Baby Girl Nursery Ideas

I am starting to think about colors for my baby girl's nursery. There is a good chance she will be sharing a room with her brother, but I still want to make her some girly bedding. Here are some ideas I've found. If you have any ideas, please leave a comment with a link.

Tiki Floral by Land of Nod
I really am loving the bright green with the red and pink. A little bit more contemporary.

Patch by Land of Nod
This is more traditional but still very beautiful and sweet.

Wall painting of Tree by Zazzle
You could do this in the color theme of your nursery.
Bella Crib Bedding by Maddie Boo

Vine Floral by Skip Hop

Crayon Crib by Bananafish

Stylish Camera Straps

My friend Kelley has an Etsy shop selling these stylish camera straps. There is a giveaway going on right now for one of her straps. Go here to check it out! Also, check out her shop here.

Valentine's Day Ideas from the past

February is here and Valentine's day is now less than two weeks away! Here are some Valentine's Day ideas from the past.

Giant Heart Cookie

Heart Cookie Bouquets

Homemade/Computer Cards

Emma on Masterpiece Theater

I just finished watching part one of three of Emma on Masterpiece Theater online. For all of you Jane Austen fans, you can watch the show online or watch it on PBS. Part two will be available this coming Monday. I am really enjoying the show so far and am excited to watch the next segment.

Songs for your home videos

I recently made a home movie using video footage and favorite photos from 2009. Some of the video I leave "as is" and don't add music, but for most of the video I have songs going along with the movie to make it more entertaining and enjoyable to watch. I find I spend a lot of time finding "the right song" to go with my photos. Here are some songs I've used that may help you when creating your movies.

For babies/kids:
One Day Old by Woodie Guthrie
Little Sack of Sugar by Elizabeth Mitchell
Who’s My Pretty Baby by Elizabeth Mitchell
Baby Face by Regis Philbin
You are My Sunshine (many versions)
I Am a Child of God
I Like to Move It by Reel to Real
My Girl by The Temptations
Apples and Bananas (all kinds of versions - great for tasting first solid food)
Bad Day by Daniel Powter (baby’s aren’t always all smiles)
You and Me by Frances England
Just to See You Smile by Tim McGraw
Bubbly by Colbie Caillat
Let's Hear it for the Boy by Deniece Williams (Chorus only)

Family Photos:
How Sweet it is by James Taylor
ABC 123 by The Jackson 5
American the Beautiful (great for outdoor vacation photos)
America by Neal Diamond (4th of July pics)
We are Family by Sister Sledge
Don’t Worry be Happy by Bobby McPherin
I Have Been Blessed by Martina McBride
I Love My Life by Jamie O'Neal
Settlin' by Jamie O'Neal
The Climb by Milie Cyrus
Beautiful World (and we're all here) by Jim Brickman and Adam Crossley
Somebody's Hero by Jamie O'Neal
Who I Am by Jessica Andrews
Heads Carolina, Tails California by JoDee Messina
Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts
Over the Rainbow by John Darnell
Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
Aloha Oe by John Darnell (for Hawaii pictures)
O How the Years Go By by Amy Grant

Love:
I'm Yours by Jason Mraz
Baby I Love You
Love Song by Sara Barielles
I Cross My Heart by George Strait

Birthdays:
Celebration by Kool and the Gang
Next 30 Years by Tim McGraw (okay, for a 30th bday)
A Little Less Conversation by Elvis (this is great for a 1st bday when the child devours the cake)

Summer:
Beach Boys (look at their summer album on itunes)

Halloween:
Thriller by Michael Jackson
I Want Candy (Chorus only, since it really isn't about the candy you eat)

Upbeat:
Footloose by Kenny Loggins (my little guys love to dance so this was great)
Don't Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerin
Chicken Dance

Background Music (when playing music with video footage that has talking):
Come Softly to me by the Fleetwoods
Favorite piano or classical music cd
Boston Pops or favorite orchestra (for visiting an aquarium I found "Under the sea" by I believe the Orlando Pops orchestra and it worked great with my footage)

Thanksgiving:
Thankful by Josh Groban

Christmas:
Your favorite songs from your Christmas collection

Favorite Young Children's Books

My husband watched my son on Friday night so I could go browse at the bookstore (one of my favorite things to do). I spent the entire time in the children's section. There are so many great books for kids, so I thought I would post what I think are the best. I'd love to hear your favorites, too!

Sandra Boyton Books - I especially love the Belly Button Book and Pajama Time
Dr. Suess - The rhythm of these books is great for kids development and kids seem to love them. I love Dr. Suess's ABC Book and my son loves the Cat in the Hat.

P.D. Eastman - A protegee of Dr. Suess. Some of my favorites of his include Go, Dog Go! and The Best Nest.

Eric Carle - He wrote the classics the Hungry Caterpillar and Brown Bear, Brown Bear.

Little Critter books by Mercer Mayer

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joff Nummerhoff

The Way I Feel by Janan Cain

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
The Napping House by Audrey and Don WoodDog Breath by Dav Pilkey - This was voted by the 3rd graders I volunteered with in Oregon as their favorite a few years ago. It is a clever story. I think younger kids will enjoy this, too.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice SendakClick here for a list of the top 100 children's books of all-time.

Make your own desk calendar

My mom gave me this desk calendar that is really cute and simple to make. She got the idea from her friend who is a Close to My Heart consultant.

To make one of these, you first need to cut a 12"x 12" piece of cardstock into a 5" strip. Then you need to find paper to go with your winter, spring, summer, and fall theme. Then you can do an online search for a small calendar image and you print three months next to each other (for each season). The pictures of the calendar are make it pretty self-explanatory.

"Ice cream" from frozen bananas

Photo from Our Best Bites

I have several ripe bananas I need to use and I saw this post today on making ice cream from frozen bananas. Basically you chop the banana up into chunks and freeze. Then you blend them in your food processor while still frozen. Next, stir and serve your banana "ice cream." This is what I am making for our family night treat tonight.

Fireproof/waterproof safes

As I have been archiving my video footage and photos from the past year today I have been thinking that I really need to buy a safe that would protect these dvds in case of a fire. I consider family photos to be among the most valuable possessions I have and I would be extremely sad if I lost them in a fire or flood. Here is a link to Amazon where you can look at the various fireproof (up to an hour) and waterproof safes to keep your valuables, such as digital photos.

Power of Hope

The best organic produce to purchase

I would love to buy organic produce, but I usually don't due to the expense. However, I have heard that their are certain produce items that are more laden with pesticides so I may try purchasing those "dirtier" items organically when I can. I found this blog post that lists the "dirty dozen" produce items and the "clean fifteen. " Check out the "Cent"sible Sawyer blog for more info.

"Dirty Dozen" - these are the ones that you should spend the money on to buy organic, if you can.
1. Peach
2. Apple
3. Bell pepper
4. Celery
5. Nectarine
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10. Grapes (imported)
11. Carrot
12. Pear

"Clean fifteen"
1. Onion
2. Avocado
3. Sweet corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mango
6. Asparagus
7. Sweet peas
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Papaya
12. Watermelon
13. Broccoli
14. Tomato
15. Sweet potato

Free audio download of "The Long Winter" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

I loved the Little House on the Prairie books growing up. For those of you interested in a free audio download of the book "The Long Winter" (part of the Little House books) visit this site. The audio reading uses different voice actors for each character, which makes the reading fun for kids.

Preserving 2009 memories

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. I am always sad when the holidays are over but it is exciting to have a nice, fresh year full of new opportunities. The past two years I have made it a goal to compile my pictures and video footage from the previous year by the end of January through creating a blog book, scrapbook, home video, and archiving the files. Once I have preserved those memories, I feel I can move onto my goals and projects for the new year.

Here are some previous posts I have done that give details on ways you can preserve your memories.

Blog books - "slurp" all your entries using Blurb.com in minutes and create a beautiful book full of your year's memories

Scrapbook - whether you do the traditional or digital books, it is a great time to catch up

Home Video - use your video footage and pictures from the past year to create a movie (my son watches the video I made last year at least once a week - kid's love seeing themselves on tv!)

Archive photos - backup all those precious photos

Braided Sweet Bread

I finally am posting a recipe! It has been way too long. I am finally starting to like food again...I've had some major food aversions this pregnancy. This recipe is one of my favorites from my mom. This is a recipe you can make all year round, but it is a perfect holiday treat. I like making the bread in the shape of a candy cane for Christmas. This is a great treat to take to the neighbors. The recipe makes three large loaves or you can make small ones, too.

Braided Sweet Bread
Makes three loaves

1/2 cup warm water
2 tbl yeast
2 cups milk, scalded
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
2 tsp salt
8 cups flour
3 cans fruit filling

Butter cream frosting

4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup softened butter
1 tsp vanilla

Dissolve yeast in warm water in bowl. Make sure the water isn't too hot or it will kill the yeast. The water should be the temperature you would give to a baby in a bottle. Let yeast sit for ten minutes. It should bubble if the yeast is good.

Meanwhile, put the milk in a saucepan on low heat and stir occasionally. When it starts to bubble (not boil but just tiny foam bubbles) on the edges it is done. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Place softened butter, sugar, eggs, and salt in a large bowl and mix. Then add the scalded milk. Add mixture (make sure it is just lukewarm and not too hot) to the yeast and water bowl. Mix. Then begin adding the flour a couple cups at a time. Cover and let sit for ten minutes. Then knead the dough for 7-10 minutes. I use my Kitchen Aid to do all my kneading. Of course you can do it by hand on a floured surface.

Cover dough with towel and let rise until it double or triples in size. It takes about 1 1/2-2 hours. Divide dough into three portions. Flour a surface a roll out the dough until about 1/4" thick, I guess. I forgot to measure, but look at my picture below to get an idea.


Fill the center of the bread with blueberry, lemon, raspberry, etc. pie filling.


Then cut an even number of strips on each side of the bread (see picture). Then take one piece and cross over filling and press down to get it to stay and continue with this "braiding" of the bread.

Place on cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.


Make your butter cream frosting while the bread is baking and frost when still warm (but not too hot). These are best when warmed up and eaten! Divine.

Great video on remembering the true meaning of Christmas

What are you thankful for?

A great video to get you thinking about what you are thankful for.

My Home is a Temple

My friend Lori posted a link to this story on Facebook and I really enjoyed it so I am passing it along to you. It is easy to get overwhelmed by the daily household chores but I do believe that by creating a warm, loving home environment we increase the spirituality of our home and family.

Thanksgiving Place Holder Ideas

Thanksgiving is three weeks from today! Can you believe how fast this year is going? For those of you hosting, I have a three ideas for place holders for your table.

This first idea I used two years ago when I hosted. I saw the idea in Woman's Day and loved it. Each person gets a little paper sack turkey with their name on it and you can fill it with fall candy or whatever you'd like.

Idea #1: Turkey Bags


You will need:
Mini brown paper sacks (found at most craft stores)
Colored card stock paper
Red piping (not sure what it is exactly called, but it is what I used for the gobbler)
Candy to fill the sack

Trim sacks a couple inches. Trace your hand print and then cut out to make turkey feathers. I did a hand print in red, orange, yellow, and brown paper for each turkey. Make a pattern for the head, beak, hat, and front wings and cut out on desired color of paper. Glue everything in its correct place. Cut the gobbler from the piping and curl and glue. Draw eyes using marker. Write the name of each of your guests on the hat of the turkey. Fill with candy and place turkey by the place settings.



Idea #2: Party cracker, Martenelli's, and Ribbon



You will need:
Party Cracker for each of your guests (purchase at party store or make your own)
Ribbon to tie around each plate
Mini-bottle of Martinelli's for each person
Cardstock

Decide your color scheme and then purchase matching or coordinating ribbon to tie around the plates. My sister-in-law did this last year using maroon and gold. She had cranberries in clear vases with candles, as you can see in the picture. I apologize for the terrible quality.

Place the party cracker on top of each plate tied with ribbon. Place a mini bottle of Martinelli's next to each place setting. Cut a small square (about 4"x4") and fold in half. Write the name of each person on the card and place by the Martinelli's.

Idea #3: Indian Corn and Ribbon


You will need:
Ribbon
Mini indian corn
Cardstock

Again, wrap the ribbon in colors that coordinate with indian corn - the traditional Thanksgiving colors - browns, oranges, reds, and golds. Place two ears of mini indian corn on top of each plate. Make a small name tent out of cardstock and stick on the plate by the corn.

November Must Read: The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

If you haven't read any of Shannon Hale's books, you are missing out. She has several young adult fairytale books as well as two books for adults.


My favorite of her fairytale books is probably The Goose Girl, although Princess Academy is right there as a favorite. The Goose Girl follows, Ani, a crown princess, who learns at an early age that her special gifts are not those valued by her queen mother and her future subjects. She is eventually sent to marry a prince in a different kingdom, but along the way is overthrown by her lady-in-waiting. Ani becomes a servant, tending geese, while she searches for a way to return to the marriage and throne that is rightfully her own.

Some other Shannon Hales books that you should check out.

Miri would love to join her father and older sister as a miner in Mount Eskel's quarry. However, she finds herself rounded with many of the other local girls in town to go to the Princess Academy where she competes for a chance to marry the prince.

Dashti, a maid, and Lady Saren, her mistress, are shut in a tower for seven years for Saren’s refusal to marry a man she despises. When supplies run low, Dashti finds away to escape which takes them on an adventure that changes their lives.

This is a creative twist of the fairytale of Rapunzel. It reads comic book style and has the cheesy comic book humor. Great artwork. Fun story.

This book was extremely cheesy most of the time, yet I still really enjoyed it. I listened to the audio book and I loved the narrator. I may have to listen to more audio books. Laying on the couch listening to a story is really relaxing!

Jane is a 32 year single woman ready to give up on love since no one can live up to Mr. Darcy from Pride in Prejudice, whom she is obsessed with. Her great aunt picks up on this obsession and sends her on a three week vacation to England where sh...more This is one of Shannon Hale's novels for adults. This book was extremely cheesy most of the time, yet I still really enjoyed it. Jane is a 32 year single woman ready to give up on love since no one can live up to Mr. Darcy from Pride in Prejudice, whom she is obsessed with. Her great aunt picks up on this obsession and sends her on a three week vacation to England where she lives in "Austenland," as she calls it. She lives and interacts with characters as if she were living in the time of Pride and Prejudice. I loves the twists in plot and loved the cheesy lines. Along the way, Jane also discovers herself. Fun, fluffy read.

Creating Customized Calendars

Christmas is fast approaching and if you are planning on doing a customized photo gift, now is a good time to start. The last two years I have made customized calendars for several family members. Grandparents love a calendar full of their grandchild(ren). I have mine printed at Costco. I found they have the best prices; however, there are lots of other great sites you can use.

I design my calendar pictures in my design program just like a scrapbook page. See this post for more info. If you don't have a design program, you can still do custom calendars, you'll just have to use the sites pre-made templates.

Here are some calendar pages I've done in the past to give you some ideas.