scrumdilly-do!: A heartfelt memory game for you to make

This would be a neat Valentine Day Game! Click HERE for instructions.

Valentine's Day Craft and Jokes

I found these at Disney Family Fun and liked them because, they are so cute, easy, and inexpensive to make. Click HERE For Instructions.

 
They also have these cute Valentine's Jokes

Valentine's Day Jokes

 

 “There is one thing one has to have: either a soul that is cheerful by nature, or a soul made cheerful by work, love, art, and knowledge.”
FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE  

Recipe for Orange Julius

Ingredients:

1/3 cup orange juice concentrate (thawed but not made)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
6 or 7 ice cubes

Add all the ingredients in blender, except ice cubes. Add ice cubes a couple at a time while blending. Blend until you get the consistency that you like.

Learn How To Weave

If you would like to learn how to weave, go to Basketmaster's Weavings. It's easier for me to learn how to do something if I am shown how to do it. This is why I like Basketmaster's Weavings videos.

The first thing I want to try to make is this Heart Basket.

Free Heart Basket Weaving Pattern

She is also has some very nice crafts, like this Valentine's Banner.

A Little Valentine's Day Bling

Today I am being featured at The B Keeps Us Honest. I found Jessica's Blog when I started entering giveaways. I saw she featured a new blog every week and asked her if she would include mine. Visit her blog to see other blogs she has featured, and enter one of her giveaways.

 

 "Deal of the Week" 

Over 250 pieces of self adhesive felt. 

A $37 value for only $9.99! 

 

GET YOURS HERE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

Projects Featuring the Felt Alphabets:

The Complete Coffee And Tea Station - Hammacher Schlemmer

Eliminate the need for separate coffee makers and teapots, this makes coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and keeps the beverages warm.

The electric kettle heats water to the perfect temperature for steeping tea.

 

The best part is that it only cost  $79.95.

What would you like me to call you?

The International Longevity Center, along with the Aging Services of California, have come up with a guide of politically correct and incorrect ways of identifying and portraying the elderly.
According to both organizations, describing a person as "elderly" or "senior citizen" can be offensive,“older adult”is suggested as a better alternative.
Other unwelcomed terms considered patronizing and demeaning include, “feisty,”“spry,”“feeble,”“eccentric,” “senile” and “grandmotherly."
The word “home" as a better alternative to“skilled nursing facility”is suggested as well.
Other terms listed to avoid using seem funny to me because I can't imagine anyone using them. But just to be on the safe side don't use any of these either, “biddy,” “codger,” “coot,” “crone,” “fogy,” “fossil,” “geezer,” “hag,” “old fart,” “old goat,” “prune,” “senile old fool” and “vegetable.”

National Hug Day

Today is National Hug Day, the perfect day for me to share an idea I had for an inter-generational program.
The program started with me talking to an elementary school Principal about allowing me to ask if any teachers would be interested in an inter-generational program involving a friendly competition of hugs.
Once I found a few classes that were interested I talked to the classroom about the program and the expected behavior.
Four classes agreed to schedule times and dates for their visits to the nursing home.
Each student was given "Hug Coupons" on the day of their visit. They would go and ask resident's if they would like a hug, and for every hug they gave a "Hug Coupon" was placed on a poster board assigned to each class. Near the end of the school year all coupons were counted. A party was planned for the classes that participated and each student was given a certificate with the number of hugs he/she had given. The class that gave the most hugs got a trophy. And best of all we had over 1000 hugs for our residents!

HUGS---HELP UNITE GENERATIONS

HUG COLORING PAGE

National Hugging DayTM January 21, 2010
.COM
 

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Martin Luther King Jr.

Valentine Treats

Having a Valentine's Party?

Here is an easy treat for Valentine’s Day from Sandra Lee.

Begin by melting a package of white chocolate bark in the microwave. Dip pretzels of varying sizes and shapes into melted chocolate. Sprinkle immediately with red, pink, and decorative sprinkles. Lay coated pretzel sticks on wax paper until firm, then serve or wrap for gifts.

Activity Professionals are ALWAYS doing something for someone else. It's our job, but do you ever take the time to rejuvinate and do something special for yourself? Well you should, you deserve it!

Theta Mom has a great idea to help motivate & inspire you. Read what she has to say.

We need to find at least one hour in one month to do something that we find enjoyable. The hitch? It must be time spent without the kids.
Do something for yourself ladies! Treat yourself to a manicure, begin reading that book you’ve been meaning to start, shop for something totally new, get back on that treadmill again, have lunch with a good friend, pour yourself a glass of wine, have a date-night with your significant other, blog to your heart’s content, sip a White Chocolate Mocha at Starbucks while you tweet… whatever floats your boat as long as you are taking time for yourself without the kids. Carve out some time for you because you deserve it!

Do you believe you deserve this? Click HERE to find out how you can become a part of this.

Egg Carton Craft Ideas

Not only do I like to be Green, but sometimes my budget was soooo tight! That is why I appreciate craft ideas like these I found at About.com.

Flower Bouquet Egg Carton Craft

Find out how you can create an entire bunch of flowers using egg carton cups and a few basic craft supplies.

Rose Egg Carton Craft

This amazing rose, created by Jan Hennings, is made using two egg carton cups.

Egg Carton Christmas Tree

Micheline explains how you can create a lovely Christmas tree using egg carton cups and some garland.

Chicks in a Basket Craft

Jessica explains how you can make a craft that looks like chicks sitting inside a basket or even an egg!

Egg Cup Bird

Instructions to make birds using egg carton cups.

These are just a few of my favorite, Click HERE to see More.

 

 

 

Cute As A Button Activities

I found these on Better Homes and Garden's and thought they were adorable! Not to mention easy and inexpensive to make.

My Grandmother used to have an old brown tin can filled with buttons her mother had saved. As a young girl I would sit and go through all the buttons entertained by all the shapes and colors.

I think I'll start my own button collection in a pretty box like the one below. 

Stack up complementary-colored buttons, then attach them to a magnet or thumbtack to dress up a bulletin board.

Ok, so after all this crafting why not serve up these Yummy Shortbread Buttons I found at forty-sixth at grace.

Click HERE to see More Ideas using Buttons.

Heart-Felt Bag    From Martha Stewart is too cute! TODAY'S CRAFT Plus, This Week's Projects

Learn Something New Every Day

Learning new things is a passion of mine. I took my first college classes the same year my oldest son started college. My kids said I was too old but I know you are NEVER too old to learn. So when I ran across this site I signed up right away for my first course.

Enroll at About U for More Online Learning About U is a collection of free online courses on About.com. Each online course is sent to you via email on a daily or weekly basis and will help you learn new skills, solve common problems, find shortcuts and quick tricks to simplify your busy life, or just learn more about your world.

Why not pick a few subjects and ask your residents if they are interested in classes on any of the subjects? Perhaps you can have a new subject each month and pass out learning certificates at the end of each course.

HELP HAITI

Go to Open Sky and make a purchase, they’re donating 100% of their profits from now through Sunday, January 16, 2010, to help the Haitian people. They have a wide range of products in the following categories:

Home & Garden
Books, Music & Video
Health & Beauty
Sporting Goods
Electronics
Toys, Games & Hobbies
Musical Instruments
Clothing
Baby
Shoes
Activities & Adventures
Pets
Weddings & Celebrations

Every bit of aid makes a difference, thanks to OpenSky for their efforts to help those suffering in Haiti.

Party Planning

Did you know that Pottery Barn has a category for Party Planning? I'm always looking for new ideas and inspiration and was pleasantly surprised with some of the ones I found at Pottery Barn, I especially liked the one for Movie Night. Click HERE to find your favorites.

• Spring Celebration
• Farmhouse Brunch
• Wine & Cheese Party
• Cocktail Party
• Dinner Party
• Movie Night
• Tequila Party
• Bridal Shower

FRIDAY FOLLOW

There is a new event called Friday Follow! Hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades!

 

Joining In Is Easy And Rewarding 

• * Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.
• * Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots. We will follow you back.
• * Follow as many blogs as you'd like to have followers
• * Comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow
• * Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow
•  
• I was feeling pretty lonely till I joined in, now I feel like one of the popular girls!
  

 

Valentine's Bingo Cards

How cute are these?

You could have lots of fun playing BINGO with these little Valentine-themed bingo cards


Check Brooke's Blog Little Wonders
for her Valentine tutorial ideas here

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Valentine's Day Coloring Pages

Here are a few coloring pages you can print for free at Holidays on the Net. These two are my favorites, but there are more to choose from. Click HERE To Print.

	Coloring Picture: Heart Box 2502 views 4.33 avg rating 6 votes
Coloring Picture: Teddy Bear 3780 views 4.32 avg rating 19 votes

Giveaway

Valentines Day Giveaway at ~~Harvest Moon Primitives ~~

This Primitive Vintage Valentine Postcard Cupboard Hanger Could Be Yours. Click HERE To Enter.

Vintage Valentine's Printables

FREE Vintage Valentine Collage Sheet at Altered Stuff.Com

I think these are beautiful and might bring back some Valentine's memories.

Click HERE to print these or to see other Vintage Printables.

Quote

TRUE LOVE BEGINS WHEN NOTHING IS LOOKED FOR IN RETURN

ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPERY

Mardi Gras Party

Mardi Gras Party Ideas

Inform everyone ahead of time that there will be a Mardi Gras party by hanging a personalized banner. There are dozens to chose from but these are a few of my favorites.

Set the mood by transforming your room with festive decorations. These are a few of my favorites, CLICK HERE TO FIND YOURS.
Mardi Gras masks can also be taped to the walls or placed throughout the party area for extra decoration. When it comes to Mardi Gras more is better, it's all about excess and indulgence so it's almost impossible to go overboard with the decorations.




Incorporate beads, masks, and coins into games or activities throughout the night. Beads can be awarded for winning games, answering trivia questions or just being at the right spot at the right time. The winner of the evening can be the guest who has amassed the most Mardi Gras items by the end of the night!




Have members of Resident Council vote on what they would like served for Mardi Gras. Below are some choices for a New Orleans style fare.


Steamed crawfish
crawfish etoufee
andouille sausages
dirty rice
Po’ Boy sandwiches
GEORGE’S QUICK AND EASY GUMBO
Red beans and rice
Shrimp beignets
Cajun hashbrowns
Sweet potato casserole
Bread pudding
Spicy shrimp cocktail
Grilled catfish
cajun crab dip
jambalaya
Mississippi Mud Pie
King Cake
History of the King Cake

Use Mardi Gras Tablecloths and Tableware.
Sprinkle metallic confetti in purple, green and gold down the table. Lay some Mardi Gras bead necklaces in the same coordinating colors over the top of the confetti, then scatter some gold doubloon coins randomly down the table runner.

 

Take some fun pictures using this Mardi Gras Photo Op

Be sure to complete the festive mood with some good music.
Check at your local library for more good music.

Dixieland Dancing - Set up a dance floor and play New Orleans style or Dixie Land jazz for guests to dance to.


A few days before the party offer some inexpensive masks to be decorated using curling ribbon, glitter, feathers, paint... Ask participants to be creative in decorating the mask...and then have them wear them to the party! Let them know you'll be offering some great prizes for the most creative, most outrageous masks at the party!


Click HERE to see much more at: