Love and Laundry

Weekend Wonders #40 (Plus Features!)

2013-05-16T19:05:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Weekend Wonders #40! We're so glad you're here to party with us tonight! Weekend Wonders #39 had so many fantastic people and projects. A great big Thank You to everyone who comes by and links up with us every week! You guys are so awesome!!!

Last week's party had so much traffic there ended up being an amazing 6 way tie for the most viewed link!! Thank you so much for all the clicking and commenting you do here at Weekend Wonders. You all make the party so much fun!
For your features this week, I give you the 6 most clicked on links.. In random order we have...

Embellished Flip Flops From The DIY Dreamer

Making Birthdays Special for Kids from The Bean Sprout Notes

DIY Grad Gift Ideas from Redfly Creations

Tips to Grow out Your Hair from The Benson Street

The Best Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad from Life On Lakeshore Drive

Painted Watermelon Shoes from Three Dawg Lady Designs

Absolutely fabulous stuff ladies! Grab a feature button, you deserve it!

And now on to this week's party...

The party will be open until Wednesday at midnight and we'll both be sharing our features at the party the following week. We will also be pinning our featured posts on Pinterest, into our Weekend Wonder Features Board.

Weekend Wonders Guidelines...

Follow your hosts, Love and Laundry and The Thriftiness Miss via GFC or bloglovin. If you are a new follower, leave a comment and let us know how you follow and we will make sure to return the favor.

Link to a specific post, not your homepage.

Show us your crafts, recipes, shopping hauls, photos, stories, really whatever you're proud of!

Please do not link up Etsy shops, parties, and/or giveaways.

Visit some other links and let them know how wonderful they are! We all love some positive feedback.

**By linking up to Weekend Wonders, you are hereby by giving us permission to share your projects and pictures via different social media networks. Always with a link back to you of course!!**

Grab a party button for your sidebar and/or party page and help spread the word!

Now link up and have fun! We can't wait to see what you've been working on this week!

How to pack a healthy lunch with Kidz ZonePerfect Bars

2013-05-15T09:54:00.000-06:00

** ZonePefect sent me some of their new Kidz ZonePerfect Bars to try for this post. However, all opinions are 100% my own.

My kid's love to take sack lunches to school. It's the funniest thing! I always thought it was a treat to eat school lunches. But my kids prefer to bring lunch from home. My funny 7-year old boy loves them so much that he offers to "earn" a sack lunch by cleaning his room. Ummm....sold! If he cleans his room, he is MORE than welcome to take a sack lunch (Just between you and me, I probably would have let him take one anyway. I'm not complaining about a rarely cleaned room, though. Whatever works, right?)

When Kidz ZonePerfect told me about their Pack.Share.Win! contest, I was in!

Here's the lunch I packed for my kiddos as an entry:

My kids are so easy to feed. They would just about eat anything! But, I like them to eat healthy, of course.
This is what I packed:

An almond butter and honey sandwich (on white wheat bread)
A banana
String cheese
Apple juice
And instead of a sugary treat, I packed a nutritious Kidz ZonePerfect Bar (Yellow Cupcake - yum!)

Kidz ZonePerfect has three yummy flavors: Yellow Cupcake, Caramel Crunch and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. And they are all three really tasty!

As a mom, the thing I love the most about them is the nutrition! Each bar has 23 vitamins and minerals, five grams of protein and three grams of fiber. A perfect compliment to any lunch or snack for kids!

Oh, and I couldn't forget to include a sweet note for my kids!

Thank you, Zone Perfect for sending us these yummy treats to try out!!

Fresh Strawberries and Cream Cake

2013-05-14T07:00:00.000-06:00

Have you guys been following the 31 Days of Summer fun series at Girl Loves Glam? Here's the link to the post with all of the info: http://www.girllovesglam.com/2013/04/31-days-of-summer-fun.html. It's so fun to see all of the bloggers participating! Almost everyone has done crafts, but I thought it would be fun to do something food/dessert related for my post!

I love it when strawberries come in season! I buy all that I can and gobble them up. My kids love them just as much as I do. And I have to admit, there has been a time or two that I've hidden the container of strawberries in the back of the fridge at ate them all after the kids were asleep.

I don't just love strawberries, I love a good fresh strawberry dessert. Okay, love is maybe a little bit of an understatement. Let's just say that fresh strawberry desserts don't last very long at our house.

This dessert is really light - definitely not rich or heavy. And, as far as desserts go, it's light on the sugar, which is always nice, right?

You start by baking a strawberry pound cake. Then, split it in half. Layer it with strawberries and freshly whipped cream. I dare you not to eat more than one piece. Extra large pieces count as two, by the way.

Fresh Strawberries and Cream Cake

Ingredients for the cake:
3/4 cup butter (at room temperature)
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar plus 2 tablespoons of sugar
2 large eggs plus 2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup milk
12 large strawberries

Ingredients for the strawberry filling:
1 pound of strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced
1/4 c sugar

Ingredients for freshly whipped cream:
1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
2 tablespoons hot water

Directions for the cake:

Preheat the oven to 350.
Wash, hull and chop up the strawberries. Put them in a bowl and sprinkle the 2 tablespoons of sugar on top. Let that sit. The sugar helps the strawberries release the juices. After they've been sitting 10 minutes or so, use a potato masher and mash those strawberries up!
Meanwhile, beat the butter and sugar together until they are light and fluffy. I recommend and good five minutes of beating. Trust me, it's worth it!
Add the eggs and yolks one at a time. Be sure that you mix really well in between. Then mix in the vanilla and mashed up strawberries.
Combine the flour, salt and baking powder together in a bowl.
Slowly add the flour mixture and the milk. First add a little bit of flour. Mix until just combined. Then add a little bit of milk. Mix again until just combined. Then a little more flour....you get the idea. Just a little at a time until it's all mixed in.
Bake the cake in a 9-inch springform pan for 40-50 minutes. I'm at a high altitude and it took about 50 minutes. Just check ever few minutes at the end until a tooth pick comes out clean. After the cake is baked, let it completely cool

Directions for the strawberry filling:

Divide the sliced strawberries into a 2/3 to 1/3 portions. The 2/3 portion will go inside and the 1/3 portion will go on top.
Take the 2/3 portion of strawberries and sprinkle with the sugar. Let that sit and release the juices.

Directions for the freshly whipped cream:

It the hot water, dissolve the unflavored gelatin. Let it cool completely. (This is the secret to being able to make this dessert a day in advance. It helps stabilize the whipped cream! If you're planning to assemble this dessert and eat it immediately, you can skip this part!)
In a stand mixer, with the paddle attachment, add the sugar and heavy whipping cream. Whip until soft peaks form.
Slowly add the gelatin/water mixture and mix in again until soft peaks form.

Now it's time for the assembly of the cake!

With a long serrated knife, slice the cake in half.

On the bottom half, add the strawberries and sugar (the 2/3 portion).

Top that with about half of the whipped cream.

Put the top half of the cake back on and spread the other half of the whipped cream.

Finish off with the remaining 1/3 of fresh strawberries.

In my opinion, the most impressive thing about this cake is that it hold up really well. I thought that when I sliced into it, it would fall right apart. But it stays together just as well as any two layer cake I've tried.

I also love that you can make this a day (or even the morning) ahead. If you're making this for company, you can present a beautiful dessert that you didn't have to assemble while they are all waiting.

But the best thing about this cake is it's incredibly delicious flavor. It is to die for!! You'll definitely fall head over heels in love!

Here's more from the summer fun series!

Made in Idaho $400 Giveaway!

2013-05-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

I've been really excited about this fun giveaway! There are so many amazing bloggers that are from Idaho! We're all from all over the state, but when we can we try to have blogger meet-ups. It's been so fun for me to get to know all of these awesome girls! Did you know that many of your favorite online businesses from the state of Idaho? Most people think of potatoes and Napoleon Dynamite when they think of Idaho, but there is a lot of talent packed into the great state of Idaho! That is why several of the Idaho bloggers wanted to join together in celebration of just how great Idaho really is and host a BIG giveaway! All of the items being given away are from businesses here in Idaho who have customers all over the world! One lucky person is going to win over $400 worth of amazing prizes. We love our Idaho businesses and want to continue to support what they do! Please remember to shop from each of these Idaho businesses! Karen's Cookies Cut it Out Expressions Vinyl Cosette's Closet Younique by Debi Swagger Boutique If You Can't Fail it Doesn't Count on Amazon Fawn and Foal Handmade Soap Shack Bugaboo Stitch to Stitch My Vinyl Direct Artistry By McKenzie G The Jean Girl To enter, use the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Mother's Day!

2013-05-12T12:08:00.002-06:00

Happy Mother's Day to all of you beautiful moms!

First things first, I need to announce the winner of the Blue Nile Sterling Silver Chandelier Earrings!

If your name is Ellen C., be sure to check your email!

I thought it would also be fun to share some cute Mother's Day videos!

Weekend Wonders #39 (Plus Features!)

2013-05-09T19:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Weekend Wonders #39! We're so glad you're here to party with us tonight! Weekend Wonders #38 had so many fantastic people and projects. A great big Thank You to everyone who comes by and links up with us every week! You guys are so awesome!!!

The most viewed link of last week's party was....

How I lost 20lbs in 3 Months from My Turn for Us

And a few of our favorites are...

DIY Popcorn Can Makeover from The Benson Street

The Why and How of my WordPress Move from White Lights on Wednesday

Star Wars Cookies from Sugarkissed.net

Frozen Blueberry Cheesecake Popsicles from Pink Sized Baker

Amazing stuff ladies!! Thank you so much for sharing with us!

Grab a button if you ere featured above..

Follow your hosts, Love and Laundry and The Thriftiness Miss via GFC or bloglovin. If you are a new follower, leave a comment and let us know how you follow and we will make sure to return the favor.

Link to a specific post, not your homepage.

Show us your crafts, recipes, shopping hauls, photos, stories, really whatever you're proud of!

Please do not link up Etsy shops, parties, and/or giveaways.

Visit some other links and let them know how wonderful they are! We all love some positive feedback.

**By linking up to Weekend Wonders, you are hereby by giving us permission to share your projects and pictures via different social media networks. Always with a link back to you of course!!**

Grab a party button for your sidebar and/or party page and help spread the word!

Now link up and have fun! We can't wait to see what you've been working on this week.

One Skillet Breakfast Burritos

2013-05-09T13:32:00.000-06:00

I love breakfast burritos! We have them for dinner all the time. I've never been "taught" how to make them, I've just kind of figured it out on my own through the years. I honestly have no idea how other people make breakfast burritos. Maybe this is the same way, maybe it's totally different. But either way they are easy and delicious! And if you know me at all, you know that I hate dishes. I'm all about easy clean up. These are a one skillet dinner so clean up is a breeze!

One Skillet Breakfast Burritos
makes 8-9 breakfast burritos

1 lb of maple flavored bacon or sausage (I prefer bacon, but I make it either way)
3 medium sized potatoes
5 eggs
1/2 C sharp cheddar cheese
9 large flour tortillas
Salsa for dipping

Peel and dice the potatoes. Add the potatoes and bacon or sausage to a warmed skillet. I love to use my iron skillet for this!

Cook until the potatoes are soft. Almost so cooked that they are just shy of mushy. The flavor from the bacon or sausage soaks into the potatoes while they cook.

Once the bacon or sausage and potatoes are completely cooked, it's time to add the eggs. If you're skillet is really greasy, feel free to drain some of that grease ahead of time. Also, I usually push all of the meat and potatoes out of the way and let the eggs cook for a minute on one side of the pan.

One the eggs start cooking, mix them in with the bacon/sausage and potatoes. Keep stirring until all of the eggs are cooked.

Before filling the tortillas, sprinkle with some sharp cheddar cheese. I love sharp cheddar. It has such an impact of flavor that you can use less (which means less calories!).

Roll up and enjoy with some of your favorite salsa!

Blue Nile Leaf Chandelier Earring GIVEAWAY!!!

2013-05-07T17:34:00.004-06:00

Mother's day is right around the corner and I have an AWESOME giveaway for you guys!!!

Blue Nile offered to give one lucky reader a pair of their Sterling Silver Leaf Chandelier Earrings!

These earrings are gorgeous! And they are really light weight, which for me is important in a dangly earring. I think these may be my favorite earrings now! (And to be fully transparent, Blue Nile sent me a pair to try out. However, my opinions are completely my own.)

And in addition to the giveaway, Blue Nile has offered to give a 10% discount on your online purchase so you can get your mom something nice!

They really have some of the most beautiful jewelry I've ever seen!

Go to bluenile.com/momgift13 to get 10% off your order!

If you love the earrings so much, you just can't wait and want to order them now, here's the link to where you can find them: http://www.bluenile.com/sterling-silver-leaf-chandelier-earrings_20355

In the meantime, enter to win these gorgeous Sterling Silver Leaf Chandelier Earrings. I'm closing the Giveaway Saturday so that if you win, you can tell your mom her earrings are on the way!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cookie Monster

2013-05-03T08:00:00.000-06:00

We have a pizza joint here that has really good pizza. It's a local place that seems to go in and out of business. Every time it re-opens, it changes owner. The pizza recipe has been changed quite a bit through the years. But, one thing that's stayed the same is their cookie monster. When my kids have a birthday, I sometimes take them there to share one. A few weeks ago, my oldest boy turned 7. We already had a birthday party planned for the weekend after, so I wanted to go a little bit frugal with his actual birthday dinner. I knew right away that I wanted to include a homemade cookie monster.

Read more »

Weekend Wonders #38 (Plus Features!)

2013-05-02T19:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Weekend Wonders #38! We're so glad you're here to party with us tonight! Weekend Wonders #37 had so many fantastic people and projects. A great big Thank You to everyone who comes by and links up with us every week! You guys are so awesome!!!

The most viewed link of last week's party was....

{Skinny} Granola Cookie Wedges from Yummy. Healthy. Easy.

And a few of our favorites are...

8 things to know about how to remove wall paper from A Pinch Of Joy

A Little Quilt For Cédric from La Gang a Nat

4 Ingredient No-Bake Cheesecake from High Heels and Grills

Easy Flowery Shoes from Make It Easy Crafts

Amazing stuff ladies!! Thank you so much for Sharing them this us!

Grab a button if you ere featured above..

Follow your hosts, Love and Laundry and The Thriftiness Miss via GFC or bloglovin. If you are a new follower, leave a comment and let us know how you follow and we will make sure to return the favor.

Link to a specific post, not your homepage.

Show us your crafts, recipes, shopping hauls, photos, stories, really whatever you're proud of!

Please do not link up Etsy shops, parties, and/or giveaways.

Visit some other links and let them know how wonderful they are! We all love some positive feedback.

**By linking up to Weekend Wonders, you are hereby by giving us permission to share your projects and pictures via different social media networks. Always with a link back to you of course!!**

Grab a party button for your sidebar and/or party page and help spread the word!

Now link up and have fun! We can't wait to see what you've been working on this week.

Our Favorite Teachers! {Plus, learn how you can support YOUR favorite teachers!}

2013-05-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

Have I ever told you that I want to be a teacher when I grow up? With my husband working in the school system, it just seems like an awesome fit - you know, with the days off and all. But even when I was a little girl, being a teacher seemed like such an amazing job. I've always been blessed with some great teachers! Growing up, I remember my mom always talking about how good my teachers were.

Now that I am grown up, I try to help as often as possible in my kids classes. I've been pretty lucky to have been able to help almost every year. I feel like my kids have been blessed with pretty awesome teachers as well.

I'll be honest, though It has been incredibly eye opening for me to help in my kid's classrooms. First of all, I never realized HOW amazing teachers actually are. I knew they were pretty special, but oh my goodness, they are such hard workers! Believe me, I have second guessed my dream of becoming a teacher! Teachers are SO under appreciated!! They sacrifice so much for their kids. It's truly a labor of love!

Did you know that 92% of teachers report spending their own money out of pocket for their classrooms? The average is $1000 per year for each teacher! That's $1000 my daughter's teacher has spent of her own money just to help my girl get a better education! Oh, and in case you're trying to do the math, that adds up to $1.3 billion nationally each and every year. My heart is so full of gratitude just thinking about it!!

I know that school funding is tight everywhere. It seems like we hear all the time that education budgets are getting cut left and right. Idaho is definitely not the exception. Last school year, Idaho had the least funding per student in the entire US. And it's easy to see the effects. Today, while helping in my son's classroom, the teacher was scrambling to find enough erasers for the kids to use. Erasers! Something that you would expect to be abundant in every classroom. I know of many, many art projects that my kids have brought home that were used with teacher donated supplies. And, both of my kids teachers bring snacks for the kids every single day so that the kids won't be hungry and can learn better. The thing that most amazes me is that these teacher often do this because they love teaching. Not because they want praise. They are just incredible people that love our kids and want to make a difference!

Thankfully, there are ways that we can help! I was so excited when I heard about the the Office Depot Real Change Project. It's a partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org where parents can help donate money to their child's classroom. The best part is, 100% of the donations go directly to teachers! You can even find a specific classroom to donate to, so you know that what you are contributing will directly affect your child or school. Education is so important to me! It's important for our country and for our kid's future! The time of sitting by and relying on government funding alone is long gone. If we want to make a lasting impact on our children's future, we need to help our teachers more!

If you're a teacher, be sure to get over there and register YOUR classroom! You could be eligible to get funding from donors nationwide!

Even if you can't help financially, you can help by spreading the word. Tell your child's teacher about the Office Depot Real Change Project so they can register. Tell your family and friends so they know how they can help! With everyone working together we can all make a difference in education!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Slow Cooker Rootbeer Pulled Pork

2013-05-01T08:00:00.000-06:00

Who doesn't love pulled pork? Okay, maybe vegetarians. But, we love it in our family. We buy huge pork loins at Sam's Club and cut them up and freeze them for later. On busy days, I love throwing one in the slow cooker and make pulled pork for dinner.

This recipe is a definite winner! My 7 year old son gobbled the whole thing up by the time I got to my second bite. I love this recipe because it is so easy! There are only three ingredients so it takes no time at all to throw it together in the morning!

Read more »

Horchata

2013-04-29T10:47:00.001-06:00

I grew up in Albuquerque, so I have a deep love of Mexican food. With Cinco de Mayo coming up, I've been in the mood for some horchata! The funny thing is the first time I tried horchata was actually after I moved to Idaho when I was in college. It's so delicious! It's definitely one of my favorite drinks. If you've never had it, it's a rice drink with a hint of cinnamon. It's yummy!

Read more »

Have you ever been to Missouri?

2013-04-26T19:00:00.001-06:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Missouri Department of Tourism for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

One thing you probably don't know about me is I love to travel. Love it! My dream summer is when we pack all of our kids and stuff in the car and hit the road. I feel so lucky to have married a guy that feels the same way. We've taken our kids all over the place in our car. We've traveled to the Oregon Coast. We've seen Mount Rushmore. We took them to Canada. Last summer we drove to Texas. And our kids do amazingly well in the car. Every one of them went on a long road trip when they were less than a year old, so I always joke that we trained them young. Often, during the winter, they ask when we're taking them on a road trip again.

This summer is a little different, though. Instead of the whole family, my hubby and I are taking a trip on our own. My kids have been a little bit sad about it. We're still thinking of slipping in a short road trip if we have any left over time or money.

I would love to take my kids to Missouri! Have you ever been? I've never been there, but one of my good friends grew up there. She's always talking about the fun they have with their kids when they head back to visit her family.

So, let's plan an imaginary vacation, shall we?

I'm a little bit of a bookie, and as soon as I heard that you could visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic house, I knew this would be on the list!

Or, the St. Louis Zoo! Did you know it's free to get into? My friend is always talking about what an amazing zoo it is! I would take my kids there for sure! It's also free to get in the St. Louis Science Center, Grant’s Farm, Citygarden and the St. Louis Art Museum! I always love free! Especially as a family on a budget!

I know my kids would love the all of the amusement parks - there are 3 major ones, plus tons of water parks.

I would also include the Gateway Arch and Branson on our Itinerary. Oh, and did you know they have a Hard Rock Cafe in St. Louis? Am I the only one who wants to collect a t-shirt from every one around the world. Plus, St. Louis is #10 on Travel + Leisure’s best American city for pizza. Yummy!

And if you're looking for more of an outdoor adventure, Missouri has got plenty!

Missouri boasts of 51 state parks, the Katy trail (which is 225 miles long!) AND is also The Cave State (for all of you spelunkers!).

In case you need any more convincing, here a some travel video highlighting the best!

What are you waiting for, Go like VisitMO on Facebook and follow VisitMO on Twitter! I know you'll be glad you did!

Weekend Wonders #37 (Plus features!)

2013-04-25T19:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Weekend Wonders #32! We're so glad you're here with us tonight!

Weekend Wonders #36 had so many fantastic people and projects. A great big Thank You to everyone who comes by and links up with us every week! You guys are awesome!!!

The most viewed link of last week's party was....

7 Things your blog needs to keep readers coming back from Rain on a Tin Roof

And a few of our favorites are...

Creamy Mushroom and Prawns Pasta from Food is my Life

A Little Quilt for Brendan from Nat and Gang

Strawberry Cheesecake Bites from Simply Gloria

Hawaiian Sweet Rolls from i heart eating

Banana Pudding Cake from Lamberts Lately

Mother's Day Gift Ideas from Family Home and Life

Great stuff ladies! Grab a button below if you were featured above...

And now on to this week's party... The party will be open until Wednesday at midnight and we'll both be sharing our features at the party the following week. We will also be pinning our featured posts on Pinterest, into our Weekend Wonder Features Board.
Weekend Wonders Guidelines...

Follow your hosts, Love and Laundry and The Thriftiness Miss via GFC, bloglovin, or Linky Followers. If you are a new follower, leave a comment and let us know how you follow and we will make sure to return the favor.

Link to a specific post, not your homepage.

Show us your crafts, recipes, shopping hauls, photos, stories, really whatever you're proud of! We want to see it all!

Please do not link up Etsy shops, parties, and/or giveaways.

Visit some other links and let them know how wonderful they are! We all love some positive feedback.

Grab a party button for your sidebar and/or party page and help spread the word!

Now link up ans have fun! We can't wait to see what you've been working on this week.

Rock this Test

2013-04-23T10:58:00.003-06:00

This is a post where I brag about my husband and how awesome he is. And how awesome his school is. The kids, teachers and staff are all pretty awesome, too!

Last week, they took the state standardized testing and they made this awesome video to inspire the kids to do amazing on the test. I love it and I couldn't help but share it with you!!

I've blogged before about how they are using a program called The Leader in Me based on Stephen R. Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. That's the "habits" they're referring to in the video.

If you're in a reader, click here to see the video: http://www.loveandlaundry.com/2013/04/rock-this-test.html

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

2013-04-19T12:02:00.001-06:00

My love of brownies is really infinite! I make them in every way I possible can! I've tried making chocolate chip cookie dough brownies before, but they were a big fat mess. They tasted good, but were so ugly!

This week, my husband needed a treat to take to his school. So, I used this opportunity to try a challenge. Make cookie dough brownies that not only tasted amazing, but looked pretty as well!

Read more »

The First Infographic Made By Kids - a post about how awesome TeachHUB.com is!

2013-04-18T20:21:00.000-06:00

In our house, we are HUGE about education. I know almost everyone will say that. And it's probably true with almost every family. But, it's literally a huge part of our lives. Not only do I have two kids in school, my husband also works at an Elementary School as the school counselor. He is just finishing up his second Master's Degree (actually in the education world, it's know as an Ed Specialist Degree since he already has his Masters). In about two weeks, he'll have his Administrative Degree and we're hoping that next school year he'll be a principal! So, education is not only important to our family because we care about our children, but it is also what pays our mortgage every month!

This week is National Library Week! TeachHUB.com has put together the FIRST EVER info-graphic made by kids! Look how fun it is?

Since it's National Library Week, it was interesting to me to see the information about favorite books. My daughter is a huge Junie B. Jones fan. My son has been in kind of a reading slump lately. I asked yesterday on my Facebook page about good books for boys, and nearly everyone answered with Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I love reading with my kids and watching them learn to read. As a parent that has absolutely been my favorite part of having them in school!

I love to see that kids wish they could learn more about ART! I couldn't agree more, and that's why I try to do crafts and activities with my own kids! It's fun to see some of the other topics. Dinosaurs? I was completely obsessed when I was a little girl.

Oh..and I love the save icon question. Too funny! I still remember using those in high school.

One of the things I've learned since having kids in school is how important it is to stay up to date about what's going on in the education world. It's definitely harder than I thought to do that. I do help in their classes every week and talk quite regularly with each of their teachers. But, my view from the outside in is still quite limited.

TeachHUB.com completely eliminates that problem! There is so much information available on that website that everyone from the parent, to the teacher (especially teachers!), to the home schooler, to people like me who love to just supplement a little at home!

Well, since we are so education oriented, I was excited to get the opportunity to talk about TeachHUB.com! It is such a fun website! There are lesson plans (for teacher, by teachers). There is news about education and education technology - as a parent I love this! There are articles you can read to help your child be better in school. Plus, it's free to join! You can subscribe to the latest updates from their Facebook or through Twitter. (p.s. They even have a Pinterest!)

I was selected for this opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, and content and opinions expressed here are all my own. To learn more about the TeachHUB.com, visit their website. #CleverTeachers #NLW13

Weekend Wonders #36 + Features!

2013-04-18T19:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Weekend Wonders #36! We're so glad you're here with us tonight! Weekend Wonders #35 had so many fantastic people and projects. A great big Thank You to everyone who comes by and links up with us!

The most viewed link of last week's party was....

Dream Jar from Artsy Vava And a few of our favorites were...

Ice Cream Themed Party From Events To Celebrate

Bacon Cheddar Deviled Eggs From Butter With A side Of Bread

10 Boy Approved Picture Books From Just Another Day In Paradise

Fairy Garden In A Container From Silo Hill Farm

Printable Laundry Stain Removal Chart From A Typical English Home

Great stuff ladies! Grab a button below if you were featured above...

And now on to this week's party...

The party will be open until Wednesday at midnight and we'll both be sharing our features at the party the following week. We will also be pinning our featured posts on Pinterest, into our Weekend Wonder Features Board.

Weekend Wonders Guidelines...

Follow your hosts, Love and Laundry and The Thriftiness Miss via GFC, bloglovin, or Linky Followers. If you are a new follower, leave a comment and let us know how you follow and we will make sure to return the favor.

Link to a specific post, not your homepage.

Show us your crafts, recipes, shopping hauls, photos, stories, really whatever you're proud of! We want to see it all!

Please do not link up Etsy shops, parties, and/or giveaways.

Visit some other links and let them know how wonderful they are! We all love some positive feedback.

Grab a party button for your sidebar and/or party page and help spread the word!

Now link up and have fun! We can't wait to see what you've been working on this week!

Spring to Summer Block Sign

2013-04-17T07:00:00.000-06:00

I did this fun seasonal craft for my March contributor post over at My Favorite Finds. Just in case you missed it, I thought I would re-post it over here!

I bought a kit from here a few months ago and I'm finally getting it put together. I think it uses pretty simple wood pieces. You could find something similar at your local craft store. To decorate, I used scrapbook paper, mod podge, vinyl, and little nails for the eyes. To give it a worn out chic look, I roughed up the edges with sand paper when I was finished.

But, my favorite thing about this cute 3-piece sign is the back:

There's no sense in hauling out new decorations every season! Just flip the spring blocks around to show the summer side!

Smoked Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

2013-04-16T13:52:00.000-06:00

I've been really excited to finally share this post with you guys! I got to work with Hidden Valley Ranch and Relish Magazine on a fun recipe using the new Hidden Valley™ Sandwich Spreads & Dips. Trust, me, all of the new flavors are delicious! I'm excited to use them a lot this summer.

We're pretty huge bacon fans at this house, and although they are meant to be Spreads & Dips, I couldn't help but try something a little unconventional.

If you want to read my post and get the recipe for this yummy Smoked Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad, go here: http://blogs.relish.com/smoked-bacon-ranch-pasta-salad/

If you want to see all of the yummy blogger recipes using Hidden Valley™ Sandwich Spreads & Dips, go here: http://blogs.relish.com/category/craveable-sandwiches

ALSO, Hidden Valley Ranch is having a Create Craveable Sanwhiches sweepstakes right now! You could win $1000!! So, be sure to enter that!!

Thank you to Hidden Valley™ Sandwich Spreads & Dips for being a sponsor. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Crock Pot Giveaway (and link party!)

2013-04-15T15:38:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone....I just love giveaways and couldn't help but participate in this fun Crock Pot giveaway hosted by Miss Information and Juggling Act Mama! And I'm a little jealous that I can't acutally enter to win this fabulous Crock Pot!

This 6.5 quart Crock-Pot® Slow Cooker featuring Smart Cook™ Technology is the ultimate in convenience and style. No longer feel restricted to what days you use your slow cooker or what cook times fit your lifestyle. The Smart Cook™ Technology allows you to select your "Ready At" time and your protein type and then it does all the thinking for you.

Food will cook to the optimal temperature to be ready when you want it to be. Recipes that normally call for 6-8 hours can be extended for up to 12 hours, while recipes with 10-12 hour recommendations can be shortened to 6 hours. This means no more burning in your Crock-pot when you have to set it early before work or a day with your kids at the pool or sporting events. Plus it’s just beautiful with it’s stainless steel exterior and dishwasher safe removable interior.

Here are the fabulous bloggers that are bringing you this great giveaway, please go visit them and give them a page view as a thank you!

{Tossed Salad Life} {My Turn For Us} {Posed Perfection} {Giveaways &Sweepstakes}

{Mom’s Test Kitchen} {Clarks Condensed} {Sweet Pea Lifestyle} {Love and Laundry}

{A Mouse in My Kitchen} {Suzys Artsy Craftsy Sitcom} {Yours and Mine are Ours}

{The Tiny Heart} {Julies Eats and Treats} {Play 2 Learn with Sarah} {Call Me PMc}

{Life Revolves Around Them} {Now a Queen} {Mom Running on Empty}

{A Spectacled Owl} {Glitz Glam Budget} {Organized Island}

{The Frugal Foodie Momma} {Sparkles and A Stove} {Kelly’s Lucky You}

{Boys Oh Boys} {The Bitter Side of Sweet}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

2013-04-15T07:00:00.000-06:00

Words cannot express my love for Red Velvet. I remember very clearly the first time I tried it. The funny thing is, it was actually an ice cream flavor. I had no idea when I ordered it, the lady behind the counter was giving me something that would forever change my chocolate loving world! So, when I saw this recipe for Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies, I knew before even cracking the first egg that it would be a winner! And I was right. I had to hoard what I could because every living bite was devoured by my red-velvet-loving children. This are a definite classic in our house!

Read more »

Slow Cooker Calico Beans

2013-04-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

We have lots of traditions in our family. One of them is Calico Beans. Every 6 months, when our church holds General Conference, we make Calico Beans. General Conference is when everyone in the world attends church at the same time and it's broadcast on TV. We love it because it's an excuse to attend church in our PJs. Some people make Cinnamon Rolls, some make a special breakfast, but our family has beans. Because they are so delicious! Plus, they are easy to make and can feed a crowd with no problem! We got this recipe from my husband's mom. They ate it all the time growing up. And let me tell you, there's a reason this recipe has been around for so long.

If you're wondering what they taste like, the best way that I can describe them is sweet baked beans. These are so delicious paired with some rolls on a chilly afternoon!

Weekend Wonders #35 (Plus Features!!)

2013-04-11T19:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Weekend Wonders #35! We're so glad you're here with us tonight! Weekend Wonders #34 had so many fantastic people and projects. A great big Thank You to everyone who comes by and links up with us!

Growing your blog from Seasons of a Homemaker
The most viewed link of last week's party was....

And a few of our favorites are...

Spring Printable from Craftionary

Cafe Du Monde Beignets from Your Home Based Mom

Over Layer Pillow from Cook and Craft Me Crazy

Construction Hard Hat Cake Pops from Pint Sized Baker
Great stuff ladies! Grab a button below if you were featured above...

And now on to this week's party... The party will be open until Wednesday at midnight and we'll both be sharing our features at the party the following week. We will also be pinning our featured posts on Pinterest, into our Weekend Wonder Features Board.
Weekend Wonders Guidelines...

Follow your hosts, Love and Laundry and The Thriftiness Miss via GFC, bloglovin, or Linky Followers. If you are a new follower, leave a comment and let us know how you follow and we will make sure to return the favor.

Link to a specific post, not your homepage.

Show us your crafts, recipes, shopping hauls, photos, stories, really whatever you're proud of! We want to see it all!

Please do not link up Etsy shops, parties, and/or giveaways.

Visit some other links and let them know how wonderful they are! We all love some positive feedback.

Grab a party button for your sidebar and/or party page and help spread the word!

Now link up ans have fun! We can't wait to see what you've been working on this week.