travel bags are ready

Tomorrow we are headed to the Big Apple. Whenever we take a plane ride, the kids always get a new backpack or bag packed with goodies to keep them occupied. This time, they helped design the bags. Each kid went through fabric to pick what they liked. Then, they all decided that they wanted some pockets from our stash of cut up jeans. Add a finger knitted drawstring, some bedazzling and a merit badge (they always think of ways to earn these) and they were set. We filled them with journals, markers and pencils, glue sticks, gum and tic tacs.

I am going to try to blog from the road, so stay tuned.... as mamascout travels with her little pack of crazy.

hacking motherhood

I have some fun news to share. My badges are going to be used in a documentary about modern motherhood, called Hacking Motherhood ! This film looks engaging and just the sort of thing I would want to watch after a long day of living the dream.  You can see the trailer here:





Erika Gronek is a stay at home mother and accomplished film maker. In her words:

"Hacking Motherhood is an edgy, pragmatic documentary about surviving motherhood. It integrates ideas

from all walks of life and all parts of the world to try and develop a survival strategy for today's busy urban mom for the first and hardest year or parenthood. It touches upon pregnancy, birth, parenting strategies, parenting tools, mommy culture, the hard bits and joyful bits of motherhood. Think "What to Expect While You Are Expecting" meets Wired Magazine. Remember there were lots of surprises about motherhood, and it wouldn't be a lot of fun to condense that down into a feature-length documentary? There are plenty of books out there about how to take care of the baby, but how do mother's take care of themselves? Heck, who has time to read anymore anyhow? Why not watch a 90 minute movie right? It is basically an emotional primer.

I really feel like this story has never been told before because most filmmakers happen to be men. Of those who are women, almost none are mothers. To top that off there is that "baby amnesia" that we all get and forget this stuff."

So, lets watch the progress of this film and drop Erika a note of encouragement and thanks for exploring this issue. I am really looking forward to the premier!

turn your merit badges into prize ribbons

Lately, I have been working on making prize ribbons, using my merit badges. I was so excited when I found these ribbons starters at Micheals on clearance! Now is the time to snatch them up! How fun would it be to make a totally, over the top ribbon for a mama who really deserves a little fun recognition? I don't think mothers today have many opportunities to get trophies and ribbons, so this is fun (and funny). I would love to pass out breastfeeding ones as I am bopping around town and run into NIPing moms. Much better than a hassle or snarky look. Also, I am working on a pregnancy one that would be great at a baby shower or blessing way - I will share it soon!

Have a great Monday!

camo bag with badges

This awesome bag was designed by Jenn-O Designs. She makes these cool diaper bags from actual military shirts. Some still have names on them (or she adds the name of a mom or dad serving overseas). This is such a great idea!

 

  This is Courtney, who ordered the bag and the merit badges and had them all put together. I love it!

 

Scrapbook Inspiration

  

One of my favorite things to use merit badges for is scrapbooking or journaling. I like the simple idea of just pasting the badges into a moleskin journal and handwriting the tale of what was endured/accomplished/overcame to earn the badge.What a great gift that would be to give your kid when they have their first child!

If you are more talented with your memory preservation skills (as I am not) you can make something a bit nicer and more complete. This scrapbook was featured on write.click.scrapbook and designed by Elizabeth Dillow. I love the images, lengthy text and merit badge embellishment.

Have you used merit badges in a scrapbook? I would love to see!