NO RULES Weekend Blog Party #7!

Welcome to the weekend! 

 It's time to let the fun begin starting with my 

new weekend blog party with NO RULES!

 This is already Week #7, and the party 

continues to grow a bit larger each week.  

Come join the fun and help make this party a success!! 

The party will run from now til 3am US est Monday :)

 I can tell you that if you follow me in any way GFC, LF, Pinterest, FB, Twitter etc) and would like a follow back, please leave me a quick comment and I WILL!! 

 If you'd like to link up with my blog you can grab my blog button. (Code is on the left sidebar :) 

Ready, Set, GO!

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Fabulous Friday Finds ...

Each week I choose a theme, search Etsy for nine fabulous items which fit this particular theme, create a beautiful collage, and showcase it here on Friday. What treasure's have I found this week? Read on to find out ...

Back 2 School!

I didn't want to do it, but here we go.  More and more I've been reading blogs where Mom's are talking about their kids going back to school, or starting school soon.  All over the TV are commercials for back to school sales.  It was inevitable.

I thought about doing another summery Fab Friday Finds, but it's time to start to let go of the idea of lazy summer days, and to gear up for the busy school year ahead.

Two out of my three kids are still in school.  Taryne will be a senior (omgosh!) and Autumn is going into third grade (omgosh!). Every August they love going to the store and buying all brand new school supplies.  Shiny new folders, a new bag, nice new pencils etc.

I've actually never thought to look on Etsy for school supplies, but decided to see what there was and I found some great things!

This week each chosen item is either handmade or vintage. Every item is numbered, and direct links to each Etsy shop are listed below the collage, if you'd like to see more from a particular shop.

Enjoy :)

1} Mini Twig Color Pencils by inkkit on Etsy

2} Insect Pencil Box by Mmim on Etsy

3} Colorful Apple Paper Clips by SilvermintSupplies on Etsy

4} Insulated Fabric Lunch Bag LeLaStudio on Etsy

5} Reusable Sandwich Bag by GreenLittleNest on Etsy

6} Vintage Snoopy Thermos from BeastlyLettuce on Etsy

7} Rustic Handmade Notebook by Buntmal on Etsy

8} Canvas Tote Double Straps Shoulder Bag by Kinies on Etsy

9} Personalized 3-ring Binder by gracieloukangaroo

Be sure to stop back at 12PM EST today for week seven of my 

 "NO RULES Weekend Blog Party" which continues to grow a little bigger each week!

 This is where you submit your thumbnail linky and go! 

No rules to tie you down. 

{Of course if you follow me or comment 

I ALWAYS return the ♥.}

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Random Fun ...

This post can be filed under the category 

I like to call "Random Fun"! 

Yesterday during our weekly trip to the reptile store to buy crickets for Autumn's bearded dragon, we stopped by a little pen they have set up inside the store for a tortoise. (And when I say tortoise I do NOT mean turtle.  Autumn had a little discussion with me, and made sure that I knew there is a difference between the two.) 

 Normally the tortoise is in the back corner under his warming light. We always say hello, and he gives us a look as if he's saying "leave me alone". 

 But yesterday was a different story. This time he slowly made his way over to us to check us out.  He then stood up on his hind legs and put his front legs up on the edge of the pen.

He listened to what we were saying, and looked us right in the eyes. (this is where it became a bit creepy for me.) He responded by making little whining noises, and was loving the attention.

I never realized that tortoises are social creatures.

And that's my little bit of "Random Fun" for today!   

Did anyone already know that tortoises are social creatures, or is this new to you as well? I've always pictured them being slow, quiet, and grumpy. boy was I wrong :)

Have a great day, and be sure to stop by tomorrow to see what theme I've chosen for my "Fabulous Friday Finds" post!!

If your new to my blog, this is when I choose a theme, search Etsy for nine handmade, repurposed and/or vintage items which fit this theme, then create a collage which I showcase here. There's always a direct link to each shop if you'd like to see more from a particular artist. 

I'm also always looking for new theme ideas, or items to be featured. If you have an idea for a theme, or your an Etsy seller with an item you'd like to be considered for a feature, just send me a message! I'd love to hear from you! 

Also beginning Friday evenings and lasting through the weekend, is my new "No Rules Blog Party"! This is where you submit your thumbnail linky and go! No rules to tie you down. (Of course if you follow me or comment I ALWAYS return the ♥).

Each weekend the party has been growing a little bigger. Please help me make this party a success by linking up with me!

Thank You!  

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Wordless Wednesday Blog Party with Linky!

Your probably wondering what these are. 

 Their just some plastic bowls I found at Target yesterday. 

 I saw them and had to have them :)

Just look at the colors!

Now it's your turn to show me you've got, wordless or not! 

Link up your photos below. 

 I always return the LinkyL♥VE!

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My Top 12 Childhood Toys Plus a Bonus...

This whole top 12 toy list began with a conversation I had with my sister about the Shaving Ken Doll that I used to have when I was a kid.  You got to draw right on his face with a brown marker, and then "shave" it off.  

How awesome is that?! 

I then went all nostalgic and decided I must document a list of my most favorite childhood toys.  I grew up in the 1970s and 80s, and it was so much fun looking through photos of toys I had long forgotten. As I made this list, all the memories came flooding back, and I once again had pigtails and weird clothes (sorry Mom it wasn't you, we were all dressed like that ;) 

1. Shave Me Ken Doll

Photo source mattel.com

2. Care Bears

Photo source trashydiva.com


3. Rubix Cube

Photo source rad80sfashion.com

4.Cabbage Patch Dolls

Photo source somelikeitvintage.blogspot.com

5.Super Simon

Photo source retro-computing.org

6.Strawberry Shortcake Dolls

Photo source squidoo.com

7.Smurf Figurines

Photo source thisnext.com

8.Baby Alive Doll

Photo source csquaredplus3.com

9.Lite Brite

Photo source kevinkeigley.com

10.Metal Roller Skates

Photo source etsy.com

11.Schwinn Banana Set Bicycle

Photo source old.picturesphotosimages.com

12.Easy Bake Oven

Photo source etsy.com

And the super special BONUS.....

Wonder Woman Underoos!

(Not a toy but, a must for my list!!!)

Photo source thanley.wordpress.com

What were some of your most favorite childhood toys?

Do you feel toys available for children these days are more or less fun?  I think today many toys are more educational, but nothing could ever beat wearing Wonder Woman Underoo's while your rollerskating OUTSIDE on the driveway :)

Be sure to stop back after noontime today to link up your Wordless Wednesday  photos!! I can't see what you all have to share this week!

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Monday's Mmmmm!

Today's Mmmmm is sure to put a smile on your face. 

 Well only if you like Almond Joy Bars 

and homemade ice cream! 

 Over the weekend I decided I just had to make Almond Joy Ice Cream. I scoured the internet for what I hoped would be a mixture that would stay creamy, even after fully frozen. And I'm happy to say I found it! 

 I used my ice cream maker for this recipe, but if you don't have one you can try just freezing the mixture in an air-tight container. It may not be as creamy, but I have a feeling that it would still be pretty delicious.

Enjoy :)

Ingredients:
1 cup almond milk
2 cups sweetened coconut cream
2 cups whipping cream
1/2 cup coconut flakes
1 cup chocolate chips (mini, regular or chunks, whichever you prefer)
1/2 cup slivered almonds, if desired 


Directions:
In a large bowl whisk milk and coconut cream together until smooth and frothy. Slowly add whipping cream, whisking until completely incorporated. Turn ice cream machine on, and slowly pour in mixture. Let mix for 20 minutes.


Add coconut flakes, chocolate chips, and nuts if using, and continue mixing another 10 minutes.


Ice cream will be the consistency of soft-serve once mixing is complete. Either serve immediately or transfer to a air-tight container, seal, and freeze for an additional 2-4 hours. (Once my ice cream was frozen for 24 hours it was pretty hard, but still kept it's creamy consistency.)


The sad part is that after a weekend of eating waaaaay too much ice cream, I must get back on track with healthy eating.  Until next weekend that is.  I already have another ice cream flavor in mind...


Be sure to stop back to see what else I'm up to this week including my Wordless Wednesday Blog Party, Fabulous Friday Finds, and my NO RULES Weekend Blog Party.


Have a great week!

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