Georgia and I just spent a lazy morning crafting bookmarks for Father’s Day. They were inspired by the FedEx Out of Office blog. From gift and craft ideas to spring cleaning and party planning tips, the blog provides innovative projects that anyone can tackle. With Father’s Day and the summer right around the corner, Out of Office features tips on how to turn photos and children’s artwork into great presents and fun craft projects kids can create on their own. The blog also has weekly round-ups of some of the best project ideas from around the Web.

The men in our family are all readers, so Georgia is making her Daddy and Poppa bookmarks for Father’s Day. FedEx Office Out of Office blog has a quick and easy project idea – personalized bookmarks! This is a great craft project for kids to make and can be made with anything and everything from old photos or wrapping paper, to magazine clippings or scrapbook paper remnants.

We used the following to get started:

• 4 templates
• Ribbon
• Stickers
• Crayons

Start by cutting out your bookmark template. Next, gather craft supplies and get to crafting! For inspiration, check out the cute bookmarks shown as examples on Out of Office: http://outofoffice.fedex.mediacdt.com

There are tons of other great crafts with templates at the FedEx Out of Office blog. I know Sam will enjoy making the Kites (me too!).

MK xo
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“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of FedEx Office and received the items necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

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Winner is: Justine

Do you remember way back in December, I held a Happy Book Day Giveaway on my birthday? Well I enjoyed it so much (because books are my favorite thing), I thought I’d make it a weekly occasional occurrence. For the next several weeks you can count on a ‘Happy Book Day to You ~ the Series’ giveaway every Tuesday {maybe not, it’s summer}.

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner – I LOVED this book. It was touching and funny and a wee bit Judy Blume’ish.

Here’s the publisher’s synopsis of ‘Best Friends Forever‘

Addie Downs and Valerie Adler will be best friends forever. That’s what Addie believes after Valerie moves across the street when they’re both nine years old. But in the wake of betrayal during their teenage years, Val is swept into the popular crowd, while mousy, sullen Addie becomes her school’s scapegoat.

Flash-forward fifteen years. Valerie Adler has found a measure of fame and fortune working as the weathergirl at the local TV station. Addie Downs lives alone in her parents’ house in their small hometown of Pleasant Ridge, Illinois, caring for a troubled brother and trying to meet Prince Charming on the Internet. She’s just returned from Bad Date #6 when she opens her door to find her long-gone best friend standing there, a terrified look on her face and blood on the sleeve of her coat. “Something horrible has happened,” Val tells Addie, “and you’re the only one who can help.”

Best Friends Forever is a grand, hilarious, edge-of-your-seat adventure; a story about betrayal and loyalty, family history and small-town secrets. It’s about living through tragedy, finding love where you least expect it, and the ties that keep best friends together.

Some simple rules and things to remember:

1. This book is second hand. I’ve read it, I liked it and I am giving it to you. It may possibly have coffee rings or warped pages from sitting on my night stand. Call me cheap, or call me environmentally friendly, I’m not bothered either way.

2. Consider passing it forward when you are done, you could even have a giveaway! Remember, what goes around comes around.

3. You must come back here to see if you are the winner. I won’t track you down, if you wait to long … I might lend it to a friend or a neighbor and then YOU are out of luck. You need to email me with your address, once I receive it I will pop it in the mail to you at my convenience.

4. To be eligible to win, you need to leave a comment on this post. I’ll pick a winner sometime on Wednesday, August 5th, 2009.

5. Tell a friend—> this isn’t really a rule, but it would be really nice. wink –> think twitter, facebook, email.

MK xo
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**NOTE: this is not a paid advertisement — they’re my books and I am giving one of them away — because I am nice like that — just saying!**

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Winner is: outside voice —> email me @ kim (@) mommyknows (dot) com.

We spent Wednesday at Universal Studios and Thursday at Legoland. Georgia did quite well at both, she even squealed with delight at Universal, when one of the dogs in the Animal show was an ‘animal actor’ from Beverly Hills Chihuahua (remember she only loves small dogs). After a two day break, we thought we’d give her one more try at getting excited about Disneyland …

Conversation earlier today –>

Me: Georgia, do you like Disneyland?
Georgia: Yes, when I am at home, I like it.
I guess she just wants to ‘like it’ from afar –> She’s just not that into you Mickey.

I’ll be doing my NaBloPoMo thingy all during the holiday. I’ll also be twittering the road trip away –> follow me on twitter @ http://twitter.com/mommyknows.

All comments and back-links for this post will be entered to win a $10 Starbucks Gift Card (includes shipping and handling) in my ‘Have a Coffee on Me’ Contest. If you comment and blog about the contest you’ll receive two entries (too easy). I have a whole ‘schwack’ of Gift Cards to give away, so make sure and come back often for a chance to ‘have a coffee on me’.

MK Exhausted in Anaheim xo
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I AM OVER … WINNERS HAVE BEEN POSTED ON THE DAILY POSTS.

Yippee – another contest. As I have mentioned in several previous posts, I have a SCHWACK of Starbucks $10 Gift Cards to give-away.

Winning couldn’t be easier. Leave a comment on the most recent post (not this one) and I’ll randomly pick winner from the posted comments. If you’d like to double your chance of winning, blog about the contest and I will add those back links to the draw.

I told you it was easy –> Go to the current post now!

You may on each new post until I run out of cards to give away (could be a while).

MK xo
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Winner is: Amy from Texas – Amy please email me: kim (@) mommyknows (dot) com

I have a new camera. Maybe, I should call it a new obsession. All I’ve been doing is taking photos, then editing/processing photos.

Now that I have ‘retired’ I have decided to further pursue my photography hobby. I packed away my old Nikon D70 and treated myself to a Nikon D300. It’s way, way, way too much camera for this mommy. Nevertheless, I am determined to figure out how this one works.

I took several pictures of the kids yesterday. This is my favourite of Sam:

Here is the same photo in black and white:

It’s amazing really the how different they seem. In this version of black and white you see his freckles better; and it’s seems to have been taken in another time and place. I can’t decide, which I prefer. How about you, black and white or colour?

If you have the time, give it a try. I would love to see your efforts (make sure to leave a link in the comments section).

All comments and back-links for this post will be entered to win a $10 Starbucks Gift Card (includes shipping and handling). If you comment and blog about the contest you’ll receive two entries (too easy). I have a whole ‘schwack’ of Gift Cards to give away, so make sure and come back often for a chance to ‘have a coffee on me’.

MK xo
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Sam went to the dentist today. Georgia was given this sticker for putting away all the toys in the waiting room. Before I could get her home, she affixed this sticker firmly to her head. It’s not going to come off easily … it’s still there. I’m calling this picture, “Sticker Shock“.

New contest starts today!
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The Winners are:

Winning Link: Little Miss Mel
Winning Commenter: Tara Chase

Winners please email me: kim @ mommyknows (dot) com with your name, address and sling / cover sizes and fabric preference (www.goo-ga.com) — please give your first choice and a couple of alternatives for the fabric please.

Congratulations.

***

There will be two winners – each winner will receive a Peanut Shell® Baby Sling and a Peanut Shell® Nursing Cover.

The 1st Winner will be chosen randomly from all new comments posted on all posts between February 13th, 2007 and February 15th, 2008 (@ 9:59 pm MT).

The 2nd Winner will be chosen randomly from all the bloggers that post about this contest on their websites (make sure to come back leave a link in the comments section, so I know who you are) between between February 13th, 2007 and February 15th, 2008 (@ 9:59 pm MT).

The Peanut Shell® is a stylish pouch-style baby sling for hip parents. If you’ve been searching for a convenient, comfortable way to carry and nurture your child – hands free – The Peanut Shell® is the perfect sling for you!

If you have a new baby and are new to nursing you may feel a little shy about nursing in public. Peanut Shell® has you covered (literally)! Throw on a Peanut Shell® Nursing Cover, relax and let baby feel at ease while they snack under a yummy Peanut Shell® Nursing Cover. We want you to breastfeed anywhere at anytime!

***
You are welcome to use this linking code: (but only if you want to)

MommyKnows is hosting the Think Love, Think Peanut Shell® Valentine’s Day Giveaway! Go on over and comment and be entered to Win one of two prizes packages each containing a Peanut Shell® Baby Sling and a Peanut Shell® Nursing Cover.

For the text and link above copy and paste the code below:

<br /> <a href="http://mommyknows.com" >MommyKnows</a> is hosting the <a href="http://www.goo-ga.com/" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','www.goo-ga.com']);">Think Love, Think Peanut Shell® Valentine’s Day Giveaway</a>! Go on over and comment and be entered to Win one of two prizes packages each containing a <a href="http://www.goo-ga.com/productinfo/slingl" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','www.goo-ga.com']);">Peanut Shell® Baby Sling</a> and a <a href="http://www.goo-ga.com/shop/nursing_covers" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','www.goo-ga.com']);">Peanut Shell® Nursing Cover</a>.<br />

***

You may enter the ‘Think Love, Think Peanut Shell® Valentine’s Day Giveaway’ by commenting on ANY or ALL posts between February 13th, 2007 and February 15th, 2008 (@ 9:59 pm MT).

MK xo
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I’ve been memed!

Schmutzie would like me to tell you six things/habits/quirks about moi!
Of course, there are rules for this meme, because we are humans, and humans like rules:

• Link to the person that tagged you.
• Post the rules on your blog.
• Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
• Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
• Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

Six Things/Habits/Quirks About MommyKnows
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