January Busy Bag Swap DETAILS

Thank you to everyone who signed up for our very first Busy Bag Swap!! Below you will find a final list of the participants & their activities as well as the number of bags you will need to make and bring to the swap. Have fun making your bags this week - see you on Saturday (Don't forget to bring a basket or tote to take home your new busy bags).

ALSO:
Please see the {Busy Bag Swaps} tab at the top of the page to sign up for more upcoming swaps, including theme swaps every other month. Also, find the {Cheyenne Busy Bag Swap} fan page on facebook to connect with other local moms as well as share and find ideas to keep your kids learning and having fun while they do it! :)

SWAP DATE: Saturday, Jan 12
LOCATION: Laramie County Library, Sage Room (2nd Floor)
TIME: Infants 10:30am; Toddlers 10:45am; PreK 11:00am

INFANTS: Please prepare 4 sets of the activity you chose to trade.
*Sarah S - peek-a-boo pictures
*Rebecca H - ribbon play
*Cori R - discovery bottles
*Denisea A - sensory jars

TODDLERS: Please prepare 6 sets of the activity you chose to trade.
*Megan H - beading activity
*Rebecca H - popsicle stick puzzles
*Meghan L - I-Spy bag
*Sarah S - pom pom tins
*Sherry S - button snake
*Sherry S - lace stringing cards

PRE-K: Please prepare 6 sets of the activity you chose to trade.
*Rebecca H - create a silly monster (flannel)
*Meghan L - I-Spy bag
*Sharon H - number/color wheel with clothespins
*Sarah S - counting cards
*Kylee H - AaBbCc spoons
*Karen S - Laminated alphabet tracing cards

30 Things My Kids Should Know About Me: Day 2

Find the list {here}
Day 2: Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears

Today's topic is a pretty personal one, and one that I am constantly in prayer about. When I was 18 my mom died after a 3 month battle with cancer, and because of that I am afraid of these three things...

1. I am afraid that I will die young
2. I am afraid that something will happen to my family and I won't be able to do anything to stop it
3. I am afraid that God won't hear/answer my prayers because my faith is weak

God says, "Do not be afraid" in the Bible 70 times. Fear is a real emotion and one that can be crippling to our faith. In Jeremiah 29:11 God promises, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I lean on this verse to bring me through my doubt and fear. Last year, for the 10 year anniversary of my mom's passing, my family and I ran a 10K. I would list this run as one of the top 5 most significant events in my life (along with marriage and the birth of our first child). For me personally, this run was a chance for me to begin a new chapter lead by HOPE not FEAR. You can read more about my story {here}.

Busy Bag Swap Coming Up

Deadline to sign-up: January 5th

Swap Date : January 12th *Please bring completed activities ready to trade (More details below)

 

Cheyenne Busy Bag Swap Group

* Free to Join * Local Moms * Fun & Educational

What is a busy bag? A "busy bag" is a ziplock bag that contains all the materials your child would need to complete a given activity. These quality age-based activities are intended to enourage fun while learning as well as keep them entertained for a period of time to give mom a break. These are especially helpful for older siblings when a new baby comes home during the adjustment phase. I will say thy are most successful when only available to the child during special occations, such as during daily quiet time, when mommy is nursing or during a long car ride.

How does a swap work? Some busy bag swap groups charge an entrace fee to participate --- The swaps hosted here are limited to local participants and because of that are FREE TO JOIN! You only pay for the materials it cost to create your activity for the swap!! Join a group - make multiples of the activity your chose - trade with other moms at the swap event...You end up with 10 different activities for your child and hours of quiet entertainment!!  

1. Select the age category you wish to swap within & find an activity that would be appropriate for that age. There are hundreds of good ideas online by searching: "infant busy bag -OR- toddler busy bag -OR- preschool busy bag."
2. Reserve your spot by posting your name (or initials) and chosen activity below with the link if you have it. **You may participate in more than one group at a time, but please note that you will need to put together up to 10 bags for each age category that you select**
3. Put together up to 10 of the same activity with instructions to bring to the swap event (time and location will vary) -- The number of participants and how many bags you will need to make for your age category will be announced here on the day after the reservation deadline. Cost to create each activity will range from $5-$20. Please bring a laundry basket, tote or some other way of carrying your new busy bags home.

30 Things My Kids Should Know About Me: Day 1

Find the complete list here
Day 1: 20 random facts about myself

1. I lived in the same house until I was 18 years old.
2. I am really bad at learning names.
3. I love crafts, but don't like anything that I can't start and finish and one sitting.
4. I have never been a night-owl. Even in high school, I went to bed by 10 usually.
5. I failed my first drivers license test because I turned in front of a group of people crossing the street.
6. I eat a piece of chocolate every day.
7. I was on a competitive swimming team from age 6 through my senior year of high school.
8. I hate being cold.
9. My favorite season is fall.
10. The smell of crabapple tree blossoms reminds me of home.
11. My friends are mostly all at least 5 years older than I am.
12. I earned a full-ride scholarship to the college of my choice for leadership skills.
13. My favorite music is 90's pop - the Pandora station I listen to most is: "Walking In Memphis"
14. I had three majors in college and went to three different schools before I graduated: Metro State College Denver (Photography); Colorado Christian University (Youth Ministry); Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids (Bible).
15. I ran a 10K in Sept. 2012
16. I am more afraid of alligators than of sharks
17. If I ever won the lotto my first stop would probably be either a bookstore or a kitchen supply store.
18. I have never been out of the United States (besides Canada) as of today
19. The first cassette tape I ever owned was Boyz II Men
20. I like to make foods from scratch - my favorites are yogurt, bread, and waffle mix

30 Things My Kids Should Know About Me - The List

I am stealing this from a friend's blog who stole it from another blog -- haha. I place a lot of value in my life story and leaving a legacy for my kids (just in case I am not able to share it with them myself one day). Here is the list from The Baby Making Machine if you would care to join us...

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your spouse.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. If you could have three wishes, what would you wish for?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. What’s the hardest part of growing up?
14. Describe 5 and weaknesses strengths you have.
15. Describe when you knew your spouse was the one or how I fell in love.
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What do you think your spouse loves most about you?
19. How did you feel the moment you became a parent?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. Describe your relationship with your parents.
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. What’s your favorite holiday and why?
24. What’s your favorite and least favorite thing about parenthood?
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What’s your favorite quality in your spouse?
29. What are your hopes and dreams for your prosperity?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.

Wannabe Boutiful Basket

The amazing coordinators at Bountiful Baskets headquarters took a much deserved break for the Holidays again this week --- and once again I am reminded of just how valuable the baskets really are! Every two weeks I purchase a basket for my family for $16.50 that weighs approx. 25 lbs. On pickup day I am blessed with a wonderful array of fruit and veggies that cost far less than retail for quality produce that often stays fresh for the full two weeks.

Saturday would've been a pick-up day and my stash from last time is waning quickly so I scanned the ads this morning to see what I could come up with. My basket isn't nearly ask glamorous as the ones that Bountiful Baskets provides, often spoiling us with an item that is off-season that would cost up to $5/lb in the grocery store --- we got pineapples last time! So, if you are missing your basket like I am, here are the best of the local sales in Cheyenne to create a basket that is similar.

Store- Qty or Weight and Item - Sale Price (Notes)
Safeway - 2 lb Lettuce - approx. $2 (final price not advertised)
Safeway - 2 1/2 lb Red/Golden/White Potatoes - $2.50 ($0.99/lb)
Safeway - 2 lb Bananas - approx. $1.10 (final price not advertised)
Albertsons - 2 lb Broccoli Crowns - $1.80 ($0.88/lb)
Albertsons - 3 lb Yellow Onions - $1.69 bag
Albertsons - 2 lb Braeburn Apples - $1.80 ($0.88/lb)
Albertsons - 4 lb bag Naval Oranges - $1.69 (sale price valid THURSDAY-SAUNDAY only)
Albertsons - 3 medium Red Grapefruit - $2.70 ($0.88 ea)

Good luck shopping & I hope this helps you make it by until the next basket pickup day. :)

30 Family Journal Prompts

In December, I committed to keeping a 5 Year Family Journal - well, January is upon us and now I am beginning to realize that I don't have very much to write about. So, to spur your creativity (and mine as well) here is a list of prompts for your own family journal or scrapbook.

1. About someone you love
- Something you are proud of
- A characteristic you enjoy
- A prayer you have for them
- Something they enjoyed
- Something that made you laugh
- Something they said

2. Angels in disguise
- Someone who blessed you today
- Someone who helped you today
- Someone you appreciate
- Someone you have learned from
- A new friend
- An old friend

3. Eyes open to the hand of God
- A glance of unconditional love
- A glance of forgiveness
- A glance of hope
- A glance of faith
- A glance of peace
- An answered prayer

4. A day in the life
- Something you do everyday
- Something you rarely get to do
- Something you have been looking forward to
- Something you take for granted
- Something new
- Something you love to do

5. From the eyes of a child
- Something fun to do
- A new experience
- A simple joy
- Something to get super excited about
- Something to laugh about
- A friend to play with

My 2013 SAHM List of Resolutions

1. Be more active with my kids
Tangible Goal: 15 minutes of quality one-on-one time with each of them, doing something they would like to do.

2. Read to my kids every day
Tangible Goal: Make story time a part of our bedtime routine.

3. Keep up with the laundry and dishes
Tangible Goal: Start the day with a load of laundry in the washer & empty the dishwasher; finish the day with laundry folded and put away and dishwasher running.

4. Discipline in love
Tangible Goal: No more yelling. Build them up with two encouraging words for every time discipline is used. "You are so good at..." "I love it when you..." "It makes me proud when you..."

5. Maintain a stash of frozen meals to avoid lazy-mom-syndrome
Tangible Goal: Plan for 1-2 freezer meals every 2 weeks to have on hand for lazy days and sick days.

6. Have a Mommy Day Off once a month!!
Tangible Goal: Schedule it in advance, write it down in PEN, budget for $50 to spend, and plan for a sitter --- no excuses!!

7. Avoid 4 o'clock daily meltdowns
Tangible Goal: Plan for daily quiet time filled with fun activities for my kids - special basket with Kiwi Crate activities, Busy Bags and Art/Writing prompts.

8. Make my husband feel like he is the most important person in my life (second only to God)
Tangible Goal: Have an intentional LOVE RELATIONSHIP with my husband including a date night once a month and more tangible ways if showing him how much he means to me (gifts, notes, daily compliments).

9. Provide my family with quality meals and snacks
Tangible Goals: Less sugar and salt (fruit alternatives for dessert), prepare healthy snacks in advance to make them quick and easy.

10. Practice Mommy Time-Out when I start to lose my patience
Tangible Goal: Spend 5 minutes alone to calm down so that discipline can be practiced in love and not out of frustration.

New Year's Giveaway --- the winner is....

Congrats Wendy! Please let me know which diva you would like (blonde, brunette, or african american) and I will email your new planner to you right away! Thank you to everyone else who entered, please enjoy 25% off your pdf planner purchase today with the code: NEWYEAR at my etsy shop! (Not valid on printed version --- please use with pdf download only).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

New Year Giveaway!

My blog is almost to 5000 hits since our debut in September 2012!!! To celebrate I am going to giveaway a free download of my Super-Mom Weekly Planner to one of my lucky readers!! :) Winner will be chosen on the morning of January 1! It would be much more dramatic to announce the winner at midnight --- but let's be honest I will have been asleep for a few hours by then, so we'll just do it in the am! Good luck!

To enter the giveaway post your email in a comment below.

Friendship Muffins

Friendship bread starter and the universal muffin mix were meant to be together!! See how tall and gorgeous they turned out!! This is a fabulous way to use your starter on a regular basis and does feel like you are eating pound cake for breakfast. I feed my starter once a week and bake using 1 cup of starter the same day. When my starter batch starts getting too large I either bake a few loaves to give away or I ask around if anyone wants some starter. Enjoy this recipe and happy baking!!

Friendship Muffins
1 cup mature friendship bread starter
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups muffin mix
1 cup mix-ins (fruit, baking chips, etc)

Mix well and bake at 400 in greased muffin cups for 15-18 minutes. Yield 12-18 muffins.

2013 Super-Mom Weekly Planner

As a mom of three (almost four) & a small business owner, having an efficient and well-organized planner is crucial to keeping my home running smooth! I have tried several apps on my smart phone, but in my opinion nothing beats being able to write it down and see the big picture at a glance. {Purchase a PDF download to print your own copy, including your choice of Super-Mom, at my etsy shop for just $9.99 or $35.00 plus shipping for a printed copy}

I designed this planner to be small enough to carry in my purse, but with enough space to write down notes for all that we have going on! Why superheroes? What mom doesn't need a boost of confidence everyday knowing that she has got it under control & that she is doing a fantastic job; saving the world - one diaper change, one story time, one carpool at a time!!

To accompany my planner, I purchased a mini set of markers and a 6" ruler to help me color coordinate each day and see who is where at a glance. Each person in my family has their own color which I use to highlight their activities during the day.

At the beginning of every month is a focus page that includes space to jot down upcoming birthdays and anniversaries as well as a place to set goals and focus on the month ahead. Also, too important not to be included is a weekly family schedule with columns for up to five family members. This is the pace where I can write down our schedule -- classes, sports, preschool and other fun things we have going on -- and see everyone's commitments at once. This helps me not spread myself out too thin and yet provide a variety of activities for our family.

The bulk of the planner is made up of fabulous weekly pages. To help save time the whole year has been pre-dated with major holidays included. Each page has two days that include a 13-hour daily schedule and room to make notes for dinner plans and a list of to-do's.

 After making the first few notes on my planner tonight, I am SO EXCITED to use it in 2013 and look forward to a well-organized yet fun to use planner at my finger-tips!!

Planning ahead for January 2013

All wrapped up in my fabulous ThirtyOne "Fold-And-Go Organizer"

Do you LOVE it as much as I do??? I love sharing the fruit of my labor with other moms who are also looking for a way to stay organized in a way that is fun but at the same time functional and highly efficient. Purchase a pdf download of the 2013 Super-Mom Weekly Planner at my etsy shop for just $9.99 or $35.00 plus shipping for a printed copy. (Personal use only, limit 3 copies per household.)

Graphics designed by CorazonDulce
{www.corazondulce.etsy.com}

Falling asleep on the job

Please forgive me! The idea for 30 Days of Homemade Gifts came to my a few months ago -- I thought what a great way to have fun doing what I love and making gift-giving more personal and heartfelt this year! That was all before I found out I was pregnant with my fourth child and quickly came to realize the overwhelming time and energy that it would take to create and blog about a unique homemade gift 6 days a week. Sigh! Needless to say, the first trimester and chasing after three boys has gotten the better of me. I have been going to bed right after the kids and spending any free time I have keeping up my home. So, I apologize for not continuing what was promised to be an amazing series. I hope to start blogging again once or twice a week starting in January. Thank you for understanding and Merry Christmas!! :)

Amish Friendship Bread

This starter has become a holiday tradition for us and luckily, starting a batch from scratch isn't hard at all! Once the starter has matured for 10 days you are ready to bake and start gifting!!

To make a brand new starter:
Mix 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) yeast with 1/4 warm water (110 degrees). Allow to sit for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, using all non-metallic bowls/utensils, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar. Add 1 cup milk. After 10 minutes add the yeast mixture and blend well. Pour into a gallon ziplock bag. Seal the bag - This is day 1.

To mature starter:
Day 1-4: Leaving the starter on the counter at room temperature...Mash bag lightly or swirl jar and release built up gases.
Day 5: Using all non-metallic bowls/utensils, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar. Add 1 cup milk and starter. *If using jars divide between 2 quart jars.
Day 6-9: Mash bag lightly or swirl jar and release built up gases.
Day 10: Using all non-metallic bowls/utensils, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar. Add 1 cup milk and starter.

Use 1 cup of starter to bake 2 loaves of Friendship Bread. Place the remaining 3 cups into separate bags/jars and pass along to friends with these instructions and your favorite friendship bread recipe. (Keep one for yourself and start over on day 1)

Baking the Bread:
1 cup friendship bread starter
1/2 cup oil
3 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease 2 full sized or 4 mini loaf pans. Combine ingredients adding 1 cup nuts or dried fruit (optional). Pour into lag pans and top with cinnamon sugar. Bake for 30-40 minutes for small pans or 45-50 minutes for large pans or until a toothpick comes out clean.

***starter may be refrigerated or frozen to delay maturation process.

Custom Printed Jars

This is an amazing craft and would make a wonderful gift. Kristine from The Painted Hive has done an awesome job with her tutorial and even provides a free printable --- make sure this one gets onto your wish list!

Find the direct link to the craft {here}

Honey Oatmeal Mask

Oatmeal is an amazing natural moisturizer, gentle exfoliant, skin soothing element. To use as a mask combine raw oats that have been pureed into fine dust with olive oil, honey and water to make a paste. Apply to face and reswt under a hot towel for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off and enjoy a baby-soft face.

Ingredients for 1/2 pint jar:
1 cup ground oats
2 Tbsp water
2 Tbsp oil
2 tsp honey
~Combine until thick. Use immediately, or withing 5-7 days

Oatmeal Bath

My kids have very dry skin, and this is an inexpensive way to give them the luxury of having an oatmeal bath anytime they want. Great for those with eczema or sunburns too!

Supplies:
Quick cooking oats

Directions:
Place dry oats into a coffee grinder, blender or food processor. Grind until very fine & store in an airtight container. (6 cups of whole oats made 1 quart of oatmeal bath) To use in the bath dissolve 1/4-3/4 cup of ground oats in the bath water. Soak & rinse.

Bird's Nest Charm

These are easy to make and completely adorable --- perfect for mom or grandma :)

Supplies:
Thin jewlers wire
Small beads (birthstone colors??)

Directions:
1. Thread your first bead onto the wire leaving a 2 inch tail.
2. Add any additional beads.
3. Wrap the wire several times around the beads to create a "nest" appearance.
4. Secrure the beads by wraping it around the outside to hold the nest in place. Clip wire and tuck in loose end.
5. Use the 2 inch tail to create a loop at the top of your nest, then clip and hide the end.
6. Wear it on a neacklace, bracelet or keychain.

Kettle Corn

I have been told this is the "best popcorn in the world." Whenever I bring it to a gathering I always get requests for the recipe!

Ingredients:
1/4 cup corn oil
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup popping corn

Directions:
1. Heat the oil, sugar and popcorn in a large pot on high.
2. Using hot pads hold the lid on while shaking the popcorn frequently. Because of the sugar - it is important to keep shaking it every few seconds or it will burn.
3. When the popping slows down - remove from heat and add salt to taste.
4. Pour into a bowl and allow to cool. It will harden as it cools - toss it gently to loosen. Makes approx. 10 cups of popcorn or enough to fill 2 medium tins.

Family 5 Year Journal

This craft was inspired by a pin I saw recently - jot down a note about your day that year and enjoy looking back to see where you have been and what special things have happened over the years. This journal version is more compact and doesn't have the risk of being scattered across the floor or down the stairs when your kids get a hold of it. (Just keep the pens out of reach)

This would be especially neat for a newly-wed couple or for a new baby. Wish I had started one the year we got married.

 

Example of how it might look over the years...

January 1

2013 - Celebrated the New Year in Time's Square

2014 - Celebrated the New Year with our new baby

2015 - Sarah took her first steps today

2016 - Enjoyed the countdown at a B&B in Aspen

2017 -

(apparently this family I made up has like to travel, haha)

 

Supplies:

Spiral journal

Nice pens

Scrapbook stickers

 

Directions:

1. Decorate the front and inside covers with the stickers. On the inside of mine is our last name and the yeat we were married as "est. 2005"

2. Slowly and carefully write the date for each day of the year, equally spread out on the pages. Mine had 3/page and 7 lines between each date. I messed up several times and had to tear these pages out. If you make a lot of mistakes - count the pages to ensure you will have enough at the end.

3. Include a nice pen and an invitation for the recipient to jot down a note about each day noting the year on each line.