I was proud of our tree last year because almost every decoration on it was handmade. We were on sabbatical in Princeton, New Jersey, for the year from So Cal. We did not haul our holiday decorations across country. We got a great tree from a Vermont tree farmer, but we had nothing to put on it! So we decided to make our own ornaments. We started with flour and salt dough ornaments and went from there, adding wire, Sculpey and pipe cleaners to the mix. Here’s the results. I am hoping to find time to make some more this year. Let me know which on is your favorite.
Wreath made by Shea.
Jester ornament made of Sculpey, pipecleaners, copper wire by Kim.
Present and name we all worked on.
Snowman I made.
Peace sign ornament Shea made.
Candy Cane ornament, Shea.
Christmas tree, Shea.
Reindeer, flour and salt, Kim.
Flour and salt dough snowman, Kim.
Sculpey reindeer, flour/salt snowman, Kim.
Love, Shea.
Wreath, Colman.
figure skater made of pipe cleaners. Kim.
Angel made of pipe cleaners. Kim.
Christmas tree made of pipe cleaners. Cole.
Poinsettia made of Sculpey. Kim.
Pipe cleaner Christmas ornament, Colman.
Which one is your favorite?
Happy Holidays to all!!!
If you want to make pipe cleaner ornaments, believe it or not, Amazon has the best deals and best selection on pipe cleaners.
Bead, pearl, crystal necklace and earring set I made my friend for her birthday.
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Dori and I became best friends in 7th grade. Unfortunately, we don’t see each other often anymore, but I wanted to make her jewelry for a milestone birthday. Here’s some pics of the design made of beads, pearls and crystals with copper and rose gold findings. The necklace is long, and you can wear it two ways. As seen in the photo above, you can wear it with the charm dangling. You can also remove the charms and one section of the necklace to make a simpler strand.
Here’s some more pics to show the design.
Did you know Amazon has tons of jewelry making supplies? Sometimes they have better prices that Michaels or Joanns. They definitely have a wider selection.
Visit any rink with serious figure skaters and you will find colorful square Zuca skate bags lining the walls. What makes the Zuca bag so popular with skaters is that is that they are cute; they store a ton of stuff, and they are sturdy enough to sit on. Click on any bag for more info and pricing on that bag.
What Makes a Zuca Skate Bag Cute? For many young figure skaters, skating is more than a sport, it is an expression of their identity. Zuca bags appeal to young girls and teenagers because they can create their own look. You buy frame separate from the bags itself . The frames come in trendy colors and the bags come in hip patterns. Part of the fun is coordinating the frame and bag. And the fabric choices will amaze you: pink camouflage . . . black with sparkly crystals . . . lime green with pink polka dots . . . Hawaiian . . . .turquoise and brown . . . The list goes on and on. You can also add flashing wheels and add a skater’s name in embroidery or in rhinestones.
How Much Stuff Can Fit in a Zuca Skate Bag? The roomy size and thoughtful design (pockets and shelves) allows skaters to store skates, blade guards, music, gloves, sweatshirts, tights, water bottles, and other accessories.
How Strong is a Zuca Skate Bag? The frame of a Zuca bag is so strong that skaters can sit on it. A Zuca frame is the perfect height for a little stool that skaters sit on when putting on and taking off skates or when resting. Many rinks lack adequate benches so the bags are constantly in use as a seat.
How Much is a Zuca Skate Bag? Zuca bags cost a pretty penny. The frame runs from $100 to $150 and the bag runs another $50 or so. But the skaters LOVE them and they really are well made and will last forever. You can buy the bags separately if you want to update your frame. Zuca bags can be used for other purposes besides skating. Photographers love them to cart around heavy gear as well.
Where Can I Buy a Zuca Skate Bag? You can buy Zuca bags at some skate shops, but the skate shops will not offer the full array of choices. the best way to buy a Zuca bag is to check them out online. Amazon has several sellers with a wide array of choices and good prices. Click on any bag here to go to a seller.
What’s the Best Way to Give a Zuca Bag as a Gift? Gifts are all about unwrapping a surprise, but the best way to give a Zuca bag is to give a certificate for the bag. That’s because half the fun of a Zuca bag is picking out the color of the frame and the fun fabric of the bag yourself. You don’t want to pick the zebra bag with a black frame , when what she really wants is the turquoise bag with the brown frame! Solution: Print out pics of the best Zuca skate bags and put them in an envelope! She will be thrilled to see all the choices and excited to know she can make the final decision herself. I’ve put pics of some of my favorites on this post. Feel free to print them out if you like the envelope idea. By the way, each pic has a link to the Amazon store where it is sold. If you do buy from Amazon, please buy through my link. Thank you for your support. Let me know what bag you like best.
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Why is it so hard to find good books for tween boys? When my 6th-grade daughter goes to the library, we come out with stacks and stacks of books. But when I take my 4th-grade son, we often come out empty-handed. Or we get a book, he reads a few pages, and pronounces it “boring.”
When he is hooked on a book series, however, he can’t get enough. Recently he just finished two book series for boys he loved: Percy Jackson & the Olympians and Ranger’s Apprentice. My daughter mentioned that boys in her class liked a series called Artemis Fowl. So at a recent trip to the library I checked out the first two Artemis Fowl books.
I starting reading the first book just to see what it was about, and I could not put it down. Within a couple of days I was back at the library getting the rest of the series and all three of us devoured them.
Kudos to the author, Eoin Colfer, for plots, characters, and action and humor that appealed to all of us.
Colfer’s hero (or perhaps anti-hero) Artemis is a super-bright, rich, articulate 12-year-old with supreme confidence. He is also a criminal mastermind intent on amassing an even greater fortune. The kid comes up with brilliant plots, and his buff bodyguard Butler, who is trained in martial arts and carries array of lethal high-tech gadgets, helps him to carry them out.
When we first meet Artemis, he is planning to rob gold from fairies. But these are not your typical fairies. “Die Hard with fairies” is how Irish author Eoin Colfer describes his books. His magical beings are an advanced civilization with amazing technology and powerful weapons.
Colfer’s inventive plots have tons of twists and surprises that pull you through the adventures.
Thesettingsinclude Fowl Manor, where the Artemis has a mansion any boy would envy, various places around the world Artemis flies to in his private jet, and the Lower Elements, the world inhabited magical beings, which Colfer describes in rich detail.
Readers come to know quirky, charismatic characters with an edge, among them:
Artemis Fowl, a preteen prodigy with a huge bank account and the toughest bodyguard in the world. Although he is greedy and ruthless, Artemis can do the right thing at times. He is still figuring out his place in the moral order.
Domovoi Butler, a loyal bodyguard with cool weapons who has no problem taking orders from a 12-year-old.
Captain Holly Short, a gutsy female LEPrecon officer who sometimes bends the rules to save the day
Foaly, a wise-cracking techie centaur who is a genius in his own right coming up with amazing gadgets that give his side an edge
Mulch Diggums, a dwarf thief who uses explosive flatulence to help tunnel his way into places through impenetrable.
Opal Koboi, Foaly’s nemesis, an evil genius pixie who comes up with diabolical (and extremely clever) plans to rule the world
Accelerated Reading and Artemis Fowl Books
The Artemis Fowl books have accelerated reader tests. The accelerated reading interest level is between 5 and 6. AR Points for Artemis Fowl books range from 10-13. Adults will enjoy them as well.
Artemis Fowl Movie
A film based on the first two books is reportedly in development. A script has been written, but the film been delayed several times.
Other Artemis Fowl books The Artemis Fowl Files (2004)
Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel (2007)
Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel: The Arctic Incident (2009)
Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel: The Eternity Code (20xx)
My son, almost 10, ranks the Percy Jackson and Ranger’s series above Artemis Fowl, but I think I actually liked the Artemis Fowl series better. Lots of humor and wit with likable characters and inventive plots. Action packed but not scary. Artemis Fowl books rate among the best books for middle school boys. Let me know if you like Artemis Fowl, and if you have other books to recommend to this age group.
If you read the first book in the Artemis fowl series, you will want to read them all. Amazon a boxed set of the first five Artemis Fowl books. The set would make a great gift for a tween boy.
I asked my almost-10-year-old son a tough question: if you were stranded on a desert island, and could only take one book series, which would you take: Ranger’s Apprentice Series or Percy Jackson series He had a tough time. Finally he noted that one series had more books. So maybe he would pick that one. Otherwise it’s a dead heat.
Finding good books for boys his age is so hard I am thrilled he is so excited about both these series. He is also reading the Artemis Fowl Seriesnow, but Percy Jackson and Ranger’s Apprentice have him begging me to take him to the library, and when the books are not there, to the book store.
Both Ranger’s Apprentice and Percy Jackson series published new books in January, 2010. Book number 7 of the Ranger’s Apprentice series came out in January, and a special “movie”edition” of book 1 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians came out as well. I’ve found that most of the books in both series have waiting lists at our library, (LA County Library system).
The Lightning Thief, the first book in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series
The Ruins of Gorlan, the first book in the Ranger's Apprentice Series
Number of Books in the Series
Both writers Rick Riordan and John Flanagan are prolific, coming up with new adventures for their young heros (who age as the books continue). In the U.S. the score is Percy Jackson: 5 books, and Ranger’s Apprentice: 7. Flanagan has written 10 Ranger books, but the last three have not yet been released in America.
AR Rating
Both books have AR tests. Ranger’s Apprentice has a slightly interest level (between 6 and 7) than Percy Jackson (between 4 and 5). This means they probably appeal to readers in 6 and 7th grade vs those in 4th and 5th grade. Although I think both books appeal to a much wider range.
Ranger’s Apprentice books also have higher AR points possible (between 12 and 14). AR points for Percy Jackson range from 3 to 13 with many between 9 and 10.
Action
Both series are packed with suspenseful action and plot development. Both feature both battle strategy and detailed descriptions of battles. Both have fierce enemies. Both have cool weapons. Percy Jackson has more mythological characters.
History
Although both series are fictional adventure stories, they both teach you something about history and culture. In Percy Jackson books you learn about Greek mythology, and in Ranger’s Apprentice books you learn about Medieval times.
Characters
Both have likable, young, male protagonists with various sidekicks and friends. Ranger’s may have more in-depth character development of some of the characters.
Movies
We’ve already seen the trailers for the first Percy Jackson movie, based on The Lightning Thief. The movie is due out next month (Feb). Ranger’s Apprentice has a script and a director, but no word on when it might be out.
Video Games
Nintendo has a game in the works based on the first book and movie of Percy Jackson.The video game is a tactical role-playing game for Nintendo DS that puts players in command of Percy Jackson and his fellow demigods as they battle for survival in a world ruled by vengeful Greek gods. Nintendo says the game will be in stores when the movie comes out. No word on a video game for Ranger’s Apprentice as of yet.
Cover Art
It’s interesting to see what publishers come up with for cover art for tween and teen readers. My kids are voracious readers, and as a graphic artist I appreciate the thought and creativity put into book covers. The U.S. editions of both Percy Jackson and Ranger’s Apprentice series are stunning. As a personal preference, I like Ranger’s a bit more. Pubishers sometimes change the cover art when they release books in different countries or when they do a second printing. If you do a Google image search you will see differences in covers in both of these series.
Accolades
Both books have garnered praise from critics and been on the New York Times best-sellers list. Both have been published in several different countries.
Websites
Both books have official websites, and to be honest, I find both annoying, just because they take too long to load and I do not always like background music or spooky rainfall and wind howling. Kids probably love it though. On the Ranger site you can log in to become a “Ranger” and get access to more info on the site. Even without doing that you can download beautiful graphics for your desktop. There’s some interesting info about the author. On the Percy site there is a page describing all the Olympian Gods and Monsters. It also has downloadable games and wallpaper. You can also access the trailer for the new movie.
Rick Riordan has an author’s website that has some additional features without all the fancy sounds and effects.
Rangers Apprentice Book Series: Suspenseful Adventure for Boys (and the rest of us)
The fantasy genre is hot in literature right now, which is good news for tween boys. My 10-year-old son raves about the Ranger Apprentice books by Australian writer John Flanagan, which make new twists of Medieval tales of knights and castles. When he finishes one book, he can’t wait for the next. Many of his peers at school are reading it as well. The Ranger Apprentice series has been on the New York Timesbestsellers list and has sold more than a million copies in the US alone. The books have sold a million more copies in other countries, and is the number 1 book in the the author’s native Australia.
I started reading them to see why he loved them and I love them, too. So they are not just for adolescent boys!
The Ranger’s Apprentice books are an epic tale about Will, a orphan small in size, who has always dreamed of becoming a knight, like the father he never knew. Instead, he is adopted into the mysterious Ranger corps. Will is joined on fast-paced adventures to defend the kingdom by his mentor, Halt, and his best friend, Horace, among others. With his crossbow and a couple of knives, Will battles fierce enemies, overcomes suspenseful obstacles, and learns that what he lacks in size, he makes up for in speed, agility, intelligence and courage. Honesty and loyalty also matter.
The plot keeps you on the edge, wondering what is going to happen next. While reading the adventure, young readers learn about Medieval life with surprising accuracy.
Flanagan’s take on feudal good-versus-evil does not depend on tons of magical creatures to keep the reader interested, but rather plain old good writing. The books have suspenseful well-paced plots, sympathetic characters with interesting relationships, and detailed, colorful descriptions of Medieval times.
Critics have praised the books, as have Amazon readers who submitted exceptional reviews. I’d love to know what you think of Ranger’s Apprentice books.
Will there be a Ranger’s Apprentice movie? United Artists reportedly paid seven figures to option the film rights, and it was supposed to come out in 2010 with Paul Haggis directing, but may have had funding problems. No word yet when it may come out.
Google Preview now allows you to get a limited preview of many books so I have embedded a preview for the first Ranger’s Apprentice. To get a real sense of the book, though, preview chapter 2 (not just chapter 1) because it is more representative of the tone and style of the series. The first chapter is not as good as the rest. To preview, just click on Google Preview button below.
If you are buying a Ranger’s Apprentice book as a gift, consider Amazon’s deal on The Ranger’s Apprentice Collection. Reviews of the Reviews of Amazon’s Ranger’s Apprentice Collection have been high. This collection would be one of the best gifts for a boy, and you get the first three books in the series for the price of one inexpensive toy.
The Emperor of Nihon-Jin This book is not available on Amazon yet.
Note that the books come out in Australia first. The last one to come out in the U.S. is book 7, Erak’s Ransom, which came out in January, 2010. The later books have not been released in the U.S., although you may be able to get them from sellers who import them and re-sell them. We were lucky enough to have a friend visiting Australia and she bought them in a bookstore there for us. Check the links above to order through Amazon.
Books in the Ranger’s Apprentice series have Accelerated Reading tests available, so if your school uses AR tests, you can get points. They have an interest level ranging from middle grade to upper grade, usually a high 6 or 7. Taking a test and getting the answers right will earn you 12-14 AR points.
My son would definitely put these books on a best books for boys list. I’ve found these books often have waiting lists at the library, so be sure to get the next one in the series if it is available. You may have to put your name on a waiting list. Because they are popular, they can also be hard to find in stock in bookstores.
Rumor has it that a half dozen new Harry Potter Lego sets will be coming later this year (2010). We have not seen any Harry Potter sets in the Lego store in a long while, which is shame especially because the Harry Potter sets were one of the few themes that appealed to girls as well as boys. My daughter has a couple of them. Some of the new sets may be mostly be re-working of prior models, but at least it is something on the shelves.
4736 Dobby’s Release
4737 Quidditch Lesson
4738 Hagrid’s Hut
4840 The Burrows
4841 Hogwart’s Express
4842 Hogwart’s Castle
If you hear anything more about the new Harry Potter Lego sets let me know. Meanwhile, although Harry Potter Lego sets are tough to find in stores, Amazon has a diverse selection.
If you ever buy Harry Potter Legos, or any other Legos for that matter, keep the pieces together and try to keep the box. I’ve found these sets retain their value. If you grow tired of them, you can often sell them for more than you paid (if the set is complete). I’ve never re-sold though, cause they are just too fun, and they are timeless. The kind of toy you can hand down to the next generation.
Toy Story Legos Review: Fun that Retains Value in More Ways Than One!
Legos are my all-time favorite toy. My sons loves them. And I do not even mind spending a small fortune on them. Legos are well made: they fit together perfectly, rarely break, and last forever. Legos inspire creativity, and more than that, they make kids think. I am always amazed at how my son uses pieces from different sets to engineer something totally new.
On a recent trip to the Big Shop in Legoland I was surprised to see a new genre of Lego sets based on an all-time fav kid movie: Toy Story! How cool is that? Classic Toy Story characters like Woody, Buzz, Jesse and Bullseye, and Stinky Peet, and even the little green army men and Zurg are now minifigs! If you are a Toy Story fan, you are gonna fall in love with them.
Introducing new Toy Story Legos is yet another smart move by Lego Company, which has flourished despite a down economy. According to a recent Wall Street Journalarticle, Lego has had a sharp revival: in the first half of 2009, while “jittery consumers sent global toy sales down 5%, Lego increased its sales 23%.”
Another thing I like about Lego toys is that if you keep a set in good condition and keep the box, the toy retains its value. I learned that when my son wanted Star Wars Lego sets that were no longer in stores . . . and found you could get them on Ebay or a number of specialized Lego re-sell sites, but you would have to pay sometimes double or more the original price. Even a rare minifigure alone without the rest of the set could go for $50 or more.
Like Star Wars, the 1995 Pixar movie Toy Story is a timeless classic loved by both kids and adults with sequels. So I would expect that the original Toy Story Legos sets may someday be collector’s items. Hmmm. Maybe these aren’t toys, but fun investments?
Some collectors buy two sets: one for play, and one for the closet to be brought out at a later date and sold. Hey, isn’t selling old toys in original boxes a part of the whole Toy Story theme?
Toy Story 2 came out in 1999 to even bigger success than the original. Toy Story 3 is scheduled to be released in June, 2010. So I bet more Lego Toy Story sets will be out in time for the movie’s release.
If you have a kid who likes Toy Story, check out the new Toy Story Legos, and if you want one of the original sets, I would act sooner rather than later. You don’t want to pay more on Ebay because you waited.
Another cool thing about the new Lego sets is that the instructions can be found online at lego.com. Now that we have Toy Story Lego sets, I wonder if Legos will show up in the next Toy Story movie. If you get a Toy Story Lego set, let me know what you think of it.
My favorite of the new sets is Toy Story Woody’s Round Up Lego Set 7594 as it has Woody, Jesse and Bulleye (the horse) as well as Stinky Pete. Plus it has a gold mine wired with dynamite, a jail, a sheriff’s office, a safe, and a catapult trap in the sidewalk.
When my daughter started figure skating, I had a hard time finding gifts that related to her sport. Local stores at the mall had no gifts for ice skaters. So I searched online and found the best sites from which to buy the best skating gifts. I am putting the ideas and links up here as well as some ideas for gifts you can make and even a few you can just pick at Target or another local store.
Please let me know if you have other ideas for ice skating gifts. I would love to hear from other skate moms who found good figure skating gifts. If you are a figure skater, let me know your favorite skate gift ideas to add to the list.
I tweet when I find good skate deals so follow me on Twitter.
Every figure skater wants a ZÜCA bag , the stylish little suitcase with a frame sturdy enough to double as a seat. And there are so many hot designs out there now! The frames and bags are sold separately so even if she already has one, get a second bag for a new look. They are expensive, but worth it. By the way, these things never seem to go on sale anywhere, but Amazon does seem to have a fair price.
Try finding a delicate little 14 K gold skate charm like this at the mall . . . . You just can’t find figure skate-themed jewelry down the street. But I found some beautiful skating jewelry online.
Wowee! Check out this gold and diamond skate charm! This pretty ice skate charm is crafted from solid 14 karat gold and decorated with genuine diamond accents (1/10 cttw). Offered in your choice of white or yellow gold, it features a lobster-claw clasp that attaches easily to just about any chain or bracelet.
Gotta have the sterling silver figure skate earrings dangling from your ears.
Figure Skate T-Shirt
Sometimes you want to show the world you skate. It’s hard to find skating-themed t-shirts in stores, but most print-on-demand online shops have a ton of choices. Anyone can submit designs at these places, so you have to sift through quite a few amateur designs before finding the good ones. When I get time I plan to try to come up with a few of my own designs. Meanwhile, here are some from Zazzle.
Check in your neighborhood to see if an ice show is in town.
Tights
Ratty old tights are OK for practice, but a new pair of skate tights can make you feel like you are skating in a competition, even if you’re not. Maybe they can even make you skate better. Amazon has a ton of styles both over-the-boot and under-the-boot.
Skaters carry their own music to the rink to prepare for competition. Give her a glittery cd case to keep her music scratch free. Maybe put her name and phone number on it, as these tend to get left behind. I could not find any extra specialones online, but look at Target or Best Buy etc.
You may use it more than she does if you are the one who watches her practice, but this fleece throw with ice skates on it is comfy and warm. This one is great or look at the local fabric store . . . . there is an off chance they have material and you could make on.
Hair Scrunchies
Pick up a few pretty hair scrunchies at the local Target or beauty supply. Drug stores often have good ones. Heck even the dolar stores sometimes have OK ones. If you sew, these are easy to make just using basic elastic and pretty fabric.
Books about Skaters (and bookmarks, too)
Books about Skaters and Skatingfrom Amazon will show you a ton of books. If you buy anything from Amazon, please use my link (I am an Amazon affiliate). Bookmarks with a skate theme make a good gift as well if you can find any. I am going to design some and put them up for sale soon.
Christmas Tree Ornaments with Skate Theme Cool Christmas Tree Ornaments with Ice Skate Theme will link you up with some great holiday ornaments you can order online. Ornaments is one area where the stores do seem to have a lot of choices, so look at Hallmark or stores in the mall. I find Kohls has great ornaments.
Brand new skates and a new competition dress are great gifts as well, but I think the skater has to try these on. So you might consider making up your own coupon for these gifts. By the way, some of these ideas would work as a great holiday gift for a skating coach as well. Good luck finding the right figure skating gift and let me know if this list helped.
A knicknack in really bad taste can be a great gift simply because of its ironic value. Small tasteless, inexpensive items can be so goofy we find them oddly appealing. The Chia Pet, that terra cotta sculpture in the shape of a sheep that spouts chia seeds, has endured for more than two decades as a classic campy gift.
Although Chia Pets started out as a Chia Ram, over the years the company has offered lions, bunnies, donkeys and even licensed cartoon characters like Scooby Doo and Shaggy, Sponge Bob, and Homer Simpson.
Now I learn from an article in the LA Times that we are being offered an Obama Chia. In fact, we can get three presidents: Chia Obama, Chia Washington, and Chia Lincoln.
According the the Times, however, the company is having a tough time getting stores to sell the Obama Chia because stores are afraid people will think it racist.
Looking online, however, I see a number of stores, including Amazon, are selling.
My husband teaches in the politics department of a liberal arts college and he has several shelves devoted to his campy collection of political busts. Over the years he has bought or been given dozens of busts of leaders throughout history. His birthday is in November and last year I got him a President Obama bobblehead right after the election. I’m trying to decide if the Obama Chia is the proper tone of tastelessness to enhance his collection. Is it just stupid? Or is it cool? Still thinking about it.
And if I do decide to get one, which version should I get?
? Sometimes they have better prices that Michaels or Joanns. They definitely have a wider selection. 
. The set would make a great gift for a tween boy.
now, but Percy Jackson and Ranger’s Apprentice have him begging me to take him to the library, and when the books are not there, to the book store.
. Reviews of the 
as it has Woody, Jesse and Bulleye (the horse) as well as Stinky Pete. Plus it has a gold mine wired with dynamite, a jail, a sheriff’s office, a safe, and a catapult trap in the sidewalk.
has both Woody and Buzz Lightyear. There’s also a car with pull-back motor.
has little green army men minifigure that are too cute.
