THIS WEEKEND

This Weekend, (May 28-30), here is what is going on:

First, the regulars:

Make a FREE tic-tac-toe game at Lakeshore Learning

(May 29, 11 am - 3 pm)

Make a FREE vase of flowers card at Michael's

(may 29, 10 am - 1 pm)

FREE Mom and Daughter mini-makeovers

at the Aurora Sprouts Farmer's Market location

(May 29, 11 am - 2 pm)

Stop by the Highlands Ranch Sunflower Farmer's Market location for an Ice Cream Social Fundraiser, click HERE for details, ice cream bowls are $2, proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society

Now, are you all so excited for summer! Opening up this weekend are:

The H2O'Brien Pool in Parker

The Miniature Train and Children's Farm at Belleview Park in Littleton

Pirate's Cove in Littleton

And to celebrate Memorial Day weekend:

The Old South Gaylord Memorial Day Weekend Festival

The Boulder Creek Festival

Parade and Tribute in Denver

The Downtown Denver Arts Festival

Easy Spring/Summer Wreath

This is a very easy way to spruce up any door, and it can be made very inexpensively as well.

I picked up a wreath like this from Michael's

Have you noticed how popular eggs and birds are? So I decided to put some of these speckled eggs on .

Then I just got some flowers and cut them into individual pieces

Then I just stuck in the flowers were I wanted them and placed the eggs were I though looked good, and hot glued them on.

Here is a close up:

Our Best Bites

You definitely have to take a look at this recipe blog. It is Tuesday again today, and I want to feature this blog because it is so awesome. The favorites that I have tried are:

Pizzookies- or warm cookies sundae (a BIG hit)

1 ingredient Ice Cream (which my kids LOVE)

Chicken Taquitos

Creamy Lime-Cilantro Dressing

Taco Chicken

And these are some next on my list to try:

Cashew Sweet and Sour Pork

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Thai Peanut Noodle Salad

So take a look at Our Best Bites, and let me know what you tried and how it was.

*All pictures are from 'Our Best Bites' blog*

Baked Ziti

This is a fun twist on the regular spaghetti dish. My family loves it and it is really easy to have a meat and vegetarian meal at the table at the same time:

you can leave it like this:

or top it with sauce (our family uses meat sauce, but you can do it without meat if you want)

1 box ziti noodles, cooked al dente (you can use penne or rigatoni noodles also)

1 red pepper, sliced

1 green pepper, sliced

6-8 oz. of shredded cheddar cheese

6-8 oz. of shredded monterey jack cheese

1 tsp salt

1 tsp. pepper

½ cup Italian bread crumbs

1 cup half and half

spaghetti sauce (desired amount)

Heat oven to 350. Grease a 13x9x2 baking dish. Combine ziti, peppers, cheeses, and spaghetti sauce. Pour half and half and salt and pepper evenly over mixture. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover, top with breadcrumbs and bake additional 30 minutes.

Serve as is, or top with more spaghetti sauce.

Necklace Holder

(I measure the hooks out 1 inch apart. I marked the wood with a pen to make sure they were straight and even in a row)

I was really needing something to do with my necklaces. This is a really easy and cheap solution. I used some leftover wood from a project my husband had been working on. It is about 1 inch thick and about 2 feet long. I bet you could get some scrap wood at Home Depot or Lowes that would work for this for free. I sanded it a little bit, then painted it black to match my bathroom. I bought a pack of 50 hooks at Walmart for about $2.50. I only used about 20 of them. Then I just got a leveler to make sure it was straight and hung it up. I used two long nails in the end to hang it up because I was afraid that a screw at the end of the board might split the wood. I wanted to make it really secure, so I did put one screw in the middle and it didn't split it.

Like the scrapbook picture frames? Click HERE to see them.

I am linked to THESE parties.

THIS WEEKEND

This weekend, (May 21-23), here is what is going on:

Make a FREE tear-art tambourine at Lakeshore Learning centers,

(May 22, 11 am - 3 pm)

Make a FREE catapult at Lowe's,

(May 22, 10 am - 11 am), click HERE to register

Don't miss the FREE Parker Family Fun Fest, in Parker (May 22, 11 am - 2 pm), at the O'Brien Park (10795 Victorian Drive, Parker, CO 80138). "Activities will include fun games, obstacle courses, an inline hockey challenge, inflatable's, demonstrations and more!" Click HERE to read more.

Castle Rock Ducky Derby and Street Festival (May 22, 11 am - 4 pm) Tickets can be obtained with a donation of $5, or $20 for five tickets, they recommend you get the tickets ahead of time, so click HERE to read more info about where to get them. It takes place on Wilcox and 2nd Street. There will be a waddle walk, face painting, vendors, food, entertainment, car show, safari bouncy house and slide, silent auction and much more!

Click HERE to read more about it.

Buttermilk Brownies

These are similar to a texas sheet cake, I was told. I got this recipe from my brother's wife's family (whom I just love and pretty much consider them like my family as well). I made TWO trays of these brownies for a church activity, and they were gone in an instant, I didn't even get one. These are delicious!

Brownies:

1 cup butter

3 Tab. ghirardelli cocoa (I don't know if they brand makes a difference, but that is what they used, and told me to use, so I used it.)

1 cup hot water

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1/2 teas. salt

1 teas. soda

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 teas. vanilla

2 eggs

Bring butter, cocoa, and hot water to a boil. In a separate bowl, mix flour sugar, and salt. Make a well with the flour mixture and add the butter/cocoa mixture to it stirring BY HAND. In another separate bowl, mix the soda and buttermilk, add that to the flour/cocoa mixture, also stirring BY HAND. Add eggs and vanilla in BY HAND. Pour into a greased jelly roll pan and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Let cool before frosting.

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup milk

2 Tab. ghirardelli cocoa

1 teas. vanilla

1/2 pkg. powdered sugar

(nuts optional)

Heat butter, milk, and cocoa until almost boiling. Add vanilla. Stir in powdered sugar SLOWLY with a wire whisk until creamy and mixed in. Let cool before frosting.

Stone Wreath

Tuesday again and the feature this week is from Craft Envy. I love the Stone Wreath look, and it was under $5 to make. How cute. Click HERE for the tutorial.

Blog Swap

Hello Mommie Guide readers! I am so excited to be guest posting here today!
Let me introduce myself!

I am Fawnda from Fireflies and Jellybeans a little DIY blog that I co-author with my best friend Jeannine.

I am a mom to a 2 year old son (who we adopted from Korea about 1.5 years ago!) and a wife to an amazing man! I love all things crafty!
We have all kinds of fun stuff going one at Fireflies and Jellybeans! We have a Show Off Your Stuff Party every Thursday where you can link up your posts that you want to show off!

We also have many great tutorials! Here are a few of our favorites:
Travel First Aid kit

Book Page Wreath
Scrabble Tile Ring

Chalkboard Mugs


Ribbon Bead Necklace

Leg Warmers

Crinkle Tag Blanket

Ruffle Butt Onesie with leg warmers for baby

Come on over and check us out at Fireflies and Jellybeans We love to meet new friends!
Thanks Kylee for letting me invade your blog today! It has been so FUN! :)

THIS WEEKEND

This weekend, May 14-16, here is what is going on:

Kids Night Out at Sunflower Farmer's Market (Highlands Ranch location, May 14, 5 pm-7pm) "Bring the kids in for snacks, face-painting and fun activities."

Make a FREE mini megaphone at Lakeshore Learning Centers (May 15, 11 am-3pm)

Parker Kids Kulture, it's FREE . (May 15, 10am-11:30am). The theme this year is 'Animals and their habitat', and the topic on the 15th is 'Bees.' "Each Kidz Kulture! presentation will consist of a live performance, plus hands-on art projects brought to you by the Parker Artists Guild. Kidz Kulture! is a free event, but pre-registration is requested. Register on line at www.ParkerRec.com or by calling 303.434.1560. "

Castle Pines North Community Garage Sale is May 14, 10am-2pm, and May 15, 9 am-3pm. There will be "hundreds of sellers and thousands of items." Click HERE to read more and get a list of the garage sale participants.

Ginormous Chalkboard

Sorry, I've been busy and missed Tuesday, but still wanted to feature a cool blog, and the feature this week is Joy's Hope. She did this post awhile ago and I loved it. The second I have a enough wall space somewhere, I want to make a 'ginormous chalkboard.' I like how she has the trim around it and the pictures hung up with the clothes pins. so cute! Anyway, here is her blog button:

and HERE is the direct link to the tutorial

Shadow Boxes

So I think I pretty much got the blog back to normal for the most time and pretty quick too. My Mom is opening an etsy shop in a couple weeks, so I will be doing my first giveaway then for something from her shop. She makes homemade bows, headbands, jewelry and lots more so stay tuned! Here are my shadow boxes.

I got a pack of three wooden shadow boxes at Michaels. I painted the frames, traced the back part of the frame onto scrapbook paper. I mod podged the scrapbook paper on the back. When everything was dry I hot glued the little decorations inside. My girl's room was in Hello Kitty, so I used to little stuffed animals and a pair of baby ballet slippers. My boy's room was in sports, so I used a sporty Snoopy stuffed animal and some sports balls. Pretty easy room decorations and pretty cheap. You could fill the shadow boxes with more meaningful stuff as well. My friend, called her's 'Memory boxes', and put in her new baby's hospital bracelets and little hospital hat, some pictures of the newborn baby in the hospital and stuff like that that reminds her of the birth. A very cute way to display all that stuff that is a little bulky for a scrapbook, but still precious keepsakes.

Oops!

Okay, I tried to put a new template/background thing on my blog today, and it totally erased everything except my posts pretty much. That's why it looks like this. I am going to try to restore it to even better than it's original look over the next couple weeks, but because I am not very computer savvy it might take me awhile to get it how it was. I am hoping to have a HUGE welcome back post with a giveaway I have lined up and some cool crafts and recipes. I might do a post here and there, but not everyday like I have been, as I am going to be trying to edit my HTML and all that good stuff. SORRY!

THIS WEEKEND

This weekend, (May 7-9) Here is what is going on:

First, again to start a little early...

Today (May 6) Thursday is 'Ladies Only Sample Tour' in Downtown Littleton. You have to have a bracelet to participate, but if you go to the information office right at 4 pm when it starts, they sell any extras they have. Click HERE to read more. I'm be there with my friend, so hope to see you!

Make a Mother's Day one of a kind t-shirt at Michaels, (May 6, 6 pm - 8 pm) (tshirt purchase required, the rest supplied by Michaels)

Now, the weekend:

Make a Mother's Day Frame at Michael's (May 7, 6 pm - 8 pm) (frame purchase required, the rest supplied by Michael's)

It's FREE day at the Denver Botanic Garden in Chatfield, located at:

8500 Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton

Make a FREE Mother's Day Card at Michael's (May 8, 10 am - 12 pm)

FREE Wilton Cookie Demonstration at Michael's (May 8, 12 pm - 1 pm)

Build a FREE trellis planter for Mother's Day at Lowes, (May 8, 10 am - 11 am), click HERE to register

Make a FREE Mother's Day jewelry holder at Lakeshore Learning Centers

(May 8, 11 am - 3 pm)

Make FREE tissue paper flowers at Pottery Barn Kids

(May 8 & 9, 2 - 4 pm)

FREE: Sunflower Farmers Market (Highlands Ranch location) is having a 'Just for Moms Spa Day'. (May 8, 10 am - 2 pm) "Moms come in to be pampered and treated. Indulge your sweet tooth and your soul in in fun and free event." Click HERE to read more.

FREE: Mom and Daughter mini makeovers at Sprouts Farmers Market, Parker Location (Parker Rd & Lincoln Ave.) (May 8, 11am-2pm) "An Aubrey Organics make-up artist will be on hand to give you tips and techniques to bring out your very best. Aubrey Organics is an all natural, make-up!"

FREE: You DON'T want to miss 'Olde Town Market.' It's called a whimsical artisans emporium, with antiques, vintage, unique, and artisan vendors. Takes place in Historic Downtown Littleton (May 8), click HERE to read more

FREE: Centennial Spring Fling at deKoevend Park (6315 S University Blvd. Centennial, 1/2 of a mile north of Arapahoe on University) (May 8, 10 am - 2 am)"The event is designed as a hands-on interactive festival for children of all ages." Click HERE to read more.

FREE: Celebrate with the Cinco de Mayo Festival in Denver. (May 8-9, 10 am- 8 pm). The event includes live entertainment, art exhibitions, children's entertainment and food and drink stalls. Located at the Civic Center Park (Broadway and Colfax Ave.), Click HERE to read more.

Highlands Ranch Indoor Garage Sale (May 8, 8 am - 3 pm), "Be sure to swing by the gym at Eastridge for a great show! We have a ton of vendors which means a great selection of items." Click HERE to read more.

And don't forget to have your kids participate in the FREE National Park and Recreation Month coloring contest at the Castle Rock Rec Center.

"Help celebrate National Park and Recreation Month by submitting an original work of art that depicts how your child enjoys our parks, open spaces or trails. The winning artwork will be featured in the fall / winter 2010 issue of the Recreation Guide, and the top three contestants will be awarded a goodie bag of Recreation Center prizes, including a 20-punch admission pass.

The contest is open to youth ages 3 to 18. Include the child's name, phone number, e-mail or mailing address and age with all entries. Entries must be received by May 17."

Click HERE to read more