Free Thanksgiving Printable

I love this time of year.  As the weather turns colder and the holiday season begins it seems natural to reflect on the blessings around us.  I know life seems to get extra busy this time of year but I hope this little reminder will make me slow down and remember what's really important.

 If you would like to print one for yourself just click on the image below and save it to your computer.  Another easy way is to copy and paste in a word document.  Its sized to fit a 5x7 frame.

Super Hero training day

We had a fun day (well couple of days) training to be a super hero!  

We worked on our throwing skills (like Captain America of course).  We tried throwing the Frisbee as far as we could and the practiced accuracy by seeing who could get the closest to a target. 

We strengthened our lungs by blowing lots of bubbles.

We worked on our quickness, balance and strength with balloons.  First game the girls had to keep the balloon in the air but had to alternate turns.  We then made it harder by saying you can only use your foot, or your head.  After they tested their strength to see if they could pop the balloons.

 

 A few days later they tested their speed and flying abilities on the slip n' slide.

 

 We also build special hero cars out of legos (not sure what to call them).

 

Finally every super hero needs a mask.  We used the free template from here.  The girls decorated them however they wanted.  We used felt, markers, and hot glue.  The mask helps with your cool tricks and moves.

 

We finished up with some super hero movies of course!

You can find some more fun super hero ideas on my Letter S pinterest board.

painting with bubbles

We found this really fun idea here.  It entertained my girls for almost an hour.

We did a few things differently and some learned some tricks we learned along the way.  

We used: bubble mixture with wand from the store,  muffin tin, food coloring, cardstock (we did not have painting paper).

We used 4 colors and filled 4 spots in the muffin tin 1/2 to 3/4 with bubbles.  Then added 2-3 drops of food coloring.  Stir slightly with your bubble wand.  Dip your wand in and blow over your paper.  That's it!

*The blog we found this on mentions it splatters.  We did have some so you will want to cover your work area and clothes.  However I ended up with a little on my shirt and it washed right out.  

*It may seem like you are using a lot of bubbles we started with a lot less and were not able to blow a bubble.  If this happens to you add more bubble solution it worked for us.  

It was an easy and fun activity.  The pictures ended up really pretty as well. 

Summer front porch

One of my favorite things about my house is my front porch.  Its the perfect spot for sunsets, to watch my kids play, and to just relax.  Here are a few things I did to make it a little more inviting and ready for summer.  

I added a cute wreath my mom made during one of her visits and some vinyl to the door.  I also found a new welcome mat for $5 at Ross.  

 

 I updated my seasonal ladder.  Nothing says summer like watermelon and we have a huge field of watermelon right next to us this year so its perfect!.

 My dad build this awesome planter while he was here (plans from here.)  We also brought our bench from our entry way outside. 

We also added some potted plants and a hanging basket.  Some quick and inexpensive changes made a huge difference.  

spice rack makeover

About 10 years ago we were given a really cute spice rack. I loved it but quickly realized I never use most of the spices it came with.  Over the years the cute little jars became really sad looking.  The names started to come off, the glass was covered in residue, and the actually spices were looking more brown then green.  However it continues to sit on my counter and my shelves became cluttered and overflowing with spice bottles.  I was about to toss the whole thing and figure out a way to organize my cupboards but decided to give it one more chance.  Here's what the bottles looked like before (however I had already emptied all of them and ran them through the dishwasher so it doesn't look nearly as bad).  

 

 Here's the after.  New spices, cute label, clean jar, and polished top.

 I still have some empty ones.  I am just waiting to see what spices I actually use.

 My cupboards now contain this little basket of spices that I can easily reach.  It holds a few I rarely use and I'm waiting to see if its worth putting them in a jar.  I also have a similar basket on a top shelf that is a little wider that holds the extra containers of the spices that are being used in the jars.  I can now quickly refill when I need to but they are completely out of the way and organized.  Instead of using two shelves  to hold all of my spices and never knowing what I have, they now fit in a tiny little corner and are easy find.  It makes cooking a whole lot easier.

 Here are some really cute labels I found while searching for some to add to my jars.  Sadly they were all too big.  I ended up using this set below but cutting around just the words.  I really like the font and the chalkboard look.

 found here

found here

from Lia Griffith

Toy closet makeover

The after, everything has a spot and a label.  Its so nice to open the door. 

The Before

 yes its not so pretty.  When we moved into our house we had an entire room that we used for toys so this closet was used to store games and extra junk.  When we added a new baby to our family we needed the room for her.  The closest was the best solution for toys.  Over the last year the toys were stuffed in along with the games it was always a mess and impossible to find anything.  About a month ago I got serious and organized it.  The best part is it still looks like the after pictures a month later!  A shock in our house.

Here are some of the details. 
First I divided the toys into as many categories as I could.  Don't go too detailed.  Most of the toys fit into shoe storage boxes from Qalmart.  They are only a dollar and actually hold quite a bit.  I love that they are clear and stack well. 

 

For some of the bulkier items (dress up shoes, lego duplo set, and play food)  I had some bigger containers on hand.  The middle tub holds kids puzzles, and the top shelf is used for kid game storage.  (I'll do another post on how I condensed and store them.)  All of the adult games were moved to another closet.

For the bottom half of the closet I added a 3 drawer container.  It is used for larger toys (again grouped together)  The top holds dolls (the clothes and accessories are in one of the smaller containers above).  The bottom two have dress up clothes.  It has been so much easier having these in drawers instead of a box like we use to have.

 The key was to label each box for easy clean up.  There are lots of cute, free labels online but none of them fit our boxes exactly.  To save ink I typed up each label and printed on white paper.  I then cut and glued to some cute scrapbook paper and then taped them to the container.  They are not fancy but they are cute and are easy to switch out if we ever need to.

 I wish this held all of our toys but it doesn't.  Some of the larger, bulky toys have a spot in my older girls' closet (like swords, balls, little people houses), the barbie house and big baby/toddler toys also have a spot in their room where they are played with regularly. 

 Clean up with all of their toys has been so much easier.  My kids are more likely to pull out one box at a time and can easily clean up their own mess.  Organizing and cleaning doesn't come natural to me but seeing how well this closet works for us has inspired me to "fix" the rest of our house to work for us.  I'll be sharing more of these "fixes" as I go. 

Front Porch Design: 6 Ways to Jazz Up Your Entry

I have a fun guest post for you today by Jane Blanchard from Modernize.  She is sharing some great tips to spruce up your front porch.  And when you have a minute stop by their site its full of beautiful photos and articles that will inspire your home decorating projects.  

Front Porch Design: 6 Ways to Jazz Up Your Entry

Are you tired of the entryway to your house? Want to jazz it up to make it more welcoming for your guests?  Here are our 6 favorite ways to transform your porch.

Via Modernize

Via Modernize

Invest in a functional, but fun seating arrangement

People like to linger when they either arrive or exit a home. Often times, small talk and conversations occur on the porch; your guests may look for a place to sit comfortably to chat. Try to arrange your seating so that it faces in different directions – one toward the house, the other facing the yard and two seats opposite of one another. Make certain that your seats are comfortable and weatherproof. You can also purchase new pieces, like a wicker chair , patio chairs or hammock, to make your space welcoming and functional. Try to hit sales in January for better deals on outdoor furniture.

Via Modernize

Add a table

People like to sip their coffee or read a book on the front porch. Why not create an inviting space to relax? A table can set the tone of your entryway, depending on your intended use. If you want to entertain guests , you may consider buying a sturdier, more durable table, while for day to day use, a simpler option will work. Add a lamp or decorative accessories to give it further emphasis.

Via Modernize

Try easy fixes

Want to do something with your porch, but don’t want to spend too much money? Add new throw pillows to your couch or accessorize the front with some plants. You can even buy new accent pieces, like a vase or trunk storage, to give your porch a lift. It doesn’t have to be expensive to make an impression.

 

Via Modernize

Repaint your porch

Painting an old space with a different color offers an immediate facelift to any space. Determine the color scheme that will work with your overall exterior and then complement your porch with the right paint. Within a few days, you will have a new and fresh entry to enjoy.

Via Modernize

Spruce up your curb appeal

The outside landscaping of your property will influence how your porch appears to visitors. Keep shrubs, flowers and trees trimmed. Make certain your lawn is mowed and the pathway to your entryway is clear. Also, if your mailbox is in the front of your house, update with paint . You can also retouch the numbers outside of your home so they look fresh. 

Via Modernize

Experiment with colors and textures

To keep your porch from looking too boring, combine different colors, textures and patterns. Mismatched chairs with wicker accents can appear complementary if you add pillows that will bring out the colors of both. Adding wicker, different types of fabric to your chairs and even an accent rug creates a presentation that offers a fun variety.

Sprucing up your porch is a great investment for you, as well as your guests. You can opt for a simple fix or be more elaborate, but whatever you decide your porch will definitely be more inviting and get more use.

For more design ideas and inspiration, head to Modernize.com.

Thank you Jane!  I can't wait to try some of these ideas on my front porch.

St. Patrick's day printable

I needed some St. Patty's day decor and ran across this beautiful Irish Blessing.  I thought it would be perfect as a printable.  You are welcome to use it as well.  (right click and save as to your computer.  Its sized as an 8x10 but you can easily change the size in a word document.)

inspired by this beautiful print

Easy go to crochet flower

Earlier this week I was asked to teach a group of ladies how to crochet a flower.  Most had never crocheted or had little experience so I went with one of my favorite go to flowers.  Its quick and easy if you know a few basic stitches.

Picture by the amazing Amie from Kitty Cats and Airplanes

You will need an H hook (or any size depending on how big you want your flower) and a small amount of worsted weight yarn.

Daisy:
Round 1: chain 2
Round 2: 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook, sl st in 1st sc
Round 3: ch 2, (dc, dc, ch. 2, sl st) in same stitch, *sl st in next sc, (ch2. dc, dc, ch. 2, sl st) in same stitch* repeat until you have 6 petals. sl st. to bottom of 1st petal. fasten off
*Leave a long tail to sew to headband or you can cut it short and hot glue to headband. I prefer to hot glue flower to headband on top of the knot where you fastened off. Then cut a felt circle and glue to the back side to create a clean look.

You can change to look by adding a button to the center or make a double layered flower by crocheting another flower with a hook one size bigger.  Stack the smaller one on top and sew together.

Do you have a go to flower?  I'd love to see it!