Have a friend or family member that really loves fiber arts, or more specifically embroidery and cross stitch?  Well, today I have the ultimate gift guide for those people.

These are all products I use and recommend, in various price points.  Almost all these items are available on Amazon, which makes shopping a breeze.

I am so excited by today’s post because that means a DISNEY trip is in our future!  For spring break this year we are surprising the kids with a trip down to Southern California for a few days at Disneyland.   This will be Josh’s first trip down there and we are so excited about it!



When we head down at spring break, the girls will be 6 and 10, which are great ages for Disney, and the baby will almost be three.  I know a lot of people think it is too much of a hassle to take toddlers and preschoolers to Disney, but we think the opposite.   We have taken both of the girls to Disney when they were under the age of 5 and the trips have always been wonderful.  At that age, the magic of Disney is even more MAGICAL.  The entire line of Disney parks really does cater to kids of all ages.. even toddlers and preschoolers.

Little kids love meeting the characters and taking in the sights. The other thing that I really love is that the rides geared towards younger kids, as well as many of the characters (like Winnie the Pooh or Eeyore) always have shorter lines.  Not to mention that many of the rides (like the Jungle Cruise or Pirates of the Caribbean) are great for adults but have no height restrictions, which means the entire family can ride.   Disneyland has a list of height requirements for each of the rides and you can see how few rides are actually off limits to the little guys!


The key to a drama-free trip with preschoolers is being prepared. One of the biggest things you can do is expect anything.  Chances are that not everything will go as planned.  You may end up waiting in a line longer than you expected, someone will spill their Dole Whip, or trip and skin a knee while running over to see Lightening McQueen.  Things happen (even at Disney) and in order to keep everyone on track you want to be prepared in order to prevent little things from becoming big disasters.

To ensure that everything goes smoothly I pack a bag for each of the kids for their time in the parks.  It isn’t as important with the older kids, but for the toddler I find most of these things are essential.

Here is what I include:

Stroller/Ribbon:  Bringing your own is my preference (since we always drive down it is easy to bring our own) but if that isn’t possible, there are strollers for rent.  The problem with rented strollers is that they all look the same.  In either case you will want to tie a ribbon or something around the handle to make it easy to find amongst the crowd.  Sometimes cast members will move and arrange strollers, so it may not be where you left it.  It is much easier to pick out a ribbon in a sea of stroller handles.

Water Bottle: You can get water for free at the parks (from soda fountain locations or from drinking fountains near the rest rooms).  Instead of constantly being begged for a drink, I keep the kids bottles full of cold water.

Sunscreen: Even in the winter, you can get a sunburn from the Southern California (or Florida) sun.  This is always a good thing to pack.

Diapers/Wipes: Even if your child is potty trained a change of underwear is a good idea.  Accidents happen, (especially if you get caught in a long line) and having a pair is always better than not.
Change of clothes: I pack an extra pair of socks, pants, short sleeve and long sleeve shirt and sweatshirt.  Depending on the time of year the weather can go from warm to cool.  Having clothing you can layer is a great idea.  Plus, if a slice of pizza ends up splattered on the front, your child won't have to wear a dirty shirt for the rest of the day.

Towel: I bring a towel instead of a blanket since it does double duty.  If the baby falls asleep in the stroller I can use it for shade, if they get wet on a water ride, they can get dried off, if they want to sit on the ground while waiting in line or at one of the shows, they can sit on the towel.  If it gets cold they can use it as a blanket.

Tattoo (or permanent marker): Nothing will make your heart sink faster than losing sight of your child at a crowded amusement park.  Rest assured that Disney parks have AMAZING protocols in place for lost children.  But to make it easier on the cast members (and give you piece of mind) you may want to get a child contact information tattoo.. or just write your cell phone number on your child's arm in permanent marker, especially if they are too young to know their own phone number. (You can remove the writing at the end of the trip with nail polish remover)

Autograph Book: Often kids will get scared when meeting costumed characters for the first time.   Having an autograph book is a good way to of give them a chance to connect with the character without having to hug or touch them.  My kids like to just hand over the book and let them sign.  it is less scary than having a giant mouse give them a hug.  Especially If your older kids have autograph books, you want to make you have one for your preschooler… even if they don’t want to meet characters.  You may also want to include a few crayons in your bag, so they can color in the book on their own.


1st Aid Kit/BandAids: Disney does have first aid stations in the park, but for simple ‘owies’ like skinned knees or little cuts (even imaginary ones) you won’t want to trek across the park to find one.  Having bandaids in your diaper bag can quickly fix the ouch!

Snacks: Nothing makes a cranky toddler happier than a handful of fish crackers or fruit snacks.  You want to pack things that are easy to eat, and tend to be okay in the heat unless you also want to bring a small soft-sided cooler.  I tend to just bring things like pretzels or crackers and avoid the need to keep them cool.

Books: Giving the kids distractions while waiting in ride lines or for meal service is important to preventing meltdowns.

Souvenirs: Disney can be overwhelming to a toddler since they will want to get their hands on everything they see.  Store after store filled with surprises and treats that they will want RIGHT THAT SECOND. Unlike older children who more easily understand “we will get something later” smaller kids don’t understand delayed gratification.  That is why I tend to pack a few small souvenirs for every day of the trip. Not only is this a great way to encourage and reward good behavior, it is also a fun distraction.  The other benefits of bringing your own vs. buying souvenirs in the park is getting exactly the characters your kids want.  If your child loves Tow-Mater, but you are in the middle of Princess territory it may be tough to find the exact souvenir you are hoping for.  Having small toys picked out and hidden away in your bag  (to pull out as a surprise) is a great trick, plus you will save a few bucks.  It is easy to say ‘no' to the souvenir stand when you know you have a hidden surprise in the bag!

Medications: (If necessary) If your child takes any medicines during the day, don’t forget to bring them!

Rain Jacket or Parka: (Optional) Check the weather forecast for the day.. Even if it only calls for a 10% chance of rain, you would rather have some protection from the rain than not!



And if you are looking for other tips and tricks for Disney.. make sure you don't miss these previous posts:

Mickey Bokeh for Night Photography:

It is time for another Build It Challenge!  This month the theme was “Organizing” and I decided for my project, I would tackle the messiest space in the house: THE JUNK DRAWER!

There are 8 other bloggers who also came up with fantastic projects for this challenge, so don’t forget to visit them too!

Now back to MY DREADED JUNK DRAWER…

Admit it.. we all have one.  And getting control of it can be a huge headache, since it is the place you put stuff that has nowhere better to go.  For us it is things like rubber bands, match books, flash lights, take out menus, paper clips, safety pins and super glue.  And one of my most populous ‘homeless’ items has always been batteries.

After Christmas this year, our junk drawer was awash in close to 100 batteries (since you can never have too many on hand with all the hand held electronics and other gadgets that are floating around this house) and of course, they are all different types and brands.  It was a mess!  This was the pile of batteries I dug out of the junk drawer:
And now, inspired by this challenge.. Here was my solution:

Now that the holidays are upon us, many of us will have little visitors in our homes that may not be around on a regular basis. Or perhaps we have kids in the house, but the holidays present a new set of challenges with all the decor and additional activities that don’t typically occur throughout the year. Keeping kids safe should be everyone's priority, but sometimes we just aren’t aware of what could potentially be in their sight and reach.    

So if you have children living in your home, or visiting for the holidays, here are 10 areas to keep on your radar screen. The holidays should be a time of joy and laughter, and nobody wants to spend their Christmas vacation in the ER.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! 

10 Holiday watch outs to keep in mind around children and pets

Adding a porch or deck to your home can open up a world of possibilities for outdoor living. A 2018 study by the National Association of Realtors and National Association of Landscape Professionals ranks a new deck in the top 5 of outdoor projects that adds value to a home. 81% of homeowners who have installed a new deck, say it makes them want to stay home and enjoy their space more than before the deck was installed.

When making the investment in a deck or porch, you want to work with high quality materials that will stand up to the weather and that is where composite decking materials shine. Whether you are installing a deck as a DIY project or hiring an experienced contractor, using composite decking materials are head and shoulders about traditional wood decks.

For our family, summer is always camping season.   Here in California there are local, state, and national parks where you can camp year round, but typically the summer months are what fits our busy schedules best. While the kids are out on school break and we often head to the mountains or beach and tent camp. The problem with summer camping is that daytime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees.   Unless you head high into the mountains, the inland areas of California can be really warm and dry.

When camping as a family we want to make sure it is a fun and enjoyable experience, which isn't the case if we are suffering in the heat.  Fortunately, even on some of the hottest days, there are things you can do to make your camping adventure enjoyable.  A little good planning, bringing the right supplies and modifying your behavior can make all the difference when it comes to staying cool while camping in the hot summer months.  

10 Tips for Surviving A Camping Trip In The Summer

There is nothing more frustrating than cut flowers that wilt or droop too fast.. and one of the WORST culprits for premature drooping are HYDRANGEAS!  
It never fails, you can bring home perfectly perky cut mop head blooms from the florist or even cut your own in your back yard and within hours of putting them in water, they have fallen into a lifeless slump.  Wilted and droopy.  So sad.

These are some stems I cut in my own back yard. I IMMEDIATLEY stuck them in water, and within 2 hours they looked like this:

I have very alkaline soil.. so the hydrangeas from my yard are very pink.  If your flowers are blue.. you can actually make them pink by adding lime to the soil!  Alternatively, I could turn my pink flowers blue by adding acid to the soil (peat moss, sulfur or ammonium nitrate.)

Okay.. but what about the droopy blooms?

Fear not! Hydrangeas are actually pretty easy to revive.. even once they get to the point of where you think they cannot be saved.  Mine looked like they were near death.

The start of summer means the end of school and for many kids, the start of the age old tradition of summer camp. 

For many children, this also can mean fear and anxiety about the unknown, especially if it is their first time away from home.   Fortunately, parents aren't helpless when it comes to dealing with these fears and preparing kids for their first time at camp.

Package theft from front porches has become an increasingly large problem in the U.S.  As many as 20% of people have reported a package lost or stolen from their front porch since 2017.  I live in California which ranks number 3 in the nation for porch piracy.

Law enforcement agencies are now encouraging homeowners to use package tracking and notifications, as well as tighten up surveillance of their front porches.  Just the presence of cameras can discourage package thieves from targeting your house vs. one which lacks security systems.

15 Unique Teacher Mason Jar Gift Ideas:  

If you are a regular reader you probably know by now that I am a Cans Get You Cooking Canbassador, which means I always have a TON of canned foods in my pantry.  Since I’m also a busy mom of three, having a large pantry stash of ready-to-use healthy staples makes my life easier.  But one thing that it does mean is that my pantry cabinet is always a mess!  Cans everywhere!  (A good problem to have, since if I was stocking up on their fresh counterparts, I would be throwing most of them away every week!)

I have shared with you how I organized my upper cabinets, using in expensive photo storage boxes.. And that system works great..in my upper cabinets which are very shallow and at eye level.
On the other hand, where I was running into trouble was my pantry in my base cabinets, specifically the bottom shelf where I keep all the tall and oversized cans.

I literally have to crawl on the floor to see all the way to the back of the 24 inch deep cabinet.  Plus pulling something out from the way back is a nightmare.  It just isn’t a good system. 

I’ve always been a huge fan of letting my kids make their own school lunches.  I think it teaches them independence, and gives them a little more control about what they are bringing to school to eat.

When they were younger the kids would select a lot of ‘grab and go’ type foods, more like a collection of snacks than an actual lunch, but now that they are older, they are interested in bringing more ‘lunch like’ meals in their lunchboxes.

So I recently set up a sandwich making station to make it easier for them to find everything they need (and not tear up my fridge or kitchen drawers looking for everything.)

When I started blogging more than 5 years ago, I was shooting photos with an old flip phone!  My photos were dark and cluttered and blurry.. and pretty much AWFUL.

If our family, attending local professional baseball games is a rite of passage.  There is nothing like walking into a ballpark and having the bright green field come into view.  Hearing the crack of the bat as the players warm up or hearing the National Anthem echo through the park is a memory you will never forget.

Our hometown team, the Oakland Athletics (affectionately known as the A’s) is celebrating 50 years in Oakland and we are regulars at the park.

And even if you aren’t a baseball loving family, there is still plenty to do to get the full immersive MLB experience.  From food and entertainment, to games and traditions, the Oakland A’s offer so many options beyond the diamond and even if you are a regular you may not even realize how much else is out there.

So I want to share my top 10 things to do at the Oakland A's game that will keep you (and the kids) busy through the entire game.

June is national Celebrate Outdoor month and I am always looking for ways to encourage my kids to get off the sofa and outside. It is often hard to pull them away from video games or electronics, so instead of fighting that battle, I’m using their favorite play things to my advantage.

The one toy my kids CANNOT get enough of is LEGO.  I’ve written about how much it means to me that my kids play with LEGO building sets just like I did as a kid, and even as they get older, they still love them!

Today I’m throwing back the curtain and making a big public admission: I am a MESSY crafter. Some people may be afraid to fess up to a trait like that, but I must.   And not only am I mess, but I am also not focused on any one type of craft, I have a commitment problem. I love quilting, crocheting, cross stitch, water color, hand lettering, paper crafts, and working with my electronic cutting machines. I could never pick just one.  My creative mind is JUST as messy as my creative space.

If you get 8 hours of sleep every night, do you realize that you will spend ONE THIRD of your life in bed?  Yes. A third.  And even if you don’t get a full 8 hours, you will still spend at least 1/4-1/5 of your life sleeping.   You will spend less time on vacation, in your car, or on your sofa.  But many of us spend more time researching our car and vacation purchase than we spend researching mattresses.

This is often because Mattress store make it really difficult to tell the differences between their products. And often this is intentional.  Comparing apples to apples when it comes to mattresses is nearly impossible.

Today’s tech savvy shoppers have turned away from buying mattresses in brick and mortar stores, and instead look to ordering mattresses online.  There are big advantages to buying onlin, including no high pressure salesmen, no quick decisions, and reduced overhead costs of brick and mortar stores.

Instead, you can go online, do all your mattress research from the comfort of your sofa, and order exactly what you want.  Your mattress is then delivered right to your bedroom where you can actually TRY it by sleeping on it, the way you would normally use a mattress. You aren’t forced to do ’test drive’ your mattress purchase in a fluorescently lit mattress store filled with strangers.
Still, many people are not 100% comfortable buying mattresses sight unseen. They are hesitant to make such a large purchase on their own.  But today’s online mattress buying experience can be relatively risk-free.  If buy a mattress from the right online mattress company, you have no reason to be hesitant.

So how do you know you are buying a mattress from the right place?
That is the million dollar question.