Gymnastics & Ballet Fairy Garden Teacher Thank Yous

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This week, my 4 year-old completed gymnastics and ballet classes.  She chose to create fairy gardens as thank you gifts for her teachers.  Unfortunately, I didn't know much about creating floral arrangements, so I gathered my supplies and visited my friend, Roselyn to ask for help.  With her guidance and about $15, we created ballet and gymnastics themed fairy gardens.

Gymnastics Fairy Garden - property Tonya Freeman

Ballet Fairy Garden - property Tonya Freeman

     For the gymnastics fairy garden, I snatched up a $6 bucket from the equine section of Tractor Supply.  Then, I headed to the Dollar Tree where I found two types of floral wire, a bag of balloons  and a bag of potting soil.  To create the ballerina fairy garden, I picked up an aluminum mini loaf pan at the grocery store and ordered the musical ballerina jewelry box from www.sears.com.  The jewelry box was only $3.75 and shipped free to my local Sears store.  SCORE!   Grand total of supplies: less than $15 including tax!

      Roselyn provided the plants from her garden.  All the ones we used are succulents.  She also added a little potting mix and fertilizer when she helped my daughter arrange the plants in our planters. 


     Next, I convinced hubby to use the heavier floral wire and a couple bamboo skewers from my kitchen drawer to create uneven bars and a bar for the rings.  He secured the ends with hot glue. A piece of cord and 2 plastic bra strap rings (available at Jo-Ann Fabric) completed the rings.  For the trampoline, we used two types of floral wire and a balloon.  For directions, refer to this YouTube tutorial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOdyJlhjuI.)

Gymnastics Fairy Garden Uneven Bars - property Tonya Freeman

Gymnastics Fairy Garden Rings - property Tonya Freeman

Gymnastics Fairy Garden Trampoline - property Tonya Freeman

       We finished the planters by printing a thank you note found on Pinterest ( http://pinterest.com/pin/479633429035346705/ ) and gluing it to a skewer.  (Our ballet garden has the same wording on the note, but it is printed over the logo of the dance studio.)

     Roselyn will be happy to know, we were able to keep her plants alive until we delivered them this week.  They were a big hit with our teachers --- hopefully, they will be with the fairies too!

Unmentionables Heat Up Winter Days and Nights

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SmartWool Thong

          

    
   During winter months new snow blankets the ground and gives a fresh white cover to our surroundings and temperatures plunge.  As the mercury drops below freezing, we take many precautions to care for our homes, vehicles and even pets.  Don't forget to take time to check your unmentionables drawer and make sure to winterize it too.

            Because a larger percentage of men than women have jobs and physical pursuits that place them in the great outdoors for longer periods of time, it is understandable they have a larger selection of retail outdoor apparel.  But outdoor outfitters and manufacturers see the potential of the female consumer in this marketplace too.  Over the last ten years, we have seen an appearance of pink hunting gear on retailers' shelves.  Now a new trend is core layering foundation garments.

            Boxers, briefs, panties and bras are the items worn closest to the body.  It is necessary for these garments to perform as well as all the other heat preserving layers wearers pile on top of them.   So, what  should one know when lingerie shopping for individuals spending time exposed to the elements?

            First, decide what type of activity you will be doing while wearing these items.  If the answer is less strenuous activity that will not require you to sweat or get wet,  regular cotton undies and thermal underwear are great choices.  Most stores carry these items in a variety of sizes for adults and children during this season.  Carters markets one piece infant versions and Max Grey has designed a toddler separates currently available at Dollar Tree Stores.  Cotton does excel at providing extra layers of warmth, but fails in the water resistance test.  It acts like a sponge when wet and takes a long time to dry.

            If you plan on performing tasks which require more physical exertion, a good choice is a synthetic fiber blend found in pricier performance underwear.  Synthetic fibers wick moisture from the body and dry quickly.  Under Armor, Silvertec and Polarmax are just a few of the companies now making underwear that puts dad's old Fruit of the Looms to shame.  ExOfficio, Wickers, and Patagonia also market women's products in a few styles and colors.  The primary drawback to this product is the nature of synthetic fibers.  Man-made fiber tends to hold bacteria, so after a few wears a garment will emit  the perpetual funk of body odor even after laundering in detergents like Tide plus Febreze Freshness Sport, which is specifically designed to clean synthetic fabrics.

            Of course, when it comes to beating the cold, you just can't beat good old mother nature.  Foundation garments made from natural fibers like silk and wool are the best choices.  They effectively wick moisture,  are antibacterial, warm the body efficiently and feel luxurious against the skin.  WinterSilks markets 100% silk garments for men, women and children.  Icebreaker  and Ibex Outdoor Clothing weigh in with high quality 100% wool and some wool/synthetic blends.  They also claim that softer skin is an added benefit for wearers because the wool  releases its lanolin as it rubs against the body. 

            While performance unmentionables have not rocketed into the marketing stratosphere of Victoria's Secret, don't mistake their popularity.  At about the same price as items from the sexy lingerie chain, performance undies are making a play for part of the Valentine's Day retail market.   SmartWool is expecting some February 14 shoppers.  The company is now advertising its Microweight Thong in two colors: a sweet lavender and racy black.