tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43728929414719965852024-02-06T21:36:49.495-08:00Tangled Up With StringTangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-44222112721743660362014-04-17T21:41:00.001-07:002014-04-17T21:41:50.664-07:00A Plethora of Books<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NrW-KsT0Bps/U1Cs0xxo9RI/AAAAAAAAApo/gLKva18_Nk0/s1600-h/bookquote02%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="bookquote02" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="bookquote02" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWhG8jkXjb9-xfNUndg39b3uNjini3HkACaLLwU_BmQg4W4R4bJvU9AzH-5Cn3UENRrFVXafLr5aA9jGF8nHE8auVsKBjvIb0d1_L2gB83gQlWavDawImtkEmSXBecpHPmEJ2ZO0_2wbr/?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" height="244" /></a>We are a book family. We have books piled on the nightstands, covering most of the surface area on the desk, I have one in my purse and one in the glove compartment of my van. My 6 year old has two stuffed into his sock drawer for safe keeping. Our library box (yes, I said box, we outgrew a bag years ago) overflows while it sits next to the couch in the living room. The baby has bathtub books, and books made especially for him to teeth on. And that’s not even counting the eight bookcases we own that are bursting at the seems. One can never have too many books, in my humble opinion. </p> <p>Reading is important to us. And I’ve found that the best way to encourage reading is to provide ample opportunities. We do family read alouds at lunch, bedtime stories at night, and audio books in the car. Our kids see my husband and I reading to ourselves all the time. And because of these things, I’ve noticed some important benefits. #1 My kids are interested in <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq8_tMcrAkJLODc4PWY7jREjQkNaSgw6vfoJygI8yWDjVd-Uz-5IcFjQ1RaukkSr69Ad5NLtgBtm5Xe8AaPa7aR0XdipDGtVWpK3kwrnJNERWWOS5W-n4v8aoLuIioFhqhH3TeE8LoVIZ/s1600-h/bookquote01%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="bookquote01" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 0px 10px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="bookquote01" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5dW3Hz8HEEpPW2ZImwn2vDYVzYW7RJuqdRqnspCvE6s3Q87s_JcHDm4HawIhAk355FA-NVVNDI3FKd8B_oBXXelG2cbMgDW6BclUh3bsjQ7qS1epCAdQXxxMNx5yFmPXW1vmIU973XzE/?imgmax=800" width="183" align="right" height="244" /></a>words at an early age. #2 That interest motivates them to read at an early age. My 6-year-old taught himself to read when he was three, and is now reading on a fifth-grade level. My 4-year-old is reading on a first-grade level. #3 More importantly than their reading level though, is their vocabulary. As we read together, we come across words they don’t know, and we talk about them. Then they start noticing those words in other places and using them in sentences. A larger vocabulary helps them to communicate more clearly. And these are just a few reasons why reading with your kids is important. For more, <a href="http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com/2011/11/10-reasons-why-reading-is-important-for.html" target="_blank">check out this blog</a>, where she goes into greater detail.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtNgu_Z-G0d1tMlv8ztnYQVrhQhBCBqd_BZ9biynWoaJGhDGg2-449wXGbfBAqkccWkF54hqLWEH9s09ZaZJ_zWh4CVvBuohTTwsknIfafvwv1es_cB8-zirBrtz_nHjK58rury3aHHc_/s1600-h/Read%252520A-loud%252520Handbook%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="Read A-loud Handbook" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Read A-loud Handbook" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uQ1Te-zltgM/U1Cs36paqcI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/wcoasireBEw/Read%252520A-loud%252520Handbook_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="156" align="left" height="244" /></a>Not sure how to get started reading to your kids? It might surprise you, but not all books are created equal. And some books don’t make as good of a read aloud as others. There is a great book out there that I will highly recommend called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Read-Aloud-Handbook-Sixth-Jim-Trelease/dp/0143037390/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1397765299&sr=1-2&keywords=read+aloud+handbook" target="_blank">The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease</a>. Basically, his premise is that kids can listen and understand a book of greater difficulty than they can read, and why that’s important. My family has found this to be true. We’ve read some fairly “hard” books for family read alouds, such as The Hobbit, Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, etc. and my kids have really enjoyed them. Keep in mind that all my kids are under the age of 7. The last half of the book is an awesome list of books, listed by “listening level” that make great read alouds for families. I promise you this book is well worth the $9.00 or less that you’ll pay for it. Check it out!</p> <p> </p> <p>And lastly, I thought it would be fun to list each member of my family’s favorite books. Seeing what other people like to read inspires me, and gives me new titles to add to my To Read list.</p> <p><u>Husband’s Top 5</u> – In no particular order</p> <p>1. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/375802.Ender_s_Game?from_search=true" target="_blank">Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card</a></p> <p>2. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10365.Where_the_Red_Fern_Grows?from_search=true" target="_blank">Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls</a></p> <p>3. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/91661.The_Beekeeper_s_Apprentice?ac=1" target="_blank">The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King</a></p> <p>4. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/481749.Jesus_the_Christ?from_search=true" target="_blank">Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage</a></p> <p>5. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21787.The_Princess_Bride?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Princess Bride by William Goldman</a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7TN_QB-mq-I/U1Cs4dIMvgI/AAAAAAAAAqY/XNBmALiYm_s/s1600-h/619%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="619" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="619" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVpbVD4YYrXLaxDZcIB4XdA4frTTu9Plz7bx1RV95J7uRaJvDFbveJfGEJtZp6eVsX4NyS_b_atIN3hwsitiIF3b1iTtrEZve1AcvCduVY5dPEFDrdtf4kzsbnEtAoos42Chf-CfvZyTe/?imgmax=800" width="220" height="229" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-p8viPBvpdv0/U1Cs5oJM5mI/AAAAAAAAAqo/UKVhVg5-X4k/s1600-h/Winter%252520Wonderland%252520097%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Winter Wonderland 097" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Winter Wonderland 097" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLP7DeIi63rGKUCeyNtAkAGkQCz_LSIXLU5VpmKkqxRjCxqHrk31oOUND67flsga1qruYXQIWtfOhLF2eAdVSUAn8WDVi3VqS3K64HheCGCUcyWaJwR1efskTQ5JJoHo2GONV10t7fU7c/?imgmax=800" width="221" height="228" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Rtde5TWujsY/U1Cs6pBbKhI/AAAAAAAAAq4/7rDp6OtMDwk/s1600-h/IMG_3617%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3617" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_3617" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9izwsoQSegLNs-pYttkxyUuoV3j3Hex_cL0ER3Y_CM4wPfBQHl2T4JcNfMDOVIhF98RR_0w2QluX1RIdB6aawnSGGGomIwmuF-jUM_a8kpzVf1dPHXKJy7IxE94hyphenhyphenWuVkfSo__18lceWF/?imgmax=800" width="220" height="229" /></a></p> <p><u>Six-Year Old’s Top 10</u> – In no particular order</p> <p>1. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=Geronimo+Stilton" target="_blank">The Geronimo Stilton series by Geronimo Stilton</a></p> <p>2. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3.Harry_Potter_and_the_Sorcerer_s_Stone?from_search=true" target="_blank">Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</a> & <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15881.Harry_Potter_and_the_Chamber_of_Secrets?from_search=true" target="_blank">Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling</a></p> <p>3. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5907.The_Hobbit?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien</a></p> <p>4. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=The+Magic+Tree+House" target="_blank">The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne</a></p> <p>5. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34898.My_Father_s_Dragon?from_search=true" target="_blank">My Father’s Dragon series by Ruth Styles Gannett</a></p> <p>6. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/232109.The_Mouse_and_the_Motorcycle?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary</a></p> <p>7. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/774001.Amelia_Bedelia?ac=1" target="_blank">Amelia Bedelia series by Peggy Parish</a></p> <p>8. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/83369.The_Mysterious_Benedict_Society?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart</a></p> <p>9. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/100915.The_Lion_the_Witch_and_the_Wardrobe?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis</a></p> <p>10. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/114345.The_Little_House_Collection?from_search=true" target="_blank">Little House series by Laura Ingals Wilder</a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPQxK-_T8cUfhHgBPhlP75dNGVvjQmlnrZydzLgFcYYl9qcRPK5coMNIfbgLuf8fm0ExmDKYcCYy6TeB42yElg3nRYsrjqR7-bx_0xRD5beFEKpmcU_UhhUlQdHT0qPS78efr1fgVK_VM/s1600-h/From%252520phone%2525209-28-13%252520223%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="From phone 9-28-13 223" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="From phone 9-28-13 223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakkk6klJurncH_svXQskpGrXgqy41hgQFgkv_T5HKUZaAREgZOCtux2q8BJIpadiKkJ_DIFLpo9DhkLBE6XcCWBLdG8jX555OPhnbOqjMYnC-KngPAktMkyVjF8IMaz0YAk7-HPsaLPBJ/?imgmax=800" width="356" height="299" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5hj9fYPBbBF2KDgTFR4hcijEb0CSo3MAJwuujvl66KdEv71CCYtUK3tkM1wsnZoHNyBmQGDSYfi5afbXa1drxU6k4LG9dSTPQjgbQCujcOHDYFdjePJZsNbJ-lS_Mcq2WccEWDAV8FMh/s1600-h/196%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="196" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06rqAF7-Kr-QHwRenWponA6tfHUenGph3CDTv7q1qqKAZGO-tFy3kz6Y8qKAluxKUL2IkjEhfb30CHVvRdFAZ4oJtDkECrldaxYK9x4uii_UfXiZ_xPX7s3DG9OCii_Hr3dVd81iXcZcx/?imgmax=800" width="291" height="300" /></a></p> <p><u>Five-Year Old’s Top 10</u> – In no particular order</p> <p>1. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/314418.Classic_Fairy_Tales?from_search=true" target="_blank">Classic Fairy Tales by Scott Gustavson</a></p> <p>2. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16101018-the-day-the-crayons-quit?ac=1" target="_blank">The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt</a></p> <p>3. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9677870-press-here?ac=1" target="_blank">Press Here by Herve Tullet</a></p> <p>4. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/90073.Dr_Seuss_s_Beginner_Book_Classics_Dr_Seuess_s_Abc_Green_Eggs_and_Ham_Cat_in_the_Hat_One_Fish_Two_Fish_Red_Fish_Blue_Fish_Fox_in_Socks?from_search=true" target="_blank">Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss</a></p> <p>5. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/904892.Pumpkin_Soup?ac=1" target="_blank">Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper</a></p> <p>6. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206962.Hop_On_Pop?ac=1" target="_blank">Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss</a></p> <p>7. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23772.Green_Eggs_and_Ham?from_search=true" target="_blank">Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess</a></p> <p>8. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/826584.If_You_Give_a_Moose_a_Muffin" target="_blank">If you Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff</a></p> <p>9. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/352262.How_to_Train_Your_Dragon?from_search=true" target="_blank">How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell</a></p> <p>10. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/352262.How_to_Train_Your_Dragon?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks</a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lASeGhS3fizGPAD3QpoEiM00KqSPggLwYJPNijoeekYgHdHjY8LmlPQ7-TFPpSBIDw0ctvZzDO_2hzL1l5FQDC8nmmherIchoTGbr4IzaLeKgrNYOC9IXvJnKOw4I2sXuT8EGpyrqqr7/s1600-h/From%252520my%252520phone%2525201334%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="From my phone 1334" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="From my phone 1334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKbSW5mLzzWHZFDvDPTuVnIg24oXOxkaYwOYDS1QLGZ2WXLJNm7JChK55lKhAGoVY2XzTL03CMXksNkgS_HuGVojDC9gnayd0HDqRM-H5wJynzxQObmLiXj6OVmuG5Ngtbdl3pvpNS2j7/?imgmax=800" width="315" height="323" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qn_KYbVzcy0acoIDKrjvN_sVGZEIL9gUgSPtTnE9K9DuVhwIjTY9gGA66NJL3e-4A2i3axLG-XmApgaU5vi1DyWirweW1dkquaWlTBgBOnUiH2kwlGGsWfTqCNA0Hp8nFO6YZKga2UEG/s1600-h/From%252520my%252520phone%252520692%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="From my phone 692" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="From my phone 692" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eLf2koQ5p_g/U1Cs_n3vIcI/AAAAAAAAAsA/SaUDL9MpD6c/From%252520my%252520phone%252520692_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="310" height="323" /></a></p> <p><u>Three-Year Old’s Top 10</u> – In no particular order</p> <p>1. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/120847.Alice_The_Fairy?from_search=true" target="_blank">Alice the Fairy by David Shannon</a></p> <p>2. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/906541.Bedtime_for_Frances?from_search=true" target="_blank">Bedtime For Frances by Russell Hoban</a></p> <p>3. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7048803-one-hungry-monster" target="_blank">One Hungry Monsters by Susan Hayboer O’Keefe</a></p> <p>4. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32929.Goodnight_Moon?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown</a></p> <p>5. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2121669.Jesse_Bear_What_Will_You_Wear_?ac=1" target="_blank">Jessie Bear What Will You Wear by Nancy White Carlstrom</a></p> <p>6. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/301736.Guess_How_Much_I_Love_You?from_search=true" target="_blank">Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney</a></p> <p>7. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/820273.Sheep_in_a_Jeep?from_search=true" target="_blank">Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw</a></p> <p>8. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/886512.Jamberry" target="_blank">Jamberry by Bruce Degan</a></p> <p>9. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240130.The_Paper_Bag_Princess" target="_blank">The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch</a></p> <p>10. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/98573.Harold_and_the_Purple_Crayon?ac=1" target="_blank">Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson</a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUxHb4DQDV-zGxufOs_-Ez1MveJabHKTC-BzmEjZUPPs05KVUxgyUxKlRExMFGFf4UOg1ayHZn3iodlpSMpKb7atadr2rUaM-qP8n0uhhbeUBjdg3StE9reqoyDCxGARctTwV1Q_AckXv/s1600-h/Vday%252520crafts%252520038%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="Vday crafts 038" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Vday crafts 038" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ul7Vrf2_xpM/U1CtA_msGQI/AAAAAAAAAsM/YtsfKL7uGv8/Vday%252520crafts%252520038_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="268" height="370" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjr-53vZSql3yeDQVwtfcO-ANPZUvNYSkbISj1pWMyb0vXZ9QpQ0C_x5Q_qUIOwfU4UZBeMM2FK0XaIh7yCacMKSyAEgji7PE1EgpOkBWl4sJZLeHitfceuzfnK2RgO0PCJgiOrZ53PCS/s1600-h/art%252520show%252520010%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="art show 010" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="art show 010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPDbGlrMjuQxXB1TQxB5tYdx_sYlXjs6To6GSE0HUK3mu2XJ4tzNWkDWHFfg9EuoL740KMZA-v3kjm4KYkjciesXzyoJGbIIXPCIMRRVklxAsZVR3lejsbiYgQrTATBvT6PezHBZksFUE/?imgmax=800" width="356" height="370" /></a></p> <p>My Top 16 – Because I couldn’t limit it to just 10 – In no particular order</p> <p>1. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/348225.These_Is_My_Words" target="_blank">These is My Words by Nancy Turner</a></p> <p>2. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/561909.The_Hiding_Place?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom</a></p> <p>3. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7244.The_Poisonwood_Bible" target="_blank">The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver</a></p> <p>4. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19063.The_Book_Thief" target="_blank">The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak</a></p> <p>5. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18405.Gone_with_the_Wind?ac=1" target="_blank">Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell</a></p> <p>6. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4667024-the-help" target="_blank">The Help by Katherine Stockett</a></p> <p>7. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/417186.The_Grapes_of_Wrath" target="_blank">The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck</a></p> <p>8. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13642950-the-aviator-s-wife" target="_blank">The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin</a></p> <p>9. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10210.Jane_Eyre?from_search=true" target="_blank">Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte</a></p> <p>10. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1848.Wild_Swans" target="_blank">Wild Swans by Jung Chang</a></p> <p>11. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6164628-farm-city" target="_blank">Farm City by Novella Carpenter</a></p> <p>12. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/187181.The_Chosen" target="_blank">The Chosen by Chiam Potek</a></p> <p>13. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9160695-battle-hymn-of-the-tiger-mother" target="_blank">Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua</a></p> <p>14. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18490.Frankenstein" target="_blank">Frankenstein by Mary Shelley</a></p> <p>15. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14891.A_Tree_Grows_in_Brooklyn" target="_blank">A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith</a></p> <p>16. <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7963278-how-i-killed-pluto-and-why-it-had-it-coming" target="_blank">How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown</a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5rEpDHddEXINd0vQhta1gUFD_BcbhoQ9bbp2VAQMKJ_gab0nLbVXModWugiCJ3G08p4WJNizliSNTCmLkSfAMU52n9UMQcKhiiDZ-T0DGDgMjDCRr_6KSvfexH2GJqGzFvl4ym6LtujG/s1600-h/01b63411c592dcfcfa2f79633deb43170fb9647531%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="01b63411c592dcfcfa2f79633deb43170fb9647531" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="01b63411c592dcfcfa2f79633deb43170fb9647531" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXeIGg5xqt07qK_n8BOimFWOo67flgwG_lIbt2odATMhGhul7JfI5bwn33GKtNy5QL38MrUPhDT3U7vlYxR9zFz9MutqDYpHf33nzuhbPq7R1FHCMZ3iAsRQSqb6cYQfQLAvl4lKDpS5M/?imgmax=800" width="335" height="463" /></a></p> Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-82424658616726092014-04-15T14:03:00.001-07:002014-04-15T14:03:18.281-07:00Pinwheel quilt tutorial<p> </p> <p>My favorite crafty thing to do has got to be quilting. I absolutely love everything about quilting. My mom taught my sister and I when we were young how to quilt. SO i have been doing for probably close to 15 years. I am by no means a professional and I have sold some but use them mainly to cuddle up with on the couch.</p> <p>My mom is in town this weekend, waiting on the arrival of my second child. While we have tons of time we decided why not make tons of quilt tops. My mom brought me some amazing fabric, and i decided to show you guys a new technique she showed me. This technique was not made by her but she was taught by somebody else. It is an easy technique and I thought I would share it with all of you.</p> <p>The technique is how to make a pinwheel block the “easy” way. Here's what it looks like when it is done.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Q6xypBXZrkY/U02eQxTf6KI/AAAAAAAAAmw/DdZyzRneYS4/s1600-h/IMG_0238%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0238" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_0238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ZkQOcOF-ljzohbaR1O5SqsGAdk2OzoEeCGnF8R9ZuRqK7gxjDHOR3SdTSIrOxk6Gmw033sdd2F3H_6dfXLxLVR3X4BEygsAmC0fO9KurzczMl4Wk_c0pVerhPRtdzt7dMfWmANH4ohcJ/?imgmax=800" width="448" height="396" /></a> </p> <p>This can be achieved by cutting four identical triangles with two different colored fabric but my way is easier.</p> <p>So the supplies you will need to make just the TOP of the quilt, you will need more or less depending on your size blocks.</p> <p>I choose a layer cake, which for those of you who don't know what that is, it is a collection of a specific pattern. It usually contains 42 different fabric types that are all coordinating. A lot of different fabric companies make them. They are 10 inches by 10 inches so fairly big. Mine is from a company called moda, and the collection I got is called “Mirabelle”*. I think mine came with 40 different colors and patterns and two that had multiples. I liked this one because of the nice spring colors. You can get layered cakes at almost any store that has fabric I think I've even seen them at places like wal-mart. Just make sure you see how many actual squares you are buying you may need two.</p> <p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvYeKdNBCemC_0aIpLxWFxg1TVsNe4jDZI5S9AXY-IcZ0rWh__aqKvfoj3_GqT7gcWc7T9Gxh5eSDInMytIUldsVdAc3AGwLFCiP6U39Dy4uKznaRUtFhNtzWV6gQR76r-gIJ8zCaR3DB/s1600-h/IMG_0215%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0215" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_0215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvdVa2IRt7xPdMAr70YqkWHJp3nuck3gZufC1BZezcVhlpsOmmeJIoRCqR2MIo2SRwngiL3Etin8H59vP_MxBJnU0e10NDPgl6G-oZ53QhOdeHU5FLSNphaYWEMQYvS0NVxe2iikiL5Da/?imgmax=800" width="447" height="338" /></a> </p> <p>So you have your 42 10”x10” blocks, now you need coordinating fabric. I choose a creamy white to offset and match all the different colors and patterns. If you were going to choose just two different fabrics that were coordinating that would work to. With 42 blocks you can have a 6 block by 7 block quilt, which is a good lap sized quilt. </p> <p>This tutorial can be done with any size block as long as they are squares.</p> <p>So I choose the creamy white muslin. I cut 42 10 inch blocks.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8l-Vd1Rz65g/U02eVTOJHEI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/n_B_3Ru6OOo/s1600-h/IMG_0216%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0216" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_0216" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VxcVBHMmuGw/U02eWBRpgsI/AAAAAAAAAnY/c-PaRBE3vVY/IMG_0216_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="465" height="352" /></a> </p> <p>This is the part were the tutorial actually starts, how do we make this pinwheel block?</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dwI8YL6WacU/U02eXGyrHFI/AAAAAAAAAng/pHxdNh1FDlc/s1600-h/IMG_0217%252520-%252520Copy%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0217 - Copy" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_0217 - Copy" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9n53cZkP91f0r3FMT_QZ0IJfjX8RIfeTXQz_RQbVxAckgCrNFf-I4jYClRt8BxuQwYOjQDZXUfrlZwRDfc0QSXLDnPbYCSc4SCjHvAhj1kX5Zs0wsYot_2f9vKoDXywF0GpSciRa9XZM/?imgmax=800" width="468" height="354" /></a> </p> <p>Like the picture above, you are going to place the colored fabric and the white fabric <strong>right</strong> sides together. Now with a 1/4 inch seam allowance you are going to sew around the entire block, like i showed with the blue line. Yes you cannot turn it right side out, that's ok it’s suppose to be like that.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-F2xy5skJu8E/U02eZQknIuI/AAAAAAAAAnw/WQOShy9SH-A/s1600-h/IMG_0221%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0221" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_0221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjZPuNO-pmER5Upi-7_3JL2AZbUoyesOox_l7vhM9Lqs5tqLcMCBnsWUHh9-VERgID1KKbS0rb_wlVtWViSzeUFXrKjrVcTsnD0CV_NU7vorUm3ATQYogLdT_mwfKw_pZ3TJXfIJjMGJr/?imgmax=800" width="480" height="363" /></a> </p> <p>Now that you have sewn your block closed the fun part. You are going to cut corner to corner to make two triangles. It’s ok if it is not perfect, my sure wasn’t.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ra6Bgj-ks4aeFfls6h2VgnLQyFBXX1JQ_t3P_dxSbCcNJ6mjK9k6sTvI62S0QBZ17151HPAgYUa_X4rASK8awuPWjU2Zzkdt4UlzP2l5zHdrAKueuo0fI3Ix7vxe9F-GDdGnnB6Pkkmt/s1600-h/IMG_0222%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0222" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_0222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pNlQam9XEj0LlJ5_NUEMmqzZt3g7A1Zj6di69TOIAFqLQfHsoP48wryqFBGWPClaEGsCQ6yRqXB2VpZ4kK1qvkZVL3bCL9qOGePGut_Hs_j_JJEVBvH6aIOO_SLASFKFR-HZzzvpSS0X/?imgmax=800" width="500" height="378" /></a> </p> <p>Now with each half triangle you are going to cut them in half again. I lined my ruler at the bottom so it was straight and with the corner.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvq2gdoCV5yDGzfG7SzBIraaujTgEaiy7aYmRZBxkd0DmAzT2RAUghWIzJmeFIicQoFPNwiZM9jewPKVT4txVw0NzVhpbrot9Og8aFw7pHYpgSZLOvxtd69zMcJs3tuIhf1TILyVaPnRME/s1600-h/IMG_0223%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0223" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_0223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5cxGkkKMjVZMHQ6wSaRmUhQIEwjgozs_aPLCSYwUwnh8qa1eesvxC2CqaIKUwASnWGEwOcBwIcOjmXfh9cloWH4yNITRK8WeKvg6dyB_RCZka_hMoiCgAPfS0ulTQ_xFzulxKNOiCgyZ/?imgmax=800" width="512" height="387" /></a> </p> <p>When it is all cut you should have four identical triangles. the outside edges should be sewn. when you open them up they should look like this. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5RndxyDWYWzhk5nsift7AsRiI9rHFKuyTW6fqtU3tHsQvYc_scbQLGQ5OkQkMjTB9Bl95FFU_6zpEl0_wokMYgu-QSOIoJg_vl6nrkL6rzhdtK-43N30skRaxxi6OQTYWHtTSmePJA2q/s1600-h/IMG_0224%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0224" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_0224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVAZDMS-g4jNB2MItGVA3tVkFIIb6ZoxlWadINIBhlJ-UgkeO_vzgVRIjJUNUdHwtsvJALlskwe-kJKu1MGXw8bPd7-E0uxJdiNe0XkfK8eFKmeDzKlSDg0c4QZJv9VwXg-EyrRlqn5Ba/?imgmax=800" width="521" height="394" /></a> </p> <p>Are you with me so far?</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rAkONQ35IOU/U02egmsaILI/AAAAAAAAAow/CBN1EIFFtF8/s1600-h/IMG_0226%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0226" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_0226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvEojDtQKFd9GSpZY2kTwMmwCwNKxAcMma63Hm2RwPbJ_pH9QRD_RnOR1rSC750A-IFJi5axxx_sObDfYKhi2bE-PBFYDel-NISAafie5-jZ8eYHcJ7IoOqcmqkKMQoUxhCRNCWFHeDFi/?imgmax=800" width="529" height="400" /></a> </p> <p>You are going to turn them to make them look like a pinwheel. A helpful hint they meet in the middle, and the colored fabric and white fabric touch. No two colored fabric should be touching. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSeD6kDpOvW6u8TJUhIcwsFQx6TUWTKH2drWYFrHhGWnmRlu8PXcRHMmVEQJnBLeh8aFkPO7tBaGMH9zPRkp1nKrJHG5PMqQyoWQknD8xEwNGznpKbNYI65n4ImhiyRS0S7ca-ZV4Omb1/s1600-h/IMG_0237%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0237" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_0237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGLKDOfV1KskhLzhITDQzobM4xRmRTzdnkwHKH1DMioH9wqah7IwXOpD-nsAIIi4x-7z5N5wYKxm2_namHM1p9qSQrtnkQSW83bByvOhVxVK2pFYGt8Q7GP6oDDWn-L3dAxurA8mH6Xos/?imgmax=800" width="536" height="405" /></a> </p> <p>Sew the top two pieces together and the two bottom pieces together.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OxD_Liidtwk/U02ekBrooPI/AAAAAAAAApQ/ovCW5fvH_VA/s1600-h/IMG_0238%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0238" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_0238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXBmEZFTK-iOoDkqobkwtCuhdNO3JJpBRdeOKijR1ugpmCLBQ-n49liJPiqLXYEGbXeO5-KQ1q7LguAO8ovDxR_OmM6s0dYC-AOmzXxAb-Yv7z_WwcOHRLezNApN7fB8B2fSclppOPa2X/?imgmax=800" width="548" height="414" /></a> </p> <p>Then sew those two together, make sure you are lining up the seams as best you can throughout the whole process. This is your finished block. For mine I ironed after each step so they are crisp. I ironed the towards the colored fabric so you don’t see any funny colors on the white when it is all said and done. depending on your fabric you may have to iron one way or the other.</p> <p>I haven't finished all my blocks but will show you a picture of other pinwheel quilts. I love the look of them, and with this technique it is so simple and fast. </p> <p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBDAeolQTXXJbnhozANb3d3pYjgIJPLMTiUhSJK8j28PwLff-Ab2Rtfn2gWQN0y4YivxQV67im622Gs48aLGlYl0AsgZwBUITjhZW4myOpYH11PX5w7LFqo_3yR6DHhbBJgcE3lE9VHo/s400/P1010959.JPG" /></p> <p><img alt="Kendra's Quilt" src="http://patsknittingandquilting.com/2013/images/march/tn_kendraquilt2.jpg" width="415" height="435" /></p> <p>Good luck on your own pinwheel quilt, I would love to see pictures if you decide to make one. This can be made smaller for a baby quilt, just by using smaller squares.</p> <p> </p> <p><img src="http://www.cdgdesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Nicoles-Signature6.png" width="260" height="151" /></p> <p> </p> <p>*this is not an endorsement for any Moda products, I just really love their fabric and they make amazing collections.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><font color="#ffb47a"> </font></p> Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-2707688936561580352014-04-08T12:09:00.001-07:002014-04-08T12:09:15.326-07:00Preschool: B is for BOat<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqPrPKawMV4Kb8IQXtNSqGIejAAzLcnsck4NvOwW4-lay1I7FQO_TgtHucZ0I5OO7JzY1pho_ndhyphenhyphenbbO45n8fcUcDmuQzLyMWfVHUFrGvkAsyb02Sz7TmgoSO5Q3DL35bakYhJsoR96Bj/s1600-h/Letter%252520B%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="Letter B" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Letter B" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-CWbkUbvwGIPhphCB7Sj2mxFbTavbudKhPUidQ6E0pvUYdf1IKWhaZfoufBizpsHBIN0NZmIJlFg1Z8fR7OuA5a8ZFwERBqF36r2nfGzOxAjbmIazArqncu3EFD0a2K8oRInDWLd2ZBB/?imgmax=800" width="685" height="706" /></a></p> <p>The kids and I had fun with letter B. We mostly focused on boats, but a few other fun B activities snuck into the mix of things as well. Our story of the week was Toy Boat by Randall de Seve.  And the kids couldn't get enough of all the different boats and the faces painted on each one. I think the story is cute, but once again, the pictures are what sold me.</p> <p>First we made our letter craft; a lower case ‘b’ as the mast of a boat. If you are interested in the pdf for the boat letter craft,<font size="3"> </font><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2PnBkViXZXabmhKR0RkU05jbWc/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><font size="3">download it here</font></a><font size="3">.</font> We'll hang these up next to our apple A's on the kids' closet doors as part of our alphabet train. I think having the alphabet train out for the kids to see is a really helpful visual, and an easy reminder of the letters they’ve already learned. Often I will have the kids repeat the letters to me as I move my finger along the train at night before bedtime. It’s a fun and easy way to review the letters.</p> <p>Another day we played a rousing game of boat bingo. Which unintentionally fit in really well with the Toy Boat story because of the different types of boats. The game was a fun way to work on our matching skills, even my (then) two-year-old was able to play without too much help. <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2PnBkViXZXaU2hrSURIbXNoYjA/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><font size="3">Click here</font></a> for a pdf of our bingo sheet.</p> <p>It was my turn to host the preschool co-op, and it was all about the letter B. We sang a welcome song, and the Adam's Family version of the days of the week. Then we had show and tell. This week for show and tell, I had them each bring their favorite book and tell why it was their favorite and show their favorite picture from it. Then I read them Toy Boat. </p> <p>Next we did the B Basket. I had put together a little basket full of things that start with letter b. The kids took turns picking items out of the basket and showing everyone. In our basket we had: A capital B fridge magnet, banana, brush, broccoli, baby, bouncy ball, boat, Buzz Lightyear, bunny, bear, block, and bow. </p> <p>Next we sang a couple of B songs: Row, Row, Row Your Boat, and Head Shoulders Knees and Toes (which I explained was about different parts of the body, another B word.) </p> <p>Then it was time for some balloon bad-mitten. I made paddles by stapling a jumbo craft stick onto a small paper plate. Then I blew up 8 or so balloons and let them have at it. When they'd gotten enough of their wiggles out, we moved on to our next activity.</p> <p>I had big sheets of butcher paper, and I had each kid lie down on one and I traced the outline of their bodies. Then we colored them and they got to practice writing their name next to their body.  </p> <p> After bodies, we had a boat snack: apple slices with peanut butter on top, with a corner of cheese slice and a tooth pick stuck into it for the sail. And lastly, while we waited for the moms to come, we blew bubbles outside on the front porch.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRUkahW-OYL5xFi-7X2YdidMzNV8kLmrylofZyUeMNF5TmlAQEe0DDVFnDa4hGfWvY5XfLsOqNWa8cg6-AHuo-E8-UcAuI1PKy7MLD9kuCJQzEy4Lrmz5xeqEHbbVN7kqHOV8kJrwtfIZ/s1600-h/Letter%252520B1%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Letter B1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Letter B1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpagypfTGp-Sg2W83s42x6CbzydgEiEuTGhVwBd5CrJoND44PiUk2D4wcs7oCxHNcQUCqxfSMAhCA6YKimzlcguMFBs_6LLjqDB6Qenyn2bmuoaH2x8G9TrffU376eaI7L4uJWETYyFsRM/?imgmax=800" width="683" height="877" /></a></p> <p>Over the next few days the kids and I kept working on their body projects from preschool. We colored them, and cut them out and taped them on the wall in their rooms. They were so proud of them. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uPCN-JpyUlE/U0RJUbWTnuI/AAAAAAAAAmI/ErtA_B8Zrlc/s1600-h/Letter%252520B2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Letter B2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Letter B2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGxoCd7Yn22Iu0a1IbmcdotYMFSsvuEsdBaNs5Go5tVCU_SRTTGGboZC0GOK-5Sy5YdtzqB057KHzIvxrzBQ_t4hF4m5NUGwU7OmQzHFxaIK8pYNraf71w4twwngsrM_l2HFq2QJecZLM/?imgmax=800" width="685" height="878" /></a></p> <p>This project actually came at a perfect time too, because we just started Peter Pan (a junior classic version) for our family read aloud, and read the chapter where Peter loses his shadow and Wendy's mom rolls it up and sticks it in a drawer. The way the body cut-outs rolled up reminded the kids of Peter's shadow. So that was fun.</p> <p> <br />Next up is letter c, starring the very hungry caterpillar!</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafwZGbocu0BgYfEcGndOJmNo1JEbW6htd6QdQ0EDwpXsrCaDgjh1csJHPQlKQwOdtMUqeOYgg2_owIJA_RjbGaBDz4DjjKa1PKiEuzOlq4XAsJ_qDPEdpUnaX9eUxaDq6R-dTaGtjPRuE/s1600-h/Signature%252520Krystal%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Signature Krystal" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Signature Krystal" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-P2I-UuRTtYA/U0RJWfAIGcI/AAAAAAAAAmg/vAK5qrpK2Us/Signature%252520Krystal_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="487" height="398" /></a></p> Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-86998746759993479892014-04-05T09:12:00.000-07:002014-04-06T09:19:56.921-07:00April 2014 LDS General Conference<p align="center">I love conference so very much! I gather so much strength and faith from the words of our inspired leaders. I also love putting those inspiring quotes up around my house to keep them fresh in my mind. Today, Elder Holland’s talk really struck a chord with me. Here is a printable for all of you! As always, remember these are for personal use only. Thanks so much!</p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKRhvBx8ZmDyE-ikaSW-CYR8llKfbu8H7Aceh7glSqCU9w8H17jGAwBXXvB7r2BLQo_Wch3wLmwRzQFpva571jjiXXrz6CrzbQfaUCmcRZqX4IXdjG9fcqlKeoany5bZkRIZ5zZCRqMrP/s1600-h/Elder%252520Holland_edited-2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Elder Holland_edited-2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Elder Holland_edited-2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GEGRK7I2aOE/U0F9DdOQ-vI/AAAAAAAAAlY/c3wDqr7OFwE/Elder%252520Holland_edited-2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="503" height="503" /></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="6">   <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7HbX0qQ0ZRQZkNyT19ReG1ZaTA/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE HERE</a></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="6"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="6"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="6"></font></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIatCe3OaQCzPsDf_x3F9Wh3fdnGiQTSjJ-UOL_OHohL5QeaXci4F-iN5v-JArb5-qOP9vdWWGAi9QSDT2k1vaEi6GfbWCylhQWZB7UP8RKExVH-NWiCE-zJPa43UzRbsvWdNxI24T7Jm/s1600-h/2%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFuul9PPxoABjiKCvIoFeOgGfJzu_c8z8pSHjr3gLE93CFEb5flyiMWMIfsLelWk4cQTqvFEakpFDWqVci3pjpccdjI7CkZltNVMYBF-U9EBu6YGNLmw597hl_gOXCUKVsMYNWC0FF9eH/?imgmax=800" width="433" height="346" /></a></p> Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-14228675739588323092014-03-26T11:38:00.000-07:002014-03-26T11:38:18.344-07:00A Little Bit of Encouragement!It would be great if everything went smoothly and on schedule, but it is not likely to work quite that easily.<br />
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I have been busy writing a paper about this concept in one of my classes. It is has been quite the learning experience for me. I have come to understand the different perceptions in a family and how much our choices can really have an affect on those around us and our future posterity.<br />
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Every family encounters crises--those moments in which our choices either move our family in an upward direction or create additional, perhaps more serious, problems to address. Crisis is best viewed as an opportunity paired with danger; as the term implies our response to these moments are critical to our further success.<br />
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So with that definition, let me ask you a question. How could a family in a middle of a crisis pull it together when it could very well pull it apart?<br />
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Not to go into too much detail, but my family had a very crisis moment when I was about 15 years old. I remember the time very well. Things were crazy at home, but I loved how my parents brought us together with the help of our religious beliefs. My parents planned out more family activities and often we would go to church outings together. Even though things were hard, it made dealing with the stress so much easier knowing that my parents loved me and my little brother and sister along with the feeling of love from my Heavenly Father. Now, I'm sure that trying to get me to go to these things was kind of hard. I had so much anger towards everyone in my family, even myself, that sometimes I was really stubborn when it came to doing things that parents knew would help me in the long run, but I just could not see it. We did make it through that time and now are closer together than ever. We help and support each other, even though we do not live near each other. We talk often and say "I love you." And we try to look at the positive things in life, because what's in the past cannot be changed. All we know is that we can change the future by what we are doing today.<br />
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If you are going through a crisis time with your family. Think of some ways that will bring you closer together so that when everything is said and done your bond is stronger than it ever was before. Look towards the future and have a goal that is reachable, but challenges you at the same time. And most of all stay positive. Say to yourself, "I can do hard things" and other similar sayings. You are loved and let others show you how much they love you. Be willing to accept help from those around you. Keep up the good work!<br />
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Here is a great video about a young lady who survived a horrible plane crash. Her testimony strengthens me and helps me to find the good in every day.<br />
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(Via Youtube, Mormon Messages, "My New Life")</div>
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Love,<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>Kenna</b></span>Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-2579997814735516972014-03-25T20:28:00.001-07:002014-03-25T20:28:16.927-07:00Heavy Whipping cream<p>For my post this week, I really wanted to do some recipes. I have been crazy about Heavy Whipping cream in everything. So I’m going to share some recipes this week that contain heavy whipping cream. So go get a quart of cream, and you will be set for my posts this week.</p> <p>I’m using some Meadow Gold this week but any kind will do.</p> <p><img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ7A9etNeS7lOemzIR74WoKh5PuKzFa-r5TC_NNMlUfrALBVE0NWQ" /></p> <p>My first recipe is easy and maybe you have already done it, if not you are missing out.  It is a simple whipped cream recipe, and it only takes THREE ingredients and five minutes to make.</p> <p>Ingredients:</p> <ul> <li>1 cup heavy cream</li> <li>1 tablespoon granulated sugar</li> <li>1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract</li> </ul> <p>Instructions:</p> <p>Chill the clean bowl of a stand mixer and the whisk attachment in the freezer for 10 minutes. (sometimes if I’m in a hurry I just run cold water on the bowl and call it good) Add all of the ingredients to the bowl and whisk on high speed until medium peaks form, about 1 minute. (Alternatively, you can use a hand whisk and a large chilled bowl. Whisk all of the ingredients until medium peaks form, about 2 to 3 minutes.) Serve immediately.</p> <p>If for some reason you are not making and serving this immediately then change the instructions a little. Only beat till soft peaks form, which is little peaks as you take the beater away but they immediately fall. Then store it in the refrigerator. When you are ready to serve it then beat it to medium peaks. </p> <p>You really don't want it to be stiff, but soft but still holds it shape slightly.</p> <p>This is heavenly on anything, strawberries (my favorite), pancakes, ice cream, cakes, anything your heart desires. I wont even tell anybody if you eat by it’s self. </p> <p>Have fun in the kitchen.</p> <p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUj1TCdWG4ZHkE7xBpelxwjo1wd2pUb7oDMhetdn1SIIIZEjufAlUS37Cq_P45bFYEGtVA2blL0CYsG-7Ow1wMBHYhBxmEwaEhsxPUlUva9FswqK_UxgWilzV4TOazwEqXpnG8PWbO9Y/s1600/strawberry.jpg" /></p> <p><img src="http://www.cdgdesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Nicoles-Signature6.png" width="291" height="169" /></p> Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-32216948306049504342014-03-17T10:42:00.000-07:002014-03-17T10:44:43.854-07:00The Yummest, Softest Sugar Cookie Recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewf7-WJJXUJxd94C9RBtOCgwsd55mXQ1qUbc5gpeDjLNycIKbil05sLENLCif3Clq9V3RDK2KZ7vlJQBkdDOftLjkjJ6FaIl8UN1H_gyZUGL4A6uLuWhg_G6Lci10Ic7T3zrveCDjdTJy/s1600/cookies+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewf7-WJJXUJxd94C9RBtOCgwsd55mXQ1qUbc5gpeDjLNycIKbil05sLENLCif3Clq9V3RDK2KZ7vlJQBkdDOftLjkjJ6FaIl8UN1H_gyZUGL4A6uLuWhg_G6Lci10Ic7T3zrveCDjdTJy/s1600/cookies+copy.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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I absolutely LOVE this sugar cookie recipe. These soft, yummy cookies taste very much like those Loft House cookies, but they are little more dense and a little less sweet...and that makes them simply PERFECT!! <br />
<br />
Even my hubby, yes the one
who dislikes sweets, LOVES THESE!!! I leave him a few unfrosted, but
he'll eat them both ways.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>SOFT SUGAR COOKIES</b></span></u><br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
<br />
* 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, sift before measuring<br />
* 1 teaspoon baking soda<br />
* 1/2 teaspoon salt<br />
* 1/2 cup butter, room temperature<br />
* 1 cup granulated sugar<br />
* 1 egg<br />
* 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla<br />
* 1/2 cup sour cream <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and set aside. In a
mixing bowl (I use my Kitchenaid) cream butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla--Beat for 2 minutes. Add sour cream and half of the sifted dry
ingredients; beat 1 minute. Stir in remaining dry ingredients with a
wooden spoon. Divide dough in half and roll each portion out on a
lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thick. (Make sure they are thick)!!!
Cut with floured cookie cutter. Place cookies on greased cookie sheets;
bake at 400° for about 8 minutes. DO NOT OVER-BAKE!!!! (They should be a tiny
bit golden on the bottom).<br />
<br />
<b>FROSTING</b><br />
*3 c. powdered sugar<br />
*1/3 c. butter<br />
*1 1/2 tsp vanilla<br />
*1-2 Tbs Milk<br />
<br />
Cream butter and vanilla till whipped. Add powdered sugar and a tiny
bit of milk and mix until it is the consistency desired. Add food
coloring & frost!!!<br />
<br />
<b>****Store sugar cookies in an airtight
container to keep them soft.</b><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdw7corrUir8-baT7j8sjCDKTcItG6oQVfrhIQxyqhuodZQy0-ffIK1OuJvDKpGRUKB7v3KYGr-P-v3mm-FKJeQJDrJywHvKt_LREC8ppg9iauuhGVDoH22TVjeyeBh-P__QuP9k6c-CUu/s1600/KAREN1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdw7corrUir8-baT7j8sjCDKTcItG6oQVfrhIQxyqhuodZQy0-ffIK1OuJvDKpGRUKB7v3KYGr-P-v3mm-FKJeQJDrJywHvKt_LREC8ppg9iauuhGVDoH22TVjeyeBh-P__QuP9k6c-CUu/s1600/KAREN1.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-20789960336601382432014-03-03T15:51:00.001-08:002014-03-03T16:06:57.682-08:00A is for Apple Preschool Unit<p><img style="float: left; display: inline" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sjIiNGjRS08/UEvWmQ7SuiI/AAAAAAAAM5I/D9vIMboC2H4/s1600/johnny-appleseed.jpg" align="left" />One of my most favorite preschool units that I've ever done is A is for Apple. I've done it for a few years now, and have been able to tweak it here and there, and narrow it down to the activities that I really love. The kids always seem to have a good time with it too. I usually base my unit studies around a theme (such as apples) and have a story to go with. The story I picked to go with our apple unit was Johnny Appleseed A Poem by Reeve Lindbergh. The poem is cute, and rhymes, but what I really like are the pictures. They are fun, and have little animals all over the place that the kids love to look for while I'm reading.</p> <p> </p> <p>Because I'm also home schooling a first grader and a kindergartener, my preschool time has to be severally limited to one activity a day. So we read the book and then do an activity and call it good. I gear the activities towards my preschooler, but the other two are allowed to participate if they want to, and they usually choose to.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNlUq58LBvzyO6NXznV28aGnDA6sBMTSdJCGAOiD8ZloMT2p_TThf_NRWDf6aOwhckNRKOFZ8DVKpbWDsH01FUHcsda02K1lIcg21vcJYmfvLnRcX3q91myGMxL-PNZOIBhc2qYvraW0l/s1600-h/September%252520so%252520far1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="September so far1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 8px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="September so far1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYTQ9_lk7061Bpa9GPxosNZ6QzSappi6fC_S-pt1eW1Clcx3mIxI7FZs_Ockx2jT6nctoNxBOyPZ5bTblGwa9IW023pUnu0iFLeOfR7gdR0fUeN76SSXpDmBothm0QUG7rpHJMmA-C6Hd/?imgmax=800" width="686" height="541" /></a> <br />  <br />The first day we made letter A apples out of cardstock. I had all the pieces cut out before hand, so all the kids had to do was glue it together. My goal this time around, is to make a picture of the letter every time we do one, and then hang them on the closet door as we go, so that the kids can see how their alphabet is progressing.</p> <p>The second day we played a math game. Each player gets a placemat that has ten apples on it. Each apple has a number 1-10. In my hand I hold 10 apple shaped cards. The person who is it draws an apple card from me, then matches it to the number on their placemat. Once they match it correctly, they get to pick out the corresponding number of fishy crackers (or whatever treat you choose) and place them on the number card. Once all the cards run out, everyone gets to eat their crackers, and you shuffle the cards and start over. It's pretty simple, but my kids LOVED it.</p> <p><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2PnBkViXZXaWlNvQUFQdXJ4d00/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><u>Download the template here.</u></a> You’ll want to print 2. One for the board, and one for the cards.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHEoKd-djlYJWoA21NYMQmRBAMG3jyCTQio_tdrsaFNFL_itRCB2XEUgTswKsmaZ5qy0Sr-lRarprLhFMFr8beTWbFi9X1Qstk7u7bo_p4rd28i-qRtwIkELvMDslm6Yii_TWM_jUCM0p/s1600-h/September%252520so%252520far%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="September so far" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="September so far" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DhPi35nXHRZ3WTR0bcxvYDkTZQT4DvIOrAXJHKpVQRK2uN72L_ryc4xPTF5MeNC8Hsu67IQGXIF8JXxxiHnayXzhTqKm7EhqLhCceM5E-I7Z9XdOukgYD38B9ZjDJBxpqRfPuaARxpp5/?imgmax=800" width="696" height="712" /></a></p> <p>On the third day we made Wassail. We usually only make it at Halloween, but this apple unit gave me a good excuse. Here's the recipe:</p> <p><font face="Broadway"><u>Wassail</u> <br />6 cups cranberry juice <br />24 cup apple cider (not juice, cider) <br />6-8 cinnamon sticks <br />1 Tbsp whole cloves</font></p> <p><font face="Broadway">Pour cranberry juice into large pan. Pour in cider. Add in cinnamon sticks and cloves. (You can wrap them in a cheese cloth if you want, or just scoop them our with a slotted spoon at the end.) Bring everything to a boil. Simmer for 25-30 minutes. Serve. Store in a pitcher in refrigerator and reheat when needed.</font></p> <p>On the fourth day we did apple lacing cards, which I made by drawing an apple onto a piece of card stock, coloring it, cutting it out, laminating it, and punching wholes around the edges. I used red yarn as the string. Super easy, very entertaining, and they'll be good for sticking in the diaper bag later, when we're at the doctor's office, or church. </p> <p>For day five we made a paper plate apple art project by cutting off the sides of a paper plate and painting the top and bottom red, and drawing seeds in the middle. Use the sides you cut off to make the leaf and the stem, and either color or paint them green and brown. I did have my kids do the cutting on this part to help with the fine motor skills. It's not a very hard cut. Then, to throw a little science into the mix, we used my plate to label all the parts of the apple, stem, leaf, skin, flesh, core, and seeds. And briefly talked about how if you planted an apple seed, it would eventually grow into an apple tree.</p> <p>Stay tuned for a B is for Boat themed unit. </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XLNLA4jErFY/UxUZHdEm8SI/AAAAAAAAAj0/babIc42tN80/s1600-h/Signature%252520Krystal%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Signature Krystal" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Signature Krystal" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSNsn1dDcdUXyYtF4kJaLoYLW9YRBQf9NWitdNvKj3iA0Kcb4hyF-Kh6bx8HAvMX1RYdUS18AwExCK_uUTLa7PWhgVysaxZDZMOF153TKGl_LaZhuRUrGvxCxcQoIhUPcjw9wWKzkLMXv/?imgmax=800" width="440" height="359" /></a></p> Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-40400040628894579432014-03-01T11:48:00.001-08:002014-03-03T16:08:30.262-08:00An Obsession You’re Dyeing to Try<p>Meet my latest obsession:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu7ynSghV-BPNv_9PXbUrW1M2gBoRD8xvOaOdVxGSbVNfDAPEbGt6wkMV7BMaDofCRxkA39Yodxm2fRsSFx2VA4uT40-13CvJyBzWb5rRVuVKz2a0ILyZMzwnnm_PIxgHM_F5MaI_ViRF/s1600-h/vday%252520and%252520bday%252520109%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="vday and bday 109" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="vday and bday 109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRboPo8y8Q7FLSdUVt3HtuNv4KyY_4PTcm5aEceUH-ZE-0Kjqsph6tLZ5umhcRHg7HjWQ6XS_wxpcxdr-eH1pVUIDU9BtpnuE_LcHhkwf79UdZHkM4gZtVoFPtRfiVL1pKZYqc_XrNg3S/?imgmax=800" width="671" height="522" /></a>  </p> <p>RIT fabric dye, come to Mama! I’ve been having a blast with these little boxes lately. But first, some back story, so that when you decide I’m off my rocker, you’ll at least know why. ;)</p> <p> </p> <p>A friend of mine recommended the book <a href="http://thechildwhisperer.com/" target="_blank">The Child Whisperer by Carol Tuttle</a> to me. Basically, it’s a parenting book that categorizes children (and everything, really) into four Types, based on their personality, movement, facial features, etc., and then gives parenting ideas based on which Type your child falls under. It was a great book, I highly recommend it. But that’s not what this post is about. </p> <p> </p> <p>Once I found out my children’s Types, I was really curious to know mine. So, I read another book by Carol Tuttle called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Its-Just-Nature-Carol-Tuttle/dp/0978543696" target="_blank">It’s Just My Nature</a>. Which was very helpful in figuring out myself. That book lead me to a third book by Carol called Dressing Your Truth, which is basically a fashion guide based on the Type system. I have loved this system, and for the first time in my life, feel like I have a clue about my own fashion. It’s been great. And for more information about the system, and a free 8-course video on it, look <a href="http://dressingyourtruth.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. </p> <p> </p> <p>And finally, on to the point of this post…now that I know what colors, textures, and styles I’m supposed to wear, it’s time to overhaul my wardrobe. I can’t afford to go out and spend a million dollars on clothes, so I experimented with the next best thing. Fabric dye.</p> <p> </p> <p>That sounds really final, doesn’t it? Haha! It is, but it’s also a lot easier than you might think. I started out really easy, by dirtying up some jeans. </p> <p>What you’ll need</p> <ul> <li>a pair of jeans </li> <li>some thick rubber gloves </li> <li>1/2 cup of salt </li> <li>something to stir with that you don’t care about,  I use the broken off end of a wooden broom handle </li> <li>a 5 gallon bucket that you don’t care about (you can get them from WalMart for like $5) </li> <li>RIT powder dye, in the colors  you want </li> </ul> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBaWDcAxUMRWS4d2O3bR8N8KDfCQl-uyMvmcTWq20mD-c5RmM5yxOfkk5wXCt4Kj3wVgk_g7HyOubqePkOIvjzD7JUUk63T_mWezZJ9LLyOktiiPYwjgh2UG5BTs2QYx453ax_ipda5pa/s1600-h/photo%252520%2525282%252529%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo (2)" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="photo (2)" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievQcF0GSzhz5-r61dkKkHbzf-K9Xkw1BV1hfMtFfKv0AsIcTnNBtLHqcnd4GtavwQryOuV0onzlJ5QHQIXRcJJ6vkWVh1yOiNXagZ9zDsNPamqtzWGEQ2G5R6USUXhnIjv6cj0wgC3lR_/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a></p> <p><strong>Step 1</strong></p> <p>Boil 28 cups of water in a large pot on the stove. </p> <p><strong>Step 2</strong></p> <p>Pour boiling water into 5 gallon bucket. Take your bucket in the garage, or outside onto a surface you don’t care if it gets dye spilled on it, just in case. Put on your gloves. Add Salt. Add Dye. Stir well, and allow to sit until the dye has dissolved (about 5 minutes.)</p> <p> </p> <p><font face="Calibri"><font size="4"><u>Dye recipe for dirty jeans:</u> </font></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Calibri">1 pkg. Tan for dark jeans</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Calibri">1 – 2 tsp Golden Yellow</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Calibri">½ tsp Dark Brown</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Calibri">(use less Golden Yellow for lighter jeans)</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Calibri"></font></p> <p><strong>Step 3</strong></p> <p>Get your jeans sopping wet in the sink. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjIpYOed0j5rZ6hWDI2BxmuJn01cXmmqapeJSUZpzAH6Vy0-8hjUebQ0NKh93fMh5kGa0bc8V5J6aKHAcu4F7PPrtm_4S9XV41ZbVUK-JAWxY0Gm6zCapNHLGKCAX-0nDDuseC87Yfxdy/s1600-h/vday%252520and%252520bday%252520117%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="vday and bday 117" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="vday and bday 117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyE4FVgH1Z92WjwRxukFUF2r_Z4tHsoyHE5jhhBe6rgev6Q-qEqcXVz2QYYWaJuozbStYzpxjA-VUBYUKl-aRJdqI0YPWD8CMeIu-nb17Rbhf6w4WRcwOcZPkO55sGgrjnJOIBr-1xFPgs/?imgmax=800" width="680" height="533" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Step 4</strong></p> <p>Put jeans into dye mixture, and stir with wooden stick for 15-30 minutes, depending on how dark you want the dye to set, You want the clothes to be moving pretty much the entire time they’re in the dye, so that they dye evenly. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuoH0PZwdGNdxgDKRr01s9cBUiClhXwz9ntREjGTnh8uBCKMs91M3bISd76EbDJEblcfIZ7mgz0xA9wYZLVB95NhcqwlPCFU3wYrvucc1AgqMbnDlHQ_ewW6vnRvWX5yjAlzavQCfNSqt/s1600-h/photo%252520%2525283%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo (3)" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="photo (3)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nVNUns3KV9s/UxI5fs78iWI/AAAAAAAAAhc/tuHeDjgrtQw/photo%252520%2525283%252529_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="274" height="347" /></a></p> <p><strong>Step 5</strong></p> <p>Wring out the clothing items. Then move them to a sink (stainless steel, the dye will stain a porcelain sink) and rinse with warm water. Then again with cold water, until the water runs clear. This will help the dye set. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgWuQj8g6EGq1vtom-Gt0F_fBz8O_W-6a41NdG1FxCudOLMOjA22I8C719tYGWSWobQKtxzcefE18KrNsK64GAhgDlw1ICj_qzKuzJtKgpMEjd25qZ1QjqHLjJdq9yfg5nzvROJ-DgQ_k/s1600-h/photo%252520%2525284%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo (4)" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="photo (4)" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5a8S5atz_6EJUSyn8mPWgJjmkIbJXCq8yN1_HordXeTor4Tf60NEb5A1gYEJA5XzNmQ3e1P7WIUklL7OS9plARUxoP0P2W57xgYH12i9vC4i_sd6lgvR4ZehsitY1hhpGKqkL8VYeB3RE/?imgmax=800" width="283" height="382" /></a></p> <p><strong>Step 6</strong></p> <p>Wash clothing in washing machine on cold, with a 1/2 cup vinegar. Dry in the dryer, or hang to dry. </p> <p> </p> <p>Ta-da! Dirty jeans. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuZIpdUWIss3syRP8CfMPM7axL3q01rnppfY8duuOinScU4354Q8izht-s4qwh1Yb8rkr8f0KhQlkXml6J-Jtt3wEFDUzGrFoT25dMOK3FJpLrviuiu-RWcMVhAeG88itIRVT8F57qcj2/s1600-h/dyeprojectdirtyjeans%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="dyeprojectdirtyjeans" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="dyeprojectdirtyjeans" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceSF-5rUEkcqY5W8bRx58kk96ikG8uZNWNRjtOLBdpp-JE2FmtSyELFgwQ8Ee2N_dljq4tvwkxOGB8uqier-SaMW7zigkHGkowMVVM8RfnWTUVbaZA9IXwGf-rlAOTtnXwOd1kgfaR-yX/?imgmax=800" width="686" height="726" /></a></p> <p>Here’s what they look like on. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkvk5brRWsmJLTnMp8KggNQueM_tpeBYk4iYyPlN4GpzKPaenFcxclAMXrA2YlMRmMr2gNCQ7vnhyaeTy0OP7GMzP_UjxfHkeE2c2c3nm_bCosbwXB5lkycZ7dDtLGjpA1rwSTipt2o56/s1600-h/vday%252520and%252520bday%252520127%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="vday and bday 127" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="vday and bday 127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinWgyVcZTFaGESmnbAcfMrzftXQnUHawQC2UaLQhskgQunwKCl7e9erSlq0jZoyOeZqLVT0GMTPRkpobRsj7182u82CqyU1zeLmJzJGU0_ahQSET9_UKil5hJhWvafuI2WKAEuZwE-h5n/?imgmax=800" width="316" height="436" /></a></p> <p>I’ve been pretty much dying clothes like crazy since I discovered this. Here a few other helpful tips.</p> <p>Only dye white, or really light colors.</p> <p>Natural fibers dye the best. </p> <p>You can dispose of your dye water down a stainless steel sink, RIT brand is environmentally friendly. </p> <p>The best place to order the colors you want is Amazon. </p> <p>I’ve done a couple more color combos that I’ll share with you.</p> <p><u>Bittersweet Recipe</u> – comes out kind of a bright red color, it’s beautiful, but I didn’t take any pics, sorry!</p> <p>1 pkg Golden Yellow.......1 Tbsp Scarlet</p> <p> </p> <p><u>Peacock Blue Recipe</u> – For this one I tried the liquid dye, so these amounts are for liquid, not powder. Same directions as above though. I also tried a grey sweater, it stayed gray but had a blue tint to it.</p> <p>1/2 c. Royal Blue.......1 Tbsp. Kelly Green</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-piDr3v166pI/UxI5k1RrWNI/AAAAAAAAAiY/wb815mCR-1E/s1600-h/Dyeprojectblue%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Dyeprojectblue" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Dyeprojectblue" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOLTCNX-iQtzUq50yPCsgDOh2N8AkPV3K-Ve30IUBe-vYbXZVngcO49YZNfN8waK-t4zFb25PTFmhY15coH5ninf3UrEArNumY9kmrbRNB4_J25G-YWrlIL_hHhACVEUwMDgFG700UD30/?imgmax=800" width="471" height="385" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p><u>Rust Recipe</u> – This one has probably been my favorite so far. </p> <p>1 pkg Tangerine..............1 Tbsp Cocoa Brown</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4wngZnRI94Tt093VugHYDv1OIUuyTghJI9Jhn3KN0X_mN150UP_xRj4GodURE4Zi34viEX8jr8TtDd6-a_4jPr4ZRNxZAkFqDyKmoLiMqn0w-UgibiW8c-bis3ZYrxMfgTGQUtcQJNG2/s1600-h/dyeprojectrust%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="dyeprojectrust" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="dyeprojectrust" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMx9T23XYUHMnD2uc8htLVUuObF0LuECSKUEWuEDyhrZkS95kDVizEDdyn7DsEXtIr2wCPZw6ayMSARruBzVlILqysuCW7GjvKPkh39thmhZdkcprsPkZ5KMK1aphEuvFLJs8BiXP7-S7/?imgmax=800" width="471" height="479" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Notice how much better this cardigan looks in rust.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-c-_9XsTwoEM/UxI5oEaxW1I/AAAAAAAAAi4/cvSEcLXUnuQ/s1600-h/Ollie%252527s%252520Bday%252520145%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Ollie's Bday 145" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Ollie's Bday 145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmXFtoLEe7rB5Pe3wtMFzUAO5KLP9nq69sWvGsSzRlU72hROQPYoI0Qc1g5DdkTv-KSTJ83yhdLAbWK7g8FJ_PHQb43KZUq2ym_4GZ5KeKBsnVPctbFPCvpGAlUWjqUw7ArpwHGu9ASIG/?imgmax=800" width="344" height="470" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>For more recipes for over 500 colors, visit the <a href="https://www.ritdye.com/colorit_color_formula_guide" target="_blank">RIT dye website</a> and check out their formula guide. It’ll tell you the combos you need to create any color you can imagine. </p> <p> </p> <p>Happy Dyeing!</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4Vjtrfb4rhrB9bfdAmz_FxEg6LY3qu2wV1_38tX50Nrv34SnV_mupL7ZFElx-K7XLU_HQlCMP_A9qurwx19vDCjDkz640zxHCwD3rCYy3AOglfnHsLTvXfmUk0vYCnfmCY4T37vq0iaB/s1600-h/Signature%252520Krystal%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="Signature Krystal" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Signature Krystal" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSDPwhFXPvI9YpALin-o-eIKSIgXEH3_5zN4n4S0SQcRMjkp0719gW3maJL_pdGiMVMyGGkY_fguQJgysqFZ30hS_EvhSy0uqEYszh42y0Mlef6P2gRfcHieXx3EnfUgzBRLQ8LvcMjyn/?imgmax=800" width="542" height="447" /></a></p> Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-49543256300573103192014-02-20T22:05:00.001-08:002014-02-20T22:06:42.278-08:00Homemade laundry soap<p>Nicole again,</p> <p>I was very skeptical at first about trying a “homemade laundry soap” I have read a lot about it and some people swear by them, but I really like my gain laundry soap that makes my laundry smell amazing. But as I was going through my linen closet organizing (getting rid of a ton of junk) I came across some ivory soap. Then that got me thinking hey I should try to make some laundry soap it would be free and I have all the stuff so  not too much harm would be done. So I gave it a try…..</p> <p><strong>Recipe:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>1 Bar of ivory soap</strong> </li> <li><strong>1 Cup of Borax</strong> </li> <li><strong>1 Cup of Washing Soda</strong> </li> <li><strong>2 Gallons of water</strong> </li> <li><strong>and a big container or two milk jugs like I used</strong> </li> </ul> <p><img src="http://modernretrowoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/IMG_2614.jpg" width="476" height="362" /></p> <p>I used this as a liquid since I'm not too fond of powder detergents,  you can shave the soap and mix it with the borax and washing soda and tada you have some laundry soap, but I like powder.</p> <p>First you shave the ivory soap which can be a pain, or if you are feeling ambitious and your microwave isn’t silly like mine you can microwave it for 60 to 90 seconds and watch it explode, then after it cools break it into little tiny pieces. I had to strain my arm and shave it :( Anyways, after you have your soap in little pieces you are going to put it in a BIG pot, something that will fit the two gallons of water (if you dont have a big pot dont worry just make sure you have a big container like a bucket handy so you can add everything together). You will wan to add about 1/4 gallon of water to your soap and stir it till it dissolves, it should be on medium heat. Mine created a lot of suds which is ok.</p> <p><img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTsyWcq18CD5OZ-BQFV2z3YxJR6kjU6WvPUlLguIMJ_LAzMwjU5" width="392" height="392" /></p> <p>After the soap is all dissolved take the pot off the heat and add the borax and washing soda, add about half a gallon of water (make it hot tap water). Stir till it all dissolves. If you have a big pot then just add the rest of the water, if not then get a bucket or a plastic container something that will hold all two gallons of water. You will want to add the rest of the water and let it sit over night.</p> <p><img alt="homemade laundry detergent in a 5 gallon bucket" src="http://happyhooligans.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/IMG_8375.jpg" /></p> <p>The next morning it will be the weirdest thing you have ever seen. No there is not a jelly fish in your newly made laundry soap,. just the reaction of all the ingredients. You can mix it with a spoon and put it in the container and your done. Or if you are like me and a little perfectionist, and you dont jelly fish washing your clothing, you can blend it in a food processor then add it to the container of your choice.</p> <p>Before each load you will want to give it a good shake or stir (milk jugs or juice containers are the best you can put the lid on and shake it) then add 1/3 cup to each load.</p> <p><img alt="Homemade Laundry Detergent in a juice jug" src="http://happyhooligans.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/IMG_8551-1.jpg" /></p> <p><strong>Review: </strong>I like it, but it doesn't have a scent to it really after the clothing is dried. Also it makes clothing a little static, but a dryer sheet can fix both of those problems. I just add one or two depending on the load amount. Also I added vinegar as my rinse agent and it seemed to do really good at making the clothing really soft. </p> <p>Another thing you can add those little purex crystals, or bounce crystals to the washer and that would make them smell nice.</p> <p>**If you want to use Zote or Fels-Naptha laundry soap you will want to use only HALF a bar, you can also you homemade soap.</p> <p> </p> <p><img src="http://www.cdgdesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Nicoles-Signature6.png" width="221" height="129" /></p> Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-12574586060685035642014-02-18T18:30:00.001-08:002014-02-18T20:02:29.627-08:00homemade dishwashing powder<h5>Nicole here, I’ve been on a make your own stuff kick lately and thought this week I would share some recipes that I have tried and liked. Give them a shot you might even like them and never buy store bought stuff anymore, or you can experiment like me and decide yeah I like my gain soap. </h5> <h5><img src="http://ladywiththeredrocker.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/8-22-11-075.jpg" width="608" height="457" /></h5> <h5>Dishwasher Detergent Recipe</h5> <ul> <li>1 cup borax </li> <li>1 cup washing soda </li> <li>1/2 cup Lemi Shine (Citric Acid) </li> <li>1/2 cup kosher salt (for scrubbing action) </li> </ul> <p>You will want to mix all the ingredients and put them in an air tight container, it will be a hard as a rock if moisture gets to it. Then I have a special plastic tablespoon that I use just for my powder. I leave mine under the kitchen sink and grab it when I start a load of dishes. Each batch yields 24 ounces of detergent. It costs around .06 cents per load which is amazing compared to store bought stuff. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hWUHXgsMnRI/UwQs0CIPsnI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/atTm9i0Fd3I/s1600-h/DSCN1089%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSCN1089" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="DSCN1089" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgobJWJJBHWNrwpx1_mVgMR4LahyphenhyphensFPsDBFJEseIN59yOp5V358llCQdU9d5DcGwEWANBwRAmSaLN77Oonyb667uGKaYs25_84OaRd6Vj_T_9HWQZZ3oNFpp7ywRdUUQzeTmcY1xBzGFA/?imgmax=800" width="729" height="495" /></a> </p> <p><strong>Use 1 Tbsp per load</strong> (you can use a heaping tablespoon if you feel the need, but we do not).</p> <p>I found all the ingredients at my local Winco. The lemi shine is in the dish wash aisle and the others are by the laundry soap aisle.</p> <p>Another thing I have seen but haven’t tried is adding two to three packs of lemon koolaid (yes you can use the cheap off brand). Apparently it adds a nice scent and the lemon acts as a added cleaner and antibacterial.</p> <p><strong>Rinse Aid:</strong> I use vinegar  in my rinse agent compartment. It doesnt leave a weird smell, and it actually works really good for hard water spots.</p> <p>Next post will be laundry soap, which i was very skeptical of…..</p> <p><img src="http://www.cdgdesign.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Nicoles-Signature6.png" width="213" height="124" /></p> Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-63464262464436518322014-02-10T18:13:00.000-08:002014-02-11T13:23:35.929-08:00Heart Trees<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsA3YznAy3NmxNMra3uOzPvmlGz62I-IMBpbKTodXyFltZ_v-eHJmxlAuxuA6Epq58rHjrxBBnyJM8_6REJL6_78Lq3qeHaWhR2TahC37RUR3my1S47tBuFxj1VwA_vlfTOdzDm-m9Q5u/s1600-h/Vday%252520crafts%252520053%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Vday crafts 053" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Vday crafts 053" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVkuWOp3ue9dN9DNoX5kN4pf21y8plREPlvWl2PKEa0JRnFRi4xoFTAbi60JV7uTe3nmbSZD79TCXoCsLj0r0vieoltLJ9AcB8YUlDmqOQtMhUC6FOkmjHncpeHmvEoFRAusYlgMUPYoH/?imgmax=800" width="580" height="772" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Today I thought we’d try to liven things up a bit at our house with a Valentine’s Day art project. Heart trees. They looked so cute and unassuming on Pinterest, but they turned out to be a lot more involved than I’d originally thought. Does this ever happen to you? You get smack in the middle of an activity with your kids before you realize that you bit off a little more than you bargained for. Haha! Oh well, pressing forward…</p> <p> </p> <p>The hand print tree-trunk part went fine. We’ve done that before. </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFwcmXv8KsDEO6qRYZCo1rS09O5FqZJ5PCoDp5av8bOxGjAyDRRrhLavcC8pRHO2bmFNHeHGgdCxZ7vi7hEABHplyuLAUoIZwHN9QlnKW5QBlD2gN95_YEgOPhgFN8jCLBDLdk8hI67t7/s1600-h/Vday%252520crafts%252520041%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Vday crafts 041" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Vday crafts 041" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0a6Tv8dbPkw3IN0DqwtRBX2kYyBZs0zZhubtlfVUkRMq5cqz1r84Csh1eIroOyrRa8XsVkvKSRJBlCkt-3fkmzKUyzrqtf5WPQNezC2TIeDaedCtVzWDYE5sVuyceiWk5vFkYFlv3vRZh/?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>But making the hearts got tricky. I thought the boys (ages 6 and 4) would be able to do the hearts by themselves, but since the paper strips were pretty small, it took a lot more coordination, and I ended up making most of the hearts (my 6 year old did some, but lost interest after about 8 hearts) and just having the kids glue them on. First, you have to do kind of a funky, twisty thing with the paper to get the staple in the right place.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvl5YFZyOrwpz4Chfp2yu10OYmVNBKv20vvgtggR61OT9I7m1vLKTsHvK9_RXIHz3_TDtDG9xIecyrXv7wSXoxv57_SEDsBVV_q2NNaCfNdZz_adITQkqpSVRBXp3509dmbAh_KbEaAeq/s1600-h/Vday%252520crafts%252520046%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="Vday crafts 046" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Vday crafts 046" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEifnFe6Gj_kHcg9nyWy910GT3DFL5pNEQpSBjjE5d1b7MzZ-P-k0wxN5wAFEjEZvnIKz3-lVHngxywCMIDqkmxc0D7yTz9WPH1fHdElrsBhyvzlL1IvgkCglRbJK9bQuvZo0dG0SQ4BXx/?imgmax=800" width="415" height="484" /></a></p> <p>Then you have to squish the bottom of the heart into a point. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdRPa8F7XAQJCrLA56GsaNqCDB6AdqcGIJ_Vx0hFVanuukzoLekgnFIL8g-JZKJYc3te8aXmpAUHYw_bPzia8hUKhbkb_9VhpB2OrfI-Z1riuETTFHRgcFjtWpz45aaDvuokWMx-Tb3Zk/s1600-h/Vday%252520crafts%252520049%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Vday crafts 049" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Vday crafts 049" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4n1yxnDXCFW3TJqi-OgYkuOlrZweONfoCg4d03Oi7C_hpVQK9YpYS_Y5jRqFgv2fvUVTkMl5ZOMvAXT7wYgUMZ5SQPXCYSozbXqFLE3JNnBduToLlm02Zc6SR4ixkB92_CtHSxX-64C-m/?imgmax=800" width="484" height="484" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Once you have a bunch of hearts, you can glue them into place fairly easily. And the trees do turn out super cute when they’re finished. Maybe a good solution would be to just have longer paper strips (and therefore bigger hearts), and that way the kids could do it all on their own. Either way, we finished the project. It took longer than I wanted it to, but it was still festive and fun. And now we have some great Valentines décor hanging up for all to see. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP2ZFWOmMl5DHGObwN58SzztoYxAhsgRvCWwmlUSnWNdzf9MsnS2B7u-8VaSJDhTqNPnsDGEvtBu7Fgj60H3RfIP4KKbRj8Xj91JGUVmjzdJ577yhYoDXWxJLrJVxUH1HzOSBCchbu8l9/s1600-h/photo%252520%2525281%252529%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo (1)" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="photo (1)" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3MDG7vqMWaM-JAxRiLqwMmjYurlTBX6aMAae_T169LrtSzpO_R36S4s8spiq_KmQu2skDSozyF-U_m2k2OuW1x2uQhb9ZFMCxfRIdqJKpu6WQqmAHqzUp1GMX7ytARrARR0Ur33XXyTs/?imgmax=800" width="653" height="304" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotmaVurx48N3w1tAQY3E2sreVgDJa8yVOZXLVzw7JA8Fwy7g-up4k6P1Si16co7LZPLIMvTEvN_ID0Kzbaut_s80IpWUjaiCd4HRDx41aJIs3z7hgIv2Yqb_Mhb-yz9b67qz2EtR8IcRc/s1600-h/Signature%2525202%252520%2525282%252529%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Signature 2 (2)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Signature 2 (2)" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8KSQQ_8OGGlH-SS6XHuO4OwGofPcvaADJikbDTQIF_fkSih3IF5HjW8dcTb0iSzzU8P-jpmKb2PesZIJE1-qOC3g4WlBeb3zSixT2IqoaQ2yafw0H8eINWPGX4vj8tZoYxkr1b8zYXSn/?imgmax=800" width="421" height="344" /></a></p> Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-4213571207977080202014-02-10T17:03:00.001-08:002014-02-10T17:51:57.436-08:00My February “Mantle”<p> </p> <p>Okay, so I really don’t have a “mantle.” But we will just call it that! Haha! It is actually the top part of our gorgeous entertainment center. It was part of the house when we bought it last year. Sorry for the photo, it was getting dark!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6iTOWg-xb7OfylHZWOWRcH0D-LItQyw1Jz2a_QuXI5Pdc0nyroj6Vp7ECGb7ZZmZV1yL5nwyzhUySVW98IYOJeTcDHYH9qVD0bpPI88pMWEPtOqjLxTNTX6yR_hR07Xv9lGX18-XwxGH/s1600-h/9a%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="9a" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="9a" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VAqFKjejwP4/Uvl2sbU3IUI/AAAAAAAAAc4/rjVWl4gnHLc/9a_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="330" height="492" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>I LOVE Valentine’s day. But I don’t usually go all out and decorate for it like I do for Christmas. But I wanted a little something. Here is a better look at it:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-F_YY4zGnMzQ/Uvl2tEv-zvI/AAAAAAAAAdA/07qd965SsAw/s1600-h/8a%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="8a" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="8a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyW_51LsupayCIuzM6R-QMlTgI8Hrae0JlVFmMen4Y-2Ju02c1YLr_vKziSYK3sahrex8nx6REpTr3z9Hwx-pPGrMt_CW3ZA0zHA8hYbCytxNyjq0MzC1MZSs82gCPsIq4YzhbEfr2pMJf/?imgmax=800" width="776" height="519" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>I think it turned out so very cute! Let me break down from left to right what I did to put together this little Valentine’s vignette. First, I wanted some kind of white flower. Because it’s still winter, I didn’t want to go all out for colorful pink or red flowers. You might be thinking, “Why didn’t you go for roses?” Well, I didn’t want it to be too “cliché Valentine’s décor.” I stopped in at my local Dollar Tree and snagged these little white berry things. I have a lovely white teapot set and I borrowed the sugar bowl for the berries to rest in. I also wanted some kind of weather book to go with the décor. I didn’t have any and I wasn’t in the mood to run to my second hand store. So I found some old college books from my hubbies first year in school and ripped off the covers. I know! Shame on me! But here’s the deal: We have tried to sell them back three times. So I didn’t feel bad using them for decoration. Some of the pages were too perfect and too white. I didn’t have any stain on me so I SUPER improvised! I used Vanilla Extract and dry Hot Chocolate mix (yes, you read that right!). I smudged the vanilla over the bindings and pages and then rubbed the dry cocoa into it. Perfect weathered look! I tied them together with some girly baker’s twine. Perfect!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NJfHea8s_KxoDdRB1ABCAai7aO6yfA_rFXHM-9vhi5biZNj4lJaXco0SUW8__dNjL5NzFQD9f2OIN2JdHh2fLq4CbhlG7Tr7f1EjqcO488zYlbtkqpQeHyzisquKNLd9ddy3GJh8cfNf/s1600-h/5a%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="5a" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="5a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGzCWt5BAztqg5QbfZ7Fuyw2heGg1dBSKvnvv9KYLKOcRIUSadulieUWkptDLbgT82rpZTHb5Zx_0RsVXmzekpGJfbes7TShmwRCYXFnE08xyWPFjsdH_U8__IdnKz5Oi9XGC5cZKeOy3/?imgmax=800" width="508" height="760" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>Onto the logs with the flowery “things.” Have you ever see “The Lorax?” Well, I decided that these ruffle things look like the Truffula trees from that movie (kinda). But, like I said before, I wanted to do something different from the normal flower thing. I had Styrofoam balls and hand and some lovely left over red fabric. I ripped the fabric into strips, sewed the largest stitch on my sewing machine down the middle, and gathered the stitch by hand. Then I hot glued the fabric to the balls. Easy peasy! To keep them on the logs, (which my husband cut for me), I drove a tooth pick in and then attached the Styrofoam ball to it. Done!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CTfEgRtC3JTdzYY_5sOBnbqPuvNmbKeJSPZ1_L-zyHj0cbbyx-oUmr_a44f8RpX8QjVNw8xl-s04h935vlSx2IXp2ombE4xWmVDyK6avcpPMsSUJ5mcqMaoq7VYD4yVXILrPNq3imS8V/s1600-h/6a%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="6a" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="6a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSuzgOWKW-nXlc-Wmb9pnTFIWgAsN_x9_oqTtI8wfysHkrKwd9kRfFrOlbPsbiqRmc28WIr_pYvvOiyHEvVy-ebsWRjWk7_AVoUMje1S_8Cc1qP4yhyv-Xtm7jp337SSVv9SPXtvkW4U2/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="755" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p>Next is my very favorite part! The middle log with the heart carved into it. I attempted to carve a heart by myself with a kitchen knife. Ya….. dumb, I know. When my husband got home from work, I wanted to throw the stupid thing through the window! I only managed to carve a FAINT line of a heart. I asked if he would be willing to help. He went to the garage and I went to the kitchen to eat chocolate. </p> <p>Anyway, He came back with this spectacular carved heart! I couldn’t believe it! So much more than I expected! The next day, he picked up an inexpensive wood burning kit from Wal-Mart and I burned our initials into it. We also lined the heard with the burning tool to make it pop a bit more! Don’t you love it?!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPMuUsmvSfEHvsDKiJ-T57xIe_PE37J9mdMFTHvuQ_h3EHRdw5sxqPlB562UAhsUYC1pJf7pF1VsItN0wSei6y13qZ7FLQUI6Z-g6A-wYdcValtHn2A_wIgaYrWL_-6_Qo5aNb50qYajY/s1600-h/7a%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="7a" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="7a" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sq6LKq2D0dk/Uvl2yXDhQ5I/AAAAAAAAAd4/pdEwBbbfMGs/7a_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="524" height="789" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p>The last thing on the right is another white dish with a candle in it. I wanted to “fluff” it up, so I added some coffee filters around it. I did stick some Chinese Cherry blossoms (fake) around the right side to give it a little extra oomph. Then sprinkled the front with some left over berried and WALAH! I think it turned out so cute!</p> <p>Do you decorate for Valentine’s Day? I’d love to hear from you and see emails. Thanks so much!</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yqNGZFm7QjE/Uvl2y30kiwI/AAAAAAAAAeA/44w9VxfU_fc/s1600-h/2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-924d5vmW5Us/Uvl2ziv_NQI/AAAAAAAAAeI/D2HNdYzg0pk/2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="510" height="408" /></a></p> Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-87873063354643559122014-02-07T09:35:00.001-08:002014-02-07T09:35:31.970-08:00Guest Post from “Amber May Be…”<p><em>Hey Everyone! We would like to introduce you to Amber from <a href="http://www.ambermaybe.com/" target="_blank">Amber May Be….</a>  Her blog is so incredibly cute, full of tons of fun stuff! Hop over and check her out! Today, she is guest posting, sharing an adorable mail organizer she made!</em> </p> <p> </p> <p><font size="5">DIY Mail Organizer</font></p> <p>I don’t know about you, but for me one of the hardest parts about keeping our home organized is taking care of the paper war. At my house that means mail. I wasn’t motivated to organize my mail into a cluttered drawer so I made this cute organizer to help out. I was inspired by a pin that I can’t find for the life of me, but please note that somewhere out there is a creative person with a cute mail organizer that looks a lot like this one ;). </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1ZKhk_BoaxWuatSzFkMlxNtQehHfRs3P1mdEot8SBft54ZjrEjIEgCEbmU1q3wRNjvBT0THgz_tcPqLVcSl08h8SR8JaCCz2QFlhF3GjLWxxJjqOOWBWYwvHTeFs_kmQ8CuABLK43tXS/s1600-h/clip_image002%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="clip_image002" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="clip_image002" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jeMiVvHr0K8/UvUZXEckkvI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/UTX8CTdBDf8/clip_image002_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="543" height="739" /></a></p> <p>This is a super simple craft. All you need is an old picture frame, some clothespins, scrapbook paper, Elmer's glue, embroidery floss and push pins. </p> <p>Here are the steps:</p> <p>1. Push 3 push pins into one side of your frame and two into the other as shown. Stagger the push pins and leave a little space between the head of the pin and the frame, you don’t want them flush with the wood/plastic. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TqKIWtJn3b0/UvUZXho24TI/AAAAAAAAAcY/E5vdq3jmWz0/s1600-h/clip_image004%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="clip_image004" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="clip_image004" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7R_zqq5dWdlcQu9Sig8Ds85-OQgwsWCj9ptmN08uiguzlRjr0LnyWfjrFgvd28wB1lwSD-LetvpANpxUbA225t5ssGfSskdZHaIX5uPkPUYbxcb3y4AGXBx7MgS6wxeyzFwDRvP2IGjzh/?imgmax=800" width="556" height="832" /></a></p> <p>2. Tie the end of your embroidery floss around the top right push pins and then lead across the front of the frame to the top left pin, wrap around, and lead it to the middle right pin where you once again wrap it around the pin, continue this in a zig-zag pattern across the frame until you have reached the last pin, finish it by tying the floss in a simple knot.</p> <p>3. Now cut your cute paper to the size of your clothespins and glue them on. Let them dry and hang the clothespins on the embroidery floss. If you want you can write on your clothespins or even print onto the paper different categories. I have in, out, and bills on mine. </p> <p>There you have it! Super simple J Oh, and for a bonus tip, you see all those empty envelopes? Those are the envelopes sent to us by credit card companies and other spammy places. I keep them so I don’t have to purchase envelopes, I might as well get some use out of annoying junk mail. </p> <p>Thanks and happy mail organizing!</p> <p>- Amber</p> Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-42639055696457208002014-02-07T05:00:00.000-08:002014-02-07T07:58:51.080-08:00 Valentine's Day Countdown~14 Days of Love!<br />
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I am always looking for ideas to make 'life' a little more fun. As a mom of two, I want
my children to have special memories of growing up and
remember fun things we do as a family. I want them to carry on some of our family
traditions when they become parents.<br />
<br />
Growing up, my mom always did a little thing called "The 14 days of Valentine's Day". It was a
fun countdown to V-day! Every day we received some sort of little
'gift'. Sometimes it was on our pillow after school, by our bed when we
woke up, etc. I remember how fun and exciting it made the long winter
months. It seems winter really drags on here in Idaho. It stays snowy
and cold for a long time, so any excuse to add a little brightness and
excitement to the dreary winter days, I'm all for it!!!<br />
<br />
Over the years I have carried on the tradition and brought the fun Valentine's Countdown to our
house!!...But, I add a twist! My girls can only participate in
this fun activity IF their chores are done and their room stays clean! I
have tried many ideas to help motivate my girls to keep their room
clean, and many ideas have failed. They are great at doing EVERYTHING
else I ask them to do, but not their room. So, them knowing that there's a special treat waiting makes them very motivated to help in anyway possible-SCORE!!!<br />
<br />
I feel Valentine's day is about love, not about candy. I do give my kids candy on some of the days, but I also give them things they can wear, use, and play with. I also try to
incorporate service in our countdown. I feel like teaching my children
to serve others will be the best thing I can teach them and SERVING OTHERS=SHOWING LOVE FOR OTHERS!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last Year's Gifts</td></tr>
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Here are some fun ideas I am using or have used in the past~<br />
*Of course they'll get fun girly stuff-chap stick, hair bows, jewelry, journals, sunglasses, etc. (If you have boys~you can give them cars, legos, dinosaurs, etc...I only have daughters-Hahaha!)<br />
*Make a cute crafty Valentine for a few days--"Hugs and Kisses", "You're a Sweetheart", etc. (I have found a ton on different blogs and I have included a few printables also)<br />
*One day give them cupcake stuff (cake mix, frosting, decorations, etc.)<br />
*Another day sugar cookie stuff (of course we will deliver goodies=service)<br />
*Give someone a "heart attack!!"~Cut out and decorate a bunch of hearts and stick them to someone's front door!!!<br />
*Crafty stuff (beads for bracelets, loom bands, puzzles, ceramics and paint, etc.)<br />
*Clothes or Socks (dresses, shirts, leggings, etc.)<br />
*It's halfway through the school year~Do your kids need something new? My kids need new pencils, tablets, and folders-so I got them some fun colorful ones! I have also gotten them flashcards and made file folder games<br />
*Give them a nail file and new nail polish and have a 'pedicure party' day!!!<br />
*I also give my kids practical stuff like a new toothbrush (my kids absolutely love getting one), body wash, lotion, hairbrush, etc.<br />
*A 'Birthday For Daddy' Day (My husband's birthday is v-day, so we'll make
him a b-day treat, decorate, wrap presents, make cards, etc.)<br />
*"Send Love to Someone Day"-Get fun paper, stickers, glitter glue, paint, etc and make cards to send to loved ones (grandparents, cousins, missionaries, friends)...This would also be a good day to have you kids do something fun for their classmates (assemble and write valentines, etc)<br />
*Give your kids a movie ticket and take them to the movie theater or set up a fun movie night at your own home<br />
*Buy Valentine's fabric and make your kids something special (pillowcase, skirt, blanket, etc.)<br />
<br />
It is so fun to think of new, fun ideas and to carry on this tradition year to year. As soon as Christmas is over, I am excitedly looking for awesome deals to use for my countdown. You can spend as much or as little on your treats.<br />
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This year, I decided to do a few days less expensive, so I made a few cute baggie toppers to fill with treats. I cut out the cards and glued them to scrapbook paper and stapled them to snack sized zip top baggies. The clipart I used came from <a href="http://www.mycutegraphics.com/">www.mycutegraphics.com</a>. <br />
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***I also included my husband in the countdown this year...some days he gets the same treat as the girls, other days he gets something different...(a can of honey roasted cashews with a tag saying "I'm NUTS about you!" Or his favorite Mountain Dew with the saying "I DEW love you so much!") You can be as cheesy as you want--haha!<br />
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<br />Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-60103401659617306962014-02-06T05:00:00.000-08:002014-02-06T05:00:09.889-08:00Host a Vday Party for the Kidlets<p>Since I’m a homeschooler, I try extra hard to facilitate fun holiday things in my home, so the kids don’t feel left out when all their neighborhood friends are talking about class parties, and treats, and what-not. </p> <p>But you don’t have to be a homeschool mom to throw a super-stellar Valentine’s Day party for your kids and their friends. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzCSdtnoRORwRrI9apyn7B8_Gp0JxOcJxM16KiTi0556ke1yaX9_Qkgmc3IxerjI9KDP5kus1PS0f8kELCClwqNfMBeyFgw14d0Jya8U9jw6PdbEJqeYwY0cqhimnO_VwyYUi4uhSYrDO/s1600-h/DSC03589%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC03589" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 8px 8px 0px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC03589" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6h-UCNBVC9ciksAHVun9waEfPnVV0boWyvjWltbLhP7gYER3UpNvDXv3-Ovj-bDkYMv50Van_E5NsS-kUM5n5lVUN0c_VPjE-yZuxXMnVvXvNB4m9rIJhnC0KJY2qaiMpfYfqg_sEysn-/?imgmax=800" width="395" align="left" height="304" /></a>The first thing I always do is decorate. My kids love to help, and it’s fun to let them. My six-year-old is a pro at cutting out paper hearts, so I assigned him to make a heart banner. He chose to do a white, pink and red pattern; but anything at all, pattern or no, will be festive and fun. I used his banner as the focal decoration, but accented it with crepe paper streamers, and a plastic, disposable, pink table cloth. </p> <p>As our party guests arrived, I gave them each a brown paper sandwich bag, and have a bucket of crayons handy, so they could get right to work decorating a bag to hold their Valentines in. This also serves as a good gathering activity, while you wait for everyone to arrive. </p> <p> </p> <p>Then it’s time to really get the party started, with games! Disney love songs musical chairs is always a hit. And so is BINGO. I found this adorable free BINGO printable from <a href="http://crazylittleprojects.com/2014/01/free-printable-valentines-day-bingo-game.html" target="_blank">crazylittleprojects.com</a>. Check out her site, it has loads of cute things. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7F2OiwmDdh-VzoQe72ez7tH7eqAASa_VbnDUO1-3EEJddQeVqOH0YJ0maF77RCn_jf-Gd9ZHsPcSOUTdWEJkdjEWJJ_NEjmUs4n1Df7jBu1V3UH8iFS8NMNsWXIUZvEnLa6nhnEVy2I6m/s1600-h/VdayBingopic%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="VdayBingopic" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="VdayBingopic" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_71mmzKbwlpCay2moC6Kre-YXs6v2dpDoOQ-FnKWCeXsrBiwZL3Zl-HE08nVCqi5xVda598jBX_oOmptkEmblwwW-l3GeY5XWOlwByowmSr1ol3xgRGuGKfXSG9nPJfxPcAf0MinpHT5/?imgmax=800" width="320" height="481" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieexxhErb6EKSLfVTfv0ULYWghXTjfLbM42yiltplwLbIA0VH1Tygxl37VTmdTqmQFJRaNE2xN1S76s5FATEomq35yqgUYeeZ0aAUUW9krwH_kfBXIkMPrsZeDcB54XvQ7sCvg-UZ4gc8z/s1600-h/DSC03583%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC03583" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 8px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC03583" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZhR1KerC8iMc8vBdPifK55Sz_fJ2FETLnAc989R6NTKPSZ2jfcjAoQ2-cnfUxiIdz6-aVEW_RcUd96BX_vWvo5q_NToSAbpSPng-diPhCps9CuAq5FRHzto6y0SbBmGYidREWvgUzy4p/?imgmax=800" width="353" align="right" height="276" /></a>After games it’s time to make some treats. My favorite Vday treat to make with kids is candy and fruit kabobs. I make piles of different fruits and candies (i.e. bananas, strawberries, dried apricots, heart shaped marshmallows, cinnamon lips, sugary gummy hearts, etc.) and I give each kid a shish-kabob skewer (and warn them to be careful with the sharp end) and let them make their own. It’s always a big success. </p> <p>When the kabobs start winding down, it’s time for the finale. The Valentine exchange. I’ve found that the easiest way to do this, is to line all the bags up in a row on the table or floor, and have the kids walk down the line and drop a Valentine in each one along the way. When everyone is finished passing out their Valentines, I take a stapler and staple each paper bag shut, so nothing will spill out, and everything will make it home all in one piece. (And so no stay candy wrappers find their way onto your floor.)</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-ODG0XqW6pRu7w3v_8-XxZ5eYq-CMTuMe2XzwxepYzDj3T5zFZY6F4TrEdnFukbwcRBNd1h1MSbVf1ufsgbGMWbx4U1hF4GMZaIbO6ssxgTRlggZpS5ol58bJ0F-ILQLZMo0KSL-VSoc/s1600-h/IMG_0514%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0514" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px 8px 0px 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggycljffrfl6iT6UAwSGPyWrLY3LDVZJM-wyQmhjaTZYpttP8GRAbt_2yIVPyqOXIiE2EMuR6oarcTGa8uo4favR_F7RBUOE9h9y5bzECcEwDFivgkNweFwrxUe2u3ctcTRJozOdkwwmQI/?imgmax=800" width="335" align="left" height="340" /></a>As a party favor, I send each kid home with a Rice Krispy treat heart. Basically you make your normal <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/marshmallow-treats/" target="_blank">Rice Krispy treat recipe</a>, and then before the mixture cools you take spoonfuls and pat them into a large heart-shaped cookie cutter, so they become heart-shaped, and then stick them on a pan covered in wax paper to harden. Once they’ve hardened, melt a cup of chocolate chips and a Tbsp of vegetable oil over medium heat on the stove, stir it up until well blended, then drizzle a little bit of melted chocolate over the top, just to make them fancy. :) Adding the oil will make your chocolate drizzle more smoothly. When the chocolate dries, put your Rice Krispy hearts into a cute cellophane bag, tie it up with some red ribbon, and there you have it. A successful Valentines Day shindig for the kidlets. You can cross that one off your list. ;)</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibK6x8Ox1y7EtBRnzwBBcJNfQogjBtay0GxP6CG2BNFd1OE1i17UpdYuixxV5o5JOzuNwTkykuYmwF_g5pbwIIs6FJ034kieLZ-zFUPhZciE0t8qNmdnNPAYS9NA8TONzf1Eu18lKgZwj/s1600-h/Signature%2525202%252520%2525282%252529%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="Signature 2 (2)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Signature 2 (2)" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGUpiw8OF-KwQPbaGL2h1BfOzBHPJE2G2HtB5rNawhIcRBeqbDPqOWZ4EU8BSD7xfe-nGVeJhyphenhyphen12GbVG1-TmknG0UVY8MI1T2fm8YiKdz_BXcivEjx3nEAoKpL8GeORcIeSYpGzwsr9XG/?imgmax=800" width="426" height="352" /></a></p> Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-18237876451908161462014-02-05T05:00:00.000-08:002014-02-05T12:41:48.647-08:00Valentines Dine-In Dinner for TwoClose your eyes. Picture your ideal romantic dinner. Perhaps you venture out into the heavy traffic and turn circles around and around the parking lot before finally spotting an opening? Do you squeeze into the lobby of your favorite restaurant and stand nose-to-nose with strangers for an hour waiting for a table? Are you rushed by your waiter, who wants you in, fed, and out in record time so he can give your table to another happy couple? <br />
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Oh, that’s not what you pictured? Me either.<br />
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Early on in our marriage, my husband and I decided that going out for Valentines Day was not our cup of tea. The hubbub of a restaurant tightly packed two by two like the sardines on Noah’s Ark, never felt very intimate to us. So… we choose to dine in, using the money we would have spent eating out, to buy the menu items needed to cook a special meal we can appreciate in the serenity of our own home. <br />
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Here’s what a Valentines dine-in dinner for two looks like at our house. <br />
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<strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hX1o4In7-7PgIs_2Qn-UXKs4MyxLdgWOgoeHJYi6pC6a0JL4uNMpUYtTdI0zxXJ3F4a-0C6qrITfr-HnjxJ3Y5uFeVhQ-ulRPVuDFVqUIaE2ICMv9Uz7lYd_e1wXohzIXfKZw-EU8lfa/s1600-h/Valentines%252520Post%252520Pics%252520024%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Valentines Post Pics 024" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzQASgRcWtWr3UrPkk5zSYTlitx0CGED4aOsAIYTktPZqbfJxDkDJZ8wFcZ-zdUhFsSVdfnOafOME4Mp587jOKBucO_RE4Jj_NxSr1o-r87krT78D-VWtUl2fZ9bliOHY4F2XXcQB95LU/?imgmax=800" height="411" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Valentines Post Pics 024" width="392" /></a>Drinks.</strong> Let me re-phrase that: fancy drinks. These are a must, nothing says “romantic dinner” like a fancy drink. Sometimes we do Martinelli’s sparkling apple cider. Sometimes we like to do frozen strawberry daiquiris (non-alcoholic). But no matter which drinks you decide on, make them something special and fun. <br />
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<strong>Bread.</strong> Most restaurants serve bread or biscuits to start off a meal, and you can too! Garlic Cheese Biscuits are my favorite to serve, because they seem so classy. These taste just as good as Red Lobster’s; I promise, and they are oh, so incredibly easy. You’ll never buy Rhodes biscuits again. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><u>Garlic Cheese Biscuits<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHpSwNUlUEQmv6EvnPsrxrmUQLzTH7TaFbODZttFt_GYB5rSqTGi8kE9ZOb6ZA-1_kj7NW9d3D0TtAjGVRrgxeyfdzz5QRL8PDAbxnjp_xuhwa1uHa7KsQvjvv5D5t2MBoT3TqOsOGwQg/s1600-h/Hindenberg%252520080%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Hindenberg 080" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CrjhPmyn01Y2J2iB4sdTxxPpbLtpg_peg1fgyCeG7aQXErKK47_2n5xvO4cfu2XQO4VgMH7DKLFe9TvBo98sigCzpasAXKdS3U3TCaanCkkFQQqT8Jiv66VU5XabzX-3AW_dshNgKbO2/?imgmax=800" height="391" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 6px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Hindenberg 080" width="380" /></a></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">2 cups Bisquick mix <br />2/3 cup milk <br />1 cup shredded cheese <br />1/4 cup butter melted <br />1/4 tsp garlic powder</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">1. Heat oven to 450. <br />2. In a medium bowl, stir Bisquick, milk, and cheese with a wire whisk or fork until a soft dough forms; beat vigorously 30 seconds. Use a spoon to drop dough about 2-inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. (You’ll get about 12 biscuits). <br />3. Bake 8-10 minutes until golden brown. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, melt butter. Add garlic powder and stir until well mixed. <br />4. Brush butter/garlic mixture onto warm biscuits before removing from the cookie sheet. Serve warm. (But they are still excellent when they are cold too!)</span> <br />
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<strong>Salad.</strong> I favor a green, garden salad, but you can do what you want here. I like to use spinach, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, chopped purple onions, shelled sunflower seeds, bacon bits, raisins, and croutons. Tossed all together with some home-style Ranch dressing. <br />
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<strong>Meat</strong>. The way to a man’s heart might very well be through his stomach, but the way to my heart is steak. And chocolate, but we’ll get to that in a minute. When I’m dreaming up a special occasion, a steak is the only way to go. To ensure that your steak turns our fantastically, marinate it. Over night, if possible, but at least for a couple of hours. Here is my favorite steak marinade.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><u>Steak Marinade</u> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizByXA8Rv-1-Ja1_7VKYMWz9bVVfmWbjdeZJU_WWtkJYdQroLAPoty2XgzZ5vejHRRXFD_-6617cFWRoAN1uboGS2Zx6D8C4Wp25oOvoTeGUAjgsBP57C9FgSoOjYNKxEFcuuIEpvYmf7O/s1600-h/art%252520show%252520030%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="art show 030" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5abYjiHuhW49kWFnkeAxs7nyIxbnhAoVrRMkIKymcpJgCkGfTu2NfWcJIs7WUE5XDA4sIyg10o3lOQpP1VK7WwL5ziemIZSP0z71N-c1t3QNbo7zezf5eauulitS6ik-rP8sno5bLENHE/?imgmax=800" height="290" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="art show 030" width="372" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"> <br />1/4 cup lemon juice <br />1/2 tsp hot pepper flakes <br />1/2 tsp black pepper <br />1/2 tsp salt (sea salt if you have it) <br />3 (or more) gloves of minced garlic <br />1/4 cup chopped cilantro <br />1/2 cup olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">1. Mix all ingredients together and pour over meat. I like to put everything in a gallon zip-lock bag so I can shake it up occasionally to make sure all parts of the meat get covered. Marinate for 2-24 hours.</span> <br />
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<strong>Dessert.</strong> We save the best for last, of course! Black Forrest Cherry Cake. I only make this on Valentines Day, and I make it every year. It’s a little bit of work, but 110% worth the effort you put into it. It’s heaven. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;"><u>Black Forest Cherry Cake<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmYfCbzA9HEhA4viCvDBL6gZ7wvLC0UK9gL4HVJcKvRFgtsIf2HNgM2nUT8Hy7xHDHX7VAlyIx9nKTYQvoT_JbGR5snw2MZRT0CJXvdxTeZxCHvxnutDnBJjexlZhJCzQZnFwVgTORBwU/s1600-h/Valentines%252520Day%2525202012%252520015%25255B18%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Valentines Day 2012 015" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZoTv3HIX5ZOUq5qwuJwU616PmMYbUMaghRwwkkTcc85WOXYfR2cADOm7JU8iJJWfR6U4wgJ3ILDSbsOFU7cB5sVOS-og6_b2LCq77zohT0B2_YDyzWmausc6QkLNNZhEujh2k1g4eLgE/?imgmax=800" height="381" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Valentines Day 2012 015" width="468" /></a></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">2 1/8 cups flour <br />2 cups white sugar <br />3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder <br />1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder <br />3/4 teaspoon baking soda <br />3/4 teaspoon salt <br />3 eggs <br />1 cup milk <br />1/2 cup vegetable oil <br />1 tablespoon vanilla extract <br />2 (20 ounce) cans pitted sour cherries <br />1 cup white sugar <br />1/4 cup cornstarch <br />1 teaspoon vanilla extract <br />3 cups heavy whipping cream <br />1/3 cup powdered sugar</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial Narrow; font-size: small;">1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch, round, cake pans; cover bottoms with waxed paper. <br />2. In a large bowl, combine flour, 2 cups sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil, and 1 tablespoon vanilla; beat until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pans. <br />3. Bake for 35 minutes, or until wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool layers in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Loosen edges, and remove to racks to cool completely. <br />4. Drain cherries, reserving 1/2 cup juice. Combine reserved juice, cherries, 1 cup sugar and cornstarch in a 2 quart saucepan. Cook over low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cool before using. (If you absolutely have to cut a corner somewhere, you can skip this step and use a large can or two of cherry pie filling instead.) <br />5. Combine whipping cream and confectioner's sugar in a chilled medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at high speed until stiff peaks form. (One year when I was pregnant, I tried to cut a corner on this step and use Reddi-Whip. Don’t do it. It’ll ruin your cake, just make the whipping cream. It’s worth it.) <br />6. With long serrated knife, split each cake layer horizontally in half. Tear one split layer into crumbs; set aside. Reserve 1 1/2 cups Frosting for decorating cake; set aside. Gently brush loose crumbs off top and side of each cake layer with pasty brush or hands. To assemble, place one cake layer on cake plate. Spread with 1 cup frosting; top with 3/4 cup cherry topping. Top with second cake layer; repeat layers of frosting and cherry topping. Top with third cake layer. Frost side of cake. Pat reserved crumbs onto frosting on side of cake. Spoon reserved frosting into pastry bag fitted with star decorator tip. Pipe around top and bottom edges of cake. Spoon remaining cherry topping onto top of cake.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiri51v3_g4kQ77U78LTzGDpNyOT2sB6v4x2lhP0OQt_amPYM3gwOuhqnO0HoqjfgN6SZtdbdfrBFkNSmylGvL9TCU4W9W9AJe07W6SK0afxNKq6E9ILc9IEj964ebvxKPU6G13V5EVR8HB/s1600-h/Valentines%252520Day%2525202012%252520032%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Valentines Day 2012 032" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0KTyU3zXGgn8MvNh6NGGsZRzjRuxIHHRi6SPPq_glzwKQOEI8EofORwY-CrE1P5CSqrAy2rgbA3gyew9jQTPsYSpzeIPaAvhPkXaqzIdjSUVp61JcwCc662B_jHGwPwcp1NVGlENoZsd/?imgmax=800" height="676" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Valentines Day 2012 032" width="495" /></a><br />
And there you have it. Everything you need to create your own restaurant quality dinner for two. Enjoy! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAH0JBkCU3F-uFAWmVFVmjfK64qe6XwXcMM6h28_wvharxnQ2I2XOMI-25jBy2fGfA9k30o67HYA7FpAKsnBVsbPpYWS1NjWNrEGY2CXbxzpsTJCyMmxRvvpabOMWJsTH1DTc6rwaLeQG5/s1600-h/Signature%252520Krystal%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Signature Krystal" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgal_gbXCzB-wtpafODSzm1tIt09I8tmcnWK18TOtO-mvmw755XCnTLc3_heFUenCsqZfHe6LteGkOzPpQqVqUAE3zAInU9XbzCZhSb1MmTP6p-iwv1-Tkep74FCHCRAqM6HkeeWf7HDQfm/?imgmax=800" height="359" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Signature Krystal" width="440" /></a>Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-38119419164131844692014-02-03T16:17:00.002-08:002014-02-03T16:18:10.418-08:00Valentine Subway Art *Free Printables*<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bwACAIgssSTwb1cjlOheUWdjDALFKpOSy225fpUt8qICw7U72RlHz327LtJVJ2FaoFyefVYeVl4F77Gxzk_Cm1pd8iefavTOPjRAl5Mpt_nazeAVzqjSEfokKTWE_eMtoZ06SBF389S2/s1600/valentines+print+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bwACAIgssSTwb1cjlOheUWdjDALFKpOSy225fpUt8qICw7U72RlHz327LtJVJ2FaoFyefVYeVl4F77Gxzk_Cm1pd8iefavTOPjRAl5Mpt_nazeAVzqjSEfokKTWE_eMtoZ06SBF389S2/s1600/valentines+print+2.jpg" height="400" width="316" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love, love all things Valentine's Day! Not only is it the day my husband was born, but my two daughters make any holiday fun! So, I made this cute printable in honor of all things LOVE!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUJ0X9xpZjZKlTI99rWKl54AubHq5uao7JSTGa07mtFdCw1wRondZQSLPSCYIQ4mtbU_eNmsfHAYsomVyE4-rQX5zFDXLxo2vkuK8JEafi732ANazlKDy69eAydQcCQbnNVVUXQRCgb-9/s1600/valentine+printable+8+x10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUJ0X9xpZjZKlTI99rWKl54AubHq5uao7JSTGa07mtFdCw1wRondZQSLPSCYIQ4mtbU_eNmsfHAYsomVyE4-rQX5zFDXLxo2vkuK8JEafi732ANazlKDy69eAydQcCQbnNVVUXQRCgb-9/s1600/valentine+printable+8+x10.jpg" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7HbX0qQ0ZRQYnBqTlozUGRxVVU/edit?usp=sharing"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Valentine Black Printable Download Here</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7HbX0qQ0ZRQTnZJMjFLTnk2YW8/edit?usp=sharing">Valentine White Printable Download Here</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">I usually save the file to a flash drive and take it to my local copy center and have them print in color on 8.5 x 11 white card stock. It always turns out awesome and is so much cheaper than having an 8x10 printed by a photo place. I usually can get a full page of color for under $.60 a sheet!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://tangledupwithstringblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/february-2014-visiting-teaching-message.html"><span style="font-size: small;">***These also go cute with February's Visiting Teaching Message**</span></a> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdw7corrUir8-baT7j8sjCDKTcItG6oQVfrhIQxyqhuodZQy0-ffIK1OuJvDKpGRUKB7v3KYGr-P-v3mm-FKJeQJDrJywHvKt_LREC8ppg9iauuhGVDoH22TVjeyeBh-P__QuP9k6c-CUu/s1600/KAREN1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdw7corrUir8-baT7j8sjCDKTcItG6oQVfrhIQxyqhuodZQy0-ffIK1OuJvDKpGRUKB7v3KYGr-P-v3mm-FKJeQJDrJywHvKt_LREC8ppg9iauuhGVDoH22TVjeyeBh-P__QuP9k6c-CUu/s1600/KAREN1.jpg" height="100" width="200" /></a></div>
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Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-78274350726521644552014-02-03T16:15:00.001-08:002014-02-03T16:23:58.085-08:00February 2014 Visiting Teaching Message<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hey everyone Karen here! I am excited for this month's Visiting Teaching message! The full message is found <a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/02/the-divine-mission-of-jesus-christ-good-shepherd?lang=eng">here</a>, if you'd like to share it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uVuYmVtEsMaUaHp88segGBhewKgGjJBKsayV6ajaTFvE26BW4Kk7HHv-LXRj-TbbH2KmFB99vMEtaUJFr-VxPti7-T7V0h61rZhQwIhrl98NjankpQVAdjSmIkwV6zfcSpV1p6px4pPT/s1600/february+2014+vt+message.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uVuYmVtEsMaUaHp88segGBhewKgGjJBKsayV6ajaTFvE26BW4Kk7HHv-LXRj-TbbH2KmFB99vMEtaUJFr-VxPti7-T7V0h61rZhQwIhrl98NjankpQVAdjSmIkwV6zfcSpV1p6px4pPT/s1600/february+2014+vt+message.jpg" height="512" width="640" /></a></div>
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I plan go visit my ladies this week (before Valentine's Day). I am going to give this message, a sweet treat, and my framed Valentine's printable ~<a href="http://tangledupwithstringblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/valentine-subway-art-free-printables.html">found here</a>~! </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have made 2 different handouts, one with a white background and one with black~</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RxypRd5L9IZLkCLcY0yrYKv3HVokiGMzz-52pigwweYf7caeEeKJR8mQKHznH6n2c3AMrNMUSEorSS-cF2tOj5cxeWsLHViXH7nCOypm28TAHyjpNqbNwn2JeqIWXZpWXyIqz0T7IpoS/s1600/February+2014+vt+message+black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RxypRd5L9IZLkCLcY0yrYKv3HVokiGMzz-52pigwweYf7caeEeKJR8mQKHznH6n2c3AMrNMUSEorSS-cF2tOj5cxeWsLHViXH7nCOypm28TAHyjpNqbNwn2JeqIWXZpWXyIqz0T7IpoS/s1600/February+2014+vt+message+black.jpg" height="640" width="494" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7HbX0qQ0ZRQSDRJU3FGTnFnWU0/edit?usp=sharing">Download February 2014 Visiting Teaching Message (BLACK) Here</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnh_1THsYcvMpdN-UaQCn_EyrKrX88y7ikj_bzyoj7ChYv_fyNoHKbmGR4qqbW_bfyZ3wd_w6AHANybyUD4o6L4PRLIHJCtA2SWe8KxsMs9oQrEU5mn91LJhNDp-9jnyAa-KCiG-RooTr/s1600/February+2014+vt+message+white+background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnh_1THsYcvMpdN-UaQCn_EyrKrX88y7ikj_bzyoj7ChYv_fyNoHKbmGR4qqbW_bfyZ3wd_w6AHANybyUD4o6L4PRLIHJCtA2SWe8KxsMs9oQrEU5mn91LJhNDp-9jnyAa-KCiG-RooTr/s1600/February+2014+vt+message+white+background.jpg" height="640" width="492" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7HbX0qQ0ZRQN1FfNURSVzYyVWc/edit?usp=sharing">Download February 2014 Visiting Teaching Message (WHITE) Here</a></span></div>
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Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-28304792007023551682014-02-02T23:00:00.000-08:002014-02-02T23:00:08.321-08:00Product Review - Kiss Everlasting Petite Nails<p> </p> <p><font size="2">** DISCLAIMER: I did not nor will I receive any kind of compensation for this review. All opinion are mine and mine only!</font></p> <p><font size="2"></font></p> <p><font size="4">I LOVE the way my nails look when I get them professionally done! There are just a couple things that I really…….uhem…….REALLY don’t like about it.</font></p> <p><font size="4">#1 – The cost. I have paid anywhere from $25 – $45 for a set of acrylic nails. And gels only get more expensive!</font></p> <p><font size="4">#2 – I have to go in in about two weeks after to get them filled. That is another $10 – $20</font></p> <p><font size="4">#3 – They really destroy my natural nail. From all the filing, glue, and filing, and chemicals, and filing…… get the idea? Haha!</font></p> <p><font size="4">But they look SO pretty when they were done. Well, I decided to try something new. I was at Wal-Mart with a friend and she was really wanting to do nails. I have tried glue on nails before and let me tell you, they usually don’t look or feel that good. I have smaller nails, so I usually have to file down the size where the nail meets the cuticle. Blah! Anyway, I found these little lovelies and decided to give it a try. </font></p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDvN2WXery5Aakv1g0JcqHrFhbNUM1mXJW7tI5hMTFoXImGPnlvwVD3HIqXe_4mU4EI1xlkYeMSwfAKS7GOSEjCuQ1pWmeiSwYtpUUVRNdUcDWBIP2bXbEAb6-2VFt7RskIyu3oCx7X5r/s1600-h/Kiss%252520Everlasting%252520Petite%252520Nails%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Kiss Everlasting Petite Nails" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Kiss Everlasting Petite Nails" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39c0nMZohfOjvNzJIdW-1lJw4ajtvviHJU2GpSK74c2QlbZiaCHrfz5lURAMdNancPC72fGUQmsbqFMqsiQrqLfPXxW1PBxvbUTfvC2G51ooXwqyoXLMncYTIIyEsfhZm0vXvAGgwpA0O/?imgmax=800" width="571" height="571" /></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=413836&catid=196090&aid=338666&aparam=18283950120All_products&device=c&network=g&matchtype=" target="_blank">{ VIA }</a></p> <p align="left"><font size="4">I also purchased a separate bottle of nail glue. I have found that the glue that they supply in the kits really don’t keep the nails on for very long. We will see if the separate bottle does any better. I will update to let you know. Here is what I purchased.</font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvILTncx0IjX-qppOKotN20SM7zmirEMNuIEEsVpeQLod34QFgXrIrLv944RFIbKYjRBej_8ErercSx7kmF3PXnwSXK5rSpycBfCW9iGq3TTRr7idbPOp1Z1tm-OotubTGLfk2F7PnexCn/s1600-h/Glue%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Glue" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Glue" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgdXpo6ptGOKAjH3Nuv9AIwYFWhp4A-dxcnO0lA74aSFVjXLP_mvS9cQMz3TefHy00ZGgBM3ImLAwPIcuPw8wTM5kHcQVHLP84jnF_BZyG0ThquLw_YePYttckYO2wAnjOWPofIjrRSbu/?imgmax=800" width="691" height="691" /></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.drugstore.com/kiss-maximum-speed-nail-glue/qxp25487?catid=196092" target="_blank">{ VIA }</a></p> <p align="left"><font size="4">Thirty minutes after opening the package, sizing, filing, and gluing, my nails really did look great! I was really impressed! The sizes fit my nails. I just accidentally put my right thumb on crooked. Oh well. Live and learn! Overall, I am really happy with this product! I have had them on for one day so far. I wanted to write this at the beginning and update later. To sum up, I got a really great set of nails for under $10. If I have to replace them twice a month (which I am not sure I will do), It will still cost me less than an acrylic set and getting them filled! If you have tried these, let me know what you think!</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="4">Cheers!</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUa50eAsRIWXtpgG9g1Wvi2IOdEsBmLJeUB5ZsDsSzK2DxTdxJq7ANV5h0oAvtNFTAvwLLn0qMcw2yfu1pz3rOhRp9i1mHU7R8jb-SZKPD9_TFL-juF21ECyz1HG9lt5mfGRcJKGZNpsJ/s1600-h/1%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitVbbShODd8VDb94T7daDR0NvfP9oTElA4nui8PlXNIpylZ1N5h6tR_oH7nwsVOwGjW9xqR1ac99JwQaejEnCmmMgZRYUSy1eokJ-NvemvN2l0qkGzqCL2J-Qm6cb-VhyphenhyphenYNbMgo0yzdNI/?imgmax=800" width="936" height="620" /></a></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAm4TMP8Mk80pCCkPRCisejbE0UocRO2YNmpc0uKHtNnI_kDFuXKR56c1gQfFl-O-I-vAgiKtxGP8oALjdt2lci6yCxmOWpu0rLylEuVIvWn-WAmTiYT5WY5oy14S94ggqPLSQV41MGcHL/s1600-h/2%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MNRfBx0BZI09WiRGmo8ya_y567D9PSOsGUh-TY_fSedW5l6nGcTf-NZF-n2BI4zVNXfHbF9BEOrz579UejUTgh_mbLZjopyGDU-fSYWR-IO8_LnJCxs6pyvvbu9mOjo_TEYA68WQgaiZ/?imgmax=800" width="483" height="387" /></a></p> Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-87109273145953572102014-01-31T23:26:00.001-08:002014-01-31T23:26:38.051-08:00Redesigning!<p>Hey everyone! We are in the process of updating our lovely blog. Please be patient as sometimes, some of the links won’t always work or have material available! We will be done soon. Thanks!</p> <p>-The Ladies @ Tangled Up With String</p> Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-30444405757112890632014-01-29T18:49:00.001-08:002014-02-02T22:09:38.588-08:00January Visiting Teaching Message + PRINTABLES!!Some months I have so much going on that my visiting teaching gets neglected until the last week of the month...That's what happened with January! So, if you are like me, here is a cute printable and handout idea you can print off and take to your ladies---you still have a few days left!!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfmwZis1gyA70_2JXDxq3nGmY2pygH-Jh_mp-ATP1RMBHoz9qJ64MGuM84n-xQCW2u_tZbGF5VCgexDCs-Ihp5H86eszXSSSU1H9tJ3sBoiTY1_RP0fAvHVS8iuDHnUYcsPD1Yd1ZpbYk/s1600/0vt+jan+handout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfmwZis1gyA70_2JXDxq3nGmY2pygH-Jh_mp-ATP1RMBHoz9qJ64MGuM84n-xQCW2u_tZbGF5VCgexDCs-Ihp5H86eszXSSSU1H9tJ3sBoiTY1_RP0fAvHVS8iuDHnUYcsPD1Yd1ZpbYk/s1600/0vt+jan+handout.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I made a little handout with the month's message and also a cute tag for a sweet treat. I bought a box of theater candy and wrapped it with white scrapbook paper and attached the tag with some matching tulle.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7HbX0qQ0ZRQeXg4OXhOOFdZeU0/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">JANUARY 2014 VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE PRINTABLE HERE</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7HbX0qQ0ZRQbkxaM0praTU4OUU/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">JANUARY 2014 VISITING TEACHING HANDOUT PRINTABLE HERE</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/01/the-divine-mission-of-jesus-christ-exemplar?lang=eng" target="_blank">TO VIEW FULL MESSAGE VISIT LDS.ORG</a></div>
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Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-84358366697166472172014-01-27T08:41:00.000-08:002014-02-01T10:30:04.541-08:00Meet Karen!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey Everyone!<br />
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I would like to introduce myself~ My name is Karen. I am a wife,
stay-at-home mommy of two girls, cosmetologist, college student, book
lover, crafter, digital scrapbooker, outdoors lover, baker, carpooler,
primary teacher, member of the PTO, party planner, gardener, and a
country girl at heart! I love Do-it-yourself projects and am always
looking for fun things to do on a budget!</div>
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I married <i>my</i> Highschool sweetheart almost ten years ago in the
Idaho Falls LDS Temple and we live on our tiny farm in Southeastern Idaho with our 8 and 5 year old daughters.</div>
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I am excited to join this blog and to share fun projects! <br />
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Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-55113240531855038142014-01-25T21:32:00.000-08:002014-01-26T18:26:33.412-08:00Valentine’s - Hot Chocolate Bar Printable!<p> </p> <p>Mindy Here!</p> <p>I am LOVING me some hot cocoa these days! I also love having pretty little things around my house. I had an adorable cocoa bar for Christmas and really didn’t want to take it down. It’s still chilly outside and sometimes, I still want to sip hot cocoa. And I LOVE to have it out for guests to have some at their leisure. So I made a quick little printable to throw into my frame with my mugs and fixings! I thought that I would share it with you. I made it in both an 8x10 and 5x7. Enjoy!</p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><font size="5"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ll5QcNlsnLavt-Oa8MZF4lrnL_19IIOVMiX7mqd-3tQgbEbflNu5r5E2jJu5XqYNZsz15ORtxk0dOFOBMpxvReWgNVBi7LCZfganvN2m4KTxtgWV8g8G04ajrD41oSXSeD1ny14qsdzo/s1600-h/Vday%252520Hot%252520Choc%252520Bar%2525205x7%252520FIXED%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Vday Hot Choc Bar 5x7 FIXED" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Vday Hot Choc Bar 5x7 FIXED" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiW36YELDy_yGIwARxHnQ8VnaKLTmKqIhBV8htW0EVFFm6YxDqK_SHUsllNx8FpH2OJl5SGUkldCJhJHd3W-Bgj_AXJ1D5Qf63Z68SidU58lJP8bceukcaYh2bnkGANFXrEKhKjbDUOaz4/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="594" /></a></font><font size="5"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7HbX0qQ0ZRQQkpQVHFMbFZPNG8/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">DOWNLOAD 5x7 HERE!</a></font></p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mbQ5vQZZwaHdS6s636M8O5Eb0nTLKef6Im86ZSSWKiB0E7-04qpjNAfXzUNFuiIjTaiiM4S9vfFnRaIImuoIi_f3tSOqwFnEhJg7X3YE7W0I86_r1XiN0ZApzJtIJ6KeHmRoPQAC3tab/s1600-h/Vday%252520Hot%252520Choc%252520Bar_edited-1%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="Vday Hot Choc Bar_edited-1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Vday Hot Choc Bar_edited-1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKs-_cwbMCidg7f9YRBdvFZ2WYIAHOOUUVUDnRO4aC8txbZl6qex79InL-b34kvPwB9lkaEXxl4XeZCJFod56VOG_0bYgg0X8Ye4vJ6daJJF94TcSkpmr0P1aqEZR0KGQ5rfaJm-ehTms/?imgmax=800" width="471" height="588" /></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7HbX0qQ0ZRQajVGZ1RJWTlwTzA/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><font size="5">DOWNLOAD 8x10 HERE!</font></a></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4">*These prints are for personal use only. You are welcome to share, but please link back to our blog! Thank you!*</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4">Fonts Used:</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.fontspace.com/miss-tiina/mtf-doodlewhats" target="_blank">MTF Doddlewhats</a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.dafont.com/forum/read/53016/lavanderia" target="_blank">Lavanderia</a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.dafont.com/kg-somebody-that-i-used-to-know.font" target="_blank">KG Somebody That I Used To Know</a></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTY1uHd3P5YQry_TV38gHm5WCR68r1u_bc_5j8c5qWcpm-V8byOxQoZnHtVGezZod_F-JhTJ8E8JOjs6ErRo3-KlPV6ldFd4bd58pJjeMihPy2W5QAkxSD2EIUtxfvKrr39tB5OrsGK8E/s1600-h/2%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QpopAVwIpGo/UuWoySdwLtI/AAAAAAAAAK8/YQNn79Bb3k4/2_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="484" height="387" /></a></p> Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372892941471996585.post-72835142322894728562014-01-23T13:24:00.001-08:002014-01-27T17:39:12.208-08:00Preschool shape up<br />
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Four-year-olds are one of my favorite age groups to interact with. They’ve developed enough verbal skills and muscle control, that they are mostly past the tantrum stage, but haven’t quite reached that I-Know-Everything stubbornness that you find in older-five and six-year-olds. When my oldest was 4 my husband and I were poor college students, and didn’t have the money to send him to a fancy-scmancy preschool. Another mom and I decided we’d get together and do preschool for our sons ourselves. We were nervous at first, but it turned out to be such a wonderful opportunity! We had so much fun, and our kids learned everything they needed to know and more. <br />
I’ve been teaching pre-school co-ops for almost four years now. And it really is the way to go. Especially because there are so many online resource for lesson plans and fun activities. You think Pinterest is your friend when it comes to crafty things? Well, I promise you, Pinterest is your BEST friend when it comes to all things educational. <br />
A few months ago, I taught our preschool kids about shapes. I want to walk you through some of our activities, so you can get an idea of some of the resources I use to plan preschool lessons, as well as some different kinds of things to consider including in your preschool day to make it a success. <br />
<strong>Gathering Activity:</strong> This year our co-op has six preschoolers in it. They don’t all arrive at the same time, so I like to have some sort of activity prepares that they can occupy themselves with while we wait. A gathering activity can be anything really, puzzles, play dough, books, etc. But if I can I like to somehow connect it with the topic I’m teaching for the day. For example, for this shape unit, I brought out our <a href="http://www.amazon.com/WEDGiTS-Deluxe-Set-30-Piece/dp/B000068E3J/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1390508609&sr=1-1&keywords=wedgits">Wedgit Blocks</a>, and challenged the kids to build towers. <br />
<strong>New Learning:</strong> Right after the gathering activity is when I like to introduce the “new” thing we are going to be learning about and focusing on that day. And I like to do it through a hands-on activity if possible. For example to introduce shapes I handed each child cut-outs of the four basic shapes; circle, triangle, rectangle, square. We talked about each one, and said how many sides and how many angles it had. Then I would describe a shape by saying something like, "I'm thinking of a shape that has three sides and three angles." And the kids would have to hold up their triangles. For more practice with shapes, I made them a bag with paper shapes and colored sticks in it. The idea is to set out the paper shape, and then use the same colored sticks to go around the edge. I did a piece of string so they could do a circle too. I got this idea from a Pinterest link that led me to <a href="http://www.christywaters.blogspot.com/2013/01/brrr-baby-its-cold-in-alabama.html">this blog</a>, and by looking at her picture, I was able to make my own. <br />
<strong>Fine Motor Skills:</strong> One main purpose of preschool is to develop those fine motor skills. (Fine motor skill is the coordination of small muscle movements which occur in body parts such as the fingers, usually in coordination with the eyes.) Cutting, pasting, and writing are a great way to do this, but there are many others…the sky in the limit, really. In our shapes unit, I had the kids cut out the four basic shapes, use a glue stick to glue them to paper, and then trace around their glued shapes with a marker. <br />
<strong>Sorting:</strong> Sorting and classifying objects are important pre-math and pre-science activities. They help the brain develop associations and make connections between different things. It also builds vocabulary and concentration. In the shape unit, the kids drew a shape card out of a paper bag, and had to put it under the right group based on how many sides and how many angles it had. I found this activity, and the printables to go with it, in an awesome book put out the the AIMS education foundation called <a href="http://www.aimsedu.org/item/P-1128/Getting-Into-Geometry-K-1/1.html">Getting Into Geometry</a>. I have several books from this company and they are all excellent. <br />
<strong>Matching:</strong> The benefits of matching are similar to those of sorting. Matching increases a child’s concentration, and keeps their brain active. Think of it like exercise for your mind. One of my favorite matching activities is Tangrams, also called pattern blocks. Pattern blocks are a must have, if you have a preschooler, whether you’re teaching them preschool or not. That’s how fun they are. We have really enjoyed our <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Smethport-5331-Foam-Magnets-Pattern/dp/B0035HQMRA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390510154&sr=8-2&keywords=magnetic+foam+pattern+blocks">inexpensive magnetic foam set</a>. And there are tons of free printable patterns online, just search Pinterest for “Pattern Block Mats”. I like to set up our patterns inside a metal cookie sheet, but you can also do them on the fridge, the dishwasher, or any other magnetic surface. <br />
<strong>Wiggle Activity:</strong> Every preschool lesson needs at least one wiggle activity. Wiggle activities usually focus on and develop gross motor skills. (<em>Gross motor skills</em> are the abilities required in order to control the large muscles of the body for walking, running, sitting, crawling , and other activities.) A wiggle activity can be almost anything that involves movement, but again, it’s more meaningful if you can incorporate it into your subject matter. For our shapes unit, I drew a large triangle, rectangle, circle, and square on my driveway with sidewalk chalk. Then we walked, skipped, hopped, etc. around the perimeter of each one. Then I invited the kids to use the sidewalk chalk to try their hand at drawing their own smaller shapes inside of the large ones. <br />
<strong>Snack:</strong> I don’t have to explain that snack time is a must for preschoolers. And by now you can guess that a snack is more fun and more meaningful if it goes along with the theme of the day. Pinterest is crammed full of excellent ideas on this topic as well. The snack for our shape unit was so simple, yet so perfect. I gave everyone a large handful of stick pretzels, and we used them to make fun shapes while we ate, counting out the number of sides and angles as we went. Who says it’s not ok to play with your food? :)<br />
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<br />Tangled Up With Stringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01614003293974969467noreply@blogger.com0