MIneCRAFT Party FOOD, FREE PRINTABLES and GAME Ideas

Planning a Minecraft Party 

In this Blog, you will find EVERYTHING you need for planning that perfect MIND BLOWING MINECRAFT Birthday Party!!!

Invitations and Thank You's

You will find a Huge Selections of Minecraft Invites and Thank Yous On Etsy 

I used GABYGRAPHICS Designs

Amazing FREE PRINTABLES at 

www.catchmyparty.com

GIFT BAGS are super easy to Do.

The Kids love the Green Zombie Gift Bags stuffed with 

Black Crate Paper and Various Green Minecraft Items such as 

Chocolate Nuggets

Green Pixie Sticks

TNT Party Poppers 

Stickers

Green and White Candy Sticks

Minecraft Games Provided 

FIND and COLLECT All the STEVES on a STICK

 MINECRAFT BALLOON POP GAME

CRAFTS and COLORING ACTIVITIES 

COLORING PAGES (Free Printables)

FOOD Stations and AMAZING MINECRAFT CUPCAKES

USE FREE PRINTABLES and STAGE ADORABLE FOOD Stations and CAKE Stations

Purchase MINECRAFT Animal and Cardboard Block Builder Sets for Additional Cuteness

USE STEVE's ON A STICK to have the most AMAZING GROUP PHOTO OPP

VOILA' YOUR MINECRAFT PARTY IS COMPLETE!!!

Which Hairdryers to purchase and all those buttons… let's break it down … shall we???

HAIR DRYERS… you think you know but you have no idea.

My poor hair… was subjected to cheap drug store hairdryers for years.  I never knew that a hair tool such as a hairdryer made a world of difference in my look.

There are 3 groups of hairdryers to consider:

Low End hairdryers - Price Range ($10-$50.00)

Mid Range Hairdryers (Semi-Pro/Pro) - Price Range ($50-150.00)

High End - Price Range $150 plus 

The basic Classic Hair Dryer - blasts heat from heat plates.  Non protective but gets the job done in a longer period of time.

NOW.. we have new technologies on the market.  

Photo Courtesy of blog.prettyinmypocket.com

Beauty Engineers developed new technologies to help protect, provide shine (sealing the hair follicle) and boost drying times.  Those are the fancy words you see that confuses most non-beauty educated consumers.

TECHNOLOGY 

Let's break it down:

Ceramic Technology:  (Information Courtesy of www.modernsalon.com)

What is it? Ceramic is a composite material usually made of clay. It can be used in the body of a dryer, the heating element, or as a coating on internal parts. It creates a far infrared heat that penetrates the hair shaft, preserving hair's natural moisture and luster.

Good for the client and stylist? The benefit of ceramic is that it heats up quickly and evenly across its surface.

Ionic Technology 

What is it? Ions refer to any particle with a negative or positive charge. Negative ions interact with wet hair by breaking up the water molecules, allowing the smaller droplets to penetrate the outer layer of the hair shaft. Ionic technology takes a natural occurring phenomenon when hair is wet and breaks up the water molecules, allowing the smaller droplets to penetrate the outer layer of the hair shaft.

Good for the client and stylist? Ionic technology reduces the hair's surface tension, leaving locks shiny and frizz-free.

TOURMALINE Technology

What is it? Tourmaline is a semi-precious mineral which generates only negative ions when heated. While some of the best ionic dryers are made with tourmaline, they are not all equally effective. Internal parts of dryers may be molded of tourmaline, or some parts may just be coated with a mineral compound. Because tourmaline is a rare gemstone, the price of these hair dryers can get quite steep, depending on the quantity and the way it is incorporated into the dryer.

Tourmaline crystals have been crushed into a fine powder and transferred to the major components of the appliance. The tourmaline technology maximizes the negative ion output and closes the cuticle layer, creating smooth hair.

Good for the client and stylist? A Tourmaline blow dryer has been found to blow dry up to 40 percent more quickly than its non-tourmaline cousin. The speedy and productive results are good for the client and the stylist.

The Heat Settings, Speeds and Cool Shots

 Information Courtesy of Link Provided

Different types of hair require different levels of heat.

The different heat levels should be adjusted to suit your hair texture and condition, according to Perez. He explains, "The high heat is available for really thick or coarse hair, and to remove excessive moisture when the hair is really wet, but always remember to keep the dryer moving and never focus on one portion of the hair for too long. The low setting is perfect for thin or fragile hair. If your hair is only damp instead of wet, it is important to use the low heat setting to prevent over-drying."

As far as that mysterious "cool shot" button, it seals the hair cuticle, setting the final look for long-lasting hold and adds shine. Perez adds, "When your hair is about 80 percent dry, switch over to the cool shot. All your hair needs at this stage in drying is the finishing touches, and the cool shot adequately completes the drying and protects against overheating."

Richman believes the "cool shot" is also great to lock in a curl, or if you set your hair in curlers, it works to cool down your hair and lock in the waves as desired.

THE STYLES and WHAT to USE to get your LOOK

Information Courtesy of the Link Provided

Sleek and Straight

Look for a dryer with an ionic generator, enhanced with tourmaline and ceramic elements that deliver infrared heat. This combination will deliver the smoothest, frizz free results while preventing over drying or moisture loss. Additionally, a dryer with a nozzle attachment will let your focus the air output as you straighten with a brush and prepare your hair for a flat iron.

Recommended:  Sedu Revolution Pro Tourmaline Ionic 4000i Hair Dryer »

Turbo Power MegaPower 4000 Professional Hair Dryer » Rusk W8less Ceramic and Tourmaline

Curly

If you have naturally curly hair, a diffuser is a must for bringing out its best! Diffusers soften airflow, drying hair gently and reducing frizz.

Recommended Dryers

Babyliss Pro Ceramix Xtreme

Bio Ionic Idry Nano-i5x Nano-ionic Conditioning Pro-dryer

Bed Head Curlipops 1875 Watt Diffuser Dryer

Creating Curl

If you’re using round brushes or curlers to achieve curly looks, the right dryer is one with ceramic, tourmaline and ionic technology that reduces frizz and saves moisture for best styling results.

A Great BRUSH to purchase is a Boars Bristle Brush -prices vary

Recommended Dryers

Sedu Revolution Pro Tourmaline Ionic GREEN 3600 Hair Dryer » Elchim 3900 Healthy Ionic Dryer»

Waves, Flips or Full Volume

You want a dryer with multiple heat and speed settings (plus a cold shot button). Lower heat and speed settings give you more styling control and the cold shot button will set your style in place.

Recommended Dryers

X5 Superlite Tourmaline Ionic Hair Dryer »SuperSolano 3500 Lite Professional Hair Dryer »

Fine Hair and Creating Volume

To boost fine hair, choose a dryer with an ionic switch that allows you to turn off the ionic generator. (Read more about ionic technology below.)

Recommended Dryers

Babyliss PRO 2800 Super Turbo Hair Dryer

T3 Featherweight Luxe

THE PROFESSIONALS ALWAYS recommend a heat Protectant.  

NEVER EVER use a heating tool on wet or damp hair.

Click here for a great link to breakdown the top 10 Heat Protectants

photo courtesy of www.birdieinthetree.com

Click here for BEST Heat Protectant for Curly or Creating Waves

FOR FINE HAIR (READERS TAKE SERIOUS NOTE… YOU CAN DAMAGE YOUR HAIR)

FINE HAIR Information Courtesy of this link

 Heat protection is very necessary

Never dare exposing your hair to hot tools without protection! Fine hair is especially susceptible to damage from heat styling. Not only will your hair be safe with a heat-friendly product, but chances are it will emerge smoother and shinier.

Reader picks:

• Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum
  • “Keep it off your roots, it can make them feel greasy” – Jami
• Got2B Guardian Angel Heat Protect N’ Blow Out Lotion and Gloss Finish
• Got2B Crazy Sleek Hot Smooth Flat Iron and Blow Dry Lotion
  •  “On the days I feel like styling my hair I dry the roots with a blow dryer, and by the time I finish my make-up my ends are dry and I use a little bit of got2b Crazy Sleek Hot Smooth Flat Iron & Blow Dry Lotion just on my ends.” – Angela

Click here for Heat Protectant Products for Thick or Coarse Hair
I found thick creamy heat protectant lotions are wonderful for Thick hair.




I found the whole hairdryer selection completely overwhelming but after I researched and understood what to look for and the type of dryer I needed to help my thick, coarse, semi hormone curl hair…

I went with the RUSK W8Less and couldn't be happier.  We travel and the light weight design packs a powerful punch.  My next splurge would be a T3 or a SEDU Revolution Ionic and Tourmaline.

Let me know your thoughts!!!  I want to hear what you love and hate!!!!

A MOM's MUST have LEGGIN's - (Tummy Tucks and Afforable)

From time to time… I like to share fun fashion tips from one mom to another.

Do you have a staple "GO to" piece that you stock up in in every color?

I am one of those who finds a shirt that I loved and I will go back and buy in almost every color.  Or I would find a pair of amazing ballet flats and buy in every shade of leather.

Being a self conscious mom of 3… I find myself in comfort classy clothes most days.

Long sweaters with leggings or Yoga pants with stylish LuluLemon sweatshirts or workout wear.

A few years ago … I would stock up on pricey White House Black Market leggings.  Over the past few years, the classic leggings have become more constrictive or tighter fit.  I understand the movement of design however, the comfort has (in my opinion) fallen short.  The new design is to conform to bodies that have not been through child birth or 9 months of stretch and reshapen mid sections.

Photo Courtesy of White House Black Market

Women after child birth … have loose skin…. tummies that require some work.  I discovered a line that is affordable and a classy form flattering design.

If you have a problem tummy and need more support and shape in your mid section.  The M. RENA Leggings are absolutely amazing!!!!!


The material is quality and the fit is flattering on any size.  The tummy shaper makes your stomach smooth and looks great under clothes.

Basic M. Rena Tummy Tuck Black Legging 

Also available in Cropped Design

Sweater Leggings are ADORBS (I love mine) 

Warm and great designs

Fun Side Designs and High Waist

Love the fun design 

I recently purchased the M. RENA Side Diamond Sweater Leggings.  I am in love with these.  The top tummy tuck panel is in gray.  These leggings are comfortable and warm.  They can be worn with gray, black, cream or a fun pop of color.  Very Cool Design.

If you live in Central Illinois, LuLu's has a great line of M. Rena Wear.  Otherwise, Amazon has a variety of M. Rena leggings.  

I would even suggest wearing these during pregnancy as well as postpartum.  

Check them Out!!!! 

Type 3 Diabetes -EVER heard of this? Type 3 will become the next big medical issue.

DO you hear more and more stories about people developing diabetes earlier in life or children becoming Insulin Resistant and developing diabetes in their early years of life?

Well, the sad news is.. our country has approximately 80 million people and researchers are finding that  1 in 4 has some form of diabetes.  If you are a family of 4 …. at least one of you has a genetic component that could one day develop into diabetes.

Click here for statistical data on the rise of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

The steady rise in drug prescriptions given to adults over the age of 50 has dramatically increased.  Many people are taking statins for cholestrol, various combinations of high blood pressure cocktails, daily pain medications for inflammation or arthritis.  The ability to keep it all straight is alarming.

One of the scariest piece of informaiton I have come across is the use of statins.  They found that some statins that are used to treat elevated cholestrol have been linked to some cancers and alzheimers.

People are trading one type of disease for another.  It's a battle everyday.

Diabetes has become one of the top 10 diseases of annual deaths world wide.  Research has found that there is a new form of diabetes.   TYPE 3 Diabetes or other wise known as ALZHEIMERS Disease.

In addition, the US has a very high number of patients who will die of Alzheimer related complications.  

Alzheimers is steadily increasing each year as the population grows.  

DO you know of someone who suffers from this disease?  

I had a grandmother who suffered from ALZHEIMERs.  It was an awful thing to watch.  She was a very intelligent talented woman and began to do silly things.  She was a gifted pianist and we began to notice her forgetfulness of melodies or notes she had played time and time again.  

I was a preteen and I would stay with her to help on occasion.  She would sometimes get dressed and forget how to dress.  For example, my grandmother would put her bra on over her dress.  To watch this  as a child was quite funny.  However, as an adult to watch another adult forget daily meaningless tasks was very heart wrenching.  

Here is a video of a heartwarmning interaction between an alzheimers patient and her daughter.

This is gives you an understanding of how emotionally taxing it is on love ones.

Websites have polled individuals about the most feared illnesses to die from and ALZHEIMERS ranked as one of the top contenders. 

Click here for more information about Alzheimers being top feared illness

Research has found that reduced levels of proteins and insulin in the brain is directly correlated to Alzheimers Disease.  These are important to the survival of brain cells.  

To understand this process Click here to learn about more about TYPE 3 Diabetes and it's impact on our brain cells.

Start a dialogue now and make changes in your everyday to prevent this horrible disease.  

Here is a TYPE 3 Diabetes Food Plan

CLICK here for a comprehensive list of foods to help with the prevention of TYPE 3 Diabetes

Coconut Oil and a Low Carb Diet can aid in the prevention of Alzheimers. 

An additional link for foods and prevention for TYPE 3 Diabetes

CLICK Here for TIPS to help our future generations fight against ALZHEIMERS

Awareness is the key to Prevention

Photo Valentine Easy to Do

PicMonkey is an amazing Photo Effects Tool online.  

Click here for the Pic Monkey Link

Clink on the link above 

1.  Correct imperfections in the photo 

(use the tutorial link to better understand how to utilize pic monkey)

2.  Click Valentine's Add on's link

3.  Lettering is under Sweet Nothings 

Font Type is Emily's Candy

Print your photo on linen or Heavy Card Stock.

Other printing options;

Kinkos

Vistaprint

Office Depot

Glue Hersey Kisses onto the Photo or Attach Bag filled with Hersey Kisses

 to the back of the Valentine.

Happy Valentines Day!!!!

"Oh Christmas Tree" Listening Game for Any School Aged Party

ARE YOU A ROOM PARENT STRUGGLING TO FIND A GREAT GAME??

TRY THE 

"OH CHRISTMAS TREE" GAME

Great to get the kids attention and helps control the chaos while playing other games or activities.

What you will need:

A LOUD VOICE

GOLD STICKER STARS

A SMALL PRIZE

Instructions:

1.  Teach the children to do the christmas tree pose

Hands above head and fingers come to a point to make a large triangle

(As seen in the picture above)

2.  Teacher or Room Parent yells "OH Christmas Tree"

3.  First child who hears and gets into the Christmas Tree Pose gets a Star sticker on top of their christmas tree.

4.  Child who collects the most Christmas Star Stickers WINS

Easy and Fun!

Great tool to get the attention of any aged student

DON'T FALL PREY to FACEBOOK ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

Have you ever experienced or know of someone who has experienced something similar to these (If so you are not alone):

Scenerio #1:

Susie (recent divorcee):  "I just can't stand logging on to Facebook anymore.  Everytime I do I have to hear about how "wonderful" Pam's marriage is to Steve.  She posts pics all the time of them at dinner laughing and doing selfies.  It just depresses me."

Scenerio #2:

Mary:  "I am consistently checking to see how many likes I get for a recent post and I feel upset when some of my closest friends don't even like my post… but yet… I like 'EVERYTHING' they post.  It's just not right."

Scenerio #3:

Biff (unemployed):  "I see all these people going on vacations posting pics of them sipping MaiTai's by the pool and looking like they do that for a living.  I haven't been on vacation for years… I'll post a pic of my beer sitting on the bar to make it look like I am somewhere "cool". "

Scenerio #4:

Tammy:  "Everytime I refresh my feed… I see Kimberely posting one of her famous selfies again."

Penny (MOM of 4 all under 4):  "I look like a mess most days.. and she looks like she wakes up fresh faced and full of energy.  I need a facelift."

 ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF SOME  ECARDS AND YOUR ECARDS

Some Ecards and Your Ecard are uncovering a very big truth in a funny cynical way.  The reality is people are becoming more depressed and anxious due to their daily fix of being on facebook.

According to the Huffington Post… A series of articles have been written about the effects of facebook,  a handbook on how to withdrawal from Facebook,  and how facebook affects your work performance and interpersonal relationships.

Click here to read http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/facebook-depression/

I have had convos with friends and family who have decided that facebook was causing mild depression, sadness and self doubt.  Many decided to either get off facebook all together or limit their exposure and amount of friends who have access to their facebook profile.

You (Facebooker) are comparing your everyday lows to the highs of someone else's day.  

For example, I have a friend who is unmarried, early 40's and is longing to have a child of her own.  Everytime she pulls her facebook feed up she sees pictures of friend's newborn babies propped up on their tiny little arms fast a sleep.  She sees the parents (her age) looking lovingly at their little bundle of joy.  She begins to wonder "WILL it EVER HAPPEN FOR ME."

We are all human and it is easy to compare our lives.  In addition, people have a tendency to focus on what we don't have versuses what we do have.  

FACEBOOK is actually causing DEPRESSION.  Medical experts are treating and defining this condition as FACEBOOK DEPRESSION.

Click here to learn more about what experts are calling "Facebook Depression".

CURES TO FACEBOOK DEPRESSION

1.  QUIT FACEBOOK

2.  Keep a journal to help you focus on what's important and positive in your life.  They say actually writing down goals and putting them on paper makes them more tangible.  In addition, daily affirmations help anyone who is going through a bought of depression or anxiety.

  

3.  Don't put too much into Facebook.  LIMIT your time and the amount of feed or posts your read.  

(I love facebook however, I limit my amount of feed and how many posts I read.)

4.  BLOCK posts from users that create feelings of  doubt or depression. 

(I know there is a lot of debate on "TO BLOCK, UNFRIEND or TO TOLERATE".. why tolerate abuse if you don't have to … or why bang your head against a wall if you have a headache… just end the pain and once you have a handle on what is bothering you… then decide if it's worth the request of online social friendship.)

5.  Remember … facebook is a wonderful way to reach out to old friends.. how about actually using facebook as an opportunity to make connections and arrange opportunities to get together with old friends or new ones.  

6.  DON'T post anything.. posting pics or status causes undue stress .. you are waiting or logging on to see who likes.. who didn't like… who needs all that pressure.  JUST don't do it.

7.  DON'T take facebook too seriously… life is not a popularity contest… manifest real relationships and enjoy what you have.  

PYSCHOLOGY TODAY provides their readers ways to COMBAT Facebook ENVY or DEPRESSION (click here)

Remember …. depression is a real disease and needs to be treated.  Don't let it get out of control.  

Take emotional health seriously!!!!

(***I am not a mental health nor a medical expert.  Seek professional help and treatment in dealing with depression or any emotional disorder.***)