I am trying to whittle down my genetic predisposition to stacking and collecting, which leads into early onset hoarding. Will 2017 be my year of no clutter? I'm hoping so!
The hilarious author of Year of No Sugar, Eve Schaub, returns with her new memoir, Year of No Clutter, to tackle the issue of “things.” Specifically, the 576-square-foot room in her house that is overflowing with stuff she can’t bring herself to throw away, like her fifth grade report card and pieces of plaster wall stuffed in a box.
Year of No Clutter is more than the tale of how one woman organized an entire room in her house that had been filled with pointless items, it’s a deeply inspiring, and frequently hilarious, examination of why we keep stuff in the first place, and how to let it all go.
Available March 7 at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound and Books-A-Million.
Jasper is obsessed with American history and he also really, really likes money and collecting coins. When I told him we were going to Hawaii last summer, for example, he asked why we couldn't go to see the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C. instead. So when I heard about 3D Coin Art ("It’s a puzzle! It’s a bank! It’s a model that you build with spare change!"), I knew it was something he'd want to try out. Use spare change to make an American flag? Total no-brainer for this kid.
The 3D Coin Art United States Flag is made of sturdy plastic and is very easy to assemble.
I knew we would have to supply our own coins for the project but I sort of assumed we'd be able to use what we have on hand and add to it as pocket change dictated. But the poster included showed the coins you actually need to use and shows that you actually need to have them on hand in order to properly assemble the flag:
I was surprised that it did not require any quarters, which are the US currency that we seem to amass the most of. Unbeknownst to me, my husband had rounded up all the spare change in the house and taken it to the bank, so we were woefully short of pennies and dimes. (You may want to consider getting rolled currency to work with before starting one of these kits!) Jasper was a little bummed that I did not have the cash on hand to get this flag underway.
3D Coin Art provides two handy coin counting trays to help you save up the change you need to complete the project:
3D Coin Art United States Flag is a fun way to help younger kids learn about differentiating the value of American coins, and to learn counting by 5s and 10s. The set offers a novel way to introduce different metals, by contrasting new and old pennies by weight, color, and finish. The instruction poster includes tips on getting the shine back on old coins.
Enter to win a 3D Coin Art United States Flag of your own!
Learn more about 3D Coin Art™ by New York City-based NSI International Inc. – an innovative way to create amazing 3D works of art out of coins. http://www.3dcoinart.com/
Look for 3D Coin Art's Empire State Building, too, at stores near you.
Disclosure:
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines, I am
disclosing that I have received product samples to facilitate this review but all opinions here are decidedly my own.
Belli Skincare is partnering with some fabulous friends to give one new mom the Mother's Day gift package she *really* wants! Tomorrow – May 3rd, you can get 20% off online purchases using code BLIMOM20 and enter to win a prize valued at more than $700 featuring items from Belli and their partners Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine, Belabumbum, Chewbeads, Goumi, MobyWrap, Guava Family, and Ovia.
I'm well past my babymaking phase (phew!) but I appreciated a lot of these brands when I was deep in the throes of new mommyhood. In fact, I remember being positively wowed by Belli's Stretchmark Minimizing Cream after having Jasper. And I love Belabumbum's soft, sexy loungewear and undies, which thankfully go beyond nursing bras. I could LIVE in their Copacabana collection, if anyone feels the need to get me bras and boyshorts in every color combination…
The last one is my personal favorite because we spend a lot of time around the fire pit without comfy seating. That conversation area would boost my outdoor enjoyment, for sure! Which package would you choose?
My kids are well past high chair days but I love the sleek Scandinavian design of the Svan Signet Complete High Chair. Ellen DeGeneres featured it on her annual Mother's Day show and now you can enter to win one on Svan's Facebook page. Click the image below to enter.
