"Toast & Sandwiches" Thankful Tree

I saw this idea on Pinterest quite awhile ago and loved it so much that I pinned it in my Fall/Harvest/Thanksgiving board hoping I would remember to come back to it!
(Check out the original blogger's idea here)

The Thankful Tree

First I took a roll of $1.00 brown shipping paper from the Dollar Tree and drew out a free-hand tree. I'm not usually a very good free-hander, but I figured I could handle a tree. =)

Then I had to find a wall that it would work on and stuck it up with some green super sticky masking tape.

Next I took some glittery foam Fall leaf cut-outs that I had in the craft box from the $1 bin at Target last year and traced them onto some construction paper.

I'm now in the process of cutting out millions of little leaves.... yay. I think it probably would have been easier to go to Michael's and buy some paper leaves... but oh, well. I'm eventually going to pile them at the bottom of the tree like the original blogger, but I haven't gotten that far yet. I'm also going to fill in with a few of the glittery ones around the bottom for some extra color and sparkle. =)

Lastly, each morning when we get up I asked him what he's thankful for today. When he finally decides on something, I write it on a leaf with a black Sharpie and let him stick it to the tree wherever he wants.

I have to say, this has been a great exercise so far for Malachi. It's been hard for him to come up with things to say he's thankful for without prompting. I'm trying NOT to prompt him and the first things he came up with are the things he says he's thankful to when he says his bedtime prayers. It's either going to get harder as the month goes on because he runs out of things or easier because he figures out what he's supposed to do... we'll see.

So far we have:

Day 1: Toys

Day 2: Jesus

Day 3: Mommy & Daddy

Day 4: Grandma & Papa

Day 5: Toast & Sandwiches

Day 5 makes me laugh. He LOVES what he calls "toast," which is actually just un-toasted bread with peanut butter and honey or jam on it. It figures it would make it up there in the Top 5.

I am also noticing that he is placing each new leaf on a different branch of the tree. I'm not sure what he's going to do when he realizes he's run out of branches... start over or figure he's done.

Back to cutting leaves for me!

Project Pinterest #8

Lots of recipes in this edition. I've been doing quite a bit of cooking and baking since being off work. It's been lots of fun trying some of these recipes I've pinned out!

Source: howdoesshe.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Playdough by HowDoesShe.com - Great playdough! Good texture and stays nice for a long time! Check out my post on making it!

Source: myrecipes.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Overnight Peaches-and-Cream French Toast - YUM! I made this to take to my sister-in-laws for a family get-together. So easy to put together the night before and refrigerate. Then take it out in the morning... add a bit and bake. SO EASY and yummy. I think it would also be wonderful with blueberries or blackberries.

Source: sixsistersstuff.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Puffy Vanilla and Peanut Butter Chip Cookies - Very tasty... I just spontaneously decided to make these one night and used chocolate chips instead. My only complaint... it does make much. I'd double it next time.

Source: lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Blueberry Lemon Bars - I WILL be making these again. So yummy. Consistency of a lemon or key lime pie. Awesome flavor!

Source: tuscanrecipes.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Source: fullbellies.blogspot.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup & Homemade Olive Garden Breadsticks
These two recipes were from an Olive Garden inspired dinner. I received some kale in my Bountiful Basket that week and needed a use for it. The soup was so good my husband has requested it to take hunting. The breadsticks were really good, but I need to work on my shaping skills... they looked pretty funny!

Source: ohmysugarhigh.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Best Zucchini Bread - I haven't made many zucchini breads in the past, so I can't attest to this being "the best" but it was pretty good. I liked the fact that it made two loafs for my efforts.


For more Pinterest Projects I've accomplished check out my Things I Actually DID! board. Have you found any awesome Pinterest projects lately? I'd love to hear about them.

Project Pinterest #7

It's time for a Pinterest Project update! =) Check out my Things I actually DID! board for more completed pins! Not a ton completed lately... but I think that is to be expected.

Source: daffodildesign.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Father's Day Project - see my post to see our completed one

Source: myrecipes.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Overnight Peaches and Cream French Toast - made this just the other day to take to the in-laws. It was wonderful! Make it up the night before and then bake in the morning. I'm thinking I might try it again with blueberries!

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!!

Malachi and I made up a fun Pinterest inspired project for his dad this year. =) 

Source: daffodildesign.com via Elsie on Pinterest

So based on this picture, I asked him a series of questions and recorded them.

My husband wouldn't necessarily appreciate the mustache theme going on on the original project and I was a little stumped what to do on the edges of ours.... then I decided that since Malachi's still pretty little, it would be fun to stamp his hand-print on it!

This was lots of fun in itself as you can see. We had a practice piece of paper that he did lots of print on... and mommy had to do a few too!

Then I took the blank one and printed the text I had made up on it.

Then we put it in a frame I got on clearance at Michael's for $3! 

Finished project given to Daddy this morning. =)

Such a fun thing to look back on!

Project Pinterest #6

It's time for a Pinterest Project update! =) I've gotten quite a few of my pins completed this month. Check out my Things I actually DID! board for more completed pins!

Source: ringaroundtherosies.net via Elsie on Pinterest

Freezer Meals - For more info on my freezer meals, go to this post and this post.

Source: rustsunshine.blogspot.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Ribbed Hat for Malachi - turned out cute. He loves it and I wanted to make him something since the baby is getting things. I was afraid I was going to run out of yarn, so its not as "slouchy" as the original pattern.

Source: family.go.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Cookie Dough Bites - made these for a Crafting Night. Yummy... and EASY!

Source: tastykitchen.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Jalapeno Cream Cheese Crescents - these were a little spicy for me... although I think I put more jalapenos in it than the recipe said. My husband ate all the leftovers the next day though!

1 & 2 - Ribbed Hat 3 - Jalapeno Cream Cheese Crescents 

4 - Cookie Dough Bites

I was happy to have completed at least ONE non-food project! I have another in the works for Father's Day... hopefully it turns out. =)

Project Pinterest #5

I fear my Pinterest-making projects have been regulated mostly to recipes lately....
not that that's a bad thing, but I wish I was inspired to do more actual projects!


A few of my latest....

Source: inspiredbycharm.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup - Super yummy. Even my tomato soup hating husband liked it. =)

Source: cookingwithjax.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Apple Pie Breakfast Oatmeal - made with steel cut oats this one was great! My only complaint? It only cooks for 4-6 hours! I guess that's okay if you're not planning on getting an 8 hour night of sleep.... I may try this again when I'm coming home from work at 2:30 am.

Source: sugarandspice-celeste.blogspot.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Make Ahead Absolutely Sinful Cinnamon Rolls - these were really good. I'm going to try them again and let them rise longer... they didn't seem to be fluffy enough. Also, I didn't have all the ingredients for the frosting....

Source: mychocolatetherapy.blogspot.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos - yummy and easy! Stuck my chicken in the pot frozen and dinner was done that night! Awesome!
Also.....I AM working on an actual project!

Source: rustsunshine.blogspot.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Not quite done with this one yet. =)

Project Pinterest #4

I haven't posted a Project Pinterest in awhile. I've been a little too busy to get to these projects, but I DID have a fun Craft Night at my house a week ago and make sure I made up some yummy treats pulled from my Pinterest  board! =)

Source: thibeaultstable.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Best Oatmeal Cookies - I would not say these were the best. I thought they were too flat. I like a more chunky cookie personally. But they tasted good.

Source: lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Fresh Apple Cake w/ Brown Sugar Glaze - this one was a winner, I thought. Very easy and yummy. I think I cooked the glaze a little too long though because it was too hard on top of the cake when it cooled. I guess I'll have to try again! =)

Also... my husband has been asking for Lemon Bars for quite awhile now, so I surprised him the other day by just making some out of the blue and leaving them on the counter for when he came home from work. (good wife, right!?)

Source: bakingbites.com via Elsie on Pinterest

Perfect Lemon Bars - another winner. Easy and came out... perfect. Yum!

Let's not dwell too much on the fact that these are all sugary, fattening, yummy foods ookay? =) Maybe next time I'll have some actual projects finished.

Project Pinterest #3

I'm attempting to actually DO some of the ideas/projects I find of Pinterest.

So this is my way of keeping myself accountable. =)

I'm hoping to post this weekly with my accomplished projects!

See all my accomplished projects by following me on Pinterest

by clicking the "P" button on the top-right sidebar!

 Cheesy Vegetable Chowder - Very yummy!

Source: luluthebaker.blogspot.com via Elsie on Pinterest

 I used this idea for our announcement... here it is if you missed it.

Source: Uploaded by user via Elsie on Pinterest

 I used these cute labels on my Christmas gifts this year.

Source: make-it-do.com via Elsie on Pinterest

 "The Best Coffee Cake. Ever." It was very yummy. =)

Source: thepioneerwoman.com via Elsie on Pinterest

What Pinterest Projects have YOU finished lately??? =)

Please share!