Shambray

Jan 12, 2021

8 Great Parenting Books

Are you looking for some great parenting books? Books that will help with discipline. Books with parenting/mom tips and hacks. Books full of parenting advice for both working and stay at home parents. Books about positive parenting that also share great family activities. I put together a great list for you.

I want you to ask yourself these questions:

1. Are your kids in a new stage that you don't know how to navigate?

2. Are you looking for small ways to connect with your child?

3. Do you have a child that struggles with anger or maybe anxiety?

4. Are you wondering how in the world you are going to get your kids to get along?

5. Are screens slowly taking over your household?

6. Do you just want your kids to listen, really listen?

7. Do you want to make sure your kids love reading?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions then look below at my list of fantastic parenting books. Some of them might not be for you so read the description and you can pick up which ones speak to you. I also almost NEVER say to buy a book without reading it first, but these books are different. These books are books you will turn to all the time. They are books that you will want to mark up and write down notes. Like I said before you might not need each of them for you or your family, but if it will help you then make sure to use them. That is what they are for!

These links contain affiliate links which means if you purchase after clicking on the link I will receive a very small commission. I wholeheartedly recommend these books and commission would never sway me to recommend something I do not love.

Becoming a Present Parent

By: Mary Ann Johnson

This book might be my new favorite. It is the most recent parenting books I read. I absolutely love the way Mary Ann Johnson gives attainable realistic ways to connect with your child. I don't really like the work "hack" because it seems like a short cut and I don't like thinking about taking parenting short cuts, but in a way this book is FULL of parenting or mom "hacks". They are quick ways to connect with your child. I absolutely love this book and can't recommend it enough.

Generation Stressed

By: Michele Kambolis

If you have a child that is easily overwhelmed, stressed a lot, or typically anxious then this is a book you NEED in your home. We strive to do one or two of the activities in this book a day. It helps ground my children, especially Hannelore (my oldest) who deals with some intense anxiety.

How to Raise a Reader

By Pamela Paul & Maria Russo

I LOVE to read. Part of being a mom for me is teaching my girls how to love reading as well. This book has fantastic reading lists to make your way through. There are so many reading lists depending on age and topic. Then there is great advice on how to help children love reading for different stages of life.

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk

By: Adele Faber & Elaine Maxlish

I have wrote a whole blog post on this book alone. It is a must have for everyone's library. Honestly, I have used some of the techniques found in this book on my husband. "Communication is key", right? So why not get some great basics down.

Reset Your Child's Brain

By: Victoria L. Dunckley

You guys! I cannot recommend this book enough. I can promise you. Promise with every fiber of my being that if you try to do the things found in this book that you will see an INCREDIBLE change in your kids. If you have a child that is melting down more than normal, an anxious child, a child with any "issues" psychologically then this book is a must. Honestly, I think everyone should try it. At least once. Is it easy? NO, but I can't tell you how worth it it will be. SO WORTH IT! There are so many studies in this book done on all types of families. Families with ADHD children. Families with mood disorders. Families with autistic children. Families that just want to reset and stop being so consumed with the world and technology. I promise this is such a great book.

The Explosive Child

By: Ross W. Greene

The title of this book tells it all. My oldest daughter struggles with some pretty severe anxiety. This causes her to be explosive at times. Thankfully it is getting better as she gets older, but it is also getting better because of some amazing conversation techniques found in this book. It is a different approach to parenting. It is more cooperative and I love it. I have friends that have autistic children who have used this book and seen amazing results.

The "Me, Me, Me" Epidemic

By: Amy McCready

I turn to this book ALL. OF. THE. TIME! I absolutely LOVE this book. This one might be my favorite. Honestly, it is one of the top 3 parenting books in my opinion. At least of all the books I have read.

Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings

By: Dr. Laura Markham

If you follow me on Instagram then the parenting topics that I am currently talking about all stem from this book. There are so many fantastic resources in this book. I really do hope to raise friends for life. My girls will need each other in this crazy world and I am so grateful for this book to help guide me. Sometimes siblings get along great, but mine are polar opposites and with my oldest having anxiety sometimes that is hard, but things are looking up and I thank this book in part for that.

Parenting books that are on my "To-Read" list

The Whole Brain Child by Daniel J Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson

If I Have to Tell You One More Time... by Amy McCready

The Collapse of Parenting by Leonard Sax

Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids by Dr. Laura Markham

The Enchanted Hour by Meghan Cox Gurdon

Jan 27, 2020

12 Tips for DIYing Valentines Day Shirts with Iron On Vinyl

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

12 tips to help you become comfortable with DIYing shirts using iron on vinyl.

I haven't made a shirt with iron on vinyl in YEARS! AND when I did I didn't design it and cut it out myself. However, I set a goal that I was going to do it. Guess what?! I did it and honestly it was SO SIMPLE!

I DIYed Valentines Day shirts for me and my girls using the Cricut Explore Air 2, Cricut EasyPress, and Cricut's Everyday Iron On and Patterned Iron On. I am thrilled with how they turned out and I want to share some tips that I learned.

First off, I am going to share these files with you so you can make these exact shirts if you wanted too. However, if you feel like you want to try to design something yourself then jump into Cricut design space and start designing. There are so many things you can do!

12 Tips for DIYing Valentines Day Shirts with Iron On Vinyl

Unicorn Valentines Day Shirt

Heart Balloon Valentines Day Shirt

Plaid Valentines Day Shirt

One thing I want to mention is you might want to watch this tutorial on how to use HTV Iron On for the first time. It isn't the shortest video (I really try to make them short, but I feel like if you have NEVER done HTV then this is the least you can do to make sure you know the ins and the outs.

Next, I want to share with you 12 tips to help make Iron On vinyl easier. These are things I have learned along the way.

1. My number one tip is to let the vinyl cool for a bit. If it is a warm peel (next tip will explain this) then make sure to let it cool a bit before trying to peel off the "backing". I made this mistake and luckily I was able to save it but it could have been a disaster! I say to let it cool for 20 seconds.

2. When you buy the EasyPress 2 you will get a booklet in the box that gives a website to help guide you when it comes to deciding what temperature to set the EasyPress on and also how long to set the timer for. It will also tell you if you should peel it when its warm or cool. It is very interactive. You get to choose what kind vinyl are you using as well as what type of material you are adhering it to. You can pull up that website here.

3. For an easy way to know what size to make your designs refer to these guidelines:

Adult:Around 11x11

Fitted adult: 9x9

Youth: 7x7

Toddler: 5x5

Onesie: 3x3

4. When you get ready to cut out the vinyl the program lets you know that it needs to be mirrored and which side to lay down on the mat. So just make sure to pay attention and you will get all the guidance that you need. (For example, the way I am laying down the vinyl in the picture below is wrong, but thankfully the program corrected me and I fixed it which is the second picture.)

5. To make it easier to find the center of the shirt then fold the shirt in half (pictured below) and run the EasyPress over it to create a crease.

6. Make sure to preheat your material. There will also be a suggested amount of time to preheat it in the heat guide that I mentioned above.

7. If you are wanting to do multiple colors (like what is seen in the shirts above, then make sure to use everyday iron on. Glitter should be a top layer.

8. Layers should be done separately. As long as the protective sheet is not touching any other protective sheet then you can put as many "layers" on each time you apply the heat. I felt like this tutorial showed this really well.

9. The first layers should be 10-20 seconds less because you don't want to overheat them. This is also explained the the video tutorial above.

10. One great way to not actually layer the iron on vinyl on top of each other is to use the slice method. I did this on the unicorn and plaid shirt above. It basically slices out the layered pieces so that all the vinyl is adhering to the fabric not to the vinyl underneath. If you look at the picture below you can see that the hearts right under the horn are not layered on anything. Before I did the slicing method the hearts were layered on the hair and the horn. This video tutorial shows it what I am talking about and how to do it.

11. Never put the EasyPress directly on the Iron On material. So make sure to save the plastic protectors and place them on top of the exposed vinyl each time you heat a new layer.

12. Last tip is to just hold the EasyPress still, don't move it around. This is prevent you from accidentally moving your vinyl.

Now one thing I want to mention, this isn't a tip, but something you want to be aware of. You do NOT need TRANSFER TAPE. It is already on the vinyl.

Lastly, I want to mention tools that will either make your life so much easier if you have! I don't recommend anything unless I truly feel like you will benefit from it.

1. Essential Tool Set: This set will give you all the tools you need to slice, weed, and trim the Iron On materials. It comes with a lot more tools to help do many more things with your machines as well.

2. EasyPress Mat: You can use a folded up towel, but the way this mat is designed it helps eliminate moisture and directs heat right to your design.

3. BrightPad: I have the BrightPad, but for these designs I didn't need it. If you are working when it is dark it might help you. Or if you are weeding a more intricate design then the BrightPad will help so much!

Check out other simple projects you can make with the Cricut Explore Air 2!

Jan 13, 2020

Should I Buy a Cricut Explore Air 2 (or an EasyPress 2)?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

See why a Cricut Explore Air 2 and an EasyPress 2 is worth the investment. Check out what you can do with these machines and what kinds of projects you can make.

Have you been asking yourself if you should buy a Cricut Explore 2 or even an EasyPress 2? Then, if you have decided to buy one then where should you buy one? I asked the same questions and I am here to explain why you SHOULD buy these products and why. Also, explain some things about where you should buy them depending on what you are looking for.

First up, why should you buy it?

It doesn't take up a lot of space so you don't need a huge crafting area. Gone are the days that you need cartridges for Cricut machines. Also, the EasyPress comes in lots of sizes. So you can get the size that you have space for.
You can design/create your own designs. Nothing feels better than turning something inside your brain into reality. (Side note: There are plenty of ready to use designs as well.)
It cuts so many things! (See a list below.)
It writes beautifully for you, in case you are like me and dream of having beautiful lettering skills, but don't.
It has a print then cut function. Gone are the days that you have to cut things out all the time! WHAT!?!
It isn't loud. My family is a household full of people with sensitivity to sound. So it being quite is necessary.
It's easy to use and there are SO MANY resources to help you if you need to figure something out. There are tons of videos and tutorials.
The EasyPress will simplify life for you and help you make your projects long lasting.

Should I Buy a Cricut Explore Air 2 (or an EasyPress 2)?

Writing done by the Cricut Explore

What can you do with the Cricut Explore Air 2?

Cut so many things! The list includes:
- Paper
- Card stock
- Magnet Sheets
- Vinyl (Holographic, Foil, Iron On, Dry Erase, Chalkboard)
- Iron On Vinyl
- Washi Sheets
- Wood
- Burlap
- Tissue Paper
- Leather
- Duct Tape
- Felt
- Soda Can
- So much more!
It writes beautifully.
The EasyPress 2 helps you transfer vinyl onto different materials such as:

Material
Wood
Metal
Paper

The whole banner was cut with the Cricut Explore

What can you make with a Cricut Explore Air 2 and an EasyPress 2?

Place Cards
Door Signs
Coloring Pages
Gift Tags
Garlands
Pillowcases
Ornaments
Cupcake Toppers
Magnets
Window Clings
Valentines
Greeting Cards
Mugs
T-Shirts
Wall Decor (I can't wait to make gold polka dots for my new house!)
Vases
Stencils (think stenciling the tops of wood stools!)
Organization Labels
Wreath Details (wood or fabric flowers anyone?)
And so much more!

I have owned a Cricut machine for about 4 years now and love everything I can make with it. I don't consider myself a crafting genius, but I do like being creative and making my own things. I feel a sense of pride when I make things myself.

Check out the new products I received from Cricut as a partnership with them. I am excited to bring new tutorials and new ideas for you to use in your own home. Check out my unboxing video on IGTV. Then leave a comment on what you have questions about and also what you want to see me make.

Check out these projects I have used the Cricut Explore to make:

St. Patrick's Day Wreath

St. Patrick's Day Garland

Fish Die Cuts for a "fishing game"

Princess Party Favor Bags

Christmas Countdown

Frozen birthday party photo backdrop

Kitchen themed cupcake toppers for bridal shower

Easter Garland

3 different Valentines decor items

West Elm knock off garland

Get a one or both of these products today and start making something for yourself. Please send me what you make. I love seeing others be creative as well!

Dec 28, 2019

2020 Reading Challenge List for Adults

Do you love to read, but feel like you don't have enough time? Do you only read books that fit under a certain genre, but wish you would branch out more? Do you need book inspiration?

If you answered yes to any of those questions then this 2020 Reading Challenge for Adults is a great option for you! This reading challenge is designed to be versatile to YOUR needs. It is to get you hitting your reading goals. It will help you read different books than you normally read and/or read more books than you normally do.

Do it with a friend. The download that I have provided has 2 copies of the list. So that is perfect for you to share with a friend. Make it a fun gift idea and give your friend a copy of the list with a book or even a gift card to the nearest bookstore.

Make reading a priority this year. Reading has so many benefits. Here are just a few I want to share with you so you can also make a reading a priority this year:

Reading helps increase concentration.
Reading can make you more empathetic.
Reading helps increase your sleep quality.
Reading slows the progress of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Reading helps lessen negative thoughts.
Reading helps your general knowledge.
Reading helps you to relax.
Reading helps expand your vocabulary.
Reading helps improve your memory.
Reading is FREE entertainment!

So how should you use this challenge to help you reach your reading goals? Like I said make it work for YOU. If you feel like you need to read more then set a goal for how many books you want to read this year and use the list I provided to help you think of different books to read. If you want to branch out and read different types of books then use the download to help you achieve that. If you want to try and read all the categories on the list then great, but if that is too much for you to handle then set a goal that is reasonable to you.

My goal this year is to read 36 books. I plan on reading a self help, spiritual, or parenting book once a month. Then I also plan to read both a nonfiction and fiction book each month. I am so excited to read more. In 2018 I read 46 books then in 2019 I read about 12. I noticed a HUGE difference in my attitude. So I decided to make it a goal again. I hope you will join me.

Get a FREE download of this 2020 Reading Challenge for you and a friend now!

Download your FREE printable by clicking here!

Some of these links contain affiliate links which means if you purchase after clicking on the link I will receive a very small commission. I wholeheartedly recommend these items and commission would never sway me to recommend something I could not stand behind.

Check out the following book suggestions under each of the categories that are listed on the 2020 Reading Challenge for Adults to spark ideas and give you inspiration.

Action/Adventure