A Heart Full of Love: Crayon Decorations

My chandelier is decked out for Valentine's Day... 2008. When last year's cupcake decorating party got snowed out, I left the wax paper and crayon hearts up.

Periodically Ranger would request a heart to play with, but otherwise, the hearts still dangle above the infrequently used table (the dining room has cream colored carpet- what were they thinking?).

This crayon craft is one I remember fondly from childhood, and it would be fun with older preschoolers and early elementary kids (though an adult will need to operate the iron).

Martha Stewart offers instructions, and Vegbee offers practical tips and further inspiration.

A similar toddler-friendly decoration could be made by with tissue paper and contact paper (cut the paper frames in a heart shape).

While I'm not a consistant holiday observer, this year seems a great opportunity for simple acts of celebration. Their warm cheer is a welcome contrast to a chilly midwinter.

Thank you, Parent Hacks, for shaking this idea loose from my crowded cranium.

Winner of Relish! subscription

Congratulations to Janet, the winner of a year of Relish! menu planning.

Happy eating!

My Baby She Wrote Me A Letter: PictureItPostage

Okay, 2.5 month old Raptor can't write yet, but she's already sending mail.

For Christmas we gave Grandma some custom photo stamps from PictureItPostage, and since then the Raptor has been appearing in mailboxes across the country (to great acclaim).

The stamps are a great quality material, so they don't easily get scratched, scuffed, or knocked off during mailing. With a display area of 2" by 1.25",they're larger than standard postage (which is great because the photos really stand out). The reproduction quality is very good (much better than my hasty, randomly lit photo suggests) and equal to a photographic print of the same size.

Shipping of the stamps was prompt, and they were packaged to prevent damage in mostly recyclable materials (only 1 thin plastic sleeve was non-recyclable).

Custom postage makes a great, practical gift for parents or grandparents or a great addition to mailings from your kids (Valentines, party invitations, thank you notes, announcements, etc.).

20 first class stamps (2- 8.5" x 5.5" sheets of self-adhesive stamps) cost $18.95. 20 postcard stamps are $15.95. Additional postage rates are available. Orders of more than one set qualify for discounts.

PictureItPostage is a fun way to send a little loveliness this Valentine's Day!

Book 'Em Danno: The CPSIA Will Bar Under 12s From Libraries

Libraries are a mainstay of Jones family life. We love our local libraries and pay for a statewide library card. We even purchase our homes based on library proximity.

Needless to say, my heart nearly stopped over a new "wrinkle" created by the current wording of the soon-to-be-implemented Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

According to the American Library Association, the CPSIA law, in its current form would require lead testing on all existing library books before they could be issued to (or possibly touched by) anyone under 12. The immediate effects are dire for families who use libraries:

Under the current opinion issued by the General Counsel of the CPSC, the law would apply to books for children under the age of 12; therefore, public, school, academic and museum libraries would be required to either remove all their children’s books or ban all children under 12 from visiting the facilities as of February 10.

Read the rest of the ALA's dispatch on the CPSIA, and then pick up a phone and call Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Nancy Nord [(301) 504-7901], and your Representatives before your library sets up ropes and starts carding everyone under 12.

Thanks for the information, Julie!