it's not impossible for the pink flower!

You know the day's (...or week's) when we let ourselves think the worst?  Well it's been one of those 4 WEEKS for me!  I am not a fan of sob stories though, so I hope what inspired me to start smiling more will help you smile more too :]

This past week, while running errands with my girls, we found a little petunia growning in the middle of a parking lot.  It was hot, and you would think the heat alone would make it wilt...but NO!  This bright pink petunia was finding a way to grow, despite it's terrible surroundings.  It made me think of the challenging moments the last 4 weeks have brought me and my little family.  I immediately thought, "If that little flower can grow and show all its beauty in it's challenging life, then so can I!"

Yep, that's my cute & pink little inspiratioin right there!  I already 100% believed in taking joy in lifes little gifts, but now...I know, and that's a big fat difference!  Sometimes it takes all the stregnth we have to consider our challenges to be actual gifts.  But they are :]  I love my family, I love this little flower and I'm grateful we are living happily despite our hard times.
"Everything is theoretically impossible, until it is done."  - Robert A. Heinlein

no more summer boredom :]

I found this awesome idea from naturestore.co.uk which is a site I follow on twitter.

The general idea is to write down a 'bucket list' of sorts.  I think it's a great idea to do one per week.  It wouldn't take much time to sit down with your kids at the beginning of the week (Sunday nights seem to work best at my house), ask them what things they would be interested in finding or doing, list them...and then the fun begins! Your lists could include:  Places you want to visit, movies you would like to see, books to read, crafts to create, meals you want to cook or toys you like to play with. Those are the great suggestions from the nature store.
I woud like to add a few of my own that might inspire ideas of your own.  In pondering what might be fun that doesn't cost money, I thought of these:  nature walk, create a rock collection, make snowflakes in July, organize a time for 'night games' with neighbors, look for a rainbow, visit with an grandparent, leave treats on a neighbors porch ring the doorbell and hide.
When engaging your kids in random activity BE SURE to keep it open and creative.  You will be amazed at some of the ideas they come up with.  Let them devise the list.  This activity can be very rewarding for a child!  So check out the nature store link above and HAVE A BLAST!
Happy July!
Miss Lisa :]

my purple cow!

I know this isn't a new idea by any means, but I think every home school, preschool, church or play group leader should have one of these....a PURPLE COW laminator!

I absolutely LOVE mine and use it for probably more than I really need to :]  I actually purchased this fantastic machine for a church activity I was helping with.  The activity was canceled and I thought "Oh great, now I'm stuck with a laminator."  But I soon found it to be a favorite possession of mine!  A definate favorite in my pile of preschool classroom supplies :]

I have come up with several things to laminate...here are just a few...

calendar numbers for circle time (also color cards, shapes and weather chart pieces too!)

several different game cards and pieces :]

tags for folders and books

cubby name markers

It's just so nice to have somethings that are a little less destructable!

I have noticed, on some of my favorite blogs, that several teachers/mom's have created list's of favorite supplies...so I am sharing some (more) of mine.

for spur of the moment art creations!  and I just love them :]

posters, charts and bulletin board favorite!

my favorite for little hands and counter tops after a fantastic science experiment :]

fisker craft scissors - much more fun (sometimes) than regular scissors!

sticky foam shapes - creative opportunities galore!

Nothing new, I know.  However, I hope my ideas and likes will inspire you :]

Happy Day!
Miss Lisa :]

a happy house!

With a beachy feel, and colorful design palette this house makes me as happy as I can be :]  This home was designed by 4 Chairs, 4-chairs.com (a local design firm) and was featured in the Parade of Homes in Lehi, Utah.  These photo's inspire me to be a little more simple in my every day living and delight in fresh, fun color!  Enjoy these fun pic's...I did!

I'm NOT an interior designer by any means!  It was my major in college for about 4 months...not my thing, i guess?  However, I find inspiration in all sorts of creativity.  When it comes to my own home, I could give it an overhaul every other month probably :]  There are so many great colors, ideas and product out there!  I also love photography, but I'm not really good at that either...so I stick to admiring!!  I was destined to play with children, plain and simple :]  But, there's a whole lot of inspiration going on in that profession too!  I LOVE inspiration...period.

"When I'm inspired, I get excited because I can't wait to see what I'll come up with next."  Dolly Pardon

Have a groovy week!
Miss Lisa :]

a happy surprise!

Is this the cutest and happiest little girl you've ever seen???  Well, today anyway?

So many times, when I am searching for some inspiration, I come upon something I didn't really set out to find.  This photo is a great example.  In reading up on healthy habits, I found this cute little photo and was instantly filled with happiness!  Not only does it exemplify a childs sense of freedom and joy, but, it also screems HAPPY SUMMER to me.  And I love summer!  My mind set instantly changed from healthy habits to "Oh My Gosh...I've got to go outside and play...RIGHT NOW!"  I guess that's a healthy habit...so mission accomplished :]

If I could preach anything, it would be to think like a child.  Eye's always open, heart always receiving and new adventures always on the horizon.  Children thrill me with their un-known sense of humor and wonder.  I love it when a child asks a question that has an obvious answer but is totally awe-struck when the answer is revealed!  I wish we all had that within us still.  That sense to investigate the obvious and be overwhelmed with the outcome.  I think, like this beautiful little girl, we should smile and be greatful for the little things.  It's not always easy, but maybe just going outside, picking a flower and looking into the big blue sky will help us to be much happier?!?

happy wishes....
Miss Lisa :]

a little dr. suess inspiration...just what the dr. ordered ;]

One of my favorite Suess quotes!  However...there are so many of his that I love I really can't choose a most favorite :]

I was so overwhelmed today...trying to get ready to go out of town, hair appointment, grocery store, laundry, cleaning and so on...I felt like my happy meter was at a low.  I wasn't angry or mad...just, well, blah.  So I sat down to check my emails and browse through google images and I bumped into this cute doodle picture of a quote I guess I really needed to hear?  I couldn't tell ya the name of the girl who drew this fantastic happy page up, but I can say...thank you mystery girl!  It reminds me of what my girls and I do when we sit down with a paper and some markers.  Besides the quote itself, that's what made my happy meter rise...the thought of my girls (for sooo many years now) simply enjoying the gifts that Crayola has given us :]

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep, because reality is finally better than your dreams!"
"And will you succeed?  Yes indeed, yes indeed!  Ninety-eight and three quarters percent guarenteed!"
"From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere."

Well...anyway, the inspiration is never ending with Dr. Suess :]

Be happy today
Miss Lisa :]

a very cute room

Since I'm in the middle of finishing a new preschool room, I have been looking up pictures of cute and colorful rooms.  This one caught my attention not only because it was super cute and used great colors...but...because I LOVE the idea of hanging photo's, art and random doodling with clothes pins from twine hanging from the ceiling.  I had this idea a few years ago and wanted to see how someone else used the idea in their own room.  Well, here it is...a perfect example (according to me)!
I feel like I just want to sit down, with a cold diet coke and a doodle pad, and spend the day in that cute striped chair ;]   What a fun room, full of inspiration!
Enjoy it,
Miss Lisa :]