Space Rocket Ship Craft from Tissue Boxes for Earth Day - Tissue Box Challenge!

Every year I get pretty excited about trying to do some crafts out of supplies that would normally go in the recycling bin.  So for this year's Earth Day Tissue Box Challenge, I've been saving Kleenex boxes for ages. In fact, I feel kind of guilty as to how many we've amassed in the past year - do we really use that many tissues?!  I wanted to use as many as I could in a craft, to clear some space in my hall closet.  Since Pierce's biggest passion right now are all things space, we decided to create a rocket ship.

First, we glued together the tissue boxes.  I also cut off the end of a 2 liter soda bottle and glued/taped it on the top to make the nose of the space ship.  Pierce helped with all the glueing. 

 Then I took it out in the yard to paint it.  Pierce cut out the letters I drew on red foam and glued them on the rocket. 

The best part of this craft?  All your little friends can take a ride in the rocket ship!  The boys had fun filling it with some of their favorite stuffed animals.

 It took all 3 boys to get it launched, but finally we saw it zooming across our living room and headed towards space! 

This has been a fun craft for the boys and they've certainly enjoyed playing with it over the past couple of weeks!

Now is your chance to link up to the Annual Tissue Box Challenge for a chance to win fun prizes.  First, grab the code for the button and paste it into your blog post.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.twobearsfarm.com/" title="Two Bears Farm"><img src="http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy247/jdaniel4smom/TissueBoxChallenge2012.jpg" alt="Two Bears Farm" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Then come back and add your blog post all about the cool craft you've created with your kids to the linky:





Please be sure to visit the blogs of at least 3 other participants and leave them some comment love about their crafts!  Prizes include a $20 Amazon gift card for first place and a craft kit to make 2 monsters from plastic bags for second place:

Judging will be done by Red Ted Art.  Have fun!

EZwipers - Windshield Wipers Giveaway!

My mouse infested minivan has been in need of new wipers for a while now.  I've been reluctant to purchase them, because last time I had an auto place put them on for me, they put on the wrong size.  And then a month later I flunked state inspection. And had to buy new wipers.  Again.  And while I could pick up some myself, the auto parts stores are in weird parts of town that I never really pass by, so I've been putting it off.  Well guess what makes all this a LOT easier?  Ordering wipers online from EZwipers.  You just type in your car info and place the order and a couple of days later they show up in the mail!  Love it! 

 They even make it easier for the un-car-savvy like myself by labeling the wipers for "Driver" side and "Passenger" side.  Nice!  So I just slipped off the old wipers first -

Check out how bad it had gotten.  See how my old wiper was drooping (I held up the new wiper for a comparison).  Call me crazy, but I don't think wipers are supposed to droop...

And Ta Da!  New wipers installed.  Now next time it rains, I won't have smeary spots on my windows anymore.  And I tested them out - they fit just perfectly, so no wrong size issues this time around!

Everyone needs new wipers, right?  How would you like to win a pair for your own vehicle?  Just click on the "Read More" under my signature to enter!

Disclaimer: I received a free pair of windshield wipers for my minivan.  The opinions stated above are my own and were not influenced because I received a free product. 

Ultimate Blog Party 2012

Last year I participated in the Ultimate Blog Party and I met a lot of really fun new bloggers along the way.  I made great connections on Facebook and Twitter and I gained some new followers.  I have been looking forward to participating again this year!  I definitely encourage my fellow bloggers to jump in.

The Ultimate Blog Party (or #UBP12 for Twitterers) runs from April 13 - 20th. There are tons of prizes you can win along the way too.


So, if you're visiting here from the party, let me tell you a little about myself.  I have 3 boys - twins who are two and a five year old.  We live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, in a little log home on 72 acres.  We raise chickens and have a hay crop and a large garden every year.  I'm not the greatest gardener on earth, or even a halfway decent one, but I try.  I am also a runner, and we try to incorporate a healthy lifestyle into our daily life.  I love being eco-friendly and green where I can.  I make strange creations from food in hopes of enticing my boys to try new things.  And I will read just about any book I can find, except for romance, westerns, and sci fi. 

 As you can tell, they're only slightly rotten. 

Even on a really bad day, these 3 are guaranteed to make you smile.

I blog about parenting, rural life, and our daily outdoor adventures.  I host giveaways and reviews, about once a week, for products that I myself love. 

If you decide to become a new follower, I'd love to follow you back, so please leave me a comment letting me know!

Working the Garden - Rural Thursday #11

It's about that time....garden update!  We've been hard at work on ours.  We put up some fencing (new and improved over last year's fencing, which the rabbits kept eating holes in).

A few items are already coming up.  Remember last year I planted rhubarb and it didn't make it?  Well, going for another round this year, and all 3 bunches of rhubarb are up and looking healthy.

And remember last year, when I planted asparagus and it never came up.  Well, I replanted aspargus and it came up!  Not only that, but the asparagus I planted last year came up!  How's that for a random surprise?  Now I just have to wait for next year to harvest.

The hens are busy laying.  We're getting about 5 eggs a day, from 6 hens (5 of whom are over 2 years old now) so we're stocking up!  Can you spot the imposter in this picture?  Hint: it's something you would hit with a club...

I love this random tulip.  I planted a bunch of them one year, but this is the only one that comes back year after year, fleetingly.

And finally, I'm going to try my hand at garlic.  I use it in just about every dish I make.  And it claims, on the package, that it's "Easy to Grow".  We will see.

Alright folks, it's Rural Thursday, so I'd love for you to link up with Nancy from A Rural Journal and myself to show us what's going on at your place.  Link up your rural related stories and pictures of your own gardens, flowers, recipes, and animals.  Grab the code below the button and paste it into your blog post, then come back and add your url to the linky.  Please be sure to visit at least 5 other people that link up and leave them some comment love.  I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Cute Guinea Pig Jewelry from Momo's Piggery - Giveaway!

You all know I have a soft place in my heart for animals.  Particularly those animals that are searching for their forever homes.  Typically, I think of dogs and cats as winding up in shelters.  But did you know that there are many guinea pigs that need forever homes too?  Guinea pigs can actually be quite interactive and affectionate once they get to know you.  So when I stumbled across Momo's Piggery, which makes adorable jewelry along with other sweet items, I actually contacted her to ask if I could do a review or giveaway.  See, Momo's mission is to encourage adoption instead of buying or breeding.  A portion of all of her proceeds go to the Cavy House Guinea Pig Rescue.  And while she normally sells her items at local fundraisers, she is now trying to reach a larger online audience.  I can't help myself - I'm loving her cause!  And I love her hand creations too.  Momo sent me several pictures of her guinea pigs, and their endearing faces warmed my heart:

Her signature item is named Gupi, and he arrived in my mailbox in the cutest packaging.

She offers free gift wrapping, and each item comes with an adoption certificate.

I can totally see this making some ten year old girl very happy on a birthday...

When I opened the box to see Gupi in there, I was charmed.  Such personality in a tiny little necklace! 

What a unique and special gift these would make, and you could feel good knowing that you're also contributing to a wonderful cause.  Furthermore, if you check out Momo's prices you'll see that not only are they very reasonable, but her shipping and handling is also quite affordable.  Next time I need a birthday gift for a little girl, I know exactly where I can find the perfect creation.

Momo has generously offered to give away to one reader one item of your choice from her store!  She is willing to ship to the US or Canada!  To enter, just click on the "Read More" under my signature.

Disclaimer:  I received one item from Momo's Piggery of my choice.  My opinions and thoughts about Momo's Piggery are all my own. 

Earth Day Tissue Box Craft Challenge, Coming Soon!

Do you have tissue boxes sitting in cabinets waiting to be reused and recycled?
The 2nd Annual Tissue Box Challenge is going to start next week.
JDaniel4sMom and I will be hosting the challenge this year. It is a wonderful opportunity for you to celebrate Earth Day, create something with your children using tissue boxes, and win a prize. Plus, you can visit other participants and find fun ideas for other crafts you can make from old tissue boxes. 

 

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.twobearsfarm.com/" title="Two Bears Farm"><img src="http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy247/jdaniel4smom/TissueBoxChallenge2012.jpg" alt="Two Bears Farm" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

How does it work?
•Reuse a tissue box to create something fun with your children.
•Create a post about your creation that includes a link to the Tissue Box Challenge or the challenge badge.
•Share your post on the Tissue Box Challenge linkup between April 16th –April 23rd.
•Our wonderful judge Maggy Woodley of Red Ted Art will select a first and second prize winners.
What are the prizes?
The first prize winner will receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card.
The second prize winner will win this fun craft kit to make two monsters from plastic bags:

How cute is that?  All you have to do is come up with a fun creation for the contest and link up next week!  I participated last year (I wasn't hosting then) and my craft won 3rd place - check it out here if you want an example.  I can't wait to see what you make!

1000 Followers and Some Fairy Hobmother Goodness

It's not that I ever thought I wouldn't reach 1000 followers.  I knew it would happen eventually, you know, after like ten years of blogging.  Imagine my joy and surprise to reach the milestone in a slightly shorter amount of time.  I'm thankful to all of you who read my blog on a regular basis and even leave thoughtful and inspiring comments.  One of the best parts of blogging is visiting your blogs and getting to see your lives and homes and sources of creativity and happiness.

Good things are happening lately all because you read and follow my blog.  You may have noticed, but I've started to write a few sponsored posts.  And I couldn't have reached this point without your support!  While I don't talk about it too often, our budget has been really tight since I decided to stay home after the twins were born.  See, our mortgage was signed at a time when both my husband and I were working full time, so it was really designed on a two person income household.  I don't regret the decision to stay home - not for a second - but there have been times when I've made do with pantry items for stretched out days rather than buy fresh groceries, because our finances were so tight.  But with every sponsored post opportunity, it makes trips to the grocery store just a little less painful.  By reading my blog, you're helping, in a sense, to support my family.  So thank you, dear readers.

I want you to know also that I won't represent products or brands I don't believe in, no matter the profit.  I have already turned down a few opportunities where I didn't feel like a product matched my own life philosophy.  I hope I can continue to share with you about products I love, but you will never see me posting on something that I wouldn't feel comfortable using myself. 

Another example of something exciting that happened because of your support and readership, is that the Fairy Hobmother paid my blog a visit!  I've long heard of the Fairy Hobmother, and let me tell you - she does exist!  She said that she found my blog and enjoyed it (and she might never have stumbled across it without you, my readers, following and building me up).  She wanted to grant me a wish.  And, as a typical mother, I thought of my kids instead of myself.  I thought of Pierce, who has reached a deep fascination with Legos.  He recently worked hard (for a month) doing chores around the house (and even helping me to clean out the car) to save up for a Lego spaceship.  Since then, he has wanted the Lego Space Center, but let's face it.  Legos are expensive.  We just couldn't pay for it.  And while normally I can find the toys he wants used (eventually), I have never come across full Lego sets at yard sales or thrift stores or on Craigslist.  Now I certainly don't think children should get every toy they ask for, but Pierce doesn't ask for much, and he is a really great kid.  So thank you, Fairy Hobmother, for granting Pierce's wish for a Lego Space Center.  I have fond memories of building an intricate Lego castle with my Dad as a kid, and I hope that Pierce will have sweet family Lego memories as well.  If you're curious, the Fairy Hobmother comes from this site - http://www.appliancesonline.co.uk/

So thank you again dear readers.  You all mean so much to me.  Even when I'm nowhere near the computer, I often find my thoughts straying to your lives, as so many of you have befriended me and moved me with your eloquent words and amazing pictures. 

Do tell....if you were granted a wish with the Fairy Hobmother, what would you ask for?   You never know - she might visit your blog next!