Right on the Walls Review

Apologies for the dark pictures. I used my phone, and it was dark under the bunk bed!

I had the opportunity to try out Right on the Walls vinyl wall art lettering decals. Right on the Walls is sponsoring a giveaway for my 40th Birthday Bash.

It took less than 10 minutes (just like they said!) And that was with the help of my 4 year old and my 11 year old!)

One of the trains tore a little bit when I wwas removing the backing (I rushed it a bit) but you can't tell once it was on the wall.

I misplaced my smoothing tool, so I used a credit card and it worked well. My best advice is to take it slowly.

My kids love the way it looks. (Crunchy asked what she and Chewie were going to get by their beds! There are so many great one to choose from! I love the Scripture ones. And the selection of kids saying is great! I could see my entire house decorated this way!

Remember to check back during the HUGE 40th Birthday Bash to win a gift certificate to Right on the Walls.

Remove the backing and place on the wall.

After rubbing the top piece, slowly remove the paper. (If it doesn't stick to the wall, top sheet down and rub again.)

All done (big view)

All done! (Close up!)

After: New bunk beds

Okay, so there is no before picture. But that doesn't mean we can't have an after picture. This morning we went to Big Lots and got a new bunk bed. Yes. It is time to put the two boys (11 and 4) together and give the Princess (6) her own room. We still have a a lot to do--including replace the huge solid wood entertainment armoire with a small TV stand.

Of course, before I could start on the bedroom I had to clean up our side of the garage so we had room for the old stuff (which is going into a yard sale on Saturday).

And Chewie's room was atrocious! But I couldn't make him clean it. He is really sick. He has hardly gotten out of bed since Thursday.

I hope everyone sleeps well tonight!

Wordless Wednesday: Rainbow X 2

Twice this week I caught a picture of a rainbow.

Stacking sale items

The kids decided to arrange the boxes of food.

Back to School

Wordless Wednesday:Traveling Light

(In case you can't see the detail...on the back of the motorcycle seat are his essentials: leather gloves and a bottle of Windex. Gotta keep the windshield clean!)

Pictures with my new computer

I got a new computer! A netbook that started out as a Dell and has been converted to a Mac. Okay. It's not really new. In April, I told you that John had a new Mac Netbook. We were planning to get me a pink one. But I told him I really didn't need to spend twice as much money for a pink one. So John got a bigger one--but still at Netbook--and I got the one from April. It has a webcam. So my blogging is going to change! I have this cool program called Photobooth that is very easy to take pictures. Today I took pictures of the kids. Here are a few of them.

Albertsons Coupons

Okay...I got another big haul. (Not nearly as big as the serious coupon ladies, but not bad.) Albertsons was doing their price point sale with an extra $5 off every 10 items on the sale. Unfortunately I didn't count correctly and ended up 2 items short for the fifth $5 off.

But I spent $42 and saved $107!

I got:

11 4-packs of Activia Yogurt (50 cents each!)

1 Betty Crocker Frosting tub

9 cans of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

1 bag Santina's chips

1 large tub Country Crock with Calcium

1 2-pack of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

1 Albertson's Ketchup (we buy it by the gallon, but we needed a new 'fridge bottle)

2 cans Rosarita Refried beans

2 bags TJ Farms Hash Browns

2 Betty Crocker Supreme Brownie Mixes

2 Oscar Mayer hot dogs

1 French's Worchester Sauce (50 cents!)

2 Oscar Mayer Bologna

2 Totino's Pizza Rolls

4 cans Blue Diamond Almonds

2 cans Hunts Spaghetti Sauce

2 boxes Triscuit

2 boxes Ritz

2 boxes Quaker Granola Bars

Great Deal Savings $62.23

Promotional ($5 off 10) $20.00

MFG Coupons $22.00

Store Coupons $ 3.00

Total Saved $107.23

Total Spent $ 42.00

New World Kids Review

I have to admit....I was a little hesitant when I first heard the title of this book. I was thinking "new world order" and other "new age" types of things.  But I was pleasantly surprised.  The idea of a "new world" refers to the way our world is changing.  Text messaging, GPS, and satellite phones were not around when I was growing up.  Who knows what kind of technology will exist when my kids grow up?  We need to prepare them to think differently.  Our schools continue to teach things the way they always have. But we need to teach them to think creatively.

As a former teacher (elementary) and current developmental specialist (birth to 3) I was impressed with the ideas presented.  After explaining the creativity map, the authors introduce the Sensory Alphabet.  Then each element of the Sensory Alphabet (color, line, shape, sound, texture, light, movement, space, and rhythm) is explained throughly.  My favorite part was at the end of each element introduction was a list of "Investigations to do on your own" (for the parent) and a list of "Investigations to do with your child".  This is followed by quotes on the theme.

I found some great ideas of things to try with my kids.  After reading the first few chapters, I started saying "yes" to my kids more often.  One night, we painted with pudding.  Chocolate and vanilla (colored with various sprinkles) made great finger paints!  (See pictures below).
I would highly recommend this book (or the companion one for teachers) to any parent who wants to help her child succeed in this ever changing world.

From the website:
Built on decades of applied research, "New World Kids: The Parents' Guide to Creative Thinking" (Foundry Media, 2009, 978-0-615-19060-0, $14.95), is a handbook for developing young minds to learn and grow in a future requiring visual literacy and innovative skills. Marcus and Monday demystify the often misunderstood territory of creativity, offering parents everyday activities to help kids discover their individual creative abilities.

Just as the traditional alphabet is used to teach reading and writing, the Sensory Alphabet-line, color, texture, movements, sounds, rhythm, space, light and shape-is the foundation of creative literacy and the basis of our sensory connection to the world. The Sensory Alphabet enhances a child's ability to understand, symbolize and communicate ideas, which are all crucial skills in our digital media world of pictures, icons, sound and video.

New World Kids covers topics such as:
" The Sensory Alphabet: Nine essential elements for creative literacy
" How to mentor children through the creative process
" How to raise innovative kids for the 21st century
" How to help kids find their creativity, passion at an early age
" How to design your home as a space for ideas
" Incorporating media and play into the learning process

Marcus and Monday were co-founders of the Learning About Learning Educational Foundation, a Texas-based institution that conducted applied research in creativity, individuality, media and play. Visit NewWorldKids.com for more information.

Happy Father's Day

After so many years waiting to be a Daddy, John is such an incredible Daddy. He is patient and kind. He uses lots of great voices when reads stories. He loves to watch movies with the kids--whether it's a princess movie, a cartoon, or an action adventure. I often come home and find the TV on cartoons--with no kids in sight. He is never afraid to answer their tough questions. He loves to cuddle and hug. The kids know they can come to Daddy for a backrub or a kiss anytime.

Last night the kids made cards for Daddy and Papaw. We started with markers but Munchie asked for glitter. Let's just say Mom was shiny when we finished!

Onward Christian Soldier

On payday (which includes allowance day) Munchie showed Daddy the armor set and told him the same thing he told me: The Full Armor of God. Daddy was so impressed he kicked in the $3 Munchie was short Here he is in full armor.

Swimming time

Munchy and Crunchy are having a blast in the new backyard pool. They couldn't crare less that it is tiny. It is big enough for them to jump around.

(Sort of) WW: How could anybody say no?

I took the kids to Walgreens and Albertsons (this is Albertsons) to sell candy bars. Crunchy is singing, "Do you want to buy a candy bar?!?" Munchie is joining in for parts. (We sold 2 boxes of 50! 100 bars in about 2 hours)

JBanz Review

It's getting warmer, and summer will soon be here. Are your kids ready for the sun? BabyBanz offers a variety of products for children's sun protection: sunglasses, UV clothing, and accessories. The sun classes come in 3 sizes: Baby Banz (0-2); Kidz Banz (2-5) and Junior Banz (4-10). They even offer ski goggles, special needs glasses, and adult sunglasses. Crunchy got to try out the:

New from Baby BanZ - Junior BanZ for Girls!
Junior BanZ feature UV400 Polarized polycarbonate lenses and sturdy frames, while offering new shapes and temples for the protection and style older kids want. Junior BanZ come with their own solid pink neoprene carrying case complete with zipper clasp as well as a removable neoprene strap for active girls on the go!

• Lenses 100% UVA/ UVB protection
• Category 3 POLARIZED lenses offer high sun glare reduction and good UV protection
• Durable polycarbonate Ophthalmic quality
• Capable of being replaced with prescription lenses
• Frame is made of shatter-resistant polycarbonate
• Sporty, sleek design

• 
  

Crunchy enjoyed modeling the pretty pink JBanz. She said,

They are pretty and fun and cool to wear. They keep the sun out of my eyes. Very very very cool.

The quality is very high. The frames are thick and strong. They came with a "nerd strap" (as my husband calls his) to keep the glasses in place. And the case that arrived with the JBanz is pretty and functional.

I made the paper!

My picture was in yesterday's paper. Two people at church mentioned it today. I knew the paper had sent a reporter to Leadership Roswell on Friday, but I didn't know I was in the picture. It's not the most flattering. But it's me. I'm the first one on the left.

Wordless Wednesday: A boy and a box

Waiting for the other shoe to drop

I took this picture last week intending to write a blog post. I didn't get around to it. Until now. Ever since the gas prices fell it sems like every has been holding their breath waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. Our gas prices got as high as just under $5 a gallon. (And our gas starts at 86 octane instead of 87.) We didn't get as low as other areas, but we got down to about $1.69. But it settled at around $1.90. For more than a month it stayed at this range. Until yesterday. Yesterday it jumped 20¢ to $2.09. And I'm assuming it will only go up from here.

Mac Rak Craft Kit

Thanks to Faith Approved I had the opportunity to try out "His Kids Crafts" from The Mac Rak. These kits are all-inclusive.

Everything you need to create quality family time and memories with your kids, in one bag!

Glue, scissors, play dough, sequins, googly eyes....if the craft calls for it, you will find it in the kit. The kits are hand-assembled by a mom. (And, I would guess, with some help from her children!)

I sat down with my daughter, Crunchy, this afternoon to try out the kit. Our kit was the April Bible Craft: a fun foam cross magnet with hearts spelling "God" and "Love" . Out kit included: clear instructions (with a picture of the completed project); 3 cross in different sizes; 7 letter hearts (the O is shared); a small glue bottle, and a strip of magnet.

I read each of the directions to Crunchy, and she was able to do the project by herself. (She probably could have done it with just the picture, but I wanted to see how easy there were to follow. They were well written.) I really liked the final two instructions. The first was to get a Bible and read John 3:16. (Instead, Crunchy quoted it for me a couple of times. Thanks AWANAs!) The last instruction was to discuss why God loves us so much and why Jesus chose to live, die and be resurrected for us. It was an easy way to bring the activity from just a craft to a teaching time.

The kit was well put together, and included encouraging notes on the packaging. My daughter enjoyed the time we spent together, and it was great to have a finished project in a very short time. Individual kits start at $3.75. Ours was $4.25. There is an option for a monthly subscription for $4.00 a month.  In addition to the Bible crafts, there are featured crafts and surprise crafts.

My model Crunchy introducing the kit.

The kit comes with everything you need.

Gluing on the letters

Quoting John 3:16

All done!