Craft Corner - DIY Salt Dough Easter eggs

Hey Guys with Easter coming I wanted to a fun and simple cute craft so I present... Salt Dough Easter Eggs! It is quite easy to do and if you have different cookie cutters you can do these for all the different holidays!

Things you will need:
Salt
Flour
Water
rolling pin
cookie cuts or something to make your shape with
a pen (optional)
ribbon (optional)
nail file (optional)




So first you have to make your dough. The recipe is simple:

1 cup salt
2 cups flour
1 cup Luke warm water

What to do:
Mix your dry ingredients in a large bowl
slowly add water and mix
(you can also add food coloring to color the dough but since I am painting the dough I did not do this step)

Pretty Simple right?

Ok! Then you need to flour the surface you will be working on so that the dough doesn't stick.
Once you do this you can roll out the dough to you're desired thickness.

 



After you do that get whatever instrument you are going to use to cut your shape. I actually used the top of a conditioner lid.

 

 

After that place the shapes on a cookie sheet (I was able to fit 24 eggs and had a nice size ball of left over dough!)

 





 

Once that is complete you can take a pen and put a hole near the top in case you want to hang them by ribbon

 

 

Place them in an oven that is preheated to 200 degrees and bake them for 2 hours. Once they are done, allow them to cool and paint away! After mine cooled they had some rough edges from not using a cookie cutter but I used my nail file to file the edges away. I am still painting mine and need some different colored paint but here are two that are painted (just not how I like!)

 

HAPPY CRAFTING!!



Mommy Mondays - 3/3/14 Somedays you just don't feel like doing it

(image courtesy of antpkr/freedigitalphotos.net)

I'm going to have a moment of honesty with you right now. Some days you just don't want to do it. Some days you just wan to throw in the towel. You wake hounded by "Can we have breakfast!" Followed by the baby telling you to "Change my butt!" and then it turns into fighting between the two middle children. Then is then followed by some teeth pulling to get them to sit and do school. Just when you think you get a break you hear "Is it lunch time at yet?" It just keeps going, and as moms we can feel spread too thin. With all the stress that has been going on I now that my fuse is shorter than normal. (not that I had a long fuse to begin with!) I know that I have been alttle extra hard on the kids and I feel bad about it. The one morning I woke up and I just was feeling totally convicted. I felt like God was bombarding me with all the things that I need to be working on.This was a day after I felt like throwing in the towel. I had been doing all of the things that I had told the kids not to do. I wasn't controlling my temper, I wasn't using loving words, I just wanted to be miserable and because I was miserable I made the children miserable and in turn they became miserable as well. Job well done mom! I felt awful the next day. Something needed to change. I was viewing my children as an enemy of sorts. I am not one who handles change well. I can't make huge leaps and bounds in one day, so I decided to start small. I decided to sincerely hug each child everyday. The first day I did I really got hit with reality. I went to hug my daughter Natalie, who is 9, and as I went to hug her she shrugged her shoulders and looked at me and said "What's wrong??!" I couldn't believe that she felt something had to be wrong for me to hug her. When I hugged my 10 year old son her got a huge grin on his face and I knew he felt the love in my hug. It wasn't a quick hug before bed it was meaningful. I took that little extra time to tell him I love him. Day 2: Natalie is more receptive of the hug. I catch my 10 year old coming in the house so I stop him to give him a hug. I couldn't believe how great I was feeling from just hugging them sincerely! I told him that I missed how we used to hug.It didn't used to be this way, he was my buddy. He is such an amazing son, and such a wonderful big brother! He says to me "Yeah well you are usually angry all the time." He didn't say it snidely, or cruelly, he said it, well he said it sadly. It broke my heart and I vowed that this would end. Is that how my children really see me? I'm not really angry all the time, alot of the time I am just frustrated but maybe my frustrated face is the same as my angry face. The time while they are little is short and it flies by so stop what you are doing and hug those angels. We do what we do because we love them, they need us and we need them. We need to cherish these moments because a time will come where my boys will be embarrassed by me when I hug them, and that's fine, but until that day comes I will cherish the innocence they still have and cherish their unconditional love.




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Where have I been? 3/2/14

I don't even know where to begin this post! I feel awful that I have been away from blogging but sometimes life happens and you have to step away and deal with some reality. That's what I was doing, dealing with some major reality. I had been feeling so buried under life that I couldn't write. I don't think that even wanted to see the word in front of my face because the weight was just so intrusive. Without going into too much details we will put it this way. I was expecting a good some of money and then I lost it. I am not going to disclose the exact amount because what is a good some of money to someone might be small or larger to someone else. Anyway, when I was on the phone and learned of this news, I hung up, snaking, with the sickest feeling in the world and I literally became physically sick. We were depending on this money to catch up on bills, pay rent, handle the majority of our finical problems. We had plans to get new beds for the kids and even be able to paint a few rooms of the house. Point is is that we really thought it was a guarantee. Well, it would have been had I had not had an outstanding student loan. They took the entire refund. I know that this is totally my fault for not taking care of it sooner, I can't make an excuse for myself except for some really stupid choices. Look, I'm human, I make mistakes. Believe me I am really learning something here, and I feel bad that something like this had to happen for our eyes to be opened on how we handle our finances. But this give us a rare opportunity to get on top of things again. It is going to be hard, but there hasn't been very many easy roads for us as it is. This gives us a chance to grow and become stronger and in a weird way has brought my husband and I closer together. Not at first though. We are a young couple and sometimes there are still moments of immaturity. I won't deny that, I am a work in progress, and I make mistakes. We placed the blame game for a awhile, but I think that we weren't ready to be mad that the people who really caused this mess in the first place. It was US. Not one or the other. I think it was easier to put the blame on the other person rather than on ourselves. BUT once we were honest with each and placed blame where it rightly belonged, it made us face the reality together. So yeah for the past few weeks we have been trying to dig out of the mess we made for ourselves. You know that this is the time that kids decided to be extra bad. I just had to deal with the fact that I found out that my 10 year old left a very colorful comment on a youtube video under my husbands account. Oh and the snowplow backed into my mailbox, luckily I saw him do it, but I had to catch him when he came back down the street. When I confronted him he said "Well it is still standing" Let me take the time to tell you what the mailbox looked like at this point. I has a post that reminds me of siding material then the metal box and a small post with a knob on top of the mailbox. At this point the whole post what ripped open and twisted and my mailbox was drooping down and to the left alittle. So the guy jumps out and looks at it and says "Hey that's broke." I was stunned. He said that he couldn't do anything right now because of the snow but that he would fix it. Then he got back into his truck and drove off. He never took my name or phone number or anything so i called the city service department and that then know about the incident. This was last Wednesday. Fast forward to today... My dad is sitting in the living room visiting with me and the kids and I hear the plow go by which reminds me to tell him about the mailbox. I asked him "Hey, did you notice my mailbox?" And I look out the window.... there is my mailbox laying in the front yard with mail in the snow. I gasped and said "They hit again!" I went outside and here is the big salt truck. It stops, the guy rolls down the window and IT'S THE SAME GUY!! He says "Oh I'll fix that tomorrow!" and drives away leaving me holding my soggy mail and heavy mailbox and top piece of the post, wearing my boots and robe because I found that faster than my coat. Yeah, it's been a long couple of weeks! I hope to get back on a normal schedule again but who knows what life will throw at me! I'm sure that I have many lessons to learn and I am willing to learn them but sometimes they can be hard ones!

Inspirational Sundays - Finding a brighter tomorrow 2-2-14 (posted a day early because I am busy tomorrow!)

(image courtesy of iamharin/freedigitalphotoes.net)

When I first started this blog I had wanted to a day for inspiration so that I may help to brighten someone else's day. In case there was someone who read my post who needed a pick me up. I have read a few other blogs that have had this effect on me and sometimes you just need someone to say "Hey, everything is going to be OK!" and just to let you know that you are special and unique, and that there was a purpose for you to be put on this Earth. Sometimes you need light in the darkness. The world is full of some much already! I haven't wrote many of the inspirational posts because I was searching for my own inspiration.I didn't want to just give you nice lines of positivity when I didn't believe it myself. It wasn't a fun time, but I am and always be a work in progress. Ya know, you have to learn from your mistakes and if you don't make the mistakes you won't learn! That is the process. I just want to let you know that on this Sunday take time to tell someone that you love and appreciate them or give someone a nice compliment if you go to a store. Even just the simple act of smiling at someone could brighten there day! You never know what someone else might be trudging threw in their own life and that little gesture might just be all he or she needs to turn the humanity back on! You are special! You are unique! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise! You have a purpose so just hold on and know that you are not alone!! Great big internet hugs and I hope this bring a smile to you face! Have a "Super" Sunday!

My ldeas for my blog

So I am trying to come up with some extra posts for my blog. I have Mommy Mondays - where I talk about Mom things. Teaching Tuesdays, and once I get out of my funk I will be so Inspirational Sundays, but I would like to do some other fun things in the middle too. I was thinking "What we're eating Wednesday," and I share a new recipe, or Whatever Wednesdays, devoted to style and makeup. Feel free to comment below and let me know what you would be interested in seeing!!

Mommy Mondays - Mommy Meltdowns! 1-27-14

Ugh! I am in a rut! I am not sure how helpfully this post will be today. If anything I just want outher momma's out there to know that they are not alone when they feel they have the weight of the world on their shoulders. I am just having a frusterating go of it lately. My husband has to work 3rd shift for 2 weeks in a row (they are remolding his place of work so he has to be there to supervise things.)It really makes it difficult to homeschool AND keep a 2 year old quiet while he is sleeping during the day! This winter weather is also taking a toll on me. I have dreams of spring and planting gardens and flowers and even, gasp!, Spring Cleaning! I know I think I have lost my mind! We are also waiting to file taxes and school is getting very frustrating as well! We have to testing called NWEA tests, that the school just sprung on us and it can be difficult with tech issues and trying to get the tests done in time. For some reason they want these tests done by the end of January. Two of my children were supposed to take the test today but the whole system crashed so now we have to do it another day. Some days I just feel frazzled! I have so much that I am wanting to get done and it just isn't happening as fast as I would like them too! (I have always been one who needs work with patience. I want things done and I want them done now!) Sometimes I just feel like God keeps reminding me of all the things that I need to work on with myself. I have Momma anger that I am working on. I hate how short tempered I am. I don't remember being like that. Sometimes I feel like I have lost the person that I once was and I am trying to find that person, or remnants of that person. When I was in high school my friend's family called me "Giggles," and "Smiley," because I was always happy, giggling, and smiley. I know that I have changed who I m since then, but where is that happiness. I understand that life is hard and can change people but have I lost myself completely? I am not the person that I used to be and that is a great thing, but sometimes it seems like something is missing. I have tried taking on some hobbies which has helped but I really think that it boils down to my thinking. I have a terrible habitat of being my own worst critic. I am trying to use more positive thinking and trying to find positives in all the negativity. I am a perfectionist so it is hard for me when things don't go the way that I plan. I know that this stressful time in my life will get better. Self help is never an easy process but it is necessary, not just for me but to benefit my family as well. I am not use to them if I am a wreck!As my one friend Jodie says "This too, shall pass!"

I looked forward to hearing from you guys. If you have any suggestions on topics you would like to hear about feel free to comment below! :)

Teaching Tuesday 1-21-14 Being Flexiable

image courtesy of Getideaka/freedigitalphotoes.net

It's a Monday morning. Amazingly you are well rested, and ready to tackle this week of homeschooling. The sun is shining, the birds are singing (OK probably not but you get the idea!) and then you hear those dreaded words "Mama, I don't feel so good." Eek! Gasp! Just when you think that this week will be different this week I will tackle everything! This week I am Superwomen!

Since I home school my children we don't really get fun things like snow days, (I home school but it with a distance learning academy, so my children have a few live classes with teacher) and my children have to be throwing up (sorry) or be passing out for them to miss school, but occasionally that happens.

When evil sickness strikes hit back! Be flexible! I think that it is great to be like "OK you are sick stay in bed and relax." I like to make up sick bins with stuff for them to entertain themselves (and I throw in educational stuff in there too, fun stuff so they don't realize they are learning!! He he!) I try to keep the sick one away from the other children in the house. (if you are like me and chose to have a litter of children, you know that one cold can wipe out the entire family. Chances are if the others ones don't show signs they will once sick child number 1 feels better!) Also it is best to be prepared. You don't want to have to run out to pick up medicine with your other children and the sick one either. I like to make sure that I check the medication expiration dates and levels before winter comes. Stock up on soups and fluids to help keep the little ones hydrated!

We can't prevent colds and flu's but we can help our little ones feel more comfortable in this most uncomfortable time. We may not get everything done that we wanted and we may not be the Superwoman we thought but to those little eyes we are Supermoms!

Mommy Monday 1-20-14 When Children Worry

Teaching Tuesday 1-17-14 Homeschooling with a toddler!

    

Image courtesy of Naypong / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

       When I became pregnant with my last child I new that homeschooling my other older children would be more difficult because I would need to be there for her while still being able to tech the others. This can be so difficult sometimes! Sometimes I feel like I am losing my mind!
    
     My toddler is very demanding!(and so are the other ones!) I don't know if you have seen the clip from Family Guy (I don't watch the show but it is a popular clip) where Stewie is standing next to his mothers bed. She is laying there looking completely exhausted and tired. I can relate! The Stewie starts "Mom, momma, momma, mommy! MOM! Mommy! MAMA!" she looks at him and says "What?" He says "I love you!" and runs off. STORY OF MY LIFE!! Lilah does this except of saying I love you she says "CUP!" or "Yo Gabba Gabba" or "Barney!" Do you see the pattern here? I swear I am going to change my name!! I remember when she first started talking. She said Dada so much more than mama. My husband looked at me and said "That will change." Ah yes, he was right! Oh, how he was right!
    
      Fastfoward to now and trying to home school with that going on. I had to do something, it was getting out of hand. I tried a few different suggestions that just didn't work, so I took matters into my own hands. Lilah is the type who feels like she is a big girl and wants to do the same things that he siblings are doing. I was watching her the one day while my daughter was in her living learning class and the class was singing a song and Lilah really got into it and then it hit me! I can be teaching her and them at the same time. I printed letter coloring sheets, made sensory bins for her and talked to her like I was talking to the older kids and for the most part this works. She is learning and being a big girl at the same time so both sides are happy! This doesn't mean that we have those days where she just isn't interested in anything except what I am doing. These days you have to breathe through and allow yourself to be flexible to adjust to days that can be frustrating and exhausting!

Mommy Mondays (late post! sorry!) 1-13-14 - Sharing the love!

Whatever Wednesday 1-8-14 Taking time for YOU

         Hello Friends! When I woke up this morning I was in a funk. The day had just started off on the wrong foot, and honestly I didn't know what I was going to write about (which is why my post is later today than I wanted it to be.) I needed to get out my funk, it wasn't good for me or my family. Some days it seems easier to do than other days. We all have those days, where we just wish we could stay in bed but being a momma, that options isn't always an available one. So what do we do?
  
                                                         TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF!

         It doesn't matter who you are or what you do everyone needs some time to work on there self. We all need that time to refocus ourselves and collect our thoughts. To re-center and revision what we want. Or to just clear our minds and do something to make us feel better. Even if it is 10mins or 5mins. They say that exercising also helps to left your mood but, I am not a person who really likes to exercise. I like the thought of it but to actually do it? Not my thing! Depending on my mood one of my favorite things to do is put on music and dance around like no one is watching and sing my heart out! Other times a relaxing bath is in order (ha thanks to the polar vortex my bathtub pipes are frozen so no bath for me! Don't worry I have another shower so I'm not stinky!!)
      No matter what you chose to do read a book, yoga, a soak in the tub or your favorite movie. Taking the time for yourself can make a world of difference in you and the ones around you. My son had told me the one day that it seems like I am always mad and that really broke my heart. I'm not always mad, most of the time I am not even mad but I am frustrated, and to him there isn't a difference. In a child's eyes it looks the same. (Maybe because when I am mad or frustrated I make the same face??)I don't want my kids to look back and think that I was such a unhappy person, and I know that one day they will understand that can be difficult and stressful! That isn't an excuse. If I don't change it now my kids will pick it up too. They are like little sponges, ya know! So whoever you are, where ever you are remember that YOU ARE SPECIAL and DESERVE a little "me" time!Look at all we do on a daily basis!! Instead of counting all the things going wrong count all your blessings instead. You might be surprised about which list is bigger!! I hope you all have a great day and I hope that you take some time for yourself. I know I will be doing that tonight!! If you have any ideas or would like to give feedback comment below! I look forward to hearing from you!

Teaching Tuesdays 1-7-14

So on Tuesday's I wanted to focus on Homeschooling. One important thing that I have found is being organized. Even when it comes to lunches! In my house food is always something of a topic. Everyday my kids bug me about what we are having for lunch and dinner etc. I found a cute FREE printable here: http://hellocuteness.com/2013/08/free-printable-weekday-lunch-planner/

Photo source: hellocuteness.com

and a dinner planner as well. Dinner plan found here: http://hellocuteness.com/2013/07/free-printable-weekly-dinner-planner/

photo source: hellocuteness

I think that these printables are so cute! It really helps to plan your meals at the beginning of the week so that the question of "What's for Dinner?" and "What's for lunch?" can be answered and off of your mind!

Also if you have any topic that you would like me to write about or questions comment below! I'd love to hear from you and I hope you found this post helpful!

Mommy Monday's 1-6-14

Lilah - Bean :)

So this is my littlest. Her name is Lilah. (pronounced: Lie-la) She is 2 and if you can't tell from the picture, she is a lively little girl. I hadn't planned on having 5 kids and finding out that I was pregnant with her was, well, kinda shocking. I love being a mom but I really hadn't planned on having anymore children. I am glad that I have her though. When she was born we nick-named her "Bean." It stuck with her and while she knows her name she will still respond to "Bean!" All of my girls have been strong willed spirits and Lilah is no exception.

She has just recently learned to say "come on" and "sit down" which she loves to yell at me and her siblings. She is just so full of life and pretty much a happy little girl. Just like most women and girls though she has another side. Her little diva side. Oh yes! Don't let that cute smile and head full of curls fool you! She can throw a tantrum like no body's business. She is also a screamer. With my other daughter, Natalie, she wold have tantrums but luckily not in public. She had an image to protect! Not my Bean! The more people look at her the better! At least in her eyes! Nothing better that a violent, screaming, flailing little 2 year old in the middle of Wal-Mart during holiday shopping! With this said we enter toilet training. Or in my case - lack there of! I want her to be out of diapers, but she just won't have it. Oh she'll sit there and smile at me, she'll say "bye, bye poop" when her siblings use the potty, but her herself? Nothing, Nada! I even caught her standing next to the Christmas tree, squatting, red faced and grunting. When I asked her if she was going potty she responded with her favorite word "No!" of course not, don't believe your lying eyes mommy! I have tried and tried with her but she just refuses to go. Oh she'll sit there and smile at me. She'll say "Bye,Bye Poo!," to her siblings when they flush. But that's it. It was so easy with the boys! I just lunched a Cheerio in there and they fire away. They weren't afraid of the toilet even when they needed to sit down on it! My girls? My girls must think that It (you know from Stephen King's It) lives in the toilet or something. Not only won't she go, but she doesn't let me change her diaper. Nothing is simple with her, unless she approves of your actions. She's kinda of like a cat, except cats don't yell at you, or throw temper tantrums! :) Tomorrows post is Teaching Tuesdays!

Inspirational Sunday - 1

(photo source: google)

- "We can't direct the wind but we can adjust the sails." I saw this over on Pinterest and I just felt like this one stuck out at me for a reason. Tomorrow is Monday. The being of a new week. A fresh start. We cannot control the un-expected in life or when God is going to want to teach us a lesson but can adjust to the situations that we are in. We can chose to change our attitudes, tighten up our laces and stand again. I know that that is easier said than done, but it is something that should be worked at. I can't tell you how many times that I thought things were good and I had control and those winds just picked up out of now where and knocked me on my bottom. I swear I just stop making plans because no matter what the plan is something goes awry. Sometimes when the winds pick up and knocks you down you just want to throw in the towel. Being a mom you can feel unappreciated, and frustrated. Your day could be going so great and like a hurricane you are swirling around again. Take a deep breath. Let it out. Gather your strength. Lace up the shoes. It's time to get going, if you look hard enough you will see the sunrise.God only gives you what you can handle. He can give you the strength that you need. Tomorrow is a fresh start, let's make the most of it! Follow me on Pinterest

The battle between E-Books and Text Books

While I was going to school we were just starting our technological journey with the internet. Our school had gotten new computer, which at that time were blue screens with white letters on the screen. It was an exciting time. The internet had just been created and we were eager to explore. I remember that you could look up topics and it would give you information pages, and that there were chat rooms where you could talk to people from all over the world. But there were limitations on this fun. You had to wait for your dial-up connection which felt like it took forever and sometimes you couldn’t connect right away and also if you didn’t have two phone lines (I was not one of the lucky ones!) you would get booted off and have to start the login process again. Today I see my kids jump on the computer and instantly they are signed into a room full of other kids where if the teacher wanted she could turn on the web cams and everyone could see each other. Within seconds. It is amazing, but so scary at the same time. You have predators put there and so you have to tech your kids the rules of the internet and what information that they shouldn’t give out. I love the wealth of knowledge that my children have at their fingertips. They are able to have experiences without having to travel anywhere or leave the comforts of home. We can view animals live from zoos in California! Not only can they read information but they can see it too. My oldest son started using the DVD player when he was too and now he is a computer whiz. This also is great, but there are definite downfalls to this too. Some of my children this year do not have a text book or a workbook, everything is on the computer. Part of me loves this and part of me loathes this. I understand the whys, but if the power should go out all the information they need is gone and as someone who homeschools multiple children and a toddler, I cannot just go to the library or somewhere where there is a working computer. Sometimes my kids complain about their eyes hurting from looking at the computer screen. I have also caught my “computer whiz” trying to play games instead of doing schoolwork. Sometimes I wish I could see their faces instead of the back of their heads! Whether you are for using just computer books or E-books, the truth of the matter is that technology will just keep advancing. We don’t have to like it but it is just part of our culture.

Who is Mrs. MomMaidTeacher?

Hello Friends! Welcome to my blog!Let me start by giving you a little introduction into who I am. I'm Michelle. A 31 year old married mother of 5. I have been married to my hubs for 8 years and we have 4 beautiful children. Scratch that. 4 wild, crazy, loving, mess making, food loving monsters. :) What??! I say that with the most loving intentions!! I love my children dearly but let's face it. When you are around them as mush as I am they can kinda get to you! Somehow I have kept my sanity (maybe? some?) OK well that is to be determined. Is my life perfect? No. Do I have it all together and figured out? Not in the least! But I am trying to do the best that I can, all while trying to figure out this crazy ride of life! So I hope you will join me on this adventure. I'm sure it's one I'll never forget! Also I am open to ideas for suggestions from you! You can also stop by my Pinterest Board and see some stuff I am loving right now! Pinterest