Yummy Watermelon Drink

{So Easy}

Hope you are enjoying these last few weeks of summer! 

Ever wonder what to do with the leftover cut up watermelon that gets forgotten about in the fridge? My mom  made this yummy watermelon drink with it & I had to share...

All you do is blend up that soggy watermelon & add a lemon-lime drink!  {See, I told you it was easy.}

Its almost too good to be true...

I have to admit I was skeptical, but my taste buds were very happy after this refreshing drink!   So the next time you cut up that watermelon be sure to blend some up! Yum!

Love,
Emily aka Toad:)

Insto-Jam

{Wowwie}

Want to "wow" your family, impress your neighbors, and feel super cool? 

This is not a joke. Let me help you. Please. 

 Introducing...Instant Pectin--your new best freezer jam making friend!

"But I can't make jam!" you say...

And I say back, "Oh, Yes...YOU can. It's as easy as making jello!"

Here's how...

Grab your instant pectin at the grocery store.  It's usually on the baking isle waiting for you.  You've walked by itso many times and never gave it the time of day.  Those days are over.

Now, just follow the EASY PEEZY directions on the pectin package for your measurements and directions.   Squish, add sugar/pectin, pour into your container.

Low sugar Option: I actually only used 1/2 the sugar it called for and the jam still turned out great!  It also gives a no-sugar option using Spleda that was perfect for my diabetic dad!

{Tipster}

To make a little less of a mess --and less dishes to clean {oh yeah!} I just threw my berries in a zip lock bag.  And yes, you know me...they are Marion Berries!

and had my best berry squisher go for it.

I would not recommend squishing them like this...

Beware.  This is a highly graphic photo.  My heart skips a beat just thinking about the loss of these poor berries as they were kicked off the berry picking truck.

And within a matter of minutes you'll have some of the bestest jam ever! Mmmmmm.

{Old School}

But if you like to boil your berries and seal your jars check this out. 

Since I wanted to take some jam back home I had to make some non-freezer type jam.  My mom was helping me and let me in on a little secret:   Heat your jars and lids and rubber things;).  After you boil your berries you DO NOT have to give them a water bath!    Just flip them over for 10 minutes and then flip them back...they seal themselves!! I'm all about short cuts people.   

Also, I want to send one of you...my fellow bloggers...a jar of my homemade marionberry jam.  So leave me a comment and let me know what your favorite kind of berry is...you'll be in the running!  XOXO--Toad

"Super"... sale, treat, winners, & a sneakpeak!

Are you ready for a "Super" post! Even if you aren't a big fan of the Super Bowl this post can help you have a "super" weekend! Why? I'll tell ya...

#1 Super Sale: My Car Seat Blanket Pattern PDF

I decided to have a sale on my Car Seat Blanket Pattern for the weekend! It would make a great project to do during the big game! If you'd like to learn more about it you can click here.

Today I just got the nicest email from a gal that had bought the pattern. She said:

"Hello.I just wanted to send you a quick note. This was my first pattern that I ever purchased through Etsy and it has been my favorite! I love this item. And, the people I give it to love it too! Thank you so much!!!"

I usually sell it on Etsy for $6, but until Sunday night it will only be $4! You can click here to find it in my Etsy shop.

#2 Super Treat: "No Marshmellow" Rice Krispie Treats

Get ready! This one is SUPER easy, SUPER yummy, & would be great cut out as little footballs for treats during the SUPER bowl!

Warning: Do not read this section if you are trying to lose weight. Believe me, you can't stop with one!!

Watching Super Bowl really doesn't do much for me. I can't sit anywhere that long & I don't even know who is playing this year, but I do LOVE all the good eats that go along with the game!!

Recently I've been thinking about these great treats my mom used make all of the time & I LOVED them. I think they'd make a great addition to the Super Bowl spread...

They are called different things, but most people may know them at Scotcharoo's. Since I don't like butterscotch I just use chocolate chips melted and I LOVE them. But enough talk...

You'll need:
1 c karo syrup
1 c peanut butter
1 c sugar
6 cups of rice krispies cereal
1/2-1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 butterscotch chips {I don't use them, but alot of people like them!}

In a medium pan mix sugar and karo syrup until it starts to bubble. Remove from heat and add peanut butter... { I know, you can already tell how yummy this will be!}

Pour mixture over the cereal...

And mix it all up!

Pour into a well buttered 9X13 baking dish and pack it down...

While the rice krispies cool, melt the chocolate chips {and butterscotch if you're using them} and pour over the bars...
{I just melted my cc in a microwavable bowl on high stirring every 20-30 seconds}

Mmmm...looking good!

Now, the hardest part...waiting for everything to cool. Don't worry, you can always kill time by playing with your reflection while you wait!

Once those bad boys are cool you can cut them up and eat them! If you'd like to be a little "creative" you can grab a cookie cutter and butter it up...

Use the cutter to make an outline of your treat -- or cut all the way through if your cutter is thick enough. {I apologize that the next few pictures are blurry! Its one of my pet peeves!:)}

Then just cut through the bars following the outline of the heart...or whatever shape you want to make! Little footballs would be fun!!

And you've done it! Mmmm.



#3 Super winners: Anita, The Harris Family, busymama, Sweet Mommy Dreams, Alicia, Rachel H, McNett Family, Jenn, Chasey and Cash, & Courtney!!

Thanks to so many of you who left such nice comments on my last post. It made my day. It also made me want to make Valentines for all of you!! I know, I'm crazy--but I really do appreciate your kind words!

So, the 10 of you who left a comment on my last post {about the "drop off" and the vday drawing} this is all you need to do...

1. Email me at toadstreasures@gmail.com and let me know which option you'd like {see options here} and attach a jpg picture that you'd like to have in your valentine.

2. Be sure to include what you'd like your "signature" to be...for example: Love, The Smith's

3. I'll try to email your vday card back to you ASAP so you can start making prints or emailing them to the lucky people you love!

Congrats everyone!
#4 Super Sewing Craft! Look out Pottery Barn! Coming soon will be some sweet owl dolls I've been working on!
This is one I just made for my little sister's birthday!{And here's a shout out for both of my sisters who just celebrated birthdays! Happy Birthday Stoophie and Margethai!! Love ya's!}


Hopefully a few of these fun things can help you have a SUPER weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Gobble, Gobble

Jumping the gun?

Friday 11:45 AM
Ethan: "Mom, did you know Santa sleeps during the day so that he can be up at night? He's like you. "
{Confession: I was tired one day last month and Ethan asked why I was always tired. I told him it was because I was a real witch and I flew on my broom at night. Oh, and I can only do magic at night too...like clean the house, do the dishes, & things like that.:)}
Ethan: "I haven't seen him in a long time."

Friday 12:05 PM
Ethan: "Santa is the only one who knows everyone's names."
Me: "And Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ, right?"

Thursday 3:05 PM
Ethan: "I wish it would snow."
Me:"Why?"
Ethan: "Then Christmas will come. I'm dreaming of it now. I can't stop thinking about it."

Thursday 3:07 PM
Ethan: "Mom, bullies don't get any presents."

Have you had enough? Yesterday I even lured Ethan to Target to get wipes by saying, "We can look at all of the Christmas decorations." We gawked at the snowflakes, ornaments, trees, and lights already in place. And you may have guessed---pictured below is what we walked out with & what we did Thursday night.

I think we just feed off of eachother with our mutual excitement for Christmas, but last night I realized we'd better enjoy Thanksgiving too!;) So, we picked up some Oreos, candycorns (on sale of course), & pulled out the Halloween bag for the whoppers and created these cute little turkeys...


For those "visual learners" like myself here's the low down on this simple & fun treat:

Gobble Turkeys {'cause you'll gobble them up!}

You'll need:

A body= Oreos
Feathers= Candycorns--any color is fun
A head= Whoppers or milkduds {or whatever else you can find in the
bottom of that trick or treat bag!:)}


And while you have that trick or treat bag out...why not have some fun "creating"?!


This is my favorite of Ethan's little candy creations: He calls it "A Smiling Bird."

And don't worry, we love Thanksgiving too!:)

Toad's Super Easy Triffles

Here's my 1st "Tuesday Treasure"...a fun simple recipe your kids will love (& you will too!!)


There are lots of ways to make triffles, but I like to involve Ethan as much as possible (& he LOVES these). For my recipe I opted for these 3 simple ingredients...sliced berries, angel food cake (or any yellow cake would be good too), and whipped cream.

Have the kids tear up the cake into bite size pieces...

Slice up some berries (blueberries, raspberries, or any berry would be yummy!)
And whipped cream (add vanilla or lemon pudding to the cream if you want...that's yummy too)

Just keep layering the cake, berries, & cream... (Tip: You a clear glass so you can see how great it looks!)

Until you get to the top! I found these great umbrellas 144 for $1.50-You know me, I'm to just enjoy the simple things...and here's one of them. (Ethan loves them too.)
Tah Dah!

I decided to have the kids make these for preschool and look how fun they were!!

Yum Yum!

Easter Nest fun!

Easter Nest Fun!

I can't take credit for this one, but boy was it super cute & yummy! I found on tip junkie from a blogger named Kendra on My Insanity.

You make them like rise krispie square but with chow mein noodles! Ours didn't quite turn out like hers...but close enough for us!:) (I also made smaller batch because I wasn't sure how they would turn out.)
Here's what I did:
Melted 1/4 cup butter with 4 cups mini marshmellows. Then added 4 cups of chow mein noodles. (Not pictured.)

To shape them we put them in bowls coated with butter:

They were really sticky!

So I had Ethan put a plastic bag on his hand and butter it up. (Kendra suggested this...it was a great idea!)


Then we let it sit still for a few minutes...


And took them out of the bowls...


Add some chocolate eggs...



And look how cute and fun! They didn't last very long at our house!!

An oldy but goody!

When was the last time you made homemade playdough?! Ethan & I gave it a go last week and made some purple "valentines" dough. I'd forgotten how fun it was to make it yourself. (Usually I just pick it up at the dollar store.:) It was easy & made for a great afternoon activity.

The recipe we used was:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 TBS oil
1 tsp cream of tarter
1 cup water

Combine all ingredients and cook together until the mixture forms a soft ball (about 1 minute). Knead for 30 seconds and give it to the kids to enjoy!