Embrace the camera

http://andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com/2010/05/embrace-camera.html

I follow the Anderson Family Crew Blog. This family is adorable and this mom makes such a valid point.

Sha has challenged everyone to join her in taking pictures with your kids... thinking about it... i wish i had more pictures of my mom and my dad for that matter when i was young. I cherish those photos... even the ones that my mom claims she looks horrible in. I think she looks amazing.

So even if you are in an old t-shirt... and sweatpants... get in front of the camera... your kid will cherish it someday..

will any of you join me in this challenge????

Fall Inspiration :)

I plan on decorating my house this weekend for the Fall. I have been collecting a few things here and there... I just seem to keep picking up pumpkins in ever size, shape, and color.
We did also of course pick up a star wars stencil to carve our pumpkins this year (for the hubby of course)  Here are a few inspiring fall decorations... Hope you enjoy :)

I absolutely will be making these framed leaves... i LOVE this.

candy corn filled pumpkins

Halloween Subway art... made at
http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2010/08/spooky-subway-art.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FOivM+%28Tatertots+and+Jello%29

I would love to make this pumpkin chandelier

a fun patio decoration :)

canvas rug by Martha.

A few simple decorating ideas :)

Grandmas love bragging ;)

So I went to Target the other day and was playing around in their scrapbook aisle. when i found two chipboard mini books. which i thought would be perfect... well first off they were only 99 cents.. and secondly they would fit perfectly in grandma's purses :)

I am horrible at printing off pictures. i am an expert in posting them online. but printing them off for people ... i dont do.  So i figured this would be a great addition to Christmas gifts for them.  These are the two i have made. i just covered them with some scrapbook papers... i am going to fill them with some of my favorite pictures of Maddux. Hopefully they love them :)

Give Aways!!!!!

Anyone looking for a silhouette... This baby has been the object of my affection for a while now... I am currently begging... literally begging my husband.. my mom... anyone who will listen to me really for this...

There are several ways to win. Check out these awesome blogs for your chance!!!

http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/2010/08/super-fantabulous-product-giveaway_23.html

http://karaspartyideas.blogspot.com/2010/08/silhouette-craft-cutter-giveaway-300.html

http://makingitlovely.com/2010/08/23/silhouette-sd-cutting-machine-review-and-giveaway/

http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2010/08/over-300-giveaway-santa-has-arrived.html

http://www.crapivemade.com/2010/08/moment-youve-all-been-waiting-for.html

http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2010/08/silhouette-machine-guest-giveaway.html

Get to entering!!!!!

Fall is complete Happiness

I am so excited for summer to end and Fall to be here. I found this fun paper and decided i wanted a hanging frame. I have tons of photos of Maddux... I should show them off.
and even though he isnt smiling.. and people may wonder why I love this photo so much.. well because this is a face he makes quite often. If you take away something he cant have... if he is tired... i get this face. and even though its such a sad face... it melts my heart whenever i see it. those cheeks are just adorable...

I made this frame just using scrapbook paper, modge podge, and a dollar frame from Michaels.
I made a paper flower out of extra paper scraps.
I really like the way it turned out :)

the pictures dont really show the paper... but it just lists a lot of my favorite thanksgiving foods...

pumpkin pie, cranberries, apple crisp, turkey... etc. yummm now i am hungry...

Its coming up sooner than i know it....

So i realized the other day... that i have roughly 2 more months to finish up everything for Maddux's first birthday... sooo much still to do... 
I have been working hard on getting some of this done... here are a few things..

Circus Toys to stuff the Goody Bags for Kids... Its amazing i found these :)

Popcorn and Peanut bags for... well popcorn and peanuts :)

Bubbles for the kiddos goody bags

Personalized Circus Coloring Books for Goodie Bags

Clown Knock Down Game.

Hopefully this all comes together in a few months!!!!!!! So far this has been so fun collecting things for :)

Forever and Always...

I am not the greatest photographer... I would really like to learn more about it... which hopefully i do... but i think it will end up being a lot of trial and error... and time.. .which i dont seem to have much of... unless its 9 pm and maddux is sleeping and Jerry is occupied in Volleyball Land. Then I get some me time... but thats not really the prime time to play with my camera.. I keep hoping I will just win the lottery... then i would have time (and money) to play around with hobbies... a girl can dream.

anyways... on with my photo...

I love this photo... for several reasons.
This is a picture I took of my husband's cousin at her wedding. This is of their first dance. and if you cant tell from this picture she is a wee little thing. :) She is an absolutely amazing person. She is so unbelievably caring... I mean if I need something she will do everything she can to help me. and really those types of people are far and few to come by. She has always supported my husband no matter what... She means a lot more to me than I can explain on this blog... but i think she knows and understands how much I love her :)
but i Really Really love this photo... because on accident (and if i had better photography skills... it would be better) but it caught a tear when they were dancing :) and i just thought it caught quite a cute little moment... and she looks stunning.
 

Love them both <3

Count your blessings

Fall is absolutely my favorite season. I love everything about it. I am never ever sad to see summer go... Fall starts the beginning of the holiday seasons, leaves changing colors, cute boots, scarves, Hoodies :), Hot chocolate, Football, Flannel... I can go on and on and on.
I just absolutely love everything about it :)

So last night I decided to play with stuff I had laying around... I collect scrapbooking supplies... pretending that one day I will start a scrapbook. I have been saying this for about 4 years now. It has not happened  yet... I am really bad at printing out my photos. Its horrible. so i just throw all the papers, stickers, embellishments, etc into a huge bag in my closet and there it sits. Its a complete waste of money and I wish I would start scrapbooking... but now they have these photo books you can create and they do it for you... sooo it just keeps getting put off. one day... hopefully .. i will start.

But anyways...

So i decided to play around with the things i have... and a cheap 99 cent frame I have...
It probably could have turned out better... if i would have put some thought into it and gone to the store. but for what i have in my bag of crap.... it turned out pretty cute... i think at least :)

For my first time attempting one of these... i am pretty happy with the result :)

Circus Party Items

A few things I have been working on for Maddux's party :)

I found a circus tent on Walmart.com for 20 bucks. i figure this will be a perfect mini ball pitt!!

all the ribbon wands... with jer in the background :) 

I have a few more things I have done for it... but they are still sitting on my camera. Hopefully I can get them uploaded tomorrow ..

Dont Miss Out!!!!!

Free HardCover Photo Book. Cant beat this :)

http://www.howdoesshe.com/its-back-free-picaboo-photobook

Free Canvas Photo 8X10 Free!!! 11X14 for only 9.95!!!!

http://www.canvaspeople.com/special-offer?utm_source=HO&utm_medium=Affil&utm_campaign=promo


AND another free flip book

http://www.howdoesshe.com/published-author-at-4


Dont miss out on these deals people :)
Christmas is right around the corner... and pictures are always a nice gift for parents and grandparents :)

Cute.. Cute.. Cute..!!!

http://paisleypassions.blogspot.com/2010/07/flash-back-fridaylap-tray.html

This was featured on a blog I follow today. And i am in love. this is so stinking cute!!!  I have an obsession with people who come up with this stuff. I wish i were half this creative...

My New Years Resolution was to become more creative.... Thanks to women like this... for giving me inspiration :)

Free Star Wars Printables

I am seriously considering printing a few of these off to put in my husbands volleyball briefcase he carries... and see how long before he notices. Maybe I could stick one on the back of his Volleyball Clipboard :)

If you have a Star Wars Fan... heres the freebies I came across!!! 

http://www.livinglocurto.com/2009/08/star-wars-free-printable-tags-stickers/

If only I had actually paid attention in Home Ec Class....

I have always been a fan of home made things. I think the whole no one else will ever have one exactly the same aspect calls to me. I'm not huge into scrap booking. Time and time again I spend money on scrapbooking supplies... and then end up doing nothing with it. So for me scrapbooking is a little too time consuming and to do it right, well it costs a little bit too much. However I have started paying attention to mini scrap books. and these i am in love with. I am currently working on making both Nana and Grandma these for Christmas. Becuase they are so much fun. and easy. and cheap... and dont take much time. so thats right up my alley :)
But anyways to get on with this posting... I have been a little busy this past weekend. Jerrys Birthday, Tommasinas wedding, Jerry being gone at mud volleyball all weekend. I havent got much done... so hopefully this weekend I can get started on a few things. My birthday stuff... I am still slowly pecking away at it as planned... But I have a couple of other things I may decide to distract myself with.
Now I loved books as a kid. Loved them!! I am hoping and crossing my fingers that Maddux will also enjoy books. So heres to being optimistic that this will happen.. I would really like to find a book with good illustrations and create something like this.

and heres the inspiration that makes me wish i knew how to sew... maybe i should see if they have a quick class i can take??? hmmm

I cant even tell you how much I love this book sling.  This would be perfect .. you could put this lower to the ground at your kids height. see.. i have an obsession with books. Maddux will be doomed if he doesnt like them. i will just try to make him :)

I got these ideas from two blogs I accidently came across today.. they were either featured on other blogs I follow  Anywho... I have added to my blogs I follow

Here is the link on the tutorial for the Story Canvas

http://www.sillyeaglebooks.com/2010/06/decorating-with-childrens-books.html

Here is the tutorial for the book sling

http://pennycarnival.typepad.com/penny_carnival/2009/02/tutorial-hanging-book-display.html

and I am also a HUGE fan of vintage prints framed. Huge Huge Huge fan. and well here are some children ones I came across.

These are free. Print then frame... and voila absolute cuteness

http://indiefixx.com/Feed_your_soul/downloads.html

My little water baby....

So last night... nothing was going right. Maddux was upset... nothing was making him happy. All he wanted to do was look at me and cry. He refused to eat, refused to play, he was just upset at the world. So at this point it was 8pm and i was ready to just give up and call it a night. So after trying to get him to eat for 45 minutes I put him in the tub... and apparently that was the trick. The water does Magical Things to my son.... my screaming, crying, angry baby turned into this....

Ribbon Wands!

Now I found these online for weddings...  But i have a few girly nieces that would love these. So I decided I would make these as Party Favors for Maddux's Party. I went and bought one thing of doll rods and took all of the random ribbon i have and hot glued them onto the rod. these arent the most amazing things ever but they were cheap and easy... and they are pretty cute. and my nieces will love twirling these ribbons around. Here is one that I made :)

Mr. Sock Monkey

This is going to look absolutely adorable on Maddux's cute little head.

Bring on cold weather... I cant wait for him to wear this hat :)

75% off Toys at Target Looks Like this....

who could pass up a bargain like that?????

And once again... I dont think he can play with these toys until he's like five. I am betting Jerry will need to try them out first too...

Obviously on a mustache kick

So i came across this circus wedding that did a photo booth... and they included mustache on a stick props... and i loved loved loved this. and i thought this would be such a great way to capture everyone who will come to Maddys first birthday :) So since I am doing things here and there for this party since its smack dab in the middle of the holiday season... and i might as well get this head start.. i downloaded a mustache template on google and traced these onto cardstock... hot glued them on to doll rods... hopefully people have fun using these :) for the photo booth. i found red and white striped carnival material on clearance at Ikea so i am hoping i can get that tacked up on to the wall. Hopefully i can get everyone in there to get their picture so i can include this photo in their thank you notes :) 

Those are just a few... I dont know if Jerry realized these would be posted on my blog for anyone to see :) haha!!!

Chocolate Stache.

and these are simply perfection....Chocolate Mustache Pops!!!!

dont mind how gross I look :)

144 Balloons...

I found another tutorial that I wanted to do... so here it is a Balloon Wreath :)

I think its absolutely adorable.. and was insanely easy to make!

I really think this will be cute to put up on the door for birthdays.

Hopefully you guys like it as much as me.

I will attach the tutorial at the bottom if anyone else wants to try it :)

process of making it...

and finished project :)

Tutorial:

http://www.howdoesshe.com/birthday-wreath

Dreaming of Lattes...

My son quit sleeping thru the night. He was doing it so well... and then well he stopped about three months ago. he wakes up 3 or 4 times a night. People say... its normal... he might be teething... well needless to say that i have increased my caffeine intake.. and i am currently counting down the minutes until i can have one of these in my  hand for lunch.

The one good thing about summer coming to an end... is the fall and winter flavors coming up at

Starbucks... ohhhh Starbucks How I love Thee.

One of my happiest days... is going to Starbucks and finding this....

The red cup!!!!... i can already taste the white peppermint mocha now...

If any of you need me.. i will be sipping on my beautiful... much awaited latte waiting for me down the road :)

And yes this is a perfectly acceptable lunch... Dont judge me

A day at the museum....

I took the day off of work a week ago to take a day to hang out with Jerry and Maddux since our weekends are always so rushed!! We didn't want to end up just sitting around the house all day, so we decided we would check out the Burpee Museum. I haven't been there since I was in grade school. and well Jerry hasn't ever been there. People always tell me Maddux is too young for all these things, but its getting him out of the house and getting him to see new things.. so really why is it such a bad thing? Plus as you will see in the photos, he had a GREAT time!

Well Burpee Museum... had a few cool things. The dinosaurs were cool. i remember as a kid thinking the fossils were cool. As an adult.. not so much. But if you say the word science to me.. i immediately feel my eyes get heavy. So I am lazy.. and I am not really one that wants to learn about dirt and fossils. I figured they made me do that in school. and i am over it now. But one day Maddux will think its cool... and I am sure that will change my opinion on it.. well maybe. At least I will pretend it does ;)

Well anyways. back on topic. The museum dinosaurs was neat. They are putting in more dinosaurs... since I cannot spell the dinosaur names. I will refer to them as their Land Before Time names... they are suppose to be getting a Three horn (Sarah) which was my Favorite in school. So that will be neat :) and the Indian Part was pretty neat too. But the section on fossils and fake looking animals... and the various levels of dirt and rock... i zipped right thru that.

But I can tell you Maddux's favorites. Were the fish... Looking down at the river walk they are building.. and sitting in the canoe... (which i realized there was a huge sign that said do not let your kids sit in the canoe... OOPS) i really didnt see it until after. Oh well.

Well anyways... here are a few pictures of our day out to the museum the other day :)

The Canoe...

him reading about the Idians and where they live in the winter :)

Jerry and Maddux... Running for their lives!

I am posing... maddux.. he is eating :)

... and the best part for him... FISH

Had to Have...

Found this bag... had to have it. I am not sure why this makes me laugh so much. But this bag is pure awesomeness for me :)

Rainbow Brite Would Be Proud of These Babies :)

So I love rainbows. I do. Who doesn't?? And of course I came across yet another Tutorial. That i needed to do!!! Rainbow Cupcakes!!!! these babies are amazing. They look like they came straight from Rainbow Brite herself.... These are amazing!!!!

batter all ready to go!!!!!!

and for the finished product......

and....

and take a bite....

YUMMMMMM :)

Here is the tutorial that i followed. there are lots out there... but these cupcakes taste amazing so I would highly suggest this one! I did add purple to my cupcake.... just for fun :)

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/05/cupcakes.html