Showing posts with label random. Show all posts
Showing posts with label random. Show all posts

Thursday, May 24, 2012

"Oh, the Places You'll Go!" Idea

I have seen this book given so often as a Graduation Gift many times. I heard about an even better idea though, and thought I would pass it along. Starting in preschool and every year on up, give this book to your child's teacher at the end of the school year. Have the teacher write a little note to your child. Then when your child graduates, give it as a gift. It will be so fun to see all the little notes. Luckily my kids have had the same teachers (and are still young enough that it won't take long to catch up). I am so excited about this (and am already loving reading what the kids teachers have wrote for them)! Hope you love this idea too!





Friday, May 11, 2012

Grad "U" ation!

I am taking a moment to brag about my awesome husband! He just graduated last week from the University of Utah. We are so proud of him!! He has been going to school since we have been married...so we are excited to have him home!

We had a little get together with some friends and I made a few little graduation treats. So whether you have a college graduate, high school, or even Kindergarten...these are fun little treats! The best part, is the kids have fun making these. Just have them unwrap the candy...and you assemble!


Ingredients:
Skewers/sucker sticks/whatever you have on hand
Peanut Butter cups
Ghiradelli chocolate
licorice
M&M's (or any other candy)
Frosting

Layer with peanut butter cup, then chocolate square. Each with go perfectly through the skewer. Then use a little frosting on the M&M and licorice. Let set before serving.


Ingredients:
Ding Dongs
Chocolate Graham Crackers
Chocolate frosting
Licorice

Spread a layer of frosting on the ding dong. Top with a graham cracker. Then use a little more frosting and top with a little piece of licorice (or any type of candy).


Wednesday, January 18, 2012

She is Here

Please welcome...
****
Brinleyanne
1/13/12
7 lbs 9 oz
****
and absolutely beautiful!


My dearest friend Julie, did a birth story for us. Check out her work 
at Julieburtonphotography.com She did an amazing job, and it makes me cry 
every time I look at these pictures. Everyone should have this done for 
at least one of their births. 



Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Drive In Movie Party

I hope you all had a nice Christmas break! We sure did! It was so nice having Brooks home from work (due to his ACL surgery) for almost 3 weeks...plus the kids were home for just over 2. I don't know what I am going to do with myself today in a quiet house! I guess I only have a few short weeks until this baby arrives, so there is plenty to do.
Both of my boys have their birthdays right after Christmas. I don't want them to ever feel like they get left out, so we have let them have a party every year. This year, my oldest wanted a car themed party. I found a fun idea on Pinterest, so I thought I would share.
We purchased some boxes at Walmart for the kids to decorate. We had paint, markers, crayons, paper, paper plates for wheels and the steering wheel, etc for the kids to decorate their cars.

Then we had a concession stand. You can do it easy like we did and let them have whatever treat they want...or you can give the kids each a few tickets to "pay" for their treats.
 Then each kid got nice and cozy in their car and settled in to watch "Cars 2." It was the perfect birthday party. Plus pretty darn simple to!



Friday, December 23, 2011

Merry Christmas!

From our Family to Yours!
Hope you all have a great weekend!




Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Thanksgiving Ideas

We have a few family favorites that are a must at our Thanksgiving table. I thought it would be fun to share a few with you all...maybe they will become a family favorite for you as well!















When going through our favorites...I noticed many recipes are missing! So hopefully in the upcoming weeks we will add a few more!



Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Sour Cream Enchiladas

We have just spent 9 days in Southern California. We had such an amazing time with family...enjoying, Disney, Sea World, many beaches, food, and sunshine! Our last fun vacation before the baby arrives. The bad part of returning from vacation, is the vacation "hangover" you get. I am never ready to leave vacation...and most definitely never ready to resume normal life-laundry, groceries, etc. 
Before we left, I found this recipe on Pinterest. Oh. My. Goodness. These are my new favorite enchiladas. Not only were they so easy, but so good. These would be easy to freeze if you are looking for a freezer meal. Also, another way to save time would be to use a rotisserie chicken, or to use shredded chicken that you have already made. (Remember my tip: take about 8-10 chicken breasts, 2 cans of chicken broth and 1 tablespoon Montreal steak seasoning and cook on low. Shred and freeze in zip lock bags for later use).

Source: Food.com
Ingredients:

4 chicken breasts, shredded
1 onion, chopped
1 1/2 Monterey jack cheese, or Mexican blend
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1 can chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
1 can chopped green chilies
Tortillas

Combine chicken and onion. Divide chicken evenly over tortillas. Add about 1-2 tablespoons of cheese on each tortilla. Roll enchiladas and place seam side down in 9x13 baking dish.
In sauce pan, melt butter. Add flour to make roux. Whisk in check broth and bring to boil. Remove from heat and add sour cream and chilies. Pour over enchiladas. Top with remaining cheese and bake at 400 for 20 minutes.


Friday, September 23, 2011

Secret...

All right my friends...I have been keeping a secret for a long time! I am pregnant! Hence the lack of posts...because pretty much all Summer I was sick. And I didn't cook. And my family ate whatever was in the fridge. Or whatever the pizza man delivered, or Cafe Rio, or Chick-Fila made for us. I was absolutely not in the mood for food...AT ALL. But at 22 weeks...life is much better. I am actually enjoying to cook again. And food tastes good. Well not all food. But I sure do enjoy chocolate chip cookies...or anything with pumpkin:)
A few months ago, when on Baby Center, I read about a fun new trend...a Gender Reveal Party. I knew since this is our last baby, I wanted to do something fun...and this was the perfect idea. Brooks was on board...but he wanted to still find out what we were having. So when we were at the ultrasound, I turned my head when they checked if I was having a boy or girl. Brooks watched. The nice tech put the ultrasound picture where she wrote the gender in an envelope and sealed it up. Let me tell you....it was so FRUSTRATING having Brooks know for just over a day. I hated not knowing. But what is a little more than 24 hours when I had been waiting all these weeks already? I planned a fun night with family and friends. Brooks ordered some cupcakes from a local bakery. In the middle it had a little bit of frosting, pink or blue, so when we bit into the cupcake it would reveal the gender.  I made some pink and blue decorations, as well as chocolate and caramel pretzels with pink or blue white chocolate, and we had pink and blue cookies...as well as the adults got to vote if the baby was a boy or girl. Then it was time for the reveal...but I guess I didn't bite far enough into the cupcake because it was still white. We all had a good laugh about it. After another bite...we found out we are having a girl!!

 Here are a few of the details...




We are so excited about our new addition...and can't wait for her arrival in January.



Monday, August 15, 2011

Stuff...and Headchefs Winner

I have been the absolute worst blogger....
Summer is hard to get online...
I love spending time with my kids...
playing outside...seeing and doing everything there is to do in Utah...
and soaking up every minute of the sun, and enjoying my 3 young kiddos...
We headed out of town last week...
and for once, I didn't even think about blogging...
and it was nice...
I love you all...
and promise in a few weeks...
when school starts...
I will be a better blogger...

Congrats to...
#17 Alli 
You are the winner of the Headchefs GC. Email me at cucinafamiglia@gmail.com by Friday to claim your prize.




Thursday, May 5, 2011

New Winners...and Teacher Appreciation

It is Teacher Appreciation Week...and if you haven't done anything for your child's teacher yet...check out this Subway Art. It is SOOOO cute. Just print it at Costco or Sam's today and you will have the perfect gift to give to the teacher tomorrow...or even give it as an end of school gift.
PS...if your child is in my kids school class...DON'T DO THIS:) I already have one made!


And the previous winners didn't claim their prizes...so here are the new winners.

Vintage Rose Wraps
#10 kluckingbear

Pink Princess 
#3 Rachel.H.


Congrats! Email me at cucinafamiglia@gmail.com by Sunday to claim your prize.


Sunday, May 1, 2011

Weekend Winners...and Blogoversary!

Happy Weekend!
I forgot that April is our "blogoversary!" Happy 2 years to us! As we have said before...we started this blog because a few friends were always asking us to share the recipes that we were making for dinner each night. It was private for 3 or 4 months. I had a hard time when people in the neighborhood started finding out we had a cooking blog. I don't know why...it is nothing to be embarrassed about...We eventually opened our blog up to the public, and it has grown from there...we have loved being in the paper, tv, and teaching cooking classes. We have met (and virtually met) so many wonderful people. We want to say THANK YOU to the followers from the beginning...and all you newbies as well! We appreciate each and every one of you. So often we get overwhelmed by this...but I received the sweetest email from a reader last week...and she made me realize it is all worth it.  I wish I could do something for all of you! But...if you are interested...I have an etsy shop, "The Ciao Bella Boutique." I hope you find something you like. And this week only, I will give you all 20% off by using the code "anniversary"just to say thanks. So head over to my shop and check it out...and buy something:) And be sure to let your friends know about our blog...and my shop!

On to the winners....

The Vintage Rose Wraps winner is...
#153 Terri

The Pink Princess winner is...
#48 Kristyn Grace


Congrats! Email me at cucinafamiglia@gmail.com by Wednesday to claim your prize.


Thursday, April 14, 2011

Gift Sling Winner...and Hawaii

Sorry guys...I dropped the ball. I had everything scheduled to post while I was on vacation, and never got a chance to post a winner from the Gift Sling Giveaway.
The winner is

#24 Bobbie Mackey

Congrats! Email me at cucinafamiglia@gmail.com by Sunday to claim your prize.

For the past week...I left the kids...left Brooks and went to Hawaii with my parents and my sister because my "little" brother was graduating from college. We spent the week hiking, swimming, snorkeling, eating, laughing and having fun! I can't wait to take Brooks and the kids back. It was such a fun trip!




 







PS...anyone know who this is? Everyone was taking pictures of him...and we thought we thought it was Jerry Rice (because apparently he lives by Wimea)...but Brooks said no. 
Aloha!



Thursday, January 6, 2011

Top 10 Posts of 2010


My friend Carrian, from Sweet Basil taught me how to post the top 10 posts from the year. I was pretty excited and a little surprised at the top posts! We had 8 recipes, and 2 giveaways that made it to the top! So here you go!

#10 
Ms. Ladybug Review and Giveaway

#9
Eclair Cake



#8
Aunt Peg's Jewelry & Handmade Treasures: Sponsor, Review and Giveaway
Heart of my Heart Pendant


#7
Dutch Oven S'more Cake



#6
White Bread



#5
Donut Muffin


#4
Breakfast Casserole


#3
Peach Cobbler

#2
Dinner in a Pumpkin


#1
Pumpkin Roll