2 Clever Blog

Valentines Day Wrap up!

Dear Think::

I never really finished showing you what we did for Valentine cards and our big exciting day.  It was pretty chaotic actually, but I always love a good chaotic day once in a while.  My last minute class gift of a Valentine Mug and Target gift card came together thanks to cellophane and ribbon- which in my opinion makes any gift exciting. 

about 20 minutes before I ran out the door I was doing the iron on
for the teacher's Valentine Apron. I am so last minute.  She really loved it and wore it the rest of the day.

 
The other funny thing was I had made heart pancakes for breakfast and told the girls that I had a special fruit dip to put on the pancakes.  Little Pink ran upstairs to her room and said "Oh I have fruit dip" She dug through her class valentine bag and came back down stairs with her fun dip saying , "look mom Fruit dip - it is blue raspberries!"  I am not sure what should bother me more the fact she thought this was acceptable to put on her pancakes or that blue raspberries is an actual fruit!

I am already thinking green for St. Patrick's Day.
Pink::

Valentine toast 2 Pink

 

(best investment ever....tiny letter cookie cutters!)

Pink :: Happy Valentines Day!!!

Just thought I would give a toast 2 you and tell what I love about you today.

I love...that your love is directed tirelessly to others.
I love...that you worry about other peoples memories & heirlooms.
I love...that you are such a "fun" mom to your 3 girls.
I love...that you still get excited about things are are not afraid to show it.
I love...that you set hard goals and do it. (And even share your goal imperfections with others!)
I love...that you collect things. Especially friends whenever, where ever you are.
I love...that you never tire of finding new ideas.
I love...that you married such a great guy who puts up with our silliness.
I love...that you are willing to look silly.
I love...that you do things even if you might fail.

but most of all

I love...that you know all my faults and shortcomings but are still willing to stick with me and be my friend.

Love you Pink! :: Think

I've gotta CRUSH...

 

Pink :: How are you holding up as a "single mom" this week?

Did you know they made Crush in a strawberry flavor?
And in such darling little bottles? (my photo does not do it justice)
I couldn't resist. Had to make one for my personal Crush.

Maybe you want to make one for yours when he gets home.
...or maybe not depending on how it's going. :)

Well, if you do here is where I got my stuff:

Crush Strawberry six-pack at Walmart
1.5 inch wooden tags at Michael's or you could just use a paper tag
pink/red striped string from Martha Stewart Baker's Twine
Open my artwork by clicking here. And then print the page.

There are 6 circles on an 8.5x11 sheet so you can do the entire 6-pack
if you have more than one crush *wink-wink*

I hope the drink tastes good. Sometimes strawberry flavor can be tricky.
But hey, it's the thought that counts right?

Hang in there! :: Think

Healthy Heart Attack

Think::

So you have been to my house.  Our neotraditional neighborhood where the homes are darling and look like a Norman Rockwell painting but they are just so dang close together.  In our culdasac alone there are 16 homes all on top of each other.  I do love this type of life and it has given me a chance to really get to know all my neighbors. It also makes it really easy to do things for your neighbors when they are so close.

 

For innaguration weekend I put little American flags all at their base of their mailboxes. 
It made our little cirlce that much more patriotic

     Today I came up with this idea for Valentines.  I cut out large felt hearts, 2 for each mailbox.
Then i just stapled the two hearts together around the flag of the mailbox.  Yes, you read it right my friend, STAPLED, not fabric glue and not hand stitched on each one.  A simple staple.  It is the only way that I can do them fast without getting caught (what is so sad, remember the day when I would have whipstitched around 100 hearts  for  neighbors mailboxes -oh the days!)
I can't decide if I will do them one night this week or if I will do them late Friday night so they wake up to them on Valentines day.  What do you think?

I know there are some neighborhoods that don't have mailboxes so just even taping a felt heart on each box would be darling too.

back to my heart attack
Pink::


 Goodmail defined here.
           

For Mr. Think

Pink :: Valentines Day is coming fast!

And I am so behind. Except I already have something for Mr. Think. Shocker! I went with a friend and our daughters to one of those pottery painting places. (Thanks Carrie) I had never been to one of those places before because I knew I would become obsessed with designing my own dinnerware or something that I don't have time for right now. So I went with the intention that only Little Think would paint and I would watch and cheer her on. But then I had an idea and quickly painted this:

It's a candy bowl for Mr. Think's desk at his office. I'm going to fill it with his favorite candy for him.
But when he finally eats all the candy he will see this at the bottom of the bowl.

It says My Name {hearts} His Name. (The names have been blocked out to protect the innocent. ha!) I'm hoping it will crack him up when he finally sees it and not embarrass him too much. At least he will have a reason to keep the bowl full of candy so he won't be mocked by his office buddies.

I'm working on our February computer desktop wallpaper. I'm just not "feeling" it yet. Hopefully it will be ready tomorrow. I'm a little tired of seeing snowflakes on mine.


Itching for another paint party :: Think

Little Think's Valentines

Hi Pink ::

Hope you are hanging in there with all the weather back there!

I have a decision to make. Little Think wants to do the same Valentines she did last year for preschool, this year for her Kindergarten class. They were cute and very "her". Got the idea originally from my Idea Binders out of an old Family Fun magazine. But I altered it to fit Little Think and her undying devotion to cats.

It is a little cat mouth you put around a sucker so when you are eating it you look like a cat. (or a dog, alligator, dinosaur, pirate, whatever you can think up)

Original and not to hard to make right? But you know me. I have "Idea ADHD" and can't focus if I've done it before. The thrill of the hunt is gone. Do I make my life easy and do this again? I mean, I've got all the supplies, the templates, everything. (I may add a third whisker and a round mouth part on the bottom to make it a little more cat-like.) But I'm afraid I will falter with the boredom. Or do I do what I usually do and start from scratch on something new and thrilling that will happily consume my entire week next week?

{sigh}

I'm trying to figure out where my word2word "now" fits in with all this.

Any advice? :: Think

(And no, Mr. Think, if you are reading this, you can't give your 2 cents.
I already know what you will say!)

Valentine Planning

Think::

I feel the winter blues getting me down, which makes me so happy that Valentines is just around the corner.  I swear these Holidays are what get me through when it is freezing outside.  We had our class planning meeting for the Valentines party (if feels so good to be ahead of the game on something!)

Here are some Class ideas that we are doing and things I have done in the past that you might want to use.

My first thing is that while you are on the food side of Wal-mart pick up any red packaged food to make a Valentine lunch on the 13th (as the kids won't be going to school on Saturday).  I always buy boxes of those Little Debbie pink heart snack cakes, I swear they sell out every year.  Red Pringles, red Jello, red apple, lots of Hershey Kisses, Red ribbon on everything.  Things like radishes and tomatoes are always fun to put in too (even though I don't know any kids who would eat either for lunch at school)


Every year I make a Valentines apron for the teacher with some simple iron ons that I print off my computer  (should we do a Eavesdropping tutorial on this or does everyone know how to do this?Nora thinking of you!)  I have the teacher put it on at the beginning of the party and then during the party all the kids sign it.  The apron is from Sam's Club.  They are sold in their restaurant supply section for $9.99 for 3 aprons. 
You can also dye them and take a dish towel fold it in half and sew pockets like this.
These were the ones I made for all you great friends that threw me that she she baby shower 5 years ago.
These aprons were dyed in tan and yellow Rit dye combo, ribbon sewn on the ties, wool felt appliqued on the front to monogram and pink covered buttons added to the top. These aprons are inexpensive and a great teacher gift

 
Next is one of the best class party games that I have ever done.  Eating donuts off of string (or cute polka dot ribbon in this case)  we did this for Halloween and the kids went nuts.  You could get the darling mini donuts from Krispy Kreme (24 for $6.99) and it is the perfect size.  Seriously if you are looking for a game idea this is a winner.


The other game that I do every Halloween but you could do for any holiday is the Marshmallow swap game.  For Valentines buy red crazy straws and you could use the heart marshmallows.  Each kid gets the same amount of marshmallow and when you say go they have to move the marshmallows from the plate to the cup by sucking them to the straw and dropping them to the cup.  This is a huge hit for any age.  I have done this one since Kindergarten and it is now 4th grade.  Then you pick the top 3 kids and have them do a final competition.  The beauty of this game is that there is complete silence!
the other game is the Conversation hearts - chopsticks game.  I do this every year too.  Although the photo was second grade when I found Jawbreaker hearts for super cheap and used these.  I buy 5-6 bags of conversation hearts.  I put them on the ground on a few plates and say go.  You see how many they can pick up using chopsticks.  My little Pink has always had someone in her class who only eats with chopsticks at home and it is so fun to watch them beat all the kids royally. 
(This and the marshmallow game often need a reminder that they can not eat any of the candies or marshmallows)

This year we are doing something a little different for the 4th graders.  Some have expressed they are getting too old for Valentines.  I say too bad you are never too old for Valentines, but to redirect the attention off of them we are forgoing any Valentine treat bags and encouraging the children to donate money for someone else.  One of Mr. Pink's patients (young 2o year old) lost all his sight while serving in Iraq and is currently back in the hospital.  Most of our activities for the party will include making Valentines for him.  Since he can not see now, hearing is key for him.  I couldn't think of anything better than for the kids and parents to go in on buying him the biggest, fattest iTunes gift card we can.  Until Valentines we will have a camouflage jar on the teachers desk for the kids to donate too.  This keeps the kids from thinking it is all about lovey-dovey stuff.  I strongly encouraging using any class party on helping those in the area in need.

If you have any questions about where to find anything I talked about let me know. 

Love,
Pink::

Walmart Wanderings Part 2: The Other Side

Pink :: What is The Other Side you may ask?

When we go to Walmart, Little Think always asks if we are doing the Food Side, the Other Side or Both. If we are doing the Other Side it means all the "fun" non food stuff.  That way she knows how long we are going to be in there.  She doesn't have to ask when we go on a Target Trek. She knows that is always a long visit. Gotta check out the deals on every endcap!!

Found these fun cardboard mailboxes there for $4. Bought one for each of us in the family. Going to talk about showing love everyday not just on Valentines Day and have us write notes to each other for at least a month or two about what we love about each other. Going to hang them on the walls outside our bedrooms. I think hanging them sideways with ribbon and two of those 3M removable hook thingy's will work.

Little Think has been going through Christmas withdrawls. That's way we are doing all those Reasons 2 Celebrate. But she keeps asking about when Valentines Day is so I wanted to to a quick countdown for her. But I am still recovering from all the Christmas Countdowns we had. (I think I need to stop buying them. Took us an hour everyday to do them all...)  I wanted something that would go in her room and she could do herself. Found this box of 24 plastic hearts that were kind pf cute for $5. Picked out the best 14 of them, added real ribbon and will put them in a bowl. Every morning starting the 1st she can hang one on this white IKEA tree. Simple, childproof and under $10 total. And I didn't have to make anything! Kinda nice for a change - it is actually done and ready to go. I still have a Christmas and Halloween countdown half-finished on my desk so I didn't need a Valentines one too.  They had plain red ones too that would be darling with rub on numbers and black/white check ribbon if I was doing it for me and not a six year old.

I also have been looking for an excuse for to buy this giant pompom kit. Going to hang them over my table in the kitchen for February.

Didn't buy these but I really wanted too. Striped snowcone cups! Gotta come up with a reason to get these before they are gone...

This is for Carlo and any other Eavesdropper Daisy Scout Moms. Look at this cute Martha kit for daisy necklace, pin, barrette, ring and ponytail holders. Love it. Little Think will be stylin' for her next meeting.

Will Wander again soon I'm sure :: Think

Speaking of Twinkies...

Pink :: Did you see my post last year?

This was on my personal blog last year. Thought I'd toss it on here as a reminder for you to add regular size Twinkies to your grocery list for next month. This photo is from my Idea Binders*. Not sure what magazine it's from but it was a few years ago. I do it for Little Think every year. Simple and easy. Twinkies cut on an angle with fresh raspberries and watered down seedless raspberry jam. Elevates a Twinkie to gourmet.

(Did you know the name Twinkies came from the inventor driving past a billboard for Twinkle Toe Shoe Company?)

*Idea Binders :: 3-Ring Binders that I use to store any ideas that I like. I have over 30 binders for various topics. I tear out pages from magazines, print off from the internet, etc. and put them in page protectors. Makes my addiction to magazines easier to handle. I'll have to show you my "library" someday.

2Twinkie posts in one day. Gotta be a record :: Think

What I "dig" about you!

 

Hi Think::

Valentines day is just right around the corner, that is if you are crazy and have to make all your kids Valentines yourself.  (one year I just want to buy that box for $2.99 and be done with it)

So, I thought I would share this great idea that my friend Sonja, shared with me a few years ago.  She has her girls write one special thing about each kid in their class on their Valentines.  I thought this was brilliant and is a great way to teach our kids to look for the good in others.

Then I realized that Valentines is just not for kids.  The past few years I have sent Valentines to my friends and it has made me feel so great and not focused so much on what my Valentine is doing for me but what I am doing for the ones I love.

Above is a sample card that can be made along with a little bag of treats and a plastic shovel.  Get it what I "dig" about you. 

I purchased the shovels from here(Iparty) for $.40 each, but I just saw them today at Michaels for $.59 each and they say in white lettering what "I dig about you".  Mark my words, they will sell out of these so buy them now.  Iparty sold out of these one year when I wanted to make these, so if you see them get them!!!  Here is another photo of how to package them.

So here is a few things I dig about you!

• that you stay after a movie to watch/read the credits because you like looking at fonts
• you always seem to own a pair of Mary Jane's
• your hands could model for Harry Winston
• you actually play the boxed board games with kids and not just look at them on the shelf
• your Valentine is the most important person in your life.

Happy Valentineing
Pink::

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

Pink :: Just had to add this idea to this post

One of Little Think's grandmothers send her a full size plastic toy shovel. (See them at dollar stores all the time.) She just slapped an address sticker on the shovel part and sent it straight through the mail. No box. No nothin'. I'm sure the post office loved it. She wrote the "I dig you" with a sharpie right on the shovel too. Little Think thought it was hilarious and used it in our yard until it fell apart.

I'm loving the idea to personalize your valentines too. So personal. Which is what I dig about you Pink! Your remember things about people. You get to know everything about a person which makes them feel important and loved. You have no fear of asking questions. And then you listen to the answers. You show love so easily.

I dig it :: Think

I am on a Valentines Roll

Think::

I have Valentines on my brain (even though I have not finished sending out my Christmas cards and my tree is still up) so I thought I would give you one more idea.

When you walk past all those 90% off candy canes that are the only things left on the shelf, buy some boxes.  They make great hearts to hang on string or ribbon and decorate for a school party.  The small ones are darling on cupcakes.  A friend brought me pink ones which will be perfect for Valentines - even though they were pretty perfect on my pink Christmas tree downstairs.

Also when you see the bags of Hershey Kisses buy those too.

 

Divide the green ones and put them in a ziplock bag to give to your friends on 

St. Patricks Day.  Use this poem.

Here is a wee present for you
full of luck and wishes
Celebrate this St. Patricks Day
with these Leprechaun Kisses

 

Then the Red and Silver are perfect for Valentines Day Kisses Countdown.  I will work on getting a sample made of that.

Nothing makes my heart jump more than seeing a 90% off sign.

Pink::

I am doing it!!

Dear Think::

Remember that day in May when we said, "Hey let's start a fun blog to keep in touch with each other and see if anyone else wants to hear what is inside our head."  and then we said, "We will post ideas a month in advance to give all our wonderful eavesdropping friends a chance to do them in time for each holiday."  Ha Ha - you and me Queen procrastinators.  I hope our eavesdropping friends are patient and forgiving. 
So, in case we are losing any I am giving a Valentines idea a month in advance (yea me!)
I bought this book today for Mr. Pink for Valentines Day.

What I love about you by Kate & David Marshall. Click Here

from the back of the book.....
"What I love about you offers a fresh way to say "I love you."  The questions and fill-in blanks prompt you to say what's in your heart but may not always be on the tip of your tongue.  Playful and tender, this is the perfect gift for the person in your life who makes your pulse race."

A few questions from the book...

1.  If I were making a time capsule from our time together now to open in twenty years, I'd enclose:
2.  I look at you and say "wow" because:
3.I first knew I loved you when...

I am going to work on this for the next month and give it to him for Valentines Day.

You should pick on up the next time you are at the bookstore and do one for Mr. Think - he would love it!!

Off to take my love test.
Pink::