My son is finally old enough to appreciate dying Easter eggs. We only dyed 10 eggs (2 of the doze cracked while boiling, 1 cracked when my daughter dropped it!) but we had fun. I even found Christian stickers to apply when they dried! My son did not quite understand why we had to wait for the Easter Bunny- he asked three or four times today if it was Christmas Eve. We did explain that Easter is not about the Easter Bunny, but about Jesus dying and coming back. My son asked if he got all better? Did he go to the doctor? Did he see his Daddy? Great questions to explain the real meaning, even though the Easter Eggs are fun.

Who needs toys?!

Today, we got home from the store and had bought a large package of toilet paper. We were busy getting ready to die eggs and putting together the $10.90 Radio Flyer rocking house I got at Toys R Us (such a deal!) and my daughter had gone outside to play. Instead of playing with the toys we actually have purchased to play with, she took the toilet paper outside to play with. It doesn't matter what you buy, they will always like the box better- right?

Do you wear the right bra?

So many of us do not wear the right bra and so many of us need to. I was watching Oprah one time with the bra specialist on the show and she was explaining how many women try to fit themselves into the standard A,B,C fit of bras when they could be a J,H, or DDDD! I never heard of such sizes! So we all need to remeasure! With pregnancy, weight gain, weight loss, age, and gravity, it is likely you are not the size you were in high school. This site, Bare Necessities, has a great explanation of how to measure yourself for a bra and tells you all about the bra types (and even panty types of those interested). (Look at the very bottom that says Fit Tips). I think it even has men's underwear! They even have Spanx bras and hosiery!. And of course, my favorite, online shopping from home!
Spring Savings - Promotions and Specials at BareNecessities.com
Spanx Bra-llelujah Bra

The cuteset store!

I have found the cutest store for personalized gifts for babies and children as well as personalized room decor and other cute things. It is called My Bambino. I do a lot of internet shopping and have never found such a variety of personalized gifts to give to children of all ages. You have got to check this one out!

Send Out Cards

I am involved in a few different companies that are direct sales, network marketing, multilevel marketing. I will tell you a little about some of them over the next few days. The first one is one of the greatest and most beneficial for moms. Send Out Cards allows you to send a REAL greeting card right from your computer. It is not an e-card, a real card that you add your personal information and greeting to, and is mailed with a real stamp. You enter your friends and family's names, addresses, birthdays, and anniversaries, and it even send a reminder email to you to send the card. The cards are great quality and at the highest price will cost you less that $1.50 with postage. If you want to get fancy, you can add your own pictures to the inside of the card, or upgrade to make your pictures the face of the card. If you want to give it a try, contact me and I will set you up with two free cards. FREE as in your send them for free- I know you will love it and want to set up your own account. And, to send cards, there are no sign up fees or monthly requirements. If you want to do it as a business, I can give you more information. It may not be for you, but to work from your computer sending positive, warm thoughts to friends and family... there is nothing better!

Instant Pancake Mix

We love pancakes in our house but I hate buying the pre-made stuff. I found this recipe for instant pancake mix from Alton Brown on The Food Network. You mix it up and store it in the fridge, just like the pre-made. It taste great and is easy to do. I don't usually have buttermilk, so I use milk, but it does taste better with buttermilk.

A neat craft idea from my friend Lisa.

My friend Lisa sent this to me today...
The homemade chalk worked today! If you are interested in doing this with your kids......


Take a plastic easter egg and coat the inside with vaseline. I also tried Pam and it did not separate as easily.

Mix about two parts plaster of paris to 1 part water. Kids can do this in a plastic cup with a plastic spoon. Otherwise use something disposable - trust me you want to throw it all away in the end. I bought a bowl and wooden spoon at the habitat place for 75 cents! To color the mix add a few tablespoons of paint. Online it says tempera paint. I used acrylic and it worked fine. You get a pastel color. Mix it all up and then start filling both sides of the eggs. Pack it in so there are no air bubbles. put the two halves together. Tap it a bit to make it stick together and let it sit for they say 24 hours. I opened my first one in about 8 hours and it did come out. After you get it out it needs to sit for awhile to dry some more. It still feels damp. You can mix colors - like one half yellow one half green. A chemical reaction happens so let your kids feel the eggs after a little while they will be very warm. DOon't pour any of this down the drain it will harden and clog your pipes.


For regular chalk shapes they say online to: put duct tape on the end of a toilet paper roll. Line the inside with a piece of wax paper and fill it.

I found you either have to twist the plastic egg off or tap it with a knife and the plastic egg will crack then you can get it off.

Eli's class had fun doing this. Slightly messy but good fun - I suggest filling outside in the yard :) We did it at the school patio tables with some banner paper down. Then just hose off your kids!

If your really into this one website has you crush eggshells for the powder! I can't imagine how many eggs you'd have to crush to do this!!!

Love
Lisa

For more egg activities visit ChildFun Family

A one year anniversary!

Yesterday was a very special day. It was the one year anniversary of my husband's kidney transplant. And for those that don't know me, my mom gave my husband a kidney! He has had a wonderful year without any problems or complications. He and my mom recovered well, although he was out and about in a week and she took a few more weeks to feel somewhat normal. The whole story is amazing, with the most amazing being that Rick and I were a blind date, my mom could not stand him at first, but grew to love him. She was the first to get tested for compatibility and matched. She was 54 when she donated. Rick has polycystic kidney disease which make the kidneys grow with cyst that take over the kidney function. He had his transplant at Lifelink in Tampa, Florida. He continues to have doctor's visits and blood drawn, but other than that, you would never know- unless you knew him before and he looks so much better now! If you are ever confronted with a relative or friend in need of a kidney transplant, don't let fear stop you from being tested. A person needing a kidney transplant can wait for years. Check her for the Living Donor FAQ. As of today at 9:55 pm, there are over 95,816 people waiting for transplants. You also find info on being a donor at http://organdonor.gov/.
And, by the way, PKD is a genetic condition and fairly common. My kids could both have, and I pray that they don't. But I will be ready to hand over a kidney if the time comes!