Root Deer

I'm pretty happy with how the neighbor gifts came out this year. My neighbors know how corny I am so most of them laughed when i pointed out that it was "Root Deer." They were fun to make and i am guessing even more fun to drink!

Christmas glitter trees

So have you ever been so excited about a craft that you can't sleep. Well that ALMOST happened to me last night. I came across the cutiest craft project over at I heart naptime and it was calling my name. I am away on vacation in Utah for Thanksgiving and as soon as i get home i am making some of these....



They have a free printable for the Christmas subway art too, they are making my Christmas decorating so easy for me this year. Anyway i thought if i was this excited about making these i better let you all in on it.Click HERE to head on over to I heart naptime for the how to.

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am not ready for this Utah snow that i know i am going to be seeing. I miss my Kansas weather already!

-Jaime

Spider fruit kabobs

Just wanted to share with you the cute fruit kabobs that i made for boy #1's class party. Anything tastes better on a stick right?! That's what the 2yr old thought anyway. He saw me making them and from then on he wanted all his snacks on a stick:)

Sorry about this first bad photo, i was in a hurry and didn't want to mess with lighting issues.

Banana pop anyone??

Halloween Banner

I have been busy decorating my house this week. I love this time of year and look forward to decorating every year. I came across THIS post from Crafting Chicks and knew i had to make this banner. It was super easy, i made it during nap time with paper i had on hand. I have since added some orange rick rack to the banner, super cute.

I also loved their idea about putting old Halloween pics of the kids up as decorations. I went straight to the dollar store and bought a bunch of frames and started filling them with pictures of past Halloweens. The 2yr old LOVES looking at the pictures and will not leave them in their designated spots, but that's OK, I'm glad he likes looking at them. It's such a cheap and easy way to decorate for the season.

I have also made 3 sets of these Countdown to Candy blocks. They have been so fun to make and the boys love changing them everyday. We started our countdown a little early:) I got the idea to make these from the ladies at How Does She.

 

If you want to make your own Halloween Banner, head on over to The Crafting Chicks to get the "how to." They even have a free printable for the letters, score!!

Hope you all are having fun decorating your "Haunted Houses."

Halloween crafts

I got the creative bug yesterday and made a couple of cute things. One of them was for a friend for her birthday, no not "The Witch is in" sign, that would just be mean.....it's for me! The Hub was a bit scared when he walked in and saw that sign, hey he knew what he was marring in to!

Halloween is probably my favorite holiday, not sure why, i just love Halloween and fall decorations. I have many more ideas in my head and i am hoping to get them out of my head and into my house soon.

Easy Canopy

Hey out there! Is anyone still checking my blog? I really don't blame you if your not. This has been one busy/fun summer, we are at the gym and pool almost all the time. I haven't given up on this blog but i have been "taking a break." I just saw the best idea over at dwellingsbydevore blog and had to share it with you. I have been dreaming of redoing our bedroom for a while now and this idea makes me itch even more. I just have to try and convince the hub that our log furniture needs to go to a new home. I have loved it for years but i need a change! Click HERE to see more pictures.

Red, White and Blue Cookie Bark

I found this yummy looking treat over at Love Stitched. It's made with crushed Oreo's, pretzels, white chocolate, M&M's and sprinkles.....it had me at Oreo's!!

Click HERE for the full directions and more pictures.

Smore's on a stick

It's no shocker that my family loves Smore's. We make them in the winter in our microwave. We have a Smore microwave maker that looks something like this....

It actually works quite well.

Here are the pictures to prove how yummy they were....

In the spring, summer and early fall we love to roast them outside around the fire pit. This picture is my all time favorite......

Today on Skip to My Lou she featured Smore's on a stick......and i fell in love with the idea! This project looks so fun and it is in the plans for our family this weekend. All you need is some sucker sticks, marshmallows, graham crackers and some melting chocolate and your good to go. Click HERE for complete instructions and a few more pictures.

Terra Cotta Fun.....

While browsing my favorite blogs tonight i happened upon a fun blog. Over at sweetcharli she has come up with the funniest ways to take Terra Cotta from drab to fab. I love these ideas and i really want to make some of these coasters.....

Click HERE to get to sweetcharli and see these fun Terra Cotta projects.

M.I.A.

Sorry i haven't been around lately. I really have no excuse. I just haven't been feeling very crafty lately. I did make something cute a couple weeks ago and i will post pictures soon. I may be a bit of a slacker this summer but i still love you all. Our summer has been off to a great start and we are quite enjoying the freedom of no schedule. 

In the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger "I'LL BE BACK"

So happy he's mine!

Can i just say how much i love this little guy....

He is a character....

And he usually gets his way..

But how could you not love this face....he's one in a million and i am so glad he's mine!

-Jaime

Just enjoying the weather...

Thought i would let you in on what my family will be up to this long weekend.....

A little splash in the new pool...

And of course some Superhero Popsicle's....

Yummy beef kabobs for mom and dad.....

And my absolute favorite part about summer.......WATERMELON!!! I LOVE IT! Yes that much!!

Hope you all have a wonderful and safe Holiday weekend!!

-Jaime

Tasty Tuesday

I found the funnest idea over at Tidy Mom. These grilled pizza's sound like a great summer idea, i have never thought about making pizza on the grill before. We love to grill as much as we can during the summer so i was excited to find this idea, one more way to keep me out of the kitchen, i love that. We haven't tried them yet but they are on the menu for next week. Head on over to Tidy Mom to see all the directions to make your own grilled pizza's.

Grilled Pizza's

-Jaime

Cookie Cutter Art

I am in love with this idea that i found over at A girl and a glue gun. It definitely looks like my kind of project. She used a canvas, paint and cookie cutters, how creative. I love the Choo Choo one and may have to make one when i redo boy #2's room. 

Go HERE to see the tutorial on the cookie cutter art.

Kids Growth Chart

I finally got around to making a growth chart for the boys. I have been wanting to make one for, oh about 5 yrs now. I really wish i would have got this done last month because boy #1 had a major growth spurt this month, all his pants are suddenly floods.

Anyway here is the growth chart i made with my cricut......

The boys love it. They have been asking me to measure them every 5 minutes.

Linking to:

I joined the Gym....eekkk!

I realize that i have been MIA lately. I don't have too many excuses except that i have been pretty busy. I have been spending more time than i ever thought i would at the YMCA. Yep i did it, i joined the Gym, deep breath......Actually it's going quite well and i feel a little better about myself already. I have only been going for a week and a half but i have high hopes that this is the time i drop some weight!

I joined with one of my favorite gals and it's so much more fun to workout with a friend....and it's so nice to talk without little voices interrupting us every 2 seconds....i think we are both quite enjoying it.

I will be back tomorrow with a project that i have been working on and it's almost finished!

I can't play sign

I finished the other sign today....now to implement it!Please pay no attention to the fingerprint smeared storm door. I think the sign turned out cute. Boy #1 thought it was a great idea but quickly pointed out to me that he didn't think  his friends could read yet, good point oh wise little one. Hopefully they will associate the "Red" sign to the fact that he can't play right now. Maybe the dogs will be able to take a afternoon nap uninterrupted now, yes they lead a rough life.

Linking to:

Please Knock sign

I saw these signs made over at How Does She and it was the perfect idea to go with a baby gift i was getting together for my friends new little baby. Here is a pic of the one i made for my friend, hopefully she doesn't see this until she receives it in the mail, if you do, pretend to be shocked and amazed at it's wonderfulness! These signs are so simple and cute and straight to the point....

I had my hubby cut out a 6x6 square and drill a couple of small holes in the top. Then i Modge Podged some cute paper on, added some vinyl lettering, stained, sanded, inked the edges a bit, and added the wire and I was done.

I have plans of making one for our door. I want it to be more of a "We can't play" sign. We have a awesome neighborhood filled with all my son's best buds which is great and i am really grateful for the great playmates he has. The one problem though is the little window that we have by our front door. All day long i see little heads peeking through that little window. This would be fine if it wasn't for my two attack dogs, who are all bark and no bite. If they see or even hear anything at the front door they bark, and bark, and bark......it's not my favorite trait of theirs. My youngest still naps, thank heavens, and when the dogs bark, he usually wakes up which makes Mama not so happy.

So that brings us back to me making a sign that lets the little neighbor boys know to turn around and come back later when the sign is no longer there.

I'm not sure what the sign should say...."We can't play, please come back soon." Or maybe "Hey kids scram." Ha ha OK maybe that's a bit harsh.

Do any of you have a good idea of what i should put on it??

If you have a baby or any age napper in the house this sign is a great idea.

-Jaime

Tasty Tuesday - Grands Taco Melts

Tasty Tuesday

 Today's Tasty Tuesday recipe comes from the Pillsbury website. I found this recipe a few years ago and have made it quite a bit ever since. It's a great kid friendly recipe and a easy one to throw together on a hectic night.

Grands Taco Melts

Ingredients:

• 1 can Pillsbury Grands refrigerated biscuits (any variety)
• 1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
• 1 lb. lean ground beef
•  1 1/2 C. thick and chunky salsa
• 2/3 C. water
• 1 C.shredded Monterey Jack cheese or Mexican blend cheese
• 1C. sour cream (optional)

Heat oven to 375 degrees.
In medium skillet cook your ground beef and drain then add taco seasoning mix, water and 1/2 C. of the salsa. Cook until thickened.
Take the biscuits and press each one into a 6-in round. OK this is where i do it a little different from the recipe. I find it hard to press the biscuits into a large enough circle without tearing them apart of making holes in the dough. I usually press 2 biscuits together for me and the hubby's and then 1 for each child.
Next fill each flattened biscuit with some of the taco mixture then add one tablespoon of cheese on top of the mixture.
Fold dough over filling and press to seal. Take a fork and press the edges shut, you all know what i mean right?
Place on greased cookie sheet.
Bake 9-14 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with remaining salsa, cheese and sour cream if desired.
ENJOY!!


-Jaime

Mothers Day gift ideas

Hopefully all of you know that Mothers Day is this Sunday. If you are still scrambling this weekend for a great idea for the mom's in your life here are some fun, cute and easy to put together crafts for you to get working on....

This first one is from Get Your Craft On. It's a dry erase memo board backed with fabulous fabric, great idea....

Click HERE for the Tutorial

This next one is from U create. It's a great idea for any mom. It's also a great idea for a bridal shower or wedding gift.

Click HERE for the Tutorial

This idea is from a blog that i have become obsessed with lately, it's eighteen25. This brag book would be perfect for Grandma's, you know they love to show off how cute their grand kids are...there is even a free download of the different sayings, perfect!!

Click HERE for the Tutorial

You could make a monogram letter, it's easy and a great look. I found this letter at Blue Cricket Design. This one just happens to be the first letter in my last name and my maiden name, so it kinda jumped out at me and yes i do think i need to make one soon!

Click HERE for the Tutorial

Hopefully you got a good idea or two. Make sure to let that mom in your life know how much she is loved. I hope my mom knows how much i love and miss her. I never realized how much work being a mom is until i had my boys. It's a job where time off doesn't come often but it's also the best job in the world and i wouldn't trade it for anything!! Enjoy your weekend Mom's, we all deserve it!

Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas

This week is Teacher appreciation week. I saw a few of the cutest ideas at eighteen25. She even has a free download with all of the sayings on it, boooyaaa! I can't tell you how much i LOVE free downloads!

Check out the cuteness.....

Who can resist Chocolate...

So cute and fat free:)

This saying would go great tied on top of a wonderful smelling Scentsy Bar...hint...hint!! Scentsy Rocks!!

Cute, Cute!!

Click HERE to get the free download and instructions.