And The Winner Is.....

Andrea Schneider!!

 This beauty will be arriving at your doorstep soon!

 

Thanks to all who entered!  Stop back soon to check out more giveaways! 

I'm definitely doing another one, it was kinda exciting to see who won.  

P.S.  This giveaway was powered by Raffelcopter, so you know it's fair and square! 

Best.Lunch.Ever.

I originally pinned a picture of this cauliflower pizza recipe by Always in Wonder, only to find out that she didn't have the actual recipe, just helpful hints and great pictures.  Since one more click to the original site was one click too many, I just went off her tips and made up my own recipe based on what I had in the fridge. 

OOOO... So good!! Lunch around here has never been this delicious!

First, I riced a little less than one head of cauliflower in the food processor and then microwaved it for about 8 minutes.  Once it was done, I added about 3/4 cup of mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, a teaspoon of Spike (one of my favorite seasonings) and one egg.

I covered a cookie sheet with parchment paper and then spread out the cauliflower mix into a shape that sightly resembled a circle.  I left it about 1/4 inch thick.  Then I put it in the oven at 425 until it was golden brown.  I'm not sure for how long.  Time seemed to go SO slowly as I sat drooling in front of the oven, but if I had to guess I'd say about 20-25 minutes.  

 

While it was baking, I washed, cut, and steamed some broccoli and carrots. Once the cauliflower crust was golden brown, I removed it, smeared some leftover spaghetti sauce over it, and topped it with the steamed broccoli, carrots, some diced ham, and a bit of shredded cheese.  Place it back in the oven and broil on low until cheese is melted. 

Remove and enjoy!

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great week!

G...

Like most things, I'm a little behind the times in the diapering department.  I've recently discovered gDiapers, and although we've only been using them a day and a half, I think I could love them. 

 

The "g" stands for green, genuine, gorgeous, grassroots, and the list goes on.  

So far I'd say they make my Little Munchkin giddy!

 

If you haven't heard of these you should check them out!  

What else don't I know about?? Please fill me in!

Freebie Friday- Storage Containers

 Here's the short on why I currently don't drink coffee.

During the delivery of both of our daughters, my husband and birthing partner (that sounds cheesy)  had the rigorous and demanding job of staying awake.  When anticipation and adrenaline weren't enough, he relied on good ole' caffeine.  Even though I felt like death, my sniffer was in overdrive, and his coffee breath made me want to barf!!  Now, I can't stomach the stuff.  

All joking aside, Adam was awesome during both births.  I guess he figured he was the reason I was there in the first place, so he stepped up to the plate.  

So, after Munchkin came into the world, I went on a search for a new hot beverage to get me going in the morning.  I tried hot chocolate, hot cider, some mocha thing-a-ma-jig, and a few Keurig concoctions. I finally found this stuff and fell in love...

 

Which leads me to today's freebie... This cute little storage container.
Not only is the cappuccino business awesome but it comes in this awesome container.  It's the perfect size and it's nice and sturdy. 

 

 

Here's the how-to.  Start by peeling off the label and wiping out the inside with a wet paper towel.  

 

Next, cut a pretty piece of scrapbook paper to fit through your printer.  Using a blank Word document (turned landscape, not portrait) and a fun font, print your label.  

  

Cut the paper to fit onto the canister.  Hot glue the paper on.  OOPS!!! My paper ended up a little too short.  No biggie! I'll just employ my favorite craft material...burlap.   

 Hot glue a little slice of burlap over the gap using lots of glue so it won't ravel.

 

There you have it!  I can't wait to finish some more delish Starbucks-like drinks so that I can whip out some more cute containers.  I'm thinking "rubber-bands" "cords/chargers" and "chalk" for my chalk board calendar.

.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Before you go, be sure to enter to win the first-ever giveaway here at Well Rounded!!  You could win this colorful cross to help you celebrate Easter!

Surfs up!

Just put another big check on my to-do list.  

Our niece is celebrating a birthday at the end of the month and I wanted to get her a decorative surfboard for her new surf-inspired bedroom.  I found some beautiful ones on Etsy.  They came with a pretty price tag, too!  Since they were just a little way outside my budget, I decided to make one... how hard can it be right??

 

Good news... I was right!  It's not that hard.  A little time consuming, but not hard.  It's a little late for step by step pictures, but here's the gist of it.

Step 1- Find a piece of wood.  I found an inexpensive plank of pine at Menards for around $5.  It measured 6'x12''x1''.

Step 2- Draw one side of the surfboard onto the plank.  Cut it out and sand it smooth. (My final product was about 4'x1')  

Step 3-Trace the finished side onto paper with a pencil making a thick, heavy line.  Flip that onto the unfinished side of the plank, pencil side down, and rub over the line.  This will make a perfectly symmetrical surfboard.

  

Step 4- Cut out the second side and sand it smooth.  

Step 5- Use a router to round the edges. 

Step 6- Finally, paint it.  I also added a coat of polyurethane to the top for a glossy finish.

Helpful Hint:  If you are uncertain about how to use these power tools, simply show an interest in learning how to use them.  A man is bound to take over and make your job easy!

 

 

There you have it, your own surfboard.  The middle is a little boring, I know.  I'm thinking about adding some hooks and turning it into a coat rack sort of thing. 

 

 Thanks for stopping by!  Hang loose... haha, get it??

It's a GIVEAWAY!!!

I very proud (and a little nervous) to announce the first ever giveaway here at Well Rounded.  I've wanted to do a giveaway for a while now, but there has been one thing holding me back...the fear that no one will enter.  Well, as of yesterday, I have 50, YES FIFTY!! followers.  I know that's small potatoes for most, but I'm hoping that with 50 followers, maybe, just maybe, a couple of people will enter. 

Here's what you could win just for being awesome... 

(See details below regarding how to become awesome)

This colorful, handmade, one-of-a kind beaded cross.  You all had so many nice things to say about my Easter Centerpiece that I wanted to give you all a chance to win one!
 

To enter, check out the new gadget at the top of the side bar.  It will list some simple steps, and upon completing any, but preferably all, you are in!  The more steps you complete, the more times your name is entered. You must enter by March 30 so that it has time to be shipped before Easter. 

Thanks in advance for entering so that I don't look like a looser who can't even give her goods away!!
Good Luck!

Newport Aquarium

Last weekend we took a little drive down to the aquarium.  I'm not sure I'd call it $60 worth of exciting, but it has been a whole week and Little Miss is still imitating the way the penguins walk, so I guess it was worth it.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great week!

Vegetable Medley

I'm not sure that this recipe is worth sharing because it's so easy.  It's probably not even worthy of being called a recipe because it is so simple, but I'm in love with this helpful dinner secret (yeah, that's what we'll call it) so I'll tell you all about it anyways.  

It comes to you compliments of my sister-in-law (thanks Brooke!) and will have you going back for seconds! 

You will need:

Vegetables of your choice

olive oil

french onion soup mix

Place vegetables on cookie sheet.  Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle soup mix on the top.  With clean hands, mix it all around.  Place in the oven and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes, give or take, depending on the type of vegetables and your desired done-ness. 

 

Sometimes, to mix it up, I create a theme.  Tonight was green and white night.  Broccoli, asparagus, green peppers, cauliflower, onions, and potatoes... Delish!

Try adding a little chicken, shrimp, or steak and calling it a whole meal. 

 

Enjoy!

As of late, my lack of posting isn't due to my lack of creating.  On the contrary.  I've been quite busy with custom orders lately... and loving it!  Filling orders gives such a nice sense of purpose to my crafting frenzies.   Here's one of my most recent projects, hair flare for a bridal party.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

The Importance of Reading (from my little soap box)

As long as I've known him, my husband has always loved to read.   I wish I could say the same.   Maybe it was because I was never a good reader.  I was slow, jumbled my words, and it was all I could do to pay attention to what I had read. (I'm self-diagnosing here, but I'm pretty sure I was dyslexic with a touch of ADD.)  So, from the second I found out I was pregnant, I knew I wanted my baby to share in her Dad's love, and raise a reader.

  

Reading is so important for little minds.  It helps them develop their vocabulary, improves their comprehension, expand their imagination, and so much more!

Now, I don't claim to have any expertise in this area, and I'm sure a qualified professional could offer many more tips, but I am a Mom, and my Little Miss does love to read, so here's my advice. 

1. Do it often.

2. Make books available.

3. Use your kiddo's name in place of the character. 

4. Be dramatic.

Now, here's my must-read list... 

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

by Michael Rosen

 

This book has beautiful illustrations!  It uses repetition that they will quickly pick up on and recite with you.  It's super suspenseful and exciting! 

Pig Tale

by Helen Oxenbury

 

 

This fantastic book delivers the classic message about the grass appearing greener on the other side.  It features cute pictures, it's not overly long, and it rhymes.  Who doesn't  love a rhyming book?!?!

Heads

by Matthew Van Fleet 

 

 This is probably the coolest book I've ever seen.  Each page talks about parts of animals' heads using rhymes and brightly colored pictures.  It's best feature is that it is chuck full of touchy feely things and movable parts!  Check it out...

  

A Bad Case of Stripes

by David Shannon

 

Stripes, as it is know 'round these parts, is a cute story about a girl who comes down with a mysterious illness all because she isn't true to herself and her love of lima beans.  I love this one because the illustrations are brilliant.  I think Little Miss loves it because its silly. 

 

We are always looking for good books... 

 

So, I have to know, what's on your list of must-reads?