Finished: Camping Blanket

I recently finished sewing a camping blanket - inspired by the Purl Bee [here]

the beauty of it is that it's so simple! and I don't need to worry if it gets dirty or well worn while camping!

The two pieces of fabric I found in the clearance bin at fabricville for $1 EACH! they cover almost the whole top of my queen size bed so it's nice and large. I did a simple zig zag stitch randomly throughout the blanket to hold everything in place. 

it's super easy, and super cozy!

also, check out clickin moms [glimpse] project - I'm going to try and tackle following along with this, but keep my pictures private. Just wanted to pass along with photo a day challenge! I'm in love with instagram - so this should be a breeze! I'd love to print them at the end of each week and put them out in one of those ceramic baskets seen [here], but alas - I live in small town canada and I refuse to pay the outrageous shipping charges from the states to here, so I'm on a mission to find something equally cute but local to store them in! 

Preschool Ideas

LittleMan was recently enrolled in a preschool where he was able to go only when I had day shifts, and was able to stay home with me when I didn't work. It was working out great - until the preschool closed. 

I had been doing some preschool activities from a great website that provided some great monthly preschool lesson plans for free. It was working out great - until the site stopped providing them for free.

So I'm going to work up until the end of march to give you some ideas to use for the month of april - and then during the month of april I'll focus on uploading ideas for you to use during may so that you have time to get everything together and be prepared. 

Now I am in no way trained in ECE - I'm doing this strictly for the purpose of getting some educational time with my son. If you have any questions on if this is right for your child - I'm not the one to ask, I'm in no way a professional and I in no way know what your local school board (or my school board for that matter) requires of children who are entering or kindergarten. 

So here's what I have compiled for April so far: 

(but keep an eye out over the next week for more ideas!)

National Ocean Week:  April 1, 2012 - April 7, 2012

1. { crayola }

colouring pages, crafts and lesson plan ideas

2. 

{ click to see more about this book }

3. Preschool ocean theme

4. Ocean Theme Printables

5.

{ click to see more about this book }

National Frog Month (april):

1. Crafts and Activities 

2. More Activities

3.

{ click to see more about this book }

I'll expand more on frog month ideas in another post! 

Easter:

1.

{ click to see more about this book }

2. Easter Pre K pack

I'll expand more on easter in tomorrow's post! 

And Please! if you have any links to other pre-k ideas for april - share them!! I'd love to use them! 

Tree Hugger

Have you checked out the planet green website or tree hugger? I used to check them all the time as they had a writer that I really enjoyed (Kelly Rossiter). They have great healthy food recipes, tips for around the house, and as their titles suggest - ways to be more planet friendly! 

I read an article today that had 20 uses for leftover fruit and vegetable rinds. Now I would like to get a compost going - but being military we never know when we're going to move and I think trying to move a big pile of dirt and compost off military property might be a bit of a task. (sometimes getting rid of the garden is as well, but that's not something I can give up!) 

So from making your coffee pot sparkle to helping you exfoliate your skin - check out this list for great ideas and let me know what you think and share if you have any other tips that aren't on this list! 

http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/20-uses-leftover-fruit-vegetable-rinds-and-peels.html

the Hunger Games: Party Edition

Please tell me you've read the Hunger Games Triliogy? 

if you have - then you have to be a huge fan like I am (I read all three books in a week - my house was very neglected). 

living locurto has done up some free printables for a hunger games viewing party...

Check out the rest {here} 

Here's a couple more links I found with some ideas on having a hunger games party. 

1. Hypable

2.a sweet spot home

3. catch my party (printable)

Please share any links you have related to hunger game printables and party ideas! 

p.s. did I mention my birthdays coming up in march? I'm a big bookworm - I might have to change my birthday from a pink theme, to a book theme :) It's the big 2-6! 

Currently reading...

I finally got my kobo back after the terrible repair department experience. They lost it, thankfully I had a tracking number, and then I couldn't get a straight answer out of anyone. Anyways - I'm pretty happy to have it back and I've been reading up a storm. I'm currently reading the boy in the striped pajamas - great movie. What books have read lately that you loved? I've started a list of books to read but so far I've enjoyed the hunger games and the winter garden, we bought a zoo and war horse.

Cute stationary

I love stationary supplies - I love them even more when they go on sale for .44 cents a pack! I plan on using the little note book to keep track of my book lists - books to read, books to look up, books to add to my wish list!

What books on your list? Have you found any cute stationary supplies lately?

Christmas Ornaments

Last year I got a box of Christmas ornaments from my Mother In Law. 

I finally pulled them out and started painting them, Im hoping to finish them this week! 

The detail in them is pretty small, so it's not something I think would be great to do with kids. The paint dries fairly quick, and the ornaments seem to be well made - although I do recommend a different paint brush, a fine detail one of better quality to get in all the little spots. 

here' what the box looks like:

 here's the paints that come with it:

I'm not sure where you buy it from - but if you stumble across it, I would suggest you pick it up!!

I have a post to put up tomorrow about my grinch quilt - super excited about it! It's the first snow today, I'm for sure into the winter spirit now! Time for some peppermint hot chocolate!

{Wendy Wendy, lounging in the sun}