Monday Morning Challenge – Let Your Child Cook Dinner

Well, it’s Monday again.  I know, I know.  Nobody needs the reminder, but do not fret, we’ve got a fun way to start your Monday morning here at Ties & Tutus.  Are you ready for our second Monday Morning Challenge?  This week’s challenge is to allow your child(ren) to cook dinner for the family.  If your kiddos are too young to do this challenge independently, take the opportunity to have them in the kitchen with you, helping in any way they – stirring, measuring, learning, interacting, watching.

At the end of the week we’d love to hear how it went.  Are you raising a future chef?  Did somebody burn the house down?  Were you presently surprised or were you gagging through dinner?  This is sure to be a funny memory for both you and your children.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand

I was sitting at lunch talking to a friend about her son’s 3rd birthday party.  We were going back and forth on ideas, themes, locations and so much more.  Then I brought up that dreaded question all parents are asked when a child’s birthday is looming, “What can I get your son for his birthday?”  The typical answer is, “Oh, I don’t know.”  Thanks for the help, friend!  Well, much to my surprise she had an answer for me!  She said to donate the money we would normally spend on a gift to Alex’s Lemonade Stand.  Not sure what Alex’s Lemonade Stand is?

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope.

 

Your child can too hold an Alex’s Lemonade Stand birthday party.  All you have to do is register your child’s party online and notify your family and friends that in lieu of gifts, donations are being accepted in your child’s name.  Click here to read all about it!  Not only is this a great way of raising money for childhood cancer, it’s a great life lesson for our kiddos.  In my eyes, it’s a win-win.

International Pay It Forward Day

Today is the day – International Pay It Forward Day.  It also just happens to be this week’s Ties & Tutus Monday Morning Challenge.  Click here to view the Pay It Forward website and view the PIF trailer below.

 

 

The Spot of Tee Giveaway Winner is…

…Kelly Lynch Weber!  Congratulations Kelly!!  Please email me at nora@tiesandtutus.com to claim your prize.  A great big thank you to all who entered yesterday’s giveaway.  Don’t forget, if you want to order your own customizable ONEsie from Spot of Tee, click here.  Be sure to check back next Wednesday for another wonderful giveaway!

It’s a Hump Day Giveaway

Today’s Hump Day Giveaway is from one of my favorite etsy shops, Spot of Tee.  Most of you know I have an almost-1-year-old {insert tear here} so started the search the perfect little outfit for his 1-year-old photos.  I fell in love with this shop due to the fully customizable abilities.  Today, Spot of Tee is offering a $20 gift card to be applied any purchase.  To be entered in today’s giveaway, you must do two things.

1.  “Like” Spot of Tee on facebook by clicking here.

2.  “Like” our post on the Ties & Tutus facebook page (that’s how we see your name, so do it!)

Good luck!

Monday Morning Challenge – Pay it Forward!

It’s Monday!  Now I certainly know that the biggest challenge of Monday is truly just getting out bed…but, Ties & Tutus wants to start giving your Monday morning a fun twist!  Each Monday we hope to post a little challenge for our readers to accomplish over the week.  Nothing crazy, just fun, and hopefully, gets you out of your comfort zone every so often!  For our first challenge we want to inspire random acts of kindness!  Ever heard the stories about the guy that buys the coffee for the woman behind him and then she for they guy behind her and so on and so on?  Human kindness is out there, sometimes it is hard to see it though.  Ties & Tutus wants that kindness spread everywhere!  So today we are challenging you to Pay it Forward this week!  Nothing fancy, maybe just $5.00, but do something for someone with no expectations in return.  Maybe you buy someone’s coffee, maybe you buy a donut for the woman who looks a little forlorn in the coffee shop.  Maybe you know your friend is in desperate need of a pedicure, so you show up to babysit on a Thursday evening (hint, hint to all my friends).  Doing something nice for others is a miraculous feeling; when you know you’ve got an amazing gift for someone, the anticipation as they’re opening is one of the most exciting feelings there is!  So get out there this week and pay it forward, even better we’d love to have you post your experiences to inspire others.  Tell us about unique ways you have paid it forward, or if it has been done for you!

Celebrate Earth Day

This Sunday is the 42nd annual Earth Day!  Although for us Phoenicians it might not be the best day to get out and plant a tree (it’s going to be over 100 degrees) there are still plenty of fun and Earth friendly things to do inside!  Every member of the house can plant their own potted plant, kids can make “Recycle Monsters” out of boxes, jugs and cartons, or, if your family hasn’t yet, start a recycling bin for the home.  If all of these sound like a bit too much work, you can even acknowledge Earth Day from the couch!  Rent one of the “Earth” documentaries and I guarantee every member of the house will be glued to the screen and learning something too!  Of course if you are willing to brave the heat there are plenty of outside activities that are family friendly that can teach kids to not only appreciate the world they live in on Earth Day, but everyday!  Below is a great list of various links that have some awesome ideas for adults and kids to do to celebrate Earth Day 2012!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/19/earth-day-activities-for-kids_n_1435718.html

http://holidays.kaboose.com/earthday-activities.html

http://www.tipjunkie.com/earth-day-craft/

The Grace & Lace Winner is…

Sara Bradley!!  Congratulations Sara!  Please email me at nora@tiesandtutus.com to claim your prize!  A great big thank you goes out to Grace & Lace for sponsoring yesterday’s giveaway.

To support this amazing etsy shop, click here and place an order today.  Their headwraps are currently buy 2 get 1 free, awesome deal!  I just got a pair of G&L black lace peep socks that I cannot wait to wear!  Due to high demand (I’m sure you can tell why, they’re gorgeous), they are currently out of stock, but check back soon because they are well worth the wait.

Giuliana & Bill

For those of you who know me personally, you know I have a small obsession with the reality TV show Giuliana & Bill on the Style Network.  Yes, I made sure my husband upgraded our cable package just so I could have this channel.  To clue you in, they lived a few houses down from where I worked while living in Chicago.  I would peek out the window every so often looking for a black Range Rover to pass by.  Gosh, now that I say it,  it makes me sound a bit like a stalker.  Eeek!  I promise you, it never got creepy.

Anyway, I’ve been a fan of theirs for a few years now and if you’ve followed the show like I have, you’ve seen them go through some very high highs and some very low lows.  Here’s a quick recap for those of you who have no clue what I’m talking about.  Bill Rancic – the winner of the very first Apprentice with Donald Trump and Giuliana DePandi Rancic – the host of E! News with Ryan Seacrest.  Sure, they’re not A-List celebrities and whether you love them or hate them, their story is something most of us can relate to.  They met a few years back while Giuliana was interviewing Bill, had a fairytale wedding in Italy and planned to start a family.  They tried to get pregnant for years without any success, which finally lead them to IVF.  After a failed round they found out they were pregnant only to miscarry at 8 weeks.  After much heartache and more unsuccessful rounds of IVF they flew to Denver for treatment by a world-renowned doctor.  That doctor required Giuliana get a mammogram before becoming pregnant.  Much to her dismay, she went to get that mammogram and at 36-years-old Giuliana Rancic was diagnosed with breast cancer.  That’s where this season’s story begins.  It’s heart-wrenching and raw, but something we all need to see.  Her decision to share this information with the world is in hopes she can change one woman’s life.  Just like Giuliana thought, it won’t happen to us.  Well, it did and it can.

Here is a clip from the season premier where Giuliana and Bill discuss her diagnosis:

Giuliana has teamed up with the Style Network to create Fight with Style to bring even more awareness to breast cancer.  Click here to go to the website and sign up for your monthly Underwire Alert to remind you to do your monthly self-exam.

This turned into a much heavier post than I had intended, but I figured this is another great reminder for us all.  And don’t worry, the whole Giuliana and Bill series isn’t this depressing.  If you’ve got the Style Network set your DVR, you’ll thank me.

It’s Already Here! A Hump Day Giveaway!

Today we are happy to be offering a $21 dollar gift card to the amazing Etsy shop, Grace and Lace!  Grace and Lace specializes in custom made scarves, leggings, head wraps and more!  You can check out all of the merchandise by clicking here.   What is even better is that Grace and Lace is throwing in FREE shipping – so our fans all over can enjoy a free custom gift!  Entering to win today’s giveaway is easy, all you have to do is head over to Grace and Lace’s Facebook page and “like” it.  Don’t forget to like this post on the Ties & Tutus Facebook page as well so we have your name.  Good luck to all of our Ties & Tutus fans and a special things to Grace and Lace for this awesome giveaway!