Leen the Graphics Queen!

As promised... a few more of the goodies I got from Leen the Graphics Queen!

I recently won the "Shut the Front Door to Keep it All In" giveaway (hosted by The Inspired Room, Infarrantly Creative, and many other fabulous crafty blogs that I could only dream of aspiring to!) and one of the prizes was a gift certificate to Leen the Graphics Queen!

I highly recommend her shop for your vinyl needs!  :)

 

Circle Ornamental Flourish Vinyl Wall Decal

 

Just what I needed for my master bath, over the tub.  I think I might "frame" it out too for more impact.

 

Family Rules Wall Decal Medium Size

 

I put this in the hallway upstairs, between the girls rooms.

 

Baroque Style Damask Monogram Vinyl Wall Decal

 

In the stairway. 

 

Home Where the Happiest Memories are Made Vinyl Wall Decal

 

In our foyer. 

 

 

Life Between the Tones

Check out my husband and our sweet little girls over at Life Between the Tones!

I highly recommend reading, a fellow fire wife, who writes about the life.  :)  I adore the title of her blog because it's so true, as a volunteer fire family, sometimes it seems like life really is between the tones!

Here is the photo used in her post about children and their fears, as well as a few others from that day (this was a couple of years ago...wow, the girls still had such baby faces!)

 

And how much do you LOVE that photo she posted of the teenage girls on the back of an engine?  Keep Back 500 Feet?!  Hilarious!  I'm totally stealing that idea and tucking it away for when my girls are older.

Vinyl Chalkboards

 

I love chalkboards!

 

 

I recently won the "Shut the Front Door to Keep it All In" giveaway (hosted by The Inpsired Room, Infarrantly Creative, and many other fabulous crafty blogs that I could only dream of aspiring to!) and one of the prizes was a gift certificate to Leen the Graphics Queen!

 

I got so many lovely goodies for my walls, and I'll be sure to share them all with you, but for now, I just wanted to show you these sweet little chalkboard decals I selected.  I put them in my daughters rooms, and I plan to get a little white ledge shelf or maybe of those Ikea spice racks to put underneath to hold chalk and an eraser.  Oooh, or maybe some hooks and little metal pails! 

 

The girls leave lots of sweet little notes and draw adorable pictures.  My oldest writes out her daily "to-do" lists! 

 

They are fairy small as far as chalkboards go, but perfect for little hands!  They were so easy to stick to the wall and I love that if we get tired of them or outgrow them we can just peel them off. 

 

Tooth Fairy Magic - Glitter Money

 

The Tooth Fairy has been making quite a few stops at our house lately! 

 

I had seen a fun idea around the web at when a recent tooth was lost, I had to try it!

 

 

I grabbed my can of glitter hairspray (I had purchased for a Fairy Festival, but hey, with two little girls -- who doesn't need glitter hair spray for something now and then?  We use it often, for cheerleading, for Halloween, and just for a little fun!).  I think I got it at Party City. 

 

 

I sprayed the hairspray directly on to a one dollar bill.  I just held it on my hand so I could do both sides at once.  I used my hair dryer on a low setting to quicken the drying process so I could set it down.

 

 

In retrospect, I could have just done one side at a time laying flat on a towel.  But I'm nothing if not impatient!  :) 

 

 

Next, I took some quarters and gave them two coats of glitter nail polish that had a clear base.  I used two different polished just for more glitter/colors. 

 

When my oldest lost her first tooth, my youngest was not yet old enough to understand why the tooth fairy would only leave her sister something, so my oldest suggested that maybe the tooth fairy would leave her something too.  And thus a pattern had begun of the tooth fairy always leaving a little something for the other sibling, even if they hadn't left a tooth out for her. 

 

So, the coins went to my youngest on this particular night, and the dollar went to my oldest who had lost the tooth.  :) 

 

The tooth fairly also leaves "Fairy Money," which is simply the little glass gems used for vase fillers that you can find in bags at any dollar store.  We had gone to a Fairy Festival once and a gorgeous fairy roamed the grounds and gave the children one of these gems when they came to see her.  It was sweet and the kids found it so very magical, that I ran with it. 

 

The tooth fairy also leaves a little trinket (in the photo above, there is a small paper doll magnet set).  I pick up little toys, hair accessories, jewelry randomly for $1 or less and keep it in a box in my closet.  They are used for the tooth fairy, Easter baskets, stocking stuffers, etc.  Very handy for when I don't actually have any dollar bills handy, the tooth fairy always leaves "Fairy Money" but does not always leave glittery human money.  :)

 

Sometimes the tooth fairy leave a tiny note as well, which I also spray with glitter.  :)

 

With the last tooth lost, my daughter even left the tooth fairy a tiny note and picture!  She made it tiny just for the tooth fairy. 

 

Her note translated says "Dear Tooth Fairy, Open this please.  See what is inside."

"This," refers to a little box she uses to put her teeth in so the tooth fairy can always find them.  ;)

 

HI!

Just wanted to pop in and post a quick note to say I'm still alive!! :)

I've been busy lately!  I started babysitting the sweetest little three year old a few days a week... my oldest is still in cheerleading... we've had birthday parties to throw...crafts to do... things to bake...decorating for the holidays... computers that are dead...and holding all my blogging photos hostage!!  It was supposed to be fixed last week, but something came up and it's now been moved to this week.  I'm PRAYING that all of my pictures and videos can be saved!

We've had car trouble, and someone got ahold of our credit card number and went on a spending spree.  FUN STUFF. 

Needless to say...blogging in general has just taken a back burner to life lately.  But I'm still around, and I've not given up!  :)

Sesame Street Live in Hershey PA!

 

Sesame Street Live

“Elmo’s Super Heroes”

Hershey, PA; Hershey Theatre

Friday, January 11 – Sunday, January 13

Calling all super heroes! Super Grover has lost his super-ness! Never fear, the fabulous five Super Heroes are here -- featuring Elmo as Captain Fuzzy! Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Zoe and all their furry friends are on a quest to put the “super” back in Super Grover. Singing and dancing their way through fun lessons on healthy habits, they discover how exercise, rest, nutritious food and good hygiene can save Super Grover -- and turn your children into Super Heroes, too! You’ll be feeling good when Elmo’s Super Heroes! comes to town!

 

 

We are big Sesame Street fans here in the Plus One Times Eleven Million household. I grew up watching Sesame Street, reading Sesame Street books, and I just love it. I'm so glad that Sesame Street is still around for my own children!

 

 

I've always heard such great things about Sesame Street Live, but have not yet been to a show. I'm so excited to be able to take my kiddos next month! If you haven't heard, Sesame Street Live is a larger-than-life, musical touring stage production featuring Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie…and more! Each performance features 90 minutes of singing, dancing and, of course, audience participation! The show also includes a 15-minute intermission, perfect for snack and potty breaks for all the young children attending.

 

 

Next month at Hershey Theater, Sesame Street live will be putting on seven (7) delightful performances! Tickets are on-sale NOW at the box office and all Ticketmaster locations.

 

 

If you'd prefer to order by phone, you can call 800-745-3000.

 

 

Save $3 on tickets with Promo Code http://harrisburgkidsguide.com/coupon.php?bid=10967&lid=13551&dealid=1055®ionid=27

Ticket information:

· Ticket prices: $15, $18, $22, $29 (Gold Circle) & $64 (Sunny Seats).

· Opening Night (Friday, January 11, 7:00 PM)—All seats $10 (excluding Gold Circle and Sunny Seats).

· Group savings available. Groups 10+ call 717-534-3405.

· Get the ultimate fan experience with Sunny Seats!

The Sunny Seats Package includes a VIP Seat and a pre-show Meet & Greet photo opportunity with two Sesame Street Live friends.

· Additional fees/surcharges may apply.

 

 

Performance Schedule:

Friday January 11 10:30 am & 7:00 pm

Saturday January 12 10:30 am & 2:00 pm & 5:30 pm

Sunday January 13 1:00 pm & 4:30 pm

I'm looking forward to the show and maybe I'll see you there!! :)




*I received one or more of the products mentioned above for the purposes of this review through the above mentioned company or representing PR agency. In the event of a giveaway, the prize is shipped by the sponsor and I hold no responsibility. Thank you for reading!

Thumb Print Christmas Ornaments

My kiddos (and I) made these last Christmas. 

Aren't they sweet?!

We made salt dough, and used a glass to cut it into circles.  Then we used a straw to poke a hole in each to hang them with a ribbon.  Then pressed their little fingers into a pattern. 

My youngest chose reindeer, and my oldest wanted to do wreaths. 

Just show them how to make the fingerprints into the design wanted, or help them if they're too little to coordinate it themselves. 

After we baked the ornaments, and let them cool, we used crayons to color in the fingerprints.

Then I used a Sharpie to finish off the reindeer, and the girls asked to use glitter glue!  LOVE the effect of the silver glitter glue for snow under the reindeer.  My oldest did bows and berries with red glitter glue. 

I had them sign the backs, and wrote the year with my beloved Sharpie.

These make GREAT gifts for grandparents!  My kids have FOUR sets of grandparents between my husband's family and my own.  Lucky little ducks!  We made an extra set for Mommy and Daddy too.  <3

Here is a super simple recipe for salt dough.  Feel free to link me to any of you and your kiddos salt dough creations, I'd LOVE to see them!

1 cup of fine salt

1 cup of flour

1/2 cup of water (may add more)

In a large bowl, combine the salt and the flour
Make a well in the salt/flour mixture and add the water
Knead until smooth

Air dry or bake at 200 degrees F