Everyday Mom Ideas: 3/1/11

Thursday, March 31, 2011

March "What You've Been Up Too"

Chore chart by A Little Tipsy

LDS handout by A Little Tipsy

Blog background by BYU TatorTots

Free blogger blog backgound download by jakelinelikestoscrap.blogspot.com

Scrapbook page by http://scraphappymandalue.blogspot.com

Scrapbook page by Kacey

A big thank you to everyone who sent in their projects. I love seeing what you guys have created with my kits it makes it all worth wild for me, and motivates me to make more free digital scrapbooking kits for you to download.

If you have any projects that you've made using any of my designs please send it or a link on over to me and your creation could be featured in my next "What you've been up too" post.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The Amazing FRESH AIR FUND

In 2010, The Fresh Air Fund's Volunteer Host Family program, called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes up to two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.  Thanks to host families who open up their homes for a few weeks each summer, children growing up in New York City’s toughest neighborhoods have experienced the joys of Fresh Air experiences.   More than 65% of all children are reinvited to stay with their host family, year after year.

  Fresh Air Fund Host Families  "It is rewarding to see the smile on our Fresh Air child's face as she enjoys the simple things we take for granted..."  Friendly Town host families are volunteers who live in the suburbs or small town communities. Host families range in size, ethnicity and background, but share the desire to open their hearts and homes to give city children an experience they will never forget. Hosts say the Fresh Air experience is as enriching for their own families, as it is for the inner-city children. There are no financial requirements for hosting a child. Volunteers may request the age-group and gender of the Fresh Air youngster  they would like to host. Stories about real Fresh Air host families and their New York City visitors are just a click away! 

 Click here to learn more about becoming a host or call (800) 367-0003!  Fresh Air Children       "We made s'mores and hot dogs over the fire. I've never cooked outside before!"

 Fresh Air children are boys and girls, six to 18 years old, who live in New York City. Children on first-time visits are six to 12 years old and stay for either one or two weeks. Youngsters who are re-invited by the same family may continue with The Fund through age 18, and many enjoy longer summertime visits, year after year. A visit to the home of a warm and loving volunteer host family can make all the difference in the world to an inner-city child. All it takes to create lifelong memories is laughing in the sunshine and making new friends.  The majority of Fresh Air children are from low-income communities. These are often families without the resources to send their children on summer vacations. Most inner-city youngsters grow up in towering apartment buildings without large, open, outdoor play spaces. Concrete playgrounds cannot replace the freedom of running barefoot through the grass or riding bikes down country lanes.

 Fresh Air children are registered by more than 90 participating social service and community organizations located in disadvantaged neighborhoods in the five boroughs of New York City. These community-based agencies are in close contact with children in need of summer experiences in rural and suburban areas. Each agency is responsible for registering children for the program.   What do Fresh Air children enjoy?

Playing in the backyard
Laughing in the sunshine
Catching fireflies
Riding bicycles
Learning to swim
Running barefoot through the grass
Gazing at the stars on moonlit nights
Building sandcastles
Making new friends
Simple pleasures of life away from the inner-city

The Fresh Air Fund at the Five Boro Bike Tour 

Join The Fresh Air Fund at the Five Boro Bike Tour on May 1st! The largest recreational cycling event in America, the TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour, leads bikers on a 42-mile fun course through the city and you can be a part of it! The Fund provides guaranteed entry into the event in exchange for a fundraising minimum. What better way to bike through an amazing route while knowing that the money you raise will help children from low-income communities who live throughout the city. Along the way, bikers will enjoy entertainment, rider photos, bike repair, medical support and the company of thousands of well-wishers! Click here for more information about the race! If you have questions or are interested in participating, please call Kate Brinkerhoff at (212) 897-8890 or email kbrinkerhoff@freshair.org.

Learn how two weeks can change a child's life forever.

You can give a child the experience of a lifetime with your gift to The Fresh Air Fund!

 Every year, The Fresh Air Fund gives thousands of inner-city children the priceless gift of fun – and opens the door to a lifetime of opportunities.   Whether it's a two-week trip to visit a volunteer host family, or a fun-filled and educational stay at one of our camps, our programs make for unforgettable memories – and open a world of new friendships and fresh possibilities. We are a not-for-profit agency and depend on tax-deductible donations from people like you to keep our vital programs flourishing.  Donate online now.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Scrap Paper Tree Centerpiece Tutorial (Featured guest blogger)

Hi there! I'm Sharon from Two Girls Being Crafty, and I am so delighted to be today's guest blogger on Everyday Mom Ideas! Thank you so much, Julia, for having us. My co-blogger, Tristin, and I create fun and inexpensive crafts that anyone could do. Our goal is to inspire. So come check us out!

Two Girls Being Crafty

Today I would like to share with you all our newest craft. It's a fun and easy DIY Spring scrapbook paper tree. Tristin and I both love scrapbook paper. We love the large variety of gorgeous patterns to choose from and the lovely, convenient low prices (so you can indulge when needed). But the funny thing is, neither of us like to scrapbook. We are constantly searching for new and innovative ways to use scrapbook paper. Today's feature project is one of them.

This simple project uses scrapbook paper leaves to create a bright and cheery Spring ambiance for your home. You could also use these beautiful trees in a wedding, baby shower, bridal shower, birthday party... the possibilities are endless!

What You Will Need:

Scrapbook paper
Branches
Floral Wire (I used 24 gauge wire)
Glue (You can use scrapbook or tacky glue, but I just used good ole Elmers)
Scissors
Cardboard/cardstock/chipboard
Vase or Pot to place your branches in
Newspaper

The awesome thing is - you probably already have most of these supplies on hand. I only had to purchase the floral wire for a little over $1 (with a coupon). What an inexpensive way to bring Spring into your home!

Let's Get Started:

First, drag out your ~~unseemly~~ healthy assortment of scrapbook paper scraps. If you don't (yet) have a unreasonable amount of scrapbook paper (and everyone should), then just head over to your local craft store - Jo-Ann, Hobby Lobby, or Michaels and pick out your favorites.

Cut out a template of your leaf from the cardboard (you can also use chipboard or card-stock). I used two different sizes of leaves - one small and the other a lot larger. Try to make the leaves as symmetrical as possible (which I did not realize until later). This will help with pairing up a back and front leaf later on. Using your template, cut out as many leaves as you want. Cut them in even numbers because, again, you will be pairing them up later on.

Take your floral wire and cut strips anywhere from 5"-8" long. I know that's a big range, but I'm taking into account the different size leaves. If it's a larger leaf, you will want a few extra inches of wire.

Lay down some newspaper next to your workspace. Take one of your leaves and put a thin strip of glue down the center. Place a piece of wire on the glue. Find a leaf of the same size and same scrapbook paper (or different paper- this is your project!) and place it on top of the glue, sandwiching the wire and forming a "vein" down the center of the leaf. Place your newly made leaves on the newspaper. Keep going until you've made all of your leaves.

Now for the fun part! Start placing your leaves on your tree by wrapping the floral wire around a branch. You can arrange them in a natural way (as pictured above)...

...or make them funky.

And you're done! This project is so easy. You can make a huge tree or just make a small, simple one. Do ten of them for an event, or just create one for your humble abode. Either way, take this idea and run with it. You can create some Spring magic using only a few supplies!

Don't forget to stop by Two Girls Being Crafty and see what else we've been up to!

Thanks again, Julia, for having us here today! :)

XO,

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

$25 Tie gift card GIVEAWAY!

Tiecoon.com is going to give one of you lucky EMI readers a $25 gift code to spend at their store!

Tiecoon.com has a huge selection of youth ties for only $5!!! I love how big of a selection they have there. They have just about everything you could want when picking out a tie for your son. I liked how easy their site was to navigate and find what I want. They also have many different sizes so that I could find a tie for my child no matter their age or size.

Here's How To Enter To Win:

(Leave a comment and valid email address for each entry)

Mandatory Entry: Head on over to Tiecoon and comment back here about a specific tie that you liked.

Additional Entries: (you may do any or all of the following for more chances to win, as long as the mandatory entry is met.)

2. Sign up for the EMI Newsletter and get all the updates at EMI.

3. Follow EMI via Google Friend Connect

4. Follow EMI on Twitter and leave me your twitter ID (example: @everydaymom2005).

5. Tweet About this Giveaway and leave me your twitter ID.

6. Like Everyday Mom Ideas on Facebook.

7. Put the Everyday Mom Ideas Button on your Sidbar.

8. Add EMI to your blog roll

9. Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link to it.

Open to Everyone
Giveaway Ends Tuesday March 29th at midnight. (Mountain standard time)
Random winner will be selected through random.org

Good Luck!

Closed-
Congratulations to Darcy!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.
Sponsored by Tomoson.com

South Pacific Date Night Idea (stay at home)

My husband and I recently put together this fun date. It has to be one of our favorite stay-at-home dates yet! Its a "South Pacific" themed date night where you don't even have to leave home to do. We didn't even have to find a baby sitter, we just put the kids to bed early to enjoy some one on one time. This is also a great date idea if you are missing the warm weather and summer cant come to soon.

Ideas to get you started

Get dressed in your bathing suits for this date!
Get a fun tropical war themed movie to watch like South Pacific, From Here To Eternity, Pearl Harbor ect.
Cook a seafood dinner together. Here is my favorite shrimp taco recipe here.
Play the Battleship boardgame.
Put down beach towels in front of the TV and hang out on them while you watch South Pacific and/or play Battleship
Make Virgin Margarita's for dessert.

Hope you have fun with this one, we did!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Peace Paper Necklace And Bracelet Set -Craft Tutorial (Featured Guest Blogger)

Hi everyone, I'm Terri from A Creative Princess and I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be here!! I've been crafting my whole life and just entered into this blogging world last October and having the time of my life! I've got to tell you, my family is thrilled that I talk to all of you everyday because frankly, they're kind of tired of hearing me!

I love doing all sorts of different crafts. Yes, I have a short attention span and always ready to move on to something new. Here are a few of the projects I've done.

That was made from an old potato sack that I found one day.

My husband sells siding and windows and brings me home all the old wood windows he replaces.

I know, I'm a lucky girl!

These bracelets were made out of gift cards from Hobby Lobby.

My new fetish, washer necklaces!

Another old wood window.

I can't tell you how much my granddaughter loved this bunk bed for her babies!

I loved this! The top has a little saying on it about walking around the block for exercise.

My kind of exercise, the inside is filled with candy!

Today I thought I would show you how I made this necklace and bracelet. Isn't it funny the peace sign is back? I should have kept my "love beads" from the hippy days!

I found that awesome peace paper and knew it would work perfect for the bracelet. I cut out 9 of the smallest peace signs.

I just use a glue stick to put them in the circles of the bracelet.

Then I add Mod-Podge Dimensional Magic. I fill it up to the top. If you happen to get any bubbles, just pop them with a pin.

Here's the secret. As bad as you want to, do not touch it or mess with it for 24 hours!

The necklace is the same idea. For it, I used a bottle cap and cut a bigger peace sign.

Once again, add the Dimensional Magic. I do have better luck with the bottle caps if I don't fill it all the way to the top.

I use E-6000 to glue the bail on the back.

Then I just add a little bead and leather cord.

I hope you all will come by and say hi sometime! Thank you so much, Julia, for having me! You've made me the happiest girl around!

Terri
www.acreativeprincess.blogspot.com

Thursday, March 17, 2011

My bedroom design inspirations

My bedroom is feeling a little disjointed this past year as i have slowly been trying to implement more oranges and greens. So I have put together a bunch of inspiration photos to help me keep on track or what I'm aiming towards when I add new pieces here and there.

So here are some inspiration rooms that I just love, and would like my bedroom to someday look like a combinational of these rooms...