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Homecoming Mum DIY Ideas Texas Senior White Mum

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September 14, 2021 by ES Ivy

Senior Homecoming mums are all white with either gold or silver. Gold if one of your school colors is yellow. Silver if one of your school colors is white. How can you make your own senior homecoming mum? Tips, tricks and tutorials.Homecoming mum DIY ideas tutorial supplies

The tradition of white senior homecoming mums is new since I was in high school – three decades ago! It reminds me of the story that my grandmother, who graduated from high school in West Texas in the 1930’s wore a white dress to her high school graduation. While I wore one of my Sunday best dresses under my graduation gown, I was only too happy to let my daughter’s revive this tradition, buying a white dress to wear under their graduation gowns. Our thought would have been why bother? You don’t see your dress under the gown anyway! But another trend that I’m thankful for is the common practice of taking photos with your gown unzipped, so that you can see the pretty dress or shirt and tie that you’re wearing underneath.

But enough about that! On to the directions, tips and tricks, to make your own white, senior Homecoming Mum!…

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Filed Under: Crafts, Teens & Family

How do I find a puppy near me?

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March 8, 2021 by ES Ivy

Like all things these days, if you’re looking to find a puppy on sale or to adopt near you, you’re going to be doing at least some of your search online. We just got a new puppy and the process was very different from finding our first puppy 25 years ago. I did a lot of research and looking. Keep reading to learn how I found a puppy near me, in my area.New puppy on leash. Looking to find a puppy near you, on sale or to adopt? You're probably going to search online. Read to learn how I found a puppy near me. …

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Filed Under: Teens & Family

Best Books for Girls in 2nd Grade – my daughters’ favorites

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March 1, 2021 by ES Ivy

In second grade, readers can really take off. Or not. Don’t be worried if your child hasn’t turned into a reader yet. Just focus on making fun books available. If you don’t read kids’ books for your own entertainment (I do!) you might have trouble coming up with some suggestions for your daughter. But better than my suggestions, are the suggestions of another girl. Here are 9 of the best books for girls, my daughters’ favorite books in second grade, ordered roughly in order from the easiest to read to the more difficult….

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Filed Under: Best kids book lists, Books, Books for kids, Gift Idea Lists, Growing Readers

The best money, investing, finance & budget books for graduates and beginners

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January 6, 2021 by ES Ivy

Not long ago my college student daughter asked me to find a good money and budgeting book for her. My other daughter needed some information to relieve anxiety about the idea of investing in the stock market. (My son didn’t ask for a book, but he was the first one to finish one! An audiobook.)  Here our favorite audio books about budgeting, money, finance and investing.Gold coins showing road to wealth - best books to get young adults about money and investing…

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Disclaimer:  I am not a financial or investment advisor and have not considered your individual financial situation. The information on this site does not constitute financial advice and is for informational and entertainment purposes only. I rely on, and may direct readers to, information from various sources I believe to be reliable, but I cannot guarantee their accuracy or completeness. There is significant risk in financial trading and investing, including losing the money you invest. Readers are solely responsible for making their own investment decisions. By using this site, you agree not to hold PhytaPublishing, LLC or any of its members liable in any way for damages arising from decisions you make based on the information made available on this site.

Filed Under: Books, Gift Idea Lists, Investing

Homecoming Mums – How to make a Homecoming mum (with pictures) and save money

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October 26, 2020 by ES Ivy

DIY Homecoming mum tutorial. Make your own Homecoming football mum, tips to make yours special and save money!If you don’t live in the South, I’m told that Homecoming mums might be new to you. I wouldn’t know. 🙂 I grew up in the south, so I don’t know any different. In fact, I’ve always thought Homecoming mums were the best part about football!

On the other hand, even when I was in high school, Homecoming mums started getting bigger and bigger, and fancier and heavier. And that was before battery operated lights! And feather boas. Oh, my. And you wouldn’t believe how much those Homecoming mums cost!

You can save a lot of money making your own, and end up with something prettier and unique….

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Filed Under: Crafts, Teens & Family

How true is the Crown Season 4? Prince Charles & Lady Diana

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October 26, 2020 by ES Ivy

With Season 4 of Netflix’s the Crown, release date November 15, 2020, you might again find yourself wondering, how true is The Crown? What does The Crown get right and wrong? One of the major events covered in Season 4 of The Crown will include the introduction of Emma Corrin as Princess Diana, her early relationship with Prince Charles, and their early marriage. So the biography, Prince Charles, by Sally Bedell Smith is a good place to start to see what The Crown gets right, and what it gets wrong.

Prince Charles, cover of book by Sally Bedell Smith, How true is The Crown? Review of Prince Charles, by Sally Bedell Smith to see what Season 4 gets right & wrong about Prince Charles & Diana.…

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Filed Under: Books, Family Movies & TV

Star Wars Luke Skywalker DIY costume

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October 23, 2020 by ES Ivy

Usually we have to wait years in between Star Wars movies, but Star Wars: The Force Awakens came out last year and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is coming out this December! (Published Aug 8, 2016)

UPDATE 2020:

Trick-or-treat alternatives and Costumes for Halloween 2020

Even if you’re not going to a big Halloween party this year, your kids can have fun dressing up. You might want to put together a costume from things you have around the house, as I did multiple years in a row for this Luke Skywalker Costume. All dressed up and nowhere to go? Consider dressing up as characters from your favorite movie series and have a movie marathon while you eat Halloween Candy! Love Star Wars? We got some things right, but we made a couple of mistakes when showing Star Wars to our kids. See my best order for introducing your kids to Star Wars.

Do you have older girls – teen and pre-teen girls? See our own favorite Rom Coms for mothers and daughters to watch together!

Luke Skywalker Costume Ideas

I love how the Star Wars movies continue to have strong female characters. We’re big Star Wars fans around this house, so we’ll definitely be going to see that.

In fact, our son has been Luke Skywalker for Halloween not one, not two, but THREE times! As you can see, even his sisters had to get in on the Star Wars costumes for Halloween as well. I’m sure that there are going to be a lot of Star Wars costumes at Halloween this fall.

Star Wars Halloween Costumes

Two of those times my son dressed up like Luke Skywalker from Star Wars: A New Hope, and as you can see, that’s a super easy costume….

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Filed Under: Disney, Family Movies & TV, Halloween Tagged With: costume

Classic Literature Modern Movies – Vanity Fair

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October 8, 2020 by ES Ivy

I find watching modern movies based on classic literature to be an excellent way to get into reading the books. Rather than seeing the movie as a reward for reading the book, I find it easier to watch the movie first. A really great movie will leave you wanting more, and reading the book is the perfect way to follow up. The movie Vanity Fair from 2004, is based on the book by the same name.…

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Filed Under: Books, Family Movies & TV, Teens & Family

Beginners tips and tricks for making Homecoming mum spirit braids

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October 5, 2020 by ES Ivy

Here’s a great idea for making your Homecoming mum extra fun and pretty – make your own ribbon braids! You don’t have to learn how to make a ton of different braids. Read on for my quick tips to find out to add a lot of variety and fun to your mum, with only learning how to make one or two ribbon braids for your mum!Homecoming mum ribbons Beginner quick tips & tricks for how to make Homecoming mum ribbon braids & leis, money saving ideas for how to make football Homecoming mums.

My daughters had fun helping me make braids for their very own Homecoming mum. Making them ourselves, we knew they would be unique!

Braiding can take a while, so it’s a great time to watch a fun show or movie together. (Check out my posts about some of our favorite movies, Best Romantic Comedies for mothers and daughters to watch together. Or even have fun watching movies to improve your College Board SAT score. Or even check out my daughters’ favorite movie for us to watch together.

When you start trying to make the braids yourself, it can be a bit tricky at first, even after watching the best video tutorials about how to make Homecoming mum ribbon braids. So I pulled together some tricks and tips we came up with for making ribbon braids for our Homecoming mums.

Beginners tips and tricks for making Homecoming mum braids

    1. Use acetate ribbon. It’s plastic-y and stiff, but it also doesn’t crease easily. It can also be called “florist” ribbon.
    2. The length of the finished braid will depend not only on the length of the ribbon pieces, but the width of the ribbon and the tightness of the braid. You can cut off excess length, but once you cut the pieces you can’t make them longer!
    3. If you use the maximum number of different colors it will make it easier to see what you’re doing as a beginner. For example, use 2 colors for a 2 ribbon bread and 4 different colors for a 4 ribbon bread.
    4. Even if you only learn one type of braid, you can make it look like you made several different braids by using different colors of ribbon and different widths for the different braids. In the photo above, the checkered ribbon inn the middle is the exact same type of braid as the fat gold braid on the side. it’s just different width ribbon and different colors.)
    5. After you have practiced with the acetate ribbon, you can use metallic, glittery or edge laced ribbon to add even more bling and variety!

Tips and tricks for beginners for starting ribbon braids for Homecoming Mums

    1. Instead of starting the braids with just a staple (it’s hard to hold the ribbons in place.) Tape the ribbons together on the back with a flat piece of tape.
    2. Staple them together, through the tape.ribbons taped & stapled together, beginning homecoming mum braid tip
    3. Then tear the tape away.
    4. Before you start braiding, use a new piece of tape to hold the ribbons down on a table or other surface, if needed.

Tips and tricks for beginners for ending ribbon braids for Homecoming Mums

  1. Staple the end.
  2. Trim the ribbons.
  3. Then turn the end with the staple under and use a LOW TEMPERATURE hot glue to hold it in place. (That low temperature part? Why do I keep learning it the hard way when I just use the first hot glue gun I find?!)

More Tips and Tutorials to Make your Own Homecoming Football Mum

Homecoming Mums – How to make a Homecoming mum (with pictures) and save money

– for more ideas for types of ribbons, charms, and other homecoming mum decorations that will make your homecoming football mum unique and save you money.

The 4 Best How to Make Homecoming Mum Videos – save money!

– The best how to make football homecoming mum videos that I found helpful and got ideas from when making my own mums.

How to make Homecoming mum braids – the best tutorials & videos

– the best tutorials and videos for Homecoming mum braids and ribbon leis that my daughters and I used to learn how to braid ribbon for Homecoming mum streamers.

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Filed Under: Crafts, Teens & Family

How to make Homecoming mum braids – the best tutorials & videos

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October 2, 2020 by ES Ivy

Looking for ideas to make your Homecoming mum even fancier without it costing a ton? Add your own ribbon braids! I’ve rounded up the BEST ribbon braid tutorials and best tutorial videos so you can make your own ribbon braids for your Homecoming mum. These are the ones my daughters and I learned from when we maid spirit braids to add to the Homecoming mums we made for them. It’s so much fun!Homecoming mum ribbon braids - make your own. The BEST ribbon braid tutorials and best tutorial videos so you can make spirit braids for your Homecoming mum - the ones I learned from.

…

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Filed Under: Crafts, Teens & Family

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Hello! from E.S. Ivy

Welcome! Ever wonder how another mom "makes the magic happen?" Look around and I'll give you a peek behind the scenes, to show you how to make family events magical - and even get your kids to read! Read More…

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