End of Year Teacher Gifts

I find myself in complete denial

that summer break is

only a few days away!

While I'm looking forward to

not having to set my alarm clock

I'm a bit panicky

about what in the world

I'm going to do

with 7 kids...

AALLLLLL

SUUUMMMERRRR

LOOOOOOONG!

:)

{{Kidding...I'm looking forward to the lazy days of summer}}

So, in order to bid all the teachers

farewell

and wish them a very

HAPPY SUMMER BREAK

I have put together a

fun

simple

sweet
and budget friendly
{less than $10}

little "HAPPY"

for them to enjoy.

After all...they put up with

our {precious} little angels

all year long.

It's the least I can do...

Click HERE for the tutorial and FREE PRINTABLES!

Enjoy!

Blessings to you,

Kim

 

**I'm linking up to Tip Junkie**

Key Lime Coconut Cookies

I had a "hankerin" for cookies, today

and

I needed to do some therapeutic baking.

{It's been a rough week...or so}.

{{Ever have those?}}

So...I had seen some pictures of

Coconut Lime Cookies on Pinterest

and decided they were just what the Dr. ordered.

However {like my cupcakes}

I like my cookies...well...

Quickie!

So, I made my own version

{Quickie Style}

Here's the recipe...

Key Lime Coconut Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

1 pkg. Sugar Cookie Mix

1 stick butter, softened

1 egg

4 Key Limes, juiced and zested {make sure you use KEY Limes...they're the teeny tiny limes}

3 tsp. Key Lime juice { + the juice from the 4 Key Limes...they're teeny tiny!}

1/2 cup frozen coconut, slightly toasted {toast more than 1/2 cup if you want to use it as a garnish}

1/2 cup sugar {to add to the coconut and to roll the cookies in}

2 Tbsp. flour {1 Tbsp. to help thicken dough and the other to help with rolling}

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Pour sugar into shallow bowl or pan {reserve 1 Tbsp. for coconut} and set aside.

Prepare the sugar cookie mix according to package directions.

Add in lime zest, lime juice, and toasted coconut.

This is what your coconut should look like once it's toasted.

It's still white but has a slight "toast" on each flake.

I added about 1 Tbsp. of sugar {while toasting in pan} to sweeten it up a bit.

Mix well until all ingredients are combined and dough is thick.

If your dough seems a bit sticky, you can sprinkle in about 1 Tbsp. of flour to thicken it up a bit.

Roll dough into Golf Ball-size balls

{I like my cookies big...these are about 3 1/2 - 4 inches in diameter}.

Like this...

 {I guess I should have put something next to the dough so you could actually

tell what size it is, huh??}  :D

Roll in sugar, making sure to completely coat the entire ball of dough.

Place on ungreased cookie sheet {at least 3" apart}.

Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

Just before baking, flatten the balls into disks using the bottom of a glass.

Bake at 375 for 12-13 minutes or until the edges are just barely starting to look golden.

Remove from oven and let cool slightly before removing to cookies to a cooling rack.

*If you like, you can add some of the toasted coconut to the top of the cookies as soon as you remove them from the oven.  Press down slightly so the coconut will stick to the cookie.

These cookies definitely made me feel better, today.

I hope they do the same for you

{unless you're feeling so good that you just couldn't possibly feel any better}

In that case...good for you.

Have a cookie!  :)

Blessings to you,

Kim

I've linked up to Tip Junkie...lots of great ideas over there!

Butterflies and Blooms

Spring is in full bloom here in Oklahoma...

And I adore it!!

I've said it before...

and I really mean it...

I adore SPRING!

And we are actually having one this year!

It's glorious

and all you have to do

is open your eyes

take in a deep, slow breath

feel the breeze on your face

and you see and feel

God's presence everywhere!!

The birds singing.
Breezes blowing.

Trees dancing.

Butterflies fluttering.

Flowers blooming.

Our pastor referenced Psalm 148
in which ALL creation is called to
Praise the Lord.
The sun, moon, and stars.
The waters, sea creatures, and all ocean depths.
Lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
Mountains, hills, and trees.
Wild animals, cattle, small creatures, and flying birds.
Young men and maidens.
Old men and children.
Then he said that he imagines
when the wind is blowing, it's saying "Praise the Lord".
When the birds are singing, they are saying, "Praise the Lord".
When waves are crashing, they are saying, "Praise the Lord".

I love this imagery!
I really felt like I had a great appreciation for the
"Little blessings" in every day life...
then I heard that message
and my appreciation deepened even further.

So, when we walked outside yesterday

and saw butterflies swarming and dancing
around our bushes that are in full bloom
I pictured them praising the Lord.

It was such a beautiful sight.
There must have been at least 100 butterflies
swarming around Shelby!

She was trying to catch them but

they were just too quick for her!

 

This is one type of butterfly...

 

Here are two more...

Shelby said "Oh No!" when they kept flying

away from her. :(

She wanted to hold one so badly.

It was precious!!

Just look at those sweet little hands

preparing to grab hold of

a much desired

fluttering butterfly!

And another reason that

I adore spring...

Fresh.Blooming.Flowers!!

This is one of our rose bushes in our backyard.

These roses

make me SO happy!

It just looks like they are smiling

and so happy to

just BE!

Yay God!!

 

I cut some this morning

and made this flower arrangement

for my kitchen.

Praise the Lord!!

I hope this inspires you to

go outside

and enjoy

all of God's creation

Praising the Lord!

:)

 

Blessings to you,
Kim

 

Strawberry Jamboree!

I have arrived!

I feel as though I have conquered

my own little country culinary world!

I have {as long as I can remember}

ALWAYS

wanted to make jam....

luscious, sweet, gooey

STRAWBERRY JAM!

Well...

I did it!

Thanks to my hero {as far as country girl's go}...

The Pioneer Woman

Click HERE for her recipe.

I must say it was much easier than I had expected

and it's DE-LISH!

And I had to have something to go with

my Strawberry Jam

SO...

I made Strawberry Scones.

Um...

YUM!!

I adapted the recipe from Paula Deen {just a bit}

because she's my other hero

and who am I to mess with her recipes???

{but I wanted strawberries IN the scones}

{and I wanted the scones to be a triangle} so...

Here is the recipe...

Strawberry Scones

 INGREDIENTS:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour {+ more for rolling}
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 stick butter , cut into small cubes
3 oz. cream cheese
3/4 to 1 cup chopped strawberries
1/3 cup heavy cream {+ 2 Tbsp for brushing}
Turbinado sugar {Sugar in The Raw}

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. 
Using a pastry blender, cut in butter and cream cheese until the mixture is crumbly. 
Gently fold in strawberries.
 Add the heavy cream, stirring just until the dry ingredients are moistened.
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface.
Roll or pat the dough into a 1 inch thick square.
Cut into 4 equal squares {in 1/2 vertically and then in 1/2 horizontally}.
Then, cut each square across diagonally to make 2 triangles {you will have 8 triangles in all}.
Place each scone on prepared baking sheet.
Brush tops with cream then sprinkle with Turbinado sugar.
{Here's my little baker, Skylar demonstrating that step}...

 

Bake until slightly golden brown, about 18 minutes.

Enjoy with scrumptious Strawberry Jam!

**I incorporated the Strawberry Jam and Strawberry Scones

into a Teacher Gift for all 12 of my kiddo's teachers.
{12 teachers...NOT 12 kiddos}
{We only have 7 kiddos...only}

click HERE or go to my HAPPIES page to see**

Blessings to you,

Kim

Colored Mason Jars

Tinted and Painted Mason Jars

  

Mason Jars are another of my very FAVORITE things!

We use them as drinking glasses, vases, votives, you name it!

They scream {down-home country} to me...which I ADORE!

Well...I've seen various tutorials on tinting Mason Jars so I decided to

give it a go.

It's very EASY

It's very CHEAP {Inexpensive}

and It's very FUN

What more can a girl ask for???

Click HERE for a tutorial.

Blessings to you,

Kim



Snickerdoodle Cuppies

There are very few cookies that I don't like.

But I usually don't have a "weakness" for cookies, per say.

Except Snickerdoodle Cookies.

Fresh from the oven, warm, chewy, Snickerdoodles!!!

Mmmm...just thinking about them makes me want

to bake a batch!

Since I love Snickerdoodles so much

{and so do my kiddos}

I decided they just HAD to be

transformed into cuppies!

And here's the lovely transformation...

Click HERE for the recipe...

WARNING: Don't make these if ...

you're on a diet

you want them to last more than a day

you don't want to share

you don't want company coming around

you don't want to ever bake another batch

you're crazy

{you're crazy if you DON'T make these}!

Enjoy!!

Blessings to you,

Kim



Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas

Have I mentioned that Mexican food is my favorite?

Well, my family knows that...and they definitely don't mind eating

mexican food on a VERY regular basis.

These Enchiladas are simple, (mostly) healthy, budget-friendly,

and a family favorite.

AND De-Lish!

Click HERE for the recipe

My family gets very excited when they see Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas written
 on our Menu Board.
And even more excited when they see them on their plates!
I hope you like them, too!

Enjoy! :)

Blessings to you,
Kim