Pinterest - this week

I am really excited about these ideas that I found on pinterest this week.  It never seems like there is enough time to try them.
http://whynotdoityourself.tumblr.com/tagged/do-it-yourself


Great way to store crayon and reuse those diaper wipe packages.

From: http://www.cometogetherkids.com/
Great site with other fun ideas for learning.


I have to try this experiment with Lillie.  She will love it.  http://www.momto2poshlildivas.com/2012/02/penny-experiment.html

Ipod apps for reading and math skills
http://first-grade-teachers.blogspot.com/2011/02/ipods-in-classroom_761.html

Rain - science experiment
http://msdsgarden.blogspot.com/search/label/Science%20Experiments

Brian loves this idea.  Now, I just need to make it for him some week as a surprise.
http://lifecraftsandwhatever.blogspot.com/2011/01/paint-chip-wall-art.html
This is from the same blog.  I might have to try it too.  http://lifecraftsandwhatever.blogspot.com/2012/01/dawn-vinegar-soap-scum-killa.html

Rice Box - great sensory activity for toddlers

A rice box is a great sensory item for toddlers to play with.  It is also a great indoor activity, when the weather is bad and we can't go outside to play. I bought 20 lbs of rice at Sam's club.  Poured the uncooked rice in under-the bed container and added toys to play with.  In addition, to playing with the shovels and buckets, we play treasure hunt in the box.  One of us will hide an object in the rice and the other person will find it. When we get the rice box out to play, I place it on a sheet to help with the clean up. We have kept the rice box in a dry location and we have had it for 3 years.  



Pizza cutter - can cut more than pizza

Pizza cutters are great, but they can be used for more than cutting pizza.  You can cut pancakes, french toast, sandwiches, stuffed crescents and quesadillas.

Tortillas, When you make the strips for the Crock pot Chicken Tortilla Soup.

Cutting the crescents when making Little Smokies in a Blanket.

Cutting Chicken Broccoli ring.

Cutting Quesadilla

Macaroni and Cheese, Tuna Casserole

This is an easy tuna casserole and my 5 year old ate it all.

1 box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese
1 can of tuna - drained
1 can of cream of mushroom soup (I prefer the Healthy Request by Campbell's)
1 cup of peas

Cook mac and cheese according to the directions on the box.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix all of the ingredients in a casserole dish and cook for 25 minutes.

Pinterest

A few months ago, I came across a really neat website.  It is a way to organize your favorite websites, by category. 
Once you find your friends through facebook, you can see what they are pinning.  If you like it you can add it to your board for later.  I have found new recipes to try, crafts to make and future decorating ideas.
If you still aren't sure or you want to know how to get started, read my friend's tutorial: http://tiraandlannatakeoverutah.blogspot.com/2012/01/from-my-mad-pinning-skills-comes.html
Start Pinning today!

Favorite Pinterest finds this week

Great organizing website: http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/p/iheart-project-gallery.html

Melt a stick of butter in the pan. Slice one lemon and layer it on top of the butter. Put down fresh shrimp, then sprinkle one pack of dried italian seasoning. Put in the oven and bake at 350 for 15 min. Definitely trying this!

How to clean your glass cooktop stove:  http://behindthestudio.com/2011/06/15/how-to-clean-your-glass-cooktop/

This is a great way to organize gift wrap.

 

I have seen this on pinterest before, but I had to post it this week. It is a great way to rememeber if you have given a dose of medicine.

Valentine ideas for next year.  http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/2012/02/29clevervalentines.html

Spider pops for Halloween or Birthday party treat.  It isn't too soon to plan. http://www.houseofbabypiranha.com/search/label/Halloween

Paint chip word game. http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/2009/11/preschool-first-grade-at-home-paint.html

Crock Pot Taco Soup

This is a really easy crock-pot recipe and it only has 4 WW points (on the old points program), per cup.
1 lb of ground beef  90% lean or ground turkey
1/2 of a diced onion
1 can of whole kernal corn
2 cans of light kidney beans drained and rinsed
3 cans of diced tomatoes
1 can of chopped green chilis
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 packet of ranch seasoning
1 cup of water
Shredded cheese (not included in points value)

Brown ground beef in a skillet.  add onion to skillet.  Once cooked, drain any excess fat. Add the above ingredients (except cheese) to crock pot and stir.  Cook for 4 hours.  Serve in bowl and sprinkle with your choice of shredded cheese.  It does freeze well.

Seafood Alfredo in a Blush Sauce

Don't let the name of recipe overwhelm.  You can with this easy recipe.
1 - 8oz package of imitation crab
12 oz of peeled and deveined shrimp
3 Tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons of Butter
1 clove of garlic
Parsley
1- 26 oz jar of pasta sauce
1 - 16 oz jar of Alfredo sauce
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 box of Linguine or pasta of your choice

Rinse shrimp and pinch off tail.  Add olive oil, garlic and butter in a skillet on medium heat.  Add shrimp to skillet and sprinkle with parsley.  Cook shrimp thoroughly until they turn pink.

 

While the shrimp is cooking, warm up the sauces on low heat.  To make the red sauce less acidic, add sugar to red pasta sauce.  Break up imitation crab meat and place in the pan with the Alfredo sauce.  Once the Shrimp is cooked, add to the Alfredo sauce.  Add 2 spoonfuls of the red pasta sauce to the Alfredo sauce.  This is what makes the Alfredo sauce a blush sauce.

Tear Free Band-Aid Removal

Removing a Band-Aid can create almost as many tears as the injury itself.  Now, we apply a layer of vaseline over the Band-Aid before L goes to bed at night and it is easy to remove the next morning.  Sometimes, it even falls off during the night.

Make your own Valentines - Melted Heart Crayon

I saw this idea on Pinterest.  But I made a few changes to make the process easier.First: Soak the Crayons in water.  It makes it easier to remove the paper.

 Remove the paper and place the crayons in a freezer bag.

Next: seal the bag and lay it on the ground outside.  Use a hammer to break up the crayons into smaller pieces.  Other blogs suggested cutting the crayons, but it was easier to break them up with the hammer and it is a great stress reliever.

Place the pieces in your silicone shaped pan, so that there is approximately a 1/2 inch of broken crayons.  Place the silicon pan on a cookie sheet and melt the crayons in the oven for 15 minutes at 250 degrees. 

After, the crayons cool and harden, pop them out of the silicone pan.  Unfortunately, I have not found a good way to remove all of the specs from the silicone pan, so I will not be able to use it for regular cooking.  This is the finished project.  Lillie cut out the paper squares, and glued the paper and the heart to the cardstock.

Microwave Farmer's Breakfast Casserole

1/2 lb of Bacon
3 cups of Frozen Potatoes O'Brien
2 Tablespoons of butter
3 Eggs
1 Tablespoon of milk
Dash of pepper
Dash of basil
1 cup of Cheese

Precook bacon (see Bacon in the oven)  until crispy, cool and crumble.  In a 1 Quart microwave safe dish, cook Potatoes O'Brien and butter in the microwave for 5 minutes.  Beat eggs, milk, pepper and basil. Add Egg mixture, cheese and crumbled bacon to Potatoes O'Brien.  Stir and cook on high for 3 minutes.  Stir and cook a remaining 3 minutes or until eggs are cooked.  Enjoy.

Options: you can substitute ham or cooked sausage for the bacon.

Volcano science project - Preschool Science

Lillie loves science projects and this is an easy one.
First find a glass container (we used a baby food jar) and build a volcano around the jar using old play dough.  We placed our volcano on a plate with a lip.

Next, place 1 Tablespoon of baking soda in jar.

 Last, add 1 cup of vinegar to the jar and watch the volcano erupt.

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Favorite Pinterest pins this week

I found these great websites on pinterest this week:

• http://www.momto2poshlildivas.com/  Great site to find science and math activities for kids,
• http://mistyhorizon2003.hubpages.com/hub/Fun-Classroom-Activities-to-Interest-Children-in-Plants  growing plants activities for kids.
• Cute hand print craft idea for a girls room
• Cute hand print craft idea for a kids room.

Crab dip

1 package of cream cheese (I used 1/3 less fat version)

1 can of lump crab meat

8 oz bottle of cocktail sauce

Your choice of crackers

This is one of my favorite recipes.  I made it on Sunday for the Super Bowl and the pie plate was empty when we left. 

First, spread a package of cream cheese in the bottom of a 9" pie plate or any dish. I like to use the 1/3 less fat cream cheese.

 Second, drain a can of lump or pink crab meat and sprinkle it over the cream cheese.

 Third, spread approximately 8oz of cocktail sauce over the cream cheese and crab meat.  Use more cocktail sauce, if you like it to be spicier.  Chill until ready to serve with crackers.  You can also substitute miniature shrimp for the crab.  Enjoy!