How To Make A Ribbon Barrette

Here is how to make a ribbon (covered) barrette:

OK, we all know of ways to duplicate an expensive item - this happens to be one of my favorite. The "oh-so-cute" ribbon barrettes that are every boutique and art fair are irresistible. But they also cost $2 - $3 a piece (or $5 for the pair), and as expected usually after the first time a toddle wears them, you only one left. So at one of the boutiques I brought a pair home to examine them more closely; in hopes I could make "matching" pairs to go with some of the outfits I had made my daughter.

So I found a pretty easy way to make them using those silver alligator  clips (you know the old fashion barber shops clips), 1/4 and 1/2 inch ribbons and glue. I also used gorilla clips to help hold in place the ribbon as I waited for it to dry. See picture.

So I started at one end and literally glued onto the silver clip the ribbon, holding it in place with the gorilla clips. Then I did make bows on the brown clips and glued those on too. HINT: to keep the ribbon from fraying I used a lighter to lightly burn the ends of the ribbon and give them a nice rounded finish. But be careful when using an open flame and know what kind of material you are using to avoid burning your self or starting a fire, and don't leave any of the materials where a child could get a hold of them. Have fun!

How To Make A Picnic Invitation or BBQ Apron

How To Make A Cute Homemade Birthday Invitation - Picnic/BBQ Apron Invitations:

Using card stock white computer paper, computer graphics, red construction paper, a hole punch, red thin ribbon and glue.



If you look to the left of the picture - that is the formatted 8 1/2 X 11 card stock that I ran through the printer after I designed the invitations in WORD. I used a basic shape to form the neck of the apron - then used a rectangle to complete the apron and hide the other side of the shape - giving me what looks like a long apron, I also placed little tiny circles to show me where I would later make hole punches (I kept the shapes outlined in red to make it easier to cut them out, for me the red outlined on the back of the invitations was not a big deal - you could use a different color out line if you wish to be more discrete). I then used a picnic pattern to complete the apron - what I would later fold over to make a pocket.

Then I used a picture from clip art to make a hamburger - I also clicked on "washout" to lighten the hamburger so the red text would stand out. I then put the invitation information over the picture, using "50's Fandango" font. Each 8 1/2 X 11 made two invitations.

I then cut out the pieces.

  After all the aprons and hamburgers were cut out; I folded over the pockets on the aprons and glued the edges (to make a pocket - leave the top open); then I cut out hamburger shapes from the red construction paper and glued those together, if want it to looked "matted" then make sure the red paper is just a little bit bigger, to leave a red "outline" around your hamburger invitation.

Once everything had dried, I punched 4 holes in each apron; two in the neck, and two for the waist strings. Then I cut a 12 inch pieces of red string to lace through the holes. Making it look like part of the apron. I did not print anything on the back of the hamburger, but this might be a good place for further direction, a map or other specifics about the party. Good luck and have fun! Ask me for more ideas!

Cost of Living in 2010 - by who's deffinition??

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-15/u-s-consumer-prices-rise-0-1-increase-0-1-excluding-food-energy-costs.html
Well, I heard good news and bad news this week, and I almost couldn't believe my ears: The good news was, some cities and companies are considering pay increases in the 2011-2012 fiscal year budgets for about 1% - 4%; the bad news I heard - "the cost-of-living in the US has not gone up much".

My question was - is it better to suggest a "cost-of-living" increase or just a all over merit increase? To me "cost-of-living" increase sounds more essential and merit sounds more like "optional". Yes, some of us deserve both - however most people who have to deal with the bottom-line won't see it that way. So, I was then told - no, don't suggest a "cost-of-living" increase, because it could be "argued" that the cost-of-living hasn't really gone up? Really??

That's news to me because I have a small child and I am pretty sure that in just 2 years that cost of milk has, I have also had to join a carpool in 2008 because of, that sky high jump in GAS prices! Not to mention health care - it use to cost just $25 for a co-pay, now it's $35...
GAS 2009 $2.66 - 2010 $2.91 (I didn't do 2008 b/c there was that HUGE summer jump)
MILK 2008 $2.74 - 2010 $3.50
STAMPS 2008 $.39 - 2010 $.44
MOVIES 2008 $7.00 - 2010 $10.50

(wiki.answers.com)

Apparently rent has been steady, car prices are lower, and "COMMODITY" costs such as home furnishings, electronics and airlines prices are steady or lower in some cases, due to  "retailers" trying to "stimulate" the buyer...
It also includes "CORE" measures, which excludes "CONSUMER" costs such as, the (volatile) cost of food,  building materials, metals and energy costs.

Which I would argue, even though rent is steady and buying a home costs are down - what about building a new one? If copper and metals are at an all time high, and building materials are more expensive, then buying a new house would cost more, right? Besides that I don't buy new houses every year, or cars, or electronics, or furniture!~

I buy GAS, MILK, STAMPS and MEAT!!

Re-Heat Pancakes Like a Pro!

MOMMY TIP OF THE DAY: to re-heat pancakes - cut them so they fit and put them in the toaster. They get nice and toasty warm, with golden crispy brown outsides, and not soggy like the microwave, enjoy :)

I hate waste and pancakes, from a restaurant are not always the best take home dish the next day. But lets face it - places like Egg and I who make "child size" pancakes the size of my daughters head and as thick as her thigh - she can barely eat a 1/5 of it and seems such a waste of money and food!! So I brought it home, then the next morning looked at with guilt. Was I really going to "re-heat" this in a microwave?? And who owns a toaster over these days?? So the toaster was the next best thing. I had to trim one side a little bit, but the toaster dried up any moister from the fridge and brought life back to my breakfast!! Enjoy

My Review of Metallic Table Skirts

Originally submitted at ShindigZ

We've got your tables covered with Metallic Table Skirting!

Shimmering Metallic Table Skirts are a fantastic way to dress your table for any type of celebration. Our metallic table skirting comes 30" high by 14' long.

Metallic Table Skirts

Good Stuff

By CityKitty1978 from Phoenix, AZ on 8/26/2010

 

4out of 5

Pros: Good Value, Quality Construction, Attractive Design

Best Uses: Themed Parties, Adults

Describe Yourself: Value Oriented

I needed a skirt that was only 2 feet long, so I just cut it to the length I needed. Worked fine and looked great.

(legalese)

Creative Monster or Plain Old Fun?? Are we making "fun" too much work??

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2010/07/27/128804395/playground#commentBlock

OK so New York City put in a $7 million dollar playground... surprise, surprise, surprise. No, not really. One - New York does everything big and no surprise with BIG price tags, and Two -New York is always on the cutting edge, and I would venture to say they set the bar on this one - yes, they set the monkey bar(s) a little high. When states are cutting and closing parks - New York is building them. That's always good news to me!! And this "state of the park" facility is awesome - why not mix up some traditional ideas with new ones. After all we are trying to encourage kids to get out and play more

However, are we making "fun" too much "work"?? As a recreational planner, I am often reminded, not to "over schedule" the fun and not to make people "work" to hard to get results. Fun is typically simple and creative play should be unscheduled, uncensored and spontaneous. Your thoughts?

Preggers?? I LOVED this book - you gotta read it!

Dear Preggers,
Haveing been there-done that, please allow me to suggest a book or two. I am not a big reader, so know that I looked through dozens of books at the Library, on-line and in book stores; trying to decied which ones to read. Were they worth it? Too wordy? Too bias? Too many big words? So hopefully I can help you cut through the crap and read ones that ultimatly helped me in my expereince.

"Birth - The surprising history of how we are born" by Tina Cassidy:
I LOVED this book! And I would recommend it to those pregnant or planning to, and wanting to know about the modern American birth experience! Out of dozens of books, this one was comprehensive, easy-to-read, and as neutral as it gets! I am not a huge history buff, but the way Tina explains the history of birth, pregnancies, techniques, procedures and doctors from birthing huts to hospitals. I was fascinated and couldn't put the book down as I moved from era to era!! It helped me a lot to understand our present day fears, the evolution of today's "standard" practices and helped me to develop my birth plan.
http://tinacassidy.info/

I have scene in some reviews of this book, with a comparison to a the movie. It is very different from the movie "Birth" with Wilson - which is more of a documentary and I think the confusion of it's relationship with this book overshadows it. Read the book first, then see the movie - you'll see!

I would also recommend "What to Expect, When your expecting" (lastest edition) - but that is kind of a given and it's easy to find, it is not as inclusive of the history. I found Tina's book at my library, but ended up buying one at amazon.com. Yes, it was that good - I had to buy a copy of my own, because I kept telling people to read it!! So now I shove it in their hands :)

As always best wishes and enjoy!