Inexpensive DIY baby & sibling gift basket {TWINS}

So today, friends, I have some really great gift baskets to give to a friend expecting or one with a new arrival! It was a ton of fun and my 5 year old was really helpful too. Our friend had just had twins (twinnies- which was the nicknamed coined by their big sister!) and 2 other kids... so naturally we needed to welcome the babies and make the big kids feel good too!

So here's a simple and inexpensive way to spread the love!

So the first image is a complete twin gift. We, obviously made 2 of them- this is one of the two. The other picture is of the gift baskets made for the older siblings- a boy and a girl.

We started off with making t-shirts- $3 each. I grabbed t-shirts from the Dollar Store and iron on transfers from Hobby Lobby.

 Total $6

Next up was some snacks for the big brother and sister.

Some sugar to get them PUMPED UP! 

Total $3.

We gotta add a little bit of fun! Something to keep the kiddos busy when the twinnies are needing mom's attention. I purchased a book for each child that includes a listening CD and a sun-catcher to paint! As well as a little sanitizer to keep them clean and germ free! 

Total $6

Here's a shot of everything used to complete the big kid baskets!

Total $18!!!

I made a cute little label, taped it on and waalaah an inexpensive gift for the big kids!

And so, on to the twinnies!

Here is all the stuff I used to create the twinnies their 'Welcome to the World' gift box.

Included is character washcloths, plastic books- get the literature in young- it's VERY important. Even if they are just eating the books! I also included baby lotion and pacifiers!

Total $9!

Put it all together and there ya go! 

Welcome gifts for the twinnies!

This activity was a lot of fun for my daughter and I to create together for friends. Olivia was very particular as to what went where. She took a lot of pride in making these. It also teaches a valuable lesson of giving to and caring for others. We talked about how happy we would make our friend and that they would feel special. I reminded her how good it felt to get gifts when Emily was born. So, this project was more than a gift for friends. It was a way to teach my daughter how to be a kind and caring person. It taught her how to plan and create something others would love. 

I try to teach my girls that the world is filled with all kinds of people and we need to the people that help others and think about others as well. This was a great way to begin to instill this in my daughter!

Hopefully, you are blessed with a family member or friend bringing a little one into the world that you can do this for, too!

Please talk to me :) Share you thoughts and ideas!

Thanks!

Kelly xxoo

Quick and Easy Sloppy Joes

Hey Guys! I have an incredibly easy and delicious recipe to share with you all!
The other night I was out with the girls and my friend was talking about a recipe she made for dinner that her kids loved and was super quick and easy. Naturally, I was like "whaaaat?! Please share!" And she did...

Sloppy Joes 

aka Sloppy Mickeys! (it was her recipe)

Ingredients:
1 lb. Beef- I like as lean as possible
1/2 onion
1/2 C Ketchup
1/2 C BBQ sauce- I used Sweet Baby Rays
Pinch of
     Salt
     Cayenne
Any additional spices

Brown the beef with the onion, Cayenne and salt.















After completed add 1/2 C of Ketchup and BBQ mix thoroughly.

Ta DA!

Throw in a few fries and veggies and ya got yourself a quick and easy meal when you're on the go! I used it on ZUMBA night!

Mmmmmmm....

Did you try something different? Let me know what you like! 

Please...comment below!

Thanks guys!
Kellyxxoo

Best EVER {& easy} Chocolate covered Strawberries recipe

Hey guys!!!
OMG! So I decided to make chocolate covered Strawberries but I wanted them to taste like the chocolate place in town. So as I'm searching for a recipe I find people inject liquor into strawberries- uhhhh yummy! But not for this particular party so, I'm thinking along those lines and decide maybe I could get the effect of the chocolate place but injecting Simple Syrup. So I decided to try and it if it works- cool, I'll make them again and post if not, oh well.

But, wow! Were they delicious! When you bite into them they are filled with a sweet strawberry goodness flavor. But not filled like Gushers. Remember those? Nasty gooey gel inside. So gross. NOTHING like that. Just regular strawberry juice but sweeter.

My ways may be unconventional. As you read my posts I'm kinda a tinker in that I will find ways to do what I want using what I have soooo my injection method may not be ideal, but I like to use and re-use what I can!

I, soooooooooooooo, recommend you give these a try!




Ingredients:
Simple Syrup
Strawberries 1 pint
Chocolate 1/2 bag
White chocolate 1/4 cup
Crisco just a dallop
injector :)


Before you begin, make sure to wash your strawberries- ya just never know what\s on 'em. Then I used this tool (no clue was it is) and a Tylenol syringe. I told you I was creative in this respect! Poke a hole with the 'tool" and inject the simple syrup into the hole. I did enough that I could see the syrup at the top of the hole.

Next refrigerate them while making chocolate. I used Ghiradelli chocolate chips- about 1/2 bag. It's important to use good quality chocolate to have the best taste. Melt chocolate in 30 sec intervals stirring after each.

When melted carefully dip and roll each strawberry in the chocolate and place on PARCHMENT paper. I made the mistake of not using it the 1st time. They tasted good just not as pleasing to the eye.

Melt about 1/4 cup of white chips with a dallop of Crisco so it is runny and put your fancy white stripes on. I kinda suck at it, but tastes the same!

Again, refrigerate. Ideal to refrigerate 12-24 hours. The syrup seems to juicy up the strawberry. So yummy and easy- DANGEROUS!

Please share your thoughts!!! Pleease...talk to  me :)

Please I'd love to hear what you think! Did you make these? A variant? Suggestions?

  I'd love to hear from you!

Kellyxxoo

Coping with surgery part 2

OK, Here's the 2nd half of what I did to cope with my daughter's impending surgery. The list goes on and on :) Miss part one? Find it here: 

Coping with Surgery Part 1

My sister in law, the hairstylist I mentioned before did a fundraiser for my cause & we organized red streaks in our hair in February.

I wanted a way to bring awareness to CHD with something I could wear every day the month of February. I created these CHD shoes to wear everyday! And for Heart awareness day I brought my A game!

    

I wanted my daughter to know she was loved and many people were thinking of her while in the hospital. So I decided to pick certain people and family members to create a one of a kind 6x6 square of fabric that we would see together as a quilt for her. THIS WAS AMAZING! I bawled like a baby when it was done, so beautiful- meaningful. I was blessed with another heart mom who was able to create this amazing quilt.

Next up, I told ya, I like to be busy, is my book I wrote for her. I met with the child life specialists to see exactly what would happen to her. From there, I decided what I wanted her to know and what I thought was appropriate.  This took a ton of time and energy. I illustrated it and put many significant clues in the illustrations as to it being for her. It was wonderful. I published it through my school's Student Treasure program.

I wanted to give her something special for her heart day. I searched for a beautiful, real heart ring and presented it her the morning we left for the hospital. In addition to the ring, I wanted her to have dolly like her. So I found this FB site, The Cutest Dolls Ever, and I picked the doll for my daughter. From her hair and eyes to her clothes and scar. The doll is beautiful.

   

Before going to the hospital I wanted to have a Suitcase filled with new things needed- button jammies, movies, slippers, ice pack, leggings, photo album, journal, and other little stuff.

I prepared stiff for a glow party at the hospital. We invited 2 family members (all that was allowed in the room, but they rotated) and gave the nurse some stuff. Fun, fun!

Throughout the months preceding surgery I tried to collect heart decor and fun things to decorate the boring hospital room as well. 

I needed to have a small token of my appreciation for anyone who came in contact with our family. Each person meant so much and played an important role in my daughters care. So I made heart pins. I bought the hearts, glitter painted them, added the stitch and pin back. We put them in cute mesh bags with thank you tags. All supplies from the Dollar Tree! Every doctor, nurse, specialist or volunteer got one!

And then there's those doctors, the miracle workers. I needed just a little more. So I prepared and framed a heart wordle for each doctor and of course, Nurse Natalie! Each was so appreciative!

These things helped me occupy my time until surgery came. I knew I could not control any part of surgery and the outcome, but I could control my outlook and my energy. I needed to turn that stress into positive things to get  by. After the girls went to bed, I did these things, during lunch I worked on this. Basically any time I had to think was filled with these projects. It helped- it really did!

What have you done to help yourself or others cope? Please share your ideas...I LOVE hearing what you have found to work or help! 

Please comment below!

Kellyxxoo

Turbo Fire HIIT 30 review

Hey guys! Today I am looking at Turbo Fire HIIT 30. Turbo Jam does not have HIIT workouts like TF. TF has a 15, 20, 25 and a 30. I did the 30 today. It's one of my favorites. Actually HIIT 25 is my absolute favorite, but I was kinda lazy and ate and drank too much this week so every minute counts. I had the day off today so I was able to exercise at a normal hour instead of 5am. Hallelujah!

HIIT 30 is an amazing workout. It's High Intensity Interval Training. And it is tough. During the workout you 'suck wind' as Chalene calls it- push to your max for 1 minute then you get 1 minute rest in between. And friends, you will!  In this HIIT there are 5 HIITS , the last HIIT you do it 3 times and it is the HARDEST...4 burpees 4 tuck jumps- YIKES! But according to Chalene and other research you can burn up to 9x more fat than traditional cardio. Also, you reap the benefits of the after burn for up to 24 hours.

Chalene teaches you each HIIT before and cues appropriately. She does a great job motivating you throughout this workout, but truthfully throughout the whole program. No joke- there have been times in my life that I hear Chalene in the back of my head telling me 'it's all in your head' or 'go hard or go home' or 'how you speak to your self in the heat of the battle...' Not just when working out but other times as well. It's crazy. But I love it. I truly believe making the mental change is the hardest. You have to BELIEVE you can do it before you can do it. after my 1st daughter was born Beachbody helped me lose 60 lbs. The mental hurdles are the hardest you must BELIEVE you can do it. I had a reminder tattooed on my wrist. :)

This workout includes plyometrics along with low impact option lead by "her girl Ali." I mix it up, there are times I am sucking so much wind and I gotta go low! Some of my favorite moves are the running mans with knee smashes, sumo burpees but there are a ton of different jacks- air jacks being my favorite, squat jumps, squats, football drills, leaps and ski runs. As I said before, every move has a low impact BUT high intensity option. 

I love her inspirational comments throughout. A lot of times I'm so focused in the workout that I do not hear them. But they are there. I tried to pay close attention this time but it's hard. One that caught my hear today was, "Get in the bast shape of your life at any age."-Chalene. Which is true. You can do it, you just need to COMMIT to changing your life style.

CLICK HERE 

to preview some of my FAVORITE parts of HIIT30!

Do you have a favorite workout? What is it??? I'm always looking for something new and fun!

 Leave a comment below!

Kellyxxoo

Super simple and Fun Holiday gift for kiddos to make

Need a quick and easy, simple and fun gift idea for the kiddos to make? Look noooo further! This is a really cute magnet that can hold a card, kids picture or special note. We made ours for Valentines day. Olivia is having her own party tonight- with my help of course. Everything she planned, shopped for and picked out. It ended up costing about $25 but well worth the creativity, educational experience and proudness she and I both felt. Proudness? Is that a word? I think I am looking for another one, but wheteve, 

So, totally easy all you need is: 

A base (I used foam hearts)

Stickers or  any crafty embellishment

Clothes pin

Hot glue

magnet

 Here are the foam hearts and stickers we used:

Olivia enjoying her craft time:

Here is her final product and materials I used to complete this project:

 

Glue clothes pin on to foam heart or whatever you choose:

 Waa la:

Now glue magnet into clothes pin

Taaa Daa

Finished product:

Happy Valentines Day!

Kelly xxoo