Yesterday, the kids and I made a simple craft, cardboard owls. I found the idea HERE and we got busy making these cute little critters. We used googly eyes, ribbon for the beak, and glued them with Elmer’s glue rather than glue dots because the glue dots just weren’t working for us. A few hours to dry and now these cute owls are bringing cheer to our home.
We’ve become quite the bird watchers in our little home. You see, bright red cardinals have filled the barren trees around our home. At any given time, someone will yell “CARDINAL” and we’ll all run to the window to see the red beauty. Sometimes there’s just one. Sometimes there’s a bunch.
Emma came up with the idea to paint a bird house for our cardinal friends. So, we did. 
Friday afternoon, we went to Hobby Lobby. Two things were on our list, a pillow and a weekend craft for the kids. I had no idea what sort of craft we would make, then, these caught my eye. Bingo! It was perfect and a mere $4 on sale. They played with them for hours that evening and again this morning.
Emma made me a heart and a necklace. Eli made me flowers and a hat for Emma. And the two of them together made angry birds. Best activity ever!
There’s this thing about motherhood that I cannot find the words to describe. It’s only felt in my heart as these little people grow up before my eyes. After two nights of not sleeping, I found myself completely exhausted on Friday evening. Pregnancy brings sleepless nights for me. And tonight, it hit me. I was running on empty but I had two little balls of energy that needed me. I decided a little crafting could possibly take my mind off exhaustion. I pulled out wooden hearts I had been wanting to paint, some acrylic paint and sponge brushes. The problem was, I truly did feel like painting alone. As I attempted to do so, little hands kept reaching for the paint and brushes. I caved. “Grab a piece of paper and you can paint,” I said. And with that, with the surrendering of what I truly wanted to do alone, I found myself delighted and full of joy and so grateful for a quiet Friday evening, at home, with my children. “This is how an artist paints,” Eli told Emma as he did slow paint strokes on his paper. “I’m painting an apple,” Emma said as she dipped her brush in a puddle of red paint. The night ended with paintings covering the kitchen counters and my thoughts of being exhausted were forgotten. But tonight, will be remembered.
Growing up, my mom always had random art supplies available. It was my normal. Whenever I wanted to make something, the supplies were always there. I knew I wanted to do that for my kids. Our old TV armoire has become our art nook. I cannot keep the armoire organized at all, because, when I’m not looking Eli and Emma are searching through its shelves and drawers for supplies. The other day, this is what Emma found…
Christmas is almost here. My children are so excited and so am I. I love giving my children gifts! I cannot wait until Christmas morning when they open all their little surprises. Along with the countdown and excitement, here’s what’s been happening these days…
I fell in love with our little country community again after battling holiday busy traffic. I love living away from the busyness.
I had two Christmas parties in one day. I couldn’t be at both, so my mother-in-law and I tag teamed it. She attended Emma’s barn school Christmas party, while…
I attended Eli’s 1st grade Christmas party. I told her next year we are switching.
I wore hearts. Lots of them.
We went to Trader Joe’s and Eli found a chalkboard with nothing on it. He couldn’t have that.
After battling the crowds at Trader Joe’s, these two were spent.
Yesterday, I finally spilled the beans about being pregnant. Somehow I was able to keep our little secret to most people and even hide my belly when I ran into friends at the store.
The trip to Trader Joe’s was specifically to buy vanilla meringues. This is called “cheater baking for your neighbors.” I just dipped half of each meringue in melted milk chocolate chips and sprinkled broken candy canes on each. I ‘made’ 100 meringues in a little over an hour with zero stress and very little clean up. Now today, we’ll deliver them!
Merry Christmas!
A sweet friend of mine gave me some Christmas potpourri. She must really know me because I do not like scented candles, air fresheners or anything else smelly like that. I am really sensitive to different scents, they give me terrible headaches.
But…this potpourri is different.
Because it’s made with all natural scents.
Oranges, cranberries, cinnamon sticks and cloves.
All I had to do was quarter the oranges and pour all the ingredients in a sauce pan. I filled it with water and it is currently sitting in low on the stove. The house smells wonderful and I do not have a headache!
Such a simple idea. A little bottle filled with paint. A sponge at the end. Squeeze and dab. The possibilities are endless. I even joined in the fun. And…I have some empty wall space that screams “fill me with kid art.” I think a masterpiece or two is begging to be framed.
This summer, we switched Eli’s room and the craft room. I’m so, so, so excited that I finally finished his room. I decided to do a travel theme and I absolutely love how it turned out. I wouldn’t change a thing! Here’s the run down.
One of my favorite things in the room is the window valance. I couldn’t find any fabric I liked to sew a new valance. When we were in California in July visiting my parents, my Dad sold the office building that housed his construction office for many, many years. Before escrow closed, we walked through the building and he asked me if I wanted anything. The only thing I wanted was an old map pinned to the wall. The map has been on that same wall all my life, so many fond memories. Now, it’s in Eli’s room.
I cut the map the perfect size for the valance and used clips to hang it on the curtain rod.
The map is old. Copy right is early 80′s. It’s been pinned through, torn, taped, ripped and I love it.
The blemishes only add character.
And I of course made sure the portion of the map I cut included our old stomping ground. The area circled is where I was born, grew up, graduated, met and married my husband, bought my first house, birthed my first child and where my parents still live.
I don’t like to put a lot of furniture in the kids rooms. They don’t even have dressers, their clothes are in their closet and in bins under their bed. I re-used all of Eli’s furniture, so we bought very little for his new room, just all new accessories.
The bed came unfinished from Ikea. David spray painted it black 2 years ago. The bedding was purchased from Pottery Barn Kids when Eli was 2 years old and has held up very well. I swear by Pottery Barn bedding! The red anchor is from Hobby Lobby and was a terrible brown color with an even more terrible rope around it. I removed the rope and spray painted the anchor red.
I’m not sure why I was drawn to this simple red and white Red Cross flag. I purchased it off Amazon for less than $10. I simply nailed it to the wall. A few weeks ago, my neighbor stopped by and I showed her the progress I made on Eli’s room. She commented how the Red Cross organization is all about being a help to other people. And it was at that moment that I realized why I was drawn to the flag. Because of simplicity and because I want Eli to always be a help to others.
I used a remnant of the old map to cover an E for the wall.
And found some other treasures for the walls at a local antique store. I spray painted the metal anchor yellow and hung some old license plates.
They look perfect along the edge of the chair rail.
Some of my favorite plates include this one (of course), from one of our old vehicles.
And this one because it says “live free or die.”
And this one because it’s just way too cute.
We already had the bookshelf, purchased from Ikea 4 years ago.
And it holds Eli’s lego collection.
I purchased Eli a globe off Amazon.
And printed off some photographs my Dad took in Long Beach, California.
And they are displayed on his art wall.
At the end of his bed is a reading nook. The shelves are from Eli’s previous room, purchased from Pottery Barn.
And finally, I knew Eli would enjoy a chalkboard in his room, hung at his level. I found this chalkboard on Amazon but the frame was a terrible wood color. So, I spray painted it yellow. Doesn’t spray paint fix everything?
So there’s my boys travel room. And yes, “the big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure,” ~Joseph Campbell.
Back in July, when my parents were visiting from California, my mom and I visited a few local antique stores. I spotted this cute wooden doll high chair for Emma and I knew I had to take it home. My mom didn’t hesitate in purchasing it for her. I didn’t care for it as is, but, I saw potential in it. So…
I spray painted it white.
But kept the cute red accents.
Finally, I took some sand paper and scuffed it up a bit to make it look like it’s been in our family for ages. Now, it sits in our breakfast nook, right next to our table, where my little momma feeds her dolls at dinner time.
