Middle school cookies

So, making 350 sugar cookies, for Hernando Middle School, got me thinking. Would people pay for these cookies more often? I always make tons of sugar cookies during the holidays. We LOVE Christmas cookies at our house!!! Why not make them more often? Why not have some on hand and ready for anyone who needs a special happy? What about teacher gifts? Or birthday party favors? The question I have for you is...

Would you buy a package of homemade cookies from a local mom? Or would you love to receive some? 

I'm just looking for feedback here people!!! Anyone? 

Here are only about a third of the cookies. I ran out of counter space!! 

HERSHEY'S "Perfectly Chocolate" Hot Cocoa

Ingredients

• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups milk
• 1/3 cup water

• Dash salt
• 1/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• Miniature marshmallows or sweetened whipped cream
• 1/2 cup sugar

Directions

1. Stir together sugar, cocoa and salt in medium saucepan; stir in water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Boil and stir 2 minutes. Add milk; stirring constantly, heat to serving temperature. Do Not Boil.

2. Remove from heat; add vanilla. Beat with rotary beater or whisk until foamy. Serve topped with marshmallows or whipped cream, if desired. Five 8-oz. servings.

Half off Papa John's large pizza

If you are not feeling like dirtying up your freshly cleaned kitchen, like me, Papa John's is offering 50% off any regular priced pizza on www.papajohnspizza.com with code TRAC50. Now through Sept. 30th. 

This is not a sponsored post. I just like easy & cheap sometimes!!! And am usually up for Papa John's!!! 

This photo was edited with the Camera+ and Beautiful Mess apps. 

Mermaid

Well, I do want to be a blogger but have a couple small issues that make me self conscious. I write like I talk & I talk crazy!!!! I also use extra commas, explanation points and have lots of run on sentences!!!! But I have decided that I'm ok with that. Are you?? I mean really!?!? I hope so because I am going to attempt to overcome my other fear of rejection and start blogging again! I also am going to try something a little different on the blog. As mentioned before I LOVE INSTAGRAM!!! I also love quirky little sayings. Therefore, I am a IG screen shotting fool!!! Yes, I am aware shotting is not a word but I am using it anyway! So, I will be making some random posts in between my crafting ones. But hey, you should be expecting that, it's my blog name!!! 😜 I am looking forward to hearing what you think and am open to suggestions. So comment away!!! 

Any who! Back to this post title. Baby cakes turned 5 this month and decided (a week before her 4th birthday) that her party theme would be mermaids!!! She also decided her party would be all girls, no boys!!! Oh kids!!! She was dead set on a party at the bounce house place, for the 3rd year in a row, but I found a place that she couldn't say no to! The YMCA!!! I don't know about your Y but the one in Olive Branch, MS has the most amazing kid area!!! Most of the pool is shallow and there are lots of water features that spray & dump water. There are also 2 fun slides!!! The kids & adults had a blast. There was a small cupcake mishap on the way to the party but they still tasted yummy!!! I did not get any shots of the decor (GO SAM!) but check out the kid cake!!!! 

I am pretty dang proud of myself considering I have never done anything like this & had a great amount of anxiety about it. I'm glad it wasn't as tough as I expected. Baby cakes loved her & that was all I needed!!!! Hope everyone has a great & relaxing weekend! I know I will! We have no plans for the first time in weeks & I can't wait!!! Although I most certainly will end up cleaning. Oh well!!!! At least a clean house makes me happy!!! 

Peace out homies!!! ❤ 

Links to my post are always welcome! However, PLEASE do not copy & paste any of my content without prior permission. Pictures of "Baby cakes" are strictly prohibited!

Instagram

Anyone else obsessed with Instagram? I have been for almost 2 years now. I do have my hyatisis but I am sure anyone who reads my blog knows about that!!! I have a little problem with the editing part of things. I am indecisive and that is absolutely evident in my photo editing process!! I edit a picture 17 different ways and then have to narrow down the edits until I decide which one I like best. OK! Maybe not 17, but at least 5. If any of this rambling makes you interested in checking out my IG acct(s), please feel free! My main account username is Samantha222. (I would love to put the link here but am having trouble figuring out how. A few things have changed on Blooger since my last post!!! 😏) My craft user name is randomly_crafty. Please stop by and say hi! 👋 Here are few of my faves from my samantha222 account.

Links to my post are always welcome! However, PLEASE do not copy & paste any of my content without prior permission. Pictures of "Baby cakes" are strictly prohibited!

A little secret!

I know all of you have seen & probably used those nifty little toilet seat covers. Did you know they also work wonderfully for removing oil from your face? What? Yes! Pull one of those bad boys off the wall and start blotting. Let me stress BLOT, DO NOT RUB! You can actually see the evidence on the paper. Disgustingly enough you may be able to see my evidence on the top left corner of the picture. Happy testing friends!

Quick & easy

These are two necessities I look for in dinner recipes, quick & easy. The third and most important requirement is healthy. This dinner idea fits all 3. It's Garlic Lime Chicken Fajita made with Recipe Inspirations by McCormick. I have seen a few different flavors but this one is my families favorite. I prefer to make these on a day I have planned our dinner menu early because they taste better after the chicken has been marinated. I just love the citrus taste.

I start by marinating the chicken in OJ, lime juice and the seasoning packets. I usually add extra OJ to make sure all the chicken is covered. I have also added a little water once because I was running low on OJ.

After marinating for a few hours I cook the chicken with the peppers and onions just as the instructions suggest. After cutting the dish is ready to serve.

Easy enough. I serve with tortillas, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream. I also usually add rice and some sort of corn medley. We NEVER have leftovers after this meal!!!

McCormick's did not compensate me in any way. I just like the product!!

What is your go to easy recipe??? I would love any new suggestion!!

Happy Fall Y'all!!!

Who else is ready? I absolutely have Fall fever! I have been pinning all kinds of cute things on Pinterest. Now if I can just get around to making it all! In case you haven't noticed I am a great planner but not great at the execution part of things. Good news: I am working on that problem. Hopefully you guys will reap the benefits of my change!!! Now that I have the Blogger app on my iPhone there is no excuse not to blog, or craft for that matter. I have a few projects in the works & look forward to sharing with you guys!

The below little couple made their way onto our front door & into our hearts. I have been looking for something to go on our doors but couldn't find anything budget friendly. Especially since I now need 2 of anything I find. (A very sarcastic YAY!!) Then a friend suggested these guys, that are available pretty much everywhere. Joanne's had them on sale for $4.99. But Walmart is so much closer to me so I just price matched. So, yes! I paid $10 for both of these. Much better than the $50 burlap footballs I almost bought & way cuter!!!

We are in love & so are they. (Did you notice they are making eyes at each other???) So cute!!

What are some of your first Fall decorations this year?

A little rock & roll

Everyone needs a little rock & roll in their life. Right? I think so! My hubby & I are going on a date tonight, to the Foo Fighters concert. YAY! Since I am in the rock state of mind I am posting a pic of this clip I made for one of my cousins that I think fits the rock & roll life style. I like how it turned out but everything IS cuter with a bow. My cousin liked it & that is what is important.

I did say in my last post that I was making hair bows. Well, I did but I have not tried all of the styles I want to try yet. I will try to work on these this weekend & post soon.

Links to my post are always welcome! However, PLEASE do not copy & paste any of my content without prior permission. Pictures of "Baby cakes" are strictly prohibited!

 

Go Grizz!

 The Memphis Grizzlies are in the playoffs & have won a playoff game for the first time in franchise history! When they came home for game 3, we where there. Of course, Baby cakes needed a basketball barrette to wear to the game. I made one a while back, for a cousin, so I knew just what to do.

The Grizz won the 3rd game & we had a wonderful time. Sorry for the quality of the picture, it was taken with my phone. ;-)

Stay tuned...Baby cakes & I are working on making hair bows today. That & potty training, I have my work cut out for me!!!

Have a super Tuesday!!!

Links to my post are always welcome! However, PLEASE do not copy & paste any of my content without prior permission. Pictures of "Baby cakes" are strictly prohibited!

Easter bunny on the beach

All though it would have been nice to get pics of this cute bunny barrette up before Easter, it did not work out that way. I will try to do better next holiday. PROMISE!

Oh yeah! The ears are large & in charge because I originally planned on making them "flop" but changed my mind once I got to work. I liked them better how they ended up.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter! Now back to reality for my beach loving family!

Links to my post are always welcome! However, PLEASE do not copy & paste any of my content without prior permission. Pictures of "Baby cakes" are strictly prohibited!

Stripes with a great cause

A couple months ago I saw this adorable zebra that an old friend of mine had made & put on her blog. I just had to make one! It took a lot longer than I expected but I am sure, now that I have worked out all the "kinks," it will not take as long when I try another one. I am very happy with how it turned out. It was worth all the time. (It only took a week & I only worked on it a little a day. After reading what I typed it sounded like it took months. HA!) Baby cakes loves her zebra & it makes me happy when she remembers that I made it for her.

Look at this cute tail. Love the bow.

My friend, "Cookie," is sells these & other animals at her Etsy shop. Right now she is giving 100% of her Easter Bunny sales to help one of her worship leaders at church as she ministers to her family living near the nuclear power plant in Japan. These people have experienced more than I can even imagine. Some have lost everything, including loved ones.

Are you like me? Wondering what you can do to help, other than send money. The sleepy time gal has a GREAT idea. (Thanks for the info Cookie) She is having "friends" send boxes of everyday things. Baby cakes & I are getting a box together today. I encourage you to do the same & to keep the Japanese people in your prayers.

Links to my post are always welcome! However, PLEASE do not copy & paste any of my content without prior permission. Pictures of "Baby cakes" are strictly prohibited!

sweet & simple

Baby cakes has been choosing to wear a lot of pink lately. Well, except the day she tried starting a baby goth trend by wearing all black. She has also been wanting to wear this clip, which is actually the first felt barrette I made. After getting a couple compliments I thought maybe I should share this with all of you. I do plan on making posts on projects other than barrettes but not until I get barrettes out of my system. ;-)

I "threw" the below barrettes together for a couple more examples. I love these. They remind me of little sleeping bags for barrettes.

Baby cakes is wearing the pink one as I type. I really need to remember to put my things out of her reach. She is all about matching these days and after getting dressed yesterday she ran to my box of made barrettes & found one that matched her dress. How can I say no when she says "PLEEEEASE?"

Okay. I am off to make more barrettes. HAPPY FRIDAY EVE EVERYONE!!

Links to my post are always welcome! However, PLEASE do not copy & paste any of my content without prior permission. Pictures of "Baby cakes" are strictly prohibited!

"The Original"

Here I am! You found my spot! I am a crafty stay-at-home mom in need of a place to share my creations. I also wouldn't mind selling a few things to make room for new projects. My current obsession are these cute little flower snap barrettes (I am dubbing these "The Original"). I plan on making many more felt barrettes & sharing some that "Baby cakes" is already enjoying. She is really into matching her outfits & hair accessories. These are perfect for that. Felt is very easy to work with & is inexpensive. It does not fray, therefore, no need to hem. PLUS: the felt is Eco-felt and is made from 100% recycled products. Can't beat that! ;-)

Anyone interested in the adorable barrettes will soon be able to get them @ Itty Bitty in Hernando, MS. In the mean time you can leave a comment or email me @ randomlycrafty@live.com to get more info. I have a ton made, in all colors.


Links to my post are always welcome! However, PLEASE do not copy & paste any of my content without prior permission. Pictures of "Baby cakes" are strictly prohibited!