Red, White & Blue Recipe Round-Up

If you are trying to come up with something to take to a holiday picnic next week; here are some patriotic recipes that I have shared with you in the past that would be great for the 4th of July! They are all refreshing treats for a hot day and super easy to make. Personally I'm looking forward to the mini deep dish fruit pizzas...YUM!

Patriotic Poke Cake

Flag Mini Deep Dish Fruit Pizzas

 Red and Blue Star Shaped Jello Shots

 Kid Friendly Patriotic Jello

Ok the next ones aren't Red, White "and" Blue, but they are totally delicious, and go with every picnic

Fish Shaped Blueberry-tini Jello Shots

 S'mores Cookie Bars

Dry Erase Marker Bouquet {Teacher Appreciation Gift}

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week and Tuesday the 7th is Teacher Appreciation Day. My daughter loves her teacher and we wanted to thank her for all the work she has done for my daughter's class this year. I wanted the gift to be something her teacher could use, but still be cute. I came across this adorable idea for a Dry Erase Marker Bouquet from The Happy Scraps, and decided to make my own spin on it.

I picked up a pack of Expo Markers and a Gift Card from Target. I had everything else left over from my daughter's Lalaloopsy Birthday Party.

I used a fine tip Sharpie to draw around the edges of the foam flowers (from Oriental Trading Company), and just placed the tip of the markers through pre-cut holes in the flowers. I used tissue paper to hold the markers in place, and taped a wooden skewer (with the tip cut off) to the gift card.

I hope this little gesture lets her teacher know how grateful we are for all that she does!


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Baked Cauliflower

Lately the only vegetable my daughter wants to eat is cauliflower. I am kind of getting tired of steamed cauliflower so I went to my fail proof way of cooking vegetables and the cauliflower was delicious. My family actually ate an entire head of cauliflower for dinner.

Baked Cauliflower

1 head cauliflower, cleaned and chopped

olive oil

salt 

pepper

1. Clean and chop your cauliflower.

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

3. Place the cauliflower in a large bowl and drizzle with just enough olive oil to coat the cauliflower.

4. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

5. Toss the cauliflower until evenly coated.

6. Spread the cauliflower in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, or non-stick foil.

7. Bake the cauliflower for 30-40 minutes, turning part way through.

Serve as a side or a snack. My kids like dipping it in ketchup, but I like it just as it is.

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How To Make Your Own Powdered Ranch Mix

 I have been trying for a while now to come up with a mix to replace the packaged ranch mixes I have been buying. There are a ton of recipes out there but some were too salty, some to garlicy for my families taste, and some just didn't have enough flavor. I finally came up with a mix that is just right for my family.

Ranch Mix Recipe

4 teaspoons Onion Powder

1 Tablespoon Minced Onions (dried)

5 teaspoons Parsley

1-2 teaspoons salt (to taste)

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Mix all ingredients together and store in a cool, dry place. 

To make dip mix 1 Tablespoon with 1 cup sour cream, or Greek yogurt.

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DIY LEGO Flower Hair Clips

It is not a secret that we love LEGOs in this house. 

I don't think a day goes by that my kids don't play with LEGOs at some point.

The other day my daughter asked if she could have a LEGO hair clip, and of course I said, "Yes!"
I thought since flowers are blooming everywhere around here that a flower hair clip would be prefect.

Supplies

2 metal hair clips (I use these) 

3/8" grosgrain ribbon

2 yellow flower LEGOs

2 white dot LEGOs

6 bright green 2 dot LEGOs

hot glue gun

hot glue sticks

heat sealer or scissors

2 non-slip grips (optional, I get mine from DoodlebugAccessories on Etsy.com)

1. Cut 2 pieces of your ribbon to 4.5" in length. You may have to adjust the length if you use a different size clip. 

My favorite way to cut ribbon is to lay the glass from a picture frame on top of my cutting mat so I can see the measurements and use a heat sealer to cut the ribbon. If the ribbon is wide I use another piece of glass to have a straight line to cut against.

2. Using hot glue, line your clips with the cut pieces of ribbon.

3. If desired attach the non-slip grips now, or if you forget (like me) you can attach them at the end.

4. Using hot glue, attach 2 bright green 2 dot LEGOs to each clip.

5. Using hot glue, attach 1 yellow flower to each clip.

6. Using hot glue, attach 1 white dot to each flower, and 1 bright green 2 dot LEGOs to each clip.

7. Let your little cutie sport her stylin' new hair clips.

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Lunches Week 31

I had another x-ray on my foot this week, and it looks like I will be spending at least 3 more weeks in my boot. For some reason, whenever I ask the doctor any questions about my foot heeling on its own or not; he looks at me like I'm a crazy person, puts on his best poker face and says, "It's too soon to tell." All I can say is this boot better not cut into my summer sandal time!

MONDAY

 

I packed her mini pancakes, syrup, grapes, and a Sistema Twist N' Sip* of water.

 TUESDAY

 She had a sandwich cut with an Elephant Lunch Punch*, squeezable applesauce, carrots, 2 cookies, and a Capri Sun.

 WEDNESDAY

I packed her a nutella wrap, grapes, carrots, a Peep, and a Capri Sun.

 THURSDAY

She had a sandwich cut with a Crown Lunch Punch*, grapes, carrots, M&Ms, and a Sistema Twist N' Sip* of water.

 FRIDAY

I packed her a sandwich cut with a Princess Lunch Punch*, squeezable applesauce, carrots, pretzels, and a Capri Sun. 

The products used in this post are listed below.

The pink container is from Pottery Barn Kids.  

The container with green inserts is the Rubbermaid LunchBlox entree with trays*.

The clear container with 3 sections is an EasyLunchBox*.  

The silicone cups are Wilton pastel cupcake liners*. 

The tiny clear container is an EasyLunchboxes Mini-Dippers*.

The silicone flower cup* is Wilton.

*Affiliate links are in the post.

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Make-Up Organization

OK, confession time! 

I'm lazy, L-A-Z-Y! 

I hate making my bed just to unmake it every night, so I usually don't make it.

I hate folding laundry and putting it away, so I almost never put laundry away the same day I wash it.

I hate digging through a make-up bag everyday and putting it all away everyday, so I just leave everything out on my bathroom counter.

Unfortunately the last one, about the make-up, made my kids think that they could play with my make-up. This resulted in smashed eye shadows, damaged brushes, and lipstick all over my kids and their clothes. FYI, lip gloss makes really good hair gel.

While cleaning up the disaster zone, I began to think it really wasn't that I didn't want to put my make-up away, it was that I didn't want to dig through my make-up bag and waste time each morning.

So after using a shoe organizer, to organize the tights in my daughter's closet, I got the idea to use it for my make-up.

Luckily for me it was the perfect answer. 

I used 3M Command strips to hang a shoe organizer with clear pockets on the inside of my bathroom closet door. 

Now when I do my make-up I leave the closet door opened, and I have quick and easy access to everything I need. I even have 1 spot left open for dirty brushes that I will need to clean at the end of the week. (If you would like to see how I clean my make-up brushes go here.) Now my bathroom counter remains clear, and I feel less lazy...lol.

The best part is with a lock on the door the kids have no access to my make-up. Sorry kids, no more glittery lip gloss hair gel.

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Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti O's

The other day on Pinterest I came across a recipe called Cheesy Grown-Up Spaghetti O's. Due to my husbands extreme love of Spaghetti O's I knew this was something I had to make for him ASAP. 

Everyone in my house L-O-V-E-D this. The great part about these, was that they tasted great the next day too!

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti O's

Recipe from Picky-Palate

1 pound Small circular pasta, Ditalini pasta or Rings

1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1 stick

3 - 15oz. cans tomato sauce

3 Tablespoons from dry Ranch Dressing seasoning packet

3 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded (If you are looking for a super simple way to shred chicken go here.)

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1- 2 cups finely shredded cheese (I like to use preshredded "Mexican blend" or "taco cheese"

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, and rinse with cold water.

2. Over medium heat, melt the butter in a large dutch oven or pot.

3. Add the tomato sauce to the butter, and stir to combine.

4. Add the Ranch seasoning and pepper to the sauce mixture, and stir to combine.

5. Add the cooked pasta and shredded chicken to the sauce mixture, and stir to combine.

6. Reduced to medium/low heat, and top with shredded cheese. Cover with lid, and allow the cheese to melt. About 5 minutes.

7. Serve warm, and Enjoy!

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Lunches Week 30

This week I turned the big "32". About 1.5 weeks ago on the Today Show they said that said that

In a recent survey, people said the age of 31 is the best year of peoples' lives. Personally I'm hoping the best is still to come and that it is not all downhill from here....lol!

MONDAY

No School

TUESDAY

She had a flower shaped sandwich, Cheez-Its, carrots, and a Sistema Twist N' Sip* of water.

WEDNESDAY

I packed her a sandwich cut with the square FunBites*, apple slices, a grahamful, and a Sistema Twist N' Sip* of water.

I soaked the apples in ginger ale for 10 minutes to prevent browning.

THURSDAY

She had an egg shaped sandwich with a Peep coming out of it, pretzels, carrots, and a Sistema Twist N' Sip* of water.

FRIDAY

She made her own lunch and packed herself pierogies, carrots, pudding, and a Capri Sun.

The products used in this post are listed below.

The container with green inserts is the Rubbermaid LunchBlox entree with trays*.

The clear container with 3 sections is an EasyLunchBox*.  

The tiny clear container is an EasyLunchboxes Mini-Dippers*.

The silicone flower cup* is Wilton.

*Affiliate links are in the post.

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Easy Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

I have been making chicken enchiladas for years, but a few years ago I added a new seasoning mix to the chicken and I have never gone back to my old recipe. The chicken now has so much flavor and the enchiladas are delicious!

Easy Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

8 large flour tortilla wraps

1 pound Chicken Breast, cooked and shredded (If you are looking for a super simple way to shred chicken go here.)

8 oz 1/3 Less Fat Cream Cheese, softened

2-3 Tablespoons Jamaican Jerk Rub (This time I used Pampered Chef's but I have used from our local farmers' market as well)

2 - 10oz cans of Enchilada Sauce (You could replace 1 can with salsa but my husband won't eat chunks of tomato*sigh*)

8 oz Shredded Cheese (I like to use a bag of preshredded "Mexican blend" or "taco cheese")

Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream (optional)

1. Cook and shred the chicken breast.

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees, and spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.

3. In a medium-large bowl, mix the shredded chicken, cream cheese, and seasoning, until evenly mixed. Start with 2-tablespoons of seasoning, and increase if desired.

4. Pour 1 can of enchilada sauce in the bottom of the 9x13 baking dish.

5. Fill the tortilla with the chicken mixture.

6. Roll the tortilla and fold the ends down.

7. Place each tortilla into the 9x13 baking dish, seam side down.

8. Pour the 2nd can of enchilada sauce over the tortillas.

9. Top with the shredded cheese.

10. Cover with aluminum foil, and bake for 25 minutes.

11. Bake uncovered for an additional 5 minutes.

12. Top with Greek yogurt or sour cream.

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Fun Kid Easter Traditions

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. We celebrated Easter at home this year and had a lot of fun! Below are some of the fun things we did this weekend.

DYING EGGS

On Saturday we dyed and decorated eggs. My daughter made Lalaloopsy eggs and my son made Star Wars eggs.

  

This picture shows my kids' true forms. My daughter is almost always posing and looking at herself in the mirror, and my son is constantly doing anything to get a laugh!

PLANTING JELLY BEANS

Saturday in the late afternoon the kids planted jelly beans in our back yard, and waited for lollipops to grow overnight.

I had them place them in the stones in our garden, so I could stand the lollipops in the stones and not get any dirt on the sticks.

BASKETS FROM THE BUNNY

On Sunday Morning they awoke to find their baskets from the Easter Bunny.

 PICKING LOLLIPOPS

Later on Sunday the kids got to pick the lollipops that "grew" from the jelly beans they planted the day before.

EGG HUNT

After they picked their lollipops, they had their egg hunt.

PIGGY BANKS

This is my kids favorite part of the egg hunt. After they open their eggs, they get to put all the change they get from the eggs in their piggy banks.

After this fun filled weekend I can only hope that my kids will carry these memories with them throughout their lives, and look forward to doing them each year.

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