Stay Tuned...

I'm reclaiming my kitchen table and my house :) It has been a BIG MESS lately, and we really need some clean surface space...so I have to put some projects away for now....but STAY TUNED... I have some stuff to show you and you won't want to miss it ☻ Unfortunately, most of the stuff I want to show you is still stuck in my brain...but some of it is on its way out! ha!
This weekend baby boy is having his first surgery. So...please forgive the lack of posts lately and through the next little while.--Not to mention the fact that newborns take up all of my free time, my personal time, my sleep time, my eating time, you know the drill moms go through- which is all somehow WAY worth it in the end! ♥ ♥ ♥ So thank you....and I promise to make all your waiting worth it! Thanks for reading and supporting me in my crafting/"mommyhood"/ ignoring the laundry endeavors...Stay Tuned!

WINNER of the Miracle Blanket!

We did this the old-fashioned way- tallying everyone's entries and putting them all in a bowl...

Then I had an unbiased husband mix the entries up and draw a name AND....

Here is the result!! Congrats Sara! Email me your information (leave a comment and it won't be published) and we'll get your Miracle Blanket on its way! Thanks to all those who entered!! I wish everyone could win so I am going to try and do more give-a-ways! BUT...if you are having a baby- make sure to check out the Miracle Blanket- it is well worth buying one for yourself!!

Halloween Wordle using Canvas & Vinyl Lettering

Scroll down to the next post for the baby item give-a-way-The Miracle Blanket. Give-a-way ends August 20th. ☻

Using up and decluttering.... I decided to use some Halloween vinyl lettering, and a canvas to create a Halloween Wordle for Halloween. (It might be the only Halloween decoration craft I do this year...since last year I went craft crazy for Halloween ☻) I made a FAMILY one of these a while back. You can view it HERE, along with instructions on how to make one if you like.
☻ ☻ ☻

GIVE-A-WAY!! The Miracle Blanket

This give-a-way is now closed. Winner will be announced in the next few days!

I am so excited to tell you about this give-a-way! If you are a mommy of a newborn, or having a baby soon or later, or going to a baby shower and want to bring a really incredible gift, you need the MIRACLE BLANKET!! It truly lives up to its name. ☻

This little blanket has allowed me to sleep 5-6 hours at night. We tried some other swaddle blankets on the market, and this one was the only one that truly worked for our baby! A friend of mine told me about her success using this blanket with her two children, and let me tell you, she was right- it worked! I started using it when my baby was about a month old. He has slept for longer stretches ever since! It is definitely a baby product that I cannot live without!

The Miracle Blanket Company is offering one lucky reader a Miracle Blanket of their choice from their website. If you would like to enter this give-a-way, here is what you do:

*Visit the Miracle Blanket website (simply click on the miracle blanket to view their site) and view the blanket. Leave a comment on this post letting me know which blanket you would like if you win.

FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: (please tell me what you did in your comment so I know to give you the proper credit!)

*Blog about this give-a-way on your blog (5 additional entries)

*Become a Follower of My Little Gems or Google Reader, or whatever your method of blog-reading is, just let me know in your comment...(5 additional entries)

This Give-A-Way Ends THURSDAY AUGUST 20th at midnight, PST.

Good Luck! This is a definite must have for a mommy with a new baby...☻ ☻ I hope you win!

Restaurant in a Box Play Kit

This is something we finally finished (would you believe I have had the felt for felt food for like 2 years now and I finally did something with it?) I call this "Restaurant in a Box" ☻. My son was playing restaurant for several days a few weeks ago, so I said to myself, "that's it..I'm making some darn felt food for him....." And he so enjoys it! It is really fun!

The little kit all fits into a plastic box. The top of the box is the grill- drawn with a Sharpie. Inside we have a hat from a favorite fast food place- (replaceable-of course-since it will get ripped), an apron w/ pocket for paper and pencil to take orders, a Pampered Chef spatula that is actually mommy's-on loan for playing restaurant, a stove made from the top of a CD container-I need another one as soon as I have an empty one- since you really need 2 burners- don't you think?, and of course some lovely felt food that took like 2 minutes to make- nothing fancy- hamburger and fries. (No pattern needed- think circles, squares, and rectangles...)

The lovely stove from plastic CD case- anyone can make this- let your kids do it!

Apron and hat

Felt food- the way I prefer to eat fast food (not a big fan of it at all- but In and Out I can handle every once in a while- and some cute fake play food- always welcome here :) )

Things we Need to ADD to our Kit- (according to the four-year-old "Chef"):

Menus

Milkshakes

Other felt foods -eventually

a Tray

probably play money too :)

I am loving this little kit! I think we will add things to it along the way and maybe make up more Play kits in a box!

Have you tried... The Foamerator?

This was another activity we found in the August 2009 Family Fun Magazine!

It is great not just for the pool and backyard, but for bathtub time as well! We just used bubble bath or baby shampoo/wash instead of dish soap and we got the same result! I think this one is a keeper for sure!

How to Make the Foamerator:

One plastic (empty and clean) soda or water bottle

Washcloth or piece of terry cloth

Rubber band

Dish soap, bubble bath, baby shampoo/wash

Cut off the end of the bottle. Dampen the washcloth or terry cloth and attach to bottle using a rubber band.

In a shallow dish, pour some of the above listed soap. Dip the washcloth end in the soap. Blow through the other opening of the bottle. You should have long bubble snakes and lots of bubbles come out the washcloth end.

Silly Little Birthday Banner

Lots of summer birthdays around here...so one night, I attempted to use up my paper stash and by throwing together a little birthday banner that is reusable. ☻ It isn't my favorite- I sort of kind of messed up on the inking part- so don't look too closely...but hey- it was a "free" project- using up my stash- and I love summer colors ;) So if you need a paper craft to do...make a little banner....they are so much fun! I'm on my way to making one for every holiday- without purchasing any paper....yes, I have a lot of paper ☻

the baby update...and randomness

Thank you for all your concern and congrats about our sweet new baby! I can't believe he is about 6 weeks old....only about 6 -12 more until I feel a little bit normal ☻ AND.. (Yes, the Guessing Game Prizes will be coming soon- no worries- just be patient w/ me :)) Forgive me for posting about my kiddos- but they are kind of a craft thing- since I make people--- ha ha ha ...

The baby has to have his first surgery to save his kidney- - you could say- in a few weeks- -- So perhaps some bloggity-business will have to wait...we'll see how I feel. (Poor little thing will have to be "put under" and all that...and it won't be pleasant....but it has to happen. One kidney only has 26% function and it is decreasing... I'll spare you the other details- but it is occupying me greatly right now...)

I also have another project in the works called "lose 50 lbs now or else".....yes, I know that is like a year long project, but it is priority. i. will. do. it. But we are starting small- (20 lbs by Christmas!!!)

I'll try to keep the posts going --since I cleaned up the craft/office/mess/clutter room and found about 15 or 20 projects that are only half way finished and have been floating around making a mess for like a year or more. Yes, I have a serious craft obsession problem people- I'll admit it...isn't that the first step ?

So know that some of the posts you will see, are just old projects that are finally getting finished....and such randomness....and hopefully some of that other stuff I promised to post too!

Sweet Summer Treats (that kids can help make)

While stuck in the house, we have made a few fun sweet treats with the kids.

(Seriously, I don't go anywhere- which is why we can do things w/ a newborn- the t.v. can only entertain for so many hours a day...☻)

Cookies-n-Cream

(Adapted from an idea in Family Fun Magazine, July -09)

Blend together

about 2 cups half-n-half

1- 8 oz. container cool whip

When that is well mixed, add 1/3 package oreos. Crush them in a zip lock baggie so they are still really chunky.

Add about 6-10 starlite mint candies-crushed in large chunks. I used a zip lock baggie and rolling pin to crush these up.

Stir in the cookies and candy. Freeze in small cups or cones. When frozen, break up and serve in a glass!YUM!

BEACH IN A CUP

(similar to idea from Her Cup Overfloweth)

Michelle inspired me with her little Sharks on the Beach snack- but we changed ours a little ☻

Blue Yogurt (Yoplait Go-gurts come in blue or you can add a drop of food coloring to vanilla yogurt)

Graham Crackers- crushed up

Shark fruit snacks from Albertons or Gummy Fish

DIRT IN A CUP

(this one is a classic)
Chocolate Pudding Cup

Crushed Oreos

Gummy Worms or Gummy bugs