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link roundup / 38

This custom calendar gift is such a fun idea (see above photo).

I never understood the obsession with Marfa, TX until I read Miranda’s recap of her trip there. Clearly I just didn’t know enough, and now I want to visit for sure.

We gave up on cloth diapering Liam awhile ago because something had to give for my sanity, but Ashley has a great post about what she’s learned in four years and she makes it seem SO simple (and it really is).

People tweeting their awkward moments: I haven’t laughed this hard at anything in awhile. The Internet is so great sometimes.

Fun & EASY birthday traditions for kids.

DIY magnetic patterns car game. Looks like this would probably take 2-3 hours to make (although it would be fun) but I think kids would play with it a lot!

Combine a fun Thanksgiving book & activity for your kids to get them in the spirit.

Happy weekending!

November 13, 2015
notes from an unplanned day off

I’m home today with a sick boy. If you’ve been reading for awhile, you might remember that Liam was sick constantly for the first year and a half of his life. So today, I am celebrating the fact that this is is first illness in months. He only has a mild fever and congestion, so hopefully it won’t stick around long.

We’ve really been enjoying our special day together. Extra cuddles, nursing, and screen time (his favorite right now is Little Einsteins – he loves to “pat pat pat”). We went for a long walk and I was surprised by how muggy it is outside. Middle of November and it’s 80 degrees and I’m sweating!

Back at home, I got him down for a nap and then was able to finish up this year’s week in the life album. I’ll be sharing the last couple of days soon, and now I can move on to the next craft project! I have a quilt in progress for Meredith, but today I decided to put that aside and work on this softie for her instead. She will be able to use the quilt long past the time when she wants to play with stuffed animals, so this comes first.

Speaking of Meredith, she is still our spirited child. Her tantrums have improved over the past couple of weeks, but they definitely come in phases. Yesterday and this morning weren’t so good. On a personal note, I have noticed myself sinking into depression which is unusual for me. I was having a very hard time with motherhood especially. In the end, I decided to stop taking the birth control pill I had been trying out. I noticed a difference almost immediately – so, PSA for anyone else who may experience something similar! I guess that’s not the method for me. Obviously motherhood is still tough, but I’m enjoying the kids much more again and have a lot more patience.

Well, I better get back to crafting if I want to make the most of this nap! Have a great rest of your week. :)

November 11, 2015
week in the life 2015 : friday in the album

Just wanted to share a quick week in the life album update! I’m so close to finishing this project.

I’m just keeping it simple, as with all of the other days. This particular day I did all of my journaling typed out on photos and journal cards, so I just added a few small embellishments here and there. Mostly perforated word strips from the kit.

This was a crazy day at work, so all of my photos came from the morning and evening. Which is fine, because I’d rather not relive that work day anyway. ;)

I remember being so totally exhausted at the end of this day, but now looking back at these bedtime photos I feel kind of sappy. Meredith was stalling as usual but I’m happy she loves to be at home and loves to interact with us.

Lots of photos and words in this update and not too much filler. Just want to get the stories told.

Supplies used:
Week in the Life kit with black/white album
Avery Index Tabs

Tools used:
StazOn Inkpad
Crop-A-Dile
Tiny Attacher
Pentel Energel
Date stamp
Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue

Fonts used:
Gill Sans (on photos)
Aleo (on cards)

November 9, 2015
link roundup / 37

Happy Friday! Lately the work weeks have been even harder for our family so we are always so happy to see the weekends come. Here are some links for you today!

As the mother of a strong-willed 4-year-old girl who is VERY particular about what she wears and wore a princess costume 3 days in a row last week (and only changed out of it because it had a huge rip across the middle)…I loved this post.

If you haven’t heard of ePantry yet, I encourage you to check it out. They have amazing all-natural home, cleaning, and personal care supplies for cheaper than you can get pretty much anywhere. Right now they have several seasonal scents and packages! Use my referral link to make a purchase and you’ll get $10 credit and a free candle!

Lots of great ideas here on how to speed clean your house with kids around.

How to find time to read when you have young kids. I’m especially inspired by #4 and #5 and I’m thinking of setting up something up like that in our home.

I’m so tempted to take the Storytelling With December Daily class by Ali Edwards. I do still plan to make a holiday album, but it will probably be super simple.

My favorite craft designer Alicia Paulson is offering free shipping on her kits right now. I want to make everything.

On my wish list: black ankle boots (still – my feet are wide and I haven’t been able to find ones that fit), a great pair of jeans, this book, flameless candles, a litter robot, and the 2016 Get to Work Book.

We have some fun plans this weekend including a family fun day for my work, a birthday party, and several church events. How about you?

November 6, 2015
they were here / 1

I don’t have a lot of time these days to work on the house like I want to, but I do like to keep things neat and tidy. For me it is very true that outer order contributes to inner calm.

However, that’s often hard to do when kids are living a full life in the space. We keep their “stuff” to a minimum and I do a daily pick-up of the house which helps, but as long as they are there I will find evidence of them. And actually, I love that. So this photo series is to celebrate the little things around the home that remind me: my kids were here.

Current library book on my bedside table. Meredith likes to “read” it to me and I love her interpretation of the pages.

We’ve been coloring a lot lately.

My sink, with an Olaf cup. She brushes her teeth in the bathroom with me and I also never know when she will ask for water before bed.

I should really move this out of the way since I walk right by it all the time, but it reminds me how the kids were playing “firefighter” all last week leading up to Halloween. (See our costumes here, btw!)

November 5, 2015