Cause Bracelet to Keychain

I'm pretty sure everyone has a rubber bracelet similar to this one above. I know that they are giving out at sporting events, parades, your dentist etc., but do you have a bracelet that supports something or someone that you truly believe in? Breast cancer awareness or in memory of someone lost? Well, I do and this one is very meaningful to me and represent a Person that lived life to the absolute fullest. His name was Lucas Gruenther and he passed away this last year during a training mission. This bracelet reminds me to live life like him, LIVE LIKE LUC-LLL. So, I got a few of these bracelets and wanted to have them different places for me to see as a reminder of a great person lost and to live my life, LIVE MY LIFE!!

So what I did was turn my cause bracelet into a key chain. It only took a minute and I love it.

All you need is :
     -your favorite CAUSE bracelet
     -a hole punch
     -a key ring
     -a brad

How to do it:

Flatten your bracelet and chose a spot in between the beginning and ending of the saying or phrase.

Punch a hole through both sides at the same time so they line up.

Insert your brad through both sides and fold. I kept the backing on that came with brad to keep it flat.

Thread your key ring through, and that's it!

Add your keys and have your cause bracelet as a daily reminder of whats important to you or what you are supporting.

Written By Brandi

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Kids Masterpieces in the TRASH

With my first born I kept EVERYTHING! No one picture or craft project was not saved. By the second child I started to keep my favorites. Even then the papers and sparkly craft projects were taking OVER!  I then started just writing their names and age on it then taking a picture. I allow the masterpieces to stay on the fridge so the kids can feel proud of them before

                                 I THROW THEM AWAY!!

                                    

Sounds like a horrible mom, but in fact it saves me from being a crazy hoarder living in piles of piles of paper, glitter, pine cones and popsicle sticks!

                                                 


Here's what I do:
After the work of art (if hangable) graces us with its awesomeness on the fridge, I have the child hold the artwork and I take a picture! This way you can see the age that they made it. I also just take a picture of the art in case I want to put it in rotation on digital frame. It looks like framed art! That way we can enjoy it all the time without having to hang 100 pictures a month. You can also use the pictures to make a photo book of your child's finest work or written letters on an online program like shutterfly or snap fish.. I love reading the kids work and seeing how their handwriting has changed as well as their spelling. I still save a select few, but not many.








 My Two Cuties Briarlyn & Jalen










That's it! A clutter free life just minutes away. Its better to live in the now anyway and really what are you really going to do with all those papers?? Would you really want bins full of your old work growing up as a child? Maybe to see it, but really what would you do with it?? So, take my advice and snap shot it and MOVE ON!! Be careful though, because at first when your child sees you throwing away an art project...... they may get a 'lil hysterical, so make sure you explain it to them first or do it when they are not looking! HAPPY DECLUTTERING!!



written by Brandi

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The Thankful Tree

 -Our Thankful Tree 2012-

video by Heather

Thankful for You

Heather has created a way for her family to express what they are thankful for leading up to Thanksgiving.  Its a great way to come together as a family and share insight at the dinner table on a nightly basis.

Supplies for Thankful Tree

(use recycled materials)

        -large brown paper grocery bags

        -fall colored paper for leaves

        -sissors

        -tape

        -bowl or basket to hold leaves

        -pen

A common dinner onThanksgiving consists of a turkey, cranberry sauce, family and football. Everyone gathers around the big bird and shares what they are thankful for may it be for new births or health throughout the family.  Last year my family started a new tradition.

Why not tell each person why you are thankful for them?!

My sister in law and I create a paper for each family member that we passed around and everyone wrote on it what they are thankful for that person. At dinner we sat and we read them outloud to one another. Its a way of expressing why we are thankful for each person and make each person feel special. The kids really enjoy hearing the nice things that the family has said about them , there were lots of laughs, smiles :) , and a few members had even got tiery eyed.

Some were funny, some were heart felt, and those that couldn't write, drew a picture. Here are some that were written by my turkey eating ,silly and loving family:

"you are the cutest little sister to have around and your so wild"

                                                                                          "he is a great cousin"

      "he is a great an example to his brothers"

                                                                     "a great father, husband and friend"

                  "he invited me here"

                                                                                     "makes a mean bird"

"she is a good wrestler"

Its a fun way to come together as a family and to let eachother know that we appreciate one another .

Supplies for Thankful For You Papers:

        -a piece of cardstock or sturdy piece of paper

        -printed on top: I am thankful for Insert name because.......

        -pens

*Now just pass out papers as guest arrive and everyone writes something on each persons paper. Dont be shy and express to your family why you are thankful for each other.

You could even laminate them as a nice keepsake or put in a book and have a nice collecion of the families thankfulness over the years or perhaps a placemat for the following year?! Be fun to see how the kids change and express themselves as they get older.

Trust me, your family members will really enjoy hearing what everyone wrote about them! Happy Thanksgiving!

Brandi

**Update**

**Heres tree at the end of the month**

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