LilSugar

OnSugar Blog: Fabulous Paper Art

OnSugar Blog — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:00:53 PDT

Lots of moms like to think out loud and Hansel and Gretel does too. Following on the heels of our downloadable paper toys post, Fabulous Paper Art comes from the OnSugar blog Hansel and Gretel.
Apple Tree, Pop up dollhouse, Funny Face, Wishboats

These amazing paper art works can be found at Upon A Fold. Upon A Fold is a boutique business based in Sydney, founded by paper lover Justine. If you are looking for a really unique gift, this is certainly one online store you need to take a look at however due to the uniqueness, there is limited stock of each paper object.

I was amazed by the beautiful objects all created by paper, I would love to watch Justine at work carefully folding and cutting. Upon A Fold also stocks paper tape, garlands which are adorable, a paper lampshade and so many creations that will make your mind boggle.

Want to see more? Start following OnSugar blog Hansel and Gretel, or start your own OnSugar blog. We may just feature your content on LilSugar.

Paper Toys That Put Printers to Work

babysugar — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:45:48 PDT

Toy stores are filled with plenty of items that tots love to play with, but within hours, their thoughts and interests may move on to something newer and shinier. Rather than spend a fortune on playthings that will be discarded like yesterday's paper, why not consider offering them toys made from just that - recycled paper? The web is filled with downloadable paper toys that can be printed onto eco-friendly paper, played with for a span of time, and then recycled when lil ones grow tired of them. We've rounded up five inexpensive toys that are ready to be printed out at home.

Cool PaperCraft Fun: Goobeesta

GeekSugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:45:49 PDT

I know how you all love papercrafts, so when I found these super-cute, ice cream-loving guys while surfing the Internets, I had to pass them along to you. Free to download, these "Fold and Fun" characters are pretty easy to put together, as I did all three over the weekend.

Goobeesta has even provided a blank cutout for you to design your own paper monster! Check it out here - get creative then upload pics of your custom design in the comments for the rest of us to see! I bet you guys can come up with some awesome little monsters, and I'll even round up all your hard work in a gallery next week!

The Office, "Turf War": Best Lines of the Night

Lizzie Fuhr — Fri, 04 May 2012 08:55:21 PDT

In this week's episode of The Office, Robert California is hung over and trying to put together the events of the evening - namely, that he closed the Syracuse branch of Dunder-Mifflin while blacked out. And of course, Andy is still being awkward and hanging out around the office, hoping that it's all just been a bad dream. I was happy to see Chris Bauer (Andy Bellefleur!) from True Blood make an appearance as the Syracuse branch manager who is upset that Scranton is stealing his clients.

We learn that Nellie has been having a hard time and actually has a heart; when Pam warms up to her, she's elated. Andy scores a big deal under the alias Big Red Paper Company to get his job back, but when Robert doesn't bite, he heads over to our old friend David Wallace, who seems interested. While I was happy to see Andy get his groove back, to be honest, the high point of the episode is the cold open, where Jim sets up a thigh curl contest between Gabe and Dwight. There are a few funny lines that held things together, so to see my favorites, just keep reading.

A Bun in the Oven Baby Shower

Kate Stahl — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 05:51:20 PDT

When the very talented Sarah Crawford of Lil Hoot found out her friend Stacey Butler, the baker at Sugar on Top, was expecting her second child, she knew that only a very special baby shower would do. The result: a bun in the oven shower that has us swooning . . . and craving a brioche cinnamon bun. Using a vintage toy kitchen (a gift for the baby-to-be) and full-size baking tools as shower decor; adorable and cleverly worded paper goods; and a sweet aqua-and-red color scheme that translated beautifully into an aqua red velvet cake, Sarah just blew it out, baker's style. While this shower totally makes sense for a professional baker, we think it would work equally well for any mom-to-be who loves baked goods - in other words, pretty much every mom-to-be!

Source: Meredith Nelson Photography for Lil Hoot

21 Disposable Products You Can Reuse

Wise Bread — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:00:39 PDT

Even when the product is supposedly "disposable," you can always reuse it. Wise Bread shares awesome ways to reuse these 21 disposable products.

It’s said that we live in a disposable society. But the word "disposable" is a misnomer. Disposable is considered throwaway, something you use once and dump, regardless of the life that may be left in it. As a frugal shopper with a concern for the state of our environment, I think that just won’t do.

I often reuse many so-called “onetime-use” items, and I asked friends, family, and colleagues to tell me which disposable items they squeeze more life from. Here’s my list, including some of the surprising ideas I was given.

RELATED: 25 Things to Throw Out Today

1. Butter Wrappers

If you’re like most people, you unwrap your butter, pop the stick into your handy holder, and throw the wrapper away. But wait a second - instead of trashing the wrappers, keep them in a sandwich bag. The next time you need to grease a baking tray or dish, you’ve got something all ready to go.

Read on for more.

7 Secrets to Dining Out With Kids

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 08:56:33 PDT

Before kids, you may have been the restaurant patron that slyly gave the stink eye to the neighboring table full of rowdy kids and parents who seemed oblivious to their lil one's behavior. But now that you're the one looking to dine somewhere that doesn't require mama to serve or clear the food, how do you avoid becoming "that family"?

While it starts with discipline and manners at home, there are some tricks that experienced mamas have up their sleeves:

Preview the Menu: These days, most restaurants have their menus online. Before heading to the restaurant, preview the menu and have a few options picked out for both you and the kids. This will eliminate any indecision that could delay ordering once the waitstaff arrive at your table.
Have an Ordering Strategy: For some families, ordering the kids' food as soon they sit down works - it means the lil ones can start eating while the parents review the menu (see above) or have their appetizers. We've found this to backfire in our family, as our tots then finish their meals before we ever start and let's just say they don't enjoy patiently waiting for us to finish up! For us, ordering an appetizer the whole family can enjoy as soon as we sit down is the way to go! Know what works for your family and stick to it!
Know Your Exit Strategy: If your lil one just won't stay in her chair, or if whining and crying start up, know which parent will be taking her outside until she calms down. Nothing's worse than two parents arguing about who will take their unruly tot out for a spell.

Keep reading for the rest of the tips!

Classic Board Games With an iPhone Flair

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:50:33 PST

Classic toy brand Hasbro thinks game night is in dire need of a tech edge, based on their just-revealed spin on classic games Monopoly and The Game of Life. At this year's Toy Fair, the company is previewing tech savvy versions of the games that use iOS devices during play.

Monopoly zAPPed plays generally like the classic real estate game you know, but instead of fake paper money players tap "debit cards" on their iOS device of choice to withdraw or add funds to their game account. The app will also have side games to try for a free "get out of jail" pass.

Being mildly obsessed with The Game of Life as a kid, the zAPPed version of the game is what I'm most excited to try. Use your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch for a digital version of the giant number spinner and view family snapshots of your fabulous life by the end of the game. The game also features over 100 videos from America's Funniest Home Videos, which I really hope can be skipped through on the app.

Life zAPPed will hit store shelves in Spring, while its Monopoly counterpart debuts in the Fall. Both games will retail for $25. Are you interested in playing an apped-up version of the games, or is classic better when it comes to board games?

7 Money Tips For Couples Starting a Family

Business Insider — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:15:00 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Business Insider story here on Savvy!

Middle-income parents will spend nearly $227,000 in 17 years for children born in 2010, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

But don't let that scare you - saving for a family can actually be fun if you know what you're doing.

"The most important thing to understand is that your priorities are going to change and your spending habits need to change to reflect those changes," says Stuart Ritter, a financial planner at T. Rowe Price.

With Ritter and other financial experts' help, we'll help you prepare.

Invest in a 529 savings plan

Saving for your child's education is crucial to his or her success, and 529 plans are tax-advantaged college savings accounts that are available in all 50 states.

Most are free to set up, while some states require a minimum of $25 to open an account, says Adam Koos, a certified financial planner with Libertas Wealth Management. Anyone can contribute and take advantage of the tax benefits.

Open the plan before your child is born, says Ritter, and name yourself the beneficiary. You can change the name on the account once your child is born.

Read on for more.

Transform Your Empty Boxes Into Instant Toys With Box Play

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:32:27 PST

Kids tend to make toys out of the most amazing and unconventional items. One man's trash, is another kid's toy, so don't be so quick to throw out your empty boxes and containers these days. Box Play For Kids created a line of 100 percent recycled stickers ($4-$12) to fit over milk cartons, toilet paper rolls, and egg cartons, so lil ones can bring new life to what otherwise would be thrown away. Make bracelets or army binoculars out of toilet paper rolls. An old box can turn into a sushi bento box or a turntable. Like Rolobox - the wheels that convert empty cardboard boxes into vehicles - through an afternoon of play, these stickers subtly teach tots that recycling can mean more than placing garbage in a blue bin in the garage.