Category Archives: Things I like

Fun Friday – What Made It On My Radar This Week!!

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FunFridayWe made it to the Weekend!!  That is reason enough to celebrate with all the craziness going around. Every Weekend, I entice myself with plans of pulling the covers up around my neck, sleeping in, drinking coffee in bed and reading a good book.  And, then I am startled awake by two, entirely too awake, wide eyed and bushy tailed little girls.  Every now and then dh  takes pity on me and I wake up to the smells of breakfast wafting through the house and my little monsters happily eating. This is always a treat.  Even though I often miss the days of peace and quiet, I know all too well that these times won’t last forever.

For Today’s Fun Friday Post, I am opening up the blinds and letting you in on what made it on my radar this week.

1.  Monday was a Holiday and Tuesday was a Snow Day, or in Georgia a Potential Threat of Ice Day.  What do you do with your kids on Snow Days?  It’s just enough to drive this Mommy crazy.  Being stuck in the house all day with children who want you to entertain them, can really leave you grasping at straws.  Here are some ideas I found around the web to maintain your sanity, while still scoring major Mommy points. I am putting these on my list for next year(because hopefully we are done with this, and Spring is on it’s way.).   The Indoor Picnic – Game Marathons –  Cookie Baking and Decorating Contest – Beauty Parlor – Hair and Mani-Pedis.  Just to scratch the surface.  I am working on a more detailed post just on that.

2.  The Return of the Mack aka Frank Underwood and my favorite Netflix Series House of Cards.  In case you have been living under a rock for the last two seasons.  Find out more about Francis and Claire here.  It came out this morning, and once this post gets published, I will be in  a self induced House of Cards Coma for the next 13 episodes.

3.  My girls are particularly excited about the Release of the Annie DVD.  I mean over the moon.  There was a lot of hand holding, screaming and straight up joy, when they found out that we could actually pre-order the movie now.  I must admit that I have kind of overdosed on the sound track, because they play it every day.  But, since I don’t intend to have to stomp out an uprising in my own home.  I guess Mommy will tow the line.

4.  Looking for some  Inspiration and Positive Vibes –  Check out my (3) Favorite Instagram Feeds for this week:

A:  TheIconicGirls

B:  ABowlFullofLemons

C:  Proverbs31Ministries

5.  What I am currently looking forward to – The iPhone 6 Plus  or the 6 (Eligible for my Upgrade on 3/1/15) – I haven’t quite decided yet, and yes I know I am way too excited about that…

5.  My favorite quote for the week:

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Photo Source: Pinterest

Enjoy The Weekend!!

Fun Friday: 10 Things You Don’t Skimp On

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10 Things You Don't Skimp On

Since going from a 2 to 1 income household, being  more frugal has become a big part of my life.  I certainly was not excited, nor did I welcome the changes that had to be made to maintain our lifestyle.  But, I knew it had to be done.  There was a lot of restructuring that had to be done and the pieces of the puzzle seem to continually stay in motion.  But, that being said, there are still some things that I just don’t skimp on.

Cleaning Supplies:  Dish Washing Liquid, Laundry Detergent, All Purpose Cleaners & Disinfectant Wipes.  I know not everyone, my Mom included, will agree with me here, but I stand by this one.  The cheaper options just don’t cut it, or you have to use more to achieve the desired results.

Skin Care Products:  Moisturizers, Lotions, Facial Cleansers, Lip Gloss, Makeup.  Eventually, I feel like you know what works for your skin.  I am not a big makeup person, but I swear by MAC Lip Liner and their Tinted LipGlass.  After a lot of trial and error with facial cleaners and moisturizers I am a devoted Garnier fan.  I use their Balancing Daily Exfoliator and their Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel Cream.  I am less discriminating about my lotions, as long as it gives me extra moisture for the winter months, I can get by with Vaseline Intensive Care.

Perfume/Cologne: Whether you are purchasing this for yourself or as a gift.  Don’t cheap out when it comes to this.  You know how you feel when that special someone goes by you and you catch a whiff of his Special Scent.  Right??

Toiletries:  Toilet Tissue, Paper Towels.  For me this is about both comfort and cleanliness, no 1 ply for me.  As for paper towels, I am an all the way BOUNTY girl.  I need my Paper Towels to be Heavy Duty.  I think this is a MOM requirement.  **Not to mention, I have tried some bargain brands that leave something to be desired when it comes to the way they smell when wet.  Has anyone else experienced this? **

Housewares: Linens, Bedding, Towels.  Purchasing Quality Housewares prevent you from having to purchase them over and over again.  I say buy the higher end products, the higher thread counts, the heavier towels and washcloths.  They will last longer and just give you a more pleasurable/luxurious experience.  And, White Sales are pretty common place (especially in January), even if you have to wait to catch these items on sale.  They will be well worth the wait.

Kitchen Appliances:   Blender, Food Processor, Juicer, Toaster and Coffee Maker.  No one wants to begin any kind of project in the Kitchen only to find that your appliance has failed.  I can’t tell you how many blenders I went through before I decided to invest in one that was up to the task.

Nutrition:  Vitamins, Medicine, and Even Healthier Food Options.  It just is not easy to live healthy.  It sucks, but it is the truth.  I try to give my family healthy food choices and options, but I will be the first to admit that I wish I could shop Whole Foods exclusively.  On this, I say do the best you can within the confines of your budget.  They will thank you later.

Shoes:  I am a shoe lover and kind of a shoe snob too.  I probably would have a closet full of shoes, if wasn’t so picky when it comes to my shoes.  Instead I have my staples.  Basic Black Pumps, A Stylish Wedge, Fancy Sandals with or without a heel, that you can dress up or down, Rain Boots, Winter Boots, Sneakers(for Exercise Purposes, and then for Sporty Mom purposes), and as many pairs of Heart Stoppers (the ones that always get you a second look) and Flip Flops, as you can manage.  In this case, quality just last longer, providing you take care of them.

“Underthangs”:  And, let’s face it , even if you are the perfect weight and height, the older we get the better quality we need.  Things just don’t settle where they used to.(side-eye)  They need to pull in, lift up, and separate, etc.  lol.

A Good Bed:  Is EVERYTHING!!  Not sure this even needs an explanation, it makes the difference in both Good Nights and Good Mornings.

“Measure Twice – Cut Once.”  Sometimes it’s worth it to make the informed and maybe more costly choice, right out the gate.  You are putting out more money on the Front End, but I believe it will benefit you in the Long Run.

What are the purchases that you JUST DON’T SKIMP ON?  Share your Comments Below.

Fun Friday: 10 Fun Facts About Me

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funfriday

 

  1. I was born in Jamaica.
  2. I grew up in New Jersey, and I am still a Jersey Girl at heart.
  3. I went to college in Huntsville, Alabama.
  4. My oldest child is 18 years old, and my youngest hasn’t even started Kindergarten yet.
  5. My favorite fruit is mango, it’s also one of my favorite flavors and fragrances. (especially mixed into a Cocktail – Mango Mojitos, anyone?)
  6. I married a “Deep South” Country Boy.
  7. I LOVE coffee.  But, only if it has equal parts of coffee, creamer and flavor.  My favorite creamer is Caramel Macchiato.  I am so glad International Delight carries it because Starbucks can be a pricey habit.
  8. I am a list/planner person.  I have 1 planner for my household chores.  I have 1 for my business.  And, I have a Dream and Gratitude Journal.  (Yes, I love to write.)
  9. I can be a little OCD.
  10. Even after 18 years of being a Mommy, it is still one of the scariest jobs that I have ever had. (Both Growing and Molding a human life is HARD WORK.)

I did my part, I shared my 10 Facts.  What about you?  Tell me 10 Fun Facts About You.  Share Below or Feel Free to Share It Under The Post on Our Facebook Page.

Valentine’s Day Fun:  Including your Kids in Your V-Day Celebration – How About A Special Table Setting Just For Them?

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I am sure you already have most of these things at home: Place mats – Heart Doilies (bought a set of 12 at the Dollar Store) – Utensils – Napkins – Ribbon – Anything Pink or Red to Make the Table Pop (In my Case, I used Valentine’s Erasers and Heart Picks.)  And, lastly I made a Wine Glass Candle Lamp from the directions I found here. Voila!!

Happy Birthday Elmo!!

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balloons

Photo Source:

 

I don’t know about you but Elmo has been a BIG part of all three of my children’s lives, from my 18 year old all the way down to the 4 year old.  So, I was a little excited to hear that it was his birthday. Go figure!!  Can you believe that Elmo has been around since the 80’s?

When I told my little ones they seemed to share in my excitement.  So just for fun here are some fun Elmo Craft Projects that I found.

Elmo’s Cut & Paste Activity – found here at the FunwithMamaBlog.

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Elmo Coloring Page – found here at Coloring-Book.Info.

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Sesame Street Clay Pots ** – found here at ButtonsBobbinsandOtherBits. (This one is my favorite.)

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I picked the Cut and Paste Activity to do with my four year old.  She is at that age where she loves any excuse to use scissors.  These others are definitely going on my Toddler Craft To Do List.

 

 

Fun Friday – All About V-Day!!

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Free Valentine's Day Pencil Tag #valentinesday #valentinesdaygift #valentinesdayideas

Wow, did this week fly by for anyone else but me?  Today’s Fun Friday is ALL about Valentine’s Day!!

Do you miss those days when it was just the two of you?  But, that just isn’t the case anymore, now that you have little people running around, who seem to be sapping your romantic flow.  But, you want your guy to know that he is still #1 in your book.  No matter how tired you may be.

Most men are simple.  And, most men don’t really give a hoot about Valentine’s Day.  Even still, you care, so make sure he knows that you do too.  Keep in Mind, that this year Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday (what a treat). So, you have the whole day to make your love feel special.

Here are a few Quick & Hopefully Not Too Dirty Ideas:

Start with Breakfast — In Bed or Out (your choice)

It doesn’t have to be anything GRAND, you know your guy. Add a Sweet Card, a Love Note, or even an IOU (for later fun).  Running low on time in the morning, consider prepping your guys breakfast the night before.

Breakfast in Bed for Valentine's Day

Babysitter or Not –

Can you get a baby sitter to stay with the kids so you can have some alone time? What works better for your family?  Are you going to hit the movies with your honey during the day, or are you going to make it an official date night and don the heels and flirty dress??  Whatever you do, make sure the plan is put in place long before that weekend.  Remember reservations are nearly impossible to get around this time of year.

Of course, if a Baby Sitter is not an option for you, then you have to either plan V-Day around the kiddies, or include them.  When my oldest daughter was much younger, we both dressed up one year and had dinner with my hubby.  It was super sweet and we all enjoyed sitting at the table together for dinner. She enjoyed being included and making a Valentine for her Daddy.

Here are some fun ideas for sharing V-day with your little ones, that I found around the web.

12 Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Your Kids

4 Sweet Ways To Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Your Kids

To Dine –

If you are lucky, maybe you are one the of the couples who manage to get time alone, reserve your table far enough in advance, and are dressed to impressed for a Night On the Town.  Leave everything else on the back shelf for the night.  You have pulled off a major coup!!  Make tonight only about YOUR LOVE.  No talk of work, daycare, or diapers.  Relax and Enjoy Each Other.

Every Day is Special with the One You Love, but Valentine’s day should be even SWEETER.

V-Day Stories –

Sad Valentine's Day Story

Funny Valentine's Day StoryAnd, if you got all the way through this post, Good For You!!

So as promised, here is your Free Valentine’s Day Pencil Tag (PDF File) with instructions.  Click to Download and Enjoy!!

Valentine's Day Pencil Tags

How to Capture Memories with a Yearly Family Photo Book?

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Capturing Memories with Yearly Photo Books

Four years ago, I decided to start putting together a Yearly Family Photo Book.  The years were going by way too fast, and I wanted to document it . The thing about digital photography in my opinion, is that the memories get stuck either on your SD Card, Your Phone or Your Camera.  And, then the ones that get uploaded only seem to make it as far as Facebook.(Well at least in my case.)

The first two years, I struggled through a year’s worth of pictures, trying to decide which ones were worthy of a spot in our Photo Book.  The process was tedious, and frankly more than annoying. So last year, I decided to try to stream line my process.  Hopefully, it will save you some aggravation should you decide to do this for your family.

1.  Cataloging – At the end of every month, I download all the pictures that are on my various devices.  Then, I take my time and go through them and weed out the duds. Then I save them on my Desktop to a specific folder named for that month.  As I save them, I try to give them names that would inspire captions for the book.

2.  Uploading – After I have completed that, I upload them to Shutterfly and then make sure they go into the My Projects Folder, so that I can come back to it the following month.

3.  The Finished Project – At the end of the year, or realistically at the beginning of the following year.  I give my Saved Project the once over.  For the most part, you should not have much to do at this time.  But, most likely you will want to add some pics of the Holiday Season to complete your project.

Capture Life

Photo Credit: Colorado Senior Life

Note:  I use Shutterfly for pretty much everything photo related, but there are several options out there.  I love Shutterfly specifically, because several times during the year they offer a coupon for a free photo book, and in that case you will most likely only have to pay for shipping.  Unless you are like me and you have so many pics that you go over the allotted page requirement.  But, even still its worth it!!

Do you have pictures that you lost or wished that you had printed?

Shutterfly Evergreen 300x600 - Capture Memories with a Shutterfly Photo Book

What I learned about hosting the 2014 “Handmade with Love” Holiday Gift Guide?

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What I learned about hosting the 2014 “Handmade with Love” Holiday Gift Guide?

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  1. First and foremost the most crucial component of prepping a Gift Guide is TIME.  Make sure to give yourself enough time on the Front End and on the Back End, FOR LIFE.  Because, it is definitely going to go on regardless of what you have to do.
  2. Be Clear.  Decide up front who your target audience will be. Research and Reach Out to those who you feel will meet your criteria.  Pick Your Categories and Advertise in Places that you think you will find participants best suited for each category.
  3. Create a Detailed Marketing/Advertising Plan.  Decide on the front end what is expected from each participant, and what you as the host have to offer your participants. (Provide information on how many people you reached in previous years, if applicable.  And, what avenues you utilized to advertise)
  4. Create Realistic Deadlines.  Stop accepting Applications After that Time.  Provide Participants with Hard Deadlines that you can stick to.
  5. Work your Plan.  Use All Available Social Media Outlets to get the word out for your Gift Guide.  Create a HashTag (#stagepresentshandmadewithlove) and Encourage All Participants and Sponsors to Share Info Across the Board Using the Same Hashtag.

Things I would probably do differently.

  • I would probably charge a nominal fee for those wishing to be showcased in the Gift Guide.  For no other reason than, time is money. I would also hope that if you put money out for advertising, you would be more likely to do your best to promote the Gift Guide.
  • I would probably start the Entry Process out at the end of September, beginning of October.  I feel this would give applicants, more time to get their entries in.
  • I would publish the completed Guide Mid-November.  I feel this would allow the items and shops that are showcased a greater lead time to get their items noticed.
  • Now, that I have Year One, under my belt.  I have a template within which to work and I will request all necessary information up front, as to avoid the constant need to reach out to applicants, and wait for their responses. **I know everyone is busy during the Holiday Season.**

Things I would not change.

  • The completed project.
  • The amazing artist/shops that were showcased.
  • The opportunity to help share their talent with consumers.
  • The opportunity to promote Hand Made.

Again, I want to take the opportunity to thank all the participants and the Sponsors that contributed and participated in the Gift Guide, the corresponding Giveaway and its promotion.  I could not have done it without you!!

“I feel like every project I work on is a dream project, so long as I am learning.”
― Simeon Kondev

Our Delayed 2014 Christmas Home Tour — Welcome In…

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This Year’s Christmas Tour was delayed, obviously.  But, things got so busy leading up to Christmas that there honestly wasn’t enough time to post.  This years Tour will be more pictures than words.  Welcome to our Little Piece of Heaven — Enjoy!!

Our 2014 Christmas Home Tour

2014 Christmas Home Tour - Front Foyer

Kid's Tree - Decorated with Kid's Handmade Ornaments

2014 Christmas Home Tour - Holiday Mantel

2014 Christmas Home Tour - Joy In The Kitchen Window

2014 Christmas Tour - Formal Living Room - Decorator Tree & Front Door Area

2014 Christmas Home Tour - Decorator Tree + Stage Presents Exclusive Holiday Deer Pillow

Coffee In Front of The Tree - 2014 Christmas Home Tour

2014 Christmas Home Tour - Putting Gifts Out Under The Tree

Decorating brings me much joy, but decorating for the holidays brings me enjoyment on another level.  This time of year is still wrapped in magic for me, even now.  Watching the excitement on my children’s faces as the whole house comes together, and knowing that we are creating life long memories leaves me totally blissful!!  I believe that my love for decorating and this time of year, was passed on to me by my amazing mother and I only hope that it is something my kids will do with joy, for their own families years from now.  Our whole family, hubby included gets wrapped up in the excitement, of the Christmas Elf, Santa, and the real reason for the season.  I hope that you all had an amazing Holiday and wish you Only the Best for the Year to Come.

— Sheree

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Featured Shop/Artist Interview: OpenHandCreations

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FeaturedShopOpenHandWhen did you fall in Love with Handmade?

Since I was a young person I have always enjoyed making gifts with my hands. Knitting, card making, sewing… you name it I wanted to make it. I especially love that I can transform a raw material into something usable… and the fact that I can help put a smile on someone’s face even for a moment makes it so worth it!

15 years ago I started my business as a paper crafter. I made greeting cards as well as wedding invitation & birth announcements. However in 2012, I decided I wanted to work outside my usual style of perfect straight measured lines and neutral colors and OpenHandCreations was born.  I love painting with my hands, not measuring anything and using all the colors of the rainbow!

What does your Shop have to Offer its Patrons?

Every item at OpenhandCreations is made by me. From choosing which materials to use to the final assembly of the item I pour my heart into every project.

At OpenHandCreations I offer one of a kind artful and useful gifts. I also welcome custom orders. You can expect special detail and attention to your order and superior customer service… I value and am so very grateful to all my customers who support me and my work.

Do you have any upcoming sales or local appearances?

For the holidays I am offering 10% off all OpenHandCreations purchases (no limit) until Dec 24, 2014 by using coupon code: HWL2014 at checkout. Also each purchase will ship with a handmade felt/collage gift tag.

Please like my Facebook Page, for updated info as well as a very special Black Friday/Cyber Monday discount.

Where can you be found?

You can find my work at OpenHandCreations ( www.openhandcreations.com on Etsy) as well as several storefront locations.

-The MUSE In Frederick, MD
-Uni-T at the Natick Mall in Natick, MA
-Hibiscus Jazz in St. John, US Virgin Islands
-The Shop at the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown, MA
-Mosees in Barnstable (Cape Cod), MA

I will also participating at two winter fairs in time for the holidays:

  • Saturday Dec 6 (10am-3pm)

At the 77th Annual Christs Church Cambridge Christmas Fair at Harvard Square (Zero Garden Street Cambridge, MA)

  • Saturday and Sunday Dec 20/21 (10am-5pm both days)

at Etsy Artists of Boston Winter Bazaar (485 Arsenal St Watertown, MA) http://www.thearsenalproject.com/events.php

 You can connect with me via :

Etsy: www.openhandcreations.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/openhandcreations

Instagram: http://instagram.com/openhandcreations

Email: thoughtfulcreations22@gmail.com

Blog: www.thoughtfulcreations.wordpress.com