TheJavaMama

Crafting with Markers

July 12, 2013

I may have said in my last post I had a bit of an obsession with pens/markers/pencils….

This is true. I love a good marker. I recently got to try out the new Infinity Permanent Markers. They come the a great range of colors so you will be all set to get your crafts going!

One of the first things I like to do when I try out a new marker is write in all different colors, fonts, and speeds to check out how it flows and see if I like it. I don’t have the best handwriting, but you get the picture. It was fun playing around. I must say they did write really smooth and the colors were great!

Look at all these fab colors!

Drooooooool…….

This marker has a great pointed tip for just the right control.

Well, since I had all these fun markers to play around with I thought I would make something fun for Connor. We are in the car a lot and of course he always wants a snack. I decided to make him a snack bin for his goldfish. I let him pick out the container and then he helped me figure out what he wanted on it 🙂

So this is what we came up with! It’s a cute little container with his name and perfect for his goldfish snacks. He loves it and he thinks it’s so cool that his Mommy made it for him. The markers went on super smooth and I had this project done in no time. I didn’t have to go over and over it. I just colored on the clear plastic once and that’s all it took.

Filled with fishes

Hello?

Can we say super excited kid???

He’s crazy….I love him and he loves his new goldfish snack container! Win+Win.

Check out Infinity Markers and get a .75 off coupon HERE.

Hope y’all have a great FRIDAY!!!! Wahoo! Happy crafting everyone!

Midweek Randoms

July 11, 2013

I’m linking up with Megan for “Midweek Randoms“

Lord knows my mind is all kinds of random. Sometimes it’s just easier to post random stuff that’s been hanging around in your head than it is to come up with a clever, tidy blog post.

I think 4 people I know had babies today. That is random.

Here is my little BACHELOR. (3 and younger ladies) I love Red 21 Boys. It’s one of my favorite stores to shop for boy clothing and they constantly have amazing sales.

I saw these Barbies the other day and I thought of how much Bonnie and I would have LOVED playing with them. A space Barbie….who knew?

I was cleaning out my desk at work and came home with all these pens. I think I have a pen addiction. I can’t go into Target or Walmart without buying new pens to try because it just might be the best pen I’ve ever had.

My Mom gave me this cookbook for my birthday. She said it looked like me 🙂 I can’t wait to try some fun stuff out in it soon!
Connor’s school had a puppetere come and do a show for them today. I ran up there to crash the party & take some pictures. The kids absolutely loved it and he did a great job!

I got my July Birchbox in today. I LOVE this lipstick. Usually I am picky about lipsticks because they can taste like wax or wierd tasting….but this went on so smooth and tasted great!

My haul included:

ModelCo Party Proof Lipstick in Naked, Birchbox bobby pins, Benta Berry Matifying cream, Curl Keeper, & Juicy Couture La La perfume sample.

Love this picture of my Mom & Dad with Connor. I already miss this so much already…..waaaaaahhh!!!!

Terence and I have been watching Stephen King’s The Dome this summer. It’s pretty good so far, crazy, but good! What do you expect from Stephen King? It sucks you in and now I can’t stop watching because I have to see what happens to this town…..eeeeek! It’s so hot I am dying. I try to pick out a shirt every morning that won’t show pit stains. It sucks. Ugh. Well, I better get some rest before work tomorrow!

We are over hump day and now headed for Friday! Whoop! Whoop!

Summer Movie Entertainment #NetflixFamilies

July 10, 2013

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Netflix.

It’s summertime and all the kids are out of school. Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s great to get outside and play. Connor spends a lot of time while he’s at school playing outside with his buddies. When he gets home he’s ready to chill just like Mom & Dad. Let’s face it, it’s like 110 degrees outside here in Texas and personally I can only withstand a certain amount of that before I fall over.

In the evenings when we get home I let Connor pick out a movie to watch and he has a snack while I’m making dinner. We also let him watch movies to wind him down before getting ready for bed. Lately we’ve been running out of options and although we have a decent DVD collection, it doesn’t compare to the variety of shows that Netflix “Just for Kids” has on hand. Netflix just launched a great new feature designed to meet any family’s summertime entertainment needs. The Families feature has lists of movies and TV shows for entertainment all summer long. Netflix Families is accessible from any computer or tablet & is available for both members and non-members. Families with Netflix can enjoy their favorites – always without commercials – anytime, anywhere.

One of the first things I noticed when scrolling through Netflix Families was the huge selection of TV shows. Right now my DVR is full of shows that never get watched or Connor has already seen a thousand times. Some of Connor’s favorite shows are “Super Why”, “Jake & The Neverland Pirates”, and “Mater’s Tall Tales”. He can watch these shows whenever he wants & they are readily available without taking up space on my DVR. I also don’t have to worry about recording his favorite shows ahead of time because they are already there!

I let Connor choose a movie to watch and he chose “A Turtle’s Tale”. I’ve never seen this movie, but it was really cute! He’s been interested in the ocean and sea life lately and this was such a heartwarming story. I know we’ll come back to this movie again and again.So here we go, loading it up on Netflix Families.

Also, remember Netflix works on a wide range of devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops, Smart TVs, Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo Wii.

I like how you can see the 5 star rating. That way you can see if others liked the movie too.

He’s really enjoying watching “A Turtle’s Tale” Watching a movie and enjoying a favorite summer popsicle 🙂

To learn more about Netflix Families visit www.Netflix.com/Families for more information on the best ways to stream as well as videos from families using Netflix. A one-year Netflix subscription costs less than taking a family of five on two trips to the movie theater – and that’s without popcorn. Netflix delivers big entertainment without breaking the bank ($7.99/month). Now that’s what I call a good time! We try to save and cut costs wherever we can, so Netflix is a great option for our family. We’ve had Netflix for over 3 years now and I’ve always been pleased with the service, now I’m super excited to have this fun feature especially geared towards Connor’s interests as well. Thank you Netflix!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Netflix.

My First Baby

July 9, 2013

Year 2001

Terence was gone to work and I was at my friend Ellen’s house visiting for the day. Ellen’s neighbor had a litter full of kittens and they were roaming all over the place. They were adorable.

We were just getting settled into our base housing and adjusting to newlywed life. Terence was often working 12 hour night shifts or gone to work. I needed something to love and cuddle while he was away……so I brought one of these sweet kittens home with me.

I’m not sure how thrilled Terence was that I brought the cat home. In fact I think he was probably upset with me, but back then he wanted his new wife to be happy so he let me keep her. We named her Holly Branch. Holly was the best kitty. She reminded me of a rag doll. She just would lay around and let you pet & cuddle her. She was my first baby.

Holly and I were together while Terence was deployed in Iraq. That cat made coming home every day better. She was there to greet me and she slept right next to me every night. She filled a void in my life at the time.

She would sleep right on my neck at night. I remember waking up and she was practically smothering me with her kitty love. I miss that cat sometimes because she was there when nobody else was……

So is God.

He’s there for you when no one else is & He is there to fill that void. Even when I don’t deserve it, He smothers me with his love and I always know I am special to Him. I’m so far from perfect, yet He accepts me as I am and forgives me. He will see me through this life when nobody else will. He will not only fill that void, but change me and mold me.

Higher than the mountains that i face
Stronger than the power of the grave
constant in the trial and the change

One thing remains

Your love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on me

Because on and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I’ll never, ever, have to be afraid

One thing remains

In death
In life
I’m confident and covered by the Power of Your great love

My dept is paid
Theres nothing that can separate
My heart from Your great love

Jumping Beans

July 8, 2013

On Saturday my sister-in-law Rebecca and I took the kids to Flight Deck Trampoline Park. It was amazing! This is genius…I mean I wish they had these around when I was a kid right? They had a special corner for kids 4 and under so they wouldn’t get trampled on by teenagers. That was nice too. They even had a yogurt bar up in there…for realz. I think we may frequent this place more often and it is so much fun to see the pure JOY on these kiddos faces while having a blast!

Warning: Blurry pictures ahead….it’s hard to catch jumping 3 year olds…………

4th of July 2013

July 6, 2013

Hope y’all had a great 4th of July! It was nice to have a day off to spend with family. I wish it would have fallen on a Friday so I didn’t have to go back to work the day after….but still very thankful for a day off! We’ve been super busy the last few weekends with company in town. My parents came for a visit last weekend. It couldn’t have come at a better time & lifted my spirits to see them. I miss my Mom & Dad soooooo much!

Connor is at such a fun age right now and he’s getting into holidays and understanding them a bit more. He’s my lil’ firecracker 🙂

Terence didn’t want his picture taken. I practically have to chase him down. He’s not as keen on it as I am….ha ha! I made Connor Mickey Mouse pancakes for breakfast. This is something my Nannie made Bonnie and I growing up. We loved it and I knew he would too. He loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, he kept calling them “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” pancakes. We picked up some Starbucks , ate lunch, and did some running around.

I think he ate two of them. He’s getting so big!

Later that night we drove up the hill in our neighborhood and saw fireworks from two different cities. It was very nice weather and a good way to end the night!

Of course the popping noises didn’t end until late into the evening….but you learn to tune those out.

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July. xoxo

Celebrate the 4th of July with #SeattlesBestCoffee

July 4, 2013

Happy 4th of July Y’all!

I have a great giveaway in store for you! If you’ve been reading for awhile you have heard me talk about my love for Seattle’s Best coffee. It’s SO good! I drink a lot of coffee….so I should know right? I wanted to share some fun coffee tips and a recipe for you to enjoy this 4th of July….and while you’re at it go ahead and enter to win this fab prize pack full of Seattle’s Best goodies.

Okay, so first I’m going to show you this great product called a Melitta coffee brewer. It allows you to make a single cup of coffee with this clever brewing cone. All you need is a filter and you’re ready to go.

Cool huh? It’s quick and easy and tastes just as good as brewing in a machine. Just add hot water.
It’s been crazy hot here in Texas. During the summer time I always drink my coffee iced. It’s pretty much the only way I roll in the Texas summers. I was feeling festive so I wanted to create an icy drink perfect for the 4th of July. I brewed my Seattle’s Best Coffee as shown above, poured in a couple tablespoons of hazelnut syrup, and then I dyed my milk red before I mixed it with my coffee 🙂 Topped it with whipped cream and sprinkles….it was so YUM!