Summer Bucket List
Do you guys make a summer bucket list? I’ve never made one in a formal sense, but I do keep a running list in my head. I also keep my grocery list in my head and that doesn’t always work out so well. Take it from me, there is a benefit to writing things down. One thing on our summer bucket list was making s’mores. Simple, but necessary for summer. I was certain my kids had roasted marshmallows before, but my 6-year-old didn’t remember. Apparently we’ve installed a healthy fear of fire into the kids, so the idea of letting the marshmallow catch on fire took a little getting used to.…
The Happiest Place on Earth
Generally speaking, I think my home is the happiest place on earth as evidenced by the fact that I never want to leave. Not even kidding. Yet, here I find myself taking the kids to Disneyland this week! I should really check my temperature. All this to say, I’ll be back next week. After I’ve recovered. That will be long enough to recover, right? My kids are over-the-moon excited to finally be able to experience Disneyland. I’ve been calling it the other happiest place on earth. Share this:
Embroidery Embellished Shirt
My wardrobe is pretty basic. Lots of solids, not a lot of prints. I’m trying to branch out more, but the practical side of me says I can wear a white t-shirt with a lot more than I can wear a wildly-printed one. My practical side speaks REALLY LOUDLY. Perhaps this project was my impractical side finding its voice. I wanted to see if I could use embroidery thread to embellish an old t-shirt. Sew new life into it, so to speak. The problem? My experience with embroidery thread is limited to the friendship bracelets I made when I was 12. I’m a little rusty. Just a little. That’s why…
3 Creative Ways I Store Shoes
The one thing my kids are really consistent about (besides asking for a snack every 5 minutes) is taking their shoes off when they come in the house. I’m not sure if that’s because my husband and I did an exceptional job of training them or if my kids would just prefer to be barefoot. Hmm. Let’s go with the exceptional training. Yeah, I like the sound of that. In reality, if you only knew how many times I’ve left the house and one of my children wasn’t wearing shoes. *sigh* Anyway, shoe containment is a real problem. I’ve never lived in a house with a proper mudroom to hold…
Our Memorial Day Tradition
Our most humbling family tradition occurs on Memorial Day Weekend. Three generations gather at the cemetery to honor and remember those who paved the way for our freedoms, our lives and our heritage. American flags have been placed beside the headstones of those who served in our country’s armed forces. Colorful flowers brighten the landscape. We clean the headstones, reminisce and pause in quiet reflection. My children have never met the family members buried there – not even their grandma. Yet, with a willing heart, they kneel on the ground and scrub the headstones clean. They trim tall grass and pull weeds. They listen to the stories of our family members who are…
DIY Wood Bench
Remember my son’s bedroom? He rests his head, for at least part of the night, on a knock-off Pottery Barn bed we made. For the other part of the night he transform into a stealthy ninja and plays musical beds. We never hear him coming. I blogged about the bed about a year after we made it. The only thing I don’t love about the bed is how heavy it is. This wouldn’t be a problem if we were the type to stay in one home forever. 4 years is our record. The moving itch is real, folks. The main reason the bed is heavy is because the mattress sits on a frame made…
Live Around the World
Would you do it? Would you live a nomadic lifestyle for a season? A couple of months here, a couple of months there? I’d like to think I would if I could – if we didn’t have kids in school and both of us could telecommute. An article in my Stumbleupon feed caught my eye recently when it introduced the idea of signing a lease that lets you live around the world. What an unique concept for a business. The company is called Roam. According to their website, “$500 per week per room gives you access to incredible co-living spaces and local communities around the world. Come and go as…
Tips for Paper-Mâché School Projects
Three times this year my laid-back 3rd grader came home from school with a list of projects she could choose from: make a model/diorama, dress up as a historical character and reenact a key event, do a powerpoint presentation, etc. Me: Powerpoint presentations are fun! How about a Powerpoint? Daughter: I think I’d like to make a paper-mâché model of (insert whatever topic it was). Me: Great! Super great! That’s cool too, I guess. You’re really missing out on this PowerPoint thing though. Daughter: I don’t think so. Me: (thinking to myself) The ONE time I don’t want her to be an over-achiever and she picks that moment to be one. Well, that backfired.…
Nine and Six
For the love. For all the love. My kids fill me with so much love, joy and sometimes exasperation that I want to burst. If you’re new to these parts, then here’s a bit of trivia for you. My kids were born three years and one day apart. I am either a brilliant planner or an abysmal planner. I’d like to think my kids share a special bond because of their close birthdays. I hope they will always have fun together, fight and makeup, cheer each other on, watch each other’s back and take care of me when I’m old. Like I said, a special bond. They have been counting down since, well, they…
Deconstructed Fresh Berry Oatmeal Crisp
What do you get when you combine fresh berries, pie, oatmeal cookies and homemade whipped cream? Heaven. You get Heaven on your tongue. Yes, it is that glorious. My inspiration for this treat was my inability to pick a dessert. Kidding. Not kidding. Actually, way back in the day, around 2 B.K. (before kids), my husband and I would frequently dine at an amazing restaurant in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, called Wildfire Grill. The chef made a berry crisp with sweetened, fresh (not cooked) berries and ice cream. The kicker was that the crisp part of the recipe was tiny oatmeal crisps. Kind of like mini oatmeal cookies. It’s hard to describe,…
