Another Back To School Printable

Don't forget about my A&W Root Beer printable, you can get HERE, if you need a quick and easy gift idea for your new teachers, neighbors, friends or family. 

Back To School Word Blocks - New Release

I don't know about you, but I am ready for school to start.  My kids are bored and it seems like we have run out of things to do at my house.  Since I live in Vegas, it is too hot to send my kids outside to play, go to the park or even take an evening bike ride - we would just melt.  So I always look forward to the new school year as it gets my kids active and doing something. 

To help get my kids ready and a bit more excited about the new school year, I decided to make some of my stackable word blocks.  They love them for all the other holidays, why not for a new school year?   Of course my daughter loved them.  The reading block is her favorite.  I am sure they will come in  handy for my annual back to school dinner.  They will look great as part of my tablescape.

They would also make a great gift to your new teacher this year.  What a fun display to have on their desk all year round. 

Visit my Etsy Shop to get your DIY printable . . .HERE!
an instruction sheet and complete supply list is included with this file.

I linked up at the following: 

Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Chicken

My sister in law was the first to PIN this recipe and treated my family to it at a barbeque a month or so ago.  I have since made it for my family a handful of times and even made it for family I was visiting a few weeks ago.  It has quickly become my hubby's favorite chicken recipe.  His mouth waters for it once I tell him it is on the dinner menu and my daughter LOVES it because it is wrapped in bacon. She believes that anything is better with bacon and she is only 7. 

Be sure to give this recipe a try - I am sure you will not be disappointed. 

 INGREDIENTS

4 chicken breasts cut in thirds (12 pieces)

Bacon slices

salt and pepper to taste

garlic powder

chili powder

brown sugar

DIRECTIONS

Cut each breast into 3 pieces, season all the chicken with the spices, then wrap a bacon slice around each piece, roll in brown sugar and place into a deep sided dish if grilling or a greased cookie sheet. 

Bake at 400 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and bacon is nice and brown and crispy.  Or Grill on a medium high heat until chicken is cook through.  ENJOY!

Teacher's Post-It Note Stand - FREEBIE

 The new school year is rapidly approaching and my little girl is starting to feel a bit nervous about entering the 2nd grade. She got her teacher assignment in the mail yesterday and she doesn't know her new teacher nor do I so her anxiety just bumped up a notch or two. 

To help get her excited for school and her new teacher, I put together a little gift for her to take to Ms Thompson on the first day of school and now I am GIVING it to you as well.  This gift is so simple to make and only cost me $2.00 to put together.  All you need to do is download my file (see below link), cut out the image, frame it in an acyclic frame and add Post-It Notes to the outside of the frame.  As my daughter would say "Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!"  I bought the frame and Post-It Notes at Walmart for $1.00 each. 

        

I also created it in 4 different colors so you can coordinate sticky notes, mix and match for more color or maybe you could be lucky enough to put your school colors together. 

{Download HERE}

I linked up at the following sites:  Tatertots and Jello,  Six Sister's Stuff, Simply Designing,  The Grant Life,  Be Different Act Normal,  Craft Envy,  I am Only 1 Woman,  Miss Information,  Skip to My Lou,  Sumo's Sweet Stuff,  C.R.A.F.T,  Tip Junkie,  Todays Creative Blog,  Sugar Bee Crafts,  Lady Bug Blessings,  Someday Crafts,  Seven Thrity Three,  CSI Project

Chocolate Chip Muffin Bites

I am addicted to pinning recipes on Pintrest.  I'm sure I will never make most of the pinned recipes, but there are a select few that I just cannot resist trying.  I found this PIN yesterday and made these Chocolate Chip Muffing Bites this morning with the kiddos.  The kids LOVED them and they have put my chocolate cravings to rest for the day.   And the best part about these little bites . . .ONLY 3 ingredients.  Now, when you see the ingredient list, don't be scared.  The words "sugar free" and "canned pumpkin" are not what you expect when having a chocolaty treat, but trust me . . . they are YUMMY!!! 

INGREDIENTS

1 boxed sugar free chocolate cake mix

1 15 oz can of pumpkin puree

1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips + some extra regular size morsels for the top

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix together cake mix and canned pumpkin with hand mixer. Mix for about 2 minutes to allow for a more fluffy muffin.  Fold in the chocolate chips.   Line mini muffin pan with liners and fill with batter almost to the top.  This batter is dense and does not rise much so they can be filled to the top.  Add a 3-4 chips to the top.

Bake for 10-11 min or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean!

Make 48 mini muffins

I linked up at the following:

Eighteen25,  Tatertots and Jello

Firecracker - FREEBIE

I received an e-mail from one of my readers a few weeks ago wondering if it would be possible to come up with some sort of 4th of July firecracker Mod Podge craft.  I thought it was a great idea and knew that they would look great on my tablescape.  I had seen a few ideas floating around Pintrest and wanted to come up with my own spin.  Since I used coordinating paper, these little guys match my 4th of July word block perfectly.  They were quick and easy to make - especially since I made them right along side word blocks.

Download FREEBIE and full instructions - click HERE!

As a side note - when I was trying to find a wooden dowel large enough for this project, Lowes was the only store that carried 1" or larger so you may want to look there first.  I used 1 1/8" size for my firecrackers. 


Linked up at the following . . .

Tatertots and Jello, 

4th of July Blocks - NEW RELEASE

I love the 4th of July.  I love the fireworks, the barbecues and all things red, white and blue.  Growing up, the 4th was all about the fireworks.  I hated waiting for dark to come because as a child, it never seemed to come fast enough. I loved snuggling on my blanket and watching the fireworks go off.  Now as an adult, I have a much deeper appreciation for the 4th.  It is more than just the fun holiday I remember as a kid.  I know that I am blessed to live in and be an American.  I am grateful for the liberty that I am afforded because I live in this great nation. 

I knew that I needed to add to my growing collection of word block with a 4th of July set.  I love the way they turned out.  They were a perfect addition to my 4th tablescape. 

Visit my Etsy Shop to get your 4th of July DIY printable . . .HERE!
an instruction sheet and complete supply list is included with this file.

While you are at my Etsy shop, you also might like to check out my Summertime Blocks - HERE. 

I have linked up at the following . . .

Be Different Act Normal,  Craft Envy,  I am Only 1 Woman,  Polly Want a Crafter, Six Sisters Stuff, Skip To My Lou,  Sumo's Sweet Stuff,  C.R.A.F.T,  Polly Want a Crafter,  Singing Three Little Birds,  Sew Can Do,  Making the World Cuter,  Today's Creative Blog, Ladybug Blessings,  Sugar Bee Crafts,  Tip Junkie,  My Girlish Whims,  Lil Luna,  Passionately Artistic,  Not Just a Housewife,  Funky Polkadot Giraffe,  Sew Much Ado,