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!

Crafty Party Details {Andrew is ONE}

 Here are a few party details

 

I ordered these cups from Garnish, and printed out the personalized circles and used Glue Dots to secure them. I added pretzels to the cups and displayed them on a red cupcake stand. 

Gift Bags

I cut out maps and taped more circles in the center.

Inside the bags were kazoos, gum, red and blue chocolate sixlet candies, and toy airplanes.

Since the theme was an "airplane" .. I had pretzels and peanuts for snacks.

I made him a little canvas for the party room that I had been working on for a while.. I tried to mirror his invites and colors to match.

Bunting of course made from the same atlas book

 

I made cut outs.

And tried my hand with royal icing.

Airplanes, Letter 1's, and Letter "A's" 



I saw these lollie stick markers on Garnish's site.

I almost bought them, but I tried to do a DIY..

and Im glad I didnt waste my money...

I absolutely loved how they turned out

I made some rice krispie "pops" and stuck a lolly stick in the middle of each one.

I didnt go nuts for this party.. one because I have two children now.. ha! And because our party was in the winter, and not at our house, so transporting everything was a little bit of a chore.

I love the way everything turned out!

Cooking & Crafts



Its Winter.. and its been really cold..

So I've been doing a lot of crafting and baking..

 

The very yummy Barefoot Contessa's Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins.

I made these last week, and froze half of them.. they freeze very well..

And Mathew grabs them sometimes before he goes into the office for breakfast so its perfect.

 

And we were on a blueberry kick so I made some blueberry ice cream too

 

Steel Cut Oats

I make it the night before for Samantha and I



Tea towels for some friends

Chicken Soup was on the menu.

This time I made some Crepe Noodles.. which I havent made in a while since they are hard to do if Im alone with the kids, but Mathew worked from home that day .. 

 

Cookie Dough Bites

Another Pinterest find... so dangerous..

I had a girls night with some of my friends from high school... and I brought a bunch of these and they were a hit.

Before I left for my girls night.. I defrosted a Chicken Pot Pie for Mathew and the kids to eat when I left.. but I had no biscuits.. so I went rooting around our cupboards.. 

And I found this recipe I'd never tried before.

On the side of the Bisquick box...

They were pretty good!

Winter = the need for cozy meals..

I so enjoy all these meals, sweets and crafts.

Im just happy that I've been getting the time to do them!

DIY Chalkboard Makeover

Pinterest strikes again.. tempting me to redo and makeover things around my house, and go shopping for craft supplies, and such..

I got this chalkboard at JoAnn's last year on Clearance.

I really dont like the "rooster" decor on the above part.. and my original plan was to cover it with burlap fabric since the shade in my kitchen window I made from burlap....

We use this board in our kitchen to make lists of meal ideas for the week

But I was covering the bottom with another coat of paint and I decided just to black out the top with Chalkboard paint too.. easier.. I can always still cover it later..

 

I put three coats on each section.

Much Better!!!!!!

 

Then I seasoned the chalkboard.

Which just means rubbing chalk all over it to help it soak in..

Then I erased.

And it has a vintagey (word?) look to it... soo much better than that Rooster!

DIY Washi Tape & Berry Compound Butter



I love paper, and stamps, and crafts.. you get the picture..

and I love packaging..

Washi tape is right up my alley.

Target has some pretty cute ones I've bought.

I wanted to decorate with some for Andrew's birthday.

I looked on Etsy and the Map washi tape was kind of boring ... and pretty expensive.

I decided to make my own.

Here's how I did it.

 

I made a "template" first by cutting a strip the same width of double sided tape, then applied tape, and used that as my guide.

 

I cut a bunch of strips and adhered them at the end with a double sided tape and wound it around an old spool. It was pretty easy.. I made it while Samantha was having some craft time.



 

Cute.

Now I know what to do with pretty paper that I find

This morning ... it was cold... big surprise..

I needed a little comfort breakfast.. As I was rootin around...

Texas Toast... Blackberries & Butter..

French Toast and Berry Compound Butter.

I mixed just a few berries & a stick of butter.

 

Wrapped it up and put it in the fridge while I made the french toast.



I saw this recipe on the Pioneer Woman..

For the french toast I made it like Ree makes it

Half and Half

Egg Yolks

Sugar

Topped it with Berry Butter & a little Powdered Sugar

Heaven..

As we Welcome December...

As we're welcoming December, here's a few things we've been up to around here..

I had a nice morning break and tried making Samantha a christmas tree shirt.

I figured if it was sparkly, she'd wear it..

Menu Planning...

I feel like I've been in a rut.. eating the same old things week after week..

 We came up with a really good and cheap meal idea recently.

Hubby actually found it online.

Chicken Burgers via Martha Stewart

They are sooo soo good.. and we even had fresh Chives from my herb garden that werent frozen/wilted yet... so so good!

 The mailman brought me some presents I had been waiting for this week

Some pretty necklaces... and pens for my planner..

 

Samantha and I love getting out for our much needed girl time.

She loves the grocery store, and I really can tell she loves being one on one too.



She's hysterical with the things she remembers.

I was pulling in to get gas and she said "mama, mama, mama, ... That looks like Gordon's car!"

It was a VW Yellow Bug and she was referring to Gordon's car from the movie "Follow That Bird"

I nearly died... the things this child says... cracks me up

My kids are getting so big.

Its scary.. I no longer have a little baby anymore either.

I've started jotting down little things he's up to at 10 Months.. (post coming soon)

 

He had a follow up Dr's appt Friday.

He STILL has an ear infection.

This has been since early October.

I just dont know what to do anymore..

 

The Dr gave us a referral for an ENT.. and we think he's on the road to having/needing tubes.

Nothing has worked for him.

The Doc gave us one more antibiotic to try... so we're hoping in a few days we notice a difference.

I think the doctors just dont want to have to put a small baby to sleep for the procedure.. tubes are the last resort.. but they make them try 4-5 antibiotics first to see if it will go away ... and NOTHING is working for my poor guy.

 

He fell asleep for a nap, and woke up screaming 15 minutes later.. I held him, and rocked him until he fell back asleep.. then I layed him on a comforter on the floor..



 

I thought he'd wake up within 5 minutes..

He stayed there for 45 more minutes.. bonus!



 

And Im attempting to make our own Christmas cards this year..

I've got about 10 completely done.. so if no one develops another cold within the next week or so I hope to be done...

 

This extra week of November has really helped me get organized and ready for Christmas.. shopping that is.. Im compleley done with the kids..

And I have plenty of time to get what I need for everyone else.. I dont feel rushed this year which is nice.