From the babies

I know we are only seven months and probably don't know that much about stuff, but there are things we would like you to consider while looking for toys to purchase for us this Christmas and we've put them into a list for your convenience. 

1. Can we eat it.  If the answer is no, we don't want it. Everything belongs in our mouths and if it can't easily make it in there (at least a corner of whatever it is) then we don't want it.

2. If I roll onto it in my awkward attempts to navigate the floor will it hurt my back/head/butt/legs/etc?  If the answer is yes, don't buy it. Why punish me for my inability to control my body? It's frustrating enough as it is. Seriously.

3. If I flick it, smack it, shake it or roll it will it make noise or light up? If the answer is yes than buy it  now. As a matter of fact, the more annoying the sounds and lights are to you the better.

4. As a side note to #3, when I shake it is it heavy or hard enough to hurt me when I inevitably bash myself in the head/face with it?  If yes, drop it right now, it does not belong in that shopping basket. Do you know how humiliating it is to smack yourself in the face?  It doesn't need to hurt as well.

And there you have it. If I come up with anything else, you'll be the first to know.

Sincerely, 

Your infants. AKA: Your bosses 

P.S. Also, buy two. I don't share well.

CHRISTMAS BASKETS!!!

So I decided to make up Christmas gift baskets this year for family and friends. I figured it would be a little cheaper, much more thoughtful and I would probably have leftovers I could store for birthday gifts and random kindness-gifts throughout the year.  I have three themes I am starting with: Wishing You a Warm Winter, Wishing You a Relaxing Season, and May Your Holidays Be Applelicious.  I may tweak the names a bit. Give me time. lol

I will post pictures of the creation and putting together of the baskets as I make them:

Warm Winter basket
*DIY Cocoa Mug
*DIY Cocoa Stirs
*DIY Hot Cocoa Mix
*DIY Candy Cane Marshmallows
*DIY Cookie Mix in a Jar

Relaxing Season
*DIY Lotion Bars
*DIY Bath Melts
*DIY Bath Fizzies
*DIY Bath Snowballs
*DIY Bath Salts
*DIY Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub
*DIY Body Butter
*DIY Manicure/Pampering in a Jar

Applelicious basket
*DIY Apple Cider Mulling Sachets
*Packages Apple Cider Mix (that stuffs too hard to try and make)
*DIY Caramel Apple Bites
*DIY Caramel Apple Jam
*DIY Caramel Sauce

HERE WE GO!    *~~~~~~~SHWOOSH~~~~~~~*

Pedophiles?? I'm not risking it.....

I recently checked on how many people are finding my blog through searches on the internet, and what it is they are typing when they find my blog.  On four occasions, FOUR, my blog (or more exactly, my son's photo) was found by someone typing in "five year old boys with blue eyes".  I might be paranoid, but that doesn't sound like a normal search to me and so to protect my children from disturbed individuals I've blurred their faces.  I love my children and I think they are beautiful and would love to be able to show everyone how beautiful and adorable and perfect they are (insert beaming mother here), but with so many abominations disguised as people (AKA pedophiles) out there, I just can't. So, I'm sorry blog world, all you get is the *gist* of my children, (but trust me; they are the best) ; )

Yoshi Blanket Border Done!

Finished the Yoshi blanket border and it's all attached and ready to have a backing put on it!  :) I think it turned out pretty well.

Time Tokens

I just finished my second modge podge project.  The first was a dinosaur hanging rack for the twin's nursery.  (see below)

This new project took a LOT longer to complete. BUT, here it is!  

I made a Time Token system for my oldest. For good behavior and for helping around the house and doing his chores he earns time tokens he can spend to play his video games or watch TV or play on his computer. Only additional requirements are: he has to complete all his homework first, it can't be past bed time, and no more than two hours on school days.  (It's the age of technology people, two hours a few times a week on weekdays isn't that bad)  I really like how this one turned out.

 I used some poker chips because I liked the weight of them. I wanted the tokens to 'feel' as valuable as they were to my 9 year old electronic junky. Using these gave the tokens some weight and a solid feel in your hands.

 Next I used my cricut to cut circles the same size as the chips. Two circles for each chip.

 I also cut stars for the front and back of each chip.

 Then I used mod podge to glue all the pieces to the tokens and finished them off with a spray sealant. 

 Next I took a mason jar and decoupaged labels on all four sides. 

 I then cut a slit in the lid and wrapped a ribbon around the top.

Finally I used the dealer token in my poker case to make a gold star (ok, I guess it's a gold token with a silver star) for those REALLY good days where he just WOWs us.

Now my husband wants me to make another set for the twins. They earn tokens for good behavior and they get to spend them on "cry time".  He says they are irreversibly in-the-hole.  LOL

Yoshi Apples

I've got the apple squares for the border made, now moving onto the Yoshi eggs!

 PIzZa

Yummmmmmmy!!

Every Friday my family does Pizza and Movie Night.  With me not working now though, our regular Domino's Pizza delivery is just out of our budget. So, as Friday approached this week, rather than just sigh and make something else I decided to try and make pizza from scratch myself!  It turns out that the ingredients needed to make my own pizza sauce and dough and toppings for SIX medium FIVE topping pizzas with three cheeses was the same price we ended up paying for four ONE topping pizzas with ONE cheese from Dominos.  Also, my family swears mine are better tasting too :)

I got the recipes for the pizza dough and the pizza sauce here.  

I did change a couple things though: I didn't use pesto (I don't like it) and I bought regular pork sausage and added my own paprika and garlic salt to it when I cooked it. That way I got five pounds of sausage for the same price of one-two pounds of Italian sausage. Turned out great! 

 Getting the pizza dough stretched out was not nearly as hard as I had expected (wasn't hard at all)

I was able to portion out my ingredients and froze the rest of my vegetables, sauce and meat. I blanched the veggies I had cut and then put in airtight baggies and I portioned out the sauce and meat into freezer bags.

Next week's pizzas (and the next and the next) will be quick!

 

Really put a fair amount of the corn meal on your transfer board or that dough really sticks.

 Mmmmmmmmmmmm

 Finished pizza. 

Another thing I did that the recipe didn't call for was to add some garlic powder to my olive oil that I brushed on the dough. I LOVE the garlicy crust taste from Domino's so I had to have it on my own as well.

I hope this inspires you!

Anyone have their own pizza making ideas or tips??