What I Wish I Knew As A Young Mother

I was given the opportunity to share 5 things I Wish I Knew as a young mother along with a few other grandma bloggers! It was a wonderful time to reflect and share those things! If you would like to see my first 5 things as well as some more incredible tips from other grandmas, you can click on the button below to head over!

I would like  to share with you the rest of my thoughts and tips here:

When I was first contacted about this opportunity, I really wanted to share things that would be helpful and valuable lessons I learned. While thinking about this topic, two poems came to mind: The Little Chap Who Follows Me, and The Meanest Mother.

The Little Chap Who Follows Me poem describes the weight parents carry in helping children to grow up to be positive.

I thank God my parents guided me in many ways.

With The Meanest Mother, I knew some things but truly did not understand others.

Here are the rest of my tips and thoughts:

-Be patient: Guide your children to do what you have assigned.  Do not do it yourself because it is easier and you can get it done faster.  Do not take the easy way out.  I can definitely testify that our behavior will set the bar for them. Children are our future; we must teach them.

-Start and keep a Journal: Keep memories; Your children will be better writers and help them in school.  I cannot believe how much I have forgotten about the “old days”. Also have a trash journal, it will help you have a change of heart faster. 

-Take pictures: Keep track of who is in them and why.

 -Have a food/exercise plan. 

-Keep a food journal. Eat to live do not live to eat.

–Plan and stick to menus: You will have much less stress.

-Doing the right thing may not be noticed now “But it is worth it”.   It is the little things like patience and time that will help children grow up to have faith, to meet challenges, to be wise, to know consequences, and to have humor. 

-Remember to pray for help and guidance, pray for your children and with them. Pray often. 

This will most likely be an ongoing list. I hope that you will find a few or all of these tips helpful. 

Thank you for visiting!

Wise Men Still Seek Him Wooden Plate Tutorial

A few weeks ago, my daughter and I attended a blogger event. I instantly fell in love with their warehouse and store front. We were able to make a beautiful Make & Take and then were given $25 to spend in their warehouse on whatever we would like. That is where I got my Aloha sign and all of the supplies I used to make it. 

About a week ago, I received a package in the mail:

 Inside of my package I found:

A Wooden Plate

Adhesive

1 Sheet of Black Vinyl

Gold Vinyl

Red Sparkly Vinyl

Transfer Paper

Poinsettia Paper Flowers

2 sheets of double sided scrapbook paper

A note explaining the challenge. We were to create something using the contents of our package and anything else that we would like to add.

Here's what I came up with:

Or:

 

If you would like to make your own, here is a tutorial of how I created mine:

1. To start off I took an old Christmas card with one of my favorite images on it. If you would like this image for yourself, this is the artists website: http://www.portraitartistnc.com/GWsanta.html

2. I took a sheet of red glittered paper I had at home and had my Cameo cut it into a 9.8 inch circle. If you don't have a Cameo, you could trace a 9.8 inch circle or use a math compass. 

3. I then used the adhesive that was in my package to adhere my glittered sheet of paper to my plate. 

4. I found a doily pattern that I really liked and used the shape on the Cameo to cut out my green sheet of scrapbook paper. You could use a doily that would fit inside of your inner circle or another shape. I distressed the edges of my doily with a little bit of green distressing ink.

5. I cut my picture of Santa kneeling over the baby Jesus into a circle and adhered it to the inside of my doily. I put 2 coats of mod podge  over my picture in order to preserve it. As a finishing touch, I added a little bit of glitter to the trim of Santa's suit.

6. I cut out the letters to the saying: "Wise Men Still Seek Him" (another one of my favorites) in black vinyl and using transfer paper, I placed the vinyl onto my plate. 

7. I then shaped my paper poinsettia flowers and adhered a group of five of them on my plate. 

8. I used my Cameo and cut out 2 flourishes from my gold vinyl, one mirroring the other. 

I hope that you enjoyed my tutorial and that it was easy to follow. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Please remember: All recipes and tutorials are for personal use only. This post was originally posted on

My Take On Panadillas & My Grandmother's Dough with a Twist!

To start off I wanted to share with you some filling variations for the dough! 

You can make the dough and add just ham and cheese and bake with an egg wash.  The ham & cheese one is what my kids and grandkids call: The Bomb! And I agree with them, it's delicious!

For a dessert you can make the dough, add a pie filling, and drizzle it with a sugar glaze. Sometimes I just use sifted powder sugar or dip it into sugar.

If you don't have time to make dough for your panadillas,
I also have a couple speedier methods:

1. Use spring roll or egg roll skins and roll like egg rolls, you can fry or bake them.

2. Use flour tortillas just warm tortilla and add warm Panadilla filling.

Now, I would like to share with you my preferred way of making Panadillas, without further adieu:

My Recipe for Panadillas

Dough:

3 c. all purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

½ tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. baking soda

1/4 c. vegetable oil

1 c. warm water

DOUGH: combine all the dry ingredients in electric mixer, add all the wet ingredients. Mix for about 3 minutes until well combined. Dough will form.

Knead in mixer for another 5 minutes or knead on a board.  Let sit covered for 15 minutes or more. Roll and cut with Crisco lid into circles. Follow directions in Secunda’s recipe.

Filling for Panadilla or Panadas

2 pounds diced pork or ground beef

1 tsp. minced garlic

1 teaspoons salt

¼ teaspoon cayenne

½ teaspoon pepper

¾ cup onion, chopped

½ cup Cilantro-chopped fine

2-8oz. Tomatoes sauce

Directions:

If using ground beef cook and drain, add other ingredients and on medium heat bring to a boil; next let simmer uncovered for 1/2 hour.  Meanwhile, prepare dough. When done simmering let it cool and set a side.

If using pork places all ingredients into a pot on medium heat bring to a boil; next let simmer uncovered for 45 minutes.  Meanwhile, prepare dough. When done simmering let it cool and set a side.

See Secunda's Recipe for frying directions.

If you do not want to fry your Panadillas, you can try baking them.   

Preheat the oven to 425°.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  After dough is filled and sealed, spray one side with a cooking spray and brush the top of the dough with an egg wash. An egg wash is an egg beaten with a little bit of water.

Bake for 12-18 minutes, until golden brown. 

 I hope you enjoy the recipe. It is a family favorite! If you have an questions, please feel free to leave a comment and I will reply!

 Please remember, all recipes and tutorials are for personal use only. This was originally posted by Ninja Grandma.

Panadillas-Puerto Rican Recipe

There is so much in putting this blog together.  I don’t know where to start.  For years this have been on my back burner.  Jessica said she would help.  How can I begin to tell of the years of cooking and creating with my mom and grandmother? They were both great bakers. I know my mom and grandmother would love to have their traditions passed on.  I love my family and extended family.  I pray for joy, light, peace, health, and happiness in your homes and lives.

 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. I will respond. 

 Grandma Secunda Carvalho Ramos' Panadilla Recipe. 

A few weeks ago I found her recipe when I was emptying a box.  I am trying to get my life in order and work on the blog faithfully again.  I have had family and friends ask me to type my recipes and share some of my crafty ideas. 

Panadilla from the Kitchen of Secunda

Ingredients for the filling:

2 pounds cubed pork or ground beef 

1 large onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup chopped fine Cilantro

2 eight oz. cans of tomato sauce

(please note, in the picture we have green onions, we have decided to omit them from the recipe.)

Ingredients for the dough:

4 cups flour
½ cup Crisco
1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon baking powder

1 cup water give or take *

*Liquids:  For a tender crust, you want just enough liquid to moisten the flour without drenching it. Water should be added gradually to the dry ingredients and not all at once.

Altitude and weather also affects your dough.  I sometimes use 1 ½ cups water or 1 cup and 3 tablespoons.  

Filling Preparation:

If using ground beef cook and drain, add other ingredients and on medium heat bring to a boil; next let simmer uncovered for 1/2 hour.  Set aside and let it cool.

 If using pork places all ingredients into a pot on medium heat bring to a boil; next let simmer uncovered for 45 minutes.  Meanwhile, prepare dough. When done simmering let it cool and set a side.

 Panadilla Dough Preparation:

Sift flour, salt and baking powder. Cut in Crisco and add water gradually. 

 This is the consistency you want your dough to be:

Place the dough on a floured counter top.

Roll the dough out into a 1/8 inch thick layer.

 Cut the dough into circles with round cookie cutters, can or Crisco lid:

 Remove the excess dough from the cut out circle:

 

Place about 1 & 1/2 tablespoons of your filling of choice in the center of the dough:

 Dab one half of the dough with water, now carefully fold over the dough with contents into a semicircle:

Crimp down the edges with a fork, or fold over and pinch closed:  

If you prefer you can also use a dough press, you will still need to dab water around one half and fold over and press carefully:

Remember to remove the dough from the pressed Panadillas also:

These are what your prepped panadillas will look like. The one in the back was sealed with a fork, the center was sealed by rolling the edges and pinching and the front is sealed using the dough press. Depending on which method you use is how your panadilla will look. But all of them will be just as good!

Fry in deep oil until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and serve warm.

Panadillas can be reheated in a microwave. 

My recipe is a little different from this one and I will post it soon.

 

I have typed this recipe in good faith, it is the best my mind can remember.  So, enjoy and change anything according to your personal tastes. 

This is a family recipe that we enjoy for every Holiday or Special event.

Here's a couple of pictures of me and my husband rolling out the Panadilla dough:

Take a Look

Have you seen my youngest daughter's latest creation? 

 You can find the tutorial on her blog: Cox's Corner!

Aloha Wooden Word Art

I just wanted to share a sneak peek of another tutorial I am working on to share with you all soon.

If you'd like to make your own, you can head over to Oh My Crafts and it is on sale right now for $9.00! That's a great deal. 

Thank you for stopping by.

A Tradition I Hope Never Dies

A tradition I love and hope wont get lost is when the children leave the house they ask for a blessing. We use the short cut - they would say cion mommy, daddy, grandma (Tutu), grandpa, auntie and uncle what relative would be around. The adult would reply God Bless You. Also related to this - Compadres were adults who are chosen to become part of the family and participate in religious rites. The padrinos (godparents) of the child and the child's parents are the compadres. The children ask the blessing, "la
benedicion" and padrinos reply "Dios te bendiga" (may God bless you).

It is a beautiful tradition I hope to pass down to my children and grandchildren.

Creative Storage Ideas with Ikea

Aloha friends,

I few weeks ago I had the honor to attend my first blogger event with my daughter, Jessica. I was so impressed by the community that the bloggers had with each-other. They really support one another and help each-other grow.

Ikea hosted and sponsored the event. They invited the bloggers with their children and provided us all with a free breakfast. I was really impressed!

Then after breakfast they gave each of us a mini shopping spree.

I needed some storage/organization solutions for some of my crafting supplies so I went that route! Of course, Ikea is amazing and you are able to take anything and they have there and personalize it. I bought a few of their Drona Boxes and some of their Kassett Boxes and  decided to personalize them! I also couldn't pass up these adorable owl hat type boxes. 

Here's what I came up with:

These bins were so easy to personalize! I just printed some triangles as a template on my computer and printed them on scrapbook paper.  Next, I cut them out and added letters to the triangles.  Then I laminated them, cut them out again, punched a hole in each corner. Threaded Ric-Rac through the holes and hung them on my bins using straight pins. I chose straight pins so they would be easy to switch out. You could easily use glue dots or a glue gun if you're looking for a more permanent solution.

It was so much fun to attend the Ikea event and to see how many new items they have that makes it easy to personalize Ikea to your home!

Panadillas Tutorial Coming Soon!

 Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that I have a new tutorial that will be coming soon! 

Huge Summer Sale Info!

I'm not sure if all of you know this...but I LOVE a good sale, especially a good crafting supply sale. I got wind of this through my daughter and I just wanted to share it with you! 

Oh My Crafts is an awesome warehouse filled with all sorts of different crafting supplies! THIS weekend they are having a HUGE sale! 

Here is the information for you:

How cool is that?! If you're in the Utah County Area you should totally check it out! I know I am!!!! 

The address is: Oh My Crafts Warehouse

1499 West 105 North

   Orem, Utah

   801.785.9091

If you want to check out their website all you have to do is click here.

They also have a NEW Crafters magazine that Sweet Life STUDIOS is launching the first week in September! I LOVE a good read! 

You should really check them out, AND if you're looking for inspiration ideas you can check out their pinterest boards:

Oh My Crafts and  Simply The Sweet Life 

OR their facebook pages: 

Oh My Crafts and  Simply The Sweet Life

I'll be there tomorrow so I hope to see you there!

The Story of Ninja Grandma

When we were living in California we would get to watch my some of my grandbabies (now they are a lot older) for about a week or so while my son would attend a work related conference. I love to spoil and take care of my grandchildren. 

We would do all sorts of fun activities. We would craft, cook and shop. 

And sometimes we would have to do not so fun activities...like taking a time out if a grandbaby was misbehaving a lot. I am a grandma so it really had to be bad if we had to have a time out. My grandchildren were shocked with how well I was able to take care of a misbehavior situation, in awe...I am told that one of them whispered to the other...

"She's like a ninja..."

My Ninja Grandma nickname was born. I didn't know about it until several months later when one of my children let me in on the nickname/story. My oldest daughter even set up this domain for me years ago, just in case I ever started blogging...

So here I am, Ninja Grandma, ready to share all of my Ninja knowledge with you. :) 

Mahalo,