Get Well (Surgery) Candy Card

It's official...I have way too much time on my hands. A candy card for a teacher having hip surgery? Really, Grace? Yes, that's what I did during one of the last bigillion study halls this week. 

Actually, I'm pretty proud of it. May be the best one yet! Mmmmm... I take that back. The Secret Santa one was pretty good. This one takes a close second place. 

And driving around getting all those candy bars look at what happened!  I hit 77,777 miles!  Yay!  I'm finally driving when I hit a mile marker :)  Don't worry, I'm stopped!  (See... 0 mph)  Someone else always has my car when things like that happen...

Back on topic, I went a little overboard this time. Sixteen candy bars is a bit much, don't you think? Whoops! What can I say? I was on a roll! Let's just hope she doesn't eat them all at once!  So to make your own "Get Well" Candy Card...

...you'll need the following:

Now & Later

Whatchamacallit 

Reese's Pieces

Take 5

Good & Plenty

100 Grand 

Reese's Fast Break

Skor

Zero

Mounds 

Lifesaver 

KIND Bar

Snickers 

Twix

Reese's Nutrageous 

Peeps

Tri-fold Board (or other large poster)

Pencil

Eraser 

Sharpie

Valentine's Day Candy Card

Lets start the countdown…16 days till Valentine’s Day. 16 days till I sit at home, watch a romantic comedy, and eat way to much popcorn ice cream! Of course I have a date! Well, you see I actually have three. But I haven’t decided which one I’ll invite over this year. Me, Myself, or I….let me tell you it’s difficult.

When you’re your own date you kinda have to buy/make your own gifts too. I’m not the kind of girl that would want a dozen roses and little teddy bear. I mean if a guy ever did that I’d be grateful and happy because that’s just the kind of person I am, but I’d much rather go to Handel’s for ice cream. Here’s the secret: Ice cream makes everything better. Yes folks, if you can remember that little piece of advice you’re life will be golden. Anything goes wrong; you have a bad day, break up with a girl/boyfriend, it’s raining or snowing, it’s -16° outside, bad sports practice or game, just about anything…have a nice big bowl of ice cream. I guarantee you’ll feel better. To be quite honest you might as well just eat from the container. You’ll really feel good after that!

Back on topic, I decided to make myself a candy card this year. If someone gave me this as a gift I would probably marry them right there. Why? Let me explain. Chocolate, brilliance, humor…what more could you ask for? You gotta pounce on those ones! Even if the got the idea on the internet and it literally took 10 minutes to put together, I don’t care. They’re amazing.

So guys, here’s how you impress your lady. Go to the gas station, grocery store, dollar general, you get the point. Buy everything on the list of material below if you don’t already have it. On your drive home, swing by Handel’s and pick up a $5 dollar gift card. (to mail to me of course!) I guess if you have to you can skip that last step. Lay everything out on a table and copy the message below in pencil. (bold words are candy bars) If your happy with the spacing, which I know most guys could careless, trace over the pencil in sharpie. Erase any visible pencil lines and tape on your candy bars.

If your sweet(tart) doesn't fall head over heals just send the card my way! I’ll be more than happy to take it off your hands!

What You’ll Need

Mounds

Almond Joy

Whatchamacallit

Take 5

Hershey Kisses

100 Grand

Mr. Goodbar

Tootsie Roll

Reese’s Pieces

Sugar Daddy’s

Poster or other large paper

Pencil

Sharpie

Tape

The BEST Valentine's Day Card

This is for all those guys out there that dread Valentine's Day shopping. What should I get her?  What if she doesn't like it?  ...wait...I have to buy her something?!  Sound familiar?  Don't worry you've come to the right place.

Unless you have some spectacular idea, go with chocolate and something that will make her smile.  After typing that sentence I realized any "spectacular idea" from a guy is a little risky and should probably be avoided.  But hey, suit yourself!  Coming from a girl, you can't go wrong with chocolate!

Now I know guys like simple.  Quick, easy, straight to the point.  Here's what you need to do.  Go to the gas station/grocery store/dollar general/etc. and buy the candy bars.  (you'll find a list at the bottom) If you don't have a big piece of paper or something to attach them to already, pick up one of those also.  

Now lay everything out on your poster and copy the message below. (bolded words are candy bars)  I suggest writing in pencil first and then going over it in sharpie.  That way you're able to erase mistakes.  

Sweet Tart,

     I wish I could put into words the Mounds of Almond Joy you bring me.  Your Whatchamacallit sends me head over heels.  I'd Take 5 of your Kisses over 100 Grand any day!  All this talk is making me sound like a Mr. Goodbar, but Tootsie Roll, I love you to Pieces.  Happy Valentine's Day!

Love Your, 

Sugar Daddy

Finally, tape the candy bars in there place.  Now was it that painful?  Give this to your sweetheart and I guarantee she'll SNICKER!  

What You'll Need

Mounds

Almond Joy

Whatchamacallit

Take 5

Hershey Kisses

100 Grand

Mr. Goodbar

Tootsie Roll

Reese's Pieces

Sugar Daddy's

Poster or other large paper

Pencil

Sharpie

Tape

The Ultimate Slider Workout

This past summer my coaches decided to start experimenting with some new conditioning. I don't blame them, the old ways were getting a little boring! When they bought per a dozen furniture sliders and told us these were our new best friends, I was a little skeptical. How are we supposed to get a good workout using these?!

Don't run away too fast! Try some of these exercises and you'll be feeling the burn too! They actually give you a really good leg workout. Mine may have been sore for a week!

All you'll need is set of furniture sliders. Any shape will work, but we all liked ovals the best. Of course you'll also have to have a large (or long) carpeted area too. Hallways work great!

1. Lunge Walks - place one carpet slider under each foot and lunge walk keeping your feet and the sliders on the floor the entire time.  The number of laps will depend on your spaces length.

2. Wheelbarrows - sit down and place both feet on one slider. Push up onto your hands so your feet our out in front of you. Trying to keep you stomach up, slide forward and back. The number of laps will depend on your spaces length. 

3. Inchworms - stand with both feet on one slider. Reach down towards your toes and put your hands on the floor. Walk your hands out to a push-up position and hold, then slide your feet back up to a pike. Repeat. The number of laps will depend on your spaces length. For more of a challenge, replace the hold with push-ups. 

4. Split Races - slide into a split and place one slider under each foot. Using your hands, walk/slide forward. As you can see, we even raced our coaches! Of course we won! 

DIY Bedazzled Tennis Shoes

Okay lets be honest.  When you pin a craft or a recipe or an idea on Pinterest, half the time you never make or try it.  Who has time to try 463 recipes, 248 DIY projects, and 127 home remodels?  No me!  

But when I came upon these bedazzled Nike tennis shoes I knew I had to try them!  They just caught my eye!  Look at them!  The only part I don't like...they're white.  They're gonna get super dirty and need cleaned everyday.  

Well it just so happened I was getting ready to buy a new pair of shoes.  Of course Nike!  I've tried other brands and they just don't compare.  (unfortunately, I am not affiliated with Nike in any way.  I just really like their products)  And the "check" is perfect for bedazzling!  

So I went to Hobby Lobby and bought these Clear Crystal Rhinestones. Thinking I'd be using a ton of stones, I bought three packages.  You only need one.  I didn't even use one.  Oh well...now I can bedazzle all my shoes!

As for attaching them, I used this E6000 Clear Glue.  It seems to hold them great.  I've been wearing my shoes for two years and not a single diamond has come off.  They've been rubbed against chairs, through the snow and rain, etc.  No problems whatsoever!

I recommend working in sections.  I set my shoes on it's side and laid out the diamonds first.  That way I was able to move them and get them to fit right.  Then I took two or three off at a time and glued them on.  After trial and error I've found it easiest to use a paint brush and brush the glue on the shoes.  You can try to squeeze glue on each diamond, but it's a little more difficult.  Try each method and see which one you prefer.  They both have the same outcome!

Let your shoes sit at least two days before wearing them.  Don't even touch them!  The glue needs some time to dry and harden!

Secret Santa Gifts

Secret Santa shopping is either super easy or impossible.  Lets face it, there's no in-between.  Am I the only one, or does every year it seem like I get myself into more and more gift exchanges.  (yay!)  And every year I get stuck with the most difficult people!  (so not fair!)

This year was no different....  I got one easy person, one medium, and one hard.

Easy: my cousin Megan

Medium: my friend (sister) Sara

Hard: my friend Andrew

What do you get a guy for a Secret Santa gift?  It took me almost a week to think of the perfect present... You ready for the ultimate gift for your most difficult... (what are they called? ....gift recipient?)  You get the point...

A Candy Card!! Yes, I wrote my own candy card and I'm very proud of it.  I guess I'll let you copy it if you're in the same situation I was...Merry Christmas.  Here's what I wrote (candy bars are bolded) :)

Mr. Goodbar,

        I tried to come up with gift ideas and found myself in a Crunch.  After Black Friday shopping I didn't have 100 Grand and it wasn't PayDay.  I talked to Mounds of people and offered a Whatchamacallit for any ideas, but not even the 3 Musketeers were able to help.  Then, strolling down 5th Avenue, I had a Nutrageous idea.  What about a card that will make him Snicker!  So I'd like to Take 5 and wish you a Merry Twix-mas because your M-Azing friend couldn't think of anything better.

Your Secret Santa, 

Carmello

There's only one problem.  Mars quit making the "M-Azing" candy bar.  :(  I didn't know this before I wrote the card and really didn't want to change it.  So instead of an M-Azing bar, it's a Hershey's bar with a picture of the "M-Azing" wrapper taped to it.  Just paste this image into Word, change the size (1.06" height and 3.00" width) and print.  Clever right!  He'll get the idea...  

Here's what you'll need...

-Mr. Goodbar

-Crunch

-100 Grand

-PayDay

-Mounds

-Whatchamacallit

-3 Musketeers

-5th Avenue

- Reese's Nutrageous

-Snickers

-Take 5

-Twix

-Hershey's 

-Carmello

-printed "M-Azing" wrapper

-poster board or foam board

-packaging tape

-pencil

-sharpie or marker

Start by writing your message on the board in pencil.  I always write too small, so this step is a must, but if you feel you can do it in marker, by all means go ahead.  Trace over the pencil in sharpie once your spacing is okay.  Roll tape and tape each candy bar in it spot.  Sit back and admire your creation, because it's going to be the best gift this year!  (I guess you can take some credit...I won't tell you found the idea online!) :)