Weekend Warriors...

Great Halloween table runner!

By one of my budding artists!

White punkins are all the rage!

Getting our Fall on! I had been wanting to try a lace stencil! 

Baby K's first Punkin!

We are so excited!

An industrious summer!

Bake Sale!

Looking to keep older kids entertained this summer? For under $10.00 you can co host the bake sale of the Summer!

Easy Peasy!

    Pink cuppies with chocolate chip "seeds" and green cool whip frosting make perfect little watermelons! For the cookie fan simply add a cup of peanut butter to your favorite boxed cookie mix! Fast and easy for the days a scratch recipe is not necessary!

Advertise!

Let your older kiddo's and friends of course....create cute and fun signs for their sale while the goods are baking!

Enjoy!

After minimal prep time enjoy hours of children being productive, creative, and    entertained!

 How are you keeping up with boredom this summer?

                                                                                 Loressa

Sugar and Spice? Really?!

    If eight and a half years ago when handed a precious pink bundle you would have told me little girls are anything but soft and pink I would never have believed you!

What you are looking at are the bar stools from our kitchen counter...

 Yuck! This particular stool is frequented by the third grader! I have re upholstered these stools once already due their straight out nasty state! Kids! Rather than buy new stools that will assuredly suffer the same fate I decided to fix them once again!

    This time I  think a wipe, clean and sanitize friendly surface is in order! I found a shower curtain that just happened to match perfectly and was under $10.00 for both stools! I removed the old fabric and burned it!  Lol! After I cut and formed the shower curtain to fit the seat of the stool I used a small stapler to attach!

Now if I could only cover everything else...

Spring class party craft idea!

Family Fun Sock Bunnies

As the school year winds down....EEK! One more class party is in the works! I love this cute idea! 

Boston Cream cupcakes!

   

     Saturday while out and about with the kids we decided to stop at the little cupcake shop I had noticed a hundred times before but never had the chance to visit. Once all three kids had piled out of the car and we had made it to the door in one piece (a major accomplishment:) a lady rushed to greet us at the door "Sorry! We are closed! We just sold out!" I was perplexed...Sold out? I glanced at the door and noticed the hours: Open till we sell out!

    Bummer! It had taken me this long to find five minutes to just check this place out. If they sell out by noon I will never get to sample what from the menu appeared to be gourmet deliciousness! My girls were equally disappointed. The baby squirmed as I crammed her back into her car seat. "What kind of cupcake place doesn't make enough cupcakes for everybody?" My eight year old pouted.

    As we made our way home cupcakeless...We brainstormed our revenge out loud. Last summer my kids were very industrious. It was not uncommon to find them out in the front yard selling hot chocolate chip cookies and punch. Myself, also grouchy about having no cupcake thought "Hmmmm?!" I mean they must be delicious cupcakes if they are sold out so quickly....I wonder what we could come up with (SEE CURSE OF THE CREATIVE MIND)

    So we are determined to find the most delicious most beautifullest cupcakes to sell out the summer cupcake stand....

    It just so happened that Lidia...whom I love! Made these tasty little Boston Cream cupcakes the very Saturday night we were denied our own savory cake. Boston cream! Oh my!

  What are your favorite recipes? I think I will try my hand at these! Boston Cream cakes

Kids Creative Chaos scavenger hunt!

    Fun, Family Game to Boost Mommy Blogs! Hosted by:
         Kids Creative Chaos

Have fun scavenging the internet and get to know more Mommy Bloggers

Your Mission, if you choose to accept it is:

1. Type the words below into a Google Search.
 2. Find an image (any G image will do). (R click/copy url or save as title below)
3. Pin it to Pinterest and share your Pinterest board, so we can follow.
4. Link up or leave a comment below.
5. Like 'Kids Creative Chaos', on Facebook.

    To be eligible for our Kid's Basket of Goodies Prize pack, valued at over $50 (includes signed copy of (Adam Rubin's book Those Darned Squirrels and The Cat Next Door) you must complete all task in the hunt.

Happy Hunting!


1. Easy Elephants
2. Snowman in a Jar
3. Slipper Flop
4. Colors of the Faith
5. Snowball Socks

*If you live outside the U.S. you can participate but you'll have to pay shipping costs. You have one week to complete the mission. Everyone who completes all Scavenger Hunt tasks will be entered to win!

Catching up...

    I knew the moment my feet hit the floor...The distinct pain behind my eyes, the partial loss of vision, the awesome inability to form coherent sentences, the numb tingling arm and fingers.....

    It was going to be a migraine day! I have suffered with migraines since I was young. I have never had time for migraines something always threatens to go undone if I succumb to it's immense pain. Only recently have they become downright debilitating. I blame it on my old age;)

    So yesterday it brought me to my knees and today I am playing catch up!

    Monday night for the first time in awhile the big kids and I hit the road for GNO! Baby K stayed behind with dad. That was rough! In nearly eleven months I have only been away from her long enough to revel in a trip to the grocery store. My husband had to go into the bedroom while I stood hesitating at the back door. One foot in and one foot out....

   If you have not seen Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close... run don't walk to the theater! I have not seen an amazing movie like this is such a long time. Take your tissue and everyone you love. It changed my life! The wonderful thing about having children that are getting older is the chance to share things such as this movie together! All of our hearts were touched deeply! Thanks grandma Nawyn!

            
 
    Finally I want to thank everyone for linking up yesterday at Moms best nest! The turnout was wonderful! If you are a new follower and I have not returned the favor please leave me a comment!

    Now! Looks like I have some awards to pass on!

Dinner and dishes night...

 

   How do you make chores bearable?

    For the longest time my husband and I thought the recipe for happiness was to expect happiness! Our older children had no chores, no responsibility...The only expectation was to "Just be happy!" As we have matured and evolved in our blending process we have come to learn that children need responsibility. They need expectations that promote a constructive outcome. Expectations equal love.

    About six months ago now we implemented a chore/reward system that seems to be working. The only thing not in check that drives every parent bonkers....the complaining! The chore that brings the beast out!? Dishes! I don't even like to do dishes! Whining and slamming dishes..... It made me wonder if there could be a reward in dishes? They are forever bugging me to let them help with dinner. Come on mom's you will be able to reason with my always "Not tonight." Response. It is just easier to do it myself!

    Having a hand in raising our oldest and knowing what I would like to pass on to my own girls it is time to buck up! Let the cooking lessons begin ladies! On their dish night they are also now cooking! Last week was our first try and it was a success! Being involved in doing something important made them feel important and they can't wait for dish night this week! The complaining will never end it comes with being a kid, but giving them something to look forward to.... The smiling "I did it!" face is worth it!

You is special...

    Last weekend I finally got the chance to watch The Help. A beloved book of mine, I had been trying to find five minutes to sit down and watch this film. I knew minutes into it I wanted to share it with my older girls. The valuable lessons. The heartache and laughter.

    With everybody home today and not to mention an appropriate movie for the Holiday... I mentioned renting it. "Yes! We have been wanting to watch that show! A lady eats poop!"  Oh you have to love the social education our kids get at public school! Last week my third grader came home and asked me if I knew the difference between a Snickers bar and Justin Bieber....

I will let you figure that one out!

    "Yes, it is true a lady eats a pie with a secret ingrediant, but there is so much more to the story!"

    Since I had already seen it I spent the two hours test baking their Valentines fortune cookies....pics posting tomorrow:) The girls came upstairs all grins! They laughed, they cried, they loved it! Scooping up Sweet Baby K I heard them both tell her Aibi's quote.....

"You is kind. You is smart. You is important."

    Such simple words that every child should hear. So sweet so easy...

Playing catch up...

   Another Holiday Season has come and gone! I am always amazed at the prep time put into Christmas and in mere moments it seems to be over! In our case Christmas spans over a two week period with everyone coming and going, it is still over in the blink of an eye! With the kids back to school and my sweetie back to work (news of a managerial promotion on the horizon! Go baby!:) I have sat down to play catch up....with me! Having everyone home is indeed a blessing...a busy blessing! Schedules go out the window and whatever goes! This morning with a delicious mug of hot coffee my good pal routine is back!

    And I definitely have some catching up to do! At the encouragement of friends and family whom were delighted by their felt flower pillows I have opened an Etsy shop! I am still a newbie and getting things together... yikes it little overwhelming! I need to create my January flowers and then bring on the orders! I was also given a great advertising opportunity...which is one of my goals!

    Sooo I am also now on Twitter which was a requirement. The last few weeks I have been sneaking a few minutes here and there to dabble in my new ventures. Mind you I also had to continue working via internet! With my hubby and kids home it was about all I could manage on the web to get the necessities accomplished:) I did not want to miss a moment of our Holiday!

This morning is mine:) And of course Sweet baby K's

 Looking for a fun Christmas craft idea! Visit Kids Creative Chaos for a fun idea and great giveaway!

  http://www.kidscreativechaos.com/2011/12/cholula-cap-decorating-contest-enter-by.html

           

"No wings pleas"

                                                     

    As Santa's helper I simply had to look to see what my daughter had in mind for her Christmas wishes... While I gingerly opened the sealed envelope addressed to the North Pole, my mind prepared for the mountain high list of toys and gadgets that would meet my eyes. Instead I found myself drying my eyes at what I read. The sweet simple innocence of my darling little girl.....

    "Dear Santa,


   I would like a bowanda-rrow and a wish to fly pleas no wings. I love my dreams wen I fly. And to fly wen I want to."


    I love being a mother to this kid! She opens my eyes and teaches me something new nearly every day! I hope she never stops believing in magic and pray she never loses sight of her dreams!




Happy tears:)

Twihards...

    I am supposed to be working;) Insurance claims can wait for a minute or two...Behind me the kids are catching up on the Twilight trilogy in anticipation for our viewing of the newest installment. I can't help but listen and become sidetracked! I am so excited!! I am even more anxious for Hunger Games Woot Woot!!

Better late than never...

     Finally! Halloween costume picks! This year was triumphant for us! The Mad Hatter was my pride and joy and Alice... my beautiful Alice! Both were a hit and one of our most beloved teachers ran me down as I entered the school that afternoon begging me to find the girls so they might have a photo together! "Off with their heads!" We love Mrs. Olsen!

     Like the brows? Lol...I found an orange feather boa and cut it into eyebrow sized snippets then adhered them with eyelash adhesive:)

Too fun!

Turkey time...

    My mother in law brought this cute little guy up to me this weekend...unfinished! We had so much fun sitting at the counter making them come alive:) I had not used paper yet to compliment my projects...

     It was so easy and it looks awesome!

    I painted his lil body and the outline of his feathers careful to cover any of the would be exposed areas with a russet colored acrylic paint. I found this fun paper at my local craft store in the scrapbooking aisle. I traced the outline of the feathers and hat then with wood crafting glue applied!  

    I used some scrap ribbon to accent his hat and body:)

Happy Happy Turkey day!

Another Halloween come and gone...

 What a fun day! What a crazy day! One we will remember for years to come! I am grateful for all the wonderful blessings I have in my life....and goodies:)

Baby K's first pumpkin...

    I cannot remember the last time I carved a pumpkin:) Ever since our girls were small we have in the interest of sparing fingers mainly painted our Jack O Lanterns!  I found kid friendly carving knives and we all went to work! Roasting the seeds afterwards and savoring hot chocolate! Its gettin chilly!!

Happy lil pumpkins!

Pumpkin walk 2011...

Phew...

     Fall cleaning and rearranging accomplished...Check! Giggling as we rolled our overindulged ate like piggies at grandma's house bodies into bed...Uh huh! A trunk full of goodies that will make for awesome Christmas projects...Yup! Holding hands as we made our way home....Of course:)

Happy Monday!

LOL...

    I can make top hats... (well form them anyway!) Who knew! When I put my mind to something I usually can figure out how to pull it off! For Halloween we will be home to Alice and the Mad Hatter. I have been looking high and well...everywhere!! For the perfect top hat! Unable to find one I thought I would try my hand at one:) Using floral wire I was determined! I just need to cover it now:S Wish me luck!

Happy Happy Friday:))