Tag Archives: Parenting

5 Great Finds: Free Printables, Mummy Cookies for Halloween, Parenting Teenagers, New way of selling clothes, Curtain Banks

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5 Great finds button

COLLECTION OF PRINTABLES

I really appreciate it when talented people, share their creations for all to use.

I Share Printables [via Organzing Your Way], is a place where you can browse a gallery of free printables, and print off any that strikes your fancy.

This would be a great place to showcase your own creations that you have made as well.

For more information: http://www.ishareprintables.com/

ishareprintables

MUMMY FUN FOR HALLOWEEN

Loving these mummy treats!

These cookie-suckers by HowDoesShe.com, are made with Oreo Cookies. (There is a video tutorial as well!)

For more information: http://www.howdoesshe.com/halloween-cookie-suckers

Mummy Cookies by HowDoesShe.com

This mummy was made by Skip to My Lou, using a gingerbread man cookie cutter.

For more information: http://www.skiptomylou.org/2010/10/19/halloween-cookies/

Mummy Cookie www.skiptomylou.com

ADVICE YOU NEED TO BOOKMARK

Simple Mom has Robin Dance of Pensieve doing a couple of guest posts about parenting teenagers.

As my daughter approaches double digits early next year, I can relate to this quote in the post where Robin’s friend said this about her 10 year old daughter “She’s already lived half the amount of time she’s going to be with you….” YIKES!

If you do not have teenagers, you can still put into practice some of the advice, but I would also bookmark it for future reference.

Seasons in Parenting www.simplemom.net

For more information:

Seasons in Parenting: The Teenage Years (part 1):  http://simplemom.net/parenting-teenagers/

Seasons in Parenting: The Teenage Years (part 2): http://simplemom.net/parenting-teenagers-2/

SELLING CLOTHES WITH A DIFFERENCE (FOR NEW ZEALANDERS)

iswish is an interesting way to de-clutter your family’s wardrobe. You sell your clothes for credits, and then use those credits to make purchases from the range of clothes, bag etc on their website. Niceeee!

For more information: www.iswish.co.nz


iswish

A GREAT CAUSE IN WELLINGTON

I just found a couple of unused curtains that I was wondering what to do with. The Sustainability Trust has set up a Curtain Bank, so that low income residents and those with chronic health conditions have access to free curtains to keep warm during the winter and keep heating costs down. They even accept curtain rails and fabric to make curtains too!

(I emailed them to see if there was anywhere I could drop off the curtains locally, and they said they were doing work in my area and came and picked up the curtains from my house!)

For more information: http://www.sustaintrust.org.nz/OurProjects/Current%20Projects/Curtain_Bank.htm


Curtains Wanted

My 5 links for the week

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Tutorial for Plastic Bag Flowers. Tali from Growing up Creative shared an easy tutorial on how to make flowers out of your average plastic bag. I think it would look stunning hung from trees for a garden party, or a special girl’s fairy party. Cost: FREE!

http://www.growingupcreative.com/2010/04/6.html

10 tips For Coping with a Larger Family. Nicole from Planning with Kids had this to say about this post, “Although the tips..could easily apply to a family of any size, the difference being for us is how critical they are to smooth daily running of family life.” I was nodding my way all through the post, all the things she mentions we do in our house, and it makes SUCH a difference! Check her website out, it’s great!

http://planningwithkids.com/2009/07/21/10-tips-for-coping-with-a-larger-family/

I love this quote! Alicia from A Magical Childhood always finds the BEST quotes (and the best web finds! The plastic flowers was from her blog too!) Look at this quote that she shared recently:

“Discipline isn’t just about winning or losing.
Every power struggle offers you the opportunity
to connect with your child or disconnect.
The relationship you will have with your child
when he’s an adolescent
lies in the words and actions you use today.
Ultimately your real power is in that emotional bond.”

–Mary Sheedy Kurcinka
Kids, Parents and Power Struggles

http://magicalchildhood.wordpress.com/2010/04/24/wise-words-2/

Yummy recipes! Caitlyn from Knitter in the Kitchen has a great blog where she shares mouth watering recipes along with her knitting/craft projects.

Creative You. Simone from Great Fun 4 Kids shares a wonderful post that talks about how we often have a limited view about what Creativity is. She says,

“We are all artists, girls. Our canvases are our children, our homes, our gardens, our relationships, our lives.

We express our creativity through the obvious: art, craft, music, cooking, decorating, style…

…and the less obvious: celebrating, encouraging, enjoying, giving, nurturing and appreciating the beauty we see around us.”

She goes on to talk about how we might have to find out where our creativity lies. So ladies!! It’s not that we aren’t creative….we just need to do a bit of experimenting. (I am soo on that journey, and loving it! I have tried more things in these past 2 years than the previous 8 years put together!)

http://greatfun4kids.blogspot.com/2010/04/creative-you.html

http://www.growingupcreative.com/

Just for laughs: The Evolution of Parenthood

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I wonder if any of you can relate to these?? Enjoy! ~m

Your Clothes -

1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.

2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.

3rd baby: Your maternity clothes are your regular clothes.

The Baby’s Name -

1st baby: You pore over baby-name books and practice pronouncing and writing combinations of all your favourites.

2nd baby: Someone has to name their kid after your great-aunt Mavis, right? It might as well be you.

3rd baby: You open a name book, close your eyes, and see where your finger falls. Bimaldo? Perfect!

Preparing for the Birth -

1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.

2nd baby: You don’t bother practicing because you remember that last time, breathing didn’t do a thing.

3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your 8th month.

The Layette -

1st baby: You pre-wash your newborn’s clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby’s little bureau.

2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.

3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can’t they?

Pacifier -

1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.

2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby’s bottle.

3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

Diapering -

1st baby: You change your baby’s diapers every hour, whether they need it or not.

2nd baby: You change their diaper every 2 to 3 hours, if needed.

3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

Worries -

1st baby: At the first sign of distress – a whimper, a frown – you pick up the baby.

2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.

3rd baby: You teach your 3-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.

Activities -

1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.

2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.

3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

Going Out -

1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home 5 times.

2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.

3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

At Home -

1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.

2nd baby: You spend a bit of every day watching to be sure your older child isn’t squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.

3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

My 5 links for the week

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Make your own graphics using Sumo Paint! This is great if you don’t already have some sort of graphics application on your computer. Thanks to Magical Childhood for recommending this! My daughter is having a blast! http://www.sumopaint.com/app/

You can do a quick scribble

 

My 9 year old having a play with the application

Just incase you need a bit of encouragement to convert from microwave popcorn to good ol’ stove top popcorn….here is a video to show you how easy (and cheaper and healthier) it is! Read the comments, because there are some yummy toppings that the readers share. http://smallnotebook.org/2008/10/03/tasty-popcorn-no-microwave-needed/

One stop shop of craft tutorials! Instead of surfing the internet to find a tutorial on how to make a headband, apron or softie, go to Sew Chic & Unique, because they have done all the hard work for you! The hard part will be deciding WHICH project to try first! http://sewchicandunique.com/

Have you tried the “also principle”? At Confident mom they share how instead of thinking, “that will do” or ”that’s good enough” to try and apply the “also principle” in different aspects of your life. http://www.theconfidentmom.com/relationships/the-also-principle/

For example: When you clean up dinner dishes, shine the sink also.

When you pour yourself a cup of coffee, pour your spouse one also.

Love these simple tips on things you can do every day to keep the clutter down. This post at Unclutterer is written by Sherri over at Zen Family Habits. http://unclutterer.com/2010/03/11/10-more-uncluttering-things-to-do-every-day/

My 5 links for the week

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This lady is amazingly talented! She comes up with plans so you can make your own furniture. Whenever I look at the photos, I start dreaming of my house filled with beautiful unique furniture….dreams are free right! http://knockoffwood.blogspot.com/

Wow! You can make your own custom storage baskets just by sewing up some fabric and using cardboard?!? http://sew4home.com/projects/storage-solutions/370-stylish-baby-nursery-collapsible-storage-baskets

Maddie from Li’l Magoolie has provided a downloadable flower card. Perfect for thank you cards, or invitations! http://lilmagoolie.wordpress.com/2010/02/25/freebie-downloadable-flower-card/

I just stumbled across and online version of “The Littlies” Magazine (their website is pretty good too http://www.littlies.co.nz) Great recipes and stories. There is an advice column by one of my favourite parenting gurus Diane Levy. I went to a workshop she ran once, and she is so great! Really funny too. http://www.mygazines.net/search?q=%22Littlies%20Parenting%20Magazine%22&type=publications&sortBy=publish_date

Go and have a read of Simple Mom’s “20 Tips for Finding Your Routine with Kids”. They are simple and practical. I feel like printing it out and sticking it where I can see it, to help me stay focused throughout the day! http://simplemom.net/20-tips-for-finding-your-routine-with-kids-2/