Hoilday Baking.... nom nom nom nom

So this year I went all out and made about 13 different kinds of Christmas goodies

easy Butter Tarts http://gocanada.about.com/od/wheretoeatanddrink/r/butter_tart.htm

mouse cookies http://www.grouprecipes.com/88220/mouse-cookies.html


midnight mint bars http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/recipe467.midnight-mints.html

chocolate macaroons http://www.joyofbaking.com/ChocolateCoconutMacaroons.html

Easy sugar cookies http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Sugar-Cookies/Detail.aspx

Peanut butter cookies  http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Desserts/Cookies/Peanut-Butter-Cookies/

chocolate chip  cookies  I made mine in mini muffin tins http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Desserts/Cookies/Chocolate-Chip-Cookies/

Nummy Bars .. this is my Nana's Recipe
  1/2 cup butter or margarin, 1cup peanut butter. 1 cup butterscotch chips 1/2 cup chocolate chips put this all into a double boiler melt then remove from heat once cool enough to hold hand to pot add mash mellows then add to a greased pan put in the fridge and your done

How to keep your kids or pets away from your christmas tree

So I have a 1 and 3 year old, and they both are very interested in our tree.. and the presents .. those are defiantly peaking their interest...

So I've put out the "tree gate" ....

Basically a large baby gate called a super gate...

I've used our couch and TV stand as "bases"

and I put on a few bows.. so our gate is now festive and decorative...

This also keeps my cat from eating the bows on the presents .... and the needles ...

Easy Christmas Tree watering system

So I've been asked to share this simple yet effective tool with my blogger fans....

Every Year we get a real tree.. I LOVE a real Christmas tree ...

And ever year I deal with Sap in my hair, needles down my shirt and the ever popular possible tree falling over or small puddles on the floor...

So this year I concocted a simple yet effective watering system...

tools you will need.. a pair of heavy duty scissors , Clear tubing, or an old garden hose, and a funnle that the end bit fits snugly into the tube.

simply cut the tube to your desired length at a good "pouring" height then shove one end into the base of the water reservoir of the stand, you may need to tie it into place make sure not to crimp the hose or tubing..
then fish the tube upwards along the trunk of the tree, then pop it out and put the funnel into the tube, if you can find a green funnel it will hide better... but any colour will work...

Simple and shouldn't cost more than 10 bucks to make ...

Salt Dough Ornaments..... Getting Crafty !!!!

Salt Dough Ornaments

Here is the recipe we used:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• mix flour and salt and add water slowly as you stir....once mixed, knead the dough with your hands until soft and pliable...roll out the dough....cut with cookie cutters...use a toothpick to make a hole in each one for hanging
• place on a cookie sheet and bake at 325 about 1 hour.

Pictures coming soon !!!!

Saw this online, and thought I'd share it as well 

Tu Tu cute .... hand made tutu so simple to make...

to make a child's (or adults) tutu is VERY simple....
its a NO sew project so if you can use a pair of scissors then you can make a tu tu too...

materials needed....

Thule or crinoline material
scissors
elastic
decorative ribbons ....

1) Start out by measuring you child's waist
2.) cut length of elastic should be about 2 inches wider than child's waist
3.)then cut your Thule the double the length you would like the tutu to be each piece should be about 5 inches wide
4.)then fold your cut lengths in half and do a lark shed knot (see drawing) the lark shed knot looks cleaner and you get a nice uniformed look when finished
5.) continue doing the lark knots all around waist band then tie a knot in the elastic when you have finished
6.) add a decorative bow over top of elastic knot.. and your all done !!!!

this project should take under 30 mins to do
and shouldn't cost more than $15 dollars to make it :)


I used 6m of fabric to do both tutu's shown.. these are VERY fluffy you could use less but 3m is a good amount for a basic tutu :)


you can make little "tutu " hair clips too.. just attach the thule to the hair clip or around a hair elastic.. the possibilities are endless :)

More Spin Art !!!!!!

Ok.. So Lately mrK (3years old) has been wanting to do nothing but spin art.. he loves squeezing the paint out of bottles and watching the paper wildly spin around in the salad spinner... Instant gratification for him... and I love it too.. so pretty and easy for him.. I love how excited he gets...

So Today was a snow day.. We received about a foot of snow last night so we decided to stay at home and have an inside say...

So I made up a few "snow man" shapes and then let my son coat them with shades of blues and silvers in the salad spinner....

He thought we needed 4 snow men (there are 4 in our family so that makes perfect seance :) ) I used a heavy card stock ,and drew out some hats , mitts, branches for arms, and carrot noses using markers then cut out each shape.. my son suggested using rhinestones for buttons... and I drew on the "coal" for the mouths with a black sharpie .. and Of course Googly eyes were used for eyes... Any chance mrK gets to use googly eyes he will .. :)

After the spinning part of the snow men was dry.. (paint dried in about 45mins) we used a mix of white glue and some water and I let mrk Glue down the parts where he liked.. he did remarkably well.. faces were where faces should be.. hats on head.. mitts on arms.. and buttons down the front...

I think he did a wonderful job !!!! I love watching him show everyone his art when they come into the room :)


Supplies Needed for this Project........
1.) salad spinner
2.) heavy paper or card stock
3.) scissors
4.) Glue
5.) markers
6.) googly eyes
7.) ribbon to string snow men together


you could also make your snow men accessories out of Felt or other cloth if you like

Glitter could be added for an extra sparkly snow man...

A Hand Made Kinda Christmas .....

So this year my goal is to make alot of the presents I give...
I was given a huge box of fabrics, alot were less than 1/2 a meter of fabric so I had to be creative and crafty :)






So the 1st thing I started making was snow flakes, these have been hung in the play room from the ceiling.. and they have stared in the kitchen covering the windows and I hope to make some more for the play room windows too.. the thing I really love about snow flakes is you can put them up in November and keep them up till Mid March...









We decided wit write a little Letter to Santa.. and Since I love to scrap book I got out some of my supplies.. since my son is only 3 we went through the Sears wish book and he picked out some toys and put the pictures on his list.. then I helped him write the letter.. he was very sweet about asking for some things for his sister who is only 1 and cant really talk yet .....





Next I made two "Elf on the Shelf" .. These little guys are Santa's biggest Helpers I named them Merry for the Boy and Noel for the Girl... My son thought we needed two Elf's one to watch him and one to watch his sister... When we go to mail the "dear Santa" Letter.. Merry and Noel will be "mailed" along with the letters.. and if they have been extra good Merry and Noel will return with Santa and all the presents :) (I wont actaull mail Merry and Noel, and I'm sending a photo copy of the kids letter to the "actual" Santa... I want to keep all their dear Santa Letters for when they are older.. : )





As I said I was given a box of random fabrics this year and I have 27 kids on my list so I wanted to make something they could use and would enjoy so I made up 27 little kids Aprons, great for Play, Crafting , and helping cook or bake in the real kitchen ..... They were Very simple to make.. I traced out a "apron" shape onto some newsprint the cut out all 27 aprons.. then used Extra wide bias tape to finnish the edges.. then I used Random ribbons that I had in my collection for the neck and waist ties...
Then because I love my own kids just a little bit more, on their aprons Ive Added a large pocket and their names onto the pocket with fabric...I used the "button hole " feature on my machine to finish the edges around each letter and the Heart and Star... I think they turned out really well... Bright and fun.. and something that will last for years...

Holiday Crafts to do with your kids....

So the Festive season is upon us.. and a friend asked me for some easy -ish craft ideas that she could do with her son.. and as I started to e-mail her I realized.. I should stick this on my blog :)

So here are a few simple crafting idea's to do with your kids ...

1.) Cut out felt in the shape of Christmas trees. or snow flakes . then mount it to stiff paper or an old card.. then let your child drizzle glue all over the tree then put some glitter into a shaker and then shake glitter all over the tree knock off the excess... then cut out the tree... you can make your tree any size, smaller ones can go inside a Christmas card.. frame larger ones as gifts...

2.)hand print Christmas trees.. get a small is.. 8x10 canvas from the dollar store or Micheals .. and paint your childs hands (palm) green then print them.. three across along the bottom.. then two on top and then a third on top to make a TREE shape ..fingers down ward to be the "branches" or leaves" then print a star on the top.. and a brown stem.. and your done.. so simple

3.) last year I printed the kids hands about 30 times (green paint on palm) on a nice thicker paper i think we used scrap book paper.. and then cut out each hand print.. then arranged them in a circle to make a hand print wreath ...then using their thumbs printed red "berries" and put those all over the wreath. hand print red and green wrapping paper... palms painted red or green and then hand stamp the paper .. gives it a home made look and everyone loves this stuff ..

4.) Mr.K also really liked making bracelets for my sister this year... she loves them.. I bought some nice glass beads and other assorted beads.. nice ones not cheap plastic ones .. and then let him string them on a wire... then I finished the ends with nice clasps.. easy to do with a pair of needle nose pliers... then I took pictures of him making them and sent the picture along with the bracelet...

5.)Mr.K Loved to make the jar candle votive.. you simply rip up some tissue paper, then coat the out side of a jar or a glass with white glue slightly watered down... then stick the tissue up all over the jar.. then coat it with your glue again.. let it dry and pop in a tea light.. mrK also liked sticking stickers to the jar..then tie a festive bow around the tip or bottom and your done.. they turned out well and he loved doing them.. I've got a huge costco sized pickle jar that is going to get this treatment done to it.. and I have a couple packs of battery powered Christmas lights that are going to go inside.. i think it will be a nice easy addition to our holiday decor :)

6.) snow flakes... I've googled snow flake templates and have found 100's of them.. my kids play room is now decorated in snow flakes :)

7.) honey comb (cereal) snow flakes.... get out your glue and a box of honey comb cereal and glue together to make unique snow flake shapes.. then spray paint or hand paint them white or blue and then cover with glitter ... hand with fishing line and marvel at your creativeness....

8.) Count down to Santa... make a Santa head. .then add a long oval sheet of paper for his beard.. mark it with the count down of 24 (start at the bottom 24 and work way up to 1) then as you do your count down you snip off Santa's beard... So cute and simple

9.) apple candles .. using an apple corer cut out the shape of a tea light, then inset your tea light and enjoy super simple and looks so festive...

Halloween Candy Wreath....

So I'm taking my own advice.. I made a candy Wreath today.. :)

so simple to make...

Step 1..
Cut a circle out of cardboard , I used a dinner plate , traced it, the used a smaller plate traced it on the inside of the big circle..
so I ended up with a "doughnut"

step 2.....
Cover cardboard in what ever you like.. ribbon paint tissue paper fabric.. what ever you have handy...
I used 1/2 inch orange satin ribbon

step 3...
lay out your candies

step 4..
hot glue down the candies...


I accented mine with an orange ribbon and some wired glitter ribbon...

and its now in the Halloween decor box for next year :)

the whole project took me less than 15 mins to make :)

Leftover Halloween Candy Idea's....

So this year we have more left over Candy than a family of 4 really needs.. Especially since our kids are 1 and 3...

So I've come up with some "purposing idea's... and how to "spread it out" so you dont end up chucking it...

1.) make a candy wreath for next year... you can use a foam wreath or make one out of cardboard, then hot glue the candies onto the wreath add some glitter and ribbons.. and Tah dah... candy wreath all ready for next year ...

2.) Baking .... almost all chocolates can me mixed into your baking... google is my best friend when it comes to making any recipe... the simplest idea is make a batch if chocolate chip cookies.. then substitute mini chocolate bar chunks and you have an assortment of yummy treats...

3.) freeze mini chocolate bars, then thaw them out and use them as garnishes on cold days when hot chocolate is in demand ... or add them to "magic " coffee's
toss an Areo or any chocolate candy bar into a hot chocolate... nom nom nom.. I did that tonight :)


4.) devolve in liqueur .. chrispy crunch vodka is amazing :)

5.)Donate it... Doctors offices , old folkes homes , women's shelters, and the food bank .. everyone loves candy so share share share :)

6.) keep it for a holiday pinata .... Most Halloween candy is good for at least 6months-1 year check the expiry dates... Freeze it if you can :)

7.) bring it to work.. put it into a bowl in the lunch room.. make a "enjoy" sign.. it will be gone in no time ..

8.) keep a stash in your car.. who knows when your GPS will take you to the middle of no wear and you might have to live off of it...

9.) Bribes.... yes I said it.. Bribe candy is amazing :)

10.) put it out in a festive bowl at Christmas time no one will know its from Halloween.. and it will still be good.. test out a few just to be sure... and make sure that no "Halloween" candies make it too the bowl :)



Be creative .... :)

here's some recipes I found on the web....

Aero Squares

If you love Aero chocolate bars...you’ll love these even more!

• 2 cups graham wafer crumbs

• 2 cups coconut

• 1/2 cup melted butter

• 1 can sweetened condensed milk

• 4 Aero chocolate bars

• 1/4 cup butter (second amount)

• Stir together graham wafer crumbs, coconut, melted butter and condensed milk. Press into an 8“ x 8” pan. Melt 4 Aero bars with 1/4 cup butter. Pour over top of mixture in pan. Refrigerate. Cut into squares.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mocha Angel Dessert
This is an easy and delicious fancy coffee flavored dessert. (In case you hadn't noticed, I am really fond of coffee!) Great for a party or potluck dinner.
Ingredients:
1 package butterscotch pudding mix (not instant) 1 1/2 cups water 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee powder 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 angel food cake 3 Coffee Crisp chocolate bars 2 1/2 cups whipping cream, whipped 1/4 cup coffee liqueur
Directions:
Mix pudding mix and water together in a medium saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in coffee powder and vanilla. Cool. Cut angel food cake into 1 inch pieces. Crush Coffee Crisp bars in food processor. Fold half of the whipped cream into the cooled pudding, and stir in the liqueur. Fold in the angel food cake pieces. Assemble in a nice glass dessert bowl. Start with a layer of 1/3 of the pudding mixture. Top with 1/3 of the crushed Coffee Crisp bars. Then another layer of pudding, another layer of Coffee Crisp, the remaining pudding, and the remaining Coffee Crisp. Top with the reserved whipped cream. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peanut butter cup Cheese cake,.....

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Prepare a 8-inch square baking pan by lining the pan with aluminum foil, leaving 3-4 inches of foil draping over the sides of the pan.

The Crust:
Place 7 whole graham crackers, broken into 1-inch pieces, into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the crackers form fine crumbs, about 30 seconds.
To the crumbs, add 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter (melted and cooled), 3 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, and 1/8 teaspoons salt. Pulse until the ingredients are fully combined. Using the bottom of a measuring cup or your fingers, press the crumbs into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Bake until the crust is beginning to brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let the crust cool on a cooling rack for about 30 minutes.

The filling:
In a large bowl, beat 2 (8 ounces each) packages softened cream cheese until it is very smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape the beaters and sides of bowl frequently.

Gradually beat in 2/3 cup granulated sugar until the mixture is combined, about 1 minute. Beat in 2 large eggs, one a time, making sure that each is fully incorporated. Beat in 1/4 cup sour cream and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until fully combined, about 30 seconds.

Unwrap and cut 9 Reese’s peanut butter cups (0.75 ounce each) into 6 pieces. Gently fold into the cream cheese mixture.

Scrape the cream cheese mixture into the baking pan, over top of the cooled crust. Spread evenly.

Bake until the edges are set but the middle still jiggles slightly when the pan is shaken slightly, 35 to 40 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking.

Place the pan on a cooling rack and allow the bars to cool for 2 hours. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, and up to 24 hours.

Using the overhanging foil, lift the bars from the pan. Gently remove the foil and cut into 16 bars.

Chop 2 oz. bittersweet chocolate and place in a small bowl. Microwave on 50% power until melted, stirring every 15 seconds. Drizzle the chocolate over the bars, top each with a small chunk of a Reese’s peanut butter cup and serve.

that one makes my mouth water just reading how to make it....

Outraged Momma....

So tonight I'm outraged... I'm usually a level headed momma and Take things as they come and try not to freak out over little things.. but tonight.. I'm freaking out...

The BC government is cutting one of the most essential services that new momma's need. they are cutting off the home visits unless you are young and poor ... "Routine visits by public health nurses to new B.C. mothers will be cut back as part of an overhaul that aims to steer more nursing support to young, poor, first-time mothers through a program called Healthy Start." (Quoted from the Globe and Mail)

Apprently they found that for many of these women, they really don’t require a home visit, why because they have money.. arnt young.. thats dumb....

As A momma of 2 I can say.. I'm not young and I'm not poor but these 1st visits are so helpful especially the 1st time around.. if you dont have a mid wife when you leave the hospital.. that it.. your on your own.. no one is asking you how you feel EMOTIONALLY.. how breast feeding is going??

I so needed a home visit but mine never came...

I can say I had fairly bad postpartum depression with my 1st child... and maybe a visit from a nurse would have helped me see it sooner...
Luckily for me I had a supportive family and some great friends around me who help me see I needed to talk to my family doctor and she was able to send me in the right direction to get better ..
With my second child I had 6 weeks of visits with my mid wife... what I now tell everyone is .. GET A MIDWIFE !!! not only do they help deliver baby they are there for you !!!! My midwife was able to help me get past any fears I had.. rational or irrational...

I think that what the Government is doing is WRONG ... Whats next cutting off the recommend 24hr stay in hospitals after baby is born??

In a Province where getting in to see your family doctor is like winning the Lotto and when you do see your doctor you get in late and rushed through... How many more moms need to hurt them selves or their babies before they figure out cutting off this essential service is a bad idea...

And they have decided that Rather than an automatic home visit, new mothers are likely to receive a phone call and, if deemed necessary, a follow-up visit. The changes are likely to be phased in over several months, beginning next year.
A phone call??? Really ??? Come on... How many times have you answered the phone with a "I've been up for hours" or a "I've got a cold and cant come to work" , People lie on the phone daily... and do you know ?? no.. you cant see them...

And new moms are tired , its all NEW to them so they dont know if what they are doing is right.. I think giving breast feeding advice over the phone is idiotic.. how can you possibly know if baby is latched right , or if baby is tongue tied or if baby has other issues when you can't see what baby and momma are doing ...

I can relate to those who harm their kids.. I was .. am sleep deprived .. my kids have had months of crying all night long.. if I was alone even though Im 32 I would love to have a visit from a nurse to see and let me ask questions like.. Am I crazy ??? or mention I'm at the end of my rope... because I'm not young and poor I get left out of the loop... Thats wrong...
And I fear for all those who are not young and poor but 1st time momma's , those who might need a little help.. those who might harm their kids if the proper steps are sent out of wack...
Seriously..
This is not the way to save money...

I'm sending a letter to my local MLA.. and if you feel passionate about this issue to you should as well !!!! here is a link to find your local MLA ...

you can also join this face book page to help get your voice out there ...


Sorry to get all political but I really feel this issue needs a voice and I have a loud one......


Nov 16th 2011.. no response other than a... Your MLA is concerned with your issues we will get back to as soon as she can.....

Greenline Diapers ...Real review from a real momma

So I'm a hybrid loving cloth diapering momma...
I dont know why I like Hybrids so much , maybe they are easier for me, or the fact that if I need to I can pop in a disposable pad when I'm out or the "cuteness" factor, or the smaller cloth bum.. Either way.. I love hybrids ...

Recently I was able to get my hands on some Green Line Diapers these diapers are WAHM made in Vancouver BC, Canada.. I love Canadian made things .
The quality of the fabrics is great, they use a waterproof fabrics to line these cute little diapers so your baby's clothing stays dry.

they believe in Affordable , Practical and Responsible Diapering for all..

The cost of using disposable Diapers for 1 year is about $1000, so cloth diapering can be significantly cheaper and much better for the environment too . Not to mention Stylish as Greenline diapers use such cute prints and colours, their design is a non-leaky, adjustable cloth shell made of quick drying fabrics. They use a bamboo cotton soakers these are soft, safe and very thirsty.....

What I think......

I LOVE the prints, you can pretty much get what ever you want as far as prints and patterns go, you can even get custom ones made if you send them your fabrics...
The Velcro is awesome , super strong and these diapers can be used from birth up through potty training so these are a great economical diaper...

The bamboo soakers... I'm not sure if I'm sold on these yet, I've been using them for about a week now, and personally Prefer the Flip or Gcloth inserts, which I'm happy to report work in the Green line diapers perfectly. But the Bamboo Soakers do wash up very nicely and dry quicker than the Flip or Gcloths ... But I'm not sure they are absorbent and dont seem to wick the moisture away from baby's bum like the Flip liners do...
I also like that I can use the Greenline shells with the disposable or flushable Gdiaper insert pads...

they use a cord and toggle to create a custom fit around the leg opening, at 1st I thought, they were going to be very uncomfortable for my baby as they don't "give" but I've not noticed any chaffing or redness around her legs so that makes me feel great about putting them on my daughters bum ...

these wash up beautifully , just be sure to stick the Velcro to its self or what ever you wash with them will get stuck to this very sticky Velcro .. they dry fast, I suggest hanging to dry so the Velcro lasts longer ....

I think the prices are VERY reasonable for Greenline diapers .. about $17 for a cover and $4 for a soaker ..

I really like these diapers, I think that I want to order some more covers, They have several prints that make me really excited ...But So far I prefer Flip liners and I'm glad I can use the ones I have with this diaper system...

Greenline also sells .... Wet bags, Bibs, Nursing pads , fleece liners and double soakers...

Glass Jar Luminaries ....Crafty time....

So my Friend Jen Inspired me today to get crafty..

She made some simple Glass jar luminaries and I was all... oh my gosh.. i need to make some.. so I pulled out the 4 jars that have been sitting patiently under the sink for just this purpose...
What you will need...
Glass jars
tissue paper
glue (modge podge works great but so does white glue watered down a bit)
scissors
Black paper or craft foam
a couple paint brushes ..
and a light .. you can use real tea lights or the flameless kind.. I like to use glow sticks..

Extra item ideas...
Glitter
ribbons
stickers



when I started to make mine I couldn't decide if the tissue should go on the inside our out.. so I put it on the inside and did one with it on the outside to see the difference... MrK got in on this crafty fun too :)
they dry MUCH faster if the tissue is on the outside.. but honesty I like the look of the glass with the tissue on the inside...

so simple to make.. cover work surface with paper , can be a little messy ... then apply glue directly to the glass and cover with tissue paper seal the tissue paper with the glue... once done let dry..
I call this a "free" project, you can recycle the glass jars .. you can use new Tissue paper or you can save the tissue paper that one gets in a gift bag , cut the tissue up into squares ...

I really like using glow sticks as you can put in a colour that matches the tissue and it glows brighter ... :)

Once the jars are all dry you can decorate the out side... We chose a Halloween theme but you could easily make them so they are used everyday or seasonally , my son loves stickers so he went to town with the star stickers I had left over from another project...

Pictures will be posted soon !!! :)

Halloween Fun.... Sugar skulls for this momma...

So as some of you know I'm not only a momma but a make-up artist too.. I'm nearly all booked up for the weekend of Halloween.. but I've decided to not take on any jobs on the 31st as I need this day to be special for my kids ..
But I usually an second fiddle and get forgotten on Halloween but this year I've decided that wont be the case..
I've decided to paint a sugar skull on my face... I bought a really cute hot pink wig for my daughter that amazingly fits my head so I'm going to rock that as well :)
I will post more pictures after Halloween...

I painted this Pink and white number while the kids were napping.. took about 25mins and I did poke myself in the eye.. and took a few mins to recover :) Im kinda blind so i missed a few spots.. but it gives it a more "real" look if you will ....

I'm loving the Sugar Skulls ...

Some of my clients this year will include Zombies.. Vampires, Drag queen, and a couple sugar skulls too :)


Are you a fan of me on Face book ???

here's the link to MP Make-up Artistry

Little Tikes .. Toys Review from a real Momma...

in our House we love Little Tikes..
The durability, Fun, Creative Play and Price makes me happy when I find a toy my children love to play with...
And in our home.. Little Tikes is the clear front runner especially for out door toys..

What do we have ??? .....

Triangle Bounce House Inflatable ... My mom gave the kids this for their B-day this year...

Its perfect for two kids to bounce around on.. It is easy to set up... and take down ... It inflates in about 1min.. and my don giggles with delight as it pops up and is ready to play...
ITs bright colourful fabrics makes for an attractive play element in our yard .. its durable and is made well.. My kids have spent countless hours bouncing in this cute little bouncer... I should start charging admission..

Cozy Coupe 30th Anniversary special... My mom thought MrK needed a Car.. She was right :)

This cute little coupe car is so much fun to play with.. its great on grass.. and on the paved side walks and drive ways... the large wheels makes its easy to push and play with. Both of my kids have spent countless hours pushing, driving , honking horn , turning the key and loads of imagination trips all over the place.. My son loves to Push Lil'L around the yard in it and she enjoys every second of it :)

Classic Alligator Teeter Totter .... This was a "hand me down" toy ... and its been so much fun

Ours is about 8 years old and has been slightly faded from the sun but that hasn't stopped the fun... both my kids love to climb all over this cute little guy.. and they actually play nice together with it too .. with some help from mom they both can play on it ... up to three kids can enjoy the ride... :)

Easy Store Play pick-Nick-Table ....
Perfect for up to 4 little kids.. Best feature is it folds flat to be stored when not in use... easy to clean and has a hole for an umbrella ....My son loves to do crafts and eat lunch at this table .. my daughter thinks its really fun to climb on top of it... Good thing its sturdy :)

2-in-1 snug 'N Secure swing ..... Best baby ..Toddler swing yet...

We love this swing.. its secure and safe and both of my kids absolutely loved it ... I love it because i know its safe... and easy to clean .. bright colours are entertaining and you can tell tis a quality item...

Discover Sounds Kitchen .... Christmas gift from Auntie L ...

Lil'L got this as a Christmas Gift and really enjoined it... fun sounds, and shapes and doors to open makes for a great little kitchen of imaginary fun ... is an ideal for a baby 6months+ and it "grows' with your child into toddler-hood .This toys was designed to help develop visual perception, fine motor skills and cognitive processes.

Stonz Booties.... A real review from a real Momma....

So I have a love of Canadian made items.. Being Canadian im always looking for great items made in my own country....

Stonz have been a huge hit in my house hold... Made in Canada , Water resistant , easy to put on.. and really adjustable to fit any foot, adjustable Toggle helps keep them on even those who little Houdini's ....

Not only are they made in Canada but they are durable.. machine washable.. and adorable ...
they come ins several colours and patterns...
We have the Wale Teal in navy blue....
We bought a pair of the linerz too.. these are warm and fuzzy and my son was out side in cold weather and his feet stayed toasty warm :)

they also have hatz and mitz ..... the Hatz are reversible and come in prints that match the boots... and the mits are the best design I've seen.. cant wait to order a few pairs.. these are long and have bungee cords that help keep them on the kids so snow stays out and warmth stays in..

the price is slightly high but often you can get 2 seasons out of them.. and they are super durable.. we will be passing mr K's Stonz down to Lil'L ... These boots are soft soled so they make walking in the deep snow easy... My Son wore his in the spring and in the fall when its a bit mucky out side and being Machine washable, I just popped them into the washer and laid flat to dry , Machine washable this has to be my favorite feature about these booties...

they now make linerz for rain boots too. so the versatility of these products is great.. I highly recommend them !!!

I'd love to try out the mitz... and get a matching Hat for Lil L.... MrK could use some Mitz too.. perhaps this will be on my Christmas list for the kids... :)

what did you do today....

I think some people think that Stay at Home Mom's just sit around and watch TV and eat bonne bonne's all day... well.. let me tell you... thats not what i do....

For starters... I have not slept through the night, a good solid 8hrs in over 4 years... both my kids have been crappy sleepers i've read every book, even hired a sleep consultant (who refunded our money cuz she couldnt fix the issues) so my days almost always start with a very unrested momma... in fact i conciser a good nights rest one where im only woken up 2 or 3 times...

I never get to get up without being woken up by someone....
our day often starts around 630-7am...

Then the demands begin... "I'm Cold... " " I dont like that cereal.... " .... She's looking at me .... and on and on and on... So I force feed on some days.. the phrase... EAT IT ... is said more often than i like but constant reminding of why one is sitting at the table is needed with my kids.. Mr K especially...
then the clean up of Breakfast happens.. if I'm lucky I've gotten to sit down and eat my breakfast but often i dont sit.. often im standing or unloading the dish washer or picking up tossed food from the floor....
then on good day.. both kids are stripped and changed from PJ's into clothes.. Mr K these days loves to pick what he's going to wear... and I'm good with that... so kids are now dressed.. time to play.. I love that we live in a house with a big play room... and now tht Lil'L is 1 and mr K is just about 3 they kinda play together... MrK needs o work on his sharing skills , and Lil' L needs to work on not taking the one toy Mr K REALLY REALLY needs to play with right at the second she grabs it...
Alot of play time entails me being the warden.... Im constantly saying.. stop that.. dont do that... share share share and more share... Please be nice...

then around 9-930am ish Lil"L needs a nap..
At this point if we are planing to leave the house this is my chance to get ready... I set mr K up with a craft.. or a movie.. or a game what ever he wants to leave me alone for the 20mins i need to get ready.... then the mad dash to get dressed hair and make-up done...
then i pack the diaper bag...
ahhh the diaper bag.... once upon a time i carried a purse... now I carry a fancy "designer" diaper bag... The JuJu Be PAckabe is my bag of choice ... :)
whats in the bag you may ask...... well I'll tell you...
Diapers, wipes, snacks,change pad , change of clothes both kids, toys , more snacks, sunglasses, lotions, sun screen and bug spray, 1st aid kit, my wallet, iphone, a few more snacks and car keys... and probably ore things that i've missed but you get the point... more things than i often need but the second i take it out of the bag. i need it ...

then the wail of baby girl is hear through out the house.. Lil L is up... and its now about 1030-11am ish... and we head out...
hitting Walmart today... OOOOOO walmart !!!!! :) we love going here.. its an evil co-corporation but dam they have such good deals...
and often we hit the "puppy and kitty" store if mr K has been good.. he often is... he loves shopping :) so we say hit to he puppies and kitties and visit the fish.. they have a new sting ray and he's a big hit :)
then we hop into the car.. and mr k and Lil'L are given food to eat.. 9 out of 10 times mr K will fall asleep on the ride home ... i love it when he falls asleep he is easy to transfer into his bed...

On days where we dont leave the house i make either left over lunch or lately the only thing mr K will eat is Peanut butter and Honey sandwiches... Luckily Lil'L is a super duper eater and will eat just about everything... :)

Mr K naps still. I'm so freaking Lucky.. at dang near three he still naps for 1-3hrs Woooo Hooo.. I know i know I shouldn be this excited about a nap.. but I am :) Him sleeping gives me 1 on 1 time with Lil'L.. and then on those WONDERFUL days when I get a double kid nap going I can do so much.. Clean , Dinner Prep ...and on those days when i'm so freaking tired... I nap... yes I admit it... I NAP when my kids nap... and its glorious :)

Dinner time is unavoidable... I think the mos frustrating part of the day is he whole "whats for dinner" ... I'm not a chef.. and not overly creative when it comes to meal making and I admi it.. I get into meal rutts all the time...
I like to make a weekly meal plan, this really helps me stay on track while at the grocery store...

Oooh the grocery store !!!!
Haven't mentioned how much I love going to the grocery store ...WITH OUT THE KIDS... :) I love them.. but going to there without the distraction of my little humans....I can keep track of my list... use my coupons correctly.. and have a little time to my self... and having some "kid ree time" makes me a better mommy... :)

once dinner is over we play.... Often my husband takes over while i clean up the dinner i just made... (still working on him cleaning up after I slave away in the kitchen.. but thats a whole nother blog) The kids often play "jump on daddy" which is really funny to watch... lots of giggling and even Lil L who is only 1 year old jumps all over daddy :) hahhaha

then its bath time... ahhhhh bath time.. splishes and splashes and lots of giggles.. both of my kids love baths... I love it too... its so cute to see them play together in the tub... and i love their little nuddie bums. hehehe

and then once they have been dried off we usually have a bum or two running around in what I refer to as the "nude Olympics" its a great even here in our home...

then almost like as if an alarm clock goes off at 7pm Lil'L is done .. and its time for her bed time... Daddy Plays with mr.K .... I still nurse Lil'L.. nd honestly Love the bonding time .. she is a crappy sleeper but to watch her drift off to sleep in my arms is truly the most satisfying part of my day <3 ....

then when she is asleep we work on mr k... Playing and calming him down.. then he is in bed.. often plays every card to keep awake. Im hungry.. i need a drink.. i have to pee... I need a better pillow... I dont like this blanket... I'm not comfy... I need another story ...I want a cuddle... I need Daddy.. or mommy or both... I have to pee again...
Bed time with mr.K is challenging but once he is asleep..... ahhhhhh I can relax...

Actually thats often not true.... I do laundry, clean bathrooms, organize and clean the play room, dinner prep if im doing a crock pot the next day... And often im online searching for coupons , catching up on my e-mails or looking for meal ideas... and maybe if im lucky get some alone time... an evening bath is always what i want but often not what i get...


i should also mention its taken me 9 days to write this.. as i write while the kids are napping or distracted :)
ahhh but you know what i wouldnt change my life for anything.. I love my kids so much.. they mean everything to me <3

Angel Pack .. " Just a Kiss away " baby carrier A real review from a real Momma

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~If your like me you prefer to "wear" your baby than tote around a heavy award car seat or stroller .. when your just popping in or going into a place where the location or shopping is tight.. or you have a baby who wants to be held all the time ...

About 3 months ago Nelly from Angel Pack sent me an e-mai lon Face book asking if I would be interested in one of their pack that was inadvertently seven together with the wrong colored straps and lining ... and being a "non fussy" momma I said SURE... I didnt know she would send it to me free of charge and I didnt know it would be one from her new line...

I received the beautiful Cherry Blossom , on her site its shown with a solid plum coloured body and straps with a BEAUTIFUL mint green print with little birdy's and cherry blossoms... mine arrived with the same print but with Navy blue body and straps.. and honestly.. I dont care the body and straps are the wrong colour.. its so freaking pretty...

the style is that of a soft body carrier, large waist strap with a nice strong buckle , Very adjustable and I like that the clip is in the middle of the back rather than the side or hip ... the padded shoulder straps can be worn two ways .. either criss crossed or you can use the chest clip in pull it tight...
you can also put baby on your back too...

The Angel Pack carrier is a baby facing you only style pack so baby can not front face out in it ...

The carrier also has an interior pocket that contains the sleeping hood.. this is also great for discreet nursing , or blocking the sun ...

this carrier is beautifully made, with great love an attention.. the fabrics , belts , clips and straps are all of the highest quality..

and have I mentioned how pretty it is to look at ....

The Angel Pack Sell for $138 dollars (USA dollars ) .... which is a reasonable price for such a high quality carrier ...

the carrier is weighted for children 4.5 - 18.2 kg's (10-40 pounds) Mr K is nearly 3 and 38 pounds and I popped him on my back and he thought it was a great ride... and my husband said.. Yeah I will wear that one .. My Ergo is Pink so he has never worn it...

You can hand wash or machine wash on the delicate cycle and hang to dry.. I love a product that can go into the washing machine !!!!


here is a link to Angel Pack on Facebook you should "like" Angel Pack :)

here is a link to Angel Pack's Website

and here's a link to the pack I received

Please note .. there are some FAKE Angel Pack Carriers out there so Please check their site for a list of CREDIBLE distributors ... fakes = not safe ..... so better to be safe than sorry and buy from either the angel pack website or one of their credible distributors

STAY TUNED for a "real life wearing" review .... as it has just arrived today I haven't actually had a chance to wear Lil L.. (20pounds and 10months old ) in the Angel Pack yet...
But as soon as I have had some experience with it I will write up a review... I just wanted to share this new pack ASAP so the whole world .. or who ever is reading this blog review a chance to check out Angel Pack quickly... :)


ok, so Lil L finally woke up from her nap ( I know right.. I'm so excited that i nearly woke her.. note the word "nearly" ) anyhoo she LOVED it.. she giggled and liked being in the carrier on my front and back... and I thought it was pretty comfy too....

right off the bat I prefer the straps over my shoulders and secured using the chest clip .. I didnt really like the criss cross position as it didnt fit right on my body....
and I wish the chest clip wasnt "free" is can easily fall off if the straps are un clipped... and if there was a way to "snap" the chest clip in place I wouldnt need to reposition it each time, or worry about loosing a piece....

the waist band is awesome.. I like how I can adjust it easily when waring it ... and I do like how the shoulder straps are adjustable in two places to get a very secure fit...

the shoulder padding is decent.. It didnt cut into my shoulders or give me shoulder fatigue or pain ...

I love the sleeping hood, it fully tucks away when not in use and is easy to put on when needed

and I like how the top of the carrier "rolls " down a bit when baby is awake or is shorter, and is higher when baby sleeps or gets bigger

all in all so far this carrier seems pretty great... I've only done a little "running " around the house in it for about 45 mins ... and it was very comfortable on, supported my baby and didnt make my back sore ....
I'll do a more intensive review once I get a chance to wear it for some walks or trips to the mall :)


Ok so We went for a walk after dinner tonight and I wore Lil'L for our walk.. about 40 mins on flat (ish) ground... and I have to be honest... if I didnt have an Ergo to compare this pack to I'd say this pack has thought of just about everything ... I adjusted the straps and they defiantly worked best for me un crossed , with the chest strap clicked in the middle of my back,, i needed to get my husband to adjust the chest strap so it was in the right spot.. and once it was put there it did slip up wards slightly but not more than about 1/2 and inch ... there was enough padding that the straps didnt dig into my shoulders and the placement of the waist belt was great for support ... My daughter LOVED it... well I think she did. .she fell asleep in it so thats always a good sign.... I will try back carrying her next ..

stay tuned for the Back carry review coming soon !!!!

Pillowcase Dresses !!!!!

So I finally made up a pillow case dress for Lil'L .. and its ADORABLE

Supplies needed...
Pillow case basics slip kind
sewing machine
thread
scissors
measuring tape
sewing pins
skinny elastic
and ribbons

how to make dress out of a pillow case.... Measure your child figure out a good length I found that 24 inches was great on my daughter but it was a bit too long, but i want her to be able to wear it for a while....
mark your case at the NON OPENED end and cut across... (if opened you should have a tube)

then to make the arm opening fold case in half with openings at top and bottom

then either free cut or make a template.. measure two inches across and 5 inches down then making a light curve make the arm opening shape

then with your left over length make some binding tape
(width should be about 2 1/2 inches wide.. fold cut side together ..press with iron... then fold in half again.. press with iron... )

then pin bias tape along the arm hole to finish the edges

then roll the neck line down to create a casing... wide enough for your elastic and safety pin to fit through

sew all seams and bias tapes in place....

then cut elastic about 6-10 inches long depending on age of child

then sew 12 inch lengths of ribbon to each end of elastic ... thread through neck casing .. and sew in place just at each end so you can not see the elastic if its pulled ...

and tah dahhh you've made a dress from a pillow case...

and then marvel at your crafty-ness


for my Lil' L who is only 10 months old I added two belt loops on each side of dress and then made a belt with some of the left over fabric ... and when she is bigger the belt loops can easily be removed ... but right now it gives a nice gathered look .....

and if this seems a little Over whelming check out my FACE BOOK PAGE and inquire about having a custom one made for your daughter :)

adorable hair clips....

so my Lil' L is 10 months old and like some little girls her age... she hasnt much in the way of hair... her hair is more like peach fuzz......and since she will not keep on a hat or head band I've been on the look out for clip that would stay on her head..

The lovely Sandra from Anglehair Clips sent me a few tiny hair clips designed for the "Follicly" challenged ... and not only are these Adorable.... Super girly... and sweet... THEY WORK... they stay in her "hair" ... my daughter has a skiff of hair... I love that they look cute and work... :) I think that the velvet is the key to keeping them from slipping out ...

and like all small "decorative pieces" please supervise your child while she is wearing these adorable clips as they do have small parts and could be a chocking hazard ...

her products are made with love, are great quality and amazing prices ... I have a feeling I will need "one of everything" from her page....



Please check out her website and "like" her facebook page....

Facebook Link to Angelhair Clips
website for Angelhair Clips

she also knits hats and adorable diaper covers ...

I won something !!!!!

So I love give-a-ways and draws of any kind.. I'm always on the look out to "WIN " something... my husband is always surprised when I do win some goodies :)

Well Yesterday I won a free Hands On Car Wash !!! which is awesome cuz I have two kids that make a huge mess in the back seat ... and my car looks like a toy room/ storage unit .. I'm sure they will find a large amount of "fallen snacks" and lost cars and shore.. I'm sure there is at least 3 or pairs of miss matched kids shoes in my car :)

how did I win....
I joined Scrip monster and then on their face book page I just shared their daily deal ....

Prince George Scrip Monster

yup that easy :)
I'm all about wining stuff easily... If I can to go onto one page and enter a draw then i will but if i have to go here and there and "like" this and that I get annoyed and dont want to do it, but if the draw is worth it then i will .....


heres a little about Script Monster ....

How Scrip Monster Works

Scrip Monster offers Monster Deals of up to 90% savings on goods and services from local businesses. Monster Deals are available to purchase for a short period of time and can sell out. If you see a Monster Deal you want or want to buy as a gift, don’t wait.....

Subscribe...
Enter your email...watch the details...earn credits

Buy...
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Tell...
Your friends while the deal is on and earn rewards. Use Facebook, Twitter, email, however you connect you can help your friends get the same great deals your are. Plus if they buy we’ll send you credits you can use on a future purchase.

Redeem...
Print your scrip and take the voucher with you, enjoy. Have a smart phone? Use the unique code in your confirmation email, simply show the code to the vendor, et voila, you are ready to to use your scrip.

In a nutshell, we leverage local business relationships and promote them to a large local market that reads their email, every morning. Local consumers receive a Monster Deal every morning from local merchants at up to 90% off. The savings are only available for 24 hours and on a first come, first served basis. Some deals will be limited in quantity, so act fast..

here's the link to the Scrip Monster face book page

and here's the link to the Scrip Monster website

Script Monster is a Canadian Company :)