St. Patrick's Day is Monday, March 17th,
so make everyone's day shamrockin' with a card from Cardstore! Send
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Lucky Pennant Banner Tutorial
Anyways, I decided to share with you how to make this Lucky Pennant Banner!
What you'll need:
10-15 paint chips/cards of various greens (You can get them for free at many stores. Just ask beforehand.)
Pencil with an eraser
Clear tape or glue (We used tape. I couldn't find the tacky glue. Oops!)
Scissors
String or ribbon (We used fishing wire, since that was all we had at the moment)
Shamrock template (I cut one from a catalog.) You may need to resize them so they can fit on your pennants.
1. First, assemble all of your supplies. Then figure out how you want it to look before you start tracing and cutting.. You can do dark green, light green, dark green, light green, etc. Or you can do it the other way around.
2. Using your pencil, draw a pennant shape on one of the paint chip/cards. Start from one corner, and draw a straight line to the bottom of the other side. Use the picture below as an example.
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| All 10 pennants |
4. Using the other 5 paint chips/cards, write or draw "L", "U", "C", "K", "Y" in block letters. Be sure to save some room for your shamrocks! Cut out your letters.
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| "L" is for the luck of the Irish! :) |
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| Tiny little shamrock! |
7. Tape (or glue) the "L" to the first pennant of your choice, then tape/glue a tiny shamrock to the next pennant, and so on until you have a letter/shamrock thing going on. Depending on how many shamrocks you are willing to cut, we used 2 shamrocks on the last pennant (after the "Y").
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| Put the shamrock pennants between the letters, creating a spacer. |
9. Starting with your last pennant, string whatever string or ribbon you have chosen from right to left. Otherwise, it might read backwards. Unless you know what "YKCUL" means, start stringing from right to left. If any pennants sit crooked, just re-position the tape until the pennant sits straight.
10. Hang and enjoy!
Now, hopefully your green colors are not as varied as our was. I promise you, there is NO white in this banner. They are all green, just some are lime green and some resemble pea soup.
We might have another paint chip craft in the works, but this time, it will make Easter a little brighter.
By the way, do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?
FREE Mystery Bag from e.l.f. Cosmetics
Starbucks Verismo Pods only $6!
AtWalmart, you can get Starbucks Verismo Pods (12ct) for only $5.98- originally $11.95. Five flavors available: Pike Placed Brewed, House Blend, Veranda Blend, Decaf Espresso Roast, Pike Place Roast.
3 Tips To Being Semi-Organized
photo credit: Sean MacEntee via photopin cc
I am far from being the world's most organized person. We have 2 pairs of scissors in the house and I only know where one pair is. It would seem that the other pair got swallowed by some black hole deep in the house. But believe it or not, I can still retain some sort of organization so I know where the most important things are.
One problem most people have trouble keeping together is paper clutter. I know I am a big habit of writing something down and then just placing it in a box or on top of something without thinking twice. After a while, I either forget to throw it away or go through it. But one way you can combat paper clutter is to do a monthly cleaning. Once a month, sit down and go through every scrap of paper in the desk, nightstand, or wherever your paper clutter accumulates. If you're not sure if you need it or not, wait a week. If after a week you no longer need it, throw it away! For papers you do need, but sure to file them immediately so you know exactly where to look for them.
For book and magazine (or in some cases, catalog) lovers, all of those large things can take up a lot of space. If you kept a magazine for the recipes, tear out the recipes and throw away the rest of the magazine. If you don't plan on ordering from the catalog anytime soon, you can purge that as well. If you read a book and didn't care for it, you don't have to throw that away. Most libraries will take lightly-used donations. You can even ask around at some of the locally-owned bookstores and see if they will buy your book(s) for cash or store credit. One of our locally-owned bookstores buys books from residents for store credit.
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| Washi Tape Cord Organization via Landee See Landee Do |
What is your number 1 tip to stay somewhat organized?
Canon Wireless All-In-One $60 Shipped
At BestBuy.com, you can get a Canon PIXMA MG5420 Wireless All-In-One printer for only $59.99 plus it ships for FREE! It has a 3" LCD display for easy use and can create photo quality prints in 21 seconds; color copies of documents in 14 seconds; and scan in up to 2400 x 4800 dpi.
Pine Bros soothes a sore throat!
Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
It is still flu season so that means when the sniffles come, a sore throat isn't too far behind. You stock up on sore throat drops that taste like medicine and don't really help soothing your poor raw throat.
Pine Bros, which got its start in 1870 when J. Herman Pine hung out a confectionery shingle selling "Pine Brothers Glycerin Tablets", are 'softish' throat drops that have been trusted by American families for over 170 years! Their throat drops are not hard, like other throat drops, and have natural flavoring like licorice, wild cherry, and natural honey. They are meant to slowly dissolve in your mouth without leaving a medicine taste. They soothe irritated and uncomfortable throats and mouths with a dash of flavor.
They come in different sizes, including "pucks" and value sized bags. Because it does have the texture of a gummy candy, it is best if you do not chew it. Allow it to slowly dissolve in your mouth. While the directions say to to repeat as needed, but I only take a maximum of 4 daily.
So forget all those nasty-tasting throat drops and switch to Pine Bros 'Softish" Throat Drops- your taste buds and throat will thank you!
You can follow Pine Bros on Facebook and Twitter.
BUY
You can find them at these stores.
WHAT I THOUGHT
I rarely say that a product came at the perfect time, but I was thankful that my Pine Bros 'Softish' Throat Drops came when they did. A week or two after receiving them, I came down with the flu. Every time I get the flu, I end up with a sore throat days later. As soon as I got the slightest bit of a tickle from my throat, I popped a Natural Honey 'Softish" throat drop into my mouth and allowed it to dissolve. I love honey, and I could definitely say that it was real honey! Oh it was so good. As for my throat discomfort, it was definitely feeling better.
I had a hard time trying not to chew it, especially since it resembled my childhood favorite candy of gummies. About 4 hours later, my throat was bothering me so I decided to try the Licorice flavor. You know how some licorice can be bitter? Yeah, that wasn't the case this time. It was sweet, and I'd say that before of the licorice root extract, it made my throat feel a lot better than the Natural Honey. Maybe that is wishful thinking.
A few days later, Mom ended up with the flu so I gave her some Pine Bros and she saysd it made her throat not feel as irritated. Mission accomplished!
I think I will keep some back for future sore throats. I don't want to go back to those medicine-tasting tablets that are supposed to be for sore throats. No thanks!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
read more "Pine Bros soothes a sore throat!"
It is still flu season so that means when the sniffles come, a sore throat isn't too far behind. You stock up on sore throat drops that taste like medicine and don't really help soothing your poor raw throat.
Pine Bros, which got its start in 1870 when J. Herman Pine hung out a confectionery shingle selling "Pine Brothers Glycerin Tablets", are 'softish' throat drops that have been trusted by American families for over 170 years! Their throat drops are not hard, like other throat drops, and have natural flavoring like licorice, wild cherry, and natural honey. They are meant to slowly dissolve in your mouth without leaving a medicine taste. They soothe irritated and uncomfortable throats and mouths with a dash of flavor.
They come in different sizes, including "pucks" and value sized bags. Because it does have the texture of a gummy candy, it is best if you do not chew it. Allow it to slowly dissolve in your mouth. While the directions say to to repeat as needed, but I only take a maximum of 4 daily.
So forget all those nasty-tasting throat drops and switch to Pine Bros 'Softish" Throat Drops- your taste buds and throat will thank you!
You can follow Pine Bros on Facebook and Twitter.
BUY
You can find them at these stores.
WHAT I THOUGHT
I rarely say that a product came at the perfect time, but I was thankful that my Pine Bros 'Softish' Throat Drops came when they did. A week or two after receiving them, I came down with the flu. Every time I get the flu, I end up with a sore throat days later. As soon as I got the slightest bit of a tickle from my throat, I popped a Natural Honey 'Softish" throat drop into my mouth and allowed it to dissolve. I love honey, and I could definitely say that it was real honey! Oh it was so good. As for my throat discomfort, it was definitely feeling better.
I had a hard time trying not to chew it, especially since it resembled my childhood favorite candy of gummies. About 4 hours later, my throat was bothering me so I decided to try the Licorice flavor. You know how some licorice can be bitter? Yeah, that wasn't the case this time. It was sweet, and I'd say that before of the licorice root extract, it made my throat feel a lot better than the Natural Honey. Maybe that is wishful thinking.
A few days later, Mom ended up with the flu so I gave her some Pine Bros and she saysd it made her throat not feel as irritated. Mission accomplished!
I think I will keep some back for future sore throats. I don't want to go back to those medicine-tasting tablets that are supposed to be for sore throats. No thanks!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
RC Helicopter only $17!
Get the Syma S107G 3.5 Channel RC Helicopter with Gyro, Blue
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Fun (And Safe) Websites for Kids
EDUCATIONAL
FunBrain- Reading & mathematics.
StarFall- Learning to read. (Pre-K-K)
ABCya- Reading/writing & mathematics.(K-5)
BrainPop- All subjects. (4+)
BrainPopJr- All subjects. (K-3)
JUST FOR FUN
Where's Waldo
Panda Cam (Several other animal cams available as well.)
Webkinz (No purchase necessary.)
Crayola
Kids Astronomy
Does your family have any fun websites you like to visit
6 Fun St. Patrick's Day Crafts!
I know I have said before I am Irish, but as we get closer to St. Patrick's Day (March 14th), I can't help but want to make the house look a leprechaun lives here. So I decided to go on Pinterest and search through my St. Patrick's Day board for six fun and easy crafts! Believe it or not, one of the crafts was inspiration for a craft Twin and I did before Valentine's Day. It was so fun! (And yes, I promise to post it soon!)
Green Pepper Shamrock Stamps via Kids Activities Blog
Puffy Paint Shamrock via Sassy Dealz
Lucky Fingerprint Clovers via My Kids Guide
Luck Paint Chip Banner via Super Coupon Lady
Rainbow Hats via Coupons Are Great
St. Patrick's Day Gift Tags via A Little Claireification
MAJOR sale at The Body Shop!
Through 2/17, save 40% off Sitewide at The Body Shop. Better yet, today only all orders ship free, with prices starting at $2.40. You can get Blueberry Body Lotion for as low as $7.20!
Experience soft skin with Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash!
I was NOT compensated for this review/giveaway. I received a FREE product/service to review. All thoughts/opinions are my own. Your experience may differ.
New Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash gives your skin a daily boost of vitamins. The advanced formula, with a moisturizing Vitamin Complex, helps draw vitamins and moisture directly to your skin.
Quick Vitamin Fact: Vitamin B is a natural humectant (to moisten) that helps draw in moisture and keep skin hydrated.
So keep your skin healthy and moisturized with the lotion-infused Dial Vitamin Boost!
BUY
You can purchase Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash wherever Dial products are sold.
WHAT I THOUGHT
For some reason, I love body washes! While I don't cringe if I have to use a bar of soap, I definitely prefer a body wash over the bar soap. I don't know whether it is the scents of the body wash, or just the luxury feel of the lather. Who knows- could be both.
But sometimes, body washes leave my skin feeling super dry, like it sucked out all the moisture my skin had. Sure it smells great, but I don't always have time to put on lotion after jumping out of the shower. So when I got the chance to try the new Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash, I was a little skeptical. Can it really leave my skin feeling soft? To make a long story short- yes, it can!
Okay, before I tell you all about the lather and end results, let me tell you about the color. Notice the green color of the bottle? The soap is that same color. In bright lights, it can look like a green monster. But it lathered really well, and you only need a little bit (which I learned the hard way). I had so much, my loofah looked like it needed a power wash just to rinse out.
After my shower, my skin was soft and not dried out at all! Because the winter can play havoc with my skin that is so used to the Texas warmth, I find that my skin is a dry the next day. But I think drinking more water could help with that.
Because you know you want to try it for yourself, one(1) winner will receive a Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash FREE product coupon, a Dial for Men FREE product coupon, and an Edge of Insanity fridge magnet. Enter below. Good luck!
read more "Experience soft skin with Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash!"
Quick Vitamin Fact: Vitamin B is a natural humectant (to moisten) that helps draw in moisture and keep skin hydrated.
So keep your skin healthy and moisturized with the lotion-infused Dial Vitamin Boost!
BUY
You can purchase Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash wherever Dial products are sold.
WHAT I THOUGHT
For some reason, I love body washes! While I don't cringe if I have to use a bar of soap, I definitely prefer a body wash over the bar soap. I don't know whether it is the scents of the body wash, or just the luxury feel of the lather. Who knows- could be both.
But sometimes, body washes leave my skin feeling super dry, like it sucked out all the moisture my skin had. Sure it smells great, but I don't always have time to put on lotion after jumping out of the shower. So when I got the chance to try the new Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash, I was a little skeptical. Can it really leave my skin feeling soft? To make a long story short- yes, it can!
Okay, before I tell you all about the lather and end results, let me tell you about the color. Notice the green color of the bottle? The soap is that same color. In bright lights, it can look like a green monster. But it lathered really well, and you only need a little bit (which I learned the hard way). I had so much, my loofah looked like it needed a power wash just to rinse out.
After my shower, my skin was soft and not dried out at all! Because the winter can play havoc with my skin that is so used to the Texas warmth, I find that my skin is a dry the next day. But I think drinking more water could help with that.
GIVEAWAY
Craftsman 17" Toolbox only $7.50!
At Sears, you can get a Craftsman 17" Plastic Hand Box for only $7.50 plus FREE in-store pickup! For ShopYourWay members, you can get it cheaper if you have surprise points
What LOVE Means to Me...
Our family really doesn't celebrate Valentine's Day like a lot of families (that have activities and other fun stuff planned), except with chocolate candy and thoughtful cards. We do it because we love each other, but now that Valentine's Day is upon us, it made me think about what the word "love" meant to me.
As you know, I am single. But the time I did have a boyfriend during Valentine's Day, he had gotten me a box of chocolates and a red teddy bear. Of course it made me gushy and warm inside to think that this man loved me enough to buy me my favorite indulgence and something fluffy. Now I know that fleeting love and real love are two different things.
You don't have to have a significant other to know what love is or how it affects your life. The love I have for my family impacts my life in a big way. I love everyone in a different way. I love the way Twin can make me laugh when I am down. I love the way my mom listens to me when I talk, even if it's about my blog (which I am sure they are getting tired of hearing about). I love the way my dad rambles on and on about something that makes no sense to me. I love how we can play a card or board game for hours, never getting angry that someone landed on Boardwalk. I love that we can support each other in our decisions and ideas without being judgmental. If someone is hurt, sick, or just downright sad, we are always there to lift each other up. We may get on each other's nerves, but that's normal for any relationship- family or otherwise.
This might seem a bit mushy, and maybe it is, but love to me is knowing that someone is always there for you. It means that some accepts you- imperfections and all.
This Valentine's Day, I hope you tell those who mean the most to you that you love them. Even if you don't say it every day (though you should), tell them as often as you can.
Getting creative with Kal Barteski: A self-publishing success story
Owl Mug only $9!
Book Review: Ominverse by Liam Parker
Author: Liam Parker
ISBN: 978-1478705345
Published: December 2013
Pages: 456
8/10
DESCRIPTION
What if you were haunted by strange and terrible dreams in the night? But what if they were not dreams, but preludes of the truth? What if you met the woman of your dreams in a nightmare? What if you learned that you were doomed to a terrible destiny, and that there was nothing that you could do to escape it? This is the fate that befalls Jack Thornton, a former Marine lieutenant who served with the famed "Walking Dead" in Vietnam and who is now a lawyer in San Francisco. His quiet, ordered life begins to unravel, however, when his nightmares begin to shape his waking hours.
WHAT I THOUGHT
I knew what I was getting into when I decided to read 456 page of that which is Omniverse. Before I get into the details of the actual story, I will say that the story started off great. It kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next! But as the story went on and details grew, I found myself skipping paragraphs or sentences either because it didn't makes sense or it was just boggled down with details. I did, however, also find a few grammar, spelling, and format issues, but it wasn't enough to take away from the story. Now onto the story!
Jake Thornton, whose quite life was just starting to get boring, is terribly disrupted by nightmares that would make any other person go insane, murder that was meant for him, and magic that he doesn't believe in... until he comes across a bar owner and a secret order. Jake is the only one who can stop these dreams from becoming reality and hurting (or even killing) any innocent bystander.
I personally thought it was a great book, minus the details and the grammar/spelling/format issues. I do suggest that you don't read parts after eating. It tends to get gruesome in those parts.
BUY
Want to read it for yourself? You can purchase Omniverse: Book I of the Omniverse Chronicles
by Liam Parker on Amazon. It is also available for the Kindle.Spring gardening with kids!
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| Photo by Clare Bloomfield | Free Digital Photos |
Before you start planting seeds, take some time and explain the process to the child. You can get scientific if you want, but be sure you don't get too terribly scientific. A few weeks before you start planting, sit down and ask your kids for their opinions. What vegetables should we plant? What color flowers do you want?
When you finally have a plan of what your garden will contain, decide whether they will have their own little garden or will help in the family garden. For a little starter garden, you can start out with several 1-liter soda bottles turned into mini-greenhouses. Another idea for a starer garden is to give them their own little container and a seed packet of flowers of their choice. A few great choices are sunflowers, beans, potatoes, and flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
For younger children, you can actually start seedlings in toilet paper rolls (which I plan to do!), which is great for herbs. It allows them to see the growth happening but are too young to understand the aspect of gardening.
If you want to get sort of scientific, you can always do the Lima bean activity. If you ever did this in school, you just take a dried Lima bean, put in a plastic bag of water, and make sure to place the bag in a sunny spot. You can find a great tutorial at First Grade Factory!
Once you get your garden going, be sure to let them help with transferring plants, harvesting, or measuring growth. It is a great way to children to learn and they can get dirty!
Today's FREE Kindle eBook: Deadly Valentine
Get Deadly Valentine by Jenna Harte for FREE on Amazon. (Prices may change.)
DESCRIPTION
Tess Madison walked away from her two-timing fiancé, a multi-million dollar trust fund and a cushy corporate law job to pursue the single life indulging in chocolate and fancy French underwear. But her newly reordered life comes unraveled when she reluctantly accepts an invitation to a dinner party and stumbles upon the host’s dead body. Now Tess is in the middle of a murder investigation pitting her wannabe-boyfriend police detective against Jack Valentine, a man from her past with blue-green eyes and sinful smile that causes her to rethink her self-imposed celibacy. Tess has many reasons to avoid Jack including the fact that he’s the prime suspect in murder. But Tess doesn’t believe Jack’s the murderer and with an honest attempt to keep her hormones in check, she agrees to represent him. With Jack’s help, she uncovers a 30-year-old secret someone is killing to keep hidden and discovers sensual delights that don’t include chocolate or French underwear. But when her professional and personal relationship with Jack threatens to ruin her career and end her life, Tess has to decide if Jack, is worth the risk.
50% Off Site-wide at e.l.f.!
Love your new smile with #SmileBrilliant!
I was NOT compensated for this review/giveaway. I received a FREE SmileBrilliant! LED Whitening system to review. All thoughts/opinions are my own. Your experience may differ.
So why use it then? The tooth is composed of 2 main visible components:
- Enamel
- Dentin
Enamel is a clear and hard protective coating that rest on top of the dentin which is a soft bone like tissue. Everyone's enamel is clear and collects tough to remove stains over time however not everyone's dentin is naturally bright white. Some are fortunate to have naturally bright white dentin while others have an off white or in rare cases a yellow colored dentin. Teeth whitening will only remove the stains from the enamel thus revealing the true color of your dentin.
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| Teeth Whitening Tray |
If you are curious about how applications work, one whitening pen contains enough gel for 5-8 applications on the top front teeth. If you want whiten all of your teeth, the number goes down. Keep in mind that if you had dental work prior to using a SmileBrilliant! system, your teeth may end up as two different shades. I must also touch on that you must NOT use teeth whitening systems on untreated cavities. This may cause extreme tooth sensitivity. It is probably a good idea to get your dentist's okay before starting a whitening routine.
You can find SmilleBrilliant! on Facebook and Twitter.
BUY
You can purchase SmilleBrilliant! LED Teeth Whitening for $39.95.
WHAT I THOUGHT
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| LED Whitening System |
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| LED light |
So about a few days later, after I was feeling well, I did it again, but this time for about 45 minutes. Those extra 20 minutes did help! I noticed a stark difference- my once not-so-white teeth were much brighter! I probably won't do it every day, but every couple of weeks, along with brushing my teeth regularly. And yes, it is relatively simple to use. Though I have to be honest- I still don't know what that little blue bush is for.
Maybe now I can dazzle single men with my pearly white smile! Just kidding, of course.
GIVEAWAY
You know you want pearly whites of your own! What person doesn't want a brighter smile? One(1) winner will receive their very own SmileBrilliant! LED Whitening system! Enter below. Good luck!
Today's FREE Kindle eBook: Finding Pride
Get Finding Pride by Jill Sanders for FREE on Amazon. (Prices may change.)
DESCRIPTION
Megan Kimble was traveling a long way to find the next chapter in her life, one that would not include her brother Matt. Losing him now was tragic, even more so since she had finally freed herself from the abuse and the shame of a bad marriage. She had spent years hiding things from Matt, so he wouldn't know about her horrible life. Keeping her secret world of bruises, cuts, and broken bones, much like the one she now sported with a large white cast.
Dealing with her loss was hard, but, now she was thinking of taking over Matt's new business venture. This could be the fresh start she needed, a new town, a new place to forget the pain and maybe she could learn to trust again.
Todd Jordan was a successful businessman, who had once lost it all, and now he had just lost his best friend and business partner. But, then she came into town broken and scared, and for the first time in a long time he was looking forward to his future. Breaking down Megan's barriers would take patience and strength, and he would need that strength to keep what he loves safe.
Hamilton Beach slow cooker only $33!
On Amazon, you can get a Hamilton Beach 7 Quart Stay Or Go Slow Cooker
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