Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day!!!!

Just stopping by to wish you all a Happy Memorial Day! MAJOR thanks to ALL of our military & their families, past & present for the sacrifices they've made/making...still I cannot say THANK YOU enough! 

Easy Bag Dispenser

I dont know about you, but I try to recycle as much as possible...for crafting lol, NOT so much for the going green environmental purposes...how terrible does that make me sound? Now that my secret is out, I want to ask: "How many of you save those plastic cool-whip, chinese take out, & butter containers? Whatta bout empty wine bottles, spray bottles, cans, dishwasher detergent bottles? And last but not least, PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS?!" Well last night, as I was frantically swimming head first through a large MASSIVE amount of plastic grocery bags under our kitchen sink...my husband, Mr.Hooah, had snuck..(I was just reminded of my southern-ness by the obvious RED squiggly line underneath the word stating that 'snuck' is apparently incorrectly spelled, or even better, DOES NOT EXIST as an actual word haha)..up behind me & was watching in a state of complete confusion with his arms crossed...not even concerned that I could be drowning in a sea of plastic...I heard him exhale...what could have ither been a sigh of relief that I came out alive or a sigh of dismay because of all of my 'not-so-useful-at-this-moment' junk thats crammed under the sink! I say: "What?!" & he replies with a devilish smile,"I just realized my wife is a hoarder"! Hahaha!

I am one of those people that leaves my trash bags in the bottom of the bathroom can because Mr.Hooah is notorious for not putting another bag in after taking out the previous...so, I thought that leaving the roll of bags in the bottom would help him remember because, call me crazy, but it is a HUGE pet-peeve of mine to later on come back into the bathroom & notice that someone has thrown stuff into the trash can without a bag in there! 

So, on a link-up I ran across this amazingly cute & FREE way to make a dispenser for the bags here at: Small Home Love

And here is how I made mine, my way (:

What you need:

I used a recycled GNC shake container, ModgePodge, craft paper.

I gave it a quick shot of Ivory spray-paint,even the lid & cut a hole for the top.

Then I did as Small Home Love did, & printed out a label (I used photobucket's editing program & added the text above, Salle De Bain means Bathroom in French), then cut it out & cut the craft paper to use as a background like so.

Now you modge podge it on there(:

Thin layer over the top to seal.

And here is the finished product...Oh yeah, I added a bow because, well, EVERYTHING looks cuter with a bow! Haha! (:

3 Ingredient Slowcooker Pulled Pork

I cannot tell you how glad I am that I joined the blog world & have access to so many awesome recipes! My days of "tired of the same ol' same" are over..Dinner never gets boring in this house! I am ALWAYS mentioning how simple & easy are my favorite words, well, today I'm sharing with you a simple & delicious recipe that I adapted from here: Quick Dish! This 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe, had me sold at [3-INGREDIENT]! After an exhausting day by 9:00AM yesterday & after debating to go on a NO COOKING strike in the kitchen, I decided to give this recipe a whirl! I was pretty excited because I LOVE slow cooker meals & I found a Tyson shoulder roast on sale! I also decided, being from the south, that a BBQ sandwich just isnt a sandwich unless it is topped with cole slaw! Mr.Hooah had never had nor heard of having it that way until he was sent down to Alabama(where I am originally from) for training. And his friend staying over from NewYork, had never had it that way ither & boy was he skeptical! He soon changed his mind tho, after one bite! The root beer really gives it a great flavor & tenderizes it as it cooks. <<In my best Paula Deen voice>>: Hope ya'll enjoy this tasty tender easy-peasy recipe as much as the Hooah's & I did! (Haha)

Ingredients:

• 1 (2 pound) pork tenderloin (pork shoulder or butt can also be used)
• 1 (12 ounce) can of root beer
• 1 (18 ounce) bottle of barbecue sauce
• 8 hamburger buns 

1. Place the pork tenderloin in a slow cooker and pour the can of root beer over the meat. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or until pork shreds easily with a fork.
2. After pork has cooked, drain and discard the root beer. Shred the pork and place it back in the slow cooker. Pour the barbecue sauce over the pork and stir to combine. Serve immediately or keep warm in slow cooker until ready to serve. Serve on hamburger buns.

Photo Frame/Picture Upcycle

I have been rather crafty lately because we will be moved completely next week & not inbetween houses, THANK GOD! Though I'd like it to be during the week, I find it highly unlikely with my soldier hooah'ing at work all week, THEN we will be taking leave to go back home with our little pup in tow, to see my sister graduate high-school & mi familia! With all this new house-ness & moving & redecorating, I have been renewing & upcycling things...A while ago, Mr. Hooah brought me a WHOLE BOX full of 8x10 matted frames that a buddy in his unit was just going to throw away! <---one soldiers junk is another soldiers wife's crafting treasures! Haha! Excited was an understatement! So I have been using them here & there & this is what I came up with thus far!

I did these over our bed(using the instructions below) a while ago when we first moved in together because we didn't have a lot of money to go crazy decorating
 & they turned out pretty cute...

Now at our new house, I couldn't figure out what kind of pictures on the cheap, that I could get for our bathroom that will be grey & painted with lyrics around the huge mirror, so I had some leftover scrapbook paper & these awesome little black frames & put my creativity to work & came up with these!

HOW TO:

USE A FRAME WITH MATTING...

USE THE MIDDLE AS A TEMPLATE TO CUT UR PAPER,THEN GLUE IT TO IT...

I REALIZED THE MATTING WAS REVERSIBLE, SWEEEET...

NOW PUT THE MIDDLE BACK & TAPE AROUND EDGES...

SHOULD LOOK LIKE THIS,NOW FRAME IT!

 

NOW YOU SHOULD HAVE AN AWESOME FRAMED PICTURE THAT WAS SUPER EASY & LOOKS PRETTY DARN NICE! I'M HAPPY WITH IT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T COST ME A PENNY & NOW I WON'T NEED TO SPEND MONEY ON PICTURES! THE BEST PART IS I CAN CHANGE IT UP WITH DIFFERENT PAPER($0.59 @ HobbyLobby!) ANYTIME I WANT!

---I apologize for such not-so-lovely picture quality, lately, I have had to use my phone, my camera charger is MIA, most likely packed somewhere in the forest of boxes! lol (:

Cheap & Easy Shabby Chic Decor

I have SOOO many new ideas for the new house that I had to start writing them all down because I couldnt keep up with all of them! Lol. I know its going to take me a little time to get to all of them & get them done, but eventually I will! But for now, its the simple stuff! I am re-doing my new kitchen in shabby chic-cottage-french-country style roses & sweet pinks & pastel type colors & cupcakes! So while going through a box of craft things I ran across these serving platters I bought at DollarTree for a project gone bad & I decided to just save them for another time! I saw a really neat idea & my inspiration on homemade shabby chic kitchen decor here @:

http://ginkelsey.blogspot.com/2011/07/shabby-chic-kitchen-decor.html

After seeing it, I book marked it & wrote it down in my notebook...when I saw the trays I immediately thought to use them in this little project & make this my own way! And here is how I did it & how it turned out! Pretty stinkin' cute if I do say so myself! Mr.Hooah even admitted they were "cute" even tho he may not admit it to anyone else haha!(:

What You need: 

 

How to:

Paint your flatware(I got mine @ Dollar Tree for $1 each set) on some old newspaper or plastic,I had to do 2 coats.

I used Krylon Ivory Satin & sprayed 2 coats over my recycled platters.

This is what your flatware should look like after it drys! SO adorb, right?!

Now hotglue on the bottom & top of the back of the flatware & place it on the platter. I would arrange it how u want it on the platter before gluing so you can see how you like it best!

Take some ribbon & make a hanging-loop.

I also added a bow to a piece of flatware!

Now how darn CUTE are these?!?! Finished cute shabby chic, CHEAP & adorable kitchen decor! Cant wait to hang this up in my new kitchen, it means something to me to have created something cute, fun, & colorful to add to our new home! (:

I also linked up here:
http://bowdabrablog.com/2012/05/19/saturday-showcase-craft-projects-2/


AND SOOO STOKED TO BRAG ABOUT THESE BEING FEATURED HERE @:

Frame Revamped With ScrapBook Paper

Frame Revamped With ScrapBook Paper!

As You all  know, I am faux-fabricated crazed at times & instead of fabrics, which I do not use often enough, I use scrapbooking paper or crafting paper! I had this frame from I dont even remember how long ago, its been boxed up & I recently ran across it, then threw it in a throw-away-box...I looked at it every time I walked past & thought "Ohhh get it out you can do something with it"...& I did just that! (: I dug out some scrapbook paper remnants I keep for things like this & went to work!(:

 What is pictured is ALL you need, how simple is that?

1. Make a template of the square middle, so the back is open for the photo slot, trace it onto the back of your paper...

2. Now cut it out, should look like so:

 

3. Use your fingers or a paint brush to apply your glue over the surface of the back of the glass.

4. Now work the paper onto the back & push it down firmly. You may have to work with it a little & you may have to trim around the edges of the frame if a little bit of paper goes past the edges. And this should be what you end up with!

 

The best part is, you can use ANY design of paper! This matches our black damask bedroom theme so I decided to go with it! 

Simple, Easy, & Didnt cost me a dime!!!(:

 

C/O 2012 Graduation!

Congrats to my beautiful little sister, 
Miranda-Nicole!!!!!

I CANNOT believe that time has passed so quickly! My little sister will graduate as an advanced student of PHS C/O 2012 May 24th! And I honestly cannot express just how PROUD of her that we all are! 

To Miranda-Nicole:

I remember when we were little & you were my little shadow, following me EVERY where I went, I remember getting so mad because you'd follow me around with all my friends & "you were my little sister" & I going through that tween "tryin to be cool" stage lol. Then we became bestfriends doing everything together, I grew up, graduated, & before I knew it, you were in high school, all grown up yourself...You have blossomed into a very beautiful young lady & I am so proud of you for accomplishing all that you have in school. You are super smart & I know that you can do ANYTHING with your life, go ANYWHERE, & achieve whatever DREAMS you dream! You are closing one door as this new one opens. Go far, as far as you can in life & let nothing stand in your way of achieving your goals! You can do anything that you set your mind to do! We bump heads alot & we are so different from one-another, do not always agree on the same things, & now we are many miles, STATES apart, but no matter where life throws ither of us, just remember that we'll always be bestfriends, but better than that, Sisters, even if at times it might not seem like it...

 Love you Randa-Panda!(:

Now a poem, it was read to me the day I graduated...

Oh! The Places You'll Go

by Dr.Seuss

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

 You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.
And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.
Oh! The Places You’ll Go!
You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.
You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don’t.
Because, sometimes, you won’t.
I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.
You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You’ll be left in a Lurch.
You’ll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump. And the chances are, then, that you’ll be in a Slump.
And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.
You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked. A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? How much can you lose? How much can you win?
And if you go in, should you turn left or right…or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite? Or go around back and sneak in from behind? Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.
You can get so confused that you’ll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.
No! That’s not for you!
Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing. With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!
Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.
Except when they don’t. Because, sometimes, they won’t.
I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.
All Alone!
Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.
And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.
But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.
You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)
Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!

Meet Our Fur Covered Kiddos

Meet Our Newest Addition: Kizzie...

This is our newest member of our lil' family! Kizzie...Mr.Hooah & I had been searching for the perfect puppy for me(due to him being in the army, he's in the field for a week or 2 at a time, & it gets pretty lonely with my un-sociable kitty lol) & after months we found her! We wanted to find a small puppy that would stay small & one that could "grow" along with us. She is a long haired Chi-Weenie, & I have had her since she was 8wks, she'll be 11wks tomorrow...she's my wittle spoiled rotten baby haha! I was SOLD on the very first pic of her, the sweet lady Mary that let me know she had her, kept me updated on her via text-pictures until I was able to go all the way back home to pick her up...one of THE BEST days on my list! She is rambunctious & total sweetie pie!

Our little wookie, Kizzie(:

 

And here is our unsociable bug/mouse chasing kitty Yoki...(more like lazy little fatty when she isnt running amuck through the house like a cheetah at crazy hours of the night)...we usually call her Yoke's, she hides out.. usually under the bed(unless there is a can-opener opening & she alway assumes its tuna for her haha) where she plans a daily attack on our feet when we get into bed, not sure she knows what to think of the pup but shes getting used to the yipping or just tunes it out! lol. I rescued her back in '09 & fell inlove with her lil fluff-ball self & her orange-ish colored lightening-bolt over her left eye, sometimes I joke & call her Henrietta Potter! (get it? lightening bolt, harry potter...now u've gotten a small dose of my 'nerdy-ness' in its truest form LOL)

WHY CANT THEY JUST STAY SWEET & SMALL? LOL

Yoke's: