Beauty in Bloom

A few happy things

So I had something brilliant all typed up about what I was going to say, but then my computer locked up and I lost it all! Ugh! I hate it when that happens. Anyway, I will try to remember everything. Oh that's so frustrating! My husband is playing a video game so there was no sympathy coming from that side of the room. I am pretty much dead to him when he is logged in with friends.  At least he has a hobby. Ok, I am fine now.

Well, what I wanted to say is that I woke up yesterday morning determined to make this Spring Break fun for the girls. I have a few things planned like art projects, lunch dates, visiting Grandma, and the Zoo!! A carnival has come to town so I will be paying the carnies a visit very soon too.

The girls love to paint so we started there. I decided on watercolors this time around because Liv is at the age where she wants to join in, but she is not to be trusted yet with the real stuff. If you know her, you know what I mean. That stinker is so defiant.

Those little chubby fingers are so determined. She was very proud of herself.

Stop taking pictures mom!

The finished works of art. For some reason they love to paint jellyfish. I may have helped Liv with her little fishies.

After painting we went to the library cause Sister devours books. Like one chapter book a day. She loves to look up books on the computer and find them all by herself. My nerd. Seeeerious love for that one.

 

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On to more happy stuff. I actually cleaned out a closet. I know, can you even believe it??? At first, I just did it so that I could participate in Alicia's Happy Day Project. {Love her by the way} This weeks project was to organize something. BUT, after I did it I realized something. Organizing makes me happy. Who knew right??? I am going to organize my way out of this funky funk.

We have a shoe problem in this house. We have too many of them! Here is what the situation looked like before.....

The back door collects shoes because the closet was such a mess.

Here is what the closet looked like before...

After.....

How's that for keeping it real. I just showed you my mess. Oh who cares...Look at all the space leftover! The baskets up top hold gloves and winter hats. Our games are stored there for now too. It sure feels good to purge and find a place for everything. Next up....the rest of the house. Ha!

*In other exciting news...we are going to begin gutting our hideous bathroom with the help of my awesome Uncle Jeff. So excited 'bout it. I have waited 9 long years for this.

 

Linking up:

 

Party Planning

 
I am in the middle of planning Annabel's 4th birthday. She has an October birthday so she wanted a halloween/costume birthday party. Genius! It was her idea :)

These are the cupcake toppers I want from this shop.

This is the sooooo cute invitation that I am having made from this shop. 

 
 

As you can see I am going with an owl theme. What is with my addiction to owls anyway? Oh well, I guess it could be worse. I bought her the owl halloween costume from Pottery Barn Kids a month ago because I learned my lesson last year. Last September, I received my PBK catalog in the mail and fell in love with the cupcake costume. Another addiction of mine. (If you know me, you know I love me some owls & cupcakes) Anyway, the day I received my catalog, I promptly go online to order the cupcake and it was already sold out! I was devasted! Well, that might be dramatic but I don't care. So, long story short, my mom and I made it.

PBK version:

  

Our version:

 
 

Not too shabby! Ok, so back to why I am bringing up last years costume. When I received my PBK catalog a few weeks ago I discovered they had come out with a new costume this year. That's right, you guessed it, an OWL! I could have died!

PBK kids Owl costume:

 
I am in love! I purchased it right away because I did not want to miss out or worse, have to make it!

And guess what? It is SOLD OUT! No longer available. You can purchase it on ebay if you want. For 199.95! I think people are so mean! Why do that with kids costumes???   Finally, I made a good decision! YAY! I am so happy! Oh, and I will never be selling it!

Fun with fruit

Today at Project Motherhood(a mom's group I belong to) we made onsies for Arms of Love(our local pregnancy resource center). They turned out great so I thought I would share pictures of the one that I made for my little one.

We bought apples, pears and oranges to stamp the onsies with. First, cut the fruit in half and blot dry. If you use oranges cut them in quarters.  Use a paint brush to apply the paint to the fruit. We used fabric paint, but acrylic paint will also work. I took an orange slice and painted it a pinky-red to get a watermelon.  Let them dry for 72 hours before washing. Next, I will be stamping some white bibs for the baby and t-shirts for my older girls. This project was simple, cheap and easy. You could also get your kids involved!