Mustache.

So... since I have slowed way down on baking cupcakes, so many of my fun supplies just sit in my "cupcake cabinet."

Until today...

I got out my mustache chocolate mold and made some fun St. Patty's Day treats.

A mustache mold is actually a fun thing to have around the house. Other uses? 

- a brown one in June... think Father's Day. 

- a white in December... think Santa.

- any color, any time... think Mr. Man birthday party

I'm linking up with Skip to my Lou today for Made by Me Mondays. 

I'm bored!

When I hear these words, 

I cringe. 

Are you serious? Look at your room... it is FULL of toys. I automatically start thinking about how I need to get rid of so many of them so that the others would be appreciated. 

Then I remember, he may just need a little bit of help. So I give him some ideas, but they end up being the same three or four ideas every time. 

Play with your Batman House.

Make a city and play with your small animals. 

Do a puzzle.

Go outside. 

< Enter Pinterest > I type "independent activities." 

I saw some great ideas, but they didn't totally fit for our family. 

So... I came up with this. 

I listed several activities that he can play independently. 

The left column says CAN DO, and the right says ALREADY DONE.

If I didn't separate these columns, he would pick to play Leap World EVERY TIME. 

So... he still gets to pick what to do, but all of the activities need to be done before he can start over. 

Independent play time SOLVED... I hope!

UPDATE: IT'S TOTALLY WORKING!!!

I am linking up with Skip to my Lou for Made by Me Mondays. 

Blessing Bags

Every time I come across a {homeless}person roaming a parking lot,

 standing on a street corner, or approaching me for spare change, 

I get uncomfortable. 

I wish I didn't. 

But I do.

 I definitely don't want this to be something I pass onto my boys. 

So, today we made Blessing Bags.  

Instead of turning a blind eye... we can make a small difference. 

Valentines.

Here's what you need...

popcorn. chocolate. sprinkles.

Here's what you do...

Pop the popcorn. Melt the Chocolate. Mix together. Sprinkle.

Here's what you've made...

Put in plastic bags.

Here's what you give...

Tie with ribbon. Add label.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Through the Years...

So... what do you do with your old Christmas cards?

Do you throw them away? Stash them in a box?

Keep them on the refrigerator for the year?

Here's what I do...

Back in 2006, I started trimming the cards after I took them down and put them in a notebook so that we could see all the changes of our family and friends year after year.

Mine is called "Merry Christmas Through the Years"

Step 1: Trim all Christmas [stuff] off the pictures.

Step 2: Appreciate your little ones' excitement for the new pages.

Step 3: Place them on the pages to make sure they fit.

Step 4: Once all pictures are in place, stick them to the pages.

Step 5: Let your little ones look at the new book. They will love it!