Practical Imperfect Mom

Busy, Busy, Busy- Project photo round-up

2013-11-14T15:52:00.002-08:00

I haven’t been around to blog in quite a while. In my grand old fashion I’ve been as busy as ever with cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and costumes (that’s a lot of C’s). Usually when I get to the end of the day I’m just so tired I never make it to the blog. I would promise to be more consistent but well, I am not the type to break promises. I will however say that I will attempt to get some new DIY’s up here soon. I know I love a good project and they certainly seem to be popular on Pinterest. I would love some great DIY ideas for Christmas gifts so if you know of any please feel free to make suggestions. Until next time I will leave you with some fresh photos!

Bridal Shower Cookies

Teacher Cookies

Hand painted headstones

Hand made Sofia the First Costume

Handmade Doc McStuffins Costume

Stay at home Mom

2013-09-17T23:09:00.002-07:00

So yeah, I know. There are thousands of blog entries floating through cyber space written by thousands of stay at home moms like myself, who are doing just what I feel the need to do, justify our job. I’m not claiming today’s subject matter is new but gosh, it really will feel much better for me to just get it out there.

Today, a stranger said to me, “At least you’re home with your kids so you have plenty of time to get things done.” Those words, uttered so innocently, made me cringe as I struggled to keep a smile and remain polite. You see I have been on both ends of the deal. I’ve been a working mom and a stay at home mom. I have nothing but respect for the moms I know who have careers and I realize it is tough stuff. You spend a lot of time away from your children, often worrying that others are taking your place as the parent. I totally get it. When I had a job I missed my babies and it was rough to keep things in order at home. A lot of the time I felt that the best of me was going to work and the rest of me was walking in the door at the end of the day. I struggled to find balance, something that seems impossible to achieve when your routine is far from routine. I have now been a stay at home mom for exactly 2 years. I of course have my cakes, cookies, and painting projects but I make my own schedule and that kind of works for me. Amazingly enough though, even after 2 years, I have not figured out how to be any less busy.

Tonight, as I sit and blog, I am so exhausted my body feels as if it is tingling. When I finally stop moving at the end of the day I feel like a bag full of bricks. I am completely drained. The words from this morning’s stranger are replaying in my head like a broken record and I feel even more frustrated at my exhaustion. If I have so much time then why is there never enough?

The day begins so early. I wake before the kids so I can get a shower, and never finish before they are up. I get the troops ready, make breakfast, do the dishes and make my trip to the school. Then comes the errands and the grocery shopping and the appointments and the laundry and the bill paying. Before I know it, it is time for the little one and I to have lunch. More cooking, more dishes, and then school pick up. The kids are together again at home, the messes and fighting begin almost instantly. If there are no activities to run off to we are home for the afternoon and sitting down to do homework. When we are finally finished it is time to start preparing dinner. I cook, everyone eats, I do dishes. Bath time. I have girls; they have hair. Lot’s of hair. After what seems like forever they are braided and curled and put into pajamas. They have a story and they are off to bed (if they will sleep. Don’t even get me started on the great battle of bedtime.) After the kids are sleeping I clean up the house from the 5,000 messes that have been made in the course of 10 hours, get myself ready for bed, sit down, and feel as if I’m going to die. At this point I might sleep, I might work on projects or cake orders. If I try to go to sleep early I can pretty much guarantee that someone is going to wake up thirsty, hungry, having to potty, or there is a monster in the closet. My little one loves to get up at 2 am, turn on all the lights in the house, and declare it is playtime. Like I said, the day begins so early.

You know, I know that there are many, many, many other people out there who have it rough and many who have obstacles that I could never even begin to understand. There are all sorts of things I have to be thankful for and trust me, I am beyond grateful for my blessings. But I urge you, every single one of you, to understand that each and every one of us must live within our own realities. My struggles are not yours or anyone else’s. They are mine, in my world. Being home with children is the toughest job I have even taken on. The requests and the “mommying” never end and children are all about what they want. Teaching them to be aware of the feelings of others is so difficult and some never learn. We know this because there are many adults out there who still cannot seem to grasp the concept.

I promise I will not judge you for your parenting style and choices so please hold the judgment about me being a mom without a “job.” I know saying that as a stay at home mom “I have plenty of time” is not a big deal. I know it is a harmless statement and yet it only made me feel more minimized in this new world. A world where saying you are a stay home mom evokes this response: “but what do you do?”

I am a mom, a mom who is there for my family. I am the glue that holds us together, the rock that can always be found in the ever-changing scenery. I am there, every moment of the day and night, standing by, always standing by, and it’s more than a job, it’s a calling. I am in it for life and I couldn’t be more proud of what I do.

Piece of cake?

2013-08-20T15:26:00.000-07:00

I’m coming to find out that getting into the cake business is not a piece of cake. There are a lot of artists such as myself, doing the same types of things as I am. There certainly is a demand for cakes and cupcakes, especially amongst the crowd getting married, having babies, or those who have small children. Yet, there are more than enough bakers to accommodate those in demand and the creativity amongst my fellow decorators sometimes blows me away.

At times it can be overwhelming to research and learn all the new techniques. You no longer just frost a cake and plop some roses on. Now there are fondants, fillings, luster dust, gum paste, marzipan, sanding sugar, gel pastes, powdered colors, butter cream, royal icing, the list goes on and on. And with all of these mediums you can sculpt, dust, paint, frost, mold, emboss, etc, etc, etc. I haven’t even learned how to do half of it and by the time I think I know how to do everything, there will be more. Still, I’m not the sort of person to look at a challenge and shy away. I enjoy pushing myself to improve my craft and I feel accomplished when I learn something new.

Last week I had an order for some cupcakes. The client wanted 4 dozen cupcakes all in a Disney theme. I was not limited to one character (as she wanted several different ones) but that definitely presented a challenge. How was I going to make 4 dozen cupcakes from all different Disney movies, with all different and non-related characters, while still making them look classy, unique, detailed and cohesive? It was difficult but after spending some time thinking I decided that each cupcake topper would be hand-sculpted pieces that served as a classic representation of each character rather than literal faces. And now the photos of the final outcome!

I had a blast doing these and I love when my clients give me an idea that I can run with! I will be doing some more DIY tutorials very soon so if you have anything you are interested in learning to do, please let me know!

Happy crafting!

Kindergarten

2013-08-14T15:25:00.000-07:00

It is absolutely amazing, my Sweet Pea starting Kindergarten. I’m blown away just thinking that she will be in school now until she is an adult. The milestones of childhood (motherhood too) come as if no time has passed between them. And yet here I am, another year older and not feeling too much wiser. In some ways, I still feel like a kid.

As I walked my daughter into her kindergarten class this morning, memories of my own childhood flooded my mind and I felt nostalgia that I didn’t quite expect. The smell of crayons, the nametag on her little cubby, the colorful pictures adorning every wall, and the tiny desks and chairs. I vividly remember my first day of school and today I relived that through the eyes of my child.

I met one of my very best friends (we are still friends today) the day I started school. This morning, Sweet Pea walked into her class and immediately she and another little girl became friends. In seconds they were sitting next to each other, chatting away. They were amazed that they were both 5. I chucked and tears almost came to my eyes. As they walked about the room together, making sure they each had a chance to do all the activities, I remembered my lasting friendship and I smiled. For the first time I thought to myself "she will be ok. She is going to do just fine."

It’s so strange, the things that come to your mind as a parent. I find myself thinking, “Will she know to ask to go to the potty? Will she line up when the teacher says to do so? Is she going to understand the way we behave in school?” and on, and on, and on. We went to school; we somehow learned what to do. I need to give her more credit. She will find her way.

The day your child is born, you are in control. Your baby is handed to you in a little bundle and you are sent on your merry way. You venture out into the unknown and begin raising them. No instruction manual, no technical support. They learn, you learn. They make mistakes and so do you. You both fall and you both get back up again. You begin teaching them how to live life, how to be the best version of themselves, and how to be independent. As that independence begins to grow, you realize that means you must start giving up control. Today that was the hardest part. I know this is just the beginning and that she is still my little girl. I know there are so many more milestones and there will be many more days like today. Days where I have to let go so she can be who she is. And I know she will be fine because really, SHE is teaching me how to live, SHE is helping me to be the best version of myself, and SHE is showing me how to be independent. If she can do at that at 5 years old, she is off to do great things.

Happy first day of school my little girl! Mommy knows you are going to be great!

Cupcake Creations- Zebra Stripes

2013-08-08T01:57:00.001-07:00

You can’t take the stripes off a zebra but you can certainly put them on.

I have received quite a few cupcake orders this month and it all started with this one. A very sweet lady, who knew very little about me or my work, not only took a big chance on me but also gave me creative license to pretty much do whatever I wanted. The request was Zebra, purple, turquoise, and “whatever I could come up with.” I really enjoyed doing this order. The design is quite simple but really cute at the same time. These were particularly fun because I was able to use my love of painting in a cake decorating application.

I started by cutting out round pieces of white fondant for the bases of the cupcake toppers. I then mixed black gel paste food coloring with a small amount of water, just enough to make it the consistency of paint. After allowing the rounds to harden just a bit I painted on the zebra stripes.

Next, I cut out 2 different sizes of flowers in 2 different colors, shaped them, stacked them, and added a small piece of white fondant to create the 3d blossom. Using pearl dust mixed with little bit of lemon extract I painted the shimmer on the edges of the petals.

Left-with pearl dust, Right-without pearl dust

After letting them sit overnight, I put the toppers on my fresh buttercream cupcakes with a few sprinkles. Seeing as I had 2 dozen cupcakes to make, I did another flower topper but switched up the color order, adding the zebra stripes to the flower rather than the round piece.

I was very happy with how they turned out and now the wonderful lady who took a chance on me has become a friend.

Many more cakes and cupcakes are to come. August is going to be a busy month but I cannot think of a sweeter way to spend it.

Rainbow party!

2013-07-28T14:55:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe that my little Butter Bean is 3. When you have the pitter patter of little feet echoing about your home, it can feel like time is passing slowly. So many meals to cook, so many messes to clean up, boo boos to kiss, feelings to patch up, lessons to teach, and lessons to learn. As time seems to be standing still, it passes at an alarming rate of speed. I feel as if I just learned I was going to be a mommy and now I have 2 children, who are growing and changing so quickly that I can hardly catch my breath.

Yesterday was our big Rainbow Party for Butter Bean and we had a great time. Here are some photos of some of the DIY's I did and of course our colorful birthday shindig!

Balloon Bowls for centerpieces

Paper umbrella decorations

Rainbow pillowcase dresses

Coloring page and portrait cookies

Cookie pop centerpieces

Rainbow fruit tray

Butter Bean and Sweet Pea

Art Table

Fun to color

More fun to eat!

Bead necklaces

I am looking for my next tutorial. If there is anything you have seen in this entry that you would like to know how to make, please comment. It might end up in my next photo tutorial!

If you like what you see, remember to click follow and pass it along to a friend!

Life is Sweet!

2013-07-03T20:04:00.001-07:00

This Practical Imperfect mom has been a busy bee lately. I have quite a few new projects coming up and I will be posting them soon!

For now, I have been doing some cookie and cake orders that have kept me on my toes. Enjoy the photos and have a very Happy and Safe 4th of July!

Spell it out! Diy Scrabble tile wall art!

2013-04-15T15:20:00.000-07:00

I suppose the Scrabble tile fad is nothing new, jewelry, pillows, wall art, we’ve seen it all. And if you are anything like me, you think some of the stuff is super cute and super clever but, you don’t want to spend a ton of money to get in on the trend. I tend to look at just about anything and attempt to figure out how I can make it myself for as little green as I possibly can.

The other night I was looking around on Etsy and after seeing Scrabble wall art a million times, I decided I just had to have some. Now I know most of you know that I am an artist and a painter, but please trust me when I say that I have put together this DIY so just about anyone can do it! Altogether this only cost me about $12 but keep in mind that some of the supplies I used are things I keep on hand so, your cost will vary depending on what you may or may not already have.

Here’s what you will need:

*4x4 wooden plaques (I found mine at Michael’s crafts for .79 cents each and the quantity will of course depend on what you would like to spell out)

*Assorted paint brushes

*Assorted colors of craft paint

*Sand paper

*Eraser

*Ruler

*Scissors

*Mod Podge

*Pencil (Preferably a good mechanical one with a solid metal tip)

*Your choice of letters and numbers printed out in a Scrabble font (available on the internet which can be downloaded for free.) Note: Letters will need to be bigger than the numbers and the size you print out will depend on the size of plaques you choose.

Step 1:

Sand your wooden wall plaques.

Yes my nails are blue this week :)

Step 2:

Paint your plaques in whatever colors you would like. To make it easier you can paint them one color or if you would like them to be a little more dimensional you can blend different colors as I did. Be sure to paint the sides as well. Note: The plaques I found are beveled on the front side and the backside is flat (see photos). If you would like a fancy look you can paint your letters on the beveled side however, I wanted mine to look more authentic so I used the backside. Allow plaques to dry completely.

Step 3:

Cut your paper numbers and letters out. Place your desired letter in the center of your painted plaque. You may use a ruler to center them if you would like. Using the tip of your pencil punch small holes around the letter so that it makes small indentations into the wood. If your pencil does not work for this, you can use any implement sharp enough to make a noticeable indentation. Repeat this in the lower right hand corner with your number. Once you have completed the indentations, trace them in pencil. Repeat with all of your plaques.

Step 4:

Fill in your letters and numbers on each plaque with black paint and allow them to dry completely.

Step 5:

Erase any remaining pencil marks on your plaque. Using a large paint brush, apply a thin coat of mod podge to the front of each plaque and allow them to dry completely.

Step 6:

Fall in love with them because they are super cute!

There are quite a few ways you can hang these. You may want to put saw tooth hangers on the back (available at any home improvement store or Walmart) or 3M picture hangers are also another great option.

I hope you enjoy this little project as much as I did. I can’t wait to hang mine up! If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section and I will be happy to help. If you just want to say “hi” that’s fine too! Happy spelling!

Brighten it up! Diy-Colorful craft storage

2013-03-27T18:11:00.000-07:00

As you may well know by now, with the severe lack of new posts to my blog, I was on hiatus for quite some time. The family and I have gone though some major changes in the last 3 months. From my previous blog posts you may have seen that my husband began a new job and it was necessary to move so we would be closer to the Happiest Place on Earth. It has been a long and exhausting process, but little by little we are settling into our new home and getting life back on track.

When I stepped back from blogging, I was in the middle of my 5 days, 5 diy gifts series. I have decided to put the rest of it off for a while (maybe as Mother’s day gift ideas) and post some of the great projects that have been working on amidst the moving craziness.

When you are about move and you start packing boxes, you realize that you have way more stuff than you thought you had. When you reach your new destination and start unpacking those boxes, you realize that you need somewhere to put it all. Such was the case with my ever growing craft “stuff” that seems to multiply when I’m not looking (must be elves.)

The other day while in the craft store, (I’m still sticking to my elf theory in hopes I can convince Mr. Practical that’s where it all comes from) I found a cute storage cube for said “stuff”. Regular price was $40 but as always with Michael’s I was able to get a 50% off coupon. There are several different styles, some with drawers, some with shelves, etc etc. Here is the one I chosse:

They come in plain white so being the colorful person I am, I just couldn’t leave it that way. Project time!

What you will need:

-Your choice of storage bin (It can be from anywhere, a thrift store etc. as long as it has a paintable surface and drawers.)

-Paint brush

-Mod Podge

-Scrapbook paper

-Scissors

-Xacto knife

-Ruler

-Spray Paint

Step 1-

You will be applying scrapbook paper to your drawer fronts. If you purchase a new unit, build it without assembling the drawer fronts (they will be easier to work on disassembled.) If you are using a unit that is already assembled, remove drawer fronts.

Step 2-

Prep your drawer fronts by cleaning them off and lightly sanding the surface of each one to help the Mod Podge adhere.

Step 3-

Measure your drawer fronts so that you know the size you must cut your scrapbook paper down to in order to completely cover them.

Step 4-

Cut scrapbook paper to the desired size. I chose to go with a mosaic look so I cut my scrapbook paper into “tiles”. See photos below.

Step 5-

Using your paint brush, apply mod podge to your prepared drawer fronts. Place your scrapbook paper onto the mod podge. Once the paper is in the position you would like it to be, smooth it down with your paint brush and apply more mod podge on top of the paper to seal it. Repeat with each drawer.

Note: You may find after you have applied the paper, especially if you do a mosaic like I did, that there is some excess paper along the edges. If that is the case, cut the edge with your xacto knife and seal it with more mod podge.

Step 6-

After your drawers fronts have dried completely, assemble the drawers and set them aside.

Step 7-

Spray paint the rest of the unit with your desired color and allow it to dry completely.

Step 8-

Place the drawers in the unit, stand back, and admire how cute it is!

I just adore how this little project came out! I’m so happy to be back blogging and hope you are all happy to be back reading! As always if you have any questions (or just want to say hi :) ) feel free to ask in the comments!

Five days- 5 diy gifts- Day 1- Homemade Vanilla

2013-01-03T23:41:00.000-08:00

Now that the holidays have come to an end, I am finally able to post a few of the projects that kept me busy in December. I regret that I was not able to post these great DIY gifts before Christmas but had I done so, my family would have seen them and I did not want to ruin the surprise. That is ok though, these gifts are great for all sorts of occasions and I hope that you will find them useful throughout the year!

Day 1

If there is one thing in my kitchen I can never seem to have enough of, it’s Vanilla extract. Any avid baker knows that it can be quite expensive and comes in small bottles that don’t last very long. Imitation vanilla is less expensive, but I have found that nothing can replace the flavor of the real thing.

One day, as I was surfing the web, I stumbled upon a recipe for homemade vanilla extract and I just had to try it. With the help of Pinterest (for the idea) and beanilla.com (for the supplies) I made a couple bottles for my mother and grandmother. They seemed to love them! You too can make delicious, homemade vanilla that is less expensive, more flavorful, lasts longer, and makes a great gift!

Here’s how…

You will need:

*8 oz of vodka (at least 30% alcohol)

*5 vanilla beans

*An airtight glass bottle or jar that holds at least 8.5oz

*Kitchen funnel

*Small knife

(Vanilla beans and bottle may be found on www.beanilla.com)

Step 1:

Split the vanilla beans, length wise, straight down the center. When all the beans have been split, put them in your glass bottle or jar.

Step 2:

Using your funnel, pour 8oz of vodka into your bottle or jar.

Step 3:

Seal your jar and place it in a cool, dark place for 8 weeks. Gently turn your bottle or jar at least once a week to stir up the liquid.

It’s as easy as that. If you plan way in advance, you can give this vanilla with it ready to use or you can do as I did and add a cute tag with the instructions and use by date! I’m sorry I do not have a photo tutorial of this one but if you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section. I will be happy to help!

Happy making and baking!

Changes

2012-12-07T08:34:00.000-08:00

There are times in life when we get busy making changes. Often, we find ourselves in a position that we are not necessarily happy with and start looking for greener grass.

A few weeks back I blogged about an out of state move and the uncertainty of our lives. We have struggled so much over the last few years and it has been very taxing on the entire family. The expense of living here, the constant worry about being able to stay in our home, the need to find a better paying job, and many other factors had us looking for a better life.

My husband was doing some research and found a posting for a job in Texas. Before applying we started preparing ourselves for what all of this could entail. How much will it cost? Will the job pay enough to make the move worth it? Is this job going to work out and if not will we still move there? Where will we live? How are the schools? And the list goes on and on. After about 3 days of serious discussion, Mr. Practical decided to go ahead and put in a resume. In doing all of the math it seemed it would be worth it.

The next day, we felt very apprehensive about receiving a call. After all, if they were willing to hire him, we were willing to go. We spent the morning going over all the “what if’s” and fanaticizing about our future. After running some errands, we had lunch with my brother where of course, there was more discussion. It really did seem like we had made up our minds.

As we were leaving the restaurant, I turned around to see Mr. Practical on his phone and listening to a message. My heart jumped up into my throat. Was the job in Texas calling him? Was he going to have an interview? I saw our future in those 30 seconds while I waited for him to tell me just what they had said.

Over a year ago, Mr. Practical applied for a job at Disney. Never had I dreamed the message was from them, calling to request an interview, but it was just that. Reality is stranger than fiction. That very afternoon (an hour later to be exact) he had a phone interview. The following Wednesday he had a panel interview, and Monday, December 3^rd, he was given an offer of employment. He will begin his new career on January 4^th, and our family will open up a new chapter that is hopefully a Disney fairytale. We will need to move about 2 hours away from where we are now and only about an hour away from the rest of my family. We did hear from Texas the day after Disney called. As it turned out they did want to hire him, but the opportunity was not exactly what we had been lead to believe. There are times in life when we get busy making changes, and then God decides you will be going down a different path.

In 2006 (into 2007) I was fortunate enough to work for Disney and I really did love my job. We were at another crossroad then. Torn between my career and having children, we had some hard decisions to make. We almost moved to be closer to my job. We had looked for places to live that were nearby and Mr. Practical started seeking other employment. And then, I found out I was having my little Sweet Pea and everything changed. I decided to quit my job, and we stayed where we were until we found our home in 2009 where we have been since.

It’s strange isn’t it? For 6 years we have been living the other life, the life we chose, only to find ourselves right back there where we almost were?

As I contemplate the changes down this road, I am apprehensive and yet assured. I have full faith that this is where we are meant to go. I’m very certain that all that has come to pass is not coincidence. The future is looking much different than I had dreamed but the reality is a different path.

“Times and conditions change so rapidly that we must keep our aim constantly focused on the future.”- Walt Disney

Under the Sea

2012-11-26T10:05:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was my Sweet Pea’s birthday party and I am happy to report that we all survived! She had a ton of fun with her friends making crafts, blowing bubbles, playing games, and eating lots of cake. I believe it was a success and executed on a very small budget. Here are some photos of the fun! Enjoy!

Now that we are done in the Ocean, it's time to go to the North Pole! Christmas blogs coming soon!

Five

2012-11-19T22:28:00.001-08:00

Tomorrow my sweet baby girl will be turning 5. I must have my math wrong because it just couldn’t have been that long ago. Yet, I cannot remember what my life was like without her in it.

Often times, before I was a parent, I tried to imagine just what it would be like when I became one. I thought my kids would be babies for such a long time. The prospect of raising children into adulthood frightened me so much. My own childhood seemed so long and it felt like it would be a million years before I grew up. Now that I am an adult, I’m watching the years fly by and my children are growing far quicker than I could have even dared to dream. Now, rather then being frightened about how long childhood will be, I am terrified knowing that it will never be long enough.

As I sit here, I am reminded of just what it felt like on this night 5 years ago. It really was the most painful thing I have ever experienced and complication after complication made it the most difficult thing I have ever done. But then, at 1:42 am she was there and none of that mattered. She was so tiny and soft. I smelled her sweet little head and couldn’t stop giving her kisses. I can still feel her there in my arms. I had never felt so complete. I suppose time is something you can always count on. It will keep passing faster with each day.

My baby, my sweet baby, is turning 5. I will always be thankful to God for choosing me to be her mommy. She is a beautiful, smart, amazing little girl who was born to shine.

Happy 5^th birthday my little darling! I love you infinity!

Lone Star State of mind

2012-11-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

I am a California Girl, born and raised. I have never lived anywhere else and I have no idea what it would be like to live outside of this state.

Over the years, living in California has become more and more difficult. The expense of living in this state has gotten out of control and it has become a place where few people live the good life and more often than not, struggle just to get by. Cost of living is very high, homes and rent (even is this terrible economy) have stayed unaffordable on most wages. Taxes are high, car registration is astronomical, and each year strange fees suddenly appear (such as $175 bill sent out in 2012 if you live in a high fire area). In Los Angeles county alone sales tax is 10%. Gas prices have been $4 or more per gallon for over a year now and property taxes are expensive because of the higher property values. Many professionals who have paid for a very expensive education, have a hard time finding employment and end up taking minimum wage jobs. It is that way everywhere right now, but with a cost of living triple what it is in most places, it is next to impossible to get by.

Many people, including my family, have started to look for other living options outside of the Golden State. I have always loved living here and I feel such sadness at the thought of leaving. But even with all of the things I love being considered, I am so tired of struggling each and everyday just to get by. My parents have always made a decent living, but being here in California I have watched them constantly fight to keep what they have attained, struggle to give us the good life, and they have never had a break. I look into my future and wonder what awaits us if we stay here? Will we ever be comfortable? Will we ever be able to put money away, send our kids to college, take family vacations, or live for more then just what each payday brings?

Mr. Practical and I have worked in the theme park business for many years. While searching for other places in the country we might be able to find work, we stumbled upon an array of options in Texas, particularly San Antonio. I’ve heard wonderful things about living in the state, housing seems very affordable, there is no state income tax, and I have read good things about the school system. There are so many things to consider before making a decision like this and we most certainly want to go there as a family and see how we feel about it before making any sudden movement. Never the less, Mr. Practical has begun to apply for jobs in the area to see what there is to offer. If we visit and like it there, and if there is a good position for him to move into, we might just be moving in a very short time.

So much to think about, so much to worry about, so much to be overwhelmed about. With the holidays around the corner, it is very difficult to imagine moving away from my family and friends but we must consider what is best. For now, we will be taking it one day and one step at a time. You never know what the future may hold.

Oh, poof!

2012-11-09T22:33:00.000-08:00

My Sweet Pea is going to be 5 this month and I can hardly believe it. It feels like she was born yesterday and at the same time I can’t remember how my world was without her in it. 5 years ago today, we were having a huge baby shower and I felt like I was ready to explode. My how the time passes.

With the ending of October, I found some more free time (as much as a mother of 2 little ones can find), so I began birthday party prep for my extremely excited Sweet Pea. With every party, my goal is to have great looking décor on a very tiny budget. It sounds difficult, but it can be done. After all, that is what Pinterest it for! I found a super cute decoration idea that I just had to try. Not only did it work out great, I decided to do a tutorial for y’all and share the love. These cute little things don’t really have a name so let’s just call them “poofs”.

Here’s what you will need:

-Food coloring

-Water

-Small containers

-Paper towels

-Coffee filters

-Trays or baking sheets

-Needle

-Thread

-Twine

-Scissors

Step 1: Put water and food coloring into your small containers. You can make as many colors as you want (I chose varying colors of blue and teal to match our theme). You can make them as light or dark as you would like. Tip: All of the colors will be lighter when they are dry so if you would like a dark color be sure to use a lot of food coloring.

Step 2: Each poof requires 9 to 10 coffee filters. Separate your filters into stacks depending on how many you would like of each color for each poof. Tip: If your stacks are too large the color doesn’t distribute well. Try not to dye more than 10 filters at a time.

Step 3: Dip each stack into your desired color removing it quickly. It will only take a second to soak it up. Tap off the excess water. Place your filters upright on your tray or baking sheet allowing the excess water to bleed into the filter or drip off. Repeat until you have dyed enough filters to make however many poofs you want.

Step 4: When the filters are no longer dripping, separate them and lay them out flat on paper towels. Allow your filters to dry completely.

Step 5: Once your filters dry it is time to assemble them. Put them in stacks of 9 or 10 using the colors you would like your poof to be. Take your stack and fold each filter into a pie shape.

Step 6: Using a needle and tread at least 24 inches long, string all 9 or 10 filters onto your thread.

Step 7: Once all your filters are threaded, clip the needle end of the thread. Gently push your filters together, take both ends of the thread, and tie a tight knot.

Step 8: Open each filter and fan it out until all the filters are open.

Step 9: String your poofs in anyway you desire onto twine. I chose to string them vertically but really the sky is the limit!

I absolutely love these and you can make a ton of them for next to nothing. I made over 30 of these poofs for less than 5 dollars, and my living room is going to look great!

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments. I will be glad to help you out!

Woah!!! There went October!

2012-11-02T13:06:00.000-07:00

October was a whirlwind of craziness in this household. Between working Fright Fest at Six Flags, filling cake orders, cake class, making handmade costumes for the kids, and the general insanity of life, I didn’t have much time to breathe let alone blog. So, now it is time to catch up with what this Practical Imperfect Mom has been up to!

Up until August of 2011, I worked for Six Flags Magic Mountain doing a variety of jobs for the entertainment department. Last year life finally got a little too busy for me to handle. I decided it was time to turn in my nametag, hang up my management clothes and spend my days home with the kids. It has been a huge blessing to spend my time with my girls and I am so glad I did it. There really wasn’t much that I missed about my job except for October. Fright Fest is such a fun time of year and many ex-employees return to work for a month and join in the fun. When a friend contacted me and asked if I could help out, I jumped at the chance. Why not right? Though I was extremely busy and at times it was a tad overwhelming, I had a blast! Seeing old friends and making new ones was really the highlight of my month.

Cursed Cast 2012

Maze of the night!

Princess Sunday

I have continued on with my cake class as well. In the advanced course we are learning a lot of new techniques and I’m still enjoying it just as much as before. Here are a few of the cake projects I have worked on this month:

This year I made the decision to do handmade costumes for the kids. I wanted them to have something that was well made and would be a keepsake for them. I am in no way a seamstress (in fact I have no idea what I am doing), but that did not stop me from diving in headfirst and giving it a try. The kids looked adorable and had a great time. The hubby and I decided to dress up too (hey why not?) so we went with a 1940’s war era look. I found a dress from modcloth.com and the hubby raided the army surplus. I may be a little biased, but I think we looked adorable. Of course we took our annual trip to the pumpkin patch as well. The kids had a blast!

November should see me back to blogging again as usual. The Holidays and my Sweet Pea’s upcoming 5^th birthday are certain to keep me busy with lots of great Diy’s, recipes, and general splendor!

Frightfully fun!

2012-10-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Every year sine 2001 (excluding last year) I have been a part of Fright Fest at Six Flags. I’ve done everything from managing mazes and shows to performing and building. It really is my favorite time of the year to be there and while I quit working there full time last August, I decided I wanted to come back and play for Fright Fest because well… it’s just that much fun.

This year I will be managing a maze called “Cursed” and tonight is our dress rehearsal. I’m really looking forward to the month of October. Here are some photos of previous Fright Fest fun! Enjoy!

It's all part of the Job

2012-10-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

The last couple of days have been difficult around this house. I try so very hard to stay positive on a daily basis and trust that for all the bad days there will be good ones. During rough times it can be a very difficult thing to convince yourself of. Little Butter Bean is well into the terrible 2’s and while I am ever grateful she is a happy and healthy child the insanity of this age is really wearing me down. She and Sweet Pea run around like maniacs all day long, screaming, wrestling, and being wild. We go out to play, someone gets hurt, we come inside, and something gets broken. It’s utter chaos. I love them with my whole heart and feel guilty every time I get frustrated. They are children and it is their job. I am a mom and I suppose getting worn down is my job.

Sweet Pea is ready for kindergarten. She is reading, writing, and extremely interested in learning. A few years back the ~~ridiculous~~ lovely state of California decided that all children who did not turn 5 before September 1^st would no longer be able to attend kindergarten that year and must wait an additional year. The cut off used to be December 1^st. Sweet Pea was born in November so you know where that leaves her. It really should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Some kids are ready and some aren’t. However, if you live in California, you know how the State operates. Tax the citizens hard and NEVER spend a dime if you don’t have to. So here we are. She is at home another year and bored out of her mind. She attends preschool but I am unable to send her 5 days a week. It is very expensive. I try hard to spend extra time on learning activities and preparing her for the upcoming year but I am not a teacher.

I love my girls, more then life itself, and I am trying so hard to cherish these days. I know there are so few of them before they grow up. People remind me of this all of the time like I am not aware of it and honestly it only frustrates me more. While you are cleaning the spilled milk out of the carpet, doing dishes for the 30^th time in 5 hours, saying “stop screaming please” again and again, breaking up another fight, stepping on Cheerios, cleaning crayon off the walls, issuing time outs every minute and a half, dreading a 10 minute trip to the grocery store, never eating a hot meal, struggling to hear one phone call, and still getting up in the middle of the night with a kid who has trouble sleeping, it can be difficult to say “I’m gonna miss these days!” I know I will… someday.

Why diy?

2012-09-26T12:24:00.000-07:00

DIY is not without effort. Often times, taking it upon yourself to figure something out is a challenge and it can be frustrating when it doesn’t work out. There have been many times that I have tried something, spent a lot of time, and in the end it didn’t work out. People have asked me, “How do you do all of this?” Truth, if it doesn’t work out, I keep trying and changing things until it does. No one is without fault and while I offer many instructions for “how to” projects, mine don’t always come out perfectly.

It is so easy these days to walk into a store and buy anything you want. The biggest personal satisfaction most of us get is purchasing something on sale. Over the last few years I have found that if I put in the effort to make something special, I receive the satisfaction of looking at it every day and being proud of what I could actually do. I can smile knowing that each project I have done has given me self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment.

The biggest hurdle for most people is actually trying things. It’s easy to say, “It’s too hard” and walk away. Put in the effort and try! DIY isn’t about making knick-knacks. If you just want lots of “stuff”, you can buy it. It is about learning that you can do so many things you thought you couldn’t and feel great about it in the process. Use your creativity and you will receive amazing personal satisfaction!

Here are some pictures of DIY’s I have done over the years. If you are interested in any of them, please post a comment and I will be happy to share how I did them!

Striped wall

Garden Markers

Rainbow cupcakes

Homemade Gingerbread House

Stamped Tea Towels

Beaded Necklaces

Concrete "stone"path

Inviations

Party Decoration

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

Homemade Play dough

Painted Pattern Wall

Personalized Pillows

Painted Chandelier

Magnetic Boards

Painted Animal Print wall

Picnic Table Mr. Practical Made (I do not have instructions for this one but they can easily be found on Google)

Carmel Apples

Water Bottle Labels

Napkin Rings

Homemade Fruit Leather

Homemade Tortilla Chips

Homemade Freezable apple pie

Homemade Grape Juice

Handmade Costumes

The Un-papertowel

Handmade tote bag

Party centerpieces

Class Clown

2012-09-24T20:55:00.000-07:00

I completed my 5^th and final beginner’s cake decorating class this week. Although this was not my favorite cake (clowns…I hate clowns) I really learned a lot of valuable skills.

Using tootsie pops, we constructed the heads first and then the bodies followed after. It is amazing what you can do and it looks far more complicated than it actually is. I can see using this method to make many other things such as animals. Implementing straws is an amazing way of making your characters come to life, and edible things such as marshmallows help stabilize your creations so you can really work in the 3^rd dimension.

As the beginner’s class comes to a close I am looking forward to the advanced class. We will be learning all sorts of new things such as airbrushing, basket weave with cascading flowers, transferring images on edible photo paper, royal icing flowers, and much, much more. I very much enjoy doing this and as with all things I enjoy, I am thirsty for more knowledge. I wish the class would go on forever but maybe I will have some cake orders soon and be able to do them from my home. Until then I will be busy making Halloween costumes for the kids…blog coming soon!

Homemade Grape Juice

2012-09-17T21:50:00.000-07:00

Yum! As far as I am concerned grapes are one of natures most marvelous candies! I have been updating you on the progress of my grapevine all summer and I am happy to say that some of them are ready for harvest!

The smell, even when you are just walking by the vine, is so heavenly. It reminds me of being a kid and drinking grape juice or eating grape candy. Today I picked over 5 pounds of these delicious concord grapes and there are still many, many, many more bunches to go. For this first round I decided that I wanted fresh grape juice. It came out so utterly delicious that I just can’t help myself from sharing the recipe. It’s extremely simple and has zero added sugar or water. Just pure, wonderful, grape juice.

What you need:

· 4-5 lbs of concord grapes

· Large bowl

· Colander

· Potato masher

· 2 stock pots

· 2 large rubber bands

· Cheesecloth or an unused cloth diaper (the really cheap thin kind none of that double ply stuff)

Step 1:

Wash and take all of your grapes off of the stems. Typically homegrown concord grapes have a few undeveloped green grapes on them. Be sure to remove them from your mix and throw them away.

Step 2:

Once all of your grapes are thoroughly washed and taken off the stems, place them in your large bowl. Using your potato masher, get to mashin’! Squeeze as much of the juice as can from them until your have a bowl full of pulp and juice.

Step 3:

Pour your mashed grapes into a large stockpot and slowly bring them to a boil over medium heat. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure they do not stick to the bottom. After simmering, use your potato masher and break up any of the remaining grapes. Simmer for another 5 minutes and remove from heat.

Step 4:

Place your cheesecloth over another stockpot, using the rubber bands to keep it in place.

Step 5:

Ladle the hot mixture onto the cheesecloth and allow it to drain and cool. Once it is room temperature, place your pot in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight allowing it to drain completely. Once your remove it from the fridge, strain it though some clean cheesecloth once more to remove any sediment.

Viola! You have amazing, healthy, homemade grape juice and it is just so darn simple!

BONUS TIP: Make some juice pops for the kids. They will love them!

Share the love!

2012-09-16T20:40:00.000-07:00

I feel so fortunate to have wonderful neighbors where I live. Everyone is very kind, helpful, and giving. At times we need each other for anything you can imagine from an extra egg to a weed whacker, and we are always there for each other. If I need help with the kids, my neighbor is there. When we were the last home on the block with power during a snowstorm, everyone was here. We take care of each other. Sharing the love with your neighbors can give you a very strong sense of community, offer protection and security, and produce life long friendships.

This summer, each of my neighbors has a garden and it seems as if we have all grown different things. Now that it is harvest time, we’ve been visiting each other’s gardens and swapping fruits and vegetables. Just today I was given some lettuce, blackberries, raspberries and tomatoes. I gave grapes, apples, and peaches in return.

Believe it or not, close bonds with your neighbors can make a large impact on your budget. We share our home grown foods, we borrow tools so we do not need to buy them, we help each other with home maintenance and gardening, we lend each other ingredients so we do not have to make an extra trip to the store (which is a blessing when you live in the middle of no where) and we come together when things are rough to help in anyway we can.

So go on out and meet your neighbors! Share the love and give. You will receive so much more in return!

Fruits and veggies I got today from around the neighborhood

Mr. Practical and one of our wonderful neighbors. He is just about the most handy guy you have ever met. He can fix pretty much anything and he is a master gardener!

A Birthday cake I made for another one of our neighbors

Seasons

2012-09-16T01:15:00.000-07:00

Fall is coming again and I am finding that I am rather impatient awaiting its arrival. I suppose I need to slow down because this year has gone far too quickly as it is. Living in the mountains and at 5500 feet, we see the changes in the seasons that are rarely seen anywhere else in Southern California. Winters are relatively cold and we get a decent amount of snow. Spring produces magnificent wild flowers, including fiery orange California poppies that cover the hillsides. Most summers are mild and sunny with occasional thunderstorms. Fall is rather blustery, chilly, and completely magnificent with the colorful changing trees and fragrant air.

Sometimes we must take moments to remind ourselves of all that we grateful for and we cannot let all of the difficult things in life overwhelm us. Today, through all the stress of daily life, I stopped and took a deep breath to clear my mind. I stepped outside and the warm summer breeze brushed my skin. I listened to the leaves rustling in trees, and I realized that I am so incredibly blessed to have beauty the surrounds me all year. It made me feel so wonderfully peaceful that I figured I would share the love and post some of my photos for you. Everyone has a favorite season. No matter what yours is, I hope these photos of the beautiful place I call home fill you with warm fuzzy feelings. Enjoy.

Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall

Buttercream Beauty

2012-09-13T13:10:00.001-07:00

I’m back from a very short but much needed vacation. We spent 2 days at Disneyland and while we had a fantastic amount of fun, I think by the time we made it home we were ready for a vacation from our vacation. Traveling, even when it’s not that far from home, can be quite rough with little ones.

Last night was week 4 of cake decorating class. I did not blog about my cake for week 3 so this blog is going to be a 2fer.

Week 3 was a very fancy cake where we learned a ton of skills on a relatively small cake. Some of what we learned included how to properly section a cake to create patterns, laying lattice work, making side swags, vines, lilies, and French plumes. I was very happy with how it turned out and I feel like I learned so much. Here are some photos of my finished cake.

Week 4 was all about flowers. There are about a million types of flowers you can make, so when learning to make them it is best to do it on cupcakes. When you make a single cake you want it to look consistent. Using cupcakes allows you to have a different design on each one. We started with a review of a simple sweet pea (as seen on the week 2 cake), then went on to learn several other flowers including, wild roses, roses, carnation boutineers, full bloom carnations, and mums. Here are some photos of my finished cupcakes.

Small yellow roses

2 tone rose

Full bloom carnation

Carnation bouitneer

Wild flowers

mum

Next week is the last of my 5 week course and I’m very sad it’s coming to an end. I will be taking the advanced class at the beginning of October, which is also 5 weeks. After that, who knows? I enjoy doing this so much, I might seriously consider seeking employment.

Gone for a Birthday trip

2012-09-11T16:19:00.001-07:00

We are on a 2 day trip to Disneyland for my 31st (yes proud to say it) birthday. I will be back blogging as of tomorrow. Until then, just a couple photos of the scenery...