DIY World Map on Canvas

Many of you have shown interest in creating a map for your home! Here is a step by step guide of what I did. Get creative and find what will work best for your space. Can't wait to see what you come up with! My inspiration came through walking the aisles of Walmart, seeing a 3 piece canvas with a rainbow colored world map on it, checking the ridiculous price, and saying to myself, "I could do that!" and then proceeding to find all the tools I would need and comparing the price. Such a fun and fulfilling project!

Step 1: Figure out where you would like to put your DIY world map and how many pieces of canvas you would like to use.

Step 2: Buy cheap canvas here or by searching the web for the style and price you want. I got 18" by 24" for my project.

Step 3: Decide on the color. I chose a classic black and white and love how it turned out! But really any color will do. I bought my paint here but of course it wasn't white, it was black. For some reason black only shows up in the smaller amount online. I didn't use the full 8 ounces but I am sure I will find ways to use the rest of it. You could buy 2 or 3 smaller ones and save money if you wish.

Step 4: Get yourselves some variety pack paintbrushes. Any kind will do. I got a small fine tip type brush to outline the maps, and then bigger brushes for filling in. Pretty straight forward.

Step 5: Find a picture you want to copy. My must haves were that it had to include Cape Verde and Fiji and every other island possible. We can't forget the little guys, they are important, too. And I wanted to make sure it would fit across 3 pieces of canvas. This is the picture I "copied." I used this one because of the grid in the background. I also scrolled through the different pictures on this website and took the bulk of my project from the picture that isn't split into 3. I didn't like that this particular 3 piece canvas map had South America on two different pieces.

Step 6: Use a tape measure or ruler to lightly pencil a grid onto each canvas. Sometimes I only drew the grid when things were especially tricky. And I didn't draw it in places that I knew I wouldn't need the guidance. For instance, to the left of South America and under North America. My first canvas grid matched the etsy shop grid perfectly and then the last two I had to do a slightly different measurement getting a bit bigger each time. The horizontal lines are all the exact same measurement, it's the vertical lines that get a tiny bit bigger over each canvas. Just be sure to remember that, especially if you end up using the 18" by 24" like I did.

Step 7: You know how they have those grids in coloring books that make you look like a better artist than you really are? That's the exact same idea here! Just go to town with your pencil (and eraser) sketching the world onto a blank canvas. It's so enjoyable! Even more so if you pair it with company, Netflix, music, Ted Talk, General Conference, etc. This part takes the longest. It took me nearly 3 weeks of half-heartedly working on it during nap time. The important part is to have fun and be creative!

Step 8: Trace over your sketch with paint! Save yourself some time and fill in the islands and little crevasses with the little brush as you trace otherwise you'll have to do that later when you're filling in with the bigger paintbrush.

Step 9: Fill it in. I debated for a while on filling it in or leaving it outlined. I love what I decided on. I also love the etsy shop look from the original link above.

Step 10: Hang it up in your beautiful space. Take a picture and share it with us! And now enjoy seeing something you created.

Let me know what questions you have. I tried to leave a lot of freedom and creativity up to you, so just let loose and be you.

Bruschetta Chicken Bake

Bruschetta Chicken Bake - Eric Griffin SHC

1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 pkg. (6 oz.) stuffing mix for chicken

1 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces 

1 t. basil

1 C. shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400. 

Place tomatoes with liquid in medium bowl. 

Add garlic and stuffing mix and 1/2 cup water; stir just until stuffing mix is moistened. Set aside. 

Place chicken in 9x13 inch baking dish; sprinkle with basil and cheese. 

Top with stuffing mixture. Bake 30 min or until chicken is cooked through.

Aloha Banana Cake

Aloha Banana Cake - Mom

Bake 350 degrees for 30 min

Mix in order:

1/2 C. butter

1 1/2 C. sugar

2 eggs

1 C. milk + 2 t. vinegar

1 t. vanilla

1 C. mashed bananas

2 C. flour

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

Top with:

3/4 C. brown sugar

1/2 C. chopped nuts

1/2 C. chocolate chips (throw these in so they sink into the middle/bottom)

Meatloaf

Meatloaf - Mom

2 eggs

3/4 C. milk

1/2 C. bread crumbs

1/2 onion

1 t. salt

1 1/2 lb ground beef

1 C. ketchup

2 T. mustard

2 T. brown sugar

350 degrees for 50 min

Combine eggs/milk

Stir in crumbs, onion, salt, and 1/8 t pepper

Add beef; mix well

Pat into pan and put in the oven

Spoon off fat

Put ketchup, mustard, sugar mix on top and bake 10 more min

No Bake - Gorilla Poop

No Bake - Gorilla Poop

1 C. milk

1/2 C. cocoa

4 C. sugar

Bring to a boil and boil only 1 minute, REMOVE from heat

1 C. peanut butter

1 cube butter

1 t. vanilla

Stir into hot mixture until all melted then add:

5 C. oats

White Spinach Lasagna

White Spinach Lasagna - Kelyn

Preheat oven to 375 bake 30 min or until cheese is melted/golden

Sauce:

2 C. low-fat milk

1/3 C. (3 0z) cream cheese

2-3 T. flour

1 t. salt

1 T. butter

3 garlic cloves (3/4 t. garlic powder)

1 C. grated parmesan cheese

Put milk, cream cheese, flour, and salt in blender until smooth. In a saucepan melt butter (med-high) then add garlic and sauté 30 seconds. Add milk mixture to the saucepan stirring constantly for 3-4 minutes or until simmer or desired thickness. Remove from heat and add cheese, stir, cover, and let stand for 10 minutes.

Spinach Mix:

12-16 lasagna noodles, cooked

2 T. butter

3 carrots

1/2 head cauliflower

1/2 yellow onion

1/2 bag of spinach sliced up

16 oz cottage cheese small curd

4 C. mozzarella cheese

Use a ninja chopper to dice the carrots, cauliflower and spinach. Sauté butter, carrots, cauliflower, onion until tender then add spinach and cook for about 1-2 minutes. Layer in 9x13 pan enough sauce to cover the pan-roughly 1/4, noodles, 1/4 sauce-enough to just cover the noodles, 1/2 spinach mix, mozzarella cheese-personal preference-roughly 1 and 1/4  cup per layer, noodles, 1/4 sauce-again, just enough to just cover the noodles, last 1/2 of spinach mix, mozzarella cheese, all of the cottage cheese, noodles, rest of the sauce, mozzarella cheese.

Pancakes

Pancakes - Cara Vance

3 C. flour

2 T. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

2 T. sugar

Blend

2 1/2 C. milk

2 eggs

6 T. oil or melted butter

Banana Bread

Banana Bread - Used on my mission

1/2 C. butter

1 C. white sugar

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla extract

1 1/2 C. flour

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1/2 C. sour cream

1/2 C. chopped walnuts (optional)

1 C. of mashed bananas (2)

(You might want to try these little differences: Cream softened butter with the sugar (not melted).

Add 1 t. lemon juice with the vanilla and use 1 t. each of baking soda and baking powder and 1-3/4 C. flour)

Preheat oven to 350 

Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan

In a large bowl, stir together butter and sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla, mix well. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt, stir into the butter mixture until smooth. Finally, fold in the sour cream, walnuts, and bananas. Spread evenly into prepared pan.

Bake at 350 for 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of the loan comes out clean. Cool loaf in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely

Spaghetti

Spaghetti Sauce - Abi Lentine SHC

1 med onion

3-4 garlic cloves, minced

28 oz can diced tomatoes

12 oz can tomato paste

30 oz can tomato sauce 

2 C. water (for a long period of simmering for flavors to meld. If you don't want to simmer it as long, add less)

3 t. basil

2 t. dried parsley flakes

1 1/2 t. brown sugar

1 t. salt

1/4-1/2 t. crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 t. fresh coarse ground black pepper

1/4 C. red wine [optional]

In large heavy stockpot add a little virgin olive oil add onions and continue to cook, stirring occasionally until onions are softened.

Add garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce and water. 

Add basil, parsley, brown sugar, salt, crushed red pepper, and black pepper. 

Stir well and barely bring to a boil.

Stir in red wine.

Simmer on low stirring frequently for at least an hour. A longer simmer makes for a better sauce, just be careful not to let it burn!

Homemade Meatballs

2 lbs groud beef (leaner the better)

2 T. garlic minced

2 eggs, beaten

4 t. Worcestershire sauce

1 C. italian breadcrumbs

1 C. dry parmesan cheese

1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. pepper

garlic salt to taste

thyme to taste

lemon or orange zest to taste

Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix them together thoroughly with your hands

Scoop out about 1 T. worth of meatball mixture and squeeze it several times to pack tightly

Roll the mixture between the palms of your hands to form a 1 1/2 meatball

Arrange each meatball on a baking sheet

Bake the meatballs at 425 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Turn halfway through for all-around crispy exterior

Once cooked, remove from oven and place on cooling rack

Allow the meatballs to cool down before trying to pick them up or they will break apart

Enjoy and stuff your face!!!

Poppy Seed Chicken

Poppy Seed Chicken - Mom

4 chicken breast, boiled and cut up

1 can cream of chicken soup

8 oz. sour cream

1 t. poppy seeds

1 stick butter, melted

1 tube Ritz crackers, smashed to crumbs

Mix soup and sour cream and poppy seeds. Add chicken. Place in casserole dish.

Pour melted butter over chicken and sprinkle crumbs over the top.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes

Cornbread

Cornbread - Mom

350 for 40 min.

1 1/2 C. flour

2/3 C. sugar

1/2 C. cornmeal

1 T. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

1 1/2 C. milk

2 eggs beat up

1/3 C. vegetable oil

3 T. melted butter 

Ginger Snap Cookies

Ginger Snap Cookies - Cara Vance

350 for 8 min
1 1/2 C. shortening

2 C. sugar

2 eggs

1/2 C. molasses 

Mix these together and then add:

4 C. flour

2 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

2 t. cinnamon

2 t. ginger

Mix then roll in balls, drop in sugar. Flatten on cookie sheet.

My Love

Levi's birthday is the same month as Valentines day and I usually like to do something really special for him. This month got crazy because we took a spontaneous trip to Rexburg to meet future in-laws and on our way home we all got crazy sick. So with the stress of traveling and sickness I dropped the ball a little. Okay a lot. I felt so bad that I would tell Levi time and time again that I didn't have any plans so that he wouldn't feel bad when there was nothing planned. Luckily his birthday was still a success because we were in Kaysville with his family and they had cake and ice cream, family, and a nerf war! All of which I tried my best to be a part of, but with my sickness hitting me full force it was tough...not to mention a sick and tired baby and being tight on money from traveling.

Despite all of this Levi was happy and thankful.

Come Valentines day I knew there wasn't much to expect and we both had very busy days. Plus I am one of those people that doesn't think it's totally necessary to do some huge extravagant thing on V-day. So Levi leaves to go to mutual and I am at home watching a show on Netflix just totally content with life. Well Levi gets home and is acting sort of weird. He kissed me quick and then rushed to the bedroom where he said he was changing his clothes...he rarely does that. So I keep watching my show thinking nothing of it. Then he comes out to the living room and starts asking me random questions while sneaking around the kitchen with his hands behind is back. Well he finally runs over to me and places a sticky note heart on the computer that says:

I look at Levi and he gives me a sheepish grin, one you might see from a child who just did something very pleasing to you that may reward them with a high five or happy clap. Levi then urges me to hurry and go look at the other hearts that he had been sneakily placing in the kitchen and in the bedroom. This is what I found:

Isn't he so great? If you don't agree, let me explain: he knows me so well that he did something meaningful yet cheap, he didn't just buy me a dozen roses and waste our money, he had thought all day long about different things he loves about me. My heart swelled up with joy with each heart I read and sometimes I even laughed out loud. I seriously lucked out with such a catch as Levi. I must've done something right somewhere in my life to have deserved him. I love him! Also throughout the week I would find more hearts hidden in cupboards or drawers and it brought so much light to my life!

Now for the mushy gushy stuff, here is what each heart said. This is mostly just for me to look back on later in life. Feel free to move on with your day and stop reading....seriously though.


Alyssa my love, I love...

--> When you sing
--> How you cook
--> When you play the piano
--> That you indulge my tiny house obsessions
--> How you sing
--> That you put off your dreams for mine
--> That you are a big part of me being my true self
--> Your smile
--> How you parent
--> When you say nice things to me
--> That you are so excited to go to Philly!
--> How you sell stuff
--> That you always get up with the baby. It means more than you know.
--> Your body
--> That you served a mission
--> That you dress up with me
--> That you love BANG! and Catan
--> You can heal hearts and souls
--> That you love God more than you love me
--> Your testimony
--> That you love Avatar!
--> That you know how to weather my dark time
--> That you wear Nonnie's legacy on your finger
--> You are a natural Myson
--> The May 4th party
--> You are so hospitable
--> That the temple is such a priority to you
--> Your laugh
--> Watching Human Planet, Flash, Last Ship, POI, Avatar and others with you
--> How you decorate our home
--> That you are so low maintenance
--> That you are smart
--> That you're a pioneer woman!
--> Your eyes
--> Your patience with me not laughing when I think it's funny but am too serious
--> You care about the one
--> How pretty you are
--> That you follow the prophet
--> That you laughed when the swing hit you in the head
--> You rock climb!
--> You teach me how to truly forgive
--> You help me honor my priesthood
--> That you love me (dare I say it) more than ice cream!
--> That you are so frugal
--> Your bum
--> That you wanted a calculator watch and then let me wear it
--> That you love animals, especially dogs
--> How you say my name
--> You are such a good (and efficient) driver
--> That you like to make things too!
--> Your thirst for adventure
--> You share everything you have so freely
--> Ice skating with you
--> That you delivered our child to us
--> Not only are you willing, but planning on going all over the world with me

Men take note of this, and especially take note of the humility and pure love. Women take note of this, and understand that if your husband has ever done something to this effect that he is basically giving you a manual of how to be more lovable. But also take note that he is aware! He is aware of all of the wonderful things you are doing. He cares, and he loves you.

Family Changes

There are some exciting changes happening in our family come May 2017. No, it's not another baby. It's a move across the country! Levi was accepted into PA school at Arcadia University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We are going to be living our dreams to live on the east coast! (Yes, we both have had that dream for years...prior to us meeting...it's literally on my bucket list I made as a high school senior.) But as part of the dream, and as is our reality, we will move close to family as soon as our adventure in Philadelphia comes to an end.

The decision to go to Philadelphia was very clear at first, but when Levi got accepted to a brand new PA school in Provo the decision wasn't so cut and dry anymore. Suddenly we were choosing between an option every one seemed to want for us, or something we wanted for our family. After many prayers and some fasting, we both knew we would regret choosing Provo over Philadelphia. So here is to becoming a PA in PA. We can't wait!!

Sending Levi off to Philadelphia:

I am so proud of Levi and his hard work to be a great applicant. He defied the odds and got accepted into the first school he interviewed with, only to get accepted to the second one too. He sure knows how to make us proud! The day we got the acceptance letter was a bit hectic:

Levi had asked me not to get the mail because we knew his letter would be coming. Well, I was too anxious and I had nothing else to do, so with baby in my arms, I got the mail. And I found this envelope:

I immediately send Levi a picture and then have to hurry off to go visit teach. All the while thinking, "They wouldn't send us an envelope that big just to reject us," not to mention on the back there was a peaceful picture of a man in nature that said, "Your journey begins here." Needless to say my hopes were very high! Well turns out Levi got to leave work early so he could open the letter and I wasn't home when he got here because I was still visiting teaching. So I rush home as soon as I realize he is there and we try to get family on the phone so that they can hear. (Yes, it totally felt like a mission call.) But no one answered so we opened it just Levi and I.

"Dear Levi:

Congratulations! [insert joy, cheering, clapping, and all things happy here] It is our pleasure to offer you acceptance for admission to the Physician Assistant Program in Glenside, PA for the class entering May, 2017."

We were so excited and felt like we really had been called to our "new mission." We had about 2 weeks to completely accept this offer and it was monumental because of how expensive it is. So of course we had to document the moment where we officially accepted Arcadia University as our home...Here is Levi putting the acceptance letter in the mail!

So here is to our upcoming adventure! Thanks to family and friends for all your support and encouragement in this process, we couldn't have done it without you.

A few pictures from when Levi was in Philadelphia/touring Arcadia University:

The brand new temple! The open house ended just a few days before Levi's interview. While he sat on the temple grounds in his shirt and tie, someone came up to him and asked if he was there to help clean the temple. He responded, "No I am not, but I do have my recommend in my pocket if you guys would like some help!" The man declined his help. How cool would that have been though?