I often send in and request samples and coupons from companies. On a website "Crowdtap" I had the opportunity to receive some Aveeno products, use them, and the review them on the site. This is a common thing that companies do, and a great way to try products before you buy them!
This was not the first time that I had used Aveeno products, I am a huge fan of their hair products, but I had never used the items that they sent me to sample.
AVEENO® SHEER HYDRATION DAILY MOISTURIZING LOTION and
AVEENO® PROTECT + HYDRATE LOTION SUNSCREEN WITH BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 30
These products were amazing! I highly recommend them!
When I first received them in the mail I dropped them in the console to get out later. The next day while we were out I remembered that they were in there and decided to give them a try. I have had a seriously dry spot on my forehead and after just one use of this, it was almost gone. I rubbed it on my face with the knowledge that it would probably make my face greasy, but that was better than having flaky skin. IT DID NOT!! There was no residue and no greasiness!
The sunscreen came in handy at the beach the next day! We just needed a little sunscreen on our faces and arms, since the rest of our skin was covered, and I did not want to go to dinner later smelling like coconut, which seems to be the normal smell for sunscreen, so I decided to try this one.
Not only did it not leave a nasty smell, it didn't leave a greasy residue, it gave us wonderful sun protection, and after it was all said and done, we both had soft smooth skin!
I do not recommend just any product. It has to go above and beyond my expectations to get a spot on my blog and this did just that. I will be purchasing these items in the future for family use and I recommend that you do the same.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Preschool - Week 2 - Adam and Eve and letter A
Day 1 -
This week we are learning about Adam and Eve and the letter A.
Today we read our own version of the story, twice.
Trying to teach a three year old is a fine line between wanting her to learn the truth and not wanting to give her nightmares about snakes, evil, and sin.
The version of the story that we discuss is very simple.
God made Adam and put him in the Garden of Eden, Then he made a woman to keep Adam company and he named her eve. He told Adam and Eve not to eat from his special apple tree. Then one day a snake saw Eve and told her that it is silly that God does not want them to eat from the tree and that she should try it. So she disobeyed God and she ate an apple and she told gave some to Adam also and he ate it. Then God came down and was upset with them and told them since they had been bad and not done what he said they would be punished.
It is VERY simplified, but it works for the age that Gracie is. As she gets older she will learn more details about each story.
Today we just did a few coloring sheets as our craft time and we also did a worksheet to work on learning to write Aa.
Here are the worksheets that I found online and used for our coloring and learning time.
Update: Our act of kindness was to sign up to host a Brazilian soccer coach. You can read about that here!
It was something that just popped up and we used it as a learning experience for Gracie!
This week we are learning about Adam and Eve and the letter A.
Today we read our own version of the story, twice.
Trying to teach a three year old is a fine line between wanting her to learn the truth and not wanting to give her nightmares about snakes, evil, and sin.
The version of the story that we discuss is very simple.
God made Adam and put him in the Garden of Eden, Then he made a woman to keep Adam company and he named her eve. He told Adam and Eve not to eat from his special apple tree. Then one day a snake saw Eve and told her that it is silly that God does not want them to eat from the tree and that she should try it. So she disobeyed God and she ate an apple and she told gave some to Adam also and he ate it. Then God came down and was upset with them and told them since they had been bad and not done what he said they would be punished.
It is VERY simplified, but it works for the age that Gracie is. As she gets older she will learn more details about each story.
Today we just did a few coloring sheets as our craft time and we also did a worksheet to work on learning to write Aa.
Here are the worksheets that I found online and used for our coloring and learning time.
Gracie colored them all just like a three year old would. She starts out staying in the lines for the most part but by the end of learning time she has started to scribble. She can also make a very good uppercase A, but is still struggling to make a recognizable lowercase a. That will be the one we work on the most this week!
DAY 2 -
Today we went back over the story and I included her in it to fill in certain parts. She remembers a lot more than I thought she would after just one day.
She asks questions that are so innocent, yet so hard to explain to a preschooler.
"Why did God put the snake there?"
"Why would he put that apple there if he did not want them to eat it?"
Such great questions, that show me that she is thinking about it all and taking it in. Makes my heart proud to know that I am filling her full of knowledge of God and the bible stories that so many kids do not get the opportunity to learn. It seems that it crosses my mind in the long nights after everyone is asleep, while I am up trying to find coloring sheets and crafts to do, that it would be an amazing privilege to be able to spread the word to the innocent children that would otherwise not get to hear it. I do not even mean in other countries, though that would be amazing also, but the kids in our own streets that are not afforded these opportunities. I have been researching but just cannot find the right outlet to do this.
Anyway, back to the lesson at hand... Apples and AAAs and the Garden of Eden.
Today after the story we did our craft. Today's craft was an apple. I used leftover felt from Christmas and cut into small squares. Then printed an apple and let her go to town gluing the squares on the apple! It turned out so cute and she had so much fun! While she glued we talked about the story and about how disobeying God was not a good thing.
Here is the apple template that I used:
Here is the finished product:
I am still trying to decide what we will be doing for our act of kindness this week. I want to do something special, so I will be on the hunt for ideas. If anyone has any feel free to comment and share your suggestions with me. I would love to hear everyone else's ideas.
Update: Our act of kindness was to sign up to host a Brazilian soccer coach. You can read about that here!
It was something that just popped up and we used it as a learning experience for Gracie!
Friday, May 15, 2015
Preschool Bible Lessons - Week 1 - Creation
Today kicked off the beginning of our preschool bible study at home! I am planning on this being a 28-week study 3-4 days a week! We are going to try to fit in a field trip most weeks!!
Our first week is strictly on creation. No letters, no shapes. Just the knowledge that GOD CREATED EVERYTHING!
DAY 1 -
We read from a children's bible to explain the seven days! Here is the story that we read!
She is working on coloring in the lines. She still decides sometimes that scribbles are easier. We will get there!! I try to have her color as much as possible and I found that she does better if I sit and color with her.
We also made a game. I found a printable sheet of the days of creation and I printed two of them on cardstock.
I did not follow the instructions to just match them with the numbers, but you could do that if you want! I just cut them all out and we now have "Days Of Creation" matching game.
She loves it! We play it the way you play any matching game, and when you get a match you have to tell what day that set of cards matches! She still has a hard time with that, but we will learn it soon!
DAY 3 -
We are still adjusting to this schooling at home thing and we did not have all of the classes printed and typed out and ready for the week. God always knows better than us what he is doing though because, from it, he gave me a great idea to teach another wonderful lesson to my daughter! Once a week we are going to do a selfless act. I am not sure what we will be doing, but I think that is just as important to teach her as her ABCs and numbers!!
This week, due to it being Police Week and also because of recent events very close to home, we chose law enforcement officers as the recipients of our giving!
We made cupcakes and stuck little signs in them. On one side, they said, "Thank you for your service and sacrifice. We love you!" The other side said, "Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Letting a three-year-old help you pretty much assures that the cupcakes will not be perfect!! They turned out to all be different sizes, and she wanted to make some of them in heart cupcake liners, but they were delicious! And they taught a three-year-old about giving. It also gave us a great opportunity to discuss police officers and their role in life!
Our first week is strictly on creation. No letters, no shapes. Just the knowledge that GOD CREATED EVERYTHING!
DAY 1 -
We read from a children's bible to explain the seven days! Here is the story that we read!
In the beginning, there was no earth or sky or sea or animals. And then God spoke in the darkness: "Let there be light!" And right away there was light, scattering the darkness and showing the infinite space. "That's good!" said God. "From now on, when it's dark it will be 'night' and when it's light, it will be 'day'."
The evening came and the night passed and then the light returned. That was the first day.
On the second day, God made the earth and over it He carefully hung a vast blue sky. He stood back and admired His creation. "That's good too!" said God and the second day was over.
The next morning God looked around and thought, "The earth needs to be a bit more organized." So, He put all the water in one place and all the dry land in another. When He had finished that, God made plants to cover the land. Dandelions and daffodils appeared. All sorts of trees and grasses began to grow. "It's looking great," said God and that was the end of the third day.
On the fourth day, God looked around and thought, "The daylight still needs a bit more work and the night is just too dark." So, He made the sun to light the sky during the day and the moon and stars to add a bit of sparkle to the night. He hung them in the sky and stepped back to look at his work. "This is coming along very well," said God.
The next day, God turned his attention to the water he had collected in the oceans. "I want these waters teeming with life!" As soon as He said it, it was so. In no time, there were millions of small fish darting through the shallow water and huge fish swimming in the ocean. God made birds, too. He sent them soaring through the air. "Ahh, that IS good!" said God. The dusk fell over the water and the sky grew dark and that was the end of the fifth day.
On the sixth day, God added creatures to the land. He made lions and tigers and bears. He made rabbits and sheep and cows. He added everything from ants to zebras to the land. But He still felt something was missing. So God added Mankind to enjoy and take care of all that He had created. God looked around and was happy with all He had made.
After six days, the whole universe was completed. On the seventh day, God had a nice long rest and enjoyed looking at all He had made.
We also did a craft today to help us remember the seven days! Here is the craft!!
I googled image searched all the numbers. I found them all except for the seven. So I found an empty seven, went to the paint program and typed Genesis 2:2!
I also held it all on a piece of paper with the heading for our lesson this week, GOD CREATED EVERYTHING and Colossians 1:16. Put it all together with some ribbon or yarn and tape!! Day 1 complete!!!
This lesson did raise a few questions from Gracie, but none as hard as I'm sure they will get!! Today they were only things like "Did the sun burn God?" She also wanted to know why he made jelly fishes because, "they sting her when she steps on them," and "did God made pokey things that the doctor used on her finger." (She won't just let that go)
I love being a part of this and knowing exactly what she is learning! I can't wait for day 2!
DAY 2 -
For day 2 we read the story of creation again. I think we will read the week's lesson story at least three days. This will help her to recognize the story.
Our craft for the day was just a coloring sheet!!
DAY 2 -
For day 2 we read the story of creation again. I think we will read the week's lesson story at least three days. This will help her to recognize the story.
Our craft for the day was just a coloring sheet!!
She is working on coloring in the lines. She still decides sometimes that scribbles are easier. We will get there!! I try to have her color as much as possible and I found that she does better if I sit and color with her.
We also made a game. I found a printable sheet of the days of creation and I printed two of them on cardstock.
I did not follow the instructions to just match them with the numbers, but you could do that if you want! I just cut them all out and we now have "Days Of Creation" matching game.
She loves it! We play it the way you play any matching game, and when you get a match you have to tell what day that set of cards matches! She still has a hard time with that, but we will learn it soon!
DAY 3 -
We are still adjusting to this schooling at home thing and we did not have all of the classes printed and typed out and ready for the week. God always knows better than us what he is doing though because, from it, he gave me a great idea to teach another wonderful lesson to my daughter! Once a week we are going to do a selfless act. I am not sure what we will be doing, but I think that is just as important to teach her as her ABCs and numbers!!
This week, due to it being Police Week and also because of recent events very close to home, we chose law enforcement officers as the recipients of our giving!
We made cupcakes and stuck little signs in them. On one side, they said, "Thank you for your service and sacrifice. We love you!" The other side said, "Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Letting a three-year-old help you pretty much assures that the cupcakes will not be perfect!! They turned out to all be different sizes, and she wanted to make some of them in heart cupcake liners, but they were delicious! And they taught a three-year-old about giving. It also gave us a great opportunity to discuss police officers and their role in life!
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Blueberry Jelly
Everyone in my house loves a good pb&j sandwich! My daughter would eat them for every meal if I would let her! Today after my Blueberry Pancake Muffins were done, I had leftover thawed blueberries to use. While I was making Gracie lunch, I realized we were running low on jelly!! So, into the pan the blueberries went!
2 c. blueberries
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. honey
1 tsp. lemon juice
Bring it to a boil and then simmer for 30-45 minutes until jellied!! Pour into glass container and refrigerate!
2 c. blueberries
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. honey
1 tsp. lemon juice
Bring it to a boil and then simmer for 30-45 minutes until jellied!! Pour into glass container and refrigerate!
Pancakes and Muffins... In one!!!
When someone offers me free fruits, I REFUSE to say no!! Last week I was given a huge ziplock bag full of blueberries! They have been staring at me from my freezer since then!! Today, when my daughter requested muffins for breakfast, I knew it was my chance to pull those blueberries out!!
Blueberry Pancake Muffins
They are so easy!! Make your regular pancake batter (you can make homemade or use a packaged mix if you would like! Pour into a greased muffin pan filling each cup 1/2 full. Add 3-5 blueberries into each cup, pushing them into the mix. Put in an oven preheated to 325 degrees. I baked mine for about 12 minutes, but it can vary based on the pancake recipe that you used! Once they are done (golden brown and not runny when you do the toothpick test) let them cool just a few minutes until able to be handled to eat!!! I let the kiddo dip them in some syrup and she LOVED them!!!
These are going to be a meal prep item from now on! Next time I may use the mini muffin pan so that they will be bite sized!!
Better than Betty Brownies!!
Brownies are a must in our house! You know the kind that you buy in a box, add an egg and some oil, and bake. The kind that is packed with preservatives and things that are not so great for your body!!
We are trying VERY hard to stop using boxed and premade things. Brownies were around long before the convenience cooking became popular, and that is what I tried to get back to with this recipe. A time when things were all made from scratch!!
Ingredients:
1/2 c. coconut oil, melted
1 c. sugar or stevia
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 egg whites
1 egg (can use 2 whole eggs and no egg whites if you prefer)
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/3 c. cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 c. flour
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix oil and sweetener until well blended.
Let eggs come to room temperature before using.
Add eggs and vanilla to oil mixture.
Mix all the dry ingredients into a separate bowl.
Stir dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
Pour into a 9x9 greased pan.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Let them cool before cutting!
We are trying VERY hard to stop using boxed and premade things. Brownies were around long before the convenience cooking became popular, and that is what I tried to get back to with this recipe. A time when things were all made from scratch!!
Ingredients:
1/2 c. coconut oil, melted
1 c. sugar or stevia
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 egg whites
1 egg (can use 2 whole eggs and no egg whites if you prefer)
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/3 c. cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 c. flour
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix oil and sweetener until well blended.
Let eggs come to room temperature before using.
Add eggs and vanilla to oil mixture.
Mix all the dry ingredients into a separate bowl.
Stir dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
Pour into a 9x9 greased pan.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Let them cool before cutting!
Monday, May 11, 2015
Jeni Lynn Photography
I am always in the market for a beautiful picture of my daughter! I snap them daily of her to try to get that one perfect picture that you can blow up and frame and adorn the walls with. I have silly ones, beautiful ones, and some that look like a two year old took them! Still, nothing can beat the pictures taken by an actual photographer. The problem is finding one that is good enough that you can entrust the important moments of your life in their hands.
Lately, because of the pageants, we have had quite a few pictures taken. Then, on facebook, I saw the most amazing idea of a child holding the moon. It was a new photographer that I had never used, but the idea itself was so amazing that I decided to take the risk! This turned out to be a great leap of faith for us! I met an amazing photographer who did such a wonderful job! She was professional, yet friendly. She was fast, and still made sure that she got more than enough great shots to give us what we needed!
Isn't this the most amazing picture!
We were blessed to find her!
She does AMAZING work! Offers great specials!! Makes sure her clients get what they need!!
If you need pictures done and you are in the Mississippi area, please feel free to contact her!
Jeni Lynn Facebook Page
Lately, because of the pageants, we have had quite a few pictures taken. Then, on facebook, I saw the most amazing idea of a child holding the moon. It was a new photographer that I had never used, but the idea itself was so amazing that I decided to take the risk! This turned out to be a great leap of faith for us! I met an amazing photographer who did such a wonderful job! She was professional, yet friendly. She was fast, and still made sure that she got more than enough great shots to give us what we needed!
We got this one from the same shoot!!
And when I needed some pictures taken ASAP for a pageant program, she was there to help! She had me in for pictures the next day! She even helped me style my daughters hair!!
And when I needed some pictures taken ASAP for a pageant program, she was there to help! She had me in for pictures the next day! She even helped me style my daughters hair!!
We were blessed to find her!
She does AMAZING work! Offers great specials!! Makes sure her clients get what they need!!
If you need pictures done and you are in the Mississippi area, please feel free to contact her!
Jeni Lynn Facebook Page
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Black Bean and Turkey Skillet
Have you ever had a dish that you were making, and it was supposed to be one thing, but turned out to be something totally different... That was this dish!! It started out as chili night, and ended up being a one dish wonder!! It may not be what I planned, but it was amazingly delicious anyway!!!
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp. oil (I used coconut)
- 1 c. onion, chopped
- 1/2 c. chopped cilantro
- 2 c. red, orange, or yellow bell peppers, chopped (I used yellow)
- 1 c. corn
- 2 c. diced tomatoes
- 2 tbsp. Sriracha
- 2 tbsp. chili powder
- 2 tsp. cumin
- 1 lb. ground turkey
- 3 c. chicken broth/stock
- 2 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/4 c. ketchup
- 1 tbsp. vinegar
- 3-4 c. black beans, drained
- 3 c. cooked rice (I used brown)
Instructions:
In large skillet saute the onion, cilantro, and bell peppers. Cook until softened, 5-7 minutes. Add diced tomatoes, corn, chili powder, and cumin. Then add in ground turkey. Cook until turkey is no longer pink. Add chicken broth, oregano, vinegar, and ketchup. Add black beans and bring to a boil. Once the dish is boiling, reduce the heat, cover the dish and let it simmer for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cooked rice and simmer 15 more minutes, uncovered.
Serve with your favorite toppings. Pictured toppings included freshly grated parmesan and plain greek yogurt (sour cream substitute), but you could add fresh tomatoes, green onions, cheddar cheese, or avocado!
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Chore Chart
Sometimes my mom calls my daughter Cinderella. She calls her this because I like to post pictures of Gracie doing chores. I have the cutest video of her loading the washer and probably twenty pictures of her cleaning some random part of the house!!
I think that chores should start at a young age. I believe in teaching them early. I want to make her responsible.
Up until now her "chores" were just whatever I was telling her to do at the moment, but she thrives on schedules, routines, and organization.
So, I made a chore board. Since she cannot read yet, I used pictures to help her understand what chores she is supposed to do. I even included basic day to day activities such as brushing teeth and eating her meals!
Here is what I came up with!
I do not give her all the chores everyday, some of them are rotated around, like dusting and helping with the laundry! Here is a complete list of the chores that I have included on her board!!
- Help with laundry
- Eat breakfast
- Eat lunch
- Eat dinner
- Make your bed
- Take a nap
- Prayer Time
- Wipe off the dinner table
- Water the plants
- Take your vitamins
- Gather bathroom trash
- Clean your room
- Take a bath
- Brush teeth in the morning
- Brush teeth at night
- Learning Time
- Help with the dishes
- Pick up your toys
- Help set the table
- Read 3 books
- Dusting
- Exercise Time
- Get Dressed
She loves the board and it has helped us both make sure she has taken care of all of her responsibilities!!
If you would like a free printable set of chore cards to use for this project, email me at tonyadarlene2922@gmail.com with the list of chores that you would like to receive on your printable sheet!
If you would like a chore board created for your child, they are $10 +s&h and can be customized to your liking with different colors, your child's name, and your own set of chores!! Just email me at tonyadarlene2922@gmail.com and let me know the details of what you want and I can send you a paypal invoice!!
You can also order just a set of chore cards for $5. They will come in a pack of up to 25 chore cards, already cut, laminated, and with magnets on!!
Friday, May 8, 2015
100 Foods to eat before you die - bucketlist item
How many have you had? Comment and let me know. I would love to see who has eaten what off of this list!! Also, if you have any advice about the ones that I have not gotten to eat yet, please feel free to share your wisdom!!!
- Abalone
- Absinthe
- Alligator *
- Baba Ghanoush*
- Bagel and lox*
- Baklava*
- Barbecue ribs *
- Bellini *
- Bird’s Nest Soup
- Biscuits and gravy *
- Black Pudding (made from cooked blood)
- Black Truffle
- Borscht (Ukrainian soup made from beetroot)
- Calamari *
- Carp *
- Caviar
- Cheese fondue *
- Chicken and waffles*
- Chicken Tikka Masala *
- Chile Relleno *
- Chitterlings/Chitlins*
- Churros*
- Clam Chowder *
- Cognac *
- Crabcake *
- Crickets*
- Currywurst
- Dandelion wine
- Dulce de leche*
- Durian (southeast Asian fruit notorious for its ordor)
- Eel*
- Eggs benedict *
- Fish Tacos *
- Foie Gras
- Fresh Spring Rolls *
- Fried Catfish *
- Fried Green Tomatoes *
- Fried Plaintain *
- Frito Pie *
- Frog’s Legs *
- Fugu (pufferfish)
- Funnel Cake *
- Gazpacho
- Goat
- Goat’s milk
- Goulash *
- Gumbo *
- Haggis
- Head Cheese *
- Heirloom Tomatoes *
- Honeycomb*
- Hostess Fruit Pie *
- Huevos Rancheros *
- Jerk Chicken *
- Kangaroo
- Key Lime Pie *
- Kobe Beef
- Lassi (Indian yogurt drink) *
- Lobster *
- Mimosa *
- MoonPie *
- Morel Mushrooms
- Nettle Tea
- Octopus *
- Oxtail Soup
- Paella
- Paneer (a cheese)*
- Pastrami on Rye*
- Pavlova (meringue cake)
- Phaal (curry dish)
- Philly Cheesesteak *
- Pho*
- Pineapple and cottage cheese *
- Pistachio Ice Cream*
- Po’ boy *
- Pocky *
- Polenta*
- Prickly Pear
- Rabbit Stew*
- Raw Oysters *
- Root Beer Float *
- S’mores *
- Sauerkraut *
- Sea Urchin
- Shark *
- Snail *
- Snake*
- Soft Shell Crab*
- Som Tam (spicy salad made from shredded unripened papaya)
- Spaetzle (German dumpling or noodle)
- Spam *
- Squirrel*
- Steak Tartare
- Sweet Potato Fries *
- Sweetbreads
- Tom Yum
- Umeboshi (pickled ume fruits common in Japan, similar to a plum)
- Venison *
- Wasabi Peas *
- Zucchini Flowers
What is one thing that you would add to this list? If it is something I think should be added for me to eat, I will!!
Canning my Cuties
I am a sucker for a good deal. I coupon, I search the clearance racks, and I stock up on good sales. My bathroom cupboard is full of toiletries that I have found for next to nothing. Some of them I even made money off of. It is easy to store these things. I can stack my rolls of $0.10 paper towels anywhere that I can find space. But when I found a sale on Cuties, I had to find some way to store them.
Canning has always been a way of preserving foods. In the 1800's when the French military offered a cash prize for a new way of preserving foods, a man named Nicolas Appert suggested canning. It has since been a way for people to grow foods during the optimal seasons and still eat it the rest of the year.
Now fast forward to present times. We often hear talk of zombie apocalypse, a plague that takes out millions, or a war that few will survive. This has brought to us to something called "prepping." What used to be a way for families to survive winter, has now become a tool for being prepared for when the "SHTF."
I have never been a prepper. I don't have stocks of supplies hidden underground. What I did have was a produce store that was selling bags of Cuties, normally $7.00, for $1.00. Being the thrifty shopper that I am, I bought seven bags. Then I realized that I had to do something with my twenty-one pounds of clementines. This led to my first experience in canning since I was little and helped my mom and grandma make plum jelly.
I have to let you know, it is not as easy as I thought that it would be, but seeing my jars of goodies once I was done made it all worth it!
My first set of jars were to be filled with simple peeled clementines. My daughter loves them and this would be a way for her to always have some available. They turned out great! Here is the recipe and instructions.
Canned Clementines:
1. Peel your clementines, and pull apart the sections, and remove as much pith (white stuff) as possible
2. Clean your jars and rings, I washed mine all in the dishwasher with the highest heat setting
3. Once the jars are clean, pack them full of the clementines, leave a little room at the top
4. Prepare your syrup solution. I did a 2:1 solution of water and sugar. You can actually just do water if you would like them to be sugar-free, but where is the fun in that. I used a pan and mixed the water and sugar. Bring to a boil and stir constantly until the sugar is dissolved. Then pour the syrup into each of the jars. Slide a knife or something similar around the inside of the jar to make sure and eliminate any air bubbles
5. Use a cloth with vinegar on it to clean off the rim of the jar
6. Place lids and rings on jars
7. Place jars in a bath of boiling water, make sure that there is at least 1/2 an inch of water over the top of the jars and boil them for 10 minutes
8. Take jars out of water and place on towel to let them rest and seal. Over the next 12-24 hours the lids will seal
9. You should be able to push on the top of the jar and hear no pop to ensure that it is sealed properly, any jars that don't seal should be refrigerated or eaten immediately
10. Store in a cool, dry area
Canning has always been a way of preserving foods. In the 1800's when the French military offered a cash prize for a new way of preserving foods, a man named Nicolas Appert suggested canning. It has since been a way for people to grow foods during the optimal seasons and still eat it the rest of the year.
Now fast forward to present times. We often hear talk of zombie apocalypse, a plague that takes out millions, or a war that few will survive. This has brought to us to something called "prepping." What used to be a way for families to survive winter, has now become a tool for being prepared for when the "SHTF."
I have never been a prepper. I don't have stocks of supplies hidden underground. What I did have was a produce store that was selling bags of Cuties, normally $7.00, for $1.00. Being the thrifty shopper that I am, I bought seven bags. Then I realized that I had to do something with my twenty-one pounds of clementines. This led to my first experience in canning since I was little and helped my mom and grandma make plum jelly.
I have to let you know, it is not as easy as I thought that it would be, but seeing my jars of goodies once I was done made it all worth it!
My first set of jars were to be filled with simple peeled clementines. My daughter loves them and this would be a way for her to always have some available. They turned out great! Here is the recipe and instructions.
Canned Clementines:
1. Peel your clementines, and pull apart the sections, and remove as much pith (white stuff) as possible
2. Clean your jars and rings, I washed mine all in the dishwasher with the highest heat setting
3. Once the jars are clean, pack them full of the clementines, leave a little room at the top
4. Prepare your syrup solution. I did a 2:1 solution of water and sugar. You can actually just do water if you would like them to be sugar-free, but where is the fun in that. I used a pan and mixed the water and sugar. Bring to a boil and stir constantly until the sugar is dissolved. Then pour the syrup into each of the jars. Slide a knife or something similar around the inside of the jar to make sure and eliminate any air bubbles
5. Use a cloth with vinegar on it to clean off the rim of the jar
6. Place lids and rings on jars
7. Place jars in a bath of boiling water, make sure that there is at least 1/2 an inch of water over the top of the jars and boil them for 10 minutes
8. Take jars out of water and place on towel to let them rest and seal. Over the next 12-24 hours the lids will seal
9. You should be able to push on the top of the jar and hear no pop to ensure that it is sealed properly, any jars that don't seal should be refrigerated or eaten immediately
10. Store in a cool, dry area
SPA-RTY
My last Friday night was spent in the presence of five "tween" girls, one second grader, and three girls under the age of four. This may sound like the beginning of a horror story, but it was just a birthday party I was throwing for a twelve year old.
This party was a spur of the moment decision and came amid the planning of another party that has been consuming a fair amount of time. Still, I tried to make it the best it could be with both little time and little money.
The theme for this slumber party was to be a spa party! Seemed easy enough!!
First things first... Invitations!
These were cut out of some extra paper I had leftover from another craft project. I found a pattern for a sleep mask online. The wording was printed on card stock and cut with the same pattern. Then I cut some lengths of ribbons from some leftover rolls I had gathered over the years. I glued the ribbon to the card stock and glued the whole thing to the backing! Voila, spa party invitations!
The second concern is always the cake. I am usually a fan of cupcakes, they are easy to serve and my cake decorating skills are still sub-par. I cheated with these cupcakes and used a boxed mix AND store bought frosting only because the day before the party I spent a few hours in the ER and was sent home with an unknown diagnoses for the rash and extreme pain in my arm. The time at the ER, the arm pain, and the meds they gave me slowed me down a little and homemade cake and frosting just wasn't an option for this party.
I did make some awesome "fingernail polish" toppers for them though! These were made my taking a big marshmallow, wetting it with a paper towel, and then rolling it in colored sugar. Next, take a tootsie roll with a toothpick in it and stick it into the top of the sugar coated marshmallow. Now you have what looks slightly like a bottle of fingernail polish!
The decorations are the most lacking compared to my usual party decor, but they served there purpose! Here are some photos of the set up. They are pretty self explanatory as to how they were made.
For things to do at the party, I decided to keep it simple since I knew a lot of time would be spent talking about tween girl things. After our three pizzas had been devoured and all the cupcakes were gone, we played Musical Manicures.
Musical Manicures is a fairly simple game, where all the players sit around a table, and they are all given one bottle of fingernail polish of random color. Then when the music starts they start passing the polishes around the table in whichever direction you choose, Then when you stop the music, whichever color they have in their hand, is the color they paint ONE nail with. Then you repeat the above steps nine more times.
After our fancy manicure was complete, we moved on to facials. We used a homemade scrub I had prepared of oatmeal, yogurt, and honey. This was somewhat of a mess, especially when my three year old decided she wanted one too. Unlike the older girls, she did not quite grasp the concept of "don't wipe your face and then put your hands all over everything." It did make for the funniest pictures though. We had pedicures set up and the foot scrub and lotion (bought from the store to save time, but still packaged in little containers to look cute) but the girls were bored of spa stuff for a bit and a few of them were unable to stay the night and they had to get picked up around this time. They ended up doing the pedicures themselves after I had already retired to bed.
For party favors I made a homemade-ish sugar scrub. I just mixed sugar with some body wash and packaged in small containers. I would have preferred to have them in mason jars with cute ribbon and tags, but since they were gifts designed to be used in the tub, I did not want to be the one responsible for broken glass in the bottom of their showers.
And there it is, one easy and cheap spa party! Anyone can do it!!
This party was a spur of the moment decision and came amid the planning of another party that has been consuming a fair amount of time. Still, I tried to make it the best it could be with both little time and little money.
The theme for this slumber party was to be a spa party! Seemed easy enough!!
First things first... Invitations!
Forgive the black marks, but it had an address and phone number on it...
These were cut out of some extra paper I had leftover from another craft project. I found a pattern for a sleep mask online. The wording was printed on card stock and cut with the same pattern. Then I cut some lengths of ribbons from some leftover rolls I had gathered over the years. I glued the ribbon to the card stock and glued the whole thing to the backing! Voila, spa party invitations!
The second concern is always the cake. I am usually a fan of cupcakes, they are easy to serve and my cake decorating skills are still sub-par. I cheated with these cupcakes and used a boxed mix AND store bought frosting only because the day before the party I spent a few hours in the ER and was sent home with an unknown diagnoses for the rash and extreme pain in my arm. The time at the ER, the arm pain, and the meds they gave me slowed me down a little and homemade cake and frosting just wasn't an option for this party.
I did make some awesome "fingernail polish" toppers for them though! These were made my taking a big marshmallow, wetting it with a paper towel, and then rolling it in colored sugar. Next, take a tootsie roll with a toothpick in it and stick it into the top of the sugar coated marshmallow. Now you have what looks slightly like a bottle of fingernail polish!
The decorations are the most lacking compared to my usual party decor, but they served there purpose! Here are some photos of the set up. They are pretty self explanatory as to how they were made.
For things to do at the party, I decided to keep it simple since I knew a lot of time would be spent talking about tween girl things. After our three pizzas had been devoured and all the cupcakes were gone, we played Musical Manicures.
Musical Manicures is a fairly simple game, where all the players sit around a table, and they are all given one bottle of fingernail polish of random color. Then when the music starts they start passing the polishes around the table in whichever direction you choose, Then when you stop the music, whichever color they have in their hand, is the color they paint ONE nail with. Then you repeat the above steps nine more times.
After our fancy manicure was complete, we moved on to facials. We used a homemade scrub I had prepared of oatmeal, yogurt, and honey. This was somewhat of a mess, especially when my three year old decided she wanted one too. Unlike the older girls, she did not quite grasp the concept of "don't wipe your face and then put your hands all over everything." It did make for the funniest pictures though. We had pedicures set up and the foot scrub and lotion (bought from the store to save time, but still packaged in little containers to look cute) but the girls were bored of spa stuff for a bit and a few of them were unable to stay the night and they had to get picked up around this time. They ended up doing the pedicures themselves after I had already retired to bed.
For party favors I made a homemade-ish sugar scrub. I just mixed sugar with some body wash and packaged in small containers. I would have preferred to have them in mason jars with cute ribbon and tags, but since they were gifts designed to be used in the tub, I did not want to be the one responsible for broken glass in the bottom of their showers.
For her gift from my daughter we made a picture frame and put a picture of them together! I found these frames at Walmart for $.97. I painted it a pretty blue colored and used some little gem/crystal things I had left over from last year when I bedazzled beer bottles for a 21st birthday party.
I resized the picture before wrapping it, but you can get the idea!
And there it is, one easy and cheap spa party! Anyone can do it!!
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