Fresh Pineapple Salsa

I really can't complain.  My boys are pretty good vegetable eaters.  Once in awhile they'll say, "I really can't eat them mom, they make me throw up" (and sometimes it actually seems legit) but if I ever want  them to down some veggies without a single complaint or gag reflex, then salsa is on the menu.

I love salsa in all it's varieties!!  Sometimes I love the savory, but other times the sweetness of a salsa completely hits the spot.  This salsa is total bliss!  The fresh pineapple should convince you of that.  I can't get enough of the sweet pineapple with the bite of cilantro, and tang of the onion.  

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The recipe calls for McCormick's salsa seasoning, (this link shows the spicy version, but there recipe calls for mild) but it's tricky to find.  I don't think I've actually had the salsa with the seasoning.  I may have had it once when my sister made it, but I've never been able to round it up, so we just make it without.  It's so delicious that I don't think it needs it.  But I may change my mind once I actually have it with the seasoning.  Really though, if you can't find it, don't let that stop you from making it.  It's fabulous without it! 

YUM! Right?  

And here's another family favorite salsa recipe.  It's all savory, no sweetness.  So, depending on you mood you can choose.

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Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

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Another Teacher Appreciation Printable

Just popping in with one last teacher appreciation quote for you.  This one is probably most fitting for your elementary-aged kids, but I'm guessing those are the teachers that get recognized the most.  Why is that?  I think the WORLD of those middle school teachers, and high school teachers.  I hope you're appreciating them as well!

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And incase you happen to need something for one of those amazing upper-grade teachers, don't worry I've got you covered!!  Here are three other teacher appreciation quotes you can check out.

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Four quick and easy printables for any teacher.  I hope I've given you enough motivation to show some sort of small token of appreciation to those teachers in you family's lives!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

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My Favorite Collections Series {Notebooks}

I have a few things I collect.  Do you?  I find my collections add a touch of happiness to my life in a very simple way.  And since I like to share happy things here at Blissful Roots, I thought I'd start a little series once a month called, 'My Favorite Collections'.  My collections are by no means large and extravagant.  They're small and inexpensive, but meaningful and enjoyable just the same.

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I've always felt a bit silly or slightly unjustified in my notebook collecting habit, especially in this techie world of ours.  But awhile back I was scrolling through my 'Quotes' Pinterest Board, (click here to see all my pinned quotes) and I ran across this quote.  Total validation!!!

I always have a notebook handy because I keep them EVERYWHERE!  We (my boys and I) have some in our car, I always have one in my purse, and the collection by my nightstand is maybe slightly alarming, but I like to keep a notebook for just about everything...

Blogging

Holidays

My Boys

Reading Lists

Home Ideas

Meals/Food

School/PTA

Quotes

Spirituality

Gardening

Places/Vacations

Gratitude/Blessings

…and on and on.  You can see why my love for notebooks has turned into a collection.

I love notebooks because they're inexpensive, they come in many sizes, and you can find notebook covers for just about everything these days.

My most recent notebook purchase came from Target.  I bought a three-pack of these gorgeous botanical notebooks by Rifle Paper Co.  Doesn't it make you want to pick it up and write something in it?  

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I was able to find the notebooks I purchased at Target online as well.  There's a great site called Chronicle Books.  They have all sorts of items, but I searched through their notebooks, and found so many fun ones!  Take a look.

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I had to stop myself because this post could have been miles long with all the adorable notebooks.  And ,there are so many other resources online to find notebooks of all kinds for any occasion.  I could get lost notebook shopping all day long!  

If you're not into shopping online, ALWAYS check out the $1.50 bins at Michaels (also a great place for cute writing utensils).  That's where the majority of my notebooks have come from.  It's fun to splurge once in awhile on a more expensive one, but if you go through them like I do, then at $1.50, the price is right!  Or, you could even try making your own- something I want to try soon.

 So, even though I may be one of the lone souls pulling out my stylish notebook and pen at my next school or church meeting, I'm going to enjoy it just the same.  It's the little things that make me happy.

What do you collect?

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

Linking up to these parties & Savvy Southern Style.

Dollar Store Gift Wrapping

In my beautiful valley, we're a bit limited when it comes to shopping choices.  A Walmart came to town a few years back, and when that came so did Dollar Tree.  We do have two other grocery stores, a Walgreens, a King's plus other locally owned businesses.

I love a good trip down the canyon to Target, but rarely go anymore.  I have to say, I've come to love the challenge of shopping local in a small valley.  It forces me to think outside the box, or use what's available.  It's almost like treasure hunting.  It takes an extra bit of effort to find the cute things, (unlike Target where I could buy something on every isle) but they're there if you take the time to look.

So, my four-year-old and I frequent the Dollar Tree.  He loves the fact that his hard-earned dollar can buy ANYTHING in the store, and I like hunting out the hidden deals that can often be found.  

Last time we were there, my treasure was this blue chevron on craft paper wrapping, (I also got a roll of the same craft paper wrapping with yellow stripes) and the golden flower.  I thought the two of them together would make the perfect pair for an adorably wrapped gift.  You can't beat seven feet of wrapping paper, and seven golden flowers for a grand total of $2!  I'll be able to wrap multiple presents with the paper and flowers.

Now, a word or two about dollar store flowers.  You're getting a whole bouquet for $1!  You really can't be too picky at that price.  I've never bought dollar store flowers to use in an arrangement, but look beyond using the flower as is.  Think about pulling it off the branch, or even pulling the layers of petals apart.  And, unless the center of the flower is hidden, you're probably going to want to cover it with something.  The centers are deal-breakers for me.  If they look terrible, the whole flower does.  I just covered the plain green bump in the center of the golden flower with a sticker that came in a package I'd bought at Walmart  for a dollar or two.  Makes all the difference in the world! 

The ribbon I used came from Michaels, not Dollar Tree, but I have noticed cute rolls of grosgrain at the dollar store lately that would work just as well, if not better.

And speaking of wrapping up gifts, (for a birthday maybe) I need to give a BIG happy birthday  to my sister, Tania (the adorable one in the middle, and BTW I need to take more sister photos, this one is from Thanksgiving break)!  She's a nurse, a beauty, a girl of faith, my babysitter, my fashion rescuer (if I'm ever wearing anything cute or trendy- it's belongs to her), and one of my dearest friends.  I think the world of her, and hope she has a day as special as she is!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

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Favorite Children's Authors Series {Mo Willems}

My husband and I had a rare quite evening at Target a few weekends ago, and while he was being very thorough on choosing a new shaver, I started roaming the book isles. 

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Since I haven't been a teacher for well over seven years, I feel a bit out of the children's book loop.  I used to know all of the new books that were out, and collected more than I probably needed.  I still try to keep my eye out for new books my boys would enjoy, but I'm not quite as current as I used to be.

Well, as always, thanks goodness for Target!  They had Mo Willems latest book (I didn't even know he had a new one out), The Pigeon Needs A Bath!  I had to pick it up and read the whole book right then and there.  The thing I love about Mo's books is that they make me laugh just as hard as my boys, and often times harder.  The pigeon is a crack up!  

My boys (and all of my first graders when I taught) first fell in love with Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus because it's so interactive.  The pigeon is trying to convince you, as the reader, to let him drive a bus that the bus driver specifically said the pigeon many not touch!  I can still hear my first graders yelling, "NO!" to the pigeon.

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From there Mo's followed up with several other Pigeon books such as:

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I love them all!  These books are definitely worth adding to your home library, or keep your eye out for them when you're at your local library.  They're also really easy to read, and because they'll want you to read the pigeon books to them over and over again, young readers will be able to read these books independently before you know it.  I still remember my twins "reading" (even if it's memorized it counts as the early developmental stages of reading) this book to their baby brother when they were only three.  Priceless!

Mo Willems has other books, but the pigeon is by far my favorite!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

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Cheddar Ham Chowder

I know April isn't exactly soup season, but I've been meaning to post this soup recipe for a long, long time now, and I'm betting some of you have left over ham from Easter that needs used up.

I have a Taste of Home magazine with award-winning recipes, and that's where I found this cheddar ham chowder recipe.  The first time I tried this soup, I was a bit nervous because I hadn't made a lot of soups from scratch, but this one is cake!!  And the flavor is to die for!  Whenever I make it for family gatherings, it's gone in a flash, and I'm always passing the recipe along because of all the requests I get for it.

You can click here for the recipe.  It's really easy, plus the ingredients are ones you probably already have in your fridge right now.  And, if you not quite feeling the soup vibe this spring  then please pin it to use when the cooler weather rolls around.  I promise you're going to fall in love with it!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

Linking up to these parties & Savvy Southern Style.