SAFETY PIN DAY

Today is:

Safety Pin Day!

...these holidays get more unique every day..that's why I enjoy posting

the holiday for each date when I can, although I have missed some

along the way because it was so extremely unique I couldn't think

of a thing to say about it or do for it....I thought Safety Pin Day

was going to be one of those but then I found a way at the last

minute to make something fun from it...so...

....enjoy your Safety Pin Day holiday !

BLOOMIN' PIZZA BREAD

I really like these pull apart bread recipes...

if I was still putting on big holiday events I sure would

be using these as part of the menu...but since I don't  cook

for as many people now-a-days I can't see getting one eaten up...

I should try make a half size recipe sometime...that we could

probably make it through while it's still fresh and good....

I think they are so pretty to serve to guests....I have posted several

of them on here and have others saved and I have to say each and every

one of them is just as pretty as the others...

...so...on with this recipe now...enjoy!

Here is what you will need (of course you can season to your own liking)

• 1 round loaf sourdough bread (unsliced)
• 12-16 ounces mozzarella or Provolone cheese (thinkly sliced)
• 1 (3.5 ounce) package pepperoni (cut in half)
• 3 Tablespoons butter (melted)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasonings
• 2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese
• pizza/marinara sauce for dipping

...and I will let you click here to get the instructions:

http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2011/07/bloomin-pizza-bread.html

GOOSE DAY

Today is:

Goose Day

...yet another holiday that I didn't know existed out there....

and here we could have been celebrating it every year...my my...how did we

miss this one ??

..but anyway...on with the day...and on with the holiday...

Happy Goose Day to all !

PEANUT BUTTER STRAWBERRY WRAP

What a quick little snack this would be to make...

and I think kids would have fun helping to make it

and to eat it....it actually looks pretty tempting...

I wouldn't have thought of combining peanut butter with

fresh strawberries but I think it's something I will try...

All you need is 3 ingredients:

1 whole wheat tortilla (8 inch)

2 tablespoons natural unsalted peanut butter (I would probably use the regular creamy kind since that's what                                                                      we keep on hand in our house)

1/2 cup strawberries (sliced)

_______________________________________________________________________

1. Spread peanut butter on one side of the tortilla.

2. Cover it with the sliced strawberries.

3. Roll up and slice on the diagonal into however many pieces you want.

...so simple to make...enjoy!

...here is where I got this recipe...

http://recipes.womenshealthmag.com/Recipe/peanut-butter-strawberry-wrap.aspx

GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY

Today is:

Good Neighbor Day!

That's a nice idea for a holiday...not sure where it came from

but it sounds like a nice one...

I can't say I know too many of my neighbors anymore

but the ones I do know are very nice people and I enjoy

having them live close to us...

Hope you all enjoy your Good Neighbor holiday!

KhristelleGraphics

BRATS N' TOTS BAKE

My husband has bought different kinds of bratwurst for many

years and for some reason I never even tried it....I didn't think

I would like it...but one night when I was feeling lazy and didn't

want to cook I decided it was time....so I sliced up one of the

smoked ones and browned it a little and then mixed it

in with scrambled eggs...and as usual....surprise!...I really

liked it...so now he has to buy more so there's always enough

on hand for me too!

 I also slice them and brown them and add them

to macaroni and cheese too...yum...

I started looking around for different ideas for using them and

I found this recipe that I think sounds really good and I am

going to try it soon...

....here are the ingredients and directions that you need for this one...

http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Brats-N_-Tots-Bake-Recipezaar?columns=4&position=43%2F50

ASK A STUPID QUESTION DAY

Today is:

Ask A Stupid Question Day

...what can I say about a holiday like this ??

just....have fun and enjoy your holiday !

CAKE MIX BANANA BREAD

I love banana bread and I can't wait

to try this one....it looks so good and easy to

make and you get two loaves from this recipe...

I have never thought of looking for a recipe where you

use a cake mix for it but came across this one while

looking around for something else again...it seems like

that is when I find the best recipes....

I think you could make this using a sugar free cake

mix too... yellow is one of the flavors they have available in

the stores in sugar free....

All you need is these 4 ingredients:

1 Yellow Cake mix

1 stick butter (melted)

3 eggs

3 bananas (mashed)

...directions here:

http://mylitter.com/recipes/cake-mix-banana-bread-recipe/

7-UP BISCUITS

These biscuits look really good...

and I like the idea of just putting them in

a pan to bake and then cutting them into

squares when they are done...they look nice...

...from reading the reviews I gather that they

are similar to what Popeye's serves...

I can't say for sure though because I have never

been to a Popeye's...

They take just 4 ingredients:

2 cups Bisquick

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup 7-up (or even ginger ale works)

1/4 cup melted butter

...here are the directions...

http://kirbiecravings.com/2012/05/7-up-biscuits.html

I have added a new tab at the top of my blog here

called Phil's Photos...

I hope you all will enjoy looking at these and check back

from time to time as we will be adding more in the

near future....

CARAMEL APPLE BITES

I thought these looked interesting...

and the apple part is healthy...

so...another good after school kind of snack for kids right ?

...for such a little bite of snack it has a pretty long list of

ingredients...I haven't tried them but with the ingredients

it looks like it's a cookie type dough with the apples

mixed in and then dipped in the caramel and nuts....

this would probably be the type of treat I would make

into a Christmas time goodie because it might be more

time consuming...other than Christmas I prefer the

recipes with 2 or 3 ingredients that are done in 5 minutes ! ha !

(I know that's what we call lazy).

anyway...since there are a lot of ingredients I won't try to list

them here...I don't want to miss anything...I will just send you to the

original page where I found them at....hope you enjoy these pretty little things....

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Caramel-Apple-Bites

NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY

Good morning world !

today is:

National Pancake Day

...and to celebrate it I woke up bright and early long before I would

have had to.....but you know...when I wake up before 6:00 a.m. I lay

there and think 'I must be the only person on earth that's awake this early'

...but then...after getting up and about and preparing myself for another day

of feeling tired and exhausted, I sign onto my computer and find that

there are other people who were up even earlier than me...

...so I guess I shouldn't complain...

it is frustrating on the days when I wake up at 3:00 or 4:00 in the

morning and can't go back to sleep though....

...but now...on to this holiday...

I remember as a kid some of us would get so excited

when my Mom said she was making pancakes for supper...

we could hardly wait all day for them..

but, the pancakes she made were amazing...in my childhood

memory they were so big they covered a whole dinner plate...

I don't remember having them for breakfast too much...

I actually thought they were a supper food...

now I like them for either...

...my husband and I keep some pancake mixes on hand in the

cupboard all the time because we do make them for supper

a lot with everything from sausage, to ham, to bacon...

anything we feel like having... 

he likes to chop up apples and mix in them too....it makes a good dinner....

...so after all of my rambling here I just want to say:

HAPPY NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY !!

KhristelleGraphics

APPLE SNACK WEDGES

This looks good...

would be a fun snack for kids after school too...

or in their school lunch bags...

Here is all you need:

2 medium sized apples

1 cup crushed Rice Chex

1/2 teaspoons brown sugar (packed)

2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter

...directions are here....

http://www3.samsclub.com/meals/recipes/apple-snack-wedges-recipe?pid=DS_TOH_OCT8_HW

SUGAR FREE DREAMSICLE SALAD

I just made this salad and it is delicious...

it takes just 4 sugar free ingredients and there

is nothing difficult about putting them together...if you like

dreamsicle ice cream bars I guarantee you will love this salad...

....it's also a very pretty orange color when you have it

mixed up and it would be inviting sitting on any food table....

of course the greatest part is that being sugar free it is an

easy dessert for diabetics or dieters or anybody who just

wants to eat healthy and avoid some sugar...

..enjoy !

All you need is:

1 small box sugar free orange Jello

1 small box sugar free vanilla pudding

1 - 10 ounce can mandarin oranges (drained)

1 small container fat free frozen whipped topping, thawed (I used Cool Whip)

...that's it and your easy directions are here...

http://thebetterbaker.blogspot.com/2011/09/sugar-free-dreamsicle-salad.html

CHECKERS DAY

Today is:

Checkers Day !

Well here we are at 7:42 on a Monday morning and it's time to

celebrate!.....celebrate!....celebrate another holiday !

....kind of a fun one today too....if you like the game checkers....

I think it's probably one of the oldest if not the oldest board

game there is...don't quote me on that because I don't know but

I do know when my husband watches all of those old westerns on TV

there is a lot of checkers playing going on in those....such as on

Marshall Dillon (Gunsmoke)...he watches it under both titles...

you see Chester and Doc playing checkers in many episodes...

It's an ok game but I never really thought of it as one of my

favorites....I guess I didn't like the feeling of being trapped that

you get when the other person is winning...just something about

that...

As you all know I love creating my animations to celebrate

these fun holidays....and I had originally planned to do an

animated Checkers board too..but then I thought...why not

do a printable game instead....thought you all might like

that...so I did this Halloween one...from that I got the idea

of doing one for each holiday season, Halloween Thanksgiving,

Christmas and Easter.....so you will probably see them coming 

up here on my blog for all of those occasions since I did have

fun making this one...

I would print this on cardstock paper of course, the heaviest that

your printer will handle....or you could print on regular printer paper and

glue or tape it onto a cardboard background if you really want it strong...

if you really have time and feel like Mod Podging it, that would work

great too....for a gift I would most likely do that...

....as for the checkers you could do the same, or in some cases when

I have made quick paper checker boards I have just taped a penny to

the bottom of them to make them a little stronger and easier to pick up

and handle....

...so here you go....

this is what my Halloween Checkers game looks like...

below it are the links to print it...

...have fun and I hope you all enjoy your

Checkers Day

holiday !

Checker Board

Checkers

(NOTE:  The pumpkin design at the top and bottom of the checkerboard is a free one that I borrowed from another website since I got this idea too late to make my own.  I am trying to find the link for that site and as soon as I find it I will sure credit them for their beautiful work.  If anyone knows the name of it please post it in the comments.  I saved it and can't seem to find it in my website list right now).

RAMEN NOODLES CASSEROLE

I have to admit I myself have never tried Ramen Noodles...

but I have a little granddaughter that used to just love them...

she would grab a bunch off her plate with her fork and chomp on

them like they were the best thing in the world...it was really cute...

...as I was looking about at recipes the other day I came across

some Ramen Noodles ones that actually look pretty good and

after seeing this casserole I am willing to give it a try...probably

won't eat too much of it though since I heard that the noodles

are very high in sodium...but I will try this anyway....

All you need is:

1 pound ground chuck

1 medium onion (diced)

1 can diced tomatoes (14 1/2 ounce)

3 packages beef-flavored Ramen Noodles

3 cups water

Cheese to taste (Velveeta or any other that you like)

...click here for the directions...

http://cullyskitchen.com/ramen-noodle-casserole-recipe/

DEAR DIARY DAY

Today is:

Dear Diary Day !

How many of you keep a diary ?  I have had many over the years but can't

say I have stuck with them from cover to cover at any time...I usually

just write down the exciting times like holidays and birthdays and a 

little bit about what we did on a special day...

I never did like putting sad events in my life into my diary as those times

are already permanently recorded in my brain and they come back

often enough that one doesn't have to read about it on the pages of

a book...

I guess I could say my blog here is kind of like a diary, and I keep up with

it most days unless we are really busy busy or a day now and then that I

am not feeling too great....

But I know a diary is a very important item in many people's lives...

and books of them have even been published over the years...

so there still is a certain fascination about having one....

I hope you all enjoy your Dear Diary Day !

KhristelleGraphics

BABY MEMORY JAR

I just came across this fun idea for keepsakes to save for a baby...

...I know you can buy these big glass jars easily at Walmart and probably

Target and Kmart too....I have a couple of them myself and they are not

very expensive either...

I have baby things for my daughter stored in boxes but this is a much

prettier way to do it...and I have had to replace the boxes a couple times over

the years (as my daughter is an adult now) because they just seem to

kind of wear out from being shuffled around here and there....

These are pretty enough that you could display them on a shelf or dresser in

the baby/child's room...they are even big enough that you could roll up little

clothing items and display after they grow out of them....little shoes...and on

and on...also a good place to keep art pictures for the kids after they are

older and in school...my mind is racing on things you could do this with..

how about things you pick up along the way on a family vacation...or

special events like Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Kindergarten

Graduation, Christmas and other holidays, birthdays...anything !

I have to give the credit to a nice website called

Polkadot Poplars though for this great idea...

thank you to them for sharing it....here is a link that will 

take you to their site:

http://www.polkadotpoplars.com/make-your-own-memory-jar/

...and here is a picture from them to show you what I am talking

about here.....

PRINTABLE HALLOWEEN FINGER PUPPETS

As a daycare provider for many years I was always looking

for fun and easy crafts to do with the kids..

of course before home computers came about I had to create my own

and repeat making them for the number of kids I had in my home at

the time...it was a lot of time-consuming work but it was fun...

and I found that it didn't matter how simple the craft was...the kids just

loved it and they were so proud to show it to their parents...

...so now when I see something cute and simple like these little

Halloween finger puppets I still like to grab them and present them

here on my blog for others to have fun with...

....print and cut out...can't get any easier than that...

and I guarantee that your kids, grand-kids, daycare kids, nieces and nephews etc.

will love them !

....this website has lots of other fun things to make too...

http://www.makeandtakes.com/printable-halloween-finger-puppets

NATIONAL PUNCH DAY

Today is:

National Punch Day !

I can't say I have ever been a big fan of punch.  Some of it is

pretty good but it's never been a favorite drink of mine.  

But....I have never seen a bowl of punch that was not pretty !

There's just something about that big glass bowl that is so

sparkly it attracts people to it...

anyway....

Happy National Punch Day to all !

KhristelleGraphics

ENGLISH MUFFINS TOPPED WITH BANANA AND CINNAMON SUGAR

I won't be making this recipe for myself because bananas are one

of the foods that makes my glucose levels sky rocket...

but I thought non-diabetics might like it so I am going to post it anyway...

...it looks delicious to me !

....hope somebody enjoys it...

Ingredients and directions here:

http://www.food.com/recipe/english-muffins-topped-with-bananas-and-cinnamon-sugar-101836

PRINTABLE HALLOWEEN FINGER PUPPETS

So....I hope it's not too early to post some Halloween

projects....here in my house we usually decorate for it by

October 1st and if you all want to print these out and have

them ready to use by then I guess this is the time for me to

put them on here...right ?  Yep..I agree....

I thought these were fun and cute for kids...they are easy to make

because all you do it print them, fold them in half and glue the

sides leaving the bottom open....easy as can be !

Have fun with these....

...here is your link to print them...

http://smartypantsfun.com/halloween-finger-puppets/

SUGAR-FREE PUMPKIN SNACK CAKE

Here is a nice looking sugar-free pumpkin cake that I think

looks good...I would add a nice spoonful of sugar free Cool Whip to it

to make it even prettier and better !

This one I will try soon...I love pumpkin and there's just something

about it being associated to the nice cool and crisp fall weather

that we are having some days now...nothing more beautiful than autumn...

I say we are having fall weather some days...which does not include

today because the forecast is to be back up to 80 or 85 degrees...but then

cooler again starting tomorrow so I can handle a hot today I guess without

complaining too much...

I am not and never have been a hot weather fan...I can actually handle

the temperature at -30 better than 90 degrees....

...today we are also in a thunderstorm and possible tornado threat...

...but...on with the recipe...here you go...

...and ingredients and directions are here:

http://www.crazyforcrust.com/2012/10/sugar-free-pumpkin-snack-cake/

CITIZENSHIP DAY

Today is...

Citizenship Day

(also known as Constitution Day)

There are many articles online explaining what the day is all about...

I will let you check them out yourself and you can do that by just

typing in Citizenship Day...I found the one in Wikipedia interesting to read...

Enjoy your day all !

KhristelleGraphics

MAC 'n CHEESE BALLS

Here is another recipe that looks pretty easy to make and

very tasty too....kids would love these I think...

I might try them and add something like pepperoni, chopped up bologna

or even sliced hot dogs would be good mixed in with the macaroni...or...

bacon !

not that I wouldn't eat them just as they are in the recipe...because as we all

know from me saying it over and over again....all together now.....

"I love macaroni & cheese !!"

yayyy.....so....on with this awesome recipe...

All you need is:

8 Pillsbury Grands Homestyle Original Biscuits

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup prepared mac 'n cheese

2 tsp Italian seasoned bread crumbs 

Black pepper

1 egg white, beaten

Grated Parmesan cheese

....and here are the directions for you....

Mac ‘n Cheese Balls ~ A Pizza Roll Recipe | The Gunny Sack

EASY PEPPERONI ROLLS

Here is another recipe that is similar to the Mac 'n Cheese one that

I posted here a little while ago...

these are just as easy to make and look so good too...

enjoy ! .....

I still have more to come...

...this website has great recipes...check it all out while you are there...

http://www.thegunnysack.com/2011/03/easy-pepperoni-rolls.html

BACON CHEESEBURGER PIZZA BALLS

....and here is another...I love these recipes...

I know they will be regulars for us from now on...

...ingredients and directions here...

thanks Tonia !

http://www.thegunnysack.com/2013/01/bacon-cheeseburger-pizza-balls-recipe.html

GOOEY APPLE PULL-APART BREAD

This recipe looks delicious and easy to make too...

it uses regular ingredients that I might even have on

hand and I love those kind of recipes!

...ohh...and it's pretty too....

...this looks good for breakfast or just as a dessert any time...

it has to go into my 'must try soon' file...

...here are the ingredients and directions that you will need...

http://www.recipechatter.com/apple-pull-apart-bread/

ICE CUBE PAINTING

Here is a unique idea that kids would have fun with...

you mix food coloring in with water and then when it's frozen you

can paint on paper with the ice cubes...cute!

I haven't seen this before...don't know if anyone else has

but here are the directions if you want them...

http://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/Colors/Ice_Cube_Painting/Ice_Cube_Painting.html

MAKE A HAT DAY

Today is...

Make A Hat Day!

I love making hats....crocheted ones especially...

but an idea hit me on whether you could find a printable paper hat...

so I went looking around and surprise !  There are several websites

that have them...it's a neat idea I think...cheap and fun to make...

now I'm sure there are not many adults who would want to go walking 

around in public wearing a paper hat...except...maybe on Halloween ?

Yep...it would be a quick and easy costume, or even just fun to put on

inside the door and walk through the office with it on Halloween

morning...(thinking it might wake some people up as you walk by

with a serious and typical look on your face like nothing was different!)

Now I do know kids that would love to have a paper hat and

would even want to wear them out and about anywhere they go...

...so today I have this cute Halloween hat (cap) for you to make....

...have fun...I think I will make me one and tell my husband it's for

me to wear when we go out to eat...or maybe to wear to church...

his face expression would be priceless  ha ha!

...this website has other paper hat printables too...

http://www.ss42.com//pt/pumpkin-hat/pumpkin-hat.html

NATIONAL CREAM-FILLED DOUGHNUT DAY

Yum...today is...

National Cream-Filled Doughnut Day!

Of course being diabetic I don't eat many of these anymore...tempting as they are...
but one thing I am wondering about is that when I was looking around to see what
this holiday is about I found two different spellings for it...some websites spell it as
'doughnut' and others as 'donut'....
for some reason I always thought donut was the correct spelling...but even my
spell correct here on my blog has it underlined for being spelled wrong...
amazing what you learn bright and early at 7:00 am on a Saturday morning huh...

Mirriam-Webster Dictionary says that 'donut' is a variant of the word 'doughnut'
so I guess the second is the proper spelling...

...anyway...hope you all enjoy your  d-o-u-g-h-n-u-t  holiday today !

EASY CHICKEN POT PIE MUFFINS

This is probably the most unusual muffin recipe I have come

across...but I think they would be great and I can't wait to try

them...they sure would come in handy for a quick lunch or something

when you are in a hurry...

and it says they can be frozen which makes them even better...

It also looks good for one of those nights I have mentioned when we

don't feel like cooking a meal nor feel like eating a lot for supper...

I think these along with maybe a salad or soup would be great...

...you can get all of the directions for these here...

http://spoonful.com/recipes/easy-chicken-pot-pie-muffins

POSITIVE THINKING DAY

Today is...

Positive Thinking Day

I know from experience that it is not always possible to think positively...

but I think this is a cute holiday and I have decided

that I am going to try spend this day with nothing but 'positive thinking'

going on....

...let's all agree to have a happy, cheerful and positive day today !!

khristelle42@blogspot.com

HIDDEN OBJECT PICTURES

This is another great website for kids...

they have lots of printable hidden object pictures where you can

not only find the hidden objects listed at the bottom but

then you can also color the picture...

I think all kids love hidden object pictures and since most

adults do too it is something fun that you can do with your

child or grandchild...

I think I will print out some of these and hand out as

Halloween treats too....you could even add some crayons and

it would be great for that...

...here is a sample of one of the pictures they have...

...and here is the link that takes you to the printables...enjoy!

http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/hidden-pictures/

NATIONAL CHOCOLATE MILKSHAKE DAY

Well I guess this holiday kind of explains itself...

....today is...

National Chocolate Milkshake Day!

...we all love a good milkshake....

so this is a good excuse to have one...

...there isn't too much information about this holiday other than

how to make them...I don't make my own...

actually I don't have a milkshake often...

I guess that makes it more of a special treat when I do...

so.....enjoy the holiday!

FREE PATRIOTIC PRINTABLES

I came across these beautiful posters while searching around for

something entirely different this morning and I am so impressed with

them I just had to put them on here....

I wish I had discovered them back before Memorial Day, Independence Day,

Labor Day and Patriot Day...

...but...

the answer to that is to just save them until next summer right ?

...that is what I plan to do...

...they look beautiful and the meaning of the words on them is also

beautiful..

I hope you all enjoy them as much as I do and nothing but

compliments to the lady who created them...

...there are two more of them with different looks than this one and all

three are free to print...

check out the rest of her website while you are there..

she has many more great printables ...

...click here and it will take you to these printables...

http://howtonestforless.com/2012/05/28/happy-memorial-day-free-printables/

LOADS OF MAC & CHEESE RECIPES

Being the macaroni & cheese lover that I am I like to look around

and check out new ideas for it..like the ones I came across with peanut butter

added to it....I had to take another look to see if I really did read recipes for

macaroni and cheese with peanut butter....but yep....sure did....

now I think that idea is a little too...well...peanut buttery for me...I like

peanut butter but I only allow certain things to join in with my

macaroni & cheese and I just can't let peanut butter be one of them...

....but...I was amazed at this website that I am going to send you to...

I have never seen so many macaroni & cheese recipes...and especially all

in one place...it is quite awesome...they have everything from

BLT-n-Cheese  to Baked Potato-Style Mac & Cheese...

I counted over 60 recipes on just one page...

...here is the link...

(a couple nights ago we chopped up ring bologna and browned it and mixed it with

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and it was delicious...might want to add that one to this

list....)

http://www.30days30waysmacandcheese.com/?cat=81,80

SKINNY APPLE PIE MUFFINS

Oh do these look good...

and just a couple of ingredients in them too...

can't wait to try them...

All you need is:

1 box Fiber One Muffin Mix (dry mix)

1 can No Sugar Added Apple Pie Mix

(this is a healthy recipe with the sugar free apple pie mix)

...here are the directions for making....

http://www.skinnymom.com/2012/04/02/skinny-apple-pie-muffins/

PATRIOT DAY

Today is...

Patriot Day

....it is a holiday that is for remembering the victims of 9/11...

as we all know what that is about,  I am not going to go into

detail about it but this is a link that will explain it all to you if you

would like to read it...

http://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/patriot-day/

...as everyone else who remembers that day,  I know exactly where

I was and what I was doing when my daughter called and told me to

turn on the TV....I will always remember the events of it as I am sure

most people will...

khristelle42@blogspot.com

FUNFETTI GOOEY CAKE BARS

Again...such a pretty treat...I think bars like this

look so nice on a serving tray...

...this is another great recipe that is so easy to make...I don't want

to recommend these for diabetics but I will say that you could use a

sugar free cake mix for them...

You will need:

1 yellow cake mix

1 stick softened butter (1/2 cup)

1 egg

2/3 cups sprinkles (divided)

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces)

1 cup white chocolate chips

...directions are here:

http://www.crazyforcrust.com/2013/07/funfetti-gooey-bars/

SWAP IDEAS DAY

I have never heard of today's holiday before...

Swap Ideas Day

....and I'm sure probably most of you out there have not heard of it either...

I did some searching around on it and there isn't a lot of information available other than

it was created by Robert somebody who also came up with Lumpy Rug Day....

so how to celebrate this holiday I don't know...

...but....it did give me a reason to create a fun animation in honor of it so

that's ok...I love making these....

Have a nice Swap Ideas Day everyone!

TEDDY BEAR DAY

Who could not love this holiday...

Teddy Bear Day!

I don't have my favorite childhood teddy bear anymore but I still love him...

somehow along the road of growing up I lost him...but I still think about him...

to me as a child he seems as real as could be...

he was extra security in my room when I was sad or upset about something

and he went outside to play with me...he rode in a little red fire truck and on a

little tricycle too...

....when I first got him he was almost as big as me and he was the companion I

needed to help me through some traumatic events such as an F5 tornado...

when I was sick he was there, when I was happy he was there and at times I

wish I still had him!

I know it may seem silly for a person like me to wish for

a teddy bear but I think that is a toy that just has the power to

melt not only children's hearts but adults hearts too...

...and by the way, my special teddy bear was named...what else ?

Teddy!!

So happy Teddy Bear Day to one and all...if you have one in your house give him

a big hug today...you never know...he may just hug you back!

PEANUT BUTTER HAYSTACKS

Here is a cute and tasty little treat that would be fun

to make for Halloween ....I think they are pretty too and

as I have said before I like pretty foods !

Easy to make ...

White or Chocolate Chips (1/2 cup)

Creamy Peanut Butter (1/4 cup)

Chow Mein Noodles (1 cup)

Miniature marshmallows (1/2 cup)

...directions for making these here:

http://www.readyseteat.com/recipes-Peanut-Butter-Haystacks-6525.html

GOOGLY-EYE DICE

One of the fun parts of the internet is that you find out some things that

have looked exactly the same forever can now have a fun new look...

before I had a computer I thought I had pretty much tried every craft idea out there...

boy was I wrong !

this is an example of what I mean...

...how cute are these!  ha ha!

...extra fun for any game you roll dice in...

...easy instructions are here...

http://30minutecrafts.com/2013/07/googly-eye-dice.html

PAPER TREAT CONES

It's kind of a so-so rainy Sunday here in

North Dakota today.

We are thankful for the rain as we are way below what

we need right now, but I always said I wished when we do get

it that it would just happen at night....

I know a lot of people love a rainy day but they have always

been sleepy, gloomy kind of days to me....

...on the other had, I have always wished when we get storms

that they would just happen during daylight hours when you can

see what's coming....but....that doesn't always happen

either....I guess the fact is that I just cannot control the weather!!!

But anyway, I thought for my blog today, since it is a so-so type of 

day that I would put something with a festive, party type of

theme....so it's a good time to do this treat cone post...

hope you enjoy it....

These are fun for a party and so easy to make...

I like the suggestion here where you can use simple paper like

gift wrap or scrapbook paper (this is a little heavier)

and easily make them in any fun design you want...you could

actually print out a photo and cut your cone shape out of

that and display the birthday person's picture etc....

...endless ideas for this little craft...

....great for filling not only with popcorn but other treats too

such as Chex party mixes...

...here is the link with instructions and printable template....

http://blog.hwtm.com/2009/08/party-diy-paper-treat-cones/

DECORATE ZIPLOC BAGS WITH SHARPIES

Here is another simple craft that I have never thought of doing before...

I will be designing my own Ziploc bags now...

....what a fun thing to surprise your kids with in their lunches...

...even for holiday treats that you give out such as Valentine's Day and

Christmas goodies...and especially on Halloween...

...and you can buy so many different colors in Sharpies now so

you can color coordinate with the holiday....or whatever you are

using the bag for....

...this would be a relaxing thing to do while watching TV in the

evenings....

....have fun with this....

....here is where I found it....

http://babalisme.blogspot.com/2010/04/art-swap-continued.html

NEITHER RAIN NOR SNOW DAY

....and today is:

Neither Rain Nor Snow Day!

...of course this holiday is in connection to the post office, but....

did you know that the motto:

Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night stays these couriers
from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

is not an official United States Post Office Motto!

You can read all about this at this website:

http://postalemployeenetwork.com/news/2010/09/the-story-behind-postal-service%E2%80%99s-unofficial-motto/

Enjoy your Neither Rain Nor Snow Day holiday!

READ A BOOK DAY

Today is:

Read A Book Day!

My husband and I have had some fun discussions on which

is better, to read a book on an electronic reader such as the Kindle or

to read an actual book that you hold in your hands as we have done

for years.

I am big on the electronics of  recent years and think that the

electronic way is great...not only can you adjust the background

lighting but you can also set the font size to what works best for your

vision...my husband on the other hand prefers the old-fashioned way of actually

holding the book in your hands and turning the pages yourself...he says there is

just something exciting about getting a new book to hold and read...

...so I guess it's just a matter of preference...

...if you haven't read a book in a long time today would be a good time

to start getting back into it...