From your Child

Jora from Domestic Reflections posted this over the weekend and I had to share it with you.

21 Memos From Your Child

1. Don’t spoil me. I know quite well that I ought not have all I ask for. I am only testing you.
2. Don’t be afraid to be firm with me. I prefer it, it makes me feel secure.
3. Don’t let me form bad habits. I have to rely on you to detect them in the early stages.
4. Don’t make me feel smaller than I am. It only makes me behave stupidly “big”.
5. Don’t correct me in front of people if you can help it. I’ll take much more notice if you talk quietly with me in private.
6. Don’t make me feel all of my mistakes are sins. It upsets my sense of values.
7. Don’t protect me from consequences. I need to learn the painful way, sometimes.
8. Don’t be upset when I say “I hate you”. It isn’t you I hate, but your power to thwart me.
9. Don’t take too much notice of my small ailments. Sometimes they get me the attention I need.
10. Don’t nag. If you do, I shall have to protect myself by appearing deaf.
11. Don’t forget that I can’t explain myself as well as I should like. This is why I’m not always very accurate.
12. Don’t make rash promises. Remember that I feel badly let down when promises are broken.
13. Don’t tax my honesty too much. I am easily frightened into telling lies.
14. Don’t be inconsistent. That completely confuses me and makes me lose faith in you.
15. Don’t tell me my fears are silly. They are terribly real to me and you can do much to reassure me if you try to understand.
16. Don’t put me off when I ask questions. If you do, you will find that I stop asking and seek my information elsewhere.
17. Don’t ever suggest that you are perfect or infallible. It gives me too great a shock when I discover that you are neither.
18. Don’t ever think it is beneath your dignity to apologize to me. An honest apology makes me feel surprisingly warm toward you.
19. Don’t forget how quickly I am growing up. It must be very difficult to keep pace with me, but please try.
20. Don’t forget I love experimenting. I couldn’t do without it, so please be patient with it.
21. Don’t forget that I can’t thrive without lots of understanding and unconditional love, but I don’t need to tell you that, do I?

original author unknown

Hugs!

My sister sent this link to me. Have you seen it? I LOVE it! http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=hN8CKwdosjE

A Magical February

February has been a special month in our house over the past 5 years since it is the month we celebrate the birth of our beautiful girls. This year it was extra special because we celebrated in Disney World!

I've always heard Disney World described as "Magical" but never felt that magic as much as I did during this visit, my first as a parent. WOW! There were moments where I was brought to tears over my children's excitement and awe. Although my kids will most likely forget much about our trip as the years pass, I know I will remember and treasure these memories forever!

Woody!

A very special private meeting with Cinderella!

(I have pics of A&O with virtually every Princess and Disney Character!)

Happy 5th Birthday to my sweet little girls!

I surprised myself!

Yesterday the schools were closed due to snow so the girls had a nice, lazy morning in their jammie's and I had some extra time to work on my valance project. Guess what? I finished them! I like one of them better than the other so I may remake it (I have extra fabric), but that can wait until another time. I might even make a matching mini duvet cover and valance for the girls' doll house master bedroom!

(that was my dresser when I was little!)

I took these pics to show my Mom, but will post them here so you can see the valances. Sorry you can't see much of the beds. I'll try to remember to take a pic when my kiddos aren't in them (as they are right now!)!

Mirror, Mirror

Before I get into this post I wanted to let you know that I met my goal of getting the down comforters cut, sewn, washed, dried, inserted in duvet covers and placed on my girls' beds that Monday night! They look and, more importantly, feel amazing!! And, we think the current bed skirt color works just fine with the new duvet covers so I was able to cross that dye project off of my to-do list. I'm working on the matching curtains and will post a pic of their room once the curtains are up ("getting it done" goal: 2/4).

****

Kevin and I bought our house as a 'fixer upper'. I can't even begin to describe the dilapidated state this gorgeous house had been allowed to fall into (we have photos that prove we aren't kidding!). We had a plan in place for the renovation but once we started the demo part of the plan, we were pretty overwhelmed with everything. At that point we took a step back and decided to work on one project at a time, from start to finish. I should also mention here that we were both working full time, Kevin was working on his second Master's degree and we were hoping to start a family. So, that's part of the reason why we have not had a door or mirror on our medicine cabinet in our bathroom since 2000! I'm happy to report that my dear Kevin managed to finally build a custom three paneled door for our extremely large medicine cabinet and it is finally done and we love it (although it was much easier for two people to get ready at the same time when you didn't have to step aside to let the other person get into the cabinet!).

The only "before" pic I have but it allows you to see some of our toiletries lined up in our "open styled" cabinet! This is from '09 when the girls were watching Daddy wash his face one morning.

The finished product!

Getting things done!

I have so many projects that NEED to be completed (1/2 started and left or bits piled somewhere waiting to start). One of my resolutions for 2011 is to GET THINGS DONE! I'm happy to say that I'm on my way...

The thought for the project I'm working on today began months ago. Kevin and I have had a down comforter on our bed that I think has what is called an 'open baffle box' construction where the squares are not closed and the down can shift around. It is a great comforter but it is a pain having to shake the whole king sized thing out to redistribute the down each morning. So, we bought a wonderful new comforter that is perfect in every way. As one who attempts to be thrifty and hates to waste, I decided I could turn our old king comforter into two twin comforters for the girls' beds! We found cute duvet covers at Ikea and the covers and the scrunched king comforter have been sitting in a corner of our room for at least 6 months! This morning Kevin and I redistributed the down and I sewed two tightly stitched seams down the middle before cutting the comforter in half (with only minimal down escaping!). Now I just need to stitch all of the squares of the two comforters so the down doesn't shift, wash the comforters and covers and we'll be good to go! I'm hoping to have the comforters on the girls' beds Monday night. I'll let you know if I do it! :)

Next project: Curtains for the girls' room & dyeing bed skirts to better match the new duvet covers!

By Far, the Best!

I'm not quite sure where I found out about Portable North Pole but last year I had messages sent to several kids and it was a HUGE hit (it even made a believer out of an 8 year old who was 'on the fence'!). If you've got any little ones in your life, create a special message just for them. Click here and enjoy!

Special thanks to little. lovely. for sharing the 2010 link to Portable North Pole!

Image via here.

Dress Love!

Several months ago I learned about a designer, Kayce Hughes, with the cutest dresses for little girls (order was placed pronto!). The dresses are not only cute, they are very well made with quality fabrics and attention to detail. I guess I was so focused on the Children's section back then that I didn't even look at the Women's offering... until today. I'm in love!

QUICK! Go check out Kayce's blog here to enter to win one of her Women's Dresses!

image from Kayce Hughes' shop

This Moment

image via here

I'm sitting here browsing a super, new-to-me catalog called Nova Natural Toys & Crafts based in Williston, Vermont. I love, Love, LOVE everything I see! Check out their website here.

Every Little Bit Helps!

I credit my paternal Grandfather for teaching me the value of a dollar and for my thriftiness. I splurge every now and then, but for the most part I am a coupon clipping, promo code searching gal when it comes to making purchases. Lately, I've been using Ebates when making purchases online. It's a great way to get a little bit of cash back on just about everything I buy online. It's FREE! Sign up now and get a $5 credit! Check it out here!

image via here

A Visitor No One Wants!

Last year one of my friends had to deal with a case of lice that her daughter caught in school. I freaked a little at the thought and spent some time online looking for natural ways of getting rid of the little buggers, just in case we needed the information (didn't really find anything that I thought was worthwhile). Fortunately, we were spared the experience.

Recently I learned of a great product line called Babo Botanicals and they have a product combo that is all natural and 95% effective in clinical studies to PREVENT lice! How Cool Is That? I would say that this is a must have product for all families with children in daycare, preschool or elementary school. I'll be getting this gift set to be on the safe side!

image via Babo Botanicals

Oops, they can count!

We've been getting excited for Halloween and we are now in the thick of it: ballet party Wednesday (done!), school party today (done!), club party Saturday and Trick-or-Treating Sunday. Halfway through and I can't believe how much candy the girls have already collected! In the past Kevin and I would combine all of the girls' candy, put a few pieces of the candy we would allow them to eat in their treat bags, and then we would enjoy our favorite candies and Kevin would take the rest to work for his co-workers to munch on. I was assuming that would happen this year.... until both girls dumped out their candy today after school and counted each and every piece! The jaw of my salivating mouth dropped open and the hope of eating those delicious Reese's cups and Hershey bars at 8:05pm tonight were dashed. Oh well, I guess I'd rather see my girls happily counting than me sadly counting the pounds I would have put on eating all of their candy!

Do you allow your kids to eat all of the Halloween candy they've collected? I'm thinking I'll most likely do some filtering of the girls' stash (sending it to work with Kevin!) so it doesn't hang around for too long.

Have a very safe and Happy Halloween!

Kitchen Confession!

Wow, things have been busy around here! I usually rely on the time my girls are in school to get my daily house chores and grocery shopping done, but that time during the past week and a half has been filled with multiple routine doctor and dentist appointments, a room parent meeting and other tasks. Since I haven't been shopping and our cupboards are pretty bare, I'm not sure why I started preparing French Toast for the girls this morning. It wasn't until after I had mixed the eggs, milk, cinnamon and a drop of vanilla extract together that I remembered that we haven't had bread in the house for 3 days! So, in an effort not to waste perfectly good food, (I still can't believe I did this!) I cooked up that egg mixture into French Scrambled Eggs! To give myself a little credit I did ask my girls if they would eat it before I served it to them. They ate it all!

Head on over to Mama Seasonings and Shades of Sunshine for some much more appetizing recipes!

PS: I'm relieved to report that I managed to get to the grocery store this morning and we're well stocked once again!

White, Black and Red

Have you heard about RSA Animate? A friend posted a couple of videos on facebook and I'm hooked! Check it out here. Let me know what you think (& which is your favorite?~ I already know you won't be able to stop at just one!).

After you work up an appetite watching videos and thinking about them, head over to Bull in a China Shop where Tina has recipes for Spaghetti Squash Gratins and Apple Cider Donut Holes. YUM!

Number Seventeen

This morning as I walked down the steps of my girls' preschool the wind kicked up and the colorful leaves swirled and danced on the sidewalk. I couldn't help but think of Bert from a famous Disney movie and his quote:

"Winds in the east, mist coming in

like somethin' is brewin' and bout to begin.

Can't put me finger on what lies in store,

but I fear what's to happen all happened before."

A&O love the movie and this past weekend we went and saw the Broadway Musical of Mary Poppins. It was so much fun to witness the magic that occurred at Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane and to see Mary Poppins fly! If the show will be coming to a theatre near you, get tickets!

My sisters and I had these spoons when we were little. My Mom saved them and two have been handed down to A&O!

Stop over to see what recipe Jennifer has in store for you as part of The Recipe Exchange at Whisk it Good!

Mani-Pedi Mommy?

Being the worry wart that I am, I would not let my girls have their nails polished for the longest time (the toxins!). I finally caved when they were around three and I found this great line of products called Peacekeeper Cause-Metics. Not only do they make products with better-for-you ingredients, it is "the first cosmetics line to give donations to human rights issues for women who live in poverty or servitude". Learn more about this wonderful company here.

image via here

PS: I painted my girls' nails two weeks ago with Paint Me Grateful and their nails still look awesome. Unheard of with other nail colors!


Find another great recipe over at Scrumptious where Stephanie is making Crockpot Chicken Spezzatino which looks like it will be Saturday night's dinner at my house!

Is it really October 19th already?!?

A&O's hand painted pumpkins. Black is a favorite color right now!

It seems as if we have been on the go ever since school started and I can't believe how quickly the days are passing! Fortunately I have been able to stay on top of most things and our Halloween costumes are ready (Mermaid & Little Red Riding hood) and the candy has been purchased for all of the Trick-or-Treaters we are expecting. Now I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we don't have snow for the 31st!
Next week my girls have their first ever field trip to a pumpkin farm about 40 minutes away and I have to admit that my heart was beating quite a bit as I signed the permission slips allowing them to go (buses and all). Parents are allowed to follow the buses and meet up at the farm. I was torn about whether I should stay at home and allow this to be a growing and learning experience for the girls and me, but then both girls found out that some other parents were going and thought they'd like me to be there. What a relief! I'll try to be less of a worrier and stay home for the next one, I promise!

Pretty Mommy's great fall Recipe Exchange continues... please stop by You+Me Equals for Elisabeth's Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas and Miya's Mexichoctofu Pudding, Domestic Reflections for Jora's Homemade Chicken Stock, and 5th Joy for Abby's Hearty Chicken & Cabbage Minestrone. All look soooooooo delicious!

Heirloom Apron!

We headed over to my parents' house last weekend so I could help go through some things in their basement (my kiddos were busy in the kitchen with "Eema" while I was sorting and digging through boxes!). I was so excited when I opened a box from my Grandparents' attic and found one of my Mom's aprons from when she was a little girl! I ran upstairs and "O" was willing to model. This one is about 60 years old and the fabric is threadbare in places (lots of use from my Mom and me when we were little). I know there are more, and in better shape that my girls can actually use. I'll keep looking!

Today's recipe, Mediterranean Pot Roast, comes to you from Rebecca at The Reluctant Floridian. I'm planning on making this yummy sounding dish on Sunday!

Have you prepared any of the recipes I've been linking to? If so, let me know!

A great way to spend your loose change

photo from here

This past weekend I was looking through ReadyMade magazine and saw a wonderful product from Greenaid: a seedbomb vending machine. What a great way to green the gray spaces in your community! Learn more about it here.

The recipe swap continues today over at Look Linger Love where Chassity has prepared some yummy White Chicken Chili. Yesterday Danielle of domestic dish shared a Pumpkin Lasagna recipe that I hope to make for dinner on Halloween! Check them out!

Holiday Headstart

Just wanted to give anyone interested in giving great natural toys as gifts this coming holiday season a heads-up: The Wooden Wagon is having a Columbus Day special of free shipping on orders over $25! Our family loves their products, like this Sunrise Stacking Puzzle (photo from The Wooden Wagon).

Please stop by Under A Pink Moon for Estelle's contribution to the Fall Recipe Swap Michelle is hosting (we hope you're feeling better soon, Estelle!).