Birthday Bouquet - Teen Essentials

It's birthday time for one of my nieces. She is turning the big ONE-SEVEN! I can't believe it! The hardest thing about having nieces is knowing what to get them for their birthday's! Well this year, I had a marvelous idea! I would take my flower arranging experience and make a girl "teen essentials" birthday bouquet. This will last a lot longer than a flower arrangement would! Besides, what teen girl doesn't love more gum and candy for school, new lip gloss, nail polish, and mascara? I know when I was 17 I would have loved this gift! SCORE! BEST AUNT AWARD RIGHT HERE!

Supplies:

1 Mug

Flower Foam

Thick Bamboo Skewers

Tape

Teen essentials:

Chocolate

Candy

Gum

Mints

Lip Gloss

Chap Stick

Small Compact Mirror

Small Wipes

Nail Polish

Car Air Freshener

Small Lotion

Hot Chocolate Packet

etc.

Step 1: Fill the mug with the flower foam. squeeze it in so it doesn't move

Step 2: Tape each "teen essential" to a skewer.

Step 3: Poke the skewered essentials into the flower foam -mug. Biggest in back - smaller up front.

 Cut skewers at different lengths when needed- if not cut everything will be all one height.

Need more gift ideas?

Click HERE for more Birthday, Wedding, Graduation etc. Gift Ideas!

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20+ Gift Ideas

I've needed a lot of gift ideas lately, so I thought I'd make a quick round up of gifts I've posted to have a quick reference. These gifts range from kids to adults and just about any occasion, Birthday's, Weddings, Graduations, Babies etc.
Happy Gifting! Check it out!

Click on the picture or title below the picture to take you to the post! 

Enjoy!

Reusable Water Bombs!

Personalized Tie Ribbon

Washi Tape Tags

Suspender Clip to Pacifier Clip

Bucket of Sunshine

Airplane Baby Mobile

Place Mat Purse

Back to School Bucket

Jean Pocket Placemats

Soup in a Jar

Wooden Peg Super Heros

Scrap Material Star Teething Toy

Kitchen in a Mitten

Date Jar

Kits Travel Packet Gift

Umbrella Money

New Oven Mittens

Princess Stick Puppets

Birthday Bouquet - teen edition

Money Lamp

Lace Headband

Button Hand Towels

Button Bracelet

Explore Booklet

Chocolate Money Box

Crock Pot & Slow Cooker Recipes

Cluster Picture Frame

Earring and Necklace Holder

Ice Breaker Ball

Ticket Stub Memory Box

Burlap Banner

Bathtime Baby Gift Basket

Money Lamp Gift Idea

Need a fun way to give money? How about a money lamp?

This is a GREAT gift idea for weddings, graduations, birthday's etc. 

Simply tape dollar bills to the outside of a newly purchased lampshade. Use scotch tape - or something that won't rip the money when it's removed. 

SO FUN!

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Simple Stir-Fry

We have stir fry for dinner at least once a week. Seriously it is one of our family's favorites! This is a fast staple I know I can throw together with whatever veggies I have on hand. Some day's it's just 3 ingredients and other days it's up to 7. Using what's already in the fridge makes it different every time, and not the same recipe. Plus it only takes 30 minutes to make! SCORE! Grab your favorite veggies, meat and my DELICIOUS Stir Fry Sauce and get to cooking!

Simple Stir-Fry

Chop and cube whatever meat and veggies you have on hand.

For our family of 4 I used:

2 c. cubed Pork (we've used chicken and beef - all are delicious!)

1/2 Onion - quartered

4 stalks Celery

2 large Carrots (peeled and cut)

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1/2 c. Lightly Salted Peanuts

1 small Tomato - diced

Place the meat, onion, celery and carrots in a large skillet with about 3 T. Olive oil or 2 T. Coconut Oil.

Cook over medium- medium/high heat until meat is cooked through and veggies are softened. 

(*You can cover the skillet with a lid to speed up cooking)

Add the tomato and peanuts last, just to heat through. 

(*If the tomato cooks too long it gets really mushy, and the peanuts burn easily)

Serve the stir fry over rice and pour some Stir-Fry Sauce on top. DELISH!

Stir Fry Sauce:

1/2 c. Sugar

3 T. Soy Sauce

3 T. Apple Cider Vinegar

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1/2 c. Ketchup

In a small sauce pan heat sugar, soy sauce and vinegar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and add the ketchup. Whisk until smooth.  Pour over your favorite stir fry!

What other veggies are good in a Stir-Fry?

Peppers

Zucchini

Peas

Squash

Asparagus

Walnuts-Pecans-Cashews-Almonds

Bamboo Shoots

Water Chestnuts

Pineapple

Etc.

(Whatever you like!)

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Be of Good Cheer.

This is going to be a great Monday!

I saw this quote yesterday and just had to make my own "picture quote" of it! I LOVE IT! Happiness can be measured by the faith you have in the world, the faith you have in the people around you and most importantly, the faith you have in yourself. Be happy with being you! There is no one else like you! Our father in Heaven knows you and your struggles, and He loves you, today, tomorrow and forever! Be of Good Cheer! Your future looks bright when you have faith in God.

Hashbrown Quiche Casserole

Feeding a crowd? I made this for New Year's day when we had company. It was a big hit! Potatoes, ham, eggs, cheese and green onion. I will definitely be making this more for when we have company stay over. Delish!

Hashbrown Quiche Casserole

1 (30 oz) Frozen Shredded Hashbrowns- browned in a large skillet with olive oil, salt and pepper

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8 oz. cubed Ham Bits

1 1/2 c. Cheese

2 T. chopped Greed Onion 

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10 large Eggs

1/2 c. Milk

1 tsp. Salt

Grease a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Place browned hashbrowns inside the greased pan and spread evenly. 

Sprinkle the ham bits, cheese and green onion over the hashbrowns.

In a mixing bowl whip the eggs, milk and salt.

Pour the egg mixture over the whole casserole.

Bake at 375 for 40 minutes or until eggs are done. 

*It's delicious by itself but we like to eat ours with salsa! yumm!

Here are a few more breakfast ideas!

Protein Pancakes

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

Banana Nut Breakfast Bars

Healthier Homemade Granola

Pecan Crusted French Toast

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Jumbo Crock Pot Meatballs

Once upon a time a girl fell in love with a restaurant - the restaurant was called "The Old Spaghetti Factory." She loved it so much she even had her wedding luncheon there! Well one day she decided to order spaghetti and meatballs instead of just spaghetti with meat sauce. When the server came out, to her surprise on her plate was a JUMBO meatball instead of a few small meatballs. She ate the entire plate and fell in love with the idea. From that day on she was determined to make JUMBO meatballs for her family. This is where her story ends and recipe begins!

Jumbo Crock Pot Meatballs

2 lbs. Hamburger

1 T. Italian Seasonings

1 T. Dehydrated Chopped Onions

1 tsp. Salt

8 crushed Saltine Crackers

1 Egg

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1 32 oz. can/jar of favorite Spaghetti Sauce

_____________

1. In a bowl combine all ingredients except the spaghetti sauce. 

2. Grease your crock pot with cooking spray. 

3. Form your hamburger mix into balls. Place the meatballs in your crock pot. 

4. Pour the spaghetti sauce over all. 

Cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 3 hours.

Serve over your favorite pasta. linguini, spaghetti, angel hair pasta etc.

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