Celebrate Every Day With Me

Celebrating Children's Day

2012-06-01T07:30:00.000-04:00

It was bound to happen.

Last month, when I told my son that Mother's Day was coming up, he asked me when was Children's Day. A natural question, right? I told him we would have to look at the calendar and pick a day. Secretly, I had intended to begin celebrating it at some point . . . yes, because my family celebrated it when I was growing up.

Children's Day for my brother and I meant breakfast in the guest room bed (quite the special treat), a cool gift and a fun day. Now my kids are entirely too young to eat in any bed without having syrup on sheets or milk spilled on the pillow. That will be a future tradition, unless Dan has something to say about it.

What I love about Children's Day is that is simply a fun day. There aren't any elaborate parties to plan (even though I love that too!). There aren't details to tend to. It is just a fun day, spending time together and doing things the kids love . . . ok, and just one gift each.

Here is how we celebrated our first Children's Day:

We started the morning with a Scavenger Hunt leading to a gift for each child. My kids LOVE scavenger hunts and I enjoy seeing them run from room to room, following the clues that will lead to the next note and eventually to their treasure.

Dan made us all pancakes and we had a relaxing morning at home. After lunch, we headed out for some family putt putt. It was, surprisingly, the first time my kids had gone miniature golfing. They dropped their balls near the hole and putted in from there. Each time Sweet Girl's ball was holed, she threw her arms up in the air, jumped up and declared, "I winned!" 18 times! (And in case you're interested, Dan beat me . . . by a lot.)

Later, we went to Pizza Hut for dinner which was as much a treat for me as it was for the kids. Shhh! Then onto a new playground, followed by a trip to Dairy Queen. The day was laid back, relaxing and fun. But what I loved most was when Sweet Boy kept on wishing Sweet Girl a "Happy Children's Day." It was precious.

So now, just like we have a special day to celebrate mothers, fathers and grandparents, Children's Day has made it on to this household's annual calendar. Another day to celebrate!

Do you have a Children's Day at your house? What kind of fun things do you do?

3-Ingredient Macaroons

2012-05-31T07:30:00.001-04:00

In honor of National Macaroon Day, I am sharing an "oh, so easy" 3-ingredient recipe for sweet macaroon-style cookies. If you love coconut, you'll love these.

The THREE Ingredients You Will Need:
A can of sweetened condensed milk
A bag of coconut
Handful of dried apricots (or more to taste)

Instructions:
Chop up a handful of dried apricots. Mix the three ingredients and form mounds on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees until they begin to brown. It took about 10-15 minutes for me. Cool partially and remove from cookie sheet. Reform if necessary and cool until set. (Makes about 24 cookies.)

*Next time, I will be trying parchment paper on the cookie sheet. I think it will help get the cookies off a little easier.

Enjoy National Macaroon Day with these sweet and delicious cookies . . . but I have to warn you, they will leave you wanting more!

Linked with: The Shabby Creek Cottage

"Thanks for Helping Me Grow" Teacher Gift Idea

2012-05-30T07:30:00.000-04:00

The end of school is here! This Friday is my son's last day of his first year in preschool. He has grown so much this year and I love it. But at the same time, he is one year closer to kindergarten, fifth grade, middle school, high school and (gasp) college. It really is starting!

How I have loved our time at home together and will miss our freedom as school becomes more time consuming. And before you go grab me a box of kleenex, I will remind myself that he still has one year of preschool left . . . thankfully!

I am also so very thankful for my son's teacher. He is blessed to have her both this year and next year. What a difference a great teacher makes! Even though our school just celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week not too long ago, I still wanted to show our gratitude at the end of the school year with a simple gift.

Ladybug Chalkboard Garden Sign

What You'll Need:

Ladybug Wood Craft (I bought mine at Walmart)

Dowel

Red Acryllic Paint

Sponge and/or Foam Brushes

Chalkboard Paint

Paint a couple coats of the red paint onto the ladybug followed by the black chalkboard paint as shown. Paint the dowel and then using wood glue, attach the two pieces. So simple!

Write a message and insert into a hanging basket or potted plant and deliver to your favorite teacher!

Happy Summer Break!

Linked up with: Preschool Powol Packets, 733 Blog, Tutus & Tea Parties

Welcoming Daddy Home with a Splash

2012-05-29T07:30:00.000-04:00

What would your husband do if one early morning in his car, he discovered a bulls-eye shirt, a pair of shorts and a sign that read, "Whatever you do, wear this home?" Would he do it? Dan was game even though he had no idea what he would be the target of.

If you are in need of some family fun, this idea is for you! After the Ultimate Marshmallow Fight, I've been wanting to do another fun greeting to welcome Dan home from a long day at work.

So I made a bulls-eye shirt for him (used fabric paint and a cardstock template from my Silhouette Cameo), covertly placed the shirt, shorts and note on the front seat of his car . . . and waited. Sweet Boy and I watched from an upstairs window the next morning when Dan found everything. He laughed and waved and our excitement was fueled.

The day seemed to go on forever (especially the afternoon)! But Dan called us when he was close and we took our positions . . . and when the car door opened, we darted from the side of the house ready to douse Daddy in water.

I didn't give Dan a water gun right away. It was just more fun that way! I knew as soon as I did, I would be soaked. And I was right. But, we had a blast. Except for my poor Sweet Girl. Between the warning phone call and the car door opening, she took a bad fall and scraped her knees. Let's just say I had to carry her everywhere we went for the first half of the next day. :(

Our next door neighbor got in on the fun too!

Getting a new super soaker.

Before the fall.

It was a great time of family play and laughter . . . and new memories of the day we surprised Daddy and got him all wet.

If you like this idea, be sure to check out the Ultimate Marshmallow Fight. Yes, there were two bags of mini-marshmallows all over my family room and kitchen, but the memories were well worth it!

Have fun and create your own memorable moments!

Linked with: The Thrifty Home, We are that Family

Memorial Day

2012-05-28T07:30:00.000-04:00

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I'll be taking the day off today to spend it with family and friends. But I wanted to wish you a great Memorial Day. In the midst of your picnics and gatherings, be sure to pause and remember those who have given their lives to protect and defend the freedoms we enjoy. I am thankful to the soldiers and their families who sacrifice in so many ways to serve our country.

When You Don't Know You're Empty

2012-05-25T07:30:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, Dan and I attended our son's school's Spring Banquet. It was a wonderful evening with a great speaker, fun company and a nice meal. The teen students tended the tables, pouring water, coffee and clearing dishes.

We had a very nice, young teenage girl as our server. She was a bit nervous but her sweet demeanor and smile made up for everything. When one of the ladies at the table requested coffee, our server promptly retrieved a coffee carafe for her. As the girl began to pour (with our entire table watching), nothing came out! The lady and her husband explained that she had to untwist the lid to allow the coffee come out.

Something seemed off to me though. Having been in the banquet industry, the entire pot looked far too light to contain any amount of coffee in it. She tried untwisting the lid, but still nothing came out. Then we mentioned to her that it was an empty carafe. The young girl hid her embarassment well and really no one at the table minded at all.

And it made me think . . . how many times are we empty but we are simply too busy to notice? When was the last time we felt "full?" Full of purpose, contentment, peace, love and joy.

Life is busy. Whether you are a professional, a parent, one who works in or out of the house, living in today's tech-savvy, "gotta have it now-world" can be crazy. It is easy to be so busy, to have our kids so scheduled and to have our own priorities and goals, that we miss tending to our own spirits and well-being. (Um, confessions of a busy mom.) For me, what brings the sense of fullness is spending time in the presence and Word of God. He provides the stability, purpose and peace that my busy life requires.

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But let's take it a step further. A woman in my Bible study group shared a great illustration from a biography she had recently read. I'm sorry I don't remember the person's name or century.

It was about a ---teenth century priest who related that we can be a great conduit of God's grace and mercy to others. It flows from Him, right through us and on to the people around us. Picture the downward hand motion - from heaven to us and out to others. And that is nice, but there is a better way. We are to be like a pot or vase filled up to the point of overflowing. So that the mercy and grace of God that fills us, simply overflows out of the top unto others.

Which do you want to be? I want to be used but not simply as a conduit. I want to be overflowing with the love of God that it bubbles up and extends to others. I don't want to serve out of my emptiness, but rather my fullness.

How about you? How do you fill up?

Linked up with: The Better Mom, Above Rubies, Women Living Well, Heavenly Homemakers, Raising Homemakers, Seeds of Faith, Allume, Raising Mighty Arrows

A Father's Day Gift for the Expectant Father

2012-05-24T07:30:00.000-04:00

Father's Day is just around the corner. Next week, I'll be sharing this year's theme and gift idea for Dan. (Last year was the "Following In Your Footsteps" t-shirt.) The kids and I are having fun getting everything ready. . . I only hope a 2 & 4 year old can actually keep the secret. So far, so good.

But maybe you have an expectant dad in your life and would like to give a little surprise gift for Father's Day. This is what I wrapped up for Dan when he was thrown a surprise baby shower at work for our first child.

I picked up a pack of diapers and made this customized "I Do Diapers" t-shirt on Vistaprint. (They had the hand prints, I just added the text.) It was a hit when he opened it up in front of the crowd. His reaction was perfect since he wasn't expecting a gift from me. Well, he wasn't even expecting the baby shower!

And better yet, the expectation was laid. Daddy would do diapers . . . and he did! (And for this, I am very thankful.) So have some fun with your Daddy-to-be on this Father's Day! Celebrate his upcoming role as Dad.

Where I'm Failing as a Mom

2012-05-23T07:30:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, May 10th was Clean Your Room Day (I remember it as the day that my post went missing!). Moms everywhere were probably jumping up and down and waving banners in celebration. But me? Um, not so much. This is an area where I am failing as a mom. And something has to change!

I have not taught my children to put away a toy before getting out a new one. I have not trained them to clean up after themselves without being reminded. I simply haven't followed through and my house feels like a disaster zone. Sure, I have gone hard core at times, but not with the consistency that makes the lasting difference. And really it comes down to my own lack of discipline.

It is "work" to keep on my kids to clean up. But I can either stay the course and invest the time now in training them to clean up after themselves or I can spend the next 14-16 years harping, harassing and reminding . . . only to, in exhaustion, find it easier to just "do it myself." Hmmm, I think I'll chose the first option.

A couple weeks ago, my mom and I went through all the toys in the house. (Boy, was it helpful to have someone to do it with!) We sorted the toys into these categories: keep out for play, pack up, throw out, save for garage sale and rotate. For rotational toys, I am creating several bins (with contents listed) that I will rotate in and out every couple weeks. I am willing to bet these toys will have better play value since they are not out all the time. After we were done, I immediately noticed a difference in the amount of toy clutter. And it felt great!

So now I'm looking to you! What are your tips, tools and techniques for teaching your kids to clean up? Leave a comment and share, please!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Here is one to start: As I mentioned here, I recently had a 31 Gifts party for a friend. The consultant shared this tip with the guests: She has three (very cute) bins that sit on her stairs. They are embroidered with the first initial of each of her children's names. Throughout the day, she will instruct her kids to put toy cars or other little toys away in their bins on the stairs. At the end of the night, her children take the bins up to their rooms, put away the toys and return them to the stairs when completed. This would be a great improvement for my house!

Linked with: Raising Homemakers

Making Memorial Day Significant for Kids

2012-05-22T07:16:00.000-04:00

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Do you have plans for Memorial Day? While the holiday can be a fun time for picnics and family gatherings, it is also an important time to teach our kids about the value and cost of our freedom.

I'm over at Savvy Auntie today talking about making Memorial Day Significant for Kids. While I'm writing specifically to some fabulous aunts, you simply need to have children (of any age) in your life to use the ideas shared for celebrating and remembering the importance of next Monday.

Go here to read the article.

How do you teach the importance?

Wilton Cupcake Starter Kit

2012-05-21T10:00:00.000-04:00

Amazon is currently selling Wilton's 12 Piece Cupcake Decorating Setfor only $5.71. If you are new to cake/cupcake decorating, this is be a great way to start.

The kit comes with 8 disposable bags, an instructional booklet and these tips: Star Tips 1M & 22, Round Tip 12 and Bismark 230. I love the 1M! It is one of my favorite tips for making beautiful cupcakes and it couldn't be easier.

You'll be amazed how great your cupcakes will look for your next celebration!

Thanks, Freebies 2 Deal.

(This post contains an affiliate link. Please see the disclosure policy on the About page for more information.)

Productivity Tip for Out of Your Control Inbox

2012-05-21T07:30:00.000-04:00

I love organization and order! The problem? I can't seem to get there. I love being in the midst of a project and accomplishing a task, but then something else takes a back seat . . . like putting away the laundry or cleaning the house.

So today, I'm sharing a quick productivity tip from my husband for your OUT OF CONTROL INBOX! Mine (still) falls into that category, but Dan's tip helps me immensely when I take a few minutes to sort and delete.

The Tip: Sort your inbox by sender. Simple, right? It will allow you to breeze through emails from groups/stores/individuals and quickly select emails to delete. For some, it will be brainless work. Check it, click delete. For others (like the hundreds you've saved from your mom), it will be a little more time consuming to delete.

Here's how to do it in Yahoo: Click on FROM. It will sort alphabetically by sender.

Instructions for Gmail: This is not as simple on the front end, but still effective. In the search window, type "from: sender's name." Here, I searched for emails from the DisneyDaddy.

And just because I'm curious, how many emails are in your inbox? (I'm either looking to feel better about myself or just glutton for punishment!)

Linked up with: The Thrifty Home, Somewhat Simple

Time Began in a Garden

2012-05-18T07:30:00.000-04:00

Did you head out to a local garden for National Public Garden Day last Friday? We did and had a wonderful time. I don't know what it is . . . maybe just the beauty and pace of being out in nature that always refreshes my spirit. Time seems to stand still. And yet, time began in a garden. Hmmm.

Anyway, it was fun! The kids, my mom, and my niece all enjoyed free admission for an afternoon. And of course, I was inspired for my own garden. (A'hem, more work for my man.)

When was the last time you enjoyed an afternoon in a beautiful garden? Maybe it is time! The beauty of Spring and God's creation is definitely something to celebrate.

Linked with: Heavenly Homemakers

Bus Stop Fun for the Last Day of School

2012-05-17T07:30:00.000-04:00

The last day of school is right around the corner. This precious idea will have your kids stepping off the bus to a little chalk lovin'! Last week, I shared Ali B's Breakfast Block Party idea for the last day of school. Today, she is sharing another tradition that can be used for the first or last day of school.

Ali's kids (finishing 1st and 3rd grade) get picked up and dropped off at the end of their driveway. From the garage door all the way to the street, Ali draws a path of chalk hearts to greet her girls when they get off the bus. On the first day of school, she'll write, "Welcome Home 3rd Grader!" or on the last day of school, "Happy Summer!"

What a precious way to celebrate the last day of school! Thanks for sharing, Ali!

Linked with: I Can Teach My Child, The Better Mom, Above Rubies, Tip Junkie, We Are That Family, Women Living Well, Raising Might Arrows, Somewhat Simple, Fun on a Dime, Cheerios and Lattes

Wedding Flowers that Last!

2012-05-16T07:30:00.000-04:00

When I was a wedding planner, I loved finding little unique touches to add to my clients' weddings. The kind of things that excited the bride, made the guests smile and the memories last even longer. Today, I want to share with you a beautiful idea from my brother and sister-in-law's wedding last fall. (Incidentally, if you missed reading about my brother's crazy entrance, be sure to check out How To Make an Entrance For Your Wedding.)

My sister-in-law's mother, Teri, is a fabulous wedding cake baker! She made the cake for her daughter's wedding even though she lives across the country. The detail was simply incredible. The cake was beautiful and her sugar flowers looked amazing. Her flowers are hand-crafted and very labor intensive.

Teri started baking cakes by making them for friends at work in 1991. And fourteen years ago, she started making what is called "cold porcelain" flowers. For my brother and sister-in-law's wedding, Teri made these cold porcelain flower corsages for the mothers and sisters-in-law. Each was unique (my corsage and my mom's are pictured). The neat thing about these corsages is that they last and make beautiful keepsakes from a wedding.

Aren't they beautiful?

If you are interested in cold porcelain corsages for a wedding or special event (she also does napkin rings), you can contact Teri at ppollo52 AT gmail DOT com. Cord porcelain flowers can be shipped across the country.

Playtime Parties!

2012-05-15T07:30:00.000-04:00

Guest Post from Hannah Davey of Oxfordshire, England

Kids’ parties can be a bit of a mind-boggling experience. How many layers are you supposed to put on the pass-the-parcel*? How many toys are you supposed to put in their party bags? Would they like a clown, or will they think I’m a clown for inviting him? Am I supposed to invent all the games, or do I leave them to it? It’s OK to give the kids fizzy drinks and sweets, right? Or will I get complaints from the parents when their kids fly home via a whirlwind of excitable E-Numbers*...?

Although you may have to freestyle the answers to most of these questions, there is one thing that you don’t need to worry about quite as much: the entertainment. This seems like the most important aspect of organising a party, but you’ll be surprised at how much the kids can actually entertain themselves.

When kids get together, especially if there is a whole flock of them, they are amazing at inventing games that simply evolve from the use of their imaginations. As soon as one child starts pretending he’s a horse, plenty of others will join him, for example. This is the beauty of being a child, nothing needs to make much sense, and copying each other seems to be their favourite thing. Children are absolutely brilliant at creating fun adventures for themselves, and don’t need much encouragement at all.

However, having a few things to help the kids settle in and to get the party started is always useful. For lots of children, a party isn’t a party without party bags, so I thought why not make a whole activity out of this phenomenon?! Rather than handing out pre-made ones at the end, gift bags can spark lots of activities for the kids to take part in together.

By letting the children create their own party bags, they were completely occupied, while having lots of fun as a group. I simply laid out a few different crafts on a table, such as bracelet making sets, badge-making sets, or any decorate-your-own sets that I could find, as well as a couple of trays with pre-made gifts inside, and then the kids got stuck in! To prevent any arguments or paddies*, it’s best to decide on a number of gifts they’re allowed to have, and tell them this at the beginning. Also, make sure that the bags you give them are small enough to hold just a few different toys, and then they have to be a bit sensible and realistic about their collection! This is a brilliant activity for indoors or out; if you’re lucky enough to have a warm and sunny day like we did, hosting this activity in the garden is a huge bonus as the mess doesn’t matter quite as much!

Something that has also proved to be hugely successful, yet very hassle-free, is our play-house. I work for a children’s toy company, so I had a handy opportunity to get my hands on a playhouse for the kids. We bought it a long time ago, and we thought it would just keep them occupied in the garden for a few hours at a time, but it’s proved to be a huge attraction at their parties, too. It actually has a slide and steps, so it functions as the perfect adventure zone for a few children at a time. It’s lovely seeing them all play together, and it makes it easy for me because it involves no effort at all! I didn’t realise they could invent so many different games with the use of a playhouse; last week it was a castle, apparently.

These simple activities (combined with their wonderful imaginations), made the party so simple and easy but so much fun for them all. I feel quite prepared for the next one, in fact!

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Hannah Davey resides in the lovely, but rainy Oxfordshire. She loves creating and writing about children's entertainment. She works for a friendly, family-run company at the Big Game Hunters Playhouse Shop.

* For the U.S. readers, here are Hannah's explanations for a couple terms you may not have been familiar with:

Pass-the-parcel is a game where you wrap up a gift, and then you put another layer of wrapping paper on that with another gift inside – the idea is that you have lots of different layers with little gifts inside, and the children sit in a circle and pass it around while the music is on, and then someone who’s not playing (usually mummy/daddy!) stops the music randomly now and again, and whoever is holding the parcel at that moment opens a layer and gets the little gift from inside... this goes on until someone is left with the final gift from the middle which is usually the best gift.

E-numbers are artificial food additives, and are usually known to make children quite hyper!

A paddy is a temper-tantrum.

Fun Desserts for a House Party

2012-05-14T07:30:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned in last Thursday's post (oops that is the one that mysteriously disappeared!!), I recently hosted a Thirty-One Gifts house party for a good friend. While these kinds of parties are fun in themselves, I enjoy finding some special treats to serve my guests.

Here were the goodies (if you don't count the fun, organizing bags):

Lemon Coconut Cupcakes - this is my all time favorite cupcake recipe! It is from one of my cupcake/little cake books, Little Cakes from the Whimsical Bakehouse. I would love to be sharing the recipe with you but it wouldn't be right since it is their creation. You can get the book on Amazonor just check it out from your library. That is what I did until I decided I should own it. The Whimsical Bakehouse used to have the Kids' Buttercream recipe on their site, but sadly no longer.

Oreo Truffles - These were yummy and so simple! Just crush a bag of oreos, add 8oz of softened cream cheese and mix until smooth. Refrigerate and then roll into balls. Chill again (I just stuck them in my freezer for 5 minutes). Melt the chocolate of your choice and dip the oreo balls. Let them dry on wax paper. I added a pink drizzle to make them pretty.

Stuffed Strawberries - This was another simple recipe and absolutely delicious! Wash and core the strawberries. Mix 8 oz of softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 3/4 teaspoon of almond extract. I used a pastry bag and Wilton #21 tip to fill the strawberries and add a swirl top.

The signs and cupcake wrappers were made with my amazing Silhouette Cameo (you can read more about it here). I loved the combination of these three desserts, but each could also stand alone for a go-to dessert when you need to take a treat somewhere.

What are your "go-to" desserts?

Linked up with: An Original Belle, Raising Homemakers, 733 Blog, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Somewhat Simple, Craftionary, Tutus & Tea Parties

(This post contains an affiliate link. Please see the Disclosure Policy on the About page.)

Breakfast Block Party for the Last Day of School

2012-05-11T07:30:00.000-04:00

The last day of school is finally in sight. (And I have to say, I am SO excited!) Today and next week, I'll be sharing two great "last day of school" ideas from Ali B, mother to two elementary school children.

On the last day of school, Ali's neighborhood gathers together for donuts, juice boxes and coffee in one of the cul-de-sacs. They publicize the Homeowners Association-sponsored event with flyers in mailboxes about a month before, also alerting the bus driver. The parents and kids then meet 45 minutes before the school bus usually arrives. The kids run around and the parents take pictures. And you're going to love this: the bus driver sometimes even joins them!

The kids get on the bus; parents take more pictures and then the bus driver takes off, honking the horn with everyone cheering. (Don't you want to move into their neighborhood?) Ali also mentioned that some of the parents then go out for breakfast. What a fun morning and great way to start off summer!

Thanks for sharing, Ali!

Linked up with: I Can Teach My Child, The Better Mom, Far Above Rubies, Many Little Blessings, Preschool Powol Packets, Celebrating Family, We Are That Family, Tip Junkie

A Little Blogger Mix Up

2012-05-10T16:45:00.000-04:00

If you subscribe to my blog by email, you may have noticed a little mix up with Blogger earlier today (Thursday). The original post I had scheduled mysteriously disappeared and in its place, a post from a month ago was sent out in the feed. My apologies! I'm trying to figure out what happened but more than that trying to make sure it doesn't happen again.

My Memories Giveaway Winner

2012-05-09T11:30:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Paige J. (paigej------@)!

Paige is the Winner of the My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software. You'll be receiving an

email with instructions on claiming your prize.

Didn't win? My Memories is offering a $10 discount off the My Memories Suite Software and a $10 coupon for the My Memories store (a $20 value) for my readers when you use this code: STMMMS30126.

Please note: This is a referral code. See my disclosure policy on the About page for more information.

So, did we have fun? (National Train Day)

2012-05-09T07:30:00.000-04:00

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Today is National Train Day! Did you know that?

HolidayInsights.com shares that in 1869, "The Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads were speeding across the wild, American frontier, laying tracks for what would soon become the first Transcontinental rail line. Construction was often done at great peril, as vast areas of the west were truely wild and unsettled. Once completed, train service would be connected from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, making the world a whole lot smaller." Can you imagine living during that time?

My son has a love for trains. In fact, he is drawing the whole family into it. (Isn't it funny how when your child loves something, it is as if you are suddenly and newly tuned in to anything "train?") A couple weeks ago, we headed out to ride the rails on a (somewhat) local scenic train ride.

I was probably as excited as my son, but for me it was more along the lines that this was going to be nice family-time and I was going to watch the thrill and excitement on my son's face as we rode his "most favorite vehicle of all."

The train ride was scheduled to be a three hour round trip. It was a neat old train. We cheered when it arrived and were thrilled when it began to move. The four of us sat facing each other as we zoomed, albeit casually, past the beautiful natural surroundings. There was a food car and a souvenir car, both of which we visited.

The crux of the trip was that at 2 hours and 45 minutes into the trip, we had not yet reached the half way point. And that was pretty much when the ride started to turn south. Apparently, the train had a large crowd which delayed most of their stops. To say it mildly, we were tired. Dan had spent a good deal of time "walking the aisle" from the front to back of the train, alternating children.

Thankfully, the train made up a lot time on the return trip and with less crowds, we were back at the original depot in four and a half hours. And even though my son was ready to get off five minutes prior, the actual act of departing made him very sad.

Exhausted and beginning our journey (by car) home, I turned to Dan and questioned, "So, did we have fun?" I just really wanted to know. I mean, we were supposed to have fun . . . but did we? I wasn't so sure.

Even with my love of planning fun family outings and creating those special moments that thrill my kids, it is good to remember that not everything works out the way I plan. But the reality is that we still spent time together as a family. We did create memories. Dan and I can laugh about the "3 hour" train ride that never seemed to end.

And now when anyone hears of my son's love of trains and asks if we've ridden the railroad, I just secretly roll my eyes and say, "Yes, why yes we have."

What family plans haven't gone as you had planned? Can you laugh about it yet?

Free Admission to Public Gardens 5/11/12

2012-05-08T11:00:00.000-04:00

On Friday, May 11th, celebrate National Public Gardens Day by visiting a botanical garden, arboretum or other public garden. And thanks to Better Homes & Gardens and the American Public Garden Association, you can do it with free admission.

Check here to find a public garden near you and print your coupon. Coupons are valid for 2 people but you can print multiple copies.

Have a great visit!

Under the Sea Party - Part Two

2012-05-08T07:30:00.000-04:00

Oysters & pearls, baby whales and sea glass . . . sound like party food to you? Today we're taking a second look at Marcy's Under the Sea Party, but this time we'll be focusing on the party food. You will love all her fun treats (and the clever names). But first, if you missed last week's post on the decorations, go here.

Baby Whales

Seaweed Rolls aka homemade fruit roll ups.

Sand Castle Pops: Marcy used a sand castle mold for this sugar and egg white treat. You can find the recipe on Tradewind Tiaras. Marcy used dehydrated egg whites as the recipe suggested, but the terracotta color made the mix a little too orange so she added green to make it more of a sand color.

The oyster cookies were part of each guest's place setting . . . and every girl found a pearl inside!

If you didn't think that Marcy had a lot of clever little Under the Sea foods, then this will definitely push you over the edge. She made edible sea glass candy! The recipe is from Not So Humble Pie. The flavors are cotton candy, blueberry, raspberry, creme de menthe and maple.

The Cake was made by a local baker friend of Marcy's. Ariel was purchased but everything else is made from sugar or chocolate. Yum!

For drinks, Marcy served "Talia's Ocean Water" and "Mermaid Juice" (lemonade tinted blue, served in repurposed glass bottles). Don't you love her little straw and sand dollar flag?

Thanks for sharing this great party, Marcy! You thought of all the details and your daughter and her friends must have been thrilled.

Would you like to see another of Marcy's featured parties? Check out her daughter's Tea Party.

Linked with: Craftionary

Tomorrow is National Teacher's Day

2012-05-07T07:30:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is National Teacher's Day! Do you have a teacher you love or appreciate? Maybe it is a Bible study teacher, Sunday School teacher or your child's school teacher. For National Teacher Day, why not share with them your appreciation for all their hard work and dedication?

Last week at my son's school, we celebrated Staff Appreciation Week sponsored by the Parent Fellowship.

Here were the week-long festivities:

Monday - Card Day
Tuesday - Staff Luncheon (parents contributed the food)
Wednesday - Sweet Treat and/or Flower (send in a candy bar or single flower for the staff to have a treat and build a bouquet for their desk)
Thursday - Staff Breakfast
Friday - Gift Cards (parents chipped in a couple bucks each and then gift cards were purchased for staff and teachers)

Teachers also received this cute Smarties & Sharpies jar made by one of the moms. She got the original idea from Little Pumpkin Grace via Pinterest. (I had the fun of contributing by making the reverse applique tag with my Silhouette Cameo.)

Isn't that a fun way to recognize your teachers and staff? Feeling appreciated at work is a key part of job satisfaction. Think of who can you bless by showing your appreciation.

What fun teacher gifts have you seen?

Linked up with: An Original Belle

Under The Sea Party

2012-05-04T07:12:00.000-04:00

Hold your breath because we are going Under the Sea for an amazing birthday party any mermaid would love. This featured party comes from Marcy as she celebrated her daughter, Talia's 6th birthday. Today we'll be talking about her creative decorations but be sure to stop back next Tuesday to "catch" all details on the food.

Marcy made "Message in a Bottle" invitations and even wrote the poem on the invitation: "Calling all mermaids and fish who live under the sea. You're O-fish-ally invited to come share this day with me. Only happy clams may attend, so please don't be a crab. Come celebrate my birthday bash, together we'll make a great, BIG splash."

The bottles (8.5") were purchased from Ebottles and had to be large enough to hold the full page invitations, sand and shells. Marcy embellished the invitations with stickers and gems, and the bottles with shell and sand dollar cut-outs made from scrapbook punches.

This is the mermaid dress made by Talia's aunt. Isn't it beautiful?

The Birthday Island: The Birthday Banner template comes from a shell that Marcy traced and then cut with scalloped scissors. The lanterns were purchased at Luna Bazaar and Marcy added the ribbons to make them look like jellyfish.

While the bright-colored Glo fish were meant to go home with a friend, Marcy's girls fell in love with them (even though one did have to be replaced). They are affectionately named Shimmer, Lava, Sea Candy and Mango.

Check out these clever Mermaid bubbles. Marcy took balloons, put a few drops of gel food coloring in them, filled them with water and tied them closed. She put them in a plastic grocery bag so they wouldn't stick to the shelf and then popped them in the freezer. Right before the party, she took them out and cut off the balloons. Mermaid bubbles!

This Jellyfish bottle idea came from Bhoomplay's Blog. They are made with water, food dye and white plastic bags. The bottles themselves came from Sand Art Supplies.

Sea Urchin & Jellyfish Decor: The multi-colored jellyfish is three tissue flowers stacked together. The other jellyfish are made of colored plates with lots of ribbons.

The sea creatures on the windows are cut out from images Marcy found online. Creating a water effect on the door and the mermaid tail on each girl's chair are shimmer turquoise and aqua colored fabric.

Are you hearing "Part of Your World," yet? I sure am. Don't miss next Tuesday's post when we'll share about Marcy's party food.

Linked up with: Craftionary, Tutus & Tea Parties, The Better Mom, Many Little Blessings, We Are That Family, 733 Blog, Holy Spirit Led Homeschooling, Tip Junkie

May Organizational Goal: The Kitchen

2012-05-03T07:30:00.000-04:00

photo credit

May is here and I'm not so sure I am ready for this month's organizational task. But there is no backing out now! :)

This month we are tackling the busiest room in our house, the kitchen. The grand central station of cooking, family conversations and if your house is anything like mine, the "drop it on the counter" collection o'junk!

I have a nice sized kitchen with lots of cabinets. (And by the way, don't you love the sleek kitchen in the picture. I'm dreaming of clean counter tops!) But my cabinets are bursting with stuff. Stuff I love, stuff I use . . . and some I don't. I have tons of entertaining dishes and lots of "fun" things to do with kids like a great sandcastle cake pan and a Pooh Bear one that I have yet to use. Maybe this is the month!

Here is the Kitchen Attack Plan:

Remove everything from the cabinets. Sort and purge what is not longer needed.
Re-examine where you are storing your most used items around the room. I really like where I have everything placed, but I want to be as efficient and practical as possible in their location around the room. (For example, is my glassware cupboard or silverware drawer close to the table and not in my way if someone needs silverware or glasses and I am working at the counter? Think traffic flow!)
Organize and return cupboard items away.
Do the same process with the kitchen drawers.
Attack the kitchen junk drawer. (C'mon, we all have them!)
Organize the buffet and any other furniture pieces you may have in your kitchen.
Remove everything from the counter tops and deep clean.
Uh oh, here it comes . . . clean the refrigerator, in and out.
Organize the pantry, removing anything expired. (I usually do this monthly as I can't stand how cluttered our pantry gets.)

May is also the month I will be going through the house, room by room, to do a quick purge to get ready for our garage sale. I'll set the timer for 5-15 minutes for each room so I don't get bogged down with decisions.

If you're joining us late in the game and want to catch up, you check out our Monthly Organization Plan.

What is the hardest spot in YOUR kitchen to keep organized?

Linked with: The Shabby Creek Cottage, Raising Homemakers, The Thrifty Home