The HOME GIRL!: May 2013

Thursday, May 30, 2013

FESTIVE FRIDAY FIESTA Link Party # 12 with Features!

Hi everyone!

WHO'S READY TO PARTAAAAAAY!?!?!?!

It's that time again! Hope you're having a great week. I'm sick this week, but it seems like I'm on the mend now. And this is one party I can definitely attend, even when I'm under the weather!!! =)

But first, a few great features from last week's party!

Robin from Fluster Buster created this inspired idea! A 4-foot garden in a 4-inch pot!

I love the paper flowers she created and this idea is just awesome!!! What a lovely gift!

Holly from The Coconut Head Survival Guide created this beautiful dessert buffet for her outdoor-turned-indoor Memorial Day Party! You'll want to check out her other posts too, which showcase her DIY Centerpiece project!

This looks like it was a fun party!

Jenna from The Painted Apron created this adorable Flip-Flops tablescape

I love these globes she found and put her candles in! So pretty!!! I also LOVE the idea of the flip flop on the table with the napkin through it! So cute!!

And the post with the most views this week goes to...

...drumroll please....

Diane from An Extraordinary Day with her flower arranging tip she found on Pinterest!

I had actually seen this too, and wondered if it worked...I'm so glad she showed us how beautifully she pulled it off!!! This is a stunning arrangement!

Congratulations to all who were featured! If you were featured, feel free to grab a button below! I'm also putting up my general Fiesta button in case you'd like to add that.

Here's the Button if you were featured!

And here's the code for that button....

This one below is the general Fiesta Button

Here's the code for the general button....

Hope those work! Thanks again!

See you at 8pm ET tonight for this week's PARTY!!! This party will be open from 8pm ET through Sunday at 8pm ET. Can't wait to see what you have in store for us this week! =D

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Wednesday, May 29, 2013

WHADDA WE EATIN' WEDNESDAY!!! Easy Corn Casserole recipe!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

How are you doing today? I hope better than I am...I'm sick, and I'm just feeling miserable. It's a sinus infection that I seem to get a couple times a year, and was just recently thinking that it had been a while since I'd been sick...and then! POW!

However, I didn't want to miss out on sharing this yummy recipe with you. This is great for potlucks, or chili suppers and is super yummy!

It's a recipe for EASY "GOLDEN CORN CASSEROLE"!

I got the recipe here. The "Taste of Home" recipe site and cookbooks are wonderful. I was first introduced to them when my mom got me one of their "best recipes of 1999" cookbook...they had so many great recipes in there!

I thought this was the same recipe for corn casserole that my mom makes and that I love, but this one is different....still yummy, though.   This recipe was submitted by a user of the site, and it was so easy to make that I knew I had to try it...because...as you know, I'm ALL ABOUT EASY!

Without further ado, on to the recipe! Here's what you'll need...

3 eggs

1 carton (8 ounces) French onion dip

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 package (8-1/2 ounces) corn bread/muffin mix

1/2 teaspoon pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 can (15-1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained

1 can (14-3/4 ounces) cream-style corn

2 cans of chicken breast or 2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded/chopped (Optional- We did add this to make it a meal in itself, but it is not necessary)

In a large bowl, beat the eggs, dip, butter, corn bread mix, salt and pepper until combined. Stir in the corn (and chicken if you're using it).

Pour into a greased 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°.

This recipe will serve 8-10 people....We ended up having leftovers which reheated fine the next day!

The verdict?? A hit with the adults...a miss with the kids.

I served this twice...once for a meal with just our family, and once at a Memorial Day BBQ we had on Sunday. It was the same at both events...the adults liked it, the kids did NOT! lol

Sooo...if you're going to a potluck with mostly adults, this might be a good option to bring...a kid's party with mostly kids? I might make something else...haha!

Hope you enjoyed this WHADDA WE EATIN' WEDNESDAY! Come on back tomorrow (Thursday) at 8pm ET and post your OWN recipes, tablescapes, DIY's, home décor....basically YOUR creativity on our FESTIVE FRIDAY FIESTA Link party....I'd love to see what YOU'RE up to!

Have a great week!

Monday, May 27, 2013

Tablescape Tuesday - Memorial Day Americana Table

Happy TABLESCAPE TUESDAY, Everyone!!!

I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!   Ours was very eventful!   Lots going on pretty much all weekend!

Well, since we had a BBQ with a few friends at our house on Sunday, we decided to have our Sunday Family Dinner on Monday instead, and it was the perfect time to do it because it was MEMORIAL DAY!

We had my father and his girlfriend join us for this "Monday Family Dinner". They just returned from a wonderful 47 day whirlwind vacation halfway around the world!   So it was great to see them, to hear about their awesome vacation, and to have them cook us a DELICIOUS gourmet meal at our house for us!   That was a treat!

In case you happen to be wondering.....I'd love to take a short minute to explain what our "Sunday Family Dinners" are all about for those of you who are seeing my blog for the first time...If you've read this before, feel free to skip this part...
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We started a new family tradition in January 2013 (a New Years' Resolution) that I hope continues even after the kids are grown.

"SUNDAY FAMILY DINNERS!"

We pretty much have dinner together as a family most nights, but on Sundays, we have a special dinner in the dining room as opposed to the kitchen table, where we normally eat.

I get out the fine china and candles and make a special meal and so far, it has been something we look forward to each week.

Then once a month, we invite some of our extended family to join us for a Sunday family dinner.

It's also been giving me a chance to do lots of new TABLESCAPES..haha!

To see my previous tablescapes from other Sunday Family Dinners, you can click here:

Sunday Family Dinner #1 - Red and Blue Toile
S.F.D.#2 - Black, White and Silver
S.F.D.#3 - Winter Woods With White
S.F.D.#4 - The "Royal Treatment"
S.F.D.#5 - Super Bowl Table
S.F.D. #6 - Mardi Gras Table
S.F.D. #7 - Spring is Springing Up
S.F.D. #8 - "Apple of My Eye"
S.F.D. #9 - "Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss"
S.F.D. #10 - The "KNego" Tablescape (Designed by my 9 year old son)
S.F.D. #11 - The St. Patrick's Day Tablescape
S.F.D. #12 - Last-Minute Lavender Tablescape
S.F.D. #13 - 3 Easter Tables
S.F.D. #14 - Wrapped In Love Tablescape
S.F.D. #15 - Wrapped Up in Family Tablescape
S.F.D. #16 - Orange You Ready for a Picnic Tablescape
S.F.D. #17 - Barbies and the Pink Shoes (Designed by my 6 year old daughter)
S.F.D. #18 - Simply Nautical but Nice Tablescape

Because I'm on a budget but love to switch up my decor for the various tablescapes each week, I'm decorating my tables almost entirely on BARGAINS....finds from the Dollar Stores, Thrift Stores, or regular stores with sales or clearance items.

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Of course, considering that this was Memorial Day, I wanted to create a special patriotic table to celebrate the Holiday!

Here's what I came up with...

I was hoping to pull off an American table with just a hint of hometown friendliness.

I found the cute flag hangers at Dollar Tree, 3 for $1, so I bought those and I really like how they turned out hanging from our lights! (other Dollar tree finds at this table include the wine/water glasses, the round placemats, and the glass candleholders along the center of the table)

I had also found some great burgundy plates and bowls at our Goodwill store...they were so pretty...they were Better Homes and Gardens dinnerware, but they only had 3 bowls, 4 dinner plates and 3 salad plates....sooo...I had to improvise and I ended up making some varying sets of dishes in white, navy and this burgundy color.

The runners across the table (two of them) are from Walmart's fabric dept. I loved how they matched the bowls in the center as well. I wasn't sure what to put in those, so I ended up putting a candle....looking back, I should have added something else in there to fill it, but, oh well...haha!

The centerpiece is a bouquet of pretty flowers in a glass vase that I found at a garage sale. I set them on a nice silver box shelf (also from a garage sale) as a pedestal. I draped it with a scarf I found at the Dollar Tree. On both sides are my Ikea white candleholders with white candles.

I really liked the look of the red white and blue with this tan tablecloth..I think it made the colors really stand out and it was also easy because I used the same tablecloth last week..haha...

Well, thank you so much for joining me today for TABLESCAPE TUESDAY! Please come on back tomorrow when I'll be sharing a great new recipe with you for my WHADDA WE EATIN' WEDNESDAY segment!

Have a wonderful day and I hope to see you again soon! =)

This post is being added to...
Tablescape Thursday
Thrifty Things Friday
Let's Dish

Thursday, May 23, 2013

FESTIVE FRIDAY FIESTA #11

EEK! I'M LATE TO MY OWN FIESTA!!!

I'm so sorry everyone! It's been a rough night...my hubby, who was supposed to watch the kids tonight while I came in and set up the FIESTA, was not feeling well, so I had to put the kiddos to bed and all that entailed....time just completely got away from me!

Happy (Almost) Friday, Y'all!!!

Hope you had a great week and are ready for a FIESTA!

A FESTIVE FRIDAY FIESTA, that is!!!

Since I'm so late and need to get this up here I won't be able to do features this week, but will show you the post with the most views...It is Marigene from "In the Middle of Nowhere" with her lovely Green Spring table..."Spring Brings More Green"!

There are so many things I love about this beautiful table! Awesome job, Marigene!!!

Now, onto the party!!!

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Wednesday, May 22, 2013

WHADDA WE EATIN' WEDNESDAY! Recipe for Super Easy Ice Cream Cake!

Hi all!

Welcome to another WHADDA WE EATIN' WEDNESDAY!!!

I am really excited about this recipe I'm going to share with you!   It couldn't have come at a better time, too!

My son's best friend was coming over to our house...this is the friend that a few weeks ago, we had planned to go to his Birthday party, but my kids were actin' up, somethin' CRAZY, so we ended up not going to the party.

We knew he'd be sad that his best friend (my son) couldn't come to his party, so we wanted to make it up to him when he came over.

We put up a big "Happy Birthday Banner" and got his presents and homemade cards together...and I decided to make this recipe....It was SO easy and all the kids LOVED it!!!   Everyone had seconds, and some even wanted to go for THIRDS!!   My son even asked me to make this for HIM on HIS Birthday...which is several months away!

It's a SUPER EASY Homemade ICE CREAM CAKE!!!

All you'll need are...

1 box of 12 Ice Cream Sandwiches
1 tub of cool whip
1 bottle of magic shell
And any extra toppings you'd like (the original recipe used crushed oreos on top, too, which looked really good!)

I really wish I would have gotten more pictures because it was so easy, but I did get some of the finished product!   I'll also include some pictures form the original recipe to show you how easy it is to make this!!

You start out by making a layer of three ice cream sandwiches right next to eachother. Then add a thin layer of magic shell to the top of that....

Source

Then add another layer of three ice cream sandwiches, but this time going the opposite way (so if you started laying them vertically, for this next layer, set them horizontally, or vice versa)

Do that for 4 layers of 3 to use all 12 sandwiches.

Source

Then cover with the cool whip, like a frosting

Then add your drizzles of Magic Shell, and other toppings. We used red sugar sprinkles and made the chocolate drizzles in a checkered pattern for interest. Here it is with the candles already in it for my son's friend.

You'll want to store the finished cake in the freezer until about 10 minutes before serving, then put it in the fridge until time to serve.

This makes an adorable little ice cream cake for a smaller crowd.

It was so easy to make...the kids helped me make it, which made it even more special for them....and to us, it was just as good as a fancy ice cream cake...and a LOT cheaper!

Here's my son's best friend blowing out the candles on his special cake while my son takes a video!

Thanks so much for joining me for this WHADDA WE EATIN' WEDNESDAY! Have a great day and I look forward to seeing you again soon!!!

This post is being added to....
Wonderful Food Wednesdays
Foodie Friday
On The Menu Monday

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

TABLESCAPE TUESDAY!!! "Simply Nautical But Nice" Tablescape!

Howdy Folks!!!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and are already off to a running start with your week!

It's been a busy one for us....with lots of friends and fun!

Today I wanted to share with you a simple, nautical table that I made for this past weekend's Sunday Family Dinner! It has the elements of Red, White and Blue, but is a less patriotic theme (I'll be doing more patriotic this weekend!) and more of a nautical theme/lighthouse theme.

Before I do, though...I'd love to take a short minute to explain what our "Sunday Family Dinners" are all about for those of you who are seeing my blog for the first time...If you've read this before, feel free to skip this part...
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We started a new family tradition in January 2013 (a New Years' Resolution) that I hope continues even after the kids are grown.

"SUNDAY FAMILY DINNERS!"

We pretty much have dinner together as a family most nights, but on Sundays, we have a special dinner in the dining room as opposed to the kitchen table, where we normally eat.

I get out the fine china and candles and make a special meal and so far, it has been something we look forward to each week.

Then once a month, we invite some of our extended family to join us for a Sunday family dinner.

It's also been giving me a chance to do lots of new TABLESCAPES..haha!

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The inspiration for this Sunday Family Dinner came from these cute lighthouse plates I recently bought at Goodwill.

When I saw them I instantly remembered that I had some lighthouse/boating-themed stuff to put out for a tablescape and snatched them up lickety-split! At only $1 each, I was a happy camper! =D

I love lighthouses...I have for years! I'm not sure what it is about them...maybe because they provide help and hope to weary sailors that land is near.....or maybe just because they're pretty, usually attached to some pretty houses and usually in such beautiful settings....I'm not sure...but I do love them!

I decided to give this table a bit more of a simple, and even a bit more masculine theme...and these colors seemed to do the trick.

I started with a beige tablecloth that I've had forever....Then topped it with some cute Goodwill rope knot placemats, which are placed vertically.

For the place settings, I kept it simple...Just a silver charger from WalMart (I found these over the Holidays) and the lighthouse plates. I really wanted to just leave the dinner plates so that everyone could see the lighthouses.

I paired it with some beige Pier 1 bowls that I found at our church's local thrift store for $1 each! Love them!

I also used some burgundy napkins to kind of add a pop of color and to match some of the red in the plates.

For the centerpiece, I put a lighthouse key holder on a silver block shelf I found at a garage sale recently (I bought 4 of them total...they'll come in very handy, I think!) Then I added rocks to the top to make it look like a lighthouse on a rocky cliff.

Underneath I put a navy doily thing...like that was the ocean...a stretch...yes...yes it was...but I was ok with that...haha!

Next to the centerpieces were some more pier 1 bowls with candles, some cute lighthouse glasses from our church's local thrift store, and some candles inside of candles with some blue food-colored water in the outside candleholder.

The longer Lighthouse plates were a gift from many years ago and looked very nice on the table.

I also scattered some rocks on the table to give it a little more interest.

I liked this simple table...it was certainly fun to put together...and our family enjoyed having a nice dinner on it.

Thanks so much for joining me for this TABLESCAPE TUESDAY!!!

Have a great week and I hope to see you again soon! =)

This post is being added to...
Inspire Me Tuesday
A New Creation
Centerpiece Wednesday
Let's Dish
Tablescape Thursday

Thursday, May 16, 2013

FESTIVE FRIDAY FIESTA Link Party #10 with Features!!

Welp, it's ALMOST the weekend!

This week has gone by pretty fast for me....probably because it's been so busy!

I'm ready to PARTAAAAAY! Link partay, that is! lol

But first, a few FAB Features from last week's party!

Starting with none other than FABBY from Fabby's Living with her wonderful Mother's Day Table!

She really has some beautiful pieces here and she put them together so nicely for this beautiful table!
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Next up we have the Oh-so-talented, LIZBETH from Just Dip it In Chocolate with her beautiful Recycled Starbuck's Bottles!

Unfortunately I couldn't put her larger picture up, so I was only able to get this thumbnail...for the full fidelity pics, please check out her website! =D

I've done this same thing with some vases of mine, and they just turn out so nice! I love the colors Lizbeth chose as well. So fun and festive!
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Next up, CHRISTINE from Rustic and Refined created a lovely vignette that featured one of her favorite finds...a beautiful vintage scale!

This looks wonderful!
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And last, but not least, with the most views this week...ANOTHER CHRSTINE...from Christine's Home and Travel Adventures....with her beautiful Beachy Tablescape on her Back Porch!

What a pretty table...and WHAT a pretty setting for this pretty table! Love it!
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Congratulations to everyone who was featured! If you were featured, feel free to grab a button below! I'm also putting up my general Fiesta button in case you'd like to add that.

Here's the Button if you were featured!

And here's the code for that button....

This one below is the general Fiesta Button

Here's the code for the general button....

Hope those work! Thanks again!

Now.....Let's PARTY!!!

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Wednesday, May 15, 2013

WHADDA WE EATIN' WEDNESDAY - Recipe for Easy Dorito Taco Bake!

Happy WHADDA WE EATIN' WEDNESDAY, All!!!

I hope you're enjoying your week so far!

Today I'd like to share with you a very easy and very yummy recipe for an EASY DORITO'S TACO BAKE!

We were PLANNING to take this to a Birthday Party of my son's best friend, but then just ended up making it for a family dinner. This would make a great weeknight family dinner or a potluck pleaser!!!

I pretty much stuck to the recipe I found on Pinterest with no tweaks and I really liked how it turned out.

Here's what you'll need to make this delish dish!

1 lb ground meat (turkey or beef)
1 pkg. taco seasoning
8 oz. sour cream
1 pkg. crescent rolls (8)
1 can tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes-mostly drained
1 c. shredded cheese
Dorito chips

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees..

Brown the ground meat and drain. Then add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and the taco seasoning....add a little water if needed to keep it from being dry, although the little water left in the diced tomatoes should do the trick.

Then roll out the crescent roll dough onto a 9x13 casserole dish...make sure to seal any perforatins and try to bring the rolled out dough up the sides of the dish...not all the way but just a little.

Spread your ground meat mixture evenly over the crescent roll crust....

Then, spread the sour cream evenly over the ground meat mixture...

Then, spread the cheese evenly over the sour cream (I just eyeballed the cheese...I'm sure I put more than 1 cup on there, though)

On top of that you place 3/4th of a bag of crushed Dorito's (or equivalent) evenly over the casserole.

Bake uncovered at 350 for 30 minutes

The result is a crunchy, cheesy, meaty, yummy Mexican-style dish that our whole family enjoyed (although my daughter didn't really love the crescent roll crust...but she's not really a bread person)

This was very easy to make and I loved it! It also reheated pretty nicely the next day, although the Doritos were not as crispy as when it just came out of the oven....I didn't mind all that much because it was still very tasty!

I hope you enjoy this recipe if you try it. Thanks again for stopping by and have a great day!!!

This post is being added to...
Wonderful Food Wednesdays
Foodie Friday

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