Kara Noel Lawson

November 4, 2015 by: Kara Noel Lawson

How to Make a Catapult with Craft Sticks – Homeschool Science!

In honor of the Discovery Cube’s Annual Pumpkin Launch, we made mini catapults with craft sticks, and now I want to teach you how to make a catapult! They are super easy to make, and you probably have all the supplies around your house already…

We also used this as our science lesson. (More about that at the mid-way thought this post)
I taught the kids about force, mass, leverage. And about horizontal and vertical distances.

How to make a catapult…

Stack 7 craft sticks and wrap a rubber band tightly around each end into a bundle. (Science Note: You can experiment with different sized stacks!)

2. Take 2 more craft sticks and wrap a rubber band on one of the ends.

3. Insert the 7-stick-bundle between the 2-stick-stack and stretch a rubber band criss cross to connect the two pieces. (Science Note: The closer the bundle is to the wrapped edge, the more LEVERAGE the catapult will have)

4. Use 2-4 rubber bands to attach the plastic spoon to the end. (Science Note: Experiment with how far up or down on the craft stick you place the spoon.)

Happy pajama catapult launching!

We had launch competitions for distance and height. You can also try launching things of different weight.

Science stuff:

If you want to make this part of a science lesson then here are some things to talk about.

Weight verses Mass
1. Mass is a measurement of the amount of matter something contains
2. Weight is the measurement of the pull of gravity on an object.
3. Weight is measured on a scale.
4. An object’s mass doesn’t change it’s location changes. Weight can change with location.

To illustrate weight with the catapults we launched things of different weights and took note of their different distances.

Horizontal Distance and Vertical Height

1. Horizontal – parallel to the horizon. “side-to-side” (Great to talk about the horizon here too!)
2. Vertical – right angle to the horizon; top is directly above the bottom. “up-and-down”

To illustrate with the catapults, use painters tape to mark the horizontal distance different objects travel. Use painters tape on the wall to mark the vertical height different objects travel. Measure the distances and compare the differences.

Force and Leverage

1. Force – strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement.
2. Leverage – the exertion of force by means of a lever or an object used in the manner of a lever.

Illustrate leverage by experimenting with different placement of the stack between the 2 sticks and force by the pressure you put on the spoon while launching.

Then go to the Discovery Cube’s Annual Pumpkin Launch on Saturday to show you kids the real thing! Giant trebuchets for dayz!
You will have the best time ever.
Because events like these make forever-memories with your family.

Saturday, November 7th from 10am-2pm.
At Cal State Fullerton: 800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92831
There will be food trucks but you can bring a pack lunch.
Pack picnic blankets or lawn chairs to watch in comfort!

Schedule of Events

10am-1pm
Hands-on Activities and Food Trucks
• Archimedes Floating Lab • Catapult Shoot-Out • Reaction Rockets • Marshmallow Mayhem
• Medieval Battle Camp • Da Vinci’s Flight School • CSUF School of Engineering

10:15-Noon
Test Firing of Devices

12:00pm – 12:30pm
Stage Show

12:30pm
Competition Begins

1:30pm
Awards Ceremony

October 30, 2015 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Minimalist Halloween Printables – Spooky Quotes

Happy Halloween!

I made these adorable Minimalist Halloween Printables for you with some of m favorite spooky quotes. Two different printables per 8×10 page. They will fit in a 5×7 frame or used for Halloween goodie tags!

Get some hot apple cider.
Print out the minimalist Halloween printables.

Read a excerpts from Harry Potter. (I want this set for Christmas!)
Enjoy Emily Dickinson poetry. (Poetry for kids book!)
Finish the evening with spooky Shakespeare.

And if you want to read about why we think its important for Christians to celebrate Halloween read all about it here!

Minimalist Halloween Printables

Each set of two minimalist Halloween printables on 8×10 pieces of paper, and will fit in 5×7 frames.
Click here or on the image above to print!

Happy Hallows Eve!

October 22, 2015 by: Kara Noel Lawson

#CosmetiCareMoms VIP Event – You’re invited!

It’s no secret, I got botox… and loved it! If you have been wanting to learn more about the medspa treatments I got (or just want to hang out with champagne and her d’oeuvres) join me at the #CosmetiCareMoms VIP Event.

When: November 5, 2015
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. *Adult-only event.
Where: CosmetiCare Plastic Surgery Center and Medspa
1101 Bayside Drive, Suite 100
Corona Del Mar, CA 92625
You need to RSVP: 949.273.2663 or email inquiry@cosmeticare.com
Why go? #CosmetiCareMoms VIP event is an opportunity for you to learn about the latest in preventative beauty care and non-invasive procedures. Beauty Begins With Knowledge!
Find out lots about the event here.
Many women have questions about aesthetic technology, lasers, body sculpting and other cosmetic
procedures and this event gives them a no-pressure and fun experience to get their questions answered so you can age gracefully and with confidence.

AND PRIZES!!! Attendees will receive loads of opportunity-drawing tickets to win…

Skin Medica TNS Essential Serum ($270.00 Value)
40 Units of Botox ($400.00 Value)
Melt the Fat 1 TruSculpt Treatment ($499.00)
Luscious Lips – 1 Syringe of Juvederm Ultra Plus ($595.00 Value)

I’m dying people!! Come and maybe you’ll win and we can hang out for the evening with other awesome moms and without kids!!

At the #CosmetiCareMoms VIP event you’ll get to visit CosmetiCare’s seven signature rooms, to learn more about noninvasive beauty treatments, like the ones I got…
(see above pic of my “after” face)

In the Skin Care and Glow Room, discover aesthetic technology with instant results and
zero downtime.
Marvel at TruSculpt, a 100 percent noninvasive body contouring option with no downtime, in the Fat Melting Room. (yes please!)
In the Laser Room (nothing to do with Star Wars), consider painless laser hair removal.
Freeze out frown lines with techniques presented in the Freeze & Fill Room, or head over to the Nip Tuck Room to consult with CosmetiCare’s founder Dr. Niccole and his partner physicians.
Curious about costs? Request no-interest financing in the Care Credit Room

But don’t wait till the VIP party!
Enter to win $250 of CosmetiCare Spa Services right now. Enter in the box below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Discover more about CosmetiCare on their site, Facebook, and Instagram.

(How awesome is it that their model has freckles?!?!!!)

October 21, 2015 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Hot Wheels Exhibit at the Cube… because kids like cars

I love being one of the #DiscoveryCubeMoms!

About 3 weeks ago I got to take over The Cube’s social media for a day! And only got harassed by one troll! I would say that’s a win. (September 28th… see if you can find it!)

We just got to visit the new Hot Wheels exhibit and my we loved it.

Someone fell asleep on the way there and woke up on the wrong side of the car seat.
Guess who…

Just like most of the fun at the Cube, the Hot Wheels exhibit is a great mix of electronic and hand-on fun! The Hot Wheels area is sectioned off and you can easily do it in an afternoon. If you have a pass (if you are local, it’s worth it), go in the afternoon. No crowds and you can take your time at each interactive computer station.

We spent almost an hour at the Pit Stop Challenge. It was so much fun to try to change the tires and fill the gas tank in under 2 minutes! When we were all working we got 36 seconds. Try to beat that!

This is my favorite picture from the exhibit. They were so into this little station!
(Side Note: See that life sized poster in the background? There are tons of those explaining different aspects of the exhibit. Out of the corner of my eye, I would suddenly think, “why is that creeper watching my kids!?!?!… oh never mind.”

The signs were helpful, though. And we read every single one… or else how could I count it as a homeschool day?

When you enter the Hot Wheels area there are little boxes by the sign with hot wheels in them, pick up a few and you can use them throughout the exhibit.

And a trip to The Discovery Cube would not be complete without our favorite tried and true exhibits.

This trip my kids discovered the stop motion station and they owned it! I took the little kids to all the downstairs exhibits while the big kids worked on the stop motion. I didn’t expect much because they had never done anything like this before. I know I’m biased because they are my kids, but I couldn’t be more impressed with the outcome. (Side note: It’s things like this I wish my mom could see. She would say they are geniuses and would be totally serious! Love it!)

We had such a wonderful day!

And one of the best parts about making memories with the kids and playing all day long is the quiet car ride home…

October 20, 2015 by: Kara Noel Lawson

etnies Kids shoes on Amazon- #etniesStyle

We’ve been fans of etnies Kids shoes for a long time. (See!).
They have the most durable (and non-baby looking) toddler shoes with velcro closure.
(Can I get a “what-what” for not having to tie laces before getting out of the house?!?!)

etnies kids shoes on amazon now!!
Prime, people!!
(Please tell me you are on prime. If not, we need to have a hear
t to heart!)
We are loving the Scout, Marana and Jameson collections.

Many years ago we got to visit the etnies headquarters right here in Orange County and I learned they were founded in 1986 and are the first skateboarder-owned and operated global action sports footwear and apparel company. (That’s fancy for a skateboarder designed the shoes and clothing especially for his craft!) My kids say etnies are comfortable and I know they are of quality because they last forever (so durable)! I should know… Eli got hand-me-down etnies from a friend and he wore them for over a year, THEN Cyrus wore them for a year.
I mean really?!?!
That’s insane. (They don’t make the brown anymore… it has been 7 years… but these are similar)
Below is a picture of Eli on his first day of preschool… in his etnies, then one of him a few weeks ago. I’m going to go cry in a corner now because he’s basically a man child…

The latest collection of etnies Kids had skate style and is made to last, and you can save big-time if you get etnies on amazon with the checkout code SKATESHOES (code good till 11/5/15).
Hello Christmas gifts!!

Because I just can’t even… here is a pic of Cora Jane in her etnies when she was a toddler and her now. I LOVED those purple toddler etnies!! They don’t carry them anymore but these are pretty similar.

I think the thing I love most about etnies is their sense of responsibility for our planet.
It’s a big deal. (And they’ve always been like that!)
They say, “We skate, surf, snowboard and ride BMX all on our ONE planet. It’s all we have and we want to keep it healthy so we can continue doing what we love.”
Doesn’t that make so much sense.
It really is that simple.
When you buy a pair of etnies, they plant a tree with the Trees for The Future Foundation. Small things, like buying a pair of shoes can add up to something BIG: To date, etnies has planed well over a million trees!
LOVE IT!

Now I can’t talk up etnies without giving you a chance to win some etnies, can I?

Enter the contest below and one winner will get $500 worth of etnies stuff. (I wish I could win this for my boys so so so bad!!!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit amazon.com right now, use the code SKATESHOES (till November 5, 2015) for 20% off!

If you post about etnies be sure you use the hashtag #etniesStyle
Keep up with etnies on the etnies site, twitter, Facebook, pinterest and etnies on amazon!

October 14, 2015 by: Kara Noel Lawson

HomeFront Magazine has my Heart {Free Printable}

Sometimes I forget I have a job.
But I do.
And my hours just went up and I couldn’t be more thrilled!
I know it sounds crazy that I forget about my job, but mothering really takes up so much of my time so when someone asks what I do for a living I say I’m a mom.
I’m a mom 168 hours a week and I’m only an employee for for 10 of those hours.
Maybe it’s because my job is fun so it doesn’t feel like work.

HomeFront Magazine has had my heart since the day I was asked to write my first article almost two years ago.

For the next 48 hours they are offering a free download of the fantastic printable below!

Print that baby and put it up on your wall!
I will be doing the same!

Click here to download and print.
And think about subscribing to the magazine!

October 11, 2015 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Prevention with CosmetiCare – Suddenly I’m Old

I looked in the mirror, and suddenly I’m old.

I’ve always been happy with the way I look.
(I think more women need to say that out loud. So why don’t you just say it right now, even if you don’t believe it.)
I remember being in my early 20s thinking, ‘I can’t wait’ for those smile lines and wrinkles around my eyes to make an appearance. Like a badge of honor for a happy life spent laughing with friends and family.

Hahahahahahaha… (the innocents of youth)

Now, I spend a few minutes every day poking at my face and pulling it up on the sides and thinking… what the H-E-Double hockey sticks happened?!?!? And ‘if only’ this part of my cheek was lifted an eighth of an inch my whole face would look better.

It stinks. I don’t want to feel ugly.
I really don’t.
I mean, my husband tells my I’m pretty all the time… and I’m sure he means it.
But I also sleep with him, and I’ve heard men will say anything to get a girl in the sack.
Do I find my value in what other people think of me?
I’ve actually thought about this a lot.
I don’t. But when I look in the mirror, I want to like what I see.

I’m 35 now and I know about green leafy vegetables (she types as she is shoving cheese-its in her mouth), and I wear sunscreen everyday (it’s in my beauty balm, and that counts right?), I drink loads of water (I really do, I can’t get enough and I rarely drink soda… I crave a Dr. Pepper every so often… well I crave a sip of Brad’s DP. Hahahahaha!)

Any-hoo, what I’m saying is, I don’t think the cleanser-toner-moisturizer-sunscreen routine is enough anymore. I know I don’t want a face lift. That scares me.
(Side Note: If I ever go under the knife, it will be for liposuction or a tummy tuck. #justbeingreal)

Praise the Lord, I was chosen by CosmetiCare to be one of their #CosmetiCareMoms at just the right time!

I have to admit, when they invited me to be involved, I was like, “Have you read my blog?” It’s not really the fashion-forward-style-tip type thing… I blog more about inner beauty and how the Small Things we do in our lives can make a big difference in our family, community and the world. But after hearing the heart of the CosmetiCare medspa and meeting Dr. Michael Niccole, his family and his staff, (AND trying the hydrafacial, Juvederm and Botox), I’m sold.

#CosmetiCareMoms

CosmetiCare isn’t about copying someone else’s face or changing the way you look, they are about helping people love the way they already look. And giving women the tools they need to maintain their natural beauty. This really has to start before you start to get wrinkles to slow down the signs of aging or or treat issues like acne and brown spots. If you start taking care of these things now with nonsurgical treatments, then you won’t “need” something more invasive later. (Related Note: I’m using the word “need” loosely. This isn’t about conforming to another person’s ideal beauty, but making an individual feel more comfortable in their own skin.)

Prevention with CosmetiCare Tips…

– Don’t go it alone. Build a trusting relationship with anti-aging experts who can give expert, up-to-the-minute advice and create a skin regime just for you. Only trust your skin to a medspa managed and staffed by professionals (certified nurses, estheticians and surgeons).

– Botox won’t let you down. Start to use Botox as a preventative wrinkle-smoothing measure before the severe frown lines between the eyebrows, form. You could postpone those wrinkles for years, and no one would even know! (I can attest to that!!)

– The lift without the snip. Loss of volume in cheeks can make a women look sad or even angry. Voluma is an injection that adds volume and lift to your cheeks. It has the ability to enhance contour and create a more youthful profile without needing to take a drastic, invasive step like implant surgery.

– Plump it up. Young, healthy skin is resilient and plump because of the natural existence of a hydrating substance called hyaluronic acid (HA). Age and sunbathing (hey there everyone in So Cal) reduced the HA level in your skin. Less HA is the culprit for facial wrinkles and folds – those parentheses lines around your nose and mouth. Fillers like JUVÉDERM are the medspas’ version of HA. They can even out wrinkles around the mouth and nose with one treatment! It’s natural-looking results last up to a year – ideal for a woman on the go.

– Lasers! Orange County boasts an average of 278 consultatively sunny days a year. We love soaking up that sunshine – until we see the results, including sun damage, freckles and lesions. Medspas use laser resurfacing to remove layers of skin cells rather than the damaged ones only, and can reduce the appearance of scars, minimize deep wrinkles and even out skin tone. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) uses light pulses that target darker pigmentation in the skin, breaking up discoloration and leaving lighter areas of skin untouched. IPL also is used to fade freckles and lesions.

I found the ones that are right for me. Which one is right for you?
Schedule a consultation with a medspa to find out.

Discover more about CosmetiCare on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube.

September 15, 2015 by: Kara Noel Lawson

DIY CC Geography Maps {week 1 and 2}

We started homeschooling last year and we are loving every minute. Our curriculum is called Classical Conversations and it is fantastic. I wanted to share this printable DIY CC Geography Maps for weeks 1 and 2. All you need is a glue stick, one piece of blue, green, brown and red construction paper and the free printables I have below!

Even if you don’t use Classical Conversations, you may want to make these maps at home – one for the Fertile Crescent (CC week 1) and one for the Assyrian Empire (CC week 2).

Fertile Crescent Map:

-Print the Seas on blue paper.
-I used dry erase markers on the CC Trivium table to show the kids the area on the map we were making.
-Cut out the section of the Mediterranean Sea from the and paste to the left of the map.
-Use pencil to draw where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers run.
-Rip small pieces of blue paper and paste down the flow of the Rivers. We talked about how the water in the river is always choppy, moving, and flowing along the landscape.
-Cut 2 small circles (about 1″ in diameter) to represent Mesopotamia and Sumer.
-Use black marker to draw a big downward crescent (just like the shape of the fertile crescent) in the blank area of the map and write the word “fertile” inside.

Assyrian Empire Map:

-Print the Seas on blue paper.
-Print this page of Assyrian Empire symbols. (This really is a symbol found in Assyrian Empire art. It has a warrior using a bow and arrow, just like the sign in the Timeline song!)
-Us dry erase markers on the CC Trivium table to show the kids the area on the map we were making.
-Cut out the section of the Red Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf from the Seas printout, then paste them where they are on the section of map
-Cut out one Assyrian Empire symbol and paste to the top of the map.
-Cut 1 small circle (about 1″ in diameter) to represent Babylon.
-Use black pencil to write Assyrian Empire to the bottom of the map.

(Quick printable reference: Click here for the Assyrian Empire symbol. Click here for the Sea outlines)

And for all my local homeschooling friends, looks what’s coming to The Cube!
Here are all the Hot Wheels exhibit details!
We can’t wait to check science off for the month after a trip to the exhibit.

September 9, 2015 by: Kara Noel Lawson

I Tried Juvederm at CosmetiCare and it was Intense!

I tried Juvederm at CosmetiCare …and it was intense!

If you are following along on instagram, I was chosen to be a CosmetiCare Mom! I’ve tested some of their popular treatments and now I’m sharing my opinions.
First I tried the HydraFacial (amazing) then botox and finally Juvederm.

This was out of my comfort zone and I was very nervous at the appointment.

My medspa provider, Suzanne Rogers, was really great (she did my botox treatment as well). So far, all of the CosmetiCare staff has been really great! She walked me through the whole process. Even when I passed out.
Yes, you read that correctly.
We’ll get there.

Juvederm is a very daring treatment (to me) but I really trust the people at CosmetiCare. Juvederm is a smooth gel filler that plumps out wrinkles. The gel is hyaluronic acid and is so safe you can drink it. Suzanne said by adding some filler around my cheekbones the bags under my eyes would be much less noticeable. This was really stepping out of my comfort zone.

The Juvederm injections were a little more painful than the botox (but nothing crazy) and the gel made a funny clicking noise as it is being injected. This is when I started getting a little woozy… and my hand started to feel a little tingly. I thought I was maybe dying of a heart attack (paranoid much?), I told Suzanne, and she got me some ice and had me lay flat for a few minutes. Then I was good to finish.

So, did I actually pass out cold? No.
Did I start to blackout? Yes.
I was seriously so so nervous.

Below is my before picture.
Even when my face is relaxed, you can see lines across the top of my forehead.
I don’t mind them that much, but it’s one of those things I know will only get worse with time… unless I start some sort of prevention plan NOW… before the wrinkles set permanently.
I think I would mind that quite a bit!

I got Juvederm at CosmetiCare 3 weeks ago so I’ve been able to get used to the way my face looks a feels and I’m super happy with the results! I really don’t get why there is such a stigma on medspa treatments. I mean women spend thousands on make-up/skincare and hair color with no stigma. And think about the chemicals going on your body every single day in skincare. (Well, not on mine because I use this.) That gives me a little more grace for the botox. (At least that’s what I tell myself!)

I’ll lay out my pros and cons for my CosmetiCare Juvederm treatment.

Juvederm ($800):
Cons –
-You get poked and it hurts.
-It almost made me pass out.
-It makes a creepy clicking noise… and although Suzanne warned me… it was weird.
-My cheekbones were sore for over a week. Everything looked great from the outside but I was little sensitive to the touch.

Pros –
-Injections don’t take long.
-The results last a year. YES, A YEAR!!!
-Looks so natural. People will say you look good or well rested, but they won’t guess you had injections.
-No injection marks or downtime.
-It will get rid of the bags under your eyes and keep your face looking fresh, not droopy.
–It works.

Final thoughts on Juvederm –
I’m so happy with the results for the bags under my eyes. I might start doing this yearly or every 18 months in a few years.

I can’t stress enough with both the Juvederm (and botox), that it really works!

Buuuut you are trusting someone with your face. Don’t take it lightly… this is your face people!!! Go with someone you trust. Dr. Michael Niccole has run this family owned business for 33 years. I’ve met his wife and his kids and they are good people. Really. CosmetiCare is located in Newport Beach and the staff is great. They know what they are doing and you really feel like you are part of the family when you are there for your appointments.

Here is a picture of me without make-up in the morning.
It’s from a snapchat with my hubby.
Sometimes I like to rub it in that I get to work at home in my PJs and drink percolated coffee while he is slaving away in an office.
#MarriedCoupleConversations

Read about my botox treatment at CosmetiCare too!

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