Nuts & Bolts

Hello all!   Sorry my blog post is late today.  I went to write and post it last night and my hubby was in the middle of his fantasy baseball draft and was overtaking the computer! Then I spent half the day trying to get my computer to upload it!!!   But never fear….your blog post is here!

When I married into my husband’s family I married into a game family.   They are all about playing cards, scrabble, and any kind of game there is.  Especially scrabble and the card game pitch.  So….hubby’s Grandpa sat me down and told me that if I was going to be part of this family…..I was going to learn the game of pitch.   As I was learning the game, hubby’s uncle asked me to pass the nuts & bolts.   What???  What are nuts and bolts?   Looking around…..I asked…. “You mean the Chex Mix?”

Of course they meant the Chex Mix…..however we do NOT call it that in hubby’s family…..it is Nuts and Bolts.   It is a staple at every house, every family dinner, and especially every card game.  If you are playing a game of pitch in that family and there is no nuts and bolts……well it is just not heard of!

So,  my daughter is in the middle of testing this week at her school and today was her turn to bring snacks for the class.  She wanted to make Grandma’s Nuts and Bolts.   Let me tell you something……I don’t cook…..and I especially do not even come close in cooking as well as my Mother In Law or Grandmother In Law.   But…..I got out my recipe of the Nuts and Bolts that I copied down from MIL and made it.

Now I am aware that some of you out there will not like my version.  You are going to read this and say….. “She forgot to put in (fill in the blank)!”   That is fine!!   There are things that my in-laws put in there that I don’t like…..GASP, I know!……but whatever floats your boat.   One time I talked my MIL in making me a whole batch that was just rice chex and cheerios!  YUMO!

Step 1:  Gather ingredients:
1 pound Cashews
1 big box Rice Chex
1 bag pretzels
1 small box cheerios
1/2 pound pecans
1 pound butter (not heart healthy…ha!)
1 tablespoon Lawry’s Seasoning Salt
1 teaspoon Garlic Salt
3 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce

As you can see I did not use pecans this time.  I figured since I was making it for 6 year olds….I was not going to spend the money.

Step 2:  Put nuts in bottom of aluminum pan and stick them in the oven at 250 degrees for 15 minutes

Step 3:  Melt butter and seasonings in a sauce pan stirring until melted.

  

Geez……that is a lot of butter!!!!

Step 4: When you take the nuts out of the oven, I put them on a separate plate.   Then put  the cereal & pretzels in the pan, and put the nuts on top.

  










Step 5: Pour butter mix on top

Step 6: Bake at 200 degrees for 2 hours stirring every 15 minutes.

Step 7:  After 2 hours is up let it cool a little and store in airtight container.  Enjoy!

  Now….remember when I was saying that I don’t cook?   My husband does 95% of the cooking in our house.  He was checking up on me and the nuts and bolts every time I turned around.   The best part was when it was all said and done I gave him a bowl….he took a handful…..and looked at me and said “This actually tastes really good….and just like my Mom’s”
SUCCESS!
Have great dreams……Juice Box Style!

Centerpiece

Today I want to show off the centerpieces we made for my sister’s wedding reception. Her colors were a dark, rich purple and lime green. It was quick and easy but oh so pretty!

First, we started out with four tall slender glass vases.

Next, we filled the vases with limes. Ever so often we would cut a lime in half and make sure the cut side of the lime was facing the outside so it was visible.

Finally, we filled the vases with water.

The hotel she was married in had such a wonderful ambience that simple but elegant centerpieces is exactly what the the tables needed.

Linking to the following:

www.bluecricketdesign.com

www.wearethatfamily.com

www.notjustahousewife.com

Closet Tag Organizing Printable

With the arrival of Spring, I am wanting to get things in order again and my first project will be my closet.

Ugh!  At many times throughout the year it is organized and easy to access but for as many times as it is organized it also gets extremely messy! As you can see I have a little method to my madness.  I have pants and jeans on white hangers, tops on  black hangers and dresses and skirts on clear hangers. I sometimes have them color coded!

Bliss!

Ah but, I get lazy er busy and throw things were they fit and don’t take the steps to putting them back in there proper home.  I hate it when it gets this way I can’t find what I want so I wear the same outfits over and over again.  I hope to change that this season with spring organizing using the printable I am offering to you today!

I designed these really cute closet tags. 

These are designed to be printed out from the downloadable pdf file on your home printer.  They will work best if printed out on cardstock and laminated or covered with clear contact tape.  The tags will slide on to a standard closet rod. The thought process is that if you have a labeled place for items they will find their way back. What do you think?

Get the printables by clicking the pics above or click here!

I hope you like them and organize your closet along with me!

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read!

 

Today I’m linking to

Mission Organization Monday

Made By You Monday

Amaze Me Monday

Craft-o-maniac Monday

Life Made Lovely Monday

Motivate Me Monday

Mad Skills

Tip Me Tuesday

Sassy Sites

Kool-Aid Smiles

Okay kiddos…..today we are going to make an oldie but a goodie…..Kool-Aid Play-Doh!

This is a great thing to make with kids for the following reasons:

• It is easy
• It is cheap
• Most things you already have in your pantry
• If you have a child like mine…..and they eat it…..you don’t have to worry!    PS….it took like 3 seconds for my boy to stick it in his mouth….lol!

You will need the following ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups of Flour
• 1/2 cup of salt
• 2 packages of Kool-Aid
• 3 Tablespoons of Vegetable Oil
• 2 Cups of Water

Step 1:  Put 2 1/2 cups of Flour into bowl

Step 2: Put 1/2 Cup of Salt into the bowl

Step 3:  Put 2 Packages of Kool –Aid into the bowl

Step 4:  Stir together

Step 5: Boil 2 cups of water

Step 6:  Add 3 Tablespoons of Vegetable Oil to water and stir

Step 7:  Add water and oil (see they do mix…lol) to dry mixture

Step 8:  Stir all together

Step 9: Get a cutting board out and put a little flour on it

Step 10:  Put dough on the surface and knead it…..warning….it still will be a little warm….better let mamma or daddy do it for awhile till it cools down

Step 11:  I rolled it into a ball and covered it in saran wrap and put it in the fridge to cool.  It was still pretty warm from the boiling water.   Plus this mamma was home alone with the kids and needed a pop……so we let it cool while I got my addiction in a 44 oz. cup!

Step 12:  Let your kiddos play with it!

My son immediately…..being 2…..stuck a piece in his mouth.  It did not taste good at all.  But since it only had Kool-Aid, flour, water, oil and salt in it I didn’t care.    He played with it for about 30 minutes and grew bored.  But…..my 6 year old played with it for 2 1/2 hours!  She made villages and Halloween and Christmas decorations out of cookie cutters.  She sent pics of them to grandparents.  She had a blast.  When it was all done I wrapped it up in saran wrap and put it in the fridge.   It will last a couple of months in there.
Until next time….
Have great dreams……..Juice Box Style!

        
I am linking to…..
Dittle Dattle
Skip To My Lou
Cottage Instincts

Free Paint

As soon as we finish up our entryway we will be moving to one of our daughter’s rooms for a redo.  So as I was looking at paint the other day I ran across this offer.  www.valsparpaint.com. 

They are giving away 100 paint samples for 100 days.  Registration opens everyday at 9am. 

If you are looking to paint a room or furniture or anything check it out and get a free sample of paint.

I decided to try Delicate Pink Rose.  What other color would we paint her room?!  I’m anxiously awaiting for the Fedex guy to arrive with my package.

Until next time….

Urban Slanguage: Grenade

Hi all I'm in Dallas at a youth ministry convention so I'm taking a break from projects and crafts and I decided to focus on youth little. 

I’m here today to give you a glimmer of the language teens and others are using on a daily basis.  Knowing stuff like this will make you the envy of all the cool moms on the block!  Have you every wondered what the heck are they talking about? Do you feel old anytime you are around these foreign terms? 

Think of me as your own private Urban Slanguage (Slang-Language) tutor.  In the coming weeks I'll post a term, with definitions and examples and I wanna hear if you have heard the term and you get bonus gold stars if you can find away to use it in your daily life.
.

Today we are focusing on the term Grenade. It was made popular if not invented by the boys of Jersey Shore. ( I know quality programing right!)

On to the definition:

noun

• the unattractive friend of a hot girl/guy that is distracted by the wingman.

  ie  Hey man, I'll jump on that grenade for ya, if your gonna talk her friend.

verb
To injure one's self, in a severe or dramatic fashion.

I grenaded myself skiing and will be in the hospital for a few days.

• To break or stop functioning, often suddenly or violently.

The engine in my car grenaded itself

My computer grenaded itself and I had to reboot it.

Slang terms with the same root words:

• grenade whistle (Which is a whistle to let others know there is a grenade in the house.)
  
• jump on the grenade
  
• take the grenade

Not very nice but said none the less.  I for one won’t be using this one much  but have seen many teens and young adults use it on Facebook and heard them using it in daily life. This ends the discussion for today, class!  Now you can talk like the locals teens in your city, well at least if you live on the Jersey Shore! Class Dismissed!

Ziplock Bags…..Not Just For Sandwiches!

A few years ago I helped a friend of mine that is a teacher get this project assembled for her second graders.  I thought of it the other day and decided that my daughter would probably like to do it as well!
Step 1:  Gather Supplies!  You will need:

• Ziplock baggies – I used 4 sandwich ones….but you could use any size and quantity that you wish.
  
• Scissors
  
• Stapler
  
• Duct Tape – My daughter of course chose zebra….it was that or the peace sign one….decisions decisions….the longest that I have ever looked at duct tape in my life!
  
• Paper- Optional…..you will see later

Step 2:  Take  4 baggies and line them up one on top of each other…matching up the corners

Step 3:  Staple the bags together….top, middle, and bottom

Step 4:  Cut some duct tape a little bit longer than the length of the baggies.


Step 5: Lay the duct tape down on the table (sticky side up) and lay the baggies, stapled side in the middle of the duct tape.

Step 6:  Fold over duct tape….crease….and cut off excess.
   
Step 7: Cut paper in squares to fit in each page.   My daughter made her own story of the Berenstain Bears….since she loves their books.


My daughter was so excited about it….she took it to class the next day.  The teacher told me that on Thursday the whole class will be making them!  What a great and inexpensive craft!
Other Great Uses:

• Photo album for little ones.   That would be a great school or grandparent activity.
  
• Hold buttons or beads.   I looked at it after it was finished and thought…..you know that could the 5 million beads that my daughter has in her room.  You could sort them by color….shape….letters…etc. in their own little pouch!

Have Great Dreams……….Juice Box Style!

I’m linking to the following sites:
A Little Lovely
Craft Envy
Be Different Act Normal
Funky Junk Interiors
Tatertots and Jello

Run…Run…Run.

 

My new, sweet, little nephew is staying with us during the day while his mama finishes up her work before becoming a stay at home mom.  So I will be putting all of my crafting and remodeling on hold for now. 

Instead I bring to you one of my other passions in life.

RUNNING!

I have never been an athletic person.  I never played sports in school.  But I had this dream….a dream to become a runner.  A sweet friend of mine finally talked me into going after that dream.

We took a running class, yes, a running class.  I’ve been running ever since.  If you want to become a runner I highly recommend you taking a class.  Seems a bit stupid to shell out money for something you can do on your own, or does it?  I can run a 10k with ease and working my way up to a half marathon.  Can you?!    Running classes build your endurance and speed.  It also teaches the correct posture for running without injury.  The coaches and other members of the class offer support when you want to quit.

If you are not interested in a running class or there is not one offered in your area go the couch potato to 5k route at www.coolrunning.com.

A few things to remember when you begin running:

*Run 3 times a week.  No more, no less.

*Start slow and build up.

*Don’t over do it.

*Run with others for support and safety.

*Remember if you run a marathon or just one block you are a runner.

I love how running makes me feel.  I love to have that runner’s high after a 5 mile run.  It’s a freedom.  It’s a stress buster.  I use to say I run to eat.  Now I run to live.  Deep, I know.

Want to learn more about running go to:

www.runnersworld.com

www.allaboutrunning.net

www.runningplanet.com  

Start Running!

Spring Wristlet

Yesterday my little miss was home from school with a stomach bug , so I wanted to make her something to cheer her up.  She is loves jewelry so I decided to put together a Spring Wristlet for her.  I had all of the supplies by just using what I had on hand.

I hope you enjoy this tutorial and make a wristlet for your little miss or yourself (I’m kinda jealous I might have to make myself one too.)

Spring Wristlet Tutorial

 

Step 1: Gather Supplies

Supply List for this particular wristlet (you can modify this in many ways)

• 2 Artificial Daisy Flowers
• 2 matching ribbons
• 1-2 medium sized Rhinestones
• Green Felt
• Heat N Bond (hem tape)
• Velcro
• Thread
• Needle
• Scissors
• Glue Gun
• Lighter
• Straightening Iron or Regular Iron

 

Step 2: Measure the main ribbon on your model’s wrist. Trim to size. My model is a ham!

Step 3: Measure the second ribbon to the same length.

Step 4: This step is for cosmetic reasons.  See the fray at the end of the ribbon? It with continue to unravel if you don’t do something about it. First trim the fray Next Heat Seal the ends of  each of the ribbons.  Hold the lighter near the ribbon end careful not scorch the ribbon but close enough to melt the end. once you have done this take your finger and smooth the edge.

 

Step 5: Measure and cut the hem tape to the length of the ribbon. I have never used this stuff before and I got tell you I am impressed! it was a tad wider than my second ribbon so I split it in half with my scissors.

Step 6: Break out your straightening iron and heat it up. I’m going to share a mom-fidential tip with you! (No we not going to fix our hair, we using it as a crafting tool! I know it sounds crazy but I use my Chi in place of a traditional iron all the time.  I love using it because you have better control and it is much easier to haul out and put away. You don’t need the ironing board either! Awesome Huh?

Step 7: Place the Hem tape bumpy (is that a technical term?) side down.

Step 8: Run the tape and ribbon through the straightening iron. Closing over the ribbon for 2 seconds at a time. 

Step 9: Remove the cover paper from the hem tape.

Step 10: Place ribbon over hem tape.

Step 11: Run the ribbon back through the straightening iron in 2 second intervals.

Step 12:  Fold the ribbon in half to mark the center.

Step 13: Remove the plastic center from the flowers. With these particular flowers I ended up with 4 petal circles.

Step 14: With Hot Glue glue the first petal circle to the ribbon.  Glue each of the other petals on top of each other.

Step 15: Cut out 2 leaf shapes free hand from the felt. (or you can do it beforehand like I did see above)

Step 16: Pull back the flower petals to one side and hot glue the leaf to the ribbon and then glue the bottom petals to the leaf.

Step 17:  Hot glue the rhinestone to the center of the flowers.   So Cute!! Huh?

Step 17: Cut a small square of Velcro.  I like to use the non sticky kind so my needle doesn’t get all gunky. I sew them on but you could hot glue them on but they will not stay on for long.

Tada!  Doesn’t she look pretty with her new Spring Wristlet?

Thanks for visiting our blog, hope you’ll come back often.

Claire and I  are linking up to these lovely blog ladies!

Getting Krafty With It

Ten Buck Tuesday

Show Me What Ya Got

Handmade Tuesdays

These Creative Juices

Teach Me Stuff

Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays

Toot Your Horn Tuesday

Tuesday’s Treasures

Tip Me Tuesday

Make it Yours Day

Tuesday Time Out

Anything Goes Party

Anything Related Party

We’re That Family

Show and Tell

Ten on Tuesday