Get Your Crap Together Back To School Pattern Pack Review

I am happy to be a part of Get Your Crap Together's Back to School Bus Tour.  Thanks for stopping by.  Today I wanted to share with you some fun and cute back to school projects I made using the patterns from the Back to School Pattern Pack by Get Your Crap Together.  I chose to make the backpack sack, the crayon roll and the snack bag but the pattern pack has 9 different easy patterns to make including a lunch bag, art kit, sandwich bag and pencil pouch.  

 For the crayon roll I used waterproof fabric from Wholeport.  I made the crayon roll to hold our dry erase crayons and using the waterproof fabric makes it extremely easy to wipe clean.  And because I used this fabric I made it a tiny bit different and didn't have to enclose any seams.  I just pinked all the edges (though the fabric doesn't unravel).  The pattern was really easy to follow and super simple.  I made 2 in a matter of 10 minutes.

 I did a church quiet book making party at my house and showed them all my wipeable crayon roll and every mom loved it.

 I also made a snack bag using the same kind of waterproof fabric.  It is also super simple to whip up.  I wanted mine to have a very secure closure so I added extra Velcro to help it stay closed. There was also no need to enclose the seams on this using the waterproof fabric.  Super Simple.

 For the backpack sack I lined my sack to make it a bit more durable.  We are going to use them (I made one for each of my girls) for church bags and there are usually a lot of books involved so I wanted them to be really sturdy.  I love how the backpack sack has the outside pocket to help keep track of smaller items. And it is the perfect size for my girls.

I was really impressed with how fast and easy all of these projects were.  They would be great for school, church, birthday gifts, sleepovers, and the list goes on.  There are some really fun patterns included in the Back to School Pattern Pack.  Thanks so much Get Your Crap Together

Want to check out what other crafty bloggers have done with the pattern pack, this Bus Tour link button will take you where you need to go.

Make Monday: My New Favorite Pinterest Recipes

I feel like I should start by apologizing for the lack of content as of late but the truth is that I don't have anything to apologize for.  My life is busy crazy and I just can't get everything done, so somethings get left undone sometimes.  My blog has to take it's turn too.  

Today I just wanted to share a few new favorite recipes.  I am more likely to try a recipe that has been recommended by a friend than I am to try one that I find myself and since I hope you all consider me your friend, I hope you will trust my opinion and want to give these a try too.  

#1. Biscuit and egg casserole.  I know there are a million of these out there.  I particularly loved this one and how easy it was.  I made it overnight and it was a bit soggy so next time I would just make it the day of.  It was delicious completely filled my 8x8 pan I might add.  YUMMY.

#2. Chocolate zucchini muffins.  They really are more like cake that you can get away with eating for breakfast because they don't have frosting (though it wouldn't hurt anything) and they are called muffins.  Really yummy and they do bake up with these pretty domed tops.

#3. Baked pumpkin doughnuts.  I had my hubby buy me a doughnut pan for the oven just so I could make these and they did not disappoint (and neither did the pan-you have got to get one if you don't have one and actually get 2 cause one is not enough).  They have great flavor and texture-even a few hours later and the next day they were still yummy.

#4. Artisan bread in the crock pot.  This was one of those, "shut the front door" recipes.  Would it really work and would it taste good?  You bet.  Delicious and I didn't have to heat up my house.  Seriously-2 hours on high in the crock pot and then a couple of minutes under the broiler and you have delicious bread that is super crusty on the outside and soft on the inside.  

#5. Mini BBQ chicken pizzas.  I loved the flavor.  I loved how easy they were.  I loved crust.  LOVED them.

#6. Eggless chocolate chip cookie dough bites.  These were really yummy and a huge hit at a backyard movie gathering.  I didn't have mini chocolate chips but it didn't matter.  They are much easier than cake balls but just as pretty and so satisfying.

#7. M&M cookies.  The recipe gives you lots of great baking tips and these are really the perfect cookie.  They were soft and buttery but not greasy.  So delicious.  Made one batch and another the very next day.  They freeze well too.  

Have you tried a recipe lately that you found on Pinterest that was a big hit?  Please share....oh and happy munching.

Dollar Store Recommendations Part 2

About 6 months ago I shared with you my list of dollar store recommendations specifically from the

 Dollar Tree Store.  Today I wanted to share a part 2 of that series because I keep finding great things that I love from that store.  I also have a few at the end of the list that I couldn't find on the website but you might be able to find them in a store near you so don't just go by the pictures-check out the whole list.

1. Spray bottles: I honestly don't know what the going rate of a spray bottle is at any other store but when I saw these at the dollar store my only hang up was, "Do they work?" and I am here to tell you that they do work-GREAT!!

2. Microfiber Dish Cloths: These work great for mopping floors, washing dishes and as rags.  

3. Printed Shelf Liners: I don't actually use this as shelf liners but use it to cover things (boxes, binders etc).  I couldn't find it on the website but I have also bought the clear contact paper and it works great for at home "laminating".

4. Stor It Cover Ups: They are like little shower caps for your dishes.  They are super handy, I wash mine so they can be reused and the box comes with 3 different sizes in one.  I think it is a great buy.

5. Muffin Liners: Depending on sales and coupons you may find these for cheaper elsewhere.  These ones are great too.

6. Hawaiian Punch Singles To Go: These are a fun "reward" for kids on long trips.  We dump one into a water bottle and it seems to provide enough excitement to keep a kid happy for a while longer.  And they are sugar free if that makes a difference to you.

7. Clear Decorative Rocks:  I use these a lot to make magnets (decorative ones, or job chart ones etc.)  Once in a while you find a dud but overall you get your moneys worth for sure.

8. Dry Erase Markers: I know these are one of those items that you would for sure wonder if it is worth it but I have some that I bought for my in home preschool and they work great.  They last a long time, hold up pretty well (even when being smashed by a 3 year old trying to write) and the marker doesn't just immediately rub off of the whiteboard surface.  I think they are a great buy.

9. Kid scissors: I particularly like these ones because they have a little spring that you can put in place to help kids first learning to cut.  The spring helps the scissors spring back.  We have had the same pair for 3 year and they haven't had a single problem.

10. Glitter Glue: To me this is one of those items that it doesn't really matter how good the quality is if you are getting these for little kids because they are going to think it is cool, squeeze out a whole blob on a paper and then repeat on a million more papers until it is all gone.  $1.00 to entertain like that for a 1/2 hour is well worth it to me.  I even found some in pastel colors: pink, yellow, green, blue and purple.

11. Flash Cards: I haven't bought these particular Sesame Street ones but I have bought flashcards from the Dollar Tree and I love them.  They have so many kinds to choose from.  I hole punch the corners and put them on a ring to keep them all together.  

12. Bubble Bath Books: I use these for a teething baby; it's better than ruining a good book with baby drool.

13. Strawberry Shortcake Coloring Books:  I am not sure of the going rate of coloring books at any store really but I love these ones and my girls do too.  They are good quality and so stinkin cute.  Makes me want to take up coloring again.  Great for gifts too (just don't buy the crayons or colored pencils at the Dollar Tree to go with these :)

14. Bingo Dabbers: I use these for preschool.

15. Muffin Pans: I am not sure how great these are for baking (though I am sure they are okay) but I use them for gifts like burp cloth cupcakes, or cupcake onesies and also for preschool for sorting colors, counting objects, or holding supplies.  

16.  Foaming Hand Soap: They didn't have a picture of the foaming hand soap so I used this antibacterial hand soap picture instead but I really want to tell you about the foaming hand soap.  It is awesome and I keep reusing the bottles by making my own hand soap to go in them.  I have found a pomegranate scent, a coconut lime scent, and a fresh laundry scent.

17. Barbie Tooth Brush (not pictured): I just found these for my girls.  A barbie tooth brush, with a little cover and a cute little case.  They were in heaven.  I mean if a new toothbrush can bring so much joy then I will be happy to stock up.

18. Boxed Milk (not pictured): The brand is Gossner.  It comes in a tetrapack.  I have not actually drank it just by itself but I am sure it is comparable to reconstituted powdered milk or better.  I do however use it in baking ALL THE TIME.  I would recommend this as something to have in your emergency storage-for those times when you run out of milk and can't get to the store, or an after hours baking spree in which you don't want to use up all the regular milk.  I have used it on my girls oatmeal and they didn't seem to notice.  It is easier to use than powdered milk and super handy to have.  

19. Soy Sauce (not pictured): just saying that I have used it and it tastes totally normal to me and it is a decent amount for $1.00.  

20. Stor It Jumbo Freezer Bags (not pictured): I just happened to find these when I was looking for paper bags one time in the store.  They are freezer bags that are bigger than the 1 gallon size.  I mean, how many times do you have something that is just a hair too big for a gallon sized bag?  Happens to me a lot.  These are perfect.  I think there are like 10 to a box or something.  Maybe I am just a sucker for a zip top bag, but these are great.

Ok, so there you have it and I will keep shopping so I can get back and post a part 3 (because they always get great new stuff).

Have you tried anything from the Dollar Tree store that you just love?  Please share.

The LAShop and 1 Great and Affordable Photo Backdrop

I think it is safe to say that everyone needs a place where they can buy something "unique" for that someone in your life who has everything.  Or maybe you just want to give a gift that is different, quirky or one of a kind.  Well The LAShop has got your covered.  This is the online place to find all sorts of random items, things that are quirky, one of a kind and sometimes even a little wild.  The LAShop contacted me a while ago to see if I would be interested in testing out one of their many photography items: a photo backdrop stand.  My answer of course was YES!!!!.  I have wanted one of these, I can think of many uses for one of these and now I am thrilled to be the owner of one of these.  Before I go on, I just have to say that if you are into photography either professionally or as a hobby The LAShop has all kinds of great photography equipment and great prices and deals all the time.  

Ok, now to talk about this photography backdrop.

First it shipped super fast.  It came in this convenient carrying case.

 When you open it there are spaces for the 4 main poles as well as two pockets for the actual stand pieces.  One downside is that is didn't have any instructions, but after looking over each piece I figured out exactly how to put it together.  One thing that I really love is how many ways you can change the size.  You can make it taller, and you can make it wide or narrow depending on what kind of backdrop you need.  It can be high and wide enough to fit over a couch (which you could then hide with a draped sheet or piece of fabric) or it could be wide enough to hold a sheet and project a movie onto.  You could make it smaller to take individual portraits, or enlarge the whole backdrop and take a group shot.  Lots of possibilities.

 Here is a little look at it set up to take some pictures in my kitchen.  

 I don't have many things to use as backdrops right now, but now that I have the stand I will be investing.  For now I tried a fleece blanket, and sheets.  There are no clamps to hold the material to the stand either.  I have been using clothes pins but asked my fabulous hubby for some C-clamps for my birthday coming up.

 Ok so the disclaimer is that even though you may own some professional equipment, your kids will not behave any differently because of it and you still may not get great pictures.  I did however luck out and get these great shots:

This one I did over my couch, so that my kids could sit on the couch while I took the picture.  That was super convenient.

If you are looking for something to help with your photography hobby, or you want something that you can use occassionally that you don't have to break the bank to buy then The LAShop has got you covered.  I also loved their photo tents and they have lots of background fabric options as well-seriously-everything you need.  Check it out for yourself.

A Few "Other" Uses For A George Foreman Grill

Do you have a George Foreman grill?  I know-seems like they are very "1990's" or something.  I think thrift store shelves are lined with them-not necessarily because they are bad but probably because people just didn't feel like it was something they used enough to warrent shelf space.  I have never been a fan myself basically for only one reason-my college roommate.  When I was in college I had a roommate that had one of these and she always left the little grease catching dish on the counter for days after she used it, filled with grease.  Drove me absolutely crazy and smelled bad too.  I swore I would never have one.  And then I got married....and I inherited not only my husbands but we also got one as a gift.  So I had to figure out a few ways to use it and guess what?  I actually LOVE my George Foreman grill and I found out that there are a few different ways to use it.  I know, random post, but I thought that in case anyone else has one of these and is not sure what to do with it now you will have a few more options.

1. Grilled chicken: I use my George Foreman grill to grill chicken for salads, pizza or tacos when firing up the BBQ would be silly to cook only 1 or 2 pieces of chicken.  It is much more convenient to just grill it on my counter.  I cut the chicken breast in half lengthwise to help it cook faster and more evenly and I always drizzle a tiny bit of oil on the chicken while cooking it because it helps to keep it from burning.  The taste is excellent and it is so easy (especially if you don't feel like you are barbecue inclined.)

2. The next best thing to a fire roasted hot dog:  A hot dog cooked over some form of flame is one of my favorite things.  I like them slightly burned on the outside.  Again, like with the chicken, when I am on my own with the kids I don't always feel like turning on the BBQ to cook 3 hot dogs and I certainly am not going to be lighting up a fire.  But did you know that a George Foreman grill can cook a hot dog to a very nice slightly blackened state that is delicious?  I put the hot dogs in the grill (3 at a time) and just rotate them every few minutes until they are cooked just the way I like them on the outside.  You can even do this with frozen hot dogs.  They cook so well.  This is one of my favorite way to use my grill.  No smoke, no smelly clothes and quick and easy clean up.

3. Pizza Panini's:  I don't have a panini pan and I have seen plenty recipes that call for one but I honestly don't have room for another appliance.  This week when I pinned a recipe for grilled pizza sandwiches I decided to try and grill it on my George Foreman grill and the result was EXCELLENT.  The grill worked perfectly.  The sandwich was toasted perfectly, crusty but not burned, the inside was melted and gooey with cheese and pizza sauce and I think I just found another new favorite and easy way to make pizza.  I followed this recipe from Our Best Bites except that I brushed the outside of mine with olive oil.

4. Grilled Cheese: Since the panini's worked so well on the grill I figured that a plain old grilled cheese sandwich would work good too.  The only thing you want to be sure of is that you use thick bread.  Brush the outside with olive oil or melted butter.  Olive oil results in a perfect crunch and has a very yummy taste.

My next idea: french toast.  I haven't tried it yet but I will let you know how it turns out.

So in case you thought this little "lean, mean, grilling machine" was only for burgers now you know that there is so much more you can do with it.  And if you don't have one and have the room in your house for another appliance pick one up at a thrift store just to have for these quick and easy ideas.  You won't be disappointed.  And I am not even getting paid to say that.

Your Photo Studio - Giving You the Chance to Take Professional Looking Pictures

I love taking pictures of my kids.  With more than 13,000 digital files on my computer one might say I am a bit addicted.  But when you have cute kids what are you to do?  Well I have read many articles about making your pictures look more "professional" from camera settings, to lighting options, to making your own back drops.  There are so many things to try-sometimes it is a bit overwhelming. I have more than once thought, "Man if only I could go to ____________ and take my pictures there, I know I could take really cute pictures," or "If only I had the right lighting these would turn out so much better," or "Man I wish I had a cute backdrop to use-something that looks nicer than a sheet."  Well it just so happened that someone must have read my mind because not too long ago I got a message in my inbox about what I feel is the answer to all my photo shooting dilemmas it's called "Your Photo Studio".  What it is is a mini professional photo studio set up with backdrops, lighting and props all available for you to use.  The only thing you need to bring along is someone cute to take pictures of and your camera.  You can book in both 1/2 hour and 1 hour sessions.  You only pay to use the space.  Everything there is free for you to use.  You can use as many backdrops as you want and as many of their props.  You can bring your own props from home as well-pretty much anything (except food and pets).  The photo studio is located in Midvale, Ut at the Quilted Bear.  You can find out all about it on their website: Your Photo Studio.  The website shows you all of the options you will find in the studio, gives you photo ideas, gives a great tutorial on how to use the photo studio and lets you book a session online.  It is so super easy.  

I took my kiddos up this past weekend to test it out.  Now I have to say that even though this is a professional photo studio setting this does not mean that your kids will be magically transformed into perfect angels to have their pictures taken.  You will still want to plan the normal things one might plan for any photo shoot: make sure your kids are not tired, well fed, have plenty to drink and take plenty of bribes along.  I know this because I didn't do any of the above.  We don't live nearby so we traveled and spent the night with relatives and then traveled some more and by the time we got there everyone was hot, tired and hungry.  My little man has just learned to crawl so he did not want to cooperate, my little pumpkin had fallen the morning before and bruised her eye and had frazzled hair and my little Miss Small Fry thought her shirt was too itchy.  So the fact that I ended up with cute pictures at all was a miracle.  I loved all the backdrop options.  I wish I had the time to try every one of them.  And the props are really cool-great looking chairs, suitcases and tables.  Everything was really easy to use.  We had a 1 hour session and I managed to get pictures of all of my kids individually and a few group shots but like I said my little man was not having it.  I would love to add that I remained totally calm, cooled and collected through it all but that would be a big, fat, lie.  If I did it again (which I would love to) I think I would do individual 1/2 hour sessions for each kid and then use the end time for group shots (like book 3 sessions in a row).  I did feel a bit stressed with the time limit and that was a bit nerve racking.  After we left I was sure I didn't get a single good shot but when we got home and I got to look at all the pictures and do touch ups and things I was really, really happy with the way they turned out (even with frazzled hair).  Here are a few of my favorites:

This is 1 of 4 shots that I got of my little man before he wanted to take off.  I brought the wagon and props inside it from home.

My beautiful girls.  This aged wood backdrop is one of my favorites.  

This is the one of the only group shots that worked because my baby was so wiggly and cranky.  It is actually very true to how life is at our house-crazy.

This is the "my cheeks are hurting from smiling so much" look

I brought the purse and shoes from home too.  They have this beautiful big white back drop.  I love how these turned out.

Look how blue her eyes are.  

This is one of the suitcases they have in studio.  Wouldn't it look cute with a baby laying inside on a big fluffy blanket (and they do have lots of fluffy blankets there).

This is another one of their fun back drops.  I love blue and it sure helps to bring out my kids beautiful eyes.  

Doesn't this make you wish that you had a photo studio just like this near by.  I just absolutely love this idea. It gives anyone the chance to have great looking pictures without the cost of hiring a professional photographer.  I mean, you still have to know what you are doing (which I don't really know much about) but if you have a good camera and some fun ideas you can really end up with some super cute pictures.  Oh and did I mention that you can have anyone take the pictures so even if you don't feel confident as the photographer and you know someone who is-then take them along.  So many possibilities.  If you live anywhere nearby you have got to check this out.  It is probably a good thing I don't live so nearby because I might be tempted to take A LOT of pictures there.

Check out Your Photo Studio and start planning your session.

How to help when someone grieves

I know this isn't a craft or recipe related post but it is related to my life and since this is a blog about my life I thought I would share in hopes of helping at least one other person know how to help someone during the grieving process.

First I just want to say that these ideas are not universal and that this is not the Bible on the subject.  I am writing this list because before I actually went through the death of my father I really had no idea how to really help someone else.  I thought I did, but after having gone through this myself I realized that there are so many different ways to help someone that can really make a big difference beyond casseroles (which there is nothing wrong with casseroles).  I wanted to share some things that we experienced that were really helpful and also some things that I wished would have happened that would have really helped and hopefully the ideas will one day really help someone else.

1. The grieving process may begin long before someone passes away, and may not end for a long time after a funeral has taken place.  In our case, my family really has been grieving for 2 years now.  My dad's cancer was always considered terminal but he was blessed to have it go into remission multiple times in the last 2 years.  It was wonderful news every time but our family sure was on a roller coaster of sad news, happy news, sad news, happy news and in the end it was just sad news on almost a daily basis.  I am starting with this because any of the ideas that I share in this post can be done at any time.  They do not have to be limited to when a death actually occurs.  I had a dear friend bring my family meals a few different times over the last months-even after I got home from being at my parents house and having a funeral.  It is always nice to know that someone is thinking of you.  If you think, "But I don't really have a reason to go or take or stop by or drop off" do it anyway.  Chances are, most of the time you may not know why you feel a need to do something but the person or family you are doing it for most certainly does-it is because they need it.

2. Use your words.  Do you ever hear parents tell their children that?  Words are powerful.  Use them-share your feelings, share your thoughts or memories about the person who has passed away, use them to encourage and show love.  But be careful that the words you speak are genuine and meaningful.  Don't say that you "know how someone feels" if you don't really know.  Don't minimize what someone might be feeling.   If you don't know what to say then say that, "I don't really know what is best for me to say so I just want to tell you how very sorry I am."  It is better to say something than nothing at all.  One thing that I really loved was people who called our house to ask how we were, to say how much they loved my dad and to see if we needed help.  I also loved everyone who gave us a card with a personal message in it about our family or my dad or a memory they had.  Those kind of things just warmed our hearts.  One of my best friends called a few days after the funeral and it just made me cry because her voice was just like a hug-and I knew she would be giving me one if she was there right then.  Also one other note about words: some people may not feel like talking and that is okay too.  It might just be an overwhelming time and a phone conversation is not feasible at the time.  Leave a message or send a text or type an e-mail.  Friends told me that they didn't want to bother me, but I wanted to be bothered.  I wanted to read their messages and hear their voices.  I just wasn't able to get back to them each time but I needed to know I wasn't alone.  Express your sympathy and concern and don't expect anything back.  Your words will still be meaningful.  

3. Go if you can.  You might think, "Oh they are too busy and it won't matter if I am there or not," or, "I don't want to be in the way or be a bother," or, "I don't know what I would say or do," but let me assure you that in most cases none of those are true.  Yes for a family member involved in a funeral service, it is a super busy day but never too busy to receive a hug from a dear friend.  We were so blessed at my dad's funeral to see friends that we hadn't seen in years and it was like a ray of sunshine on what might feel like a really cloudy day.  I have to say that I am a bit jealous of my brother and sister in law who had friends drive about 8 hours to be with my brother and his wife at my dad's funeral.  They didn't even know my dad but they knew my brother and his wife and came just to be there as support, to cry and to hug and to visit.  That is what you need at a time like this so if you can go and be there to give a hug and shed tears with a friend do it.  It will mean so much.
4. Take something.  When a death occurs many people think of sending food.  This can be a great help.  Who wants to think about what to make for dinner when you are in the midst of funeral plans and family coming and going and trying to make decisions when your head feels like it is spinning.  Here are a few tips I want to share about taking food:
-If you can, use disposable containers so that the family doesn't have to worry about getting anything back to you.
-While it is very popular to take a dinner meal you might want to consider other meals like breakfast or lunch.  I think breakfast is a great idea because it is hard enough to wake up in the morning and face another day knowing a family member has passed away, let alone think of making breakfast.  Muffins, doughnuts, a breakfast casserole, breakfast sandwiches, fruit and yogurt or breakfast burritos are all great ideas.
-If you think a family might have more food then they can handle then maybe consider a gift card to a restaurant to get something at a later date.  Remember that the grieving may go on for a while and there may be an especially difficult day down the road when this could be really helpful.
-Remember that there may be others taking food to a family and while any food is usually welcome, too much food may be overwhelming.  I know that we think, "oh well, they will have leftovers if I make a huge amount," but if they are getting a new meal everyday there may just be too many leftovers to take care of.  So take food, but take a reasonable amount.
Now if you don't want to take food, or don't know what food to take here is another GREAT idea of what to take: PAPER PLATES, BOWLS, CUPS, PLASTIC CUTLERY.  My mom and I decided this will be our "go to" idea for funerals (and I would include having a baby too, or during an illness).  Dishes are just overwhelming and who cares about them when there are so many more important things to worry about.  A huge bag of paper plates is a lifesaver during stressful times.
5. Offer service.  While it is really easy to say, "let me know if you need something," the truth is that those words really are of no help at all.  Why not say, "can I come do your laundry?" or "can I come rake your leaves?", "can I vacuum for you?"  They might say no, or they might say yes but it is better to come with an idea rather than waiting for the family to give you a suggestion.  Think about all the things that you do in a home on a daily basis.  Now add a death on top of all of that.  We were so busy the week following my dad's death that when my brothers friend arrived to be with out family I took one look around our house and said, "Oh crap...it looks like we are a sloppy bunch of hoarders around here." Stuff was piled up everywhere, dishes were piled up, the table hadn't been cleared off  and the floor hadn't been swept in days.  We just hadn't had time.  Our sewer backed up two days after my father died and my mom came down with a stomach flu.  There were plenty of things that could be done.  Another great service: taking the kids for a bit. Oh how dearly we love our children but it is very difficult to mourn when you have children to tend to as well.  They aren't as aware of what is going on and life just continues as normal for them.  They don't understand the stress of a household and it is such a relief to have someone watch them for a bit.  We had friends offer to take our kids during the viewing and also during the funeral service and I am forever grateful. The kids in our family were too young to go to either thing and it was nice to just have those few hours to be in the moment and really "feel".  It wasn't until the day of the funeral that everything finally hit me because I had a moment to breath and soak everything in.  Child care is such a necessary service that can be offered.
6. Consider a donation.  Many families have specifics about where or how they want you to donate money so do a bit of investigating first.  If you are not near by or don't have a clue how else to help then maybe you will want to consider making a donation.  We received many donations from family and friends and while it is hard to sometimes accept money from other people, it was actually very much appreciated.  There are so many extra expenses that come with a funeral and having family coming and going and when all the dust settles it might be just what the family needs: a little bit of extra cash on hand.  This might not be welcomed by all so be careful but it is a very generous gesture.  We used some of the extra money we received to help each of my siblings and I with travel expenses we each had with getting to our home in Canada.
7. Shed tears.  If you have the gift of weeping then don't hold back.  Some people are not comfortable with crying but some can't hold the tears back.  I share this because I just want to say that it is such a great comfort to be able to cry with someone you love.  The day my mom took my brother to the airport I found myself home alone with my kids.  Everyone else was gone.  I called one of my best friends and said, "my husband is gone, my brothers are gone and my dad is gone and I don't know what to do."  I cried and she did too and said, "I am just so sorry."  I didn't need anything more than that at that moment.
8.  Check back in.  You may do some or all of the above things and then move on into your normal routine but just remember while it might be easy for your to move on, the wound of death may take a very long time to heal for a family member.  It is very comforting to have support and communication during the actual event but when all of that tapers off or even ends shortly after a funeral it may be very lonely for the family.  So if you can, check back in.  Call a few weeks later and a few months later.  The family may have to be back to normal life too but I guarantee that there won't be a day that goes by that they don't think about the recent event.  You may even want to wait and spread out your service over time.  The paper plates may run out after two weeks but the desire to do dishes may also not have returned yet so maybe wait and take paper plates 2 or 3 weeks later.  Or just drop off a meal out of the blue with a message, "I was thinking of you and wondered if you might not want to cook tonight."  Offer service down the road.  In our case with the death of the father/husband of the family we also lost our mechanic, our plumber, our electrician, our garbage man, and our gas service attendant.  When my brothers left and my husband had left and it was just my mom and me and my kids I was so nervous that something might go wrong and I wouldn't know how to fix it.  Keep that in mind, "What roles did the person who passed away play in that family and what might they now need help with."  A phone call, a visit, a hug and a cry might be needed weeks later when everyone else seems to have moved on.
 I hope this list has been helpful to someone.  If you haven't gone through this then it is really hard to know what to do.  I hope I have been able to share what I learned from going through this myself and what I will do when someone that I know and love has to go through the hardship known as death.  Do you have any suggestions that you would like to add?

Lessons From A Dollhouse

I have noticed from my google stats that I get the most views on craft project related posts but I have to say that since I am trying to keep it real this year on my blog if I was to only post tutorials everyday then that might lead you to believe that I actually have time to craft everyday and that simple is not true.  I am a mom first and then a crafter so I hope you will bare with some of the "other stuff" I have to say here on Small Fry.

Today I wanted to share 3 lessons I have learned over the years from my kids and their toys.

Lesson #1: 2 years ago I bought this wonderful vintage doll house set for Small Fry for Christmas.  I knew she was ready for a dollhouse but part of me also bought it because it was so stinkin cute and exactly what I would have loved as a little girl.  I got accessories, people and even a van to go with it.  I had everything perfectly set up on Christmas morning and she was ecstatic about it when she saw it but it was only a matter of minutes before I could feel my pulse increasing and my stress level rising as she proceeded to completely "trash" the whole set up as she played.  She didn't keep a single thing in it's "right" place and when she was done, everything was out of the dollhouse in a pile on the floor.  I didn't get mad but I was shocked.  How could she "wreck" the perfect dollhouse set up?  Why did she have to put the bed in the kitchen and the toilet in the living room?  Why did every single person have to be shoved in the swimming pool?  I did what every OCD mother would have done as soon as she went to be: I set it all back up.  And (because I am sometimes a slow learner) I did the same thing every day for a long time.  She would ask me to play and I would put everything in it's "proper place" before I would start.  She played with it quite a bit.  Usually everything ended up in a heap in the bins beside the house.  I would try and let it stay there until I could resist no longer and fix it all.  Eventually she just stopped playing with it.  I guess in retrospect I don't blame her with a mother always coming in and "messing" up the way she had it.  It sat unused for a while.  Finally I decided that maybe we just needed a break from the dollhouse so I packed all the accessories in a tub and folded up the house and put it in the kitchen so I could take it to the basement for a while.  I didn't get it out of the house immediately so it just sat against the wall for a couple of hours and do you know what?  This happened: the girls completely rediscovered the dollhouse.  You can't believe how much they play with it now.  It sits on top of the accessories tub until they want it down, then we unfold it and open up the box and they play play play.  And when they are done they shove everything back into the tub, slide it over and put the dollhouse back.  That is when it occurred to me that the secret to the success of this toy and any other toy is to let go of my idea of how it is supposed to be used and what it should look like and to let my kids use their imaginations to play however they feel and to be positive and complimentary at the things they come up with-I mean it would be handy to have a toilet by the oven in the kitchen in real life too.

Lesson #2: Maybe this happens at your house-you feel (as the parent) that you are living in the midst of a toy store with things scattered all over the place and yet the kids don't seem to want to use any of them.  You say, "go play with that new doll we got you" or "go play with those building blocks" or "go play with the toy kitchen" and your children seem to stare at you as if you were off your rocker.  This took me a little while to get-and consequently I have been known to buy unnecessary "new" toys to help my children have something exciting to play with-but did you know that your kids probably don't need something new at all?  When my girls stop playing with something for a while I know that it means we need to rearrange.  Yep-it is that simple.  Nothing new, no new accessories-simply moving the toys to new spots and it is like they are brand new all over again.  We have an awesome play kitchen and it has been in multiple spots in our house because when it gets boring in one spot we move it and it becomes something entirely new.  Just a month ago I simply turned the kitchen a different direction, added a little shelf for foods and the "Strawberry Cafe" was born and it has been well used and loved since.  And if you have limited space try switching things into a new box or bin, rearranging a shelf or sorting toys into new categories.  Even these little changes can reignite interest in toys.

Lesson #3: Putting things away and trading.  I am sure lots of you have read about toy rotating.  I don't do this exactly-because we actually have a base of 4 different sets of toys that the girls really like but I do swap out certain items on occasion   I will put away one item and then if the girls want it back they have to trade in something else to take it's place.  When they want the barn from the basement they might trade in a cash register or a doll in it's place.  Then they get some "new" from downstairs and play with it until it is time for it to go back.  It is an easier version of toy rotating that helps to keep toys fresh and new.

So before you give up on a toy perhaps you should try putting these 3 ideas to the test: letting go of your version of how it should be used, move it to something play new or trade part of it or all of it for something new for a while.

5 Dollar Savings Plan-Works For us Wednesday

Have you heard about this-the $5.00 savings plan?  I read about it on Pinterest.  The concept is that every time a $5.00 bill comes into your possession you put it away (in an envelope, jar, box, piggy bank-whatever).  That is it.  That is the savings plan.  Now, it's not like you are going to be able to retire doing this, or send a kid to college doing this but this is the perfect savings plan for things like vacations, buying Christmas gifts, a home renovation project, or to purchase a big ticket item.  My husband and I started doing this last fall and in only about 4 months had enough saved to buy all of the gifts for our kids for Christmas plus have some left over.  We don't carry a lot of cash, so we don't even always see $5.00 bills that much, but when we get one we put it right in our jar.  I don't even count it as being part of my cash.  I just stash it.  It doesn't add up overnight, so don't get tempted to count this weekly or anything but after a few months dump it and you might just be surprised how much you have.  What are we saving for this year?  We don't know yet but when we finally figure it out we will have a nice little stash to use.  Try it-it is a great extra savings plan to do right in your own home.  This would be great for kids or teens who have jobs.

Snack Time Clock

Do you hear the words, "Can I have a snack?" all day long like I do?  Seems like every time I turn around I have a child under my feet asking for a snack and my youngest little pumpkin in particular can eat a meal and then be asking for a snack 1/2 an hour later.  Drives me BANANAS!!! So I created the snack time clock and it has become the authority on snack time in our house.  It is incredibly easy to make one-though I am sure you could craft it up as much as you want.  I needed something that was visual since my kids are too young to tell time or read.  So I bought a basic face clock at Walmart for $3.95

I flipped it over and unscrewed the tiny screws on the back.

Now you can flip it back over and take off the outer ring and glass.

I painted the hour hand yellow (any bright color will work)

Then I colored my snack time sections with yellow marker and added food stickers (the fruits and veggies stickers are to trick all you readers into believing that I only feed my children those things for snacks).

Let the paint dry, replace the glass and outer ring, and screw the screws back in.  And there you have it.  Now when my kids ask for a snack I refer them to the clock.  If the yellow hand is pointing to a yellow section then they can have a snack.  If not then they have to wait (though there are sometimes exceptions).  And in case anyone is questioning my snack time hours let me explain.  We usually eat breakfast at 8:30 or 9:00 and lunch at 1:30 so an 11:00am snack time is right in between those times.  Having the whole section colored doesn't mean they can eat for an entire hour either.  The 3:00 snack time works too because we usually eat at 6:00 for dinner.  Of course you would make it work for your family.  Perhaps more snack times if you have small children or health issues.  It is just a great visual for your kids and eliminates the constant whining for snacks.  The clock now becomes the one to blame if you don't hand out food.  A quick and easy fix for something that drives every mom crazy.

Works for us Wednesday: Envelope Budget

I have been trying to find a budget that was workable for me for a really long time.  I needed something that I could record on immediately after a purchase rather than trying to remember to add it on a computer or something else later.  I needed something that would allow me to record any type of purchase (cash, credit card or check).  I needed something that was simple without a lot of categories.  I found this video via Pinterest and it has been the most wonderful budget system for me.  It is as simple as you can get.  It works for me because we run our house very similar to the way she runs hers.  My husband pays the bills and I have money to buy the stuff that our family needs (groceries, household supplies, clothes, diapers, formula etc).  I am sure you could still make it work even if you don't have a set up quite like this.  What I love about this is that I carry it in my wallet with me everywhere and so any time I make a purchase I am reminded to record it and I am also reminded that I am working within a budget and therefore I have more accountability.  I can see how much I have spent each week and I can see how much I have left to spend and for some reason that envelope makes me that much more responsible.  I absolutely love this idea.  I pay for most everything with my debit/credit card or a check.  I rarely have cash on hand but when I do I consider it "free" money and don't include it in my budget (I usually get cash when I sell an odd or end at a yard sale or on-line).  And since I have been doing it I have saved an average of 100.00 per month (and usually it is more).  I start with 600.00 a month for all the things I need to buy for our family and usually only spend $450.00-$500.00 within that month because I make better choices, keep records and make myself be accountable all on a plain old white envelope.  I am not saying this is perfect for everyone (if you already have a good working budget then I wouldn't suggest worry about this) but if you are looking for something very simplistic then this would be worth checking out.  It definitely works for me.

Dollar Store Recommendations

No I am not getting paid to do this, but I once read a blog article on Dollar Store do's and don'ts and I found the recommendations so helpful that I wanted to share my own list of things I recommend purchasing from the dollar store.  In this case these are all things that can be found at Dollar Tree.  I think that is the best dollar store out there.  It is a true dollar store, as in-everything cost $1.00.  

1. Kids tooth brushes.  Unless your child is super set on a specific character getting a 2 pack of kids tooth brushes for $1.00 is a great deal especially since they are going to chew the heck out of them and you will need new ones in just a matter of a couple of months.  I once found Care Bear tooth brushes that play a little song at the Dollar Tree and they have been one of the biggest hits at our house.  I only wish I had the foresight to have bought all of them because I haven't found them since.

2. Kids shampoo/body wash.  You go through a lot of this.  You can sometimes get it for a good deal at Walmart but this is a good deal also.  I don't feel bad making bubbles with it in the tub or letting the kids wash themselves with it for this price.

3. Large storage bags.  These come in large, XL and XXL sizes.  There are 2 to a pack and they are good.  I am not going to say they are the best quality but I have used them for excess toys and also for craft supplies and I love them.  They are handy to put things in to store in a dirty basement or under your bed.  And they are big.  One of my fav's from the $ store.

4. Worcestershire Sauce.  Gourmet cooks everywhere would gasp if they knew you bought it at the dollar store but if you are like me and only use it for a few recipes it is a good deal.

5. Pretzels   I only buy them at the $ store.  Even the cheap ones at Walmart are more than $1.00.  

6. Paper cups.  Now if you are needing a ton of paper cups this would't be a good deal but if you are wanting only a few to decorate for a party with, or to repurpose into something else then these are a good deal because you can get a lot of different colors and they are good quality cups.  I intend to make a set of mini light lanterns with these (so stay tuned for that).

7. Serving trays-but not to serve on.  Rather buy them, spray paint them, make a cute set of magnets to go with them, pick up a picture stand while you are at the Dollar Store and you have an instant gift-a mini magnet board.  These are the perfect size for magnet recipe holders too.

8. Quick erasers   These are like Magic Erasers only a fraction of the price and they work like a charm.  I was skeptical but I have been impressed.  In fact because they have a sponge on one side of them I find they actually hold up better-but that is just my opinion.

9. Kosher salt-again the gasps from the gourmet cooks.  Really people, in my very plain jane, middle of nowhere opinion-salt is salt.  This salt just happens to be $1.00-that's all I am saying.

10. Minced garlic-gasps again.  It is super handy for a lot of recipes and comes in small jars so that you don't have a vat of minced garlic sitting in your fridge forever.  

11. Chicken broth (now the gourmet cooks are completely disgusted with me and have quit reading).  I don't know that there is that big of a difference in the taste of chicken broth from one brand to the next (don't answer that) but this is $1.00 for a large tetra-pack carton and that in my opinion is a great deal and I like the flavor.  

12.Pop up lid storage containers.  We use these for cereal, snack bags and even one for a trash bin in our van.  

13. Cookie sheets.  Don't buy these to use to bake on-they are much too flimsy for that.  Buy these to make magnet job charts for your kids, or a magnet photo board, or a magnet advent calender or...(the list goes on-search Pinterest).

14. Kitchen shears.  Could a pair that you pay only $1.00 for be that great??? Yep they can.  I love my pair and maybe they can't cut through chicken bones or anything but they can cut bacon, they can cut meat, they can open packages.  You could have 4 pairs (1 for each different job) for that matter and price.

15. Pom Poms.  I am not constantly on the look out for the cost of pom poms so perhaps you can get them cheaper some place else.  I find that these are a great deal.  They have lots of different colors and it is a good sized package.

16. Googly eyes.  Again I don't know if you can get them cheaper some place else but for a large assorted pack of googly eyes I think $1.00 is a perfect price.  I love them.

17.Styrofoam balls.  Look any place for styrofoam balls and you will be shocked at how much they are-like $4-5.00 for a pack of 4. It is just nuts.  This picture shows and assorted pack, but I recently found 6 packs of both large and small balls (and in fact the smaller size had more to a pack) for $1.00.  If you are lucky enough to find these stock up because they are hard to come by.  What a deal.

18. Kid puzzles.  These are 25 piece puzzles but they also have 50 and 100 piece puzzles and then wooden puzzles too.  My girls love doing puzzles.  These are fun to pick up as a "what did you bring me?" prize.  They are good quality puzzles and they have a ton of varieties.

19. Pregnancy tests.  I am just saying-I have used one and it was accurate and I have a 3 month old to prove it.  As my friend says, "if you are pregnant-you are pregnant." Just adding that I am not guaranteeing anything-so don't hold me responsible.  I would buy one of these when you pretty much already know you are pregnant but you just want to pee on a stick to make it official.

20. Preschool work books.  I love these.  There are so many different kinds.  I want to buy every one of them.  They are so helpful when I do preschool with my girls.  We don't use these exclusively but they have so many neat things in them.  The Strawberry Shortcake series is our favorite.

A few other things I always buy: 

balloons-I keep a bunch in stock for playing with.

foaming hand soap.  I buy a couple of containers and then refill them with my own homemade version after

dish soap-it is too cheap to wash dishes with but it is good for making shower cleaner with (they recommend using the good stuff but I made it with the cheap stuff and was still impressed with the results).

Kids socks and kids character face clothes.

And now for just a couple Dollar Store Don'ts:

-playdough-it is cheap and awful

-crayons-they don't work worth beans

-candy bars-don't be fooled.  You can get them cheaper almost any place else.

-Cleaning wipes-they are not worth your money

most of the toys-I still buy them occasionally but I don't expect them to last too long

-

Paper Nativity Tag

I recently found The 24 Days of Mormon Christmas at Confessions of a Slacker Mom.  It is a downloadable file of stories, songs, scriptures and links to videos to use in your family the 24 days leading up to Christmas. It's like a mini devotional for every night of December up to Christmas.  If you purchase the gifting license for $12.00 it gives you the ability to either print out or burn 100 copies of The 24 Days of Mormon Christmas to give as gifts to your friends.  I thought, for taking all the work of searching for things that go together for each night of the month it was worth the $12.00 but then when I read that I could share it with 100 friends I was sold.  What a great neighbor or friend gift.  It is a perfect gift to give to your in laws or the women that you visit teach (assuming of course that all of the above mentioned people would use something like this).  Well I bought the gifting license and printed off all of the pages to put in a binder to use for myself and then burned copies to CD's to give to some of our neighbors and a few friends ( I chose people with small children because even though the whole thing is not just for children, there are lots of things that would be perfect for families with children).  I instantly saw in my head the CD wrapped up with a nativity tag attached.  So I searched Pinterest first to find out how to make a paper CD package and found these instructions:

Then I searched for nativities (which if you are wanting tons of ideas type that into the search box on Pinterest and select boards-I found so many fantastic nativity boards) and I found this pattern (which is to make a felt ornament).

It was simple and I knew I could make a paper version.  I redrew it, scaled it down quite a bit and then cut out individual pattern pieces.  I then cut all the pieces out of paper and assembled them into this simple and cute little Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus scene.  I attached it to the CD holder, tied a twine bow around it and added a little gift tag.  I love how they turned out.

Even though it won't be able to be used much this Christmas season, I am hoping that if I tuck it in with a little plate of cookies that those who receive it will have it out and ready next December 1st to help them get into the true spirit of the season.

Masking Sticker Gift Tags

I have had a super exciting new opportunity open up to me in the world of blogging: a sponsor.  It is a bloggers dream come true.  WHOLEPORT has been fabulous enough to include Small Fry & Co. in their blog sponsorship program and what that means for me is that I get the the privilege of sampling their products and sharing them with all of you.

This is the first product that I want to tell you all about: Masking Stickers.  

 These come in a set of 27 little sheets of precut, decorative sticker strips.  Each sheet includes a row of circles as well as 2 rows of narrow stickers.  They are as simple to use as peeling and sticking.  The price is $2.79 a set, with a $1.70 for shipping.  That is an EXCELLENT deal.

I apologize, but I was working with them at night and got  super carried away creating and didn't get a picture of the sheets in their complete form.  Here is the "see how much I have used so far" picture instead.  This is my favorite color pack by the way.  It is the pastel pack

This is the basic set and as you can see I found plenty of uses for it as well.

 Here is a quick and easy project I came up with using the tape strips: gift tags.  Do you ever go to a party only to announce at the gift opening time "that one in the pink bag with the tissue paper is from me.  I didn't have a tag or card"?  Well I do that all the time.  Now I have myself a little stash of tags to use in just such occasions   I made birthday, Christmas, Valentines Day, get well and baby versions.  They are so easy to use and with so many colors and designs to choose from in one pack there are endless possibilities.  The only advice I have about the product is that you have to handle the sticky side as little as possible because it loses it's stick if you are fiddling around with it too much, but now that you have some ideas you won't need to fiddle-you can just create.