crockpot cheesy potato soup

I just love crockpot meals! Lately I have been using it about twice a week. I just love being able to throw in all the ingredients in the morning and come 5:00 we have dinner ready to go! Plus, now that it is getting hotter out, it is nice not to heat up the kitchen using the oven.

This was my first experience making soup in the crockpot and it turned out wonderful!

Ingredients:
2 cups chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
4 large potatoes, peeled & cubed
1 small onion, diced
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/4 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp parsley
salt & pepper to taste
2 cups shredded cheese
crumbled bacon

Directions:
Place potatoes, onion, corn and spices in crockpot. Mix soup and broth together and pour over veggies and spices. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Using a potato masher, mash potatoes some and then stir in the cheese. Serve with crumbled bacon on top!

all {american} getaway...

Last week Little Bit, the Hubs and I piled in my parents van and took off with them and my sister and headed north to Minnesota. We were on our way to the Mall of America!!! Somehow we ended up with quite a few America's on this trip! Here are some highlights...

We took a quick detour on the way up and stopped in LeClaire, Iowa at Antique Archaeology.....home of the American Pickers show on the History Channel! We love this show and it was awesome to get to see the shop in person!

Back on the road and we were on to our next America stop....the Mall of America. I have been there twice before...and every time is a great experience! We always wear ourselves out but it is well worth it!!!

Next up....American Girl! This was Little Bits and my sisters 1st time experiencing an American Girl store. Little Bit just got an 18 inch doll for Easter {Target's Our Generation doll} and was excited to go to the Eva store....that is her doll's name. Both girls picked out shirts for their dolls.

On the way home we took a different route and saw a sign for the American Gothic House. It was a free museum that had costumes and pitchforks, so people could reenact the scene from the original painting. Of course the hubs and I had to do this!!!

What a fun American journey!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday ~ beef tortellini, salad, cheesy bread

Tuesday ~ crockpot pork chops, mashed potatoes, green beans

Wednesday ~ french toast, scrambled eggs, bananas

Thursday ~ ham & beans, cornbread, apple slices

Friday ~ honey teriyaki salmon, green beans, baked sweet potatoes

Linking up with Org Junkie...check them out for more recipes!

fabric rosette necklace...

I have seen these fabric rosette necklaces all over blogland! I especially love this green one from Allora Handmade. {note to self....add green fabric to Joann Fabric shopping list!} So I decided to try and make one myself...

I had bought some yellow fabric at Hobby Lobby a few months ago so I could make one of these necklaces. I think I got 1/4 yard for like 60 some cents! I found a necklace in my jewelry box that I wasn't wearing because it was too short and had some felt in my stash as well.

I cut my fabric and rolled the rosettes to the size I wanted. There are so many great tutorials out there. Here is a simple video that explains how to make the fabric flowers. Then you just glue your rosettes onto felt and attach your necklace with glue as well.

Tada!