Preschool Lessons

It seems like the preschool lesson thing is hitting the craft blogs hard today! :)

I'm right along with them, too!

Today I had a few of Alanna's future Kindergarten classmates over for a preschool lesson.  It was awesome.  Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures.  :(  

But I will share a few things.

Check out this resource I found at musings of me.

We did a lot of things from there and a few from here too.  We sorted capital and lowercase A's and B's.  We did a little number matching game.  I cut out 10 hearts for each child out of construction paper.  On one side I put the number and on the other side I put dots to represent that number.  Then I cut them in half and the kids had to match them.  Easy and cute.  Just laminate them to make them last longer.

We also did a science experiment!

The favorite thing was by far our science experiment.  We pulled out a whole bunch of items and the kids decided if they would sink or float.  We put them in their respective piles.  Then I filled a large tub (one of my photography props) with water and we put the items to the test.  BIG HIT!  Super easy and not horribly messy.   Give it a try with your preschooler!

Recycled sweater to flower pin - Tutorial

One more time for the red sweater.  ok... there is still lots left.  So you'll probably see more, but not for awhile.

This time I made a flower pin.

Here is what I did:

First cut out 9 circles about 2-3" wide.

 Take one circle and fold it in half.  Use a little hot glue to hold it closed, but just in the very center of the circle.

 Fold it in half again, using just a small dab of hot glue.

Glue this down to one of your circles, lining the point of your folded circle up to the center of your other circle.

 Continue folding and gluing your circles down until you have four covering the flat circle.

 On top of this, glue three more folded circles.

This is what you should have when your second layer is done.

 

 Now fold one more circle and put some glue right on the tip of the corner and stick it in the top of your flower.

 Glue a pin to the back and you have a broach.  Pin it to your shirt, a purse, whatever.  Or you can glue it to a hair clip or head band.  The possibilities are endless.

Randoms and diet challenge

Have you checked out Better After yet?  If not, you seriously need to get out of the cave and check it out!  It's my new addiction.  Well, besides dieting.

From Simple transformations:

To more elaborate...

There is plenty for everyone!

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On the diet note, things are going ok.  I worked out Friday and this morning and will be back again on Thursday and Friday.  I have been going to the Y at 5:00 in the morning with my friend, Liz.  It helps to have the motivation of a friend.  Knowing that someone is waiting for me helps me get my fat butt out of bed.

But here is the next diet challenge:

FOOD DIARY!!!

 This is helping me so much!  Just writing down what I am eating, how many calories, and how much water I
am having is making all the difference.  Here is a link to the print out I use (it is in my home management binder).

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Tomorrow I have a craft to share with you.  Check back!

Coolest Tip EVER!

This weekend we went to my parents house to celebrate family birthdays and, because we live in WI, the Superbowl (even though I could careless.  About the Superbowl that is.).

My daughter decided to color a picture at my parents dining room table with a permanent marker.  Well, it bled through onto the table. The worst part, my dad's boss (who he wants to truly impress), is coming over for dinner on Tuesday.  In a moment of crises we came up with only one resolution.  A table cloth.  Not the best choice.

After doing a quick search online, we found the answer.  I assure you!  It WORKS!

COLGATE!  However, use the plain white paste.  It works better than this stuff.

 

Put a generous amount of toothpaste on the permanent marker

With a cloth, start scrubbing.

Then, watch it disappear.

Here is what was left.  The white toothpaste will remove this too.  I plan on picking up a tube to get the rest off.

Amazing, right?

Artwork

I used to draw.  A lot.  Since college, that has been a big challenge.  I miss it.  I'm hoping to challenge myself to pick up the pencil and paper again and do some artwork.  

Here are some photos of my work when I was younger.  They are not great photos, but you get the picture.  All of the pencil drawings are done with nothing but a #2 pencil.

This is a pastel pencil of Johnny Cash

 This is an oil painting I did in 4th grade that one first place in a high school division art contest.

 This is a pastel pencil of Tom Hanks from the Green Mile.

Pencil of Michael Jordan

 Pencil of Lucille Ball.

 Pencil of an old actor (don't remember which one)

 Pencil of Wycleff Jean.

Oil pastel

Awesome Tutorial Resource!

www.Printfriendly.com is a page where you type in the url to a tutorial you want to print.  Then, it removes all of the sidebar info, ads and such.  You can remove parts of the tutorial or delete pictures and print right from there.

Are you up for a challenge?

After having my second child, I started working out with two friends and boy did the weight come off fast!  But then I had baby number 3 and didn't loose it because we were in a new town with no friends.  Then 9 months later I was pregnant with baby number 4.  Now, I have a LOT of weight to lose!  

I have been wanting to get rid of the extra weight for a long time, and now I'm bound and determined to do it.  Care to join me on my journey of weight loss?

If so, once a week I will be posting a new challenge.  I know, it isn't craft related, but sometimes you just need some accountability.

So, if you're in, here is challenge number one.

Get a work out partner.

If you're like me, staying motivated is totally an issue!!  BLAH!  I hate the idea of working out alone.  I find myself watching the clock and wondering how much longer it's going to be.  But, when I work out with a partner, I have someone to talk to and the time goes so much faster!  So, get a work out partner.  Someone who is willing to work out 2-3 times a week.  Pick what you plan to do... be it a gym membership (or actually using the one you pay for but never use!), a video, running outside, whatever.  Just find someone and something.

I have my work out partner.  My friend Liz.  She has always been working out and is in MUCH better shape than I am.  Truth is, that's just more motivation!!!

If you want in on this weight loss challenge, let me know.  Post a before photo of yourself so you can track your progress.  I know, I'm dreading this part.  (I'll have mine up later today)  Letting you actually see how fat I am!  YIKES!  I'm doing it anyway.  It's more motivation!  So, do it!  Face your fears and lose your butt!