Hair Bow Holders

My daughter has a large collection of hair bows for her hair, which end up all over the house.  I have seen lots of ideas that I wanted to make that would hold her bows, but just never got around to making them until a few weeks ago.  At the end of the summer we took a family trip to Kansas City and while we were there we went to the Strawberry Swing Festival, so I could meet a couple of the ladies I have gotten to know online that are in the handmade business like me.  One of them was Melanie, from Violet's Buds, and she makes some of the cutest hair clips, which we have several of them.  When we went to her booth I loved how she had them all displayed on pictures frames.  After the festival Melanie wrote a blog post on her blog, Violet's Buds, on how to make them which you can find here.  I decided these are  the ones I have to make, so I gathered my supplies and made my own.  The one thing I did differently is I used scrap book paper instead of fabric. Here is a look at mine, and go check out Melanie's blog to see how to make your own.

A Simple Change by Judith Miller

 

A Simple Change by Judith Miller is the second book in her series Home to Amana.  I did not realize this was the second book in a series until I finished reading it, so you don't need to read the first to read this one. Jancey is living with her parents in Kansas City volunteering as a teacher in an orphanage.  Her parents decide to go back to the Amana colonies in Iowa where they originally met when Jancey's mother became ill. Jancey's parents leave the decision up to her if she wants to go with them or stay in Kansas City. She is torn about leaving the children she teaches and being with her mother for what time she has left on earth.  Jancey has been seeing Nathan, who works for her father, and he does not want her to go either but is it for love or for money.  Jancey decides to go with her parents.  There are lots of rules and changes Jancey has to adapt to at the Amana colonies.  Will Nathan woo Jancey back to Kansas City or will true love and a new way of living keep her in the Amana colonies?

Before reading this book I had never heard about the Amana colonies and am now interested in learning more about them. I read a lot of Amish books so reading about the lifestyle at the Amana colonies was very interesting, but I think fans of Amish fiction would enjoy this book too.  Now that I know this is the second book in a series I want to go back to read the first and then read the rest of the series.  Judith Miller is a new author to me, so I also want to look for other books she has written and check them out. I felt she did a great job describing the Amana colonies that I could actually picture it while reading the book. Several of the characters in the book that Jancey meets in the Amana colonies seem like wonderful people that I would love to be friends with and would to hear more of their stories of life growing up in Amana.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Happy Handmade Week #27

I really enjoyed sharing with all of you the other week my favorites from the Happy Handmade Link Up at Daft Crafts, so I thought I would do it again. This week I picked favorites with my daughter in mind.

Up first is this beautiful Falling Leaves Flower Collage Hair Clip by Violet's Buds! We have several of her hair clips and love them!

 

Gabby the Glitter Pig by Just For Littles is another item that my daughter would love.  She loves piggy banks and a piggy bank with glitter would even be better.

Lastly, she would love this Twinkle Monster by Kiser Krafts. Twinkle Monster loves ballet and all things girly just like my daughter.

 

 Hope you take a few minutes and check out these awesome shops!

Lysol Power and Free -BzzAgent Review

 

I received Lysol Power and Free Multi-Purpose Spray and Toilet and Bathroom Wipes free from BzzAgent for a review.  When I am cleaning I want to know that what I am using is killing the germs and bacteria, but the harsh odor of bleach that is in most cleaning supplies makes me sick.  I am tired of having to ventilate my house, getting headaches, and worrying about my children when I use cleaning products with bleach.  I jumped at the chance to try the Lysol Power and Free products from BzzAgents.  The spray is so nice to use and you can see it bubble after you spray any surface.  Yesterday I used it to clean my messy stove top after cooking some eggs.  I was able to spray and use. There was a pleasant odor that was not over powering so I didn't have to open the kitchen windows on or turn the fan on the stove on. My husband came home and could not believe how clean the stove top was and asked what I did to it.  I told him that I used the Lysol Power and Free Multi-Purpose Spray and he said we are going to keep using this then.  The Wipes have come in handy in doing quick clean ups especially around the toilet since I have a 4 year old boy that does not have the best aim all the time.  I have even used the wipes to go around the house and clean light switch plates and doorknobs. Besides the ease of using these products I love that they do not have the harsh odor of bleach.  They actually smell pretty good, and are not overpowering. No more opening windows, wearing gloves and masks to clean, and keeping the kids away.

The Lysol Power and Free Products-

• Use hydrogen peroxide to release thousands of micro-bubbles that penetrate and dissolve tough stains
• Requires no gloves, masks or protective eyewear (you don’t even have to open the windows to clean!)
• Kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. When used as directed.

Photo Challenge Day 13-15

Day 13 - Corner

 

Day 14 - Tool

 

Day 15- Colorful

Photo Challenge Day 9 - 12

Day 9 - Favorite Room

 

Day 10 - Entertainment

 

Day 11- Where I Stand

 

Day 12 - Paper

 

Photo Challenge Day 5- 8

Day 5 - Clean

 

Day 6 - Black and White

Day 7 - Far Away

 

Day 8- Outdoors