Manic Monday Recipe~Guacamole

Holy Guacamole! I know I'm a dork!  

Here is one my favorite recipes to make.

Make sure to come back on Wednesday for my Share the Wealth Link Party, it's open until Sunday each week!

Guacamole

Ingredients:

4 Medium Sized Ripe Avocados (if you buy them and they are still too hard, place them in a brown paper bag for a day.)

1 Small Chopped Red Onion

2 T. Fresh Lime Juice 

2 T. Fresh Lemon Juice

1-2 T. Fresh Cilantro

1 Clove of Garlic

1 T. of Olive Oil

Kosher Salt to taste

Cracked Pepper to taste

*Optional* I will sometimes add chopped vine tomatoes or Jalapeños.

Directions:

Slice the avocados in half and take the pit out.  Slice the inside of the avocado vertically then horizontally (don't go through the skin.)  Then scoop it out with a spoon into a bowl and mash.  If you like it a little chunky you don't need to mash a lot.

Mix in the rest of the ingredients and grab a chip!

Check out all of my tutorials here, and follow me on Twitter andFacebook!

Pattern Website

Happy Friday Everyone!  Today I found an awesome pattern website.  It's called Burda Style.  You do have to create a user name and password, but it's so worth it.  There are patterns for purchase, but they have freebies too!  And the freebies are great.  I am going to try to make some leggings in the next few weeks using this tutorial from the website.  I found some free purse, dress, and baby clothes patterns.
Happy sewing!
~L~

Pampers Gifts to Grow Code

10 Point Pampers Gifts to Grow Code!!
Just copy and paste the code into your account!
CAREFORNEWBORNS
If you don't have an account yet, sign up here.  They have a on-line catalog where you can buy gift cards, toys, magazine subscriptions and many other things with the points you've earned.  Enjoy the 10 points!
Thanks Totally Target!


My favorite diapers are the Cruisers Dry-Max, they are so thin and don't get all bunched up.
First two to use the codes get it! When they're gone, they're gone!
Here's a 02% off code for Amazon.com.  Use the link above and the codes below to get 20% off  one unit of diapers and free 2-day Shipping.  
AWYZ-JSCY4A_R6CAAX
AW6Z-W9HU7G-WJ692Z
Both Codes expire 8/31/10

Ball Park $2.00 Printable

Like Ball Park Franks on Facebook and you'll be able to print out a $2.00 coupon off one package.  Push the back button to reprint a second!
~L~


Thanks Freebies4mom!

Pampers Gifts to Grow Codes

I love Pampers Gifts to Grow, and whenever I find a code I'll share them with you.  Here are two free ones!
My favorite diapers are the Cruisers Dry-Max, they are so thin and don't get all bunched up.
Just copy and paste these into your account!
GTG5FREEPTS0810  
GTGCOUPONPOINTS
If you don't have an account yet, sign up here.  They have a on-line catalog where you can buy gift cards, toys, magazine subscriptions and many other things with the points you've earned.  Enjoy the 15 points!


Thanks Coupon Geek!

Hair Bows

My little lady, Elle, was born with quite a bit of hair.  As soon as the nurses got a hold of her, they put a little bow in her hair held with KY Jelly.  It works believe it or not, but it does leave a little bit of a sticky residue.  My mother-in-law had sent us bows before Elle was even born.  (She had mother's intuition that like her son, her granddaughter would be born with a lot of hair!)  I started using them all of the time, but as a person who loves dressing her daughter to the nines, I knew that three of them wouldn't be enough ;)  So I decided to make them.  SUPER EASY!  These are three of my creations...

The Rose Bud was created using The Purl Bee's Tutorial (Although, I used the hair clips that I already had for the following directions, and it worked great.)

Materials:

Approximately 9.5 cm of ribbon that is 1 cm wide

Hair Clip

Hot Glue Gun

Pre-made bows or store bought bows

Optional: small piece of foam cut to the size of the inside of the barrette

Instructions:

Take the ribbon and glue it to the back of the clip about 1 cm (where you put your thumb to open the barrette).  Continue gluing and wrapping the ribbon around and to the inside top of the barrette.  I do not wrap underneath the clip or on the bottom inside.  But I do glue a small piece of foam to the inside bottom of the clip to help hold fine hair in place.  

Then take your bow and glue it to the top of the barrette.

Side Note:  I have thought of a new idea to place one of those little white buttons onto the clip and to the bow so that they could be interchangeable.  Once I try it, I will let you know how it turns out!

~L~

Manic Monday Recipe~ Margherita Pita Pizzas

Make sure to come back on Wednesday for my Share the Wealth Link Party, it's open until Sunday each week!

Margherita Pita Pizzas

Ingredients:

1 Flat Pita (Medium or Large) (Or homemade/pre-made Crust)

1Tbsp. Olive Oil

1Tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar

2 tsp. Italian Seasoning Mix

1 Pressed Garlic Clove

Sprinkle of Sea Salt or Kosher Salt

3 Small to Medium Sliced Roma Tomatoes

Basil

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Combine olive oil with Italian seasoning mix, balsamic vinegar, and pressed garlic clove.

3. Brush one side of pita rounds with oil mixture, then add  a sprinkle of coarse salt.

4. Top pita round with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.

5. Bake 10-12 minutes or until cheese is melted and edges are lightly browned.

6. Sprinkle with basil.

7. Cut and let your family/friends devour!

Check out all of my tutorials here, and follow me on Twitter andFacebook!

How to Make a Pacifier Clip and Headband

Here are some of the projects that I worked on this weekend.  
The first is a headband.  The idea is from a blog called Smile and Wave.  Here is my finished product!

It fits Elle with using only six inches of elastic, so the next one that I make for myself, I will use about 7 inches.  Trial and error right?!  The elastic I used was by Stretchrite, it was really easy to use.  You can get it here.

The next project I worked on were clips for Elle's pacifier.  I love how easy it is to clip the pacifier on and I don't have to worry about it falling on the floor every time she smiles or laughs!  I decided I wanted to use a suspender clip, because it seems to be the strongest.  I used the Dritz brand and I love it.  You can get them really cheap here ($1.16).  I bought them at JoAnn's for $2.79.

Materials:

1 Suspender Clip

About 10 inches of ribbon that is the same width of the suspender clip or smaller

Sewing machine/needle and thread/Beacon Adhesive Fabric-Tac Glue

Sticky Velcro

Instructions:

Cut your ribbon to 10 inches.

Then fold over one side of the edge and place a small amount of fabric glue in front of it. 

Then fold it over so that you create a finished edge.  Once you finish the edge take your square of velcro and place it over the seam (on the back of your ribbon).

Then place the other side of the velcro about an inch down from the other one.

Now finish off the other edge exactly the same way minus the velcro.  Once you have the other side finished, take your ribbon and and string it onto the suspender clip.  Make sure you have the back of the suspender clip on facing up!

Then sew above the seam that has the suspender clip by it.  On my sewing machine, I went forward and backward to lock the stitch in.

Clip the stray thread and there you have it a new adorable pacifier clip!

I love that I can create clips that match certain outfits and create them for boys or girls!

I will post another project tomorrow!

Make sure to look for my Manic Monday Recipe tonight!

Craft Weekend

As my family prepares for our big move from St. Louis to Houston, a friend of mine and I decided to get our craft on.  We went to JoAnn's Fabric and got many beautiful things to work with!  I have been crafting all weekend and can't wait to get all of my new creations uploaded for you to see.  Some were done by using our own brain power, while others were created using some talented bloggers ideas.  Which will be dully noted ;)  As a teacher, I know how important it is to share ideas with others.  If we don't share, then no one would ever learn!  So to all of those wonderful artists out there, thank you for sharing.  If you do get an idea from me, all I ask is that you share my website with your friends!  I'll be posting some of my new photos tonight!  
Laura

Fun Activities

Here we are, in the dead of summer.  The heat and humidity has been unbearable!  Swimming and running through the sprinkler are not the only things to do on a hot summer day.  There are many things in the kitchen that provide plenty of fun!  
Slime:
Take equal parts of cornstarch and water and mix on the kitchen counter, table, or in a bowl (for those "type-a" parents)!  Kids will love pushing the mixture around.  It's "liquidy," but it also molds for a quick second when you slide it with your finger.  Another fun thing to do would be add food coloring.  Even better, have your little one do the measuring and mixing.  They will love being a scientist.
Play-Dough:
Kids will love making and playing with play dough.  A recipe that I have gotten along the way seems to work well.  Mix 3 cups of flour, 1 cup of water, one and a half cup of salt, one fourth cup of oil, and some food coloring.  If it is too sticky, add a little more flour until you reach the consistency of bread dough.  During different holidays, I will add different smelling flavors to the play dough.  For instance, I add cinnamon or mint at Christmas time, or Kool Aid  in the summer time.  (If you use Kool Aid, there's no need to add food coloring!)  To store the play dough just use a seal-able plastic bag, plastic container, or an old ice cream pail.  Kids can use rolling pins, cookie cutters, and their hands to play with the play dough.  It's all helpful for fine motor development.
Milk and Food Coloring Experiment:
Steve Spangler Science  (Great website for fun experiments!)
The link above shows a great experiment for kids, it also explains how the experiment works. All you have to do is get out flat dish, (I like using a pie pan) some milk (2% or whole), food coloring and dish soap (Joy and Dawn work the best in my opinion), and a cotton swab.  Then follow these directions:
1.)  Pour enough milk to cover the bottom of the dish.
2.)  Put in one drop of food coloring (of each  color) separately, but near the center of the dish.
3.)  Now take a clean cotton swab and touch the tip of it in the middle.  Discuss what happens, if anything.
4.) Then take the soap and cover the tip of a clean cotton swab.  Place the soapy end of the cotton swab back in the middle of the milk and hold it there for 10 to 15 seconds.
5.) Discuss what happens.
6.)  Repeat step four, but in a different area of the pan.
7.)  Repeat the experiment using a different liquid, to see if the same thing happens.  

The key thing when doing experiments or learning activities with your children is to ask them questions.  Ask what they see, what they think is happening (explanation), and how they think it works.
Hope my ideas create some wonderful memories for you and your kiddos!

Lasagna Bake

Every week I will be posting a recipe that is husband approved ;)  This weeks recipe is a Lasagna bake.

It's super easy, and great for leftover lunch.  Add a healthy salad and garlic toast, and  voi·là, dinners ready!

Ingredients:

1 lb. of Ground Beef (at least 90% lean) 

1 Jar of your favorite pasta sauce

1 Box of Rigatoni (or your favorite noodle)

16 oz. of Ricotta Cheese

2 tsp. Italian Seasoning

2 C. of Shredded Parmesan 

2 C. of Shredded Mozzarella

*Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Directions:

1.) Brown the ground meat until it is cooked thoroughly.  Add the Italian seasoning and mix.

2.) Cook the noodles using the directions from the package.

3.) Using a baking pan, layer the ingredients starting with the noodles.  Make sure that the last layer is a layer of shredded cheese.

4.) Bake at 325 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until all of the cheeses have melted.

  

**Side Notes**

~For a healthier version, substitute ground turkey in place of the ground beef.

~I sometimes add extra cheese or sauce to this version to make it even tastier!

And the Journey Begins

I have always loved creating crafts, in the past few years, I have became an addict!  I love scrap booking, making cards, and now I want to explore other ideas.  I recently received a sewing machine as a gift and am super excited to get to work with it.  I enjoy using my Cricut, but love creating things by hand too.  I have created this site to share my creations.  May they be wonderful or a hot mess!  Either way, it's about enjoying what I do and learning from my mistakes.  I hope you enjoy reading my blog!