"" The Preppy Strawberry

Friday, April 17, 2015

Monogram Tumblers

Monogram Tumblers {The Preppy Strawberry}



Last December, my husband totally surprised me with a silhouette cameo!  I guess he really did hear me when I was talking about how much I wanted a silhouette cameo! Let's just say I was really surprised!!  

As thrilled as I was about being the proud new owner of a silhouette, I'm embarrassed to say, it sat in my craft room for almost 8 months before I really started using it!  In my defense, it was a week before Christmas he gave it to me and on top of that I was working a lot!  But, still it's all about making time to do things that we want to do!  So I've made it my personal goal this year  to do at least one project a month with my silhouette! So far, I'm keeping up with that goal!   

The Silhouette has first was very overwhelming!  So many projects, so many features, I had no idea what I wanted to do first!!! I have a Cricut, but it's the older version were you need the cartridges.  The Silhouette had so many more options - I had font choices, I could cut fabric, vinyl, paper, cardstock you name it this machine could probably cut it!  Plus, the endless list of cute projects I had pinned on pinterest!  I was a like a kid in a candy store!!!  I didn't know what I wanted to make first!!  So that is why I made it a personal goal this year to do at least one new project ta month on my silhouette!

I found this pack of 4 tumbler cups at Sams Club, so I snagged up a box.  When I first saw the cups,  I knew I exactly what I wanted to do with them!  I don't know about you, but I love monograms!  If it's monogrammed you can probably bet I will buy it!  

So for this project you will need a silhouette cameo or circut explore to cut the vinyl. 

The tumblers  are super easy to make and make awesome gifts!  You can even fill the cups with treats or gift cards!

So, I started off with these tumblers from Sam's Club
Because, I have a silhouette cameo I'm going to share the screen shots from my silhouette design software.  

There are so many great videos on youtube, but this is one I watched as a tutorial on cutting vinyl monograms.
Monogram Tumblers {The Preppy Strawberry}




I played around with a few fonts, but I think my favorite font for circle monograms is IMPACT.  
Monogram Tumblers {The Preppy Strawberry}
  
This project took me about 15 min per tumbler!!  At first, the thought of doing a vinyl project seemed so intimidating but I now love working with the vinyl!!  


Monogram Tumblers {The Preppy Strawberry}


Monogram Tumblers {The Preppy Strawberry}

Monday, March 16, 2015

3 Kitchen Tools for Healthy Eating


**This post contains affiliate  links**


Amazon is like Target to me - I mean who doesn't love Amazon?  We've been Amazon Prime Customers for a year now and we love it!  If you follow me on Instagram you have already seen my recent post about my pineapple slicer!  I love it!!

Another great thing about Amazon is the wishlists!  We all have a wish list created and my 8-year-old knows how to add to her list and shop around.  This will come in handy when I need some gift ideas for both her and my husband.

As part of my goals for 2015 was to make healthier choices.  I've started adopting a new lifestyle of eating and food choices.  I'm trying myself to move to the clean eating and removing processed food from my diet for several reasons 1. It's just a healthier choice  2.) I have a thyroid disease and well I know a lot of the processed stuff just keeps fueling my issues so I'm moving to clean eating choices and trying to move to gluten free. It's hard, but I'm not calling it a diet but a lifestyle change.

So with that said I've been on a HUGE veggie and fruit kick!  Let me just say these handy kitchen gadgets are amazing!  So I'm sharing them with you because they are that amazing!

Strawberry Huller



Where has this gadget been all my life!  I love pineapple, but I hate cutting it!  One because I feel like I do not know how to cut it the right way and I waste so much good pineapple.  Well, this handy tool you just slice the top off and place over the core and twist away!  The pineapple comes out in a spiral with no core and very little waste!  If you like Pineapple you need this in your life.




Vegeeti -
So I've removed Pasta from my diet and now I make veggie noodles.  This was one purchase I made one night late on Amazon and then was like Why did you buy that?  So it arrives and my husband makes fun of me you know because "as seen on Tv" of course was on the packaging.  I love it!  I do not miss regular pasta, in fact, this is so much better!  So if you are looking to cut down on processed foods or cutting back on carbs but still want pasta - you need this gadget!






This post contained affiliate links 

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Project Life School Memories {Part 1}

**This post contains affiliate links **
PS 1

So what do you do with all of those stacks of school papers or school valentines each year?  Do you save them?  Or Do you toss them every time they come home?   I am known for saving the papers but not everything!!  I do weed out papers as they come home because if I didn’t you would really find me on the show hoarders! It Amazes me how much paper comes home from school each week! 

I’m not sure where I first heard about Project Life it might have been on Instagram  but I immediately fell in love with it!  I mean it took the hassle out of scrapbooking and it came with really cute Project Life kits!  I just love all the cute Project Life journaling cards! (another weakness and another aisle I must avoid when at the craft store!)  My love for scrapbooking and journaling goes all the way back to my high school days.  I still have the scrapbooks I made and I just recently came across a journal book that I kept in high school.   It’s so funny to read what we were doing on the weekends when I was in High School.  I will randomly snapshot pages and send to my friends and we laugh and sometimes we have no idea what it was about!  So When my daughter started school I knew I wanted to document her school days – especially the elementary school years!  I’m going to post this in Parts about how I am documenting Lilly’s elementary school days.  One great part of this project is that Lilly is helping me with this whole project! 

Part 1 – Class Valentines Day Cards
we are using the 12 X12 Project life Album, Project Life plastic pages, and the Tab dividers for each grade level.  We are using an album like this one this from Becky Higgins Kiwi Edition Designer Album

We are using the pocket pages by Becky Higgins Project Life  - I bought this variety pack to use
Becky Higgins Photo Pocket Pages - Big Variety Pack 1 (60 Pages)



PL2
After, I decide to use Project Life to document her Elementary School Days I decided why not include all of the cute Valentines!  I mean why not – I already had saved K-2 Valentine cards.  I just couldn't bring myself to throw them out!  They are really cute and I think they will be something fun to look back on as she gets older.

So all we are doing is sliding the cards into the slots in the Project Life plastic sheets.  Sometimes, we have to cut the cards or fold the cards to get them to fit or we trim them down to fit inside. 

PL3

We also include each year one of the Valentine’s Day cards that she passed out to her friends.  Pretty simple process and Project Life supplies make it so easy!  Each page, I have her write something about her class party and sign the card.  I love watching how her handwriting changes and something I want to make sure I save for her to see as she gets older. 
PL4

Part 2:   I will be sharing how I am documenting and saving the class work that comes home!

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt ~ 21 Day fix


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Ok, so I like cookies, cake, candy , – I have a huge sweet tooth!  So in effort to make some healthy changes and choices this year I’ve started following the 21 day fix by Beach Body program.  If you are interested in more information message me and I will be happy to fill you in on the program! 
So instead of grabbing the cookies, the candy, the cake when I want something sweet I’m trying to have healthy choices on hand.  This one of my new favorite snacks and I’m counting it as 1 RED and 1/2 Purple container.  It tastes just like a frozen yogurt and helps satisfy that craving for something sweet!

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Print Recipe
Ingredients using 21 Day fix Containers
2 Red Containers of Plain Greek Yogurt
1 Purple Container of Frozen Strawberries
juice of 1/2  lemon
1 tsp honey

Ingredients using measuring cups
3/4 plain Greek Yogurt
1 1/2 cup frozen yogurts
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1 tsp honey
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Combine all ingredients in blender and and blend until smooth.  

Enjoy!


Thursday, February 26, 2015

Easy Crock pot Lasagna


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This crock pot lasagna recipe is so simple and easy to put together it will be one you will make again!  Ok, so in my house sometimes for dinner we all eat something different but there is only 3 of us so I guess I’m Ok with that even though I swore I would never be a cafeteria!  Part of the reason is my daughter is super picky and well even though she LOVES pasta she will not eat lasagna!  Then there is me, I’ve cut out pasta out of my diet and I’m learning how to clean eat and well this is a challenge in itself!  But my Husband loves lasagna and I’m always looking for easy dinners to have ready for him!  Plus, this also perfect for his lunches during the week!   I was a little hesitant as I put this together in the crock pot how this was going to turn out well I  can tell you it’s fantastic!!  It tastes just like you baked it in the oven!! 
Print Recipe
  • 1 lb Italian sausage
  • 2 jars (each 24 oz.) spaghetti sauce
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 lb. whole-milk ricotta cheese
  • 2 Tbs. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (optional)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 18 ruffle-edged lasagna noodles (not no-boil noodles)
  • 1 1/2 lb. mozzarella cheese, grated
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Brown sausage breaking up any large chunks, until the meat is browned,  about 10 to 12 minutes. Add the spaghetti sauce and water and bring to a simmer.
In another bowl, stir together the ricotta, parsley, salt and pepper. Set aside.
Spray inside of crock pot with cooking spray.  Spread a thin layer of the sauce on the bottom of the slow-cooker. Cover the sauce with a single layer of uncooked lasagna noodles (about 3), breaking the noodles as needed to fit. Spread about 1/3 cup of the ricotta mixture over the noodles. Top with about 2 cups of the sauce, then sprinkle with about 1 cup of the mozzarella and 1/4 cup of the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Repeat the layers 4 more times.
I found this recipe over at Skip to my Lou but I used homemade sauce instead of prepared jar sauce. 
Easy Crock Pot Lasagna {The Preppy Strawberry}
 
Cover and cook on low according to the manufacturer’s instructions until the noodles are tender and cooked through, about 4 hours.
 
Easy Crock Pot Lasagna {The Preppy Strawberry}



Easy Crock Pot Lasagna {The Preppy Strawberry}
Turns out just like you baked it in the oven!  The cheese even gets brown on top – Yum! 
What are your favorite crock pot recipes? 








Tuesday, February 17, 2015

We love laceez!

complimentary laceez were sent to me for review by mylaceez
Elastic No Tie Laces for kids ….. Sounds pretty awesome right? 
These laces are amazing see below for more info about where you can get Laceez for your kids shoes!! 
Laceez Review {The Preppy Strawberry} 
You heard me right  NO TIE ELASTIC SHOE LACES for kids!  I know,  I had you at no tie kids shoes right?  Well let me introduce you to laceez an elastic no tie shoe lace for kids.  Your kids might be able to tie there own shoes but I’m sure we’ve all had that one pair of kids shoes that you feel like you are constantly tying!  Every pair of Nike tennis shoes we buy  Lilly the laces never stay tied!  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stood in an aisle at the Grocery store or Target while we tied those shoes!!   It’s so Frustrating  and feels like I’m waiting 10 min just to tie shoes!  Well Laceez has solved that problem for us!  

Laceez Review {The Preppy Strawberry}

Laceez Review {The Preppy Strawberry}
Last week, Jason from Laceez contacted me about trying out some laceez for my daughters shoes.   Of course I said Yes!  We were so excited to try the laceez out that Lilly was keeping a close eye out for that package to arrive!  When it did arrive she had it ripped open in seconds and was holding a package laceez and was ready to switch out those Nike shoes laces.  Sorry, Nike we love your shoes but your laces never stay tied and have now been replaced with Laceez! 
Sorry,  the Nike Running shoes are a little beat up and not as pretty to picture as her sequin shoes but just to show you how I used laceez in her Nikes.  The only problem I had was Nike has these little loops instead of an actual eyelet so we tried lacing the laceez through the loop both times and it didn’t work very well ?!  So  I ending up skipping one of the loops and the laceez worked perfect! 

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photo 1 (5) REV



The laceez come in these cute little boxes and retail for 7.99.  These laceez would make a perfect gift or package topper, a great way to fill Christmas stockings, and well lets just say the Easter Bunny might be bring a couple pair of Laceez in her Easter basket.   Visit Laceez to check out all the colors and sizes available! 
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Look how cute this packaging is? 

Laceez Review {The Preppy Strawberry}

  Laceez Review {The Preppy Strawberry}
Here’s why we love Laceez!  
1.)  you can make any tie shoe into a slip on shoe
2)  they stay tied and snug on her foot
3)  safety- no more running with laces untied
4)  saves time – because now she can just slip on her shoes!

A little bit about Laceez
We started Laceez in 2013 to be a classic solution to a common problem: Make every shoe a slip-on, and look much better on your feet at the same time. We put together some prototypes, sought out some of the highest quality (and custom) elastic we could find, and began testing. Once we saw that it really worked, it was all in.
Everyone always wants the quick and easy slide on of a shoe but its just not practical to get that in every shoe that you buy. Nor can you get rid of those pesky laces always flapping around over your shoe.
Shoelaces come untied… Laceez do not. Shoe laces can often be an unsightly nuisance when the laces are dangling around all the time…Laceez give the appearance of a sleek, laced shoe.
Shoelaces can be inconvenient for kids and elderly, or people who just like slipping on their shoes and going…. Laceez no-tie shoelaces provide that slip-on convenience.
We hope you love our product and buy them with every new pair of shoes you buy. Our goal is to keep you and your kids happy and comfortable.

Monday, February 16, 2015

Soft Sugar Cookie Recipe

 
Sugar Cookie Recipe {The Preppy Strawberry}
 
Sugar Cookies are a favorite in my house so today I'm sharing with you my favorite sugar cookie recipe.   I’m not sure who originally passed along this recipe to me but it’s one that I’ve been making for years! 
The dough is perfect and so easy to work with especially when you are making cut out cookies!  
 
Sugar Cookie Recipe {The Preppy Strawberry}
 
PRINT RECIPE – Click here
 
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
3 tsp. vanilla
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
5 1/2 cups flour
In mixer, cream butter and sugar, and then add eggs and vanilla.
Add sour cream. Combine salt, soda, and flour, and add to mixture.
 
Sugar Cookie Recipe {The Preppy Strawberry}
Roll dough out on floured surface to about 1/4 to 1/3 thick and then use a spatula to lift cookies onto greased (I used Pam) cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 7-8 min.  You will want to keep an eye on the cookies the cookies might look like they still need to cook but you do not want the edges to start browning. 
 
Let cookies cool on the cookie sheet for about 5 min and then move to the cooling racks. 
Cool cookies then frost
 
Sugar Cookie Recipe {The Preppy Strawberry}
Basic Butter cream frosting
1/2 cup butter softened
4 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract or almond
1/4 cup milk
With a mixer cream butter. Beat in sugar and vanilla  Gradually add milk until frosting reaches desired consistency. Add desired food coloring.
 
 
Sugar Cookie Recipe {The Preppy Strawberry}