Butterfly Modeling Clay Craft and Magnet

March is a hit or miss when it comes to the weather in the Midwest. This winter has been unusually cold. It just seems like everything is wet and cold, but I guess that is what spring is about here. 

Since we are just inching to get outside and beat the cold weather blues, we had a little fun with some modeling clay! We got this clay as part of a goody bag on a trip to our favorite zoo last fall. It's been hiding in the top cabinet for some time now. I was hesitant to bring it out for fear of it staining the carpet or furniture... in fact it does!

Since spring is here and we have a great unit study ahead of us, I thought we could kick it off with a fun Butterfly craft.

Despite how hard the clay was, the girls had a ton of fun playing with it and molding it. Mommy had to do some flattening and shaping for them. It was also a great opportunity to introduce symmetry to my kindergartner. Once we were done shaping and decorating, we placed our creations into a bread pan.

Place in glass or metal oven safe dish. Do not microwave. Bake at 275 degrees for 15 minutes per 1/4 inch thickness.

Allow them to cool completely before handling. They will become hard.

*We attached magnets to the back of them and now they are sitting pretty on the fridge holding up the latest masterpiece by my little ones.

Check back soon for some more spring crafts!

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Don't Worry, Be Happy!

The past 6 years have definitely been an uphill road for our family. We have worked very hard and sacrificed many things to get to the place we are today. I've come a long way from a being a pessimistic person. It's taken me some life lessons and some gratitude to realize being happy is all about your attitude, not your situation.

We can always bond with our girlfriends and other mommies over the horror stories of raising little people, but we are slow to gush over the joys that it brings us as well. And a lot of the time, there are so many happy moments that sometimes don't get recognized or given credit where it's due. I'm guilty of both these things. Being a mommy to two young children can be testing but I think that sometimes we get so caught up in the bad that we don't allow ourselves to be happy.

It's okay to be happy. Really, it's okay!

It was two years ago this month, that my husband and I enrolled back in school to finish our bachelor's degrees. For two full years we have both been working full time, going to school full time, and raising two little girls. In this period of time we also managed to purchase our first home, and gain a promotion at work. We were happy even though it was hard! We were a happy family even though we spent Sundays rotating who got to do school work. We were happy because we still made time for what matters, family.

We are both set to finish with our degrees this coming December! When I look back at the past several years, I grin from ear to ear over the amount of obstacles we have overcome and the pride I feel. I am so happy!


The little things make me happy

My children's wild imagination

The lady bugs all around us on the day we moved into our first home... that's good luck, right?

Silly dance parties in the family room

My new obsession with yoga

The song "Walking On Sunshine" by Katrina & The Waves

Iced coffee

Warm sunshine and flip flops

Disney World

My husbands favorite song....... Yes, that's him:)



What makes you happy?

I'm sharing today for the Happy Mama Movement

and with Shell @

Spring is here!

I've posted some new appointments that will be available as of Saturday, April 19th, 2014.

This will be an outdoor photo session, Naperville River Walk area. This is weather permitting.

Home Renovations: Front Door and Patio Glass Doors

When we bought our house a couple months back, we knew there would be some things we would need to get started on sooner rather than later. Being that it was a foreclosure, there was definitely a list. The doors were the first thing we knew we would want to tackle since it was a lack of security (the sliding glass door locks were broken), as well as a loss of heat. We could barely watch TV in our family room because of the cold draft.

Once we got our tax return we didn't waste any time. We got an amazing deal on installation. We went through a referral recommendation from a friend. If you are looking for a guy that does windows and doors in the Chicago area let me know!

They did an amazing job. It took 3 guys and 5 hours!

Before

 

 After

We purchased the fiber glass door from The Home Depot. You can find the exact door here. The hardware was purchased from Lowes.

Before

So you see that super gross white film all over the windows? That gross film is actually inside the glass... not sure how it got there but its super annoying and such an eye sore. We went with Crestline for the sliding glass patio doors.

After

My favorite thing I love about the doors is the grilles that match the windows in the rest of the home. It really pulls the look together and provides that added feature that looks beautiful.

Doing these simple changes has really made a difference in the comfort of our home and its put value into it as well. We spent a total of $2,800 for the two patio doors, front door, hardware, and installation and it was well worth it!

The next project on the list is to finish the basement floors with an acid stain and sprucing up our deck! Check back for more home updates!!

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New house and First Time Gardener

One of the most exciting things since we bought our home last November was to start planning our home garden! This will be my first year starting a garden and I may have taken on more than I could handle. We spent a good amount of money already on heirloom seeds, which I have no idea about the plants we ordered. I am a newcomer to this so bare with me. I am a master at research and finding the information I need, so I hope to share with you along the way to my first real garden.

Since I live in a Zone 5 region, the last day for frost is the end of May. There are different types of seeds that you need to plant indoors ahead of time, this is why it's important to start your planning well in advance!

When my seeds first arrived I couldn't wait to sort them all. I sorted them into 4 groups based upon the time I would start planting. The packaging on the the seeds is a great source of information. Read them very carefully.

These are the groups I divided them into:

12-10 weeks before the last frost threat (indoors)
8-10 weeks before the last frost threat (indoors)
4-6 weeks before the last frost threat (indoors)
sow right into the outdoor garden

This weekend I planted the 12-10 weeks group.

Artichokes
White onion
Red onion

I used three pots for the artichokes, 6 pots for the white onion and 6 for the red onion. I still have to come up with some crafty labels, but for now I took a picture for reminder.

I used organic choice potting mix by Miracle-Gro. I wasn't sure of this mix but it stated the it works for vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs. It's suppose to feed up to 2 months. I hope I made the right choice. For any experienced gardeners out there, what would you recommend?

Bella always wants to help in everything I do, so of course she had to do this too. I used this as an opportunity to discuss the seasons and plants. These are some of the unit study topics we will be covering this spring. Hands on learning opportunities are always great for the little ones!

 

I planted two to 3 seeds to a pot. This may require some thinning out later to allow the roots flourish.

Depth: The onion seeds required only a top sow or lightly covered with soil. It's important to make sure you pay close attention to all the directions on the packet, including the depth to which you will plant the seeds.

Once we were all finished digging in the dirt, we lightly watered the pots with a spray bottle and covered with plastic wrap. The plastic wrap helps keep the moisture in and creates a green house. You want to make sure your seeds and soil don't dry out at any time!

There ya go! This is the start to what I pray will be a wonderful season in the garden! I plan on planting the second group in about two weeks, which includes an exciting assortment of peppers! If you have any suggestions for a first timer, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I can use all the help and advice I can get!

Helpful Resources

These are two books that I have been referencing through out this adventure! They are both great options for a beginner like me!

52 How-tos Every New Gardener Needs to Know Beginner's Illustrated Guide to Gardening By Cool Springs Press / Cool Springs Press

The New American Homestead: Sustainable, Self-Sufficient Living for the 21st Century By John H. Tullock / Howell Book House

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Self Doubt about Homeschooling

As we near the official time Bella would attend kindergarten I being to feel anxious and have a little self-doubt. With homeschooling, I know this is a natural feeling, one that will never go away but hopefully lessen.

August seems far away now. For an anxious person like me, it's coming all too fast. I guess my biggest fear is what if we don't really have enough time and what if she falls behind? I will still be working full time next year and the hubby will be available during the days, but I'm the one committing to this. I'm the one taking on the responsibility of actually teaching her.

These are my doubts.....

Will she learn enough?
What if it doesn't work out at the end of the year?
Will we keep up with the work?
Can I really do this?

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." - Matthew 4:1

I just feel the pressure... a lot. And Yes, we have family members that are skeptical and don't agree with this choice. I feel like this is the wilderness for me. To be tested and for me to question this choice over and over again. It was easy to make this decision two years ago even after I read about all the push back I might receive. But now that we are steadily approaching that day in August in every 5 year old's life to technically begin school, the fear to follow through with this calling creeps in. I am being tempted to look the other way and turn back. I have to keep my eyes on whats ahead of me and know, that through the wilderness, it will only make this blessing more joyful and meaningful.

All of these things I have read about and thought to myself "if I prepare, I can overcome the outside forces", but the outside forces have cause a little self-doubt. I am a person that struggles with self-doubt. I have my entire life and it makes for one indecisive person.

We Got An Early Start
It's not as if we are not doing this homeschooling thing already. We started Bella's "kindergarten" year off early. Almost an entire year early. We started off with light work and began the basics of math, reading and handwriting. I knew her first year would be minimal and I wanted to make sure we had enough time to get through an entire year of curriculum. So the plan was to do part time for two years.

She absolutely loves her Saxon Math Manipulatives kit! Saxon has been a gentle introduction to the subject and she looks forward to this the most. She loves working with the pattern blocks and the counting bears.

The reading program we chose was Bob Books. It's worked really well and she is almost done with the first set of books. I recommend these books to everyone!! When I first started thinking about teaching my daughter how to read, I had no idea where to even begin. I love the incorporation of phonics with each book of the first set. I get such reassurance when I see the look on her face after she has read an entire book all by herself. It's not the look of incredible excitement. It's the sly smirk that her teeth just want to burst through into a full smile. She can get a bit cocky:)!

Stay Strong
 
When I think about all this self-doubt, I pull my strength knowing that this is our families calling. I know there will be naysayers and I know this wont be easy. I have felt pulled to this for the past couple years. I believe God has led me down this path and I take comfort in knowing this is what is meant to be. I have to remind myself of our goals and the mission behind this decision. Perhaps that is why everyone recommends writing it down and referring back to it in times of struggle.

"I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:1-2

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."- Jeremiah 29:11

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Tangled Party Cupcake Tower

Last week, I posted my daughters 5th Tangled birthday party! I have gotten several emails on the cupcake tower and thought I would explain in more detail how I created this feature.

Materials used....

Bird house from Michael's
Pringles Can
Serving Platter
Acrylic paint

I first decorated the bird house to resemble tower from the movie. I used purple and blue paints for the roof. I used tan and brown for the sides of the tower. I created the vines effect and flowers. This adds a little dimension to the house that was missing before.

I used a Pringles can for the tower. First, I coated with a base in medium gray. Then I took a thick brush and filled in the bricks with both darker and lighter tones of gray.

To assemble, I flipped the can over and used a hot glue gun to attach the house to the bottom of the Pringles can.

Then I placed the open end of the can over the serving platter handle.

You're done!! 

You can add a braid, which is absolutely adorable, to hang out of the peep hole in the bird house, like I did above. I just used yellow yarn. This is a great way to add a personalized touch to a party with out spending a whole lot of money.

 Cost Break down:

• Birdhouse: $4.99 @ Michael's
• Ikea serving platter: $14.99
• Pingles can: $1
• Acrylic Paint: $1/color = $8

Total cost was  $29.00

The best part, you get to use the serving platter for future parties!

 

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Girfriends and What I don't Miss About My Early 20's

Being an only girl in the family of boy siblings, it feels like girl time is few and far between. Which is why I'm always eager to attend our regular girls night each month. 

I am so blessed, at the age of 30, to have a group of women I've known since high school, who still make an effort to get together regularly. This past Saturday we went out to celebrate two of my girlfriends 30th birthdays. It's the year of 30 for all of the gals in the group.

We went to a very nice place, which had excellent food and a jazzy sax player in the bar. It seems like some of us, I included, were eager to let loose and reenact some of our early 20's. We found ourselves in an Irish pub bar located in the town we grew up in After sitting down and ordering drinks, it was clear to us that this was a college bar and were no longer in college. It even included those shot girls, who circled the bar with a tray full of neon test tubes, traveling to every table.

The whole experience just made us feel aged and we realized we were no longer the young early 20 something’s we used to be and that's okay. And while our lives are more comparable to the late Sex and the City story line, we realize that we still have some good times ahead.

"Girlfriends are not about being inseparable, it's about being separated for however long and nothing changes!" - 3 Wittle Birds

What do 30 something married women do for entertainment? My girlfriends and I manage to have at least one dinner night a month. It seems few and far between but it's more realistic this day and age. On occasion, we enlist the hubbies in on the fun game night. You would be amazed how competitive this evening ends up! On the recent evening of our latest girls night, we managed, after all these years of trying to plan a vacation, scheduled a weekend getaway to Lake Geneva. It's sort of like the East Coasters and their weekends in the Hampton Islands.

What I don't miss about my early 20's

1. Lacking self confidence in my body image
2. Roommate drama - I've had some amazing roommates who were from Australia and we all seemed to get along. I've also had some very stressful situations of bad judgment that have led to calling the cops at 2 am.... Let's just say, been there and I'm done with that.
3. Having a hangover every weekend - It's seems that when you are in your early 20's, a relaxed Friday or Saturday night doesn't exist when you are single and the fear of not have anything to do is frustrating.
4. The bar and club scene - Those drunken girls in the bathrooms (who didn't quite make it to the toilet), and the creepy drunk guys at the bar that mistaken a kind "no" for bitchiness.
5. Dating - Don't get me wrong, the beginning stages of dating are both exhilarating and nerve wracking but I don't miss that roller coaster.
6. Frienemies and acquaintances - It feels like you have a  ton of friends at this age but that are all too quick to back stab or throw you under the bus. Over the years, through marriages and the big leap to children, acquaintances fall off and you find out who your true friends are. The ones that you may not talk to all the time, but you have no problem picking up where you left off.
7. Thinking I knew it all - I felt like I had it all figured out and I knew who I was. Turns out, not true.... shocking! But really, I have come to the closure that I don't think I will every have it all figured out and I don't want to ever shut myself out of continuous improvement.

For a final note: Here is a funny picture I found while perusing on Pinterest. Enjoy!

Pretend Play Italian Menu: Lady and the Tramp (free)

I got such positive feed back on the Hawaiian play menu I created last week that I thought it would be fun to continue on with the theme and do something Italian!

When I think of Italian and Disney movies, I picture Lady And The Tramp.

Please enjoy this free printable play menu for your pretend play activities.

Get your own free copy of Lady's Italian Bistro here.

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Bella's Tangled Party

 I'm one of those amateur party planners. I see all these pretty party planning blogs and websites and I'm like a kid in the candy store. Perhaps, if I had an endless budget and all the time in the world to plan, I could accomplish one of those parties one day. For now, I like to dabble in planning my kids parties....

My girl has been obsessed with The Tangled movie since it came out and I have been excited to plan this one for a couple years! Last year, we threw her a Tinkerbell Neverland party. Mainly for the fact that, when I asked her what kind of party she wanted, Tinkerbell was the first thing to leave her mouth. Little did I know she would change her mind the next week, but I was committed to the idea once I started planning. This happens with little kids, don't you know? They change their mind on the last thing they can remember.

You may remember the invitations here...

Tangled Cupcake Tower

Party Favors: Rapunzel Watercolor Paints (Target) Mini Canvas (Hobby Lobby) and Mini Easel (Hobby Lobby).

Jello boats: I've seen this idea everywhere and I really loved the concept of jello for a side snack for the kiddies.

Flower Gleam and Glow.....

Canvas Painting: I created this one myself! Who would like to see a tutorial on this?

Sneaker Peaker....

Photo bombing...

Snuggly Duckling Brewery....

Game: Pin the nose on Flynn Rider. I had the kids draw their own noses on a separate sheet of paper. They all had a similar concept, that a nose resembled a pig nose.

Birthday Girl!!! She was all smiles about her party!

I hope you enjoyed this picture gallery of Bella's Tangled Party!!! How are you at party planning? Do you go all out or do you dread the party planning?

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Linking up with Bloom Designs !