Summer Fun Goals

School is out and it's time for summer fun! We have plenty to do during our 7 week summer camp on Tuesdays and Thursdays where I teach music at a Mother's Day Out program. We'll also have lots of fun during my 5th year of directing VBS at our church. But what about the other days? While we plan to relax some, we also wanted to come up with different things to do that would include the entire family.

Some ideas include going to see the summer movies for a discounted price at Harkins theaters...

Source: annesoddsandends.blogspot.com via Anne's Odds and Ends on Pinterest

...eating sno cones (I love pina colada flavor)...

Source: makefive.com via Emily on Pinterest

...visiting beautiful Lake Grapevine...

Source: google.com via Kari on Pinterest

...joining Summer Reading Clubs and reading some books together.

Source: judyblume.com via Nikki on Pinterest

We are excited to get started on our list and check some things off. If you'd like to download my list, click here. Or have fun making your own

Linking up here:
A Little R & R

Flag Wreath

Memorial Day is coming up and I started looking for some easy Patriotic crafts. Patriotic crafts can be used for Memorial Day and through the Fourth of July.  I saw this beautiful Flag Wreath on Pinterest and quickly gathered my supplies.

Source: naptimecrafting.blogspot.com via Desiree on Pinterest

Start with your wreath.  I like using the foam tubes and I tape the ends together.

I had some white yarn already, so I just bought some red and blue skeins.

Wrap the yarn tightly around the wreath.  You can leave a little tail at the end and wrap over it with the other color of yarn.

Or you can pin the ends with a straight pin.

Repeat the wrapping with red and white yarn.  Make sure your blue section is the biggest part.

For the stars, I found some self-adhesive felt shapes at Hobby Lobby.

Stick them on the blue.  For added reinforcement, I used hot glue.

On the back of the wreath, I hot glued a red ribbon that I had formed into a loop.

It's ready to hang on the front door.

Note:  It took a couple hours to make.  The longest part was wrapping the yarn.  It's easy, just time consuming.  I used the foam tube, but I may make another one using a wider wreath or wider tube.  It has the 'skinny' look.  It doesn't look bad, just not as full.  You could also double the layers of yarn to give it a thicker look.  Overall, I like it!

Teacher Mitt

Source: skiptomylou.org via Desiree on Pinterest

I saw this really cool teacher gift on a blog I follow, Skip To My Lou.  It is so creative and different, that I knew I wanted to make it as well.  One of our days during Teacher Appreciation Week was School Supply Day.  This gift would be perfect!

I went to Big Lots and picked up a ton of school supplies.  I didn't want to spend more than $1 per package of items, especially since I was making this for two teachers.

I also got an inexpensive oven mitt.  I kept to a simple mitt.  However, I've seen some cute mitts in very pretty designs and colors.  They also cost a lot!

I just stuffed the mitt as best as I could.

On the same craft blog where I found this idea, you can download some printables to go along with the mitt.  Or feel free to make your own.

I attached the cards with a pretty ribbon that is tied around the loop on the mitt.

Your child's teacher will be so impressed and thankful for a great gift!

Teriyaki Chicken and Fried Rice Bowls

Who doesn't love a tasty Chinese dish?  More important, who doesn't love an easy, homemade Chinese dish?  I found a recipe for Teriyaki Chicken and a recipe for Fried Rice and decided to merge the two recipes to make an easy dish.

All you need for the chicken is a bottle of Teriyaki sauce and chicken.  I just used a value pack of chicken tenderloins.  

Place all the chicken in a slow cooker (don't forget the plastic liner so you don't have do a lot of clean up afterwards) and pour in some sauce.  I used about half the bottle or it will taste too salty.  Stir the chicken around in the sauce to get it covered really well.  Cook on low for 8 hours.

This recipe for Fried Rice is very easy as well.  I started with instant rice and cooked it in the microwave.  Follow the box directions for correct rice to water ratios and heating times.  I follow the directions for 4 servings.  It makes plenty.  Let cool.

Lightly beat 2 large eggs with salt and pepper.

Heat a wok or frying pan with 2 Tbsp. oil.  I used a wok that I bought at IKEA for $2.99.  Yes, you read that correctly.  $2.99!!!!  Add the eggs to the oil.

Let the eggs slightly set and then scramble them.

After eggs are cooked, pour them into a bowl and set aside. Add 2 Tbsp. of oil and add the rice.  Stir-fry for a few minutes and separate any clumps.

Stir in 1-2 Tbsp. soy sauce.  Again, you don't want to add too much and be overwhelmed with salt from the rice AND the chicken.  Mix well.

Add the scrambled eggs and chopped green onions if desired.  You can also add in chopped carrots, scallions, peas, or any other vegetable you desire.  Mix thoroughly.

Place rice in a bowl and add the chicken.  The chicken will be very tender and will shred easily.  Finally, enjoy your easy, homemade Chinese dish!

25 Facts About Me

I've seen different bloggers reveal some interesting facts about themselves.  So, why not jump on the bandwagon and do the same thing?  Some facts may be new to you, some facts you may already know.  Either way, enjoy getting to know more about me.

1.  I come from a very large blended family.  I'm one of 10 kids.  I'm #9.
2.  I didn't know how to cook until after I got married.  I just wasn't interested in learning even though my mom is the best cook I know!
3.  I didn't know how to do laundry until AFTER my 2nd child.  My hubby always did it.
4.  My maiden name is Black.
5.  My favorite color is black, but this has nothing to do with my last name.
6.  I LOVE 80's music!!!!
7.  I don't sing karaoke in front of other people unless I've rehearsed the song, which kind of defeats the purpose of karaoke.
8.  I was a medical assistant for 5 years.  My patients told me they could never feel the injections I would give them.  I was THAT. GOOD! Ha!
9.  I had an auto-immune disease called Kawasaki Syndrome when I was 8 years old.
10.  I have a skin condition called vitiligo from having an auto-immune disease.
11.  I don't like the snow.
12.  I love cloudy skies and cool weather (about 60's-70's).
13.  The sun irritates me, partially because it affects my skin condition.
14.  I LOVE performing in musical theater.
15.  I didn't perform in my first show until I was in college.  It was a musical revue about Bob Fosse and remains my favorite performance ever!
16.  I met my husband when I was 12 yrs old, started dating him at 15 yrs old, got engaged at 18 yrs old, and married him at 19 yrs old.  His age is not important,
17.  My favorite flowers are roses and tulips, but not necessarily in the same bouquet.
18.  I lived in Reno, NV for 7 years.  I miss the sound of slot machines in the grocery stores.
19.  I don't like driving.  I was in a car accident in 2009 and it totaled my car (not my fault).  Now I really don't like driving and sometimes have anxiety when I have to drive in bad weather.
20.  I taught myself how to play the piano when I was 7 yrs old.
21.  My favorite movies are Wizard of Oz, Grease, and A Christmas Story.
22.  I love to read and rarely read the same book twice.  Except for the Twilight Series.  It has really captivated me for some reason.
23.  I am only 5 feet tall and get tired of the constant teasing.  God made me perfect in His eyes and that's all that matters.
24.  Water calms me and I've always wanted to move to the beach.
25.  I used to despise doing crafts and did not like when my mom constantly dragged me to different craft shows when I was a kid.  Things have changed.

Flower Pens

It's Teacher Appreciation Week for us and we came up with some creative gifts.  The first day was "Bring A Flower".  My friend, Tammie, suggested making flower pens.  It's cheap, easy to make, and the flowers won't wilt!

These are the only supplies you need:  fake flowers, floral tape, and pens.

Trim the flowers.  The stem only needs to be a couple inches long.

Place the flower against the end of the pen and then wrap with the floral tape.   For added durability, add a dab of hot glue between the flower stem and pen.  Be sure you don't wrap the floral tape all the way to the end or the lid won't go back on.

And that's it!  You can make several to make a "Pen Bouquet" or they look pretty on their own.

Gift Tubes

Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up for us and I've been searching for some simple ideas.  I originally saw this idea using an empty toilet paper roll on Pinterest.

Source: crissyscrafts.blogspot.com via Desiree on Pinterest

I gathered my supplies, but chose an empty paper towel roll instead.

First, measure a piece of paper against the roll and cut as needed.

I used some double-sided tape to attach the paper.

Tuck in the sides on one of the ends of the roll.

Stuff the roll with whatever you choose.  Be creative!

Tuck in the other sides of the roll.  It looks great as is or you can add more.

Using matching paper, I cut out an oval with my Cricut machine, and put the To and From on the other side.

I attached the tag with a bow used from scrap ribbon that I had.

It was so easy and inexpensive.  It took me about 5 minutes to make and my only purchase were the bags of  candy.