How to make Ice Cream In a Bag

For each individual you will need:

1/2 cup milk or half and half (I have seen where you can even use flavored coffee creamer)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon sugar
ice
1/4 cup rock salt
2 quart sized  Freezer Zip-loc bags (could use smaller bags)
1 gallon Freezer size Zip-loc  bag
a hand towel or winter gloves to keep little fingers from freezing

Mix the milk, sugar and vanilla together in one of the quart sized bags. Seal, removing as much air from the bag as possible. Place this bag inside the other quart sized bag, remove air and seal (double bagging to prevent leaking and insuring success).  Put the two bags inside the gallon sized bag along with the ice (we filled the bag with ice) and then about 1/4 cup rock salt. Remove air and seal tightly.  Wrap the bag in the towel or put your gloves on, and shake, shake, shake.

It was near 100 degrees today so it took about 15 minutes to freeze.  I would think if it had been cooler it would have frozen quicker. Since it took longer we had a bit of trouble keeping the kids interested ------so the moms were left holding the bag!

Rinse the small bag before eating or be careful when removing from the outside bag to keep it salt free. We added toppings (chocolate syrup, M&Ms, broken oreos, pretzels and peanut butter cups) right into the bag and began eating! Yum ----We had plenty of participation for this!

How to Make Ice Cream in a Coffee Can

Place the ice cream mixture in the smaller coffee can and seal lid with duct tape.  Place the smaller can in the center of the larger can. Pour the ice and salt around the smaller can.

Put the lid on the larger can and place a piece of duct tape around the lid to make sure it is really secure. Roll the can around outside for about 30 minutes.

Again it was so hot that we had to refill the ice and salt in the can about half way through! Our kids weren't too crazy, so we did just fine leaving the duct tape off after we refilled the ice.  Rinse smaller can before serving.

Everyone agreed the chocolate ice cream was our favorite.

Now if you want to really have a ball at your party you  need the Mega Play and Freeze Ice Cream Ball!

How fun is this? You can make ice cream anywhere, with the Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker!  Add cream and sugar in one end, and ice and rock salt in the other, then "play ball", roll and shake (maybe a fun game of "hot potato") with the ball. Thirty minutes later you will have delicious homemade ice cream.  This cool high tech ball makes 1 quart of ice cream.

After making our ice cream today I can say this ball would be great.  Even using freezer (Name Brand) bags we had some trouble with gallon bags leaking and leaving salt water everywhere.  Also the kids had the most fun kicking the can around.  Having a ball to play with would be perfect.

One  lucky reader will have the chance to be the proud owner. Leave a comment  by midnight on Sunday, August 3rd for a chance to win! (Only U.S. Shipping for this giveaway --sorry!)

We are "thinking" about getting back into our gluten free / dairy free diet, so these pancakes are at least dairy free! It's a start anyway...

Dairy Free Pancakes

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 1/4 cups soy milk (you may use regular milk)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
3 Tablespoons melted butter

Mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl.  Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and then add the wet ingredients in the well and then mix.

I took a spoon and dripped a smiley face onto the hot skillet.  Allow this to cook until you see the bubbles popping and the top looks a little dry.

Next, cover the smiley face with more batter.  Cook just long enough for the batter to set so you can flip the pancake.  You might have to cook a little longer once you flip your pancake so it cooks through.

There you have it --smiles in the morning!

Speaking of smiles, I received  "The Smile Award" for my blog.  It was given to me by Michele of A Big Cup of Tea.  Thank you so much Michele-- you made my day!

Characteristics for the Smile Award:

1. Must display a cheerful attitude. (not necessarily at all times--we are all human)
2. Must love one another
3. Must make mistakes
4. Must learn from others
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world
6. Must love life
7. Must love kids

These are the rules:

1. The recipient must link back to the awards creator.
2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.
3. You must chose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself
4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award, as posted by Mere.
5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.
6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.
7. You must thank your giver.

Choosing only five blogs----that is very hard.  Here is a list of ladies that have brought smiles to my face and provided me with a great deal of support this last year!

Greetingarts, Mama's Doodles, Laeroport, GraceViolet, Mayfly, and for good measure one more, Homemade By Jill . Oh I really could go on an on with more blogs --- Laurie, sends smiles and information to everyone with Tipjunkie!

Have a happy day filled with lots of smiles everyone!

We used children's straw purses from the dollar store as our baskets for our May Day flowers today

I hope your day was happy!

Download bunny-egg-holder.pdf

Print on colored card-stock and cut out on dotted line.

Bring legs up then wrap one arm in front of legs and then bring the other arm around and place on top of the first arm. Staple where claws on bunny should be.

Want more bunnies? Check out Bunny Napkin Rings

Download bunny-napkin-ring.pdf

Print on colored card-stock then cut out. Roll end toward back of bunny head.

Staple where claws on bunny should be

I wrapped silverware in an orange napkin then fastened with a green pipe cleaner and slipped the "carrot" into the bunny.  If you have a hard time with the bunny standing up, a cotton ball glued to the back would provide stability and be a cute addition.

You will find a matching Bunny Egg holder here.

You will need a roll of clear contact paper, paint brushes, paint (we used acrylic), fine sandpaper and masking tape.

First cut a piece of contact paper from the roll. I cut squares about 5" x 5" because that was about the size of shapes I knew I would be cutting.

Take a fine piece of sandpaper and lightly sand the shiny surface of the contact paper where you will be painting. Wipe off any dust. This step helps the paint adhere to the slick contact paper.

Since we are often VERY messy when we paint I taped a piece of wax paper to the table. Tape the piece of contact paper shiny(sanded) side up onto the wax paper.

Paint onto the contact paper square. Since my daughter is three I encouraged her to paint using lots of colors. I knew I would be cutting out Easter eggs so it really didn't matter what or how she painted.

Allow the painting to dry completely. I think she painted about 10 of these squares.

Once the paint is completely dry take another square of contact paper the same size as your painting and peel off the paper backing. Cover your painting with the clear contact paper. Smooth out any bubbles.

Trace around any shape of your choosing. I used an egg and bunny for my template.

Cut out the shape

Carefully remove the paper backing. This takes some time -----make sure you are only removing the paper (the back of your painting should be sticky). If you use acrylic paint it is plastic enough that it has a tendency to peel away from the contact paper, so peel carefully! If it does peel away and it won't stick back down just put a little glue stick between the layers.

Once you are finished stick your silhouettes to your window

from the outside looking in

from the inside looking out

I would encourage older kids to paint their own designs and then cut out. I can imagine huge flowers and birds! Nothing is sweeter than kid's art!

Have fun!!

We took two layers of felt and cut out a shamrock shape.  My crafty boy used a sewing machine to beautifully stitch the layers together and also stiched  in a ribbon at the top.  He added a few beads on the ribbon and now they our hanging in our window---hopefully bringing us lots of luck!  If you need some luck, here are the shamrock shapes we used.

We added "pink fairy" glitter (carefully chosen and liberally sprinkled by my daughter) to each of the letters. I used a Fiskers 1/4 inch rectangle hole punch to punch a hole in each side and then strung the letters on a 1/4 inch ribbon. We included two mini clothes pins with each garland. We packaged each garland in a clear cellophane bag tied with a ribbon.

BE MINE Conversation Heart Garland

I LUV U 4 EVER Conversation Heart Garland

Wishing you a very happy Valentine's Day!

They were slightly difficult to attach to the glass, but worked in a pinch and looked really festive. If one had more time the wire ring could be changed to an actual wire beverage i.d. hoop.

For six years now we have hosted "Breakfast with Santa" for our son's basketball team. 

I try to make it look special from candles on the table to hanging stars from the chandelier.

I hot glued three candy canes together to make an easel to hold each of the boys names for place-cards.  We drink hot coca out of Santa mugs and I let these rowdy boys use the fine china for such a special occasion!

We eat pancakes, bacon and sausage ------and a few snowman doughnuts. Mini powder sugar doughnuts with a candy corn nose and candy eyes (from the cake decorating store).

Usually we make a craft but this year I couldn't resist playing "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader" with these fifth grade boys.  Santa graciously agreed!

Santa takes a photo with each boy

Hands out a small gift to each boy

In the past Santa has read "Twas the Night Before Christmas."  This year Santa was so fabulous he said the entire poem from memory.  He also reminded the boys how lucky they were, to be good, listen to their moms (thank you Santa) and remember those who don't have as much. 

I'm thankful these boys still go along and just lose themselves in the magic of the morning!