Petit Jean Meat #TXBacon Super Bowl Party! #CBias

    Last week, I set out on a mission to find Petit Jean Meat company’s Official Dallas Cowboys bacon. I visited my local HEB in Corsicana, Texas and walked away from the store highly disappointed. My mother, Little Boy and Little Girl all made the trip together to find all of the ingredients we needed to host a Super Bowl party on Sunday. I knew exactly where to find the bacon products, so we made out way to the refrigerated case. I didn’t see the products, but instead was greeted with plenty of HEB’s brand of bacon. “Well,” I thought, “maybe they have it on display somewhere.” I searched and searched and finally found a meat department employee who told me that had no clue where it was, and was I sure that they carried it? Needless to say, three managers and 1 1/2 hours later waiting around for them to figure out why it wasn’t on the shelves, they told me that they were able to locate the product…. 50-something miles away. I told them I was highly upset, and left to make the pilgrimage to Waco, Texas to find our #TXBacon. 

     At Waco’s HEB 8 I was able to find five packages of the Petit Jean Meat bacon, so I bought all of them. The managers in Corsicana told me that they couldn’t sell the product because it costed so much that it “wouldn’t move from our shelves quickly.” Well, 24 ounces costed $5.98 each, the HEB brand was nearly $9  for the comparable size. This is why I chose to buy all of it. I thought it was a great bargain, and so did my mom.

    First on our Superbowl was Double Cheeseburger Dip. 

Ingredients:
4 ounces cream cheese (room temp)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup mayo
1/2 cup sour cream
1 small onion (diced)
2 cloves garlic (diced)
2 tblsp Worcestershire
2 tblsp ketchup
1/2 pound-1 pound ground beef
10 slices Petit Jean Dallas Cowboys bacon (cut to 1 inch slices.)
Cook ground beef till browned, set aside to drain. Drain the grease, add the bacon cook until crisp. Drain all but 1 tblsp bacon grease, and saute onion until soft. Add garlic and heat until it is a bit browned but not burned.  Add shredded cheeses, mayo, sour cream, Worcestershire, ketchup, onion, garlic and meats into a baking dish and heat in a 350 degree preheated oven until bubbly and browned on top.
Serve as chip dip.

     While that was cooking I simply cut half a package of Petit Jean Dallas Cowboys bacon strips in half and wrapped turkey lil smokies. I baked these in the oven until the bacon was crisp. I served these as an appetizer. 
     By the time the bacon wrapped smokies finished cooking, the dip was ready to go! {ps} It really smelled like a bacon cheeseburger! 

Superbowl Party Dip

    Then the bacon wrapped smokies were finished. The bacon was really crisp!

superbowl appetizer
    I used everything rolls that I found on the clearance rack to make baked BLT sliders. I popped them into the oven after assembling with crisp bacon, mozzarella, and cheddar cheese. Then I topped it with lettuce and tomato slices. 
superbowl sliders
     Everyone enjoyed the party, and only one person picked the Giants to win. B! We all chose the Patriots to win, and were pretty sore loosers, haha!
     Everyone enjoyed the food, and the commercials, and I would love to host our Super Bowl party again next year! Who did you think would win the game? What commercial was your favorite? Let me know in a comment! If you really want to read about my whole shopping experience, read and see more photos on my Petit Jean Dallas Cowboys bacon Google+album.
Connect with Petit Jean and the Dallas Cowboys:



This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias #CBias, all opinions are my own and may differ from yours.

It’s a TWO-RIFFIC Dinosaur Party!

On Saturday, we invited out family and friends over to celebrate Little Boy’s 2nd Birthday.
I’m not big on fancy elaborate birthday parties as
 I can’t justify spending oodles of money for one day.
I have that mind-set when it comes to many things.
 I like to do fun things, but by golly-gee I don’t want to
spend more than I should for something I can do myself.
 Last October, my Nuderma visited and we went to
Ross Dress for Less. They always have this big selection of items, that aren’t clothes.
B happened to come across the Big Top Cupcake at the back of the store, and he knew that
for a while Little Girl and I had been talking about how cool it would be to have one.
He decided to buy it… and I was like.
 ”For what?” He told me “You can use it for Birthday Parties.”
Since, I have made two cakes from it before this one.
Have we got our money’s worth?
Probably not… but I have come up with a use for it, rather than buying store bought cakes.
This go-round, I decided to try out a Semi-Homemade Dinosaur Birthday Cake!
I used two box of white cake mix, Homemade Buttercream Frosting, 
a can of black royal icing from Wilton which I bought for only 25 cents last November.
It came with the tips and was kind of like an aerosol-squeeze type can.
I bought three toy dinosaurs from Dollar Tree,
 and washed them in the sink allowing them to dry.
I then crumbled up graham crackers to make it look like sand.
I originally wanted to  make a dinosaur scene, but time isn’t my friend and it left me behind.
I used a few squeezes of black royal icing to glue the dinosaurs to the serving plate.

Now, for party hats… This is what I came up with…
with a little help from
I simply traced the template to cardstock, cut them out,
 cut out a length of spikes for each in a matching color and folded it to make a “lip.”
Then I used a glue stick to glue the “lip” to one side, and made the cone to form a hat.
Then I bent the spikes to make it look dinosaur-y. 
I did it all so fast, and at the last minute, I didn’t have enough time to take photos.
I then cut out egg shapes, and used a silver sharpie to write “2″ on each one.
 Then I used a glue stick to apply it to the hats.

 Now, back to the food!
I had enough left-over cake mix batter to make six large cupcakes.
I didn’t want to use plain buttercream on these as well, though it would have been cute to 
pour crumbles graham crackers over them. I wanted chocolate… but wanted to do something with marshmallow as well. So I made Chocolate Peanut Butter Marshmallow frosting…
and it was fantastic! This is how it looks when it sets.
To cut costs, I didn’t buy cupcake liners. I simply used some from Halloween Clearance.
 They only costed 17 cents! But really… who cares? Not me!
I also decided upon making Rice-Krispie Treats and Gooey Peanut Butter Chews.
The Gooey Peanut Butter Chews weren’t so gooey since I didn’t use a lot of corn syrup.
They were a big hit, though!
Next, I wanted to have a fresh fruit option.
I made a watermelon bowl for 4th of July, and knew than that the spiky design would 
fit perfect with our Dinosaur theme! This one is just watermelon.
 The other half had pineapple and watermelon. 
For the Goodie Bags, I wanted to have something that didn’t offer JUST candy.
I decided to make DIY Goodie Bags this time around and used what I had on hand.
Here is the basket with the bags. The basket was only 60 cents at Big Lots on clearance!
Here is an individual bag…
24 ct. Crayola Crayons- Price-matched at Wal-Mart using a Kroger Ad- $0.25 each.
1 tumbler from Dollar Tree- $0.17 (6/$1)
Dinosaur Printout with party details- on hand- $0.00
Craft foam sheet and stickers- on hand- $0.00
2 pretzel rods- a few cents since I had them on hand for the party anyway.
DIY Candy Necklace from Halloween Clearance- $0.04 (8/.37 cents)
Green Balloon- on hand- $0.00
Blue and Green Paint Chips- $0.00 from Wal-Mart Paint Dept.
Treat bags- Dollar Tree- $1 for 25. So, $0.04
Total for 6 Goodie Bags- $3.24
or
$0.54 each!
Here is Little Boy with his Great Grandma and his Uncle.
He was tired, and wanted to fuss so he had to get up on the couch… 
B’s Uncle’s Girlfriend and her Grandson.
TS, he is about 18 months old, and is as tough as a kindergartner!   
Cake time!
Just as tired as he can be… haha! 
Please forgive the little spot on the back of the cake that seems to be missing.
It was in his tummy already!
Little Stinker ;D

Gift-time! 
We let everyone know that a gift was not necessary, since the kids have plenty.
Well, I guess we couldn’t stop them!
Handy Manny Truck front loader from B’s Uncle, Girlfriend, and Grandson.
We let all the kids open gifts since we only had 2 little ones this time.
Last year there were 7 but this year we went a little smaller.
See  the banner hanging up in the background?
We made that as well. It had Little Boys name, so I won’t do a close-up, but you get the idea :D
How cute is this little man?!
I loved his little cars outfit as well, haha!
He had the cup, the bag, the newsboy cap, outfit, and black and red Jordans to match! 
Little Girl even got a present from my mom.
She was so proud!
PS- there was a Coupon book included… getting an early start, eh? 
I knew the perfect gift from us! I won a Bebeloosh giveaway last year,
 and got three reusable sandwich bags. This is the Dino bag, and it had an 
Ecomom Race car inside that I won as well.
Little Girl got an Owl Sandwich bags from us… 
And to save money, my step-brother came off his Hot wheels collection
 he started adding to his own when his wife? was pregnant with their first child. 
They’ve since had 2 girls, and he is a big boy now… so no use for the cars!
My mom asked if I minded if she used them for her gift.
Why would I?
I’m not too proud for anything that is free, used, re-purposed… or re-gifted!
I’m also not too proud to re-gift if it isn’t something I will use. 
So 7 brand-new still in the package hot wheels from my mom.
And since my mom and Step-dad don’t have many photos together…
(we take the pictures, not have pictures taken of us… haha!) 
Oh! And my family isn’t too proud to ask for a doggie-bag to take home.
They got the fixins for Brontosaurus Burgers, and Dino Dogs!

Checking In, Giveaways… and a YELP! for HELP!


I’m just popping in to say “Hello! “

And no, this picture has nothing to do with my post.
I just love all three of them!
And my mom’s been peeking in while she is in Louisiana.
So, the grandbabies and SIL action going on right there.
I love you Mom!

So what is this post about?
I’m still S.W.A.M.P.E.D. with coursework.
And know I should be doing that…
instead of this…
(writing posts, entering giveaway’s, visiting blogs, being inspired, having, you know?
What all the cool kids are doing?)
Instead of that other choice…
(NO FUN= College Course Work.)

I mean really! 
Which would you choose?
I’m thinking that since it’s FINALLY Friday,
I should stick to the NO FUN option
(I know! It IS Sad isn’t?! All these amazing talents… a waste till I can “catch-up” again)
 But only for just a bit until all the course work is completed. 
Then I’ll be back.

In the meantime,
I would love for you to check out my updated list
oh! What the heck… here it is! 
My “Night Owl Crafting’s” Post 
(the one stuck up top there at the top of my blog.)

Her Blogiversary Event will conclude on
February 13, 2011 @ NOON PST
(if you’re like me and live in the CST Time Zone, I think that would make it 2 o’clock our time.)
I could be wrong since…
I have to google time zones… umm… daily?.?.?.
(ducking my head from embarrassment.)
Don’t believe me?
Head on over the My Silly Monkey’s and ask Jessica
 how many times I e-mailed about time difference the night ABE took place…
Anyway, heres the list!

Tuesday:

Thursday:

In other NEWS…
April is still throwing one of the most awesomest BASHES on the block.
Oh, April.
I didn’t tell you?
Yeah, I consider us to reside on the same block in Bloggy Land…
even if… you know,
YOU
 live half the country away from me.
(stifling sobs…)
Anyways y’all!
Check out 
Amelia’s 1st Birthday Bash Event @ Marine Parent’s!
Let April know 
Mommy Does… 
Do you love to cloth diaper?
So, does April…
if you take my 

Go on,
 click HINT, 
then leave April a comment
 letting her know Mommy Does…
sent you. 
(It’s the nice thing to do.)
Then head to her
and start entering.
Now it’s time for my 
YELP!
for HELP!

I know many people passed up reading this post.
The reason I think they did, 
is because humans are by nature, visual beings.
We like thing pretty.
I know I do!
My posts show up in my dashboard…
“How?” You may ask.
Simple.
I follow my own blog.
Since I can see my posts from “a different angle.”
And when I see my posts, no matter if a photo is included, not included 
or right up top of my post.
I never see it!
Ever.
Could any of you wonderful people help a blogger out?
I know some of you have pictures next to your post.
How. Do. You. Do. It?
(I’d love to know your secret.)
Let me know.
It’s probably simple.
And when you tell me.
My head will hang in shame…


If you or your company would like to sponsor a Review and/or Giveaway here on Mommy Does… please e-mail me anytime at brookeannaroberts(at)yahoo(dot)com, subject line: Sponsorship.

Re-Post from a Guest Post

      This is a Re-Post, It origionally was on Crystal’s Craft Spot (boy I love her blog!) on January 13th. I wanted to share it with all of you. I will be working on Course Work throughout the day (or plan to ;D) Little Girl Turned 3 on Monday oh.my.goodness. I have a Pre-Schooler now. It’s been a really great three years and I love her Oh.So.Much. She is my perfect Little Miss, Conditions and all! Little Girl, I love you!

Here it is! Let me know what you think! If you do the project yourself let me know and I’d love to see it!
I haven’t seen anything like it so if you do make it I’d love for you to link back :D
Enjoy…



     Hey y’all! I am so excited that Crystal has allowed for me to guest post over here at Crystal’s Craft Spot. How cool is that? I was so excited and jumped at the opportunity!

     My name is Brooke Anna, and I live in the Lone Star State.
 I am originally from Louisiana and miss the culture associated with it. I have a wonderful two-year-old daughter whom I refer to as Little Girl on my blog Mommy Does, and an adventurous one-year-old son whom I refer to as Little Boy.
 I have been in a long-time relationship with their father B who also happens to be my high school sweetheart. I attend college and only have about two years until I graduate with a degree in early childhood education.

     I love to learn new things, meet new people, teach others things I know a bit about (or think I know a bit about,) crafting by using my own ideas or other’s ideas for inspiration, and most of all saving money!
     Over at Mommy Does, you can find a quick tutorial about how to make this 10-minute no-sew headband.
    
     I do hope that you visit my blog and stay a while :)
      Now, That’s enough about me.

     In February of 2010 I hosted my daughter’s 2nd Birthday party. Little Girl absolutely LOVED the movie The Princess and the Frog. I had no luck finding all the supplies needed to “outfit” this party fit for our little Princess. Well being the cheapskate frugal mommy I am, I decided to DIY most of her party decorations.

     Sure, my local party and retail stores had pinatas available (none of which included Princess Tiana or that coveted frog.) However, they cost about 18-20 bucks! Did I mention I’m cheap frugal? I wanted to make her day special without breaking the bank and enlisted what supplies I had on hand to back me up…

     My daughter will be turning 3 on February 7th, so what better than to share her Princess party pinata from last year?

     Mind you, I didn’t have my blog when I made this last year, so there is only a few pictures included. But what the heck? Some pictures say a thousand words right?

*Supplies Needed*
For a Pull-String pinata
1- medium/large sized box ( I used a coffee maker box)
Tissue Paper (I used leftovers from other parties)
School Glue (optional: stick glue)
Scissors
Party ribbon/string
Party Hats (or card stock formed into party hats)
Clearanced Christmas decorations (or other embellishments you have on hand)

1.  Cover your box with a base color of tissue paper, or paint your box in a coordinating color to match your tissue paper.
2.  Cut 1-1/2 inch strips of your chosen tissue paper to make the pinata “fringy” looking.
3.  Begin at the bottom of the box with a strip of the tissue paper, gluing on a strip and snipping it to make fringe.
4.  Repeat this step until you make it to the top.
5.  Continue until all four sides of your box is covered with strips of tissue paper snipped to look like fringe.

6.  To make the hole you can use to add your “goodies” inside the box with use your scissors to make a three-sided “flap.” 

*NOTE*  Only make a three-sided flap so that when the string is pulled, it acts as a latch and may be closed and reused. If you choose to do so.
7.  Poke a hole into the unattached side and thread left over party ribbon (or string) knot so it won’t come undone.
8.  Now cover that area with coordinating tissue paper, and with little dabs of glue attach about 20 more strings (more if you plan on more children) of matching/mismatching party ribbon/string.
*NOTE* I would use a glue stick for this, I only had school glue and I also made the “pull-string” a little shorter in hopes it would be one of the last pulled.
     Now that the entire “base” is finished; on to the DECORATIONS!

9.  On the top of the “castle” I used leftover party hats left from Little Girl’s Barney Party.

Wrap each hat with tissue paper that matches your box’s “base” color.
10.  I used clearanced beaded garland for trim.
11.  I used wired garland to make the “vines” on the structure and “trees” on the front of the “castle.”

12.  I used Dollar Tree pompoms to make a K for Little Girl’s name.

     That’s it, simple and affordable. If you’re anything like myself you’ll love that it costs almost nothing to make, and can be reused by covering the latch area.

     If you choose to use this idea for a little boy, adjust the color scheme accordingly. I was going for that girly look and I feel I got it! 
     The pinata was a BIG hit and all the kids enjoyed what I filled the pinata with. I hope you all can use the tutorial to save you some money at your next shin-dig!

Mommy Does… a Valentine’s Re-Vamp Exchange!!!!



     Last week or so, Wendy over at Craft Goodies, posted information about looking for Valentine’s Exchange participants.

I replied back right in the nick of time (I procrastinate, remember?), securing myself a partner who’s name is Giana. The whole idea of the exchange is to basically take something, and to make it into something else, as long as you make it yourself. Wendy now has a linky for the participants (I’m feeling like a star now,) and I want to share with you all, my gifts I made for Giana. (I know this goes against secrecy of gift-giving, but if she peeks I hope she likes it enough to really want to receive them.) This “tutorial” if you want to call it that will mostly be in pictures… Here goes…

*Supplies Needed*
Anything you have on hand! 
This is what I had.
(Wooden Blocks courtesy of my step-father.)
Antique White and two colors of purple paint.


First coat of antique white paint.

While that dried, I took a shirt sleeve and cut it out.



Cut circles, and fold in half.



Fold it in half (like above) tack it with glue (I used tacky glue.)

Fold in half again and tack it also.

Now squeeze glue onto another circle. Like so.



Attach one of the petals to it, and lay flat. Keep making the “petals” and laying them in the glue.


Until it looks like this. (I cut two circles for the top.)


Now, back to the blocks. Keep layering the white until it doesn’t look like wood beneath. I also “whipped” light purple paint onto it with the brush you see in the background. I liked it like it was, but thought it needed more.


So, I did the same with a deep purple. I liked it even more.


Remember those Big Lot’s unfinished stamps I bought? 
Here’s what I did.


Then This.

For each side.


Then, I took this clay pot from a pack I had on hand.

And painted a styrofoam ball I had in a box.
Then I used this Elmer’s multi-purpose Glue-All that said it was great for crafting, and had a stronger formula.
I really liked it. It has held up nicely since,

I glued my Styrofoam ball into the pot with it.
Oh! You see the black stamping and letters?
(I didn’t say this tutorial would be in exact sequence, forgive me.)


Side view.

Then I remembered I had some clothespins from a past purchase. So I took my nail polish, and painted them.

Then I used these X-ACTO Precision Scissors and Elmer’s Extra Strength Glue Sticks and  made a card.



I also used some packing paper to make a rosette, which I used glue to attach a fabric rosette on top of that. Then I cut some card stock and glued that onto it. I finished the pins by “whipping” more black paint onto them and gluing some rhinestones on the tops. I used the nail polish to distress the fabric flower I attached to the Styrofoam ball. The card I hand made also. I made four-four letter phrases and painted them onto the blocks. You can see the love and hugs below.


So, what do you…..



about what I made?
I love that I came up with this little extra!



It’s not a matchbook silly!
It’s a mini-notebook :)

Giana, if your peeking, are you excited for what’s going to be on it way soon?

Let me know what you think!
You know I LOVE comments!

Join  us Saturdays at tatertotsandjello.com for the weekend wrap<br />
 up           party!


If you or your company would like to sponsor a Review and/or Giveaway here on Mommy Does… please e-mail me anytime at brookeannaroberts(at)yahoo(dot)com, subject line: Sponsorship.

Miss Minnie Hair Barrette Tutorial- Little Girl’s 3rd Birthday Sneak-Peek

     Little Girl is turning 3 next month. Her party will be next weekend, and I can’t wait! I am making many of the decorations if not all of them. My mom just got home from her month hitch offshore. I have been making some hair “crap” (thanks, A Girl and a Glue Gun. ;) And I mentioned in my last hair accessory tutorials I would be making a tutorial of a Minnie Mouse Hair Barrette. I hope I don’t get the “copyrighted” card pulled on me for making this tutorial. So here is my disclaimer: “I don’t own and have never owned any rights to Minnie Mouse.” I just know I can’t really go out and buy everything I want so I’m here showing all you wonderful followers how I make do… with what you got, or can get for ubber cheap :)

Supplies Needed:
(no picture needed…)
*Scrap shirt or fabric*
(I used a Dollar Tree shirt.)
*Scissors*
*Felt*
*Barrette or Alligator clip*
*Embellishment*
*Ribbon*
(also from Dollar Tree)
*Glue Gun*

1.  Cut the shirt open at the seams lay out the shirt and cut a length of fabric. Knot the end like so…


2. Your essentially making a tight “rolled/wrapped” rosette. Begin by twisting and wrapping the fabric length around the knot “tacking” every so often towards the back of the rosette with a glue gun. Make one large rosette, and two medium sized rosettes like the picture below…

3.  Now, hot glue the large rosette onto the felt, followed by the two medium rosettes on the “top” of the larger one. Before the glue sets, be sure to push the medium sized rosettes close to the large one to “seal” the three together. Like so…



This is what your Minnie should look like by now…
cut it out and snip around the felt Minnie is attached to.




4.  Now cut an equal length of ribbon. I cut mine at 4 inches. Fold the ribbon in half and pinch to make a “line.” You can also achieve this by using a pencil, but I saw no need. Lay it flat…



5.  Now squeeze a small dab of glue into the middle where your “line” is.



6.  Fold over one end to the glue like so…



7.  Now fold over the other end to the middle like this… (Do you see where I’m going with this :D )



8.  Cut another length of ribbon to cover where you glued the ends in place. Dab a bit of hot glue and place that length of ribbon on top.



9.  Now wrap one end towards the back, dab hot glue , and seal it down. Pretty much like this picture.



10.  Now dab some hot glue on top of the fold like this picture. Next, fold the last end and attach to the glue.


Now you have a bow like this.

In all honesty before I had a clip to use to make boutique bows, I used this method and stacked them.
They weren’t gosh awful, and served their purpose. But I love the folded and cinched look I get from using a jumbo clip.

11.  Now line the barrette or alligator clip if you want. Cut a circle of felt and glue to the inside of your barrette like this.


12.   Now squeeze hot glue onto that circle and attach the felt circle to the back of your Minnie’s felt.
It should look like this.



13.  Lastly, add your embellishment!


This would be great for any little girl!
This is one of Little Girl’s birthday presents.
She already found it but I hid it again so she’ll just have to wait until next weekend for it 
Enjoy!

What do you all think? Leave a comment!

If you or your company would like to sponsor a Review and/or Giveaway here on Mommy Does… please e-mail me anytime at brookeannaroberts(at)yahoo(dot)com, subject line: Sponsorship.

Amelia’s Turning 1- 28 Days to Celebrate!

So there’s this wonderful Gal
 at
Her Name is April.
She’s got a great little daughter gal Amelia.
Amelia is almost One-year-old.
April loves to do it big
And I love that about her!
So, she is hosting a Birthday Bash for Amelia and she’s invited all of us.
Go check it out. Seriously, you won’t want to miss it.
Plus she’s a pretty awesome bloggy friend even without all the giveaways coming up.
Pinky Promise.
Why miss out?
There’s nothing to loose.
And lots to gain.
A friendship is always a plus.

If you or your company would like to sponsor a Review and/or Giveaway here on Mommy Does… please e-mail me anytime at brookeannaroberts(at)yahoo(dot)com, subject line: Sponsorship.

Free Page Rank Tool