Weekly Calendar/Planner Printable

I've been having fun trying to get myself a little more organized lately... it all started over Memorial Day weekend when my husband had 4 days off in a row and we decided to stay home instead of going on a little weekend vacation.  We planned in advance and accomplished so much!

Well, now, I'm thinking about summer.  My older daughter will be going to school for the first time in the Fall and it's all day!  So, I want to make sure we do a lot of fun things this summer and work on some kind of schedule, to help prepare her for schedule-oriented school.

I made a super simple weekly calendar/schedule printable for my own use, so I thought I'd share.  Use it however you like, whether you want to use it to create a weekly menu or track your daily health/fitness routine.  It's designed to print 2 on a page (8.5x11).  Enjoy!

Download Here

Recipes to use up leftover baby cereals!

I don't know about you, but now that Evelyn is out of the baby food stage, I have a ton of baby food cereals leftover!  So, I went on a search for some recipes of things she (or even the whole family) could eat so these cereals don't go to waste!  Let me know what you think of these or if you've tried any modifications or other recipes!

Nutritious Banana-Oatmeal Cookies:

• 1 cup enriched all-purpose flour (you can use unbleached or cracked wheat flour for more nutrition)
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon (you should leave this out until your baby is 12 months old)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup vegetable shortening
• 1 cup sugar (optional, you can substitute ½ cup juice and add an extra ½ cup of oatmeal)
• 1 large egg (if your baby is under 1yr., you can substitute 2 egg yolks, or 3Tbls. Applesauce)
• 2 or 3 bananas, mashed and very ripe (we recommend pureeing them to get ALL the lumps out)
• 2 ¼ cups infant oatmeal cereal (you can use regular rolled oats but you won’t get the extra vitamins. When using rolled oats, use 1 ¾ cups oats and 1 ½ cups flour)

You can make these with or without the sugar depending on whether you would like to eat them too. It isn’t a lot of sugar and the cookies aren’t very sweet, so they are a good treat for your baby. This recipe will make 5 dozen baby sized cookies or 3 dozen regular sized cookies. (Juice will make cookies very soft.)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in small bowl.
3. In a large bowl, cream the shortening and sugar (or juice with the oatmeal).
Beat in the egg and bananas. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix well.
4. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls 1 ½ inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Bake for 12 minutes until lightly browned. Cool on rack.
You should freeze what cookies your baby won’t be able to eat in 5 days.

Infant Cereal Cookies (High Iron)

• 3 cup (60 ml) blackstrap molasses
• 3 cup (180 ml) all-purpose flour
• 3 cup (60 ml) butter or margarine
• 2 tsp. (2 ml) baking powder
• 1 egg
• 2 cups (500 ml) infant cereal, dry
• 1 tsp. (5 ml) vanilla
• 3 tbsp. (45 ml) whole milk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°F.  Grease cookie sheet.  Lightly cream butter/margarine and molasses together.  Mix in egg and vanilla.  In another bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and cereal together, and blend into butter mixture.  Mix in whole milk. Combine thoroughly.  Drop onto greased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.  Bake 10-12 minutes, or until lightly brown.  Cool on wire rack.
Makes approximately 2 dozen cookies.
IRON CONTENT: 22 mg per cookie

SUNNY DAY COOKIES

• 2/3 cup butter or margarine
• 1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 cup sifted all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups infant cereal (any variety)

Directions:
Cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Mix together flour, soda and Infant cereal. Blend into creamed mixture. Shape into small balls and drop by spoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheet: flatten with floured fork. Bake 375°F oven for 10-12 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen.


Baby Cereal Pancakes

• 1 cup whole wheat flour (this will make a dense pancake; you can use 1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour if you prefer)
• 1/2 cup uncooked commercial baby barley cereal from the box (or rice ommercial baby cereal) 
• 1/2 cup uncooked commercial baby oatmeal cereal from the box
• 1 cup formula (or another liquid such as milk) 
• 1/2 cup mashed banana (or fruit of your choice) 
• 1 tbsp melted margarine or butter (unsalted type) 
• 3 egg yolks 
• apple juice (about 1/2 cup) or use water if you prefer

**Add cinnamon, nutmeg, dash of vanilla or other flavorings if you wish.

Mix all ingredients together and add enough juice to make pancake consistency. Cook on your cook top in a frying pan as you would with "regular" pancakes. Cooking these baby cereal pancakes on a griddle will work better as you will have more control over the temperature and will be better able to keep the temp. at a constant heat.

**Freezes Well**

Mini Fruit Pancakes
Ingredients:

• 2 c whole wheat flour
• 1 c infant cereal
• 1 T baking powder
• 1 T brown sugar
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 2-1/2 c partially skimmed milk
• 1 egg
• 3 T oil
• juice of half a lemon
• 1/2 c fresh or frozen unsweetened fruits (peaches, strawberries, blueberries)

Instructions:
On a large sheet of waxed paper, combine all dry ingredients, except fruit. In a large bowl, mix milk, egg, and oil and lemon juice. Add solid ingredients to liquid ingredients and stir lightly; carefully fold in fruits. Cook on a preheated and greased skillet for 3 to 4 minutes. Makes about 20 small pancakes.


Elaina’s Cookies
Ingredients:

• 2/3c. Butter, softened
• 1/2c. Apple sauce
• 1/2c. White sugar
• 1.2c. Packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1-tsp. Vanilla extract
• 1c. Dry infant cereal (any variety)
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1tsp. Baking soda
• 1tsp. Salt
• 1/2c. Wheat germ

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease or line baking sheets w/ parchment paper.
2. In medium bowl, mix butter applesauce, white sugar, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla. Beat until well combined.
3. In another bowl, infant cereal, flour baking soda, salt, and wheat germ. Add to wet ingredients and mix well.
4. Spoon onto baking sheet; bake for 8 to 10min. at 375 degrees, or until just set. Let cool before storing. Makes 2 ½ dozen.

Teething Biscuits

• 2 Tablespoons Shortening
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 Egg (no whites until a year, so you may want to use two yolks)
• 1tsp Baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
• 1 tsp. water
• 1 1/2 Cups baby cereal

Directions:
Heat Oven to 300 Degrees F. Cream shortening and sugar together. Add Egg, baking powder, salt, vanilla, and water. Mix until well blended. Gradually stir in cereal. Knead well until smooth. Pat into rectangle (12" x 2 1/2"). Cut into 12 (1-inch) bars. Smooth edges so they will not be sharp. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 20-30 Mins., or until dry. Store in uncovered container overnight. Makes 12 biscuits.

Eggless Baby Teething Biscuits
Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup dry infant rice cereal with bananas (or other flavored infant cereal)
• 1/2 cup dry plain infant rice (or other) cereal
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil
• ice water

Directions:
Preheat oven 425F.  Mix flour and cereal.  Gradually stir in oil. Mix a little ice water at a time (start with 1/4 cup) until dough begins to form a ball and pull away from the bowl.  Roll out to the thickness of a cracker on a floured surface and cut into desired shapes.  Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet 10-12 min. or until lightly brown. Cool completely.  Store in an airtight container.

a little motivation...

I've been looking for a little motivation.. in general.. and I'm a sucker for inspirational quotes and phrases.  Maybe you are too!  Here's a simple free printable for you to download.  It's sized to 8.5x11, but could easily be printed as an 8x10 as well.  Enjoy!

Click to Download

Leave a comment if you snag it!

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

About a month ago, I posted THIS picture on Instagram and since then I've had several comments/notes from friends about them, so I thought I'd share!

These are the best peanut butter cookies I have ever had and the EASIEST recipe ever.  My sister Gina told me about them years ago and I've never forgotten.  Thanks, Gina!!  So, here's the recipe!

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

INGREDIENTS
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg

DIRECTIONS
Mix ingredients together in a medium bowl.  Roll into small balls, place on a cookie sheet (I don't grease it, but you can if you want).  Then smash them down (you must smash them down or they will burn.  These don't spread much).  We like to do the simple criss-cross pattern with a fork.

Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

They will still be super soft when you take them out (if they're not, try less time next time), so let them cool completely before trying to take them off of the cookie sheet.

I like to sprinkle a little sugar on top when they're still warm.

Yes, that's it!   I'd love to hear what you put in them to make them more exciting, but I also LOVE them plain!  I've heard of people adding nuts, chocolate chips (maybe do a little less sugar), whatever you want!  Enjoy!

Taco Casserole (Beef) Recipe

(UPDATED 5/16/2013): In my haste, I realized I wasn't too thorough with this recipe, so I've added some more details.  Also, I made a mistake on the rice, so the photo of my recipe card is not quite right!!  I meant for it to be 3-4 cups COOKED rice... and really, it should be more like 2 cups, maybe 3 if you really like rice :)

I found these great (FREE) PDF Fill-in and Print Recipe Cards from Love vs. Design.  I love the style and how easy it is to type everything in without it looking messy.  It's a great design, well-thought design.  This is the first recipe I printed out.  This is one of those fail-proof go to meals, which is very important to me... I'm admittedly not the best or most creative cook, but I'm learning!  It's so addicting and delicious and you can easily modify it to fit your own lifestyle/make it a little healthier.  It's the BEST leftover.  Yum.

Taco Casserole (Beef)

INGREDIENTS
1 lb. lean ground beef
2 c. rice (COOKED amount) - I like to use brown rice, but white is good too!
1 can chili beans (drained)
1 can green chiles
1 can mild Rotel
1 c. chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken
1-2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
garlic powder
onion powder
chili powder
cumin
salt & pepper

DIRECTIONS
1. Brown beef and season to taste (salt, pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin).  Spread beef along the bottom of a baking dish (9x13 or whatever you like... I like to use a deep pyrex casserole dish).  Pour 1/2 cup chicken broth over the beef.
2. Prepare rice as indicated on package.  Add green chiles, rotel, cream of chicken and 1/2 cup chicken broth to rice.  Season to taste using listed spices (I'm pretty generous with the spices...).  Layer rice mixture on top of beef and spread evenly.
3. Pour chili beans over the rice mixture and spread evenly.
4. Top with shredded cheese and bake.

Bake at 375 until cheese is melted and slightly bubbling along the edges (approx. 20 min.)
Serves 6.

I like to garnish this with a little sour cream or greek yogurt, diced tomatoes and shredded lettuce.

Enjoy!

Weekly Dinner Meal Planning | Free Printable

It's a new year and like most people, I have been motivated to organize my life.  I've created a new budget for my family and have realized that we spend way too much money on food simply because we don't usually have a plan for dinner.  I HATE trying to decide last minute what to make for dinner and then it seems like I never have the right ingredients.  SO.  I'm going to try my hand at Meal Planning.  I created this simple printable to help me stay organized and hope it might be able to help you too!

Click Here to Download (PDF)

If you find this useful, I'd love for you to leave a comment and let me know!  Also, if you have any meals that show up frequently on your menu, I'd love to hear about them!

Stick Puppets made from Stickers

Adelle was SO EXCITED to get these stickers, so I didn't want her to just put them on random things and use them all up right away.

  I just glued them on to paper, then hot glued popsicle/craft sticks onto them.  Now they're stick puppets!  She's been playing with them for hours!

Bamboozled - A Personal Note

Yesterday afternoon I took a little break and got on Pinterest to look for a little Independence Day-themed activity I could do with my 3 and 1/2 year-old daughter.  Let me first say that I have a love-hate relationship with Pinterest... there are SO MANY great ideas, things to make (as if I have the skills to really make most of them).  It's like a one-stop guide on how to be perfect at everything in life.  Honestly, it kind of overwhelms me.  There are enough things in my life that I want to do and haven't found time to do yet.  I only open it maybe once a week or if I'm looking for something specific.  Well, as I was looking, I of course got sidetracked by some other things that had been pinned by friends.

I have fallen prey to pinning anything I think I might want to look at again... and like most women, I'm sure, I have a "Get Healthy" board.  I know that I can live a healthier life than I do now, so why not, while I'm pinning what I seem to think is the complete guide to PERFECTION, pin a collection of healthy foods/recipes and fun workouts that will keep me active.  Well, I came across a pin yesterday that looks like this:

The picture already made me hesitant to put it in my own Get Healthy board, but I saw the caption... simple instructions for a simple routine that I could easily do every day before I get in the shower.  Great!  Well, I have this bad habit of pinning things without actually going to the website it was originally pinned from... I know you do it too.  So, this morning I got a second to get on the computer (Pinterest was already open from the night before), so I clicked on the pin after I had already pinned it, seeing that some of my friends had repinned it as well.  By actually clicking on the pin, it revealed the website where it came from (I'm not even going to provide a link to the website - I couldn't even find this picture as I scrolled through and saw way more than I wanted to.) - a bombardment of photos of extremely lean and barely dressed women (practically pornographic), doing "fit" poses and showing close-ups of their abs and rock hard bodies.  My stomach seemed to rise to my shoulders and then do a back flip into my rib cage.

My body is a temple.  It is a house for my spirit and I am amazed everyday about what I can accomplish because I have a body.  I need to take better care of it and I WANT to be healthier.  I want to have more energy than I do now.  I want to be an example of good health for my daughters.  BUT.  I will NOT let something posing as "good health" become something that makes me feel ashamed about my body or about who I am as a person.  My weakness in this area does not define who I am as a person!

My worth is not defined by how I look (neither is yours).  It is definitely not defined by how I look compared to others.  Learning how to live a healthy lifestyle that suits your life - that is a worthy pursuit.
We can make positive changes that can help us feel better physically and emotionally.  We can make small, realistic goals (I write this for myself as well).  We can reward ourselves for meeting those goals (a reward does not have to be food!).  We can do ALL of this without comparing ourselves to others.  We can even do it without stepping on a scale.  Imagine that.

I found this article interesting... what do you think about it?

Please excuse my rant.  I'm done... for now.

This week, I have the opportunity to be a sponsor at 365 Cards!  As I'm sure many of you know, this blog started out as a home to my handmade cards, something I still love to do, though don't find as much time for these days... as a former DT member at 365 Cards, I am so excited to see what these wonderful card makers come up with using my digital papers!  So far, there's no disappointment!!  Also, I am offering a special 40% discount to 365 Cards readers and anyone who sees it!  Just use the code 365365 on ANYTHING in the shop through Saturday, June 2nd!

Enjoy!

The Ashleigh Album

I'm excited to introduce a new product in the Heidi Stock Design Shop!

The Ashleigh Album!  This is a 10x10 Album Template (WHCC) which includes 10 page spreads and cover designs as well.  I love how simple and classic these layouts are.  You really could use this for any occasion.  What do you think?

Thanks to Lori George Photography for the use of her beautiful images.

Why Easter and a Free Printable!

Easter is my favorite holiday because of the hope that it gives.  Jesus Christ was resurrected and so, we will also be resurrected.  That is a promise extended to all of us, whether we accept His atoning sacrifice or not.  We will all live again.  I love the opportunity that we have to celebrate that gift and how personal and meaningful it is for me.  I'm grateful for the example of Jesus Christ and for all that he did during his mortal life on the earth.  I want to share this video, which is a simple depiction of what happened that day.



If you're still reading, I also want to share a free printable.  You can print it, frame it, display it in your home, whatever you like.  Just please don't distribute it.  If you want to share it, send them here to download it.

Click to Download

I hope you have a wonderful holiday and find the opportunity to remember why we celebrate.

Happy Easter! (Check out the previous post about the HSD sale tomorrow, April 5th!)

That's right, tomorrow, Thursday, April 5th (ALL DAY), you can get your whole order for 40% OFF at Heidi Stock Design on Etsy!  Just use the coupon code: EA5TER

Have a great weekend and holiday!

I love getting to see the final printed product of one of my designs.   These Christmas cards turned out great!  Thanks, Lori, for sharing!

This card could be so easily adapted for any occasion by simply changing the wording!  You can find it here.

Hello!  I haven't updated in quite a while, but I've been a little busy... :)

Evelyn Elizabeth joined our family in January and we just love being a family of four.  My grandma (who we live with) also returned home recently from a rehabilitation center and is stronger than ever!  We are truly witnessing miracles everyday.

On the business side, I'm excited to be contributing to Jen's Fabulous Stuff, a website specifically for professional templates and photographer tools.

I've also added several new items to my Etsy Shop that I'm very happy about, so when you get a chance, check it out!

Everything in my Etsy Shop is 50% NOW through Thursday, 12/22.  Check out my printable posters - a great last minute Christmas gift!  Use the Coupon Code: HOHOHO

Deseret Book: Free HSD Print!

Shopping at Deseret Book this week? Make sure you check in via Facebook Mobile to claim an exclusive deal at your location! http://www.facebook.com/DeseretBook

You'll get your choice of 1 of 3 subway art prints! Simply "check-in" on Facebook Places on your phone and show your check-in screen to the cashier - no purchase necessary! (you DO need to have the Facebook app downloaded to your phone to complete your check in)

This is at ALL Deseret Book stores and it runs through the ends of the month!

Christmas Gift Tag Freebie!

I know, it's not even Halloween yet!  What am I doing listening to A Very She & Him Christmas on Spotify and making Christmas gift tags??  Well, when you're a designer, you have to plan for the people/customers who plan ahead :)  It's just like being in choir... you start practicing holiday music right after your fall concert is over (I really miss singing in choir!!).

Anyway, I have another FREEBIE for you today!!  These gift tags were created primarily using my Christmas Mod Digital Paper Pack, which is at a special low price, so if you want some digital papers to use for cards, scrapbook pages, wrapping paper or now to go with your gift tags, go check it out :)

Download Here

(Made to be printed on 8.5x11 paper)

PLEASE leave a comment and let me know if you're downloading it! The downloader doesn't tell me how many people have downloaded, so your comment will let me know whether people are really downloading it (in other words, if it's worth my time to keep offering freebies).

Thanks and Enjoy!

MONSTER Giveaway!

Today I'm participating in a MONSTER Giveaway over at Beauty Divine.  It features SIXTEEN Template/Digital Designers with a HUGE grand prize!  Tell all of your photographer friends!  The winner will be announced on Halloween!

Also, visit the giveaway to get a 10% Coupon Code to anything in my Etsy Shop!

I Am a Child of God Free Wall Art Printable 8x10

I'm back with another free printable wall art.  I've been a little blocked creatively lately and this seems to help :)  Leave a comment and let me know if you have any gospel-related wall art requests :)

OR if you're looking for something a little different, check out the Wall Art Printables in my Etsy shop!

Download Here

Enjoy!

October 2011 Visiting Teaching Printable, etc.

I cannot believe it's already October!  Not only is it my favorite time of year, but tomorrow I celebrate my 4th Anniversary with my husband Lucas.  Part of me can't believe it's already been four years, but another part of me feels like I've been married forever.  I'm so grateful to be married to my best friend.  Our relationship just keeps getting better and better.

Another reason I love October is the LDS General Conference, which happens every 6 months.  We're blessed to be able to watch it on TV at home.  The week before the normal sessions, there was a General Relief Society broadcast, which I absolutely loved.  President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a wonderful talk on the power of knowing "why."  If you missed it, here's a clip.

I feel like this month's Visiting Teaching Message fits in really nicely with President Uchtdorf's talk. 

I focused on a small part of it and made a little printable handout to share (this is a 5x7).

Click Here to Download

"The “why” of obedience sanctifies our actions, transforming the mundane into the majestic. It magnifies our small acts of obedience into holy acts of consecration." - President Uchtdorf

Enjoy and feel free to share it/print it as many times as you like!