Barbie Doll Crafts

I still have my old Barbies from when I was a kid because I loved them so much, I am having a hard time letting them go. I even washed all the clothes and put outfits together in plastic baggies. Plus, my mom made some of the clothes so even with the hair cuts I gave them, the fact that some of them are "no neck Barbies" (my brothers ripped their heads off and when you put the head back on, they no longer have a neck), and them being 20 years old, I kept them. It brought back memories when I read this Roundup on Dollar Store Crafts and made me want to make the old girls some new stuff. I especially love the headbands because they are also recycling! The shoe bracelet is great idea because when I was organizing my Barbies and clothes, I found two shoes that don't match. I didn't know what to do with them. I'm sure everyone who has Barbies in their home has that same problem. If you have little girls at home, this roundup would make for some great summer crafts!

The Odds are...

If you have ever wondered how likely an occurrence is to happen, then The Book of Odds is for you. It's fun to see the odds of having twins (as a non-Hispanic Caucasian woman, the odds my next pregnancy will be twins is 1 in 27.56) or the odds an adult will wash their hands after handling money (1 in 4). You can also create your own Book of Odds which is a collection of your favorite statistics. It's all free!

Independence Day

Most of what I know about our nation's history came from fiction and diaries of notable historic figures. I don't know much about dates and the timeline as I know it is incomplete. Since I read with passion, I feel much more when I read of how America came to be. I know about important historical people and love knowing the individual's story. Jen of Cake Wrecks fame has another blog which is slightly less hilarious, more personal, and just as intelligently written called Epbot. On her 4th of July post,  she has an awesome music video that gave me goosebumps and made me even shed a tear about...The Declaration of Independence. If that American Government class I tried to take in college was taught with as much passion as this song was sung, I wouldn't have withdrawn from the class and I might actually know some dates and complete timelines. Watch it. I think the personification of our founding fathers will make impact on you, too. Take a moment to remember how much people fought to get us here.



While you are at it, check out the Epbot blog. It's worth your time.

The Floh Club

We all know that person who really wants to add the convenience of computers and the Internet to their life but they need a little extra help. Florence Henderson (better remembered as Carol Brady) has created the perfect solution. The Floh Club is a website geared towards older people to help them learn to use computers. You can give yearly or monthly memberships as a gift ($21-$25/month). The telephone computer support team at the Floh Club is always available and patient. They will answer any question, no matter how small. This would be perfect for grandparents out of state!

A breakthrough?

My sensory boy has been in speech therapy for about five months and it's been four months since his diagnosis. He has come so far from throwing himself face down onto the ground with no regard for safety because he was frustrated. This week has been a week of small miracles, in my book. We spent the weekend with my brothers and one of them said, "I never heard his voice before. He wasn't even making sounds the last time I saw him!" My brother has no children and doesn't quite understand Sensory Processing Disorder but the fact that he noticed a change was huge. We have heard many new unsolicited words this week including milk (mi mi mi), juice (ju), apple (which was very clearly apple), and thank you (na new.) A huge breakthrough has been the fact that he is saying people's names. He has attempted his brother's name, both of his uncle's names, and one of his friend's names. It's been a really good week and I have so much hope that SPD won't be a hindrance to his life, just a minor obstacle to tackle.

4th of July Meal Deal

Go here for a 4th of July meal plan. It looks like a great meal and at under $4 per person, it's a great price, too!

To save even more money, use the coupons for Kingsford charcoal she listed with this deal and you can get 2 bags of charcoal for around $5!

Thanks, I Heart Publix!

Disney flip flops under $2!

The Disney Store has kids flip flops on sale for $1.99 and if you use code FREESHIP, you will get free shipping! This would be a great time to buy sizes for next year. I typed 'flip flops' into the search bar and found Tinkerbell, Lightning McQueen (might be sold out because I couldn't choose a size), Wall-E, Finding Nemo, and Handy Manny flip flops all for that price. Sizes are limited so order yours now.

Thanks, Coupon Pro!

Make money with old electronics

Do you have old electronics, DVDs, video games, or cameras lying around? If you do, check out Nextworth.com. You can get a quote on your old stuff and trade it in for a Target gift card, PayPal credit, a check, or donate the value to a charitable organization. Even if your stuff isn't of value, Nextworth will still provide you with free shipping and recycle it for you. That is better than letting it collect dust!

Free Day at the Museum

On September 25, 2010, you can go to one of many museums nationwide for free! Find a participating museum near you and request your ticket today. You can print your ticket now and be ready for September 25th. The ticket is good for two people so if you are bringing the whole family, you will have to pay the kid's admission.

Thanks, Moms By Heart!

Giveaway: Birdie Baby Boutique

When I first saw some of the beautiful creations from Birdie Baby Boutique, I knew I wanted to work with them! Everything these two stay at home moms make is so sweet and inspired. Since they make everything themselves, if you see something you like but want it in a different color or pattern, they can do it. All of their designs are fully customizable. My favorite thing they make is the superhero capes. My 4 year old wants to be a Super (like Dash Incredible) when he grows up and I am always tying a blanket on him so he can "dash and dash and dash all around." Yes, he made up his own superhero song. Of course, they can be made in any fabric, with any letter, and any felt applique.

They recently entered the EtsyKids Design Challenge and won with their word name blocks! Also, if you like them on Facebook, you can see the latest creations and get special pricing by participating in their comment games.

Buy it: Visit Birdie Baby Boutique today to get your creation started!

Win it: Birdie Baby Boutique has very generously offered a frayed fabric rosette clip to one lucky winner. Winner chooses the color. These can be worn alone, stacked, or even on a shirt. This is one accessory a mom should share with her daughter!

If you see something else you have to have, you can gain 3 extra entries for this giveaway by purchasing it before the end of the giveaway!

I will choose a winner using random.org on July 10th. The giveaway closes July 9th at midnight.