My Square Meal Lunch Boxes

It is true summer is almost over and it is time to start the back to school shopping. One of my least favorite things to do is shop for back to school items. Most items I feel are cheaply made thus the need to purchase a new one each year. I purchased this eco-friendly lunch box last year for my son and I am happy to say it is still in great condition. My Square Meal lunch boxes are beautifully made and the bento box is dish washer safe. The cool thing about these lunch boxes is you get a menu card with ideas of how to fill your lunch box. I LOVE THAT! So many times I was stumped for what to pack and the menu card was my savior. Would love to hear your back to school secrets.

Stinkin Cute Designs

As you may know I am a little obsessed with Etsy. I am always looking for "crafty moms" there. I found this "crafty mom" and fell in love with her work. I just ordered this dress for my little girl and I am waiting for it to arrived. Stinkin Cute Designs has great gifts for all ages. If you know of any great Etsy stores you frequent please let me know.

4th of July Twirlers

Found this fun and easy 4th of July craft. Who doesn't have plastic lids lying around the house. It is a simple and fun activity for kids of all ages.

Let's Go Fly a Kite

Spring is officially started and what do you think of other than flowers...flying a kite. I found these cool friendship kites at S&S Worldwide. They make great party favors. They are a little pricey but well worth it. Get out and enjoy the spring weather and let's go fly a kite!

Homemade Bathtub Crayons

It has been an really cold winter here in Texas and the snow continues to fall on the first day of Spring. So why not make some homemade bathtub crayons to pass the time. It is easy and fun.

Here is what you will need:

• 2 cups of ivory snow powder
• food coloring
  
• 1/4 cup of water
• ice cube tray
  

In a large bowl, combine the water and ivory soap, add food color until you reach the desired color. Blend well. Add more water if needed. Fill the ice tray with the soap mixture. You may want to use a knife to spread the mixture out. Leave to dry until hardened. Remove the crayons from the tray. Kids can color on the tub, or on themselves during bath time! For a little more fun you can add a few drops of food color to the bath water. We love blue to make the ocean.

Patent Leather Picture Key Chain

A friend of mine was carrying this cute little patent leather picture key chain and I fell in love with it. What mom doesn't want to carry pictures of their children around with them at all times. I had to know where she found this cute key chain. To my surprise it was from Land's End. The best part about this cute little key chain is the price. It was just $4.99! What a bargain! I ordered several as gifts for my mommy friends.

Chinese New Year

Celebrate Chinese New Year with this Chinese paper lantern craft. It is really fun and easy.
Here is what you will need:

• Construction paper
• Scissors
• ruler
• tape
• stapler
• pencil
• glitter, sequins or anything to decorate lantern

Fold your paper length wise and use your ruler to draw a line one inch across from unfolded end. Measure and mark lines one inch apart starting at folded end toward the stop cutting line. (see diagram below) Cut along lines to the stop cutting line. Unfold paper and tape lantern together. Add a handle and decorate.

Valentine's Day

Start your Valentine's Day off right with heart-shaped pancakes. You can find the pancake molds here. Make your Valentine breakfast all red and pink by using strawberries and raspberries. You can also make strawberry milk.

Check out this fun Valentine craft. Lollipops as the center for a flower. I just love this! You can give them to all your friends. Get all the details on how to make the craft here. Happy Valentine's Day!

Preserving Your Children's Clothing

Sometimes it is hard to give away your child's baby clothes when they grow out of them...their coming home outfit, blessing/commitment outfit or your favorite little outfit...they are just to cute to let go.

Why not turn those special outfits into a special blanket. If you are a sewer then check out Ticche and Bea for a kit to get started on your own blanket. If you are not a sewer check out Willow Creek Studio and let them create a blanket for you.

Holiday Frugal

This year I have been asked by so many what to give when you are on a budget. I know that times are tough and we all still want to give a little to everyone we love. Here are a few ideas I thought I would share.

• Give a "Dessert-of-the-Month" gift certificate to your friends and family. Each month you can deliver a different home-baked goody. You could also make this a "Dinner-of-the-month." Who doesn't want a night off from cooking?
• Give $5 worth of scratch-off lottery tickets. My family loves this, they're fun and there's a possibility of winning lots of cash!
• Give a box of recipes. Someone gave this to me one year and I loved it! All of my favorite dishes from my dearest friend.
  
• Give time to your friends and family. Set up a date with you spouse, wine night with your girlfriends or game night with your kids.

Remember the holidays are special because you share them with people that are special to us not because of the "things" we receive. Like the great Dr. Seuss wrote, "And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons, it came without tags. It came without packages boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'til his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?"

Happy Holidays to all! May you make time to cherish these moments.

Glittering Tree Ornaments

Looking for fun activities while school is out for winter break. Make some holiday ornaments. You can find the templates for 10 beautiful ornaments at Women's Day. This is a fun and easy activity to do with your kids and they make a wonderful gift.

Handprint Menorah

This is one of my favorite activities that we do at my school when teaching our students about Hanukkah. The children make their own menorah. All you need is construction paper, paint and your little ones hands. You can decide if you want to "light" your menorah all at once or one for each night of Hanukkah.

Check out this cute little hair accessory. I found these sweet little flower clips while I was looking for bows for little girl. These flowers by Little Lesiw caught my eye. They are going to make her holiday outfit. The best thing about the clips is the price. You can get these little flowers for $5.95 each or a pack of 3 for $12.95. What a deal! What a great gift for the little princess in your life.

Please remember to share any great gift ideas you have found. Leave a comment or email me with your finds.

Animoto

Here is a cool free way to make videos with your photos. Animoto creates a unique video with your photos or video clips. It is really easy! Once you set up an account, upload your photos/video clips and choose a song from their catalog of music and animoto does the rest. You can create free 30 sec videos to share or post to blogs, facebook and twitter. If a 30 sec video isn't long enough, you can create a longer video for a small fee. I have created several animoto videos and my family loves them. Them make great "e-cards." My parents look forward to receiving one via email every year on their birthday.

Homade Designs

It is birthday season around our house and if you are like me I am always on the look-out for cute invites for my little ones. These beautiful handmade invites can really make a statement without breaking the bank. You can custom order your invites to fit your birthday child's personality. If you like one of the invites but really wished the child had brown hair to look more like the birthday child...at Homade Designs it can be done. She can even create invites for you to fit your party theme. The best part about this is not only are you getting a beautiful product the proceeds will go to help furnish supplies for students and teachers in Namibia.

Sew Cute Boutique

Here is another crafty lady...not yet a mommy but she is crafty. A friend of mine has started a new adventure with her business. It is Sew Cute Boutique. She is making these adorable tutus, bows and monogram bibs/burp cloths. The best thing about it is they are reasonably priced. All of us thrifty moms want our girlie girls to look great well now they can without breaking the bank. I have purchased bows for my little one from her and she is making a tutu in burnt orange for our little longhorn. Hope you enjoy this crafty gal.

Felt Food

Now that you have the cute little oven why not make some food to go with it. This adorable felt food is handmade in the U.S. by Lilly Bean Market. Not only are all the items made in the U.S. you can also purchase the kits to make them yourself. Not a sewer? No worries, you can purchase already made items as well.
Also check out the Lilly Bean Blog it has videos on making some amazing felt food. This is one crafty mom that took her craft and made an awesome product. Thanks again to Jeanne for this adorable find.

Crafty Mom Jewelry

Check out this beautiful jewelry by one crafty mom. This former archeologist now stay-at-home mom is making amazing jewelry. See more of her work on etsy at AntleredRabbit.