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

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            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. 

Origami Fortune Teller Valentine Card

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

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!

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!

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

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