Works For Me Wednesday -Zibbet

I am gradually moving all of my handmade items for sale over to Zibbet.  Why you may ask?  I like their structure and their feel better than other sites I have been using to market my wares.  I am not lost among the millions over a Zibbet.  Also there are no listing fees and you don't have to pay until you sell.  Less overhead works great for me!

Get other life tips @ We Are That Family.

Snap 'n' Learn Number Bugs- Review and Giveaway!

Have you been to visit CSN Stores? It's like a giant online shopping mall.  Seriously you can buy all sorts of things for your home from kids bedding to cookware.

I just love some of the modern art and decor and the have the coolest kids toys!

Plus CSN is generous. I have seen blog giveaways for their products all over the place. And finally there is one happening here!

I have been sent a set of Learning Resourses Snap and Learn Number Bugs to review and giveaway.

Here's my review:  This is an adorable toy with a variety of ways to play. Each bug has 2 body pieces and a head piece.  The head pieces have numbers on them (ranging from 0-6) and the body pieces have dots.  I had Hudson build all of the bodies and heads so they match, then I mix and matched the bodies so that he had to count the dots and couldn't just match the head number using color.  The bugs were also very easy for Meadow to grasp and the parts were not small enough to be a choking concern.  A toy that both of my kiddos can play with is definitely a bonus in my book.

On to the giveaway!  To enter to win this bucket of beetles:

Mandatory entry (you must do this or none of your other entries will count)
1. Stop by CSN stores and tell me an item you would love to have.

Bonus Entries: (leave a comment for each)

2. Follow the Fifth Street Palace (or remind me that you already do)

3. Follow me on twitter  and tweet this giveaway.

4. Become a fan of my Etsy shop, Made on Fifth Street on Facebook

Contest will close April 6 @ 8pm PAC.  Open to US and Canada. 

Disclosure: I was given no monetary compensation for this review.  CSN did send me the Snap and Learn Number Bugs free fro review.  The opinions here are my own and not influenced.

Motivate Me Monday- Please Let Me Stay and Rest

To be still and know

That You're in this place

Please let me stay and rest

In Your holiness

Word of God speak

(Word of God Speak by Mercy Me) 

What do your Sundays look like?  If they are anything like mine you rush in the morning to get your family and yourself ready for church.  Then you make sure your children are not disrupting the service.  Then you invite someone over or head to someone's house for lunch... which turns into staying until the kid's bed time.  Then you remember that you have a Motivate Me Monday post to write so you sit down and pray for inspiration.

I really want to be intentional about changing this pattern.  I want to take time and rest in God's holiness.  

Be still, and know that I am God;
       I will be exalted among the nations,
       I will be exalted in the earth. 

Psalm 46:10

This enormous God wants to hang out with me.  He wants me to know Him.  He wants to teach me.  He wants me to bask in His love.  He wants to give me gifts.  

Max Lucado wrote in his book Next Door Savior:

"The reward of Christianity is Christ."

And what do I do with this reward?  I blow it off for a potluck and a nap.  I neglect to rest in His holiness.  I fill my life with busy things, too busy for Him.  

On my own I will not intentionally wake up earlier, set aside my friends, turn off my sewing machine...etc and sit at the master's feet to rest.  Our God loves us so much that He will come along side us and give us all we need to have a relationship with Him.  Just stop and listen to the Word of God speak.
 

Link up your posts below and feel free to grab my MMM button on the right!

The ABCs of Me

I found this over at

A-Age: 27

B-Bed Size: King

C-Chore you hate: Floor washing

D-Dog's Name: hmm don't have a dog.

E-Essential start to your day: checking my email, blog comments and Etsy shop

F-Favorite colors: Brown and Red

G-Gold, Silver or Platinum: platinum

H-Height: 5'6"

I-Instruments you play: I can play Ode to Joy and Twinkle Twinkle on the guitar and piano. Oh and Hot Crossed Buns on the recorder.

J-Jewelry you wear everyday: Wedding rings and pinky ring

K-Kids: Hudson (4) and Meadow (18mos)

L-Living arrangements: I live in a little cluttered house that needs some serious decluttering with my husband and children.

M-Mom's name: Lila

N-Nicknames: Hunnylump

O-Overnight Hospital Stay, other than birth: Does that include giving birth?

P-Pet Peeves: uncomfy underwear

Q-Quote:"It matters not if the world has heard. Or approves or understands. The only applause we're meant to seek is that of nail scarred hands."

R-Right or Left Handed: Right

S-Siblings: It's complicated

T-Time you wake up: around 8am

U-Underwear: usually

V-Vegetable you dislike: green beans

W-Ways you run late: Too many to record

X-X-Rays: Yes, my broken finger

Y-Yummy food you make: Mac and cheese, pizza

Z-Zoo Favorite: Tiger

Are You Flawsome?

Upcoming posts!

I had planned to have a really cool crocheted hairband tutorial posted for today but alas life happened and it did not get done.

As well there is a great giveaway coming up. So stick around! Good stuff is coming I promise!

Wordless Wednesday - A Sign of Spring

For more WW head on over to 5M4M

Gratituesday- A Quick List

1.  A husband who cooks....mmmm
2.  The kindness of other bloggers
3. Family adventures
4. Small "I love you gifts".
5. Crafting
6. Creativity
7. New babies (Not my own).
8. Chocolate
9. Hudson's expresiveness.
10. Meadow's shrug smile.
11. Snuggles with the people I love most

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Motivate Me Monday

On Saturday we were traveling to the big city an hour away.  This is a trip we have made many many times.  In fact my husband makes this trip nearly everyday.  This time we decided to have a little adventure.  So we stopped at a rest stop about 20 minutes into the trip and did some exploring. (This rest stop was near a river and had a little trail to walk along).

So today I want to encourage you to be spontaneous.

Explore the unknown.

Take risks.

Get right down on your knees.

Make memories.

Baby Bunny Softies

Just listed on Made On Fifth Street...

Baby Bunny Softies!

Aren't they cute with their little fluffy tails?

Each on is 9 inches tall and 4 inches wide across their widest part.

They rattle and have a fun ribbon tag.

Order by Monday to get yours in time for Easter!

Also remember to enter my Etsy Giveaway!

Friday Funnies Hilarious Hudson Conversation

There are strict rules in our house that one does not touch mommy's fabric or yarn. Well the other day I made Meadow a little skirt. And even though it was botched  less than perfect I put it on her anyway.  She toddled into the other room where her brother was playing.

Suddenly I hear Hudson yell in his best tattle tale voice "Mom!  Meadow's wearing your fabric."

For more Friday Funnies head on over to my friend Kim's blog Homesteader's Heart.

Wordless Wednesday - Baby Love

For More WW visit 5M4M

Frayed Fabric Flower Corsage Tutorial

Say that 5 times fast!

I made this frayed fabric flower cosage for a friend's birthday and I remembered to take pictures along the way. So on with the tutorial!

Materials
5-7 coordinating pieces of scrap fabric
scissors
thread
sewing machine
buttons or beads
fabric glue
ribbon

Step 1:
Cut 5-7 circles from your fabrics. Make each one smaller than the last.  They don't have to be perfect.

Step 2
Sew each circle on top of the next larger one. Leave a large spacte between the edge and the stitching so the thread will be hidden by the circle on top of it. Do not sew on the smallest circle.

 

Step 3

 Once all but the smallest circle are sewn together place the smallest circle on the top and the ribbon (long enough to tie a bow around your wrist) on the back.  Pin it both on.

Step 4
Sew 2 zig zag lines to the left and right of the center of the ribbon.

Step 5
Clip the edges of all of the circles. (Like a rag quilt).

Step 6
Wash and dry your corsage.

Step 7

Use fabric glue and adhere buttons or beads to the center of your flower.  Then have your 4 year old son model it while you take pictures.

Voila!  A fun and springy accessory.

Look for these soon in my Etsy shop Made on Fifth Street and while you're there be sure to enter my giveaway!

Motivate Me Monday- He Shows Up.

No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5

It's Sunday morning. I stayed up too late the night before. I regret some things I said at a get together we had at our house. Who am I to go out now and teach sunday school, then lead a women's bible study mid week, then discuss spiritual topics and scripture at house fellowship?
Satan's lies are in full swing. Condemning me. Beating me down. Stealing my joy.

So I trudge through. I shower and style my hair (which is not cooperating). I peer in the mirror and examine my stray eyebrow hairs, that zit between my eyes and am I sprouting a mustache? Sigh add "I'm ugly" to the list.

I get in the car with my family guzzling my coffee for survival purposes. Get to church early and set up my classroom.

I head to worship service and put in little effort to praise my King. (I mean I have to watch an 18 month old who is quick to escape if I take my eyes off her).

The children are dismissed to Sunday School and I go along with them...

As I begin to teach God shows up. As I tell the children about how wonderful it is that Jesus is alive, my heart is restored. As each child throw their hands high into the air and says their memory verse "Sing praises to the Lord." Psalm 9:11 I rejoice with them.

I stop thinking about my bad hair day and what I am wearing and celebrate.

JESUS IS ALIVE!

And He just showed up to be with me. 

Market Yourself Monday-Matryoshka Dolls

It has been 7 days since I opened my Etsy shop and even though I have not made a sale yet I am having a tone of fun creating.
Plus I am so overwhelmed by the generious encouragement and support of my friends and family! Thanks everyone!

So on with the show!
My shop caters to infants and small children.  I love to give gifts that I think have the potential to become a favorite toy or lovey.  Something extra special.  I think handmade has something above and beyond that is so appreciated by recipients.

I have a line of Matryoshka Style Baby Dolls that my own daughter loves.  They are really sweet.

These dolls are quite unique because the crinkle and jingle. Then also have a wonderful ribbon tag that babies just love to nuzzle, hold or chew.

I hope you will stop by and check out some of my other items at Made On Fifth Street as well as enter my giveaway there.