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. 

. 
 

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.......

 

gift making

Sometimes it's difficult to buy a gift for a teenager.  So for my cousins 17th birthday this year I sent cash.  Boring right but useful.  Except I found a link to origami money.  I made his like a shirt.  Like the one below but without the tie.  My simple gift of money was a hit.  He was so amazed!

 

 

For my Grandmothers birthday my youngest and I made one like the pumpkin below. She is hard to shop for because she does not want knick-knacks and will not tell you what she needs.  We made her's with red mums without a bow.  My Grandmother adored them. 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodbye 2012

The girls and I did a wonderful send-off to 2012.  We did a party theme.  Everything we did was a party.  We ate dinner at a hibachi restaurant so it was a hibachi party and that it truly was.  Then we got supplies at Walmart so ....Walmart party.  We also did game party, movie party, cake party, xbox party, 2012 memory party, then at midnight we did our "fireworks" party (aka lots of poppers).  We had too much fun.  Surprisingly everyone made it to midnight. 

 

My Goals for  2012 that I placed on a board on Pinterest were not all completed.   I am truly happy with the goals I did reach and how some of mine were re-touched or changed.

 

 

Take the girls to a Balloon launch/festival.

I honestly kept forgetting about this goal.  When I did remember it was too late to take off work to travel.  I will put this on my Goals for 2013. 

 

 

I will find time to meditate/pray daily this year.

Accomplished!  Even if it was a few minutes before waking the kids up or taking a brief walk to the Healing Garden at my work it was well worth it. 

 

 

to chase the end of a rainbow with my girls :)

Very well done!  We should have brought snacks because it turned into over an hour excursion.  Maybe GPS as well I almost got lost on the return home.

 

My coloring book got jacked by a 2 year old.  I never finished it but I do not mind at all.

 

explore new horizons to find a new hobby

I have explored: crocheting, skating/derby, rediscovered reading, sewing, cooking, candy-making, being a soccer mom :) , and lots of others.  I have found more than one new hobby.  I do think this one will make the 2013 list. 

 

 

to lose @ least 20 lbs & fit back into my size 10 jeans

I was almost there but I will get there one day.  I entered my Dad into hospice and did a lot of couch sitting, sleeping and lousy eating.  On the bright side I am fit enough to do a 5K/obstacle course so size 10 or not I feel fit.

 

 

Try a new recipe each week. I'm starting with this one.

I had so much fun with this one.  I only tried a couple complete stinkers.  My children were not as excited with NEW, untried recipes.

I'm too old for this!  We slept on the floor in sleeping bags.  As I said before I'm too old for this!  My back was sore for a day after that. 

To get Yogafit certified

It never happened.  The weekend I signed up for I cancelled on because I signed my Dad into hospice.  I did not want to be several hours away if something happened to him.

I did instead finish the Run For Your Lives 5K/obstacle course.  

 

Get "that" closet organized & I luv this idea!

Yeah that organization maybe lasted 2 months.  Live and learn.  It's "that" closet for a reason.

 

Memory Jar, Put memories made throughout the year in the Jar. Then on new years eve empty and read them all from the wonderful year you've had. I'm so doing this.

We enjoyed the memory jar and sharing them on NYE.  It will become a wonderful tradition.

 

 

don't know if it'll be 40 days because i've already hit 3 rooms.

I loved this project.  I have already decided it will be an annual project.

 

30 Day Mom Challenge.

I never finished it.  I would start, forget, get back on track, forget. 

 I have some new goals already in mind for this year. 

Happy New Years to everyone!

 

 

Cookies to take to the exchange

The winner cookies I am baking to share at the Cookie Exchange are the.......hot cocoa cookies.  I test made them last week.  They were a hit!!  Even better they go with the holiday season.  My other favorites were the lemon sugar cookies with cream cheese frosting, rolo cookies (so easy) and cherry pecan icebox cookies.  Oh there are too many to list!!!  My least favorite tested cookie was the chocolate gooey butter cookies.  The cream cheese in the recipe just did not do it for us.  All we tasted was chocolate and cream cheese.  It was not very gooey or buttery.  Do not get me wrong I love ooey gooey butter cake but this was not the same.  Not to worry though my dog snuck into the kitchen overnight to secretly devour the leftovers.  He was sick the next morning.  *smh*

The Cookie Exchange was a delightful evening.  The committee had several women from the Church speak about Christmas Traditions.  They had a wonderful but fattening dinner served.  The conversations and new people I met were inspiring.  Since there were so many people we only made 12 cookies & recipes to exchange.  We displayed our goodies a table.  At the end of the evening we grabbed a take-home box.  We filled them with 12 cookies.  I saw several from pinterest, some oldies but goodies, some too cute like one had a mouse made out of kisses on top.  There were also a couple store bought; my favorite of this variety was the one with instructions to get in car, drive to Collin Street Bakery and ask for that cookie!

I forgot to snap a picture of my plated cookies but here is a picture of my Grandmother and I before the dinner.

 

 Cookie Exchange Ideas

 

 

Advent calendars

With a dog in the house, who eats all the chocolate he can find, the traditional candy advent calendar we buy is not a good idea.  I wanted to do something different this year so I logged onto Pinterest..  I found several ideas to help me out.  I printed out a scripture chain (below) then added surprise tickets on various days for fun activities.  I did a Christmas express ticket to view Christmas lights, special candy or juice boxes, Christmas crafts, picking out the tree, setting up the nativity set, recreating the nativity with dollies, and so on.

 

 

 

She has ideas to create advent calendars like the one in the picture.  As well as activity ideas. 

 

 

I printed this one out onto green and red paper to form a chain. 

 

 

 

Too cute but requires a good bit of effort, time and materials.  Maybe next year. 

 

 

This one you can choose from pre-selected activities or create your own. 

 

 

 

 

 

Cookie Exchange

The Women's Ministry at my Church is hosting its first Cookie Exchange this year.  I am very excited.  I have participated in these before with friends but it was always small not a large affair.  Lucky us we only have to supply our table, 12 women, with cookies and recipes.  I love baking and trying new recipes. I started a Pin Board solely dedicated to this event.  For the Cookie Exchange   Check out my favorite ideas to take.

  

In case you have never participated or have no idea what a cookie exchange is let me explain.  A group of people set a date.  On that date each person brings cookies for everyone to taste plus recipes for everyone to take home.  The host normally supplies the area to set the cookies, plates, napkins, forks (for bar cookies), drinks, cups and decor.  As a host gift to these affairs I usually gift an interesting cookie cutter or vanilla. 

 

update to the laundry detergent

A half batch lasted my girls and I a little over 9 months. I gifted two mason jars to family from the batch as well.  It does work well.   The first test was a pair of my youngest jeans with poop on it that my Dad placed in a bag and forgot about for over a day.  The detergent got them clean in one wash.

 I still use Shout as a pre-wash like I did before. $20 for 9 months of laundry is a really good deal.

 

 

when all you want to eat is ice cream and popiscles

The Magic Mouthwash ingredients sound disgusting and not likely to help a sore throat.  After reading the Sprittibee's blog post about it I gave in.  I was hurting.  I had tons of nasty looking phlegm, a killer sore throat, slight fever, aches, etc.  I had been to the doctor.   He assured me it was not strep or bacterial.  Yeah, but still in pain.  I looked online for home remedies.  I found  two I used other than the salt water gargle for my throat.  The salt water gargle had done nothing for my throat in terms of relief.

 

The ingredients are simple: 1 part children's benadryl (I used cherry flavored) and 1 part milk of magnesia or similar (cherry flavor again).  It numbed my throat!!  It truly works.  I have not tried it with my children since no one has had a sore throat yet.

The other online remedy I used was in the evenings and it is a pretty old school remedy but it does work.  It is not for young children. Wild turkey heated up, a teaspoon honey and a splash of lemon. I bought a small thing of Wild Turkey 101 with the thought "that'll kill anything in my throat".  All the other ingredients I had on hand.  I always suggested using local honey.  I buy mine at the farmers market.

I hope this finds everyone in great health and it's just a post to read :) 

 

Disclaimer:  I am not a doctor or nurse.  Before using any of these remedies make sure you check with your MD, DO, NP or PA.

 

And Everyone have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

pop...pop...pop

Tightening up on my budget I love finding awesome ways to save on Pinterest, from friends or family.  A box of microwaveable butter popcorn can run $3.78 on up.  If you purchase paper lunch bags, popcorn and/or popcorn oil you have the ingredients to make your own microwaveable popcorn.  The first purchase is more than a box and requires effort beyond unwrapping but is beyond belief beneficial.  One bottle has gotten us 15 bags so far; we are not done with the bottle yet.  There are not as many preservatives as in the prepackaged bags.  Plus, if you need a little more you do not have to pop a complete bag.  

 

http://pinterest.com/pin/170573904606348626/

 

 

 

Pray for it

It has been a rough week in my household.  My youngest returned from Daddy's with a rash and fever that turned out to be hand, foot and mouth disease.  So we were home stricken for most of the week.  I did take her to see Sesame Street Live; which was already planned.  We skipped the playzone area as to not infect other kiddos.  I also found out 5 hours before pick up that Daddy will not be coming to pick up for spring break :(.  I'm taking a break from revamping plans to post.  Doing this gets my mind off of that stressor.  Since I'm very big on prayer this week I'm posting pics/links to different prayer ideas.  Take what you want and leave the rest :)

I'm at 1415 Pins.  Everyone have a great spring break.