tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33492045001663066392024-03-15T19:10:39.385-06:00Simply Home and FamilyAndreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464547393097268770noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-47862542097993673782011-03-11T16:49:00.002-07:002011-03-11T17:05:59.945-07:00little vacation, big adventure
Last fall, when all five of our kids had the same fall break from school we wanted to spend the time doing something really fun. But with only a couple of days and a limited vacation fund to work with we had to get creative. Inspiration came through a friend who told us about their great trip to to San Fransisco last summer and how a city pass they found made their trip even better. &Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464547393097268770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-24393267778671471892011-02-07T13:48:00.000-07:002011-02-07T13:48:54.771-07:00soft sugar cookies I love soft sugar cookies and we love to use cookie cutters at our house. Here is my favorite recipe for soft sugar cookies.
1 Cup Butter2 Cups of Sugar1 tsp Vanilla1 Cup Sour Cream (or Plain Yogurt) About 5 1/2 - 6 Cups of flour2 tsp baking powder1 tsp baking soda1 tsp salt
Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add vanilla and sour cream. I tried using yogurt instead of Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400047652542873128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-4972752201917958882011-01-26T12:27:00.002-07:002011-01-26T14:37:23.612-07:00fuzzy fleece headband
You have all seen the cute crocheted or knitted headbands. Here is my version of something similar if you are like me and still learning to crochet but you are not so great yet. These are made out of a single layer of fleece and they are very easy. They could be made even without a sewing a machine.
First measure the head that you are making this for. For my girls I Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400047652542873128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-11483520054182355672011-01-20T13:22:00.003-07:002011-01-20T16:38:22.513-07:00be mineValentines Day is not to far off so why not get started with this fun project. I saw this and just had to share. This would dress up any Valentines Dinner and have your family talking.Thanks to the Girls at the DIY Dish for sharing this fun idea. Not only for Valentines Day but what about other holidays as well. The possibilities are endless. I can't wait to start on mine.
Holli Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392213931683856220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-49683565267261938522011-01-13T09:13:00.000-07:002011-01-13T09:13:21.754-07:00creamy chicken taquitos
Try something New and Yummy this week. My kids loved them! I doubled the recipe to make alot, needless to say they also freeze well and make a great sack lunch.
Creamy Chicken Taquitos:1/3 cup cream cheese1/4 cup green salsa1 tbs lime juice1/2 tsp. cumin1 tsp. chili powder1/2 tsp. onion powder1/4 tsp. granulated garlic3 tbs chopped cilantro2 tbs chopped green onions2 cups cookedHolli Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392213931683856220noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-16981452123302699082010-12-07T17:32:00.001-07:002010-12-07T17:42:51.670-07:00christmas ice decorations
If you are looking for something to help you look forward to cold freezing weather maybe this will help. I have always wanted to try these and last year we finally did. They were very easy and can be made with anything you have at home or in your yard. Ice can be frozen into luminaries, wreaths, outside tree ornaments, or any other ideas you can think of.
Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400047652542873128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-85205526418404965962010-12-03T13:19:00.000-07:002010-12-03T13:19:42.954-07:00temple picture giftsNeed an idea for Christmas gifts? I made these for my neighbors for Christmas this year. And the fun part about it is that you can hand it on your tree and then hand it somewhere else to enjoy all year long. I also made them for my kiddos you hand in their rooms.All you needone 5x7 picture of the templeone 5x5 block Mod PodgeBlack paintBrush RibbonDrill
Start by cutting your picture into aHolli Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392213931683856220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-12359634216603787462010-11-03T17:38:00.000-06:002010-11-03T17:38:53.729-06:00chicken wild rice soupHere is one of or favorite cold weather soups. A few people have asked me for the recipe and it has taken me a while, sorry everyone. Those of you who know me know that I really only measure ingredients when I have to. Sometimes this makes it hard to share a recipe because I am not sure of the exact measurement of all of the ingredients. So last this time when I made this Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400047652542873128noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-3427757923583175012010-10-28T14:42:00.001-06:002010-10-28T14:44:55.704-06:00picture blocksHere is a fun halloween decorations that is personal to your family and pretty inexpensive. I have seen a lot of these pictures blocks so we decided to try it. I edited my photos and put the text letter on the photo in Picasa from Google. It is a free software download that I use a lot. I am sure there are many other photo editing software programs that would do something Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400047652542873128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-62965171693513664122010-10-13T14:22:00.000-06:002010-10-13T14:22:41.240-06:00fun fall leaf pictures We made these a few days ago and our little girls loved them and it gave us something fun to hang up showing the changing leaves. First we went on a little walk and everyone collected leaves, fall flowers, seeds, or small twigs. We brought them home, laid them out on the table and everyone started creating. We found that it works best if you start to draw your creation and then put aAnniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400047652542873128noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-46616238378250270212010-10-09T22:24:00.002-06:002010-11-15T10:43:02.287-07:00baked potato soup
I grew up in Idaho where fall means the fields are full of busy harvesters digging huge potatoes. There are all sorts of great ways to eat them, but this is one of my favorites. It is simple and easy and so good on a cool fall day.
Baked Potato Soup
Bake 4 large potatoes in the oven for 1 hour.
To make the soup:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
Melt the butter Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464547393097268770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-55134130685788334652010-10-08T16:30:00.002-06:002010-10-11T19:14:19.654-06:00pumpkin name settings
If you are in charge of Thanksgiving this year or want a fun get together with friends or family. This ideas is sure to get your guest talking. This simple ideas was found at Better Homes and Garden. I love it because it is so simple and a fun gift for your guest to take home.
Holli Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392213931683856220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-31108402892278338172010-10-05T15:01:00.002-06:002010-10-08T16:34:39.663-06:00transform your pumpkinWhat guest wouldn't love to serve themselves from this fun pumpkin punch bowl. Hollow out a pumpkin, scraping the side well to remove all the seeds and pulp before filling. Fill with cider and sliced apples. Serve in canning jars with a cinnamon stick.
This is such a fun way to serve chip at a fall get together with friends and family. So simple and so impressive that you will have your Holli Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392213931683856220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-30118488687389683482010-09-29T09:49:00.000-06:002010-09-29T09:49:30.976-06:00peanut butter frosting
Who doesn't love peanut butter cups? Well this is the next best thing. Peanut butter frosting. It is light and fluffy and good on brownies, cupcakes and my favorite a spoon. This frosting is simple and delicious. So lets get started!
You will need:1 cup butter softened1 cup peanut butter1 tsp vanillawhipping cream (or milk)2 lbs of powder sugar (give or take)
Mix butter and peanut butter untilHolli Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392213931683856220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-77260772797452916482010-09-27T08:00:00.012-06:002010-09-27T11:03:41.509-06:00peanut butter snack balls
These are some of our favorite lunch treats or after school snacks. They are similar to peanut butter playdough and the peanut butter acorns but contain a few more ingredients and crunchy cereal. I adapted this recipe from My Cafe Kitchen. These are one of our favorite snacks because they are very yummy, easy to make, and also packed with fiber and protein. The Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400047652542873128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-51242542379517814862010-09-25T13:48:00.001-06:002010-09-25T13:49:22.511-06:00favorite kitchen chopper We love these little food choppers and have worn out a few different kinds at our house. I decided to try this one after spotting it at IKEA. Like many things from IKEA it is designed better than any other we have tried.
Here are the things I love about it:
1. It is dishwasher safe, really. (I have had others that said they were but then could not handle the Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464547393097268770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-50448240281186689142010-09-24T13:49:00.000-06:002010-09-24T13:49:01.636-06:00peanut butter acorns In celebration of such a beautiful fall day or maybe just because it is Friday, a fun activity with my preschooler became today's great after school snack. We used our favorite reciepe for peanut butter playdough to create these cute little edible acorns.
After rolling the dough into balls we dipped the top into melted chocolate, and chopped nuts, and Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464547393097268770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-45814314452746757792010-09-23T13:36:00.000-06:002010-09-23T13:36:18.225-06:00eggplant parmesanI love Italian food especially when it is made with fresh ingredients. This is one of my favorite dishes it is so light and yummy, made with my favorite things from my garden, tomatoes, eggplant, basil, and garlic. So lets get started.
You will need:
1 lg. eggplant (smaller ones work great for side dishes too.)
2 cloves of garlic
1 lg. tomato
olive oil
5 basil leaves
shredded Parmesan Holli Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392213931683856220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-16032922774026464022010-09-17T09:27:00.002-06:002010-09-22T14:19:18.647-06:00lunch baggiesThe perfect Eco-friendly container that's perfect for lunches or trips to the park.To get started you will need. Fabric, Ripstop nylon, Ribbon, Velcro: fabric supplies.
1. Cut two rectangles of patterned fabric and ripstop nylon, each 13x7".
2. Pin right sides of fabric together, with nylon on the outside.
3. Fold two pieces of 5" ribbon in half and pin them, centered on each short side. The Holli Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392213931683856220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-84185173302362673482010-08-30T17:53:00.002-06:002010-09-18T09:28:15.570-06:00pizza lunchables
Okay so my kids love Lunchables but I refuse to buy them. With every kid needing lunch it can really add up. Well we came up with our own version of the Lunchable. Pizza seems to be the number 1 choice at our house so this is what I came up with. I make the crust and put all the toppings into there own individual bags so that they can assemble thier own pizza at lunch. Plus they are alot Holli Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392213931683856220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-62336816190251557982010-08-24T09:51:00.001-06:002010-12-01T13:35:34.244-07:00getting the chores done
One day after I had just finished teaching a class on family organization, a friend approached me and asked, "How did you come up with all of your ideas and chore chart system?" For lack of a better answer, I gave her my simple one-"frustration." I have found that if necessity is the mother of invention then frustration must be the mother of organization.
Managing a family of seven Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464547393097268770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-45286994185545118402010-08-23T09:00:00.009-06:002010-12-01T13:36:51.377-07:00getting ready for the day
The morning rush can be a crazy time of day and telling a child to hurry and get ready, may just get you that familiar blank stare. The process of getting ready seems fairly normal to an adult but can be a bit harder for the little ones. Kids complete larger tasks easier if they are split into smaller assignments. To help them (and you) out in the Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464547393097268770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-86969000508399148352010-08-22T21:42:00.003-06:002010-12-01T13:37:21.660-07:00family chores
One of the best bits of parenting advice that I ever received came in a casual conversation in a group of moms. One of them shared with us how she had divided chores between her children. Each child had a different kitchen chore each day and a different room in the house to care for. The chores were rotated through the family so that each had a turn at each chore.
I Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464547393097268770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-37072084368116469452010-08-21T08:45:00.000-06:002010-09-15T19:57:10.712-06:00the general family storeMy husband and I have spent the last few weekends on ladders painting the outside of our house. Our kids have been so excited to paint until they learn that most of the work is really cleaning, repairing, and taping. Their enthusiasm dwindles and they begin asking, "Why are we doing this, again". It has been a good reminder of one of the most important principles Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04464547393097268770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349204500166306639.post-79573205013081903552010-08-20T10:28:00.001-06:002010-08-21T10:21:19.543-06:00paper pencilWith school starting around the corner. What teacher wouldn't love to get this adorable personalized pencil. I found this idea at Creating Keepsakes Magazine. And then it just so happened that it was on Studio 5 this week.
Supplies needed:A roll of Rollo's candyHersey kissYellow paperaluminum foilpink paperscissorstape or glueand embellishments for the star and ribbon
Studio 5 has awesome Holli Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392213931683856220noreply@blogger.com0