The Help

Took my Mom to see this movie on her birthday! Treated her to popcorn and all!

I have to admit I really didn't know much about this movie other than what I had seen in the trailers (which misled me) and that people were raving about it and it was still in the top 5 at the box offices several weeks out.

So the "misled" part...I thought this movie was going to be funny...ha...try the complete opposite! It was actually a pretty sad movie (I'm pretty sure my Mom cried through all of it). I'm not a crier at all, but it almost got to me so that's saying something.

It's so hard for me to imagine life being the way it was in the movie. Oh how times have changed and keep changing.

Now I want to read the book...anyone have a copy I can borrow?!?!

Madre's B-day Card

Flower Button...so cute

I know it's cheesy, but it makes you smile anyways

The Adjustment Bureau

I liked this movie...yay! I think it was cast really well and it had a good story line. I also liked how it reminded me of the FOX show Fringe, but less gross/gory/weird (still love the show though...my family and I are probably the only ones who watch it, but it hasn't gotten canceled yet knock on wood).

But back to the movie...it makes you think (which I like), it has dancing (just a little but it's good) and it makes you realize that if you really want something then never stop trying.

Chevron Canvases

Been sitting on these for a while...mainly waiting to take pictures of the green ones since I hung them before taking pictures...but better late than never!

Got this idea from the Artsy Fartsy Mama blog. I had seen chevron stuff all over the blog world and wanted some for my own decor. That desire accompanied by the canvas idea (I really am a copycat crafter) and canvases on sale at Michaels, I knew I had to make one!

Of course I wanted to make something a little more meaningful to me so I decided to do a dance theme.

Here was my process of getting the chevron pattern onto the canvases after I printed one off of the internet (wish I remember were I found it).

Tracing, Taping, Painting and Ta-da! Chevron pattern accomplished!

I traced the pattern with a pencil onto the canvas then took painters tape and followed the marked pattern. I used the color Pool Blue and painted front and sides...then before the paint was completely dried I took off the tape (I've heard doing that helps with the paint not peeling off where you want it to stay).

I repeated these steps with the color Green Apple for my other two canvases. When everything was completely dry I erased any pencil marks that showed. Then it was time for Mod Podge!!!

I used my Cricut and the Wall Decor and More cartridge to cut out my dancer (6 inches) and the decal in the top left aka the spotlight. All the wording I put together in Word and cut out with an X-acto knife (the one downfall of my Cricut is that I can't get a cursive font to connect because the current software isn't compatible with a Mac). Mod Podged it all on and they were done!!

Eventually I would like them to hang on top of each other instead of side by side but that's the only place I had to put them...for now...ha ha.

Arthur (2011)

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Oh Russell Brand...the characters you play are all the same and very annoying (except when you voice an animated bunny), but yet I felt like watching you in this role anyways. Sadly, my low expectations were met yet again...except for Helen Mirren, she was kind of funny/sarcastic in this movie. I don't think I need to discuss how bad Jennifer Garner was in this movie, other than anytime I watch her I want to watch 13 Going on 30 again...ha ha.

Oh and this was a remake?!?! I had no idea, I'm pretty sure the first one isn't on my Oscar winning movie list so I won't have to endur the story line yet again. yay!

PIcture Happy at the Riverwalk

Where we ate b/c it was Mexican food and had purple umbrellas

The outside area of the restaurant we sat in looking out at the river

View from our table...color select purple!

Awesome mosaic mirror and pink brick border...I want!

Classic Riverwalk shot...woo hoo!

color select yellow...love how the lights stand out

Bonus picture!! the best pic I got from our visit to the Alamo

Hope you enjoyed the pics...oh and I got a new camera finally! Woo Hoo!! It's a Canon so needless to say I'm having fun playing with all the settings...he he he.

Picture Happy at Sea World

Mama Shamu with Baby Shamu

Planking Anyone? (sorry couldn't resist ha ha)

This alligator looks hungry...thank goodness there's a fence!

Azul show...very colorful and Cirque-like

Sea Lion show...the big tan one can do crunches

We took this trip about a month ago to celebrate our birthdays and our 2 years. We enjoyed a day in the shade of shows, the shark exhibit and the penguin exhibit (I just love those little guys). We may not be little children any more, but that doesn't mean we can't still act like them right?!?!

More pictures from the rest of our trip to come!

Jumping the Broom



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We almost paid $20 to watch this a few weeks ago on a mini vacation! Instead we rented it off On-Demand for $4.99 and that was still too much...next time we are just going to wait for it to come in the mail.

This movie looked like it was going to be really funny, but the only funny parts were the ones in the previews...I hate when movies trick you like that...not cool trailer makers, not cool.

The Conspirator

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Another Netflix rental! Woo Hoo!! This was pretty good. The characters played their parts really well and the ones that were being stubborn really got us worked up. We just wanted to yell at them and tell them to listen...ha ha.

I had actually never heard this side of the story before (or maybe I did and wasn't paying attention in class), but it was interesting. Now that I'm a little bit older all the history stuff I thought was boring as a teenager is actually pretty interesting.

The Expendables

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If you like a bunch action, hard to understand actors and loud noises this movie is for you. Do I like action films...you bet! But this wasn't my cup of tea. I actually started dozing off towards the end (or maybe I was just really tired...who knows). My favorite part of the movie...Jason Statham...he he he.

Oh and when I looked up the poster for this movie it said they are making a second one. So for those of you who liked it...you have something to look forward to movie wise.

Recipe Book

So you know that kitchen shower I mentioned a while back. One of the things I did for it was buy a cute recipe book, mailed out blank recipe cards with the invites and then had everyone bring them back filled out to put back in the book.

Since then I've been needing wanting a recipe book for myself so I went back to Hallmark and picked me up this little Retro one. I'm so happy with my choice! I love all the kitchen tools on the cover and on the sides of the cards. It has tabs for all your different recipes (desserts, meats, soups, etc...) and it has stickers you can put on the cards like tips, substitutes or favorites!

I would love more recipes to put in it, so if you have any send them my way please!!

Crazy Stupid Love

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Isn't that the truth...ha ha. This movie was better than I expected. I had heard great reviews from one friend and not so good reviews from another. I'm in the middle of the two. There were definitely parts where I could not stop laughing and others where I was like okay lets get this thing moving. Overall, I will probably rent it when it comes out, unless there is some crazy sale and I can get it on the cheap.

Deja Vu

A long long time ago in a far away place, a princess had a run in with an evil curb...luckily for her, her knights in shining armor came to her rescue...

Okay, so maybe it wasn't that long ago...is a year and a half that long ago?!?! Anyways back then a stupid curb decided to jump out at me and pop my tire which resulted in 4 new tires. If you want to re-live that experience with me, click here.

Guess what???? Yep...had to get me some new tires AGAIN!!

This time it wasn't a curb that ruined my tire it was 3 screws stuck in 1 tire! Yes you read that right 3 screws, 1 tire. And bad alignment, but ehh that's not as exciting.

So I take my car in for them to look at my slow leak and then before they even got to that tire they were like "Um you have no tread left on your front tires" I was in shock! Before they even check the "broken" one I'm down two tires. I agree to the two new tires and they take my car back to replace those and inspect the flat one. Cue dramatic music...My tire isn't fixable because of the 3 screws stuck in it and not just in one place, but all around the tire. (I blame my office and the people who moved into the 2nd floor...if they didn't want to work there then there wouldn't have been construction and there wouldn't have been screws left lying around....grrrr...I'm not bitter I swear)

Now I have to get 3 new tires (luckily that last one was under warranty...don't really get why the other ones weren't but whatever) and then the guy goes "You'll probably want to replace that other one too since the tread (even though still in really good condition) will be more worn than the new tires and your car will start to pull"

4 new tires?!?! Are you kidding me?!?! So what did I do then? I called my Dad of course...ha ha. He agreed that I should get all 4...so there weren't more money (ugh I hate spending money...unless it's going to be on the snake jewelry I want...wink wink)

Talk about Deja Vu...geez! 4 brand new tires only a year and a half/26k miles after the first brand new set.

I do have to say the guy helping me at Discount Tire was really nice and helpful and got me the best deal after I showed him what kind of deal my brother got me back in the day (yay for hanging onto paper work)

Now I just have to go get my alignment fixed...yippee

Bobcat Chocolate Chip Cookies

I know they look like just regular ol' chocolate chip cookies, but they were first created by some awesome Bobcat ladies I know (we are all alumni now...oh how time flies) so they are rightfully called Bobcat Chocolate Chip Cookies.

These cookies are so soft and fluffy (aka my kind of cookie)! They really don't spread out much when baking and the chocolate chips never look melted...it's crazy!

To make these little clouds of joy all you do is...

Cream together:

• 2 sticks butter
• 1 egg
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 T vanilla

Mix into creamy goodness:

• 3 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

Add in one package of chocolate chips

Drop balls of batter onto cookie sheet (size is up to you). Bake at 375 degrees F for 7-10 minutes. I like to cook them the bare minimum, but of course you are the judge of your own cookies.

Paul

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"It's probin' time!" That's got to be my favorite line in the movie! ha ha...

I have to say the only reason I watched this was because my parents rented it (my mom is the one who wanted to watch it...I was in shock!) It definitely had it's laughs and Seth Rogan was the perfect voice for Paul. Would I buy it? No. Do I think it's worth renting either thru your netflix account or redbox? Yes.

Chicken Enchiladas

I don't know why but I just crave these sometimes! I'm not that big of a fan of mexican food (me and cheese don't get along), but these I could eat every week. They are really simple too.

I adopted these from my friend Amber's beef enchilada casserole that she used to make (it's delicious and I really need to make it again) . One night I decided I wanted chicken instead of beef, so I made the casserole that way and loved it. Then the next time, I was like what if I just took this mixture and rolled it in the tortillas like the way they come in the restaurants and ta-da my chicken enchiladas were born...ha ha!

Chicken Enchiladas

What you need:

• 9x13 baking dish (I use a pyrex one)
• Breast meat from rotisserie chicken shredded (I shred by hand)
• 1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
• 1 10 ounce can Hot Enchilada Sauce
• 1 10 ounce can Mild Enchilada Sauce
• Pkg of 10 flour tortillas
• Shredded cheese (however much you want really)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Combine the hot enchilada sauce with the cream of chicken soup in mixing bowl
3. Pull/shred chicken and dump in same mixing bowl and stir
4. Take tortilla and put a couple of spoon fulls of chicken mixture on it
5. Roll tortilla and place seam side down in baking dish
6. Repeat until you run out of room in the dish or out of chicken mixture (yields 8-10)
7. Pour medium enchilada sauce over the tortillas (try to get all of them)
8. Sprinkle however much cheese you want on top
9. Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and how you like it
10. Let cool a little bit so the sauce thickens

Tips:

• If you want them even cheesier, you can put the cheese inside the tortillas 
• You can use corn tortillas instead like Elizabeth did in the picture below. This will make about 15 smaller enchiladas

Cards for Barrett

Sticking to the theme of the cookie cake

I cut the elephant out from the Celebrate with Flourish Cricut lite cartridge. The card itself is just decorative paper cut to fit an envelope and the wording I did on the computer and printed it out.

I love the texture of the paper for the body

Can't get enough of the monkeys and palm trees

This card I actually didn't use my Cricut! All I used was my paper trimmer, stamps, tape runner and black ink.


The monkeys are just so darn cute!