Wednesday, November 30, 2011

{Homemade Holidays: Week 4} Coordinates Frame

Time for week #4 of Homemade Holidays!! (You can catch weeks 1-3 here, here, and here.)

With a father as a geography professor, this gift was just the project for me. I printed a map of my hometown and used that to mat a picture of my parents. I added a slip of paper at the bottom with the coordinates of the town printed on it. And viola! A super fun and personalized gift.


I am linking to these wonderful parties this week.
Today's Creative Blog
Making the World Cuter

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Random Ramblings

-We got back from Thanksgiving last night. Both girls did a fantastic job of traveling. Such a blessing when you have to travel to see family.
-We got to spend time with both of our families.
-We had a great time. Peachy loved playing with her cousins and even "sleeping" in the same room as them.
-I went Black Friday shopping, but not in the typical sense. We didn't hit the stores until 10, a.m. that is. And then we leisurely got a few items at a few stores. I spent the most money at Trader Joes because we don't have one nearby and I love Trader Joes. We finished with a yummy lunch at Panera. Also god because we don't have one nearby. We left the kiddos at home with grandpa, dads, and uncles. They had fun burning and building.
-My mom and I enjoyed doing a 4 mile Jingle Bell walk/run on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately the gorgeous weather didn't hold out for us, but we made it. (We did the walk, by the way, not the run.)
-The girls and I are enjoying a lazy morning back at home. We will see when we get out of our pjs and if we even leave the house.
-I would like to get the house cleaned in the next few days so that I can start to decorate for Christmas. (I still can't believe that it is almost December already.)
-I feel that I have a good handle on Christmas shopping. It is always nice to be able to enjoy gift buying rather than stress about it.
-I need to get a good family picture for our Christmas cards. The card I found on Snapfish has landscape pictures and the family pictures that we have are all portrait. If I crop them to fit I crop out a kid. Not good. This will be the first year in probably a decade that I am just ordering cards and not making them.
-Life is good and  I am so thankful for all of my blessings. This is a good place to be.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Foodie Friday: Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

I was inspired by Emily's post on Pumpkin Steal Cut Oats to make some pumpkin pie oatmeal for my and my oldest pumpkin the other day. I had everything on hand to whip up this yummy and filling dessert breakfast. It got rave reviews from everyone that tried it. All two of us. So if you are up early this Black Friday and needing some fuel for a long day of shopping, try this in place of that slice of pumpkin pie. (You can always save that for later.)

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
makes two servings
Ingredients:
-1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
-1 1/4 cup water
-1/2 cup pumpkin puree
-dash of salt
-1 tablespoon brown sugar
-whipping cream
-cinnamon
-ground cloves
-nutmeg
-chopped pecans
-whipped cream
Directions:
1. Combine first four ingredients and microwave for 3 minutes.
2. Remove from microwave and stir in brown sugar and whipping cream until desired consistency.
3. Add spices to taste.
4. Top with whipped cream, chopped pecans, and dash of cinnamon.
5. Shop til you drop!

I am linking to these wonderful parties this week.
Today's Creative Blog
Making the World Cuter

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

Two of my most precious blessings that I am thankful for this year

These two turkeys!


Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

{Homemade Holidays: Week 3} Fabric Luggage Tags

Time for the third week of Homemade Holidays. (You can find the first week here and the second week here.)
A gift for the frequent flyer on your list is a unique luggage tag that will help them pick their suitcase out from all of the other black suitcases on the carousel. I followed the tutorial at Skip To My Lou to create the two tags pictured. Simply print their name and address on the back and you are all set.

I am linking to these wonderful parties this week.
Today's Creative Blog
Making the World Cuter

Monday, November 21, 2011

Class

We are blessed to be able to participate in many family oriented activities in our community. One such activity is a Family Fun class offered through our community education. We have been participating in this once a week class for the last year and Peachy loves it. We start our two hour session with together time in a preschool type classroom. There are plenty of activities that center on the theme for the day in addition to the other centers and toys around the room. During the second hour the kids stay in the room with one teacher while the parents go next door to have a topical discussion. At this time Cream stays with me, but as she gets older, she will be able to stay in with the other kids. The kids finish up in the gym with some free play time.
When Peachy gets up on Monday mornings she asks what I think Teacher Nancy will have out to play with that morning. One of her favorites is when there is paint out. I have to admit that I like it when the paint is out as well because the mess is at class not at home.

While this isn't the norm, you can see why!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Foodie Friday: Easy Cinnamon Roll Waffles

Here is another Pinterest find that I tried this week. The original pin is from the blog A Hen's Nest. It is a super easy and fun breakfast to make. Maybe not so good for you, but some cold fall days a little breakfast gluttony is in order.

Easy Cinnamon Roll Waffles
Directions:
1. Preheat your waffle iron.
2. Place one canned cinnamon roll on each square.
3. Close the iron and cook for 2-3 minutes.
4. Remove and frost.
Genius!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

In Home Preschool

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I am currently teaching preschool out of our home once a week to a few of my friends' children. Someone asked if I would share what I did during our hour and fifteen minute session. So last week I took pictures as we went about our routine.
I base each week off of a letter, more to have a starting point than anything else. I don't go in alphabetical order, instead we are studying letters that are simpler to hear and understand and working our way to the more difficult ones. (I am using the order from this website.) I have one mom stay each week to be a teacher's aide. (They also help me care for Cream during the session.) I make use of the internet in my planning. There are so many great ideas out there. Just do a Google search and you will have more ideas than you can even make your way through.
-Table Time: We start our day at a little table that I have set up with a few activities on. (I got the table from Sams Club. It is great because it folds for storage and because it has three different heights.)

This week the activities were putting pipe cleaners into colanders and playing some Thanksgiving games I had printed.
-Circle Time: After everyone has arrived and is settled we head into the living room for circle time. I purchased carpet squares so that each child has a designated area to sit. We sing a welcome song and talk about our letter for the week. I choose picture cards that start with our letter and we put them up on the white board. We also read books that have something to do with our letter or with the season.
-Calendar Time: I purchased this calendar from Oriental Trading Co.
-Project Time: We head back over to the table and work on some projects. Every week we do a letter sheet. I print out the letter for the week on paper and we some how decorate it. This week we used paint daubers to put dots on our Ds.

When they were done with their Ds they could use the paint to decorate dinosaurs that I had made out of paper plates.

We also went on a dinosaur dig this week. I froze plastic dinos in small cups and we used warm water and utensils to dig them out.
-Movement Time: During this time we do some sort of large motor activitiy. Sometimes I will put on a kids' yoga video from You Tube. This week, in honor of letter D, we had a dance party.
-Goodbye Time: We wrap up our lessons and say goodbye.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

{Homemade Holidays: Week 2} Ruffled Tote


I hope you enjoyed my first Homemade Holidays post last week. If you missed it, you can check it out here.
Now on to the new Homemade Holiday idea for the week. I got the inspiration for this project from a bag I saw at a craft fair. While you could make a bag of your own to decorate, I bought mine at Hobby Lobby and simply added the ruffles.
This is the perfect gift to give as is or to use as a gift bag. I can't think of any girl who wouldn't like receiving a fun ruffled tote.

I am linking to these wonderful parties this week.
Today's Creative Blog
Making the World Cuter

Monday, November 14, 2011

Peachyisms

Life with a two and a half year old is never dull. Our Peachy is learning and growing everyday. While she has always had great verbal skills, it still amazes me what she can all say now and how well she can communicate. Here are some of the things that we hear coming out of her mouth that make us smile:
-"tosmorning" which means this morning
-"I can't see my eyes." which means that it is dark and she can't see well.
-"Good supper that you made, momma." Peachy has recently started to praise my cooking skills. Whether it be cereal or a home cooked meal.
-"I awake in here." This is what we hear when she awakes in the morning and also sprinkled throughout nap time when she is "trying" to go to sleep.
-"Sisic" Her word for music.
-"Nicnic" Her word for picnic.
-"We'll go to (insert location here) Sunday" After we tell her we might go there someday.
Our Peachy Girl with a pair of training pants as a hat.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Foodie Friday: Chocolate Banana Muffins

Here is a sweet muffin recipe for you banana and chocolate lovers. (And when I say sweet, I mean sweet. These could almost be a dessert.) The cute baby on the counter is optional.

Chocolate Banana Muffins
from: Becoming Betty
Ingredients:
-1/2 cup butter, softened
-1 cup sugar
-2 eggs
-1 1/2 cups flour
-3 Tbs. cocoa
-1 tsp. baking soda
-1 tsp. salt
-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
-1 tsp. vanilla
-1 cup mashed banana
-1/2 cup sour cream
-1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
-1 cup chocolate chips


Directions:
1. Cream butter and sugar. 
2. Add eggs. 
3. Add dry ingredients and mix well. 
4. Add vanilla, banana, sour cream, nuts and chocolate chips. 
5. Pour into muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Thursday Loves

It has been a while since I wrote about some of the things that I couldn't do without in my daily life. So here you have it, my current list of loves.
1. These Water Wow Doodle Pad that a friend gave to Peachy as a big sister gift. It is all the fun of coloring with only the mess of water. And once it dried it is ready to use again. She has drawn and redrawn the pictures so many times.
2. The Green Mountain Coffee Sumatran Reserve K Cups for my Keurig. They aren't kidding when they say extra bold and I love me a dark roast coffee.
3. I am new to the Greek yogurt bandwagon, but this stuff is good. I recently found these small cups of Chobani marketed for kids at Target. I like the smaller serving size and the honey-nana flavor is yummy.
4. Cream and I love the Boppy for feeding times. I don't know what we would do without it. It just makes the job so much easier for both of us.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Homemade Holidays: Week 1

I have written many posts on gifts that I have made and given. I love making the gifts that I give for many reasons. For starters, they are unique and not something that you can run to your local box store to pick up. I also find that I can give more bang for my buck. Since I am putting in the labor all I need to pay for are my supplies. Finally, I love to create and gift giving is a way for me to flex my creative muscles. Over the next several weeks I will be sharing with you gifts that I made and have not yet featured on my blog. This week, I will post a collection of gifts that I have already shared but thought with the Holidays approaching you may want to be reminded of them again. Please come back Wednesdays in November to see what I have to share with you!

For Children:
1. Coloring Portfolios

2. Embellished Tee Shirt with Matching Toy
3. Mitten Embellished Tee
4. Rudolph Embellished Shirt
5. Farm, Dino, and Car Caddies
6. Eye Spy Bags
7. Crayon Rolls
8. Adventure Bag
9. Child's Chair
10. Ribbon Blankies
11. Monogrammed Art Bag


For Women:
1. Ruffle Pillowcase
2. Felt Flowers
3. Pedicure Kit
4. Pieced Scarf



For Men:
1. Mustache Mug

For Everyone:
1. Monogram Magnet
2. Simple Square Potholders
3. Fleece Fringe Scarves
4. Pillowcases

I am linking to these wonderful parties this week.
Today's Creative Blog
Making the World Cuter