Blog Slump & Busy Bunnies

Well.. I feel like Im in a blogging slump..

We havent been doing anything too exciting or adventurous.. just getting ready for Easter, etc..

A few other bloggers I follow have said the same.. what do I write about???

 

So this was our week thus far..

I made these Crepe Carrots via Martha Stewart for Samantha, and her two cousins' easter baskets. Inside are hidden little candies, lip gloss, tiny pens, bracelets.. etc. I went to party city and they had a lot of cute girly stuff mostly all under 50 cents a piece.. so instead of plastic eggs, they can open carrots! I think they are so cute.

 

It was nice for ONE measly day this week... ONE

But who cares... we took advantage..

Every time I take the kids outside they are in better moods, they sleep better..



All around everything is better with a little fresh air.

 





And then the next day.. it SNOWED.. really snowed.. Ugh!

So we're just forgetting that the weather stinks this year.. and onto the arrival of the Easter Bunny instead.

I made some peanut butter pecan granola bars yesterday.

I wrapped them up and decorated them with washi tape.. which Im kind of obsessed with lately.



So since we were in the house today..

They really didnt seem to care.. and they find ways to make each other crack up... which Im right behind them snapping a million photos because I love that little laugh of Andrew's... and Samantha loves making him laugh lately..

 

Here she's licking the window.. oh yes... hysterical

but it was to him! He was dying laughing.. Belly laughing hilarious..

It was pretty funny 

 

After dinner tonight I had a few errands to run...and I remembered to take my ipod with me, and instead of listening to Mother Goose Club.. I took advantage and enjoyed some Mama music for the first time in forever...and even though it died after 2 songs... It was something at least.. 

And thats the latest into our exciting lives lately.

Easter weekend is going to be fun though, I got new outfits for the kids and they are adorable.

Samantha even wants me to curl her already curly hair..

I cant wait to take a million pictures.

Happy Easter!

Random Weekly Update

Just a few things ... most all via Instagram, where I spend most of my days taking pics!

 

I finally got my hair did

2.5 inches, layers, color, and thinned out to the max.. it felt great.

I have TONS of hair... and with being pregnant, and ending nursing.. it was thicker than ever, and needed some big time grooming.. 

 

These two are hysterical lately.. I can leave them alone to play for quite some time.. and they are fine.. then often times i cant even leave the room without someone hitting or pushing or pulling hair.. but for the most part they love each other.. and get so excited when they dont see one another for a bit.. its so amazing and wonderful to see the love they have as siblings.. even so young.

I made some vanilla sugar this week, which Im planning on making some cookies with. But the vanilla sugar needs to sit for at least 2 weeks covered... so see you in 2 weeks!

This is what they do when Daddy vaccums in the basement.

 

She said she was building New York City... I dont know where she gets this stuff from.. hysterical.

This weekend was Daddy's birthday..

So I was busy all week shopping and getting stuff ready.

Most of the things we got him I couldnt really wrap... so I gave him all this stuff in an old crate.

Cucumber Soda, 4 new wine glasses, gum, seaweed snacks (his fav), jalapenos, and a long garden hose for our plants and garden this summer (not pictured)

 

I love crafting and organizing my crafting supplies just as much.

I found this awesome tool cabinet at Aldi's for 9 bucks!

I have no idea what to fill these cute little drawers with, but for 9 bucks, I'll figure it out eventually

 

Its still been super cold around here lately.

This weekend it didnt quite reach 40.. but it was sunny and we took the kids outside as much as we could. I found this tiny little guy in the front flower bed this afternoon.. Spring is trying to come... I just hope its decent for Easter/

 

This week SJ has a party for Easter at school

I signed up to bring wrapped treats, and got this cute idea from Pinterest.

 

We ended the weekend celebrating our Daddy..

Cinnamon Creme Cake from Corner Bakery Cafe..

It was hard for me to NOT bake anything .. so I had to make a little washi bunting banner to decorate the cake with.. ha!

 

My cousin brought us this cake when Andrew was just born.

Mathew was raving on how good it was, best cake ever, he loved cinnamon, ...

so I surprised him and bought him one for his birthday.. and he loved it.



Hello Spring! {Link Up Party- DIY}

Hello Spring!

Im linking up again for the Hello Spring Party!

Today's Topic is DIY



I love crafting, sewing, baking, and anything I think I can DIY

I had to dig into my Pinterest files, and see which projects I was thinking about tackling this Spring.

 

 

I love this idea.. and I think I'd go for the same colors to brighten up our foyer.

I really need to be better about printing the kids' pictures more often, and blowing up my favorites.

We're going on vacation, and I really want to make DIY Whale Applique shirts for the kids.

I already have all the supplies... white tee shirts, and pink and blue chevron fabric 

A stool for a friend.

I really need to get my 3rd Floor Art going again..

www.joellescrafts.blogspot.com

DIY Fabric Necklaces

After I read Caroline's spring fashion looks post, there was an outfit I loved, leggings and the long tee shirt look. It was paired with a long necklace, and I think it would look great with these cute fabric necklaces... so its on my DIY list!

 

PS... I ordered the exact tee shirt from ZARA, yesterday ...featured in your post! ha!

 

 

Curtain Makeover.

I made these Burlap Roman Shades when we first moved into our house... 3 years ago... I need to hunt around for some fresh ideas for Spring...I have no ideas yet... 

 

 

And thats it for now!

Now Spring just needs to get here..

There is snow on the ground this morning...again... ugh!

Carrot Cake Cookie Sandwiches

 Martha Stewart's Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies

Here's how I made them.

First I creamed in my mixer:

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

2 sticks unsalted butter.

Once fluffy, I added 2 eggs, and 1 tsp vanilla extract.

 

Then in a separate bowl, I sifted

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 & 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

 

Then added the flour mixture slowly to the wet ingredients while the mixer was on low until combined

Then I added (again with mixer on low)

1 cup old fashioned oats & 1 1/2 cups of shredded carrots. I used both sides of my grater, so some carrot shreds were very fine, and some were bigger.

 

You chill the dough for 1 hour.

then I used my small cookie scoop and baked them at 350 for 12-15m  rotating the pan once

The batter was excellent, so I figured the cookies will be good too ...

The frosting.

I started with this...

 

1 8oz brick of cream cheese softened

1 stick unsalted butter at room temp

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

 

But the consistency was very runny... and thats the way I think it is intended to be.. but I was looking for a more buttercream consistency.. so I kept adding powdered sugar, and I dumped in a little half and half... and mixed, and added, and mixed and added

 

Until it was perfect!

 So yummy and moist.

 

It did make a bit too much ... so Im going to freeze a bunch, and give some away as well.. Im the biggest sweet tooth in the house these days.. so most of them will be eaten by ME if I dont get them out of here..

Hello Spring! {Link Up Party -Spring Fashion}

Im Linking Up with a few other blogs for

 

All pics are from my phone.. sorry..

I was using the mobile app while giving little mister his bottle.. multitasking is the only way I'll get a blog in here or there sometimes..

 

SO where we live its looking like spring wont be arriving anytime soon...

gross I know.. Im so over it.

 

 

 

Here are a few looks Im loving for whenever spring decides to get here!

Green shorts.. I just bought a pair for vacation/spring... but I love this look paired with a shiny belt .. and bright white

 

Bib necklaces in bright colors

White maxi dress ... complete with TAN! Im so pasty white right now!

And of course another cute bib necklace

 

 

Lace Shirts

 

White Jeans!

I was brave enough to try mine on, and they fit! I was so pumped!

Striped summer dresses,

Light Cardigans.

Mint Jeans

White Jeans

Lilac Shorts

Here's my pile of clothes sitting out for vacation... Im not ready or anything, right?

 

Spring please come soon!

Tis a Great Thing to be IRISH!

I am very proud of my heritage.. Irish and Italian..

Both sides equally love food, and obviously if you read this blog... so do I!

We had a nice St. Patrick's Day weekend 

 

Complete with sweets and colorful rainbow nails

This morning I was in my green.. adding a little Baileys to my coffee and catching up on the Pioneer Woman, Barefoot Contessa, and Trisha's Southern Kitchen.. Okay okay.. I only got to watch the beginnings of each show when they showcase what they are making on that episode.. but hey.. 4 whole minutes of TV time! ha

 

The big guy got his first "haircut a la Momma"this morning..

We put on a sing a long DVD that he loves, and I just snipped as fast and careful as I could... and I think I could take even more off.. but this is good for now.. No more sheepdog..for a few weeks I hope.. the boy has some fab hair. 

We had been invited for dinner at my Aunt's house.

Sassy girl in her green and rainbow colors.

Samantha was such a good girl at my Aunts.. she'd never been there before, and she held her own, warmed right up to everyone .. was handing out stickers, kisses, telling stories, sitting herself down at the table.. and eating pretty decent I might add!

 

This one...

Was a tired handful... but he did ok considering.

I took him outside to run around a little since the sun was shining ..

I am obsessed with this sweater which I beleive is from IRELAND.. a hand me down from my cousins who's parents bought it there.

My little leprechaun.. 

We headed home around 7, and baths and nighttime routine began.

Both babies are sound asleep, and daddy and I are getting ready to watch the season finale of GIRLS on HBO..

I just had to snap this pic of her "curl" after bathtime ...

Now thats Irish, right?



 

Happy St Patricks Day!

This & That

This week we didnt do anything too exciting.. and the weather turned awfully cold.. boo...

We did some spring cleaning and purging, which felt great.. and lots of cooking and baking to cozy up the house as always..

 

I guess I missed that he turned 13 months a while ago...

To be honest, I think Im just gonna jump in when I can.. Im not gonna go backwards.. so maybe I'll catch his 14 month post before Easter.. we'll see.

 

These days he's a lover of juice and dogs, as you can see below.

He says "ju ju" for juice, and "bow wow" for not only dogs, but any animal he sees on TV,  in books, in person.. everything makes the noise "bow wow".. we're working on Meow and Moo..

I can tell he's getting ready to drop his 1 nap.

Some days he takes 2 still if we run errands and takes a small nap in the car..

But days like today when we didnt go anywhere.. he took a 2 hour nap, and thats it.. we couldnt get him down again... and then he was asleep by 8.. but he was super super cranky... so he's transitioning..

He DOES sleep through the night.. good sweet lord jesus, did I ever think I'd see the day? No way.

MOST nights... but he still does wake up, and I'll rock him, and I can usually get him back down or if its after 6am, Ill bring him downstairs,

He's a bruiser.. Falling and tripping, slipping, climbing.. we've got new scrapes and scratches every day.. I sortof jokingly said to Mat, "We'll be in the ER at some point with this one.. so prepare yourself"... God I hope not.. but he is scary and fearless..

He is the sweetest thing ever.
I never ever in my dreams imagined having a boy that would be so sweet and love hugging and loving as much as he does.. He melts my heart every day.

 

Meal Planning has commenced. We're trying to be creative and organized when planning meals.. Otherwise Im scratching my head at 4pm, and saying "Um... should I just make a pizza?"

 

BBQ Baked Chicken, Honey Cornbread, Beans, and Salad

Banilla Sandwiches..

Just Mini Nilla Wafers, Banana Slices and rolled in sprinkles.

Samantha loved this little mid afternoon snack ..

Cabbage Soup & Artichoke, Mozzarella & Tomato Ciabatta Toast  

Next week we've already charted our meal plan:

Chicken Burgers

Sauce (Already Frozen) & Noodles

Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos

Oriental Chicken Salad

Thai Coconut Chicken

Egg & Potatoes over Greens

 

This week these adorable clips I ordered for SJ came.

Rapunzel and Cinderella..

I was going to originally stick them in her Easter basket, but I couldnt resist..

They are so cute.

Im already inspecting them to see how hard it would be to make them myself.

I finally finished the kids Easter baskets today!

Well, the handle on SJ's needs painting.. but the liners and main part are done..

I am so happy with the way they look.

Now I have to pick up a few more small things to add to the loot I've been storing.

Oh yea.. and I tried a new Cookie Recipe today.

These are Martha Stewart's Carrot Cookie Sandwiches with Cream Cheese Buttercream ... OMG..

I need a separate post for this one.. I took so many yummy step by step pics

They are good... real good. Somehow I convinced myself that because there are almost 2 cups of carrots in there.. that perfectly ok to eat a whole bunch and not feel as guilty... ha.