Rave & Review

DIY Embroidery Hoop Hair Clip Holder (Tutorial}

I think I had 5 clips the entire time I was growing up.  My daughter has dozens.  While they are admittedly adorable, they also drive me crazy when I can’t find the one I’m looking for or when one lands on the floor and gets stepped on. 

So, a few years ago we got a single ribbon bow holder, which we love, and it holds many of the bigger bows nicely.  But pretty soon we grew out of that one and needed another, so we got a second, which we also love, and then we filled that one up in no time. 

In a cute little boutique near us they had a hair clip display done with ribbons crisscrossing a frame and it was then I decided I would simply make a bow holder myself that could hold more than a dozen clips at a time.  But, then I got to brainstorming and that’s when the DIY Embroidery Hoop Hair Clip Holder was born. 

Things you will need:
Embroidery hoop, any size
Fabric for backing that can cover your hoop and have a few inches of excess fabric around all the edges
Assorted ribbon
Fabric glue
Hot glue gun
Paint (optional)
Staple gun

I personally love embroidery hoops and have been dying to use one in a project ever since I saw Mandy from The Haps do Harper’s room reveal.  I did a little happy dance when I finally figured out how I could use one and where I would put it once it was finished, and then I did another one when our local fabric store had hoops on sale that same week.  Fate, I tell you. 

I picked the largest one they had, mostly because I’m hoping that I won’t have to make another one in just a few weeks, but you could really do this in any size.  It would actually be cute to do a few smaller hoops with different fabrics and ribbons as sort of an art fixture, but I will leave that for when we outgrow this one. 

After you have your hoop and supplies, the next step is assembling.  But, if you would like to paint your hoop, you should do so now.  I obviously skipped this step, but will definitely paint my next one.  Instead, I was so excited to get the project going that I just started assembling and then it was too late.  Don’t do what I did, kids.

Once your hoop is ready, you simply put your fabric in the embroidery hoop, pulling as taut as possible.  I worked at this step for a long time until it was perfectly stretched from every angle, but I’m not convinced it was entirely necessary and in retrospect, ironing would have been faster.  But, I would basically do anything to avoid ironing.  Clearly.

Once your fabric is taut, you simply trim your fabric around the hoop leaving approximately an inch of fabric.  Then you flip your hoop over and line the inside of the hoop with fabric glue or hot glue.  This is best to do a few inches at a time as the glue dries fast and it needs to hold tight. 

I used fabric glue and found that it worked quite well, but traditionally hot glue would have been used.  Whichever method you go with, know that you will get glue on your fingers.  In fact, I still have glue on my fingers.

Once the glue dries fully, you can carefully take the outer hoop off and add ribbon.  When you are cutting your ribbon, be sure and leave quite a bit overhanging as it will need to wrap around the hoop as well.  I decided to place my ribbons randomly over the hoop at different increments so I could accommodate clips of all sizes, but you could always measure if random bothers you.  As for me?  Random is how I live life.

Once you’re happy with placement, you can simply replace the outer hoop and then pull the ribbons taut. I started with my hoop loose for this step and then tightened the screw on the outer hoop to make sure they were as tight as possible and then repulled all of my ribbons again.  Once you’re sure they can’t get any tighter, you simply glue the ends of the ribbon to the inside of the hoop as you did the fabric earlier. 

Once my glue was dry I was still nervous it would pull out with even a tiny bit of force, so I convinced hubby to staple the ribbon ends to the hoop from the inside.  After that, my project was pretty much done, I just tied a ribbon to the top for color and then I tied a longer string to the inner screw of the hoop for hanging. 

The bow clip holder is going on the back of my daughter’s room {yay for unused wall space!} and I didn’t want to put a nail hole in the door, so I used a simple Command Hook and called it good.  Since I was putting it on a door, my biggest concern was that the hoop would hit the door each time it was opened or closed, but I’m happy to report that it doesn’t hit at all.

Because it’s hanging pretty loose off the ribbon and because the whole hoop, even full of ribbons, is so incredibly light, it almost catches air as the door is closed and lands without a sound.  I was really happy about that because it meant I didn’t have to felt the edges like I thought I would. 

I still am working on a few things with my design and figuring out a way to add loops to store headbands underneath the hoop, but overall I'm happy with the hair clip holder and think it adds a bit of fun to an otherwise overlooked area of her room.  So, there you have it, a hair bow solution that cost me less than $4 to complete because I already had the fabric, the ribbon, the staples and the glue.  Can’t beat that, right?

Folding flexiBATH from Prince Lionheart {Review & Giveaway}

If you’re anything like me, you were beyond thrilled when you could finally throw away your old baby bathtub for good.  I got rid of our plastic molded tub as soon as my son could handle a regular bath, happy to reclaim our bath once and for all.  But, when I found out I would be reviewing the new colored flexiBATH from Prince Lionheart, I was actually pretty excited.

Why, you ask?  Because even though my “babies” certainly don’t need baby baths anymore, I still really love the amazing flexiBATH from Prince Lionheart that is a great tool for bathtime, laundry, beach time and more.  The flexiBATH comes folded for shipping, and with one simple motion it opens to a large freestanding bath tub with semi-rigid sides and silicone water-tight joints, which makes it perfect for on the go, as well as at home.  

It’s really great when they are little and you want to bathe them in a smaller, confined area that you don’t have to pre-clean {you can also buy the Prince Lionheart infant support for even your littlest babes}, but it’s also great for toddlers if you simply don’t have a traditional tub and they like baths as much as our kiddos do.  We have used it numerous times for bath since it arrived, but our favorite use for it in summer has nothing to do with bathing at all.

I learned about all the benefits of sensory tables at my daughter’s co-op and then saw how much fun the kids would have playing with cornmeal and trucks one day, feathers and tongs the next, and was going to try and build something like that myself.  But, with playspace on the patio being limited, I didn’t want something that would be out year-round, so I was looking for something that could fold and be tucked away, and was coming up with nothing. 

But, when Prince Lionheart sent me their flexiBATH, I knew it was a perfect solution for a portable and packable sensory station.  Like most sensory tables, it has a drain at the bottom so you can easily fill it with water, bubbles, sand, shaving cream, etc, but unlike other sensory tables, it folds up easily, has a nice compact size with deep playing space, and can come inside to be cleaned in our regular bath. 

Perfect, right? These two think so!

Since the flexiBATH is so easy to fold and store, you could stash it almost anywhere - under the sink, on a shelf, or even in a closet.  It's light enough that the kiddos can get it out themselves for filling with feathers, dirt, or treasures they pick up on our nature walks, but not so lightweight that it seems flimsy at all.  As with all Prince Lionheart products, it's clearly made with quality and durable enough for just about anything you throw at it. 

This is all great because the uses for a flexiBATH are almost limitless – whether it’s a camping bath and basin, car wash bucket, toy storage container, beach must-have for play and for cleanup, laundry tub, a water/sand table, party-size ice bucket, washable art station, gardening tub, pet playspace or bathtub, or it’s a tiny backyard wading pool.  Just think of how many ways you could use the flexiBATH for thousands of uses around the home and away! 

To check out all of Prince Lionheart’s great products for baby and beyond, visit the Prince Lionheart site for more information and how to buy.

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win their own flexiBATH from Prince Lionheart

To Enter: Sign Up for the Prince Lionheart Newsletter which is sent monthly (Bonus: just by signing up for their newsletter you are also entered into the Prince Lionheart monthly giveaway!)

And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about this amazing giveaway {Prince Lionheart flexiBATH Giveaway http://t.co/NcOaDUSF} and tag Prince Lionheart and Rave & Review

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1 Extra Entry - Like Prince Lionheart on Facebook

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3 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus. Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love. Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

1 Extra Entry - Pin or Like this post {use the buttons at the bottom of post to make it super easy! Can be done once per article}

On August 25th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to everyone who entered and congrats to:  #10  Kristin S said... Email subscriber 2

A big thank you to Prince Lionheart for providing us with a sample to facilitate this review and a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Creating an Outdoor Oasis with World Market {DIY Outdoor Curtains and Rod}

Part of the reason that we fell in love with our house was because it included a large covered porch with high ceilings and a place to sit and talk.  While the beauty of the porch was always there, we really had never fully utilized the space and it always just felt unfinished and unwelcoming.  With harsh light and a fabulous view of the neighbor's house, was there a lot left to be desired about our outdoor space and I never knew what to do about it. 


But, recently our porch got a much needed makeover thanks to World Market, and I couldn’t be happier with the results.  We go to World Market pretty frequently now that we’re addicted to HGTV and Pinterest and it seems we always have a room we’re redoing that could use the charm of World Market.  While this time around I didn’t have any specific ideas of what I was looking for before going into the store, once I was there and I saw all their new offerings for the season, I got some serious inspiration for our outdoor space and started designing on one of their couches. 


We ended up designing some DIY outdoor curtains for our space using some of their tablecloths {full instructions below} as well as adding all the details to make it come together as an outdoor oasis.  Since all the World Market outdoor furniture and accents were on sale, it made it easy to really go all-out and do it up the way we always hoped, without having to sacrifice style for savings.   

My first must-have was some much-needed color for the space, which was easy to bring in thanks to all their amazingly colorful themes for summer.  Whether you choose to go with their Carnaval, Rio, Nautical, Bali or Indonesian collections, you will get tons of color choices to help add some pop to any outdoor space.


We ended up mixing and matching from the collections and getting their last Red Lotus Blossom lumbar pillow, two sets of Carnaval Stripe Battery Operated Lanterns {8 total}, a Cadiz mosaic bistro table, a outdoor laptop table {for working outside!}, two white tablecloths to use as curtains {they didn’t have curtains long enough for our massive porch height and we got crafty}… and a toy accordion and some candy.  Because, the kids needed an accordion and candy.  Obviously. 

While our cart did look a little eclectic at checkout, I was confident that the furniture we already owned and a few repurposed accessories from our home would tie it all together nicely and the end result wouldn’t seem thrown together or hodge-podge-y in the slightest.  When I got my total bill, I was honestly shocked at how inexpensive everything in my overflowing cart was.  Every item we got {except the candy} was on sale and most of it was 30% off or more, so it made it easy to splurge a little and get a lot of good, versatile pieces for our design.   


Once we had finished our World Market shopping, we took some measurements of the porch and hubby headed off to the hardware store to make my dreams of a secluded porch a reality.  While he was gone, I did some laundry, some rearranging, some replanting, some cleaning, and some putting together, and when he was home we were ready to transform the space. 

Here’s what we needed for our custom DIY outdoor curtains and copper rod:
•    Two World Market 120”x60” white tablecloths.  They have many different curtain sizes available to choose from, but these tablecloths were ideal for our space with such a high roof and relatively inexpensive at $29.99 apiece.  Considering I had gotten a quote for outdoor curtains previously and it ended up being more than $600, this was more than a bargain and something I can always change for the seasons. 
•    Two sets of drapery clips to hang the tablecloths.  Yes, we could have added rivets to the curtain tops and done something fancy with our drapes, but I hate sewing, so this was my solution.  I highly recommend it as I could always change my mind down the road and redo the curtains in another configuration.
•    Two 10’ copper ¾” pipes, quick-connect copper end caps and copper coupler to attach the two pipes.  Again, we could have bought a really long curtain rod, but with our porch length, we needed something custom and this was a great, inexpensive option that ended up being quite pretty once installed.
•    Three screw-mount hooks to hold the copper rod in place.  Unfortunately, they didn’t have the option of copper hooks, so we will eventually paint ours white to blend a bit better with the overall design. 
•    Ribbons for tie-backs.

I started off by washing, drying and ironing the tablecloths so I could get an idea of how much they would shrink and we could install them properly.  I also did a little research to see if there was a way to waterproof them to resist mold and mildew, should we end up needing to do that down the road.  I came up with a few solutions we might try out, but I’m still uncertain if we will actually need to do something like this since our porch has a large overhang and we don’t really get rain up there, especially during the summer.  Since the “curtains” are completely washable, we might just launder them every few weeks to keep them bright white and then take them down once the summer ends and we find we no longer use the space on a daily basis.

After the fabric was ready we started on the actual rod construction, which ended up being incredibly simple.  Since our space was over 12’ long and we needed to get two pieces of pipe to cover the whole length, hubby got a quick-connect coupler to attach the two pieces in the center and then copper end caps to finish off both ends and make sure the rod doesn’t slip.  Then, we measured for the three screw-mount hooks, drilled them into our porch beam, and slid the copper pipe in, creating a copper curtain rod that perfectly fit the space.     


Once the copper curtain rod was up, we simply attached the drapery clips to the top of the tablecloths, slid them on the rod, and voila, outdoor curtains!  While I worked on getting the spacing just right, tying them back just so and rearranging the furniture on the deck, hubby made some wire hooks for the battery operated lanterns and hung them on the rod at various heights to fill the gaps left by the tied-back curtains and we sat back to admire how nicely it all came together.    


The DIY curtains and World Market porch re-do ended up being the perfect length project for naptime and by the time the kiddos were awake, we had completely assembled our new outdoor living area and were ready to unveil the results.  Immediately upon seeing it through the window, my daughter started jumping up and down and said “someone fancied up our porch!”  followed by “I want to have a picnic out there!”  I would say that's a success.


Since the day project was completed, we have found ourselves spending a whole lot more time outdoors.  It has been a great way to get the kids some fresh air mid-day without having to worry about scorching sun or rain ruining our fun, a perfect place to do arts and crafts, have a picnic lunch, play with noisy toys, get a little work done while enjoying being outdoors, or take some relaxed and fun pictures with natural light.


If I had known the amazing oasis I could create with a little over $200, I would have done it long before this summer.  Since most of that money was spent getting a good quality DIY curtain rod, it makes the design so much more flexible and easy to change throughout the year with a quick trip to World Market.  While we went bright and bold for summer, it would be easy to tone it down or play it up with new accessories without having to redo the whole design, which means I can constantly update it to my heart’s content. 


There really is nothing better than making good use of every inch of space in your home so I was thrilled that this project gave us an extra 120 square feet of living space without sacrificing a thing.  Even with two DIY projects rolled into one, it really was easy to do, inexpensive, and it ended up giving me an outdoor photo studio with nice, diffused light, an outdoor work station so I could take my laptop outside, and a great protected place for the kids to play all summer long - no matter what kind of weather we’re having. 

As if shopping at World Market didn't already have enough perks, they are also running two awesome promotions this summer to reward all their loyal customers.  The Summer Getaway Sweepstakes is awarding a trip for 4 to anywhere Southwest flies including hotel accommodations and a $500 World Market gift card every week during the promotion.  Enter today by clicking the logo below and you could be one of the lucky ones to take a vacation on them. 
      
Also, from with their Buy & Fly promotion, all in-store World Market receipts over $20 from June 16 - July 13 will have a special code that can get you 15% off roundtrip Wanna Get Away fares!  Where will you go?



Connect with World Market via worldmarket.com, on Twitter, and on Facebook

This shop and DIY has been compensated by Cost Plus World Market, but as always, all opinions are 100% ours.

Tegu Launches New Explorer and Endeavor Sets {Discount Code & Giveaway}

If you’ve been reading around here a bit, you probably already know that we love Tegu blocks.  But, while some loves fade after the initial honeymoon stage, our love for Tegu only grows deeper every day and with each new release to their line.  After watching Tegu grow and evolve over the past year, I can honestly say that it has now become one of my all-time favorite toy lines.  Yes, ever.   

For anyone that is not familiar with Tegu blocks, you’re probably wondering how on Earth a block set trumped walking robots and iWhatevers, but those of you that are familiar with Tegu are probably nodding along as they read this. 

For one thing, Tegu blocks aren’t just any old wood blocks, they are magnetic wooden blocks that stick to each other as well as other magnetic surfaces.  So now instead of creations that fall with even the slightest jostle, Tegu blocks can create sturdy towers that are taller than I am, semi-trucks that actually roll, and gravity-defying creatures complete with moving limbs.  Take that, silly robot.   

We started out with the Tegu Pocket Pouch in 2011 which we all thought was a lot of fun, but then when we got a Tegu Discovery set later that year, it felt like the fun grew exponentially with each piece that was added.  When we added the micro mobility pack and could make custom creations that moved, my kids very quickly became addicted.  Now, it’s gotten to the point that we officially have “Block Party” written on our daily schedule that designates our Tegu time as a family. 

So, to say that we were excited for the much anticipated launch of the Explorer and Endeavor sets {above} this year would be a vast understatement as I had already convinced myself that buying them was an educational investment.  Because the new sets have extra long planks, angled edges, and columns, I was certain that their addition would vastly expand our architectural possibilities, and for that I knew my kids I had to have them. 

Just look at how excited my daughter is with our latest creation, Tegu Towers.  I'm pretty sure it's the future headquarters of Rave Central in miniature form; I mean, it has hanging "lanterns", a movable spiral staircase, and a whole lot of space for us to grow.  What more could you want? 

If you think this looks like fun, imagine pushing it over and watching it topple to the ground so you can build something new.  Now, if only I could find a way to bottle this kind of happiness. 

To announce the launch of the new Endeavor and Explorer sets, Tegu is hosting a Summer Building Contest for bloggers where YOU can win big. The blog with the winning design will win a $300+ Tegu bundle to give away to lucky readers - um, that would be YOU!

In addition, they are also offering an exclusive discount code for you to get 20% off your Tegu order with coupon code TEGURAVE at checkout, which is a very rare treat for anyone that loves Tegu as much as we do. 

Are you excited yet?  Well, here's the details on how you can vote for our creation and win a set of these PTPA Award-Winning blocks for yourself and maybe even help us giveaway the huge $300 prize pack to a lucky reader as well!

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win their choice of either the Endeavor or Explorer Tegu sets!

To Enter: Visit the Tegu Summer Building Contest page and comment with which you are voting for {and no, you don't have to vote for mine, just enter http://www.RaveAndReview.com where it asks for URL}.

And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about this amazing giveaway {Tegu Block giveaway http://t.co/p4OUdQba} and tag TeguToys and Rave & Review

1 Extra Entry - Like Tegu Toys on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Retweet this tweet after following @Tegu and @RaveAndReview

3 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus. Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love. Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

1 Extra Entry - Pin or Like this post {use the buttons at the bottom of post to make it super easy! Can be done once per article}

On July 3rd at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn at random by Tegu, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. 

Winner, winner!  A big congrats to MommyShorts for the tegu win!

A big thank you to Tegu for offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers and a chance for us to win some blocks. All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Sony Handycam {Review}

Do you remember when video cameras came in a suitcase?  Not much smaller than the film cameras used in Hollywood, video cameras of the 80s required a strong shoulder to keep them steady and they were anything but portable.  I always felt really sorry for the poor parent holding the video camera, not just for how much those cameras had to weigh, but for the fact that they were literally saddled with luggage all day long and couldn't join in the fun. 

In the decades since then, video cameras have gotten smaller and smaller, and in 2004 my husband and I bought a video camera that is about a third of the size of the one my father used to use.  But even since 2004, video cameras have gotten even more portable, and now they are the size of an SLR camera lens. 

The new Sony Handycam is not only one of the tiniest video cameras we have ever seen, it also takes video that is about a thousand times better than its predecessors.  We were really excited to try out the Handycam for a few months, and it couldn’t have arrived at a better time as my cousin got married last week, my stepmom through a huge birthday party, and we celebrated Mother’s Day. 

The first thing we loved about the Handycam is that the lens cap is integrated into the design and opens automatically when you turn it on.  I can’t tell you how many lens caps I have lost over the years, but it’s more than I can count on my fingers, so I love that there’s no lens cap to lose.  It may seem like a small thing, but I don’t think it is when you need to catch the action quickly and don’t have time to fumble with extra pieces. 

Speaking of no extra pieces, I also love that there is an integrated USB drive right along the hand strap of the Handycam.  It's so well hidden that I actually missed it the first time I went to download pictures and had to re-read the intructions to find the tiny cord tucked into the strap.  Now that I know it's there, it's amazingly convenient and I really appreciate the attention to detail that saves me from having to keep track of yet another cord. 

The next thing we like is the flip out screen, which has full movement up and down, as well as fully turning around for lining up self portraits. Even cooler than the added movement of the flip out screen is the fact that it is also the power switch for the camera.  That’s right, simply flip out the screen and it’s ready to go. On top of that it is even a touch screen, which means no more taking your eyes off the action while you hunt for buttons, everything you need is right there in front of you.

As great as all these features are, there are two huge features that completely sold us on the Handycam and that I don’t know if I can ever go without again.  The first is apparent as soon as you start filming as you notice that the camera has a built in image stabilizer that prevents the camera image from shaking while you film. 

If you’ve ever watched a film where the camera work was a shaky, you probably remember feeling queasy watching it, maybe even getting a little dizzy.  My old family videos tend to be just like that – shaking, all over the place, and a little disconcerting to watch.  Since the goal of family videos is to watch them again and again, this is obviously not a good thing. 

With the Sony Handycam image stabilizer, it is hard to get the image to shake even if you try. While this is a feature that has been around for a while, it is truly amazing how well it actually works here.  On our backyard trampoline, with lots of movement, the camera work still looks pretty good.  It may not be our finest film we ever shoot in terms of content, but it’s actually watchable!

The second feature we absolutely adore on the Sony Handycam is the ability to project the videos you have shot via the built in projector.  That’s right, you can show the videos you took at the party before you have even left. 

At first we thought this would be a kind of novel treat, something we didn’t use very often, but as it turns out, this is one of the kiddos favorite features that they beg for every time the camera comes out.  Not that I blame them, it is incredibly fun to watch videos on our walls, our ceilings, or just about any flat surface.

Here's a still image of us projecting some wedding footage on our ceiling.  Even though it looks fairly good here, it's even better in person and the detail is amazing.

Another cool new feature is the integration of GPS into the camera.  With footage tagged by date, time, and now location it makes it really easy to find the clips you are searching for, and this feature works both on the camera and on your computer.  Since the video is stored on the camera’s hard drive {or on SD cards through the cameras expansion slot} any clip you find is instantly accessible, no winding tape back and forth like the cameras of old.

Beyond all the really crazy features, the Sony Handycam is just a crazy good camera.  Shooting in full 1080p HD, the image quality just blows away our old camera from just a few years ago. Plus, unlike every other video camera I’ve ever used, I don’t need a wide angle adapter.  Since we end up shooting a lot indoors with small kids it is really important for us to have a wide angle lens so that you don’t end up reducing a room full of people down to just one or two.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Handycam has a 55x zoom so you can get in close to the far away action like at sports events or other outdoor activities. With all that optical range built in you’ll be happy to know that you can also take great still pictures with the 8.9 megapixel sensor, even in the middle of taking videos. 

The sound is even vastly improved from older cameras, since the Handycam records in 5.1 surround sound.  This is really cool for places with a lot of action going on so that when you go back to watch your videos you feel much more immersed in the environment as the sound wraps around you.

After just a few weeks with the Sony Handycam, I can honestly say that it’s going to be a very sad day when we send it back.  We’ve enjoyed taking awesome family videos these past few days, projecting them for everyone even while we are still at the event, and then editing them to make some truly awesome family videos to capture this amazing time in our family. 

Here's some key 2012 Sony Handycam features from the manufacturer:

•    Built-in Projector: Transform your Handycam® camcorder into a mobile movie theatre capable of projecting up to a 100" diagonal image using the projector cleverly built into the LCD panel
•    Low-light: Experience stunning low-light sensitivity with improved image clarity and drastically reduced grain with a back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor. Engineered specifically for compact cameras and camcorders, the Exmor R CMOS sensor is designed to let you shoot video in lower lighting conditions with better results
•    Optical SteadyShot™ with Active Mode: compensates for greater degrees of camera shake to deliver smooth video from wide angle to full telephoto in CX250 models and above
•    Wide Angle Lens and zoom: offers a broader perspective to capture everything in the shot

Want to know more about the amazing PTPA Award Winning Sony Handycam?  Check out the PTPA Winner's Circle page to find out more!

I am a Sony Canada Ambassador and received a Sony Handycam for review during the course of the campaign.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

DIY No-Sew Flower Girl Tutu Dresses

AKA - why I have been MIA.

My cousin got married last Friday to her boyfriend of 6 years and she asked my daughter to be one of her 4 flower girls {yes, I know... FOUR flower girls!  What can I say, we have a big family and we are lucky to have four little 3-4 year old princesses}. 

While brainstorming ideas for dresses for the 4 of them, my cousin mentioned she thought tutus would be cute.  I agreed, and started scouring the internet to find something wedding-worthy we could buy. 

Unfortunately, we found that tutu flower girl dresses are EXPENSIVE, so we started looking at buying some regular flower girl dresses off the racks instead.  When we weren't finding something the bride loved, I decided to try my hand at making the tutu dresses she really wanted.  I wish I could say that I relied on a step-by-step tutorial {that I could now point you to}, but I really was blindly going into the whole dress making business and, quite frankly, had no idea what I was doing.

To start with, I made some rookie mistakes - like buying the tulle by bolt instead of going for the pre-cut strips.  GO WITH THE STRIPS - whatever extra they cost is 100% worth it.  My other mistake is not accounting for how the elastic headband system we used stretches as you tie on the tulle, and then becomes too big.  Thankfully, I did each dress one by one, so it was only the first dress that I needed to alter. 

But, my biggest mistake was not accounting for comfort in the original design.  Going into the project, I thought we would just need capri pants under the dress, but after I made the first prototype, I realized the top needed to be lined as well or the dress would be scratchy and uncomfortable.  Because navy blue spaghetti strap tank tops are impossible to find, I had to buy white ones and then dye them with Rit dye in a plastic tub, which ended up setting me back a few days with washing and drying.  

The dresses literally were finished two days before the wedding.  This was fine because at that point they had been thoroughly tested and perfected, but I would have liked to have a larger window of completion before the wedding.  If I ever do this again, I will definitely plan on getting them constructed sooner and then just fine tuning the last week, not doing major overhauls to the design. 

So, what do you think?

I thought they turned out cute and the flower girls really loved the dresses {my niece on the left kept asking if she got to keep it}, so I would say they were a huge success.  They were actually quite fun to make, so hopefully I can get a tutorial up soon to share with you so you can learn from my trial and error.

As much fun as it was to watch my four dresses prance down the aisle and rock out on the dance floor, I was mostly just happy that the bride was pleased.  She and her new husband are such a cute couple and I was happy to be able to lend a crafty hand to their beautiful wedding. 

So, would you like a tutorial?

UPDATED!  I now have a tutorial!  You can thank all the people that emailed me, commented on this post and hounded me on Pinterest for this tuturial....  drum roll, please....

You can see the full instructions for my DIY No-Sew Flower Girl Tutu Dress here!

 

My First Crayola Art Supplies {Review, Giveaway & Coupon Offer}

I think it’s good for kids to get messy.  I wholeheartedly encourage my kids to dig in the dirt, cover their hands with paint, and generally make messes.  But, while there is a time and a place for getting dirty {for instance, when a bath is in the near future}, there are many times that a big mess is the last thing I want {for instance, when I’m trying to get dinner on the table}. 

Not one to stifle a creative inclination just because I don’t have time to clean up after, I love Crayola’s new line of beginner arts and crafts products called My First Crayola that bring out the inner Van Gough without all the mess.  From crayons that don’t roll all the way to “clear” markers and paints, Crayola makes it easy for even the littlest artists to make masterpieces, all by themselves.    

My introduction to the My First Crayola line couldn’t have come at a better time because I have a little guy who has no idea he’s little and is constantly begging for markers {mostly the permanent variety} or just scooting himself to grab them when no one is watching.  Instead of allowing him access to all the pens and hoping he doesn’t make my curtains his canvas, I was just looking into getting him some washable art supplies when I heard about the My First Crayola line. 

Once they arrived, I knew they were going to be perfect for him, and for my daughter.  Being able to set him at the table with a pad of his paper and a few stamps and markers has been a lifesaver, especially since my daughter and I have been knee deep {literally} in an ongoing wedding craft project that involved making four flowergirl dresses by hand.  Because I don’t want my son anywhere near scissors needles, or the dress I lovingly crafted during naps for three week, I love that I can give him his own art project on his tray and not worry about what I might come back to.

My absolute favorite of the My First Crayola line is the Color Wonder series that I was introduced to a few years back when my daughter was little.  If you are unfamiliar with the line, basically Color Wonder markers all look like normal markers on the outside, but when you take off their colorful caps, they appear clear.  Even though they look clear and like they wouldn’t be able to write on anything at all, when you write on the special Color Wonder papers they come with, they magically show up as their specific cap color. 

The first time I saw the Color Wonder line I was skeptical they would work, but once I saw them in action, I had to admit they were pretty magical.  What makes this really cool is that the markers don’t write on anything but the special paper – not the desk, the countertop, the floor, you name it.  No more worrying about if the pen rolls off the table onto the floor, that stamps might get left with the cap off in a bag, or that it will get all over their hands, and then my entire house, when touch everything. 

Recently, they have expanded the line to include Color Wonder finger paints, and, like their pens and markers, these are also super cool.  Like the Color Wonders pens, the paint is clear and doesn’t mark everything up, but when used with their special paper, it creates an awesome rainbow pattern that my daughter was incredibly excited about.  Like traditional finger paints, your fingers do get a little messy and sticky, but cleanup is still a hundred times easier with clear paint, and I’ve actually let them finger paint numerous times in the past week because they love it so much. 

Even though I love the Color Wonder line, there are certain times you just need regular markers and for those times there’s the Crayola Washable Markers designed just for little hands.  Instead of thin markers shaped like pens, the My First Crayola markers are actually shaped like animals and this makes them easier for chubby little fingers to grip.  My son specifically likes to make the cow “mooooo!” while he writes, which I think is adorable on numerous different levels. 

For times when we are out of the house, I love the new My First Crayola Dry-Erase Activity Mat that is perfect for on the go creativity.  Instead of markers, the Dry-Erase Activity Mat uses Crayola’s Washable Triangular Dry-Erase Crayons that I love so much.  Not only do I love that it uses crayons instead of markers, I also love that the crayons are triangular in shape, and thus do not roll off restaurant tables, off my kitchen counter, or simply out of reach of my little artist and I love that they are easier for my littlest to grip.  When the art is done, you simply wipe off, or you can just fold up the activity mat and place it back in your diaper bag for later. 

From crayons and markers to stamps, activity mats, and on-the-go fun, the My First Crayola line gets a huge thumbs up from us.  I just love watching my kiddos draw and create together and I marvel at all the amazing things they imagine up and then bring to life in their art.  The only downside?  I think I’m going to need a bigger artwork wall to house all of their masterpieces! 

The My First Crayola line includes all of the items I’ve mentioned in this review as well as dozens more products specially designed for young children.  It’s the perfect way to introduce your little one to art and capture those precious first scribbles, but it’s also a great way to talk to your child about what they think, feel, and dream about because drawing and doodling gives them so many more ways to express themselves than simply with language. 

Want to try out the My First Crayola line at an amazing discount?  Be sure to pick up one of the specially marked boxes of Cheerios for a $5.00 off coupon right inside the box! 

Learn more about the tools from Crayola that make it easy for parents to help children develop their creativity, by visiting www.Crayola.com and liking Crayola on Facebook!

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a HUGE My First Crayola gift pack full of all these awesome products! 

• My First Crayola Washable Crayons
• My First Crayola Washable Markers
• My First CrayolaWashable Stampers
• My First Crayola Washable Dry-Erase Activity Mat
• One specially marked box of original Cheerios® cereal

To Enter: Tell me what My First Crayola item you love the most

And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about this amazing giveaway {Huge My First Crayola Gift Pack Giveaway http://t.co/3tHLKl0w} and tag Rave & Review

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry - Like Crayola on Facebook

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Retweet this tweet after following @Crayola and @RaveAndReview

3 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus. Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love. Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

1 Extra Entry - Pin or Like this post {use the buttons at the bottom of post to make it super easy! Can be done once per article}

On June 10th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Open to US addresses only.

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to: #120 Janet W. said...tweet 5/26

A big thank you to Crayola for sending a selection of art products for the purposes of this review as well as offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers. All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.  The information, products, coupon, video and additional My First CrayolaTM gift pack was provided by Crayola® and Cheerios through MyBlogSpark.

So, I’m Kinda Famous {AKA The Baby Brezza Cookbook Giveaway}

 You may remember how much we adore the Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker, {but if not, please feel free to brush up by reading our Rave Review} and how it single-handedly fed our kids during the pureed food stage.  Well, as it turns out, we still love it.  In fact, we might love it even more after checking out the brand new Baby Brezza cookbook.

Yes, that cookbook.  The one that made me *kinda* famous.


So, why do we love the Baby Brezza even more now?  We love it even more because the cookbook gave us all sorts of meal ideas to make for our toddlers and keep the Brezza love going for a long, long time.  Like the Avocado and Black Bean Dip… can you say “yummmm”?


Well, that and the fact that the cookbook comes with pictures of adorable kids having fun cooking, that is.  Seriously, have you seen the cuteness in the Baby Brezza pages?  I might be a teeny, tiny bit biased, but I'm pretty sure it's adorable overload. 

Oh, and the recipes are great, too.  Whether you are cooking for an 8 month old or for a team of toddlers, there are some great appetizers, snacks, meal ideas, and even desserts you can prepare effortlessly with the Baby Brezza.  We still use it for making all sorts of sauces, fruit purees, and treats for the kiddos as well as using it in regular meal time prep.

If you're going to try out the Baby Brezza, you will definitely want to pick up a copy of the new cookbook and see how you can make the most of this amazing appliance from baby and beyond.  You can buy it right from the Baby Brezza site and hopefully it will be available in retailers nationwide soon. 

And, did I mention the pictures?  Oh, the pictures!  Check out my adorable kiddo and me making our recipe together.  Cute, no?

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Baby Brezza Baby Food Cookbook! 

To Enter: Check out the Baby Brezza website and tell me something you learned about the One Step Baby Food Maker!

And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Like Baby Brezza on Facebook

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about this amazing giveaway {Baby Brezza Cookbook giveaway http://t.co/YXigCYKe} and tag Baby Brezza and Rave & Review

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Retweet this tweet after following @BabyBrezza and @RaveAndReview

3 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus. Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love. Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

1 Extra Entry - Pin or Like this post {use the buttons at the bottom of post to make it super easy! Can be done once per article}

On May 16th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Open to US addresses only.

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to:

#19 fancygrlnancy said... tweet https://twitter.com/#!/raveandreview/status/195015349526216704

A big thank you to Baby Brezza for sending a cookbook for us as well as offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers. All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review. 

 

Recordable Artwork Canvas Art Kit, Mom & Me Recordable Book, and Greeting Cards from Hallmark {Review & Giveaway}

Ever since I've becoming a mom, I've turned into a huge sap.  We're talking crying during commercials, getting teary-eyed at the thought of leaving my daughter at preschool, saving every single scrap of artwork, and getting mushy about something as simple as a card.

And, I've collected an amazing pile of cards in my 3 years as a mother, but none quite as special to me as my 3 Mother's Day cards.  Sure, birthday cards are great, but a special card filled with memories, children's scribbles, and a note from hubby celebrating me as a mom?  That's priceless.

This Mother's Day, I got a chance to take the greeting card to a whole new level with Hallmark's newest releases and I couldn’t be happier.  I’m sure you’ve noticed the shift in Hallmark cards over the past few years that includes cards that dance, sing, and even bloom, and now they have expanded on their line to include two more innovative new products that help you show someone special just what they mean to you with their “voice save” technology. 

Remember how I told you I like to save every piece of artwork the kids create?  Well, now I never will have to toss a masterpiece again with the new Recordable Artwork Canvas Art Kit {ARV $14.95} that allows your child to create a piece of art just for you and even record the story behind the artwork.  When you are finished recording, you simply press the button to hear your child’s voice again and again.

Every mom knows that a painting by their child is never just scribbles, it’s a window into whatever story they are telling that day – and, usually, it’s a long story that has multiple different dialogues.  How awesome is it that you can now record your child telling you all about their art and save it forever with the touch of a button?  No more mini novels written on the backs of paintings so you never forget which stick figure is you and which is your husband and no more wondering what to do with all the art because the 9” x 9” canvas already has a frame around it ready for hanging.    

Since Mother’s Day is just around the corner, we’ve set a time for hubby and the kids to do a special piece of art just for me with the Recordable Artwork canvas art kit.  Then I’m going to record the “story” as they give it to me, which I think is the perfect way to catch the kids excitedly talking about their painting and what it means and will be a great recording of us on Mother’s Day.

Speaking of recording me with the kids, Hallmark has even sent me a project I can do for myself this Mother’s Day.  I think this is such a great idea because there are many moms that will be celebrating with their kids alone this year and they deserve a fun surprise, too.  By using the new Mom & Me – A Conversation to Keep Recordable Book you can stop time for just a few minutes and help you remember this time forever.

The Mom & Me book {ARV $24.95} is a fun activity to do with your kids as it helps you “interview” your child and ask them questions to get them talking.  Each page of the Mom & Me book has a new set of question that ranges from “If you could travel anywhere in the world with mom, where would you go, and what would you do there?” to ones that elicit hilarious answers like ”What do you think mom does when you’re not around?” 

Of course, there’s no right answer and it’s okay if they start chattering away about their imaginary friend or their love of lima beans, whatever will get them talking and enjoying a conversation with you.  When you are all done recording {which we did over multiple days to make it more fun}, you simply slide the switch in the battery compartment to save them and prevent someone from accidentally erasing them. 

Now that my book is complete, I can’t even tell you how many times I have opened it and listened over and over to my daughter and I talking together and giggling together.  There’s something so special about a conversation with your child and what better way to preserve all those details forever than with a special recording that comes in an adorable book that’s easy to store, fun to look through, and acts as a mini time-capsule?  I’m really hoping Hallmark will come out with a new Conversations to Keep Book every year so I can create a whole library of books, one for every year. 

In addition to the Mom & Me Conversations to Keep book, there is also a Grandma & Me recordable book that would be the perfect present from the kids this Mother’s Day.  I know the grandparents would love to have a special book from the kiddos and am thinking that it would be fun to include all of the grandkids in the fun. 

Whether you are shopping at your local Hallmark Gold Crown Store or browsing their vast selection online {note: some of the recordable products are only available in store, but you can still check them out online and find exactly what you’re looking for}, you really can’t go wrong with Hallmark this Mother’s Day.  Whether you are shopping for greeting cards, recordable books, or arts and crafts you can do together, there’s no better way to show mom you love and appreciate her than with a personalized keepsake that can be enjoyed over and over again. 

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Mother's Day Gift Pack from Hallmark that includes the Recordable Artwork Canvas Art Kit, Mom & Me Recordable Book, and Greeting Cards from Hallmark!

To Enter:  Share one of your favorite Mother’s Day memories in the comments below

And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Like Hallmark on Facebook

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about this amazing giveaway {Hallmark Mother's Day gift pack giveaway http://t.co/orA86qni} and tag Hallmark and Rave & Review

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Retweet this tweet after following @HallmarkPR and @RaveAndReview

3 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus. Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love. Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

1 Extra Entry - Pin or Like this post {use the buttons at the bottom of post to make it super easy! Can be done once per article}

On May 6th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Open to US addresses only.

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to:

#80 Lana Bradstream said... My daughter gave me a magnet she made.

A big thank you to Hallmark for sending a sample gift pack for the purpose of this review as well as offering a giveaway to our fabulous readers. All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review. 

Spring Photo Gifts from Shutterfly

Spring is a big time for pictures in our family.  Between holiday pictures and spring events, we usually take a trek to our local tulip fields where I take somewhere near a million pictures of the kiddos amongst the blooms, and the result is a huge collection of pictures that are just begging to be printed. 

For instance these two...

Since Mother's Day and Father's Day are just around the corner, this is the perfect time to let our photos see the light of day when we create some amazing photo gifts for everyone on our list.  While traditionally we have done photo books of the kiddos, this year I'm wanting to do something different and create a real piece of art to admire. 

Thank goodness Shutterfly had so many great ideas for how to take a photograph and make it really stand out, because all I could think of was a photo mug.  While they do have photo mugs, they also have a great collection of blankets and throws, awesome iPhone cases, canvases, jewelry, bags and a whole lot more to create a unique one-of-a-kind present for just about anyone. 

Since I currently have 2 pictures up of my 18 month old son, I'm thinking it's time I do something big... like, maybe this canvas?

Or, I could do something fun with the family portraits we had taken this fall that I have yet to do anything but swoon over.  And, it's definitely time I did a mommy necklace with pictures and I have the perfect two pictures picked out, it's really just a matter of choosing which design I would like!

And, and, and... It's clear I need to finally start getting some of these pictures printed, gifted, and proudly displayed.

You can see the entire selection of picture gifts, photo books, and print options at Shutterfly.com and you can even use SHIP30 for free shipping on orders over $30.  Be sure to follow the Shutterfly via Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

Thank you to Shutterfly for providing a voucher code so I can finally print some of my most treasured pictures this spring.  All thoughts and opinions are 100% ours.