Sabtu, 12 Mei 2012

Happy Mother's Day Giveaway & Review {Book: Parenting with Scripture}


I'm not sure if I have mentioned here before that I am starting to introduce Bug to scripture. I wasn't really sure where to start or how to go about it. Then I got the opportunity to review the book Parenting with Scripture. 

This book is a great resource for helping children connect with the words in the Bible. It's not the kind of book you read from cover to cover. There is an alphabetical index of topics so you can refer to it whenever you are ready for it. What I love the most about this book is with each topic there are several passages from the Bible plus conversation starters & questions, and ways to take action. Some topics even have parenting tips! At the end there is a scripture appendix and tips for memorization & praying with your children from young children to older children. 

I have been using this book as a guide for teaching Bug about scripture. Some of the questions and conversation starters are a little too complex for a toddler, but I use them as a general guide of how to talk to her about each topic. It really has been a great resource, even for myself at times. 


This book is an easy to use topical resource for parents of toddlers through teens to use for those teachable moments as they arise. Use this book as a resource to teach children how to think and apply God's Word in daily life. There are 101 topics that address behavior, attitude, emotions & actions. 

You can purchase this book here at Moody Publishers. {It's even available for the Kindle!}

As a Mother's Day gift you have the chance to win Parenting with Scripture!
Just enter by using the Rafflecopter form below. Be sure to read all rules and details.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kamis, 10 Mei 2012

A Pinteresting Party with Guest Host from Inspired By Family Magazine - Week 39

Welcome to A Pinteresting Party! The idea of this party is to show off your creativity and get your posts noticed by pinning each other on Pinterest! Pinterest is my #1 referral site and is great exposure! If you want to learn more about Pinterest & how it can benefit your blog please read this post.

Now lets get linking & pinning!

Hosted by Tutus & Tea Parties 
& Here's to Handy Andy.

This week our Guest Host is:

Mari from Inspired By Family Magazine!
Hop on over & see all the creativity going on over there. There's a lot! You might want to go grab a cup of coffee because you may be there for a while.

{Want to be a guest host?  Contact me for more info.}

Features!
{Here's a little hint:  the earlier in the week you link up, the more likely to get most viewed.}


Most Viewed {tied!}:
Pocket Full of Sunshine from The Sewing Loft.
Printable Train Patterns from Preschool Powol Packets.

My Picks {can you tell I was hungry when choosing?}
1.} Mexican Doritos Casserole from This Vintage Grove.
2.} Almond Chocolate Biscotti Pops from Homespun With Love.  
3.} No. 2 Pretzel Pencils from Ode to Inspiration. 

Be sure to stop on over to Here's to Handy Andy to see what her faves are too!

 Go on and grab the "I was featured" button for being so Pinspirational. You deserve it!

    Follow us on Pinterest:
    Tutus & Tea Parties I Here's to Handy Andy
    {follow our boards to see what projects we pin each week}

    Grab the party button & invite your friends!

    green-grass
     
    Thank you to this month's sponsors for making this party happen!  
    ButtonButtonButtonButtonButtonButton 
    If you are interested in sponsoring Tutus & Tea Parties please visit this page for details.

    {Giveaway} $25 Shop Credit to Busy Chickadees Party Decorations & Supplies

    Happy Friday! I don't know about you all, but starting THIS weekend we are booked through summer with parties and special occasions! If you are having a party you are going to want to enter {and win} this giveaway for a shop credit to Busy Chickadees! Emily creates wonderful party decorations and printables. Just in case you don't win {or don't want to wait} you can use a coupon code for 25% off. Find the code above the giveaway photo down below. First I'd love for you to take a moment and get to know Emily a little better:


    Tell us about yourself .
    My name is Emily and I live in Nebraska. We have 3 girls (yes, we use a lot of words each day!!). Our girls are 5, 4, and 2. I love being outside and cheering for my plants growing in my first garden. 


    How did you get started in your craft and selling on Etsy?

    I have had a love for Etsy and small businesses for a long time. I also love creating. I decided to combine the two and sell educational supplies for people who work with their kids at home. I got a request to do some birthday party supplies. As I was playing around creating the decorations, I fell in love! I get so excited for my customers to get their orders, maybe even as excited as they are. 


    What is your favorite item in your shop & why?

    My mustache baby shower! 
    www.etsy.com/listing/96509559/mustache-baby-shower-package-with I think it makes a fun, playful boy baby shower.

     
    Do you have a job outside of Etsy?

    I taught a 5th/6th grade combined classroom before becoming a stay at home mom. It is the best job and the hardest one I have ever had. I thought I was way more prepared than I actually was. :) 


    What is one thing you can not live without?

    Coffee. I call it "liquid nap"!


    What is your guilty pleasure?

    Eating dark chocolate. I try to sneak it while my kids are out of the room.


    Tell us a joke.

    How do you make a Kleenex dance? Put a little boogie in it!


    Enter to win a $25 Shop Credit to Busy Chickadees!

    {can't wait? Use code 25PERCENT at checkout for 25% off}  
     




    Contest ends 5/25/12. Open World Wide.


    Follow Emily:
    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Rabu, 09 Mei 2012

    Geting Ready for a Craft Off!


    Judges Wanted!
     {There will be a prize...unsure of what it will be as of yet.}

    I have some tutorials here and I would love to see some photos of what YOU have made so to encourage everyone to try one or two out, I am having a craft off! Who's excited?! 

    I'm thinking it will begin in June {so I have time to organize the rules and get some judges} and last all month long. If you'd like to get started you can enter as many different projects as you'd like. The only thing is...it must be a tutorial 100% mine {some projects posted are inspired by other bloggers who I gave credit to...those won't count. 

    Here's how it will go:

    You can make as many different projects as you'd like.
    You must blog your project with credit to my tutorial you made it from.
    Come back to the contest page and link it up!
    You must follow Tutus and Tea Parties & each judge's blog to be eligible.

    I think those will be the general rules.

    If you would like to be a judge, please fill out this quick form

    Photobucket

      

    So, who's with me?!

    Senin, 07 Mei 2012

    May Sponsor Spotlight


    Thank you to all this month's sponsors. These sponsors help keep the crafts-a-comin' and the link party happenin'. Please take some time to get to know more about them and their shop.

    Welcome back Crazed Momma Creations 
    & Maddie B's Boutique!



    CrazedMomma's real name is Naquai (nuh kwi with a long i). She is originally from Texas but went to college in Utah, married a local boy and has been in Utah ever since. She has four daughters ages 17, 15, 9, and 4.


    In her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/CrazedMommaCreations  Naquai sells bottle cap magnets, bobby pin sets, party favor bottle cap necklaces and specialized tags. She has always liked crafts.  Her daughters made her some magnets and this inspired her to start her Etsy store. Her daughters (and the digital art creators of Etsy) inspire her to try new things and she has fun testing her new products with help from her girls. She hopes to add new items to her shop in the future.







    Hello! My name is Tiffany and I am the owner/creator at Maddie B's Boutique. It all started on December 6, 2008 when my beautiful daughter, Madeline, was born.
    I have always loved shopping and now I had a sweet little girl to buy for! I started buying and buying and buying until one day I thought " Hey maybe I could make these?"
    Well the rest is history! I opened shop in March 2010 and have been going strong since. I really put a lot of effort into doing local art/craft fairs but this year my goal is to really put all my effort into my Etsy shop. Over the last couple years I have found that I truly am crafty and love what I am doing. I get to stay home with my 2 kiddos and as an added bonus help out financially, too.  I hope this is just the beginning of a successful business! 



     Lets welcome these new sponsors to 
    Tutus & Tea Parties!



    My name is Valery and I am a mom to 7 amazing children. They are my driving force to keep going at my business and make it work. Originally when I decided to work from home it was until my baby turned 5 and was going to kindergarten. The time is come and she will be going this coming Fall but I want more now then every to build my business and work at it full time. 

    I have been crocheting for over 20 years. I love different yarns and to put different colors together. I put time and effort into each piece and I make sure that it is just right before I ship it off. My customers mean everything to me and I will do what it takes to make sure they have the best online shopping experience they can. This is my dream to do this full time and I can see it happening with every stitch. The more I work from home means the more I get to be mom :). 



    My name is Christy, my fiance Ryan and I are getting married this October. My shop would not still be here if not for him. Not only does he quality check each item I make as well, he answers questions while I'm running errands, purchases supplies, runs to the post office, gets my supplies ready when I'm short on time or very busy, but watches our 3 children, reminds me to eat while offering a steaming plate of food, and is basically my rock.  We have 3 children. Our eldest is 7, 5, and our youngest is 3.
     
    When I'm not on working on my shop I'm usually working as a reservationist for a hotel part time, usually nights and evenings. If not there then I'm caring and playing with my children or caring for my grandmother, swimming, baking, experimenting in the kitchen, tidying up the house and after our dog and 3 cats, or traveling with Ryan. Our favorite places to visit are www.bullmanbeach.com and www.bluefinbay.com





    I'm Meg-the girl behind the posies.  My days are filled with fun from my two children, running and photography.  
    Posies and Petals began shortly after my daughter was born as I searched for accessories for her little bald head:)  I had a hard time finding just what I wanted in local shops.  After a few failed attempts and encouragement from great friends and a supportive husband, Posies and Petals was born!  I truly enjoy working with clients to create something special that fits their needs.  I really do have the best clients.  They continue to encourage me creatively!

     




    Mom's Daily Zen features the best in handmade products, deals, and giveaways for moms, babies, and kids! We feature top products on the front page, host giveaways just for moms, scour the internet for handmade sales, and feature spotlight articles about crafts, tutorials, mommy tips, and more! Mom's Daily Zen is redefining what mommy blogging can be and supporting the handmade movement at the same time. Recently, we've begun doing product reviews and creating an a-list of our favorite shops. We invite all moms to hop on over and enjoy!



    Minggu, 06 Mei 2012

    My Body Unit: 5 Senses


    This month our unit plan is My Body. This week we are going to be talking about our 5 senses

    Art:  
    Check out some of these DIY art supplies for some more ideas.

    Sensory Collage
    Gather materials of different textures and have your child glue them onto cardboard.
     
    Sensory Paint
    Mix paint with things such as salt {this made our paint dry sticky!}, rice, flour, baking soda {this made our paint puffy when it dried!}  to finger paint and let them have at it!


     

    Bubble Wrap Finger Painting
    Have your child finger paint on a sheet of bubble wrap!

    Science/Discovery: 


    Taste Test
    Gather some foods that are sweet, sour, spicy, bland, salty...and have a taste test to experience the different flavors. {foods to use: pickle, choc chip, salsa, lemon, cracker,pepperment...}


    What's that smell?
    Find things around the house that smell both good and bad. Put a blindfold around your child's eyes or have them close their eyes and see if your child can guess what it is!

    Math: 


    Copy Clap
    Make a clapping pattern. Using your sense of hearing, have your child copy the clapping pattern you make. Take turns and let your child make up a pattern too! {also good to do with Rhythm Sticks - ours are two painted dowels}


    Sensory/Dramatic Play
    More sensory play from Tutus & Tea Parties.
    Other sensory ideas from Pinterest

     Sensory Cards
    Gather materials of different textures and glue them onto cardboard {or a cut up cereal box} squares.


    Barefoot Walk
    Have your child walk barefoot along different surfaces {carpet, tile, grass (if safe)} Talk about how each surface feels.


    Scented or Sensory Play Dough
    Make scented play dough using Kool-Aid or add things such as rice or sand,  to play dough.
     



    Use Your Whole Body!
    We did Water & Cornstarch in the sensory table and let her use her whole body! It was cool because she could feel her skin tighten as the mixture dried on her body.



    Bible:  

    Health
    What we use: Parenting with Scripture page 120 {stay tuned this Mother's Day for a chance to win this book!} & You Version Bible App {we read the NIV version}

    1 Corinthians 6:19-20 {NIV}: Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 

    Songs/Games:

    Freeze Dance: Play a song while your child dances. Occasionally pause the music. Listen carefully because when the music stops, your freeze! When the song plays again you are free to dance!

    Take a 5 senses walk: find things outside to smell {fresh cut grass, soil, flowers, BBQs,...}, see, taste {maybe you or a neighbor has a garden of fruits/veggies}, hear, and touch {rough rocks, soft grass,...}

    Shakey Egg Match: Make some Shakey Eggs but make pairs with the same fillings. Have children shake the eggs and see if they can match the sounds.

    What's different?: Have your child look at you {or a small grouping of toys}. After a minute or so, have your child close their eyes and either remove something or change something. Can they spot the difference?

    What is that?: Cut a hole in the side of a box with a cover {big enough to fit your child's hand/arm in}. Place an object in the box and see if your child can guess what it is.

    I spy with DIY Binoculars: Play I Spy and make these DIY Binoculars to use too!




    Books: 



    Vocabulary/Signs to Know:
    Want to include more words but don't know how to sign them? Look them up here.

    How have you helped your child discover their senses? Leave your link below in the comments so we can check it out!


    Last week we learned about the parts of the body. If you missed it, you can see it here.

    Coming up:
    Week 3 {May 14-18}: Emotions
    Week 4 {May 21-25}: Exercising & Eating Healthy
    Week 5 {May 28-June 1}: Hygiene

    Tot School
    Button