Homemade Valentines Flowers

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

I just love Valentine's day!  It is so much fun!  What better way to spend a day focusing on the love you have for others.  :)  Well, this year I had forgotten to pick up Valentine's for my daughter's preschool class.  I was just going to go to the store and pick up some pre packaged ones and have Kyrah just write her name on them.  But then, I thought--you know what?  I need to be a more involved mom and really make her feel special and loved.  Plus, why spend money on Valentines when you can make them instead.  It's cheaper, plus it shows you care because you spent the time to make them.

 So we made Valentine's flowers for each child in her preschool class.  It was really easy and fun, and Kyrah even learned how to spell her name all by herself!  I am one proud mama!

Here is how we made our flowers:

Valentine's Day Flowers

Materials you will need:

red or pink construction paper
white construction paper
small lid
heart cookie cutter
drinking straws
scissors
tape
crayons or stickers (optional)

1.  Trace a circle (a small lid will do), a heart (you can free hand it or trace a cookie cutter or something),  and make some green leaves.

2.  Cut them all out.

3.  Tape the heart to the circle and then tape the circle to the straw, then tape the leaves to the middle of the straw.

4.  Feel Free to decorate with stickers or crayons or however you want.  (We put a little smile face sticker in the center of the heart.)

You can put them in a can with beans to have a "flower garden" or you can just hand them out to your family or friends.  They are unique and fun and a little twist on the typical valentine :)  Happy Valentine's Day!!

The Top 5, super, awesome, entertaining, things to do with your kids

I am telling you, life is good :)  Since I have quite nannying, I feel like I am a lot more engaged and present with my girls.  And I know THEY can tell a difference in my attitude as well.  One of daughter's has had a cold and she so lovingly gave it to her older sister.  Whoppi!  Let's just spread all that "love" around right?  Well, I guess that is the way it is in families.  You share everything.  Including germs.

But, even though my girlies were sick today we still spend a lot of time together reading books and watching movies on the couch.  It was chill day.  And I only got dressed (at 4:45pm I might add), because I had a piano student coming over for a lesson.  I love those days when you can just lounge around and spend time with loved ones.  The dishes in the sink--stay in the sink--for another day.  The house may not be clean, but it's okay, because I am doing what is most important.  Spending time with family.

As I was sitting on the couch today watching "Stuart Little" (I love that movie!); I was thinking of some fun activities I could do with the girls.   Things that would allow them to have fun, but also help them to keep their minds and hands learning and active.

I began scouring "Pinterest" for some good ideas.  And here are 5 really fun activites I found!  I can't wait to get started!  Wish us luck!  And enjoy those "non-productive" days with your kids.  They will slip past without you even blinking.  They grow up to fast.

The TOP 5

SUPER, AWESOME, ENTERTAINING,

things to do with your kids

(Clever title right?  Now I have your attention. *smile*)

1.  Create your own puzzles with pictures of your own!  :)  Print the template on transparent paper or plastic.  Then just lay the picture underneath and trace and cut out.  Or just cut it out directly.  You can do this with photos or drawing or whatever you want :)  PUZZLE is a 5 x 7.

  

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2.  Making your paint.  Even safe for babies!  Flour, water, and food coloring.  

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3.  Making paper plate farm animals

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4.  Make masking tape race car tracks!  :)

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5.  Fluffy Stuff (2 boxes of cornstarch and 1 can of shaving cream; food coloring if desired)= mold-able fun!

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Music

A lot can happen in a day.  I woke up Monday morning still a nanny for 2 extra kids, and then by 12pm I had quit.  I have nothing against nannying.  There were just conflicts of interest and it just wasn't working.  So after 6 months of nannying and a steady income all that was gone.

Luckily I had started teaching piano lessons and flute lessons on the side.  I have found that I LOVE IT!  But now, (since I no longer nanny)  it needs to be a steady income for me.  So in addition to my Kinder Keepsakes business, I now get  to teach piano and flute lessons!  :)  Whoohoo! It is so fulfilling and I love teaching music.  I hope that my kids will learn to love music as well.  There is just something that is so precious and beautiful about music.

So, if you would like private flute or piano lessons let me know!!  :)   I don't just do face to face lessons, I also do lessons over skype via webcam (for flute).  Which makes it so that I can teach all over the world.  I just love technology.  It's wonderful.  As far as piano I just do local lessons so if you live near Lexington, SC I would love to teach you :)

I teach beginning thru intermediate.  Here is a link to check out all the details (for flute):

http://www.learnbycam.com/learn/onlinelesson.aspx/2564/The-BEST-flute-instruction-for-beginners-thru-intermediate

So please comment and let me know what you think.  Is there anything I need to know before starting this journey?  Or if you have any great sites or places I can advertise that would be great :)  Oh, how I love music.  It feels my heart with joy :)  Here is to a new chapter in my life.... 

PS- I will continue to do my sewing as well, so if you need a great shower gift or something let me know :)

Feature Friday: The Perfect Houzz

Since we moved into a new house recently, the way I have wanted to decorate and display the things in my home has changed.  Obviously with a new house comes different space that you have never used before.  Now, in our case we went from an 1150 sq ft house to a 2100 sq ft house with an extra bedroom, play room, music room, an extra 1/2 bath and a huge yard.

So now, I have been blessed with all of this space and I have had no CLUE what do with it!  Let's just say, decorating is not really my specialty.  And unfortunately, I don't really have the money to hire an interior decorator.  (That would be pretty cool if I did though.)  So I decided to just google interior decorating ideas for different rooms etc.

As I began searching, I realized how much there really was out there!  It's crazy how many tips and trends and fashions there are to making your house a home.  Well, during my rigorous search for all the answers, I stumbled upon a little gem of a website, called HOUZZ.

Oh my gosh!  This website is absolutely amazing.  It the "pinterest" of house decoration and style.  The great thing about it, is that it is all in pictures.  Which for me is huge because I am such a visual person.  So I could actually SEE what I liked and didn't like and get a feel for what would match and not etc. and so on...

The other cool thing about this website is that you can "save" things into your different IDEA BOOKS.  So that you can save them for later and really start building a portfolio.  You can make different room "idea books" or however you want to separate it out.  So if you want to build a house, or even just buy or rent a house, you will have thousands of ideas to work with.  All right at your finger tips.  I have gotten SO many ideas for my house, and we are just renting.  I am telling you...it's addicting.  They also have an app, so you can browse right from your phone.  And best of all it's free!

So go crazy and build your perfect house--or get fresh and ideas to update the one you already have!

Happy decorating!

www.houzz.com

Traditional Kitchen design by Other Metro Architect JLF & Associates, Inc.

Traditional Bathroom design by Minneapolis General Contractor Knight Construction Design | Chanhassen, Minnesota

Contemporary Bedroom design by Orlando Photographer Studio KW Photography

Traditional Living Room design by Dc Metro Kitchen And Bath Erin Hoopes

Eclectic Kids design by Cincinnati Media And Blogs The Vintage Glitter House

Modern Kids design by Atlanta Artist And Artisan Anita Roll Murals

Traditional Patio design by Seattle Landscape Architect Alderwood Landscaping

A Quote a Day

I love quotes.  Let me re-phrase that...I love inspirational and uplifting quotes.  There is just something about words that inspire you and get you to think beyond the mundane day-to-day tasks that makes life sweet.

Being a parent has it's challenges and on those days when I want to just throw in the towel or pull my hair out I look up on my wall or in my favorite book and I am reminded that I can go on.  Or I am just surrounded with peace and life just gets sweeter.  I helps me to stop and smell the roses, and be grateful for everything I have and all the beauty around me.

So I have compiled some of my favorite.  Most of them are printable. (yay!)  Enjoy :)

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