I Need Minions > Get Out Of My House Continued

I bet you're wondering who's Fred and what does that have to do with getting things out of my house?  Maybe I want Fred out of my house!  No, not really.  






I've been on a "GO" roll.  Things I've "GOed" out of my house:

• Cranberries 
• Candy Canes
• Pumpkin - Had big dreams of using this at Christmas - but as usual my "I Want To Do" list was bigger than the actual number of hours in the day.  Anybody else have that problem?

Now for the results:
*Cranberries:  I made Pioneer Woman's wonderful Pork Loin with homemade cranberry sauce.  First time I've ever cooked cranberries myself. Yup, that's right I'm a cranberry cooking virgin!  I blame that on my Mama because she always makes cranberries and gives me some of hers.
*Candy Canes:  Like everyone else in America I made heart suckers.
*Pumpkin:  I made dog treats for all my kids' dogs.

Fred

Everyone (except us) has dogs (all are rescued dogs.)  I wanted to make dog treats for Christmas but I ran out of time so those dog treats are now Valentine Treats.  These treats were made with pumpkin because it supposedly is good for a dog's digestion, and rice flour because some dogs are allergic to wheat.  Okay, that is someone else's blog saying that - not me.  These dogs come over to my house, eat stuff off the floor and sometimes I look outside and one of them will be eating something that they have found.  I'm pretty sure I don't want to know what that something might be.  I do want to be a good Grandma to these dogs so I made them healthy treats.  

Cleo’s Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

2 eggs
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons dry milk
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 1/2 cups brown rice flour 
1 teaspoon dried parsley (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.

In large bowl, whisk together eggs and pumpkin to smooth. Stir in dry milk, sea salt, and dried parsley (if using, optional). Add brown rice flour gradually, combining with spatula or hands to form a stiff, dry dough. Turn out onto lightly floured surface (can use the brown rice flour) and if dough is still rough, briefly knead and press to combine.

Roll dough between 1/4 – 1/2″ – depending on your dog’s chew preferences, ask first – and use biscuit or other shape cutter to punch shapes, gathering and re-rolling scraps as you go. Place shapes on cookie sheet, no greasing or paper necessary. If desired, press fork pattern on biscuits before baking, a quick up-and-down movement with fork, lightly pressing down halfway through dough. Bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven and carefully turn biscuits over, then bake additional 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely on rack.

Note:  I added more pumpkin so I could work in all the flour.  I also used white rice flour instead of the brown as that was what I had. The recipe came from Simmer Till Done.


I just realized that I make sugary, white flour treats for my Grandkids all the time.  Guess who got all those heart suckers?  Does that make me a bad Grandma?


-Laurie

I Need Minions > Kitchen Pantry

Fresh start, clean slate, beginning of the year.  


It's January, yup that's right - the slate is clean.  Maybe it's that resolution thing that people do (not me, but other people) for New Year's.  For me there is something about taking down the Christmas decorations and starting the New Year fresh.  I have to admit that I've been known to still have my Christmas decorations up in mid-January.  Not this year though.  Don't start congratulating me on my promptness, the only reason I have them down and put away is because I knocked my tree over Christmas morning and broke the stand.  When your Christmas tree is leaning against the wall like a drunken sailor there is some motivation to put everything away.  


January seems to be the month for organization, cleaning and fresh starts.  All the January magazines have articles about it and all the stores have an awful lot of organization/storage paraphernalia on sale.  The January Good Housekeeping magazine has an article titled "Hey, y'all, I need some help!"  Paula Deen's kitchen is a disorganized mess and she needs some help.  Don't feel too sorry for her because her kitchen is huge.  Everyone knows that if you have too much stuff for your space that's where you get into trouble and I have the smallest kitchen known to man.  I've seen bigger kitchens in hotels with kitchenettes.  You think I'm joking but the Future Mrs. 2Wicked's brother was over the other day and when he walked into my kitchen he said, "Wow, your kitchen is really small!"  You know it's small when a non-gay guy comments on the size of your kitchen.  

My kitchen is about the size of Angela Glossy Flossy's pantry - 

actually I think her pantry might be bigger.  You know that saying, "You can't have everything - where would you put it?", well I don't have everything but I still need somewhere to put all that extra Costco size stuff, and the supplies that I'm getting close to running out of.  If you don't have a pantry like the one below, I have some ideas for you.

The only real "free" space I had was in a small corner of my laundry room. So we got creative and took an Ikea closet unit that happened to fit perfectly and used that as my pantry.

I chose the shallow shelf version vs deep for two reasons:  I was only storing grocery type items in it and if the shelves are too deep the items seem to get lost and I would not have been able to open the doors all the way with the deep one because of space.  Why the clear doors? I personally don't like to see everything on my shelves and I like the way the closet doors give the room more of a finished look.

Some tips before purchasing a pantry:  

Measure your available space.

Decide how you want to use space.  Are you using it for food or are you using it for storing appliances?  If you are storing appliances (mixers, crockpots, chafing dishes, etc., I would definitely get a deeper closet or storage unit. 

Don't forget to use your vertical space, especially in small spaces. 

Needing some extra storage space of your own but don't have a whole lot of space like me? There are tons of ideas out there for unconventional pantries, here are a few to get you started:

Armoires:

Wire shelves:

Bookcase:

And the last idea - and I'm not making this up - there is a site selling these.


The Convertible Pine Box Book Shelf "Casket".  This is a direct quote from their site:  "For the customer who wants to help their loved ones by planning ahead, the Conversion Caskets are the answer.  The casket can be available until the time it is needed, but be used in the meantime as a living room bookshelf, a kitchen pantry. . . "  Now that is a conversation piece.  I can hear it now, "I like to keep my Bisquick in my casket, doesn't everyone?"  I'm pretty sure if I saw that in someone's living room I would be beating feet out of there.

www.longarmwranch.com

Just hoping no one wants to help me plan ahead!


Happy New Year! or Happy Fresh Start!


-Laurie

I Need Minions > Christmas Dough

Who doesn't need some Christmas Dough?  

If you are looking for a gift this year, you can't go wrong with some cold, hard, "Christmas Dough." The extra thigh jiggles from all the calories alone are really a gift in itself, don't ya think?  But this dough is jiggle free!

I have a bunch of nieces and nephews who most of the time I can't remember how old they are so you know I really don't have any idea if they're into Hello Kitty or Transformers or whatever the new hot thing is.  Every year I give them a gift card to McDonald's or Burger King - the one size fits all gift.  This year I got this brilliant idea from all the other bloggers out there, wrapping up cookie dough in a roll, just like those New Year's Poppers.  

What? You don't think they want to bake up a batch of cookies?  Well, maybe they won't be all that excited about baking but my "Dough" is special - we're talking cold, hard, cash!  It might also be funny to watch their faces as I take their gifts out of a cooler and give it to them because you know they will be thinking, "Oh, wonderful, cookie dough.  Thank you so much. :("  


This is also a wonderful way to recycle all the paper towel rolls after you've used all the paper towels.

Cut your empty roll in half. You've heard measure twice, cut once - well I obviously didn't do that - check out that little piece I had to cut off because I don't know how to measure.   

Center roll on paper and attach roll to wrapping paper with double stick tape.

Start rolling until paper towel roll is almost covered, put another piece of double stick down and keep rolling - this will cover the ugly paper towel roll.  Put your money in and continue to roll.  Secure bottom with another piece of tape.  Scrunch ends, tie with ribbon and stick on your "Christmas Dough" label.   

Ho! Ho! Ho!
Or maybe Mo! Mo! Mo!
Ya know, as in...mo - money!

- Laurie

I Need Minions > DIY Christmas Gift Calendar

Today we are showing you another great DIY Christmas gift idea that everyone will love: personalized calendars. I know you're thinking, why would I want to make someone a calendar when there are 1000's of cool calendars out there at a reasonable price?  This gift combines a cool calendar with a bit of you and your family and their "unique" style. (we all know what and who I'm talking about, right?!)


I'm not talking about just any calendar but a calendar that you personalize with those millions of pics just sitting around that no one ever sees or appreciates, the pics that you want someone to see.  Even better, if you are giving this to a loved one who lives in a different state, they will get to see what really goes on in your life.  Hmmmm, this could be either a good thing or bad thing.  

Let's get to the meat of the project.  Did you know that there are "holidays" for almost every day of the year - or maybe there is one for every day of the year.  I don't know how these were designated as holidays but there are plenty of sites out there that list them.  I searched around and I like Gone-ta-Pott because it has silly holidays like "Cuddle Up Day" or "Talk Like a Pirate Day" or "Holy Batman! Day" (sadly the last two fall on the same day, so you just have to pick one.)   The holidays listed in the pic above are: Step In A Puddle and Splash Your Friend Day,  Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day, International Skeptics Day, and National Hat Day.  Yes, it's true, we are a silly family and I have pictures that can be used for these holidays, and so do you!


How to make your personalized calendar:
Pick calendar - I like the desk top ones with the spiral bound edge.  TJ Maxx has a selection of calendars at a reasonable price or any bookstore or Amazon has many.  Be sure to pick a calendar that they will love!  Check these out:

Start by writing everyone's birthday and anniversary on the calendar.  Find pictures for all those events, it doesn't have to be taken on their birthday or even taken recently (use some of those old pics), just put in a flattering picture of everyone.  I can't stress the word flattering enough as I have seen people given photo gifts with unflattering pictures of them or loved ones and it was not a gift they cherished.


Start to fill in the rest of the pages with pics that fit the "Holiday."  Start with the standard holidays like 4th of July, Christmas, etc, and then start reading the list of the other obscure holidays.  There is a "Hug Day", "Best Friend's Day", "Go Fishing Day", and "Chaos Never Dies Day" to name a few.  Once you get started you will see ways to work quite a few of your pics in.  Here is some inspiration:

Measure the area that is open on your calendar for each date and crop pictures that size.   I cropped photos in Photoshop Elements (PE). Open photo and set crop size.  This will open a crop box on the picture that you can move around and resize, but will still keep it the set size ratio.  Crop, save, print, cut out and paste to calendar.

I can't tell you how much people love these.  I mean really, puppy of the month in a basket is cute, but not as adorable as your grand kids in a mud puddle! After you finish up your amazing personalized gift calendars, wrap them up, and then wait for the rush of orders next Christmas, when everyone wants another one.


-Laurie  

I Need Minions > DIY Christmas Cookbook Gift

Okay, all of you amazing cooks with "secret" delicious recipes - now is the time to share the bounty with your family and friends.  A couple of years ago I made cookbooks for all my kids with all my recipes that I cooked while they were growing up, plus all the new things that I have added through the years.  This was appreciated by all - at least I think it was.  If you don't already have a cookbook for yourself this will help you out because while you're making everyone else's cookbook you can also make one for yourself.  Two gifts in one, woohoo!

This is a fairly easy project.

Supplies:
Lots of Paper and Printer Ink
Few sheets of Cardstock
All your recipes
3" 9X8 Binder - it's one of those smaller binders
2 Clear Project Files from Office Depot

I printed all my recipes out 2 to a page and cut paper in half so each recipe page is 5 1/2" x 8 1/2".  Then 3 hole punch each page to fit in binder.


Organize by category and put in binder.


Make divider sheet with tab for each category.   This one was made in Photoshop but you can make dividers in any program or you could cut scrapbook paper to the proper size and use that.

Leave the original cover or make a cute cover like the one above.

I also put 2 of these handy protectors in each cookbook so that they have a splatter free cover for easy use when they pull out a recipe.  I cut down a clear project file from Office Depot to 6" X 9" size and used my handy corner rounder to round the top right front corner.


As an extra bonus I am giving you this wonderful recipe for Pecan Tarts - I have been making these for about 30 years and they are the best tarts ever.  

PECAN TARTS

Shells:

½ c. butter                                1 tsp. almond extract

½ c. sugar                                 2 c. flour

2 egg yolks

Cream sugar & butter.  Stir in egg yolks, almond extract and flour.  Press evenly into tiny tart shells.  Bake in 400⁰ oven for 8 minutes. 

Filling:

½ c. butter                                1 c. chopped pecans

1/3 c. Karo dark corn syrup           1 c. powdered sugar

Bring butter, corn syrup and powdered sugar to boil.  Stir in pecans.  Spoon into baked shells.  Top with a pecan half.  Bake in 350⁰ oven for 5 minutes.

Note:  I don't usually top them with a pecan half before cooking.


Start printing & baking!
-Laurie

I Need Minions > DIY Refrigerator Magnets & Bookmarks

This post was supposed to be for all you Moms and Grandmas who have a cache of great recipes, and sharing the bounty.... but I have been sidetracked by something that happened yesterday.  

What happened yesterday - GRANDKIDS, and the wonderfulness (is that a word?) of having them!  

I was supposed to pick up my oldest grandson at the dentist and drop him off at basketball camp.  Here's my facebook post:  Wait for Grandson at Dentist and drop off at basketball camp - 25 miles, 1 hour and 20 minutes.  Grandson turning around and running back to give me a hug, saying "Grandma, I love you" - PRICELESS!!!!  If you've been to the dentist or doctor you know they are never on time.  So after waiting 45 minutes (in the wrong parking lot, that's another story) he was finally finished, I drove him to the church (turned into wrong church), walked him into gym foyer and checked him in.  He was running into gym, when he turned around and said, "Oh, Grandma," ran back to me, hugged me and said "I love you."  I'm tearing up now just thinking about it.  Grandkids are great!  

Okay, that's my post - no not really but it made me think about gifts grandkids or kids can make for moms or grandmas because we are all sentimental (dare I say it) fools.  

Check out this magnet that's been on my refrigerator for years.  It's a little "Velveteen Rabbit" around the edges.  Mr. 2Wicked made this eons ago and yup, it's still on my refrigerator!  It's a great way to recycle all those magnets you get from businesses (sometimes they are attached to your phone book), save the dates, some charities, etc. and fairly simple to make.  

• Pick picture or artwork and decide whether to laminate or not.  I use my nifty Xyron to laminate top but I have also used clear Contact paper - which works great.  Xyron also makes a laminate/magnet cartridge.
• Rough cut around picture or artwork.
• Glue artwork or picture to magnet.  
• Cut around artwork or picture and YOU'RE DONE!  Note:  The cheaper the magnet the thinner it will be and the easier to cut.

Doesn't get much easier than that - except doing this:  
Don't want to go to all that trouble - how about buying some of those 4X6 acrylic frames with the magnets on the back and putting photos in them.  My mom has her refrigerator covered with them, it's a photo essay into our lives - pics of my kids when they were six and nine next to pics of my grandkids at six and nine.  Every year someone gives her a couple of new pics for her refrigerator.  

Is your mom a reader?  That's a reader of books, not kindle (I'm old school) - how about making some photos into bookmarks?  Just made this bookmark -

 from this photo -----------------
and it took about 5 minutes,  too bad taking the picture and getting it on blog took 25 minutes! 





Print photo. I like to use glossy photo paper because I like the stiffness and gloss of the paper.

• Rough cut out photo.
• Laminate.
• Cut out photo and you have this very, very cute bookmark.  This photo would also make a cute refrigerator magnet.

I also have this up on my message board.  I don't like clutter, but this has been up for quite a while because it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  I wrote on the back: "Aiden 4/11."  





How about making a magnet from a signed and dated statement from your kids to their Grandma so they can feel all warm and fuzzy too!

Secret Note to Grandmas:  Have your grandkids over and help them make some personalized gifts for Mom!

Get out your paper, glue, scissors and start crafting!
-Laurie (AKA "Sentimental Grandma")

I Need Minions > DIY Personalized "Go Fish" Cards

Every year I like to make a few simple and quick gifts for Christmas, and this year we will be sharing our ideas for DIY gifts with you! First up is these cute "Go Fish" playing cards that I made and put in my oldest grandson's stocking when he was about 4 years old.  You all know the "Go Fish" game, but I added some extra "aawwhh" factor and personalized the game by using pics of family members instead.  The first time that my grandson and I played the game and I told him to "Go Fish," he said "No, Grandma - "Go Human!" Kids say the darnedest things - in our house we call this game "Go Human."  

Want to make your own "Go Human" cards? Well of course you do! You will need:

• 1 picture of each family member that you want to use - I made 52 cards total so I needed 13 pictures of family members (4 cards of each person).  That's my Mama in that picture. You could even add in pics of your family pets.
• Fun and festive Scrapbook paper to adhere to back of picture.

And ... that's it!!  How simple is that?


The details:

• Crop all photos to 3 1/2" x 2 1/2". I cropped photos in Photoshop Elements (PE) which made it quite easy to crop all photos to same size.  Open photo and set crop size to 3 1/2" x 2 1/2".  This will open a crop box on the picture that you can move around and resize, but will still keep it the set size ratio.  Crop and save.
• Print photos.  In PE you can print eight on a page choosing "Print Package" in "Select Type of Print" Box. Then in the "Select a Layout" Box choose "Letter (8) 2.5 x 3.5", this will print eight of your cropped photos on one letter size page of photo paper.  
• Rough cut photos out.  This means cut them down the middle so you have two strips of 4 pics each.  I would show you a picture of this but I didn't know I would be doing a blog back in the day!
• Cut your scrapbook backing paper into strips the same size as your photo strips - 4 1/4" x 11".
• Adhere the two together.  You can use whatever you want to glue these together.  I have lots of craft paraphernalia that I have to use to justify the owning it so I used my mini Xyron machine with permanent adhesive.
• Cut cards apart.  Be sure to use the photo side of the card as a guide.  I have this nifty Fiskars cutter that I use.
• Use a corner rounder punch to round each corner.  I like this EK Success corner rounder and use it all the time (I used it to round the accordion pleated medallions behind the elephant in the Circus Baby Boy Banner.)

Done! Easy Peasy! 


I was not paid to promote Xyron, Fiskars or EK Success products - although I'm not adverse to being paid - anyone listening?
- Laurie

I Need Minions > Master Grocery List

Remember our lunch monster post? Well today we are giving you one more tool to help you fight the battle of being the family chef. How nice you say? Why yes, anything for you, dear Chaos and Gloss fans!

Here is our Master Grocery Checklist all on one convenient, listed by category, organized sheet. You can download it HERE.

Feel free to send us a mental hug as you are zipping up and down the aisles, checking off items left and right from "your super organized, never forget anything list".

OR  you can blow us some kisses from wherever you may be (don't worry, they will find us) when your kids or hubby are adding items to your magical list; having to never again to utter the words, "Why did no one tell me that we were out of XXXX?!!"

~Angela
P.S. More bang for your buck! There are two grocery lists per sheet. Print, cut in half, hang on fridge. Happy shopping!