Oh my the time has flown..

Being in school, taking care of a 19 month, and being the best wife I can be, that's where I have been! Oh also we moved. Things are crazy, hectic, and beautiful around here everyday! I have tons of posts I am trying to write so they will hopefully post once a week and then it won't be so lonely around here. Thanks for sticking with me. Now that finals are over I plan to stay pretty active on the blog. Also our current living place, while we wait for our house, has no oven. I need to learn new tips for cooking in a tiny kitchen. Happy Holidays everyone!!

xoxo,

Mrs. J

DIY Crayons

So I was browsing cute birthday parties on the ever addicting pinterest and came across homemade crayons. They are everywhere. I had a brand new pack and thought why not I have everything I need. So while I waited for dinner to cook in the crockpot I melted crayons in the oven. Peeling crayons is not the easiest task and I have a few wounds from it. At first I just tried to peel them off an that was a no go. Next I thought what could cut or easily so I used the exacto knife. This is why I have wounds, lol. Be very careful when slicing the wrapper!! Do this all at one time. I used one box of 24. After I peeled them all I broke them in pieces and separated by colors. I made 14 heart shaped new crayons. Preset your oven to 400 degrees then turn it off. Place mold into oven after it is turned off. About 15 minutes later remove them from oven and let cool. Once harden pop them out and let your kiddo color away!



ps. this was my first post from the iPhone so hopefully everything looks okay.

Xoxo,
Mrs. J

Our Trip to Austin

Soo this post is a little late, okay maybe a lot late but hey I posted it! We went to Austin for the Fourth of July. I did not book a room in advance and when we pulled into town we came to this Holiday Inn. It was less than $100.00 per night and had a pool and we could check in right then (it was early about 10am). Winner! It was also our anniversary, I dropped that hint to the concierge and they upgraded our room so we could have this beautiful view! Check it out. You can see the lake for miles. Unfortunately you can not really see the city from this side but that was okay. This was much prettier.

When we go to Austin we always go to Stubb's BBQ. Sadly I didn't care for my meal but Mr. J's was great! My hubby can eat BBQ 8 days a week :) My fried okra was soggy and mashed sweet potatoes were too sweet and cold.

Ribs, Brisket & Chopped Beef, Mashed Potatoes and Mac & Cheese

Chopped Beef Sandwich and Fried Okra and Mashed Sweet Potatoes



After we ate dinner we decided to walk down 6th street. It was still kind of early and we didn't really want to start drinking just yet. We walked past a few shops and then we stumbled upon this quirky stop. Museum Of The Weird. If you like weird s**t go here! I think we had to buy a t-shirt for admission to the museum area but it was worth and we had a good time. We even had a tarot card reading which was rather interesting to say the least.

 

After that we decided to head back to the hotel and go swimming and have some drinks. We had a great evening and looking out on that lake was just gorgeous!

For breakfast, the next morning we went to Juan In A Million. If you like breakfast tacos this is the place to go. When they tell you one is enough, listen. It is enough. The portion here is crazy and the price is great. We went here when we were leaving town to come home. Perfect filler up before the road trip.

Egg, Bacon, Potatoes and Cheese

I enjoy Austin very much. It is different than Houston not in a better or worse way, just different. And I like that. I love the downtown life they offer. They have tons of activities always going on. It was a great trip all in all and we can't wait to go back.

What is your favorite thing about Austin?

xoxo,

Mrs. J

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter Sage Sauce and Bacon

Recently I have discovered a new love for butternut squash. This stuff is amazing. I use it for my main go to vegetable currently. I have always loved raviolis and thought hmm that would be the perfect combination. I have been trying to come up with a few meat free meals. I did a quick google search and stumbled up Iowa Girl Eats as I was reading through the recipe I knew it was exactly what I wanted! I went and purchased the wonton wrappers since I had everything else on hand. Raviolis are hard to make y'all! Follow her directions they will be much prettier.

I did not have any come out perfect but they all tasted great. I made these and froze them exactly the way Iowa Girl Eats did. Now I have delicious clouds full of butternut squash at my hand anytime I want them. At the end of her post she had a recipe included for how she prepared them. I followed it and added some sage to the sauce, pure deliciousness!!! Just like Iowa Girl says total Food Coma.

The following recipe is from AllRecipes.com. It is basically the exact same. I liked Iowa girls raviolis better by browning them in the pan. check out both recipes and see which works for you better.

Ingredients

• 1 large butternut squash - halved lengthwise, peeled and seeded
• 2 teaspoons butter
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 50 wonton wrappers
• 1 teaspoon egg white, lightly beaten
• Sauce
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh sage leaves
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Place the squash cut side up on a baking sheet. Place 1 tablespoon butter in the hollow of each half. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Cover the squash with a sheet of aluminum foil tucking in the edges.
3. Bake squash in preheated oven until tender and easily pierced with a fork, 45 to 65 minutes.
4. Scoop the cooked squash into a bowl, and mash until smooth. Mix in the allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, and Parmesan cheese until well blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
5. Fill a deep pot with lightly salted water and bring to a boil.
6. To make the ravioli, place a wonton wrapper on a clean, flat surface. Brush edges with the egg white. Place about 1 tablespoon of the squash mixture in the middle of the wonton. Cover with a second wonton wrapper. Repeat with remaining wonton wrappers and squash mixture until all have been used.
7. Drop the ravioli into the boiling water, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until tender. Remove, drain, and keep warm until sauce is prepared.
8. To make the sauce, melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the sage. Continue to cook and stir until the sage is crispy but not browned. Add salt and pepper to taste. Place 6 to 8 raviolis on serving plates, and drizzle with sauce.

xoxo,

Mrs. J

A-Z About Me.

I feel like I need to introduce myself to everyone. I have been writing this blog for a little over 6 months and I just want to let my followers get a little bit of insight to let you know more of who I am. I hope you enjoy and leave a comment letting me know a little bit about you. I love to read others comments and get to know them better!

A. Age: 24..creeping up to 25 soon :)

B. Bed size: King, we had a queen and there just wasn't enough room for baby to be included. Although now that he is in his crib it's great!

C. Chore that you hate: Dishes. I don't really mind doing them but I dislike putting them up. I have never in any life be in a house with one. Number one priority for our home.

D. Dogs: We have a beagle mix we rescued from the SPCA about 3 1/2 years ago, His name is Berklee, he is our dog not our son though we are not those kind of dog people, he doesn't get dressed up either. I feel so sorry for those dogs.

E. Essential start to your day: a shower. If I haven't had a shower, I'm not really awake.

F. Favourite color: The color of the ocean. All the hues of blues and greens, I just love gazing at it.

G. Gold or Silver: Either. When I was younger it was for sure silver but now I enjoy white gold and even yellow gold every now and then.

H. Height: 5'4"

I. Instruments you play: Now this is kind of tricky for me... I don't play anything currently, but I did play the violin when I was in 4th grade through 7th grade. When I moved to a new school they no longer offered it.

J. Job title: Wife. Mother. Student.

K. Kids: Just baby J for now :) Can not believe he is 17 months already!

L. Live: Downtown Houston

M. Mother's name: Tracy

N. Nicknames: none really.

O. Overnight hospital stays: lots! I can't even remember how many times to be honest.

P. Pet peeve: when things don't get back in the proper place, especially when I do it myself lol

Q. Quote from a movie: "I love you. I am who I am because of you. You are every reason, every hope, and every dream I've ever had, and no matter what happens to us in the future, everyday we are together is the greatest day of my life. I will always be yours."

R. Right or left handed: Right.

S. Siblings: I have one half brother whom I'm unfortunately not very close with.

T. Time you wake up: Usually at 6ish everyday.

U. Underwear: An obsession like B. Spears

V. Vegetable you hate: Nothing that I just hate but I don't care for tomatoes.

W. What makes you run late: My son, the beauty of motherhood. 

X. X-Rays you've had: stomach and ankle

Y. Yummy food that you make: everything? just kidding Umm I guess I make a mean chicken rice broccoli and cheese casserole.

Z. Zoo animal: Lions, Tigers, all the big cats.

New Name Still an Awesome Photographer!

Remember a while back when I told you about that fabulous photographer?? Well she went and changed her name! Her new name is Southern Twang Photography. She takes simple pictures that truly capture the moment! Please check it out, she has wonderful prices and takes gorgeous pictures. She is currently having a facebook photo contest, it is only open for 5 more days so upload that precious photo and win!! Don't forget to like this page!!!!

Guess what else I just picked up? Yep you  know it, another chair!! This one has a different texture and it's much lighter in color, sadly the cushion is a little tore but nothing I can't fix :) 

xoxo,

Mrs. J

Jewelry Box Revamp

So a few months ago I stopped at the local thrift store and found a nice jewelry box, but it was missing a drawer. The felt on the inside was practically brand new, the music still plays when you pull out the bottom drawer and all in all it was in great condition, minus the missing drawer. When I saw it I knew immediately that I wanted to paint it of course! I picked it up for a measly three bucks!! Super steal! When I brought it home I just let it sit around until I had a plan. Something about it was just screaming making me girly and that's what I did! I painted it a light pink with acrylic paint. popped of the old pulls. Hot glued some pearls for new knobs and came up with a cute girly jewelry box. Truth be told I don't even have enough jewelry to put in it, what I have I wear daily, so I decided to making it a charging station for my cell phone. I carved a tiny whole for the charger to fit and it worked perfectly! I also added some cutesy little stickers. It turned out far better than I could have hoped for. When you see random items think about painting them to make them better, it almost always works out for the best and you can change it match your personalities.

xoxo,

Mrs. J

Rainbow Bundt Cake

So I have had a box of white cake mix hanging out in the pantry and I really wanted to try the new rainbow cakes everyone is making. It was so simple, I did a google search, found life as it has been given me, sadly her post didn't have any pictures but I had seen them done time and time again so I knew the basics. I used Wilton's icing dye for the cake batter colors. Remember a little goes a long way with icing. I wanted the colors to really pop! It was a little time consuming but nothing strenuous. Just divide your cake batter into 6 bowls and close as you can. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet. Sure Indigo should be in there but I skipped it. Spray in the inside of your bundt pan then flip it over to let the extra drain off. Follow your cake mix directions, then divide into six bowls, I did a little more than 1/2 cup for each color. You can start with red or purple, your call just go in order, which ever you decide. I started with red. It is a little difficult to get each color to spread across evenly but after baking you will see that it is okay because it creates a cool tye dye effect almost. I absolutely loved the way it came out! It made me wonder where my pot of gold is?

xoxo,

Mrs. J

Hanging Crib Letters

As soon as I knew I was pregnant I had to know if it was a boy or girl so I could choose a name. I have made several sets of hanging crib letters for friends and I think they all came out pretty gorgeous! Since I was told it would be a boy, I couldn't make it girly like the previous ones. Mr. J and I went back and forth on many names and finally knew Carter was the one! I didn't want a total themed nursery but I wanted it to have a theme, does that make sense? I choose Dr. Seuss! Who doesn't love his amazing books? My shower was also Dr. Seuss-y so I was lucky enough to get a few things for his room for the decor. I had two sets of Dr. Seuss books given to me. So I chose a book for each letter and started from there. I tore out pages that resembled the book title, so when you look at each letter you know which book it belongs to. Then I tore the pages to fit the letter and mod podged it all. It was so simple and I can change them down the line if I want too. I think they turned out wonderful! What do you think??



The Cat in the Hat

  

Go Dog, Go!



 

One Fish Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish



Are You My Mother?

And to Think That I Saw That on Mulberry Street



Green Eggs and Ham



xoxo,

Mrs. J



Our Computer Was Attacked!

Last night our computer got attacked by a nasty virus! I sat on the phone for over two hours til midnight last night trying to recover and save  but it was all lost. I had been working on my posts so I could have some ready but they were all saved on the desktop, so now I have to start all over! That's okay though because I have this new wave of inspiration going right now and I have been a crafty mama all week! Stay tuned for some great canvas projects this week!

xoxo,

Mrs. J

I'm still around...

...just haven't been much up to blogging recently. I am starting school for the first time in six years and I am nervous and excited! I have all those butterflies about the new year. I have been enjoying one on one time with Baby J, he is so grown already, I'm going to miss things here and there and right now I just want to take it all in!So if I'm not back to it soon I for sure will be come September, I will have much more time on the computer but right now I just don't want to waste that time. Thanks for stopping by and I won't be much longer :)

xoxo
Mrs. J

Beef Stroganoff

I had some steak leftover from fajitas and wasn't sure how I wanted to use. It rained here for the first time in months! and I wanted to something comforting. I decided to make beef strognaoff but I didn't have cream of mushroom. I did however have some Alfredo sauce in the fridge, I googled and made it happen. This is what I came up with. I thought there would be leftovers but the pot was practically licked clean.




1-2 lbs beef steak cut into strips
1 large container sour cream
2 jars Alfredo sauce
1 cup mushrooms
1 bag egg noodles

1. Boil pot of water and cook egg noodles according to package directions.
2. While waiting for water to boil; brown meat in a frying pan.
3. Drain grease, set aside.
4. Drain egg noodles, and place back in pot.
5. Pour in all of the other ingredients, mix.
6. Cover and place back on the stove top at medium heat until hot.



xoxo,

Mrs. J

Zucchini Alfredo

A friend of mine was trying a raw diet and she made Zucchini pasta and it looked so amazing, I had to try it. However no one in this house is on a diet and I thought Alfredo sauce would help both hubby and baby enjoy it more. This was very easy to make and tasted great, I served it next to a grilled steak, delicious!

Zucchini Alfredo

3-4 Zucchinis

1 cup jarred or homemade Alfredo sauce

I used a a cheese grater and grated all the zucchinis, warm up sauce. Combine. Eat and enjoy! 

xoxo,

Mrs. J

Herb Garden

In the beginning of April I decided I really wanted an herb garden. I think I spent less that $15 to get everything started. I choose 5 herbs I use often to start of. Here it is on it's first day.

I have used everything more times than I can count. At least 5 days a week I use something from this little garden. It has grown so quickly.

chives



rosemary

thyme

mint

 



purple basil



Here it is more than three months later. The mint has produced the most by far. I have also used lots of rosemary and basil for various things. Chives became almost for every meal and the thyme is a great add as well. Try your own. It was so simple.

xoxo,

Mrs. J



Mojito Cupcakes

Here is the stand. I should have gotten a better closer picture. Two of my favorites mojiots and cupcakes. These were a little dry, next time I will add more Rum, the lime on top helps the dryness and it looks super cute!

 Thanks to Two Peas Blog for this great find.

Mojito Cupcakes with Lime Cream Cheese Frosting

 For the cake:
Place a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Place paper cupcake liners in a 12-cup muffin tin, and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of buttermilk, 1 Tablespoon of rum (we used Captain Morgan’s Spice Rum) and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of salt.
In a large bowl with a hand mixer or with a stand mixer, mix together 1 cup of room-temperature butter and 2 cups of sugar. Mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 4 to 5 minutes. Reduce the speed to low, and add 4 large eggs one at a time. Scrape down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients and mix well. Add half of the buttermilk mixture and mix for another minute. Add another third of the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Add the remainder of the buttermilk mixture, and mix for another minute until combined. Add the remainder of the dry ingredients  and mix for a minute until the batter is smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure that everything is incorporated.
Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 of the way with batter. Bake the cupcakes for 25 minutes, then test for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cupcakes. If it comes out clean, they’re done. If not, bake for another 5 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before poking holes in them with a skewer or toothpick. Spoon the rum syrup (recipe below) over the warm cupcakes and let them soak it up. Let them cool completely before frosting (recipe also below).

For the rum syrup:
In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of sugar, 1/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of butter over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring often. When the butter is melted and the sugar is dissolved, remove from the heat. Carefully add 1/4 cup of rum and mix until incorporated. Add the zest of 1 lime and 3 sprigs of fresh mint, and let the syrup infuse for 5 minutes before spooning over the cupcakes. Let the syrup cool on the cupcakes completely before frosting.

For the frosting: In a large bowl with a hand mixer, blend together 8 ounces of cream cheese, 2 cups of confectioners sugar, 1 Tablespoon of lime juice and a couple of drops of green food coloring (if desired). Mix until well blended. Smooth on cooled cupcakes.

xoxo,
Mrs. J

Missing In Action

Sorry guys I have been all over the place and no time to blog. I have lots of posts ready though! We went to Austin, had a great dinner party, made some new recipes, and tackled a few projects. I will have them posting every morning for the next couple of weeks. How was everyone's Fourth of July??


xoxo
Mrs. J

A new Stand

I love tablescapes! A decorated table can make or break a party I think. I love finding old vintage items to make into new stands. I picked up this gem at a garage sale for $4. It was a little high but because the stand didn't have any stains or broken pieces I knew it would last me a while and be worth it.

I didn't love the color but I didn't hate it just needed some life added back to it. So I spray painted it a gorgeous yellow and I think that really made it pop! I can't wait to make cupcakes this weekend just so I can use my new stand.

So tell me what are you some of your favorite ways to use or make stands for presenting goodies?


xoxo,
Mrs. J

Homemade Coasters

I was trying to think of the perfect gift for my father in law, he is the man that has anything and everything and is super hard to shop for! But he loves his grandson so I know if I could incorporant him into the gift, it would be a hit! I was searchingblogs for inspiration and came across Lee La La post about DIY Tile Coasters. As soon as I saw it I knew it was what I wanted to make. This project is very simple and the cost makes it even better!!

Supplies:

4"x4" tile coasters
paper of your choice I used cardstock
printer
scissors
Mod Podge (Matte or Gloss)
paint brush
felt with adhesive backing

1. Print out a 4x6 photo onto paper.

2. Cut your print down to 4"x4"

3. Brush a thin coat of Mod Podge over your tile and paste your photo onto the tile. Let dry COMPLETELY! 

4.Once dry, put a thin coat of Mod Podge over your photo. Let dry completely.Repeat 2 more times, making sure each coat is dry before you do another, or else the paper will rip or smear.

5. To complete the coaster, cut out a 4"x4" piece of felt and attached it to the back.

xoxo,

Mrs. J

Revamped Tray

In blog world Chevron is everywhere! I actually love the pattern too, what can I say it's too cute to pass up. I have had this tray for almost 10 years! I have used it for many things around the house and actually keep it out at all times of the year.

I decided to give it a new chevron pattern. So I spray painted white primer over all the red.

Then I sprayed it Robins Nest blue. Then I decided to do something different, I wanted it to be simple. So I just used some painters tape and made my own design with it. Not that I still don't love the chevron pattern I just didn't want it  for this tray, maybe a rug soon!

Here is the finished product I love the way it came out!!!

 Thanks for stopping by, hope your weekend was fabulous!

xoxo,
Mrs. J