Sydney helped me draw a winner today. At first she drew this number from the bucket. Sorry it's blurry...



but #7 was a comment from my sarcastic husband. In case you're wondering why his photo ID is the Hoff, here's why. I think he secretly wishes he was the Hoff. Ha!



Sorry honey, you're not allowed to win. You can share our bucket with the kids.

So Sydney drew another number and she drew Buscando la Luz.



I just happen to know this cool girl and I'm excited to give it to her!! Woo Hoo!

Thanks everyone for the nice comments, you all made my day.
I'll be posting another idea soon. It's my absolute favorite, most meaningful, funnest gift to give.

Crazy Candy Wrapper Buckets

[Giveaway Closed, Thanks everyone!]

The kids needed a new bucket for their crayons. The old plastic Willy Wonka lunch bucket from Sea World could only hold up so much longer. I wanted something fun and different. I [re]cycled tootsie roll wrappers, this is what I came up with...

I love how crazy it turned out. I was going to do a tutorial but I forgot to take pictures as I did it. It's o.k. though, you can make one too, it was sooo easy. You'll need:

a bucket (any size)
brush
mod podge
candy wrappers (enough to cover the bucket)

My bucket was from the dollar spot at Target. I just unwrapped all the candy and then tore the ends of the wrapper off. Then, brushed on some mod podge, big enough to hold a wrapper. Applied a little more and added another wrapper. Work your way all the way around the bucket overlapping wrappers until it's all covered. Then apply one or two more coats of mod podge and let it dry.

Then I double knotted ribbon around the handle. I think I used 7 different kinds of ribbon. So fun. Be creative, you could use a fun bucket like this for anything.

*put the unwrapped candy back in the bucket as a party favor or table setting at a shower or party.
*holding hair ribbons or bows
*a perfect bucket to hold a small gift for a friend


My sister made one with starbust candy and it was cute as well. Tiff send me a picture of your finished product.

If you like this super fun bucket, you're in luck because I made an extra one. (made from tootsie roll wrappers but it still looks a little different) Leave me a comment and I'll have the kids draw one lucky winner Wed, July 29!

Zucchini Blueberry Bread

Are you ready for this? No really, are you ready for this.

I got his recipe from my friend Melanie...

Blueberry Zucchini Bread

3 eggs

1 c. oil

2 c. sugar

2 c. zucchini (grated)

3 tsp. vanilla

Beat egg until foamy. Add oil, sugar, vanilla, and zucchini.

Then add:

3 c. flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. soda

1 tsp. baking powder

3 tsp. cinnamon

dash nutmeg

Sift together and add to egg mixture.

Add:

1 c. blueberries

1/2 c. nuts (optional)

Bake in greased and floured bread pans at 325 degrees for 50 minutes to an hour until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Makes two loaves.

Creme Brulee French Toast

Ben loves this recipe. His birthday is coming up next Saturday and I plan on making this for him for breakfast on his special day. I thought I'd share the recipe since it's amazing and easy.
I love that all the prep is done the night before and then refrigerated until the next morning. I'm pretty sure this recipe is pretty popular but just in case there is someone out there who hasn't tried it...you have to.

Anyways, here's the recipe...

Creme Brulee French Toast
INGREDIENTS
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons corn syrup
• An 8- to 9-inch round loaf country-style bread
• 5 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon Grand Marnier or Orange Juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS

In a small heavy saucepan melt butter with brown sugar and corn syrup over moderate heat, stirring, until smooth and pour into a 13- by 9- by 2-inch baking dish. Cut six 1-inch thick slices from center portion of bread, reserving ends for another use, and trim crusts. Arrange bread slices in one layer in baking dish, squeezing them slightly to fit.

In a bowl whisk together eggs, half-and-half, vanilla, Grand Marnier, and salt until combined well and pour evenly over bread. Chill bread mixture, covered, at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.

Preheat oven to 350° F and bring bread to room temperature.

Bake bread mixture, uncovered, in middle of oven until puffed and edges are pale golden, 35 to 40 minutes.

Serve hot French toast immediately.

(Ben likes his with a little bit of warm real maple syrup. Not the fake stuff. You know the goodness from a tree stuff).

4th of July Dress...

I love all you crafty bloggers out there. You have the most amazing ideas that I can use on my almost nonexistent budget. I was checking out Trey and Lucy and saw the cutest bandanna dress that gave me an idea for a 4th of July dress for Sydney. That day is Ben's birthday after all, so we try to dress for the occasion. Here's the one I made for Missy Moo, and it really did only take me about 15 minutes. Okay, maybe 23 or so but it was my first one...

I bought the bandanna's at Joanns for about $1.25 each. The ribbon, I [re]used from another project so the dress cost a whopping $2.50 to make! Woo Hoo!

Click here if you want a tutorial on how to make one

Birdseed cookies...

These were fun and easy and very kid friendly. Got the idea from
Let's Explore. Click on the link to get a little more info on the craft and what to do to make it go smoothly. So fun!

Here's the recipe:
Birdseed Cookies

• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 Tablespoons corn syrup
• 4 cups birdseed

Mix it all together.

Pat it all out flat on a cookie sheet and cut with cookie cutters.

Transfer to another cookie sheet and let dry. To transfer the cookie, you might need to scoop the birdseed with the cookie cutter still around it for it to hold it's shape. Once it's transferred you can remove the cookie cutter and it should hold up fine.

Make sure to poke holes in the top to put ribbon through. You could use a straw or a skewer for the whole.

The kids have had fun looking at the cookies throughout the day to see how much has been eaten. It's also been fun to watch all the birds come into the yard.

Tip Junkie is having a huge Dot Com Birthday Bash with lot's of fun giveaways. She has changed her site around and there's lot's too see. Go check it out! Her link is on the sidebar too.