Project: Road Trip-Happy Camper Vouchers

On the Road again, I can't wait to get OFF the road again...


I am pretty sure that is how the song was supposed to go, I'm just sayin'.

In light of our current cross-country move, and for the fact that I will be without a computer during said cross-country move, I decided to do another Project Series this week.

The theme this week is Project: Road Trip.

I am going to be sharing little projects that I have done in preparation for our oh-so-long journey across the United States. Since I am most worried about my sanity the comfort of my Little Men, the projects I am sharing are geared towards traveling with children.

Today I am sharing with you Happy Camper Vouchers. I read many different ideas of rewarding kids during a long trip, vouchers were by far my most favorite idea.

I decided to call mine "Happy Camper" vouchers. I designed them using all the free tools from picnik. Here are some of the vouchers I made.

I printed every voucher twice, since I am using this mostly for the older two. Once they were printed out, I cut them out. I put them in two different large mailing envelopes...one for each Little Man.

During the trip they will get to pull out a voucher when they have had prolonged good behavior, or if they do something really out of the ordinary, or show kindness to each other. Depending on what the voucher says, they will get to do one of many things. Either get a new toy, a book, cash, a treat at the gas station, to pick the movie, gum...you get the idea.

Prior to the trip, my boys were really excited about these. They knew some of the things they might get and others were a surprise.

I am excited for them to earn these on our big trip.

I even made a blank one for you guys. Just download it to your computer. Then you can go into picnik and insert your own rewards.

Good luck on any trip you might have before Summer is done.

Happy Trails to you, until we meet again...


Okay so I will be back tomorrow with another Project: Road Trip post.

In a Nutshell: In this Home

As I write this, I am still cozy in our home. Movers haven't come yet and

I can still fool myself into forgetting that in 2 1/2 days will be driving away 

from this our first home. 

Days later as you read this, I will have already shed many emotional tears in saying good bye.

I will have for the last time slept in this home. I will for the last time usher my family

out it's door. I will for the last time lock the door. I will for the last time

sit in the driveway. We will for the last time drive away

from this our first home.

In this Home:

we be became grown-ups with a mortgage

painted, painted, painted 

went from crib to bed

went from bed to bed and crib

went from bed and crib to beds and crib

bought our first lawnmower

used that lawnmower over and over and over

family came to visit

friends came to visit

5 Christmases 

we had parties for birthdays

we had parties for holidays

we had parties just because

we had illness

we had injury

we had health

we had happiness

we started our first garden

there were tears of joy

there were tears of sadness

there were tears of anger

we experienced home repairs

we experienced home remodeling

hubby bought his first arsenal of tools

Oldest started school

Middle  broke his arm

Littlest ruled the roost

I started blogging

Little Men had their first play dates

friends were made

laughter was found

joy was had

a family grew

Thank you first home. I know at times I complained about you. As we get ready to

leave you behind for the next phase in our lives however, I realize what a truly special

place you have been to us. I will miss your rooms and the memories made in each

one. I will miss the blood, sweat, and tears we put into you making you are home.

I will miss you. We will miss you.

Don't Forget to Keep in Touch

One of the hardest things about moving is leaving behind all of your friends. My friends, our family friends, my children's friends...it stinks. I get a mini panic attack at the thought of leaving them.

We have amazing friends and I really, really want to stay in contact with them. We all hope that, right?

In my desire to keep in contact, I had this idea to leave our friends with our new address and a fun reminder to keep in contact.

I really wanted to play on the "an elephant never forgets" thing. So I bought some peanuts, cellophane snack bags, and white card stock.

Next I attempted to make my own elephant graphic...so didn't work. Then I found this sweet elephant graphic from a link to a baby shower on Tip Junkie. You can find the original downloadable images from Alpa Mom here.

Once I found the elephant graphic I added in the phrase I wanted in coordinating colors. I also printed our new address, email address, and the blog address on the other side. I put some peanuts into the bags, folded over the top and then stapled the cards in place.

This project was an easy labor of love. When they were all done, I put them all in a basket. I took that basket to a little get together our friends threw for us to say good-bye. As I hugged and said "thank you" and "good-bye", I gave them these and made ever single person promise to keep in contact.

Soft Pretzel Bites

I love soft pretzels. Always have, always will. My kids love soft pretzels...even He-Who-Shall-Not-Eat-Anything. I have made soft pretzels once before...it went ehh, so-so.

I ran across this recipe in my pinterest-ing. This last Sunday I decided it would be a perfect opportunity to make some. This recipe was easy to follow. As time consuming as homemade pretzels normally are (which is normal to longish).

They were delightfully chewy, buttery, salty, and warm right out of the oven. We just kept popping them in our mouths. One, two, five, ten....um and so on. They boys had them for lunch. Then for an after church snack. Then the next day for breakfast (yep, they are good the next day too).

Just looking at these pictures makes me want to whip out another batch. Sigh. Kitchen being packed up...so no go on that. I will longingly wait until Idaho.

But, hey good news...you can make some as soon as you want.

Soft Pretzel Bites
from In Katrina's Kitchen


Ingredients
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 pkg)
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups warm water
4 cups flour

2 cups water
2 Tablespoons baking soda
3 Tablespoons butter, melted
coarse Kosher salt

In the bowl of a mixer, fitted with dough hook, dissolve yeast, brown sugar and salt in the warm water. Mix in flour until the dough has come together enough to turn out onto a floured surface. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, about 7 minutes. (If you don't have a mixer, you can do all this by hand with a sturdy spoon and then kneading an extra 2-3 minutes) Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise for 1 hour.

After the dough has risen, cut it into 12 pieces. Let the dough rest for five minutes. Roll each piece into a 2 foot rope. Cut each rope into small pieces.

In a large saucepan, bring the 2 cups of water and the baking soda to a simmer over med heat. In batches, place pretzel pieces in the water. Let them cook in the water for about 20 seconds. Take out and lay them on a greased cooking sheet. Repeat until all the pieces are done. Let them rise for another 15 minutes.

Brush them with melted butter and sprinkle them with salt. Bake at 450 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.

ENJOY! I mean I know I always say this, but seriously...if you love soft pretzels...you will L.O.V.E. these.

Change O' Clothes Bag Tutorial

Yesterday I was over at Lemon Tree Creations showing you have to make the Diaper Carryall for the Anti-Diaper Bag. Today I am showing you how to make this practical, yet adorable, little change o' clothes bag.

First before we get started, let me explain quickly what I mean by an anti-diaper bag...I have never been a huge diaper bag carrier. I prefer to have a really large purse and throw everything it it. This probably evolved because when I had my oldest oh-so-long ago the cute diaper bag purse really wasn't in existence. SO I just used my favorite purses. By the time they created this cute diaper bag, I had already gotten used to using my purses so I stuck with it.

A problem does arise from using one's purse. That cute purse of mine is like a black hole. Not just a regular black hole, but the kind that eats exactly what you need the most and when you need it the fastest...in other words a diaper, some wipes or a change of baby clothes.

So that is where this little idea was born. I am kind of miffed that I didn't think it up when I actually needed these helpful items. Oh well, my genius can help the masses now.

Okay, so on to it.

Here is what you need for the Change O' Clothes Bag

2 coordinating fabrics, each measuring 20"x8" (or if in my case the inside was made of two pieces measuring 8" by 10.5".)

wide decorative ribbon, cut into 2- 8" pieces, and 2- 20" pieces

thread

If you are using two pieces for the inside sew them together first with 1/2" seam allowance just at one short end.

Next, take your outside fabric, find the center which will be the bottom of the bag. Measure about 3-4" from the center line on either side. Pin the ribbon to the right side of the fabric in both places.

 Take the inside and outside of your bag, place them right sides together. Pin in place.

Sew on the outside edges, 1/2" seam allowance. This will make a tube like shape. Press seams down.

Turn bag right side out. Press.

Fold the bag in half, using the center line you used to place the ribbon. Fold with the outside fabric facing itself and the inside fabric facing the outside. You will match the sides you already sewed together at the top. Pin the sides.

Start at the bottom of the bag (the folded edge) and sew the sides together using 1/2" seam allowance. Make sure to stop sewing about an inch and a half from the top. This is where you will put in your ties.

Trim off any excess you may have.

Turn bag right side out.

Sew a casing around the top about an inch from the top. Now you have a place to thread your ties through.

To make the ties, take your longer ribbon strips and iron them in half lengthwise.

Then sew each ribbon along the open ends. This will create two long skinnier ties.

You will thread one in at a time using a safety pin as a guide. Start on the left side, work the ribbon through the front of the bag and then continue to weave through the back. Both ends of the first ribbon will be on the same side. Knot the ends. Next repeat going from the right, around the front through the back and both ends of that ribbon will be on the right side. Knot.

This is how each side should look.

The finished top.

Now you have a little bag for an extra change of clothes for your tiniest one. A perfect companion to both your lovely purse and the Diaper Carryall from yesterday.

Say good bye to the black hole inside your purse!