Good Soap: The Little Things

When I go to someone else's house, and they have good smelling soap, it is a happy moment for me.  I just love that pause, and the uplifting feel of pleasant soapy scents.  I like a lot of natural stuff, but I also love the Bath & Body Works collections.  I recently treated myself to body scrub (that was different from my functional, yet odorless baby soap) and it was like I had a trip to the spa each time I showered.  Yep.  It's the Little Things.

I'd love to hear:  What are some of your "Little Things" that make your day better?

Road Trip To Iowa 2105

I thought I was super mom... Pinteresting car activities, putting together little bags for the kids, prepacking snacks...  Let's just say, the kids don't end up picking things you think are a hit, and yet they lose their head over something you think is insignificant. (Sticky hand that I bought in 2007 for a long plane trip is a perfect example.)

Soleil did like the binder I put together with pencil zip cases, filled with stickers, tiny smelly markers, post it notes, and a mini watercolor kit that I picked up at Walmart an hour before we got on the road.  I think the smelly markers got the best mileage.  The Kindergarten book was mostly ignored.  Tate, on the other hand, wanted an Archie Comic.  And notebooks.

Sidenote:  Tate has been obsessed with notebooks his entire life.  If you a longtime reader, you know that he was addicted to Blues Clues when little, and from the moment he could hold one, a notebook has been his FAVORITE thing.  He hasn't grown out of that.  He recently went to the store, saw that notebooks were 17 cents a piece, and spent his own money to buy 18 EIGHTEEN of them.  I put them away, so that he doesn't bend them all up by December, only to ask for more for Christmas.  What does he write in his notebooks?  Everything.  Plants v Zombies scenarios, Angry Birds scenarios, diagrams, short stories, journal entries a la Diary of Wimpy Kid (these are my favorite, because they are hilarious.), lists, lists, lists.  

On the way to Iowa, we spent the night in Saugatuck and visited my dear friend, Jean.  It is on Lake Michigan, and we all really wanted to go to the beach.  It is gorgeous, but oh my, is it COLD.

We stopped at Crane's Restaurant on our way out of town.

Finally, we arrived in Iowa.  Paul is from there, and his best friends all live there.  We went for his high school reunion, and for his town's annual festival.  There was a lot of this:

And the younger generation version of the same thing:

Tate played mini golf, which is one of his favorite things to do. 

Soleil and I got out one afternoon to get a pedicure and to shop at the mall.  She wanted to ride like a baby, so I let her!

Tate was very happy to be with his Iowa friends. 

The big boys played video games as well.  They all went to see the movie, Pixels, and then were inspired to fire up the centipede when they got home. 

They didn't want to say goodbye!  Such a good trip. 

Planner Addiction

Goodies from Happy Scrappie!

Michael's Loot

How I plan my days.

I thought this was a passing phase.... the planner/scrapbooking/organizing thing.  I have opened up a whole world that I didn't even know existed!  As I posted here, I jazzed up my 3 year old Russell and Hazel planner.  That wasn't good enough.  I wanted the weekly view on a bigger page, and all of the "Plan With Me" videos use a different format.

What is a "Plan with Me" video??  Search in youtube... you will be addicted within the hour.  Usually, it is a very cute and bubbly and creative girl that sits down with a bunch of stickers and washi tape and colorful pens, and plans and organizes her week.  I love them.  I have discovered there are lots of these "Life Planners" out there that make this even more fun.  Erin Condren is the big one, Kikki K, Happy 365, Filofax, and even Mead has a great family planner.  As a result of this, there are wonderful etsy shops that have been created that feature all sorts of unique stickers/tools to use on your planners.  The stickers are color themed, and it makes me want to have a ton of appointments.

I have ordered from Happie Scrappie, and I have also been led to do a Swap from Oh, Hello Stationary Company.  If you don't know, a swap is where you are paired up with another person who signs up, you send them a package of items specified in the swap.  This one was great, in the sense that they gave you the email, and you could chat with your person first.  The idea is to find out what kinds of things that they like and tailor the package to that.  You send your swap partner (brand new) things from your stash, as well as items you have purchased--ideally items that they cannot find locally.  I can't wait to get my package, yet making the one to send out was really fun as well!!

Also, I now have a pen pal that I plan to send things to in the future.  I often buy paper craft supplies that say, have 6 sheets of the same sticker.  I get sick of that design, and then am stuck with those items that I am "over".  I plan to send her these as time goes on:)

Summer Midpoint 2015

I can't even stop laughing at this.

Summer has been busy, and I had this plan to do lots of blogging.  You know,  because the kids would be home, quietly playing while I had tons of time to write witty things, and take lots of photos.  HAHAHAHAHA!  I love them home, but I have heard "MOM" about every 11 seconds since summer started.  We have been doing lots of fun things, though.  

Lots of Jumping.  We lucked out and showed up on half price day!

This contraption at the County Fair.  Scared at first, and then THRILLED.

Tate's opinion of the County Fair.
Too much mud, too many animals, loud midway... not his cup of tea. 

Instead of a party, Tate wanted to have a few friends over to play, and then to go out for frozen yogurt.  This turned into a little adventure, when the first fro-yo place was OUT of vanilla yogurt (the only flavor Tate eats.)  It was pretty fun to bring a van full of excited boys to downtown East Lansing,  as we were on the search for vanilla.  AND THEN THE SECOND PLACE WAS OUT, TOO!  The college kid behind the counter felt sorry for me, when she saw the desperation in my eyes, and said, "Hold on a second, let me see what I can do."  She restarted the machine (while I silently prayed), and then it worked!  And she gave me a free yogurt at the end, since again, she felt sorry for me!

Cat sitting and Dog sitting

A lot of this.  

Summer Treat

Frozen Strong Coffee Ice Cubes+Milk+Ice=Summer Treat!

(You can also add mint and chocolate, just chocolate, vanilla, or whatever else!)

Blogger and Google and Email Frustration!

I started my blog in 2006.  And then Blogger and Google became one.  And I had 2 accounts, and they WOULD NOT merge together.  I considered starting over, but I was too many years in, so I just waited, and I have been logging into my blog with an old email address that I haven't had since I lived in St. Louis.  (That was 5 moves ago.)

If you wait long enough, sometimes, technology will catch up with you, and you will be able to fix your problem!  (Or at least I hope.)  This post is a test, since I have been trying to permanently change my blogger blog to my primary (and existent!) email....

Anyone else have these problems with google/blogger/disqus?

Frankenmuth, MI

So I thought Frankenmuth was just a big Christmas store and a Famous Chicken Dinner.  Boy was I wrong!! It is the cutest Bavarian looking village in the middle of Michigan.  We didn't even get to the Christmas store, as there were so many places to go in the one short day we were there.  We also happened to show up on a day that had live music outside, which added to the ambiance. The kids and I went with my mom and dad, and had a great time.

Fairy Gardens everywhere!

People are Still Scrapbooking!!

I had a conversation with a lovely woman in the middle of Michael's craft store.   She was buying a ton of scrapbook stickers, (as was I, the stickers being on sale and all...) and I asked where she scrapbooked.  She was wishing for a place to go.  The scrapbook stores have closed, and I haven't met a Creative Memories consultant in ages...I used to meet one per week back in the day.  But we both were yearning for that connection that comes from gluing paper and stickers and glitter and ribbon with our photos, whilst eating yummy snacks and engaging in good conversation.  I used to use scrapbooking as a way to meet people whenever I moved.  (If you read this blog regularly, I move a lot.)

Scrapbooking alone isn't as much fun as with people, and it almost becomes a chore.  I don't pull it out as often as I like, though I know that my family loves the end result when I am done.

However, just this week, I have been sent TWO emails, one from a friend, and one from a email list I am on.

http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2015/05/scrapbook-in-a-week.html
http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/galleries

People are scrapbooking again!  They, like me, do not care that scrapbooking is passe, and it so nice to be inspired by other's work.  It makes me want to pull out my stickers right this instant!  (I can't, however, as I am about to head up to Frankenmuth, Michigan for the day. Woo Hoo!)

Tomorrow, the big picture classes are also hosting a "Craft Party", which is just a webcast discussing everything craft.  I am IN.  I will be parking the kids in front of a movie at 1pm Eastern, for sure!

No matter what your hobby/passion/thing is, it is nice to get reinspired by others that share your love of the craft.

Soleil's Birthday Bash

"Mom! Mom. Mom. Mom.  For my birthday? 

I want a tea party with My Little Pony with lots of treats."

Running to Meijer at the last moment for a dress

Thank you, Pinterest!

Daddy's surprise

A side trip to Fabiano's Chocolate's with Catie

Nail Painting Station

The Party Girls

Le Bon Macaron's custom French Macarons & Bake and Cakes Birthday Cake

Rainbow Bracelet Making Station

The hostess

My helper for the day, Catie!!

Summer 2015 has started!!

I love summer!!
I am very happy to have my kiddos home, and we have a list of things we want to do.  I have mentioned before that I theme out my weeks.  The first week, however, is for just chilling.  In fact, yesterday was our official "Couch Potato Day".  I let them watch tv/play games most of the day.  (Full disclosure: They were fighting by 9:00a...)

We have limited screen time, and I believe in it for a variety of reasons.  But I also believe in "treats".

 Sidenote:  Have any of you read Sarah Silveman's Bedwetter Book?  She writes a whole section on "treats" and having something to look forward to, and how if you have them all the time, they are no longer treats.  I love her!

The kids didn't even complain when I had to go to the grocery store, since we had a very empty refrigerator.

Here are some of the other things we have been up to:

Soleil's Chocolate Making Kit

My official Taster

Inspired by: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3_dV-e4d9c

The ones we made for Uncle Mikey!

Geocaching at the MSU Children's Garden

MSU Dairy Store for Ice Cream.  A Summer requirement!