Favorite Soup Recipes

Warm.

Flavorful.

Smooth.

I'm talking about soup!  We love soup in our house, especially on those chilly winter days.  Or even a cooler Spring day.  They are easy to make and everything is simply mixed together.  Add a roll and/or salad and you have a delicious meal.

I'm sharing with you a few of my favorite soup recipes.  Add or take away some of the ingredients to suit your tastes.  Click on the name for the recipe and source.

Chicken Tortilla Soup 

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Taco Soup

Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Corn and Cheese Chowder

and here is the shortcut version to the Corn and Cheese Chowder.

I've made these soups many times and they are wonderful every time I make them.  The toughest part is deciding which one to make first.

Bon appetit!

Feather Boa Valentine's Wreath

It was time for a new Valentine's wreath for my door.  I wanted something simple, pretty, but festive.  So, I decided to create a wreath using a fun feather boa.

Here is what you will need:

• Feather boa (50% off at Hobby Lobby)
• Wreath (40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby)
• Spool of black ribbon (50% off at Hobby Lobby)
• Glue (I used hot glue from my own stash)

Wrap the wreath in black ribbon.  I glued as I went to keep it in place.  This won't show a lot, but it will cover up the white styrofoam.

Glue the feather boa along the top of the wreath.  I tucked the end of the boa under the bottom point and glued it.

Continue to glue the boa around the entire surface of the wreath.  Trim off the excess boa and glue the end.  You may have feathers flying around.  Hehe!

I glued a looped piece of black ribbon to the back to hang from my door.

Tada!!!  Looks pretty, festive, and was super simple!

Photo Coasters

Coasters are such an easy and inexpensive gift to make.  You can personalize them any way you want.  I recently gave my family sets of coasters using photos of their kids.  They loved them!

Most of the items needed I already had or bought over time using coupons.  Here is what you need:

• Mod Podge (used 40% off coupon)
• Gloss Acrylic Sealer (used 40% off coupon)
• Sponge Brush (on sale 10/$1)
• Felt tabs or felt cut into squares (used 40% off coupon)
• Tile coasters ($.13 at Home Depot)
• Photos ($.19 at CVS)

Measure and crop each picture to fit the tile.  To make sure the picture would be centered on the tile before cutting, I used index cards to cover up the part of the picture that would be cropped.  I made adjustments as needed to make sure I got the part of the picture I wanted on the tile and then trimmed off the edges.

Centered perfectly!

I actually cleaned off the tiles with a cloth before the next step.  Sitting on the shelves at Home Depot, they can get dusty.  You definitely don't want Home Depot dust stuck to your tile to remember forever!!!

Next, you will brush a thin layer of Mod Podge on the tile and a thin layer on the back of the picture. Place the picture on the tile.  Once it's exactly where you want it on the tile, gently push down.  Spread a thin layer of Mod Podge, going side to side, over the entire coaster and picture.

I brushed on 3 coats of Mod Podge, letting it dry completely in between each coat.

After the last coat is completely dry, spray a thin coat of acrylic sealer over the tile.  I sprayed 2 coats, again letting it dry completely in between.   The sealer will protect the photos from any water droplets, etc.

Finally, when completely dry, turn the tile over and add your felt circles on each corner.  Or you can cut out felt squares and glue to the back.

And done!

Beautiful coasters, capturing great memories.

Pepperoni Quesadillas

For New Year's Eve, I made one of our favorite finger foods (say that 3 times fast!)-pepperoni quesadillas.  These are so quick and easy to make, not to mention delicious!

You just need these 4 ingredients:  butter, tortillas, cheese, and pepperoni.

Butter one side of two tortillas.

Place one tortilla, buttered side down, on a heated griddle or skillet.  Cover tortilla with your favorite shredded cheese (I like to use sharp cheddar or colby jack cheese).

Add pepperoni slices (I prefer deli-sliced pepperoni) and top with just a little bit more cheese.  

Finally, add the top tortilla with the buttered side facing up.  Cook on both sides, until tortilla starts to brown and cheese is nicely melted.

Cut quesadilla into slices and ready to serve!  

Pepperoni Quesadillas

Tortillas

Shredded cheese

Butter

Pepperoni slices

1.  Butter one side of tortillas.

2.  Place one tortilla on a heated griddle or skillet, buttered side down.

3.  Cover tortilla with shredded cheese, pepperoni slices, and a little bit more cheese.

4.  Top with second tortilla, buttered side up.

5.  Cook evenly on both sides, until tortillas are browned and cheese is melted.

6.  Transfer to cutting board and cut into desired slices.

7.  Serve with sour cream or salsa.

Bubble Baths

I love bubble baths. 

I have a big jacuzzi tub that I fill with really warm water, my favorite bubble bath, and a bath tablet.  The bubble bath and bath tablet makes my skin smooth and fragrant.  Plus, the aroma is very relaxing.

Sometimes, I will light a candle and dim the lights.  Or I may put Pandora on my phone and set it to a classical station.

And I just relax.  I calm away any frazzled nerves.  I speak to God and hear Him speak to me.

I also like to journal anything that comes to mind:

random thoughts, goals, a To Do list.








So peaceful.

Don't forget to take time for yourself and just relax.

Be Inspired

Be inspired.

Look around you to see the beauty that is already there.

Marvel at the vibrant colors of a sunrise or sunset.

Sit in silence and hear the Heavenly Father speak to you.

Take delight in the giggles of your children and the smiles on their faces.

Be inspired.

Listen to the sweet melody of the gorgeous creatures perched in their trees.

Feel the coolness from a fresh spring rain and enjoy the drumming from a distant sound of thunder.

Reflect upon your life and see how far you've come.

And give thanks for God's mercy.

Be inspired.

Date of the Month Club

My hubby and I recently celebrated 14 years of wedded bliss.  I always like to give him sentimental gifts (and he actually likes to receive them, too), but I had no clue as to what to do for this year.  So, I turned to handy dandy Pinterest to find something that shouts "LOVE AND ROMANCE"!

Never to fail me, Pinterest led me to this great idea called Date of the Month Club!  I used some of the ideas from that blog, but also came up with my own.  I picked 12 fun date ideas that I knew we would both enjoy doing.  I made the dates flexible for each month, since we always have such crazy schedules.  As long as we can have a date each month, I will be happy.

I purchased a colorful binder from Target and used sheet protectors from my own stash.

I added a cover page at the beginning of the binder that states:

Congratulations!

You've been enrolled in the exclusive

Date of the Month Club

...for a year's worth of romance and fun!

As an Honored Member you will receive:

-Creative and fun dates for each month of the year

-A babysitter to watch the kids, if needed

-Quality time with your best friend

-Wonderful memories to be made

By enrolling before January 1, 2014, you are eligible to receive surprise 

bonus dates throughout the year!

Dates are flexible but must be redeemed within that calendar month.

The value of this package is priceless!

I used clip art, fun fonts, pictures, and stickers to attach to scrapbook paper that I already had.  I tried to make each month as unique as possible.  I can also insert ticket stubs and other memorable items into the sleeves.  Plus, the binder is big enough to add many more months to it.

Some dates are a little more expensive than others and some are free!  With the busyness of lives nowadays, if dates aren't planned in advance, they simply won't happen.

It's not too late to start your own Date of the Month Club.  Make it your own to fit your schedule, lifestyle, and personality.

Here's to love in the new year!