Good-bye 2012!

In January, I posted my bucket list. It is a list of 60 things (so far) that I want to do before I die. Unfortunately, I didn't accomplish one of them in 2012.

However, there are a few things I can complete in 2013!

1. Complete a 365 Photo Project (I'm considering doing this on my blog or on Facebook, but at the end of the year, I would love to put them all into a photo book).
2. Read 100 books in a year (I generally keep track of these on my Goodreads account).
3. Graduate college with my Bachelor's Degree (I have only a few more classes to go, just need to stay focused).

In general, though, 2012 was a good year. I managed to find a full-time job and get my own apartment (I'd been living with grandparents since November 2011). The girls and I celebrated Christmas in our own home.  The girls and I also had some fun trips to northern California, as well as utilized our Disneyland Annual passes as much as we could, especially for big events such as the opening of Carsland in June (we were a couple weeks past the grand opening) and Disneyland's Birthday celebration in July. Overall, it was a quiet year, but the girls and I had a lot of fun.

So, what did you complete in 2012? What do you want to complete in 2013?

Also, I just found out that "Bucket List" is one of the words to be banned by the Queen for Misuse. There is your tidbit of news to end your year.

Customized Starbucks Cup -- Glitterfied!

This is a "I saw it on Pinterest" DIY project! The original tutorial I followed can be found here.

I have a Venti Customizable Starbucks cup. I had already customized it a little, with Sharpies, my special drink (on a Post-It folded in half, taped to the inside), and even a piece of a disposable Starbucks cup from Disneyland.

When I saw the glitterfied Starbucks cup on Pinterest, I knew I needed to do it. I had spray glue already from making my flag for Royal Family Kids Camp, and I knew I would be able to keep my Disney Parks piece as well.

First, I glued in the Disney Parks piece. Before this, it had only been taped in. I get so many compliments on it, and Starbucks and Disney would probably make a fortune if they collaborated and sold them like this at California Adventure.

I followed the tutorial and ended up with my pink, glittery, cup. The hardest part was waiting for the glue and glitter to set so I could put it back together. One thing I would do, though, is use painters tape to tape the threads. I fear that I've lost the insulated seal because there is glitter in the threads.

I have gotten so many compliments on my cup. I even had to wait a little longer for my iced coffee the other day because the lady baristas were ooh'ing and ahh'ing over it. The guy barista thought it was hilarious.

I bet you're waiting to see the finished product, aren't you?

If you decide to give this a try, please comment here as well as at the original blog post linked above. Feel free to pin and share!

DIY Duck Tape Book Cover!

So I have a great planner from Day-Timer. It's the "Family Plus" model, where it has columns for my activities as well as extra columns for my kids. I love it. It fits perfectly into my purse, but man, was it boring. It also didn't have a pocket or anyplace to put a pen (where it wouldn't fall out) and the stickers I use to color code activities.

So I went on a Google Search. I found a WikiHow on How to Make a Duct Tape Book Cover. I figured it wouldn't be too hard. I went with the option to use a paper bag first then to cover it with the Duck Tape (yes, I'm saying that right. I used the Duck Tape brand). I bought two sheets of the pink zebra print and a roll of the white zebra print (shown). I also used a Starbucks paper bag, since it was closer to the size of my planner, and it was already getting beat up from being used so much.

First, I opened up the bag and cut off the handles. I traced my planner onto the bag, adding about an eighth of an inch on top and bottom. Then I placed the pink zebra print sheets (these are awesome -- no more making duct tape "cloth" to start a project!) to cover what would be the front and back covers. Then I added the white zebra print around the edges. I pretty much followed the WikiHow, except I used a bigger piece to make the pocket flap (step 6). Make sure you do this, though, otherwise, when you close that flap, you'll have exposed tape against your book.

This was fun. I should have used more space, like a table, instead of a clipboard on my bed. I would like to have the girls make a couple of covers for their Bibles, although Big Sis' Bible has a magnetic closure, so we would have to figure out how to make that work (I already have an idea in my head and it includes my X-Acto knife).

Hmm...I wonder if the Duck Tape sheets would work in a Cricut? I could customize the front even more!

Contest -- Donate to RFK and win $20 Amazon.com gift card!

It's EASY to enter. Contest ends May 5, 2012. Winner will be drawn on May 7, 2012.

How to enter:

DONATE at least $10 to Royal Family Kids. For each $10 you donate, you get 1 entry. To donate, click on the "DONATE" button on the left side of the page. This will take you to my RFK Paypal donation page. If you would like a tax-deduction receipt at the end of the year, please enter your address in the notes. You MUST use this link to donate because the "official" RFK donation page doesn't send me an email that you entered.

LEAVE A COMMENT for an additional entry. You can enter anything in the comment -- a prayer need, encouragement for the RFK team for this year, or your own experiences at summer camp.

TWEET this contest. Leave a comment with the link to your tweet. Tweet

FOLLOW me on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter name. Follow @JustAddLaughter

It's really simple. You're helping kids, plus you'll be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card.

To read more about Royal Family Kids, read my post here.

Royal Family Kids!!!!

THE STARFISH STORY

While walking on the beach one day,

I saw Starfish by the score.

And everywhere i looked it seemed,

I saw a thousand more.

Then what to my surprise appeared?

A boy of nine or ten;

and as the Starfish washed ashore,

he threw them back again.

I smiled at such a futile task to save this population.

“One fish won’t make a difference son. You can’t change this situation.”

He stooped and picked up one more fish, then looking right at me ,

“I can make a difference for this one, sir,” and returned it to the sea.

So I went and gathered all my friends, my brothers and my cousins.

We joined in with that little boy and saved Starfish by the dozens.

There are still many to be rescued-many “Starfish” on life’s shore.

Let’s make a difference like that lad-by saving one more.

It's that time of year again! Time to pull out the sleeping bag and hiking boots! Time to start prepping the scrapbook supplies for the memory books! Time to start thinking about a flag for the cabin!

YES! It's time for ROYAL FAMILY KIDS CAMP!

RFK is a camp to create memories for abused and neglected foster kids. A lot of children in "the system" are passed from home to home, some never getting to experience a "normal" childhood. RFK is designed to give these children, whom God loves so much, a chance to experience what they may otherwise miss coming from broken homes. It's a safe place for them to just be kids. 

The 7th annual Walk-A-Thon will be held on May 5, 2012. We are looking to raise a total of $40,000 for this year's camp, and we're only 50% of the way there! We need your help! Please, prayerfully consider sponsoring my visit to camp. All monies go toward the camp and campers. My time is 100% on a volunteer basis. And all donations are tax deductible. If you would like to sponsor me, please click the Royal Family Kids link to be taken to our official donation page.

The Lake Elsinore Storm Baseball team has also introduced community fundraising nights! We will be part of the kick-off event on May 18. Game time is 7:05pm and tickets are $10. All proceeds go to RFK Temecula (our camp). If you would like to contribute in this way, we would love to see you at the game. Tickets are for box seats right behind home plate. And what is a Friday night baseball game without FIREWORKS??? If you would like to buy tickets, please Email Me or click on the Paypal Donate button (and put "Storm Tickets" in the memo). 

So what is a week at camp like? Here's a brief (I hope) rundown:

Sunday:

After our commissioning at both church services, we head up to camp. We unload our cars and start unpacking until it's time to meet with the director. During the meeting, we get our schedule for the week, with specific times for meals and activities, including the nightly drama and Bible lessons. We then break up into groups and cover the camp in prayer. We pray over EVERYTHING. We don't want the devil messing things up. And trust me, he's tried during the last 3 years. (Prayer is something everyone can do for the camp, even if you can't financially donate!!!) After prayer, we start decorating the camp. We decorate the cabins to the 9s, and anyplace the campers spend time is decorated, including the bathrooms! (This year's theme is The Olympics!) We then eat an outdoor BBQ picnic dinner, then finish decorating. Lights out is early because the week has only begun!

Monday:

We're up early for breakfast. A lot of us get up early and spend some time with God outside. Nothing like a late spring morning in the great outdoors to feel close to the Creator of everything. We then have another meeting, then work on blowing up balloons and decorating name signs for our campers. This is one way our campers feel welcome as well as it makes it easy for them to find us when they get off the bus.

After the campers arrive, it's unpacking, camp tours, and lunch. Then it's non-stop, go-go-go-go, for the next three days -- with swimming, hiking, arts and crafts, singing, dancing, worshiping and eating. There is SO MUCH FOOD!

On Thursday, after lunch, we throw the BIGGEST "Everybody's Birthday Party." Some foster children don't ever get to celebrate their birthday. Sadly, some don't even know when their birthday is! So we throw a HUGE party with bouncy houses, water balloon fights, games (usually with the counselors getting wet or covered in shaving cream), music and just a whole bunch of FUN. Then, after dinner, we have -- CAKE! (Of course, right? What birthday is complete without cake?) That night is the talent show, and then every child gets showered with birthday presents.

Friday is the saddest day, but it starts like any other day. We wrap up the drama and Bible story (which has continued each night) and have an awards ceremony for the "graduating" 11-year-olds (camp is only for kids ages 7-11). 

Honestly, it's exhausting, but I wouldn't trade this week for anything. I would choose it over a week at Walt Disney World if I had to make the choice. 

I hope you've read this entire post. I had a lot of fun writing it -- looking back on previous years and looking forward to this year. This camp can't survive without it's volunteers -- whether it's the volunteers spending the whole week at camp, or volunteers selflessly donating their money to help us run it. 

Again, please consider donating. Any little bit helps. The more money we raise, the more we supplies we can get to make the camp more fun and exciting for the children.

Thank you.

1/28 - Yummy dinner

Spaghetti. Plain and simple. I love when they love my cooking.

1/27 - Guitar lessons

1/25 - All snuggled in...

A little late getting home from church tonight. Normally she can't fall asleep. She's even snoring!

1/25 - she made her own iPad

I took mine back after she spilled water. So she made her own! I love watching her imagination in action!

My Bucket List

Also known as: "What I Want to be Able to Talk to Jesus About When I Finally Meet Him."

My sister posted on Facebook that she's started her own bucket list. I've been watching "Hot in Cleveland" and Melanie had written a book called "Things to Do Before You Die" which is how they ended up in Cleveland in the first place.

So, I'm going to start compiling my list.

Some things to get me started (thanks to Squidoo's 1000 Things To Do Before You Die)

1. Ride a gondola in Venice
2. Tour The Holy Land
3. Learn to Salsa Dance (and not because I have jalepeno in my eye)
4. Complete a 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk
5. See a Stanley Cup Final 
6. Hold the Stanley Cup
7. See the Sharks play in Canada
8. Bowl a 300 (perfect game)
9. Become a black belt in Karate
10. Become fluent in Spanish
11. Learn the Guitar
12. Take a cruise to Alaska, Mexico, and the Caribbean
13. Ride in a hot air balloon
14. Go skydiving
15. Zip line through the rain forest
16. Travel cross-country on a motorcycle
17. Road trip along Route 66
18. Swim with dolphins
19. Camp on the Grand Canyon Floor
20. Visit Easter Island
21. Camp in all the National Parks
22. Camp in all the California State Parks
23. Visit Niagara Falls
24. See the Pyramids in Egypt
25. Visit Stonehenge
26. See Machu Picchu
27. Visit New York City
28. Climb to the top of the Statue of Liberty
29. Visit Washington, D.C.
30. Visit the Louvre
31. Climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower
32. Bike across the Golden Gate Bridge
33. See the Arizona Memorial
34. Visit Four Corners
35. Visit all the Disney Parks in one year
36. Celebrate New Year's Eve in Times Square
37. Learn to play Chess
38. Learn to knit
39. Successfully scrapbook a whole year of pictures before my kids graduate high school
40. Watch every Best Picture Academy Award winner
41. Graduate from college with my Bachelor's Degree
42. Earn my teaching credential
43. Earn my Masters Degree in Education
44. Be a foster parent and/or adopt a child
45. Go on a year-long mission and teach children about Jesus
46. Build a house for Habitat for Humanity
47. Complete a 365 Photo project
48. Read 100 books in a year
49. Write and publish a book
50. See a Broadway Play
51. See a musical performance at Carnegie Hall
52. See Garth Brooks in concert
53. See the Superbowl live and in person
54. See a NHL All-Star game
55. See a MLB All-Star game
56. See the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade live and in person
57. Go on The Amazing Race
58. Learn the Hula in Hawaii
59. Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
60. Watch every Disney animated feature, in order, starting with Snow White

1/23 - Big Sis also enjoying hot chocolate

1/23 - enjoying hot chocolate on a cold rainy day

1/22 - You can take the girl out of the Bay Area...

But you can't take the Bay Area out of the girl...

So it's not a photo taken today. I was in the car for 7.5 hours. But after the 49ers lost in overtime to the NY Giants, I thought I would make this tribute to my favorite teams. 

1/21 - Kermit in Camouflage

This has to be the greenest bathroom I've ever seen!

Photo courtesy: Heather Anderson (from Facebook)

1/21 - computer ordering at Jack in the Box.

I can even order my tacos with no lettuce! Quick and easy, and no language barrier!

1/20 - Kookie Monster at Psycho Donuts

1/20 - Red Lobster dinner

Full Cajun Chicken Linguini Alfredo. Glad I'm sharing!

1/20 - Red Lobster pre-meal

Potato Bacon Soup, Cheddar Bay Biscuit, Scooby Snack, and iced tea

1/18 - Sleeping Cutie

1/18 - multiplying fractions and whole numbers

Oh, my. This is a challenge getting her to follow the steps. When I prompt her through it, it's easy. Left to her own devices, she's all over the place. I'm praying she gets it done before we have to leave for church.

1/15 - Big Sis makes a new friend

While at Penfold's today, Big Sis saw this giant Baloo look-a-like. She wanted to take it home...

1/15 - What I did yesterday (1/14) before tackling the garage

The bed was under the window and the bookshelf was where the headboard is. Now I won't stub my toe on the bed when I'm getting to my desk!

1/13 - Random Pictures for the day...

Little Sis showing off her pretty coloring...

Such a pretty girl, isn't she? Pictures like this prove to me that she is still only 10.

1/12 - I've been tagged...

My friend, Wendy, tagged me in this picture with my friend Heather and her daughter, Christina (in the Kermit hat). Can anyone please tell me what we're laughing at???

1/10 - Watching 3D Sharkboy and Lava Girl

My cousin was visiting and brought her laptop and movies. This was what I found when they were all supposed to be in bed!

1/9 - Google Maps Street View Car

On my drive to Palm Springs to pick up my cousin, I saw the Google Maps car on eastbound I-10. The highlight of my day.

1/8 - (triple treat) Disney Soda Fountain and The Muppets at The El Capitan

Big Sis and her friend enjoying a sundae...

The really cool napkins...

Kermit and Miss Piggy singing Christmas songs...

Sunday January 8 found us in Hollywood at The El Capitan with my Disney friends. It was such a blast. It was my 3rd time seeing The Muppets, but the real treat was seeing Kermit and Miss Piggy before the movie as we sang Christmas songs. I hope I have a chance to go back!

1/7 - Alandra's first ride on California Screamin'

When Alex and I would beg, she would refuse. Her friend Andy asked her, and she agreed. She loved it! She even rode Golden Zephyr and Goofy's Sky School - both which I won't ride! Love my Disney girl!

1/6 (bonus) - Spending their Christmas gift cards at Build-a-Bear

1/6 - Smiling Mojito

1/3 - Obsession?? 10 Build-a-Bear animals...

1/2 - Is it still January? Or am I in Australia?

I'm baffled by this weather. I hope it gets cold again soon. I haven't been to the snow yet!

1/1 - Happy 2012. We are loving the Muppets!

On 12/18 I finally saw The Muppets! I love the movie, so I downloaded the soundtrack. I took Big Sis to see it on 12/20 and she loved it! We've been listening to the soundtrack over and over and now we get to go see it at El Capitan Theater!
Welcome to 2012... it's going to be a great year!