ok, last one... I promise!

Can you tell I am addicted to these animated .gifs? 

I just couldn't resist posting this last one!

Who can resist miss aj hopping around playing hop scotch?!

:Wordless Wednesday:

A Deliciously Easy Project!

This project was sooooo easy, I can't believe that I waited all this time to try using freezer paper to stencil shirts for the girls!

The little ones are getting their photo taken this week with REAL bunnies and while I enjoy poofy dresses as much as the next mama, with no where to go on Easter there just didn't seem to be a point to buying them only for a photo. So I decided to make cute shirts to wear with jean skirts (or jeans in Gabby's case!).

There are tons and tons of great tutorials out there for freezer paper stenciling. It is truly easy and the possibilities are endless! For this project I just found a chocolate bunny silhouette (thank you Google!) and after it was dry and done I hot glued a teeny blue bow to the side of the bunny.

I think I am going to try something a little more complicated for Earth Day that is on April 22nd... maybe a tree or a whale, using more than one color..... My mind is racing now that I know what I am doing and the results were so nice!

Crafty Goodness

One of best things about living in Lakewood is the abundance of creativity and small businesses. Many stores have unique, well made things that often find their way into my home like our pink children's table and my craft closet. I visited a new store today called Crafty Goodness, a cute little shop that only sells local handmade art. One of my fellow Etsian blogger friends- Prasti- has some adorable onesies and plush blocks there along with about 64 other artisans! (The blocks shown are from her Etsy shop- Here to There- aren't they pretty?!)

In the store I saw awesome zombie art, belts made from car seat belts, makeup, plush monsters, pillows, jewelry, and so much more! It was really cool to know that everything there was local and made with love.

Speaking of local art, there is a new addition to my store! A Special Edition Fairy Door that is shaped like a rainbow. It is so colorful and happy... I can't wait to paint some more! (Anyone who orders a fairy door in the month of April will get complimentary brass door numbers as a thank you from me, all you have to do is put in the notes to seller what number(s) you want on the door!)

And if you are curious what others think of my fairy doors, here is a wonderful review from an Etsy buyer. I made a  pretty hot pink and white door for her little girls that turned out so pretty.

It was so nice to get out for a walk today. it finally feels like Spring is coming sooner than later. Happy days to you all!

Easter Goodies and a Bunny

This Easter we are really cutting down on the amount of stuff we put in the girl's baskets. Instead of filling a plastic basket with junk that will be broken or lost within a day or two we are going to give them stuff that will inspire and enhance.

I ordered some cute unpainted wooden toys from Goose Grease Undone on Etsy, a set of butterflies and a set of dragonflies. Lately we have been painting unfinished wooden eggs a lot and the girls really enjoy watching me paint fairy doors and Spoolie dolls. By getting them their own paintables they can work beside me without taking my store supplies, lol!

Some other ideas I have are bird masks- (the girls LOVE birds!),  recycled crayons in fun shapes like these dinosaurs, creative building blocks, and of course, fun soap!

We will give the kids a little bit of chocolate, some bubbles, and a book, but that will be about it! I did, however, make something that I should have saved for Easter, but couldn't resist showing Gabby and AJ my creation- Plush Little Pocket Bunnies!!!

These are bunnies that are embroidered and personalized with a special pocket in the back, which is perfect for storing small trinkets and such. They are super easy to make and the girls love hugging them close! I really should have saved them for their baskets but I couldn't resist!!

**I am going to try to post a tutorial tomorrow... they are super quick and easy to make.  I have a pretty nasty cold right now though so we will see.**

All of 4 Months!

Already 4 months have gone by...

Days filled with smiles, giggles, and chubby cheeks!

At 4 months old Moira is developing her own little personality

and finding her place in this family.

Already she knows her name,

just discovered her toes,

and sings herself a song to go to sleep.

She loves to have her photos taken,

prefers to sleep with mommy more than anyone,

and splashes in the bathtub tons!

Moira is worn everywhere so she sees everything.

In the car she stares at her mirror in facination

and started grabbing her toes to take off her socks.

Her personality is sweet and calm,

more watchful than active,

 and just now she is beginning to use her voice,

(mostly to protest nap times!!)

This baby of ours is growing so fast,

cherished by everyone around her.

Happy 4 months little one!

Tons of Creative Bubbles Today!

So today is one of those days where my mind is going a mile a minute. I am thinking about all the career stuff in my life- dance, dance photography, homeschooling, caring for other children, etc. Along with that I am really thinking about the June craft show... need to get in gear for that and decide which products I want to sell. Then my mind drifts to my blog and how I really want to up the amp on this space that I call mine. I want it to look professional but still be "me"- colorful, quirky, and slide into my Etsy store.

The problem is though that I have no clue where to begin. I want to get rid of the ".blogspot.com" and have my own web address, have a design that is fitting and all my own, and be able to edit it as needed. So..... if you see some funky things going on here, don't panic... I am just trying to find a groove that is all me!!

(Oh. and take a peek at this AWESOME idea for a mobile.... I love how versatile it is to change the look with the seasons and the possibilities! More photos and details over at Crooked House!)

New Baby Bed

Well, this was a good weekend all in all. Poor Klint got the big "snip, snip" and was on the couch playing video games most weekend, the girls and I went to the zoo with some awesome friends, and Miss Moira got a bedroom makeover.

It seems that Moira does not care to sleep in a crib... at all. Yet the little toot will sleep through the night on our bed next to me and even naps like a champ on our platform bed by herself. So the logical thing for us to do is take down her crib and set up a floor bed, Montessorri-esque style. And lucky for us she loves it!!!

Her room is pretty warm and to combat the hardwood floor in her room, we set a rug and her sheepskin rug next to the mattress just in case Moira decided to roll off. Seriously, she is about an inch and a half off the ground so I am not too concerned. The only thing left to do is to lower her birdie mobile so that it isn't so far up. Instead of putting a mirror along the wall for her to look at, for now I took some decals from AJ and Gabby's room and made a little woodland nook for Moira to look at. The tree is tall enough that she looks up and then she can see her mobile. When we set her down she laughed and looked very happy... then proceeded to go to sleep!! Love it!

Easy Bird's Nest Wreath

Even though it is still wintery here in Cleveland, I am pushing for Spring-ish type weather sooner than later! Here is a how-to for a super easy and really cute bird's nest wreath for your door.

Materials:
2 large grapevine wreaths, one slightly smaller than the other
some decorative moss
fake flowers , smaller ones work better or ones that drape
large wooden eggs
paint
hot glue
floral wire

How To:
1. Paint the eggs, make sure you varnish and dry completely. I made mine sort of realistic, but you can either use pastels or even chalkboard paint so you can write on them!! 
2. Lay the wreaths with the smaller one inside the larger one.
3. Using floral wire, secure the wreaths together, forming a nest.
4. Hot glue the flowers where you want them, I placed mine to go on either side of where my eggs were going to go.
5. Hot glue as much moss as you want around your wreath, put a large piece were the eggs are going to be set.
6. Using a generous amount of hot glue, glue the eggs into position once they are dry.
7. Hang and enjoy!

Voila! You now have yourself a super cute Springtime wreath!!!

:this moment:

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

(from SouleMama)

(Ok, so I thought it was Friday and posted this on Thursday... mommy-brain struck again!)