May the 4th Be With You

Happy Star Wars Day! We do have a craft that we're working on but won't finish until after school so I thought I'd share some Star Wars Day deals for you if you need to do some online shopping today. You can order early for birthday's or Christmas or you may be on the lookout, as I am, for some entertainment for travel this summer.

 Amazon has Star Wars Gold Box Deals all day today. I see the LEGO watches later and some books too! You'll have to wait until their designated times but should be some good deals!

Hasbro has 20% off all Star Wars toys today using code SWFAN20 at checkout

LEGO has a free poster with any Star Wars purchase

and a free TC-14 with any $75 Star Wars purchase

and a free TC-14 with any $75 Star Wars purchase

Pottery Barn has 20% off some Star Wars gear with Free shipping

and Williams Sonoma a sale on their Star Wars products too!

I'll admit to not "getting" or even seeing any of the Star Wars movies until my kids got into it. I still ask them when I don't understand what's going on but I'll admit it isn't so bad ;) If you're like me - here's what the movies are about

Triangle Plane

I know we have lots of airplane fans here (especially the strawplane) so I thought we'd try out a new kind of paper airplane - the Triangle Plane.

I found a tutorial here on Instructables. So we tried it out for you. You just need a standard 8.5"x11" sheet of paper and some tape.

First fold the paper the long way, hot dog, enchilada whatever you want to call it. Like this:

Then fold it the other way (taco, hamburger)

Then you'll need to open up that fold and take the outsides and fold them into the center fold you just made so that you're making 4 sections.

Then you unfold the paper entirely. You're going to take one end and fold it down about 1/4" or so.

Continue folding it over and over until it reaches the center crease.

Then you're going to shape your paper into a triangle using the creases you made as a guide, creasing the folds so that it's nice and straight.

A bit of tape to secure the 2 sides that are on top of each other (the "bottom" of the triangle)

And that's it!

To through you want to hold the "bottom" of the triangle and slightly squeeze together and toss. This one takes a bit of practice to get going good.

It has similar physics to our paper football. It's not our favorite plane but it's fun to try out different kinds and race! I had a reader email to tell me that her kids had a paper airplane race/competition one day (I lost the email so if it's you shout it out in the comments!) That would be fun to try! My son also said it would be fun to decorate.

Happy flying!

Glasses

We've had a lot happening/changing around here. We are trying to get ready to move, going on a big vacation next month, school is ending, and we've been trying to figure out why my oldest has been breaking out in giant hives all over every single day. On top of that we had an optometrist appt. that told us what he already knew - he needed glasses. Apparently 3rd grade is a big grade for that because both my mom and I got them in 3rd grade. 

We went to a few stores to find him his perfect pair. We wanted him to choose and be 100% happy with them so he'd wear them. He found these and knew they were the ones. As soon as we got home with them we went down the street to take a few photos.

Little brother came along as well so I tried to get a couple of him.

And then I had the brilliant idea of trying for a photo together for the grandma's.

I really can't believe how long it's been since I've taken photos of them just to take photos of them. I need to set a time aside to get some of all of us!

We have a couple posts in the works and are STILL trying to decide what to do for May 4th - you know - Star Wars day. 

Cinnamon Sticks Boutique Winner!

And the winner of the $50 Cinnamon Sticks Boutique GC is...

#40 LESLIE HEDRICK! Congrats Leslie! I'll be in touch to get your info from you!

DIY SUPERHERO SHIRT

I love freezer paper stenciling. It's such an easy and effective way of making personalized items. The shirts and pillowcases I've done so far have lasted through a year or more of washings and are STILL holding up. That's pretty darn good if you ask me!

I Am Momma - Hear Me Roar has a tutorial up on her blog for a super cute Superhero shirt that doesn't scream "I am a character shirt!"

Go check out her instructions or you can find more freezer paper stencling here with my Star Wars pillowcases. I have a little list going from the boys of shirts to make them. Guess I should probably get started!

Speaking of Star Wars did you know that May 4th is Star Wars day? Do we have any superhero or Star Wars fans around here? I have both at my house!

Fort Friday!

It's that time of the week again! Fort time!

Here are some reader submissions this week - always love these.

Noah has a fun colorful fort to hang out in.

Here is Max's quick cozy fort complete with flashlight. Julia says it allowed her to get ready for work :)

Check out the awesome fort AND fort kits from Love Them Madly

REALLY love this from Time of the Aquarius

An easy "fort" idea from the NY times article I posted about earlier this week. Allison V. Smith for The New York Times

A sleepover fort by lhrnciar on Webshots

You'd feel like you were sleeping in a fort everynight if you had these beds. From Scandinavian Retreat

Have a great week everyone! Don't forget - if you want to submit your own fort, just send an email to info@allfortheboys.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US - GIVEAWAY FOR YOU!

Well All for the Boys is 1 year old! Can you believe it? I wanted to do a big birthday week but I got sick, my oldest got sick, and well, life got in the way. But I didn't want to miss giving YOU something for making our first year so amazing.

I want to introduce you to my friend Canela from Cinnamon Sticks Boutique. Canela makes amazing jewelry BY HAND. I overheard her at a conference the process she goes through to create one piece of jewelry and after that I don't think she charges enough LOL! Learn more about her on her blog, Etsy site, or Big Cartel shop. 

I wear Cinnamon Sticks jewelry all the time and always get asked about it. I have some pieces with their names, or dates, or birthstones. I love wearing jewelry that means something to me (and the boys).

Here is just a selection of some of her amazing pieces. I love the stacking rings

Canela is so very generously donating a $50 gift certificate to use in her store to help us celebrate. So this one is for you! You deserve something too (or your wife or mom etc)

TO ENTER: Just leave a comment here (make sure you enter your email address when you add your name so I can contact you and get you in touch with Cinnamon Sticks) 1 comment per person please!

Comments will close at 11:59pm PST Monday April 30, 2012 

I realize this isn't for boys but boys have moms, sisters, grandmas and a lot of them read here! I wanted to give something back to you.  Be sure to check out Cinnamon Sticks Boutique - and her FACEBOOK page!

LESSONS IN THE ART OF PILLOW FORT CONSTRUCTION

Last week a reader, Tim, posted a link to this article written by Matt Ritchel for the New York Times. Lessons in the Art of Pillow Fort Construction. It is a great article if you have time to read through it and love forts as much as we do.  

Stuart Isett for The New York Times

My favorite quote "But maybe the experience isn’t about togetherness. Maybe it’s about letting go. Sure, I may have a few months, maybe years, to collaborate. I’ll show them things. I’ll initiate. But then I’ll have to let them have their home inside our home, apart from us." 

John Kuczala for The New York Times