Cyber Date!

I was so excited to see that this months date for me and my husband is our Cyber Date! It's going to work out perfect for us cause I'm leaving out of town for a week so we can drag out the fun until I get home:)

Click on the picture above and it will take you to the blog where I found the idea! She has some really cute ideas to go along with the date!

I love You Because...

I saw this great idea on pinterest and thought I'd share mine with you!! It's very easy to do and we've really enjoyed leaving special notes to each other on it! I had this extra frame sitting around but there are tons of frames at the DI or even cheap ones at Walmart and Target. I took out the glass to use as my measurement and traced around it for the paper background. Then on my mom's cricut I cut out the cream paper. You could easily do this yourself no need to have to have a cricut! Make sure you choose a plan paper to write on so it's easier to see. My printer wasn't working so I hand wrote "I love you because..." Once you get everything made, place it all behind the glass that way you can just wipe away the writing. Then I grabbed one of our dry erase pens and hot glued two little square felt pieces on top for an eraser that way we aren't having to search around trying to find something to erase it with!

We love it and as you can see we have fun coming up with things to write on it!! (I really did mean what I said on there cause I HATE scooping poop:) )

Busy Bingo

I saw this on Pinterst and just loved it! Perfect for the 4 year old I watch and my 2 year old just loves to follow along. You'll need two dice for it, one with numbers the other with colors. You can print out the bingo board here, or make your own to go with what your child knows how to do! I found the perfect little prizes at the Target dollar section and I know there are tons of fun stuff at the dollar store as well that you can use as prizes if you'd like too.

Here's a link to a dice print out if you're in need of one. You can find dice at the dollar store as well and just paint or place stickers (or paper) over the numbers to get your colored dice! The extra side you could either put, you choose, roll again, or lose a turn.

Hope you have as much fun as we do!!

Indoor S'mores

As you can see I'm not the glorified cook but these tasted pretty good. All you do (and you can make them look cutier like...here) is brake your gram crackers into 8 pieces then lay down your marshmallows. The site I followed said to cut large marshmallows in half but I was using up some Halloween marshmallows and they fit just fine as a whole. Then you place them in your oven. Broil on low for maybe a minute...it goes fast. We added chocolate to mine and my husbands but just put a gram cracker on top for the kids! We all loved them!!

Crescent Rolls

Here's a fun little snack/treat for you to try this weekend. All you do is open some crescent rolls and spread peanut butter on the inside, then sprinkle chocolate chips and roll. Bake at 375 for about 10-12 minutes! The kids loved them and so did I!

Just imagine the other things you could try using this same idea...maybe some bananas and peanut butter, or adding some nutella in there!! What do you think sounds good?

Amazing Grout Cleaner!

Check this out! This is the grout in our kitchen which is such a high traffic area as all of us know and especially mine cause it leads to our side door where the kids are always coming in and out of!

I wish my camera would show it better but you can totally see where I stopped cleaning at. I wanted to just start with a small area so I wouldn't waste my time with the whole kitchen and it not work but I'll for sure be doing it to the whole kitchen tomorrow!! (hopefully it's nice so I can send the kids outside and open a window for venting)

All it is:

1/4 c bleach
3/4 c baking soda

Mix together to make a paste. Then I used my cleaning toothbrush to brush it on. Let it sit for about 15-20 minutes and wipe off. I plan to steam clean them after I've done the whole floor to make sure I get all the chemicals up but it's so worth the work!!! I'll be sure to take before and after pictures to put them side by side so you can really see the difference!!

I Spy Bottle

We are getting ready for a very long road trip and I'm trying to put together things to keep my 2 year old entertained so I made this I spy bottle. It was quick and easy and didn't cost us anything cause everything was on hand. Here's what I put inside of it...

• Alphabet (The letters on both sides of that paper to make it easier for her, you could also cut out the letters on a cricut to make them cutier...I went with quick since we'll be leaving next week)
• Dime
• Pinny
• Safty Pin
• Button
• Nickle
• Orange Paper Clip
• Rubber Band
• Ruler
• Flower
• Star
• Screw
• Nut (Metal)
• Match
• Battery
• Bobby Pin
• Straw (I cut the straw down to about 1/2)
• Magnent
• Tack
• Nail
• Orange Bow (just made out of ribbon I had on hand)
• Black Bean
• Pink Candle
• Pen

After everything I wanted was inside (and I had everything written down) I filled it with rice. I choose rice cause I had it on hand, I've seen others also use beads instead from the dollar store, either works great! Then I hot glued the lid on so she wouldn't try opening. I added a square piece of fabric on top just for looks!! She's off enjoying it now!!

Masking Tape Fun

Today was fun, I started watching a boy that is a little older then my oldest which can be a little hard because I haven't gotten to that stage yet so I don't know what they're into and what they can and can't do...you know what I mean? So I got a little creative and decided to come up with fun things to do with the kids each day. A lot of work I know but I needed something to keep them happy especially with the cold weather that came back to us!!! (BLAAAA)
So for today (and I totally forgot to take a picture...we'll have to do it again so I can) we ran masking tape all over our down stairs room (the toy room) for them to run their cars on...they loved it!!! It was perfect and easy to do. Just grab a roll of tape and start making your own little town. Next time I'm going to get some of that bigger paper so we can draw our own town (we'll have to do two cause they aren't to good with sharing and I'm sure he wouldn't like Meg's coloring job:) ). I'm looking forward to next time!!

B is for...

This weeks letter is B! We'll be enjoying a PB&J sandwhich for lunch in honor of our letter of the day! And then we'll be headed out to blow some Bubbles! You could also cut out the letter B in blue paper and let them color all over it! You could even play ball!! There is so many opitions for the letter B

Childhood Bread Sticks

These were my childhood bread sticks and they are so yummy (although nothings likes mom's cooking!)! They are pretty easy it's just the waiting for the yeast to rise is no fun!

1 pkg yeast

1 cup water

2 Tbsp sugar

3 cup flour

1/2 cup butter

parmesan cheese

1 tsp garlic salt

Mix together yeast, sugar, water and flour until well blended. Knead about 10-20 times, let rise. Roll into sticks about the size of your index finger. Combine butter and garlic salt together roll the dough into the butter and garlic. Sprinkle (or roll like I do cause I want to whole thing covered:) ) in the parmesan cheese. Place on a cookies sheet that has either been sprayed or lined. Let rise until 1/2 their size. Bake in 350 degree oven until brown (about 8 minutes for me).





The Shower Doors

I hate glass/clear shower doors only because of the scum that builds on them. They would be beautiful if that didn't happen and we know everyone who uses it isn't going to squeegee after they're done. So I've done some research on what to do and I'm putting it to the test! First I tried cleaning it with a softener sheet. Here's the before and after picture...

So as you can see...better but not great! All I did was use the softener sheet with a little bit of water. (not nessesary to do this...I won't be trying it again)

Then,

 since it didn't get rid of it all I tried mixing together vinegar and dish soap (which now I'm thinking why didn't I just try this first) (the website was specific about using dawn - blue kind...weird but I had some on hand so that's what I used, you might be able to try some other kind, let me know if it worked just as well).

You'll want to heat up the vinegar in a microwave safe bowl to almost boiling (mine was about 1 minute) and pour it into a spray bottle then add in the dawn. It's a one to one ratio  meaning if you do one cup vinegar you'll do one cup dawn. I did about 3/4 cup of each and that covered all the glass with a little left over. Since you need the vinegar to be hot there's no need to have extra cause you'll need to make a new batch each time you do it. Now head to the bathroom and begin spraying. I had to cover my mouth and noise cause the aroma was so bad but it's non toxic so if you can bare it go for it:) Then let it sit...for tough stains you can let it sit over night but I'm inpatient so I only let it sit for about 3 hrs ( I did side track myself and forgot about it until I put the kids to bed!) The best way to get it all off...get in the shower with a spunge and turn it on! I couldn't believe my eyes when I started washing it off...let me remind you, no hard arm work required! It's unbelievable (and better in person)!

WOW!! There is no water marks only a few scratch marks from what I'm guessing a razor from the previous owners trying to clean it! I'm sold and will never clean my shower any other way again!!!

Our New Room!

Check it out!!!!

I'm so excited for how it came out. Now this room had to provide many uses, a computer room for school and work, bills and all the other fun stuff you have to do with a computer, and a craft room which I have A TON of craft stuff (and military stuff that has to be on hand ready to go) that is now all organized behind the curtain (I just wanted it to feel call and relaxing and since I don't have matching boxes and containers for everything on the shelves the curtain was a good option for me) and in the closet! and I promise to finish a project before I start another one!! (did you hear that babe!) So that it stays clean for my hubby who needs this area to study for school when he starts back up! As for the card table, I'm waiting for my mommy's hand me down computer table which I measured and will fit perfect where the card table is now. It's a little one perfect for not collecting a ton of stuff like the other computer table did (which I got rid of for free!) and the card table will fold up and fit behind the door with the chairs that are already there! I converted the two filing cabinets that were right next to the door to one four drawer one (which I spray painted and plan to put a chevron design on the front when we get a few extra dollars for paint!), that helped out a lot!

Here's the loft area...it's much cleaner now it just needs to be beautified:) I'm planning on painting the shelve (when it warms up outside), covering the bean bag with something more bright and hanging pictures of a classic book (I'm thinking "Where the Wild Things Are"). That all happens when there is a little more money in the bank account!


1. What space did you decide to organize and why?
    I went for the messiest room in our house, the drop it in and leave it room where anything we didn't want our daughter getting to went in a beautiful pill all over the room. I needed this room to be more organized so that my husband could study in there (and shut the door to keep the kiddos out) and I could craft/work in there (including the bills/blog).

2. What steps did you take to ensure you completed the space within the 29 day timeline?
    I really just had to do it day by day, one step at a time. With two little ones it's hard to plan when I can organize but I used up a lot of nap times and sometimes put the gate up so that they couldn't come in and get hurt with everything that was in there, who knew what they would find. First I needed to get the big stuff out to clear up the space so I had room to move. Then start going through papers (which we had a ton!) throwing/ shredding a lot. Since I brought the up stairs office down into the space I need to get rid of stuff we didn't use as well.

3. What was the hardest part of the challenge for you and how did you overcome it?
    It was hard taking time it get in there and do it, I felt that I was taking time away from my little ones but I started to realize that the more organized I am the more time I'll have to spend with them. This was just a minor time frame that would help me out in the long run. I'm now more organized and spend less time trying to get stuff done.

4. What did you do with the “stuff” you were able to purge out of your newly organized space?
    I tried to sell the desk but ended up giving it away for free cause it wasn't selling (which was fine, I just wanted it gone). The two filing cabinets are in my front room waiting to sell as well (and if they don't go in a week, they go for free as well! One week is all I want to stare at them for). Lots of things just got put "in they're home" we were just to lazy to do that in the beginning.

5. Tell me one of your proudest moments during this challenge?
    Being able to open the binds! I love to look outside and have the light come in! I can now reach the blinds and open them while I'm in my new beautiful room.

6. Explain any organizing “tools” you used to help you create additional space and to establish some limits and boundaries?
   Height! I decided to go up with things instead of out! That's really helped and opened up a lot of space.

7. What is ONE piece of advice you’d give to someone else to encourage them on their organizational journey?
   Don't give up. There was a moment in the month that I felt like it wasn't going to happen. I had a party and needed to get things cleaned up and this room became the dumping ground again. I felt terrible when I couldn't see the floor again after I had it all cleaned up the first time. Now I know that this is not a dumping ground, I spent too much time cleaning it up that it's NOT going to happen!! Things are going to be put back each night before bed, just let every other room in the house.

Post 100!!

Can you believe it? We're hit post 100!! What a celebration! Thanks to everyone who has helped my blog grow and I hope to continue to grow through out this year!
Our next big giveaway will happen when we hit 50 followers on facebook so help spread the word!!

Coupon Date Night

I hope you all check your junk mail even though it's a pain in the butt, they're are some awesome coupons in there!! Today me and my husband are headed to the movie theater for free thanks to my wonderful mother who found a coupon for two free tickets to a new movie house in our area (from her mail!).
There are tons of coupons always coming in the mail...check them out before you toss them! They have great dinner coupons! So this weeks date night take your coupon book with you and only order things you have a coupon for! You can even find tons online...we have a chucky cheese near us that I'm dying to go to and they have great coupons online for it. You can maybe find a few favorite place by doing this!

Enter in your zip code and it will pull up the Local restaurant deals for you!

Chili's - Free chips and salsa with purchase (which I think in the first place is lame that they're making us pay for it! I swear it use to come with the meal!)

Red Robin - $3 off any order (plus a free burger on your birthday!) You just have to sign up for they're news letters (add it to your junk e-mail!)

Toco Time Papa John's, Tepanyaki Steak House, Lotus Garden

Layton Area Coupons