Snippets 'N Stuff

How to Make a Tube Pillowcase

2024-06-24T14:20:00.005-06:00

To make one pillowcase, you will need three different patterned fabrics.

1- Main- 27 inches (3/4 yd.)

2- Cuff- 9 inches

3- Piping- 2 inches

Lay all fabrics on top of each other. Match up and cut off selvages.

With hot iron, press cuff and piping pieces in half lengthwise.

Open up 9 inch piece and lay face up on rotary mat. Lay the main fabric, face up, on top of the 9 inch piece. Lay piping piece on top of the cuff and main fabrics, lining up raw edges.

Roll fabric up from the bottom, like a tube, then fold 9 inch piece up to the top.

Pin all layers together and sew, using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Do not sew ends.

Pull fabric tube from inside out.

Open up and fold pillowcase, right sides together.

Lining up the cuff and piping, pin and stitch down the side and across bottom of pillowcase.

Turn right side out.

Press if needed.

If it is easier to watch a video tutorial, Jenny of Missouri Star has one posted on YouTube that is easy to follow.

Tactile Tie-Dye Easter Egg Coloring

2024-03-29T14:41:00.000-06:00

Browsing through Pinterest recently, I found several blogs explaining how to color Easter eggs with whipped topping. Some instructions said to use shaving cream, but don't. Just don't. Let's keep the ingredients edible for safety reasons, shall we? :)

Rather than just plopping hard boiled eggs into colored water that he can't see, I thought this would be a much better way for Cody to dye Easter eggs. He may not be able to see the colors, but he can feel the hard boiled eggs and fluffy whipped topping.

Should you decide to try out this method, here are the ingredients you'll need...

as well as the instructions in seven easy steps...

Step 1- Hard boil your eggs.

Step 2- After they have chilled for several hours, submerge the eggs in a bowl of vinegar and let them soak for at least 10 minutes.

Step 3- Pat the eggs dry with paper towels.

Step 4- Put a large spoonful of whipped topping into each muffin tin and add the gel food coloring.

Step 5- Swirl gently with toothpicks. Try to avoid overmixing. We don't want the eggs to be all one color.

Step 6- Insert an egg into each tin and cover it completely with tie dyed whipped topping. Let eggs sit in the tins for about 10 minutes, for vibrant colored eggs. If you'd like your eggs more pastel, shorten the time.

Step 7- Remove eggs and rinse in cold water. Let dry on a paper towel. Refrigerate until ready to hide or eat.

Twinkie Tuesday Valentines

2023-02-14T18:20:00.002-07:00

Since Valentine's Day falls on a Tuesday and Tuesday's Twinkie day, Cody took his favorite treat to share with friends. They aren't as cute as the Minion Valentines I made in 2014, but I AM 9 years older, so...

(Paper Minion Valentines purchased from Etsy's handnheartdesigns2.)

Raspberry Puree

2022-07-01T11:16:00.010-06:00

Ingredients

1 (12 oz.) bag frozen raspberries

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 cups water

Directions

Mix ingredients in saucepan on stove top. Bring to boil and simmer for 10 minutes, making sure sugar is well dissolved.

Cool. Blend with immersion hand blender.

Such a handy little tool. :)

Pour puree into a 2 quart glass jar and keep refrigerated.

Raspberries are my favorite berry. To beat the summer heat, I love to add 1-2 tablespoons of raspberry puree to a large glass of iced tea...

Also, being from Utah, we like our mixed sodas! My personal favorite is Diet Dr. Pepper, raspberry puree, and a couple of squirts of coconut syrup. Be creative with your favorite soft drinks (and hard drinks if you enjoy alcoholic beverages). You might even try pouring it over pancakes or waffles for breakfast, or use it as an ice cream topping. You have limitless choices. Enjoy!

Pop Rocks Student Gift Idea

2022-05-07T10:51:00.003-06:00

I found this simple, yet fun, end of the school year student gift idea at Fun 365 Oriental Trading and made them to give to my EL's the last week of school. I don't know of any kid that doesn't enjoy the taste and sensation of POP ROCKS. :)

Spider-Man Pool Party

2022-03-15T15:31:00.000-06:00

Brunch for 5 Year Olds

Donuts by Lin's Bakery

Birthday Cake created by Handmade by Brianna

Pop Tube Valentine's

2022-03-02T13:51:00.000-07:00

Super cute Valentine's, made by my daughter, for her son's preschool class.

She bought the colorful Pop Tubes from Amazon.

His teacher received a neatly decorated box with a cookie inside. :)

Valentine Chip Bags

2022-02-12T17:03:00.003-07:00

Cody's friends at his day program will get these tasty valentines this year.

Printables are from MabbRose Designs via Etsy.

Highlights of the Year 2021

2021-12-31T16:12:00.000-07:00

The year 2021 has been an eventful one for our family!

After having six adorable grandsons, I finally got my first grand-daughter.

(Respecting my daughter's wishes to not show her children's faces.
Scumbags on the internet ruin everything.)

My oldest son, Cody, turned 40! We celebrated with an open house.

Cody loved having his friends from Turn Community Services there.

Katelyn, who happens to be my youngest child, turned 30! What?! How?!!

Boyd and I went to Fort Worth, Texas to see my BF from high school and her family.

My sister, Camie, and her daughter, Lainey, came and

spent a few days with me. We braved Vegas for a day.

Beverly and I went on our first girl trip without our daughters. We had a great time, even though we had to wear masks on the rides. (And we really wished the girls could've come.)

On a sad note, my step-father passed away. I am glad he's no longer suffering.

CANCER CAN SUCK IT!

Boyd and I made the decision to cash in on the insane housing market in St. George and move out of town. We bought the cutest home in the perfect location and moved in the first Saturday of September.

Within a month, I landed a job as an EL Interventionist at the elementary school close to my home.

(Ignore the typo in my text.)

Cody is adjusting to his new day program. He really wanted to be Goofy on Halloween.

We've enjoyed a couple of snow storms (which rarely happened in St. George).

We hosted our first Thanksgiving in our new home and just ended the year with a very Merry Christmas.

Looking back, I feel blessed beyond measure!

Bring on 2022!

To you and yours...

Snowmen Christmas Gift Packages

2021-12-22T12:57:00.001-07:00

My younger sister, Teresa Barney, wrapped these adorable snowmen gifts for all of her grandchildren this year. I think they're too cute not to share. She really went above and beyond to make this Christmas special for them.

"Is He Nuts?"/ My Two Cents

2021-06-11T15:47:00.003-06:00

When I started dating Boyd, my now husband of 4 years, one of the first memories I have is the two of us standing in my kitchen and him saying that he had something important to tell me. I could see that Boyd was nervous about whatever it was he had to say. He then proceeded to let me know that his son was gay. My reply was simply... "So?" It makes me sad to think Boyd anticipated a different reaction from me, but the honest truth is, he and his family had experienced a good deal of unfavorable, and often unsolicited, opinions from people over the years. Despite my obvious acceptance, Boyd acted much the same way when he told me Trevor had recently come out in therapy as Transgender and wanted to be called River. My reception was the same. We simply stopped calling him Trevor and began referring to her as River.

Now, cutting our story abruptly short (maybe save it for another post or ten), within months of me meeting Boyd, River passed away. Her death was determined an accidental drug overdose. River's story is not unlike many, many other LGBTQ+ individuals who are treated SO poorly and turn to drugs at an early age to numb incomprehensible pain. And the sad thing is, most of these people who do so much harm call themselves "good Christians". Which brings me to the point of this post...

"Is He Nuts?" is my new favorite book. Dennis Schleicher went through abuse from his mother, was tricked and admitted into a psychiatric hospital for troubled teens, divorced his parents and became his own court-appointed guardian at age 16, ended up on the Sally Jesse Rafael TV show as well as Larry King Live, and participated in the process of a Connecticut hate crimes bill that took effect in 1991. I'm going to just stop here, because I don't want to ruin the book for you. I highly recommend reading Dennis's story no matter what religion, sexual orientation, or race you are. I applaud him for being so open. As of today, you can buy a hardback at Cedar Fort Publishing and the price has been slashed from $22.99 to $3.99!

Road Trip Questions

2021-04-22T15:45:00.004-06:00

Sometimes you need to turn off the music and the audio books, put away your phone and devices, and actually communicate with those you are travelling with. Here are a few thought provoking questions that are bound to strike up interesting, and often humorous, conversations...

What weird food combinations do you really enjoy?

What’s something you really resent paying for?

What movie can you watch over and over without ever getting tired of?

What actors or actresses play the same character in almost every movie or show they do?

What’s the best / worst practical joke that you’ve played on someone or that was played on you?

Where do you get most of the decorations for your home?

Who was your craziest/ most interesting teacher?

What makes you roll your eyes every time you hear it?

What’s your cure for hiccups?

What was the most unsettling film you’ve seen?

If you could have an all-expenses paid trip to see any famous world monument, which monument would you choose?

If animals could talk, which animal would be the most annoying?

What songs hit you with a wave of nostalgia every time you hear them?

How comfortable are you speaking in front of large groups of people?

As a child, what did you think would be awesome about being an adult, but isn’t as awesome as you thought it would be?

What life skills are rarely taught but extremely useful?

What brand are you most loyal to?

What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen a kid do?

What’s something that everyone agrees we should change, but somehow it never changes?

Tell me 3 things you remember about Kindergarten.

If you could live in any TV home, what would it be?

What was the first CD you ever owned?

What one thing annoys you most at a restaurant?

What are some small things that make your day better?

What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?

Do you have an irrational fear?

Do you have a favorite flower?

WOULD YOU RATHER QUESTIONS-

Would you rather have a unicorn horn or a squirrel tail?

Would you rather be able to see 10 minutes into your own future or 10 minutes into somebody else’s future?

Would you rather become someone else or just stay you?

Would you rather give up watching TV/movies for a year or give up playing games for a year?

Would you rather own your own boat or your own plane?

Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?

Would you rather brush your teeth with ketchup or mustard?

Would you rather live without a cell phone or a TV?

Would you rather be covered in fur or covered in scales?

Would you rather have no eyebrows or only one eyebrow?

Would you rather drive a beautiful, sleek sports car that was unreliable or an ugly, dented, rust-covered car that never broke down?

Would you rather never eat your favorite five foods again or only eat your favorite five foods for the rest of your life?

Would you rather have more time or more money?

Would you rather...

meet the president of the United States or your favorite movie star?

be completely invisible for one day or be able to fly for one day?

be a kangaroo or a horse?

live without the internet or live without AC and heating?

go to the beach in the summer or skiing in the winter?

be fabulously famous and poor or unknown and rich?

have a completely automated home or a self-driving car?

win an Academy Award or an Olympic Gold Medal?

live on the beach or in a cabin in the woods?

have to eat a bowl full of crickets or a bowl full of worms?

lose your sense of taste or your sense of smell?

live on a houseboat or in an RV?

live in space or under the sea?

be able to talk with animals or speak all foreign languages?

Broccoli Salad

2021-02-12T15:24:00.000-07:00

Salad-

5 cups broccoli florets (bite size)

8 slices bacon, cooked crisp-tender and coarsely chopped

1/3 cup red onion, chopped

1/2 cup Craisins

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled

Dressing-

1/2 cup Best Foods mayonnaise

1/4 cup plain yogurt

1/3 cup Hidden Valley Coleslaw Dressing

Combine salad ingredients in a large bowl. Mix dressing ingredients in a small bowl and add to the salad, stirring until everything is covered. Chill for several hours. Enjoy!

Beverly's Baked Beans

2021-02-03T15:26:00.003-07:00

My good friend, Bev, gave me this recipe. I tried it out this week and my family loved it! I only changed a couple of things, which are noted in the recipe. So enjoy!

P.S. Isn't it wonderful to not have to read paragraph upon paragraph of endless babbling and dodging pop up ads? You're welcome. :)

Ingredients-

10 slices thick bacon- cut up

1/2 lb. ground beef

1/2 c. chopped onions

1/3 c. sugar (I use brown sugar. By now, y'all know how much I love brown sugar.)

1/2 c. ketchup

2 T. molasses

2 T. mustard

1/2 tea. salt

pepper to taste

1/2 t. garlic powder

1 c. crushed pineapple with the juice

1 16. oz. can each, pork and beans, butter beans, kidney beans

* I used 3 cans pork and beans instead of using butter and kidney beans.

Directions-

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Fry bacon pieces. Drain.

Brown ground beef and onions. Drain.

Mix all ingredients into a 3 qt. casserole.

Bake uncovered for one hour.

Tip- Remember your kitchen scissors. They're perfect for cutting the bacon into pieces.

Pandemic Puzzles

2020-12-18T10:46:00.002-07:00

2020 will forever be known as the year of COVID-19. The year of quarantine, business and school closures, social distancing, wearing of masks, and massive lines of cars waiting at testing sites. During all of this "down time", Boyd and I decided to do what a lot of people are doing... order and put together jigsaw puzzles. For the first time in years and years, maybe the first time ever, puzzle companies are running out of stock and struggling to keep up production. Here are the puzzles that we have finished so far this year. All but one of them are 1,000 pieces. Some of the Coke puzzles are glued and ready to frame and hang in my Coca-Cola room. (To learn how to do this, click HERE.)

..... and this is the one we are working on at the moment. Will we finish it

before Christmas? That I don't know, but it WILL be done by the end of 2020.

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

2020-10-17T11:47:00.002-06:00

Writing on my blog hasn't been a priority over the last couple of years, but since my daughter told me that she thinks of my blog as her personal recipe box, I have decided to post more of the foods I know she enjoys eating. I'm not going to worry about perfect pictures, because I do not make money off my blog. Isn't it nice not having to scroll through a ton of pop-up ads?! So, here you go Katelyn. Let me know how they turn out. :)

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

2 c. Bisquick

2/3 c. milk

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup melted butter

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. basil or oregano flakes (optional)

Heat oven to 400 degrees (some people bake biscuits in a hotter oven, but I never set my oven over 400.) Melt butter in a small bowl in microwave and add garlic powder and basil/ oregano. Mix Bisquick, milk, and cheese until a soft dough forms. Add a tablespoon of milk at a time, if the dough is too crumbly. Drop by large spoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8 minutes. Remove from oven and brush with melted garlic butter. Put back in oven for one minute. Remove and brush again and put back in oven for one more minute. At this point the biscuits should be a light golden brown and ready to serve.

Makes 8 large biscuits.

'The Snuggle Is Real' Holiday Gift Idea

2019-12-11T16:13:00.000-07:00

It's nice to give a little something to neighbors and acquaintances at Christmastime. This year, I bought these fleece throws and had Stockberry Studio customize tags for me. Super cute! You can't have too many throws around the house (or in the car) in the winter. Am I right?

Furniture Rehab By Boyd

2019-01-17T13:24:00.000-07:00

Old Television Hutch Turned Into...

TV Stand with Space for DVR/X-Box/DVD Player/Etc...

Outdated Dresser Before...

White Paint and the Distressed Look
Make the Hardware and Details POP

Nice, Sturdy Dresser, but Basically Boring...

Turned Into Shabby-Chic Piece That
Makes Any Room Lovely

Hershey's Chocolate Ornaments

2018-12-24T15:35:00.000-07:00

My husband and I scored these Hershey's ornaments, with tags still on them, at a garage sale this past summer. They've found a permanent home on the small tree Cody and I had in our townhouse.

Oops. This little guy needs his glasses repaired.

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

2018-10-18T14:28:00.002-06:00

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

2 cups sour cream
1(4 oz.) can diced green chilies
1 can (10.5 oz.) cream of chicken soup
1 lb. shredded cheddar cheese
*2-3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
6 large flour tortillas

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine sour cream, green chilies, soup, chicken and 2/3 of the cheese. Spoon 1/3 cup chicken mixture on tortillas and roll up. Spread a little of the leftover chicken mixture in the bottom of a greased 9x13 glass dish. (This step is important to prevent enchiladas from being too crispy on the bottom.) Place enchiladas in dish, then spread the remaining mixture over the top. Cover and bake for 40 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle leftover 1/3 shredded cheese on top. Bake for 10 minutes more, or until cheese is melted.

Serves 4-6

*TIP- Buy a rotisserie chicken at Costco. Remove skin and debone. Freeze shredded chicken in freezer bags according to your recipe needs (Chicken Bow-Tie Salad , chicken pot pie, chicken crescents, chicken noodle soup, chicken tacos, Chicken Alfredo Lasagna Roll-Ups, etc.).

Caregiver Awareness Week

2018-09-16T14:09:00.001-06:00

I found an article worth reading on The Mighty. It was written by Jessica Pridemore, a caregiver in Illinois. As a mother to someone with special needs, Jessica's words describing her job do not surprise me, but I think many of you may learn some things that you had never thought about. To view how Jessica feels about the work she does, click here.

Cody is blessed to attend a day program with amazing employees like Jessica Pridemore. This past week, I had the opportunity to recognize them by sending some small and simple gifts. Thank you Jennifer, Maureen, Shaun, Alexis, Gaby, Jessica, and Lindsi. Our family certainly appreciates each and every one of you!

Happy Birthday Cody!

2018-07-21T14:19:00.000-06:00

This guy and I are a team. He stole my heart 37 years ago and I haven't been the same since. Cody has taught me more about service and compassion and love than I ever could have learned without him. I am his rock and he keeps me grounded. He makes me happy and sometimes frustrated, overwhelmed and crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. You're the most loving, forgiving person I know Cody and I hope you have a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Summer Las Vegas 2018

2018-07-15T16:51:00.001-06:00

My husband and I spent a few days in Las Vegas last week, visiting my kids and enjoying limited time being "empty nesters". My son and his girlfriend took us to one of their favorite places to eat...Nacho Daddy. Nacho Daddy has regular and vegan menus, which is one of the main reason's Casey and Kelly like to go there. Casey pointed out that Nacho Daddy is the home of the Original Scorpion Shot and asked me if I wanted to try it. Ummm. No. But the Nachos and raspberry tea were divine!

We decided to check out the Orleans casino after hearing that they are more generous with pay outs. I wasn't sold, but I am a cheap skate. Throwing money away is hard for me. So, while Boyd was enjoying tapping on the coy fish on an Asian style slot machine screen, I took a pic of the crocodiles out front.

Of course, the highlight of my visit to Vegas was seeing the Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio. This summer's theme was 'That's Amore', inspired by the beauty that's found throughout Italy. Here are a few pics. I wish you could smell these flowers as well. The air is so fresh and cool and fragrant, a total contrast to the stench of the smoke filled casinos.

The picture above is an Italian rug made out of seeds, beans, chickpeas, corn, dried peppers and carrots, coconut, licorice sticks, acorns, pineapple rings, dried bananas and other natural flowers and plants.

Do you see that green hedge above? SPLIT PEAS. Billions and billions of them!

There were a lot of living lime and lemon trees. You can imagine the fragrances we were smelling.

Last of all, I cannot post about this trip to Las Vegas without mentioning my favorite restaurant Famous Dave's. I LOVE this place. I put BBQ sauce on my BBQ sauce. :)

Spring Break Las Vegas 2018

2018-03-17T16:52:00.001-06:00

The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is one of my favorite places to visit in Las Vegas. Japanese Spring is the theme they have going now and, as always, it is beautiful and awe inspiring. Their horticulturalists and designers are amazingly talented! Here are a few of my favorite pics this trip...

Just look at the tulips! Gorgeous!

These huge flowers were made from Carnations. Pink Carnations are my favorite flower.

L O V E

The Coy Pond was a fun touch. :)

1st Birthday Party- Dinosaur Theme

2018-03-12T15:47:00.001-06:00

My daughter and son-in-law did a great job planning their babies first birthday party and gave me permission to share the decor. Sorry, because my blog is not private, I am not allowed to show the sweetest (pun intended) thing at the party...my grandson. :)