I hate cooking!! Sometimes I like to bake, but cooking is my enemy! I envy women who like to cook. I’ve tried to like it, but I can’t! (Which is what my 3 yr old says about yogurt with fruit in it, “I just can’t like it mom!”) So one of my lovely shortcuts is to roast a chicken (or if I’m feeling even lazier than usual, I just buy one from the Wal-Mart deli!) and use it to make several different meals. Here are my 3 favorites! And you can make them all, and more, with one single … [Read more...]
Dragon Birthday Cake!
Last year I made my oldest daughter a dragon cake, and this year, my youngest daughter wanted a dragon cake. I have used box mixes in the past, and they were fine, but this year I looked up a yellow cake recipe from Martha Stewart. It is still a bit crumby when I tried to ice it, but it was fine. Next time, I’ll try to find a different cake mix; one that doesn’t fall to crumbs when you cut it! I’m just not that skilled yet! I used a butter cream icing recipe from … [Read more...]
Puzz Story!
The makers of Puzz Story ought to be proud! This is an awesome lesson in History! Their slogan is “The book, the puzzle, and the poster combine to form a new exciting educational product for children.”This was so much fun my little children. At 4 and 6 they had a blast learning what all the puzzle pieces were called and liked looking at the “map” after it was all put together. I was actually surprised at how much they knew! They knew different dinosaurs, mammoths and saber tooth tiger, and … [Read more...]
Break Pal
Break Pal.com is my new break time go to! You can up load it on your computer, or they even have a free iphone app! Yay! Liz will walk you through different exercises and stretches that you can do right from your desk. It gives me a little pick-me-up if I’ve been sitting for a while, but not enough to make me sweat off my make-up!She talks about the different benefits of her app; avoiding repetitive task injuries, lower back pain and “secretarial spread” (or as I like to call it, pillow … [Read more...]
Update- A Caterpillar Named Parsley
Poor Parsley the caterpillar… after 4 weeks and still nothing, I was ready to say he must be dead inside his chrysalis, but my girls were still hoping he might magically appear. (If you didn't see the previous post, click here) The girls finally gave up hoping and made a grave for him in Grandma's back yard. We are super disappointed that we didn’t get to see him morph into a butterfly. If he really had been a he, he would have looked like … [Read more...]
I Promise I wasn’t Speeding!- Finale
Well, if you didn't read parts 1 and 2, here are the links: Part 1 and Part 2I went back to court and sat with all the smelly criminals for a second time. (Only this time, there were three people in orange jumpsuits and shackles instead of just one! That wasn't intimidating at all...)While the judge ran through his docket, the county prosecutor took me into his office and talked to me and the police officer that gave me the ticket. The prosecutor was very friendly and matter-of-fact and … [Read more...]
Time to Make the Gingerbread House! Psych!
Every year at Christmas, we make a gingerbread house. This year, when I bought our kit, I was rushing. 2 weeks later, when I pulled it from the cabinet for the kids to work on it, I figured out it wasn't gingerbread! It was chocolate! At first, I was disappointed, but really, it was SO much better! Sometimes the fact that I'm an airhead works out to my advantage!So in this kit, it gives you the milk chocolate to melt and then you pour it into the molds to make the sides and roof. Then you … [Read more...]
Santa Bread
Today's recipe was visually an epic fail! But my girls LOVED it and it was yummy, so it was totally worth it! I know what changes I'll need to make the next time we make it- and there WILL be a next time! It was so fun!Gypsys Melting Pot gives a recipe for the dough that I’m sure is delicious, but I’m a lazy chef, so I just bought Pillsbury Simply Rustic French Bread Dough instead. (I used 2 of the Pillsbury containers) “Divide into two portions, one slightly … [Read more...]
Latka!
Okay, so I know I said on Tuesday that I would give 2 recipes today, but instead I'm doing 1 now and 1 more next Tuesday!I've NEVER been able to make hash browns stick together! So I knew I this was going to be a challenge, but it looked so yummy I had to try! This is what it's supposed to look like: But mine turned into a pile of super delicious shredded potatoes! (And I DO mean super Delicious! My 4 year old said, "Oh this dinner is SOOO yummy! Thanks for making such a yummy dinner … [Read more...]
Gyspy Melting Pot
Okay folks, you know how I feel about creative and simple recipes! I just fell in LOVE with Gyspys Melting Pot! They do an awesome job compiling super cute and totally adorable recipes and crafts that are so simple and so creative! I was so excited to share them with you! I’ll post 2 today and 2 more on Thursday.Christmas treeGypsys Melting Pot made it with veggies, (Click here to see theirs!) but my kids are MUCH more likely to eat fruit! And our family tradition is a Christmas … [Read more...]
Poinsettia Craft
Getting in the mood for Christmas!! Here's a cute craft for ya!What you'll need: Green Paper, Red Paper, Yellow Paper, Paper Plate, Scissors, Pencil (or marker, pen, etc), Glue (or tape or stapler) First thing they'll need to do is trace their hands several times on both green and red paper. Depending on the their hand size- I'd say they'll need 10-12 of each color. My kids got seriously sick of cutting out hands, so I cut the plate to … [Read more...]
Cute Thanksgiving Treat!
My preschooler and her classmates take turns bringing the snack to school. She just happened to be assigned the last day before Thanksgiving break, so we decided to make something festive. Now, normally we take something healthy- so don't judge me!! I saw several versions of this treat, but decided the others were more intensive than necessary (drawing with icing, etc) and they all added more cookies and candy while using frosting as the "glue". I just can't feed my kids that much sugar!! And I … [Read more...]
Volunteering at the Equine Rescue
I was talking to my friend, Rose, on Friday and she mentioned that she volunteers at a Horse Rescue. My daughters absolutely LOVE horses, but have never really had the opportunity to be around them. I asked if she would mind us tagging along with her and off we went! I had no idea there was a place like this in our area! It is called Hope in the Valley: Equine Rescue and Sanctuary- click here for the website.Rose's kids were so sweet and patient with my girls- I was really impressed! They … [Read more...]
Spin Pins- My New Favorite Hair Accessories!!
Okay ladies! I'm super excited about this! Very often I want to just toss my hair up into a ponytail to take the kids to school, or even just to go to church. But my ponytail doesn't always look nice, so I twirl it into a crazy bun and hope it looks like it supposed to be that way...am I alone in this?The other day, I was getting hair stuff at the grocery store and I saw these Goody Spin Pins. I liked the idea, although, at my grocery store, they were almost $6!! My thought was, if they … [Read more...]
Town Party
We live in a small town small city large town? I don’t really know what to call our town anymore; it used to be a small town, but it has grown a lot without losing its small town feel. Every year, there is a fall festival where everyone comes out to eat some seriously yummy food and celebrate local businesses. They sell food for fundraisers and some of the local performance groups present in the street. We got to see gymnasts, dancers, square dancers, 2 bands and martial arts. Here they are with … [Read more...]
