Valentine's Day Mailboxes

Last night for Family Home Evening the kids got excited. For school Kiera is supposed to make a Valentine's Day Mailbox for her kindergarten class party in a few weeks and so we decided to turn the homework assignment into a family activity.

I found a couple of shoe boxes that  I was saving in my gift wrapping closet and wrapped the box and the lids separately in aluminum foil. I then cut some hearts out of different colored card-stock and let the kids color, glue, and glitter to their hearts content. It was fun and they turned out pretty cute. The picture below was taken before the glue was dry so you can't really see the clear glitter but now that it is dry it sparkles.

Bunk Bed Playhouse Finished!!!

I did it! I finished the bunkbed playhouse that I have been working on recently. I am so excited to send it! I just wish I could be there when her little girl sees it on Christmas morning. Maybe I can talk her into sending me some pictures. *Hint Hint

I just wanted to post some pictures of the final product. It turned out way cute! And so much better than the original one I made for my kids. I guess I learned some things from the last one.

Here it is without the accessories

cute but not much fun.

And here it is with the accessories!

So cute! And I love the orange and red color scheme she chose.

Now its another run to the fabric store to get some flannel to make some Christmas pajamas.

What I've been up to

This Past Saturday I had the opportunity to do some more fundraising for my friend Lauren who is in the middle of her fight with breast cancer. This has sort of become what I live and breathe lately.

My own Zumba Party Event for her is coming up next weekend, but this past Saturday I was able to attend another Zumba "Party in Pink" to raise money for the Susan G. Komen association and was allowed to have a booth there to benefit Lauren's cancer fund. It was fun to get away and be a part of the event. I know I have mentioned this before but I am addicted to my Zumba! It is so much fun and there is definitely a sense of family and sisterhood when I am with other zumba fanatics like myself.

Lauren was able to go to the Party in Pink too. She was asked to say a few words about her fight and progress she has made. She is such an amazing woman and I am so honored to be friends with her.
Here are a few shots from the party:

From Left to right: Trevor (Lauren's husband), Lauren, me, and Kristi.

Yes, Emma and I are wearing tutus. I made one for myself that morning and decided if I was going to wear one Emma should too. Don't we look cute? It was a "Party in Pink" after all. Just showing my PINK spirit. We are all wearing our "Lauren's Warriors" or "S.O.S Together we continue Saving Our Sisters" T-shirts that we had made and are selling.

After the event, Lauren, Emma and I went out to get something to eat. It was so much fun to hang out just her and I. Man, I love that girl! Thanks Lauren for an awesome night. None of it would have happened without you.

I'm Dead Meat

This weekend I am running a 5K. Am I crazy or what? I officially registered for the race this week. I needed something to motivate me to get in shape. . .well as far as that goes...I think I am dead meat! I went running last night and only made it 1.5 miles. I am sooo not in the same shape as I was this time last year. I have to keep telling myself that its ok and to give myself a break. I just had a baby 3 months ago.

Last year I trained just 3 days (mind you I was already working out 3-4 times a week before that). This time around 3 days just aren't going to cut it. But I am still going to do it. Even if I have to walk half the time, I am still going to finish. Wish me luck.

Oh and I am still looking forward to it because my hubby bought me my very own i-pod shuffle! And look! It is the orange one! And it is sooo tiny! It makes me smile.

image courtesy of coveringweb.com

Flower and Lace Headbands

You've all probably seen these little flower headbands everywhere. I know I have. I think they are just darling. Today I just couldn't help myself and so I decided to whip a couple up. One for my daughter to use as a bribe reward for cleaning her bedroom by herself and one just in case we have a little girl.

I decided to go all white. I'll be honest and confess that I was thinking mostly about a baby girl. I secretly hope that is the case. I thought it would be perfect to go with the baby blessing dress I have hanging in the closet that I have up in my Etsy shop but am secretly hoping I may just be the one to end up with it.

I bought a single bunch of daisies at Wal Mart the other day for $1 I think (I just removed the yellow centers) and the lace I had left over from other projects. There is 1" elastic underneath the flowers too so it has a nice stretch.

They were so easy to make! Just some scrap materials, a few runs through the serger to attach the elastic, some hot glue and glitter.

What do you think?

Fun Site for Family Home Evening Activities

If you haven't heard of DTLK's website yet, I highly recommend it. It is great for preschool age kids. I've used it for printing off greeting cards that the kids can color and give to friends, grandparent, etc. I've also gone on there to print preschool handouts for our co op, and last night I used it to print off some fun sack puppet templates. It's soooo easy and the kids get just as much fun out of it if I were to come up with it on my own. But I don't have to do the work! Great news for this pregnant mommy!

Each kid got to pick out the puppet of choice and after our song and lesson we had our craft time. The kids colored each puppet piece and then mom and dad cut them out. Pull out the glue stick and wha la!

I am flattered

I don't know why but today I received a lot of comments on my bunk bed playhouse and people asking what I'd charge if I were to sell them. I am giving it serious thought and will put up a listing in my Etsy shop soon. I will have to play around with how I set it up since there need to be room for customization. But we'll see what I can work out. I am expecting baby #3 in the next 2 weeks so things are a little uncertain but I will do my best to get a listing up this week.

There were a lot of good ideas too, one being making the playhouse into a closet accessory by putting on a tension rod. And since not everyone has a bunk bed I think that is a great idea. I can certainly do that as well. Let me know if there are any more requests out there but please leave your e-mail with your comments so I can contact you back. That was probably the most frustrating part of the comments today. I had so many questions but no way to respond to them.