Great Day at the Pittsburgh Hebrew National Picnic

The Hebrew National Better-Than-a-Picnic Picnic came to Pittsburgh yesterday and despite the rain, it was a huge success! It was so rewarding to see our ideas and work come to such an awesome conclusion. The idea behind the Better-Than-a-Picnic Picnic's is to bring the community together for a fun day as well as to provide services for the community. There were hot dogs of course!

Old Navy ~ Item of the Week, Barker’s Bones & $50 Coupons!

This week’s fashion forecast according to Old Navy is light and bright in the Old Navy Item of the Week: Women’s V-Neck Pocket Tees. Cute, colorful t-shirts pair perfectly with jeans, shorts or khakis. This simple style makes getting dressed for busy schedules easy breezy. And they come with a price that’s light on your pocket too—$8, reg. $14.50, 6/4–6/10. Looking for Old Navy coupons? Look no further than Facebook. Old Navy had a cute new game on their Facebook page called "Barker's Bones." Once a week you can dig for some awesome savings! I just tried it and ...

Pittsburgh Hebrew National Picnic

Looking for something to do this weekend with your family and friends? The Hebrew National Better-Than-A-Picnic Picnic is just 2 days away! Join me along with @plussizemommy @clumberkim @alainafrederick and @themotherhood for a a day of FREE fun, food and some great service projects! Details Date: June 5, 11:30 am – 3:30 pm Location: Highland Park Details about the park: We will be near the Reservoir, in the same location as Pittsburgh’s ”Reservoir of Jazz” event, off Farmhouse Drive (near the corner of Reservoir Dr and Farmhouse Dr.) From N. Highland Ave, make right onto Reservoir Dr. and then almost ...

Craft Round Up ~ Homemade Teacher Gifts

It's been awhile since I put one of these together, figured now was a great time to show you some ideas for some awesome thank you gifts for your child's teacher. Homemade Rubber Stamps Directions for these stamps can be found at FamilyFun.com

New York, New York ~ Day 2

Day two of our mother daughter trip to NYC started bright and early at ABC studios to be a part of the studio audience of Good Morning America! It was really cool to see how they produce a live tv show. Although we didn't get any airtime, we did have fun and we got to meet Robin and George.

New York, New York ~ Day 1

I have been so busy lately and I have so much to share with you all! I am going to start with my trip to New York City with my 13 year old daughter Pookey. Pookey has been dying to goto New York City and when an opportunity arose from Affinia Hotels, I took it and took off to NYC with my daughter for some mother/daughter time. Pookey, the oldest of my 4 kids and my only girl, is always babysitting for me, hanging out at her brothers sporting events and basically doing boy stuff, so I figured she could use ...

Candle Making Made Easy by The Candlemakers Store

I was recently introduced to a company called The Candlemakers Store, a company that specializes in candle making supplies. You can buy supplies to make a few candles or to make a few hundred candles! They have so many scents, colors and jars to choose from its easy to find what you are looking for and everything is priced rather reasonably.I have tried to make candles in the past and I have run into several problems that have prevented me from making them again.The scents/colors are never strong enough.The wax shrinks when it cools.The supplies are expensive and there is ...

Great Homemade Candle Holder for Mom

Dad are you looking for a great last minute gift for Mom for Mother's Day that you can make with the kids? Try out my candle holder made from a recycled glass jar, its quick and easy and Mom will love it! Recycled Jar Candle Holder Supplies 1 glass jar Tissue paper Ribbon Scissors White glue mixed with water to make it a bit thinner Tea light candle Smaller, short jars work best for this project, I used a pizza sauce jar I think it was about a 10 oz jar. Remove label and ...

What’s for Dinner ~ Lazy Lasagna

Looking for a quick easy dinner to satisfy the family before baseball practice? How about this awesome Lazy Lasagna. I have made this a few times over the last month and it's a real hit in the crafty shack! Ingredients (I have left out amounts because I am more of a throw it all together kind of cook. The amounts you need depend on how large a pan you are using, and how much of each ingredient meets your particular taste.) Frozen cheese ravioli (I found some nice big ones at Sam's Club) Your favorite pasta sauce (we like ...

Quick and Easy Dinner With Tyson Chicken

I don't know about your household but mine is a bit over scheduled at the moment, some nights we run from one thing to another and back again. This schedule doesn't allow much time for meal preparation and drive thru gets old really fast (and its expensive not to mention not so good for us.) I was recently introduced to Tyson Grilled and Ready Frozen Chicken and I have to say I am very pleased. This chicken is frozen and already cooked; it comes diced, cut into strips or in fillets. Normally when I want to cook chicken for dinner I ...

Rice Krispie Easter Egg Hunt

Let the fun begin! Its time for our Rice Krispie Easter Egg Hunt! As part of our Easter Rice Krispie campaign each of the 10 participating Team Rice Krispies bloggers (links below) has hidden an “Easter Egg” (The photo above) somewhere on their blog. You must complete all of the following to be eligible to win prizes: 1) Find all ten “eggs“, and then post “Found It” in the comment section of each blog when you find the blogger’s “egg”(don’t give the hiding spot away, though!); 2) Post your favorite Rice Krispies Treats® recipe (it doesn’t have to be an original recipe) at ...

My Rice Krispies Easter Creations

As you know I have been chosen to be a Rice Kripies Ambassador and as part of our campaign for The Motherhood we had to come up with a Rice Krispie Treat recipe to celebrate spring and/or Easter. Each blogger has to submit a recipe to Rice Krispies and one will be chosen to be featured on RiceKrispies.com. My daughter and I ventured into the kitchen the other day and this is what we came up with. I need your help deciding which one to submit so if you could take a minute and leave a comment about which you ...

Easter Craft Round Up

Looking for some quick and easy Easter crafts, try out a few of these. Handprint Easter Lilies Directions can be found at KidGlue.com

Team Rice Krispies!

I am excited to announce that I have been chosen to be a Brand Ambassador for Rice Krispies! Myself along with 9 other bloggers have been chosen to participate in a spring campaign through The Motherhood. We have been challenged to come up with new and exciting Rice Krispie Treat recipes for spring and Easter! One of our recipes will be chosen to be posted on the RiceKrispies.com. We will also be hosting a Blog "Easter Egg" Hunt with some great prizes from Rice Krispies, the hunt will begin on March 29th, so make sure you stop back for the ...

Blockbuster Express Free Video Rental

Do you love movies? Do you love getting something for FREE? Then you are going to love this! As part of a campaign I am working on with Blockbuster Express they have given me a code to share with all of you for a rent one get one FREE video rental. A nightly rental at Blockbuster Express is only $1 ~ That's 2 great movies for one night for just $1! Here is the code you can use when you check out. 5G13B6 Code is valid thru 3/31/2010. When you rent a movie at the regular price, you'll receive ...

Hershey’s Better Basket Blog Hop For Children’s Miracle Network

Hershey's has partnered with Children's Miracle Network and this Easter Hershey's will donate up to $5000 to CMN through the Better Basket Blog Hop campaign. It's so easy to participate and will only take a few minutes of your time. Hershey's will donate $10 per post up to 500 posts. When we are all done that will be $5000 raised for Children's Miracle Network! Here's all you need to do. Send this virtural Easter basket to as many bloggers as you choose and ask them to continue the giving by creating their own post and sending the ...

Wordless Wednesday ~ Catchin’ Flies

July 28, 2010 by CraftyMama
Filed under Photography

What do you think

Tags: baseball, buckaroo, wordless wednesday

Help Elmer’s Raise $10,000 for Adopt-A-Classroom

July 23, 2010 by CraftyMama
Filed under Life in the Crafty Shack

What do you think

We are very fortunate where I live that our school system supplies my children with the basic supplies we need to be successful in school. Not everyone is as fortunate. While you are school shopping this season, why not help a student in need?

In comes Elmer’s Bag It Forward! While, you are shopping for your supplies pick up a few extra for someone who can’t buy supplies for their children. If you are looking to get the most for your donation, Walmart is a great place to start! They have amazing back to school prices on supplies that last from now until school begins! No need to wait for a sale with Walmart’s roll back pricing.

Help Elmer’s Help Adopt-A-Classroom

Helping classrooms in need this back to school season is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3

1. Write a post about this charity blog meme

2. Send a virtual bag of school supplies to another blogger and challenge them to join the #bagitforward movement

3. Link up your post at BagItForward.org

Easy peasy! Elmer’s just donated $10 for your post to Adopt-A-Classroom!

Here are the details of the program

Elmer’s will donate up to $10,000 to Adopt-A-Classroom with your participation. Join now!

The Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward is charity blog meme, bloggers are able to raise $10 per blog post for Adopt-A-Classroom by writing a blog post and donating a virtual bag of school supplies . Elmer’s will donate $10 per each post written to Adopt-A-Classroom, up to $10,000.

HOW CAN YOU JOIN? It’s easy.

Participate in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward and by giving away a virtual bag of school supplies and creating a blog post with specific rules described below.
Elmer’s will donate up to $10,000 to Adopt-A-Classroom.
You can give as many virtual bags as you want.
The Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward will officially begin at 12 AM EST on July 22, 2010 and end at 12 PM EST on August 12, 2010. Blog posts submitted to us before or after that time period will not be counted.
The blog post link has to be submitted in the comment section below for your participation to be counted.
In addition copy and paste the following text into your blog post:

ELMER’S VIRTUAL BAG IT FORWARD RULES

Copy and paste these rules into your blog post.
Create a blog post giving a “virtual bag of school supplies” to other bloggers or write about your Back to School shopping trip at Walmart.
Link back to the person who gave you a bag of school supplies.
Let each person you are giving a virtual bag of school supplies know you have given them a bag.
Leave your link in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward comment section. You can also find the official rules of this virtual #bagitforward program there.
Elmer’s is donating $10 for each blog participating in the Virtual Bag It Forward Donation to Adopt-A-Classroom (up to total of $10,000 for blog posts written by August 12, 2010).
Please note that only one blog post per blog url will count towards the donation.

I’m sending my Virtual Bag to Kim at Clumber Kim and challenging her to #bagitforward with Elmer’s!

Tags: adopt a classroom, back to school, charity, elmers, Walmart

Wordless Wednesday ~ You Are My Sunshine

July 14, 2010 by CraftyMama
Filed under Photography

What do you think

Tags: bubba, wordless wednesday

Winners for Candle Maker Store Pack and Type A Mom Ticket

July 11, 2010 by CraftyMama
Filed under Uncategorized

What do you think

Thank you to everyone who participated in my recent giveaways!

Now for the moment you have all been waiting for….. The winners chosen by random.org are

Candle Maker Store Prize Pack

# 39 Ellen Beck

Type A Mom Conference Ticket

#12 Andrea H

Congratulations and enjoy your prizes! I will notify each of you via email and you will have 48 hours to claim your prizes or new winners will be chosen.

Tags:

Yes I Am Still Alive

June 30, 2010 by CraftyMama
Filed under Life in the Crafty Shack

What do you think

I have totally fallen off the radar lately and I just wanted to let you all know I am still alive lol. Since the kids got off for summer vacation I have been NON STOP running and haven’t had much computer time. I have so much to share I have done so many exciting thing the last few months that I will be posting soon so stay tuned! a

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Tags:

Happy First Birthday Sweet Angel Annie

June 21, 2010 by CraftyMama
Filed under Life in the Crafty Shack

3 Comments so far what is your thought

Dearest Annie,

One year ago today you made your grand early entrance into our lives, our sweet baby girl to add to the mix of all the wild and crazy boys! You were so tiny, so beautiful and so perfect.

10 short weeks later your left our lives as unexpected as you arrived. I think of you every day and cry huge tears for you. You will be in my heart forever.

The day I got the call that you were being rushed to Children’s Hospital, Pookey and I were at the mall and we bought you the cutest little purple tutu. I had our photo session all planned, you in your tutu and pearls on mema’s white couch and me behind my Nikon snapping away. I still have that tutu packed safely away under my bed, and although you never wore it, it will always be yours.

Today I sent you a balloon and blew out a candle for you, Happy 1st Birthday Annie, I love you to the moon and back again

Aunt KiKi

Tags: annie

Helping a Friend in Need

June 14, 2010 by CraftyMama
Filed under Life in the Crafty Shack

What do you think

If there is one person in this world that I know that does more for others than for herself, its Melissa, you may also know her as Consumerqueen. Melissa is a working mom with two children and a husband who has to work from home due to a disability. She has the biggest heart, is always upbeat, caring and giving and now she needs us to open our hearts to her. Melissa lives in Edmund, OK and she got flooded today and lost everything. They do not live on a flood plain so they didn’t have any flood insurance. They can only rely on help from friends and help they may get from government disaster relief.

Her and her family had recently moved into a new home so they could have more room to take in mother who has been ill. They were just getting settled into their new home and now it will be months before they can live there again.

Melissa has done so much for so many people and she is a bright spot in our blogging community, help me make a bright spot in her day by chipping in to help her and her family.

Love you Melissa, I wish I lived closer so I could do more, you have done so much for me

Tags: consumerqueen, flood, help, ok

Win a Ticket to the Type A Mom Conference

June 11, 2010 by CraftyMama
Filed under Conferences

135 Comments so far what is your thought

The second Type A Mom Conference is coming up in September and you don’t want to miss out. I attended last year and I have to say it was one of the best conferences I have attended. Ashville was beautiful, the topics were very relevant, the people were wonderful and the town hall discussion was something I have ever seen at another conference. I also believe that Type A Mom was the first conference to offer activities (KidCon) for children while bloggers attended the conference activities. It was a great opportunity for a family to take a trip together to a beautiful place. It was such a hit that several other big name conferences have followed suit this year!

What a chance to win a ticket to the Type A Mom Conference?

I have a contest running right now in conjunction with The Candle Makers Store that I need help promoting. For each activity listed below that you complete to help me promote the Candle Makers Store contest, you will receive an entry for a chance to win a ticket to the Type A Mom Conference!

click here to find out how to win at ticket to the Type A Mom Conference

Tags: candlemakers store, free ticket, type a mom conference, type a mom ticket, win

Wordless Wednesday ~ If All The Raindrops Were Lollipops and Gumdrops

June 9, 2010 by CraftyMama
Filed under Photography

1 opinion what is yours

Tags: bubba, wordless wednesday

New York, New York ~ Day 3

June 7, 2010 by CraftyMama
Filed under Where The Fun's At

1 opinion what is yours

A few weeks ago my daughter and I took a quick trip to NYC together for some mother daughter bonding time. If you are just finding this, you can also read about Day 1 and Day 2 of our trip.

We woke up to a bright and sunny day for day 3, thank goodness the weather was going to cooperate for our last day in NYC! We still had a several things on our “to do” list and not much time, it was hard to decide what we wanted to do. We packed up our bags, checked them with bell services and headed to Bryant Park. One thing I really wanted to do was see the Statue of Liberty.

We didn’t have time to take the tour to the Statue of Liberty so we opted for a ride on the Staten Island Ferry instead, it was a really nice ride with a great view and the best part….its FREE! I like free lol.