Upcycle and Keeping The Memories

When my daughter was thirteen she decided for her birthday (aside from the teenage party) she wanted her bedroom redecorated in sunflowers. So with the comforter, curtains, pillows and all the little extras, as one of her gifts my mom bought her this little draw cabinet to hold all her CDs. 

I have had this cabinet up in her old bedroom for years and one day walking by it,

 I decided it needed a new home. 

Now that she is expecting her second son, she is working on his nursery.

 So I took all the drawers out sanded, painted and stained .

In doing this I found tucked behind one of the drawers was one of her little writings.. so sweet. 

I left this little memory.

Redoing this little cabinet was a surprise for her and now works well for all the 

new little booties and other little baby items. 

So what once held her little secrets and music now will hold her little baby's treasures.

This is why keeping and remaking the old into the new is sometimes so much better then going to the store and pulling something off the selves.

Monster Truck Birthday Party Part 4 - DIY Monster Truck Race Track

For the whole Monster Truck experience, please review Parts 1-3 for ideas. This was my favorite part because it is an original idea. I was brainstorming with my scrap ladies one Friday night on what materials I could use to create the track but keep it safe for kids. I am a HUGE fan of the dollar stores and knew I wanted to use the pool noodles in some way. My girlfriend Laura came up with the brilliant idea to use yard sticks. Here is how we did it.

1. Use landscape chalk to mark out your track.

2. Measure your checkered flags and hammer in yardsticks with a rubber mallot. We hammered them in approximately 6 inches deep and just eyeballed the distance between the noodles.

3. Cut slits with a box cutter along the side of the noodle so you can slide it around the yardstick.

4. Attach your race flags from noodle to noodle and complete the track. I cut out the words Finish for the final flags at the end.

Another, prop that was a HUGE hit with the kids was the case (36) of Tire Swim tubes that I bought at the Dollar Tree. We blew them up and stacked them. The kids had a blast stacking and knocking them down. 

The greatest part was....the guests were able to take their Grave Digger trucks, tire tubes and noodles home after the party. Who needs 20 pool noodles and 36 tubes???

You don't even have to wait for a birthday. This is fun to do as a summer activity. 

Special thanks to my parents and brother who helped execute on the crazy Monster Truck track. You know you love me and my crazy ideas!!!!

Let's start planning next year.......
~Jenn

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Baby Shower Diaper Cake and Diaper Wreath

For my daughter's baby shower, for her first baby boy, I made this diaper cake (among many other projects!) and it was so much fun just adding and adding to the cake.

 All around the edges (aside from the boxes of diapers) I added toys, booties,

 travel size baby lotions, and so many other little useful items. On top

 of the cake I added the full size bottles of Bert's Bee baby goodies.

Now for her second baby shower, which I have learned is called a Sprinkle, I  made this diaper  wreath. Theses projects are so easy and so much fun to just build and build. The difficult task for me is to know when to stop adding the goodies. There is just no rules for that!

I also made these other little treats such as the baby stroller lollipops, covered Hersey bars with my own ingredients list, and even little onesies covered boxes with treats. 

Just remember to have fun in whatever you are creating.

~Cathy

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50 Creative Ways to Entertain Your Youngster

I read somewhere that kids need to feel a sense of purpose and that they add value even at a young age. So, I am always trying to figure out little jobs for Kyle. How can I have him help me and feel a sense of responsibility? It takes effort to think this way and you have to relinquish control that things might not be exactly how you would do them but that is OK!!!! REALLY! 

"Kids spell love t-i-m-e." {John Crudele}

As I started writing down these items, the list grew to other creative ways to entertain your little one. What I ended up with is a list that I use to keep my child engaged, give him a sense of family and responsibility. OK and sometimes just enjoy being a kid. You only live once!

1. Have them help clean windows with Windex and paper towels.
2. Paint the walls of the tub mixing shaving cream and food coloring together in a muffin pan. When they are done, rinse off the walls with the shower sprayer -- cleaning done!
3. Give them a pack of Post it's. It's amazing what they will do with the sticky paper! The best part? They can stick it on windows and walls -- no problem!
4. Read books every night. No excuses!
5. Draw on peelable fruit for lunches - such a cute surprise that brings a smile. Faces on bananas and oranges
   
6. Let them play in the sink and wash dishes. 
7. Banner coloring - The easels just don't seem big enough. Roll out that paper on the floor and give them a huge canvas. 
   
8. Unpack groceries - I have Kyle help put away the snacks in his special place and stack the juices in the fridge. This keeps him busy and helps me out!
9. Go on family bike rides
10. Feed the birds - We have bird feeders that it is Kyle's job to fill. He loves feeding the birdies and it makes him more aware of wildlife right in our backyard. Let's face it, if he misses the feeder the birds will find it!
    
11. Plant and water a garden. Then pick and eat the fruits of your labor together.
12. Help with laundry - Put dirty clothes in the hamper, pour the soap in the washer, push the buttons, match socks, put their clothes away. 
13. Make cards and mail them to grandparents.
14. Paint outside with water - Paint brush, water and sidewalk = done
15. Build something out of scrap wood (Papa gave us a whole bucket!)
16. Use a water table but fill it with bubbles or sand.
17. Paint rocks.
18. Make a treasure map out of an old place mat.
    
19. Give them a Lysol wipe and tell them to wash their car or bike. This on continues to deliver every time we are out in the garage.
20. Give them the floor dust Swiffer and have them sweep the floor.
21. Make a paper airplane.
22. Go fishing.
23. Play hide and seek.
24. Have family movie night with popcorn made the old fashioned way. 
    
25. Take a hike and collect treasures along the way (bring a bucket).
26. Play in the rain and jump in puddles.
27. Hammer preset nails in a 2x4 - supervision required and mini hammer suggested.
28. Stock up on crafts at $1 store for a rainy day.
29. Make a stepping stone for the garden. You can find kits at Michael's craft stores.
30. Help put mini flags out in the yard for US holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day). Instills American pride!
31. Give gifts for no reason to their friends. Regifting something that they really don't need, teaches them the art of giving. 
32. Catch lightening bugs in a jar for a nightlight.
33. Put repositionable wall stickers in their playroom or bedroom
34. Make a special corner or place in the house for only them. We turned the playroom closet into the batcave!
35. Make old fashioned Kool-aid pops and make them wait:)
36. Give the sticker sheets and let them put stickers on you. My hubby is a good one for that!
37. Make things out of boxes and duct tape. Kids have the greatest imaginations and if you need inspiration, search Pinterest. The possibilities are endless!   
38. For the little girls, let them do mommy's hair then daddy's!
39. Let them help u cook or bake. 
40. Make racetracks out of yard sticks - only 75 cents at Home Depot!
41. Spray weeds with this amazing organic weed killer found on Pinterest! HERE
42. Have grandparents mail cards to your kids an unexpected sticker sheet or card in the mail works wonders and teaches them to appreciate old fashioned communication.
43. Give them options and let them make choices.
44. Together put glow stars on their ceiling.
45. Pick a day or weekend when they can wear whatever they want. Let it go!
46. Make a pillow pool and let them jump in it. 
47. Play in the sprinkler.
48. Make mud pies.
49. Eat dessert before dinner.
50. Have them set and clear the table.
51. Always kiss/hug them goodbye and hello. Always.

How many on the list have you done? What are some other ideas you have? These aren't rocket science but we all need reminders to slow down and remember what is important. 

T-I-M-E

Relinquish control and have fun!

~Jenn

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Monster Truck Party Part 3 - DIY Monster Truck Costumes

So the main part of the party was going to be the Monster trucks for each child and the obstacle course for them to run through. With 15 children invited, I had to start early in order to have enough time to make all the trucks!!! Thankfully my friday night girls and Cathy were up for the challenge!

I saw some Box cars on Pinterest so I got my inspiration from Pinterest searches. You can visit my 'Birthday Love' Pinterest board for links to all the ideas > HERE.

I completely deviated from all the ones I saw but leveraged the overall idea!

Materials used: 

• Boxes (varying sizes for the kids young and old)
• Box cutter
• Modge Podge
• Plates (2 different sizes for the wheels)
• Black, Red and Silver Spray Paint
• Cricut and Cricut Stencil Cartridge (for flames and skulls) 
• Paper (to cut out the flames, skulls, and print Grave Digger on the side)
• Coasters (Spray painted Red and attached as headlights)
• Hot Wheels License Plates (from The Dollar Tree - 2 in a pack for $1)
• Washers 3/16" x 1-1/4"(optional for bling on tires)
• Fasteners - 1-1/2" (to secure the tires - bought at OfficeMax)

Ok this took many Friday nights and Saturdays. Here was our spray painting party one chilly Saturday!

1. Cut flaps off boxes except for the windshield.
2. Spray paint all parts - Boxes, wheels, and headlights. 4 wheels per box x 2 plates each wheel = 128 plates spray painted!!! Whew! 
3. Cut out enough flames and skulls for all trucks. I used 3 flames on front, 1 on each side and 2 on the back = 7 flames per truck!
4. Print out Monster Truck logo - ours was Grave Digger. 
5. Mod Podge all paper embellishments to truck. 
6. Secure wheels (in assembly order Large plate, small plate, washer, fastener)
7. Attach Tulle for the suspender like attachment for each child. You will need a child to help you gauge this. They are going to be tighter that you would guess!

OK, in 7 steps this looks like it was easy! If you are attempting to replicate, please feel free to email me at outonalimbinva@aol.com if you have questions! Here is the Grave Digger original and our final product. 

Not too shabby if we do say so ourselves!!!
~ Jenn

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