Lego Building Challenge #1 - Supermarket (Wegman's anyone?!)

Summer is here!  Time is aplenty.  Challenge your little (or big) builder with a Lego theme for the day.  If you have to, break apart all of those old creations that have been gathering dust and start fresh!  Need some inspiration for themes!? Check back every Monday for a new building challenge!

Lego Building Challenge #1 - Supermarket

Old-Fashioned Learning Fun, Inspired by the Delaware Children's Museum

Last week, we went to the Delaware Children's Museum in Wilmington, DE.  It resides in a huge warehouse that used to be home to a bar / restaurant back when we were in college.  I will tell you - the museum is a GIANT upgrade.  At $10 a ticket with AAA, it was a GREAT value.  We were there for three hours, and we could've stayed for more.  Because my right shoulder seems to sag below my left shoulder due to the gargantuan weight of my pocketbook, I didn't bring my camera.  But, we got tons of good ideas for low-tech, old-school summer activities as a result of exploring the museum.

Three Songs to Get You Pumped on a Monday Morning!

It's Monday morning.  If you're in the North East, it's been a gloomy weekend.  We are waiting for that strange yellow ball called the "sun" to grace our presence.

It's time to turn to YouTube to get me pumped up....   But what are my songs of choice?

First up, Can't Hold Us by Macklemore -


If this song by the Thrift Shop guy doesn't get your head moving, I'm not sure what will!  This video has had 45 MILLION views, and I think 1,000,000 of them might be mine!


Then, try a little "Keep Your Head Up", by Andy Grammer....

This song is just plain positive and has a great beat.



And, last....  "Troublemaker" by Olly Murs

I think Olly Murs was a British X Factor winner.  I'm not saying this song is going to change the world or has a special message, but it's crazy catchy!

What gets you going on a Monday morning?

Monday Morning Laughs from Wise Auntie Pinterest....

It's Monday morning, and I rounded up some laughs from wise auntie Pinterest to get you going!

And, finally Ryan Gosling just wants you to know....

Happy Monday!!!  Forward this e-mail or send this link to someone who might need a laugh :)

Some Friday Inspiration, thanks to wise Aunt Pinterest!

 

Low-Tech Fun: Hand-Made Collages for ALL Ages

As I've mentioned before, we receive a million magazine subscriptions, thanks to the various rewards programs we participate in.  We read them, pass them on, keep them, recycle them... you name it.  It was snowing here last week and we were looking for something fun to do.  I spied a Better Homes & Gardens laying around and an idea sprang to mind.  It was collage-time!

This project is fun and simple, yet allows you to reap many rewards....

For Your Back Pocket...

SIX Things You Need to Know About the City of Motherly Love

Maybe you've been with us since the beginning (thank you!), or maybe we've just met (nice to meet you!)...  Either way, here are six things you need to know about the City of Motherly Love! 

Completely Free Subscription to Better Homes & Gardens Magazine

Here's a completely free subscription for one year to Better Homes & Gardens.  You don't need to provide a credit card and you won't be billed.  I've done this offer before, and it's legit!  Unfortunately, a subscription does not mean that your house or garden will automatically look like those featured in the magazine, but they're purdy to look at!

Here's how to sign up....

Turning Lemons into Lemonade - What I Did with TWELVE Year Old Bottled Water!!!

Last week, my son and I were cleaning out our hallway closet and we made a discovery - Two 1 gallon bottles of water.  That doesn't sound bad, does it?  Well, they had been purchased in 2001!!  That's right, 12 years ago!  We were all still listening to N'Sync, watching Moulin Rouge, and loving Jack Bauer on 24.  I had purchased the bottles right after September, 2011, in an effort to be prepared.  Without realizing it, they endured two moves in multiple counties and were with me when I got married and bought a house.  Sniff sniff.  

Yes, that says "EXPIRATION DATE: 2003"

Well, last week I realized that it was time to let them go.  But it seemed like a sin to waste that water!  What to do?

Tales from the DIY Junkyard: What You Can Learn from Scrapping Projects

Today, I'd like to introduce a new series of posts that I'll be writing from time to time.... Tales from the DIY Junkyard! 

Despite my best efforts, sometimes a project just doesn't work. It's okay to admit it. In a lot of ways, the internet and parenting magazines are empowering, because they offer new and creative ideas. On the other hand, they can get you down, because everything looks so perfect and simple. "Look... an heirloom afghan in two easy steps!" But, like we tell our kids, things are not always as advertised.

It's easy to get discouraged thinking that people are born Martha Stewarts.  Even Martha has had some DIY disasters, I promise you. Who knows? Maybe she had a few bad starts to those prison ponchos she made and had to turn them into washcloths, instead.

And, it's not just DIY projects that can go bust... Some home organization ideas can actually make things messier, new recipes can be awful, and birthday cakes can be accidentally dropped on the floor (true story). Instead of locking these stories up in the shame vault, let's be loud and proud! Sometimes, you can learn more from failed projects than successful ones.


On that note, may I present to you: "Bailing on the Recipe Binder"

Stuff That Makes Me Happy - One Kings Lane

Have you subscribed to e-mails from One Kings Lane?  If so, you know where I'm going with this.... Now, I have to admit, I've never bought anything from there (not yet!).  For now, it's just pure eye candy.   One Kings Lane assembles themed e-mails, filled with household goodies for sale.  This most recent one is making like Calgon, and taking me away!

I've always loved beachy themed, tropical things, and a lot of my artsy projects have followed that path.  When I was growing up, my parents kindly painted my bedroom closet doors the brightest turquoise upon my request, and I still love that color to this day!

These towels are making me want to go buy two canvasses and get to work!

Here are some of my favorite things I'm looking at today....  The colors and patterns are so inspiring... They make me want to get out there and create.  What do you think?  What gets you going?

City of Motherly Love Block Party - Week #1

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A Completely New Way to Look at Resolutions

Happy New Year to everyone, from the City of Motherly Love!  I hope your holiday season was filled with all good things (including an abundance of chocolate).

Now that the New Year is here, so is the pressure to make resolutions.  I used to make all of the standard ones, like "Lose weight", "Exercise 4 times a week", "Learn a New Language" or "Organize the House."  You know - very specific promises that ain't gonna happen, which results only in feeling bad about ourselves.

A few years ago, I read some awesome advice about to completely change the way we approach resolutions...

Such a cool idea - I wish I'd thought of it!!!!

With help from other creative mommies, Ashley at She Makes a Home whipped up an issue of an online magazine.  It is absolutely gorgeous -  with tons of great recipe, decorating, entertainment fashion and DIY gift ideas.  Filled with lots of beautiful pictures, Snowed In is just inspiring to look through!  I wish I'd thought of this idea :)  Maybe next year, you'll be reading a "City of Motherly Love" special issue ;)

I'm not crazy about snow, so thankfully you don't actually have to be snowed in to enjoy it!

A Little Tuesday Inspiration