Girl on Fire Activity Days Printable

We have had gorgeous fall weather here the past couple of weeks and so I went ahead with my original idea for a Girl on Fire activity for activity days.  We roasted hot dogs and did tinfoil caramel apples.  Over the past couple of months we had discussed what we wanted to become, being missionaries and good examples, so this time we talked about being who God created us to be and not trying to be someone else or lowering our standards to fit in.  

This quote was the inspiration for our activity.  I picked up  97cent candles at Walmart and tied on the tag.  It coordinates with the Look For S'more printable I shared last week.   I've added the PDF file for Set the World On fire HERE and a print as well.  

Real Life

Over the weekend I was texting my BFF and I mentioned that I wish I could go,  but I had so much to do, real life stinks.  And then I thought for a second and quickly texted again saying let me rephrase that.  My real life is awesome, it is cleaning that I have a problem with.

My real life is cleaning, making dinner, a kid that bites, homework, laugh lines, chipped nail polish and the small victory of not eating any halloween candy...after halloween.

My real life is a husband who loves me, supports my SUP addiction and understands if we are having breakfast for dinner.  Again.

My real life is not glamorous and its not big, but it is amazing.  And I couldn't be happier.

Look for S'more

For activity days last week the original idea was to learn how to build a fire and roast s'mores and talk about being a missionary.  Because of wind we weren't able to do the outdoor fire, so we talked about being missionaries and then roasted marshmallows over the gas stove.  I made a "Look for S'more" handout that to help remind them to try a little harder to share their testimonies and be good examples.  I've included the handout download for you.

Download Look for S'more

The recipe for these s'mores is easy and actually the only kind of s'mores that Darin likes.

S'mores Bars

3/4 c karo syrup

3 Tbsp butter

1 pkg chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla 

1 large box Golden Grahams

3 cups marshmallows

In a medium saucepan heat butter, karo syrup and chocolate chips over low heat until melted.  Add vanilla and stir.  Pour over cereal and stir to coat.  Add in marshmallows and stir to combine.  Let cool on wax paper.  Enjoy.  

Hello July.

Well this month isn't starting out quite like I hoped.  I'm cooped up with sick kids but it gave me an excuse to pull out the glue gun and spray paint.  This summer has been a little off for me so far.  It seems to be one thing after the other, but I'm bound and determined to keep the good times rolling.  This is after all the best time of the year!  I hope July holds a lot of fun times for you this year!  

First Grade is in the books

And just like that another year has flown by.  My baby girl is growing up in so many ways and I just can't help but think she is going on to college not second grade at this rate.  So much about her is becoming a big kid instead of a little kid.  Her height, her smile, her awesomeness as a big sister.  But when she still needs me to snuggle her each night I am reminded that she will always be my baby girl. 

One Year of Axel

One year and there are still too many words, thoughts, feelings to even begin.  

Spring around here.

Happy second day of spring!  With the weather warming up a tiny bit and the sun shining, even Axel is feeling the need to be outside after being cooped up all winter.  It is almost as if he has never experienced the great big world before and it is fascinating to see Spring through the eyes of an {almost} one year old.  

We are almost recovered from the worst... ear infections.  I would rather clean the aftermath of the flu than deal with the pain and helplessness of earaches I've decided.  But my prayers were answered and the two of us finally got some sleep.   

Half days at school means we need something to do up in here.  Stitching cards and SHHH mom I'm concentrating.  For two hours.  Its the little things I tell ya.  

I have a hot date with my boyfriend tonight, Need For Speed.  He's lucky I like fast cars.  But I'm feeling lucky too.  So there might be FroYo involved.   

Spring is off to a fabulous start.

11 months of Axel

Those chubby fingers.  Those mile long lashes.  That ticklish baby belly.  His barely there hair.  

Eleven Months.  Seriously.  I can't take that it is to this point already.  I'm not ready for 1.  

Adventure Valentines

I know its kind of last minute but in case you didn't know thats how I roll.  I created some adventure themed Valentines for Greenies.  You can head over to the Greenies facebook page for a link to a PDF or you can save the images from there and share them with the adventure-ers in your life.  I hope you all have an AMAZING Valentine's Day weekend

Love Struck >> Arrow Bobby Pins Tutorial

Valentine's Day is tomorrow and we are all set.  Ivy's classroom Valentines are made, her box is ready to go and her hairstyle all planned out.   We looked up some Valentine's inspired hair tutorials on youtube and fell in love with heart braids.  It is cute to see Ivy {finally} get excited about doing her hair.  She even practices making her own hair tutorial videos in the mirror.   To add our own touch to her heart braids we made some arrow bobby pins to make the braids a Cupid's heart. 

To make your own Love Struck bobby pins you need just some tiny scraps of material >> ours are leather and felt <<  bobby pins and a hot glue gun.   To make two bobby pins you will need 3 small squares of material.  

Take the first square and cut it in half diagonally.  This gives you the two arrowheads.   With the second square, first cut a triangle notch out of the top.  Then cut the bottom corners off at an angle to make a point.  Carefully snip the sides of your square to give it a feather look.  Repeat with the third square.  These are your arrow tails.  All that is left is to hot glue the arrowheads and tails to the top of your bobby pins.

Paper Arrow Garland Tutorial

Arrows!  Cupid!  Hearts!  XOXO!  Here is a simple tutorial on how to make an arrow garland to go with your Valentine's Day decor.  Or for any day really, cuz..... put an arrow on it!

Start by cutting strips of paper to your desired width and fold them in half.  For the patterned paper I cut two inch strips.  Using a paper slicer angle the folded strips and cut in to increments. You can either cut them all the same or vary the width.  You will have some extra triangles at the ends that you can either save for another project ;) or recycle them. 

Open up the folded cuts and get excited!  YAY! Arrows!  

You can either stitch them together along the top or punch small holes and string them together.  Just make sure the arrows all point the same direction.

  I made a long arrow using a dowel and some felt and tied my little arrow garland onto the dowel.  I also used a cookie cutter to cut some x's and o's to add and made a little Cupid wall hanging for Ivy's room.  I've also got more arrow garlands in about five places in my house.  Cuz.... put an arrow on it.

You've Pierced My Heart Jewelry Valentines Printable

Valentines Day is this week and Ivy and I have some fun ideas for you to make it special!  Today we are sharing our Jewelry Valentines cards.  We used clay to make some cute earring and beads so we could wear our hearts on our ears.  And necks, and wrists.  Making hearts with the clay took some practice but we were able to make some cute enough to share with friends. 

For the earrings we used sparkly red sculpey clay, and a pack of earring backs that I picked up from the jewelry making department at Hobby Lobby.  The Alison Show has a great tutorial on making clay earrings here.  

 I used my tiniest hole punch to punch two holes for earring posts to go through on the u pierced my heart card.  

And for the bracelet I cut two small slits on the side to hold the string in place.   To make the heart bead I shaped a thicker heart and used an embroidery needle to poke a hole through the sides.  Be sure to make the hole big enough that you can thread the needle and string through after you bake the clay.  

Pierced My Heart Valentines PDF

{for personal use only}

 And since we are all about sharing the love this week, here is the PDF printable so you can make your own jewelry Valentines to share with your friends.  You could use them to give friendship bracelets or loom bracelets, necklaces or whatever else you and/or your kids have fun making!

2014 Winter Olympics Workout

We are so so so excited for Sochi!!  We've got some decorations, and some Russian recipes picked out to try for the Opening Ceremonies.  Trust me that was harder than I thought it was going to be.  I've been pinning a bunch of ideas to make the next two weeks awesome.  Even though the Olympics themselves are pretty awesome by themselves.  My favorite is probably the time capsule from Paging Supermom. 

I don't know about you but I always get so inspired by all of the athletes so I thought it would be fun to make a Sochi Olympics workout to counter all of the sitting and watching I will be doing over the next two weeks.  Here it is if you want to join me!  All I know is I really hope no one crashes.  Cuz I hate burpees.  

What is your favorite sport to watch in the winter Olympics?!!  Mine has got to be snowboarding, but I really look forward to watching the ice skating with Ivy.  I remember loving it SO much when I was her age.  

Football Hair:: An instant replay tutorial

It was sports day at Seahawks day at school a couple of weeks ago AND crazy hair day.  These Football Braids were a touchdown with Ivy and much easier than you think.  And since the Superbowl is this Sunday I thought I'd give an instant replay of the football braids for the big game.

  First we braided Ivy's bangs so they would stay back.  That part is completely optional.  

Start by putting the hair in to two high and wide pigtails.  Braid each pigtail and secure the ends with those tiny clear elastics.  Take the right braid and bring it down and to the left one, tucking the end in the left braid's rubberband.  With the left braid sweep it up and to the right, tucking it into the right ponytail.  We used bobby pins to hold the braids in place better too.  This gives you the football shape!

For the laces you will need white ribbon, bobby pins and a glue gun.  Cut one long ribbon and 3-4 short ribbons.  The lengths of these depend on your childs head, so don't forget to measure, or at least eyeball it.  Hot glue the shorter ribbons to the bobby pins and then glue those to the longer piece of ribbon.    When the glue is dry, slide the bobby pins down into the hair to secure the laces.  

With a couple more pieces of ribbon you can weave it in the ends to mimic the ends of a football.   I didn't do a great job of this, but you get the idea right?!

We are pretty excited for this Superbowl.  Both of our teams are in it, so either way our team wins!! Ivy has got Seahawks fingers and Broncos toes.  But sssshhhh if you asked Darin and I, we'd have to say go Seahawks!! 

Love Bug! A pop up craft class

I'm so excited to share a fun event with you!  I've created a pop up craft school for different ages!  The first one is a Valentine's Workshop for ages 6-8 or 9+  .  It has been so popular that I've already added a second date.  The first one sold out before I even had a chance to tell you about it! 

<<< INTRODUCING >>>

  

A crafternoon!  Those are the best kinds of afternoons.  In this 3 hour class for girls ages 9+ we will be catching the love bug with multiple crafts and of course chocolate!

 Ivy is so excited to play hostess for this one.  Two hours of friends, crafts and treats?! The perfect way to spend a Saturday morning in our book.  Boys and girls age 6-8 are all welcome!

Spots are going fast on both classes, so hurrrrry!  Payment will need to be made ASAP to secure your spot.  When you call to sign up we can figure out the way that works best for you to do that.   Thanks so much for your overwhelming support!    

Nine Months of Axel

How does time go by so fast?  Nine months of snuggles, tons of giggles and smiles, and still no hair.  He is *this* close to crawling but kind of has this inchworm thing going on.  He loves music, his sister and is a definite ladies man.  I can't handle it.  They should make baby tupperware, so they last longer.  

Peppermint Protein Shake

Well its that time of year to start all over on fitness goals.  Unfortunately for me I really am starting all over from where I began last January.  Its hard to admit that I gave up somewhere along the way last year... but if having a baby in your life isn't a good excuse then I don't know what is.  I got bone tired.  And when that happens then all resolve goes out the window.   And honestly in October I said forget it.  I'm tired of trying so hard. ALL THE TIME.   I still worked out but in case you haven't figured it out by now, the biggest thing that will help you reach your goals is your diet.  waaaaaah.   

But when there are things like peppermint protein shakes it helps the getting back on track be a little bit sweeter.   This is a simple shake recipe, but I'm warning you.  The spinach does NOTHING for the color.  It makes it look not very pretty.   But whats a shake without spinach?  I promise it does not' affect the flavor.  Even babies like it.  

CHOCOLATE PROTEIN SHAKE

8 oz unsweetened almond milk

1 scoop chocolate protein powder {I use Sunwarrior brand}

3 ice cubes

1 large frozen banana

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/8-1/4 tsp of pure peppermint extract
a couple handfuls of spinach