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Showing posts with the label BACK TO SCHOOL

Chonky Boys: The Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches that Scream Summer!

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Featuring my thick and nuggy Chonky Boy Chocolate Chip Cookies, these ice cream sandwiches are the stuff that summer dreams are made of.  If you've ever had the Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich at Disneyland , you are going to LOVE these!  These big and bold chocolate chip cookies are based on a recipe from my culinary school studies at Auguste Escoffier, but with a few modifications to give them that Jennuine touch.  They make the perfectas book for a fat slice of real vanilla bean ice cream.  And those mini chips?  You just gotta have that extra cronch! Thank goodness this recipe only makes 8 sandwiches, otherwise I would be eating them for breakfast lunch and dinner.  This way, my big family can help save me from my inner child diet-saboteur.   Print With Image Without Image Chonky Boy Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches Yield: 8 Author: Jenn Erickson Loaded with chocolate chips and buttery, brown-sugary vanilla flavor, these mall-sized cookies form a perfect partnership with a
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BACK TO SCHOOL (SO SOON?) -- BACK TO SCHOOL BLOG HOP!

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(a wee bit of back-to-school clipart for you!) Where did the Summer go?  The words Back to School never fail to make me nostalgic for my own school days ~ The crisp autumn air, that feeling of excitement mixed with trepidation, the smell of freshly sharpened pencils, and, being a child of the 70s, the pride in ownership of a shiny, new metal lunchbox.  The lunchboxes may have changed, but some things remain constant, like the Dixon Ticonderoga No. 2, the Pink Perl Eraser, and back to school shopping.   For many parents and families, Back-To-School harkens the arrival of the End-of-Summer traditions.  For my family, this means a big beach bonfire with friends, back-to-school shopping, and Mama-time manicures/pedicures with the girls the night before school starts.  What are your traditions? If you've written any posts on the subject of school, back-to-school, school lunches, or end-of-summer traditions, please feel free to link below.  You're welcome to share
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RETRO LUNCH BAG PRINTABLES -- OR -- THESE GOOD LITTLE KITTENS DID NOT LOSE THEIR MITTENS, SO THEY SHALL GET SOME PIE

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My girls are off to day camp today, so I sent them off with these cute little lunch bags bearing a gentle reminder to mind their Ps and Qs. I created this easy printable for paper lunch bags with coordinating strawberry stickers, using the vintage school posters I posted yesterday.  To print your own, simply download the files, open, and set your printer's paper settings to a custom size of 5.15" x 10.8.  When loading the bag into your printer, make sure it is flat and smooth.  For the stickers, use full-sheet adhesive paper.  Remember Thank You Lunch Bag Take Turns Lunch Bag Strawberry Stickers
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SMITTEN WITH KITTENS ~ some charming clipart for the classroom, playroom, or nursery

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(SEE THE ORIGINAL BELOW) A dear friend retired from teaching this year, and as she was cleaning out her classroom she came across a set of "Good Manners Full Color Posters" from 1969. The colors are so bright and cheery, and the messages are simple and timeless! These charming vintage posters would be perfect for a playroom or nursery, and have excellent graphics for a myriad of craft projects. ~ I'm already envisioning a sweet little chore chart and some lunchbox-notes for back-to-school time. I wonder if a full wall mural of "PUT THINGS AWAY" would have any effect at my house? Probably not, even if I added a really scary-looking mama-cat holding up a trash bag in the background. ~ What sort of crafty vision do you have for these well mannered felines? Please share your inspirations, and feel free to download the images to use as you'd like (for non commercial projects).
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LUNCHBOX HEROES REVISITED ~ starring YOU!

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Back in August, my friend Jill inspired me to put together an article taking on the issue of picky eaters vs. school lunch. It's an issue I can relate to. Packing a healthy lunch for my eight year old daughter is a daily challenge. It's involved much trial and error and a lot of uneaten food. I think I have it figured out for now, but my formula alone was not enough to solve the woes of all the other parents out there. So, I consulted the EXPERTS: my dream team of amazing mom friends. Thanks ladies! I started off the discussion with one of my daughter's lunchbox favorites: HOMEMADE TRAIL MIX: What's great about this is that it's a fun activity as well. We start out by picking healthy items from the grocery store ~ nuts, dried fruits, seeds, whole grain cereals, etc... Have the kids pour all the ingredients into a large zip-loc bag and shake to combine. Instead of buying all of those prepackaged snacks that are loaded with preservatives and sugar, you ha
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OUR FAVORITE BACK TO SCHOOL PROJECT

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SCHULTUTE ~ The first day of school is an important milestone for children all around the globe. In Germany, many children receive a Schultute ( pronounced shool-too-tuh ). The Schultute is a whimsically decorated paper cone filled with school supplies and little treats. The treats are meant to symbolically sweeten the child's transition into the realm of greater responsibility (traditionally, the 1st grade, which is when German children begin their formal education). The tradition began back in the 19th century, when according to lore parents told their children that a Schultute tree grew in their teacher's yard. When the cones grew big enough it meant that it was time to start school. Today, children often decorate their own Schultuten as an end-of-year project at the completion of Kindergarten. Parents then fill the cone for the child to open after the first day of first grade. We've attached a downloadable PDF of instructions for how to make your own Schultut
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