The How To Mom

Easy Trolls Headband DIY

2017-02-07T18:09:00.000-08:00

We love Trolls! This simple Poppy and Branch headband tutorial will have your kids singing "Hair Up!" in no time!

All you need is some tulle, string and a headband! For Poppy's headband, you can also add felt flower embellishments, or leave it plain.

Cut 15-20 strips of tulle about 24 inches long (no need to be precise, just eyeball it.).

Tie onto headband with double knot. and repeat until its as full as you'd like.

Use a string to tie the "hair" together a bit. Poppy's blue tie is fairly low, and you can glue a strip of felt for a wider blue band. Even though Branch doesn't have a visible hair tie in the movie, the tulle will flop around too much if its not secured together, so tie the black tulle together too, near the top. Trim the "hair" as needed.

Using felt, cut out and glue on Poppy's green headband and flowers.

Done! Hug time!

I'd love to see your little Trolls in their headbands, tag #DIYtrollsheadband on social media!

DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE!

Get Cash Back on Groceries

2017-02-04T19:08:00.000-08:00

I used to be a hard core couponer. I had the binder, I got all the newspapers, I read all the blogs (and boards, it was a while ago...), and it was FUN!

But I wound up with 2 dozen bottles of salad dressing and a four years supply of Q-tips. Literally.

Eventually I got tired of the couponing gig. It took a LOT of time and it stressed me out at the grocery store, ESPECIALLY if I had my kids with me. Sweating buckets and shaking, trying to remember what deals I was doing. Waaaaay too stressful.

So I quit.

But I still felt guilty for not doing SOMETHING to bring down the grocery bill a bit. I kept saying I was going to start "price-matching." But I never did (again, its a bit of work and prep).

Then one day I heard about Ibotta. Its an app on your phone where you scroll through pictures and click on the things you're going to buy, and then scan the barcodes on those items when you get home, and scan the receipt, and CHA-CHING, money into your account.

I use it, I love it. I've gotten back over $270 dollars in the year or two that I've been using it!
Seeeeeeee:

Nobody is quitting their job over a couple hundred dollars, but hey, its free money! And with very minimal effort (its kind of fun to scan the stuff actually!). Plus, its on items and brands that I always buy, like bananas, yogurt, Triscuits, toilet paper, frozen pizzas, deli meats, you name it!

Use my affiliate link HERE to download the app and automatically get $10 added to your account when you scan your first rebate!

Here's how you do it:

1 - download the app and set up your account
2 - pick the store you shop at and scroll through to see what rebates are available.
3 - click on the rebates you think you'll use, and answer the question or whatever it prompts
4 - shop like normal!
5 - when you get home, click "verify purchases" and scan the items you bought
6 - scan your receipt
7 - Done!

Ibotta will add the money to your account (usually within 24 hrs) and then you can transfer it to your paypal or venmo, or cash it out to a gift card.

I'm going to cultivate a "Can't Do" attitude

2017-01-30T21:17:00.001-08:00

I feel overwhelmingly antsy lately. I want so badly to DO something. Well, let me be more clear: I want to DO something that makes me a lot of money. I want to make stuff that tons of people want to buy, or make amazing videos that go viral! Or write a book that people buy! Or land an amazing partnership with a company I love. Or have people buy stuff from the links I post. Or have a YouTube channel that makes thousands of dollars a month!

Perhaps my parents were too generous in their praise and encouragement growing up. Perhaps I have an unrealistic perception of my talents and abilities. Perhaps I've watched too many episodes of Shark Tank. Perhaps Pinterest and YouTube has made learning new things too easy, too accessible. My husband is probably right that I have, as he so politely puts it, "a time-management problem." And I definitely spend too much time on social media, observing all the amazing talents and hobbies of my friends (and people I stalk).

The annoying thing is that I know any of those things are possible! I have friends that are doing those things! You can do anything, if you put your mind to it! ...blech.

But the time has come to face the facts. It's time to stop thinking stupid stuff. I need to start cultivating a "can't do" attitude.

I can't make awesome recipe videos, like Tasty and my other food blogger friends. I don't have the camera equipment set up, and the lighting perplexes me. I don't know how to edit my videos together. And even if I did, its a whole other ballgame getting them optimized and uploaded correctly. The time it would take to research what equipment I need, and they how to pay for the equipment I need is overwhelming. Yes, I know my phone does video (if I delete some stuff first), but I still don't know how to make it look good. If I can't make my videos look halfway decent by the third attempt, I'm out. I can't do awesome recipe videos.

I can't produce makeup or hair tutorial videos. This is related to the above recipe videos, but add on that I can barely get ready by myself, there is no way I'll be able to video that uninterrupted, thanks toddler. Also, do I look at the mirror? Or the camera? Or myself? Ahh... I'm flustered just thinking about it. Plus, I'm pretty sure everyone knows how to put their hair in a ponytail and smear on some BB cream and mascara, which is about where my expertise ends.

Let's face it, I can't start some sort of clothing line or boutique. I have absolutely zero contacts in China to get the manufacturing going. And even if I did find someone, I don't have a couple thousand laying around the finance a bulk order. I can sew, but not clothes. So that's out.

I can't make 6 figures working from home. My laptop is almost 7 years old, I don't have a nanny or maid or husband that is home for more than 30 minutes before the kids go to bed. I'm on my phone too much as it is, I can't add an online business to that without my battery dying 4 times a day (which is 2 times more than usual). I just don't see it happening.

I can't. That's not my life. This isn't my season. And that's ok.

I'm going to stop driving myself crazy with the things "I could do" and focus on what I AM doing. Raising kids, keeping my marriage happy, serving in my church, saving money, and playing around with fabric when I get a free afternoon. And writing, which will hopefully start making me millions of dollars...

Books for Frugal-Minded Mamas

2017-01-26T17:59:00.000-08:00

Doesn't it feel like money is just flying out the window in December? I'm glad when January rolls around, and we can reign things back in, and re-commit to doing better with our finances.

I am definitely a natural spender. I love stocking my pantry, making sure the kids are all set in the clothes, shoes and jammies department, I love buying makeup and spending good money on a good haircut and color. I love finding new ways to organize and decorate my home, and I can't get out of Target for less than $50. On a good day. Or does that make it a bad day? Hmm...

So I'm the kind of girl who needs constant reminders to be smart about my money. I've read The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, and try to listen to a few of his podcasts every couple weeks, to keep me motivated and thinking smart. If you haven't read his book, it is a MUST. The man knows what he's talking about.

But sometimes its good to hear it from a woman's perspective. Preferably one who reeeeeally understands how wonderful it is to buy nice things and have a comfortable home. So I've compiled a list of my favorite frugal mama books that will give us all a bit of a nudge (or kick in the pants!) in the right direction.

The links below are to Amazon, but you should probably check them out from your library, FOR FREE instead! haha

"Love Your Life Not Theirs" by Rachel Cruze - It was great to get the Dave Ramsey stuff from a woman's perspective (his daughter!). Its a fantastic compliment to the Total Money Makeover, but has enough meat and info to stand alone as well. I read it in 2 days!

"Living Well, Spending Less" by Ruth Sokup - This book had so many actionable tips and suggestions. Easy to read and entertaining!

"The Spender's Guide to Debt-Free Living" by Anna Newell Jones

"Slaying the Debt Dragon" by Cherie Lowe

"The Recovering Spender" by Lauren Greutman

Gift Ideas for Tweens and Girls

2016-12-07T07:13:00.000-08:00

Here are some fresh gift ideas for tweens and older girls:
(post contains affiliate links)

Mermaid sequin pillow are calming and addictive. Pet it one way, and its one color, brush your hand the other way and the sequins flip to another color. Draw designs or words. Or just sit and pet it.

Klutz Plushie sewing kit has everything you need to make adorable little food plushies.

Karaoke Machine plus a couple CD+Gs like this one or this one, and your little singer will be belting out Taylor Swift and Moana to her hearts content!

Emoji Shoes Quirky without being tacky.

Razor Jetts Heel Wheels Scooter/heelys/skates all rolled into one new product. (pun! ha!)

Instax camera the updated Polaroid camera.

Unicorn Rainbow Tape Dispenser would be the jewel of her desktop.

Fairy Garden Kit for the girl with the imagination. Give it with a copy of the classic book, The Fairy Rebel or the lovely Complete Book of Flower Fairies.

Boogie Boards are fun for practicing cursive and spelling words.

Klutz Room Design Book Furniture and decor stickers with layouts for your budding interior designer.

Trolls keychain Cute movie with cute characters.

American Girl Sticker Book She's got the dolls, and this sticker book is awesome!

Meals out of $1 loaf of French bread

2016-10-16T19:03:00.001-07:00

My love for French bread goes way back. Back to when I was in high school, and I would (no joke!) stop at Albertson's on my way home from school and buy a loaf of fresh hot French bread and eat it on the drive home. Literally, sat it on the passengers seat, tore off big ol chunks of it, and ate all the squishy soft bread until it was basically hollowed out.

Yep. Obviously, I was one of the cool kids...

These days, I still buy a loaf pretty much every time I go to the store, but my kids won't let me eat all myself. haha

I'm all about stretching a buck. Here's ten ways to make dinner with a loaf of $1 French bread.

French Toast
Shrimp Po'Boys
Deli Subs
French Bread Pizza
Chicken Stuffed French Bread
Meatball Subs
Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches
Fiesta Taco Bread
Sloppy Joe French Bread Pizza
Pioneer Woman's Olive Bread

Of course, French bread is a fantastic way to stretch a meal as well. It goes with pasta dishes, soups, comfort food, etc. Did I miss anything? Comment and let me know!

Must-haves for shoulder-length hair

2015-09-29T08:51:00.001-07:00

A few months ago I made a drastic change and cut off about a foot of hair!

Eeek! Last pic with long hair!

Donated to Pantene Beautiful Lengths

On the way home from the salon, in LOVE with my new cut!

I absolutely absolutely love it! I feel so much more polished and ...lighter somehow. And I'm thrilled to report that my ponytails now stay poofy withOUT having to use this tip or this tip. Yay!

It did did take awhile to get the hang of styling it though. After having long hair for like 4 years, it was a whole new ballpark. My amazing stylist suggested four products for my hair type and cut, and I politely thanked her for the advice, but didn't buy any of them, thinking that I already had stuff that would work.

WRONG.

After about 2 weeks of floofy weird hair that wouldn't curl right, I swallowed my pride and ordered the four products:
(Amazon affiliate links for convenience)

1. Simply Smooth Magic Potion conditioner
2. Alterna Bamboo Kendi Dry Oil Mist
3. Redken Clear Moisture Shampoo
4. BaByliss 1 inch curling iron

Total game changers. I have a LOT of very fine hair (thick but fine) with some poodle-y waves in the back. That conditioner is MIRACULOUS. I ditched the no-poo a couple years ago, because it wasn't working on my color treated hair. But I still only wash my hair once or twice a week. That conditioner is theeeee best conditioner I have ever used. And I've used a LOT of conditioners. It detangles but leaves zero ZERO residue. It smells amazing, and leaves my hair shiny and not even a smidge weighed down. I highly recommend it. If you haven't noticed... ha.

Those four things finally helped me achieve the glossy piecey bouncy hair I wanted! And combined with the Small Things Blog's videos on curling shoulder length hair, I was finally able to get the wavy look I was going for. (Note, she uses a 1 1/14 Babyliss iron, but I like the 1 inch) The trick, I've found is to curl the hair into ringlets, by keeping the curling iron vertical. Then when you're done curling and you basically feel like Shirley Temple, spray with the dry oil and run your fingers through it to break up the curls. Voila!

VTech InnoTab MAX Review and Giveaway!

2014-11-19T10:21:00.001-08:00

I was provided with an InnoTab MAX from VTech for review, but as always, all opinions are my own.

We've got no shortage of tablets in this house (four!), and my girls love them for movies and games and video calls to relatives. But I'm always a little worried that they're going to stumble across something they shouldn't online, or make some crazy in-app purchase somehow.

So when VTech approached me and asked if I'd like to try out their InnoTab MAX, I jumped at the chance. I love the idea of having a tablet just for kids.

What I love:

Right out of the box, I was able to quickly set up the profiles, one for each kid and one parental profile. As soon as I was done, the girls snatched it away and started playing all on their own! They love the included Art Studio and the cute Toca Boca Pet Vet app. I like that there are plenty of pre-loaded apps, so I don't have to spend an arm and a leg to put enough apps on it to keep them interested.

Its nice to be able to let them play, without worrying that they'll stumble on something inappropriate online, or make any crazy purchases (you know what I'm talking about! Sneaky apps!).

They love having their own profiles, and its easy enough for my 3 year old to switch back and forth. The parent control panel is accessible only with my password, which is comforting.

The attached stylus is great. The girls feel very grown up using it, and I like that they get to practice fine motor skills when using games to trace letters, instead of just using their finger. Its actually real practice for writing!

I also like that its durable and easy to prop up. No flimsy covers or delicate screens. There are grippers on some of the edges, which makes it easier to keep stable.

The apps do a good job of reminding kids what they can do next. If they're drawing in the Art Studio, it will prompt them where they can change to paintbrush or how to start over. The prompting keeps kids engaged.

Paige (3.5 yrs) playing the Toca Boca Pet Vet app, her fav!

Specifics from VTech about the InnoTab MAX (ages 3-9 MSRP $109.99):

VTech’s 4th generation kids’ learning tablet features its fastest processor yet with up to six times the processing power of previous generation and a 7” high-resolution multi-touch screen display
InnoTab MAX features an enhanced 2nd generation version of Premium VTech Kid Connect™, at no additional charge, allowing children and parents to exchange voice and text messages, photos, drawings and fun stickers in real time between the tablet and a smartphone
InnoTab MAX offers the best of both learning worlds with access to more than 650 educator-endorsed, age and stage appropriate learning titles as well as carefully cultivated educational Android apps that can be purchased and downloaded through VTech’s Learning Lodge® app store
The tablet comes with 15 onboard apps including Premium VTech® Kid Connect, My Magic Beanstalk, Movie Maker, Art Studio, Wonder Cam Max, E-Reader with Story Dictionary and more
InnoTab MAX also comes with one free Toca Boca app and two additional free apps that can be downloaded from the Learning Lodge
Other InnoTab MAX features include a built-in rechargeable Lithium battery and kid-safe Wi-Fi so kids can explore appropriate online games, videos and websites that have been pre-selected by VTech
Parental controls allow parents to manage their child’s apps, web access and tablet time, as well as view a progress log

You can also check out these videos from VTech to get an in-depth look at the InnoTab MAX.

To purchase a VTech InnoTab MAX for your family, visit the VTech store here, or you can connect with them on Twitter or Facebook.

Giveaway Time!!!!!

One lucky reader will receive an Innotab MAX, valued at $109.99!

Giveaway is open to US residents who are at least 18 years old. Void where prohibited by law. No Purchase Necessary. Giveaway ends November 22, 2014 at 11:59pm EST. To enter, use the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Quiet bags - for church, appointments, car rides, etc.

2014-09-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

Back in my early parenting days, I used to pack a massive bag to church. I had an extra outfit for the baby, at least a dozen baby toys, books, snacks, diapers, formula, the works. Even when my daughter got a bit older, I still packed a way-too-big bag. Toys, coloring books, multiple snacks, etc. I began to realize that the constant stream of toys and snacks just contributed to her antsy-ness. She had learned that church was a time to make mommy go through her bag of tricks! Not quite what I had in mind for church.

My husband suggested that we go bag-free and see if that helped. But I knew that wasn't practical. I still needed to bring diapers and tissues, and a couple necessities. But he was on to something. We needed to train the girls to be happy with less entertainment.

So I made a small tote bag (about the size of a coloring book), and told Leah it was our special strawberry church bag. And we seriously simplified what we brought to church. It took a couple of weeks of child-torture, but after awhile they adjusted to having less. And they were more quiet and more behaved. For the most part.

So these are some suggestions for what to put in a simple quiet bag. I would suggest bringing 2-3 of these items per week. And maybe a book or two.

2 Color Water Timer - these are mesmerizing, even for adults. My mom still keeps a keychain sized version of this and passes it to fussy babies in church.

Melissa and Doug Water Wow Coloring Book - these books are an awesome non-messy option for little ones who want to color. The marker just uses water, and when the pages dry, the colors disappear, ready for next time! Melissa and Doug make a few different kinds of these, some educational, some for girls and some for boys.

Lacing Cards - Eeboo makes beautiful lacing cards in lots of different themes. Even if little ones aren't coordinated enough to lace them up, they'll certainly enjoy un-lacing them!

Neon Dot Stckers (garage sale dots) - toddlers love stickers, and these are a cheap option, perfect for chubby fingers! You can also draw a quick bunch of circles on a piece of paper for them to practice placing the stickers inside.

Magnetic Tin Scene - my kids love these magnetic tins. We have the house one and the transportation one. They love to put all the magnets on and then take them off again.

Tangle Jr - did you ever play with one of these in a museum gift shop?! Perfect little fidget toy for older kids who are learning to listen, but need to keep their hands busy.

Imagine Ink coloring pad - another awesome no-mess coloring idea. These books come in lots of different characters, and the colors are bright and fun. This is my favorite brand by far!

Crayola Pip Squeaks (skinnies) - these little markers are perfect for throwing in a little zip bag. They take up less room than full sized markers. And, of course, they're washable. Perfect!

Magic Loops - another gift shop fidget toy find! These twist into lots of fun shapes.

Magnetic Storybook - these are another great magnet toy/book option! This brand has a few different themes as well, and the little case up top is perfect for holding all the pieces

Steno Notepad - this is our favorite size notebook for church.

Occasionally we throw in a sticker book or coloring book as well. I've wanted to make some of those laminated file folder games, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

Anything I missed? And I know, there are probably lots of opinions out there, as far as what is "church appropriate" and what is not, and that's totally fine. I've seen families that let their kids bring matchbox cars and Ninja Turtles, and other families only allow one pencil and a small notebook for drawing. To each his own! At the end of the day, we're all just trying to keep our kids quiet at church so we can maybe listen a bit!

Easy Fall Mum Wreath

2014-09-19T19:27:00.000-07:00

I'm a sucker for colorful things. Burlap and neutrals just don't do it for me!

This wreath is definitely heavy on the color, but it can be done in more subdued tones too. I've seen artificial mums in a variety of colors. It might even be fun to do it in college colors, like purple and gold or maroon and white!

This wreath is insanely easy, and doesn't require any skill. Seriously. No hot glue, no fancy bow tying. It comes together quickly, and if you do a bit of couponing, you can do it for super cheap! I made mine for $16 each! I found all of the supplies at Michaels and got a great deal when I used a coupon for the straw wreath (which isn't that expensive anyway :). The mums came in 5 blooms per bunch, and each bunch was on sale for 79 cents! I've seen mums at the dollar store, or nicer/fuller mums at Hobby Lobby. JoAnns also has a nice variety, including a really nice dark plum color.

Supplies:
approx. 65 mum blooms (more or less, depending on the size of the mums)
18" straw wreath
Enough sewing pins for each bloom

How to:
1. First pull all the blooms off their stems, then pull the little plastic cup thingy off the bottom of the bloom head (so it lays flatter to the wreath).

2. Stick a sewing pin through the hole in the center of the mum.

3. Stick into wreath.

3. Repeat! Don't get too hung up trying to do a pattern or whatever, no one will notice. ;) Try to pace yourself so that you have enough mums to go all the way around the front of the wreath. I typically used about three mums across the front of the wreath. I didn't go around the back, they would just get mushed against the door anyway.

That's it! SO easy! Fair warning, your thumb will be a bit sore by the end, after shoving those pins into the wreath. But better than hot glue gun burns, I think!!!

Which version do you prefer? The bold brights or the earth tones?

If you make your own version, tag me on Instagram (@thehowtomom) or on FB so I can see it!

Colorful Craft Room Organization

2014-09-11T10:08:00.000-07:00

Pinterest has opened my eyes to craft room porn. You know what I'm talking about: the crisp white rooms with a funky rug on the floor, cube shelves lined with mason jars filled with rainbowtized buttons. The counter height table in the middle of the room, perfect for cutting fabric, also with cube shelves on the bottom, with rainbowtized bundles of fabric. Closets converted to craft shelves, lined with rainbowtized bottles of acrylic paint... Sigh.

I will say, I am happy to have half of the study for my craft/office space (until baby comes ;). Its waaaaaaaaay better than the spidery unfinished basement that used to be my sewing spot. WAY BETTER. But this room just looks junky. Lots of bins and totes of fabric, paint or odds and ends. Stuff needed to go up on the walls, something functional and also decorative. But I didn't really want to hang a bunch of shelves on the wall, because we're renting. Hanging shelves totally destroys walls.

I considered a pegboard, because those can look cute and crafty, and wouldn't take too many nails to hang up. But when I took inventory of what I could actually hang up, all I could come up with was scissors, and like a cup of markers or something... so a pegboard would be kinda pointless.

While considering what I had, I started thinking about what "collections" I have. What could be put in a rainbowtized display, but that wasn't too heavy to hang...

Thread and spools of ribbon.

Back to Pinterest to find some shelves that were:
1. cheap
2. light
3. easy

Pinterest did not disappoint! I found a thread shelf made with skinny pieces of wood and set out to replicate it in my own way.

I made mine with pieces of pre-primed white lattice wood (44 cents per ft), and cut it at the cutting table at Home Depot into 7 pieces 20 inches long for the shelves, and 2 pieces 16 inches long for the sides (but I would suggest cutting the sides to 18 inches instead), then I measured it out, glued/nailed it together like a ladder (and did not do a very good job at it... sooo many bent nails...) Then I hot glued a piece of white posterboard on the back. I also stuck a row of pins on the top to hold the bobbins. Serendipitously, I had rainbow colored pin heads, and I can put pink bobbins on the pink pin, and green bobbins on the green pin. Love! It all cost me less than $8. Easy! Light! Cheap!

I just attached it to the wall with two thumb tacks. Its probably not level either, but whatever. It was so much fun to put the thread on there, all rainbow-y. So pretty.

I would suggest making the space between the little shelves bigger than I did. It barely holds my "value size" spools. Oops. Also, if I was to do it again, I'd make the bottom shelf with a wider piece of wood, so I could put serger sized spools of thread on it. I did tilt my shelves a bit to help the spools not fall off as easily.

Next came the ribbon shelf made with foam core poster board.

I used 3 pieces of foam core poster board, cut them with an xacto knife (and did a pretty crappy job of keeping the lines straight). There are 7 pieces that are 20x4 for the shelves, and 2 pieces that are 30x4 for the sides. Then the back piece is 20x30 (a whole piece of foam core). I used hot glue to put it together. Again, its not perfect, but it works! Especially for less than $6, you can't beat that! And it was easy, light, cheap!!

I will mention that the picture I used for inspiration had skinny pieces of foam core to finish off the front of each shelf, and to hold the spools in place. It looks really nice that way, nice and finished. But I was dangerously frustrated with my xacto knife and couldn't bring myself to cut 7 more pieces. Soooo, instead I just tilted each shelf a bit to keep the spools from rolling out. Problem solved.

The rest of the room still needs some work. I've got a white IKEA desk on my wish list, with drawers underneath to help minimize the visual clutter. And I'd still love to do something with rainbowtized buttons somehow.

But now, I'm totally going to pin this to my craft room board on Pinterest.

Simple and Quick Chili

2014-09-09T10:32:00.000-07:00

This recipe is a great easy chili. No nurturing a simmering pot all day, adding spices and testing for flavor. Just brown up the beef, and add the other ingredients and simmer. Eeeeeeeeeeasy. Its makes a very mild chili (super kid-friendly), but if you want to add some cayenne powder to give it a bit of a kick, that's ok too!

It is delightful on its own, with cornbread (or under cornbread, like my Cowboy Casserole!), over a baked potato, on top of Fritos, or on a hot dog... the possibilities are endless. Just don't forget the cheese! It also freezes great. I put smaller portions into zip bags and freeze them for lunches or easy dinner.

Simple Chili
thehowtomom.com

1 lb ground beef (or turkey)
1/2 cup onion (use frozen!)
1 (16 oz) can chili beans
1 (8 oz) small can tomato sauce
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 packet of taco seasoning
cayenne pepper (if desired, to taste)

1. Brown meat and cook with onions til tender.
2. Add remaining ingredients, stir, and simmer 10-15 minutes.

Serves 6-8

recipe adapted from Sweet Treats and More

I'm baaaaaack!

2014-09-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

Holy 6 months since I blogged last!

We're all settled in our new home in St Louis. I am loving it here! I love the crazy Midwest storms (even with the tornado warnings and the lightning strike in my front yard!). I love the humidity and how noisy the bugs and frogs are at night (as long as they stay outside). There are so many amazing museums and fun things to do here. And the shopping! Ohhhh the shopping. The people are nice, its GORGEOUS and green and hilly. Its fun to be in a new place, and to have new adventures!

source

As much as I loved living near so much of my family in Utah, its been really good for us to move out here. I've spent the last 6 months thinking less about "me" and more about my little family. I used to spend so much of my time focusing on what I wanted to do, what I needed to get done, errands I needed to run, events I needed to go to. My goals. Me time. Me, me, me. Which is ok, in moderation. But now that I'm away from it, I can see how bad I was letting it get. I was constantly dumping my kids off at my mom's or my sister's so I could do my own thing. So bad. Moving kind of gave me a clean break. I went from working part-time and blogging in (all of) my spare time, to ...just being a mom. Driving kids to and from school, chores around the house, taking the toddler to the park, helping with homework, making dinner. Hanging out. Less about "me" and more about "them." Moving away kind of does that, you go from having a whole network of family and friends to hang out with, that can help watch kids, etc., to just being a tight-knit little family again. Its been a bit of an adjustment, but it has forced me to be more self-reliant. Its been a good thing. I think we'll be very happy here.

But I'm sorry for the 6 month hiatus. I figured I'd take a month off to get settled, but I never really jumped back in. I go back and forth about how I feel about blogging and what it means to be "a blogger." On one hand I very much dislike the narcissistic and superficial side of blogging and social media. Assuming that people are an the edge of their seats just waiting to hear what someone has to say, or what someone is wearing. Ugh. So much time is spent promoting yourself, which makes me feel weird. Some women have thousands of Instagram followers, and just thinking about that gives me an ulcer. So much scrutiny! Anonymity it much more appealing to me. But on the other hand, I do like being helpful. I like sharing good ideas, or quick tips...

Soooo....

I've decided to drop in and say hello today, and open this blog back up for occasional posting. Quick and simple stuff. Helpful and encouraging stuff. Sound good? I'm going to try to stay away from huge projects and elaborate posts. It just takes too much time away from my family. And its not really my thing anyway.

I also have some news (if you follow me on Instagram - @thehowtomom - you probably already know...) I'm pregnant! We're expecting a baby BOY in January. I could tell almost from the very beginning that it was a boy. It's just been a different pregnancy than with my girls. My early symptoms were different, I felt queasy in the evening instead of the morning, I've had frequent headaches (not a single one with my girls!), my skin is different, my hair hasn't stopped falling out ...just random things. And we're thrilled to have a boy! My husband is so excited to not be the lone ranger in a house full of drama anymore. :)

But thankfully, I'm feeling great, and with fall and the holidays right around the corner, I'm feeling inspired to get organized and finish up some projects. (Probably because both my girls are in school, and I have time on my hands!) Be on the look out for easy recipes, simple meal plans, inexpensive beauty tips, and a few quick DIYs! Tomorrow I'm going to try a couple of craft room storage DIYs from Pinterest, and fingers crossed they turn out. Its time to tackle the exploding ugly mess otherwise known as my sewing space.

Boy, it feels good to be back!

Makeup Tips: Best Brow Pencil for Blondes

2014-02-24T13:43:00.001-08:00

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. #WalgreensBeauty #CollectiveBias

I've posted before about how important brows are for your overall look. No matter if you're going for super glam or natural beauty, brows play an important role in defining your face. But lets be honest, girls with brown/black hair have a much easier time finding brow pencils than blondes. Its hard to get that perfect perfect shade. It has to be a light enough brown, without going too orange.

Today I headed to Walgreens to pick up every blonde/taupe pencil I could find. Why Walgreens, you ask? Two reasons:

- They are super convenient - park right out front, and 10 steps later you're in the beauty section. And checking out is super fast, especially if there is an employee at the beauty counter. And if you're hauling kids around, convenience is ultra important.

- And RETURN POLICY! Walgreens lets you buy makeup, take it home and try it, and if you don't like it or the color is weird, or whatever, you can return it (within 30 days) for a refund, even if its been used! Yeah!

And really, look at this makeup wonderland... ahh!

So I grabbed six different blonde brow pencil options (in order of price, one being the most expensive):

Revlon Brow Fantasy Pencil & Gel in Dark Blonde - $8.49
Maybelline Master Shape by EyeStudio in Blonde - $8.29
CoverGirl Perfect Blend Eye Pencil in Smoky Taupe - $5.99
Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in Hazel - $3.79
Jordana FabuBrow Eyebrow Pencil in Taupe - $2.99
Wet N Wild Coloricon in Taupe - $0.99

I drew each one on my hand (you know, like your mom does) to compare the colors and then to test to see which ones would last the longest. Nobody likes having half your eyebrow disappear when you're rough housing with the kids!

I tried on each brand to see what they looked like compared to my natural brow color. I don't like my brows much darker than they already are. Some people love a super strong brow, me not so much. I'm going for polished and classic. I could see a difference in the mirror, but I couldn't get it to show up in pictures. So... we don't need to see 6 more pictures of my face.

Findings

Revlon
color: too orange-y
feel/coverage: too thin
brush/gel: gel is light colored and kinda pointless
long lasting: yes
price: high

Maybelline
color: good
feel/coverage: clumpy/thick
brush: ok
long lasting: no
price: high

CoverGirl
color: good
feel/coverage: smooth
brush: none
long lasting: not as much
price: mid

Rimmel
color: dark
feel/coverage: sharp
brush: ok
long lasting: yes
price: low

Jordana
color: slightly orange-y
feel/coverage: sharp
brush: ok
long lasting: not as much
price: low

Wet N Wild
color: good
feel/coverage: thick
brush: none
long lasting: yes
price: super low

Verdict

For 99 whopping cents, you can't beat Wet N Wild! Good color, smooth application. It is also the longest pencil, meaning it will likely last the longest as well. Honorable mention goes to Rimmel, it scored well, and its nice that it has a little brush.

I have been using the CoverGirl pencil for years now, but I'm happy to switch to Wet N Wild and save some money!

How I do my brows:

So here are my before/after brows with the Wet N Wild pencil, and how I fill them in. I've over-plucked in the past, so I'm trying to grow them out, and filling them in with pencil towards the center until they recover. I think it makes a huge difference, it makes my eyes stand out more and completes my look. My eyebrows are definitely not identical, but oh well.

And now I'm tired of looking at my face on a computer! I could never be a full-blown beauty/fashion blogger, I'd much rather take pictures of my kids and stare at them instead! :)

Hope this helps my blonde friends! Is there another brand that you love that I should try? Tell me in the comments!

Blogging for profit - Where does the money come from?

2014-02-20T20:45:00.001-08:00

This is probably my most often asked question.

"I know you have a blog and you write stuff, but how does that make money??"

Its a bit mind blowing to learn just how much money can be made blogging. There are countless examples of mommy-types starting a blog, and making a full salary from it within a few years. I appreciated reading specific numbers when I was getting started, so I could figure out what to expect and what kind of goals to set. Its slightly awkward to talk about how much money I'm making, but oh well. (See my last post about how I'm an open book, haha.)

So I have been blogging for about 8 months, and currently make money on my blog in a few ways:

Google Ads
See the ads up top and to the right? Those are ads from Google. They handle all of the logistics, you just sign up, add the widget, and you're good to go. Within a few hours, ads start showing up in the boxes. Each time my page gets viewed, I get like a fraction of a penny. Each time one of those babies gets clicked, I get like a quarter. Well, the actual math is a bit more complicated, but that's a rough idea. For the first few months, I was making a few dollars a month. But as my traffic increased, so did my income. Now I'm averaging about $100-$300 per month.

Amazon Associate
Amazon has an AWESOME program for bloggers, where you can place links with tracking codes built in on your blog, and then when someone clicks on them, it places a cookie on their computer. If they buy what you linked, or buy anything else within a certain time frame, you get a percentage of what they spend. Everyone shops on Amazon, so this definitely adds up. Especially if you can think of creative ways to write about products you love and buy on Amazon. There are lots of other companies that have affiliate programs as well. This brings in between $80 and $1k per month for me.

Sponsored posts
There are multiple companies out there specifically set up to organize and manage campaigns for big companies (like Walgreens, Hersheys, Rubbermaid, Kraft, etc) with bloggers. You have to apply and be pretty established before they accept you. Many of them require you to have at least 3-6 months of steady blogging before you are eligible. Once you're accepted to the group, you apply for individual campaigns. If you're chosen, you receive specific instructions (go buy this item, and then create a recipe using it, and take this many pictures and promote it in this many places, etc). These can pay very well. I typically get paid between $75 and $300 per campaign. Plus they reimburse you for the products you have to buy.

All of these either get direct deposited or deposited into my PayPal account and then I transfer them to my checking account. Its real money! :)

There are other ways to earn money from blogging, and other companies that do affiliate links and ads, but those three are my main revenue streams. I do intend on tweaking a few things (stacking my ads, creating a YouTube channel, more affiliate programs) and expanding my revenue streams in the near future. Perhaps one of the best ways to earn money from blogging is to promote your own products like ebooks, services or Etsy shops. My friend Bonnie at Hobby to Hot is a huge fan of creating an informational product (like an ebook), and she has tons of great resources about how to get started on it.

I'll be honest, this all takes time. And there is a lot to learn! A LOT. Can I say it again? A LOT. You can't expect to start a blog and be making hundreds within the month. It just doesn't happen. You have to publish good content consistently, promote it on social media, and be willing to do it over and over for awhile before seeing profits. I fully intended on plugging away on my blog for like a year, before I expected to make money. Everything I read said that it takes about that long. Hard work and time. I really lucked out and started seeing some profits after about 4 months. At 6 months, I had made enough to quit my part-time job. But I am probably the exception to the rule. Plan on more like a year. But its totally do-able!

Any questions? Comment below and ask!

Other posts in the series:
Are you right for the job?
How do I get started? (coming soon)

PERK Vent Wrap Auto Air Freshener GIVEAWAY!

2014-02-12T13:36:00.001-08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PERK for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

PERK sent me a box of Vent Wrap car fresheners to try: New Car, Lush Valley and Golden Vanilla.

So I tried the New Car scent first. Quick story, I've been wanting to upgrade to a minivan for a while now (I want to participate in the neighborhood carpool!). So last week, I got to test drive and take home a brand new minivan for a few days. It was leather, fully loaded, everything. Ohhhh it was glorious. But we decided now wasn't the time to buy it. Sigh. So the New Car scent in my old car helped soothe my pain. A bit.

The first day, I'm not going to lie, the scent was pretty strong. But by the second/third day it was perfect. Just a hint of fragrance. But nothing that makes your nose burn or lingers on your clothes after you get out of the car. I know you know what I'm talking about...

I liked that the PERK Vent Wraps are a vent air freshener, and they aren't messy at all. No oils or anything to spill. Just unwrap it and slip it over one of the flaps on the vent. And they have StediScent – for fragrance that is just right and lasts for about 2 weeks.

Do you see it? Nice and discreet. And I can still adjust the vents like normal.

I'm fortunate to have a husband who takes really good care of our cars. Most Saturday mornings he is gassing up, washing and cleaning out our cars. Consequently, our cars don't really have much of a "smell" to them. But with kids, that smell can creep up on you. Especially if you've ever had a kid puke in their carseat (which we have, multiple times). Or if you get stuck driving the neighborhood soccer carpool (luckily I haven't had to deal with that yet!). Its nice to have a discreet option for hiding any yucky smells.

You can get PERK Vent Wraps wherever they sell car air fresheners: Advance Auto Parts, Walmart, Target, etc. Try them!

Like PERK on Facebook

AND I thought it might be fun to give one of my readers 6 MONTHS of free PERK Vent Wraps! Its easy to enter, just use the Rafflecopter below! (US Residents, 18 or older) Contest ends Feb 15 at midnight! Winner will be notified via email. Good luck!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Easy and girly Valentine - sweet and simple!

2014-02-11T10:15:00.000-08:00

We are all about simple and girly in this house! Last year (pre-blogging days) we whipped up these cute Valentines for my daughter's preschool party. She loooooved using the foam stickers and gems to decorate the wings. I loved that I didn't have to print anything out, and that they cost like $2 for the whole thing, but were still unique and personalized. We originally used craft foam for the wings, but I found these cute pre-cut butterflies at the dollar store this year, and they are perfect! Last year we tried to glue googly eyes onto the Dum-Dums, but since the wrapper is waxy, they all fell off. This year we're opting for eyes drawn on with a Sharpie.

Easy! And cheap! And fun! My kind of project.

Easy and yummy breakfast for kids

2014-02-10T07:28:00.002-08:00

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Jimmy Dean, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #RedboxBreakfast http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.

My little girl is notorious for asking for more food within like an hour of breakfast/lunch/dinner. Regardless of how much she ate. I suppose she probably has a high metabolism or something, but its still annoying. I do not like getting everything cleaned up and put away, just to have her ask for something else to eat. Grrr...

Before she started kindergarten, she basically ate two breakfasts, a bowl of cereal when she woke up (she fixed it herself), and then "second breakfast" was a few pieces of toast and some fruit an hour or so later (which she could not fix for herself, and would ask me to do it when I was in the middle of trying to get ready... great).

But now that she's in school, she usually eats a bowl of cereal, then heads off to school, and by the time I go to pick her up (half day kindy), she is practically in tears and begging me to stop somewhere for lunch because she's "Soooooo hungry!"

I've wanted to figure out something heartier for her to eat, but something that I could make quickly, and wouldn't make a huge mess. I hate starting the day off with a bunch of pans and plates in my sink!

So I jumped at the chance to try Jimmy Dean's Redbox breakfasts. and I picked up a few boxes from Walmart in the frozen breakfast foods aisle. I grabbed the Jimmy Dean Meat Lover's breakfast bowl because hello 24g of protein!

It was super easy to make, I just slit a hole in the plastic wrap, cooked in the microwave for 2 minutes, stirred and then cooked for another minute. I love cheese, so I was expecting to have to add more cheese, but didn't have to. It was surprisingly cheesy.

Leah commented on how yummy it smelled while it was cooking, and after the first bite, she said, "Oh mom, this is good!" and proceeded to eat most of the rest of it. With the leftovers, I grabbed a tortilla and made a quick burrito for her to eat on the go.

Being a former Texan, I love a good breakfast burrito. And the Jimmy Dean Meat Lover's Breakfast Bowl was the perfect filling for a breakfast burrito! Potato, egg, sausage, bacon and cheese perfection. And it was faster and WAY less messy than making it from scratch.

Want my secret for kids and burritos? I use a clean hair band to keep it together. Clever, right?

Breakfast problem solved. An easy and filling breakfast for my kindergartener, without making a mess in my kitchen! I tossed the bowl in the trash when she was done, and she didn't ask for anything til lunch. Its a miracle! Thank you Jimmy Dean!

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Gooey Butter Cake - And a big announcement!

2014-02-06T17:20:00.001-08:00

Guess what ...no I'm not pregnant. We're moving! My husband accepted a great job in St Louis and we're moving out there this month! CRAZY!

In honor of our pending move, I decided it was time to share this sinfully delicious recipe for a St Louis classic dessert: Gooey Butter Cake.

The crust is slightly chewy, the filling is sweet and gooey with a slight sugary crackle on top. Oh, its gooooood. I usually have a high tolerance for dessert consumption, but this stuff is so sweet and rich, even I have to pace myself.

I brought some to share with my co-workers today (last day of work, woo-hoo!) and they begged for the recipe. So here it is girls!

Gooey Butter Cake
The How To Mom

Crust
1 box yellow cake mix
1 stick butter, softened or melted
1 egg

Filling
1 package cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter, softened or melted
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 c powdered sugar

Mix crust ingredients well, and then pour into 9x13 pan, and pat down to form a crust.
For filling, cream together butter, cream cheese, egg and vanilla. Add in powdered sugar and mix well.
Pour on top of crust, and spread evenly.
Bake 40-50 mins at 350. Do not overbake, you want the center to be slightly gooey.
Cool thoroughly (its really messy when its warm, but sets up as it cools to room temperature).
Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar, if desired.

Blogging for profit - Are you right for the job?

2014-02-04T16:39:00.002-08:00

I've had quite a few friends ask about how I'm making money with my blog, and others say that they've wanted to do something similar, but didn't know where to start. I wouldn't consider myself a blogging expert or anything, considering I started this blog only 7 months ago. But I've learned a lot (A LOT!) during that time, and I'm happy to share my knowledge!

I have had a bit of luck (getting a big share from on huge FB page), a LOT of help from blogging friends, and the rest has been a mixture of hard work and being well-suited for the job.

So maybe I'll start from there - what makes a person well-suited to blog for profit.

Blogging/HTML experience
This isn't a requirement, but it certainly helps. I posted fairly regularly on our little family blog (you know, when they were popular, like 2007-2010). Around that same time, I also launched a bow business and created the website entirely by tweaking a blog to make it look like a shop. So I had a fairly good grasp on HTML and blogger. I am certainly not a pro, AT ALL. But I kinda understand it, at least enough to google most problems and figure it out. It really helps to know how websites work.

Not a stranger to social media
Blogging requires being active on all the social media networks. All of them. I was active on FB, Pinterest and Instagram, and I knew I wouldn't be starting from total scratch, support-wise, when I launched my blog. It helps to be the type of person that likes interacting on social media, and also has lots of people that interact with them (lots of likes and comments).

Actually enjoy writing
For those who dreaded writing assignments in school, blogging might not be a good fit. Writing is therapeutic for me, and something I've always done a lot of. My emails can be embarrassingly long and wordy. The idea of having a place to satisfy that need to write was appealing.

Has given blogging a lot of thought
You'll want to position yourself for a good start. I wanted to create a place where I could write what I enjoy, what others would find helpful, and also what would be popular. Not popular as in "trendy," but popular as in "would appeal to a wide audience." I knew what my strengths were, and what my writing style was, and when I finally settled on "The How To Mom" everything just clicked.

Very observant
You need to be able to clearly see what works and what doesn't. I knew that I would probably want to write some thoughtful/personal pieces, and some might have the potential to go viral on FB, but I also knew that Pinterest was going to be my number one source of traffic, so I began to really observe and evaluate what types of pins work on Pinterest, and what flops. What things get pinned vs what gets clicked on. People have done studies to see what images/text combos work better than others. I knew that even though I might have a fantastic article written, if I don't have a good image to go with it, it will never take off.

Willing to talk
I am kind of an open book. I have no problem talking about my issues or challenges or personal things with friends. It just doesn't really bother me. I'm human, they're human. Let's talk about it! But blogging is not for the faint of heart. You're putting yourself, your ideas, your heart out there for the whooooole internet. Its scary! And people can be straight mean. I try to stick to "safe" topics, but hopefully as I get tougher, I can publish the pieces that might be more controversial.

Okay with spending 40+ hours a week on the computer
Blogging is TIME CONSUMING. I'm not even exaggerating about 40+ hours. I probably spend closer to 60 hours on the computer each week. But I've always spent a lot of time online, now I just get paid for it, hehe. I'm a bit of a night owl, so I don't mind staying up and writing or editing photos for hours after my family goes to sleep. Its therapeutic and satisfying for me.

A bit of the entrepreneurial spirit
I've had a few other business ventures in the past, and I like being able to make a bit of money on the side. My mind is always on the lookout for a good idea, or a way to make money while staying home. I like the satisfaction I get from creating something and making money off of it.

So that all being said, I'm sure there are amazingly successful bloggers out there with completely different talents and interests than me. And there are things that I wish I was better about (ahem... time management, photography skills, photoshop skills) that would be really helpful as a blogger. There is room for all types in the blogging world. But hopefully this gives you some things to think about as you decide if blogging is right for you.

Any questions? Comment below and ask!

Other posts in the Blogging for Profit series:
Where does the money come from?
How do I get started?

Pei Wei reFRESH and $25 gift card giveaway!

2014-02-03T19:14:00.000-08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pei Wei Asian Diner for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I'm so excited to offer one of MY readers a $25 gift card to Pei Wei! (Giveaway ended!)

I ate at Pei Wei this past weekend with my mom and sister (without kids = awesome!). They had eaten there a few times before, but somehow I never had. When I was offered the chance to try it AND give away a gift card, of course I said YES!

Do we look like sisters? :)

Pei Wei offers a menu of fresh, high-quality Asian cuisine. Everything is fresh, hand-cut and made-to-order, which is great for those who are gluten-free or vegetarian. I was pleasantly surprised at the prices, especially with the addition of the new smaller sized entrees starting at $6.39. I thought it would be really small, so we ordered an extra entree just in case. Turns out that the smaller size is perfect for one person. The wok'd entrees come with white or brown rice, making it a full meal! Explore the Pei Wei Asian Diner menu and see what sounds good to you!

I chose the new Wok Roasted Vegetable Salad - roasted cauliflower, zucchini, carrots, green beans over lettuce with a miso vinaigrette? Right up my alley! It was SO good.

My sister usually orders the Sweet and Sour Chicken, but decided to try the new Thai Lime & Chile Chicken with brown rice this time. It was only a hint of spicy, and the sweet and citrus-y flavors made it delicious. I may have swiped a few bites of it while she wasn't looking, hehe.

At the last minute, I decided to also try their new Ginger Orange Edamame. Oh. My. I like steamed edamame, but these were divine. Orange peel, ginger, garlic and sea salt ...yum! I'm already trying to figure out how to make a copy-cat version at home.

I want YOU to be able to go try all their FRESH new menu choices, and so I'm offering one $25 gift card to one of MY lucky readers! Just leave a comment on this blog post stating why you love Pei Wei!

Giveaway ~~ends Thursday, February 6 at noon MST~~, HAS ENDED! Winner will be chosen randomly and notified in the comments and announced on The How To Mom's Facebook page. Open to US residents only.

Like Pei Wei on Facebook
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Follow Pei Wei on Pinterest

Waves for days

2014-01-31T06:54:00.001-08:00

A little over a year ago, I decided to go from washing my hair every day, to washing it every 5 days. It is glorious to not have to wash, comb out, blow dry and style my hair everyday. Well, lets be honest, I washed it every day, and usually blew it dry and sometimes styled it. And I dreaded getting ready every morning, knowing that it was going to take at the minimum 45 minutes.

Not anymore! Now I wash it once every 5 days. Its wonderful. The only way I can handle going 5 days between washing my hair is by curling it all nice and pretty on the first day. I've tried lots of ways to do curls, and I like the look of this technique the best. When I curl it the traditional way, it looks kinda ringlet-y or it just curls the bottom. Not the look I'm going for. I like the look of flat iron curls, but I just couldn't get the hang of it, and I was worried I was going to completely melt my hair. The no-heat techniques just make my hair look kinky. I like more of a real curl. A beachy tousled curl.

Here's how I do it.
(Thanks to my husband for taking my pics. He's a saint. And how's my "don't look at the camera" blogger face? I think I nailed it. haha)

My hair is quite thick and its getting long, but this technique looks great on all types of hair. I think its really cute on shorter hair, when it looks piece-y and fun.

I start by blow drying my hair and then putting it in a bun for awhile to get the waves going and to tame the frizzies a bit. An hour or two is good, but I'll do it for even 20 mins if I can. Its best to do it right after you finish blow drying it, while the hair is still warm.

Then I put it half up, so that the curls on top are curled closer to the root. I use a small clip to hold it in place.

I just use a regular 1 1/4 in curling iron (you know, the Conair one we've all had since high school!). I bend the little resting bar back so its out of the way. I've considered curling wands, but I really like the look I get from my regular curling iron.

So I hold the curling iron in the hand opposite of the side I'm working on, and then wrap my hair around the barrel from the top to the bottom. (Hello grumpy face! Oh man. I'll agree, it takes some coordination/practice.) The less hair you curl at a time, the curlier it is. If you want really loose, beachy waves, use larger sections. I like doing smaller sections around my face and on the top sections.

I wrap it to the end and hold it for a few seconds, being careful to not burn my fingers. It's ok if the hair twists a bit and doesn't lay perfectly flat on the curling iron. It just adds more texture.

Then I position my hand underneath the curling iron to catch the curl. I let it rest (and kinda bounce it) in my hand to let it cool. This helps the curl not stretch out. It makes a big difference, trust me!

Then I go around my whole head, switching hands when I get to the other side of my head. Then I let the top section down and curl it the same way.

I spray it a bit to help the curls hold.

To keep it wavy for 5+ days
I always always always put it in a bun on the top of my head while I sleep. Then in the morning, I put a shower cap on (I like this one) when I shower, and when I'm getting dressed, I just take it out of the bun and usually run my fingers through it a bit and maybe brush it a little, and I'm good to go! On the third or fourth day, I use a bit of dry shampoo (my recipe here) around my face to help with kinks/greasies. The curls fall out quite a bit by the fourth/fifth day, but the waves are still pretty.

Simple Heart Garland with Duck Brand® Tape

2014-01-29T09:19:00.001-08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Duck Brand provided by ShurTech Brands, LLC for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I'm trying to build up my stash of holiday decorations, so this year for Valentine's Day, I wanted to make a couple of quick and easy projects. I've been wanting a cute heart garland for awhile, but hadn't decided on how I wanted to do it. I knew it needed to be sturdier than paper (hello, little hands pulling on it nonstop!), but I knew that sewing would be a lot more work than I was ready to commit to.

So what could I use that was sturdier than paper, but wouldn't fray like fabric, but still came in cute colors and prints... Duck Brand® Tape!

I found all these cute patterns that would be perfect for a Valentine’s Day craft: white, red, hot pink, silver, animal/kiss print and my favorite: the zebra-print hearts!

I decided to stick with red and the zebra print for my garland, but I think I'll make a red/pink/white/silver one next!

How to make your own Duck Brand® Tape Heart Garland

1. Measure and cut the length of string for where you want to hang the garland.

2. For each heart, cut a 5 inch piece of tape.
3. Then lay the string over the tape, about 1/4 of the way up from the bottom.
4. And carefully fold the tape in half.
5. Then cut a "v" in the bottom.
6. And cut a lower case "m" on the top.

Repeat as many times as needed. I spaced my hearts about 3-4 inches apart.

I love how it turned out! I added a couple little Valentines Items to the table and it's perfect!

I hadn't played with Duck Brand® Tape much before this, but am already thinking about more uses for it. Duck Brand® is on Twitter with lots of fun ideas. My 6 year old is in love with the hot pink tape and wants to make a purse with it. I think we might start with a coin pouch and go from there! haha

Balance Play Dough

2014-01-22T11:21:00.000-08:00

I posted awhile back about the amazing play dough recipe we use. Its a great recipe (perfectly squishy!), and we make it even more fun with a healthy dose of glitter.

Well, this week we took things one step further!

I decided to make some special "Balance" play dough, using doTERRA's Balance essential oil that "creates a sense of calm and well-being" and "promotes tranquility and a sense of balance."

Heavens knows we need more calm of in this house full of girls!

I simply added about 6-8 drops of Balance to the dough, after it cooled. Who knows if it was because of the Balance or just my lucky stars, but the girls did play nicely together with it while I took a shower! After they were done playing with it, I put the dough in a airtight container to keep it nice and soft.

I also want to make some Lavender play dough, and maybe a pale orange Citrus Bliss play dough as well. With glitter of course!!

To get your own bottle of Balance, check out my friend Sarah at oilRN.com. Oh, and keep an eye out on my Instagram (@thehowtomom), for an upcoming giveaway from me and @theOilRN!

FROZEN Elsa Cape and Anna Cloak DIY Tutorial

2014-01-18T07:39:00.000-08:00

On a scale of one to ten, my girls love Disney's FROZEN an 11. Maybe even 12. It just so works out that my oldest has white blond hair, and youngest has more strawberry blonde. My own little Elsa and Anna! They play FROZEN all the time, and ask me to play the "Do You Want to Build A Snowman" song from the soundtrack, so they can act it out, complete with knocking on the door and laying on the floor, pretend crying during the sad part. Its quite entertaining.

Last weekend we went on a bit of a FROZEN shopping spree and bought an Anna and Elsa doll, along with some fabric. I thought maybe a flowing Anna cloak and shimmery Elsa cape for my girls to wear would make playing pretend even more fun.

And I was right! They love them. Yeah, they aren't exactly like the ones in the movie, but hey ... I made them in like 15 minutes. A fair trade, I'd say!

To make each Cloak/Cape

You'll need about 1 1/4 yard of each fabric (1 yard if its 60"). I found these fabrics at Walmart, the shimmery blue (for Elsa) was around $4/yd, and the raspberry (for Anna) was on clearance for $1.50/yd. The silver and gold 5/8in ribbons were also at Walmart. They were exactly what I had in mind!

1. Since these are just for dress-up, I wanted them to be as simple as possible. I left the selvage edges (the factory finished edges) as they were and then just serged the two raw edges to control fraying. The shimmery blue didn't hold the serge very well (since its so thinly woven), so I ended up hemming them as well. But the raspberry was fine just serged. You could hem them if you don't have a serger. But if your friend has one, maybe you could ask her pretty please to serge it for you, it helps control the fraying.

2. Then I ran a gathering stitch (longest stitch length) along the top to gather the cloak/cape. For the shimmery blue (Elsa), I gathered it close to the top. For the raspberry (Anna), I wanted about 8-10 inches to fold over to make it look more like the real cloak from the movie, so I measured down from the top 8-10 inches and did my gathering seam there.

3. Then I gathered it to the right neck-size for my girls (about 12 inches), tied the threads on the ends so it would stay the right length.

4. Lastly, I pinned the ribbon on top of the gathered seam and sewed it down with a zig-zag stitch. Make sure you back-stitch and secure the ends really well.

Then the best part: Watching them twirl around, singing along with "Let it Go" from the soundtrack!

You can find the Elsa and Anna dolls here and here.

My friend, Tia at Events to Celebrate has some super cute FROZEN party ideas if you're little Anna or Elsa has a birthday coming up!