Spring Pom-Pom Wreath {handmade wares}

Welcome to my new followers! So happy to have you here and I hope you enjoy following along on my journey!

I loved my peppermint wreath so much that I decided to make one for the spring and summer using my favorite bright colors.


This one is smaller because I'm pretty sure the peppermint one has over 300 pom-poms on it. I did not want to invest that much time into this one! This one has about 90. Drastically less time:) And more sanity.

The coral, yellow, blue, and green look great together and show up nicely from the road.

To make one for yourself: make about 90 - 100 pom-poms with extra string on each end. Simply tie the pom-poms around a Styrofoam wreath in whatever pattern suites you. Hang with ribbon. You're done!


*Update: I've been featured!


Linking up:

Spicy Black Bean & Chicken Soup {tasty thursday}

I've got an easy-peasy crock-pot soup for y'all today! It's healthy and delicious as well, so a win-win for everyone.

What you need:

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1 16 oz package frozen mixed veggies
• 1 16 oz can salsa - i used chiptotle & black bean
• 16 oz Chicken stock
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 3 tbsp diced jalepenos
• pinch chili powder
• pinch black pepper
• pinch of salt
• 3 cans black beans, drained

What you do:
Place everything but the black beans in the crock-pot, stir, and cook on low for 6-7 hours. I place the chicken on top of everything else and just leave it for the 8 hours.

Shred the chicken, stir, and add the black beans. You can taste as this point to see if you need additional salt, pepper, or cumin. Cook on low for another hour so the beans will soften.

Stir and serve! This is excellent served with Trader Joe's cornbread:) Enjoy!

Messenger Bag {handmade wares}

My first messenger bag y'all!

A little birdie told me that I should make a messenger bag since they are filtrating the spring fashion lines. I typically make my first sample in fabric I love because I like to test the design out for a week or so.

This turned out great on the first try! It's a great size - about 14" by 12". I did not put a snap closure on the sample (I will update that on the next go-round), but I've found that the flap is long enough to keep the bag closed.

I added pockets to each side for the little things you don't want to get lost in the shuffle.

Overall, I loved the way it turned out! You're sure to see more of these in the future.

Linking up!

BBQ Chicken {Tasty Thursday}

Welcome to all my new followers! So happy to have you here!

Y'all, this chicken is seriously the best, hands down. It's my grandmother's recipe. Its got the perfect amount of spice, the perfect amount of vinegar, and just the right amount of awesome.

Here's what you need:

• 1 cup brown vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 6 tbsp white sugar
• 6 tbsp brown sugar
• 3 tbsp ketchup
• 1/2 tbsp mustard
• 2 slices finely chopped onion
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 3 slices lemon
• 1 tsp red pepper
• Chicken ( I use all white meat, sometimes bone in, sometimes not, sometimes skinless - my grandmother uses whole chicken with skin on and bone in - so whatever floats your boat! one is cheaper and one is healthier)

What you do:

Salt and pepper the chicken. Broil of grill until the outside in just golden brown. (It will cook the rest of the way in the sauce.)

Mix all the sauce ingredients in a sauce pan.

Boil for 15 minutes.

Add the chicken and simmer for at least 30 minutes. It will start looking awesome and delicious like this. The longer you simmer, the chicken will start to fall apart and the sauce gets in every little piece - just how I like it!



It's done after the 30 minutes, so just let it simmer until you are ready to eat. It is particularly tasty served over white rice.

Enjoy! Super Yum!

Color Inspirations

Have you see Pantone's fall fashion color palette? It's quite refreshing, right?

I'm excited to use both the deep teal and the emberglow in my designs for the fall. A deep teal messenger back would be just gorgeous I do believe. I can see my home decor designs focused in the orchid hush with pops of bamboo and phlox. Oh, the beauty!

For those of us who are still just hopefully waiting for spring, here's a link to the Top Fashion Colors for spring 2011 on Pantone. Of course I love the silver cloud! It's a close second between the honeysuckle, peapod, and blue Curacao for me. But I'm a spring/summer girl at heart so I naturally gravitate towards these colors:)

Have a happy CREATIVE Wednesday!

I will be blog hopping today I'm sure:) See you out there!

Recipe List {home decor}

I've been adding lots of stuff to the kitchen lately, it seems! This was actually my husband's idea. Well, not the cute frame and design, but the list itself was. I'm always asking him what he wants to eat that week and he always says "the usual stuff". Since I typically make a lot of different things that is not really an answer. Last week, he told me that I should make a list of options that he can choose from. So, that's exactly what I did!



I left room on the left side to add new recipes and we try and both like. The idea is that he can circle what he wants each week with a dry erase marker. It will help me make my grocery list and not have to make the decisions each week.


(you can see my cabinets reflected in this pic!)



I used fabric for the background and simply taped a printed recipe list list to the backing so that I can easily change it as we update our list. I hung it in the kitchen - both a great decoration and useful!

Happy Birthday to Me!

It's my birthday! I'm taking the weekend off to be with the best of friends - all of whom I have missed so much lately. We're going to a winery during the day and who knows what else is to come!

See y'all Tuesday!

Ribbon Flower Pillow {handmade wares}

I've got a new pillow design to show you! An updated version from the flowers of last summer. This ribbon pillow is a little more time consuming since you have to keep twisting the ribbon.



Overall, I love the way in turned out. Yellow and purple ribbon on gray and white fabric with a matching gray and white puff flower in the center. Finished with a oversized black pearl button.





I used a matching striped fabric on the back side for added interest.





Available for purchase! $40 for these because of the time to do the ribbon. Send your custom color requests to marian@perfectchancememories.com.

I've been featured! So honored:)


I really enjoy these link ups! So fun meeting everyone!