Birthday Girl

Last summer for my daughter Abby’s 1st birthday I bought a silver ChArM bRaCeLeT to give to her.  My husband and I planned a LaDyBuG themed backyard birthday party to celebrate her first year and invited all of our family and friends.  Since the ladybug theme seemed to be taking over our home in the form of BaLLoOnS, plates, cakes, CuPcAkEs, dresses, and hairclips I decided it would be fitting to find a LaDyBuG cHaRm to put on the bracelet as a reminder of her very 1st BiRtHdAy. 

And so aTrAdiTioN wAs BoRn…

Along with the ladybug charm, I wrote a ShOrT nOtE to Abby saying that for her first birthday she received a silver charm bracelet with a ladybug charm on it to SyMbOliZe her first year.  In this note I explained that every year on her birthday, she will receive a new charm for her bracelet with a special note to go with it, and when she is 13 she can keep and wear the bracelet as a reminder of the years leading up to her becoming a TeEnAgEr. 

This year I picked out a teddy bear charm for Abby’s 2nd birthday.  She has been carrying around a little TeDdY bEaR with her since last fall that she doesn’t let out of her sight.  It was the first thing I thought of when it came time to select this year’s charm!  I am looking forward to all of the possibilities for my DaUgHtEr’S fUtUrE and can’t wait to fill up her bracelet and finally give it to her with all of my letters when she is truly old enough to ApPrEcIaTe it.

Guest Writer Robyn, from New Jersey

Paint Your Countertops/Kitchen Makeover

When we MoVed back to Kansas a few years ago, the counters in my new kitchen were not very pretty.  They were off-white with light pink and light blue stripes!  EeKk!  I didn’t want to buy new countertops, and after doing some research I disCovEred that you can paint them (this was before Rustoleum started making their own DIY countertop kits!)  I don’t have a before picture, but here is a couple AFTER pics!

Up CLoSe!

A good friend saw them and wanted me to give her kitchen a new look.  Here is a BEFORE picture!

And AFTER….drumroll….!!!

As you can see, I painted the countertops, we painted the walls, touched up the cabinets and spray painted the existing hardware!  We were able to transform this kitchen for $150!  For instructions on how I painted these countertops CLICK HERE.

Doesn’t this get you ExciTed to tackle a room in your home?  Paint can go such a long way!

Happy Transforming!

Lara

The Safe Side

Have you ever wondered how CoNfUsiNg and contradicting we as parents can be to our children?  First, we tell our kids not to talk to strangers and then, when a stranger such as a cashier says “Hi” to our child and our child doesn’t answer back, we say, “Can you say “Hello” to this lady/gentleman?”  If I were a kid, I would be confused too!! 

This is one reason I love this DVD.  It was created by JoHn WaLsH, host of “America’s Most Wanted” (his son was abducted and murdered which resulted in his relentless effort to get criminals off the street) and does a great job at explaining to children the safety precautions they should take as they come in contact with adults.  Is it corny?  Yes!  But does it get the point across?  I think so!!  My kids are frequently referring to adults as “Don’t Knows”, “Kinda-Knows”, and “SaFe-SiDe AduLts” – the three categories that this DVD places people in. 

If you are a parent, a grandparent, work with kids, are friends with kids, etc I highly ReCoMmEnD it!  I purchased it on Amazon, where you can read all sorts of reviews.  (The DVD scores a 4.5 out of 5.0 by the over 300 reviews.)  I also checked with our local library and although they do not have it on hand, they do have access to it.  So, check it out.  It very well may save your kid’s LiFe!

Robynn~

A Tough Balancing Act

I don’t know how many ConveRsatioNs I’ve had with Robynn about the importance having a good balance in my life.  Balancing my business and watching my kids….balancing trying to achieve goals but not letting them consume me…balancing housework, family time and ME time…

I have always been a black and white type of person, so as you can iMagiNe, balance is hard for me.  I’ve realized that when I have the right balance, I experience the most PeaCe in my life.  For example, my business.  It brings me JoY because it gives me ownership in something and it provides supplemental income for my family.  BUT because it is a GrowIng business, too many orders at once cause me STRESS.  When I have good BALANCE I only accept the orders I can manage, which allows me to make money and be available to my kids.  I may be turning away extra money by limiting my orders, but having PeAcE is WoRtH MoRe than being stressed and missing my kiddos.

Balancing areas of your life may mean making sAcriFices, but in reality you are probably spending more time doing the things in life that MAtter Most!

~Lara

Don’t Sweat The REALLY Small Stuff

I’ll admit it…I’m one of those “MaTcHy MaTcH MoMs” that loves to have everything coordinate.  I love dressing my 2 year old daughter up in outfits with matching hair BoWs, socks, shoes, bracelets…the whole NiNe YaRdS!  You can say flying by the seat of my pants in NOT in my vocabulary.  I’ve always loved picking clothes out for my kids and have never had an issue until the other day when I took my 4 year old son shopping for his BaCk-To-ScHoOl sneakers.  For days he was saying he wanted blue and yellow sneakers which I figured would be no problem.  I envisioned a SnEaKeR with some navy and a little mustardy yellow accent that could easily match his wardrobe.  Needless to say what he picked out was far from the understated running shoe I had in mind.  However, the look on his face when he tried them on was PRICELESS.  I took a deep breath and bought the sneakers that my son had so proudly picked out all on his own. 

On the car ride home I thought that there are so many things that can cause stress in our daily lives…I was proud of myself for going with the flow for once and in the grand scheme of things, this really is sMaLL StUfF!

~Guest Writer Robyn, From New Jersey~

Biggest Bang For Your Buck – Buying Name Brand

Ever find something you really would like to buy, but don’t want to pay full price?  If so, try buying a floor model.  Stores have to move these items from time to time and usually do so at a discount.

This TabLe & cHaiRs, rUg and DollhOusE I found at a Potterybarn Kids store.  And best of all, they were all floor models.  I was able to get a 50% DisCouNt on the table & chairs and rug, as well as a 40% discount on the dollhouse.  I found all these buys in the summer and instantly I had a head start on my Christmas shopping!

Many times stores don’t advertise these discounts, so you may want to ask the sales clerk if there are any discounts on FlOoR mOdEls.  I was browsing and just happened to be looking at pricetags.  Another option is to put your name on a WaiTiNg LiSt for a floor model that you are interested in.  I have done this before and although you may have to wait for a few months or longer, you may be able to land a really GoOd DeaL.  Of course, there are no guarantees your name will be the top name on the list, but it’s worth a shot.

So next time you fall in love with a piece of furniture or household item that you don’t want to pay full price for, give it a try and see if you can’t land a great deal.  It may take PaTieNcE, but it will be worth it.

Robynn~

Wedding Guest Book Idea

Earlier this year I had an engaged couple wanting to use blocks as a NeW and FuN way to have people sign their wedding guest book!  It was going to be a small wedding, so they decided to use blocks for the guests to sign.  The best thing about this IdEA was that they are able to decorate their home with these blocks and cHeriSh them for a lifetime!

 

See more block options by visiting my website at www.letterblockshop.com

Cheers~

Lara