Author Archives: Jenn Rian
Product Review: Blackout EZ Window Cover
We’ve been very blessed that we have little difficulty getting the children to sleep at night. We usually begin our bedtime routine (potty, pajamas, brush teeth, books, songs, sleep) around 6:30-6:45PM and both kids are asleep by 7:30PM most nights (often sooner!).
Then there’s summer with all of the sun and all of the brightness going on until nearly 9PM. So last year I began my search for the best window covers to block out the most light so that we could continue with our glorious early bedtime routine. Well, I found them…
Blackout EZ Window Cover!
Seriously, if you need to block the light coming from a window these are the window covers that you need!
In the following video I sing the praises of the Blackout EZ Window Cover and I demonstrate just how dark the room is with them installed. (Watch on YouTube)
We love these window covers so much that we have them in ALL of the bedrooms…including ours! My husband works shifts, so when he works midnight and sleeps the next day, the Blackout EZ Window Cover keeps the room really dark so that he can get the best quality sleep.
Not only does the Blackout EZ Window Cover block out all of the light, but it has many other great features that make it the best window cover on the market.
*It’s super easy to install!
All you need is a tape measure and scissors! (And you don’t really NEED the tape measure either)
No drill, screwdrivers, or other tools needed!
*It installs with your current window treatments already in place!
You don’t need to remove your curtains or blinds to install!
*It’s well made!
Don’t ask me how, the fabric is practically indestructible but cuts easily with scissors.
*They look great!
No ugly blanket or funky shades, from the outside all you see is white, which is in compliance with most Home Owner’s Associations. (Scroll down for photo)
*Easy to clean.
In over a year I haven’t needed to clean them, but if I do you just wipe them down…unlike blinds and shades which are horrible to clean.
*Total privacy
The cover blocks out everything, unlike blinds, no one can see anything inside.
If you can’t watch the video right now here a few photos showing the level of light in the room before and after the covers were installed. To see what the room looks like with the lights off you’re going to have to watch the video because, well, the photos would just be black, so…
WINDOW 1
WINDOW 2
WINDOW 3
View of WINDOW 1 from the outside
Disclaimer: I found, purchased, and reviewed this product on my own. I did NOT receive anything for free, I was NOT compensated in anyway for this review, and I was NOT asked to do this review. All opinions expressed are my own. I just really think this is a great product!
If you have the time, watch this great demonstration video from the inventor of Blackout EZ Window Covers himself. He shows you how to install the covers on 3 different windows.
(Watch on YouTube)
Blackout EZ Window Covers are available for purchase on their website: www.blackoutez.com.
You can follow Blackout EZ Window Covers on Twitter (@BlackoutEZ), Pinterest, and like them on Facebook as well.
If you found this review helpful please leave a comment here or on YouTube, “thumbs up” the video on YouTube, and feel free to like, pin, tweet, and otherwise share this review! Thanks!
Do your kids have trouble sleeping while it’s still bright out?
How do you keep your rooms dark for sleep? Let me know in the comments!
Fun in a dark room!
Shadow Puppets (Links)
Welcome to the 3rd Annual No Housework Party! Link Up!
Today is ”No Housework Day”! Welcome to the 3rd annual No Housework Party blog hop hosted by the Coolest Non-Domestic Mamas on the Block…Jenn and Rachael!
Whether you never lift a domestic finger or you are a dedicated domestic goddess…we’re giving you the day off!
(Click on the button above to get the code.)
Link up any of your housework related blog posts.
Here are a few writing prompts. Get creative!
-How are you celebrating No Housework Day?
-What do you do instead of housework?
-Tell us about that time you tried to clean something and it backfired on you.
-How did you become a Domestic Goddess / Domestically Challenged
-Share your housekeeping/organizing tips and tricks
-Confess your mess…be brave and show us pictures of your messy house
-Tell us your most/least favorite chore
-Why you hate/love housework
-How to you make housework fun (or at least bearable)
-Do your kids help with the housework?
(Link up as many related posts as you want, even ones that you linked last year, just include a link back!)
<div align="center"><a href="https://coolestfamilyontheblock.com/2013/04/05/nohouseworkpartylinkup2013/" title="No Housework Party"><img src="https://coolestfamilyontheblock.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/nhwp5.jpg" alt="No Housework Party" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
Link up here or at Non-Domestic Mama Friday April 05 through Friday April 12 to party!
RULES:
1. Family Friendly links only! Our blogs are the only things clean around here. We only have dirty houses, not dirty mouths.
2. ALL “housework” related posts are welcome (old or new)
3. Link up as many related posts as you like
4. Link directly to your post, not to your homepage
(Please do not link up giveaways).
5. LINK BACK! Grab one or more of our buttons and put it in your post with a link back, or simply link back to Coolest Family on the Block or Non-Domestic Mama in your post.
6. Hop and have fun!
Click below to add your link!
(Because I have a free WordPress.com blog that doesn’t accept javascript the links won’t be visible on my page. You have to click the link above to add/view links. Sorry :()
If you’re a No Housework Party Facebook Fan we’ll be sharing the posts that you link up on our Facebook page. Click here to “like” us.
You can also party with us on Twitter at #nohousework where @coolfamilyblog and @nondomestic will be hanging out instead of cleaning, and follow our Non-Domestic and No Housework boards on Pinterest! 🙂
Coolest Family on the Block is committed to helping you find creative ways to have fun and make memories with your family all year-long. Don’t miss an idea, tip, or trick…subscribe and have updates sent directly to your email!
How to Fold a Towel (Video Tutorial)
I’ve added this to Mama’s Kat Vlogging Workshop as prompt
3.) Make a video about anything…from a table in your kitchen.
Coincidentally I had just made this video last week for No Housework Day. Our kitchen light doesn’t work so I moved the table into the playroom to record the video. Enjoy 😉
I dislike all housework but if I had to pick a favorite chore it would be the laundry. I don’t mind laundry so much. Maybe it’s because there’s really no gross factor like there is with dishes. Maybe it’s because there are only four of us and the laundry is pretty manageable. I don’t know.
I’m actually really good at folding laundry, so I thought I’d show you how to fold a towel. I know, it’s exciting isn’t it? I like to rock a nice, fancy tri-fold with my towels. Also, I fold in the shadows because I am mysterious (or because I have crappy lighting in my house). Watch and learn, my friends, watch and learn.
(Email and feed readers click here to see the video.)
…and. You. Are. Welcome.
I just changed your life.
Spread the word.
If you’re looking for another pointless tutorial you can check out this ooooold one of mine: How to build a jigsaw puzzle.
How do fold your towels? Tri-fold, square, origami elephant? Tell me in the comments!
Don’t forget to link up your housework (or anti-housework) related posts to the No Housework Party April 05-12, 2013!
You can “like” the No Housework Party on Facebook, party with @coolfamilyblog and @nondomestic on Twitter at #nohousework, and follow our Non-Domestic and No Housework boards on Pinterest!
Related Posts:
*My Least Favorite Chore
*10 Things I’d Rather do Than the Dishes
Check out my other vlog for Mama Kat’s prompt #2
Something interesting you received in the mail
Coolest Family on the Block is committed to helping you find creative ways to have fun and make memories with your family all year-long. Don’t miss an idea, tip, or trick…subscribe and have updates sent directly to your email!
Easter Tradition: Easter Bunny Paw Print Trail (2013)
For the third year in a row the Easter Bunny left white paw print tracks all over our family room (which is now the playroom).
(Watch video here)
The kids had to follow the bunny trail to find their Easter baskets.
The Easter bunny hopped in through the window just like he did in 2011 and 2012.
This year he hid Jonathan’s Easter basket inside of the play kitchen.
The Easter bunny hopped all over the playroom leaving his footprints behind.
He even hopped onto the table to get a closer look at Adaline’s stuffed bunny.
Then the Easter Bunny hid Adaline’s Easter Basket under the art table.
Adaline searched for both Easter baskets since Jon is 14 months old and was not very interested in the whole thing.
Adaline was so excited about the Easter Bunny’s footprints being everywhere, she just kept running around in circles pretending she was bunny!
The kids enjoyed inspecting the Easter Bunny paw prints closely.
Yet another fun visit from the Easter Bunny…that rascally rabbit! 🙂
Does the Easter Bunny leave paw prints at your house? Does he hide the Easter basket?
Let me know in the comments!
*FREE PRINTABLE EASTER BUNNY PAW PRINT TEMPLATE
*EASTER TRADITION: EASTER BUNNY TRACKS 2011
*EASTER TRADITION: EASTER BUNNY TRACKS 2012
*50+ EASTER EGG DECORATING IDEAS
*NATURAL DYES FOR COLORING EASTER EGGS
Announcing 3rd Annual No Housework Party
No Housework Party hosted by the Coolest Non-Domestic Mamas on the Block! 😉
Sunday, April 7, is a very important day. A day where women all over the country lay down their mops, clap their dish panned hands together and exclaim…”Today is No Housework Day!”
You, my dear readers, get to be part of something very special. In celebration of this most glorious day of all days on the calendar Rachael from Non-Domestic Mama and myself are teaming up to host the second annual No Housework Party! Oh yes.
Not much will be different for Rachael and I since we avoid housework every chance we get…but for those of you dedicated domestic goddesses…we’re giving you the day off!
From Friday, April 5 until Friday, April 12, stop by and link up your post.
Here are a few writing prompts. Get creative!
-How are you celebrating No Housework Day?
-What do you do instead of housework?
-Tell us about that time you tried to clean/cook something and it backfired on you.
-How did you become a Domestic Goddess / Domestically challenged
-Share your housekeeping/organizing tips and tricks
-Confess your mess…be brave and show us pictures of your messy house
-Tell us your most/least favorite chore
-Why you hate/love housework
-How to you make housework fun (or at least bearable)
-Do your kids help with the housework?
Need some examples?
2012 No Housework Party
2011 No Housework Party
For the Domestically Challenged
Do you hate housework, are you no good at it, or are there simply just not enough hours in the day to do it all? You’re not alone. All over the country non-domestics just like you are sweeping the cobwebs aside (figuratively…we don’t sweep for real, silly!), stepping out into the world and declaring, “I hate housework!”. We’re walking right past our piles of organized chaos and confessing to the world, “I have better things to do than dishes.” Join us on Saturday to link up any of your domestically challenged blog posts. Show us what you do instead of housework, how you plan on celebrating No Housework Day, or tell us about that time you tried to clean something and it backfired on you.
For the Domestic Goddesses
If you’re reading this while wiping your computer screen with a special cloth…you probably need to declare a holiday more than any of us (put the cloth down and back away, you weirdo!). Can’t take off a day of cleaning? You might feel like you don’t belong here, but you couldn’t be more wrong, my friend! You are welcome to link up any of your housework posts…make us feel guilty and show us your tips, tricks, and lovely organized closets. We’ll call you a show off and give you a 😉 winky to your face and then we’ll probably talk about you behind your back…but seriously, you’re totally welcome to link up!
Start planning how you’re going to celebrate No Housework Day (or if you’re a non-domestic…procrastinate and try to come up with something at the last minute 😉 ) and then meet back here or at Non-Domestic Mama April 5-12 to party!
See ya then (leave your broom at home!)
You can also party with us on Twitter at #nohousework where @coolfamilyblog and @nondomestic will be hanging out instead of cleaning, and follow my No Housework board and Rachael’s on Pinterest! 🙂
Coolest Family on the Block is committed to helping you find creative ways to have fun and make memories with your family all year-long. Don’t miss an idea, tip, or trick…subscribe and have updates sent directly to your email!
Half Birthday Celebrations
Yesterday was Adaline’s Half Birthday!
She turned 3.5 🙂
I’ve always wanted to celebrate her half birthday but never have before. When she was younger I didn’t really want her to have the extra cake…and without the half-cake it seems kinda pointless to celebrate the half birthday. Last year I was super pregnant so we skipped it again.
This year seemed like the right time to start. Jonathan’s first birthday is a few days away (can you believe he’s already a year old?!) and Adaline was a little jealous and having a hard time understanding that this is not her birthday, or party, or cake. Giving her a little half-birthday celebration was something special for her before all of the focus shifts to Jonathan.
We celebrated with half of a cake, 3 and a half candles, and half plates.
We also sang Adaline “Halfie Birthday”.
It still sounds like “happy”. Oh well.
(Email and feed readers click here to watch the video.)
At the end of the video she’s running away from the candle smoke. She told us to “Get that stinky thing outta here!”
Adaline received half of a birthday card and a small present from the dollar store. We gave her the whole present. Only giving half of a present to a 3.5 year old would be a little cruel since she doesn’t quite understand it yet.
She was happy with her little celebration but she did get upset because there weren’t any balloons and she asked, “Where are all the people?”. All of those big birthday parties are coming back to haunt me.
In addition to measuring height on their birthday each year it has also been our tradition to measure height on each half birthday. Now I know why none of her clothes fit anymore!
Look how grown up she looks after just 6 months!
This half-birthday took me less than a half hour to plan 😉 All it took was a trip to the dollar store and making/buying a small cake.
(The cake looks deceiving big in the photos…it was very small.)
The scary part is that I only have 6 more months to plan her 4th birthday party!
Do you celebrate half birthdays in your family?
Let me know in the comments!
BIRTHDAY TRADITIONS
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Fun and Dysfunction 