• White thread 
• Tissue Paper ~ About 3 full sheets per pom-pom {I chose pink and blue}
• Scissors

What I Did:

1. I took 3 sheets of tissue paper in one color and cut it in half lengthwise, stacking the now 6 pieces on top of each other. {Keep in mind here, the more tissue paper you use, the thicker your pom-pom will be. Have some fun with it and figure out what you need to complete the look you're going for.}

 3. After the tissue paper was folded up, I folded it all in half, matching end to end.


  4. Wire can be used to close this up, but I choose to use thread. Placing the end on the fold I just created, I started wrapping it around. I wrapped it about 10 times, knotted it off, and left the tail of the thread nice and long so I could use it for hanging later.



6. I fanned out both sides of the pom-pom as pictured above.

Have you purchased your tickets yet? Don't miss the Broadway production of Beauty And The Beast coming to Detroit in April!!

Here are more details.




**I've been invited to Press Night at the theater to review this show and have been given 2 complimentary passes. I've received no other compensation for posting this press release. I just want you to know more about it so you can go and enjoy it while it's in town. Show review to come soon!**

Yesterday, something fun happened. I got a knock on the door from UPS and was handed a box.

Puzzled, I looked at the shipping label and didn't recognize the return address. "Hmmmmm...what is this?", I thought.

I opened the box and found a fortune cookie the size of my head inside...and that's it. There was no packing slip, no card, no form letter. Well, I did just have a baby one month ago so I figured someone sent us a treat to congratulate us and forgot to add a card with it.

This image is from 1800baskets.com. It's what I received. No, I didn't think to take a picture of my own. LOL

Out of curiosity, I headed to my computer and went back through my email. Had someone sent me a "Heads Up" about this and I missed it? {My email has been a bit chaotic since bringing home baby number 3.} Nope. No messages anywhere about this one.

Oh, well. Crack into the giant fortune cookie and enjoy! That's what I decided to do.

After cracking the fortune cookie, I saw a piece of paper inside of it. The fortune read:

A DAY WITHOUT LAUGHTER IS A DAY WASTED"-Charlie Chaplin. WELCOME TO THE 2012 STEP2 TEST DRIVE MOM BLOGGER PROGRAM! THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO AS A MOM AND AS A STEP2 BRAND ADVOCATE. THE STEP2 TEAM

Well, Hot Dog! How exciting is that?

If you search for "Step2" on my blog, you'll see a running relationship I've had with this brand. I've shared things from play kitchens, to outdoor toys, to learning ideas using Step2 products over the past few years and I am SO excited and SO honored to have been selected for this program.

Now, I don't know any details about this. After I got over the excitement of the note, I said "What does it mean??".  As I learn more about this, you can count on me to dish the skinny with you. I'm hoping it means a lot of fun for my kiddos and for you as my readers...my blog family. ;)

Stay Tuned!

**I received no compensation for this post. In fact, I wasn't even asked to share this on my blog. Thanks to the Step2 Team for including me in this great program!**

how to focus on her learning the same way she focuses on her gymnastics.


Once McKenna learns how gain confidence with reading, she wants to help her friends face and conquer their challenges as well. What a great characteristic to instill in little ones.
McKenna comes to your little one ready for some gymnastics fun. She also comes with her Meet McKenna book.

She's just too cute with her striking blue eyes and caramel colored hair.


And like every other Girl of the Year, she and her lovely accessories are only available for the year of 2012. Here are some of my favorites:

 McKenna's Practice Wardrobe. This is back-ordered until March of 2012 but it's a great value!

McKenna's Loft Bed Set. Isn't it adorable?

I'm sure she'll be a hit this year so get your hands on her now while she's still available. In my home, she's standing with Kanani {2011's Girl of the Year} on a shelf and bringing much joy to my little girl.

BUY IT: You can purchase McKenna with her paperback book from American Girl for $85.

**Thanks to the company or pr agency, who supplied the item to facilitate this review. I wasn't compensated in any way. In this post I share my thoughts and opinions of the item mentioned. Others may have a different experience or opinion.**

 I'm a giver. I really am. I just love giving gifts to people and being thoughtful about that process. When I found out that I would get some Iced Coffee to review, {click to read my review post} I was told that I would also get to choose someone to gift it to as well. Fun!

There are a lot of bloggers in the Social Fabric community to choose from and I was having a hard time narrowing down my selection. To help me out, I asked the project leader if there were some bloggers who wanted to be a part of this campaign who were not chosen. She responded with a list of people and right away, I spotted someone I knew.

Click the banner to go to visit her blog.

Stacy {from My Life of What Ifs} is a fellow Michigan blogger. I met her a little over a year ago when I was part of another campaign along with her darling girls. She was sweet right from the start so I'm excited to share some of the sweetness of International Delight Iced Coffee with her.

I sent her a message to let her know to be looking for the box to arrive and here was her response:

Amy that is so nice of you!!!! Thank you so much, you’ve truly made my weekend 

 And that, right there, is why I love giving gifts. I really enjoy bringing a smile to someone's face. And who wouldn't be smiling to find out they were going to receive each of the new flavors of Iced Coffee? {Let's not mention those who don't drink coffee, mmkay?}



Keep up with International Delight on Twitter and Facebook.

**This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias All opinions and images are my own. Other's may have a different experience or opinion.**

I shared with you my own story of being a Brave Woman not too long ago. Since writing that post, I've read many other stories shared on other blogs about what being brave means to them. The stories have been  inspiring to read and yet shocking at the same time. To know that domestic violence has been a part of so many lives in just the community I'm working with on this campaign has really opened my eyes to just what the "one in four women" statistic looks like.


I want nothing more than to erase that statistic before my little ones grow up.

That's what taking the pledge is all about. It's about being brave enough to do what you can and bringing an end to domestic violence.

Here's what the pledge states:

I pledge to honor and respect brave women and children who tackle the difficult journey of change from domestic violence to a new life. I acknowledge my own moment-by-moment bravery, will remain aware of what is happening to others around me, and speak up against violence in any form. I will stand up for human dignity and safety for women and children. 

Please visit Brave Woman {click the graphic to be taken to the site} and take the pledge today. There is great strength in numbers and your pledge will make the cause one person stronger as we all open our eyes and speak up or extend a helping hand.

Those who were brave enough to help me in my situation may very well have saved my life and I can't express my gratitude for their love and honesty enough but I do thank them from the bottom of my heart.

Keep up with Brave Woman on Twitter and Facebook.

*Disclaimer* This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for CollectiveBias. The story I shared is true, my words are my own, and my passion for others comes from an honest place.*