9.30.2009
Tell Him You Love Him: Write It On The Bathroom Mirror
9.29.2009
Mini Bento aka Muffin Tin Meal On The Go!
9.28.2009
Muffin Tin Monday

Strawberry Yogurt with toppings of 1) chocolate chips, white and dark 2) clusters & flakes cereal 3) Pretzels for dipping. FYI-Pretzels and yogurt = so yummy!
9.27.2009
No Need For The Sunday Paper
photo via Living With LindsayHappy Sunday to everyone! I am in Chicago this weekend visiting my adorable newborn baby niece! While I'm away, I am leaving you with a few fantastic links.
Here they are, in no particular order:
This week I took the Moms Rock the Economy Pledge and want to feature a few Mom-owned businesses that rock!
Bagonia - These fantastic bags are made from vegan leather, reclaimed and hand-dyed fabrics, and are made here in the united states. Nichole's bags are so chic!
Hope Ink - Scripture art design inspired by God's word (and Etsy shop). These are on my Chirstmas list for sure!
Pixie Bows - Last week, I won a giveaway on A Pocket Full Of Buttons for an aborable baby's hair bow and fell in love with Pixie Bows designs and products. Check 'em out. I gave mine to my newborn niece and her mommy loves them too!
Use old CD's to make a clock with You Can Make This! clever, clever,clever...
Like framed pressed Botanicals? Living With Lindsay (via Dollar Store Crafts) shows you how to make them using faux botanicals from the dollar store. So cute!
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
9.25.2009
Things I Googled This Week Vol.4

What did you google this week?
(photo via mikebaird)
9.22.2009
Use Wax Paper To Help With Tracing
9.21.2009
Muffin Tin Monday - Theme: CLoudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Children's Literature
9.20.2009
No Need For The Sunday Paper
Happy Sunday to the best readers ever! I have so much fun each week bring these links to you! This week's edition of NNFSP is sure to please!
The Mama Dramalogues: Encourage your child to jot down her favorites in a "Things I Like" journal. I love any idea that helps build indentity and self esteem in children.
Sweet Blessings: Super adorable framed tabletop chalkboards.
JSIM: Turn a penny into a pendant using Cathe's tutorial. I love this so much. It's art, jewelry, and inspiration!
Family Corner: make an indoor pretend play campfire! My kids would be all over this! (found via Turning Ordinary Into Extraordinary) Another super fun idea for those indoor play days!
On Blogging:
Leo of Zen Habits' Guest Post at ProBlogger: How passion can make you a better blogger. In the words of the movie Flashdance: Take your passion and make it happen.
Velveteen Mind: This is a fantastic post. She asks the question: Do you want to fly with fairies or dance in their dust?
The Secret Is In The Sauce: PhatMommy's Saturday Sharefest Topic delves a little deeper into why it's good to put photos in you blog posts. Good, good read.
Disclosurepolicy.org : If you do reviews, giveaways, or get compensated in other ways to blog, get a disclosure policy for your blog. It's free. You'll need it.
More Blogging Tips For Mommy Bloggers. It's my post from yesterday, I know. But, it's pretty useful. I think.
9.19.2009
More Blogging Advice For Mom Bloggers
photo via whiteafricanHere are a few more blogging tips I've been thinking about lately. They are just my opinion and what I have seen work for me and others...
1) It's not uncommon for all writers to lose touch with why they write. Reminding yourself why you write/blog will help you retain your focus and keep you going, even when you might have writers block. Take a moment and mentally jot down why you do what you do. Let it inspire you.
Why do you blog? Is it to connect with other moms? Is it to promote your business? Is it to chronicle the life of your family and keeping an online journal of your activities? Is it to make money? For some of you it might be just one of these reasons. For others, it might be all of them.2) Try to include an image in every post. People like to look at pictures. They just do. The photo doesn't have to always be on topic, but it needs to be close. When I don't have a photo of my own to use, I use the photos from Flickr's Creative Commons. There are some incredible photographers out there, sharing their photos. Be sure to give the photographer credit (usually in the form of a link to the photo stream).
3)Don't apologize for absences/lack of posting. Well, I take that back. It's okay to apologize. It's better to inform your readers ahead of time that you'll be away from the blogosphere for awhile. For a well written example, read Rocks In My Dryer. Leave. Rest. And tell your readers when you'll be back.
4) Try not to combine a lot of activities/topics in one post. I know many of you do this and for the most part it's not a big deal. I don't mind reading Muffin Tin Monday posts that include a super cute activity, but typically I only link to posts that have one fun activity or idea per post. I will often do two separate posts in one day, rather than combine the info into one post.
5) Stay away from the Mama Drama. Don't start it. Don't comment on it. Even if what you have to say is valid. Support other moms through positive encouragement.
9.18.2009
Alternate Uses For Disposable Party Containers
Have you had a party recently? Then you might have a disposable party container lying around. I hate throwing away containers like this! They can be put to use in so many alternate ways!
Here are a couple ways you can reuse disposable party containers:
Use them to store kid's crafting and collage materials.
Use it for early learning. Your child can use it to sort buttons, craft pom-poms, and much more!
Don't I have an obscene amount craft poms-poms? I know, it's terrible.
9.17.2009
Play Stuffed Animal Hide and Seek With Your Kids
In Little Miss' Kindergarten "take home packet" we get every Friday, there are often ideas for at home activities that parents can do with their children. One such idea was to use your children's stuffed animal to play "hide and seek".
The idea is to take turns hiding the stuffies around the house and let the others hunt for them. This is the perfect idea for those days indoors when your kids complain of being "bored" or you are looking to inject a little energy (like you need more, right?) into your daily play time.
We have had so many stuffed animals in our house over the years, that at one point, we needed a laundry hamper to store them in! We've cut down quite a bit these days, with a treasured few making their home on the kid's beds. I knew that the kids would love this idea, and it gave my daughter a chance to go back to school today and share how she had "played that game from the packet", as she says. Another added bonus: It took up a good hour after dinner. The kids were good and tired and ready for bed!
Here's how we made this idea work for us:
~The kids picked which stuffie they wanted us to hide.
~We made sure they got a good long look at it before hiding it, so they knew what they were looking for!
~After we hid the stuffie, we used the "cold, warm, hot" strategy to help our youngest search in the right area.
~ After the stuffie was found, it went into a "booty" pile, where each kid got to stack up their "winnings".
9.16.2009
Make Your Own Corn Husk Doll
It’s almost as if she is in motion, no?…
Pioneers and Native Americans made corn husk dolls many many years ago. Can you imagine living the simplest of lives of the frontier? My participation in a little known musical, Quilters, about the lives of several pioneer sisters inspired my desire to make one of these sweet corn husk dolls. I can just picture pioneer girls playing with these dolls, can’t you? And in these tough economic times, making a corn husk doll is a simple and inexpensive way to have fun with both the process and the product! They are simple to make and you only need a few items to make one! This is a fantastic activity for children and a perfect way to usher in the fall season!
Here’s what you’ll need:
~10 Dried Corn Husks ( You can peel them from fresh corn and dry them yourself, or purchase a pre-packaged bunch from the grocery store or craft store…try the grocer first).
~Scissors
~Twine or heavy weight braided string)
~Large Bowl of water (able to fit the husks)
Begin by submerging all of the husks into the water for a few minutes. This will make the husks, pliable and easier work with. Don’t skip this step. You might end up tearing the husks as you work, if you don’t get them wet.
Next, gather the husks with your string at the smaller end (see how they taper in the photo above). Tie it as tight as possible in a knot.
Next, we will be making the head. Divide the husks in half…
…and flip them over around the tied off section.
Tie that section off in a knot to make the head.
Next, we will be making the arms. Pull out a section from the side of the doll and divide it into three sections (as shown).
Braid the strips and tie them off at a desired length. Trim the husk near the end (to make “hands). Repeat on the other side of doll.
So far, it should look like this…
Here’s my sweet Little Miss assisting me (she is so serious with her task). She was just about the right age for this to assist. Older children can make them independently.
Similar to tying off the head, tie off another section below the arms to make a waist and define the body a little more.
To cover your string, tear off a long strip of husk and tie it around the exposed parts.
It should look like this from the back…
Trim off any unevenness on the bottom of the skirt with scissors.
Lastly, “fluff” the skirt by gently separating the folds of husks.
You are ready to play with your sweet (and handmade by you) doll!
*If you wish, you can even make clothes for your doll!
*To make a boy doll, simply divide the skirt in half and tie off each leg at the bottom with string.
*Your doll with still be a little damp for a few more minutes
*If you purchase your husks, they may smell a little funky after getting wet, but don’t worry, it’s normal and it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong!
9.15.2009
Set Up A Play Office For Kids!
Dramatic play (a.k.a. “make believe”) is an excellent way to encourage language development and pre-reading exposure in your child. And it's just darn fun! Period. We’ve done it all – Restaurant, Family, “Chores” (my Little Miss affectionately calls herself the “Queen of the Chores”), Beauty Shop, Car Wash…The one we haven’t done (until now)?
Home Office.
In this ever increasing age of technology, children are watching their parents on the computer more and more with a desire to emulate mommy and daddy. So, naturally, the time came when my children wanted “an office of their own”. My son’s preschool classroom has a faux keyboard and telephone and I knew they would love one at home!
You can make a “home office” for your child with a few simple items found around the house! We had such fun putting this together! We even made our own chalkboard (piece of plywood + chalkboard spray paint).
Here’s what we included:
-Old Computer Keyboard
-Old phone
-Pens, Paper, Post-its, Clipboard
-Chalkboard, chalk
A few “extras” I included:
- "Computer Screen" (printed image from a Google search)
- Blank printable calendar
-Relatives phone numbers (great for learning the real thing!-ours have been changed for the photo)
-My old business cards
How I made this idea work for me:
-Pen holder is a recycled peanut butter jar
- “Desk” is a large Rubbermaid plastic storage bin cover with a tablecloth
-We didn’t have an extra keyboard lying around, but I was able to find one for next to nothing at the local thrift store.
Have you played “make believe” lately?
9.14.2009
Muffin Tin Monday
Muffin Tin Monday is a weekly gathering where we get together (via Her Cup Overfloweth, The Official Home of Muffin Tin Monday) and link up our photos of the muffin tin meals we have made for our kidlets. Not sure what a Muffin Tin Meal is? It's simple: a meal in a muffin tin. It's a twist on the Japanese bento box. Sometimes we do themes, like today! If you ever want to know about upcoming themes, just check my sidebar!
Here is a side view... A much better view of the apple tree!
A close up...
I seriously had so much fun with this! This little apple tree was much easier to make than you would think! You'll need bread, peanut butter, pretzel sticks, red skittles, and a few florets of fresh broccoli. Oh, and a rolling pin! For a full tutorial click on over to the Pretzel and Broccoli Apple Tree How-To!
Did I mention how much fun we had? The kids loved it!
What did you make? Did you make a Muffin Tin Meal this week? Won't you share it with us? Leave the URL of your post or photo in the form below.
9.13.2009
How To Make A Pretzel and Broccoli Apple Tree
Here’s how to make that sweet little “apple tree” I am making for Muffin Tin Monday. It’s a lot simpler than you might think! I have been playing around with Windows Live Writer (thanks to Holly Noelle at Domestic Dork), so you’ll notice some of the photos will have watermarks.
First, You’ll need a few things: 1 Slice of bread, a few broccoli stems, small pretzel sticks, a bit of peanut butter, a rolling pin and a table knife.
Using the rolling pin, flatten out the wheat bread.
Spread peanut butter on the bread, as you would a sandwich, and roll it up like sushi (or a rolled taco) and slice of the ends.
Slice it again in half. The half will be your base. (These make great snacks just by themselves!)
Spread peanut butter on one side.
Add pretzel sticks lengthwise on top of the peanut butter.
Repeat this pattern (peanut butter and pretzels), until you cover the whole roll.
Add a chunk stalk of broccoli to the top.
Add red skittles to complete the apple tree!
**edior's note: I don't mind if you use this idea for your own muffin tin meal. However, if you post about it on your blog, please link back to my blog or this post. This foodie idea is original and created by me. :)
No Need For The Sunday Paper
So...grab a cup of joe (or herbal tea if that's your fancy), make sure your kidlets are nearby to check out some of these fun finds, and happy clicking! After all, who needs the Sunday paper, right?
Bembo's Zoo: I actually stumpled upon this today while using of all things stumbleupon.com! Click on a letter of the alphabet to see a fun transformation! Your kids will love it!
Plum Pudding: How to keep Sippies clean. Who would have thought that chenille pipe cleaners would do the trick! This post was so helpful!
Crayola Creativity Central: In their Fun and Games section, kids (or you...wink,wink) can create their own virtual fireworks show! So fun!
Mommy To 3 Blessings: Jennifer (and her brother Tony, a soldier) share an incredibley touching story of his experience on that fateful day: His 9/11 Story.
No Time For Flashcards: Alli actually uses flashcards for this fun and super cute room decoration!
9.12.2009
Faith Baby Wear Giveaway Winner
9.11.2009
Pretzel & Broccoli Apple Tree - Muffin Tin Monday Preview
Help! All the Apples have fallen off the tree!
You'll have to come back her on Monday to see how I made it!
My Sponsored Giveaway for a onesie/tee from Faith Baby Wear ends tonight at 9pm! Hurry to enter!
9.10.2009
Muffin Tin Monday Info On Upcoming Themes

9.09.2009
Remember Summertime All Year Long: Make A Compilation CD
photo via jurvetsonToday, on our daily walk to school my sweet Little Miss asked me "Is summer over Mommy?" I said it didn't have to be, that we could carry the spirit of summer with us all year long! She said "How do we do that?" I said we could make a CD together of songs that remind us of summer and whenever we wished for those summer months, we could just play our CD and be magically wisked back to days filled with warmth, sunshine, and cool glasses of lemonade.
There is something about a song, isn't there, that can take you back to a special place or time and even remind you of a special person in your life. That's why I knew, making a CD would be a wonderful way to remember this past summer and to carry with us all year long!
Here is our list of family-friendly tunes we compiled using iTunes (it's free to download and most songs cost 99 cents). We were able to burn a CD and listen to it within minutes!
I'm Yours by Jason Mraz
Mama Mia from Mama Mia! The Movie Soundtrack
Into Yesterday by Sugar Ray
I Want You Back by The Jackson Five
Surfin' Safari by the Beach Boys
Build Me Up Buttercup by the Foundations
Summertime by Will Smith
Kokomo by The Beach Boys
My Love is Your Love by Whitney Houston
Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Isael Kamakawiwo'ole one of my all time faves!)
*A Summer CD can be listened to all year long and is a great tool on cold winter days when you are stuck inside for long periods of time.
How do you say goodbye to summer? Do you have any special traditions?
9.08.2009
Giveaway: Faith Baby Wear

Faith Baby is online company that specializes in Faith Inspired Children's Clothing. They offer quality onesies, tees, & lap tees with inspiring messages such as "be patient with me, God's not finished with me yet!" and much more in sizes 3-6 months to Youth Large! Sephanie sent us the "be patient" tee in yellow writing on black and I love it! One of my favorite parts of the tee is the inside tag that reads "Lord, bless this child." I have already received several compliments on it and am sharing the cuteness that is Faith Baby with everyone I know and love (and of course, that includes you!)

9.07.2009
Muffin Tin Monday
**A few miscellaneous tips about muffin tin monday. Please check out 5 Answers to 5 Reasons to why you haven't joined Muffin Tin Monday if you are on the fence about participating! I want everyone to feel welcome to join in. And as a reminder, I accept submissions all week and just because we are doing a theme, doesn't mean you have to stick with it! We would love to have you link up either way. Please also be sure to include a link back to my blog (the MTM buttonon my sidebar is a great way to do that) in your post!
Did you make a Muffin Tin Meal this week? Won't you share it with us? Enter the url to your blog post or photo in the form below!
