Protein-packed quick snack.

When you're on the go with always-hungry kids day in and day out, it's really tempting to pick up less-than-healthy snacks that you can grab and go. For those times, I give you "no-bake energy bites" from Gimmie Some Oven. They're quick and easy to make and taste great! Check out Gimmie Some Oven's recipe and amazing blog which I'll be stalking regularly.

Valentine Gifts for Teachers...

At Target today we saw the prettiest package of Valentine-themed scrapbook paper. I chose to see it as a sign that I needed to make something special for the kids' teachers for Valentine's Day. We picked up mini boxes of Mrs. Fields chocolates for $1 each, the scrapbook paper for $0.99, printed more of the {free} Be Mine tags from Everyday Occasions, and wrapped it all up with pink and white baker's twine. They're so sweet I can hardly stand it.

On-The-Go Memory Matching Game

I originally bought these unfinished wooden rectangles for the chore magnets I made for the kids, but ended up only using the circles. With the rectangles, I decided to make a small memory type matching game using bits of scrapbook paper. I figure they can bring it when we go out to dinner or force them to do other super boring things where they need to be entertained.

The Etsy seller Less Magnets sells these in sets of 25 for $3. They have squares, circles, blocks, buttons...you name it. So much potential and great prices to boot.

A few snips of the scrapbook paper and a little Mod Podge later, we had a fun matching game. The kids have been playing it all day, so I'm not even sure if it will make it out to the car in case of a boredom emergency.


Here's the finished product~

Linked to: Check Me Out Saturday | Show & Tell Saturday | Whatcha Got Weekend | Someday Crafts | Wicked Awesome Wednesday | Wow Us Wednesday |

Valentine Making Day!

It's Valentines day (not to be confused with Valentine's Day) which is when we break out the craft supplies and make Valentines for all the kids' classmates.

I had some supplies I needed to use up - suckers and bags with hearts on them that I picked up at the thrift store back in the summertime. My daughter loves, loves pink, purple, hearts - the brighter and girlier, the better - so the bags were a no brainer for her. I just printed up some little tags to tie onto them and filled them with M&Ms.

I found a great list of fun, funny, funky and just plain sweet printable Valentines at Sassy Sites that it was hard to choose. I ended up using "You Rock" Valentines from Living Locurto for my 6 year old...

And these sweet Be Mine tags from Everyday Occasions by Jenny Steffens for my youngest. I wish I had the time and energy to make the cookies that Jenny shows on her blog. In our house, lollipops will have to do.

I can only assume if we're sending this much candy out, we'll probably be getting that much back in? {I hope it's all chocolate.}

Fantastic flowers make fantastic rings & earrings!

I'm bringing back an older post today because I noticed that these sweet little flowers are the deal of the day on Pick Your Plum! For only $2.95 you can get 14 large or 20 small flowers.

I saw these earrings on the front page of Etsy the other day and immediately put them on my "I'd love to get these for my birthday" list. Then I saw that you can buy the supplies and make them much cheaper yourself. Off the list they went, and I ordered the supplies instead. These are made with vintage Japanese cabochons.

Finished products...

These look very orange in the photo, but they are really a pretty coral-ish pink.

I also made a rad ring with a huge cream colored flower. You can purchase earring and ring "blanks" on Etsy as well, then use super glue or E6000 to glue them on. So much satisfaction and cuteness from a 30 second project! Stop by Pick Your Plum and pick some up for yourself and quick and easy gifts.

I wore the coral pair on my birthday. This is my fake sister Renee (and my ham husband). Whenever we go out together people think we're sisters, so we just pretend that we are.

The problem with Pinterest...

The problem with Pinterest is that this...

Is always pinned next to this...

And it takes a lot less time to make the cookie dough brownie happen.

Thrifted Valentine's Day Decor

I hadn't planned to decorate for Valentine's Day. I'm not Martha Stewart for goodness sake. Who decorates for Valentine's Day? Eh, apparently me, that's who. I was scouring Pinterest (crack for the crafter) for new ideas for the kids Valentine parties at school and just saw too many sweet decorating ideas to resist.

I had several red, pinkish and purple-ish wool sweaters from ARC and Goodwill that I'd felted at Christmas time, but never used, so I cut hearts in different sizes and strung them up with embroidery floss to make a little garland.

The large white frame was thrifted from the Habitat for Humanity store. It was originally mauve with an 80's print in it. I tossed that and spray painted the frame white. The three black frames are from a local thrift store, with prints I downloaded via Sassy Sites. I made the Edgar Allen Poe quote "We loved with a love that was more than love." (in red, on the left) in Photoshop Elements because I couldn't find it in a color I really liked.

{You can download the PDF here!}

The three white candle holders - not sure that's really what they are - were also from the local thrift store, and a huge bargain for only $3! Valentine flashcard was given to me a few years ago. I need to find a better place for it...still working on that part.

In all, I spent $8 on this since I had so much of it already, The only new things are the red candles.

The kids were excited, but reminded me that Groundhog Day actually comes before Valentine's Day. Duh. I'd search Pinterest for Groundhog Day decor, but I'm afraid I'd have to re-do my mantel yet again. And, speaking of mantels... I just discovered the site 52 Mantels, where the amazing (or insane?) blogger does a new mantel each and every week. Serious cuteness and creativity. Check it out! {I will not re-do my mantle every week, I will not re-do my mantle every week, I will not re-do my mantle every week...}

Linking up to~ Twice Owned Tuesday | Blue Cricket Design | The Kurtz Corner | Uncommon Designs |