Right Now {Mom-day post}

If she knows you're taking her picture, this is the face you get. Cheese!

I just read a post this morning here.  And after my post last week as well, I'm feeling like it's time to take a moment and just revel in the happy things that are happening in my life- Right Now.

Right Now- this one is finally potty trained.  Our kids can be stubborn- so we wait until it's their idea- which is usually A LOT later than when it's our idea. :)  But, the flip side is that one day they're wearing pull-ups and the next underwear.  Awesome.

Right Now- I finally have some energy.  Even after the stomach flu hit our family last week (all but one of us) I still feel like I can get some things accomplished- Mom things and Amy things too.  That's always fun.

Right Now- I am looking forward to spring.  Even though there's snow on the ground this morning- by the weekend?  60's and 70's!  YES!!

Right Now- I am grateful that I have enough business to keep me busy, but not enough to overwhelm me.

Right Now- I love my family.  Every imperfect and crazy part of them.

Right Now- I am looking forward to attending SNAP! a blogging conference, right in my neck of the woods, and that it comes with the delightfully HUGE bonus of meeting one of my best blogging friends IN REAL LIFE!!  YeS, Yes, YES!!!  I don't think I'll be sleeping much that weekend. ;)

Right Now- I am so grateful that this baby in me is growing and looks healthy and strong.  We had a bit of a scare with the genetic screening test and it was a rough week.  The ultrasound looked great and we're just going to love HER however she comes. :)

Right Now- I am loving blogging friends that lift, encourage and inspire me.  Even when I don't always keep up my share of the equation. :)  Hopefully that is turning around.  Look for some amazing inspiration this week in a tutorial that has been LONG promised and WAY overdue, as well as incredible Pinterest pinspired (that was a typo, but it looked appropriate so I'm leaving it. ;) ) projects from our Point of View group.  I really hope you'll join us by linking up your own Pinterest pinspired projects.  How's that for alliteration for you? :)

Right Now- I am grateful to be living in a place full of beauty, and for children who love to stop and look with me.

Now it's your turn.  What are you grateful for Right Now?
Happy Monday!
xoxo,
Amy

Paper Plate Basket Tutorial

Last week I promised I'd share how I made my paper plate baskets.  Well, even though it's not the next day- here it is. :)
As I mentioned in the previous post, I had first seen these baskets on a pin that linked to this tutorial on Sara Hearts.  She had first seen them in a Martha Stewart magazine, but when I looked online I couldn't find the tutorial.  I had a different take on how to put them together, so that's what I'm going to share today.

To start you will need a 9" paper plate, a 3" square template (I just cut out a 3" square out of cardstock), and a stapler or hot glue gun.  Optional: embellishments, ribbon, ink.

Trace the 3" square onto the center of the plate.  You can measure in 3" from the side to get it exact, but if you're fairly close, the basket will turn out fine without being precise.

Fold over each side of the square, continuing the fold to the edges of the plate.

This is what your plate will look like when all four sides are folded.

This part gets tricky to explain in words.  We are going to fold the triangle piece in half, lining up the two straight sides to put the crease in the center of the triangle.

Fold it flush against one of the sides.  Repeat with all four triangle pieces.  The important thing to remember is to keep the outside edges lined up the whole time so the basket is square and the corners are flush.

This is what you will have when all four corners have been folded.  If you want to ink the edges, or color the sides (like we had the cub scouts do) you will want to do it now.  Next we're going to create the basket.  There are two ways to do it, you can staple the corners to the side, this way is quick and fast and very simple.  When you are finished you can just cover the staples with a ribbon or other embellishment.  The other option is to use hot glue, which will seal up the edges a bit better and leave no external marks, but is just a tad more time consuming.

This is the stapled version.  You will want to make sure you keep the staples lined up pretty closely so when you add ribbon (or the very popular washi tape) you will cover them up.

To use hot glue, you will run a bead of glue around the border of one half of the corner triangle then pinch the corner shut.  Make sure you line up the sides again so your corner is flush and square.

To tack the corners down, you will need to add a dab of glue to the points of the triangles (note the arrow in the picture) and press them against one side.  It's a much cleaner look, but I personally prefer the simpler staple version. :)

To finish it off, add a ribbon to cover the staples (if that's what you used), or embellish to your heart's content.

You don't need to do much to these to make them darling, their size is enough to endear them to any recipient.  Fill them with cookies, treats, notes, berries or other fun small items and gift them to a neighbor, friend or teacher.  Cute and inexpensive.
You can see what we did with them in our Cub Scout den here.
Let me know if you have any questions or if something isn't clear.  I'll do my best to help.
xoxo,
Amy
Linked up to the Weekend Wrap up party at Tatertots and Jello.  Look What I Made Link Party at Kara's Creations.

Taco Cupcakes

I have been having a blast using Pinterest to find new recipes for my family.  I tend to rely on my go-to recipes much more than I probably should, so when something new comes up on the menu, my family gets pretty excited. :)  I had seen a pin for Taco Cupcakes on Just Us.  They looked very much like something my family would go for, so I decided to try them out.  Well, it turns out I'm not very good at reading directions because when I went to make them, I only had about half the ingredients called for in the recipe, so I decided to just wing it. :)  I would definitely recommend reading her recipe and trying that out, but mine turned out pretty good too, and my family loved them. :)

Taco Cupcakes- my version.
Won Ton wrappers
hamburger
taco seasoning
cheese
refried beans
Preheat oven to 375
Brown the hamburger, drain and add taco seasoning according to package directions.  Take a cupcake pan and press one won ton wrapper into each well.  Spoon hamburger and beans (1-2 T), top with shredded cheese.  Layer another wonton wrapper on top and repeat layers.  Fold the edges of the wrappers into the center of the "cupcake" to keep them from browning as much.  Bake 15-20 minutes.

Enjoy!  Next time I would probably do less hamburger and more beans because of the amount of seasoning in the hamburger.  I would also follow the other recipe and serve with guacamole- yum. :)

Have you been inspired to try something on Pinterest?  Get your posts ready because our Point of View theme for March is Pinterest and we'd love to have you link up and share your Point of View!! :)
xoxo,
Amy