Slate Tic Tac Toe Board

We saw this idea in a Lowe's freebie idea magazine last year and made one for my dad. He and Miss M LOVE to play tic tac toe, so this was the perfect gift for him. I bought enough supplies for a second game and just now got around to making one for our house as well.

Easy and inexpensive supplies:

slate tile (Mine was $1.97 @Lowe's)

bag of river rocks (Some Dollar Tree locations in my area carry these.)

4 felt sticky pads (Dollar Tree again, but they are cheap at other locations too.)

white paint (on hand)

polyurethane (on hand)

Draw out your tic tac toe board on the slate. I sketched my lines in white chalk first because I knew I couldn't free hand it very straight! Paint the lines with white paint and seal with a coat or two of polyurethane when dry. Miss M helped me paint the X's and O's on the rocks - 5 of each. Attach a few felt sticky pads on the bottom and you are all set. This is a great little game to have out on the coffee table or outside on the porch!

Friday Funnies

OK...a day late....things happen, 'ya know?

Miss M is a slow eater. She chews and chews and chews!!! I think she tried to chew ice cream! One night she asks, rather loudly, "What's this stuff on top? Oregano?" (she might watch a little too much Food Network for her age.)

"No," I replied. "It's probably dust." To which her Dad and I both laughed and she replied back, "OK, I totally get that but it is not very funny."

You just keep telling yourself that Miss M!  I am charging my camera batteries as we speak so I can share vacation pics, a cheap and easy slate tic-tac-toe board, and hopefully from an outing Miss M and I are taking back in time later today!

School's In

Miss M started first grade this morning. A little taller, a few less teeth, and full of confidence! Can hardly believe it! Last year, Mr. C cried everyday for the first week. Today, he cried a tiny bit at home and was good after that. He hasn't even asked when she is coming home!

Thanks to Aunt Karla and Uncle Ronnie, for the Justice outfit. The birthday necklace from her stylish friend Sophie matches perfectly too! Almost time to leave to pick her up...usually she rides the bus but we are picking her up as a first day treat, to be followed by powered sugar mini doughnuts when we get home.

Friday Funnies

I recently completed the adult summer reading program at my local library. The children completed theirs weeks ago - with some help from mom of course! At dinner last night, I announced my accomplishment of reading TEN books since the first week of June. No one was impressed. Husband wasn't - probably because he doesn't read for pleasure....ever...except once a year when he is preparing his fantasy baseball team and picks up a copy of The Fantasy Baseball Guide.

Miss M remarked, "What? You only had to read ten books? I had to read for hours and hours!"

So, what did I read?

by Francine Rivers: Her Mother's Hope, The Atonement Child

by David Lewis: Coming Home

by Beverly Lewis: The Sunroom, The Shunning, The Confession, The Reckoning, The Covenant, The Betrayal, The Sacrifice

Yes...a theme is noted. Beverly Lewis writes a lot of books set in Amish communities and I got hooked on two separate 3 book series. Now maybe I will win a prize from the drawing for all my hard work!

Coldstone Deal

It's hot where I live....REALLY hot - just like a lot of places in August. I heard about a great coupon from Coldstone that will help cool you off! Two Like it size create your own (ice cream + 1 mix in) for $5. The coupon expires on 9/30.  You have to download the coupon program to print anything, but it just takes a second and then you are ready to start saving!

Ice Cream Shoppe 7th Birthday

Well, my girl has gone and turned SEVEN already! I can hardly believe it. Once again, she decided on a theme months ago and stuck with it! I really followed my "party rules" to the letter this time - even finding leftover poster board in the basement! One party goer said "Wow! I didn't know Miss M had her own ice cream shop!"

As is our tradition, a silly pose is always required! Some of us have had more practice at this than others!

This doesn't show off the spoons very well, but they were so cute! The handles are each shaped like an ice cream treat: a fudge bar, banana split, milk shake, and ice cream cone. I watched and waited at my grocery store for SIX weeks until I knew the store would mark them down. They finally did and I scored them for 50 cents each down from an original price of $1/spoon. Dollar Store clear plastic jar were filled with sprinkles and bear a label reading "It was so sweet of you to come to my party!" We also found lip gloss in ice cream cartons at the $ Tree! So perfect!!! Miss M also added a cupcake eraser from Aunt J.

Another Miss M, Poppa, and Miss M. Trying to scoop "ice cream" into a dish....a lot hard than it looks! The girls had lots of fun watching one another on this game. These are also the ice cream dishes we used at the party. I bought 12 at Deals a few months back....$1 each of course!

Miss M and I made the awnings, with help from our bloggy friend Nikki. She has the lowdown on how to make the freezer paper awning and some other great ice cream party ideas. We also made the crepe paper ice cream cone. Cupcake Nana painted two "shoppe" signs. The one on the front door also says "OPEN". The effect was not lost on Miss M or me!

Mr C was so serious about helping churn the vanilla ice cream. Everyone took a turn, but Daddy finished the job!

A party goer giving her sundae order to Cupcake Nana. Bananas, strawberries, sprinkles, chocolate syrup, M&M's, chocolate chips, gummy bears, marshmallows, cherries, and of course whipped cream were the offerings.
Miss M's new favorite color is turquoise. (Notice the cupcakes and signs/awnings - even her nails!) She was so pleased to find Kool-Aide that "matched"! The girls and Mr C decorated soda jerk hats while taking turns churning the ice cream.
I received an ice cream cone cupcake pan for Christmas from my SIL last year and it was just the ticket for this year's party. (Cupcake Nana scored the cake stand decorated with ice cream treats!! for $2.50 at Goodwill.) Mr C spied the ice cream shirt a few weeks before the party and that was his gift to Sissy. Unlike her Christmas gift, he didn't tell her what it was this time!
After the party, Miss M said "THIS was the best party yet! I love homemade things...especially things you and Nana make for me." She is a girl after my own heart.

Friday Funnies

While reading to Miss M at bedtime, the character said, "Whew! I am pooped!"
Miss M broke out into hysterical laughing because she heard it as "Whew! I am poop!"
Realized she had never heard anyone say they were pooped!

*Yes, I know this is Monday. I was busy on Friday with birthday plans for Miss M. Pictures should be posted tonight! She said it was her best party yet.