Mad Hatter Hat

So last Halloween I knew I wanted Caden and Brayten to be the Mad Hatter and Alice in Wonderland. My biggest obstacle was finding a top hat that was actually Mad Hatter-esque the way I wanted. I searched high and low for weeks without finding anything that worked so I decided I'd craft one!

Here's how I did it:


I started with a foam hat like this..

I picked it up from the local Hobby Lobby, I can't remember how much I paid but it was under $5.

So the first thing I did was carefully cut the brim, and the very top off.
Save the brim but go ahead and toss the top piece you removed. You should be left with a column and a brim. From there I inverted the column (and reattached it with tape) to give it that dramatic Hatter look.. like this.. and then used a piece of sheet foam for the new top of the hat.

There's a little extra on the brim you need to trim off (length wise). Next I bought some cheap acrylic paint in the shade of green I wanted and painted the whole thing (about two coats). Last. I added a ribbon, and a piece of card stock that I wrote 10/6 on, and added a piece of elastic to hold it to bubbas head because it was too small (the hat that is). lol 

Here's the outfit before it was finished...

..and here's the end result! 

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On Organic Steaks and Roasted Carrot Recipe

Made this super simple yet delish meal, grass fed organic steak and roasted carrots..this post is partly about both! Now we all know the benefits of buying organic meat but with organic grass fed steaks there's some extra differences, they taste, and smell different too! Yes honestly they do! The first time I bought some for Britt and I, I tossed them because I thought they were bad! Now it's not a bad or "rotten" smell I just knew they smelt distinctly different and I was concerned! I've been cooking and baking since before I can remember but I started on my own when I was about 10, so I know my way around a kitchen better than a great many so yes I know beef isn't some crazy hazardous meat but I'm also not into eating bad meat so in the trash it went! Lol anyway so the next time I purchased I thought OK I bought this yesterday and there is just no way I purchased bad steaks! So I took to the Google! Sure enough its super documented yes, organic steaks taste and smell different! So if this is your first time, don't throw away a perfectly good steak!

 So I don't do anything fancy with mine, and when we aren't "grilling" I cook it on the stove top. 

I start with a pretty little steak like this , I can say organic steaks are more filling so keep that in mind when purchasing! I'm super obsessed with the McCormicks Montreal steak seasoning so that's all I used with a bit of olive oil on a flat pan, I set my heat to about a 6-7 to get a nice char like you would from a grill and I use a meat thermometer so that I can take it off at exactly medium rare while I'm wrangling kids and everything else I usually have going at dinnertime! 

So the carrots are equally hands off, fast, and easy! Wash them down and put them on a cookie sheet, set your oven to 450 degrees. Drizzle some olive oil or grape seed oil on top, sea salt, cracked black pepper, garlic powder, and a bit of dried rosemary. Take them out when they look "roasted" and are soft when fork tested, I wish I could say how long exactly I cook mine, maybe ten minutes? Super great meal, if you need another side add rice :)

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Faking fresh cut peaches

So I made this cake for a friend last year and I thought I'd share how I made the peach look freshly cut as well as just share a pic of the cake, because well it's adorable ;)

So it was easy enough, I sliced a peach in half (the fuzziest one I could find), removed the pit, then used the smaller side and added a large basil leaf! Voila! Perfect "fresh picked" peach ;)

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Hamburger Soup

This is like the trash can punch recipe that everyone has a version of :) you can add or subtract anything you like and it will always turn out yummy! My grandma gave me this particular recipe and we love it :)

You'll need:

Half a cabbage

A can of corn

1 can kidney beans

1 box of chicken broth 

Or chicken bouillon 

1-2 cans stewed tomatoes 

(Can be any flavor)

Canned potatoes or diced fresh 

4 squash/zucchini 

Half an onion

1 pound hamburger 

Salt/pepper/garlic to taste

Now this recipe is so very flexible, my grandmas guidelines say to grab any veggies in your fridge or pantry that U feel like and add hamburger! If you adore one thing and loath the next, double up! 

So to start with put everything in your crock pot (except the hamburger) first thing in the am so it has time to cook! Make sure to add enough water to cover the veggies and set your crockpot to low :) if you forget and don't start it until later in the day go ahead and set it to high! After everything gets nice and soft and well cooked then cook your hamburger separate and add it AND the grease to your crockpot! This soup has a light but hearty feel to it (is that possible?!) which makes it a nice treat in both summer and winter! Hope you enjoy!

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The Lost Art of Etiquette

Etiquette... Etiquette has been a big deal in my life, my whole life. Since I could walk and talk, my mother and grandmother began teaching me how to behave "proper". Sadly its been something, as an adult, I've had to learn many people were not taught. Its been hard for me, growing up learning this or that is incredibly offensive or rude, in a world where so many people just don't know these "rules". Over time I realized I don't need to get offended I NEED to be proactive and try to help spread the knowledge!
  Etiquette is about putting others first and being aware of the effect your daily actions (no matter how slight) have on the people and world around you. It's about doing the right thing, being honest, and respectful. That's why I don't want this tradition to die. I teach my children, and I will continue to teach them. In my opinion practicing etiquette is one of the best gifts you can give to society!

So here's a little crash course of pointers I've compiled...

...It's really my top 5...

1. Say thank you and be appreciative of gifts. When you don't take the time to write a thank you note, or to thank someone kindly you take all the fun out of giving the gift. No one wants to give a gift to someone they deem unappreciative. So if nothing else, if you want to continue receiving, keep accepting in a gracious manner.

2. Don't ask financial questions. Period. Don't ask how much someones mortgage is, or how much their hair cut cost.. It's not your business and it's just plain inappropriate.

Side note: Nosiness in general is always a negative attribute.

3. Always offer to help after a dinner, it's just polite! If you are a guest in someones home, show them you appreciate the invite and the hard work they put into your dinner. They may not accept but they will remember your kindness!

Polite |pəˈlīt| adjective (politer, politest)
Having or showing behavior that is respectful and considerate of other people.

4. Canceling on a dinner.... just don't. Unless its an absolute emergency or if you cancel significantly in advance. But never don't show up on the day of. That shows immense disrespect to the host or hostess who has probably been preparing weeks in advance with you in mind, return the courtesy.

5. ....Continuing on being a gracious guest... Always eat the food, or try to eat the food. Don't complain about the menu choices. Again chances are your host/ hostess has gone through great lengths to prepare every aspect of the menu and it's not their job to further accommodate you except in case of an actual allergy (if they forgot to inquire in advance). If you must decline, eat what you can and then say you are full. But don't say you aren't hungry, because you shouldn't arrive at a dinner without being prepared to eat.

  These 5 are just some food for thought. If you find that you are frequent offender, with any of these, you may want to seek further education on the subject or feel free to ask me!

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The Best Juice

I'm a huge fan of juicing without a recipe... I usually buy fruits and veggies to juice according to their health benefits and throw them all together in the juicer and drink it however it comes out. I have a few things I prefer to drink together but this recipe is by far my fav! I made this one day and thought, WOW ok I need to write this one down! The whole family adores it!

Here it is for yall, hopefully you will enjoy it as much as we do!

1 half of a small lemon

1 small apple (I used a pink lady)

1 ripe pear

2 small celery heart stalks with leaves

1 carrot (leave the greens if you'd like!)

1 cutie orange (I removed the peel for this recipe) 

2 small beets with leaves or 1 large 

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Paradise Found.

 I'm a wanderer, and a gypsy, a roaming soul. I've never believed I could stay in one place.. I love to explore and adventure and see everything there is to see. 2 years ago we moved to Galveston, Tx.. A place thats won my heart over and over.
 I knew i'd love it, we always wanted to live at the beach. We knew it had everything we needed and wanted, School for us, good schools and a rich culture for the kids.. But its been so much more beautiful than we could have ever imagined.
 It's not for everyone. Some think it's too liberal, some feel it's too laid back, some say there are too many hippies or too many tourists, and some just hate the sand.
I LOVE it, WE love it, it's a place filled with traditions and history. The island feels like its own world. It doesn't feel like its neighboring giant, Houston, and it doesn't feel like small town Texas like Kemah or Texas City. Honestly, the island doesn't feel like Texas at all. It has a history different from other towns and cities and it just makes you feel like you're in your own little paradise filled with palm trees, hibiscuses, live music, and beautiful beaches. In the summer new people fill the streets everyday, and in the winter months we are left in the quiet with our neighbors, the beautiful ocean, and the fog. We islanders tend to be friendly, and neighborly. Most of us roam around on foot or by bike enjoying the salty breezes.
 An island is a happy place, I always say you're hard pressed to find a rude person, because who's angry on vacation? And who could be angry living on an island? Island life is slower but very active and earthy, you can see groups enjoying yoga both at sunrise and sunset. We have an amazing farmers market, and the most fabulous shops, boutiques, and restaurants. There are festivals and parades almost every weekend, there's always something fun for the family.
 Needless to say I'm a little obsessed... And, one things for sure, my restless roots are happy here <3

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