Review: ThredUP Kid Clothing

We all know how fast kids can grow out of clothes. When my kids were little my grandma (on my mom's side) would go out of her way to buy the cutest outfits even if they cost a ton of money. I kept telling her that she didn't have to go to Boutiques to buy their clothes (even if Adisyn DID look SO adorable in the handmade clothes) but they cost $45+ for ONE outfit.

I on the other hand have a limited income. I can't and couldn't afford to spend that much on one outfit when they grow like weeds and the clothes wouldn't fit a month later. The trick to buying kids clothes that are durable, comfortable, and will last them awhile is to bargain hunt and buy 1 size up if you can.

I was excited to get to work with thredUP for a review. This is a website where you can sell and buy gently used clothing from other people. This is like going to a thrift store and buying clothes (There are many name brand clothing on the website for next to nothing.)

I had tons of fun looking through the website. I drifted to baby/toddler sections even though my kids aren't that small anymore (aren't those clothes just SO adorable?) Aidan is more in need of clothing than Adisyn is, so I started looking through the 5-6 boy clothing. It helps that Adisyn has a girl cousin just a couple years older than her, so she gets the hand-me-down's that still look amazing.

Aidan isn't that lucky. All the boys in the family are more than 4 years older than he is. He had a really big growth spurt this year, where his pants become extremely short (JUST after we went and bought school clothes for him)..

What I decided to get from the website was a thin grey zip up hoodie jacket from Hurley, and 3 pairs of shorts. They were cheap and he can wear them when spring rolls around this year. They were all extremely adorable and very affordable.

I loved that I could go to exactly what I was looking for. There wasn’t any searching and searching and not finding what I wanted. You can search by type of clothing (jeans, tees, button ups, shoes) and then narrow it down by size. I love this! I wasn’t looking through sizes that didn’t apply to my son!!

On the plus side, if you have any clothing that are in great shape that your kid's have outgrown you can set it up to sell those on the website as well. If you are low on money, you could always sell the too small clothing first, and then use that money to buy more. WIN-WIN situation! ;)

Here is a step-by-step outline straight from thredUP on how all this works:

PICK – Browse boxes listed in the thredUP community and select one you’d like to receive. Hopefully, by now, you have your friends on thredUP so you can just pick their boxes. If you’re busy, tell us your clothing preferences and the experts at thredUP can choose a box for you.

PAY – Once you’ve picked your box, all you pay is $5 plus shipping ($10.70) to have it delivered.

PREPARE – As part of this process, you are required (this is a swap after all!) to list a box of clothes that your child no longer wears. We’ll ask for basic details such as types of clothing, number of items, colors, brands, season and sizes. Don’t worry, the USPS will mail you empty boxes for your gently used clothes.

SEND – When someone picks your box, thredUP will alert you and ask you to send this box. It is free to send boxes on thredUP because the recipient pays the shipping. You’ll be able to print the shipping label and schedule the pickup all in one click. Would you rather drop it off at the Post Office? No problem! Just cancel the pickup and leave a note for your postal carrier. As soon as your box is tracked by the USPS, you will see your box status has been changed to “shipped” in your thredUP closet.

Check out ThreadUP!

Website, Facebook, Twitter

 

Jessica Renee

Book Review: Sew Serendipity Sewing Workbook; D&C Publishing

 

Sew Serendipity Sewing Workbook makes a handy companion for trips to the fabric store, and is a convenient source of easy-to-follow sewing advice.

This workbook offers resources and ideas you'll love:

*8 quick, seasonal projects that you try out techniques and create fun accessories.

*Notions and fabric charts, project planning calendars, worksheets, checklists and more.

*Sewing tips and tricks from Kay Whitt, author of Sew Serendipity and Sew Serendipity Bags

*Note-taking space to keep track of projects, techniques, and inspiration

 

MY REVIEW

This book is set up as a question/answer book as well as a journal. Not only does it answer questions that most seamstresses (sewing hobbyists) want to know about (ex. Sewing in a zipper) but it gives you room to get a feel for what you would like to sew, purchase for your sewing projects, and goals you would like to set for yourself.

I have been sewing (really sewing) for about 3 years now. When I first began my journey down the oh-so-frightening (so I thought) sewing path, I had a ton of questions. The problem with my questions was I didn't have anybody to answer them. SO because it's the 21st century, I googled them. YES- I got about 1,000 different answers and techniques to the questions I asked, which only confused me even more.

I so wish I had had this book. When you are starting out, not only do you have questions but you definitely need to get a feel for what YOU like to sew. It's not going to be any fun if you are scared of certain techniques or have to skip over a certain project you want to tackle so badly because you don't know how to do something.

This book starts out with the Spring. They ask what goals you'd like to set for yourself for the Spring, what you would like to purchase for your projects, and Gifts you would like to sew for the season. This is in the notebook type, so it gives you room to write in what you actually want. I don't write in my books, so I photocopied each page like this and stuck them together. I put them in a book labeled what year (Spring 2013?) so that I could add more as time went on!

The sewing advice in this book is what tackles the everlasting questions of the beginner. The first advice is on the always dreaded zipper. I've broken MANY sewing needles trying to figure this out by myself back in 2009. Really the only thing freaking me out was myself, once I got the hang of sewing in zippers it was a breeze! This book has amazing illustrations to go with the step-by-step instructions so that you can see what you're doing while doing it.. Makes it 10x easier!

Fusibles? No sew or sew? Have you had questions pertaining as to what is right to use when? This book tells all about everything you need to know about Machine applique and the fusibles that go along with it. You don't want to use NO-sew fusible web when appliqueing! You'll mess up your machine because the stickiness of the fusible web will go through your machine via your machine!

Then it's time to tackle a project. The first project is a wristlet with cute bird applique. This is so you can practice with the zipper and applique (that was in the question section).. Again there are amazing illustrations to go with the step-by-step instructions to guide you in the right direction as you go along with your project.

Then after finishing the project there is a space for "reflection." This is about what you liked best about the project, what you would do differently next time, and what new skill you learned and what other projects you could use it on! This is a "notebook" section of course. I really like that they included this! This gives time to reflect on what types of techniques you learned and what you would like to create with them in the future! Brilliant! Keeps it fun!

I love that the book tackles stabilizers. When I was a beginner that was something else that had me puzzled. I didn't understand the difference of one stabilizer from another and ended up more confused then helped when I searched what I was looking for. This book breaks down the names of the stabilizer, the width, whether it's fusible or not, and the uses for that particular stabilizer (ex. Pellon 911FF is a versatile stabilizer and is perfect for linings of a bag, interlining of handles, facings on skirts and dresses.) Makes it a ton easier to decipher what you need and how much you should buy (if it's versatile you should buy more because more projects can be used with it).

The book tackles quilting your own fabric (mostly for bags and wallets), polar fleece, and laminated fabric. This makes it easier to know what you're getting into before you start to tackle a project. I love the way the book is written-- it's like you've got a best friend (who knows all there is to know about sewing) sitting there guiding you on your way!!

BUY IT:

Sew Serendipity Sewing Workbook: Tips, Tricks and Projects for Those Who Love Sewing

$15.60 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25.

Jessica Renee

Review: Starlooks January Starbox

Starlooks has done it again, but even bigger this time! If you haven’t seen my previous posts about Starlooks, they are an amazing website. They sell boxes of selected 3-4 full sized beauty products a month for only $15.

This is an amazing deal, because if you look at the different products they put in the boxes they are $9+ on their OWN. The products are nothing but high quality, beautiful makeup!

I love the excitement I feel each month when seeing the package in the mailbox. I get to try and guess what is in the box—although I don’t make it too long before I JUST have to open it.

January's Starlooks Starbox arrived in a light green box with bright tissue paper and an alluring description card and quartz crystal.

For the January box, they had a light green box (my favorite color)! I love how well they put it together EVERY single month. Not only does the boxes always arrive in pristine condition, but the color of the paper ALWAYS matches the box! SO adorable!

Starlooks not only included 4 full sized makeup samples this month, but they also sent a beautiful beaded emerald wraparound bracelet. The makeup samples include 2 eyeliners, a makeup brush, and a blush.

Here are the items I received in the January box:

"Fancy" Diamondline Eye Liner

"Brown" Eye Liner

"Cuty Peach" Blush Compact

858 Dome Brush

Abby Rose Design beaded bracelet

This is an amazing deep brown. It is smudge proof which I really like, I use a lot of brown eyeliner and was glad to see this in the box. This one also goes on very creamy and smooth. I like that I don’t have to heat it for it to apply so perfectly, like I do with my other brown liners.

 

This one is called “fancy”, and is a beautiful light green with sparkles! sparkly AND green? Yes please! It is absolutely beautiful and sets off my eyes! It is easy to use, waterproof, and creamy & smooth. I love how long it stays on without wearing off like a normal eyeliner would!

This brush is made from 100% pure, cruelty-free pony hair, and is super soft to the touch. Blends eye shadow and eye liner smoothly for that perfect smokey effect. Use in the corner of the eyes, eye lid, or under lash line. Also great for packing on pigments or loose shadows. Wash with Starlooks gentle brush cleaner or shampoo. (Starlooks Retail $15)

The "Cuty Peach" Blush Compact is a very light peach toned blush. I like blush but only if it’s light or bronzed. I never use the darker colors (CLOWN? lol). This was absolutely the perfect color though. It added a hint of dewy-ness to my skin that I loved!

The Abby Rose Design Bracelet was a very welcomed surprise to the box. They were only putting in makeup samples so a jewelry piece was an amazing addition. Abby Rose Design creates wonderful handmade products. I love the emerald color of the bracelet and how well it wraps without clinging too tightly or being too loose. It’s the absolutely perfect size (for everyone) because it’s a wrap bracelet.

I always recommend the Starlooks boxes. If you were to buy these items separately there is absolutely no way that it would only be $15. You’d end up spending WAY more, and I love the surprise I get every month! I never know what’s going to be in them! Each box is guaranteed to have a retail value of at least $35!

Head on over to Starlooks and check them out. Awesome subscription, awesome products, fast shipping and wonderful customer service!

 

Jessica Renee

Review: Fagor Slow Juicer

I had been on the lookout for a better way of adding more fruits and vegetables in my diet without the hassle. My #1 New Year’s Resolution was to eat and drink healthier (and not consume so much soda and coffee)!

I was on the hunt for an affordable juicer that was easy to use and was easy to clean. I’ve had many MANY appliances that were hell to clean! It seemed to take a ton of elbow grease and a sharp object wrapped around a washcloth sometimes STILL couldn’t get the hard to reach spots. I ended up breaking the spout off my old blender this way.

When I got the Fagor Slow Juicer in the mail, I was ecstatic. Not only did it look easy to clean (even more so than on the website) because it came with it’s own cleaning brush, but it looked easy to use.

It came with a manufacturer book that tells how to properly clean it, and THEN in the back of the book it has some awesome mixtures of different fruits and vegetables for unbelievable tasty (AND healthy) juice mixes.

We all know that going to the store and buying a jug of juice without all the extra fructose, sugar, colorants, and additives can be quite hard (AND quite expensive as well). This juicer will pay for itself in just a matter of months (depending on how much juice you drink).

I loved that in the back of the book they show which vegetables and fruits help certain sicknesses and ailments.  It makes it easier to whip something up in a hurry!

The best thing about the Fagor Slow Juicer is how much juice it saves from being thrown out. The extraction of the juice (150 watts rotating at an ideal speed of 80-90 RPM)  gives not only more juice but MORE nutritious juice.

There isn’t any extra “heat” because of the slow spin of the motor, so that all that comes out is pure, healthy, great tasting juices. It comes with 2 different jars. One that you place under the front of the machine (which the pulp and extras go into), and the other your juice goes into.

The parts that come into contact with your fruits/veggies are BPA free and FDA approved. This is so that nothing goes into your juice but juice. No chemicals or extras coming off the plastic. AND all the parts have a terrifically placed 5 year warranty.

Connect with Fagor on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Youtube

 

Jessica Renee

Review: Erba Organics

 

Erba Organics is an organic body care company that focuses on safe, eco-conscious products for moms and their children. I am always thrilled to find organic products that also give back. Erba donates a full 15% f their gross sales from their Baby Body Oil and Baby Body Wash to the WWO, which stands for Worldwide Orphans Foundation.

Pregnancy is a magical beautiful time in every soon to be momma’s life. We are developing and growing a beautiful heaven sent baby—and Erba Organics just so much more EASY. They have designed organic products for itchy skin, swollen feet, stretch mark prevention, and more. Pamper yourself with luxurious  oils,creams,  and bath mixes made from the finest organic ingredients available.

I was sent some items to sample from their very amazing line. The first one I want to tell you about is the Mommy-to-be Organic Milk & Oat Bath. We all know that when the body is growing to support the baby it can become quite itchy.

When I was pregnant with my son and daughter, I tried everything to make the itchiness go away and nothing ever worked. Although I’m pretty sure the lotion market was in high demand during both these pregnancies. I couldn’t stop rubbing it everywhere because I itched like crazy.

With this amazing Milk and Oat Bath is a natural remedy for those itchy days (or ahem! MONTHS).! When I opened the package, I found inside a soft, fine brown looking powder with random chunks of sea salt in there. You can’t really smell the contents until they’ve been mixed with the bath.

When I added them to my bath- I thought it smelled like very sweet oatmeal or oatmeal cookies. There was also a small hint of lavender that was very relaxing.

You don’t even have to be pregnant to enjoy the amazingness of this bath mix. It’s not only great for itchiness- but tired muscles as well. So, if your sweaty and itchy from hitting the gym, tired from working all day, or just want some relaxing spa time at home (THAT is BENEFICIAL as well) this is what you should be looking for.

I love sprinkling this into a very hot bath and just sinking in for a moment. As a mom with two small children—I desperately need some me time every now and then. AND because I have Keratosis Pilaris (aka chicken skin) and it is REALLY itchy at times—this has helped to calm the itchiness and the irritation (redness) that comes with it. SO this mama was a very happy camper.

The second item that I was sent was the Erbaorganics Mommy-to-be stretch mark cream. Every pregnant woman knows the risk of a growing belly bump—and that’s stretch marks. Some women get them, other’s don’t. It has to do with the elasticity in the skin I guess. I was very small when I got pregnant with both my kids and only have stretch marks on my breasts and butt. NONE whatsoever on the belly. Other’s get them at random.

BUT what if you could help your stretching belly and reduce the amount of stretch marks? Wouldn’t that be a blessing? I know that there are other products out there to help with this but I’ve NEVER seen an organic line. This is safe for baby and mommy while baby is growing. You don’t have to worry about chemicals or anything harmful. Just creamy, soothing help for those worries about stretch marks.

Just rub it on breasts, belly, butt, and legs.. anywhere you think may be stretching just a tad bit too much. Even if you aren’t thinking you may get stretch marks—it makes for an AMAZING lotion!! Oh—so thick and creamy.

The third product that I was sent was the Cheeky Balm. The cheeky balm is an organic balm that helps chapped hands, lips, cheeks, and can even be used as a diaper rash balm.

This can be used for the baby, toddler, kid, or even mommy! It comes in a lipstick type tube (but wider) so that it is easier to apply. It creates absolutely no mess at all.. Just crank up the little dial on the bottom for more.. and then re-track it for less when you’re done.

It works absolutely brilliantly. I use this on more than just chapped hands. Where I get dry skin on my thighs because of the Keratosis Pilaris—I rub some of this on my thighs and the back of my arms when I get out of the shower..

I love how amazing it smells. Like a mixture of lavender and chamomile or something.. Good but not overwhelming. We all know when pregnancy is here, it can create our senses to double and smells can be overpowering and this isn’t!

Flu and cold season is here which means tons and tons of sanitizer. Sanitizer can be extremely drying to the skin, so I throw this cheeky balm in my purse with it. It really helps with the dryness.

It snaps onto the lid pretty tightly—so I don’t have to worry about it shaking loose in my purse!! I love this! So convenient and smells amazing to boot!

The last and final item I want to tell you about is the Erba Organics Mommy-to-be Massage Oil. We all know that pregnancy makes our muscles achy and tired. We are carrying that EXTRA weight around all day and it can be pretty tiring at the end of the day, especially at the end when we feel like a whale.

This massage oil is so slick and feel so amazing on the skin. I love feeling relaxed, especially when I was pregnant. It’s not everyday of the year that we get to make our husbands do whatever we ask (hee, hee).. so an extra massage here and there isn’t going to kill them.

It smells so amazing that HE will even come out relaxed and calm. The lavender in it will make sure of that! Feeling comfortable is something that you’d say about the third trimester of pregnancy. Bloated, can’t see our toes, and wearing slip on shoes (for a reason)..

You better get in all the relaxation, comfort, and sleep that you can before the newborn is here and cries for a bottle every 3-4 hours. Can you say exhaustion.. pretty soon you might not be able to spell it. All you’ll want to do is catch up on the sleep you missed.. Well pregnancy is just THAT time.. Bring out the massage oils, body creams, thick lotions, and bath mixes NOW.

Connect with Erba Organics on Facebook and Twitter

Jessica Renee

 

BISSELL’s Step-By-Step Guide to Spring Cleaning Floors

Carpets

· The Spring Clean

1. Move as much furniture out of the way as possible. If furniture is too heavy to be moved, invest in furniture glides to make moving them easier.

2. Vacuum the entire room thoroughly. For heavier traffic areas, go over the area 5 – 7 times. For light traffic areas and spots usually under furniture, go over the area 3 – 4 times.

3. If there are deep set-in stains, use a pre-treat cleaner to help penetrate the carpet and loosen the stain.

4. Next, use a deep cleaner to remove ground-in dirt and stains. Move the deep cleaner in forward and backward passes slowly over each area. It is best to wait about 4 to 6 hours for the carpet to dry. Use a fan to increase air circulation and speed drying. BISSELL recommends deep cleaning at least twice a year to help prolong the look of carpets. Deep cleaners can also be used to clean rugs and upholstery.

5. Once the carpet has fully dried, run the vacuum once more throughout the room to finish cleaning.

· The In-Between

1. Between deep cleans, vacuum the entire area of the carpet at least once per week. For high traffic areas, it is best to vacuum twice weekly.

2. To amplify the effects of vacuuming, use Febreze™ Carpet Deodorizing Powders on your carpets. Before vacuuming, just sprinkle the powder over the area to be treated. Wait a few minutes and then vacuum the area thoroughly. The powder helps to clean 3x better than vacuuming alone because it clings to the dirt and hair in the carpet, allowing for easier pickup. It also leaves a light scent to keep the home smelling fresh.

Flooring (Hardwood, Linoleum, Vinyl or Tile)

· The Spring Clean

1. Depending on what room is being cleaned, move large appliances, furniture and rugs out of the way. To avoid scratching surfaces, use furniture glides when moving heavier furniture out of the way.

2. For the best results, sweep and then vacuum the entire room.

3. Finally, use a steam cleaner to clean and sanitize the floor. Not only do steam cleaners remove dirt and residue, they also eliminate germs and bacteria due to the high temperature of the steam. The floor will be dry within seconds. Fast and simple!

· The In-Between

1. To prevent tracking dirt and water across the floor, be sure to place doormats at all entrances. This will not only keep floors cleaner but will also reduce the risk of abrasive materials collecting on the floor and scratching the surface.

2. Clean your hard floors at least once a week using one or a combination of the following: a sweeper, a dust/dry mop, a hard floor cleaner or a wood floor cleaner. This will help floors keep their shine longer.

What to Put on Your Wall

Preserving and displaying your family's memories via photographs is one of the personal touches that transforms a house into a warm and happy home. Your family's photographs serve as sweet reminders accompanying you each time you walk up the stairway to go to bed or comforting you as you cozy up next to a roaring fire.

A Place for Every Photograph

Whether you want to fill a vacant area of your living room wall or you want to fill your kitchen nook with pictures of happy smiling faces, there is always a welcome spot for fresh new photographs and familiar classic favorites from the archives. The loved ones in your lives will fill your photo frames with affirmations of warmth and comfort, regardless of where you choose to place them within your home.

Framing Your Family's Stories

In order to give these treasured photographs, which tell the stories of your family's life, the respect and attention they deserve, consider custom framing to accentuate the beautiful, unique qualities of your photographs. If you have the skills, talent and ingenuity to take on the task of doing the framing yourself, finding the right framing supplies will get you started on the right path.

Whether you want to place your family's visual keepsakes in the simple black picture frames preferred by professional photographers or you want your beautiful image transferred to canvas for a unique work of art, you have a wide array of options and possibilities available to you. Make your own showcase to represent every member of your family, your extended family and your friends to warm your home and hearth.

Make Mini-Showcases of Your Photographs or Special Memorabilia with Shadow Box Frames

There are many charms and advantages to custom framing with colorful or black shadow box picture frames. Whether you plan to display just photographs or your collection of curio pieces in your shadow box, the selection is as wide as your imagination. Choose any hobby topic and you will very likely find a frame the perfect size and style for your artifacts or photographs. For example, if you have an avid runner in the family, you can seek out a shadow box frame large enough to place a favorite race photo inside along with any medals that your speedy runner received in their effort. With a large enough frame, you can even include their racing bib.

Wrap Your Photographs Around Canvas

Create a striking style choice by printing your own photos on canvas, giving your photographs the appearance of a painted canvas wrapped around wood stretcher bars, for added dimension, depth and warmth. While you can place your printed canvas into traditional frames, it is not necessary with the variety of gallery wrap options available. Gallery wrapping finishes the sides of the canvas with either a printed color or a continuation of the image from the front. Whether you choose a contemporary black or white border, a continuous mirror image wrap, or a more traditional canvas frame, either way, your artistic flair will shine through with this painting-inspired display.

The Final Product

No matter what direction you choose to take in framing your photographs or your various collections, the most important part of the job is simply finding something that flatters the photograph and makes it all the more beautiful to you each time you look at it.

Unique Tools for Crafts

If you enjoy sewing and doing many types of crafts, you will find that there are many unique tools that can be used that will make your life a whole lot easier. While there were not many tools available for sewing and crafts just a few decades ago, there are so many unique and interesting tools that you can now use during the process of creating your artistic masterpieces.

Armour Crochet Hooks

These updated crochet hooks come in a variety of colors, which will make it easier for you to figure out which hook is needed for the particular item that you are crocheting. The crochet hooks come in shades of yellow, red, green, blue, and even purple. These colors are bright and bold, basically reminiscent of the spring season.

Aside from color, they also feature a comfortable grip and a hook that is easy to work with, which is especially ideal for longer crocheting projects. In the past, you may have been using crochet hooks that all look the same, which can definitely cause confusion when you are trying crochet a blanket, clothing, or any other item. These hooks help to eliminate much of that frustration and make it easy for you to use the right hook at all times.

Fastening Strips for Projects

Dual lock strips come in handy for assorted projects. They are much stronger than traditional Velcro, which is why people prefer to use these dual strips instead. They are also waterproof and resistant to extreme temperatures. The strips come in a black color and easily blend with different items. If you think of any project that you have used Velcro on before, you can basically replace the Velcro for these strips instead.

Leather Thimbles

You may be used to those uncomfortable metal thimbles by now, but you do have options when it comes to the types of thimbles you use to protect your fingers while sewing. In fact, there are natural leather thimbles that are made to fit perfectly on the fingers for the utmost protection. These thimbles are far more comfortable than the bulky ones.

Aside from these leather thimbles, there are also special grip thimbles, as well as adjustable ring thimbles to choose from.

Embroidery Products

If you are a fan of embroidery, there are many products out there that can really expand your craft. Of course, you will need different types of thread in assorted colors. Along with the thread, there are beading tools if you plan to do bead embroidery. The Kantan Couture beading embroidery tool happens to be one of the most popular. It is a hook that is attached to cloth and it will allow you to perform the necessary techniques of embroidery. You will be able to use it to add patterns with both beads and sequins to spice up your art project and give it a more appealing look.

These unique tools for sewing and crafts are constantly raved about by people who regularly enjoy arts and crafts projects. You will find that each of these tools can make things a whole lot easier for you, allowing you to complete your assorted projects in less time than you normally would, and relieving any unwanted stress that can come along with trying out a bunch of different art projects.

Craft Fairs in Italy – Travel While Enjoying the Arts

 

If you love to craft and enjoy the arts wherever you live in the world, have you ever considered bringing your love of the arts to another country? It’s wonderful to experience arts and crafts all around the world, and also bring your artistic talents wherever you may go. Italy offers many art festivals all year round, allowing you to bring your artistic flare with you to a new country that flourishes.

When you arrive in Italy to attend your much to look forward to art festivals and expos, you’ll need a place to stay! Make enough time to tour all around Italy and after attending one more expos, perhaps you’ll want to stay in Tuscany for a while to practice your new art skills. Tuscany villa rentals are very affordable this time of year and what’s more, these homey villas are also are surrounded by nature. This beautiful escape in Tuscany is a beautiful place where you will constantly be inspired and you will also have no difficulty applying the new skills that you will learn at art expos.

Frame Arts Expo – March 22 - 24, 2013

Visit Milan, Italy and enjoy a show called The European Fire Arts and Frame Arts Expo. Learn about the European habitants and how the fine arts and frame arts came to be. Also learn a new skill or enhance your current talents!

Arte Pordenone – April 6 – 8, 2013

Taking place in Pordenone, Italy, the Arte Pordonone is the first exhibition that is dedicated to contemporary and modern art. If you enjoy the link between central European regions and the new Italian Eastern European arts or desire to learn more about this type of art, go to this event to enhance your art skill set. You also can just go there to enjoy the art that’s displayed.

Art Firenze – April 20 – 28, 3013

If you wish to attend a fun filled art affair with lots of cultural exchange, attend the Art Firenze in Florence. Artisans from all around the globe gather together with their handcrafted items, giftware, accessories, and more. Browse all of the arts and crafts and be inspired by talented artisans from all around the world!

Since these events take place this spring time you may not have time to travel to Italy right away. However, keep these cultural art shows in mind for the future and travel to Italy with your family. You’ll look forward to learning all about Italy’s art, history, and the artisans that inhabit the region.

Sierra is a freelance writer who loves arts and hopes to learn more about them one day in Italy. She blogs at her blog Ocean Dreams.

Why Moms Should Make Time to Go Back to School (And Succeed!)

Can full time mothers and wives going back to school to get their master’s degree? Yes, it is feasible. Even though this concept seems almost impossible, it’s important to understand that this can take place with a lot of dedication, endurance and understanding from your family. Ever since the 1980s, there has been an increase in women enrolling in school. In fact, higher-education institutions enrollment has nearly doubled and more than 60 percent of online students are women. In addition, the majority of women who takes classes online are over the age of 25, according to the American Association of University Women. With these statistics in mind, perhaps you’ll feel ready to take classes from Benedictine HYPERLINK "http://www.onlinedegrees-benedictine.com/"UHYPERLINK "http://www.onlinedegrees-benedictine.com/"niversity online, for example. Here’s why you should make time to go back to school and how it will pay off.
Receive Greater Pay and Career Advancement
If you currently feel underemployed or are stuck in a job that is below your skill set, going back to school will help you get a dream job that will help you meet your goals. What’s more, if you have family and financial obligations, enhancing your current degree will allow you to fulfill your responsibilities as a wife and mother. Your children will later have money for a great education and perhaps you will also have extra spending money for yourself and your husband as you age. Don’t feel discouraged that enhancing your degree will take time because the time invested will be worth it.
Personal Enrichment
Besides fulfilling responsibilities or getting a better job, many women go back to school for personal enjoyment. The act of learning about a topic you enjoy, improving your current skill set, and having time away from a busy household is both enriching and refreshing. As a wife and mother this is certainly something you deserve.
Attaining a Degree is More Flexible
Schools have thankfully made taking classes and attaining advanced degrees either online or at a university more accessible, allowing mothers to go back to school when their schedule allows it. Get an AcceleraHYPERLINK "http://www.onlinedegrees-benedictine.com/mba/accelerated-mba-degree-online.asp"tHYPERLINK "http://www.onlinedegrees-benedictine.com/mba/accelerated-mba-degree-online.asp"ed MBA online quickly and fulfill your career goals a lot faster. It’s really up to you to create a school schedule that will work well for both you and your family. Don’t feel guilty for desiring to improve your skill set and get a better job — reap all kinds of rewards and your family will benefit as well!
About the Author: Corinne is a hard working mother who desires to improve her career. She plans on going back to school and improving her current degree.

Review: Influenster: Palmolive Fresh Infusions

I knew that I’d become officially grown when this box appeared at my doorstep and I got excited over dishwashing liquid. It was pretty hilarious. Influenster pairs with the most amazing companies to bring some pretty amazing samples. This one is the Palmolive Fresh Infusions VoxBox.

Influenster asked me to pick my favorite scent and then give one to a girlfriend. Instead, I gave one to my mom. She is constantly cooking or baking something, which racks up the dirty dishes.  I told her to tell me how she liked the scent, consistency, and how well it washed dishes (especially greasy ones).

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The three bottles I received were the Lemon & Thyme, Lime Basil, and White Tea & Ginger. The bottles are clear, leaving the product to be seen- which I really like. The bright colors of the dishwashing liquid brighten up the sink, and the products complement each other very well.

The first thing I noticed when looking at the bottle is that they are phosphate free. I like when companies get with the flow and try and go as green as they can. These "Fresh Fusions" take smells from nature and invite them into our kitchen- all without having phosphates (which can linger on dishes after they're washed.)

After testing these Palmolive Fresh Infusions both she AND I are hooked. My favorite is the lime basil. It smells like fresh limes and it really smells extremely clean. I gave her the lemon & thyme and she said she really enjoyed the scent of fresh lemons *she thinks that’s the go-to extreme clean smell*.

The consistency was amazing. I didn’t have to use very much at all to get a very nice sink full of amazing smelling bubbles to wash the dishes with. Which in turn will save money.

I loved how clean and sparkling the dishes were after I was done washing them. The grease seemed to just melt at the very hint of the soap. There was nothing lingering on the dishes after being washed, and I really liked that! The best part is that I didn’t have to use a ton of elbow grease to wash them! These new Palmolive Fresh Infusions rock!

These Palmolive Fresh Infusions are available for purchase at Target and Walmart.

 

Jessica Renee

 

Nancy Zieman's Sewing A-Z; D&C Publishing

Whether you're a novice sewer or a skilled seamstress, who better to go to for sewing answers and advice than expert Nancy Zieman? Set aside your sewing fears and let Nancy guide you step-by-step through 100+ basic to advanced sewing methods and techniques.

This book is an amazing reference guide that you don't want to pass up on. It is arranged in alphabetical order, so it's easy to flip to the letter of what you're looking for an find it. This is must-have guide that will definitely be sitting beside your sewing machine!!

I love that the book has a spiral binding, which makes it easy to lay it flat while working! It makes it easy to tell what you need to do when you're cutting, pressing, or sewing. I have another book by Nancy and she really knows what she's talking about with sewing. This sewing guide isn't any different.

I am in between when it comes to being a seamstress. Although I'm not a beginner, I'm also not an advanced expert. There are things that I haven't quite learned yet when it comes to sewing, so anything I add to my list of know-how is amazing.

I love that she takes it step-by-step, so that it makes it easier to follow the directions written in the book. It always makes it easy when there are illustrations or pictures present to guide me along my way.

She has some techniques down in this book that I hadn't even heard of; such as anchor cloth. It prevents the fabric from drawing itself inside the machine while you're sewing. It also helps heavy-weighted fabric flow more freely into the machine (we've all had that stuck in a rut part where we think we might have to re-do the entire project)! The anchor cloth is a brilliant idea!!

Not only does she tell you how to properly satin stich applique to a sewing piece, but she also shows you how to properly place, trace, cut, and press fusible-web so that your appliqued piece is nothing short of amazing! I love that it shows which direction certain shapes should be appliqued so that at the end it looks like quality work and doesn't mess up the entire piece you've been working on. She also describes the difference between press cloth and sheet when it comes to fusible webs.

I was very fascinated with how detailed the illustrations were. It's like they aren't illustrations at all, but very colorful pictures (in a cartoon like mode). There is writing on the illustrations to further guide me as I work my way through the guide.

Whether you like to hand stitch or machine stitch, each stitching technique is mirrored on each side of the page to show you how to go about doing both. The first page will have the directions on how to properly hand-stitch (for example a blanket stitch) and then the next page will show how to do it with a machine. You might have to take a closer look at your machine to make sure it has the stitching that it shows. My machine doesn’t have a blanket stitch, so of course, I'd have to do it by hand if I wanted it done.

No matter what type of sewing you like to do- whether you like making and designing your own clothes, sewing purses and small items, or you like quilting-- there is something in here to help you along your way with all of it. There's so much to learn and this book is a godsend reference even to those who consider themselves sewing experts!

I've been trying to make doll clothes for the last couple of months (for my best friends daughter's American Girl Dolls), but the sleeves would never look as great as I thought they were supposed to. I'd end up having to rip the seams and start again, only to find out they bunched up again. This A-Z sewing guide shows not 1 but 3 ways to properly achieve adding sleeves to a shirt without problems. That makes it easy to try all 3 and then pick which version I like best! The sleeves on the doll clothes ended up going on without a problem! Thanks a TON Nancy!

Another thing I always had issues with is elastic. Not inserting it or adding it to a piece but rather WHICH type of elastic is best for which project. Nancy breaks down each type of elastic (even shows illustrations of each type) and then what each one goes with. (For example: Braided elastic is best for casings and swimwear.)

There is also a way to properly organize your fabric, needles, projects, patterns, and fusible web/interfacing/batting and she tells us how. This is so we can properly locate what we need before beginning our projects. Who wants to spend most of the time we have for sewing running around looking for something when we should have had it before beginning?

I've always wanted to make my kids quilts that they could keep long after I'm gone, but I never quite comprehended all the quilting techniques.. Until now. I love how well she describes how to properly make half-square & quarter-square triangles as well as the different quilting techniques (stitch in a ditch, echo quilting, grid line stitching). I totally get it now and am starting my first quilt! YAY!

Now I don't feel lost when I look at a quilting pattern and it tells me to do a certain type of stitch or make a certain type of square. I am totally in love with this book.

There is absolutely no reason to be afraid to tackle those techniques that you've had problems with in the past. Now you can officially get them on your done list and if you ever need help, just flip to that part of the book.

Whether you like to sew, want to start, or know someone who does-- this book is an absolute treasure!

Applique
Basting
Belt Loops
Bias
Binding (quilting)
Blanket Stitching
Blind Hemming
Buttonholes
Buttons
Casings
Chain Stitch (quilting)
Circles
Cutting, Patterns

and so much more!

 

BUY IT: You can buy the Nancy Zieman’s Sewing A-Z Reference book for 19.47

 

Jessica Renee

Review: Gelaskin Laptop & Kindle Skins

I was SO tired of having a plain black laptop. I've had many computers come and go, and I was always on the lookout for a great skin. It was almost useless for me to look though, not many places were carrying a 17" laptop skin (especially not walmart).

So when I got a chance to review something from Gelaskin, I was ecstatic. Gelaskin is an amazing website, filled with skins for almost every single device on the market. Laptops, phone, and tablets alike.

I was in wonder at the beauty of the designs as I was taking a stroll through the different skins. There are some absolute beautiful ones on there.

I had to pass up on the other designs (as much as I wanted one) because as soon as I seen that they offered DIY laptop skins, I was all over it. Sporting someone else's skin on my laptop? Maybe. Sporting my own? OH YEAH!

The design process was SO simple. Of course, because I own my own crafting business (as well as the blog) I had to sport my name in there as well. I threw in the lettering Aidan and Adisyn's mom because I couldn't leave my babies out of it, now could I? The next thing that came were the pictures.

I was amazed at how quickly the pictures uploaded. I was going to work with another company on DIY blankets and such and I was flabbergasted at the length of time it was taking to import some pictures from my computer.. So when Gelaskin's website was super fast (like lightening) at uploading my pictures I HAD to give them a standing ovation. WHO wouldn't?.. I love creating things, but it takes the fun out of creating something if it takes forever.

I got to add my own background color, picture, or icon.. Green's my favorite color, so I had to throw that in there somewhere. So it became my background color for the laptop skin. I added little icons around the pictures to give it a "cutesy" type of look. The icons included a little woman with a laptop at the bottom of the skin. (Aww.. How adorable AND so like me-- haha!)

Then came the pictures to add. Of course, they were pictures of me and the kids. There were tons of cute ones, so of course- it's always hard for a mom to choose the absolute BEST without adding a couple.. ;)

The final selection came down to 2 pictures of my daughter looking so adorable in some bows that we got last year, a picture of me, and 2 pictures of me and my son. I was VERY pleased with the overall look of the skin (which didn't even take me 15 minutes to make) and that's including the time to look through my pictures and choose which ones I wanted to use.

I couldn't believe how well the skin looked when it arrived at my door. Usually when something comes in the mail (with pictures) or something on it, the colors of the designs could vary slightly because of the color thing on the computer..

But everything was absolute and udder perfection. I couldn't have asked for a better skin. It went on well with absolutely no issues at all. It's been on my computer for awhile now, and it still looks as great as the first day it was put on there!!

I also chose a Kindle Fire skin as well. I am an avid reader, always have been. At first when they started coming out with the tablets, kindles, and nooks I wasn't sure that it was right for me.. Then last year for Valentine's Day Adam bought me one. I had tons of fun finding free ebooks from the Amazon store that I could read while at home, on a trip, or at the doctor's office.

When I was looking through the Gelaskin website and I landed on the Kindle skins, I absolutely KNEW for a matter of fact that I had to have the book skin. It looks like a library right on the outside of the kindle. I love it. Love how colorful it is. Unfortunately.. While I was waiting for the arrival of the skins my kindle ended up getting broke. I did not want to put the skin on a broken kindle..

So, I am waiting patiently for tax time so I can get a new one. Then I'll be able to use the skin. I can't wait. I fell in love with my laptop skin and I know I can't resist the kindle skin.

I was thoroughly impressed with the vast selection of skins that they have, not to mention how many different items the skins can be bought for; tablets, smartphones, different laptops (both 15 & 17 inches).

If you are on the lookout for something to spice up your electronics, you should definitely check Gelaskins out!! They are amazing and shipping is super fast!!

Connect with Gelaskin on Facebook and twitter

 

Jessica Renee