Trade Secrets

I recently participated in Tip Junkie's "Trade Secrets Swap". In this swap, you share your "trade secrets"; best recipes, favorite party favor/decoration, cleaning tips, good books, etc.

Here are some of my "Trade Secrets":

-File folders; hours of fun for kids, hours of quiet for mom (hopefully).

-Martha Stewart's balloon flower instructions. One of my favorite party decorations, as you well know.

-Quick and easy chicken dinner recipes and a few of my favorite dessert recipes.

-"Parenting with Love and Logic" by Jim Fay and Foster Cline. I call this the "Parenting Bible". I can't say I do everything consistently, but have gained a lot of insight and believe in their philosophy.

-Disney Cars party supplies for her little boy. You know how I LOVE to throw a party!

-"I'm Bored" jar. I found this on-line. When kids say, "I'm bored", they get to draw a slip of paper out of the jar and have to do what it says. It could be something fun like bake cookies OR it could be something else like organize a closet or clean a dirty window. The kids risk saying "I'm bored". :)

- I also listed some of my favorite cleaning, organizing, relationship books. Books that have changed my life or at least have influenced the way I do things; "Clutter's Last Stand" by Don Aslett, "Organizing from the Inside Out" by Julie Morgenstern and "5 Love Languages" by Gary Chapman.

-I also included a cute corner bookmark. I like how quick and easy they are to make and that they are different from a normal bookmark. She'll need one for all the books I suggested to read. :)

Here's the "Funny Faces" file folder. My swap partner is a single mom, to a cute little boy, so I used a mom and little boy for the faces. I printed, colored, cut and contact papered lots of face parts. As I was getting ready to send the package, Abree asked if she could play with it. I agreed to having her "test" it for me. She said it worked great.

---Abree tested, mother approved!---

Here's what I received:
-Holiday Craft magazine

-Better Homes and Gardens magazine

-"Mark" catalog (my swap partner sells and uses these products)

-Lemon sugar scent mist by "Mark"

-Flip-for-It make-up compact by "Mark"

-Juice Gems lip gloss by "Mark"

-Splenda coffee flavors (Since I don't drink coffee, I wonder what else these would be good in? )

-Crystal Light packets

I enjoy swapping. It's always fun to get mail and "meet" new people.

Thanks Hollie!!!

Tip Junkie

This post is to tell you about Tip Junkie's going dot com Birthday Bash

(they used to be a blogspot).

By posting on my blog I become elligible for different prizes and give aways.

I have followed this blog for a while now and have really enjoyed it.

*Melanie, you better go to Tip Junkie and get qualified. You're on fire when it comes to winning these things!*