Hot Cocoa In A Bag - Last Minute Gifty- Tutorial

If you need a super EASY gift for teachers, friends, neighbors etc. The Hot Cocoa in a bag is for you. It does require one hardship though, going to the supermarket at a very busy time of year. So here is the tutorial for you...
Materials Needed:

1. Frosting Piping Bags 12in (12 to a package) Wilton found at JoAnn Fabrics
2. Holiday Twist Ties (Found in Candy Making Section)
3. Mini Marshmallows One Bag (makes 12 bags)
4. Mini Chocolate Chips (Bulk Section of your supermarket) 6 large scoops
5. Spice Drops 12 in Green and Red or whatever color you wish (one scoop in bulk section)
6. Large Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Container in the Hot Cocoa isle of your supermarket
7. To & From Label stickers (optional)

First take the piping bag and fold it over about 3-4 inches. This helps prevent hot cocoa dust to get on your marshmallows.

Put a 1/2 cup of hot cocoa mix in the bag. Plus a bit extra if you wish. I actually did two 1/4 c. plus a little. It doesn't have to be perfect.

Add approximately 1/4 c. of chips. Or more, just for fun.

Add a generous amount of mini marshmallows 1/2 cup.

 Add a green, red, or whatever color gum drop on the top (just for fun and color). Give it a good twist, your marshmallows will smoosh a bit but that is ok. Some of the Internet instructions call for a clear rubber band, I just used twist ties on mine and they were fine. Add your twist tie and you are DONE!!! You can add stickers or To:/From: labels if you like.

Reindeer Girl :-). She will take these to school to give out to the principal, VP, secretaries, special area teachers and so on. I like this whole idea because it helps to teach my 6 year old how to give. I hope to raise a child whom is both a good giver and receiver!

Our final stash looked like this. And yes she did have to take them ALL to school and pass all of them out!

Adjusting to a new schedule....

A. on her first day of preschool. 1-2-3- PICKLES She came up with that and thought that it was the funniest thing in the world!

At Playdough station at preschool.
John has finished his blue guitar, at least someone is getting some crafting done around here! As for me, it has been about adjusting to our new busy schedule with A. going to daycare two days a week and preschool two days a week. I am waiting for the substitute teaching to kick in, haven't had a job yet. I suppose it is too early in the school year.

The Plate....

Ok so in real life the hair covers the ears......It was A's idea to do the cheeks. Tomorrow is the first day for both of us, I am an aide in the room on the first day. I get to see all the kiddos in their cute little first day clothes!
Gift from Nana in the mail,,,it's a boat to build and paint with DAD!!!
You can do it Dad!
Camp Abbett, last weekend we had some friends out to our land. Balloons are no fail entertainment for the kids! in the background above that is our outhouse that we built. Below two cutie pies. In both you can see our fenced in garden which has pumpkins growing in it. By the way you wouldn't know it by looking at this picture but A got stung by 7 yellow jackets just a few hours earlier than this. Luckily we avoided the hospital and I had Children's Benadryl in the camper.

September in "High Gear"....

Wow whenever I realize I haven't posted in almost a whole week it always astonishes me how time really does go by so fast. I knew September would bring me to kick it in to high gear, however we were thrown some curve balls this week. The week got off to a rough start but now all is better. So with that said I will fill you in on the fact that I have finished A.'s first hat off of the knitting loom. She loves it! I will post a pic as soon as I find my camera and unload the memory card which is currently full. A is preparing to go to my alma mater pre-school, I am SO proud of her - he he he he. We are excited her first day is next week. It is a cooperative preschool so that means two things one I will be working frequently in her classroom and that also reduces the cost of tuition. She has homework to decorate a plate to look like her face - OK I am ALL over that one!!! Also next week my MOPS group is starting up too, we will be doing Shrinky Dink name tags which the MOPS magazine suggests that we do. Nikki over at WhiMSY LOVE did the same with her MOPS group and her site helped me in planning. This week was a little more serious than last week's birthday week, so I've changed my sidebar music some to reflect this week. OH I am teaching at my clay guild this Saturday too. Plus my Etsy shop is now empty, I AM VERY happy that someone bought my one and only bracelet but I have to kick it into high gear now with my inventory! Especially if I am going to do my regular list of fall craft shows as well!

Party Pics...

A. with the pink sparkly guitar her Dad made for her.
A. waiting to put her new fish in, note the pink gravel. :-)
Introducing Collotta a SHE fish but we call her a HIM. DD made the name Collotta up. DD with her new guitar, with pink sparkles.
Playing some tunes! When she opened the amplifier she said "Daddy, it must be for you!"

Pseudo Birthday Party...

Today we are having a sort of half birthday party for my daughter. We wanted to present her with the guitar that my husband built and finished. So we are having a party with presents, most aren't wrapped though. Plus she has a new outfit on, plus she got a goldfish!!! It is a special day for my wee one! Can't wait to post some photos. In the meantime though I put new flickr photos on my account. I got an early birthday present from DH, a flickr pro account. So I am no longer out of room. So if you click on the flickr slide show at the right of this page you can see a ton of other photos I recently uploaded.