Saturday Stumbles

I hope you're hungry today because all of my stumbles are recipes!

Homemade Parmesan Potato Chips

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Fiesta Lime Rice

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Grilled Chicken Salad with Feta, Fresh Corn & Blueberries

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Tortellini Spinach Bake

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Peanut Butter Baked Oatmeal

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Did you find stumble anything other than food?!  I hope it's some exercise tips for my sake!!  Just check out the guidelines then link away!!!

Saturday Stumbles

I hope you enjoy a nice Easter weekend. Here are a few links to enjoy:

Alternative Easter Egg hunts
A few years ago I became the resident Easter egg hunt planner for my nieces and nephews. Knowing that they would get tons of candy, I wanted to do something where candy wasn't involved but just as fun!

Itty Bitty Cinnamon Roll bites
Oh the lovely deliciousness of these cuties are too much!

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Framed Necklace Organizer
A very vintagey cute way to organize my mess of necklaces.

So, it's a short list today, but what have you stumbled? Check out the guidelines, then link up below:

Saturday Stumbles

It's a rainy Friday weekend and I just finished off a Billy Barou from Moe's.  Perfect night, if ya ask me :)

And now I get to share with you all the fun stuff I stumbled this week...and read what you stumbled!

Showcasing kids' artwork
Much cuter alternatives to the ole fridge!

Creative wedding guests books
Amanda has come up with a list of some of the most clever things I've seen!  These are so fun and a great way to commemorate your special day.  If you know someone planning a wedding, you've GOT to show them this post.

Pillows out of placemats

 Ok, this has got to be the easiest craft I've seen that looks the most expensive.  Can you believe how expensive pillows are?  I mean, really, I just can't bring myself to buy them because they're ridiculously expensive.  But these look like ANYTHING I might buy in Target or Crate & Barrell...but so much cheaper!

Magnetic quilting
Ok, this one is interesting and one that I can see in my near future with my niece and nephew. 

...and my token food stumble

Mock Frozen Yogurt

 This looks delicious to me.  My only question is where do you find Grade B maple syrup.  Anyone know?

Now I want to read what you've stumbled!  Read the guidelines then link up below!  Have a great weekend!

Ultimate Blog Party WINNER!

  <---- "What! You too?" Is the part of the quote from this one.

The winner of the $100 Target gift card is Jacqui at Echoing Him.

Congratulations and thank you so much to all of you who participated!!  

Saturday Stumbles

The end of another week.  I've been on spring break this week and it's been great not being on a schedule  (in other words...being a bum!).  The weather has finally warmed up and spring is here!

So my stumbles this week are celebrating spring in some way:

Spring cleaning
Real Simple is great at repurposing items and these are all storage items.

Spring Mason Jar
A lovely addition to any mantle.

 

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A mossy vignette
I just love everything about this and the little bird's nest and eggs will be making an appearance on my mantle!

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Easter countdown

You've probably seen this in christian bookstores, but here's how you can make your own Easter story using Easter eggs.

Alright, let's have it!  What did you stumble this week that we've GOT to read?  If you're new here, check out the guidelines and then link up below.

Top Ten Tuesday

A few tried and true things I've used to occupy my niece and nephew. 

1. Create their own drawing book
Get an ordinary spiral notebook and some foam stickers (can get at any craft store) to decorate the front cover.

2. Nature scavenger hunt
Write about 10 or so nature items (pinecones, rock, flower, clover, leaf, etc) on a piece of paper.  I made a chart on Microsoft words and used pictures.  We walked around the yard and crossed off the items we found.  It was a hit!

3. Measure things
I pulled out a tape measure and showed my nephew (5 years old) how to use it making sure to line up the 0 with the end of the item, then we looked at what number it went to.  He loved measuring all kinds of things.

4. Hide the Heart
On Valentines Day, I made these heart shaped bean bags with them.  Then they hid them and I tried to find them and vice versa.  This was a HUGE hit! 

5. Bath
When all else fails, they love taking baths.  A good way to burn about 20 minutes!

6. Photo session
Just taking pictures (maybe even having them dress up) is always a hit.  I also use this at restaurants waiting on our food arrive.  Or once I used it waiting outside a store for his mom to get finished.

7. Ball & slide
This is so simple but I was surprised at how much they loved it.  We took an ordinary ball.  Kind of like a mid size ball...bigger than a tennis ball, but not as big as a kickball (does that make any sense?!)  Anyways, the goal was to roll it UP the slide and try to get it to stay at the top.  The slide was similar to this one, so it wasn't as hard at it sounds.

 

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8. Baking cookies
I mean this one goes without saying.  I just use the break and bake kind and let the kids put them on the baking sheet.  They think they're "cooking"!  Shhhh....don't tell them otherwise!

I haven't tried these two yet, but they are on the agenda for tomorrow while momma has a hair appointment!
9. Photo puzzle
I'm excited to do this with them!

10. Coke floats
A good ole fashioned coke with ice cream.  I hope they like them!

For more Top Ten Tuesday, check out Oh Amanda

Saturday Stumbles

It's that time of the week again, my Stumblers!  What nuggets of goodness did you stumble this week?  I have to be honest.  I haven't done much.  I'm swamped with life right now.  One of my problems is that I'm a procrastinator, so when I have a major unit project due in a class I'm taking, hostess responsibilities for my cousin's wedding shower and an ever approaching deadline for some curriculum I'm writing, it makes for a pretty hectic week!

Teaching innovation and entrepreneurship
This is not something you would see everyday here on Simply Staci, but I was fascinated!  The article is about teaching kids how to creatively solve problems, but what was captivating to me was the video almost toward the bottom.  It's long.  LONG.  About 50 minutes, but I sat and watched the whole thing!  It's amazing the creativity some people have. 

Game Winning Homerun Turns Tragic
Another video, but this one will revive your hope in the human spirit.  Especially about teenagers.  This one brought me to tears.  And it's only 5 minutes!  Be prepared to be inspired!

Camping-Inspired birthday
I seem to be on a birthday kick, but this one was too precious to pass up!

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So now it's your turn to link up below what you found stumble worthy this week. Check out the guidelines and link away!

Psst! Want to win $100 giftcard Target giftcard?! Check out my Ultimate Blog Party post and contest!

Ultimate Blog Party 2011

Welcome ya'll to the peach state.  You've found your way down to Georgia.  I'm a southern girl, born and raised.  I love, love, love it down here.

This is my 3rd year partying at the Ultimate Blog Party and every year has been a blast!

I'm a single girl who loves her nieces and nephews, Starbucks white chocolate mocchas, shopping, Friends re-runs, getting packages in the mail, my friends, comments on blog posts, my family, flip flops, and the beach.  By day I'm a middle school teacher and by night (or on the weekends!) I run a bloggy carnival, Saturday Stumbles, write curriculum for Core Essentials, a Thirty One gifts consultant, a contributing writer for Cumming Local, and I try to squeeze in time for friends and family.

As part of today's party, I want to introduce you to some of my favorite bloggy frirends, the Sisterchicks! There are 10 of us who each have a word photo included in their post. These words make up a sentence. We will each link you up to the chick who has the next word in the sentence—but keep in mind that I might not have the first word in the sentence!

Once you have the sentence, e-mail it to sisterchickies@gmail.com with “UBP11″ in the subject line. Each person with the correct sentence will be in a drawing to win a $100 Target gift card! The winner will be announced on all of our blogs on April 11 and the winner will be e-mailed. The winner has 48 hours to respond or we’ll pick someone else.

To find the next word, go check out my friend Jill of Diaper Diaries.

Saturday Stumbles

It's been a beautiful week here in the south, but looks like our weekend is going to be wet.  I brought papers home to grade.  Did you ever play school growing up?  If you didn't, then just let me fill you in that grading papers was the best part of it!  Using that red pen and putting little stickers on the papers was every little girl's dream come true.

But let me tell you, now that I *get* to do it all the time... I HATE IT!!!  If I could pay someone to grade all my papers, I would be in heaven!  There's one week until spring break and the students AND I are so ready for it! 

But in the mean time, here's what I stumbled this week:

Discipleship Starts At Home - A great post by my pastor's wife about how she trains her tween daughter to spend quiet time with the Lord.  She celebrates her daughter's baptism as a "spiritual birthday".  If you've got tweens, you've got to check it out!

Mary Poppins Themed birthday party - A friend of mine contacted me about helping her with her daughter's birthday party.  She wanted to do Mary Poppins and shared this site with me.  Such cute ideas and I think it's a perfect idea for a child's birthday party!

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Art Inspired party - Another birthday party idea for the budding artist.  I just love all the details and how the theme is incorporated down to the food labels.  

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Crafting with 2x4's - I love this craft and think it'd be perfect for a grandma with all her grandkids' names. 

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Black Bean & Mango Chicken Salad - And because what's a Simply Staci post without a recipe!  What a great, light lunch dish.

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And while you're at it, why not "like" Simply Staci on facebook.

Alright stumblers, let's hear it!  What did you find stumble worthy this week?  Check out the guidelines and then link up below. 

Saturday Stumbles

So here we meet again.  Another week behind us and another weekend (and beautiful one here in GA!) upon us.  What did you find stumble worthy this week?

I found some great birthday party ideas.  I don't have little ones, but I love a good party...and a themed one at that!

Butterfly Vintage by with joy

photo by with joy 

Through the Woods by From Passys to Parties

photo by From Passys to Parties

Fear Factor by The Nuthouse Five

photo by The Nuthouse Five

What is a parent's role in the education of their child?  Ms. Paradise has some great advice!

...and just because it wouldn't seem right without posting a recipe, this Cookies & Cream Peanut Butter is just waiting for me to eat it up!!

So have at it!  Check out the guidelines and link up below:

Life to the Fullest

Who knew you could love so much about a plate? Well, you're getting ready to find out 10 reasons why I love this 16" Oval Platter from Dayspring

1. It's encouraging
   In the center of the platter, it has the verse "I have come that they might have Life, and have it to the full. JOHN 10:10 NIV".  I have mine sitting out on my counter and it's a constant reminder that God wants my life to matter.  He died so my life could be full!

2. It's a great conversation starter
   The next time you have to take an appetizer or dish to a get together, what a great way to encourage all the guests.  They'll pick up your bacon wrapped jalepeno thingies and slowly unveil this amazing verse.

3. It matches my kitchen
   My kitchen opens up to my living room which is blue.  It matches beautifully!

4. It's educational
   A plate?  Really?!  Yep...it features the word life in 15 languages!  Some of those languages are Afrikaans, Italian, Croatian, Polish, and French.

5. It's dishwasher safe
   Frankly, that's the only way to go.  If I can't put it in the dishwasher, then I don't need it!

6. It comes in another color
   It also comes in red if that's more your taste.

Photo from Dayspring

7. It has matching pieces
   It comes from the Life to the Fullest collection.  There are lots of other pieces that coordinate with it.

Photos by Dayspring

8. It's on SALE!!!
   I mean, that should seal the deal right there!!  It's regularly priced at $26.99, but during the month of March the whole "Life to the Fullest" collection is 30% off when you use the code LIFE30.  That makes the platter only $18.89!  What a great gift for someone...or for yourself!

9. It's a piece of art
   If you didn't want to use it as a serving piece, it would look great hanging on a wall or propped up in book holder.

*****************GIVEAWAY******************

10. IT COULD BE FREE!

   Dayspring has provided me with a $20 coupon code to offer to one of you!  Leave me a comment about what living life to the fullest means to you.  That's it!  Of course, you could spend it on whatever you like :) I will draw the "lucky" winner on St. Patrick's Day!

This post is linked to Oh Amanda's Top Ten Tuesday & Incourage Me

Disclosure: Dayspring provided me with the platter to review and the coupon code to give to a reader. Shipping charges do apply to order.  All opinions are mine.

Saturday Stumbles

Welcome Stumblers! I hope you had a great week full of lots of stumbles. It's been rainy and cold here in Georgia and I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say that we are SO ready for spring!! (and I think some of my stumbles might reveal that!)

38 Kid Crafts and Boredom Busters from Tip Junkie

Sandwich idea from just imagine heaven
I'm always looking for variations to sandwiches because that's what I usually take to work.

Beverage Carrier gift tote from Positively Splendid
What a great (cheap) gift for a baby shower!

Photo by Positively Splendid

So now it's your turn!  Check out the guidelines if you're new or link up below if you're a regular.  Thanks for coming back week after week!  I really enjoy reading all your finds!!

Saturday Stumbles

I've had company come in this weekend from out of town and Saturday Stumbles has slipped my mind!  But I still want to see what you've stumbled this week, so link up below! And if you're new, check the guidelines before you link up.

Hope your weekend is as much fun as mine has been!

My Family

I am so blessed! I truly have the best family ever and I want to share them with you!

At the head of our family is my dad, Tom.

He is the epitome of a good dad. Everything you can think of that a good dad does, he is. Because my dad grew up with animals (he had a pet fox!), we always had animals around whether it be dogs, stray cats that used to climb the screen porch, hamsters, fish and horses. My dad loves jokes. At Christmas, us kids would usually get one big gift that we could all enjoy. He loved to wrap it or present it in a way that threw us all for a loop. One year we got a four wheeler. He wrapped up the helmet and told us it was for us to use on our trampoline. (Can you imagine kids jumping on trampolines with helmets?) We all knew that didn't make sense and we finally put it together and ran outside to see the four wheeler with a bow on it! On other occasions, I've gotten random messages on my phone. One time he called to let me know that the rapper Gucci Mane got arrested. (I've never even heard of Gucci Mane.)

Right beside dad is my mom, Cheryl.

Mom extraordiannaire. She was always an active part of our lives. I look back now that I'm an adult and can't believe all the events, practices, camps, games, festivals, shows, that she drove us to...and I never once heard her complain about it. And one thing I can say is that our house was always clean. Always. We were to make our beds every day. No exceptions. Even Christmas morning couldn't happen until our beds were made and our hair was brushed. She also taught me that to properly clean the kitchen counters, you had to bend down and get eye level with the crumbs. Then and only then could you really tell if you had gotten them all.

Second child born into the family (I was the first!) is my sister, Mandi.

We were your typical sisters who had our fair share of fights and arguments. I remember one time after a fight (don't really remember what it was about!) mom made us hug and apologize and then told us that one day we'd appreciate each other. There was lots of eye rollings going on, but oh how right she was. Mandi is my younger sister, but only in age. She got married first, graduated college first, and had the first grandchild. I look up to her so much. And, just like my mom said would happen, we are good friends now. Out of all my friends, she's the one I'd rather hang out with. One of my favorite things is when she gets laughing, she laughs so hard she squeaks and can't get a word out.

Rounding out us kids are my twin brothers, Matt and Clint.

I always thought it was fun being able to say "I have twin brothers". And it was fun growing up with them. We always had enough kids for games and could easily split into teams. At times they drove me crazy and in fact I believe it was Clint who drove me to say my first curse word. (Yes, I still vividly remember it) Matt is the prankster and always has us laughing at his latest venture. There was the time he tried to sell some old tires out in our front yard and just looped a chain through them and placed it around the fire hydrant in our yard. Mind you, the chain wasn't attached to anything...just laid over the hydrant. Or his most recent endeavor...raising goats. Yep, he's got about 15 goats. Clint, on the other hand, is infectious. His charm, smile and deep laugh are contagious to anyone he comes in contact with. He makes me laugh so much!

Those are the people that I grew up with. Our house was never dull. You could always count on an occasional flood in the basement, game of touch football in the yard, slamming of doors, smell of steak dinners on Saturday nights, hustle of trying to get all 6 of us out the door and on time to church, and a host of other things.

And I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Since then, our family has grown.

My sister's husband Pepper and their two kids, Megan and Evan.

My brother Matt, his wife Tera and their 3 kids, Blake, Brooke, and Bo.

Here's some extended family.  My aunt Jean and cousins Raechel, Hannah and her fiancee Ryan.  Also pictured is my brother Clint's girlfriend, Keri. (Psst...she will probably be more than his girlfriend!)

Then there's my grandparents, Mama-Lou and Ca-Ca.  Yes, those are their legal names.  No?  Don't believe me?  Ok, well, since I was the first grandchild, that's what came out and it has stuck for almost 35 years.

So that's where I come from.

My family.

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.

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and I love them!

This post is linked to Show Us Your Life.

Saturday Stumbles

Welcome to another edition of Saturday Stumbles.  Hopefully you have plans to relax and do something fun this weekend.  I have exciting plans of baking 6 dozen cupcakes and grading 100 lab report papers.  I know...it's really unfair that one person can have so much fun.

Here's what caught my eye this week:

Mysterious Strawberry Thread by Oh Amanda
It really baffles me that she has not written a book yet.  She is a master of words and this post is just beautifully written...about some Strawberry Shortcake dolls.

photo by oh amanda

Oscar Party by Tip Junkie
Tip Junkie scores again with an Oscar party!  Oh, how I would love to host this kind of party if for no other reason than those cute little hot dogs!  And I don't really even care for hot dogs!!!  But those are just too much!

photo by tip junkie

Veggie Rainbow Wraps by Healthy, Happy Life

I take my lunch to work everyday and am always looking for new, creative food ideas.  This has my name all over it!!

photo by healthy, happy life

So now it's your turn!  What did you find stumble worthy this week?  Link up below.