These Creative Juices...

A little bird told me...

2012-02-10T16:33:00.000-07:00

February photo a day challenge catch up :)

2012-02-09T10:28:00.003-07:00

I haven't forgot about the challenge. I have been taking my pictures, I've just been too busy to post them until now....enjoy!

So I admit. I cheated. I forgot to take a random picture of a stranger the other day so here is still a random stranger (his name was Taco), but from a few years ago in Mexico :)

Pintrest {love}

What can I say? Simple and easy.

Yes, these are the button that are to my name....all.

I just really don't like buttons. I would rather just by a new shirt or pants than sit and sew one on...lol.

Again....I cheated. But it's because I just love, love, love this picture (I did take this BTW). It reminds me of living in San Diego.

Pretty blah.

I would love to see what kind of pictures you are taking. So if you would like, link up :)

Adorable Free Printables!

2012-02-08T15:05:00.002-07:00

I want to share with you this adorable website that I found with so many cute free printables!

Here are some of my favorites...

Calendars

Dinner Menu

Father's Day Printables

So if you like what you see (i can't image you don't) head on over and take a look around.

And leave Angela some comment love :)

Super Bowl Party Ideas

2012-02-03T18:00:00.001-07:00

I really can't stand sports...ok hockey, I can stand hockey. But that's not what's going down on Sunday...BOO!

What is going down is my daughters 10th birthday so naturally we are having a Super Bowl Party because both sides of the family will be together to celebrate. Here are some ideas I'm planning on doing and I thought I would share them to give you some ideas as well!

(Just click on the pictures)

Sweet bacon wrapped chicken

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Have a fun day this Sunday!

Pin It

February Photo Challenge Day 3

2012-02-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Banana Bread Yumness :)

2012-02-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

The best banana bread ever!

Ingredients:
Four large ripe bananas (or six small)
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
4 tablespoons sour cream

Mix dry ingredients together and sift. In a mixing bowl, cream softened butter with the sugar and salt. Mix in eggs, vanilla and sour cream. Mix until just blended.

Add flour mix to the batter. When making banana bread, use ripe soft bananas. Mash into bowl and add into mixture.

Spray a Bundt pan with cooking spray or grease with fresh butter. Pour batter into pan. Bake in preheated 350 F for 1 hour. If a toothpick comes out clean, its done.

Sour cream is the secret ingredient to this banana breads moist texture.

My most favorite saying by my most favorite band.

Feb Photo Challenge Day #1

2012-02-01T15:00:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to be doing this challenge. I hope it makes me stop and think about my life and the moments that I let pass by.

In the mornings (despite the fridged air) I like to sit on the porch while my girls walk to the bus stop. I get to look at these gorgeous mountains any time I want. Lucky me. My hubby's dream is to one day live on those mountains...
I would really love to follow you along in your Photo A Day Challenge! If you would like please link up your URL to your photo post! Have an awesome day!

A Pintrest Valentine's...

2012-01-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE Pintrest? Thought so. Here is what the kiddos will be making for their Valentine boxes this year. Lucky me, they all want to do the monsters....easy peasy!

Here is the Valentine for my 5 year old...

and what's the girls will be giving out...

I just love all the ideas you can find on Pintrest! If you would like to follow me on Pintrest head on over here!

February Photo A Day Challenge

2012-01-30T15:30:00.000-07:00

Again....serious blog neglect. I have a good excuse, I promise. The new baby has been having some minor health issues and that's what we have been dealing with. He had Pyloric Syntosis. Rather than explain you can go here if your dying to know what that is :) He had a small surgery over at Primary Children's Hospital and is doing great! So life is slowly getting back to normal....yippie!

I'm sure many of you have seen the PhotoADay Challenge going around blogland. Well I'm jumping on the bandwagon. The more I've sat and thought about it the more I realize how I just rush through my day and really don't stop to give any thought to little things or moments that may happen. How sad? So in an effort to take moments to stop and really SEE whats going on in my life and enjoy them I am taking the February PhotoADay Challenge over at fat mum slim! Here is what's lined up for the month....

I encourage you all to take the challenge to stop and take a minute to enjoy simple moments!
This should be fun :)

Valentine's Day Printables

2012-01-13T14:25:00.006-07:00

Oh how very crazy life is with four kids! I am loving every minute of the new little one and not really giving thought to much else :) I pulled up these past Valentine's Printables for those of you on the ball and wanting to decorate for the holiday. Thanks for sticking with me and my horrible blogging self.
(Just right click and save the image)

Advent Calendar Ideas

2011-12-05T08:25:00.000-07:00

This is our family advent. I LOVE it! Each window, chimney, tree pops open to a little compartment. We bought this at Costco for $10.00 a couple of years ago.....crazy! Normally it's filled with candies for the kids, but this year I've decided to do something different. Instead of candy I am putting in slips of paper of a kindness the kids need to do the next day for someone. Our lesson in church yesterday was on the spirit of CHRISTmas and it got me thinking that I don't do enough to focus on the reason for the season.

I would love to know what you do to bring more focus on family, friends, giving and everything else that is wonderful that goes along with the Christmas season.

If you would like to do this ideas as well here are some ideas for activities...

Bake and deliver hoiday cookies to library employees.
Pay for Santa pictures for someone at mall.
Collect canned goods for food shelf.
Pass out candy and spread cheer to folks mailing off their Christmas cards at the post office.
Leave small Christmas treats/gifts in shopping carts for folks to find.
Collect old towels and washcloths and drop off at local animal shelter.
Make holiday cards and tuck them under the windshields wipers of cars at the store/library/school.
Buy coffee for stranger at a coffee shop.
String popcorn and cranberries — and put them outside for the birds
Tape change (and a note!) to a vending machine.
Pay for the order of the car behind you in the drive-through.
Leave present or card in mailbox for your mail carrier.
Drop off books and magazines to a hospital, nursing home or doctors office.
Give a compliment to the manager of someone who helps you today.
Check in on someone you know is alone.
Send someone a small gift anonymously.
Hold the door open for someone today.
Make eye contact and smile at everyone you see today.
Run an errand for someone.
Bring up the neighbor’s garbage can and recycling bins.
Shovel someone’s driveway.
Send a thank you note to someone who has helped you in the past.
Tape candy canes and notes to neighbor’s doors, wishing them happy holidays.
Forgive someone in a bad mood or who is negative today and say something nice to them.
Purchase a couple extra bags of cat/dog food and bring to a local animal shelter.
Leave your change in the soda machine, vending machine, parking meter, etc. today for the next person.
Offer someone behind you at the grocery store to go ahead of you.
Renew a relationship with someone you’ve lost touch with.
Listen to everyone you speak with today.
Offer to help someone do a task they don’t want to do.
Return a shopping cart for a stranger in the parking lot.
Pick up litter you see lying around by the road or in a parking lot.
Offer to help someone who looks like they need assistance (i.e. a mother trying to open a door, an elderly person pumping gas, etc.).
Acknowledge someone who has helped you today, no matter how small the task.
Say an encouraging word today.
Tell all your family members how much you appreciate them.
Buy a hot cocoa or latte for Salvation Army bell ringers.
Purchase toys for kids in need.
Tape candy canes and happy holiday notes to ATMS, vending machines…
Send a box of gently used mittens and hats to a school or homeless shelter
Offer to buy a pack of gum or mints for checkout clerk at grocery store.
Buy an extra copy of your favorite holiday book and donate to your library or local school.

Also, what are things you do with your advents besides candy?

Elf on the Shelf Ideas

2011-12-03T08:54:00.000-07:00

Have you heard on Elf on the Shelf? If not head on over here to read more about this super cute, fun holiday tradition....Elf on the Shelf
Here are some great ideas on where to hide the little guy and make your kids day!

Place him next to his stack of donuts (they are cheerios!)

or how about a snow angel out of sugar on the floor.....so cute!

Maybe your Elf is a little mischievous and paints little red noses on the kids while they sleep at night :)

He turns the milk green

And likes to take a relaxing bath in the sink

There are lots of great ideas out there. Click here for 101 more ideas for your Elf on the Shelf...Have fun!

Christmas Printables!

2011-12-02T07:45:00.001-07:00

Here are the Christmas printables I made last year... I had a ton of fun making them and hope to get around to making some more! But baby is coming and all I really want to do is sleep :)
Just right click and save the image! Enjoy!

Pintrest Projects

2011-11-14T18:53:00.001-07:00

I can't get enough of Pintrest. It's horrible. Here are a few things that I have started on and things I want to get started on....(click on pictures to be directed to sites)

First up this adorable Turkey Day shirt! Love it! Me making it won't happen though....maybe next year?!

Next up....I just can't get enough of these beautiful Dahlias. My girls NEED them for hair accessories. Need!

I am actually in the process of this adorable alphabet for baby #4...talk about last minute :) It's gonna be WAY cute when it's done. I will post progress pics this week.

And finally this art for my 4 year olds room. Love it!

If your interested in Pintrest let me know...you need an invite to get in :) Have a great day!

Thanksgiving Printables

2011-11-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

Can you believe Thanksgiving is just around the corner? Craziness! Baby #4 has 46 more days to go.....can't wait! Hope you enjoy these printables!

You can also grab this super cute Subway Art here...

Going Batty!

2011-10-12T08:54:00.001-06:00

If your looking for a fun super inexpensive way to spice up your home for Halloween read on about how to make these cute bats. You can go crazy inside your home or wait for Halloween day and do up your porch.

I used construction paper (it's what I had on hand) but black cardstock would work great!

These bats fly along side my favorite decorated table at my house :)

I found this idea on Pintrest. This lady went CRAZY with the bats....I love it!

And here they are decorating up her front porch!

Find the great tutorial by going here. She has step by step instruction with the template! Have fun!

Halloween To-Do List

2011-09-12T12:50:00.000-06:00

This time of year is my absolute FAVORITE time, so much so that I have already begun decorating for Halloween....is that crazy? If so, just don't tell me! These are a few things that I am adding to my to-do list (as if it's needs anymore added to it) I found all of these ideas on Pintrest, which is a horribly, awfully addicting site that I do not suggest you visit :)

Great tutorial found here on how to make these pretty spider webs.

You can't have enough wreaths in your house! Find how to make this adorable one here.

This pumpkin is oh so pretty!

How adorable is this Halloween frame? I could make tons and tons of these! Found here...

Happy Halloween decorating to you all!

Back to School Crafts!

2011-07-25T12:19:00.000-06:00

I have been in Yellowstone for the past week having fun with my family!

We were able to see every animal you could possibly see in Yellowstone including a mama bear and her two cubs....which were adorable to look at from the safety of our car :) Now we are gearing up for another family trip to Canada for a wedding which, when we get back from our vacationing, doesn't leave a lot of time before school starts. Hence this post for a few fun and easy back to school projects for your little ones....

Take some of those empty Altoid tins and let your kids decorate for instant lunch money holders....so cute!

My girls will so love this idea! Cover a plain old notebook with pipe cleaners!

Let's the kids have at it decorating tupperware bins to hold their homemade lunches.
All of these ideas found here.

Make up these adorable fruit tags for lunches found here.

Here are some cute day of the week tags to hang on kids outfits for school.

Others ideas:
-make a crayon wreath
-melt different colors broken up crayons in muffin tin and let cool for fun multi colored crayons.
-have the kids make bookmarks
-let the kids help pick out and clean up a homework area(s).

Good luck and more importantly HAVE FUN!

Hello? Anybody out there?

2011-07-01T10:46:00.000-06:00

HELLO? Is anybody out there?

Ok so my blogging break took a bit longer (a lot longer) than I anticipated....I have a good excuses....I promise.

So right after the abrupt stopping of my blog my husband had surgery and was down and out for a bit. After nursing him back to health it was kids, kids, and kids. So many activities and things happening because of school coming to an end.....and then to top it off

I'm 3 1/2 months pregnant with our 4th!

Pretty surprised if you ask me. And I must tell you, for the first couple of months of my pregnancies me and the porcelain throne are BEST friends. I make a visit about 6-7 times a day and lost a lot of weight. I have been put on two different medications and had IV fluids to help ease the pain. Nothing helps. Luckily the 6-7 times a day of puking has lessened to 1 or 2 and I feel myself SLOOOWLY getting back to normal.

So there you go. My reasons for being such a slacker. I would like to get back to this blog but I will start off slow....posting once a week. How does that sound?

Glad to be back! Hope to hear from some of you soon :)

FYI

2011-02-28T19:44:00.002-07:00

I just wanted to let you all know that I'm taking a break.

A blogging break. I just feel like it's not fun at the moment. Like I don't have any ideas running through my head. I'm in a rut. In case you haven't noticed {I'm sure it's quite noticeable!} I apologized, but I hope those that have stuck with me continue to stick with me.

This is for just a short time....a couple days maybe a week. Just enough time to get my mind back and those juices flowin again :)

Thanks for understanding.

Giveaway Winner and Let your creative juices flow....Linky Party!

2011-02-22T07:22:00.003-07:00

And the winner of the Frida K dress from Shabby Apple is...

Michele Pacey who said "I would rock this dress right here at home because I never go out, but I STILL love it!

Congrats to you Michele!!! I will be contacting you for more information.....And thanks so much to those who entered and to Shabby Apple for the giveaway!

Now lets check out some of the great stuff I found in the link up party last week!

This Anthropologie headband knockoff is just fab! I could NEVER afford anything there so knockoffs for me are THE BEST! Go here for a great tutorial.

These cute cups were made using vinyl! Now the kids won't get confused as to who's are who's.
Head on over here to check out more pictures.

This behavior chart is very much needed in my house right now. I think it's because Spring Fever is in HIGH gear. Here is where I found this great idea!

Now show us what you've been working on!

*Go ahead and link up as many projects as you'd like!

* Grab the button so everyone can come party and get in on the fun (it's the nice thing to do).

* Please no links to Etsy shops or online stores.

* And last, but certainly not least, it always feels good to see that others enjoy your stuff, so please leave a comment with the two people who posted before you :)

The Children's Place promo code and free shipping!

2011-02-21T11:55:00.006-07:00

Today at The Children's Place get free shipping on any order in honor of Presidents Day, plus use promo code G3D2011 to get 15% off your order!

They have some cute things for only $5.00 so stop by and take a look.

Here is what I found for only $10.00!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately...I have been MIA. I went on a much needed, very last minute trip here...

Scottsdale, Arizona

and spend time shopping here...

Oh my I was in heaven. Not that I could really afford anything is this mall. This mall was HUGE!

How I long to go back :) The weather was perfect. I got to sleep in. And didn't have to cook for 3 days. I will post so of the cute things I purchased at a later time.

Reminder that the giveaway ends tonight at midnight. There is a very low entry so your chances of winning are pretty good!

Enter at the post below.

Shabby Apple Giveaway!

2011-02-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

These Creative Juices first ever giveaway with...

Shabby Apple is giving one lucky reader one of their beautiful dresses

and that dress is...

The Frida K dress has got that elegant, classy put together look! I am in {LoVe} with this dress.I don't know which I love more...the bow or the red zipper down the back?!It's just gorgeous. To see more pictures of this dress go here.

Shappy Apple carries a variety of dresses that would fit anyones style and also dresses for little girls, they also have some amazing accessories (my fav) everything from necklaces to handbags and the shoes...oh the shoes!So make sure and stop by Shabby Apple and be prepare to be there a while browsing.

There are three ways to enter into this giveaway:

1. Head on over to Shabby Apple's Facebook page and like them. Please leave a comment telling me you did so.
2. Leave me a comment here telling me where you would rock this fabulous dress.
3. Blogging about this giveaway will earn you 2, yes 2 more entries.

4. Become a follower of this blog.

Please leave a seperate comment for each entry you do.

Also, Shabby Apple is giving These Creative Juices readers 10% off their purchase! How great is that!

Just use the code thesecreativejuices10off

This giveaway will close at midnight on Monday February 21st and I will announce the winner at the start of Tuesday's linky party!

Letting the creative juices flow...LINKY PARTY! and an upcoming GIVEAWAY!

2011-02-14T22:12:00.000-07:00

I am super excited to announce an upcoming giveaway....my very first ever giveaway!!!
And it's courtesy of the fabulous people at...

How fun is that? The giveaway will begin on Wednesday morning so make sure and come back and enter to win one of Shabby Apple's fabulous dresses! I can't wait to show you which one is up for grabs.

I will not be doing any features with this linky party due to the fact that I am having major issues with my blog and I'm super frustrated with my computer at the moment and it needs a time-out :)

You may also notice, all of my buttons (besides the linky party one below that I managed to pull from an existing post) are all gone. Have you seen some In Memory thing popping up in place of my buttons? Bizzare-O......I will be working to get them back on but who knows when that will be due to the fact (I kind of like that saying) that my husband might need surgery sometime in the very near, possibly tomorrow future.

p.s. don't mind the blog....it seems that every time I check this blog some new problem appears...so if things look wacky here and there just bare with me. I might have a whole new look at the end of the week ;)

Now the rambling is done....onto the party people.

*Go ahead and link up as many projects as you'd like!

Blah...

2011-02-14T13:16:00.005-07:00

I greatly dislike Valentine's Day.

(come by later tonight for the linky party and my very first super exciting giveaway info!)

p.s. does anyone know what's going on with some of the blog buttons out there? My linky party button is all funky and weird and I have done nothing to it....so I am sure who ever has this button on their blog, it's not appearing with my graphics. I will try and figure it out asap. If any of you know what is going on please let me know what I can do to fix it....thanks!