Lowe's Build and Grow

I signed Brooke up for one of Lowe's Build and Grow workshops and we had SO much fun! I believe she is a little on the young side according to their recommendations (4 or 5 minimum age), but they didn't card her and she did GREAT! I was impressed with her hammering skills! I did help her quite a bit, but she did a lot on her own and she was SO SO proud of herself! You can't beat that! She is so looking forward to going again and I can't wait for her to go back! Home Depot does something similar, but we haven't gone yet. If it's anything like the Lowe's workshop, you should definitely check it out! 

You sign up online and then go check in where they have you sign a waiver and give you a pre-packaged item to build. Then you go to your "seat" (upside down bucket) and "table" (2"x10"'s on top of upside down buckets) where they have a little hammer for you to use.

The packages come with easy to follow pictorial directions.

My new-to-me embroidery machine!!

I shouldn't do some things. Things like window shopping, going to the dog shelter to just "look", going to the fabric store to "kill time", and looking at Craigslist just to "see what they have".... I have ended up with deals I couldn't pass up, one or three dogs, a crap TON of fabric I never intended to purchase, and a brand spakin' new (to me) kick ass embroidery machine! Okay, it's kick-a'ness is yet to be determined but it certainly has the potential!! I just need to find the time to figure it all out! 

I got a hell of a deal. I had to do some MAJOR negotiating and mayhaps shed a few tears to convince my husband of how great of a deal this was and how this little investment would pay off great dividends. It will, it will!! Part of the "deal" I made was that I would finally let go of (i.e. sell) the bins and bins and bins of clothing that I have stored out in the garage in sizes I have not seen in um.. years. I blame him though- I've been kicking out children like it's my job and well, I didn't get myself pregnant. I fully plan on getting down to the size of the clothing in there and yes I could still wear most of it if I did, but it will take time. Corey said that if and when I do, I can get new clothes. I am typing this up here so that it is written and he can not deny having said it. I only type the truth! :) My goal is to get through the clothes sometime in the Fall, when it isn't 110 degrees. For real today it was 111, and this was our 52nd day over 100 this summer. Awesome. Or not. When I get to them though, there's several hundreds of dollars to be made! Seriously. I have over 120 skirts alone!

On to my new machine! I need to name her. I am open to suggestion. 

I got a Singer Quantim XL-6000

The sweet lady I got it from gave me a ton of extras. I got one roll of stabilizer, a whole RACK of high quality thread, an older laptop (that was used mostly for the embroidery CD's and downloaded designs), and several CD of embroidery designs. I will probably end up selling most of the CD's though since they aren't things I would use (and will help me pay it off!...oh wait, who am I kidding. I could use that money to get new designs!).

Her first car ride with me.

Her new home. She fits in well. 

 You can see the thread and laptop there (you can also see how I hung my iron and ironing board with the wall hooks I got 2 for $1!).

Ohh la! la!

I love all of the yummy colors!! 

My first attempt at embroidering a name!

 

Success!

A few things I've done so far! Baby steps. Right now I'm just doing names and I've only used the fonts that come on the machine. I don't know how to get fonts and designs from the computer to the machine yet!

SAHM dinner FAIL... almost!

So we had pulled some chicken out of the freezer for dinner and Corey  had been mentioning all of these different ways we could cook it. I said I would figure something out and he said he trusted me! :) I had planned on roasting it in the oven at a low temperature all day.. but um... totally FORGOT about it EEK!! It's not like I'm one of those "Ohhh honey, you will have a nice hot dinner ready for you as soon as you walk in the door" types. But, since he gets home right at dinner time, it makes sense to have dinner ready.. most nights! :) The day got away from me and I walked into the kitchen after 5 and said "OOOOHHH SH*T!!!" I had done NOTHING for dinner, and the thought hadn't even crossed my mind! So.. I frantically set to work.

My mission: prepare a full meal in less than an hour and have it be convincing enough that Corey would have NO clue that I didn't slave away all day preparing it!

My "on the fly" menu: Baked chicken, skillet potatoes, green peas, and homemade apple cake!

My chances of success: HIGH (because I have super powers, in case you didn't know)

Tactical Maneuver: Called the hubs and told him we needed more bananas. Good stall tactic. ;)

 I began this frantic dash at 5:19pm.

Praise God for the invention of the Pampered Chef Deep Covered Baker and thank you Mama for getting it for me for Christmas!  I plopped the chicken quarters in there. (ick... raw chicken is just gross).

Haha... I'd like to thank The Pampered Chef for making this meal possible...

I grabbed the Rosemary Herb Seasoning Mix.

and went to town seasoning it all over and under the skin.

All ready to cook in the microwave for 20 minutes.

 Anyone see the problem here?...

It beeped at 5:20... I had set it for 20 seconds, not 20 minutes. Genius, I am!

Ahhhh... that's more like it! :)

On to dessert prep. Easiest and most addictive cake ever.. Apple cake! Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and mix the batter.

Here's what you need:

4 cups (2 boxes- but you won't use all of the 2nd box) of white cake mix

1 1/2 cup of applesauce

Mix together.

(Call me lazy, but I just mixed this directly in the 9x13 pan to save a bowl!)

Spread it out as evenly as possible before baking at 350.

I had 4 minutes and 44 seconds left on the chicken when I popped the cake in

 

to bake for 30 minutes.

 Give the kids some olives to play with/eat to keep them entertained...

I cubed up a large tater and popped it into the microwave for a couple of minutes to soften them up a bit. The microwave had finished cooking my chicken. I had taken it out and let it continue to cook in the baker while I finished the meal. Then I plunked the potatoes into a skillet that had a little EVOO and fresh chopped garlic, I pan fried them and they were SOOO good!

Doesn't that look delish? Wish you could have smelled it! YUM!

I got some peas cooking as well

 

and added some "I can't believe it's not butter because nothing about it IS butter" (so that Benjamin could eat it). He ended up not eating the peas, actually he spit them out... not that you care, but wanted to share.

It was at about this point in the prep that Corey walked in with these. These bananas are large. I find it funny that he got big bananas because he complained the last time I got big bananas and insisted it was better to get smaller ones. Again, useless information  and you will not get back the time it took for you to learn that tidbit. My apologies.

While the potatoes were still cooking, I made the "icing" for the cake. You need:

4 Tablespoons butter

1/4c milk

1/2 powdered sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

 

 Melt the butter in the saucepan and then add the remaining ingredients. Mix until bubbly then remove from heat.

 (that little wisk is also Pampered Chef and is an awesome and very handy little toolie to have!)

When your cake is done, remove from oven and poke holes in it with a toothpick. I have found this to be the best way to get the carmely goodness to soak in all over the cake! Mmmm!

 I just dump the caramel on top and spread with my ..... wait for it.... Pampered Chef spatula (I need a kickback from them...)

Dinner is DONE at 6:11pm. Rock on.

I would show you a picture of the cake.... but well I would be embarrassed at how much of it is left after two days...

Mission Outcome: SUCCESS! Although, I am going to be honest, I think I sort of shot myself in the foot with this. He had NO clue that I did this mad dash, but I fessed up. Bad move, Tracy... because he quickly said that I can't ever have the "We should go out to eat since we don't have time to make dinner" excuse. *rolls eyes* He then commented on how quiet I was when he first got home.. I was FOCUSED! Had to keep my eye on the prize! LOL!

Our after-nap craft for the day

I think I've created a monster. Every day when Brooke wakes up from her nap she asks what art project we are going to do! I'm a sucker for her blonde hair, blue eyes, and persistence! So.. today I pulled out some odds and ends and the kids decorated little paper people. I was quite impressed with their creations!

Ben would NOT sit down and pose for a picture with his creation. A cat was on our porch. We do not have a cat, so this was a big deal apparently.

CAT!! CAT!!