Cream Cheese Jalapeno Corn Dip

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This is another simple, yet really good, recipe with only three ingredients. A coworker of my dad’s gave him this recipe, and then my dad passed it along to me.

You actually need two cream cheese packages even though the picture only shows one.

  • 1 can of corn, drained (or a little less)
  • 2 8oz packages of cream cheese, softened (I typically use regular, but you could use low-fat or fat free instead)
  • Jalapenos from the jar (to taste), finely chopped

Make sure the cream cheese is somewhat softened before making the dip, either leave it on the counter for a while or put it in the microwave for a few seconds (take OFF the foil wrapper before doing this). The cream cheese is nearly impossible to work with if you try using it right after pulling it from the fridge.

I probably use 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of finely chopped jalapenos for my dip. I’ll also add a little, maybe a teaspoon or so, of the jalapeno juice from the jar to spice it up. I’m not a fan of super spicy food, so my dip is pretty mild. Just remember, you can always add more jalapenos, but once they’re added, you can’t take them away!

Mix all the ingredients together and eat with crackers – I use Ritz crackers. It might be good with tortilla chips, too.

Try it out. Let me know what you think!

Spice Up Your Vases With Paint

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This is the last in a series of three posts regarding our master bedroom decorations. To see the other parts of the project, click here (tricks for deciding décor placement) and here (making your own decorative canvases).

Originally, this is what the finished wall décor looked like:

It just didn’t seem quite finished. It was too boring and needed more color. Pinterest is always full of pins about painting your own vases, so I decided to give it a try.

Continue reading »

Office Redo – Part II

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A couple weeks ago, I posted here about beginning my office redo project. Although I still have a long way to go, I have finished painting. Woohoo! (For some helpful painting tips, check out this post.)

Dark wall color (accent wall) = Sensual Jade
Light wall color = Madison Avenue
Both from Lowes

The plan is to put a small collage of frames on the accent wall. I’ve been playing around with layouts and think I have finally decided on one. Check back for the finished look!

Decorative Canvases for Little $$

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It took me a couple years to decide what to put on our bedroom walls, but it was worth the wait! I love the decorations we have now. View this post to see the very beginnings of this project.

The REALLY good news is that this project only cost $25-$30 (That’s FOUR canvases for only $25-$30! Can you believe it?!). At department stores, I’ve see 12”x12” canvas prints cost $20 or more a piece! Mine were MUCH cheaper, not to mention, fun to make :).

Supplies

  • 12” x 12” canvas – I used 4 for this project
  • Mod Podge
  • Scrapbook paper of your choice – I used decorative paper for the face of the canvas and solid paper for the sides of the canvas
  • Paint, any color you wish – I used leftover paint I had from redoing the bedroom
  • Paper plate large enough to put a glob of paint on and to also dab your spouncer brush to remove the excess paint
  • Spouncer sponge brushes (see pic below) or just a really small regular sponge brush to use for painting the canvas edges
  • Watercolor paint brush, optional (I used this a little when painting the edges of the canvas, but it’s probably not necessary)
  • Small/medium sized sponge brush to use for the Mod Podge
  • Paper Trimmer Cutter, such as this

This was my inspiration and guide for the project, but the link doesn’t work anymore :/. I completed this project a while ago, but I think I can remember all the steps – we’ll see! Continue reading »

Newspaper decorations…sort of :)

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After 2+ years with no decorations on our bedroom walls, I FINALLY had a vision.

I was worried, though, that once all the decorations were hung, I wouldn’t like the placement, would end up changing it, and have several unnecessary nail holes in the wall.

So, I began brainstorming what I could do…I remembered coming across a magazine or newspaper years ago that suggested using parchment paper. Simply cut it to the size of the pictures you’re hanging and tape it to the wall. No unnecessary nail holes!

I didn’t have parchment paper, but I did have newspaper. Continue reading »

Helpful Painting Tips

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I really enjoy painting, especially cutting in! I guess you could say it’s therapeutic for me…odd, I know :). Anyway, here are some tips I’ve learned from painting with my gma throughout the years that will hopefully help you enjoy painting, too.

Pictures below!

  1. Buy a GOOD QUALITY trim brush. The most resent one I bought was a Purdy (cute name, huh?). I don’t even tape off trim anymore, I just freehand it. Having a quality trim brush is what makes cutting in enjoyable!      Continue reading »

Office Redo – Part I

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Well, I’ve started another project…

…painting my office. This color is dark! I’ve only done the trimming and can tell this is going to take several coats of paint. Luckily, only one wall is getting this ‘Sensual Jade’ color. Weird name, huh?

I’m really excited about this project :). I’ll keep you updated!

Did you think to pray?

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I noticed I was smiling the other day as I saw these words on Pinterest. This is something similar to what my husband often says to me – “Did you pray about it?” he’ll ask, as I’m crying, worrying, or frantic about something. And I’ll stop, look at him and, more often than I’d like to admit, say – “No, not yet.”

In the midst of troubles it’s easy to forget to pray, but that should be the first thing we do! Too often we use it as our last resort. Our mentality (at least mine oftentimes) seems to be, “Well, since there’s nothing else I can do, I’ll just pray about it.” That is sooooo backwards! Prayer is sooooo powerful! We are calling on the One who parted the sea, who healed the leper, who raised Lazarus from the grave…the list goes on! Why do we feel prayer is our last resort? It’s like saying, “Jesus, I believe I can handle this better than you, so I’ll try my plan first. If it doesn’t work, then I’ll ask you for help.” That makes absolutely NO sense! Prayer, Jesus, Our Savior – THIS is what we should turn to first and foremost.

And on that note, Lord, I pray that you would guide me in everything I do and help me to think to pray first and foremost. Amen.

Tasty (& Simple) Fruit Dip

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I’m all about easy recipes, and this fruit dip is no exception. It’s something I make often when having company or going to a cookout.

Three ingredients:

  • 1 Vanilla Instant Pudding Packet (just the powder, do not make the pudding)
  • 1 Tub of Cool Whip (or less, but who would want less Cool Whip?!?)
  • 16 oz Vanilla or Plain Yogurt

Mix all ingredients together and enjoy!

I usually eat this with strawberries and grapes. It’s good by itself, too. Others have put it on their brownies and said it was tasty; I have yet to try that.

You could make this in a low-fat version as well by using low-fat/fat-free Cool Whip and yogurt.

Brass Be Gone!

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Our whole house is was filled with brass door knobs. I was tired of it. They were ugly and worn. I wanted a new look, but didn’t want to spend the money for all new hardware. I opted to spray paint these ugly knobs (and hinges), but wasn’t sure what color to use. Just by chance I saw on Pinterest where a woman used Oil Rubbed Bronze Rust-Oleum spray paint for her knobs.

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