Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Summer bucket list

Ahhhh today is finally the last day with students for the school I work at.  It certainly has been quite the crazy up and down year!  (More on that later)
To celebrate the start of summer, I wanted to share with you the literal summer"bucket" list I made for my husband and myself.





Cute and easy to make.  All you need is some clothepins and some type of can/bucket/round container. 
Write the things you want to do on the clothespins.  As you complete them, drop them in the bucket.  It's a fun way to make the most of summer and make sure you get to all those fun activities!

Here's what's on my clothespins this year
  • Go to a Twins game
  • Play Sand Volleyball
  • Go for a Bike Ride
  • Noah's Ark
  • Six Flags or other amusement park
  • Have a movie night
  • Bonfire
  • Badmiton tournament in the backyard
  • Learn to Kyak
  • Go Canoeing
  • Beach Swimming
What's on your bucket list for the summer?  I'm sure my husband and I will be adding a few things this weekend!

Linking up:
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Weekend
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Monday, June 3, 2013

Oatmeal and White Chocolate Chip Cookies

I know I am a strange girl. I don't really like chocolate that much.  Or at least not most things with chocolate - no chocolate chip cookies, brownies or fudge, or candy bars or things like that.  Pretty much the only chocolate I do like is plain Hershey bars and M&Ms.  However, I do like white chocolate chips.  Weird I know, but that's what I like.  When I saw this recipe on Pinterest, I was like - those look good - and made them the very next day - go me!  Why don't you give them a try!  I highly recommend them :)


Oatmeal and White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Recipe adapted from Six Sisters

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup softened butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extra
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
  • 2 cups white chocolate chips

Directions:
Cream together the butter and sugars.  Add in eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla and beat well.  Stir in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and beat well until thoroughly mixed.  Slowly add in the oats and white chocolate chips.  Using a cookie scoop, drop onto a greased cookies sheet.  Bake for 9-12 minutes at 350 degrees.  Let cool for two minutes on cookie sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!

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Saturday, June 1, 2013

May Update


So... I set some lofty goals at the beginning of the year (I still don't really want to call them resolutions... resolutions too often get broken. So... I set goals. I just happened to set them on Jan. 1st)
How am I doing?
Let's take a look.

1. Be active everyday - at least do something! I'm good about being active during the week and hitting the gym - the weekends, not so much. I'd like to change that.
This month started out really rough, what with M being in the hospital and all, and then not being able to be left home alone.  I did the best I could, but wasn't as active as I would have liked. Take a look 

2. Run 400 miles. I'm worried this might be too much of a stretch for me, considering I don't go much more than 3 miles ever (three times a week), but I can give it a try! I ran about 250 in 2012, so maybe I can be a little more consistent and up my mileage in 2013.
Again, my schedule was wonky the first 2/3 of the month due to caring for M.  Also, school is insane with end of the year business.  Running was tough and my mileage was shorter than I would like. This month I ran 33.76 Miles.  This brings my total 2013 mileage to 174.29/400 miles. At least I'm making progress. .

3. Run my first 5K since high school cross country.
Nope

4. Finish my prayer shawl for St. Mary's Hospital
Finished in April during my spring break - it's huge!

5. Knit 5 Chemo caps   
Total is now 3/5.

6. Finish one of my other UFO knitting projects
Didn't happen

7. Take two masters classes - I am very unmotivated about working towards my master's but I know I should be taking advantage of the tuition reimbursement at Connections Academy
This one may not happen. I didn't register for the class to start in March. I'm not motivated to take the class and worried about overbooking myself. I value the little free time that I do have!

8. Visit one new city or state
Done in Feb. during my honeymoon. I was in Ft. Lauderdale, San Juan Puerto Rico, St. Thomas USVI, and Half Moon Cay.

9. Be a better wife (I know, it's vague), but somedays I don't feel like I do that well in this area. Maybe I'm still getting the hang of it since I've only been married 2 1/2 months.
I was a good wife and took care of M when he was released from the hospital, even though I felt like I had suddenly become the mother of a teenage son (no thanks!).  It was a rough few weeks for sure, but I tried really hard to help M get better.  

10. Be kinder to myself. M keeps telling me that I'm too hard on myself and need to relax some and be nicer to myself and everything will be ok. We both know that being kind to yourself can be tough, but I want to try to make some improvements in this area.
I made it through being with Matt in the hospital, thank goodness.  I was able to hold it together during that time.  Everyone tell me I did a really good job with this, I'm not so sure, but I'm still standing now at the end of the month, so I guess I did alright.  

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Stamped Notepads


Want to make your own note pads as gifts?  They are so easy to make and the customization possibilities are endless.
All you need to do is follow these simple steps to make your own note pads.

What you need:
Ten sheets of paper (to make a 40 sheet notepad)
Stamp
Ink of desired color
Cardboard
Padding Compound

What to do:
Cut paper.  Take each sheet of paper and cut into quarters. I do this using a small paper cutter, but if you don't have one you can use regular old scissors instead.

Stamp! Use your favorite ink and choose a stamp.  I usually do the same stamp in the corner or across the top as a border.  I typically use a few different colors in my notepads.


Back your notepad with some cardboard.  This can be an old cereal box or anything studier.  You don't want it too thick though.  I actually bought some extra thick tagboard from Michael's to use.  I use a popsicle stick or a small paintbrush to spread the binding material across the top of my note pad.  I use Sparco padding compound which my uncle got for me (he works at a printing company), but I found this on amazon if you can't find Sparco Notepad Padding Compound - White, 2oz


A few things to note.
Use some bigger sheets of cardboard and some binder clips or some type of clamp to kept the sheets held together while the binding compound is settling.
Don't put the padding compound on too thick.  Otherwise it doesn't have a good hold.
Let dry several hours or overnight. This is important.

Enjoy being able to give cool notepads to friends and family!

I was featured!


Linking up:
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Create and Share, Sugar and Spice, What I Whipped Up, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Show me what ya Got, Lil Luna, Wow me Wesdnesday, {Wow Me} Wednesday, Cast Party, Your Whims Wednesday, Fluster's Creative Muster, Wednesday Whatsit, Show and Share, Dream to Reality, Wow Us Wednesday, Super Linky Party, What We Wore, Read, and Made, Whatcha Work-Up, A Little Bird Told Me, And Sew We Craft Together, We did it!, We Made that!, It's a crafty World, Two Girls and a Party
Thursday
Hooking up with HoH, Catch a Glimpse, Creative Juice, Busy Bees, Crafty Soiree, Chic and Crafty, Thursday Favorite Things, Live Laugh Linky, Creative Princess, Share your Cup, , Linky Party, Link it Up, Made you Look, Inspiration in Progress, Blog Stalking, Wildly Original, Showcase your Talent, Somewhat Simple, Keep Calm and Link Up, Five Little Chefs, Commercial Break
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Weekend
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Monday
A Round TuitMasterpiece MondayMarket Yourself MondayPink Hippo Party,Motivate Me MondayMade by You MondaysMade with LoveCraft-O-Manic MondayMonday FundaySweet Sharing MondayMarvelous Mondays,  Make it PrettyMop It Up MondayBusy MondayI gotta try thatMad Skills
Tuesday
Anti-Procrastination Tuesday, Homemade TuesdayNifty Thrifty TuesdayTake a Look TuesdayToo Cute TuesdayTutorial Tuesday,  One Project at a TimeTasteful TuesdayTell me TuesdayTrick or Treat TuesdayWhatcha Whipped UpTuesday Talent ShowTwo Cup TuesdayMemories by the MileTotally Tasteful TuesdaysHow To TuesdayTuesday ConfessionalTime for You Tuesday, Gathering Spot, Take it On Tuesday, You're Gonna Love it Tuesday, All my Bloggy FriendsTuesday to DoPin it Tuesday


Monday, May 27, 2013

Fat White Cookies with Frosting

These were always my favorite cookie in high school.  My mom would often indulge me and get a package of these from the grocery store.  I never knew exactly what they were really called, but I called them fat white cookies.  I loved how they were a thick white cookie - and not browned!  I love my cookies soft and chewy and these certainly fit the bill.  The store bought kind were also perfectly frosted. mmmm.
One day I stumbled upon this recipe and while they don't look nearly as pretty as the store bought kind, I think the addition of the sour cream to the dough certainly makes them soft and fluffy just like the store bought variety.
I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!


Fat White Cookies - Lofthouse Style

Ingredients:
6    cups    flour 
1    teaspoon    baking soda 
1    teaspoon    baking powder 
1/2    teaspoon    salt 
1    cup    unsalted butter ( room temp ) 
2    cups    sugar 
3    eggs 
2    teaspoons    vanilla extract 
16    ounces    sour cream 

For the Frosting
1    cup    unsalted butter ( room temperature ) 
1    teaspoon    vanilla extract 
4    cups    powdered sugar 
   pinch    salt 
6    tablespoons    heavy cream 

Directions:
Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy - mixing for about 3 minutes. Add the eggs and beat until well incorporated. Add the vanilla and sour cream and mix at a low speed until combined. Add the dry ingredients (slowly) and beat until just combined. The dough will be quite sticky. Divide dough into two sections. Flatten into rectangles about 1 1/2 inches thick and wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least two hours or overnight. 
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Roll out cookies, or use cookie scoop to drop cookies onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
Bake cookies for 7 minutes. Immediately transfer to a wire rack to cool. 
To make the frosting - cream together the butter and vanilla. Slowly add the powdered sugar and salt. Once smooth and creamy, add in the heavy cream. Finally, beat at a medium speed for a few minutes until light and fluffy. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring.



Linky up Here!
<--- click here to see nutrition info and a printer friendly version of the recipe

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Saturday, May 25, 2013

Save me Some Saturday #3


Happy Memorial weekend!  Summer is just around the corner and here are some cool coupons to help you make the most of summertime!

Thinking about an online craft class?  Check out the sale going on at Craftsy and give back to our veterans
Craftsy

FREE Father's day card at Treat!
Free Father's Day Card from Treat



Food
Personal Care
In the Home
Pet Care
Hormel + BBQ!
Cleaning, Scrubbing + Body Care
Frozen Treats
Entertainment
Drinks
Snacks
Breakfast
Other




  • $1.00 off Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Baked Item



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    $1.00 off any two HORMEL Bacon Toppings
    $1.00 off HORMEL ALWAYS TENDER meat
    $1.00 off 2 HORMEL NATURAL CHOICE products
    $1.00 off 2 HORMEL Pepperoni packages
    $1.00 off any (1) DOVEBAR Ice Cream Multi-Pack
    $3.00 off one HORMEL Party Tray product
    $1.00 off 2 HORMEL Chicken Breast products
    $1.00 off any Welch's Juice Cocktail
    $1.50 off one (1) Brew Over Ice K-Cup packs 12 ct
    $0.75 off Any One DOLE Fruit Smoothie Shakers
    $1.00 off (1) small DIGIORNO Pizza Dipping Strips
    $1.00 off any ONE (1) Mott's For Tots Juice
    $1.00 off TWO Bottles of Welch's Summer Sparkling
    $1.50 off any Starbucks VIA Refreshers™ beverage
    $0.50 off any ONE (1) Newman's Own Salad Dressing
    $1.00 off any two (2) Litehouse Products
    $1.00 off HORMEL COMPLEATS meal
    $1.00 off any one (1) Marzetti Slaw Dressing
    $1.00 off any TWO (2) Packages of Dixie Napkins
    $2.00 off one pizzeria!™ Pizza from DiGiorno
    $1.00 off any TWO (2) DOLE All Natural Fruit Jars
    $0.50 off ONE Green Giant™ Veggie Snack Chips
    $0.75 off Totino's Pizzeria Hot Snacks
    $0.55 off ONE (1) A.1. Steak Sauce, 10 oz or more
    $0.35 off 1 bottle of Gold Peak Lemonade Iced Tea
    $0.55 off any two HORMEL Chili products
    $0.75 off ONE Welch's Light Juice Beverage
    $0.70 off PHILADELPHIA SNACK DELIGHTS Cream Cheese
    $3.00 off ONE AmeriGas Propane Cylinder Exchange
    $0.55 off any Reser's Deli Salad
    $0.55 off any pepper sauce from TABASCO brand
    $1.00 off ONE (1) BOCA Meatless Product



    Looking for a fun Father's Day present?  Look no further than this FREE photo mug!


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