Mail Time Quiet Book Page

Did you just LOVE getting mail as a kid? I know I did, so I took my own spin on sending and receiving mail, for Skylee's Quiet Book. Here she can keep a pen and some paper handy, write a note and send it off, OR get a little note from Mommy!

The envelope is open at the top where little pieces of paper are stored, and a place to hold a pen or pencil. Simple and functional :)
*Brittney*

I'mmmm Baaaaaack! :)

Hello? .................................Anybody out there? .............................. :)
Hi there! My family and I just (a week ago :/ ) got back from a month long trip out west. My trip started a little earlier than planned when one of my Uncle's past away from cancer. My little guy Parker and I flew out to California for his memorial services, then met up with my husband and Skylee a few days later when our trip was originally planned for. I have a very large extended family, but I feel as though we're also very tight-knit. Although it wasn't a reason anyone would have chosen, it was wonderful to see all my brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I believe that families are forever, and that I will see my Uncle Jim again, he was a great Uncle to me :)

The rest of our trip included; indoor black light mini golf, cosmic bowling, splash parks, water park, Mandalay Bay Shark Reef, 5 days on a houseboat at Lake Mead (wakeboarding, inner-tubes, boating, jet skis, swimming...), family BBQs/bonfire, Chuck E. Cheese, eating out for just about every meal,visiting with long time friends and spending quality time with my family. It was a blast, wish I could do that every month! I think people around here in Georgia wondered if I was ever coming back though. I won't bore you with thousands of pictures, just a few ;)

My beautiful family minus my husband and daughter

Skylee playing at the park

Lake Mead boat babies

Skylee testing out the water slide

Parker and I after my Uncles funeral

Parker at Lake Mead, 4th of July
Napoleon Dynamite anyone? My husband called him RexKwonDo because of these shorts!

Family bonfire

Skylee, 4th of July

Ryan, my husband in his element at Lake Mead

With all that, and being away from all my supplies, there was NO crafting going on, I think the most I made with my hands was a few batches of homemade cookies ;) Have no fear, I'll get back on my "crafting track", I've got plenty of projects lined up, until then here's a little recipe I thought I'd share with you. This is another kid-pleaser in my house :)

Tater Tot Casserole:
Ingredients
1lbs ground beef (or turkey)
1 can green beans
1 package onion soup mix
1 1/2 cups of milk
1 can cream of mushroom soup
bag of frozen tater tots
1/2-1 cup cheddar cheese

Directions:
-line 9x9 baking dish with a layer of tater tots
-Brown meat in large skillet until brown, drain fat.
-Add beans, cream of mushroom soup, onion soup mix and milk to the skillet with meat
-Once heated, pour over tater tots
-Add top layer of tater tots and add cheese for topping
Bake 30-35 mins @ 375 degrees.

And just for laughs, this is me holding on for dear life as a TRY to wakeboard! LOL :)
Hope you all are enjoying your Summer! Crafts to come :)
*Brittney*

Quiet Book

This is the first craft project I took on last fall. I had no idea what I was doing, what materials would work best, and how durable it would be. I also never really finished it, and just remembered I still wanted to add to it. Just in time too, we're leaving town in 2 weeks, complete with long hours of sitting for little ones (me too)! I figured I'd show you what all I've made and then I'll be able to keep you posted on new pages I add. I wanted to keep the cost to a minimum(as always) so I used felt, hot glue, felt, buttons, felt, velcro, felt, ribbon, and oh, FELT! What can I say, it's inexpensive and perfect for child's play :)

Cover with handle:

Flowers button on and off for practicing skills. Counting beads and using patterns:

Play purse with mirror and lipstick/ Hair page with pocket to hold hair supplies:

Dress up closet:

Ice cream scoops:

Tic Tac Toe

Oven opens for baking cupcakes/muffins:

I still plan on doing a few more pages for this book. I'll also see if I can start and finish another one for my little guy, more catered to boys :)

*Brittney*

P.S. I took some of these ideas from other bloggers, but since it's been a while I can't remember where! If you recognize any, let me know so I can give the credit due!

Linking up to:
Keeping it Simple
Craftastic Mondays
Market Yourself Monday
Get Your Craft On

"Sweet" Baby Shower Gift

Hi, hope you all had a great weekend! Ours was busy, but we had lots of fun :) A fellow Coast Guard couple here is expecting their first baby soon and had their co-ed baby shower on Saturday. Our family wasn't able to attend, but I wanted to make sure I congratulated them with a little gift. I've loved doing diaper cakes lately, and I really wanted to do a boy one, but it dawned on me that not everyone uses disposable diapers! Since I wasn't sure, I just made a small one and then added some other "sweets" to create a "dessert tray" for Baby Sitko:

"Candy rolls":
made with 6 washcloths each

"Cupcakes"

made with 2 burp-cloths and 2 pairs of socks each

Diaper/blanket Cake:
made with size 1 diapers, 1 receiving blanket, and 1 fleece blanket

I used the tutorial over at Cute as a Fox for the candy rolls and cupcakes. It turned into a "dessert tray" because I wanted to try them all and didn't know how to package it... DELICIOUS!

*Brittney*

linking up to:
Keeping it Simple
Craftastic Mondays

Not what I pictured

I've only been crafting for the past 9 months or so, I know most craft bloggers have basically done it their whole lives. I made it a goal last fall to develop some skills, and I'm pretty happy with my progress so far. I've tried a lot of things that would have intimidated me before, yet they turn out to be the projects I'm most proud of.
Well, this is not one of them...enter, this ugly picture...

Before:

After:

The finished product was supposed to be a cute dry erase board. Not so much! I think I need to change the paper inside the frame and add embellishments? Let's hope so!

Ever had a project that DIDN'T turn out the way you envisioned it?


*Brittney*

Paper Purses

I saw these a few months ago over at Aly and Ash and thought they were just so cute, and simple. I finally got around to making a few the other day and filled them with candy for my visiting teaching route. I thought they turned out pretty cute with the very short time I had to make them :) These were great for what I used them for, but wouldn't they be adorable for goody bags at a girls b-day party, or baby shower!? I used the template here and enlarged it make bigger ones on my copier/printer from 12x12 scrapbook paper, and ribbon for the handle. Then I added a little scrapbook brad for a little embellishment, so easy! Here is the purse pattern.


*Brittney*

Summer Time Treats

We've had fun making some delicious summer time treats around here this weekend, and it's only fair to share them with you :) Pictured below is a favorite recipe from my Grandma. Strawberry Sherbet, and like all the recipes I'll ever post here, it's fast, easy, and yummy!

Ingredients:
Strawberries (or fruit/berries of your choice)
buttermilk
sugar

Blend equal parts of your berries (pureed), sugar, and buttermilk in a blender,put in freezer safe container,freeze, and ENJOY :)
(Told ya it was easy!)

As if that wasn't enough frozen sugar in the house, we made some popsicles. Simple and very kid-friendly. Skylee and I made all different kinds using different flavors of juice and then added sliced up strawberries in them. They were a perfect treat after the pool :)

Hope you're having a great Summer :)

Linking up to:
Motivate Me Mondays @ Keeping It Simple
Craftastic Monday @ Sew Can Do

*Brittney*