Importance of Hard Work

A solicitor came to my door yesterday. I am a sucker for them. After he left, and after I was 350 dollars poorer. I sat thinking about the conversation with el solicitor. He was from Chicago and was part of a group to help troubled adults learn respect, conversation techniques, and how to work hard to provide a better life for him and his family. He asked me, “How did you get where you are today?” A short moment later the answer was easy, my parents. They struggled, sweated blood, and cried many tears to help me achieve my goals, dreams and aspirations.

I find this concept to be as true as any. We as parents want to do our kids better than what we had. The solicitor was working hard so his young children didn’t have to experience being cut with a butcher knife like he was– true story; he showed me the scars to prove it. He wanted his kids to succeed. Something he learned later in life.

Being a parent is such a wonderful thing but it is full of hardships – which our kids may not appreciate now. We know the end result. We know our children will be better people because we worked hard to make it so. It helps to hear from others - to know we are not alone in our task of giving up ourselves for our children. Now I ask, what are you doing to better your children’s’ lives that you possibly didn’t have when you were a child?

Gift Certificate--Good for 1 Grand Baby!!!

During this past Memorial Day weekend I found out I was pregnant.  I was a little suprised by this, so I knew my family would be even more surprised!!! 

I like to tell my family that I am pregnant in a fun way.  When I found out I was pregnant with my second child I wanted to get a shirt for my daughter that said something along the lines of, "Big Sister in Training."  I found a website that created cute shirts that had the saying on it and even personalized them as well.  I wish I could remember the website, but it has been atleast two years.

I then just walked into my parent's and in law's homes and waited for them to read my daughter's shirt.  I even captured it on video!

However, if you don't want to pay for a shirt, you can always create it yourself.

This second time around I got the idea to create a gift certificate to give the grandparents that would say "Good for One Grand-Baby"

(Click on Picture to Download)

(Elements came from Just So Scrappy)

Which is just what I did!!!  And since I love all things FREE you can also download and use this gift certificate for your own personal use!!!

Do you have any fun ideas to announce your pregnant???

Book Review: Juliet

When Julie Jacobs inherits a key to a safety-deposit box in Siena, Italy, she is told that it will lead her to an old family treasure. Soon she is launched on a winding and perilous journey into the history of her ancestor Giulietta, whose legendary love for a young man named Romeo rocked the foundations of medieval Siena. As Julie crosses paths with the descendants of the families immortalized in Shakespeare’s unforgettable blood feud, she begins to realize that the notorious curse—“A plague on both your houses!”—is still at work, and that she is the next target. It seems that the only one who can save Julie from her fate is Romeo—but where is he?

I enjoyed this book from the moment I picked it up.  The book switches back and forth between Julie Jacobs and her adventures in Sienna with 1340 where the true story of Romeo and Giuletta is recounted.  I am usually one to fall in love with what is happening in the past than the present with books that have this type of format, but it was opposite for me in this book.  I loved Julie Jacob's story and even more so the love story part of it.  I found what was happening in 1340 to be interesting, but in the end we all know what happens to Romeo and Giuletta.  If you like a little mystery, mixed in with a love story and a splash of adventure then you will definetly enjoy Juliet.

Profanity: Mild (To be honest I can't remember/didn't pay alot of attention, so I am guessing here.  This much I do know it wasn't over the top because I would have definetly remembered that.)

Violence: Mature (There are quite a few scenes that deal with violence, the scenes aren't extremely detailed to the point where you are thinking TMI, but people do die by the sword)
Sexual Content: Moderate (There are a few scenes that deal with sexual content, but they aren't described in detailed, the scenes, more than anything, are hinted at or implied, but not described in great detail)
Mature Themes: Moderate
Our Recommended Age Range: 21+

Back to School First Aid Kits

I am a little late in getting this posted, but at my house we live by the saying, "Better Late than Never!!!"

With all the great 'back to school' sales I couldn't help myself...I had to create a back to school first aid kit.

My own children are too young to go to school yet, but that didn't stop me from doing it.  I made these for a few of the young girls in my neighborhood.

In order to complete this project you will need:

1. Small Pencil Box
2. Ruler
3. Glue Stick
4. Eraser
5. Paper Clips
6. Rubber Bands
7. Pencils
8. Tape
9. First Aid Contents List (free download)
10. First Aid Kit (free download)

(Click on the picture to download)

(click on picture to download)

Once you have gathered all your supplies and printed off the free downloads you simply put it all together.  Pretty easy right??? 

I used tape to attach the First Aid Kit and the First Aid Kit Contents to the pencil box.

I also printed the different lists onto cardstock, but regular paper would work fine too.

Don't forget to write the name of whoever you are giving the survival kit to on.  You can do this two ways by either opening the document in photoshop or after you have printed the document just write the name.

You'll notice that you don't see the ruler in any of the pictures, the pencil boxes I purchased were too small to fit the ruler into them, so I just handed the rulers to the girls seperately.

One each pencil box I spent about $1.50...the most expensive part was the pencil box.  For something so inexpensive, it sure lit up a lot of cute faces.

Do you have any back to school traditions?