Simple & Savvy Grandparents Day Project

Just a reminder.....Grandparents Day is September 12, 2010. We love to do handmade gifts for those we love! Here is an inexpensive but memorable gift to make for your Nana’s, Papa’s, Mimi’s, Grandpa's, Grandma’s. We visited the $1 Bin and stumbled upon frames and scrapbook paper and realized this would be the Perfect Gift!!!!
You will need

Mod Podge
Razor Blade
Ribbon (optional)
8x8 frame from Michael's- $1
Scrapbook Paper- 4/$1
Scrapbook Saying- $1.99

Total Cost of the Project is $3.52

Cut your paper to the frame's size
Take a Razor Blade and cut out the inside Shape
Mod Podge the entire frame
Place the paper over the frame
Once positioned and glued down, Mod Podge over the top
Let dry over night, then position the Saying on the bottom
If you choose, you can attach ribbon onto the back to hang.


This is a perfect gift for any occasion.....Savvy Crafting!!!!

Smiles,
Amy & Bri

What...Another Giveaway????

I (Bri) am obsessed with pictures. A straight momarazzi..... my poor children. Someday I know they will appreciate the millions of pictures I have taken to capture every single moment and memory of their lives. For now I am just annoying. Even still I always have my camera ready for the perfect shot. So for my birthday this year my husband bought me the Cannon DSLR camera I had been talking about obsessively for years.

The stipulation was that I would learn how to use it. Well, 9 months later and I am still learning, aspiring to be like our very own Ella B and my beloved Laura Kent Photography, even though she moved hundreds of miles away (clearly I am still bitter and miss her).

I digress….. But in all honesty, I am failing miserably.

Nonetheless, I Love the Camera but hate that I am ALWAYS misplacing my lens cap, asking if anyone in my entourage has it. Because they should right? I have the camera but they of course have the lens cap when I cannot find it. So just last week on the 1st day of preschool there I am sobbing as my husband dragged me out of the twins class (I just could not leave) panicked that he had lost my lens cap, because of course I could not find it, and he should have it. So then and there I decided this needed to stop, I cannot keep asking my “peeps” where the lens cap is. So I turned to Etsy…you know about Etsy right? And there it was…the perfect Camera strap, from SewTamz Designs; sassy and stylish with a lens cap pocket! I could not get it in my cart fast enough. How cute am I going to look pretending like I am a professional photographer? My pictures may not be great but my camera will look Snazzy.

So, since you are such great followers…..Since you have put up with a couple of my bad pictures; with many more to come (can you tell which ones are mine & which are Ella B?)….Since you have embraced us and just because we love you…. We are giving away a SewTamz Designs Personalized DSLR Camera Strap with Lens Cap Pocket! Get a $30 credit to this fantastic Etsy shop, we love her…..

How great will this look with a Jo Tote? You can still enter TomKat's Giveaway until September 8. I am crossing my fingers, toes, legs and arms hoping that I win the Rose in Teal tote to match my new Camera Strap Cover.

3 ways to Enter & Win.....

1) Go to SewTamz Designs on Facebook. "Like" her and visit her Amazing shop then comment here with your favorite Strap Design.

2) Become a follower on SewTamz Designs, come back and leave a comment letting us know you are there!

3) Become a fan of The Savvy Moms Guide on Facebook, go to the Blog and leave a comment telling us your favorite photo tips.

Be Sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. Entries must be submitted by 8pm PST Sunday September 12. The winner will be selected using random.org

Smiles,

Amy & Bri

School Starts....With a Welcome Basket

We made it through our kiddos first week of Preschool. Surprisingly there weren't too many tears, at least from our kids!!!! As Mommies we had a much harder time letting them go for the 3 whole hours they were away, but we survived.

We wanted to start the year off giving. So we put together a "Welcome Basket" for the 3 amigos to give their teachers. Of course we couldn't just put these useful items in a basket and give it as is. We needed to make it warm, friendly and sweet. How perfect was it that Kim from the TomKat Studio was offering adorable Back to School Printables in her Etsy shop. As Kim would say they made us Swoon!!!!

We included our baked Peanut Butter Cookies (which we baked with the kids of course) adding the adorable “ABC” idea we found for the back to School Touch. Then we packaged them in clear cello bags tied with ribbon and a fun little apple tag, it completed the sweetness of the basket.

We chose to create a “Savvy” new look for a boring bottle of Sanitizer, a bottle of Soap and bag of wipes. We also used the note cards and wrapped them with ribbon for a fun way to add a little flair.

When purchasing these Printables we knew the possibilities were endless as to what we could do with them. When thinking ahead and being Savvy, another great way to make use of these TomKat printables could be when Teacher Appreciation week rolls around or you have a fun Apple Pie recipe you would like to share.

As we picked up our kiddos from school the other day, waiting in their cubby was a special note from their teachers

And that is what giving is all about!!!!

Smiles,

Amy & Bri

Baked Apple Chip Recipe and Our 1st Giveaway!!!!

In each of our play dates we will have a yummy recipe to share with our followers. While for our “Apple of our Eye” play date we would have liked it to be Apple Fritters, Apple Pie, Apple Cookies or even Apple Pie Ice Cream (Have you tasted Dryers Apple Pie Ice Cream???? To die for) we again chose the healthy route thinking of our kids, and our thighs. So here is the Recipe for the

Baked Apple Chips….

You will need

Recipe calls for 2 apples….we recommend you double it and do 4 apples
Water
Sugar
Lemon

Apple Chips are a healthy snack that our kids love. These are so easy to make and a great alternative to running to the store and buying a bag of potato chips.
Not only do we try to be Savvy about cost and nutrition, we also think being “Savvy and Going Green go hand in hand”. So we started using snack bags…..do you use them???? If so great, you will love our giveaway. If not, we hope you enjoy these adorable snack bags from Sweet Things. There are so many benefits to snack bags, they are pennies compared to plastic bags. They are reusable, washable, they are stylish (since they can be made in several fun prints and colors) and earth friendly!!!

To enter our giveaway and receive 2 apple themed snack bags you need to do the following.

• Become a Fan on our Facebook Page. Comment on your “Savvy” Green Skills
• Become a Follower on our Blog. Comment on your favorite “Savvy” find from the Apple of my Eye Play Date.

Be sure to enter by Sunday. Who knows you may be the only one who enters!!!!

Smiles,

Amy & Bri

"Apple of my Eye" Back to School Play Date

Webster defines a play date as~an arranged appointment for children to get together for a few hours to play. While this is true, we wanted more…. Since every play date is a party!!!!

The Savvy Moms play date is one that is creative, interactive, educational, fun, healthy and delicious, all at the same time. With Back to School (or rather our kids 1st day of school) on our minds Apples were the perfect theme. We narrowed down the craft, the recipe, and a great story and were ready to add the Sass. With dessert tables all the rage these days (at least in our own little blogging world) we thought it would be perfect to have a table centered around our play date. A table that would mimic the Desserts of Amy Atlas, and the classy stylings of Martha Stewart; but all with our own Savvy Selections. These Savvy selections included a perfect canvas from Lucky Girl, Edible Creations from Kolby Kakes and adorable attire from Sweet Things. And of course capturing the details of our day; Ella B Photography.

Class....please be seated for your lesson on our First Savvy Moms Play Date!!!!

Class is in session!!!! Let’s begin with art…a subject every child (and adult) loves. Especially when allowed to paint on one’s body without getting in trouble.


Apple Hand Prints are an easy and fun way to capture the memory of your little ones hand print while allowing them to get a little messy.

To complete the craft you will need the following:

Apple Template printed on cardstock . We cut off the stem.
Red tissue paper cut into squares (or your child can tear the tissue in strips if they aren't yet using scissors)
Glue Sticks
Paint Brush
Green Washable Tempra Paint, so you don’t need to bust out the Shout
Black Construction paper
Chalk (Optional) for child to write their name

Step 1. Glue the cutout Apple Template to the Black Construction paper
Step 2. Encourage your child to glue the red squares onto their apple
Step 3. Paint the hand green (which leads to the desire to paint other things…so watch out)
Step 4. Press firmly onto the top of the Apple creating the stem

We will admit that we are the moms that like to feed our kids healthy foods. Unless we are bribing them to behave, entertain, or “smile for the camera” at which point M&M’s, suckers, candy cookie and any other treat are acceptable. But in the spirit of nutrition and even more important aesthetic appeal we found this great Apple boat recipe….. Adorable right! And the best part is that they are a healthy and interactive snack for your child to enjoy

You will need:

2 apples
Provolone Cheese
Lemon
Toothpicks
A paring knife or Peeler
Basting Brush
1 lemon

Step 1. Slice your apples. Then notch out the center of each slice using a paring knife or peeler.
Step 2. Puncture a medium size lemon with a hole and place in the microwave for 45 seconds to juice it. Then baste the juice onto the apple slices. This will keep the apples from turning brown.
Step 3. Slice your cheese into triangular pieces.
Step 4. Allow your child to assemble the boat, sticking the toothpick through the cheese and into the apple. Be prepared you might have some samplers of the cheese or apple before the project is complete.

Now enjoy your delicious and nutritious apple boat (that does in fact float)

This activity/recipe was a great way to let our kids be hands on, to take an EveryDay edible object and create a fun and flavorful treat.

While the kids enjoyed their apple boats we thought it best to read a Book. And what better selection than The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. A classic story on the importance and reward of giving. Both of which are qualities we are instilling in our children.

While we hoped that the days activities would be remembered....and that our monkeys would take away the educational and moral aspects of the play date, we were not at all surprised to find that in the end, the most memorable part of the day was the delicious Apple Pops created by Kolby Kakes. These ultimate cake pops were really the Apple of our Kids Eyes.

Class is dismissed!!!

Smiles,

Amy & Bri