Hello Kitty Let's Play Clothing and KuKee!

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and KuKee, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #helllokittyletsplay  http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.

My little Penny has been a fan of Hello Kitty ever since she was a wee little thing. So we were both thrilled to find out that Evy of CA has a new Hello Kitty Let's Play DRESS UP Clothing Line at Macy's (in stores now and ready to buy up for Christmas gifts!) When we heard the news we went online and found a super cute black and hot pink coordinated active hoodie and pants that is just perfect for our cold fall and winter weather. 

The adorable little hoodie even came with a cute pink Hello Kitty bow headband!

Can you tell Penny absolutely loves this outfit? She is a headband girl through and through so that was the icing on the cake for her :-)

I love that both pieces are interchangeable with so many of the clothes that she already owns so she can get lots of wear out of each item!

She begged to wear it to school the day after it arrived in the mail. How could I say no when she looks this cute in it?

One of the neat things about this line of Hello Kitty clothing is that each piece from the line has a clothing tag/marker that you can scan using the KuKee app and the Hello Kitty Dress Up experience comes to life. So your little girl can dress Hello Kitty up in different outfits, crowns, and accessories. Plus you can take a picture, glam it up, and share it with friends.

Here is what the clothing tag looks like. You just download the KuKee app and scan it with your phone like the picture on the right, above.

To get the KuKee app, you go to the iTunes store, here, or you get also get it on Google Play, here. It's a FREE app too! Just click the FREE button at the upper right hand of the screen (via the iTunes app store) and it will begin to download to your phone. Next you scan your clothing tag to open the app and then you can get started dressing up your Hello Kitty!

So easy and so fun!

You can also open the app by scanning KuKee markers like this one above! You can find different colored ones on the Hello Kitty KuKee pinterest board HERE. 

You can use the KuKee markers to go on a scavenger hunt (and you can even get started by scanning one from this post)! Here is a little bit more info on how the hunt works:

This clothing line is not only adorable and super cozy and comfy it is also interactive and so entertaining and, with the combination of the dress up puppet show and this scavenger hunt, my kids could spend a whole lot of time playing with this app that's for sure! 

Macy's is having great Cyber Monday and Black Friday sales so if you have a Hello Kitty lover in your family you will want to stock up on some of the great items from the Hello Kitty Let's Play line!

You can find more about KuKee here:

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 XOXO,

TUTORIAL: How to Make Holiday Gift Tags with Avery Labels {with FREE Printable!}

With the holidays literally just right around the corner, I thought a great idea would be to get ahead of the game and create some fun handmade labels to use on all the Christmas gifts that I plan on gifting during the holiday season. In case you want to get a head start on your holiday season too I wanted to share how I created my labels using my favorite Avery labels and tags, yes, they are not just for office/business purposes! You can totally use these to create cute and stylish tags for your handmade gifts as well as labels for your baked goodies!


If you remember how I used Avery's labels for Eloise's first birthday party here, you will see just why I adore them so much. They are so easy to use, seriously! Their Print and Design Online center is so simple and not at all intimidating to use (and that is coming from me, the ultimate non-techy kind of person you will ever meet!) They really make it easy to be as creative as you want to be by offering pre-designed templates you can manipulate or blank templates where you can design from scratch. So every time you use it you will get the most professional results making your project look perfect every time.


Today I am going to show you how I made my holiday tags and labels--more specifically the labels but you can make the tags just as easily with these directions! I used Avery Labels #22846 (2x2 inch Kraft Square Labels) and #22802 (2x3 1/2 inch Printable Tags with Strings) for my project but you could use any of their products. The sky is the limit, folks!

The first thing you want to do is head to the Avery website (here). Then click on their Design & Print Online button on the left side of the screen (not shown).


Once you are in the design center you will type in the number of the product you will be using in the search bar in the middle of the screen. Then just click on the product when it pops up. This will pull up a screen (above) with all of your design options. See, they have a blank template as well as lots of really nice pre-designed ones that are perfect for the holidays!


I chose the blank template because I created a design using Picmonkey that I wanted to upload. If you want to use the two designs I created you can find them below:

Made with Love printable (transparent background)

Handmade with Love printable (white background)

If you are pulling up an image you pre-designed like I did, click the Images button on the left side of the screen and within that you will click on the From My Computer button to upload your image. If you want to design your project from scratch instead you will be able to use any of the buttons you see along the top of the screen as well as in the left side bar. You can add text, shapes, numbers, even QR codes! You can also cut, copy, and paste as well as zoom in and out of your design.



Once I uploaded my image, I stretched it to fit the label and then clicked Preview & Print at the upper right side of the screen. From there you can print your project as well as adjust your printer if your labels print slightly off. I usually print on a blank piece of paper the first time to see how my printer is lining up, then I hold it to a light with the Avery label in front of it to see in what direction I need to align my printer. It's pretty easy and usually only takes me a couple of times to get it perfect!

So there you go--super easy, cute, and professional quality holiday tags and labels can be made by YOU in no time at all!! Gotta love that! Now your labels as well as your gifts can be handmade this holiday season!

If you need more inspiration for your holiday labels check out Avery's variety Pinterest Pages, here:
Parties and Celebrations
Food and Drink Labels
Food Jars Only

Avery and Blogher are offering ONE of my lucky readers a $100 Visa gift card!! All you have to do to be entered is comment answering the question, "When are labels typically useful for you?"
Thanks for stopping by today and GOOD LUCK!

Follow Avery here

Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “”#SweepstakesEntry”"; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post”
c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 11/11/13 – 12/15/13.
Be sure to visit the Avery Labels Page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

XOXO,

Making Messes (and Memories) in the Kitchen

I know it's been said time and again that the kitchen is the heart of the home and I for one truly believe that is the case for us. Our kitchen is a place where we share meals together, where we gather after school while we eat a snack and I get to hear about the details of my kids' day at school, it's where homework is done, and a place where we work on crafts and art projects, it's also the place where we make food together.


Thank goodness, I tell you, for Clorox® disinfecting wipes. I think we need to buy stock in this company for the number of dirty sticky situations in our home that they helped me clean up. They are literally a mom's best friend. Just wipe and you are disinfecting as you clean. And the best part is that they go right in the garbage so you don't have to deal with washing any dirty rags which is especially nice come cold and flu season which is right around the corner.

I truly love bringing all my littles together to make something in the kitchen. It could be helping me make lunch, baking cookies, or even something as simple as the pouring of cereal into a bowl to make Rice Krispies treats. I love that we are doing something together I think making food is one of our best memory makers we have as humans. I love seeing their eager eyes as we pull out bowls, spoons, measuring cups, and ingredients. I love hearing their sweet little voices as we count out how many cups of this or that we need. I love that they fight over who gets to stir and who gets to add in one thing or another. I love that I can count on the fact that they always, always, always jump up and down begging to lick the spoons, beaters, or bowl once we finish the last step.

But with all that love comes something I don't love so much. I can't help it, I'm a mom. It's those darn messes, the stickiness, the goop, that dirty floor. It's enough to make me say, "I'll just do it myself" because hey, it's less mess for me to clean up in the end...but I don't. Cause that's no fun.

Instead I let them help, I let them make a giant mess. I let them dump a brand new container of sprinkles all over the table and the floor. I can't help it, I'm a mom. It's what we do.

We tend to keep a canister of them in the kitchen, the laundry room, every bathroom, and even in the car too. Anywhere we can get to them when we need a quick clean up.

We wipe down hot spots like doorknobs, light switches, TV remotes, faucets, and toys before and after we host get-togethers, especially during the holiday season. And don't forget that you can also put a stop to the spread of yucky germs this upcoming holiday season by washing your hands frequently with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds and by coughing and sneezing into your elbow instead of your hands. You don't miss out on any fun festivities or holiday parties!

Clorox® and BlogHer are giving away a $100 VISA gift card! Just leave a comment telling me, "How do you stay healthy during the holidays?"

Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the
following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 10/30/2013 - 11/27/2013
Be sure to visit the sponsor's brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Disclosure: I was compensated for this post, however, my thoughts and opinions are my own. 

XOXO,

JoTotes Camera Bag Giveaway!

Oh my goodness, can I tell you how I have been dying, just dying to tell you about this HUGE giveaway today.  I absolutely LOVE JoTotes, their camera bags are so well made, so roomy, and so stylish. If you don't already own one, I highly suggest you enter this giveaway today and try to win this one. You are gonna love it!

I chose to review the Betsy camera bag in Chocolate since I wanted to get a more neutral color bag that would work with my fall/winter wardrobe! This bag totally fits the bill. It is that perfect shade of brown that goes with everything :-)

If you lift the front flap you find two smaller front pockets that stay closed via a hidden magnetic enclosure. Just perfect for all those little things...business cards, pens, extra camera batteries, and on and on and on!

The inside is super roomy (like all their bags!) This one can fit my iPad in the padded laptop sleeve (which by the way can hold a 13" Macbook Air or Pro too!), my camera body with zoom lens, an external flash and even an extra fixed lens! Plus as a bonus, I just love the cute sky blue color. It not only adds that extra touch of stylishness that I love but it also makes it darn easy to see what the heck I put in my bag anyways.  It also comes with three adjustable interior pads and there is protective foam sewn into the lining on all four sides as well as the bottom of the bag too.

 The exterior flap is also zippered compartment...sneaky!! And roomy!

And there is also a zippered compartment on the back too!

Have a sold you on JoTotes yet?

I thought I would! ;-)

If you'd like to enter to win your very own Betsy JoTotes in Chocolate just enter via the rafflecopter widget below or CLICK HERE!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by today...and Good Luck!

XOXO,

How to Make Temporary Tattoos with your Silhouette and the October Silhouette Special!

Have you ever tried making temporary tattoos with your Silhouette machine? Oh my gosh, I made some this past weekend for the first time ever and they turned out awesome! The kids were in heaven. I love that they last about a day and come off easily so you don't have remnants of tattoo on their skin for weeks afterward. I don't know, there is something about that that just isn't right, you know what I mean?

To make tattoos with your Silhouette, Cameo or Portrait, you will need to buy a pack of Printable Tattoo Paper.

I decided it would be fun to make some Halloween tattoos since I'm helping with a Halloween party later this month and I thought these would be a nice little activity to do with the kids. I used the Halloween Circle Tags which are a part of the Print and Cut designs. By using a Print and Cut design I am able to print out a design in color by using my home printer and place the paper into my Silhouette which is able to read the registration marks printed as part of the design so that it will cut out the shapes perfectly.

To make your own temporary tattoos, you will first need to click the "Registration Marks" button (second from the right at the top of your Silhouette screen) and click the box at the top in the column that pops up on the right side of your screen to "Show Registration Marks". It looks like 3 of the 4 edges of the paper are highlighted...see it up there? Then add your design to the grid on your home screen making sure that the design you choose is within the registration marks hash marks on your screen. Also, make sure you choose the 8 1/2 x 11 paper size as that is the size of the tattoo paper. I left the design size as is but you can always make it bigger or smaller depending on big you would like your tattoos. Once you have done everything above, place your tattoo paper in your printer so that you are printing on the glossy side and then click the "Send to Printer" button (5th button from the left at the top of the screen...see picture above!)

Once your tattoo paper is printed on, let it dry for a bit. Then press on the clear sheet making sure there are no air bubbles. Then place the tattoo paper into your Silhouette machine and click the "Silhouette Cut Settings" button (3rd from the right...looks like a pencil!)...see picture above! Pick "Tattoo Paper" in the menu that pops up, change your knife setting accordingly, and press the CUT button. 

Easy peasy! It is really that easy to make your own temporary tattoos!

They go on just like the ones you buy too!

And hey! Guess what?!

Silhouette America's October Promotion is all about the Specialty Media which includes their Temporary Tattoo paper!! You can buy any of the 3 following deals below this month and get a huge discount while doing so. The special deals include:

(1)  The list of specialty media plus a Silhouette CAMEO® for $269.99 (savings over $120 from retail cost $383.90)

·         1 cardstock essentials pack (new product)

·         1 pack printable adhesive kraft paper (new product)

·         1 pack printable clear sticker paper

·         1 pack temporary tattoo paper

·         1 pack printable cotton canvas (new product)

·         1 pack chipboard

·         1 pack printable silver foil

·         1 pack printable magnet paper

·         1 pack double-sided adhesive

(2)  The list of specialty media plus a Silhouette Portrait™ for $129.99 (savings over $110 from retail cost $263.90)

·         1 cardstock essentials pack (new product)

·         1 pack printable adhesive kraft paper (new product)

·         1 pack printable clear sticker paper

·         1 pack temporary tattoo paper

·         1 pack printable cotton canvas (new product)

·         1 pack chipboard

·         1 pack printable silver foil

·         1 pack printable magnet paper

·         1 pack double-sided adhesive

(3)  30% off on all specialty media

Awesome! Just make sure to use my exclusive promotion code: CARROTS when checking out (go here to buy your goodies now!) to get your October promotional pricing!

Happy crafting friends!

XOXO,

Mommy/Daughter Date: Picnic in the Park

At the end of the summer I was asked by Davidson's Organics and the Missouri Star Quilt Company to be a part of their Ultimate Picnic! program and to create a fun picnic theme to share. What fun, right! I love a good picnic. Remember this post here? Well, last week I decided it was high time I took my girls out on a little mommy/daughter date. It had been far too long since I had done anything with either of them that was just us. You know, without any errand running, after school activity pit stops, soccer games, heck, not even a brother in sight.

Since we've been having the most amazing fall weather, I thought a picnic at the park would be the perfect little getaway for us. I packed our picnic basket with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, animal crackers, apple slices, and some iced tea (caffeine free of course...my kids love when I let them have iced tea, I think it makes them feel grown up!)

I was sent a few boxes of Davidson's Organics have been loving all the fun brewed iced tea flavors they offer. I chose the Te de Hibiscus for my girls as it's caffeine free and they really enjoyed it, especially in their own little mason jar!

I was also sent an adorably happy fat eight bundle from the Missouri Star Quilt Company. I used the fabric to make each of my girls a cute Ruffled Mason Jar Cozy (tutorial found here!) to use at our picnic in the park.

We had so much fun. It was so nice being able to talk to them without the interruptions of any brothers. Since school started it seems that they have both grown so much. They had so much to tell me about school, their routines, their classmates, their favorite parts of their days. I loved it all and relished every bit of the fact that they were both such open books :-)

Ellie seems so much older now that she is in preschool. She is learning about the weather, the calendar, days of the week, she loves all the songs they sing and giggles as she tries to teach them to us.

And Penny. Wow! I knew she loved school, but hot dog, she downright adores it. Every. Bit. Of. It. She soaks it all in and remembers every detail of every day. Right now her favorite class is art, she is learning about money and loves the fact that there is a song about the penny (which she thinks is about her :-) ), she memorizes everything her teacher does and is so pleased with herself to share the minute by minute action with us. 

I'm not sure who had more fun on this picnic date, me or the girls. I do know that I cannot wait to carve out time to do this with the two of them again...as well as I am trying to find something special to do with my boys. Even if only for an hour, it ends up being such a special time and such a great memory for all of us!

Thanks for stopping by today!

XOXO,