Too Cute Not Too Toot!!

I have to admit that this first idea started from one blog, when to another, and then to a second post!  So, I started over at Oopsey Daisy where she was talking about making your own distressed canvas art.  She provided a link to Delia Creates, where she found the original tutorial.  In reading that idea, she linked to another post called Trucking which I fell in love with because it would be the perfect piece of art for my sons room that I am trying to finish.  The best part is, when I was going to just link to Oospey Daisy I was going to say this is probably something I would never do but I thought it was too creative not to share . . . .still not sure if I will do this exactly but you will see something soon on how I use this that big boy bedroom!!

This dip from Mom on Timeout sounds delish.  We love roasted red peppers and I'm always looking for something different when it comes to dips.  I'm thinking I might need to try this soon!!

I realize that I just finished with a birthday party but I know that in the next year or two, the theme for my sons party is going to be Halloween so when I saw this idea for a Candy Corn Cake, I wanted to save it for the future!  Check it out over at Bird on a Cake.  I also love her cake plate - adding the ribbon is so festive!

Like many parents, I am always on the look out for craft ideas I can use now or in the future.  Pink Umbrella Photography shares several craft ideas including this adorable bean Mosaic.

I don't know about you but my house needs numbers.  Since we moved in, we have kinda been looking for the perfect "something" to put on the house that would show the house numbers.  I came across this idea over at Life on Maple and think it is awesome.  I already know I wouldn't use license plates, since I don't have extra, and I wouldn't use piping since I can't weld BUT I bed you could use plumbing pipe and fittings to do the same thing!  We'll see :-)

I mentioned in a post last week about my desk area so right now I'm on the look out for organizing ideas.  This idea comes from The complete guide to imperfect homemaking and is a great idea for a simple file box.  This specific post is part of her 31 Days to an Organized Home series - I was skimming through some of the other posts and she has some really great ideas!

Countdowns to anything are fun and And I thought I loved you then . . . shares a cut "countdown to candy" along with a few other decor ideas too!

Pinterest Challenge - Week # 3

To catch up on previous Pinterest Challenge success' and fails, just click HERE.

As you more then realize from reading posts from this past week, my oldest son turned three.  I actually used a lot of ideas that I found on Pinterest to put his birthday together as you can read in this Post.  Since I technically already posted those ideas even though I didn't list any specific links back to Pinterest, I wanted to chose something else for this weekly post.  It is still a Birthday Idea but I haven't shared it as of yet.

So, I came across this next idea out on Pinterest and it links back to The Jobling Family.  Based on a few posts I looked at before and after this post, it looks like she took the challenge to take pictures weekly (some do it daily) and this idea was just too adorable to pass up.  Check out her original idea:

I really love this idea; I love it so much that I do something similar each month for my kids but without the pictures.  Each month (and yes, I miss months) I try to write down all of the things they are doing and saying that are new and unique.  I then add this to the scrapbook as I start each months photos.  The idea of taking a picture on their birthday and adding those very specific things they are into right now, though, is fantastic.  What a perfect intro page to the pages in the scrapbook that relate to their birthday.  I picked out a picture from the photo shoot we had done recently that just showed Josh being all boy and this is what I created:

Isn't that awesome?  I may play with the fonts/size of fonts more before I get it printed when I print the October 2011 pages but it is the basic idea of what it will be.  Sometimes, when I come across ideas like this, I feel bad because it isn't something I started when my boys were first turning 1 but, I've had to learn to let go of some of that guilt and just start where I'm at and do the best I can each day.  It is really easy, though, to let life get too busy and not take time to write things down to remember in the future.  So, whether your kids are turning 3 or turning 13, maybe try this for their birthday, and enjoy just that moment of what they are doing. 

Have you completed anything from Pinterest?  If so, leave me a comment and a link - I'd love to check out the post!

Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest - What do you do?

I would like to think that I'm "up" on the latest things as far as technology . . .except when you consider that I don't own a flat screen or LSD TV, I do not have an Iphone, and Ipad, or anything else that starts with "I' and . . well I don't do this:

That's right, I don't tweet.  I don't even get it, actually.  And, on top of that, the tweets that post to facebook annoy me.  I wish those people that do it, would disable the feature (and yes, I know it is possible because I have a friend who did it when he realized how annoying it was!).  I did set up an account once because I was participating in a blog challenge but I don't even know what my screen name was (or whatever you call it)

So, what do I do?  I love

Yep.  I do.  Even when they do changes that I don't like and that annoy me. I still love Facebook.  I know of friends who have had problems with facebook - having it used for mean purposes but I have not.  I do have a few guidelines I try to follow.  One, I don't debate.  I don't comment on political, ethical, or questionable posts.  Recently, a friend from high school, who is now a pastor,  had posted a Biblical question on his status.  I actually had something to say but did not want to cause a debate so I just sent him an e-mail and explained my opinion.  We had a great conversation and chose to disagree on a few things - but it was private (as private as computers can be!).   I have even been known to delete a comment I write in a string if the topic becomes a debate because I don't want to be part of it.  Two, I keep things light and fun.  I don't post "dirty laundry" and I also try to remember one general thing - if I wouldn't want it said about me to the world, don't say it about others . . .even if it is funny!  I've learned that truth the hard way and won't make that mistake again.  On this same string of thought, I try to not write things on some one's wall that could cause someone else to feel left out.  It's one thing to have a simple conversation; it is another thing to invite several people over yet leave someone else out.  We never really had that problem before Facebook - you just invited people over and no one was the wiser but now, when it is so public, it is easy to feel like the odd man out.  This is especially true in Church groups.  On the flip side, I also don't take things personally.  I expect others to have close friends that don't include me just as I do.  Three, don't be mean!  Every once in awhile, someone makes me upset either by something they say on facebook or  the people who are attention getter's annoy me - they make me want to make some sarcastic comment.  I just say NO!  Don't use Facebook as a way  to vent or get even.  There are Biblical ways to handle those situations but in the very least, just walk away (or close the computer HA!).  So yes, I love Facebook.  I know of many people who have to take a break from Facebook or who delete their accounts but . . .not me :-)  I don't play games (I mean the ones on facebook!) and I don't let it control me - I just use it to stay in touch :-)

Do you know what else I do?

Do you know what is a bigger time waster then Facebook?  Yep, Pinterest HA!

So what is Pinterest - basically it is a huge selection of anything and everything - it is a giant "Favorites" board.  Instead of having to save something as a favorite or even tag it for later, you can just "Pin" it to one of your boards (you can create as many as you want and name them anything you want). 

It is a free site but you do have to be a member.  You can either go to the site and request a membership but that can take weeks to get an e-mail or you can ask someone (like me) who is already "in the know" to send you an invitation.  Then, you to can spend endless hours searching for everything from recipes, to quotes, to clothes, to decor all in one place!

So yes, that is how I waste time :-)  If you read my blog on a regular basis though, you will noticed my Pinterest Challenge Posts recently where I'm actually trying to do some of things I pin :-)


Finally, and obviously, I blog.  I started this blog over a year ago as a way to be creative; an outlet of sorts.  It can take a lot of time because I actually try to post at least once a day.  I've been working really hard to write posts 1 to 2 weeks in advance thinking it would free up some time for me to work on Scrapbooking but I've found that if I scrapbook, then I get behind on posts and if I posts, well, you get the idea :-)  But I love to do both so I'm working on making it all happen :-) 
Enjoy :-)

Mommy School - A Little Computer Fun

Lets be honest.  I've let myself off the hook and am no longer pushing the school stuff but rather moving with the flow of what my kids want to do and on Wednesday, I introduced a computer game to Josh.

To say that he loved it would be an understatement.  He played the "fish" game all day long off and on and he would just laugh and laugh when it made sounds. The CD is Charlie the Church Mouse - Preschool and has quite a few different games that tie into different Bible Stories.  He was playing the one that went with the Loaves and Fish. 

We have an old computer that I'm hoping still works (it worked recently!) because I want to put this CD game on THAT computer so I don't have to worry about my computer getting messed up. 

Other then that, we've just been hanging out.  I have been working on a birthday party, family Christmas plans and a bridal shower.  Plus with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming . . .well, that's lots of planning :-) 

Down on the Farm - A Third Birthday Party

When I first started planning my now three year old's birthday party, the theme was "John Deere" and slowly evolved into "Down the the Farm".  I'm not sure why, other then I had a hard time finding ideas to fit the John Deere theme and the ideas I found that were the cutest had to do with being down on the farm.  The whole idea stemmed from the fact that he loves tractors. . . .
Our parties are still pretty simple since it is all adults :-) But I still love to plan games, great food, and picture opportunities.  I did a lot of searching Pinterest and found some cute ideas or, at least cute inspiration and then went from there.  I just say, as I pulled this party together I often wondered how some folks have the money time to get those over the top parties completed! 

Lets start with food!

My original inspiration came from Giverslog and it is based on a BBQ in a Jar.

Doesn't that just look fun?  Well, it did to me but I happen to know that there are some people who do not like their food to touch.  So, I nixed the jar idea but decided that I liked the food idea so we had
Root Beer Pulled Pork sandwiches, 3BC (The Best Baked Beans), Cole Slaw, Macaroni Salad and chips. I served Lemonade and Sweet Tea for Drinks. (I will be posting the recipes this coming Friday and will link back at that time)

I do like to have snacks out when guests arrive and put out a few fun things.  I saw an idea for a Caramel Apple Bar over at The Best Wedding Blog Ever and fell in love with that idea. Well . . .I decided that doing this was more then I needed to do so this morphed into . . . Caramel Apple Dip with Apples. I made some cute dipped marshmallows and also had fresh made bread and Apple Butter

As far as dessert - I really struggled with this because there were so many great ideas that I came across that I wanted to make. Originally I planned on purchasing the latest fad - Push-up Pops to use for Cake Pops but, in the reality of the budget, I decided to just make cupcakes using John Deere Colors for the frosting.  I used my a great new cupcake and icing recipe for the cupcakes which got RAVE reviews (and I will share, I promise!).  . Finally, the all time favorite Chocolate fountain was also running.  This is always a big hit. 

Check out Kellys Cottage Shoppe to order printables like the cupcake wrappers and toppers.

Next Up is the Decor:
One of the first ideas that I saw had to do with decorating with Pinwheels and I fell in love with the idea.  It didn't hurt that Josh also loves pinwheels.  Over the course of a few months I picked up lots of the old fashioned pinwheels (they were everywhere around the house because the kids kept finding them) and I secured them all around our fence. I thought it looked super cute. Plus, I used an idea from a Too Cute Not to Toot Post and made the large Pinwheel and I saw this cute idea for balloons over at Snippit's from a Happy life I knew I wanted to do something on our porch too.  Using kitchen string, balloons, and crepe paper, this is how our porch looked !  

I just tied the balloons to the string, had Tall Man (I.e. Darryl) attach it to the roof and stretch it down to the porch railing.  I used the crepe paper for added decoration (I forgot how fun crepe paper is!!).  Do you like my Halloween decor too?  I made that little fence last year, picked up a hay bale and, of course, pumpkins :-) 

Then, I saw this cute idea over at Pizzazzeria and totally stole it - a Hay Wagon!  I threw a little hay in the boys red wagon and attached a sign (made by Kelly's Cottage Shoppe - she does great work!).  Plus we had the boys John Deere Gator in the yard as well.   I covered the tables in simple table clothes and used Green and Yellow Plates, Napkins, etc for the tables. Can you guess where I got this fantastic birthday banner??? You guess it - from Kellys Cottage Shoppe.  I just loved how it turned out!!!

And, of course, activities!:

I had a few games set up and everyone had to work their way around the games, keeping track of points.  One game was "Drop the spider in the "boot"",  Farm Animal Bowling, and Ring the Cow. (Yes, my family just goes along with my games even if they don't all love them!)  We ended with a friendly game of "toss the udder" hahahaha   The person who got the most points . .. got to take home a pinwheel :-) Hehehe

Check out the link above to learn about these cute characters!  I printed them and attached them to bowling pins we had for a kids bowling game.  It worked perfectly!

Instead of sewing horseshoes out of felt, I used rings from a ring toss game to make this a Cow Ring Game.  I spray painted the board and had my husband attach a dowel.  My kids enjoyed this game a lot.

The original idea for this game is to drop a toy snake into a boot.  I used a green vase and the guests had to drop spiders into the vase.

Finally, the "Udder Toss" was a water balloon toss. 

Of course, how could I not post just some snap shots from the party.  I realized too late that we never got my normal huge group shot but that's ok :-)  My niece also was taking pictures with her fabulous new camera so I'm sure she got even better pictures then I did!

This is the birthday Boy!  Don't you just love the shirt?  I ordered it from Frills 'n Frogs.  She was fantastic to work with and was able to get the shirt to me on short notice too. 

My nephews, Seth and Breadon being their normal fun selves :-)

"Nana", Josh and Nate dancing to the music.

Josh sat outside with Grandma LeBeck eating "Fruit" (strawberries)  It was just so adorable!

Josh (and Nate Too) LOVED being outside all day.  We could not have asked for better weather - it made it possible for people to be inside and outside during the party (and gave the kids LOTS to do since they were able to play outside!)

Papa and Nate just hanging out.

Josh enjoying some snacks - specifically those wonderful Marshmallows that were covered with caramel and chocolate.

Yes, they even enjoyed the hay wagon.  My niece, Kate, and her friend Ashley, took turns pulling that wagon all over the place.

It was so cute to look outside and see Josh hanging with his cousins, Micah and Breadon.  I don't know if they realize how much he looks up to them.

Time for the gifts :-)  He is a "careful" opener of gifts!  One tiny piece at a time.  This was a Thomas the Train Track.

He also got this awesome kitchen that he and Nate took to right away. 

Finally, we enjoyed Cake!  And yes, he did blow out all three candles.

Yes, it was a fantastic party!  And to think, Darryl and I still have our "Family" birthday activities to do with Josh - some gifts, which we'll give Josh today,  and even a fun lunch that will come next weekend.

Look Who's Turning Three!

Joshua - 1 month old

Joshua - 1 year old

Joshua - 2 years old

Joshua - 3 Years Old!

Happy Birthday Joshua !!