Costco {Ribbon} Storage

I was planning on building a holder but as I was putting things away I realized that my containers that hold CD's could be used for my Costco Ribbon Spools. I love these rolls for the amount that you get for the price. Even though they are great additions to a present, they are big and bulky.


I had gotten these headbands at the Dollar store(Dollar Tree) for other presents but they stretch just enough to go around the CD Holder. Large rubber bands might work just as well.


The front view. . .


I turned the holder around & put the rolls in this way so I can slip the ribbon under the headband & cut a piece off. I'm so glad the ends will be held in place & won't be flapping everywhere.

Yah! One more thing organized!

Love in Small Packages

I think these little baby food containers are perfect for "re-gifting". They are so CUTE! My youngest is 4 years old so I don't actually use the item for its intent but I get use out of both parts.

The OUTER PART=CONTAINER:

I'm filling it with a note & candies to let our little ones know how much I love them. This will be a fun treat to start their Friday night. I just decorated it with paper & stickers. I love that this could be used for any holiday, birthday party or just because.

The INNER PART=PUREED GOODNESS:
This stuff is the best! I use this in my baking. It just makes the food healthier, & more moist. I usually put it in pancakes, muffins, sauces, shakes & even desserts. If I need the container I will do it the baby food way but. . .

This is the way I usually add to our baked goods. I followed Jessica Seinfeld's way of preparing it. I do 1/2 cup pureed veggies in snack size ziplocks, freeze on a sheet pan then transfer them to this container to put in the freezer. Then they are ready to use. I so appreciate this idea-it has been one of the greatest cooking tips!

{Shamrock} Decoration

Today was my day to do crafts with my daughter (& classmates) at school. So to get ready for the next holiday we did this St. Patrick's Day Hanging Decoration.


I used this colored sand(found at Lowe's on clearance 2 years ago for only 2.18! What a deal), thin popcycle sticks, glue and ribbon. I hot glued all the stick boards(11) together before I got to school to make it easier. Using the template of a shamrock the kids traced the lines with their glue bottles then poured the sand over it.


Front . . .


Back . . .


A hanging for our house . . .

Local Thrifty Find for Scout Moms

My friend, Maryann just told me about an awesome store called "A Scout is Thrifty" in Nampa, and I am SO grateful! (Located at 201 N Kings Road #102, Nampa, ID; Open M-F, 9am-5pm. Buy/Sell/Trade new and used scout uniforms.)

Everything at the Boy Scout (BSA) office store is OUTRAGEOUSLY priced in my opinion. At this {scout uniform} exchange store I was able to buy both my son and husband each a scout shirt for a total of $7!! They are used and not perfect, but these are scouts we're talking about here. A scout may be thrifty, but a scout can also be pretty rough on his attire!

Everything is used, so they have great prices for the more gently used clothing and clearance prices for the not-so-gently used.

I bought off the clearance rack. There's a little bit of Badge Magic glue on one of them and a tiny hole in the back of the sleeve on the other.

This place has racks stuffed full of scout clothing from boys' to men's sizes.

And they have a rack of women's scout leader shirts. They also have used kerchiefs and patches and other misc. items as well.

If only I'd have known about this place before paying $30+ on each of my boys' cub shirts at the BSA office! That is why I am trying to get the word out and save you all some money. If you are not from my town, you might Google "Scout Exchange" and see if you can find one of these places near you. I wish I would've thought of that sooner!

Quick {Cookie} Treat

My daughter wanted to make oatmeal cookies today. The package from Betty Crocker (Walmart) has a great flavor. Its also quick & easy! But I had to "heather"rize them. Follow the directions on the package to make the cookies.


All the ingredients for the "filling":
2 Tbl. marshmallow creme
1/2 tub Strawberry cream cheese
about 5 strawberries-sliced small

Mix it all together and scoop onto the baked cookies to make a sandwiches. Dip the edges in your choice of sprinkles. You could even use the already made cookies(chewy chips ahoy) if you're pressed for time.

WARNING: They are so Yummy but very Messy.


With the rest of the marshmallow and cream cheese, mix it together & use it as a fruit dip.

I "heart" You Dinner

For last night's dinner we had a "keeper"(as the kids would say)of a meal. I'm surprised it tasted so good because I just used what I had in the frig & pantry. One of the best parts was that it was in a cute foil heart pan(found in Walmart).


Ingredients:
4 small to medium prebaked potatos(diced)
1 can sweet corn
1 can chicken condensed soup
3/4 cup of real bacon bits
3/4 cup sour cream
seasonings to taste(I did: 1/2 tsp. minced garlic, 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, 1 tsp. basil, dash of pepper)
Mix all the goodies together and carefully scoop some into the foil heart pans. They are very thin so be gentle!


Bake @ 375 for 15 mins. Take them out & add some cheese. Cook for 3-4 more mins.

Enjoy!

Teachers' {Sweet} Treats

Here is an Easy & Yummy teacher gift for Valentine's Day. I found the tute here.

Instead of doing just graham cracker I did 1 cup crushed gingersnap cookies + 1/2 cup chocolate graham crackers + 1/2 cup butter.

Or you could dip donuts.

Basically anything you can dip in chocolate I think the teachers will love.

{Valentine's Day} Necklace

Every year I like to make(or buy) something for our girls to wear on Valenine's Day. Since we are all into the jewelry, this will be a unique one to wear.


I was at the Dollar store(88 cent Tuesdays) & thought these shower cutain rings would work. That makes each ring roughly .04 a piece. What a great deal.


I made clay(sculpey) hearts.


Cut your choice of fabric 1/2" wide x 24".


Wind the fabric overlapping around the ring. [Remember to start & end with a dab of hot glue.]


Take the left over piece of fabric and thread the wire wrapped heart and hanging clasp. Tie a knot.


I used the mini white beads for the necklace.


My new favorite bead friend.


Ready to wear on Valentine's Day.

Cozy Wreath

I was about to give these sweaters a new home to the second hand store & realized the sleeves would work great for this Valentine's Day Wreath.


Start with this foam wreath(12 inches)


1-Cut through the foam wreath


2-Cut all the sleeves (& cuffs) off of the sweaters.


3-Its so cute, now I want to wear this as a sweater vest (I just need to sew the cut edges)


4-Place 1 sleeve with the right side facing inside the other sleeve that is wrong side facing & sew.


5-Keep doing this until it forms a long "tube".


6-After turning the tube inside out, inch the sweater sleeve tube onto the foam wreath. Apply a dab of glue to adhere the ends together. (I used 2 inch painters tape to hold it together while the glue dries).


7-Whip stitch the open ends together.


8-On the back side apply a few dabs of glue & straight pins to hold the sweater tube in place.


Ready to hang!