Fruit Inspired Cool Summer Treats!

Looking for some Cool Summer Treats?
Well since they are fruit inspired we can go ahead and put them in the healthy category, right?

All of these have been featured in the digital online magazine below.
BELOW IS OUR GIVE AWAY!

 Just click HERE   or click on the magazine cover below!

1. Apple Pie in an Apple Cup doesn't that look amazing! It's also no bake!

2. Nutella Fudge Pops- Bananas & chocolate check out this simple but  yummy recipe.

3. Watermelon (faux) cups- Healthy and simple!

4. Peanut Butter & Banana Bites- frozen and yummy!

5. Watermelon (faux) Yogurt Pops- Another healthy and yummy treat.

6. Mini Banana Splits- This treat will get lots of wows but it's so simple! 

After viewing our online digital publication stop by on Facebook using Rafflecopter or below and tell us what article or tip you enjoyed! Every comment counts as a drawing for one of the FABULOUS prizes below!

The Hollie Rogue is giving away one of their beautiful vintage necklaces and Fadeless Memories is giving away one of their priceless heirlooms carved prints. They take your special photograph an individually carve into acrylic so they last a lifetime
.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Simple Summer Creative Ideas

My motto for this summer is "A Simple Summer".

We have packed our Summer online digital publication with simple and creative ideas, recipes, kid crafts, tips and tricks... to simplify your summer! No need to subscribe & it's free! Just click HERE then choose CLICK TO READ button to unlock a treasure full of ideas to simplify your summer!

Tell us here on Facebook using Rafflecopter or here at our website what article or tip you enjoyed! Every comment counts as a drawing for one of the prizes below!

The Hollie Rogue is giving away one of their beautiful vintage necklaces and Fadeless Memories is giving away one of their priceless heirlooms carved prints. They take your special photograph an individually carve into acrylic so they last a lifetime
.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Made with Love!

Photo Challenge #4 Made with Love! He had no idea that he was making me something!

Mateo getting his Picasso groove on!

He has no idea how excited his artsy fartsy momma is watching him!

Funny thing was that he only had a tiny smear of paint on him (not counting his tongue that probably had fuschia paint on it b/c he tried sucking the paint brush). Later when I went to change I realized I was the messy one in this project my clothes was full of paint.

Just Can't Get Enough!

This photo challenge may turn me into an out of control crazy camera clicking mama! Day # 5 Just Can't Get Enough! He is just so stickin adorable even when he makes a huge mess.

The Book That Changed My Life

I am so glad that I get to participate in this Book Carnaval with a bloggy friend Anne from Modern Mrs. Darcy. She started a book carnival on The Book That Changed My Life so hop on over and share your book.

Other then the Bible, and I am not just saying this because I am a missionary and that's what I should say but the Bible has totally rocked and changed my world. The other book that has challenged me is The Pursuit of God. I first got my hands on this book when I was in college and since then I have read this book countless times, at least 20 times if not more.  I would mentor young girls using this book and loved every minute of it. 

Back when I was a silly college girl I used to say that I wanted to marry A.W. Tozer. The problem was I had a crush on a dead author :). When he talks about God, it makes you salivate. Yes, truly hunger for more of His presence and for His truth in my life. That was a turn on, but in all seriousnes Tozer did bring me to a place of thirst for my Lord.

At some point in college, I had something awful happen to me.  At the time, I was a grad student and I was offered a job to work as a live in assistant for an elderly lady.  I had lived in a home for senior citizens as a activities coordinator so this seemed simple enough, just one elderly woman.  In return for my work, I would get free room and board.  My responsibilities were easy, to spend the night so she was not alone and to help her in the mornings.  A couple of months into this the lady went bonkers on me.  She came into my room with a written note.  An awful note stating how I was this horrible person and I wasn't doing my job and I was taking advantage of the situation.  A few minutes later she walked back into the room and asked me to leave immediately.  I packed  my bags and left.  The problem was I had no where to go, my family lived 24hrs away.  I got in my car and bawled.  Her accusations were unfounded and she treated with such dispespect and the worst of it was I had NO where to go.   

I was once again reading, The Pursuit of God. The chapter I was on happened to be talking about God dividing up the inheritance for the tribes and he gets to Aaron and he says "I am your portion." Numbers 18:20  I remember reading this in the back porch of a friends house and immediately I just got on my knees.  When a woman loses her home and the bed she lies on loses all sense of security.  I felt like everything was stripped from me and here was God saying "Mari, I am your portion. Trust me." 

Soon after, the wife of the Dean of Men of my school offered me her son's room, who was away on a mission.  The elderly lady later contacted me and apologized and offered me the job again and shared that she was on medication for depression among other things.  Don't worry, I didn't take the job.

Invincible! Makes Me Go Hmmmm

I love how kids think they are invincible and maybe sometimes adults. My 16 month old really is trying to climb the wall from our patio. This is day #8 of our Mommy Moments Photo Challenge!

"Ha, I will just climb this wall and show you mom for trying to block my path with the door." I am pretty sure he was thinking that.

I am glad to report, this little guy didn't make it over the wall. He came to terms with his invincibility and found something else to climb.

Hmmmm, I wonder where he gets it from. Here I am trying to be invincible. I am having a pillow fight, trying to whip my mans butt off the balance beam.

12 Days of Capturing Motherhood Through My Lens

I have enjoyed the Photo Challenge and finding creative ways to capture my day. 

Day #1 is to capture Where/What/How I spend my day?

This was a hard one because living in another country my days vary. Some days I spend my day trying to flag down a gas truck so that we can have hot water I am sure you would of loved seeing a picture of that. Other days I spend it playing with my little man, working on the computer, catching up with friends, ministry, excerising with friends, bible studies, meetings and did I say meetings, cooking crafting...
Yesterday I spent my day trying to find a hair salon. I was on the road for about 5 minutes and all of the sudden I see my baby through my rear view mirror (he still faces the other way so I should never see  his cute little face in the rear view mirror). He is standing up with a huge smile of accomplishment on his face.  I pull over immediately not noticing that it's a very busy street. I jump in the back seat to buckle him up AGAIN he is of course screaming, crying and putting up a fight.  Finally, I won he is safely buckled! Though I must add in this country most people don't ever buckle up their kids, I have seen newborns in the arms of their mom on a motorcyle. Well, I try to open the back door and I can't. Of course, I can't it's on child lock and the windows are on child lock, ugghhhh some times being safe parents is annoying.  I get my big butt up and jump over to the front seat, did it! I look over to the left to put on my seat belt and I notice two people standing there watching me. They were probably standing there the whole time. I am sure they were fully entertained especially the part where I crawled over to the front seat.

I wasn't going to let this burst my bubble of excitement to get my "feel like a princess haircut." I don't get out much and I especially don't get professional haircuts often so at this point I was determined to get what I fully deserve, pampered by a professional stylist.  Which by the way, get this haircuts here are as cheap as $5. I know and I still don't do this very often.

Anyways, the rest of my trip went like this: missed turned, got lost, all one ways streets so I have to start over again, got lost again, found place, no parking spots, all one way streets so I have to start over again, going home with out a haircut.  I know sad but true.

This is how I felt driving back home in 45min traffic without a haircut.  

 My little man climbed up here in the morning and wanted his breakfast served at the table like everyone else not in his high chair.

My day is usually spent playing with my little man on the floor, a cup of tea in my hand and clicking away on my laptop.

He has been quite moody lately he goes from this cute little smile to this cute little sad face.

By the way I did finally get my haircut! And just in case your wondering, yes, I did feel like a princess afterwards.

Mommy Moments Photo Challenge

I am so excited to be a part of this challenge! I look forward to one day looking back on these memories and to also be pushed a bit more on my photography skills.  A prize helps as a motivator and doing this along with other moms! Stop by and check out the details you have til May 11th.

My pictures for prompt #2 This Puts A Smile On My Face:

LOL

This is the picture I am linking up for the challenge!

Kiss on the nose! One of my faves.

This is only a sample for Photo Challenge Participants, I am not participating in the challenge since I am hosting the challenge. I wish I could there are some great prizes.

Note:

• I identified post with the Photo Challenge Button on post
• I chose to post 3 pictures for this prompt but I am only linking up one for Prompt #2.
• When I go link up my picture I will title it on the link up: Prompt #2 and link it back to this exact post not my blog.
• It's important that I only linked up the picture I want to submit for the challenge. I can't link up the first picture of my son on the toilet and then say it's the second one I want in the challenge.  The judges will only consider the picture you link up.
• If I was doing it just for fun which I am not :) I would put NOT-Prompt #2 when I submitted picture
• 
  
  

Spring Cookie Balls

You can find the post to these Spring Cookie Balls over at my new website: Inspired by Familia!

Super Friend Valentine

These Valentines are so easy to make and your boys are going to LOVE them!  Warning: They may want to keep them all.

Print and cut-out these easy printables (below) and insert lollilop and tape on mask. Tie a ribbon at the end if you would like.  Or you can cut out the Superman Logo out and glue on to felt or colored paper.
Kids Crafting V-day Party for more ideas.
Superhero Valentines

Valentine Pillow Gift Boxes

Looking for a creative Valentines day class treat or teacher gift box? Just stuff some candy and a note in it and send them along with your child. Or you can stuff truffles, cookie, mini soaps or chocolate and it makes a cute little teacher gift .   Also, cute Valentines day Party favor.  You can cover these with scrapbook paper for any occasion and use this idea year round.

You will need:

toilet paper roll, scrapbook paper or gift wrap, scissors and glue.

First, you will flatten the roll as shown.

Then you will trace the width of the roll onto your scrapbooking paper.

Then you cut it doubling the length so it can go around the whole roll. Glue it.

Next you will fold in the sides as shown above. 

Don't fold in the sides before covering it with paper.

I did this only for you to see a clear picture of the sides folded in.

Here you have all the fun pillow boxes embellished with ribbon and tags.  You can use this various ways here are two great examples, Love Coupons Activity or Teacher Gift

DIY Kindle Case

Did you get a Kindle for Christmas? Or have an Amazon gift card you want to put to use on a Kindle but don't want to spend the extra bucks on a case? This project will only take you 5 minutes to make and you will get lots of mileage on it.


Compare this Kindle case from amazon-
with this one I made for under $10.

I was at the store trying to find some Kindle accessories but quickly realized they were too pricey for my budget. So I decided to go home and make my own and I don't regret it one bit.
My first thought was to cover it with some cute fabric but our Kindle is shared between me and hubby so cutesy fabric wasn't going to work. I reluctantly left it as is. The clean black leather is much more professional if your trying to fake that your working. I am not suggesting this but if you were ever in an emergency and needed to fake working than this is the case you would need not a pink one.  Now onto accesorizing, the only accessory my husband uses regulary and loves me for buying him one is, a Kindle lamp! I purchased ours at Walmart and it cost a whole lot more than this.

Supplies you need: Grab your notepad holder, adhesive velcro, crafting glue and Kindle.

Place soft side of velcro on the backside of the Kindle and the other pc of velcro on the Notepad holder. I used my sturdy crafting glue to secure adhesive on velcro. Your now done with this amazingly practical project that you will get lots of use from. If you want to doll it up, use some cutesy ribbon on the outside.  My husband won't have any of that, so it will stay plain boring black.

If your still looking to purchase a Kindle, click on one of the Kindles above to buy now!
I absolutely love our Kindle! I don't get paid for saying this. We travel a lot and not having to lug around books or have to choose which one to take due to space has been fabulous. There are so many books to choose from and so far all of the books I have downloaded are cheaper than purchasing them in paperback.