Crafts

Hamburger Soup // Easy Weeknight Dinners

2 · Sep 3, 2013 · 19 Comments

Easy Weeknight Dinners // Well Whipperberry friends, it's September and I think it's safe to say that almost all of us are back to the school routine, no? We are here, and I have to say that I really love this time of year!

I love it even though for so many of us this means weeknights filled with activities, sports and rushed evenings. And this can also mean that dinners can be a challenge, but they don't have to be! With a little planning and some healthy ingredients, you can have hearty and delicious meals on your table in no time!

I actually think I love meals the most! Hearty. Fall. Meals. Yes, please! So today, it's all about fall. Fall and great dinners!

This Hamburger Soup is the perfect weeknight meal. It's chock full of yummy seasonal vegetables and meat. This recipe is also great because it makes a big batch, which means that you can serve half now, and freeze half for later! ~ happy dance ~ Or use the leftovers in thermoses for the kids lunches. Now we're talkin!

Ingredients: 1 1/2 to 2 lbs of ground beef 1 onion, chopped finely 1 – 28 oz can of diced tomatoes 2 cups water 3 – 10 oz cans of consomme 1 – 5 oz can of tomato paste 5 carrots, chopped finely 4 celery sticks, chopped finely 1 bay leaf 1 tsp thyme salt & pepper to taste Instructions:

In skillet, brown the ground beef and onions. Then drain.
In a soup pot, combine all of the ingredients, including the cooked ground beef.
Simmer in a covered pot for at least 1 1/2 to 2 hours, making sure to stir it occasionally.

Deeeeelish!

Serve with crusty bread or crackers and cheese! Now tummies are full and everyone is happy! 🙂

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For more delicious fall meal ideas, come on over!

Sweet & Sour Meatballs | Creamy Chicken Stew | Classic Meatloaf

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Have a delicious day!

Skinny Cow WoCavé Mission no. 3 // Tranquility

0 · Aug 30, 2013 · Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by Skinny Cow // Ahhhhh TRANQUILITY… We all seem to be on the never ending search for tranquility.

My Skinny Cow WoCavé mission for this month was to find tranquility. (Here are Mission 1 & Mission 2.) Of all the months this year, I needed this mission this month more than anything! Just because I needed it, didn't mean that it was going to miraculously going to happen for me. You see, this month our world was turned upside down once again. We were moving again! That would be two moves in 10 months. Again, we didn't really know we were moving until 2 weeks before the move was to happen. It was also a week before school started and all the kiddos would have to move to new schools. And… my little guy Gage decided he was finally ready to start potty training. Guh! Yes, let's go find tranquility!

I nearly laughed out loud when the mission information arrived on my door step right about the time the move was on the horizon. I nearly called my contact at Skinny Cow to say, the WhipperBerry WoCavé is closed! There was no way I was going to even find the time to TRY and figure out what tranquility means to me. Let alone find that ever elusive state of true relaxed bliss. Then I stopped… What better time than this to try and figure out what tranquility means to me. Can you only find tranquility when your life is in perfect order, your children have morphed into little cherubs, your husband is waiting on you hand and foot and you have a regularly scheduled spa appointment each week? Truly, how many of us EVER achieve this state? I would venture to say only about 1% of the population and that is one very lucky percent at that.

We have lives, families, homes, jobs, school… And, all of these things pull and tug at us throughout each and every day. However, that's doesn't mean that we can't find happiness or have a tranquil life. As part of this mission Skinny Cow sent a friend and I to relax during a facial at a spa here in Lincoln called Bella Body Works here in Lincoln.

I took a break from packing and Natalie and I headed off to the spa. The spa was this cute kind of bohemian spa in this beautiful old house in an historic part of town and I just fell in love from the very 1st minute I walked in. My poor aching body climbed onto the treatment bed and I laid there for a minute thinking to my self… This is not possible. This lovely lady is going to give me a facial and it's going to be a total waste because I have a list about a mile long running through my head of things that I need to be doing. My house is a total wreck, my kiddos are a mess at the moment worried about the move and my body just aches right now. How on earth am I going to find tranquility? Then it HAPPENED!

Ann, one of the owners of Bella Body Works, skillfully lifted up my legs just a bit and gently pulled and just like that, my body slowly started to relax. I just melted into that table. More than anything I needed someone else to tell me, or physically show me that it was alright to relax, to step back, and take a few minutes to rest and find some peace and calm within the storm of my life. My list disappeared, my worries melted away and for a few hours that night I let myself slow down and take some time to find some peace. The facial was nice, but my epiphany was even better. Natalie and I both enjoyed our treatments and then went and grabbed a bite to eat together and discussed what it means to have some quite tranquil moments in life.

(yea, no make-up and spa hair… but, happy!!)

More than anything I learned that it's alright to give yourself permission to find peace even when your world is in chaos. It's actually a very good thing to step back from a stressful situation and find a few tranquil moments to re-adjust, right the sails and find the best way to attack your challenge. Each and every one of us will have a different way to find our tranquil moments. I must say I LOVE a trip to the spa, but sometimes that just isn't in the cards. I can also find tranquility by taking a few quiet moments to read a good book, watch a favorite program on TV, just lay in bed for an extra 20 minutes and think of nothing! We ALL need these moments and we don't need to feel bad for taking them!!! I am so grateful to Skinny Cow and the WoCavé program for providing the vehicle to help me figure this out. See, we ALL need our WoCavé!!

So… A few days after the move, even in the chaos of the new house, I decided I wanted to share a little of my experience with a few friends. The lovely folks at Skinny Cow sent over a spa party kit and we had fun just hanging out with the girls, eating some of Skinny Cow's Limited Edition Pink Velvet Truffle Bars and Chocolate Covered Cherry Cones and making some of our own spa goodies.

It was so great to share my little tranquility epiphany with my friends and then also realize that friends play a HUGE part in finding peace in my life as well.

So, Skinny Cow… Thank you for this challenge. All of them really. They have all helped me stop and reflect on my talents, my surroundings and the much needed tranquility that we all need in our life. Truly that is what a WoCavé is all about. A WoCavé is more than a physical space… It is a state of mind. It is constantly challenging yourself to find your true self and then to share that with those you love… That is WoCavé.

Disclaimer // This is a sponsored series created by Skinny Cow. I have received product and compensation for these posts however, all thoughts, ideas & opinions are my very own!

Friday Flair Link Party // Back to School Edition

3 · Aug 30, 2013 · 7 Comments

Friday Flair Link Party // Well… This has been a crazy, exhausting week. Last weekend was the big move and I've been spending a good portion of this week putting the house together and trying to get caught up on some looming deadlines for work. Man wouldn't it be nice is life could slow down a bit for major things like moves. It never seem to cooperate does it? This week I also threw my first little get together at the new place. I had a couple of friends over for a much needed Spa Night! I'll tell you all about that later today. It was part of this super fun Skinny Cow WoCavé program that I've been a part of this summer… so much fun!!

I went through the last Friday Flair and unfortunately I only have time for one feature (I know, I'm sorry!!) I'll be back full time next week!! In honor of back to school, I wanted to feature the cutest chalkboard from Michelle Lea Designs…

img source // diy chalkboard from michelle lea designs

How cute is that? I'm a sucker for a good chalkboard. But, I think you all already know that! 😉

Let's Get the Link Party Started

Antique Farmhouse Floor Lamps Review // Lamps.com Pin to Win GIVEAWAY

8 · Aug 29, 2013 · 22 Comments

This floor lamps reveiw / giveaway post brought to you by Lamps.com // When it comes to decorating, I am all about the statement piece. Building a room is much like building a good wardrobe. When filling your closet, it’s good to invest in some quality staple pieces like a classic white shirt, fabulous jeans, classic boots. Items that are timeless and will also stand the test of time. Then once you have a good selection of these classic items, then you add in the fun trendy stuff. These items you don’t need to invest a whole lot in because they are in one season and then out the next. They same goes for dressing your home. Let’s face it, our tastes change… Well, I know mine does!

When designing a room, it’s also a good idea to invest in good quality anchor pieces that are classic and will look fabulous for years and then accessorize with the fun colors and other trendier items. Sofas, tables, large pieces & lamps are all the types of items that you want to invest in timeless quality. I’ve been recently introduced to Lamps.com and I am thrilled with their selection most definitely their quality.

Lamps.com contacted a little while ago to see if I would be interested in reviewing one of their lamps and for sure, I jump at the chance. I knew that they are known for their huge selection, quality merchandise & excellent service so why not take one of their lamps for a test drive.

Let’s talk about their selection… aaaaamazing! Seriously, you can find any type of lamp that you are looking for at almost any price point. They have lamps under a $100 and then they have some stunning chandeliers that would knock your socks off and almost anything in between. I selected this beautiful Antique Farmhouse Brass Floor lamp to dress up my living room here at the new house. When it arrived I was blown away by the quality of this lamp. I haven’t ever been skimpy when purchasing lamps. Like I said before, quality lamps are an investment and should last a lifetime. I’ve bought my current lamps from Pottery Barn and they are great, but this farmhouse lamp from Lamps.com blows them out of the water.

Each element is solid metal and crafted beautifully. It adds a bit of rustic elegant charm to my new room design. I couldn’t be happier with my lovely new lamp and I can’t wait to find some more treasures at Lamps.com! What treasure would you like? What’s your style? Are you looking for a table or floor lamp, or some fun pendant lights for your kitchen? Come on over to Lamps.com and Pin your favorite lamps for a chance to win a $100 to Lamps.com!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer // This giveaway is sponsored by Lamps.com. I did receve a lamp to review but I was not paid for the review. All thoughts, ideas and opinions are my very own!

6 Tips for Painting with Stencils

129 · Aug 26, 2013 · 7 Comments

This post brought to you by DecoArt // I am a sucker for a good old wood caddy. Even better, is an old caddy that I have dressed up with some paint and maybe a stencil or two. I have a fabulous picnic caddy that I dressed up not too long ago and I have recently found another rustic old caddy to dress up. When it comes to adding some graphic elements to anything, I turn to the Americana Multi Surface Satin Paint and the Americana Mixed Media Stencils for sure. But… I also have a few tricks up my sleeve when it comes to using those stencils. Below you will find 6 tips on painting with stencils.

I found another great caddy from Antique Farmhouse (they also have a sister site called Decor Steals)…

… And I thought it would look fabulous with a fun geometric design on the floor of the caddy using the new Americana Multi Surface Satin Paint.

This paint is fabulous for all kinds of surfaces. Wood, glass, metal, plastic… You name it, it will look wonderful. I recently had a chance to travel to Kentucky to the home of DecoArt and learned all kinds of goodies about all of their different paints. It’s amazing how so many of us just grab a bottle of craft paint at the store without really thinking about what surface we are going to use as our canvas. Sometimes… the paint we pick just won’t work with our desired surface. With the Multi-Surface Satin, you won’t have to worry about that!

For this project, I used a mixture of Coastal Waters and Cottonball. I wanted the blue to be a little lighter, that’s why I added a little white. I used one of the new Americana Mixed-Media Stencils called Busy Bee and some painter’s tape as well.

I taped down the stencil on the surface of the caddy, just so I didn’t have to worry about it moving around.

How to Paint with Stencils

Next, using a Dual-Sided Paint Pouncer, I carefully paint the surface of the caddy. Now, here are a few tips when it comes to getting good stencil lines. It’s important that you know how to use stencils if you’re doing this for the first time.

Load your stencil pouncer or brush carefully, A little paint goes a long way. Never just dip your brush into the paint and then go directly to your surface. Always dip your brush into the paint and then have another surface like a paper plate to work out all the paint kinks before you start working on your surface.
Light, up and down movements are best when it comes to working with stencils. Never brush side to side or press down firmly. This is just asking the paint to slide right under that stencil and create muddy, unattractive lines.
Work in layers. If you want a light weathered look, you may only need one coat. But, If you want a strong vibrant stenciled image, work in light layers. This way you are slowly building your image and will have cleaner lines and a professional-looking finish.
Secure your stencil with painter’s tape so that you don’t have it moving around while you are trying to work with it.
Don’t let the stencil dry for long before you remove the stencil. This will help keep the lines sharp. More on this below.
Use a good brush and stencil cleaner to clean and preserve your brush and stencil for future use.

Should You Remove The Stencil When The Paint is Wet or Dry?

You should actually remove the stencil it’s wet. This may seem backwards but it always turns out better in my experience. When you do it this this way, the paint cannot bleed underneath and ruin the crisp lines. It can be a bit more difficult if the paint dries to the stencil too. This is how you keep the paint from peeling when removing vinyl stencil

For this project, I wanted a light weathered look so I carefully loaded just a tiny bit of paint, prepped my brush on a paper plate, and then with careful up and down strokes started covering my surface.

Because I was only going to do one light coat, the paint dried within just a few minutes. I removed the stencil and then waited for a couple of hours before I distressed the paint. The paint needs time to cure and ideally, I should have waited overnight but, it turned out fine this time. You just gotta love painting with stencils!

I used some sandpaper to lightly distress the paint so that the graphic design matched the patina of the piece itself. When you are distressing, think about how you want the finished product to look. Do you want to work in circles, up and down, side to side, or criss-cross, there are so many ways to create 100 different looks for your finished product. I chose a simple side-to-side motion to match the grain of the wood.

Here is how the caddy looks finished…

Isn’t it fun?! A perfect addition to my picnic caddy collection. You bet we are going to be picnicking in style here at the WhipperBerry house!

You can find all of the products that I used for this project at Michaels, A.C. Moore, Hobby Lobby, and other fine craft retailers. To sweeten the deal, DecoArt has even offered a fabulous rebate offer to each of you!!

Disclaimer // This is a post sponsored by DecoArt. I have received payment along with the product to create this project and post. However, all thoughts, ideas, and opinions are my very own!

Crafts

Let's Get the Link Party Started

How to Paint with Stencils

Should You Remove The Stencil When The Paint is Wet or Dry?

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