Gold Fish Party - Fish Centerpieces

I am still going strong with this Goldfish Party Prep.

There just always seems to be something needing to be done.

Although I didn't want to "reveal" the finished center piece just yet, I wanted to keep you up to date with what's been going on over here!

I was needing to make up some center pieces.  Or something I could use for my table display.  This is what I came up with.

I found these cute little buckets in the dollar spot at Target!  Aren't they perfect?  What's funny is I found them at one store but not any of the other Targets.  You just never know what you'll find in those dollars spots!

Tasty Tuesday - Crockpot Chicken Fajitas

Happy Tuesday everyone!

I hope you have all had pleasant back to school starts!

Today I have another crock pot recipe for ya!

Even though it's supposed to be the end of summer, it is monsoon season in AZ which means the humidity is super high and outside, it is in one word:

DISGUSTING!

Because it is so sweltering and gross outside,

it makes the inside feel that way too sometimes.

Which means the stove and oven are off and I'm using the crock pot.

 This recipe is one that came together out of shear laziness!

I had all the ingredients to make chicken fajitas, but I didn't want to stand at the stove making it.  It was during the time I was still working full time, and when I got home, the last thing I wanted to do was cook.  So I said let's see how it turns out in a crock pot!

Beach Fun Bucket List

I know school has started and that "summer" is over for most people.

However, in AZ where the temperature is still in the triple digits and the humidity is high, we are still in full swing summer temps.

This summer, our vacations included a lot of camping.  Which my family enjoys.  But as a kid, we grew up going to the beach in California every summer.  I LOVE the beach because of those memories, and want my own kids to love the beach too.

I was bummed because I knew that we wouldn't be doing a beach trip this summer.  Then my parents announced they were going to take some time off work and were renting a little condo in California and we were welcome to come if we wanted.

For Reals?

To say I was excited would be an UNDERSTATEMENT! 

Here is little miss last year at the beach.

Could she be any cuter?!?!

Even though Mr. C is finally starting up PreSchool, we are going to let him miss a week so we can enjoy the beach.  (It's only preschool right? This is the beach we are talking about!)

I wanted to make sure and do some of the things while on vacation, that I remember doing when I was a kid.  After seeing all the cute bucket list ideas for summer and fall all over pinterest, I made up my own Beach Fun Bucket List.

I decided to share it with you for any last minute beach trips you may have, or to pin and save for next year!

All Lizzie Jane Baby printables are for personal use ONLY.

click on link or picture to be taken to download page

Some of these things you may not be able to do at your beach.  For example, I hear the beaches in Texas don't have sand crabs. :(  

But I would hope all beaches have some sort of bird that hangs around in flocks.  I think any bird would be fun to chase off the beach!

Hopefully you and your family will be able to have some fun with this list on your next beach trip!

There are only 13 things on this list and I hope we are able to check them all off.

I told my mom that I was going to be making up a bucket list of the things I wanted to do with the kids, and I think she is looking forward to it as much as I am!

Happy fun in the sun!

see my linky party people page to see where I link up

Guest Posting Today

Today I am doing a guest post over at

See Vanessa Craft.

I started getting to know Vanessa after seeing her super cute goldfish party that she had for her son's 2nd birthday.  You guys should check out all her fabulous projects and her cute blog.

She has a great segment on her blog called

"Crafting on a Dime".

Which is where I will be sharing a great tutorial.

Do you see this cute pillow I painted?

I found a plain white pillow for $3.99 at Ikea and I made it my own with little expense.

Curious as to how I did it?

Go check out See Vanessa Craft and read my guest post!

Thanks Vanessa for allowing me to be part of your blog today!

Weekly Menu Board - Free Printables

I stink at meal planning.  I hate when 5:00 rolls around and everyone is hungry and I haven't thought about what to make for dinner.

We have the food in the house to make something, it just needed to be thawed out or started earlier than 5:00.  I'm sure I'm not the only one with this problem.  There are so many CUTE menu board ideas out there.  My issue was finding a place in my kitchen to put one up!

I decided to create my own layout for a weekly menu board and then decide how I could best utilize it in my own kitchen.

Here are some different ways of using these particular free printable weekly menus:

No counter or wall space: tape a sheet protector pocket to the inside of a cabinet door, slip one of these printables in there and using a dry erase marker, keep track of your weekly menu plan.

If you have counter space: put it in a cute frame and keep it by your stove.

Or you can use command stripes and attach the frame directly to your fridge.

For me however, most of my problem is coming up with meal ideas.  It's not that I don't like cooking, it's just hard for me to remember what I've done or what my family likes.  We tend to eat the same things over and over, just because of my lack of remembering.  So when I saw this menu board idea on pinterest, I knew this would work perfect for me.

I found an empty crayon box and covered it with scrapbook paper, mod podge and washi tape.  I attached a magent on the back and stuck it on my new magnet board. (remember I told you had big plans for that magnet board!)

Then I cut out coordinating strips to go along with the weekly menu printable I chose, to write down my meal ideas.  I added some peel and stick magnets to the backs of these so I could easily change them around in my meal plan.

I put my weekly menu plan on my magnet board, my recipe holder and planned my meals for the week.  I think I will laminate my recipe cards so they will last a little longer, but I love not having to come up with recipe ideas!

All of our favorites are written down and I can pick and choose what we will eat each week.  I can jot down the ingredients I need on a note pad (that also fits perfectly on my magnet board) making grocery shopping so much easier.

Since I went to all the trouble of making this for my own home, I thought I would share with you too.

Feel free to print these out (up to 8x10) and use them for your own weekly menu planning.

All Lizzie Jane Baby printables are for personal use ONLY.

The Weekly Menu comes in 4 styles:

Checker Board

Chevron

Striped

Polka Dot

And the cards come in 5 colors:

Green

Blue

Red

White

Pink

So far this works for us.

What works for you?

Happy Planning!

See my Linky Party People page to see where LJB likes to link up!

Tasty Tuesday - Creamy Crockpot Chicken "Alfredo"

Welcome back to Tasty Tuesday!

Today I'm going to share a recipe that is my made up version of a dish my mother in law makes, and one my sister in laws friend makes.  I don't think I ever got the exact ingredients and quantities correct, so this is how I make this dish.  

Creamy Crock Pot Chicken "Alfredo"

I call it Alfredo simply because it is a white sauce :)

This is what I put into my crock pot to make this:

2 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese

4 cans of cream of mushroom soup

1 envelope of ranch salad dressing mix

and 2 - 3 pounds chicken tenders 

Set crock pot on high for 4 hours or low for about 7

I cook up a big box of pasta (I like the tri color pasta) and serve the "Alfredo" on top.  You could also use rice instead of pasta. It is really quick and easy and it tastes good too.  This is a great meal to take to a friend or family member.

There have been times when I didn't have ranch dressing (which as you know, I'm famous for not having all the ingredients for recipes, so I come up with something on the fly), so instead I've used an onion soup mix.  It gave it more of a stroganoff feel, but still really good.  And if you like cream of chicken instead, use that.  This really is a fail proof recipe.

This has become one of our family favorites.

Maybe because it is so easy, I make it more! ;)

Happy Cooking!

If you are new to Lizzie Jane Baby, 

I would love for you to follow along with me via facebook, twitter, pinterest, GFC, rss feed or via email.  Have Lizzie Jane Baby sent directly to your inbox!

to see where I link up each week, click the linky party people page

Magnet Board for Stainless Steel Fridge

Are you like me and have a Stainless Steel Fridge?

I absolutely LOVE my stainless appliances, but I have a love/hate relationship with the fact that I can't attach magnets to it.

The only appliance that I can attach magnets to is my microwave.

And it ends up looking like this.

Which is the part I love about the fridge not being magnetized, it doesn't end up looking like this.

But I do want it to have a little area to put up pictures and a note pad for my grocery store lists and what not.

I decided to make a magnet board that I could attach to my fridge and that would look nice.  I bought one of those light weight metal plaques at Hobby Lobby that was on clearance (or you could use a coupon) and scored it for around $4.  I peeled off as much of the existing paper as I could.

I used this same type of plaque for Mr. C's chore chart.

Using mod podge, scrapbook paper and washi tape, I came up with a somewhat design that I liked and attached the scrapbook paper to the plaque with mod podge.  I added the washi tape (or you could use ribbon) and then mod podged over the entire thing to make it look finished.

 The back of the plaque had those saw blade type hooks on the back.  I had my husband use his grinder and cut them off for me.  I wanted a smoother surface so it would lay as flat as possible on the fridge.

 Then I attached 2 command strips to the top and 2 to the bottom.  I used the command strips to attach the magnet board directly onto my fridge above the water and ice dispenser. 

I let it sit there for a couple days to get good and adhered before I put anything on it.

Then I was able to clean some of the clutter off the microwave and move it to the fridge.

I turned out just as I had hoped and I love the colors and design.

Since I have put this up, I've decided to use it for a very particular purpose.

Stay tuned to see what I have in store for my new magnet board!

to see where I link up, see the linky party people page 

Goldfish Party Prep

So Mr. C is going to be having a birthday next month.  I have been gearing up for it for a little while now and the official party prep has begun.  The theme is a GoldFish theme party.  I drew my inspiration from these sources.

I first saw the theme here.  I thought it was bright and fun.

 Days of Chalk and Chocolate

Then I saw these cake pops and fell in love with the theme even more.

Pint Sized Baker

When I saw Vanessa's take on the theme, I knew it would be perfect for Mr. C.

 See Vanessa Craft

Once I was set on a the theme, I contacted my friend Amy of Happy Heart Creations.  I told her the theme, the colors and what I was looking for in terms of clip art.  I wanted to make the invitations and labels and what not on my own, but needed Amy's talent to help me.  This is the paper pack she came up with for the party!

Happy Heart Creations

Didn't the paper pack turn out great!!

I've started on a few things for the party and thought I'd give you a little sneak peak.

Those that follow me on Instagram have already seen these.

I'm so excited to have this party.

I've prepared it in my head, so I hope it all turns out in "real life". :)

This is what I will be working on for the next few weeks.

If I'm absent you know it's because I'm going way over board than my 4 year old will ever appreciate and my husband doesn't understand.  

But you all get me and think I'm normal, right?  :)

Have a great weekend!

Low Cal Strawberry Pretzel Jello with Nectresse

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of NECTRESSE™Sweetener for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

As a mom I'm always trying to find ways to cut down on my kids sugar intake.  With a family history of diabetes, it helps to have an awareness early on.  So when the makers of Splenda sent me a sample of their new NECTRESSE™Sweetener , I was excited to give it a try.

NECTRESSE™Sweetener derives its sweetness from the monk fruit, and is combined with other natural sweeteners to bring you the sweet taste of sugar, but with out all the calories.  It is a no calorie sweetener and is 150 times sweeter than sugar and can be used in baking and cooking or in your favorite drink to add zero calorie sweetness.

I decided to put it to the test in one of our favorite dessert recipes.  

Strawberry Pretzel Jello

Here is the recipe I used:

Crust: 1 heaping TBL Nectresse Sweetner (or 6 packets), 3/4 cup butter (melted), 2 1/2 cups crushed pretzels - combine ingredients and pat down into a 9 x 13 baking dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Let cool.

2nd layer: 1/4 cup Nectresse Sweetner (or 24 packets, that is 1/4th the amount of sugar in my normal recipe!), 8 oz cream cheese (softened), 8 oz tub cool whip (thawed) - cream together the cream cheese and Nectresse with a mixer until all combined.  Fold in cool whip and spred onto cooled crust.

Jello Layer: 6 oz box strawberry jello, 1 1/2 cups hot water, 16 oz container sliced frozen berries (thawed) - combine hot water and jello until it is all dissolved.  Add sliced berries, but strain them out of the juice.  If some juice gets in the jello, it's ok, just don't need all the juice.  Set in fridge for about 1 hour until it's slightly set up.  Then spoon onto the cream cheese layer.  Put into fridge to fully set up and chill for an hour or so.

I was amazed at how good it turned out!  It will be perfect for our family members that like something sweet, but can't indulge in all those high sugared desserts at family gatherings.  Even the kids liked it!  There was no grainy or gritty texture, it worked out just as if I had used sugar.

Nectresse is available in single serving packets and also in easy to hold canisters.  It is available at grocery stores, drug stores, super stores and online.  You can even try a FREE sample of NECTRESSE™Sweetener .

One of America's favorite journalists, Lisa Ling, is the spokesperson for NECTRESSE Sweetener.  Hear what she has to say about NECTRESSE Sweetener.  Watch her video testimonial here:

 

If you have family members that have diabetes and are watching their sugar intake, make this Strawberry Pretzel Jello for your next family gathering.  I bet they'll be surprised at how tasty it is!

Vinyl Free Fancy Frames

In case some of you missed it, 

Here is the guest post I did over at Cheap Crafty Mama a couple weeks ago!

It was so fun to have the opportunity.  Thanks Kate!

Today I wanted to share with you a project I made for my niece and nephew.  They are twins, and had a big birthday this year.  They turned 8 which means they got to get baptized.  I made them each a subway art poster to remember the occasion, but I wanted to do more than hand them a plain old 8x10 piece of photo paper.  I didn't have a ton of money to spend on a really cute fancy frame and I don't have any vinyl or a vinyl cutter to dress up a plain frame.  So I came up with these:

Vinyl Free - Fancy Frames

 Here is how I made them.

I found these plain light wood frames at Hobby Lobby for around $4 (with a coupon).  I liked that they were would and I liked the thickness of the frame.

 I laid out some brown paper bags on the back porch and stuck some push pins in the backs of the frames so that when I laid they down, they wouldn't be directly on the paper bags.

 Then I sprayed each of the frames with 2 coats of spray paint.  I used the colors I wanted my shapes/lines to be for the final product.

Periwinkle and White

 For my nieces frame, I knew I wanted to make polka dots.  I found in my crafting stash some foam shape stickers.  (I usually buy foam stickers when they are on clearance at JoAnns.)  I picked out the 2 sizes of circles I wanted to use, laid out my pattern and then peeled off the backs and stuck them to the frame.

 For my nephew, I wanted a little cleaner look with just some simple lines.  I used some washi tape and some pin striping tape so that I would have 2 different thicknesses of lines

 Then I sprayed the frames again with a different color of paint.  I used this fun Watermelon color for my niece.  I just love it!

 I used a Navy blue color for my nephew's final color.  I did 2 coats of each color.

 After letting them dry completely, I peeled off the circle stickers and the tape.

 I think the lines and edges turned out pretty clean.

I had to bling up my nieces frame a little with some rhinestone circles I found at Michaels.

 The final products were a perfect display for the family celebration.  Plus they will get to hang these in their rooms and remember that special day.  

Thanks for letting me share with you today.

Have a great week!