The Beauty and Ease of Bulbs

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of iBulb for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

One week left until we move! I am going to miss some of my outdoor beauties that have been established for years. My beautiful shade trees, peach trees, apricot tree, and my gorgeous lilies and irises. All of these low maintenance natural subjects of eye candy will be staying behind...except some of my bulbs. 

 

I have dug up quite a few of my cannas and I hope to have time to rescue some of my irises and move them to our new property. If you have not tried bulbs before, you are truly missing out. One afternoon I planted over 2 dozen bulbs in less then an hour. I watered them 2 different days, and I have not touched them since. They are amazing!

 

 

 

I also quickly put a few in pots on my patio. Have you ever thought of giving someone bulbs as a unique birthday or anniversary gift? I would love to get such a clever and unique gift. It is literally the gift that keeps giving year after year. It would also be a wonderful gesture for someone that has lost a loved one. What a wonderful tribute to plant some gorgeous flowers that will pop up year after year. The gift giving potential is endless!

 

Wondering yet where to pick up some bulbs of your own? They are available at garden shops, grocery stores, flower shops and more. Just look around and you will be surprised where you can pick up some of your own!

 

 

Look at this vibrant arrangement to inspire you. Which color is your favorite? I really appreciate the different variety of colors and style possibilities. They are a unique, naturally aesthetic, decoration for your home or even office. 

Go buy some today and explore the endless opportunities to grow and display your gorgeous bulbs!

Summer Two of the Traveling Book Boxes

When last summer was just around the corner, I began thinking about the long 3 months ahead of us, and the Texas heat. My son's can get a little bored without the constant stimulation of school, and it is hard to go outside in the peak heat of the day. I figured my friends might need some boredom busters too, so I dreamed up the summer of the traveling book boxes. It reminds me of the concept of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Have you read the story or seen the movie? It is precious.

My plan was to create multiple themed book boxes with books, games, activities, crafts, and entertainment ideas. We would trade out every 2-3 weeks and get a new box for our kiddos. I tried to make them light at first, so I could ship them back and forth. Then I realized everyone was truly close enough, that we could just drop them off.
 

I sent out an email to see who might be interested in my crazy plan. I received four positive replies back and I began creating my book boxes. This being the second summer, it appears that everyone is in on the idea again. This year I am going to solicit some help from some of the other moms to hopefully make a book box each.

 

The first one I created this summer is themed Frogs!

 

I sent a printed sheet with this picture and a listing of the contents and activities.

 

Frog Book Box Contents

 

·         Frog Incentive Chart with star stickers. Place a sticker on the chart as you read each frog book. When all ten books have been read, reward your child with one of the Frog blowouts.

·         Frog stuffed animal. Please pick a frog to keep. Let your child name their frog and bring them along on their frog reading adventures.

·         Too Many Frogs by Sandy Asher

·         The Big Wide-Mouthed Frog (please take one of these books and keep it for your child’s collection.)

·         Froggy Loves Books (please take one of these books and keep it for your child’s collection)

·         The Teeny Weeny Tadpole by Sheridan Cain

·         National Geographic Kids Frogs!

·         The Day the Frogs Came to Lunch by Suzanne Weyn

·         Let’s Go Froggy! by Jonathan London

·         Froggy Goes to Camp by Jonathon London

·         From Tadpole to Frog by Wendy Pfeffer

·         Frog in the Kitchen Sink

·         Game: Frog Leap Pad Launcher. Remove the small plastic frogs from the bag. Place one in the large bottle cap top on the launcher. Set out the plates as lily pads. Now launch away and try to get your frog back to its lily pad.

 

(Launcher made from a piece of 2x4, clothespin glued on top, tongue depressor glued on the clothespin, and a bottle cap on the end of the tongue depressor. Launch away!)

Game: Frog Jump and Measure. Make a starting line with chalk on the sidewalk. Jump like a frog and measure with a tape measure how far you made it. Leave your little frog stuffed animal as a marker. Keep trying and see if you can out jump the other "frogs" in your family.

·         Craft: Frog Foam Activity Kit

·         Have fun! Make sure everything on this list is returned to the book box for the next child.

·         Let me know when you have worn out your book box and we will trade. I am hoping to trade about every 3 weeks and just meet up with you. Thanks! Michelle

 

 

In case you missed the box boxes last year...here they are...

 

 

Bug book box click here

 

 

Monkey Book box click here

 

 

Dog Book Box click here

 

 

Cupcakes, Ice Cream, and Flip Flops Book Box click here

 

 

Pirate Book Box click here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fla-Vor-Ice for a Quick Snack and some Flavorful Fun!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Jel Sert for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

  What are some of your favorite snacks for your kiddos? It seems to be without fail, every night while I am cooking dinner, the kids become hungry before dinner is ready. At only 20 calories per Fla-Vor-Ice, and ten cents a serving, I have found them to be a quick and easy low sugar snack to hold off my little monsters until dinner. My boys think they have tricked me into having des sert before dinner. Ha. Ha. Jokes on them for this "mom approved" snack.  A little real fruit juice frozen into a tasty and refreshing treat never hurt anyone before dinner. They are also allergen free!   My children pick their favorite flavors by color. I would have to agree red and purple are my favorite too. Fla-Vor-Ice is available in Original fruit flavors, Tropical flavors, and even a Sugar-Free variety. Oh, and another little secret...I love them too. I have to admit I consumed quite a few of them in my first few months of my pregnancy. They seemed to settle my tempramental stomach and soothe the nausea. Have you checked out the Fla-Vor-Ice facebook page filled with tons of fun ideas?  Please join me in liking Fla-Vor-Ice on Facebook. They. They .. .. Th   

DIY Wooden Child Picnic Table Instructions

My husband made this adorable child size picnic table last summer for our boys...and as usual...I never got around to posting it in the right season. With Summer here, we are enjoying quite a few picnics outside again. I truly think my boys eat better when we are outside. There is just no fuss about sitting down for lunch in the backyard.

 

We are still packing like crazy around our house so I am exhausted. My crafting skills have been confined to making cardboard boxes lately!

 

 

The only major problem with posting a project like this a year later...is that I didn't write down all the directions. Hopefully, I took enough pictures that the explanation will be somewhat self explanatory.

 

I am thinking we started with eight 2x4's.

 

We started by cutting:

*Five 42" 2"x4" for picnic table top

*Two 16" pieces of 2"x4" to mount under picnic table top

*Four 42" 2"x4" with angled edges for picnic table seats

* Four 26" 2"x4" for picnic table legs

* Two 42" boards to support seats

 

The supports for the picnic table top were placed 5 1/2" from the ends of the table.

 

This is how my husband assembled it pictured above. Their might be an easier way...but we are by no means carpenters! We did pull out the level though.

 

We loved ours so much that we ended up making some more child size picnic tables as presents. Depending on the price of wood in your area, this project should cost you $25-$35.

 

Last...but not least...we stained the table. This project only took a few hours to make, and it was well worth the effort. The boys love it and it is the perfect size!

 

We are Tickled Pink...We are having a Girl!!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Comfort and Harmony for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

  We are expecting our 3rd child in early September. We already have two boys, so we were literally tickled pink when we discovered this baby is a girl! I can finally make all of those fun blog projects that involve ruffles, pink, and infinite girliness. I was especially excited when I received an offer to try out a new nursing pillow by Comfort & Harmony called the Mombo.

I am 6 months pregnant and I am gaining quite the belly. I was relieved when the Mombo easily fit around my waist or lack of waist comfortably. One side of the mombo nursing pillow is firm and the other side is softer. This allows dual functionality for nursing or using the pillow for tummy time. Perfect! I am definitly packing this pillow for the hospital.

Did I mention all the attractive covers available for the Mombo? There are bright colors, neutrals, taggie covers, and more. They are available in store and online at BabiesRUs. Since I am not ready for this pillow yet, I brought it over to my friend's house to try it out.

 

 

Her little girl loved the Mombo. She was giggling and rubbing her face on the soft cover within minutes.

 

 

 

 I would imagine she would love it just as much for nursing. I can't wait to try it out myself when my little one arrives.

Join me in liking Comfort & Harmony on Facebook and following Comfort & Harmony on Twitter.

 

 

 

    

Baseball Team Favor Sacks for Game & Party Time

My son started t-ball for the first time now that he is 5. We had to sign up to bring snacks for the team twice during our short season. I can't miss an opportunity to make something a little creative to pass out the baseball favors or snacks. I know I have mentioned how to print on brown paper sacks before. The hardest part, is just figuring out how to load them in your printer properly, so that they print facing the right direction. I also tape the back flap and seal the top with a small piece of tape so they don't get stuck in my printer.

 

 

Supplies:

Brown paper sacks

Printer

Ribbon (or tie)

 

Directions:

 

If you want a good tutorial for printing sacks check out Cottage Hills blog post here.

 

Here is my little Red Sox. I think he enjoys dressing up in his uniform more then he does going to play the game. Maybe the love of the game...will come with time.

 

 

I barely lasted through the game to hand out sacks at the end. My three year old was not feeling well, and he threw up all over me and himself with ten minutes of the game left. There is never a dull moment. Lol! We washed up quickly and made it back in time to hand out treat bags. 

 

 

The baseball team favor bags were a homerun! I will definitely do these again next year. I filled them with red candied popcorn and some other treats.

 

 

 

Nurses Week or Teacher Appreciation Gift

This week is not only Teacher Appreciation Week...it is also Nurses Appreciation week. This gift, with a little modification, would work for either. For a teacher...You could easily put your a life saver! This simple DIY project is so fast to make. The vintage look really appeals to me, so I found an antique looking nurse graphic for these jars.

 

 

I filled the jars with a brightly colored loofah and some homemade goat milk soap. Tied with a little rafia and a sweet tag, the present was complete. The gift itself is so simple...but I think it is all about the presentation!  And besides, who doesn't love to be appreciated.