Friday 27 February 2015

DIY Elsa Pinata


My daughter is turning 5 in March and she wants a Frozen party. I am excited to begin my decor and make her party memorable because party planning, DIY, and decor are some of my favorite things. First I knew she wanted a pinata, I am not going to spend $25 on a piece of cardboard the kids are going to smash open anyways. So I went on and created my very own Elsa pinata. Here's how:


Take a cardboard box and make a pyramid out of it. You can use hot glue or tape to secure it, you are also going to be using glue to hold the tissue paper on top, so it will have a strong hold eventually.


Next begin making small slits in your tissue paper roughly an inch apart but do any size you like. You then need to cut strips about an inch above where the slits stop.


Start from the bottom and work your way up pasting the strips all the way around the pyramid, overlapping as you go. 


When your finished you will have something like this to be her dress. Mine is not quite complete yet I had to order some blue tulle to be her cape and some snowflake stickers to place all around her dress but other then that this is the hardest part. 


I'm not one to brag but I am a bit of an artist so I decided to draw my own Elsa for her pinata top.You can easily just print one and glue it some some cardboard so it works. I drew mine on a white cardboard box and then colored it and cut it out. 


That will be your top of the pinata you just glue to the top after you fill it with candy. 


And that's it. This beautiful pinata that is going to be smashed to bits cost me exactly $3.50 for the tissue paper, tulle (not shown), and snowflake stickers (not shown).

Wednesday 25 February 2015

Simple and Cheap Dinners


Finding meals that are cost efficient, simple, and delicious can be a very challenging aspect of any persons life. With the rising cost of food this can become even more challenging. I have compiled a list of super frugal meals that are fast and tasty!The great thing about these meals is you can easily double them or add and remove items to suit yours and your families needs!
These meals are all so simple, and can be prepped and frozen in advance so you can pop them in your freezer, slow cooker or oven when you’re ready. Add a simple loaf of garlic bread, side salad, and a tall glass of milk and you have some frugal fillers!

Friday 20 February 2015

Clip Clops Review & Giveaway!


Teaching your kids to put their shoes on the right feet takes a lot of patience and a ton of reminders, for some reason they just can't feel that uncomfortable curve in their shoes that we as adults can feel instantly when we slip into our shoes. That being said having my kids be able to put on their own shoes on the right feet is a real time saver as well. When I am getting 6 or 7 kids ready to go outside it can take a good 10 minutes to make sure everyone is properly dressed but with Clip Clops I can actually save a few of those minutes, and trust me every minute counts!

What are Clip Clops exactly? They are adorable little shoe accessories that have a meaning or purpose. Next to being stylish they help direct which shoe goes where. For more information I suggest you watch this video:

 
And then this one:


Now that you know what these amazing little products do it is time for you to order your own here! Or enter to win 5 pairs of Clip Clops right here!

Thursday 19 February 2015

Are Multivitamins A Waste of Money?


The other day I went in the cupboard and found I was out of multivitamins for the kids, as well as a few of my choice supplements. As I sat there staring at the bottles I realized I didn't know very much about the very things we were putting in our bodies everyday, the only reason we ever take them is because we are told from birth that vitamins are good for you. So what exactly do these so called "healthy supplements" do for you?

Well lets start by saying multivitamins are great if you are in need of them, say you have a B12 deficiency or are lacking Vitamin D then yes by all means take those vitamins but when a healthy person who is not lacking takes multivitamins filled with an alphabet arsenal you are just pumping your body full of excess. The best way for a person to get vitamins is through what they eat, not only is the source of the vitamin natural this way but the body absorbs what it needs naturally. Our bodies actually only absorb a fraction of what they receive and the rest is simply passed on as waste. More on absorption here. It is easy to see which foods will provide you with which vitamins using these:


Did you know that most vitamins and supplements are synthetic, almost 95% actually. That means they are chemically produced instead of being made from natural resources. You can read more about the difference between natural and synthetic vitamins here!

As I look back at all the money I have wasted buying all of these vitamins and supplements I realize I am so happy I could write about my findings to share with others who are wasting their money and quite possibly harming their bodies instead of doing any good. Here is a great read on the findings of what these multivitamins could be doing to you. Read it here!

Tuesday 17 February 2015

How To Survive A House Full Of Coughing, Snotting, Fever Struck Kids


This is the arsenal I have been equipped with during the past 3 weeks of this nasty cold that has spread through our community like wildfire. There is a terrible cold attacking all of these young kids where they are continuously hacking to the point of throwing up. But do not fear it is just a viral sickness and mother nature will surely kick it to the curb in due time, but how in the world do you get through the constant hacking, snotting, fever, etc.? I will tell you, besides patience here is all the information you need to know. 

Do not jump to the conclusion that your child has pneumonia unless your child is having trouble breathing, is vomiting, dizzy, has a frequent headache, a stiff neck,  as well as a fever over 104 degrees Fahrenheit. More symptoms here! There are two kinds of pneumonia, the viral kind where the doctor simply tells you to take the child home give them plenty of fluids, rest and some pain relievers. It will run its course and be done. Then there is bacterial pneumonia which is the worst of the two. Bacterial pneumonia can cause your child intense pain, high fever, and extreme trouble breathing. If your child has a blueish grey color around the lips or fingernails seek help immediately. This is caused from lack of oxygen.

Teach kids to cover their mouths and wash their hands. Kids these days seem to pick stuff up quite easily if they see it on a video so try showing them one of these: 

Teaching kids to wash their hands after they blow their noses, sneeze, use the bathroom and much more is a challenge. I found the if I made a sign for the kids that showed a picture of hands being washed and explained to them what it was there for, they forgot a lot less. If you aren't artistic enough to draw a picture you can find a few printables here:
Patience is key when dealing with a house crawling with sick kids. Medicate when necessary to keep your children comfortable and there are also essential oils some people swear by when there is an illness in the family. Read more here:
 Here is a neat guide on how to make your own essential oils as an added bit of information. Make your own Essential Oils!

Thursday 12 February 2015

DIY Valentine's Warm Packs


Valentine's Day is closing in fast and I just completed my gifts for all the kids. I decided to make warm packs for all the small ones in my life because at their age growing pains can cause long sleepless nights. If I can create a soothing bit of relief for them I am most definitely going to do it.


Making them is super simple, all you need is some fabric, lentils, and essential oil if you like. I hear Lavender is a great essential oil for sleepy time. Other essential oils that are great for a good nights sleep are:
  • Vetiver
  • Chamomile
  • Ylang Ylang
  • Bergamot
  • Sandalwood
  • Marjoram
Simply add a couple drops of oil to your lentils before completely sealing the warm pack and each time you place it in the microwave it will activate the essential oil and help your little one get some rest. I warm our packs up for 2 minutes in the microwave, be careful and check the temperature after warming yours because microwave ovens are all different. 

Monday 9 February 2015

Sore Throat Popsicles - Soothing Tropical Pops



My kids have gotten a cold over the past couple days with snotty noses and sore throats. Being a true DIY'er I knew I had to whip up a healthy delicious treat to soothe their sore throats. I call these Soothing Tropical Pops! Catchy right? 

Soothing Tropical Pops

1 cup Chopped Fresh Pineapple (canned works to)
1 cup Fresh or Frozen Peaches 
2 Tbsp Honey
1 Tbsp Coconut Oil
1 Cup Milk 
1 Cup Vanilla or Plain Yogurt

1. Simply pour your milk, yogurt, peaches, and pineapple in the blender. Blend until well combined and fruit is no longer chunky.

2. Pour your honey and coconut oil in a microwave safe cup or bowl and pop it in the microwave for 35 seconds or more depending on how powerful your microwave is. The ingredients need to be melted and combined before hitting the blender or they will not combine properly with the cold ingredients.

3. After adding the honey and oil mixture to the blender pulse until the mixture is smooth, no lumps. Pour the mix into popsicle molds and freeze. Give to your little ones as needed. 

Sunday 8 February 2015

Homemade Detangler Spray


My daughter absolutely hates getting her hair brushed. She fights with me every time and then screams bloody murder if the brush snags even a bit. She has blonde curly hair that gets super knotty very quickly. I have promised to get her a spray to help with the knots so our hair brushing moments won't be so dramatic and then I realized, as a homesteader who wishes to be self sufficient I am not going to buy anything I can make myself.

Detangling spray is actually quite simple and some people will simply use just conditioner and water. I tried that and her hair became greasy, I can't let her have greasy hair. So I began experimenting with what I had on hand. I tried multiple conditioners and a few different oils until I found the right ones. It turns out Pantene Pro V Ultimate 10 BB Creme and coconut oil are the perfect combination.

Detangling Spray Recipe

2 cups Boiling Water
5 Tbsp Pantene Pro V BB Creme
2 Tbsp Melted Coconut Oil

1. Begin by adding your 2 cups of water in a small saucepan and heat until boiling. Take the water off the burner and set aside. Add the coconut oil and mix until completely dissolved.

2. Stir in the Pantene Pro V BB Creme with a whisk to ensure it is well combined. Let cool to room temperature and then pour into spray bottles.

Such a simple recipe and works amazingly. If your hair is already slightly greasy you can add water to the mixture to dilute so it doesn't add to the grease, other then that for normal hair it doesn't seem to get greasy at all. Not only that but the BB Creme and Coconut Oil are amazing for your hair! Get the facts here!


Wednesday 4 February 2015

The COVERPLUG™ Review and Giveaway


Safety is always a big concern when raising little ones, it would seem they can turn almost anything into a hazard. The most dangerous and easily accessible is electricity provided by those lovely outlets that are placed right at baby level. There are lots of different products that you can use to cover them but this one seems to be the easiest and most effective.

COVERPLUG™ covers the entire outlet as opposed to a small clip that only covers a portion. Believe it or not there are babies determined enough to pick those ones off, I have seen it done by my own child. The Coverplug keeps little fingers safe and small objects out by covering the entire unit tightly and securely.


The COVERPLUG™ is a durable, molded, and paintable plastic panel that plugs right into an electrical socket to cover the entire outlet. This innovative outlet cover is held securely in place by posts on the back that align with the ground openings and require no tools for installation or removal. They use a specially designed plastic that is easily paintable to match your wall color. The COVERPLUG™ is an excellent child proofing product.  The COVERPLUGS plugs into standard grounded double outlets found in Canada and the United States.
The COVERPLUG™ serves two main functions: 

Creates a physical and visual barrier between your family and electrical outlets. 

Covers unsightly outlets and makes them virtually disappear!

For a safer home and seamless walls, the COVERPLUG™ is the only option! Visit www.coverplug.com to order yours!

If you want to give COVERPLUG™ a try then enter to win a pack of them below!