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Mophie Juice Pack Giveaway

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mophie juice pack powerstation

Recently I was very blessed to receive the opportunity to attend a gathering of bloggers at Verion’s headquarters recently! We were there to learn what great things Verizon is doing and to give them feedback. They blessed us with some great gifts while we were there. One is my brand new Samsung Galaxy S4 along with some cases. They also gave me a Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation and they gave me an extra to give to one of my fabulous readers!!!

(Continue reading and go to the giveaway page at Geek for the Real Girl!)

As Seen on TV, Crafting, Holidays, Homeschoooling

Kid Friendly 4th of July Wreath

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Kid Friendly 4th of July Wreath

This should come as no surprise but, I am not super crafty. I see all these very cute projects on Pinterest but I have not the time nor the talent to attack them. But my kids love to craft and want to spend time with me so I look for cute projects that they can so with me. I saw something similar to this in an All You magazine (last year, maybe) and I tweaked it to a project that I did with my 2 oldest kids!!!

All you need:

Wreath form (the nicer it is the less you have to cover it)
5-7 pieces of 12×12 scrapbook paper (depending on how many patterns you want)
Chip board stars
Ribbon
Glue sticks or tape runner
Hot Glue gun
Paper cutter
Ruler (optional)

4thwreathstepsProcess:
Cut the 12×12 sheets in half. Cut 1 half into 4×6 pieces and the other into 3×6 pieces. Then take 3 pieces of matching paper (both in size and pattern) and do a 1/2 inch accordion fold in each one. I give the kids a ruler and a Pampered Chef scraper to use;). You can also use a bone folder to sharpen the folds.

Take 1 piece that has been folded and fold it in half lengthwise so it looks like a fan. Glue it that way with either the glue stick or tape runner. Take 3 matching fans and glue them together to make a rosette. Do this for as many rosettes as you would like.

Wrap your wreath form in ribbon. You can cover it or do like I did so that you can see the form underneath. I didn’t have a lot of the blue ribbon so I used a second for the red and white. Do it how ever you want. I secured the ribbon with straight pins but you could also glue it onto the form.

Take your small rosettes and hot glue your stars onto the centers. You could probably do it last but I find this easier.

Start arranging your rosettes on the form. You can cover it but my kids didn’t want to make that many rosettes;). I made a point to try to randomize the colors and patterns. Then hot glue it all down. Make sure to leave your wreath flat until the glue cools!

Then my daughter wanted a bow on the wreath. So I just took the extra ribbon and tied a bow to her finger and hot glued it on.

Seriously, that is it. The only thing I specifically bought for this project was the wreath form which we can use again. Everything else is crafting extras that I had in my cabinet from various projects I was going to someday do.

And now we have a super cute wreath that the kids got to help make!!!

Contesting Monday

Contesting Monday 7/1

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So here is the deal. If you are hosting a giveaway or have a post about someone’s giveaway just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, list it again! Also your link must be to something family friendly or it will be deleted.

Before you head out to enter all the fabulous giveaways make sure to enter my giveaway!!! I am giving away a Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation over on Geek for the Real Girl!

So now you need to add your giveaways and go enter some giveaways! Let them know that Contesting Monday sent you! Make sure you pop back later this week for a giveaway of my own!!!

As Seen on TV, Smart Living Strategies

Plan for Moving Out When You Move In

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERASummer is the time people move into apartments. Be it a college student or families, everyone wants to get settled before school begins. In the rush to move and get settled, are you protecting yourself and your security deposit? The security deposit is that money you put up front to assure the condition of your apartment when you leave. The apartment complex can charge for any repairs or cleaning that needs to happen beyond normal wear and tear in order to get the apartment back to the state it was in when you moved in. But it isn’t hard but it does take a little forethought to get back as much as possible!

1)Get a file folder and put everything pertaining to your apartment in it!
2)Ask how long the apartment complex goes between painting and carpet cleaning. When was the last time it was done in the apartment you are moving into?
3) Schedule a pre-move in walk through. Make a note of all damage and wearing. Even make a note if the oven is clean. Your job is to give it back in the same condition minus and normal wear and tear.
4)Before you turn in your notice or move out: Make sure to ask the complex to fix anything that needs it, even if it isn’t a big deal to you to ignore it! That chipped tile, screen that won’t stay in… All that could count later against your security deposit but would be fixed for free during your residency but they will fix it for free and without question while you are living there.
5) After you move out all your stuff and clean your apartment schedule a walk through! Together note anything that needs fixing (or doesn’t). Then ask for a copy of that when you leave.
6) With in about a month (each complex has a different amount of time but at least 21 days) you should receive a check with your remaining security deposit and an itemized list justifying any deductions. If the deductions seem unreasonable appeal! Call them and tell them that it seems like a lot for the repair. Offer them a quote from somewhere else and ask the difference to be refunded.

That is it! A little thought when you move in and when you move out to keep your money!!!

Contesting Monday

Contesting Monday 6/18

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So here is the deal. If you are hosting a giveaway or have a post about someone’s giveaway just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, list it again! Also your link must be to something family friendly or it will be deleted.

So now you need to add your giveaways and go enter some giveaways! Let them know that Contesting Monday sent you! Make sure you pop back later this week for a giveaway of my own!!!

Life with Kids, Musings, Vlog

The Joy of My Daughters

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Ok, I got a little gushy talking about my girls and how they have changed my life! Both my daughters’ birthdays are this week and it made me think. Having them has completed me but not in the normal way;). Excuse the angle and vertical filming;). I was having a moment and if I edit it or try to refilm it, I won’t do it again.

As Seen on TV

NetSmartz & Educating Kids on Internet Safety

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New_MastHead

Everyone knows that I love the Internet but there are some bad people out there. Given that, I am very careful how much I let my kids on the Internet! But being careful isn’t enough. Kids need to learn how to behave online and what to look for to avoid while online. Parents, you need to know how to guide your children while also looking for warning signs that they may be getting targeted by predators.

(Continue Reading at NerdFamily Things)

Contesting Monday

Contesting Monday 6/10

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So here is the deal. If you are hosting a giveaway or have a post about someone’s giveaway just leave a link. Make sure this link is to the giveaway post itself and not just the blog or it will be deleted. If you listed it last week but your giveaway is still open, list it again! Also your link must be to something family friendly or it will be deleted.

So now you need to add your giveaways and go enter some giveaways! Let them know that Contesting Monday sent you! Make sure you pop back later this week for a giveaway of my own!!!

As Seen on TV, Homeschoooling

Summer Reading Programs

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photoSome studies say that kids lose months worth of reading ability over the summer by not engaging their reading skills. But such a loss is not a foregone conclusion. All that needs to be done to avoid reading ability loss over the summer is some light reading! Luckily there are summer reading programs that help engage children to read!! And gives them something to do!!!

Barnes & Noble:
Read 8 books to get a free one! That is right, read any 8 books and you will earn 1 free book. They have specific choices for the kids to choose from based on grade level. This is for 1st through 6th graders and runs until September. And while you are there make sure you sign up for their kids club. Not will that get you the standard coupons, it will also get you special incentives for the children’s birthdays.

Berean Christian Store:
Berean’s has a 2 pronged reading program going on in June & July. You can read 8 books or read your Bible for 15 minutes a day for 40 days in a row. Each set (books or Bible) can earn them a $5 gift card and they can do both to earn 2 gift cards! This is open to ages 5-13 years old.

They also have a story time every week on Fridays at 10:30am for a Kindergarten and younger children!

Petunia’s Place:
2013 Kids Summer Book Clubs with Emma will meet on July 2, 9, 16, and 23. You can get the books there at the first meeting:
Ages 9 – 11; Meets from 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Milo & Jazz Mystery: The Case of The Stinky Socks by Lewis B. Montgomery.
Ages 6 – 8; Meets from 11:30 am – 12:15 pm
The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester.

Clovis Book Barn:
The Clovis Book Barn is bringing in Mother Goose every Tuesday for a story time. It is from 10am to 10:45am. There will be other summer reading activities for kids with them but they are still working on the details so you need to keep an eye on their Facebook page. I have heard rumors of a treasure hunt for middle readers and more!

Fresno County Library:
The library is once again going to have a fabulous summer reading program but the details aren’t out yet. They are going to have a big summer reading kick off on Saturday June 15, 2013 out at San Joaquin River Parkway. There will be all kinds of activities, performers and fun. But if you can’t make that, you can check out their website or pop into the library to get all the details after the 15th.

So what are you still doing here? Get your kids reading!!!