#23 Lollipop Pumpkin

Every year at work, the week before Halloween, we have our "Magic Pumpkin" week. During the week, each classroom incorporates different pumpkin and halloween related activities into their lesson plans. Then towards the middle to end of the week, the children plant a magic pumpkin seed in the morning and after nap their pumpkins have grown.

We had some left over lollipops from a recent marketing event and I came across this cute idea. You simply need a pumpkin, a nail and hammer (or in my case at work, a thin screwdriver and the end of a socket wrench.) Now, my one fail to this project was when I started the first row, I put the holes really close together.

Once you have the holes appropriately spaced, then add the lollipops and put it out for display and for the children to take.

http://www.simplydesigning.net/2011/10/lollipop-pumpkin.html



#22 Amazing Indoor Recess - Adventure to Fitness

This might be my favorite pinterest find to date! I work at a child care center where the typical child is with us for 10+ hours. After a few rainy days in which they cannot get outside, everyone starts to go a little crazy. So you can imagine my appreciation for this site and our gym area that we have accessible to us.

Adventure to Fitness provides 30 minute interactive videos where the children go on an adventure along with the guide. They have to run, walk, climb, jump and slide down along the way.

The one misleading factor when I first pinned this website is that the pinner I had obtained it from stated that it was free. In order to do the complete adventures, you do have to sign up, which does cost money. There are different packages and as you choose a longer time span, you do save more. To start off, I had choosen the 1 month for $9.99.
 

I had originally purchased it for a non-school day with the Elementary students, they weren't having it (although I think some of it had to do with the fact that the speakers weren't working). We then tried it out with our Prekindergarteners and they loved it! (Despite not being able to hear again, that has since been fixed.) I would recommend this to any parent or school during the winter and rainy months.

http://adventuretofitness.com/

#21 Chocolate Covered Strawberry Hearts

Recently, two of my best friends got engaged. Both of them get government holidays off, so their engagement occured on a Monday evening (to throw her off). They did try to come by my apartment later that night to tell me, but I am a grandma when it comes to sleeping during the week and had already been asleep for hours when they swung by around 11:00 pm.

Needless to say, I never woke up to their phone calls and felt bad once I found out and invited them over for dinner the next night. I decided to make these adorable chocolate covered strawberry hearts for dessert.

You will start with washed strawberries and cut them in half (leaving the stems attached). From the original pin, they had put a toothpick through the middle to hold them together. I found that if you lined a cookie sheet with wax or parchment paper and then put a small dab of chocolate down first, there was no need for the toothpicks.  

From there, I drizzled/painted the melted chocolate over the tops and the heart takes shape and stands out! 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/165929567494317300/



#20 Weight Loss - Pinterest Assisted

My second New Year's resolution from 2012 was fitness related. We pretty much all say "My New Years resolution is going to be going to the gym, no fast food, eating healthier..." I felt like at the end of 2012, I had a moment where I was looking at myself from above and thinking "this is not how I want to be living my life or how I want my body to look."

There needed to be a change, but I needed to make the commitment and follow through with it. I needed to not give up when it got rough or when I got discouraged. I needed to call on friends who had gone through the journey as well or were just there to support me when I was feeling discouraged.

For 9 months, I haven't posted too many pictures of myself through this journey, and I am not one that wants to post their weight (or the number of pounds lost). However, for this, I want to be proud and inspire! So here it goes... Since January, I am 43 pounds lighter and 4 pants sizes smaller. I started out at a 17.18 and am down to a 11/12! I still have a bit to go and will never be tiny by any means (I've got my Grandma's genes and am proud of my curves and bigger bones!)

Before:
            

                                                                    After: 

                                         

I feel better, I am more active then I have ever been able to be and am setting even more fitness goals for myself. Just this year I was able to partially run my first 5K and they are so addicting that now I am looking for more to do and can't wait to do another with all of my friends. Pinterest has really assisted with this journey. I have used recipes, running plans and workout ideas from a multitude of pins. Even if pinterest was never created, I am sure that I could have used internet resources to assist, but it is so convienent to have it all in one place!

Some of my favorite pins are C25K, Smoothie recipes, workout music playlists, Weight Watchers recipies, fruits and veggies that prompt calorie burning...

Visit my pinterest pages for additional ideas!

http://www.pinterest.com/acosman85/a-healthier-me/

http://www.pinterest.com/acosman85/ww-recipes/

#19 DIY Distressed Jeans

I had been awaiting the perfect opportunity to give this DIY project a try. Then one day at work, the ole jeans gave away in the thigh region. My first instict was to toss them, then I remembered this! Just give em a little more distressing and then they could become 'weekend jeans'.

Materials Needed:

• Fabric Chalk (or can substitute with a washable marker as I did)
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Exacto Knife
• Sanding Block
• Small Wood Block (or your knee, just use caution when cutting the fabric)

How To:

• Put the jeans on and mark an area above your knee on one leg and the upper leg of the other. 
  
• With the scissors, cut two small parallel lines about 2 inches apart.
  
• Insert wood block into the jeans and under the cut marks. With the sanding block gently fray the edges of the outer cut marks leaving a bar of material in the center.
• With tweezers, loosen and gently pluck-out threads.
• Repeat with second marked area. 
• With the sanding block, feverishly rub both the thigh area and below the knee. This will make the jeans look "lived-in."
  
  
  
  
  
  The finished product is a pair of distressed jeans to rock over the weekend!
  
  
  The original inspiration: http://glow-t.com/2012/04/12/ 
  
  

#18 Bacon Cinnamon Rolls

I don't think I really need a lot of elaboration here...

HELLO, Bacon (well Turkey Bacon in my case - I haven't eaten real bacon since 1993) and Cinnamon Rolls! This made for a great breakfast treat the morning after my parents Annual 4th of July party.

It really is just the simplest of things. Take a can of cinnamon rolls, pop it open. Unroll a cinnamon roll and slap a piece of bacon down the middle. Re-roll the cinnamon roll, place it in a baking dish, repeat until entire can is complete and bake away according to the directions on the cinnamon roll can. Admire the scent oozing from your oven, pull out when complete and drizzle on that delightful glaze.

My one suggestion - the bacon didn't really crisp up as much as I was hoping. You might want to throw it in the microwave for a few minutes (maybe 2-3 for real bacon and 1-2 for turkey bacon) before rolling it in the cinnamon roll.

Admire, drool...

Thank you DIY Cozy Home for this sinful treat http://diycozyhome.com/bacon-cinnamon-rolls-recipe/

#17 Spinach Omelet Brunch Roll

Every year my sister and I make brunch for our mom for Mother's Day. Last year, Mother's Day convienently fell the day after I moved, so I didn't end up contributing anything (except for my sage advice on my sister's cooking - it's not terrible, she is an excellent cook {mainly because she had an excellent teacher - self high five!} she just doubts herself most times.) because she thought I wouldn't have my kitchen all settled from moving.

Fast forward a year, and wouldn't you know - Mother's Day fell the day after me moving again! Well, now she had learned her lesson, that I am a maniac and have my apartment all set up the first day of moving. So I give you the Spinach Omelet Brunch Roll...

Ingredients:
2 cups egg substitute
4 eggs
1/2 tespoon salt
1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
5 turkey bacon strips, diced and cooked, divided
1 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
2 teaspoons canola oil
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided

My adjustments: I used 2 cups + 1 cup (to equal 4 eggs) of egg substitute (aka Egg Beaters). Rather than using frozen spinach, I used fresh and chopped it. 

Directions:
-Line a 15-in x 10-in x 1-in baking pan with parchment paper, coat paper with cooking spray and set aside. We cooked at my mom's and she did not have this size pan, so I ended up making a casserole rather than a roll. In a large bowl, whisk the egg substitute, salt and pepper sauce. Stir in the spinach, onion, Italian seasoning and 1/4 cup bacon.

-Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes or until set. Using a shallower pan, mine took more like 30-45 minutes to set. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, saute mushrooms in oil for 6-8 minutes or until tender. Drain on paper towels, blot to remove excess moisture. Keep warm. I did add the mushrooms directly to the casserole. 

-Turn omelet onto a work surface; peel off parchment paper. Sprinkle omelet with mushrooms and 3/4 cup cheese; roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a short side. Place on a serving platter. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bacon.

This is what it should look like... mine was more casserole or quiche like.

And the pinspiration goes to... http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Spinach-Omelet-Brunch-Roll

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