Creative Memories Spotlight

It is time for something new!  Each week I plan on sharing with you some of my favorite Creative Memory Products.  Don't worry, for all that are "non-scrapbookers" there are plenty of other things to look at and use too!  This week, I'm going to start with one of those very items and one of my surprise favorites.

Magnetic Everyday Display



For me, this was one of those items that I saw in the catalog when it first came out and loved but was unsure of how to use!  Than I got one as a gift for a baby shower and fell in love with it.  I actually have two of them in my home - one in each of the boys rooms and I use them like this:

 Each month I order pictures for my father in law and I also update the boards in the boys room with our favorite pictures

I use one of the clips that are included to hang a Detroit Tigers hat that we purchased for Josh before he was born.

The boards come in three colors. The white shown above; black and brown (shown below)  Each board comes with 6 magnets, 6 clothespins and a ribbon and hanging medallion that matches the color of the board.  The board can also be hung without the ribbon as I have shown in the pictures from my boys' rooms.  They frame measures 18 x18 with the mat on the inside measuring 13 1/2 x 13 1/2 inches.

 

The boards make fantastic gifts for baby showers, weddings, graduations and Christmas.  I gave my mom one a few years ago and she uses hers to display the latest pictures of the grand kids as well.  For those of you who are avid digital scrapbookers - you can create a 12 x12 page each month of your favorite photos and send one to each grandparent to put on their board; they would than have that page to slip into a picfolio album and, at the end of the year, have a reminder of all of those favorite memories throughout the past year!  What great gift ideas :-)

The cost for each board is $52.00 and it is more than worth the cost. 

February Special

There are several specials going on during the month of February and 2 of the items are perfect matches for the Display Boards.

The Baby Boy Display Accents which retails normally for $18.00 and is on sale for this month only for $10.80.

AND

The Baby Girl Display Accents which also normally retails for $18.00 but is on sale for this month only for $10.80.

And, of course, you can use both of the above items for your regular scrapbooking even if you don't have the display board.  It would be a great way to pick up some themed items for all of you new moms to use in your scrapbooks for a fraction of the normal price. 

For other sale items during the month of February check out this Flyer:

February Product Specials

And feel free to check out my NEW website for other specials and clearance items.  Now it is so much easier to order - just go right to my site and order there!  Please contact me with questions.

My Website!

If you have questions feel free to ask!

Happenings in the House

This week, my cat Misty immediately took over the new basket I put in our launch pad area.  She fits perfectly in the basket, doesn't she?

We made some Valentines for each other this week.  It was Nate's first time to color and yes, he likes to eat the crayons.  

 We had a little water issue this week - I moved a humidifier from the boys room to the living room and it over flowed not once, not twice, but three time.  It has now been moved to the garbage.  But there is more to this picture.  Notice ALL the empty squares.  I had a helper (I only moved the one basket that needed moved) My helper moved all of the baskets . . . . .

 to the kitchen.

 where he proceeded to play for hours.  Than, he put all of the things back in the baskets (like things together, of course) and moved them back to the bin :-)  Such a good helper he is!

 And than on Friday night we gave out "Heart Attacks" which were actually FUN!  I had cut out a bunch of hearts and we each made some to stick on a door assigned to each person.  (Somehow I ended with the bathroom door . . I wonder what that means?)

 Nate colored one for each of us (aka known as "No pants Nate")

 Josh made one for Nate (learning to share crayons is REALLY hard)

 But he was more interested in the scissors.  (Don't worry, they aren't sharp - they are decorative so it would take a lot to cut anything, including the paper!)

And here is one of the doors!  I look forward to this getting to be a bigger activity that lasts for weeks in February as the boys get older.  We can all sneak hearts on each others door through the weeks leading up to Valentines :-)

That's how our week went!  It seemed to be a busier week and I didn't get quite as many every day pictures but some weeks are like that, aren't they?  

Savings Angel

 I think this is week three with Savings Angel and I was pretty happy with how I did overall.  There are two other pictures at the end of this post that show things a little more up close.  So, my Savings Angel total would have been $116.84 if I would have paid full price for those items but I only paid $61.39 saving me $55.05.  I was really hoping to get to at least half and thought I had done better but I noticed that several of my MPerks coupons did not come off my total and they should have - I'll have to watch that better in the future.  A couple of HUGE savings were Cat Treats which I got both for free and the Jell-O Puddings.  I purchased 8 packages of Jell-O Puddings which would have cost $23.12 but only cost me $8.00.  They were on sale for 2/$5 and I had two one dollar coupons off of 2 packages plus for every regular pudding you bought, you got a new "deluxe" kind for free.  We'll be eating Jell-O pudding for snack at night for awhile :-)  I did check expiration dates and they are good until April so we are fine :-)  So, I'm still learning this process and am hoping to continue to get better.  I'm slowly starting to stock up on some things which is also helping.  Next week, I'm planning to check out Walgreens through Savings Angel and try to pull $20.00 from my budget to put towards shopping there as I know you can get some fantastic deals there too!

Show Us Your Life - Beauty Secrets

It is time for Show us Your Life Friday's over at Kellys Korner.  This weeks theme is Beauty Secrets.  I'm really interested to see what other people post!!  I have a few little things I'll share but I don't have anything major!

1) My favorite all time body lotion I just discovered recently.  It is this:

I had this up in my cupboard from a baby shower for one of my boys but didn't really want them smelling like Lavender (yes, I'm one of those moms).  Well, in desperation due to dry skin, I tried it and fell in love with it.  In less than 24 hours of the first use, my skin was so soft and not dry anymore!!  I recently shared this in one of my "What I'm Loving, Wednesday" posts I love it so much.

2) I am a Merle Norman Fan!

I was introduced to their makeup when I was about 16 years old and have always returned to their stuff.  A few times, when money was tight, I would try different, less expensive items, and always have returned to their products.  I love their lip pencils without a doubt!!  Their eye shadows do not crease and their skin products really do work great!  Every year or so I try to go in for a free makeup update to check out the new colors and products. 

That's all I have :-)  I would love to get manicure's and pedicures every few weeks because I think that well kept nails always make you  feel better about yourself but with two little boys trying to find time to do my own (when little interested fingers won't add finger prints in them . .. ) doesn't fit in well and paying for that is not in the budget!

Looking forward to seeing what others post!

Snickers Pie

This is pure heaven!  A little bit of chocolate, peanut butter and cheesecake all wrapped up together!  Years ago, when I taught school, once a month the parents did a teacher appreciation lunch and one of the moms made this pie!  She was kind enough to share the recipe and this is a family favorite here in the Koll house!

Take 1 15-oz pre-made pie crust and put it in your pie pan.  Bake at 450 degrees for 5-7 minutes or until very light golden brown.  Remove and reduce the oven temp to 325 degrees.

This recipe calls for 5 - 2.07 oz candy bars - I usually just buy this pack of 8 snack size bars.



 Chop the snickers bars up into pieces.

 Mix together 1/2 cup sugar and 12 ounces of cream cheese until smooth.

 Than add 2 eggs, mixing after each one.

 Mix in 1/3 cup sour cream.

And add 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter.  Beat until smooth. (And than try not to eat it straight out of the bowl.  Seriously.)

 Drop the candy bars into the bottom of the pie crust. 

 Spread the cream cheese filling over the candy bars and cook for 30-40 minutes or until center is set.

 Isn't that pretty?  But wait!  There's more :-)

 Add 3 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream with 2/3 cup chocolate chips and melt in the microwave in 30 second intervals to avoid burning - stirring each time until smooth.  (You can do this on the stove top too!)

Spread the chocolate on top and put it in the refrigerator - than enjoy it (try not to eat it all at once.)

Candy Bar Pie (or Snickers Pie)

Pie Crust:

1 (15 oz) package Pillsbury All Ready Pie Crust

Filling:

5 (2.07 oz) Snickers candy Bars

12 oz Cream Cheese Softened    

     1/2 cup sugar        

2 eggs

1/3 cup sour cream

1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

Topping

3 Tablespoons Whipping Cream

3/4 cup chocolate chips

   Heat oven to 450 degrees.  Prepare pie crust according to package directions for filled 1-crust pie, using 9-inch pie pan. Bake at 450 degrees for 5-7 minutes or until very light golden brown.  Remove from oven and cool.  Reduce temperature to 325 degrees. 

   Cut candy bars in half, lengthwise.  Then cut remains in ¼ inch pieces.  Place candy bar pieces over bottom of partially backed crust.

   In a small bowl, combine sugar and cream cheese, beating until smooth.  Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each.  Add sour cream and peanut butter, beating until mixture is smooth.  Pour that mixture over candy bar pieces in the pie crust.  Bake at 325 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until center is set.  Cool Completely.

   For the topping:  In small saucepan, heat whipping cream until warm.  Remove from heat.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth.  Spread over top of pie.  Refrigerate 2-3 hours before servicing.  Store in refrigerator.  Makes 10 servings



Enjoy :-)

I'm linking up with:

and 

I {Heart} Teaching my Kiddo's!

Yes, I stole that header idea from another blog but it fits for this time of year, doesn't it? 

Just wanted to share some last minute ideas for Valentines day to do with the kiddo's - lots of great Valentine's to make!

If you are looking for some last minute Valentines, you can print them free from here:
The Company Store.  There are two different designs to print and color!  We did this as one of our activities this week.

Check out Moo Moo's and Tutu's for a bunch of printable Valentine's for your kids to take to school!!!  (Return those unopened boxes to the store and use these instead !) 

Next, Delia Creates shares another super cute, super easy idea for Valentines too (and these are a little more "boy"!)

This idea is on my plans for next year from MyKidsMake.com.  They are just too adorable for words!

Or maybe these . .wow, what a great idea from Sugar Swings.  She created these lego guys from ice molds (using melted candy, not ice) and shows some really cute Valentine card ideas!

Also, check out this idea from a friend of mine over at Busy Blessings.  Tammy is a mom of 8 boys and a great example.  I enjoy reading her blog and gleaning ideas from her to use with just my 2 :-)  I love this idea she does with her boys for Valentine's.

You still have a few more days to get your Valentine's made so lets have some fun!

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Once again I'm linking up with Jamie over at This Kind Of Love for What I'm Loving Wednesday!!

This week I'm Loving:
1. This book:

I read the first chapter for my book club this week and all I can say is wow!  Can't wait to read the next chapter.

2. Heluva Good French Onion Dip - and yes, it really is that Good!

3.  My New Home Management Notebook!  It is really working for me and I just love having things neat and organized!

4. Making chocolate dipped Marshmallows with these fun people!

Don't you just love the chocolate spread across his face??? 

5. I also love that I won this great give-away over at Comfy in the Kitchen.  I "never" win - so it was thrilling to see my name listed and now I can't wait to get the book :-)

6. I also LOVE my adorable little family!!!

So that is what I'm loving this week :-)  Remember to always look for those "gifts" - those special things in each day to be thankful for . . . . every moment is a gift!