Beautiful Buds

My garden is about to go into full bloom, and I couldn't be more excited!  I like to think of our yard as an extension of our home.  My kids already carved a fort out of a honeysuckle bush out back, which of course inspired them to start their very first club. Reminds me of the fun times I had outdoors when I was little, and I love it!   

Enjoy the pics of our new blooms!

Introducing Poetry to Kids

Try sharing a poem one night a week at dinner.  We wrote our first poem on paper and hung it up to read every day.  Now my son has it memorized and loves sharing it with anyone that will listen!  

Bonus: By reading aloud poems at home you are building background knowledge for your kids.  When they learn poetry at school the literary terms will stick, and more importantly they will have a love of poetry!

Got any fun poems to share?

Repurposing Your Stuff for Kids

When I had my first son, I wanted everything new and all the latest "must have" baby gear. Then when I had twins two years later, I realized how silly it is to spend money on gear that your kids outgrow in a flash. Borrow when you can, and then get creative repurposing for everything else!

Here are a few of my ideas...

1. Cupcake stand to baby food organizer
2. Dry sink to changing table to dresser

If you have any repurposing pointers, please share!

My Favorite Mom Quote

6 Steps to a Fun and Functional Entryway

1. Select a table or dresser.

This was a dresser that my aunt refinished and gave to me. Lucky me, I know. I picked up the knobs from Anthropology.


2. Hang a mirror or pic.

I found my mirror for $45 in a little antique store.  Love it.


3. Turn on a light or electric candle.

This candle has been sitting in my attic for ages. Glad I found a use for it!


4. Use a tray to keep your things organized.

I like how my tray has high sides. It keeps little kid fingers from getting at my stuff!


5. Display things that make you smile.

I framed a treehouse my son drew and childhood pics of my husband on his 2nd bday and me when I was 8 on my great grandfather's farm. They immediately put me in a good mood!


6. Place a guest book for friends and family to "sign in" at dinner parties and memorable events.

Sounds cheesy, but it will be fun to look at years from now!



Have a great entryway idea? Please share!

Gywenth's New Cookbook!

I have a million cookbooks and really try to resist buying a new one every time I come across one with a pretty cover. Fast forward to me at Target the other night mesmerized by Gwyneth Paltrow's pretty soft pink cookbook, "It's All Good."

I randomly opened her book to a recipe for Old Bay Ranch Dressing. I was drooling and couldn't wait to substitute her vegan mayo for real mayo and dip some thin cut French fries with sea salt in it.

And that is just what I did! Last night my husband made burgers and fries. I whipped up the Old Bay Ranch Dressing, and we lathered it on our burgers and fries. It was pure deliciousness! I know that was not Gwyneth's intent for her healthy lifestyle cookbook, but I did do sit ups while I watched Chopped after dinner. That counts as healthy in my book!

What are your favorite new GP recipes?

The Naming of a Home

In our family everything gets a name. If we see a random squirrel outside the window - it gets a name. Every stuffed animal that crosses our doorway is named. So it only makes sense that the other night at bedtime (probably a stalling technique) my son started asking me questions about our house's name. I explained our house was missing a name and thought he could do the honor of giving it one.

What did he come up with? The Bookshelf! He explained that our house has so many shelves and piles of books that the whole house is just holding up books.

I am in love with our house's new name and the story behind it. Does your house have a name? How did it come to be? Please share!

Enjoy a few pics of some of our bookshelves that inspired our home's name...