Mouth Snack - Fun and Easy!

The kids loved these easy and healthy snacks. They are very easy to make too! Cut up an apple with an apple slicer. Add marshmallows between two slices of apple and then I added a toothpick to keep it together. Great snack for a dentist theme, health theme, teeth theme, etc.

DIY - Turn Plant Stand into Scrabble Wall Tiles

I found this plant stand on the side of the road. I picked it up because I instantly saw the wood shelves as Scrabble wall tiles. It took me awhile to figure out a four letter word to use, but when the word NEST came to mind, I knew it was perfect. I used my Cricut to cut out the letters and numbers and used them as stencils. My husband put the picture hangers on the back. We hung this in our three seasons porch and I love it!

Easy and cheap DIY project!!

DIY - Creative Ways to Turn Your Drab Laundry Room into a Functional Craft Area

Our laundry room, was your typical, drab, dark laundry room. It was the only space that we had for a crafting/work area for me in the house. So, I decided I needed to transform the space to make it functional and fabulous! Like always, I didn't want to spend tons of money, so I knew I would have to come up with some creative ideas for storage and style. I also knew I wanted to brighten the place up. The first thing we did was paint all the brick walls and surrounding walls a bright white. This alone made the space so much more brighter! I knew I wanted open shelving so that I am able to see what I have. So, all my husband did was cut down some 1x8's to fit the length of the wall and hung them up. My parents had a corner desk that fit perfect down there and didn't take up too much space.

I wanted to find something that I could hang on the wall that would house all of my "utensils" (markers, scissors, pencils, etc). I found these wine holders on clearance at Target for about $3 each. I picked up 4 of them. I pictured them mounted on the wall instead of holding wine. I brought them home and my husband was able to screw them underneath the shelves he had put up for me.

I think they came out perfect!!!! All of my "utensils" fit in them and they aren't taking up space on the desk, which gives me even more room to spread out and be creative!!

Another thing I really wanted, was a place (that was out of the way) to house all my wrapping paper, contact paper and ribbon. My husband made this brilliant wall hanging (he saw something similar on Pinterest). He was able to use up some extra wood we had to make the frame and then we bought the wood dowels. I was thrilled when I saw this! I can now just pull out the ribbon I need, cut it and be done! I love all this stuff up and out of the way!

The finished space is so much more open, light and airy. There is more space for everything and I can see what I have. It has made a tremendous difference in that back room and I love it even more to know that we didn't spend a lot of money to do it. A little planning and creativity and I believe you can have most anything without breaking the bank!!!

Easy St. Patrick's Day Gifts for Classmates

I came up with a fun, easy and inexpensive little treat for my daughter and son to hand out to their classmates at school for St. Patrick's Day. I bought 2 big boxes of Fruit Roll Ups (Fruit by the Foot). Their package was green so it was perfect! I typed up a message (in green ink) that read: "I am LUCKY to roll with you!" "Happy St. Patrick's Day!"

I cut out the messages, rolled them around the Fruit Roll Ups and secured with tape!

Homemade Valentine Card

This year for our Valentine's cards for grandparents and aunts and uncles, we made three, big poster board signs. One said, "I", another said, "LOVE" and the last one said, "YOU". I took a picture of my kids holding each sign and then went to the store and picked out a design and made the cards. These cost $2 each which was so much cheaper than the cards in the stores..... AND, this is so much more personal and memorable!!!

"Handmade" Valentine's Gifts

I used the simple homemade lotion recipe of 1 jar vitamin E cream, a large tub of Vaseline and a large bottle of baby lotion (I chose the pink lotion for this one because it was for Valentine's gifts). I mixed all of those together in a bowl with a mixer and then I started "bottling" them. I had my husband drill holes in the lids of the old Mason jars I had. I then inserted recycled pumps I have kept from other "pumped bottles". I added a tag and a ribbon that said, "Hands down, you are a great teacher!". This is what I gave the teachers and then I also made tags that said, "You deserve a hand for being a great 5th grade buddy!" for the 5th grader that helps my kindergartner at school. I also recycled the canister that the Vitamin E cream came in. I just cleaned it out and wrapped it with scrapbook paper and put some paper on the lid and then added a tag and ribbon. Cute and fun "handmade" Valentine's gifts!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Tradition

A few years ago, I started a fun Valentine's Day tradition with my family. Every Valentine's Day, we have dessert for dinner!!! Yeah, really!!! It has become one of our favorite traditions.

This is a picture of the beginning of the tablescape. The kids were too excited and it was all over before I got a picture of the end display!





This year the menu will be:

• Half Heart Carmelita's (Apples/Pears and caramel dip)




• Cupid's Arrow with Clouds (Strawberries and angel food cake skewers)




• French Silk Mini Pies (graham cracker crust, chocolate pudding, topped with Cool Whip)




• Speckled Chocolate Shakes (Frozen Yogurt, milk and Oreo shakes)




• Chocolate Lovin' (Melted Chocolate for dippin' apples, pound cake, brownie balls, pretzels, marshmallows, etc.)




• Bubbly (Sparkling Juice)




• I spread Hershey Hugs and Kisses around the table

This is just our way of making Valentine's Day a little extra special!!!