Back to School!!

I can't believe summer is almost over!!! I think it goes faster every year. This year is a FIRST for me... my two oldest Grandsons will start Kindergarden.  Wow!  How time flies, I just took them school shopping today and I thought-- It seems like yesterday I was on my way to the Hospital to see them come into this world.  What a JOY they have been to our family. (All 4 little boys)    We have got Back to School on the brain, I have been trying to get a party planned and found some pictures from our party last year! 

There were so many FUN die-cuts and tags in the stores for school-- I decided to use them instead of printing some off.  

I made them little bags filled with school supplies to take home.

Dipped marshmallows to look like apples- stems were pretzels & the leaf is a flattened gum drop cut into the shape of a leaf. These tags were from www.thetomkatstudio.com  I used my scallop punch to cut them. 

A sack lunch for everyone!

And drinks...

 Cupcakes- and snacks....

I found this banner & cut outs at the dollar store....  gotta LOVE that! 

Now to think of something NEW for this years party!!!....

Cupcake Bathbombs

I have wanted to try to make these darling Cupcake Bathbombs for MONTHS!! I had seen them all over in little shops & in spa's...then I saw a tutorial over at www.littlebirdiesecrets.com and thought I can do that!--  So me and one of my FAVORITE friends (Lisa) got together and between all the laughing, talking, rootbeer floating, and more chatting--- we managed to make the cutest little things you've ever seen.

To make the bottom of the cupcake you will need:

2 C. baking soda

1 C. citric acid

1T. olive oil

5 drops essential oil

3-5 drops coloring

1T. Sodium lauryl sulfate (to make them fizz)

Witch hazel- poured into a spray bottle

Cupcake liners

We bought the sulfate & colorants here www.brambleberry.com

I need to tell you - we were so busy having fun that we didn't take very many pictures of each step (sorry)
First combine all the dry ingredients together in a bowl.   Mix it well.
Then add together the essential oil, olive oil & coloring and add to the dry ingredients.
Next spray a little bit of the witch hazel into the bowl and mix with your hands, continue with the spritzing of witch hazel & mixing until it feels like wet sand.

then we didn't use silicone cupcakeliners like the tutorial said- we just put cupcake liners into our regular cupcake pans, and it worked perfect!  Press the mixture into each liner.  We got 12 regular size cupcakes out of a batch.  Let them dry 15 minutes.

We also decided to make mini cupcakes, for kids.  After you  press them into the liners- make a hole in the middle and fill with confetti-- for a fun surprise!   

Then frost them..... To make the frosting you will need to mix in a GLASS bowl:
3 T. meringue powder (wilton brand) And 5 T warm water together
add 1/4 tsp. cream of tarter
1 Lb. powdered sugar
a few drops coloring
Blend together for about 7 minutes on high until stiff peaks form.
(Yes it's just like REAL frosting)
It won't hurt you, it's just like using a sugar scrub.

Frost the regular size cupcakes the same way!  We added sprinkles too!

Oh they look yummy enough to eat -- don't they?

Package them up in clear bags, add some ribbon and you've got a DARLING gift!!  Or keep them for yourself. :)   The only thing missing is a cute tag--- we ran out of daylight!  Such a FUN day-- with one of my DEAREST friends... Thanks Lisa!! Lets play again soon. :)
Added Note:  To use them, just remove the cupcake liner & toss the rest into your bath water.... and ENJOY!!!!

How to make your rice "Fluffy"

We eat a lot of rice-- short grain brown rice is our favorite, but this little trick works on all kinds of rice-- long, short, brown, jasmine..... in order to get the fluffy rice, you need to remove the excess starch.  The starch is what causes it to become sticky.  

 So before you cook the rice pour it in a colander in your sink and rinse it with water until the water runs clear.  This just takes a couple of minutes.  

Then cook it as you usually do, either on the stove top or in a rice cooker.  This process will seperate the grains and you will have LOVELY rice everytime!
Here's another tip when cooking the short grain brown rice, you can put it in your rice cooker and add a little bit more water to it- and it cooks perfect too.  Example: If you add 2 of the scoops of rice, instead of filling it with water to the 2 line in your rice cooker- fill it to the 3 line.  Hopefully that makes sense to all of you, if not leave me a question and I will try to explain it better! 

Asiago Cheese Bread

One of my friends gave me a recipe to try a few months ago, and I finally made it for our Sunday dinner... and oh it is a good one.   Here's how to make it...

Mix together - Asiago cheese, pepper jack cheese, garlic cloves, green onions, mayonaise and butter.  Did I mention that this is NOT low fat? LOL
Spread the mixture onto french bread and bake!

take it out of the oven, slice it up and ENJOY!!
I put a little bit of fresh cut basil on mine-- it was delish!

here's the recipe card for you.

Treasure Hunt Game

I am cleaning out closets today!! Didn't I just do that?  Seems like a never ending task at this house.  I had a friend ask me what some fun things were she coulld do with her Granddaughter she's going to visit... and in the top of the closet I was cleaning out was THIS!!!  So let me tell you about a FUN game the little boys love to play. 

We call it the Treasure Hunt Game.   Get a large plastic container and fill it with all kinds of lentils.   I used what I had on hand,  actually it was in my food storage stash.  I used rice, green peas, black beans, corn, pinto beans- (all dried of course)  mix them all up in the container and add....

all kinds of things to dig for.... start looking around the house for FUN "stuff" to put in the mixture.  Erasers, large paper clips, buttons, sm. plastic animals, sm. toys, a glow in the dark star, ring, binder clips, thimbel, bobbin, seashells ect. When I say ANYTHING you can find I mean it.  I had some magnets with family pictures on them.. they went in their too! Magnet  letters, numbers are great.  Then I have a drawstring bag that they put their treasures in as they find them.   It's a GREAT idea to pour everything into a VERY LARGE bowl when they start digging--- you'll have less on the floor!

Card Exchange

I'm getting ready for a card exchange tonight!!  Yeah I have waited until the last minute-- lol  I have been singing to myself the last few days......."Just keep swimming Just keep swimming"  Some weeks are just like that!!! :)

Jar Labels for Mothers without Borders

Today I am so excited to share with you something that is near & dear to my heart.  I have been asked to make a jar label for one of my FAVORITE organizations- Mothers Without Borders.  The idea behind this label is to get a jar in all of our homes so that we can be a part of a great "change" and help make the future  brighter for some wonderful people.  By putting our spare change into these jars, we can become a part of "Change for A Child".  Their lives will be blessed & I know ours will be too.  Let me tell you a little bit about this organization:

 Mothers Without Borders is committed to easing the suffering of orphans and vulnerable women in Zambia who have become the victims of the AIDS pandemic. Your thoughtful contributions help feed, cloth, and educate the 27 orphans in our full time care. We can't do everything but we can do something and we enthusiastically believe that everyone deserves a chance to help these kids. Every thing you do matters! Follow us on facebook or visit us at http://www.facebook.com/l/7AQFc2SQ7AQHWbWCfv1OPFe87EGX1fMxILAuPpOPqWYe-ug/www.motherswithoutborders.org

Here is a label you can download and wrap around a jar.... fill it with all your spare change, and together we can make a "Change For A Child." 
mwb

When the jars are full you can use the contact information on the back of the label to get your donation back to Mothers Without Borders.  If you have any questions please call or email BJ she will LOVE to hear from you.  Now lets get printing off those labels & filling those jars!!    These labels were made with the kit my special day by gg digital designs. Go Check them out!