"Lucky" Barn Star

I hope everyone is having a great week.  Mine is cruising at top speed again.  Over the weekend, we had volleyball and softball tournaments. Needless to say, I was not home much at all.  However, one of the mom's had a catalogue to look at and I was inspired.  So, I came right home and started to create this:

My "Lucky" Barn Star.

I bought this last fall at Michael's when all of their summer stuff was on clearance.  The star in the catalogue was $15.00.  Mine, was $1.49.

I picked out some pretty green paper and even found a shamrock page - I love it when I surprise myself.  I just took a piece of card stock and made a template and cut diamonds out.

I glued them on with just a glue stick.  I then took a piece of sandpaper and sanded the edges down a little.

It was a little too bright for my taste, so, I added a little stain and dirtied it up a little.  I love how it turned out.

I chose a dark green for the sign.

Next, I cut out the letters for Lucky using the same paper in the star and glued them on.  I added the fun little shamrock using my kids heart shapes and just painted them in a lighter green.

Finished the whole thing off with a green raffia bow.

This is it, and, the best thing is that I didn't have to the store for anything.

I am thinking of adding it to my entryway shelf.

I hope your day is Lucky too.

XOXO

I am ready to party down HERE.

Star Helper Stepping Stool

Boy, this week is flying by.  It is already Wednesday -- Love, Love, Love Wednesday -- Hump Day!!!.  I wanted to share something that I have been doing for at least seventeen years.  I started the star helper when my oldest child was five.  He would fight with his sister over who got to help me with lunch and dinner, and, who got to sit in the preferred spot in our van.  I really don't understand how one side of the van is better than the other, but, it was a very big deal.  To end all of the crazy fighting, I started the star helper.  That day's star helper would get to help me in the kitchen, sit in the preferred van spot, hold the door open, turn the lights on and off, and anything else they would fight over.  As they got older, it would include being in charge of the little ones when I had to go potty.  It worked so well that I use it in my daycare too.

I used an old plastic stool for years and years which worked fine.

However, you just can't imagine how THRILLED I was to find this awesome step stool at Savers.  When I saw it, I sprinted towards it scaring every poor soul in my path.

The hinged top and compartment, is my favorite part.  I just knew it would be my Star Helper's stool.

I painted it a shining star yellow and used a cookie cutter to stamp some stars.

My little ones were so excited they wanted to help too.  I let them all stamp a couple of stars and then,

they each got to pick a star for their name and decoration.

That was such a fun project for them and it got them even more excited about helping out.

Now, there is special equipment when you are a Star Helper.  A package of wipes, sanitizer and the star helper's special apron.

I also included a stack of certificates to let their family know what a great job they did as a helper (I love The Dollar Store).

This is my little helper waiting to wash her hands and help with the mac & cheese.  They get to cut the butter (with a child safe knife) and put it in, pour the milk and cheese, and finally stir.  Oh, I almost forgot, they also have to think loving thoughts about their friends to put the love in.  We all know that love is the tastiest ingredient.

Before the kids are called to the table, we put a squirt of sanitizer on a wipe for them to scrub their hands clean.  It really saves my back and water on the floor - he he.

The Star Helper also gets to choose what color everybody gets.  All my bowls, plates and cups are solid colors.  The girls love pink so much, the boys want some of that pink action and feel so special when the get the pink and pink cup.  However, they  all know their colors very early because of the color choices being made everyday.  I have six kids and only four cup colors.  So, we get to mix and match.  Pink and green or pink and pink.  It is so funny to hear my one year old say I want pink and pink please.

I was so excited to share this with you and hope you can incorporate this fun activity into your busy day.

Who will be your star tonight?!

XOXO

President's Day Treasures

Happy Monday Tuesday everyone.  I hope you all had a great Monday.  I run a small daycare and have mostly teacher's kids, so, I was off too -- Yeah.  I got a little housework done, my ribbon sorted and taken care of, and, I got to go treasure hunting.  I haven't been to any thrift stores or garage sales in a long time.  We are so busy on the weekends, I just don't go anymore.  I had a great time.  I got coffee, a scone, and hit the stores.  Since it was a three day holiday, the stores had been hit hard and picked over.  However, I did get away with these beauties:

These frames are so pretty.  They don't need anything done to them.  I think the girls will love them.  Please don't pay any mind to my reflection in the glass (here's looking at you kid) - ha ha

I love the jewels.  

I don't have egg cups, and, with Easter right around the corner, I just couldn't pass these by.

What a wonderful jumbled mess.

Six candle holders in there and for only $2.00 (my heart went pitter patter).  I have great plans for these.

This is cool and small.  I was thinking shadow box?!  It is just a small tray.

Maybe, for my perfume.

Now, I did have to stop by The Dollar Store.  I got this cute little white dish.

Just perfect for my glasses.  I have readers that I loose all the time, this will help tame them down a little.  I love the shape.

What??  The cutest little birdie salt and pepper shakers for only a dollar?!!

My heart is singing.  Can you hear it?????

What did you do President's Day?

XOXo

Ribbon, Ribbon, and More Ribbon

I needed ribbon to finish my kids Valentine's this year, and, what a mess they are.  Remember this?  It is still awesome. and, I use it all the 

time. 

You can see it HERE.  I, however, have a lot more ribbon than storage 

places on that rack.  

 YIKES.  This is what I started with.  A tangle of ribbon and lace.

I gathered up the loose ribbon and taped it onto a toilet paper roll.  For those fly away pieces, I used a hair pin to hold it in place.

Then I sorted all the ribbon by color.  I have a lot of themed ribbon (i.e., Christmas, Halloween, etc.), so, I put that together in a container.  Then, I have some doubles, and, my lace.  I put them in another container.

I tried to put like colors together on a rod.

I got this package at Michael's when I made my Ribbon Rack.  I think they are large sucker sticks.

Those Dowels, fit perfectly through the holes.  I fit four rods in there.

The loose ends of the ribbon, I threaded through the holes on the side of my Dollar Tree container I have had forever.

Put a label on it and sat in on top of the other two bins I have in my laundry room.  I will show more pictures of that after I organize it, yet AGAIN.  My kids always ask me why I have to reorganize the laundry room and the pantry.  My reply is always YOU.........

My ribbon and I are so HAPPY.

Thanks for stopping by.

XOXO

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