Game Day Nachos

FINALLY football season is back!! And if you've seen my truck driving around or my facebook profile picture, you know that the Crownover's are COWBOYS fans!
So when Sunday or Monday (sometimes Thursday) come around you can bet your bottom dollar my family is watching the Boys do their thing!!
Snacks are a BIG must have during a game. These nachos are so easy and quick to make and such a hit!! (p.s this can EASILY be doubled or tripled)

What you will need:

1 Bag Tortilla Chips
1 Bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 Can Black Beans
1 Can Corn
1 Can Diced Tomatoes
1 Can Rotel
1 Small Can Olives
1 Tablespoon Taco Seasoning
1 Pound Ground Beef
3 Cups Lettuce

Before we get started I would like to share with you my moms homemade taco seasoning made especially for me because I am allergic to onions so it is onion powder free!!

Mom's Home Made Taco Seasoning

1 part chili powder
1 part ground cumin
1 part garlic powder
1/4 – 1/2 part crushed red pepper
Directions
Mix all the spices together and store in an airtight container.

Now, onto the nacho making!!!

Brown 1 pound ground beef.
Drain cans (black beans, rotel, corn)
Do not drain diced tomatoes
Add all cans except the olives into a pot and bring to a boil.
When meat is browned strain and rinse with hot water.
Add meat to pot of boiling ingredients.
Turn off heat after about 8 minutes
On a cookie sheet (or 2) place a layer of chips.
Using a slotted spoon scoop out and let the boiled ingredients drain through the spoon and place onto of chips.
Add a layer of cheese on top
Broil for about 15-20 minutes.
Once they are done sprinkle olives and chopped lettuce on top and serve!!!

Fruit Water Raspberry/Lime && Orange/Lemon/Lime

A few blogs ago I shared my weight loss and how I kind of did it. In this blog I am going to share with you a few more drinks that are super good and super good for you! In my other blog I wrote about my amazing lemon green tea. This one is about a raspberry/lime water drink and an orange/lemon/lime water drink.

Its so simple it will blow your mind!

The first one is the raspberry/lime water.
I used mason jars because I was making half for me and half for my Uncle.

What you will need:

Two quart size Mason Jars or any ole pitcher 2 quarts or larger.

Raspberries

1 Limes

Truvia

Ice

Water

 

RINSE ALL FRUIT BEFORE EATING!!!!

 

Take a few hand fulls of raspberries (mine were frozen) and add them to the bottom of your empty container(s).

Slice a lime in quarters

Squeeze the limes over top the raspberries and then drop them in the jars/pitcher

Taking the end of a wooden spoon lightly mash the raspberries and limes.

Fill the container with ice

Fill the container with water

Add four truvia (if you are using two mason jars, two truvia in each)

Mix and enjoy!!

The next water drink is the Orange/Lemon/Lime.

What you will need:
1 Orange
2 Lemons
2 Limes
Ice
Water
Truvia
Gallon size pitcher

Slice the orange in half.
Slice one half into round slices.
The other half squeeze into the pitcher
Slice the 2 lemons and 2 limes and repeat what you did with the orange. The difference between this recipe and the raspberry one is you wont put the squeezed half in the pitcher, throw that half away.
Fill with ice and water
Add 4 Truvia and stir!!

Spray Painted Mason Jars Part 2

In Spray Painted Mason Jars Part 1, I showed you how to use a hot glue gun and puffy paint to write on a mason jar, spray paint it and then peel off the hot glue or puffy paint.

 

 

 

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Now, I'm going to show you the rest of what I had in mind for this project.

Again I saw this idea on Pinterest to take Mason Jars attach them to a board and hang them in the bathroom with all your small stuff (q-tips, cotton balls toothbrushes etc.)

 

 

 

 

Its so simple!! Take a piece of wood. Mine was 20 inches. I painted it purple.

 

 

 Using a measuring tape mark on the board where you want the Mason Jars placed.

 

 

 

I decided to place the jars 1 inch from the ends and every 5 inches apart.

 

 

 

Using screws attach the hoes clamps to the wood where you have marked on the board.

 

 

Now all that's left is attaching the Painted Mason Jars!!!

 

 

To hang use picture hangers!! So simple so easy and I LOVE IT!!!

Simple && Easy Ways To Organize!

I love this idea and it was SO simple and easy. Literally took 5 minutes to do everything except the shopping for jars!

I used 3 glass cookie jars and 4 clear Mason jars, black vinyl and a white calligraphy pen.

Cutting out the shape I wanted (rectangle) I wrote on the black vinyl.

For the cookie jars I made them "spare change jars"

One for my husband, one for me and one for "date night"! So cute!!

Next is the mason jars.
I used these mainly for organization.

Misc. items like button erasers ect. Crayons, Pencils and Markers.
See how simple and how cute??!!

Took 5 minutes and I love them.

Lemon Green Tea...YUMMY

The joys of pregnancy is something I never got to enjoy. Mine was horrible, bed rest, morning/day/night sickness, false labor the works. After I gave birth to my sweet daughter in August 2010 I kept eating like I was pregnant only I wasn't getting sick after every meal (yuck). My weight went from 145lbs (while pregnant) to 153lbs after pregnancy. I felt so unhealthy and sluggish. I did have some activity running after her and going on some walks with my Mom. Not too much though.

So I decided enough was enough. I started cutting calories, eating better and working out whenever I got the chance. Usually while my daughter was taking a nap or going to sleep. I used an app on my SmartPhone called "My Fitness Pal". Basically you just scan the barcode on everything you eat or you can search for what you are eating. 1200 calories a day and a lot more water (I'm a Dr. Pepper girl) and this AMAZING green/lemon tea that I make.

I had a really good workout plan and I liked to switch it up a little but basically the same things repeated 2-3times.

On my workout ball I do 10 push-ups, 20 crunches, 10 leg extensions, 10 wall squats, 20 lunges and then 50 jumping jacks. Do this 3 times, 2-3 times a day. MAN I was sore for days, but if you aren't sore you aren't doing it right! And you HAVE to stick to it. Work through the pain!

 

SOOOO the point of this blog is to share the recipe for this AMAZING lemon/green tea!

What you will need:

6 Bags Lipton Green Tea Decaf

6 Bags Celestial Lemon Zinger Herbal Tea Caffeine Free

12 Cups Water

4 Cups Ice

6 Packets Truvia

1 Gallon Picher

 

Bring 12 cups of water to a boil. Lower heat and place 6 green tea bags and 6 lemon tea bags in the water.

Let them soak for about 15 min with the heat on medium-low.

While the tea bags are in the pot, add 4 cups of ice to a gallon size picher and the 6 packets of truvia. (You can skip the truvia part if you would rather sweeten it as you drink or not have any at all.) DO NOT USE SUGAR!!!!!!

After 15 minutes scoop out the tea bags using a cooking spoon and pour the tea into the picher of ice. Stir and refrigerate.

 

Its so yummy and so good for you, caffeine free and ZERO calories!!!

Enjoy!!!

 

Home Is Where The Army Sends Us

   I met my wonderful husband when we were in high school. We were madly in love until I moved to Germany (Air Force brat). We lost touch for 3 years, until my family and I moved to Abilene, Texas. I decided to write my long lost boyfriend and crossed my fingers that he actually remembered me. Weeks went by and I didn't hear anything so I brushed it off and continued on with my life. I was in school to be a Nail Technition and I was working my first fast food job (Chick-fil-A)
    After a LONG day at school and work I came home and my Mother greeted me at the door and said "Katie, do you know a Wesley Crownover?" I said "Yeah, thats Alan" (He goes by his middle name) She replied "What about a Private Wesley Crownover?". I about broke the windows in the house I screamed so loud! "NO HE DIDN'T!!!!"
   Sure enough, he had joined the Army. He was in bootcamp and his parents forwarded the letter to him (thats why it took so long to get there and for him to respond). We fell in love all over again through letters and phone calls. Then he graduated and I was so proud!!
   We realized a few months later that we needed to see each other and be in the same state, so he bought a plane ticket and we spent the most amazing weekend together. It took three days for us to say I love you. I ment it then and I mean it more everyday. It was only 9 short months later that we said "I do."
   Because of the Army we have moved a bit and have been seperated ALOT. We had enough time together to conceive our daughter and have her before her was off to a new place. Currently he is stationed in Germany and I am living at home with my parents in Idaho.
   Getting to the point of this blog I wanted to make something for our home to show all the places we have been together. I am making another one just for him showing his military carrer, I'm excited to do it...


I got a picture frame from Wal-Mart I think it was like $11.00
I googled "map outline of state/country"
After fooling around on Microsoft Powerpoint and using Picture Art to make what Bases we had been stationed. Adding where we met and where our daughter was born. Pinted them and cut them out.
I also made a 5x7 print out of the saying "Home is Where the Army Sends Us" and one of our last name.
I glued the cut out states and the country to 5x7 colored scrapbook paper.

This was the final product I love it and so does my husband!!

Top Left Corner: Rio Rancho, New Mexico (where we met and got married)
Bottom Left Corner: Fort Benning, Georgia (our first duty station)
Top Center: Home is Where the Army Sends Us
Bottom Center: Crownover (our last name)
Top Right Corner: Fort Leavenworth, Kansas with a little heart on Overland Park, Kansas were out daughter was born
Bottom Right Corner: Baumholder, Germany

Spray Painted Mason Jars - Part 1

So...again I was putting around on Pinterest and came across yet another mason jar craft and wanted to try it.

You will need...

Puffy Paint either black, white or both!

Hot Glue Gun and Hot Glue Sticks

Mason Jar

Spray Paint (my bathroom theme is black and white so those are the colors I used)

Using the hot glue gun make an outline of any shape. I drew a heart.

Picture 1. One outlined heart

Picture 2. (Same jar)Two outlined hearts

Picture 3.(Different jar) One filled in heart

Using the Puffy Paint write on the jar whatever you would like. I decided to write Love on the jar with the two hearts

And Heart on the jar that has the filled in heart.

In this second set of pictures I tried something new (fingers crossed it works!)
I outlined a heart with hot glue and then filled it in with pink puffy paint.

Next are the first set of jars that I did:

Picture 1. You Me with a heart on the back

Picture 2. A (in puffy paint) C (in hot glue) K (in puffy paint)

(The different textures will make sense in a few steps)

Kyleigh (my daughter's name)

Picture 3. Cotton Balls (my Mom cut out some "flurishes" on vinyl using her Cricut so I added them for decoration)

Picture 4. Q-Tips with hand drawn "flurishes"

I used an upside down diaper box outside to set the jars on to spray paint.

Spray one coat of paint (make sure the jar is no longer clear) on each jar.

After about 30 minutes spray the second coat.

Let them dry for about an hour or so.

After they've dried, peel off the hot glue IF you want to have that specific part show through.

To add final touched trace any part that you have peeled with the same or different color puffy paint!!
Sadly the puffy paint filled heart didnt have the effect I was looking for. :(

How cool is that??

I am totally obsessed with Flameless Tealight Candles (mainly because I have a two year old and she is a curious little girl!!) because I don't have to worry about heat from real candles ruining the paint and decorations on the jars!

Doily Mason Jars

I have to admit I was totally against Pinterest until I gave into peer pressure (a.k.a my Mother). I joined and immediatly became addicted.

I could spend all day on there, however my two year old wont allow that!

So while feeding my guilty pleasure I came across this craft and I HAD to try it.

Now it is my great honor to show you, it is so simple and so cute!!!

This is what you will need...

Mason Jars, Spray Adhesive and Doilies.

First spray one side of the Mason Jar with the Spray Adhesive. (The original post said to sray the Doily first and place it on the Mason Jar, when I did that my hands were sticky for two days!!)

The plop the Doily onto the Mason Jar. Center and let it dry.

Make sure you don't let the Doily get tucked under the Mason Jar because it will cause it to rock.

Add Ribbon the finish the look!!

I placed Flamless Tealight candles inside (you know the battery operated kind) for a beautiful glow!

These are going to be center pieces for mine and my husband's vow renewal!!

Family Blocks

I saw this really cute wodden block sign on Pinterest. So I decided to make it myself with a few modifications!

I asked my Grandpa to cut pieces of 2x4 into blocks ranging from 3 1/2 inches tall to 6 inches tall. (two of each size)

I picked up some acrylic paint at Michael's. Four different colors. Black, purple, blue and cream (I had to mix white and yellow to make the cream)

Using a sponge brush paint the sides and back side of each block balck.(I had to do two coats)

Let them dry over night then flip them over.

Using the sponge again, paint one 6 inch block and one 4 1/2 inch block purple. Two 3 1/2 inch blocks cream and the remaining two blocks (6 inch and 4 1/2 inch) blue.

Again I had to do two coats.

Using my Mom's Cricut we cut out the letters F A M I L Y at 4 inches tall using black vinyl. (You could paint them on if you want!)

Placing them free hand gave it more character!

This is final product! I love it so much that I made one for my Grandma too!

Nutella Jar Cakes

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First: Boil the jars, lids & rings for 10 minutes
Second: Preheat the oven to 325F
Third: After boiling for 10 minutes, using metal tongs, take the jars, lids & rings out and place on a towel to dry.

Spray the inside of each jar with Pam or Crisco.

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Ingredients:
Butter
Vanilla
Eggs
Baking POWDER
Flour
Sugar
Salt
Nutella

First: Mix together 1 Stick + 2 tbsp butter & 3/4 cup Sugar
Second: Add in 3 eggs (one at a time)
Third: Mix in 1/2 tsp Vanilla, 1 3/4 cup flour, 1/4 tsp Salt & 2 tsp Baking Powder

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Using an ice cream scoop to fill the jars 1/4 full.

Add in a small scoop of Nutella
(My sister read that you can scoop cake batter then the scoop of  Nutella another scoop of cake batter with an exra scoop of Nutella on top....We didnt do that this time)

What they should look like

Using a toothpick LIGHTLY swirl the Nutella into the cake batter.

Bake in the oven at 325F for 30 mintues
We placed ours on a cookie sheet for easier removal from the oven.

Test to see if they are baked throughout by sticking a toothpick in the center on one if it comes out clean they are ready if not stick them back in for another 2 minutes. Do this until they are fully baked
!!CAUTION THEY ARE HOT!!
Remove the jars from the cookie sheet using oven mitts.
Carefully place the jar tops on (dont make the lids too tight!!)
The jar tops will pop while they are cooling.

I hope you enjoy your cake jars. I am sending these to my husband for Fathers Day!!