Easy Zippered Pouch

Easy Zippered Pouch DIY at

Punk Projects

Photo Credit

I love how simple, easy and fast this sewing pattern is!  I made one once before but forgot how to exactly how to sew the lining, so Thank You Punk Projects for sharing this tutorial!!

Free Crochet Chromium Star Blanket

Free Chromium Star Pattern at 

The Kidney Bean

Photo Credit

I absolutely love this pattern and the fact that there are no extra "holes" in the pattern!  I can't wait to make this!  Thanks Kidney Bean for sharing!  

Inspiration: Organized, Simple Desk Area

There's just something about this photo that I love! Simple, organized and cute!  Thanks Aspiring Hermione for the inspiration!  

Photo Credit

Free Crochet Little Bigfoot Piggy Pattern!

Free Little Bigfoot Piggy Crochet Pattern by

Amigurumi to Go

Photo Credit

When I first saw this, I absolutely fell in love and knew I had to make one for my sister!  This is a must make project I need to put on my To Make List!

Thank you Amigurmi to Go for this free Piggy Pattern!!

Homemade Gatorade!

Wow!  I can't believe how easy this recipe seems!  100% juice, honey, sea salt and water.  Yeah I think I can't mess this up!  LOL!  But what I like is the fact that it is way more healthier than regular Gatorade!

I can't wait to try this and see what the hubby thinks!  Thank You Heavenly Homemakers for sharing your Homemade Gatorade Recipe!!

Photo Credit

Inspiration: Wobbly Stripes Handbag Pattern

Here's another beautiful crochet project, Wobbly Stripes Handbag,  I need to put on my list to make!  Thanks Twin Stitches for sharing your pattern!  I can't wait to make this!

Twin Stitches Blog
Twin Stitches Ravelry Wobbly Stripes Handbag Pattern

Photo Credit

Inspiration: Crochet Rainbow Sampler Blanket

I happened to stumble upon a beautiful Crochet Rainbow Sampler Blanket pattern over at Haakmaarraak!  I absolutely Love the colors and different textures.  This is one blanket I need to put on my Crochet To Make List!!

Photo Credit

Recipe: Crockpot Ham & Veggies

Crock pot Ham & Veggies

recipe by Miss Momma G

Are you looking for an affordable, easy and simple dinner to make for the family?  Look no further than my Crock pot Ham & Veggies recipe!  Another great thing about this recipe is that it's low in carbs!  Woo Hoo!!!

I just whipped this together so it's quite simple. All you need are a few ingredients, a little time, a voila dinner is served!

Ingredients:

1/2 bag carrots

1 can green beans

2 large slices of in bone ham

Allegro Hickory Smoked Marinade (just enough to cover the bottom of the crock pot)

Directions:

1. Start off by pouring the Allegro Hickory Smoked marinade into the crock pot.  Just enough to cover the bottom to your liking, enough to marinade your meat.
2. Next add your veggies. I used about a half bag of mini peeled carrots and a can of green beans.  Make sure you add the entire can of green beans (including water) into the crock pot.  
3. Either dice or cut your in bone ham slices into small sections and add to crock pot.
4. Once all ingredients are in, stir to mix it all together and just let it cook.
5. Cook on high for about an hour, or when meat is fully cooked. 
6. Serve and enjoy!

Craft Idea: 1000 Gifts with Art Doodling

1000 Gift's Meet my creative side...

I have always liked the 1000 Gifts idea but have really never sat down and started it yet.  I found myself needing something creative to go along with it. So viola, here's an idea....

What if I use Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts idea and combine it with the this idea by Intentional by Grace.  It's almost like Praying in Color!  Basically, everyday doodling where I add to an art project that I worked on the day before. A little something like this: 

photo credit 

Where as on the left side there is the monthly Joy Dares/ Gifts, then on the right side, start with 1 doodle and everyday add to that doodle drawing to where by the end of the month I would have a wonderfully, beautiful peace of art!  It would be a collaboration of monthly gifts and daily drawing/ doodling.

Some other ideas:

- List of things that make me smile / make me happy like over at Kimberly's Notebook.

Just an idea.  What do ya'll think? 

Deal: Free Shipping at Honeybee Gardens!

Free Shipping at Honeybee Gardens

Simply use code BRAVE at checkout and get Free Shipping!  What I really like about this store is that I can simply order cosmetic samples for only $0.50 to try it out first and see if I like it before I commit to purchasing a product at full price!  

Eye shadow, lip colors, soap and body products, nail colors and more!

Hurry this offer ends 7/5/15!

Honeybee Gardens

Snapshot of what I ordered with the Free Shipping Code: BRAVE

HOT off my Hook: July 4th Crochet Bunting

July 4th Crochet Bunting 

made by Miss Momma G

Hot off my hook.... I bring you my latest crochet project, just in time for the holiday, a 4th of July bunting!  It's simple, cute, and a small project. I absolutely LOVE the granny squared triangles!  I can find many other uses for the triangle pattern!  I'm also excited how easily it was to make the stars and how pretty they turned out.  

For this project I used the following patterns:

Granny Triangle Pattern by Brittany W.

Repeat Crafter Me: Patriotic Crocheted Stars

Goodbye Wink, May you find peace!

On June 29, 2015, I read on a craft blog that I follow that a fellow lover of creative things lost her battle with depression and took her own life!  It saddens me to sit here and type this post as I think about a creative being that influenced so many people and was such a wonderful, talented artist!  Although I did not know her personally, I feel as though she has made an impact not only on my life but others lives as well.  

This is for you Wink! May you find peace and know how much you really meant to everyone! I made this mandala in honor of you Wink and I will be hanging this up on my wall.

I hate the fact that your depression got the best of you and you took your life! But by awareness, support, and contributions, I hope that one day we can all give light to those suffering in the darkness!

Depression is a silent battle for most, but I just want everyone out there suffering with depression to know that you are not alone!! And if you ever need anyone to just sit and listen or to talk to, I am here, no matter if you know me or not!

With Love, 

Miss Momma G



In honor of Wink, I have made a contribution to the #MandalasForWink project!  

Click here to learn how you can make a contribution and Honor Wink!

Wink's Memorial Website

ACCROchet Online Project Tribute to Wink

#‎missmommag‬ 

‪#‎crochetlover‬ 

‪#‎MandalasForWink‬ 

‪#‎MandalasForMarinke‬

Recipe: Low Carb Mini Pizza's

Momma G's 

Low Carb Mini Pizzas

(with crunchy crust)

For over 2 months, I have been on a quest to find a Low Carb alternative to the traditional frozen pizza I would find in the grocery store.  Of course, many of the low carb alternative recipes called for homemade "crust" which actually turned out to be pretty soft "crust" that you would have to eat with a fork or "crust" that just didn't taste right!  

Well, I believe I have found a solution to my "crust" pizza issue that satisfies my bread craving!  I just had to think outside the box!  In the past I tried the cream cheese crust alternative and the cauliflower crust alternative and yes they do work, but they just didn't satisfy that crunch that I was looking for.  

Surprise!  I had a blonde moment!  It took me 2 months to realize that the solution to my crust issue was right in front of me, in my fridge the entire time!  Drum roll!  The winner is... Kroger brand sandwich slims!  Yes, sandwich slims non the less!  Yep, I had an aha moment!  Needless to say, I will enjoy my homemade mini pizzas a lot more now that I have an actual crust to crunch into!  

So how did I make these wonderful mini pizzas? I thought you'd never ask!  I basically used sandwich slims as the crust then added marinara sauce, yes I said marinara sauce, not pizza sauce then added whatever toppings I wanted. Below you will find what ingredients I used and directions on making your crust crunchy!  

Ingredients

4 oz ground beef

4 slices Oscar Meyer Turkey bacon

2 Kroger Sandwich Slims (4 total crust rounds/ 2 whole slims)

1/4 c Simple Truth marinara sauce

1/2 c Kraft Shredded Mozzarella cheese

12 Hormel Natural Choice, No Preservatives, uncured pepperonis

Direction

1.  Start by browning your ground beef in a pan, drain, and then set to the side

2.  Foil a baking sheet and spray with nonstick canola oil.

3.  Place 4 sandwich slims on foil and add 1 Tbsp of Mariana sauce to each slim.

4.  Place 4 slices of turkey bacon in microwave and cook as directed while you put your layer of ground beef on top of your marinara sauce.

5. Once bacon has cooled, break up bacon in crumbs to where you place 1 slice of bacon on each slim.

6.  Next top about 2 TBS of shredded cheese per sandwich slim.

7.  Then add about 3 pepperonis per sandwich slim.

8.  Place mini pizzas in oven and bake at 350 for about 15-20 minutes or until cheese has melted or sandwich slim has darkened.

Serve & Enjoy!

Nutritional Information

All calories and carbs are approximate!  Please check your nutritional panel for nutritional facts and figure accordingly. 

*Ingredients & Nutritional Values can change*

Ingredient                                Calories              Carbs

Ground beef                              380                       0

Bacon                                        140                       0

Wheat Slims (2 whole)            180                       40

Marinara Sauce                        35                         5

Mozzarella Cheese                   160                       2

Pepperoni                                 108                       0   

                                              ____________________

                                                  1003                   47

Divide by 4 mini pizzas=          251                     12

So when it comes down to it, 1 mini pizza comes out to approximately 251 calories and only 12 carbs!  If you're thinking the calories are too much, you can substitute any topping or sauce for a lower calorie version.  The possibilities are endless!   

*Note* I've used Honey Wheat Sandwich Slims because they are lower in carb count!

Recipe: Low Carb Cheesy Cauliflower Pizza

Low Carb Cheesy Cauliflower Pizza 

recipe adapted from gimme delicous and jo cooks recipes

Hello.  How is everyone doing?  I've been craving pizza a lot here lately and had to come up with a low-carb alternative!  I wanted something that tasted like actual pizza but also had the right texture!  

I'm excited to share this new recipe with you!  I have tried another low-carb pizza that was made out of creme cheese for the crust, but the "crust" wasn't hard enough for me, the texture was way off even though it tasted good. Believe it or not, this recipe is made from cauliflower which cooks well and does get crispy for a good crust pizza texture.

Ingredients

• 1 small to medium sized head of cauliflower - should yield 2 to 3 cups once processed
• 2 cups of mozzarella cheese ( 1 cup to add to crust and 1 cup for topping)
• 1 egg
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon oregano
• 1 cup marinara sauce

Directions

1. First preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Then take the cauliflower and make sure it is chopped in florets. Then you add the florets to your food processor and pulse until cauliflower resembles rice.
2. Put the cauliflower in a microwavable container with a lid. Microwave for about 5 minutes.
3. Remove the cauliflower from the microwave and allow it to cool for at least 4-5 minutes.
4. Drain the excess water from the microwaved cauliflower.  (I used a strainer and pressed down the cauliflower with a spoon).
5. In a separate bowl, mix the cauliflower, egg, garlic, cheese, and oregano.
6. Spread the cauliflower mix out onto a greased cookie sheet or pizza pan.
7. Bake the crust for approximately 15-30 minutes (depending on your oven), or until the crust is golden and crispy.  (You may have to raise the crust with a spatula to see if the crust is firm or still soft)
8. Once the crust is crispy to your liking, add any additional toppings as desired. (Don't forget your marinara sauce and cup of cheese)
9. Place the pizza back into the oven and cook for about 10-15 minutes or until cheese has melted.
10. Slice and Serve.

NOTES

I am super excited about this awesome recipe!  I was able to make my Low Carb Cheesy Cauliflower Pizza with only 20 carbs!! Woo Hoo!!

Getting Healthy- Diabetes Edition: Making a Motivational Board

Motivation

-making a motivational board-

How do you stay motivated to keep on going?  For me it’s simple!  I place a photo of our baby we lost in front and me and remind myself I have to keep going!  No matter what, no matter how bad it hurts, or what I think, I have to keep going!  I also have a motivational board!  It’s basically a poster board with cutouts of my favorite quotes, words, etc that help keep me motivated.  See below on how I made my motivational board!

I simply bought a poster board for $1 at the Dollar Tree then used recycled cardboard and cut words and photos I liked from magazines.  I glued the words to the cardboard then cut it out so it would be sturdier.  I then taped it onto my poster board so that it would be easier to move if I didn't like where I stuck it!  

If you decide to make your own DIY Motivational Board please share it with us!  

DIY: Momma G's Bullet Journal Inspired DIY Planner

DIY Planner

by Miss Momma G

Ever since I could remember, I have been using planners as a way to keep myself organized. However, I just can't seem to find one that suits me, or works the way I need it to,  So I just made my own!  I really love the planners from GreenRoomEco that I found from Target last year but now I can't seem to find them at the store!  A real bummer!  I loved that it was made with recycled paper and there was a hard cover on either side.  What it lacked for me though was a weekly view that focused on my Life Areas of interest and a place for my brain dump, a collection of notes and things I want to get out of my head and on paper.  

So when I couldn't find what I wanted, I just bought a planner for the time being but later decided to make my own.  I got inspired by what they call the Bullet Journal.  So I adapted that concept and made my own version.

To start off I had to decide on what kind of journal that I wanted to use.  I really liked the Markings Bonded Leather journals by CRGibson.  They are a little expensive but I like that it has an elastic Band Closure to keep journal closed, a cute ribbon marker, and an awesome accordion Style Storage Pocket on the inside of back cover where I can keep stickers, papers and post-its in!  Most of all I really like the fact that the paper is acid & lignin free and made with soy inks!

I gathered all of the supplies I thought I might need.  Stapler, tape, washi tape, markers, post-its, tabs, other planner pages, stickers, pens, etc.

So next, was the most time consuming!  I had to decide what "sections" I wanted and to estimate how many pages I would need for each section.  It took a while but I am happy with the results.  I ended up with the following sections:

1. Index
• approximately 4-5 pages
• this is a list of topics and their page numbers where I can quickly find what I am looking for
2. Yearly Overview
• approximately 1-2 pages
• I cut out a page from a calendar and taped it in
3. Important Dates to Remember

• approximately 2 pages
• I got creative with this page and made a 2 page spread and used my Washable Stamp Ink Technique! 
4. Tentative Schedule

• approximately one side of a 2 page spread
• schedule is printed out and taped in 
5. Journal Key
• approximately one side of a 2 page spread
6. Monthly Calendar 
   
• 2 page spread for the month
• 1 page Monthly Stats Page 
7. Weekly Calendar
   
• approximately a 2 page spread per week
• Includes my Life Areas I want to focus on, and My Doodits (Notes, Brain Dump)
• My Life Areas are God, Home & Family, Work, Self.  Each area I have something I would like to accomplish.  It's basically like asking myself "What am I doing for God, my Home and Family, work, and myself?"
8. Measurements Page
   
• approximately 1-2 pages
• to help me keep track of my measurements monthly and to see my progress
9. Goals & Intentions 
• approximately 4 pages
• a list of goals and intentions, things I would like to accomplish or complete
10. What Works 
• approximately 2-4 pages
• I highly recommend everyone to incorporate this into their journaling!
• This is a forever, ongoing list of things that I know what works for me as well as a constant reminder that it will be okay when things get rocky or disorganized.  I can just flip to this page and remember what works!  I know being organized helps me stay on track so I would write organizing  on  my What Works page!
11. The Truth
• approximately 2-4 pages
• I also highly recommend everyone to incorporate this into their everyday lives!  This is where I write positive things about myself, that I know are true but sometimes find it hard to accept sometimes, or don't want to believe.  The Truth will Set Your Free! For example, I am unique and different as God intended!  Therefore I don't need to worry about not having the perfect body, God made me the way I am for a Reason!
12. Wants
• approximately 2-5 pages
• This is a list of things I would like to purchase or get one day.  This can include music, books, crafts, anything.  Just a list of stuff you may think you might want one day.

If you decide to make your own DIY Planner, make sure you share your pics! Happy DIYing!

DIY: Momma G's Washable Stamp Ink

Washable Stamp Ink 

by Miss Momma G

Technically, it's not really ink, but washable markers!  I don't like forking out tons of money on ink pads, let alone having to find a spot to put all the different colored ink pads afterwards.  So instead, I use what I call Washable Stamp Ink, which is basically any kind of washable marker!  This technique works well with letters and small stamps.  

You basically use your desired colored marker, color the ink fill side and press! Viola!  

I also find it very helpful to have a wet rag and dry rag for cleaning purposes.  I usually use a baby wipe and a piece of toilet paper.  I stamp on a wet surface then a dry surface to clean the stamp off after I am finished.

Here's an example of a finished product using my Washable Stamp Ink technique. It turned out quite nice with bright, pretty colors!

I hope you enjoyed this affordable crafty tip!

Finished Projects: Infant Loss Awareness Bracelet and an earring and bracelet set

Here's a couple of things I finished last month and am just now getting up on the blog.   The pink and blue memory wire bracelet was made for Infant Loss and Awareness and I think it turned out very pretty! The other project I made was a really nice stretchable bracelet along with a pair of earrings to match.  

Finished Project: Crochet Granny Stripe Bag

Crochet Granny Stripe Bag

I am so happy with how this crochet project came out!  Simple, cute and easy! Thanks Tangled Happy for sharing your pattern.

Tangled Happy | Pattern

Finished Project: Crochet Basic Towel Ring

Crochet Basic Towel Ring

I found an easy and quick Crochet Basic Towel Ring pattern from the Lemon Lane Blog!  I love how simple and quick it was to crochet.  I love my finished product!

Thank You Lemon Lane! | Basic Towel Ring Pattern

Recipe: Momma G's Crockpot Creamy Fettuccine

"Chicken Alfredo"is a staple in our home!  And when it comes to Alfredo Sauce, Newman's Own comes in first place!  But I wanted to spice it up a bit this time, so I adjusted and adapted the recipe Crock Pot Chicken Fettuccine  Alfredo from Raining Hot Coupons.  I basically took out the extra can of Cream of Chicken and added Newman's Own Alfredo Sauce!  

Ingredients:

     1 can cream of chicken

     1 packet of Italian seasoning

     1 jar of Newman's Own Alfredo sauce

     1-2 boxes of fettuccine noodles (I used 1 box)

     1-2 8 oz cream cheese ( I used (2) 8 oz boxes)

     1-2 chicken breast (optional) (not pictured above)

Directions:

Start by boiling your chicken on top of the stove, making sure your chicken is cooked completely. Also start cooking your noodles according to the packaged directions.  In your crock pot, empty the jar of aflredo sauce and can of cream of chicken then sprinkle the Italian seasoning mix on top.  Mix together making sure all ingredients are mixed well.  Fill your alfredo jar about half full and pour into your crock pot and mix.  (Add more or less, depending on your preference)

Next open both packages of cream cheese and carefully cut the cream cheese in small pieces and place on top of the ingredients in your crock pot.  Once all cream cheese is cut and on top, mix again, making sure all the ingredients are mixed well.  Turn your crock pot on high while you tend to your boiling chicken and noodles.  (This begins to help melt the cream cheese making it creamy.)

Thirdly, drain your chicken and let cool for a few minutes.  Gradually cut up your chicken in small chunks or slightly shred it using a fork and knife.  Place all your "shredded" chicken in your crock pot and once again mix well.  

By now your noodles should be done.  Drain and pour noodles into your crock pot and mix together with the rest of the ingredients.  

Lastly, cover and let cook on High for about 30 minutes or Low for about an 1 hour (Time depends on each persons crock pot so it's just enough time to completely melt all of the cream cheese with the rest of your ingredients.) 

Serve and Enjoy!