We have been trying out some fun new craft supplies from X-ACTO and Elmer’s. Today we have a little tutorial for these super simple vases.Read on for how to make a cute new vase. It’s a great semi-handmade last-minute gift! And check out how sweet Clare’s own vase is after the jump! (more…)
Baby Fat, Baubles and A New Baby Blog: Friday I’m in Love
Random blog on which we crush: Desiree Fawn’s So Fawned and Prudent Baby go way back but if you aren’t familiar with this shop owning blogger and pinterest rockstar, you will want to take a peep. This young mama’s adorable brick-n-mortar store, Tango, in Peterborough Ontario is now open for online business, woot!
Project we wish we had created: Of course we wear our kids macaroni jewelry creations proudly but these wood and neon lace baubles from MARTHA seem fun to make with ultra stylish results.
Thing I want to put in my mouth right now: The Yummy Life shares delicious recipes and instructions for natural fruit and herb flavored waters. As part of my new healthy lifestyle (no, really) I am replacing diet drinks and caffeine with tasty refreshing concoctions like this.
Pins you love the most: Stargazing with this DIY Treehouse from Coochicoos and Understanding Thread Tension from Threads.
Place I wish we were headed this weekend: I have a serious case of Rhode Island home-sickness lately and NO, it’s not just the lobsters I miss. I do miss the lobsters. Anyhoo, we have a big road trip to the west coast next month (anyone want to loan us an RV?) but I’ve started dreaming of Rhode Island and how I could squeeze in a week with my entire family at Second Beach.
News that we are excited to announce: The Disney Baby blog is live! I’m enjoying “meeting” all of the bloggers and seeing photos of their adorable families and reading their smart, helpful, heartfelt posts. It’s a magical place, of course. Come say hi.
Lovely thing which I have acquired: I bought my husband a new ipad for his birthday and sneakily walked off with the old one. I’ve never really “gotten” why people like or need them and I’m still searching for worthwhile apps for grownups but I’ve discovered, surprisingly, that I love to read on it. I mostly love that I can read on it at the gym and it doesn’t close on me and it sits up straight and I can turn the page with a flick. Now I am also moving my magazines subscriptions over to it so I have them all on hand for any spare moment that pops up, otherwise… when? So I’m reading again, and that feels awesome. What are you reading these days? Pictured above: Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: (A Mostly True Memoir)
& Beautiful Ruins: A Novel
Thing that has me discouraged: Back to that gym thing. Ok so I’ve been working out for a whole week and a half. I hate working out. The personal trainer from Club Med and I created a workout and set a goal for me to lose 5 pounds in 2 weeks. That is next Monday. You guys, I have GAINED 3 pounds! I don’t care if “it’s muscle,” I want that number lower. Ok, that is the rant of a woman who really wants a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. Let’s get back to happy thoughts.
Fantastic Fourth: Red, White and Blue Round Up
The 4th of July is tomorrow! Are you panicking or are you on top of your game and have everything ready to go?
Don’t forget your delicious and refreshing Ice Cream Floats.
While we’re on the topic of beverages, a Watermelon Keg is super easy to do and is without a doubt going to be a hit.
Prep your Star Spangled Gumdrops tonight for a sweet treat to give your guests when they arrive tomorrow.
And when the night is over, send them off with Jelly Bean Pods and Let Freedom Ring Pops for party favors.
These 5 Inspirational Table Settings for Your 4th of July Party will get you in the mood to start decorating.
Last, but not least, the 4th of July is a fantastically wonderful holiday, but safety always comes first, which is why we can’t forget the Mod Podge Sparkler Safety Caddy.
Hope you all have an explosive 4th of July!
Get Away. Just You Two.
Have you gotten away with just your honey since baby arrived? Rick and I had just hit the 3 baby/5 year mark with not. one. night. away. together. But HOORAY, last weekend, after a terrible mommy-brain flight-missing disaster, we finally found ourselves settled into the Club Med Sandpiper Bay in St. Lucie, Florida. Let the all-inclusive eating, drinking and being merry-ing(?) commence! We made new friends like Huffington Post’s Bill Walker, Scott from Unmarketing, Joyce from Macaroni Kid, Katie Granju from Home/Work, Aviva and Devra from Parentopia, Jill from Visit Florida, Cheri from I Am Momma Hear Me Roar and Sami Cone from (um) Sami Cone.
It was a fun weekend filled with belly laughs, and also filled with Blue Hawaiians, and oddly (for me) filled with sporty fun like golf, tennis, paddle boarding, yoga, sailing and trapeze. I even walked away from a private fitness training session with a weight-loss plan of attack. Of course, let’s not forget the pools, the heavenly L’OCCITANE spa and the eating delicious meals in the 18+ dining room (ahh quiet.)
But say your own mom is not up for the challenge of watching your three babies, you can totally take them with you on this vaca. Some of our group had the little ones with them and the kid activities were amazing. We saw babies, kids and teens literally singing and dancing , and playing golf, and gleefully splashing, and crying as they were dragged away from the Kid Center at 10PM because they were having too much fun. Next time we will definitely bring the littles with us. They would love it.
We had such a great weekend, that I was inspired to make this little video to remember our trip. It’s my first video so tell me what you think that you like it. HA!
We were invited as guests of Club Med to review the resort. We had an amazing trip and would definitely come back on our own.
Star Spangled Gumdrops
The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays because you get to eat delicious food, hang out with friends and top it all off with an awesome fireworks show. Who doesn’t love that? As a kid the 4th of July always ended with us piling pillows and blankets in the back of my mom’s minivan. We’d park at the nearby lake and sit in the back of the car admiring the fireworks, while packing our cheeks with sugary treats. When I stumbled upon Beth’s Star Spangled Gumdrops from Hungry Happenings they immediately took me back to those days. They look so good I just want to pluck them out of my computer screen. Her Patriotic Red, White and Blue Fudge and Ka-Boom Kakes are genius ideas as well.
Keep reading for her full Star Spangled Gumdrops tutorial and to see her many other delicious 4th of July treats…
Buttonholes, Capelets, and Olive Oil Ice Cubes: It’s Friday I’m in Love
Video of the week: How to Sew a Buttonhole. Do not be afraid mamas. Oh and btw, have you subscribed to our you tube channel yet? Please do!
Pinterest Love: Our followers were very into the Threads Magazine Guide to Thread Tension and The Gardener’s Eden’s genius plan to freeze fresh herbs in olive oil.
Place we wish we were headed this weekend: Well, I just want to take this kid to the beach. Any beach’ll do. Where is your favorite stretch of sand?
Thing that melted my cold, cold heart: I’m not usually one to re-post commercials, but ohemgee this made my heart swell. Do we have any athlete mamas out there? Tell us about your hard work and your PRIDE! Hardest job & best job, no doubt.
Projects we wish we had posted: These travel bags from BHG are genius, pure and simple.
Also loving this sparkler safety caddy DIY for the 4th of July from Merriment Design:
Blast from the past: I thought I’d pull a project from the Prudent Baby archives. This week I was cleaning up Scarlet’s closet and found this – it’s definitely going in her “memory box” (that’s what she calls the box overflowing with stuff I can’t bear to give away that I hope my grandchildren don’t scoff at when I try to foist it upon them). Find the Prudent Baby Capelet pattern here.
Baby that melted my heart this week: Tesla. Oh, she’s a sweet little peanut. Scarlet adores babies, is this generally true amongst four year olds? I mean, she ADORES THEM. So much so that she begs me to have one on a daily basis.
Thing I don’t care about but sometimes think about: Scarlet looks nothing like me or her dad. Whatever, I couldn’t care less. But then we snapped this pic the other day and I thought… maybe? a slight resemblance, maybe?
La Dolce Vita!: Jaime & Jacinda’s Italian Wedding Adventure
This is a beautiful story of two friends and busy mamas who somehow manage to convince their husbands to hold down their respective forts while they soar off to Italy for countless prosecco, dozens of cappuccinos, hours of unintentionally aimless driving, several gelatos and one breathtaking wedding. It’s a happy story, so happy that it might make you smile like this if you’re not careful…
Or flop dramatically on the most pristine white bed that has never been tainted by sticky baby fingers…
You’ve seen the movie, now hear the story of Jaime and Jacinda’s Italian adventure. We wish you all a memorable trip with your BFF and if it happens to be to Italy, we recommend it go something like this… (more…)
Fiesta Taco Burger and Fries
Mack-attack is back with a heaping helping of the delicious Fiesta Taco Burger and Fries. Your hunt for the best 4th of July meal is over. Pair this with her Slow Melt Berry Lemonade Cooler, top it off with one of her 10 Recipes for Making Dessert on the Grill and you are set to go, you’re welcome. Take it away Macki…
This fiesta burger is inspired by my friend, Cheryl, who wrote-up the recipe on her Facebook page. Cue the immediate drooling! Then I had this blast from the past of my younger sister and I going to Taco Bell and ordering the “Bell Beefer”. OMG, the bell beefer! Burger in a taco. How could I have forgotten the Mexican burger? I remember it tasting so good either because I was young and had clueless taste buds or because Taco Bell actually used to taste good. Whatever, I’m bringing it back a little healthier and foodie style! We are serving our burger with guacamole, salsa and homemade taco seasoned sour cream (yes, the recipe will follow) as our condiments and fiesta fries on the side. Keep reading for all the recipes and wipe the drool off your keyboard…
