Thank you, Pinterest

I can't stand the word "thinspiration". It may motivate some, but to me it seems to glorify being skinny. I don't want to be "skinny". I want to be healthy, strong and fierce.

(For the record, I also can't stand the saying, "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.")

I was writing another blog post about getting healthy and did a search on Pinterest for "thinspiration". My intent was to find some of the images of scrawny girls that are so awful for our self-esteem. Instead I found this...

"Eating disorders are not lifestyle choices, they are mental disorders that if left untreated can cause serious health problems or could even be life-threatening.

For treatment referrals, information, and support, you can always contact the National Eating Disorders Association Helpline at 1-800-931-2237 or www.nationaleatingdisorders.org"

I was surprised and touched. Obviously I'm not the only one concerned with the images that I saw.

Well done, Pinterest. Well done.

So Pinteresting {DIY Dryer Sheet Edition}

I have nothing against the Snuggle bear. I'm just cheap and I hate running out of simple household items like dryer sheets. So when I saw this pin, I decided to give it a whirl.

 

I took some old flannel a friend had given me (look familiar Sue?) cut it into rectangles and sewed around the edges to keep them from fraying.

 

 

 Then I went fancy and cleaned out an old dip container for the softener solution. The website had a formula for the solution - 4 parts fabric softener to 10 parts hot water - but I just kind of threw some together making sure to use more water than softener.

I let the flannel soak for a while and then tried out a load. I was impressed with how well it worked! My clothes were soft and smelled nice. I was worried that the softener would leave spots on my clothes, but I've never had an issue with that. The flannel sheets do get stiff after a few uses, but just throw them in your washer and it's good to go for the next use. Once the solution gets low, just add a bit more softener and water to cover the flannel again.

The only con to these homemade dryer sheets is the drippings. You have to pull one out of the container, squeeze out the excess and then toss it in the dryer. This gets your hands all softener-y and tends to leave drips on top of my dryer where I keep the container.

But it's a small price to pay for basically free dryer sheets! Pinterest Win!

So Pinteresting! {Glitter Jar Edition}

 Teaching our kids to calm down when they are angry is a tough lesson. They don't want to listen to anything when they are upset and it can escalate easily to a full blown tantrum. I saw an idea for a mind jar and decided to give it a try.  

I used items I had on hand: a clean Miracle Whip jar, glitter glue, glitter and tap water. The jar in the pin is such a pretty blue, but I didn't have enough blue glitter so I mixed it up using red, blue, gold and silver glitter glue and gold and black regular glitter. The colors are darker than what I would like, but it was all free! 

I used black duct tape to prevent the lid from "accidentally" coming open. 

Our glitter jar.

 The idea is that when the kids get upset, they shake the glitter jar and have to watch it until the glitter settles. By then, the initial anger will pass and they will calm down.

Glitter jar love! 

So, does it work? I think so. We've only had to really use it twice (both times with Riley). He initially fights the idea, saying "I hate the glitter jar! It doesn't work!" But he is calmer once the glitter has settled.

It is pretty neat to watch. We keep it on the dining room table and every now and then someone will shake it just to watch it swirl.

I'd like to make another one out of lighter colors. We'll be the calmest home in town!

The pin leads to this website. She seems to have found the idea for the jar from this website.

So Pinteresting! {Valentine's Edition}

I tried a few things I saw on Pinterest to help celebrate Valentine's Day this year.

For breakfast, I wanted to try this: 

Pinterest Link

But I didn't wake up in time. But my family did get cinnamon rolls! Just not heart shaped. They didn't seem to mind. I didn't take a picture of the ordinary cinnamon rolls.

I printed out some free wall art, painted frames I got at the dollar store and made some cute decorations (Sorry for the crappy pictures. Guess I'll be starting a "photography" board now!):

Pinterest Link

Pinterest Link

Did you notice the bonus Pinterest tip that slipped in there?

Pinterest Link

"You put toothpaste on the picture's hanger, eyeball where you want your picture hung, press against the wall, then place the nail in the toothpaste spot on the wall. Wipe off toothpaste and hang picture!"

I clearly missed the "wipe off toothpaste" step because it's still there from a sign I had up for Christmas.

It's gone now.

For dinner, we had a family favorite - homemade pizza with extra special heart-shaped pepperoni (and mushroom added to mom and dad's side)

Pinterest Link

Follow me on Pinterest! Not on Pinterest? Let me know and I'll send you an invite!