Pinecone Ornament

Sometimes, putting the pine-cones back on a tree is a great idea! I love getting the kids involved and making the home more colorful with something out of their own mind!  So, we went out and gathered some lonely fallen pine-cones to take home.  The kids loved rescuing the fallen pine-cones.

Stuck Santa!

Decking the halls can be costly and the kids hate having to walk around a store while we decide which ones to get.  Let’s skip the step of leaving the house and make a fun decoration with the kids.  Double bonus, you get the kids entertained and an adorable decoration to deck your halls with!

Reindeer Head!

Kids love to wear crazy hats!  Why not indulge them; after all it is the Christmas season!  To make it even more special, let them add their personal touch to the hat by making it themselves! Put on the Christmas tunes and pull out the craft supplies!

Upside Down Santa Hat Card Holder!

 The cards are coming in and you can hang them around the house on string, set them on the mantles, or make something to hold them with the kids!  The kids will love that they get to make something to hold the well wishes and cheer that people send you, plus if anyone visits you can tell them their card is housed in this special kid created holder to be pulled out and re-read for the memories whenever you want!

You need:

Empty milk carton

Red paint

Glue

                                         Cotton balls

Bloggy Whatcha Want Christmas Giveaway Sign Ups!

What a Christmas Giveaway Blogger Sign up? Yep, starting early this year!

Calling all bloggers, Sign up for the

Bloggy Whatcha Want Christmas Giveaway!

Birthday Chronicle Review

I am always searching for unique gifts to give that really hit home with the person.  I was asked to do a review of a Birthday Chronicle and was excited to see what it was about.  I think this is a great gift to give someone to show you really want them to have something personal!  Put it in a frame and you are all set, especially if your recipient is into history!

My Present To My Readers!!!!!

Merry Christmas! Thank you for visiting/unwrapping this blog today! As a reward here are some free quick pages for you to download for your scrapbooking needs! Download one or them all! They will close in a few days so download them now! You can use them as a jpg in any program or you can get your own My Memories Software. As an added bonus if you do get the software use this code, STMMMS60602,for an additional $10.00 off and a $10.00 coupon will be in your receipt for downloads!  To use this coupon just visit: www.mymemories.com and order your My Memories Software Vs3!

Hand Made Tree!

We love to decorate the tree each year.  So, let’s give the kids a tree they can be proud of too!  Let’s make one to put on the table next to the dish where Santa’s cookies will rest!  

A "Frosty" Treat

The kids are antsy, their is so much going on!  Why not give them a treat in their lunch box and surprise them with some holiday cheer!  Well, this was my thought too and I created a fun little character who is completely edible!

Start by getting your supplies:

3 large Marshmallows
craisins or raisins
peanut butter
rolo
stick pretzels

Easy Ornament

Why mess with a good thing? Here is an oldie but a goodie ornament idea for you to do with the kids!

You need:
Beads
Pipe Cleaner

HELP NEEDED BY FRIDAY!!!!!

Chick-Fil-A Rocks! This is a Call to Action!!!

I got a call today while the kids were eating lunch from one of the parents.  It wasn’t a check up call or a there is a problem call it was a, I know you love kids and I found a great way to help!  You see, I live in Arizona and we have this thing called Helen’s Hope Chest here.  They deal with foster children and as it would happen the manager at the Stapley and Baseline Chick-Fil-A helped found Helen’s Hope Chest!  So, what does this have to do with a parent call?  Well, they are giving out a free sandwich in exchange for donations to Helen’s Hope Chest children!  They have a tree with ages and gifts wanted by children for you to draw from, then get the gift and bring it in!  

Snowless Snowman

We currently reside in Phoenix and that means we do not have snow!  That's right, no snow.  So, naturally, what do you think the kids say they want to make?  You guessed it a snowman!  Ya, OK, that's a lot of ice cubes for me to shred.  Since, I'm not about to shred some cubes, I had to get about getting creative.  Thus, the snow-less snowman was created!

For your Frosty you will need a few things:

Sea Life Event Review Phoenix AZ

 I visited Sea Life's Santa Claws event today in Phoenix, AZ.  Santa Claws is a giant lobster whose tank is decorated with a beard and a Santa Hat!  Sea Life is an aquarium geared to children.  It has a theater that talks about the latest exhibits and animals, feel me tanks, multiple bubble views, intricate tank shapes, a large children's play area, and a gift shop.  Now, Santa Claws himself is moving to a sister Sea Life location, but the Santa Claw's event will go from the 19th to January 1, 2012.

12 Teas of Christmas-Giveaway!

We have a WINNER!  It is Ruth Mayer Hill!!!!  She has been emailed and has 48 hours to claim her prize!  Thanks to all who entered!  Checked back for more to come!
This is perfect for the tea lover in us all! If you are like me and trying to cut down on your coffee intact, making the switch to tea is the perfect answer. Their are just as many ways to make, brew, and drink tea as their are for coffee, maybe more. Not to mention, more flavors! For the Tea Maven in your life enter to win!  Can't wait to win it?  Then visit Boston Tea Company and order it now!

Crazy Christmas Photo Ideas!

We all love a good holiday photo to frame and maybe even send as a card, but why not separate the two?  Why not have a nice photo for the frame and memory book and a separate one for the card?  Think of something unusual or funny to send to your friends and family and give the gift of a smile! 

Here are ten crazy photo ideas!

Rocking Family!

What a way to start off the day.  I was going through all the emails from the night and weeding through the business, blog, personal, and of course junk mail.  Sometimes when we are going through a routine we get a little surprise if something unexpected is encountered.  I received this email video in my in box this morning and it had me cracking up!  I opened it up and the music had me snapping, then I saw the characters I started laughing!  I've been jibjab elf-ed!
My mom sent it to me and it's of my family and my parents!  Check mine out and then make one of your own and send it as this years Christmas Card!

A Gift of a Different Kind

Each year we all spend a moment remembering those we have lost.  Be it a friend, comrade in arms, or family member their is always a minute where we think of them and remember the times they were with us sharing in the joyous holiday.  Maybe their is a way we can still celebrate them this Christmas!

Holiday Shopping!

So, this year I'm attempting to not leave the house to do my shopping.  Not an easy task when you shop consignment for the kids clothes like I do and most places don't do consignment online.  I checked E-Bay and Amazon, but the pictures weren't that great and I wanted to see what I was going to be getting and shipping costs can really add up.  Seriously, every time I turn around I feel like the kids are outgrowing something! I hunted and hunted and finally found my answer!  I found www.2ndbundle.com!

Scented Pine Cones!!!!

 Go on a Pine cone hunt!  Have the kids find as many pine cones as they can!  Take a wagon or garbage bag if you can and have them fill it up!  They will love hunting around and discovering the different things in nature and you can talk about how the big trees come from the pine cones they are finding!  I love duality!

Tis the season for Gravy, caramelizing foods, and marinading meat!

Ah, tis' the season to cook fatty wonderful foods!  I love the smells and tastes of the holiday season!  As much as I love good tasting food all of you know that I love even more multi-purpose items.  I recently stumbled upon a product which can be used to spice up any dull meal.  It is called GravyMaster!  You can use it on turkey or mashed potatoes for your gravy or you can use it in a ton of other recipes!  One idea that I had was how to get kids to eat their veggies when there are so many sweets just lying around!  Why not make the veggies a sweet treat themselves!  You can use this product to caramelize the veggies!  Add some caramelized veggies to some pan fried fish or BBQ's chicken and you have Master the meal!  (they have a great recipe on their site for some ways to use this to BBQ as well!)  I don't know about you but I think caramelized anything sounds amazing!