Archive | August, 2013
snack-board-printable-sample

Back to School Snack Board (easy craft & free printable)! #BackToSchoolWeek

I don’t know about you, but I HATED when my kids came home from school and said, “I’m hungry! What is there to eat?”

So today, I have a simple craft and free printable to make an After School Snack Board. The snack board will give the kids a couple after-school snack ideas that they can get or make up themselves.

after-school-snack-board

It’s the best sign for the kids and it *might even keep you sane during the snack frenzy time! I KNOW this is a hit already…my nephew saw my sister & I working on this project and he said, “Mom, I want you to make that for me!”

I always had at least 2 choices for my kids’ snacks. I taught them where we kept their snacks, or on some days I’d have a fun surprise waiting for them! How awesome (and exciting) would it be to come home in anticipation of that snack board telling you what you could eat after school? [Hey, I’d even like one for after work! I’m giving you special permission to make one just for yourself if you don’t have kids. *Wink*]

You have 3 options for your snack board:

1) Use a cutting machine to cut out “Snacks” and an apple; Adhere them to an 8×10 frame. Use dry erase markers to write on it.

2) Print off the *free 5×7 printable and put it in a 5×7 frame. Use dry erase markers to update.

3) Print off the smaller 4×5 printables and use a mini clipboard OR make a tablet with them. Just tear one off each day for a new page.

printable-on-clip-board

These printables are *free and they are available here:

First, Like my page here:

Then download the printables here:

1) !after school snack 4×5

2) !after school snack 5×7

Come back tomorrow because I am going to have some of the best After School Snack Ideas for you that your kids will LOVE. And some easy ideas on how to be prepared for those days that are just too busy. Let’s face it, we don’t always have time to make adorable minion cupcakes or carve a watermelon rind into a shark; I will share some practical ideas for snacks that are sure to be a hit.

And don’t forget to enter the Back To School giveaway here!

There’s a whole lot of Back To School Ideas this entire week:

#BacktoSchoolWeek Graphic

And just a reminder, there is a PinCHat coming up:

Join us on Sunday, August 25, 2013 for a PinChat!

PinChat Prize Collage

Here’s how it works:

Go to the #BacktoSchoolWeek pin board on Pinterest here. It will be full of fun Pin graphics with questions about back to school. You can re-pin the questions, answer questions in the comment section of the pins and pin crafts/recipes to the board as answers to questions {only the comments on the question pins count as entries to the PinChatLive giveaway} How fun is that?!? {**Only ONE comment per question pin per person, please. Pinterest views multiple comments from the same person on the same pin to be spam}

Go to the YouTube video that will be happening during the PinChatLive from 6-7 pm EST Sunday Aug 25th (That’s 3-4 pm Arizona time!). We’ll be chatting about back to school and doing a play-by-play of the pinning. You’ll be able to see and hear the hosts of #BacktoSchoolWeek and some of the participating bloggers! Comments on the video count as PinChatLive giveaway entries!

You’ll be able to watch/listen to the YouTube video while you see the PinChat unfold on Pinterest. Cool, right?

Hope you can join us, it’s going to be a Pin-tastic time!

snack-board-printable-sample

Comments { 4 }
8-13-bts-be-awesome-today

Dose of Sunshine Monday: Positive Affirmations for Kids #BackToSchoolWeek

Happy Monday! Now that school’s back in session, are you feeling like you have the hang of your new schedule?
I’ve had school on my mind for quite some time now, and I thought back to MY school days. My mom would put a nice note in my lunch (or backpack) hand-written on a napkin. I loved to get that note!

And I did the same thing for my kids when they were in grade school. Kids can always use a note of encouragement or happy thoughts, don’t you think?

So today I’ve made up some positive affirmations you can use for your kids’ lunch OR put them up each day on their bathroom mirror. It’s a great way to start the day!

8-13-positive-affirmations

Here’s a sampling of the positive notes for you to give to your kids:
8-13-bts-SMALL-positive-affirmations-for-kids

To get these for *free first, Like my page here:

Then, download the positive affirmation printables here:
8-13 bts positive affirmations for kids

 

And don’t forget to enter the Back To School giveaway here!
There’s a whole lot of Back To School Ideas this entire week:
#BacktoSchoolWeek Graphic

Wow…there’s a lot going on. Here’s the last opportunity for more prizes:
Join us on Sunday, August 25, 2013 for a PinChat!
PinChat Prize Collage
Here’s how it works:

Go to the #BacktoSchoolWeek pin board on Pinterest here. It will be full of fun Pin graphics with questions about back to school. You can re-pin the questions, answer questions in the comment section of the pins and pin crafts/recipes to the board as answers to questions {only the comments on the question pins count as entries to the PinChatLive giveaway} How fun is that?!? {**Only ONE comment per question pin per person, please. Pinterest views multiple comments from the same person on the same pin to be spam}

Go to the YouTube video that will be happening during the PinChatLive from 6-7 pm EST Sunday Aug 25th (That’s 3-4 pm Arizona time!). We’ll be chatting about back to school and doing a play-by-play of the pinning. You’ll be able to see and hear the hosts of #BacktoSchoolWeek and some of the participating bloggers! Comments on the video count as PinChatLive giveaway entries!
You’ll be able to watch/listen to the YouTube video while you see the PinChat unfold on Pinterest. Cool, right?

Hope you can join us, it’s going to be a Pin-tastic time!

8-13-bts-be-awesome-today

 

Comments { 6 }
!apple

Back To School Giveaway! #BackToSchoolWeek

 

I am delighted to be a part of #BacktoSchoolWeek hosted by Rachel from {i love} my disorganized life and Miss Information. This week will help take the stress out of Back to School for all of us as bloggers from around the country post their favorite Back to School crafts and recipes.

We also have some really great prizes from our wonderful Sponsors. You can enter to win on any of the blogs that are participating in #BacktoSchoolWeek. (Scroll down or click here to see the prize details and entry form).

As part of the Back to School Week we’ll be holding a TweetChat and a PinChat during #BacktoSchoolWeek, with prize giveaways during those as well!

The TweetChat is today so I’ll tell you about that now. I’ll save the PinChat details for later in the week.

(search for hashtag #BacktoSchoolWeek to follow along. Use the hashtag in
tweets during the chat to enter to win.)

1) One TweetChat winner will receive a set of two Mighty Handles. Mighty Handle is the easiest way to carry more grocery bags across a parking lot, walking in a neighborhood, up a flight of stairs or from your car into the house. The patent pending handle and anchor design system distributes weight evenly allowing you to carry up to 50 lbs of bags in one hand. Facebook Twitter

2) One TweetChat winner will receive a 6-piece set of Cuisinartstorage containers.The cabinet-friendly, modular design of Cuisinart’s new Fresh Edge™ Food Storage System is only one of the practical conveniences it offers. In addition to their space-saving stack ability, the dishwasher-,freezer- and microwave-safe units have a simple, two-step sealing process that creates a vacuum to preserve food. {Follow on Facebook&Twitter}

3) One TweetChat winner will receive a set of Keycals from Kidecals. It’s the fun way to organize with these stickers, labels and decals. {Follow on Facebook & Twitter}

4) One TweetChat winner will receive a Mini Cooler and a Personal Cooler from PackIt. PackIt keeps its contents cooler longer – up to 10 hours in fact – and it eliminates completely the need for ice or gel packs. {Follow on Facebook & Twitter}

Now, for the Back to School Week Raffle:

We are so grateful to have such an amazing group of sponsors for #BacktoSchoolWeek! They have all provided us with wonderful raffle prizes for you!
#BacktoSchoolWeek Giveaway Hosted by {i love} my disorganized life and Miss Information #giveaway

1) One raffle winner will receive the Cuisinart 3-in-1 Cook Central. The 6-quart Cook Central simplifies combination cooking, letting home cooks bypass the stovetop by browning ingredients right in the unit before switching to Slow Cook. Preset function buttons and time and temperature controls offer easy-to-use Brown/Sauté, Slow Cook and Steam options. A 24-hour timer and automatic Keep Warm setting promise a fresh-cooked meal, warm and ready whenever consumers are sitting down to dinner. {Follow on Facebook & Twitter}

2) One raffle winner will receive a Mini Cooler, a Personal Cooler and a Shop Cooler from PackIt. PackIt keeps its contents cooler longer – up to 10 hours in fact – and it eliminates completely the need for ice or gel packs. {Follow on Facebook & Twitter}

3) One raffle winner will receive The Keurig® MINI Plus Personal Brewing System. It’s what you need when a little space is all that you have. Small kitchen spaces, vacation homes or home office desktops. The compact Keurig® MINI Plus Brewing System delivers the perfect cup in just two minutes. {Follow on Facebook & Twitter}

4) One raffle winner will receive from Kizmos the Crazy Cool Crafty’s Banana Muffins Kizmos Kit {be sure to visit Crazy Cool Crafty on 8/24 to see how Cassie uses this kit!} which contains the Get Happy salt and pepper shakers, Get Happy nesting Measuring cups, and the Get happy measuring spoons. {Follow on FacebookTwitter}

5) One raffle winner will receive from KizmosThe Grant Life’s Passe Passe Kizmos Kit {Be sure to visit The Grant Life on 8/21 to see how Kelley uses this kit!} which contains the Get Happy Spatula, Get Happy Spoonula and the Get Happy Ice Cream Scoop. {Follow on Facebook & Twitter}

6) One raffle winner will receive from Kizmos the Kleinworth’s Kid Command Center Kizmos Kit {be sure to visit Kleinworth & Co. on 8/20 to see how Gina uses this kit!} containing the Get Happy Magnet Set, the 7 assorted Bag Clips & the Get Happy 2 qt & 5 qt colanders. {Follow on Facebook & Twitter

7) One raffle winner will receive from Kizmos the Lemons for Lu Lu’s Fruit Salad Kizmos Kit {be sure to visit Lemons for Lulu on 8/19 to see how Tanya uses this kit!} containing the 2 1/2 quart colander, the spatula, the measuring cups and measuring spoons. {Follow on Facebook & Twitter

8) One winner will receive a $75 surprise box from Pick Your Plum, where they delicately slap prime-o pricing on crafting, clothing, baking supplies, home decor and other fabulous finds. They sell it til it’s gone or time is up. Get it before your neighbor does. *Contents may vary. {Follow on Facebook & Twitter}

9) One raffle winner will receive a prize pack featuring Cal-Organics/Grimmway Farms Swag {Grimmway Farms Speaker Cooler Bag, Cal-Organic T-shirt, Cal-Organic Hat, Cal-Organic Visor Clip, Just Crunch Em Tumbler Cup, Carrot Snack N Go Container} AND a Portable blender/smoothie maker from Cuisinart so you can take it with you on the go and the below listed prize pack. Get more veggies at home and at work and on the go. {Follow on Facebook & Twitter}

10) One raffle winner will receive a $50 prize pack from DecoArt containing a variety of craft paint and stencils. {Follow on Facebook & Twitter

11) One raffle winner will receive a $40 gift certificate from Kidecals. It’s the fun way to organize with these stickers, labels and decals. {Follow on Facebook & Twitter}

12) Two raffle winners will each receive a $50 Mooney Family Story gift box from Mooney Farms. Their signature box is filled with some of their most premium items including; Bella Sun Luci sun dried tomatoes in olive oil & herbs, julienne cut in olive oil & herbs, sun dried tomato pesto, sun dried tomato risotto blend, Tomato Artichoke Pasta sauce, Sun Dried Tomato Julienne Cut, Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil and imported Italian Pasta. {Follow on Facebook & Twitter}

13) One raffle winner will receive a set of two Mighty Handles. Mighty Handle is the easiest way to carry more grocery bags across a parking lot, walking in a neighborhood, up a flight of stairs or from your car into the house. The patent pending handle and anchor design system distributes weight evenly allowing you to carry up to 50 lbs of bags in one hand. {Follow on Facebook Twitter

 

Good Luck!

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

!apple

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The Secret to Amazing Grilled Salmon – and How to grill corn with the husks on

I love to get fresh salmon from the Market every time we visit California. It seems so much fresher than the fish in Arizona, and when we grill it up using this secret (that I’m going to tell you today) I am convinced that it’s even better than any restaurant salmon!

amazing-grilled-salmon

Yes, I’m going to share the secret with you to Grilling up amazing Salmon. My husband was shocked when I shared the secret with him, and now it’s going to be on the blog-o-sphere for all my dear readers to see!

Here it is: Fresh fish, simple ingredients, and a homemade foil tray! (That’s a secret, you ask?) Well, yes…and I’m going to give you the full instructions here.

a-few-simple-ingredients

First, get your salmon at a fresh market and get the best quality you can find. We got Silver Salmon (not farm raised, no dyes added). Silver Salmon is known for it’s bright red flesh and a slightly more delicate texture than King Salmon. King salmon is considered the best tasting, but it also costs more because many use it raw in Sashimi (sushi) dishes. I also like Sockeye Salmon, and King Salmon for grilling, though. Then, gather a few easy ingredients of salt, pepper, garlic salt, and butter.

Take some aluminum foil and make up a simple tray by doubling the foil, then turning up the edges for a make-shift tray. Drizzle a bit of olive oil on the tray. Put the salmon skin-side DOWN on the tray. Then season up the top side of the salmon (only) with a few sprinkles of salt, pepper and garlic salt.

salt-pepper-and-butter

Add some small pieces of butter across the top of the salmon. This is going to melt into the salmon during the cooking process and make that salmon even more moist and amazing!

buttered-corn

Now for the corn.

While at the farmer’s market, we picked up some amazing two-toned sweet corn and it’s delicious grilled up with your salmon dinner. Here’s how to cook it in the husks and all. (We discovered this while at the beach house a few years back and we didn’t have much foil…the answer? Cook it in the husks! It turned out SO good that this is the only way we cook it now.)

Here’s what you do: Peel back the husks, tear the silk off (as much as possible), butter up that ear of corn! Then, wrap the husks back around the corn and tie the end with a bit of bakers twine or string to keep it closed. Don’t salt the corn before you cook it…you will add it later.

put-them-on-the-grill

Put the corn on the top tier and the salmon, tray and all, on the bottom tier.
Note: Preheat the grill to 400 degrees. Since the corn takes a bit longer to cook than the salmon, put the corn on while the grill preheats. Then add the salmon.

Close the grill and set your timer for about 3-5 minutes, depending on the thickness of your salmon and the heat of the grill. When it cooked about 3/4 of the way through, it is ready to flip over!

Now, here’s the exciting part. You will take the salmon OFF the tray at this point and flip it directly onto the grill. When you take the salmon off the tray, the skin should peel off easily!

turning-salmon-over

Now, cook it directly on the grill for just 2-3 minutes, so you get a nice grill mark. Then flip it to the other side for just about 1 minute so it gets nicely grilled. It doesn’t take long. Don’t forget to turn your corn!

grilled-salmon-and-corn-together

Just about ready to eat!

salmon-lemons-anc-corn

To serve the corn easily, cut the end off the corn and the husks should peel off completely. (use a cutting board, we really could have used one here!)

cut-the-end-of-the-corn

corn-closeup

Oh, that corn was good! And the salmon, AMAZING!

The nice thing about this salmon is: if you have leftovers, it makes an amazing topper for a big salad.
Enjoy!

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Sometimes simple really is delicious. Thanks for reading!

 

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#BacktoSchoolWeek Graphic

Announcing: #BackToSchoolWeek for Busy Moms (starts on Sunday!)

I’m excited to announce the Back To School Week coming up, where I am joining forces with 20 other amazing bloggers to bring to you some great school craft ideas, snack ideas, and easy crock pot meals (because I know you are busy)!

It starts on Sunday…and I’ll keep you up to date on all the news. So be ready because Sunday kicks off with a Twitter party (more on that soon) and a GIVEAWAY with lots of awesome prizes!

Next week is going to be full of “Back to School” and prizes; I can’t wait! So come back Sunday to see all the details on how you can WIN and get some great new school ideas.

#BacktoSchoolWeek Graphic

See you then!

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