I am pulling from so many resources this school year, but two of them that I am using material from, Confessions of a Homeschooler and Home Grown Hearts, are heavy magnetic pom pom users. I never really thought of pom poms for anything other than arts & crafts pieces, but have now seen the light. Because of my new revelation, I included pom poms on my homeschool registry and magnetic dots here or here so that I could make these really cool teaching tools OR play toys for Canyon and his older brother and sister who don’t seem to understand that these are for school purposes only. Oh, well, good thing I made a lot.

I sorted the pom poms to be sure I made an equal amount of each color I wanted. I’m just like that.

Although the magnets have an adhesive back, I knew it wouldn’t be strong enough to hold the pom poms in place through multiple uses, so I decided to glue them to the magnets.

I used a baking sheet and lined the magnets on there leaving enough space for working and for the size of the pom poms. The magnets obviously stuck to the magnetic surface and were easier to work with because they didn’t move around.

If you’re a hot glue gun user then you already know once you press the trigger on the gun, you gotta pick up your pace, while also being very careful. Why you ask? It’s because of these three reasons:

1. The glue is hot. 2. The glue dries extremely fast. 3. Before the glue dries, it can burn the heck out of you. If you don’t want to fall to victim to any of these instances, then watch closely.

Put glue on the magnetic dot.

If you’re not quick with your hands, then glue only one dot.

If you are quick with your hands and a little daring like me, then go for it and glue more than one dot.

Either way, be ready to place and press.

Soon you’ll have a tray looking like this and you’ll be able to really visualize all of the fun activities you and your children will be able to do. Don’t worry about the extra glue that dries on the sides because it easily peels off after drying. If you need more time from glue to pom poms, then using a cold/regular craft glue works just fine, but takes longer to dry.

They clean up easily because they stick together.

They also store well in a container, so pack ‘em in.

These outfits (shirts and dress) have been on my mind since May when I originally bought the fabric. I’m not much of a holiday (outfits for particular holidays) kind of seamstress, but I walked in the fabric store, spotted these fabrics, and all of a sudden felt an intense desire to show my patriotic self and include my children.

Much hard work and a whole lot like my finger was having a baby kind of pain of pain, caused by embedding a sewing machine needle into my thumb (read about it here), went into the making of these outfits but it was all worth it.

Each of them had smiles on their faces when I gave them their new clothing. I think I better go ahead and start working on their Christmas outfits because it may take me from now until then to get motivated just to start. Plus, I also enjoy seeing those cute little smiles on their faces.

Well, I’ve done it again. I hit our local co-op and I did it. I couldn’t let another summer pass by without at least trying once again to grow my own herbs. My only hope is to not have a repeat of last year.

What got me going was my new cooking routine. After deciding which recipes I was going to whip up for next week, my list of required herbs grew. There was a Greek salad (I’ll share later) recipe on the menu that I had made before and I knew dried oregano was not going to do.

If I have a choice, then I always prefer to use fresh herbs over dried. Fresh herbs just look better, smell better, and taste oh so very good.

I know they’re not herbs, but blueberries also taste oh so very good. The only problem is, I’ll have to wait until next season.

Do you have a favorite herb you like to smell, eat, or grow?

April 22 marks 40 years of celebrating Earth Day. You have probably heard of this global holiday and have probably stopped counting the number of times you have heard the word green since the beginning of this month. If you are wondering what it is all about, I want to let you know that it is really quite simple and after you learn more, you may want to participate in the celebration as well. People have already started partying and it promises to be a good one.

Earth Day was founded and created in 1969 by John McConnell (newspaper publisher and community activist) who originally presented the idea at a UNESCO Conference on the environment. The goal of the day was to promote an appreciation for the planet’s environment and issues that threatened it.

The following year, it became an event in America, through the efforts of Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, as well as across the country. Although it is an annual event, it is actually celebrated twice a year. The United Nations observes it on or around March 21st which is the vernal equinox - the moment when night and day are equal throughout the Earth. The second time it is observed is on April 22nd in America as well as in 170+ other countries. This once, few city event that received its first proclamation in San Francisco, has grown to become a global event far larger than ever expected especially now that many are consumed with the subject of global.

April 22 was chosen in honor of Eddie Albert, an environmental, humanitarian activist and actor, who participated in the launching of the first Earth Day celebration. The date also happens to be the birthday of Arbor Day founder Julius Sterling Morton.

Do you feel like partying? Well, here are a few ways that you and your children can get involved with Earth Day this year. Remember, everyday should be Earth Day where we take care of the planet that God gave to us.

EARTH DAY 2010 EVENTS
Earth Day Network
EPA

FUN For YOU and YOUR CHILDREN in YOUR HOME/COMMUNITY
clean up your neighborhood
buy handmade
toss out the toxins
donate unused items
fun indoor activities
start recycling
shop local, shop fresh
start compost bin
ease into green

EARTH DAY CONTESTS
Save My Planet Challenge
come up with ideas for new products or services that will impact the
planet and can be implemented and /or brought to market
submit by April 30

Celebrate the Earth Day 2010
Art Contest
submit by April 21

Earth Day Photo Contest 5th-8th grade students
Take a picture of something changing in your local environment and then write about it.
Submit by May 12

Earth Drive for Earth Day contest
Tell them what you are doing to help save the earth.
Submit by April 20

ECO-VIDEO CONTEST
Planetpals Earth Day Video Contest 2010
Show them how you are a Planetpal.
submit by April 15

PREPARE for NEXT YEAR
Earth Day Poster Contest
EPA photo contest
video contest

KEEP EARTH LOVING ACTIVITIES GOING AFTER EARTH DAY
Visit Milk & Honey Mommy for more eco-friendly fun with your children.

What plans do you have this year for observing Earth Day?

I have a lot of ambitious endeavors planned for this summer. One of them is to start an herb garden, again. You see, this picture is of the one I started last summer.

Lily and I spent some mommy-daughter time together, headed to the co-op, and looked through so many plants. We were on a search for herbs. I figured planting and growing our own would be cheaper than buying them weekly from the grocery store.

After grabbing about half a dozen different herbs - Italian parsley, rosemary, thyme – we decided to treat our selves. Lily found a few strawberry plants which we just had to add.

After we brought them home, Lily cared for them regularly with much love and care. I decided to leave them in the box until we found the right place to plant everything.

In this box is where our herb garden remained almost seven months later. Most everything else died, but the parsley continued thriving.

Between the continued growth of the parsley and the rebirth of the basil, I am motivated again to start another herb garden and actually plant it in the ground this year.

Ironing isn’t the first thing I would ever choose to do. The only problem is that I have a really difficult time sending my children out or watching as Darling D leaves the house with wrinkled clothing. Just like a car that looses it value once it’s driven off the lot, I know clothing is going to get wrinkled once it’s taken off of the hanger that I just put it on after ironing.

My sister, who leads a more less uptight/rigid relaxed life than mine, tried to teach me the art of iron-free living. She follows the “unravel-wear-go-fall out (wrinkles that is)” mantra. I lived that way for a while and it was a lot easier to do before I had a husband and children. On me, I wasn’t able to see the wrinkles and whether or not they ever fell out later on in the day. On Darling D and my children, I saw the wrinkles. Most of them did fall out, but I had to wonder what kind of wife or mother was I who would let her family out of the front or back doors with wrinkled clothing.

My ironing board is oddly shaped, but very sturdy, and wide enough to iron the full back of a shirt.

The cover on my board has needed replacing for quite a while and my continued efforts to find a replacement cover have not been successful. Tired of the long search, I opted for a quick fix and bought a new board, new cover, and spare cover to prevent having to go through the same search in the future.

The quick fix didn’t work. The new board was not as wide as I liked and it was not as sturdy as I was use to. Some things are just not made as well as they use to be. I’m not surprised because I’ve known all along what I have needed to do.

Since I have pulled out my sewing machine, my list of projects has grown from just a few to one that has me busy for the next few months. There are the curtains, the bed accents, the napkins, and the pillows and so much more to be made. I’m really looking forward to the spring and summer dresses I’ll make for Lily and me. That is the fun do-it-ourselves I’m looking forward to.

Before the real fun begins, I have a few maintenance items that need to be completed around the house. A few buttons to sew on, a few zippers to replace, and an ironing board cover to make.

I have accepted that we are a do-it-yourself household. If we can’t find it in a store (or even if we can), can make it better or more affordably, or just want a challenge to accomplish, then that is where we will be. If it involves wood, tile, sheet rock, etc, then Darling D can handle it.

You’ll find me standing right beside him handling all things fabric. Darling D and I make a great team.

Every Sunday, I share a list of Groovy Green Giveaways being offered in the Blogosphere. Most of these are contests in which I entered and thought some of you would like to know are out there too. If you have a green, natural, or handmade giveaway on your blog/site and would like to share it here, then E-mail me at milkandhoneymommy(at)gmail(dot)com by the Friday before each Sunday posting. I would love to list it and would probably be overjoyed to win it too (ahh, that’s a hint!)!

GROOVY GREEN GIVEAWAYS AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE

Green and Natural
11/15 Organically Hatched Bamboo Bath Robe
11/16 Practically Green: Your Guide to Eco-friendly Decision-Making (book)
11/19 Late July Snack Pack
11/22 AllerMates Necklace/Tag and Wristband Combo
11/28 Noli n Nali Getting Started Gift Set
12/4 Green to Grow Twin Pack of 4oz Baby Bottles

Handmade
11/17 Bellia Mia Pumpkin Patch Babydoll Children’s Clothing Set
11/15 Bows & Jars Turkey Thanksgiving Bow and Christmas Bow

Repurposing - As late as Thursday afternoon, Canyon was going to be Lightning McQueen, then a cowboy, then something else that I can’t quite remember. While searching through an unpacked box, I found River’s old raincoat and it was then that I decided we needed at least one costume that spoke of the future and fellow service to man; a fireman. He’s worn that coat everywhere we’ve gone since I found it.

Scratch - River taught me that as children grow older, their costume desires are not as simple as they used to be when they were younger. He started off wanting to be a Clone Warrior, but we were able to compromise and a Ninja he is. The costume looked a bit overwhelming to make, which tends to happen when time isn’t on your side, but I was able to sew it together in the little time I had.



I even stirred up enough inspiration (I have absolutely no idea where it came from) to make these bags, which I totally forgot about until River reminded me of them three hours before we were to walk out of the door. For some reason, I work better under pressure. I get the work done, but there has got to be a better way. There is always next year. I’ll start thinking about their costumes for next year in January. I guess what really matters is when I start making them.



Hallelujah (I finished - yippee. yahoo, yowzee) Festival was exciting and a lot of fun. People from our town and surrounding areas attend every year. I’m already looking forward to next year.



River has an arm on him. He nearly knocked over the display on the milk bottles game with his fierce throwing. I guess I better get that boy back on the baseball field.



She may be a princess and have on a pretty white dress, but look out because she can aim and is “mean” with a gun. Just think Princess Leia who didn’t take mess from anyone.



Canyon was a little more mild with his throwing. I think he was still just trying to take everything in.



This was just a pit stop in between playing games, winning candy, and bouncing in the jump houses. I wasn’t too far behind them on the candy. After the festival shut down, I raided (w/permission) the remaining candy baskets and loaded up on MilkyWays. You can never have too many of those.



My little rough and tumble girl. I can put her in a dress, place a crown on her head, and she’ll still be a lover of spiders.

If you notice the right leg, it has a hole in the knee that has resulted from hours of truck and car playing on hardwood floors, carpet, tile, concrete, and even dirt; the normal wear and tear. I really hate throwing any piece of clothing away just because of a worn hole. The only exception is when is comes to socks. I have a deep dislike for any part of my foot peeking through a hole when it should be in the comfort of a warm sock.

With the exception of the hole, these sweat pants are in reasonably good shape, still have the elastic in tact, and are one of the few pair of pants Canyon has that stay up on his waist without a belt.



As I mentioned before, I’ve been wanting desperately to start back at sewing and this looked like the opportune time to ease into it without having to start from scratch. I did a little measuring and marked off my cutting lines.



Cutting is always fun. It makes me feel like I’m actually doing something towards reaching the finished product unlike marking and pinning which sometimes seams (couldn’t resist) seems like a waste of time.



I guess I could have let it go like this, but I’m a very meticulous seamstress and don’t care for raw edges on the bottom of clothing.



Actually, I just prefer making more work for myself. Why take the quick and easy route when more adventure can be had with more detail?



No matter what you read or what anyone else says, ironing as you go while sewing ISN’T overrated. If you don’t iron, then try making an item and iron it as you go or if you do iron, then trying making an item without ironing anything as you go and see what you get.



Please don’t tell anyone, but I’m a topstitching freak. Whenever I make a pair of pants, shorts, top, etc., I get this really strong urge to topstitch. This feeling even has even come over me in the past while making skirts and dresses, and sometimes even formal wear. When it comes to those, I somehow manage to control myself and don’t often mix satin and topstitching.







I really love seeing this smile over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.



Just like a kid to burst your bubble. I pulled the sewing machine out again and fixed this hole. Yes, of course I knew it was there, but I was hoping nobody would notice. I’ve been putting off repairing that too.

Every Sunday, I share a list of Groovy Green Giveaways being offered in the Blogosphere. Most of these are contests in which I entered and thought some of you would like to know are out there too. If you have a green, natural, or handmade giveaway on your blog/site and would like to share it here, then E-mail me at milkandhoneymommy(at)gmail(dot)com by the Friday before each Sunday posting. I would love to list it and would probably be overjoyed to win it too (ahh, that’s a hint!)!

GROOVY GREEN GIVEAWAYS AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE

Green and Natural
10/18 Amber Jewelry
10/13 Candles Made from Soy
10/6 Delicae Gourmet $25 Gift Certificate
10/7 Ecotronic Eco Mic Toy
10/15 Green is Black Hemp/Silk Blouse
10/8 Helen’s Kitchen Organic Meals
10/9 KOA Organic t-Shirt
10/18 Lady Lait Eve nursing Gown
10/13 Livie & Luca Shoes Baby or Toddler Shoes
10/7 Lola & Ben $75 Gift Certificate
10/13 Mermaid’s Purse Spa Pack
10/13 My Bump $50 Gift Ceritificate
10/12 Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters Snack Pack
10/13 Outfit Additions $50 Gift Certificate
10/14 Soy Delites Tealights
10/12 Yes to Carrots Lip Glosses and Tints
10/9 UPrinting Custom Greeting Cards (250ct)
10/7 Wee Gallery Woodland Art Cards