DIY Dinosaur Activity Books

My sweet little girly girl wants a dinosaur themed birthday party.
It all started last year when we stopped at the bakery to order a castle cake for her 3rd birthday.
She saw the most amazing dinosaur cake and wanted it.

Bad.

I reminded her that we were here to get the castle cake.
She thought about it for a couple of minutes then said,

"Okay, but next year I want the dinosaur cake!"

The girl wasn't even 3 yet!

So for the next 10 months, at least once a month, she brought up her dinosaur birthday party!

Talk about tenacious!



She's always loved dinosaurs though so I'm not really too surprised she wants a dino birthday party.

With her party coming up in about a month, I've been hunting around trying to figure out what kind of inexpensive party favors I can put together this year.

I decided to include little dinosaur activity books I made as part of the party favors.


Materials needed:
Dinosaur Activity Book
Scanner
Printer
Mod Podge
Paint brush
PowerPoint or Openoffice Impress
4 sheets of 8 1/2" x 14" paper per book



1. I found a dinosaur activity book with perforated pages for ages 3-6 (like Teachers use in their classrooms) on Amazon.
2. Then I scanned and saved all the pages.
3. I opened PowerPoint, changed my paper size to 8 1/2" x 14", and then re-sized each picture (7.5"H x 6.42"W) so they would fit side-by-side.
4. I put together a total of 8 pages, including the cover page. I made sure to save each page so I'd have them for future projects.

5. Next I printed each page on both sides of a 8 1/2" x 14" sheet of paper.
6. After I printed enough pages to create 6 books, I folded each sheet in half.



7. Using the paint brush, I applied Mod Podge down the center crease of each page, and then glued all four pages together.
8. Make sure to let the glue dry before folding the entire book in half.

All done!



Totally kid-approved!

Serenity had fun completing the test activity book before she went to bed.

She told me that she wants to do another book tomorrow.

I guess that means she likes it!

Stay tuned for more DIY dinosaur themed birthday party favors!

Have fun!!

Crocheted Hair Bow

I made this sweet crocheted hair bow by following Happy Together's helpful step-by-step picture tutorial.

Inexpensive and quick - it's a fun project that'll appeal to both beginners and experts.

These would make adorable gifts for any occasion!

I plan to make a few more to giveaway as party favors at Serenity's 4th birthday party.

So click over to Happy Together to make a few for your daughter, granddaughter, niece, or friend today!

UPDATE:

Your hair bow results will depend on the type of yarn and size crochet hook you're using.

My advice would be to practice with different weight yarns and hook sizes.

Have fun!

Squinkies! (Birthday Party Favors)

While I was at Target the other day I spotted these (sorry about the blurry photo I took it with my iPhone!):

Squinkies! They are eeney teeny tiny squishy figurines that come in small globes, similar to the ones I put my Fairy Dolls in and that gave me an idea!

I think they would be cute, inexpensive party favors for Serenity's 4th birthday this year! They are very easy and fun to make, so little kids can help too!

For only $8.99, you can get 16 Squinkies, so I think I'll make 8 bracelets and 8 necklaces for a darling jewelry set to put in the birthday party bags.

Serenity's OOAK upcycled dress is handmade by the original courtneycourtney!

Here's what you need to make them:

1MM Stretch Magic cord

Plastic Beads

Squinkies

You can find Stretch Magic and a huge tub of very interesting assorted plastic beads at Michaels. I can't remember the exact price for the beads and cord, but it's not too much.

Wal-Mart is another great place to find inexpensive beads - they have a large selection of plastic pony and assorted beads.

The tub of beads at Michaels is my first pick when making jewelry for kids since it's filled with so many fun shapes! My tub has stars, seahorses, hearts, letters, fish, flowers, seashells, butterflies, giraffes, lions and rhinoceroses!

Next, you'll need to measure off how long you'd like the necklaces and bracelets to be (allow a little extra room for the knot), let your little girl thread the beads on the cord, tie it to a Squinkie globe, and then trim the ends.

The little globes have two tiny holes on the top and bottom so it works out perfectly when you attach the Stretch Magic. I just tied it in a knot and pull tight. You could add a dot of clear nail polish to help secure the knot too.

That's it!

Sweet little accessories for a birthday party, dress up, or anytime - and your little girl will have fun making them for her friends!

Click over Squinkie's website to find more Squinkie fun!

UPDATE:

Check out this cute Squinkies video review by My Name is Momma:

Serenity's OOAK upcycled dress is handmade by the original courtneycourtney!

Have fun!

2-in-1 Potette Plus Review

Recently I bought the 2-in-1 Potette Plus travel potty to keep in my minivan. The seat folds up fairly small and flatish, and has it's own carrying baggie. I'll probably use the seat mostly for when I can't find a restroom quick enough, but of course it's perfect for traveling - no matter how long the trip. With Summer here, everybody travels more - I plan to make a few trips too!

I found the price of the travel potty ($16) to be very reasonable and it works great. The plus model doubles as a toilet trainer seat, which I haven't used and really don't plan to. I probably should've just bought the regular seat for $10 instead. Still, the seat is well-made and sturdy. Just make sure you snap the legs in place before your child sits on it.

The seat comes with 3 little bags. They have a small absorbent pad inside each bag. On Amazon, a 10-pack of refills is $5. Now to me, that's pretty expensive - especially when you consider how many you'd need to buy for a single trip!

So, I bought a 60-pack of Evenflo breast pads for less than $5 and gathered a bunch of used Wal-Mart plastic bags. I pre-loaded a dozen bags (don't forget to check for holes!) with 2 breast pads each (you might be able to get away with using just one), and stuck them in the back of my van with the potty seat. I keep cheap flushable wipes back there too.

The homemade bags work perfectly! Make sure you tie the bag tightly and then throw it in the nearest trash can when you're done. Simple and cheap!

Here's a picture of the seat in the back of my van rigged with the Wal-Mart bag/breast pad combo:

Below is a picture of the seat with the refills made to fit it. Can you see the absorbent pad in the bag? I haven't tried the refills yet, since I wanted to see if the Wal-Mart bag/breast pad combo would work first, but from the Amazon reviews they appear to do their job. But they are so expensive!

I like that I can put the seat in the back of my van and not worry about yucky spills. Serenity can also get on and off the potty with a little more privacy too. Although, when the back of my van is full of stuff, it's really not that big of a deal to position the seat next to the van so no one can see Serenity getting on and off the potty.

I think this this is an excellent seat to keep in your car for traveling or long trips around town. It doesn't matter if your toddler is just learning to potty or a pro - or maybe you don't like public restrooms (lets face it, some of them can be pretty nasty), when the time comes - you'll be glad you have this seat in your trunk!

Have fun!!

Kid-Tested & Approved iPod Apps

When apps for kids start off at FREE on up, it's kinda hard not to want to try one everyday! As I've blogged about before, I think the iTouch is a wonderful device for kids. The educational Apps that you can get are so incredibly cheap, and they will keep your child occupied and learning for hours!

Ideal for car trips, airplane rides, restaurants, grocery store, etc.

One thing I can't stress enough, is to make sure your child's iTouch is well protected. They will eventually drop it!

The new Otterbox Defender case is now available for only $29.95.

Get one - it works!

For $30 you're keeping a $200 investment well insulated from harm when it's being tossed around and dropped by your toddler/preschooler. Serenity has dropped her iTouch (while it was in the Defender case thank goodness) from shopping carts (several times now) and it's not the least bit damaged! You can't ask for better than that!

The only thing that I might have a small teeny tiny gripe with the Defender case, is that some headphone jacks won't fit with it on. Only jacks that are straight (like on the Kidz Gear and Fisher Price headphones), not the ones with bent jacks like the Caliphone headphones. I have used an adapter for Serenity's Panda Caliphones since they are so comfortable for her to use and it works fine.

Okay, now on to the new Apps Serenity has tested and approved of recently!

Miss Spider's Tea Party ($4.99) - This is one that she plays everyday since I've loaded it on her iTouch. So much to do with this App. There is a wonderful story about Miss Spider looking for a bug to have tea with her (they are scared of her 'cause she's a spider after all!), an interactive story that's lots of fun, and games like memory match, puzzles and painting. Definitely a good buy!

Olivia (2.99) - Another favorite of Serenity's. We got it when it was first introduced for only 99¢. Lots of fun painting, and then the paintings become animated. All right!

Super Why (2.99) - This one is a little advanced for Serenity, but that doesn't matter to her - she still thinks it's a blast to play. First you pick your Super Hero character, then you learn to spell (and write) in a interesting way. It teaches her to listen to a story and then find the correct answers. She's having fun with it, even if she doesn't get every one right.

Rosita's Jump Count (1.99) - This one is too funny. Learn to count in Spanish while playing jump rope. It's so cute to watch Serenity jump while playing this App!

K-Magic (FREE) - All of K-Magic's Apps are wonderful and FREE! Serenity likes playing them - and you just can't beat free!

iWash My Dogs Lite (FREE) - A silly little App. First you "wash" the dog, then you "rinse", "dry" and last you "brush" the dog until it's "all sparkly clean" like Serenity says! If you buy the App you'll get more dogs - but for toddlers and preschoolers I think the free App is just fine to keep them interested.

Kid's Maze (99¢) - A neat labyrinth game that helps them to count and teaches hand/eye coordination. It takes some concentration and it holds her attention.

BalloonMaker (99¢) - Cute, fun, and what kid can resist balloons? Touch the screen to blow up a balloon - touch the balloon to pop it. Turn the iTouch to watch the balloons "float" to the top too!

Bert's Bag ($2.99) - Use your finger to open the bag, shake the iTouch to make the bag dump the stuff inside, then touch the objects to count them. Kids have to learn to listen to directions, and it teaches them how to count. Another fun interactive educational game.

Fish School (99¢) - Tap the screen to get the fish to form different letters, then a woman's pleasant voice "sings" out each letter. Touch the letters in the left-hand corner and the narrator tells you what the letter stands for: J is for jellyfish. Cute game.

Make A Martian (FREE) - create your own Martian! Hundreds of options! Lots of FREE fun!

Count TV ($2.99) - Sesame Street's The Count goes through 9 different interactive Sesame Street videos (some from really old shows) and teaches your child to count up to nine. Very entertaining!

Alphabet Tracing (FREE) - Follow a tiny train with your finger to trace over each letter. Great little FREE program!

Glow Coloring (FREE) - So neat! Change neon colors, use stamps, use your own pictures, and more. You can pay 99¢ to remove the ads too. The ads aren't all that annoying - besides it's FREE!

Mega Jump (99¢) - Crazy, wacky game that you tilt side to side to move the little guy and collect coins so he can jump high. The more coins you collect the higher he jumps. Takes a little getting used to (for me not Serenity), but quickly becomes addicting.

Nick Jr.'s A to Z ($1.99) - Serenity loves everything Nick Jr. so this one was a no-brainer. I knew when I saw it she'd be hooked! Find hidden letters - big and small, plenty enough on this game to keep your preschooler playing for hours.

The Cat in the Hat ($2.99) - A classic book now available for the iTouch! Your child can have the book read to her and when she touches different things in the picture, words pop up and the narrator reads them to your child. A wonderful way to learn new sight words.

Team Umizoomi ($1.99) - Nick Jr.! Of course Serenity loves this one too. Learn patterns and shapes. Lots to do and lots of fun!


That's all this time. I'll probably have more posts like this one in the future since I love finding new Apps and so does Serenity!

UPDATE:
In response to one follower's question: Serenity's iPod usually has around 7 full pages of Apps, it'll hold 9 pages, but I tend to take off Apps she doesn't play often - after I've okayed it with her first! One page is full of Apps that came with the iTouch and you can't take them off (unless you jailbreak it).

Each page holds 16 Apps, and even if you subtract the 16 of Apps that come with the device, that's still 96 Apps! Apps won't take up all that much room on an iTouch so you could probably put 9 full pages and still have plenty of room for other stuff. Nine full pages of Apps is a whapping 144 Apps!

Serenity's iTouch is a 16GB (we actually switched with my MIL for the bigger iTouch when she got an iPhone), and I've put videos, music, movies, and TV shows on there too. It's packed!

Have fun!

And the WINNER is...

Ticia!

Congratulations!

I just sent you an email - be sure to check your spam folder if you don't see it!

Please email me your mailing address so I can mail off your new Tangle Teezer Magic Flowerpot!

As an extra bonus, I'll be adding a few of my clippies!

I hope your little girl likes her prize!


A HUGE thank you to everyone who entered!


Please stay tuned for a NEW giveaway next week!

Have fun!

GIVEAWAY: Tangle Teezer Magic Flowerpot!

Tangle Teezer Magic Flowerpot!

One of my readers will have the chance to win this adorable new brush from Tangle Teezer! This is perfect for all kids, but I especially love it for Serenity since she can brush her hair by herself and I don't have to worry about her getting a brush hopelessly tangled in all those pretty curls!

I can brush through my own hair using the Tangle Teezer in like 30 seconds, but my hair is fine with just a little curl. The Tangle Teezer shows what it really can do in my DD's hair - Serenity's curls are a serious challenge and the Tangle Teezer performs better than any other brush I've ever used!

To see what Serenity's hair looks like before and after using our Tangle Teezer, check out my blog post, Taming that Mane!


To Enter:
Leave a comment telling me who'd give the Magic Flowerpot to!


POST-IT-NOTE: You don't need a blogger account to enter. You can enter under "anonymous" just make sure to leave a valid email address so I can contact you if you win!

Extra Entries:
*Leave a Separate Comment for each!*

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Example: He was on...!


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or
I've been stalking you forever!

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If you're already a follower, don't forget to leave a comment too!
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7. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment (and a link) telling me you did!
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8. Share this Giveaway on Facebook and leave a comment (and a link) telling me you did!
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9. Blog about this Giveaway and leave a comment (and a link) telling me you did!
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10. Purchase any product at Tangle Teezer's Ebay store (or online store) you're eligible for 10 extra entries! Just make sure to leave your transaction # in your comments.
Example: I made a purchase at Tangle Teezer! Trans. #1234 (Comment #1)


That's a grand total of 20 chances to WIN!

Rules:

1. Everyone is eligible to enter - no matter where you live!
2. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, June 2nd at 12AM (Central time).
3. Make sure to leave your email address in your comment if it isn't available through your blog or profile! I need to be able to contact you if you win!


Have fun and Good luck!

Two Years In CC!

I first discovered courtneycourtney on ZozoBugBaby's blog at the beginning of last year and was blown away with Courtney's amazing creative abilities. The dresses Courtney designs are the result of over 5 years of hard work - and of course lots of pure raw talent!

Her work is art - and it certainly appeals to every little girl! They want to wear her designs not only because are they comfortable, but because each dress is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Every little Princess loves knowing her dress is extra special because she's the only girl who has one like it!

Serenity gets compliments on her CCs from adults everywhere we go, but the sweetest compliments come from other little girls - they adore her CCs! They always want to touch Serenity's dress too - it's so cute to see them do that!

One of the best features of a CC is how long they will fit your child. If a dress becomes too short, just pair it with cute leggings, skirt, or blue jeans and you've got a whole new look. After a couple of years, a CC tunic dress becomes a shirt and will look great with shorts, capris, a skirt, or leggings.

For a CC to survive a whole year of wear on a toddler or young child means it has to be pretty durable too and our CCs have held up in the wash just great.

On the left of both pictures Serenity is wearing a CC from last year, and on the right she's wearing the same CC this year.

I hope y'all enjoyed looking at the pictures!

Have fun!

TRESemmé Naturals Silicone-Free Conditioner

Everybody who reads my blog knows how much I love the Curly Q line - it's just the BEST! But buying the whole line can get expensive so I'm always trying new things in Serenity hair.

I've been using Herbal Essences Hello Hydration conditioner to wash and condition Serenity's hair, but a couple of weeks ago while in Target I spotted TRESemmé Naturals silicone-free conditioner. It was less than $5 for a BIG 25 ounce bottle and I thought, why not? So I grabbed a bottle.

Well let me say that I LOVE THIS STUFF! It's amazing that this product works as good as it does for less than $5!

I've been using it every other day for 2 weeks to wash and condition Serenity's hair. Basically all I do is apply it all over her hair (I sorta squeeze it into her curls), leave it in for 5 minutes, brush using the Tangle Teezer and then rinse. Next I apply about a quarter-size amount as a leave-in conditioner. I'm still using Curly Q's Moist Curls for tangles (but I find I don't have to use as much). On the days I don't wash, I just apply about a quarter-size (or more depending on what's needed) to Serenity's curls along with Moist Curls. It actually does a good job as a leave-in conditioner, it doesn't weigh down her hair at all and leaves it so soft.

Except for using Curly Q's Moist Curls as a detangler and Gel-les'c to hold her curls in place after I've styled it, I haven't used anything else for the past two weeks - I wanted to see how well Naturals would work.

I noticed a difference right away! I mean immediately - its amazing the results I'm getting with this product. With this unbelievably cheap product!

I got curious about what exactly some of those big-named ingredients were - so I Googled it.

The blog, My Journey Back to Natural has an excellent and extremely detailed post about all the ingredients in TRESemmé Naturals. It's so helpful! Mikimu breaks down each ingredient and explains exactly what they mean. Nice!

I also checked out a few TRESemmé Naturals reviews on youtube:



Now I have to say that while Curly Q's is my personal favorite, I'm sure I'm not the only one who can't afford to use their entire line every day, so I'm very excited to find a highly acceptable substitute!

TRESemmé Naturals Silicone-Free Conditioner does an amazing job and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Serenity's hair will continue to do good with this product.

Have you tried it? Let me know what you think too!

POST-IT-NOTE:
I followed a leave-in conditioner tip I found over at Measured by the Heart using TRESemmé conditioner and it works great!
I put the conditioner in an empty Blended Cutie Satin Style Reviver spray bottle.
Satin Style Reviver is awesome - but $16 for an 8 ounce bottle.
I go through an 8 ounce bottle in no time, so I can't always afford that price.
Making my "own" using TRESemmé conditioner is much cheaper and it works!

Have fun!

Is Your Sunscreen Bad For You?

In the recent article "Study: Many Sunscreens May Be Accelerating Cancer", Mr. Andrew Schneider reports that the researchers at Environmental Working Group (EWG) lists only 39 of the 500 products safe to use in their annual report to consumers.

Oh yeah - you read that right!

Crazy huh?

Go read the article, it's a real eye-opener.

So how do you know if your sunscreen is safe?

The EWG has put together an excellent list of the best sunscreens on the market today.

You can also look up the sunscreen you're currently using to see if it's safe.

I've been using Aveeno Continuous Protection Active Sunblock Spray, SPF 70 and was totally satisfied with it - until I saw it rated a 7! That's with 10 being the worst!

Needless to say it's in the garbage now!

Don't forget to check your sunscreen today.

Have fun!

Happy Mother's Day!

Painting by Katie M. Berggren

Longing for a child to love,
I'd wish upon the stars above.
In my heart I always knew,
A part of me was meant for you.

I think how happy we will be,
Once I adopt you, and you adopt me.

I dream of all the joy you'll bring,
Imagining even the littlest things.
The way it will feel to hold you tight
and tuck you in every night.

The drawings on the refrigerator door
and childhood toys across the floor,
The favorite stories read again and again
and hours of fun with make believe friends.

The day you took my outstretched hand
A journey ended but our love began.
Still mesmerized by your sweet face
Still warmed inside by our first embrace.

I promised to give you a happy home
and a loving family all your own.
A house you've now made complete
with laughter,smiles and tiny feet.

A parent is one who guides the way
Know I will be there every day
Rest easy as each night you sleep
A lifetime of love is yours to keep

Longing for a child to love
I'd wish upon the stars above.
In my heart I always knew
A part of me belonged to you.

-author unknown


Happy Mother's Day!

And the WINNERS are...

Kira, The Jordans and Kim!


Congratulations!

I just sent y'all an email (or left a comment on your blog)! If you don't see it - check your Spam folder!

Please make sure to contact me with your mailing address so Sidewinder Hair Holders can mail off your prize!


A HUGE thank you to everyone who entered!


Please stay tuned for a NEW giveaway this week!

Have fun!

Sunday Planting

Serenity and I planted flowers, a tree, and some "Magic Beans" today. Serenity really did most of it, I was just on hand to take pictures and help her pour the the water.

First we started with the Magic Beans from the Jack and the Beanstalk Adventure by GWMG. We planted them in the Jiffy Greenhouse. It was very easy - just add warm water to expand the soil pods, widen the opening on the netting around the the top of the soil pods, and planted two Magic Beans per pod. Then you place the dome cover on it and place in a warm spot out of the sun until the seeds sprout. So simple!

You can share the growth of your Magic Beans with other GWMG fans on Facebook too. Kim is wonderful and I love seeing pictures of all the kids' progress!

The Jack and the Beanstalk Adventure kit is great. The growth chart that comes with the kit is so beautiful. The whimsical artwork was created especially for the Jack and the Beanstalk Adventure theme by Emily Marino. Kim always has the best ideas to interest your child in growing things and it's a fun way to spend quality time with them too!

Next up was a Blue Spruce tree from Earth Friends. I bought Serenity's new rag doll, Malia from them and she came with her very own backpack fill with a soil pod and Blue Spruce seeds.

Have you seen these beautiful earth-friendly handcrafted rag dolls? They are made from eco-friendly recycled and natural materials. Their hair is made from thick cotton, their skin is hemp, their clothes are organic cotton and recycled cotton blends, and their stuffing is recycled plastic containers. And they are very cuddly too! All nine of their dolls has a little and big version - Serenity has the bigger Malia, she's so pretty. Go check out their FB Earth Friends Fan page too!

We put the soil pod in a bowl, filled it with warm water and waited about 15 minutes for it to expand. Then we transferred the pod to a little plate (Serenity used her Green Toys saucer), and she planted three Blue Spruce seeds. Very easy, fun and a great project for a preschooler.

Last was the Indoor Gardening Kit by Green Toys. I love Green Toys! Their stuff is made from recycled milk jugs and it's so durable and tough.

The Gardening kit comes with a trowel, three pots and a tray, three soil pods, and some organic seeds. We didn't plant those today. Serenity wanted to plant flowers instead so I let her pick some out at Wal-Mart yesterday.

Just like the other two projects, we poured warm water over the soil pods and waited for them to expand. It took about 20 minutes. Then Serenity planted flower seeds in each pot.

These are so easy and fun for your preschooler or child of any age. Serenity felt a huge sense of accomplishment planting her seeds almost all by herself. I helped a little with the water and fluffing up the soil, but she basically did it all herself.

I'm not much of a gardener - I tend to ignore whatever I plant, but Serenity really loves it. I'm thinking about setting up a small area so she can plant more flowers and plants. I believe she would really enjoy have her own "garden"!


Have fun!