Creatively Made

In January I took an online art class called Creatively Made.  I haven't done any of the art projects, but the class made me realize something... and then I read the quote below and it is exactly what I realized from the class - summed up perfectly:

Someone very cleaver once said the following:

"Everything in life is art.  What you do, how you dress, the way you love someone, and how you talk.  Your smile and your personality.  What you believe in, all your dreams, and the way you drink your tea.  How you decorate your home, or party.  Your grocery list, the food you make, how your writing looks and the way you feel. 
Life is art."

So, instead of trying to learn the new art concept (mixed media) taught in the class, I want to get more creative with the art I'm already doing - LIFE!

Have an artistic day!

Karin

Another Easy Meal

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Spray a casserole dish with non-stick spray.

Add 2 turkey sausages and 1 bag carrots.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour.

(Or, until the carrots are tender.)

Serve with mashed potatoes, white sauce, your favorite dinner rolls and Trader Joe's raspberry jam.  Yum!  If you don't have leftover mashed potatoes, just clean up some potatoes and throw them in with your sausage and carrots.  Wait!  You don't know how to make white sauce... here's how:

Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large sauce pan.  Mix 4 tablespoons flour with 1 cup skim milk.  Once the butter has melted, add 1 cup skim milk to the sauce pan.  Then, whisk in the flour and milk mixture.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Do all of this on a low heat.  However, if your sauce isn't getting thick enough quick enough for you, turn the heat up a little.  Easy!  Now, if you want cheese sauce instead, add in your favorite cheese.

white sauce recipe:
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
2 cups skim milk
salt and pepper

Enjoy!

Karin

Happy Birthday, Ann!

This is my beautiful and talented cousin Ann.

She's in the process of opening an Etsy shop

with the art she knits.

Look at the gorgeous shawl she's wearing... 

a work of art!

Ann's Etsy shop has the best name...

AWE, after her monogram.

Have a wonderful year!

Karin

Happy 75th Birthday Mom!

The day started with a brunch for about 150 people in the party room of my parent's building.

Then we went out for dinner at Jax.  Blossom #1 with my mom.

My dad planned and paid for everything.  And, he gave my mom a beautiful gold necklace too!

Me with my dad's sister Anna Marie.

My sister, Julie, her husband, Peter, and my cousin Ann.

My mom's sister, Margaret, and her husband Al. 
(Ann's parents.)

My mom's brother, John, and his wife Cindy.

Blossom #2 and my cousin Chris.  (Anna Marie's daughter.)

My cousin, Ann, with her precious family.

Blossom #4 with my uncle John.

Blossom #4 with one of my sister's sons.

Ann's daughter and my sister's other son.

Blossom #3.  He loves onion rings.  He saw one last onion ring on my uncle John's plate and said "say, John, are you going to eat that last onion ring?"  John laughed and gave it to him.

May your days be filled with celebrations!

Karin



Feed My Family Friday

An easy meal that the whole family will eat!

4 - Chicken Breasts

1 - Package Zesty Italian Dressing

1 - 8 oz. Package Cream Cheese

2 - Cans Healthy Request Cream of Chicken Soup

Put chicken in crock pot.  Sprinkle with dry dressing.  Add soup and cream cheese.  Cook for 4 hours on low.  (If chicken is frozen, cook about an hour longer.)  When ready, whisk the cream cheese and soup together.  Use 2 forks to break chicken into smaller chunks.

Serve over noodles or rice.

Enjoy!

Have a great week-end!

Karin

Keeping It Real

This is what my dining room looks like right now... getting ready for my mom's birthday party in Minneapolis, Blossom #3's science project and art projects from last week-end.  

Have a great day!

Karin

Rachel's Hot Chocolate Recipe

It's beginning to look like winter!



So, come on in and

have a cup of hot chocolate!  Or, my favorite, equal parts coffee and hot chocolate mixed together.

Here's Rachel's Hot Chocolate Recipe:

1 - 8 quart box powder milk

1 - 1lb. container of hot chocolate mix

1 - 6 oz. Original Coffee Mate

1/2 - cup powder sugar

Mix and store in covered container. 

Combine 1/3 cup of mixture with 1 cup hot water.

Enjoy!

Have a warm and cozy week-end!

Karin