Birthday Gifts Week {Sleepover kit}

I love giving unique birthday presents.  There is nothing that I hate more then going to the store and spending hours picking out the right Barbie.  A Barbie that will probably only be played with for a few days.  That is what seems to happen in my house anyway.

I have a couple of criteria when picking out, or making a gift for someone.

1.  I like it to be something that is useful.

2.  I like it to be something that is consumable.

3.  I like it to be used to make memories, or when spending quality time.

I am going to share some of the ideas that I have come up with this week.

I will end the week, with an awesome giveaway that will be perfect for a sweet little person’s birthday.

The Sleepover kit.

Kids and sleepovers are such a common thing.  I am not a huge fan of sleepovers myself.  We have decided that we will have sleepover’s with a few select friends.  The kids also sleep over at their cousins and their grandparents. 

Just recently, Stella was invited to a dear friends party.  This little sweetie is someone we like to claim as a cousin.  We have had her over to sleep several times.  She also sleeps over at her Nanny’s house often as well.

I thought it might be fun to make her a little sleepover kit.

I like to change my kids pillow cases when they go to a sleep over.  So a fun only used for sleepover’s pillowcase is a must.

Pillowcases are so easy to make.  They are also cheap to buy if you don’t want to take the time.

Once I finished it, Stella told me it was boring.  So I added some pink trim and the letter B; her first initial.

That seemed to satisfy Stella. 

I already had the owl fabric left from the pajamas my Mother in law helped me make for Christmas. 

This gift didn’t cost me a thing; just a couple hours one Saturday morning.

I decided she would need a bag to keep her personal items in.

We included some toothpaste, floss, and a toothbrush.  I think it is nice to keep these separate from the ones you have at home.  It makes it so easy to just grab them for your next sleepover.

I also already had the toothbrush and paste on hand; from all those dentist visits.

…and the part that makes the gift so much fun; the owl mask.

Every girl, likes to have something fun to show off at their sleepover.  What is more fun then two big owl eyes keeping your little peepers covered while you sleep.

I simply drew out the shape of each piece on paper and made my own little pattern.  Then I cut them out and used iron on paper to make them stick.  I sewed around each piece to tack it down a little better.  I made the headband part out of a tube of fabric, and some elastic.

It is so sweet.

I have also seen masks available to buy in the dollar spot at Target.  They are not an adorable owl, but still sweet.  You could find a pillow case to match, and a sweet bag, that is always easy to find  in the dollar spot. You would have your own Sleepover kit without even breaking out your sewing machine.

Your gift is even better when you package it up nicely.

Add a couple of homemade tags, and you are good to go.

Now that I made one of these for Stella’s friend, Stella thinks she needs one too.

Time to break out the sewing machine again.

Stay tuned for another great gift idea tomorrow.

Post Edited: Just surfing blog land and see that Eighteen 25 is posting birthday ideas as well.  I will be sharing something similar to this gift tomorrow so stay tuned to see my take on it.  How funny.

What I have learned… {The Middle}

I had every intention of posting this yesterday.  Then I got a phone call asking if we could show our house?  I was totally shocked, our house had been listed on the MLS for only 10 hours.  I promptly got up from my computer and did a little straightening.  I have a feeling that this is my new life.  My hours are no longer my own.  They are the home buyers.  Anyway… here it is…

What I have learned… one day late.

{The Middle}

The reason I started posting what I have learned is because I have so many people in my life that touch me for good.  I like to remember those things and be able to reflect on them. 

This past year, I have been in a sort of funk.  I have had a really hard time trying to figure out just what has affected me.  I think it has been a combination of many things. 

Just recently, I realized that part of my problem is that I have been living for what is coming next. I heard myself telling my mind, “just get through this, and then you get to do this.” I have not been enjoying my time just being mom and wife.  I am always looking forward to whatever big thing might be happening on the weekend, or what trip we might take next.

It all started when we found out in the fall of 2011 that we would be moving to PA this summer.  I started thinking about that change and thinking and thinking about it.  I would say to myself over and over, “just one more year; and then we will move back to Utah.”

I have been living for the Utah.  I have been dreaming about what my life will be like in Utah.  I have pictured being able to ask my mom to run over and help me with the kids.  I have imagined spending Sunday’s at my parents.  I have thought about lunches with my sisters, and play-dates with cousins.

While all that dreaming was going on, I forgot to enjoy the Sunday’s in my own home.  I forgot to stop and just be with my husband while we were paying for a babysitter. I missed out on lunches and play-dates with out AR friends. My thoughts have been consumed with what would come next.

My thoughts have also been consumed with our move, making sure our house would be ready to sell, packing it all up, and finding somewhere to live.

I am so thankful that I realized this.  I can only imagine how my days would be in PA; how miserable would I have been.

  I have always been one to “enjoy the journey.” In fact, that was my life’s theme while we lived on the island of Saba.  How come I forgot to enjoy the journey now?  I think I just lost site of what was really important.

I don’t want to waste away the time we have left here, and heaven forbid miss the experiences that happen in Pennsylvania.

My best friend recently shared this post about her families theme for the year.  I had that on my mind one day while I was driving around.  I happened to be listening to my new favorite album, “Wildflower”, by Lauren Alaina.  A song called “The Middle” came on, and I began to really listen to the words.(check out the link I shared, it really is a cute montage that someone put together.) 

As I was listening, I thought to myself this should be my theme for the year.  So just like the Moes family has a theme for the year, I decided that I needed my own theme for the year.  A little reminder to myself of what matters most in life. A reminder to live for each day.

My favorite part of the song says:

The day your born is just a start.

Your last breath is a question mark.

The story of your life is in the in between.

While I was driving around in the car, I had this a-ha moment. 

I am in the in between.

I am in between everything.  I am in between houses, and states to live in.  I am in between doctors, dentists, and new places to eat.  Nothing ever stays the same.  It is time to start enjoying the in between, and living out my story.

The song actually told me how to live.  It says:

Take each day and make it last

Because you turn around and the future is the past

Here and now is all we have

The beginning and the end mean so little

What matters most is what’s in the middle.

What’s in the middle for me?:

dinner with my family

dancing in the kitchen

tickle fights

movies with my husband

and finding the joy in all the little things I do to keep our home and family running.

Over the past month, I have put this plan in to action.  I have watched my life change.  I have felt true joy and happiness.  I feel the urge to laugh almost all day.  We are meant to find joy in this life.

As you can see I made a new printable.

I put them out in a frame so I am reminded of just how important it is to live in the middle.

I placed them next to this picture of our family laughing, giggling, and tickling together.  Exactly what “the middle” means to me.

You can print your own also.  Find it here.

… and because I know that Yellow doesn’t work for everyone there are six colors to choose from.

(In between print is 5x7, the middle print is 4x6)

Find the colored prints here.

I have a whole new outlook on life.

I hope you do too.

What is in the middle for you?

(p.s. take the time to listen to the song, it really is so powerful.)

 

Sugar Cookies Tip and Tricks….. and recipe

Ya’ll know that I love a good cookie; especially a sugar cookie. My mom makes delicious sugar cookies.  Her sugar cookies don’t have to be rolled out, which is awesome when you want sugar cookies and don’t want to take the time.  Here is that recipe:

I have a great roll out recipe that everyone loves.  In fact, when I share these cookies I always get asked for the recipe.  I believe I have shared these before on J and A & Co., but I am going to share them again.

My first secret is in the sour cream.  You add soda to it and set it aside.  The sour cream gets really fluffy.  It really is the secret ingredient to these cookies.

This is definitely one of those activities to get the kids involved with.

Stella is my sugar cookie girl.

I absolutely hate all the work and time it takes to make sugar cookies so I always spread it out over 2 or 3 days.  That is tip number one.

This recipe has to chill so I make the cookies the day before we will actually bake them.  I usually do this part by myself.

The next day, is sugar cookie day.  We typically make sugar cookies for all the big holidays.  In fact, I collect cookie cutters.  I just can’t seem to help myself. They are just so cute.

I give each kid a part of the dough for them. 

I roll it out, and they begin cutting.  I make them leave all their cookies there, and I pick them up and move them. 

I have found they always get destroyed when they pick them up; another tip for you.  I move them all to another part of the counter or a pan, and we begin again. 

We keep working until we have used all the dough, and we have a counter full of cut-out sugar cookies.

 

Tip three, I like to do it this way.  Then once they are cut the kids loose interest and I can bake in peace.   Then I begin baking them.   The most important thing to remember is that you don’t want to over cook them.  Sugar cookies should be slightly under baked.  That way they stay soft.  They should never begin to brown on top.  You should pull them out when they are no longer doughy, but not too cooked.  Once they sit on the pan for a minute,  I move them all to a cooling rack to cool.  While I am baking and cooling, I mix up the frosting. 

I never ever use store bought frosting.  YUCK!!  I have a very simple recipe.  It is also included on the above card.  They key to the best sugar cookie frosting: a little shortening and some almond extract. See I am full of tips.

I typically stack all the cookies in a container and place them in the fridge along with the frosting.  I am always too wore out, or it’s time to make dinner and I just can’t get to frosting them. 

Don’t worry though, if we are ready for one, it is easy to grab one add a little frosting(that I already mixed up) and enjoy!!

I will frost the next day with out kids, and just save a few for them to do.  I always let them do the sprinkles.   I always put the cookies in the container or on the dish that I will serve them from before we apply sprinkles.  That way, all the extra sprinkles stay in the container. 

They are so adorable to give to someone you love. Remember we gave this plate to the kid’s teachers this year. The best part about that is they are giving them something that they had a part in making.

One last tip, I always refrigerate my sugar cookies.  I love COLD sugar cookies.  There really is nothing better. 

YUMMO!!

Branson

This last weekend, we took the kids to Branson.  We had bought them a trip off of Groupon for Christmas.  They were so excited to go.  I was excited to get away.

We had a great time.  We had plenty to do. We had four days jam packed with activities.

Including but not limited too, an indoor water park:

Black light miniature golf:

and the playzone:

I enjoyed seeing some of the shows.  There are lots of talented people in Branson.

We returned home on Tuesday evening.  I was shocked to wake up to the news of a tornado hitting Branson at 1:30 am Wednesday morning. Wow! we left just in the nick of time.

I feel so blessed that our family made it home before all that occurred. 

It seems as though the restaurant across the street from our hotel is no longer standing. How quickly life can change.

Branson, we had a great time.  Your little town and the people who live there are in our thoughts and prayers. 

We are also thinking of all those affected this week by the tornados.

A little something for March…

I know today is Thursday.  I know it is time for what I have learned. 

Today, I am sharing something that I am learning.

I am currently learning more about design, and how to create elements in PS CS5.  I am working on learning more about Illustrator as well. 

I think it is so important to make our brains work. 

I was a PR major in college, and I loved learning about graphic design then.  I decided that I wanted to learn and understand it even more.  I am going to be taking some classes, and just having a little bit of fun.

What do you enjoy learning about?

As part of my learning, you are reaping the rewards. 

Here are some printables that I came up with for March.

I have been practicing a little.  The download link will be at the bottom of this post.

Here is a Calendar for March:

Here is a weekly to-do list for March.  You will need five of these for the month.

I am loving this list.  It only allows me to add four things to the day.  That way my list does not get out of control like it has a tendency to do.  I also love having my menu for the week already planned out.

Here is another list of reminders for the grocery store, and another place to jot down things you do not want to forget.

I like to keep my calendars and lists available at all times, because I am always adding to them. 

I thought it would be fun to use something that I design every month.

I also made some labels to use for gift bags, gifts, or letters.  I made these to fit Avery labels 8860.  You can print them right out on the label sheets and peel and stick.  There are two styles of these.

One for gifts:

A blank one for addresses:

I am so excited to use these.  I think they are soooo cute.

I have never been much of a St. Patrick’s Day decorator, but here is my tribute to the holiday.

You can have one of your own too.

I’m the lucky one printables.

These can be printed in 5x7 or I have an 8x10 print too.

I am so proud of myself because I designed everything on these prints including the owl. YEAH!!

This printable will make this itty bitty green pennant.  The instructions are included on the printable.

Isn’t it the most adorable dainty little thing?

This is the printable for the banner you see below the pennant banner.

I thought these would be fun to do one of two things. 

I used it to make the banner. I used crepe paper and muffin liners to embellish it.

I also took those same crepe paper embellished circles and added some felt and a pin to the back.  I plan to let the kids wear them to school on St. Patty’s Day.  That way they will not get pinched.

I hope enjoy these fun March printables.  I have enjoyed learning more about how to create this kind of stuff.

In the meantime,  I hope this has inspired you to keep learning more about what you love.

Click here for the downloads.