Swap & Meet

Have you ever been to the swap meet? As a child my dad used to take my sister and I, we loved it. We would always come home with some little treasure! It was great! As I got older, I became a bit embarrassed of the swap meet. I somehow got the idea into my head that it was a "poor" persons thing. I started thinking this way about the thrift stores my mom liked to buy our clothes at too. I remember hoping no one would see us walking in, or worse out with bags of stuff these "second hand" stores as my mom would call them. Once we got to middle school, swap meets and second hand stores became a thing of the past.

Then in college Alex asked me one Saturday night if I wanted to go to the swap meet with him on Sunday morning. I laughed to myself and though. Wow! Really? You even know what the swap meet is?! I remembered all the fun memories I had of the swap meet, and said sure. We went the next morning and had fun! I don't even remember if we bought anything, but it was fun to be there! I learned that he had grown up going to the swap meet too. And that his family still goes every weekend!

Now thrifting is the thing to do! Maybe my parents were hip all along! Humm...maybe!

I still really enjoy the swap meet, and so does Nathan! We try to go as often as possible! If you've never been, go! It's like tons and tons of garge sales all in one place! It's fun, it's outside, it's quality family time! Who knows you might even find a treasure or two!

November...

Let me just start by saying that I can't believe it is November already, like really? How did that happen? I feel like every since we moved into this house time has been on fast forward. These past 3 years have just flown by. It's crazy!

November has come, which means my sweet little baby girl is almost a year old. Wow! I can hardly believe it. So bittersweet it hurts. She is my last baby (most likely) and she is not a "baby" anymore. She has been so fun! I could go on for days about how much we love her, and how I love to see her and Nathan interacting, but I'll spare ya!

I've been brain storming birthday party themes for her and have decided on "Pink Lemonade" because our little Sydney Marie is very sassy yet very sweet! So it seems fitting, plus yellow and pink make a great color pallet for the decor!

I bought the stuff to make the invitations today and hope to have them made by the end of the week. Look for posts on all the DIY decor I have spinning around in my head!

Ok ok I'll stop this rambling post now! Hope you had an amazing weekend with your family! And that you enjoyed that extra hour!

It's Raining

it's pouring, Nathan is snoring!

My little man has come down with a cold. Which he of course shared with momma and dadda! Prayers that Sydney doesn't catch it too!

It's raining here today, so I guess it's a good sick day. It's 3:08 and we're all (expect dadda who is at work) still in our PJ's! Both kids are napping and I'm resting! Last night was rough, both kids were not sleeping well, so Alex slept with Nathan, and I with Sydney. I'm so glad it's Friday, and Alex will be home for the next 2 days!

Have I mentioned on this blog that I have an awesome family? Oh, I have!? Well, in case you didn't know, I have an awesome family! My mom showed up today with Starbucks Peppermint Mocha's, the ingredients for chicken noodle soup, and a special treat for Nathan (oreos) What an awesome mom, huh!

So I whipped up the soup, while she played with Sydney! Dinner is done and that's a nice feeling, when you're not feeling well! Thanks Mommy, you rock!

 I've got a fire going, and I plan to cozy up next to it, read my new Say No to Auto photography book, and rest until one of my little ones awakes!

Have a nice day my lovely readers!

Ikea

I don't know why but I've been craving Ikea lately.

 Which is odd,

since I've only ever been there once,

and I didn't even buy anything!

So why am I craving it?

 I guess it's all the fun Ikea hacks I've been seeing everywhere.

It gets my creative juice flowing and makes me want to see what is there and what it can become.

 I haven't been having much luck in thrift stores lately.

No inspiration, no awesome pieces I can picture redone and in my house.

Nothing.

Maybe that's why, whatever the reason i need me some Ikea!

 The down side to this craving is Ikeas location.

 It's really not that fair, 40-45 minutes away.

 It's Sydney...she cries in the car,

making any drive longer then 10 minutes

HORRIBLE.

So I guess I'll just have to look for inspiration else where. 

Sand Box

Nathan had a Beach themed Birthday Party

and what beach party is complete without sand?

So, I asked my handy father in law if he would mind whipping up a quick little box for me. 'Nothing fancy just a box with a floor that we could toss some sand in for the party.

He of course said sure!

 Then a week later he shows up with

this crazy impressive sand box!

It folds shut and when you open it the "lid" becomes a bench on either side!

It's so awesome!

Nathan loves it!

 It has seen tons of play time!

The best part is when he is do we just close the lid and that's that!

Please excuse the sand bag trash and Dolley!

Nathan was so excited, he jumped right in!

Mermaid Tails & Crab claws

Even before Sydney was born,

 I had dreamt of having a little mermaid to carry around on Halloween.

 Then she arrived and low and behold she had red hair, and blue eyes!

My little mermaid!

It was meant to be.

Her 1st All Hallows Eve she would be an adorable mermaid!

Fast forward 10 months.

 Nathan has a fish tank with a few fish and a "mean" crab.

He loves his crab!

And when it came time to pick a Halloween costume, Nathan declared that he wanted to be a crab! Well awesome!

 A mermaid and a crab!

They go well together!

So I set out to create their costumes.

Let me toss in that Nathan originally said crab, t

hen tiger,

then dragon,

then shark,

then dog,

and so on and so on!

He changed his mind way too often for one momma to keep up with!

 I stuck with the original crab idea and he seems to be happy with it!

 Both costumes were pretty simple to make.

I love Sydney's tail!

We have received numerous compliments on it in at the events she was worn it to.

Pinterest.

You really are in awesome site, I freaking love you!

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you've got to check it out!

Pinterest, it's an online pinning board,

so much better than having a ton of book marks in a file labeled "future projects" or "inspiration". Which brings me to my point.

Christmas is fast approaching,

I have lofty dreams of presenting numerous family members with lovely handmade gifts.

Many of which I've found inspiration for on Pinterest.

But...I waste too much time sitting there pinning when I should really be crafting!

Ah the dilemmas of my life!

So...I guess I should stop blogging,

 pinning,

watching The Nate Show (my new obsessions)

and getting to craftin' huh!

Ok

Ok

I've talked myself into!
If you need me...I'll be crafting!