Hand Soap From A Bar!

Ok.  Now that I'm done with school for the semester I'll be able to put more blog posts up. I've been so busy with all my school work and trying to keep a household up and running with a 2 year old. It hasn't been easy. I commend teen moms they have it harder I do. Anyways, I got this thing off Pinterest of making hand soap from a bar of soap. I have a shopping addiction at Hobby Lobby. If I go in there I rarely come out with less than $50 worth of stuff. That store has the best stuff and really helps me with my new found creativeness. The last time I was in there I found a bag of glycerin squares. I was so excited, the project I was wanting to do called for glycerin but I haven't really been looking for it. And it was only $5! What a deal! 

All you need to make the hand soap is a gallon of water, a bar of soap( which ever one you choose), and some glycerin. I used my cheese grater to shred the soap and glycerin. I now need to buy a new cheese grater as mine was a cheap one from the dollar store and I broke it while making this! OOPS! You turn the stove on about medium heat and pour all the water into the pot. After a minute or two add the soap and glycerin shavings. Stir it until the soap and glycerin melt in the water. Let it cool for a few minutes and pour it into a gallon container. VOILA! 

A gallon can fill my hand soap dispenser in the bathroom at least 8 times! It is such a good money saver and I am so glad that I found it. I will never use store bought hand soap ever again. 

Pin It

First Valentine's Day

Yesterday was my first Valentine's Day with Aubree. I didn't go all out and buy her a ton of stuff because I knew she wouldn't remember. All I bought her was a stuffed animal. She made valentines for her aunties and grandma though. I found the idea for them while browsing Pinterest(of course lol). They turned out so much better then I expected.

All I did was Modge Podge a piece of scrapbook paper to a piece of canvas then paint her feet prints onto another piece. Add some buttons and a quote and it's so adorable. :)

We had such a good day and I can wait for the next holiday! :)

Pin It

Pictures Transferred to Wood Was A Success!

I'm obsessed with Pinterest. I go on it all the time. I look at all these really delicious recipes that I know I will never make and all these adorable crafts. The other day I decided to feel crafty and try one. :) I was afraid it was just going to be another one of those Pinterest fails. But it wasn't and I am so happy because it has to be one of the cutest things I've ever made!

It's super easy to transfer a picture to wood. First you need to print the picture off your computer onto normal printer paper. Find a piece of wood that you like. Get Modge Podge lol. Apply Modge Podge to the piece of wood and place the photo upside down onto it. Make sure you press firm and get all the bubbles out. Let it dry over night and put it under the faucet and rub the paper off gently with your fingers. Modge Podge it after it dries to preseve the picture onto the wood. And VOILA! It's an adorable picture on wood! I think this would be adorable for wedding decor, if you put pictures of the couple on them at every table or something.

I choose to use on of the newborn photos of Aubree because the picture's colors are so vibrant and pretty and they turned out amazing!

Pin It

Rolo Stuffed Ritz YUMMMM!

2 Ingredients! That's it! And then you are in heaven lol. These are addicting. Seriously. 

Ingredients:

Ritz Crackers

Rolos

On a cookie sheet lay out rows of Ritz crackers. Stick a Rolo on top of each one. Place in the oven at 350 degrees. Remove when Rolos are melted. Place another Ritz on top and let cool. Enjoy :).

Pin It

Lazy Day Cookie Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

1 box yellow or white cake mix, I used yellow because it tastes better.

2 eggs beaten

5tbsp melted butter

2 cups mini chocolate chips

Mix all the ingredients and pour them into a greased 9x13 pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Pin It

Healthy Cookies and Cream Milkshake Recipe

This does not taste like it is healthy at all!

Ingredients:

1 cup low fat or skim milk

2 1/2 reduced fat oreos

1 tbsp dry vanilla pudding mix

1tsp vanilla

1 package splenda or equal

1 1/2 ice cubes

Put all the ingredients in the blender and blend until mixed. If the shake isn't thick enough add a few more ice cubes. Serve immediately

Pin It

No-Bake Strawberry Icebox Cake

This so easy and tastes so yummy. You can drizzle chocolate on the top but I left it off to give it a lighter summery feel. :)

Ingredients:

3lbs fresh strawberries, sliced

2-8oz tubs of whipped topping

1 box of graham crackers

1/4 cup chocolate chips

Spread a small amount of the whipped topping onto the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Put a layer of graham crackers on top of the whipped topping. Add another layer of whipped topping and put a layer of strawberries. Repeat this 3 more times until there are 4 layers of graham crackers. The layer last on top will be strawberries.

if you want to use the chocolate chips put them in a plastic bag and melt them in the microwave at 10 second intervals. Cut the corner of the bag and drizzle over top the cake.

Refrigerate covered for at least 4 hours or until the crackers have softened completely.

Pin It

Sausage Ball Recipe

I absolutely love sausage balls. Someone always makes them at our church functions and my brother-in-law made them once. They are one of my favorite foods. And the awesome thing is they are so easy to make! :)

Ingredients:

1lb sausage, uncooked

8oz cream cheese, softened

1 1/4 cups Bisquick

4oz cheddar cheese, grated

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Mix all the ingredients until well combined. Roll into 1-inch balls and bake for 202-5 minutes or until browned. 

Pin It

Cheesy Chicken Lasagna Recipe YUMMY!

I love this recipe. Lasagna is one of my favorite foods and this makes it taste even better that it is chicken!

Ingredients:

2-12oz cans of evaporated milk, not fat free

1-1oz packet dry ranch dressing mix

3 cups, cooked & cubed chicken

1/8 tsp pepper

12oz cooked lasagna noodles

2 cups grated cheddar cheese

2 cups grated mozzarella cheese

First cook the noodles and the chicken at the same time. Rinse the noodles in cold water and set aside. Cube the chicken. Mix the evaporated milk and the ranch mix in a 3 quart saucepan. Put over low heat and stir until the dry ingredients are dissolved. Add the chicken and pepper and simmer uncovered for about 25 minutes. Make sure to stir it frequently. Layer half of the noodles, chicken sauce and cheese in a 9x13 pan. Repeat layers a 2nd time. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until lasagna is hot and bubbly.

Pin It

Healthy Strawberry Muffin Recipe

Ingredients:

2 1/2 oats, old-fashioned kind not the quick oats

1 cup low fat plain Greek yogurt

2 eggs

1/2 cup baking stevia or 1 cup of sweetener that measures like sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 cup strawberries, diced and patted dry

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a 12 muffin pan with either silicone liners or tin ones as this will stick to the paper ones. Place all the ingredients except for the strawberries into blender or food processor and blend until oats are smooth. Pour into a medium bowl and mix in the strawberries. Pour into liners and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Pin It

Strawberry Chocolate Triffle Recipe

Ingredients:

1 pack of chocolate cake mix

1 quart fresh strawberries

15oz strawberry glaze

2- 12oz frozen whipped topping

1 cup chocolate frosting

shaved chocolate

Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using a 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Cool completely on a wire rack. Save 5 strawberries for garnishing and slice the rest of the strawberries. Cut the cake into 1-inch pieces. Place half of the cubes in a 6-qt. glass punch bowl. Top with half of the sliced strawberries and drizzle with half of the strawberry glaze. Spread with 3-1/2 cups whipped topping. Heat the chocolate frosting in the microwave for 20-30 seconds until pourable. Drizzle half of it onto the whipped topping. Repeat layers of cake,  strawberries, glaze, whipped topping and frosting. Cover with remaining whipped topping.Cover and refrigerate until serving. Garnish with shaved chocolate and reserved strawberries.

Pin It

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Sandwiches

These are so easy to make and they taste so yummy. They are a great way to snazzy up those boring pretzels in kids lunches for school or for parties.

Ingredients:

Pretzels

Peanut Butter

Almond Bark( regular chocolate one)

Take peanut butter and spread it on a pretzel. Put another one on top to make a sandwich. Make as many of these as you want. Then put the almond bark in a microwaveable bowl and melt it, stirring until there are no chunks. Take the sandwiches and dip them into the chocolate. 

Pin It

How To Make Footprint Butterflies

Supplies You'll Need:

Paint

Canvas

Marker

Take a paint brush and paint the bottom of your child's foot. You can make it one solid color or you can print blotches of different colors. Press it down on the canvas. Repeat with the other foot. But make sure that the feet are together by the outside of the foot. Use the marker to draw a body, head and antennae. 

Pin It

Bottle Cap Caterpillar Craft

What You'll Need:

6 Bottle Caps

Green Paper

Scissors

Glue

Crayons

Pipe Cleaners

Googly Eyes

First, cut a leaf shape out of the green piece of paper. Have your child color the bottle caps the colors they chose. Pour a bit of glue onto a scrap paper and have your child dip the cap into the glue then stick the caps onto the leaf in a line. Glue eyes and a pipe cleaner smile onto the first cap. Glue antennae above the face bottle cap and use a crayon to draw legs underneath the rest of the caps.

Pin It

Strawberry Cake Cookie Recipe

These strawberry cookies are really good and are so pretty. They would be great to make at valentines day since they are pink. 

Ingredients:

1 strawberry cake mix

2 eggs

1/2 vegetable oil

1/2 cup coconut

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

In a medium bowl, mix together the vegetable oil and eggs. Add in the strawberry cake mix and the coconut. Roll the cookie dough into balls and place them about 2inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. 

Pin It

Chocolate Cake Cookies

These are without a doubt one of the best chocolate cookies I have ever had. They are really simple to make and taste so delicious.

Ingredients:

1 chocolate cake mix

2 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cups mini chocolate chips

Mix a medium bowl, mix the eggs and the vegetable oil. Add in the cake mix and chocolate chips.

Roll the cookie dough into balls and place about 2inches apart on a cookie sheet.

Cook for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Pin It

How To Make Homemade Apple Chips

Apple chips are so good but they are kind of on the expensive side. The homemade ones tastes just as good and even better then the store bought ones. You can use whatever kind of apples you like!

Ingredients:

1 large apple

2tbsp light brown sugar

1tbsp cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 225 degrees and line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Thinly slice the apple carefully. If you have a mandolin use that but I'm just using a knife since I dont own one.

Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Dip the apple slices in the cinnamon mix just to lightly coat the chips.

Bake for 1 hour. Take out and flip them over. Then bake for another hour.

Pin It

Caramel Cheesecake Apple Dip Recipe

This recipe is so easy to make and its only 3 ingredients! I love it on green apples :)

Ingredients:

2-8oz packages cream cheese

1 cup caramel ice cream topping, chilled

graham cracker crumbs

In a mix bowl, whip the cream cheese for about 1 minute until it is light and fluffy. Stir in the caramel topping.

Serve with apple slices. Dip them in the caramel mixture and dip it in the graham cracker crumbs.

You can store it in the fridge for about a week.

Pin It

Super Healthy Chocolate Milkshake Recipe

This milkshake is so amazing! I drank the first one and then made a second one since it is only 50 calories. :)

Ingredients:

1 heaping tbsp of peanut butter

1 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder

1 tbsp maple syrup/sugar/sweetener

2 frozen bananas pre-sliced

1 cup milk

I used Truvia sweetener so it was even healthy then if i used the sugar or maple syrup

Blend all the ingredients together and enjoy :)

It's great to give to the kids because they don't know that its healthy lol.



Pin It

Happy Father's Day to Me :)

Yesterday was Father's Day. Now normally you would get a super cheesy card for the father that's from the kid and the dad would gloat over it like the world was in that card. But since Aubree has no father in her life we didn't do any such thing. I consider myself her father, I mean I take care of her 24/7 without any help from the person who should be helping me. He hasn't been around since she was born. I've replaced that role as her father.

 She has an Uncle Jake who I know she will love when she grows up. He is so cute with her. He will carry her around and make funny faces at her and everything its sweet. I know she will look up to him when she gets older and see how great of a father he is to his own son and she will see that not all men are like her father. :)

I do hope one day to find a husband that will love Aubree as much as I do and that will be a father to her. I know I have high hopes and that I should probably set my standards and dreams lower, but I just want Aubree to have the best life possible. I want her to have a ton of people in her life who want nothing more then for her to be happy and love on her. All of this was part of God's plan for her and I and I know he wouldn't give me this situation unless he knew I could handle it. I thank God everyday that he did put me in this situation because I realized how strong of a person I am. I love Aubree more then life itself and I would do anything for her. She is my world.

So to all the single moms out in the world, Happy Father's Day. No one really thinks to acknowledge us one this day because we aren't a man. But we are stronger then anyone else because we are doing everything by ourselves. Whether the dad be a dead-beat, or tragically passed away, we are still the ones who have to hold the family together and work harder then ever to provide the best lives we can for our children.

Pin It