Apple Prints

Apple Prints with Toddlers = EASY!!!

First: Cut the apples in half.  I did some vertically for the traditional print and some horizontally for a fun star in the middle print.  

Second: Dip in the ink.  

Third: Stamp on the page.

We used a stamp pad instead of paint to minimize the mess.  Worked like a charm.  Liv wasn't interested at first, but when she realized she could eat and stamp at the same time, she was on board.  Laine loved it.  We stamped for like 20 minutes.  That is serious toddler concentration!

We did a lot of practice stamps on a piece a paper and then when we got really good, put some on a plate, and gave them to the grandparents sort of as a Rosh Hashanah card.  

Let's remember that apple stamping works great as a fall project too!  And seriously...this was the easiest project we've done so far.  Actually doable....no mess...loved it!

Happy New Year!

Did everyone know it's Rosh Hashanah??? It isssss!!! And that means apples and honey and round challah and honey cake...in case you didn't know.  In my class, we would always vote on our favorite kinds of apples and you know honey crisp won every time!  I bought my first honey crisps last night and they did not disappoint.  I also bought a huge red stamp pad and cut some apples in half so they girls could do a Rosh Hashanah art project, but we haven't gotten to that yet...we will!!!

Not to jump around, but I'm jumping.  I have been so afraid to blog this week.  Weirrrrrrrrd!  I mean...not afraid, but just don't feel like I have anything worthy to type.  I've even been working on a worthy project...art table!!! It has been primed and has the first coat of paint and I'm even going to Chevron the top of the table and maybe even the seat of the chairs...maybe!  I might even use this tutorial:

Annnnnnnnnd another jump.  We're going to New Orleans tomorrow to visit with some best friends.  Short and sweet trip.  I've got children's museum on the brain.  Like...what are these girls going to think of the bubble???? OMG! OMG!  I can't wait! 

Happy, Healthy New Year my friends!

Fall Flava!

I really want a pumpkin spice latte and to buy pumpkins and put a bale of hay on my porch, but it is just sooooooooooooooooo hot!  Too too hot.  Don't worry...I've found a way for us to slip into fall flavors and it doesn't matter the weather.

Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Thank you Gina from skinnytaste.  I haven't made them yet.  These are her pics, but I wish I had one right now.  I better go hurry up and buy some pumpkin.

Yes please!!

Happy Weekend Friends!

Link Parties=Cult????

It's Thursday!!! You know what that means.  Damaris is in charge and I'm having a heavenly hour at the coffee shop.  There's water today!! I've got my latte in a big huge "for here" mug.  Heaven!

Sooooo link parties.  I'm always finding new blogs one way or the other.  A blogger I already love talks about someone new in their post of the day or I see a comment on someone's blog with the link to another, or I find someone new on pinterest.  Welllllll.....I was reading a blog I found on pinterest the other day and at the end of the post, she types "linking up to..." and then goes on to list 5 or 6 sites where she posted a project from her own blog.  So I click over to one and at the top of that page it says "Link Party!"  I clicked on the next one...same thing and the next one...you get what I'm saying.

Link Parties!!! Honestly, I think they were created to drive traffic to the hostess' website, but I guess it's a win win.  Some pages have hundreds of party entries and some have over 1000....crazy.  I don't know ya'll....it almost feels pyramidish or cultish, but I did it anyway.  I linked up!  Ha!  Every "party" has rules and you are supposed to link back on your own site or post their "button" somewhere on your blog.  So here they are:

Beyond the Picket Fence

House of Hepworths

Somewhat Simple

Fireflies and Jellybeans

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Delightful Order

Now each of these sites has a link to yesterday's project.

I've already taken an order for a "B."  Maybe if you message me on Etsy that you saw it on Milkweed, you'll get free shipping.  Maybe...if you include in the message that you posted this on pinterest or facebook, then you'll also get 10% off.  Just saying...maybe.

Fall Monogram Door Hanger

I actually made something ya'll!  I was just on a roll yesterday and had some time to swing by Hobby Lobby and the girls took a long nap, so here it is...

Fall Monogram Door Hanger...step by step:

First collect these supplies.

I wanted to make a combo of this and this, both found on pinterest.So here we go:

1- Start with a little bit of hot glue either at the top or bottom of your letter, just make sure it's on the back.  2- Attach the jute and then wrap and wrap and wrap and wrap until you get to the end and finish it off with glue.
3- Read this tutorial to make your pom pom mums and then attach with glue.
4- Measure out a piece of jute and three pieces of yarn to make your "hook."  Tie a not facing the back of the wreath with all of the pieces.  Loop it around and make another knot with the other end of the strings.

Done!  Easy.  You gonna do it?? DO ITTTTT!

Treats!

Did ya'll know I've been baking and making good for you treats?? I haaavvee! It's like my new afternoon nap hobby.  I've got three food blogs that make me soooo giddy when they update! The Alkaline Sisters, My New Roots, and Green Kitchen Stories.  I found them during health month and they all promote eating good to do your body good...which is my current food phase.  I will be a point counter for life, don't get me wrong, but it's so nice to focus on eating things for a purpose other than weight loss....soooo nice!  For now.   

Here are some of the treats that I like and the girls like and Josh half way likes.  

I tweaked each recipe a little bit, like i made popsicles instead of ice cream-duh, and if I only had spelt flour and a recipe called for something else, I used spelt.  The morning glories call for aniseed and I just couldn't find it, so I left it out. Get what I'm saying??   Also, just know that these are not going to taste like pasteries out of the Starbucks case or Three Brother's case or Caffe Caffe case...ha!  They are whole grain, agave sweetened, bonus protein...treats! Here are the links:

ice cream

scones

morning glories

muffins

Happy Baking my friends....try one! Just Saying!

Nonstop.

This weekend ya'll....go, go, go!  Good go, but I mean kind of makes me want to do nothing tomorrow...ha!  If only the girls knew what I meant by that...

I finished the closet!!!

Whew!  It wasn't so bad.  There were bags and bags of baby clothes behind those suitcases, so that was the hardest part.  But....I had a goodwill pile, a give to friends pile, and a give back to the person who lent it to me pile, so by the end of it, all of the girls clothes fit into 4 plastic bins.  Then, I put everything up on the shelves...except those damn exersaucers, then done!  While I was slaving away, Josh introduced the girls to Beauty and the Beast for the first time.  Cute.

Pinot's Palette ya'll!  I mean remember when I had my birthday party there two years ago and it was opening night and 90% of our friends filled the seats.  Wellllllllllllllllll....Pinot's Palette is big time now.  BIG.TIME.  There were prob 200 people at the fundraiser this weekend.  Loved every second of it and I was so proud of our friends' success!  See me and Sari painting a big breast cancer ribbon that will be placed somewhere in the city???

See me with my serious face working on a self guided painting??  Ahahhaha!  Does anyone think I look like my mother in that pic? I do and I like it!

I've got more...

I mean Laine.  Last year's flower girl dress turned this year's tunic!  Jeggginnnnngs! Cute.  Pink sparkly chucks...I'm just saying. Cute.

And finally, my good pal Anthony leading all of the little girls in Ring Around the Rosie today at Sloane's Strawberry Shortcake second birthday party.  Everyone got Strawberry Shortcake purses.  Liv hasn't put her's down yet.

Glorious. Spent. Done!

Clean it up!

Here's what I'm doing this weekend:

Feel bad for me?  You should...it's worse behind the suitcases.  This is the closet of all baby stuff we're too big for.  It's just time to organize.  #1: because everytime I open the closet door I have a mild anxiety attack and #2: because our attic access is in that closet and it is 100% inaccessible.  I can't wait to show you the organization victory pics on Monday.

Aside from the big clean up, I've got some great distractions!  Tomorrow is the Mom's of Multiples garage sale and I have fantasies of finding lots of cute, gently worn shoes and maybe some ride on toys and maybe a smocked item or two!  After finding ridiculous deals at the sale, tomorrow night is Pinot's Palette's big breast cancer fundraiser.  Wanna come???? It's not too late! Here's the link.  After that shin dig, I'm going to try my best to go to a little lingerie shower.  Remember kitchen bridal shower??? That's the one!  Then on Sunday, we're going to celebrate sweet Sloane's birthday!  2!!! OMG.....we're going to be 2 soon!

Sooo much to do this weekend....I'm never this cool...it should be fun.  Ohhhhhhhhhhhh and a big happy baby shower to Brandi Theard! You know....she's the one with the framed scrapbook animals.

Have a glorious weekend my friends!

Back to me...

I'm at a coffee shop. Alone.  And even though there is no water, because the block where I am is apparently having a water outage, and no water = no latte, I'm still in heaven...taking a few minutes just to breathe.  Damaris(super nanny of the world) is with my girls, because it's her one day with us and I'm at a coffee shop...alone.  I was going to make a great inspiration board of all of the really great clothes I just saw at OLD NAVY....old navy ya'll....but I'm not.  I'm going to make this all about me and all about my girls and all about Josh.

It's been a rougher than normal few weeks.  Toddlers...blowing my mind a little bit ya'll.  I realize that most of my issues are all about me and wanting to be so put together and unfrazzled for the world, but it's a little bit tricky to do that when certain cute girls are whiny and cranky and want what they want when they want it...in shifts.

Maybe it's our adjustment to one nap, maybe they are just testing their limits, maybe it's just them...it is what it is and it isn't easy!  So, I'm working on letting go of the perfection and embracing all that it is to raise 18 month olds, because the reality is, most of our days are joyful, and at the end of the day, when we're cuddled in the rocking chair...quiet, peaceful, and soo soo sleepy, the feeling of perfection returns and I realize that I don't need perfection all day, I just need moments of it.

Like these:

Thank the lord for calm, rational husbands...just saying.    Also, thank the lord for best friends who tell you how amazing and perfect you and your sometimes rotten babies are and make up excuses to justify that  everything you do is exactly what you should be doing!  And like Nicole, one of my greatest advisers in life says, everything is temporary.  Seriously ya'll....that should be everyone's mantra.  EVERYTHING IS TEMPORARY!

In other news...thanks for all of the book suggestions!  I love when so many usually anonymous readers comment out loud! LOVE IT!  I don't know what to choose first!

In other, other news...I officially have a girls weekend planned with the ones who know me best! I can't wait...it's in October....it is going to be C-RAZY!

Read!

Did ya'll know it's my month to become a reader? It is.  Do these pics make you want to pick up a book?

                      *links here

They make me want to!  What to read? What to read?  I think I'll even go get a library card! Sooooo fun! Meanwhile....tell me what you're reading.  I need easy reading...thanks!

Oh google...

Have ya'll seen these commercials?  I haven't, but Josh has been talking about them and just sent me the link.  

Absolutely doing this starting today!  Wish I would have thought of it myself!

Toddler Survival Bag

At the beginning of the summer I ditched my diaper bag.  I thought I didn't need it.  All I needed was a back up diaper and some wipes and done.  As the summer went on, I realized treats were necessary, so we added a small, purse size box of our favorite crackers.  That's all I needed.  I was so happy to be free from the diaper bag.  Ha! Hahahahahahahah! Ha!

Last week I learned that I was so, so, so, so wrong!  We went to our usual Friday morning activity, but instead of dancing and clapping and singing, my children walked in and immediately started poaching all food in site...cherrios, bananas, sippy cups...I didn't bring ANYTHING with me...just keys!  There was nothing I could do, but hope other mother's weren't judging the girls or me for being unprepared and letting my kids put their grubby paws on everyone's food.  

       *All links pinned in my girls board

Live and Learn...that is 100% my new motto...everyday.  So here's what I've learned.  TODDLER SURVIVAL BAG.  We may no longer need diaper cream and pacifiers and burp cloths, but clearly, this bunch does need snacks! How much do you love the new tote from Land's End?? I know the color "natural" is risky, but leather bottom...love it!  Cheerios, bananas, and pureed fruit pouches have been showing up everywhere we go, so those will now be staples for us and I'll have extra to share with the masses, since they have ALL already shared with us.  Board Books are often the toy of choice for my girls...especially in the car...pack em!  I think I'll keep a bag of diapers in the trunk for emergencies, but wipes are  absolutely mandatory for the bag.  What's in your bag?  What am I missing?  

Shipped!

I'm shipping my first custom order today.  Feels good. Real good!  Josh had the idea to use fabric scraps as a Milkweed tag until I feel worthy enough to purchase actual cards and tags with a logo.

Love it!! I must be rubbing off on him!

Happy Friday and have a glorious weekend!

Toys!!

First of all....I'm just acknowledging the lack of craft and abundance of "other stuff" I've been sharing ...just saying.  Last week I blamed it on Josh being gone, but this week I realize what it is.....ONE NAP!!!! Last week all of our fall activities started which means morning nap is gone and that is an hour or more of productive time for me.  So there you go.  Reality.

Now that we're out in the toddler world, I keep seeing things we "need."  Ya'll know how I feel about toys...don't like them...clutter...don't like them.  But I mean....we're almost 18 months.  I guess we need some age appropriate things.

Like these!

Ride on toys and and an easal and wooden puzzles and instruments!  I should start the girls a Chanukah list. Ok...I did it.  Links to all of the above pics here.  I should add some baby dolls and costumes.  What else ya'll?

Baby Sprinkle

About 500 of my friends had babies in 2010.  I  mean...not 500, but lots of babies and lots of girls, which worked out perfect for us.  Lots of advice, lots of hand me downs, and lots of fresh baby friends.  Only 1, however, has been brave enough to go for round 2, which brings me to the Baby Sprinkle.  This friend, Beth, thinks she is unworthy of a celebration for her and baby #2.  She is the epitome of selflessness in life, so I can understand that she doesn't want the spotlight shining on her again.  BUT, I think we should celebrate life any chance we can, so like it or not, there will be a Sprinkle.  Sprinkle, not shower.  I looked it up.  It's real!

                        *links to more sprinkle inspiration

Not a full out baby shower, just a small celebration, maybe a couple of gifts in case there is something the mama didn't get first go round or really really wants.  A few sprinkle covered treats, maybe brunch somewhere fun.  I can't wait.  Pics to follow in a few weeks!

The best part of family weekends are the little blinks of memories captured on camera.  Like when Laine was sweet for enough seconds to hold her baby cousin.

This of course, means she is no longer the baby.  Tear.  Also, can I just snip those few long hairs in front or should I bring her to Andi?

We also fulfilled this months' list items.  Yay!! The girls went to the beach and even though we were there for less than an hour because the wind was C-R-AZY, they absolutely loved it.  I wish we were going back next weekend!

Grams bought everyone "thing" shirts a few months ago and she has been waiting for the photo op ever since...ha...the pics were cute! But seriously...my babies are soooo big next to Leo!  And Liam with the camera...classic.  I love it!

We made the most of the rotten weather at the new Rain Forest pyramid at Moody Gardens.

 So there you go.  Samet family weekend in Galveston. Check.

Beach.

Labor Day Weekend Fantasy:

Labor Day Weekend Reality:

Ha...obviously, this isn't me.  It's Marcia Cross with her twins, but you get what I'm saying.  We all know I get slightly overwhelmed at packing time, but  it's all done! We're ready to go...just waiting for Joshy to get home!  The girls have never been to the beach, but judging from the fact that they did not want to get out of the sandbox at "school" this week, it's going to be a glorious time!  Probably more work than we bargained for, but glorious!

I hope you're doing something real good, feel good...on the beach, with your family nearby, and a good cocktail in your hand!  Have a great holiday weekend!

Babies and Bathing Suits

Remember when I made myself that to-do list on Monday??? I haven't done any of it.  My excuses are that Josh has been out of town, which always throws us for a loop AND I have forced the girls to change their sleeping schedule this week.  Ultimate loop thrower!

All fun baby things happen in the morning...classes, playgroups, story time.  Sleeping from 9:30-11:30 just doesn't work.  I did my research on baby center last night and as it turns out, on average, an 18 month old only needs one 2 hr and 15 min nap a day.  We're almost 18 months and the girls really were taking turns skipping the morning nap anyway....sooooo see ya! It's gone!

But ya'll...it isn't so easy. The girls have been cranky until I let them fall asleep around 12:30 and then they are cranky again by dinner time.  It's an adjustment I guess, and really, they did great today! I let them "rest" in their beds for about 30 min before we went to our class.  Nobody slept....just rested and there were no fits! Woohoo! Progress!

I've been so wrapped up in our sleeping situation that I forgot to get myself cute beach attire for the Samet family Labor Day getaway in Galveston.  Raise your hand if you never treat yourself to a good bathing suit that doesn't sag in the bum and really supports everything you've got on top!  ME! ME! ME!  Do you think everything is on sale since it's the last week of summer??? Do you think there is anything left in the store?  Here's my J.Crew wishlist!

There is absolutely nothing left at gapbody online, but there is a 40% off sale in the store, so maybe I'll get lucky when I get there.  Also, think of how excited I'll be next summer, when I have a new suit or two that I only wore once the year before! I'm going today.  I'll let you know if it's worth the trip....ohhhh Galleria...I love you, I hate you!

Also...if anybody has experience dropping the morning nap and wants to tell me that babies adjust and everything heals itself just in time for the terrible twos, I'd love to hear it!  Thanks!