Make Your Own Candy Dish!

"A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous."

- Ingrid Bergman

'Tis the month of love. It is time to be shot by a little winged, baby like creature who slings a bow and arrow with a heart shaped tip! You may or may not have a sweetheart, but you can always treat yourself to sweets. And you can also find someone else who may benefit from the blessing of a secret admirer.Consider containing your sweets in this little candy dish!

I made this little candy dish right before Christmas. I filled it up with small ornaments. But with the change of the season and a wave of my magic wand, it has now become a Valentine's Day Candy Dish. I love decor that can do double duty.

To make this jar, you will need:
An old jar. This one happens to be an old pickle jar that was expertly cleaned. I have also made them with Mason Jars and other dollar store vases.
A glass candlestick from the dollar store
A can of  Spray Paint. I used Krylon semi-gloss (the one with primer in it covers better using less paint.) Or any kind of spray paint, my friend only buys dollar store spray paint and she loves it.
E6000 Glue - or any other glue that works on glass. You can find it at Walmart.
Ribbon to garnish
Candy to eat

The Paint and the glue will be your biggest expenses, but hopefully you can use them for future projects.

Instructions:
On a protected surface, spray the candlestick and the jar lid. This may recover multiple coats. Allow each coat to dry in between. ( I know, that is the hardest part for me, too) When desired paint coverage is achieved, read glue instructions and adhere the jar to the candlestick, making sure jar is centered. Allow glue to dry completely.

Fill with Candy. Display at your home. Make one to leave on someone's doorstep.

Check these out too!
Ten Valentine's Day Crafts!
Three Yummy Valentine's Day Treats!

Happy Crafting!
XOXO,
 Amy

Ten Valentine's Day Crafts!!

 For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.

-Judy Garland

My house does not boast of Valentine's Day decor, but I do love a good craft. If you feel the need to add a little festive love decor to your humble abode, check out these crafts . . .

 First off,  from Amy's Craft Bucket,  here are three kid friendly crafts I made last year. The crayons were especially a favorite of my kids! And the decorative plate can be customized for any season.

Be Mine Goodie Bags From Parents.com

http://www.parents.com/holiday/valentines-day/crafts/valentine-crafts-recipes/?page=7&ordersrc=rdparents1103166

Love Letter Blocks from Stories by me

http://storiesbymeblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/letter-blocks.html

 

Button heart art from Mama’s Crafty place

http://mamascraftyplace.blogspot.com/2012/02/button-art-heart.html

Valentine’s Day String Art by Make Grow Gather

http://makegrowgather.com/posts/2011/2/10/valentines-day-string-art.html

Candle in a Bottle from “I Love This”

http://ilovethisandthat.blogspot.com/2012/01/candle-in-bottle.html

From Dollar Store Crafts, A Valentine’s Day Gumball Machine

http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2012/01/make-a-valentines-day-gumball-machine/

 

From The Anderson Crew, Valentine’s Day Mailboxes

http://andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com/2011/02/emily-did-something-crafty-holla.html

So Cute! Might make me want to think about decorating a little more for good ol' V-day after all!
Happy Crafting!
XOXO, 
Amy

Three Yummy Valentine's Day Treats!

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." 

 - Lao Tzu

Love will soon join the winter chill in the air. I don't usually decorate for Valentine's day because quite frankly, after Christmas, I am tired of decorating. I usually just have a little something here and there that act as a tiny clue announcing the holiday. I do however love making little treats to win over the hearts of my house hold brood. Here are three cute little treats I thought I would share with you. Enjoy!

Reeses Peanut Butter Cookies from I heart Nap Time

http://www.iheartnaptime.net/reeses-peanut-butter-cookies/

Don't these look so yummy! I am a sucker for anything chocolate and Peanut Butter!

 Cupid's Arrow Cupcake from Bakerella.com

http://www.bakerella.com/cupids-arrow-cupcakes/

How adorable are these?!

Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwiches from Recipe.com

http://www.recipe.com/strawberry-sandwiches/

These look so cute! What a fun treat!

Happy Valentine's Day!  I hope you make something yummy!

XOXO,
 Amy

Finding the Right Fit: A Search For the Perfect Pait of Jeans

Skinny, Relaxed, Boot Cut, Straight leg, Hipster . . . . mama mia, there are so many types of jeans.  There is nothing more comfortable than an old, worn pair of jeans that fit you like they were custom designed to fit your body. And there is nothing more elusive than finding said pair.

 Because I have been pregnant four times, I have been every size from 5 to  . . . well pregnant. Finding the right pair of jeans has been increasingly difficult since baby number 4. I am not proud to admit that my body has changed for the worse, but I know somewhere the perfect pair of jeans is out there waiting for me. A pair that will hug my curves, flatter my body and hide my crack when I bend over to pick up a dropped toy. (Remember: Just say no to crack)

I came across this article that simply put, is a must read. I am serious. You MUST read this article.
This is the link that will change your life! Ready . . . . HERE it is! It is written by Rachel of "Grasping for Objectivity in My Subjective Life" and is entitled,

Mom Jeans and the Dreaded “Long Butt”  

Rachel will entertain you with her clever wit and astounding research, but most of all with the vast amount of pictures of improperly and properly dressed rear ends. She has since written several articles all related to the denim world and all of them are well worth the read and will aid you on the journey to find the perfect fitting jeans.  

I read her second article, a about finding jeans when you are over 50,  to my mom while we were visiting her over the Christmas break. We were sitting at the kitchen table near the laundry room. We laughed so hard that we didn't even hear the washing machine (which empties into the utility sink) over flow and only noticed that it had when our feet began to feel the dampness of the flood. It required an hour and a half of clean up.   

Read the article and then let me know if you have an overwhelming desire to hit the stores near you to refit your rear.

xoxo,

 Amy

Easy Taco Soup!

This is one of my  hubby's most requested meals . . . Taco Soup! It is packed with yummy goodness. I first had it while I was pregnant with my number three child. I had just entered into my second trimester and was starting to enjoy food again. I had this meal at a good friend's house:) This would also be a great recovery meal after a hard workout!

To Cook Soup:
1 lb ground Beef (or ground turkey)
4 cans of your favorite beans (red, kidney, garbanzo, black) do not drain
1 can diced tomatoes (or dice your own fresh tomato)
1 can water
1 packet Taco Seasoning

Top with:
Shredded Cheese
Sour Cream
Tortilla Chips or Fritos

Brown meat in skillet. Drain. While meat is browning add other ingredients (not toppings) into a pot. cook on med high heat. Add meat once browned. Once meat is cooked it really is just a matter of heating the other ingredients until heated thru. Once meat is in the pot, simmer  5- 10 minutes more. Enjoy
Healthy without the toppings . . . . not so much after . . .:)

 XOXO,
Amy

DIY: New Year's Resolution Journal- Fast, Easy, Cheap!

 

I was spending the night at a friend's house across the street from my house for New Year's Eve. I was eight years old. I remember sitting around her small round kitchen table with her mom and dad and brother. This is my earliest memory of making a New Year's Resolution. I haven't the foggiest idea of what my resolution was at that tender age. Nor do I remember any of my  resolutions from any of the other years . . . except last year. Why . . . because I finally wrote it down. Along with the rest of my family's

Last New Year's Eve we sat around my tall, square kitchen table and talked about resolutions and goals. We didn't go into too much detail since we have four small children, just enough to give them the general  idea.

It is so fun to look back on the things my kids said . . .here is a small taste of what was recorded:

 Husband: Read all of the scriptures before 2013

Me: Excersice at least 3 times a week

Finish Book of Mormon

Read Ensign each month

Cambria (8) : Go to Hawaii and play volleyball for a year

Kiera (6): Do fireworks every New Year!

Malachi (4) Do fireworks every New "Thor's" (he was and still is way into Superheroes)

Raia (1): To learn how to walk

To turn Two Years old!

As you can see they range from frivolous to serious. Now we can look back and see what we actually were able to do!

 Husband: Read all of the scriptures before 2013 (incomplete)

Me: Excersice at least 3 times a week (complete- until I tore my ACL, that is)

Finish Book of Mormon (incomplete)

Read Ensign each month (incomplete)

Cambria (8) : Go to Hawaii and play volleyball for a year (incomplete)

Kiera (6): Do fireworks every New Year! (Complete??)

Malachi (4) Do fireworks every New "Thor's" (he was and still is way into Superheroes) (Complete??)

Raia (1): To learn how to walk (complete)

To turn Two Years old! (complete)

You can see that some of us did better than others!!! I like the idea of using a notebook because all the pages stay together. There are no loose papers to loose. Plus I was done in 20 minutes. Just enough time to make sure the glue was all the way dry.

To make your own New Year's Resolution Journal You will need:

One Composition Notebook

Scrapbook Paper

A ribbon

Mod Podge

Cut down scrapbook paper to size, glue it to the cover of your composition book, add ribbon or any other embellishments you desire . . .then record your resolutions!

 How dun this will be to look back on every year!!!

I can't wait to see what my kids come up with this year!!

 Happy New Year!! May 2013 Be YOUR year!

XOXO, Amy

Ten Neighbor or Teacher Gift Ideas: Revisited

With winter break in full swing all of my little ones and my hubby are home for the holidays!Before I go on my own little Christmas break from blogging, I wanted to share with you what I posted on my cousin-in-law, Heidi's blog. Just in case you didn't go a lookin' I also included three more ideas that I found via Pinterest, so that if you already did visit Honeybear Lane you wouldn't feel like you looked at my blog for nothing!:)

But First . . .

This little Sucker got deleted from the bottom . . . I know, how totally unprofessional to start with number 6!

6. Here Is What You Give: Hot Chocolate Mix
Here Is What You Say: "When Your Hands and Nose Get Cold and You Need A Warm Thing You Can Hold, Look No Farther Than This Jar. It Has Been Filled With Love, By Friends So True, With Sweetness Made Just for You. To Us Your Friendship Is A Gift That Always Gives Our Hearts A Lift! Merry Christmas! "

NOW . . . the new

From splitcoaststampers.com

From love-the-day.com



From room-mom101.blogspot.com

Now, this is what I wrote for Heidi . . . it starts in the middle . . .

Now For The CUTE Stuff! You may have seen something like this already this season, but I really wanted to do a post that featured ideas for Neighbor Gifts this Christmas! So here are 7 ideas and some original short poems that you are free to use! (P.S. I tried to stay low budget- there are so many cute and clever things you can do, but I was trying ideas that were easy on the budget:)

1. Here's What You Give: Wafer cookies:
Here's What You Say: “Wafer” Not, But Let Your Faith Abound In Christ and Let Your Soul Delight In the True Meaning of The Season! Merry Christmas!”

2.Here Is What You Give:Sparkling Cider
Here Is What You Say: Like the Stars That “Sparkle” in the Night, Friends Like You Bring Our Soul Delight. When the “Sparkling” lights come down and no longer on our rooftop found, Friends Like You Bring Lasting Cheer and Make our Hearts “Sparkle” the Rest of the Year! Merry Christmas!

3. Here Is What You Give: Pop Corn

Here Is What You Say: Friends Like You Make the Holiday Season “Pop” With Joy! Or"We "Popped" On Over To Give You This Treat Because We Think You Are Really Neat. At Christmastime You're A Gift Times Ten And We Feel Really Lucky To Call You A Friend."

You could also just wrap a bag of pop corn . . . I just thought it looked cuter in the jar for picture's sake:)

4. Here Is What You Give: A Strand of Christmas Lights

Here Is What You Say: “Shepard's Kept Their Watch By Night and Saw a New Star Burning Bright. Angels Sang and Greetings Gave And Invited All To See the Babe” May The Light Of Christ Fill your Hearts This Holiday Season!

5. Here Is What You Give: A Christmas Star

Here Is What You Say: “Star Light, Star Bright, A Brand New Star I See Tonight, Bathes the World In precious Light and Hails A Baby's Birth Tonight” May the Light of Our Savior Bring You Peace and Joy This Holiday Season!

6. Here's What You Give: Fishy Crackers or Swedish Fish

Okay, this is not an original poem, but Here Is What You Say: "We Fish You A Merry Christmas, We Fish You A Merry Christmas, We Fish You A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!"

So, there you have it! I hope you like some of these cute and affordable ideas!

I hope your Christmas is merry and filled with joy!

xoxo, Amy

Throw An Ugly Sweater Christmas Party: Revisited

Revisited (I have been too busy for new stuff . . . Merry Christmas! (new Game ideas at bottom)

I won't argue, I know we look good! My sweater even won an award:)

I should so be a fashion blogger:)

Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties are so much fun! You can make your own sweater or go to a thrift store or ask your Aunt May to borrow one of her sweaters. Just a warning however: When you ask to borrow Aunt May's sweater, don't tell her you need and "ugly" Christmas sweater, tell her you need an extremely "festive" Christmas sweater:) That way you will still have peace in the family.

So this is what you do:
Invite your guests and tell them it is a pot luck party.
Go in search of the perfect Holiday sweater (or make your own- it is way more fun)
Have a prize for the ugliest male and female sweat.
Prize should be simple, like a glow stick left over from Halloween (don't break the bank on a prize)
Have a white *Elephant gift exchange (something you don't ever use that is laying around your house or a dollar store item.
Enjoy food and Company!

*White Elephant Gift Exchange Rules:
Place all white elephant gifts in a central location.
Have two to four plastic cups (depending on how many guests you have) Each cup should contain a pair of dice. Pick a number like three. Every time someone roles doubles of the number three they get to choose one of the white elephant gifts. The cups with dice should be moving constantly around the guests. The next person who roles doubles can choose to take a new gift from gift location or steal from someone who already has a gift. It is best to set a time limit like 5-8 minutes depending on the crowd you have invited.


** Another great party game is Catch-phrase because it doesn't matter how big or small your group is everyone can play. edit: If you wanna get really crazy add some "Minute To Win It" Games!

2012 EDIT: Here are two sites for fun party games, Minute to Win it Games Style! Sorry, no pictures, but the sites have multiple games on them and are worth your time if you are looking for out of the box ideas.
From:

*Parties 4 Me!

*Invite and Delight

There you go, simple, easy, fun!

Happy Party,
xoxo,
Amy

Kid's Craft: Halloween Eyeball Wreath

In case you missed it . . . this is what I posted for the wonderful blog called, Honeybear Lane:


Today I want to show you how to make this "spooktacular" (yep, I went there!)  eyeball wreath with your kiddos! (I have to admit, even I got addicted to gluing eyeballs in place!)

Here's it is:

 What you will need:
Wreath form: I used a toy inner tube, but a foam pipe insulator would be perfect (Home Depot, Lowe's Ace)
googly eyeballs
black ribbon or scrap fabric (double the length of your wreath form)
Ribbon in orange to hang the wreath
black tulle (optional)
Elmer's Glue/ Tacky Glue or Hot Glue- any will work
Paint brushes (I used q-tips and poured the glue out on a piece of foil for the kids to dip)
Two Straight pins

 This is the foam pipe insulation that I referred to above. Form it into a circle with the slit on the outside and tape together.

Choose a starting point on your wreath and pin your fabric or ribbon into the foam. Wrap your fabric around the wreath form and pin in place.

 It should look like this so far . . .

 I wrapped a small piece of foil at the top of my wreath so that the kids wouldn't glue any eyeballs there because that is where the ribbon will be placed.

 As you can see we didn't dress up for this craft session . . .These are pictures of the kiddies, totally engrossed.

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 We added all the eyeballs we had at the time. Then I went to the store and added more. I also added a bit of ribbon to hang the wreath and a little black tulle to add texture.

Super easy and fun! I did this with my 5, 7 and 9 year old. They all loved it! Hope your little ones do too!

As always, It has been a pleasure!
Happy Crafting!
-Amy

Edible Kid's Halloween Craft: Monster Popcorn Hands!

 Time to celebrate the season by making spooky monster hands!You only need three things to make this treat!

 Grab your favorite little helpers and these items:

 Popcorn - Candy Corn - Vinyl Gloves

 Super easy . . . pop pop corn and let cool, pass out gloves, put some candy corn inside and have the kiddos shake them down . . . two or three may gather in the same finger hole, so space evenly.

 It should look like this: (love that smile)

 and that one too . . .

 Then add popcorn and shake it down into the finger holes as well. You might have to do a little crunching to get it to fit. Don't worry, it will be okay. Tie the top in a not or close it off with a bread tie.

 Enjoy . . .

 and be a little silly . .

Happy Halloween and
Happy Crafting!
XOXO,
 Amy