Orange Chicken

 Okay I know I say this about every recipe but this is seriously the best orange chicken you will ever have.  I started making this a few years ago and have now mastered it! This is one you HAVE to try at least once, I promise you wont be disappointed.  Side note, I am not a fan of orange chicken at Chinese restaurants at all, they are to spicy for me and just taste funny.  These are not spicy at all and taste nothing like nasty restaurant orange chicken!
This recipe is perfect for an evening at home, you could even get someone to help you make it, which makes it a lot easier and is much more fun that way!

Ready for this awesomeness? Here it is:

3lbs Chicken breast (or however much you are making, I always do more because I am always making this for a ton of people at one time...)

Defrost the chicken then cut them into small squares 

Drop the cut up chicken and put it in a bowl with 1-2 beaten egg

After dipping chicken pieces in the egg, shake chicken in a bag of:
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 C corn starch
1/2 C flour
**I always double this because I like more breading.  Another trick I have learned over the years... After you cut up the chicken and put it in the bag with the flour/corn starch don't mix it up right away.  Put as much chicken in the bag before you shake it, this way the beading will cover it all without getting all nasty and used right away.  The less times you have to shake up the chicken the better they will be breaded. 

 

 You don't have to do multiple bags... Like I said I was making a ton!

 See how nicely breaded these are? :)

 

 Brown floured chicken in oil (any type will work we just like to use Coconut Oil) and place in baking dish (spray it before hand).  Remember don't eat the chicken, its still raw!

 

Combine all your ingredient for the sauce

 Next you are going to make the orange sauce:
3/4 C sugar
1/2 C chicken broth
1/4 C catsup
2T soy sauce
1/4 tsp salt

Combine it all in sauce pan, stirring occasionally (using a whisk works best)

Cook it until it comes to a boil

 Pour sauce over chicken.  Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.  Stir halfway through.

 

Serve over rice and ENJOY!!

 

That easy! Let us know how it turns out but I should warn you, once you have this you wont be able to stop making it!

Easy Italian Chicken

Okay folk, this is going to seriously be the fastest, easiest, yummiest thing you have ever made.  Are you ready for it? Here it is:

Ingredient:
Chicken Breasts (depends on how many are eating... I normally just do 2)
1 pkg Italian Season mix
1 can Cream of Chicken
1 8oz pkg. Cream Cheese
Butter (I don't do this because it's fine without, why add the extra fat if it still tastes amazing?)

Cream cheese not pictured.

Put everything in the crock pot and turn it on low for 6-8 hours stirring occasionally (if your home, if not don't worry about it!)

** Don't even worry about defrosting the chicken just stick it in frozen and all!

***Serve over rice or noodles

Seriously that's it, what did I tell you easy right? Go a head try it out, tell us what you think!

Homemaid Laundry Detergent

My mom has been making her own laundry detergent for a while now and I am sick of having to buy Tide all the time so we decided to try it out for ourselves.  It was about $20 give or take for the stuff and lasts about 6+ months. I found the recipe HERE and it is sooo easy to follow but basically here it is. 

What you will need:
1 4 lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz) found in the detergent isle

1 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (1.81 kg) found in the detergent isle

1  box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) found in the detergent isle

3 bars of Fels-Naptha soap, found in the detergent isle (if you use Zote bars use 2 bars instead, Zote can be found at Home Depot)

2 small containers of Oxy Clean or store brand Oxy Clean (try to get about 3.5 lbs total (1.58 kg)) found in the detergent isle.

(this is optional)

**Use 1-2 Tablespoons per load. I know that does not seem like enough but this recipe does not have fillers like the store bought detergent so you only need 1-2 Tablespoons.**

This detergent is fairly mild smelling, it is not over powering. If you love a strong scent you may have to add a fabric softener or laundry crystals to each load.

I used these instead of  laundry crystals but you don't have to

 

 

 

 Grate the Fels-Naptha (I used a big grater but my mom will grate it like this then put it in a food processor as well, either works I just didn't have a food processor)

 Pour everything into a big bucket or some type of container, mix it up and your good to go!

 

Remember you will only need a Tablespoon or 2

 Enjoy!

Pillow Fight!

I have a birthday at my house in 2 weeks.  My *almost* two year old LOVES to have pillow fights, so when I saw these on Pinterest I just knew I had to make them!

All I had to go off of was this picture. I couldn't find an actual tutorial or link anywhere, so I just mostly winged it.  I think they turned out pretty cute--for pillows on a FREE budget, that is! :)  They are not as clean and crisp as the above pillows, but I didn't have access to screen printing, nor did I want to spend hours.  I'm happy with my 'hacked' version! 

There was really nothing to these.  I pulled out some old muslin I had lying around and freehand drew swords and the various weapons.  I used regular tole paints to paint the images on, then cut them out, sewed, and stuffed.  I finished them up with a little bit of hand stitching and threw them in the dryer to set the paint and fluff the pillows.  Pretty cute! I think my little guy is going to love them!

*Side note...If I were doing this again, I would have been more careful to leave more white space around my swords.  I really like how there is an inch or more on the Pinterest picture. I wish mine had more white edging.

Hairbow Holder

 Do you have a ton of bows that you don't know what to do with?  Don't have a lot of money to buy some type of organizing system?  Well today is your lucky day, check this out! Oh and did I mention they are seriously sooo easy? Here is how:

Things you will need:
1. Picture frame                 5. Drill w/ drill bits, ruler (optional)
2. Ribbon                           6. Picture hanging hook
3. Spray paint                    7. Scissors
4. Hot glue                         8.  Cup hooks

Directions:

1. Find a frame, doesn't matter the size it really just depends on what you want.  I found mine at DI for $3, what a deal!
2. Pick out some ribbon.  Thick, skinny, stripped, dotted, plain- doesn't matter!  I just did yellow and grey because I already had those colors.
3. Spray paint the frame any color you want, unless you have a pretty frame that you don't want to paint over, once again your choice.  Make sure the frame is dry before you proceed to the next steps...Easy so far right?
4. Break out your hot glue gun and ruler.  Measure the ribbon from one side of the frame to the other, with enough space that you can glue it still.  Then just glue both ends of the ribbon to the frame-Yes it's that simple.
5.  This step is optional but it makes it even easier.  Drill small holes into the bottom of your frame (for hooks) Measure it out so they are even, mine are 2 in. apart.

 6. Start screwing in your hooks (where you drilled the holes...)  If your hands start to hurt you can always use a wrench or something to help you.
7. Nail in your picture hanging hook thing (what is the name for these?)
8. Hang on wall.

 9. Decorate with all of your bows and head bands! Enjoy!
10. If you don't have any bows you can always make some, they are actually pretty easy once you get started.  Maybe I can teach you some of my tricks in another tutorial. ;) 

Vase Lift

Have any old vases lying around that you wanna spruce up a bit? Well now is your chance with this easy how to.

1. Find a vase that you want to work with (smooth ones work best).

2. Find some yarn, any color will really work (I just did this color because it looks sort of like twine (which also works!) but you don't have to)

3. Start wrapping your yarn around your vase (top to bottom, bottom to top- doesn't matter) stop every once in a while and use mod podge to make it stick (don't worry it will dry clear). You could also just use a dab of hot glue on it as well, whichever is easier for you!

4. Let dry, place flowers or anything else in it for a easy decoration!

Different types of bottles also work well. These are some of my favorite (click HERE).

Obviously these are not the same vases but I wanted you to see different kinds! :)

Valentines candle holder

 I saw these on pintrest and got really excited to try them.  I think they are pretty cute.  What do you think? Wanna give it a try? Here's how:

1. Find a glass (I just went to DI and found these for .50) 

2. Get colored tissue paper (I used pink and red for Valentines) and cut them into different sized hearts.

3. Mod Podge the tissue paper hearts onto your glass.

4. Let dry.

5. Find a candle to go inside (mine were candles from Halloween...)

6. Light and enjoy!  

 

Voila!  Perfect for your candle light dinner.   And cheap too ;)

Placemat turned organizer.

I made some of these super cute organizers for my girls at church.  We have a new curriculum for Sunday meetings this year and as I have prepared my lessons I have thought about how helpful it would be if the girls had a notebook each Sunday so they could write their thoughts during the lesson.  Also, how great it would be to have a spot to put all the handouts and booklets the church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) supplies us with.

I think they turned out so cute--and were so easy to make! By the end I could complete one in 10 minutes!  Can't beat that!

Find a placemat.  I actually had a tough time locating some of these--went to three different stores with no luck!  I'm sure if I had had more patience and time I could have tracked some down (Shopko, Ross, Tuesday Mornings would have all been good places to check), but luckily for me my mom had some laying around that I bought off her. Whew--no more carting children in and out of stores!

These are just regular sized, cotton, quilted placemats.  Nothing fancy--but cute!

First off, I measured how tall I wanted my organizer to be by placing my book on top. Fold over the bottom and sew up each side to make it stay folded.

I then found the middle by folding the placemat in half. Sew.

Then I just made pockets the same way.  I measured against my notebook and made two large spots and two smaller ones. Easy.

Lastly, I flipped the whole thing over and sewed on my ribbon--down the middle and on two of the sides.

Fold up and tie together! Wha-la!  Easy--peasy!

Good luck!!