The Creative Princess

  I know a lot of you have started school already, and I also know a lot of you have not just yet. We have not. We are now counting down the days, not weeks. I don't know about you guys, but school supply shopping is a daunting task. The supply lists are a mile long. Then there are the "extras" that nobody tells you about, like after school snacks. We are fortunate that we can provide snacks for our girls. Many in our community are not as fortunate. There are many children in not only my community, but yours as well, that will come home from school and not eat again until they return the next day. It is a passion of mine to help these kids every year, not just at the beginning of the school year, but throughout. This year, my friends over at Champions for Kids have teamed up with Walmart to make it SUPER easy to donate to those in need in our area. At one of our local Walmarts, there was a pallet display with great products from Emerald, Kellogg's, Dasani, P...

Eeek!  I am SO excited to be starting my year off with Champions for Kids! For those of you that are new, Champions for Kids is a GREAT organization that teams up with great brands, to mobilize millions in making a difference in the lives of kids. Each month they pair up with a brand for a Simple Service Project. This month, CFK is teaming up with Jennie-O and encouraging you to 'Give Breakfast a Wake-Up Call!'  Breakfast is THE most important meal of the day. For us, on school days, it is a mad rush to get out the door. Mads likes to eat breakfast, with her friends, at school most days.  Some days, she likes to have breakfast at home. Mads is at the age now that she can start cooking a few things on her own. This weekend I made a HUGE batch of Jennie-O Turkey Sausage (more on why in just a bit). I saved a few cups of sausage and put it in a baggie in the fridge. A few months ago I taught Mads how easy it was to make an omelet in the microwave. I was a bit nerv...

Last week I shared with you that we were purchasing school supplies for kids that recently lost everything in recent wildfires.  At that time we knew 209 homes had been lost.  The number is now closer to 400.  In just one county!  It is heartbreaking! I don't know if you know much about Oklahoman's but, when there is a disaster, we pull through and get things done for each other.  Because so many students lost everything in the fire, Mannford Public Schools got the word out that supplies were needed.  People from all over the state started fulfilling these needs. A dear friend of mine got her youth group involved and started a donation drive at the church we grew up in.  The local fire department also got involved and by the time both of these wonderful groups were done not only did they have school supplies to donate, they also had a single wide trailer that was halfway furnished!  Isn't that amazing!  Some family is going to be tr...

As many of you know, one of my favorite things is to give back to others. Over the weekend Oklahoma suffered catastrophic damage from wildfires.  In the county where I grew up, 209 homes were lost and more than 58,000 acres burned.  This was just one county.  I don't have the numbers for the entire state, but it was bad. My cousin Jared took this pic Saturday Early last week I was given the opportunity to team up with Elmer's and #Champions4Kids for Bag it Forward .  The mission is to purchase quality school supplies and donate to kids in need.  At that time I had planned on donating the items to some girls from church. Then, the fires happened.  Word got out that 47 students from Mannford, Ok alone lost their homes, and everything in them.  Mannford is a small community, 47 is a BIG number of students.  The call went out and started circling around Facebook that school supplies were needed.  I knew this is where I needed...

A few weeks ago, I told you about this months Simple Service Project with Odwalla and Champions for kids .  I got the word out that I would be collecting new/used items to be donated to the local Little League organization. I learned along the way that most of the people in my town pass their equipment down to friends or family that need it.  While the response to my drive was small I was glad to learn this is a natural thing for most around here to do anyway.  It warms my heart to know of so many families being blessed by the generosity of others.  Getting a pair of soccer shoes may not seem like a big deal to you but to many that can't afford it or worry if they will be able to, it is a huge blessing. Last week I set up a juice bar before children's church started.  The kids play hard before church starts and I knew they would love a special treat.  Most of them were a little hesitant to try the new juices, a lot of them had never he...