Water theme

Just a quick post to show my pictures from my water theme week. This is late since I was away all weekend.

Four weeks of crafts and baking has taken every ounce of creativity out of me…I am currently feeling blank and sans inspiration. I took a craft/ baking break today and it was just what I needed…

I was way more productive today, cleaned the atrociously congested playroom- it had gotten awful! Looked like a scene from hoarders, I took the kids to the lake, and it was just nice not to have any self induced pressure to construct something or run to the grocery store for decorating items.

Gia and I decided we are going to do a decorate everything party – basically a leftovers kind of a last summer theme…and then I will get back to just writing…I never started this blog to be arts and crafts, but it has sort of taken a trip down the glue stick and chocolate chip aisle.

But, here’s the water theme…
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Nothing like a refreshing glass of water or make that blue Rice Krispie treats poured by Barbie herself!

Next we experimented with making colored ice.

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We took paper Dixie cups, filled them with water, used food coloring to make different colors, froze them, then cut the paper off…

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Filled a vase with these frozen, water colorful ice pucks.
The kids were over the moon with this creation. oohing and aahing over the colors- it was so cute!

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Then I filled the vase with the water, and the water turned blue.

The girls were screaming with delight! I tell ya – I have said this before but it really doesn’t take much!

It’s raining cookie drops and “water” melon

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I made home made sugar cookies from scratch. I used the following recipe…

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. I chilled the dough in the fridge for at least a half an hour. I have left over night before.

Then I sprinkled my work surface with flour, rolled out the dough until it was flat. I couldn’t find a circle cookie cutter that was small enough for my purposes so I used the tops of vitamin or pain reliever bottles. Worked like a charm!
Then I pinched the cookie to make it into a water drop.

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We baked those for 8 to 10 minutes in the oven, let them cool, and then worked on the icing.

1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons milk
2 teaspoons light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
assorted food coloring

In a small bowl, stir together confectioners’ sugar and milk until smooth. Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick, add more corn syrup.
Divide into separate bowls, and add food colorings to each to desired intensity. Dip cookies, or paint them with a brush.

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First Review! Adorable little girl’s bag

I was asked to review a product from a seller from Etsy! This is my very first review and I couldn’t be happier to review this adorable vegan hand made bag.

Upon opening the package, my daughter, who will be three on Sunday, snatched it away and said, “My purse! Is this my birthday present?”She went off running with it..

Once she agreed to give it up, I asked Gia, my older daughter, what she thought of it.

“So cute. I love all of the colors! Can I have it?”

Guess they will be fighting over it! My girls love purses. They go around the house collecting anything and everything – so happy to have their “things.”

This bag has denim fabric on the top and bottom, and different vertical strips of multicolored fabric all around the bag. A simple, fabric strap makes the purse easy to hold. The purse has been hand sewn with repurposed fabrics from an original pattern designed by the seller.

I love the hand made look of the bag and it’s truly something different than the usual merchandise that one finds in commercial stores.

The purse would be perfect for your little girl(s) or to give as a unique and thoughtful gift.
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Gia showing the front of the bag

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Gia showing the back of the bag

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Arianna already put her “things” in…including Daddy’s watch and wedding ring!

TO PURCHASE THIS BAG OR A SIMILAR ITEM, head on over to

Megexpressions on Etsy. Her items are super cute and have a warm, happy feeling to them!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/192558721/store-wide-sale-vegan-baby-first?ref=exp_listing

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY – ENTER TO WIN A BAG JUST LIKE THIS ONE!

REPLY TO THIS POST TO ENTER FOR A FREE GIVE AWAY BAG FROM megexpressions on Etsy!

JUST WRITE THE WORD “YES” in the comment section. MUST HAVE EMAIL entered as a follower of my blog. Locate the submit email form on the right sidebar or if your reading on your mobile device, scroll down to find the submit email section.

I will pick a winner by a good old fashioned name drawing on August 20 th, 2014.

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Water

This week we are doing water theme…sounds very refreshing, doesn’t it? Figured if I chose water as a theme, I would be more inspired to drink water!

I hate water. It’s so boring, bland, and makes my belly feel so full – I think that’s the point of drinking water during a meal when dieting. People drink water during a meal so they’re more full, right?

I used to try that approach when dieting and the only thing that happened was a lot of peeing- followed by extreme hunger once all the water passed on through…then I was rummaging through the pantry late night! Granted I still do that …

In any case, move over blah water…I’d rather be drinking coffee (Yes. Pure, energizing deliciousness in a cup, have it iced or hot, or even after it’s been sitting out all day- I love it!

Come on Dunkin Donuts – read this blog and give me a gift card! And ah, Jessica – I just depleted your gift card to me- need some babysitting?

Just kidding – but on that topic, I watched my friends’ children for a favor and she insisted on giving me a DD gift card. Do you have friends like that? Friends who are so kind and generous, they simply radiate warmth? Being around people like that is good for the soul and I truly believe warm hearted people lower your stress.

Speaking of stress, I bought this today…

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Going to try and take a few steps in the natural, calming lifestyle – I’ll try a few squirts of this and think about water – peaceful, relaxing, stress reducing water…

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Please click on the banner – every click ( which just takes you to the top mommy blog site) counts as a vote for me! You can vote once a day! Thank you so much, I truly appreciate you taking the second to click for me!

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