How to peel a Mango

Oh how I LOVE mangos.. but unless you know how to peel them they are more trouble than they are worth.  So let me show you how to do it.. First stand the mango like this, with the part where the stem was facing you.  Using a large knife slice the side straight down.. you want to get as close to the pit as you can. The pit or seed is hard & flat. Then make another slice the same way on the other side of the mango  

                        You will have two slices like this... take the middle part which has the seed in it and

 peel around the outside of it.  The pit is very large, but there is some really good flesh on this part still, so don't just discard it

                                       with a sharp knife slice pieces of the flesh around the pit...

 Then take one of the half pieces and with a sharp knife make cuts, through the flesh of the mango- but do not pierce the skin on the bottom. Get as close to the skin as you can, be carefull not to cut through the skin & slice your hand...  believe me it hurts!! ha

 once you have made the cuts one way, turn the fruit & do the same thing making the cuts at a diagonal  It should look like this.........

Okay now for the tricky part.. take the skin and flip it from the bottom- like you are turning it inside out

                                 until it looks like this... all the little pieces pop out like a porcupine....

                                    using a knife slice the pieces off leaving the skin in one piece

there wasn't that easy!!! And this is what you'll have... Yummy little pieces of mango- ready to be eaten!



DIY Bath Paint

I came across a bunch of different types of bath paint and I thought my little boys would love this. It's so easy and they love using playing with it in the tub.
All you will need is:
1 Cup of body wash
4 1/2 TBSP of Cornstarch
1 drop of food coloring

 Just mix everything a container of your choice. Just use one drop of the food coloring to prevent from staining your tub. I found that this works really good and won't stain. We made two different colors so we used two different containers.

 This is so easy and your kids will have so much fun at bath time.

Tissue Paper Balls

I know there are a lot of tutorials out there on how to make these tissue balls, but just last week I had someone call me & ask how I twisted the loop in the center... so I thought that I would post the next time I made some.  And guess what?? I made some for a wedding I am helping with last night, so here we go..  

First take 8 sheets of tissue paper and stack them like this- I really like to use the ones that are pre-packaged with 8 in them.  They are usually by the gift bags-- they just seem to be better to work with

 next turn the paper toward you like this, and fold them over I like to make the fold about 1 1/2 inches wide. then you are going to flip the stack of tissue paper over- so that the bottom is at the top & the fold you just made is face down on the counter. Then fold the top down & make another 1 1/2 inch fold-- flip it again & continue folding--- remember when you made fans in elementary school??  That's what you're doing--

keep folding, turning the paper each time until you reach the end, then..

                             cut a piece of wire and twist it in the center with needle nose pliers as shown

                             fold the wire over & make a loop, secure it by wrapping the ends of the wire around
                                               the loop, this is what you will hang the ball from.

                               Next cut the ends into the shape you like.. you can make them pointed or rounded

                                 start to pull each layer into the center, toward the wire.  Make sure that you pull the first ones as close to the wire as you can, this will help it form into a ball                                                               

                                  Continue pulling each layer back until you have one side done, then do the same thing to the other side.  Only do half of the tissue papers and then turn over & finish the rest- this will make them round

                                     When you pull each side it will look like these-- they are so cute & pretty easy

                                      here's a sneek peek of the ones for the wedding-- such cute colors don't you think?

Wasp Trap

              Here is a simple wasp trap that we made for our backyard! Simple easy instructions!

Cleaning Grapes

Sorry in advance about the bad pics... I wanted to see how my camera phone was.
Any who we love grapes at our house and eat them often as snacks. If you are like me I hate the waxy film that grapes can have on them from farmers spraying them to keep bugs off, your day just got better because I'm going to teach you how to clean them!

Here are the grapes right from the store....

You are going to need salt...

and baking soda!

First you are going to want to pick all of the grapes and place them in a big bowl... (This is something the kids can do!!!) Then after all of the grapes are in the bowl run them under the water for like 2 seconds! You are just getting them a little wet so the salt and baking soda will stick. Then sprinkle a bit of salt and baking soda over them. Then you are going to swirl them in the bowl and mix them gently with your hands! maybe you'll need to add more salt and baking soda just eyeball it... trust me you will get the feel of this and know! After you think they are clean, swirl them one more time. Then put them in a colander and rinse baby rinse. There is nothing you want more than a salty grape. Rinse, rinse and rinse again!

We keep our grapes in a ziplock bag on the bottom shelf in the fridge for easy snacking! Look how clean they are!

Teacher Appreaction Gift

Oh my look how CUTE this Teacher Gift turned out!!!   It was made by my very crafty Niece (she is married to my Nephew)  Cheryl!!  She has written on it with chalk "Thank-You for helping me to grow"  I give her an A+  how about you??  Super cute idea for your kids teachers.  Thanks Cheryl.

Cleaning Sponges

Good Morning!!!! Well actually it is already noon--- that's what happens when you get up and start cleaning right?   How time flies when your having fun!  I like to clean with sponges, and always keep one in the sink. But I have this thing about keeping the germs out of them, so here is todays Tuesday Tip:  Clean sponges every couple of days by putting them in your dishwasher.  I put them on the top rack and it works easy.  I also like to soak them overnight in a bowl filled with one part white vinegar & two parts water. Rinse them with hot water before using, this keeps them smelling good too!!!  So get out there and start cleaning away!!! Yes I do love it when I have a day that actually has cleaning on the agenda!!