Fun Ideas to Make Life Easier!

A co-worker just sent me this and I had to SHARE!!!! Check out these brilliant ideas!!!!

Ideas to Make Life Easier from Alderberry Hills  

Ideas to Make Life Easier

Why didn't I think of that?!  You'll be uttering those words more than once at these ingenious little tips, tricks and ideas that solve everyday problems.


Hull strawberries easily using a straw.

Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.

Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40.

Stop cut apples browning in your child's lunch box by securing with a rubber band.

Overhaul your linen cupboard, store bed linen sets inside one  of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.

Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone & iPod in a  bowl. The concave shape amplifies the music.

Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.

Add this item to your beach bag.  Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily, who knew?

Attach a Velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.

Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor.

Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose.

Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box  lid.

For those who can't stand the scrunching and bunching: how to perfectly fold a fitted sheet.

Forever losing your bathroom essentials?  Use magnetic  strips to store bobby pins, tweezers and clippers, behind a vanity door.

Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes.  And you can find them in just about every  hotel.

A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy.  Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant.

Bread tags make the perfect cord labels.

Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones, so much more fun and easier for kids to eat.

Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag.  Much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff.

Install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles.

Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the  top and voila, you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream.

Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.

Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering.

Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations.

The above are not my pictures, this was a public email.

My Memories Suite Giveaway- WINNER!!!

I know Julia, Juan, Beth W. and Kara have been on pins and needles waiting for the results of the

  My Memories Suite Giveaway....

SOOOOO.....(dumbroll please)

My little monkey-head helped me out!

And the winner is.....

BETH W...I will be contacting you your PROMO CODE!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

My Memories Suite Giveaway!!!

My first Giveaway!!!!


Hello SCRAPBOOKERS!!! Any of you that know me,  know that I've scrapbooked my whole life....old school style until my son was born and it was NO LONGER realistic to be cutting letters from magazines and printing pictures and putting it all together in a scrapbook. I've dabbled with different websites, but I recently came across this scrapbook software that gives you the opportunity to create pages for your scrapbook JUST AS IF you were doing it OLD SCHOOL STYLE, but ON your computer, no cutting, no gluing, no going to get more paper if you run out of sheets.... AND IT MADE ME SO HAPPY! 

Even happier when they contacted me and told me I could give this DIGITAL SCRAP-BOOKING SOFTWARE away for FREE!!!

My Memories Suite is rated #1 by Amazon and TopTen Reviews. Using this software, anyone can create digital scrapbooks, photobooks, cards, calendars and gifts without having to buy expensive and complicated software programs.What's amazing is that this software is only $39.97! 

But I get to GIVE ONE AWAY FOR FREE, here, on my Blog!!!

 To enter the Giveaway:
1. Go to MyMemories.com 

2. Look through the digital paper pack and layouts 

3. Then comment on my blog telling me what scrapbook projects you have pending.

On  OCTOBER 28th, I will chose a winner at RANDOM!

Here is a PAGE I put together for NICO's 21st months-tomorrow...(I'm a celebrator, what can I SAY--ask my husband, I drive him nuts with all the random special days that I celebrate-First kiss anniversary, Started dating anniversary...you get the picture.)

I had to hold myself back because there are so many different and fun things to do with the pages, the pictures, the extras..... that you can loose yourself, and spend all of precious naptime scrolling through the endless possibilities of cuteness that you can FINALLY put together to actually print out to show off to your friends and family!

Aside from this giveaway, I also have a PROMO CODE you can use to get $10 off . 

Here are some instructions for you when downloading the software with MY promo code:

1. Go to http://www.mymemories.com/digital_scrapbooking_software

2. Click on Add to Cart.

3. Enter the Promotional Code field on the shopping cart page

Coupon code is: STMMMS85924

4. Finish the checkout. 

5. To download the software, go to http://www.mymemories.com/my_accounts/downloads and click on the link to download the software. Your product key will also be displayed on that page.

Don't wait until your child moves out to start working on their scrapbooks, check this digital software out and GET THOSE BEAUTIUFL SCRAPBOOKS printed and on those coffee tables! 

And remember, The Holidays are around the corner!!

Check out the MyMEMORIES Facebook page where they are giving out A FREE IPAD!!

My Memories Blog also has lots of great tips, forums, and inspiration for your next project. 

I can't wait to read your comments!

Happy Scrap-booking!

Get in the Halloween spirit with these quick and simple Ideas

Preparing your home and little ones for HALLOWEEN, might seem a little daunting and haunting...haha, but it doesn't have to be a dreaded scary event. It can be LOADS of fun!

My son and I have done the following:

Ours looked a little scarier...ahaha

1.Paper towel ghosts: Instead of hanging ours from handles, we attched long strings and tied them onto Tacs on the roof beam in the living room...so we have cute hanging ghosts in our living room.

2. Yummy Jello Gigglers Pumpkin activities that my sister suggested. Here are some more ideas for JELLO-ween!

3. Pumpkin carving/ seed roasting- This is actually an activity we have for later TODAY or Tomorrow...you'll see pictures HERE soon!

We are making pumpkin cut outs and using  Cool Whip with Green Dye, we're adding some final touches.

Check out these other Halloween Ideas from Kaboose.com for Fun Family Activities that will surely get you in the HALLOWEEN SPIRIT!!

 Pumpkin cap Instructions here

 Witch Instructions here

 I am definitely going to try this one:

What you'll need:

• Glass canning jars with lid bands

• Acrylic paint: green, white, black

• Paintbrush

• Large, medium, and small round sponge applicators

• Black marker

• 2 metal nuts per jar

• Instant grab glue

• Clear gloss sealer spray

How to make it:

1. Remove tops from jars; remove lids from the bands and save them for another project. (See photo.)

1. Paint bands black and jars green; set aside to dry. (See photos 1, 2.)

1. When dry, paint a second coat on the jars and have an adult spray the black bands with sealer spray. Set aside to dry.

1. Dip the large round sponge applicator into white paint and dot on the eyes to the front of the jar. (See photo.)

1. Mix a small amount of green paint with some white paint to make a light shade of green. Dip the small round applicator into the green paint and add the nose to the front of the jar. (See photo.)

1. While the eyes and nose are drying, take the black marker and lightly draw on stitches and a mouth on the face. (See photo.)

1. Use instant grab glue to attach a nut to the side of the jar. Allow it to dry for several minutes before turning the jar over and gluing a nut to the other side. Stand the jar up and let everything dry. You may need to check the nuts and make sure they are sticking. Simply press them back in place if need be. (See photo.)

1. Dip the medium round sponge applicator into black paint and add the pupils to the eyes. Allow them to dry completely. (See photo.)

1. Have a grown up spray the jars with gloss sealer spray, each jar and black band should get three coats, wait 30 minutes between coats.

1. When everything is dry, screw the black bands back onto the jars and add a tea light candle.  Wait until it gets dark and watch them glow! (See photo.)

Tips:

1. For a safer option, you can purchase battery-operated tea light candles.

1. If you don't have canning jars, you can use any type of recycled glass jar. Simply paint the rim of the jar black in place of a band.

1. These jars make great holders for your Halloween party table as well. Fill them with pixie sticks, straws, or lollipops!

Ghost Instructions here

Vampire Instructions here

Besides these great ideas...I also found these AMAZING PUMPKIN LETTERS that you can use to decorate just about anything! A-Z and #0-9. If you are feeling really crafty, You can print those letters on IRON ON PAPER (transfer paper can be bought a Michaels or any store of that sort. Click here to find a store.) and Print your CHILD's NAME onto a CANVAS TOTE Trick or treating bag! How's that for super crafty momma! Make sure you print the image as a MIRROR IMAGE...so that when you Iron it on to the bag...it won't look backwards. =)

Happy Halloweening!!!

Homemade Play dough

Being a Creative Momma doesn't take too much time or effort--PROMISE. Check out this simple homemade recipe for Play dough that will keep your kiddos busy and make your mommy friends jealous at HOW CREATIVE you are....jk, actually grateful to have such a crafty person like you around!

Homemade Playdough Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup flour
1 cup water
1 Tablespoon oil
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
Food coloring by drops

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a pan and stir. Cook over low heat, stirring until a ball forms.

2. Allow it to cool.

3. Find someone to test your final product and approve of it!

If you add orange or black food coloring instead, you will have a great activity for the Halloween Season!!

Local's Story-time at Books& Cookies with Alva Sachs

TOMORROW, September 30th at 4pm there is a Local's Story-time at Books & Cookies. The featured Local Author for this story-time is Alva Sachs, an award-winning children's author from Calabasas. She is the Author of Circus Fever, On your Mark, Get Set, GO! and her latest release is I'm 5. All three of those books have received honors and awards for children's picture books.

As a future children's book author and illustrator, meeting someone that has gone through this process and completed it successfully 3 times is going to be a great experience. It's hard to stay driven sometimes when you have a blank canvas and a pencil in your hand but can't seem to start that first line. Seeing completed projects and all the events that she has participated in, and the millions of smiles that she has brought to families...especially children...is a great motivator. It also reminds me that every great story starts with ONE WORD and every great drawing starts with one line....and I can't be nervous or afraid to place those lines. All art-work is a work in progress and the first line won't determine my success.

SO...I hereby decree that the first lines placed on these pages are unimportant... unloading the pressure that is stacked on top of my drawing pencils and markers!

A little bit about the Bookstore hosting this Local's story-time:

Books and Cookies, a new bookstore, bakery, and enrichment center, seems to have figured out how to keep kids and parents happy and excited about reading. They have a cozy set up in their Bookstore and Interactive Reading Room where kids and their imagination are free to wander, and an Kid's Cafe where both you and your kid's taste buds are FREE to ROAM. Not only do they make it a great experience, they also offer other classes and events in theirActivity Space that you and your children can surely enjoy together, alone, or with friends...that will feed into their love of books and learning starting at an early age!

Books & Cookies is not only a great stop for moms with infants for STORY-TIMES, babies and toddlers for music classes, and everyone and anyone for BootCamp workouts, they are a positive influence in the community as well. They have teamed up with Children's and Literacy programs to give back and share their love for books....and of course cookies too.

Event's like tomorrow's Local Story-time take place the Last friday of every month. This gives the local authors a chance to connect with their readers and it give our kids the opportunity to meet those special people that write the books that they read everyday.

Come check out the FREE event tomorrow at Books & Cookies (2230 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90405) and support our local author, Alva Sachs, from 4pm to 5pm. She will be reading her 3 books, have fun coloring activities, and will also be signing books!

WHO KNOWS? Maybe one day I'll get the chance to Host a LOCAL Author's STORY-TIME...ahhhh, so exciting!

To find out more about events and activities at Books & Cookies, check out this Calendar.