Magical Day Of Make Believe #2

"Off we go to explore the moon." (That's a quote from a children's show my daughter watches, but at this moment I can't remember the name of it.)

This week is outer space. I kept this one simple.
First we made a mobile of our solar system. Download HERE.

or Martha Stewart has instructions to make one found HERE (I have a toddler so this was a bit more complicated then I was going for)

We sat in our "rocket ship" (chairs laying on the ground) and blasted off into outer space. Remember there is no gravity in space so we moved silly and jumped really high;) Then we looked at the planets in our solar system and talked about them. You can download the planets and information HERE.

Magical Day of Make Believe will placed on hold through the Holidays. It will start again when my son goes back to school Jan 16th. Yes you read that right. Can I just say who the heck planned this Holiday break. They don't get out of school until Dec 23rd. I would have way rather get out a week earlier and started a week sooner.

Italian Roast Beef

1 3-5 lbs Roast
1 jar of Peperocini's with juice
1 packet Dry Italian Dressing
1 can beef Broth
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 Tbs Italian seasoning


Put it all in a Crock Pot for 5-8 hours.  Shred meat.  I fish out a lot of the peperocini's from the crock-pot and even dump a little of the juice over the shredded meat.  Serve the meat on a toasted bun with a slice of Provolone Cheese.  You can make your own buns click HERE for the recipe.

My Memories Suite

I was contacted by My Memories to review one of their products. I was skeptical about the software because I am not a scrapbooker. I print my personal blog out every year by just added pictures and texts to already made pages via Picaboo or Blurb. Easy & simple are my style. I thought, "what am I going to use this for?"

Well, I have come to a conclusion. You could make cards, printables, make your own pages for a blog book to be printed on, decor. What ever. In fact, here are 2 things I made this morning:)
2  cute birthday cards

It is substantially easier to use then Photoshop and cheaper too. The fun thing is there are tons of freebies you can get from My Memories and the paper, embellishments, etc are automatically saved into the software. With photoshop I have to open a folder and search until I find exactly what I want then I have to place it and that all takes time. This was totally eliminated with this software! Now here is the fun part. My Memories is offering 1 lucky winner a free version of the my memories suite 3 too!!!!

Here's how to enter. Leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1.  Go to mymemories.com and browse around. Then come back here and tell me what your favorite product was.
2.  become a follower on my memories blog
3. follow my memories on twitter
4. follow my memories on facebook


The fun isn't done yet! My Memories is offering $10 off their software just use the code STMMMS31779 at check out making an already low price ($39.99) Just right $29.99

Software is compatible to both Mac and PC. P.S. obviously there are pros and cons to having photoshop or My Memories Suite. Photoshop is harder to use, but has a lot more options to work with. But if you are looking to getting your footing with little cost and user friendly, then my memories suite is the way to go.

The Secrete to Cleaning Stainless Steal

The word STAINLESS steal makes you think that your stainless steal pots will never get stained. Right!?! Wrong......well until recently.
Remember THIS post. My pan was having some issues and it was not coming clean.

So I asked for help from you guys. I got a few ideas, but until a yesterday nothing was working. Then an angel, whom I would like to hug, left me this comment:

Michele said...

I have stainless steel pans too...my pans look perfect and brand new after lots and lots of cooking...i used to spend a lot of money on cleaners until I discovered magic erasers....that is all you need my friend....i sometimes soak in plain or soapy water ...and that is it

After some rubbing and 1 magic eraser later and my  pan now looks like this again:)!!!!!!

I just can't believe it. THANK YOU again Michele it worked like a charm. You da' bomb sista'!

Cheese Bread

This is something we snack on around here.

1 Loaf of French Bread
1 Jar of Alfredo Sauce
Cheddar Cheese
Monterey Jack or Parmesan or Mozarella
Real Bacon Bites

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.  Break up french bread into bite size pieces right into a 9x13 pan.  Dump half or less of the alfredo sauce all over.  Sprinkle with shredded cheeses that you have on hand.  Sprinkle bacon bites all around.  Give a little stir and bake for 10-15 minutes.  Just till the cheese is melted and it is heated up.

Secrete Santa Gift

Hubby's work does Secrete Santa every year. He has always had a woman, so I have made the gift every year. This year, it was a woman again and word has gotten out that if Dave is your Secrete Santa his wife will make you a cute decoration. He is in high demand now and has been informed he is being fought over;) Here is what the lucky winner gets this year. Using THIS printable I made last year, I cut it out in vinyl and placed it on a tile. BUT I think for myself it will be put on a distressed wooden board:)

Sorry about the lack of Magical Day of Make Believe Series, I have been down for the count with a wicked head cold. I am working on it and will have it done beginning of next week:)

Cheese Ball

 

CHEESE BALL
makes 1 cheese ball

1 package softened cream cheese
1/2 package Lipton onion soup mix
1 tsp drained crushed pineapple
1 tsp chopped green pepper
chopped pecans
Mix into ball and roll into chopped pecans.

Pots and Pans

So, I have stainless steal pots and pans. After burning a gourmet meal (see HERE) I was left with this mess. That gunk will NOT come off.

 So I googled myself some help. The consensus was vinegar and baking soda. I let it sit for about 1 day.

 

Here it is looking a little better, but not the results I wanted or was told to expect.

Any ideas? We are in the process of soaking it in vinegar and baking soda again. Brillo pads didn't work and they just scratched the pan so that was a no go. I am sick of it sitting on my counter or sink.

Almond Crunch

Almond Crunch
 
1 cup margarine (DON'T USE REAL BUTTER)
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
3/4 c ground almonds (divided into 1/4 cup and 1/2 a cup)
8 oz chocolate pieces (our family prefers semi or dark but milk works just fine)

**Things will go much smoother if you get everything ready before you start cooking. 
1. Butter cookie sheet. 
2. Ground Almonds and divide into 1/4 cup and 1/2 cup.
3. Measure out chocolate.  It needs to be in pieces about the size of chocolate chips.  If you are using chocolate chips you don't need to cut them up. 
4. In a saucepan combine butter, sugar, and water.  Cover and bring to a boil. 
5. Next add 1/4 cup ground almonds.
6. Cook and stir constantly over med-high heat until mixture darkens.  The first few times I thought I ruined it because it got dark in streaks so I thought I had burned spots.  On a candy thermometer it should be 290 degrees.  If you stop before this it will be soft and gross and will only continue to get soft.  This step takes 10 to 20 minutes so be patient. 
7. Pour onto a buttered cookie sheet, and spread around with a spoon.
8. Top with chocolate chips.  Let the chocolate sit for a few minutes so it melts. 
9. Spread melting chocolate.
10. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup ground almonds.
11. Cool completly
12. Break into pieces.
**It stays fresh for a few days in a covered container.  After that I always throw it in the freezer. 
Get it out 1 hour before you want to eat it. 

More Changes

Here are a few more changes I made with my Christmas decor. Front door in years past:

Front door this year, with a new stain, wreath hanger, and wreath.



















The nook in years gone by:



















Nook now:

Because of my nativity scene, I needed things to be a little less glittery and more rustic. So I switched out the wreath. Using an idea I saw Craftaholics Anonymous, I added cinnamon sticks to some candles.

I have wanted the Willow Tree Nativity set for longer then I can remember. This year for my birthday I got the starter set. I will be collecting it slowly:)

Cranberry Toffee Cookies

Cranberry Toffee Cookies
 By: Home Run Recipes
 Makes 5-6 Dozen

1 Cup of Vegetable Shortening
1 Cup Real Butter (softened not melted)
1 1/2 Cups White Sugar
1 1/2 Cups Brown Sugar
3 Eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla
3 to 3 1/2 cups Flour
3 cups Oatmeal
1 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
2 Cups dried cranberries
2 Cups Toffee Bits
2 Cups Choc. Chips (optional) sometimes I just use milk chocolate toffee bits to get the chocolate.

1. Mix the shortening and butter with the white and brown sugar.   
2. Add the eggs and vanilla
****  Now mix these until they change to a beautiful lighter colored cream.  This is very important.  It takes at least 3 minutes but mixing it for 5 or 6 minutes will guarantee it's mixed well.  I know people who mix for 10 minutes to be safe.
3. Mix the dry ingredients together.
4. Add 1/2 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture.  Mix well. Then add the other 1/2 of the flour mixture.  Add your oatmeal .
5. Finally add the craisins, toffee bits, and chocolate chips.
***DO NOT use cooking spray on your pan.  This makes the cookies bake uneven.  I use parchment paper or nothing.  Just scoop those cookies right onto the pan.
6. BAKE for 8-10 minutes until slightly golden on top.  This leaves the center nice and soft.  If you cook until they are golden colored all over they are overcooked.

Christmas Card

I made digital christmas cards this year to email to family and friends. It's cheaper and easier on me. So here they are in all their glory.

 You can download HERE Just add your photos

The green wasn't working for me with our family photos so I changed my back ground to red to make the photos pop more. Merry Christmas

Printables

I have received a few emails about printables being deleted and unable to download them. For the ones I have been told about, I have worked it out and you can download them again. If you happen across another that says it was deleted please let me know so I can get it fixed!

Putting up Christmas

This is my mantel from years past. I was never really crazy about it, but it worked and it was cheap.

Here it is now (the candles in the fireplace I Photoshopped in because I will eventually get around to doing something like that:)

My mom gave me some decor from Costco (reindeer and tree)

 I made these with a stencil a few years ago and I love them as much as the day I made them:)

 Another change was I purchased a tree skirt for the very first time in 8 1/2 years of marriage;)

African Safari

Welcome to the first of the Magical Day of Make-believe series, where play time is fun for everyone. Let's go on an African Safari. Have an adult or older sibling who can read be the tour guide. (download HERE).
Every great explorer needs his gear. A must have are binoculars.

Most importantly, we need animals! (download HERE).
Cut out the animals. If you want to re-use them laminate the pictures. Hang the pictures of the animals at the kid's eye level. This is a great activity for a park (if weather won't permit, just do it around the house). For older children, make them harder to find. Have the children search with their 'binoculars' to find an animal. Once an animal is spotted, as a tour guide it is your responsibility to tell a little bit about the animal;)

After all the animals have been found, gather round the campfire for snacks of animal cookies and milk.

Letters To Santa Claus

I made a printable for my kids to write letters to Santa this year. There are lots of lines, not because we are greedy, but because writing small is very difficult for them:) And there is a big space at the bottom so they can sign their names.