Show-and-Tell #43: July 4th Sparkler

I wasn't here for Show-and-Tell this past week but I made sure I had a fun project for the 4th of July to complete with Emerson before I left.  She took these adorable sparklers to school on Friday for all her school friends and she took one for herself as her Show-and-Tell item.  Since I wasn't here to capture the moment, I relied on my trusty back-up photographer (and very dear friend), Amy!!  Thanks for getting these great shots Amy.

(Not quite sure what's going on with Em's outfit...somehow her dress got tucked into her shorts!!  Obviously that would only bother ME!!!)

July 4th Sparklers

About two weeks ago, this absolutely adorable idea came to my inbox from a blog I subscribe to.  Make and Takes had created the most adorable 4th of July Pipe Cleaner Sparklers.  Since I wasn't going to be here to celebrate the 4th with Emerson, I wanted to do something special with her before I left.  We (more like I) decided to make these fuzzy crafts for her and her classmates, with Emerson's help of course.  Check out how adorable these are....and they're safe. 

Here are the instructions from Make and Takes site:

My additions or subtractions are in red

(See original blog post here)

Supplies for Pipe Cleaner Sparklers:
2 red pipe cleaners (aka chenille stems) - I only used one
2 blue pipe cleaners - I only used one
4 white pipe cleaners – mine are the shiny sparkly white colored kind - I used 4 of these
White curling ribbon cut twice as long as the pipe cleaner


1. Gather your pipe cleaners and group them with the white together (add the ribbon to this set like it is an additional 5th pipe cleaner) and the blue and red together. 
2. Wrap your blue and red pipe cleaners around the center of your white pipe cleaners.
3. Bend your white pipe cleaners and ribbon up and then twist your blue and red pipe cleaners together.
4.Separate out the ribbon and let it hang to the side, then give your white pipe cleaners one little twist, then fan them out. You can bend them at the tops or leave them straight.
5. Then I tied the small label onto the sparkler with the dangling ribbon.

My Supplies

Emerson helping out!

She did a great job counting out the pipe cleaners needed.

The Final Product

I had a great time making these with Emerson! 

 What a great and safe way to celebrate the 4th with a toddler.  

Wordless Wednesday: Welcome Home!!

Swim Lessons 2010: Round 1, Week 3

Last week ended our three-week run of swim lessons.  Emerson had a great time again and is still making progress.  They practiced all the basics again; blowing bubbles, kicking their legs, moving their arms, using the kick board, using the float belt, jumping and floating on their backs.  We are taking a three-week hiatus from lessons but will resume at the end of July with another three-week session.  I hope you enjoy these pictures from last weeks lessons.  I'll be back at the end of July with more pictures and maybe some video!!

Monday, June 28th

Playing before swim lessons!!

Swim Lesson Basics

Jumping!!!! (Emerson's Favorite)

My Favorites!!

Wednesday, June 30th

Swim Lesson Basics

Getting her "completion" certificate

My Favorites!!

Decluttering The Devers - June 2010

PILES, PILES, PILES!!  Everyone has them! Some of you might only have one, others of you us have several laying around our houses. They can lurk anywhere, from the bathroom, to the kitchen counters, to the pesky ones that seem to reappear on my dining room table.  I hate piles, but I’ve noticed that as I’ve grown older, it is harder and harder to keep piles out of my house.  Piles of bills, piles of mail, piles of laundry, piles of dishes, piles of recycling…you get the picture.  I am learning at a rapid pace that I need to start purging items as they come in, so as not to create NEW piles.  This month I was on a mission to get rid of some (not all, that would take days) of the piles in my house and believe me, there are a lot of them.

Our biggest pile felon is the mail.  I have a bit of a magazine and catalog obsession…Frontgate, Ballard Designs, Chasing Fireflies, Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids, US Weekly, Southern Living, and the list goes on.  I tend to keep those around and somehow they always end up in a pile.  It used to be on my dining room table but, you know from last month, we are trying to keep that clean.  So the next stop is usually my kitchen island and counters.  Well I am sick of it, so my solution was to order this adorable bin to keep mail in….when the bin gets full, then I know it is time purge.  The bin isn’t in yet, but I did purge and it already makes me happy!!!

Before/After - Kitchen Counter

The next pile I tackled was in my living room.  I cleaned out my work bag a couple of weeks ago and all my excess work stuff ended up on our living room sideboard, along with several other things.  So, I went through it, purged and now it is nice and neat. 

Before/After - Living Room Sideboard

Next, I moved to our bedroom…this is the one place I would like to keep clutter OUT.  I want this to be a sanctuary for Danny and I to retreat to after our busy days, but lately the only retreating that has been done is by odds and ins that have ended up on our dressers.  UGH!!  So, I decluttered…much better!!!

Before/After - Danny's Dresser

Before/After - Brooke's Dresser

I admit, most of the clutter is mine…maybe that’s a clue that I have a problem.  Could I really have a problem throwing things away?   I surely don’t want to end up on the next episode of Hoarders!!  Maybe I need to get started on all my other piles NOW, so I diagnosis isn't in my future!!