Card Exchange

Its almost time for the card exchange. I must say after seeing all the super cute, creative and beyond amazing cards that my friends made last time I was really feeling the pressure. Well its nothing fancy I think its a cute card... here's hoping its up to everyone's standards... sorry for being so remedial ladies...

Front

Inside

So... is it cute??

Chicken Taco Salad...and a kid craft!

Ok, so Im sure most of you will read this post and be like "Well Duh! You've never done that before?" But this was a first for me and I loved it!
  I love Mexican food! (well ok I love all food!) I have really been craving Tacos lately, but I dont have ground beef in my freezer and since Ive been trying to use stuff up I have made sure I havent been buying any either. So Yesterday for dinner I was supposed to put a rub on my chicken... but as I was staring at my pantry I couldnt decide on a rub and my taco seasoning kept on catching my eye... so I thought Why not? I made up a thicker version of Taco seasoning. I think mine calls for 1 cup of water to 3 Tbsp of seasoning... but I just added enough water to make it into a paste. Then I poured it over the chicken and baked it in the oven. Then I cut it up and put it on top of a salad. MMMMMMMM... it was really good! You should try it!
   I have also been trying to make more crafts with my kids... mostly Ive just been trying to keep the TV off more. So yesterday we made one that was really fun and CRAZY simple. All I did was trace and cut out their hands and then let them color on Tatoos. (ok I lied a little... I like Owen color on the paper before I cut out his hands as I didnt think my 19 month old could stay on his little hands too well!) But then we taped them to the window in their bedrooms. My Boys loved it!

Happy Valentine's Day

AHHH Valentine's Day. I will admit Im not a huge valentines day fan. But it was so fun this year, now that Jaxon is in school and could give out Valentines. yes I did go a little over board... why?? because Im me and thats what I do!

Jaxon loves diggers. That is one highlight to living in the construction zone. So we made him digger valentines to give out.

Then we added a heart shaped Rice Krispie treat because they are yummy!

For our neighbour friends we gave them heart shaped cookies. Really simple no fail recipe. But the funny part of this story is that when I got home I realized that I didnt have red food coloring. But it was a good thing that I had some of this extra yummy cherry cordial M&Ms from Christmas. They added a nice touch to the cookies

Sugar Cookies (they stay soft!)

(from Grandma Shelva!)

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg yolk

3 Tbsp Milk

1 1/2 cup flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp vanilla

Cream together the butter and sugar. Add the yolk and milk and mix to combine. Add flour and baking powder and mix until well combines. Add in the vanilla and combine.

Roll out on a floured surface and cut into desired shape.

Bake at 350 degrees. The cook time will vary depending on how think you like your cookies... a pretty average cookie takes 8-10 minutes.

Christmas Throw back

I found this picture of the gift I made for my dad in my file of pictures still to blog... so I dont think I ever shared this... if I did... sorry for repeating myself.
My Dad is horrible to buy for. He and my mom have worked hard their whole lives and now are in a position where really if they really want something they can go get it. So I am always perplexed as to what to get him. The man doenst even really have many hobbies! But like most people in my family he LOVES to eat and snack and as an added bonus He loves his two little grandkids, which I am lucky enough to be the mom of! So I use that alot.
I found some glass pasta sauce jars (the lids where white I didnt even have to paint them!) then I labeled them and found some pictures to go along with them and filled them with my dad's favorite treats. Now he can take them to work and display them on his desk and have a snack while admiring his funny grandboys!
This was super easy and beyond cheap! I needed pasta sauce anyways and it only took one sheet of cardstock to cover all three jars!

Preschool gift

As we are approaching Jaxon's last week of school before the Winter Holiday I thought it was about time if I got my butt in gear and busted out the little goodies I had planned for him to give to his class mates. It was super easy! All I did was paint lids to baby food jars (which I had a ton of from when owen was little) Then I punched out a read circle and Jaxon helped me stamp on christmas stamps and I wrote "Happy holidays from jaxon" around the edge of the circle. Then I filled the jars with green and Red M&Ms (Jaxon says those are his favorite!) and done and done...

What kid out there doesnt like little chocolates!?!

Teacher Christmas Gift

This is the first year I have had teachers to make Christmas Gifts for. I was super excited then I was made even more excited because Jaxon's two teachers at Leap n Learn are AMAZING. He Loves them so much and talks about them all the time. Since they make him so happy I LOVE them. I have had the opportunity to help out in the class room and watch them in action and I am beyond impressed with them. The ROCK!
  So here is what I made for them... I hope they like it. Its a Super easy, quick, inexpensive gift. I think they turned out super cute!

I made Monograms out of Crayons. So you need to get crayons, cardstock and shadow boxes. Oh and I glue gun.

I found these super cute templates on the internet... I cant remember where ... but thats to who ever had this on their site! I just changed the names and monogram to match Jaxon's teachers and printed onto the cardstock.

Then you Cut the crayons to match the shape of the Monogram and glue it onto the cardstock. Only use the low setting on the glue gun... it melts just a thin layer of the wax. But it works great!

Once you are done but them in the shadow box. I put a little colored cardstock behind just to give it an added punch of color!

VOILA!

Christmas Card

Check out this super cute card I made... Im pretty impressed with myself.

I have to give a big Thank you to my beyond amazingly talented friend Elisa who taught me out to make this penny slide cards. The snow flake is attached to two pennies making it spin from side to side as you tilt the card. I know! Super Cute!

Weekend Projects

I was so lucky to get so much time to get so many projects worked on over the weekend. Here are a few of what I did

Yes Im still making Felt Food. Here are some Chocolate Chip cookies. Jaxon was thrilled to see them. "Chocolate Chip cookies are my favorite!" They are super simple, like all the felt food I make.
1) Cut two circles that are the same size.
2) Use some scraps to cup out some chips. I used White and Dark Brown. But I think a rainbow chip would be cute too... I may have to make some of those! Also... dont make them all round. Chocolate chips melt when you cook them and look all weird anyways!
3) Glue chips to one of the circles.
4) Blanket stitch and stuff

Yummy Dinner eh? Its Chicken Drumsticks, snow peas and pineapple rings. All crazy simple and I think pretty self explanitory... but if not just ask... Ill tell you how I did it.

And for my Friend Jeannette. here is the progress report on the car mats. This one will be Jaxon's Im still missing a few buildings that still need logos on them, and I still need to add embellishments like trees and a playground. And i still need to sew a few down. i have attached them using that iron on stuff so Im stitching them down just to make sure they stay on. Owens... well right now its just a road.... I have a long road ahead of me!

Sorry

I realize I have been slacking off the last little while with the blog... missing days, lame posts, etc... what can I say... the pre christmas prep has begun and Im running around like crazy! last night I had a RS meeting and we were working on planning the Christmas activity, January activity and Fed activity... yikes! it was a late night!
   Winter has arrived which means I have gone into hibernation mode. I HATE THE COLD. HATE IT. -22 sucks!
  On to some fun things.. sorry about the lack of pictures... my camera died... I need to remember to charge it!
  yesterday was Day two of my Christmas crafts with the boys. We colored snowflakes. I cut them out of paper and the boys colored them. Jaxon is having alot of fun admiring this handy work.
  Tonight I made one of my all time favorite recipes. Its a recipe I grew up eating. SUPER YUMMY... I dont think Ive  blogged this recipe before... but if I have sorry... I guess that just goes to show how much I love it!

Curry Cajun Chicken

1/3 cup honey

3 Tbsp water

3 Tbsp prepared Mustard

2 Tbsp margarine, melted

3 tsp cajun seasoning

3 tsp curry powder

1 tsp lemon juice

1 clove garlic

6 chicken breasts

In a 3 quart rectangular baking dish combine all ingredients (excluding chicken) Mix well. Add Chicken, turning to coat. arrange in a single layer. Bake at 350 degress for 30 minutes. Serve over rice.

Hope you all have a great weekend! Im going to be swamped, but Im optistic that I can get it all done!



12 Crafts for Christmas... Day 1

This year Jaxon started preschool. He loves it. But on Tuesdays and Thursdays when he doesnt have school he gets really really bored. So I came up with 12 super cheap christmas/winter themed crafts to do on tuesdays and Thursdays leading up to Christmas. Yesterday's craft was Toilet paper roll snowmen. And mother nature even got in the spirit and it snowed and snowed and snowed yesterday... and it hasnt stopped yet...

This is super easy and basically free. I saved some toilet paper rolls and painted them white and then let them dry. They Jaxon got out his smelly markers (he loves them!) and decorated them. He had me draw on the faces. Now they sit on our kitchen table as our winter centerpiece.

What a cute little snowman family I think. Owen was napping while we did this so it was nice one on one time with my buddy Jaxon. It was awesome!

Progress report.. and a fond farewell

So today was sadly my last day of Hot Yoga... My intro week has expired and I just can afford to buy a pass. Ill miss it! It was a great work out and Im down 5 lbs! I will probably still go every once and a while... but mostly I think Im back to convincing myself to work out at home... booo!
On to some fun news! I dont know if Ive mentioned it already but Im making both my boys personalized car mats for christmas. I have come up with some fun places that they love to go to. Im still hours and hours away from getting it done but I thought id share some of my progress. Here are a few of the buildings for it.

Ice Cream Parlor

Toy Store

Fire Hall

School
For someone who doesnt know how to sew I think they are turning out fairly ok. Also I knwo some of they are pretty far out with their colors but I thought why not??? Make it crazy and fun right... I mean my boys are nuts in a fun way! Im just hoping that I get it done in time!

My Big Projects

Guess what... Christmas is just around the corner! AHHHHHH! Normally I have already finished my shopping by now... not this year.. I dont know where my head is at. But it hit me yesterday that Chrismas will be on me before I know it... so I have kicked my butt into gear and have been working frantically to get it all done. I have two HUGE projects to complete.
1) As any of you who follow this blog know I am making felt food for my boys and their cousins for christmas. I still have a huge list of items I hope to complete for then. (I am making a total of 5 sets of all the food I make 1 for my boys, 2 for the the 2 cousins and then 2 incase someone wants to buy some off me or incase I need a quick kid gift!) I have just finished making bread slices this afternoon... Ill post them tomorrow.. along with the PB and J and sandwich fixings I have busted out too!
2) This is the project giving me the most stress right now... I am attempting to make personalize car mats for both my boys for christmas (one for each of them!) This scares me because I dont sew... sewing machines scare me... I have one... but I have hidden it under my craft table and use it as a foot stool. But my awesome friend Chelsea gave me the idea and then I say it on http://www.homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/ and thought it was perfect for my boys since they are both obsessed with hot wheels. So I am working on it. In the last two days I have dedicated alot of time to it and have them both mapped out on paper (full size, 4 feetx3 feet) and made patterns for the buildings... next step to buy fabric... WHERE DO I BUY FABRIC?? how lame is that... I dont even know where to buy fabric... bahahaha... Im awesome arent I???
  then of couse I have all my side projects... getting the scrapbooks up to date again, updated the journals, and I still want to make about 15-20 more cards for the 3 Cards for a year kits I am giving away at christmas....Oh did I mention that My bestest friend Leah is coming over on Wed morning to teach me to knit scarves... so Im sure Ill be trying to make a fw of those too!
   To answer the question I know you are all thinking... NO I AM NOT CRAZY... ok I am... but its been a manic week... so I better make use of it.. Im hoping it sticks around!
What are you all working on???

Trick or Treat

We are in full swing here getting ready for the big Halloween party we are doing on Friday. Im impressed that I only have to paint my graveyard and make the best decorated door prize and we are all set.

These little fellas are what Im giving out at the party to the little trick or treaters. They are toilet paper rolls stuffed with candy and then wrapped with that papery ribbon stuff. I have seen some done really decked out; google eyes, pipe cleaners the whole nine yards. Mine got silly marker faces. I figured the kids will only be after the goodies inside!
Steps
1) fill tubes with Candy
2) Wrap end to end 2 or 3 times so candy doesnt fall out
3) Wrap mommy style around tube.
4) Embellish!
Pretty darn simple eh?

Pumpkin Tins

I love Halloween... have I mentioned that already??? I love Jack-o-Lanterns too! I think they are sooo cute! But I really hate carving pumpkins because I hate pulling the insides out! YUCK! so I decided to make them this way. I took some old tims and then painted them. Super Simple and I htink they look pretty darn cute!

Halloween Crafts

I love Halloween. I think the decor is super cute and its just a whole lot of fun! Today I started decorating the house for Halloween. I have a new large decoration this year. It's a Halloween Street Sign. I am "lucky" enough to live in a construction zone which means I find lots of scrap wood. So I used some of it to make this cute sign post.

The Streets are Dracula Drive, Witch Way, Haunted Highway and Maniac Manor. Im not too sure why Jaxon of all people is super excited about it... but he loves it!

Door Names

I have finally finished the boys door names. It was a really simple project but one I just couldn't find time to get around to doing. But I finally got so sick of seeing it on my to do list so I just did it. All I did was find these letters at Micheals and then painted them. Simple! but I think they are cute.

Jaxon is obsessed with letters so he is constantly pointing them out. If Owen goes into his room he will escort him out and say "No see owen... J-A-X-O-N that spell Jaxon... O-W-E-N spells Owen"

Name Tags

My three year old has started preschool. He loves it. There is one downfall to the preschool thing... minor but still a problem; everything as to be labeled, back packs, shoes, jackets.. the works. Why is this a problem you ask....because Jaxon has a little brother who will one day inherit Jaxon's things. It's bad enough to have hand me downs... but hand me downs with someone elses name in them sucks bad. So I have been trying to come up with creative ways to label Jaxon's school stuff. One of the ways is with this super cute washers.

They are way easy! I love them. the best part is I can attach them to the zipper on his bags and on his jackets and take them off later. PERFECT! We have lost one already... but washers are so cheap that I can always make another one!

Favorite Color Party

I like to throw parties. So every once and a while I do a play date on steroids. I event a few kids and their mommies over and we have a themed play date. Today was the Favorite Color party. It was a play date all about colors.

here is the invite I had made up for the party... yes I know that none of you got an invite ladies... I forgot them until after the fact.

We had all sorts of colorful foods. Red Strawberries, Pink Watermelon, Green Grapes, Blue and Green cupcakes (mint chocolate... yes I love to bake too!) and rainbow licorice (Jaxon's Favorite!)

I bought each of the kids a plain white pillow case and busted out the fabric markers and let them design their own pillow case. I was surprised at how long this held some of the kids interest, especially Jaxon!

But the highlight of the party was the Flower Hunt. All I did was cut out different color flowers and attach them to popsicle sticks and then I hid different colors in different rooms and told the kids clues like "downstairs their are flowers hidden that are the same color as the sky" Then they all ran off to find Blue flowers. They got to collect them in plastic cup vases and by the end has a beautiful bouquet. One of Jaxon's new buddies Jack Davidson was too sweet and gave me his orange flower since I had told them orange was my favorite color!
All and all I think it was a fun morning!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Happy Father's Day to all the days out there. But an extra big Hug goes out to the two greatest men in my life, my daddy and my husband! I love you! Today's little tidbit was not my idea but it was so cute that I had to share it. Today in Nursery my little three yr old Jaxon made his daddy a father's day gift. It was a bottle of Dad's Root Beer with a paper tie attached to it. The tie read "To the World's Greatest Pop" I thought it was adoreable and had to share!

Today is also Sunday. Which means its time for me to organize myself for the upcoming week, part of which means making a menu for dinner this coming week. Doing this just makes my life so much easier. I can make a grocery list and then know I will have everything I need in the house to make meals for a week and I never had to worry come 5pm "Oh no whats for dinner!?"
Here is the menu for this week;
Monday - Homemade Chicken Fingers
Tuesday - BBQ burgers with a Mustard and Dill Potato salad
Wednesday - 5 Cheese Baked Ziti and Cesear salad
Thursday - Shrimp Bowls
Friday - Chicken Korma with Naan Bread
Saturday - we are at a wedding so I dont have to cook
Sunday - Leftovers
I always make sure to have one day of leftovers to clean up my fridge and with church not getting over until 4 Sundays always seem like a good day for it. Also I have tried to have a low to no protien dinner night and one night of seafood a week. Gotta have variety!

Finally today is Sunday... oh the day of rest... yeah right. But I figured since it is Sunday Id share with you a quote that I found today and just love.
"...there is no tomorrow to remember if we don't do something today."
-President Thomas S Monson, "Finding Joy in the Journey" Nov 2008 Ensign pages 84-87
It's a Fabulous talk!