Another Printable Teacher Card

Another cute teacher card! Go check out Cut and Create for these cute little Apple tags!

One more Teacher Appreciation Idea

Have you ever hear of Bake it at 350? Such a cute sight! My friend Shelley turned me onto it and it is full of awesome goodies and ideas! It makes me hungry just thinking about it! We are going to make these next week! They have the toppers as a free download!

Teacher Appreciation Week Gifts and Ideas

The first full week of May is Teacher Appreciation Week! Teacher appreciation day is May 4th. I don't think that limiting your appreciation should be stopped at teachers, but should include the faculty at the school. The principal, the office ladies, the school counselor! Anyone who helps to ensure that your child has a healthy educational experience. That doesn't mean go crazy! Here are some fun, easy and cheap ideas I've gathered for this years appreciation week!
Sometimes it's as simple as writing a heart felt, thank you note! I know that when I feel appreciatied, it makes a big difference in my day. Cottage Industrialist has this cute and free printable apple card available on their site. Print this off, add a little note and maybe a gift card to Barnes and Noble.

No Fuss Fabulous, had this great idea! Make a pencil bouquet and give this cute and free printable card to your teacher! They also have a darling, Smore basket with a free down loadable card! Darling stuff!

Parties by Hardie has this cute little wreath and a few other great ideas!

Skip to My Lou has a huge list, of easy things that you could throw together this weekend. Also in this post, you can find some fun printable ideas. I love free printables. Always makes things so much easier!

How Does She has a great little list, with a free printable card.

Tip Junkie, has a big list of teacher gifts. And these right here, are what I will be doing for my teachers and administrators! Go check out this post, from Eighteen25, (which is my new favorite blog, by the way) and get some easy, easy ideas that you can put together this weekend and that won't cost you a fortune! I love these, because you could use them for a huge variety of events. For primary teachers, for visiting-teachers and friends. You name it. Lot's of great ideas!

Oh Baby Centerpiece

I got the idea for this little jem at Real Parties. I took the idea and made it my own. This was a fairly inexpensive little project. I got the letters at Joannes for $1.29. Then my sister-in-law, Kris and Mandee and I got together and modge podged the letters with cute paper.

Now, I have to say, I wanted to make this in fun pastel prints so it would match the shower. But the mommy-to-be is a Mickey Mouse addict and her nursery is in Mickey Mouse. So Mandee suggested making it as a gift, so she could put it in the baby's room! Great idea! And that is the explanation for the dark colors!

I should have taken pictures of each step. Sorry! I used a 2x4 for the base and cut it 1 and 1/2 feet long. Then I sanded it a little bit. I cut the dowels, and I didn't measure them. I just cut 3 of each. Then I used a 1/4 inch drill bit to drill the holes. I laid each of the letters out and marked where I wanted to put each hole.

When you finish with that, put our dowels in and use a hammer to get a tight fit. Then I painted everything black and dry brushed a layer of red over the top of the base. I just used hot glue to attach the letters.

Super cute!!

Pinwheel Centerpieces

Our theme for this baby shower was spring.

Lot's of pastel colors,flowers and pinwheels.

Look closely at the table, there are tons of little 2 inch pinwheels on the table.

We had planned on making these for napkin rings,

but we ran out of time, so we just scattered them on the table.

It looked really cute.

The tins were empty Stephen's Cocoa Honeyville Farms smoothie mix cans.

We just modge podged coordinating paper to the tins.

So cute and easy!

To make the little pinwheels we cut the paper to 2 inch squares.

Then simply cut the four corners in at about 1 inch deep.

Then you fold the four corners down and glue them.

We used buttons to put at the center.

The big pinwheel is a 6 inch square.

We attached flat thumbtacks to the back.

We painted regular #2 pencils, for the stick.

Stick your thumbtack in the eraser and your done!

They are functional and spin.

Add some craft foam in the bottom of the tins

and top that with some shredded paper!!

These could be used for a variety of things.

Heck, my kids love pinwheels.

It's a great afternoon craft!

I'm Linking Up

I linked up one of my fun projects. Go check out some great ideas from lot's of other talented ladies!

Oh, and just wait until next week! I've got a big baby shower today and I didn't want to post pictures of the darling things that have been made, because I didn't want the mommy-to-be to see them! There is some good stuff! See you next week!

Pudding and Cool whip Pops

Pudding Pops:

Mix 1 small box of pudding with 2 cups of milk. . Put a small scoop into a small cup. Add a scoop of cool whip on top of that and then top with more pudding. Insert Popsicle sticks and freeze.

To eat, pull out of freezer and run warm water around the cup to release the pop from the paper cup.

We also make these and use our morning smoothies to make a healthy afternoon treat. The kids love the soft layer of cool-whip in the middle of the pop.

5 Daily Reads

Pudding Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are the best cookies. So soft and sweet. I've had this recipe in my binder for years. I copied it down out of an old cook book that a friend of mine had.

Pudding Mix Cookies:

1 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 box vanilla/butterscotch pudding
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2& 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups chocolate chip (I do 1/2 choc. and 1/2 butterscotch)

Cream butter and sugars together. Add eggs and vanilla. Blend until well blened. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until well blened. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

Scrapbooker's dream sale!

**** This link has been fixed! Sorry!****

Go check out this blog! This is a St. George gal, who has decided to go digital with her scrapbooking and is selling all of her supplies and she even has a smokin' deal on a cricuit!! I actually bought a few things from her and went over today and picked them up. She has so much stuff! She is willing to ship and does take paypal, so it's worth going to check out. You defienlty won't be sorry!

DI Frame Extreme Makeover

This was pretty simple. I love this frame. I found at DI for $3.00.

I wasn't really digging the Avocado picture. So I popped out the canvas. Attempted to find some glass to fill in the frame. Which took me months, mind you. I eventually had my husband cut some down with this teeny tiny glass cutter we have.

I originally wanted to leave the frame white, because I thought it had a tone of character, but in the meantime I rearranged my living room and the white frame, just wasn't working for where I wanted it. So I sanded it down a bit, painted black over the top of it and then sanded it down to give it a vintage look.

I used some E-6000 (Walmart craft section), which is an industrial strength glue, to glue the glass into the frame. I had purchased my vinyl from Scribble It months ago and when it was all ready, simply laid the vinyl on and here is the finished product.

I am in love with it! I know the vinyl is on a bit crooked, my hubby reminds me often, but it has a lot of character. I am making something similar, but on a much larger scale from a sister-in-law. I love refurbishing DI treasures!

Take some time to go and check out Scribble It. I have bought vinyl from Cammi several times and have alway's been happy with it. I love, love, love the metal nativity, which I bought this past year! It's a great sight with lot's of fun ideas!

3-D Poppy Picture

Okay, so I made this using the Poppy's from yesterday! I think it's stinkin' cute. My husband thinks I'm a dork, but he totally helped me make it. He cut the dowel for me and even glued them into the frame. I told him I could do it, but he loves me and wants to help me with my wacky ideas!
There is no glass in the frame and it kinda pops off the wall. Hard to tell in a picture, since you can't make it 3 dimensional.

I just had the unfinished frame in my closet forever. I started this thinking about using it for a decoration for a spring baby shower, but I don't know that it is necessarily the direction we wanted to go. We have another idea for that, but I still finished it because I had started it.

What do you think?

No Sew Felt Poppy Clips - Tutorial

These are stinkin' cute! I have made poppies out of fabric before and had them turn out okay, but it was a complicated process with using a pattern and cutting them all out and it took forever. I made 3 of these in just under 20 minutes. They are that simple. I had a friend teach us how to make these at a Young Women's activity, but she had us sewing them together. I have made some like that, but using the glue gun is so much easier and they seem to hold up the same.

Your going to need 6 circles cut out of felt, all the same size. These are 2 inches in diameter. I used a pattern that I had already made for silk flowers. Which will be hopefully posted on here next week!

Your going to take a piece and fold it in half. You may want to put a dab of glue right in the center of that crease. I don't do that on every one, but sometimes they do unfold. Up to you!

Then fold it in half again and stick a dot of glue in the fold to hold the petal in place. You will have a triangle shape petal.

Take one of your pieces of felt and put a dot of glue and glue your petal on. Repeat this step with the other 3 circles. I like to do the first two petals right across from each other and then fill in the gaps with the other 2 petals.

This isn't a great picture, but this is what it will look like. If you have any edges sticking out, you will just want to trim them off. You can leave it just like this, or.......

Glue a cute button into the center. I love buttons! Place your last piece of felt in between the prongs of your hair clip. Smother the top of the felt with hot glue and attach it to the back of your flower.

This is seriously so easy and so cute! You can use them to embellish, purses, clothes, and just about anything you want. Tomorrow I am going to show you another use for them!

New Moon Cupcake Picks

I made these for a baby shower! That's right folks, a baby shower. My friend Shelley asked me to help her out and make some cupcakes for a baby shower she was throwing, the day that New Moon came out.
I think they turned out way cute! I only did Edward, because both Mommies-to-be were Edward fans.

I saw the idea to use forks as the picks somewhere online. I can't remember, but it was on several different sights. We cut about half the handle off the forks off so they wouldn't be so long. I got the silhouette graphic from Pin and Paper. Everything else I made using Lettering Delights products. It is seriously one of my favorite places to get fonts and I buy the graphic kits too, because they are super cute. (And they have lot's of freebies!!) I was able to get these during their dollar day's sale! I bought all of the Twilight fonts and the Edward and Jacob graphic sets. The twilight and Team Edward picks, I just made up with my fonts.

I used a 2 &3/4 inch punch to cut them out. Then I thought they were to plain, so I just took a red and black stamp pad and went crazy smudging the edges. I think my favorite one is the Volvo, that say's "stupid shiny Volvo owner,"

I also toyed around with just putting quotes on the picks, but it just didn't feel right. I seriously agonize over making things for other people. It gives me major anxiety, but I think they turned out pretty cool!!

Frame a Birdie

I have a birthday this week. A big one!! Well, I think it's big, it was big enough for Mandee to throw me a surprise party this weekend! And when I say party, I mean, sit down formal dinner, slide show and the whole 9-yards. It was amazing! And I happen to be the dumbest person ever on the face of the planet. There will be pictures to come, because she and my sister-in-law's put in so much work and it was beautiful! Had I known, I would have taken my camera, but being that it was surprise, no such luck so now I am waiting on pictures!

Anyway, back to my birthday. I went home last weekend and got a few presents early. My cute sister, Sherry, made this for me! She knows I love vintage birdies and silhouettes.

She got the idea off of this post on Eighteen 25. Instead of using scrapbook paper, she used material and felt. It is darling!! So bright and springy! My brother-in-law even got involved. He sketched the birdie for me! Thanks sis!!!

Foamerator

I saw this idea on Family Fun and had to try it. They call it the Foamerator. It was simple super to make! Simply cut the bottom off of a water bottle. Then attach a piece of towel to the bottom of the bottle and secure it with a rubber band. Dip the end in water, then into a shallow bowl filled with dish soap and then blow!!
My 2-year-old loved it.

The 11-year-old loved it.

The 7-year-old sucked the bubbles into his mouth somehow and proceeded to gag and choke for at least 10 minutes.

And the 5-year-old started a bubble fight. The kids had fun throwing the big suds on each other and smearing them everywhere. I would say they played with this for over an hour.

We kept our bottles so we can play with them again. It's definitely a fun summertime activity. Next time we will break out the sprinkler and the swimsuits before we suds up!

(Sugar Free) No Bake Cookies

I'm on a quest to compile a recipe book full of healthy cookies and goodies!!! Is that possible? I made these the other day and they were so good! They don't harden up the way a normal no bake cookie does. They are pretty soft, but so good! Just a bit crumbly.

I took my original recipe and played around a bit with the measurements. I got about 18 cookies out of this patch. The almonds were an after thought, just to make it a little bit healthier! For the most part, I think this is a pretty healthy cookie!!

Sugar Free No Bake Cookies

1/4 cup butter or margarine

2/3 cup Xgave, or could use 1/2 cup splenda brown sugar

1/4 cup milk

2 Tbsp. + 2 Tsp. cocoa powder
1/4 to 1/2 cup peanut butter, depending on taste
2 and 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup sliced almonds

Melt butter in a pan. Mix in Xagave, milk and cocoa. You will need to whisk it until the cocoa is blended and no lumps are in the sauce. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Take off burner and stir in peanut butter until smooth. Stir in oatmeal and almonds. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper and let cool.

Homemade French Fries & Secret Hamburger sauce

MMMMMMM! These were another Hoover's secret! Homemade, greasy french fries! Divine when dipped in the secret sandwhich sauce, which I am going to share with you today. It's so simple, it's unbelievable.

You need, Mustard, Mayo and pickle relish. I don't remember ever making it up with a recipe, it was just throw everything together and make it up until it tasted right. We would serve a thick layer of this on the bottom of the bun, a sprinkling of shredded lettuce, and then the meat. We made a mean bacon cheeseburger! Then top with the other half of the bun. No ketchup, just this famous hamburger sauce!

Homemade Chicken Fried Steak

When I was growing up, I worked as a waitress in this little cafe, Hoover's. It had been around since the 1920's and it was the coolest place to work. The secret to their success was homemade chicken fried steak and this to die for hamburger sauce! I will have to share that one of these day's. It was heavenly!

Anyway, I can't stand to order chicken fried steak at a restaurant because I hate those yucky frozen, deep-fried patties! GAG ME! But this, is one of those things I make when I am looking for comfort food. And they are pretty easy.

Cube Steak, enough for your family

eggs

bread crumbs, I use stuffing

seasonings and lot's of butter

Take your cube steak and tenderize it by pounding it out with a meat mallet. Take your eggs and whip them for an egg coating. Dip steak in egg and then cover in bread crumbs. Fry your steaks in a pan that is heavily coated in butter. Before you flip each steak, put more butter down or you will burn your steak.

Cook thoroughly and enjoy! Don't make this alot because it is defiently not healthy, but it's sure delicious!

Spaghetti & Meatball Cupcakes

I think these are pretty cute. My cute neighbor, Ashley, who is only 13 made them for a family party a few weeks ago. She brought a plate of them over to us and I thought it was such a cute idea.

They dyed the white frosting with yellow food coloring and some how cocoa powder was involved. Not sure on that detail. But you just take the frosting and swirl it all crazy over the top. Then you add spoonfuls of strawberry jam for your sauce. Top with a whopper and grate a little white chocolate on top for Parmesan cheese!

So cute. The girl's got talent!

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

Hmmm, these were tasty! A bit crumbly, but super yummy! I just came off another round of HCG and am looking for recipes to make. The kids wanted cookies on Sunday so I tried this recipe and of couse had to cheat and try a cookie! I want to try and make them with Splenda and see how they are. I guess I need to run to the store for some white sugar Splenda and try it. They were also very flat and they spread a bunch on the pan, but who cares if they are pretty as long as they taste good!

Flourless Peanut butter Cookies

1 cup all-natural chunky or smooth peanut butter
1 cup sugar (1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup granulated sugar)
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet with butter and set aside. In a mixer combine peanut butter and sugars until well combined, about 2 minutes. Add egg and baking soda and mix for another 2 minutes. Roll into walnut sized balls and create a cris-cross pattern with a fork. If Bake for 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool on a baking sheet for two minutes.

Recipe, via Joy of Baking

I Need other Mom's Advice

Okay, this will have to be quick. We are going out of town for the Easter weekend, but I have a parenting problem, that I'm not sure how to deal with.

My oldest is almost 8. He's a cute kid and a lot of fun. But he is super sensitive. About everything. He gets his feelings hurt very easily and he cries. Which, as a boy, gets him teased by his peers at school. It seems to be getting worse, although the boy is a closed book. I have to pry any information that I get out of him by force. And it usually results in tears. Mandee's little gal is in the same class and she has told Mandee that kids are really mean to J.D., because he howls like a wolf and he cries when kids don't want to play with him.

I'm at a loss of how to approach this. I've tried just talking to him, but it doesn't seem to be helping. It is getting worse. Every day is the worst day of his life. I can tell it's because he is feeling isolated. My husband just keeps telling him to grow up and stop crying and kids will play with him, but I don't think that is necessarily the right approach. It doesn't seem to be helping, anyway.

I think this is the hardest part of being a mother. The momma bear in me comes out and I just want to protect him, but I know this is something we have to work out together and he needs to take care of. Otherwise, it's going to get worse as he gets older.

I'm curious to all of you seasoned, and all of you who are fairly newbies like me, how would you handle this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!