Princess Dolls

So, I've decided to pick myself up and get back to posting stuff. Some people asked about my peg dolls I recently made, so I thought I would share!

First, I saw this post by Lil Blue Boo and loved it. Then I walked into this local craft place - just a modge podge of local crafter's goods - and saw these peg dolls!

 That was a YEAR ago people. I am as good at finishing projects as I am at blogging. 

After I finally purchased new paint brushes (the littles all destroyed mine) I decided to finish these buggers! 

First, I looked at pictures and drew with a pencil what I wanted to paint.

 Then, I used my box o' paint and painted them up! Some took three, but most took two coats. 

 I outlined them in black after the colors were all done. Then added pom poms for buns and small jewels on some. Not bad for a mama with a hand tremor! lol

Here they all are! From left to right there is: Snow White, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Rapunzel

 Tiana, Ariel, Aurora, Merida

Mulan, Cinderella, and Belle

AREN'T THEY AWESOME!? I'm super proud. I even downloaded the Box o' Princesses from Lil' Blue Boo to go with them! Now they are an awesome quiet church toy. I'm even thinking about selling sets. I don't know, would you buy them?

Summer Can't Come Soon Enough!!

So...are you ready? I'm going to share with you something I have worked WEEKS on and let you download it for yourself! For FREE! Yes, I love free and I love giving things to people so it's a win-win.

I have a wonderful friend, Lara at Overstuffed, who does a summer reading thing with her girls every year. See? I have loved this idea! But Karate Kid and Little Miss? Ha.

This year is different though. Karate Kid was recently diagnosed with Aspergers. I know...wow. And? We learned that a schedule would help our family out immensely! I have played around with the schedule idea and I think I finally found what works and maybe it will for you too!This has had a BIG impact on our family. We now "get" it...sort of. We're "getting" it, anyways. 

Like I mentioned yesterday, with much inspiration, I decided each day would be a theme....a  less stressful theme! lol 

Settle Down Sunday - Our family likes to go for walks, walk on the beach, and spend time out in nature on Sundays after church. It helps our family and it's a nice touch after a refreshing church service. : )

Make it Monday - I thought it would be fun to make something - edible and non-edible alike. We could be baking cookies, ribbon wands, salt dough, or comic books! 

Take a Trip Tuesday - I just want to make sure my kids get out of the house! And me too... 

Wonderful Wednesday - This is the day I set aside time to do our book related activities. More on that later.

Thinking Thursday - My kids like to figure things out and sometimes learn a lot....sometimes. So, I thought it would be fun to ask questions - get them to ask questions anyways, and find the answers out! 

Friends on Fridays - After chores and lunch, we will go pick up friends and bring them back for activities and fun play!

Silly and Serving Saturday - I felt it was important for my kids to get used to serving. I planned for a fun family activity as well as something every week we can do for someone else. Love it.

Here's a look at Monday's schedule as an example.

 My kids ALWAYS get up at 7:00 a.m. I don't make them, they do it naturally. lol Some of you parents are cringing. I just know it. Yes, it's not always convenient, but they are a lot happier sometimes. Also, there are "May Do"s and "Must Do"s. 

May Dos are fun things like playing with playdough, reading, coloring etc. Must Dos are chores and things that need to get done around the house. I have made a bunch of each and they will go in these cute re-purposed containers I have.  They will draw the needed amount - usually four each - and then they will have the ability to CHOOSE when they would like to do it, within reason. For instance, on our Monday's example, I chose "Folding Laundry." I can choose to fold the laundry at 8:00, 9:00, 2:30 or 3:30. I wanted to give the kids a choice, yet limit it to times when I can be the support.

I am planning on laminating the schedules and putting velcro on each May Do and Must Do spot to make it easier. I tried to include outdoor time since I often forget to send them out and my kids aren't always gung ho to go outside. Weirdos. 

Below are the links to download each day's schedule as a powerpoint so you can manipulate it as you'd like and that works for your family! Tomorrow, I will post all about my book packets that go along with our weekly schedule! Aren't you EXCITED!?!?!?!?!

*Note - Don't worry about the dropbox preview, it won't look like that when you download it! haha 

Settle Down Sunday

Make it Monday

Take a Trip Tuesday

Wonderful Wednesday

Thinking Thursday

Friends on Friday

Silly and Serving Saturday

Also, here is the link to download my list of May Dos and Must Dos:

May Dos and Must Dos

Enjoy!

Spring SUCKS so it's Summer instead!

I don't know if many of you notice or not, but spring hasn't come to my part of the world. We have a Winter Storm Advisory with an expected 14 inches. Are you serious? Totally. It bites the big one. Totally up a creek without a paddle. So, instead of worrying if Spring will EVER come, I've decided to focus on Summer.

Last year, my totally awesome plan to do weekly themes with science experiments and art projects galore went totally bust. The kids revolted and refused to do anything. See this picture? They're potato stamping. They threw a total fit before and their dad sat them down and talked to them about how hard I worked on these activities and that they needed to do them. Great. It all fell apart from there.

This year, I thought I needed something well balanced so that the kids don't sit in front of the tv the whole time or become zombies playing Mario Party 9 all day every day. I LOVE activities but obviously, last year was too much. It was forced play. Not fun. What to do!?

Well, I researched until the dogs came home and found some totally amazing sites.

I Heart Organizing is amazing. Seriously, you'll spend all day. But, I loved this post on summer schedules.

 A Mom with a Lesson Plan is awesome too! A lot of creativity flowing here! She gives some great tips here on how to lay out your schedule. She also does "invitations to play." Something I am going to include this year as well.

The Imagination Tree is my new favorite place to hang out! This gal has got so many ideas on "invitations" to play, create, learn and more! Check it out! Also check out Play at Home Mom for more ideas on "invitations!"

 

Simple as That has these awesome summer reading printables! You'll love them! I've used them with my books for this year. Check it out here.

Somewhat Simple is what really got my ideas for my summer schedule off the ground. This post had the weekday theme ideas and I just loved that. Of course, I adapted it for my own family.


Other people have similar ideas. Just type in Summer Schedule in Pinterest or Google and watch the ideas flow!

Here I've given you all of this information and I haven't even shared MINE with you! lol That's ok. I understand. I spent DAYS on these sites, people. Really. My husband thought all I did was sit at the computer, and he wasn't too far off! Here's a teaser below. I'll post more soon!

Everybody was Ninja Fighting!

Little Miss' birthday is coming up soon and she announced to me that she would like a "girl ninja" party.

So, I whipped these up with a cute little ribbon karate belt. We passed them all out to her little girlie friends at church. Everyone seemed to like them, so that was good since I know it made Little Miss happy.

 Here's a sneak peek at our party favors.... can you guess what I'm makin'?

Scrap Map!

 I stumbled across this blog, See Kate Sew, and she had this AWESOME tutorial on a scrap map. So, I said...."I WANT ONE!" So I started one. She turned her's into a wall hanging with it stretched across a board, but I think I want my to be a hanging quilt. Now I just need to finish the top and pin my layers together and quilt my little heart out! I think I want to do a bit of embroidery too!

Notice this material is BIGGER than the end result because I can't pin straight.

Look! It's Michigan!!

R-O-C-K in the USA!

Bambino Penguino!!

So I got the opportunity to help out another friend with her daughter's birthday party. This time, I was in charge of the cake. YEAH! I love decorating cakes. Soooooo fun!

Many people ask how I make my cakes....well, I will give you some secrets. Not really...but here's what I do.

Step 1: I ALWAYS use parchment paper on the bottom of any cake pan I use.

Step 2: I ALWAYS flour my pans. Spray some PAM or use some Crisco and flour the edges. This one was not as photogenic....lol

Step 3: I ALWAYS wait 10 minutes after pulling my cakes out of the oven before taking them out of the pans. You can also put a crumb coat on, which is a thin layer of icing then refrigerated so you don't get that dirty crumby mix in your nice frosting job. 

See how well it comes out?

Now, the party was deemed a Penguin party. So, without further ado, the penguin cake!! Inspiration came from this month's Family Fun magazine.

I know this is blurry, but it was hilarious. That's Little Miss reading the Ensign - our church magazine - on the toilet. (All Private areas safely out of the shot!) 

SCENTsational ME!

So today I thought it would be important for me to clean up my craft room since I am planning on becoming a Scentsy Independent Consultant. I need somewhere to put it all right?! So I began and got quite a bit done. See?

 

 Then, Atlas started whining and barking so I took him outside and what did my eyes behold? MY PACKAGE!!!

Of course, I had to OPEN IT! 

 

A New Consultant packet! Hooray! I've been speaking with my sponsor, who's helped me out A TON, but it's nice to have a handbook to refer to as well. 

Blogger turned my picture sideways...weird.

Since February is a transition month, I get BOTH sets of scents and catalogs! WHOOT! Order forms and invitations galore....

Punpkin Roll....YUM!

 I even got light bulbs! lol A bar, a room spray, a hand foam sanitizer, a circle, scent pak and a travel tin! What? That's not all? No! The show's not over yet!

I get a scentsy buddy!!! Ribbert! lol He's incredible soft and well made. A good size too!

And last, but not least, a full-size scentsy warmer....and it's ADORABLE! It's called Dotty. Love it.

 You all know what you need to do now, right?

This is my CLEANING look. I know, I look lovely.