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The new year is ripe with hope, change, and opportunity to make healthier choices with what we and our kids eat. And after the donuts I made this week, I figure a little re-focus onto healthier choices is good. Not that I don't love the occasional sweet treat. :)

Here are this week's links:

Six Sisters' Stuff: 100 healthy snack ideas, perfect for those looking to make healthier choices and still keep the taste buds happy.

Copy Cat Cook: Make homemade Strawberry Fruit Roll Ups With Nothing but strawberries and cinnamon

Simple Organic: Real Food Changes that make a big impact (I was surprised by the "add fat to vegetables" one)

Here's a little Christmas Cute Food Link love:

Little Food Junction: Love this Kiwi Christmas Tree

Little Nummies: Make Cinnamon Sugar Snowflake Tortilla crsips. So cute (and doable!)

Jenni Price Illustration: Whip up a precious Pancake Angel with this step-by-step tutorial. *FOr personal use only please. :)

I am totally in the Christmas spirit! Here are this week's links.


Iowa Girl Eats: Mini Cinnamon Rolls in a Muffin Tin. As my son would say "Oh. My. Heavens." Not only do these look delicious, but easy! Perfect little bites for Christmas Morning food.

Little Bit Funky: Quick Reindeer Thumbprint Ornament Craft  We did this with gift tags last year, but how fun with ornaments!

Lisa Storms: Reindeer Treat Bags. (Can you see a theme to this week's link round up?) These are absolutely adorable!

San Diego Deals and Steals: Recycle old baby food jars for a cute holiday teacher gift (pictured above). I love that guest poster Rory had help from her sweet daughter.

Here are a few wonderful links I have come across this week. Hope you enjoy!

Katie's Nesting Spot: Celebrate gratitude all year long with this DIY dry erase board dedicated to thankfulness

Sugar Jones: Quiche Your Leftovers Goodbye.  Still have leftovers? Love this recipe even if you don't.

Simple Mom: The easiest Christmas Advent Calendar ever. Seriously.

Here's a little Sunday link love:

The Babba Box: Would your kids love to receive a box in the mail filled with themed crafts, activities, and books? The folks at Babba Co. have done all the work for you and put together just such a box. The Babbabox is perfect for ages 3-6 years. Perfect Holiday or Birthday gift

BHG:Apple Cider in an Apple Mug This is an adorable idea from Better Homes and Gardens. Hallow out a large apple and fill it with your favorite apple cider recipe. Fun fall presentation!

Design Sponge: Create simple festive food picks (above) this holiday season by altering this vintage garden marker idea from design sponge. I have some fun fall fabrics that would be so sweet!

Cake Central: Holiday baking gets an inexpensive makeover with this simple trick. Turn dollar store doilies into chic cupcake wrappers.

Photo via Design Sponge

I promised myself I would not break out the Fall decor until after August was over. For the first time in years I am excited about the advent of the Fall season.


JamieOliver.com Savor the End of Summer with these flavored water recipes- Add fruit and veggies to water for an extra healthy flavor boost. Cucumbers, sliced orange, watermelon, honey dew, mashed up strawberries

Nuturing Naters: Love this Fall/Thanksgiving-themed sensory bin for preschoolers. (this makes me excited for fall)

Brooklyn LimeStone: Banana Toffee or "Banoffee" Pie made with easy homemade toffee!

**For more creative ideas all week long, visit my pin boards on Pinterest

Here are some sweet links!

Parents.com: Make these adorable Sweet heart kabobs (or is it kebabs?)Perfect for back to school lunches or after school!

Joy's Hope: I love this "art of the go" kit, as part of Little Blue Boo's What would you make?

Almost UnSchoolers: Orange slice and grape butterflies - perfect for muffin tin monday. If you use it, be sure to bookmark it so you can give credit later. :)

Me and my Insanity: Find paper flower cup bling at the showcase of her daughter's fairy party. So many fun ideas!

A Pocket Full of Buttons: Wow your friends and family with this easy Veggie Pizza recipe. Looks so yummy!

*photo credit: A pocket full of buttons

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I'm nominated for a Parents.com Best Food Blog Award for 2011

I would love your vote.I don't get anything for winning, just a little extra cool points. :)  It asks you to sign up, but you can decline all the newsletters if you wish. And if you are already a member of the Better Homes and Gardens site (which I am -love their room designer), you are good to go.

Hello friends! Here's the latest installment of weekend links that you might enjoy. Who needs the Sunday Paper with links like these.

Keeper of The Home: poured over Meg Dickey's post on  Herb Gardening 101. I'm getting ready to plant a kitchen/deck herb garden and she has a lot of good tips.

Ohdeedoh!: Forget about kids: I want a reading nook like this!

Living Locurto: Besides her fantastic mermaid printables, I LOVE Amy's sushi sandwiches idea. perfect for MTM.

Here are some Fun Food posts. Enjoy!

Epicute: Strawberry and Whipped Cream Santas for "Christmas in July"

The Decorated Cookie: Like Muffin Tin Meals? How about Mason Jar Meals? Perfect for a picnic or anytime you want to change things up. {image credit above}

Lark: 'Aristocakes' King and Queen silicone muffin cups

and just for fun:

How To Be A Dad: Zombies vs. Babies

I haven't posted one of my NNFSP link love round ups in a long time. Are you still with me? I had coffee with my friend Laura. You may know her as Semper Fi Momma. She and I got to talking about life, blogging, our mutual love of pinterest, starbucks, and other stuff for 3 solid hours. It was glorious. In honor of that, here are some Starbucks craft ideas for you to get inspired.

I love Laura's framed starbucks cards art Seriously, her story about her collection is delightful.

Starbucks Bento? Oh yes there is.

A Starbucks proposal? So cute. I love all the little details.

Didn't want to leave you hanging this week...

This week's links

Simple Bites: Learn the in's and out's of creating pantry staples from scratch in this "Eat Well, Spend Less series.

A Little Learning For Two: Earth Day is Aprill 22, teach your child gratitude for the earth with this simple play-dough and Popsicle stick activity. Found via Teach Preschool on Tumblr.

Meet The Dubiens: Easy shaving cream bathtub paints in a muffin tin. As my son likes to say "easy peasy lemon squeeze-y"

Photo credit: A Little Learning for Two

Punkin Patterns: Do you sew? Looking for a way to help your little one learn to set the table on his/her own?Then this table setting placemat tutorial is perfect for you. Found via One Pretty Thing

Family Fun: Squee! These little "Dye-ving Dudes" dyed Easter Eggs are so stinkin' cute. They make me giggle and smile.

Crafts By Amanda: Love this angry birds craft made from carboard tubes! Do you your kids love angry birds as much as my kids do?

CupKate's Event Design: Pushpop Cupcakes? Um, hello! I am so there. Found via Love from The Oven via Edible Crafts on Craft Gossip also, if you want the containers...and puh-lease, I know you do, Kate sells them in her etsy shop. However, she is currently sold out. Boo!

{Image Credit: Love From The Oven}

This week's links:

Our Daily Obsessions: Super Cute Baking Themed Birthday Party Ideas (found via Tip Junkie)

Penny Carnival: Create a hanging cloth book display. Love this! YOu can make it in colorful patterns and hang at any height.

Giver's Log: Create your own doodled shadow puppets with transparency paper. Need a shadow puppet theater too? GL has a tutorial for that as well. Score!

[photo by krystiano]

This week's links:

Zakka Life (photo credit above):  Check out this adorable super hero lollipop "bling" with free printable.
While made for Valentine's Day, these would be fun for any time!

Alisa Burke: love this unique painted butterfly wreath on old encyclopedias found via the Crafty Crow

The Cupcake Blog: Artist's palette cupcakes....so cute! And google "artist's pallette cupcakes" (with misspelling) and you get more great ideas.

I'll keep this short today. In case you miss the Superbowl (in America), I thought you might enjoy this little commercial sneak peek:



Here's the link, you are viewing this in email format. It's so cute!

And for links I have been collecting this week, be sure to visit my tumblr page.

some good stuff:


Pioneer Woman: What's not to love about Ree? And she loves featuring the awesomeness of others like this before and after showcase from The Lettered Cottage. love the clean look of this style.

Pizzazerie: Heart shaped red velvet cake whoopie pies, complete with recipes. Yummy!

My Paper Crane: Super cute heart-shaped doilie valentines perfect for kids! found via The Craft Crow.