Good to know... digital library loans!

I can't tell you how many people I've talked to that didn't know they could borrow digital copies of library books from their local library!

Yep!  It's true.

Look, here's the deal.  I could never spend $10.00 on a digital book.  Never!  But, it occurred to me that maybe... just maybe... the library had a digital book loan system and sure enough, they did!  Maybe you are already using your digital book loan system via the library, but I wanted to pass along this info to those who are not!

There's a few steps involved to get set up.  First of all, you need a library card, but that's a no brainer right?

Second, you'll need to have the Kindle App downloaded to your device (phone, tablet, laptop, etc.)

You will also need to download OverDrive Media Console (which is like a facilitator between your library and Amazon.com.)

Once you get that set up, you can access your local digital library. For my local friends, it is the Central Texas Digital Consortium.

Select your local library from the drop down menu.

Then enter your library card number and password.

Once you access the digital library, you can browse titles, hold/reserve titles or check out titles.

If the book you want to read is not available, you can place a hold and you will be notified via email when the book is available for check out.

Additionally, you will get an email notifying you when your loan ends.

The books are loaned via Amazon.com.  So, you'll also need an Amazon account... but these days... who doesn't already have an Amazon account.

And, that's it!  Seems like a lot of steps to begin with, but after the initial set up... it's a cinch!  Oh and something else that is awesome... if you are like me and have several devices - iPad, phone, Macbook, then all of your loaned digital books will be available on all of your devices via the Kindle App.

Here are a few downfalls to be aware of once get started.

1.) Loan period is only 2 weeks.  I'm a slow reader and a very busy mom, so sometimes my loan will end before I'm done with the book.  Que lastima!

2.) Availability is limited.  If there is a popular book you want to read, you will likely have to get on a reserve waiting list.  I'm not flustered by this too much, but I know some people would.

3.) Availability (AGAIN)... your library "purchases" the right to loan the books through Amazon.  Meaning... your library may not offer an incredible amount of titles via the digital consortium... or, they may only procure 1-2 copies of a popular book.  It varies from library to library.  Our library seems to be catching up now, but a year ago, available titles were very limited.

4.) You can only reserve 3 titles at one time.

5.) You can only check-out 5 titles at one time.

However, there is a work around to #'s 4 & 5 and that is... everyone in our family has their own library card, so Elisan can reserve her own titles and not bog down my reserve limit, etc., etc.

Is it a perfect set up?  No... of course not.  But, totally worth the money saved!

December 13 - 25 Days of Christmas Blogging Challenge

Have I told you how much I love Pinterest?  Yes, me and a million other women (and a few men here and there...!)

I was perusing Pinterest the other day and I came across this idea for photo booth props.  So, I decided to make a set (or two...) for Kyla's school Christmas party and for our family Christmas party. They turned out so cute and the girls a lot of fun with it.

For my set, I used foam, plastic balloon sticks (for the larger props) and bamboo skewers for the small props.  I applied a clear coat of mod podge on the foam to give it a shiny finish.  I hot glued the pieces (holly, berries, etc.) and also used hot glue for the sticks.

December 10 - 25 Days of Christmas Blogging Challenge

Y'all, I just had to blog about this wrapping paper!

I was Hobby Lobby last week and I was drooling over their beautiful assortment of wrapping paper.  I even had a roll of red wrapping paper with big white polka dots in my hand... but being the cheap thrifty person I am, I couldn't see spending upwards of $4.00 (on sale!) for a roll of paper that will End. Up. In. The. Trash.   So, I put it back and headed to the Dollar Tree.  I mean, I know I can get cheap wrapping paper there, plus tissue paper and gift boxes and not spend a fortune.

When I go home I began wrapping presents and would you look what I found?  The paper I bought was DOUBLE SIDED... AND one roll had red with big fat white polka dots on it!  OH. MY.  I had no idea! It was like a Christmas miracle... only it wasn't really.  But, I was super excited.

$1.00 dollar per roll... or $4.00 per roll?  Hmmm, that's a hard one.

Run, don't walk to your nearby Dollar Tree and snag you 2 or 3 rolls of reversible wrapping paper!  Tell 'em Erica sent you...only they won't know who I am.  But, tell 'em anyway.

December 9 - 25 Days of Christmas Blogging Challenge

The phrase "Necessity is the mother of Invention" is one of the most profound statements ever made.

So, the other day, I was checking Pinterest for ideas for an earphone (or earbud) organizer.  I'm forever using a pair of earphones and I have several pairs floating around the house, car, purse, gym bag, etc.  And because they are merely "floating" around, they tend to become a tangled mess... thus, my reasoning for checking into a DIY project to organize earphones.

Of course, Pinterest is a wealth of ideas, but nothing really spoke to me... i.e. required no sewing.  And, there were a lot of items out there, but I really didn't want to purchase anything when I knew I could find something at home that would work.

Then, I remembered I had a package of 1.5" velcro tape that I bought on clearance at Hobby Lobby.  And behold, an idea was born.

Okay, I know, this idea won't land me on the cover of "Redbook" but you have to admit... it's simplistic and genius and cheap and you can apply this idea to any and all cords that need to be wound up and stowed away.

So, here's my simple, genius and cheap idea! You are welcome.

The long awaited post!

Yea, I know, y'all've been waiting with bated breath for this post. The post that should be entitled... "What the heck I've been doing for the last two weeks or more!"

Let me say, this is the FIRST DAY in a long list of days that we are staying home and NOT going anywhere. School begins next week and we are finally done with everything. Indoor soccer, YMCA Volleyball, 10th birthday party (and party prep...more on that later), traveling, etc. We just needed a DOWN DAY.

This in essence is going to be a big ol blog brain dump. So, skim through the parts you aren't interested in...

Class Reunion
My 20 year high school reunion was two weeks ago. Let me be the first to say that it was awesome seeing people I haven't seen since the last 10 year class reunion (or since high school graduation.) I loved catching up and meeting peoples' families. But, as expected, I mostly visited with people that I was closest to in high school. By 10 p.m., I was ready to go. So much of ME has changed, there isn't much commonality any longer. And that's okay! I didn't expect it and I wasn't disappointed!

All in all, I'm glad I went, it was everything I expected it to be and at times it was MOST entertaining.

And since there was much discussion as to what I would wear to my class reunion, you'll be happy to know that I found the cutest dress at White House Black Market. It's so stinking cute, very flattering and can either be dressed up or dressed down. I wore this dress with some jeweled flip flops for a more casual dressed down look!

And, this dress - Voile Printed Sundress - is now on sale for $60.00! Don't worry, I got it on sale too. Not for $60.... but, close!

Randy & Erica, 8/6/11

10th Birthday Party
Elisan's 10th birthday party was last Friday night. Because we're so much alike, she's been planning this party for over 4 months. She had very specific ideas as to what she wanted to do, how she wanted it to look and who was invited. (I love that about my type-A personality daughter!)
So, I began working on all the party prep stuff at least a month ago... maybe more. Here's how it turned out.

The free PLH digital kit is still available for download here.

This was such an easy party! We served pizza for dinner, then brought the girls down to the neighborhood pool for swimming. After swimming, Randy and I set up a 14 topping Sundae Buffet for ice cream sundaes! The ice cream sundaes were a HUGE hit and I think this may be our new go-to idea for birthday parties. The girls finished up the evening with presents and karaoke. Fun was had by all!

Craft Tutorial

For the party, I also worked on a craft project. I made magnets for the goodie bags using round wooden pieces, Mod Podge Dimensional Magic and the PLH round circles that I designed. The circles can also be used as stickers, tags or cupcake toppers.

This project is pretty self explanatory. My only change in the project would be to use white school glue, rather than a glue stick. I had a few that began pulling away from the wood one they dried completely. The ones I did with the white school glue did not pull away.

Also, in photo 3, on the top row, I'm sanding the paper edges for a smooth finish. Hot glue a magnet on the back and there ya go!

This was a CHEAP, fun and easy craft. A great take-away for the girls and something that will last a long time.

That's all for now folks. I'll leave you with this... a picture of my sweet little guy, TJ. Now, if I can only get him to NOT poop in the upstairs family room. Sigh...

At least he's consistent. And for my sake, at least we can gate off the upstairs!

My Favorite Photo

This is my favorite photo of the girls and me.

Here's a scrapbook page to preserve the memory!

My two best girls (and their mommy) goofing off one afternoon back in 2005.

Digi Scrap Fun!

I've been having fun putting together some digi scrapbook pages for the girls. I know, I know... most of you are still paper scrappin', but I'm loving the digi scrap! It's super easy, there is no waste and I can use the materials over and over again!

I just set my page set-up to 8x10, then up-load the final masterpiece to my local photo processing center. To have an 8x10 printed up is only $2.50! Can't beat that!

Here's Elisan's six year old scrap page. Her birthday is THIS week!

Kyla Mae needed a page all to herself and I love this picture of my sweet baby girl!

The sister page is probably my favorite, since it shows the girls throughout the years!
(Doesn't KM look old beyond her years in the black and white photo?

I can "see" her as a teenager in this photo!)

I downloaded the (FREE!) digi scrap files from Two Peas in a Bucket and from Shabby Princess.

Do something creative everyday

I found these really pretty glass beads at my favorite craft store. I couldn't resist making not one, but two necklaces and matching earrings. This is my first attempt at making earrings and I thought they turned out nice.

A great gift idea!

One of my hobbies is creating post card stationery. It's cheap and easy and everyone loves personalized stuff.

With Christmas coming up, personalized notecards make great gifts for teachers, extended family, long-distance friends, etc.

Here's how to do it!

• Create your design in a photoshop type software program. (I personally do not own photoshop. I use Adobe Photodeluxe Home Edition 3.1 - which was FREE with the purchase of my scanner.)
• Size your blank template to 8x10in. (You will be reducing the size, but it needs to be large enough file to scale down without reducing the quality of the image.)
• Create your design
• Save as a .jpg file
• Open up a blank document in MS Word
• Insert your new image.
• Resize the image to 4.25" x 5.31"
• Change the layout to "square" and drag it to the corner.
• Copy the image and paste three additional images in the other three corners.
• Save the document.

You can print these at home, but you will need high quality cardstock, a laser printer and a cutting board to cut straight lines. OR....

Upload your document to Kinkos. The site will walk you through the ordering process. At the Kinkos near my home, one page of black and white ink (on any color of paper) was $.20/each. Because you are printing 4 cards per page, you are essentially getting each card for $.05/each. Kinkos does charge a cutting fee which is $2.50/cut, but it is worth it - trust me! If you decide to go with color ink, the cost goes up to $1.20 per page (or $.30/card).

The final cost for 24 post cards (or 6 pages) on premium cardstock is approximately $6.20 (that includes the two cuts).

The beauty of it is, that you can do several different jobs at one time: 6 pages for the teacher, 6 pages for a friend, 6 pages for your sister, but only pay the cutting fee one time! So, if you do decide to do this project, do as many as you need at one time, to avoid paying the cutting fee for each job!

And finally, because they are post card sizes, they can be mailed without an envelope and you can use postcard postage rate, which is $.24/each.

Like I said, cheap and easy! Here's a sample:




Have fun creating your designs! If you need technical help, feel free to contact me!