Spring is on the way!

I am not a fan of cold weather and I am so glad that warmer days are coming! I love when the daffodils begin to bloom. I think its God's way of saying "Smile...spring is on the way!" These daffodils were just picked yesterday on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Valentine Tablescape

This year for Valentine's Day, my boyfriend and I cooked dinner for my mom and his parents and grandmother. They really seemed to enjoy it and told us several times how much they loved the dinner and the decorations!
Most of these items were purchased at the local dollar store or from a clearance table at a craft store . 
Setting a pretty table doesn't have to cost a fortune. I think an attractive tablescape adds something special to any meal. 
Searching through a clearance table + a trip to the dollar store + a little creativity = a tablescape that is sure to impress!

Gracie's Christmas Outfit...made with love by Aunt Cara

Before... $5.00 long sleeve t-shirt from Target & $2.00 cropped jeans from Goodwill

After... with the help of some fabric, ribbon, ric rac and a sewing machine

I love to buy cute clothes for my niece, Gracie, but they are way out of my budget so I had to get a little creative this Christmas. I sewed some presents out of fabric in 3 different patterns and attached coordinating bows and ribbon. Next time I think I will make the presents a little smaller! :) For the pants, I simply sewed on some eyelet lace trim and some ribbon. The whole project cost me about $15.00! She has already worn it to school for a Christmas field trip and I can't wait to see her wearing it on Christmas Day! :)

Easy Vegetable Soup & Cheese Biscuits...perfect for those cold nights!

Easy Vegetable Soup

1 can corn
1 can green beans
1 can sliced carrots
1 can lima beans
1 large onion
1 can of chicken (12oz.) or leftover cooked chicken
1 container of chicken stock (32oz.)
4 or 5 large potatoes peeled and cubed
salt and pepper to taste

Chop onion and saute in a little olive oil in soup pot. Add chicken and saute together for one min just to break up the chicken. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour in container of chicken stock and bring to a boil. Add your cans of vegetables(do not drain).  Add potatoes and continue a low boil until potatoes are cooked. Add more salt/pepper if needed. I like to add some vinegar to mine, too.

Cheese Biscuits

2 1/4 cups bisquick
2/3 cup milk
1 T sour cream
1 cup shredded cheese
seasoned salt
1 T melted butter

Stir together bisquick and milk. Add sour cream and cheese. Sprinkle with a little seasoned salt. Drop biscuits by spoonfulls onto greased baking sheet. You can choose what size you want, just make sure they are all the same size. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 min or until slightly golden on top and cooked throughout. After removing from oven, spoon a little melted butter over each biscuit and sprinkle with a little more seasoned salt.

Eight Dollar Idea

Who says cute Christmas decorations have to be expensive? Not me...and thats why I love a dollar store. I found these adorable stockings and stocking holders for only $1.00 a piece, of course! I love doing things for my niece and nephews, so when I saw these I knew I had to get them each their own.  The only thing I added was a hairbow and curly ribbon to the reindeer stocking so it would look more like a girl for my niece. The whole thing (stockings and holders) cost me only $8.00!

Apple Pecan Cheesecake

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups plus 2 T packed brown sugar
4 pkg (8 oz. each) softened cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup sour cream
4 eggs
4 cups chopped peeled apples (about 3)
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Line a 13x9 pan with foil. Mix crumbs, butter and 2 T brown sugar, press into bottom of pan; bake for 10 min then let it cool.
Beat cream cheese, 1 cup brown sugar and vanilla until blended. Add sour cream; blend. Add eggs one at the time. Pour over crust.
Mix remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar, apples pecans and cinnamon and spoon over batter.
Bake 1 hr to 1 hr 5 min. Cool. Refrigerate 4 hours. Use foil to lift cheesecake from pan before cutting to serve. Makes 16 servings.

They call me "Aunt Cara"...

I don't have any children of my own so I get to spoil my niece and my three nephews. Gracie Jayde age 4, Enzo William 18 mos, Jacob Larry 9 mos, and Gabriel Elliot 4 mos.  Being an aunt is something that I love! I can spoil them and then send them home...payback to their parents!  I love to shop for them, but as they began to come along a lot more frequently I had to scale back my shopping. Luckily, the three boys can now share among themselves and pass the clothes on to the next cousin. When everyone gets together at the house now it can be a little chaotic. The living room becomes an obstacle course amid the bouncy seats, play pens and toy boxes...but thats OK. I am thankful I have these children in my life and for now I am content to simply be "Aunt Cara".