Two-fer Tuesday-Two Great Sites

Two-fer Tuesdays is back!!!

Yay!!!

Okay let's jump right in. Today I thought it would be fun to share two great websites with you, these sites are super fun, and they will be a life saver to you this Summer!

The first site is one that I found to be a great tool to keep my kids sharp during the Summer months when they are off of school while also buying me a little time to get some work done.
TLS Books.com
This site is offers free printable worksheets for each subject and grade level from Preschool to Sixth Grade, and best of all they are FREE! (you may cheer now for free, b/c who doesn't cheer for free?)

My second Summer-saving site is perfect for when you want to switch gears and put on your crafting hat. I always like to incorporate a little craft time in with my kids...(I'm hoping to inspire the next generation of craft bloggers)
Education.com
This site offers a wide array of crafting ideas do keep those little hands busy this Summer. You can choose activities by subject, grade level, or theme, and you can stop holding your breath because these are also FREE!!

YAY! Too Much Fun!

If you haven't already (shame on you) you should rush over and find yourself some lovely activities to do with your own little monkey's this Summer!! You know, for when it's just too hot (not possible if you ask me) outside, or it's inside, calm down, mommy needs a minute time (we all have those moments...right?)

ANNOUNCEMENT: Hold on to your hats folks it's a doozy...

I will also be starting a new feature Crafty Kids Corner where once a week I will share activities and ideas for crafty fun with your little ones, so be looking out for that.

Family Home Evening-Reverence is Love

Reverence is Love

(It's True)

With our Summer Bucket List well under way, (no seriously we are knocking things off left and right...update on that coming soon!) this week we turned our F.H.E. attention back to the gospel.

As I have mentioned before, we often try and tailor our F.H.E. lessons toward principles we feel our kids, family or home are in need of, or could benefit from at this moment. It's sometimes apparent to us what that lesson might be and some times we have to ask for a little inspiration to guide us toward the right lesson.

This week was one that let's say manifested itself to me a few times over the last few weeks. It appears that our kids are in desperate need to be reminded of the basic principle of Reverence. They're still pretty young, (6,4,3 and 10 months), so we try to go over basic principles such as this every now and again to refresh their memories.

Of course for this lesson I went straight to my favorite F.H.E. site for a little guidance. Have I mentioned how much I adore A Year of F.H.E.? In case you missed it, I love love love this site! It has everything and anything you are looking for, it's easy to use and follow, and it's FREE! Who doesn't like Free?? If you check it out and love it as much as I do, please consider making a donation. (It not only let's them feel the love, but also helps to keep the site Free).

So I went to my trusty F.H.E. site and back in the lessons for 2010 I found exactly the lesson I was looking for. Check it out here. It came complete as all their lessons do, with the lesson, song choice, activities and printables. It is seriously a one stop shop there, so easy!

I printed up all my goodies, pulled out my laminator and we were set and ready to go for a fantastic F.H.E.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy, and the whole process from start to finish took me probably under half an hour! Can't beat that...I dare you to try!

Oh I almost forgot click here to see our Family Home Evening Treat, Vanilla Mousse Cheesecake
because you can't have F.H.E. without a treat! ( seriously you can't it's in the rules).

Family Home Evening-Intro

So I've decided to attempt to add sharing our Family Home Evening Lessons for all, to hopefully help inspire ideas for your own F.H.E. nights.

I love having Family Home Evening! In our family it is a nice way to dedicate at least one day a week as "Family Day." We figure while this isn't a big deal now since everyday is practically family day, it's a good habit for our family to have for when the kids get older and they actually want to leave...oh oh wait! Monday is Family Night! (See how that works?)

So this post is our intro post into F.H.E. (family home evening) Burt Family Style!

First, we like to mix things up sometimes we have a lesson, sometimes we just go out and do something together as a family, sometimes we just work on craft projects together. Do what works best for your family as long as you do it TOGETHER. For us this works, our kids are all little (6, 4, 3, and 9 months) and have little attention spans so hammering home a lesson every week gets a little tired for them and for us.

Second, for us it has worked well when we do have a lesson to tailor it to the needs of our family that particular week. For example, if we've had a hard week of naughtiness in our house we might have a lesson on obeying, honoring your mother and father, or maybe on doing your part to make a happy home.

Another example, my brother in law just recently left for his mission, for our kids this is a new concept and something they didn't quite understand. So for F.H.E. we had a lesson on Missionaries, what they are, what they do, and we had the kids write a letter to him at the MTC.

We often will do craft projects that coincide with Holiday's or Birthday's that might be coming up, or we'll take the kids to do something fun that maybe they've been asking to do.

And of course when in doubt pick a gospel lesson! We do throw in a gospel principles lesson I would say 2/4 F.H.E.'s at our house.

Third, the key to lessons is to keep them short and simple, keep them age appropriate, keep your kids involved, throw in an activity and always, ALWAYS end F.H.E. with a TREAT!!

Fourth, get organized and get the whole family involved. The reasoning for this is twofold, one if you get everyone involved not only are they more excited for F.H.E. it also holds more meaning for them because they were involved. Second, it takes all the pressure off of you. Don't let F.H.E. be a one woman show, and don't take on all the burden. For me I've come to learn that when the burden of F.H.E., falls solely on me it becomes more of a chore...and more of a chore that I end up not looking forward to. Having everyone hold a certain responsibility is a game changer. The best way I've found to do this is to get some kind of F.H.E. board. There are printable versions such as the one here, and there are also wooden boards you can find such as the ones here or chalk board ones like this. Or make your own. However you do it, DO IT!

Finally, here are a list of great resources that I frequently quite regularly to help me find inspiration for my lessons:

1. A Year of F.H.E. (they are on my list of favorite blogs, she is awesome, lessons are free, and if you want you can follow her lesson plan for the entire year!)

2. LDS.org

3. Scriptures 4 Kids

Maybe in my next post I'll show you my giant Family Home Evening Binder...it's a whopper!

Good luck with your own F.H.E. adventures and please feel free to share any great resources or tips/tricks that you use to make your Family Home Evenings go off without a hitch!

Two-fer Tuesday-Two Favorite Deal Sites

Loving me some Two-fer Tuesday!

Almost as much as I love DEALS!
(see I love Deals!)
Today I decided to share with you guys two of my favorite deal sites, because as we know I'm a tad obsessed with Deal Sites...I can't get enough...who can though? They ROCK!

So I saw a report the other day on these deal sites, click here to see it.

If you're lazy like me, or in a hurry here's the low down on it:

Basically use common sense. If it's not something you need or in my case REALLY REALLY (yes you have to use "Really" twice) want, or something you think you could find cheaper else where- DON'T BUY IT!
Because nothing is worse than throwing money out the window...right??

So the first deal site I wanted to share is one of my all absolute FAVES! Almost daily I want to partake of their wonderful goodies, but I'll have you know that I do have some self control and I actually don't buy as often as I would like to...which is literally almost everyday!

I'm addicted to groopdealz and I'm working to hopefully be featured there soon! It's part of my world domination plan...(insert evil laugh for effect)

In all seriousness if you haven't already, check them out!! You too will become one of the many groopdealz addicts just like me!

Just to give you a taste, here are some of their latest deals that have been featured:
How flipping cute are these?
Ok...Have them...Love them!
Oh yea that's right...shameless plug or featured good deal? Ha! Both!!
Adorable!
This one I'm kicking myself for not buying...how to die for is this necklace?
So groopdealz right?

AWESOME...check it out!!

This second deal site I wanted to mention...for two reasons...
1. It's called Two-fer Tuesday so there has to be a Two to my One
and
2. It's simply TOO MUCH FUN!

Beyond the Rack...
Have you heard of it?
I only came across this site recently. I can't really remember how I came across it, but the awesome part is that I did and that it's super fun!
Beyond the Rack is great because they feature top brand names (you know those ones you read about celebs wearing, buying, using that you only dream about...well me anyways) and they feature them at steal prices...most of the time.
I have come across some products which at 50% off are still only a dream, but they do offer tons of great affordable (for normal people), deals on great name brand products. Like these for example:

Loving this Joan Vass striped tee for under$20
Or check out this Valentino tie for under $50
Come on who couldn't use these Dav boots (under $20) in their next rainstorm? Seriously are those not too cute?

Both these sites I absolutely love and frequently stalk on a daily basis!

Are you with me?

Check them out for yourself but beware that you may walk away with a lighter wallet, a happy heart and something new and pretty headed to your mailbox!

Happy Deal Hunting!

Two-fer Tuesday

Tuesday, Thursday it's all the same Right?? I swear that one of these days I'm going to get it together!! (At least I pray that I do)

For today's Two-fer Tuesday I thought I would share with you guys two awesome sites to check out! (They are not sponsors, just genuinely awesome sites that I love!)
Okay are you guys into deals? (Who isn't right?) I LOVE deals! To be more specific I love searching for and finding sweet deals...it's like a fun little game for me. I'm honestly addicted to deals and deal sites. I especially love those "lazy sites" where you create an account (for free) and the deals come straight to your inbox, what's better than that? I literally am subscribed to or check daily like 30 sites (Seriously I just made a list). I love it!

It's kind of funny, more often then not my "deal steals" are for things that I probably wouldn't have purchased otherwise, but every now and then I do find great" deal steals" for items that I am actually in the market for, and let me say that those purchases are always the most rewarding! Don't get me wrong getting a gorgeous designer purse for 90% of the price is awesome, but it's always more rewarding to save money on those items that I really needed! Although, it's always a little easier for me to justify a "fun" purchase if I can at least tell the hubby that it was a "good deal." He actually loves my deals, I know he does. Truthfully they have benefited him quite nicely a time or two and he's a much snappier dresser because of some of those sweet deals!

There are so many deal sites out there now, and so many awesome blogs whose sole purpose for existing is to find and pass on awesome deals to the masses...(that's US!). And Yay, because today I'm going to pass on to you two of my favorite deal sharing websites/blogs to you!

DISCLAIMER: Beware and proceed at your own risk...Deal Hunting can be very addicting and can actually become very expensive...

and I in know way am to blame if you become an addict like me, because I warned you with this Disclaimer.

First up is Groupon.

If you don't Groupon, you should! Groupon is a site, (if you haven't seen their hilarious commercials) that finds local deals at fantastic prices. You set up an account, pick the location closest to you and every morning there will be a new local deal for you to enjoy! I like Groupon because aside from the local deals, you have the ability to sign up for multiple city locations (I'm subscribed to Ogden, Salt Lake City, Dallas, and Fort Worth) and receive a separate email for each. You can also on your own, scour all the locations on their list and every now and then you'll find a deal that is national! Groupon is my go to site to find sweet pampering deals (massages, mani pedis...). Great deals on sweet yummies (bakeries, local restaurants), and to find coupons to fun family activities, which is a nice way to have a family day on a budget. Have you ever noticed on my Winner Winner What's for Dinner posts, that we go to a lot of local sporting events? That is courtesy of the Sweetest Groupon Deal that I've purchased so far, the "Salt Lake City Pass of All Passes." (This deal is not available on Groupon anymore, but if you scour the internet you can probably find it on another deal site). In a nutshell, we scored season passes to the local water park, on top of a handful of hockey, arena football, MLS soccer, and motor cross events all for $39 a person. Not bad! Definitley check out Groupon if you haven't already!

The second deal site that I want to mention is one of those blogs that does all the work for you, "Freebies 2 Deals."

Melea over at Freebies 2 Deals is amazing and quite simply my hero! She searches all the deal sites, coupon sites, and web deals and compiles them all into a nice little email packed of awesomeness and sends it out to you everyday! She'll tell you the best deals of the week for local and national grocery stores, what coupons to use and how, the best web deals for the day, and where to go to score some sweet freebies! She's based in Utah, but most if not all of her deals are national deals, which is awesome! I love waking up in the morning and checking out what Melea has in store for me!

Well, there you go two great deal sites to check out! Seriously, check them out today, they are truly AWESOME, and I promise you will find some sweet "Deal Steals" of your very own!

Remember the Disclaimer and happy Deal Hunting!


(Images courtesy of Google images)

Two-fer Tuesday- Two Great Sites

Today's Two-fer Tuesday is:

2 Great Websites!

I love website hopping, it's probably one of my all time favorite hobbies! I love stumbling on great sites, and get oh so giddy when I find great ideas, awesome products, or inspiration for future products of my own... I adore finding those fun little treasures or finding great ways to "organize or simplify my life" (isn't that the BEST??) And of course, yes occasionally I love to do a little online window shopping, but who doesn't??

So today I'm going to share two of those great little websites that I just happened to stumble upon.

The first is a website called Woo! Jr, it is a fun little site that is geared to kids, and is chalk full of great craft ideas, educational tools, activities for kids and even has awesome coloring pages. It's definitely one of my Go-To sites when I need to get a little work done, or when I need to calm the kids down after a busy, pent up energy kind of day (which is happening a lot since we are in a winter that just wont quit!)

Woo! Jr has a ton of fun things for the kids,

Like this fun St. Patrick's Day Maze,

Or this spring butterfly, math coloring sheet...

but occasionally I find a few gems for myself like this Angry Birds coloring page, which you better believe I am excited about!!

The second website that I want to mention is called Say Please. Say Please is such an adorable company with such a great message. They focus on the products that feature positive messages in a hip and humorous way through lunch box notes! Check out some of their super cute and adorable products:

I'm thinking my little man would love finding one of these little lunch note treasures next to his PB and Honey sandwich.

And how cute are these Holiday themed notes??

Have a girlfriend or coworker who needs a fun little little pick me up?

And I am loving these adorable lunch boxes to house all your loving lunch notes!

Say Please offers a variety of other great products and the best part is that Say Please also offers a few lunch note printables on their site!

You should run over to both of these great sites and check them out for yourselves!

And as always happy website hopping!