Charisa Darling

Archive for September 2015

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Halloween Lunch Box Notes Printables

I'm not trying to rush September, but I'm so excited for October and Halloween! This year, I wanted to do a little something extra for the kid's lunches, so I made Halloween lunch box notes - one for each school day in October. I also didn't want them to drain all of my printer ink, so I left the backgrounds white and added just a bit of color here and there. Hopefully they spark some spooky conversations and give your little goblins something to look forward to at lunch!

Enjoy!

Click HERE for page 1

Click HERE for page 2

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made for kids

Love to Plan, Hate to Cook: Weekly Menu Planner (Week 13)

Week of September 27 - October 4

Justin didn't get his beloved Pasta House Salad last week like planned, so it's back in the mix for Monday. (Again, it's romaine lettuce, artichoke hearts, pimento, parmesan cheese, and an oil & vinegar dressing.) I'll make Caesar salads for the kids and serve French bread to go along with it.

For Tuesday, I'm planning on making Broccoli and Cheddar soup, using this recipe. My kids will eat it from Bread Co., or Panera for you non-St. Louisians, so we'll see if they eat this version. Not sure what I'll make to go with it, probably just some chopped veggies and fruit.

Chicken with white beans and tomatoes will be an easy choice for Wednesday. I'll dump those three things in a dutch oven and sauté some green beans for a side. Hope it's as good as I made it the first time! (Actually, looking back at the last time I made it the kids weren't feeling it. Hmmm, we'll see how they do this time around!)

We didn't have Tuna casserole as planned last week either, so that's what's in store for Thursday night. The kids won't eat it, so I'll just make plain noodles for them.

Friday is our town's Homecoming Parade, so we'll be there and will grab something afterwards.

Saturday will be Taco Night, ole!

Slowing things down on Sunday with a little breakfast for dinner. I'm thinking egg and cheese sandwiches on english muffins!

Hope this helps you out with ideas as well!

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Friday, September 25, 2015

Friday 5: Celebrating Simplicity

Five simple happenings from the week worth celebrating.

Here's to progress in the missing couch!

Very long story short, and after being on hold for a very long time, a social media team lead got in touch with me and made me feel better about #couchgate and offered some answers. (See, Instagram and Twitter are productive!)

Here's to the deer not eating this little guy and letting him ripen, so that we could eat him.

Don't be jealous, but I've harvested seven of these teeny tomatoes. You read that right, 7.
It helps if you think of it as you're growing food for the deer and not for human consumption or for aesthetic purposes. If you add up all the jalapeños, red bell peppers, beans, hosta, purple balloon flowers, pink flowers I don't know the name of, coleus, and parsley then the deer have eaten well!

Here's to Oxi Clean saving my favorite sweater, when normal stain remover and washing failed.

I don't know what it's made from, but it's a container of magic in my book.

Here's to soaking up beautiful fall days.
Vaughn's friend who lives down the street is moving away soon. These two little girlies are going to miss each other!

Here's to being one step closer to being done with this stocking.

This week, so far, I've finished more of the candy at the bottom. A few more pieces to go and then I can start on the lady in the middle!

What are you toasting to this weekend? Whatever it is, enjoy it!

Cheers!

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Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Easy Fall Decor: Free Pumpkin Watercolored Printable!

It's officially decorative gourd season and here I am, unprepared. I can count my fall decorations on three fingers, so I thought it's time to step things up a notch. And by notch a mean the most minuscule bump, because let's be serious, I'm saving all my energy for Halloween.

I quickly watercolored two pumpkins and I set them around the house on little easels. Bam! Instant seasonal flair! And incase you need a little fall decor too, I made printables. Now there's no excuse not to have a little autumnal accoutrement scattered about.

(please say you've read Colin Nissan's It's Decorative Gourd Season, Motherfuckers. If you're not offended by ~~a bit of~~ colorful language, go and read it now! I re-read it every fall and it makes me cry-laugh every time.)

Small pumpkin - click HERE

Larger pumpkin - click HERE

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Sharing with: Lolly Jane

Monday, September 21, 2015

Zucchini Cake. Not Bread.

This recipe calls it like it is. That's right, it's zucchini cake, as opposed to zucchini bread. Oftentimes, we hear bread paired with a fruit or veggie and think it's healthy, while we know what's really going on in there. It's got sugar, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips and tastes like really good zucchini bread. What makes it more cake-like is the shape and the amount, which is enough for an army, so you won't be running out anytime soon. I found this recipe in last month's Penzey's magazine, which is one of my favorites, because you can tell they're tried and true. Like straight from Grandma.

Again, this makes a lot of cake. The recipe could easily be halved and baked in a smaller dish, or be baked in loaf tins and frozen for later, or simply to be shared with friends. It calls for "3, 6-inch zucchini's, grated" and I'm thinking mine were a little on the thick side. If I'd do it again, I'd either buy skinnier zucchini's or not add as much. The extra bulk made it take longer to bake, but the outcome was still good. That being said, I did do a few things differently. 1. I didn't have buttermilk, so I just added a few drops of vinegar to milk. 2. I added a bit more of the spices than what was called for. 3. The recipe calls for 2 1/2 cups of flour - for 1 cup of that I used whole wheat flour. Not because I was trying to make it healthier, I simply ran out of white flour. Oops.

My kids and I loved, loved, loved this and I think you will to. Find the complete recipe here.

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Sunday, September 20, 2015

Love to Cook, Hate to Plan: Weekly Dinner Menu (Plus Free Printables!) (Week 12)

Week of 9/21 - 9/27

On Monday I'm making Justin's favorite salad, Pasta House salad. It's a knock-off from the restaurant's famous salad, one with romaine, artichokes, pimento, plenty of parmesan cheese, and an oil and vinegar dressing. It's not the kids favorite, so I'll make a Caesar salad for them. Baked potatoes for them, baked sweet potato for myself. An easy dinner to ease into the week!

Taco's on Tuesday! Traditional ground beef for them, beans for me, and guacamole for all! Ole!

I'm trying a new recipe on Wednesday - Bang Bang Shrimp pasta from Damn Delicious. I've had Bang Bang Shrimp from Bonefish Grill, so making it into a pasta dish sounds like a great idea! The recipe has really good reviews, but readers disagree about the sauce - whether to use mayo, sour cream, or greek yogurt. It calls for mayo, which I'm a bit leery of, but Chungah makes amazing food and I feel like I should just trust her and not alter her recipe. (I might chicken out though. I'll let you know!) Green beans to go with because the kids can't get enough of their haricot verts!

It's been awhile since we've had Indian, so Thursday it is! Chicken in a curry sauce (I'm a cheater and use a jar!), brown rice, roasted cauliflower, and naan. Namaste.

We're kickin' it old school on Friday and are having Tuna Casserole. The kids won't eat it at all, so I'll throw something quick together for them. We all agree on the asparagus and the kids and I love the canned, very non-nutritional, but oh, so good, jellied cranberry sauce. I'll feel like a kid again! Well, right up until I have to put my Mom Hat back on and hurry the kids out the door for Vaughn's softball game.

Kitchen in closed on Saturday! Going out for dinner!

Sunday is busy, so I'll throw chicken in a crock pot with a little chicken stock, salsa verde, and a bit of cream cheese. We'll use that to make quick soft tacos when we get back to the house and make a quick Mexican rice and guacamole to go along with.

Another week down! Anything good on your menu? Please share!

Be a trendsetter at the grocery store with these printable grocery lists. Très chic!

Click HERE for full sheet

Click HERE for half sheets

Make your friends envious with your mad organizational skills. They won't know what's for dinner on Tuesday, but you will!

Click HERE for blank menu planners

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Friday, September 18, 2015

Friday 5: Celebrating Simplicity

5 simple things from the week worth a little celebration.

Here's to another great baseball season and a break from keeping white baseball pants clean.

Vance played approximately 57 games this season and yet, I was sad to see the last one come and go. I love watching him play and will miss our baseball family - and sunsets like this on night games!

Here's to not shelling out any money to the orthodontist...yet!

Braces are definitely in Vance's future, but the doc thinks he's still a couple years away. Phew!

Here's to half-day's from school and extra time with at least one of the kids!

The kids missed art class due to the half day, so Vaughn requested that we do a project at home instead. (Vance said, "See ya!" and went to a friends house instead.) This was a super-cute 3-D flower made from paper plates and tempera paint. Such a fun end result!

Here's to new adventures!

Vaughn has officially been a Brownie for a whole 2 days and we're already hiking with the troop this weekend. The planned wilderness adventures are making me feel a bit like Phyllis Nefler and the iron on patches are falling off, so I've got some physical and mental work to do! Be prepared for Cookie Time!

Here's to this love-to-hate stocking!
A little update - this week I finished everything on the tree, the lollipop, the gingerbread girl and the boy is half done. It doesn't sound like a lot but I had to do the star twice because the string broke and the sequins fell off. The gingerbread people are lined in teeny-tiny chain stitches, which aren't my best work. I tend to work on this at night, when the lighting is bad and it's near impossible to see anything. Also, Vance used my Joyce Chen's to cut apart a baseball, which left me with wonky scissors that barely cut and I can't seem to remember to order a new pair. It's a battle, I tell ya! Enough with the whining. Christmas is just 97 days away and I need to step it up.

What are you celebrating from the week? Hope you have a great weekend!
Cheers!

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Tuesday, September 15, 2015

My Favorite Way to Wrap Gifts || Happy 9th Birthday to my Blog!

Today's post is about gift wrapping and it's fitting because today marks my 9th year of blogging! This blog has seen me through 2 kids, 3 moves, and more crafts/recipes/random stories than I can even count. It's been fun and I'm looking forward to many more! But back to the gifts...

I like to keep gift wrapping simple. I prefer plain paper and bags to themed ones because I can dress them up, use it for any occasion or gender, and plus, they're cheaper than themed ones. When I found these stickers on clearance at Target I knew they'd be perfect to add to my gift wrapping arsenal.

Here's a handful of some other gifts that I've wrapped throughout the years.

$1 bin wrapping paper, butcher's twine, and drawn paper cut-out's

white cupcake box, filled with a gift card and baseball cards. The baseball on top is from an old card that I cut apart.

neon washi tape with brown craft paper

$1 bin roll of paper and felt bows found on after x-mass clearance

I use these printable cards all the time and they save me so much money because they're cheaper than traditional cards. Just print them out on the paper of your choice, write the birthday boy or girl's name in, and have your kiddo sign it. (I think it's cute to add some color of your own if printed on white paper!) Available through instant download on my Etsy site. Click HERE to see them.

Have a great day!

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Sunday, September 13, 2015

Love to Cook, Hate to Plan: Weekly Dinner Menu (Week 11)

Sept. 14 - 20

On Monday I'm trying a new slow cooker chicken teriyaki recipe. Towards the end, I'll throw in a couple handfuls of frozen broccoli, serve it with brown rice, and maybe some naan.

Tuesday is pretty busy and BLAT's in a wrap will be perfect. Carrots, fruit, and a few chips will round everything out.

Wednesday is also busy and I'll leave a pot of soup on the stove that way everyone can help themselves when they're home and ready to eat. Edie's tortellini soup is one of my favorites.

On Thursday I'm going to try another Blue Apron recipe. I love eggplant, but the kids have never tried it and my expectations are low. Just in case they don't like it, I'll make noodles and a salad too.

Kitchen is closed on Friday night! Going out!

We haven't had chicken fajitas in a long time, so that and guacamole, plus a few margaritas will be on the menu for Saturday. Ole!

Comfort food sounded good for a Sunday, so traditional spaghetti and garlic bread it is. I wish I had a red and white checked table cloth to go along with the theme!

What are you looking forward to eating this week? Have a good one!

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Friday, September 11, 2015

Friday 5

Coming back from a holiday weekend is always a little tough. Monday felt like Sunday, Tuesday felt like Monday, and I was pretty sure Wednesday was Friday. Or at least I really, really, wanted it to be. Here's 5 happenings from my week.

These grapes were a hot button issue on my Facebook feed and I felt compelled to give them a try. They're called Cotton Candy grapes and they taste like, you guessed it, cotton candy. I felt indifferent about them but thought for sure the kids would like them. To my surprise, only one did. While I don't need to ever buy them again, it was fun to try something new.

The guilt associated with Vaughn's stocking (or lack there of) still eats away at me, so I pulled it out of the drawer and started working on it again. Truth, I wanted to put it right back in that drawer because of those candy canes. So tiny, yet so many stitches! I better speed it up because there's only 104 days until Christmas!

While driving, I passed a truck that was full of hay bales and pumpkins and I may or may not have shrieked out loud as soon as I saw them. I'm ready for pumpkin everything! (I didn't get a picture but it looked just like this, minus the wonky back wheel.)

I saw this cloud formation and in Field of Dreams style, I heard "Go the distance." Walt, was this you, buddy?

I read in The Skimm (if you don't belong, you're missing out. Click HERE to get it) how Variety magazine accidentally published the obituary for Monty Python member, Terry Gilliam and it reminded me of one of my favorite sketches. Pining for the fjords is one of the best lines ever and it's always great to start the day with a laugh!

This weekend will find us splitting time between 3 soccer games, 2 baseball games, 1 softball practice, and 1 birthday party. Here's hoping you have something a little more relaxing planned. Whatever it is, enjoy! Cheers!

Wednesday, September 09, 2015

Getting Ready for Fall: Easy Planters and Wreath

It doesn't feel like fall outside yet, but I'm more than ready to get the show on the road!

My planters were full of pathetic, half-dead plants from the summer and ripping them out felt oh, so good. I had a picture in my mind of what I wanted, but had to improvise since I couldn't find exactly what I wanted at the nursery. Overall, I like how they turned out but would have loved for those grasses to be taller! I stuck a fake pumpkin in each, but I think I'll switch them out for smaller, real pumpkins when they're available.

I also did a quick 15 minute makeover on a plain grapevine wreath that I've had for years.

I bought a handful of fake floral picks from the craft store, stuck those in, and wired in the acorns that I've had for years. It's far from perfect, but it works!

TIP! Reverse your wreath hanger to the inside of the door, then hang up the wreath that you're working on. That way, you don't have to bend over and work on it while it's laying flat. Plus, it gives you a better vantage point while designing the new one.

Happy Fall!

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Sunday, September 06, 2015

Love to Cook, Hate to Plan: Weekly Menu (Week 10)

Week of 9/7 - 9/13

On Monday we're celebrating the close of another great summer with traditional BBQ food. Burgers, corn on the cob, baked sweet and russet potatoes, and watermelon. For dessert I'll thaw the last of the 4th of July sheet cake (One of Justin's fave's - he'll be sad it's finally gone!). It's amazing how well this cake holds up in the freezer! I might even make some Cowgirl Coolers! Yee-Haw!

Taking a break from Taco Tuesdays, I promised Vance I'd make Lasagna Roll-ups and serve a salad to go along.

I'm ignoring the fact that it's still hot out and ringing the gong for the start of Soup Season! I'm excited for this Chicken Fajita Soup and will make some bean and cheese quesadillas to dip, baby, dip.

Thursday I'm planning on making yet another Blue Apron dish, Parmesan-Crusted Chicken. Green beens and roasted potatoes will even everything out. (Blue Apron, if you're listening, let's work together, K? Ha! Dying to try it out!)

Friday, of course, is pizza night! Yay for the weekend!

Hanging up my apron on Saturday - the kitchen is closed!

On Sunday I'll do Vaughn's favorite, Salmon with Balsamic Glaze and asparagus.

I hope this menu gives you some ideas for yours! Have a great week!

Friday, September 04, 2015

Friday 5

5 simple happenings from the week worth a little celebration.

I added more hearts to my Etsy site.

The last batch went to a Mom who sent her Kindergartner off for his first day of school with one of these in his pockets. So sweet and so glad I made something that helped both of them get through the day!

Who's ready for a little couch update?

After a solid 10 days of calling and logging 4 pages of notes, I think I finally have gotten somewhere. PB has finally confirmed that the couches are lost, as in, they have no idea where they went. "Like a goddamn magic show!" (Name that movie!) Replacement couches have been ordered, but I still haven't made the appointment to have my old couches picked up yet. Still a bit leery and don't want to be left with an empty room. (Although think about all the cartwheels that could be done in that big empty space....)

I bought this pumpkin (fake, but cute!) in hopes that it will bring some sweater weather. For crying out loud, it's September and still in the 90's!

Speaking of sweating...A hot and humid night to be in the stands let alone wearing catcher's gear. His team may have lost, but Vance made some good plays. Atta boy!

Speaking of atta boy's...How about an Atta Girl for Vaughn's first softball injury! She took a pitch to the leg while catching, but still kept going. (And earned herself some sympathy points after the game!)