Back to School celebration

 Back to School celebration 

Today I start my back to school celebration on my blog. It's International Teacher day so let's have fun.  

• Books, library 
• Crafts
• School recipe 
• Home school tips 

This year school starts 8/13 and will be my son's first year teaching English. 

Peanut Butter Cookies and bag

 It's a fun back to school paper bag craft to hold homemade cookies. 

It's International Teacher day! 

This is fun and easy snack bag with a little paint .I took a paper bag and cut the top in a triangle shape . Then painted the bag to look like a yellow pencil ✏️ . Filled with cookies and fabric bow.

Peanut Butter Cookies: 

• 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour (scoop and level to measure)
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup  unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup  granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup   packed light brown sugar
• 3/4 cup  creamy peanut butter
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 18 by 13-inch  baking sheets with silicone baking liners or parchment paper. 
• In a medium mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment cream together butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until combined.
• Mix in peanut butter then blend in egg and vanilla. With mixer set on low speed slowly add in flour mixture and mix just until combined. 
• Scoop dough out and shape into balls (30 grams each or nearly 2 Tbsp) then place on baking sheets spacing them 2-inches apart.
• Using a long pronged fork flatten cookies slightly then turn fork going opposite direction and flatten just slightly again (it should create that criss cross pattern).
• Bake cookies in preheated oven, one sheet at a time, for about 9 minutes (cookies will appear pale and slightly under-baked, they'll continue to cook slightly as they cool). 
• Let cool on baking sheet 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store cookies and an 

Diy Crayon candles

In honor of back to school this week I am melting some old candles into a candles 

 

This is a great way to use broken candles from last year stash. Since each color is a different color of melted crayons.  

Start with a clean jar , add a wick. Then melt each  color of crayons in microwave in a glass container..Pour into jar and let firm up before adding next color crayons.  

It takes time but makes a great candles.  

Today starts our Back to School celebration on my blog....

August Bullet Journal

It's August an in Louisiana it's Back to School time 

We are closed for clean up at the library.

We open 8/10 at 2 pm till 5:30 for after school totoring. And homeschool group.

August Back to School bullet journal.   

Holiday 

Celebrating Chocolate Chip cookie Day 

• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup brown sugar packed
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour properly measured
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 F.
• Microwave the butter for about 40 seconds. Butter should be completely melted but shouldn’t be hot.
• In a large bowl, mix butter with the sugars until well-combined.
  ½ cup butter,½ cup granulated sugar,¼ cup brown sugar
• Stir in vanilla and egg until incorporated.
  2 teaspoons vanilla extract,1 large egg
• Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Please read the recipe note about properly measuring flour. 
  1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour,½ teaspoon baking soda,½ teaspoon kosher salt
• Mix dough until just combined. Dough should be soft and a little sticky but not overly sticky.
• Stir in chocolate chips.
  1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• Scoop out 1.5 tablespoons of dough (medium cookie scoop) and place 2 inches apart on baking sheet.
• Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until cookies are set. They will be puffy and still look a little underbaked in the middle.3

Southern Watermelon Rind preserves

 

• ingredients
• 6 cups watermelon rind, diced
• 4 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 lemon, sliced thinly, then seeded
• 1 teaspoon allspice

Peel green skin off the watermelon, but leave a little of the red pulp on rind. Cut into 1-inch slices, then slice into 1-inch cubes. Place rind in a large pot and cover with the sugar until the fruit doesn’t show. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate overnight.

Place pot on stove and add lemon slices and allspice, if desired. Boil whole mixture until rind is clear, about 2 hours.

Pack into clean, hot jars. Wipe rims and screw on lids. Process 10 minutes in boiling water deep enough to cover lids by at least 1 inch. Serve the preserves on buttered toast, if desired.

NOTE: After cutting watermelon, save the rind in the refrigerator until you are ready to prepare the preserves

StarGARDENfeature 8/3/26

 

WELCOME to the first week of the August 2026 "You're the Star" Blog Hop!

Before we continue onto the Linky party I wanted to share from my blog:

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WELCOME to GARDEN feature week of the August 2026 "You're the STAR" blog hop!

Meet all of your Hosts

This week is GARDEN feature week
Swing by the Hosts blogs:

Angie @ God's Growing Garden
Colleen @ Butterfly in the Attic

Michelle @ Moms Are Frugal

Lisa @ At Home With Lisa

Kris @ Kris and Larry . com

This is a month long Linky party featuring YOU!

There will be 4 different features each week and 4 different feature categories.  Just to be clear - this is NOT a themed party - you may link up ANY family-friendly blog posts any day of each month. 
The "theme" occurs in our weekly features:
WEEK#1 GARDEN - gardening, homesteading, recycling, outdoor activities &/or preserving (this can include any type of green living,  repurposed ideas, outdoor concerns, posts relating to farm animals etc all while remaining family friendly)

(These features were chosen from the July 2026 "You're the Star" blog hop)

Visiting the Green Bay Botanical Gardens by Amy's Creative Pursuits

Not the Post I Planned......Downed Backyard Tree by Debbie-Dabble Blog

Summer Squash Quiche with Thyme Carol on the Lake

 

How To Process Easier to Peel Garlic by Scratch Made Food

If you've been featured then please grab a STAR button below:

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All Hosts/CoHosts will post this blog hop on every Monday of each week.
Please link up your family friendly blog posts below!
It wouldn't be a linky party with YOU!
(IMPORTANT NOTE: by linking up you understand that you might be featured next month and if so, we will use some of your photos from your post - rest assured - we will always link back to your lovely blog.  We might also share your fantastic posts on social media.  Also, you may link up as many family-friendly posts as you like & YES - other blog hops &/or giveaways are welcome {giveaways and blog hops will NOT be featured though}  Thank You & ENJOY! )

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Book Review : Wicked Stitch

 

When murder strikes the small town of Tallulah Falls, embroidery shop owner Marcy Singer isn’t afraid of getting down to the knitty-gritty to clear her name….
 
For most small-business owners in Tallulah Falls, the upcoming Renaissance Faire is a wonderful way to promote their specialty shops. For Marcy’s nemesis, Nellie, and her sister, Clara, it’s an opportunity to finally put Marcy and her shop, the Seven-Year Stitch, out of business. Apparently the sisters like to make grudges a family affair and have set up competing booths right next to Marcy’s at the Ren Faire.

When Clara is discovered dead in her own booth—strangled by the scarf she had almost finished knitting—Marcy becomes the prime suspect. Now she has to do whatever it takes to keep her reputation from unraveling—and get to the bottom of a most deadly yarn….

Book Review

I really like the characters and the imaginative locations. She brings in the old characters, most in a supporting capacity; but introduces new ones and focuses on the new which keeps interest going. Altogether a good read. Great if you are looking for something light.

Thrifty finds from my Grandma....