Yummy Cookie Bars!

I just finished baking some quick and easy "Soft Chocolate Chip Bars" for a luncheon I am helping to serve tomorrow. This is the fourth time I've made these bars. They are delicious, quick, and easy! All things I love! The hardest part is to not eat any before tomorrow's luncheon. I made two pans and cut them so I have 30 bars (15 bars per pan). A helpful hint: Cut the bars while they are still soft/warm. About 5-10 minutes after removing from the oven.

Ingredients:

• 1 box white (or yellow) cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 (or like me, as much as you want) cup chocolate chip

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix together the cake mix, eggs and oil in a large bowl.
3. Stir the mixture until powder is evening mixed in.
4. Stir in the chocolate chips.
5. Spread the mixture evenly into a 9x13 inch pan.
6. Bake 16-20 minutes or until light golden brown on top.
7. Serve warm or at room temperature! Enjoy!

Gifts and Wrapping!

Tyler's family has a tradition of wrapping their gifts for the men in "funnies" from the newspaper (the comics). I wanted to find a way to make the wrapping more creative. While searching online I came across a website that showed you how to make gift bags using old newspaper. Below are pictures of the gift bag I made using the directions from their website. 

Happy Birthday Keith!

I used leftover ribbon from one of the gifts given to us from one of Audrey's baby shower.

 Another project:

I needed a quick and simple idea of something to make for the daycare kids to take home for mother's day. After some research online and talking with my mother. She shared that one of her favorite homemade gifts that we brought home from school as kids was a photograph of us taken at school made into a refrigerator magnet.

This was a perfect idea! I had all the items already (including a roll of magnetic strips) to use of the project. All I needed was to snap a few pictures and print them off on my printer at home. I decided they were just too cute that I made several extras to give to Tyler's and my mother and our grandmothers. Below are the finished products.

Materials used:

• Glue stick
• Assorted colors of thick card stock/scrapbook paper
• Magnetic strips (purchased for another project at Michael's Craft Store)
• Pen (to write a personal note, Audrey's name and date photo was taken)
• Photograph

Happy May Day!

I just love getting to create cute things! So I take advantage of holidays whenever I can. I also like to use what items I have sitting around my house. The only things I purchased specifically for this project were the candies and the popcorn. I purchased candy on sale after Easter and popcorn from Super Saver. So in the end I didn't spend much. I made ten baskets using what materials I already had just collecting dust around the house.

Materials used:

• Scissors
• Tape
• Pipe Cleaner
• Construction Paper
• Pencil (for tracing)
• Plastic Cups and/or leftover strawberry containers
• Goodies to put inside (candy) 

Happy May Day Everyone!!!

I Love Consignment Sales!

I love consignment sales and garage sales! They are a great way to get cheap items for your home daycare. New toys are so expensive...so I've gone to purchasing most of mine for much less second hand. Plus I feel like I'm doing something good by reusing/recycling!

A few weeks back a friend of mine and I went to the Neat Repeatz consignment sale. I found so many great things for Audrey and for the daycare! 

We found...six books on tape (the kids love to listen to them and have made it a part of our daily routine), dress up accessories (car keys, purse, sunglasses, gloves, cell phone, etc), and clothing for Audrey (including a brand new dress for my cousins wedding next summer).  

Pictures below: One of my older daycare kids decided to try out the newly purchased sunglasses on Audrey. The pictures turned out way too cute - I couldn't resist posting them here!