coffee table redo

Back in the winter I made a post about my cheap walmart table... I used pallet wood to give it a makeover. Well i got tired of all the brown in my living room. To me it needed to be broken up with something bright. So I decided to paint the top of the coffee table. I absolutely love the way it turned out. And it added just the right amount of brightness to the living room so it doesn't seem so blah in there.

Before this table was just a cheap temporary solution to having no furniture when we first moved in. It got scratched so I used pallet wood to give it a face lift and stained it.... I loved the way it looked, but I wanted something a little brighter for spring so...

I decided to paint it white! Now I feel like it just pops in the room and helps add the brightness I was looking for!

Paper flower spring door

We have been really getting in to the spring spirit in our classroom. So since it is spring time I thought what better way to dress up our classroom door than with rain drops and paper flowers.

 I have gotten so many compliments on the flowers that I decided to give a little tutorial on how to make them.

first I cut a piece of construction paper in half. Then I folded it like you would if you were going to fold a paper fan.

Next I bunched the folds together and stapled them together in the center.

Then I cut the ends of each side to make a point.

Next I brought the the ends together and secured them together to form a semi circle. I repeated for both sides to form a full "circle".

 And lastly I attached each flower to the stems that were already placed on the door.

Here is the finished spring door!

completed spring wall...

As promised here are photos of our completed spring wall in our classroom... we added a sun, butterflies, and lady bugs. Happy Spring!

Spring Wall...Paper Plate Tulips

Spring is right around the corner and I can't wait! I love bringing the excitement of spring into the classroom with colorful projects. This week we started our Spring Wall. This is one of my favorite weeks because I love the feeling the spring wall brings to the classroom. So far we made Tulips out of paper plates. Super simple.

You will need:

Paint

2 paper plates

Scissors

Stapler

Ruler

To start I had each child paint their plates... one was green for the stem and the other was either pink or red... they got to choose. 

After they dried I drew lines where I needed to cut the plates (these are white so you could see the lines to cut along)

The plate that you cute with the triangle will be the flower part and the plate with the rectangle will me the stem.

The I stapled each piece together. Then I put them both together to create the flower.

Super easy and it helps to add color and spring beauty to the classroom. Of course I needed a really cute way to display the artwork which is why this post is called Spring Wall... I added a white "picket fence" and a "tree branch" and placed the flowers just so. And here you have the beginning of our spring wall....

Today we also made lady bugs but they were not dry in time for me to hang them up and take a picture and tomorrow we will make butterflies to add to the spring wall.... with photos to come. So come back and check out the final product!

St. Patty's day hand print keepsake

Its that time again! We have another holiday right around the corner! I love to do projects with my class that the parents can keep forever... what better way to remember your little one than with their tiny hand prints. Since St. Patrick's day is coming up we make hand print rainbows and a pot of gold. All you need is paint, a pot cut out of construction paper and a tiny little hand.

After we made out hand prints i glued on the pot and added pieces of "gold" and wrote Happy St. Patrick's day with the year so you never forget when your little one made this adorable St. Patty's day keepsake! 

A quick update and 5 favorites for March...

I have been so busy with work and birthdays and other events lately that unfortunately I have not posted. So now I am trying to play catch up! With that said here are my 5 favorites for March: 

• John Frieda Sheer Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner:

I just recently decided to go back to blonde. Which forced me to change shampoo and conditioner. I decided to give this a try. I love it. It smells amazing and I think it helps keep my highlights looking vibrant.

• Jeff Nathan Creations Gluten Free Panko Flakes

 

This product is probably by far the best Panko flakes I have tried so far. The seasoning is just right and you can't even tell that they are gluten free. Since passover is right around the corner these Panko flakes are easier to find... so I stock up this time of year. Normally I have to go on a hunt for this little gem. 

• Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara 

 I am obsessed with mascara. I have tried tons... Cover Girls Lash Blast Mascara takes the cake for me. I use the regular one but they also make a waterproof. I find this mascara doesn't leave deposits on my contacts and makes my lashes look full and long!

• Candy Canisters 

 These candy canisters are one of my favorite and cheap storage solutions. They can be used for anything from candy to tea bags, cotton balls, or cookies. With a classic look you can use them in any room with any decor. I use them in my kitchen for tea bags and sugar packets.

• Johnson & Johnson Baby Lotion

 I don't know about any of you but this winter has been a killer on my skin. My face more particularly. A lot of people spend tons of money on "face cream". I just can't bring myself to spend $10 on a tiny jar of cream so I use baby lotion. It doesn't clog my pores and is light on my skin. Its also hypoallergenic so its perfect for sensitive skin! And its a lot cheaper than that tiny jar of cream!

5 favorites of February!

To keep my 5 favorite list going for every month, here is February's! 

• Lipfusion Infatuation in LA Lip Jolie

 

This is a lip plumping lip gloss! I love it because the color is very subtle and it plumps my lips up just right! Its my go to for a night out on the town!

• Bluetooth Jumbo Speaker

This little portable speaker gets louder than my laptop ever could. I take this thing all over my house and use it with my pandora through blue tooth. It makes a really great gift too!

• Goodworks wrap bracelets.

I love these bracelets and I own quite a few. Each one is covered from one end to the other with inspiring and encouraging words! The best part - 25% of the net profits go to a good cause!

• Aquolina Pink Sugar Perfume

 I am beyond obsessed with this scent. It smells just like cotton candy and I have been wearing it for years. Who doesn't love the smell of cotton candy. And let me just say this scent is a great conversation starter when you are out and about.

•  Udi's Gluten Free Pizza

 Before I had to stop eating gluten I was a total pizza fanatic! I have yet to find a gluten free pizza that tastes like a "real" slice of pizza but this brand gets pretty close. I have done my fair share of trial and error in this department and Udi's is my go to for when I get that pizza craving.

martin luther king jr craft

When a holiday approaches we always try to make a craft that goes with it. Today we made out Martin Luther King jr. craft. We decided to go with a peace sign since Martin Luther King Jr. was a promoter of peace.

All you need for this project is some paint, masking tape, and paper plates.

first I taped the plate to make a peace sign.

Next the children painted the plates.

When the paint dried, I removed the tape.

and there you have it a simple project the promotes Martin Luther King Jr's message. Peace.

Wintery Update and Outdoor Kitty Houses

So its been a little cold around here for the past few days.  Today the real feel was 1*. If you are a fan of snow and the cold then this is the place for you, but if you are me, right about now you would be wishing you were on a beach somewhere very very warm!

There have been a couple of stray cats that hangout by my house - probably because I feed them but they are cute and thats all that matters! They also have names... because I am that person. I want to make every stray a pet. I have been trying for months to get them to come inside my house but they aren't that comfortable with me yet. So last night me and my sister decided that they needed a warm place to stay.

 This is Mustachio.

This is Levi

I searched the internet and found a bunch of different ways to make outdoor shelters for stray cats that will help them stay warm in these very cold temps. Basically we took big bins with covers, some Styrofoam coolers and hay and put it all together and gave these cats a home! We cute the cooler to fit inside the bin, filled in the free space between the cooler and the bin with hay and put hay on the bottom for the cats to lay on and put the top back on. We cut a hole in the front - just big enough for them to get in and out

I must add that we put some cat nip inside to give the cats a reason to go in. I checked today and it looked like someone was laying inside! No one should be left out in the cold. If you have strays but cant let them in this is a perfect way to help your furry friend out!

My 5 favorites for January

As part of the new year I have decided each month to add a section of my 5 favorite products or items for each month.

• Bath & Body Works - Sparkle Every Day: Confetti Cupcake. 

 There is something about the smell of cupcakes baking that just warm me up inside. This scent is perfect for a winter time candle. Your whole house smells like you've been baking all day!

• Biosilk Oil.

I don't know about you guys but I am always looking for amazing hair products. I have curly hair naturally but straighten and color it all the time. I hate when my hair starts to feel dry from too much blow drying, straightening, and coloring. Biosilk is my go to product when I want my hair to feel and look healthy. It smells amazing and a little bit goes a LONG way!

• Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cupcake, Brownie, & Cookie Mix

I have tried a lot of different gluten free baked goods. Betty Crocker definitely wins in my book. I make this brand for parties and get-togethers and my guests don't even know they are gluten free until I tell them. Once they find out they are shocked! Do yourself a favor and give it a try! you won't be sorry!

• Black and Decker Power tools.

If you are just starting out and venturing in to the world of DIY and power tools, but aren't looking to spend a ton of money then Black and Decker tools are where its at. I own many black and decker tools and they have yet to let me down. I use them for all of my DIY projects and they aren't expensive at all!

• Elf Zit Zapper

To me this Elf Zit Zapper is a miracle worker! It cost me a $1 at target. If I feel like I am getting a blemish, I just roll a little bit on the spot and it is either completely gone or significantly smaller the next day! Just goes to show you that you don't have to spend a ton of money on some fancy pimple cream. $1 does the trick!