May 31, 2012

Free Printable Planner Page (Yay Free!)

Ever get the feeling you are wasting your life? I do just about every time I don't plan my day out. But none of the planner's you get at the store fit perfectly so I decided to throw together one of my own.

Print Me :)
 Organization with Pretty Colors!

I'm working on a Master To-Do list and other planner pages to go along with this one so check back soon or follow me to get a full planner lay out.

*For printing: I designed this page to be an A5 size (5.83 x 8.27) so it will be in it's very best quality when printed at that size. The quality is still good when printed on regular paper just not at it's best. All you have to do is click on the link under the above picture, click the print button in Google Docs, select the printer you wish to print from, hit Properties in the top right hand corner of the pop up print box, another box will pop up in which you select the Paper/Quality tab, click Custom for the size and type in 5.83 for the width and 8.27 for the height.
A5 paper size can be found at Empire Imports where it is $9/ ream or you can use a paper cutter.


Not wasting my life? Oh, I Got This!

I'm partying with  these SWEET blogs

May 28, 2012

Less Annoying (and More Cheap) Baby Proofing

Recently my son has discovered the ever flowing amount of trouble he can tap into behind the no longer elusive cabinets. For the first while I was running around trying to block or close the doors but that method proved inefficient and tiring (though amusing for my family I think). But I have been to homes where those little baby door locks are in use and it's so annoying! I would just about rather keep up the running around.

Thankfully my Mom came up with this wonderful idea:


So you know those Velcro damage-free picture hanging strips you can buy? Yeah, those work amazing for warding off baby pilfering. 
All you do is buy a pack (ranging from 3-7 dollars depending on how many are in the package- I used the Command brand) ,cut them in half, and place the loop side (the fuzzy side) on the cabinet where the door shuts...
 ...and the hook side (the non-fuzzy side) on the actual cabinet door.
Instead of having to take five minutes to get the flour you needed ten minutes ago by fiddling with baby locks, you can now take seconds with this trick. You do need to be sure you close the doors well though or the Velcro won't stick super strong. 

Making life with a baby easier? Oh, I Got This!

May 21, 2012

Best Ever Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies: Keeper or Stinker?

Gooey-chocolatey-sugarified-yumminess. That is what chocolate chip cookies are and there is just no getting around it (can you tell they are a favorite of mine?) Many recipes have striven to perfect this delectable dessert so let's see how this Pinterest find matches up:

Best Ever Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies




This recipe is simple and has one unique ingredient that I have not found in too many cookie recipes: corn starch. It added a little smoothness to the texture and is, I think, where the extra chewiness of these cookies comes from. 
The cookies tasted delicious, though I'm not sure that they beat my all time favorite (Original Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies). In the recipe it says not to cook them longer than ten minutes but mine definitely needed to stay cozy in the oven a while longer than that. I think it is due to an altitude difference so be careful about the cooking time or you'll end up with too-chewy cookies.

Bottom Line
Pros:

  • Easy
  • Chewy
  • Very Tasty
  • Not greasy
Cons:
  • Cooking time varies
Tips:
  • Closely watch the cooking time, mine needed to cook a few minutes longer than the recipe read but remember that all cookies bake a slight amount more on the baking sheet after they are pulled out.
  • Super flat, spread out cookies? be sure you aren't greasing your baking sheet if it isn't asked for and cool and wash the sheets between batches. Or you can chill the dough a little before baking. 


Keeper or Stinker?

Keeper! 

Link Partyin' With:
  Tip Junkie handmade projects

May 18, 2012

Ho-Ho-Ho, Haappy Birrthday!

May is Birthday month. My husband, son, brother, and various other relatives all have their special day in this lovely month. First up is my husband who happens to be a big fan of Ho-Ho's. So my mom and I whipped up a Ho-Ho's cake!


It is easy, fast, cheap, and scrrrrrrumptious. Can't beat that combo. 

Supplies:

  • 20 Ho-Ho's
  • cake platter or plate
  • ribbon
  • a tube of cake icing with decorative tip
  • Birthday candles
How To:

 1.Open all your Ho-Ho's and group them together in a circle vertically.


 2. Tie your ribbon around the grouped Ho-Ho's (someone's finger would be handy right about now).


3. Decorate the bottom of the "cake" with your icing along with a few spots on top where your candles will go. Place candles and admire.

Making my husband happy with a snazzy three-step cake? Oh, I Got This!

Link Partyin' With:

Tip Junkie handmade projects