Shannah, Author at My Suburban Kitchen

Stepping Up and Stepping Out

July 24, 2012 By Shannah 28 Comments

This little isn’t quite so little anymore

She turns 5 really soon {too soon?} and is all about being Miss Independent recently. One thing holds her back a little though…height!
She loves picking out her own clothes and getting dressed but can’t exactly reach them in the closet.
Ikea can fix that though…enter their wooden step stool

It may actually be a little too tall but it comes at a good price AND unfinished so we can do pretty much anything we want with it. No sanding needed!

Ready for some Ikea upcycling? Let’s go.

The princess chose two shades of pink: Glidden Watermelon Smoothie and Pink Carnation. She requested that the whole thing be Watermelon Smoothie but we added in some of the pink carnation at the end.

While we were at Home Depot, she saw this cute little Disney stencil and so we grabbed it {I am pretty sure it was the princesses on the front that caught her eye}.

I let her do a little bit of the stenciling until she got bored. Clearly she isn’t as into the DIY thing as her mom.

The stool fits perfect into her closet and she can use it to get her clothes down each morning.

There is nothing like getting a great solution out of a $10 product

Making Monday Marvelous at C.R.A.F.T., Show Me What Ya Got at Not Just a Housewife, What’s in the Gunny Sack Linky Party at The Gunny Sack, I Made the World Cuter Today at Making the World Cuter, Weekend Warrior Party at Ask Anna, Brag Monday at the Graphics Fairy, Making the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill, Creative Mondays at Clairejustineoxox, Motivate Me Monday at Keeping it Simple, Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch, Market Yourself Monday at Sumos Sweet Stuff, the Craft Catwalk and Embellishing Life, More the Merrier Monday at DIY Home Sweet Home, Show Me What You Got at Our Delightful Home, Mauvin’ Monday at Vintage Mauve, It’s Party Time at It’s So Very Cheri, DIY Project Parade at DIY Showoff, Insprire Me Monday at Singing Three Little Birds, Calling All Crafters Monday at All Things Fee, Monday Craft Party at Polly Want a Crafter, Cure for the Common Monday at Lines Across, Tuesday Confessional at Crafty Confessions, Tell Me Tuesday at Me and My Boys, Too Cute Tuesday at Funky Polka Dot Giraffe, Tuesday Time Out at Reasons to Skip the Housework, Tutorials and Tips at Home Stories A to Z, Get Your Craft on Tuesday at Today’s Creative Blog, Nifty Thrift Tuesday at Coastal Charm, Time to Shine Party at a Diamond in the Stuff, Uncommonly Yours Link Party at Uncommon Designs, Handmade Tuesdays at Ladybug Blessings, Terrific Under Ten Tuesday at At Home with K, One Project at a Time at A Bowl Full of Lemons, Be Inspired at Elizebeth & Co., Tutorial Tuesday at With Hope Studios, Take a Look Tuesday at Sugar Bee Crafts, Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie, the Tuesday Talent Show at Chef-N-Training, Open Call Tuesday at Salt Tree, Share It Linky Party at the Winthrop Chronicles. Naturally Nifty Linky Party at Natural Nesters, Tiptoe Thru Tuesday at Crayon Freckles, Show & Share at Southern Lovely and Vintage Gwen, Will Craft For at Tales of a Trophy Wife, Hoo’s Got Talent at Nightowl Crafting, Sugar & Spice {Wednesday} at 733 Blog, Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts, Show and Tell at Snap!, Penny Pinching Partyat The Thrifty Home, We’re Organized Wednesday at Organize and Decorate Everything, Wow Us Wednesday on Ginger Snap Crafts, What’s New Wednesday at Grateful Belly, Your Whims Wednesday at My Girlish Whims, Inspiring Creativity at Dragonfly Designs, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways Wednesday at Frugally Sustainable, Wow Me Wednesdays at Polka Dots on Parade, 100 Ideas Under $100 at Beyond the Picket Fence, the Crafty Sasse Wednesday Linky Party at the Sasse Life, Strut Your Stuff at Somewhat Simple, Taking a Time Out Thursday at Mom On Time Out, Hooking up with HoH at House of Hepworths, Look at Me, Live, Laugh Linky Thursday at Live, Laugh Rowe, Spread the Love at Love Notes by Lauryn, Thing’s I’ve Done Thursday at Bear Rabbit Bear, Creative Juice Link Party at Momnivore’s Dilemma, Crafty Soiree at Yesterday on Tuesday, 20 Below Thursday at Christina’s Adventures, Creative Genius Party at The Creative Paige, Kiss and Tell at I Gotta Create, Craft, Scrappy Happy Me Thursday at Craft, Scappy Happy, Catch a Glimpse Thursday at A Glimpse Inside, Thursday Temptation at Two Yellow Birds Decor, Get Your Brag On at Gluesticks, Show Off Your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans, Share Awesomeness Thursdays atThe 36^th Avenue, Thrifty Thursday at Thrifty Decorating, P’Inspirational Thursday at The Artsy Girl Connection, Taylor House Thursday at The Taylor House, Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge, Share What You Did Friday at Two Sasters, Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous, Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, The Pity Party at 30 Days, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, Show and Share Day at Just a Girl, Freestyle Friday at Happy Hour Projects, Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, Free For All Friday at Young & Crafty, Fresh Friday Link Party at Release Me Creations, Project Party WEekend at Bubbly Nature Creations, Weekend Show Off Party at Ladybird Ln, Fancy This at Truly Lovely Blog, It’s a Hodgepodge Friday at It’s a Hodgepodge Life, Lovely Craft Weekend at Lovely Crafty Home, the Featured Friday Free for All at Five Days, Five Ways, the Featured Friday Linky Party at Blissful and Domestic, Shine on Fridays at One Artsy Mama, the Anything Goes Linky Party at Bacon Time, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party at Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons, Do Something Crafty at The Crafty Nest, the Weekdend Link Party at Lolly Jane Boutique, the Weekend Wrap-up Party at Tatertots and Jello, Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground, Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal, Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things, the Sunday Scoop at I Heart Naptime and the Before and After Party at Thrifty Décor Chick.

What Does Your Garden Say?

July 23, 2012 By Shannah 22 Comments

I don’t garden. My thumbs are about as black as you can get. With the exception of a Christmas cactus that has magically survived for a few years, very few plans survive more than a week in our house.

Junior…she gardens. She’s got this amazing garden in her backyard with things like lettuce and pumpkins coming up back there. Rockstar green thumbs is what she has.

Since I don’t garden, I label. Yeah…I’m a big contributer to her project. I’ve got my fingers crossed it will earn me a piece of lettuce or something.

I started with these little woodsies from Michaels.

She said yellow so I painted them yellow.

Then, I grabbed some bright and colorful stickers to put on them.

I spelled out the things in her garden and then covered it in outdoor modge podge to seal them up.

For the “stick”, I used some of the bazillion striped straws I have around the house. Even though they are straws, I did give them a coat of modge podge too just for added protection. I hot glued those on the back

Let them dry and the garden markers are all done!

Pinworthy Projects Party #20

July 20, 2012 By Shannah 8 Comments

Don’t forget to join the Feed Me Friday blog hop going on now! It is a great way to find a bunch of fabulous new blogs to follow.
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Also, it is time to announce the winner of the Shabby Apple Giveaway…
Congrats to Jen Holovack!
Please contact me by 24 July at justusfourpartners {at} gmail {dot} com to claim your prize!
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Now, on to the party…

Did you create something Pinworthy these week?

Link it up below!

Feed Me Friday Blog Hop

July 20, 2012 By Shannah 6 Comments

Welcome to Feed Me Friday Blog Hop, hosted by Oh So Savvy Mom, Nap Time is My Time, Great Contradictions and Just Us Four!

Feed Me Friday is a Blog Hop to help you meet new bloggers and build your e-mail subscription.

Want to be a part of Feed Me Friday?

Just follow these simple rules:

– Add your blog link to the linky

– Subscribe by email and follow via Google+ (or Linky Followers) to the four hostesses (Oh So Savvy Mom, Nap Time is My Time, Great Contradictions and Just Us Four) and the Featured Blog of the Week. Make sure to leave us a comment and we will return the favor.

– Visit as many blogs on the list as you can. If you like the blog subscribe to their email (feel free to follow on Google+ too, if you want)

– Leave them a comment with your blog link so they know you are subscribing from Feed Me Friday. Be sure to confirm your subscription! Subscribing back is not mandatory, but it is recommended. It is a great way to build blogging relationships.

Since this is an email subscription blog hop, your blog must have a place for people to subscribe to your email. If there isn’t an email subscribe option, your link will be removed from the linky without warning.

Every Friday we will put up a new Feed Me Friday linky, so be sure to stop by and add your blog.

Each week we will choose one participant from the previous week’s blog hop to be the Featured Blog of the Week. Link up and start networking!

Pinworthy Projects Party – My Pinworthy Picks

July 19, 2012 By Shannah 6 Comments

A big thank you to everyone who came and linked up to the Pinworthy Projects Party last week. You guys made some really incredible stuff!

Let’s take a look at some of the favorites:

A good friend of mine {Liz} will be giving birth pretty soon. I love the idea of a year of onesies like Nap Time Creations shared.

We do this for Barbies in our house but over at Our Pinteresting Family, lots of other things go in her easy toy storage solution.

Take a look at this beautiful flower art shared by The Well Crafted Home. Isn’t it amazing?

Nifty Thrifty Things shared a make it yourself cake stand that is really super cute!

Want something to put on that cake stand? How about these lemon blueberry bars from The DIY Dreamer?

I always drool over crates when we are out and about. Now, thanks to Craftiments, I can make my own wood shim crate.

We’re hard at work getting our bar ready. Bliss Ranch shared her incredible portable bar and I was instantly in love.

And the most visited link this week was the tutorial on how to prevent your photos from being pinned {kinda ironic since this is the Pinworthy Party!} from Practically Functional

Thanks so much for linking up!

I hope to see you right back here tomorrow at 10am for another fun party. I can’t wait to see what you’ve been working on.

In the meantime, if you were featured, I hope you will grab a button

Chocolate Nutella Banana Pizza

July 18, 2012 By Shannah 27 Comments

Ok, I’m about to share something with you that is quite possibly the best dessert pizza EVER!

Now, it isn’t overly complicated or anything. In fact, I am sure someone, somewhere is sitting there thinking “pshaw, that isn’t anything new” but it was definitely new to me 🙂

Let’s talk about what you need:
1 pizza crust (I used a little pre-made single crust)
Creamy Peanut Butter
Nutella
1 Banana, sliced

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
Now, get your crust ready. I follow the directions on the crust’s package and brush a little olive oil onto it but that is strictly personal preference. I made it both ways and couldn’t really tell a difference.

Spread a layer of peanut onto your crust

Spread your nutella on top and then top with sliced bananas. Put it on a baking sheet. {Note: I did spray a little bit of olive oil on top of my bananas to keep them “pretty” as H said}

Bake it for about 12 minutes or so…this isn’t an exact science so check it around 10 minutes. You can tell when it is done because the nutella will be all melty and the crust will be a little browned.

You can tell here {on my first attempt} that I left it in too long…a little too browned but still so delicious.

Enjoy your new favorite dessert!

WTCW #60

July 18, 2012 By Shannah 1 Comment

Wednesday…it always seems to sneak up on me. At least I have something to look forward each “hump day”…WTCW!

[Picky Palate], [Cookin Canuck], [Family Fresh Cooking]

Sunday: I love trying different kinds of burgers and experimenting with seasonings. This week, I found adobo feta turkey blt sliders which sounds awesome.

Monday: We’re going meatless again with grilled zucchini and eggplant parmesan.

Tuesday: Pasta night gets moved to Tuesday this week and we throw in some yummy peas and prosciutto.

[Foodie with Family], [Georgia Pellegrini], [The Shiksa in the Kitchen], [What’s Gaby Cooking]

Wednesday: Another new take on a classic summer food are these crispy chorizo dogs which look so yummy.

Thursday: A mid-week grocery stop will be in order but spicy middle eastern shrimp definitely sound worth it.

Friday: It is back out to the grill to start the weekend with pineapple lime grilled chicken.

Saturday: Tex mex hasn’t disappeared from these menus forever. In fact, this week, I’ve got sweet pulled pork tacos on the menu.

2nd vacation – Only if we can SAVE

July 18, 2012 By Shannah Leave a Comment

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of SAVE for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

We have two kid birthday parties {in the same weekend} in August! We’re in the middle of a basement finishing project that keeps going and going. School starts at the end of August for the first time in our child’s life. Work is even busier than ever.

All things considered, I think we need a second vacation! Now, of course, with everything else going on, our budget doesn’t really support a beach vacation where peak rates are still going strong until mid-September. I was looking around for other non-beach options and stumbled upon some information on San Antonio.

With SAVE – San Antonio Vacation Experience, we would have the ability to save big money on things like hotels and major attractions. Their Limited Time Offers would enable us to get some big bang for our bucks at places like SeaWorld, Six Flags and Splashtown. We can save $10 off tickets at SeaWorld. Six Flags is offering buy an adult and get a ticket free! Over at Splashtown, they are offering discounts up to $42! The kids love animals so the San Antonio Zoo, with $2 off admission, would be a great attraction to visit too. Of course, we can’t miss the chance to take a trolley ride either. $2 off each ride is a great value to help us get around the city and enjoy a unique type of transportation too.

When you consider options like those applied to a family of four, visiting San Antonio and using SAVE – San Antonio Vacation Experience is definitely looking like a great option.

There are several hotel options within the SAVE program that also allow us to enjoy the famous Riverwalk. The Westin looks really inviting but so does the San Antonio Marriott. Using a Marriott property would also help us for future trips since we earn points.

The SAVE – San Antonio Vacation Experience also offers an app so I can access deals and information remotely. Oh, and of course, I can follow @SAVEinSA on twitter to keep up too.

Hmmm…a second vacation is sounding better and better. Now, I just have to convince Mathlete to put down the nail gun and get on the plane.

Teaching the Art of Giving: #BagItForward

July 18, 2012 By Shannah 1 Comment

School is approaching so quickly and, this year, we actually have to take note of the start date because H is starting Kindergarten.

In my attempt to start the year prepared, we went back to school shopping recently. As part of our shopping, I participated in an amazing campaign sponsored by Elmer’s called Bag It Forward.

The idea is simple but very powerful. Buy 2, give 1.

Basically, you buy two of each school supply and give one to someone less fortunate. I really wanted to participate and have H take part so that she would learn about helping others in need. We started our shopping at our local {brand new!} Wal-Mart.

Their school supplies are set up right when you walk in the door which is super convenient.

They also have an Elmer’s school supply list section where you can find the list of supplies for most of the area school.
On the top is a QR code {love those} to download the Elmer’s 1st Day App to your phone.

If you don’t have a smart phone, you can also access the “1st Day” App download on the web. The app lets capture and share pictures from the first day of school which is an annual milestone for students, teachers and parents alike!
Since this is our first year of school, it is a HUGE milestone for us so I know there will be tons of pictures!

We did a quick download of the app and then hit the aisles to shop with our list in hand. I had to giggle at the amount of glue sticks noted on our list…18!

I guess Kindergartners use a lot of glue 🙂 H was most excited about the glitter glue so we added that to our cart too.

Once we had all of our supplies in the cart, we headed for the check-out line.

We carried all our supplies home and separated them so we could donate the second set to the local school supply drive.

We picked a donation drive sponsored by our local county because we knew the supplies would help a local in-county family at a nearby school. We packaged up our school supplies in the book bag we bought and headed to the donation site.

This local preschool is our closest donation site for the county sponsored program.

Luckily, Junior’s little boy attends the school so we can easily access the donation box!

Our supplies are now ready to go to a needy child so he or she can be prepared for the upcoming school year.

I’m excited that we checked shopping for school supplies off of our to-do list early and, even more so, that we got to help someone in need in the process.

I hope you will consider, if resources allow, joining the Bag It Forward movement. You can read more at BagItForward.org or by visiting Elmer’s on Facebook or Elmer’s on Twitter.
We all have the ability to help others in need with just a little effort. School supplies can be found for as little as $.50 but make a HUGE impact in a child’s life. When you are out school shopping for your kids, please consider bagging it forward by buying two and giving one.

Please visit my Google+ album to see more of our donation story. You can also visit Bag It Forward on Pinterest to see more donation stories!

I am a member of the Collective Bias(tm) Social Fabric(r) Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias(tm) and Elmer’s #BagItForward #CBias

My Middle Name is Label

July 17, 2012 By Shannah 11 Comments

Well, technically, it is Marie but it probably should be label!

I’ve been on a MAJOR organization kick in the house recently. Maybe it was the new label tape for my label maker coming the mail…

My latest victim…our snack pantry. We started using this section of the pantry primarily for snacks because it was easy for the kids to access on their own. Of course, sometimes that doesn’t go as planned and little hands end up spilling all of the cheerios on the floor.

Even though neither of our littles read yet, I always felt the need to label all the containers in there. Thanks Martha for pushing me over the edge with your too cute label products

I ordered a bunch from Staples (they are an exclusive product to Staples) and waited anxiously for them to arrive. Then, I got down to my OCD business.

It was a simple project. Put the labels on the front of the containers. Then, use my best friend label maker to create the little labels for the big labels.

Got that?

I had one that wouldn’t work with that plan. So, I grabbed a little chalkboard label I had bought from Pick Your Plum and wrote it on there.

Check it out all done

Awesome right? Now my eye doesn’t twitch every time I look in there.

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