Rose Propagation with Potatoes?!

Yep...........too good to be true.  

I transplanted a rose bush from my Dad's property to mine.  The new owners planned to strip the landscaping.  That bush has moved several times.  No it is not an heirloom type of rose bush but an attempt to save it was important to me.  In case it didn't survive I wanted to try to save some cuttings to propagate.  One method I saw on Pinterest was by inserting the cutting into a potatoe.  

Within 12 hours all the cuttings looked pretty much dead.  So as neat as it sounds not everything works the way a site claims it should.

Lucky me I am trying other forms of propagation of the bush as well.

Hip, Hoppity Down the Bunny Trail

For the Easter Party at my daughters school I signed up for decorations. I plan to make a couple items for the classroom.  Then check out Dollar Tree to see if they have any good buys. It is hard to pick toddler friendly decor. They have three tables in the room so I plan to make one of these for each table.

To make it toddler friendly I have bought small, clear plastic cups.  Fill bottom layer with candy.  I'll use an empty spool in the middle then fill the peeps around that.  Then top off with more candies.  I'm using peep bunnies and jelly beans.  If the kids eat it then that is okay.

 

I would love to make something like this bunny/balloon centerpiece but I worry with toddlers there might be tears if one wants to take a bunny home. 

Unfortunately I cannot afford to make 15 of them.  I might make one for the house though because that is too cute!  It looks pretty straight forward.  Felted basket, small bowl inside then easter grass.  Add bunny with balloon and plastic eggs.

 

For the party they want us to bring enough stuffed plastic eggs for all the kids.  I'm certain all the parents feel the same as I that these kids will get enough candy on Easter. I want to put non-candy items in the eggs. 

 

Here are some ideas:

small toys or trinkets......Dollar Tree, Target, Walmart

stickers

fake tattoos

small bubbles

homemade playdough

chapstick

homemade silly putty

chalk

hair bows

small cars

individual drink packets

money

homemade crayons (we're doing bunny shapes)

cross necklaces.....Orientaltrading normally has them

 

For Bigger Eggs:

small play-dohs

bubbles

individual cocoa

individual peanut butter cups or nutella cups

 

A parent one year placed tokens to ChuckECheese in them. (Her daughters birthday party was that night).  Last one is something one parent did when my oldest was in pre-K.  She completely forgot the party was that day.  When she saw everyone dropping off the eggs she ran home to snag her sons basket.  Then she ran by the store and out of the quarter machines bought 8.  The kids loved those eggs!  Lucky her there were only 8 in the class! 

 

Thredup

This find I did not find on Pinterest.  I wanted to share it anyways.  I love saving money!  I sell at least half of my daughters clothes to consignment.  I was always nervous about thredup.  Even with all the rave reviews people online gave it.  I did not know anyone personally that had bought a box of used clothes through their consignment system.  On Sunday I decided to check online to give them another shot.  Thredup has completely revamped their online store.  It's no longer individuals selling their boxes of clothes.  It's just an online consignment shop.  You pick the clothes you want and order only those.  To "consign" you merely mail them clothes in a bag they provide.  To make it even better right now you get 20% off.  I bought my girls two awesome Easter dresses that should be here Friday!  Check them out if you are looking for great buys or wanting to consign.

 

Happy Valentine's Day

 

The surprises my daughters get to delight in when they get out of school! 

 

I also decorated the hallway, to dark to successfully photograph, with balloons and hanging hearts.

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

 

 

 

 

V-Day 2013

I am not a big Valentine's Day fan.  The last time I went out, on a date, for Valentine's Day was in 2006.  Where I live it's a struggle to find something traditional to do.  Most restaurants do not take reservations except on February 14th.  The downside to that is most have no idea how to handle reservations.  In 2006 my husband got us reservations at my favorite hibachi place.  We arrived 15 minutes before our time to see all the tables were full (the hibachi table seating there is only 32) and none had started eating yet.  By the time our reservation time arrived 6 other couples had arrived with reservations same as us.  We actually went around the corner to a bar we used to hang out at in college.  Played pool, ordered pizza and talked. 

Now I place less emphasis on the romance and more on the fun.  I plan a fun dinner, crafts, movie and too many dessert treats. 

 

This year on the menu is:

 

Personal Pizzas

English muffins, pizza sauce, toppings per the person.
So easy, quick and the girls luv making them!

Party Punch

pineapple juice, orange juice, frozen limeade and lemonade concentrate, ginger ale and orange, lemon and lime sherbet.

 

Homemade heart gumdrops

The recipe seems pretty simple.  I should be able to make it Wednesday evening then cut them out Thursday while the kids are at school.

Chocolate Cherry Bark

I have seen a few recipes like this for holidays on Pinterest.  The cherry and chocolate appealed to me.  Plus I bought a four pack of Wilton flavorings during the holidays and still have the cherry left.

 

For surprises I have the supplies to make each girl one of these.

Plus of course the cards I am making them.

 

For the movie that night I have yet to decide.  I think I might let them rent the latest Barbie movie from redbox.  Instead of a dedicated craft this year after school we are going indoor swimming.  So I can workout a bit before the sweets.  :)

 

I hope everyone has a sweet Valentine's Day!

 

homemade satin hands

My hands take a beating each week from cleaning and lawn care.  I do not always get the chance to get manicures as often as I should.  When I saw this on Pinterest I knew I had to try it.  I love Mary Kay's Satin Hands but I have no idea anyone around my area that sales Mary kay anymore.  I still remember the very first time I used satin hands. 

http://pinterest.com/pin/170573904608243116/

The recipe is simple.  Just combine sugar and Dawn Olay hand renewal dishwashing soap into a paste. I used the lavender scented.  It leaves your hands soft.  I don't need to worry about manicures because I have a quick one above my sink. 

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Epic brownie cheesecake fail

Every once in a while you run across an amazing recipe or craft you desperately want to try out.  It looks awesome.  Then you do it and it does not look as awesome as the picture you saw.  That just happened to me. 

 I saw a recipe for a brownie caramel cheesecake on Pinterest.  I followed the recipe but mine turned out BAD!  I mean look at it. 

 

 You live and you learn.  What I learned is #1 never do a water bath with cake or brownie only cheesecake.  #2 Just slop the fudgey brownie mix on top of the cheesecake and serve as fudgey cheesecake!  #3 I could so recreate the top picture by baking the brownie per box instructions.  Make her caramel sauce & cheesecake.  Then layer them all together!  And #3 I will do one day.  Not today but one day.......