Got MOM? Munchkins of Mayhem

Back by Popular Demand! Avon Lovers Come On Down!

2012-10-19T12:29:00.002-07:00

Back in 2006, I attempted to sell AVON....

Being so young, I really didnt have the time or the knowledge to help in getting sales.

Since I moved away from my AVON lady about a year ago, I have since missed the products DEARLY!

My foundation is AVON, my eyeliner is AVON, my brow liner is AVON, my lotion is AVON, my body wash is AVON, my facial cleanser is...well I use Cetaphil and will never go back to any other face cleanser EVER! Going back to my beloved AVON - Concealer: AVON, mascara: AVON, moisturizer: AVON, eye cream and anti aging: AVON! I mean almost all my makeup and skincare has been AVON for over 8 years! (since high school ya'll)

I remember my most favorite product in high school was the hair minimizing lotion! Which they brought it back too! I finally have my bottle! I remember using it everyday in high school because I was constantly in my Cheer uniform and to be honest, who seriously LOVES shaving?! On the daily?! That lotion did well what I wanted it to do, down to shaving once a week if that!
I remember losing that bottle of lotion at a game and was devastated because the product had already been discontinued. Its now, I have waited 8 years to have it again! Oh and beleive me, most of the commerical store brands had already stopped making their versions of my lotion, so I couldnt find it ANYWHERE! so sad...

Well, its been 8 years since that time, and 6 years since I attempted to sell AVON. I am back! and doing by far better than even I had expected! I didn't anticipate making so many sales in my first month alone! And my clientele just keeps growing. I tell ya, word of mouth is AWESOME! and my clients have been so loyal in regards to that.

So, why am I blogging about this? To let everyone know how much I LOVE my AVON! and it's honestly the best and cheapest product I have ever found and the results are amazing! I would stand by AVON any day and will probably NEVER stop using their products!

If you want to take a look, I have listed on my site, the latest deals and steals for Campaign 23. You can go ahead and place your order as well:

www.YourAvon.com/Vrath

If you'd prefer to place your order over the phone or via email, leave me a comment on this post and we can get your order started :]

"like" our store on Facebook and receive 10% off your first order!
www.Facebook.com/MyAvonShines

If you feel you'd love to be apart of the AVON team that spans worldwide, leave a comment for me on this post and I can get you started :]

Easy Counting & Number Comprehension

2012-09-06T11:12:00.000-07:00

Because I have yet to get those tall drawer storage bins to better organize my office(Christmas present maybe? I'm hinting away at J :}), essentially we have a lot of random craft items floating around the house. Usually they make their way outside my office by the wee ones sneaking the cool things they see and taking them into the living room, bedrooms, playroom, you name it!

The last few months, my 2 year old has been on a counting kick. Counting 1-10 all day every day. I think to myself, "this is great!" but then I think, "yeahhhh he doesn't know what the numbers look like" and anytime he does see numbers he just starts pointing to any of them and counts away.

So essentially, I thought it would be helpful for him if I could construct some small thing to help put a written number and also a value to show that it progresses as the numbers get higher to 10.

And after searching for the floating crafts, I got together some pipe cleaners, post its, and some beads! Voila!

List:

Pipe Cleaners

Post Its/Foam Stock/or just plain paper/you decide what you want :]

Beads

Tape

I placed a bead on each pipe cleaner for the value of the number represented.

I then took my post its and folded them into a quarter and wrote my number, then taped it securely to the top of the pipe cleaner.

There does need to be a stopper or some tie off at the end to prevent your little one from pulling the beads off which could turn into a choking hazard depending on your child's age and development.

I just took the pipe cleaner in half and twisted it up from the end, it seemed to work for us.

Now, he loves playing with them! It's practically a treat for him! I never thought I'd see a 2 year old get so excited to see his number pipes! Hey, anything to keep him from wasting all of our band aids!(he's on a good one right now, loves to get into the band aids and open them all up and put them all over his body! I had to actually hide our band aids! HAHa

Funfetti White Chocolate Fudge! Sweeeeeet Tooth!

2012-08-20T14:23:00.003-07:00

I've noticed some have called it cake batter fudge - but it tastes nothing like cake batter to be quite honest. It tastes like white chocolate fudge! Hence, my title.

I Made some last week for the munchkins and found it to be so incredibly sweet! I give about a half a square per serving.

Very simple to make and it has sprinkles! The best part!

List:

¾ cup sweetened condensed milk

1 12 oz. package white chocolate chips

3 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 tsp Almond Extract

Rainbow Sprinkles

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

First:

Pour your milk and white chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for about 2-3 minutes, or until white chocolate is almost completely melted.

A key to success in melting: DO NOT OVERHEAT.

Stir until completely blended, melted, and smooth.

As the mixture is smoothed, add vanilla and almond extracts - Mix.

Add a handful or so of rainbow sprinkles and fold in quickly, because they will melt -

and if they are stirred for too long they’ll turn the fudge an ugly muddy color. Fold in just enough to get them mixed into the chocolate.

Transfer to an aluminum-foil lined 8×8 inch baking pan and sprinkle more rainbow sprinkles on top to your liking. Place in the refrigerator. It should take a couple hours to set.

Once set, cut into cubes. Store leftovers in an airtight container in a cool place.(I've actually stored my in the refrigerator, which does make the fudge a bit hard and crumbly - but it still feels like soft smooth fudge once you bite into it :]

Removing old candle wax from its jar

2012-08-20T13:58:00.002-07:00

I can't count the times I have had such cool glass jars my candles come in and after they've burnt out, I have to throw the jar away - I never knew how to remove all the wax to clean the jar and reuse, until now...

It's actually one of the most stupidly simple things to do! I laughed at myself after learning how to do it - why didn't this ever become apparent before?

List:

Pot

Boiling water

Jars with leftover candle wax

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First step, um... boil your water!

Then, pour into your candle jar

Let sit and cool

The wax magically floats to the top and you can pull it out! (you may also use the wax to break into chunks and put in a wax burner! If your wax still smells great, why not!?)

Clean the excess smudges of wax with a sturdy cloth or paper towel.

THAT'S IT! HAHAHA - I am completely stoked! and again, so incredibly easy its ridiculous I'd never figured this out before.

Recycle Old Crayons Pt. II

2012-08-05T16:55:00.000-07:00

Recycling crayons again so soon?

....Low and behold, not even a couple weeks and we have a gang of broken crayons again and since I'm most definitely over the tape thing ... Let's keep recycling.

This time I got into the Halloween decorations box and found a silicone skull ice cube mold - With the boys in the house, skulls are a hit!

This time around I kept the colors the same - had some left overs so I was able to mix two of the skulls with all the colors.

230 degrees F @ 15min

I usually just turn the oven off with the mold still in and let it cool that way.

Pop 'em out after they've cooled completely (I lose track of time and they end up cooling for at least 30 min)

They came out really cool! I dig 'em :]

Horray! to Coconut Oil!

2012-07-23T16:16:00.003-07:00

I absolutely SWEAR by Coconut Oil after discovering the wide array of health benefits and its basic multipurposes.

If you havent yet to discover Coconut Oil I suggest you read through the different ways you can use it - both internally & externally.

First off, it is

Anti-bacterial (kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum diseases, and other bacterial infections)
Anti-carcinogenic (coconut oil has antimicrobial properties so it effectively prevents the spread of cancer cells and enhances the immune system)
Anti-fungal (kills fungi and yeast that lead to infection)
Anti-inflammatory (appears to have a direct effect in suppressing inflammation and repairing tissue, and it may also contribute by inhibiting harmful intestinal microorganisms that cause chronic inflammation.)
Anti-microbial/Infection Fighting (the medium-chain fatty acids and monoglycerides found in coconut oil are the same as those in human mother’s milk, and they have extraordinary antimicrobial properties. By disrupting the lipid structures of microbes, they inactivate them. About half of coconut oil consists of lauric acid. Lauric acid, its metabolite monolaurin and other fatty acids in coconut oil are known to protect against infection from bacteria, viruses, yeast, fungi and parasites. While not having any negative effect on beneficial gut bacteria, coconut oil inactivates undesirable microbes.)

An Antioxidant (protects against free-radical formation and damage)
Anti-parasitic (fights to rid the body of tapeworms, lice and other parasites)
Anti-protozoa (kills giardia, a common protozoan infection of the gut)
Anti-retroviral (kills HIV and HLTV-1)
Anti-viral (kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other viruses)
Infection fighting
Has no harmful for discomforting side effects
Known to improve nutrient absorption (easily digestible; makes vitamins and minerals more available to the body)
Nontoxic to humans and animals

Daily Dosage:

Here is a chart outlining the recommended daily dosage of virgin coconut oil for persons over the age of 12. Coconut oil may be consumed by children under 12 but it is advisable to check with a healthcare practitioner on the proper dosage. Any good naturopath will have the information at the ready. (Starting at 12 months of age, I gave my daughter one teaspoon per day and she weighed about 16 pounds at that time.)

Weight in pounds/kilograms	Number of tablespoons of coconut oil daily
175+/79+	4
150+ /68+	3 1/2
125+ / 57+	3
100+/ 45+	2 1/2
75+ / 34+	2
50+ / 23+	1 1/2
25+ / 11+	1

Type of Coconut Oil to Use:

Virgin (unrefined) coconut oil tastes and smells coconutty and is great for cooking and baking where you want that flavor. You can use it for anything but it will impart a coconut taste (mild) and odor (pleasant in my book)! Unrefined coconut oil retains the most nutritional value and is superior to refined oil.
Expeller pressed (refined) coconut oil can be used for anything. It does not have a coconutty smell or taste. It is still outstanding to use but does lose some of it’s health properties during the refining process.
Food grade should always be used.

160 Uses for Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil for Personal Hygiene/Body

1. Age Spots (also known as liver spots) – applying coconut oil directly to the age spot will help it fade.

2. After Shave – coconut oil will help heal your skin after shaving without clogging pores. Great for razor burn!

3. Baldness – apply three times a day to affected area of hair loss. Coconut oil supports cell regeneration.

4. Birth Marks – can be used after a laser removal treatment to aid in healing. Can also be applied after an apple cider vinegar treatment to help support and aid the fading process.

5. Body Scrub – mix coconut oil and sugar together and rub all over! Rinse off and your skin will be super soft! You can add in essential oils if you would like a specific smell.

6. Bruises – applied directly to the bruise, coconut oil enhances the healing process by reducing swelling and redness.

7. Bug Bites – when applied directly to a bug bite, coconut oil can stop the itching and burning sensation as well as hasten the healing process.

8. Burns – apply to burn site immediately and continue applying until healed. Will reduce the chances of permanent scarring and promotes healing.

9. Chapstick – just rub a little into lips and it not only acts as a softening agent but it also has an SPF of about 4 so you get a little protection!

10. Cradle Cap – having issues with dry skin on your baby’s scalp? Coconut oil will not only nourish your baby’s skin, it also helps eliminate cradle cap. Just rub a teaspoon onto scalp daily.

11. Dandruff – coconut oil soaks into the scalp moisturizing dry skin and relieves symptoms of dandruff. It also helps to control oil secretion from the scalp, another leading cause of dandruff.

12. Deodorant – coconut oil alone can be used as a deodorant, but even more effective in combination with cornstarch/arrowroot powder and baking soda!

13. Diaper Salve – very comforting on a rashy bum with no harsh chemicals. Also safe for cloth diapers.

14. Exfoliator – coconut oil mixed with sugar or sea salt is a very nourishing and effective exfoliator and safe to use all over the body.

15. Eye cream – apply under the eyes to reduce puffiness, bags and wrinkles. Use on the lids in the evening.

16. Face Wash/ Soap – mix equal parts coconut oil with olive oil, almond oil, avocado oil and castor oil and use in place of soap when washing your face. Wet face, rub oil in and leave on for two minutes, rinse and pat dry. One teaspoon should be adequate.

17. Hair conditioner/ Deep Treatment – use as a leave-in hair conditioner by applying a teaspoon of coconut oil to your ends and then running your fingers through your hair to distribute the rest! For a deeper treatment, rub in a tablespoon of coconut oil onto your dry scalp and gently work through to the ends. Put a shower cap on to prevent transfer onto bed linens and leave on overnight.

18. Hair Gel/ Defrizzer – rub a little between your palms and either scrunch into hair (for curly hair) or finger comb in through from scalp to ends (for wavy/straight hair).

19. Healing - when applied on scrapes and cuts, coconut oil forms a thin, chemical layer which protects the wound from outside dust, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil speeds up the healing process of bruises by repairing damaged tissues. Plus, it smells a heck-of-a-lot better than anything from the pharmacy.

20. Lubricant – it is an all-natural, perfectly safe personal lubricant. Not compatible with latex!

21. Makeup Remover – use a cotton swab and a dab of coconut oil and you would be amazed at how well it works!

22. Massage Oil – pretty simple; grab some and rub!

23. Moisturizer – simply scoop some out of the jar and apply all over your body, including neck and face.

24. Mole Remover – when applied after an apple cider vinegar compress for several weeks, moles have been known to “slide off” or just disappear.

25. Nipple Cream – works great to nourish cracked, sore or dry nipples. Apply to a cotton ball and leave on your nipples between feedings.

26. Oily Skin Fix – prone to oily skin or an oily T-zone? Use a pea sized amount underneath makeup or alone to reduce the appearance of oil.

27. Pre Shampoo Treatment for Hair – rub a little into scalp and hair before shampooing. This is especially useful for those with course or frizzy hair.

28. Pre-Shave – coconut oil will prep skin for the pending damage caused by shaving.

29. Skin Problems – coconut oil relieves skin problems such as psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema.

30. Stretch Mark Cream – coconut oil is great at nourishing damaged skin. It may not be the magic stretch mark cure but it will help.

31. Sun Burn Relief – rub liberal amounts of coconut oil into the affected area.

32. Sunscreen - Natural sunscreen.

33. Swimmers Ear – mix garlic oil and coconut oil and put a few drops in affected ear for about 10 minutes. Do this 2-3 times a day and it usually works within one or two days.

34. Tattoo Healing and Moisturizer – continued use of coconut oil on tattoos will help keep the pigment from fading. Used on new tattoos, coconut will hasten the healing process and decrease the chance of infection.

35. Toothpaste – there are numerous recipes out there but I just mix coconut oil and baking soda and dab a little of the mix on my toothbrush.

36. Wrinkle Prevention and Wrinkle Reducer – rubbing coconut oil on winkles and sagging skin helps strengthen the connective tissues to bring back that youthful look!

Coconut Oil for General Health and Wellness

37. Breastfeeding – for breastfeeding moms, consuming 3 ½ tablespoons of coconut oil daily will enrich the milk supply.

38. Bones and Teeth – coconut oil aids in the absorption of calcium and magnesium leading to better development of bones and teeth.

39. Digestion - the saturated fats in coconut oil help control parasites and fungi that cause indigestion and other digestion related problems such as irritable bowel syndrome. The fat in coconut oil also aids in the absorption of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, making you healthier all around.

40. Energy Boost – coconut oil boosts energy and endurance making it a great supplement for athletes as well as those needed a quick pick me up.

41. Fitness - coconut oil has been proven to stimulate your metabolism, improve thyroid function, and escalate energy levels, all of which help decrease your unwanted fat while increasing muscle.

42. Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose making it great for both diabetics and non-diabetic.

43. Lung Function – increases the fluidity of cell surfaces.

44. Nausea – rub some coconut oil on the inside for the wrist and forearm to calm an upset stomach.

45. Nose bleeds – coconut oil can prevent nose bleeding that is caused by sensitivity to weather such as extreme heat and extreme cold. This condition happens when the nasal passages become dry because of cold or dry air resulting to burns and cracks in the mucus membranes so bleeding happens. To prevent this just put coconut oil in you nostrils. Coat your finger with coconut oil and then lie down and coat your finger inside your nose. Doing this will strengthen and protect the capillaries in the nasal passages. A Vitamin C supplement will also help prevent nose bleeding.

46. Oil pulling with coconut oil offers a two for one health benefit!

47. Stress Relief – relieve mental fatigue by applying coconut oil to the head in a circular, massaging motion. The natural aroma of coconuts is extremely soothing thus helping to lower your stress level.

48. Vitamin and nutrient absorption

49. Weight loss - the saturated fats contribute to weight loss and controlling cravings. Also increases metabolic rate.

Coconut Oil for Health Problems (when taken internally it is known for aiding, preventing, relieving or even curing these health issues)

50. Acid reflux/indigestion aid if taken after a meal

51. Adrenal fatigue

52. Allergies (seasonal hay fever)

53. Alzheimer’s/Dementia

54. Asthma, even in children

55. Autism

56. Bowel function

57. Bronchial Infections

58. Cancer (has been shown to prevent colon and breast cancer in laboratory tests)

59. Candida Albicans

60. Cholesterol – improves HDL (‘good’ cholesterol) to LDL (‘bad’ cholesterol) ratio in people with high cholesterol

61. Chronic Fatigue

62. Crohns Disease and resulting inflammation

63. Circulation/feeling cold all the time

64. Colds and Flus

65. Constipation

66. Cystic Fibrosis

67. Depression

68. Diabetes – helps keep blood sugar levels stable and/or helps with cravings

69. Dysentery

70. Eczema – in addition to taking it internally, many have success applying it externally, but some don’t

71. Edema

72. Energy boost

73. Epilepsy (known to reduce epileptic seizures)

74. Fever Support

75. Flaky, Dry Skin

76. Gallbladder disease and pain

77. Gas

78. H. pylori

79. Head Lice

80. Heart Disease (protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis)

81. Hemorrhoids (can applied externally or internally twice a day)

82. HIV

83. Hot Flashes

84. Hyperthyroidism

85. Immune System Builder

86. Irritable Bowel Syndrome

87. Jaundice

88. Kidney Disease

89. Kidney Stones (aids in dissolving them)

90. Liver Disease

91. Lung Disease

92. Malnutrition

93. Mental Clarity

94. Menstruation Relief regarding pain/cramps and heavy blood flow

95. Migraines (with regular use)

96. Mononucleosis

97. Osteoporosis

98. Pancreatitis

99. Parasites

100. Periodontal Disease and tooth decay

101. Prostate Enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia)

102. Rickets

103. Skin problems

104. Scurvy

105. Stomach Ulcers

106. Toenail fungus

107. Thrush

108. Thyroid Function (regulates an overactive or underactive thyroid)

109. Ulcerative Colitis

110. Underactive thyroid gland – results have shown subsequent thyroid blood tests becoming normal after ingesting coconut oil daily

111. Urinary Tract Infections (Bladder Infections)

Coconut Oil and Health Problems (when applied topically it is known for aiding, relieving, or even curing these health issues)

112. Acne

113. Allergies/Hay Fever – rub a little inside the nostrils for quick relief. The pollen will cling to the oil.

114. Athletes foot

115. Back pain/sore muscles

116. Boils and cysts

117. Canker sores

118. Cellulite

119. Circumcision healing – although I am personally against circumcision, I have read that coconut oil is a really great healer for this.

120. Decongestant – rub coconut oil on the chest and under the nose when congested from a cold or allergies

121. Ear infection – place a few drops inside the ear twice daily for relief from pain. Also fights the infection itself.

122. Genital Warts (through topical application over 6 weeks, and coconut oil enemas twice a day depending on the location of the warts)

123. Gum Disease and Gingivitis (use as a toothpaste or rub directly on gums)

124.Herpes (applied topically and taken internally)

125.Hives (reduces the itch and swelling

126. Pink eye (applied around and in the eye)

127. Ringworm

128. Toothache

129. Warts

Coconut Oil and Cooking

130. Butter Substitute – use 1 cup to 1 cup ratio when replacing butter in recipes with coconut oil.

131. Nutritional Supplement – melt and add to smoothies.

132. Replacement for butter/lard/Crisco/PAM in its solid form for greasing pans, pie crusts, etc.

133. Replacement for various oils in liquid form – baking, cooking, sautéing, etc.

Coconut Oil and Pets/Animals

Check with your veterinarian but the recommended dosage for animals is 1/4 teaspoon for every 10 pounds of body weight twice daily.

134. Aids healing of digestive disorders like inflammatory bowel syndrome and colitis

135. Aids in arthritis or ligament problems

136. Aids in elimination of hairballs and coughing

137. Applied topically, promotes the healing of cuts, wounds, hot spots, dry skin and hair, bites and stings

138. Clears up skin conditions such as eczema, flea allergies, contact dermatitis, and itchy skin

139. Disinfects cuts and promotes wound healing

140. Great for dogs and cats for general wellness. Just add a teaspoon to their water bowl daily.

141. Helps prevent or control diabetes

142. Helps sedentary dogs feel energetic

143. Helps reduce weight, increases energy

144. Improves digestion and nutrient absorption

145. Makes coats become sleek and glossy, and deodorizes doggy odor

146. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) have been shown to improve brain energy metabolism and decrease the amyloid protein buildup that results in brain lesions in older dogs.

147. Prevents and treats yeast and fungal infections, including candida

148. Reduces allergic reactions and improves skin health

149. Reduces or eliminates bad breath in dogs

150. Regulates and balance insulin and promotes normal thyroid function

Other Uses for Coconut Oil

151. Chewing Gum in Hair Remover – just rub some coconut oil over the stuck chewing gum, leave in for about 30 minutes, then roll the gum between your fingertip. Voila! It’s out!

152. Goo Gone – just mix equal parts coconut oil and baking soda into a paste. Apply to the “sticky” area and let it set for a minute. Then scrub off with an old toothbrush or the scrubby side of a sponge.

153. Insect repellent – mix coconut oil with peppermint oil extract and rub it all over exposed skin. Keeps insects off better than anything with DEET! Tons safer too.

154. Moisturizing and cleaning leather products

155. Oiling wood cutting boards and wood bowls

156. Polishing Bronze – all you have to do is rub a little oil into a cotton towel and then wipe down the statue. It cleans and helps deepen the color of your bronze.

157. Polish Furniture – coconut oil with a little bit of lemon juice to polish wood furniture. However, I recommend you test it first on a very small, unobtrusive part of your furniture to make sure it works the way you’d like.

158. Seasoning animal hide drums

159. Seasoning cookware

160. Soap making – coconut oil can be used as one of the fats in soap.

(Wake Up World.com)

I mainly use it for my dogs' water bowl, munchkins water as well as mine and 'J's, body moisturizer, my face, lip balm, first aid, and a cooking oil substitute.

I have purchased Swanson Cert Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil 16 oz (454 grams) Solid Oil for only $11.88!

You can find it HERE

This stuff is great & I'm actually almost out! Need to purchase some more :]

Dr. Suess Rocked My Childhood!

2012-07-23T15:46:00.001-07:00

Lately, reading time with the munchkins has swerved from Crayola & Life Lesson books to the crazy silly world of Dr. Suess.

I LOVE Dr. Suess books & I LOVE reading them to my wee ones - It's so much fun.

When I look back at my childhood, movies were always Disney, but the books were always Dr. Suess - and now I watch my munchkins giggle and smile at the silly rhymes and ideas of Dr. Suess.

'J' enjoys listening to me too - All the tongue twisters while reading - is pretty entertaining to all of them :]

Among the many quotes of Dr. Suess - My most favorite:

I emphasize this quote a lot in my home :]

Doesn't really matter what you read - as long as you're reading, you're exercising your mind and learning!

Recycle Old Crayons

2012-07-23T14:46:00.002-07:00

With the lil munchkins, its sort of inevitable to start with a box of fresh brand new crayons and not before long....half the box is now an assorted array of colorful broken crayons.

Later on in coloring adventures, my munchkins are coming to me asking me to fix the broken crayons...all I have is tape - and the tape does not hold up long before they are broken yet again.

So! Why not turn those broken crayons into cool shapes that Ive found hold up a bit more to breaking!?

What you'll need:

The box/bag of broken crayons

Silicon shaped baking mold

Oven

Remove the excess paper on the crayon and break the larger crayons into smaller pieces (makes for better mixing colors) & fill your baking mold with your color combinations


Forgot to take a photo of the crayons in my mold	:/

Bake at 230 degrees F for 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and let cool for a good 10-15min.

Pop them out - you're good to color with cool shapes!

Groooooovy right?! :]

Definitely cheaper than the Crayola brand crayon maker :]

Off to have some cool heart shaped coloring adventures with the munchkins!

Infamous Crayon Melt Board

2012-07-11T15:29:00.000-07:00

So I saw so many variations of this craft via Pinterest quite a few months ago.

About a week after seeing it so many times on the pin boards I went out and bought a large box of crayons and a science poster board at the dollar store.

Fast forward to 4 months later.

I still had the blank poster board and box of crayons!
...Really? [you may wonder]

yupppp....really.

So last week, I had some free time and decided TODAY IS THEE DAY!

Took out my glue gun and glued the crayons in random order {I kind of just threw them on the board - its going in the playroom anyway - mixing it up looked like it would turn out cool}

The Hubs ''J'' helped out a bit too. Funny though I told him we needed to do this in the garage because I read that it can get messy. J for some reason didn't believe me {how do you not know blow drying crayons wont get messy?!}

I insisted we do this in the garage and so we set out - blow dryer in hand - he held the board while I blow
dried.

Totally not my picture, I forgot to snap one during my blow dry :/

I do have to say it was so cool watching the colors drip and flow and do cool color mixtures.

Can I say something to J?

BOOOOOYAA - it was messy!

okay, not as messy as I had told him. I kind of blew it up and exaggerated a bit, BUT it wouldn't have gone well had we did this in the kitchen.

Turned out pretty cool I'd say :]

I ended up taking all the crayons off and cutting the board and now I am in search of a cool frame to put it in.

Maybe in 4 months Ill get around to making a frame?
I did see some cool crayon melts on black boards instead of white. May have to try this one and see...most likely in 4 more months! HA!

ABCMouse Review

2012-07-08T13:45:00.003-07:00

Signed up for the 30 day trial on the site.

If you do not know what ABCMouse is:

It's a site that engages preschoolers ages 2-5 in online learning

The site has more than enough lessons and lesson plans

The site is easy to navigate and is personalized to the parent and preschooler

You can have multiple profiles for more than one child

Definitely fun - even for the parents

I do have to say the site is pretty cool. I am an educator myself and would definitely use this with preschoolers.
As a parent, you do need to make time everyday for this program to work.

My 2 year old loves this site and has tons of fun on it.

The subscription to the site is reasonably priced as well.
$7.95 a month unlimited or $79 a year unlimited (year is better value)

We are waiting for our trial to expire and will be purchasing the year subscription :]

Motorskill Activity for Munchkins

2012-04-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

A fun & cheap activity for your munchkin - All items are from the dollar store!

List:

Pouf balls

Ice Cube Tray or something similar to sort/hold the balls

Bowl/Container to store the pouf balls

This helps to sort colors, counting, and simply placing an item in a space.

An activity we do at least two times a week. The Munchkins love it!

DIY Home Fabric & Air Freshener

2012-04-17T21:59:00.000-07:00

This is basically a Febreeeeze like recipe.

It works great and does the exact same thing as the store bought stuff.

A friend of mine actually gave me the recipe - I was always complaining about my shopping trips and the ONE item I would ALWAYS forget - febreze! HA! So she gave me this recipe and within 10 minutes, I had already made my first bottle!

I've been using it for months now and have been very happy with my mixture.

Ingredients:

Empty Spray Bottle (99 Cent Store has these)

1/8 Cup Fabric Softener ( I use my homemade fabric softener! Get the recipe here)

2 TBS Baking Soda

Add Baking Soda and fabric softener to empty spray bottle.
Fill rest of bottle with HOT tap water.

Shake to mix.

And let the home and family breathe freshhhhh!

Easy Homemade Fabric Softener

2012-04-15T18:22:00.001-07:00

A life saver of mine is homemade fabric softener. Since I rarely use the dryer and hang dry my clothes European style, I have found fabric softener helps with the stiffness associated with hang drying. I'm not exactly fond of paying extra cash for this stuff when I can make it on my own and customize it as well!
It's just about the easiest product I've made and it's saved me tons of money - plus it helps to make my homemade fabric and air freshener!

Ingredients:

6 Cups Water

3 Cups White Vinegar

2 Cups of your favorite smelling conditioner (I buy the SunSilk conditioner from the 99 cent store, it smells great!)

In a large mixing bowl add water and vinegar then conditioner. Stir and mix. I gently agitate it until most of the conditioner has broken down and dissolved. It is perfectly fine if there are chunks and clumps of the conditioner it will dissolve and mix in the wash anyways :]

Pour into your Jar/Jug (I used an old Snuggle jug) and you're set!

Another great line of inexpensive awesome smelling conditioners are from Suave.

Back to the munchkins!

First timer over here!

2012-03-27T15:07:00.000-07:00

Got MOM? Munchkins of Mayhem

Back by Popular Demand! Avon Lovers Come On Down!

Easy Counting & Number Comprehension

Funfetti White Chocolate Fudge! Sweeeeeet Tooth!

Removing old candle wax from its jar

Recycle Old Crayons Pt. II

Horray! to Coconut Oil!

160 Uses for Coconut Oil

Dr. Suess Rocked My Childhood!

Recycle Old Crayons

Infamous Crayon Melt Board

ABCMouse Review

Motorskill Activity for Munchkins

DIY Home Fabric & Air Freshener

Easy Homemade Fabric Softener

First timer over here!

And three years later, I have officially started a blog!

I now have the time? What time?

Right now, my life =

4 munchkins

1 husband (who is gone every other week for work)

one semi-clean house (messy=memories of munchkins)

running a small business

nursing school (luckily its not too intense yet as I just started)

about 385786439087908 Pinterest ideas I swear I'm going to do - maybe half is more realistic :]

redecorating the kitchen and living room

a few home improvements - Since its just me, I made sure I contacted Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor before attempting ;]

Since I have all this time and am so bored :] I am figuring out what I want to blog about first.

Food?

Crafts?

Home?

Oyi, back to the munchkins of mayhem - until next time, or some time after that...

-Mighty Mouse