Recipe Thursday

When we lived in OK there was someone there that made an AWSOME Mississippi Mud.

Now that we are further north hardly anyone knows what a Mississippi Mud Cake is!

Well, if you don't know here is a recipe from Bethany to try!

Take it from me, you'll be glad you did! ;)

Jordan

Bethany M.

Mississppi Mud Cake

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup butter

1 (4 ounce) semisweet chocolate baking bar, chopped

2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

4 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 (10.5 ounce) bag miniature marshmallows

Chocolate Frosting

Place pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted. Microwave 1 cup butter and semisweet chocolate in a large microwave-safe glass bowl at High 1 minute of until melted and smooth, stirring every 30 seconds. Whisk sugar and next 5 ingredients into chocolate mixture. Pour batter into a greased 15 x 10 x 1-inch jelly-roll pan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, and sprinkle evenly with miniature marshmallows; bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Drizzle warm cake with chocolate frosting, and sprinkle with toasted pecans.

Chocolate Frosting:

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/3 cup milk

1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Stir together the first 3 ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat until butter is melted. Cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes or until slightly thickened; remove from heat. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla at medium-high speed with an electric mixer until smooth.

Hairdo Wednesday

Well, I was going to post a Curly Messy Bun that I did on Sunday but our computer was acting up so I didn't get the pics. up.  Sorry Judy!  :(  I'll try to do it next Wed.

But in the mean time...

Here is an AWSOME site about care for your hair so you can get the best curl out of it!  A friend lent me the book last year and it saved and TOTALLY changed the way I did my hair!  For good!  I have WAY more curl than I ever have AND it's WAY more healthy than ever! 

So, if you have naturally curly hair, or even just the slightest bit of wave, check this page out!

It has how to care for your hair, styles, pics., cuts, and more! 

I REALLY encourage each of you to check it out!  You'll be glad you did!
And if you do, leave a comment and tell me what you thought or how it worked for you!

Fall in love with your God given curl!  :D

Jordan

Kids On Tuesday

Thank you SO much to the girls who have sent things in and to those who are going to!

You all have encouraged my heart! ;) Really! Thank you!

Here is a GREAT idea for a game for kids that helps out Mom too!

Jordan

"Soldier."

It's one of those days where your mom is "frazzled." It's been crazy and the house is a utter mess. You want to help out but you really don't have the power to do it all. How do you get your rambunctious siblings to help? They'd be good at it if you could only channel their energy!

Line each of them up. You are "Sergeant", and the kids are "Privates". Private Olivia, Elizabeth, Daniel, Julia, etc. Teach them the word "attention" and "at ease."

"attention!" you say loudly. They line up. "At ease." Then you proceed by telling them your course of action: The rooms you are going to hit. Maybe the kitchen and living room. Maybe two bedrooms. maybe the play room. Once you tell them what you are going to clean, don't change it and add stuff to it. They will quickly lose their enthusiasm.

Once that is done, give them a little job. I say little- because one thing that you don't want to do is tell Olivia to clean up all the toys, Daniel to get all the trash and clothes/shoes up, and Ellie to dust and vacuum. Very likely if they did that the room would be spic and span. But... do you truly expect that will happen? I'm sure- I can guarantee it- that they will lose heart very fast and start goofing around. It won't work!!! So give them little jobs. "Private Olivia- you take those books and put them straight up on the shelf." "Private Ellie, you take those doll clothes and put them in the basket in your room." "Private Daniel, you see those crayons on the floor? Go put them in the crayon box." They aren't big jobs and can be accomplished very fast. Then you say, "Go!" Everyone salutes and runs off. Once they finish their job they run back and stand in attention. Once everyone is back, (Make sure you do not complain if someone is slower than the others as long as he is being thorough! Oh. And don't think that you can just sit back and read a book while they are working hard. No way!!! While they are working, find something small to do that requires an older person, such as organizing some school books or cleaning off a high shelf. Or help one of the kids with their job of they are having trouble.

Give them all one more job, and repeat till the room is clean. One messy room- and I mean messy- can be completely cleaned and vacuumed/swept in less than twenty minutes as long as you make it fun and don't nag. Offer rewards too if you are having trouble, such as a craft, or maybe- (This really works well!) a small piece of candy. Another really good incentive is a movie(s). That really aids when you are going to tackle a few rooms with your "troop." Make sure you ask your parents. (Although most of the time, when I ask mom, "If I get the kids to clean up the frontroom, kitchen, and playroom, can they have ----?" She won't say no=D

Well, all of you big sisters out there- round up your siblings and get to work- make your mom's day!

Ashlyn Y. IL

Scripture Sunday

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

I Need Your HELP!!!

I Need Your HELP This Summer!!!

Our family operates and runs a family Corn Maze during the Fall and I am the header-up of 5 Day Bible Clubs in our area.  So with that and just normal responsibilities I am SWAMPED!

So... needless to say I don't have hardly any extra time to get things together for this blog.  It would be such a same to see this blog deteriorate!  :'(

And that's where YOU come in!  :D  If you could help me out this summer that would be AWSOME!  If you could send in Crafts, Hairdos, Games, Recipes, Kids Stuff, Anything that would be a tremendous help!  That's what I designed this blog for anyway.  A place where girls can share their crafty ideas with others!

So help me out.  Send your stuff into justforfun.fromyou@gmail.com !

I will still try to do as much as I can but with Crafts and Hairdos especially I just don't have time to get stuff together, take pics. and do them!  :(

Hope to hear from you soon!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jordan

Game Friday

Here's a really fun game I found the other day for a party!  And a great way to capture the event!

Jordan

Freeze Frame

You'll Need:

A digital camera

Access to a computer

How to play:
During the party, the person with the camera yells "Freeze!" and everyone stops what they are doing and freezes. The person with the camera takes a snapshot. The pictures are shared at the end of the party.

Warning: No pictures are shared online without the expressed permission of the people in the picture. You will need to ask each person for each picture.

Recipe Thursday

This sounds AWSOME!!!! Count me in to ANYTHING with Oreo's in it! Yum!!!

Jordan

Oreo Delight!

What you need:
1 stick butter
2 12oz containers of cool whip
1 pack oreo cookies
1 box instant chocolate pudding
1 8 oz cream cheese

Make it:
Melt butter in bottom of dish. Crush oreo's. Put all but 1 cup of oreo's in dish. Mix (w/ electric mixer) 1 cool whip with room temperature cream cheese. Spread mixture on top of oreos. Mix pudding as directed, then spread on top. Put in refrigerator for 1 hour, then put cool whip on top. Top it off with oreos.

Rebecca B, IL

Scripture Sunday

"A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation."

Psalms 68:5

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

Romans 8:15

"But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him."

1 Corinthians 8:6

Misc. Saturday

Here's is a really different and fun looking salad! Looks like a lot of fun to try! :)

Jordan

Cherry Coke Salad

1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple

1/2 cup to 3/4 cup water

2 packages (3 oz each) cherry gelatin

1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling

3/4 to 1 cup cola

Drain pineapple, reserving juice; set pineapple aside. In a saucepan or microwave, bring pineapple juice & water to a boil. Add gelatin; stir until dissolved. Stir in pie filling & cola. Pour into a serving bowl. Refrigerate until slightly thickened (about an hour-and-a-half) then stir in reserved pineapple. Refrigerate until firm.

- Rebecca B. IL -

Scrabble Week!

Here is a REALLY CUTE idea on how to make your whole Scrabble board into a photo frame!

Take a look!

http://content.photojojo.com/diy/scrabble-board-picture-frame/

Jordan

Scrabble Week!

Oh!  It's KILLING me not having any pieces to do these crafts and have pictures!  Sorry ya'll!  :/

Anyway, the idea for today is use Scrabble pieces to make a cute picture frame! 

Take a frame, glue letters around the edges!

Make words or names!

Jordan

Scrabble Week!

Here are two links on how to make two different types of Scrabble bracelets!  Enjoy!  :)

Jordan

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/craftsgifts/ht/Scrabble_Bracelet.htm

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/craftsgifts/ht/Scrabble_Photo_Bracelet.htm

*Oh!  Make sure to check out the Giveaways on the Giveaway Page!

Scrabble Week!

Here are some very cute Scrabble "charms"! 

You can also just use the plain Scrabble peices too without decorating them!

MN

Scrabble Week!

Here is the first Scrabble idea! A game! Sounds fun!

And it's not too late to send your idea in! :)

Jordan

You need the letters to a Scrabble game (the board is not needed),

a timer,

and at least two teams of at two or three people.

Each team gets a turn to take the tiles and use them all up inscrabble fashion. The team with the fastest time wins.

Tracy T. MN

Scripture Sunday

"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"

Romans 3:22-24

"All means All and that's All All means."
Praise the Lord that means ME!!!  :D

Scrabble Week Starts Monday!

Well, Scrabble Week starts Monday!  And I looked all this morning for a Scrabble game at the Thrift stores and couldn't find one!  So I need your help!  I have a couple Scrabble things sent in already but I could use a lot more!  So if you have a cute craft, or a game, or even a cool picture with Scrabble pieces in it please send them in!  It would REALLY help me out!  :)

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Here is a yummy idea for a summer treat!  I made these yesterday and they where REALLY good!

Blueberry Popsicles

Vanilla Yogurt

Frozen Blueberries

Mix together using whatever ratios you'd prefer.

I like mine with a lot of berries and only a little yogurt.

Pour into popsicle molds and freeze!

Great for a hot day.

Jordan

Game Friday

This sounds really fun! Thanks for sharing it Rebecca! :D

Jordan

Rhyme Time

Takes 3 or more players.

How to play: The first player starts the game by thinking of two rhyming words-like bench and wrench.

To help the other players guess the rhyming words, the first player shares a clue. She might sat, "It starts as something you can sit on and becomes a tool."

Now the other players have to name things you can sit on. They'll offer possibilities like chair, couch, stool.

When they finally say "bench," the race begins! Players start rhyming out loud until someone come up with the word wrench.

This game can also be be played with a theme like American history, science words or things in the Bible, such as tomb and perfume. As a clue, you might say, "Lazarus spent some time in this place, and this liquid was poured on Jesus' feet."

It's a great game to play in the car or pass the time on a road trip.

Rebecca B, IL

Recipe Thursday

Banana Boats

You need

chocolate chips

mini marshmallows

bananas

Do NOT peel the banana!

Cut two slits on the small curve of the banana and one on the top so you have a flap of peel.

Cut out a slice of the banana (and eat it)and fill the inside with the chips and marshmallows.

Fold the flap of peel back over so it looks like a regular banana.

You might have to smoosh the marshmallows.

Stick in a pan in the oven about 350 degrees and bake till the banana peel is black.

Take them out, open up, and eat with a spoon.

Tracy T. MN

Hairdo Wednesday

Here is a fun twist, or should I say 'zag', to everyday pig tails! 

A cute and cool summer do!

Zag Tails

First part the hair down the middle in a zig zag part.

Next, complete each triangle and put a small hair rubber band on hair.  As shown below.

Sorry, it's hard to put into words!

Do this all the way down the part.

Now, pull the hair over to it's 'side' and pull into pigtails!

That's it!

Hope that made sense!  If it didn't and you have any questions leave me a comment and I'll try to be more descriptive.  ;)

Jordan

(Thanks Abby for letting me try this on you!)

Recipe

Well I'm back from a wonderful week at S.M.I.T.E camp! And trying to get back on routine! So this isn't the normal Kids On Tuesday, just haven't gotten my act together yet. :)

Here is a recipe for Fried Chicken sent in for the Do You Have page!

Thanks for sending it in Rebecca! Looks GREAT!

Jordan

Southern Fried Chicken

1 Chicken, cut into pieces
1 egg
2 tbs. milk
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. paprika (optional)
shortening or oil

Beat the egg until frothy, then stir in the milk.
Next, salt the pieces of chicken, then dip into the batter, then flour. Fry in a deep skillet, with oil deep enough to cover the chicken. Fry covered for 5 minutes on either side, then fry uncovered until golden brown (about 15 to 20 minutes.) Drain on paper towel.

-Rebecca B, IL-

Um...

Hi girls!  I am soooooo sorry I haven't posted yet!  :<  I am REALLY on over load this week!  We are going to S.M.I.T.E camp, (which I encourage all of you to check out if you have never heard of it! http://smitecamp.org/ ) next week and I am teaching a little and I have a lot to study for that and other stuff just keeps piling on top of that so I will probably not have time to post til I get back from camp!!!

>gasp<

I hope you all will check back in a week, cause after camp I will be back to posting daily!  have a wonderful week!

Jordan

Sorry Girls

Hi girls!  I'm sorry, things are just REALLY piling up here.  We purchased a dairy cow and calf this week, a little unexpectedly, and we need to get fencing among other things ready for that.  I have a Bible club I need to get ready for on Thurs.  We have a wedding to go to on Fri. and I have a rehersal that night and the wedding next day.  Sooooo, I think I am going to take this week off if that's ok?

I will hopefully post on Sun.  Thanks for being so understanding!

Hey, while I'm off it would be a great time to send in some Scrabble ideas!  ;D

Jordan

P.S. I will be posting the chaged dates for the Scrabble Week.

Scripture Sunday

"Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest."

Luke 10:2

Scrabble Week!

This Mon. starts Scrabble Week!  I haven't received any ideas yet so be sure to send yours in this weekend!  It can be a craft, picture idea, decorating idea, etc...

(I have a wedding this next weekend and a REALLY full week as well so if I don't post everyday next week that's why.  Or if I don't get enough ideas sent in I'll post pone it to a different date.)

Have a great weekend!

Jordan

Recipe Thursday

New page above! A page of Giveaways going on! Check it out!

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Here is a quick delicious meal to make when you're out of ideas! IT's sure to be a family pleaser! :D

Jordan

Mashed Potatoes & Beef Gravy

1 lb. Ground Beef

1/2 Onion, chopped

Seasoning Salt

2 cans Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 1/2 c. Water

Dash of Pepper

Mashed Potatoes

Brown your ground beef with onions in a skillet and season to taste.

Add soup, water, and pepper.

Heat til heated through.

Serve over mashed potatoes!

That's it!

Hairdo Wednesday

I think this is SO cool and so CUTE!!!!  Wish my hair was long enough to try it!  :(

Jordan

Kids On Tuesday

A great activity to do with kids when it gets this nice out is a Nature Scavenger Hunt!

Write a list of 10-12 things they can potentially find in the yard, at the park, in the woods, etc...

Example:

Green Leaf

Purple Flower

Snail

Worm

A Blade of Grass

A Seed

And then just let them go out and have fun!

If you wanted you could even go out before hand and hide a little toy or something and put that on the list!  Like a lego man!

Jordan

Crafty Monday & Winners of Photo Contest!

And the Photo Contest is officially over!  Great job everyone!  Thanks to all of you who participated!

2nd place goes to.......
Kayla of IL

And the winner is.......

Janae of IL

Congratulations girls!

Kayla, take a look at the rings in above tab and pick one out, and e-mail me your ring size!

Janae, you have the choice of a jean bag or 2 rings!

Shoot me an e-mail and I'll get them to ya as soon as possible!

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Ya'll have got to take a look at this blog!  I am always on the look out for cute new ways to store my craft stuff and this blog has soooo many adorable ideas!  Check it out!

Jordan

Scripture Sunday

Misc. Saturday

Here is a REALLY fun recipe!
(Sorry!  She sent yummy looking pics. in with but for some reason they won't load up!)

Jordan

   Make choc chip cookie dough (we used a pouch since we had one & didn't have much time).  The pouch said it would make 3 doz cookies & this only made 6 so it uses alot more dough.
Place a scoop of dough on top of Oreo cookie & a scoop on the bottom. 
With your hands form it all the way around the cookie. 
These are BIG! 
Bake at 325...I do not remember exactly how long they took, but it was quite a bit longer than normal.  Around 13 min. maybe.  I actually turned off the oven & just let them sit in there while it was still warm for a bit.  The bottoms were set & the tops were a bit soft still MMMmmmm!  The place where I saw this online they made their own dough & used Double Stuff Oreos.  We had some candy cane ones left from Christmas & we thought they were really good with the mint flavor.
Enjoy!
-Janae H. IL-

Game Friday

Here is another fun game we did at a wedding shower but it would be fun for a kitchen type party too!

Jordan

What You'll Need...

An apron

About 10 different small kitchen items

Safety pins

Paper

Pencil

Ok, take the apron and kitchen stuff and pin them all over the apron.

When you are ready to play, pass out a piece of paper and pencil to each person.

Pick a person to model the apron.  If you are doing this for a wedding shower have the bride be the model.

Give everyone a min. to observe the apron and the contents on it.

Then have the model leave and have everyone write down as many things as they can remember!

The person that remembers the most wins!

If this is a wedding shower let the bride keep the apron and the kitchen stuff and have a prize for the winner!

Recipe Thursday

Here is a recipe for Alfredo Sauce sent in for the 'Do You Have' page! I haven't had a chance to try it yet but I can't wait! Thanks for sending it in Ashlyn!

Btw, if you haven't checked out the things in the 'Do You Have' page or you have something to send in let me know! 

Jordan

Alfredo Sauce

I saw that and here is the best recipe ever for Alfredo sauce- it is awesome! (in fact, when you go to Italian restaurants an order fettuccine Alfredo after tasting this- you will be disappointed!;) (For our family I have to quadruple this)

1. Melt 2 TBS Butter in a saucepan.

2. Add 1/2 C heavy whipping cream.

3. Bring to a low boil. Keep an eye in it as it has a tendency to boil over! But it is really important to bring it to a low boil! Worst step to mess up! If it is not at a low boil, when you add the cheese it will sink to the bottom and become a burnt mess!

4. Add 1/2 C Parmesan cheese, stirring constantly with a whisk. (if it's at boil it will melt almost instantly)!

5. Let sit 3-5 minutes, to let it thicken. Serve! You can season w/ salt and pepper if desired!;)

I know I overemphasized the boil part! It's just that I've messed it up several times when I have been in a hurry and I didn't let it boil, and it was a complete failure! Its disgusting with all the cheese stuck to the bottom with the cream up top!

-Ashlyn Y. IL-

Hairdo Wensday

Here is a cute way to curl your hair using a falt iron!

Jordan

May Flowers Photos!!!

Alright the Photos are posted and the polls are open!!!

The Photos are in the above tab, 'May Flowers Photos'.  Click on it, read the rules, pick your favorite, and vote on the side poll!

Jordan

Photo Contest Tomorrow!

Hey girls!  I am SO excited at all the AWSOME pics. sent in for the Photo Contest!  They are GREAT!

But... I am going to post them on Tues. if that's ok.  We just got back from St. Louis this morning and you all know how it is when you get back form a trip.  Messy house, laundry, putting stuff away, etc... 

So, due to circumstances beyond my control...  I'm going to take the day tomorrow to post and get everything together.  :) 

Hope that's ok?!

Jordan

P.S  Oh!  If there is any of you that didn't get to send a pic. in and still want to you have til 10:00 p.m on Mon. to send them in!  After that 'the polls are closed'.  ;D

Scrabble Week!!!

Hey girls!  I'm going to be having a Scrabble Week in the month of May (the 16-20) that features crafts and pics. done with Scrabble pieces!  I think it will be REALLY fun!  So start your creative juices flowing and send in your ideas to justforfun.fromyou@gmail.com !  We will have a poll and vote at the end of the week to see which idea is the favorite!  So head to your local thrift store and get a Scrabble game and start being creative!  ;D

The May Flowers Photo Contest starts on Mon. and I still only have two entries!  Make sure you send in your entries before Mon.!

(I will be in St. Louis this weekend so I may not post the pics. til Tues.  we'll see how busy we are when we get back!)

Jordan

Frugal Recipe

Here is a 'Planned Over' meal!  A Planned Over meal is taking leftovers from the day or meal before and making a different meal!  It's a great, frugal way to use leftovers!

Jordan

This Planned Over is from chili leftovers!

Chili Chicken & Rice

4 boneless chicken breasts

2 c. cooked rice

15 ou. chili

2 T. taco seasonings

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

In a skillet brown chicken in about 2 T. oil.

Spread rice in a greased 11in. x 7in. x 2in. baking dish.

Combine chili and taco seasoning, spoon over rice.

Top with chicken.

Cover and bake at 350 for 25 min.

Top with cheese.

Bake uncovered for 5 min. or til chicken is cooked through.

Yields: 4 servings

Frugal Game

Here is a really fun and frugal game we played at a wedding shower but it would be fun for any type party!  Everyone seemed to REALLY enjoy it and it was easy to get ready.  It uses coffee filters!  ;D

Jordan

All you need:

Coffee filters

About 10 different kitchen spices

Ribbon

Little pieces of paper

Take a spice and place about a tablespoon in the middle of a coffee filter.

Bunch up the top and tie a ribbon around it to keep it closed and attach a piece of paper with a number on it.

Now, write down on a piece of paper that #1 is ____ so you will remember which is which!

Do this with all your spices.

For the party... hand each player a piece of paper and a pencil.

Start at one end and start passing the bags of spices around having each person smelling them and writing down what spice they think it is!

After all the spices have been passed, read the answers out loud and let everyone grade themselves on how they did!

The person with the most correct wins!

*Don't store the spices together or they will mix smells and you won't be able to tell them apart!

Frugal Tip

Here are some Frugal uses for coffee filters!  They can be a great substitute for paper towls, you can buy a lot for cheap!

Jordan

Use them to clean your cable connectors. If you’re internet is lagging or your TV picture is fuzzy, it might be because the connectors on your cables are dirty and they need to be cleaned.
1. They’re the perfect fix to stop bleeding from razor nicks when shaving.
2. Use them to absorb the grease from fried foods. Put them on the plate and put your french fries, bacon and other fried food on top.
3. Use a coffee filter to cover dishes when they’re cooking in the microwave to prevent messes.
4. Use them to clean windows, mirrors, television screens and glasses. They’re lint free, so they won’t leave any residue behind when you’re done.
5. Stop that Popsicle from dripping all over the place. Poke one or two holes in the filter and put the stick(s) through it.
6. Line your plant pots with a filter to keep the soil from leaking out of the drainage holes when you water them.
7. Put a filter inside cast-iron skillets to absorb excess moisture when it’s not in use to prevent rust and other wear.
8. Separate your China and other good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.
9. Use a coffee filter to apply shoe polish.
10. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and put it into shoes or a closet to absorb and prevent nasty odors. You can even put potpourri into the filter, tie it up and put into your drawers, etc.
11. Use them to safely store your Christmas decorations and other small, fragile items.
12. Use them to store nails, screws and other small hardware so that they don’t go rolling all over the place, get lost or mixed together.
13. You can use the cone-style coffee filters to safely pour in oil and other liquids into your car’s engine.
14. Use them as bowls for popcorn, chips and other snacks.
15. Liquids or something else spill onto your floor, sofa or other upholstery? Use a coffee filter to clean it up because unlike a paper towel, they won’t leave behind lint.
16. Wrap them around tacos shells or hot dogs to prevent the grease and other things from spilling out.
17. Have a wobbly table or chair? Use a folded up coffee filter under the leg to even it out.
18. Did you run out of dryer sheets? You can put a few drops of fabric softener on a filter, rub sides together, and put in the dryer to help prevent static cling and make your clothes smell fresh.
19. My favorite use, is bringing them along when I’m working out. They’re even small enough where I can take them along when I’m riding my mountain bike. They’re great to wipe sweat and other oils off my face.
20. Last but not least, make coffee with them.

Photo Contest

P.S  To those of you who do not have flowers up yet you can do a pic. from a previous year.  I thought by this time everyone would have flowers but it seems not!  :)  Sorry to those of you! 

Hey girls!  Next Mon. will start the May Flowers Photo Contest!  I have two entries so far so make sure to send in yours this week!

For more details check the Photo Contest Tab above!  And pass the word along!  :D

Jordan

Easter Recipe

Hi girls!  Not going to St. Louis this weekend after all so just tomorrow and Fri. will be gone!

Here is an ADORABLE cup cake cake that would be perfect for the Easter table!

Hope you will also check out the other links below!  There are some super cute stuff!

Jordan

Springy Cup Cake Cake

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Sunny-Flower-Cake

Easter Stuff..

Hi all!  Sorry I don't really have any Easter stuff so here are some fun recipes and crafts to check out!

Our church is going to a Youth Conference this Thurs. and Fri. and there is a chance our family will be going to st. Louis for Easter so after tomorrow I will not be posting til Mon.!

Jordan

Truffle Eggs

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Truffle-Eggs?pmcode=ILDDV03T&_mid=1583132&_rid=1583132.558202.165408

Chocolate Covered Eggs

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Chocolate-Covered-Eggs

Easter Bunny Bread

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Easter-Bunny-Bread

Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Holiday---Celebration-Recipes/Easter-Recipes/Naturally-Dyed-Easter-Eggs

Egg Painting Brushes

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Holiday---Celebration-Recipes/Easter-Recipes/How-to-Make-Your-Own-Egg-Painting-Brushes

Silk Tie Easter Eggs

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Holiday---Celebration-Recipes/Easter-Recipes/How-to-Make-Silk-Tie-Easter-Eggs

How To Fold Bunny Napkins

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Holiday---Celebration-Recipes/Centerpieces/How-to-Fold-a-Bunny-Napkin

Gerbera Daisy Centerpiece

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Holiday---Celebration-Recipes/Centerpieces/Gerbera-Daisy-Centerpieces

Yellow Daffodil Centerpiece

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Holiday---Celebration-Recipes/Centerpieces/Yellow-Daffodils

Egg Place Cards

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Holiday---Celebration-Recipes/Centerpieces/Easter-Place-Cards

Bird Nest Centerpiece

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Holiday---Celebration-Recipes/Centerpieces/Bird-Nest-Centerpiece

Hope you enjoy!  :D  These are REALLY cute!

Frugal Recipe

This is a VERY good Granola recipe our friends gave us last year!  We have been using it instead of box cereal!  My brothers love it better than cereal (which is saying a lot!)

I make this on Mondays and it's gone by the next week!

Jordan

Granola

8 c. oatmeal

1 c. honey

1 c. melted butter

1 T. cinnamon

1 T. vanilla

___________________________

2-3 c. of nuts, coconut, dried fruit whatever you want to add in!

Warm oven to 350.

Combine 1st section of ingredients.

Pour onto cookie, bake in 10 min. segments, stirring in between, til desired crunchiness!

My family likes it just barely crunchy which takes about 35 min.

Now add 2-3 c. worth of the nuts etc...

I put in a c. of chopped pecans, chopped almonds, then some dried mixed fruit.

Cool and store in airtight container.  Serve with milk or some of us like it on our granola!  :) 

Scripture Sunday

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Matthew 6:28-30

Frugal Kids Craft & Game

Here is a fun and frugal craft and game to do with your siblings or a class!  All you need is paper, pen or pencil, and some sort of "treasure"!

Treasure Map / Hunt

I used to make these maps all the time when I was a kid.  I was VERY imaginative as a little girl (I guess I still am) and always doing stuff like this.

Anyway, that was free.  ;) 

Take your paper and draw a map of your house, yard, classroom, etc... whatever you are using for the treasure hunt.

C'mon now, be creative!  Like if you are drawing a couch in your living room, draw it but then maybe put a tree on it, or give it a tail and a head and give it an imaginative name like Cozy Island, or the Lazy Boy Serpent.  Make it fun but not too easy, make it where they have to figure it out!

Now after you have it all drawn out here is the cool part!

Crumple it up, that's right, as tight as you can.  Now open it up fully.  Repeat crumpling and opening until the paper feels soft!  It can take quite a few times!  (If you want you can have your siblings help with this step ;)

Now that you have you're "old" looking treasure map hide the treasure!

It can be candy, little trinkets, or even Birthday presents if you choose to do this for a Birthday game!

Now, give the child the treasure map and let them go find it!  If it's your siblings you can just let them have at it while you go back to whatever you where doing!

Have a great weekend!

Jordan

Frugal Craft

Garden Season is just around the corner so here is a CUTE and frugal way to start your seedlings indoors!  You ALL have to take a peek at these!  They are SOOO Adorable!

Jordan

Eggshell Seed Starters

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Seasonal-Recipes/Garden-Recipes/Eggshell-Seed-Starter?pmcode=LTAB1VH089&_mid=1516932&_rid=1516932.770300.603283

Frugal Recipe

Ok girls!  So I know most of you probably don't need this recipe yet but Lord willing you will someday!  Wipes can add to the baby bills and this recipe we have found lasts a long time and are very cost efficient!  We have a Day Care in our home so we have REALLY used this recipe a lot!  ;) 

Jordan

Baby Wipes

2 c. Warm Water

2 T. Generic Baby Oil

3 T. Johnson Baby Bath

1 Bounty Paper Towel Roll, cut in half and cardboard center removed

Mix ingredients together.

Pour over paper towels.

Store in old wipe container.

Your done!  :D

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Please continue praying for prayer request below.

Urgent Prayer Request!

Hi girls!  The post for today is below but we just heard of a very urgent prayer request that I hope you will keep in your prayers!

A little 10 year old boy named Clayton, son of some missionaries in Pariguay (sp?), was just kidnapped!  This is a place where they sell children so PLEASE be in prayer for Clayton and his family!  Just imagine if this was your younger sibling!  How scarry!  :{

Jordan

Frugal Craft

Here is a really fast and easy frugal craft, a beaded bookmark!  It doesn't take much to make and it would make a cute gift as well!

(Sorry about the pic. quality guys!  I REALLY need to get a new camera but while I'm working up funds ya'll will just have to put up with me!  :)

Jordan

Beaded Bookmark

18 in. hemp cord (I didn't have that so I just used some thick thread)

Beads

Ruler

Make a knot about 2 in. up from one end.

String your beads on and make another knot above them.

Do the same on the other side but making sure there is 10 in. in between the inner knots for the book. 

Trim off any extra.

And there you go!  (I think the hemp cord would look better but the string was all I had! 

>I was being frugal<  ;D

Frugal Craft

Here is a frugal craft you can make with last years calenders!

Calendar Envelopes

Take an envelope and gently take it apart.  Lay it out on a piece of cardboard and trace around it.

Cut it out.  Now you have a form for future!

Take your cardboard cut out and place it on the picture of a calender.  Trace around it and cut it out.

Fold, making the dates the inside, and glue the envelope in the right places and there you go! 

I think these really dress up a letter!

Jordan