Easy Initial Frame

I am finally getting around to decorating my new house.  We have lived here for over two years, but I went and decided it was a good idea to breed soon after we moved in.  My little guy is now almost one and I can occasionally find the time to get some things accomplished around the house.

One glaring issue was the huge barren expanse of wall above my family room sofa.  It kind of had me perplexed.  It needed a large piece of art and I am cheap.  So, I put it off.

While shopping for frames for photos for my grandma's 90th birthday party (sorry about the excessive use of "for"), I came across a fantastic weathered wood frame.  It got me thinking.  What about a GROUP of pictures to mimic a large piece?

I decided I needed six frames.  Now, how to fill them?  I have three kiddos, so they got half of them.  I was still pondering the other three when I was at the craft store.  I came across wooden letters and had an idea for an awesome non-picture piece.  It was super easy and added a focal point that was much needed.   Here is what I did.

 

I took the letter I bought and spray painted it bronze.

 

Next, using the cardboard backing of the frame as a template, I cut a coordinating piece of fabric.

 

I put the fabric inside the frame,

 

then used command strips on the back of my letter (in case I want to change the frame later)

 

and stuck the letter to the glass of the frame.  Be careful not to push too hard.  You don't want shattered glass everywhere.

 

 

Then I hung it on my wall with my other pictures.  Cute right?

 

 

***Like my frames?  Got them at Hobby Lobby for about $17 each.***

***Like my letter?  JoAnn Fabrics for under $5.***

***Like my pictures?  They are 11"x14" prints from http://www.shutterfly.com/ .***

***Oh, you mean you like the actual photos!  The top two and the picture of my daughter were done by my beautiful cousin Tara.  If you live in the Dayton, Ohio area, she can take some for you too!  Check out her blog at http://taralewisphotography.blogspot.com/ .  She is AMAZING!***

 



Easiest Pie Crust EVER

I come from a family of cooks.  Anytime we are together the conversation ALWAYS turns to food.  A great new restaurant, favorite food your mom made, best new recipe and on and on.

Today, I am sharing a recipe my Aunt Becky found.  She has been telling me about it for quite a while and I just now got around to trying it.

I have been using my grandma's pie crust recipe for years (see it here along with my recipe for chocolate chip pie).  Occasionally I suffer from amnesia and try another recipe, but the need for a food processor and pie weights brings me back to reality.  I don't have time to go to the bathroom, let alone babysit a baking pie crust that I still have to make filling for.  So back to my grandma's crust I would go.  I didn't think it could get easier until I tried this version.  No rolling or extra dirty dishes.  Winner, winner, pie for dinner.

Pat in Pan Pie Crust

 

 

Ingredients:

1-1/2 c. flour+3 Tbsp.

1-1/2 tsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. vegetable oil

3 Tbsp. cold milk

 

Directions:

Stir together flour, sugar and salt in pie pan.

Measure oil in a 1 cup measuring cup.  Add milk and whisk with a fork to combine.

Dump all at once into flour mixture in pan.

Stir together using fork, until no pockets of flour remain.

Pat out, using fingers across bottom and up sides of pan.  Flute edges if desired.

If you are baking to fill later, prick shell with fork and bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.

 

 





Winey Wednesday-Strawberita

A while back, I gave my review of Bud Light's new Lime-a-Rita (basically, it's awesome).  I loved it so much that when they ran out, I bought a box of the strawberry version...



Utter and total devastation.  I was expecting a fruity and fresh tasting pink concoction, but I got Dimetapp.  The lime version is light, crisp and fresh.  This stuff was heavy, syrupy and tasted like chemicals.  It.  is.  terrible.  Don't buy it.  Buy the lime.  I can't believe the same people make both.  Somebody dropped the ball on the strawberry team.  Boo, hiss.