CALL YOUR BESTIE!

Hi Friends! It has been no secret that I am very fond of my gal pal, Jen, who also is the owner and creative mind behind Swanky Shank (my most favorite Etsy shop. Ever.) I am super proud of her for reaching 5,000 fans on Facebook! She has worked so very hard and is most deserving of a pat on the back.

To help celebrate this achievement, she has come up with the sweetest, most creative giveaway I have ever seen. And she asked me to be a part of it! She is giving away oodles of darling prizes, but the one that takes the cake is a cyber lunch for you and your far away bestie! Isn't that the sweetest? I told ya so ;)

Follow this link to read all about it and find out how to enter: Swanky Shank Blog.

While you're there, you will be introduced to a handful of Jen's pals (including me!) who all radiate creativity in their own way.

Here's a peek at the other prizes YOU can win!

A set of custom wood photo blocks, one to keep and one for your bestie.

Custom note cards, a set for you and one for your fav gal pal.

Two gift certificates to shop at Swanky Shank. (Be sure to check out her new Valentine's Day designs. Heart melting!)

And my fav, custom Close at Heart totes, made by ME! Your bestie will always be near to your heart when you carry this sweet tote around!

This giveaway only lasts for THREE days, so get on it! And call your bestie so she can get on it too!

Included sponsors:

Amanda Hillary Photography
Hello Honey Boutique
{creations by kristi}
Dandy Lion Clothing Co.
KandE Productions
Bliss Studios Photography & Design
Brooke Lewis Photography

Photography by Shelby

Little For a Little While (That's me!)

THE FRIENDLY BEASTS.

Before Christmas break, Nugget had a little Christmas program at preschool. She was excited and nervous the morning of. She'd been talking about it for weeks, telling me in detail which role each friend carried. It melted my Mama heart and then some to finally see it!

She did so great and made the cutest little cow ever, although I may be a tad biased. So proud of my girl.

 

 

Watch it!

PS...I really have no idea why it is titled "The Friendly Beasts". Such an unflattering name for such cute kiddos! Oh well.

DISNEY ON ICE.

We have many holiday traditions that we carry out year to year, and one of them for the past few years has been visiting the 8th floor Christmas display at the downtown Macy's. When I was a kid, the theme changed every year. I only remember going once or twice, but it was always magical. But for whatever reason, Macy's has been stuck on "A Day in the Life of an Elf" for what seems like years on end. Can someone please tell me why? It's always a good time, but this year I was itching to do something a little different. And Disney on Ice was just the ticket.

We sprung it on the kids the day of, just to increase the specialness factor ;) And of course I took that as an opportunity to whip them up some completely unnecessary but oh-so-adorable matching shirts. Thanks to my pal Jen for hooking me up with the coordinating fabrics. She saved me at least an hour of wandering around the fabric store trying to do it myself, with three restless kids in tow.

Nugget requested a bow on hers, so we added this pretty sparkly one, although it didn't fare to well in the wash. Oh well, it served its purpose.

I was also thinking ahead when I stumbled upon these little light up-snow blowing-thingamajigs at Walgreens for $5. I knew something similar would set me back at least $20 a pop at the show. I also brought along the kids' stuffed Mickey and Minnie from a trip to Disney Land a few years back. Because all Moms know one more stuffed animal is JUST what you need lying around your house. I do admit however, that I paid $12 (!) for a bag of popcorn at the show. But it kept every one's munchies at bay so it was worthwhile.

Oh! And the Minnie ears were a recent birthday party favor. Score!

Our seats were great, the kids could see clearly, and we all enjoyed the show! Otto was a little squirmy but that's to be expected.

Her fave: The Little Mermaid. (Duh!)

His fave: Peter Pan!

Perhaps next year we'll revisit Macy's. Maybe we'll find a new adventure. I guess it doesn't really matter, as long as we're together making memories.

 



We capped off the fun with dinner at Macaroni Grill, and it was a happy day indeed.

xx

HOW MY BABY GIRL LOST HER FIRST TOOTH.

I don't know how this is even possible, but my baby girl has lost her first tooth. It hit me smack dab in the face leaving me stunned for a few moments, but then my Mama heart was so full with seeing her joy that it almost burst. Here's how it went down.

Monday:

Nugget hops in the van from the pick up line at preschool and says "Mom. Today for snack we had the pretzels you brought in. And when I was eating them I bit down and said 'Oww!' and my tooth was loose!"

And I'm thinking OMG! Really?! She had been complaining of her tooth hurting a few days ago. I made a note to make an appointment with the dentist but had forgot. I was thinking she may have a cavity, not on the verge of loosing her first tooth! So I asked her to show me her so-called loose tooth, and sure enough, there it was wiggling around before my very own eyes. I got all excited and started hyping it up, but she was yet to be sold.

Over lunch and through the afternoon, she quickly moved from "this might hurt" to "this is going to be awesome". She wiggled that thing the whole live long day, often times stopping to check it out in the mirror.

I of course, grabbed the camera so that I can remember her little chicklet toothed smile forever.

Tuesday:

We had talked a bit about how the tooth process worked, that it could happen soon or take a few days. She even let me check its wiggle status a few times. I knew it was going to happen soon, so I was prepared ;)

That afternoon, the constant playing with the tooth was starting to get to her. She was afraid to eat for 1) that it would hurt, and 2) that she would swallow her tooth. I asked her if I could pull it out and she said yes! (Seriously, was this my child?!). I used a kleenex to attempt to get a grip on that tiny little thing and I gave it a few unsuccessful tugs before she'd had enough. I told her it just needed more time and to try to be patient. She went upstairs and used the bathroom. When she came back down she said "Mom, I want it out."

Okay Sister. If you insist. With only one swift tug this time I had that baby out and wrapped safely in the kleenex. She didn't even know I had gotten it out! Once she realized she was ecstatic and kept slipping her tongue into that now empty spot.

Come bedtime we whipped up a quick tooth pocket for her to leave it in for the Tooth Fairy. Seriously, that thing was so itty bitty, we were afraid it would get lost!

She drifted right to sleep and was pleased as punch to find a pack of gum, a special sparkly fairy dollar and a Rainbow Dash My Little Pony in its place the next morning! She's got one awesome tooth fairy!

Now my baby girl looks at least two years older, and I've placed another Mama badge on my sash.

Handmade Giving: Hand Stamped Dish Towels

I am so honored to have been included in my friend Alicia's Handmade Giving Series for the holidays. Lots of my real life friends have been asking me about it, so for archives sake, here's the post ;) You can also find Alicia here.

Hello! I am so excited to be a part of this Handmade Giving series! The holidays really amp up my need to create, and I have enjoyed popping over to Alicia's blog to get new ideas and inspiration. And now its my turn to contribute. What an honor!

This craft is simple and quick, which is exactly my style while tending to the needs of my three little ones. And not to mention, it makes the perfect little hostess gift, which comes in quite nicely this time of year.

So, hand stamped dish towels. Here's the deets:

First, gather these few simple supplies. You can find some fun stamps here.

Next, lay out your chosen word. I always space mine out like this first to make sure I don't run out of room and am happy with the spacing before committing to ink. (The blank spaces are for the duplicate letters.)

Get your stamps good and inked, checking them for any missed spots before pressing them onto the fabric. Once your word is complete, cover it with a spare dishtowel or scrap piece of fabric. Set your iron to the cotton setting, and iron over it. This will be sure to set the ink and prevent it from fading in the wash.

The flour sacks I purchased came as a pack of three, so I had fun playing around with this little phrase. You could gift them individually or as a set!

Tie them together with a little bakers twine, and raid your leftover craft supplies to add an embellishment or two.

And there you have it.  The sweetest little hostess gift for your next holiday party.

FAMILY PHOTOS.

Here's a little peek at our family photo session captured at the end of the summer. Spoiler alert: You will see these again on our Christmas card!

 5 years

 2 1/2 years

 6 months

 

 

*As always, photos taken by my sweet friend, Jennifer Bahn Photography. She's simply the best!

MOSTLY RANDOM THOUGHTS.

Seeing as we had our first snowfall of the season last night, it only seems appropriate that I finally get around to posting some fall photos. Or better yet, summer. I think it's safe to say that if I threw one thing out the window when I became a mother of three it was my ability to keep up with blogging. Ahh, whom am I kidding? My ability to keep up with anything, more like it. There is always something to be done, someone who needs me, and although I have all the intentions in the world of tackling things like blogging once the kids go to bed, well....I'm tired. So there you have it. Since it's November, the month of thankfulness, maybe I should just be thankful for the posts I have written, and not feel guilty over the growing stack of memories waiting to be documented. I'm going to work hard on blogging this month. I really am. Because when I sit down and look back through this little blog here, I am never sorry that I took the time for it. So forgive me in advance if you happen to see a post from, um, July, thrown in the mix. Mkay?

***

Focusing on the littlest one here for a minute, look at how big he is already!

He is such a happy and quiet little soul. I love him so much I could just eat him up. Although time is passing quickly, it doesn't make me sad. I know that each stage gets a little bit easier,  lots of learning and discovering is happening, and I'm getting a little more sleep!

He's doing all kinds of crazy cute things, like slugging along everywhere. We've also seen lots of pulling up to his knees (sometimes even to his feet!), rocking on his hands and knees, and popping new teeth left and right (he has 4 to count!)

 

This little man is named after my grandfather. And although Otto never got to meet him, I catch little glimpses of my Grandpa Joe in him all the time. Grandpa was a quiet man, he didn't say much. But he was always there, dependable and a hard worker. He had blue eyes and dimples to die for. And sometimes I wonder how things like that work out. How we passed on this name for two other kids, like all along it was being saved just for him. But mostly, it makes me grateful to see reminders of loved ones through the eyes of our little ones.

***
Kids are waking up from naptime, so that's all I can say for today Hope to be back soon(er) than later!

xx