Superdad!

This year for fathers day I decided to do a SUPERDAD theme!

I did not have time to get pictures of everything, but here is my fav!  I got this idea from pinterest and then spruced it up a bit!  It was really quite easy to put together...24 cans of beer, ribbon, and some sort of base.  For my base I used a tray from the dollarstore and then put the fake golf turf down to cover it since part of John's gift is to go golfing next weekend!

I put this magnet on since it tied in perfectly with the theme...and it was the only way that I could work glitter into fathers day :)

I found a superman golf ball stamp online so I bought that too, so fun!

Some other things I added were beef jerkey, cigars, gift certificate for green fees, and a new magazine.

I also made a crazy cute superdad banner but because of the lighting where it was hanging I could not get a good pic...I might add it later :)

I hope everyone had an awesome day with the dads in their lives!

PS - If you want the printable file for the banner just leave a comment with your email and I'll send it your way!

House Warming Gift

My brother-in-law and his fiancé just bought a house...the perfect excuse to get creative (aka search pinterest) and come up with a fun, useful, gift!

I was out with one of my kiddos and decided to pick up my "basket" fillers.  Here is what we picked...

I stuffed a little pink tissue in the bottom of a galvanized tin bucket and started stuffing the fillers in!

all packed up!

Finally I wrapped it up with some fun polka dot cellophane and ta da!  I can't wait to give it to them!

PS - has anyone ever tried to "wrap" a basket...what a tricky thing to do...why don't they make that darn paper wider!!!

baby shower decoration ideas...

I am so excited to share these!  I have been wanting to make them for awhile, and FINALLY got around to them.

Everything you need...

Start by pulling all the flowers off of the stems.

Use your hot glue gun to glue around the green part of the flower, and then stick it into one of the holes...that simple!

Continue gluing the flowers into the holes.  When you get about half way around, choose a ribbon and thread it through two of the holes.

Continue gluing until you have flowers all around! I am so happy with how these turned out!  I am planning on using them for an upcoming baby shower, stay tuned for more details :)

Mimo's Pasta

My Dad is in Toronto quite often for work, and he works with a bunch of wonderful Italians.  He goes to Toronto and eats their DELICIOUS food, and then he comes home, tells mom about it, and then they recreate it!

This is my new ULTIMATE favorite pasta recipe...I could eat it everyday!

Here is the line-up!

Start by cutting up your tomatoes (the grape tomatoes were from my Dad's tomato garden, yummo!)

Coat the bottom of your pan with EVOO and add garlic...lots of it!

Once the smell of garlic has filled you house, throw in all those tomatoes!

While the tomatoes are cooking away you can slice up the basil.

This is the look that we are going for with the tomato, garlic, evoo mixture.

 Slice up some kalamata olives, the amount you use really depends on how much you like olives, if you are going to try this recipe without olives, make sure you add some salt since they are the main source of salt in this recipe.

Add them in...yummm!

Slice up some sundried tomatoes...once again the amount you use is going to depend on how much you like them!

Sundried tomatoes in, splash of red wine in

Basil in... 

 Simmer for about 20 more minutes and then put it on your pasta!

I have not included any amounts since it is a little bit different each time it gets made.  The picture at the top is a good indicator of amounts!

Best EVER Cookies!

I got this recipe years back from one of my besties.  Somehow they ended up being named BEST EVER COOKIES...and yes it is written in capitals at the top of my recipe :)

Here is your line-up!

Start by mixing your marg and sugars...and yes I got a new mixer...and yes it is HOT PINK!!!  I am in love!

Add the eggs and vanilla and mix...

Baking soda...

Cocoa, and flour

Break your carimilks into individual pieces and wrap one piece into each cookie (they used to have mini carimilks but I have not been able to find them ANYWHERE!!!)

Dip into sprinkles, and line-up on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Put them in at 350 for exactly 8 minutes...not a second more, not a second less!

And there you have it...BEST EVER COOKIES!

BEST EVER COOKIES

1 cup marg

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup cocoa

3 cups flour

4 carimilks

Quick and SImple Pretzel Treat

This is the perfect thing to make if you are short of time and need a festive treat!

All you need...Pretzels, Mini Rolos, and smarties OR pecans.

Preheat your oven to 350, and cover your cookie sheet with parchment paper.

On top of the parchment put as many pretzels as will fit, and top each of them with a mini rolo.  Pop them in the oven for 3 minutes...

And squish the rolo with a smartie or a pecan...yummers!

You've Been RACK'ED

So I have seen this a number of places now...and I LOVE IT!  The idea is that you complete RACKs (random acts of Christmas Kindness), and hand the person the card, hoping that they will pay it forward.  I am going to see how many I can do and I would love for other people to join in, and share what you did by commenting on this post!  If you want to "play" comment leaving me your email address and I will send you a pdf with 6/sheet to print, or you can copy the one on this post!  It can be something as simple as holding a door open for someone, helping someone carry out their groceries, or maybe buying someone random their coffee!  I hope to hear from some of you :)