Getting it all in!

Isn't Miss AJ so cute? Even when she is being all evil and such!

Shhhh.... don't tell anyone, but I am (contrary to popular belief) not ready to pop yet, will not be "exploding anytime"soon, and am actually quite comfy still this late in my pregnancy. Yes, there are signs that labor is sooner than later... but I don't think that Miss M will be showing up today or tomorrow.

That being said, I have been seeing so many cool things online that I just have to share them... crafts for the holidays, neat ideas, and of course Etsy finds that make my heart sing!

I love giving art supplies as gifts and even little ones appreciate crayons and paper to create their own art. How about some homemade ABC crayons that you made yourself? Get the tutorial here and the ABC molds from here!!

Got lots of gifts to wrap? What about making a wrapping station that looks pretty and has the paper and ribbon neatly displayed? Get the how-to here!

I wanted a cute way to keep track of everyone who visits me in the hospital and at home those first few blurry days of new Mommy-hood. I took this beautiful idea of a Wedding Tree and created a Birth Tree for Miss M... I can't wait to show you it when she is born!

I know that I have featured this pretty and simple Growth Chart before, but I didn't realize that you can get the Jute Ribbon to make your own from Hobby Lobby's online site! So cheap too, and even easier to make your own growth chart!

I am seeing this awesome Popcorn Turkey all over the web! Just in case you haven't seen it yourself... come check it out here.

Last year I made 25 fabric fortune cookies from this tutorial with 25 different fun "winter" activities to do as a family. I also want a hanging Advent calendar as well for the kids to do everyday though and when I saw this tutorial from Homemade by Jill and her inspiration calendar, I knew that this would be the one project I would be working on as much as I could before Miss M came!!! (Here is where I get my felt from!!)

Finally, here is something new in terms of Christmas/Holiday cards from Etsy.... photo ornament cards!!! This just might be something I create for my own family with our family photo on one side and Miss M's birth announcement on the other!

Miss M's Nursery is DONE!

 Well the finishing touches on Miss M's nursery are finally up and I could finally take some photos of her pretty room. We decided not to have a set theme, just a lot of colors, fabrics, and of course things made with love by Mommy! I would say that over 75% of this room is handmade and that nothing in it was brand new, but refurbished. I love how all the colors work together from the bright pinks and reds to the softer blue on the walls.

Sunny nursery!

Rocker and the lingerie chest with all her clothes... found on Craigslist. 

The nursing and reading nook!
We got the tutorial for the book sling from here. 

Poster designed by moi!

I made this last night, I had to use this awesome bunting paper I found at Pat Catans! 

Playing area with sheepskin rug from Ikea!

I added some pretty rhinestones to this plain wood hanger ,
a perfect way to display her coming home outfit. 

Here is Miss M's finished birth box.
It is felt lined and has a pocket for special papers.
Inspired by this one! 

Bunting Quilt that started the whole "theme" of the room!
Great tutorial found here!! =)

 Well that is it! All it needs now is a baby in it and the room will be complete! There are lots of other touches that I didn't photograph like the polar bear themed board books, the night lights from Target, and such, but you get the general idea!! If you want to know anything else about the room let me know.... all I know is that I LOVE how it turned out!!

Week 1 of Homeschooling!

Wow! I can't believe the week is over already! I am so pleased to say that the decision to take Gabby out of public schools has to be one of the BEST decisions we have ever made for her. This week we set the tome of our day which is pretty relaxed and instead looked at what we do from an educational standpoint. Instead of having her sit at a table for hours doing worksheets about animals or neighborhood helpers, we talked about them and then went out and actually experienced those things! Where before I would talk to her about whatever she wanted just to converse, now I see the value in those conversations and know that she is learning from that just as much if not more than a work book. Want to know all that she did in 1 week of VERY relaxed homeschooling?? Here is the journal I am keeping for my own records: (and I can assure you that we didn't spend 6 hours doing these things, she played outside as well everyday, AND got to eat her lunch in a non-pressured environment!)

Day1- Nov 1

• ·         Created clay figurines of plants (art/earth science)
• ·         Wrote in her journal (writing/spelling)
• ·         Worked on reading and spelling worksheets (reading/writing/spelling)
• ·         Learned how to use a microscope, looked at parts of butterflies and feathers (science)
• ·         Went to the library, learned how to find materials (social studies)
• ·         Discussed how a car works and what all the dials on the dashboard mean (science/math)
• ·         Played outside and helped rake leaves, talked about seasons and how animals prepare for winter (life science/P.E.)
• ·         Learned about banking and how debit cards/online banking works. Helped balance a checkbook.  (math/social studies)

Day2- Nov 2

• ·         Went to the mall, practiced reading prices, talked about advertising and creating signs using various fonts (social studies/reading/math)
• ·         Talked about pets and different ways that they need to be cared for properly (science)
• ·         Finished painting clay figurines (art)
• ·         Read books about Dia de Los Muertos (Holidays)
• ·         Colored and cut out a full size skeleton, learned about the bones in our body (art/biology)
• ·         Ate some tacos and talked about the customs in different countries (social studies)

Day3- Nov 3

• ·         Did worksheets in math, spelling, and reading (7)
• ·         Wrote in her journal (writing/spelling)
• ·         Read a book (non-fiction) about Lions (reading/science)
• ·         Was read Little House in the Big Woods (reading/listening)
• ·         Had basketball practice (P.E.)
• ·         Listened to some classical music and talked about how music can portray moods (music)

Day4- Nov 4

• ·         Walked outside for 1.5 miles (P.E.)
• ·         Watched video about Ballet and learned about some classical ballet stories like Sleeping Beauty (Fine Arts)
• ·         Talked about the importance of community and uniformed helpers (police officers, firefighters, postal worked, etc) (Social Studies)
• ·         Learned about beginnings of Thanksgiving, Pilgrims, and harvest time (Holidays)
• ·         Wrote in journal (writing)
• ·         Completed 2 addition worksheets (math)
• ·         Spelling List 1- words with -an and -en  (reading/writing)
• ·         Was read Little House in the Big Woods (reading/listening)
• ·         Listened to different kinds of music and identified instruments as well as low and high notes and tempo. (music)

Day5- Nov 5

• ·         Took field trip to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History where she learned about animal habitats and  our solar system. We explored both live animal habitats that are native to Ohio as well as looked at animal habitats around the world. Gabby discovered how things weigh different amounts based on the planet you are on, that while the Earth rotates and rotates around the sun, the Moon does not rotate. She practiced reading signs as displays, counted items, and looked at many other displays such as rocks, gems, and dinosaur bones. (Science, reading, math)
• ·         Discussed the different trees in Ohio and how they differ from each other in terms of colors, shapes, and leaf loss in the Fall. (social studies)
• ·         Watched an educational video about disasters and what you need to survive-food, water, fire, shelter, and security. Talked about different skills needed in survival situations and how to stay safe.  (safety, fire safety, health)
• ·         Wrote in journal about field trip (writing)
• ·         Wrote a letter to a new Pen Pal (writing/ spelling)

What I love about all of this is that this list is just the things I can remember, there is soooo much more that we talked about, she draws every day, reads books every day, and all the little things go into her overall education. Even something so trivial as talking about why we brush our teeth has educational value.
What this journal shows me is not only is Gabby learning what she is supposed to be, but she now has opportunities, like playing with the microscope, that she wouldn't have had at this point at a public school.
Needless to say I am a huge fan of the whole thing!

The List 11.3.10

Hello!!! Yay for being 36 weeks and soooo close to the end of this pregnancy! (photos coming soon I promise!) Since Halloween is now over, the faux Christmas trees are out, and all the stores are playing Christmas music I am definitely getting in the mood for the holidays! I think I am going to make everyone a new stocking this year and have been putting together a list of gifts for the family. I am getting excited about the whole season in general I guess, especially with our new addition coming!! Here are some fun links that I have found.... enjoy!

Here are 10 Reasons to Throw a Party Besides a Birthday from OhDeeDoh. 

I love Martha Stweart's Christmas decorations, homemade ornaments, and stockings! These are the ones I will be making for the family this year! 

Pumpkin Bread sounds so good right now... this recipe sounds easy enough that I am pretty sure I can't mess it up... lol. 

With the colder months come higher heating bills... why don't you try entering the Freeze Yer Buns off Challenge 2010? Every degree less makes a difference!! (We are keeping the daytime temp at 64 and the nighttime temp at 58!) 

Every Christmas everyone gets a new ornament to add to the tree. I love these pretty Nutcracker boxes from Crate and Barrel... I could put some candy or a small gift card in them!

Do you find yourself screaming a lot at the kids and really getting riled up? Here are some easy tips on how to parent peacefully... it is truly a great article for any stressed out parent! 

Finally, I love this Rainbow Gundrop Wreath from a pretty Etsy shop called JustPretty (a fitting name!). I wonder if it is something I could make without eating the whole bag? 

Feliz El Dia de Los Muertos!

Hola mis amigos! Lol, can you tell that Dia de los Muertos is one of my favorite holidays? While I love many of the other ones, there is just something about this day, all the colors, celebrations, and food that just makes my heart sing! (Maybe I am Mexican after all, lol!)

It is a time when I remember my grandmother fondly, share stories of her with my children, and hope that she is looking down on me and is proud of me. This past year we lost Klint's grandmother rather suddenly as well as a friend, so there are other people to remember and celebrate this year.

(On a quick homeschooling note- yesterday was a huge success and even though we didn't spend a lot of formal time on schoolwork, when I think about all that Gabby learned yesterday- truly it is astounding! More about that tomorrow!)

Ok, back to the Day of the Dead! Here are some awesome links to coloring, crafts, food, and even a list of wonderful books to share with the kids.... I am having a hard time choosing what we will do today because everything looks like so much fun!

Day of the Dead Skull- coloring page
Day of the Dead Mask
Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate
Day of the Dead Necklace
Dia de los Muertos Cookies- YUMMO!
Traditional Sugar Skulls
Matchbox Shrines
La Dama Rag Doll
Dia de los Muertos Pin
Paper Flowers
List of Dia de los Muertos books

and a collection of other fun crafts from Crafty Crow found here!



I can't wait until January when I am getting a Sugar Skull tattoo from Voodoo Monkey to celebrate my 30th birthday! (It will be smaller on the inside of my wrist)There are so many inspiring ones on Flickr... although this blue one is my favorite so far:

Do you celebrate Dia de los Muertos? If so what do you do and what is your favorite part of the day?

What is Your Passion?

I have always been a passionate person, throwing myself into dance, singing, and other creative arts. I am also a book fiend and find it REALLY hard to put down a good book, especially at night before bed. I have stayed up well into the wee hours of morning finishing a good novel, blissfully unaware of the passing hours.

One goal of mine for my girls is not only to share my passions with them but also encourage their own dreams and loves. Many people believe that children so young cannot be passionate about something, that it is just a phase, or that the child's interest will not amount to much. But I know many who have been passionate about something, like musical theatre, from a young age and are happily still pursuing those interests.

My girls are night and day from each other and anyone who spends any amount of time with them sees that right away. Gabby loves sports, video games, and drawing. She asked me today if she can be an art teacher, which of course delighted me. We bought her an art book yesterday that takes numbers and teaches you how to turn them into drawings, like the number 8 becomes a spider.... it is very cool. (And this way she gets practice writing her numbers!)

AJ, however, is my princess and lives for costumes, shoes, and reading. She has a hoard of princess books that she insists on sleeping with and if you try to put them away she gets them right back out. She is constantly in one costume or another, and going errand running with her dressed up is so common that I don't even think about it. (So if you see a purple unicorn running around Target, yes, that is probably my daughter!)

I found this great article from Zen Family Habits about encouraging passions in your children.... a worthwhile read!

Happy Halloween from the Krebs!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Victoria's Steal of a Deal

So how would you like a Victoria's Secret Sweater, a Bombshell Tee shirt, and a pack of 3 lip glosses ALL for $13 plus tax? 


Here is how to do it:
1. Go to Victoria's Secret 
2. Choose a Sweater (this cute turtleneck one is only $12!)
3. Add the Bombshell Tee Shirt to your cart (found here)
4. Head over to Checkout (when you are done shopping of course!) and click where it asks if you have a promo code:


LIPGIFT10 - (will add a free lip gloss trio to your cart)
BOMBTEE - (this will make the shirt free)
SHIPWARMVS - (free shipping)


Your total should be about $12 if you get the turtleneck with about $1 tax!!! Awesome deal huh? 

Sigh... the day that just went wrong....

Today was just one of those days that I wish I could do over....

There were some good points,

but the bad was pretty bad.

I cried at the bank because I cry when I am frustrated and mad,

(They made an error that screwed up my day yesterday and I had to go in today to talk to the manager)

In the end they did apologize, but that was after I had already embarrassed myself...

I had an unhappy Etsy customer (local) that expected A LOT more than I had listed

and therefore wanted her money back after I had made her a custom item, 

drove it out there, showed it to her, and came home. 

And I gave her most of it I because customer satisfaction is important,

(even though I think it is pretty unfair... sigh)

I had a minor panic attack after picking Gabby up from her last day of school,

that I was biting off more than I could chew,

starting to home school while expecting a baby in a few weeks. 

I know in my heart that this is best for Gabby and her education, but it is scary none the same. 

And I have some Etsy orders to finish, a Halloween party to take the girls to,

and so much more...

Breathe....just breathe right?

FREE Science Curriculum!

I am getting ready for our first adventures in homeschooling and have been busy gathering resources for a loose curriculum that I can adapt to Gabby's talents and work on her weak spots. Since I am already on Baby Center I joined the Homeschooling Board which has been a great help in making the decision to leave public school and how to go about getting started. One woman posted a link to the science curriculum that she uses and I am so impressed that I wanted to share!

Welcome to The Lab of Mr. Q! Here you will find everything you need to teach or supplement an elementary school science curriculum from life sciences to chemistry! Mr. Q is a Science Teacher who also runs homeschooling science programs in Kansas and I have to admit that the man is a genius. The text books are fun, bright, and sort of cartoony but have all the same terms as a normal text book. The best part is that along with the books there are monthly Lab Notes like this one that you can use for science fairs and really getting the little brains going.

The first book- Life Sciences is 100% free and each of the other books are $50, which I believe are well worth the price. Since you use them for all of elementary school that is really a great price for everything you need to teach all the different topics from magnets to weather, habitats to the body!

If you have a Science nut or just want to make learning science a little more fun, definitely check out this site and take a peek at the Life Science book (hey, it's FREE!). There is so much to do thanks to Mr. Q, I can't wait to get going on this with Gabby!