Back To School

Today, my son started kindergarten. He was so excited to go that he didn't want to wait until it was time, instead threatening to just walk by himself. On the way to school, he announced to everyone he saw, "It's my first day of kindergartent!"

In an effort to get ourselves organized before he started school, I set up a homework station for him in his bedroom. Check it out:

I started with these galvanized tins from Pick Your Plum. They were perfect for this project because they are just wide enough to hold paper, but not so deep that things will get lost inside.

First, I taped off a strip across the middle and applied letter stickers. I painted over the letters with craft paint, then peeled the stickers and tape off. Then I lined the edges with chalkboard washi tape.

They were so easy to make and I love how they turned out! Now I just have to figure out a way to keep 2 year old Violet from stealing all the pencils and biting off the erasers.

{Linked on Flamingo Toes, Three Mango Seeds, Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom, Back to the Basics, The Foley Fam, Under the Table and Dreaming, Sumo's Sweet Stuff}

Dermagist Review & Giveaway!

Today I have a great giveaway courtesy of Dermagist! This company offers a good number of skin care products. They recently gave me the opportunity to try out their Acne Clarifying Cream. Here are my thoughts:

Review Disclaimer: I received this product for free for the purpose of reviewing it here. All opinions expressed are my own and are honest.

I have had acne prone skin since I was a teenager, but it has gotten worse over the years. (I blame ridiculous hormones, but that's a story for another day... or never.) The point is, I have a lot of acne and I have been waiting until I'm sure I'm done having kids before starting any medication for it. Basically, I just live with it, but I still try various over-the-counter products to see if they make any difference. So I have tried a lot of different things.

Here is what Dermagist's website says about their Acne Clarifying Cream:

Focuses on soothing and benefiting Acne-prone areas with Resveratrol, Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Provitamin B5, Chamomile, Aloe, and Shea Butter.  This light cream soothes the irritation of acne prone skin, at the same time it focuses in on making the breakouts go away.  The most powerful natural acne clarifying cream on the market, this is a favorite of our clients.

I received my Clarifying Cream and started using it right away. The instructions are simple; apply to a clean face twice each day. I tried it for 20 days, applying morning and night.

Other than the fact that I remain very non-photogenic, I think everyone can agree that there is a slight improvement in my skin. 

The cream has helped calm the redness associated with my acne and has helped clear some of my trouble spots like on my cheeks. The cream has a very nice texture and one small container will last me well over 30 days. It is also very moisturizing, which is a major plus for me since I generally have dry skin.

The biggest issue I had with this product was the smell. The fragrance of the cream is odd. I wouldn't call it unpleasant, but it is a strong scent. When applying in the morning, this was not an issue since my normal foundation covered it up. In the evenings, though, the fragrance was strong enough that my hubby didn't want my face too close to his. If you or your spouse are sensitive to smells, this could be an issue. 

Overall, I think that Dermagist's Acne Clarifying Cream is a good product, but can be quite expensive. I would definitely encourage anyone with acne prone skin to give it a try and see if it works for you.

And now for the giveaway! Use the Rafflecopter below to enter to win up to $100 in products from Dermagist. The contest starts at midnight tonight and runs through Friday, September 6! Good luck!

Giveaway Disclaimer: Prize is provided by Dermagist. Previous winners of free Dermagist product are not eligible to win. Open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Projects in Progress

I don't know about everyone else, but I have a problem completing projects in a timely fashion. I have quite a few "projects in progress" -- enough that my crafting closet is becoming impassable. Here are a few of the things I am currently working on:

Embroidered & Quilted Sewing Clutch

I posted instructions for hand embroidery, but failed to mention that this piece I am (still!) working on is part of another larger project. 

I have big plans for this little saying and will be using it when I quilt a sewing clutch for keeping my embroidery hoop, needle, & floss in when I take projects with me. In my mind, it is fantastic! I'll definitely post the results when I eventually get to them!

Patchwork Picnic Blanket

I guest-posted on The Stitchin' Mommy back in July, explaining my "quilt as you go" process I used to make this blanket. At the time, my life was completely crazy, so I got behind on the blanket.

And then I ran out of my grey fabric and couldn't find the same color at any of my local fabric stores! So I've been sitting on this one ever since. Hopefully I will finish it up before next year's picnic season.

Menu Board

This project is the one currently occupying my available brain space. I've seen awesome menu boards all over Pinterest and decided to craft my own version.

I'm using a solid wood game board as the base, but haven't finished up all the details on it yet. Rest assured, a full tutorial will be posted as soon as I finish it up!

How many projects do you currently have "in progress?" Please tell me it's not just me...

Bout of Books 8.0 - The Results

Bout of Books 8.0 is now complete! I didn't reach all my goals, but feel like I did a decent job considering all my distractions. Here is a re-cap of my first experience with Bout of Books:


My Goals

• To finish reading the books on my Summer Reading List.
• To make some progress toward reading all of Charles' Dickens novels before I'm 30.
• To give my normal reading binge a purpose!

My Results

• 3 complete books read, including two off my Summer Reading List.
• 134 pages of Martin Chuzzlewit read toward my Dickens goal.
• 1,062 total pages read this week.

What I Read

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein was a wonderful read. It is historical fiction, set during WWII in England and France. It is beautiful and heartbreaking.

The Roving Tree by Elsie Augustave was an interesting read about a Haitian girl, brought up in America who later journeys to Africa in an attempt to find her true place in the world. The story includes Haitian and African traditional beliefs in a modern context.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher is the story of a teenage boy who receives thirteen cassette tapes created by a girl who recently committed suicide. The tapes explain her thirteen reasons why she chose to end her life. I was somewhat skeptical of the message this book would send until the end when the narrator makes it clear that everything that happened was a choice. An interesting read to get you thinking about the dynamics of relationships, high school drama & angst, and the choices we make.

Blogger Spotlight - Stephanie @ The Tip Toe Fairy

Blogger Spotlight time! I am searching for fellow crafty bloggers who have fewer than 1000 followers to spotlight. If you fit the bill and would like to participate, please contact me at hotcommodityhome{at}live{dot}com!

Today, we're getting to know Stephanie from The Tip Toe Fairy. If you haven't checked out her blog yet, click over and follow her! Stephanie posts a great variety of recipes, kid crafts, book reviews, and sewing projects. She even has a section of free tutorials! It doesn't get much better than that, in my opinion.

K: Describe yourself in 5 words or less.

S: Mother, wife, artist, baker, dreamer

K: How and why did you start your blog?

S: I actually began a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.  Way back in 2006, I began blogging as Sewing Chick.  I started right around the same time that some of the other bloggers who seem rather famous to me now began their blogs.  Before that, I was an active member of a sewing/mothering discussion website for years and years.  I lead sew-a-longs there and posted lots of projects and patterns and tried to help other mamas learning to sew.  But, as my children got busier as they got into school and activities, I just couldn't find the time to keep up.  I wanted to keep sharing things with other moms, so I thought starting a blog would be a great way to keep it all in one place.  It was fun.  Soon, I was getting projects published in magazines and getting sponsorships.  Then, life upended itself a couple years later, and I had to put it all on the back burner.  Just in the last couple of years I've been able to come back and restart my blog again.  

K: What are some of your favorite posts/projects you have done?

S: One of my favorites was a project to make your own shopping cart cover.  You know those adorable little things you see moms put in the front of a grocery cart? I wanted to make one of those so bad to use for myself, so I looked to buy a pattern.  But, I was too impatient.  I did not want to wait for it to arrive in the  mail.  Then, one night while playing around in my sewing room, a light bulb went off.  I realized I could make one of those things without a pattern, and it was so easy to do I had to share it.  I remember being just giddy at it all coming together.  

Some others I love are my machine applique tutorials - the cupcake and ice cream onesie came out just like I imagined.  I have a new machine applique project coming very soon that I'm guest blogging for someone else.  I'll give you one hint -- it's Disney themed!  I can't wait for everyone to see it.  It is just so adorable!  

My other faves are the cupcake recipes.  I love designing weird cupcake flavors.  The coke floats, bubblegum, grape soda,  the cotton candy, etc. --  I'm always surprised that they come out the way I plan, and that my taste testers like them so much.  

K: What do you do when you're not blogging?

S: I love to read, so we go to the library a lot.  My older children are on a swim team, so I like to take the little one swimming while they go to swim practice.   I love to engage my children in creativity, so we are always making something weird.  Recently, we were using lollipop molds to make brightly colored chocolate mustaches and monster mouths.  

K: Which craft supply could you be accused of hoarding?

S: The more appropriate question might be which craft supply am I "not" hoarding.  But if I had to narrow it down, it would probably be fabric.  I could probably start a fabric store out of my house.  

K: Tell us something random about yourself!

S: I'm a lactivist, which means I am a big supporter of breastfeeding.  With all three of my children, I've nursed for more than 10 years of my life.  It's something I feel very passionate about, and I have taken active roles to promote breastfeeding in public as well as in legislation.   Prior to having my third baby, I worked at the Mother's Milk Bank of North Texas, which is a local human milk bank.  I was in charge of the laboratory where we pasteurized donated breast milk to send to premature and sick babies.  Apart from being a mom, I think it was the best job I ever had.

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