haven't been by in awhile...

Not sure if you've noticed, but I haven't been by in awhile. *wink* Getting settled into our new house and still continuing with daily life has been a serious balancing act. So, my blog has been put on the back burner...yet AGAIN! I really do hope to be back one day into my regularly blogging groove.

In the meantime, I was featured today at Tip Junkie



for my Water Bottle Tag tutorial

I created last June.

Go visit Tip Junkie for more Teacher Appreciation Gift ideas.

Hope to "see" you all soon!

spread the JOY

Happy Friday Everyone!!

I'm excited to share that my JOY card from Christmas 2006 is one of many being featured on Tip Junkie today and you can go over and vote for your favorite card! If it's mine...excellent! If not, no big deal! *wink*

candy cane Christmas

We have really been enjoying our 25 Days of Christmas activities. The kids are SO EXCITED each day to eat their chocolate candy from our Hershey Kiss Countdown we made on Day 1. Why wouldn't they?? It's chocolate!! Mikayla asks at least twice a day to move baby Jesus a little bit closer to December 25th. And revealing the activity for the day is always anticipated. Earlier in the week, I shared some of the activities we had done over last weekend, so go take a peek if you want to see what else we've been up to!

On Day 8 (Tuesday) of our Christmas countdown, we had a little bit of fun with candy canes!

Activity of the Day:
Make candy cane ice cream and enjoy it
while reading "The Candymaker's Gift".

After bath time, each of the kids were given a candy cane, a Ziploc bag, and a hammer (kid toys worked well!).
Then it was time to whack away!

Next...stir up some vanilla ice cream to get it nice and soft. As Mikayla said, "Like a milkshake!" Happy faces -- they love ice cream!!

Time to pour in the crushed candy canes...

{Notice the mess of candy canes everywhere!? That's my boy!}

READY TO EAT!!

While the kids ate their yummy candy cane ice cream, I read "The Candymaker's Gift" to them.

This is such a great book! I purchased it at our MOPS Bazaar at the beginning of November. The authors were the ones selling the books, so they even signed the inside for Mikayla & Austin. It was so special to be able to read this to them for the first time. The story is about the legend of the candy cane and shares about the true meaning of Christmas and how much Jesus loves and cares for us.

Good to the last drop...wouldn't you say?!

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On Day 9 (Wednesday) we had the special treat of going to visit Kim, Kenneth, Elizabeth, and Bradley. Our activity for the day was to create a gingerbread house with the Caldwell family. All four kids did surprisingly well sharing and enjoyed being together.

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For more Countdown to Christmas activities, go visit Liz @ Sugarplum Creations.



P.S. I'm so happy to share that last year's neighbor Christmas gift was featured on Tip Junkie yesterday!

monthly craft challenge - Christmas decor!

It's time!!

Let's link up and show off all of our fun Christmas crafty decor and spread the JOY of the season!

For Mikayla's 1st Christmas (2006) we bought these wooden letters that spelled JOY and had her pose with them for our Christmas card.

{isn't this card darling!?}

After this one time use, I tucked them away to do something with them in the future. Well, I finally pulled them out...nothing like some craft challenge motivation!

I Mod Podged some coordinating paper onto each of the letters, sanded the edges, and then put another layer of Mod Podge on top to seal it.
But, I didn't stop there...
I decided these stars needed a makeover, too!

...to match the paper colors I used to cover the letters.
I cut out each triangle, Mod Podged them to the star then used another layer of Mod Podge to coat the entire star.
And now they hang on the wall together...and I love it!
The colors are a little unconventional for Christmas, but I went a little daring for a change!
(wish it was a better picture...weird wall angle)
Updated to add:
I found the cutest little blog called Blue Cricket Designs. She holds Show & Tell Wednesdays, and although I'm a day late, I couldn't help but share my creation since it fit the Christmas theme.


Updated to add (again):

Thank you to Rachel at One Pretty Thing for featuring this project.


And head on over to Xamin's at This is The Year for some...

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Now, it's YOUR TURN!!

1. Link up using MckLinky below.
2. In your post, either use the craft challenge button on the top left side bar of my blog or a link to my site for others to be able to join in the fun or to come on by to see what everyone has created. If you're using a post from the past, edit in the information or write a new post that will lead everyone to your creation.
3. Try to visit as many of the participants as you can and comment on their creations. Share the comment love, please!!
4. This month's craft challenge will end on Thursday,December 10th. You have ONE week!
5. A random winner will be chosen from the participants and be announced next Friday.
6. Link up and let's see what masterpiece you have created!

Get creative, get crafty, and be inspired!!

Thanksgiving features

I'm super excited to share that I was featured today at Tip Junkie for some of last year's Thanksgiving ideas!! Good thing I had my act together last year! It feels like this year's Thanksgiving season has gone by too quickly.

One of the ideas featured was the little turkey treats we made last year.
I'm looking for a fun turkey treat to make this year ON Thanksgiving. Seen any good ideas lately? Do share!

The other idea featured was the silverware settings I created last year for the Thanksgiving table. (Sorry, a repeat from yesterday!) No need to be making anything this year, since I'm not hosting!
There are lots of other fun and inspiring ways to make your Thanksgiving fabulous, so head on over to Tip Junkie to get inspired!

Also, take a minute to stop on by Southern Domestic Goddess to link up your Thanksgiving ideas and pass along the inspiration (and to get inspired, of course!) In fact, this next little project I'm sharing comes straight from someone who had linked up there. Thanks to The Activity Mom for sharing this simple little Thanksgiving card. I love the poem she shared to go with the turkey handprints! I'm a sucker for a good rhyming poem.

{click on picture to view larger}

Happy {early} Thanksgiving Mom & Dad (aka Grammy & Papa)!!
This will be coming in the mail soon...sorry it will be late! I always just seem to be one step behind these days!

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How is your crafty Christmas decor coming along? Don't forget to be working on this month's craft challenge! Be ready to share your project sometime during Dec. 3-10...I can't wait to see what you all are working on! I guess that means I should get started, too! For more information on this month's challenge check it out HERE or visit all past monthly craft challenges.

it's a new challenge...come play along!

Guess who gets these goodies??

Kelli @ Random Thoughts of a Supermom!

Why, you ask?
Kelli was the randomly drawn winner for this month's craft challenge - photo projects! My lovely assistant, Mikayla, was already in bed, so I had to pull the winner out of a hat myself. (I promise it's legit!) Kelli, send me your address at heidilynneboos@hotmail.com and you'll get your Christmas goodies in the mail very soon!

Thank you everyone who joined the challenge and for the fun photo projects you shared. Go take a peek if you haven't seen them yet.

Now, onto some business...since we (I) postponed the photo project challenge by a week, we're a little behind for the next one, but have no fear because I think you're gonna like this month's craft challenge:

~ Christmas Themed Decor ~

Show me your holiday magic and craft something great for the upcoming season. Since I know that many of you are already crafting away, I think you'll have no problem being ready in 2 weeks! Am I right? We want time to display our hard work in our homes, don't we? Plus, you'll still have the usual one week to link up for a chance to win a little something, so really you'll have until December 10th if you're choosing to procrastinate! *wink*

So, come on back to link up your Christmas themed craft for this month's craft challenge on Thursday, December 3rd. Hope to see you there! And spread the word, will you? I'd love to have 30 participants!! That's my goal for this month. We had 26 participants for the Halloween themed edition, so why not!?

Grab the (yet again) new button and help spread the word!


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Exciting news!
Austin's 2nd birthday "construction themed" party is featured at The Creative Party Place today! You really need to go check out this site if you're looking to do some party planning any time soon! It's filled with so much inspiration!


Have a wonderful weekend!!

featured at the Blog Brew Review

Check it out...
No post for 2 weeks and then BAM 3 posts in 2 days!!
See? I told you I was back! *wink*

I just wanted to give a big thank you to AJ for showcasing my blog at the Blog Brew Review. It's a fairly new blog that reviews other blogs in a simple, but precise way and I'm honored to be featured! Head on over by clicking the button below to see what other blogs you can find to add to your blog list!

winner! winner! we have a winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered my 1 year blogoversary FAVORITE THINGS giveaway! I truly have enjoyed being able to share with you my life and passions. I have met some great blogging buddies and have had the most wonderful support from my family and friends who encourage my addiction for blogging, so I can share all of the creativity and "stuff" that's bursting to come out!

But, I know you're really waiting for this part...we have a winner!!

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Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

8

Timestamp: 2009-06-04 06:24:56 UTC

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I'm so excited to announce (and a little shocked...I promise I didn't rig it) that my IN REAL LIFE friend, Kim at Caldwell Cuties, is the winner!

She says in her comment that she left on my giveaway post...

Heidi,
Congrats on 1 year!! Has it really been that long. Wow.

I am going to guess you will send me a Baja Fresh meal:) Kidding. I think it will definately include Modge Podge and some note cards.

Have a great day in the sun!

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Well, Kim, you don't have to e-mail me your address because I know where you live AND I get to save on shipping costs...how cool is that!? *wink*

When Kim receives her box full of fun stuff, she will post it on her blog and I will send you all that way so you can find out what exactly was inside MY FAVORITE THINGS goody box. I know you're all dying to know!!

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Kim and I met almost 3 years ago at the Providence Hospital Mom's Group with our first little kiddos. They are about 6 weeks apart. However, it wasn't until our kiddos were both about 1 year old when we really started hanging out together more. We have so many things in common...especially our love for creativity! I like to claim that I got her hooked on scrapbooking. And, although, I liked making cards before, I think she has inspired me to do more within this last year because she's just so good at it!

Here's a pic of our "firstborn" at the Zoo, which I find a little ironic because we're actually headed to the Zoo again today together! Hopefully we can snap a cute shot of ALL four of the kids. Our second children were also only born 2 months apart (Austin is older than Elizabeth). Kim is now expecting her third...but I won't be joining that club with her this go 'round. She's all on her own! *wink*

Mikayla (15 months) & Kenneth (13 months)

And only 2 years later...

Mikayla (3 years) & Kenneth (34 months)

I wonder if in 2 more years we can get them to hold hands like this?

Kim, Thanks for being a great friend, support, encourager, and a short phone call (or e-mail) away! Looking forward to sharing more fun times together as our kids grow up!

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And, lastly...

I was featured at Creative Parties & Showers for Mikayla's tea party birthday celebration with her little girlfriends. If you haven't yet, you must go check out this great party planning site where Shannon shows off parties and showers from all over blog land. You will definitely be inspired!

And keep scrolling down to see my water bottle tag tutorial!

random ramblings

Hello! Remember me? Yea. I'm the one that you used to see around your place from time to time. Sorry it's been awhile, but I hope to catch up with you all soon. In the meantime, I have a couple of loose ends I'd like to tie up concerning this here little blog of mine.

FIRST - Giveaway!

Don't forget to enter into "My Favorite Things" giveaway ending next Wednesday. I'll be sending one lucky person a goody box full of my favorite things in honor of my 1 year blogging anniversary.


SECOND - Awards!

How lucky I am to be given some great awards from such wonderful woman who read my blog. For that, I am so thankful!

A BIG thank you to Tracey at Girls to Grow, Kelli at Outside my Kitchen Window and Lisa at Moore Minutes for this One Lovely Blog Award. How sweet of you to think of me!


Another BIG thank you to Kelli at Random Thoughts of a Supermom for the superstar award. Trust me, I'm far from Superstar, but it sounds kind of fun anyway! *wink*



THIRD - Featured!

I was happy to hear that Mikayla's lollipop birthday party was featured yesterday at Creative Parties & Showers. I love this site for so many inspiring party ideas, so it's an honor to have one of my parties showcased. Go check it out HERE.

Updated to add: My mom just told me that my lollipop party was also featured today on One Pretty Thing because of my feature on Creative Parties & Showers. How fun!

FOURTH - Craft Challenge!

Don't forget this month's craft challenge coming up next Thursday, June 4th. Seriously! How quickly does a whole month go by? We'll be linking up all of our MONOGRAM projects. Come back to see some ideas I have found from searching the "net" that will hopefully inspire you! I'll try to post those over the weekend. I can't wait to see what you all come up with. If you want to help spread the word, grab the craft challenge button on the left hand side bar. You can also click that same button for more information and to view past challenges.


FIFTH - My first Stampin' Up! Workshop!

I had my first workshop last night at my mother-in-law's house. I think it went really well, other than I think I might have talked too much! Stampin' Up! has so much to offer that I just wanted to share it all!! I demonstrated two projects, then the ladies all got to do a "make & take". It was the same one that I did at my open house, which worked out well since none of the ladies attended my open house.

Demo Projects
(candy treat holder & card)

Make & Take Project

Set of notecards I gave the
"hostess" as a thank you!

SIXTH - Fun time, sun time!

There's just something about having gorgeous weather that makes everything on the "to do" list get put on hold. That's exactly what this week has been like here in Oregon. We have been so blessed with sun, sun, and more sun! It's a little unusual here in the Northwest to have such great weather (and no rain!) that lasts so long, so I'll definitely take it! We haven't really done much other than enjoy playing outside in front of our house. We're simple folk here at the Boos household. Like I think I shared before...we're kind of homebodies. And for the most part, I'm OK with that.

We did go to the park last week, so enjoy the few pics!


And, in closing...

Is this not the sweetest thing! They're only drinking water out of a cup, but they did this for a good 15 minutes...talk about cheap entertainment! They would drink it and then Mikayla would run and go fill it up for more. Gotta love when these two little ones are getting along!