An Easy Cleaning Tip

I spoke with my mom this morning.  She said she was going to clean the grates on the stove.  A pumice stick is what she uses and made the comment that it takes hours to clean them.  I gave her this tip...which I thought I had years ago...apparently not. 

Spray your  stove top grates and your oven racks with "Easy Off", place in a large black plastic garbage bag, tie it up, throw it outside on the lawn to 'bake' in the sun.  After 30-45 minutes, open the bag and spray them off with the hose...TA-DA!!!  Shiny, like new oven racks and stove top grates. 
Mom called me at work today because she was so excited about how well it worked...not to mention all the time it saved her. 
Thought you might like this handy little hint as well.

NASCAR Weekend

You just gotta love it when NASCAR comes to Vegas.  The car hauler parade down the strip, meet and greets with the drivers, special appearances at various locations...the list goes on.  Once again, I spent the weekend in the infield selling ice to happy RVers with my friend, Liz.  It's long hours but tons of fun...literally, tons...I think we moved several tons of ice this weekend. 

The people staying on the infield and in the various lots outside the track start rolling in on Monday before the race.  It's amazing, the race track becomes it's own little city...okay, big city.  The people on the inside of the track are the ones we take care of.  Liz and I are in charge of making the rounds and selling ice to all these happy people.  Some of them have set-ups that will astound you.  They form little compounds with their friends, forming horseshoes of RVs with their gatherings in the center.  They set up canopies, tables, campfires, grills, bars, sound systems, and more.  They decorate with all kinds of stuff including NASCAR stuff from cardboard cut-outs of their favorite drivers, banners, flags, plants, lights, posters, and more.  They are there to have a good time. 

 RV rooftops are transformed into gathering places to watch the race.  Chairs, stools, coolers, people all on top of the RV's to get a better few of the race.   

We had a beautiful weekend, so ice sales were up.  They kept us busy for sure.  We heard the call, "Ice Lady!" countless times, some even called us "the ice fairies".  They were always happy to see us. 
I look forward to bonding with happy RV race fans again next year. 

20th Anniversary for Creative Painting Convention

WOW!  Time flies when you're having fun...it true.  I can't believe it.  The Creative Painting Convention is celebrating it's 20th anniversary this year!  It's moved back to the Tropicana Hotel now that they've completed their renovations.  Creative people from all over the world...seriously...are gathering right now to share their passion for decorative painting.  Classes, discussions, make it-take its, demos, and shopping are here for your hearts desire. 

I've had the pleasure to teach and have a trade show booth at this fabulous event in the past.  I've met and become friends with several of my favorite designers.  It's good to see them each year.  Did you know I met Frank Bielic?  Yup, he had a booth the same year I had my first booth at the show.  What a character he is.  You just gotta love him.  Many of our leading and well know painting designers will be there once again.  Priclla Hauser, Donna Dewberry, Sue Sheewe (ok, I know that's not spelled right), Shara Reiner, Laurie Speltz, and more. 

This is a photo from last year, but you'll find me, and my BFF Diane there shopping to our hearts content stocking up on supplies, patterns, books, and more again this year.  The trade floor is open Wed, Thurs, and Friday begining at 9am.  See you there!

Oh, I almost forgot...here is the link to the Creative Painitng website.  Creative Painting Convention

March is National Craft Month

That's right!  What could be better than a whole month dedicated to what I love to do the most.  Almost nothing!  Soooooo....what crafting plans to you have this month?  Do you have unfinished projects you'd like to get completed?  Would you like to try a new craft?  Maybe beading, polymer clay, or floral design.  Oooo, I know...you want to take a painting class....yeah, that's the ticket.  How about gathering up your girlfriends for a craft night at your home.  That would be a great time for everyone!  What ever it is you want to do, set aside a couple of hours to do it.  Who knows, it could become a new creative passion in your life. 

What am I going to do?  The list is long. 
*  I want to sort though my completed inventory, box and label it so I won't be all unorganized this fall.  
*  I would like to gather a few friends for a craft night (or day).  Interested?
*  I am planning on donating excess crafting supplies to a local school or two for their art or afterschool program.   I know....I could really supply more places than that according to my hubby. 
*  I want to update my Etsy and Artfire sites with some new items that are in the works. 
*  I want to spread the love of crafting and the joy, relaxation, and satisafaction it brings to others.
*  I will be attending the Creative Painting Convention in Las Vegas!!!!   Love the trade floor!
*  I would like to get some ideas onto paper for some new patterns.
*  Paint!  I want to paint!
*  Cut wood.  I love the smell of sawdust.
*  I want to make a career out of crafting and sharing it with others.
*  Get my show applications completed and turned in.
*  Start putting tutorials on my blog...you know, this one you're reading right now.  ;o)

Okay, I think I need to stop for a moment and breathe....I'm getting too excited.  hehe 

Sourcream Chicken Enchiladas

This is one of my 'go-to' recipes.  Easy to make, freezes well, and delicious. 

Sourcream Chicken Enchildas

1 pint sour cream
1 can Campbells Cream of Chicken Soup
1 small can of chopped green chilis
1 8 oz pkg. shredded Monterrey Jack cheese.
1 dozen (plus a few) flour tortillas
1/2 cooked chicken  OR  3 chicken breasts (chopped or pulled)
            (sometimes I use 1/2 a cooked Costco chicken)
1 can green enchilada sauce

Brown chicken and season to with a bit of garlic salt and pepper.  Cool, chop or pull.  In a large mixing bowl, add chicken, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, chilis, 1/3 can of enchilada sauce and 2/3 of the jack cheese.  Mix well.  Sometimes I add ground cumin (couple of sprinkles).
Spoon onto flour tortilla, enough to fill well.  Roll. Place in baking pan.  
Pour rest of enchilada sauce over enchiladas, sprinkle rest of cheese over enchiladas as well.  
Bake at 350 degrees about 30 minutes or so until hot and bubbly.  
Serves 6-8 persons.

Thankful for Valentines...

but I'm so glad it over.  It was busy, and for that I'm thankful.  I survived my first Valentine's Day as the only florist in a small shop.  I also completed my first funeral (for the owner's father in law).  I seriously think they chose the largest thing in the book.  I was really pleased with all the pieces, as was the family.  But I think the greatest compliment came from the mortuary personell who kept saying how lovely they were and that they were some of the nicest they've seen in some time. 
Big thanks go out to my friend, Diane.  She came by after work 4 nights to help green vases and learn to do several thingls like a rose wrap, dozen roses, etc.  She also pulled 12 and 14 hour days with me over the weekend prepping for deliveries on Monday.  We couldn't have pulled it off without her. 
Suzy took a personal day on Monday from her regular job to be at the shop and basically run the front end of the store.  What a trooper she is.  She comes in nightly after her regular job for a few hours and on Saturdays. 
Monday was a busy day.  The drivers were busy all day, we had extra girls on hand to help walk in customers, we had to order extra roses and pick them up, my brother came to help out all day with me, and it flowed pretty well.  I seriously created arrangments all day...all day.
As much as I enjoy playing with flowers I was seriously grateful to have Tuesday off.  The dogs finally got to go explore on our walk on the mountain, I caught up on laundry, groceries, prepping meals, sweeping and mopping the floors, etc.  Oh, and I got to see my hubby.  What a trooper he's been the last two weeks.  I look forward to spending time with him this weekend.  I may even get a little crafting done...I hope.

Trailhound Smokers win 3rd overall at BBQ Contest

Many of you know Timm and I, along with our kids started a BBQ team last year.  Well, over the last weekend we went to Rock Springs, AZ for a contest.  We decided at the last minute to attend so Timm was really scrambling during the week to get ready.  It was certainly worth all the chaos and prep work.

Timm and I ended up getting four 'walks' to receive awards.  We were excited, amazed, shocked, humbled....you see it's really the first time we won in a sanctioned event.  It was quite an accomplishment for us.  Congrats to all the teams that participated as well.  Judges said there was lots of mighty fine food to taste and critique.  Congrats to our friends with R&R (pictured with us), they also got several walks and a 1st in ribs.