Nail Wall Art

Another easy and cheap Pinterest find! 

Nail wall art is something that can be personalized and made to go with any home.

For this project you will need:

• Plywood - I got mine at Menards for $4
• Can get in many sizes
• Paint
• Nails - I used black nails since I painted my board black
• Yarn
• Hammer

I painted my board and let that dry first. Then I drew out the pattern that I wanted on with a pencil so that I could see it, but wouldn't be noticed once the nails were in at the yarn was on. 

Once your pattern is drawn then just go around and start nailing in the nails along the lines. 

After all the nails are in then you can start wrapping with your yarn. Tie the yarn around a starting nail and just start wrapping. Sometimes this part can get tough to keep it tight and to make sure that it is filled in enough, but just keep wrapping and trying different places until you like it!

Personalized Homemade Home Decor

As Christmas approached this year, I could not decide what to get everyone on my list and so I was looking around for some ideas. 

On Etsy I found these awesome steel letters for very reasonable and tried to think of something I could create using them. 

And here is what I came up with 

I went to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore here in town and found some cupboard doors that were sanded down and ready to be painted. 

Then I painted a layer of brown paint, let that dry and lightly painted on a layer of blue paint. Painting it lightly on gave it that sanded down, worn look, but without the sanding! Just keep painting lightly until you reached the look that you want.

After that all dries then I took the steel letters that I had ordered and glued them on using E6000 Epoxy glue. 

It was nice to be able to get something personalized for a very reasonable price. 

Could make in any color and the place that I ordered them from also had some different fonts that I could chose from.

Arm Knitting

While I was in the hospital and at home in the days after my surgery I picked up a new hobby: Arm Knitting. Once I started I couldn't stop. They were easy once I got going and started making them for other people as well. I followed a tutorial that I found on Pinterest that was super easy to follow. 

The only things you need is yarn and your arms!
The yarn that I used was number 6, which is one of the largest size that you can get. 

I made a couple for other people using 5 and it just didn't get as full like I would want them. The length and size all depends on the person and what they want!

These are two of my favorite ones that I made and wear them all the time now. 

Recently I have just learned to crochet so I'm working on a blanket and a cowl scarf. It takes much longer than the arm knitting, but still awesome to be able to make my own scarves. 

Arm Knitting Video Tutorial 

8 Can Taco Soup

One of the EASIEST recipes I have done in a long time. Another delicious supper option, especially on these cold winter days. Soup is always a good options on those days. 

All you need is:

• 1 can chicken broth
• 1 can cream of chicken
• 1 can chicken - drained
• 1 can pinto beans - drained and rinsed
• 1 can black beans - drained and rinsed
• 1 can corn - drained
• 1 can diced tomatoes - drained
• 1 can enchilada sauce
• 1 packet taco seasoning

For picky eaters you can add and take away pretty much anything you would like to make it your own. I would have used smaller diced tomatoes because I don't really like large chunks in mine.

Dump all the cans and taco seasoning into a crock pot and cook on low for 2-3 hours. If you are in more of a hurry you can cook on stovetop as well. 

Serve with sour cream, shredded cheese, and Fritos instead of crackers. 

I don't have pictures for this one, but hopefully next time I make it I remember, because let's be honest, this WILL be made again soon. Especially if this winter cold keeps up.

I found this one on Pinterest, and the link led me to a great blog with awesome recipes. Six Sisters Stuff

Energy Balls! (No bake cookie balls)

Looking for something simple and actually pretty healthy to get you through the day? These energy balls will get you through the day and just enough to satisfy that sweet tooth.

I make mine with:

• Oatmeal
• Peanut butter
• Nutella
• Honey
• Mini chocolate chips

You could really throw anything else you would like in these. I know some people I have talked to use some cocoa or flaxseed in with theirs. 

I don't really have a recipe that I follow. I just start throwing everything into a bowl and stir it until it is about the consistency that I want. You want just enough so that everything will stick together. I roll mine into balls, but others have told me to spread them in a pan like bars. I'm not sure they would stay together as well, but something that I could try next time! The balls are almost dangerous because they are so easy to pop in your mouth, but also very easy to bring with you on the go!

Easy Chicken Fajitas

Tonight for supper I tried another new and easy recipe. Needless to say, they were delicious. These chicken fajitas were so easy and ready in 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

• 1 lbs Chicken (I used the Stir fry chicken so they were already cut into strips)
• 1 Large whole Red pepper
• 2 Green peppers
• 2 Jalepeno pepper
• 1 Onion
• 1 packet of fajita seasoning

Slice up all the peppers and onion and put them in a bowl.

Since I was only cooking for two tonight, I put half the veggies in another container to use another night.

Add chicken to the bowl. If you did not get the stir fry chicken make sure to cut the chicken into strips so they are easy to put into shells and eat later. 

Add the packet of seasoning and mix it all together!

Put it in a pan and put in the oven at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Take out and serve on tortillas with sour cream, guacamole, or any of your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Simple and so delicious!  

I have a couple other ones to put up on here that I have tried in the last couple days. Now that I can finally eat after my jaw surgeries, I am pretty much cooking and baking everything! Stay tuned...