Picture Coasters

I made two sets of picture coasters as Christmas gifts last year. I never posted pictures of them when I made them since they were gifts. But, since people say its "Christmas in July" I felt it would be appropriate to post them now.
They are pretty easy to make and my mom and dad loved them!

Materials:
White tissue paper
Mod Podge
Paint brush- I used the foam brushes
Blank tile coasters- I bought two packages of the travertine tiles from Home Depot, I believe there were 6 in each although there could have been more. They only cost a few dollars for a package
Clear acrylic sealer- comes in a spray paint can
Felt feet- I bought the sticker kind, easy to put on. So they don't scratch whatever surface you place them on

You also need a printer and tape.

Start out by picking out a picture per coaster. I picked two of each boy, since I was making a set of four.
Once you have your pictures picked out you need to print them on the tissue paper.
To do this tape a piece of your tissue paper to a piece of printer paper. Then print the picture as usual. I printed mine in black and white and loved how they turned out.
Once you have your pictures, lay out the tissue paper over the tile (I trimmed the excess picture off to make it fit over the tile.) Some tiles are really porous and the tissue paper will rip so I would choose a less porous tile out of the bunch.
Using the foam brush Mod Podge the the tissue to the tile. Use two/three coats letting each coat dry before applying the next.
Once you have applied the ModPodge spray the acrylic sealer on top to protect the coaster. I used three coats to be on the safe side. Let dry. I let them dry on our porch over night.
I added four felt feet to the bottom of each coaster (one in each corner).

They should now be ready to use or gift! Enjoy

Kalen's 1st Bday Picture

Lucas at Christmas

Lucas about 2 weeks old

Kalen at the Fall Festival

JELL-O Cookies

I saw these Jell-O Cookies on pinterest and decided to make them to take with us on the Fourth of July.  Here is the original site that I followed. I put Lucas in for his nap and Kalen and I had Mommy son time making and playing with our Jell-O cookies.  Since we were making these cookies to take and share Kalen got a separate batch to play with before we baked them.  He really enjoyed making the cookies with Mommy.  I will post the recipe at the bottom after pictures.  I am sure these will become a favorite to make in our house since there are so many flavors to try out.
The cookies turned out great, I didn't really know what to expect.  They were definitely different, but good.  It's crazy because the cookies taste fruity from the Jello and I think you just expect a suagr cookie taste. I used Berry Blue, Lemon, Cherry, and Cherry Lemonade Jell-O.

Mixing the Flour and Baking Powder

Dumping the sugar in

Kneading playing with the dough

So Proud

Testing his creation

Lucas approves

Our Red, White, and Blue Jell-O cookies (Cherry, Lemon, and Berry Blue Jell-0 flavors)

Ingredients

*3.5 Cups of Flour

*1 tsp Baking Powder

*1.5 cups salted butter-softened

*1 cup sugar

*1 egg

*1 tsp Vanilla

* 4 pkgs of Jell-O (you pick your flavors)

Directions

1. Beat butter in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Blend in egg and vanilla. Mix flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Gradually beat in flour mixture.
2. Divide dough into 4 sections. Sprinkle 2 Tb of jello onto each section. Knead together with dough. You can add food coloring to make the colors bolder.
3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in the extra jello from the packets. Place, 2 inches apart, on baking sheets. Flatten with bottom of bowl.
4. Bake 8 to 10 min at 350 on lined baking sheets. Cool on baking sheets 2 min. Remove to wire racks and cool completely.

This makes about 2 dozen cookies.  I had more because my cookie balls were not the same size.



July 4th Fun

My favorite Holiday has come and gone! I absolutely love everything about the 4th, celebrating America, hanging with family, eating BBQ, being outside, and the best part the Fireworks.  This year we headed up to Jacksonville and then headed down to the St. Augustine area and headed to my Step dads sisters rental on Vilano Beach. 
We spent all day outside either at the beach or at the pool.  Neither of the boys have been to the beach so I was really excited to see how they reacted to everything.  Both boys immediately ran for the Ocean.  We tried to tell Kalen to slow down and wait for us but he was clearly way too excited and a wave tackled him right when he made it to the water and as soon as he stood back up another one got him.  Kalen didn't really enjoy that what so ever, so he took himself back up to the tent and was content on digging in the sand for a while.  Lucas however is a fish and stayed out in the ocean with Daddy for ever.  He was hanging out on a boogie board and wiggling around in the Ocean.  After all the kids were done with the beach we spent the rest of the day in the pool.
Our night was caped off with a trip to the Vilano Beach Pier to watch the St. Augustine Fireworks.

Lucas heading to the water

Lucas with Daddy and Uncle Nole

Digging

Bubble break

"Yes" He was excited for the fireworks

Watching the Fireworks

Lucas loved the Fireworks, he kept saying "Wow"

Long day!! He barely made it off the pier