Trendy TreeHouse

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Shutter Love Winners | Father's Day

We have new Buttons! Visit HERE if you're a winner to grab it!

The | Father's Day | winners this week are....#1 goes to | Les Cadeaux

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Kool-Aid Play dough

While the weather has been pretty nice lately we still get stuck inside sometimes. Some days it's a little too hot and humid to spend all day outside, some days we've gotta wait for the wee one to wake from her nap before any loud play, or outside play. Some days it's raining and we need to get our minds working on something other than "how to beat up your sibling without them crying". Enter play dough. My kids love to play with play dough but they often mix the colors (which bothers me and I don't know why) and they often don't get the lids on tight so everything dries up so quickly. While play dough is not expensive it's even more fun to make your own. I've looked for so many homemade play dough recipes and tried a few but none as easy or as fun as the kool-aid play dough. My friend Rachael sent me the recipe and I can't believe how long I waited to actually make it...we were probably busy playing outside or something...

So here's the easiest (no cooking involved) play-doh recipe you'll ever found that smells INCREDIBLE!!!
Kool-Aid Play dough
2 Cups of flour
1/2 cup of salt
3T cooking oil (I use vegetable)
1 pkg or KoolAid
1 cup of HOT water

Mix flour salt and oil
Add KoolAid to water and stir
Add Water to dry ingredients
knead mixture until it forms a soft dough (add flour if the dough is sticky)

I had to add about a half cup more of flour. It's not sticky anymore but still kinda flimsy and really squishy, I'm wondering if putting it in the fridge will help with that or if I'll need to add more flour tomorrow?
Store in sealed container in fridge for about a week or 2

And since no post is any good without a photo here's a shot of my little Hannah and I at church while the big kids were at Vacation Bible School.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Household Essentials

Got this great list of Household Essentials over at Pine Creek Style...my moms blog.

BASIC KITCHEN ESSENTIALS

Basic Set of dishes, service for 6-8 minimum, (up to 12)
set should include: Dinner plate, bowl &/or salad plate,
Coffee cup with or without saucers
Serving Bowls/Dishes in several sizes
Casserole Dishes with Lids, several sizes
(*Colors should blend nicely with your dishes)
Pitchers for Drinks
Gravy Boats, 1 or 2
Sugar and Creamer containers
Salt and Pepper shakers or mills
Silverware, service for 6, 8 or 12
Serving utensils, to match
such as spoons, forks, serving spatulas
Drinking Glasses 6-12, in two sizes
Wine Glasses, 12-24
(*You may choose to use different sizes, white & red wine glasses)
Various cocktail & beer glasses to suit your needs
BAKING AND ROASTING PANS...
12-15" open roasting pan
9x13 baking pan, 1 or more; metal, glass, stoneware
5x9 bread pan, 2 in metal, glass or stoneware
2 - 8 or 9" round layer cake pans
2 - 8 or 9" square layer cake pans
1- 8 or 9" round cake pan
1 - 8 or 9" square cake pan
1 - 9 or 10" tube pan
Bundt Style pan, 1 02 more
Cookie sheets, 2 or more
8-10" Pie Plates, 2 or more
Muffin/Cupcake Pan, 1 or 2
Springform pan, 1 or 2
2 - Pizza Pans
POTS AND PANS...
1, 2 and 3 quart pans with lids
2 or 3 quart with steamer basket and lid
(*Boiler insert would be great too!)
1 or more, 7-9" fry pan, lid
1 or more, 10-12" fry pan, lid
6 quart dutch oven
Stock pots, heavy gauge with lids, 2 sizes
APPLIANCES...
Coffee Maker
Mixer, Stand and/or Hand
Toaster
Toaster Oven
Crock Pot
Tea Kettle
Electric Skillet/griddle
Waffle Machine
Blender
Food processor/chopper
Grill Press
COOKING AND KITCHEN ESSENTIALS...
Heat resistant Spoons and Rubber Spatulas in various sizes
(*at least 2 of each)
Large Slotted spoon
Large Solid spoon
Cooking Spatulas, solid and slotted
Pizza Cutter
Pie Server
Desert Server
Can and Bottle openers
Ice Pick
Wine openers
Corks for bottles
Cooking Bands
Gravy & Soup Ladles, various sizes
Vegetable peeler
Set of Knives, various sizes
Steak Knife set
Funnels, various sizes
(narrow and wide mouth)
Measuring Spoons & Cups
Liquid & Dry measuring pitchers
Thermometers; cooking, meat, candy
Graters of several sizes; 4 sided & flat
Tongs; for cooking and serving
Baking Timer
Shelf Liner: for cupboards, drawers...
(*also see "Cook with Style" section for more ideas)
Drink containers: 2 or more, various sizes
Long Handled Cooking Forks
Large and Small Strainers
Long Handle Strainer (spoon/dipper style)
Rolling pin
Pastry Blender
Pastry Brush
Cake/Cookie Racks (for cooling)
Potato Masher
Kitchen Shears
Knife Sharpener, Steel or Stone
Cutting Boards, various sizes
Whisks/Whips, various sizes & styles
Various sizes of containers/lids or jars/lids
Trivets for Hot Dishes, several
Pot Holders & Oven Mitts
1 dozen dish clothes
1 dozen dish towels
Dish Strainer: for hand washed items, traditional or cloth pad

PAPER & SUCH...

Aluminum Foil, roll and/or sheets

Plastic wrap

Zip top bags, all sizes

Toilet paper

Facial Tissues

Napkins

Paper Hand Towels

Paper Towels

Wax paper, roll and/or sheets

Paper plates

Paper or Plastic Cups, drinking and bathroom sizes

Plastic silverware

Coffee filters

Paper Coffee Cups with Lids for travel

Trash bags. various sizes

Store leftover grocery bags for later re-use

*save left over party supplies: plates, napkins etc. in an open basket for later use

CLEANING SUPPLIES...

Floor Cleaners

Dish Soap

Hand Soap

Hand Lotion for kitchen and bathrooms

Dishwasher soap, rinse aides and cleaner

Scrub pads

Sponges (*Personally, I don't care for sponges because of bacteria)

Disinfectants: for counters, cleaning etc.

Room Air Fresheners and Disinfectants

Window cleaners

Woolite (*see my section on "windows")

Laundry Soaps

Fabric Softeners

Downey Spray ( I use this to Iron clothes & linens)

Bleach: regular and color safe

Spot Removers, rug and laundry

Furniture polish & wax
Leather cleaner
Scotch Guard ( or simular)
Fabric Freshener, antibacterial

Hope this was a helpful list! I loved reading it. This could be a very helpful list of supplies for newlyweds and new home owners.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

The Teacher Wife | Blog Review

I have a great blog for you to visit. The Teacher Wife is a great resource for parents and teachers. Lindsey over at "the teacher wife" is a newlywed and a new teacher. She completed her first year with a great group of first graders and is hoping to move into the second grade right along with them. How fun, to have the same group of kids two years in a row! I myself will have a first grader, come August, so I am excited that Lindsay contacted me for a review. I look forward to reading through all her current and future posts. Lindsey's hope is that we can generate some support amongst teachers and parents. I think that is a great idea! Many of our teacher find their projects and additional fun lessons online. It would be great to connect them all on blogs. Don't you?!? I also think it could be a way for parents to connect with teachers, whether they homeschool or just want more activities to do with their kids after school. I especially like that I can find things for them to do during summer months too!

Here is what you can find on Lindsey's blog. For Purchase and Freebies too!
| PHONICS LESSONS |

| LANGUAGE ARTS LESSONS |

| MATH LESSONS |

| LIST OF FREEBIES |
Find a bunch of cool Freebies! Like...a Noun Booklet, Friendship Mini Book, 100 Book Challenge, Make your own Clock worksheet and more!

Visit Lindsey's Shop HERE! Where you can purchase lessons and also download freebies!

Read more about Lindsey HERE!