Making the Switch...Blogging Hiatus...No Show...Lights Out...Whatever...

Where have I been and why am I posting so many things at once????

Last month I switched over to WordPress but I am not happy with it.  I am a Blogger girl.  I think it is in my blood.  What does that mean for you, my loyal following?  I'm BACK!

The posts that you are seeing today, are ones that I did over on that "other" account.  I tried to import them in but I am not technologically  smart for that, so copy and paste I go!

The writers block is coming to an end!  I miss sharing my stories of life and craziness!  Let's get back to it!

Marianne

Five Facts You Don't Know About...Me!

My Sister and I Fondling Mermaid Rock

These are in no particular order...they are all just...ODD!

1. I have a tendency of sticking things up my nose and then trying to shoot them out to see how far they go.  Doesn't everyone do this?  No?  Shoot...
2. I used to have my lip pierced.  Not professionally done either.  My friend did it...with ice...and a needle.  It seemed smart at the time!
3. I snort when I laugh super hard.  Like a pig.  Yes, I snort....like a pig. 
4. After having 2 kids, when I sneeze unexpectedly...I pee.  Just a little.  Too much?     
5. I love history!  Especially anything that has to do with the Titanic or Tutankhamen.  I am a nerd.  A really big nerd.

I gave you 5 odd and somewhat embarrassing facts.  This was fun!  There may have to be a follow-up post to this!  Do you have any oddities for me?  Don't be shy!  Share them!!

Marianne

Remembering Fire Prevention....

This is a post I wrote last month but wanted to repost it.  Earlier in the week, my husband was fighting a fully engulfed house fire, where two people lost their lives.  We are from a small community and any loss hurts.  Remember the tips.  Take the time. Be safe.

Last week was a very important week in schools nationwide.

It was Fire Prevention Week.

Fire Prevention week is especially important in our house, because my husband is a firefighter and he, along with his department, conducted fire prevention at our local elementary school.

We capped off the week with a chili feed at the fire hall.  It  was a fun and informative week!  We had a great turnout by the community in support of our local fire department and the kids learned a lot about fire safety!

       

I am pleased to announce, that my husband is my guest blogger for today.  Please give a friendly hello! to my "hot" firefighter husband who loves to put the wet stuff on the red stuff!  He is going to share some tips about keeping cool during an emergency and some about fire safety.  I now hand it off to Ross!

Wow. Well than... It's a pleasure to give a few tips on fire safety!

I, along with my department, had the privilege of going to the elementary school to teach kids about fire prevention.

We taught kids from Pre-K to 4th Grade. We made things simple. Here are some of the main points we taught them:

1. Smoke detectors. Where are they in your house? How many do you have? How often do you test them? How do they work?

2. Make sure to find 2 ways out of your house. Try this in every room. Even if you're on the 2nd or 3rd level, how can you get out? If you're upstairs and you can't get out through the door, open your window and wave something.  Be SEEN!

3. Meeting Place. If you have a fire in your house, get out and STAY OUT. Find a meeting place where your whole family can go, to find each other.  Go home and talk to your family about where you would go if you had a fire.

4. Stop, Drop, and Roll. The younger kids loved this station! We made flames for the kids to put on themselves and we said, "if you had fire here, get it off!" We taught them about what to do if their clothes caught on fire.

5. Smoke. If you had smoke in your house, where does it go? UP! Smoke rises. So, we built a smoke tunnel that simulated how low you have to get.  Again, another favorite for the kiddos!

6. Learn your address. Do you know your address has a first and last name? My address's first name is "208". My last name is "Elmhurst Ave". How do you teach 1st or 2nd graders this? Make it simple. Go home and have your parents teach you what your address's first and last name is!

We wanted the kids to think about these things and go home and talk with their parents. We always get stories from parents that say, "thank you for sending my child home with lots of questions!"

This is one of the funnest weeks for my fire department. We get on the level with the kids and have some fun!

We ended the week with inviting families to the fire hall for a chili feed and had numerous activities for them. They sprayed water out of the hose, made fire trucks, took home coloring books and fire hats, and played in the smoke tunnel! Great time!

So, my tips for you. If you're a parent, if you're a grandparent, and those rugrats come over from time to time, make sure your smoke detectors are working and in every room, make sure you always can find 2 ways out of each room in your house, and find a good meeting place if you ever have a fire in the home.

Thank you, Marianne, for the opportunity to give your readers some tips on fire safety! 

Thank you to Ross!  Be safe everyone and don't forget to practice these tips!

Marianne

DIY Window Cleaner

I HATE dirty windows!  You would never know this though, by the look of my windows...AT ALL TIMES!  I have a three year old and a dog who LOVE to climb on the back of the couch and put their grubby noses and fingers (son, not the dog) all over my front window!  Since I have children and a puppy, I have chosen to not care so much.  Pick and choose your battles.  Clean laundry is much more important than clean windows!

I still hate dirty windows, so if they could be clean for at least a couple of hours...I am satisfied!  To continue on with our DIY posts, I have a DIY window cleaner!  Great transition?!?!  If you are like me and you want your kids to help with chores, Windex can be VERY expensive for the amount of cleaner they use :).  So, why not make your own!?!?  I also recommend letting them use a cotton towel versus paper towels!

Perfectly Perfect Window Cleaner

 What You Need

1-Empty Spray Bottle

1/4 Cup White Vinegar

1 Cup Water

3-4 Drops of Dawn Dish Soap (once again, I used Target brand)

Combine all ingredients.  Give a little shake and you, my friend, have created your own window cleaner!  Congrats!

Have any other tips for DIY?  Leave a comment!

Marianne

New Product Line!

Here at CindyBlue Designs, I am so excited to announce our new product line!  We are now creating color sheets, that can be downloaded instantly!  Our target market for these are primarily children, but my mom and I are really focusing on churches and Sunday Schools.

The idea came from my own kids!  Natalie and Eli LOVE to color!  So...why not offer an affordable option to churches and Wednesday night groups.  For $1.00 you get the rights to the artwork and can make as many prints as you need!

Here are the prints we have so far, with more in production!

 

 They can be found at my Etsy Shop, CindyBlue Designs

Have a great day!

Marianne

Copyright © CindyBlue Designs 2013

Super Simple Stuffed Shells Recipe

What is on the menu tonight?  For us, it is stuffed shells.  A super easy, go-to recipe, when I don't have anything else in the house!  Looking for easy?  Look no further!

Super Simple Stuffed Shells

What you need:

12 oz box Jumbo Shells...20 of the shells
1/2 Pound Hamburger or Italian Sausage (if desired)
1 Large Container Cottage Cheese
1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
Handful of Frozen Chopped Spinach...thawed and patted dry
1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella...divided
1 Jar Spaghetti Sauce
Fresh Ground Pepper...to taste

What to do:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bring pot of salted water to boil.  Cook Jumbo Shells for 10 minutes.  Drain, do not rinse.











While noodles are cooking, thaw and brown meat.  Drain.

For the filling you will mix the cottage cheese, parmesan, spinach, 1/2 cup mozzarella, and pepper.  Add meat.  Mix.


Pour roughly 1/2 cup of spaghetti sauce into bottom of 9x13 pan.  Spread to cover bottom.  This will be your base.


Fill shells with filling.  Add to 9x13 pan.  Cover with remaining sauce and 1/2 cup cheese.  Cover with aluminum foil.




Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly.  Remove foil and cook another 5 minutes.  Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes.




Enjoy with garlic toast or salad or both!  My kids LOVE these!!!

Marianne

Welcome Home!

A year ago, last September, my brother-in-law Hugh and his girlfriend Brittni, along with their trusted pup Lily, packed up all of their belongings and headed to Williston, North Dakota.  No, not to pursue a job in the oil fields, but to pursue a job as a police officer.

You see, my brother is a cop.  Living out close to the Montana border, we don't get to see him very often.  This sucks and FaceTime only does so much for us!  We have seen him only once since he left, until this last weekend!!!!

It was amazing!  You don't realize how much you miss someone, until you don't get the opportunity to see them everyday.   Take my advice and don't take family for granted because one day they may have to pack up all of their belongings and go where the work is.

We were all so happy to have Hugh and Brittni home for a weekend visit and cannot wait until the next time we get to see them.  We are a very close family and the kids LOVE Uncle Hugh and Auntie Brittni!  We are just waiting for the day when she "officially" becomes a part of our family!

Check out some of the pictures from our fabulous weekend with family!

Surprise!  Natalie didn't know he was home!!

Loves!

Natalie, Hugh, Eli, and Brittni

Having fun!

The girls!

Time to Wrestle!