Box Full of Fun

I don't know if you have heard of this company or not, but I had heard some good reviews.  I ordered one for a birthday present for a friend of the Toddler, apparently it was a great gift.  There was a sale going on for 75% off the first box for a monthly subscription or year's membership.  I sat on it for quite awhile, and then decided to go for it.

They are designed for ages 3-6, and I thought it would be perfect to help keep the Toddler active and help me come up with new ideas of things to do with him. Many of the reviewers also used it for their 2 year olds, so by the end of the year I expect both boys to be enjoying it.  There is a sibling add on pack too, for now we will just stick with the one though.

  Each box is supposed to contain four major components.

1. Create: 2-3 hands on projects with all materials included
2. Explore: themed project to engage your kiddo with their surroundings
3. Story tell: a new book in each box
4. Connect: prepaid interactive learning app to download

The starter theme is Sun, Moon, and Stars.

Scissors...yikes!

For the Create portion: a paper mache moon shaped nightlight and a star frame

For the Explore portion:  binoculars and lunar calendar, to learn about the moon phases

For Story Tell: A Twinkle Star book

For Connect: a fun app that lets the boys play twinkle twinkle little star on the piano IPad

Apparently every box comes with a parent gift, so I scored a wine stopper.

Info on downloading the app.  This one allows the kids to play with a virtual keyboard teaching them to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  Its pretty cute.

The Toddler's new favorite activity after we get home is to run outside with his binoculars and find the moon and then record it on the chart.  He has also been sleeping with the binoculars, they are his prize (surprise).  I'm hoping this will be a something we all look forward to every month, heading into the winter months more activity ideas should always be winning.

Progress on the paper mache moon
The Toddler was only interested in popping balloons and didn't want to get his hands dirty.

For a better review/wrap up, here is the video sneak peak of the box.  I love that before you even get it, an email tells you what to expect.

No Daycare, No Work, No Problem

Daycare was closed on Tuesday ...which I found out about after 20 minutes of waiting for someone to show up.*Sigh* I admit to feeling pretty hot under the collar about the whole thing.  But it was just a mix-up, something must be goofy with my voicemail because I was left a message.

With an unexpected day home with the kids it was like a mini-vacation though.  Why it is that I get more joy, more done, and more everything out of one day at home than in an entire weekend?  I feel like I am a better parent, more attentive, and do a better job of keeping up on the house and cooking.  It's an odd phenomenon.  Every time it happens I have the SAHM dream. (My mantra comes into play..."maybe after this deployment is over we can re-evaluate"...is the idea growing on you yet Hubby?)

While the boys were down for naps (At.The.Same.Time! It was amazing!) I had a crafty/DIY day.  A few little changes really can make a big impact on a room.  I focused on the living-room for the day.  Going on 2 years its about time I got into decorate and make it our home mode.

Project #1: DIY Curtain Rods (progress)

• I have been talking about and planning doing this for so long! Last time I was in the big city I picked up some conduit (10ft~$2/piece), spray paint and primer (~$3-4/can) and some double curtain rod hardware (~$10/2 pieces)
• Did you do the math?  About $20 for a double curtain rod (less if you have stuff on hand or budget shop better).  What is brilliant is that if it doesn't work out as well as I am hoping, I'm not out that much! (The idea came from here)
• Anyway I hung up the first set of homemade rods and added the curtains (bought on sale and/or clearance) on Wednesday over my lunch hour...because I decided to wait for the kids to go to sleep for this part and then I didn't get it done.  I should have thrown my new curtains in the dryer to get out the creases and wrinkles...but I didn't.  I was too excited to see the results!
• I have one more set to make for the living-room...this set will require the use of a pipe-cutter....I am also scheming about replacing the Kitchen ones too!

Proof why something needed done
(Rusty, missing, falling apart track system)

Upgraded to a double rod setup.  Sheers and Curtains.
I like the layered look, and I think it was $20-ish bucks well spent.

The next window on my to my To Do List
(Sad looking guy huh?)

Project #2: Wall Art/Pinterest Inspiration

• I started this little project quite a while ago.  As far as I got was ordering a barnwood frame from Hobby Lobby and cutting a piece of cardboard from a diaper box and covering it in burlap.
• The original plan was to stencil a quote on it.
• "Unless you are God or George Straight Take Off Your Boots"
• Total planned ripoff from Pinterest
• I traced out the letters on a blank piece of paper the same size and they ended up not fitting the way I would have liked.
• Then I remembered I had a decorative key picked up a while back (I am obsessed with skeleton keys, I can't help it: I love them!) and had been playing around with ideas for what to do with it.
• Out came the hot glue gun, and I gotta say I love the finished product!  It now lives on my living-room wall.

Project #3: Bookshelf Pegs

• I removed the bottom few shelves from the bookshelf earlier to keep the Big D from climbing up.  It wasn't working for us though.  I needed the storage...however I lost some of the metal pegs.
• I had gone to our local Hardware Hank to buy new ones...but they didn't have the right size.  Apparently our bookshelf has oddball hardware.  
• I picked up a piece of wooden dowel that was the same diameter (aka - tiny) and broke out my permanent marker.  I made tick marks to match the same length of the original metal pegs and cut new ones using my handy dandy kitchen shears (I am absolutely certain other tools would work better...like a small saw)
• In the end though...cheap fix.  Cost me under $1 and 5 minutes of my time :)

Bonus Project: Wall Art/Monogram

• I ordered a monogram from Southern Proper Monograms in July and it finally came mid-August.  The custom monogram comes in unfinished birch.
• My original plan was to paint it white and get/make a grapevine wreath and add a few more decorations for a nice piece for the door.
• I ended up just spray painting it black and hanging it up in our living room.

Have you done any fun/simple/cheap little projects that made a big impact lately?
Do you find that an unexpected day home is more enjoyable than a planned one?

Bookworm Crushes

This is what I have been drooling over lately!  How perfect is a tree inspired bookshelf?  A nice cozy reading nook is wanting to find its way into my home, I am positive! I'm not ready to fork over the moolah just yet, but I have been perusing the internet for inspiration.  I'm thinking I might be able to talk a certain family member with woodworking skills to come up with something for me....maybe in time for the Toddler's 3rd birthday this fall? {*ahem*, hint, hint, Uncle D...*cough, cough*}

Babyletto Spruce Tree Bookcase in white or green:

Tree Branch Shelf

Hanging chair from tree bookshelf

One step closer to crafting

***Edited to add pictures of fabrics & project***

I was talking to my mom about learning how to sew, she gave me a funny look and told me she never enjoyed it...and then gave me her sewing machine and everything she has to go with it !!!  I had told my hubby I was going to start getting lessons from his grandma, but was hesitant to buy a sewing machine until I knew I would actually use it.  (Insider story: my MIL made my FIL buy her an expensive fancy sewing machine when they first got married that apparently is rarely used and is a source of complaint to this day)

So I also had scored a deal on fabric from http://www.girlcharlee.com/ and caught a sale at a fabric store when visiting my sister.  My mom had me drop off the sewing machine to get oiled and adjusted, a basic service job to make sure it was working properly.  So soon I will have my own sewing machine and projects to begin!  I did a tally last week and realized that besides me, I know of 19 other people having babies in 2011 ! Technically 5 have already had their babies, so I better kick it into gear with presents for the baby boom.

From Local Fabric Store

Jersey Knits from GirlCharlee.com

More from GirlCharlee.com

Lycra from GirlCharlee.com

As I am a beginner I'm going to start with burp clothes, I figure it doesn't matter as much if the seams aren't perfect and it is a useful gift. Wish me luck, I will post pictures as soon as I get my sewing machine back from the shop and get a chance to take it for a spin.

1st sewing project: Burp Rag

Future Projects I am dying to try

Okay, so whilst browsing around in blogworld I came across a few tutorials that I want to try and make.  Hopefully I can get somewhere and pick up some material.  I'm going to see if I can arrange for my MIL or SIL to help watch Josh while I get some sewing lessons from my G-MIL.  I would love to say one night a week get a babysitter, but I have a feeling Great Grandma probably wants to see my little urchin - so maybe come along and visit/baby watcher help would be more appropriate.

Anyway, things I want to try: (sorry no pictures, but I will definitely post them after making them)

1)Baby seat cover: totally want one for my new bundle, and possibly my baby present gifts to the other 6 mommas-to-be i know of
http://www.make-it-do.com/sew-it/baby-car-seat-cover-tutorial/

2)Baby Shoes:
out of jeans:
http://www.prudentbaby.com/2010/01/diy-baby-shoes-recycled-from-old-jeans.html

out of cloth:
http://www.allcrafts.net/f.php?url=stardustshoes.blogspot.com/2006/10/cloth-shoe-pattern.html
http://www.michaelmillerfabrics.com/blog/cloth_shoe.pdf

out of soft leather: I loved Robeez for Josh - but the price - ouch!
http://www.allcrafts.net/f.php?url=www.chloetoesboutique.com/store/WsPages.asp?ID=5


3)Baby Bath Apron: would be great for the new little baby, as I'm sure he/she will be getting plenty of kitchen sink baths :)
http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/bath-apron?lnc=234d758a65cee010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&rsc=taxonomylist_crafts_crafts-for-babies

4)Lined Canvas Bins (from Diaper Boxes!): I have really wanted canvas lined storage, but balk at the price everytime, then I came across these.  You have to check them out - adorable, and made from empty diaper boxes - which I have a ton of!
http://www.positivelysplendid.com/2011/02/lets-make-something-together-lined.html

5)Lots of nursery ideas: toying with the idea of making my own bedding for the new baby
http://kindredspiritmommy.com/diy-sewing-for-your-babys-nursery-tutorial-roundup-part-1/

A few other sites I found inspiration from and may be trying out new ideas from:
http://www.make-your-own-baby-stuff.com/
http://www.made-by-rae.com/