What I originally wanted to do was use 4th of July wrapping paper but I couldn’t seem to find any so I decided to go with tissue paper; red, white and blue.  I used a paper towel tube and a toilet paper tube, which was perfect. I never really plan anything but looking at them now, I would have probably changed the braiding to be just red and blue and no white.  I also would have added names to the firecrackers and set at placemats at the table.

This turned out to be a very budget friendly project that would make a lot.  I bought all my supplies at Walmart and it didn’t take me long at all either.   Once I figured out how I was gonna make one, it was a breeze from then on.

4th of July Party Favors – Candy Filled Firecrackers

SUPPLIES (total cost about $14.50 to make a bunch)

• Tissue paper in red, white, and blue colors $1.97 each = about $6
• bag of candy $ 6.50 (you could buy a smaller bag of candy but we like to keep extra on hand)
• glittery pipe cleaners (I recommend red and gold) $1.97
• empty tubes (like paper towel or toilet paper tubes) $0
• tape
• scissors

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cut strips of the three tissue papers.  I made mine about 4 inches or so.  You need to allow enough for the top and bottom to tuck into the tube for a closing.
2. Start with one color tissue strip and roll around the tube, then tape.  Go to the next color and so on.
3. Close the bottom color by stuffing the extra tissue into the tube.
4. Fill with candy.
5. Twist a red & gold glittery pipe cleaner together and cut in half, sticking one half into the tube, inbetween the candy.  Then stuff the top tissue paper around the “fuse” to close the candy inside.
6. This is optional but I took three thin strips of tissue, braided them, and then wrapped around the top, using tape to hold together.

First hints revolve around a new camera.  I really want a Canon DSLR so what have I been doing to drop a hint?  Well, for one, I ALWAYS leave the tab open to the camera I want when I know he’s going to be on the computer.   Don’t tell me you’ve never done that!!!  You know you have.

Something else I’ve mentioning around the house is the fact that Summer is almost here and the heat is already blaring through the windows. I have sheer curtains at the moment but keep telling my husband how some pretty tan suede curtains would keep the heat out and look pretty.  Do you find that curtains help keep heat out?

Finally, something else I keep hinting about is a little relaxation.  Probably not what you’re thinking though…….Everytime my husband and boys leave the house, I turn off the TV for the silence so that I can work.  But something I’d really like to have is a relaxation fountain, one of those HoMedics soothing ones.  Ahhhhh, I can hear it now.  Can’t you?

So have you been dropping hints like me?  What ARE you wanting this Mother’s Day. And don’t say something like “I just want my kids with me..blah blah blah”. That totally doesn’t count because it’s a given.  Tell me something you want for yourself!

Disclosure: I am an official Walmart Mom. Follow me and my fellow Walmart Moms. Walmart has provided me with compensation in return for my time & efforts to create this post. My participation in this program is voluntary and my opinions are my own, always have been, always will be.

I filled all the eggs and took everything out of the package.  Truett insisted that Chloe had all pink in her basket but I tried to throw in some color!

As a ‘DIY’, I’ll be using these CUTE Wilton cupcake wrappers to make cupcakes for the baskets and to take the Easter party.  I’ll be using the Wilton gift boxes to give cupcakes.  I love that you can always find the seasonal Wilton items at Walmart because to be honest, it’s much cheaper than ordering from the Wilton website as you do have to pay shipping fees.

What do you put in your Easter baskets?  And do you buy only for kids or do you also buy for adults (friends & family)?

Disclosure: I am an official Walmart Mom. Follow me and my fellow Walmart Moms as we share our craft ideas! Walmart has provided me with compensation and gift card in return for my time & efforts to create this craft & post. My participation in this program is voluntary and my opinions are my own, always have been, always will be.

Today I’m bringing you a really easy-to-make Valentine’s Day Pinata.   I don’t know if you know what goes into making a real pinata but it’s a lot of work.   Who has time for that anymore you know?  This pinata is something you can do in an hour or less, can get the kids to participate in, and is budget friendly.  In fact, we bought all the trinkets at Walmart where all the seasonal Valentine’s stuff was.  They have tons of those boxes full of goodies for $2 bucks or less and that includes bags with several pieces in them.  There was a lot of stuff for girls but not as much for boys. I still managed to find some cute spinning tops, kaleidoscopes, ball paddles, and candy.

With everything they have, you’ll be able to make an awesome large pinata OR, something I thought would be fun for kids in school, it to make several of these small ones that I made for Truett and give them to your child’s friends!

SUPPLIES NEEDED

• 1 brown or white paper bag
• Tissue paper in red and pink
• 2 ft of yarn
• Hole punch
• Stapler or tape
• Newspaper or other lightweight filler (can also use tissue paper)
• Small trinkets and candies (like the ones I bought at Walmart)
• Scissors
• White craft glue

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Open the bag and put treats and trinkets inside. Fill about ¼ full.
2. Fill remaining space with crumpled up newspaper (or tissue paper).  I cut them into big strips but you don’t have to.  Leave a small amount of space at the top of the bag so it can be folded over and closed.
3. Fold top over and secure with staples or tape.
4. Poke or punch a hole in the middle of the bag in the fold. Be sure it’s low enough that the hole won’t rip.
5. Cut long strips of tissue paper about 3″ wide and as long as the tissue paper sheet is. Fringe the ends of the tissue paper by cutting slits about halfway up.
6. Starting at the bottom of the bag, glue the tissue paper onto the bag by the solid edge only, do not glue the fringe down. Do this all the way around the bag.
7. Repeat these steps, working your way upward toward the top of the bag, alternating colors each time. We used a fun Valentine’s Day red/white themed one with a red alternation.  My husband thought a scalloped one would be nice to alternate with but every one I tried ended up looking like someone’s behind.  LOL So I stuck with fringe all the way up!
8. Gently lay the bag on its side.
9. Cut strips of tissue paper about 1″ wide. Fold in half, then glue to the bottom of the bag at the half-way point.
10. Set aside to dry completely.
11. Thread string or yarn through hole at the top and tie a knot.
12. Hang by your string and hit until it breaks.  We first tried a drum stick that goes to our game system but had to find a stick in the yard.  That worked much better!

Tips:

* Tissue paper usually comes folded. We folded up small (in a front/back zig sag motion) and cut the fringe that way.  Was much faster!
* To avoid a shoving match when the candy drops, try putting goodie bags together instead of loose candy and trinkets. Label each bag with a certain color label (think garage sale dots from the discount department store) and assign each child a corresponding color either via a sticker or ribbon bracelet. This will eliminate any fighting over who gets what candy.
* You can stuff your piñata with other material if you don’t have newspaper. Just remember that whatever you use may come out of the piñata with the candy. So if you use packing peanuts, you will be cleaning all of those up afterward, whereas if you use crumpled paper, clean up will be much less intensive.

Have you ever made your own pinata?

Disclosure: I am an official Walmart Mom. Follow me and my fellow Walmart Moms as we share our craft ideas! Walmart has provided me with compensation and gift card in return for my time & efforts to create this craft & post. My participation in this program is voluntary and my opinions are my own, always have been, always will be.

The quality of the print on both sides are perfect and I couldn’t ask for a better job. SOOO worth the money and it really would be an awesome gift.

If you are wanting to order a bag as a gift idea, say for Mother’s Day, then you need to act fast!  In fact, you MUST ORDER BY APRIL 30 in order to receive by Mother’s Day. And I also have a coupon code, SHAC10 for 10% off at SnapTotes.com!

I’m not gonna lie to you guys, it’s a bit on the more expensive side but you have to remember, you’re getting a handbag that is personalized with the photo(s) of your choice!  It’s of great quality and something you  (they) will have for a very long time!

It was fun indeed and Brooke is so thin. For reals, her waist was smaller than my upper thigh. She was very down to earth and told me that she grew up in Tuscon, Arizona so she knew what cowboys ate–Steak and Taters!  I also asked her if she had any insecurities at all and she said she could only think of one.  Her singing.  She said she doesn’t even sing Happy Birthday but I highly doubt she has that terrible of a voice.  Probably just being modest.

Mel was very beautiful and that British accent is sexy.  She seemed very nice and looked quite hot in that dress she wore.  She was pimping her new workout DVD, Totally Fit and if I’m gonna look like that, I just might have to buy the video!

It was really cool seeing the celebs.  Ted Danson ending my celebrity adventure at the airport.  I got a picture of him but it’s dark.

So much more to come here and on my food blog with the Frito Lay tour!

Here’s the group picture of the fabulous ladies that I had the lovely pleasure of meeting and attending the event with.

Me with the lovely Brooke Burke:) I told her, had I known she was gonna wear a boots, I would have wore my cowboy boots.

Mel B with A Cowboy’s Wife, the new Spice Girl! heehee

Thanks so much to Mommysnacks and Los Angelista for my hair and dress.

OH, and here’s the clip of it all on the Insider!  You can see me and the other girls at 1:18 for a very brief nano second!

via The Insider

Speaking of shopping after Christmas, are you planning on doing any?  Would it help if you had a $100 Walmart Gift Card?  heehee

Okay, so to enter, all you need to do is leave a comment telling me how you would spend it at Walmart.   That’s it!  If you want additional ways to enter, stumble–twitter–and/or blog this giveaway.

As you can see, I’m writing this in regular format instead of giveaway format just to see how many of you actually read my posts;)  This giveaway ends on December 28th and for details on how my giveaways work, read the fine print.

Happy Holidays!

P.S.  The balls were bought at Hobby Lobby and we used sharpies to draw on them.  We have others that had stickers on them too.