Aquadoodle pen

Have you ever needed to do a mass mailing?  Invites, thank yous, fundraiser letters, etc. In the past 6 months we had to do a few mailings for the kid's school and church fundraisers that we are helping with.  When I started to get everything ready for the first mailing, I thought about what I was going to use to close the envelopes.  I wasn't about to lick all the envelopes shut and I didn't know if I could bring them to a post office to have them run through a machine? And I didn't have any stickers I could use. So, I decided I would try the aquadoodle pen.  It worked WONDERFULLY!  All I had to do was fill the pen with water, and run it over the adhesive strip and close.  If you don't have one or haven't seen one, the link and image is below.  The kids use it with their aquadoodle pad and mat.  It is basically a plastic pen that holds water and then simulates a marker on the mat/pad. I am sure people that do mass mailings all the time have a better tool but this didn't cost me a thing, I already had it in the house and it couldn't have worked better!

It would be perfect for sending out graduation announcements, wedding invitations, thank yous, etc. 

Plastic placemat ideas

I can't resist buying items that can be used in MANY ways and my plastic placemats are just one example.  I picked up a few placemats about a year ago to use on the table when the girls were coloring, but I have found so many more uses for them.

Here are a few:

• Cutting Boards - They are so easy to store and clean and they are thick enough to use for cutting.
• White boards - The mats I have are mostly clear with a little design on them and they can write on them, color, etc, and I can just wipe it off.
• Craft mats - We do most of our coloring, painting, playdoh, etc. on the mats to reduce the cleanup on the table/counter
• Actual Placemats - For eating/snacking - there is something that makes using a placemat to eat so much more fun for a young child.
• Baking mats
• Play Kitchen/House - The girls use them in their play kitchen as well as when they are playing "babies"

If you are looking for a good disposable placemat for when you are in a public place, my sister has used these and they are really neat.  They adhere on all sides so your toddler won't be able to pull it off.

Wall Letters

My sister has a knack for crafts.  When we had our last two daughters she did these WONDERFUL wall letters for in their room.  It was a long process, but what a beautiful end result - we are very grateful.  It makes the whole room!  I am hoping the style and colors will be appropriate and "cool" enough for the girls to want to keep them in their room for a very long time.  I know their Aunt spent quite a few hours on them so they will always be treasured, at least by me if not the girls.

If you like these and are interested in learning how to do them or would like my sister to do some letters for you, just let me know and I will get you her contact information.  They also make a great gift.

Getting away!

As I prepare for a long weekend in Arizona with some great girlfriends, I am thinking about how great it is going to be to get away!  The past few weeks have been crazy busy and our trip couldn't have come at a better time.

I think it is so important to take time away; whether it is with family, your husband or girlfriends.  Being away from your daily tasks and the people that you love really makes you appreciate them on another level.  It is no easy feat getting away having four little ones and a husband to leave behind, but I have wonderful friends and family that are going to help out so that I don't have to worry about a thing.  Sometimes it is easier to just skip these little trips because of all the hassle getting everyone at home settled and prepared, but once you are there and can truly relax thinking about YOUR needs only, it is so worth it!

I get away quite a few weekends a year actually, and I am very grateful that I can.  I normally go on 2 or 3 scrapbook weekends, a mother/daughter weekend with my sisters and Mom, a friend weekend and Mike and I get away 1 or 2 times a year for a whole weekend. I have a wonderful and understanding husband that holds down the fort while I am gone and he gets help from family when he needs it. Don't feel bad for him, he gets away too.  He is a big hunter and often he is gone a few weekends in Sept and Oct and then most of the month of November.  So even though it may seem that I am gone more, I just spread my "me" time throughout the year and be packs it in to one hunting season.

When I come back from my "me" time away, I feel so thankful, refreshed and ready to tackle the tasks of everyday life again. There really is no place like HOME!

Many uses for fishing supplies

I have heard the saying "If you can't get it at Fleet Farm then you don't really need it."  The store does have a lot of stuff, but I don't think I could live on just that store alone.  They do have great items including fishing organizers that can be used for scrapbooking and organizing toys!

Here is a lure organizer being used to seperate all the little beads that the girls have to make their own necklaces.  It works great!

The picture below is of something that is used for fishing and I am embarrassed to say that I don't even know what for!?  Some of my scrapbooking friends introduced it to me and we use them to store our ribbon. I am displaying the bigger size with wider ribbon but they also have a smaller one that works perfect for the narrower ribbon.

Next time you are near a Fleet Farm, stop in, you might be surprised what you find. Things are not always what they seem, you can always find a new use for something.

So much better than a "normal" pizza cutter

I have been cutting up my kid's food for years but using this kitchen gadget makes it fun!  I am not sure what it is even called but I received it from a local pizzaria and I LOVE it.  I use it to cut up everything, even things that don't need to be cut up.  It is so much easier to use than a normal pizza cutter.  You can grip it better, can apply pressure more evenly and the cutting device is closer to the object so I think it makes the cutting process go a lot smoother.  For me, it is a kitchen must-have!  I haven't seen them in a lot of stores, but I am sure you can find them somewhere.  And when you do, I am sure you will fall in love as well!

Uplifting Christian music

I love Christmas time and one of the best things about that time of year is the wonderful music!  I could listen to Christmas music all year long.  When it is that time of year, I turn our dial to the local Christian music station.  This year when I made the switch I never went back.  I love so many songs on the station and it is great, light music to listen to all day long. 

My husband has been listening to the station for some time now and I always thought, "I am not going to listen to "church" music all day", but it is far from normal church music.  The music is current, upbeat, catching and uplifting.  Listening to it during the day reminds me of my purpose, makes me be a better person, mom and wife and it helps me stay calm and relaxed. If I am ever in a bad mood or having a bad day, I put it on and immediately I feel better. The kids have really taken a liking as well and that is another great plus to the music.  I never have to worry about bad language or commentary that isn't appropriate for them.  It is a family friendly station.

Of course I still like current country, R&B, and current what I like to call "boots with the fur" music (a.k.a. dance club music), but there is a time and place for that.  When I am out and want to dance it up with family and/or friends, I do listen and dance to that type of music.  But when I am home with family and kids, I prefer to listen to music that is good for all of us.

I encourage you to listen to your local station. You may be as surprised as I was to find that it is like therapy for your soul.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Let it Fade.....Jeremy Camp
I Can Only Imagine.....Mercy Me
Somethings Beautiful.....Need to Breathe
All that Matters.....Addison Road
All of Creation.....Mercy Me
Free to be Me....Francesca Battistelli
More Beautiful You.....Jonny Diaz
Born Again.....Third Day
What Faith Can Do....Kutlass
More like Falling in Love.....Jason Gray