Win a Free Personalized Letter From Santa!!!

 GOT SANTA?

     Our unique Personalized Santa letters are a great gift before Christmas!  Each letter contains a personalized letter tailored to each child.  These are not a fill in the blank form letter.  These are truly heart felt letters with information you provide to us.  Each letter comes with "Good List Award"!  These were designed to be framed or placed on the fridge.

     Who doesn't want a letter from the big guy!!!  Kreative Kids Fun Mail is offering one lucky winner a free Deluxe Package! The Deluxe package includes the following:

Personalized Letter From Santa

Good List Award

2 craft kits: Gingerbread Man, Gingerbread House and/or Santa Face

Mini Coloring/Activity Books with Crayons

Stickers

Reindeer Food

Contest begins October 16th and runs until October 30th!!!  Winner will be randomly chosen on November 1st. To enter add a comment telling me what you're favorite gift was that you received as a child. Be sure to include your email!!!

Bonus entries:

Become a follower

Log on to Kreative Kids Fun Mail and leave a comment about another product that you like and why.


Leave a comment on another non give away post here, let me know which one.

Become a fan on Facebook, tell me who you are

Become a follower on Twitter, tell me who you are

Need more than one letter?  Order today at www.KreativeKidsFunMail.com  Letters ordered by November 25th will be mailed on December 1st.  All orders will be mailed by December 15th.  Orders will not be taken after December 14th.

Good Luck to all of you!!!!

Fun Frames

Create the Frame you want!

When my son was about 8 weeks old we had pictures done in our home.  I did this each time one of our kids was a baby.  This time I got more 5 x 7  pictures because they would be easier to frame.  I found a really neat collage frame at Hobby Lobby but it was gone by the time I got the pictures back.  I spent the last two months looking for another one.  Unfortunately all the collage frames were for 4 x 6 pictures.  This last week I was at IKEA and found very inexpensive 5 x 7 frames.  I wanted to frame all 8 pictures but did not want to spend an arm and leg to do so.  The light weight frames came in a two pack for each color.  I arranged the frames into a large square and used hot glue to connect them.  I used circle shaped paper clips attached to the top of the frames for hanging.    These frames are great for adding embellishments to as well.  For another fun design, add brass hinges to hold the frames to each other. 

I have so many photos to frame and never knew what to do with some of them before.  I'm inspired to create more collages of different sizes and shapes!  If you have a unique way of framing your photos, please share!

7 Things to Do on Sunday to Make Mondays Better:)

This year three of my four children are in school which meant creating a schedule that works for us.  After many trial and errors I finally found that if I do these 7 things on Sunday, I find Mondays are not so bad.  I hope these will inspire you to find what works in your family.

1.  Finishing the laundry.  Even though Saturdays are normally laundry day for us, I never seem to get through all of it.  One of my children will want something that week to wear and it will still be in the laundry hamper.

2.  Pick out clothes for the next day.  I tried to have my children pick out their clothes for the whole week but by Tuesday they were already changing their minds.  I also had them pick out the clothes after lunch.  This way I had time to wash any clothes that they insisted they wanted to wear.

3. Find shoes.  This may sound like an easy enough task but for my kids it was the last thing they remembered to do.  We have a cabinet that they are supposed to keep them in but for some reason they forget over the weekend.  It is always good to keep a note of when your child has PE, that way you are not looking for sneakers in the morning when they suddenly realize they can't wear flip flops.

4.  Go through backpacks.  As much as I would like to say we do this Friday, that rarely happens.    Two of the three have agendas that need to be signed daily.  Remembering on Sunday is always better than rushing to get them done Monday as the bus pulls up. 

5.  Schedule Sunday dinner earlier and make Monday's dinner at same time. It may sound like a lot of work but I find it helps a lot.  It is very easy to throw a meal into the crock pot Sunday morning or cook more chicken or hamburger than needed.  I love my Pampered Chef Deep Dish Baker for cooking in the microwave too.  I can make Pot Roast in the crock pot while cooking chicken in my stoneware.  It doesn't take too many extra dishes to make two meals at once.  Monday dinner will be easy to throw into the oven or microwave and most of the clean up was done Sunday. 

6.  Pack lunch.  After dinner clean up we go through the list of foods available for lunch that week.  Each of the children decide what they want for the next day.  I have a drawer in the refridgerator that we put the foods that need to stay cold over night.  In the morning it is very easy to pull them out and put into the lunch boxes sitting on the counter.  Each of my children have water bottles that they fill in the morning as well.

7.  Prepare for breakfast.  Before bedtime have each child to choose the cereal they want in the morning.  Place a bowl, spoon and cereal on the table.  If a gallon of milk is hard for your child to lift, put a few ounces in a cup that can be covered on a low shelf in the refridgerator.  

Our Mondays improved greatly by following these steps.  Of course, you can use these steps for every day!

Easy Crafts for Toddlers

If you are looking for some fun ideas to do with your toddler, I've got some that are sure to please!   Older kids can help younger siblings which will help them to bond.  If you are trying to go green, these incorporate recycling plastic containers and glass jars.  They make great gifts for grandparents, aunts, uncles and other important people in your children's lives.  My kids made the snow globes for their teachers last year for Christmas.

We used baby food jars stage 2 for the gifts.  The snow globe pictured is a jar from IKEA used for spices.  These are really easy to make.

Need:
jar with lid - any size you choose
small item that will fit inside jar - pick something that fits your theme
clay that does not dry - Dollar Tree sells it in a 5 pack
Glitter of any color - Dollar Tree sells in 4 pack

To make snow globe, first place a lump of clay, your choice of color, inside lid.  Place the item you want to display in center of clay.  Smooth out the clay until it reaches the sides of the lid.  Place lid on jar and tighten.  This will create a seal so the water not leak out.  Remove the lid from jar and set aside.  Fill jar about 75%-90% with water, check the level by placing the lid back on.  Once the level is correct add your glitter.  Replace lid tightly.  Shake and enjoy!  To avoid the lid coming off, use a glue gun to run a small bead of glue around the inside of the lid.  Let dry before flipping snow globe over.

To create a lava bottle follow these simple steps:
Need:
Empty water bottle - any size
baby oil, olive oil or canola oil
food coloring - chose color

Fill water bottle 50% to 75%  with water and add a few drops of food coloring.  Next add the oil of your choice.  Baby oil will be clear but will still be noticeable.  I used canola oil for the pictures below.  Glue cap with hot glue gun.  Wait until dry before flipping over.  Your child will have fun watching the bubbles move from the top to the bottom and back again each time they flip it!  Lay the bottle on it's side and roll the bottle for a fun effect.

The Original Scrap Box Giveaway!!!!

I just found out that this product is going to be given away to one lucky person!!! There are several blogs that are running the contest. If you don't know what the Original Scrap Box is here is some info from their website:)

The Work Box™ is every crafter’s dream. It’s a workspace and a storage solution that looks like a beautiful, high-end piece of furniture. There are drawers, nooks and spaces for all of your stuff!

On wheels, The Work Box is fully transportable. It folds up into a handsome box, hiding all of your supplies from sight. This system comes with a collapsible work table and adjustable shelves.

There are 85 removable canvas totes with label inserts that fold up for easy storage. There are also 20 removable clear zipper pouches in 3 sizes. gt;

Choose either raised panel or beadboard door styles and black or vanilla colors to match your room decor.

Included Canvas Tote Sizes:

(3) 6"width x 12"length x 12"high
(22) 12.25"width x 12.25"length x 3"high
(10) 12.25"width x 12.25"length x 5.5"high
(30) 3"width x 12"length x 3"high
(20) 5.5"width x 12"length x 4.5"high
Total: 85

Included Clear Zipper Pouch Sizes:

(2) 13" x 13" Large
(6) 13" x 6" Medium
(12) 6" x 6" Small
Total: 20

They also carry smaller versions of this awesome storage unit! the minibox is great for small spaces too!

he Mini Box™ is every crafter’s dream - in a smaller package! It’s a workspace and a storage solution that looks like a beautiful, high-end piece of furniture. There are drawers, nooks and spaces for all of your stuff!

On wheels, The Mini Box is fully transportable. It folds up into a handsome box, hiding all of your supplies from sight. This system comes with a work table and adjustable shelves. The work table is 37" wide x 32" deep.

Included Canvas Tote Sizes:

(2) 6"width x 12"length x 12"high
(14) 12.25"width x 12.25"length x 3"high
(4) 12.25"width x 12.25"length x 5.5"high
(12) 3"width x 12"length x 3"high
(8) 5.5"width x 12"length x 4.5"high
Total: 40

Included Clear Zipper Pouch Sizes:

(2) 13" x 6" Medium
(8) 6" x 6" Small
Total: 10

enter code 100writes when ordering your product for $100 off shipping:)

check out the following blogs for your chance to win:
My Organized Chaos
Make It and Love It
Vanilla Joy
Auntie Thesis
The Mommy Files
Life As Lou
PriscillaStyles
Cricut Christmas
Rachelles Writing Spot
Capadia Designs

Monday Meals --- September 28, 2009

Mondays seem to be very crazy in our house. I thought it might be helpful to post a new recipe every week for easy to make dishes.

This week's recipe comes from FamilyFun.com.

Chicken and Potatoes au Gratin

An entire comfort-food meal all in one dish!

1 broiler-fryer chicken 1/2 cup chicken broth 1 clove garlic, halved 3/4 cup non-fat sour cream 3/4 cup skim milk 1 small onion, minced 3 tbsp. chopped pimiento 1 tsp. prepared mustard 4 Yukon gold potatoes, sliced thin 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice 2 tbsp. grated Romano cheese 2 tbsp. butter or margarine 1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs

Step 1
Cook chicken. Remove and discard skin and bones and cut meat into pieces. Mix broth with cooked chicken. Spray a 2 quart shallow baking dish with vegetable cooking spray. Rub dish with garlic halves; then mince garlic and place in small bowl. To this bowl, add the sour cream, 1/4 cup of the milk, onion, pimiento and mustard; stir to mix well. Sprinkle potatoes with salt and pepper.

Step 2
In prepared baking dish, place 1/3 of the potatoes; top with half the chicken and half the sour cream mixture. Repeat layers and then top with remaining third of the potatoes. Pour remaining 1/2 cup of milk over all; sprinkle with lemon juice and Romano cheese. Mix the butter or margarine and bread crumbs; spread over all. Bake in 375 degree oven about 1 hour, or until potatoes are tender. Makes 6 servings.

Enjoy! Please let me know how the recipe turned out:)

Food for Kids

Are your kids picky eaters? Do they ask for a type of food, take one bite and then refuse to eat the rest? My kids would drive me crazy when they did this. We decided that when food was cooked at home you sit at the table until you are done. If that meant going to bed late because you sat there for 3 hours, oh well. It took about 2 or 3 times for each of my kids to realize we were no longer joking. I put the dogs in the kennel too so there is no chance of food "accidentally" falling on the floor!

My youngest still tries it on occasion. She likes to avoid chores this way. To deter her from this my husband started giving my other 2 ice cream. He would serve it to them right in front of her. She would pout and cry. I had to remind her that her brother and sister ate their food and helped clean up afterward so they get a treat. It seems to be working so far:)

I also just found out about a great website that lets you know where the Kids Eat Free or discounted places are in your area. Check out www.KidsEatFor.com. You choose the city and a calendar comes up listing each day of the week with the offers that are available. You can even search it by entering an address! It is so easy to use. If I want to know which Denny's is offering a free or discounted meal I click on the returant and a page comes up listing all the Denny locations and which days they are free at each location. If you know of a deal that is not listed, click on the add a deal button! What a great sevice! I looked several times for something like this and never found it until now.

For those of you who have iPhones and iPod touch are in luck! They offer an application so you can find a deal without a computer! If I didn't just get a new phone this year I might consider switching!

Hope to see you at one of the restaurants on the list soon! I know this makes my meal planning a bit easier:)

Little Sleep

I was so thrilled when I found out that I was having a baby boy! I couldn't wait to see him and play with him:) He was born in May, just beat the heat of the summer! I thought things would be easy going since I was now a work at home mom. I didn't have to leave at the same time every day and rush home at night. Little did I know that even a hectic schedule was better than no schedule.

After 10 weeks of being up every two to three hours around the clock I started wondering what was wrong. My other three kids NEVER did this. They slept soundly for hours from day one and by 3 months they slept all night. Not Nikki! He didn't want to sleep. I went to the library to see what books I could read on getting him to sleep better. I found one called Baby Wise. The first thing I really needed to do was start a schedule. Ok, great! I also discovered that he slept better in his swing or carseat than in his crib. At the first sign of sleepiness one evening I put him in the carseat and set it in the bassinet in my bedroom. He would cry and cry and cry. I would go in every 10 min to check on him and give him the pacifier. After about 30 min the first time he feel asleep and slept for 7 hours! I was so happy:) He took a bottle and went right back to sleep for another 4 hours.

Well, this new sleep habit lasted about 3 days:( He started teething almost the same time I had him up to 8 hours. Now the most I can get is 6 hours at a time but he screams all day every day for hours. ( I may have exaggerated but that's how it feels some days) We tried oralgel, whiskey (yes I did it), teething tablets and feeding him a bottle with rice before bed. He is 15 weeks old today. My husband likes to hold him all the time when he is home. I understand that he doesn't get to spend much time with him but I think he is becoming spoiled. Our other 3 kids entertain him throughout the day. Don't get me wrong he does smile and laugh. It's just not for very long.

We bought the swing that you can take the chair off and set it on the floor. This is a great invention! I can carry him into the bedroom at night or into the living room while I work during the day. He will scream and cry because I am not paying full attention to him while I work. But eventually ( I hope) he will get the idea that mommy loves him but will not pick him up every time he cries. It's hard to not feel guilty about letting him cry. I know it's for the best. I just hope it doesn't last much longer!

The Black Hole

I don't know how the rest of you feel but I'm sure glad my kids are back to school in Arizona! I finally have some "free" time. LOL I sent my three children off for the first day of school yesterday. Surprisingly, they were excited to go! The morning was great too. They got up and got dressed without a fit. I got them out to the bus stop on time. The bus on the other hand was 15 min. late:( The bus driver apologized over and over telling me that he will be on time tomorrow. I should have gotten that in writing! He was nearly 15 min. late again today. It really wasn't that big of a deal since the bus stop is outside our front door:) I'm sure the day I expect him late he will be on time or early.

So, now that the kids are off what am I doing in my "free" time. Well, it's not all that free since we have a new addition to the family. My little Nikki was born this past April and has grown so fast the last three months. I love spending time with him just one on one. But the first two days of school I kicked him out! I hired our old caregiver to watch him while I got into my office aka "the black hole". I stopped working full time out of the house about two years ago. My scrapbook room/office/catch all room is now a disaster! To help me get this fixed I came up with a plan...

How I think I want to clean and organize my craft/office space.

I have a large area to cover (we remodeled our two car garage). It was easier for me to take sections of the office at a time instead of the whole room. My first attack was the items that are not meant to be in this room. I decided if these items were worth keeping and started a donation pile. The remaining items went to a new place in the house.

The next plan was to weed through the boxes that piled up. My husband likes to just pick up a pile of things and throw them in a box. Which then ends up in the black hole. How I manage to find anything is beyond me! I divided the findings from the boxes into categories, trash, scrapbook, business, bills, donation. I designated a section of the room for my scrapbooking items and business stuff. All bills that are under a year old I put into a clear container for filing. With everything sorted into piles I was able to manage the mess much easier. The garbage and donations items were taken out of the room. Because I'm picky about how to organize my scrapbook stuff it was the last thing to be organized.

The first pile I sorted through was my business materials. I also do cooking demonstrations for Pampered Chef. Any paperwork that I needed for this was filed in a two drawer cabinet. Since I had most of this separated to begin with it was much faster to put away. If you want specifics on how I broke it down, let me know. I won't bore you with the details otherwise:) My Kreative Kids Fun Mail stuff was a different story. I have a lot of craft materials that I use at shows. Things that I knew were not going to be used I took to the school for the teachers to use. All my paperwork was filed in the other drawer of the two drawer filing cabinet. The rest of what I was keeping went into clear containers and stored in one of my cabinets.

We also have a four drawer filing cabinet that I used to file personal matters. The top drawer is for bills, second draw for taxes, third drawer for insurances and personal id items, the bottom drawer is for all manuals for anything we still owned. I don't like searching for things in drawers that are stuffed so most of these are half or less full.

The final pile was my scrapbooking. I could probably open a store with the amount of things I have. I admit that I do more collecting then actually scrapbooking. I hope to change this soon! I designated areas for my tools, which was mostly the tops of my cabinets (they are waist height or slightly higher) so they are in plain view and easy to reach. I rearranged a few pieces of furniture as well. If you don't have a bookcase for scrapbooking I highly recommend one. I bought mine from IKEA years ago. It has 5 cubbies high and 5 cubbies wide. They are approximately 13" square. Now if you scrapbook this is important because most pages are 12x12. I purchased the paper holders from the Cropper Hopper. They are slightly too high to fit into the cubby so you will need to trim them. A box cutter works great:) I divided my shelves into sections. Top shelf hold photo albums, completed and not yet used. The second shelf is for paper and the start of embellishments. The third shelf is for embellishments. I organized these with the kasset boxes from IKEA. The fourth shelf is for my ribbon (bow making) supplies. I have pull out drawers that fit perfectly from Iris. I picked these up at Office Max when they were buy one get one half off and they were already on clearance! The bottom self is for pictures. I found small Iris boxes with the drawers that fit pictures. They will stack two to a cubby. I also have photo boxes. I have yet another cabinet that I used to hold my projects in the works. My husband constructed shelves that are about 2" high. I have three rows of 9 shelves. I found clear boxes at Michael's that are big enough to fit 12 x 12 paper. They fit in the space exactly. I place items for a specific project into the box. This way I can just grab a box and have everything ready to go when I get a minute to put a page together. I used a few of the boxes to organize my stamps/ink too. They also come in handy for each child to store special projects to use in scrapbook pages later.

The final task in this space was to organize my bakeware. I got into cake decorating a few years ago. I have way too many hobbies, but I'm never bored! My husband brought home a wire rack that was given to him. Instead of filling my kitchen cabinets with things that I only use a few times a year, I thought this would be a great place to put them. I do candy making too... All my bakeware items are placed in clear containers and labeled. Each container is placed on a shelf so I can either see it from the side or front.

Now that I have my plan in writing I will succeed at organizing at last:) I will be sure to post a few pictures of the room once it done.

I hope this has helped some of you with either motivation or ideas on what to do:)

Barbie
www.KreativeKidsFunMail.com