Chalkboards

I've been crafting for my little sister's bridal shower!  It's coming up February 11th, I'm soooo excited!  Her colors are blue and yellow (apparently non-traditional wedding colors run in the family: mine were turquoise and red).

First I headed on over to Goodwill and got some frames ranging from one to two dollars. 

Then I picked up some Krylon Chalkboard and Dual spray paint.  I've never used the Dual (primer and paint in one can!) before but it was on sale so I figured I'd give it a go.  I get very impatient in between coats so it was nice not having to wait for any primer to dry.

Then I hot glued some crepe paper and turned them into flowers.  I was really excited when I saw this idea over at House of Smiths because I have TONS of left over crepe paper lying around. I used the same exact technique I used to create the fabric flowers. 

And here are my very own chalkboards!!!  I told my sis she was going to have to write on them because she has pretty handwriting (unlike yours truly). 

In case you didn't notice, my Goodwill shopping cart was filled with several other goodies...more to come!

___

Linking this project to:

Kammy's Korner
At Home With K
The 36th Avenue
Crafty, Scrappy, Happy
A Turtle's Life For Me
Whipperberry

Lando

Sometimes my phone takes really good pictures :)

Did you know "Lando" is actually a Star Wars character?

I didn't.

Not that it would have made a difference, The Wombat is definitely a Landon.

My husband loves Star Wars. 

It's no secret.  Everyone knows.   It's why they all buy Landon Star Wars paraphernalia.  

Clothes, toys, books, even a nightlight.

My son is being conditioned to love Star Wars as much as his Daddy.  And I hope he does :)

Dinosaur Days

I am one of those people that buys their kid's clothes wayyyyyy in advance.  It makes packing away clothes The Wombat has grown out of a lot less depressing.  Plus it's less expensive to buy out of season clothes.

That said, I have been waiting and waiting for this little green dinosaur outfit to fit. And it finally does!

Landon also LOVES his new backyard play gym. It took me forever to find a decent but reasonably priced one on craigslist that wasn't filthy, sun warped or over $100.  Finally, we found this one for $40! Score!!!

The Wombat was immediately enamored with the slide, but getting him to warm up to climbing in and out of the holes took a little coaxing. I bribed him with leaves (favorite non-food-item to attempt eating) until he got the hang of it.

I think he makes a pretty cute dinosaur, don't you?  :)

Linking to:

Giant Mason Jars

I love mason jars.  Who doesn't?

So when I found giant 1/2 gallon mason jars at Michaels, I got a little weak in the knees.

I wrapped a little twine around them and voila!

Cheap and easy peasy!

_____

Linking to:

Rainy Day Fun

I have a boy.  He is a wound up ball of spitting, growling, crawling-in-circles-around-you energy. Needless to say I have been dreading the rainy season and searching for indoor activities to wear this kid out.  I about peed my pants when I found 200 multi colored pit balls on Amazon. 

A ball pit?

In my house?

Heck yes! 

Did I wait for a rainy day? 

Nope.

I had our blow up kiddie pool in the middle of our living room and was pouring pit balls in it about thirty seconds after they arrived on our doorstep.  I had just as much fun with these as Landon did.

I’m pretty impressed with how durable they are and the organizer in me loves that they came with a storage hamper. There are all sorts of these available for purchase but I splurged and bought the more expensive non-toxic phthalate-free ones because my kid can chew through just about anything.

I'm not gonna lie, I've crawled in there with him more than a few times.  I can't wait for it to actually rain so I can whip out our ball bit again :)

Linking to:

 

Disneyland

Yep, it’s true. We took our nine month old to Disneyland.

I had no idea how opinionated people were about what age you should take your child to Disneyland. I’ve gotten everything from “Isn’t he a little young for that?” to “What’s the point?  He won’t even remember.”  Honestly, when I was calculating whether we could afford this trip, these two points never even crossed my mind.  

In fact, this was probably one of our best and easiest outings we’ve had so far.  He gets in free.  There is a Baby Center on Main Street equipped with highchairs, changing tables, and private nursing areas. Forget something? Run out of diapers? They have EVERYTHING.  And let me tell you, people get OUT of the way before you plow them over with a stroller.

But most importantly, Landon LOVED Disneyland.  He was smiling and laughing the entire day.  He thought Mickey Mouse was hilarious.  He has a crush on Tinker Bell.  He drove every car in ToonTown.  He went on the Jungle Cruise twice (because the first time he was asleep).  The only time he cried was when the Merry-Go-Round stopped moving. 

I thought he and I would spend a few hours at The Happiest Place On Earth and then head on back to my aunt and uncle’s house, about 20 minutes away. 

I was wrong. 

We were there for TWELVE hours.  He was so exhausted from all the fun he slept like a baby like a normal person on vacation that night.

He won’t remember his first trip to Disneyland.  But I will.  His dad will, his grandparents and aunt and other relatives that went with us all will.  He'll get to look at all these pictures and hear stories about what a magical time he had at Disneyland when he was just nine months old.

 {My cousin Daniel, sister Jaclyn, Me, Landon and husband Ben on Finding Nemo Submarines}

{My favorite picture of Landon and his Daddy - also on the Submarines}

 

{Landon and Grandpa in line to see Tinker Bell}

{Landon and Ben in ToonTown}

{Landon and The Sword in The Stone, I took this one on my iphone!}

{Cinderella's Castle}

It was my favorite trip to Disneyland.

And I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

_______

Linking to:

Bath & Body Savings

Most days being a play at home mom to my nine month old is a dream  We have so much fun hanging out with each other, going to the park, having play dates, taking walks with The Puppy.  Other days are not so fun, when his little teeth are coming through, when nap time only lasts 15 minutes, or when I haven't had an ADULT to converse with for a while and start to go a little crazy.  Those days, there's nothing that rejuvenates me more than a long, hot, QUIET bubble bath.

And so I love Bath & Body Works. 

I do NOT love their obscene prices.

However, twice a year, in January and in June, they have amazing sales with up to 75% off. Did you know that every other receipt prints out a survey that gets you $10 off a $30 purchase?  Want to know the best part?  IT. DOESN'T. EXPIRE.  You can hang on to your receipt for a year and they will still honor the coupon (in store only).

So twice a year I head on over to Bath & Body and fill up my bag with exactly enough sale items to equal around $30 before tax.  I use these items for myself, gifts, shower game prizes, or as fun stuff to send to my sisters while they work at Hume Lake for the summer.

This time around I got 14 items for a grand total of $22.07.  Do I care if my bubble bath or soap is from the Christmas line? Nope. I only care that it cost me about a dollar or two.  The most expensive items were the body wash for $2.15.  The cheapest were the hand soaps at .94. I am sort of in love with the Christmas tea light holders ($1.63) and may have to go back for more to pack away for next year :)

Now I'll just tuck away my reciept until June.

Frosting Practice

My little sister Jessica's bridal shower is coming up!! Sooooo excited and happy for her and my future brother in law (Landon's first uncle)!!! Anywho, I saw this beautiful rose cake on Pinterest and thought I'd give it a shot. 

Their wedding colors are blue and yellow so I dyed some cream cheese frosting with Wilton icing colors. Then I used my handy dandy dessert decorator that my hubby got me a few Christmases ago.  (He knows how much I love pretty cupcakes that require little to no effort).  I just went around in flat circles until the frosting started resembling a rose.

I'm not sure how I feel about a blue cake and might just leave it white for the shower, but overall this technique is a keeper :)

Happy Frosting!
___
Linking to

Landon's First Christmas

This is my belated Christmas post.  I am just now recovering from our travels, lack  of sleep (molars are brutal!) and loads and loads of laundry.  With that said, Landon's first Christmas was so fun!  Here he is opening his present from his Papa.  He checked to make sure it was for him first:

Tobbles were a big hit.

Then we headed on over to Grandma and Grandpa Thomas' house for an early Christmas.  Here is The Wombat opening his very own Burely Trailer and also trying on his helmet so that he can ride in it.  Good thing he tolerates all of the ridiculous hats that I make him wear and doesn't seem to think the helmet is much of a stretch.

Here is our little family after the Christmas Eve Service.  Landon got to open one present before he went to bed.

On Christmas morning The Wombat was surprised by a covered wagon from my parents!  Here he is is riding it on a walk with his Grandma, Great Grandma and The Puppy. 

One more Random Photo.  Landon was super excited about the scarf that his Auntie Jessica opened.  Love this picture:

And that wraps up our many Christmas celebrations!

Favorite Christmas Photo

Oh my goodness am I exhausted!  We have been up and down all of California traveling from just south of the Oregon border all the way down to Disneyland!  I have THOUSANDS of pictures to sift through but so far this one has been my favorite:

It was taken the night before Christmas at my parent's house.  After attending the Christmas Eve service, we have a tradition where we each get to open one present.  Landon's Little Tikes Trike was quite the hit.  Hope everyone had a wonderful Holidays!!!

Linking to: