Toddler Flower Girl Dresses

Toddler flower girl dresses can interpreted two ways, are you looking for toddler flower girl dresses for a wedding or a lovely flower print for your toddler?

If you are looking for toddler flower girl dresses for a wedding, select one for a dress maker in your area, online stores, J.C. Penny’s, Kohl’s or even Target, there is no need to spend a fortune. After you have purchased your dress and the bridesmaid dresses, you can think about the toddler flower girl dresses. You may want it patterned after the bride or you may want the flower girl to look like a miniature bridesmaid. However, you may choose to go a completely different direction using the colors of the wedding to co-ordinate the dresses. Keep in mind this will be a toddler and should not really look like a grown up. Dress her up in frills or ruffles but not a off the shoulder or strapless number, you want to protect her innocence.

Material for toddler flower girl dresses:

 

Toddler flower girl dresses can be made of cotton, satin, taffeta or even velvet if you are having a late fall or winter wedding. Just as the flowers for a December wedding can be unique, so can the toddler flower girl dresses. A beautiful deep red or maroon velvet dress would look lovely while she's holding onto a basket of rose petals and tossing them down the aisle. If you were already using those colors for the bridesmaid dresses at Christmas time, using an opposing color of a dark green velvet dress would look great too. If you are having a spring or summer wedding, the toddler flower girl dresses may be more of a sundress style. There are no hard rules when it comes to weddings; it is the brides’ day to do as she wishes.

Sundresses:

The best toddler flower girl dresses for the summer, are sundresses. Toddlers are on the go and need to be comfortable. With flowered sundresses, you can change the look for the toddler by slipping on a pair of plain shorts or leggings. In the evening when the sun goes down and it might get chilly for the toddler, slip on a pair of jeans.

        

 

Toddler flower girl dresses do not need to expensive to be nice. With toddlers, think practical.

**Previously posted on Seekyt until they lost my profile and posts in the 2015 changeover.

How to Garden Strawberries: a tutorial

How to garden strawberries is not a hard task although it does take planning as typically they will not produce many berries, if any, the first year. Therefore, start your strawberry garden now.

“Not only are strawberries juicy and delicious, they also may lower blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a signal of inflammation in the body. High CRP levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, and levels often spike when people with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus have a flare, as well,” according to arthritistoday.org

In a how to garden strawberries: a tutorial, the first place to start is deciding what variety of strawberries you want to plant in the strawberry bed. Do you want a Junebearer strawberry or an Everbearer strawberry? A June bearing strawberry is a variety that produces for a couple of weeks a year and then they are done. An Everbearer strawberry is what it says, starts producing as the Junebearer, however, they continue to produce berries and the size start out large and then have a steady crop until fall. The weather on both berries plays a big part of the sweetness and or the crop yield.

Stark Bros featured product, Eversweet™ Strawberry, according to Starkbros.com, “Perfect for patio gardens. You'll enjoy sweet treats from this everbearer the very first summer. And it keeps on producing, even when temperatures exceed 80ºF--and you can keep picking into the fall. Fruit is long, cone-shaped. Pkg. of 25 plants, $11.99 - Pkg 25”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Junebearer Varieties

• Wendy-Zones 3-8
• Earliglow-Zones 4-8
• Annapolis-Zones 3-8
• Cavendish-Zones 3-8
• Honeoye-Zones 3-8
• Jewel-Zones 4-8
• Sparkle-Zones 3-8
• Cabot-Zones 4-8

Everbearer Varieties

• Seascape-Zones 4-8
• Ozark Beauty-Zones 3-8
• Ogallala-Zones 3-8
• Fort Laramie-Zones 3-7
• Tristar-Zones 4-8

Unlike Junebearers, Everbearer strawberries, with new plants set out it is required that you plant them 12-inches-15-inches apart, snip off all blossom clusters and cut off all runners as they form.

Depending on what the uses of the strawberries you are planting in your strawberry garden, in this how to garden strawberries: a tutorial it would be irresponsible not to mention that you need to do your homework for your region, and purpose of the strawberries. Some strawberries are for commercial use, others for jam or jellies, fresh eating freezing or canning.

Valentine’s Day Heart Craft

 

Adults and kids are alike in the fact that they love Valentine’s Day. You will be able to find heart shapes from crafts to chocolate. As a child we gave valentine cards away, we even made some, however, where did you store them? Of course, a heart shaped Valentine’s Day cardholder. Hearts are fun to make and receive, so be creative, find that inner child hiding inside you, make yourself a Valentine’s Day heart craft.

Supplies needed to make a Valentine's Day Heart Craft:

 

• Brown grocery bag/heavy craft paper
• Plain paper for heart pattern
• Black marker
• Paper punch
• Yarn or ribbon
• Glue
• Heart shapes of various sizes
• Glitter
• Newspaper

 

Instructions to make a Valentine's Day Heart Craft:

 

Step 1: Using a sheet of plain paper, draw a heart pattern onto it to use. Cut it out.

Step 2: Lay the heart shaped pattern onto the brown grocery bag or heavy craft paper. Trace the heart with a black marker.

Step 3: Cut though both layers of the grocery bag to get two hearts.

Step 4: Using the hole punch, punch holes through both layers in an even pattern all around the edge of the heart.

Step 5: Loop the yarn or ribbon in the holes you punched. When you have threaded the yarn all the way around; put a spot of glue on both sides to hold the ends of your yarn from pulling out.

Step 6: Either drawing your own heart shapes from red construction paper, or using a computer program make heart of different sizes. Cut out your heart shapes and glue them on the heart cardholder.

Step 7: Spread the newspaper out for the messy part. Trace the edges of the hearts with glue and sprinkle glitter on them. Shake off the excess glitter onto the newspaper. Look to see if there are any bare spots that need touched up with a little extra glue and glitter.

Step 8: Making heart shaped Valentine’s Day cardholders are fun and easy. Be creative and make one for yourself, child or grandchild. If you want extra fun, actually make a heart cardholder with your child or grandchild.

Cheap Homemade Easter Baskets: Recycle and Save

Constructing cheap homemade Easter baskets while recycling and saving is quite simple. Most families have plastic milk or orange juice jugs, coffee cans and cardboard shoe boxes or other usable boxes. With these three items, designing cheap homemade Easter baskets is a success.

Once you decided you want to make an Easter basket, start by looking in the recycling bin to see what you have to use. After all, holiday fun for the children does not mean you have to break the budget.

 

Supplies needed to make cheap homemade Easter baskets:

• 1 Plastic gallon milk or orange juice jugs
• Bunny; paper design of choice
• Glitter
• Glue
• Marker
• Scissors
• 6-8 Cotton balls
• 1 Coffee can
• Paper designed wrap; of choice
• 2 Pipe cleaners

 

Instructions for making a cheap homemade Easter baskets: the bunny design

1. Wash your container removing any labels and residue, ensuring your paper design will stick.
2. Draw on construction paper, or use the computer to print out a bunny design to fit the gallon milk jug or orange juice jug. This can be a whole bunny or just the face.
3. Using the glue and glitter, spice up your bunny’s whiskers or out line the ears.
4. Mark the area on the top of the plastic jug where you want to make your cut. Using the scissors punch a hole and cut the top of the jug off making the opening for the candy.
5. Cut out the bunny design and glue it on the front of the plastic jug letting the ears extend the opening.
6. Spread a spot of glue on the back of the jug, below the handle, and attach the cotton balls for the fluffy bunny tail.
7. The cheap homemade Easter bunny basket is now ready to fill with green plastic grass and candy.

Instructions for making a cheap homemade Easter basket: Veggie Tale Coffee Can

1. Find an empty coffee can.
2. Cut construction paper to fit around the can and tape it together.
3. Poke holes on the sides of the coffee can and twist together two pipe cleaners to make the handle.
4. Cut and glue on the pictures of desired themed characters and sayings.
5. Put in a piece of tissue paper to pad the bottom, you can shred to make look like grass if desired.

 

If your son, daughter and grandchildren are a big fan of Thomas the Train, you can use a shoe box or other cardboard box to make a cheap homemade Easter basket your child will want to keep past the Easter season. You can find the instructions on Mom on Dealz website.

Let your children or grandchildren help you with the design and construction of your cheap homemade Easter baskets, they will have fun while learning to recycle and save.

How to Make Chicken Egg Rolls from Scratch

chicken egg rolls

I love egg rolls, I have every since I worked in our concession trailer and would be parked right next to an egg roll concession trailer.
Our daughter went to school with their daughter so I bought theirs from them by the case for a while. However, I soon learned I could save money by wrapping my own egg rolls. You can use whatever meat you prefer, however, I eat a lot chicken; therefore, I made chicken egg rolls. I will show you how you can make your own egg rolls.

Ingredients to make chicken egg rolls:

• 1 Package egg roll wrappers
• Shredded chicken
• Shredded cabbage
• 1 Egg; beaten
• Seasoning of choice
• Canola or Olive Oil

Instructions to make chicken egg rolls:

1.     Cook your chicken and season it to taste. After it cools, shred it up in small pieces.

2.     Shred your cabbage every fine. I often use my food processor however; you can do it with a hand grater. The pieces just need to be very fine.

3.     Take the egg roll wrappers out and let warm up a bit, so they are easier to work with.

4.     Place the egg roll wrapper on the counter top and lay it out looking like a diamond. Put some cabbage in the middle.

5.     Add some chicken to the top of your cabbage; you are going to start to fold your egg roll.

6.     Take the lower flap of wrapper and pull over the cabbage and chicken; next, take the sides and fold in.

7.     Start rolling up making it as tight as possible but making sure not to poke a hole in the wrapper.

8.     Dip your fingers into the beaten egg, put some on the wrap, and seal the egg roll.

9.     Roll up the whole package of egg roll wraps.

10.  Make sure your oil is hot before trying to fry your egg roll. The temperature of the oil should be 375-400 degrees. Carefully place the egg roll in the oil and brown first side. With the tongs, turn it over and fry the other side. You may have to hold it as it will try to roll back.

11.  Remove the chicken egg roll from the oil and put it on paper towel to allow the excessive oil to drain off.

We enjoy our chicken egg roll, made from scratch with soy sauce.

**previously posted on Seekyt before they lost my profile.

Our Cold Winter Walk

A little sunshine

Oh my goodness, I just got back from a 40-minute winter walk with Po. Since he is going in for surgery tomorrow, I thought he would like it, and he did. 

Off for our walk

The sun was shining when I made my decision at the gym to use my warmed up legs for the hike; however, the sun went away and that wind was nasty making it feel so cold on my face.

Headed down the path.

Sniff sniff

Yes we were heading right into the wind and I nearly changed my mind, however, knowing it would be a couple of days before Po would want to take a walk I braved it out. It was not easy as Po stopped many times to sniff around. We have walked that path with Dad and Hope; our 10 year old Eskimo Spitz, and he would stop and look around to see if they were lagging behind.

Sun through the dark clouds.

With him stopping to sniff, it gave me time to take a few photographs, and turn my back to take a bit of the chill off my face.

Our home way back there!

My feet were OK, however, I should have double layered my legs and arms. Part of the way back to the creek, I even wondered if I shouldn't have put Po's jacket on him.

creek

Fast forward, today is cooler, roads icy, however, the sun is shining and very little wind. I accomplished a lot while Po was at the doggy doctor, however, kept thinking how he would have enjoyed a walk again today.

We got the call from the vet, Po came through the torture, I mean surgeries, just fine. However, since he was morphined when I got the call, he was not up and moving. 

When we have to take Po back in 2 weeks for his check up, I bet it will be a battle.

Po is in pain

Cheesy Chicken Pasta an Easy One-Pot Recipe

Mac and Cheese is a favorite one-pot pasta meal for children, however, you want a something more. Cheesy Chicken Pasta an Easy One-Pot Recipe will do just that.

This recipe is very versatile, change it up to suit your family's taste. It is also a way to use leftover chicken breast or holiday turkey.

According to Wikipedia, “In cooking, the Italian expression al dente ( /ælˈdɛnteɪ/; Italian: [al ˈdɛnte]) describes pasta and (less commonly) rice or beans that have been cooked so as to be firm but not hard. "Al dente" also describes vegetables that are cooked to the "tender crisp" phase - still offering resistance to the bite, but cooked through. Keeping the pasta firm is especially important in baked or "al forno" pasta dishes, where the pasta is cooked twice. The term "al dente" comes from Italian and means "to the tooth" or "to the bite", referring to the need to chew the pasta due to its firmness. Pasta that is cooked al dente has a lower glycemic index than pasta that is cooked soft.^"

Ingredients needed for Cheesy Chicken Pasta:

• 1-16 oz package of pasta your favorite kind; Rotini, Farfalli Bow ties, Conchiglie Shells etc.
• 1-16 oz jar Cheesy Ragu Double Cheddar or Roasted Garlic Parmesan
• 10-12 oz chicken breast, cubed
• 3 oz French Fried Onions; French’s or any store brand will work

Instructions to make Cheesy Chicken Pasta:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Using a pan that can go from the stove top, directly in the oven, fill with water and heat to boiling. Dump in the pasta and cook until lightly al dente. Drain off any excess water.
3. Pour the Ragu Cheese into the pasta, rinse the Ragu jar with a little milk and swish around and pour in the pasta, stir.
4. If you are using leftover chicken, cube it and add to the pasta. If you want to take the easier route, use canned chicken breast. Without draining, add it to the pasta.
5. Top with the French-fried onions and place in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. Making cheesy chicken pasta is an easy one-pot recipe.

Aunt Thelma's Banana Bread Recipe

Warm fresh baked banana bread is good, however, Aunt Thelma's banana banana bread recipe is excellent, moist and so easy to make. Bananas are great sources of vitamins, such as B6, C and Potassium, and loaded with fiber too. According to world’s healthiest foods, “Bananas are one of our best sources of potassium, an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. Since the average banana contains a whopping 467 mg of potassium and only 1 mg of sodium, a banana a day may help to prevent high blood pressure and protect against atherosclerosis.”
As long as you do not get crazy and eat the whole loaf of banana bread, you are adding goodness to your diet. Consider making Bake Aunt Thelma's Banana Bread recipe.

Ingredients to make Aunt Thelma’s Banana Bread:

• 2 cups coconut sugar
• 1 cup butter or olive oil
• 6 very ripe bananas mashed
• 4 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 loaf pans

Instructions on how to make Aunt Thelma’s Banana Bread:

1. Move your oven rack so it is in the center. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If your oven does not have a timer, 20 minutes will suffice.
2. Sift dry ingredients; salt, baking soda and flour, 3 times and set aside for later.
3. Mash the bananas, mix in the sugar, softened butter and eggs. Beat it well.
4. Add in flour mix little by little and mix well.
5. Pour into 2 greased loaf pans and bake in the preheated 350-degree oven for 55-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Slice it up warm and enjoy!

Tip: I got the banana bread recipe from my aunt however; another person shared with me how she simply swirls a fork through the mixture to make it light and fluffy. Great idea to keep in mind and share with others in case they do not have a sifter.

Cornbread Recipe

Homemade Chili

Cornbread, soup, and the desire to stay warm go hand-in-hand with the cooler seasons, however, do you have a good cornbread recipe?

Like many good recipes; they have been handed down from generation to generation, and cornbread is no different.  Why serve your homemade soups with just plain old crackers?

Cornbread Chili topped with Cheese

 
Change it up from time to time with a good homemade cornbread.

Ingredients for Cornbread:

• Mixing bowl
• 1-cup cornmeal
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• 2/3 cup milk
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1-cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• ½-cup sweet cream
• 2 eggs
• ¼ olive or canola oil
• Electric mixer
• 8 or 9-inch square pan

 

Instructions to make Cornbread:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and grease the pan.
2. Taking a mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients.
3. Add the eggs, milk and cream. Using the electric mixer beat until smooth.
4. Pour into the greased pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. Insert a toothpick in the center and when it comes out clean, it is ready to remove from the oven.

Cowboy Cookie Recipe: not just for cowboys

I saw the recipe for Cowboy Cookies on Facebook. Social media is a great way to get new recipes and after baking my first batch of Cowboy Cookies, I am glad it is. 

After seeing the initial recipe for Cowboy Cookies, I was curious to how many the recipe made. Googling the Cowboy Cookie recipe I discovered there were many sites with a recipe; however, the only thing that was consistent was the main ingredients. The walnuts, coconut, pecans and or raisins were different and or even optional.

Knowing my husband and daughter do not like coconut made that choice easier; no coconut here. I love all the options; therefore, I attempted to make them as the recipe I came across had.
I suddenly ran into a snag as the walnuts I had tasted bad, I had clearly had them far too long so into the trash they went. Seeing the pecans in the refrigerator drawer, and I really like them better, pecans now where part of our Cowboy Cookies I was making to give away.

Ingredients for Cowboy Cookies:

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp pure vanilla
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½  tsp Himalayan salt
• ½  tsp baking powder
• 2 cups all-purpose flour; or gluten free flour if needed
  
• 2 cups organic oats
• 1 cup  dark chocolate chips
• 1 cup crushed walnuts or pecans as I used

Instructions to make Cowboy Cookies:

 

1.     Preheat the oven 350 degree Fahrenheit.

2.     Cream together the butter and sugars; add the eggs and mix well.

3.     Add the vanilla, baking soda, salt, and baking powder.

4.     Mix in the flour and oatmeal and after all is blended; add the chocolate chips and walnuts or pecans.

5.     Drop by large spoon on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

6.     Bake at 350 degrees for 12-16 minutes. 

**The baking time will vary on how big you make your Cowboy Cookies. I got 2 dozen per batch so they are fairly large and baking time longer.