Wednesday, December 28, 2016

New Year's Tree


Hi All!,

I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays.  It can be such a joyous and magical time.  For those of you who celebrated Christmas,  DO NOT throw out that tree yet nor put away your tree.  It STILL has good use.  

Turn your Christmas tree into a NEW YEAR'S TREE!!!


Check out an old post that I posted.  It's super easy and super fun!  Click HERE.

As the new year is approaching, use this New Year's tree to reminisce about this past year while looking forward to the new one.

Your Street Cred Mama,
Arlyn










Saturday, December 17, 2016

Reindeer Water


Parents were asked in my daughter's 1st grade class to bring something for the Christmas program, so I decided to sign up to bring waters.  I thought it was quick and easy.  But then I thought, "How can we jazz up these waters?"  I remembered that a few years back for my older daughter, I also signed up to bring water, and I decorated them like little reindeer.  I found similar posts on Pinterest, but I added a little twist by adding construction paper.


MATERIALS:


  • Brown construction paper (cut into 2 x 9 inch strips) 
  • Brown pipe cleaners
  • Tacky glue
  • Tape
  • Permanent marker
  • Red pom poms
  • Googly eyes
  • Water bottles (8 oz.)

STEPS:

1)  Tape the construction paper to the water bottle.  It will prevent the paper from sliding off. (NOTE:  No need to remove the label because the paper will cover it.)



2)  Wrap the paper around the bottle.  Then, glue the end with tacky glue.  Hold down a few seconds before letting go of the paper.  Also, laying the bottle down on the crease will help it to dry securely.



3)  Add three dots of glue to the paper, while adding a little more glue for the nose.




4)  Bend both ends of the pipe cleaner, roughly about 1/2 inch in length.  By tucking in the ends, it help the little ones from getting poked.




5)  Wrap the pipe cleaner around the neck of the water bottle.  Once connected, twist twice.



6)  Using a permanent marker, draw a smile onto the paper.  It can be a basic line or add some character to it.



TIPS:

Use a paper cutter to cut the strips of paper.  I took a full size (12 x 18) construction paper and cut it in half (9 x 12).  The length was 9 inches, and I cut them into 2 inch strips.  One full size construction paper will give you 12 (2 x9 inch) strips.



Number your water bottles (1-how many you have).  How many times have we put a water bottle down at a party and then wondered "Is this one mine?"  This is a quick and easy way to stay organized.  Also, if this is for the classroom, most classes have student numbers.  Each student can get their own number.  The little ones will remember which one is their bottle because they have had the same number all year.



Carry the waters in the same case they came in.  Angle the bottles so the noses don't get squished.



I hope you liked this post.  We can all turn a few simple water bottles into some adorable reindeer that will make any holiday party seem more festive.

Your Street Cred Mama,
Arlyn








I'm BACK!

Hi Everyone,
It's been quite some time since I've written a post and A LOT has happened!!!  I really wanted to start blogging again but wasn't sure when or how to start.  So of course, I picked the busiest time of the year...mid-December.  But then I thought, this time of the year is so INSPIRING as well.  The year is coming to an end.  It's time to reflect.  A new year and new possibilities are ahead.
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I want this blog to be inspiring to both me and those individuals who read it.  It took some "reindeer water" (see post) to inspire me to write again.  Here are just a few topics that I will be writing about:
  • Being a single mom
  • Love again after divorce
  • Teaching at a Trauma Informed School
  • Volunteering in Juvenile Probation
  • Being a skincare consultant for Rodan+Fields
  • Starting Girl Scouts
  • Learning and letting go of the past
  • Living in the present
  • Looking forward to the future
  • My Faith Journey and Purpose in Life
Is there something in life that you have been putting off because you weren't sure when and how to start?  Well, there is no better time than the present.  It could just take a small thing, like "reindeer water," to inspire you.
Happy Holidays!  Thank you for reading.
Your Street Cred Mama,
Arlyn