Taking Time for Creativity

This is such a busy time of year.  I feel lucky that I managed to finish Noodlebug's Advent calendar. Since I sell Barefoot Books in addition to my regular job, my weekends get pretty full.

(P.S. Barefoot is having a pretty spectacular flash sale right now!  See details on my Barefoot blog.)

I decided that Noodle and I needed to go do something special together.  We are lucky to have the Charles Schulz Museum in our own backyard.  When I saw that they were hosting a class called "How to Draw with You Child" aimed at younger children, I jumped at the chance to take it.

So, on Black Friday, we spent the day in a class with Joe Wos learning how to be creative together.  He taught us that if we know the alphabet, we can use letters to make all kinds of pictures. 

(a little disappointing to watch the dad in the background completely focused on his phone.)

Noodle thought that Joe's story about how the tortoise got his cracks was pretty hilarious.

 

We left the class with lots and lots of pictures and even a few made by Joe himself.  Noodle was especially amazed by how Joe used the letter's of my son's name to make a picture of a tiger. It is now hanging in my son's room.

Here is an example of a picture we drew using letters.  Noodle's picture is on the left and mine is on the right. Pretty good for a 5-yr-old!

It was a really special time together and much much better than running around wasting money on things we don't need. I hope we can find more classes like this to do together!

Advent Calendar Finished!

I finished Noodlebug's Advent Calendar!  Just in time.

The above photo is a little blurry but you can get an idea of what it looks like.  Each drawer holds a charm to be hung on the tree. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out except for the fact that you can see the threads showing through the linen. But I can live with that. 

I learned how to do this project from Amy Powers' CRAFT HAPPY class.  It is the only crafty thing I have done in months!!!

The embroidery technique was pretty easy and I love how it looks.  I put Noodlebug in charge of filling the drawers with charms. 

 

He was very excited to hang the first charm yesterday!

It was a lot of work pulling together all the materials and putting it together but I'm happy with it. I try to do one homemade gift for Noodle each year and this will be this year's gift.

Homemade Advent Calendar in Progress!

I actually found some time to make something! I have been taking Amy Powers' class over at Big Picture Classes but haven't been able to make one single project.  Until now.  I am determined to finish a homemade Advent calendar for Noodlebug before December 1. 

Progress is being made:

Hopefully, I will be posting the finished product soon!!!!

Putting on My Best Face for the Holidays

SheSpeaks offered me the opportunity to try the new Lancome DREAMTONE product and I jumped at the chance. I have been really unhappy with my skin lately and I have been dreading taking holiday photos.

Here is a brutally honest selfie that I took before starting the DREAMTONE trial:

(#bareselfie)

I am getting all kind of lines on my face and my freckles are worse than ever. I am always looking for solutions to fading my brown spots.  So, I was excited to give this product a try.  It is supposed to offer the next generation in dark spot correction. Whoopee!!

It comes in three different skin tone forumulations and I used the "Fair." 

In a study conducted by Lancome, women:

IMMEDIATELY:
• 74% saw glowing skin*

7 DAYS:
• 70% noticed a more even skin tone*

4 WEEKS:
• 69% saw the appearance of dark spots reduced*

8 WEEKS:
• 78% saw color imperfections reduced* *All results based on global self-assessments of women of multiple ethnicities in an 8-week study. 72% reflects 8 weeks of use.


Sounds good, right?

I have been using the product twice a day since I got it.

My latest brutal bare skin selfie:

While I did not see a significant or noticeable change in dark spots or improvement in even skin tone with a bare face, I did like how my skin looked just wearing the DREAMTONE.  It has a pleasant smell and comes in an easy-to-use pump.  It feels really good going on and my skin felt super soft! 

That being said, at $98 for a 1.3 fl oz bottle, I probably won't be buying this product.  I think it does a nice job with smoothing your skin and making it feel good but I would rather spend that money on a product with active ingredients that could actually reduce fine lines and dark spots.

You can find out more about this product here.

My search for the perfect dark spot reducer continues!!!

(I received a free bottle of this product from SheSpeaks for review)

Advent Calendar Idea

I have been really frustrated trying to find an Advent calendar for Noodlebug this year.  We did a wonderful Playmobil calendar with woodland creatures last year.  The year before that, I tried a LEGO Advent Calendar and was really disappointed.  What do criminals and crime labs have to do with Christmas?

In Amy Powers' Big Picture class, we are making homemade calendars but I haven't gotten very far with mine.  In the meantime, I have a backup plan.

We are huge SPARKLE STORIES fans in our household. So, I was thrilled to hear they are coming out with an audio Advent Calendar.  We'll be able to listen to a story a day for Advent. Plus, they will have a companion printable coming out on December 1.

(photo borrowed from and owned by Sparkle Stories)

Get your own subscription to the SPARKLE STORIES audio advent calendar here.

(I received no compensation in ANY FORM for this post. I just love SPARKLE STORIES!)

Where I Have Been

We are trying very very hard to save enough money to take Noodlebug to Disneyland for his birthday in May.  Since money is always tight, this isn't easy to do.  I started selling Barefoot Books on the side (I already work a full-time job) to help save some extra money. Since this is a busy time of year for retail, I have been trying to do events on the weekends.

I had my first Home Party last weekend:

I'm still trying to figure everything out.  I have always wanted to own my own children's bookstore and this is way of partially fulfilling that dream. I love the company and I love the books. But I am still trying to get my business off the ground and figure out how everything works. It is keeping me busy.

I also started a new Sunday School program at my church which required completely reworking the curriculum and classroom.  We are using the Montessori-inspired Godly Play program. That launched two weeks ago.  It is going well so far but has taken up any free time I had left over.

I haven't been able to do a single Life Book lesson since May which is such a disappointment. I am also currently taking Amy Powers CRAFT HAPPY class but haven't been able to do a single one of her projects either. I have all the materials to make an Advent calendar but haven't started yet. Maybe this weekend.

It is really hard that I don't have the time or energy to create anything right now but I'm hoping for some time for myself over the holidays. I could use a break!

Clothespin Dolls for Halloween

I have recently become enamored of clothespin dolls.  There are so many things you can do with them!  I painted a bunch for trades for ART IS YOU.  Now, I have made some for my son for Halloween.

I got the inspiration for Pinterest and I wish I could remember where I saw them. The woman who  painted them did a much better job.  Still, my little guy seems happy with them!

I am also busy starting a new Godly Play program at my church. This is a Montessori-inspired Sunday School program for children 3-6.  Of course, Montessori- and Waldorf-style materials can be very expensive.  My friend and I have been trying to craft the materials for this new program on a budget.  Instead of buying gorgeous, hand-carved figures for the lessons, we are making clothespin dolls. See? Endless applications!

TINY PRINTS Deals! : Day Five

Every year, I get my Christmas cards from TINY PRINTS because I think they have the best selection of cards. I also use them for Noodlebug's birthday invites.

This week, TINY PRINTS is having Five Days of Deals in preparation for the holidays!

Today's Deal:

50% OFF ALL TRIM OPTIONS!

I love how the special die-cut edges on these cards make them stand out!!! So pretty!
This offer is good until midnight tonight. No code needed!!!

Go here to order.

 (I am a Tiny Prints affiliate and customer!)

TINY PRINTS Deals! : Day Four

Every year, I get my Christmas cards from TINY PRINTS because I think they have the best selection of cards. I also use them for Noodlebug's birthday invites.

This week, TINY PRINTS is having Five Days of Deals in preparation for the holidays!

Today's Deal:

50% OFF PREMIUM DOUBLETHICK MATTE PAPER UPGRADE

OR
 

FREE PEARL WHITE SHIMMER PAPER UPGRADE

I love the nice thick DOUBLETHICK paper. So durable!

This deal is good until midnight and you don't need a special code!

Go here to order.

(I am a Tiny Prints affiliate and customer!)

TINY PRINTS Deals! : Day Three

Every year, I get my Christmas cards from TINY PRINTS because I think they have the best selection of cards. I also use them for Noodlebug's birthday invites.

This week, TINY PRINTS is having Five Days of Deals in preparation for the holidays!

Today's Deal:

25% OFF CIRCLE CARDS!

I especially love these because they turn into ornaments!!!  I'm seriously tempted to order these for MY Christmas cards.

This deal is good until midnight tonight. Use Code: DEAL1023

Go here to order.

(I am a Tiny Prints affiliate and customer!)