortcuts, you may have still been using the blogspot address…but it magically changes to www.architectureofamom.com –which is pretty cool in my mind.

And then, I went and got real business cards. Yup, I feel really official now. Good thing, too, since I’m going to my very first blog conference next month. I’m looking forward to learning a lot, but I needed some cards so people can remember me!

I also shared my very first series about Disney projects.

I have shared 4 neat DIY projects like these hair clips and these water bottles that will make our trip to Disney World a little cuter, I think...and I have more to come! If you are heading to Walt Disney World or Disneyland, I think you want to check them out!

Thanks so much to all of you who come by and check Architecture of a Mom out. You rock!

Sometimes I link up at the following places: 504 Main, A Diamond in the Stuff, AKA Design, Alderberry Hill, At the Picket Fence, Beyond the Picket Fence, Blessed with Grace, Cherished Bliss, Classy Clutter, C.R.A.F.T., Craft-o-maniac, Crafty Scrappy Happy, Eat at Home, Finding Fabulous, Gingersnap Crafts, Glued to My Crafts, Home Stories A to Z, House of Hepworths, I Heart Naptime, It's So Very Cheri, Lil Luna, Lines Across, Live Laugh Rowe, Made in a Day, Madigan Made, My Favorite Finds, Not Just a Housewife, One Creative Mommy, Organizing Junkie, Positively Splendid, Semi Homemade Mom, Serenity Now, Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, Six Sisters Stuff, So I Married a Craft Blogger, So You Think You're Crafty, Someday Crafts, Sugarbee Crafts, Tatertots & Jello, The 36th Avenue, The Finer Things in Life, The Frugal Girls, The Grant Life, The Shabby Nest, Tidy Mom, Today's Creative Blog, Uncommon Designs, and Under the Table and Dreaming.

Culinary Creativity

Crockpot Beef Stew

9:14:00 PM

Sometimes, all you want for dinner is some comfort food. My husband has been asking for some beef stew or roast…like his mom makes. So I made up this beef stew recipe based on some of the ingredients that my mother-in-law uses…but also using items I had on hand in my house.

The best part of this recipe is that it is a slow cooker recipe. Comfort food is great for winter time, but I find that slow cooker meals are perfect for summer time, too—it doesn’t heat up the house like other cooking methods. I think we’re going to use this recipe again all year ‘round!

Ingredients:

2 lb stew beef

1 pouch French onion soup mix

28 oz canned tomatoes
14 oz beef broth

About 4 oz baby carrots, cut in half on the bias.

1 potato, diced into 1 inch chunks (mine was previously baked, but I think that’s optional)

1 medium onion, diced (or a half of a huge one)

1/2 medium bell pepper, diced

Dump all the ingredients into your slow cooker. Stir to mix well. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Serve with bread and maybe a sprinkling of cheese on top.

Enjoy!

Menu Planning

Menu Planning Monday 2013-04-29

4:32:00 PM

It's time for another menu plan. It's pouring rain here and we've all had colds...not enough to incapacitate us, just enough to be annoying. So we're going to keep things really simple this week.

Monday: Fish Sticks, Green Beans, and Rolls
Tuesday: Asian Sausage, Fruit

Wednesday: Mini Philly Cheese Steaks, Fruit
Thursday: Quesadillas
Friday: Quick Parmesan Pasta with Chicken (we didn't have it this past week)

Saturday: Out to eat
Sunday: Meal with my sister's family

What are you eating this week?

Blogging

April Sponsors--Check These Ladies Out!!

7:48:00 PM

Did you know that I have sponsors? Don't think that I am getting rich off this blog, but having sponsors helps me do two things: offset the costs of blogging (I craft frugally, but it ain't free) and grow my blog. What I didn't count on was the opportunity to create some awesome relationships, too!

These lovely ladies have chosen to sponsor Architecture of a Mom this month. Help me thank them by visiting their blogs and etsy shops!

Jill is up first!

She is a very, very busy lady! Here's all the places you can find her:

Her blogs:
http://pinwheelpretties.blogspot.com/

http://www.weddingandbridaldesigns.com/wedding-blog.html

And her shops:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PartyFetti

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PinwheelPretties

https://www.etsy.com/shop/weddingbridaldesigns

She plans parties and makes some super sweet party decorations that she sells at her etsy shops. If you are hosting a party or wedding any time soon, check out her site! I mean, look at this cuteness:

You seriously need to check her out!!

Next comes Stacey:

She blogs over at Glued to My Crafts, an awesome blog that focuses on crafting with her kiddo!

Although we met through the blog world, she and I are tied together by another tie: my husband served at the same base where her husband is based out of! We just realized this. Small world, huh? You can find Stacey here:

Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest

She also hosts some awesome link parties, and one just went live last night: Crafty Thursday Obsessions. I think you'll be inspired by the folks who link up...and by Stacey's craftiness. I am always amazed by the crafts she and her little guy do together! And I love her latest upcycling project...I have some vases that need some beautifying like this!

Last up is Kelley.

She has been amazing me for a while over at The Grant Life. She is so encouraging! But recently she has launched The Breakfast Hub...a blog about all things breakfast!

Do you have an awesome breakfast recipe? You should definitely submit it to her so that she can feature you!!

Want to find her on social media?

You can find her here and here on twitter.

You can find her here and here on facebook.

And you can find her here on pinterest.

Please go and check these wonderful blogs and etsy shops out! Thanks so much to all you lovely ladies for sponsoring Architecture of a Mom!

Creative Outlets

Minnie Mouse Button Hair Clips

8:31:00 PM

Minnie Mouse is pretty popular in my house.The twins especially love Minnie. I cannot wait until they get to meet her. Oh, I have no illusions...I know that Princess Pea was desperately afraid of the Easter Bunny (who didn't get within 20 feet of her. So the chances of tearless encounters with characters is minimal. But they still love Minnie, so I thought I'd create some Minnie accessories for all three of my girls.

I started with some black buttons (four different sizes), ribbon, and hair clips.

I wanted to make two sizes of hairbows, since I have two sizes of little girls, and one little hairbow is gracious plenty for each of the twins, while my five year old needs two bigger ones. As I worked through the process, I also realized that the little Minnie Mouses would need red embroidery floss because the ribbon was too wide for the little hairbows. You'll also need some hot glue.

Basically, making these hairbows are pretty easy, as long as you know how to use a hot glue gun. You take one larger button and two smaller ones that look like a head and mouse ears in proportion. Glue the larger button on top of the two smaller ones.

Make a bow and hot glue it onto the buttons like Minnie's bow on top of her head.

Then hot glue the whole shebang onto a hair clip. I had plenty of room to glue the "head" onto the clip for the large Minnies.

The smaller ones we more difficult simple because they are smaller. Have you ever tied a tiny bow with embroidery floss? For the smaller clips, both the ears and the head were glued to the clip. Be generous with the amount of glue; you don't want to see it on the front, but you don't want the hairbow to fall apart.

And that's it! Easy and cute.

And I have 3 little girls who are very excited about these clips!

Sometimes I link up at the following places: 504 Main, A Diamond in the Stuff, AKA Design, Alderberry Hill, At the Picket Fence, Beyond the Picket Fence, Blessed with Grace, Cherished Bliss, Classy Clutter, C.R.A.F.T., Craft-o-maniac, Crafty Scrappy Happy, Eat at Home, Finding Fabulous, Gingersnap Crafts, Glued to My Crafts, Home Stories A to Z, House of Hepworths, House of Rose, I Heart Naptime, It's So Very Cheri, Lil Luna, Lines Across, Live Laugh Rowe, Made in a Day, Madigan Made, My Favorite Finds, Not Just a Housewife, One Creative Mommy, Organizing Junkie, Positively Splendid, Semi Homemade Mom, Serenity Now, Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, Six Sisters Stuff, So I Married a Craft Blogger, So You Think You're Crafty, Someday Crafts, Sugarbee Crafts, Tatertots & Jello, The 36th Avenue, The Finer Things in Life, The Frugal Girls, The Grant Life, The Shabby Nest, Tidy Mom, Today's Creative Blog, Uncommon Designs, and Under the Table and Dreaming.

Blogging

Where I'm hanging out today....

12:00:00 PM

Happy Tuesday! I'm hanging out with Carrie, my friend over at My Favorite Finds!!

Come see what I'm up to! (Hint: it's more fun and frugal art, and I promise YOU can do it!

Happy Tuesday!

Culinary Creativity

Easy Baked Penne

8:53:00 PM

Do you host family gatherings? Our kids' birthday parties are always extended family gatherings, since my parents and siblings all live within 15 minutes of us. So with us, my parents, my sister's family and my brother's family, there are 16 people, 8 adults, and 8 children. And now that every one of those kiddos is eating grown up food, sometimes making enough food can be overwhelming.However, having hosted several large gatherings in the past, I know that the more I can do ahead, the better.

This baked penne dish is perfect to make ahead for family get-togethers.

I made up the casserole the night before, and simply threw it in the oven around an hour before the party. Now, I made 1 1/2 casseroles for my party, and we had some leftovers. I think that a 9x13 dish will serve around 12, with a little leftover.

Here's what you need:

1 pound of my "faux" sausage
1 onion, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 24 oz jar of pasta sauce
1 16 oz box of penne
8 oz. block mozzarella cheese

Cook meat as directed and crumble.

Boil noodles as directed on box, but take off heat and drain 1 minute before the shortest time on the box (so if it says cook for 8-10 minutes, cook for only 7). Shred half of the cheese. Mix all of the ingredients except the unshredded half of the cheese.

Spread the pasta mixture into a 9x13 dish. You can refrigerate overnight at this point.

When you're ready to bake, remove from the fridge and let sit while you preheat oven to 350. Bake, covered with foil, for 25 minutes. While baking, shred the remainder of the cheese.

Uncover and spread cheese over top of noodle mixture and bake for 20 more minutes.

Enjoy!

Sometimes I link up at the following places: 504 Main, A Diamond in the Stuff, AKA Design, Alderberry Hill, At the Picket Fence, Beyond the Picket Fence, Blessed with Grace, Cherished Bliss, Classy Clutter, C.R.A.F.T., Craft-o-maniac, Crafty Scrappy Happy, Eat at Home, Finding Fabulous, Gingersnap Crafts, Glued to My Crafts, Home Stories A to Z, House of Hepworths, House of Rose, I Heart Naptime, It's So Very Cheri, Lil Luna, Lines Across, Live Laugh Rowe, Made in a Day, Madigan Made, My Favorite Finds, Not Just a Housewife, One Creative Mommy, Organizing Junkie, Positively Splendid, Semi Homemade Mom, Serenity Now, Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, Six Sisters Stuff, So I Married a Craft Blogger, So You Think You're Crafty, Someday Crafts, Sugarbee Crafts, Tatertots & Jello, The 36th Avenue, The Finer Things in Life, The Frugal Girls, The Grant Life, The Shabby Nest, Tidy Mom, Today's Creative Blog, Uncommon Designs, and Under the Table and Dreaming.

Menu Planning

Menu Planning Monday 2013-04-22

8:40:00 PM

It's time again for another yummy menu. I'm looking forward to eating these meals!

Monday: Waffles, Sausage and Fruit
Tuesday: Savory Beef Stew
Wednesday: Baked Chicken, Fiesta Twice Baked Potatoes

Thursday: Pizza
Friday: Quick Parmesan Pasta with Chicken

Saturday: Something on the grill, rice and veggies
Sunday: Fried Rice

What are you eating this week?

Designing Family

Presence and Prayer

5:00:00 AM

I have been thinking a lot about my sweet twins this week, thinking back. They turned 2 a few days ago. But two years ago, I spent many hours in a dim NICU unit looking at babies that I wasn’t allowed to hold.

They had tubes and monitors everywhere, and they were inside incubators, with bilirubin lights on them.I heard of many babies who had major issues that would stick with them for the rest of their lives, and babies who would have very short lives indeed. I prayed that taking these little girls out of me so early wouldn’t cause any of those issues.

I couldn’t figure out if I should rejoice that we made it to this point…that I had carried 2 babies with such danger that they were monitored daily from 26 weeks gestation until they were born at 32 weeks. Or maybe I should quaver in fear for what could be ahead for my little ones.

I decided that I could do two things: I could be present and I could pray.

My girls (all three of them, including my oldest!) needed their mommy. The twins needed to hear my voice, smell me, feel me (when I was allowed). And Lil Bit needed me to pay attention to her when I was with her. So I did just that.

Beyond that, I could only pray that my girls would grow up strong, that the doctors and nurses would have wisdom in treating them, that I would be able to provide food for them (I knew that preemies needed breastmilk even more than a full-term baby).

And what do you know…things got better. They were released from the hospital. And somehow, I breastfed them until they were 14 months old. And now you wouldn’t have known that they weren’t full term unless I told you! We view them as miracles.

Now, in my crazy mind, this is linked to the awful events in Boston and Texas this week. I don’t pretend to know what it feels like to experience something so horrific. But those two things…being present and praying…maybe they will help. If you don’t have direct connections to the events of this week, please consider this question: “What can my presence and my prayers help right now?”

You never know, you may get to be a part of a miracle.

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Month in Review -- April 2013

Crockpot Beef Stew

Menu Planning Monday 2013-04-29

April Sponsors--Check These Ladies Out!!

Minnie Mouse Button Hair Clips

Where I'm hanging out today....

Easy Baked Penne

Menu Planning Monday 2013-04-22

Presence and Prayer

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