GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE

Good morning everyone… how are you doing today? I’m rather confused… I’m seeing something bright and yellow in my window this morning. The sun you say… what is this thing you call a “sun”?? LOL yea you can tell it’s been a while cause I actually had to search for my sunglasses LOL! I’m up early making breakfast for some band kiddos who ending up crashing at my house. They have competition this morning… at 10am. So we are keeping our fingers crossed they all do well.

After we get back from the UIL competitions, I am going to help the kids build a diaper cake for the assistant band director and his wife. Their baby is due officially March 11th (the day they are supposed to go on their band trip LOL) but could come any day because she is having contractions every 15 minutes every other day… yea she’s about to pop LOL! So we have to get this done so they can take it on Monday to him. The kids went on a scavenger hunt yesterday afternoon and found all kinds of baby things to use. They got diapers, ribbons, travel size baby stuff, trinkets, etc. They are excited about building this cake LOL and they didn’t spend very much getting all the supplies, so I am very proud of them for that. LOL I taught them well LOL! We will post pics when it’s done.

Other than the diaper cake (cause I’m gonna let them do most of the work LOL) I hope to get some crafts done. I’m not sure what kind yet… I’m actually in a scrapbooking mood for a change. I saw a bunch of cute papers at Hobby Lobby yesterday, and I actually picked up a couple of new ones I didn’t have. So I might do that. I’m not sure… I’ll just have to sit down and see what hits me. In the meantime, here are a few Valentine’s Day craft ideas that you can do in your spare time.

Craft Idea of the Day: Homemade Valentine’s gifts (part 2)



Love You Notes Jar
Make a jar of love notes for that special someone. On pieces of pretty patterned paper, jot down things you love about that person or special memories you've had together. Make a handwritten label to adhere to the front and tie it all up with a bow.



Adorable Heart Ornaments
Draw a simple heart shape to use as your pattern, and make a copy. Divide one pattern into sections. Cut one piece from each of four coordinating fabrics, adding a 1/4-inch seam allowance to each piece. Piece the fabrics together to form the front of your heart. Select several buttons and sew them to the front. Using the other pattern piece, cut out a whole heart from fabric for the backing, adding a 1/4-inch seam allowance. With wrong sides together, sew around the edge of your heart, leaving a small opening. Turn right side out. Stuff with polyester fiberfill, and stitch the opening closed. Bend a 4-inch piece of silver wire into a swirl, poking and turning one end into the top of your heart as a hanger.



Heart Bookmark
The gift of books is made extra special with a handmade bookmark. To make this bookmark, cut a rectangle from cream-color wool felt and trace a heart on the back; cut out the shape with scissors or a heart-shape punch. Glue the bookmark onto red wool felt and trim the edges with scalloped-edge scissors. For the stitched bookmark, use disappearing ink to mark stitches and then stitch along the lines using embroidery floss. Cut or punch a heart from red felt, and glue it on the front.



Blooming Valentine’s Pots

Small flowerpot
Pink crafts paint
Paintbrush
Papers in red and pink
Scissors
Marking pens
Chenille stems
Stapler and staples
Tape
Fishbowl rocks or packages of colored stones

Instructions

1. Paint the flowerpot with crafts paint. Let the paint dry.

2. Fold the red and pink papers in half and cut out half hearts with center along fold. Unfold each heart. Write a message on each heart.

3. Form a heart shape with the chenille stems, leaving a long tail.

4. Staple each chenille stem to a paper heart.

5. Pour the rocks into a pot (if needed, put a piece of tape over the hole in the bottom of the pot).

6. Arrange the hearts and chenille stems in the pot.



Candy Jars
Perfect for candy lovers -- dress up a jar of candy with even more candy! Cut decorative paper into a long, skinny piece. Wrap it around the jar and secure with tape hidden between the two ends. Wrap red pull-and-peel candy around the jar over the paper. Tie the candy ends together.



Box of Sweets
(YAY I found it! Remember I made one the other day and couldn’t remember where I saw the idea? BHG.com!)
Purchase a plastic divider box to decorate and use scrapbooking supplies to dress it up. Trim patterned paper to fit the exterior of the lid, and embellish with stickers and painted chipboard. For a nonsugar alternative, fill with scrapbooking supplies or small trinkets.



Inside Box of Sweets
You can decorate the inside, as well. Use the same paper, stickers, and painted chipboard for an extra surprise when the box is opened.



Candy-Filled Cupcakes
Turn a regular bag of candy into a cupcake look-alike. Fill a sandwich bag with candy and close tightly. Place the bag with the closing down in a colored plastic cup. Top off with a red crafts pom-pom cherry.



Ice Cream Lover's Gift
Give the gift of an all-in-one sundae. Ice cream fans will love new bowls with their favorite toppings tucked inside. Choose plastic bowls tall enough to hold a topping jar when placing one on top of the other. Include a spoon, tie it all up with a bow, and add a gift certificate to the recipient's favorite ice cream shop.



Gardening Gift
Paint flowerpots and saucers with glossy white paint. Use a foam brush to paint the rims a coordinating color. Fill the container with potting soil and a packet of seeds. Turn the saucer over on top of the pot. Tie together with ribbon, and tuck a trowel under ribbon.



Movie Gift Bag
Any film buff will love this movie-inspired gift. Line the bottom of a translucent plastic bag with popcorn, and fill it with theater-style snacks. Attach movie theater gift certificates.



Wooden Basket
Give a basic wooden basket a makeover with paint, patterned paper, and a bit of imagination. After painting the piece, trim paper strips to fit the basket and use decoupage to adhere and seal them. Add a decorative tag and fill the basket with goodies.

Ok so, there are a few cute ideas for some homemade love! Alot of them can be adapted to fit everyday gifts as well... birthdays, mother's day, even Christmas... so keep that in mind! Now… anyone hungry yet? No?? Oh I bet I can make you LOL! Ok, so I’m not expecting as many kids as the last few days, but I AM expecting a few more than just my crew, so I need a lot of filling yummies for a little cashola. Hmmm… think I’ll set up these crocks before we leave so that tonight we have an awesome dinner waiting.



Cabbage Beef Soup

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pound ground beef
1/2 large onion, chopped
5 cups chopped cabbage
2 (16 ounce) cans red kidney beans, drained
2 cups water
24 ounces tomato sauce
4 beef bouillon cubes
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper

Directions

Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium high heat. Add ground beef and onion, and cook until beef is well browned and crumbled. Drain fat, and transfer beef to a slow cooker. Add cabbage, kidney beans, water, tomato sauce, bouillon, cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir to dissolve bouillon, and cover.

Cook on high setting for 4 hours, or on low setting for 6 to 8 hours. Stir occasionally. Enjoy!

Cranberry Pot Roast

Ingredients

2 cups beef broth
1 cup water
2 (14.5 ounce) cans cranberry sauce
1 (4 pound) beef chuck roast
salt and ground black pepper to taste
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large sweet onion, chopped

Directions

Bring the beef broth and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Stir in the cranberry sauce until dissolved. Pour the sauce into a slow cooker set to High.

Meanwhile, season the beef roast with salt and pepper, then sprinkle evenly with the flour. Heat the vegetable oil in large skillet over medium heat. Cook the roast in the hot oil until brown on all sides, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the roast to the slow cooker along with the chopped onion.

Cook until the roast easily pulls apart with a fork, about 4 hours.

**This can also be done with Chicken. Just decrease all the liquids to 1 can of chicken broth. You can also add veggies such as carrots and potatoes to the roast pot as well.**



Unstuffed Pepper Soup

Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
3 large green peppers, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) beef broth
2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed tomato soup, undiluted
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes, undrained
1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1-1/2 cups cooked rice

Directions

In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, cook the beef, green peppers and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the broth, soup, tomatoes and mushrooms. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add rice and heat through. Yield: 10 servings.

Alright kiddos, I’m gonna go set up my crocks and start wranglin up these youngins for their band competition. Then of course I have to get dressed too. So I wish you a great day and I will see you tomorrow! HUGS!