Wordless Wednesday: Concentration

A Letter

Dear Irate  Mother of kindergärtner at my daughter's school,

I wondered why, at the Kindergarten orientation, the teachers and principal spent soooo much time discussing drop off and pick up regulations.  I got annoyed even. It really isn't that hard of a concept. Lane number 1: drop off/pick up.  Lane number 2: through lane. Meaning, don't stop in lane.  Apparently, that wasn't clear enough.   So, here we go, one more time:

When you are in lane number 2, you don't stop your car. You stay in your car. You definitely DON'T get out of your car and then LOCK it.  It really doesn't matter that the line in the pick up lane goes all the way out of the parking lot and into the street.  That second lane is still a through lane.

You have other options, I hope you realize. If you really want to park your car, get out and pick up your daughter, really your best bet is to do that in a parking place. That way two kindergarten teachers won't come and tell you to move your car and then you won't be forced to yell at your daughter's kindergarten teacher.  Nor will you be subjected to multiple cars honking their horns at you while you UNLOCK your car doors.

If your interested, I believe I still have one or two of the 63 handouts discussing this that my daughters' received at the beginning of the year.  Apparently, your daughter missed that day.

Hope this helps,

Sincerely,

A Concerned Parent

Tuesday Confessional

Have you missed me?

Because I have been a lousy blog friend as of late. Most of my posts have been posted ahead. And I haven't been reading or commenting much at all.

I have an ambitious goal as my excuse.  I want to not hate December this year.  And so, I am desperetly trying to get done with Christmas presents and crafts by December 1.  Ambitious, indeed.

I want so badly to spend that special month with my children enjoying the lights, baking cookies, singing carols and remembering why we celebrate this special time of year.

Not running around to 14 different stores every week.

So, maybe once Dec. 1 rolls around, I'll be back in blog land. Until then, Happy November!

P.S. Happy Birthday Sondra!

Monday Giveaway: Shabby Straps

When I first stumbled across Shabby Straps, I fell in love with the DSLR camera straps. And when I got mine I wasn't disappointed.  I love them!  I attached it right away to my DSLR, which pretty much made me want to use it all the time, just so I could look at the cute strap.  Which is kind of silly, but as we all know, I love a little personality, so this was right up my alley.

The straps themselves are high quality camera straps.  So you don't need to worry about a flimsy strap failing you and your camera.  In fact, with the reinforcement of the ribbon, I'm willing to bet that Shabby Straps are even stronger than a regular camera strap!

When I got the smaller camera wrist strap, I have to be honest, I didn't quite know what to do with it. I don't have a point and shoot, which is what the smaller strap is generally intended for. It was actually kind of fun getting creative and finding new ways to use it.  First, I tried it on my cell phone, which has a little hook just right for this kind of strap.

It only lasted on my phone for about a day. My idea was that I would drop it less. Which was generally the case. But with the strap on, I couldn't fit it in my pocket.  But if you are someone who drops your phone all the time and never puts it in your pocket, there's one idea for you!

The second place I put it was on my keys. And there it has remained. It is so much easier to find my keys in my purse now.  I hate standing next to my car, out in the cold, digging through my entire purse to try and find my keys.  With the strap on, the keys still somehow manage to sink to the bottom, but the strap almost always floats to the top. I love it!

If you are looking to add a little personality to you camera, keys, cell phone, backpack, or pretty much anything you want, you will love Shabby Straps.  These would also make a great gift for the photographer in you life! If you are local to Utah, Shabby Straps are also available at Heartland Paper Company in West Jordan and Bountiful.

Want to WIN one of these adorable straps?  Shabby Straps is generously giving one of my readers a strap of their choice!  To enter, simply check out Shabby Straps store, find the strap that you would pick out, then come back and tell me.  (This is a mandatory entry.)

Do you really, really want one?  Well, to get more entries:
(Please leave a separate comment for each entry. If your email is not visible in your profile, please leave it in your comment. If I have no way to contact you, you are not eligible to win. )

*Add Shabby Straps as a favorite on Etsy
*Blog about this giveaway (2 entries)
*Follow my blog
*Purchase a strap from Shabby Straps (5 entries)

Contest will close Sunday, December 6.  Good Luck!

*I received 3 complementary Shabby Straps for this review. 

Random Friday

So, I've gotten a few comments about my comment prompt.  Basically, everyone wants 5 bucks from me.  But what I want to know is, has anyone picked up on the reference there?  Is no one as in love with Mo Willems books as I am?

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Just for some ideas, what is the best homemade Christmas present that you have ever gotten?

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So I've had a bad week when it comes to sticking my foot in my mouth. for those of you around me, I apologize because I think I have probably offended everyone that I have come in contact with.

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I discovered a wonderful thing in a moment of weakness.  After a bad evening full of 2 clinging, crying children, dried poop on the floor, spilled food, and I had had it.  I tried to go for a slightly healthy evening snack.  Popcorn.  And then I dumped a bag of m&m's in the bowl.  Try it.  And dump them in as soon as the popcorn comes out of the microwave. Very, very good.

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I'm almost done buying Christmas presents!  As for the ones that have to be made, well, for the next week the house will be a mess.   But I am determined!  Wish me luck!

My top 4 ways to save money with kids

1. Make peace with the thrift store and the Dollar store.  You would be amazed at the things you can get at both places.  Most of my children's clothes come from thrift stores, but most of them are also from Old Navy, Gap, Children's Place, Gymboree, and so on.  For a fraction of the cost. And kids ruin and grow out of clothes so fast, that it doesn't really matter whether or not their are new.

And I won't go into the benefits of buying household items secondhand.  We have purchased 75% of our furniture secondhand, but I dare you to come to my house and tell me what we bought new and what we bought used.  Not to mention all of the fun random stuff that you can find.

As for the Dollar Store, you would be surprised at the brands they have available. If you are throwing a birthday party, go to the Dollar Store first. If you crafting, go to the dollar store first.  We get most of our art supplies from the dollar store, not to mention birthday gifts, stocking stuffers, party favors, pinata filler, wrapping paper, and so on.

2. Buy clothes off season. If at all possible to guess what size your children will be this time next year,  shop clearance racks. I have found that the best time to go is in January when stores are trying to clear out winter clothes to make way for Spring. And in the summer go shopping at the end of July for summer clothes. You can get things at thrift store prices around these times.  Best values: Winter Coats.  You won't have as big of a selection, but I have always been able to find something.

3. Use expensive diapers at night and the cheaper ones during the day. It took me a long time to figure this one out. And if you use cloth diapers, more power to you. (That just wouldn't work for us, for a number of reasons that you don't want to know. . .)  So, as an alternative, find the cheapest diapers that still work for you and use those during the day, then buy the expensive ones and only use those at night. Doing this has effectively stopped my need to change the sheets on the crib every. Single. Night.  

4. If you have a baby sign up for coupons.  Most baby companies (diapers, formula, wipes, etc.) have a coupon program.  Generally, you can sign up while you are pregnant either online or at the Dr.'s office. Just Google the brand along with coupons (i.e. search: enfamil coupons) and it will bring up a form to fill out.  I didn't use formula with my last baby, so I gave the $5 checks to some friends who could use them.  I do, however, use just about every diaper coupon that I get.

I know. Four is kind of a random number. But here comes the fun part. I gave you all of my tips, now you share yours with me!

Winners, just a little bit late. . .

So I may have forgotten about this little giveway. So sorry. So here goes. . .

The Ikea chandelier goes to . . . The Boob Nazi! (email me your info, so I can send it to you!)

The Devil Wears Prada goes to. . . Lourie!

And I didn't randomly choose the winner of the enfamil. Von was the only one who expressed any intrest in it at all, so unless anyone has any objections, I'm just gonna give to her!

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Confessional

I kind of hesitate to write this, because some of the people who read it will either be giving or receiving presents from me this holiday season. But, as it is a confession, I'll risk it.

I am a re-gifter.  I try to be incredibly tactful about it. But honestly, when Christmas rolls around and I need to give away lots of things, I tend to re-gift to save money.

So know you know.

Don't hate me.

Monday Giveaway: Tweetheart Wall Art

I like houses with personality.  Any kind of personality, really. Modern, vintage, eclectic, family centered, it really doesn't matter.  I love seeing how different people choose to incorporate their personality in their homes.  And recently, I found a really fun and easy way to do it.

Introducing Tweetheart Wall Art.  The place to get custom vinyl wall decals. There are so many adorable options.

Do you like to bring a bit of the outdoors inside? Or enjoy the greenery of plants, but have a black thumb like me?   These botanical decals will never wilt or die when you forget to water them!

Are you a romantic?  Love having a little reminder around that you are in love forever and always?  Or even looking for a great wedding present?  This would be perfect for you!

And if your worried about the application, don't be. I thought for sure that I would ruin the thing while I was putting it up. (I tend to ruin large stickers when scrapbooking, so you can understand my concern.)  I need not have worried.  The decal came with complete instructions and was easy to apply.  And I love the way it looks!

This is a fun way to decorate for Christmas as well!  The beauty of these decals is that if you love these Christmas trees, but have white walls, Tweetheart will make you a set of trees in any color that you want.  Green Christmas trees, here you come!








Want to win an awesome vinyl decal?  Here is what you gotta do:
Head on over to Tweetheart Wall Art and check out the shop. Find something that you love, then come back here and tell me about it. And you will be entered to win this wonderful decal in your choice of colors:

(this is the one I got. I LOVE it!)

If you are so in love with this adorable bird on a branch, and want more than one chance to win it, this is what you need to do:

*Head over and Favorite Tweetheart's shop on Etsy
*Follow Tweetheart's blog
*Become a fan of Tweetheart on Facebook
*Blog or Facebook about this giveaway (2 entries)
*Make a purchase from Tweetheart (5 entries)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  If your email is not attached to your profile, please leave it in your comment. If I have no way to contact you, you are not eligible to win.  Contest will end Nov. 29.  Good Luck!

Mama's Wishlist

This little meme is an entry to win a super awesome giveaway at Today's Mama. But none of you should copy me and do it. Because the less people who enter, the more chances for me, right?  (So selfish, I know.)


1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year? zoom lens, zoom lens, zoom lens, zoom lens, a day to sleep in!
2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received? Does food count? My neighbor used to bring us the most heavenly homemade rolls every Christmas. I loved it!
3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle? Pettiskirts for my girls.  Someday. Someday.
4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?
5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year? a stuffed dolphin and ballet lessons
6. What is your favorite holiday food? All of it?  Because really.  All of it.
7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays? I can't say!  Then everyone will know what they are getting!  Well, I guess I am also making a manger out of Popsicle sticks. Are you impressed?
8. What is your favorite holiday movie? Elf.
9. Favorite holiday song? O holy night. All time favorite.
10. Favorite holiday pastime? Curling up on the couch in a blanket with my kids, looking at the Christmas tree.  

Random Friday

First of all,  how do I follow or subscribe to a word press blog?  Because I don't know how. I'm dumb. I know. But I keep forgetting to read Shellie and Annie because for some reason they don't pop up in my reader.  Help me my friends, you're my only hope!

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I have gotten two awards in the past couple of weeks. I'm so lazy. I'm sorry my friends who are so sweet to give them to me!  I will post them soon. I hope. . .

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So, I swept and mopped my floor yesterday. Then I made rice for dinner. Do you see the stupidity of the plan?  Because now I have to do it again. Not that I'm so compulsive that I would immediately clean up rice, just because the floor was clean. But I'm having friends over this evening. Hence the sweeping and mopping. We're having girls game night, I'm making these:
And I'm pretty excited!