May Blog Schedule

 Y'all!

April was a ride huh? Storms, hot, cold, windy, crazy! We slowly wandered towards NW Indiana, spent almost a week in Kankakee, IL, and then on the 14th arrived at our workamp position(s)! We've worked, and done some exploring of the nearby areas, but those were also tied in with running errands. Our next day off we plan to head to Kankakee Sands, and the Bison viewing area, if the weather permits..

But yay, it's MAY!

Blog Schedule:

2nd Fri- Upcoming Travel

5th Mon- Van Decals

7th Wed- Washing Makeup Brushes

9th Fri- More About Me

12th Mon- How To: ?

14th Wed- Reorganized Drawers

16th Fri- One Month Into Workamping, How's it Going?

19th Mon- One Month 'Til My 43rd Birthday

21st Wed- Makeup I'm Using, and What I Haven't...

23rd Fri- Books!

26th Mon- Memorial Day Prep

28th Wed- May Looks!

30th Fri- June Blog Schedule

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

More About ME!

 Hey Y'all!

It's been awhile since I've done the first 50 in this get to know me blog series, the questions can be found here.

51. If you could choose your own work schedule, would you? I do! It's awesome. It'll be more scheduled as the season opens up though.

52. Is there one job you’d never ever do? I wouldn't want to be a telemarketer ever again, worst job ever, and that was for the Police Benevolent Society.

53. What’s the first thing you do after getting home from work? N/A I'm already home. For any other gig it's to take off my shoes.

54. Who or what inspires you in your career? Everything! Creatives find inspiration everywhere.

55. How do you approach taking time off from work? I make sure time sensitive stuff is done, then, I take off when I need/want.

56. What’s something an outsider wouldn’t know about your industry? It's not as easy as it looks.

57. Do you have a morning routine at work? If so, what it’s like? Generally I start my day by checking email, social media, etc. Then I get started on what needs done. Not much of a routine, but I don't know how to explain it since it's not the same day to day.

58. What’s your commute to work like? Non-existent for the blogs and social media, a 5min walk for the workamp gig.

59. Are you able to work from home, and if so, do you enjoy it? Yes, and yes.

60. Do you get along with all your coworkers? Yeah, I like me. For the other, yes the owners are very nice.

61. What’s your favorite thing about your current job? The creativity I have over all aspects of running things day to day.

62. What annoys you most? Not having customer/reader engagement.

63. What’s the career highlight you’re most proud of? Going from PT to Management in a little over 6mo.

64. Do you think you’ll stay in your current gig awhile? Why or why not? If it makes financial sense, yes. We plan to continue workamping, but shorter gigs going forward.

65. What type of role do you want to take on after this one? I like what I'm doing. I enjoyed retail management, but I prefer smaller companies.

66. Are you more of a "work to live" or a "live to work" type of person? Work is necessary, but family is always #1.

67. Does your job make you feel happy and fulfilled? Why or why not? These are getting redundant, and I'm getting bored. I love doing what I do, I love the creativity. I love seeing my customers happy!

68. How would your 10-year-old self react to what you do now? I had no "I wanna be... when I grow up" type ideas, but I think I'd think this is pretty cool.

69. What do you remember most about your first job? It was pretty easy. Leggs Hanes, even when it was busy it wasn't too much.  There was always at least 3 of us there, and we shared the responsibilities.

70. How old were you when you started working? Babysitting, around 14. "Real Job" 16.

71. What’s the worst job you’ve ever had? The aforementioned telemarketing, and Kmart. Both horrible. 

72. What originally got you interested in your current field of work? Growing up a kid of crafty creative people?! Dad worked for JoAnn Fabrics in the warehouse, then as a truck driver for many, many years. (Ride-alongs were awesome when they still allowed them!) He finished his career with them at company headquarters in the order shipping/receiving department. Mom wouldn't call herself crafty, but she was (and is) always re-decorating, painting, making curtains, etc. For the workamping, it just makes sense with our lifestyle.

73. Have you ever had a side hustle or considered having one? This was it. Now it's my hustle hustle. 

74. What’s your favorite part of the workday? Designing something new, coming up with new ideas.

75. What’s the best career decision you’ve ever made? I don't know that I've made it yet, but so far it's been believing in myself. Now I'd like to generate enough income to consistently be able to pay for a tank of gas or 2, or 3...

What's been your best/worst job? Share in the comments below!

Let's finish up the work questions section!

76. What’s the worst career decision you’ve ever made? Leaving Fabulous Gang (Salon) for Fiesta Hair & Tanning. Or really not going back when the owner called and offered me a huge sign on bonus and the Salon Manager position if I'd come back. 

Fiesta was such a hard company to work for, the rules only applied to some, the mandatory travel meetings only applied to some, the receptionists would write up retail sales under her name so she'd earn more money, breaks were non existent even if we were dead. 

Fabulous Gang was a smaller salon, in a smaller town, but it was just as busy and had loyal customers. 

77. Do you consider yourself good at networking? Not really, I'm not much of a people person.

78. What career advice would you give to your younger self? I don't know. I learned something from everywhere along the way.

79. Do you believe in having a "five-year plan"? Not really.

80. How do you separate your work life from your home life? I don't start working until I've eaten breakfast. I stop for lunch, and I quit for the day by 3:30 most days. I take breaks in-between sometimes too, that's the nice thing about working from home. For workamping, none of the shifts are too long, and we get lots of breaks.

81. When will you know you've "made it"? When I can rely on my income to generate income every month. That's the current goal.

82. Are you looking forward to retiring, or do you plan to work as long as possible? I'll do this as long as I can, I truly enjoy it!

83. Have you ever had "imposter syndrome"? Nope.

84. What do you think about workaholics? You do you Boo. For me other things are more important.

85. What qualities do you look for in a boss? Constrictive critic, creative, fair. 

86. Do you have a professional mentor? If not, do you want one? Not really, and no I don't really want one. I get tips, tricks, advice, ideas, etc. from several sources (online and in person) and that's enough for me.

87. What energizes you about your career? The ability to create freely.

88. Are you into after-work happy hours? I never participated much once I was an adult. I got along with most of my coworkers along the way just fine, but we all had other real life adulting to do after work.

89. How do you motivate yourself in your career? IDK. I guess because I'm interested and invested in what I do, and love to create it's pretty easy. I don't think about it, I create a loose schedule and just do it.

90. What's the best career advice you've ever heard? Don't stay somewhere that doesn't respect you as a person.

91. What's the worst career advice you've ever received? Not really advice but the worst reason to stay in a dead end is because "It's a paycheck". There are too many good jobs out there to stick with something you hate.

92. When you started your current job, what most surprised you? How much more work it is, and how much I love it.

93. How do you pick yourself back up after making a mistake at work? Fix it, and move on.

94. How do you deal with work stress? Take a break.

95. Do you have a work bestie? Myself?! LOL

96. What's one work-related thing you want to accomplish in the next year? Learning new things, about Campground operations behind the scenes.

97. Who has had the biggest impact on your career choice? More of a what, not a who. The plan after my previous job location closed was to take the rest of the Summer off, and start looking in the Fall when school started back. Life had other ideas. I got sick, and then Covid was also happening during treatment. I started crafting again, and that became my "job". I didn't love the making 100 of the same thing aspect, and switched to teaching others, blogging, and custom orders only.

98. What does your family think of your career? They think it's cool.

99. What's the best thing you've learned in your current position? Working for yourself is so rewarding.

100. If you could do it all over again, would you pursue the same career? Why or why not? I don't know. Where's the "re-start" point? Maybe if I'd have stayed in Ohio I'd have stayed in the beauty industry. Maybe I'd have stayed in retail. Maybe I'd use my business administration degree in some high-rise in Cleveland... Who knows? Or maybe all paths would lead me right here anyhow.

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

Upcoming Travel Plans

 Hey Y'all!

It's that time again... checkups & scans. We'll be gone from the 10th -17th, traveling to TN and attending all the appointments, then back here to NW IN. The owners here have been fantastic about our needing time off for this. We couldn't ask for better 'bosses'.

We will travel out of our way to avoid Indianapolis. We all have a city we hate to travel through, and that's ours. We also prefer anything but interstate, there's really nothing to see, but it's faster in times like this. This rough plan is a good mix of both. It says almost 10hrs, so we figure 12. 6hr days are about our limit now, so we'll stop at the half way point, or a little further and either parking lot it or get a cheap site, then we'll finish getting there the next day. Same thing but reverse for the return trip. I haven't booked anything, I usually do that last minute and haven't had any real problems yet.

My appointments are the 12th x2, 13th, and 15th. 

When not doing that we need to get an oil change, swap some things at the storage unit, and take care of other business. So it's appointments and errands all week!

Safe travels, and perfect weather to us & good scan vibes for me!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

Crafting in The Van

 Hey Y'all!

Spoiler alert, I've not crafted anything lately... 

Unless you want to count catching up in my planner, or rearranging the van. 

We mostly redid the drawers by the door (vitamins, hair, shower type items) and the garage again.

I plan to get the Joy out this week and finally create the decals for the back door. I'll share that on social media ASAP.

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

Books! (What I've Read Recently)

 Hey Y'all! 

Let's get right into it:

(In no particular order.)

No links this time, most of these are older books I've thrifted, or free books on google.

1) Misty, V.C. Andrews

The many millions of V.C. Andrews fans, and particularly the younger readers among them, will thrill to the first in a new, four-book series on the struggles and secrets of children of divorce. Misty is the tale of a young girl facing the trials of her devious, divorced parents and the terrors of a deeply-held secret. When she meets three other girls in therapy, also children of divorce, she learns that she's not alone -- and
not alone in sharing secrets.

This one was ok. It's much different than the Landry Series, which is the only other V.C. Andrews I've read. The story seemed to start somewhere in the middle, and it got better, but still didn't seem to have the affect I think the book was going for. I do have book 2, so I will eventually read it.

This review by Ashley W on goodreads sums it up pretty well:

Re-reading before I read the rest of the series. I don't think the girls' stories really connect, but just in case.
I honestly can't pinpoint what I like about these shorter VC Andrews books. It doesn't really make sense that Misty was seeing a psychiatrist to begin with, so that's a little unrealistic. you don't see an MD because you're acting out after your parents divorce. Most of what she did was perfectly normal and reactionary given how her parents were acting. I would think the judge would order them all to the therapy. Also, the dialogue sounds strange coming from a teenager. This sounds like a 80s soap opera, but I can roll with it because, at least it's different than most YA today.
I really feel like I'm just here for the drama. lol I just love a good scandal and whatever else you say about Andrew's books, there is always scandal.

Some notes in the updates

-----------

I thought that the concept of these four girls sharing their experiences in a group therapy setting was pretty unique. At first I thought that they would be too vulnerable, but Misty seemed okay throughout and didn't really hesitate. I didn't care for Star and thought it was interesting that the one black character was the rude, poor, uneducated one. That could have been different. I found Cat the most compelling and want to know more about her, mostly because she was the quietest.

2) Country Brides, Debbie Macomber

2- A Little Bit Country

3- Country Bride

Rorie Campbell has a pleasant, predictable life in San Francisco, where she's seeing a pleasant, predictable man. Then, one vacation, her car breaks down on an Oregon country road and horse rancher Clay Franklin comes to her rescue. Rorie soon discovers that a city girl can fall in love with a country man. But Clay has no right to return her feelings because he's engaged to another woman.

Kate Logan is devastated when Clay Franklin, her former fiance and the man she's always loved, marries Rorie Campbell instead. But at Clay's wedding and after a glass of champagne too many Kate proposes to her longtime friend, rancher Luke Rivers. Luke accepts her proposal and refuses to renege on his promise. What's more, he insists that Kate doesn't love Clay she loves him ."

I really liked the first book. The characters were believable, the story well written. I really rooted for the couple, and loved the hero's little brother.

The second book.... Kate exists in book one, and is great. In book 2 I find her a bit juvenile, and a lot whiney. Also she barely finishes the ONE GLASS of champagne, so please... just no, she wouldn't be that drunk to not remember what the conversation was. However, Luke was way to forceful, and came off more like an a$$hole than loveable.

Jill on goodreads says it well:

Have you ever loathed a book so much that you struggled to finish it? That was me with the second of these two novellas.
The first one was okay; a nice little romance. But the second was TERRIBLE. The two main characters were so bad. Luke was way too forceful, typically mansplaining to Kate what she needed. And Kate was portrayed as a stubborn ninny who could not get out of her own way and needed to be told what to do. Ugh. Save yourself the trouble and skip this one.

4) Glad Tidings, Debbie Macomber

4- There's Something About Christmas

5- Here Comes Trouble

This is a time for families, for togetherness, for memories. On Christmas Eve, Maryanne and Nolan Adams tell their kids the story they most want to hear --- how Mom and Dad met and fell in love. It all started when they were reporters on rival Seattle papers ... and next thing you know, Here Comes Trouble!

Christmas is also a time for ... fruitcake. Rookie reporter Emma Collins hates fruitcake; for that matter, she hates Christmas, too. When three Washington State women are finalists in a national fruitcake contest, the story is assigned to her. That's bad enough. It gets worse when she has to fly in a small plane (scary!) with a smart-aleck pilot named Oliver Hamilton (sexy!) and his scruffy dog (cute!). In the end she meets three wise women, falls in love and learns There's Something About Christmas.

This one, err 2. Here Comes Trouble- kinda boring. It starts off with the kids asking about how the parents met. We get into the story and it never breaks from the storytelling. Not even at the end when the story over is a reaction given. What was the point of the beginning then? Not my favorite. Instead it's Christmas morning the parents make an announcement, say no puppy, and the grandparents come in... with a puppy. Why would you get a gift like that without consulting the parents first? I'm also over the we HATED each other so much we fell in love trope.

There's Something About Christmas- I liked this one. Emma is a up & coming reporter trying to get a real story, and Oliver is the man piloting her from place to place. Both are likable characters, and believable. I didn't see Oliver as overly pushy, at least not compared to Luke from Country Bride... My only nitpick is why is he named Oliver and then his dog Oscar, a bit to similar at first to keep straight. 

Anne Holly on goodreads has some great points:

Not the best collection of shorties I've ever read, but it was fair reading for fans of the genre, and made an okay Sunday diversion.

1. There's Something About Christmas (2005)

You know what I find romantic? A fellow who can respect "no". This one missed the mark, there. The way Oliver aggressively hounds her for no real reason was off-putting; it is not romantic when someone decides, after seeing a lady for five minutes, that she must fall to his superior charms, and becomes a nooky-seeking missile that won't quit. Ew. A few juvenile romantic gestures does not compensate for a lack of respect and maturity.

However, if you are looking for some fruitcake recipes, you can find some in here.

*

2. Here Comes Trouble (1991)

A bit dated, I think; the whole "deb" (debutante) hatred seemed like more of a thing in the 80s? Not sure, but the set up here felt like something not of this era. (Also, perhaps in 1991, people really did think a woman was in real trouble simply because she'd broken two nails at her job? Nah, likely not even then.) The story also has nothing to do with Christmas, especially if you skip/skim the wrap-around set up of "tell us a story of how you met!" (which I did). While I usually love a good grouch, I felt Nolan was a bit overdrawn, and went a bit overboard with the hot/cold running rudeness. I liked him, despite myself, but would have liked him more not in a romance, perhaps. As it was, his refusal to thaw up to the final moments made the heroine look kind of silly and masochistic, which are not my favourite traits.

I think it was trying to be a screwball, but it ended up making me very uncomfortable, and I felt a lot of embarrassment for the heroine, who seemed too shallow to feel it for herself.

6) Ice Breakers, H.C. Cardona

The last person private investigator Mika Chalmers expects to walk in her office is ex-boyfriend and NHL player, Eric Foresburg. He looks just like he did three years ago, tall, blond, and every inch a Viking.

This isn't a social call.

Eric has gotten himself into some hot water. A woman is going to publicly accuse Eric of rape and he needs Mika to prove his innocence. With pressure from her father - who happens to be the head coach of Eric's NHL team - and smarmy defense attorney, Ryan King, Mika has her work cut out for her. When feelings for Eric - feelings she buried a long time ago - start to resurface, her job of finding the truth no matter what gets increasingly difficult to do.

Despite the fact that Mika has connections with the police department - including the arrogant Detective Alex Beech - the answers aren't black and white. Evidence reveals that Eric and the victim were together, but it turns into a heated he-said, she-said. It doesn't help that Eric has been keeping things from Mika, things he should have disclosed before she agreed to take his case.

With the help of Beech, Mika must determine whether or not Eric is innocent before the court of public opinion finds him guilty and his entire life is ruined.

Loved Mika, the female P.I. who was truly independent and good at her job. I thought it was pretty obvious who was to blame once all the characters were introduced, but the story still held my interest and I wanted to finish the book. This is book one in a series, but I'm happy enough with where it left off that I'm not rushing to buy any more of the books.

Here's a review from Sandra on goodreads:

Good start to a new mystery series about PI Mika Chalmers who is hired by her ex- a pro hockey player - when he is accused of rape. Based on the cover I was expecting more of a cosy crime/humor vibe but the story was had more depth than I was expecting. Not overly deep, just more serious and I got very involved in Mika's dealing with her unresolved feelings about Eric (her ex) who dumped her out of the blue when she thought they were 'forever', conflicted feelings about the accusation and more conflicted feelings about not quite friend that she works with often police detective Alex Beech. Mika is likeable and relatable. She is good at her job but realistically so, not in an annoying or unbelievable way with super special skills. Both Alex & Eric clearly have an interest and while it looks like she might be giving a certain person a chance at the end I am hoping the other one is end game.

7) Whispering Pines, Kimberly Diede

Welcome to Whispering Pines, a quaint resort on the serene shores in Minnesota lake country, and a heartwarming saga that beautifully weaves together the complexities of modern family life with the unexpected gifts of midlife reinvention.

Two weeks ahead of Christmas, a jarring layoff from a twenty-year career sends single mother Renee Clements back to life’s crossroads. She’s been here before. Reluctant but resilient, she prepares to dive into the job hunt. Or is it finally time to focus on her own dreams instead of building someone else’s? While the idea is tempting, she’s still responsible for raising two teenagers.

Frustrated, Renee pushes pause. She’ll wait until after the holidays to make any life-altering decisions. A serendipitous trip to Fiji and a chance encounter with a handsome stranger offers a glimmer of romance, but now isn’t the time to add yet another complication to her already messy world.

Could the final bequest by her dear Aunt Celia provide the answers? The opportunity to reopen Whispering Pines, a charming and historic lake resort, beckons her to a path less traveled. It’s not just a potential business venture; it’s a legacy passed down to her, a gift wrapped in memories and possibilities.

Torn between a longing to recreate the idyllic childhood summers she spent at her aunt’s resort and facing the challenges of her current reality, Renee will have to choose. Perhaps, along the way, she’ll discover more than she ever expected.

Whispering Pines, book one in Kimberly Diede’s Gift of Whispering Pines series, explores the depths of motherhood, the courage required to navigate and embrace change, and the unbreakable ties of family.

I still don't know how I feel about this book. Parts of it were good, and other parts really weren't. Not looking to continue the series I know that much. Renee is likable enough, but the whole thing is so unreal. They're the luckiest family ever. All a bit dumb, like how did no one catch on as to who the stalker was.

I think Joan's review on goodreads sums up how I felt:

I was rather disappointed in this book after seeing all the 5-star reviews. The plot was pretty good, but I felt like parts of the book dragged on WAY too long. There was an element of mystery in the book, but none of the characters could see the solution, which I thought was very obvious. I guess I was also turned off somewhat by the message of the book which seems to be that anyone who tries can succeed in life and business if you read enough motivational books - oh, and if you have a rich relative who dies and leaves you a big inheritance and you have a family that will work along with you to build a business and make it work. I don't think I enjoyed this book enough to take the time to read the next one in the series.

8) Dead Roads, Chris Outland

Y'all, my husband wrote a book! This was just the first draft, so it's very early, but we'll definitely let you know when it's closer to release. 

I can tell you it's about a van life couple surviving in an apocalyptic world. Chaos, creatures and continuing on down the road...

The book also now has an actual cover. We'll share that later too.

  

9) Just One Date, Chris Keniston

Home for a family wedding, Chase Baron has a plan to avoid his grandfather’s matchmaking—hire an actress to be his date. No strings and no commitments is just the ticket for no complications. When CJ Lawson’s ditzy sister takes a last minute acting role out of town, CJ has to take over her sister’s local job —cozying up to a wealthy and sinfully handsome billionaire. What could possibly go wrong?

This is book one in a series I might actually continue! It's well written, fun, and could easily stand alone. Chase is a billionaire, but not annoying, douchy, or pushy. CJ is military, like much of Chase's family so of course they immediately love her. The best scene in the book? The food truck experience. Very well described by the author.

Becky Claxon's review on goodreads:

Chase was the oldest of the Barron billionaire brothers. The brothers’ grandfather ruled their clan and wanted them all to get married and give him and his wife great grandchildren. I loved how Chase thought he could outsmart his grandfather when his cousin was getting married and needed a date for the weeklong wedding activities, and hired an actress to be his date. It was funny when his ‘date’ showed up and it was the woman’s sister who came as a favor to her sister. The whole family was so much fun to watch and how they all interacted. CJ who was Chase’s date was not a girly girl but for me was so much better. You will love watching the two get to know one another. There was also a scary time that had me on the edge of my seat. I encourage you to read the book.

What have you been reading? Share in the comments below!

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

April Makeup Looks

 Hey Y'all!

There aren't a ton here, but there are some. All of this month I only used the Alice in Wonderland, or Scooby Doo Collection(s)...

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

So, I'm averaging about once a week. Not the worst, but not the best either.

 My goal for May is going to be twice a week. 

What are some of your favorite makeup products? Let me know in the comment below! Bonus points if it's a good moisturizer, the wind here is very drying.

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife 

New Crafts To Try

 Hey Y'all!

Excited to try something new? Me too...

Let's discuss a few options!

New craft ideas include exploring trends like resin art, candle painting, and fluid art bears. You can also consider upcycling clothes, creating paper flowers, or making tote bags. Other options include crocheting items, crafting with yarn, or engaging in pottery. 

Here are some specific craft ideas categorized:

Home Decor & Decor:

• Resin Art: Explore creating resin art with various colors and textures. 
• Candle Painting: Decorate candles with paint for a unique touch. 
• Paper Flowers: Create intricate paper flowers for decorations or gifts. 
• Tote Bags: Design and decorate tote bags for a stylish and practical craft. 
• Macrame: Try your hand at macrame for wall hangings, plant hangers, and other decorative items. 
• Yarn Weaving: Explore yarn weaving with kits for unique and artistic creations. 
• Painted Plant Pots: Customize plant pots with paint and designs for a personalized touch.
• Canvas Paintings: Create original artwork on canvas for a rewarding and expressive craft. 
• Textile Dyeing: Experiment with textile dyeing techniques for unique patterns and colors.
• 
  
• Personal & Practical:

Upcycling Clothes: Transform old clothes into new items, creating a sustainable and unique wardrobe. 
Craft Kits: Explore new crafts with pre-packaged kits that include all the materials. 
Crochet Items: Crochet items like scarves, hats, and blankets, and explore modern crochet styles.
Needle Felted Goods: Create needle-felted items like small figurines, art pieces, and other unique crafts.
Pottery: Try a pottery wheel workshop or create your own pottery designs.




Unique & Creative:

Fluid Art Bears: Explore the art of fluid art to create unique and abstract bear-shaped pieces. 
Wood Burning: Learn wood burning techniques for creating intricate designs on wood. 
Perfume Making: Experiment with different fragrances and ingredients to create your own unique perfumes.
Tufting: Explore the tufting technique for creating textured and vibrant rugs and mats. 
Disco Ball Art: Create stunning disco ball art with paint and other materials.

Consider your interests and skill level when choosing a craft. Many online resources and tutorials can guide you through various techniques.

Which are you most excited to try? Let me know in the comments below!!

I think tufting appeals to me most as something new to try, but given the space I have I think I'll stick to the crafts I'm currently doing.

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

Top 3: Camp Side Recipes

 Hey Y'all!

Let's talk food!

We both have found a new love for cooking, and trying new things. Here's our top 3 recipes right now!

I'm using the word recipe loosely and assuming you know the basics of cooking. 

1) Taco Salad

There's a lot of different taco salad recipes out there, but we don't like any dressing with ours so here's our ingredients list:

1lb Ground Beef (or Ground Turkey, whichever was cheaper)

1 Mild Taco Seasoning Pack

Lettuce (again whichever we have on hand)

16oz Black Beans

12oz Corn

Rice, sometimes, other times we omit it (Depends on how hungry we are, and what we have on hand.)

Tortilla Chips

Shredded Cheese, typically the taco or Mexican blend of the store brand

Avocado, or guacamole

Sour cream

Tomatoes

Salsa

Bell Pepper 

To start we brown the meat, then add the seasoning packet along with the beans and corn to the skillet (or grill it all up together on the Blackstone) and let that simmer while we cook the rice. Once both of those are done we  slice, chop, and assemble all the ingredients in our bowls and enjoy! 4-6 servings.

2) Buffalo Chicken Mac 'n Cheese

Neither of us loves anything too hot, so this recipe is perfect for us.

Ingredients:

Chicken Breast (1lb)

Pasta, we like either the shells or elbow mac (1 box/bag)

We, more often than not, cheat with the Velveeta cheese sauce packet or something similar. (We 1. Don't have a lot of space, and 2. Don't have a lot of refrigerator space.)

This Buffalo Sauce (2oz):

To put it all together: Cook your chicken and shred it up, cook your pasta, drain. Add chicken and pasta to same pot, add in cheese and buffalo sauce, stir. Dish out, and eat! We always have leftovers, so I'd say feeds 4 easily.

3) Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry

 

This one is a little different every time we make it. Sometimes we add more or less vegetables, different ones, etc. The carrots and broccoli are always there, as well as:

1lb Chicken 

Teriyaki Sauce (Which ever you like. We like a thicker sauce, not a marinade.)

Other potential ingredients:

Bok Choy

Cabbage

Brussel Sprouts

Onion

Cauliflower

Sesame Seeds

Etc

This one comes together pretty easy, we get our chicken all cooked up, then add some of the teriyaki sauce. We leave it alone while we: Cook those veggies, low and slow with a lid on the Blackstone, or in a skillet. Once they're done add them to the chicken with some more of that teriyaki sauce. Stir, serve, and eat. Sometimes we add rice, but usually we eat it as is and are plenty full. 

Do you have any favorite recipes? Share in the comments below!

When we can't cook?

We still enjoy trying out local cuisine, if we're somewhere that allows for that. We also keep a box of "it doesn't need cooked" foods on hand. We like the Tuna Smart Bowls from Startkist, and we almost always have the fixin's for some type of sandwich. 

Have a great day,

Craftin' Wife

Bonus, 3 more:

1) Breakfast Burritos

• Ingredients:
• 1 lb breakfast sausage
• 6 eggs
• Guacamole
• Salsa (2T ish, each)
• Sour Cream (1T each)
• 1 can (4 oz) Chopped Green Chiles, drained
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (8 oz)
•  Pepper to taste
• 4 (12-inch) flour tortillas
• Pretty simple. Start the sausage in your pan or on your griddle, when it's done add your eggs, pepper if you want to, when the eggs have started to cook well add the chiles. While that's doing it's thing warm your tortillas, either on the other side of your griddle or another pan. Trust me warm tortillas are better. Once those eggs are done add your cheese. Assemble however you like. Sometimes we add all the things to the tortilla, sometimes we just dip them. There's no wrong way to eat these.
• Feeds 2. 

2) Easy Mexican Chicken

Ingredients:

• 1 lb uncooked chicken breast strips for stir-fry (sometimes we cheat and get the precooked)
• 1 packet (1 oz) Taco Seasoning Mix
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained, rinsed
• 1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, undrained
• 1/4 cup water
• Cook up your chicken, add your beans, then add the corn. Sometimes we add to this with:
• Tomatoes, peppers, guacamole, salsa, sour cream, tortillas, cheese, rice, lettuce... Sometimes we add  nothing.
• We either eat as is, make a salad, or a wrap!
• Feeds 4-6 or so

3) Turkey Sandwich

Ingredients:

• 4 slices sourdough bread, 1/2 inch thick
• 8 large spinach leaves
• Dukes Mayo (2T)
• 1/2 lb sliced oven roasted turkey breast
• 1/4 cup chopped drained roasted red bell peppers  -Chris doesn't like them.
• We're going to assume you can make a sandwich without instruction. We included it because we've really been enjoying a turkey sandwich.
• Sometimes we add pickles, cheese, a different bread, etc. Sometimes we grill the bread, and/or turkey. Sometimes we put it all in a wrap. Do what you like!
• Feeds 2