Peep Pops {Free Printable}

I know, I know…Peeps.  AGAIN!  I just can’t get enough of their marshmallowy goodness and all around adorbleness (yes, I just invented two words there.)  We’ll be having a basket full of Peep Pops for our egg hunting extravaganza tomorrow afternoon.  And you know I’ll be bringing back the bunny-tinis.  A girl needs her cocktails, after all.


The only thing better than having our very own basket of Peep Pops is having a few to share with our besties.  Wrap them up in a cello bag, tie on my free printable tag (below) and voila…Peep Pops for your favorite peeps!  I mean, who wouldn’t love puffed sugar rolled in sugar dipped in sugar and, finally, sprinkled with sugar?!?!


To whip up your own Peep Pops in no time at all, simply melt white chocolate candy melts (Michael’s or any craft store) per the package instructions, roll your Peeps around in the chocolate and embellish with sprinkles.
Happy Easter gift tags
Happy Easter, y’all!
xoxo

A Dixie Delights Easter:

Spring Décor

Egg-cellent Lunch

Peeps Party - Cake, Cocktail and Favor

Treat for Our Peeps Free Printable

Lent for the Littles

Easter 2011
Easter Tablescape
Easter 2012
Peep Pops

Lucky to Have You… {Printable}

Here’s a last minute treat that you can whip up in no time at all before St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday!

We rolled Oreo Cakesters in green sprinkles, bagged them and dressed them up with “lucky to have you for a friend” toppers.  Seriously people, this is a no bake, no fail treat that’s just as cute as a button.

The littles’ teachers will be receiving a decadent crème de menthe brownie wrapped with a “lucky to have you for a teacher” tag.  This is hands down, without a doubt, absolutely positively my all time favorite dessert recipe, courtesy of bestie C’s sweet mother.  It has a gazillion ingredients and takes a couple of hours to make but trust me when I say that they are decadent.  You will swoon from deliciousness.



Creme de Menthe Brownies
Brownie layer:
½ cup butter , softened
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 cup flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 (16 ounce) can chocolate syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
 
Mint layer:
¼ cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons creme de menthe liquor
 
Chocolate layer:
6 ounces chocolate chips
¼ cup butter
 
Directions:
1. Cream butter, add sugar; beat until fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beat well after each addition.  Add remaining brownie ingredients and mix well.  Pour into greased 13x9 baking pan.  Bake at 350 for 25 minutes, cool completely.
2. Cream 1/4 cup butter in small bowl.  Gradually add powdered sugar and creme de menthe, mix well.  Spread over cooled brownies.  Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
3.  Combine chocolate chips and butter in small pan.  Slowly melt on low heat, stirring until smooth.  Spread over brownies.  Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
4.  Cut into squares and enjoy.
 
Here’s a link to the free downloadable file.  As a topper, they are sized to fit on a 3” wide bag.  Or, just cut, fold and tie on to any sized treat!
Lucky to have you...
So download the tags, print, package and prepare to make someone’s day!
xoxo

Shamrock Hot Chocolate

Beef and Guinness Stew
Lucky Lunch
Lucky Leprechaun Breakfast 

Flattered for the features at Tip Junkie and The 36th Avenue!

Treats for our Peeps {Free Printable}

I'm feeling quite springy today, and while I’m getting my holidays out of order (forgive me, St. Pat) I’m seeing Easter everywhere!  And in seeing Easter everywhere, I have none other than PEEPS on my mind!


Last year the littles delivered these sweet treats to their favorite peeps during Easter week.  The image measures approximately 7" x 2" and the entire unfolded piece measures 7" x 4".  This will perfectly top a zip top snack sized bag.  Just download the free printable below and add Peeps to your grocery list!
Peeps Topper

On a different note, yesterday ushered in the commencement of my birth month festivities (yes, we celebrate for a whole month around these parts...no matter how old or young you may be!)  The celebrations kicked off with an evening of live music, loads of gossip, wine and divine eats.  I've not known a single gal in this pic (that's sadly missing A) for longer than three years but they are already some of the best friends a girl could ever dream of having.  It was one of those nights when I just wanted to pinch myself for feeling so complete, so loved and so very blessed.


Have a great day, peeps!
xoxo

A Dixie Delights Easter:

Peep Pops Recipe + Free Printable

Spring Décor

Egg-cellent Lunch

Peeps Party - Cake, Cocktail and Favor

Treat for Our Peeps Free Printable

Lent for the Littles

Easter 2011

Flattered for the features at Gluesticks and Adventures in Dinner!

Academy Awards 2013 Ballot {Free Printable}

Per usual, it’s with bated breath that I anxiously await the gorgeous gowns, dapper men and coveted Oscars that will be doled out on Sunday eve.  And while I’ll likely be watching in my jammies from the comfort of my bed, I will be keeping track of my picks and the big winners with another printable ballot.  (I have pictured last year’s because I just don’t have it in me to stage and take a photo this dreary afternoon.  I mean, as the four friends that popped in this morning can attest to, I still have on my PJs for cryin out loud.)



Here’s how:

- Click on link below to download file
- Print on two sides of regular 8.5” x 11” white cardstock
Then, if you wish to dress it up a bit:
- Trim the left and right edges, leaving only a very slim margin
- Use a paper punch to round the edges
- Punch holes (I had to punch two holes side by side) at the top of the paper to hold your pencil

Academy Awards 2013 printable ballot by

With that, I’m signing off of the old blog until Monday!
xoxo

Today for Lent… {Free Printable}

I’ve mentioned a few times over the last few years that I struggle with what to “give up” for Lent.  So, instead of temporarily foregoing something that really only benefits me (ie. Coke or french fries), I will spend time each and every day during lent actually living Lent.  Except this year we are all doing it together through prayer, almsgiving and fasting in 40 different ways over 40 days!  During supper last night (yes, we are a few days behind) we came up with our list.  Some will be easy and others will be hard but all will (hopefully) have a deeper impact that just giving something up.



Each day we will choose a card for the entire family to work on.  You can download our cards here – the last page is blank so that you can come up with some or all of your own!  I’ve cleared off the chalkboard in our mudroom to feature the card of the day and then every card as we finish each day.







Now, we’ve got some catching up to do!
xoxo

See the rest of my Easter and Lent related posts here!

Tic Tac Toe Valentine {Free Printable}

After brainstorming a few ideas, the PCP and I mutually agreed that a Tic Tac Toe Valentine with m&m x’s and o’s would be both fun and sweet for his classmates.



In mini-cello bags (about 3” x 4” from Michael’s), we included a game board printed on white cardstock and a total of eighteen m&m x’s and o’s game pieces in two different colors.  We stapled on the Tic Tac Toe bag topper to finish it off.  Find the free printable game board and bag topper here!



I’ve got tons more treats, sweets and ideas up my sleeve for the next few days!!
xoxo

See all of my Valentine's Day ideas, treats and printables here!!

Flattered for the feature at Tatertots and Jello!

Find me at: My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern Style, DIY by Design, Tatertots and Jello, A Stroll Through Life, French Country Cottage, No Minimalist Here, The36th Avenue, It's Overflowing, Shine on Fridays, DIY Show Off, House of Hepworth, 52 Mantels, I Heart Nap Time, The Frugal Girls,Six Sisters Stuff, One Project Closer, Jennifer Rizzo, Le Chateau des Fleurs, Common Ground, Liz Marie Blog, Not Just a Housewife

Have a BALL this Valentine’s Day {Free Printable}

When the baby ran across a colorful bag of bouncey balls in Target, it was love at first sight ($4ish for 24).  We packaged them up in mini-cello bags with an edited version of our “Have a BALL this Summer” topper and called the Valentine’s for his class complete!



I folded the bags down, printed and folded the toppers in half and then stapled it all together.  The baby signed his name on the back of each card.  Download the free printable tag here!



Stay tuned for the PCP’s printable Valentine tomorrow!!
xoxo

See all of my Valentine's Day ideas, treats and printables here!!

Flattered for the feature at Tatertots and Jello!

Find me at: My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern Style, DIY by Design, Tatertots and Jello, A Stroll Through Life, French Country Cottage, No Minimalist Here, The36th Avenue, It's Overflowing, Shine on Fridays, DIY Show Off, House of Hepworth, 52 Mantels, I Heart Nap Time, The Frugal Girls,Six Sisters Stuff, One Project Closer, Jennifer Rizzo, Le Chateau des Fleurs, Common Ground, Liz Marie Blog, Not Just a Housewife

100 Days of School {Free Printable}

The hundredth day of school is upon us and it's cause for big celebration around these parts!  The PCP has been jabbering non stop about the snack they are making, the projects that have started to roll into class, and how the second graders are going to dress up like they are 100 years old and parade the halls.  It's barely underway and he's already proclaimed it what will "probably be one of my best days yet."

Each student was asked to complete a project at home representing his first 100 days of school.  His class is known as Mrs. B's Butterflies so he had the great idea to use a butterfly theme.  After a little brainstorming, we decided to glue 100 Fruit Loops onto a butterfly to make its spots!  It's just darling and the PCP had quite a lot of fun making it... you know, the one for me, one for the butterfly kind of mentality.

Once that project was underway, John asked to make a necklace with 100 Fruit Loops as well.  Soooo...being the indulgent crazy woman that I am, I said "SURE!  Let's make one for the whole class!!!"  Honey and the PCP worked on counting out the cereal and stringing it into necklaces while I made a bag tag and packaged them up.

Here's what you'll need to make your own:
Fruit Loops - we made 20 necklaces and used 1.5 boxes of cereal
Plastic lacing
4" by 6" cello bags (Michael's)
Bag toppers

And here's the link to your free bag topper printable.  The first page in the file says "100 Days in the Kindergarten Loop" and the second page says "100 Days in the School Year Loop".  The tags are sized to be 4" by 4" when cut, and 4" by 2" once folded and stapled onto the tops of your bags.

  100 Days of School Tag by  

Get creative with helping your littles count to 100 - we counted by ones and then counted by fives and tens by separating the cereal into piles.  And stringing the cereal on the lacing really uses the fine motor skills.  An educational, developmental and FUN activity all rolled into one!

Happy hundredth day, y'all!  (Only 80 more to go!)
xoxo

100th Day of School {Free Printable}

The PCP’s class celebrated the 100th day of school with a day full of fun and games (and I’m guessing at least a little learning)!  They did 100 piece puzzles, 100 themed word searches, activities and centers, enjoyed the annual 2nd grade dress-like-you’re-100-years-old parade, AND participated in a 100th day themed guessing game.

100th Day Bottle of Fun
Each student filled an empty 20-oz. bottle with 100 like items of their choice – and it was no surprise that the PCP chose Legos.  The bottles were then sealed in paper lunch sacks and sent in with three clues about their contents.  They played a guessing game to guess what was in each bottle.  FUN!! 




 

Download the bottle label here - it could really be used for anything! 

100 Days of School 

100th Day Necklaces
The PCP couldn’t wait to make 100 Day Fruit Loop necklaces for his classmates again this year!  In fact, the whole family got in on the fun (can you guess just how much fun Honey is having??)!!  The printable tag is below – one page for kindergarten and one page generic - and you can see last year’s post for all the details.

  

Download the bag topper here - 100 Days of School Tag 

The PCP reported back that it was one of his (albeit many) “best days ever”! 


He’s 100 days smarter and we’re 100 days closer to SuMmEr!!
xoxo

PS. Lest you think the PCP has all the fun, I assure you that the baby is the one truly living the life.  Lounging his days away with mommy tending to every whim and anticipating every need.  Case in point: luxuriating in his bear sleeping bag and watching Disney channel while I prepare his “third breakfast” of the morning :-)


Find me at: Between Naps on the Porch, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern Style, DIY by Design, Shabby Creek Cottage, Tatertots and Jello, A Stroll Through Life, French Country Cottage, No Minimalist Here, The36th Avenue, Bacon Time, It's Overflowing, At the Picket Fence,Shine on Fridays, DIY Show Off, House of Hepworth, Homemaker on a Dime, Stuff and Nonsense, 52 Mantels, I Heart Nap Time, The Frugal Girls,Six Sisters Stuff, One Project Closer, Jennifer Rizzo, Miss Mustard Seed, Le Chateau des Fleurs, Common Ground, Liz Marie Blog

Minute To Win It Holiday Party + TONS of Free Printables

At the meeting I had with the PCP’s teacher to discuss holiday party planning back in November, I came armed with an Oriental Trading catalog thoughtfully earmarked with a few fun crafts I hoped to order and call it a day.  She, on the other hand, came armed with the seemingly crazy idea to have a Minute to Win It themed party… something I’d never even heard of.  As soon as I got past my “seriously? how am I going to pull off Thanksgiving, two class birthday parties, two regular birthday parties, a week in Disney World, Christmas preparations, a baby shower AND this minute to win it themed hootenanny in the next twenty-eight days” dismay, I popped in on Pinterest and had a plan in no time flat.  The pre-freak out was totally worth it because the classroom was exploding with pure JOY for one last fun-filled super crazy hour before the long holiday break!!!

I enlisted a great crew to help set up before hand, including Honey and his mama JuJu.  Mrs. B. took the class out for thirty minutes while we hung a gazillion glittering snowflakes from the ceiling, decked the tables with festive cloths and set up the stations.  A “Minute to Win It – Holiday Style!” sign greeted them at the door and “Melted Snowman” water bottles (with their names on the backs) were ready at their seats.  They absolutely worked up a thirst at this party!



The littles were divided into six groups of four to rotate through the six stations. There are never a shortage of parent volunteers and the party was no exception.  We had four Minute to Win It stations, a cupcake station and a craft station.  Here’s more than you ever wanted to know about a first grade holiday party…

Minute to Win It: Jingle Bell Rock
See how many jingle bells you can dance out of a tissue box in one minute!
   

Minute to Win It: Snow Throw
See how many marshmallows you can successfully throw into a bucket on your friend’s head – in one minute!
    
Minute to Win It: Snow Ball Bounce
Using a snowman paddle (white paper plate with snowman face), try to keep the snow ball (balloon) off the ground for one minute!


Minute to Win It: Wrap Race
In one minute, wrap your classmate in toilet paper and top with a scarf and hat to look like a snowman!
  
Snow Much Fun: Sticky Snowman
I ordered this cute craft kit from Oriental Trading so that they’d have a little something to take home.

   
Snow Much Fun: Cupcake Creations
Ice your cupcake to look like a snowman, with chocolate chip eyes and mouth and a candy corn nose.  Then EAT IT!
      
The class left with a few of our favorite party favors – Snowman Soup and Frosty the S’moreman Kits!  You can get the instructions and free printables here!!

Nearly everything was purchased at the Dollar Tree and Kroger out of our class funds and Mrs. B will have all the basics ready for next year.  And if any of y’all are crazy enough to attempt this for your holiday party (it would be great for a family or adults too!), I have all the free printables available for download here.  There are also blank cards in the event that you come up with your own fun games, and instructions for each of mine are on the backs of the table tents.

Minute To Win It Holiday Style

The Melted Snowman water bottle labels would be darling for any sort of winter party.  You can download those free here!

Melted Snowman Water Bottle Labels

At the end of the hour, we presented Mrs. B with a class gift – a tree decorated with LOADS AND LOADS of gift cards!  Families were given the option to contribute a gift card in any amount to any store from their child.  It was easy for them and she was pretty darn thrilled!
 
As we were wrapping up the soiree, I got the biggest bear hug from my very favorite first grader with a joyful proclamation that “it was the very best party EVER, Mommy!!!”  I tell you what, going into the school for the first time since last Friday was not easy – my heart immediately dropped and I had to choke back the tears.  A school should be a sacred place where we nurture and raise our most prized possessions.  More than anything, I think I needed this party to start to put the joy and happiness back into the thought of school for me.

Happy Holidays from Mrs. B’s class!!!

Now, I’m about to settle in for a long winter’s nap.  Ah… who am I kidding?  I’ve got two darling littles home for the next 2.5 weeks!
xoxo