DIET CARTOON

PINK POLKA DOTS ON COCOA BROWN CRAYON ROLL UPS

Just listed a set of 4 crayon roll ups 

in my etsy shop

Snazzy Snugglies

CANVAS BOW HOLDER TUTORIAL

BOW HOLDER TUTORIAL

MATERIALS:

Pre-stretched canvas in any size (16” X 20”)

Fabric – 3.5” larger than canvas (19.5” x 23.5”)

Staple gun

Scissors

Ribbons

INSTRUCTIONS: 

• On an even work surface, place your fabric print side down.
• Center the stretched canvas on top of the fabric (back of canvas facing you).

• On one of the edges neatly fold fabric under and then staple in place in the middle.

• Repeat on all four edges, in the middle, being sure to pull fabric tight and even.

• Keep stapling every few inches, alternating sides so the fabric stays straight and even.  Tuck in your corners, cutting away any extra fabric.

• Place the ribbon strips on top of the canvas to determine how many rows you need.  Cut each piece a few inches longer on the top and bottom.

• Flip canvas over and staple ribbons to the back of the canvas, keeping your spacing even.  Repeat this with the bottom edge.

• Install your favorite hanger and it's ready to position on your wall.

• Add your hair bows and hair accessories.  Enjoy!

MATCHBOX CAR HOLDER

I'm trying my sewing skills at making 

my grandson a matchbox car holder.  

When I'm finished, I'll post a photo.

TIP FOR MIXING MEAT LOAF

I made meatloaf tonight and thought I would share a preparation tip.  I use my fingers to mix up the ground meat and other ingredients.  I hate the feel of the raw ground meat on my hands, so I always wear disposable gloves.  No greasy hands and very easy clean up for me.

NATIONAL MARGARITA DAY

CHEERS!

Today thirsty Americans will celebrate National Margarita Day by toasting the nation's most popular cocktail. In the Dallas area, Mariano Martinez, the inventor of the frozen margarita machine in 1971, will welcome margarita lovers to his area restaurants, Mariano's and La Hacienda Ranch with a margarita special. 

MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB TREASURY

Check out the beautiful lambs

at

Mary Had A Little Lamb Treasury

by

Snazzy Snugglies

Ewe and Lamb

by

Nancy Lane Studio

Baby Lamb

by

Melody Lea Lamb

2 Sheep Grazing

by

Rachelle Levingston

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.
William James

FEBRUARY GARDENING REMINDERS

Calloway's Nursery provided this February checklist for gardeners.

• Plant trees, shrubs, roses
• Apply pre-emergent weed preventer to stop grassy and broadleaf weeds before germination
• Prune bush roses
• Prune evergreen shrubs to reduce height and to shape naturally

SNEAKY WAYS TO SAVE MONEY

I came across this info and these are some things we already do.

Sneaky Ways To Save Money

Use Cash, Not Credit

Even before personal finance pro Dave Ramsey made his envelopes of cash famous, moms were relying on the same sort of system. It sets a good example for kids to see real money being spent, and it sets very real limits, too, on spending.

You Save: A cash-only system could save you $100 a month, according to Ramsey.

Brown Bag It

Lunch may not be free, but you can sure save money by taking your own. And it doesn't have to be boring sandwiches if you have access to a fridge and microwave at work. Sherri Hefley plans her monthly dinner menus with an eye to having leftovers for her husband, Bryan, to take in his lunch. He gets fare like barbecued meatballs and homemade mac-and-cheese instead of a fast-food burger or a cold sandwich.

You Save: Hefley estimates they save close to $5 a day when her husband packs his lunch—that can add up to $50 a month even if you're brown-bagging it only every other day.

Celebrate Free Kid Night

When you and the family need a night off, make it fun and frugal by choosing a restaurant that has good deals or "kids eat free" nights. "That's become our night out," says Reynolds.

You Save: The cost of a couple of kids' meals—anywhere from $6 to $10 each.

Check Out the Library

Amy Senk, a mom of two in Corona del Mar, California, loves to read. She's found that her public library, which offers an online request system for books (so it's easy to reserve the latest bestseller), is almost as convenient as amazon.com and a whole lot cheaper. Her kids get books and DVDs too.

"I don't mind buying books when there's one that I fall in love with," she says. "I love books." But for those one-time reads: It's the library for her.

You Save: A book a month at $25 each is a savings of $300 a year.

SUNSET AT THE NORTH POLE

My husband sent me this photo of the sunset at the North Pole with the moon at its closet point on January 13, 2011.  You also see the sun below the moon.

TAKING CARE OF PHOTOS

Snazzy Snugglies

I've been a bit negligent on posting new photos on my Snazzy Snugglies FB fan page, so I spent a couple hours this morning uploading and editing its photo albums.  I wish I knew how to do it more efficiently.

TO THOSE I LOVE

VALENTINE'S DAY BREAKFAST CREPES

Chocolate Cherry Cream Crepes

Ingredients

• 1-1/4 cups milk
• 3 eggs
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
• Chocolate fudge ice cream topping and whipped topping

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the milk, eggs and butter. Combine the
• flour, sugar and salt; add to egg mixture and mix well. Cover and
• refrigerate for 1 hour. For filling, in a small bowl, beat cream
• cheese until fluffy. Beat in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until
• smooth; set aside.
• Heat a lightly greased 8-in. nonstick skillet; pour 2 tablespoons
• batter into the center of skillet. Lift and tilt pan to evenly coat
• bottom. Cook until top appears dry; turn and cook 15-20 seconds
• longer.
• Remove to a wire rack. Repeat with remaining batter, greasing skillet
• as needed. Stack crepes with waxed paper between. Cover and freeze 10 crepes for another use. Crepes may be frozen for up to 3 months.

• Pipe filling onto the center of each remaining crepe. Top with 2
• tablespoons pie filling. Fold side edges of crepe to the center.
• Drizzle with fudge topping and garnish with whipped topping. Serve
• immediately. Yield: 8 servings.

CHOCOLATE DIPPED STRAWBERRIES

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

INGREDIENTS:

Strawberries

18

large strawberries

2

cups white chocolate chips

1

tablespoon shortening

Drizzle

1

cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 1/2

teaspoons shortening

DIRECTIONS:

• Carefully wash and pat dry strawberries. Do not remove stems.
• In medium saucepan, melt white chocolate chips over low heat, stirring frequently, until smooth.
• Holding by stem end, dip each strawberry into white chocolate. Set on wax paper to dry.
• Meanwhile, in a food-storage bag, microwave semi-sweet chocolate chips until melted. Snip off tiny corner of bag, and gently squeeze bag to drizzle chocolate over white chocolate and strawberries. Store in refrigerator.

VALENTINE COOKIE POPS

Valentine Cookie Pops

These are easy home-made gifts for school.  

Wrap them in red cellophane for a festive look.

INGREDIENTS:

1

package (16 oz) Pillsbury® Ready To Bake!™ refrigerated sugar cookies (24 cookies)

24

flat wooden sticks with round ends

1 1/4

cups vanilla creamy ready-to-spread frosting (from 1-lb container)

Assorted small candies, or candy decors or nonpareils, if desired

10

yards red curling ribbon

DIRECTIONS:

• Heat oven to 350°F. On ungreased cookie sheets, place cookie dough pieces 2 inches apart. Into side of each piece of dough, insert wooden stick 1 inch, overlapping wooden sticks as necessary.
• Bake 12 to 16 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets. Cool completely, about 10 minutes.
• Spread frosting on one side of each cookie; decorate with candies. Tie 18 inches of red ribbon into bow around each stick next to cookie.

VALENTINE'S COOKIES

Chocolate Dipped Heart Cookies

by Pillsbury

INGREDIENTS

1

roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated sugar cookies

1/4

to 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2

cups semisweet chocolate chips

1

tablespoon shortening

Colored sugar

DIRECTIONS

• 1Heat oven to 350°F. Remove half of cookie dough from wrapper; refrigerate remaining dough until needed. Sprinkle about 3 tablespoons of the flour onto work surface; coat sides of half of dough with flour. With rolling pin, roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness, adding additional flour as needed to prevent sticking.
• 2With floured 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out hearts. Gently brush excess flour from hearts; place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Repeat with remaining half of dough.
• 3Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.
• 4In 1-quart saucepan, heat chocolate chips and shortening over low heat, stirring occasionally, until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Dip half of each cookie into melted chocolate, allowing excess chocolate to drip off; place on waxed paper-lined cookie sheets. Sprinkle with colored sugar.