Swap Partners Sent Out!

Hi Ladies- I sent out swap partners today! In the email are a few questions to answer and email to your partner. Just a little bit of "get to know you" type questions. You may also want to let them know how much you want to spend on the swap. I didn't set a price- so if that is a concern to you then just let your partner know what your thinking.
If you haven't heard from your partner in a couple of days let me know. Thanks for playing along- Erin

Crafty Cupid Valentine Swap!

I have been so inspired (or jealous) by all the cool swaps that went on during christmas like this one
http://homespiration.blogspot.com/2007/11/holiday-helper-swap.html
and all the great pics at flicker http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=swap
that I have decided to start a Valentine Swap-hence the big swap image at the top!
Here's the lowdown:
This is a quick turn around one- Sign up by January 21st- just drop me an email. I'll then email you a form to fill out so your swap partner can get to know you a bit, and to find out about your preferences, international mailings, and if you prefer the same kind of crafter as you (scrapper, quilter, knitter etc..) It would be great to email each other and make a new friend!
I will email everyone your partner on the 22nd.

Swap Stuff- this one is for the 5 senses! Choose at least 4 of the five senses and fill a box with things to match.
Sight- Beautiful scrapbook goodies, lovely vintage fabric, beaded earrings-whatever you like.
Taste- Chocolate, fancy tea, hot cocoa mix- be creative!
Touch- Rough wooly felt, silk yarn, all about the texture here.
Smell- lotions, candles, perfume, soaps.
Hear- mix cd, book on cd- use your imagination.
Just be sure to show your Crafty Cupid that you care! Fill a box you would love to receive. When you receive your package- take pics and we'll add them to a Crafty Cupid Flickr Group.
How does that sound? Did I miss anything? Help me spread the word of this fun swap- click on the swap logo and post about it on your blog- the more participants the more fun we will have! International Crafters are welcome too!

New Beginnings & Once a Month Cooking

John started college today! WooHoo! He is now a full-time student. I am so proud of this picture guys- but I am gonna be burstin' when he finishes this up in a couple of years. He is taking Algebra, Public Speaking, American Government, Psychology & Social Deviance. He is really looking forward to the last two classes (kind of makes him a little twisted don't ya think). He is going to get his Associates in Criminal Justice at Moberly, then move on to Truman or Columbia College or Mizzou (or wherever will take him) to finish that up along with a minor in business management. He would like to be a probation/parole or juvenile officer. Keep praying for him- it is gonna be kind of a culture shock for his big farm-boy self.

Okay- on to "once a month cooking". I took a little class through the church on this years ago and have done it a couple times and it really helps out. Not only do you have one major cook day, but it severely cuts down on the dirty pots and pans during the week. This time I made several bags of frozen cookie balls. Just take your favorite cookie dough recipe- I use the littlest pampered chef scoop and scoop balls of dough onto a cookie sheet. Then I stick them in the freezer for 1/2 an hour or so. Throw a dozen balls into a quart freezer bag and your ready to go. So much cheaper than the break and bake cookies. I usually need to add a minute or two when I bake these.
I also browned 4 pounds of hamburger- that I divided into bags for chili, tacos, and speghetti. So that is at least one step done for those meals.
I also made Canadian Bacon pinwheels. You take 1 frozen Rhodes Bread Loaf. Let it thaw then roll it out to about 24 inches long and maybe 6 inches across. Sprinkle on a cup of mozzarella cheese, and a package of canadian bacon , roll it up then slice into 24 sections. Cook for 20 minutes at 400. Let cool then put in bags. 2 more meals ready to go.

The last thing I made was calzones. You need 2 frozen bread loaves for this one. Let them thaw- then cut. I cut one loaf into 6 sections, and one into 10 sections- so these will be smaller calzones for the kids. Then just roll each section out to a circle, fill with cheese, beef, pepperoni, canadian bacon, sprinkle with garlic and italian seasoning-whatever your family would like. Then fold over and pinch down the sides.
Stick these on a baking sheet and freeze for 1/2 hour or so. Then repackage them for meals. I put a plain-hamburger & cheese only- one in for John, a garic-y one for me, and 2 little pepperoni ones in for the kids in each bag. It made enough for 3 meals like this plus a bag of 4 small calzones we can eat some day when John is at school. Both of these recipes are great served with hot marinara sauce and a salad.
You can also make these with taco meat and cheese- these serve with salso and taco fixings, or make them with bbq meat inside or just ham and cheese. Lots of options and all yummy!
Cost rundown for ya.
Canadian Bacon Pinwheels
1 loaf bread- 88 cents
1 to 1 1/2 cups of Mozz. cheese $1 to 1.50
1 pack canadian bacon $1.98
Total cost: $3.86-$4.16 for 2 MEALS!
Calzones
2 loaves of bread $1.74
.5 pounds hamburger- we butcher so I don't have a cost for this one
.5 pack of pepperoni- $1.50
2 cups mozzerella- $2
Total $5.25 plus beef for 4 MEALS!
I am sure you can't be nearly impressed as I am about those low low numbers- but it just thrills me to save money right now when we are broke! And this stuff is yummy! I would love to see some other recipes that would work for "OAMC". Of course I have to adapt everything to my picky eaters, but as of now I have 6 suppers in the freezer and burger ready for 4 more! Has anyone else ever done this?

Awana Grand Prix

We held our first Awana Grand Prix on Saturday. It was a lot of work leading up to the big day- but it ended up running pretty smoothly and was a fun time. Riley won 1st place in Design for the Sparks, and 2nd place for Design overall (no speed trophys though- ours was consistently at the back of the pack!) I really wasn't sure how the design judging would go- there were some cars that you could tell the kid's hadn't done anything on. But they ended up choosing cars that were unique and that you could tell the kids had at least helped out on. We had a couple from Moberly come in that organizes Pinewood derbys for the boyscouts. They had a cool computer program that set up all the races, and they judged the designs.
John cut out (very roughly) the shape of the car then Riley sanded it and painted it, and painted it, and painted it, then she added some stickers, then some nail stickers then she glued in a polly pocket. I think the polly pocket won the design trophy for her-her car was the only car with a driver!

Allison Winklers car ended up taking 1st place in overall speed. Gary was one happy dad! We ended up having some really cool looking cars. One was carved into the shape of a fish, one looked like lightning McQueen, we had a couple wedge shaped ones, a bumble bee, a cop car. Lots of creativity. We are already talking about a next years event!

Charolette and I are leaving this Thursday to go to Awana Headquarters in Chicago for a 4 day training. We went to this last year and it was soo awesome. We left so pumped up and inspired to do so much. I am hoping I can everything around here caught up so I can feel good about leaving for a few days. One thing I did to make things easier- and to stick with my resolution to be more organzied was to put some "once a month cooking" things in the freezer. I will post tomorrow all about that!

Hello New Year!

Freebie desktop from http://shabbyprincess.typepad.com/shabby_princess/

Christmas Pictures

Picture from Riley's Christmas Party. We made Christmas fairies, Rudolph ornaments, hot cocoa and sugar cookies. The girls played really well together and it was a fun time. They had an ornament exchange too.



A couple days after christmas, the kids having a rare moment of being this close without someone crying or whining.
The Haul! Santa brought Riley a guitar, so we have had to watch several concerts a day since then. Her favorite part of owning a guitar (besides not letting sam touch it) is standing on our coffee table, announcing that she is Riley Cyrus from Hannah Montana and thanking her fans for coming see her then saying 5,6,7,8 right before she starts to sing. I gotta get that on video. Sam got a tool belt, hat and a bunch of "real" tools. The next day I heard hammering to find him in his room banging so hard on his outlet that he broke the plastic plug in part. Santa needs to rethink his gifts next year!
(How do I flip this pic-anybody know?) Riley making about the 15th batch of sugar cookies this year (thank you betty crocker mixes) wearing her new apron I made for her. I'll have to find a better pic of that one.









Another one of little "Riley Cyrus"! Does it still amaze anyone else that anyone with the name Cyrus could be considered cool? I mean Billy Ray was the stud when I was in 5th grade and I got to learn a square dancing routine to "Achy Breaky Heart" but man that was like BEFORE the times of tight rolling- Ancient!