Stuck in the Snow?

This happened to us on Christmas, but now that it’s snowing again in Chicago, it could happen to you too! So here’s my tip and trick for the day.  

I have a little sedan that’s rear wheel drive = not good for Chicago winters. Every winter my handy mechanic (aka my dad) puts on my winter wheels. But then I also buy two heavy sandbags from Menards to put in my trunk. They are so helpful to weigh my little car down and prevent sliding uncontrollably on icy streets. It’s pretty cheap too, less than $10, I think. Oh, I also have a little red shovel in my trunk. From when I was 6 (no lie, this family doesn’t throw anything away). Just in case I ever needed to dig myself out.  Anyway, on to the rest of the tip…I remember my dad saying that if I were to ever get stuck in the snow where my wheels just spin and the car’s going nowhere…I can take the sand and toss it under the wheels so my tires have traction to get moving again.   

On Christmas Day, we were stuck in a driveway.  Doug was trapped in the driver seat because his door was blocked in by a stupidly placed nearby tree, so I had to hop out and save us (with the help of my brother in law).  I shoveled away the snow around my wheels with my handy little shovel, threw some sand under the wheels, and 20 minutes later, we were moving again! 

Be safe, don’t get stuck out there!

Playoff Sunday Lunch - French Dip Crock Pot Sandwich

When blog hopping (again), I came across a French Dip Crock Pot Sandwich recipe.  I emailed it to myself and saved it for a rainy day with a "recipes" label.  Gmail's labels make it way easier to find things whereever I may be, as opposed to saving/bookmarking a recipe on my work or home computer. Anyway, only a few ingredients, minimal work, melted cheese and toasted bread, what’s not to like??

Mama Stuart’s Notes:

1. After 8 hours, it wasn’t easily shredding yet.  Since I put it in at midnight and wanted it ready at noon the next day, I had time to let it sit longer than the suggested 8 hours. By lunchtime, it was shreddable goodness J
2. Before serving, I opened up the French rolls, put some shredded beef on one side and topped with a slice of pepper jack cheese (or swiss or whatever cheese you like).  I buttered up the other side and put in the broiler on low for a few minutes.  Then I put the top over the sandwich and broiled a few more minutes to get the outside nice and toasty.  Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t get too brown!  Broilers are hot and quick!
3. Don’t forget to serve with a side of juice from the pot.  Dip your sandwich and sop up the goodness!
4. But, I think it could be tastier. Hot giardiniera peppers easily solved that problem...mmMMmmM. I think next time I’ll throw some chopped up jalapenos in the crock pot.
5. My 3.5lb roast made about 12 servings.

Love how it took me two minutes to “prep” this. It’s a perfect meal for watching football for hours on a cold winter day. Ok so I did Winter One-derland art projects while everyone else watched football, but still J

Support Group

While blog hopping I found my calling. A support group. Other crazies like me! J You know you’re a craftaholic when…#2, 3, 5, 14, 23, 26, 29, 30, 34, 36, 44, 52, 58, 63, 66. I’m sure you won’t find it as amusing as I did, but that’s ok J. 

PS – what do we think about the signature?? Slowly learning how to better my blog...

Perfect Pair

I'm not sure these could've been anymore perfect for us, right?! They are sold as a pair by Button Empire. J

And to my surprise, in my stocking was thread, pinking shears, and an Xacto knife! Yippee!
Happy Friday everyone!

Just Like Daddy - Doin' the Laundry

Crafting Low

As I made yet another trip to Joann and Michael’s, in the same day, for the umpteenth time this week month, I felt like I reached a low. 

I already checked out with a cart full of goodies, but upon paying, I found the sale ribbon that I was looking for the entire time!  I worked up a sweat digging through that $1 bin. Tossing ribbon spools around looking for that specific shade of lavender/lilac that I picked up earlier in the week for fear of running out later in the month and not being able to find it later because it was seasonal! I felt like a mad woman. A bargain hunting crazy crafting old lady!  What have I come to!? Perhaps it was a glimpse into the future, when I will still be crafting as a Grandma, with 40% off coupons in hand.  Just like my Grandma J It was then that I realized…I must. stop. shopping. I need to just start doing already! The bags and bags of crap decorating supplies are taking over my bedroom.  Thankfully my loving, understanding, supportive husband hasn’t said a word about it yet J

Now that the Christmas decorations are gone (normally I’d be sad about this), time to start making things for Mia’s party and turn our house into a Winter One-derland! J And then transport it all to the real party venue.

I can’t wait to show you all the DIY details after the party! Will I be able to be mom, hostess, photographer, chef and party planner all in the same day?  Yikes, probably not a good idea, but we shall see. I know – all self inflicted stress.  But the pitter patters of excitement I get when it’s all said and prettily done, can’t be beat J

Sleep Training Works!

Well, it’s only been three days. But it’s working! And I hope it does from now on...

Mia has gotten used to sleeping with us now and then.  And she wants to all the time now. Not cool. So we decided to try sleep training, just like all the magazines suggest. But for you parents, here’s what we did.

After her nighttime bottle we put her in her crib. She stands up and cries. And makes Doug’s heart hurt. And I say, "Cmon, let's get out of here!" We lay her down, tell her good night, shuuush here and there.  Thanks to JC and Shannon, Mia has Violet who plays 10 minutes of bedtime music and says “Good Night Mia. Snuggle up!” Such a cool toy and Mia loves her! Anyway, Mia will continue to cry. But we leave and shut the door. She’ll keep crying. But I think she gets it now, and stops crying just a few minutes after. 

If she’s still crying after 10 minutes we’ll go back in and do it all over again. Lay her down, tell her she did a good job with the first 10 minutes, turn Violet on for another 10 minutes of music, say good night and some more shuuushes.  Then leave and close the door. We won’t go back in for 20 minutes this time.  If she’s quiet, we won’t go back in for an hour or so to check on her. We’ve learned that just because she’s quiet doesn’t mean she’s sleeping. If we go back in too soon while she's quiet, she’ll get up immediately and start crying and we have to go through the whole process again.

This is probably where a video monitor would come in handy.  But I think we’re going to try and save the $150+ and go with our method for now. Mia has successfully put herself to sleep the past three nights. And we can get a good night’s rest (or crafting in my case).  Let’s hope we can keep this up!