Friday, September 28, 2012

Get a FREE month of ABCMouse.com






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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Fancy Subscription






Oh damn... I have done it again. These monthly subscriptions get me all the time. Except this one is special... It's Fancy! I am sure you have heard the buzz around the internet about this Fancy website. It is actually a secret hobby of mine. I sit with my iPhone in hand and my consumerist heart pumping. My eye's burning and unable to shut, day dreaming of all of the Fancy things that I could own. The epic Spa bathrooms and the ultimate vacation spots dance in my dreams while my iPhone case that glitters now is looking dull.



So I did it... I subscribed. The promise that for only $30 a month, you will get a box of swag that is most Fancy'ed by the community worth over $60 was too intriguing. I HAD to do it. So I did.

So shortly after I placed by Fancy order, I received an email.

"Hi Jessica,

Thank you very much for your purchase of the Fancy Box! Fancy Box is Fancy's monthly subscription service that provides $60+ worth of goods for only $30 per month.

To help our curators identify the best products to send to you each month, please reply to this email and let us know:

1) your gender
2) your t-shirt size
3) which of the following two categories of goods you would like in your Fancy Box:

• Men's
• Women's
• Home
• Gadgets
• Media

By purchasing this item and replying to this email, you hereby consent to a $30 monthly fee for the Fancy Box. You will be charged on the first of the applicable calendar month and each order will be shipped on the 15th of that month. Subscription may be cancelled by emailing Fancy's Customer Service Team at cs@thefancy.com prior to the 1st of the calendar month for which you intend to cancel your subscription. Please include your Fancy order number in your email.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact our Customer Service Team atcs@thefancy.com. Your Fancy order number is: *****

Thank you for subscribing to the Fancy Box!

Sincerely,
Team Fancy"

Seemed simple enough, but I still had a few questions. Once you pick two categories, are you locked in for life? How often can you change them and by what date? The most important question... When will I get my freaking Fancy Box? 

Well... There is not a September box. Even though we all paid in September, we will have to wait until October 15th for ours to be shipped. Which is ok. You can change catagories. I currently have Women's and Gadgets. (I have been scouring these two categories trying to figure out what could possibly be in this fantastic Fancy Box?! The anticipation is killing me...) I have the ability to change categories by the first of the month that the next box ships. Example: If I want something for my husband in November, I have to change the category by November 1st so the box that ships on November 15th will have a Mens category. Also, if I want to cancel, the same applies. 

Hope this helps all you Fancy people out there that have also ordered or are planning to order! 

Sunday, September 9, 2012

How To - Dalek TuTu and Helmet

Tree weeks ago, I had very little idea who and what exactly Doctor Who is. Now, thanks to my beautiful sisters, I am partial expert.

Living in the ever partying Portland, my mom and sisters were planning to attend the Doctor Who party of the year. The season premiere party. There was numerous festivities, the most coveted was the costume contest. Spoilers. ( Did I do that right Doctor fans? )

Now, costumes are hard to find and when you do, they are expensive and never fit right. For C's we decided on a TuTu version of a Dalek.

Supplies:

1 large can of silver spray paint
10-20 squishy foam balls
1 yard of elastic
10 yards of tule ( more if you want a thicker tutu )
Hot glue gun & sticks
Duct tape
Black tights
Black form fitting shirt
Head fitting bowl
Medium paper cups
Tap on tap off light

Note: You can find most of these supplies at Dollar Tree, so stop there before heading to Jo-Ann's.

Step 1: Using bread knife, cut all foam balls in half. Lay out and spray a thin layer of paint over balls. This will take several coats of thin paint. If you sort thick, it will eat at the foam and we want shiny "eggs" not melty ones. Also, generously cover the two cups and bowl in paint. Allow time to dry.

Step 2: Make TuTu following these directions. Or find your favorite tutorial, and make away.

Step 3: Once "eggs" are dry, glue around TuTu in a lined pattern.

Hint: When working with hot glue, don't let small children in the room. You will get burned while paying attention to them trying to ensure they won't get burnt. Also, try to keep the glue to the outer edges of the half balls, otherwise they will sag and not look pretty.

Step 4: The hat! Glue one cup on each side, and the light in the front center.

Step 5: Once you are dressed in your new and AMAZING Dalek costume for the night, take duct tape and line your shirt with it. Whatever pattern or shape you like will do, C chose simple lines.

Step 6: Win the costume contest!

In conclusion, C & K both won the costume contest! Our Dalek in 1st place and Amelia Pond in 2nd. They had some amazing costumes and had a wonderful time! Also, my Mommy made a pretty awesome River Song!

Friday, September 7, 2012

Free Kelly's Kit MSRP $9.99






Kelly Kits encourage art play using a wide variety of creative tools & materials beyond what coloring books can offer. The Original Kelly Kit comes complete with one set of five unique activities that cover the five art disciplines: painting, drawing, sculpting, printmaking, & collage. Each kit contains all of the tools & materials needed for the activities, the user just needs access to a kitchen! To increase functionality for homeschooling parents, each activity includes an instruction card with an enrichment idea to adapt the art activity to a school lesson. Kelly Kits are designed to encourage creativity & teach!


This post is sponsored by Kelly's Kits and US Family Guide

Salt & Straw - A Portland Outsiders Review





Tucked away on 23rd a few blocks south of Lovejoy there is a little corner shop named Salt & Straw. My first experience was all to quick, I was able to steal a quick bite of my sisters Chocolate With Gooey Brownies. My mouth instantly fell in love. The cold and smooth ice cream with a brittle milk chocolate flavor and huge bursts of dense and gooey chocolate brownies. That was before I stepped inside the experience that is Salt & Straw.

Katie's First Salt & Straw


It feels like vintage farm house meets Portland. The servers are bright, cheerful and an eclectic bunch themselves. You can stop by in the morning for a perfectly pulled shot and some quiet newspaper reading or you can come in the afternoon and believe me, the line will wrap around to Kearney, but the wait is well worth it. Buy a pint and you can skip the line, or wait your turn and they will patiently let you sample the ice-cream while you decide which one best suits your mood.

My favorite? The Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons. I do, as before mentioned, recommend waiting in line. There are a few flavors that are there permanently, but they are made fresh so the consistency is different. I have had the Sea Salt several times, and sometimes it is more salty or has more caramel.

Did I mention the best part yet? It's within walking distance from Nana's!


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

1st Day Of School Interview With D.




D's 1st day of 1st grade... A look into his interesting mind...

Q: What is your favorite memory over summer?
A: Playing DS outside with Nate

Q: Who is your best friend?
A: Riley, that's NOT a girl.

Q: What is your favorite number?
A: One that I can't count to.

Q: Which Pokemon is your favorite? <- He asked this, not me.
A: Oshowat. 

Q: What do you look forward to this school year?
A: Playing on the playground.