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Tag 'recycle'

Lilybugs Children’s Consignment Sale

Lilybugs Logo

Please join me at the Lilybugs Children’s Consignment Sale this weekend to find some great deals on gently used clothes, toys, and baby equipment. All proceeds from the sale benefit local charities and non-profit organizations!

Lilybugs is a quality children’s consignment sale held twice yearly—spring/summer and fall/winter—offering the best in high quality gently used children’s clothing and shoes, maternity clothing, baby equipment, children’s furniture, outdoor toys, books, software, videos, and lots and lots of toys!

Friday, March 9th ~ 7pm to 11pm
Saturday, March 10th ~ 8am to 12pm
 

*1/2 off sale all day Saturday*

Grace Christian Center, 1648 Lexington Road, Georgetown, Kentucky, 40324

Bonus: Be one of the first 200 shoppers and receive a “Goody Bag” full of coupons, freebies, and organizing tips from yours truly (among others)!

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Purposeful Parenting : My Blessed Mess

This past week was Spring Break for Scott County Schools here in Georgetown… and I found myself with quite a challenge on my hands in keeping up with Amanda! Though a bit reserved in large groups, she is very much a “people person” and loves to have one or two friends (or mommy) to play with her. Whether it was a good idea or not—along with all the art projects, playground adventures, and random errands—I planned to take a bit of time to tackle the growing pile of “to shred” documents… and this was the end result…

Shredded Paper Mess

Now, I’m sure you’re thinking “OMG!!” much like I was at the very moment that the first bag of all my hard work was completely dumped out onto the living room floor! But, here’s the thing… It is so very important for us to set aside our pragmatic “grown-up” thought patterns every once in a while and allow our children some freedom to play and explore the vast number of possibilities that abound within their limitless imaginations! Play is a child’s work after all…

Girls Playing with Shredded Paper

So, practicality and cleanliness aside, Amanda spent the week playing with shredded paper bits (aka “confetti”) that ended up strewn throughout my apartment, in every nook and cranny imaginable (i.e., the toilet… really?)! She had a blast!

Girls with Shredded Paper Hair

She made “confetti castles” (which, in case you didn’t know, are much like sand castles… only different!), she created walking paths that went from one room to the next, she raked every last shred into middle of the living room and jumped into her homemade “pile of leaves,” she “buried” every single friend who came over for a playdate, she made new fashions… and hairstyles… and draperies… and nests, and we went on countless “treasure hunts” and “rescue missions” together!

Friend Playing with Shredded Paper

Sure there was paper everywhere and I’ll likely be finding little pieces here and there over the next few months… Sure we spent the week sniffling and sneezing with all the extra shredded paper dust flying through the air… Sure I have to vacuum the floors again and empty out the drawers that were stuffed full of paper… Sure I was embarrassed each and every time an adult stopped by the apartment to drop something off or pick something up… But, man, it was so very worth it! Definitely a small price to pay for all the wonderful memories that were created this week… and an absolutely, positivity, without-a-doubt exquisite treasure to hold close to the heart and cherish forever after having endured a horrid bout of postpartum depression through her early years!

Girls Buried in Shredded Paper

Now, what about you? Have you found yourself abhorring or even thwarting your child’s messy learning adventures? How so? Or, have you managed to “let go” on occasion and have some truly uninhibited and invariably harmless fun? Do tell…

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Holiday Helps : BookJingle.com

Is your cash flow running a little low now that the holiday season is over and the year is coming to an end? Well, here you go… Check out my friend, Kevin Bradley, as he talks about eliminating clutter and earning some extra cash using BookJingle.com.

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Quick Tip : Trash Talk in the Car

Car Trash Bag

No, not actual ‘trash talking’… Sorry to disappoint. 😉

Reuse a plastic shopping bag as a ‘trash receptacle’ in your car. For added stability, secure the bag inside a cardboard box. Store replacement bags nearby in an empty paper towel tube or tissue box. When the bag is full, toss it into the trash can at the gas station next time you refuel the car.

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Quick Tip : Recycle Crayon ‘Bits’

Crazy CrayonsRecycle old crayons that are too short to draw with to make new crayons in fun shapes.

Heat makes a crayon a little loopy; it may melt into a swirl or pool into a whirl. With this in mind, we chopped up crayons and baked them in shaped mini cake tins, making large blocks that are easy for toddlers to hold and will surely inspire older artists.

Encourage kids to come up with their own combinations—a blue-and-white blend for drawing the sky, or a mix of reds and oranges for sunsets.

 

Tools and Materials : old crayons, kitchen knife, mini cake tins
Crayon How-To

  1. Parents can use the knife to chop crayons into pea-size pieces, taking care to keep colors separate so kids can combine them as they like.
  2. Preheat the oven to 150°F while children fill the tin with crayon pieces, arranging them in interesting designs.
  3. Bake just until the waxes have melted, 15 to 20 minutes.
  4. Remove the shapes after they have cooled. If they stick, place the tray in the freezer for an hour, and the crayons will pop right out.
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— courtesy of Martha Stewart Kids

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