FREE Mrs. Field's Cookies

Sometimes you read or hear something that sounds almost too good to be true...especially in the world of the internet. So you ignore it right? And press delete. Well shame on you if you ignore this!

 About a month ago, Mrs. Field's Blog , was doing an email referral program- where if you referred your friends through email to their site, and they signed up for their emails, you got....free cookies!! Not just any cookies- Mrs. Field's Cookies! And depending on how many of your friends signed up, would determine the amount of cookies you got. Well Saturday, I got my cookies via UPS in this cute silver tin. JOY!! It was real :)

Never mind that there are bites out of a few in the photo- - sometimes I girl needs a bite or two or three of a cookie- like NOW.

So if you missed out- -- Mrs. Field's Secrets Blog is currently giving a way A YEAR OF FREE COOKIES.

I know you are thinking you don't need the calories.

Neither do I.

But then again, have you read my blog? We love cookies- and - these freeze well- not to mention taste really good! Plus, when I got my free cookies, there was a handy dandy calorie chart included. nice.

Another plus,  you can give them to your neighbors, friends, child's teacher- you know what I mean.

And they will think you are fabulous- I mean Mrs. Field's is the best when it comes to cookies right??

So go on over to the blog and enter.

Here is the post about the email referral program-which is how you get your own free cookies.

And now that I have written about cookies, I need to get on the treadmill....because my 24 free cookies are gone..... ;)  oops....

THANKS FOR READING! HAPPY FALL!

Tuscan Bean Soup

It has been a while since I have posted a good recipe. And I have a ton of food photos- but I would rather be eating the food than typing about it I guess. :) And plus how many great food blogs are out there? A zillion.
Nevertheless, I am sharing some of my favorite foodie gems with you! :)
This soup is from my sister in law. I have been making lots of good soup recipes lately. This was a good one.
And it is very easy and quick to make!

Tuscan Bean Soup

1 cup packaged peeled baby carrots, coarsely chopped
1 small onion, chopped
3 TBSP olive oil
2- 15 oz. cans cannelloni beans (white kidney beans) rinsed and drained
1 - 32 oz. box reduced sodium chicken broth (or 2 15 oz. cans)
2-3 tsp. dried Italian Seasoning, crushed (and I added some of my own seasonings- whatever I felt like- oregano, with a few others....that is how I do things...)
1- 5 oz. bag baby spinach
Freshly cracked black pepper
 Croutons (optional)

This recipe calls for a dutch oven that you use on your stove top. However, I just used my big stockpot that I use for soups and boiling pastas.

In 1 tbsp olive oil, stir in carrots and onion. Heat over medium high heat for 3 minutes. Add beans, broth, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, slightly mashing beans. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat remaining oil over medium high heat. Add spinach and toss with tongs for a few minutes, until it is wilted. Remove from heat. Serve soup in a bowl topped with spinach and croutons, and sprinkled with pepper.
Yummy!

Lessons & Confessions from a {former} Marathon Runner

 There is something about me not many people know: I run marathons. O.K. I DID run marathons- about 7 of them. I also ran lots of 5k's, 10k's, and 1/2 marathons. Most of my running happened between the ages of 19-30. Let's just say I'm a lot older than 30 now....so... (Grandma, Dad, and all my other family runners- I know you are even older than that and are still running strong!!-- Yes, I ran with my grandma. You can now pick your jaw up off the ground. She has run  well over 100 marathons and is still going strong. )

Now.... I run 5K's and that is about it.
Today I ran a 5K.  While running I thought a few things like: "I'm going to die." "It is just too hot." "I need water NOW." "I really do not like running." and "Why was I doing this today?" 
I also thought things like "I can do this." "This is good for me." "This is fun."  "Believe you can." 

And when I got to that finish line, I saw the clock.
So I ran faster.
And I beat my last time.
And I felt good.

There are many many lessons I learned from running long distances. And while I currently am not in any shape to run a marathon, I draw on the lessons I learned from those experiences to get me through many things everyday. Like-
*Keep on Going
*One step at a time
*Stay positive
*What you think- you become
*Hydrate
*Wear good shoes
*Prepare
*Work hard
*You can do this
*With God nothing is impossible
*ENDURE to the end
*Keep on keepin' on
*Never give up
*Don't push things too hard or you will get sick!
*Do the best you can do
*Don't compare yourself to others or you will always fall short
*Everyone who tries can be a winner
*Be the best you that you can be
*Try and try again
*The race doesn't go to the swiftest, but to those that keep on trying
*Mental preparedness can change everything
*Eat right- a balanced diet
*fuel your muscles
*Be kind
*Rest
*Have courage
*Stretch
*Don't be too hard on yourself
*Listen to your body!
*Winning isn't everything
*Those who only care about winning--don't get it
*positive thoughts leads to positive actions

And the list could go on and on and on.

 For me running isn't just about exercise and  physical fitness. It is a spiritual experience too.

 As a mother of 3 young boys, I continue to run. Each day I pull from those lessons I learned when running long distance and apply them to my "marathon of motherhood" - the race I am currently running.
Some days I would like a break. I would like to quit running and go to a movie by myself! :)
Or I would like to sit and sew with no interruptions. But that doesn't happen most days. And it is O.K.

Being a marathon runner takes a lot of time and energy and dedication. So does being a mom-it takes even more! And that is the race I have chosen to run right now. And while it may not be perfect, and full of hard moments, I will keep going. I will keep learning. I will endure and at the end I will feel good, and I will do my best and finish strong. In my own way, I will run this marathon of motherhood. ☺

I've got lots of new posts in store...just need a little time to get them all posted :)

Happy Fall! Thanks for reading!

Bean Bags with Numbers + Bean Bag Songs

In the past, I have made several sets of bean bags. I have tried all kinds of stuff inside of them- including the bean bag fill stuff you can buy-which I did not really like btw. It was really messy to work with.  And in the end, I always come back to standard bean bags- with beans, rice, or lentils inside. Which is why I have made several sets- because after a while.... I just throw them out and make a new set. I guess I could unpick them and add new filling inside...but then again- new bean bags with new fabrics- is just more fun.  And they tend to get dirty and old after a ton of use. :) plus, what is a preschool without a set of number beanbags??

 And here is another bean bag photo.....because....I just like pretty fabrics and I really like pretty photos with pretty fabrics! Which is why the list of blogs I  love is like -several 100-maybe even 1000! Seriously people, you guys are all just too clever and too cute! I saw some bean bags out there in the cutie-patootie- blogland- with numbers- and I know I saw it several times...so I finally made some last night. I am in a hurry sometimes- so I just made my numbers -free-handed them. If you want better looking numbers, I suggest making a template. :) I used my favorite Wonder Under to attach the numbers- cut from felt- and simply sewed up the sides-straight stitched plus a zig-zag stitch. I left an opening for filling them up, and then sewed the hole closed.

And since I have been on the hunt for good bean bag songs on CD- here are a few CD's that I love and have some cute ones!

A whole CD with coordination bean bag songs

Greg and Steve Kids in Action has a great bean bag song

Bean Bag Alphabet Rag by Hap Palmer

Disneyland Activity Countdown Calendar + { free download}

This fall we are taking our children to Disneyland for the first time. We have wanted to do this for years, and so we are excited that we are finally able to do it. So to add to the fun and excitement....I made a very simple Disney Countdown Calendar.

On the back of each number, I put a simple activity that we can do as a family.
You can download the activities I used by clicking on the link.

To make the calendar, I used the magnetic board that I already had in my kitchen area. I used Disney paint chip cards from Home Depot that we already had. I put a magnet on the back of each one. The magnet that says "Disneyland" is one I picked up at Disneyland years ago. I pulled out my stash of stickers and just randomly put numbers on each Mickey. I also added a few cards with Disney stickers I had on hand.

Most of the activities are very simple, using things I found at the store to eat; things I had around the house- like Disney music, games, books, movies, or puppets; and  things I plan to make- like a Mickey version of "Don't Eat Pete".

I liked the idea of adding an activity to each day- not that we need anymore HYPE about going to Disneyland...or maybe- we do! Regardless, countdown calendars are always fun-especially for my kids. ☺

Here is another super cute one from Crafting Chicks you can print out.

HAPPY FALL!

Another Boy Quilt Done: Traffic Jam Cars Quilt #2

1. Traffic Jam Baby Quilt

2. Transportation Quilt

3. Airplane Quilt

4. Mr. Roboto Quilt

5. Traffic Jam Car Quilt #2 (this post)

Machine quilting is a process- as in a learning process. I just finished another boy's quilt, and it took me about..um...a year at least. ☺ I bought the fabric, cut the quilt out, pieced it, and then did not like it at all! I had used too many busy fabrics. Then last Christmas, I was about to pay someone to machine quilt it for me--and I changed my mind. I decided it would have to wait and I would do it myself...eventually.

SO....now that it is almost Christmas again.... I finally finished it! yay!!!

And once it was finished, it turned out a lot better than I thought it would. So that was nice. :)  And because it was so busy and colorful on the front, I had to tone it down on the back. Here is the back (below) :

The quilt is about 60" by 54" or something like that- I guess I need to measure it. I used the off-set square method- like the Mr. Roboto quilt. I am so so glad it is finished! I want to work on something new!

And since it is September 11th today, I hope we can all remember that day- the people that sacrificed their lives, the many that lost loved ones. It truly was a day when the world stopped turning.I was teaching a class full of second graders that day. I will always remember that time.  God Bless America.

Feature Friday: Blog Swap with Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Well finally... I get to feature Summer from Sumo's Sweet Stuff! I think I have had this scheduled and cancelled before, and she is in high demand when it comes to being featured or swapping! Well- it is no wonder- she has some fabulously sweet stuff on her blog- and I'm not just talking about all the delicious desserts and treats she has....so take a look and see :)

Hello everyone!

I'm so excited to be blog swapping with Sharla today! Isn't she fantastic???

I'm Sumo, from Sumo's Sweet Stuff!

My real name is Summer, but my husband nicknamed me Sumo when we were dating. (Should I be offended?) Now he's got all of my family, as well as lots of our friends, calling me Sumo. I think Aunt Sumo sounds pretty great, don't you? I live in Utah with my husband, and our two beautiful daughters - Reece & Remi!

Growing up, I never used to be all that domestic or crafty, so I think no one is more surprised than my mom at how I've ended up where I am today! I started Sumo's Sweet Stuff last May as a place to keep some of my crafting projects so that my personal blog wasn't overrun with them. Somehow, that developed into a place to host giveaways, share tutorials, share recipes, and feature fellow bloggers' ideas and blogs! I also use my blog to promote my etsy shop, so if you're ever in the market for some baby girl accessories, come on over! Every Monday is Market Yourself Monday, where you can link up your latest projects, and visit other blogs to get some inspiration!

Here's a little peek at some of the things you can find on my blog:

Zipper Flower Tutorial

Easy (and tasty!) Bon Bons

Feather Wreath

Chalkboard Block

Seasonal Wood Board

Three Tiered Shirts

T-Shirt Dress

Fabric/Elastic Headbands

Interchangeable Headbands

Dipped Nutter Butters

You can find something every day of the week at Sumo's Sweet Stuff:

Market Yourself Monday

Tutorial Tuesday

Mouth-Watering Wednesday

Things to Try Thursday

Feature Friday

Showcase Saturday

Sponsor Sunday

I also am involved in a joint blogging venture - Win, Lose or Blog. If you aren't following already, you should get on over there and do so! We have a lot of great sponsors, and not all of the prizes donated are going to the contestants - they are also going to people who comment! Plus it's just nice to cheer for those lovely ladies. We're also starting to do some giveaways, so what's not to love? Season 2 is underway, which means you better get over there and get involved!

Coming up is The Creative Chick Parade September 13th-17th! Go here to find out all of the details and see how you can get involved! I'll be hosting lots of fun giveaways during that week on my blog, so come on over!

Thanks again for having me! I hope to see you all over at Sumo's Sweet Stuff soon!

Doesn't she have some fun things? And all in one place! Everyday you can find something new too! I love the Win Lose or Blog site too! Take a look there also. Thanks Summer! I love what you have to offer to the blog world!

If you would like to be a guest or swap blogs with My Little Gems, please contact me at  little gems crafts (all one word) at gmail dot com.

What I've been up to....

So I have sort of neglected this little blog lately...but I have been busy doing other fun things....like preparing this space for...

Preschool. ☻ After a few years off from teaching, I am back. It is so fun! I love it!  I teach a very small preschool (6 kids) three days a week for 2 1/2 hours a day.

Organizing the room has been fun and maybe you might like to do some of these things for your own playroom or space for your kids.

I had to have a storage area- and I had these white shelves- purchased years ago from Walmart or Target. These shelves have been used in our playroom and in my craft room for years. They fit the fabric bins from Target- I think the ones that are 10 1/2 inches by 10 1/2 inches. They also fit the plastic drawers you see in the picture.

The clocks are are from Target.  I plan to get vinyl or something on the wall to show different time zones on the clocks.

The chalkboard magnet board- easy to make. I have made one that I have in my kitchen, but this one was a gift. I sprayed it with some chalkboard paint. Above that is a pocket chart. I found some of these recently at Target- little ones- but you can also find them at Oriental Trading or a teacher supply store. I used a u-shaped curtain rod to hang this on. I can also use the rod to hang charts, posters, etc. In fact, the pockets with the books were hung in this photo w/ Command Hooks- love those- but it got too heavy, so we used the u-shaped curtain rods again- attached to the wall.

The cubby bench is from IKEA. I actually scored this one in the scratch-n-dent section .  The hooks are also from Ikea- and they are a deal. I have them in almost every room in my house. ☻

The chairs...oh I love the chairs- from CSN stores. You know I love the CSN stores.

The tables are awesome. I looked everywhere for tables. These are from Sam's Club. They were very inexpensive, and the best part is...they are adjustable! They can go up to regular height or down to kid's height.

Wipe board and Cork board- Costco

And you can't see my cute Mary Englebreit alphabet, but it is there too. Super cute- and the two framed posters- you can only see one by the window- are both Mary Englebreit too.

And the other stuff in the photo- framed flag, ABC's, charts, blue wood board w/ clips- mostly stuff we have made over the years.

Well now that you know everywhere I shop......ha ha ha. I realized that the above stores are my good ol' stand-bys for everything---o.k. not nearly everything.

And I also got to run around this beautiful place:

photo from wikipedia

And I really want to do some more of that running thing....and some sewing!! And paper crafts- those sound fun right now too....now to just find some time and get some sleep first!

THANKS FOR READING!

ABC and 123

ABC and 123 has become one of my favorite sites lately! I have finding lots of great ideas for preschool, and for working with my kids on some "skills" at home.
They have featured me before, but they featured my chore chart from a place mat today. There are a ton of super cute chore chart ideas featured-so take a look! (I think kids need several chor charts- since they seem to get bored with one type after a while. :) )   And check out their site, if you haven't already- they have great ideas and links! Thanks ABC and 123!

Simply Utah

I'm a little busy these days- with preschool starting in a few days- and having kids in school now :)
But I had to let you know about a fabulous site!



Have you heard of Simply Utah? Well it is great- you can buy-shop-sell- find ideas and great blogs and enter giveaways. And even if you are not from UTAH- it still may have something for you- lots of great shops to see and ooohhh and aaahhhh over. :) Being that I am a UTAH girl- born and raised-turned ARIZONA girl- I just had to give a shout out for Simply Utah. So go take a look and find something Simply Great from a pretty great state.... :)