Tortilla Chips

My family loves tortilla chips, but I always feel bad serving something with that much fat and sodium.  So, I've started making our own.  I use mission corn tortillas (the extra thin variety), and cut them into sixths with a pizza cutter.  The kids help me spread them out on a greased cookie sheet.  Then I spray the tops with grease and bake them at 400 for about 9 minutes.

Lunch Veggie Creations

Plenty of creativity at our house today. And thanks Target for the super special on the pull apart Twizzlers and the fun summer tablecloth.

Egg-cellent Meals

Tonight we had a salad bar. The kids aren't super fans of salad and my husband wasn't going to be home to eat with us. So I pulled out some food markers I bought some time ago for a long since forgotten project and decorated our hard-boiled eggs. Instead of complaining that we were "just having salad" for dinner we had very creative dinner conversations and even some super hero egg action.

Of course custom designed plates plates (makit.com) help too. I hope that egg follows the iron rod, but I have a feeling it's about to wander into a dark and dreary stomach (dreary for the lack of green food on that particular plate).

Doll Dress

Photo and Dress by 8 year old

Problem: Your daughter wants more clothes for her 18" doll (not a true American Doll because you're too thrifty for that and therefore too thrifty to pay for doll clothes).

Solution: Google "free american doll dress patterns" and pick the easiest one you see. In this case Liberty Jane's drawstring dress was the winner.

Bonus: Great bonding experience and sewing skills are learned too.

Warning: Best if kiddo knows a little about sewing already. I wouldn't recommend this as a first time sewing project. A pillowcase is a great first time sewing project. But Miss J did a fanstastic job.

Teach Your Kids About the Orchestra

My kids came home from school today talking about a game they played in music class. We checked it out and I really like it. So if you want to teach your kids about the instruments in an orchestra check out Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra courtesy of Carnegie Hall.

DIY Ribbon Holder

My ribbon collection was out of control. While I was looking in my closet for a wooden dowel to make a ribbon box I discovered the perfect solution - the wire hanger!! Simply untwist the hanger at the top, slide spools on it, and retwist. Presto!

If you don't have any wire hangers dry cleaners often have extra hangers available for free.

Freezer Paper T Shirt Update #2 - post wash

So now that I've washed this shirt a few times I thought I'd show the wear and tear. The upper lettering with just the Simply Screen paint by Plaid is wearing nicely - no signs of cracking, fading, etc. The star where I first put acrylic paint and then put Simply Screen paint over top isn't doing so well. It is cracking and chipping. I stand by the Simply Screen paint just don't layer it over cheap acrylic paint.

In case you were wondering, these opinions are strictly mine. No compensation of any kind was received for this post.