Two Finished Projects!

If you are like me, you probably have lots of started projects, not a lot of finished projects.  I think that is just the nature of being a mama.  I don't let it get me down...I just relish in the projects when they are finally finished!  Between Sunday and Monday this week, I was able to finish up the teacher valentine gifts and make the dish mat I've been coveting!

I found a set of six valentine-y pencils at Michaels for $1 and bought the cutest candy I could find: salt water taffy.  I bagged up the candy, added the pencils and a valentine card in the bag.  Then, I tied the bag with ribbon from the Target Dollar Spot and voila!  Finished product!  Cute, handmade-ish teacher gift that is sure to be somewhat original (I think) for only about $3 each.

As for the dish mat, I needed serious help from my crafty family.  I don't sew, but I think this is my biggest attempt at sewing so far.  I attempted pillows a while back, but I enlisted more help for those.  The dish mat was a lot of seaming and measuring.  In fact, it was kinda a lot of work for this non-sewer. It made me not want to sew...I thought I was ready to dive into sewing, but this project reminded me that I probably don't have the time or patience at this point.  But...

I do love the finished product!  My dish mat is about 24" x 16".  I would suggest making it a little smaller.  This size serves me well, but I have a large space on my counter.  I think a smaller size would serve any kitchen well!  I hope to make a couple more because I have more fabric.  I will definitely make them smaller and I think I will skip the piecing fabric and just make them cute fabric on one side and terrycloth on the other.  (I was going to use an old towel on the back side, but ended up cutting a piece of terrycloth to fit.)

For the tutorial, click here.  Hers looks so sophisticated with her cute bowl and glasses resting on it.  Mine speaks differently, but truthfully about my life: full of craziness and kidstuff!

(Un)Crafty - Easy Notebooks

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I wanted to make something unexpensive, but cute for my big boy's preschool teachers.  This is just the thing!  I made boring old notebooks into cute.  I will pair them with cute pencils or pens and a little bit of something sweet.  Voila!

Supplies you will need:

1. scrapbook paper of your choice

2. mini-legal size notepads

3. paper glue (or probably any old glue would work just fine!)

4. scissor or paper cutter

I found these notebooks (a set of 6) at Wal-Mart.  They were so cheap!

I measured the binding of the notebook and cut cute scrapbook paper to fit.

My choice of paper glue for all of my paper crafts is this Zip Dry Paper Glue.  It dries fast with no bubbles or waves in the paper.  I found it at Michaels.

Here's the finished product.  It was so fast and easy that I wished I had more so I could keep on going.  Total time: about 5 minutes.  No kidding.  No creativity needed!  

Since I had lots more paper and about another 5 minutes until the kids finished their snack, I decided to keep on crafting...

I cut more strips of paper (1inch) and stapled the ends to make hearts.

Then I took some clear thread and hung them over the dining table for a little Love Day decor.

kristy.makes: glitter cup.

I love this idea for a cute, fast, cheap teacher gift!

kristy.makes: glitter cup.: "so. where to begin? how 'bout i just show you a picture & we get to work? work for you? 'kay. here we go :) oh. but first you should ..."

Adorable Dish Mats

I'm really really really wanting some of these Dish Mats.


N.O.W.

I do so much washing, drying, and putting away of dishes that I really feel I NEED these adorable dish mats.


How's that for justification?!

However, I do not sew, so I'll be waiting for my mom or sister to help me with this little project.

Totally adorable, right?!  Alissa has the tutorial here on here blog, 33 Shades of Green.

Favorites - Sunscreen

 Since we just spent a week in the hot hot sun, I thought I would share my favorite sunscreens.  We've been taking this yearly trip to Mexico (courtesy of my parents) for many years.  So, we've tried lots of sunscreen.  I keep the kids in long swim shorts, swim shirts/UV shirts, and sun hats, so they are not too exposed.  But for the parts of them that see the sun, I am a crazy mama when it comes to keeping the kids covered in SPF so I have some strong opinions of sun products.

All my favorite sunscreens are now Neutrogena sun products.  For myself, I love the Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SPF 30.  I even use it right on my face.  It feels weightless and totally non-greasy.  For a week, I need a couple tubes of this.  I keep it on hand and use it all summer for myself, too.

For my kids, I love two of the Neutrogena products.  The Pure & Free Baby Sunblock Stick SPF 60 for their faces and sometimes their hands and feet.  The stick makes application easy and the consistency spreads evenly around their little noses, ears, and mouth.  I cover their foreheads, cheeks, ears, noses, chin - being careful to leave eyes and lips alone.  

My second favorite for kids is the Waterguard Kids Sunblock Mist SPF 70.  This product covers evenly, sprays with ease and no mess, and is quick to apply!  I cover hands, feet, legs, back of neck and any other exposed areas with this sunscreen.  I am always careful to keep the spray away from their faces.  I even use it sometimes when I feel I need the extra protection.

I noticed that Neutrogena now even has sunscreen you can apply to wet bodies - right out of the pool!  I'll be trying that next time around.  For a week in the sun, I need about 2-3 bottles of the spray.  Spray sunscreen goes fast, so you need more than you think!

I have some kids' swim gear and sun gear that I love, so I'll share that at another time, too!

Vacation in the Sun

Images from Dream Art Photography

We got to spend last week in Mexico (aka "paradise").  My whole family was there and it was glorious.  We slept, laughed, played, read, sunned, etc.  It was a much needed vacation for our family.  Last October, my kids and I went to Mexico with my parents.  This time, everyone came along!  My oldest boy kept saying "Daddy, we didn't forget you this time!".  It was glorious for many reasons:

1. beautiful sunshine and warmth everyday without fail
2. time with my family (we are close)
3. a chance to splash, play, and rest with our kids
4. a needed break for my hard working and resilient husband
5. finding joy again.

Yes, glorious is the right word for all of those things.  The not-so-glorious part is returning to the valley to majorly-sub-zero temps.  EEK!

We had a chance to get some spectacular photos taken on the beach one evening.  Thanks to Ana at Dream Art for spending time with us to capture some special moments.

Our boys being boys on the shore.

This is us.  It took a couple days of vacation before we really became "US" again.  We've been through a lot recently, but this JOY, this childlike playfulness...that is the REAL "us".  Thank goodness we had a chance to find US again.

Laundry Revisited

You may remember my confession about my laundry room.  That was a while ago.  Well, I'm still in the process of getting it organized to the point that I want it to be.  So...I am thinking of putting these labels to use and wanted to share them with you, mamas!

Images from BHG.com

If you like the labels, you can print them here!

Paired with some wire baskets from the dollar spot at Target, I'm almost there (or here).  

Happy organizing in 2011!