Holidaze: Moving Right Along

Hi there!! So this will probably be the shortest post ever.  I first want to let you know what I've done since my last post in terms of holiday planning and prepping.

1. Sent out my invitations.  I don't typically send out Thanksgiving invites, but since we are celebrating my son's first year I thought It'd be a nice touch.  I am using my event planning app to keep track of numbers.  It's called Pro Party Planner.  I use it for every party I host, even if only to keep track of guests.  When ever I get a confirmation, which is typically by text these days I can add them on my list straight from my phone.

2. Completed my Thanksgiving Menu.  This includes breaking it into three categories for when all the food will be prepared:  Day Of, Day Before, and Weeks Before to Freeze.  I have also created a rough shopping list for all the things that I will be cooking and freezing, and I've made a few purchases from that list.  I typed it on the computer and saved it to a holiday planning folder so it's already complete (minus a few tweaks) for next year.

3.  Made an appointment for family holiday pictures, which I will also use as holiday cards.  I haven't gotten around to sending holiday cards for 2 years now.  Don't judge!! I have toddlers!

4.  Picked up a few items for tablescaping.  I'm still trying to work out my place cards, and few other touches.  I'll work on that next week.

Okay, So I want to leave you with the Thanksgiving Planner Printable I've been using.  Not only does it have areas to write things in (while your sipping wine and watching scandal), but it also contains lots of tips for staying on track.  Click the link above or follow me on Pinterests, I have it pinned there as well.

Next weeks goals include:

Finish cooking food that will be frozen, this includes pre-chopping and freezing veggies.

Finalize table settings and center pieces.

Finalize my Gift Giving list (during TV watching)

Order my elf on the shelf.  Yes I'm doing it, and more excited about it that I should be!!! Muahahahaha!
(Also during TV Watching)

I will also start to clean some forgotten areas, and carpets in my home.

Okay gotta go, Baby's up.

Holidaze?... Not This Year!!!

Long ago, when I was just a little rosey glasses gal, I loved the holidays.  Actually, saying I loved the holidays is a bit of an understatement.  It was more like a profound feeling of excitement, joy, warmth, and gigginess all wrapped up in one huge red bow.  Yes, I actually envision my feelings with a big red bow.  For me, the holidays start right after Halloween.  Yes, I included Thanksgiving.  The months of November and December are my holiday season!

As a little (well, maybe early teen) girl, I was the one who wrapped the Christmas gifts.  My mom considered it a task.  One of a million other things to do during the holiday season.  As a new shopper, lines never bothered me at the mall.  It was all part of the experience, the holiday experience.  I had know idea why people would seem to get so worked up and annoyed that they're family was coming.  It was something I so looked forward to.  I'd often heard adults claim that Christmas was for the kids, and I hoped I'd never become one of them.

Sadly, it seems as though I have.  Don't get me wrong, I still love the holidays.  However, as an adult with responsibilities and children of my own, this twinkly season has lost some of it's twinkle.  Last year I don't even recall baking cookies.  I may have, but I seriously don't remember.  Granted, I had an itty bitty infant, but what I really remember is being up until the crack of dawn wrapping presents on Christmas eve.  It feels as though that's the way it's been for the last 3 years.  No Bueno!!

I want to enjoy the holidays again.  The food, the lights, the family,  the giving, THE FOOD!!  Yes, I can't wait to see my little guys' faces and all their excitement when they see that Santa came.  Nevertheless, I want to enjoy my cup of homemade egg nog, and not be annoyed that my little brother rang the doorbell at 11pm on Christmas eve, mere minutes after I had finally gotten an excited 2 year old to bed (true story).  I want to watch and enjoy It's A Wonderful Life, White Christmas, and A Christmas Story (I know, I know doesn't quite belong... but still) throughout December and not feel annoyed that I'm watching all three in the same night while I wrap presents till the crack of dawn on Christmas Eve next to a snoring husband (true story).  I want to bake and decorate cookies, and eat them!  I used to love wrapping gifts with beautiful bows and tags, I actually wrote the names of recipients right on the wrapping paper last year!! For Shame, For shame!!!

Not this year!  I will be ready.  I will enjoy Thanksgiving, New Years, and everything in between!  Now, lets be for real, I'm not so super organized on my own.  I need help! Luckily there is tons of help out there for those of you like me, who can get caught in a holidaze.  This month, join me as I plan out my weeks, to pace myself.  I can even point you in the direction of a few bloggers/vloggers who have holiday planning down to a science.  Are you ready?  I am, I already have 75% of the boys' gifts purchased and wrapped! WINNING!!!!

Check out my Pinterests Page (link above)! I'll be pinning my favorite holiday tips, tricks, decorations, and recipes!!

Today I'll leave you with my newest obsession.  My House Wife Life or Organized Jen on Youtube.  This woman is seriously the Hostess with the Mostess.  She has inspired me to step up my holiday hosting game.  Jen has loads of tips (although some pricey) for holiday prepping and partying.  Here is a link to her Thanksgiving Binder Organization Video. Enjoy!!

Thanks for reading!!!

Pumpkin Fun!

Last week the boys and I were invited to join my friend's preschool group on a trip to pick pumpkins!  I am truly grateful, because it allowed the boys to get a true field trip experience.  Waiting in line, playing with other kids, taking turns.  The boys loved it... well mostly.  CJ wasn't too happy about being in the carrier.  He prefers to be on the ground ever since he found his walking legs.  Unfortunately, I wasn't interested in scooping him up and out of various obstacles around the farm.

We enjoyed a hayride, and picking pumpkins in a pumpkin patch of course, but we also had a blast feeding and petting the animals.

The boys had a blast playing in the world's largest sensory bin.  Just kidding, it was a shed filled with corn kernels, and lots of trucks, buckets, and shovels.  My boys were in heaven.  I had to literally drag Bear out.  

His disappointment was short lived, as it was off to a corn maze!  Ace had a great time leading the way!

I love when I get pictures like this!!

Needless to say the boys had a blast! and gave me quite a nice nap when we returned home... Winning!!

Having brought home a few good pumpkins, we of course had to do a few good activities with those pumpkins!

First we washed pumpkins.  This was a great water activity and we were also able to discuss sinking and floating.  Love these teachable moments!!

With our pumpkins cleaned, painting was our next activity.

Of course we had to make a Jack-O-Lantern!  His name is Silly Spooky Jack-O-Lantern.  Creative, right?  I should have followed the Pinterest directions for prolonging the life a Jack-O-Lantern, but...  After a few days on our counter, he was a moldy mess.  So he was relocated to the front porch until Halloween. 

Sorry Jack.

Anyway... scooping pumpkin seeds is one of Ace's favorite things.  I believe I've mentioned he is all for anything sensory.  Squishy, slimy, pumpkins seeds and flesh is right up his ally.  

Some of the seeds we used for this letter art activity.  Ace is getting better at squeezing his own glue.  It's difficult for me to let go and allow him to make his own (mess and all).  It takes a lot of deep breathing for me.  I still put Bear's glue for him... He's I'm just not ready yet.

I saw a super yummy looking idea on Pinterest for the remaining pumpkins seeds.  I'm hoping to try that recipe Next week.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Last, I made some pretty simple pumpkin puree'.  

Now, I must admit, I do not like pumpkin pie, AT ALL!!  I'm sure I'm not the only one!  I can't really pin point why.  I typically love a good custard pie, so it's not the texture, maybe it's just too.. pumpkinny?  Whatever, I did whip up some yummy pumpkin french toast, and I also want to try some pumpkin muffins, or pumpkin bread, amongst other things.  So after following The Pioneer Woman's recipe for pumpkin puree, I divided it up and placed it in the freezer to await the fun things I have planned for it.

Any ideas for some yummy (non-pumpkin pie) pumpkin treats

 I should try???

Color Coded Discipline

Hi!!  

I hope you all are enjoying this awesome fall weather as much as the kiddos and I are.  It's allowed us to enjoy outside activities without being overly hot or freezing cold.  We've gone apple picking, and tomorrow we have plans for a pumpkin picking field trip.  I am truly loving all the time we are spending together as a family.

With that said, allow me to keep it all the way real.  Sometimes, my kids are off the hook, and I'd rather not spend time with them at all.  I have been that woman in Target with a baby screaming, a 3 year old running wildly through the clothes, and a 4 year old having a melt down because he has been denied his latest request for something (ANYTHING) new.

How do I handle these situations?  Well, to begin with, I try to avoid these situations all together.   I know their triggers: tired, bored, or hungry (basically the same for any kid). I find that if my children are scheduled and fed, they are pretty good kids... actually very good.  When we go out, I try and remember to give them the "mommy talk".  Basically I break down my expectations, and consequences.  While home we have a routine (not so much a schedule) that they come to expect.  In the morning, Ace asks what we are doing for the day.  He's that textbook child who thrives on a routine.  I believe it makes him feel secure and safe, otherwise he can be a very worried child.  He reminds me of the book Wemberly Worried.  I can go into more details about our daily routine or plan in another post.

However, there are those times when for whatever reason, they act a mess, routine, "mommy talk" or not.  On one particular day about a year ago, Ace was having one of those days.  He was being a monster.  I thought I was going to loose my mind.  Screaming, yelling, slamming doors.  It was me vs. my (at the time) 3 year old.  Once the battle was over, and we were both calm, I knew something had to change.  I mean I was a teacher in an urban area, with often over 25 kids to keep in line.  How come I couldn't keep my own child in order.

You know the phrase "necessity is the mother of invention".  Well, I didn't invent anything, but I did tweek a system that I used in my classroom, and our color coded discipline system was born.  It is very simple.  I glued blocks of craft foam to a piece of white paper leaving about 2 or 3 inches of white on the top.  I fold over the top to create a place to slide a ribbon through and voila done.  I hung it with a Command Strip in our Kitchen Art Center.  I wanted it to be very visual.

How do I use this?  

Well, each child has a clothespin.  Their names are written on them with a Sharpie.  For the picture I flipped them so their names don't show.  I only have one for Ace, and Bear now, but at some point when he's old enough I'll add a clothespin for CJ.  In the morning the clothespins start at the top in dark green.  Everyday is new and they can start fresh each day.  I want to teach them that bad days happen, but we must move on and make the next day better.  The color chart is as follows:

Dark Green = Perfect Day: Dessert (Usually pudding, fruit, or fruit snacks), iPad or phone time before bath, plus a magnet on responsibility chart for Ace.  Ace has a Melissa and Doug Magnetic Responsibility Chart, it comes with lots of pre-written responsibilities and also a few blank, so you can write your own.  I added a good listening responsibility.  If he gets 7 magnets (sunday through saturday), he is rewarded with a treat of his choice (with in reason). 

Light Green = Pretty good day: Dessert, iPad or phone time before bath, no magnet

Yellow = Okay Day: Dessert, no iPad or phone

Orange = Needs Improvement Day: No Dessert, No electronics

Red = Very bad, No good, Horrible day: Straight to bed after dinner, no dessert, no bath, no book, Do not pass go, do not collect $200 (a little Monopoly humor.. lol).

We have only ever had a Red day once, and rarely orange.  Every child tests the limits sometimes.

How do they move up and down the chart?

  When the boys get time-out, they move down from one color to the next.  On most days they stay in the green (dark or light).  I have on occasion, moved a clothespin back up a space.  This only happens for exceptional unsolicited behavior or actions.  For example I once caught Ace cleaning the playroom and getting Bear to help.  I didn't ask him to.  He was truly just being a good kid.  On the other hand there have been times he is in yellow, and will say "mommy, look, I just picked up my Legos.  Can you move me back up?"  Nope, doesn't work like that.  

I like this system because it allows me to have a concrete reference for their behavior.  My husband always asks how the boys were when he gets home from work.  Sometimes, by that time I am so tired, and brain fried, I don't remember the morning tantrum.  Simply seeing that someone's clothespin is in light green helps me to remember.  It's also perfect for small children, as it is a visual representation of their behavior.  

We've been using this system for about a year and it works for us.  What discipline systems (if any) do you use in your home?

Burlap Banner Tutorial

Hey there!!

Recently I took you guys on a little tour of my cheaply inexpensively decorated fall home.  One of the stops was my fall mantel.  It really makes me happy every time I walk in our family room.  Even when the pumpkins I so artfully set up are scattered all over the floor.  Can you tell I live with little people?

The banner that I added was super easy to make.  All I needed was a good movie, and what better movie to get me in the fall/Halloween mood than Hocus Pocus?!? Love Love Love that movie!!!

This was way easy to make.  So it hardly needs a tutorial, but I'll show you the steps I took to make mine anyway.

You'll need:

1 Burlap.  I bought 2 yards at Walmart.  1yd is enough, but I have plans for my leftover.

2. Some pretty ribbon to hold your pennants together.

3. Stop Fraying (I'm pretty sure glue would work too)

Things I already had on hand: Card stock, Marker for tracing, acrylic paint, hot glue gun

I started by printing my word.  One letter per page on card stock.  Sorry, I can not for the life of me remember the size, but I used Century Schoolbook for the font.

Next, I created a card stock template for tracing pennants.  Mine was 8 inches across the top and 12 inches down each slanted side.  I had to play around with sizing to be sure my letters fit.  Next I traced a pennant for each letter.  I chose autumn because I feel like fall wouldn't have been long enough for the size of my mantel.

Once the pennants were all traced, I cut each one out.  Be ready for some serious sweeping and vacuuming, as there will be strands and burlap particles all over.

Then, I immediately applied this Stop Fraying solution.   I used this entire bottle.

TIP: I used a paint brush to help spread it along the edges.

While I waited for the Stop Fraying to dry I cut out each of my letters.  I wish I had one of those awesome Silhouette cutting machines, but I don't.  So very carefully I cut out each letter, be very sure to keep the surrounding paper in tact.  I laid my letters out on my pennants one last time to ensure they all fit nicely.

I used double sided tape to hold my letter templates down while I sponged on my brown acrylic paint.

Mostly I only had to do one coat, but there were a few I went back over.

Once they were all painted,  I lined them up.  I left about a fingertip's worth of space between each one.  

Last I used my hot glue gun to glue on a pretty crocheted ribbon I picked up from Hobby Lobby.

I have since fixed my rose, that appears to be unraveling. 

After I had hung my banner I decided it needed a little something, so I made cute little ribbon roses.  I hot glued them on, then added a small brown pearl accent to the tips of each pennant.  I had those in my stash.

I finished a little before the movie went off, but missed the ending due to the fact I was staring blissfully at my new banner.  Sigh... I'm in love.

Cheap Fall Home Decorations

Hey all!! 

October is well under way and I am loving the crisp fall air and beautiful colors.  I have not always been a fan of the fall.  I typically only saw it as the end of summer, that glorious season in which I was off work and basically played at the pool or beach.  However, as I have grown, so has my love for all seasons, including the fall.

As a child I loved dressing up for Halloween, but as a young adult, the holiday lost it's appeal.  Now, this mother of three, loves it all over again.  I can't wait to dress my kiddos up, take 65,000 pictures, and go Trick or Treating!! This will be the first year I get to be creative during Halloween.  Ace wants to be a Spy, not the trench coat and sunglasses kind, a secret agent spy with cool gadgets.  He's kind of obsessed with SpyKids.  I've got some great ideas up my sleeve for him!  Bear keeps saying he wants to be a pumpkin.  If he gets his way, it will be his 4th... yes 4th year as a pumpkin.  Haven't decided on a costume for CJ yet, traditionally I've dressed the youngest in the pumpkin costume we have, but that may not work out this year.

Thanksgiving is another fall holiday I have a new found love for.  As a foodie, it has always been dear to my heart (especially while in college).  I have so many things to be thankful for and I love a holiday that celebrates all of those things.  This year will be extra special because my little turkey (CJ) will be turning 1 very close to Thanksgiving this year.  We brought him home from the hospital last Thanksgiving.   I've decided to host a huge Thanksgiving this year so our family can all give thanks and celebrate my baby's first year together.

In years past, I wasn't a huge seasonal decorator.  When the Christmas holidays rolled around my husband and I would go all out, 13ft tree and all, but the fall was typically passed over with the exception a Jack-O-Lantern on the front porch.  Last year I began collecting and making fall decorations for my home.

Today, I want to share some of the things I've made and collected.  Hopefully in the next week I can do a tutorial or at least point you in the direction of some really good ones.

These little scarecrows welcome guest at the front door.  This is one of the few items I've had for a few years.  It's seen better days, so I spruced it up with some Dollar Tree glitter accents.

I added simple little metal pumpkins on this table.  I bought them for $3.99 at the supermarket.  I have yet to add little tea lights.

I've been in love with burlap banners since I've seen them popping up all over the blogosphere.  Of course I had to make one.  UPDATE!! Here's my Tutorial!!

A closer look.  I love this, especially since it was pretty simple and inexpensive to make.

I added mini pumpkins to a cylinder vase I already had, and topped my candle sticks with  dressed up Dollar Tree pumpkins.

I made these last year (or was it the year before last?).  Quite simple, I painted them the same color as my family room walls, applied a crackle medium, then topped with white paint.  The jewel and ribbon came this year.  I thought they needed a bit of bling.

Moving on to the kitchen, I made and hung a new burlap wreath on my pantry door.  All my searches for burlap banner tutorials lead me to burlap wreath tutorials and I couldn't pass this up.  They were both so easy and like I said before, cheap.

I found these happy little guys at Walmart for $1.99.  I love them, of course I had to get three!! I added them to one of my kitchen windows.

I added 3 little pumpkins to my window by the sink.  They make me happy.

I put together a small platter of candles (which I already had), small pumpkins, and foe leaves for the kitchen table.  At some point I know I will be making a fall flower arrangement, but for now this will do.

I made a similar platter in my dinning room.  I bought those pumpkins last year from Hobby Lobby at %50 off towards the end of the fall season.  At the end of this fall season I will be going back to shop for cheap decorations again.

I had to add these pictures of the two Softsoap dispensers I bought.  I added one to the kitchen sink and one in our downstairs powder room.  When Ace first saw the Jack-O-Lantern, I was promptly given the best mom ever award.  I gladly accepted of course.  I love this age when it truly is the little things that make them so happy.

September Wrap-Up

Hello there! I can not believe October is upon us! September flew by, probably because I was planning  one event after another.  

My efforts to plan a month's worth of preschool activities and lessons in a few days totally paid off, with the highlight being G is for Grape squashing!

Two Birthdays, which resulted in two really delicious cakes and two really bad pictures of those cakes. 

I did get a chance to share a new recipe, YUMMY SALTED CARAMEL FROSTING I made for the boxing party.  Moving forward I think I'll try this on a caramel cupcake!

My head is spinning from all the planning and excitement that September had to offer, now on to OCTOBER!!!!

Chocolate Cupcakes With Salted Caramel Frosting

As promised I will share a recipe for chocolate cupcakes with salted caramel frosting.  I have been wanting to try my hand at salted caramel frosting for a while now.  The initial plan was to make them for my hub's, or Bear's birthday cake.   Of course they had to act like it was their special day and make cake requests of their own. He he.  My next opportunity to make the cupcakes I wanted to make, was for the boxing party my hubs and I hosted.  I know, cupcakes don't exactly scream boxing party food.  However, who can resist sinfully rich chocolate cupcakes, topped with a healthy sized amount of salted caramel frosting, with a piece of caramel candy smooshed into the top? Not many.

I have made the these chocolate cupcakes many a time and topped them with everything from vanilla butter cream to Italian meringue white chocolate butter cream (yes, I about died too). But never, have I tried the creamy sweet, nutty flavored caramel frosting on top.  I searched pinterest and google to find the perfect recipe.  There are quite a few recipes that are simple, basically melting caramel candies and adding it to butter cream.  I needed more.  I really wanted the challenge and taste of a from scratch caramel frosting.  I found it here.   Anything that includes heavy cream, butter, and sugar has to be good, right?

Right! 

The frosting was perfect!  So creamy and perfectly... caramelly(?)  The way the caramel frosting complimented the chocolate cupcakes was pure bliss. 

Beatty's Chocolate Cake Recipe (Ina Garten)

Salted Caramel Frosting
Ingredients
1/2  cup salted butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 tsp salt
2-3 cups powdered sugar
10 - 15 caramel candies, cut in half
Kosher Salt for sprinkling

Instructions
Melt the butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan over low heat.  Add heavy cream.  Stirring constantly, increase heat to medium.  Add salt.  Allow mixture to bubble for 2 minutes.  Allow to cool. Once mixture is completely cooled, transfer to mixing bowl and beat in sifted, powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.  I used all 3 cups, but it tasted wonderful after just 2 cups.  After piping frosting on all my cupcakes, I placed a caramel candy on top then sprinkled with a little kosher salt.  Um... Yum!

Enjoy!

Preschool At Home: Stamping, Stomping, and Silly Sentences

Whoa!! I feel like I just got off a crazy roller coaster ride.  It's been a super busy week.  I mentioned in this post that we celebrated two birthdays, and a sick (possibly teething) baby.  Well, on top of all that we hosted a huge boxing party.  My husband is really into boxing and is a huge Mayweather fan so it was fitting.  We had about 30 people here on Saturday.  It was loud, messy, and down right fantastically fun.  

Even with all the planning and prep work, I still managed to squeeze in some preschool time.  Here are some of our highlights from the last 2 weeks. 

Theme: All About Me

Letter: Gg

Sight Word: is

Focus:  My Feelings/ My Birthday

We continue to follow the Zoomin' Movin Alphabet.  It's perfect for my little guys, whom are obsessed with all things that go.  It's free from Royal Baloo.  While, I don't do everything that comes with each unit, I use it as a guide to help with my planning.

I like to do sensory activities with the boys, so when I saw this grape sensory idea on Play Learn Love, I knew I had to try it.  I started by laying down some plastic to cover the floor, then grabbing an old bin, last, I gave each little one a container of grapes to harvest.  This took a lot of patience for them.  Bear lost interest in it pretty quickly so I took over his container.  Ace, who loves all things messy, moved quickly knowing that he would soon have the time of his life stomping and squishing grapes.

Bear played in the grapes for a bit, but he is not as interested in sensory play as Ace.  I'm trying to get him more and more interested in things like this.  At one point he disappeared and returned with his fire truck and just drove his little truck through the grapes. 

Once upon a time, Ace couldn't stand getting his hands dirty or icky.  Now, He'd swim in messy sticky stuff if I'd let him... hmmm.

CJ had fun exploring in the grapes too.  While the boys played we talked about the sound that g makes, and other words that start with g.

Love these baby feet.

I was really excited to get our new Melissa and Doug letter stamp set.  We have a few stamps the boys like to play with, but I really wanted a full upper and lower case set, and a non-toxic pad.  I gave Ace some of his sight word cards and he practiced stamping them.  Bear is obsessed with the letter B so he did a lot of B and G stamping.

These pictures are really dark, typically my back doors give great light, but not on a dark and stormy afternoon.

By the way, the sight word cards come from the Zoomin' Movin' Alphabet Units.

Using salt on a tray was a great sensory activity for Bear.  He was able to get his hands "messy" then quickly dust them off if he wanted.  I let the boys do what ever they want in their salt, and just allow teachable moments to occur.  Bear typically asks me to write a B, although today he asked for an A.

 Ace was drawing different types of faces (happy, sad) because we had been discussing feelings.

I made a feelings lapbook for the boys to explore.  The printables came from 1+1+1=1, you can download them for free here.  

I was really excited to use the sight words Ace knows in sentences.  He was so proud of himself for reading them.  Of course he had to make some of his own.  It was interesting watching him put the cards down.  He first began just laying the in random order and telling me his own sentence (even if it didn't match what was actually on the table).  I started to rearrange his sentences so they would make sense and I think we both got a little frustrated.  Him, because I was messing up his sentences, and me because I wanted him to make sentences that made sense.  We compromised in the end and I told him he could make "silly" sentences (thanks mom for the good idea!).  He was totally okay with that.  I find that I am constantly struggling with balancing fun, creativity, and learning.  It's helpful to keep reminding myself he is only 4.

We finished out our week by decorating cupcakes.  I had this activity planned for the afternoon of Bears birthday since we weren't having a party or anything.  My hubs decided to take the day off so we spent a great day as a family eating pizza and visiting Chuck E Cheese.  We ended up doing this activity in the evening and Bear was burnt out, so it ended up just being Ace.  In hindsight I should have just saved it for the next day.  Oh well.

As always, thanks for reading!!

Leiah