Welcome to GOODEness Gracious

We're cooking up all kinds of GOODe things with a side of life! Come on in and check out our recipes, freezer cooking, super mommy secrets and common sense commentary on the GOODe life.

FREEZE-O-RAMA

Come chill with me, baby, as we cook up a month's worth of family meals in just one day. So come on into my kitchen. We'll give you all the freezer cooking tips, tricks and recipes.

Goode and Gooseberry Patch Project

Join me as I cook my way through Gooseberry Patch's Cookbook--Mom's Favorite Recipes a la the Julie/Julia project.

Super Mommy Secrets

The world is full of Super Moms just like you that make the world go round. From play rooms to board rooms, check out how my Super Mommy friends make it all happen.

It's a GOODe Life

Life is made up of moments. The funny. The ordinary. The frustrating. Join us as we share a few of ours while we live the GOODe life in the hills of Indiana.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

It's a Goode Life: Tribute to Every Desperate Mother

This is my tribute to every mother out there that is desperate to get just one decent photograph of them and their monkey.


When I saw this LOVELY pic I knew EXACTLY what this post would be about.


If you are anything like me, I soooo want just one current, decent picture with my munchkin.


This task is ALWAYS a lot easier said than done.


I am sure the process is quite entertaining for others to watch... yet the mother's desperation is a little sad.


However, if you are persistent and keep trying...


You might just get one that will hold you over for a few months ;) Just sayin'

Monday, March 29, 2010

GOODe Projects: Lil McAddie's Farm Pt 2

As promised, I set out to remake my fence painting for tutorial sake.

These are the steps I used to create the fence in Add's room.

*NOTE-I use acrylic paint for this tutorial. You will want to use wall paint for your walls.


Since I don't have another wall that needs fencing ;) I just recreated on paper.



First, you will need something to trace to give you a guide as you paint. Here I used a box of flavored water ;) I used an old 1x6  to do Add's room.



I traced my guide with a pencil.

Total Side Note: I loathe mechanical pencils. But, Puddie loves them... hearts them even. I couldn't find a single pencil around here, but found a whole box of mechanicals...so that is what I had to use. Just had to clarify that point.



If you squint real close here, you can see my lines where I have made a fence by tracing the box. These lines will simply serve as a guide to keep things somewhat proportional. I, however, heart coloring outside of the lines ;) Just sayin'



Then I grabbed two different colors of  brown paint and two pathetic looking paintbrushes... let's call them well loved.



Now take the lighter paint and a curious two year old and paint in your "logs"



Notice: The logs aren't perfectly straight like the lines were. This is important. Don't be going all type A perfectionist on this one little project :)

Now you wait for it to dry. Once it is dry, it is time to get knotty ;)



Add your knots by painting ovals in the darker color. I look to place mine where the paint naturally curves out. However, you can place them just about anywhere.



Now add more texture by stroking the darker paint randomly along each log. The key here is to make sure you have a little amount of paint on your brush, not a lot.



Above would be an example of almost too much paint ;)



Enter magic tool.

Sharpie how I love the.

Now if you are a stickler for using paint on a wall, you can use a paint pen I suppose. But, I have to tell you-- my inner child LOVED marking up the walls with a marker.

The key to using Sharpie to define your painting is to remember NO SOLID LINES. Just make medium strokes with the pen.



Go over the outline of the logs several times with broken lines. Don't be precise. I did this entire page in less than 30 seconds. Quick, quick, quick. If you over think it, you are likely to over do it :)  I have to tell myself this--often!

Anytime I paint/draw, I think back to the sixth grade when Norman Bridwell came to my elementary school and drew Clifford the Big Red Dog right before my eyes. It was amazing to me how he could just make those lines turn into Clifford.

Later I would learn that everything is just a series of lines and shapes and nothing to be afraid of ;)



Once I finished the outlines, I added some accents on the inside. I made sure to curve my lines around my knots and along the logs to make my wood grain.



Again, quick like and not precise.



Ta Dah!

 

The Girl Creative

Making





Sunday, March 28, 2010

GOODe Projects: Lil' McAddie's Farm - Pt. 1

Recently one of my readers asked about the painted fence in Ms. Add's room...


The fence is a part of the farm scene I painted while we were expecting Miss Add.


I painted the room over two VERY snowy days in February.



I heart painting.

I really should do it more.

There is something liberating about just being able to paint over something and make it whatever you want...


Where a drab white wall existed, an apple tree grew.

An apple tree that we count apples on regularly these days ;)


And clouds appeared in a pretty blue sky



And where a door once stood, a barn appeared


Tune in tomorrow for a tutorial on how to make this little fence.
I am going to have to do a re-shoot of a faux remake because I didn't take nearly as many pictures back then as I do these days ;)

It really easy as 1- 2 -3.

Want a sneak peek at the secret weapon?
If you don't know Sharpie... you GOTS to get to know her. More on that tomorrow. ;)

GOODe GOODEness: Hands Off Cream Cheese Brownie Bites


You are gonna love these Hands Off Cream Cheese Brownie Bites.


It is super simple and the perfect solution to a chocolate cravin'

You start out with a box of brownie mix and some heavenly whipped cream cheese--try not to eat it before we get to it.


Prepare the brownie mix according to the box...


Difficult, I know...



Especially if you are like me and you don't like being told what to do...



But trust me, Betty knows what she is doing.



Once prepared, divide into mini muffin pans... built in portion control--you'll need it... just sayin' ;)


Then grab your whipped cream cheese


And place a dab of the heavenly substance on top of each one.


You could use regular cream cheese, but whipped gives you more bang for your calorie buck.


Bake them according to the box


Then be prepared to say...


"Hands off the cream cheese brownie bites!"

Friday, March 26, 2010

It's a Goode Life: Big Girl Bed


It is Big Girl Bed day at the Goodes


sniff... Mommy is having a little bit of a hard time with it.


Now Add, well...SHE loved it and is doing fine.


Gilbert is adjusting well...


And, well... Daddy...


Add told me, "SHHH! Daddy's sleeping in his big girl bed"


Sleeping Beauty... ain't he


All in all today was a big day...


We did some growin' up 'round these parts today.


Add too. :)

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