I need a vacation ...

LOL I so need a vacation, some where nice and warm maybe ... hehe.  Some of you follow me on FB and saw me post about Rick going on a business trip.  See when he was out of work 8 months from his full time job he was working a his part time job being security for sporting events, concerts etc.  They offered him an opportunity to go to California to work a WEEK at a festival they are having.  Well when you don't have a full time job you say yes.  Well now he has started the new job in Januaray as a On Call position that means he gets 40 hours just is alternating between hospitals kind of like a floater.   So if you're not available a week you just say so (which seems to be cool, but for me it sounds like not a good idea to do to a job).  

So 2 weeks ago we are having dinner and he tells me that this job is NOT for one week, it's THREE weeks!  Yup the steam coming out of my head couldn't hardly explain it!  So soon he will be leaving me and the kids for 3 weeks to work yes but still he gets a little break from everything.   I'll be home with the kids pulling double duty ... yup run for the hills now!!

I think I may need to run away myself.  A few months back my boss offered a girls trip but I was taking care of dad from the accident.  It would have been perfect timing with Rick not working but to be honest I also wasn't close to my goal weight and a sunny beach and me not comfortable in my body wouldn't have been a lot of fun.  Now I'm close to goal weight I think I need some sun ... lol.  Ok I'm not going to be parading around in a bath suit.  So here is to dreaming for a break for myself ... lol

I found this and it's so true!!!

Maybe I could avoid the kids on the vacation? hehe

Grandfather Book (Or Father's Day Book) from the kids

It was my dad's birthday last week and funds are a little tight around here so I wanted the boys to make something special for my dad.  I found this on Pinterest for a fathers day gift and thought this would be perfect for my dad.  Cole when he first started to talk started calling my dad "Bapa" we have no clue where this came from (my mom he named Monnie, I guess it was like mommy so he went with it).  So with a little letter switching I made this Father's Day Book into a Bapa Book for my dad's birthday.  You can always take her design and go with dad (since father's day will be here sooner then you know it, plus it lands on my birthday this year ... whoo hoo).

My Juice Cup came up with this Father's Day Book (I tweaked it a bit for Bapa).

My "Bapa" Version

Her's said Dad with a D

What you Need:

Card Stock Paper (I used Brown, Green & Blue)

White Paper

Ribbon (I used Green & Blue)

Hole Punch

Colored Pencils

NOW she printed a D and then traced onto Card Stock and cut it out.  I'm a little on the lazy and time crunch side so I went to the Cricket used the largest setting typed a B and then went one size down and did another B.  I then went to a size or two down to type in the word Bapa.  I then cut down the brown card stock to make a smaller book, then I cut down some white paper and folded it in half to be like book pages.  I put the brown on top to be the cover and back of the book.  I then took my glue stick and added the big B and added a smaller B on top of it.  I then added Bapa at the bottom.  I then added two holes with my hole punch.  I added some ribbon and tied it threw each hole.  I did two colors to give it a little something extra (you can use only one if you want).  And hey it reminded me SeaHawks football team .. brown for the ball and Green and Blue for the team colors ... ok I'm reaching here but you could do it in team colors :).

When book is complete let the kids color and add notes on the white pages.  A book made especially for them from the kids.

Behavior & Homework Reward System

As most of you know my oldest that is 8 as brilliant as he may be can really give me and his teachers a run for our money.  He is a great kid but sitting still and focusing is not always something he can do.  We have tried many things over the years.  I am the parent that goes into the class every night talks to his teacher finds out what he has to do (what he didn't do in class) and makes sure his backpack has everything before we leave.  One nice thing about a small private school is it's easy to stay on top of these things.  

NOW homework and his willingness to do things has been a challenge.  For the last few weeks we have tried out a new system and for the most part it is working.  It's not perfect but I think more of it becoming routine the better we get.  Instead of earning money we earn what is called a fluffy (I found pom pom's at the dollar store).  We earn fluffies for getting up nice, having a good day in school, getting a good grade, bringing home all our homework, being done with homework before 6pm etc on and on.  We then have to PAY with fluffies for items we want like 1 1/2 hours of TV/Electronics cost you 5 fluffies (this is a max per school day), YMCA camp (done monthly) cost 50 fluffies.  We can also LOOSE fluffies for any bad grade, bad day at school, not cleaning our room etc on and on.

So here is what I have set up, I think it turned out pretty good and he likes that he gets to see what he has and then he also see's what he needs to do.

What you Need:

Picture Frame 11x17 (found at Ross $11.99) 
Homework Chart (Dollar Tree $1)
Stickers (Dollar Tree $1 Each Packet)
Foam Letters (Dollar Tree $1)
School Themed Paper Decorations (Dollar Tree $1)
Dry Eraser (Dollar Tree 3 Pack $1)
Fish Bowl or Container (I had one but you can find one cheap $5 or so)

I took a blank chart found at the dollar tree and mapped out the days on one side and the task above (I did this using a permanent marker, since it will behind the glass and will stay).  I also added the rewards on the bottom with the cost (enlarge the picture if you want to see how I set it up).  I added some foam letters on top for his name and a few fun school themed stickers and paper decorations (found in the teacher section of Dollar Tree).  I then taped this chart down to the white mat that was in the picture frame.  I put it in the picture frame so now you can use a white board marker to keep your tally and then take Windex and wipe it clean each week to start over.  I have a tally at the bottom to say how much the week he earned, how much he used and how much carried over from previous week.  I think the fish bowl or something he can see threw to see how many he has is very helpful also.  I am having my husband hang this up, but like most things it is sitting around waiting for that ... lol.

Super easy and it really has helped us a lot.  I hope it can help one of you too!   Let me know if it works for you.

Gift for the Science Enthusiast (Inexpensive & Fun)

As most of you know that I LOVE to do theme gifts and giving something that is unique and not just the usual item you buy and throw in a bag.  My best friend's son (my dinner guest every other week) had a birthday a few weekends ago.  She loves to do experiments with him.  So when I came across this science kit on I Can Teach My Child.  I had to make it.  It was so simple to make, I picked up most of the items at the Dollar Tree & Walmart.  This super cool kit cost around $20 and I swear was a HUGE hit worth so much more.  

She even put together a really cool pdf that you can print with experiments and what is needed for each experiment.  NOW you MUST sign up for her email alerts to get this download (I will NOT add a link here, you have to go to her site, click on the link science kit above to get the FREE download).  You can always create your own, but I'm all about the easy and really a few extra emails won't kill me.

What you Need:

• Download and Print the Fascinating Science for Kids eBook
• Matching Printable Gift Tags
• Goggles (Alexis Notes: I gave up finding in the winter so I skipped!)
• Personalized Lab Coat (a men’s white-collared shirt from Goodwill with the child’s name written on it) - Alexis Notes another item I skipped
• Marshmallows
• Rubber Bands
• Balloons
• Food coloring 
• Funnel
• Vinegar
• Baking Soda
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• A few tablespoons of Yeast (Alexis Notes - I picked up the 3 pk of yeast)
• 2-Liter of Diet Soda
• Mentos
• Oil
• Bar Magnet (Alexis Notes - Couldn't find so skipped)
• Rock Salt (Alexis Notes - Couldn't find so skipped)
• Radish seeds
• CD/DVD (Alexis Notes - Left out)
• Cap of a Sports Drink (Alexis Notes - found one on the side of Rick's bed .. lol)

Combine all of the materials and print off a gift tag.  Wrap up the basket in some cellophane and add your tag!  I just printed and added a paper clip.  You could  laminate the pages back-to-back and bind them with a metal ring, if you want.

I skipped a few items due to time and well I couldn't find at the two stores I went to so they will have to just pick those up.  I loved this gift so much that I also made it for my bosses son.  He is a great little guy who loves experiments and I just knew this would be right up his isle.  I mailed it off and my boss let me know it was perfect for him.  SCORE!!!

Happy Monday hope you all had a great weekend!

Should I call Hoarders?

Yesterday I went into Cole Room, on the surface it looked perfect well ok good enough for a 8 year old's room.  THEN I peaked around the corner of the dresser when I was putting around his clothes happened to bend down and guess what I found .... Oh yes there was stuff shoved under the dresser!  SO I almost loose it!

I pull it all out then I check under the bed and under his desk ... UGH yes this is what I found!!

Toys

Food (some I could tell what it was and some not so much)

LEGO's

paper

Let's just say mom was not so happy!  So I sent him on cleaning it.  I come in to find the pile gone but my garbage can full.  YUP he took a play from his dad's book and just threw it all away!  OH YES lego's and all!  Do you know how much a lego guy cost these days .... 3 for $15 is what I paid not too long ago!  So on to garbage digging he went!

OH man I'm spent ... BOYS!!  Have a happy weekend!

Are you done dieting yet?

While being on this weight loss journey and having a strict diet makes going out fun ... OK not really but hey when it's done I'll be to my happy weight.  Happy to say that after 2 weeks of nothing I'm down 89.2 lbs now ... 1.6lbs not really the # I wanted but hey at least it went down.  Rick I know is looking for the day I don't go to a restaurant with having to give a list of how to cook my food and what items can't be on my plate ... lol.

Hope you all have a fab day!  

I'm feeling  bit under the weather just run down so I might take me a few days to get around to say hi.

We End with Mickey Mouse Treat Bags

And we end this half birthday party with the treat bags I made for the kindergarten kids in Caden's class.  I saw on Pinterest a really cute treat bag but it was just a picture.  So I took the idea and ran with it.

What you need:

Paper Bags w/ Handle (I found mine at Dollar Tree they only had red - Pack of 2)

Black Construction Paper (I found at Dollar Tree)

Glue

Label (If you want)

For the real party I may either find red or black bags add the ears and add either white or yellow for the button look.  I took a large cup and outlined a circle on the black construction paper (You could use whatever you like I'm all about the easy).  I then cut the ears out.  I took the red bags and added a black ear to the top of each corner.  You can add the circles at the bottom for buttons if you want (I didn't do it this time).  I then added a label for Caden's birthday and a note the party invites will come in July (when his real birthday is).

Fill up your bags:

Mickey Mouse Cupcake in the box

Homemade Mickey Mouse Crayon

Mickey Mouse Rice Krispy Treat

Mickey Mouse Coloring book (found at dollar tree)

I think it all turned out really cute and the kids loved them.  I can't wait to do the big party in July and all the other fun things we'll make.

Part two Of Mickey Party - Rice Krispy Treats & Crayons

We are on to part two of things made for the half birthday party for Caden at school (I love they do this for Summer birthdays).  I not only wanted to make the cupcakes that I posted yesterday, but some fun things.  I knew this day was coming so I went on Amazon and bought some Mickey Mouse molds and a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter.  

We started out with crayons, I did really cool ones for the Lego party.  It was so easy so why not do them for Mickey Mouse too.  

What you need
Crayons (pick up dollar store cheap)
Mickey Mouse Silicone Mold
Cookie Sheet
Foil to hold the Mickey Mouse head in place (and not spill, trust me after loosing my mind this was what I finally figured out)

So I picked up a few Mickey Mouse silicone molds on Amazon and went to making crayons.  I picked up some crayons at the dollar store.  The hard part is peeling off the wrappers.  Then I added crayons to each mold.  These molds were larger then what I've used before and took around 5 crayons per Mickey Head.  NOW I put them in the oven and opened the oven to find that they spilled out ... UGH.  I took a breath and came up with tin foil to molded around the bottom of each mold to keep them in place.  THAT worked!  Bake at 350 for 16 to 20 minutes these are deep molds!  Pull them out and let them cool on the cookie sheet before touching.  You can also put in the freezer if you're in a hurry, I only had to make a few so I didn't have to do it this time.

 I added them to a clear plastic bag tied with a red bow and printed out some cute labels to go on the back.  Just so no one tried to take a bite of a crayon :).

Next on my list was some Rice Krispy treats, I saw these on pinterest but all the links were just a picture so I winged it and made my own.

What you Need:
Make Rice Krispy Treats in a pan
Mickey Mouse Cookie Cutter
Chocolate Melts 

I made the treats like normal let them cool and then I took my cookie cutter and cut out the heads.  I made sure they were cooled so they were kind of hard.  I took my melts and melted in the microwave for a minute and half.  I then dipped the ears into the chocolate, I put them on a piece of wax paper to cool.  Don't worry if an ear falls off just push it back on when the chocolate cools the ear will stay on :). 

Tie them up with a bow and they are ready to go!

I know it's a lot of pictures but I couldn't help myself!  Too cute huh?  I was really excited with myself on how they turned out. I hope you all have a great day!

Summer Birthday? No worries we will celebrate a 1/2 Birthday

Caden is a summer birthday and his teacher is so sweet that she has the class celebrate those with summer birthday on or around their 1/2 birthday.  Last week I was consumed with all the valentine stuff I had to wait an extra week to post what we did.  He picked out Mickey Mouse (which mind you kind of surprised me since he is not that into it as much as Lego's and Star Wars but hey we'll go with it).  

First We start out with the Mickey Mouse cupcakes.  I saw several different version of Mickey Mouse but I came across a few pictures like of a oreo version of Mickey Mouse.  So I ran with it, they turned out so cute!

What you Need:

Oreo's (Double Stuffed)

Red Melts (Wilton)

Black Melts (Wilton)

White Gel Frosting

I melted the red melts in Microwave for 1 1/2 minutes (remember I have burnt chocolate in the microwave before WATCH it).  Dip your oreo into the red, half way to make the bottom part of Mickey.  I let mine dry on some wax paper.  I then melted the edge of a black melt to melt it a bit to be like a glue.  Add two black melts to the top of your oreo (opposite side of the red) for the ears.  I then let them dry again on the wax paper.  I then finished it off with the white gel frosting as two little strips like the buttons on the red.

I made Red Velvet cupcakes and topped with a yellow butter cream frosting.  I then added a oreo cookie to the top of the cupcake to finish it off.  I found some cupcake boxes at Michael's on clearance 3 pack for .99 cents!  Score!!  So I put them in a box for each kid.

So what do you think?  Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Refresh of Me!!!

Well after a week of going crazy with doing every valentine thing I saw on Pinterest.  Mind you after the following week when I was running around crazy doing items for Caden's half Birthday (summer birthday's get to celebrate 1/2 birthday in school) ... sooo that post will come back next week!  So I needed a little refresh of myself.  My amazing hairdresser / cousin moved over Christmas and has been in unpacking h**l so we had to put off getting my hair done for 2 months.  My roots went from a 8 week need to be colored to almost 16 week trashy girl look ... lol!  Oh yes I was looking frazzled.  And since the scale hasn't budged in 2 weeks I was feeling rather down :(.  SOOO I was super excited to be getting a fresh new cut and color.

So I was watching lifetime (no comments and if you know me your just smiling because I LOVE that station) and fell in love with Candice Cameron's hair when she was in Puppy Love.  So I asked my cousin to give me that color ... and she ran with it and then since my face is looking so thin (her words but hey I agree) we went with a super short and sassy do!  I think this really is the best cut and color I've had in a long time.  And this time I actually can look at myself (I mean really look at myself ... before I avoided mirrors) to admire my cut and heck just the face looking back at me.

The inspiration

And here I am:

(don't mind the zit on my nose .. ugh)

Happy Friday everyone!  I hope you all have a wonderful day!