Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Tooth Fairy Tiptoes

When I was little, I loved  mysterious nighttime visits from the Sandman and of course, from the Tooth Fairy also. We have our own secret set of Tooth Fairy Traditions. Everyone has their own twist. This is ours.

The Tooth Fairy only exchanges teeth for special coins IF the tooth is clean and shiny. She uses the shiny whites to build big castles up in the clouds and can only use the brightest whites! In exchange, she leaves SPECIAL coins, but she never leaves regular money that is used in everyday life. She gives half dollars and the special gold dollar coins.


gold dollar coins 
instead of common money 
to make it more magical
I think she stocked up on a couple rolls to save for those enchanting visits in the dark.

Our Tooth Fairy also leaves a gold magic dust, trailing behind her. The boys know when she has fluttered from their pillows because gold shimmers are sprinkled on their beds.


gold dollar coins and magic fairy dust

The boys have a special pillow that is reserved for these rare nights.  It is handmade from HoityToityBaby.  Nicole is so kind and her blog showcases all the current tot trends and celebrity baby fun. 


At just the right moment, when the house is dark and still, our Tooth Fairy tiptoes in to leave treasures.


And the boys wake up, wide eyed in the morning to find this under their pillows!

Those are the little traditions we have for the Tooth Fairy in our home. But I confess, our Fairy makes me look like a VERY BAD Mama. She sometimes gets stuck in a storm and doesn't show up, and she is constantly forgetting. She may just leave some extra magic dust if she is late as a token of apology.



Alright, spill it.
I want to hear all your Tooth Fairy secrets.



Childhood is the world of miracles and magic...
-
EUGENE IONESCO

This post is linked to: Under the Table & Dreamin, It's a Blog Party, Think Pink Sundays LambAround, DIY Showoff, DIY Living, Seasonal Sundays, It's so Very Cheri, Strut Your Stuff at Saturday Mornings, Met Monday, Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Mondays, Market Yourself Mondays, A2Z Tips & Tutorials, Lettered Cottage How To, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tuesdays at the Table, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Swing into Spring, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Blog Hop Thursday, Transformation Thursday, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Friday Favorites, VIP Party Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, Frugal Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up

Friday, August 26, 2011

PB & J cupcakes, Back to School ideas, & eco friendly sack lunches

 PB & J cupcake recipe at bottom of post!


Back to school time (as a lot of you know) is one of my favorite times! I'm all about the organization, order, and fresh n clean little people!   Recently I contributed a couple of blog posts on Rook No. 17's blog.

Jenn is truly the SWEETEST heart.  She is quick to give encouragement and she posts many incredible ideas.  I was excited to share on her blog for her annual BACK TO SCHOOL series!

So if you haven't already seen them,
click on over to read up on after school power snacks:


and sweetly sharpened pencil cookies!



In my last post, I promised to share more about the adorable etsy store:

Her products are extra fun, and simply adorable!  
I gave my boys these re usable lunch bags at the end of summer.  
Each design is unique and every stitch handmade.  
The inside liner can easily be wiped clean.

Something else valuable to me is having little things that look PRETTY.  If it doesn't look amazing or it's not useful, I don't need it. ;)  
Finding small treasures like these bags make me feel happy because it just makes life THAT much more pretty. 



These bags give our beautiful earth a big hug because we are saving on waste each time we use them.  They are ideal to pack your child's sandwich in when you send them off to their school day.


Visit Nate's Mommy Made It etsy store to see her entire selection.
I picked the blue whale for Cameron,
the mod elephant for Kotah,
and the playful dino for Titus.  



Sigg water bottles are also a staple in our home.  We've been using these for years.  They keep liquids cool, fresh, and clean.  Does anyone else use and love their Sigg bottles?

Couple the bottles with the eco friendly bags, and you've gone all crazy green with your sack lunches! 


When little footsteps arrive home from school with heavy backpacks falling to their toes, and an armful of books up to their chins, you can greet them with a household classic:



An all time classic 
transformed into a trendy treat:
PB & J cupcakes 
 


A small tip:  You can make jelly-filled cupcakes by filling a pastry bag with jam and piercing the tip into the bottom of the cupcake. Squeeze gently to fill the inside of the cupcake.  


A smear of jam and a spread of peanut butter frosting...



Salty peanuts, sweet jam...


They are fun choices to bring to school events and parties too...


I found this recipe on the website of the always incredible Martha Stewart.


School days are a 
"peanut butter & Jelly kind of life"
 comfortable routine, 
classic experiences, 
and simple goodness.  


 
This post is linked to: Under the Table & Dreamin, It's a Blog Party, Think Pink Sundays LambAround, DIY ShowoffSeasonal SundaysMet Monday, Making the World Cuter, A2Z Tips & Tutorials, Lettered Cottage How To, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, Home Decor & Organizing, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Blue Cricket Design, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Transformation Thursday, House of H, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, 36th Avenue Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, Frugal Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Design Dazzle, T.G.I.F.,  Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Adventures under the sun & summer's end


We are in that brief lifestage in which our children are old enough and therefore don't require all of our energy but young enough to still find delight with the world so we can all just kickback and LOVE THE DAY.  A little bird told me that this season of childhood passes too quickly, so I'm trying to soak up every second of the TODAYS. 





Boys, Boys, Boys! 
This description matches our summer almost exactly! 




Chris makes the boys lots of wooden knives, swords, and shields.  
And yes! It says mom on it.  
The boys wrote that!  
I guess it's just because I'm still 
"cool like that"  
to them. ;) 



"What are little boys made of?
Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails"

  
I would also like to interject a quick tip! My boys put instant holes into their brand new jeans and that makes me a SO unhappy Mama.  I have set aside a couple of "outside playtime" outfits.  These include cutoff jeans too.  The boys are never allowed to go outside unless they change into their "outside playtime" clothes.  This has greatly helped with keeping their new clothes NEW.  



 A series of lil Dreamy Summertime 
escapades and moments:

 

Stateboard wheels rolling over concrete







Football with flipflops



Neighborhood garage poker matches



Splash time in mountain lakes



Long bike rides



Imaginary expeditions in the fields



Country Picnics


I use these super cute re usable lunch bags to pack their food.  They are a smart choice in helping to reduce waste!  These bags are kind to our pretty earth!  Nate's Mommy Made It is an etsy store dedicated to providing eco friendly products with adorable handmade style!



Backyard swinging


Colorado Campouts


Water, water



My days are full of sounds and dirt. 
Not pictured are:
the piles of muddy clothes inside the laundry room door, 
the beach towels thrown over our chairs, 
sticky ice cream drippings on the back porch,
a neglected house in need of vacuuming, 
bottles of sunscreen waiting to be put away, 
BBQ tools in the sink that must be hand washed,
bikes with flat tires in need of repair, 
and sandy footprints tracked inside.  

Yes, it does all drive me crazy! 
I begin to feel overwhelmed, burdened, and so behind on chores! 
I want it all sparkly clean...I suppose I want it all.  
But this is life, and we can't have it all.  
So, we pick the adventures 9 times out of 10.  
Someday maybe I can keep it all sparkly perfect as I prefer.
But for now, I will let it drive me crazy
and instead rollerblade outside with the boys 
because I've been told some smart advice...
that this time with my sons won't last forever. 


I've been whispered wisdom
 to savor each moment...
and we do.


 
This post is linked to: Under the Table & Dreamin, It's a Blog Party, Think Pink Sundays LambAround, DIY ShowoffSeasonal SundaysMet Monday, Making the World Cuter, A2Z Tips & Tutorials, Lettered Cottage How To, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, Home Decor & Organizing, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Blue Cricket Design, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Transformation Thursday, House of H, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, 36th Avenue Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, Frugal Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Design Dazzle, T.G.I.F.,  Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up