Here's a rundown of the Busy Bags that I made. I have ideas for several more, but I only bought 10 pencil bags. I totally thought that would be plenty but once I started looking up ideas, they just didn't stop coming! I'll try to take some pictures when I get to Arizona in a few days and add them here, but for the mean time, I will link to the sites I printed from. 

Art Dice- This was SO FUN! I bought a package of wooden cubes from Hobby Lobby ($3.99) and painted three of them. One dice has different colors on each side. A second die has different patterns (like dots, squiggle lines, crosshatch, etc). The third die has different artistic prompts like nature, people, animals, letters, etc. The gist of this bag is to roll the dice then create a picture using whatever the dice tell you to use. This could also be used for a multi-player "game" to do the same kind of thing. I got the idea from here but did my own dice a little bit differently. 

Build A Dinosaur- I bought some glittered foam sheets from the Dollar Tree. From that, I cut out different shapes. I also created pattern cards in Photoshop that were the same as the pictures in the link. Kids can build their own dinosaur or use the pattern cards to get their creative juices flowing. 

Silhouette Matching- This one looked like a lot of fun for the little kids, especially. I thought my nephew Titus would really like it. Just print and laminate the pictures! I will say that I had a very difficult time printing this. I don't know if it was my computer/internet/server or if the problem was with the host site. I had to take a very round about approach to get it to print. I hope its easier for you!

Colored Craft Stick Patterning- I printed off the pattern cards and laminated them. Then I bought a package of colored craft sticks at HL ($2.99 for 150). 

Roll A Robot- Cut up the pieces for the robot, along with a couple of instruction cards. Laminate and include a die in the bag. 

Number Matching Game- Print, Cut, Laminate!

There are four more, but I don't remember what two of them are. The last two are games that I got from the dollar spot at Target. A time-telling game and a number matching domino card game. I printed out instructions for each of them then put the game pieces in bags. Super easy!

The way I would suggest using busy bags are one bag at a time, per kid. And the only rule is that they must put away one bag before they get out another. These are great for self-guided play, quiet time, on plane rides, or when your kids stop taking naps! 

It could have been the catchy title. Or the fact that there are warring cake pops on the cover. It could have been the funny reviews I read before reading this book myself or the forwards written by some of my other favorite female authors (What up Boo Mama? Shout out to Melanie Shankle, too! And don’t forget Lisa-Jo Baker.) But what really made me love this book was the content itself. I’ll say it again upfront: I LOVE THIS BOOK! Women Are Scary, by Melanie Dale is definitely going at the top of my 2015 reads. 

With the turn of every page, every new chapter, every new “base” around the diamond of mom relationships (momlationships) I found myself nodding “yes!” But I’m getting ahead of myself just a bit. 

If you’ve ever been new in town, or new to church or new to any other kind of public setting, you know that it can be intimidating. The idea of making new friends in addition to making sure you don’t have lipstick on your teeth is just flat out overwhelming. (Wait- lipstick? Who wears that? Ok, you caught me- it was just an example. I’m definitely more they type who wears peanut butter on my shirt than lipstick on my mouth.)

From chapter one, Melanie (I feel like we should be on a first-name basis) makes the argument that we are better together. “We make each other better moms, better humans. We need each other, because mothering is just too darn hard.” Can I get an amen? This is the jumping off point for Women Are Scary. Its about breaking down the things she calls momlationships. “You know, those relationships that come with car pools and cupcakes, friendships borne at T-ball games and in quiet corners feeding babies.” Yes, Yes, and Yes.

If finding new mom friends is like a dating relationship, then the progressive stages of those relationships are the “bases” we must pass before a relationship is truly legit— the coveted homerun friend. Melanie breaks down the bases like this:

1st Base: Hanging out while your kids are in activities together

2nd Base: A park playdate outside of scheduled activities

3rd Base: A playdate at one of your houses

4th Base: Hanging out without the kids

I won’t elaborate on each of these bases (the trickiness of each, the beauty of each stage, the elation when you finally find a fourth-base friend!) as that is what the rest of the book is for. I’ll just tell you that you need to read Women Are Scary. If you’re a mom and you have friends, you want friends, you need friends or you’re living in denial about any of those things, this is the book for you. Go buy it on your Kindle and devour it tonight. Then call me and let’s hang out. 

I was given a copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

I really appreciated that this is not a book filled with one-size-fits-all formulas as to how to raise a child. Rather, it encourages parents to really get to know their baby/toddler and to appropriately tailor discipline towards that child’s needs. It is not harsh in its suggestions of punishment. Instead, it exemplifies ways in which situations that need discipline can also be used as teaching moments to train our children in behaviors that will positively benefit them for the rest of their lives.

It is difficult to know how to effectively and positively discipline such little children. But as time and studies (and personal experiences) have shown, you can’t just sit idly by and hope that they turn out alright. Parenting and discipline are active, often exhausting, parts of life. However, when followed through with appropriately and lovingly, it can make all the difference in the life of your child.

As a mother who has read a wide range of parenting and discipline books, I would highly recommend Positive Discipline: The First Three Years. It is reasonable, loving and can be tailored to suit your parenting style as well as your child’s temperament. A definitely good read if you are looking for some new ways to incorporate constructive discipline into your parenting ways. 

This book was sent to me by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

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Don’t get me wrong, though. I still love what is written in Savor. After all, it truly does contain the best of the best writings from Shauna’s other books (as well as some mouth watering recipes). Savor is kind of like picking up one of her previous books and reading a section I’ve previously highlighted or underlined. For a seasoned Shauna reader, Savor will feel familiar and homey. And who doesn’t love that? So in this sense, I really do like this devotional. Its definitely a book that I will buy as a gift for certain friends, as the words and expositions are solid and biblical. Oh, and did I mention that this book is gorgeous?!?  Absolutely beautiful. It has a hardback linen cover with a ribbon placemarker, the page edges are dyed indigo and the inside type is elegant, easy to read. Skip the Kindle version and go directly of the hardback. Or get both! Because in spite of my disappointment concerning the lack of genuinely new content, Savor is definitely worth the buy!

You can purchase Savor HERE and read more about Shauna Niequist HERE. 

***Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.***

I used to love writing notes. In fact, I still kind of have a notecard hoarding problem. If I see a cute set of stationery in the Dollar Spot at Target, I have to buy it! In Middle School and High School, my best friends and I exchanged notebooks during class periods that we filled with notes. There is just something about handwritten letters that the age of texts and emails just cannot touch. Each person’s handwriting is as unique as a fingerprint, and the extra time and effort that goes into hand writing a letter conveys a great measure of love and value. 

That is why I was thrilled when I received The World Needs More Love Letters: All-In-One Stationery and Envelopes. This isn’t a book you read cover-to-cover… its a book that requires action! 

There are 40 pages (5 different designs) that are each an all-in-one stationery set. On one side, you write the address and place the stamp, and on the other side you write your note. Then simply fold the note, place a sticker seal (which is included in the book) to close, and mail it off! Sure to make someone’s day. Its really as simple as that- write, fold, seal, stamp, send. The front and back cover of the book contain 40 simple ideas for writing letters, just to get you started. 

The book is the brainchild of Hannah Brecher, creator of moreloveletters.com (a truly beautiful website!). This movement has been responsible for more than 20,000 letters sent by volunteers. While this isn’t your ordinary book, it is definitely a fun one that I can’t wait to put to good use!

You can purchase this book HERE. 

This book was sent to me by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

I’ll be the first person to admit that I am a Shauna fan. A Shauna fan? Yes, I’m calling her by her first name, mostly because she writes in such a beautiful way that makes me feel as though we are long-time besties, just chatting about life over coffee. I’ve read all of her previous books, and even declared Bread & Wine my favorite book of 2013. I love Shauna’s ability to tell a story woven with Biblical truths, and her concise one-liner life lessons that I may or may not have underlined, highlighted and written on pink index cards to put in my car, Bible, on my mirror, fridge, etc. Perhaps that is why Savor left me more than a bit disappointed. Most of this 365-day devotional is just shortened paragraphs from her previous works. And while I should be loving that, since I loved said previous works so much, I was just hoping for something new and maybe a different format? I’m not quite sure. 

Don’t get me wrong, though. I still love what is written in Savor. After all, it truly does contain the best of the best writings from Shauna’s other books (as well as some mouth watering recipes). Savor is kind of like picking up one of her previous books and reading a section I’ve previously highlighted or underlined. For a seasoned Shauna reader, Savor will feel familiar and homey. And who doesn’t love that? So in this sense, I really do like this devotional. Its definitely a book that I will buy as a gift for certain friends, as the words and expositions are solid and biblical. Oh, and did I mention that this book is gorgeous?!?  Absolutely beautiful. It has a hardback linen cover with a ribbon placemarker, the page edges are dyed indigo and the inside type is elegant, easy to read. Skip the Kindle version and go directly of the hardback. Or get both! Because in spite of my disappointment concerning the lack of genuinely new content, Savor is definitely worth the buy!

You can purchase Savor HERE and read more about Shauna Niequist HERE. 

***Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.***