I is for igloo

For the letter I, we made igloos. I thought they turned out so cute.

To make these you need 1/2 an apple, peanut butter and marshmallows.

Ella demonstrates how the peanut butter acts as a glue for the marshmallows.

Finished product.....a cute little edible igloo!

First Day of School!

We have been in school now for almost 2 weeks but I am just now getting around to posting the first day.

 Since I am teaching, it takes me about that long to get settled. Daddy did all of the first day activities including the picture taking. So here goes.......

I had to be there early to finish setting up 1st day activities. Daddy left with the kids the same time I did but arrived a lot later. Once they showed up in my room I realized why. They had stopped for a special breakfast. They were sweet enough to bring me some but this lady does not have time to eat on the first day of school. I am back on the school diet.......not a whole lot of time to eat. Excercise?? No problem!! I walk the halls a least 50 times a day!

All of us on our first day at school.

Laney in front of her classroom.

She is my social butterfly so she was eager for school to start.......mainly for the friends.

Griffin was too cool to have his picture taken or walked to class. 

Now I cannot brag enough on Ella's teacher this year. She is going to love her! I have already decided we are going to go big on the teacher gifts this year. I am thinking spa, gift cards, vacations, etc. Something nice for every holiday and in between. Here is a picture of her with her teacher on the first day of school.

I am looking forward to teaching and watching her interact with the other children this year.

My husband loves me......and our children!

Look what my hubby got me...........

a Nutrimill wheat grinder.

He even remembered the kids!

A hand grinder for if we ever loose power or a child needs to be disciplined!

Now if my wheat would just arrive, I could fire this baby up!

Unwanted mail

Do you get as much junk mail as we do?

I love to recycle items......any items. Here is a tip for reusing junk mail.

The next time you think about throwing away that credit card offer, magazine renewal,etc.....don't. Open it up and pull out this.......

The reply envelope.

 I save these for my class at school and my own children to put their play letters in. It makes them feel so grown. They quit using my much needed envelopes and I save money!

If one of their letters happens to make it into the mailbox,well........ I guess that company will be getting junk mail for a change!

It's that time of year again

No not Christmas!

Although Christmas break is sounding really good right now!

School has started so in order to prepare, I had a few baking days.I decided this year to do it by meals.....breakfast, lunch and dinner. First up was........breakfast.

Since muffins are so easy to make, freeze and reheat, I started with that. I made...

Banana Bread Muffins

Next came the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

The next 2 types of muffins are news ones. I thought I would try these out since I have bags and bags of frozen fruit from the spring and summer. I will include recipes because I thought both were delicious!

Blueberry Streusel Muffins

Recipe

2 cp flour( I used whole white wheat)

1 1/2 ts baking powder

1/2 ts salt

1/2 c unsalted butter, soft

1 c sugar

2 eggs

2ts vanilla extract

1/2 milk

2c fresh frozen blueberries

In a small bowl mix baking powder, flour and salt. In a larger bowl beat butter and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla and milk. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix. Add blueberries and put in muffin tins.

For streusel mix 1/2 c sugar, 1/3 flour, 1/4 butter, soft and 1 1/2 ts cinnamon. Put on top of muffin.

Bake 350 for 20 minutes

Blueberry/Strawberry Muffins with Streusel

Recipe

2 c whole white wheat flour

2/3 c sugar

2 ts baking powder

1/2 ts baking soda

1/2 ts salt

1/4 ts cinnamon

2 eggs

1 stick unsalted butter, melt

1 c buttermilk

1 T grated lemon zest

3/4 c blueberries

3/4 c strawberries

In a bowl whisk all the dry ingredients. In a large bowl beat eggs with butter. Add buttermilk, lemon and whisk. Add dry to wet and stir. Fold in fruit and scoop into a muffin pan. Bake 400 for 20 minutes.

Besides muffins, I also made some homemade baking mix for sausage balls.

 Sausage and Cheese Biscuits

For the  last 2 breakfast items I like to mix, roll or cut and freeze in ziploc bags. All I have to do is take as many as I need and bake.

Hopefully, we can make it last for the rest of August.

Just in case you want to make this in the morning

Crepe recipe

4 eggs

1 c flour

1/2 c milk

1/2 c water

1/2 ts salt

2 T sugar

2 T melted butter

Measure first 7 ingredients in a blender. Blend for 30 sec and scrape sides. Blend for 15 more sec. Cover and let sit for 1 hour.

French vanilla filling

While batter is sitting mix 3 1/2 oz french vanilla pudding mix with 1 c cold milk. When thick blend with cream cheese. Place in the fridge until ready to serve.

Heat a pan and lightly grease. Pour 1/4 c batter in pan. Tilt to spread the batter. Once you spot bubbles loosen the edges with a spatula and flip over. It cooks quickly. 

Putting together

Take a crepe and spread a spoonful of the creme cheese mixture on it. Roll it up and add whatever you would like. I added a drizzle of chocolate syrup, sliced strawberries, cool whip, and a dust of powder sugar.

There are many different variations of crepes. Another good combination was  Nutella with bananas, caramel, cool whip and a dust of powder sugar.

Paris Spa Sleepover

For Laney's 9th birthday, she decided to keep it small this year so she could redecorate her room( a Paris themed room). She had a party with family a few weeks ago. This past Friday she had a few of her friends over for a Paris Spa Sleepover. 

Bonjour!

The evening started with welcoming the girls to Paris. After we welcomed them all, they were led into  the kitchen to prepare their own dish for the evening.

Homemade personal pan pizza topped with pepperoni, bacon, olives and cheese.

While they waited for them to cook, they sat at a lovely table with a window view. They were able to enjoy a few exquisite appetizers like sliced baguette with garlic and herb cheese and grapes. The beverage of choice was a pink lemonade with 2 cherries and a  frozen lemon slice.

For dessert.......mini chocolate cake topped with pink buttercream frosting sprinkled with edible pearls.

Madam Laney had a special dessert all her own.

After their fine dining experience, Madam Laney received many ravishing Paris gifts( These will fit very nicely in her new room).

Next the girls already dressed in their robes were invited into the main room for a  spa treatment. Each girl was able to choose from a variety of  polish colors along with lotion, the spa essentials, exfoliating salts and diamond body stickers.

The girls sprinkled the salts in their tub while the warm water was poured. They were encouraged to lay back and enjoy as they listened to soft music playing.

After a good soaking, it was time for the polishing to begin.

Later that evening the girls had one last planned activity. They had the chance to be like Claude Monet and paint their vision on a wrapped canvas.

The next morning the girls woke up to smell of crepes. They had a choice  of a crepe filled with a French vanilla cream cheese filling, topped with strawberries and a layer of whipped topping finished off with a drizzle of chocolate.

The other choice was a crepe filled with Nutella, topped with bananas and a dollop of whipped topping finished with a drizzle of caramel.

These were so yummy! Check back later for the recipe!

The girls had a fabulous time! All Laney could say was 

Merci, Merci, Merci