Tuesday, August 31, 2010

So not funny

My family thinks they are SOOOOO funny. Do have a family like this?
*Sigh.*
Well then bless your little heart, you feel my pain.

In fact, one particular member of my family thought she was SOOOO funny when she sent me this in response to my soccer mom post:

Like I said, totally not funny.

And then, when I went to express just how not funny this was to the hubby,
here's what I got in reponse:





Does it ever stop?
Enough with the funny already.
Give a girl a break.

Six is the Magic Number


Saturday is the big day: the Libster's sixth birthday party.
It's a big year for my little one, what with the big sistering and kindergartening and whatnot.
And it goes without saying that this girl deserves a party.
The big kind.....

bigger than party #1....


and party #2......

and party #3.....

and party #4......

and party #5.....


Party #6 will be the party to top all parties, and it will be here in t-minus four days and counting.

To say I have my hands full is quite the little understatement, now isn't it?

Monday, August 30, 2010

Thursday, August 26, 2010

And the Award Goes to....

I just love a good blog, and I'm assuming you do too. And I'm always on the scout for the next 'must read'. Here are a few (ok, well twelve) that I think are more than worth checking out:

* My Favorite Place for Ideas

brown paper packages

Brown Paper Packages is the best place for me when I'm looking for a crafty idea. Her creations are always practical and often involve things I have around the house already. Her style is timeless and oh-so-stinkin' cute. Lee is not so much a fan of me visiting her blog because I always leave with ten new ideas for things I just 'have to make soon'.

* My 'I Want Her House' Favorite





And this award goes to House of Smiths. I'm seriously considering hiring someone to hypnotize her and convince her that we need to trade houses. Think I could pull that off? It's be worth trying because her house is UGH-MAY-ZING!


* My 'Basically I Want to Be Her' Favorite



Meet Lauren from http://www.busybeelauren.blogspot.com/. I heart her. She's the coolest. We should so be friends in real life.

* My 'Coolest Kid' Favorite


Kenzie is basically the coolest blogging kid ever. She lives in Utah (which is apparently where 90% of all great bloggers live) and is super smart and funny...oh and she has great style. Reading her blog makes me miss teaching. She also runs a great blog design website with lots of fun freebies....because she's the coolest.
You can find her here:




all about kenzie


* My Favorite Blogger Friend

If I could pick one person from blogland and instantly become real-life friends with her, it would be Jessica, whom I stumbled upon here:





I love her morals and her Godly perspective as she raises (and homeschools) her five precious children.

* My Favorite Real Life Blogger Friends

This was THE HARDEST category for me, so I simply can't pick just one. I have lots of great friends with great blogs. However, today I'm limiting myself to only three to share with you.

1. My friend Penny from http://pieceofpenny.blogspot.com/



Penny is THE MOST CREATIVE person I know in real life. She's also very funny and dripping in Southern charm. You will love her. Her blog is filled with creative ideas, funny personal antics, and a splash of her wit and charm.

2. My friend Erin from http://www.puddinsugar.com/



My friend Erin has two of the most adorable children ever born, a super hottie of a husband (see photo above), a very interesting Air Force wife life, and an up and coming photography business. Her blog is full of great pics, excellent book reviews, and the occasional yummy treat recipes.

3. My friend Heather from http://www.leblanctriplets.blogspot.com/



Unless you're new around here, you've heard me talk about Heather many, many times. She and her husband have their hands full raises two little miracles, David and Mary Louise. Follow her as she details life as the mom of very busy preemies.

* My Favorite Place for Blog Ideas and Freebies

Although there are several blogs I love to frequent for blogger tips, etc. (which you can find more about under my Favorites section), my FAVORITE place to go for ideas such as this is here:

this crazy life...michelle underwood designs

Her stuff is adorable and so my style. She has lots of freebies available for you to use as you wish and often offers great giveaways as well.

* My Favorite Eye Candy



Yes, I'd like my blog to look just like hers. Please and thank you very much.

http://thetwitchells.blogspot.com/

* My Place to Go For Motivation





This mom has it together. She inspires me to do and be better. I think she handles her struggles beautifully and with such grace and compassion. And I think you'll love her too.

* My Favorite Guilty Pleasure


This momma is a mess....and I love her. She cracks me up and inspires me, all at the same time. And that's somethin' you just don't find everyday.


* My Place to Go for Mommy Inspiration



Who doesn't know Darby from http://www.flythroughourwindow.com/? I love, love, love her. She is about as big as it gets in terms of blog fame, and yet she remains the most down-to-earth, level-headed, Christian example there is. I feel like I know her and her children, and I absolutely adore her blog. In all honesty, she is the reason I fell in love with blogging. She is the mom I hope to one day become.

* My All-Time Favorite

Easy. Simple. Hands-down. The blog I love more than any other is the beloved Enjoying the Small Things by the infamous, ever-charming Kelle Hampton at http://www.kellehampton.com/.




If you've ever read her blog then nuff' said. If not, stop what you're doing and head there now. But be warned, her blog is like a black hole for me-- once I go in, it's VERY hard for me to come back out...I just want to stay! I literally get excited when I see she's posted something new. And I have to add that the other day Libby and I were looking at her blog (Libby believes Nella and Lainey are her very own friends), and Lib said, "Mom, your blog isn't as good as hers." Yeah, Lib...no kidding. But thanks for ever-so-graciously reminding me that I need to pick up my game. ;)

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Soundtrack of Me, Part 1

 So I have this hidden talent. I can watch a movie and then any time from that point forward that I hear a song from that movie I can tell you what movie the song was in AND at what point in the movie the song was used. It's a gift really. And it goes without saying that this is obviously the gift I would have chosen, seeing as how it's so darn useful and all. On a more serious note, if they ever make a game show out of this, I'm bringing home the bank---guaranteed.

Anyway, seeing as how I listen to music about as often as I breathe, this 'skill' is on my mind pretty often, and this keeps soundtracks on my mind. And just for kicks, I decided to compile what I like to think of as 'my soundtrack', the songs that describe and define who I am and what I'm all about. You know, kind of like the mixed tape of me. I kept it to twelve songs, seeing as how that's how many songs most albums have on them (and it also happens to be my favorite number).  And so as not to have a super long post, I'm gonna bring them to you four at a time. And THIS seems like a good place to start.

Enjoy.



1. My lullaby

When I was little, my mom used to sing me the funniest song about a dead skunk. Yes, I'm serious- don't judge. Anyway, when Libby was a baby I used to sing it to her, and now we sing it to Hollyn. I think the fact that my childhood lullaby was about roadkill is extremely funny. Call me crazy, but that's my kind of humor-- especially considering my mother is very prim and proper. Well, I always believed that my mom had made this song up, but then one day my cousin let me listen to the real version. It's called 'Dead Skunk' and it's by Loudon Wainwright III. And we love it- all of us.
 Here's Libby at age two singing her own rendition.
However, if you want to hear the original you can listen to it here.  


2. My comfort song

Do you have a song that you can listen to that will instantly make you feel better? I mean I realize music is in fact NOT a magic cure-all, but there is something about that one song that does bring peace to my soul and help me to gain some perspective. This is mine. It's called "Stop the Rain" and it's by Third Day. I love it and hope you will too. You can listen to it here. And, if you have a song like this, do tell. :)

3. My ShakeItDon'tBreakIt song

This is song is guaranteed to make me bust out what little moves I have left. I actually have to refrain from listening to it as often as I'd like for fear that Libby will actually learn ALL of the words and not limit herself to just the chorus. It's an oldie but goodie, to say the least. Wanna know what it is? You can find out here.

4. My Sometimes Life's a Bummer song

This song is dripping in memories for me...it also totally reveals my age (I'm 30, btw). I love every, single thing about it. You can listen to it (over and over and over again) here.

Be patient. I promise to bring you to next four very soon.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Mine All Mine



Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.

Elizabeth Stone
 

I am madly in love with her sense of curiosity and her adventurous nature.....and I can't get enough of that little grin and those melt-my-heart blue eyes either.



Sunday, August 22, 2010

To be grown


If I didn't know better, I'd think Hollyn coined this phrase.
I have never met a baby who was more determined to be a big girl than she is. If sissy does it, she has to do it too. If I eat it, I'd better intend on sharing, or there will be fit that follows. And if I dare try to leave the room without her, she will put her little knees to the challenge and follow. In essence, she has an undeniable desire to be grown.


While I can't wait to see the little person she will become, I wish I could get inside her little head and beg and plead with her not to rush it all away. I feel like when Libby was little there were times when I was so ready for the next phase or the next milestone that I didn't make the most of all the little moments. I didn't spend enough time getting lost in the way she smelled after her bath, or sit and just play, play, play until her little heart was content. I didn't let her tear up my new magazine or chew on the remote control when it was the only thing that would soothe her little achy gums. I didn't sneak into her room enough to watch her sleep and didn't spend enough time trying to squeeze as many giggles as possible into each and every day. Fortunately, I'm a girl who learns from my mistakes, and I won't be making those twice.


So, as my baby girl spends her every waking moment trying to be the baby who moves the quickest from learning to crawl to learning to run, I'll spend my days wishing I could slow down the clock. Maybe I should schedule a lunch date with ole' Father Time....think he can pencil me in? Maybe I can catch him on Twitter....I mean, WHO doesn't have a Twitter account these days?

Until then, I think I'll try to teach her to drink from a sippy cup, which will be no easy task considering that THIS is how the big girls do it:

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Feelin' the Itch

Ever since I was little girl, I've loved to make things, and there's little I love more than a completed project. With that being said, I've been hoarding ideas until the making-time was just right....I think we might be arriving soon.
This year as a stay-at-home mom, here are a few ideas I'm hoping to tackle:



I love this photo display from The Crafting Chicks! I think it would amazing in my hall, and just looking at it again makes me want to run to the nearest craft supply and crack this out before dinner time. Thus, I'm practicing the art of self-control at. this. very. moment.



This vanilla body sugar scrub appears as though the smell alone would make my mouth water. You can get the complete directions for this one here

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I've seriously been on the lookout for old shutters since discovering this post at howdoesshe.com months ago. I want to use it for my Christmas cards this year.



This one is ideal for me because I actually need a place to display my jewelry. I don't know about you, but once I put my jewelery in a box, it tends to stay there. Seeing it every day might encourage me to....I dunno....WEAR IT. You can get the details from Kevin and Amanda here.



This might honestly be my favorite. I love simple and clean, and this from House of Smiths is both. It's officially been filed in the GOTTA HAVE IT section in my brain.


And, last but not least, oh look- yet another way to display photos, only on a much smaller scale. I think these would make great grandparent happies, especially with our recent addition of baby number two. You can get the how-to's here.

So, I have to ask? What ideas are you stashing away until the time for creating is just right?

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Today's Happy Thought


If this doesn't help you start your day off with  a smile....




and if you're STILL not smiling after seeing this.....


 


Give up and head back to bed because you're beyond help. ;)

Sunday, August 15, 2010

This Mama Likey


With the life of a stay-at-home mom comes sacrifice (more on this in an upcoming post), and one of the biggest sacrifices in our home comes with the desire to purchase things I don't "need". Quitting the day job has left me a little strapped for cash.

However, if I DID have money to burn, these would be a  few of my fire-starters of choice:


Converse low-tops. Classic. Love them. Never out of style. You likey too? You can get some here.



My friend Erin introduced to me this great site called alloy.com. And I'm drooling over these jeans. They're a little dressier than normal, and the best part is you can choose the length of your inseam, making them a perfect choice for girls like me who live life on the shorter side. Think you need some too?
Check them out here.



As of late, green has been my color of choice. I also am a firm-believer in the notion that simple is better. That being said, I ADORE this sweater. Seriously, it calls to me in the night. You can catch me oodling over it here.



This is quite possibly my favorite thing on this list. It's also one of the few things I can justify buying on a budget. I love the idea of spreading breast cancer awareness with something so stinkin' cute. They're made by the Keep A Breast Foundation, and you can get you own here.




I adore Halloween. It's quite possibly my favorite holiday. And this year, I'm dreaming of seeing Hollyn celebrate her first Halloween dressed as this. Oh, be still my beating heart. I am in love. You love it too? Peek at it here.




I have a thing for Kavu bags. They are so durable, casual, washable, and classic. My green is about its last leg after years of abuse use. It's lived a long, full life, but it's about time to move on....and here's where I'd like to relocate. I love that this bag is big enough to use an in-between stage diaper bag while still looking like a purse and being super easy to sport with the shoulder strap. Mama likey. You can find this and several other super cute options here.

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I seriously think I need this. Did you hear me say earlier that I like simple and that green's my favorite color? This combines the two, and thus, I gotta have it. My current wallet is big and bulky. I also need an i-pod holder that I'll use and that's easy to open, although this could also be used for a cell phone. I love the idea of slipping it into my diaper bag or grabbing it to run into a store. If you like it too, you can find one here. They come in lots of colors and prints, so I'm sure you can find one you'll love as much as I love this one.

Ugh. I seriously LOVE this with an uppercase L. It's so cute and so ME. I think my office NEEDS this print. I found it in an etsy shop where she takes the keep calm slogan and pairs it with just about anything you can think of.....you find the one for you here.




Cute baby. Cute legwarmers. Matching headband. What more could a mama want? You can order some for your little crawler here.




I'm not a big jewelery kind of kid, but being raised in the South, it's almost considered rude to not wear earrings on a daily basis. I have been eyeing these for a while and think they'll make the Christmas list. I love that I can dress them down with a t-shirt or up with heels. Agree? You can find some of your very own here.




Have I ever told you that since age two Libby's favorite animal has been a bat? No, you don't need to adjust your screen or get your glasses; you read correctly. She loves them. And I think my girl needs one. I'm hoping to order this one, which I found right here.




Last but not least, I'm checking out this. I don't know if Skosh necklaces are a big thing where you live, but we love them down here. I have three that I've collected in the past few years. Want to start a new trend where you live? I highly recommend. You can order them here.

So, I have to ask....what are you needing these days???