Special Time Sunday! Checkers!!

Today is September 23...National Checkers Day!!! What better thing to do on Special Time Sunday! Break out the checkerboard with hubby and/or the kids. Don't have a checkerboard? Dollar Tree sells them for $1! Have red and black construction paper? Make your own :) A great time with family!

Things to Make Thursday! Apple Stationery

Apple Stationery

As we come into fall, I start searching different areas for things to do with kids that involve what makes autumn, autumn....apples :) For "Things to Make Thursday!" I found this crisp, fall craft on familyfun.com :)

Cut a round apple in half, then poke out its seeds with a toothpick and set them aside. Blot the cut surface with a paper towel until it's dry. Brush white acrylic paint all over the cut surface, then add a line of red or green paint around the edge. If the stem is attached, brush brown paint on it. Stamp the apple on a folded piece of card stock. To print the seeds, spear one with a pin, then dip it in brown paint and stamp it where desired.

A great addition to a teacher's gift for open house :)

Tips Tuesday! Whiten Discolored Nails

Ever wiped off your old nail polish and noticed some nasty yellowing? Well, it is Tips Tuesday and I am going to tell you how to deal with it :)

Cut a lemon in half and rub on your nails for about 7 minutes. The acidity will help remove any yellow tint.

Be sure to check back every Tuesday for a new tip!

Must Have Monday! Ice Cream Shoppe Pop Tarts

 

It is "Must Have Monday" This is our must have for this week :) Hot Fudge Sundae Ice Cream Shoppe Pop Tarts. These pastries can be consumed after toasting or freezing (freezing being the very best)  Try one of these yummy goodies today!!

Tips Tuesday!! Repurpose Eyeglass Case

It is Tips Tuesday! Here is a nice one :)

If you have an old eyeglass case,use it to hold your small lipsticks and cosmetics in your purse. This works better than a big bulky makeup bag.

Must Have Monday!! Jolly Time Healthy Pop Butter Microwave Popcorn

It is "Must Have Monday"

What item must I absolutely have this week? Jolly Time Healthy Pop Butter Microwave Popcorn, 94% Fat Free!  It is only 3 points for 5 cups, is very yummy and is very filling. The perfect snack for a weight watchers member ;) Don't be out all those points at the drive-in for popcorn! Pop one bag and Ziploc it to take with you. Usually coupons lurking around out there and it is already an awesome price! Pick some of this up today :)

Things to Do Thursday! Egg Carton School Bus

Egg Carton School Bus   Got this idea from DLTK Crafts. Something fun to do with the kids to get them in that back-to-school mood :) This is a simple craft for preschool children about to begin school or for young siblings of school age kids.

Materials:

• lid (TOP) of an egg carton
• yellow paint or markers
• black construction paper or 2 lids from milk jugs (for wheels)
• black marker
• OPTIONAL: small cutouts of people from magazines, coloring books or hand drawn

Instructions:

• cut the lid off an egg carton
  
• Paint (or color with marker) the lid yellow. We only used one coat, but you could do two.
  
• While the paint is drying, cut 2 circles out of black construction paper
  • (you can have the children trace the lid from a baby food jar or orange juice container -- preschool kids enjoy tracing). Use white crayon, chalk or pencil crayon for tracing.
  • Allow the children to cut out their circles with safety scissors (or supervise them closely while they use regular scissors).
  • The wheels don't have to be perfectly round -- let them have fun.
• OR
  • use the lids from milk jugs as an alternative to construction paper wheels
    
• OPTIONAL: Also while the paint is drying, have the children cut small images of people from magazines or coloring books or let them draw their own.
  • once again, let the children roughly cut out the images with safety scissors.
    
• Once the paint is dry, glue on the wheels.
  
• OPTIONAL: Glue the images of people onto the bus. The carton we used had holes down the center, so we glued the people into the holes.
  • If yours doesn't have holes, just glue the people onto the bus... you can draw "windows" around them with a black marker.
    
• Write SCHOOL along the top of the bus (or if your child is beginning to write on their own, let them write it out).

What the Heck?! Wednesday....Laundry Basket

 

It is What the Heck?! Wednesday!

 

For anyone unfamiliar with this concept, it is just to Google a random noun and write about the first odd photo I see.

 

Today I looked up the noun, laundry basket, since I should be doing laundry, but am not.

 

This is a great way to eat and do no laundry chores...plants in the laundry basket!!!

So, the next time hubby says, where are my underwear? You can say, "laundry basket is MIA so no underwear, but hey, have some fresh raspberries ;)"

 

 

Tips Tuesday! Firm Cake Layers

After baking a cake, put your cake

layers in the freezer for an hour

or two before frosting them. They will

firm up and won't crack and crumble

when you apply your frosting. 

Must Have Monday! Got Milk? Magic Milk Straws

This is a great item that we like to have as a treat in our house!

Got Milk? Magic Milk Straws

Place the straw in a glass of milk and as you sip, you get the taste of the yummy flavored bits inside the straw. Our favorite is Cookies and Cream!

If you haven't tried these, make sure that you do. A great way to get your picky ones to drink their milk :)

Things to Make Thursday! Hydro Bracelets

It is "Things to Make Thursday!"...one of my favorite days of the week :) I found this nice summer craft on familyfun.com.

Hydro means water, and that's just what makes the beads and glitter in these bracelets float and sparkle. Makes 3 bracelets!

Materials

• 2 feet of clear plastic tubing with a ¼-inch inner diameter
• 3 inches of clear plastic tubing with a 3/8-inch inner diameter (sold in most hardware stores)

• Ruler and scissors
• Tiny beads or glitter and water

 Instructions

1. To make each bracelet, cut an 8-inch-long piece from the 1/4-inch tubing and cut a 1-inch length from the 3/8-inch tubing (for a fastener). Slide both ends of the 8-inch tube into the fastener, as shown, and have your child try on the bracelet for fit. If it's too big, take it apart and trim it to size, remembering that it will need to slip over her hand.
2. Remove one end of the bracelet from the fastener. Use a finger to stopper one end while your child drops in tiny beads or pieces of glitter -- or anything she likes that fits in the tube and can be submerged in water.
3. When she's done, slowly fill the tube with water, leaving several inches of air so it has room to move. Carefully slide the free end into the fastener as far as it will go. This should create a snug fit that won't come undone without a good tug.

What the Heck? Wednesday

For "What the Heck? Wednesday" I googled the word cow and glanced through images to find the most unusual photo that had to do with the word cow. I came across this photo of a 2 headed cow. Now, I know that there have been reports, especially with Ripley's Believe it or Not, that there have, in fact, been 2 headed cows out there. However, there is something very unusual about this one. Check out the eye on the right cow....doesn't that look like a human eye?!!!!!

Tips Tuesday! Making Eggs Last Longer

Making Eggs Last Longer

For long-term storage of eggs,crack open the eggs and add individually to an ice tray.When completely frozen put the frozen eggs cubes in a sealed freezer bag and use when needed.

Must Have Monday!! Orbit White

It is "Must Have Monday"

Since I have been on this journey to weight loss (have lost 47 lb so far!!) I have found it is much easier to get through the day without munching if I have a piece of gum in my mouth. With Orbit White, you are killing 2 birds with one stone!! You get the gum, that by the way is outstanding in taste, while you whiten your teeth!! This does work by the way. I noticed this past week while looking in the mirror how much whiter my teeth looked. Forgetting that I had been chewing whitening gum, I tried to figure out what I was doing differently. I was reminded after cleaning out my purse and finding the package :) I am very pleased with this product. A definite "must have!"

Things to Make Thursday! Twig Birdhouses

It is Spring :) What better time to make a little humble abode for our bird friends! Found this cute craft on www.makingfriends.com


Twig Bird House



You Need:
Empty, Clean 1/2 Gallon Milk Carton
Black, Brown or Grey Paint
Lots of Twigs
Low Temp Glue Gun or Tacky Glue
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil
String or Fishing Line

Instructions:
Measure and mark 3" from the bottom all around an empty milk carton. Cut into 2 pieces. Saving both the top and the bottom.

Cut a 2" circle in the middle front of the top piece. Cut the bottom piece down to 1" high. Put some glue on all four sides of the bottom piece on the outside. Push the bottom piece into the bottom of the top piece, making a new base for the milk carton. Glue pour spout closed. Paint the outside of the milk carton in a dark color. This will help the spaces you will have between the sticks blend in. Set aside to dry.

Gather lots of thin, straight sticks. Thicker sticks will go faster but you may need a hand saw or pruning shears to cut sticks to size. Thinner sticks, as shown above, can be broken to size.

Poke a hole through the middle of the top ridge. Push string or line through the hole to hang the bird house.

Break or cut sticks to cover the bottom and all sides working around the hole cut in the center front. Glue them into place. Glue a small stick under the hole for a perch.

Cut or brake sticks for the roof. Glue into place. Glue stick to cover the top ridge.

What the Heck Wednesday! Ladybug

For "What the Heck" Wednesday, I googled the word ladybug and this photo popped up:

Tattoo of course, but poor ladybug :(

No roach available?!!

Special Time Sunday! Football Player Craft

Football Player Craft


This football player toilet paper roll craft makes a great project to occupy kids while parents are watching the game.

Materials:
toilet paper roll,
scissors,
glue,
paper
markers

Take a look at the photo and make your own cool football player out of a toilet paper roll :)

Frugal Friday! Host a Clothing Exchange

Want a nice cheap way to perk up your wardrobe? Host a Clothing Exchange!

This info was found in the "Overheard on the blogs" section of AllYou magazine, Aug 26, 2011 issue.

Invite friends and neighbors who have kids about the same age as yours to come over with gently used clothes (separated by gender and size), then everyone can "shop: for new duds :)

Tips Tuesday!! Eye Makeup

It is Tips Tuesday!! Here are a few tips that involve your eyes and the makeup that enhances their beauty :)

Have Sensitive Eyes? Minimize the possibility of irritation by sharpening your eye pencil after every use.

Ran out of eye makeup remover? Dip a cotton pad in baby oil or olive oil. It'll loosen the mascara and eye liner so you can easily sweep the makeup away!

Must Have Monday!! Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Radiant Firming Makeup

Want to look your very youngest in your 30's? I use Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Radiant Firming Makeup. It makes your face look so smooth and clear :)

Put on with a sponge wedge and instantly transform yourself :)

Love it!