Fun in a Box...literally

Yesterday we finally bought a decent shop-vac, something we've been needing for a while- what with all the projects we've done, been doing, and have yet to do! Well, baby girl discovered the big box and the result was total cuteness. She was a little apprehensive about venturing inside the box, I think it was too dark, so we cut out a window and popped the box over her.






She loved it and would stand up so her head was above the window and then peek-a-boo down. I guess the age old fact still remains- kids really can get more enjoyment out of a box than all their new toys- I love it.

Read more...

Valentine Treats n' Sweets

Valentine's Day isn't a big thing around our house, but I do like to throw in a couple special things on this day of LOVE. We also have a little party with the kiddos at school. I always feel like a dentist when my class has parties because I hate to give them candy since they get SO much from their friends! The last couple of years I've gone with kid-size sunglasses and the note "SHINE ON Valentine". This year we decided to do a healthy snack and went with fruit cups- so cute, so easy, the health factor is a bonus :)




For dinner we made some delish homemade chicken spinach alfredo heart pizza....I have to say, it totally hit the spot!





But the sweetest treat of all was this little stinker all dressed in her Valentine's Day jammies. Her shirt says 'Some bunny loves me'.....two 'some bunnies' do. Happy Love Day!

Read more...

Watch out world!

We have a cruiser! Our little miss is all over the house now and getting into EVERYTHING!! She has a new love for pulling books off of any book shelf in the house, messy, but cute! I snagged this video tonight so everyone can see this over achiever, enjoy!

Read more...

Random Photo Catch-up

Some photos from the last month or so....

We started doing bath time right in the big tub, just a few inches of water and somebody hanging out with her the whole time. She LOVES her foam bath letters....they taste yummy :)

I heard this weird noise coming from the baby monitor- went inside the bedroom and found this sweet chick, scratching the screen and gazing out the window, silly girl.

Before we went for a walk on January 31st- it will probably be many years before we can do another walk in the dead of winter, she didn't fuss in the stroller for at least 15 minutes!!

Her big baby activity center, we can't believe how fast she's growing and developing. I wish time would freeze sometimes....

Just cute in Uncle Gabe's Angry Birds pig hat, she was just enamored with it

Read more...

DIY Menu Board= less $$ on groceries

I spent a few months trying different strategies for moola on groceries. I feel like it's expensive now and I'm buying for 3 adults (myself, Jerod, and my sister Amanda), I'm terrified to know what our grocery bills will be like when Cailyn and any siblings she has are older. I tried buying only things that were on sale by scouring grocery ads every Wednesday when they came out. I didn't really feel like I was saving much though, so I tried couponing. I'm sure you've seen an episode or two of Extreme Couponing on TLC? Turns out, Iowa grocery stores don't allow the doubling of coupons so you can sometimes get good deals, but mostly I just found myself stocked with 3 and 4 boxes of wheat thins or Triscuits because they always seem to have a good deal on them. Finally, I went to planning out each night's dinner. That's all I shop for each week, besides staples like milk/eggs/yogurt, and I feel like it's made a difference in my grocery bill. But I kept hearing the same question all the time: What's for dinner? So I decided we needed a menu board, DIY style :)

First thing's first, I bought a chalkboard from Hobby Lobby for $7.99 and spray painted it bright orange- I didn't think it would work at first, but thought, "What the hell, let's give it a go!"

I apparently have a thing for birds- I realized this as I kept adding decor to my kitchen, so I decided to just go with it and found this silhouette online, printed it, and snipped it out for a stencil.

Using acrylic paints that I had leftover from the nursery pictures I made last year, I crafted a colorful little blue bird

The use of colorful chalk and a spot right across from the stove and countertop means mama remembers what to make for dinner, eliminating surprise fast food trips and saving some cash for more important things, like finishing the other half of the basement!

Read more...