A Great Book Series to Encourage Imgaination & Foster a love for Mystery !

Kids Book Club time!  I picked up this GREAT book series off our local area Kijiji site .. it is entitled The Boxcar Children.  I purchased 22 books for $11.00 - yes!  They were in brand new condition.

My thought was to give them to our eldest daughter .. but I wasn't really sure if she would like these series of books.  So we decided to wrap up the first book and give it to her as one of her Christmas gifts.  Much to my delight.. she LOVES them!

She has just been *eating* them up!  This is a great little fiction series that incorporates adventure, mystery and suspense!  I really do believe it is more effective to encourage your children to be excited about reading if you can find genera of books or book series that your children love.  I really like this series because it is on the cusp of Ava's reading level.  It is not too difficult that she becomes frustrated and puts the book down; but it also has enough in there to challenge her to the next reading level.  This series is geared towards grades 3 - 5. 

I've provided a link if you are interested in the books and where you can purchase them.  I encourage you to check out your local second hand stores, Kijiji type sites, Craig lists etc... you can get great prices on them if you want to stock up and acquire the entire series.

**book cover image only used for reference purposes only , not used for any type of monetary profit**

Happy Reading!

Adding Character to your Home doesn`t have to cost a lot!

I love home decorating   I love unique, simple and one of a kind things!  I THINK I have a flare for it... but I guess anyone can think otherwise ;)

I`ve made a few big changes in our home, that really did not cost much.  Our basement was a brownish colour called Sand Motif... I`ve changed it to wedding white (which I love, love, love!)  It`s my `go-to`white!   Our wood furniture in our bedroom is distressed with eggshell wedding white... and I just love it!

After visiting a friends 1800 something stone home.. I was so very inspired by all her interior black doors.  Overall her home is decorated and painted in much darker tones... but really it just goes sooo perfectly well with the style and age of her beautiful home.  I personally love the contrast of black doors and white or light walls... so I thought I could incorporate that look in our home and add loads of character.  Also, because our home is a newer build (1994)... I feel I am a bit limited in my decorating style (in a sense).  We LOVE LOVE LOVE old stone homes or Victorian homes... and we almost bought one when we moved.. but there were just some attributes that we just couldn `t get over.. i.e. no basement, smaller rooms etc. 

Regardless... the first time we viewed our home we fell in love with it and just knew it was the home for us.

Another little trick I did was paint our interior front door the same colour of red that it is painted on the exterior side.  I completed that project almost a year ago, and we really like the fun, unique way to add color to our foyer.

I`ve also had another project brewing around in my head for a GOOD few months now!  My only stumbling block what purchasing the paint that I needed!  To complete this project I needed Krylon Mirror Paint Finish... which you can only buy in the U.S. and you can not ship to Canada!  Well I was able to ship it to the UPS store in the US and my in-laws picked it up for me ;) 

I had two side tables that I purchase both for $50 probably about a year and a half ago.. but the great thing about them... what they also came with glass cut to size and the design of the top of the tables!  They were a great purchase!  So my idea was to spray paint the tops of the glass to create the mercury glass look.  We really like the finish product.  And the best part about having distressed tables and mercury looking glass tops is that they are very child friendly!!

I was pretty sure I was already in love with mercury glass... I was just only hoping that I had enough to do a `few` more projects around the house.  I had a ton of glass vases and votives that I wanted to spice up.. as well as a piece of glass that I had cut many years ago for a little table.  Here is the finish product!!!  I arranged them on a silver tray my mom gave me... and voila.. a little mercury glass treasure collection :)

It does not have to cost much or break the bank when it comes to home decorating.  I am a big believer that all you need is a vision, a can of paint, a paint brush and some time :)  

Happy Home Decorating :)  

Simple Party Ideas~!

Our daughter wanted a "girl" party... and I am here to share some very simple party ideas.  Most supplies I am sure you already have in your home.

Does a room in your home have a chalk board?  Big or small will work!  I personally LOVE chalk boards... we have one in our kitchen... and the one below is in the children's play room.  So... why not create your very own... super personalized chalk board art? 

Do you wear nail polish?  If not... check out your local dollar store and pick up some fun, bright colours that any girl would be proud to sport on their nails!  

I added a glass/crystal tray (that I just happen to have) to make this little salon a bit more upscale!

I believe that every little girl... or big girl for that matter should know they are beautiful.. outside.. ok.. yes.. but more importantly inside.  So I created this little card that each girl took home after visiting the "salon" ;)  It was fun, simple and a great take home reminder that they are treasured and loved.

 Hubby set up one of our Rubbermaid tables, and I dressed it up with a pair of cream table clothes (that I own).... laid some steamers  and topped the table off with a long piece of craft paper.

 

I picked up these little babies at Micheal's Craft. I like them because they went with the ballerina theme and they were actually $1.00.  Not $1.25 which is what they would be priced at most dollar stores (hmmm go figure!)  

There are the loot bags that I made for the girls.  Simply 12 x 12 scrapbook paper rolled into a cone shape.  The ribbon I picked up at the dollar store and only need I roll.  

 These ones I made for the boys that came towards the end of the party to enjoy some birthday cake ;)

  And this is what I included in the "cone" loot bags.  I can't even tell you how inexpensive... yet very unique and fun these contents were.  I made the play dough. 

There you have it.  What I think was a super cute, pretty put together little girl party that everyone seemly had a fun time ;)

Happy 5th Birthday Grace!

Five Years.

Moving to quickly.

Trying to savor every moment.

The Good.

The Bad.

The ones that make me laugh.

and..

The ones that make me cry.

I don't know why... but I am thankful that I have been blessed

to be the mother of all my children.

Happy Fifth Birthday Grace.  I love you so very much.

xo