Posting Via Email

Emily's face when she realized she won first all around for the third meet in a row!!

So, please bear with me.  I am figuring out this whole posting via email thing.  I take so many pics with instagram these days and would love to share them with all of you!!

Blog/Life Recap of Quarter 4

 

I kept telling my bloggy pal Janette that I was going to participate in the 2011 Review Extravaganza and I’m finally keeping my word!!

 

Before I review my blogging goings on, I just want to tell you what I learned in life this December:

 

1. Being out of town 5 consecutive weekends prior to Christmas isn’t exactly the greatest way to get prepared for said holiday.  Although I thoroughly enjoyed all my trips and wouldn’t take them back, Christmas really sidled up on my this year.  Now that I’m finally in the mood, it’s O.V.E.R.!

 

2.  Having the main floor of my house painted 2 weeks before Christmas wasn’t a very smart move either.  Yes, I’m loving the freshness and the color.  But, I didn’t have time to sit at home and babysit the painters for the entire week. Not to mention, I missed my daughter’s fieldtrip to the science museum waiting for aforementioned painters to show up on the second day (which they finally did at 2 pm… could have made it after all).  Also, not to mention, I wasted my last week without kids sitting at home instead of being out shopping for them (see #1 for the reason I needed to shop).

 

3.  When life gets too busy crazy, I don’t blog.  It’s not that I don’t want to, but it becomes one more thing on my “have to do” list.  I resent it along with everything else on that list.

 

4.  My kids continually amaze me, in both good ways and bad.  Emily took first all around in her third straight gym meet, Max and Jack both earned their green belts in Tai Kwon Do.  Finley learned the phrase, “I will never ever EVER be naughty again,” and used it daily.  He followed it with “I love you SOOOOO much.  You are my best friend.” 

 

5.  My husband CAN still surprise me… he went to Jared for Christmas and made me feel like a princess. :))

 

Ok, Blog Recap:

 

October was a pinning, crafting, boot wearing, What I Wore Wednesday and Talk To Us Tuesday kind of month.

In November, I started to get busy with the kids but continued my addiction with Pinterest and boots, started new addictions with Twitter and Instagram, and spent a large amount of time in Jack’s class.

  In December, I tried to organize my Christmas plans via pinterest, spent all the time that I could in Jack’s class, and got my new laptop!!  Woot woot!!  I still don’t have everything switched over but I’m working on it.  Yeah, basically not a blogging month for me. :(

Cheers to 2012!  My motto for 2011 was “Making the effort” which helped keep me focused on my family.  I think for 2012, I’m going to go for “Keep it simple.”  I still have a few hours to decide, right?

I have a NEW laptop!!

So, I have a new laptop people!!!  I’m back to blogging.

                                   {{{cutting a jig}}}}

I don’t exactly have any pictures uploaded on here yet. I still have to transfer all of my stuff over as well… 

BUT, I just wanted to let those of you who actually read what I write that I am back in action.

 

GO SAINTS!!

Christmas Planning

WOW… I just realized that I have been OUT OF THE STATE for 12 days out of the last 17.  No wonder I feel like I can’t get caught up.  It was worth it all, though.  We spent Thanksgiving in Colorado with my BFF (aka my sister) and then headed to North Carolina this past weekend to ride the Polar Express (if you follow me on twitter, then you were privy to pics). 

Now, it’s already the 5th of December!!

It seems like I’ve been so excited for this season and tossing ideas in my head for so long…

it’s time to EXECUTE and I’m STILL not sure where to focus my energy.

 Here are some of the ideas I want to complete ASAP:

Source: thatvillagehouse.blogspot.com via Liberty on Pinterest

 

I want to do a variation of this inside though…

 

Source: diycrafts.blogspot.com via Liberty on Pinterest

 

For my dining room table (guess I have to clean the craft stuff off first).

 

Source: thecreativityexchange.blogspot.com via Liberty on Pinterest

 

For end tables or as accents on the bar in the kitchen?

 

Source: restorationhardware.com via Liberty on Pinterest

 

This is a good one for the kids to get knee deep in!

 

NOW… ideas for the kids and Jack’s class:

 

 

Source: etsy.com via Liberty on Pinterest

 

 

 

 

Source: planningwithkids.com via Liberty on Pinterest

Source: squidoo.com via Liberty on Pinterest

Source: craftfairy.blogspot.com via Liberty on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Liberty on Pinterest

Source: thevirtualvine.com via Liberty on Pinterest

 

Ok, I feel a little more organized… and a bit like the Little Engine… I think I can,

I think I can,

I think I can.

“i am thankful” Handprint Tree

I saw this idea on Pinterest…  AND I actually followed through and made it!!  I am in the process of helping each kiddo in Jack’s class make one BUT those aren’t quite finished yet.  It’s quick and easy…  a little paint and some cardstock/construction paper and you are good to go. 

For this project, paint the hand and a little of the forearm brown so you have the tree trunk and the branches when you place the hand/arm on the paper.  Next, squirt a tish of green paint along the bottom and let your child use his/her fingers to make the grass.  I let little man make the leaves out of his tiny finger prints in red, orange, and yellow all on his own. 

Since we are so close the Thanksgiving, I asked Finn (and each child in Jack’s class) what they were thankful they had in their lives, typed them all out, and cut them into little strips.   I glued Finley’s for him, but each child gets to glue their thankful items anywhere they want on their tree.  I absolutely LOVE watching the creativity flow with the little people in my life.

Each child has their very own stamped name plate that will be attached with mini brads.  Kids are sooooo proud of their artwork and need something fancy now and then to accent it!!  (imo anyways)

Linking up here this week!!

Pinned it, Did it, Loved it!!

Sorry for the absence as of late.  The sickness germs have officially made it through my house not once, but TWICE.  But, never fear…  I have had a shot in my hiney and some other good drugs to make me as good as new (good thing I have a good doctor).

Source: holycrickey.tumblr.com via Liberty on Pinterest

 

So, like a good many of you I’m sure, I pin all of these fabulous ideas with aspirations of recreating them all!  I spend so much time getting inspired that I run out of steam…

BUT, my Bath and Bodyworks plug in oil scent was out and I remembered the above pin!  I followed the tutorial filling the empty container with water and essential oils.  I used about 20 drops each of orange and clove oils (that’s what I had on hand).  I plugged it in and holy crap, it smelled amazing!!  I wasn’t sure how well it would work, so I only filled it about 1/2 full.  It only lasted a week or so, but I will definitely do it again.  You can change up your scents more frequently and it is a much healthier alternative. 

I am working on my posts about Finley’s birthday party (that was, ahem, almost 2 months ago) and finishing up a super cute craft in Jack’s class tomorrow.

Stay tuned for the details!

Linking up Here

One More Snack… I can’t help it!

I really got excited this year for the Halloween snacks…  didn’t plan on it but it just kind of happened.  When I was shopping for the bananas for my banana ghost/buddies, I found these yummy looking little brownies.  I knew the kids would love them and the spider brownie idea was born.

All you need is mini brownies, pretzel sticks for the legs, and butterscotch chips for the eyes.

Place the pretzel sticks in the brownie for the legs.

Then squish the butterscotch chips pointy side down to make the eyes.

Ta Dah…..  Brownie Spider!! 

Okay, I know food posts are NOT my forte, but these little snacks were just too cute not to share.  I promise to get back to my sewing craftiness soon.  Thanks for indulging me my friends.

Linking up here

Banana Ghosts… Nom Nom Nom

Aren’t they cute??  A yummy and healthy Halloween treat! 

You want to make them with your kids don’t you? 

Well, of course you do so here’s how:

Supplies:

Banana (I cut them in half as I did this as a snack in Jack’s kindergarten class…  11 bananas are ALOT cheaper than 22!)

Mini chocolate chips

Regular chocolate chips

You may even have all the supplies you need at home already.  :)

Peel the banana.

When placing the chocolate chips in the banana, push the pointed tip into the banana so it will stick in well.

Insert two mini chocolate chips for the eyes.

Place one large chocolate chip under the eyes for the ghost mouth.

That’s it!  You are done!!

You can adapt this yummy snack for a year round treat.  Em was still hungry after she ate this one.

So, she made a banana buddy next.

The kids can randomly stick the chocolate chips all over the banana for a “buggy” affect. 

I mean, honestly, we all know that chocolate and bananas go fabulous together.  This is easier to make and much healthier than a banana split.  So, hand over the chocolate chips

and let those kids create!!!!

Linking up here this week!

Ghost Feet in Kindergarten

The first time I saw a little foot turned into a ghost was when I got a little one made from foam in the mail.  It was so stinkin cute!!!  Impressed, I thought to myself, “I’m going to do that!” 

Never happened.

Then, I saw this:

Source: thejohansonjourney.blogspot.com via Janette on Pinterest

 

Two days later, my son’s kindergarten teacher asked me if I would be interested in doing a Halloween craft for the class. 

SWEET!!!!  LITTLE GHOST FEET!!!!

was all that ran through my mind for a split second.  I was very excited when she liked my idea. :)

Just in case you haven’t seen this around… all you need is white paint, black paper, and supplies to make the ghost face and VOILA!  You have preserved your little one’s foot forever.

The kiddos were giddy the WHOLE time I was in the classroom which was super cute.  (Yeah, I let a bunch of 5 year olds sweet talk me.  Some of them are smooth talkers already!  God help their future girl/boyfriends, seriously.) I helped them with the footprint and let them create their own face with googly eyes and a black crayon.

Then, I punched holes along the bottom of the cardstock and threaded a ribbon through the holes.

Each picture is topped off with a little poem that my sister and I made up together over the phone.

The little boy ghosts have a blue sparkly bow tie and the little girl ghosts have a pink sparkly hair bow (sparkle makes everything more beautiful… just ask Bella!)

I was so  impressed with each child’s creativity.  Even more, I feel so blessed that I was able to share in making this memory with all of them.

So, if you haven’t done this craft with your own kids yet…

GO, DO IT NOW!

I wish I would have done it several years ago the first time I saw it.  I am definitely doing it with all of my kids this year (even though Max’s foot is the same size as mine).

Linking up here this week!

It’s Almost Wednesday

 Those I call “friend”

I seriously am trying to blog more my friends… I just can’t seem to find a balance between all of the many hats I wear.  If I spend more time blogging, I feel neglectful of my house and family.  If I spend all of my time with my house and family, I feel like I’m losing the “creative me.”

(Which makes me a bit grumpy, sad to say but true.  If I don’t make time to unleash my creative side I’m not very fun to be around.)

Anywho, there’s my little sob story for the evening.

NOW, for something a bit brighter;

 

I’m participating in Welcome Wednesday over at Take it From Me!!  Come join along. :)

Apple Festival

So, I mentioned that I was all excited about fall this year.  We were actually able to go somewhere as a family that didn’t involve a sporting event or grocery shopping!!!  Honestly, I don’t know that last time we were able to do something fun like this with the kids. 

Our destination:  The Apple Festival in North Georgia.  It only took us about an hour and a half to get there and it was WELL worth the drive. :))

Who would have thought that picking apples could make ALL of my kids so happy??

As you can see, Finn is over the top and Max is assuming his tween picture attitude.  Despite his “Seriously, Mom?” look that I want to slap off his face, he was almost as excited as the little ones (at least that’s what I’m telling myself.)

I don’t think Finley stopped smiling until he fell asleep tonight.  He kept running through the trees, knocking all the low apples to the ground, and SQUEALING in delight. 

In proper independent style, Emily took off on her own so I wasn’t able to get as many pics of her.  I was the loud mouth mom yelling, “EMILY” every minute that I couldn’t see her.  I’m sure everyone there was thinking, geez lady control your kids already.  She found some of the biggest apples… like seriously BIG:

It’s bigger than my hand!

Jack with one of our bags of loot.

In the car on the way home, Finley said, “What a wonderful memory we made.”  Geez, he’s 3!  Where does he come up with this stuff??