my kids love these!

Are your kids obsessed with your work id tag?! My kids LOVED playing with Grandma's...before she retired :) So, I thought it'd be fun to make one for each of the kids for Christmas. My friend and I found these at Walmart, and they have been a hit! I love to see their imaginations, and this little id card has added to the creativity around here! Love it! I put a photo of my kids in their Halloween costumes, and also made a "secret agent" one for my nephew. Just look in the office section--these pull chord thingies (that's the technical term) came in a pack of 6, and the plastic card sleeves came in a pack of 20 or so. very cheap!

Yes, she picked out her outfit today and it's....um.....quirky ;)

Italian Hillside Garden soup

I'm on a quest to try out as many healthy crockpot recipes from this cookbook as I can, so I thought I'd show you what the book looks like! There are a TON of awesome ones I can't wait to try! (thanks for the gift Mom! :) Did you know you can even make cake, and beverages in a crockpot?! Who knew?! It's called "Crock Pot- the original slow cooker - recipe collection"

RECIPE for this soup page 66 (tastes better than it looks...promise!)
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 C. chopped green bell pepper
1 cup chopped onion (or more if you're like me:)
1/2 cup sliced celery
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, undrained
1 can (15.5 oz) navy beans, drained and rinsed
1 medium zucchini, chopped
1 C. frozen cut green beans, thawed
2 cans (14 oz each) low sodium chicken broth
1/4 tsp garlic powder (or I like minced too)
1 pkg (9 oz) refrigerated sausage or cheese-filled tortellini pasta
3 Tbsp chopped fresh basil
grated Asiago or  Parmesan cheese (optional)

1. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat until hot. Add bell pepper, onion, and celery. Cook and stir 4 min or until onions are translucent. Transfer to 5 qt. slow cooker.
2. Add tomatoes with juice, navy beans, zucchini, grean beans, broth and garlic powder. Cover; cook on low 7 hours or on high 3.5 hours.
3 Turn crock pot to high. add tortellini and cook on high 20-25 minutes longer or until pasta is tender. Stir in basil. Garnish each serving with cheese. Enjoy on a cold cozy night :)

little crafty idea

I bought these containers at IKEA and wanted to do something different and fun with them besides fill them with things (which is also fun!) so I made them for my friend Jen for her birthday :) She is planning to hang them in her kids craft area! But, they have a magnet back so you could do without the ribbon and put them on a magnet board. All you need is a containter, cute photo, some fun patterned paper, ribbon, and for the inside, I used a decorative sticker roll. (Looks like ribbon, only it's a sticker so it's easy to apply and you're also able to reposition!) And on one of them, I used little decorative flowers on the inside. (Michaels has all these goodies!) I used a hot glue gun to adhere the ribbon to the back of the container, and scrapbooking glue for the photo. Have fun! :)

front view

"ribbon sticker" on the inside of the container

decorative paper on the outside

yummy snack!

This snack is oh so yummy! I am addicted!  Found these at Costco if any of you are fans :) the laughing cow cheese is also so good with pretzel crisps...which I am even more addicted to!

my cute neighbors :)

Before Christmas I got to have a quick little shoot with our dear friends and neighbors. We are truly blessed to live next to them and have them in our lives! These are a few of my favs. Love these peeps :)

a simple, personalized gift!

These are so easy and fun to make! Who doesn't love something personalized, right? All you need is a blank notebook, fun papers, (I use cardstock) scrapbooking glue, ribbon and chipboard letters. Measure, cut, and layer your papers, then add the monogram ...Voila! I made probably 12 of these this year for Christmas for family, friends and teachers....they are quite quick to make! You can buy a package of coordinating pens for a fun little gift! Have fun! :)

Wintergreen salad...My new favorite!

I first tried this salad at Thanksgiving, and it is deeeelish!! And, it is such a pretty salad too :)
Here's what you'll  need:

 1/4 c chopped pecans
2T sugar
8 c. torn assorted greens
2 c. celery
2 c. green grapes
1 c. raspberries
3 kiwi- peeled and sliced

Dressing:
1/4 c. oil
2 T balsamic vinegar
2 T sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

In small skillet, melt sugar and coat pecans. Dump out onto wax paper. when cool, break apart. In large bowl, combine salad greens, grapes, celery and kiwi.
Add raspberries, pecans, and dressing just before serving.
Enjoy!! Bet you can't eat just one serving!! ;)