Need to add a little Curb Appeal?

Yesterday I was watching Studio5 (yes I have been watching it a lot because of the yucky weather we have been having:) and they had a great segment about from Interior Decorator Caitlin Creer about Cranking Up Your Curb Appeal. She had 5 great ideas to do just that:

1. Clean it up 
2. Deal with eyesores 
3. Put on a happy face 
4. Address the extras 
5. Commit to an overall look for your home     

I have totally been thinking about just this over the last couple of weeks. Each day as I drive around my paper route I love to check out everyone's yards and porches and see all of the fun exciting stuff that is coming out with the warmer weather. It totally inspires me to want to do the same with my own house. Here are a few pics included in the segment that I loved.

I have had a slight obsession with orange lately and loved these chairs. I have totally had my eye on some chairs like these at Walmart. I think they are only something like $20 bucks. I never really knew where to put them but totally love this idea!

 Is it bad if I totally am jealous of this entry way? I love the pots with the goregous flowers on the side!

Anyways check out the segment, its only a minute or so long and totally worth watching!

Or for more info you can visit Studio5.ksl.com or www.caitlincreer.com/

Great Mother's Day Ideas at Bliss Boutique

My adorable cousin, Ashley, from Bliss Boutique was featured on Studio5 today. She was showcasing some or her way cute products for Mothers Day. Check her out!

Everyone needs to go check out all of her fun stuff this weekend! Hope to see ya there!

Teacher Appreciation Week Ideas

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6-12 and being a teacher myself I loved it when this week came around each year. It was always so fun to see all of the creative ideas that the room moms came up with, not to mention all of the fun gifts I got :) I found some great ideas to spoil that teacher in your life on Sugardoodle.net. Here are some of the fun ideas they came up with:

• We'd like to "Thank You" with speed. So here's something for when you read!
• Can or bottle...: We can't keep it "bottled up"...We just have to say thanks!
• Cookie: Thanks! You're such a smart "cookie"
• Flowers or packet of seeds: THANKS For Keeping Our Friendship "Growing" !!
• Grapes: When it comes to a Teacher... You're the BEST of The Bunch!
• Gummi Bears: THANKS! Our job would be "Unbearable"
• Hot pads/Hot Tamales: When it comes To giving of Yourself... You're "Hot Stuff"!!
• Lotion: Here's a bottle of lotion for all the kindness you set in motion!
• Soda: "Soda" you know how much we appreciate you?
• You are a LIFESAVER! (lifesaver candies-perfect for a substitute)
• Mints - Thanks! You're worth a MINT to us! 
• Popcorn is a kernel that magnified its calling! (popcorn-I taped the note to a package of microwave popcorn)
• You are BERRY Special! (berry candy, small jar of berry jelly, pint of fresh berries, gummy bears, or bear stickers)
• "Thanks a mint (place a small York Peppermint Pattie) for all you do in School..."
• "Don't snicker (place a small Snickers bar), but we think you're great."
• "Donut forget that the circle of your influence in Primary will go on forever" (Tied to a doughnut)
• "Thank you for your faithfulness in serving in Primary. You're worth more than $100,000 (place a small 100 Grand bar)." 

For more cute ideas from Sugardoodle.net click here or for cute door decorating ideas like the one above go to skiptomylou.org 02

Teaching Kids to Wait

Lately my little man had been way impatient. He wants everything right NOW! even if he can totally see that you are making him lunch or a snack or getting him whatever he needs. I found a great article from Love and Logic by Dr. Charles Fay about this very subject and just had to share it for those who may be in the same boat as myself.

Here it is:

Have you ever met an impatient adult who demanded to be served without ever having to wait? As a teenager and young adult, I worked a few restaurant jobs where I really got to see the long-term results of poor parenting in some of our impatient patrons. Years later as a psychologist, I met many couples whose on-going marital conflict had a lot to do with the fact that they never learned to delay gratification as kids. On the highways of life, how many times do we see impatient people risk their lives - and the lives of many others - by trying to get just one car length ahead?

Are you giving your kids enough practice waiting? Or, have you fallen into the habit of serving them quickly to avoid a fit? Using behavioral conditioning, many children train their parents to jump to their every whim. They do this by gradually increasing the frequency and intensity of the punishment they provide when their parents don't move fast enough to meet their demands. As you well know, this "punishment" comes in the form of constantly repeating the same demand, whining, yelling, screaming, or even hitting.

Wise parents avoid this trap by setting solid limits:

• I'll get that for you after I've seen you wait patiently.
• I do things for kids who aren't being pushy and demanding.
• You may have that when you've earned it.

Wise parents also remember:

The more I appease my child when he is young, the nastier and unhappier he will be as an adult. 

for more Love and logic tips visit www.loveandlogic.com

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Fun Bridal Shower Food

Last year my little brother got married and I got the pleasure of throwing a shower for my new sister-in-law. My mom and I discussed  potential treats to have at the shower but none sounded like a winner. Finally I came up with the idea to have a salad bar. We all know how those showers go, people pretend like they aren't big eaters an can have just a little nibble of a piece of cake or ice cream. So we thought why not have something healthy that just about everyone likes like salad. It ended up being a big hit and because we had so many different choices of toppings it didn't cost that much. Most of it was stuff that we already had in the fridge like eggs, celery, carrots, etc.  We still had the treats to go along with the salad but more people ate the salad than the treats. :) So if you are looking for a fun alternative to the ordinary shower food, try a Salad bar. 02