New Year's Eve FREE Printables

This year, since two of my three children can now write on their own, we're going to start a tradition of writing a letter to ourselves on New Year's Eve...and our hopes and dreams for 2014.  In researching different ways to do this, I happened upon this great little kit from run lucas run. 

Included are Resolution Cards (which include great prompts like A habit I'm going to break, A good deed I'm going to do, A book I'd like to read, and A new food I'd like to try), blank Dear Me letters to write to yourself, and Children's Cards that have plenty of space for your children to record their favorite food, singing and dancing song, storytime book, color, and a place they'd like to visit. 

I think it will be great family fun to write these out tonight...and even more fun to read through them together in 2014! 

Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year full of love and laughter!

2-Day Magazine Sale

I received an email today notifying me of a steep sale on many family-focused magazines...THIS WEEKEND ONLY!  Below are some of the titles/prices included: 

For Children

• Ranger Rick - $11.99/year (10 issues)
• Boys' Life - $4.99/year (12 issues)
• Jack & Jill - $7.99/year (6 issues)
• Sparkle World - $13.99/year (6 issues)
• Thomas & Friends - $14.99/year (6 issues)

For Adults

• FamilyFun - $3.99/year (10 issues)
• Parents - $4.99/year (12 issues)
• Wired - $4.99/year (12 issues)
• Popular Science - $4.99/year (12 issues)
• Shape - $4.99/year (12 issues)
• Glamour - $4.99/year (12 issues)
• Yoga - $4.99/year (9 issues)
• Instructor - $4.99/year (6 issues)
• Vanity Fair - $4.99/year (12 issues)

 Happy shopping!  Happy reading!

Q & A a Day Journals

Last year I gifted my mother, father, brother and best friend (and myself) with this Q & A a Day: 5-Year Journal.  We have all greatly enjoyed answering each day's questions and now that we're starting year two, are seeing how much we've changed and grown over the last year. 

Here are some sample questions:  Was today typical?  Why or why not?  Rate your lunch on a scale of 1 to 10.  What inspired you today?  Where have you found evidence of a higher power?  Student or teacher? 

I expect my answer to remain the same for some questions, but have already seen a change in my perspective from last year on a few.  I can't wait to see where I am in another 3 years! 

My son August has been fascinated by my journaling each day.  He goes in spurts himself, writing down what his days are like in a blank book.  So when I saw the Q & A a Day for Kids: A Three-Year Journal this fall, I knew I had found a great Christmas gift for him! 

The children's version of the Q & A a day book asks questions about the child's hero, strengths, feelings about challenges and and favorite activities.  My son says he's really enjoying having a book like mine and my daughters are anxious to receive their own once they can spell on their own (they want to wait until they can write independently so their answers will be secret).

Both journals are available on Amazon for less than $12 and make awesome birthday gifts for friends and family...or yourself!

• Q & A a Day: 5-Year Journal
• Q & A a Day for Kids: A Three-Year Journal 

Minted Holiday Cards

It's time to start thinking about your family's holiday cards, and I'm here to help! 

I've ordered our cards from Minted the past few years and have been nothing but pleased with the results.  The only difficulty I've encountered is trying to choose between all of their amazing designs.  They have a stunning collection of layouts, color options, prints, and general esthetics.  And then there's the paper.  Hold on, the paper needs it's own paragraph...

Minted prints their cards on some impressive paper.  Paper so thick it makes you take an extra breath the first time you hold it.  Paper (and designs) sure to get your family and friends calling and sending emails to say your card is their favorite.  Paper worth reigniting a holiday card tradition for.  The only paper that is going to do your adorable family photo justice this holiday season.

This morning, I ordered our cards for this year and saved some money thanks to their current Early Bird special.  Use coupon code EARLYBIRD2012 to save 15% off your order for a limited time.

Visit minted.com to view their expansive holiday card collection.  And I wish you luck in narrowing them down to your favorite. You're going to need it.

Olympic Printables

My children, like many across the world, are enthusiastically following the Olympics.  In searching for some games-inspired activities for them to do, I stumbled upon these amazing printables from Tinyme and thought I'd share. 

Included in this free selection are medals (to personalize prior to printing), a board game, flags to create, bookmarks, an opening ceremony bingo game (fortunately for us, it's still unwatched on our DVR because I was out of town on Friday), and more!

I can't wait to get started on these fun activities with my children in the next few days...especially since we have some storms rolling in later today.  Snugging on the couch, watching the Olympics, making crafts...sounds like the perfect way to spend a rainy day!

Printables available to download here.

50% off Zoobooks Subscription

This week's Living Social deal is a year's subscription to Zoobooks (or Zootles or Zoobies, depending on your child's age and development level).

For $15 (normally $30) you'll receive an animal-themed book sent to your home each month along with a poster and set of stickers. My children have been receiving Zoobooks the past year and LOVE it! Not only do they enjoy the animals they read about, but they feel so grown up receiving their own mail each month.

Your child will learn about animals from apes to zebras and every one in between while looking at beautiful photography and age-specific content. They will also build reading skills while you snuggle together on the couch reading these educational books. They offer "all the right building blocks to set young readers up for learning success," says Learning Magazine.

To purchase your subscription, visit livingsocial.com. But hurry, this offer is only good for six more days!

Jordan Grace Owens

I opened a package this morning that took my breath away. Lovingly, carefully, and delicately enclosed were the paper dolls you see here of my family of six: My husband Aaron, daughters Martha and Hazel, son August, myself, and our wire fox terrier, Skone. It is no exaggeration to say my heart skipped a beat.

I have always loved paper dolls. And even more, I love hearing my own mother talk about how much she cherished her paper dolls when she sees my daughters' paper pals...the combination of picturing my mother as a little girl and seeing my own daughters play is very magical. Martha and Hazel change their doll's clothes nearly as often as they change their own; my real life Barbie dolls. (In frequency, not in build. Thankfully.)

The man behind these intricate and beautiful works of art is Jordan Grace Owens. I found this talented artist/illustrator on Etsy where she has a wonderful shop full of various paper goods she's created.

You too can commission Jordan to create custom paper dolls of your family members by contacting him through Etsy where she'll create a private sale for you. Each doll will cost you $25.00...a steal in my opinion for a custom, personal, and timeless work of art! You'll need to send her close-up photos of each family member along with details of their personalities.

For example, I mentioned Martha is a lover of all things pink and frilly; she dressed her in a tutu! It's a rare occasion Hazel and I don't wear cardigans, or that my husband isn't wearing a blue plaid shirt. And anyone who has met my son August will admit this is a carbon copy of him. I don't know how Jordan Grace Owens does it, but I sure am glad she does. And I'm even more thrilled that she shares her talents with the rest of us!

Visit etsy.com/shop/hollandsworth to see her shop and get started on ordering your own family.

Printable Father's Day Cards

If you've been dilly dallying in purchasing Father's Day cards or if your children can't find a card that suits their unique relationship with their father, Swoon is here to help.

These free printable Father's Day cards are sure to make any dad smile as they'll be made with love by their child! They can be colored, painted, or personalized any way you or your child see fit! You really can't go wrong!

Visit swoonstudio.blogspot.com to get started!

Whole Living Subscription for $3.50

One of my favorite magazines is Whole Living. I love the recipes, style tips, beautiful photography, product reviews, and natural living articles. And now you can too...for only $3.50 for a year's subscription!

My subscription doesn't run out for a few years but because this deal is too good to pass up I purchased one for my best friend. I know she'll enjoy it as much as I do...and I'll enjoy getting her perspective on articles as well. So as you order, think of those you love who might it enjoy it as well.

Visit tanga.com and enter coupon code WHOLE at checkout to reflect the steep discount. And if you want to save even more, shop Tanga through Ebates where you'll save another 2.5%!

Mom's Five-Second Memory Journal

Mother's guilt. We all have it.

And a big source of it in baby's first few years is tracking all of the developments in a baby book. After those first few years, we look back and think, "I really wish I had written down more of the silly things they said."

Today, I urge you all to let go of the guilt. There is no going back and beating yourself up inside will only result in you not being present in your child's today. All we can do as parents is acknowledge the things we can change (and know there are some things we cannot) and then make our best effort to do so. I can't help with every regret, but perhaps I can assist on the baby book front.

The Mom's Five-Second Memory Journal is unique in that it isn't chronological...this means there's no guilt if you don't fill it in for a week (or month...or three). It is "playful, breezy, and sometimes eccentric" and includes prompts to jot down thoughts on your life as a wife, a professional, and/or a mother to your wild and crazy kids!

Because it's small and portable, it can be kept in your bag to be filled out as you wait in the carpool line or doctor's office, but it's substantial enough to become a keepsake. And what a great Mother's Day gift this would make!

Available at amazon.com for only $8.00 and ships FREE with a $25 purchase.

Newspaper Fort

The kids and I started building a geodesic dome newspaper fort this afternoon when my (unlucky) husband walked in at the perfect (for me) time...to help hold up some pieces. He comes home to many a projects, but this one took even him by surprise.

I'm not going to lie, this project will not be for everyone. There was a time when I wanted to give up...but then Mr. Mugga poured me a rum and Coke. I'm so glad he didn't work late tonight!

I think we'll cover at least part of this with newspaper sheets or a blanket tomorrow for the kids to play in. That way it'll seem more like a cozy fort than a cold piece of abstract art.

The directions below are for a fort a bit larger than the one you see my children in. We only used 8 pieces for the bottom instead of 10...we simply do not have the room in our play room. But as you can see, it's plenty big for the three of them and their Pillow Pets...and that's all that mattered to them! Make it work for your family...just be sure to use an even number of base pieces on the fourth step.

Here are the directions...if you dare:

1. Place open newspapers in a stack. Begin at one corner of the stack and roll each sheet of newspaper tightly into a tube (if you use a single layer that's fine...but the more sheets together the stronger the structure will be). Tape the tube so it does not unroll. Repeat 64 more times for a total of 65 tubes.
2. Cut 30 of the tubes to 28 inches. You must cut from both ends so both ends are flat and do not taper. These are the long tubes.
3. Cut 35 tubes to 26 inches. Remember to cut from both ends. These are the short tubes.
4. Staple or tape 10 long tubes together, end to end.
5. When you get to the end, staple/tape the first and last tubes together. When you do this, it will curve around to form a 10-sided polygon. This is the base of the dome. Place it on the floor.
6. Staple/tape one long tube and one short tube to each joint on the base. Place them in the same order on each joint so that two long tubes are adjacent to each other alternating with two short tubes that are adjacent to each other. Continue this pattern all the way around the base.
7. Staple/tape the free ends of two adjacent long tubes together. This forms a triangle. Repeat for the next two adjacent short tubes. Continue this procedure all the way around the base until you have five triangles made from long tubes and five from tubes.
8. Staple/tape short tubes to the tops of these triangles, joining the top points. This should form a 10-sided polygon of short tubes. The geodesic dome will start to take shape.
9. Staple/tape a short tube perpendicularly at each point where four short tubes connect. Staple/tape one end of a long tube to the free end of one of these short tubes. Staple/tape the other end to the next joint on the previous row where two longs and two shorts meet. Repeat this all the way around. The result is a shape that will resemble a five-pointed star.
10. Add another row of long tubes connecting the inner apexes of the star. This will form a pentagon in the middle of the dome.
11. Staple/tape one end of each of the last five short tubes to the angles of the pentagon. Tape the other ends of the short tubes together where they meet in the middle on top of the dome.

And in between each step, take a sip of your drink...unless your pregnant...then you earn an extra-special merit badge! Seriously.

Let me know how your structures turn out!

MOO

When I started Ugga Mugga three years ago I invested a substantial amount of time researching business cards. I knew it would be a commitment and that I'd have them for some time...it's not like I'm an ambulance-chaser handing my cards out all over town.

After much searching, I chose MOO's MiniCards,and I am so glad that I did! But not only for business purposes!

I've placed orders for MiniCards for personal use as well. I have quite a collection of cards with tiny photos of the kids on them; when we're sitting at story time or during one of August or Marthas' zoo classes, I'll pull them out and Hazel and I look through them. They're adorable and the size really captures only what's important...none of the distractions in a photo. It's a great way to look back on memories!

But back to my MOO business cards... They make a statement and even when in New York this summer at the International Gift Fair everyone I met and handed a card to commented on them...even Jonathan Adler himself! Now that says a lot!

The MiniCards are about half the size of a traditional business card, which I like. They're not bulky and they stand out when in a stack. They're also incredibly sturdy and thick...the quality is amazing! And then there's the case (I have the hard plastic one that slides)...when I pull it out to get a card comments are made.  Every. Time.

In addition to the MiniCards there are sticker books that are super fun to make for kids, as well as note cards, postcards, and traditional-sized business cards.

Check out us.moo.com to see their products...you're sure to turn heads if you do! Maybe even Jonathan Adler's!

LEGO Magazine

My children (and my husband and I) LOVE anything Lego, as many of you already know. For years August has been receiving the Lego Magazine and spending countless hours studying the designs and doing the activities. Martha just started receiving her very own copy and is quickly following in her big brother's footsteps...and I couldn't be more pleased!

Lego is currently offering a free 2-year subscription to Lego Magazine...and I thought I'd share it with you to use with the little Lego lover in your life.

To sign up, click here to visit lego.com. Then, click on PLAY at the top of the page. Next, click on LEGO CLUB on the right side...and then LEGO MAGAZINE. Then, to start the quick sign-up process, you click on US or UK and Ireland at the bottom of the page. Enter your and your child's information and you're all set! Enjoy!

Printable Car Games

Is your family planning a road trip this summer? If so, you'll want to head over to MomsMinivan.com where they have a whole slue of games to print...for free!

Your kids will love becoming familiar with Tic Tac Toe, Battleship, Car Bingo, lines and dots games, the License Plate game, a travel scavenger hunt, coloring pages, and all of the sing along songs at the site!

My family is headed to Lake Delton for a week in July and you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be printing my share of games for the three hour drive there...and the even longer (or so it seems) ride home!

Visit momsminivan.com to get printing!

World Repair Kit

From Serena and Lily, the creator of the fabulous Market Sling I wrote about and carried my dear Hazel in her first few months of life, comes another great product: the World Repair Kit!

This great keepsake box is full of everything your eco-savvy family needs to further your knowledge of planet-changing tips. Included is a guidebook full of great activities your family and friends can do to make a difference, along with a World Repair Passport, stickers, stamps and an ink pad to document your conservationist achievements.

This kit retails for $24.95 and is available at serenaandlily.com.

Duck! Rabbit!

I love the show How I Met Your Mother and enjoyed the last episode I watched in which they debated which was better...ducks or rabbits. So I was pleased when I happened upon the book Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (she also wrote Little Pea).

Duck! Rabbit! is a great book for children that teaches them everyone is different and has their own point of view...and sees things in unique ways. And that very important lesson is celebrated in this sweet and cleverly funny book.

Teaching children to support their opinions is so very important with all of the pressure that reaches them at an incredibly young age in today's world. They'll love this book and you'll love seeing their self-confidence blossom!

Available at amazon.com where it's on sale for $11.55 and qualifies for FREE SHIPPING with an order of $25 or more.

Paper Snowflakes

My children and I have been crafting up a storm...due to the winter storms hitting the Midwest. My little town is a real live snowglobe. It's quite beautiful and makes for cozy crafting.

Today, suitably, we started work on snowflakes. We've been cutting them all off the top of our heads using only our imaginations but tonight, after putting the kids to bed, I thought, "I bet there are some great patterns online to reference." And sure enough...I found some great ones! I think tomorrow we'll try some of these patterns and see how they turn out.

Here are some of the child-friendly ones:

• PaperSnowflakes.com
• KinderArt.com
• HighHopes.com
• Marcels-Kid-Crafts.com
• NoelNoelNoel.com
  

And if you want to help your children master the use of a computer mouse and work on their hand/eye coordination while sticking with the snowflake theme, you can have them visit the Make A Flake site where they can create some virtual flakes.

Hello Hanna Get-Set Placemats

If you're a family that goes out to eat often, or even occasionally, you'll want to learn more about Hello Hanna's Get-Set placemats!

There are three sets available: Hello Robot, Hello Jungle, and Hello Me. My daughter Martha loves her Hello Me set and dressing up her little girlfriend while we're waiting for our meals.

Included in each set of 8 placemats (4 designs, 2 of each) are 8 sticker sheets. And on the back of each placemat is an activity area. Your children won't mind waiting for their meals anymore!

And if you're planning a children's birthday party, these would be great as place settings!

Get-Set placemats are available at hellohanna.com for $14.95.

Stacking Cups

My daughter Martha and I have a lot of quality time together when August is at school in the mornings and Hazel is napping. One of her favorite activities is to stack cups (that's her in this photo with a work in progress).

We're not a Dixie cups in the bathroom kind of family, but I once was in the isle looking at Kleenix and the characters on the cups caught August's eye. I thought they'd be good for stacking and years later, we're still using the same box.

Just thought I'd throw the idea out there as an inexpensive activity that teaches children coordination, balance, and the life lesson that some time things in life fall over, and you need to simply pick yourself back up and start over.

Simply Silhouettes

Hazel turned one last week and it's official, I want to freeze time and turn her into Peter Pan so she can never grow up. She's walking, beginning to talk, tells animated jokes with her limited sounds and entire body, and is simply as cute as can be. Oh, and she doesn't talk back. I want to bronze the entire girl just as she is. But instead, I had a silhouette made.

Silhouettes are timeless. They capture your child in an outline. It's almost magical how it happens...how one shape can summarize your child. But somehow, it does. When mine arrived, I literally ooh and aahed.

Simply Silhouettes did an amazing job. They were easy to work with and economical. I simply took profile photos of each child, visited their website, filled out a form selecting the style, colors, and text that best fit my decor, and emailed my photos. I received proofs to finalize in just a few days, and before I knew it, I was holing pieces of quality paper that somehow captured my children and their individual personalities.

Visit simplysilhouettes.com to get started. What a wonderful gift they'd make this holiday season!