As you know we are making big changes around here. I’ll only be working part time so I’ll have more time to do things on the farm.
During the month of May I’m hoping to…
To Do List, + Cuteness Overload
Spring is here
I have been MIA for awhile but I’ve been working on making some big changes. I’m quitting my full-time job for a part-time job that’s closer to home and I’ll be working more on the homestead. Hoping that these changes will make the family (and myself) much happier.
Valentine’s Day Fun
Looking for a Valentine’s Day snack to send into school for your kids classroom party? I made a great trail mix to send into school tomorrow. I was able to make three big containers for each of the kids to take in.
Just simply distribute the snacks equally to each container.
I wasn’t real happy with the m&m’s they were really large and not many came in the package. But it was a welcoming change from the usually pepperoni, cheese, and crackers I’m always sending in for class parties.
Friday on the Farm
This week on the farm the weather was all over the place, snow, freezing rain then more freezing rain. I had more days off than I worked due to weather.
I didn’t get very many pictures this week but hopefully in my future “Friday on the Farm” posts it will be much more interesting!
Have a great weekend everyone!
DIY Command Center
Are after schools at home crazy? I know it is at my house! Need a Command Center that actually works? Then you’re at the right place.
I’ve been trying different ways to make this less crazy and give the kids more structure once they walk through that door. Usually they toss their crap all over the floor and are complete slobs! ugh! Then I have to nag which turns to me yelling, then I’m the worst mom ever.
I sat down with the kids and had them help me come up with this checklist. I thought that if they helped make the list, they would be more willing to do it.
This is what we came up with…
I’m giving you a free printable so you can try this out with your children!!
FREE PRINTABLE AFTER SCHOOL CHECKLIST
I hot glued a magnet on the clipboard, put the print out in a page protector and then taped it to the clipboard. This way they can use a dry erase marker to check off what they finished and I can swap out their chore.
They are simple chores that don’t take very long. (They helped me come up with the chores too) we wrote them on popsicle sticks and hot glued a magnet to the back of each one.
As for the activities, I wanted them to do something that didn’t have anything to do with their tablets or the TV. I also have those on popsicle sticks and they have to pick them out of a jar. I have ones like, color/draw, perler beads, slime/play dough, kinetic sand, craft (which I’m working on mini crafts for them to do), and read.
This is not a fancy command center, but it’s a practical one that seems to be working great!
Anything important from school goes in the black hanging basket. We have a calendar that we can note any school activities, birthday parties, concerts, and sporting events that are going on. We also have a message board and a corkboard.
The kids have been very excited to come home and use these checklists and see what activity they have. So far they have spent the whole evening doing their activity. Mom win!
Garden Planning
This morning I’m home with my youngest, she’s been coughing for a few days and don’t want to send her to school like that. So I get to stay home too.
I decided to get my seed catalogs out and start to really think about what I’m doing for a garden this year. How do you plan your garden?
While I’m maping out my garden plans I’m also enjoy a nice hot cup of coffee. Doesn’t get much better than that.
I’ll be sharing my garden plans with you in just a few short weeks!
Fun Valentine’s for the Class
Looking for a fun, different Valentine’s to send into school? Well, look no further! This is super cute and easy. I even have a FREE printable for you!!
You can buy these mini boxes of cereal at Amazon. Check out the link here.
You’ll need to print out these adorable heart tags that read “I’m cerealsly glad you’re in my class” You can click on the following link: valentine’s day
Cut out the hearts, and attach it, and a spoon, to the box of cereal. Everyone in the class will just love these. Who doesn’t like cereal!! The parents will love it even more (Not candy)
I hope you enjoy making these with your kid(s). Let me know how it works out for you!
Next up for tutorials
- Burlap Wreath
- Ruffled Burlap Garland
- Superhero Bookmarks
- Kitten Birthday Party Decorations
- Burlap Bow
The Best Burlap Bow Tutorial
This is a super easy tutorial. Step by step instructions so you can make the perfect burlap bow. Add this to anything to give it a special touch.
You can use any color ribbon, this is just what I had handy.
The ribbon will be labeled 1, 2, and 3. You’ll need ribbon, scissors, glue gun, and glue sticks.
Cut the ribbon to the following lengths.
Take piece number 1 and glue into a loop.
Like so.Â
Do the same with piece number 3. This one will be a much smaller loop. You’ll actually want to flatten it down once it’s glued
Your two pieces should look like this.
Next you’re going to take loop 1 and pinch it three times in the center so it looks like this.
Here’s a closer picture. You’ll want to try to hold this while you do the next step. You could also pin it with a clothes pin.
Take piece number 2 and in the center, pinch it three times, so it looks like this.
Now put piece one and piece two together. Hold.
Take loop 3 and wrap it around the center of your ribbon where you have it pinched together.
Wrap the loop around and glue it in the back. Hold until glue sets (wont take long).
Once you’re done flip your bow over.
Your sides may not be perfect and that’s okay, you can fix it after everything is all glued.
Hold piece number 3 and pull on the side that is smallest (just a little until it looks even.) Give your ribbon ends a decorative cut.
After you give your bow a decorative cut it should be done! Way to go! Please let me know if you have any questions about this tutorial. And I would LOVE to see your bow! Post a picture in the comments or just let me know how well this tutorial worked for you.
Next up for tutorials
- Burlap Wreath
- Valentine’s Day Treats
- Ruffled Burlap Garland
- Superhero Bookmarks
- Kitten Birthday Party Decorations
Pineapple Birthday Cake
Pineapple’s and Cacti seem to be all the rage lately and my daughter has jumped right on board with it all.
This month she turned ten. She wanted a pineapple and cactus birthday party. Well, I like to try and save a buck wherever I can, so I decided to make her cake myself! Learned a super easy technique-on youtube of course- to make her a pineapple cake, made the topper out of an old file folder then ordered cactus cupcake toppers from Amazon, and BAM! Best. Mom. Ever. Well, at least for a few minutes.
Update** A little bit more about this cake. Here is the link to the video I watched to learn a new decorating technique. Very easy, I did not buy the items she uses, you can use a sandwich bag and a spoon – like I did. I also didn’t line up my dots evenly. There is a link under the picture to the cupcake toppers I purchased from Amazon. and I found a free printable for the cupcake liners on pinterest. All I did was trace and cut on construction paper I already had. As for the topper I’m going to upload a printable for you. I just free hand the topper on card stock and then painted it.
Barn Door
My laundry room is attached to my dining room. Not really ideal but It’s what I have to deal with. So with three children still at home, we have a shit ton of laundry to say the least. It gets thrown in there, dumped in there, piled up in there. It’s the most frustrating thing. Anyway, I’ve been wanting a door to close when the washer is running or we have guest over.
I think I finally have a system down it’s just trying to keep up with it.
And for Christmas my husband built me a barn door. eek!
I still need to stain it but it’s there until spring when I can take it down and get it stained in the garage.
Let me see your barn door. Post picture in the comment section below.