DIY Lavender Sugar Scrub

O Is For MommyKnoOows – Secret Agent Josephine Book Tour, Spy Cookies Craft and Giveaway!

by MommyKnows · 23 comments

in Family, General, Product Reviews, Real Food / Easy Meals

I know that MommyknOws doesn’t start with O, but I also knOw that I’m super excited to be today’s stop on the Secret Agent Josephine Book Tour.

I’ve been a HUGE fan of Secret Agent Josephine‘s blog for many years, because she’s enormously talented, kind (yep, that’s obvious from her posts) and so, so creative. I love creative and she’s has inspired me more than once. Just this summer I was lucky enough to get to know Brenda IRL, and to share a meal and laughs. She even used her creative genius to fashion a hat just for me out of a paper bag. I’d show you the photos, but then I’d have to go into permanent hiding (YEP, that BAD!).

Brenda has illustrated and written three fantastic children’s books.

Secret Agent Josephine’s ABC’s:

The ABCs burst brilliantly on to the page in this alphabet flash card book by blogger Secret Agent Josephine, a.k.a. Brenda Ponnay. Children will delight in the colorful illustrations and simple text.

Secret Agent Josephine’s ABC’s are an ideal introduction to the alphabet — kids will love the pictures and parents will appreciate the thoughtful details and eye-catching illustrations.

Secret Agent Josephine’s Colors:

What’s the best way for kids to learn their colors? With a yellow yak, a brown brachiosaurus, and plenty of other wacky animal friends!
Secret Agent Josephine a.k.a. Brenda Ponnay presents her quirky illustrations paired with hilarious captions, sure to engage older children who may already know the difference between red and blue, but can’t wait to see what the next color will bring.

Secret Agent Josephine’s Numbers:

Secret Agent Josephine is willing to reveal the contents of her stealthy, super expanding spy bag–but are you ready?

In this fresh and funny book, Brenda Ponnay, aka Secret Agent Josephine, gets kids counting spy glasses, micro-cameras and more super-secret spy gear. Little ones will love the bright colors and big numbers, older children (and their parents) will delight in the detailed descriptions of the spy paraphernalia

Georgia absolutely adores the ‘Numbers’ book! Her favourite page –> The number 9! We read it (almost) nightly and always find something new and nifty on each page.

***

Today’s Crafty Mission: Spy Eye Cookies

Georgia and I had a ton of fun baking up today’s mission –> Top Secret Spy Eye Cookies! Secret clue may or may not be in the photo above.

Get the top secret instructions here: SPY-COOKIES-INSTRUCTIONS – Destroy after reading (or share with a friend)!

Giveaway!

In honor of her book release, Brenda has generously offered us a letter O print (from her book) to give to you! Please leave a comment below to be entered to win a print. I’ll pick a winner on December 10th and then notify the winner via email.

Thank you Brenda for including MommyKnOws in the book tour; I’m honored!

Now, go buy your copies of these affordable and fun books!

Click here to access Brenda’s Amazon author page with links to all her books in both paper and Kindle versions!

Download from iTunes:

ABCs on iTunes
Colors on iTunes
Numbers on iTunes

Paperback and nook editions of the books at Barnes & Noble

For the next stop on the tour, visit Brenda’s website.

{ 23 comments }

Easy Halloween Zombie Make-up Tutorial

by MommyKnows · 9 comments

in DIY / Tutorials, Family, General

If you haven’t guessed already, I’m NOT one of those moms that minds a scary Halloween costume. Truth be told, I’m not a huge fan of Halloween in general and I really don’t like ‘commercial’ costumes at all. I’d rather have a homemade zombie over a Disney princess any day.

I don’t encourage gory, but I absolutely encourage creative costumes made with things around the house and some imagination. It’s Halloween I think spooky is OK.

Zombie make up is really pretty simple!

You’ll need:

Liquid latex
1 ply tissue or toilet paper
Skin coloured foundation
Various shades of grey, brown and pink eyeshadow
Fake blood

If you wake your child up early enough, she’ll even feel a wee bit like a zombie. Excuse the photos … I just used my phone!

Step 1 – using your fingers or large makeup brush smear liquid latex in the areas that you’d like to have look like rotting / zombie flesh. Apply a layer of one ply tissue or toilet paper over top. Gently paint/smear another thin layer of liquid latex over the tissue paper. Allow the tissue and latex to dry for a few minutes.

Don’t be worried if the tissue bunches up a bit or tears. It’ll all work out!

Step 2 – Cover the tissue / latex with skin coloured foundation. Blend it in well to the hairline.

Step 3 – Using a large make-up brush apply grey make-up (I used eye shadow) around the eyes. A little pink around the eyes looks good too. They I used more grey, black and brown eye shadow and applied it to the face especially over the zombie skin. Blend it in really well using a large brush and a very light touch.

Step 4 – next comes the fake blood. Brush it lightly over the zombie skin and then add more to areas you’d like to enhance, like the mouth.

That’s pretty much it. VERY simple! Finishing touched might include zombie contact lenses, teeth paint (green and black), crazy backcombed hair, and ripped up clothing.

Happy Halloween & watch out of Zombies!

MK xo

{ 9 comments }

Betty Crocker – The Big Red Cookbook Giveaway

General

** The Winner is #1 – Casey DesChamps ** I was lucky enough to get a copy of Betty Crocker’s THE BIG RED COOKBOOK last week. With more than 1500 hundred recipes, it’s jam-packed full of recipe goodness. Even better I have a copy to giveaway to one of you! Yay :) Here is our [...]

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Mini Apple Pie in a Jar

DIY / Tutorials

The kids and I raided my aunt’s apple tree last weekend and I’ve been creating apple goodness ever since. Apple desserts are my favourite … I like fall. Earlier in the year I made these rainbow cupcakes in a jar. The kids loved them. When I saw these cute little apple pies also in a [...]

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I’m a KINDER Mom …

Family

Yay, I’m a KINDER Mom and my status amongst my children is at an all time HIGH! They’re all Kinder egg lovers. I’ve always included Kinder Surprise eggs in our family holidays – in Christmas stockings and in Easter baskets. They’re always a staple at the movies, where they come as part of the ‘Kinder [...]

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