{Guest Post} A Little Standout tray for my coffee table

 A little standout tray for my coffee table

Guest post written by Cindy Hallman

When you have such a tiny living room like we do, you like to give the opinion that you can fit a whole lot more stuff in it than you actually can. I try really hard to do that and when we host dinner parties and things like that we have to get creative with our seating and things like that. I'm looking for some furniture that will be a little more versatile and doing a lot of comparison shopping for it.

I'm taking my time with my online shopping because this isn't a shirt, this is furniture! So I want to make sure that it's perfect for us. When I was looking through some contracting services, I saw stuff about roofing replacement and we've been putting that off for a while, so I'm going to use them to get our new roof done. Believe me, our home really needs it.

I found this wonderful little red lacquer tray that I think I'm going to use along with an ottoman that I found. The two of them can function as a side table when it's just us and we can use the ottoman for seating when guests are there. I love how attention getting the tray is!

{Guest Post} Lisa at The Party Works

Birthday Party Craft Ideas

We like to get crafty in our household.  I grew up that way and now my two kids are following in the DIY tradition.  Since birthday party crafting isn’t really all that common these days, we’ve tried setting up crafting activities for the kids at a couple of birthday and slumber parties over the years and they’ve all been a huge success.  The kids are super into it and stay really focused on their projects, which is absolutely darling to watch.  Here are a few of the craft projects we’ve tried with the girls and their friends:

1.     T-shirt or apron painting party.  This one is especially good for birthday parties because the kids can take home their projects as mementos of the special occasion and as their party favors.  You can either give them totally blank t-shirts or ones with simple iron-on transfers that they can then paint uniquely.  The apron painting is fun too, and the kids can also sew on felt or patterned cutouts. 

2.     My oldest is a spring baby, so one year we did a planter decorating party and I showed the kids how to plant a small ivy shoot in their pots when they dried and they took them home.  This one is especially inexpensive.  Small, plain terra-cotta pots run about $1 and you can take ivy clipping from one plant and get a bag of potting soil.  We already had a ton of paints and brushes, but even a new set won’t run you much and the whole project for 10 kids will be under $50.

3.     For the younger kids that aren’t quite ready to get into painting clothes and planters, we did Popsicle picture frames.  We took a photo of each kid at the party and printed them out on our photo printer, then glued them into a Popsicle frame that they decorated with paints and glitter to take home.  We fashioned magnets on the back of each frame so they were ready to grace their refrigerators at home. 

Well, there you have it!  A few ideas to get you started on crafting party ideas.  Hopefully exposing your kids to these kinds of fun activities will instill in them a lifetime of crafting.  

Lisa is a guest writer who focuses on the topics of kids’ birthday party activities like crafting and scavenger hunts and where to find Mario party supplies online for themed parties. 

{Guest Post} Educational Activities for kids

Guest Post by Anne Mercado. Bio at bottom of this post. Thanks for your help Anne.
Has learning become a chore for your preschooler and school age kids?
Do not despair! There are tons of educational activities for kids that are easy and FUN to do!
All you need are a few household items - and maybe a single trip to the store - and you're on your way to teaching using creative ways.
Below are simple activities that hone skills in math, science, language and of course creativity. Without further ado here are...

7 Educational Activities for Kids

1. Squares in a shape

This is puzzle can easily be made using items around your home. The beauty? It improves children's math and spatial skills.
Don't have blocks? Use scrabble letters instead.

Source: Nicole from The Activity Mom

2. Sidewalk chalk math

To jazz up rote memorization, count by groups using this activity. All you need is some chalk and lots of energy for skipping.

Source: Becca of Fun & Engaging Activities for Toddlers

3. My heart goes boom, boom, boom!

Show your kids a heart real up close with this science project that features the cardiac vein and coronary artery. All that's needed are ziplocks, straws, pipe cleaners, a red marker and glue gun.
The best part? Children can blow into the heart to simulate beating.

Source: Holly from Quirky Momma (Contributed by Caroline from Everything and nothing: Activities for Preschool, which is actually in French)

4. Spiky Sea Urchin

Another science activity is to learn about sea creatures, specifically the sea urchin.

Source: Valerie from The Crafty Classroom

5. Moon Sand Activity

The recipe calls for sand, water and corn flour. That's it. After mixing everything, children can free-play with this sensory activity.
Mold and shape - just don't eat them.

Source: Sherry from Play Based Learning

7. Lego Words

Here's a new way of using those Lego blocks for your little readers. Stick letters on them to help kids improve on their language skills.

Source: April of Chalk Talk
 
Learning doesn't have to be boring, nor does it mean endless hours buried in books or educational videos.
With these simple educational activities for kids, you can incorporate fun and learning with a bonus: you get to spend quality time with the kiddos.
Have anything to add to the list? Do share them here with other moms.

Anne Mercado is the quirky author behind Green Eggs & Moms, which offers clever parenting tips and news to keep moms with young kids sane. When she's not hunched over the computer working, you can find her either counting down to ten to get her kiddo to move faster, or reading a horror book. She also loves vampires and zombies.

{Guest Post} How to make Plarn

Thank you to Tammy Curry for Guest Blogging today. Read her profile at the bottom of this post.

How to make plarn

We love to craft at our home however we don't always have a ton of ready cash for supplies. So we have begun repurposing items into various crafts. Our most current passion is plarn aka plastic yarn. An awesome material work with, tons of fun for the kids. The only tools you really need are a pair of scissors and a crochet hook, materials plastic shopping bags and an imagination.

Just as a quick note, do not be intimidated if you do not know how to crochet. There are plenty of easy to follow videos on YouTube.com.

Smooth out your plastic bag on a flat surface.

2. Fold the bag in 1 to 1 ½ inch sections.

3. Cut the handles and the bottom of the bag off. I save these for stuffing. One of our goals is to make outdoor seat cushions.

4. Cut the bag into 1 inch strips while it is still folded.

5. Insert one end and then back into itself and pull tightly to join them together.

6. Begin rolling like you would roll a ball of yarn. To add to an existing roll take the end of a new strip and attach by inserting the loop of the new strip into the end of the existing roll. Pull the loop of the new strip through itself and pull tightly. Similar to when you created the loop.

7. Begin crocheting your project. You can follow standard crochet patterns. Blankets can be made to use at picnics, etc. Just remember any projects need to be washed by hand and not go into the washer or dishwasher.
   
   
   
   

   About Tammy Curry: 

   
   

   Crazy, insane, and loving life here on the beach. We have been through a lot over the years but I can honestly say that the light at the end of the tunnel was not an oncoming train this time.

   
   

   I have a loving husband and two beautiful children. We are no longer homeschooling our children, they will be attending private school this year. We do still support our friends and family that are on that awesome journey.

   
   

   I am a writer, social media addict, mom, wife and daughter, not always in that order.

   
   

   My husband and I are working towards a more sustainable lifestyle. We have been on and off the wagon on this over the years. We have spent the last few months putting our plan together and putting it into play. Our end goal is creating a viable, self sustaining suburban homestead.

   
   

   To this end we have created the Sustainable Education Initiative. We will be sharing our journey and teaching others how to make simple changes in their own lives. The end goal is to create a better world for our children and their children.

   
   

   You can find out more about Tammy and follow her blogs here:

   http://squirrelpointfarm.blogspot.com/

   http://oldethymerecipes.blogspot.com/

   
   

   Thank you for filling in while I enjoy my new little one! 
   
   

{Guest Post Part 2}

Be sure to check out Part 2 of my Guest Post over at Peace, Love, & Poop for my 2nd go at nursing.

Find it Here!

All about Fall

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am ready for FALL!

Ready for cooler weather, long sleeve shirts, bonfires, pumpkin smells and carvings and goodies, and the decorating. Fall is definitely my Favorite time of the year. Growing up we had a big county fair and I so enjoyed going with my friends and dates in High School. We don't really have a county fair in the county I live in now, but there are some special events that have carnival food, rides, and concerts, but I miss the baking contests and 4H shows I grew up with.


Anyway, I am ready to start decorating for fall in the hopes it will help me feel cooler. I am looking for guest bloggers with topics about Fall; recipes, decor, crafts for kids, projects, traditions, picture ideas and more. If it is related to Fall, I want to hear about it!!!

I am getting to enjoy my kids this week because I am working 2nd shift, and am lucky enough that hubby just switched to 2nd shift week too, so we are getting lots of good family time in. So, I am so thankful to my blog friends for kicking in a Guest Post so I can enjoy my time. Thank you So much Stephanie, who I met through blog hops and other social media blogsites, for jumping in and helping me out!

________________________________________________________________________________
Hi!  This is Stephanie from Always Just A Mom and I'm hear today to share with you all my mother's "Quick Fruit Cobbler"!  I like to make a homemade bake good at least once a week (the reason I'm on a constant diet!)  My two little guys and the hubs LOVE, LOVE, LOVE dessert and I like to make them.  Sometimes I don't have a lot of time and still want to get something yummy out...so I'm going to hand over my secret dessert weapon.
This is the easiest dessert you will make and works throughout the year...it's my go-to dessert because I usually have EVERYTHING I need to throw this together!!!
What you need:
     *2 Tbsp. Butter
     *2 cups fruit (I'm using blackberries because I got a great deal and they just looked soooo  yummy.)
     *1 1/4 cup flour
     *1 tsp. baking powder
     *1 cup sugar
     *1 cup milk
8x8 pan bake for 40-50 minutes at 325F
9x 13 pan (DOUBLE) bake for 60-70 minutes at 325F
1.  Melt butter in a pan while over is preheating.  Once it is melted add fruit (if there is liquid with your fruit...drain it.  I had my blackberries in the freezer and so when they melted there was a little liquid.)

 Mix your flour, baking powder and sugar.  Then add your milk.  Stir.  You will have a batter that looks like this:

Pour over your fruit.

Put this in the oven!

You will want to bake it until golden brown and bubbly.  I served this with whipped topping but when I make it with apples...I'm all about the vanilla ice cream!
Thanks for letting me share this awesome, super easy, delicious cobbler with you today!  Have a great summer and I hope to see you over at Always Just A Mom!

Guest Blog: Jen from Make your Mark Jewelry!

I want to welcome my first guest blogger, a friend of mine Jennifer from Make Your  Mark Jewelry! I can say I was one of her first clients. :-) I am very happy with her work. I have had a contest and review for her work before, but I wanted you to get to know a little bit more about her, and I am on vacation, so I wanted to keep sharing great information with you, Win-Win.


Make Your Mark Jewelry Custom.Handmade.Statements.





Hi there. My name is Jennifer, I'm in my mid-thirties (Yikes!), I'm the mother of 2 gorgeous children and I'm the wife to a wonderfully loving husband. I hand make stamped, wired and beaded custom, personalized, statement pieces. Say that 5 times fast!! :)





If you asked me 10 years ago if I would be making jewelry I would have laughed in your face. I was single, living in Ohio, working 12-hour days in a factory for General Motors/Delphi. I came home every day smelling of oil and my shoes were so dirty that I immediately changed them before getting in the car. I did other crafts in my spare time like making wreaths or cloth napkins or Christmas decorations but I never thought about jewelry. I never even wore any jewelry besides maybe earrings. I was a very different person back then.





Fast forward to 2006:

I had just been laid-off due to "downsizing" from Jacobsen Manufacturing in Charlotte, NC. I was now at home all day with my 1 year old and I was actively looking for work to pay for daycare. Then we decided that it would benefit our family if I became a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom). This was quite a change from what I was used to. So during nap time I started to dabble in making beaded earrings, necklaces and bracelets. I bought a few sets of pliers and some wire and beads. I didn't do much with it. I gave most of it away to my mom or friends. I never pursued a home business. It fizzled out once I got pregnant with our second child and we were selling our house and having one built (our current house). So I packed all of my jewelry making supplies away and sort of forgot about them.





Fast forward to 2010:

Our second child was almost 2. I was on Facebook and I saw a page of a friend of a friend. She makes bows and hand crafted jewelry. I quickly thought, "I could so do that!!" but I didn't want to step on her toes. I sent her a message and told her of my plans to start doing something similar and if she cared. She lives about 25 miles away and I just wanted to check. She told me don't be silly and to go ahead and do it. So I bought a few more tools and supplies, a few stamping blanks and a couple chains. I made a couple pieces with my kids' names and their birthstones. It didn't look half bad. I posted the picture on my local mommy sight, www.swpiedmontmommies.com, to show what I was up to. Immediately I had like 5 people say they wanted one. I quickly had to come up with a game plan. I searched the internet for jewelry supply companies and found one that I really liked because it has free shipping on all orders. FusionBeads was my lifesaver!!!





I started ordering more stuff and more stuff and I was starting to think that I am never going to make any money because I'm spending all of it on more stuff!!! My husband jumped in, started a financial spread sheet for me and he helps me keep my books now! I've been busy doing this for about 6 months now. It really does keep me busy. I spend most of my "free time" either working on new pieces or online ordering more stuff for more pieces. My new favorite place to shop is Etsy! My husband is very understanding and supportive! He asks me, "Are you happy doing it? Do you enjoy doing it?" and I always answer, "YES"!! And he says, "That's all that matters"! Ain't he great?





Well, that's about all there is to it. I know there are ton of other people out there doing similar things and they may even do it better. I'm still learning and trying new techniques. I love to learn new things! So if you are interested in some personalized, custom, handmade pieces you can find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/make.your.mark.jewelry.design or you can find me on blogger at makeyourmarkjewelry.blogspot.com.





Thanks for letting me tell you a little bit about what I do.
 
 
Thank You Jennifer for sharing about your art and passion. It's great to get to know about people and share them with you, the readers. Be sure to check out Jennifer's page. She has quite a talent, can create items special for you, and is extremely reasonable.
 
If you would like to be a guest blogger you can contact me at begintocraft@gmail.com.