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Showing posts with label List. Show all posts
Showing posts with label List. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

#ChallengeToWrite -- 9 favorite books of all time







Today for the #ChallengeToWrite, I would like to write about my favorite books... the topic from May 12, 2013

#ChallengeToWrite
May 12, 2013
Share your 9 favorite books of all time


Even though this topic may seem easier than some of the others... I'm going to have a few trouble picking 9 of my favorite books. Huh... Do I have to have them in order of how much I like them?? That won't happen.... Now lets get started!


  1. The Island of the Blue Dolphins - I read this book many times in school and even though I don't remember alot about it now, I know that it has always been one of my favorites.
  2. Twilight - Yes! I love me some sparkly vampires!!
  3. New Moon - What's not to love about adding a WareWolf to the mix?
  4. Eclipse - The Love Triangle keeps me on my toes and makes me even more interested to continue reading
  5. Breaking Dawn - The excitement and thrill of Bella turning into a Vampire FINALLY! And the birth of a half human and half vampire is enough for any girl to dread the end of a series!!
  6. Iron King - The action mixed with the love is very exciting and I couldn't put the book down!
  7. Iron Daughter - I have been known to dream of being A Summer Faerie Trying to Make it in the Mortal World and even have a facebook page about it. I love how faeries are names I know and the love story is amazing.
  8. Iron Queen - The story continues as Megan grows powerful, troubles don't end and the love keeps burning.
  9. Iron Knight - In the words of the Ice Prince, the ending to a beautiful story takes place and everyone loves a happy ending!
My original Secret Garden Book

So I guess that wasn't as hard as I thought it was. it would of been harder if my favorite books didn't come along with an awesome series!! I'm sure I could continued on an added Secret Garden, a childhood favorite of mine that I read over and over and still own my original copy! I could also add that one of my FAVORITE books is Marilyn - The Last Take..... anyone who knows me or reads my posts, knows that I am a HUGE Marilyn Monroe fan and always has been.


A few more of my favorite books


What are some of your favorite books?

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

20 Date Night Ideas









 Do you need Idea's for your Date Night plans?

While surfing the web, I happen to run across a post on All Things Katie Marie about date night. My fiance and I have been together for a long time, October 2 will make 9 years. Most couples plan their Valentine's Day to be a romantic fun day but not everyone has the time to plan out a big night. My fiance works 2 jobs and it just happens to be mandatory for him to be working at BOTH jobs so it was just me and my daughters this past Valentine's Day, but we had a nice little dinner a couple days after.

When I found this list, I got excited and then realized that I had mixed thoughts. There are some wonderful ideas on the list and I'm going to try them out but others just seem unreasonable for my lifestyle.
Some of the ideas are free and some will cost a bit, so pick the idea that's best for your family.
Below is the list... I also added my thoughts on some of the ideas at the bottom.

20 Date Night Ideas 





Cook something together.
Go off the grid for the weekend- no cell phones, no tv, no computers. You'll be amazed at what you do for entertainment.
Go see a movie.
Go to a restaurant you both have never been to.
Hit up BevMo's five cent wine sale and have your own wine tasting at home.
Play a board game.
Go bowling.
Have a spa night. Take a relaxing bath then follow up by taking turns giving each other massages.
Movie or TV marathon.
Play some miniature golf.
Swing some golf balls at the driving range.
Be in control and go to a shooting range. Be careful!
Put together a puzzle.
Go on a food crawl. Go to a different restaurant for an appetizer, entrée, and dessert.
Go fishing.
Test drive a car you have no intention to buy.
Pack lots of blankets and drive out in the country to look at the starts.
Snuggle up by the fire and read a book.
Give yourself an imaginary budget. Then separately go online and pick out all the things you would buy for each other with the money.
 Get active! Go on a bike ride, hike, walk, etc.


My thoughts on the Date Night List




 1. Okay so to start things off, Cooking something together - my boyfriend and I - won't work. He's the main cook around here (I know, I know, Lots of people say it... Your a stay-at-home mom, why are you not the main cook in the house... Because we do things differently! That's why, his cooking is better than mine so he cooks... The End) Every-time Alan and I try to cook together, one of ends up leaving or doing something wrong and the other is stuck finishing the meal or fixing the meal.

 2. Going off the grid is just to good to be true. All alone in a small cabin, deep into the woods with no phone signal or internet, sounds of a small river flowing close by, laying under the starts all night and watching the sun set and rise..... Ahhhhhhhh...... Sounds so peaceful and romantic..... *Snapping back to reality!!* We have kids. If I happen to find a baby-sitter (extremely rare occasion when a baby-sitter is found), I would have to give the sitter a way to get intouch with me incase of an emergency. Along with my fiance's texting addiction, he wouldn't be able to focus on anything if his phone wasn't close by. His only thoughts would be "I wonder if I have any texts?"

3. Going to the movies is a wonderful Date Night idea. If you get a couple hours without the kiddos, either call your local movie theater or go online and check the theater's site and see whats playing. You can still have your phone in case something important comes up (phone on vibrate is best). You can sit back in a dark room and hold hands with your love while watching a nice movie. It's very relaxing and I've almost feel asleep in those dark chairs. We have a theater in town that has couches! HEAVEN!

4. A restaurant that neither my boyfriend or I have been to sound promising. The only problem with this is finding a restaurant that we can afford. With 4 kids to support along with the bills.... money for dates don't even make our saving list! A cheap restaurant with some class sounds like a great idea for us!

5. BevMo's?? What and Where is that? I live in a very small town in North Carolina named Candler. We don't have any store that you can buy wine for 5 cents at. Truthfully..... I don't really have the taste for wine and neither does my other half. The only kind of wine that I found that I like isn't really a wine to me... Boones Farm. Seems more like a malt to me.

6. Alan and I have played board games in the past. Every now and then, one of us decide to pull out a game and convince the other to play a time or two. It's really fun and I love it! GREAT Idea!

7. I wouldn't go bowling with out my girls. They love going bowling and we never go. A trip to the Bowling Ally would be more of a Family Night then a Date Nite.

8. This sounds so doable! I just may have to try this out! It can even happen without a baby-sitter. Just wait until your kids goto sleep and then RELAX!

9. A Movie or TV Marathon goes on in my house often since my fiance is a TV nerd so this wouldn't be any different than any normal day.

10. Playing Minuture Golf would be another thing I would want to bring my kids along to. They would have a blast!

11. I don't golf....... and neither does my man!
12. I am NOT a fan of guns

13. To me... Puzzles can be fun at times but get boring quickly

14. Going on a food crawl would be such a fun thing to do! I believe we may do this soon!

15. My kids love fishing, I couldn't go without them.

16. I don't believe I want to spend my Valentine's Day or Date Night riding around in a car..... New or not.

17. I would LOVE to drive out to the country and look at the stars..... Oh wait.... I live in the country! :-) I may have to talk my man into taking blankets to the field across the road and watch the stars with me!

18. I don't have a fire-place so I can't snuggle up by a fire and I'm the only one who likes to read in this relationship!

19. The fake budget sounds fun but not for a Date Night

20. I would LOVE to go on a hike on a warm summer day but that will have to wait a few months for that.

So I have LOTS of thinking to do! I'm not sure what my fiance and I are going to do for Valentine's Day but I'm sure we will enjoy every bit of it.

Do you have any Date-Night ideas to add to the list?


Sunday, July 8, 2012

Mini Lightning Bug Jars

Outside Summer Fun
Whats more fun than running around outside on a summer night chasing lightning bugs?? Catching them and putting them in jars for safe keeping! Most of the time you would use one of the gallon mason jars... I have a new idea for you. How about Mini Lightning Bug Jars? Easy to hold in small hands and not likely to be dropped when running thru the yard. These can be made by the child, with your help with the knife, or you can make them for your kids yourself. The choice is yours!!!!!!

All you need is :
  • Baby Food Jars
  • Knife (Adult help/supervision is needed for putting the holes in the lid with knife.)
  • Permanent Markers *I used black and orange for stars and fireflies*(optional)
  • Stickers (optional)
Instructions :

Step 1 -->  Make sure the jars are clean and dry.

Step 2 -->  Get an adult to poke holes in the top of the lid so the lightening bugs can breath.
**If you would like then your jar is finished. Or you can go on to Step 3**

Step 3 -->  Write your name on your jar if you would like and decorate with stickers or draw fireflies with black and orange markers.



**Our Finished Lightning Bug Jars!!!!**


Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Quick and Healthy Summer Snacks for Young Kids Cont.

 Quick and Healthy Summer Snacks for Young Kids Cont.

 

Nutella fairy bread recipe

Ingredients:

  • 6 slices of bread of your choice
  • 1/2 cup Nutella
  • 100's and 1000's

Directions:

Spread each slice of bread generously with Nutella.
Press slices face down into 100's and 1000's.
Slice into triangles or use cookie cutters.


Mini hotdogs recipe


Mini hotdogs are perfect party fare and you can have these made for the kids in no time. Here we give you tips on taking these to the park for a party!

Prep Time:

10 minutes

Cook Time:

10 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 pkts of bake at home rolls (12 rolls total)
  • 12 mini frankfurts
  • squeezy bottle tomato sauce
  • squeezy bottle mild mustard

Method:

Bake rolls as per package directions. Split down the center.
Place frankfurts into cold water and gently warm without bringing to the boil.
Drain and place inside buns.
Squeeze sauce over just before serving.

Notes:

  • I like to put a saucer in the pan to keep the frankfurts immersed because it is when they hit the cold air that they split.
  • If you are going to the park for a picnic you can pour boiling water over the uncooked frankfurts in a thermos and let them sit while you re-boil the kettle. Then drain and cover with boiling water again and seal until you are ready to serve.
  • I then place the split rolls in a plastic bag and heat them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes and then wrap the bag in tea towel to keep warm.
  • When you get to the park you have warm rolls with hot frankfurts in the thermos and you can serve them up easily. Don’t forget the paper plates and napkins.


 

Pizza Roll-Up Bento Lunch

This easy pizza-inspired roll-up is a kid-pleaser. Make crunchy vegetables more appealing by selecting colorful varieties like orange and purple cauliflower—and don't forget the dip! Keep 'em smiling with watermelon cut into fun shapes with cookie cutters. Along with a few cookies for desert!
You can also do a Ham-and-Cheese Roll up by laying out one or 2 pieces of ham, add a slice of cheese on top of the ham. Then put one more slice of ham on top to hold the cheese in place. Then starting at one side, roll it up. You can serve these whole or cut them to make them more bite-size!




Recipes found at www.kidszone.com , www.eatingwell.com and my kitchen!

Quick and Healthy Summer Snacks for Young Kids


Quick, Easy and Healthy Summer Snacks
for Young Children

A quick, healthy snack for you kids! It's Summer time! What parent wants to slave over a stove in the middle of the day to make their children snacks thru-out the day, Or giving them those Rubbery microwaveable snacks? I was on a mission and searched the web to find some quick and healthy snacks for parents to give to their kids. Below are a few that I've found. I will be posting more soon!

Blueberry-Banana Stacks

These tiny little beauties are so adorable and so yummy! They are also very easy to make! I'm sure they would be a hit, not only for a quick snack for you kids, but at Parties as well! Kids parties and Adult parties.  The Popcorn cakes are very light and make perfect bottoms for the yummy toppings!

Ingredients
  • 6 mini chocolate, caramel, or berry-flavored popcorn cakes
  • 1 - 2 tablespoons strawberry-flavored cream cheese
  • 6 banana slices
  • 6 fresh blueberries
Directions
Spread cakes with cream cheese and top with banana slices. If desired, dollop with additional cream cheese and top with a blueberry. Serves 2.

Polka-Dot Waffle Sticks

Polka-Dot Waffle Sticks

Ingredients
  • 2 square, whole grain waffles
  • 1 teaspoon reduced fat cream cheese
  • 1 teaspoon blackberry, raspberry, and/or apricot jelly
Directions
Toast waffles and cut into 6 sticks. Spread each stick with cream cheese and use a spoon or squeeze bottle to dot sticks with jelly. Serves 2.

Strawberry PB Crepes

Strawberry PB Crepes

Ingredients
  • 1 9 inch store-bought crepe (such as Melissa's)
  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup chopped strawberries
Directions
Spread crepes with peanut butter and sprinkle with strawberries. Roll up crepes, trim off ends, and cut log into 1-inch slices. Serves 2.

SNACK ART

Much like an arts and crafts project, making a snack can become an after-school activity. The bonus: Kids get to eat their artwork, and you get to sneak nutritious foods into their diet.

Create a work of art using a few of the following ingredients:
The Foundation Celery, carrots, zucchini or cucumbers cut into sticks or rounds; banana, apple or pineapple slices; melon balls; lettuce leaves; or orange sections
The Cement Peanut butter, cream cheese, cheese spread, yogurt, jam, pizza sauce or ranch dressing
The Decorations Seeds, nuts, grapes, raisins, olives, frozen peas or beans.
Lay out the materials and give each child plastic utensils and a plate "canvas." Suggest that they build sharks, monsters, cars, flowers, or have them write their names.
TIP: This makes a great birthday party activity.

WIGGLE WORMS

Ingredients 
  • Fruit, such as grapes, melon, bananas or strawberries, cut into bite-size pieces
  • Pretzel sticks
  • Chocolate sprinkles
DirectionsSpear about four pieces of fruit onto each pretzel, as if making a kebab, to create the worms. Leave a tip at the end for the tail. Parents, you can "pre-spear" the fruit if need be.
Join 2 worms with a piece of fruit to make a longer creepy-crawler.
Use sprinkles to make the eyes, spots and/or tiny feet.

COLD-CUT PUZZLER


Enjoy Some Lunch Time Puzzle Fun!
  • Start by making a sandwich with ham and cheese (or other sandwich meat).
  • Cut the sandwich into a variety of different shapes in different sizes
  • Separate the shapes & mix them up on your child's lunch plate.
  • Have her rebuild the sandwich by putting the puzzle back together before she eats it.