Simple Snack

There are so many times when we are hungry and are trying to find the perfect snack and we reach for things that are not good for us and won't satisfy us anyway. (like I just did with m&m's) One of my goals this year is to keep our fruit plates full of ready to eat snacks like these. yum

p.s. That pineapple was only 99 cents at Aldi. :)

Oh . . . and didn't John do a good job on that back splash?? I will post before and after pictures of that project soon!

Train Ride with Caleb

Last Wednesday, Diane and I thought it would be fun to take the kids on a train ride to Glen Ellyn. They have a very cute train-themed diner called "Two Toots" that we wanted to go to.

Here comes the train!!Caleb was so excited about his first train ride.Riding the horse at Two Toots.One of the fun things about Two Toots is that your food comes on a train!!Patiently waiting for dessert.Here come the cupcakes!! They came with train whistles on them.
Toot! Toot!
What a fun day!!!Caroline likes this picture. :)

Luke's Half Birthday

My mom called Luke on March 1st to wish him a happy half birthday. (thanks for the reminder, Mom!) We don't usually celebrate half birthdays, but I thought it would be a perfect time for Luke to bring in birthday cupcakes to school since he wasn't there on his real birthday. He said he wanted green cupcakes with sprinkles, so that is what he got. :)

Happy Half Birthday to my little cupcake. :)

Pink Shakes

Caroline checked this American Girl magazine out from the library. . . and wanted to make these . . .. . . so we did.The kids had fun shopping for the ingredients and making them.. . . and eating them. :)
They were yummy, but a little bit too sweet even for Luke and Caroline. Way too much sugary stuff. (Cool Whip, sugary strawberries, raspberry sherbet, vanilla yogurt, apple juice . . . yum, but yikes!!)

A Little "Do it Yourself" Project

The other day I was at HomeGoods and saw a lamp that I loved. BUT . . . it was $50 . . . so I decided to walk next door to JoAnn Fabrics and buy the materials to make a cheap lamp look just like it.

:)

Here is the before picture. And here is the after picture.

All it took was a little burlap, some ribbon, and fabric glue. Total cost to improve this lamp?? Less than $5.00 ! Doesn't it make such a huge difference? I think it adds a lot of texture and warmth to the space. I'm very pleased with my little "do it yourself" project.

What project is next?? ;)

Favorites on Fridays . . . Like Oprah's "O" List, But Not Really

Favorite Thing to Hide From My Kids and Nibble on When They are not Looking: Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Mint UFOs

Oh yum . . . I just discovered these next to the chocolate chips at Trader Joe's. They are soooo good . . . they have natural peppermint oil in them, just the right amount. I can't wait to start experimenting with using them in cookie recipes. But for now, I will just keep on nibbling on them when no one is looking. :)

(I actually have been sharing them because I can't hide the chocolate peppermint smell on my breath. . . nuts!)

Dark chocolate IS a blessing to me . . . small blessings are good, too!

Rosalie

Yesterday I wrote about my former student, Rosalie. Today, another former student of mine informed me that Rosalie was going to be staying at a homeless shelter with her baby. I am thankful for that.

If anyone has any baby girl clothes that they are getting rid of, please let me know. I am going to try to get a package sent to her. Thank you!!