Head on over to our Pinterest page & check out our Pin a Playroom Contest! This contest runs through the 13th (this Friday) and winners will be announced on Friday April 20th! Happy Pinning!
EVERYTHING ELSE
Lucky You...Free Printables for St. Patricks Day
It's your lucky day... I got inspired to design a new little freebie for you. This gift tag comes in two versions, with or without the St Patty's day mention... because you never know when you might want to share your luck with the ones you love, right? I had some fun styling it on a green + gold ribbon trimmed balloon. Unfortunately the wind didn't cooperate with my plans, so the photos are a bit dark due to shooting indoors. C'est la vie... hope you enjoy!
Post by Becca : www.cakeeventsblog.com
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Dance Party with a New Mix
Kitchen dance parties occupy most of our winter nights, probably because the lack of sunlight keeps us indoors. Last week the children's grandmother and great aunt came to visit for a night and we cranked the tunes. I made a new playlist full of grown-up music that my kids love (with a few children's songs thrown in). Personally, I've found that nothing gets an under-6-year-old party started like "Hey, Soul Sister", even T knows all the words. And of course "everyday we're shuffling." Throw in some Avett Brothers, War On Drugs, and Josh Ritter for good taste (and sanity). Anyways, if you want to check out our mix, click here for a listen (you'll need a spotify account, which are free and easy to set up) and turn up the volume a little. okay? Don't forget the running man, which will REALLY amuse your children, I promise.
Here's the song list:
Hey, Soul Sister - Train
Kick Drum Heart - The Avett Brothers
To the Dogs or Whoever - Josh Ritter
Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
Pink! - Rocknoceros
Horchata - Vampire Weekend
Pretty in Pink - The Psychedelic Furs
Dynamite - Taio Cruz
I'm Gonna Catch You - Laurie Berkner
Taking the Farm - The War on Drugs
United States of America - Rocknoceros
A Million Years - Alexander
Octopus's Garden - Ringo Starr
(I Wish We Used) The Metric System - Rocknoceros
HAPPY DANCING EVERYONE!! 
Post by Darcy : bedtimemonsters.blogspot.com
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A Trip Down Memory Lane
Hello fellow-LON-lovers. My name is Amy and I write about my sewing projects and my love of collecting vintage items at my blog, Diary of a Quilter. I especially love those great vintage finds at thrift stores. They are few and far between, but I love finding those rare vintage gems. One of my latest obsessions is vintage school books.
This is one of the finds from my most recent trip: a spelling book from 1963.
My favorite part is the illustrations. This one was more of a proper text book with actual work in it, so there are fewer illustrations. But what there is is good stuff.
Over time, I am starting to gather a small collection of them. 
This is from the 1951 classic "I Wonder Why." Such stimulating content: "Picture of Weather. See this picture of weather." But I'm sure the charming illustrations captured the hearts and imaginations of many young students.
Look. This one explains where babies come from!
And that's about as much detail as you get. :)
This one is my favorite. It must have been for really young students because it is full mostly of illustrations with very little text. And the illustrations are fabulous.
The book has already been used as a cutter so I don't feel any obligation to keep it pristine. I'd like to cut it up some more but I don't actually know what to do with the illustrations. Any great ideas? I'd love suggestions. (I'm so not creative in these areas.) I want to live in that house with the red roof.
Oh no! Someone opened the chocolates, smashed the walnut shells on the table, left out the newspaper and their blue sweater! Those pesky kids! What should June Cleaver do?? (Are you glad no one expects you to wear a lovely dress, heels and pearls every day? Or do you wish you could?)
Machines!
And last, but certainly not least, another fabulous vintage school find from the thrift store. I LOVE IT! I got it for $14. It's not in mint condition (has anyone ever seen a school desk that was?) But it looks good. I gave it a good Lysol job when it got home. I'm now trying to decide whether to spray paint the metal or leave the 'aged patina.' I wonder what the Keno brothers would tell me to do. They'd probably say leave it.
My little guys love it too. Sweet!
(Which is good, because as much as I'd like to, I can't actually fit in it myself.)
Post by Amy Smart : www.diaryofaquilter.com
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Say Hello, Wave Goodbye...
I designed these 'hello' and 'goodbye' cupcake flags to announce the redesign of my blog from Birthday Girl to Cake. I also happen to think they'd make the perfect little topper for these occasions...
{Hello} Welcome a new neighbor with a basket of homemade muffins or drop a cupcake at the doorstep of a friend in need of some good cheer.
{Goodbye} Use the goodbye flags at a going away party, last day of camp... or even as a non-confrontational way to initiate a breakup! Not that I'm endorsing that last idea, but it never hurts to think outside the box. ;)
Here's the link to print them for your very own: Hello/Goodbye Flags by Cake.
Post by Becca : www.cakeeventsblog.com
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A Dog Day Afternoon
And now for some silliness. Our sweet Scout turned two a few weeks ago and we had ourselves a doggie picnic. Lots of toys, an obscene amount of bones... even a monogrammed canine party hat. In the interest of full disclosure, there may have been an element of guilt involved it this little shindig. We've been so wrapped up with our daughter lately that we've been neglecting the pets a bit. Corgis are known drama queens... sad eyes, big long sighs, expectant sidelong glances... and our Scout is a pro at laying it on thick. So maybe we went a little overboard with the doggie treats? Totally worth it though. She was so excited for the extra attention that she even wore the party hat.
DiY Party Hat Tutorial
- Supplies: 1 pre-made party hat, 1 sheet Scrapbook Paper, 1 ft Pom Fringe, Scissors, Hot Glue, 2-1ft lengths of grosgrain ribbon
- Instructions: Trace outline of the pre-made hat onto scrapbook paper and cut out. Hot glue pom fringe along base of paper hat. Add hot glue along vertical seam and fold over into cone shape.
Add dots of glue on the inside of hat to secure ribbon ties and add a pom {or other accent} at the top of the point.
Tennis Balls, Squirrel + Leash: Martha Stewart Pets
Blue Water Bowl + Treats: Murphy's Paw
Picnic Blanket: Land of Nod
Post by Becca : www.cakeeventsblog.com
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Taro Gamoi's Play All Day
I was nervous that the kids would become bored during our two week road trip this summer, so I purchased Taro Gomi's Play All Day (a book of over 100 punch out pieces).
Luckily, the kids self-entertained better than I expected (you never know), but still when fuss occurred, I'm glad we had this wonderful activity set. The book contains over a hundred punch out pieces, allowing kids to create: finger puppets (don't forget to bring tape), tons of little boxes (which also work well as blocks for toddlers), connecting monkeys, a whole town, and lots of other stuff. The paper toys are incredibly easy to put together and great for lots of ages.
A toy box in a book for under $20, how cool is that? 
Post by Darcy : bedtimemonsters.blogspot.com
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City Autumn
The air breathes frost. A thin wind beats
Old dust and papers down grey streets
And blows brown leaves with curled up edges
At frighened sparrows on window ledges.
A snowflake falls like an errant feather:
A vagabond draws his cloak together,
And an old man totters past with a cane
Wondering if he'll see spring again.
-joseph moncure march
I shot this feather photograph on a hike last week, not in the city but it made me think of this poem.
oxo
Post by Kerry MacLeod : www.snickerdoodles.ca
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Get Well Soon Care Package
A friend was recently hospitalized for a brief stay and put on bed rest for a number of weeks. Instead of the traditional flowers, I decided I'd cheer her up with a care package. Since she'll be stuck at home in bed, I decided to bring the entertainment to her with a few classic chick flicks, some kettle corn, gummy bears and chocolates. For a friend with the flu, include retro bottles of ginger ale {I'm partial to Boylan}, saltine crackers and a thermos of chicken soup.
Post by Becca : www.cakeeventsblog.com
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Making Magnetic Pin Dishes
I recently found this little tomato bowl that called my name. (Maybe because I love fresh summer tomatoes with a passion. The store-bought kind you get in the winter, make me gag. My husband thinks I'm crazy, but I know I'm not :) I thought this would make a really sweet little pin-dish.
To keep those pins from sliding around and dumping out easily, I decided to magnetize the bowl. I found these neodymium magnetic buttons in the craft aisle at Walmart. They're extra strong so that they'll attract through the porcelain. They're also really thin so that they'll lie comfortably under the dish. (Do you like this really professional, Martha-looking picture?? :)
I was too excited to try my project before I stopped to take fancy photos.)
I attached the magnets with more E6000. Because they were small, I used two magnets to strengthen the magnetic pull. I know these neodymium magnets come in bigger sizes, I was just too excited to try my idea so I grabbed the ones available at Walmart.
And voila - my happy little magnetic pin dish - so much more aesthetically pleasing than the royal blue plastic one I was using. This would be equally adorable with a great piece of thrift-store china. Let me know if you try it at home!
Post by Amy Smart : www.diaryofaquilter.com
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