The problem with making a fun project for one girl in my house means that the other two are clamoring to have their own special project, too!! A few weeks ago I made matching tie dye outfits for my oldest daughter and her American Girl doll. My  twin 3 year olds don't have that size doll, but that didn't stop them from asking where their tie dye projects were! So we took a couple more t-shirts and whipped up some new tie dye pillows for them--all without touching a sewing machine!


I made 2 pillows, but my instructions are for 1 pillow. Here's what you need:

1 adult large t-shirt.
tie dye colors of your choice
cutting tools (I used a rotary cutter and a mat, but you could use scissors)
Stuffing for your pillow. I reused stuffing from an old pillow I had around.

First, you want to tie-dye your t-shirt.


I used a shibori technique binding a square tile (flooring samples from work) to variously folded shirts. It made a fun pattern, I think!


Then, I used my rotary cutter to cut the top, bottom, and sides off. Basically, your goal is to have 2 rectangles (front and back) that are as large as possible, while removing the collar, sleeves, hem, and side seams.


Then you want to cut each edge into a fringe with each piece about 1 inch wide and 2 inches long.


Double knot the fringe of the two sides together. Leave a little opening to stuff, then tie that portion of the fringe closed, as well.


And then enjoy the pillows--or let your little ones enjoy them! This would also be a great craft for older elementary school kiddos to try!

Hi folks! Are you ready for menu planning time?


I'm in shock right now that it's the last few days of July. Where is the summer going? I'm not really looking forward to a new school year...but anyway, here's what we're eating this week:

Monday: Steak Fajitas, fruit, and corn
Tuesday: Hot Dogs,  Juiced up Carrots,



Wednesday: Sesame Chicken and Veggies, Noodles
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday:  Barbecue Chicken Pizza, Fruit

Saturday: Snacking...we'll be having a busy day, with lots of fun food to go with our activities, so we'll probably just play it by ear!
Sunday: Pork Chops, Potatoes, Fruit

What are you eating this week?

Anybody that has little girls know that with girls come...accessories. Jewelry, scarves, hats...and lots and lots of hairbows. With 3 little girls, my house is quickly being overrun with accessories. And as I was looking into options on how to organize these hair accessories, I realized I had so much fun with the Mod Podge Collage Clay that I had to try another project around the house--an organizing project to try to take control of the hairbow chaos that is my life


Start with a bucket. These are cheap plastic ones I found on clearance.


I used my silhouette to make a custom vinyl decal, but you can easily use stickers, too.


I applied the decal to the buckets.


Basically, you can take some Mod Melts and make some fun decorations. Or, if you have some items around the house, you can use them....like random gems from a preschool art project.


I used the collage clay and the star tip. I made 3 rows of stars all around the top. And then, all I had to do was press the different pieces into the collage clay and let it dry.


And if you girls are into accessories, like my girls are, accessorized accessory holders...well, they are the best. stuff. ever.


Maybe they'll actually use them and I can find the top of the dressers more than once in a blue moon!

It's been a while since I've shared a granola recipe with you. But this one's a doozy--S'mores Granola!



Here's what you need:
4 cups of old fashioned or rolled oats
1/2 cup dry milk
1/2 cup ground flax
3 tbsp cocoa
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
2/3 cup coconut oil
2/3 cup corn syrup
1 cup mini marshmallows







Enjoy!

It's menu planning time folks!!


I don't know about you, but I've really enjoying this July "polar vortex" and the cool air! It makes cooking during the summer much more enjoyable.

Monday: Tacos with Hidden Veggies, Salad, Fruit


Tuesday: Crockpot Chili, bread, fruit


Wednesday: Parmesan Chive Tilapia, Salad, Broccoli, Bread


Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Pork chops, Sweet Potatoes, Salad
Saturday: Homemade personal pizzas
Sunday: Chicken Pot Pie

What are you eating this week?

I think we've established that I love simple ice pop recipes. I love how you can get a whole serving of fruit into "dessert" without anyone being the wiser. And I love how many options you have in the summer time with all the fruit that is season! And what says summer more than cherries? I love these double cherry popsicles!


This recipe is super easy. The hardest part is pitting the cherries! You will love how the cherry herbal tea compliments the fresh sweet cherries!

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh brewed cherry flavored herbal tea (brew 1 bag according to directions)
1 pound sweet fresh cherries



Brew your tea and allow to cool while pitting cherries. While the tea steeps, pit your cherries. Puree cherries and tea together in a blender or food processor.

Pour puree into a popsicle mold. This recipe makes 10 popsicles. Freeze overnight. And...that's it!


Enjoy a sweet, healthy dessert!

Disclosure - I wrote this post as part of a sponsored campaign for Tulip and Blueprint Social. 

Want to know a secret? Until recently, I had never tie dyed anything before in my life. I was intimidated by the whole idea. But this summer, I was invited by Tulip to " Tie Dye Your Summer " and I just knew that this was the summer to conquer my fears!



And I had the perfect project to do it with. My biggest girl is all about the American Girl doll that she got this past winter, and she loves the idea of dressing the same as her doll. We decided to use tie dye to create outfits for her and her doll. The sewing was simple--we just used a single large adult t-shirt and the only sewing was 2 straight seams! And I think you're going be amazed at how simple tie-dying is with Tulip's One-Step Tie Dying so that you can make your own doll & me matching outfits!

I'm back!!! I'm super excited to be back in the menu planning saddle again.



Whatever the bug was that I had last week put me down for over 4 days. And by the time I recovered, it ws time to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. So if I had put a menu plan together...we wouldn't have followed it anyway.

But now I'm ready to put something on the table that doesn't involve peanut butter sandwiches and frozen pizzas. Here's the plan for the week:

Monday: Breakfast for Dinner


Tuesday: Crockpot Rotisserie Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Fruit


Wednesday: Grilled Pork Chops, Juiced up Carrots, Bread


Thursday:  Leftovers
Friday: Barbecue Chicken Pizza


Saturday: Burgers on the Grill
Sunday: Sweet & Sour Chucken

What are you eating this week?

Disclosure - I wrote this post as part of a sponsored campaign for Plaid and Blueprint Social. 

Today, I am super excited to guest post over at The Silhouette School. So if you want to learn how to use your Silhouette to etch something besides glass, you need to head over to my substitute teaching session right now!!Silhouette school is in session! You definitely want to learn how to make these Nautical Etched Coasters...




And if you are here from the Silhouette School, welcome! Check out my Silhouette Projects, or all my craft projects. If you're interested in my top posts, you can find them in my sidebar.

Do you love chocolate covered cherries? I sure do! If you love them, then you will love this Chocolate Cherry Trifle. Even better, all of the ingredients are common items--and everything except the eggs and milk are pantry items! You're going to love how amazing an rich this trifle is...and how easy!


Ingredients:
Family size brownie mix, made up per directions on the box (mine needed 2 eggs, 1/2 cup oil, and 1.4 water)
Instant pudding (3.4 ounce box)
2 cups Milk
10 ounce jar Maraschino Cherries, no stem variety

Mix up your brownies per the box directions and allow to cool. While the brownies are cooling, use a strainer to separate the cherries from the juice. You will need both, so be sure to reserve the juice.


Mix up the milk and pudding per package directions. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 5 minutes before continuing.

Once the brownies are cool and the pudding has reached a soft set, you are ready to assemble your trifle. Cut up the brownies into bite size pieces. In the bottom of your serving bowl, place a layer of cut up brownie bites. Depending on the shape of your bowl (tapered or straight sided), you will use around 1/3 to 1/2 of the brownies. Pour around 1/3 to 1/2 of the cherry juice into the brownies. Spread on about half of the pudding. Arrange the cherries on top of the pudding (retain 3 for garnish). Add the rest of the brownie bites (retain a little for garnish). Drizzle with the rest of the cherry juice. Spread out the rest of the pudding. Garnish with the rest of the brownie bites and cherries.


Enjoy!

A couple of months ago, I was perusing a Martha Stewart Living and found a tutorial to paint wooden boxes that look like books. Intrigued, I found those little boxes on Amazon and bought a couple. And since I am determined to get our house less cluttered and more usable (and more beautiful, but not perfect), I thought that Lil Bit could use some storage boxes in her room that were small and enclosed.


So we sat down one evening to figure out how to decorate her boxes. I hit on the idea of using washi tape. When a local Office Max closed recently, I scored a whole lot of washi tape and duck tape minis--for $.05 each. Yes, I know all of you are jealous.

But since I had a bunch of rolls lying about, and one of those rolls happened to be Tinkerbell themed (perfect for a fairy themed room), I thought this would be a perfect and easy project.


All you need is a wooden box that looks like a book, washi tape (or decorative duct tape), an xacto blade, and mod podge.

You ready for a crazy easy tutorial? Apply the washi tape as you like. Make sure that you extend the tape beyond where you want it to be on the finished product.

Trim the tape back to where you want it. Mod podge the whole thing to seal the tape down.


And then, all that's left is to enjoy your "secret" storage.