It's Over!

Today was the perfect conclusion to Thanksgiving.  per-FECT!  Joshua Samet...the incredible person I share these parenting responsibilities with, woke up with the girls, made them breakfast, and played with them all morning and ya'll this is going to sound soooooo ridiculous, but guess what I did?!??!?!  Went to the grocery store ALONE! It was so great.  Well...first I stopped at Starbucks and oops forgot to say skinny when I ordered my pumpkin spice latte and oops that means it comes with whipped cream!  YUM!  So worth the full fat, full sugar real deal every now and then!  So I sipped my latte in HEB in slow motion, even stopping to look up recipes on my phone while going up and down the aisles...bliss I tell you!  

When I came home...the pups were still in their pj's running around on best behavior for daddy.  Ya'll aren't judging me for these pacifiers are you??? Letting them go is in the back of my mind, but that's another post for another day...ok??!?!?!

While I was at the grocery, I decided to make my own whole wheat pizza dough and have a make-your-own-pizza-night.  Ya'll...not worth it to make your own dough.  I'm just buying ready made from now on.  Too much work and the flavor was no different.  Pause...let me rephrase...not worth it to make whole wheat.  Just saying.  The girls ended the night running circles around the living room giggling with their cousin Liam.  Could not stop the silly.

Soooooo real deal week tomorrow.  Josh has to work early mornings which means I'm captain from 7-7....eek!  Better line up my helpers! It's the only way!  Also...did ya'll notice I tweaked the little "Welcome to Milkweed" section over there on the right of the page.  Let's be honest, we're talking more about kids here than about transforming things into to newer better things.  I just wanted you to know...I'm more than aware our little furniture shop is just a cover for blogging about my own selfishness...that wasn't my intention in the beginning, but it is what it is and I like it!

Have a glorious week!
 

I'm ready!

Last week I was sidetracked just doing "life" and feeling like I didn't have anything worthy to write...but whewwwwwwww I'm ready.  We've been on a family love fest since last weekend and it's all winding down.  It was unexpectedly glorious.  I had zero expectations of how this week was gonna go down, because often expectations with two little pups=let down!   But it was truly glorious and there were only meltdowns when we pushed them too far past nap or bedtime.

Cousinssssssssss were EVERYWHERE!!!!  Here's our attempt at a group shot...

My bagel bribe clearly meant nothing to my girls.  I still love these pics. Reality. Done.  And the Thanksgiving food....Could. Not. Get. Enough.   Especially Laine!

The icing on the Thanksgiving cake was our day in Galveston with the pEIrce cousins.  First of thousands of days we will spend there together.  I am soooooo so so so soooooooo happy that my kids will have a place to make memories with all of their cousins.  Thank You Uncle Jack! Thank you, thank you, thank you times a million!  Now everybody hurry up and make lots of babies...just saying.  Mags is still too little to play in the sand, but my girls lived it up together.  The Salt Life = Heaven!

Back to normal this week.  I'm not in the holiday spirit ya'll.  What's the matter with me??? I should probably just go shop...that'll do it!  Also...I need to make some ridiculously ridiculous Chanukah decor this week to compensate for my lack of fall efforts.  Hmmmm....new pinterest board??? Ok!

Sleeeeeeeeep!

It's 9:42 am...both of my girls are asleep.  Did you know we dropped our morning nap about 3 months ago????? We did!  But here they are...sleeping.  Maybe it's because they have not slept through one solid night this week.  Maybe it's the colds they both have.  Maybe their internal clocks don't pay attention AT ALL to the training I've been doing since about month 3 of their lives!

Midnight Mommy has been in full effect this week.  That's the nickname Josh gave to my post 12am alter ego and it ain't pretty.  I know that this is probably just our lot in life...that my children will be on and off good sleepers their entire time on Yarwell Drive, but I am still totally thrown every single time I have to wake up to the sounds of crying in the middle of the night.  

Anybody in the same boat??? You know....have kids that couldn't religously be counted on to sleep all night, every night and then one day it was like BOOM! Perfectly sleeping angel babies???? PLEASE TELL ME IT'S YOU!!!

Remember when they had no problem sleeping in the middle of the airport?? OK!

Now for happier, light and airy things....Our holidays officially begin this weekend!  There is a Samet family friend's wedding this weekend, so all of the best siblings, cousins, and friends will be in town...some staying all the way through the holiday!  I think I'll kick off the eating with these...

Pumpkin Muffins from Smitten Kitchen.  Whole wheat flour...maybe add in some blueberries or cranberries??? Just to ease into to the indulgences.  Here's the link in case you want to make them too!  Happy Pre-Thanksgiving Weekend!!

And I'm Thankful Part 2: Let's Cook Something

One of my favorite things about Anthony (of the many many things on my list) is that he LOVES to cook and bake. Like give him a cup of coffee and a cookbook Saturday morning and he is in heaven. And Thanksgiving and Christmas time sends Anthony into a baking frenzy! Bread, Pies, Toffee, Cookies...

For me, a kitchen filled with the aroma of freshly baked goodies just says holiday time. Fresh homemade bread... makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Anthony's mom also is an amazing cook and I swear I would gain 20 lbs if I lived with her... not to mention Anthony's brother is a chef. So he gets it honestly. I envy their kitchen skills! I'm just a wannabe that gets excited if I don't burn the box brownies. So I'm thankful Anthony keeps our house fed! And thankful that I will be surrounded with baked goodness in a week. Can’t wait!

What do you bake or cook that gets you in the holiday spirit? Send me your recipe so I can pretend to make it but really just get Anthony to take over after I turn the burner on...

I'm Thankful for A&A!

Ohhh the shame!!

Are you embarrassed for me?? I know!!! So now it's out.  One of my secrets, which isn't really a secret if you've been to my house and asked for the tour and then gotten to the back hallway and I prefaced opening the door with , "and this is our second garage."

In my defense, we moved into this house with three week old tiny baby twins and this huge room just became the place where things I didn't feel like dealing with went to die.  Then, that purpose just stuck and the piles grew and grew and now here we are.  A room full of stuff that for the most part hasn't been used in over a year.

So what's the plan??? Wellllllllll....here's what I'm thinking.  Start dealing with things one category at a time.  I know there are lots of mirrors and frames and pictures that go on the wall in there.  So first, I'll pull out all things that hang and make some decisions...sell, giveaway, keep.  Then I'll move onto baby stuff, then to teacher stuff, then to "Josh's" stuff.  It's a lot ya'll....it makes my stomach feel wrong, wrong, wrong, BUT....I have a little less than a month.  I'm not attempting this in one weekend.  I'm giving it a month.  DO-ABLLLLEEE ...anyone???

Are you wondering why the walls are blue?  Me too! I have no idea why we didn't have this room painted like we had every other room in the house when we moved in.  Big Mistake!  I guess now may be our chance.  I'm so pumped about this space opening up.  Crafty, office, guest room on the way!

What do you think of my plan?  Please offer up any suggestions you have to make this easier!

Two By Two

Happy Friday!!! What are you doing??? I'm just sitting here listening to some plumbers do god knows what in my kitchen right now! Eek!  Also, I'm thinking about a baby event in my future with a Noah's Ark theme! Oh Pinterest....I love you!

                       *The Links

Have a great weekend!

ohhhh hiii!

I sure am glad that Nicole Bruno is committed to Milkweed, because I sure haven't been this week!  BUT....I'm officially inspired by Neecole.  Don't you just want to wrap yourself in fall colored felt and yarn and put on sweater and boots and an infinity scarf??? I do!!!

Meanwhile...I'm sitting in my usual Thursday afternoon spot...fioza...sipping a pumpkin spice latte, thinking about the highs and lows of this day.  Did ya'll know that sweet Laine is back??? Cuddly, huggy, big smiley Laine is back.  She left us for a while ya'll, but she has returned....for now.  So that's a high!  Miss Liv did her usual cry between breakfast and morning rest time...about nothing...no tears...just for the sake of the whine...so that was a low.  Then we went to the Galleria which always has the potential to be low, but it was HIIIIIIIIIIGGHHHH!! Easy parking, behaving babies, and 40% off your entire purchase at the GAP! We even stopped at the park for some pre-lunch sliding and swinging and the weather is glorious.  I think that counts as a double High!

So the high's win!  So far!  Ha! Thank the lord.  I needed a morning like that as the terrible two's are slowly creeping in ya'll and I am NER-VOUS!

I'm gonna keep typing.  I know that was a lot so far, but I'm making up for missing you all week.

THE LIST!  OHHHHHHHH LORD!

Well let me say this...I thought I was doing a lot worse than I am.  I still haven't picked up a book.  Eeeek.....don't judge me for that ok??? I will do it!  I'm not an expert seamstress, but I ripped off the band aid and I realized that sewing is just like any other craft...you need to know the basics, but you really can make it up as you go!  I went on a girls' trip which wasn't supposed to happen until December.  SOoooooooo you see??? Not so bad.  It's fun to look at all of those big red X's.  This months' goal....clean out the blue room.  It actually couldn't come at better time.  I need the space and I know cleaning out the room will make me feel so light and airy...and that's always my daily mood goal...light and airy!  Ha!  It's a scary scary scary place right now...think storage unit filled to the max.  I promise to be brave and show you the before pic.

For now, please tell me you are enjoying this pretend fall glory!  We are!!

See??

And I'm Thankful Part 1: Get Inspired

I really can’t believe it is already November. Time flies when you’re chasing after a toddler, ay? Decorations are up around town and Christmas music is playing in the malls! Even my neighbor already has their tree up.

I love this time of year for so many reasons... Cold weather, spending time with my family, gumbo and football, picking out our Christmas card, decorating, and of course eating lots of food! But it makes me a little sad that Thanksgiving gets so overshadowed by Christmas commercialism. So I thought I would give a shout-out to Thanksgiving. I haven't forgotten about you, my fall friend.

I’ve put together some things that inspire me to get into the Thanksgiving spirit.

Getting crafty with Annie always makes me feel festive. 

Decorate cookies. Make an old school turkey with your hand silhouette. Pick up pine cones and acorns around your neighborhood. Drink apple cider. Eat S'mores! Make a Thankful Tree. And share your gratitude.



What makes you feel like fall? How are you getting ready for Thanksgiving? Ready, Set, Share!  

the Rest is just Gravy...

Felt Hair Clips!

Yesterday I found about 500 tutorials for making felt hair clips.  It's time ya'll...IT IS TIME!  My poor girls are called boys more days than not...even with pink sparkly shoes and pink shirts.  I just laugh and say...two girls...hairless, but girls!  SO anyway...it's time for bows and unless they are all smocked up, I'm just not into everyday extra large gros grain.  I used the tutorials that go with these pics to make some felt goodness:

      *the links

In less than an hour, I had these:

and here are my models this morning...

and I'm obsessed with Instagram.  Can you tell??? Have a glorious weekend ya'll!

Halloween costumes... Who needs 'em?

It is no secret that Annie is a picky dresser. A few months ago she started saying "No" to certain clothes I would attempt to put on her in the morning. First, she only wanted to wear pink shirts. Then she switched to purple shirts (Go Tigers!). It can be cute...wearing a pink floral skirt with a completely non-matching floral shirt. I laugh off the "Oh, I see Annie dressed herself this morning" and "She looks like a gypsy" comments. But really I think... Am I being a push-over? Am I letting her win the "battle over clothes" a little too early? Does this mean she is going to walk all over me as a teenager??? Yes, I have irrational thoughts about a future bratty teenage daughter! Tell me you have these visions... Anyone?

So of course, Halloween night, when it was time to dress up in her adorable Minnie Mouse dress with ears and red bow and red tights (and paint her nose black), she said "No". So there we are. Do I wrestle her into this costume and deal with a full meltdown? Do I use empty threats and say "If you want to see Sissy and Addie you have to put on your costume"? Do I bribe her with a pocket of candy and say she can have it if she puts on the dress?

No to all of the above.

Halloween isn't about me (and my fantasies of the adorable photos of her I could post on Facebook). Call me lazy, but I didn't want to beg or threaten her to put on a costume. It isn't fun for me or Annie. So I decided it's OK if my kid doesn't wear a Halloween costume. As long as everyone is happy!  Right?...RIGHT!

And so we settled for a pink Tutu and headed to Addie's house. No tears. No drama. Only super mom (me) acting cool as a cucumber... who needs costumes anyway?.. And my very beautiful and HAPPY little girl. I did feel a bit of sadness when I looked at everyone's Facebook posts of adorable ladybugs and bumble bees... But our Halloween was perfectly perfect without the costume. (Fingers crossed for next year, though. Just saying...)

Happy Parenting!

Candy!

First real Halloween: Survived!  I couldn't believe how much the girls wanted to participate last night.  They followed their big boy cousin up and down walkways, taking candy from strangers and loving it.  These pups really did not know a lollipop from an apple slice until last night....but now they know!! 

Can't wait until next year!  What will our costumes be????