Death Star Valentine Box

This up-cycled Death Star Valentine's Box was made with simple materials to create a fun way to collect cards and then play after the holiday has ended for Jedi's in training. This is a perfect nerdy date idea!

This post contains affiliate links or was sponsored.

When we got the letter about making a Valentine Box with Rolf, my husband giggled maniacally. He had been crossing his fingers that this would be the year Rolf could take a Valentine's  box to the party! He had an idea he had been kicking around for quite sometime, and that was to create a Death Star for our little Star Wars Expert that he could continue to use long after Valentine's Day had passed.

To recreate the Death Star, you will need:

an old soccer ball

something round to create the Super Laser Focus Lens  black paint

white paint

blue paint

gray paint

a utility knife

mod podge

Directions:

Cut around one hexagon on the soccer ball, making 5 slices to accommodate your hand reaching into the ball.

Paint the ball black, using at least 2 coats.

Add the gray details, based upon your interpretation of the Death Star.

Add the white and blue details also based on your interpretation of the Death Star. 

Cover the Death Star with 2 coats of mod podge. 

Paint your circular part black, adding whatever details you see fit. Our Super laser Focus Lens is compromised of 3 large washer type parts. Attach this with a screw with a cap on the back if possible.

We used a Noxzema jar lid painted to look like space as a base for this.

Rolf had an out of this world cool Valentine Box, and as a bonus, he can now fit many of his Star Wars action figures in his Death Star for easy storage and enhanced play in a galaxy far far away.

If you liked this easy craft idea, you will dig this cute little yoda puppet too!

You can find all of my crafts here:

Recovery After Childbirth

Photo Credit

Pregnancy and childbirth put a massive strain on your body. It spends months changing

and developing as it grows and houses your baby, giving up some of its own needs to look

after the life it's now responsible for. Pregnancy is a marathon, and it changes all of the time.

You get used to the morning sickness, then it's gone, and you're hit with swelling and exhaustion.

Even the best pregnancies are hard work.

Then, there's the birth itself. Your body has been working hard for 40 weeks (on top of all of the

hard work it does the rest of the time) and now it's got this mammoth challenge to contend with

as you become a parent.

Then, it's over. You've given birth; your baby is here. But, far from getting time to relax and

recover, you've got a baby to take care of. Night feeds, colic, nappy changes and cuddles

are all suddenly your job, and you've got no time to recover from the massive physical effort

you’ve just been through. Here's some advice to help you.

Photo Credit

Sleep

Sleep is probably what you need the most, and what you are going to get the least of. Even if

your baby is a good sleeper, there will be night feeds for the first few months. Ask your partner

to help as much as they can. Even if you are exclusively breastfeeding, they could get up and

do nappy changes and then bring the baby to you to feed. Then, try to nap in the daytime when

you can. Even a 10-minute power nap will give your body some recovery time.

Assess the Damage

Pregnancy and childbirth affect us all in different ways. Which means we all recover at a

different rate. One of the first things you should do is take stock of the damage. If you are

lucky, you'll have some stomach cramps and a bit of soreness which passes on its own in a

few days.

If you're not so lucky, you may have stitches which need looking after, heavy bleeding,

fissures, infections and caesarean stitches. If you have any of these problems, it's important

to keep an eye on your recovery, so that you know when you need more help. If you don't think

that you are recovering properly, get help after your birth injury, and ask your doctor or midwife

to have a look.

Drink Water

Your body is trying to get back to normal, your uterus is shrinking back, you are bleeding,

you're tried, and you've got no time to take care of yourself. It's only normal to feel exhausted

and dehydrated. Make sure you settle down for every feed with a glass of water and a

healthy snack to give your body a boost and improve your mood.

Lie Down

You could be very sore for a few days or even weeks after the delivery. This is normal, but

you may find that sitting down makes it worse. Avoid hard seats, using a cushion when you

can, and lie down when you can to take the pressure off and give your body a chance to heal.

Exercise

You certainly won't want to rush out and run a 10k the week after giving birth. In fact, you

should avoid any strenuous activity for at least six weeks and then build up slowly when

you do start keeping fit again. But, some exercise is good.

Your stomach muscles have been through a tremendous ordeal to accommodate your

growing child, and now they need to go back to normal. Spend a little time each day gently

tensing them and holding the tense for a few seconds. As you get stronger, hold for longer.

But, if you have any pain, stop and rest before carrying on.

You should also do Kegel exercises to help everything else get back to normal. This will stop

any incontinence and help any stitches you may have had heal by increasing blood flow to the

area. Again, start gently, then add more reps and longer tenses as you start to feel better.

Take Stock of Your Feelings

The baby blues are completely normal, and most women experience anxiety, fear and sadness

to some extent. Your whole life has changed, your body hurts, your hormones are all over the

place, and you feel like you'll never get a good night's sleep again. A little mood fluctuation is to

be expected.

If at any point you feel it's more than this, or like it's not getting any better, speak to a

professional who can offer you further advice.

D is for Donut Coloring Page

Harper has been having so much fun with the alphabet themed coloring sheets that I have been making for her! These have been a great way to tie in letter recognition, coloring and creative expression in one cute and FREE printable page.

This week we are working on the letter D. 

We made a funtastic donut craft last spring which we will revisit.

This post contains affiliate links.

We are recommending the book If You Give a Dog a Donut.

You can print the free coloring page by clicking the link below. Feel free to print one, or as many as you need.  You can find our paper plate donut craft here. 

                                                D is for Donut Coloring Page Printable

Carrot Soup

Carrot soup is a decadent way to eat more veggies and warm yourself up on a cold winter day! Made with simple ingredients this recipe comes together in moments for a filling dinner the whole family will love. Pair with crusty bread or a salad for a meatless meal that hits the spot!

This soup couldn't be easier to make. It is perfect for cooking a yummy soup for lunch or dinner on a budget and is a great way to get the family to eat more veggies. I love that this recipe freezes well for enjoying the leftovers on a later day.
This post contains affiliate links.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 6 cups of chopped carrots
• 2 cups of water
• 4 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup of half and half
• Pinch of salt and pepper
• Fresh parsley or thyme

optional: 1 chopped stalk of celery

Directions:

• Combine butter and oil in a large pot.
• Over medium heat, melt the butter then add the onions and celery if you are using any. Add your parsley or thyme and cook until veggies are soft.
• Add carrots, water and broth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 25 minutes, stirring frequently.
• When the carrots are tender, transfer the soup to a blender, this might take 3 blender batches to complete. Blend until the soup is smooth.
• When the soup has all been blended stir in salt and pepper and half and half.
• Garnish with fresh thyme or parsley.
• Serve and enjoy.

This soup keeps for about 3 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer.
This recipe will serve 8-10.
I like to eat this with croutons for a delicious change!

Have you ever made carrot soup? I would love to hear about your favorite soup recipe!

You might also like this Calcutta Aubergine Recipe.

Save Your Way To Family Fun

Image

Family time is precious and irreplaceable – you can’t put a price on it. Or can you? Priceless as the
memories may be, the cost of a family day out rises and rises each year. With travel, entry tickets,
overpriced food and drink and the unavoidable stop at the gift shop on the way out, take a few days
out in a year and you can find the cost slowly mounting. And for those families who are struggling to
meet savings goals or working through debt consolidation programs, every penny counts.
But there are ways to both cut the cost of your outing and find something fun for the family to
do together.

It’s All About Timing

Many theme parks and family attractions like zoos and the theatre practice ‘dynamic pricing’.
This means that the cost of entry will vary across a year and even a week, rising when there’s peak
demand and dropping right down when they need to fill seats. So do a little detective work
and use this to your advantage. Monitor the prices over a set period of time to see how they alter,
and make sure you’re signed up to the newsletter of the attraction, as many will email out discount
codes and special deals. It may mean waiting a little longer to get there, but you can make major
savings.

Round Up The Gang

A lot of attractions will also offer a discount for group bookings, so make sure you call up and speak
to them about what can be done. Who could you invite to go with you? Children will love for their
friends or neighbors to come along, and if you pool money, hiring a small minibus may be a more
cost-effective way to travel there as well. So time your trip with another family or two and see how
much you can save.

Claim Your Cashback

Using cashback sites and loyalty cards are a great idea if you know you’re planning to go somewhere.
Lots of them offer access to family attraction or ticketing sites. If you’ve saved up loyalty card points
all year, see what you can swap them in for, and use supermarket cards to purchase discounted
snacks and food for the road trip.

Keep The Snacks DIY

Overpriced food and drink at family attractions are one of the main budget-busters on a day out,
especially if you have several little ones. So save big by packing a cool bag with treats and drinks
before you go. Make the food prep a part of the excitement of the day out. Kids love a picnic, and
if you think outside the box and make some exciting picnic food rather than the standard sandwiches,
they’ll be super excited.

Days out are all about making memories – and you don’t have to spend a fortune to do that.
There are also lots of fun things to do at home from going on a bug safari to building a pillow fort,
having kids produce their own movie or play or even doing a campout in the backyard underneath
the stars. The only limit is your imagination.

6 Snowman Themed Painting Projects for Kids

We didn't get enough snow to make snowmen last year. We waited with crossed fingers until April rolled around, then we gave up, defeated and longing for a day spent rolling big balls of snow around.

This year, if we don't have ample snow in our own backyard for winter fun, we are at least prepared to craft up some snowman fun! I found 6 Snowman Themed Painting Projects for Kids to keep in my reserve of winter fun and I think you are going to like these ideas too!

Handprint Snowman Preschool Craft
Bubble Wrap Snowman Painting
Snowman Winter Art Project
Snowman Sensory Art with Puffy Paint
Footprint Snowman Craft
Easy Puffy Paint Snowman Project

These ideas are simple enough for small children and creative enough to offer your older kids a chance to create and explore new materials.  Which is a win/win! My favorite art supply to introduce to children is Kwik Stix, tempura paint sticks. You can get these through my affiliate link.

Hopefully, we will get the best of both worlds this winter; a chance to whoop it up in the snow and make a ton of snowmen, then come in and warm up with a painting project or two!

If you have a favorite snowman painting project for kids, please leave a comment to share it with us!

You might also like this Paper Cookie Preschool Craft.

Paper Fortune Cookies for New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is just a few days away! To make the evening extra fun for the kids, I have been making these cute paper fortune cookies so they can open one on the hour and have fun reading their fortunes to each other!

This is such an easy craft idea!! It can be used for parties, holidays or even as place markers at a dinner party!




All you need is scrapbooking paper
Glue
Scissors
Paper and a Pen

To begin, cut several uniform circles from paper.

Gently fold the paper together, but only make a small crease in the center.

Unfold the circle, placing it so the crease runs from 9 o’clock to 3 o’clock.  Place a small dot of glue at 3 o’clock.

Fold the circle and press the paper onto the glue dot, making a taco shape.

Gently press the crease you made in step 2.  Place a glue dot along the folded side of the taco — alongside the crease.

Gently bring the two ends of the 'taco' together.  Pinch it together so that the glue dot holds the two halves together.

Add a strip of paper with your fortune inside.

You might also like these yummy pizza ideas for New Year's Eve.

Awesome and Delicious Stocking Stuffers

The gifts have all been wrapped and we are now down to the final days before Christmas. We are ready to hang the stockings and stuff them with goodies, but this year I want to skip the tiny toys and the too sweet treats in favor of better for you options. I am going to share a few of my favorite healthier stocking stuffer ideas with you today to help you make this a memorable Christmas morning filled with good stuff in your stockings!

This is a sponsored post.

1) Juicy Juice

Opening all of those gifts can be a lot of work. This year I am going to keep the kids hydrated and happy with the goodness of Juicy Juice in their stockings. They can sip a kid sized drink to fuel their unwrapping frenzy on Christmas morning.

2) Welch's Fruit Rolls

Featuring fruit as the first ingredient, these snacks are rolling in fun and flavor. I love that they have vitamins and are gluten free. My kids love the experience of unrolling a snack as they go. Available in 3 flavors; Berry, Tropical Punch, and White Grape Strawberry, these are a great alternative to stuffing the stocking with candy!

3) Go Organically Fruit Snacks

Loaded with vitamin c, these organic snacks are always a hit with the kids! Packed with natural flavors and all of the fun of a gummy, these are a fruit snack you can give in the stockings without the guilt of sugar loaded candy.

4) Aquaball Flavored Water

Playing with all of the toys on Christmas is hard work. Adding a fun and fruity aquaball to the stockings gives the kids a fun drink to fuel their day. Made with natural flavors and featuring fun characters, this is a drink the kids will love. Drinking their water has never been as fun or tasty!

5) Munk Pack Protein Cookies

It wouldn't be Christmas without cookies! But these are guilt free cookies! Each one is loaded with protein and nutrients for a decadent snacking experience. These are so tasty that even the kids who don't care about health benefits will want to gobble them up. 

6) Carrington Farms Protein Powder

Christmas isn't just about the kids. Adults want a stocking too! This protein powder makes a great stocking stuffer because it is so good for you!Packed with protein and made with only 3 ingredients, this is perfect for anyone health minded!

7) Hurom Juice Jars

Available in both 10.1 oz. and 13.5 oz. sizes these glass Juice Jars are great for gifting that one person you know who's always eating on the run. These jars feature an air-tight stainless steel lid, perfect for keeping your smoothies, workout juices, oatmeal and other snacks fresh while on-the-go.

8) Brooklyn Crafted Ginger Beer

Cased in 7 fluid ounce bottles, Brooklyn Crafted's small but mighty ginger beers are the perfect size for Christmas stockings and great for enjoying on their own or incorporating into cocktails this holiday season. Made with 100% fresh ginger pieces you can actually SEE in each bottle, the craft ginger beers are available in four trendy flavors. I love this drink as a stocking stuffer because ginger is so soothing to an overindulged tummy, and we all know that has been known to happen around the holidays!

9) Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio

With a delicate straw color and a golden apple flavor this is the ultimate stocking stuffer for a wine enthusiast. Fun to drink and perfectly aromatic, this would make anyone smile on Christmas morning as they open their stocking! Maybe if you are lucky, they will share it with you later in the day!

10) Lumi Shots
These are one of my favorite stocking stuffer ideas for fitness enthusiasts. These are loaded with good things for boost of energy when needed! Among my favorites are the 6 pack of fully loaded cold processed nutrition shots from Lumi. Made with broccoli leaf, lemon, and ginger this shot is aptly named. It is fully loaded with calcium & vitamins A & C to keep you on your toes for whatever life throws at you.

Lumi also offers cold pressed juice with an impressive 50 day shelf life. These are perfect for stuffing a stocking with nutrition. I am a big fan of the 10 oz Wahoo Orange  and 10 oz Harvest Apple  varieties for keeping my family healthy and hydrated. These are perfect for stockings and gift basket offerings at the holidays to help combat the blahs from excess celebrating, or to fuel the body with good things during cold and flu season!

If you have a favorite stocking stuffer idea for kids or adults please leave a comment to inspire others to avoid tiny toys and too much candy this year!

Top Picks for Gifts for Her

 I am shopping, wrapping and baking like Christmas is less than 2 weeks away! Now that the kids gifts have been wrapped and hidden away, I am completely focused on finding the best gifts for women!

This year, you can skip the ugly Christmas sweaters and the standard boxes of chocolate that we all end up buying when we are stumped on what to get a special lady in our lives. I have gathered some of my favorite gift ideas to share with you. Buying an awesome gift has never been easier with this guide!

Product samples were received to inspire this gift guide.

1) Zerowater 23 Cup Pitcher
This is such a handy item with health benefits. I love the idea of gifting this water pitcher because it will help reduce the amount of plastic bottles used and thrown away in any household and it provides some amazingly crisp and clear water from the tap. This unit retails for under $40 and is so easy to use. All you need to do is fill it with tap water, give it a few moments to filter and push the easy to operate dispenser. The pitcher includes a testing unit to make sure you are drinking zero solids.

2) Balsam Fire Log by American Home  Yankee Candle
Relaxation is always a wonderful gift at the holidays. With this fire log by American Home for Yankee Candle, you can toss this in the fireplace and get cozy with your family. You can buy a 4 pack of 3 hour logs for under $25 for a fragrant and relaxing gifting option this holiday season. This makes a great gift because it is unique and everyone loves Yankee Candles!

3) Personal Trainer Food
As a mom who is eating healthier and devoted to living my best life at the holidays and long after they have passed, Personal Trainer Food is one of my favorite gift ideas. While it may be anything but traditional, you can rest assured the gift of delicious and easy to prepare food will be a hit with anyone this holiday season. Personal Trainer Food is not like any other diet I have tried. First, everything they offer is delicious. I love that you can order 2 weeks of food or a month, and pick what suits your palate.

I have tried other diet programs, and failed, but after one month of Personal Trainer Food I lost 9 pounds and had heaps of energy. I loved that I could eat real meat and cheese, plus snacks and lose weight by simply walking. I highly recommend this service to anyone that wants to live healthier, lose weight and eat REAL FOOD!

4) Thirty One Gifts
Thirty One has so many awesome options for the holidays. From handbags, totes and lunch thermals, to jewelry, pillows and more. I love to gift Thirty One because it supports women in small business and helps to make dreams come true. This year I am gifting the City Charcoal Chic Tote. It is gorgeous and works perfectly for a night on the town, or a great bag for work. The bag features a pebbled faux leather exterior and a colorful polka dot interior. It is spacious enough to tote all of your necessities around in without giving shoulder pains.

I am also loving the Endless Dreamer Necklace with charms. There are so many options to create a personal gift from the heart that she will love to wear and show off.

Thirty One also offers great gifts for the home, for the kids and for men too! My husband loves his Moosin Around Tote and uses it all of the time! No matter who you are shopping for, Thirty One has you covered!

5) Biore Products
Sometimes being an adult means putting yourself last. While we may not want to admit it, sometimes we let ourselves go. Biore offers a line of affordable and easy to use options that makes pampering a breeze. My favorites include the charcoal bar, the self heating one minute mask and of course, pore perfect strips! Priced at under $7 each, you can stuff a stocking with the gift of healthy skin, or you can pair these offerings with some small pampering items like sleeping masks, a great lotion like Curel Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer and some epsom salts to make a gift basket that will pamper and indulge the skin! I love that you can find all 3 of these items at mass retailers for a last minute gift option on a budget.

6) Healthy Fragrances
There is something super alluring about a new perfume. I am crazy for the line of Lavanila fragrances this year. Retailing at under $50 you can find these luscious full size perfumes at Sephora. I love that each fragrance is blended with organic sugar cane alcohol, natural botanical extracts, and pure essential oils that are delicate on sensitive skin. Unlike other fragrances on the market, the Healthy Fragrance is free of drying alcohol, petrochemicals and phthalates.

You can find this line in six invigorating scents: Vanilla Passion Fruit, Vanilla Grapefruit, Vanilla Coconut, Fresh Vanilla Lemon, Vanilla Summer, and Pure Vanilla.

7) Image Merry & Bright Skin Care
This is an affordable and awesome limited-edition collection containing IMAGE Skincare’s top rated VITAL C products to nourish, hydrate and revitalize dry, sensitive or redness-prone skin. Includes Vital C hydrating facial cleanser, Vital C hydrating anti-aging, Vital C hydrating enzyme masque, Vital C hydrating repair crème and Prevention+ daily hydrating moisturizer SPF 30. Retailing at under $20 this is going to make for a merry and bright complexion into the new year. Find it online or in spas and salons nationwide.

8) KORRES Greek Wonders Skin Kit
For under $40 you can give the gift of discovery. With the KORRES Greek Wonders Kit the inner  Greek Goddess on-the-go can shine with some of the most powerful, centuries-old skincare from Greece, all in travel size. Includes the Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser, Pomegranate Moisturising & Balancing Cream-Gel, Wild Rose Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial & Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir. This is available online, at sephora and from HSN. This is a great kit for  skin care on the go.

9) Holiday Glam Make Up
This year, why not gift her the hottest looks in make up? Sally Hansen and Rimmel have gorgeous and affordable options that make perfect stocking stuffers! I love the glam in grey offerings this year as they are elegant without being over the top. Look for Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Lip Colour, Rimmel London ScandalEyes Eyeshadow Stick, Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polishes and Insta Dri Nail Color in grey shades for under $10 each. These make a gorgeous glam stocking stuffer option!

10) Gourmet Gift Baskets
I am a big fan of gourmet gift baskets! They have the yummiest gift options! From sweet treats, to buckets of beer, and giant cookies! Plus everything yummy in between! This year I am favoring a few options such as the Pineapple Dried Fruit Platter. Retailing at under $50 this is a healthy and sweet gift option. Presented on an eye catching pineapple shaped cutting board, this is a great hostess gift, or a way to share something guilt free and decadent to your guests this holiday season. The dried fruit platter includes pineapple, cherries, plums, apricots, dates, plums, kiwi, pitted prunes and apple rings.  In the 1700s, the pineapple was the ultimate symbol of hospitality. This modern version of the pineapple gift is sure to evoke similar feelings of warmth, community and camaraderie.

I also love the Tour of Italy Gift Basket. This is packed with delicious goodies from Italy! This is the ultimate gift for a foodie. It contains rich pasta crafted in Puglia, tomato sauce originating from Rome, and gourmet pistachio biscotti for dessert, and so much more like marinated artichoke hearts, Tuscan minestrone soup and even luscious lemon wafer bites. Retailing at under $130, this gift offers a perfect escape from winter weather without ever leaving the house!

Sometimes, you need a sweet gift for a sweet lady. The Good Tidings Holiday Gift Basket by Gourmet Gift Baskets is the perfect option! Featuring so many favorite sweets like white chocolate cranberry cookies, Ghirardelli Chocolate Belgian Chocolate Truffles and an ah-mazing cashew brittle to name a few, this is a gift basket that will satisfy her cravings for sweets while indulging her in the gourmet side of gifting. Retailing for under $50, this is one sweet way to spread holiday cheer!

11)  AiroSpa Pillow
 Gifting luxury is as easy as gifting this unique, simple to use, affordable, multi-purpose stress reliever and aromatherapy pillow that can be used at home and travel anywhere. With its built-in and patented fan, air-flow vents and face-down angled construction, the AiroSpa™ Pillow can be used as a home/office/travel massage experience enhancer with a partner or all on its own for a calming and relaxing experience. I love that it can use your favorite essential oil to take a massage to the next level of bliss, or to give you a restful experience on the road.

If you have favorite gift ideas for a special lady this holiday season I would love to hear about them! Leave me a comment to inspire my last minute shopping!