(recipe of the week) pot pie biscuit

I'm always trying to find ways to sneak in vegetables to my toddler's diet.  About a year ago I made a more complex version with bisquik (check out that recipe here), but all I had today on hand was Pillsbury biscuits.  So I improvised!

Anna is starting to become momma's lil helper.  She loves when I get the little stool out so she can help me make dinner.



This recipe is pretty easy for a toddler to help with.  Just make sure you have everything out and ready beforehand.  And don't get upset if some spills on the floor.  Find joy in the mess that's my new motto!

Pot Pie Biscuit
2 cans of refrigerated biscuits
2 cups of frozen mixed vegetables
1 cup diced cooked chicken (or leftover thanksgiving turkey!) - I used tuna
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
Add two generous handfuls of shredded cheese if desired.
Mix in the tuna, veggies, and soup.  Anna enjoyed eating the frozen veggies (my kid is crazy I know...frozen vegetables?)



Heat the oven to 375 deg. F.  Press each biscuit into muffin tins.  Make a small rim of "crust" around the sides.  I also made mini biscuits in my mini muffin tin.  Just cut the biscuit dough in half if you want to make minis.




Spoon in the vegetable mixture to each muffin cup. Don't overflow them. You might need to reshape your crust rim a little to make sure they don't seep.  They should look something like this.



Now place them in your preheated oven for 18-22 minutes. You just want to brown the biscuit. Let them cool and pop them out of the tin. TO FREEZE: After cooled to room temperature, place in freezer bag. Pop them out and microwave for a quick meal.

{knits} floral brooch pins

Dusted off my knitting needles and boy did that feel good!  A custom order for two brooch pins.  And I giftwrapped (check out how to make the perfect holiday bow here).  What a joy this sweet little project has been.



Each floral brooch is approximately 3" in diameter constructed of the softest yarn and embellished by a sweet little black button.  Please email me at sixteensunbuckles(at)gmail.com if you have a question about custom orders.

{DIY} tie the perfect bow

Tis the season for gift giving ... AND last minute wrapping!  If you are like me, you are probably up late at night with a glass of wine and wrapping until your eyelids get heavy.  I haven't even attempted to wrap while Anna is awake.  Disaster I'm sure.  I am starting to run out of giftwrap.  And some of my packages are so small I really don't want to pull off a whole sheet of paper and create a bunch of scraps.  These holiday bows are so festive you can wrap an ordinary box and they'll still make the cut under the tree.



These bows are so simple you'll wonder why you never made them before!  I bought a giant roll of glittery ribbon from Michael's with a coupon.  You'll want to use the kind with wire on the edges.  Wire is the key to a perfect loop.



^ what you'll need : 2 arms length worth of ribbon, scissors, and your box ^
^ Tie all your knots tight! That is the only way to create a professional look that will stay ^

^ make a small bow and pull it tight ^
^ keep making bows one on top of the other. don't forget to keep pulling them tight! ^
^ fluff all your bows creating nice/uncreased loops ^
^ and you are done! you don't even need gift wrap! ^

{mommy mondays} juggling it all during the holidays

I caught myself having anxiety the other day.  It wasn't even 9am but I took a look around and there was clutter everywhere, laundry that needed to be folded, dishes that needed to be washed, and piles of mail.  Not to mention all the other things that comes with this time of the year - gifts to be shopped for (I'm not even to the wrapping yet), cards to be addressed, cookies to be made.

Then I look back to my toddler and she is telling me she is done eating breakfast.  How is she telling me?  She is throwing strawberries all over the floor.  Another mess.

*sigh*

I'm working on my patience.  I'm trying to remember to step back and appreciate the beauty of the clutter.  And then I think this isn't working! and attempt to pull my hair out.

Plan B.

I turned on some christian worship music and got out the sweeper.  As soon as that music turned on my little girl started to dance.  I love the way music just takes over her.  No sense of dance style yet but boy can she move.  my cup runneth over


VID_20131210_125730_131.mp4 from Lauren 'Dougherty' Shanks on Vimeo.


God is amazing.  I'll say it over and over again.  Be still my soul and listen.  He continually reminds me my to do list is just a list.  This little girl needs me most.  I can almost hear him tell me to put down the sweeper and just enjoy her.

So I did.  And we had a little dance party at 9:15 in the morning.

{shanks household} Merry Christmas

From our house to yours,
warm wishes for a Christmas full of joy, family, good food, and friends.

{mommy mondays} Rockstar Mom // Christine from Just Bella

I'd love to introduce to you, Christine. I fell in love with her at Just Bella awhile ago and she is such an inspiration to me. She is a beautiful lady inside and out and I hope you enjoy her as much as I do.

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When Lauren asked me to guest post about "how I do it all" I was a little unsure about what to write. You see, quite frankly, I don't do it all, life is busy, especially with a little two year old running around. So while I often struggle to find balance, I do try my best to focus on the positive. I think it's important to remember those everyday moments and to really focus on the things that make you happy. Instagram has been one of the tools I use to capture these everyday moments and to document them for our family. I always have my phone nearby and it's so handy to freeze a moment in an otherwise hectic day. Instagram has become a bit of a digital photo book for us so I decided to actually print some photos and corral all those memories into a book. Blurb has an awesome program that links to your instagram account making it super easy to create. I've already got two and need to make more for 2013 (check out all the details here). Alice and I love to flip through these together and look at those fleeting moments (seriously these kids grow like weeds!). Social media can be a blessing and a curse, it has connected me with some truly amazing people but I know it can create feelings of inadequacy as well. I truly see instagram as somewhat of a "highlight reel" so I think it's important to remember this. No one's life is perfect and "comparison is the thief of joy". Keep doing your best and focus on those everyday moments that make you smile, your everyday moments because, let's face it, we've all got a little dirty laundry hiding behind those sweet smiles ;) Come say hello on instagram and keep up the good work, mamas!

{holiday invitation} 12 Days of Savings at The Blu Poppie

For more information and unique gifts, check out The Blu Poppie on Facebook.
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Please email me for all custom invitation inquiries at sixteensunbuckles(at)gmail.com