So now that it is over...what are we going to do now?

We had a great Christmas and Audrey (my 4 year old) is still yelling "Best Christmas Ever!" Christmas has come and gone and now what is up for the new year?  There is always a huge build up before Christmas, with Halloween and then Thanksgiving and then Bang!, it is all over with.  We are then left with cold, dark days and cabin fever sets in.  I do have a few things on my noggin' to keep my spirits up.

New Years Eve is tomorrow so here are a few ideas that you can whip up real quick today or tomorrow.

Printable Review

Can't wait to see what the kids will say!

Photo Memory Game

My oldest is turning 9 (thought now that next year when she was 9 and 3/4 old would have been a fun idea, but too late now) in a few days and she wants a Harry Potter Themed party.  We are doing a small family party with just us, but I thought I would grab a few cute ideas from Pinterest.

She wants red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.  I asked her what kind of ice cream and she said Neapolitan (what!?)  anyway she is the birthday girl so she gets what she wants.

I found a few free printables out there 

Click Here for all the printables and tons of ideas.

Next I am already thinking of Valentines Day.  It always seem to sneak up on me and I want to make a few fun things and make some cute valentines with my kids for their friends.

Animal Herd Valentines

"I CEREALsly like you!"

 I would like to make a view of these garlands and hang them around the house.

Heart Paper Chain

Thought this would be cute for teacher gifts for V-day instead of candy and also for some close friends and neighbors.

Mini Hand Warmer

Of course don't forget the treats.....

Chocolate Heart Peanut Butter Cookies

SOFT GINGER SNAP COOKIES

I instagramed these cookies I made for our first Family Christmas Party of the season and I got some likes so thought I would share.  I got this awesome recipe from my neighbor friend Meg.  Meg moved away a few months ago.  Meg was my visiting teacher with Carol and they were the best!  Meg would bring me goodies, because that is what all the most wonderful visiting teachers do.  If I can't make it for a visit to my sisters I always feel good if I can bake them up something and run it over for a quick, Hi!.  Anyway Meg shared this cookie and recipe with me and I just love them.  I love a ginger snap, but I always think of a crispy cookie you have to dip in milk.  But with this cookie milk is optional, they are soft, chewy and have all that yummy spice.  They are perfect to make at this time of year, where you want a gingerbread type recipe but don't want to go to all the trouble of rolling out and cutting dough.  So here ya go!  

SOFT GINGER SNAP COOKIES

1 1/2 cups oil

2 eggs

2 cups of sugar

1/2 cup molasses

Combine and blend well

4 cups flour

1 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

4 tsp baking soda

2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp cloves

Sift dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture.  Refrigerate dough for one hour.  Roll into balls the size of a walnut and dip into sugar.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.  This is a dark dough, so it is hard to tell when they are done.  When the cookie starts to crack on top that is a sign they are done, don't over bake.

Christmas Wreath & Breaking Pointe

Wendy the Wreath Fairy had a crafty friend that helped us make our next wreath.  Wendy and I knew we wanted to make an ornament wreath for Christmas.  I jumped on pinterest and saw a bunch of wreaths like this but required mounds of hot glue and I could imagine many burnt fingers.  I did see a cool one that you strung ornaments on a hanger shaped in a circle that would work also.  But I wanted a big, huge wreath!  Wendy mentioned she had a friend that made this type of wreath we wanted and she said she would come and teach us.  She taught us an awesome technique.  Sorry I am not the best at tutorials (it would have been complicated) but if you really want to find out how do this wreath leave me a comment.  We did not use a drop of glue!

  I love ballet and have for many years.  I took ballet from the age of 10 to 17 and even was able to be on pointe.  When I started taking ballet I began to be obsessed with everything ballet.  My mom purchased season tickets to Ballet West and it was awesome.  I would be in awe of the beautiful, powerful dancers and I thought I want to do that one day!  I did not become a prima ballerina, but I still love and appreciate ballet as always.  

Last summer I saw a commercial ad for a new reality show coming on the CW.  First is was ballet and second it was a reality show so I was so going to DVR it!  When I watched my first episode I was so excited to find out that the cameras were following Ballet West and their dancers!

The weekend after Thanksgiving, I took my girls to see The Nutcracker.  It was Audrey's first time and Aria's 3rd or 4th.  We had a great time and I loved watching my girls watching the dancers, with the same awe I had.  I was also a little start struck.  I was watching dancers that I have been watching on TV and I felt like I kinda knew them.  That sounded a little corny, but it was cool to recognize the dancers as real people.  Anyway Breaking Pointe the second season will be back on the CW, not sure when but I will be watching.
       

Since it is a new month Lilla Rose has also released their newest flexi!  

The arrival of winter is upon us and what better way to welcome it with the gift of icy beads, silver and bows.

Lilla Rose would make the perfect gift for Christmas.

Two Fall Wreaths for my 200th Post!

 

This is my 200th blog post! 

I have been wanting to make this wreath since last fall when I saw it on the Martha Stewart Show.  So me and of course Wendy the Wreath Fairy got together and made this pretty thing.  It is made from dyed corn husks  that you can find down most Mexican food aisles (we got ours at Walmart).  We bought 3 packages and had a lot left over so I think one package per wreath would do.  We didn't want to run out though because you are dying them a certain color and it would be hard to match so better to have more than less.  Click Here for the instructions and a video I recommend to watch.   In the video it says to let your corn husks soak for 24 hours, which we did and I think you would get the most vibrant color also.  To help you pick what color you want visit the RitDye website and they have a whole chart of colors to choose from and they tell what ratio of each color dye to use also.  One more thing, Martha said to use floral pins, but we just used regular straight pins and either works. 

Our Wreath of Plenty, not full yet but should look great by Turkey Day!

Last year for Thanksgiving our family did a Thankful Jar.  Each day we would pick a small object from a box of random things (feathers, beads, buttons, pieces of yarn) The item would represent what we were thankful for that day and we would fill up the jar.  Well this year I saw this and I thought it would be fun and since I am on wreath kick anyway.

 

This next wreath idea I got from Family Fun Magazine. My sister got my 8 year old daughter a subscription for her birthday and we love it, thanks sis! So I could not find a tutorial on the Family Fun website, so I will share. It is super easy.

Wrap a 12 inch Styrofoam wreath form with strips of fabric (I used burlap that I had leftover from another project, but any type of fabric or ribbon would work), securing them with straight pins. 

Cut leaf shapes from card stock.  Crease each leaf in half to add dimension. 

To hang, pin a loop of string to the back of wreath. 

Have your family write things they are thankful for and pin them on each day until Thanksgiving and you will have a nice full wreath by the end of the month. Enjoy!

I found a leaf template here so it makes it easier to cut out instead of drawing your own.

Lilla Rose has released their newest flexi of the month!

 

Fall Harvest of Colors will bring pleasure in everyday updos! Twin leaves centerpiece with the brilliant colors of autumn - red, yellow, orange, and green - complete with metal plated colors of rust, gold, and silver and forest green glass beads for the Fall Harvest of Colors.

 

If you would like to order some Lilla Rose for yourself or for someone else you think would love it, my friend Amanda is having a party.  You can click on this link and get reduced shipping instead of $4.00 it would be $2.95. 

The items will be shipped to your door.

 

https://www.lillarose.biz/parties/1095

30 Minute Chili and Awesome Cornbread

 

October is here and so is Fall!  Fall is my most favorite season!  I just love not having to run the air conditioning or furnace.  I love the smells and the leaves changing and on and on.  But what I really love most is the food!  Halloween candy, pumpkin stuff, donuts, hot chocolate and of course stews, soups and chili.  My oldest loves chili (she even takes chili for school lunch, Stagg is her favorite brand.) and so I am always looking for quick and easy chili recipes. I got this recipe from my Kraft Foods Food & Family Magazine (my most favorite piece of mail I get every other month).  The kids and I loved it and it made good leftovers also.   

 

I of course paired it with my most favorite cornbread on earth!  My friend Wendy (aka Wendy the Wreath Fairy) shared this recipe with me last Christmas and I can't stop making it!

 

30-Minute Chili Mac

What You Need

1lb. extra-lean ground beef

2tsp. chili powder

1-1/2cups water

1can (15.5 oz.) kidney beans, rinsed

1can (15 oz.) tomato sauce

1 cup Salsa

3/4 cup elbow macaroni, uncooked

1 cup Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese or whatever cheese you like

Make It

BROWN meat with chili powder in large saucepan.

ADD all remaining ingredients except cheese; mix well.

BRING to boil; cover. Simmer on low heat 15 min., stirring after 8 min. Serve topped with cheese.

 

Awesome Cornbread

 

3/4 c. margarine

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. sugar

1 c. corn flour (Not cornmeal, most say corn flour.  I use Bob's Red Mill Brand.)

2 tsp. baking powder

1 can evaporated milk

2 c. white flour

Combine margarine sugar and corn flour in a bowl and mix well. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan or mini bread pans are fun also. Bake at 350 for approx. 30 min.

 

Lilla Rose has also added some new hair sticks and a hair band this week.  So pretty!

Also this month is an adorable Owl Flexi Clip.  This cute thing sold out in 2 days!  Should be more available after the 16th of this month.

September Happenings

Painted Moose they had all over Park City

 

This September we have done a lot of fun things.  During the summer we made a reward jar for the kids and when they filled it up with pom poms, by doing nice things they got to go to Park City.  It was a really nice sunny day, I thought it was going to be cooler so we over dressed a little bit.  The last time I had been to Park City I was pregnant with Aria so it has been 8 years!

Bear sitting on a bench

Feeding the bird

We went shopping first at the outlets and got some cute outfits.  Shopping always makes me hungry so we headed into town and found a pizza place on Main Street.  After lunch you always need dessert so we found a candy store and I got chocolate dipped cheesecake.  It is what I had 8 years ago when I was big and pregnant.  It tasted better when I was pregnant.  Anyway after that we headed to the alpine slide.

Another moose

It was a perfect time to see all the leaves start to change colors.  I love FALL!

Aria and I heading up the mountain on the ski left to go down the Alpine Slide

(you can see the track in the background)

Ready, Set, Go!!!!

 

 

We had a great time in Park City and are planning on going again and doing some more activities.

Last weekend we got together we our friends the Grows and went flying.  Brian is a pilot so he knows a guy in Brigham City that he rents the plane from.  We have done this numerous times and the kids love it.  It was a little smokey because of the fires but we still had a fun time.

 

Getting excited!

He would not keep on the headset and so the noise of the plane kinda freaked him or something did, because he was climbing my back like a scared cat.

Me and Aria

Corn Maze,  So now you know the way out?

Brigham City Temple

Audrey in the front seat.  She loves flying the most!

After we got some Maddox of course

 

We actually went to the Brigham City Temple Open House at the end of August but I thought I would share a few pictures, because we went to the dedication and it was wonderful.  President Packers talk about his fondness for Box Elder County made me cry.  I loved growing up around Brigham and I can't wait to go and do a session at the new temple.

Girls in Front of the Temple. 

We had a really nice time visiting the temple and the paintings inside were amazing and beautiful.

Sweet Treat and a Sweet Boutique

 

Fall is just around the corner and when the weather gets cooler I start to warm up my oven with yummy baked goods.  I have made these brownies quite a few times and they are delicious, thick and chewy, just how I love my brownies.  You will never make a brownie from a box again!  They are so good that they don't even need frosting.  Don't get me wrong I still make brownies from a box, but if you have the ingredients for this one give it a go.

 

Double Chocolate Brownies

 

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

4 Tbsp water

2- 12 oz packages semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips (Ghiradelli is my favorite)

2 tsp vanilla extract

4 eggs

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl and mix to combine.  In a large saucepan, melt the butter with the sugar and water.  Bring just to a boil and remove from heat.  Stir in one package of the chocolate chips and the vanilla extract.  Whisk in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Slowly blend in the flower mixture, and then add the remaining package of chocolate chips and the chopped nuts.  Pour into a greased 9x13 pan and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Be careful not to over bake, and make sure that your toothpick is coated with uncooked batter and not melted chocolate chips if you're going to continue baking longer.  Let cool at least 2 hours before serving.

 

Recipe adapted from....I can't remember where I got this recipe from, the Internet somewhere.

 

 

Cute Mini

Here is a couple Lilla Rose Flexi Clip pictures from my amazing Lilla Rose Consultant Friends

Drop Bun
Wish my hair was long enough for this style.

The flexis can be worn as a scarf pin also, so cute!

This weekend I will be packing up my Lilla Rose inventory and heading over to the Oh So Sweets Boutique!  Come to the Davis Conference Center and visit me.  I will also be having a drawing for a Free Flexi Clip!

Good-bye Helmet!

William 6 month old, before helmet

 Last Friday was William's last day of wearing his Plagiocephaly Helmet.  We are so excited.  He wore his helmet for about 5 months and it really did wonders for his head shape.  We are so thankful for Jared at Shields he was great! 

William 15 months old after helmet

These pictures are of William when he was 6 months old.  He also had Torticollis which lead to his plagiocephaly so he had some physical therapy sessions to help with his neck also.  He doesn't have such a bad tilt of the head anymore and his facial features are a little more balanced also from therapy and the helmet.

This is the print out from his last scan.  We scanned William's head every month (3D picture) and then they split the picture in quadrants.  They would minus Diag1 from Diag 2.  So the first scan he ever had the difference was 12.9 mm and on his last scan it was 5.0 mm so that was tremendous.  The inside red line is his head 5 months ago and the outside black line is his head shape now.  You can really see the change looking at that also.  Not perfect, but nobodies head is perfectly round.  We are so happy with the results!

Such a cutie!  He got his first hair cut on Saturday.  We couldn't cut his hair while he wore the helmet.  So we shaved all his hair off so we can get a fresh start and he looks so handsome.