Measure up

I love this measuring cup. I just bought it a couple of days ago at the... I am so excited... dollar store. Yup, the dollar store.

It's a great tool for teaching kids liquid serving sizes. I love boiling water for Hot Chocolate in it. I need to go back and get a couple more. My kids already want to use it for their drinking cup.

I hope everybody is getting ready for Mod Podge Mania with Xazmin @ This is the Year. I will be working on mine today. Join the mania this Monday. Be there or be a non Mod Podged square.

The Great Outdoors

We just got back from camping yesterday. Could you tell that I was gone? I hope not. I just love scheduling posts. It took me a while to get it right.

Every camping trip we look forward to the animal hunt. My MIL buys 100+ little plastic animals and stretchy frogs and hides them in our campground for the kids.

After finding them the kids play with them, wash them and sometimes hide them again. When we get home I hide them in our yard in the morning and let the kids go out and find them. They also love to play in the tub with them.

Both kinds of animals can be found at most Dollar Tree stores. The stretchy animals can also be found at Walmart in their dollar toy section. Wouldn't they be great in a Pinata!?!

Our last day in camp, my baby SIL, found a tiny container. Inside of it was a paper scroll about 2"x 1.5' long. It hand the signature of every camper that had found it. After you signed your name you re-hid it in the campground. We thought that was so clever.

After thinking about at home, I thought it would be fun to do the same thing inside my house. I am going to use a clear film container and hide it where my kids can find it. Maybe in a toy box or a sock drawer and so on. I hope that in years to come they will be excited to visit my house with their kids and find the container and write their names and date on it. What a fun tradition that will be.

I heart the dollar store

I don't know to many people who don't love a good dollar store. You never know what great bargain you will find. Last week I found these packages of hair bows in the baby section. I know what you are thinking.

you: Wow, those were only a dollar?

me: Yes, just a dollar!

you: It can't be true!

me: Oh but it is, it's like a dream come true.

Of course, not all things found in the dollar store are a bargain. I bought their window cleaner and it is awful. Don't waste your dollar on that. However, I have liked their liquid fabric softener. I even dilute it: %50 softener %50 water and it still works great.

Don't burst my bubble

I use to use homemade bubbles as a kid. Over the years that recipe and all the fun was forgotten. While reading Make and Takes I was reminded of the good times and given a new recipe. This is Marie's recipe:

1 Cup dish soap (she used Palmolive, I used Ajax and will be trying Palmolive next time.

4 Cups water

1/4 Karo syrup

Marie stored hers in a milk jug. I used a 2 litter pop bottle. I first measured everything using only water. I then made marks (1 cup, at the bottom for the soap. Then I added 4 cups of water and made the water line. Then I added 1/4 of water and drew a syrup line. Next time I will not have to use any measuring cups.

I had bought some wands at Dollar Tree. My kids loved the bubbles. I plan to buy or make a few more wands so that the neighborhood kids can join in.

Look at that. So cheap. So easy.

I did it!

Don't ever give up. Try, try again. I got the socks out one more time. Setting the machine to zig zag did the trick.

Be sure to stretch the sock out as you sew.

Finish the ribbon ends with fray check or burn them,

Cute feet not included. Hot glue clip to present topper and there you have a matching bow and sock set.