Plans for Saving on Disney trip this weekend

We participated in the "Give a Day, Get a Day" with Disney and got FREE tickets to go to Disneyland this weekend. I gotta say, I'm so excited not just for myself (since I LOVE Disneyland) but for my girls--It's their first time and my 3 year old is so excited to see Mickey Mouse and all the Disney Princesses.

I'm hoping for the best day ever, but on a budget!

Here's what I have in store:

After we eat Mickey Mouse pancakes, I'm going to give my girls a gift bag filled with items that,(hopefully) will get them even more excited about the day.

I found tons of Disney stuff at the dollar tree (perfect!):

• Disney Princess calk board (for the car ride there)
• Disney Princess play jewelry (necklace and ring)
• Disney Princess chap stick
• And glow necklace and bracelets (for the light show)

I'm going to be running to Wal-Mart to pick up a few more things such as:

• Disney sippy cup (cause I know they'll want one there)
• Note book (so I can make an autography book)
• And of course, Snacks and water!

I also will be putting their outfit in there which I finished yesterday. (All I did was add-to a plain tank). Here's what one looks like:

Total of $10 per outfit!

I'll be posting a tutorial soon as well as other projects I have in store to save on our Disney trip this weekend.

Socialize With Me Monday til Sunday... Link Party

Socialize with me Monday til Sunday was created for those that do crafts (and then some) throughout the week and CAN'T wait for the next link party to show off  :)

Yes, this link party is ONE week long! It will start every Monday and go til Sunday. Since it is a week long, a multiple of 10 max  projects may be shared per blog per week.

The beginning of every new socialize with me party, I will recap a few of my favorites from the previous week.


Rules:

-Add the "Socialize with me Mon. til Sun. Craft and THEN Some Link Party" button to your post so others can join the fun (button(s) are on the right hand side bar)

-To save us from having to search for your project, please link to your post and not your blog.

-We love to see something new; No repeats from the same blog please.

-Leave only positive and uplifting comments to participating links :)

So excited to see what you've been up to!

Update Picnic Basket

Remember this goodwill find?

Well, with a little work, some spray paint, and new fabric, I was able to get this

Here's a quick overview of how I did this:

First, I took everything out of the basket and cleaned it.

Then I spray painted the outside as well as the rim of the inside

I added some new batting and fabric and started putting it back together.

So, with the purchase of this basket, plus spray paint and fabric I already had on hand; This project cost was under $10.

Great deal compared to purchasing a new picnic basket for $50-$100

Now, I just need a picnic blanket and a picnic date with my hubby.

I'm linking up this project to:

 

 

New Winner for $50 Visa Gift Card

So, I needed to pick a new winner for our $50 Visa gift card. (I used random.org once more... Thank goodness)
AND....

Our new winner is.... Comment number 1!!!---Crazy I know

Which is The Brock Family

Congratulations Brock Family!!!
Can't wait to hear from you to claim your prize. (I sound like an announcer)
:)

Goodwill Finds!

I'm so glad I was able to make a stop at my local goodwill store (without my kids=stress free to roam)!
I found a few things that I am pretty excited to make like-new with a few cosmetic changes.
Here's two that I'm going to work on first:

This wonderful, just needs a-little-love'n, wicker picnic basket

Some new fabric with some more straps; maybe even a new coat of paint?

Can't wait!

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Here's an awesome, over the lap, eating tray that I'm excited to make like-new for my husband!

Seriously...Some sanding, some stain or paint, and this baby is ready to go!

Update!

Wow! It's been so crazy around here with us all getting sick, our ward splitting to create a new ward, preparing for our vacation next week (and other things); I haven't been able to post any new crafts/activities that I've been up to, so.... Here's an update on things I've done or are in the middle of right now...


For my girls:

I finally finished my daughters bedding AND cubby bed frame....

Now I just need some nice baskets

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I saw this design at Michaels and knew I had to do one for both of my daughter's names

 

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Silhouette's are pretty popular right now so I took pictures of my girl's profile and (using my photoshop) made their silhouette's

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I also spelt out "sister" and placed each letter in a basket to display over their closet

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And yes, there's more where that came from:

My laundry room:

I made this curtin out of left over material (white bed sheet)

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I framed teddy's clothes to add some decor to the empty wall

 

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Now on to things I'm in the middle of...

-a Simpson Household Rule board

-a wall decor for my bedroom

-I'm also trying to learn how to do my own acrylic nails

Winners for the 2 $50 Visa Gift Cards

Yea!! I finally get to announce our two winners for the $50 VISA Gift Card. First of all, I like to thank each of you who participated in this giveaway and would like your opinion on how this went and what you would like to see more of (in this blog and for new giveaways).

OKAY, now to show you our winners! (yes, I took pictures of the picking...Thank goodness there's a website for this--Random.org)

(oh, and before I forget, I didn't count my comments---since I wasn't entering to win... SO, that means, the total of comments started at 90, but I wrote the first 3, subtract that and we get the valid total which was 87....)

For our 1st winner. We have comment number 40!

Who is Kaysi

and our 2nd winner is comment number 57

Who is Summer Lee

Congratulation you two! Now you have until this weekend to email me with your address.

simpsonizedcrafts@yahoo.com so I can send those out to you. The faster you give me your address; the faster you get your gift card :)

*If no contact is attempted by this weekend, I will pick a new random winner*

For The Split Pea Soup Lovers

I thought everyone liked split pea soup, and then I married my husband... I figured I would indulge myself by making split pea soup for dinner last night and I would make something else for my husband (not a normal thing for me, usually I just make what he likes to avoid any complaints)


Needless to say, my wonderful husband actually ate my split pea soup and said he liked it (AWESOME!!)

So here's how I made this split pea goodness:

What you’ll need:

1 C. dry split peas, sorted and rinsed
1/2 C. chopped carrots
1/2 C. chopped celery
2 cloves garlic chopped
1/4 C. fresh chopped parsley
4 steams of chives, chopped
1/2 t. fresh chopped rosemary
2 fresh basil leaves, chopped
1/2 t. grated ginger root
3 t. extra virgin olive oil
2 C. chicken stock/broth
1 1/2 C. HOT water
1 15oz. can of fire roasted tomato

Directions:

In a large pot, add oil, carrots, celery, garlic, parsley, chives, rosemary, basil, and ginger and cook till soften. Add Hot water, chicken stock and split peas.

Simmer for 30-40 minutes with lid tilted.

Add the tomatoes.

Place in blender and puree

Add cooked ham if you desire... I didn't have any at the time.

Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

So I tried this recipe at a friend’s house and LOVED it. I had to ask for the recipe!!! She, being how nice she is, gave it to me and I have made it several times since. I need to ask her first if I can post her original recipe but here's my version of it! :)



Here's what you'll need:

Cooked Brown Rice (click here to see how I cook my Brown Rice)
3 Chicken Breast, boiled and shredded
8 oz. Sour Cream
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 T. Poppy Seed
1/2 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 Sleeve of butter crackers (such as Ritz), crumbled
1/4 C. Unsalted Butter (1/2 Stick), melted


Put it together (love casserole dishes, so much easier!):

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, mix cream of chicken soup, sour cream, shredded chicken and cheese together. Fold in poppy seeds.

In a small bowl combine crumbled crackers and melted butter.

In a 9x13 casserole dish (with a lid), layer in the following way: brown rice, creamy chicken mixture, and then buttered crackers.

Cover with the casserole dish lid and put in the preheated oven for 30 minutes (middle rack).

Uncover and cook an additional 30 minutes, allowing the cracker topping to turn golden brown.

Let cool/set for 10 minutes.

Serve and enjoy :)
Thanks again to my friend for introducing Poppy Seed Chicken to me! Yummy! :)