Boredom Busters

The school year is coming to a close and parents everywhere will soon be hearing the dreaded "I'm Bored" I have compiled some sure ways to beat thos Boredom Blues!!

I can remember as a kid I used to beg my parents for quarters so I could get Gak from the machine when we went to the store. This awesome recipe for homemade Gak is guaranteed hours of fun for the kids!! The best part? You likely already have all of the ingredients at home!

When I stumbled across this fun activity I couldn't help but think how much fun the kids will have with this!! Our local Dollar Store has pool noodles and marbles for a buck each! I'm pretty excited to reveal this project to the littles!!

One of the absolute BEST memories I have from childhood is making Blanket Forts!! We would take every single blanket in the house and make a huge fort. We would spend the entire day playing in it and then beg our parents to let us sleep in it! We thought it was by far, the coolest thing ever!! Building a super cool fort just takes a bit of imagination but if you need a bit of motivation, you can find easy instructions here.

Plan a Scavenger Hunt. You can alter it to fit any age group. Kids absolutely love to explore and discover and they will have so much fun with this activity!!


You will without a doubt hear "I'm Bored" within the first week of summer. Hopefully these activities will get you started on the road to fun!!

Father's Day Gifts For The Kids To Make

Father's Day is just around the corner and I am really trying to get a jump start on gift ideas. My kids are at the age that they really enjoy making things, especially if it is a gift for someone else. We will be making our Father's Day gifts this year. With 3 of them I wanted to come up with 3 different ideas so each would be original. I have come across a ton of awesome ideas and thought I would share a few with those who might be on the search as well!!

This Super cute idea is perfect if you need a gift idea for maybe a first Father's Day or need a cute gift from baby! While it may not be something they can make, still super adorable!!

Maybe dad is into cars or a mechanic. This adorable picture frame is the perfect project for little fingers! Kids love to be creative especially when glue is involved and they will love the idea of having a picture of themselves int he frame!

I am in LOVE with this adorable picture!! Of course you could change it to say daddy or even make a gift for grandpa!

Whatever you decide to have the kids make for their special gift, they are sure to enjoy making it just as much as daddy will love getting it! Best of all, you will make awesome memories!!

These are a few of my favorite things....

I took a leap of faith and did something completely out of my comfort zone. One thing that has always irritated me was people trying to continually sell me something. It just drives me ABSOLUTELY bonkers!! I don't know why. I guess I am just one of those people that believes if a person wants something, they will get it. It is not necessary to continually bug them and ask them if they are ready to order. Well, I was having a random conversation witha  facebook friend a few weeks ago about writing and how to make money from it and she brought up that she was doing some direct sales for a fairly new company. I am not quite sure what made me ask her more about it because these type things simply do not interest me. But, I asked and she began to share the company she works with. It is a fairly new company, just had their one year anniversary. From the moment I clicked on their website, I was in love!! Their products amazed me!! Most direct sales companies focus on one type of item or one area. This company has some of it all! Everything from clothes, home decor, makeup, essential oils and even jewelry!

 This shotgun shell bracelet was one of the first things I saw that I just knew I had to have!! It is totally my style!! I am a country girl and don't tend to get into the really blingy jewelry. This one was perfect for me! Not only did I love it, the price was way lower than what I expected!

Next I came across their t-shirts. When I am not wearing a tank top and shorts, I am a t-shirt girl. Every once in a blue moon I might put on a nicer shirt but, being a stay at home mom, I just do not have the need to dress up. Their t-shirts fit well with my country girl style!!

We continued talking and I asked how much it was to sign up and so forth. By the end of the conversation, I had signed up to be a rep with this company. They offer pretty amazing discounts for their reps so I figured even if I didn't sell anything, I could certainly take advantage of the discount to order my own stuff!!

The more I looked, the more I knew I had to get busy making some sales because there was sooo much I wanted to order!! They pay daily and I decided whatever I made would become my "Sassy Stash" to spend on more product for myself!! Well, low and behold I came across the Essential Oils!!! Many of you know, I have a new found love for oils! I am absolutely amazed at the millions of uses and since I brought them into my home, I have seen such positive changes. Well, there goes my profit!!

If you are like me, you have probably never even heard of Sass n Frass. If you haven't, I encourage you to go check them out!! I am not the pushy sales person and doubt I ever will be. I will however share my personaly experience with the products I have received and share my experience with the company with anyone who is interested!! There aren't many companies that offer the option of becoming a rep for free! To me, that says alot about the company as a whole. The support system they are working with is truly amazing!!

Here is my shamelss plug for this awesome company!! I don't think there is any persuasion needed when it comes to the product!!

Super cute kids stuff!!

All sorts of bling!!

Decals for the house.. hey I wonder if I hang this up if my household will actually follow it?!

They even offer plus size!!

Blogging Bank

There are some days that I sit down to blog and I simply just do not know what to write about that day. Yes, having 3 young kids in my house just tends to give me mommy brain some days and I can't seem to focus. I decided to create a blogging bank. Not only for myself, but for others that need some inspiration as well. The general idea is that it will be a list of topics to write about. Choose something from the list.. if you have ideas to leave, that is even better!! These are just random ideas that pop into my head from time to time. Feel free to take them and make them your own!! If you decide to use one, leave me a link to your blog, I would love to read it!!

• Write a letter to yourself 10 years ago
• How do you find balance in your life?
• What is the first thing you see in the morning?
• What brought you to where you live today?
• Are you where you want to be in life?
• What is your best childhood memory?
• Where is your happy place?
• What is your biggest fear?
• What is your favorite time of year?
• What is your facorite family tradition?
• What is your biggest regret in life?
• Describe your dream vacation.
• If you could have lunch with a famous person, who would it be?
• Do you believe in ghosts?
• How routine is your life?
• What is your outlet for frustration or anger?
• Have you ever travelled to another country?
• What made you decide to start blogging?
• If you could bring back one person from your past, who would it be and why?
• What is your all time favorite movie?
• Do you have a favorite quote?
• If you were to win the lottery, what is the first thing you would buy?

Hopefully this is a little something to give you inspiration on those not so inspired days! Yes, we all have them!!

Sweet Lavender Bliss

If there was any doubt in my mind about the use of essential oils, it was all washed away last night.. while I was getting a full night of sleep! Yes, that is right... a FULL NIGHT!!

My three youngest kids are 3,4, & 5. Every single night one or more of them wakes up to either get in our bed, needing a drink, wanting to sleep on the couch.. just something to interrupt mommys sleep.

In my research on the many benefits of essential oils, I came across homemade linen spray. Lavender is known for it's calming effect and it was said that spraying it on your pillow will make for a blissful night of sleep. Had to be worth a shot right?!? It sure as heck couldn't hurt!

So I got out my little spray bottle and decided to mix up a batch while the kids were in the shower. I spray their pillows and blankets with a light mist. I immediately loved how it made the entire room smell!

Now this did not make them crash right out as soon as their head hit the pillow but they were pretty calm considering they had naps yesterday. Everyone just relaxed and laid there quietly and once they did fall asleep, they stayed asleep!! I actually woke up at 5 am in a bit of a shock and made the rounds to check on everyone.

You could tell when they woke up this morning they were well rested. They were not whiney and clingy as they can sometimes be. I will certainly be trying this again tonight and fingers are crossed for the same results!!

You Used Baking Soda and What??

I have really been making an effort to move my family over to a healthier and more natural lifestyle. Some parts are way easier than others. I recently posted about my newfound love of essential oils. Well, in my research for more natural ways to do this and that, I came across this absolutely AMAZING concoction for cleaning the greasiest of things!! Yep!! A natural cleaner for grease, grime and oily gook!!

I never in a million years would have thought that mixing baking soda and peroxide would make the most dreaded kitchen tasks literally a breeze!!

All you do is take the baking soda and add peroxide. You want to make a paste out of it. Smooth a layer on whatever it is that you are trying to clean. You can let it sit for just a bit and then it will wipe completely or if you do not have the extra time, use just a bit of elbow grease and a scrubby sponge and it comes completely clean!!

Now I will admit, when I first saw this I was super skeptical. Scrubbing the stove and my cookie sheets has always been a pain in the butt and a dreaded task! The first time I tried it on my stove top. Right around the edge of the burners there was cooked on grime. By the time I spread it around the edge of all 4 burners, made myself a drink and went back to check it, the magic was already worked!! It literally wiped away with a cloth! I was in shock and awe!

Tonight I took my pizza pan that my amazing hubby decided to use on the grill. Yes, he literally used to pan to cook on the grill... I made the paste up and smoothed a layer all over the pan. I used the scrubby sponge and the cooked on crud was literally jsut wiping away. Now on this pan, I did have to apply the paste twice but, I kid you not, it looks good as new!!

In the past I have tried sooo many cleaners on both the stove top and my stubborn pans and they never came clean like I wanted them to without tons of sweat and scrubbing.

I do think I am beginning to like this natural lifestyle more and more!!

My New Adventure

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Yesterday, I decided to embark on a new adventure, one I am pretty excited about!! I have never been one to get into sales. I just am not good at pushing products on people. I figure people either want something or they don't. It doesn't matter how much I try to talk them into it, if it isn't for them, then it just isn't.

I was having a random conversation with a new friend and in the course of that conversation the company Sass n Frass came up. I decided to click and do some looking about. I instantly fell in love with their products!! Not only do they have super amazing stuff but the prices are great as well! This is stuff I would buy so I figured it well worth it to sign up as a rep and get a wonderful discount on the products I wanted anyway.

They offer such a wide variety of things! Fashion and accessories, makeup, and even essential oils!! On top of the already great prices, they offer daily deals that make it even cheaper!!

Today they are offering free shipping on some of their super cute tops!!

If you aren't looking to add to your wardrobe, they are also offering 15% off of their wall decals! Lots to choose from!

Take a minute and go take a peek at what they have to offer!!

http://www.sassnfrass.net/#ShelleyKunkle

Lemons... Lemons Everywhere!!

I have recently become ever so slightly obsessed wit trying to bring a healthier lifestyle into our home. Now mind you, it is baby steps because there are some things that my husband just simply turns his nose up at!

He isn't the only one.. some things are just hard to change after a life time of habit.

My new found love is essential oils!! Up until a few months ago I had never heard of them really except for tea tree oil. I ended up joining a crunchy mom group on fb and my curiousity skyrocketed from there!! There are literally millions of uses for essential oils!! Now while you can use there for so many things.. there are certain ones that can't be used for this or that, or on babies, or in combination etc. I am still learning the ins and outs of each individual one.

One of my absolute favorites is Lemon Essential Oil!! This stuff is amazing!! I used it today to make a cleaning solution. !/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup water and about 25 drops of lemon oil. The house smells absolutely AMAZING and my tile floors are clean and streak free!! I've also been using it on my wood dining table to add a bit of moisture to it. I've read many articles that have said lemon is supposed to brighten your mood and today I have found that to be very true!! I feel much more alert and able to focus as well without an energy drink. Maybe it's a coincidence.. I dunno. I guess future use will tell for sure!!

What are some of your favorite essential oils? What do you use them for?

Living in a Sandcastle

My daughter was watching cartoons this morning and said something that really got me to thinking...

Mommy, I wish we lived in a sandcastle.

The minds of children are so simple. She doesn't need a big house or lots of toys in her mind. Just a sandcastle on the beach, with the ocean nearby.

As adults, we tend to get wrapped up in the material things in life. The kind of house we live in, the type of car we drive, the material posessions we have. Life would be so much simpler if we stopped to appreciate the small things more. Sure, there are things that are necessary in day to day life and the extras are nice sometimes too but, what happened to the times when all of that was not so important?

This world gets so busy that we let simple things and lifes pleasures just pass us by without notice. It is a sad reality that could use a bit of change!

If I Could Turn Back Time

Jennifer... there is not a single day that goes by that I do not think of you! Some days it is to laugh at our good memories and the fun we had. Some days it is to cry because I miss you terribly. Other days are anger because you were taken too soon. Taken from all of us. It simply isn't fair! Such a crappy hand to be dealt. I always ask myself why? I deserve to have my sister, my kids deserve their aunt, your girls deserve their mom!!

I talk about you ALOT to Mike and the kids. Although they never got to meet you, they know you so well. They know they amazing person you were. The piece of my heart that is broken and missing.

The day I found out you were gone, my entire world changed. Not only did I lost my sister but my best friend. The one person that knew all of the ins and outs of the complicated person I can be. The one person to share my secrets, hopes and dreams with was ripped away! It was so unexpected, hit me like a freight train.

I would give anything to turn back time. More things I would say to you, more times I would enjoy with you. Your beautiful girls are identical to you when you were each of their ages. No matter what, they will always know what an amazing woman you were.

I love you and miss you my sweet sister!!

Random Moments

So here I am... one big mess of Random Moments and Ramblings. I used to blog years ago and have decided to get back into it. After all, with 3 toddlers in my house there is never a dull moment and coming up with a topic should never be an issue!!

I am a wife and a mother and somewhere in my journey for my family, I have lost myself. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing because I have put being a wife and a mom first and foremost. But, the time has come to discover myself again. My kids will soon be going to school. I've been a stay at home mom with them and have put myself on the back burner in this so called life.

I am on an adventure to revisit the woman I am on the inside. To see if she is the same person as she was before or if she has changed over time. Soul searching at it's finest! I can't guarantee the ride will be all giggles and fairies, I am sure there will be a few bumps along the way but one thing I can assure you, it will be far from dull!