Three Jewels In My Crown

We've Moved To Wordpress!!!!

2011-04-04T17:19:00.000-07:00

My friends,
It's time!!! Please follow me to my brand new wordpress site! As of today, you'll find me at my new home address! www.3jewelsinmycrown.com! Wow, feels so amazing to have my own [.com]!
Hurry, what are ya waiting for! Come see my fabulous new site. I'll be posting all the details tommorow! For now, I just need to show it off! I two great people to thank, but I want to dedicate a full post to them, so stay tuned!!!!

Again, my new home is................

www.3jewelsinmycrown.com

Tea Biscuits With Apples And Cinnamon Spread

2011-04-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

There’s nothing more comforting then a warm slice of apple pie topped with whip cream. Today’s recipe is inspired by this classic dessert!

Check out my secret ingredient! Our family loves this cinnamon spread on toasted bagels. Note, this spread has raisins in it. I tried my best to manouver around them, as they didn’t really suit this particular recipe. If you come across a similar spread without raisins, then please let me know.

Start by slicing your tea biscuit. Smooth a generous amount of the raisin spread onto the bottom section of your tea biscuit. Next, add some of your warm apple pie preserve. I used a can of pie filling. Finally, add a dallop of with whipped cream and the top section of your biscuit. I can’t put into words how simple and completely delicious this dessert is. You’ll just have to try it and let me know what you think.

See you back here tomorrow for my blog hop!

Raising An Easter Chick-Our New Pet Trial Run

2011-03-28T05:22:00.000-07:00

My three jewels have been begging me for a new pet lately! Our dog, Bailey, is getting older and a little less interactive with the kids. I figured a trial run was necessary before we committed to bringing home any new creature. We decided to adopt and raise a Easter chick for a week {sorta} I'm not new at this parenting thing!! I knew that if we brought home a new, soft, cuddly creature, I'd have better chances of winning the "Mrs Universe" competition then I would have trying to get rid of a new pet. So we adopted the battery operated kind. Yep, I'm that kinda MOM!

We brought our baby Easter chick home and gave him a chance to warm up to his new environment.
We did this by building him a nest in our backyard. Friends, this is serious business! The battery operated chick had to have his own nest in our backyard!!!! It's times like these, I wish I was 7 again.

I was pleasantly surprised by how serious Sapphire took her new parenting role!

So would you be prepared if you had to raise your own Easter Chick? You can read all the books you want, search the web, participate in online forums and ask your friends for advice, but are you ever truly ready for what it takes to be a parent? Parenting a pet is more then just providing food, water and a soft place to land. It's about love, attentiveness and education. It truly is a responsibilty! Much like raising a child!

Feeding a pet is the number one priority! Easter chicks require special food, don't ya know!! Our baby chick prefers fresh worms from our garden box.

A backyard biology lesson may be necessary. I won't say it~of course I will, "What came first, the chicken or the egg?" I had to inform my 3 jewels as to where chicks come from.

Playing with your new pet was the best part! We put together a bird seed sensory box for our baby chick to peck around in.

This was Pearl's favorite part of raising our chick. I couldn't pull her away from the sensory box!

*Note* The calendar might indicate that Spring has arrived but we're still wearing our hats and snowsuits around here! Yep, we're crazy Canucks and that's how we role! A lil cold weather aint gonna stop us from having a good time.

Nap time got a little bit tricky! We couldn't decide where our baby chick should sleep!
That's when I challenged them to put together their very own bird nest creation!
Take a look at Sapphire's nest...

Now check out Opal's nest...

It was quite obvious to my 5 year old, that Easter chicks sleep in a tub filled with jelly-beans. I had no argument! I'd sleep in a tub filled with jelly-beans too if I could!

We also chose a suitable book to read to our new pet! I highly recommend this book if you are thinking of adopting a a baby chick!

As you can see, raising a baby chick isn't all what it's cracked up to be!! {pardon the pun}
In the end, my 3 jewels did extremely well! Now it's just a matter of deciding which pet is suitable for our active family. Any suggestions?

It's A Royal Affair Blog Hop! Come Join The Fun!

2011-03-26T07:18:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the weekend everyone! What well laid plans do you have this weekend? Me, I'm working tommorow, so today I'm gonna "party like it's 1999"! In other words, I'm very excited to be hosting my very first blog hop! {"D.J.~Let's get this party started" Cue the loud music}

Thanks to this awesome tutorial, I finally figured out how to make my own blog button with a grab box. Check it out! I'm not much of a graphic designer but I think this button looks cute! What do ya think?

This blog party is about letting loose after a stressful week and building online friendships! We want it to be an amazing party and you can make this happen! Please copy the button above and place it somewhere on your site so that others can join in on the fun!
Everyone ready? Be sure to leave me a comment that you're following me and I promise to follow you back!

Sun Jar Night Light

2011-03-25T09:02:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,
Sorry I haven't posted much this week but I promise I have a really good excuse! I've been working extremely hard behind the scenes of 3 Jewels In My Crown. I'll explain more next week but for my fellow bloggers, here's a hint~Wordpress and GoDaddy!

I wanted to share one final project with you before we head into the weekend. Have you heard of sun jars yet? I came across this cute idea awhile back and have been waiting for an excuse to make one. In keeping with this week's challenge, to cut back on our household's energy consumption, I decided I would make a sun jar nightlight.

All you'll need is the top section of a solar powered garden stake, a decorative glass jar and some ribbon. I also added some bright yellow glitter for added charm. You can glue the top to the jar or leave it unattached. Can you think of anything better then a environmentally friendly night light!
This would be a great "get better soon" gift or Mother's Day gift!
I think I might make another for our bathroom. There's nothin' worse then walking into the wall when your trying to go piddle in the middle of the night! I hope you enjoyed today's craft project!
Have a great weekend everyone!

Project details
Cost: $5
Difficulty level: Easy
Linking up here and here

Scratching The Surface-Getting Your Child Tested For Allergies

2011-03-24T12:21:00.000-07:00

Allergies, it's something we as parents begin to think about, the moment we find out we're expecting. We've heard and read about all the warnings..."Honey can harbor poisonous botulism spores", "do not feed egg whites to your baby before the age of one", "don't eat peanut butter while your pregnant", "owning a pet will decrease your child's chances of developing animal allergies"....the list is ongoing and the "rules" can often become very confusing.
It's impossible to cover all the information surrounding allergies and allergy testing in a single blog post, so today I'll basically "scratch the surface" in regards to allergy testing. Specifically, the skin scratch method.

In this previous post, I discussed the fact that Opal suffers horribly from a slew of environmental allergies. Last summer, I found him in the kitchen, scratching his tongue with a fork! Yikes! I knew then, it was time to request a formal allergy panel test. After researching which allergist I would like Opal to see, I approached our family doctor for a referral. Researching your specialist may seem foreign to some but I feel it is a necessary part of making an informed health care decision. Here in Canada we have this little website called Rate My MD, I'm not sure how accurate it is, but I think it's interesting to see how others view specific physicians. In our province, it's nearly impossible to request which family physician you want. In fact, most consider themselves lucky if they have a family physician. However, you can request a referral to any specialist! Keep in mind this may affect your wait time. Anyway, after listening to personal stories, talking to other health professionals and doing a little homework, we decided to drive 1 1/2 hour north to see a highly regarded allergist by the name of Dr. Hummel.

So Crystal, explain what allergy testing is!
Well guys, there are two methods to test for an allergy~the skin prick test or a blood test. Opal had a skin prick aka skin scratch testing. The best part about this method ~ NO NEEDLES were involved!
Here's how it all went down in the office...

We briefly discussed Opal's allergy history and types of reactions
The doctor wipes his back with a alcohol swab
The allergy panel is a metal plate with several rounded prongs. The doctor applies the protein, of the allergens in question, to several of the prongs and then gently presses it against his back. He sections off the back into categories (food, animals, shellfish, trees, household allergens..) by marking his back with a pen.
He then slightly scratches the surface of the skin with a "little pricker" (not sure what the technical term for it is) Anyway, not once did Opal jump, squirm, or squeal. In fact, at one point he said, "that tickles"
Next, Opal gets to draw a picture for 15 minutes while we wait for the results.

What is the allergist looking for in a "positive" result? (*Note-There is a high rate of false positive results when performing the skin prick test. People with eczema or sensitive skin should be especially cautious as both can cause positive test results when there is no allergy. Skin prick results should be considered along with history of reaction and possibly blood testing) If there is little or no skin reaction then the result is deemed negative. The allergist observes the area for hives and welts. He documents the size of the welt for future referencing. In some instances, the skin prick test can cause a severe allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis, but this is highly unlikely with this method of testing.
Within seconds, Opal's back became EXTREMELY itchy and as suspected welts began to form. I wish I had taken a picture with my cell phone but I figured the doctor would have instantly pegged me as a "neurotic mother". When the testing was finished he applied a thin layer of cream (darn I didn't ask what it was but I'm assuming it was possibly a topical antihistamine)

So what is Opal allergic to? A better question would be, what isn't Opal allergic to?
Homework, early bedtimes, green vegetables and his siblings!!! Oh wait, that's what he told his teacher he was allergic to the day after the test was done!
What did the test actually reveal? Well friends, my poor sensitive little baby boy has severe allergies to trees, grass, horses, cats, dogs, dust mites, shell fish and quite possibly some fresh fruit!

Why would I want to share this personal experience on my blog? Well, we've kinda gotten close over the past 11 months and I'm pretty much an open book at this point! Actually, it's my hope that, by sharing our personal experience with allergy testing, you'll be better informed and less anxious if your child has to be tested for allergies.
Do you have any questions in regards to allergies or allergy testing? Again, I'm a practicing Registered Nurse but most importantly a MOM of 3 Precious Jewels, no question is ever too silly to ask! So fire away!

***Important Medical Disclaimer***
The contents and information on this blog is for your informational use only. My blog posts provide general health and parenting information. This information is not to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.

Earth Hour 2011Crafts

2011-03-22T02:49:00.000-07:00

Watts Up Everyone?
Did you notice the Earth Hour button in my sidebar? -------------------------------------------------->
Anyone up for a challenge? Alright then, save this date

~Saturday March 26, 2011 between 8:30pm-9:30pm~

Has anyone heard of the saying, "The lights are on but no one's home"? No, I'm not talking about my intelligence!! I hate to admit it, but our family is brutal at leaving unnecessary lights on!

In honor of Earth Hour 2011, our family will be focusing on energy conservation this week. One of the easiest ways to conserve energy is to turn off the lights. As soon as a switch is turned off, energy stops flowing immediately. Since our house is in a renovation stage, I thought it would be nice to focus on our light switch covers. Sapphire and Opal gladly helped me decorate a light switch cover for Pearl's new room. Raise your hand if you've modge podged a light cover before? I used spray adhesive to adhere the scrapbook paper to the light cover. Then I applied a few thin coats of modge podge to protect it. I like this striped paper because it was super easy to align the paper on the light cover.

I'm kinda hoping to take Earth Hour one step further by powering off completely.
I'll be honest, shutting down my computer for 60 minutes gives me mild anxiety!!! Gahhhhh!
I'd actually have to pry myself away from sites like, Pinterest. I totally loose myself on that site!
Way too many pretties to gawk at!

Here's a bright idea!!! Why not make some light bulbs out of yellow balloons and play doh containers covered with construction paper. It's a simple project but it gets kids engaged in the idea of turning out the lights.

I also picked up a bunch of these to encourage my kids to turn out the lights...

OK, so here's the real debate. Do you think Earth Hour is a noble cause or just a colossal waste of time and energy? Should we look beyond the hype and is it really that useful in tackling climate change!
Here's my take on it...If Pocoyo can pause to observe Earth Hour then so can I and so should you!

Diamonds In The Rough

2011-03-21T03:02:00.000-07:00

As a blogger, I'm constantly gathering clever ideas, inspirational thoughts and project plans to attack.
I often find myself saying, "I wish I had thought of that".
I feel it's important to celebrate each other and promote the ideas of others that inspire us.
I'm going to be adding a new tag titled "Diamonds In The Rough"

I'll be sharing things I stumble across and ideas that tweak my interest!
Here is a sample of the things I'm loving this week...

Paper Cake Treat Boxes by Kami of No Biggie
Magnetic Makeup Board by Laura of Laura Thoughts
Grassy Spring Wreath by Kimba of A Soft Place To Land
Egg Shell Carrots by Martha Stewart
Cake Pushups by Melissa of My Cake School
Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars by Amanda of Crafts by Amanda
Simply Stunning Bedroom by Maria of Dreamy Whites
Plantable Seeded Paper Flowers by Missy of How Does She?
Sky High Pie by Flour Me With Love

Wanna know what else I'm loving?

Take a look at some of the things I purchased for Pearl's new "Big Girl Room"
{It's a bittersweet transititon so bear with me as I cry like a rainstorm and howl like the wind}

Hope your week is off to a great start!

How To Dress Up Your Carrot Walnut Loaf

2011-03-18T04:30:00.000-07:00

Has this ever happened to you?

Yes that's a Carrot Walnut Loaf with a great big chunk missing in the middle! I had just finished baking this lovely loaf to take to a friend's house when all of the sudden I noticed a huge piece missing from the top.
It happens to me ALL the time. I turn my back for a second and my curious lil monkeys get into my baked goods. Of course Sapphire blamed it on Pearl (the baby) and Opal blamed it on the sneaky leprechaun who escaped our trap.

I didn't have time at this point to make anything else, so I forced to improvise! Somehow I had to disguise the obvious crater in the cake! The good thing was, I knew our friends would be totally forgiving of my mischievous kids. They're parents as well, so they get it. In fact, this is what I gave them for Christmas. I'm very thankful for their sense of humour.

So, how did I improvise? Well, I grabbed some green twine and a paper bag

Much Better! I used a glossy gift bag, some twine and a wine charm to resemble carrots!

I think it looks cute! What do you think?

O.K., I know what you are thinking? Why didn't you just slap some icing on top and call it a day?

To be honest, I thought of that, but I needed something to blog about. I figured this would be much more entertaining! BTW-Have you tried these disposable loaf pans yet? I found mine at Loblaws grocery store. You'll never have to hunt down your pans again!

How To Survive March Break With Kids

2011-03-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

You decided to stay home this year. You waited until the last minute to book your kids into a day camp and now they're full. A full week with the kids at home and you have nothing planned!!!
Don't panic, everything will be fine, repeat after me, "An activity a day, keeps boredom away".
The key to surviving March Break is to keep your kids engaged and entertained.
It's a full time job keeping little ones busy during March Break, but with a little preparation and a list of possible activities, you will survive!

Here is what we have planned...

Day 1 Visit the local library

Libraries are excellent sources of entertainment during the March Break. They usually run activities throughout the entire week. Some of these activities you have to register for ahead of time, while others you can drop in on. On Monday we played audience to a magician at our local library.

Day 2 Living Room Laser Tag and Sleepover

Let your child invite a friend over and set up tent in the living room. Trust me, you'll need some kind of incentive to ensure good behaviour through out the week. There's no better bribe then a sleepover with friends. We found some finger lasers at the dollar store but flashlights would work as well.

Day 3-Painting and Craft Day
This is what we made on Wednesday~we called it Pirate Ship Marble Run

All you'll need is a shoe box, stickers, marbles, and scissors or a knife. Cut 3 doorways out and place numbers above each door. Roll the marble into the doorway to accumulate points. First person to reach 100 wins.

Don't have enough marbles? Why not use craft pebbles! They slide perfectly along hard surfaces.

Stuck for more craft ideas? Visit/revisit my sidebar for inspiration.

Day 4 Theme Day

Choose a theme and play it out all day! I personally like pajama day paired with bad hair day!
By day 4 you're gonna need a pajama day!

Day 5 Animal Adventures
Kids are easily entertained by animals. Why not arrange to visit a local farm. Your kids will get a kick out learning how chickens lays their eggs.
Try bird watching at your local park or feed some ducks.
Visit an animal shelter or pet shop
Offer to take your neighbor's pet for a walk

Sorry but your on your own for the weekends! I had full intentions of publishing this post at the beginning of the week but the week somehow slipped away from me! The good news is, only four more days and life should be back to normal. BTW-Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!

Bird's Nest Ice Cream Dessert

2011-03-15T11:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had the opportunity to see a magic show at our local library! What a great experience for the kids and I absolutely love that it was free entertainment for the afternoon. The magician/comedian was so funny I had tears running down my leg (I gave birth to 3 kids, need I say more).
After that, I decided I would give the kids a shot at making supper and dessert!
When my three jewels are in the kitchen, I always try to use the motto, "don't stress, expect a mess". On the menu last night, homemade pizza and bird's nest ice cream dessert!

No big deal if the pizza ends up looking like this...

....Just add some more cheese and your good to go!

Next came the bird's nest

We used waffle bowls for the nest, added our ice cream, then topped it with nuts, pretzels and cadbury easter eggs.

I wish I had of added some caramel or chocolate syrup! Yummm! I bought some and forgot it in the fridge! Darn!

2011-03-14T07:10:00.000-07:00

Good morning friends,
Did everyone survive unscathed considering we all had 1 hour less sleep yesterday? Why can't "they" just leave the time alone? Daylight Savings is so logically flawed!! There's actual studies to prove that Daylight Savings actually results in 1%-4% more energy consumption. Let's face it, life today aint what it used to be. I'd say the idea of Daylight Savings was whipped together like a Betty Crocker cake recipe. Do they not realize we have babies with sleep schedules? You see, the body has this thing called the circadian clock . It's basically our internal clock. Humans were not designed for sudden time change, in particular, babies. A sudden time changes leads to stress, flared tempers and a lower ability to concentrate on a task. (It's postpartum all over again, YIKES). It seriously takes us 3 days to adjust to the time change. Whoever makes these time change decisions should have to spend 3 days in my house and face the wrath of a "sleep deprived mother" aka Me.

Sorry to have started Monday morning with a bitch session, maybe because I'm lacking precious sleep! Anyway, it's the start of March Break and I'm interested to know what everyone is up to.
This morning we are heading to the local library to watch a magic show.
Later we are making some pipe cleaner teddy bears. I worked through these instructions yesterday and it was super simple.

**Note** These are very small and not suitable for children <3. I think we'll turn our little teddies into key chains to hang on the kids' backpacks.

I'm also really excited because I received a package on Friday from a site I've been stalking for sometime now. It's called garnish. This site is definitely worth checking out while you finish your morning coffee.

No peeking just yet! I'll be using the goodies I ordered in several future posts. Which means you'll have to wait just a lil bit longer!!!

Egg Family Craft Project

2011-03-11T11:35:00.000-08:00

I can't say it enough, I have the best mother-in-law in the world!!! She truly is a gem!!!
Today is her birthday and here's my dilemma, I find her REALLY hard to buy for!
Anyone have a mother-in-law that's hard to buy for?
There's only one thing I know she can't get enough of-her grandchildren!
So, instead of buying her something she probably doesn't need, I decided to give her some daffodils infused with a bit of personality.

Opal

Sapphire

Pearl

I decorated the tops of 3 plastic Easter eggs. Each one is suppose to resemble my three jewels.

All you'll need is

several plastic Easter egg tops
googly eyes
ribbon or feathers for hair
pom poms for the nose
glue
ribbon and potted flower

So, be sure to save your leftover plastic Easter eggs. Why not consider making one of these for Mother's Day or as a cute spring decoration.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Photography Tips-Adjusting White Balance On Your Camera

2011-03-10T04:31:00.000-08:00

Alright, this is my first photography post so please be kind! Please note, I am by no means a professional photograher. I'm still very much in the learning phase, however, I would like to share some of the tips I've learned while on this journey to becoming a better photographer.
Today I'm going to discuss White Balance (gotta start somewhere and this is a very easy adjustment to make on your camera that has immediate results)

Adjusting The White Balance (WB) On Your Camera
Adjusting your White Balance on your camera is way simpler than you may think. The proper White Balance in a picture can mean the difference in your subject looking natural or totally wrong. As in jaundice/liver failure wrong. White balance (WB) is the process of removing unrealistic color casts, so that objects which appear white in person are rendered white in your photo.

All you have to do is, find your WB button on your camera, select it, then scroll down to the appropriate White Balance setting.

*note* You may have to switch from auto mode to manual mode or any other priority setting to access the White Balance settings. (I just heard you gasp. Scary as it may seem to switch off auto mode, it's really not that bad. Don't worry, I'll hold your hand through it. Just leave me a comment if I'm not making sense or if you need more instructions)

You may be tempted to choose Auto White Balance, but what I've found is that my pictures are still far from realistic.

Below is a picture of the back of my t2i, courtesy of google images. An arrow points to the WB button. You'll have to search for the unique location of your WB button on your camera

Alright time for an example...

Here's the thing, I personally prefer the warm, creamy tone in the before picture! However, the more realistic photo is the picture on the right, whereby the WB has been adjusted. The nice thing about photography, it's a matter of preference. If you were to shoot a picture of a person's face in the wrong WB setting, the individual may appear sickly, therefore, a WB adjustment may be necessary.

This is a quick and very simple explanation of adjusting the White Balance on your camera.
Some camera's allow you to customize the White Balance. In other words, you get to tell your camera what constitutes "white". This involves manually customizing the White Balance and for this, I'll refer you to one of my favorite photography sites, Photography Tuts.

Before I go, I would like to share a few pics of my spring decorating. (Yes, I started decorating for Spring. I needed to get out of my "Winter Slump" so I introduced some Spring colors into my home decor)

Marriage Advice-The Barter System

2011-03-09T08:22:00.000-08:00

Ten years of marriage and we still really like each other. Pretty much unheard of nowadays!
What do I attribute to our happy and contented marriage?
The "Barter System" of course! It's the economics of love and marriage.
He gives me what I want {my floors mopped} and I give him what he wants {the opportunity to fulfill his animal instint~enough said} Everyone wins, right girls?
Once our "needs" are both met, we express our appreciation with a big old 'Thank You'!
Meeting each other's needs deposits love units in the love bank. This results in a wealthy marriage filled with love and in the end avoids an emotional recession!

This is what works for us! Now it's time to introduce the "peanut butter concept". Just like peanut butter holds two pieces of bread together, there are people, things, feelings and activities, which can hold a marriage together. The "Barter System" holds our marriage together, now it's your turn to share. What holds your marriage together?

Blog Hops

2011-03-09T08:01:00.000-08:00

Candied Carrots-Three Jewels Style

2011-03-08T05:11:00.000-08:00

While trying to think of some handmade Easter basket treats, I came up with this idea.
Candied Carrots~These aint the kind your Mama served you for supper!

I bought 3 boxes of reese's pieces, separated the colors, filled a cake decorating bag with the orange ones and ate the yellow and brown (I had to hide the evidence...we wouldn't want them finding out the truth about the Easter Bunny)

Then I went on to make some of these... Pudding Carrots!

Tint your vanilla pudding, fill a cake decorating bag, snip the end and enjoy! *Tip-Use the gel food coloring so that your pudding doesn't become runny.

I'm pretty sure Opal will resent me for taking this picture when he's older, but for now he's still five and loves the bunny ears that I just bought him.

So, until he refuses to pose for pictures like this...

....I'm gonna keep on taking cute snap shots of my baby bunny in his silly rabbit ears while I still can!

When did I become a Mom?

2011-03-07T05:07:00.000-08:00

When did I become a Mom? I mean, technically I gave birth to my first child 7 years ago. What I actually want to know is, when did I cease to be the self-absorbed, boy crazy, fashionista, party girl that I once was during high school and college? When did this transformation take place and why did I not notice it happening?
Each day I wake up and realize I have all these new and wonderful responsibilities. How did I become the Mom, responsible for shooing the monsters from underneath the bed, the Mom who keeps the bath splashing under control, the Mom who crawls under the crib at 2am searching for the dropped pacifier.
I now find myself judging the time of day by what cartoon flashes across the TV screen.
When did I become the Mom who doesn't think twice about holding my hands out to catch my child's
vomit.
Waking up with extra bodies in my bed has become a new way of life.
When did my biggest challenge become, how do I remove the yogurt covered t-shirt from my 1 year old without getting it all through her hair?
Books like Pinkalicious or Geronimo Stilton have replaced all my college textbooks.
7:00 pm is now the most perfect time of day and the word "bedtime" has become the most beautiful word in the English language?
Blindfold me and stick me in a room with a 100 crying babies and I'd still be able to distinguish which cry was coming from Pearl.
My showers now last less then 10 minutes and typically involve an audience of 3, I wear slippers so I don't have to feel the Cherrios crush beneath my toes and I put way more effort into my kids' outfits then I do my own.
How and when did I BECOME A MOM and who do I thank for this wonderful and blessed new role?

Are You Feeling Lucky Punk? How To Catch A Leprechaun

2011-03-04T05:11:00.000-08:00

I hear it's quite tricky to trap a leprechaun! They're small, quick and surprisingly clever for the amount of beer they drink. I figured it was time we gave it a go!

After much strategizing, we decided that the Sapphire's dollhouse was a great place to set our trap! Forewarning, as soon as we started into this project, I was flooded with questions from Opal and Sapphire. What were we planning to do with him when we caught him? How does he get into our house? Why does he like green beer? Of course all of these questions were answered with lies, lies and more lies!

We decorated the stairs and hung signs to point him in the "right" direction

A trap is nothing unless you set a lil' bait....

Well, it looks like we're ready for this little punk's arrival! Until then, we'll be keeping tabs on him via the Leprechaun Watch webcam.
Have you ever tried to trap a leprechaun? Any tips or suggestions? What should we do with him once we snag him?

Follow Me Friday

2011-03-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

Join me for the "Follow Me Friday" Blog Hop over at Still On The Verge!

"Well Done" Necklace

2011-03-02T04:42:00.000-08:00

It's tough raising kids! As a parent, it's often easier to dwell on a child's negative behaviour rather then focus on their positive attributes. We sometimes need to be reminded to dish out more encouraging words, to recognize even the small accomplishments and praise their good behaviour.

I found these scrapbook tags at the $ store and thought it would be neat to make necklaces out of them!

School report cards came out last week and let me tell ya, I was one PROUD mama! I wanted to recognize Opal and Sapphire's school efforts so I gave them each a handmade necklace made by Moi.

I've been hanging on to these jewelry boxes since Christmas. I knew they would be reused sooner or later. I love to hoard craft supplies as you can see!

Cheers everyone, have a wonderful day!

Kiss The Blarney Stone

2011-03-01T15:43:00.000-08:00

Legend says that anyone who kisses the Blarney Stone of Ireland will be blessed with eloquence.
Our family has no immediate plans to visit Ireland, so we decided to make our own Blarney Stone replica. I tried to explain the word "eloquence" to my kids but they had a difficult time understanding. In the end I just told them, "kiss it and you'll get lucky"! Mr.Connell had obviously overheard our conversation because later on that night I had to pry his lips off the rock.
He apparently he really wanted to get "Lucky"!

A kiss is not a kiss without a little lip gloss!

Happy March 1, 2011 everyone!

Craft Your Own Spring Time Placemat From A Gift Bag

2011-02-28T10:08:00.000-08:00

It's raining outside today and that signals Spring is on it's way! I've had several Spring activities floating around inside my head and these ideas need to be purged ASAP, otherwise my intracranial pressure will exceed 25 mm Hg and treatment will be necessary to reduce it!
{Sorry, I just went all medical on you}

So here's a fun activity that the kids can help you make during the March break.

Upcycled Gift Bag Placemat

Raise your hand if you have plenty of gift bags hangin' around! *raises hand*
I love gift bags because they're reusable! This time I'm going to use one to craft a seasonal placemat. You could also use wrapping paper for this craft but I just happened to have this cute lady bug gift bag at home. {Frigg, I'm such a bad liar. Fine...I'll admit to purchasing this gift bag specifically for this craft project. Why else would I have the matching sticker decals}

Supplies:

large gift bag
11"x14" frameless picture frame (does that make sense? If not refer to the picture below)
scissors
decorative stickers

Cut the string off the gift bag. {Don't throw out the tag because you'll use this as the name plate} Measure and cut the gift bag to fit the frame. If you don't have a frame you may be able to use a glossy paper gift bag and cut it to 11"x14". I'm pretty sure it would be easy enough to wipe down and reuse!

Wait, don't leave..... I'm not done!

What about a 3D placemat? Yep, two crafts in one post. I'm spoiling you today!

Take a look at this Mickey Mouse Placemat that I crafted from scrapbook paper. Your kids will love eating off this three dimensional placemat. They may even be distracted long enough for you to introduce a new entree.

Use an exacto knife to give your paper some dimension.

O.k., you can go about your day now! Before you go, I would love to hear about your March break plans! Thanks for stopping by and checking out today's craft idea! Be a dear friend will ya... share this craft project with all your pals on twitter and facebook! Thanks!

*btw* Linking this post here so head over and check out all the other creative projects.

Today's Confessional-My Strange Addiction

2011-02-26T08:48:00.000-08:00

So what's today's confession? Well friends, I hate to say it but here I go,
I'm addicted to Cereal Box Games!!!!

Yep, sad but true! My cereal selections are completely dependent on whether or not the box has a game on the side or back panel! I can't seem to recall how this strange addiction came about! Likely an oppressed memory! I wouldn't consider this addiction health hazardous, so at present I'm not overly alarmed. I mean, It's not like I'm eating toilet paper or sleeping with my hair dryer.
To be honest, one time I considered taking the Special K Diet just so I had an excuse to buy more cereal!
There's just something wonderful about the texture of a cereal box! I love the smell of the recycled paper. I get a total feeling of accomplishment after I finish each game!

Wow, it's such a cathartic feeling to get these things off my ~~very small~~ chest!
I thank you for letting me vent! It's all part of the purpose of owning my own blog!
Anyone else want to share their strange addictions? This blog is an open forum! We can work through our addictions together!
Don't worry, I won't nominate you for TLC's hit new show My Strange Addiction.

Blog Spotlight

2011-02-25T06:02:00.000-08:00

Today I'm away, so I'm shining the spotlight on Rachel from Bubbly Nature Creations. Sometimes I come across a blog and blogger that I instantly fall in love with. Bubbly Nature Creations is one of those blogs. I'm sure it helps that Rachel hails from one of my favorite areas of the U.S.A, Oklahoma. Why Oklahoma? Well here's a little know fact about this Canadian girl, I have TONS of family in Oklahoma and I visit regularly. Hey Y'all to all my family in Oklahoma! Anyway, Rachel has this fabulous blog that I've been following for sometime now. She recently published a post on how to make homemade Veggie Goldfish Crackers and I asked her if I could share with all of you!

Here's the amazing part, not only did she make this cute snack from scratch, she actually figured out a way to make a homemade cookie cutter by using a tin can! Ok everyone say it with me, "Hello Rachel aka Little Mrs Crafty Pants"!

For the recipe and to see this entire post, including a very adorable video of her kids helping her make them, visit Rachel at Bubbly Nature Creations.
A big thank you to Rachel for letting me share this idea with you and for allowing me to post these pics! Ok, hurry over and check it out! She has the full step by step tutorial ready for printing!

Chocolate No Bake Cookies With Just A Hint Of Mint

2011-02-24T16:21:00.000-08:00

Chocolate No Bake Cookies with a Hint of Mint! Chocolate No Bake Cookies are definitely one of my all time favorite cookies to make and EAT! What I love is the rich, ooey, gooey texture of these cookies!
As much as I love the traditional recipe for this timeless cookie, I also love to experiment with it!
So how did I experiment with this cookie? Well, by simply adding just a hint of mint extract, you can enjoy a subtle mint chocolate flavor with each and every bite!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
2 cups of sugar
3 cups of oats
4 tbsp of cocoa
1/2 tsp of mint extract

Directions:
1. Place butter, milk, sugar, cocoa in sauce pan and bring to a boil. Once the mixture comes to a boil continue to stir while boiling for 90 more seconds(**important-do not under or over cook the mixture at this point)
2. Add the mint extract, stir to evenly distribute flavor. Add the oats and stir well
3. Spread into a parchmment lined baking pan
4. Grab a big glass of milk, the latest copy of Simple magazine and enjoy!

I would typically try to blame this next picture on my 3 Jewels but not this time....this my friends was all me!!! I couldn't help myself!

A few did eventually make it to the display plate, I promise!

Family Day 2011-Balloon Pop Game and A Fridge Magnet Caft

2011-02-22T09:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a a national holiday, Family Day 2011 to be exact. This means all three jewels were at home and I was left scrambling to entertain them. We had originally planned on going to a skating party, however, Pearl fell sick over the weekend and this forced us to stay at home.
The only good thing about Pearl getting sick, (I'm a "glass is half full" kinda gal) was that she napped for 4 hours yesterday. I know, total marathon nap! She's usually down and up in about 45 mins. Although, my sitter swears that Pearl consistently sleeps for 2 hours at her house. Kids are always better behaved for others, aren't they? Anyway, I've NEVER had to repeatedly check on my poor little monkey during nap time. Until yesterday! Two thumbs down for sick babies!!!

So, what kind of fun did we get up to yesterday while Pearl slept off the sickies? Crafts, of course, and a good ole fashion game of Rainbow Balloon Pop. (Rainbows were the theme of the day)

Just tie some rainbow colored balloons to one leg and let your kids loose to duke it out!

It's actually quite hilarious to watch and extremely competitive! The funny thing is, it kinda reminded me of the mock cock fight that we saw on one of our excursions in the Caribbean. I almost started throwing down my bets!

Wanna know what was up for grabs if you were the champion of Rainbow Balloon Pop?

You're very own Pot Of Gold!

Next, we busied ourselves making a Rainbow Fridge Magnet. (Sapphire stuck around for the craft while Opal retreated to play with his trains. Parenting tip #265-You can't please everyone ever

minute of the day)

This popsicle stick fridge magnet was very simple to make and it's quite cute, don't ya think?.

Start by gluing the popscicle sticks to a piece of cardstock to form a rainbow. You could omit the cardstock by gluing the sticks to one another but I found it much easier for Sapphire to glue the stick to cardstock first. Then we just trimmed the excess cardstock when it had dried.

Next we painted a bottle cap black to resemble a pot. Let dry.

For our gold, we painted some mini pom poms with gold paint! (tip-always try to use what you already have in your craft closet. It's never wrong to improvise on any craft project you attack!)

The final step is to glue all the pieces together and add a magnet to the back! I had to pull out the hot glue gun for this part!

Voila, one rainbow with a pot of gold fridge magnet!

So, did you enjoy Family Day 2011? What kind of fun activities did you participate in?

This post is being shared over here

St Patricks Day Treat!

2011-02-21T04:22:00.000-08:00

Spring Fever has hit Three Jewels In My Crown. I'm officially done with winter. Let me repeat, DONE!
Here's the good news friends, exactly one month today marks the beginning of Spring. March is just around the corner and this makes my, completely swollen valentine's heart, warm and fuzzy.
Why do I love March so much you ask? It's my birth month of course. March 13 to be exact. (I expect lots of birthday wishes on this day, so mark it on your calender. In permanent marker so there's no excuses)
Another reason, St. Patrick's Day falls in the month of March. Now for most people, March 17 isn't really that big of a deal, but when you've married into a Hardcore Irish Catholic Family, St. Patrick's Day rivals all the other major holidays. (They don't call them the Fightin' Irish for nothin')

What qualifies you as a "Hardcore Irish Catholic Family"?

potatoes must be served with every meal
the grandparents are direct descendants of Ireland
the majority of your family has pale skin, tons of freckles and red hair
you must remain community and family oriented
the street you live on is named Shamrock road (no joke)
you're kids attend a catholic school

Me, my blood line is Scottish! But isn't everyone considered Irish on St. Paddy's Day? In fact, St. Patrick himself was considered merely a patron saint of Ireland, he was not born in Ireland.
So, if nothing more, St. Patrick's Day is a day to have a (Sham)Rockin good time! So dig out your green garbs, dust off your drinkin' mug and join 3 Jewels In My Crown, as we salute the Irish heritage during the month of March.

To get you started, I want to share this cute pillow box craft that I found online.

(source)
The printable pdf can be found here.

Here's the one I made!

I plan on stuffing these pillow boxes with rainbow colored sunflower seeds. These little pillow box treats would be perfect gift to give your loved ones on St. Paddy's Day, don't ya think?

On The Go Snack Packs

2011-02-20T09:08:00.000-08:00

On the go kids require on the go snacks. That's why I try to have perfectly portioned snacks ready
for my Three Jewels. Show me a kid (or adult) who wouldn't love these tiny snack packs filled with yummy treats. Like these candy coated sunflower seeds or yogurt covered raisins. Of course there are tons of healthier options, but remember these treats are perfectly portioned in a snack sized serving!

Everything you'll need to make these tiny packages of yummy goodness can be found at your
local bulk food store.

The miniature bags come in a package of 50 for $2.99.
If you're really ambitious, you could add a treat bag topper. Check it out

There are tons of free printable bag toppers online. I found this cute Robot "Nuts and Bolts" card here.

Next time your out and about, just throw a few of these snack packs in your purse and you'll be ready for anything!

The multipurpose product that everyone should be using more often

2011-02-19T10:32:00.000-08:00

BAKING SODA-it's not just for baking! Who new?
Well apparently everyone except me!

Let me explain...
Today I was sitting in my break room at work, when I come across a book titled, "75 Extraordinary Uses For Baking Soda". Yep, someone actually managed to publish a book, explaining all the many uses for baking soda. If that person can publish a book about baking soda, then surely to God, I can fabricate a blog post about this so called "multipurpose product"!

So what is baking soda and why is it such a great product?
Baking soda, aka Sodium Bicarbonate, has been around since ancient times and is a relatively safe and simple chemical. In fact, it's so safe, you can consume it. I wonder if this is why mummies always seem to have a mouthful of teeth. They apparently brushed their teeth with the white, powdery, naturally occurring product.

After reading the book, I gained a wealth of knowledge and a new appreciation for this seemingly household product.

For example, sprinkle some baking soda on your produce when rinsing them to get rid of the toxic pesticides.

Baking soda is a fabulous cleaner with antiseptic properties. Here's something I never thought to do, rinse baby bottles with warm water and baking soda. Or get this, add 2 tbsp of baking soda to your baby's bath water to help relieve diaper rash irritations.

Here's another scenario...you're husband neglected to clean the bbq grill all summer(always blame it on your other half), sprinkle it with baking soda, let soak, then rinse off.

I'm not finished yet folks, say you pig out on homemade salsa while watching three downloaded episodes of Glee, now you have unbearable heartburn. Don't waste your hard earned money on costly antacids. Mix 1/2 tsp of baking soda in 1/2 cup of water and drink it to relieve indigestion.

O.K., I'm starting to sound like a late night infomercial. I'll stop now!
The point is, baking soda is definitely a product that I'm buying in bulk from now on!
Does anyone have any other helpful suggestions on how to incorporate baking soda into our daily activities?

Pet Appreciation Craft-Furry Friend Picutre Frame

2011-02-15T08:35:00.000-08:00

Let me introduce you to our furriest family member, Bailey! He's 10 years old, lazierthen your neighborhood teenager and he smells worse then my kid's 1/2 empty lunch boxes that have been left in their school bag for an entire weekend!!! He's also the most obedient, loyal and affectionate animal you'll ever meet! He's a 100% pure bread mutt but I'm almost certain he has a bit of hound in him because he gets instant satisfaction from sniffing crotches, mail boxes, tires, trees, and anything else he can shove his muzzle into. He's a perfect play companion for my 3 Jewels, provides protection for our family and takes care of all the leftovers.

Do you have a family pet? What have you done to show appreciation for your pet lately? Why not dedicate the entire day to pampering your pet? Yesterday we made a Furry Friend Picture Frame for our dog, Bailey.

Would you like to make a picture frame for your pet dog? Here's how we made it...

Supplies:

5x7 picture of your pet
a piece of cardboard
glue
scissors
milk bone dog treats

1. Glue your picture to a piece of cardboard and trim off the excess cardboard

2. Glue your dog treats to the parameter of the picture and let dry

I would love to hear about your family pet{s}. What type of animal do you have, name, how long has he/she been apart of your family. Feel free to send pics! I hope you enjoyed today's pet project!

2011-02-14T17:38:00.000-08:00

Hello dear friends!
I'm back from our fantastic vacation in the Caribbean! The results~ 7lbs heavier, 164 more freckles and new appreciation for grain fed meat! Words can not describe what a fabulous time we had, so I decided to share some of the moments that I captured on film!
This trip was enjoyed by myself, my husband and several close friends. My 3 Jewels stayed at home to party with our fabulous family and friends! I won't lie! It was extremely difficult to leave them behind. This being said, I'm very thankful we took this time to reconnect, as a married couple.
After months of preparation, this adults only trip, was nothin' but smooth sailing. This is why I feel obligated to share some of my tips on how to "Vacation Without The Kids". Showing your kids, you still love them from afar, is the key to conquering separation anxiety while vacationing without them. Stay tuned, this post will be publish later on this week!

Well folks, hope you enjoy my video clip!

"Picnik Show"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

I'll leave with this one final thought...Life Is Short! Enjoy it to the fullest! If you're thinking of vacationing, then don't delay! Think of all the memories you'll be missing out on if you don't go! You deserve it!

Toots Giveaway Winner

2011-02-14T11:21:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all who entered the Toots Giveaway! The winner is Regina Honeyman! Regina has been notified and has 24 hours to contact me to claim her prize! A special thank you to Adrianne Boyer of
Moxy and Toots for crafting the adorable Toots Valentine's Day Monster!

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

2011-02-04T09:04:00.000-08:00

Friends, I've gone on vacation with Mr Connell for a week! This means I'll not be posting while I'm away, so feel free to catch up on some of my past posts! The good news, I'll be returning just in time to announce the winner of the Toots Giveaway! Be sure to submit your entry before midnight, Feb 13, 2011!

I'll miss you all terribly! Thank you all for being such faithful followers!

If you could jet set anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?

Boredom Buster Ideas

2011-02-02T13:54:00.000-08:00

Wondering what 12 inches of snow looks like? Cool hun?

Wondering what a couple feet of snow looks like?

This pic was snapped about 2 years ago!

Well friends, instead of packing for my trip this weekend, I'm entertaining my 3 Jewels, who are home from school today!

Just a quick shout out to my new friend, Sarah Roe of Money Saving Queen. Yesterday she contacted me to let me know she was featuring my Snow Cone post. I was flattered! Apparently, Oklahoma was being hit hard with a storm front and everyone down there was a little shell shocked! To be honest, I've never seen so much traffic from Oklahoma on my blog before! Hugs to all my new friends from the South! Hope your coping with all that snow!

If you ask my Mr Connell, {aka my husband~I realized recently that I very rarely mention my sweatheart on this blog. An oversight of course! Well honey, here's your "15 mins of fame"}he'll tell you he welcomes all this snow. It entertains his healthy obsession with snowmobiling!

Check out his winter beard! This is an older pic as well!

He grew it for Movemeber last year. Unfortunately, much to my dislike, he decided to keep it for several more weeks after that!

I finally had to rally the troops on my facebook page to get him to shave it!

Anyway, I just wanted to quickly offer a few "boredom buster ideas" for all you parents who are home with your little ones today!

The Celery Experiment

All you'll need is a couple stocks of celery, water and food colour!

Step 1 Place several drops in a cup of water

Step 2 Add celery stalks to water, making sure not to submerge the leafy part

Step 3 Play a game of mouse trap, followed by a game of candy land

Step 4 Document the findings

Explain to your child that just as people have veins to make our blood flow though our bodies, plants have veins that water flows through. The plants "sucks up the water" from the dirt and the water flows through the

plant. In this case the celery sucked up the colored water and as a result the leafy part of the plant changed color!

Still bored?????

Check out some of my other "Boredom Buster Ideas"

"Picnik Show"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

Happy Snow Day Everyone!!!!!

Vlog Episode #3 How to remove temporary tattoos

2011-02-01T08:01:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, I'm back again with another vlog episode! Hope you enjoy! Ignore the fact I'm wearing my scrubs! Heading into work soon and hoping not to get stuck there {30 cm= 16 inches of snow headed our way! Yikes}Be gentle with the critiques! Still new at the vlogging game! Would love feed back!

Anyone have any horror stories to share in regards to temporary tattoos?

Hey Moms and Dads- Check out this healthy lunch box snack

2011-01-30T12:05:00.000-08:00

I'm always on the hunt for tasty, nutritional, convenience snacks. Just because we lead busy lives doesn't mean we have to make poor food choices. I recently discovered Praeventia snack cookies and have been in love ever since. Not only are they made with carefully chosen healthy ingredients, they come in convenient little snack packs and they're super tasty, not to mention totally cute!

What makes them different from all those other 100 cal packs we see flooding the shelves?

They contain Inulin, a prebiotic form on dietary fiber (4g per package!!!)
They're made with Green Tea extract,Ginger, Red Wine extract and 70% dark chocolate which are excellent sources of antioxidants. This all equates to a "heart healthy product"
It's made with a natural sweetener called Agave Nectar. This is much healthier than artificial sweeteners and has a lower glycemic index
They are highly regarded by nutritional experts

Because these little snacks are heart shaped, I thought they would be perfect Valentine's Day Treat.

I figure a teacher may appreciate the health benefits of this snack cookie ,therefore, I decided to make a valentine treat container for my kids' teachers.

Supplies you need:

Heart shaped lacing cards or card stock

Choice of ribbon

Praeventia Cookies

Decal for the front {I used a button}

String lace through two cards to form a pouch

Insert a few cookies

Finish lacing cards

BTW-This is not a paid product review! I just really like these healthy snacks and felt the need to share with all of you! Have you tried this product yet? I found them at Costco but I'm sure most grocery stores carry them!

Snow Cones-Reason #29 Why I Love Living In Canada

2011-01-29T14:11:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wonder if my brain has been wired a lil' differently!

{No insults from the peanut gallery. This is a positive platform remember}

Let me explain...

This huge icicle caught my eye this morning as I was washing dishes!

What's the first thing you think of when you see this icicle?

Remember your answer because I'd love to hear what it was in my comment section below!!!

So this is what popped into my head at 8am this morning while studying this natural beauty!

"I bet you that icicle would make an awesome snow cone!"

See, I told you my brain is wired a little differently than most!

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here today to tell you, yes, the icicle hangin' outside my kitchen window was quite delicious and the highlight of our cold winter day!
This leads me to the title of my post! Why am I happy to be living in Canada? An endless supply of snow and icicles, which have the potential for becoming tasty treats!

Snow Cones

What you'll need to make your own refreshing snow cones

1.Ice (if the idea of using icicles from your eves trough creeps you out, then feel free to use ice from your freezer)

2. Blender

3. Syrup

2 cups sugar

1 cup water

1 (0.13 ounce) package unsweetened, fruit-flavored soft drink mix

In a saucepan, stir together the sugar and water. Bring to a boil, and boil for about 1 minute. Remove from heat, and stir in the drink mix. Allow to cool, and store in a container for pouring. Pour over shaved ice to flavor

4. Cups and straws with the scoop on the end of it

Enjoy!

ps...I still wanna hear what came to mind when you saw the giant icicle!

Toots Giveaway

2011-01-26T16:38:00.000-08:00

Three Jewels In My Crown welcomes the very talented, illustrator and graphic designer, Adrienne Boyer.
Adrienne is the creative mastermind behind the fabulous

My friends, my 3 Jewels, have fallen IN LOVE with the
moxy + toots line of monsters and munchkins.

moxy, toots and their friends are handmade monsters and munchkins,

made with wool fabric and stuffed with polyester fiber fill. Each

one is unique, no two are exactly alike, and they all have lots of

personality! Flip them over and you will find a surprise -

they all have a heart on their bum!

moxy + toots are perfect for people of all ages

moxy + toots are best of friends and they go on many adventures

with Dot,Buck and Mack.

My kids were recently given the opportunity to preview and adopt their very own moxy + toots monsters.  Fast forward several months, the moxy + toots brand has exploded in popularity and is receiving amazing reviews.  Even in it's infancy stage, it gained notoriety among Etsy subscribers.  The brand was featured in several treasuries in it's first few weeks at Etsy.  

Let me just say, my kids instantly made connections with these cuddly little critters .  Opal chose a blue toots{actually he refers to him as BOBO, but don't tell Adrienne}and Sapphire chose a pink moxy.  

The moxy + toots brand is just one of the many creative projects launched by Adrienne at her Port Hope, Ontario, studio.  Adrienne loves to doodle and loves funky colors and patterns. 

moxy + toots were created when she decided she wanted to make her illustrations come to life and she admits, it is one of her most favorite projects yet!!

Now my friends, here is the great news!

Adrienne has graciously offered to give away, a very special valentine inspired handcrafted toots, to one lucky Three Jewels In My Crown reader. Yeah, prize time!!!

This one of a kind, Valentine Inspired toots, could be yours!!
Isn't it precious?

This very special Valentine's Day toots is the perfect gift to show someone how much you love them. His pocket is the perfect hiding place for a love note or a small gift.

This precious monster could be yours! Wanna know how?

OK, time to pay attention...

Simply visit the moxy + toots shop, take a look around and come back here to tell me which monster or munchkin you like best.

{I personally like Buck the best}

For extra entries, leave a separate comment letting me know that:

You follow 3 Jewels In My Crown through Google Friend Connect and/or Facebook
"Like" Moxy and Toots on facebook
Follow 3 Jewels In My Crown on twitter or tweet about this giveaway

The contest will end on February 13, 2011 {my husband's birthday} at 11:59pm E.S.T.

At which time a winner will be chosen via random number generation. The winner will be announced on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2011. Remember, in order to win I need to be able to contact you. Please leave a contact email or clickable link! Good Luck

***P.S. Would you like to meet the talented Adrienne Boyer in person? Well here's your chance.

A Valentine's Day Party and Official Launch of moxy + toots is being held at Higglety Pigglety on February 12, 2011. Higglety Pigglety is located at 74 Walton St, Port Hope Ontario, Canada. Come join them for fun, free snacks, crafts and prizes

between 1pm-3pm.

2011-01-24T14:49:00.000-08:00

I saw this cute project today and just had to share it with all of you! I plan on making one for each of my 3 Jewels. My hope is that it will help ease the separation anxiety, when my husband and I leave for our vacation next week.

Heart Felt Locket

{or was it, felt heart locket? Either way you get the point}

Completely adorable!

Jessica from Sweetie Pie Bakery has put together a full tutorial for this project!

So hop on over and check it out!

How to use the Clone Tool in Picnik

2011-01-22T17:05:00.000-08:00

Which site do you use for making quick edits to your digital images?

Awhile back, I shared my top five picks for free online photoediting sites. Picnik is one of my favorite sites for quick, easy edits. It's very user friendly and 95% of what you'll do in Adobe Photoshop, you can do in Picnik.

Exhibit A~Tonight's Supper

Today I want to introduce you to the Clone Tool! This tool is often overlooked but I think it's a pretty neat tool to introduce to your collection.

Take a look at the side by side photos below.

The straight out of the camera photo needed some help! Of course I made adjustments to the exposure and color saturation but take a closer look at my blueberries. I added some more blueberries to the top of my pancakes by cloning the ones that already existed. I also cleaned up some of the sauce by cloning the plate.

To find the clone tool go to create->advanced or touch up->clone
I was going to make a full tutorial but I stumbled upon this excellent video on You Tube.
Check out this short video to learn how you can use the Clone Tool in Picnik

Now to figure out how to handle the compression rate when posting photos online!

The pic above looks so much better in my photoeditor then it does on my blog! What gives?

Any photography gurus out there? Help!

Happy editing everyone!

2011-01-22T09:12:00.000-08:00

Time to celebrate! Yes the weekend is here but more importantly, 3 Jewels In My Crown accepted two more awards! Well kinda! The same award but from two different bloggers.

I'm glad my blog is considered "stylish" because my current wardrobe is absolutely pathetic! The Olsen twins have nothing on me! Have you ever looked inside a nurse/mom's closet? Scrubs, scrubs and wait I see more scrubs! Stacey and Clinton, I nominate myself for any future episode. Just hand over the Visa and I'm putty in your perfectly manicured hands. My kids, on the other hand, are seriously rockin this year's fashion trends!
When did my kids become more stylish then me? Wait...when did my BLOG become more stylish then me? Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Time for a SHOPPING TRIP!

I have to thank a few peeps and pass on this award! Give me a second while I refer to the handbook of Blog Awards. Gotta abide by the rules ya know

Thank you Sarah from The Writers Journey and Debbie from No Filter Mom

Passing this along to

Emy from Always Around Boys
April from Party Of Five
Stacey @ The Birthday Blog
Colleen from Shibley Smiles
Erica from One Two Buckle My Shoe
Tami Marie from The Things We Find Inside
Rachel from Bubbly Nature Creations
Tara from The Trendy Treehouse
Jenae from I Can Teach My Child
Joy from Mommas Kinda Crafty

Super Simple Handmade Mug Cozie

2011-01-20T13:34:00.000-08:00

Wanna know what I'm dying to get my hands on? Handmade mug cozies!
If only I knew how to crochet/knit! :(
{hint hint to my girlfriends, who's talent in this department, completely blows me away. I know you're reading this post}

Since I lack the necessary skills and patience to crochet or knit, I had to come up with my own version of the extremely popular Mug Cozie!

Check out my much simpler version...

Wow, I didn't realize how many marshmallows I threw in, until now! Yum!

Totally cute, right? Here's how you can make your own.

Grab your mugs, old knitted shirt and scissors

Cut the sleeve and cuff off and slide it onto your mug!

It can't get any easier then that!

Hot Chocolate Anyone?

***note***Always check the temperature of the hot chocolate before serving it to little ones

I know this is pretty much a given, but you would be surprised at the crazy emails I would receive if I didn't post this precaution!

My secrets to stepping on the scale!

2011-01-19T14:56:00.000-08:00

Weighing In~Anyone who embarks upon a weight loss journey, be it 5 lbs or 150lbs+, at some point has to step on a scale. I'm pretty sure I've **finally** perfected the art of "weighing in".
Yep, I'm about to spill my secrets!
Listen closely, because I'm about to help you shave ,at least, 2 lbs off your current weight.

You can thank me any time now!

Seriously though! Obsessing about the number on the scale? Stop! Now! It means NOTHING! Your overall health means everything! Small changes each and everyday and long term thinking will be the difference between success and failure!

Love Bug Valentine's Day Card

2011-01-18T11:52:00.000-08:00

Here's another valentine's day card to consider making with your kiddos! My girlfriend, who has 3 boys, asked me if I had any valentine's day card ideas for her boys to make. Well this one is for you Joanna!! :)

 Love Bug Valentine's Day Card

Paper Glitter has lots of great free printable cards like the one featured above. I found these near lifelike bug stickers at the $ store. {leave the backing on so that the recipient can keep the stickers}

I have to say these stickers are kinda creeping me out a little!

The bugs look like they could crawl off the page any time now! Yikes {{squeal}}

Have I mentioned I don't like insects? I guess this is why God sent me 2 girls and only 1 boy!

I guarantee the recipient will go "buggy" when they receive this valentine's day card!

I mean that in a good way!

xoxo

Hugs and Kisses Everyone,

Vlogging about my recent speeding violation

2011-01-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

What do you think of my costly reminder to obey the speed limit?

Here's an interesting fact! The very first speeding ticket ever issued was to a MAN named Harry Myers.

He was charged for driving twelve miles per hour.

What would you do if you were pulled over by a cop for speeding?

Would you challenge his/her authority or offer up complete submission?
I suggest being very polite and doing exactly what the nice cop with the big gun says.

Styrofoam Baby Bootie-Baby Shower Favor

2011-01-16T16:59:00.000-08:00

I had the opportunity to co-host a baby shower for a very good friend of mine this past weekend. I was placed in charge of games, prizes and favors.

I decided to give away these baby booties, filled with "Hugs and Kisses" chocolate candies!

These cute and inexpensive favors are cleverly made from styrofoam cups.

Directions:

1. Cute the rim off the top of the cup {approximately 1 inch}
2. Cut a slit starting at the top of the cup and cut downward until you are about an inch from the bottom of the cup. Make a matching slit with a space of an inch to an inch and a quarter in-between.
{This will become the tongue of your shoe. Push the tongue back and bring the sides in to create flaps over the tongue}
3. Some instructions suggest punching two holes in either side and pulling the sides together with lace. I found it easier to glue the sides together and avoid the hole punch. I used crafting glue dots.
4. Pull the sides together and glue. Decorate with a ribbon, tule and candy!

It's also a nice idea to attach a tag that says, "All a baby needs is Hugs and Kisses. Thanks for coming!"

Is this something you would make for a baby shower?

Anyone wanna place bets on how many chocolate kisses I devoured while making these favors?

Valentine's Snack Attack

2011-01-12T15:30:00.000-08:00

Riddle me this, "When did cheese become soooooo expensive?" I think I paid over $5 for a sack of Babybel cheese yesterday. Sapphire has been at my heels for sometime now, asking for Babybel cheese in her lunch. A classmate introduced her to it and ever since, she's been fixated on this little "luxury" snack!
I'm often frustrated by the cost of healthy, nutritious food. I can buy a pack of cookies for $0.99 but a bag of fresh greens beans cost $3.99.

Well, I hope Sapphire realizes how much I LOVE HER when I send this little snack in her lunch tommorow!

Which food items do you feel are overpriced?

Can we actually put a price on eating healthy?

Are there any nutritionists reading this post? If so, is Babybel cheese a healthy snack alternative or am I just wasting my money?

Ice Cream Snowman

2011-01-11T15:48:00.000-08:00

This is perfect weather, if you're a snowman!

I've seen these ice cream snowmen around the blogosphere and I had to get in on the action!

If only I had a homemade ice cream maker!

Almost too cute to eat!

Make a friendship cuff from a cardboard roll

2011-01-09T16:36:00.000-08:00

I recently visited Toronto to check out the Hand Of Man Craft Show.
This was my first visit and I was totally amazed by all the creative artisans. I fell in love with so many products and had a chance to fill up my "inspiration tank" again.

Right now I'm loving handmade leather cuffs. Such a great gender neutral accessory, don't ya think?
I saw one in particular that was made for a child. It had flames on it and would have been perfect for Opal.
This is where I came up with the idea for the following craft!

Friendship Cuff

Wouldn't this be a neat gift to hand out on valentines day? I find most valentines cards are geared towards girls. Not this one! Opal was pretty "stoked" to have a "tough guy cuff". {His exact words. Apparently he took on a new persona when he laced up the cuff}

Wondering how I made it?
Well, you'll have to scavenge your recycling bin for any left over paper towel rolls or wrapping paper rolls. You could also use a toilet paper roll but this would require collecting them for awhile, if you plan on making several for you child's classmates.

1. First gather your supplies. You'll need your cardboard roll, funky paper, scissors, a hole punch, glue and colored twine or ribbon. I printed this flame decal off of the computer.

2. Cut out a 1 1/4" strip from the roll to create the opening for the cuff.
3. Glue the paper decal to the roll
4. Round off the edges of the cuff
5. With the hole punch, punch two holes on each side of the cuff

6. Lace up the cuff and wear

You could also add some sticker quotes like I did.

Totally rad, 100% affordable{free}, wearable art!!!

Humidifiers vs Vaporizers-Which one will you choose for your family

2011-01-08T05:11:00.000-08:00

**Medical Disclaimer-The contents and information on this blog are for your informational use only. My blog posts provide general health and parenting information. The information in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you read on this blog**

Humidifiers vs Vaporizers

There are lots of cute products on the market right now that can help your little ones sleep easier at night! But, do you know which one is best for your family? Do understand the difference between humidifiers and vaporizers? Today I'm going give you a quick fact sheet about humidifiers and vaporizers. I also want to explain the difference between the two. Hopefully this will help you decide which one is best for your family.

Every parent wants symptomatic relief for a child who is sick with a cold. Recent studies suggests, pharmaceutical therapy provides little to no relief for the common cold.
Now a days many parents have turned to moisture therapy for treating allergy symptoms and colds.
This is a wise decision, considering, humidity can help alleviate these cough and cold symptoms. By adding moisture to the air we loosen congestion in the nose and throat! This makes coughing more effective and as a result we breath more easily. Moisture laden air can also ease itchy skin for those suffering from allergies.

Now that we know humidity is a good thing to introduce when your child is sick, we have to decide on which method or product to use. Humidifier or Vaporizer? Medical research suggests both methods work equally well for treating cold symptoms, so long if the directions are followed and the machine is kept extremely clean.

So, what is the difference between the two? The main difference is simply, humidifiers release cool mist air and vaporizers boil the water and release it in the form of steam/vapor.

Because the humidifier does not boil the water, there is a increase risk for water laden bacteria or molds to be released into the air, if the machine is not cleaned properly. In addition to this, if the operator does not take caution to use distilled water in the humidifier, then minerals from tap water can also be released into the air.

Steam vaporizers are less likely to introduce bacteria or mold into the air, however, because they boil water and release it in the form of hot steam, they may be more of a hazard for families with young children.

For the safety of children, I would recommend the cool mist humidifier over the steam vaporizer.
I am a believer that "if it can happen, consider it will" when it comes to kids and accidents.

So, remember that if you use a humidifier, be sure to keep it clean to prevent the growth of bacteria and molds. It must be wiped down daily and the water must be changed every 24 hours. When you finish using it you can perform a final sterilize it by wiping it down with a 10% bleach solution~9 parts water 1 part bleach.

I hope this clears up the confusion for you and helps everyone at your house sleep a little better tonight!

Heavens knows we all could use a little more sleep!

Origami Fortune Teller Valentine Card

2011-01-06T11:01:00.000-08:00

I'm seriously starting to get a migraine from all the craft ideas building up in my head!
Wait, maybe that's the "Christmas/New Years hangover headache" that I get every year. Can anyone relate?
I desperately need to purge some of these ideas so that, I can once again think clearly and become a productive part of society. This means, I'll be sharing all these crafts with you in the near future.
Right now my focus is on Valentines Day.
I can't seem to decide on which valentine cards, Sapphire and Opal will hand out to their classmates this year. {Here's a fact you need to know about me~I'm horrible about making decisions}
That's why I'm asking for your help. I'm going to be posting several different valentine card ideas in the month of January. At the beginning of February, I'll ask everyone to vote on which one they like best!
The valentine card idea that gets the most votes will be the one my kids hand out this year!!!
Let's get started.....

Idea #1 Origami Fortune Teller Valentine Card

This paper game has to be one of my faves, when I was a kid . I love the element of surprise that this game has to offer! Here's the interesting part, I don't remember using fancy scrapbook paper for mine. Kids today are so spoiled! lol :)

Here's what you'll need:
*fancy valentine paper
*stickers (numbers 1-8, valentine sayings and symbols)
*glue dots (don't worry I'll explain)
*sticker earrings for the final prize

Yes I realize this photo shows letters and not numbers

I swear they're in the pile. Underneath perhaps

Start by folding your paper according to these instructions.

Next apply your stickers. I placed valentine decals on the outer four and numbers on the inner eight folds.
On the inner most part of the paper I placed cute valentine quotes.
Refer to following pics if I'm not making any sense!

Here is the best part, I placed a set of sticker earrings on one of the inner most folds. This is intended to be the final prize! This is also where the glue dots come into play. Leave the earrings attached to cellophane backing. Cut a set apart from the rest and apply a glue dot to the back of the cellophane. This will allow the child to claim their prize once they discover it.

Well there you have it. A Valentine Fortune Teller Game to give to a special friend.
Once again, here are the folding and game instructions.

BTW-Have I told you lately that...

Grilled Cheese Skewers and Shot Glass Soup

2011-01-04T05:12:00.000-08:00

Grilled cheese and elegant appetizer are not words I would typically use in the same sentence! Until now,

The gourmet mom shows us how to creatively present grilled cheese sandwiches and soup to family or friends.

I'll admit her presentation is much more visually pleasing but I gave it a shot {pardon the pun} and the whole family loved it!

You can also cut them into squares!

In the end, Opal tossed the skewer and dipped the grilled cheese the old fashion way.

Us adults tend to be less practical. In attempts to look sophisticated I suppose.

The gourmet mom used pretty bamboo skewers that were much smaller

and sat very elegantly on top of each shot glass

This lunch idea is definitely 3 Jewels approved!

Is this something you would make for your family?

Yikes! My Very First Attempt At Vlogging!

2011-01-03T06:30:00.000-08:00

Talk about jumping in feet first! As part of my New Year's Resolution to get in front of the camera more, I put together my very first vlog post {aka video blogging}! Bare with me, I'm a novice at this and I'm using my webcam so don't bother adjusting your screen! Enjoy and I hope to hear your feedback {good and bad}
Too long, too short, did I move around too much or not enough?
Vlogging is a learning process and I need my readers to guide me through it!

My New Year's Resolution-Get in front of the lens instead of behind it!

2011-01-01T10:03:00.000-08:00

Why do I torture myself every year with New Year's Resolutions?
I've concluded, it's because it's a tradition, and when it comes to keeping traditions alive, I'm a complete smuck. I also realize that, even though this is a fairly useless tradition , my {mild}OCD won't allow me to give it up!

So, if you've been following my blog, then you may have noticed what I resolved to change in 2011.
Refer to my sidebar~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

I resolved to cut down on this

...and start doing this

Let me first explain that I highly detest having my picture taken.

I can probably count on my left hand how many photos were taken of me last year {mostly because I was caught off guard}

Like many women {especially new moms}, I have issues with body image! This is why I've always been the person behind the lens, instead of allowing myself to be captured in the moment.

I have decided this coming year I will embrace who I am at this point in time, and start becoming apart of the MEMORIES that myself and my family create and capture on film.

Let me introduce myself. Hello friends, My name is Crystal and this is the face behind the scenes of
Three Jewels In My Crown

I'm quite certain this will be a cathartic experience for me and I'm hopeful it will create a closer connection for all of you.

I'd love to hear what challenges you have decided to conquer this coming year! I'd also love to hear what you think of my resolution for 2011. Can anyone relate to my fear of being in the spotlight of photos?
Until next time friends! I'll probably spend the next several days desperately trying not to be critical of the above photos and I'm OK with that! It's all about baby steps. Am I not right?

Clock theme New Years

2010-12-31T08:37:00.000-08:00

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think, "New Year's Eve"? I think of a clock that's about to strike midnight! If you know me well, then you know I'm a very affectionate person. For me, the best part of the whole evening , is smooching with my loved one, when the clock strikes twelve!
In honor of this special event, {midnight} we made this clock cake. We used a Betty Crocker confetti cake mix. Later we decorated it with numbers and clock hands, made from melted chocolate!

We also made these cupcakes

Cupcakes are waaaay more fun decorate and EAT, don't ya think?

p.s. if you've been following my blog then you know cake decorating isn't my forte.

Therefore, I ask you to please forgive my poor piping skills

In keeping with tonight's theme, I threw together this clock dip for the kiddos!

The adult version has lots of yummy ingredients but my jewels prefer it simple{ aka mostly cheese}

Right now as I write this post, 2/3 kids are napping {I'll take what I can get}
They may still crash and burn around 10pm, but here's hoping we can all have a BIG group hug at midnight!

I hope you have someone special to kiss and hug tonight!
If not....wait...let me get some red lipstick on...{smack}...kisses from me

Happy New Year Everyone

Welcome 2011

2010-12-29T12:12:00.000-08:00

I have one problem that I can't seem to solve! How do I stop him from growing?

I look at this picture and I want to cry. Why? Because I realize, someday, this hat will actually fit him! Waaaaaaa!

Decorated Wine Glasses For The Kids

2010-12-28T15:18:00.000-08:00

Hello again friends,

Just taking a break from a very busy holiday week to say hi and send holiday hugs your way!

The Christmas adrenaline continues to propel us, as we gear up for our New Year's eve celebration.
On the menu for friday night~Good food, fun, family and friends! Very cliche but truly the most important components of a great party!

Right now, I'm on the hunt for these puppies

Single portion wine glasses~Genius

Wouldn't this be a great product review? Nothing but compliments after 3 glasses of Riesling!

I'd love to have a few handy for New Year's eve, but so far, I'm not having much luck finding them locally.

Today we started prepping for our low-key, kid-friendly, New Year's eve party.

The kids are very excited to be drinking from these plastic wine glasses that they helped decorate.

Did you get a glimpse of the cute wine charms. I had to scream when I unwrapped these wine glass jewels. They're sooooo pretty! This picture doesn't do them justice, I swear. {plus the fact, they're twisted around a plastic glass} I'm easily amused as you can see!

We also had fun making these edible party hats. We dipped some ice cream cones in melted chocolate and decorated them with sprinkles. Very cute don't ya think?

What do you have planned for New Year's Eve? BTW-anyone know where I can score some of those single portion wine glasses? Tomorrow we plan on making some jello shooters for the kids and the adults!

The Nativity According To My Five Year Old

2010-12-22T10:18:00.000-08:00

I had a nice chuckle when I found Opal's version of the Nativity.
Every Christmas I dust off the porcelain nativity set and proudly display it, in honour of Jesus's birthday. Last year a few pieces broke. I thought I would purchase a new set this year, once everything went on sale. Apparently Opal didn't want to wait. He took it upon himself to create his own version of the Nativity by using toys from the toy box. {Keep in mind he's 5 and he's a boy}

It's what I call, "Nativity meet Noah's Arc meets Evolution". I'm pretty sure dinosaurs did not attend the birth of Jesus and if I'm not mistaken, Jesus wasn't a monkey. Nevertheless, the key concepts are there. I love that he thought to use straw, from a barn set he has, to place in the manger. Kinda looks like the cow is about to eat his lunch.

Anyway, I hope you take time to think about the TRUE meaning of Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone

Gift Wrap Post

2010-12-21T05:30:00.000-08:00

Have you finished your shopping yet?

If so, then you know what comes next. The daunting task of wrapping everything!
Anyone interested in a stress-free Christmas morning?
Stress-free Christmas morning? What? Impossible!
Well maybe not stress-free, but hopefully I can help minimize the caos that is synonymous with opening gifts by sharing my gift wrapping secret.
Come closer because I don't share my secrets with just anyone!

Shhhhhhhh.....Ready?

The secret to a stress-free Christmas morning lays in the gift wrapping procedure. I learned this trick awhile ago and it works! Really! It works!! You see, kid's have absolutely NO patience on Christmas morning. When they loose their patience, you'll loose yours. Kids want what's in the box as soon as the wrapping comes flying off. That's why it's important to assemble the toy and toss those cumbersome twist tie thingys before you wrap the present.

BTW, check out this wrapping paper I found at Costco

It's great because, not only is it heavy weight, but it also has a grid on the back that makes wrapping easier. This is our SANTA paper! Santa paper is top secret stuff. All the Santa gifts are wrapped in Santa's special paper. It's hidden from prying eyes until Christmas morning.

Wondering what you can do with some of your left over paper?

I lined the back of a picture frame with Christmas wrapping. And Voila, instant gift!

One last thing before I get back to my Christmas wrapping marathon. I want to pass on this neat post! Brittany (aka Pretty Handy Girl) is showing off her creative gift wrapping ideas here.
I love the snowman idea~

Rum and Eggnog French Toast

2010-12-20T15:54:00.000-08:00

Last week we sipped on some Candy Cane Shooters, this week we're celebrating the holidays with
Rum and Egg Nog French Toast. Yes, that says Rum and Egg Nog French Toast!! Yum!
As always, there is a kid-friendly option.

Did anyone watch Iron Chef America last night? The secret ingredient was Egg Nog. {Luv that show}
Every year I purchase a carton of Egg Nog during the holidays and every year I end up throwing most of it out. I enjoy a sip or two but can't stomach a whole carton. This year I decided to use up the left over Egg Nog by incorporating it in the french toast we had for supper tonight.

All I can say is, "Melt in your mouth, rich, buttery goodness"
You have to try this recipe

2 eggs
1/2 C. store bought egg nog
2 T. spiced rum (optional)
1/4 t. pumpkin pie spice (or 1/8 t. cinnamon plus 1/8 t. nutmeg)
6 slices bread (I used thick french bread)

Whisk together eggs, egg nog, rum and spices. Heat a griddle. Dredge bread in egg mixture.{I say that like I know what I'm talking about. For non-culinary peeps like me, "Dredge" simply means to dunk or soak something} Butter the hot griddle and place soaked bread on the griddle. Cook on each side until golden brown. Serve with butter and powdered sugar or syrup.
~The rum is optional. If you leave it out (like I did because it was just me and the kids tonight) then try adding 1/2 t. vanilla in it’s place.

Wouldn't these be great for Christmas morning?

Super simple and everyone{including the kiddos}are sure to enjoy!

2010-12-18T18:17:00.000-08:00

{Santa's Magical Key}

How does Santa access your house?

We make it easy for Santa to drop off presents by leaving him a {Magical Key}

On Christmas eve we hang this {Magical Key} on the front door knob. This way Santa can enter our house without having to burn his britches, while sliding down our chimney. Only Santa can use this {Magical Key}! It won't work for anyone else!! When Santa is done using it, he hangs it on the Christmas tree and then sneaks into our kitchen for a quick nibble.

Attached to the{Magical Key}is this poem

Take this "Magic Key" tonight

Hang it on your door so tight

Santa's on his way to you

in his sleigh with presents too,

He tip toes in, not missing a house

Jolly old Guy, Quiet as a mouse

Whispering magic and joy in each Child's Ear

Comes to deliver some Holiday Cheer!

Last Minute Gift Idea! Reindeer Fudge

2010-12-18T10:17:00.000-08:00

Does anyone see a common theme with my posts lately? "Last Minute" everything. Are you getting the impression that I leave everything until crunch time? I'll let the jury decide!

I recently came across this very creative Reindeer Chocolate Bar post. Really cute don't ya think?

The Reindeer Chocolate Bars post inspired me to make my own version.
I decided that homemade fudge would be a lovely gift to give. Everyone loves creamy, smooth homemade fudge, right?

Prepare Fudge

Then simply add some pipe cleaner antlers, a red pom pom nose and googly eyes!

Voila, instant gift in less than 5 minutes

Glass of milk anyone?

Introducing Pearl

2010-12-17T14:51:00.000-08:00

Have you met Pearl yet?  She's the 3rd jewel added to my crown.  Pearl is actually her blog name, and in many ways, this name is quite  reflective of who she is outside the blogsphere.{It's also her birthstone}  She's vibrant, round and completely precious.

She's also, more destructive then any tornado that's ever ripped across the fields of "Tornado Alley".  

I'm thankful for her captivating eyes because her high pitched screams can break the window panes of any century home. 

She is a big believer in daily skin treatments~oatmeal and yogurt to be exact.  She hasn't actually been to a therapist yet, but I'd bet my left kidney in saying she has Lachanophobia aka veggie paranoia.  

Somehow, unbeknowst to me, she has taken the stance that all vegetables have been laced with poison.  

Her boycott of certain foods has no end in sight, therefore, I continue to somewhat entertain her love affair with carbohydrates.{and chocolate chips in a tea cup}

Her favorite activity is 

...a good ole fashion game of "hide n seek"!

She is and always will be my baby girl!  Say hello to Pearl everyone!

Be Inspired

2010-12-15T16:23:00.000-08:00

It's another insanely busy week around here my friends. Today, I'm refusing to feel guilty for not posting my own original material. Instead, I'm allowing myself to "stay calm and be inspired" by all the other amazing bloggers throughout the blogosphere.
I subscribe to many different blogs and I'm constantly fascinated by everyone's creativity! High five to all my blogger pals out there! You Rock!

Check it out, here are a few posts that I've come across recently that have inspired me!

Christy from "Glitter To Gum Drops" posted this adorable cookie cutter wreath

{source}

Check out this great craft project by Courtney at "A Diamond In The Stuff"

{source}

Once I tend to my bruises, from the over zealous parents at the kids' Christmas concert last night, then I 'll be back at the creativity block again!

Treat your party guests to a candy cane shot glass slider

2010-12-13T11:46:00.000-08:00

Hosting a Christmas party? Why not kick it off by serving your guests a candy cane shooter when they walk through the door? Yep, that's how we roll around here! Christmas parties are much more enjoyable when everyone's had a drink or two. I'm sure my family would agree so no insult implied. Let me explain, 10 adults and 17 grandchildren cramped in someone's house for several hours on Christmas day. We've all developed our own coping strategies!!

The image above is actually the kid friendly version. This way the kids don't feel left out!

Candy Cane Sliders { Kid Friendly Version}

1 tbsp of strawberry ice cream topping on the bottom of a shot glass
1 spoon full of natural vanilla bean infused double churned ice cream
top with whipped cream and crushed candy canes or candy cane bark

{Just in case your wondering why I didn't use candy cane ice cream. It's just not that good! Trust me! It's too overpowering and tastes too chemically processed. A hint of candy cane is lots, in my opinion.
If you must, I suggest mixing your own crushed candy cane into a good quality vanilla ice cream. If your kids enjoy the store bought candy cane ice cream, then by all means go for it}.

Candy Cane Shooters {Adult Version}

1/2 oz peppermint schnapps
1/2 oz peppermint liqueur
1/2 oz cream
1 dash grenadine syrup

Pour ingredients into shaker with ice, shake, and serve in a 2-oz shot glass. You can add a dallop of ice cream and whipped cream as well. ( Don't put too much grenadine or it will kill the taste. It's only there for color).

{Clink}Cheers!

Reshaping Candy Canes

2010-12-09T14:48:00.000-08:00

Not sure why I didn't think of this years ago, but I'm glad someone did! What am I talking about?
Reshaping candy canes of course.

Check out this post by Marie at Make and Takes .

Are you brave enough to try this?

Heat your candy canes in the oven at 250 degrees for 5-10 minutes. Watch them closely because things can go horribly wrong, very quickly (speaking from experience).
What cute things would you make if you were reshaping a candy cane? Does anyone know why a candy cane is shaped like a cane?

Starbucks Ginger Molasses Cookie Recipe Is The "Cookie Of The Week"

2010-12-08T09:05:00.000-08:00

This week I've been searching for the perfect Ginger Molasses cookie recipe. The ultimate cookie with crispy edges and a chewy center. Good news folks, I found one worth trying!
Starbucks Ginger Molasses Cookie Recipe is pretty darn close to the cookies they sell in their stores.

I baked a batch today and I'll admit they're simply scrumptious!
This recipe was actually worth printing and filing in my junk drawer, for future reference.

Alright friends, here it is

Starbucks Ginger Molasses Cookie Recipe

2 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon allspice (optional)
1/2 teaspoon clove (optional)
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 extra-large egg
1/4 cup regular molasses
granulated sugar (for coating cookie dough before baking)
vegetable oil cooking spray (for coating) (optional)

Heat oven to 375 degrees with the rack in the center. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
Sift flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves into a medium bowl. Set aside.
Cream the butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl with mixer on high speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. With mixer on medium speed, beat in the egg and molasses, then increase the speed to high and beat about 1 minute longer, until the mixture no longer looks curdled. Scrape the sides with a rubber spatula several times while mixing.
Mix in the flour mixture on low speed. The batter will be rather stiff. Place some granulated sugar on a small plate or saucer. Use a 1/4 cup ice cream scoop or a measuring cup to form 1/4-cup portions of dough. (Spray the cup or scoop with the optional non-stick vegetable spray to make it easier to release the dough.) Transfer the dough to your hands and roll each portion into a rough ball, then roll each ball into the sugar. Place six sugared balls on each baking sheet, spacing them evenly, because they will spread during baking.
Dampen your fingers with water and press down lightly on each cookie to flatten it a little and dampen the top. Refrigerate one filled baking sheet while the other bakes.
Bake for 12 minutes, or until the cookies have spread and are firm to the touch. Rotate the sheet 180 degrees halfway through the baking time. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet.
Note: This dough can be frozen for slice-and- bake cookies. Just roll into a log 2-1/2 inches thick. Wrap in plastic wrap and then in foil. Can be stored in the freezer up to 6 months.

Announcing the winners of my Tim Hortons gift cards

2010-12-08T08:31:00.000-08:00

Congrats to the following winners!

1. CJ left this comment, " would love a new camera for Christmas this year"
2. Kendra T started following Three Jewels In My Crown on Facebook
3. Wendy F is also following my blog posts on Facebook
4. Julie became a Google Friends Connect Follower
5. Leann also started following Three Jewels In My Crown via GFC

I have notified all the winners, who will receive their Tim Hortons gift cards ASAP.
Thanks to all those who entered

Last minute gift idea. Dust Pan Cookies

2010-12-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

I recently discovered this cute gift idea, so I had to try it out. It's called Dustpan Cookies.

While baking you some cookies,
there was knocking at the door.
As I jumped up to answer it,
the pan fell to the floor.

I stood among the cookie crumbs
and wondered what to do.
The day was late, the time was short,
I had no gift for you.
I bent and swept the cookies up
into a small dustpan.
A friend like you, I told myself,
would surely understand.

The gifts that matter most in life
are those the heart does send.
With that in mind, I give to you
these cookies from a friend.

The idea is rather funny don't you think? You can download the pdf file here.

I'm not sure who will end up with this batch, but I'm sure it'll be someone with a sense of humor.
This lovely pink, polka dot dustpan was purchased from a local dollar store and cleaned well before adding these, dare I say it, store bought cookies! {Gasp~She bought the cookies}
What? Don't judge me for not baking them myself. The title of this post wouldn't read "last minute gift idea" if I had to fire up the oven.

So... why not make some dustpan cookies for a neighbor or secret santa?

Tim Hortons Giveaway Contest

2010-12-01T03:37:00.000-08:00

I was recently contacted by a little coffee shop company. You may have heard of them. They're called Tim Hortons!! I've mentioned Tim Hortons in some of my past posts. Including this post, which caught the eye of a Tim Hortons representative. Thanks to Tim Hortons, I'm able host today's giveaway contest.
I'm very excited to be able to offer five lucky readers a chance to win a Tim Hortons gift card worth $5.00
Let me repeat that~ Five gift cards for Five followers worth Five dollars each. {sounds like a pizza commercial}
Your odds are good people and so is Tim Hortons coffee.

In fact, I plan on giving away several Tim Hortons gift cards as Christmas gifts this year.
Gift cards are a great gift to give and a great gift to receive. Just ask one of my favorite bloggers, Kate from This Mom Loves. She recently put together a post titled, "What Teachers Really Want For Christmas".
She would know what teachers really want because she is one, a teacher that is! So, hop on over and check out her super informative post.

Whenever I give a gift card to someone, I take time to personalize it and make certain it leaves a lasting impression with the recipient.

This is the gift Sapphire will be giving her teacher this year. We personalized it by adding this cute chalkboard gift tag. Sapphire got involved by creating the "thumbprint snowman" art on a mini canvas board.
I picked up these supplies from the local $ store.

OK, so are you feeling lucky? Here is how you can win one of the gift cards.

Tell me what you want from Santa this year
Leave a comment on any of my past post
Become a Follower via Google Friends Connect
Follow me on Twitter
{it's also important to leave me a comment to tell me that you're following 3 Jewels and/or my twitter account. I also need a source to contact you in the event you win}

This contest is open until December 7, 2010 2400hrs est. The winners will be announced and contacted on December 8, 2010. All Canadian and U.S. residents are free to enter.

Good luck and thanks for stopping by!

2010-11-30T10:38:00.000-08:00

Last week we made Opal's Christmas Tree Ornament. This week we're having fun making some for Sapphire and Pearl.

Wanna see how we made them?

I bought some miniature clothes pin dolls at the $ store. I also purchased some clear plastic jewelery cord. Tie or glue the plastic cord to the doll's head and lower inside the clear glass or plastic ornament. I also added a few curled ribbons to the bottom. It's so cute, very inexpensive and I triple dog dare you to name a girl who wouldn't love to receive this ornament.
The total project cost me $5 and I was able to make 8 ornaments. How is that for a great deal?
What a great gift to give a teacher, friend, godchild, niece or anyone else you can think of.

Have a great day everyone! I'm off to witness Sapphire's 1st reconciliation (first confession). Yikes, wonder what she'll confess to!

2010-11-28T19:27:00.000-08:00

Did you miss me? I've definitely missed all of you! {Group Hug}

Wanna see what I've been up to? It's what I call, Making Memories! Genuine, tug on your heart strings, memories. Investing in my family!
It doesn't take a fancy trip or lots of money. All you need is TIME! Something your children crave from you! I guarantee, it will bring more happiness to your children, then any toy you'll ever purchase.

"Picnik Show"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

Have you spent quality time with your family recently? What activities would you want to place in a time capsule? Although it wasn't Thanksgiving this past weekend in Canada, I made certain I was thankful for EVERYTHING I have! Especially my family!

What do you do with your kid's letter to Santa?

2010-11-24T09:42:00.000-08:00

Did you know that the  history of letters to Santa Claus can be traced back to the 1200s, when  children would write letters to the real St. Nicholas?{thanks wikipedia}

Here's today's community question:

What do you do with your kid's letter(s) to Santa? 

I decided a couple years ago, when my children started writing their own letters, that I wanted keep them.  They're pretty much priceless, don't ya think?  Really they hold as much importance for me, as does a lost tooth.  I guess some how they represent my kid's innocence.  I decided the best place to store these artifacts would be in the frame of their annual picture with Santa.

Here's Sapphire's letter.  Actually, this is draft # 6.  She's revised and recopied her letter at least 6 times already this year and it's not even December.  I stashed one of the copies and she'll mail her final copy to Santa.  

Dear Santu,

i wont a 

doll

cat toy

pony

barbe doll

zu zu pet carage

makeup....

i have been realy good gurl 

My poor spell checker is quite frustrated with me for not fixing Sapphire's spelling mistakes. Her whole list has red zig zag lines beneath it but I'm going to ignore it because I love how she wrote it.    

So what do you do with the letters?  Send them in the mail, file them in the recycling bin, stash them with the decorations, soak up the spilled cereal milk, line the kitty litter box?  

Highlighted cookie of the week. Peanut Butter Cup Cookie

2010-11-23T08:56:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, I had to pass on the cookie exchange that I was invited to this year.
Wanna know what I would have brought with me? A Santa sack full of these.

{source}
Peanut Butter Cup cookies!!!!!

BTW-Bet ya didn't know the Cookie Monster and me have many similar attributes!
No joke! We're both carb-craving, delightful characters who erupt into tears when confronted with the horror of an empty cookie jar. Mmmmmm! I can't think of anything more satisfying then a chewy cookie and a cold glass of milk!

Here is the recipe snatched from Priscilla Bakes.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup Jiff® Creamy Peanut Butter
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 package (13 ounces) miniature peanut butter cups
DRIZZLE:
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon creamy Jif® Peanut Butter
2 tablespoons shortening

DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle. Roll into 1-1/4-in. balls. Press a miniature peanut butter cup into each; reshape balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool for 2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. For drizzle, in a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips, peanut butter and shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cookies. Yield: about 3 dozen.

Here's a thought! When you dive into your "Christmas Wrapping Marathon" why not have a few of these on hand, to give you an energy boost?

Enjoy!