Best Cholate Chip Cookies

These are my family's favorite chocolate chip cookies.
I got the recipe from a friend in college.

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 T vanilla
3 cubes butter (at room temp.)
1 ¼ cup sugar
1 ¼ cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
4 cups flour
1 bag chocolate chips

Blend butter, sugars, vanilla and eggs. Then add salt, soda, flour. Last chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes.

This is my favorite tip that I got from my friend, Aliza.

We love the cookie hot out of the oven. No one will eat them a day or two later. So, I usually make one batch and then roll the rest of the dough into balls and put them on a tray and freeze them. Then I put them all into a large ziplock in the freezer. Whenever someone wants cookies it is so easy to throw some on a cookie sheet and into the oven. Hot, yummy cookies with no mess!

*Note: I usually let the cookies sit out for about 15 minutes to defrost a bit before putting them in the oven.

{Alish}

Pop Top Cans

The other day I went to open a can of soup and remembered this tutorial from Not So Idle Hands. So I turned the can upside down and opened it with my smooth edge can opener (which I love)! I then just washed it out and dried it. Then the fun began! I measured out my papers that I would need to cover the can and used modge pod to attach them to the can! Filled the can with treats and then super glued the bottom of the can back on! I loved how they turned out! I am giving these cans to the ladies that I go visiting teaching to this month because it is their birthdays!

Love how you can turn a plain can into something darling!!!

{Whitney}

Scalloped Chicken & Potatoes

Scalloped Chicken & Potatoes

1 box scalloped potatoes (including seasoning packet)
6 chicken tenders
3 cups water

Put potatoes in greased slow cooker first, followed by seasoning packet and chicken. Pour water over all. Cover and cook on low heat 4-5 hours.


I got this recipe out of a slow cooker cookbook. I make it all the time because it is so easy and everyone in my family likes it.

{Alish}

Pinkalicious Party

My daughter turned the {Big One} in January. We had a Pinkalicious party for her. I saw this idea before she was even born, but had my heart set on it. It was perfect, because I was given the book Pinkalicious while I was pregnant and student teaching as a going away gift. I have posted parts of the party already on the blog, but I thought you would like to see the whole thing together! (I hate that the pictures are so dark, but the party was at night)

The Star in her birthday outfit{Whitney}

Oh So Girly

Oh So Girly has the cutest items and can you believe her prices?! When we first saw her site we were both blown away about how reasonable everything was! We received all of this stuff from Oh So Girly and was impressed with the quality of everything! She makes great products at such low prices! Be sure to check our her store, if you have not already!

Fancy Pants Print Winner

The Winner of the Fancy Pants Prints Give Away is:

Kellie Yeates!!!

Congrats!!!

Please e-mail us by Feb 25 with your contact information or else we will choose another winner!

Weekly Menu

Sunday- Salmon, Cool and Creamy, Onion Soup Potatoes

Monday- Dinner with family. Bringing Chocolate Carmel Brownies

Tuesday- Lasagna, french bread, salad

Wednesday- BBQ on a bun, chips, potato salad

Thursday- Hawaiian Haystacks

Friday- Chicken Tacos

Saturday- Eating Out

*Click on the links to get these recipes!

{Whitney}

Star Tutorial

Many of you wanted to know how to make an altered star...well I did a google search and found great directions HERE!

Birthday Banner

I made this birthday banner and loved how it turned out! I got the chipboard at Roberts Craft on clearance. I just painted the chipboard white, glued paper onto the chipboard, and then punched holes in the corners to string my ribbon through. I added more ribbons to the ends and between the letters. I love banners!

{Whitney}

Bear Snack

This is a fun snack that my daughter learned to make at school. We have had fun making them at home too.

Bread
Bananas
Peanut butter
Raisins (we used Craisins)

Spread peanut butter on a slice of bread. Add 3 banana slices for the ears and nose. Then add raisins for the eyes and mouth. Last, Enjoy!

{Alish}

Altered Star

I have seen these altered tin stars and have wanted to make one. I bought a plain star right after the 4th of July for half off. I was planning on making the star for Christmas. I liked how it turned out because not only is it Christmas colors, but it also matches my regular home decor!

{Whitney}

Cupcake Stand

I wanted to make a cupcake stand for my daughters' first birthday, but when I saw this stand at Target for 50% off after Christmas I had to have it! It used to be red, hence the 50% after Christmas sale. I just spray painted it white and then tied tulle all around it! I loved how it turned out!

{Whitney}

Fancy Pants Prints Give Away

Fancy Pants Prints
Is giving one of our lucky readers a $30.00 gift certificate to her store! She has the cutest birth announcements, calling cards, invitations and graduation cards! See for yourself!

How to win:

Only 1 Chance to Win!

Leave in one Comment:

1.Your Name and E-mail

2. Follow our blog if you don't already. Let us know that you follow

3. Tell us what specific custom card you like best from Fancy Pants Prints

Ends February 21 at Midnight. Winner will be announced on February 22.

Good Luck!

Weekly Menu

Monday: Party-Making Strawberry Cake

Tuesday: Chili and Corn Bread

Wednesday: Cajun Chicken Pasta

Thursday: Tacos

Friday: Eat Out

Saturday: Baked Potato Soup and Rolls

Sunday: Parmesan Chicken, Rice Pilaf and Veggie

{Alish}

Southwest Egg Rolls

I cannot remember where I got this recipe, but it is a copy cat from Chili's. I have never actually had the Chili's Southwest Egg Rolls, so I don't know if these even taste anything like the original. All I know is that my family enjoys this meal. I have not made the avocado-ranch dipping sauce before. We like to dip ours in salsa instead.

1 chicken breast fillet, diced
½ red bell pepper, minced
2 tsp dry onion
1 can corn
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 small can green chilies
½ T parsley
½ t cumin
½ t salt
Dash cayenne pepper

1 c. cheddar cheese, shredded
Flour Tortillas

Avocado-ranch dipping sauce:
1 c. ranch
1 whole avocado, mashed
1 tsp. minced onion
Salt & pepper
Blend together with blender

Cook chicken and dice. In large bowl mix all ingredients together. Sauté all ingredients until warm. Remove from heat and add shredded cheese. Warm tortillas. Place ½ c. or so of mixture inside a tortilla. Fold completely together so mixture cannot escape. Place inside a panni grill or George Forman to grill and melt cheese. Serve with dipping sauce.

{Alish}

Valentine Pudding Cups

These are a fun and easy after school snack.
I made these using instant chocolate pudding, then topped them with cool whip, sprinkles and heart shaped Peeps.

{Alish}

Safety Pin Braclets-Swap with My Creative Way

We are so excited so share with you these darling Safety Pin Bracelets made by Raychel. She is a talented girl and we love so much of what she does.


Hello, I'm Raychel (Ray-Shell) from My Creative Way and I want to show you how to make your own Safety Pin Bracelet. I saw these at a craft show and had to start making them. They are super fun and easy to make.

You will need:

• Safety Pins (70-100 for adults and 50-70 for kids) depending on wrists size and size of beads.


• Beads (I use glass beads)


• Elastic for jewelry making


• Scissors
  

I bought my safety pins from a dry cleaning company. This box was $12.00 for 1440 safety pins.

I can make 28 kids bracelets with this box or 20 adult bracelets.

• 
  
  
  Pour all your beads in a bowl
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Fill each safety pin with beads
  
  


• 
  
  
  Close safety pin
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Get 2 peices of elastic and thread your safety pin through the top hole and bottom hole
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Alternate sides of safety pins each time
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Once it fits the size you need tie each side of the elastic together.
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Cut elastic and tuck through safety pin
  
  
  

If you do not have time to make one of your own you can
check out Tutu Fairy's line of Mommy & Me Bracelets at http://www.tutufairy.blogspot.com/ or go straight to Tutu Fairy's Etsy.

Circus Popcorn

Circus popcorn is so yummy and the fun part is that you can make it different colors. I made mine pink for a Pinkalicious Party(more pictures on that later!)

Here is the recipe

1 1/2 C. Sugar
1/2 C. Milk
Food Coloring
1/2 Cube Butter
1 Tsp. Vanilla

Boil all ingredients together till it reaches soft ball on a candy thermometer. Pour over large pan of popcorn(about 1 c. uncooked popcorn)

You might want to double this recipe so you have more to eat :)

{Whitney}

Valentine's Ideas

Christine shares all of her wonderful Valentine's ideas here! She has done all these ideas and has a whole blog just devoted to Valentine's day!

Smirk Beanies

We received these Beanies from Smirk and absolutely love them! I got the pink one for my daughter and my sister got the black one for herself! Who doesn't want to be stylish while keeping warm?! She lets you pick whatever colors you want for your beanie and also has boy beanies. We also received our order fast! We love Smirk!

Weekly Menu

Monday: Baked Potato with Chili and Cheese

Tuesday: Chicken Cacciatore with Rice

Wednesday: Taco Soup, Chips

Thursday: Steak, Baked Potato, Corn

Friday: Sour Cream Enchiladas

Saturday: Eat Out

Sunday: Shake n Bake Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Remember if you want any of these recipes leave us a comment and we will post them as soon as we can!

Smirk Winner

The winner is:

Our little family said...

I'm a follower.

Congratulations!

Contact us with your contact information to receive your prize by Feb. 10th or another winner will be chosen.

Valentine Sundae Cup

I made this Sundae cup for my daughter's teacher. It was really easy! I filled a sundae cup with m & m' s and then cut a Styrofoam ball in half and added two pixie sticks to it and glued on popcorn and a chocolate heart on top. To secure the top on I added a long sucker stick to the bottom of the Styrofoam and pushed it down into the
m & m' s. It turned out really fun.

{Alish}

Valentine's Peanut Blossom Cookies

My kids and I just finished enjoying these cookies. We LOVE them! I used a milk chocolate hearts instead of the kiss to make these cookies.

Get the recipe Here

{Alish}

Reader's Ideas

We love when readers send in their ideas to us! Here are a few that we have recieved in the last little bit!

Erin's cute recipe box!

Jerlilyn gave these chair a makeover here!

Casa Camacho shows you how to make these cute Valentines Cards and darling chore chart

Sammy shows you how to make a car seat tent HERE

Kristy Made this darling Diaper Cake. Here

Valentine's Cone-How to Make

I made Valentine's cones to fill with treats and surprises for my kids.
They are really easy to make.

I cut a 12x12 patterned paper in half on the diagonal.

Then, I folded it in half as shown and place it patterned side down.

Next, I took one corner and brought it up to the opposite side along the fold.

Then, I pulled the other corner around the front to the back on the opposite side and secured.

Last, I added ribbon to hang them, tissue paper, embellishments and treats.