Post It Love Notes

Here's a really easy way to show your loved ones how much you appreciate them. Loved one can include a significant other, but this would also work for kids to leave for their parents, and even a few would fit for a parent to leave for their kids to find!

You only need two things for this thoughtful little project. First, go to Sugardoodle, print off the 3x3 Post It template and fill your template with blank post-it notes.


{image from sugardoodle}

Next, click on the image below to take you to the download I'm sharing of little love notes. Once you've downloaded the PDF, place your template with the blank notes into your printer and hit print!


Leave them around the house for your loved one to discover!

Favorites Friday, Art, Food & Parties

Here's a random slew of ideas I've found inspiration from the past few weeks on the interweb.


{1: eskimo kiss. so sweet. via, 2: caterpillar and mushrooms, 3: a good day print, 4: apples and salty medjool caramel, 5: love you more download, 6: color ratio chart. pure brilliance, 7: mail a tube of chappy for the cost of a stamp}

Busy Bag for Flying, Woodland Creatures Memory Game

This is a super simple idea, using adorable graphics, courtesy of Children Inspire Design, which were initially made for cupcake toppers.

Here, I've printed off a set, used a 2" punch to cut out, and since there's 2 of each creature, made it into a simplified game of Memory.


We have another memory game using baby food jar lids but I didn't want the bulk of the lids for our plane ride. I'm excited to see what other games the kids will come up with for these adorable little animals. What would you do with the download?


For your own copy, click here.

5 Days to a Cleaner Home

One of my goals this year is to keep up with cleaning the house. It seems that once the weekend rolls around, the last thing I want to do is break away from quality time with my family and go scrub a toilet.

So how do you eat an elephant?

One dirty rag a day.

Truthfully, I started doing a chore a day a year ago, but as life, and my days got busy, I faltered, and my house suffered. And as much as I loathe dusting, the dust bothered me more.

So I picked it back up a couple weeks ago and let me tell you, the weeks get easier, more streamlined, and the chores become second nature (and things don't get as dirty!).

I made this chart to remind me of how I have the weekly tasks broken down. If you click on the image below, you can download a copy too. They're listed how I structure my week, Monday's at top, Friday at bottom (yup, that's right, you get the entire weekend off) but didn't want to list the certain day in case that doesn't fit how you'd want to structure your week.


The best way to stay motivated is to print this out (it's a 5x7 print), stick it in a frame, and put somewhere you'll see it everyday (by the kitchen sink?). Velcro a dry erase marker to the side of your frame and as you finish your chore for the day, mark a big ol' X across it. Oh the satisfaction in checking things off a list!


Now excuse me, my iron is calling my name (save me).

Homemade Limoncello

During Thanksgiving, my in-laws brought up a giant box of their home grown lemons. I knew immediately those perfectly virgin rinds would make a perfectly flavored limoncello.


I took que from CHOW and Martha Stewart and made this wonderful liqueur as gifts for friends on Christmas.

With an ingredient list of only 4 items, how could you find an excuse not to make it? Keep in mind you'll need a week to let the lemons and vodka do their thing, so plan ahead if giving it as a gift.


Why do you need limoncello in your freezer? Because it's good. How do you serve it? Traditionally, served up neat, in a chilled cordial glass. But I like it mixed with a chilled cava. Or with orange juice and seltzer.


The process for making it is really quite easy.

1. Peel about a dozen lemons, trying to only take the yellow part of the rind. Too much white rind can make it turn bitter.

2. Stick those rinds into a big jar. Pour in a bottle of Everclear 151. The higher proof the better.

3. Give a little shakey-shake (with the lid on of course) and store in a dark, cool place, like your cupboard. Shake and burp (open the lid) once a day for a week.

4. Mix 3 cups sugar and 3 cups water in a saucepan for about 5 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved and it's thickened up a bit. Let cool.

5. Strain your jar of lemon vodka through a cheesecloth lined fine mesh sieve. It will take a little time to let it all strain through. Be patient. You want a nice clear liquid in the end.

6. Take your lemon liquid and your simple syrup and mix together. Pour into decorative jars (or one big one for yourself) and dress it up with these labels I made for you.

7. Store in the freezer and give when you need an elegant, original gift, or pull out when you're having friends over for brunch.

Cookies and Champagne Holiday Party

It's a simple premise: invite guests, each guest brings 2 dozen of their home baked cookies, you set one dozen out, and one dozen aside for everyone to take home, eat, drink, be merry and bright.

Just the simple act of adding cookies and champagne together, makes for one magical day of friends enjoying the Christmas season.

And one of these years, I'm going to have one...

Here's what mine will look like.

And if you beat me to it, two things: I better be invited and here's the invite to send. (click image below)


This perfectly updated girly color palette will draw everyone in. Focus on pink and gold, and throw in some yellow and orange. How fun, right?!


Scroll through the pictures below for more party details. Cheers!

• set up your table for guests to set their cookies on and grab a glass of bubbly like this gorgeous table with chevron backdrop
• send each guest home with a cookie spatula and sweet tag thanking them for coming like this gift tag found here
• how amazing would your cookie labels look with some jeweled bling
• you can order these limited edition möet & chandon champagne bottles to add to the festive pink & gold
• make sure to dress up your invites when you send them out, as they set the tone for the party
• no party is a good party without drinks and humor
• make these tiny trees using champagne corks either before as decorations, or during as a fun project everyone can do when a bottle is opened

• buy or create this cute toast towel to send one lucky winner home with a bottle of bubbly to go with their cookies
• set up tables for guests to assemble their cookie take-homes while sitting and enjoying a plate like this eye catching set up
• easy decor can be done using glass pillars, water, floating candles and embellishments like found on this dessert table
• don't forget the details like this pink and gold pillow
• recipe cards are a must for your guests to bring and share so provide them with a dozen like these free downloads
• break away from just cookies and have some other treats available for your guests to munch on like these ribbon candies
• fill a big bucket of ice with plenty of bottles of champagne chilling and if you're feeling adventurous cover them in pink wrapping to spice them up even more

Menu Monday, Start of December

Here is December's meal planner download. Just click on the photo below to download.


If you're unsure of how to use this planner to work for you, how about framing it and using it as a dry erase board where you can change out the recipes each week like this.

Then write out the menu below and the hardest part of coming up with dinner is done! We had Sunday's ham bone soup last night and it was amazing.


{m: quinoa cakes with poached egg, t: spaghetti with meat sauce, w: mini burgers using gluten free soft dinner rolls,
th: sweet potato and chickpea stew with quinoa, f: caramelized onion, bacon and goat cheese pizza,
sa: coconut waffles with cranberry sauce, su: ham bone soup}

Our Advent of Activities for December

Here it is!

I took inspiration from my gathering of advent calendars, and came up with this for our little family.

And I'm sharing the download with you!!!



I knew that instead of a candy/little toy advent calendar, I wanted to be able to have activities for each day of the month, to savor the fun of December. The greatest thing is that the activities I chose can be enjoyed by kids of all ages, tweaking here and there where necessary.


I also knew that I wanted the calendar to hang in our house, as counter-top space is limited. This way, it makes a cute little banner to enjoy all month long as well.


I love how hanging it on our mirror allows a peak at the un-covered day to come, or the reflection of the paper back once revealed.

So here's what to do. Download, print and cut out the activity cards I made for you. Choose and cut out 3x3 squares of scrapbooking paper to cover the back of your activity cards (and one 4x4 for December 25th). Glue the decorative paper to the back of the cards, grab some twine or ribbon and clip on your cards with clothespins. Each day, uncover your activity for that day. Easy! Fun!


Below are links to some of the crafts found on the cards.

December 2- make crystal snowflakes
December 6- make hot glue tracings of winter objects
December 9- make snowglobes
December 12- make okra snowflake prints
December 14- make an ice block building
December 15- make foam snowmen
December 19- make snow-melt art wrapping paper
December 20- make cottonball snowman
December 21- make glue paint snowflakes
December 22- make snow play-doh

Advent Calendar

Ok, December 1st is coming up quick...too quick. I have been wanting to make an advent calendar, to start this tradition I grew up with, with our kids.

So I started searching around last night and holy calendars there's a lot of amazing ideas out there!

I haven't decided which I'll do, other than I want to fill them with activities to do together. Hopefully I can get a list put together and our calendar to share soon, but until then, here's my favorites.


{stocking advent with printable, string of lights advent and pattern, paper roll advent and download, matchbox advent,
brown box advent, activity advent and printable, baby sock advent, advent pouches}


{paper bag bunting advent, library card advent, advent for everyone, spool advent and download, magnetic tin advent,
craft stick and origami tree advent, lego advent and download, counting the days advent}

Kids Thanksgiving Table Ideas

I love how the traditionally boring, sentence-of-death, Thanksgiving kids table has gotten a complete make over in the past few years. I declare no more twiddling of thumbs, squirming in chairs and whining of boredom!

Make sure to remember your wee ones (and their own sanity) tomorrow with some of these inspiring ideas.


{1: nutter butter and hershey kiss acorns, 2: kids activity place mat, 3: pine cone turkeys,
4: butcher paper covered table, 5: turkey toes jars, 6: tons of crayons}

Favorites Friday, Muppets Mania

There's a new Muppets movie coming out next week and I'm so excited! I can't wait to take the kids...and have an excuse to see it too.

The thoughts of this new movie made me remember a miss piggie ornament I had when I was young. Every Christmas it was my most treasured ornament. It had to have front row center placement on the family tree.


(photo source)
Did you have any favorite Muppet paraphernalia growing up?

Here's a round up of some other super cool Muppet themed items you can get or do too!


{1: haters gonna hate, 2: ornaments, 3: muppet puppet printables, 4: art print, 5: minimalist muppets, 6: kermit snack, 7: retro concert posters}

Thanksgiving Activity Placemat

If you are looking for an activity to keep little hands out of the pumpkin pie before dinner, here's the activity for you. Print these place mats onto an 11x14 paper and set at each kids seat. Have a bucket of crayons, markers and pencils available and enjoy at least 20 minutes of quiet. You're welcome.

(click on the photo to download)

Menu Monday, Here's to Fall

So if you've noticed a little lag in posts lately, like getting October's menu printable up last Monday, I apologize, but have good reason!

We all got the nasty cold going around two weeks ago and was laid up that week, trying to take care of me and the sick kiddos.

Then we were gone all last week on a mini vacation (more on that later, but we had a stellar trip).

If you used last months planner and were waiting for October's, here it is for you (click on the picture below). The good news is you still have four Mondays to use it in the month, before I get November's up for you.



I've also selected a delicious array of fall foods for you to try this week. How good does a pumpkin soup sound? A Pumpkin Patch run is in order for sure.

Enjoy and bon appétit!


 {m: cinnamon-roasted sweet potato & apple salad with caramel vinaigrette chicken, t: beecher's world famous mac & cheese, w: tomato pesto, spread on a sandwich, th: sweet potato cakes with sour cream and chipotle black bean salsa, f: crockpot bbq beer chicken, sa: pumpkin soup with gruyère, su: prosciutto-wrapped pork loin with roasted apples}

Apps for Kids

If you have an iPhone, iPad, iTouch, iWhatever...and kids, this is the post for you.

I have four folders on my phone full of educational, and fun, games for my kids, to play and learn on when the need arises.



Have you heard of the website Moms with Apps?

Well now you have.

And you're welcome in advance.

Why? Because every Friday, they have what's called App Friday, and they bring you new or popular app developers that offer their app for free or deeply discounted.

Only for 24 hours though. Then it goes back to regular pricing.

How rad is that?!

Below are some of my kids' favorites.

Perfect for those moments when you need another hand.

Click on the links to take you straight to iTunes store to download.

Here's to happy learning (and putting that investment to good use)!

• ABC Balloon Pop: $0.99. Ages: 2-7. Teaches letter shapes and recognition while popping balloons.
• Alphabet Tracing: FREE. Ages: 2+. Trace letters and numbers like a doodle pad to learn letter shapes.
• Color Dots: FREE. Ages: 1+. A color tracking game.
• Dash & Ditto: $1.99. Ages: 1-7. Seven different games in one app. Full of cute little bunnies.
• First Words Sampler: FREE. Ages: 2-7. Teaches letter recognition, letter sound and spelling.
• Go Go Mongo: $0.99. Move Mongo around the screen to help him catch food to eat. Teaches hand/eye coordination and timing.
• Gunther is a Star: FREE. Ages: All. A fun little puppet that does funny things and sings.
• Helicopter Taxi: $1.99. Ages: 1-7. Fly a helicopter all around your house, or anywhere you go!
• I Hear Ewe: FREE. Ages: 2-5. Kids learn animal and vehicle sounds with real sounds. Easy to play.
• Kids ABC Alphabet Puzzle: FREE. Ages: 1+. Building letters through moving puzzle pieces.
• Learn My Letters: $1.99. Ages: 2-6. An adorable little owl teaches letter recognition and orientation.
• MeeGenius: FREE. Ages: 1+. A library full of children's books.
• Moody Monster: FREE. Ages: 3-8. Kids can make their own monster, learning emotions, or play games teaching sorting, matching, colors and more.
• My Little Suitcase: FREE. Ages: 1-7. The kids pack their suitcases for four different vacations, then unpack once there with hidden discoveries. Simple and endless fun.
• Preschool Adventure: $0.99. Ages: 2-6. Eighteen learning activities that runs the whole gamut.
• Toca Doctor Lite: FREE. $1.99 for full. Ages: 3+.  Five puzzles, letting your kiddo play doctor, while learning.
• Wood Puzzle Lite: FREE. $1.99 for full. Ages: 1+. Just like the real wood puzzles, but virtual. Even has a baby mode.

Our Busy Bag

Our bag is done! We even took it on a test drive last night and it was as big of a hit as I had hoped.



I decided to use a tote bag to hold everything, and used freezer paper to stencil on the design.



It was a lot of fun to make, and it looks cute toting around. It also fits a lot.



I found these awesome, and colorful, organizers at the dollar store.



They came with the coordinating bag inside too, which I was able to use to hold smaller parts for each activity, or split them up and use them separately.



I had overflow projects, and stored them in a plastic shoe box to rotate things in and out.



So lets get started on what activities we made. First up is the "build your cupcake" kit.



It's so cute and just screams to be played with. Tayden enjoyed building one before dinner came last night.



I made lacing cards in various objects; things I know my kids enjoy. I used nylon ribbon as the lacing strings.



We dyed pasta (little bit of white vinegar in a bowl, food coloring drops and mix in the pasta, lay on parchment lined pan to dry over night) in a bunch of bright colors.



And used them as lacing necklaces with yarn and a bead tied at the end of the yarn to keep them all on.




Then used the rest as a sorting game to learn colors.




I used up paint chips I had from planning the master bedroom and made another color matching game with clothespins.



The baby food jar lid game was a great way to use up all the random lids I had leftover from using the jars.


These popsicle stick puzzles were ridiculously easy to make. Line up popsicle sticks, print off some 4x6 photos onto sticker sheets, cut them out, press the photo onto your sticks and then slice with an exacto knife in between each stick.



Tayden loved them. Puzzles + characters he loves = win for Tayden!

Do you have plastic eggs stashed away from Easter? Well dig them out and make this:



I made a sheet of egg templates for you to print and cut out into nine squares. Then, cut out felt eggs that match whatever color plastic eggs you have and you have a fantastic game to teach your little colors, sorting, and matching. It all stores quite neatly into a recipe box.

I picked up a metal cake pan at the dollar store, which serves as a perfect tray for all these activities and as a board to practice numbers and addition.



This pom-pom stuffer was a huge hit with both.



Especially with Sedae. She played it about 4 times and got mad when Tayden tried to have a turn :) It was simple enough for her to do on her own, and she loved the feeling of the pom poms.



I printed off all the flash cards that I posted here.



Picked up some dollar store books and notepads.



And a cute little folder, clip board, and coloring pages.



Tayden's already asking when we can break out the bag again. And I have no problem with that. Because it means more eating out for me!

There's a new tab at the top here to have easy access to the whole series we covered, plus those that will come up in the future.

Here's to staying busy!