Architecture of a Mom: February 2016

Menu Planning Monday 2016-02-29

7:36:00 PM

Howdy folks! I hope that you had a great weekend. It's starting to feel a little bit like spring here in Carolina country...and not a moment too soon. I am so ready for some warmer weather, aren't you? This spring promises to be busy...but good. It's good to be able to be outside again!

This week is also the annual chili cookoff at my work. If my chili turns out well, you can be sure I'll be sharing the recipe here. Can you keep a secret? My secret ingredient is pumpkin puree. I'm hoping to take home first place in this competition - we'll see!

Here's the plan for this week:

Monday: Salad, Bread and Fruit
Tuesday: Cilantro Lime Chicken with Corn and Black Beans over tortillas
Wednesday: Fried Rice
Thursday: Creamy Burritos, Fruit

Friday: Pasta with dressed up sauce
Saturday: Chicken Nuggets, Broccoli, and bread
Sunday: Steak, Roasted Potatoes, Salad, and Biscuits

What are you eating this week?

I love to party! Sometimes I link up my posts to Serenity Now, Organizing Junkie, Tidy Mom and these link parties! You should come party with me and check out some awesome new bloggers!

Creative Outlets

4 Years of Blogging

6:00:00 AM

Ya'll. Today is my 4 year anniversary blogging. When I started Architecture of a Mom, my twins weren't walking yet. I started this blog because I simply needed an outlet that was simply not for anyone else (not my kids, not for my 9-5 job, not for my husband) but for me. A reason to finish all the half-done craft projects. But Architecture of a Mom has become so much more than that!! I love the relationships I have developed because of this blog, and I love that I have been able to help you become more creative and that we can design a beautiful life...together!

As I was looking back over the last 4 years, it's obvious that I've learned so much. I've learned how to use my camera. I've learned how to write a better post. I've learned HTML. I've done things I've never imagined. But in going back to that first year, I saw so many favorite projects and recipes that I simply cannot believe that I did that first year when I felt like I didn't know how to do anything. So without further ado, these are my favorite posts from my first year blogging. Some were reader favorites, too, but I loved each and every one of these, and I still use all these recipes or items (with the exception of the blanket, which was a gift), and I know that many of you came to Architecture of a Mom after these posts disappeared into the archives. So enjoy!

Mediterranean Roasted Corn

If you're looking for an easy weeknight side dish, this Mediterranean Roasted Corn recipe is for you! Corn combines with sun-dried tomatoes for a memorable flavor!

Peach Knit Baby Blanket

If you like to knit but don't like to commit to large projects because they take too long, you should try this baby blanket! You knit with more than one strand of yarn at a time so it knits up quick and thick!

Pumpkin Granola

If you like granola but want to add a little more vitamins to your breakfast, then add some pumpkin with this recipe!!

Boo-boo Bird

As much as I love this little boo-boo bird, my girls love it more. The cold rice inside this little bird has comforted many, many bumps and bruises!

Cocoa Peanut Butter Fudge

Peanut butter and chocolate, and a no-fail dessert....what's not to love?

Colored Mercury Glass

I still use these little votives! I love how there is a subtle reflection, and yet the blue still looks lovely in my living room today!

So, what's your favorite post from Architecture of a Mom? I'd love to hear!

I love to party! Sometimes I link up my posts to Serenity Now, Organizing Junkie, Tidy Mom and these link parties! You should come party with me and check out some awesome new bloggers!

Menu Planning

Menu Planning Monday 2016-02-22

8:01:00 PM

Howdy folks! I hope that you had a wonderful weekend! Around here, the weather was wonderful, which meant that I got less than I wanted done but I had lots of fun with my kids. I'll take that kind of delay any time. Unfortunately, spring isn't here quite yet...we only had a little tease of it.

But Spring fever or no, we still need to eat. Here's the plan for the week:

Monday: Leftovers
Tuesday: Barbecue Spice Turkey in the crockpot, Broccoli and cheese

Wednesday: Leftover Turkey Soup

Wednesday: Apple Sausage Bean Hash, Salad

Thursday: Meatball Sandwiches, Salad
Friday: Roasted Vegetable Penne

Saturday: Homemade Pizza
Sunday: Jambalaya (we didn't have it last week)

What are you eating?

I love to party! Sometimes I link up my posts to Serenity Now, Organizing Junkie, Tidy Mom and these link parties! You should come party with me and check out some awesome new bloggers!

Creative Outlets

5 Tips for Painting Ceilings

6:00:00 AM

This post is a long time coming. I used to have an off-white yucky popcorn ceiling in my living room and kitchen, but now I have a smooth, painted ceiling! I actually finished it right before the holidays, but with the holiday decorations and then the dreary winter weather, I only just now got good shots of the beautiful white smooth expanse of my ceiling.

My friends, a leak was the catalyst...a leak from some plumbing above. Into a light fixture that we didn't even like anyway. So we ripped it down, which started the whole ball rolling.

And then it looked like this: smooth, patched, and popcorn free, but not painted.

But now my friends, I can give you some tips and tricks on how to paint your ceiling. And make your life better, or at least brighter and smoother.

Creative Outlets

Shabby Chalky Finish Tin Can Silverware Holders

6:00:00 AM

Sometimes, the best laid organizational plans go astray. Either that, or they are completely destroyed by the tiny humans that live in our homes. I love my little girls, but if you believe little girls are gentle and delicate...well, you obviously don't know many little girls. That's the story behind this cute little silverware caddy.

Do you remember when I went to Haven and how I built a cute little mason jar caddy designed by Jaime at That's My Letter? If you want to be inspired to build, I highly recommend her blog. I painted the caddy white and had silverware in the mason jars. But you may notice that although this is a mason jar tote, I do not have any mason jars in them. That's because they are made of glass. And do you know the big down side of glass.

Yes, it breaks. Especially when tiny humans look at them funny. Or are tasked to put silverware inside of said glass. So after around 4 broke over the course of about 4 months, I decided that we needed to find a less breakable, yet still cute way to organize my silverware.

Menu Planning

Menu Planning Monday 2016-02-15

8:31:00 PM

Happy Monday folks! I hope that you had a wonderful Valentine's Day. I had a wonderful meal with all 4 of my valentines. And now, the south is hunkering down for another cold, cold day with the possibility of winter precipitation. I know that many of you think we're crazy down here and can't handle a little bit of snow. But if the school system cancels, then the daycare cancels, and I can't get to my office job for a full day because the kids need someone with them. Typically, my husband and I split the day when something like this happens. I tell you all this because I don't know what tomorrow will hold...except that we're going to have a big batch of soup in the crockpot and homemade bread! Hooray for one thing that's certain for tomorrow!

Here's the menu plan for the week:

Creative Outlets

Nautical Seed Stitch Washcloth

6:00:00 AM

I have to admit that I'm now addicted to making knit washcloths. They are simple and most patterns are very repetitive. Last month, I shared a double moss stitch washcloth, which is super simple...but i you're looking for something even more simple, you should try this seed stitch washcloth. One of my bathrooms has a little bit of a nautical theme, so I thought some navy stripes would be perfect?

Want to know how to make it?

You need navy yarn and cream (or white) cotton yarn and a size 5 knitting needle.

Creative Outlets

Easy Flower and Heart Headbands

6:00:00 AM

My girls are so excited for Valentine's Day!! To them, it's a fun holiday full of red, purple, and pink hearts and and excuse to dress up a little. And since each of my girls loves a special hair accessory, I thought that they would enjoy an early Valentine's Day gift from me: Valentine-themed hairbands!

These are super simple. If you can operate a glue gun, you can make these! I used mod melts, mod melt molds, and hot glue to create one-of a kind hairbands for each girl! They love them.

Menu Planning

Menu Planning Monday 2015-02-08

6:00:00 AM

Howdy folks! Are you recovered from your Superbowl festivities? It was a stressful evening for my house cheering for the Carolina Panthers. I have to say that my focus was on football, not planning meals for the week! But we still gotta eat this week, right?

Here's the plan:

Culinary Creativity

12 Top Tips for Freezer Meal Prep

6:00:00 AM

I mentioned earlier this week that my sister and I did a small crockpot freezer meal session this weekend. I call it small because it was just the two of us and we did no actual cooking during the session; all of the meals were "dump" meals where all the ingredients are raw and are dumped into freezer bags. If you are just starting out with freezer meals, I would suggest doing these kind of meals because it keeps prep to a minimum. We did 6 different recipes and only one meal per recipe for each family because all of the recipes were new. Over the last 12 years or so, I've done different versions of freezer meal prep, but there are several tips that I can give you, whether this is your first freezer prep session or your tenth.

So what tips can make your freezer meal session a success?

Newer
Stories

Older
Stories

Menu Planning Monday 2016-02-29

4 Years of Blogging

Mediterranean Roasted Corn

Peach Knit Baby Blanket

Pumpkin Granola

Boo-boo Bird

Cocoa Peanut Butter Fudge

Colored Mercury Glass

Menu Planning Monday 2016-02-22

5 Tips for Painting Ceilings

Shabby Chalky Finish Tin Can Silverware Holders

Menu Planning Monday 2016-02-15

Nautical Seed Stitch Washcloth

Easy Flower and Heart Headbands

Menu Planning Monday 2015-02-08

12 Top Tips for Freezer Meal Prep

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