Fastest way to cut a cantaloupe

It is fresh fruit season and there are all sorts of delicous options out there! 

My daughter is on a cantaloupe kick. I can't deny healthy fruit but cutting cutting up cantaloupe is time consuming. 

I used to cut the melon into wedges, score each wedge, then cut each little section out. Long and messy!

Here is my new quick, easy, and less messy melon cutting method. Works for cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon and more.

First cut the cantaloupe in half and scoop out the seeds.

Then flip it back over and cut off the edges of the rind cutting deep enough to cut off the rind and green but the least amount of fruit. (I keep a bag right next to me and toss the rind in to make clean up fast and easy.) 

Next cut if the top/remaining rind then trim any remaining green areas.

Last cut the melon into slices  (I like one inch slices) and them slicd across the opposite way. 

Then you are left with perfect size cubes. So dive in and start eatting!

Tuna lettuce wraps. A healthy success.

Tried a new excipients tonight. I've Ben testing out new 'healthy' ecru pies for my family and tis one was a hit with the hubby (not do much with the 4 year old.

I made tuna in a lettuce wrap. 

Wish I would've taken pics during the process, but I didn't know trey would be do good. 

I made a healthy tuna salad:

3 cans a tuna (packed in water) drained 

1/4 cup olive oil mayo

Some black pepper 

Some garlic salt

Diced up some leftover green pepper

(Sorry it's so unspecific but I kinda wing it when I make tuna..)

Then scoop the tuna salad onto medium sized lettuce leaves and top them with dices tomatoes.

(The hubby added some hot sauce on top and said it made it just right!)

What heathly recipes have you tried lately?

Its that time of year for Teacher Thank Yous!

Its that time of year for Teacher Thank You Gifts!

I will be the first to admit that if another mom hadn't shown up a today (a day early) with teacher gifts I would have totally forgotten to bring something on Friday.

Click on the picture to hop to a blog with more cute teacher ideas.

I want to do something to show my gratitude (because my daughters teachers were phenomenal) but i'm on a budget and now only have 36 hours.

Run to Pintrest…. find a spark of an idea….. run with it…..

I want something practical that the teachers can use in some way. I've worked in the education system long enough and have received several gifts that I look at with appreciation but wonder what in the world I will do with yet another mug, etc….


It came down to two choices:

Thanks for making me sparkle and attach sparkly nail polish.
                or
Thanks for making me one smart cookie and attach cookies.

I love the play on words for both but don't know if either teacher paints their nails. I do know both teachers have families with kids who would (i'm pretty sure) love to eat sweets.

One smart cookie has won!

I hopped online and typed in "one smart cookie" and found some free clip art, downloaded it...

Added the text in Microsoft word, then I printed it on card stock.

Next a quick trip to the grocery store for a gourmet cookie for each teacher. Add some cute ribbon….

And it is done.

Heavenly Homemade Sugar Scrubs

Lets be honest moms, 5 minutes is about all the time was have to indulge, right? I take my 5 minutes in the morning and use my sugar scrub in the shower a few times a week.  

I have loved sugar scrub and sea salt scrub for years but have bought it very sparingly in the past due to the price in the stores. 

About a year ago I discovered homemade sugar scrub on Pintrest. 
I gave it a try and not only did I fall in love with it, I love it MORE than the store bought stuff. 

There are so many great things about it. 
~The ability to chose any sugar granule type and size. 
~Use any scent.
~Very inexpensive.
~Whip up a batch in a matter of minutes.
~Great as gifts for friends and family.

There is so much more but my favorite is that it leaves my skin softer than a babies bottom and I feel like i've just had a mini spa treatment!!!


Here are my 3 favorite recipes for sugar scrub. 

My favorite energizing summer scrub:

Ingredients

• 1 cup fine sea salt (course if you like a rougher scrub)
• 1 cup Sugar (raw or granulated)
• Orange essential oil or Orange extract
• 1/3 cup coconut Oil (add more or less if needed to achieve desired texture)

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl combine the sugar and salt.
2. Add Coconut Oil and orange extract.  Stir until well blended. (this will require some mushing around if the oil is in a more solid state, if you want you can slightly heat is just enough to make it runny, then it will be easier to mix. Careful, it gets hot fast!)
3. You should try for a texture similar to damp sand.
4. Store covered in a tight container. (I recommend plastic container if you are keeping it in the shower.)

Inspired by the recipe at:
http://www.deliciouslyorganized.com/2011/07/diy-summer-scrub.html

My favorite scrub to use in the fall:

Pumpkin Brown Sugar Scrub

Ingredients

• 1 cups Brown Sugar
• 1 cup White Sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/3 cup coconut Oil (add more or less if needed to achieve desired texture)

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl combine the sugars and spices.
2. Add Coconut Oil and stir until well blended. (this will require some mushing around if the oil is in a more solid state, if you want you can slightly heat is just enough to make it runny, then it will be easier to mix. Careful, it gets hot fast!)
3. You may add more if your scrub is too dry.
4. You should try for a texture similar to damp sand.
5. Cover in a tight container. (I recommend plastic container if you are keeping it in the shower.)

Adapted from the recipe at: http://www.theidearoom.net/tag/pumpkin-spice-sugar-scrubs

My favorite winter time scrub:

Peppermint Sugar Scrub

Ingredients

2 cups white sugar

1/4 cup coconut oil

Red food coloring

Peppermint extract (you can use essential oil too, found at a local craft store, but a few drops of extract do the same thing and is much less expensive!)

Directions

Mix sugar and coconut oil until it resembles the consistency of damp sand.

Separate the mixture into two bowls

In one bowl add a drop or two of red food coloring and mix throughly until it is a nice pink color.

In the other bowl add several drops of peppermint extract and mix thoroughly.

Layer pink and white layers into a plastic jar. 

If you go to the original site you can get the free labels pictured above to put on the jar!

http://www.couponsandfreebiesmom.com/2013/11/homemade-peppermint-sugar-scrub.html

Flying Pony Activity

The latest Disney Family Fun magazine had a Rocket craft activity that was really cute.  Unfortunately my 4 year old girl isn't really into rockets, however, My Little Pony is WAY COOL to her right now….. 

So I adapted the craft just a tad to make it a flying pony craft. 

Here is the link to the original craft: http://www.parents.com/fun/arts-crafts/kid/activities-for-getting-kids-outside/

Supplies: 

-My Little Pony printable clip art (approximately 4"x6"size each)

-scissors

-glue

-toilet paper tube

- Two 6 foot pieces of curling ribbon cut 

Step 1

 Print and cut out Ponies

Step 2

Glue onto opposite sides of the tube

Step 3

 Thread the curling ribbon through the tube.

Step 4

 Play! 

 One person quickly pulls their arms apart so the tube zips along the ribbon to the other side. If playing with a friend, the other person now repeats the action while the first person brings their hands together to return the tube to the other side. Continue to repeat.

 

Link to Frozen Printable Craft

I love the amazing and fun printable crafts published here on Learn Create Love.
This newest post is new exception, printable Frozen characters Elsa, Ana, and Olaf.

Just in time for the dvd release of Frozen. So pop over to Learn Create Love (<-click on the link) and print out some charters for your little one to color or paint.

Cherry Blossom Art

I got this craft for the Learn Create Love website. What a great site for quick crafts! There are lots of printable activities here that can provide fun and entertaining things to do for little ones. 

We used a Q-tip instead of fingers to make clean up faster and easier. 

I also like putting paint into small paper cups. Another clean up time saver.

After only 10 minutes my daughter made a beautiful cherry blossom tree that she wanted to give to grandma to hang on her refrigerator. 

Click HERE for the direct link to the cherry blossom craft.

Q is for Quinoa

Do you love Quinoa? Have you ever given it a try. I discovered it a few years ago after going gluten free. I was looking for an alternative to rice and was pleasantly surprised at how good Quinoa is and also the variety of flavors it offers. Plus, the nutritional value makes it well worth it!

History of Quinoa: Pronounced KEEN-wah, this seed has been called the "mother grain" and "the gold of the Incas." Cultivated in the Andes for over thousands of years, it is used in much the same way as other whole grains. White, red and black are the three types of quinoa most commonly found in grocery stores today.

Nutrition: Rich in iron, magnesium and fiber, quinoa is also unusually high in protein. One cup of cooked quinoa contains approximately eight grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per cup. Containing all nine essential amino acids needed by the body, it is considered to be a “complete” vegetarian protein. It has a pleasant, nutty taste that goes well in place of other healthy grains in recipes.

How to Cook Quinoa: Cooking Quinoa is much like cooking rice. Wash the seeds in a strainer to remove the seed’s outer coating and natural bitterness before cooking. Drain well.

Use 1 cup of dry quinoa and approximately 2 cups of water or broth. This will yield about 3 cups of cooked quinoa. Begin by heating a saucepan with a little olive oil. Add the quinoa and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute to toast the seeds, letting the water evaporate.

I love to add some chicken broth and or fresh spices like rosemary from my garden or add some other herbs for a little flavor. Add the water (or broth) and seasonings and bring to a full, rolling boil. Lower the heat to lowest setting, cover, and cook for about 15-20 minutes. Turn off cooktop, remove pot from heat and let stand five minutes. Fluff and serve!

Try this mango quinoa salad. It is phenomenal!

My Little Pony Pillow Case

Children go through phases of liking different kinds of toys. Those phases can last months but in many cases it may only be a few weeks….. and I don't want to create a "too many toys phenomenon."

My daughter is currently on a My Little Pony "kick"and I am not going to run out and buy a bunch of toys and accessories just to make her happy.

However, I did happen to have some extra iron-on transfer paper and combine that with some clip art from the internet and a plain pink pillow case…..

Print, cut, and position the transfers.*

*Only let your child help if they are old enough and you feel secure in doing it WITH them. NEVER LET A CHILD USE AN IRON ALONE.

Now my daughter has a 'new' pillow case that makes her very happy!

More FREE My Little Pony crafts can be found on this great website!

Kimberly is another mommy blogger who runs the www.learncreatelove.com blog and she has all sorts of printable activities for kids.

Chop Salad Recipe

This is one of my all time favorite salad recipes. 

Better yet, it makes a great all in one meal and only takes 15 minutes to make and serve. 

Ingredient list:

Head of romaine

2 cups cooked pasta

1 cup chicken Brest Cooked & cubed (great way to use up leftovers!)

4 green onions diced 

2 roma tomatoes diced

3 tablespoons real bacon bits

1/2 cup Gorgonzola cheese 

Start some water boiling for the pasta and toss in the pasta when it's ready. 

(I use gluten free and happen the like the little rings.)

I like to start with a crisp fresh head of Romaine (I'm not a huge fan of iceberg).

Chop the whole head up onto nice bite size pieces and toss into a bowl.

Make sure everything is diced and chopped. 

When the pasta is done drain it. I recommend cooling it under cold water before adding it to the salad.

.....then toss everything together!

My favorite part about this salad is it is so flavorful that it doesn't need any dressing. But if you are a dressing kinda person my husband does love this with poppyseed dressing.

Enjoy!

Korean Beef Tacos

I made the most delicious recipients the thee night. It was a new recepie so I wasn't sure how it would turn out ( also why I don't have step by pictures)

But this was just too good not to share!

The recipe is from Family Fun magazine.

All you need are the ingredients. It takes less than 10 minutes to prep eveything and thow it in the crock pot. Then you let it cook all day and you've got dinner when you get home!

Best part, it's flavorful enough for the adult pallet but mellow enough to appeal to kids. My four year old couldn't stop eatting them!

Leave me some feedback and let me know what your family thinks.

The Lovable Raccoon

Supplies:

Construction paper

Scissors

Glue

Cut 1 large heart about the size of an 8x10 paper for the head.

Cut 2 medium black hearts about 4x4ish for the eyes.

cut 2 small hearts (3x3ish) in the same color as the face.

Cut 2 tiny black hearts to go inside the ears and 1 tiny black heart to make the nose.

NOT pictured but need are 2 one inch white circles for the eyeballs.

Attach ears to top of head.

Add small black heart for inner ear.

Add large black hearts for eye background and tiny nose at the bottom of the heart/face.

Add whites of the eyes.

Add small black circle (cut from scrap black or just use a marker) for center of eye . 

Finished products.

Never have raccoons been so loveable!