Here's what happened recently when we labeled our park day, "TUNNELS & TENTS". This was super duper fun. Except for the unseasonably and unbearably warm temperatures!We'll definitely need to do this again!!
3/24/2011
Tunnels and Tents
Here's what happened recently when we labeled our park day, "TUNNELS & TENTS". This was super duper fun. Except for the unseasonably and unbearably warm temperatures!We'll definitely need to do this again!!
3/07/2011
MSM
Okay I think we've pointed you to Money Saving Mom a few times before. If you haven't bookmarked her or added her to your blog reader yet - now is the time!
She has great stuff on their regularly, and I couldn't pass up letting you know about a couple of great deals she tipped me off to today.
First of all, Amazon has a FREE ebook copy of Calm My Anxious Heart available right now. If you don't have an ebook reader (like a kindle or ipad) or a smart phone, you can download software from Amazon and read ebooks on your PC.
Second, on March 8, 2011, Chili’s is offering up to two free kid’s meal with each adult meal purchased with this coupon.
Thanks, Money Saving Mom!!
Enjoy!!
She has great stuff on their regularly, and I couldn't pass up letting you know about a couple of great deals she tipped me off to today.
First of all, Amazon has a FREE ebook copy of Calm My Anxious Heart available right now. If you don't have an ebook reader (like a kindle or ipad) or a smart phone, you can download software from Amazon and read ebooks on your PC.
Second, on March 8, 2011, Chili’s is offering up to two free kid’s meal with each adult meal purchased with this coupon.
Thanks, Money Saving Mom!!
Enjoy!!
2/15/2011
10 Ways to Play
Amy over at Let's Explore has started a monthly series called Ways to Play. Each month through the year she's posting "10 Ways to Play in ... [which] highlights 10 fun and simple ways to play and connect with your kids."
Visit her site to download the printable and then post it on your fridge or keep it somewhere handy when you need a fun easy activity to do with your kids. Some of them will need slightly more planning than others, but these are all simple activities you can execute in your home with materials on hand.
Go get 10 Ways to Play in February!
What a great idea - thanks Amy!
Visit her site to download the printable and then post it on your fridge or keep it somewhere handy when you need a fun easy activity to do with your kids. Some of them will need slightly more planning than others, but these are all simple activities you can execute in your home with materials on hand.Go get 10 Ways to Play in February!
What a great idea - thanks Amy!
2/02/2011
Valentine's Craftiness
Here are two cute ideas for Valentine festiveness.
1. I found this on Intentionally Katie, you can visit the link for her full blog post; but here's my take.
Snap a picture or two of your kid or kiddo with something heart shaped. Younger kids use an small wooden heart, older kids you can use a heart cut out of paper. Any heart shaped object will do, and likely you already have one or can make one (see below) pretty easily. Then use the photo as valentine's for playmates, grandparents or simply frame as a decoration in your own home. I took several pics of my kids and came up with this collage - it will go in Jon's office at work, as the clients give him a hard time if he doesn't have recent photos!
2. Simple Heart Wreath
This one is from Prudent Baby. It was super easy to do (after borrowing some flower punches - thanks Dana!). I picked up a circular piece of foam and cut it to size. Covered it in felt. Arranged the flowers around it and stuck them with pins. Added some ribbon to hang, and voi-la - cute pretty heart decoration.
1. I found this on Intentionally Katie, you can visit the link for her full blog post; but here's my take.
Snap a picture or two of your kid or kiddo with something heart shaped. Younger kids use an small wooden heart, older kids you can use a heart cut out of paper. Any heart shaped object will do, and likely you already have one or can make one (see below) pretty easily. Then use the photo as valentine's for playmates, grandparents or simply frame as a decoration in your own home. I took several pics of my kids and came up with this collage - it will go in Jon's office at work, as the clients give him a hard time if he doesn't have recent photos!2. Simple Heart Wreath
This one is from Prudent Baby. It was super easy to do (after borrowing some flower punches - thanks Dana!). I picked up a circular piece of foam and cut it to size. Covered it in felt. Arranged the flowers around it and stuck them with pins. Added some ribbon to hang, and voi-la - cute pretty heart decoration.
2/01/2011
More Valentine Treats
Okay, so it has come to my attention that my crochet and crafting projects may have left out a whole other group of mommies. The bakers! So for all you who love to bake and create in the kitchen these ideas are for you! For forth prosper your families tummies! And just to make sure I don't leave anyone else out, there's also a couple of super easy, no baking, crafting, crocheting, sewing skills required ideas.
Many of you know, I'm a sucker for food on a stick! All good food comes on a stick: corndogs, lollipops, kabobs, Popsicle, chocolate dipped pineapple, cake pops... see where I'm going here? So of course I flipped for these Heart Rice Krispie Pops! Rice Kripie Treats on. a. stick! Super easy, tasty and I know your kids will love helping you make them. If you don't have the cool heart shaped pan, you could use a heart shaped cookie cutter (or other spring themed cookie cutters). Valentine's sprinkles look just as good on square or circle pops too!
Anyone looking for a special treat for your child's teacher? How about these? Valentine Candy Jar. I love the use of the baking cup under the lid!
And here's one more for your kids classmates, another cute use for baking cups!
Baking Cup Flower Valentines
Many of you know, I'm a sucker for food on a stick! All good food comes on a stick: corndogs, lollipops, kabobs, Popsicle, chocolate dipped pineapple, cake pops... see where I'm going here? So of course I flipped for these Heart Rice Krispie Pops! Rice Kripie Treats on. a. stick! Super easy, tasty and I know your kids will love helping you make them. If you don't have the cool heart shaped pan, you could use a heart shaped cookie cutter (or other spring themed cookie cutters). Valentine's sprinkles look just as good on square or circle pops too!
Anyone looking for a special treat for your child's teacher? How about these? Valentine Candy Jar. I love the use of the baking cup under the lid!
And here's one more for your kids classmates, another cute use for baking cups!Baking Cup Flower Valentines
1/28/2011
1/18/2011
Hearts
Valentine's Day is coming and my blog reader is being inundated with Valentines crafts, projects and more, as I'm sure yours is too (if you have a blog reader). Right away, I pulled this Heart Garland aside and put it on my to do list. It's crochet, but you could easily whip something similar up with felt or quilted hearts.
So I re-taught myself to crochet again - I'm really terrible because I've only done one crochet work before and I didn't even finish it. My sister showed me the basics and then I watched youtube videos to re-inforce and remind myself what all the abbreviations mean. So of course I've just now after several hours of work got the hang of it, and have almost made more than I've ripped out.
I can't do anything else while I crochet. I'll instantly lose my place in the pattern and when you're making a heart with varying stitches and counts, you can likely guess what happens. I have to stay focused. Watching each stitch I make, counting, checking the pattern. It requires huge amounts of attention to detail, close inspection, sometimes backing up and ripping out what was done and starting over from that point. Careful weaving, each stitch interwoven with the others.
And then I heard God's voice.
Jesus whispered to my soul, "I'm just as careful with your heart, little one. I carefully wove it together in your mothers womb, and I'm lovingly attending to the details now, each joy, each struggle, each tear, I'm here and I know them full well."
He did not create us and send us on our merry way to navigate this dark and hopeless world by ourselves. He did not give us children and then expect we could raise them on our own. He's still here, right beside you and me, carefully attending to the details, paying close attention. Sometimes, when we let him, ripping out the parts that got all jumbled and mixed up and lovingly starting over, weaving all things together, to make something beautiful. Something worthy of Him. Something that glorifies Him.
Hallelujah! Praise God for his intimacy in our lives! I'm so glad for it!!
In case you're wondering. I did finish the heart garland! Here it is - don't look too closely!!
So I re-taught myself to crochet again - I'm really terrible because I've only done one crochet work before and I didn't even finish it. My sister showed me the basics and then I watched youtube videos to re-inforce and remind myself what all the abbreviations mean. So of course I've just now after several hours of work got the hang of it, and have almost made more than I've ripped out.
I can't do anything else while I crochet. I'll instantly lose my place in the pattern and when you're making a heart with varying stitches and counts, you can likely guess what happens. I have to stay focused. Watching each stitch I make, counting, checking the pattern. It requires huge amounts of attention to detail, close inspection, sometimes backing up and ripping out what was done and starting over from that point. Careful weaving, each stitch interwoven with the others.
And then I heard God's voice.
Jesus whispered to my soul, "I'm just as careful with your heart, little one. I carefully wove it together in your mothers womb, and I'm lovingly attending to the details now, each joy, each struggle, each tear, I'm here and I know them full well."
He did not create us and send us on our merry way to navigate this dark and hopeless world by ourselves. He did not give us children and then expect we could raise them on our own. He's still here, right beside you and me, carefully attending to the details, paying close attention. Sometimes, when we let him, ripping out the parts that got all jumbled and mixed up and lovingly starting over, weaving all things together, to make something beautiful. Something worthy of Him. Something that glorifies Him.
Hallelujah! Praise God for his intimacy in our lives! I'm so glad for it!!
In case you're wondering. I did finish the heart garland! Here it is - don't look too closely!!
1/10/2011
Laundry, Organization and other Home-making Tips
Last week the fabulous Lisa Hall came and spoke to us on Home Organization. The more organization we have the more time we have for the important things: our family and friends, ministry, our hobbies and passions - you get the drift. A little organization goes a long way.
So here's one of my light-bulb moments from the plethora of what Lisa shared and it's about laundry. I hate it. Hate. it. Seriously, if I wasn't eco conscious and didn't hate clothes buying more than laundry itself, I would just wear disposable clothes. One time use and move on. No washing ever. But alas, that's totally unrealistic. Frankly, this is all Adam and Eve's fault for eating that fruit. If they hadn't had a nibble of that fruit, then clothes never would have been invented. I digress.
Back to laundry. When Lisa was talking it occurred to me that she actually STAYS in her laundry room and folds the laundry straight out of the dryer. STRAIGHT. OUT. of. the. dryer. !!
WHERE HAVE I BEEN? Why hasn't this monumentally important detail never occurred to me before? Because when you get down into the facts, what I really hate about laundry is folding. Lord help me, there better not be laundry in heaven!
I hate folding. Therefore I put off folding. Which only creates bigger mountains of clean laundry overflowing all over my house. Then they get wrinkly and as I'm sure you can guess, I'm certainly not an ironer (one who irons). Beyond the wrinkles, the cat lays in them, or the kids knock them over...sigh. I'm exhausted and irritated just thinking about it.
So I have resolved: I will no longer remove the laundry from the dryer unless I am literally folding it right then. This halts all laundry being done, so I'm incentivized (this is clearly not a word, but I'm sticking with it) to actually do it or never have clean clothes again. And it breaks it down into smaller folding sessions - which means less time folding and I hate folding, oh wait, I think we covered that already.
I also think I'll be adding four bins to our laundry room for the clean and folded laundry to go into so that little helpers can help me put it away. We'll see, for now...I'm liking this plan.
What was your favorite part of what Lisa shared? Did you have a light-bulb moment?
So here's one of my light-bulb moments from the plethora of what Lisa shared and it's about laundry. I hate it. Hate. it. Seriously, if I wasn't eco conscious and didn't hate clothes buying more than laundry itself, I would just wear disposable clothes. One time use and move on. No washing ever. But alas, that's totally unrealistic. Frankly, this is all Adam and Eve's fault for eating that fruit. If they hadn't had a nibble of that fruit, then clothes never would have been invented. I digress.
Back to laundry. When Lisa was talking it occurred to me that she actually STAYS in her laundry room and folds the laundry straight out of the dryer. STRAIGHT. OUT. of. the. dryer. !!WHERE HAVE I BEEN? Why hasn't this monumentally important detail never occurred to me before? Because when you get down into the facts, what I really hate about laundry is folding. Lord help me, there better not be laundry in heaven!
I hate folding. Therefore I put off folding. Which only creates bigger mountains of clean laundry overflowing all over my house. Then they get wrinkly and as I'm sure you can guess, I'm certainly not an ironer (one who irons). Beyond the wrinkles, the cat lays in them, or the kids knock them over...sigh. I'm exhausted and irritated just thinking about it.
So I have resolved: I will no longer remove the laundry from the dryer unless I am literally folding it right then. This halts all laundry being done, so I'm incentivized (this is clearly not a word, but I'm sticking with it) to actually do it or never have clean clothes again. And it breaks it down into smaller folding sessions - which means less time folding and I hate folding, oh wait, I think we covered that already.
I also think I'll be adding four bins to our laundry room for the clean and folded laundry to go into so that little helpers can help me put it away. We'll see, for now...I'm liking this plan.
What was your favorite part of what Lisa shared? Did you have a light-bulb moment?
12/22/2010
Just for you: Merry Christmas!
I'm sure with Christmas just days away, you likely need a break. So get a cup of tea or hot chocolate, shut the door, turn your volume up and drift away for 2 minutes. Thank God for what he's given you this year, and proclaim the joy in your own heart as you listen to Joy to the World.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
12/20/2010
Rainy Day Tip #1
It's raining. Still. It's been raining for like a week. I've lost count. Cause it's supposed to keep raining for the next week.
Where oh where has my little sun gone? Oh where or where can she be? Cause she's clearly left Southern California.
Everyone together now: "The rain came down for forty long days-ies, days-ies..."
Anyway, what better rainy day activity is there?
Dip something! Yum!!
It's simple really, melt chocolate chips or better yet melting chocolate in 20 second spurts in the micro until runny. Then dip! Everything. And almost anything.
If you're like me you might have lollipop sticks and molds on hand so do some of those too. If not, pretzels, marshmallows, Oreo's, graham crackers, holiday cookies, apples or apple slices, drizzle it on popcorn and let harden, then break and eat! So many options, so many rainy days to try them out!
Stay dray. Stay warm. Stay sane. Reply with your favorite rainy day activities.
Where oh where has my little sun gone? Oh where or where can she be? Cause she's clearly left Southern California.
Everyone together now: "The rain came down for forty long days-ies, days-ies..."
Anyway, what better rainy day activity is there?
Dip something! Yum!!
 |
It's simple really, melt chocolate chips or better yet melting chocolate in 20 second spurts in the micro until runny. Then dip! Everything. And almost anything.
If you're like me you might have lollipop sticks and molds on hand so do some of those too. If not, pretzels, marshmallows, Oreo's, graham crackers, holiday cookies, apples or apple slices, drizzle it on popcorn and let harden, then break and eat! So many options, so many rainy days to try them out!
Stay dray. Stay warm. Stay sane. Reply with your favorite rainy day activities.
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