Sunday, April 25, 2010

My princess turns 6.

It really amazes me how quickly time flies; especially when you are watching your children grow up. It's hard to believe Maleah is turning 6. She is slowly getting out of the "little girl" stage and becoming a "big girl".

We started her birthday party out at Kaleidoscope, which is such a fun place for kids to get their creative energies flowin'. They get to make whatever their imaginations can think up using paper, markers, paints, fun cut outs and all kinds of crafty things. It's owned by Hallmark, so all of the materials are from Hallmark's discard or overstock. We then headed over to crown center to enjoy D'Bronx pizza (my fave), cupcakes and present opening. We had such a good time. And I have to say--bragging really--that my friends have some of the cutest darn kids ever. A big thanks to all of you who came to Maleah's party despite the down pouring of rain and the crazy crowds. It was worth it!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Desk redo

Awhile back I got this great little desk at a garage sale for Maleah. We use it occasionally for when we homeschool. I have been wanting to "cheer it up" a bit since it was rather plain. So, here is what I came up with.

This picture was taken right after I put the primer on. I apologize for the bad lighting. It was dark outside.



I lightly sanded the desk and then applied primer. I then painted the whole thing with folkArt acrylic paint. The kind that comes in those little bottles for around $1 at a craft store. The color is Jamaican Sea. I had some fun wrapping paper that matched perfectly so I Mod Podged that to the top, although, that is where things got REALLY tricky. I put the glue on the desk top first and then carefully laid the paper on top. It bubbled up and wrinkled pretty badly. I waited until the next day to see if it got any better after drying. Of course it didn't, so I had to take it off, which was not an easy task. I tried it again, only this time I used a little less glue on the top of the desk and laid the paper down more slowly, starting from the top and working my way down to the bottom. It still bubbled and wrinkled a little but nothing I can't live with. I realized it's the paper. I think scrapbook paper is much easier to work with because it's thicker and not as flimsy as wrapping paper. After getting the paper on top I Mod Podged twice (letting it dry in between coats) over the whole desk, including on top of the paper, to create a nice sealer.

Here is the finished product. I love how bright and cheery it looks, and even better, Maleah loves it!



Friday, April 9, 2010

Stink be gone.

One of the biggest complaints I hear among people (including myself) who use all natural skincare products, you know, the ones without all the nasty chemicals, is that they can't find a natural deodorant that actually works. It's so frustrating. I have been using the Crystal stick for a few years now, which gets me by, but it doesn't work as well as I'd like. Wetness and odor still rear their ugly heads at times. And I refuse to go back to using the conventional kind because of the horrible ingredients that are used in them, namely aluminum. Here are some quick facts about
Aluminum.

1. Aluminum may impact breast cancer risks.

2. Aluminum mimics estrogen.
3. Aluminum is linked to Alzheimer’s.

Yikes! No thanks. That's why I'm so thankful that I found something that actually works. And not only did I find something that works I whipped it up right in my own kitchen with only four ingredients. Here's the recipe:

1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup of arrowroot powder
4 Tbs. melted coconut oil
10 drops of essential oil (I used Lavender but Grapefruit would be luscious too)

Mix the baking soda and arrowroot powder together. Then add the coconut oil and essential oil to this mixture with a fork, stirring until you get a creamy consistency. Put into a glass container such as a baby food jar or something of that nature. Let the mixture firm up a bit by leaving it sit on the counter (which works in the colder seasons) or place in fridge for a few minutes. To apply, just scoop up a bit on your fingers and and place on the skin to let it melt and then rub it around.

This stuff really works! It even feels like regular deodorant. And I love how it smells.

Here's to no more stinky pits!
























Sunday, April 4, 2010

Easter 2010

Today was a very relaxing Easter for us. We went to church and heard a good message and then hung out with awesome friends. I'm so grateful we don't have to walk out this journey called life alone.

We started out with lunch in the back yard...
and what would Sunday brunch be without Mimosas?

we then hid eggs for the girls to find. The dads hid the eggs so they were found rather quickly.




we ended our day with a 2.5 mile walk on the walking trail. What a great way to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord!


here are a few pics we took before church: