Mormon in the Making

File Folder Games

2010-04-09T00:28:00.000-07:00

In an attempt to keep my kiddos a little quieter during our weekly church meetings, I decided to make some file-folder games. These were a lot of fun to do, and I look forward to finishing the rest of them! Here is how I did it....

Supplies Needed:

(1) File folder game books (or come and borrow mine. I've already paid for it, so save yourself some money!) They can also be found online.

Copies of the games, colored and cut out.

File Folders (I cut mine down to fit my laminating sheets. If you plan on taking your folders to Kinkos or somewhere to laminate, you can leave them full-size.)

Glue or tape (to attach the sheets to the folder)

(Above) The supplies gathered and ready to go!)

This particular game is a rhyming game. They need to match the pictures up with words that rhyme. (Car/Star, Tie/Pie, etc.)Once your papers are mounted on the folder, simply laminate.

**Spotlight Review. I have this WONDERFUL laminating machine that I received as an early birthday gift from my hubby. It is called the "Your Story" machine. Not only does it laminate, but it also binds books!!! Let me tell you that it has been the BEST thing ever! I have had SOOO much fun with it. If you ever need to laminate some things, give me a call!After laminating all the pieces, simply cut out. Using velcro or magnets, attach small pieces to both the file folder and on the "game" pieces.

We plan on taking a few of these in the car for our Disneyland trip. I hope the kiddos like them!

Homemade Laundry Soap

2010-04-08T01:26:00.000-07:00

Howdy! For some odd reason, my previous post on laundry soap has disappeared. The good news is that I have the recipe...the bad news is that I won't be posting any pictures today. I still have 5+ gallons of soap in my basement waiting to be used, so I don't need to make any more just yet. :o) I hope the instructions do it justice. Have fun!

4 cups of HOT water

(1) Fels-naptha soap bar, grated into small pieces

1/2 cup of Borax

1 cup of Washing Soda

Large pot

5 gallon bucket with lid

1. Add grated soap bar to hot water in a large pot. Cook over medium heat until all soap is melted. (stir frequently to prevent it from sticking and burning to the pot)

2. Using the 5 gallon bucket, fill half full with hot water. Next, add the washing soda and borax. Stir until dissolved.

3. Slowly add the melted soap. Mix everything very well.

4. Now, fill the rest of the bucket with hot water. Mix well.

5. Place lid on bucket and let mixture sit overnight. It will thicken up into a gel.

To Use...

Add gel mixture to a 1 gallon container (or any laundry soap container.) Fill up container with 1/2 soap gel and 1/2 water. Shake to mix.

For top-loading machines, use approx. 5/8 cup per load. Shake container well before each use.

POWDERED RECIPE

If you prefer powdered laundry soap, all you need to do is:

Add grated soap bar, washing soda and borax. Using a food processor, mix ingredients until it makes a fine powder. Add about 1 tbsp. per load of laundry.

Feeding Your Family On A Budget

2010-04-07T04:17:00.000-07:00

Hello! First off, I'd like to welcome any new readers that attended my "Feeding Your Family On A Budget" class last night. I hope you learned something new!

As I began my post for today, I thought it might be more helpful to provide links to the homemade cleaner recipes I have previously posted. SO....here they are!

Homemade Cleaning Products

Homemade Fabric Softeners

Top 10 Uses for Vinegar

PLUS: My laundry soap post has mysteriously disappeared.....so I will post the recipe again tomorrow!

P.S. If you came to the class last night, please leave any comments/questions. I'd love some feedback about the presentation. Thanks so much!

April Snow!

2010-04-06T01:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Winter! (You'd think at least by looking outside! LOL!)

To help with this "wintery" weather pass along in peace, I decided to blog about a snowman kit that was given to us as a gift this past winter. (The REAL winter, not this fake one that we are currently facing!)

SO, here is what it is....

(1) Basic felt hat. Simply sew the fabric into circles and add a nice brim.

(1) Felt scarf. SUPER easy! Cut felt into a long strip and clip the ends.

(8) or so.... Wooden circles with a hole in one end.

(8) or so dowels that will fit into the end of the wooden ball.

(1) can of black spray paint (paint the wooden balls and dowels black)

(1) plastic carrot

Snow!! My kiddos simply piled the snow in the yard and patted it firm.

Using the dowel/circle buttons, press them into the snow to make eyes, (a mouth, if desired) and buttons. Decorate the snowman using the remaining parts.

My kiddos LOVED this project in APRIL! Looking outside right now, it looks like we might be able to do it again tomorrow!

Happy Snowy Spring everyone!!

Great finds at Target!

2010-04-05T13:03:00.001-07:00

Once again, Target has proven itself to be a GREAT place for bargains! I hit the Riverdale store late this morning to find some Easter clearance. They had some fun "basket stuffers" for 50% off. My personal favorite finds were: Lego Duplo Farm sets for $1.49/each, See & Say for $2.49, and a new Tag book for Branson for $2.49. In addition to these great finds, their Blue Dot $1 toys are now 50% off! They had cookie cutters, books, notebooks, games, stickers, and more for just $.50! SOO fun!
In addition to Easter items, they had some of the Sparkling Grape Juice (white and purple) with the Easter stuff on "clearance" for $1.57 each. They are good until 2012! They even have coupons on them for $1.00 off of two, so it makes them an even better deal. I bought a few to keep for special occasions and just for fun!

While you are there, be sure to check out the standard "back-isle" clearance. I found some Make Your Own Keychain sets for $1.49, some FUN Color Wonder sets for $1.49, Color-your-own-tattoo kits for $1.49 and much more for 75% off!

Crafting SANITY!

2010-03-31T13:27:00.000-07:00

SO, I missed blogging yesterday....lets just say that I have been horrid sick since Monday morning and haven't felt like doing much lately. :oP

BUT, here I am today, looking at the mess that accumulated while mommy took a few days off! What a JOKE! I think the biggest joke of all is that my craft items, ie: laminator, book bindings, felt, sewing projects, etc, etc, etc. have no home! If my laptop was fixed, this is where I would download a picture of my pathetic "craft bin" in our room! (It would scare you--trust me!)

SO. This is where I need YOUR help!! What has worked for you as far as organizing your craft, sewing, project, etc. items in your home? Is there a trick or tip that you have found valuable in containing the clutter? If so, leave a comment at the end of this post. Hopefully we can all find some suggestions and solutions to help solve this craft dilemma!

Thanks so much!

Puzzle Pockets

2010-03-29T01:00:00.000-07:00

Some of you might have seen this on my Facebook page awhile back, but I thought this would be a better place to file it. :o)

Puzzles are a HUGE hit at our house, but keeping the pieces together is a chore. To remedy this, I used some felt and my sewing machine to make a pocket to store the pieces in.

Step One.
Measure your puzzle. Cut two pieces of felt to fit on the back of the board.
Make one piece 2 inches larger than the other. This will allow room to make the "flap" on the pocket.

Step Two.

Sew around the felt making a pocket. I used velcro to fasten my pocket. Make sure to leave a pleat in the fabric when sewing to allow proper room for the pieces to fit.
Using tacky glue, place the pocket on the back of the puzzle. Allow to dry overnight.

Step Three.

Once puzzle is dry, open pocket and place pieces inside!

Easy-peasy! These pockets have been a sanity-saver for this mommy. My kids know that they are expected to place all of the pieces back into the pocket when they are finished playing. We haven't lost a puzzle piece in months! Hurray!

FHE Scavenger Hunt

2010-03-26T01:00:00.000-07:00

One of our yearly goals is to hold a Family Home Evening for our children once a week. We usually try for Monday nights, but is doesn't always end up that way. :o) I have collected several Family Night books over the past six years, but we seem to have the most fun with lessons that I come up with in a pinch. (For a GREAT resource tool for families with young children, check out my previous post on the new Nursery Manual! We use this 2-3 times a month and the kids love it!)

Well, picture this if you will... It is 3:00pm on a Monday night. I haven't thought about dinner options, let alone a Family Night lesson. My children are sleeping (which is a RARE occurrence to get all three napping at once) and I am beginning to feel desperate. Thinking back to the previous week's FHE Lesson, I remembered how wild the kids were inside when it was so nice outside.

Alright, everyone see the picture??

My solution? I picture scavenger hunt! I quickly grabbed my camera and made my way inside, outside, upstairs and downstairs taking pictures of different objects. I then came inside and printed the pictures wallet size. Using my "quick-thinking" mode, I came up with little moral lessons for each object I had photographed. Here are a few examples....Clue #1. Our NASTY garden box!
We talked about "Following the Prophet" in his counsel to become self-reliant. We also talked about what we could do as a family to prepare our garden for the upcoming planting season.
Clue #2. Our Piano.
We talked about having good, uplifting music in our homes and cars. We sang a few of the kiddos favorite songs and hymns as a family.

Clue #3. The Mailbox.
We talked about how we can communicate with loved ones through the mail. We then referenced it to how prayer is communicating with our Heavenly Father and that we should do it often. We had the children color pictures for the grandparents and we sent them out in the mail the next day.

These are just a few of the 10 clues we had the kids find. Our last clue sent the kids to the temple picture in our front room. We then talked about how families can be together forever and the importance of temples. Behind the picture we hid $10.00. We then took the money and drove to Farr's Ice cream (which is across the street from the Ogden Temple,) and had a yummy FHE treat while enjoying talking about the temple.

Our children thoroughly enjoyed this activity, as did my husband and I. It was a BLAST because they didn't need to be able to read in order to participate and find the clues. You could use this same idea for days when the kids are restless and bored!

Bonus post!

2010-03-25T08:05:00.000-07:00

Just had to share! Farr's Ice cream in Ogden (Behind the Temple) is having their 90th Anniversary TODAY, tomorrow and Saturday!

To celebrate, they are having vanilla ice cream cones for $.05 each scoop!! Flavored scoops are $.90 each. They also have "vintage" ice cream quarts in vanilla, orange sherbet and pineapple sherbet for $.90 each!

PLUS! FREE coloring books for the kids! FREE gift certificates given out hourly!
Tour their 1929 Delivery truck and try their new "Blue Moon Vanilla" ice cream flavor!
Commemorative 4 qt. Ice Cream cartons are just $4.99!
This si sure to be a FUN, but busy event! If you've ever been to Farr's, you know that it is crowded regardless of the time of day...so go early in the day and just expect a wait. Have fun!!

Mr. Potato Head

2010-03-25T01:15:00.000-07:00

Hello again!

This was posted on my Facebook page awhile back as well, but I wanted to share it here in case you missed it!

I made some felt Mr. Potato Head dolls for my kids to play with in church and in the car. They have absolutely LOVED them! They were super easy and lots of fun to make. I hope you enjoy them.

I am not going to be super-detailed in the directions, as they are pretty self-explanatory. Please comment if you have any questions! Thanks so much!

Step One.
Make a pattern for your Potato Head using paper. Be sure to make a pattern for the back pocket as well. Trace patterns on to basic felt and cut out.

Mark where you would like your "parts" to connect to on your doll. Sew velcro to these locations.

Now, sew the potato together and add stuffing.

Step Two.

Make your body parts! Have fun with this part. I made four sets of eyes, four noses, five mouths, three pairs of ears and two arms for each Potato Head. I also left room in my back pocket to add more pieces later.Step Three.
Have fun and play with your new Potato Head!

I am going to be making up a bunch of these to have on hand for birthday gifts for my kids' friends! (So if your kiddos play with mine, just know you will probably end up with one of these little guys before too long! LOL.)

Sanity Savers

2010-03-24T01:46:00.000-07:00

I am going to occasionally blog about some products that are "Sanity Savers" on those days when your kids are driving you nuts! (Yes, we can all admit that we have those days!)

Please understand that I am not telling you to go out and buy any of these products, but I will give reviews on the items that I blog about. I hope you enjoy it!

First up....

Window Markers!!Crayola makes these WONDERFUL little markers that work so well on windows. They run about $3.50 for a box of 8. I purchased mine at Target, but have also seen them at Walmart and Robert's Crafts.

When I first purchased these, I wasn't sure how the kids would react. I opened the front room blinds and handed the kids the box and told them to draw! They LOVED it! The first day using them, they colored on the windows for 35 minutes!

NOW, the pros and cons.
First up. Pros.
1. Promotes creativity
2. Gives mom a break while the kids have some "art time."
3. You windows get washed and cleaned when they are done!
4. They are inexpensive.

Cons.
1. They dry out VERY easily. My boys didn't snap the lids tight on two markers and they were dried out the next morning. :o(
2. You have to wash the windows a few times to get them all the way clean.
They come off very easily, but leave a light "film" on the windows that you will need to clean off after the bulk of the color is gone.

I hope you have enjoyed this first-ever Sanity Saver review! Keep checking back for some other great products that ever mom shouldn't be living without!

Game Deals at Target

2010-03-23T11:15:00.000-07:00

Just an FYI!

Target has Connect Four and Monopoly for $7.00 this week. In Sunday's paper, there were $4 off and $5 off coupons for the games, respectively. That makes them $3.00 and $2.00 each! An AMAZING deal! I have four extra of each coupon if you want one. Just send me a quick note! Happy Shopping!

Birthday Party Help!

2010-03-23T01:59:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!

My Branson will be turning 3 in two months!! I can't believe how time flies by! For his birthday party this year, he wants a "Buzz Lightyearl" theme.
As most of you know, I tend to go overboard on the party part....BUT, I am trying to stick more to a budget this year and not buy so much "pre-made" stuff.
I also will be loosing two weeks of prep-time because of our Disneyland trip! (YAY!)

So this is where I need your help! Please comment with your ideas and thoughts for his upcoming party. Specifically, I need some cake ideas!

To give you an idea of what I have done for "themed" parties in the past, here is a picture of my Aiden's 4th birthday cake. Notice that I don't do my own characters! :o)

SO, if you have any ideas for a Buzz Themed cake that wouldn't be just green frosting and a plastic figurine on top, (because that is all I have come up with,) shoot 'em my way!

Thanks SO much!!! I can't wait to see your ideas.

Toy Story DVD Packs

2010-03-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

Hello! How was everyone's weekend? Mine went WAY to fast! We found out that the mother board on my laptop is FRIED and needs to be replaced....thus loosing all of my photo-editing software, word processing software, etc. :oP The good news is that I still have our desktop computer, thanks to my amazing Uncle Jon!! I also had photography appointments, yard work, house work and the like. Sometimes I wish the weekends started on Friday mornings! LOL.

SO....if any of you are planning on purchasing the new Blu-Ray/DVD combo packs of Toy Story and Toy Story 2, be sure to print out your $5 off coupon here.
If you purchase both DVD's at Toys R Us for $21.99 each, you will get an additional $10 off plus the two $5 off coupons....making BOTH DVD's only $23.98 plus tax!! Excellent deal! (If you aren't up to driving out to Layton for Toys R Us, the DVD's are $22.99 at Target--PLUS you get a CD-ROM game and free movie ticket to Toy Story 3! This is what we are going to be doing first thing Tuesday morning.)

We are planning on purchasing them for our Disneyland trip as "reward prizes." I will post later in the week about our incentive program for the drive.

Well, this was a quick post for today....I am going to attempt to get some pictures loaded for posts later this week. Have a fantastic Monday everyone!!

P.S. Don't forget to look back at my St. Patrick's Day post for pictures! (Finally!)

Weekend Break

2010-03-19T15:21:00.000-07:00

Hello! Like before, I am going to be taking weekends off from blogging...BUT will be back in full swing on Monday! I am hoping to have my laptop back by then to start downloading some fun pictures. Hope to see you back on Monday!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!

Project Disneyland

2010-03-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, we are planning our first-ever Disneyland trip this coming April. We are so excited and can hardly wait!

First up on our "adventure" list is an art-board for the car. My boys LOVE to color and draw, and this was the perfect, inexpensive solution, to help them stay organized during the drive.

Supplies Needed:

Clipboards (I found mine at the Dollar Store!)

12x12 sheet of paper

Mod Podge

Paint Brush

(2) sheets of felt

Velcro

Elastic

Tacky Glue

Sewing Machine

1. Cut your scrapbook paper to fit the front of the clipboard. Simply trace the outline of the clipboard after laying on top of the paper. Cut out a notch for the "clip" part.

2. Using the paint brush, apply the mod podge to the board evenly. Place the paper on the board and smooth down until no bubbles appear. Let sit 10-15 minutes.

3. Now, apply mod podge to the top of the paper. I used a hard coat Mod Podge so it would be waterproof and I could clean the board if needed, but any type will do.

4. Set wet board aside to dry. (You can apply a second coat in 15-20 minutes if desired.)

NOW....

5. Using your felt, decide how you want to design the back of your clipboard. I made a larger pocket on the bottom for colored pencils, a smaller pocket for the pencil sharpener and the elastic for their markers. You can choose to do yours however you'd like!

Here are the the pieces before I sewed them all together.

6. Sew the pockets and elastic in place. (I put a small pleat in each pocket to allow expansion room for the contents. This makes it easier to fit the items inside.)

7. Using tacky glue (or another type of glue,) apply the felt to the back of your clipboard once it is dry. Let sit overnight before "messing" with the pockets.

THAT'S IT! Easy, right?

Hope you enjoy it!!

St. Patrick's Day: Part Two

2010-03-16T19:09:00.001-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

I love any excuse to celebrate the fun, simple things in life. Today is the perfect example of one of those days!

We started our adventures yesterday with the Leprechaun Trap post. Prior to this week, my kids were unaware of that St. Patrick's Day even existed. We started the week by telling stories about leprechauns, rainbows, pots of gold and wearing green things. The light and magic I saw in the eyes of my children will always be remembered.

Today, we made green jello-jigglers to enjoy as a family. I used a family recipe from Nick's grandma (G.G.) It is super simple and fun. Here is it...

(1) box, Knox unflavored gelatin. (each box has 4 packets inside)

(3) small boxes of flavored jello

4 cups boiling water

9x13 pan

Mix gelatin and jello together. Add 2 cups of boiling water and stir for 3-5 minutes. Slowly add the remaining boiling water. Pour into a 9x13 pan. Refrigerate overnight. Cut into squares and enjoy!!

When the kids woke up, they ran to their leprechaun traps. They were thrilled to find REAL Leprechaun gold coins in their traps. We figured that the leprechauns were too smart for us this time and they must have spilled some of their gold while running away.

For dinner, we had "Pot-O-Gold" Pockets (Chicken Pockets,) Irish Hay (rice-a-roni,) gold nuggets (corn,) and green jigglers. For dessert, I made green cinnamon rolls. YUM!
I hope your St. Patrick's day was a fantastic, fun one! I hope to have the pictures up and loaded as soon as my computer gets back from the shop. :o)

I'm Back!

2010-03-16T19:01:00.000-07:00

As life has proved itself to be, once again, somewhat manageable, I have decided to respond to the numerous, weekly emails to start up my blog again. :o)

To help keep this thing under control, my blog will be a little different format than in months past. I will blog about our daily activities (with or without pictures,) as well as provide tutorials for the projects that we make. I hope you find it enjoyable and invite your friends to take a look too! Comments are encouraged and most welcome!!

NOW...let's get started on a fun St. Patrick's Day project!

St. Patrick's Day

2010-03-16T18:44:00.001-07:00

St. Patrick's Day is the perfect opportunity to have some fun with the kiddos. This year, we decided to make Leprechaun Traps!

Aiden made a "rainbow ladder" for the leprechaun to climb up. In Aiden's words, "The leprechaun will like my rainbow colors and climb in to see what's inside. Then he can't climb out because the ladder is on the outside!" That is one smart kid if you ask me!

While helping Aiden cut some felt for his trap, Branson decided that the jumbo ink pads were just the right size for his hands to fit on....This is the result.

Notice the perfect hand prints on his cheeks. Too cute!

Now, back to the traps.... When we were finished with our traps, we put chocolate gold coins inside the trap to lure the leprechauns to the trap. We are hoping that we can catch one of the little buggers overnight! Check back to see our results....

Focus..Focus...Focus...

2009-09-29T01:17:00.000-07:00

As life tends to throw curve balls, I have found myself rethinking how I spend my time as a mother. Every day is piled with "obligations" and appointments. This past weekend, my sweet Aiden said, "Mom, can I miss preschool tomorrow and just go to the Dinosaur Park with you?" I have realized that life sometimes spirals out of control to the point that the things you plan to "enrich" your children's lives ends up overshadowing what is really important: quality time as a family. With that said, I am going to be taking a break for a week or so to reevaluate my time and what I should be doing. May you be blessed in all that you achieve. I look forward to posting again.

Ham Fried Rice

2009-09-28T01:57:00.000-07:00

I LOVE Chinese food, but often can't afford take-out. To remedy this, I have started making my own Chinese. One of my favorite recipes is ham fried rice. It is so easy to make and my family gobbles it up! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Ingredients.

Rice, cooked and cooled. (Refrigerate for 2-3 hours until cold)

Green onions, cut into small pieces

Ham, deli sliced and cubed

2 Eggs

Soy Sauce

1 pkg. fried rice seasoning

Any other vegetables you'd like (more restaurants use peas and carrots, but my family isn't a huge fan. Feel free to use what your family will eat.)

1. Start by cooking your rice. I usually use 2 cups of dry rice. This will make PLENTY! Once the rice is cooked, spread in a 9x13 pan. Place in fridge to cool.

2. Once rice is cooled, place in a large wok or deep pan. Add green onions and other vegetables.

3. While mixing the rice and vegetables, add the fried rice seasoning packet. (I only use about 1/2 a package. You may use more or less according to your tastes.)

4. Add soy sauce to the rice mixture. This is your decision on how much to add. I usually add 1-3 teaspoons.

5. Now, push rice to the sides of the pan, leaving a hole in the center. Crack open the eggs and put in pan. Scramble the eggs and allow to fully cook. Mix into the rice.

6. Add the ham. Continue cooking rice until everything is warm.

7. Serve warm. Enjoy!

Fairy Skirt

2009-09-25T01:13:00.000-07:00

Here is another quick Halloween costume starter. I made this one for Caitlyn's fairy costume. Be creative and add as many layers as you'd like. This one is fairly short in length because Caitlyn isn't walking yet, but I'm sure a really long one would be SO fun for your little princess.

1. I started by measuring Caitlyn's waist. Then, using 3/4 inch elastic, I sewed it into a loop.2. Next, I folded up some tulle and cut it into 3 inch wide strips. (Watch the remnant bins for tulle. You won't need very much, and the bargain price can't be beat!)

3. Take the elastic ring and stretch over the back of a chair to give you space to work. (I used a small children's chair for this one, as the elastic was too small to fit over our kitchen chairs.)

4. Now, fold the strips in half and tie around the elastic band. (Take the tulle strip, fold in half and pull through the loop made when you folded it.) I doubled up my strips to add fullness to the skirt. Repeat this process until the elastic band is completely covered.

5. Remove the elastic from the chair. Tighten the tulle strips by hand. I added some small 1 1/2 inch wide strips of pink to accent the skirt.

I am using the purple butterfly wings that I bought for Caitlyn's birth announcements with this costume. I also used the leftover tulle strips and made a large bow. I am going to make a headband and attach the bow using a clip. Happy Halloween!

Bucket Ghost

2009-09-24T00:25:00.000-07:00

I decided that this year I would decorate our yard for Halloween. My kiddos are SO excited to see what kind of projects we come up with. Here is the ghost we made today. We are going to make 7 of these to hang from our front porch. I hope you enjoy it!

Items Needed:

1 gallon bucket

Electrical Tape

White garbage bag

Wire snips

Drill with 5/32 drill bit

Instructions.

1. Using the wire snips, clip the side of the bucket to remove the handle. Set handle aside.

2. Turn bucket over. Using the drill and drill bit, make new holes for the handle.
3. Attach handle in new holes.

4. Take the electrical tape and make eyes and a mouth. Place on bucket.

5. Tape the garbage bag on the inside of the bucket. Cut into strips.

6. Hang outside to welcome your ghosts and goblins!

Chicken Cordon Bleu Bake

2009-09-23T02:34:00.000-07:00

I have a great friend who has a wonderful blog. I recently tried out a recipe posted on her blog. It was a Chicken Cordon Bleu Bake. Let me tell you--it was AMAZING! The best part is that is makes two full 9x13 pans. I ended up cooking one pan for my family and freezing the other one for later. I decided that instead of taking the time to retype her recipe, I would just link the recipe for you. Take a minute and search her older recipe posts. You are sure to find something amazing to try! Happy cooking.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Bake

Board Book: Part Two

2009-09-22T01:59:00.000-07:00

I have gotten quite a few questions about the board book project that I posted previously. I must admit, it is taking me a lot longer than I had anticipated due to the fact that I must work on the pages during nap time (which is almost non-existent in our home right now.)

SO, to help answer your emails, here is what I am doing with the board books: I-Spy books for Christmas. Here is a preview of some of the pages for the book.

These photos are a 7x7 format, so they will fit nicely on the board book pages. Since my boys can't read on their own and I want these books to be "quite books," I decided to use pictures for the finding page, rather than words. Below is the second page for the book. I'll post more photos as I finish them. I am doing a "toys" page, a "lego" page, a "book page" and many more! Hope this inspires you to find a use for the blank board books. Enjoy!

Costume: Train

2009-09-21T01:26:00.000-07:00

With Halloween just around the corner, I decided to post some ideas for fun, quick, inexpensive costumes. I don't have pictures of each step, as I did these long before I had a blog. Feel free to ask questions if something doesn't make sense.

Choo-Choo Train

(2) cardboard boxes.

(You will need a larger box for the main part of the train and a smaller one for the front of the train.)

(1) Empty oatmeal container

(2) Empty butter or margarine tub, with lids

(1) Margarine or butter tub lids

(2) Small bowl lids

Electrical Tape

Spray Paint

Yellow Construction Paper

Duct Tape

1. Spray paint the two cardboard boxes in the same color. (I used blue)

2. Spray paint the oatmeal and butter container silver.

3. Using a sharp knife, cut off the top half of the oatmeal container. I cut off approx. 4 inches from mine.

4. Using duct tape or construction adhesive, attach the two boxes together to form the body of the train.

5. Remove the flaps from the larger box so your child can stand inside.

6. Spray paint the margarine tub lids and the two small lids. After they have dried, use electrical tape and form the spokes on the wheels.

7. Now, using electrical tape, attach the painted margarine tub to the top of the oatmeal tube (use the larger piece of the tube. This will form your smoke stack.)

8. Attach the smoke stack to the smaller cardboard box.

9. Take the remaining piece of oatmeal tube and measure the lid. Cut a piece of yellow construction paper to fit inside the lid. Place lid on the container. Now, attach the container to the front of the smaller box to form the head light.

10. Attach wheels to boxes using construction adhesive or duct tape.

11. Form straps from duct tape folding duct tape in half so no sticky sides are out. Attach straps to the inside of the larger box.

12. Decorate the train with any other things you'd like.

13. Complete the look: wear some overalls and a bandanna. Our great neighbor let us borrow a real train conductor's light for trick-or-treating. It was lots of fun!

P.S. If you want some cute photos of your little ones in their costumes, check out my blog for a great special. www.smith-family-photography.blogspot.com

Freezer Peaches

2009-09-18T01:41:00.000-07:00

After my apple post, I received several emails with questions regarding how to freeze peaches. The process is much the same, but a little more effort is required to remove the skins.

Here is the process:

Wash the peaches in luke-warm water.

Boil a pot of water.

Dunk the peaches in the boiling water for 30-45 seconds.

Remove from boiling water.

Place peaches into a tub of ice water.

The skins should peel off easily.

After removing skins, slice peaches and remove pits.

Prepare the syrup as listed in the apple post.

Let syrup cool.

Place sliced peaches in freezer safe containers.

Pour cooled syrup over peaches to cover.

Freeze as usual.

When getting ready to use peaches, drain off syrup. Enjoy!

2009-09-17T07:00:00.001-07:00

Well today I....ummm.....yeah.....OK, I got nothin'. When my brain freeze is over, I will post again! Hope your day is FANTASTIC!

Freezing Apples

2009-09-16T01:52:00.000-07:00

Apples are in rich abundance this season. My family loves eating them year round in cobblers and pies, but we often can't afford the higher prices on apples later in the season. To remedy this, I called up my "idea-rich" daddy and asked him how he freezes his apples for later use. Here is the recipe. There won't be any pictures added until later, as our apples aren't quite ready for pickin' yet. Hope you enjoy it.

Items Needed:

Apples: peeled, cored and sliced

2 qts. water

4 cups sugar

Add water and sugar to large pot. Bring to rolling boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add apples to plastic freezer containers. Pour liquid over apples, leaving 1/2 inch head space for expansion. Place in freezer. When getting ready to use, defrost apples, drain liquid and use in pies, cobblers or any other recipe that calls for apples. Enjoy!

Chicken Tip

2009-09-15T01:32:00.000-07:00

With the case lot sales starting this week, many people become overwhelmed with the thought of buying 40lbs. of chicken, but still don't want to pass up the great price. Last case lot sale, I purchased 80, yes, 80lbs. of fresh boneless, skinless chicken breasts. (Who could pass up $1 per pound?) To make my purchase worthwhile, this is what I do....

1. Place 8-12 chicken breasts in a crock pot (more or less depending on the size of the crock pot.)

2. Turn on low heat and cook for 6-8 hours.

3. Pour entire contents (meat and juices) into a kitchen-aid mixer.

4. Using the paddle attachment, turn on the machine to shred the chicken.

5. Remove shredded chicken from mixer bowl.

6. Measure in to vacuum seal freezer bags and freeze for later use.

This has been a LIFESAVER for my family. It saves so much time and mess later on. You can also remove some chicken before it is completely falling apart and cube it. Freeze as mentioned above for later use.

Closet Bow Hanger

2009-09-14T01:20:00.000-07:00

As a newcomer to the whole "baby girl" thing, I have found myself with lots and lots of hair bows and headbands that need a home. I have seen the bow hangers that go on the wall, but I don't want to make the kids' room too "girly," as all three of my kids are in the same room right now. So, after a few days of thinking, this is what I came up with: a closet hair bow hanger. This was my prototype and ended up being a little more frilly that I'd like, but I used what I had on hand...so use some better colors and fabric when making yours!

Items Needed:

Empty formula can

Fun paper

Ribbon

10" fabric

1. I started with the liner for this project. (Just to remind you, I am NOT a seamstress. I have never sewn anything like this before....so I'm sure there is a better way out there to do it.)

*There will be no instructions for this, as I just winged-it! Feel free to ask any questions.*

2. After sewing the liner, I threaded ribbon through the top seam in the bag. I used a safety pin to guide the ribbon.

3. Using some ribbon, I fastened two LONG strips on each side of the can. I then covered the can with paper.

4. Add the liner to the can.

5. Take the two long strips of ribbon and tie around the closet bar.

6. Attach bows to ribbons and place headbands in the can.

Cereal Box Paper File

2009-09-11T01:19:00.000-07:00

In an effort to become more organized, I have been looking for inspiration to help keep everyday items out of the way. I have seen these everywhere, but have never taken the time to make my own....until now. This paper file is for my preschool construction paper. I plan on making some retro ones for my bills, papers, etc.

Items Needed.

Empty Cereal Box

Scissors

Scrapbook paper or wrapping paper

Glue stick or double-sided tape

1. Cut one side of the cereal box on an angle to form the edge.

2. After cutting one side of the box, take the piece that you cut out and lay it on the opposite side of the box to form a template. This will ensure that your edges are the same.

3. You now have the basic shape for your paper file.

4. Using scrapbook or wrapping paper, cover your box with the paper. Do NOT use liquid glue to cover the box. Your paper will warp and bubble. I used scrapbook adhesive tape to cover my box.

5. That's it. Mine is really simple and basic, but it would be fun to add embellishments, ribbons or fun tags to yours!

Whipped Tub Paints

2009-09-10T01:38:00.000-07:00

My boys love, love, LOVE the tub. One of their favorite things to play with is colored shaving cream, but it can get expensive. I decided to "whip" up our own colored tub paints to replace the shaving cream in a can. It took a few times trying out different ingredients, but in the end, simple and easy always seems to win out. Plus, these paints smell great and the kiddos get squeaky clean while having fun. I hope you enjoy this recipe.

Items Needed:

(1) bar of soap

1/2 c. warm water

Food Coloring

Cheese grater

Food processor

Plastic cups

Electric mixer

1. Take the bar of soap and grate into a bowl.

2. Take the shaved pieces of soap and place in a food processor. Blend until soap is a fine powder. 3. Pour 1/2 c. warm water in to a large mixing bowl. Slowly add 1/4 c. of the soap flakes while beating with the mixer.

4. Continue to beat until mixture resembles whipped egg whites.
5. Spoon soap mixture into individual cups.

6. Color as desired. (I used 2-3 drops of coloring per cup.)

7. Now, GO HAVE FUN!

Taco Bake

2009-09-09T04:25:00.000-07:00

Quick and easy seems to be the theme at our busy home lately. Dinners tend to fall into this category quite often when my husband is out of town. The following recipe is one from my Aunt Liz that I have loved since I was a child. My own children now love it and it is so easy to make! Enjoy!

Taco Bake

1 lb. hamburger, browned

2 cans tomato soup

1 pkg. taco seasoning

2 soup cans of water

1 bag nacho cheese chips, crushed

Shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 35o degrees. Brown hamburger, rinse well in hot water. Return to pan and mix with taco seasoning until well coated. In a baking pan (I use a 9x13 glass pyrex dish,) mix hamburger, 2 cans of tomato soup and 2 soup cans full of water. Add grated cheese and chips. Mix well. Add more grated cheese on top. Cook for 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted.

*Fast-n-easy tip. I precook my hamburger, rinse it really well under hot water, lay out on a paper towel to remove excess water and then measure in to 1c. portions and freeze. This way, I can just grab a bag of meat from the freezer and begin cooking. It saves a lot of time, energy and mess! I use the frozen meat for tacos, spaghetti, enchiladas and more!

Preschool: Squares

2009-09-08T01:13:00.000-07:00

My boys are starting preschool this week and we couldn't be more excited. My Aiden is going to a preschool two days a week and I am going to be team teaching with some great moms for Branson's preschool. In an effort to be prepared for our lesson this week, I thought I'd share some ideas for our weekly theme: squares. There are so many fun ideas to choose from, so I'll just post a few for you to enjoy. (The target age for the lesson is 2-3yrs.)

Square Songs.

1. Using large, square cutout shapes, sing the following song:

"Put your square in the air,

Hold it high and keep it there.

Put your square shape on your back,

Now put it on your lap.

Put your square shape on your toes,

Now hold it on your nose.

Hold your square shape in your hand,

Now everyone will please stand.

Wave your square shape at the door,

Now lay it on the floor.

Hold it high and jump, jump, jump

Now throw it way, way up!"

Square Crafts.

1. Using colorful paper, cut out several different sizes of squares. Let the children glue or tape them on a white paper to form a picture. Show them before hand a sample of square flowers, houses, people, etc. Let their imaginations run wild!

2. Take four craft popsicle sticks and form a square. Let them decorate it with markers, foam stickers, pom-poms, etc. You can use it as picture frame for their square craft listed above, or you can take their photo and place in the square.

3. Using inexpensive sponges, cut them into squares. Allow the children to sponge-paint squares onto paper.

4. Take a cutout square and glue it to a craft stick. Put eyes, a nose, mouth and hair on the square to make it a stick puppet.

Square Activities.

1. Tape squares on the ground in a line or circle. Let them hop, crawl, run, etc. on the squares. You can also play a cake-walk type game with the squares.

2. Hide square objects or cutouts around the room before class. Let the children run around and find all of the squares in the room. Have them place them on a table for everyone to talk about.

3. Take turns holding up everyday objects and ask, "Is this a square? How do you know?"

In addition to some of the ideas above, we will be tracing squares, counting the sides on a square, learning that a square has equal sides and we will have some square snacks. Have fun with your children and teach them the great things about squares!

Oobleck

2009-09-07T15:00:00.000-07:00

It will soon become evident that I LOVE Dr. Suess books. On a recent reading adventure, my children and I read "Bartholomew and the Oobleck." My boys got the biggest kick out of the sticky oobleck in the story. I decided to make them some of their own oobleck to play with. I hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients:

(2) plastic cups

Stirring stick (I used a popsicle stick)

Water

20 Mule Team Borax

Food Coloring (optional)

School Glue

2 liter bottle

1. Start by measuring out equal parts of glue and water in separate cups. You can decide how much you would like--just make sure that you have a 50/50 ratio. Set aside.

2. Using the 2 liter bottle, add 1 cup of the borax. Fill bottle 3/4 of the way full with water. Shake bottle for 5 minutes until borax is dissolved.

3. Now, using the glue and water previously measured out, combine them together into one cup. Add food coloring if desired. Mix well using stirring stick.

4. Here comes the fun part! Slowly add the borax solution a few drops at a time while stirring. The mixture will instantly begin to thicken.

5. Continue adding borax until oobleck is the consistency you'd like. (I did mine really stiff so it won't stick to carpets, tables, clothes, etc.)

6. Remove oobleck from stirring stick. Rinse under cold water.

7. Play away! Enjoy this fun recipe!

*DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN TO EAT! BORAX IS TOXIC IF SWALLOWED. ADULT SUPERVISION IS REQUIRED WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.

P.S. Borax will be used in a future post on making your own laundry soap! Keep it handy for later.

Late Posting

2009-09-07T00:02:00.000-07:00

Hello Readers! I am burned out from a busy weekend. The result of this is that there will be no post until later today. I don't have the energy to stay up and do my typical 1am posting tonight! LOL. Thank you for keeping up with this blog. I look forward to seeing your comments on future posts. Have a fantastic Labor Day!!

Menu Planning

2009-09-04T00:36:00.000-07:00

With new changes in our family budget, it has become even more essential that I plan out our meals. This simple practice cuts down on buying prepackaged foods on impulse when shopping at the store. Here are a few tips for menu planning:

1. Check the ads. Look for items that are on sale or that you have coupons for. Plan your meals around these items.

2. Keep the "basics" in stock. These items can be: cream soups, pasta, beans, canned veggies, and flour, sugar, salt, etc. Having these items on hand can enhance any meal and add variety to your diet.

3. Plan multi-meals. I am all for cheap and easy meals. To help with this, I often cook more than I need of an item and use it on more than one day. For example: I will cook a pork roast on Monday and serve with potatoes, carrots, etc. I then take the leftovers, shred them and make sweet pork salads the next day. This gives us variety to our meals, but half of the work!

4. Stick to your menu plan. This is perhaps the hardest thing for me. My moods change almost daily and this can change how I feel about cooking. I have learned that I need to stick to the plan and follow through with our menu to stay within our budget.

5. Organize your menu list. I found a free pdf file for writing down your menus for the week. It can be found here or you can make your own.

6. Make your shopping list for the week of meals you have planned. If you prefer to shop twice a month or even once a month, make sure that you have planned out meals for the entire time. For fresh produce, make a note on your shopping list and plan to pick up ONLY the items that are perishable at the store during the week that you are going to use them.

7. Review old recipe books. I find that I get in a "recipe rut" when cooking. I tend to stick to the same 5 or 6 meals that I am confident in making. You'd be surprised how many great recipes you can find when looking through your cook books. Also, be adventurous and try a new recipe once or twice a month. You might find a new favorite!

Anyway you look at it, menu planning can enhance your dinner experience. Try a few different ways and plan what works for you. Good Luck!

A Birthday Tradition

2009-09-03T01:29:00.000-07:00

As a very sentimental person, I often think of ways to incorporate special meanings in everyday objects. Clutter and knick-knacks cause stress in my home, so when thinking of ways for my children to remember their birthdays and those who came, a practical solution was a no-brainer. My husband and I decided to start a "birthday book" tradition with our children.

For our children, we have chosen the theme of Dr. Seuss books. I grew up with Dr. Seuss books and my children are quickly falling in love with them as well.

This is how our birthday book tradition goes... Each year on their birthday, I purchase a Dr. Suess book from the store. (Watch Kohls carefully. About twice a year they have a $5 book sale for their charity program. At least one of the two times the books will be Dr. Suess. They typically have a selection of 3-4 books to choose from. I buy one of each and keep for upcoming birthdays. If you miss the Kohls sale, shop online. Amazon has great deals on books and often their are coupon codes and free shipping deals monthly.)

At the start of the party, I lay the book down on the table and announce that we would like everyone to write a special message to the birthday boy or girl in the book. Let your guests be creative--some write on the front/back pages, while others choose a special page in the book that matches their personality. Make sure all guests write a special message. My boys have had so much fun with their birthday book tradition so far. When we read our nightly stories, they frequently choose their special birthday books. Sometimes, we skip the story and just read the special messages from those we love. I can't wait to see how many great birthday books we come up with in the future!

*If you want to start your own birthday book tradition, Dr. Suess has some great books to get you started. For our very first birthday book, we used "Happy Birthday to You." It is a FANTASTIC Dr. Suess book that most have never heard of. You are sure to love it!

A few other great Dr. Suess books that are less familiar, but are some of my favorite, are: "Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?" and "I Wish that I Had Duck Feet."

Happy Reading!

Felt Food

2009-09-02T02:16:00.000-07:00

One of the many home made Christmas gifts I am making for my kiddos this year is felt food. We have been working on a playroom downstairs, and eventually it will have its very own kitchen for my kiddos to play in. So...thinking ahead to this time, I decided to make them some felt food to play with. Now, keep in mind that I haven't been sewing for more than a week and my skills are severely lacking.....BUT, hopefully you can at least get the idea of how this all works and make your own using your amazing sewing skills!

Here are the two types of food that I made this week: orange slices and fried eggs.

Orange Slice.

Take two circles of felt in different sizes. I used orange for the larger circle and yellow for the smaller circle. Cut the small circle in half.

Using a straight stitch, sew the small half-circle to the larger circle, as shown below. Repeat this process for both half circles. Next, sew "slice" lines along the yellow half-circles.

Fold in half. I then used a zig-zag type stitch to close up the orange slice to resemble a rind.

For the fried egg, I just cut out an egg shape using white felt. I then cut out a small circle out of yellow felt. Using a straight stitch, sew the yellow circle to the white felt. Leave an opening to stuff a small amount of batting to make the yolk of the egg. Close the opening with a straight stitch. Finally, sew around the edge of the egg to give it a finished look. I made 6 of each for my kiddos to play with. Feel free to alter this however you'd like. Be sure to check back later for more felt fun. Such as... bacon, sandwiches, pizza, fruits, and more!

More Fondant Fun

2009-09-01T02:00:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, my Aiden turned 4 this month. For his party, we wanted a Spiderman theme. This required me to think outside the box for his birthday cake, as I like my children's' birthday cakes to be different from the usual. Here is what I came up with. I hope you find inspiration from this post and that you become adventurous and try fondant out for yourself! For the "buildings" , I baked (2) 9x13 and (2) 8" cakes. I did the bottom cakes white and the top cakes chocolate to add variety. After trimming the cakes, I stacked them together using frosting.

Using the colored fondant that I made prior to baking the cakes, I rolled the fondant out to a size large enough to cover the bottom cake. *For larger cakes, this quickly becomes a 2-person job. To prevent the fondant from tearing when transferring, have a helper handy! I used a great friend, Desirea, who also made the yummy frosting to hold the cakes together. Thanks Des!*

After covering both cakes, I stacked them on top of each other. (Straws were inserted into the cake base underneath the fondant to add stability.)

For the windows on the building, I rolled out black, white and yellow fondant. I sprinkle corn starch on the counter tops to prevent sticking. Using a sharp, non-serrated knife, cut out the shapes. Place shapes, uncovered, on a corn starch coated cookie sheet. Let sit out overnight for best results.

After pieces have sat overnight, use frosting to attach to the base cake. I then used some black icing to pipe the spiderweb on top of the cake. For added decoration, I also put spiderwebs on the candle holders.

This cake was SO much fun to make. It turned out great and it ended up being different from the "normal" party cake. Fondant seems scary to most people, but it is a lot of fun once you get the hang of it!

"Chicken-Cow Place Nuggets"

2009-08-31T01:45:00.000-07:00

If you were to ask my boys where they love to eat, they would both say in unison: "The Chicken-Cow Place!" (Chick-fil-a.) As you can imagine, with a strict budget, eating out can become very expensive. To fix this dilemma, I started making our own nuggets like those served at the "Chicken-Cow Place." I hope your kiddos enjoy them as much as mine do!

Home style Chicken Nuggets

Ingredients.

Chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces

1 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. seasoned salt

Sesame seeds (optional)

1/2 c. margarine or butter, melted

1/2 c. milk

1 egg

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Using a baking sheet (I use a large stoneware pan,) pour 3/4 of melted margarine on to bottom of pan. Spread evenly.

Mix all dry ingredients together in a gallon ziploc bag. In a medium sized bowl, mix milk and egg. Next, dip cut up chicken pieces into egg mixture. Transfer chicken to ziploc bag. Shake to coat chicken generously.

Remove chicken from ziploc bag. Place on butter-coated baking sheet. Place in oven for 35-40 minutes. Halfway through baking time, remove the chicken from the oven. If there are any dry patches of flour on the chicken, use the remaining butter to coat. Watch closely. Baking times will vary depending on the size of the chicken pieces.

I obviously didn't watch mine closely enough! LOL.*

These nuggets are great with home made rice-a-roni, corn, and a yummy dipping sauce. I usually mix honey and ketchup in a small bowl to make the dipping sauce. My kiddos (and hubby) eat these right up! They are a huge hit at our house. Enjoy!

Weekday Blog

2009-08-29T01:06:00.000-07:00

So...I am turning this into a "weekday blog." Weekends have quickly become a time to catch up on everything that has piled up over the week. To help alleviate some stress, I will now have postings M-F and will take a break on Saturday and Sunday. I hope you are enjoying this blog so far! Happy Reading!

Finger Paints

2009-08-28T00:53:00.000-07:00

We LOVE doing art projects in our family. Here is a new favorite for my kiddos: finger paints. This recipe is super easy and lots of fun.

*Make sure mixture cools completely before giving it to children.*

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

4 cups water

Food coloring

Dish Soap

Small containers

1. Combine flour and 1 1/2 c. water in a medium saucepan. Mix well until smooth.

2. Slowly add remaining water

3. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture reaches a full rolling boil.

4. Hard boil for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat.

*Mixture will resemble thick gravy or vanilla pudding.* 5. Cool COMPLETELY. Once cooled, pour mixture into small containers.

6. Add 1-2 drops of food coloring and 1 drop of dish soap to each cup.

7. Mix well.

Let the kiddos have fun! We use these to teach our children about colors. They love to mix the red and blue to see what it makes. Turn fun moments into teaching moments!
The Master Painters hard at work!

Stilts

2009-08-27T00:35:00.000-07:00

On rainy days, my kiddos and I pull out our craft bins to find something fun to do. Here is what we made today: stilts!

Items Needed:
(2) Empty Formula Cans w/lids

Ribbon

Scrapbook Paper

Scissors

Glue or Tape

1. Take the empty formula cans and remove the labels.

2. Next, place lid on can. Now, take a long piece of ribbon and tape the center to the lid.

3. Turn can over. You should have two pieces of ribbon--one on each side of the can. Take each piece individually and tape to the side of the can near the top. 4. Cut scrapbook paper to fit around the can. Glue or tape on.

*You'll notice the ribbon change halfway through my photos--my son decided he wanted different ribbon after he chose his paper.* That's it! Tie excess ribbon in a bow for your child to hold on to when walking.
Have fun with it! I know my kiddos sure did!

BUBBLES!

2009-08-26T02:02:00.000-07:00

Bubbles are fun any time of year. When my kiddos start to get a wild hair, we often blow bubbles. The deep breathes required to blow bubbles often calm them down and help them relax--plus, bubbles are lots of fun! Here is a quick, easy recipe for bubbles you can make at home.

Items Needed:

1 cup dish soap (any kind)

2 cups of warm water

5 tbsp. light corn syrup

Mix all ingredients in a plastic container that has a lid. Pour into a shallow dish or pan to use. The covered bubble solution will last a long time, so save any leftovers.

Ideas for bubble tools:

Funnels, Metal rings from glass jars, a bunch of straws taped together, paper cups with holes cut in the bottom, slotted spatulas/spoons, cookie cutters, strainers, and more! Be creative with your bubble tools. You might be surprised how much fun you'll have.

Board Book: Part One

2009-08-25T01:13:00.000-07:00

In my quest for home made Christmas gifts, I decided that I wanted to make an "I-Spy" type of book for my boys. After getting prices for those fancy hard-bound photo books, I quickly changed my thinking on how to achieve a sturdy, long-lasting book for my children. Here is what I came up with.

*This will be in two parts. This post will be on how to make the book-base and the later post will be on the actual "I-Spy" book that I am making. Enjoy!*

1. Purchase a board book. I wanted mine larger, so I purchased this 8x8 board book for $.88 at the Dollar Store. You can also check the D.I., yard sales or thrift stores for cheap books. 2. Starting with the cover, carefully lift off the picture. I had to peel the first two layers from my board book to get a smooth page.

3. Repeat this process until the entire book is free of pictures.

4. You know have your very own board book to do as you choose! I found that regular mod podge works the best. Use a strong glue to actually glue your photos or paper down and then use mod podge over the top. Be creative with this project--make a fun scrapbook, family history album, baby book or anything you'd like.

Fruit Sticks

2009-08-24T02:15:00.000-07:00

My kiddos LOVE fresh fruit, but often get tired of eating it the same old way. I am a big fan of making food fun and when it is healthy food, it gets even better!

Fruit Sticks

Items Needed:

Fruit (apples, bananas, peaches, cantaloupe, etc.)

Bamboo Skewers: cut sharp point off using scissors

Yogurt (I use plain or fat-free vanilla)

Topping (Sprinkles, crushed granola, cereal, nuts, etc.)

1. Using kitchen shears, cut bamboo skewers into three equal sections.

2. Cut up your fruit. Depending on what type of fruit you are using, you can use a melon baller or a basic knife to make different shapes.

For this recipe, we used apples and bananas. 3. Place yogurt in a small bowl. Using the skewers, pick up a piece of fruit and roll it in the yogurt.

4. Take yogurt-covered fruit and roll it in any desired toppings.

5. Place covered fruit on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Place in freezer for 5-10 minutes. This helps prevent yogurt from falling off the fruit and making a HUGE mess.

6. Remove from freezer and place on a plate. Serve immediately.

This is something that my kids can do by themselves. My boys find so much satisfaction in knowing that they created something themselves. Have fun!

*Be sure that an adult cuts the fruit and the skewers. Only allow children to roll fruit in yogurt and toppings.*

I'm taking a weekend break!

2009-08-21T00:13:00.000-07:00

Hello! I am going to be taking a weekend break from blogging! My hubby will be out of town this weekend and I am going to attempt to get our playroom painted while he is away. (Pictures soon to follow!) I hope your weekend is great and look for new posts on Monday!

The BEST Family Cookbook

2009-08-20T02:29:00.000-07:00

I LOVE receiving and experimenting with new recipes from all of my friends and family. To share my love of this with those around me, I made a family cookbook for Christmas.

As you can imagine, the cost of printing a full-color, bound cookbook with 30+ pages can become very expensive, very fast! Especially if you are making 25 or more of them like I needed to. In order to make this project a realistic (and affordable) one, I had to really rack my brain. This is what I came up with.....

A Photo Cookbook!

Occasionally, places like Inkleys will run promos and do $.05 or $.06 prints. High quality photo paper is water-resistant, wipes off easily if it gets spilled on, and is durable. It is very hard to beat $.05 for a full color cookbook page!

This is how I did it.

I emailed, called and wrote to as many family members as I could. I asked each of them for 2-3 of their favorite recipes. Once I received the recipes, I used a photo editing program and typed the recipes up and saved them as a .jpeg file.

I then created a cover for the recipe book. I used family photos for our cover, but you could do it however you'd like.

After typing all of the recipes up, I sent them to be printed. Once I received them, I put them in order in regards to main dishes, soups, breads, desserts, etc.

I then punched a hole in the top of the photos. Using a binder ring, I placed all of the pages onto the ring to secure.

That's it! This was SO fun to do and everyone loved it. My total cost per book was under $3! If anyone would like to make these for Christmas and needs help with the cover, send me a quick note! I'd be so happy to offer some help.

Fondant Recipe

2009-08-19T00:55:00.000-07:00

I LOVE making fondant for my cakes and for the kids to play with. This recipe is super easy and it tastes great! My boys love it when I make the "play dough they can eat." Don't be scared by using fondant. It is very forgiving and a lot of fun. Let your imagination run wild! Ingredients:

16oz. bag of mini marshmallows

2lbs. powdered sugar

2+ tablespoons water

LOTS of shortening (put in a bowl for easy access)

Corn Starch

Using a large microwave safe bowl, add marshmallows and 2 tbsp. water. Place in the microwave for 30 seconds. Remove and stir. Repeat this process until marshmallows are melted and smooth. Carefully remove from microwave.

Pour approx. 3/4 of the powered sugar on to the top of the melted marshmallows. Stir gently with a spoon. Grease counter top generously with shortening. Pour marshmallow mixture on to greased counter top.

Now, rub shortening all over your hands--tops, between fingers, etc. Start kneading the fondant on the counter top. Add the remaining powdered sugar.

This is the point where it becomes time consuming.... keep kneading the fondant until it is smooth and stretches easily. Add 1/2 tsp. water at a time if the fondant tears too easily. This process can take up to 30 minutes sometimes. It is well worth it in the end--I promise.

When the fondant is nice and stretchy, coat the outside with a nice layer of shortening and cover in plastic wrap. Place in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

You can also use the fondant immediately if needed. To color the fondant, use only paste food coloring. Slowly work the colorant into the fondant by kneading on a counter top sprinkled in corn starch.

Have fun with this recipe! My kids love using this as play dough. I usually make two batches with I am making a cake---one for the kids to play with and one to use on the cake. It will keep them busy for hours.

Building Blocks

2009-08-18T02:45:00.000-07:00

In my quest for Christmas presents, I decided to make my children their own building blocks. For this post, I am showing only the square blocks, but I have made rectangles, triangles, circles, bridges and dowels as well. If you are planning on making this for Christmas, please be aware that the hard-coat mod podge takes 4 weeks to fully cure. Give yourself plenty of time!

Be as creative as you'd like and have fun!

Items Needed:

2x2x8 piece of wood

(use larger sizes of wood according to the shape/object you are making)

Colorful paer

Hard Coat Mod Podge

Paper trimmer

Foam brush

#400 Grit sand paper

#0000 Steel Wool

A LOT OF TIME!

Measure the sides of your blocks. Cut paper squares that are approx. 1/8 inch smaller than the surface of the block. You will need 6 squares per block.Using the mod podge, coat the back side of the paper squares. Apply to the blocks. Press out any air bubbles and hold tightly until secure. Repeat this process until all sides of the block has been covered. Let sit for 2 hours.

After letting blocks dry for 2 hours, coat the top of the block with mod podge. *Important! Only coat the TOP SIDE of the block with mod podge. Repeat this process until all of the blocks have the top coated in mod podge. Let blocks sit for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, coat the tops of the blocks again. Do this process until all blocks have 5-6 coats of mod podge on them.

After 5-6 coats of mod podge has been placed on the tops of the blocks, let dry overnight. The next day, rotate the blocks and start the process over again; until all sides of the blocks have been coated.

Once the entire block has 5-6 coats of dry mod podge on it, use your #400 grit sand paper and wet sand any ridges or bumps from your block. Let dry. Buff to a shine with the #0000 steel wool. Let cure for 4 weeks before using.

*I am making a matching box for the blocks to go in. Watch for a future post to show how it's done!

TIPS: For my boys, I am using letter and number stickers on their blocks. Simply place the stickers on top of the paper and coat with mod podge. You can use any stickers you'd like! Have fun!

Farmers' Market

2009-08-17T00:49:00.000-07:00

With fall quickly approaching, I am reminded of why I LOVE this time of year.....farmer's markets! Our family loves traveling up "fruit-way" from Perry to Brigham City and stopping at the fruit stands. Believe it or not, these cute fruit stands offer much more than fresh produce! Here are a few TOP reasons why we visit the farmer's markets.

#1. The atmosphere! Nothing feels like fall more than standing in a cool breeze picking out freshly picked produce.

#2. Cheap and fun family night! We often teach our children a short lesson about Heavenly Father's Creations and then we hit the fruit stands to show our children the different types of foods that were created for us.

#3. Teaching moments! Fruit stands offer a HUGE variety of colors, textures, shapes and sizes to teach your children about. We let our children pick out something that they've never seen or tasted before and then we eat it together and talk about our likes/dislikes. This is often their favorite part!

This is Aiden's first look at a pepper. The excitement on his face says it all! Ever since this trip, we have had to plant our own peppers in our garden for him to enjoy.

#4. Photo-Ops! I love the lighting, scenery and excitement of a fruit stand. My children get excited about the new sights, sounds and smells. A camera is a MUST for this adventure!

#5. Lastly, I LOVE fresh fruit. Fruit is healthy and delicious. Being able to enjoy something you love while supporting local families and enjoying a night out with your own family is priceless.

If you have never had the opportunity to visit a fruit stand, don't wait any longer! Apple harvesting is right around the corner! Take advantage of this great time of year. You'll thank me later.

Reading Flashcards

2009-08-16T01:15:00.000-07:00

With school quickly approaching, my mind has shifted to learning activities for my children. My boys love reading books and looking at pictures. In an attempt to help them recognize words, I made some photo flashcards for them to play with.

Using my camera, I took some pictures to include on the cards. Using a photo editing software, I added the word below each picture. I then printed them on photo paper. You can also put a ring through them to secure.

Here are a few examples of the cards I made. Keep in mind that my boys are really young, so I stuck with 3 and 4 letter words. If your child is older, you can choose any words you'd like.

Time Capsule: Large

2009-08-15T01:15:00.000-07:00

Family History has quickly become a passion in my life. I could spend hours pouring over journals, pedigree charts and photos from my grandparents and great-grandparents. I quickly realized that I haven't taken the time to create my own family story. Not really knowing where to start, I decided to have my family create their own time-capsule! For this project, we rented a canner from the Bishop's Storehouse and purchased a #10 can to put our items in. You may use any type of container you'd like--plastic, cardboard, wood, etc. Make sure the container you pick is sturdy and won't get lost easily.

Items Needed:

Sturdy container with lid

Personal documents

Anything you'd like to include!!

When we did our time capsule, we invited a few friends to join us with their families. This made it so much fun to get every one's ideas together. Here are a few items we put into our time capsule:

Hand prints: we traced each of our children's hand prints and wrote their names and ages on them.

Family Pictures: We took some quick family pictures in the backyard.

Family Facts: We wrote about each of our children and family members and highlighted any important events that were going on.

Pay Stubs: It will be fun to look back and *Hopefully* see how little we were making.

Grocery Ads: We pulled some ads from the newspaper to compare food prices.

Business Cards: We added business cards for Nick and I.

Family Budget: We put in a copy of our family budget to see where we spent our money.

Calendar: I added July's calendar to show how many activities we did in a typical week.

Other photos: We put recent photos of our family in the capsule like; pictures at the temple open house, our family reunion, the kids 6 mo, 2yr and 4yr photos, etc.

I made custom CD's for each of our families that listed our last name, the date of the time capsule and the family members names/ages. We then burned our family photos and other recent photos on the disc. This made it easier than putting actual photographs into the can, and hopefully the CD will hold up better over time.
We then packed our items gently into the can.
Nick took our cans downstairs and sealed them shut.

After our can was sealed, I took some scrapbook paper and covered the can. You can do whatever you'd like with your can---bury it, hide it, etc. We are going to place ours on the shelf with our food storage downstairs. I made a small tag to place on the can that lists the date of the time capsule so we don't forget!

That's it! This project was so much fun! If you are doing this for a family night lesson, we used the Gospel Art Book and talked about Mormon abridging the plates, Moroni hiding the plates, Joseph Smith receiving the plates and then Joseph Smith translating the plates. We then talked about the importance of record keeping. We sang a few songs, made our time capsules and had a quick treat. Hopefully our friends had a good time too! :o)

Easy Life Story

2009-08-14T02:15:00.000-07:00

I am horrible at keeping a journal even though I understand the importance of it. In an effort to "save-face" and motivate myself to begin a journal again, I started searching for the best way to do it. This is what I came across....Printable life story pages. I am SO excited to do one of these for myself and my hubby. This blog also has a printable for teenagers. The ideas presented on this blog are AMAZING! Take some time and look over it yourself. You are sure to find a new project that you are dying to try!

Freezing Berries

2009-08-13T03:00:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I love making homemade jam. Earlier this week, I was brought an entire bucket of fresh blackberries! I was SO excited, but I lacked time to make jam before the berries would go bad. I decided to freeze them instead. It was SO easy and they turned out great! This is the perfect time of year for fresh berries. You can freeze raspberries, blueberries and boysenberries the same way.

1. First, wash your berries in cold water.2. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper and spread a single layer of berries onto the wax paper.

3. Place cookie sheet in freezer until berries are frozen and firm.
4. Remove pans from freezer. Carefully lift up on wax paper to loosen frozen berries.

5. Pour frozen berries into a freezer bag. Place in freezer for up to 10 months.

These work great in smoothies, parfaits, desserts and ice cream! Enjoy!

Clothing Clearance

2009-08-12T00:20:00.000-07:00

This is the perfect time of year to buy "summer clothes" on clearance. With back-to-school styles filling up the shelves, stores are anxious to get rid of the summer items. Target, Sears, Babies R Us, Dillards, Carters and JcPenny are all having a 70% off sale on their summer items. For those of you who keep an eye on your mailers, last week, JcPenny sent out a $10 off of $10 purchase coupon. I took mine in yesterday and found: 3 shirts and 2 pairs of pants for Caitlyn. After taxes, I ended up paying $.97! You can't beat that for new clothes!

Start watching the clearance sales and post any new finds that you discover. Happy shopping!

Crinkle Tag Toy

2009-08-11T02:15:00.000-07:00

Hello! After taking a few days vacation from blogging, I am back and ready to go! This next item is my very first sewing project---ever! It was exciting to make, but I have a few changes and good lessons learned for the next time. These make great baby shower gifts and I am going to be making a few for Christmas too! I hope you enjoy it.

Items needed:

(2) 10 inch flannel squares

(1) 10 inch crinkle material*

Colorful ribbon

Sewing Machine

Patience! LOL.

First, gather your flannel and crinkle squares.Place one square of fabric right-side up on the table. Cut ribbon strips that match your fabric. Fold them in half and pin them along the edge of your fabric with the folded parts facing inward. You can choose how long your ribbons will be.Next, place the other flannel square on top of the ribbons, with the top side facing down. Pin your crinkle material on top of this square.Now, using a straight-stitch on your sewing machine, sew around the edges of the square. I left about a 1/2 in edge around the square.

DO NOT sew all of the way together! Leave a large enough opening that you can turn the item right-side out.

Next, carefully pull the pins out as you turn the square right-side out. Lay flat on the counter. (You'll notice that I have a pin in the bottom left corner of this picture. This is where I left my opening in the square. The pin is merely holding the extra ribbon in place until I top-sew.) Using a fun stitch, sew around the top of the square until all sides have been sewn shut. Be sure to remember your back-stitch to make it secure!

That's it!

*I used a sheet protector for my crinkle-material. You can also use a wipes package, popcorn wrappers, cellophane or any other plastic material that is washable.

TIPS: I would use a Teflon pressure foot when sewing this. The plastic can drag and this will prevent it from laying down flat. Also, when you are sewing the square together, don't start in the corner. Try to leave the opening somewhere in the middle. This will make it look nicer when you are top-stitching the item.

FHE Baggies and Treasure Hunt

2009-08-08T20:20:00.000-07:00

When Nick and I were first married, I loved making "family night baggies." I would take a quart-sized ziploc bag and place our family night lessons inside. Each baggie would have the words to a hymn, scripture references, a fun activity and treat ideas. We would then trade baggies with other newly married couples in our ward. It made for a fun quick family night that needed little planning. I am now going to begin making family night baggies to go with our lessons out of the Church Nursery Manual. I hope you find inspiration in all you do!

Treasure Hunt:

Using a sturdy paper, such as card stock, cut out 15 circles, or any shape you'd like. Print or hand write the clues on each shape. (looking back on my original cards, I would make them a whole lot better this time around. I would use colorful paper, type the clues directly on the circles, rather than glue them and add some fun embellishments. Be creative and have fun with it!)

Here are the clues that I used for our treasure hunt. You can change or omit any you'd like.

CLUES

Clue #1. Look under...Mark 4:38

Clue #2. Look in a...Genesis 49:4 (last word)

Clue #3. Look on a ...Matthew 5:38 (last word + brush)

Clue #4. Look in a... Psalms 60:8

Clue #5. Look in a...Alma 42:6

Clue #6. Look on the...D&C 136:12 (thing after 4th word) + Abraham 3:2 (28th letter)

Clue #7. Look on a...Proverbs 7:6

Clue #8. Look on a...John 10:2

Clue #9. Look in a...Luke 5:7 (last word)

Clue #10. Look in a...Ezekiel 34:26

Clue #11. Look high up in the...2 Nephi 15:10

Clue #12. Look in a...Zechariah 14:21

Clue #13. Look under the...Romans 11:19

Clue #14. Look in a...3 Nephi 12:40

Clue #15. Look under a...1 Nephi 1:7

At the end of the treasure hunt, you can put any type of prize you'd like. When we did this the first time, I put all of the ingredients to make brownies at the end so we could bake a family night treat. You can choose anything that will fit your families needs. Have fun!

Homemade Household Products

2009-08-07T03:00:00.001-07:00

Years ago, my mom gave me recipes on how to make my own household cleaners....little did I know that I would still be using them today! Here are a few easy cleaners that are great to have around. (Oh, and they're cheap too!)

Let's start with the basics. The following is a list of items that I ALWAYS have in stock at our home. These few items can be used for a variety of applications and they are inexpensive too.

1. Vinegar

2. Ammonia (I buy the clear ammonia for making my products, but any kind will do.)

3. Rubbing Alcohol

4. Dishwashing Detergent

5. Baking Soda

6. Newspapers

A list of other uses for vinegar can be found here on my vinegar post. Enjoy!

All-Purpose Cleaner

1 c. Vinegar

1/2 c. Ammonia

1 c. Rubbing Alcohol

1 tsp. Dish Soap

1/2 tsp. lemon essential oil (optional)

2 drops of food coloring (optional)

1 gallon jug

Place all ingredients in a one-gallon jug. Swish jug to mix. Slowly fill the jug up with water. Place cap on tightly. Use in a spray bottle. Works great on countertops, floors, walls, stoves and more!

Window Cleaner

1/2 c. Ammonia

1 c. Vinegar

1/2 c. Rubbing Alcohol

2 drops of food coloring (optional)

1 gallon jug

Place ingredients in jug. Swish to mix. Fill jug up with water. Place in a spray bottle. I use newspapers to dry my windows with. They work great and they are lint-free. This recipe will leave your windows nice and shiny!

Labels: We are without a working printer in our house right now, so I just wrote the ingredients on a post-it note and taped it to the jug. A fun, computer-generated label looks MUCH nicer than my post-it notes! LOL.

Dust Cloths

1 pint of hot water

1/4 cup of lemon oil

Lint-free rags

Mix water and oil in a small dish. Dip rags into the solution. Remove the rags and let air dry. Store in a tightly covered container.

Oven Cleaner

Pour 1/2 cup of ammonia into a small bowl and place in over overnight. In the morning, wipe off grease with a rag or paper towel.

TIPS: Always label your container with the ingredients. I write out the recipe and tape it to the side of the jug. This way, if accidental ingestion were to happen, Poison Control would know exactly what was in it and how much. ALWAYS keep cleaners out of the reach of children.

Refrigerator Dough

2009-08-06T03:00:00.002-07:00

I love the smell of fresh bread and I love the taste even more, but it can sometimes become very time-consuming and tedious. This next recipe is one of my absolute favorites because it is not only fast, but it is sooo easy and delicious! It is called refrigerator dough because you can make it the day before and put it in the fridge until ready to use. Don't limit yourself to the ideas presented below--be creative and have fun with it. You might be surprised as to what you come up with.

Ingredients:

1/4 c. warm water

2 pkgs. yeast

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. margarine, softened

1 c. hot water

3 eggs, beaten

6-6 1/2 c. flour

2 tsp. salt

Directions:

Combine warm water and yeast. Let stand 10 minutes. Mix sugar, margarine and hot water in a large bowl. Mix well and let cool. Add eggs and yeast mixture. Mix well. Add 2 1/2 cups of flour and salt. Beat until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Cover bowl with a damp cloth and set in refrigerator overnight, OR cover and let rise until double. (30-60 minutes.) After making desired recipe, bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Watch close!

Ideas for use:

1. Chicken Pockets

Mix shredded chicken, cream cheese, margarine, 2 tbsp. milk and salt/pepper in a small bowl. After making the dough, do not let rise. Simply roll out on a floured surface. Add chicken mixture to dough.

Cut dough around chicken and fold over the chicken mixture. Press edges down to seal.

Bake at 375 degrees for 12-14 minutes. Watch closely. This recipe is really yummy with chicken gravy, stuffing or rice-a-roni and sweet corn. Enjoy!
2. Cinnamon Rolls.

I usually make the dough recipe and use half for chicken pockets and half for cinnamon rolls. After your dough has risen, roll out on a floured surface. Brush with melted butter. Sprinkle a cinnamon and sugar mixture over the top. Roll up. Cut into one inch wide slices and place in a pan. Cover and let rise until double in size. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. You can use a homemade butter cream frosting for the topping.

3. Parkerhouse, cloverleaf or regular rolls.

This is the best roll recipe. After dough has risen, shape dough into desired shape. My favorite is cloverleaf rolls. I roll dough into one inch balls. Using a muffin pan, I place three bread balls per muffin cup. Cover and let rise until double. Brush tops with melted butter. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. Enjoy!

Party Time: Favors

2009-08-05T03:00:00.001-07:00

Birthday parties are always a big deal at our home. With an average of forty people at each party, the party favors can become a large expense. I have learned how to be thrifty in my spending and how to customize the party favors to fit the theme without breaking the bank. Here are a few fun ideas for your next party!

#1. Re-cover items to fit the party theme. Below are photos of silly-string that I recovered to make "Spiderman Spiderwebs" for Aiden's upcoming birthday party. I have also recovered play dough containers, bubbles and candy bars to match a party theme. You will find that paying $.15-$.20 for an entire sheet of paper is a lot less than buying a pre-made themed item! Possibilities are endless.First, I removed the tape that secured the cap to the silly string.Second, I found some cute spider paper at the local fabric store for $.16 a sheet. I measured and cut the paper to fit around the can.

I then used clear tape to secure the paper to the can. (You can also mod podge the paper on if you have more time or energy.)

Viola! "Spiderman Spiderwebs" for only $.88 a piece. Can't beat that!

#2. Purchase items that come in a multi-pack. Once again, I use the dollar store for my party-purchases. (I use the term "dollar store" lightly---I never go when it is $1, I wait until $.88 Tuesdays!) You can find 6-packs of play dough and bubbles and many more multi-pack items. For Aiden's upcoming party, I found Spiderman airplanes in a two-pack, a twelve-pack of Spiderman stickers, a six-pack of silly straws and other cute items.

#3. Plan ahead of time. If you give yourself enough time before the party, you can find the best bargains and ideas online. Do an online search for your party theme, and the results will be almost overwhelming!

#4. Buy party essentials on clearance throughout the year. Tablecloths, goody bags, plates, cups and napkins are always being clearanced out because the color is "out of style" or the pattern has been discontinued. Stores like Target have "hidden" clearance areas. Check the back side of each aisle (the side facing the walls.) This is clearance PARADISE! I will walk the entire perimeter of the store to find the great deals. Just an FYI: most large stores put away all of their clearance items after October 1st. This is to prevent you from buying clearance items for Christmas.....thus, this is why I am usually done with Christmas shopping before October!

#5. Be Creative! Kids are easy to please. Items like silly-straws and friendship bracelets are always a hit with the kiddos--plus they are inexpensive too! Don't limit yourself to one or two particular items. My goody bags usually have two items that go with the party theme, and the rest of the items are just "fillers." The kids go nuts over their treasures and I leave happy knowing that I made them smile.

I hope you have found some inspiration for your upcoming party goody bags! Keep an eye out for more party suggestions and ideas, as I will be doing a lot for Aiden's birthday this month. ;o)

Easy Pizza Crust

2009-08-04T02:43:00.000-07:00

After several requests following my "Easy Mini-Pizzas" post, here is the healthy, easy pizza crust recipe. This will make one medium pizza crust. Use the pizza sauce from the mini-pizza post for best results.

This crust is fast, easy and fun! Add 50% whole wheat flour to boost the flavor and health-factor. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

3/4 cups warm water

3 tsp. yeast

1 tsp. sugar

1 tbsp. oil

1/2 tsp. sugar

1-2 cups flour

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine warm water, yeast and sugar in a small bowl. Let stand 10 minutes. In a medium bowl, combine yeast mixture, oil, salt and 1 cup of the flour. Beat until smooth. Add enough flour to make a soft dough. Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning once to coat top. Cover and let rise for 15 minutes. Place dough on pizza pan (I use a square stoneware pan,) pressing outwards to form a crust. Cover with pizza sauce and toppings of choice. Bake for 18-20 minutes.

Playdough!!

2009-08-03T03:00:00.000-07:00

My boys LOVE playing with playdough every morning while mommy gets a shower. They love to mix the colors, but after awhile, their playdough looks more like "dirt-dough." This is why we make our own playdough--you can throw it away when it gets grubby and not feel bad about wasting money.

This recipe is one of my favorites because it lasts a long time and it isn't as grainy as most recipes. Feel free to alter or change this however you'd like.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cups salt

3 tsp. cream of tartar

1 1/2 tbsp. oil

1 1/2 cups water

Food coloring (optional)

Directions:

Dissolve salt in water. If you are going to color your playdough, place the food coloring in the salt water mixture and stir. Place remaining ingredients in a medium saucepan. Slowly pour salt mixture into pan. Mix thoroughly.

Cook mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly. It will begin to pull away from the sides of the pan and will form a ball.

Once a nice dough is formed, remove from pan and press flat on the counter top. Let cool. Knead dough until nice and smooth. Store in plastic bag or plastic container with lid. Happy playing!

*This recipe is NOT intended for children to make. Adult supervision is required. Do not give playdough to children until it is fully cooled. Be careful!!*

Saving Tip of the Day!

2009-08-02T12:38:00.000-07:00

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are going to be HUGE days for the coupon clippers out there. All Utah Smith's Food and Srug Stores are doing double coupons for 3 days only. No special "coupon" required for this sale. There are sure to be free items, dirt cheap items and more! Post your great finds in the comment section! Happy Saving!

Mission: Family Night

2009-08-02T02:00:00.000-07:00

Family Night used to be a struggle at our home. Lessons were hard to plan and I often forgot to remind my busy husband to take time on his lunch break to choose a topic....well, this has all changed for the better! A great friend of mine told me that she had started using the new Church Nursery Manual for their family night lessons.

I was curious, so I drove down to the Distribution Center and purchased a copy for around $5.50. When I arrived at home, a great excitement came over me. The lesson manual was EXACTLY what I had been searching for in all of the FHE books that I had purchased in the past. Each lesson includes a song, attention activity, scripture and a fun craft/art project at the end. I was ecstatic to use this manual.

Well, our first night using this new manual was a success! Our children paid attention during the lesson, they were engaged with what we were doing and they didn't complain! The activity at the end was fantastic. My boys begged to do another lesson the following night.

This manual has been a family night life saver for me. Here is the BEST part....the manual can be downloaded FOR FREE from the Church's website. You can print the lesson, coloring pages and pictures for your family to use.

May you be blessing in your upcoming family nights!

No More Dryer Sheets!

2009-08-01T03:00:00.000-07:00

In this tight economy, even the small expenses can add up quickly. One unnecessary expense is the use of dryer sheets. At the end of last year, I purchased these funky little dryer balls. I was sceptical at first, but I was amazed at how well they actually work! I bought them for around $7 for the pair. I keep them stashed in my dryer at all times (unless Branson finds his way to the "shirt balls.") They work wonders on our clothes. No more wrinkles, no more static and no more expensive dryer sheets. If you use vinegar in your wash load, they work even better, as the vinegar prevents lint from sticking to your clothes.

If you're not quite ready to give up the ol' fabric softener, here are a few money-saving tips to decrease your spending.

1. Cut dryer sheets in half. A half-size dryer sheet does just as good of a job as a full sheet, but the box will last twice as long!

2. If you use the liquid fabric softener, here is a new twist on it.

Take one container of fabric softener. Take four regular sponges and cut them in half. Pour entire bottle of fabric softener into a large bucket. Fill the empty fabric softener container up with water and pour into the bucket. Do this again. This will give you a mixture of two parts water to one part fabric softener. Now put the sponges into the mixture. Keep this by the dryer. When you are ready to dry a load of laundry, wring out a sponge and throw it into the dryer with the clothes. Remove sponge when clothes are dry and place back into bucket.

*They now sell "wet" dryer sheets at the store. This is the same idea, but for a fraction of the price!*

TOY Clearance Sale!

2009-07-31T02:00:00.000-07:00

You will soon find that Target is one of my favorite places to shop! Right now, it is the Target toy clearance event. They mark down their "summer" toys and "pre-Christmas" toys at 75% off! I have found some great, great deals in the past. It is SO tempting to drive myself down there today and go shopping, but I have vowed to have a simple, homemade Christmas this year. Happy Shopping! Post your great finds in the comment section. Enjoy!

P.S. Toys go VERY fast! Leave right now!

Beanbag Balls

2009-07-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

My son, Branson, loves ANYTHING to do with balls. As most of you know, I am going to attempt to make all of our Christmas gifts this year for my family. These balls are for a beanbag toss game that I am making. A cute drawstring bag to hold them in will finish off this project.

Supplies:

3- 9 or 11 inch latex balloons (3 balloons are needed per ball)

Rice or lentils

Scissors

Bag clip

Funnel

Step One:

Blow up one balloon. Use the bag clip to keep the air in the balloon. Let sit overnight to stretch the balloon out.

Step Two:

Take the remaining two balloons and clip off the "neck" part of the balloon. Set aside.

Step Three:
After letting the blown up balloon sit overnight, release the air. Stretch the opening over the funnel. Pour rice into funnel top. Pull down on balloon as you are filling it with rice. This will help get the maximum size for the ball.

Step Four:

Carefully cut the neck of the balloon off. Using one of the previously cut balloons, wrap around the filled balloon, sealing off the opening. Stretch the remaining balloon over the ball. You're done! These remind me of the stress-balls that they sell in the store. They are durable and lots of fun to play with. Have fun!

SHOPPING TIPS: This is a VERY cheap project! I bought a bag of 25 balloons for $.88! I had the rice at home, so this project was dirt cheap. Happy Shopping!

Quick Mini Pizzas

2009-07-29T03:00:00.000-07:00

I love the smell of freshly-baked pizza dough, but sometimes I just don't have the time or energy for it. (Although, a yummy, healthy pizza dough recipe will be posted soon!) This recipe is a favorite of my kiddos and it is something that they can help make along with me. I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine does.

Ingredients:

Package of English Muffins

Shredded Cheese

(We like the Colby-jack cheese, but mozzarella or any of you favorite cheese will do.)

Any topping of your choice

(We are a boring family, so we usually just use ham or sausage)

1-batch of pizza sauce (recipe below)

1, 8oz. can tomato sauce

1/2 tsp. italian seasoning

1 tsp. onion powder

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

dash of pepper

*Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl.*

Directions:

Cut english muffins in half using a butter knife. Mix up pizza sauce in a small bowl. Place english muffins on a cookie sheet. Turn oven to "broil." Place english muffins inside oven for 2-4 minutes. WATCH CLOSE! Carefully remove from oven and let cool enough to handle.

Once muffins are cool enough to touch, spoon pizza sauce over top of english muffins.

Add any toppings and sprinkle cheese on top.

Cover all of the english muffins with toppings. Place in a 375 degree oven for 8-12 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Carefully remove from oven. Enjoy!

*Disclaimer: do not allow children to place/remove items from the oven. This can result in serious burns. Allow english muffins to cool entirely before letting children add toppings and cheese. The pizzas will be very hot when removed from the oven, so be cautious when serving to small children.

Awesome Baby Wipes

2009-07-28T03:00:00.000-07:00

Having two children in diapers and a preschooler who enjoys messes, baby wipes are always needed in our home. I have found that wipes are a necessity for any mom, but are an added expense that can add up quickly.

This recipe was given to me shortly after I had my first child. (Thanks Suzanne!) I'll admit that I was sceptical at first, but after trying it out, I was hooked! I have made my own baby wipes ever since!

Supplies:

One roll of high-quality paper towel

(I only use Bounty Select-a-Size, but any high-quality brand will work)

2 cups boiling water

2-3 tsp. favorite baby wash

Sharp, non-serrated knife

Tupperware-type container to hold wipes in

Directions:

Using a sharp, non-serrated knife, slowly cut the paper towel roll in half. (tip: I use more of a "pushing" motion rather than a sawing motion when cutting the paper towels. This will keep the paper towels from shredding when being cut.) I obviously didn't cut mine exactly in half.

Measure out 2 cups of water. Microwave water until it boils (approx. 5 minutes.) CAREFULLY remove water from microwave. SLOWLY pour in baby wash.

**If you pour baby wash in too quickly, it will boil over and may cause burns. Please be careful!!**

Place half of the paper towel roll in your container. Slowly poor the mixture over the wipes. Place lid on container. Let stand 5 minutes. (I purchased a wonderful container that has a vent in the lid. This prevents the lid from popping off due to the steam. If your container doesn't have a vent, simply tilt the lid.)After 5 minutes, slowly pull the cardboard center from the wipes.All done! I throw away the first few wipes to remove the glue that held them on to the cardboard center.

Don't have a baby at home? Try making disinfectant wipes instead! Simply replace the baby wash with household bleach. They work just as well as name-brand wipes, but for a fraction of the cost.

SHOPPING TIPS: This recipe will save you so much money. I spend approx. $1.25 a month on wipes for my kids. Watch the sales and coupons and you will soon notice that the Bounty paper towels go on sale about every 2 weeks. When I find a really good deal, I stock up! Remember that each roll makes two batches of wipes.

PEDICURE IN A CAN

2009-07-27T03:00:00.000-07:00

This post goes along with the Summer Toe Rings that were posted previously. I keep two or three of these on hand for quick gifts. You can decorate your can a lot cuter than the one shown here....I was running low on paper and supplies when I made this.

Supplies:

One large can of food

Can opener that cuts lid from the side

Pedicure items

(I usually put in lotion, toe rings, fingernail polish, file, toe separator, clippers and some cute toe stickers. Feel free to be as creative as you'd like!)

Colorful paper

Tape

Any embellishments you'd like to add (ribbons, tags, stickers, etc.)

Super Glue

Directions:

Take the can of food and open using a side-cutting can opener. Empty contents, remove label and wash thoroughly. Let dry.Gather your items to put inside the can.I use an empty lip-gloss container to put a few toe rings in so they don't get lost.

Cut the paper to fit around the can. Use tape to secure edges.

Fill can with items. You may add some tissue paper or paper shred to keep items from rattling around. Take lid and put super glue around the rim. Place back on can and press firmly for at least 60 seconds. Finish decorating can as desired. (I usually make a cute tag with the contents listed, add a fun eyelet and attach to a ribbon.)

*SHOPPING TIPS: I keep a stash of about 15 cans in all different sizes in a box downstairs. You can buy the contents for the can at almost any dollar store and you've been shown how to make the toe rings to go inside. Be creative and have fun with it!

*TIP: Start saving a few cans NOW to be used in a future post!

How to Jump Start a Car

2009-07-26T03:00:00.001-07:00

This post might seem silly to some of you, but sit back and ask yourselves, "If I were alone and had to ask a stranger to jump start my car, would I be able to do it?" If your answer is yes, then there is no need to read on, but if you answered, "no" or "maybe,"this will be a quick refresher course!

What you'll need:

Jumper cables

Car with a charged battery

Car with a dead battery

1. Bring the car with the charged battery as close as you can to the dead car.

2. Open the hoods on both vehicles.

3. Locate the batteries on both vehicles.

4. Get jumper cables and make sure that they can reach the batteries of both vehicles.

(if not, try to position car with the charged battery closer so the cables will reach.)

5. Take one of the red cables (+ positive) and attach to the battery of the dead car. Attach by clipping the positive (red) cable to the positive terminal post.

(this terminal usually has more corrosion than the negative terminal and will be indicated with a + sign. You may need to remove a cover from the terminal before attaching the jumper cable.)

6. Now, take the black (- negative) cable and clip it on to the negative (- black) terminal post of the dead car.

7. Repeat the same process on the car with the charged battery.

8. Start the dead car's engine. It should start within a few seconds.

9. Once the vehicle starts, remove the cables in reverse order, starting with the charged car and ending with the "dead" car.

*DURING THIS PROCESS, BE SURE THAT YOU DO NOT TOUCH THE CABLES TOGETHER.*

Easy Summer Toe Rings

2009-07-25T03:00:00.000-07:00

Summer is the perfect time to give yourself a pedicure and show off those wonderful feet! I love wearing my flip-flops and a coordinating toe ring. This post will show you how to make your very own "toe-bling" for a fraction of the cost. Enjoy!

Supplies needed:

*Elastic jewelry cord (approx. 6 inches)

*3 crimp beads

*Fun, colorful beads (small)

*Scissors or wire snips

*Crimper or needle-nose pliers

Directions:

Pick up the elastic cord and one crimp bead. Slide the crimp bead onto the cord. Leaving about a 2 1/2 inch tail behind the crimp bead, use your pliers to crimp the bead down.

Choose beads of your choice and thread them onto the elastic. (Make sure that the bead section isn't so long that it wraps around the sides of your toe.)

Thread on another crimp bead and clamp it down on the opposite side of the beads to make them secure.

Take the remaining crimp bead and thread both ends of the elastic cord through its center. Crimp down using pliers. Cut off excess cord.

Viola! You have an adorable toe ring! (I took a picture of my ring on my finger--after looking at the close-up picture of my toes, um, well, lets just say that it wasn't pretty!)

*SHOPPING TIPS: I bought the elastic cording at Joann's with their 50% off coupon that comes in each Sunday's paper. The total cost for the entire roll was around $2 after coupon. The crimp beads go on sale about every other week at Michaels and Roberts Crafts. They also put out a 50% off coupon each week that brings the price down to approx. $1.50 for 50 beads. Each toe ring costs about $.20 each---much cheaper than buying them in the store! Customize your own to fit your personality and style!

Why I LOVE Vinegar: bonus post!

2009-07-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

Vinegar has to be one of the greatest products out there---and it's cheap! I don't know about you, but I use vinegar on a daily basis for all sorts of things. Here are a few of my favorite uses for this wonderful product. I use white, distilled vinegar in our home, but any kind will do. Just be careful as brown cider vinegar can stain some surfaces.

My Top 10 Uses for Vinegar

10. No-wax floor cleaner (for vinyl flooring.) Pour approx. 1 cup into a sink full of hot water. I sometimes add a few drops of dish soap to the water. Mop the floor as usual. Floor will dry nice and shiny when finished.

9. Remove hard water spots. Pour vinegar on to a rag or sponge. Rub hard water deposits until gone. I use this on my bathtub fixtures and my stainless-steel sink. LOVE it!

8. Laundry booster. Pour approx. 1/2 cup vinegar in to each load of laundry. It removes odors and eliminates the need for fabric softener. (This can take the "dish-rag" smell out of anything!)

7. Sink deodorizer. Pour approx. 1 cup of vinegar down the drain and let sit for 30-45 minutes. Rinse with water. We lack a garbage disposal at our house, so I do this once a week to maintain freshness. If you have a garbage disposal, make vinegar ice cubes and chop up in disposal. Rinse with cold water.

6. Deodorize toilet bowl. Pour approx. 2 1/2-3cups of vinegar in toilet bowl. Let stand for 45 minutes. Brush well. Flush.

5. Unclog shower heads or sink sprayers. Soak a rag in vinegar and wrap around shower head or sprayer. Let sit overnight. Rinse clean.

4. Window cleaner. Place vinegar in a spray bottle and spray directly on windows. Use old newspapers to dry for a sparkly shine!

3. Room deodorizer. Place in a spray bottle and lightly mist in the air. Works wonders!

2. Ant repellent. Spray vinegar around door frames, windows or other problem areas. You will need to reapply about every two weeks for best results.

#1. My all-time favorite use for vinegar.....Vinegar Taffy!! My Great Aunt Fran used to let me come over to make vinegar taffy with her. I absolutely love this recipe. Here it is....

2 cups sugar

2 tbsp. light corn syrup

2 tbsp. butter

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/8 tsp. cream of tartar

1/8 tsp. salt

Buttered cookie sheet

Butter for your hands

Scissors

Wax paper

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Mix until sugar is dissolved and it is no longer grainy. Cook until mixture reaches hard-ball stage (about 260 degrees.) Pour mix on to a buttered cookie sheet. Let cool until taffy can be handled. Butter hands very well. Pick up taffy and begin pulling until it turns light in color. Twist in to ropes. Cut ropes into sections using buttered scissors. Wrap in waxed paper. Enjoy!! (You may also add food coloring or an additional flavoring to this recipe.)

Grow Your Own Gifts

2009-07-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

I love having fresh flowers for my kitchen table, but I refuse to pay outrageous prices at the floral shop. My solution: grow what you love!

Flowers make excellent gifts and the meaning is increased if they come from your own garden. For this post, I used an old quart-size canning jar, a simple piece of ribbon, tiny fill-beads (ones that you'd use in a stuffed animal,) and fresh-cut hydrangeas.

Directions:

Take canning jar and wash with warm soap and water. Rinse very well. Add 1-2 cups of the beads to the jar. (Use more if your flowers are very top-heavy and less if your flowers are delicate.)

Choose a ribbon that coordinates with the flowers. Tie around the jar.

Fill jar 1/2 full of water.

When cutting flowers, be sure to cut the stems on an angle. This will help them last longer. You may also add 1/2 can of sprite to the water to help them stay fresh.

Arrange flowers however you like. If flowers are top-heavy, you can use a small amount of floral tape around the stems to hold them in place.

*SHOPPING TIPS: I love giving fresh flowers as gifts to friends and family. When choosing plants to grow, make sure they are perennials. This will ensure a good crop each year and eliminate the need to replant each season. Also, look for plants that grow a lot of blossoms. This will allow you to cut the flowers periodically and still have your garden look nice. The total cost of this project ranges from free to under $1. Be creative when choosing your vases. Old jars, fish bowls, cups and even mugs work great for for flowers. May you find happiness in sharing something beautiful!

"Quibs" (quick bibs)

2009-07-23T03:00:00.000-07:00

As a mother of three, my "just-in-case" kids supplies can quickly over take my diaper bag. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the idea of being prepared, but I love the concept of packing light. This next project achieves both of these ideals: Packing light and being prepared.

"Quibs"

Supplies needed:

10 in. of 1/4 inch ribbon (longer piece for older children)

2 small binder clips

Scissors

Low-temp glue gun

Lighter or a match

Felt scraps (optional)

Small buttons (optional)

Directions:

Using the lighter, lightly melt the ends of the ribbon to prevent fraying. (Sorry, no pics here. It is too hard to use fire and take pictures at the same time!)

*This step is optional and can be changed to suit your liking. I try to coordinate the embellishment to match the ribbon.*

Using the scissors, cut out small felt flowers. Sew the buttons on to each button.

(you may also glue them on, but I prefer the "hand-stitched" look.)

Now, wrap one end of the ribbon through the loop on the binder clip. Using the hot glue gun, secure the ribbon around the clip. Press firmly to seal. Repeat on other end, taking care to not to twist the ribbon.

Next, glue the flowers on to the ribbon, just above the clip.

That's it! Quick and easy. Stash these in your purse or diaper bag to have on hand. Simply clip on a napkin or paper towel and you are ready to go!

Photo of finished clip.

Variations to clips. The one on the left is for a boy. Feel free to email any photos of your own creations. Good luck!

*Disclaimer: These clips are not intended for newborn babies. Only use these with a child who can sit unassisted. Never leave baby alone with the clip, as it can become a choking hazard.*

SHOPPING TIPS: I purchased the binder clips in a 12 pack at our local dollar store on their "$.88 Tuesday" sale. The ribbon was purchased at Joann Fabrics for $1 per roll (4ft. per roll.) I had the buttons and felt lying around in the craft drawer. Watch sales for ribbon for the BEST pricing. My total cost per clip: $.35/each. ($.15 per set of clips and $.20 for ribbon)

Mormon in the Making

2009-07-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to "Mormon in the Making." I created this blog in response to my family and friend's constant questions and emails saying, "How'd you do that?"

The items published on this blog aren't fancy, expensive or complicated. In fact, you will find that most of my ideas are cheap-n-easy--just the way I like it. I am always looking for fun, new things to try, so if you have an idea, send it my way! Pictures and comments are always welcome.

At the end of each post, I will try to add a section called "Shopping Tips." This section will give tips, pointers and the average cost of the item made. This way, you can make your own projects for a fraction of the price!

I hope you enjoy your time on this site. Become a follower to stay updated on new postings. Thanks for looking and happy blogging!