Ruth's Gardening Forum: "Growing Vegetable Soup" by Lois Ehlert

I can't believe I've been a mother for over 12 years and haven't read this little gem to my children.  If you have kids or grandkids that love watching a plant grow (like mine do), then reading this to them is a must.  With great illustrations, early readers can identify words and will want to read this over and over.  My favorite part is the recipe at the end--perfect for including your little ones in making this delicious soup!




I'd love to find other children's books about plants and gardening.  Any recommendations out there?

Our Wedding ShadowCase Workshop

Being a mom-preneur and running my own business has its up-days and down-days. There are many days that I ask myself why on earth I get myself into things like this.....  Then I run a ShadowCase Workshop Class, and I remember my reason.  For me it's not about the ShadowCase product, it's about the people I meet and the new friends I make! 

 

I find so much joy in helping others dig out dusty keepsakes and faded photographs, then listen to the stories they tell with a far-away look in their eyes. We used the Modern Designer Kit to showcase this GORGEOUS wedding photograph that had been stored in a box for decades. 

 

It was so simple to put together, we had it done in 15 minutes. Even though this couple have both passed on, their legacy will no longer be forgotten. Their sweet love story will be passed on to grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren.  To me this is success, and I know my Grandma Rose would be proud of my efforts.

What kinds of things would YOU put into a wedding ShadowCase?

Crockpot Chicken Sandwiches

Hi everyone!

Phil the Crockpot is decked out and ready for the 4th of July with another easy recipe to feed a large group or even just a small family.  It's easy to adjust the quantity and you can always freeze the leftovers for up to 6 months. 

Italian Chicken

5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

8 oz. fat free Italian Salad Dressing

8 oz. low-fat cream cheese

14 oz. chicken broth

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/2 tsp. rosemary

1/2 tsp. thyme

Put chicken in the crockpot and pour Italian dressing over it. Cook on low 8-10 hrs or high 4-5 hrs.  Remove chicken from crockpot and shred, discard remaining Italian dressing.  Melt cream cheese, broth, soup, and spices in together in saucepan.  Mix sauce with chicken in crockpot and cook 1 hour.  Spoon onto rolls, top with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese whatever you like.

To freeze:  Allow chicken to cool, spoon into ziploc freezer bags and freeze for up to 6 months.

p.s. This recipe is also great served over rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes!

This meal is always a big hit with kids and adults!

Simplify Home Holiday Decor

Changing my home decor for holidays has never been top on my priority list.  Bringing out all the bins, then a few weeks later putting everything away again.  Somehow my spring stuff would still be up in October, and Christmas decor wasn't put away until Valentine's.  Valentine's was always skipped over, St. Patrick's was a blur, and here we are again at Spring!


This year I've created a new way to keep the seasonal decorations simple enough for even me to follow through.  My kids love it, I love it, even my hubby has had a few nice (although somewhat prompted) comments.  

So here's what was up in my entry from April-mid June....

(notice that my kids are all holding daisies in the picture--so cute!)

And this is what is gracing the walls of my entry right now....

A few family treasures from previous 4th of July activities make a quick and easy shadowbox display.

Once Independence Day  is over, I'll just switch the StoryBoard out for another one.  (I'm thinking a summer backyard beach themed.) The other 2 StoryBoards from Spring and July 4th will be stored in a 12X12 scrapbook paper box until their turn comes around again next year.  

For someone like me that isn't a pure natural when it comes to decorating, this is the perfect solution! 

What kind of items would you put into a July 4th shadowbox?

Mmm-Mmm Mondays: Red, White, and Blue Kabobs

Thank you to Whitney over at SistersStuff for this fun and easy 4th of July recipe.  I just had to try it with my kids to see if it was as easy as she said it was. 

Not only was it super easy, it was also fast and FUN!  So all 3 criteria were met for it to have a permanent home in my recipe book. 

   

So maybe ours didn't turn out as pretty as theirs, but they tasted 

just as yummy!

I had to change a few things on the Sisters Stuff recipe.  For the original CLICK HERE.


skewers
blueberries
white almond bark
red/blue decorator's sugar
strawberries
large marshmallows

Melt almond bark in microwave about 1 minute, then stir.  Dip marshmallows and fruit into melted almond bark, then dip again in sugar crystals.  Allow to cool and thread onto skewers with blueberries and strawberries.  

If you have a great 4th of July recipe, don't be shy!  Link to it in your comments below.  We'd love to try it!

A Womb with a View: Baby Shadowbox

Announcing the arrival of my new nephew!! 

 I wanted to share with you the ShadowCase shadowbox we put together for him a few weeks ago.  Now we can finally add in a picture of him with a little more detail than just a little glimpse on an ultrasound.  Is that a foot?  Or an arm?  Oh wait, I see now!  It's a little.....hee hee!!

We used the "David Storyboard" from the ShadowCase collection and the Dreamy Bluebird Accessory Set to attach sweet little crocheted booties and matted photos of the ultrasound. Other keepsakes were attached with 3-D adhesive dots (I love those things--they are so useful!)


 

We added a little inking around the edges to give the photos a finished look.

Ready and waiting for the grand arrival!  

What a fun keepsake shadowbox that can showcase all his memories as he grows.

Tell Your Shadowbox Story: Racing to the Finish Line

One of our reader's had this to say about her latest ShadowCase project...

"I used this ShadowCase to show some bib numbers and medals my husband has collected. The case was perfect for these because they’re too thick to fit in a regular picture frame and too heavy for a paper scrapbook layout. From Grandpa’s military medals to the special blanket that my son drags around with him every day – I can think of so many ways to combine my scrapbooking with the special and treasured items in my life." 




Thanks so much for sharing your shadowbox layout with us.  We love to hear from our friends in the ShadowCase world!