DIY Gift Giving

We had a birthday/get well soon gift to come up with.  We decided on the following:
 We made a dinner, figuring that would be much appreciated in a time of healing.  Since the meal would only be serving 3 people we split it up into two smaller pans.  I hate always having to worry about giving dishes back to the owners, so thought buying disposable tin foil pans would be a good idea;)  The meal was simple and delicious.

Layered Spaghetti Bake
1 box spaghetti-cooked and drained
1 roll pork sausage
1 jar spaghetti sauce
mozz cheese
mushrooms, onions, green peppers-chopped
Parmesan cheese
brown the sausage and veggies with some Italian seasoning.  In a greased pan layer 1/2 noodles, 1/2 sausage, 1/2 sauce, and some mozz and parm cheese. Repeat layers.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

We then make a batch of the families new favorite cookie.  I simply put them in a zip lock baggie and wrote on the bag "you are one tough cookie"  If I had time I would have come up with better packaging.

I must give credit to my husband for the final part of the gift.  We made a date jar.  We took a mason jar and spruced it up a bit by including a "date jar" label on some scrapbook paper that we inserted into the jar.  On the lid we attached some coordinating paper.  Working together we wrote out several dates on strips of scrapbook paper.  Some were silly and fun, some were for staying home activities, some were trips, some were going out, some were reminiscing, some were sweet.  We then used yet another piece of scrapbook paper (I am in love with scrapbook paper, can you tell?;) and wrote a note:

For a birthday gift we wanted to help you focus on each other and build memories. 

 Please enjoy this jar of dates to enjoy together. 

 For each date take a picture and write a memory. 

 Return the slip, picture, and memory.  

We will make make a memory book for you.

The memory book was all my hubby's idea and I am in love with it!  What an awesome gift of memories!  I sincerely hope our receivers will do this because I look forward to preserving their memories for them.  

This was such a fun gift to do together.  We very much enjoyed preparing it!!

*** I loved this so much I did another one for a bridal shower.  I put together the jar and note and purchased some items to use for the dates (mugs and sharpies for the "make each other mugs date", a gift card for a date, etc.)  So much time and energy is spent planning the wedding that I hope it will be nice for them to take time to focus on each other too!  And again, I so look forward to making the memory book for them!!

Breakfast for Dinner (yummy throw-together-idea;)e

UGH!!  As I sit down to write this I realize I forgot to take a picture!! :/

For a very long time I wasn't a breakfast for dinner kind of person.  Although I did very much enjoy a big breakfast with a cup of coffee on weekends, eating out on the deck, enjoying the chirping birds....(sigh, sorry got a little side tracked;).  Soooo fast forward a few years to kids, busy weekend mornings, and a budget!  Yup,I am now a breakfast for dinner kind of gal (because breakfast for breakfast sure isn't going to happen!)

Tonight I made a winner!  It's not a rocket science recipe, just something I threw together-but it was so good and liked by all and I just had to share:)

My Breakfast Concoction Casserole

potatoes cubed (as many as you want)
sliced/chopped green peppers, onions, and mushrooms (as much as you want)
1 tube breakfast pork sausage
spinach (if desired)
eggs (as many as you want for scrambled eggs)
cheese

cook potatoes and onions and some salt and pepper in oil and set aside.
brown sausage and set aside.
heat peppers and mushrooms in some oil until desired doneness. set aside
mix eggs, spinach, salt and pepper, and a splash of milk.  scramble and set aside
In baking dish layer potatoes, sausage, veggies, and eggs.  top with as much cheese as you would like.
bake at 350 until cheese is melted.

obviously it is easy and very customizable.  And did I mention it was DELICIOUS?!  Can't wait to make it again!!

What are some of your favorite breakfast's for dinners??

School days are sneaking up.....

Oh how I have missed learning activities with the kids!  I have been in  summer mode and not learning mode :/  Today, though, I returned to education.com and printed off two sheets for each little kiddie.

Cam colored, and cut out, and made book marks.  He then wrote the word frog and then wrote a sentence using the word frog.  And then drew a picture of a frog.  He was so proud of himself and I was thrilled;)

Austyn filled out missing alphabet blocks.  She worked so hard on it and did so good.  She didn't give up and was so proud!  She also worked on a sheet for identifying the number 8.

I love how hard they work and how proud they get and how happy they are to do it!  I love seeing their intent, focused faces followed by huge smiles.  Seeing them learn is so exciting!!  And it's so fun that they are at that age where they actually find learning exciting.

They will be learning so much more once school starts up and I'll miss our morning worksheet time.  But I do look forward to hearing all about what they learn and helping them practice what they learn.  I am working on some responsibility charts and there will be daily time for homework, reading, worksheets, and/or flashcards etc.

Lazy, enjoy the sun summer days are quickly coming to a close as we all prepare for the craziness and busyness of another school year!

A fun spontaneous date at home;)

We don't get out much.  And our nights typically consist of catching up on TV shows or engrossing ourselves in electronics.  Occasionally we play a game (which we love, but kinda forget about, lol), or just talk (which is also great).  Still though, we are typically in the TV rut.

Well that's no fun!  And not a good way to stay connected.

So yesterday I informed my hubby that once the kids were in bed it was no TV.  I had a game for us and we were having a  date night.

I then went to one of my favorite sites, and go to place for romance ideas.   www.thedatingdivas.com  (I seriously looooove this site and could spend hours on it:).  I searched site for operation and printed the pieces.

It was silly, quirky, and we had a blast.  We laughed, talked, and enjoyed.  I think what made it even more exciting was that it was unexpected and a week night;)

It was also so easy to prepare.  In 10 minutes (probably less) I had the game printed and cut out.  Once the kids were in bed we split up and gathered the suggested materials.

And then we spent an evening focusing on each other and bonding:)

***my hubby really must of loved it, he just called and told me that now he has a game as well for our next in home date.  curious to find out what he came up with!;)