MMM Good, Monday {Cinnamon Roll Cookies}

I found the amazing-looking recipe for Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies on Picky Palate last week!  So, this past weekend, we had family visiting, so I tried it out.  However, I took a little shortcut! :)

The original recipe said to make the cookie dough from scratch, but I was short on time, so I used store-bought sugar cookie dough.  Don't judge ~ they still turned out pretty YUMMY!!!  

{photo courtesy of Picky Palate} 

{Here's how to make the cookies}...

1. Roll out the dough into a large oval.

2. Spread brown sugar over dough.

3. Sprinkle cinnamon over dough.

4. Roll dough into a log-shape.

5. Cut into wheels.

6. Bake according to directions on dough package.

7. Let cool for 10 minutes.

{Here's how to make the frosting}...

1. Soften 8 oz. cream cheese.

2. Add 1/2 cup Confectioner's Sugar

3. Add 2-4 T milk

4. Blend everything together until desired consistency

5. Frost cookies

*Store your cookies in the fridge ~ they make a cool & tasty treat!

A Blustery Day

Last Monday, when Mimi had a day off for President's Day, we picked up Memaw (Noah's Great-Grandmother), loaded up the car, and headed to a duck pond with a playground.  It was so windy, Noah could barely breathe, but that didn't stop him from "running like the wind, Bullseye!"  {He's a big Toy Story fan.}    He had fun feeding the ducks, playing, and running all day!  

getting ready to feed the duckies

I love this little pose!

Here, he's saying, "No mommy, I don't want to hold your hand...I want to play in the sand!"

He's tickled as Memaw carries him to the car!

Enjoy your Saturday, friends!  We're off to the circus this afternoon!

Fabulous Freebie Friday {Printable Quotes!}

I am finding so many amazing blogs lately, and one that I love is I Am Momma, Hear Me Roar!  The blog's author, Cheri, is so cute and creative!  Last month, she made three awesome 8x8 printable quotes and offered them as FREE printables!  Isn't that sweet?  So, I wanted to share them with you in case you missed them on her blog! 

This one comes in two color choices.

I love this one because Noah is so train crazy right now!  I may have to use this somehow in his upcoming train birthday party!

 Please visit Cheri's post to download these prints!  

Thrifty Thursday {Kitchen Organization}

I'm slowly working on my Home Organization Project!  I finished my Great Pantry Clean-Out and added some helpful organizers in the house.  Take a look at what I have accomplished so far.

I took the advice of Jen from I Heart Organizing and hung a cute clipboard (found at Target for $1) from a pretty pink polka dot ribbon (say that 5 times fast).  I printed out several copies of my grocery list and menu, clipped them onto the board and hung a highlighter from the clip.  Now, when I run out of things, I highlight the item and when I'm ready to make my grocery list, everything is right there at my fingertips.

Here's a close-up of my clipboard.

For years, I have had this old chippy window hanging on my wall that we got out of an old farmhouse on Sam's farm in WV.  I now finally have a use for it.  I turned it into Family Organization Central.        

For the bottom two panes, I stapled plain white fabric to the back.  Then I added my vinyl calendar to one pane, purchased from Say it With Style on etsy.  I attached the vinyl to the back of the glass, so I can use my dry-erase markers to write our important dates on the front of the window.

On the other pane, I attached my vinyl menu, a customized weekly calendar from Say it With Style.  The shop's owner is so sweet to work with you on custom dimensions and wording!  So, after I make my meal plan for the week, I write it up on our calendar, and I can check back to see what's cooking in my kitchen each night!

After my pantry clean-out, I bought some big white tubs from Walmart to hold all our staples.  They are wonderful for organizing!  I then had to make them pretty, so I made some labels for a cute little touch.

Here's one of my tubs close up.

If you would like some labels too that you can simply print from home, I just added Customized Pantry Labels to my etsy shop.  You can get 10 customized pantry labels in the color, font, and size of your choice.  Regular price for these labels is $10.00, but for a limited time ONLY, you can get them for 30% off, making them $7.00.  

To order your custom pantry labels, click HERE!

Wonderful Wednesday Party {Scooby Doo Birthday}

One of my new favorite blogs, Less Cake More Frosting, has some amazing ideas.  Ellie G. created a super-cool Scooby Doo party for her son's 8th birthday!  I loved her unique color choices, creative details, and fun party atmosphere!  Take a look for yourself!

the invitation

the party set-up

The birthday boy requested cookies instead of cake, so Ellie G. made funky flower shaped ones ~ too cute!

This smart Mama used Dixie plates in the party colors and made stickers to attach the the center.  She got a good deal on the cups too, & with her cute stickers, they doubled as a party favor!

Ellie G. is also a very creative graphic designer, and made these awesome posters for decorations.

The food table was decked out in the party colors and included Scooby Straws, Daphne Dip (kinda partial to that one- ha!), Pesky Carrots, Ghostly Grapes, Mystery Mallows, Goblin Gummies, & Velma Gum.  What a feast for eight-year-olds!  

Of course, there had to be a mystery to solve, so here was one of the clue cards the kids found outside.

the favor "doggie bags" full of goodies

Be sure and visit Less Cake More Frosting to get more details from this ultra-hip party!

Toddler Tuesday {St. Patrick's Day Unit} **UPDATED

I know I have been offering my printable units for preschoolers as free downloads for a few months now, but they are taking me sooooo long to create that I decided to open up a store on Teachers Pay Teachers.  So, on Sunday, I uploaded my first unit for purchase...perfect for St. Patrick's Day, it is "L is for Luck."

Even though this unit is for purchase only, I wanted to give my wonderful readers a little bonus.  So, for ONE WEEK ONLY, the unit will be 50% off.  The original price is $4.00, but from now until March 1st, you can download it for only $2.00.   


The unit is 22 pages of language arts, math, and art activities that can be done with toddlers through 1st grade.  I designed it with cute St. Patrick's Day graphics from The Graphic Depot.  

To go to my TPT store & purchase this unit, click HERE!  


***UPDATE:  This morning, I was made aware by a sweet reader that TpT has a $3.00 minimum purchase order rule, so I just now listed a fun Leprechaun Hunt activity for $1.00, so you can get two things for $3.00.  It includes 4 shamrock clue cards, 2 pages of directions, and printable gift tags (from Mr. Leprechaun himself).  

Click HERE to purchase my Leprechaun Hunt.  It is $1.00 until March 1st, when it goes up to $2.00.

MMM Good, Monday {Donut Muffins}

As I was stalking reading Kevin and Amanda's blog last weekend, I came across this totally yummi-licious looking dessert, donut muffins.  Amanda first saw donut muffins while watching "The Best Thing I Ever Ate."  Then, she found a recipe on Fine Cooking.   

{photo by Kevin and Amanda}

Here's what you need for the muffins...
 
12 oz. (24 Tbs.) unsalted butter, warmed to room temperature 
1-3/4 cups sugar 
4 large eggs 
1 lb. 11 oz. (6 cups) all-purpose flour 
1 Tbs. plus 2 tsp. baking powder 
1/2 tsp. baking soda 
1-3/4 tsp. salt 
1 tsp. ground nutmeg 
1-2/3 cups milk 
1/4 cup buttermilk 


Here's what you need for the topping...


8 oz. (16 Tbs.) unsalted butter; more as needed 
2 cups sugar 
2 Tbs. ground cinnamon 

I will have to make these in the very near future...I'll let you know how they are! :)

Sunday Snapshots

Each Sunday, I'm going to try to post some of my fave photos from the week of Noah!  These pics have been taken during the last few weeks...

We made a burrow for Mr. Groundhog on Groundhog's Day.  I covered an empty container of Oats with  brown scrapbook paper for the dirt and green construction paper for the grass.   I covered the lid with green paper and cut a hole in the top.  Then I printed out a coloring page of the groundhog, Noah colored it, and we taped a popsicle stick to the back.  Noah could then put Mr. Groundhog in and out of his burrow!  

 We took Noah to Cades Cove to do one of his fave activities, throw rocks in the river!  He loves it!

This is what we got when we told him it was time to go!  He squatted down, crossed his arms, and bowed his head!  "I don't want to go!"

One sunny Saturday, we took Noah to the park!  He LOVES playing at the park!  I loved this picture of him hanging from the monkey bars!  I even managed to get a sun flair in there! I'm learning about photography slowly, but surely!

Here's Bubble Beard Noah...we thought he looked too cute taking his bath!

Have a blessed Sunday, everyone!

Fabulous Freebie Friday {St. Patty's Day Printable!}

Well, now that Valentine's Day is over, time to move on to St. Patty's Day!  I know it's not a big decorating holiday, but I like to fill my house with green for one month!  I found the cutest St. Patty's Day subway art freebie this morning at Today's Fabulous Finds!  Just follow the directions on her blog to download your own ~ you have your choice of color combos.

So, thinking about St. Patrick's Day and leprechauns led me to thinking about the CuTeSt movie we took Noah to see last weekend, "Gnomeo and Juliet!"  It has a great story-line, the cutest little gnome-y characters, and awesome music.  It was produced by Elton John, so all the music is really fun!

I saw these adorable little gnome treats at Coffee and Crafts, by way of Fingerprints on the Fridge.  They would make a great snack to have during the movie!

Just to give you a little preview of the music in the movie, here you go...