Christmas Morning Breakfast

Yes, another food post! I'm very pregnant and am back in baking mode. I've been testing recipes for a special Christmas morning breakfast and have found two PERFECT recipes. The only problem, I can't decide which to make because they are both soooo yummy! The cranberry cake is definitely a bit more healthy, especially with whole wheat flour, but the raspberry rolls are so tempting...maybe we'll have to make both... What are your Christmas morning traditions?

A {somewhat nerdy} gift list for homeschooled boys...and their parents...

We tend to be very practical when it comes to gift giving. I think a big part of it has to do with the fact that I am the one ultimately responsible for cleaning up any new purchases that come into our home... Thus, unless it offers some practical or educational value or will be entertaining for longer than 15 minutes, it just isn't going to make it on our shopping list.

Here is what did make the list:

For the little guys:

Architecto:

For the little builder and future engineer who is only four but already has several different kinds of building sets...hopefully this will offer a new challenge for him.

Happy Thanksgiving {best dinner rolls ever}

I have so many things to be thankful for, a wonderful family, the opportunity to live in another country and travel, good health, financial stability, and faith in Jesus Christ which makes all things possible.

It can be easy to get caught up in the frustrations of the present, seeing boxes piled to the ceiling of our new house wondering if they will ever get unpacked, the kitchen scattered with dirty dishes and playroom scattered with toys, changing another dirty diaper (from a child old enough to be potty trained), doing the fourth load of laundry for the day, you know the drill... It's good to take a few moments to think about those things that are really important and try to realign my life with the true purpose of life.

I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by those you love! Your family and friends will love you even more if you bring a plate {or two} of these Lion House dinner rolls to your Thanksgiving celebration (yes, I think I finally figured out how to use my German oven, and no they're not organic- but they're dang good!)

Baby Girl Essentials

Having a girl after three boys will be quite a change for our family and I've been trying to plan all the things I'll need for her. I love to sew and used to sew all the time but frankly boys aren't all that fun to sew for and life just got too busy. The first thing I did when I found out this baby would "possibly" be a girl was to go out to Etsy and order a boatload of fabric (LOVE Riley Blake fabrics!) and I even got myself a new sewing machine since it is going to get a lot of use over the next few years.

Over the next few months I will share some of the fun girly projects I'm making, but first I wanted to share some of my favorite baby girl products sold on Etsy. There are some stinking cute things out there for girls!

Adorable handmade shoes: have you ever seen anything so darling? As soon as these come back in stock they are mine.

Kindle Fire + Starfall, the perfect homeschool tools

We just added a Kindle Fire to our homeschool tools/toys and couldn't be more pleased with it (after dealing with a few hiccups that is).

I purchased this for two purposes:
1. So Grant can access Starfall.com without needing a mouse (kind of difficult for a 2 year old to navigate)
2. So Ethan can read his Ambleside Online books

I am most excited about my little guys being able to access Starfall easier. Ethan taught himself to read when he was three using Starfall and it's so much better now that it was then. If you have little ones and you aren't yet using this resource, I highly recommend purchasing the $30 yearly subscription to More Starfall, it is hands down the best educational resource you can get for children ages 2-4. Now my boys will be able to use all the Starfall features without having to sit on my lap while I help navigate the mouse. Yipee!

I also love that almost all of the classical education books we read for school are available for free or very low cost in the Kindle store. Normally I love to buy real books, I dream of having a huge library someday, but for now, especially with moving overseas, the less baggage I have to bring the better, so this is perfect. We can study anytime, anywhere. And we will be doing our "homework" all over Europe.

Now, if you don't yet have a Kindle and you plan on buying one, you'll need to be sure to read the bottom of this post because the new Kindle Fire DOES NOT support Flash, even though they claim to include support and the option is enabled in the browser, it will not work on flash sites. It took me hours of searching before I found the solution that actually worked and was very close to returning this one and trying to buy a used older model. If you're not good with computers- then you better try and find a used first generation kindle, otherwise follow the steps below and you'll be ecstatic when you can view all your favorite educational sites in Flash and your kids won't have to use the mouse!

A healthier home in 5 weeks {Week 5} + Giveaway

Before I jump into the topic of week 5, I want to announce a giveaway of Sweet Milk Handmade Lotion!

A few months ago I discovered this homemade lotion made by Mandy and asked her to send me three different scents of her choosing. I could not have been more happy with what I received! The lotion is so smooth and creamy (I can even apply it right after shaving and it doesn't burn my legs) and her scents are amazing! I have never used creamier better smelling lotion in my life. I'm so in love with it.

One lucky winner will receive three 2oz bottles of Sweet Milk Handmade Lotion! Just scroll to the bottom to enter. And if you aren't the winner, but still want amazing lotion, just email Mandy at tylermandyjack {at} hotmail {dot} com. You won't believe her prices- a 2oz bottle is just $2.50 and an 8oz bottle is $6.50, lip balm is $1.75!


Now, on to our last challenge... We know that pesticides have been linked to all sorts of nasty things. We don't want it on the food we feed our children and we don't want it on the grass they roll around in during the summer. Here are some resources for having a healthier outdoor space.

{Week 5 Challenge: A SaferYard}

1. Rather than spraying chemicals to kill bugs in the yard and garden, try these safer solutions.

• Organic Lawn Care & Maintenance
• Natural Pest Control
• 15 Homemade Organic Gardening Sprays and Concoctions that Actually Work

2. Try these gardening tips rather than insecticides:

• Garden pests and organic remedies
• Top Ten Garden Insect Pests

3. Natural bug spray (for you): I think we all are aware or have at least heard of the dangers of DEET. But if you live in tick and mosquito country the threat of lyme disease or west nile virus can be just as scary.

Here are a few homemade recipes you can try (I have not tried any of these):

• Ideas for safely repelling mosquitos
• Natural Tick Repellants
• Natural Bug Spray Recipes from Wellness Mama

Here are some safer alternatives to DEET (I have not tried any of these products), however if you live in a highly infested deer tick area, wear long clothes and spray the DEET only on clothes, do not make contact with skin and do not use on small children.

• Bubble and Bee Organic Insect Repellent
• Organic Bite Blocker
• Tropical Traditions All Natural Insect Repellent
• Botanical Solutions Tick Guard

If you have completed all 5 steps, Congratulations! You are on your way to a healthier environment for your family!

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Did you miss week 4?

Spoiled

There are a couple things I'm really going to miss about Utah. One, is living so close to so many temples. Another is pedicures with sisters.

I feel like I have been so spoiled since my husband's been gone. I have been going to the temple at least twice a month and my sister in law invites me to get pedicures every month.

My goal is to get away once a week to regroup and rejuvenate, but this week I thought I'd try to "handle things" on my own and not get a sitter...by Friday I was about to lose it. Saturday went out for pedi's- it's amazing what an hour or two without little criers and screamers can do for a person!

I sure hope I can find a pedi buddy and a good babysitter when we move because I am not giving these up!

How to rock a ponytail

I had originally planned this post the week I was in Houston, but something happened on my phone and the entire thing was deleted. It's taken me this long to sit down and type it again. Hope it works this time!

I don't know about you, but since I've become a mom I have a lot less time to get myself prettied up for the day. But one thing I've learned is that if I show up at the store by myself with three little boys in tow wearing gym clothes and a ponytail I'm probably not going to get friendly or sympathetic looks from fellow shoppers. Instead, I'll probably get those looks that say things like "are they all hers?" "does she know about birth control?" and "can she shut that kid up?"

HOWEVER...if I go out in public with makeup, jewelry and cute hair, I get the exact opposite reaction. People will come up and say "wow, you have your hands full!" "are you going to try for a girl?" and "can I help you to your car?" And those that don't comment are giving sympathetic smiles rather than dirty looks. The difference is amazing. And kinda sad.

I have gotten my routine down where I can shower, blow dry, make up and dress in 30 minutes, but I still don't want to do that every day. So on those off days I throw it in a pony tail, add one of these cute little clips and voila- no longer schlumpy frumpy mom. This look says I  chose to put my hair in a pony tail and I like it that way. 

You can buy fabulous clips like this at Whippy Cake, however you can also make your own at home and it's super easy. There are dozens of tutorials out there, but I thought I'd share how I make mine.

Supplies:

3 coordinating fabrics (I buy the smallest yardage they let you- usually 1/4 yard)

3 decorative buttons (fabric store or ebay)

1 pinch clip (sally's)

Felt (I use white or grey)

Glue gun or needle & thread

Start with three coordinating strips of fabric about 2-3 inches wide and at least 6 inches long. I like to snip the fabric and then rip it lengthwise to create frayed edges. The wider and longer the fabric, the bigger the flower.

Fold the inside corner in half and start to roll to create the center of the flower.

As you roll, twist the fabric. The tighter the twist the flatter the flower will be. Experiment with looser and tighter twists to determine the style you prefer.

Keep twisting until you reach the end of your fabric.

Tuck the end under the flower and either hand sew through all layers of the flower to keep them together, or use hot glue to secure the layers together (you can also hot glue as you roll- to make sure every twist is secured).

Sew or hot glue a button to the top of the flower (ebay is the best place to find decorative buttons).

Repeat with each additional flower.

Attach the flowers together by hand sewing or using hot glue. Then cut a piece of coordinating felt in the shape of the back of the flower (hides the underneath and makes it look more professional).

Hand sew- or hot glue this to the back of the flowers.

Cut another piece of felt large enough to cover the clip. Clip the felt and put hot glue all over the clip and the felt cover.

Attach to the back of the flower- making sure the clip is positioned so that the flower faces the direction you want it to.

Place in your hair, on a cardigan or bag for a stylish way to add a pop of color and accessorize your outfit.

So go ahead, rock that ponytail!

p.s. these clips also look fab attached to a cardigan- adds a fun pop of color to any outfit. And for some super cute hair ideas, check out these sites:

Easy up twist with Whippy Cake

30 Days of Hair Romance

30 Hairstyles in 30 Days

Hair tips from I heart Naptime

Amazon.com Giveaway!

Today is the first day to enter to win "From Our Hearts To Yours Valentine Giveaway" hosted by Life With Two Boys, With Our Best, and Mama-Nibbles! Be sure to check out all the amazing giveaways offered now until Valentine's Day!

I don't know if I've mentioned it before or not, but I do almost ALL of my shopping at Amazon.com. I love that as long as I spend $25 (not hard to do) shipping is absolutely free. Sure beats going to the store with three wild boys in tow! I order all our homeschooling supplies there, books, paper, printers, laminators, craft supplies, learning toys, diapers etc... I especially do ALL my Christmas shopping there. I never fight the crazy holiday crowds, I buy everything online and have it shipped to my door. It's such a lifesaver. I don't think a week goes by that I don't have something from Amazon on my doorstep. I seriously could not survive without them.

I am happy to offer one lucky reader a $25 gift card to Amazon.com!

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Our new favorite place...

Can I just say that I LOVE IKEA?!? I have never lived so close to one before and it is one of our most favorite places.

In Kentucky our "hang out" place was Barnes & Noble. The kids would play with the trains while I read or checked up on emails, and we'd always take home a book or two. The BN here (in baby central, go figure) has NO chairs by the train table. Apparently they don't want you "hanging out" in their store. So...we had to find a new place to chill. And find one we did.

IKEA offers FREE childcare for one hour (at least for two of my three boys)! After our first visit Ethan said "this is better than Thanksgiving Point!" It is seriously genius. I can shop with only one little rugrat and it is impossible to leave the store without buying something (even if only their dark chocolate bar, YUM).

So, not only is there free childcare while you shop, but on Tuesdays kids eat free. That's right FREE.  Monday they serve FREE breakfast until 11. And when we're out doing other errands and lunchtime approaches, we can swing by for a 50 cent hot dog and they all fall asleep on the way home.

They also have a huge train table with couches for me to sit. We could seriously hang out all day long with all the fun things for kids to do. We go at least once a week, although last week we went three times! I've got a long list of things to buy between now and when we leave here (might have to upgrade from a trailer to a full size uhaul!) and although I try to spread it out over my visits, it's impossible to get out with just one or two things!

Buh-by bookstore, hello IKEA!

Birthday lovelies...

I used to dread turning another year older, but the thirties have been the best years of my life (so far!) and I wouldn't go back to the twenties for anything. Plus, I have a reason to spoil myself!

I got these beautiful flowers from my handsome hubby. I feel so spoiled, he sent me two dozen
roses last month also! They smell heavenly and brighten my day every time I see them.

iPhone protective cover. Isn't it gorgeous? My phone will love me.

And this fabulous camera bag! No more hanging my camera off the end of the stroller and having it knocked to the ground when child jumps unexpectedly out of it. No more shoving it in the diaper bag and praying no sippy cups spill on it. No more forgetting my camera bag at photoshoots...Love it!

 

Christmas wish list

In case you haven't finished up the rest of your Christmas shopping, here are a few ideas for the ladies and little ones on your list:

These stylish aprons from Sarah Sews with Love- and for a good cause! Purchase one for yourself or for a friend and know that you are helping a little boy receive his much needed diabetes medication!



Fabulous earrings- from HooplaHoopla.

This adorable hat- from Jade Expressions 

Lovely cloth napkins- from Little Birds Boutique

Adorable Christmas diaper cover- from Priceless Keepsakes

Sweet hats for little girls and boys- from Yarning2BMe

Adorable vest & tie onesie- from Elles Blossom Boutique 

Beautiful blankets- from Kiki Kiddos



AND a few DIY's from   

I am making this for my boys (don't tell!) They will each get their own and can push together for one long table. Idea from Meet the Dubiens blog. It's the best I've seen and IKEA tables were on sale for $7/each!

Perfect for curious little minds, from Lilla A


Beautiful and easy wreath from Deck the Halls

Super cute tote, from Strawberry Owl Designs. Be sure to check out her other tutorials too!

Hope that gives you a few ideas. What are some things on your gift or "wish" list?

Simple things...beauty of the earth

I was going through my pictures today and found an entire folder that was still in raw. When I opened them in Lightroom I was pleasantly surprised to see they were the autumn pictures I'd taken at Thanksgiving Point! I completely forgot about them. We brought our schoolwork and climbed to the top of one of the pavillions and camped out all day. The boys jumped in the leaves and rolled down the hills and just had a fabulous day.

They also have an amazing new exhibit on Jesus Christ and I was excited to see it was finally open. Simple pleasures that make my heart smile : )

link up your simple pleasures...