Enjoying the Journey

We Have A New Blog!

2012-02-27T11:51:00.000-08:00

There are lots of changes for the Crissy G. Company! Please visit us at our new blog here to catch up and keep up with us!

Inspiration Monday - Bows, bows and more bows!

2011-11-21T06:35:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me well knows that I absolutely LOVE ribbon! My addiction has been fed over the years with countless trips to scrapbook and craft stores. Oh how I could just spend hours in the ribbon sections and aisles while the wheels in my brain spin with ideas. When I was pregnant with Lauren I sat at the dining room table for days pulling outfits from her closet to make coordinating bows for her to wear. I even sat for hours each night tying ribbon around a 6 foot long piece of welting to make a ribbon swag for her nursery. All the while my husband sat watching me shaking his head. I am sure the words going through his mind were, "What is she up to now?"

When I decided to start manufacturing bows, it was no shock to my friends and family. I really enjoy designing and creating them so why not start a bow line? Does this mean I get to be surrounded with endless ribbon choices? Then I am IN! So the journey begins. After finding a ribbon manufacturer, I sent them bows I wanted re-created, they made samples and now the choices begin. Oh the choices! They are overwhelming at times, but I am certainly not complaining.

Since I have long used ribbon for adding touches of detail, I now use my bows as well. They add such a great pop of color and whimsy. They look so cute clipped to a lollipop stick as a cupcake topper or clipped just under the cupcake topper. I did this at Lauren's 5th birthday party and all the little girls had such a good time picking a bow of their choice. I also put them on cake stands, plates and trays for a fun touch next to all the goodies I am serving. If you are anything like me, cnce you start placing them here and there you won't want to stop. It is a good thing I have two girls!

I have a great selection of bows to offer you and will be adding a much larger variety in the next week to ten days. More sizes, more colors, more designs are coming soon. Please visit my Etsy Shop today to see some of what I have now. I am getting ready to relaunch my boutique website as well as a brand new site for my newest division of event design and planning so please check back with often to see all the new. There are some big changes coming!

Did you see our advertisement today on The TomKat Studio blog? My sweet and talented new friend Alicia took the photos and created this darling ad. for me. Be sure to check out her site here. We have a lot of FUN plans, so be sure to keep checking back to find out what we have up our sleeves.

Faith Filled Sunday - World Concern and Compassion International

2011-11-20T08:29:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit

Thanksgiving is just four days away and Christmas is peeking around the next corner. With the joy and excitement of the holidays I start to feel extra grateful. Grateful that I live in a country where I can achieve my goals and dreams, provide for my children, not go hungry. Really the fact that I am typing on a computer right now proves that I am blessed. Blessed to have been given so much by a God who loves and adores me.

Jesus took care of so many who needed him. I want to be His hands and feet and take care of others too. I am passionate about two organizations who are also His hands and feet. World Concern and Compassion International are wonderful organizations I want to share with you today. They both work to bring people out of poverty and provide essential needs for the least of these.

I learned about both organizations on K-Love, which is a Christian radio station. I donated to World Concern to provide immunizations and bought a water filtration system from Compassion. We now make it a Christmas tradition for Lauren to choose an animal to send to a family in need. I encourage you to support these organizations this holiday season and give a gift that is needed rather than wanted. Please join me in being His hands and feet. One person truly can make a difference.

Simple Saturday - Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes

2011-11-19T10:48:00.000-08:00

Since Thanksgiving is next week, (WHAT????) I thought I would share this wonderful cupcake recipe. These cupcakes are moist, delicious and simple to make. The cream cheese frosting is topped with toasted and sugared pecans. My mouth is watering just thinking about sinking my teeth into one of these babies. This is the perfect dessert for your children to help with and all will enjoy eating them. I prefer to make my own frosting so I have added a recipe for that too. Mmm...

Thank you Betty Crocker!

Prep Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 24

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

3 tablespoons sugar

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix

1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

1/2 cup water

1/3 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 container Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy cream cheese frosting *

Step 1

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.

Step 2

In heavy 8-inch nonstick skillet, cook pecans and 2 tablespoons of the sugar over low heat about 8 minutes, stirring constantly, until sugar is melted. Spoon and spread pecans onto sheet of waxed paper. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar; toss.

Step 3

In large bowl, beat cake mix, pumpkin, water, oil, eggs and pumpkin pie spice with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (about two-thirds full).

Step 4

Bake 19 to 24 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Step 5

Frost cupcakes with frosting. Sprinkle edge of frosted cupcakes with pecans; press lightly into frosting. Store loosely covered.

Step 6

Watch them disappear as everyone devours a cupcake.

* For those of you who would rather make fresh cream cheese frosting here is a recipe for that.

INGREDIENTS

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar. Store in the refrigerator after use.

Thankful Thursday - Thank Filled Quotes

2011-11-17T15:17:00.000-08:00

Have you ever looked around the web for a long period of time in search of quotes that will fit perfectly onto a page in a scrapbook, thank you card, or even a DIY project you're working on? Well, I thought I would compile a top ten list for thank filled quotes to help you out. May you all be blessed and filled with gratitude this Thanksgiving.

"The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."

Psalm 28:7

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation
is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
John F. Kennedy

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is ‘thank you', it will be enough.”
Meister Eckhart

“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.”
Author Unknown

“Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.”
Lionel Hampton

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy."
Philippians 1:3

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."
Oprah Winfrey

"Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart."
Seneca

"Blessed are those that can give without remembering and receive without forgetting."
Author Unknown

"People who live the most fulfilling lives are the ones who are always rejoicing at what they have."
Richard Carlson

"There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude; a quiet joy."
Ralph H. Blum

What's Happening Wednesday - I need your votes!

2011-11-16T12:01:00.000-08:00

Remember when I shared my Thanksgiving Tablescape with you last week? Well, what I didn't tell you was that I created it for a contest. The contest is with Occasions Magazine and I am one of the top eleven finalists. I am so excited!!!! Now, I need your votes please. Visit their Facebook page here and simply "Like" the album that has my scape in it. Simple and easy. I would appreciate you telling others about voting for me too. I would love to win this!

Tutorial Tuesday - First Birthday Tablescape Inspiration

2011-11-15T15:44:00.000-08:00

Today I am sharing some tips, tricks and ideas for putting together a fun tablescape. This was from my daughter Emily's first birthday party. Polka dots and giraffes were the focus. I used great fabric to make a ruffle edged tablecloth. I also used a lot of different glass pieces to put all the goodies on. My bows were the added accessory. I hope this will help you create something different at your next celebration.

Inspiration Monday - Emily's First Birthday Party

2011-11-14T15:15:00.000-08:00

My second daughter, Emily, turned one in September. My uncle turned 50 the same week so we decided to do Emily's party at my aunt and uncle's house since so much of the family would be there for my uncle's party. Being in Show Low would also be much cooler than staying here in Gilbert! Plus, the pine forest is so beautiful and makes a lovely backdrop.

I am showing you two little sneak peaks of what I did for the tablescape. I made vanilla cupcakes, sugar cookies and chocolate ice cream cone cake pops. Her theme was tied around a giraffe and polka dots. Bright pink, turquoise black and white were my colors of choice. I really like this combination! Be sure to come back tomorrow because I will be sharing some fun ideas and tricks for Tutorial Tuesday.

My friends Rebecca and Shannon with Fresh Chick Design Studio custom made the darling poster and all the printables for me. They turned out super cute and I love them! I keep the toppers near my desk in a jar since they make me smile every time I look at them.

Fabulous Friday - Celebrating Veterans

2011-11-11T08:29:00.000-08:00

Veterans are people that we meet in everyday life. They live all around the world and are sometimes even the people that are closest to us. Whoever they may be, they deserve to be recognized and honored. Without these courageous people, the history of the United States would be vastly different and we would not be the nation we are.

There are many organizations one can join, projects one can take part in, or even places one can visit on Veterans Day in order to give these service men and women thanks. One of the organizations we are personally affiliated with is “Soldiers’ Angels.” With this organization, one can give a donation, buy American flags, join a team of people in order to help out soldiers and their families, or even adopt a soldier and send individual care packages. Here are some pictures from one of the Girls' Night Out events that I hosted at Polka Dots & Popsicles to gather items for care packages.

In addition to all of the great organizations one can join, there are numerous restaurants, stores, and other great locations that veterans can visit for free or discounted items. For a list of these places, visit The Military Wallet.

This a great time of year and what better way to kick-off the holidays than by thanking all of those who stand at the forefront of our nation and represent everything our nation is known for. Please make sure that you thank a Vet. today! After all, our country is the Home of the Free because of the Brave. Thank you Veterans, and thank you Dad for serving!

What's Happening Wednesday - Mom's Nite Out!

2011-11-09T11:09:00.000-08:00

Tonight I will be attending Moms Nite Out benefiting the McRae Family. If you don't know about this family please visit their website here. You will be touched by their strength and faith as their little girl battles brain cancer. I am donating one of my unique bracelets for the raffle. I hope to see you there!

Visit the Mom's Nite Out site here for all the details.

Tutorial Tuesday - Giving Thanks Book

2011-11-08T14:54:00.000-08:00

I am a very sentimental girl who loves keepsakes. I have made many special albums, wall hanging, cards, quilts, scrapbook pages, etc. over the years and so I thought today I would create something special for Thanksgiving. Life seems to be flying by these days, and I wanted somewhere for my family to write down what they are thankful for right now. We sometimes get so caught up in what we don't have and can take for granted how truly blessed we are. I hope you enjoy my tutorial and share with me what you are thankful for.

Inspiration Monday - Thanksgiving Tablescape

2011-11-07T10:15:00.000-08:00

I have always enjoyed setting the table for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Growing up, my mom would put so much thought into the decor of the table and I got to help her. This tablescape is one that I created for fun, but will be using for Thanksgiving as well. It changed a few times while my Marketing Manager, Jasmine, and I created it but the final look was my favorite. With the candles glowing it looked so elegant and beautiful. I hope you enjoy this inspiration and will create something new and unique this Thanksgiving.

BTW, I do know that I put the forks in the wrong place. Oops!

A view from the top. Lots of goodies were used: gold chargers, my wedding china dinner plates, crystal wine, champagne and beverage glasses, lots of mini pumpkins, other crystal glasses with a plate on top to hold additional pumpkins, two handblown glass pumpkins, silverware, place card holders with signs edged in gold glitter and silk hydrangeas.

Girls Night Out At Polka Dots & Popsicles

2011-09-06T13:07:00.000-07:00

When I first moved to Gilbert I was excited to be close to the San Tan Village. There are tons of great shops and restaurants at this mall, and I like that you don't have to actually go inside a mall to get to each store. It is not really ideal for Arizona's hot weather, but it is prettier than a traditional mall. And these types of malls usually have some different and fun shops. I am always on the lookout for a local business I can support.

After driving around a bit I noticed one store that had a big, metal, pink bow out front. Very cute and catchy for a girly girl like me! The name of the store is Polka Dots & Popsicles. It sounds like a store that I would love. Well, I was right!!! This store is filled with fun, funky, unique and very creative products.
I currently sell my jewelry, bows and signs in this awesome store.

Here is an interior photo with my signs right out front. I make them with children's names, with a family's last name, wedding anniversary, all the family's names, etc. The options are endless as they are custom made. If you are interested in a custom created sign please contact me. The 1'X2' signs start at $80. I also make smaller ones that are 12"X12" and hang with ribbon. There are other designs that the store carries that are not custom.

In August, I started helping to coordinate a Girls Night Out that they were already having monthly. The store is so full of great merchandise, that more people just need to be aware of it. I love hosting and planning parties so I thought helping them would be fun and rewarding for all involved. I look forward to them growing each month and becoming a place where women come to connect, support each other and network. I am so passionate about supporting women in business. My dream is to be able to employ many someday.

This evening would not have been possible without the help and support from the following women owned businesses: Fresh Chick Designs, Milk & Honey Interior Design, Decadent Delights and Fanciful Frames. They were all happy to provide support and a door prize too. I encourage you to check out each of their sites and become a fan on their Facebook pages. They are awesome!

I wanted the colors to really stand out in the store so I picked a combination of red, purple, white, black and turquoise! I put a fluffy red pettiskirt around the base of the cupcake stand.

I used a variety of cake stands, plates and trays. Some got a lining with paper for an added punch of color. The drawers were filled with bows from my Crissy G.'s Designs line. The frame popping out of the drawer is from Fanciful Frames. They have the neatest shapes!

My husband was sweet enough to bring this dresser that he repainted for me to use. It turned out so pretty and was the perfect addition to the store. So perfect that the owners bought it from us!

All the printables were designed by Fresh Chick Designs. The lovely and delicious cupcakes were from Decadent Delights.

My beautiful friend Michelle from Milk & Honey Interior Design.

My beautiful friend Destiny from the blog "A Place for Us."

The next Girls Night Out is September 20th. Our theme is going to be "A Tribute To Our Troops," and we will be collecting items to send care packages to our brave men and women. If you can't come on September 20th but would like to donate something please drop the items or money to help with shipping costs at Polka Dots & Popsicles anytime. Your support is greatly appreciated!

How To Create A Gallery Wall Photo Display

2011-08-24T15:53:00.000-07:00

I have been a huge fan of Holly Brimhall's Photography for many years. It all started about seven years ago when I saw her post some photos on Two Peas In A Bucket. Are you a Pea? If not, you will want to become one. My favorite hobby is scrapbooking and 2 Peas is an awesome site for all things related to scrapbooking. They also have a HUGE community with great forums. Holly had posted photos in their photo gallery and that is how I found my way to her blog, Sunshine in My Soul. She is a beautiful, kind and amazingly talented photographer. She writes about her life on her blog and is always open and real. I love that about her! Life is not perfect people!!

When we moved to Gilbert in March I was so excited to finally be able to have Holly take some photos of my daughters. She has this darling buggy and I wanted Emily in that buggy with Lauren fake pushing her. I had seen some other photos with sisters that were similar and thought they were so sweet. I also wanted to surprise Chad for Father's Day with some special photos. Special is just one of the many words that have been used to describe these photos.

Once I got the edited images from Holly I didn't know what to do first. I knew that I wanted to create a photo wall going up the stairs, but I honestly thought about how I would create wallpaper with them too. I want them everywhere because I love them so much. Here is the process I used to create my gallery wall.

1. I had 4X6 prints made of each one.
2. I started sorting. I put a pile of the ones with the two of them and then a pile with them individually. I then sorted the previous piles further: with the buggy, without, sitting, standing, etc. This is what worked for me. Holly also took some with me so those were in another pile. I only wanted the two girls in the hall so the ones with me were thought about later.
3. After sorting, I had some blown up. I knew I wanted some 16X20's, some 11X14's and some 8X10's. All the photos were printed by Mpix. I had them printed on metallic pearl paper, mounted and sprayed with a luster coating. There is no need for glass this way, and I knew there would be a lot of glare on these if they were behind glass.
4. I waited patiently for the photos.
5. I arranged the blown up photos on my dining room table. (Many times!!!) Some got edited from here and the one at the top with Emily looking up at Lauren I put in a completely different spot in our home. It needed its own place.

6. I gathered frames I had and spray painted them all black. Super easy!
7. I ordered more photos to fill in the gaps that I didn't like. I was also trying to balance how many individual photos there were. (This is the reason that some are still 4X6 in size.)
8. I waited patiently again for the rest of the photos to arrive.
9. I measured the width of the wall and used a piece of cardboard to gauge where I wanted the height of the center photo to be.
10. Hung the center photo and then eyed it from there.

Even after I started to hang them I changed the arrangement a bit. It took me quite a few hours between Emily's naps, but I managed to get them all up in a day. Since we are renting this house I didn't want to have to paint all the walls. That is why I chose black frames. They really look nice against the white walls as well as cohesive and elegant with the photos. It was hard for me to get a straight on photo because the stairwell wall was in the way.

There are soooooo many more photos that I love and I have put some others around the house. I could just stare at them all all day long. I might even add to this wall and curve it around the whole staircase. I am still planning to get a big 24X36 photo that is vertical. It will go on the wall to the right of this one. My favorites with the girls and me are in the Master Bedroom.

I hope you enjoy my creation and will tell me about a photo wall that you have created.

Lauren's Fancy Nancy Birthday Party

2011-08-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that my oldest daughter just turned 5 years old! It seems like only yesterday that she was born. I remember nearly every detail of that day as it was one of the best days of my life. As a little girl I always dreamed of having two girls. Well the Lord has truly blessed me and answered my prayers, and I am so glad he did!

Once Lauren decided for sure that she wanted Fancy Nancy to be the theme of her party I got to work on all the details. This was the perfect theme for her as she is always wanting to dress up, wear dresses, jewelry and all things fancy. She changes her outfit at least 5 times a day. And she loves to prance and twirl around as she walks. She is such a fun little girl to have for a daughter!

One of the first decisions I made was choosing an invitation. Here is what it looked like. If you would like to order one for your own little Fancy Nancy click here. I got a lot of compliments on how darling they were.

Our address and my phone number were included but I blurred them out just in case.

I also included a little note that said this:

As much as I appreciate your generosity, please let your presence be your gift. If you would still like to bring something I am collecting items for our spectacular and extraordinary soldiers. Mommy actually sends the care packages, but I am quite fond of filling the boxes. They love anything that we send! This may be the only time when being fancy is not necessary.

The menu included: mini croissant chicken salad sandwiches, mini croissant turkey sandwiches, little heart shaped sugar cookies, mini coconut and cherry cupcakes topped with buttercream frosting and raspberries, a fruit salad made with strawberries, grapes and blueberries and mini lemon cakes. I also made each of the girls their very own little vanilla cake that I topped with buttercream frosting and a butterfly topper. I found a whole set of Candlewick glassware and used the smallest of the plates for the little cakes. I just love the beaded edge on Candlewick! I used mostly clear glass for all the yummies.

Here are some up close photos of the food table. I ordered some custom cupcake toppers from The Tomkat Studio and then attached one of my Crissy G.'s Designs bows to the lollipop sticks so that each of the girls could take home a little bow of their choice.

I also made these cute butterfly wands for each little girl to have. I just put them all in a vase on the edge of the food table. They looked very whimsical. To make them you will need die cut fabric butterflies, iron on stabilizer, dowel rods, glitter glue and ribbons. I added yellow glitter glue to the edges of the butterflies to fill in the gaps and add a little shimmer. The inspiration came from the one that Fancy Nancy sometimes carries.

I decorated the dining room for the little girls to sit at. I painted two Eiffel Tower wood birdhouses that I found at Michaels with bright pink acrylic paint. After the paint was dry I coated them with "Extreme Glitter" from PLAID in the Hologram color. They looked so much better than just being painted! I hung the butterfly and crown ornaments from the chandelier with organza ribbon. Each chair either had a pair of nylon butterfly wings or a long tutu skirt attached to it. I put extra butterflies on Lauren's chair. I also placed a feather boa and tiara at each place for the girls to wear and take home with them.

Lauren wanted a lemon flavored cake in the shape of a heart. Easy enough! I wanted to do something fun with the icing and since I love ruffles so much I searched for a tutorial on how to make ruffles with icing. I thought it turned out darling! I just put a nylon flower on top with her #5 glittered candle. The "L" I free handed with the left over pink icing from the heart cookies.

My mom made Lauren's dress.

I also ordered custom favor tags from The Tomkat Studio and attached them to the front of the little white favor bags along with another bow from Crissy G.'s Designs. Inside the favor bags was a pen with a crown on top, a multi-colored stretchy heart bracelet, a candy bracelet with a crown and a cute little soap in a butterfly or crown shape. I also gave each little girl an ornament in their choice of butterfly or crown.

I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. ~ 1 Samuel 1:27

I hope you enjoyed reading about Lauren's party and seeing all the fun we had. It was a special day filled with family, friends and fanciness. Now I have to start working on Emily's 1st Birthday Party!

So Grateful For Friends

2011-07-15T22:02:00.000-07:00

Sometimes friendships are just meant to be. I met Destiny at Creative Estates in April. We talked a few times and I just always felt such a connection with her. She is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. Which is saying a lot because she is absolutely GORGEOUS!!! She is always smiling and has such a bubbly personality. We laughed some at Creative Estates and a whole lot at AZ Girls Night Out. The photos are from that evening. We just had to do a silly one with the hats. I could hardly stop laughing to take the photo and Destiny was as composed as ever. That made me laugh even harder. Once I start it is hard for me to stop. I am so thankful that God put us in each other's lives!

Be sure to visit Destiny's blog A Place For Us. She has a lot of great decorating and party ideas.

Breastfeeding

2011-07-14T09:30:00.000-07:00

Emily at 9 months in a onesie that I had made.

Emily will be 10 months old tomorrow and Lauren will be 5 in eleven more days. Where does the time go? My goal before I had the girls was to breastfeed them for their first year of life. It worked with Lauren and I am still breastfeeding Emily so it is working with her too. Breastfeeding is a huge commitment! It can be painful, frustrating and oh so rewarding all at once.

The best "tool" I used was a Medela Nipple Shield. All new moms should pack one in their hospital bag! It makes latching on a cinch for baby. Especially if your breasts are large and/or your nipples are inverted. I used a shield for the first 2 months of both my girls' breastfeeding days. Another great must have product is Nipple Butter. It is a topical cream that you apply after each feeding. I did not have it with Lauren and wish that I would have. I still use it on dry skin and lips to soothe and heal.

There are many resources out there for the breastfeeding mom. This site pretty much covers is all: Breastfeeding. The La Leche League will connect you with other moms in your community, and is also a great resource. Be sure to check with the hospital where you will be delivering as they should offer pre-natal classes with their lactation specialist. I went to one when I was pregnant with Lauren and was really glad that I did. She will also come by to see you after the baby is born to answer any questions and assist if needed.

I could not be a breastfeeding mom without my Medela Electric Breast Pump! Although I do wish that the sound it made was not so loud as I often feel like a cow when using it, it works great! I have pumped a lot more with Emily than I did with Lauren. When Lauren started sleeping through the night I just slept. With Emily I woke up a couple of hours before her and would pump a full serving and then go back to bed. The reserve that I pumped has really come in handy. It has allowed me to go out for longer than a couple of hours and know that she is still getting breast milk. I have even resorted to pumping in the car if I was away for the day. Hey, whatever works!

Here is a list of my must haves for the breastfeeding mom:
1. Medela Electric Breast Pump
2. Medela Nipple Shields - buy at least one size small and one size medium (I bought 3 of each for my stash. Nothing like searching for a nipple shield when the baby is crying! UGH!!)
3. Nursing Cover
4. Nipple Butter
5. Lilly Padz - I prefer these over the bulky and awful disposable ones.
6. Breast Milk Storage Bags

Yes, breast is best and the preferred choice for me. I encourage you to try it and not give up right away. Emily was a much harder baby to breast feed but I was determined to stick with it. You might need to supplement with formula and that is okay. There are so many benefits for you and the baby if you choose breast feeding. I hope I have provided some needed information for you and I wish you all the best in your breastfeeding adventure!

I Love Every Day With Rachael Ray

2011-06-24T14:28:00.000-07:00

I have been a fan of Rachael Ray's for quite awhile now. I have watched countless episodes of her "$40 a day" show, her "30 Minute Meals" show and now the newest one I enjoy is her "Week in a Day" show. Recently I decided to get a subscription to her "Every Day with Rachael Ray" magazine. I am so glad that I did! It is filled with incredible recipes, party ideas, places to visit and so much more. The most recent issue is all about grilling. I am not kidding when I tell you that you will want to make everything in this issue. With every page I turned there was more that I wanted to try. If only I had a magic wand to make the food magically appear from the page. I suppose if I am really dreaming, then that same magic would also be able to do all of the dishes, laundry, mop, and whatever else I wanted it to. Well since that isn't going to happen, it is back to reality.

As I was flipping through the pages a certain burger caught my attention. Popper Sliders is the dish. Oh my goodness are these burgers delish!!! What also really sounded good to me was the spread that she puts on top. It is made with cream cheese, garlic, cilantro, salt and pepper. At least this is how I made it. I deleted a couple of ingredients she had in it. Also, I made full sized burgers rather than sliders. (Be sure to click on the Popper Sliders link above for all the detailed instructions.)

To go with the burgers I made homemade fries. This is how I make them:
1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees
2. Cut up the potatoes into wedges. I usually cut 1-2 potatoes per person.
3. Soak the wedges in water to remove starch for about 20-30 minutes.
4. Rinse the wedges and then pat dry with a towel.
5. Arrange the wedges on a cookie sheet covered with foil.
6. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over wedges.
7. Sprinkle some salt and pepper over the wedges.
8. Bake the wedges for about 15 minutes.
9. After 15 minutes, flip each wedge to the other side with tongs. Be careful!
10. Let the wedges bake for another 15-20 minutes. Depending on how crispy you want them you can leave them in longer or remove them sooner.
11. Remove fries from oven and serve hot! You can add a little more salt and pepper to them as well.

This particular batch we ate with the extra cream cheese spread. It was incredible tasty on the fries!!

As you can see, we love garlic!!! You don't have to use as much as we do, but it sure is Yum-O!

This is what they look like all cooked. I told you you would want them! We ate ours so fast that I forgot to take a picture. This is from the magazine.

There are online extras from the Every Day with Rachael Ray June/July 2011 issue here.

If you are like me and enjoy trying new dishes I recommend a subscription to Rachael's magazine. Yes, there are tons of recipes online but sometimes it is nice to sit and read a magazine rather than always sitting at a computer reading. Enjoy your sliders and let me know if you make anything else from this issue. I am planning to try lots more!

God Has Opened A Door

2011-06-22T12:56:00.000-07:00

"I know all the things you do,
and I have opened a door for you that no one can close."

~ Revelation 3:8

This is exactly what I needed to read today. Chad and I have been feeling a bit anxious over the past week as he waits to hear from a company that he had four interviews with last week. We know that God will provide for our family and that we can always rely on him. Why is it so hard to be patient? We live in such a demanding and over indulged society that we just want everything to happen when we want it to. And why not? After all, we can pretty much have everything our way. We are all guilty of wanting something immediately and just because. I have really been taking the time lately to reflect on all my blessings and give lots of praise to God. After all, he is the provider of everything we have. He even gives us our talents, gifts and abilities. Yet we are usually looking for more.

I encourage you to take some time out of your busy and hectic life to reflect on all you have been blessed with. We live in such abundance here in America and tend to take so much for granted. I am trying to stop more and say, "thank you." God has an incredible purpose for your life and you are absolutely amazing to him. I hope you know that God is here for you now, and through his Grace you will be released from all your fears and anxieties. And remember, God's timing is not always in sync with our timing.

Baby Bracelets on GroopDealz Today

2011-06-17T08:45:00.001-07:00

I am very excited for my first GroopDealz today! I am offering one of my favorite baby bracelet styles. They are so dainty and darling. It is hard to believe that we all, at one time, were that tiny. You can choose from cream pearls, pink pearls, pink crystals, pink and green crystals or rainbow crystals. The sterling silver heart bead can have baby's initial on it or be plain like the ones in the photo. This is a great keepsake for baby to have and such a special gift to give. I hope you will help me in spreading the word today and buy one, or more, for the special baby in your life.

Tatertos and Jello Facebook Fan Giveaway

2011-06-16T21:54:00.000-07:00

I was honored to be a part of Jen's giveaway over at Tatertots and Jello. She is one of the sweetest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. (Yes, I have met her in person. I met her at Creative Estates in April.) When she mentioned having a giveaway when she hit 10,000 fans on Facebook I sent her a message and asked her if she would want one of my bracelets. She enthusiastically said, "YES!!!!" and so I got to work. I created the below pictured bracelet for the giveaway and I think it turned out beautifully. I made it with clear Swarovski crystals, handmade glass lampwork beads in shades of pink with touches of white and orange, clear glass beads and some lucite flowers with fully blinged out centers. I then attached a sterling silver heart charm that says "MOM" on it. I took this photo with the bracelet on the roses that my husband gave me for my birthday. I hope whoever receives it will love wearing it!

Mother's Day 2011

2011-06-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

My Family

This was my 5th Mother's Day. I was pregnant with Lauren for one so if that also counts this was my 6th. Wow! How is that possible? This was a very special Mother's Day since it was my first with two children. I am so blessed to have two daughters! They are truly my dreams come true. I have always wanted two girls. I am so happy that God chose me to be their mommy. It is a constant responsibility and one that I take very seriously. They light up my life and I can't imagine life without them. They are a LOT of work, but so worth it. As babies they could not be more different. I am hoping that Emily will turn out to be my pleaser. I have already told her she must be and she just looks at me and smiles. I think she agrees. LOL!

We spent Mother's Day in Tucson and it was a beautiful day. I just love being with my family and enjoying everyone's company. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the day.

Me, Emily and Lauren

Emily and Me

Her smile and cheeks can make anyone happy.

Brown Hutch Turned White - Furniture Redo Tutorial

2011-06-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

This is the story of a sad and old brown hutch that deserved a makeover. She was just waiting for someone to make her pretty and wanted again. I found her on Craigslist, which is the BEST place to find furniture in need of a redo. The bigger the city you live in or near the more furniture possibilities you will find. I knew she would look pretty and fresh in white. This is how I made her over. I didn't get a total before photo. You get the idea here though.

Supplies: Gallon of oil based Kilz, 3 cans of Rust-Oleum gloss white spray paint, 100 grit piece of sand paper, paint brush, damp cloth, paper and blue painter's tape to cover glass up. You will also need a screw driver if you want to remove the hardware. You can get all of these supplies at your local Lowe's or Home Depot.

Step one: Clean off piece with a damp cloth to remove cob webs, dirt and dust.
Step two: Cover up the windows with paper and blue painters tape to adhere paper to the glass. If you are removing hardware do so now.
Step three: Remove drawers and set aside.
Step four: Lightly sand all pieces including drawer fronts. You don't have to go crazy here. The Kilz will do a lot of work for you.
Step five: Rewipe everywhere you sanded to get the dust off again. You could also use a shop vac to blow off the dust or a regular vacuum with the brush attachment if you'd like.
Step six: Time for Kilz! Apply a light coat of Kilz to all the surfaces that you want to put paint on. This will seal the piece and cover up the dark so that whatever paint color you choose looks much nicer. Kilz dries really fast so do not put thick coats on. You don't want it to be globby. That is a word, right?
Step seven: After the first coat of Kilz has dried apply another thin coat. I was going for a shabby chic look so I didn't worry about perfection. You could use a foam roller instead of a brush if you want the final look to be smooth instead of having brush strokes. You could even use Kilz spray primer instead of what we used.
Step eight: Time to spray! You want to spray everything that you applied primer to. I also sprayed the hardware. Make sure you know what you are doing with a spray can so that you don't get drips and puddles on your piece. Read directions on the can and practice on a piece of cardboard if this is your first time spraying. If you mess it up a little don't worry. You can always sand it after it dries and start again.
Step nine: After all the paint has dried you can reattach the hardware and remove all the tape and paper from the glass.
Step ten for those who want to distress: Take your sand paper and lightly sand any edges you want to remove paint from. You could do a little or a lot of distressing. Don't worry about perfection on this step. There is no such thing!

It is now time to enjoy your beautiful new piece of furniture. She is so lovely! She even stands taller and more proud now doesn't she?

Cinco de Mayo 2011

2011-06-02T09:38:00.000-07:00

I have celebrated my fair share of Cinco de Mayos growing up in AZ. We have got hands down the BEST Mexican restaurants here. I like to make my own versions at home and this Cinco de Mayo was one night that I did just that. Well, with the help of my husband of course! By no means do I think I am some wonderful and authentic Mexican chef. But this meal is delicious so I wanted to share. You can also alter the ingredients to your own liking. There are many possibilities here.

Lauren was in Tucson staying with my parents so it was dinner for two!

What we used: 2 organic breasts of chicken from Sprouts, a can of diced green chiles, 4 whole tomatoes, 4 avocados, 1 bunch of cilantro, minced garlic, 1 lime, 1 yellow onion, 1 packet of Simply Organic fajita mix from Sprouts, small flour tortillas, cheddar and pepper jack cheese, lettuce, refried beans, tortilla chips, salsa, sour cream or Greek yogurt and your drink of choice.

1. Start by grilling those delicious and juicy breasts.
2. While the chicken is grilling get the rest of your ingredients ready.
* Chop up a handful of cilantro and set aside. (I don't chop the stems.)
* Chop up a yellow onion and put in a pan with enough vegetable oil to coat the bottom.
* Once the onion is cooked add the can of diced chiles, one diced tomato, tsp. or more of minced garlic, salt and pepper.

3. After the breasts are finished grilling cut them into bite sized pieces.

4. Now you can add the chicken and cilantro to your pan.

5. Mix all the ingredients in the pan so that the chicken is now coated.
6. Get out the packet of Fajita mix and follow the instructions on the packet.

7. Let the mixture come to a boil and then simmer for about 10 minutes. This really helps all the flavors soak into the chicken.
8. While the chicken is simmering it is time to make the guacamole! This is how we like to make ours: Scoop out four avocados and mash them up to your liking. Add 2 chopped up tomatoes, about a handful of chopped cilantro, a few Tbls. of minced garlic, (we LOVE garlic so you don't have to add this much), juice from one lime and some salt and pepper.

9. You could put the chicken mixture in a taco shell, wrap it up in a tortilla to make a burrito, have it on a tostada shell or just eat it straight. I felt like making a mini cheese crisp so I shredded some cheddar and pepper jack cheese and then popped the tortilla into the toaster over for a couple of minutes.

10. Time to eat!! Add the chicken mixture to the cheese crisp and fold to make a taco, add lettuce, tomato and sour cream or yogurt for toppings, add beans, guacamole, salsa, and chips to your plate. Voila! Yummy on a plate!!!

I didn't feel like making a whole pitcher of margaritas so I cheated and bought the coolers. Bottoms up!

My Big Fat Greek Easter

2011-06-02T08:36:00.001-07:00

I am not Greek Orthodox but I am Greek! My dad is 100% Greek and is among the first generation to be born in America. If you have not seen the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding you need to stop whatever you are doing right now, go buy or rent the movie and be prepared to laugh your head off. This movie is pretty much spot on in showing how some Greeks in America live. Of course it is Hollywood, and a bit much at times, but it is still hilarious and so true. The whole feasting and huge gatherings is right up our alley. We love to be hospitable and feed you!

This year Greek Easter and American Easter fell on the same day. Usually, because of the Greek calendar, they are not the same day. Something to do with the moon and blah, blah, blah. My aunt and uncle hosted and they got a whole lamb and spit roasted it. Disclaimer: IF YOU DO NOT EAT MEAT YOU WILL NOT LIKE MY PHOTO. But for all of you who love to chow down on meat, please enjoy the photo. The lamb turned out absolutely tender and juicy. If you have not had lamb cooked the proper way you probably didn't like the way it tasted. Forget the mint jelly people! Garlic, garlic and more garlic is what you need! Besides lamb, we feasted on Spanakopita, Greek salad with lots of kalamata olives and feta cheese, green beans with artichokes and onions, roasted potatoes and tzatziki sauce on the side for dipping the lamb in. My mouth is watering right now just thinking about it all! The meal was incredible, as usual, and we had a wonderful afternoon and evening together.

My mom and dad with my girls.

This Is The Day I Will Get Caught Up

2011-06-02T08:29:00.000-07:00

I have been very bad about posting for a few reasons. Computer issues is at the top of my list. But I am ready to get caught up today and post a bunch of posts. I need to go back to Easter and then move forward from there. Wish me luck!

Mother's Day Scrapbook

2011-05-06T21:26:00.000-07:00

This is a scrapbook that I made for my mom to showcase some special pictures from when I was little. The first photo is my mom pregnant with me and then the rest are just the two of us. I made this book from beginning to end. I covered pieces of chipboard with cardstock to make the cover and back stiff and also used my sewing machine to stitch on the pages and to stitch the accordion parts together. I took all the photos to Walgreens, scanned them in on their machine, converted them to black and white, they printed them and voila they all coordinate!

You could make a special little book for whatever you wanted to. So go get some pictures, paper, embellishments and ribbon and go to it!

The little saying at the beginning is printed on vellum and says, "A Mother's joy begins when new life is stirring inside...When a tiny heartbeat is heard for the very first time, and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone." The other saying I printed on vellum says, "Time with you is always well spent."

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

2011-05-05T11:26:00.000-07:00

I came across Leila Loves Handmadewhile searching for Mother's Day gift ideas. She had a beautiful assortment of items that I would certainly love to receive. It also got my creative juices flowing for what I could do for the special moms in my life. I will be seeing a handful of them on Mother's Day and wanted to have a little something for each of them. I am off to work on what I have come up with and will be posting later. For now, maybe you would like to make one of the lovely things in the photo below. Thank you Leila for the collection of beautiful ideas!

Sugar Cookies With Royal Icing by Sugar Coated Kitchen
Tea Sachets and Gift Box by Martha Stewart
Tea Cup Candles by Design Sponge
Tea Cup Flower Arrangements by The Quest To Become a Well Rounded Woman
Painted China by Martha Stewart

New Creations

2011-05-03T08:31:00.000-07:00

Well, I have not had my computer for a week. Finally got it back and feel like I have soooooo much to catch up on here. I have been working on some new bracelet designs. These are all one of a kinds that I will not remake. Most of my bracelets are that way when they have the lampwork beads in them. I don't buy the same beads over and over to get a variety. I might make some similar looking designs, but all will be different somehow. All these were made with sparkly Swarovski crystals, handmade glass lampwork beads, sterling silver beads and toggles and some have lucite flower dangles too. These are super fun to wear and just stare at! The ones without lucite flower dangles are $85, and the ones with the lucite flower dangles are $95. You can always request custom colors and charms! I added the "MOM" charms to show how it would look with a charm hanging. I hope you like them and will "like" me on Facebook.

The Real Reason For Easter

2011-04-22T12:16:00.000-07:00

As we prepare for an Easter weekend filled with egg hunts, the Easter Bunny and more candy than one should probably consume, I hope you know how much Jesus loves you. He loves you so much that he died for you and would do it over and over again. This is unimaginable to many, but as a Believer this is amazing to me. I can't begin to imagine the torture that he endured when he didn't have to. But his love for us is so strong that he didn't care about the pain and torment. His love for you is never ending too! He will be there for you no matter what. May you find comfort in knowing this. And since God loves to see us enjoy ourselves, an egg filled hunt and a basket filled with goodies is sure to bring a smile to his face.

Here is a wonderful article by Max Lucado. He Did It Just For You.

Eating Organic Fruits and Vegetables

2011-04-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

Do you eat organic fruits and vegetables? How about grass fed beef? Free range chicken? Wild caught fish? This is what my family eats now, and we love it! This has been a gradual change for us, but having two little girls we certainly don't want to be filling their bodies with foods that contain hormones and chemicals. There are so many wonderful places to get fresh organic foods these days. One of my frequent stops is Sprouts Farmers Market. Another great store to get organic is Whole Foods Market. They have an amazing array of incredible meats, fish, vegetables and fruits. I also like to go to the Gilbert Farmers Market to buy directly from the farmers. There are two companies that I have recently found out about who will bring the food right to your home. I am receiving my first delivery from Arizona Foods Direct tomorrow. The sample pack of chicken and steak that they brought to our initial meeting was delicious. The other company I found is Nature's Garden Delivered. Just looking at the photos on these sites of all the delicious foods makes my mouth water.

So what is the big deal with organic anyway? Why would anyone want to buy organic? Here are some of my reasons:

* It is food the way God intended for us to eat it.
* No chemicals, synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are used.
* Harmful chemicals are not leaching into our water supply.
* It tastes better, is healthier and fresher.
* It supports local farmers and their families.

Purchasing organic foods has inspired me to stop buying packaged junk food that my family does not need. We are eating more fresh and healthier foods, and our grocery bill has actually decreased. Now I just need to get to the gym more! If you are also eating organic please share your reasons. I will be posting some homemade organic baby food recipes soon so keep checking back with me.

Easter Inspiration

2011-04-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

Are you in need of some inspiration for your Easter gathering this weekend? Look no further than The Tom Kat Studio for this darling Easter printable set. And just look at what Kim from Tom Kat created with her sweet collection. What a beautiful display of goodies! I just love to put together creative and enjoyable party spreads. Especially when entertaining for family at holidays. I hope you all have a wonderful Easter!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~ John 3:16

Mommy, Baby and Little Girl Bracelets

2011-04-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

I have been making jewelry to sell since I was in college. Chad and I used to spend hours beading bracelets, earrings and necklaces to sell at local craft shows. Once those around me started having children, I would occasionally make a mommy or baby bracelet. When I decided to start Crissy G.'s Boutique, I wanted to offer my jewelry for sale. This was the first time I created the name bracelets for profit. I searched for unique handmade glass lampwork beads and found some beauties. Swarovski crystals and all kinds of sterling silver beads were the perfect compliment to the gorgeous lampwork beads.

With Mother's Day approaching, this is the perfect gift. I am posting a few photos so you can see my personal mommy bracelet and other ones that I have made. Lauren wanted a "Big Sister" bracelet when I was pregnant with Emily. This is another popular style. Usually they are made with just the child's name who is wearing the bracelet and then I add the "Big Sister" or "Little Sister" charm. An extender chain is also nice to add so that as the child gets bigger the bracelet will still fit them. The little ones are perfect for a baby keepsake.

All crystal mommy bracelets are $60 per strand. Mommy crystal and lampwork bracelets are $80 per strand. Children's name bracelets are $40 per strand. Newborn name bracelets are $35 per strand, or $30 with the solid heart or one letter heart bead in the center. Contact me to order the perfect custom bracelet! Extender chains and a wide variety of charms can be put on any bracelet.

New Beginnings

2011-04-13T15:09:00.000-07:00

We all need a new beginning sometimes! I am happy to be having one of my own. Today I am committing to this blog. I want this blog. I need this blog. I want a place to document all that is happening in my life. I want a place to post ideas and inspiration for others. I want a place to connect with others, and be connected to. I want a place for so many reasons. I hope you will someday find me and be a part of my journey.