Getting Ready for Easter

I started getting ready for Easter by decorating the dinning room table.

I always like to put carrots with stems into vases every Easter.

I put each white plate on a straw charger and toped it with an green egg plate. The napkin ring is burlap bunny ears.

I also have some bunny salad plates that i will probably use on Easter Sunday. Hopefully I will remember to take a picture!

Lacrosse Gift Card

I made a gift card for Christian's friend that plays Lacrosse. Once again I wrapped a piece of cardboard, wrapped a few candy bars and taped a gift card in the corner!

I taped some Lacrosse sayings on the candy bars. 

This presentation always makes a big hit! 

I took more pictures of this gift with my phone and about 4 days ago my phone went completely dead- I lost everything, contacts, photos and my lists. I had lists for everything! Target, Trader Joe's, Ralphs, Sprouts, books I wanted to read, blogs I wanted to check out, floral arrangements I wanted to make etc. I was so upset I wanted to cry. But I didn't. I bought a new phone and  I am trying to put the pieces and lists back together. 

Quiche For Brunch, Lunch or Dinner

I make these Quiche into a perfect meal size. They can be re-heated in the microwave and make a perfect meal with a green salad. I often make them when we host a brunch. They would be perfect to serve on Easter Sunday.

Ingredients:

1 box (14 ounce) refrigerated pie crusts, at room temperature

4 eggs

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

3/4 cup milk

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon fresh thyme (chopped)

1 tablespoon fresh oregano (chopped)

2 tablespoons fresh chives (chopped0

8 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled

15-20 grapes tomatoes, chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Gently roll our each pie crust onto a lightly floured surface. Cut six 5-inch circles and press them into a mini pie pan.

 Divide the bacon and tomatoes equally among the six pie crusts.

In a large bowl whisk the eggs,  heavy whipping cream, milk, salt, pepper, parmesan cheese and fresh herbs.

 Pour the egg mixture evenly over the tomato and bacon. Filling each pie crust to almost the very top.

Bake for 22 - 25 minutes until the eggs are completely set.

Let the quiche cool in the pan for at least 5 minutes. The carefully remove each quiche to a serving platter. Serve warm with a green salad.

The leftovers can be warmed up in the microwave for a minute or two.

Confetti Orzo Salad

I often make this fresh and delicious Orzo Salad all spring and summer. Each time I make the salad I throw in a different batch of vegetables.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups uncooked orzo

1/4 cup olives, chopped

1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped

1 red bell pepper,  finely chopped

1 green bell pepper, finely chopped

1 yellow bell pepper, finely chopped

1 tablespoon lemon zest

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

Add the orzo to a pot of boiling water and boil until tender - about 10 minutes. While the orzo is boiling chop all of the vegetables.

I find chopping the vegetables mildly therapeutic. Put the chopped veggies into a large bowl. Whisk the lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, garlic, salt, pepper and olive oil in a small bowl.

Drain the cooked orzo and add it to the bowl with the vegetables. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently stir. This is a light and refreshing salad that is perfect for BBQ's!

Gift For A Cosmic Bowling Party

This is a unique way to bring a gift card to a party. Simply save pieces of cardboard, gift wrap and scrapbook paper. And you will be able to recycle cardboard.

I wrapped the cardboard in a striped wrapping paper and wrapped the candy bars with white wrapping paper.

Then I found some bowling pins pictures off the internet and taped the pins onto scrapbook paper and taped them onto the candy bars.

I just Googled bowling pin coloring pages. Then I decided to turn the gift from a horizontal gift into a vertical gift.

In the bottom corner the gift card is taped down and in the upper corner on yellow paper is a Happy Birthday message.

This is a really creative way to give a gift card! I make these all the time!

Packaging the Little Leprechauns

I packaged the little leprechauns in cellophane bags with some green Easter grass.

Then I stapled a piece of green scrapbook paper over the cellophane bag and put a sticker on the scrapbook paper.

I hand wrote the labels while I was watching TV.

I packaged over 50 of these little leprechauns. I hope the Meals on Wheels recipients like these little leprechauns.

I am Lucky to Have You in My Class

I substitute teach Religion classes 1st through 5th grade. Lately I have been teaching the same 5th grade every week. I no longer need to use the name tags I know everyone's name and the kids in the class are really smart . This week we were going over the Ten Commandments and Monsignor John came into our class. You could have heard a pin drop! He asked the class some questions and no one raised their hand. It was so embarrassing. However, we got through it! And the kids all got a little treat because they are such a great class! Plus, I get it - no one wants to say the wrong answer in front of Monsignor John.

I simply put some Lucky Charm cereal into cellophane bags and found a free pre made tag that I printed out and stapled the tag to top of the bag. I found the tags on teachingblogaddict and she has many freebie tags that you can print out for your classroom.

March Madness Treat

I simply wrapped some Hershey bars in basketball scrapbook paper. In the past I have also wrapped Kit Kat bars and the movie sized boxes of candy.

These are great snacks when watching the basketball game or fun basketball prizes. They are also a wonderful team treat!

Little Leprechauns

I made some little leprechauns for Meals on Wheels. I think they came out really cute! They were surprising simple to make. I saw something similar on Pintrest. But they cut out the belts and buckles out of felt. Since I made over 50 of these little leprechauns I improvised by using ribbon and a gold button sticker.

Supply List:

wooden spools

round wooden bead (i used 1" size)

black paint pen

black paint

brown paint

paint brushes

glue gun and glue sticks

green felt

scissors

green embroidery thread

embroidery needle

thin black ribbon

gold adhesive dots

little white pom pom

Directions:

The first step is to paint the bottom of the spool with black paint. 

The paint lines don't have to perfect because they are covered up with green felt.

Using your hot glue gun adhere the round wooden ball to the spool.

Using a black pen add the face and hairline.

This black paint pen is perfect for drawing the eyes, smile and hairline.

Paint the hair with brown paint. Make a patten with paper for the green felt to go around the spool and a to make a little hat.

While the brown and black paint dries - sew up all of the little cone hats. Cut out the felt to go around the spool and cut the black ribbon to size.

Heat up the glue gun - glue the felt around the spool, glue the black ribbon and add the gold adhesive dot. Then glue the little white pom pom to the top of the hat and glue the hat to the head.

I had a lot of fun making these little leprechauns! They look like St. Patrick's Day Elfs on the Shelf.