Inexpensive Party Favors

Inexpensive "Dory Themed" Party Favors

I didn't want our guests to leave empty handed especially when they were all far to sweet and brought E wonderful gifts! I knew that we couldn't spend a lot and so I shopped around at 5 different stores before I hit the Jackpot at the "Dollar Store".

Yes that is right I got this stuff at the "Dollar Store"!!!

I did have some stuff at home like the bags and the ribbon.

After calculating it out  each favor came to about 65 cents... yep that is right!

 

Baby Puff Bowling Set

Baby Puff Bowling Set

I really wanted to get the kiddos a bowling set because Drew and I love going bowling for date nights. After looking at sets to buy and searching Pinterest, I decided that I already had everything that I needed to make my own set and spend no extra money! Which is always good right... I mean who doesn't love saving money but still getting what you want. 

Things Needed:

-10 Puff Containers (doesn't matter the brand, I wanted to match) 

-Some craft paint or even colored tape (make it personal)

- A ball heavy enough to knock down the pins

- Rice        - Hot Glue

- Fun Stickers and decorations (E decided she wanted "real" pins)

 

Pin the Dory in the Coffee Pot

Pin the "Dory" in the Coffee Pot

In the movie with the help of Hank the Septipus Dory finds her way around in a Coffee Pot, a SippyCup and a Barrel of Fish for Destiny. I decided for E's birthday party to put a spin on the classic "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" and make it "Pin the Dory in the Coffee Pot".

I got some "Finding Dory" wrapping paper on sale after Christmas. I used this to cut out the Dory pictures and used them as my Dory to pin. (I didn't have to find a color picture and make a bunch which was awesome) However I used one of E's color pictures of Hank.(I of course used my copier to enlarge him a bit)I also wanted to be able to play this again with E because she loved it so much so I covered all the parts in contact paper.

 

 All the Kiddos love it and the parents thought that it was very cute! I hope y'all love it too!

-Jenna

Grocery/Trash Bag Folding

How to Fold a Grocery/Trash Bag!

I use this all the time, literally! I use old grocery bags for poop diapers (stink reducer), bathroom and bedroom trash cans and even in my Car Trash Cans (will be a later post). After looking at about a dozen or so tutorials I tried them and combined a few and this is what I use now. I hope you like it!

Quiet Meditation

Moms (and Dads) we all have those days were we lock ourselves in the bathroom just to check our email or Facebook. Or we hide out in the pantry or laundry room to sneak a treat just for us. 

I call these my Quiet Meditations! Some times they are not as quiet as others with a toddler screaming "mommy" while she searches every room in the house and I just breath knowing that a calmer me will help make calmer kiddos. While others are more like this....

Or in my husbands case like this... yes he is hiding in a ball pit!

Either way these moments are essential to parenthood...they are like a recharge station in the middle of a crazy day. I would like to encourage you to all find time or make time (hiding) to shut out the world for just a minute, to recharge your mommy (daddy) batteries. If you think well then I am being unfair to my children or ignoring them. Well some times instead of feeling like you are about to blow up at them or lock them in their rooms just take a Quiet Meditation. Oh and unfair no not at all because kids especially toddlers and teenagers like to run off and fume when their emotions run high, its the same thing but the adult version. 

Happy Quiet Meditations,

Jenna

A Beginners Guide to Prayer Journals

A Beginners Guide to Prayer Journals

I will be the first to admit that I am in no way a professional journal keeper or do I claim to be great at it. But I realized that when I started "Finding My Way Back Home" I should probably write things down and go more in depth with my scripture studies. I also wanted to write down the things that I was praying for and when I prayed for them, so that I could look back and see when they had been answered and how. 
First off being the little crafty soul that I am wanted a journal that looked good but didn't cost a ton of money! So I decided to just get a black and white composition notebook and a set of cute colored pens at the store. I then colored a saying that I found online and glued it to the from of the notebook. (Quick disclaimer: I have decided because this journal is very private in nature I will not be showing pictures) I then made my first entry about myself and what was going on in my life that made me want to start the journal in the first place. After that the posts go about like this:
-Write down the scripture or a part of the passage I am studying that day. 
(I also use this space to write down amazing quotes when I find them)
- Then I like to write a little about my day and what I did.
(This just in case grand kids wanna know what life was like before hoover cars)   - I then write down the things that I am taking to The Lord in prayer that day.
-Lastly I write down and remind myself of all the things I am thankful for.
-I also like to add drawings or pictures I colored when I was stressed! 

I hope this helps and is not to intimidating or for those like me when I started helps you feel like it does not need to be perfect because after all it is just for you and The Lord!

Praying and Writing,
Jenna

Dry Erase Color Pages

Color Pages for Dry Erase

I made this set for E to color while in church or waiting in doctors offices with M. 

What you need:

- 5-7 print outs of free coloring pages you find online or ones that you have already

 (scan and shrink them)

- Laminater or access to one and laminating sheets

(with the 5-7 prints I did two in one sheet)

- Scissors

- Dry Erase (marker, pencil, or crayons)

- Small piece of felt or flannel (an eraser)

Disclaimer: I did not draw any of these and do not own the rights to the color pages. I either printed them from free online cites or already had them and used my scanner to shrink or enlarge them to the size I wanted.

Welcome to 2017

Happy New Year

It still has not set in that it is 2017. Sorry for not posting for a while, with the holidays and then mine and Drew's 7th Wedding Anniversary, I have been just a tad busy. It doesn't help that M and I both picked up a pretty nasty cold just after Christmas.

 But I am back and healthy! So be ready for some awesome posts coming up. By the way if there is something you would like me to talk about or you have suggestions please feel free to let me know in the comments below. 

Ready to go,

Jenna