Thankful Wreath Activity/Craft



Not to long ago, I saw a wreath crafted on Pinterest (at least I think it was Pinterest). Anyway, it was a Thankful Wreath. When I saw it, I thought, that would be a good activity for Misses and I for Thanksgiving and to reiterate gratefulness.

So I took myself over the the craft section of the store. I do not frequent this area, but I found the materials needed to complete the wreath.

Materials:
1. Wreath foam form
2. Ribbon in the color of your choice
3. Straight pins
4. Construction paper

After I got all the things we needed, I set forth to wrap the ribbon around the form. One spool was not enough, but I had some fabric scraps and that covered the rest. Then I drew little leaves on the construction paper. After I drew the leaves, Misses and I started saying all the things we were thankful for. I wrote all the responses on the leaves; we both cut the leaves out. Next, I used the straight pins to hold the leaves on the wreath. They are easily pushed into the form and add alittle silver pop. Finally, we hung the wreath in our dining room.

I wish I would have thought to take a pic of the finished product, but I didn't. Using the pins also allows for use year after year.

Rainbow Cupcakes

Misses recently turned 5! This year for her birthday, she wanted rainbow cupcakes. I groaned just a little at this. I do not care for making cupcakes. Since that is what she wanted, we looked on the Internet for some inspiration. In no time, we found a picture of cupcakes with sky blue frosting and candy rainbows on top.

After finding what we were going to do. I gathered the supplies.

What you need:
1. Box of cake mix (I use whatever I have on hand.)
2. Ingredients for frosting     (see: Thomas Cake for recipe)
3. Cup cake papers
4. Sour rainbow Airheads (I found them at Walmart.)

What to do:
1. Make the cup cakes according to the box instructions.
2. Make the frosting.
3. Frost the cupcakes with the blue frosting.
4. Cut the Airheads to the length you want for the rainbows.
5. Pipe 2 white frosting lines on top the blue and push the Airheads into them.
6. Pipe the white frosting around the Airheads to hold them in place and look pretty.

 

Here they are all finished. They are easy to make and very cute.



Homemade Valentine's Saves $$

This year Misses is in preschool. Her class has 20 students in it, and Misses needed to take a Valentine to school for each of them. After a couple trips to the store, looking at the options and prices for Valentines, I decided to see if Misses could make her own.

Making Valentines is a great activity for my daughter. She loves to do all things crafty. Later that week, I was flipping through a magazine and saw a child stamping red hearts with a toilet paper roll. I instantly got excited. I know, I know, I'm a dork. I just love saving money.

I set forth to collect all the supplies we needed to make these cute Valentines. Luckily, I had everything we needed.

Supplies:
card stock
paint
toilet paper roll
marker

Instructions:
Cut the card stock in strips and then cut the strips in half. You are making a little post card Valentine. Then write Happy Valentine's Day! Next, bend the toilet paper roll into a heart shape. Have your child dip the roll into the paint, and stamp it onto the card.

 

 

 

Let them dry. If you want to add a piece of candy or pencil that is up to you. We added pencils by taping them to the back. The total cost of these Valentine's were $1.94 for the pencils, since I had all the other materials on hand. Not to mention, putting these together was a nice activity Misses and I were able to do together. 

Cheerio Snacks

Last Christmas, I made party mix for friends and family. I got a little over excited with the great cereal prices and now have 2 big boxes of plain Cheerios. My kids will not eat them plain. I will only eat them for breakfast with about a 1/4 cup of sugar added to them. You know, just enough to scrape it off the bottom of the bowl with each bite. That doesn't work for me right now, because I am trying to loose weight. So I turned to the trusty Pinterest to see what I could do with these Cheerios.

I had pinned this recipe awhile ago.

• 1 c. sugar
• 1 c. corn syrup
• 1 c. creamy peanut butter
• 1 t. vanilla
• 5 c. Cheerios (the original recipe called for Honey Nut)
   I added red chocolate drizzle to the top of mine for Valentine's Day

In a large sauce pan, combine sugar and corn syrup. Bring to boil over medium heat.
Allow mixture to boil for one minute and remove from heat.
Add peanut butter and vanilla to mixture and mix until smooth.
Add Cheerios and mix until all coated.
Drop mixture by spoonful onto waxed paper and allow to cool.

Makes approximately 2 dozen.

Thanks to http://kathiecooks.blogspot.com/2010/01/cheerio-treats.html for this recipe.

If I did the math correctly, each treat has roughly 168 calories. I figured one to be the serving.


Trail Mix with Cheerios
This recipe, I made up by adding ingredients I already had on hand.

Ingredients

2c. Plain Cheerios
.5c. Blueberry Craisins
.5c. Cherry Craisins
1c. M&M

Put all in a large resealable container and enjoy!

Almost Old Mother Hubbard

As the nursery rhyme goes . . . Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard to give her dog a bone. When she looked the cupboard was empty. This is almost the scenario in my house the last couple of days. As you can imagine, dinner here as needed to be creative and tasty. Which can be a difficult accomplishment with a picky husband and two little kids.

Okay, I need to explain why there is little food in my house right now. We are at the point where we need everything, and I coupon to help keep the food budget in check. I have Misses (4) and Bubba (20 mos.) with me almost all the time. I know from interesting experience that trying to buy a lot of groceries and use coupons at the same time does not make for a delightful time for any one within a 20 foot radius. Not to mention, Bubba likes to throw things out of the cart while we are shopping. I can't prevent that from happening when the cart is over flowing. Plus, it has been pretty cold out, and I haven't wanted to bring all the groceries in alone with my little helpers. Tomorrow, there will be full cupboards, since my husband has a day off!

Since there was little food this evening, I found all the stuff I needed to make homemade pizza.

Ingredients:


Pie crust
Cheese
Pepperoni
Tomato Sauce







Instructions:

Lay out pie crust on baking sheet and use a fork
to poke holes in it.

Bake it in the oven for 10 min.









Remove it from the oven and spread the sauce on top.

Add the pepperoni.

Spread the cheese on top.












Then add any other toppings you like or have on hand. We added onions and green peppers. Put it back in the oven for the 15 min. or until crust is fully cooked and cheese is melted.




This meal was pretty good. The crust is a little doughy, but very good.

So if you find yourself in a similar situation, don't pick up the phone and call for take out. Look at what you have and get creative. Misses liked helping me make this pizza. The lack of food in the house made for a fun activity and bonding time for us.

New Year . . . New or Old Resolutions

With New Years Eve starting in about half an hour, I am compelled to think about some changes I want to make in 2013. I know, I know most resolutions don't make it past January 31, but I have been successful with some in the past. Therefore, I am hopeful each year as I make my list. Starting in the year 2013, I promise to . . .

1. Continue loosing the baby weight; I have about 15lbs to go.
2. Have a game night with Misses at least once a week
3. Sign Bubba up for swimming lessons
4. Go on a weekend vacation as a family
5. Organize, organize, organize

Five may sound like a lot, but each of these are things I already do. I just want to be more consistent in doing them. Except for the vacation. We haven't gone on a family vacation since Misses was 2 1/2. This year Bubba will be 2, so it should be completely doable to make this happen.

To loose the last of the baby weight, I will count my calories and go to the gym at least 3 times a week. I will have Misses pick a night, and that will be the night she get to stay up 30 minutes past her bed time to play games. We are members at the YMCA, so I will get a swimming schedule and sign Bubba up for lessons. I will be sure to get the items I need to organize either our hats and gloves, or the Christmas wrapping items.

As I complete each one, I will report back. This will help keep me accountable. What are your resolutions for 2013?

Sugar and Spiced Glazed Pecans

**Update: I realized today that I do not microwave the butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar prior to mixing in the nuts. They still turn out great.***

Recently, I stumbled upon this super easy recipe to make glazed nuts in the the microwave on the cooks.com site. Yes, you read that right. Anyone can make those yummy glazed nuts, you pay way to much money for at the mall during the holidays in the MICROWAVE.

After finding this recipe and being very excited and sceptical, that I could make this happen with my microwave, I set out to do it. I have to say they are delicious and my house never smelled so good. Although, it doesn't take much to make my house smell better than normal, because I have one in diapers and he is stinky!

Anyway, back to the good stuff. Here is what you will need to make these yummy nuts.

Ingredients:

8oz. pecans (halves or pieces)
4tbls. butter
1/2c. brown sugar
1/2tsp. cinnamon

Put the butter in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave till melted.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               





Stir in cinnamon and brown sugar.
After that, stir in pecans and microwave for 3 minutes stirring 1-2 times.



 Spread pecans on wax paper and let cool.

 

 

As you can see, I failed to follow directions and used whole pecans. They still turned out great! Serve the nuts warm or cold. Make sure to store them in an air tight container.

 

 

Yes it is that easy! Enjoy and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!