Wedding Season Gift Idea

I don't know about you, but its summer, and it is wedding season.
I'm the type of person that thinks that the idea of the gift registry is phenomenal
(hey, I took total advantage of it when we got married!)
But, I also like giving origional and memorable gifts -- for any occasion!

So when I saw this adorable gifr on Pinterest from Darling Doodles, I knew that it was

a) getting pinned in my gifts board
b) It was not going in the archives, I was going to use it!

(btw: you should go check out all the other adorable stuff she has there!)

We were invited a few weeks ago to a wedding shower (aka couples shower) for my husband's superviosr. Naturally they had a registery but I didn't want to go that route.
However, I also knew that I couldn't do the "pb&j" gift basket either (they're older then the typical couples that I see getting married). I knew that it would be kind corny for them
So I thought and thought about other things that "go together"

And I came up with:
"You go together like Marshmallows & Chocolate"
and made them a S'mores basket for an "at-home" date night.

Fairly inexpersive and completely memorable!

I loaded my basket with totally adorable roasting sticks that are retractable (easy sotrage and transport!)
Graham crackers
Marshmallows
Chocolate bars
AND Reese's Cups
(if you haven't tried that yet -- you MUST. Its the whole sweet/salty/peanut-buttery thing. It's delish!)

I'm sure that I could have added in some cute cloth napkins, or lined the basket in a picnic blanket if I was thinking more clearly then (so you do that for me, OK?).

I whipped up this cute card on my computer and tucked it in.
It was a huge success of "ooohhhhs, and ahhhhhs" :)

What other combinations can you think of that would make a good gift?

P.S. I'm totally doing the PB&J one for a wedding coming up in a few weeks, for an adorable, college-aged couple!

Summer: A Plan of Attack

Summer break will soon be upon us.
Sooner then any parent would like to think or even believe!
I feel that a little structure makes for a much more enjoyable and fun summer break.
In fact, structure might be too rigid a word for some -- lets say a plan of attack.

I want my boys to have a fun summer that isn't full of playing video games or watching tv.
However, I still want them to be engaged and to have a little bit of education oportunities to stimulate their brain so that they are ready for the next school year, come fall.

I did a whole post on my summer routine for a friend of mine last fall, if you want to read more, you can visit my home blog at the Peterson Party Page. There I break down what I did every day with my boys during the summer. Including a morning devotional (of sorts) and the workbooks I used.

Below is the books that we will be using this summer.
Summer Bridge books are amazing (and I've actually been surprised that the boys teachers' haven't heard of them).
You can purchase them at almost any bookstore or educational supply store and even online from the publisher itself.

The worksheets take very little time (so the kids aren't dreading doing some school work every morning of summer break) and they are one sheet front & back of spelling, math skills, reading, fitness....the creators did a spectacular job with these books.

I am taking it one step further this summer.
Now, you might be thinking that I'm a little too organized for your taste if I already have my schedule ready for the summer.
The reason that I am, is because I know that if I don't begin planning and organizing my summer now, I won't get it done and then I'll listen to "I'm bored" all afternoon, every afternoon. And I'll kick myself for not being more prepared for the summer.

So I won't mentally kick myself I have done a little scrounging on Pinterest and other websites to create a daily schedule of an extra thing to do each day -- mostly during #3's naptime (at least the "at-home" activities are.).
I've planned a different day for a different activity: games, science, crafts, cooking, library & or field trip.
I've also included the website I found the activity on so that I didn't have to write out all the instructions (if they were long), or where I needed to reserve something.

If you would like to create your own, I found the template in Word, in the template menu under "planners" and just inserted everything you see here.

If you would like a copy of your own in PDF format, click HERE.

If you would like a copy of your own in Word format, click HERE.

(fyi: this document is only for the 1st five weeks of the summer, if you want all my summer activy scheduling, contact me and I will send it to you)

The most important thing for a active, fun summer is flexibility.

I will also be making room in our schedule for musical theater camp for #2,

swimming lessons for #1 & #2,

and some camping fun.

Have a fun summer and make some great memories with your kids!

Quality Time With Your Spouse AND a free printable

We all know that it is coming.
It is inevitable and (pretty much) unavoidable.
Do you know what you're going to do for it?

Valentine's Day is a little less then a month away.

Some people have a difficult time with the Valentine's Day holiday.
I've heard: "You shouldn't need a holiday for you to show that you love your spouse/S.O."

True.
Extremely true.
However, I look at it as a oportunity to show a little bit more love.
Shower a little bit more kindness on my husband.
(....now granted, it doesn't always work out that way, but I do try!)
--and my kids!

I saw this saying on Pinterest and really fell in love with it.
So I decided to make it pretty.
And give it to YOU!
FREE! free! FREE! printable

But before we get into that, I thought that I would share some ideas on dates with your spouse;
and ways to let your spouse know that you love them and are thinking of them;
So take notes (or save the links...) and get at it!

I loved this link!

50 questions to ask your spouse on a date.
We've all been there. Sitting across from the person you love and have pledged the rest of your life on this earth to; and you DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY!!!!!
double-yikes!
That shouldn't happen. But it does (my hand is raised).
So check it out and bring the list along on your next alone-time.

This one from pink pistachio

Is all about "penny jar dates"

Inexpensive time with your spouse.

We can all use a little quality time, but not spend a lot of money, eh?

I need this list

101 ways to tell your husband that you love him.
Notes in the lunch box aren't bad....but sometimes we need a little jolt to get more creative.

Now onto the FREE stuff.
Like I said earlier, I really, really liked this saying.
Most likely because I need to remember to make sure that I am being my husband's favorite part.
Just click on the link below each picture and you will be able to save your own copy.
Happy Valentine's Day!



pink

 

red

 

yellow



Routine -- a little bit better

Happy New Year!
Do you have any resolutions for 2012?
It always seems as though I do; and then half-way through the year
(and sometimes a few weeks into the new year),
I forget all about them.

In honor of the new year, I am going to share with you something that has made the morning routine for my boys and I a little bit less angst-ridden.
--And hopefuly help you be a little more organized as your kids start school up again this week.


I started a morning checklist with my oldest last year when we went to the pediatrican for input on some ADHD tendancies he was exhibiting.
She suggested that we try a checklist for morning and before bed to help him (and us) not be so agitated.

I think that we, as adults, sometimes feel that our kids -- especially our older ones -- should be able to remember what to do every morning.
I mean, good grief; they do it
every. single. day.
It's not like it is a surprise that they have to brush their teeth, or put their lunch in their backpack.
However, kids have wandering minds.
They actually do have a difficult time staying on track and remembering what needs to be accomplished before they head out the door (or go to bed) every day.

Hence a tad bit of agitation from mom -- because son should be able to remember to do all these things, and he doesn't and so I'm constantly reminding him when I'm busy getting everyone else ready --
--and from son because he's just trying to do everything right and feels like mom is constanly nagging him
(sound familiar?)

Ahhhhhh --- in comes the solution!

This is extremely basic and simple.
But it is effective.

I paste the morning and bedtime schedule back-to-back; laminate and put magnets on with a dry erase marker attached so that they are in charge of their schedule.

All mom or dad has to do is ask: "Have you completed everything on your list?"
And the kids love to check off their list and see it completed.

Feel free to print these off for your use. You can find them right HERE.
Or create your own.

I've also found other "chore charts" in the blogosphere that you could use.
This one is really cute; using magnetic pictures that your kids can move from the "to-do" side to the "done side"

Lil' Luna shares her tutorial for this magnetic chore chart here.

Good luck in the new year and may you be a little more organized and stress-free as your kids begin school again!

Teacher Gifts

I don't know if you're like me at all; but I have the toughest time coming up with a (half-way) deceent gift for my boys teacher's at school every holiday season.
So....since I had to figure out a post for the Betties, I thought that I would get prepared
(and hopefully get your creative juices flowing)
for a great holiday gift for a teacher, friend or neighbor.
(b/c if I'm not thinking ahead, it usually doesn't happen!)

AND the great thing about all this is that it is extremely affordable.
Practically everything I got was for about $1.00 (with a few exceptions, of course)

*When it gets closer to the end of the school, I will post a picture of the completed teacher gift, I just didn't want some of this stuff sitting around for another three weeks getting stale and yucky. But I think that you'll get the general idea*
Let's get started!
Here'a what I'm starting with:

The cute little box to put everything in I found at Target in the $$ bins.

Gloves: 2/$1 @ Dollar Tree

Candy cane sticks @ Hobby Lobby for.....well you can see it: $2.49 --- but this will make you more than one little box.

boxes to put the candy cane sticks in at Hobby Lobby for $1.99 -- 4 to a package.

Little jar @ Hobby Lobby for $1.99

NOW, here is the inspiration for all of my goodies for my boys teachers:

Aren't these adorable?!?!

Microwaved Popcorn wrapped with gloves for the hat! So clever

(and functional at the same time!)

You can find the cute sowman wrapper printable at Sherelle Christensen

LOVE this one.....dipped candy cane sticks for a hot chocolate stirrer

--- super-easy to make and pretty to give.

Found @ countryliving.com in their 14 homemade food gifts.

And finally some homemade lemon sugar hand scrub found at Stephanie Lynn

(I've made this for the girls that I visit teach and they have LOVED this stuff

--- I think I need to make some for myself!)

You must know, that the inspiration for all these little goodies, I found at Pinterest.

I love the people that are creative enough to even think this stuff up so that

I have something great to give as gifts.

I will aslo be throwing in a handmade card from my child and

 an ornament to complete my little box for the teachers.

I can't wait until they are actually all done so that I can show it off.

It's gonna be super-cute!

Drawstring Backpacks

Do you have the problem that I have with road trips and kids?
They want to bring too many of their toys to occupy them while on the road
(when, in actuality, they just watch movies....)
So, I decided to create something fun and colorful to restrict the toy-bringing on road trips.

My husband brought home from work one of those nylon drawstring backpacks.
Clever.
Functional.
But nothing that says: "These are my toys! Stay out!"
I stewed and I mulled.
And finally, I determined that I could make one of those drawstring backpacks.
And I did.
It was so simple (and even more so, if you don't do the monograming on the front)
It is the prefect gift (in fact the ones shown are for my nephew and niece for Christmas) -- just stuff with a few goodies from the dollar store and you've got yourself a cute, and inexpensive Christmas gift for a lucky boy or girl!

You will need:
~ 1 yard of material (this will actually make 2 backpacks)
                              -- I use heavier material so that it is sturdier then the cheap cotton.
~ sewing machine
~ thread
~ scissors
~ nylon rope
~ grommets
~ grommet punch (just ask around if you don't have one --- lots of men have them for camping gear -- not as cute as a craft store one, but will do the job nicely)
~ felt (if choosing to do a monogram) -- or contrasting material
~ iron
~ ruler

First things first.
You will need to cut your yard of material in half, length-wise. This is how you get your two backpacks.

Fold over the ends of the fabric one inch and iron with your hot iron
(make sure you turn the steam off --- don't want to blister your fingers)
ALSO fold in a little part of the end and iron, so that it doesn't fray when you have the rope through the holes.

Pin it down and sew so that you now have a loop for your rope.
Do this to both ends of the fabric.

~*~ this part is totally optional, but really, what kid doesn't like something that they know is theirs? ~*~
You'll need to print a letter out on your computer that is the size that you want. I went for fairly large.
Cut it out and trace around with a pen on the felt then cut that letter out.

Pin it where you want it on the side of the bag.
Then sew with your machine around it
(or, if you're like me; and can really only sew well on a straight line, ask someone else to do it for you.)

When your letter is sewn on; bring the right-sides (the patterned sides) together, pin the edges and sew up the sides.
MAKE SURE you DO NOT sew  through the loops that you've made for your rope.
That would be no fun, you kind of need it open.
Turn it right-side out.

You're almost done!!!! (go and take a chocolate break if you need one!)
Now for the pounding part--
With the grommet punch a hole in the fabric through both sides
(you might have to use your scissors a little to complete the circle.)
Get the grommet set up and pound, pound pound it on there.

Now you're ready to string the rope through the top of the bag.
Cut off two strands of rope, about 43 inches long.
(when strung through, it needs to be shorter by about 1 1/2 to 2 inches so that when the strings are drawn they won't be too long)
You might want to wrap your ends with tape (just keeps 'em from fraying), and then attached a safety pin to help you thread it through.

OK, I have thought and though about how to explain this one (so I hope that I'm clear, if not; feel free to contact me)
Go in through one side and come out. (1 & 2)
Continue through the back side of the bag, so you're now going to go through the other loop (still 2)
Then exit where you began, just in the back (3)
For the second rope, do the same thing, but start on the other side.
The two "drawstrings" will share the same loop hole, one on top of the other.

You will then have string that look like this.
When you pull on the them the bag's top will close (that is when you know you've done it right)

Now thread the ends through the front of the gromment and tie a knot
(the knot should be on the back of the bag)

And you are DONE!

Yippie! Go have some cocoa and cookies and pat yourself on the back.

You've got a rockin' awesome gift.

And it only took you about an hour to do it!

Recipe: Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Sauce

Happy Halloween!!!

I know.
Right?
The title AND the picture alone is enough to leave you drooling.
I LOVE this cake.
I have no idea where the recipe came from, just that my Grandmother and Mom have been making it for as long as I can remember.

....and let's use up all those good apples that you got on sale at the store!

This is an insanely simple desert to make --- and I am all about simplicity when it comes to baking.
But I am also about the *wow* factor too.
You'll come to learn soon enough; that I love to create food that is simple, yet has a great effect in taste as well as beauty.

Ingredients for cake:

     1 cup granulated sugar                                                                     1 1/2 cups flour
     1/2 cup butter at room temperature (1 stick)                                    1 tsp baking soda
     2 eggs                                                                                             1/2 tsp cinnamon
     3 large apples; peeled & diced (use a potato peeler)                        1/2 tsp nutmeg
     1/2 cup chopped nuts (your choice--& totally optional) 

Directions for cake:

~preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x9 pan.
~Cream together the sugar, butter and eggs.
~Sift the dry ingredients together and add to the sugar mixture.
(HINT: the dough will be really thick, almost like a cookie dough -- that's ok)
~Stir the diced apples in -- by hand -- add the nuts (if you so choose) and put in your pan.
~Bake for about 45 minutes. -- Just watch it, you'll know when it is done: the center won't be wobbly and it will be nice and brown (tan is not done).

Caramel Sauce ingredients:

1/2 cup butter at room temperature (1 stick)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup whipping cream, non-whipped (1/2 pint)
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 Tblsp flour

Directions for Sauce:

~ Mix the flour and granulated sugar in a small bowl.
~Put the rest of the ingredients in a small sauce pan over medium heat.
~When the butter and brown sugar are melted add the flour/sugar mix and whisk until clear. -- You're basicly warming up all the ingredients and letting the flour do its binding job. It won't be super-thick, but it will look like caramel sauce.

You can serve the cake warm or room temperature --- its good no matter what!
You can also double this recipe and make it to fit in a 9x13 pan. Just adjust the time to cook it.
When I made this, this past week, we had leftover sauce --so I dipped some chopped up apples and had myself a snack. YUM!

Enjoy a new fall recipe!

If you would like to print off a copy of this recipe just click HERE.

Fabric Pumpkins

Fall is my absolute FAVORITE season.

You wanna know why?

~Because I can leave my decorations up for three whole months!~

These pumpkins are just the thing to create the warmth and glow of the fall season in your home.

My mom gave me a set of pumpkins just like these about five years ago -- I love them.

So I'm now sharing with you

(this is where you clap your hands in exaltation and joy --- and go and get your glue gun ready!)

--And the best part about this craft is that most everything with a "fall-theme" is on sale--

Cast of Characters:

~3 different prints of fall material: 1 yard, 1/2 yard, 1/4 yard (on sale at Jo Ann's)
~10 oz bag of batting (make sure you don't get quilter's batting or you'll be out of luck)
~ jute twine (I got mine at Hobby Lobby)
~Rafia
~1 lb bag of rice (or beans, if that is what you have)
~2 stems of leaves/berries (I got mine at Hobby Lobby -- they were 40% off)
~sewing machine, thread, scissors
~hot glue gun

1. cut your material for each of your pumpkins.
           large: 17" tall x 27" wide
           medium: 12" tall x 21" wide
           small: 10" tall x 17" wide
     (this is already measured for seam allowance)





2. turn your material inside-out and sew your edges together to make a cylinder
~ double-check your seams to make sure that you got all the material.
(you don't want to start stuffing and realize you've got a gap --- yeah, I did that already, just passing on my hard-earned wisdom)

3. Leave your material inside-out. Gather one end of your cylinder together and bind together with thread, twine, a rubber-band -- whatever your have. (The messier end)
I used thread and just wound and wound and then threaded a needle and made a couple of knots when I felt that I had enough around the bottom.



4. Turn it right-side out and now you have a little bag. Kind of adjust it so that you won't have a lop-sided pumpkin.

5. Get your rice out. You can measure it if you like (this is for the small pumpkin, and I measured out 1/3 cup --- the others, I just poured until I felt I had enough)
* the rice/beans are in the bottom just so that there is a little bit of weight. There is absolutely NO science to this.





6. Now you're ready to STUFF!
~I bought a 10 oz. bag of batting and used most all of it for the three pumpkins so don't be shy about using it.
But DO make sure that you have enough room at the top to gather the fabric a tie it off to look like a stem.

7. Tie off the tops of your pumpkins. I used rubber-bands. (It just seemed easiest.) You could use thread or even some of the jute twine. Your choice.
~Now make "ribs" on the pumpkin by winding the jute around the pumpkin and criss-crossing on the bottom.
I made 6 ribs of each of my pumpkins.
~Think like you're cutting a pie - the jute goes down one side and up the opposite, wrap it around the stem and create a "pie-piece" and do the same thing. Tie it off at the top when you've got the look you're going for.


8. Now it's time to decorate. Get those leaves and berries and pull them off the stems.

9. After you've pulled them off the stems, you'll probably want to cut them into individual leaves.
Leave stems on if you want.
~Get your glue gun out and plugged in.




10. I began by "dry placing" the leaves and berries onto the top of my pumpkins around the stem to see what I liked.

Get your glue gun and glue your decorations onto the pumpkin. I just put glue on the stem and a little bit of the ribs.

~When you're satisfied with what you've got; get some of the raffia and tie a bow around the stem to finish it off. (You could do this BEFORE you put the leaves on -- I just forgot and did it after.)

...and now, you have some beautiful autumnal decorations to sit on your table or mantel.

Something that you can leave out for three whole months!

About Us: The Crafty Betties

Crafty Betties are hobby hotties who love to craft, decorate & design. We started as a group of friends who were sharing ideas amongst ourselves and then decided to share our crafts, recipes, and other fun decorating and design tips with everyone. We hope our ideas help inspire you with your family and home!

Joana

Joana is from Brazil, and has learned a lot since she moved to the United States in 2010 about how talented the people are. She very grateful because she discovered that she also has a talent: copying talents of others! Joana loves learning what other people do very well, and reproducing the great ideas on a budget.

Joana's husband is a student and they doing everything they can to pay for his studies, so she can not spend a lot of money on craft and home organization projects. You will find that Joana's projects are things that can be made with few resources and materials that we already have at home. Hope you enjoy following Joana's simple ideas!

Click here to see what Joana's been up to on Crafty Betties.

Rebecca

A self-proclaimed tom-boy, sports & exercise enthusiast, Rebecca has NEVER been able to suppress her creative side. 

As with many new moms, the birth of her daughter drove her head first into a scrapbooking/papercrafting passion and she quickly found herself teaching others at workshops and parties the joys of beautifully archiving memories, and how much money you really can save making your own beautiful greeting cards! 

And after a few lessons about creating her own jewelery, Rebecca was hooked, quickly making more of a supply than she would ever use herself.  But an addiction was developed and the jewellery crafting continued!

When she's not playing soccer, out for a run, kickboxing, or chililng with her family you can find Rebecca leading local papercrafters through projects, or selling her beautiful one-of-a-kind jewellery pieces at a local craft fair. Her websites are rking.myctmh.com and www.leifayre.ca .  Or check out her other blog, redlovestomove.blogspot.com for the ins and outs of day-to-day life. 

Click here to see what Rebecca's been up to on Crafty Betties.

Rachel

Rachel is a married mother of two.  She has one child with an autism spectrum disorder, which means she is super busy!  Rachel LOVES to be creative when time allows. She has a great sense of design, and a love of food, which lead her into making cakes. Rachel says she is still new to this venture but am developing a real love for this medium.  Art you can eat; who doesn't like that!

When not at home caring for her children and being a cake specialist, Rachel is also a full time student and works part time at a restaurant.  She loves to have fun and explore new ways to do things, so be sure to follow Rachel's tips here at Crafty Betties!

Click here to see what Rachel's been up to at Crafty Betties.

Kristen

Kristen is a self-labeled Domestic Diva. As the oldest of six children, Kristen was always her mother's right-hand gal for keeping house and cooking fantastic meals.

Even as a young girl Kristen loved beautiful things, but her first love has always been to MAKE beautiful things. Her favorite style is her own Contemporary Farmhouse Chic. Kristen accomplishes this through upcycling things she finds at garage sales and in scary basements, and then adds something new to it to create a clean/ refresh look.

When she is not running, reading or caring for her three children and super-busy husband, Kristen is the creative genius behind the Etsy shop Write@Home and is a family-food blogger. Thanks for following!

Click here to see what Kristen's been up to on Crafty Betties.

Tamie

From creating unique décor for your home or an uber-awesome meal Tamie is all about the simplicity of it all.
Hailing from the great state of Colorado; Tamie is the mom of 3 boys and hence must create the “girl” herself.

Who doesn’t like a little simplicity in their life? Raise your hand – yes you do! 

Tamie attempts to create simplicity in her life through organization, meal planning, or re-creating something that she’s seen online (usually other blogs and Pinterest).It is all about simplicity. 

She also loves to create lasting memories for her gaggle of boys and other families through her photographic efforts. You can follow Tamie on facebook at Tamie Peterson Photography or her blog at http://tamiesphotos.blogspot.com/

Click here to see what Tamie's been up to on Crafty Betties.