Monday, December 19, 2011

Becky Higgins 12 Days of Christmas

How very fun & super surprising...
On a whim, I submitted a quick holiday wrapping tip to Becky Higgins 12 Days of Christmas video contest. 
Thought, no biggie- surely more creative peps out there. 
I won? 
I won! 
How very fun & merry is that!!

Adore Becky's creative, heart of the home, realistic mommy-ness. She's just fabulous & I've followed her blog for.....years. In fact I may have not known the term blog until looking for hers because I had her books on Scrapbook Sketches. 
Anyway thrilled to share the fun of how to make beautiful bows on your gifts that year, and Becky (Brandi too!!! -her assistant) thanks so much for letting me join the fun. 

Merry Christmas to all!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

get wrappin! Ideas for Merry Christmas wrap:

pardon the boring brown walls.
these havent made their way out of my room yet....
alas the tree isn't ready. yet. ugh....

I think I'll concentrate on the fact that I have wrapping done instead!

Here are just a few ideas for different wrappings this year.
I had everything you see already at home, 
that could be considered resourceful, but I think I just buy things for projects...and not get to them. 

using ribbons, all kinds
yarn
letters
 this type of wrapping is especially good if your transporting it! 
as in stuffing back of the car.
or into a box to ship. 
because it doesn't matter if a yarn ball feels smooshed. It behaves after nicely. 

 I found the coolest things this year, if you use scallop scissors in wrong way, meaning the left over fabric has the scallop- the opposite looks like the pointy leafs of holly! how great is that. 
no more maneuvering scissors to give little points. 

also, don't be shy about staples! 
they work. 
they're silver. 
they hold lost of things to lots of things!
 I had found these silver letters forever ago at dollar bin Target. Thought about jazzing up couple titles in my Project Life pages. 
I love how simple an initial looks on tag or package. 

 a little washi tape. :-) so love this stuff. 


 here's a couple more that can be transported flat-
Don'tcha love the red white bakers twine. I bought a spool off ebay. Also have them at sweet shop lulu. 
It works on anything! 
But for big packages, I'd suggest wrapping it a couple times so its not dainty. 


so there ya go. 
got some wrapping done over here....now I just gotta get that darn tree done. 

Finals week-encourage your students!

my freshman in her first week of finals came home with this on Tuesday

 how cute is that! I love this....and I think a little treat for sitting for 2 1/2 hours doing a 20 page Physics test deserves a bit of sweet! 
darling & so many ways to use this for other grades too. 
had to share!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Lunch Box



I can't tell you how many times 
[after I get asked "does he cook like this every night??"]

"do your kids eat everything?" 

"what do you make them for lunch,
I need new ideas!"

I will say that although they don't eat EVERYTHING, they do eat well. 
I have never made a separate meal for anyone. Ever. 
I already make 7x[3+2(snacks)]  everyday. 

yesterday I saw this at Williams Sonoma
I love these ideas, and I think most of us are visual
if not learners-for SURE eaters!

Here's an idea I've made for lunches for a while. 
Super easy & packed with fiber, protein & completely exchangeable to your tastes.
 Its pasta salad, made with the pasta plus. Most kids love pasta already, this stuff is like a complete meal! honestly. 
 Here's what we added, garbanzo beans, carrots, cucumbers, kidney beans & because the little man below is so sweet- olives. Per his request. 
 Make the pasta as directed, have your beans (extra fiber, protein, very kid friendly!) & veg ready. 
Cool the pasta before adding or it absorbs all your dressing. Then I just add a little ranch dressing, and little italian dressing. If I had the time, I'd make Pioneer Woman's Ranch. Because that stuff is SO good no one can resist...if not, use what I have. Little salt & pepper. If it needs more creamy, add little may. 

 I pack it it containers for lunch time, kids love it & I feel good knowing they've had something substantial in their tummy. 
Many many combinations possible. 
Turkey
Ham
Cherry Tomatoes
Peas
celery
edamame
spinach
suggestions? 

Thursday, December 1, 2011

just a quick tip:
need to celebrate someone in "on the fly"? 
as in....
I only have time to stop at 7-11!
[don't laugh, if you know how much I love to celebrate & party plan this is hysterical. but so true.]

Bought a couple packages of hostess cake snacks.
Took a paper cup I have for hot drinks, atop that a simple paper plate & voila'! a cake stand. 
A candle to make a wish....


savoring my year...

I took this with my iphone the other day...
we were between my long list of errands,
and as every momma knows it takes an extra time to get check marks on our lists with little followers.
we interrupted my list to go to the park to play. 
shadows caught a moment I just don't want to forget...
Isn't that why we take pictures?

On this day, I had been reminded from every interaction from strangers how big he's getting.
[seems I get a lot of, "betcha cant wait til last ones in school all day-FINALLY"]
I am in no way in a hurry to drop this little guy off. 
AT.
ALL.
 I am totally loving the time I have with him & trying to savor those moments.
we color. we find letters of the day. sometimes we stay in pjs til noon. He's my buddy. I've had a lump in my throat knowing kindergarten is inching closer...all DAY kindergarten!
 He's just a light in my day & yes-I know I'll get more done when I can jet between stops, those appts I put off (teeth cleaning? check up? the quite necessary pedicure!) 
But as a reminder....to all of us. 
We're gonna miss this. 
All of it. 
the last of my crew.
my pal. 
Mr. Green eyes melts me.
Savor the shadows while you have them...

Thursday, October 20, 2011

what Disney World looks like without kids.

What are parents of 5 kids doing at Disney World, alone? 
Having a blast!
hahahaha....
 actually we were there working. 
And we did for 2 of 3 days..
but then we had a Sunday to play. 
He was guest demonstrator for the Half Marathon 
and after it was all settled & everyone loved the healthy bites he made we were OFF! 









Like kids.
the magical kingdom is indeed magical!


somehow. this ALWAYS ends up being our first ride. 
it was much shorter than our beloved Disneyland. 
Still fun, although we couldn't find a mint julep anywhere :(

Haunted Mansion.
Very fun. Loved how they made the line interactive. 

Captain "Pickled in brine"
and it was bubbling....over. 
do you dare?
play the organ....
and all of a sudden someone is playing keys along with you!

spotted a little white rabbit. 
Now is a good time to interject; most of my pictures are just like this 
taken with my long arms. 
mostly because there was no one else to take pics of [weird!] 
and second, just to prove to those missing kid; we did it!

He wanted to treat me to a treat
I love all the creations. Always so FUN!
But I'll be honest.
Caramel Apples are tippy top of my list of yummy, but I don't like anything messin with my caramel! 
So. Although super fun, I asked for a plain one please. 
And lucky me they had one in the back!

Still I love the ideas I get from all their creations!
for really no good reason, I love Peter Pan ride. I love the feeling of flying, even in a pretend pirate ship. I love seeing the twinkle lights. Its just a bit of magic, if you want it to be. 


funny-we found a chef & my chef wanted to take a picture. 
then a lovely lady offered to take one of both of us. 
OH how nice, a picture not take at the end of my arm. 


that said plain Caramel Apple! Crunchy, tart Granny Smith & very chewy caramel....my favorite!

crazy enough we had done all we had wanted in Magical Kingdom before 1 pm! Yes, 10-1 with no kids & clear idea what you want to do is enough time. 
After all we are a chef & chefs wife, so eating is top priority!
Since we could, we went over to the Wild Kingdom Lodge & had lunch.

the setting is amazing! A safari outside & amazing delicious creative food. 
 and beverages ;)
we had a trio of salads: beets. cucumber tomato onion curry. watermelon radish & tumeric pickled watermelon rind. 
aalong with trio types of breads & dips


timed well; it was their feeding time too!







this crazy bird was starin' us down the whole time! 

check out the thatched roof! Very well done. 
Gorgeous decor & fantastic food. 
because we were so close & there was just couple hours til closing 
off we went to Animal Kingdom

the Tibetan area in Asia was very cool. 
He had heard that the ride with the Yeti was great, so we waited in line. Kinda a long line since we'd done so much for the day.
It was GREAT! The only thing we'd agreed apon we liked more here than D-land back in Cali. 
lots of surprises & very fast fun.
next we somehow decided the water rapids ride was a good idea..
as we walked on, we saw some very wet people. 
so we did..
a before picture.

and after picture!


next was the Lion King show.

I don't know why. But I love this sofa. Maybe because I feel like a cartoon to its scale. 
T The preferred way to travel a-la-Disney. 
And its right outside our hotel!
O Off we are to MGM Studios Park. Just a few places we had to hit....
 Toy Story Ride. It whirls you around with little fun shooters and 3D glasses kept me giggling through the whole ride. Tried to beat the pants (in points!) off this guy. He won :(
But the line was interactive. A much needed entertainment for long rides!
Yes kids, we are this cool.
The Aerosmith Rock n Roll RollerCoaster. Had the longest line ever. 
It said 30 min. 
Took like 90 min. 
Torture.
Disney World-please update this with at sprinkler or 2. Some A/C would be thoughtful. 
Very least more than 1 song on your track. 

Ewok Village. 
I was a Star Wars nut as a kid.
So was he.
We love being Jedi's for 10 minutes. 

Mme & R2. CP in the back ground. That's right....I dig it.
Best part of this park, 
OH-shocker, food again
was we found the Brown Derby
and made dinner reservations on our way in. 
I have long heard about the days of the great Derby
"Meet me at the Derby" was synopsis with 
"Lets do lunch"...
and I saw it once on I love Lucy. 
I really really do LOVE Lucy.
Its famous for Cobb.
and illustrations. 
and we loved it.


our server was nice enough to take our picture. 
although I think he was shaking....
we aren't even famous ;}
but also insisted I take his. 
posed and everything.

Ice cold Manhattan for me.
Shaken Martini for him.
the original Bob Cobb. 
another thing they are famous for
Grapefruit Cake.
Who knew!?
I liked it but we both agreed it could be better....
something to work on.

so much fun....while it lasted. and then it all came to an end.


at the end of the day 
a little sunshine grazed our toes
"nice working with ya"

honestly, we had a blast.