Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Fun with a Parmesan Cheese Container
E had fun putting popsicle sticks into a parmesan cheese container last week. She also really loved opening and closing the container.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thirty-One Giveaway and Review
Christy from Thirty-One sent us a thermal lunch tote to review a couple of weeks ago, and she is offering a thermal lunch tote as a giveaway to one lucky commenter!
I was initally unsure about reviewing a lunch tote since I usually only review items for children. However, after browsing the Thirty-One catalog, I thought these products would be a good fit for me to review. Since receiving the thermal lunch tote, I have used it almost EVERY day! I've used it to take my lunch to work, to store pumped milk, to hold snacks for the girls while traveling, for keeping the girls' drinks cool while tailgating (at their first college football game!), and for keeping their antibiotics cool while traveling. Since everywhere we go is at least 20 minutes away and most places are about an hour away, I always pack snacks and drinks to have in the car. This thermal lunch tote is perfect for that purpose. It's also MUCH cuter than the soft cooler that I've been using since O was a baby.
Christy has this to say about Thirty-One...
Thirty-One offers gifts with a purpose. Our mission is to celebrate, encourage and reward women through offering quality products and an outstanding opportunity to become successful business owners. Our products are exclusive to Thirty-One and provide style and convenience at an amazingly affordable price. From our signature purses and totes to kid's items and stationary, you'll find something for everyone on your holiday shopping list.
To make your holiday shopping easier, I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite gift ideas for the people in your life. Make sure to click on the links to see each item and the fabrics that it comes in. Here is my Holiday List.
For my daily purse I like to carry the Retro Metro Bag. It is the perfect size for a mom of 2 kids. I don't really need a diaper bag anymore but I need more room than a purse. It fits the kids' water bottles in the side pockets. In it I have a wristlet wallet or hard case wallet, a mini on the go organizer for all of my shopping cards, a fold and go organizer for my to-do list and a large zipper pouch for the diapers and wipes. I love that after a year my kids still cannot open the hard case wallet, thus keeping all of my receipts and cards from curious hands. I have all of these items in either Cool Lime Ditzy or Floral Fanfare patterns and they coordinate really well.
For my car organization I have a Large Utility Tote in the trunk or the back of the van. This holds all items from going all over the place. After a trip to the grocery store I put all of the bags into this large tote (I usually forget to take it into the store) and then when I get home they are all nice and neat and ready to be carried in. Inside the car I have an Organizing Utility Tote. This has one large compartment and 7 outer pockets. I keep snacks, band aids, gum, toys and water bottles in the outer pockets. Then I have a zipper pouch in the large area to put coupons and receipts in. When the kids come to the car with stuff I put it all in the tote and have just one thing to carry in to clean up the car.
For the babies we have both infant bibs and toddler bibs as well as pacifier clips. For your preschooler, the toddler backpack is just the right size or for the older kids a Cinch Sac. To organize your school or art supplies, you can fill a mini organizer with markers, crayons, glue, scissors and coloring books. The Teddy Bear and Blanket is super soft and so cute. The blanket rolls up and stuffs inside the bear. I love our aprons and there are matching ones for kids. How fun to match mom when making Christmas cookies
If you have a tween or teen then the Demi Purse is great size and the Zip Flap Messenger Bag with zip off reversible flaps is perfect for tweens with their desire to keep up with fashion. Just zip off the front flap and reverse it or purchase a new one for a new look
For the all the women in your life we have a lot of things. If a mom needs a diaper bag, the Accessibility Tote is perfect. The bag has a stain resistant laminate canvas which easily wipes clean. A bonus is that when you have outgrown the need for a diaper bag, this bag has many other uses. The Fold and Go Organizer is great for holding coupons, receipts, gift cards, and all the papers you need along with a notepad. You can also use it for your kids to hold a notepad and crayons. The Mini On-the-Go Organizer is a great way to keep up with frequent shopping cards and gift cards with alphabetic tabs.
One of our signature items is the skirt purse and the city skirt purse. These purses feature a removable skirt so you can change the look of your purse easily with a new cover. We have several other purse styles that fit any need. Our stationary is adorable and you can get matching address labels or notepads. Personalization is included.
Grandmothers love to talk about their grandkids and brag about how cute they are. What better way than to personalize stationary, notepads or a tote bag with their grandkids. The Lil' Expressions line allows you to select hair style and color as well as skin color and outfits. The totes are also really cute for teacher gifts.
As you see, we have something for everyone so keep me in mind this holiday season. You may order directly from my website. Remember, most things can be monogrammed and items can be shipped straight to out of town family and friends.
For Black Friday through Cyber Monday I will be having a special. Everyone who places an order over $31 will receive a free set of holiday address labels and everyone who places an order between Black Friday and Cyber Monday will be entered to win the Large Utility Tote in the Holiday Toss Pattern. This is in addition to the regular monthly specials. In December it is that for every $31 you spend, you get either the Flat Iron Case, Hard Case Wallet or Mini-On-the-Go Organizer for half off. (This order will be processed on December 1st so that is why we will use that special. Your order will charge full price but before I submit it, I will make sure that it is changed to half price.) That makes all of these great stocking stuffers. So get those orders ready! Please use this link to place an order this weekend and go ahead and add your holiday address labels. I will then pay for it when I complete the order next week.
Christy is offering one thermal lunch tote with monogramming to one lucky commenter. In order to enter the giveaway, please go to Christy's website and look around. Then come back here and leave a comment telling me your favorite lunch tote pattern. If you mention this giveaway on your blog, come back and tell me for a 2nd chance at the giveaway. If you go to Christy's facebook page, and "like" it, come back and tell me and you'll have a 3rd chance to win the thermal lunch tote. I'll randomly choose a number on Friday night, so make sure to comment before then. Good luck and thanks for reading!
I was initally unsure about reviewing a lunch tote since I usually only review items for children. However, after browsing the Thirty-One catalog, I thought these products would be a good fit for me to review. Since receiving the thermal lunch tote, I have used it almost EVERY day! I've used it to take my lunch to work, to store pumped milk, to hold snacks for the girls while traveling, for keeping the girls' drinks cool while tailgating (at their first college football game!), and for keeping their antibiotics cool while traveling. Since everywhere we go is at least 20 minutes away and most places are about an hour away, I always pack snacks and drinks to have in the car. This thermal lunch tote is perfect for that purpose. It's also MUCH cuter than the soft cooler that I've been using since O was a baby.
Christy has this to say about Thirty-One...
Thirty-One offers gifts with a purpose. Our mission is to celebrate, encourage and reward women through offering quality products and an outstanding opportunity to become successful business owners. Our products are exclusive to Thirty-One and provide style and convenience at an amazingly affordable price. From our signature purses and totes to kid's items and stationary, you'll find something for everyone on your holiday shopping list.
To make your holiday shopping easier, I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite gift ideas for the people in your life. Make sure to click on the links to see each item and the fabrics that it comes in. Here is my Holiday List.
For my daily purse I like to carry the Retro Metro Bag. It is the perfect size for a mom of 2 kids. I don't really need a diaper bag anymore but I need more room than a purse. It fits the kids' water bottles in the side pockets. In it I have a wristlet wallet or hard case wallet, a mini on the go organizer for all of my shopping cards, a fold and go organizer for my to-do list and a large zipper pouch for the diapers and wipes. I love that after a year my kids still cannot open the hard case wallet, thus keeping all of my receipts and cards from curious hands. I have all of these items in either Cool Lime Ditzy or Floral Fanfare patterns and they coordinate really well.
For my car organization I have a Large Utility Tote in the trunk or the back of the van. This holds all items from going all over the place. After a trip to the grocery store I put all of the bags into this large tote (I usually forget to take it into the store) and then when I get home they are all nice and neat and ready to be carried in. Inside the car I have an Organizing Utility Tote. This has one large compartment and 7 outer pockets. I keep snacks, band aids, gum, toys and water bottles in the outer pockets. Then I have a zipper pouch in the large area to put coupons and receipts in. When the kids come to the car with stuff I put it all in the tote and have just one thing to carry in to clean up the car.
For the babies we have both infant bibs and toddler bibs as well as pacifier clips. For your preschooler, the toddler backpack is just the right size or for the older kids a Cinch Sac. To organize your school or art supplies, you can fill a mini organizer with markers, crayons, glue, scissors and coloring books. The Teddy Bear and Blanket is super soft and so cute. The blanket rolls up and stuffs inside the bear. I love our aprons and there are matching ones for kids. How fun to match mom when making Christmas cookies
If you have a tween or teen then the Demi Purse is great size and the Zip Flap Messenger Bag with zip off reversible flaps is perfect for tweens with their desire to keep up with fashion. Just zip off the front flap and reverse it or purchase a new one for a new look
For the all the women in your life we have a lot of things. If a mom needs a diaper bag, the Accessibility Tote is perfect. The bag has a stain resistant laminate canvas which easily wipes clean. A bonus is that when you have outgrown the need for a diaper bag, this bag has many other uses. The Fold and Go Organizer is great for holding coupons, receipts, gift cards, and all the papers you need along with a notepad. You can also use it for your kids to hold a notepad and crayons. The Mini On-the-Go Organizer is a great way to keep up with frequent shopping cards and gift cards with alphabetic tabs.
One of our signature items is the skirt purse and the city skirt purse. These purses feature a removable skirt so you can change the look of your purse easily with a new cover. We have several other purse styles that fit any need. Our stationary is adorable and you can get matching address labels or notepads. Personalization is included.
Grandmothers love to talk about their grandkids and brag about how cute they are. What better way than to personalize stationary, notepads or a tote bag with their grandkids. The Lil' Expressions line allows you to select hair style and color as well as skin color and outfits. The totes are also really cute for teacher gifts.
As you see, we have something for everyone so keep me in mind this holiday season. You may order directly from my website. Remember, most things can be monogrammed and items can be shipped straight to out of town family and friends.
For Black Friday through Cyber Monday I will be having a special. Everyone who places an order over $31 will receive a free set of holiday address labels and everyone who places an order between Black Friday and Cyber Monday will be entered to win the Large Utility Tote in the Holiday Toss Pattern. This is in addition to the regular monthly specials. In December it is that for every $31 you spend, you get either the Flat Iron Case, Hard Case Wallet or Mini-On-the-Go Organizer for half off. (This order will be processed on December 1st so that is why we will use that special. Your order will charge full price but before I submit it, I will make sure that it is changed to half price.) That makes all of these great stocking stuffers. So get those orders ready! Please use this link to place an order this weekend and go ahead and add your holiday address labels. I will then pay for it when I complete the order next week.
Christy is offering one thermal lunch tote with monogramming to one lucky commenter. In order to enter the giveaway, please go to Christy's website and look around. Then come back here and leave a comment telling me your favorite lunch tote pattern. If you mention this giveaway on your blog, come back and tell me for a 2nd chance at the giveaway. If you go to Christy's facebook page, and "like" it, come back and tell me and you'll have a 3rd chance to win the thermal lunch tote. I'll randomly choose a number on Friday night, so make sure to comment before then. Good luck and thanks for reading!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Animal Puzzle Blocks
These animal puzzle blocks are a recent handmade Christmas gift that I've made for my girls.
To make these puzzle blocks you need: 9 blocks (1.5 inches square), scrapbook paper, sand paper, stencils, scissors, mod podge, and a pencil.
I've been thinking about how to make these blocks for a VERY long time...I originally planned to stencil them using paint, but then decided that it would look much better if I cut the animal shapes from scrapbook paper and glued them to the blocks. I really enjoyed working on this project, and I love how the blocks turned out. I hope the girls like these blocks as much as I do!
When making these puzzles, I started by sanding the edges and corners of the blocks.
Here's what I did next...
chose my animal stencils
traced the animals stencils on the back of sheets of scrapbook paper
drew the graph of blocks over the stenciled animal shape
cut out the squares
then cut out each animal shape from the squares (does that make sense?).
I glued each animal part to the blocks using mod podge.
After letting the blocks dry for a few days, I painted them with a layer of protective mod podge.
To make these puzzle blocks you need: 9 blocks (1.5 inches square), scrapbook paper, sand paper, stencils, scissors, mod podge, and a pencil.
I've been thinking about how to make these blocks for a VERY long time...I originally planned to stencil them using paint, but then decided that it would look much better if I cut the animal shapes from scrapbook paper and glued them to the blocks. I really enjoyed working on this project, and I love how the blocks turned out. I hope the girls like these blocks as much as I do!
When making these puzzles, I started by sanding the edges and corners of the blocks.
Here's what I did next...
chose my animal stencils
traced the animals stencils on the back of sheets of scrapbook paper
drew the graph of blocks over the stenciled animal shape
cut out the squares
then cut out each animal shape from the squares (does that make sense?).
I glued each animal part to the blocks using mod podge.
After letting the blocks dry for a few days, I painted them with a layer of protective mod podge.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Pumpkin Delight
I hope everyone has had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had a great Thanksgiving Day, and we have another big feast tomorrow.
O and I made Pumpkin Delight for both. It is so easy to make and yummy (although not very healthy!).
Here's what you need:
1 can of pumpkin
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1 box of vanillla pudding
1 container of Cool Whip
1 box of Vanilla Wafers
Mix the pumpkin, condensed milk, vanilla pudding, and half of the Cool Whip together. Layer the Vanilla Wafers on the bottom of a square pan, pour the mixture on top, and spread the other half of the Cool Whip on top of the mixture. Spread another layer of Vanilla Wafers on top. Chill and serve!
Thanks, Auntie EB, for sharing this easy and delicious recipe!!!
O and I made Pumpkin Delight for both. It is so easy to make and yummy (although not very healthy!).
Here's what you need:
1 can of pumpkin
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1 box of vanillla pudding
1 container of Cool Whip
1 box of Vanilla Wafers
Mix the pumpkin, condensed milk, vanilla pudding, and half of the Cool Whip together. Layer the Vanilla Wafers on the bottom of a square pan, pour the mixture on top, and spread the other half of the Cool Whip on top of the mixture. Spread another layer of Vanilla Wafers on top. Chill and serve!
Thanks, Auntie EB, for sharing this easy and delicious recipe!!!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
O's Felt Fairyland
I made this felt fairyland for O for her 4th birthday, and I've been wanting to share it for a while...I could just never find the time to take pictures.
The idea for this felt fairyland bounced around in my head for more than a year before I finally made it. I loved making it for her, and I love how it turned out. Here it is...
The little toadstool house folds up, so it is actually a little hard to get it to stand up. I need to put something in it to reinforce it.
We bought this little fairy princess for O's birthday ring a few years ago. I've planned to make a few more like her, but haven't had time...yet.
These rainbow gnomes from Little Red Whimsy are perfect for the felt fairyland.
A little toadstool table and chairs also by Little Red Whimsy.
The removeable pond with floating felt flowers
A gnome crossing the bridge (the bridge is removeable, but the river is sewn to the grass base of the fairyland).
E loves the fairyland, too!
And the best part about the fairyland is that it all folds up to one small package!!!!!!! (this is a necessity in our small, crowded house!)
The idea for this felt fairyland bounced around in my head for more than a year before I finally made it. I loved making it for her, and I love how it turned out. Here it is...
The little toadstool house folds up, so it is actually a little hard to get it to stand up. I need to put something in it to reinforce it.
We bought this little fairy princess for O's birthday ring a few years ago. I've planned to make a few more like her, but haven't had time...yet.
These rainbow gnomes from Little Red Whimsy are perfect for the felt fairyland.
A little toadstool table and chairs also by Little Red Whimsy.
The removeable pond with floating felt flowers
A gnome crossing the bridge (the bridge is removeable, but the river is sewn to the grass base of the fairyland).
E loves the fairyland, too!
And the best part about the fairyland is that it all folds up to one small package!!!!!!! (this is a necessity in our small, crowded house!)
