DIY fall Wreath

I loved this I was so happy with how it turned out, how easy it was ...and the fact that I didn't have to sew ANYTHING!

What you'll need; Scraps of fabric, super glue or hot glue, a wreath frame.

Start out with a wreath frame *this one was purchased at the dollar store* and I decided to cover it completely with one solid fabric *used some burlap that we had on hand*.

Begin by cutting long strips of fabric, about 5 or 6 inches wide.  I highly suggest getting fabric scissors we just got some and I don't know how we've lived without them!

Take the strips of fabric and simply wrap it around the frame!  When you have it wrapped glue the end of it down firmly.

Then take another kind of fabric, I used an old dress and cut it into smaller strips and wrap just like you did the burlap and glue it down again!

...now I'm sorry I can't tell you how to do these little rose looking things out of scraps of fabrics...my husband did these...he is pretty amazing.  I know though that they have A LOT of tutorials on pinterest!  And when you have them made just glue those suckers on the wreath!

And then you are DONE! 

Rainy Day Recipes: Semi-Homemade Clam Chowder

So I've worked with this amazing recipe twice now and it is now a family favorite!  It is so good, so easy, and just perfect for a cold day!  I stumbled on it via Google *of course* and I'm so glad!  You can find the original recipe right Here I've made it following the recipe exactly and it was fabulous!  But I'm the kind of person who likes to make adjustments and  changes to recipes and I usually end up making it different every time.  Here is the recipe I made up and used most recently and everyone really enjoyed it!


1 can of cream of broccoli
1 can of cream of celery
2 cans of cream of potato
2 cans clam chowder
1 table spoon of lemon pepper
1 table spoon of black pepper
1 teaspoon of garlic
1 teaspoon of salt
4  cans of clams *2 drained and 2 not*
4 new potatoes chopped *any kind of potato would work if you're using a bigger size potato make needed adjustments*
2 cups of heavy whipping Cream
2 cups of Half and Half
2 table spoons of butter
2 cups cheddar cheese *to sprinkle on top at the end*


You literally turn your crock pot on Low, put all of these ingredients *except the cheese* into it and just give it a stir every once in a while...and 7-8hrs later...BAM you have an amazing meal that is even better if you serve it with those little oyster crackers!

Living a simple life to the fullest

Lately I've found myself getting down in the dumps, getting discouraged repeatedly and So easily!  And it's my fault.  Self-pity is a horrible, dangerous, and super easy trap to fall into.  And once you're in that hole it can be extremely difficult to get out of it again.  So before I get in to deep I'm going to climb myself out *and hopefully stay out for awhile* one of my big problems lately is that I keep letting people get to me, I let their comments, actions, and sometimes even their very presence touch me in a negative way when I shouldn't even let them in at all!  I find myself turning into them, with a jaded attitude and all!  I should just let it all roll right off my back and keep on going on my merry way.  And I'm going to start doing just that!  I'm going to put all my focus and energy where it needs to be.  On my walk with the Lord, my family, myself, and the other positive people and things in my life.  What do you need to have a full life?  A happy life?  What areas are there that make up the Important Things?  I don't remember why but one day my husband and I made up a list of what we considered to be the basic aspects of any life

1. The Lord
2. Family
3. Nutrition *sustenance, you know what keeps your body going*
4. Exercise *health whatever you want to call it*
5. Cleanliness *not just for yourself but for the space{s} that you inhabit like your car, and your home*

If you focus on those 5 things, you won't have time for much else!  Now everyone is different but for me, my closest friends are my family.  And I need to spend as much time with them as I can and be the best I can to them because life is to short not to enjoy every moment I have with these wonderful people I've been blessed with!  Nutrition, what am I putting in my body?  Is it good for me?  Is it hurting me?  I'm I putting in to much of something and not enough of something else?  I also cook for my family so this also really important because it's not just for me.  I get such a joy out of preparing food with love and creativity for them.  I love when people Love my food!  The joy and fulfillment I get out of it is ridiculous.  Exercise, there is nothing better than that awesome burn you feel from a good workout.  Exercising is good for your health, it creates endorphins, and it clears the mind in a wonderful and natural way when something is just eating at you!  Cleanliness, obviously you don't want to stink or anything but for me this is not wearing makeup for a while and it's having a better skin routine or make up removing routine!  And of course keeping my home clean, I can think So much better when my space is organized and clean.  You can't have a clear mind or a healthy life if the space you inhabit is cluttered and stressful!  And of course the best for last, the most important for last...The Lord so this encompasses so much!  My walk with him, honoring him, following the commandments, reading my bible, trusting in him, if I do this how on earth could negative people and things affect me?  If I have my mind, heart, eyes, and ears focused on where they should be it doesn't matter what people say or do, it doesn't matter if nothing is going my way.  I woke up this morning with a need to treat things differently.  To be different, to be better.  At the center of it all I need to make sure the Lord is there.

Now if I sit back and read this, that is A Lot for every singe day?  To focus on these things?  I mean what else would I have time for???  Certainly not letting things get to me, or bogging myself down in self pity!  I'm going to be busy living a simple life to the fullest extent of my abilities!  Not even just for myself *or my family bless them for having to deal with me, be around me, and love me anyways* but because I want to spread happiness and positivity, I want to let people go ahead in the super market, hold the door open for someone at the post office, when someone cuts me off in traffic I don't want to get mad!  When someone says something hurtful or mean 

I don't want to retaliate or let it hurt me at all!  I want to pray for them!  I want to spread the good! 

 Do you ever feel like that?

Quick Fix Fajitas

If you follow me on Instagram *name is mrslester21* then you knew I was going to post this an have seen the picture! I'm apologizing ahead of time for the lack of photos and if anything looks weird I'm blogging from my phone lol! Anyway here we goooo!

And be warned none of this is in exact measurements I made it up as I went! This is a ridiculously cheap, quick, an uncomplicated meal!

You will need

Two pork chops (or chicken)
1 can of chopped Ortega chilies
1 can red kidney beans
1 handful of grated cheese
Lemon juice
Garlic salt
Black pepper
1 packets of Fajita seasoning
And a tsp of butter
Tequila

Grab your favorite frying pan and after chopping up your meat toss it in the pan with the butter then add a dash of lemon juice, and about 1 cup of tequila and let the meat cook in the juices *the alcohol will burn out it's only for flavor* add garlic salt and pepper to taste. When the meat is cooked add in the drained and rinsed kidney beans. Then the can of Ortega *you do not have to drain as the juice adds to the flavor* then add the entire packet of fajita seasoning stir all together and let cook for about 5 minutes. When it's all done throw it in a bowl, make tortillas if you're not watching your carbs, and don't forget to sprinkle on that cheese over the top!

My husband went NUTS over this today for lunch and ate the entire bowl!