Vintage Inspired Hot Chocolate Station

If you recently came to take my holiday home tour, you would have seen the hot chocolate station I set up in the kitchen. If not, I am sharing the full details of it here today! I went with a vintage inspired theme and my whole family loves it. Although, I keep catching my kids stealing the marshmallows 🙂

This was the first year I set up a hot chocolate bar, but I think it will become a holiday tradition now.

Making Spirits Bright in the Playroom {with Holiday Wall Decals}

I received product from Wallternatives™ in exchange for this review. All expressed opinions are 100% my own. Full Disclosure Policy.

If you recently stopped by for my holiday home tour, I mentioned some new additions to the playroom that are bringing all of us some Christmas cheer. I love adding lots of whimsy to my children's playroom, especially at Christmastime. When I happened upon the Boy Meets Girl Reindeer Removable Christmas Wall Decal Set available from Wallternatives™, I knew it would be the perfect touch. This set is from their new Jennifer Rizzo Designer Wall Decal Collection. You all know by now how much I love Jennifer Rizzo, right? Seriously, she is mega talented.
When I first saw this set on the website, I knew that my children had to have them. Okay, maybe I was a teensy bit excited for them myself. At Christmas time, I am still just a kid inside. 

Protecting Little Feet and My Floors {with Eco Friendly Rug Pads}

I have partnered with Rug Pad Corner for this post. All opinions are my own.

In the past several months, I have acquired a couple of new rugs for our home, including a brand new shag rug and a vintage kilim rug. Our house has laminate flooring downstairs and painted pine flooring upstairs, so rugs are a must, especially with two little ones. Since we have a rug in every room, and young children who love to run around, I knew that I should eventually get pads to keep the rugs in place. But which ones?

Back in the day, I used to nanny for a family with two small children. I would also do household chores for them, like vacuuming the hardwood floors and rugs. There was one of those thin, plastic pads under every rug, which always stuck to the floor. And while the pads stuck to the floor, the rugs always slipped anyways. I hated moving those rug pads and rugs and then getting them lined up again just right. Ugh.

Halloween Burlap and Scrap Fabric Ghost Family

Halloween will be here before we know it. Time to get those spooky decorations out or make your own! My mom and I made this family of friendly ghosts (to replicate my husband, myself and our two little ones), in one afternoon, back in 2012. This is a no-sew project…hooray! I know how everyone loves those.

I am sharing how we did it today as part of my {a look back} series. We made these right after my son Owen was born, when I wasn't doing much blogging. I love giving you "a look back" at these projects now and hope that you enjoy them as well.

Easy Buffalo Chicken Wing Pizza with Blue Cheese {with kid friendly version}

One of our family's favorite splurges is chicken wing pizza. We love it, but it can be quite a bit pricier than regular old pepperoni, so today, I am sharing a quick and delicious "make at home" version that is easier on the budget without losing any of the flavor.

The ingredients in this recipe include cooked chicken, Ken's Steak House Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing, crumbled blue cheese, shredded mozzarella and the Original Anchor Bar Buffalo Wing Sauce.

DIY Homeschool Preschool Daily Activity Calendar {with homemade magnets!}

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Office Depot, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #inspirestudents http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Getting prepared to start homeschool preschool can be a daunting task, but with a daily activity calendar and some fun magnets you can keep on track!

When I recently made the decision to start homeschool preschool with my three year old daughter Hazel, I felt a little overwhelmed. The reasons for going with homeschool preschool included Hazel not yet being potty trained, the cost, and the fact that she just turned three this summer. I felt another year at home would be good for her (and me!). We will venture into sending her off to preschool next year.

Thoughts of Fall on My Mind

I don't know about you, but fall has been on my mind for awhile. It always happens once August hits: I begin dreaming of those beautiful autumn days that are on their way.

We are approaching my favorite time of year, and I can't help but get excited. I can hold off, of course, on the winter's cold for quite awhile, but oh, how I wish I could make fall stay longer.

A Visit to a Country Farm

Last week, the kids and I had the opportunity to visit a friend of mine down on her farm just over a half an hour away. Hazel and Owen were so excited to go and see "all the animals," and I was excited for some adult chat with my friend Julie while our children played.

Julie and I went to high school and college together and had plenty to talk about since both of us are stay at home moms with two kids, and she recently joined the blogging world. I was also looking forward to photographing some of the beautiful surroundings and farm animals, but alas, children can foil some of those plans. Owen was pretty shy and insisted I hold him all throughout our tour of the barn.

Boho Woodland Animal Collage Art {Crafting with Your Kids No. 1}

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® Elmer’s and Wet Ones, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #CraftandCleanUp http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Today, I am starting a new series called Crafting with Your Kids, which is of course, one of my favorite things to do as a mom! This series will consist of projects that parents and children can collaborate on together to make unique works of art or decor for your home.

Up first, are these "boho style" woodland animal collages that my three year old daughter, Hazel, and I made for the playroom. 

Since being a mom is busy, I don't have a lot of time to make my own art the way that I used to, but I have a deep need to be creative. Working together is a great alternative.

The Best Potty Training Books for Kids

If you have a child of potty training age, here are six books that he or she is sure to love. Hopefully they will bring some encouragement to the process. My three year old thinks they are the best!

My daughter, Hazel, just turned three back on June 30th. If you had asked me a year ago if I thought she would be potty trained by now, I would have thought, definitely. 

But…I would be wrong. So wrong. 

Most days we don't even seem close. Other days, I get glimpses of hope. Like last week when she went for the very first time. But that has been the only time.

I never imagined that I would have a child who would be so resistant to "going on the potty", but that's my girl. Has to do things her way. In her time. 

And I am okay with that (because…I am pretty sure she gets that from me.)

When Your Child is in Pain

There is almost nothing worse as a parent than watching your child endure pain. I always want to take it from them. 

Let me take the pain instead, Lord. That is my prayer whenever one of my little ones is hurt or not feeling well.

DIY Outdoor Water Table for Kids

Summer is just around the corner, and the little ones will be wanting to play all day outdoors! If yours are anything like mine, they already do. Even on the rainy days.

Owen’s First Birthday: A Football Party {a look back}

My little man, Owen, turned one on September 26, 2013. I never got around to sharing a birthday post back then, but decided with the draft coming this week, I would share it now! If you aren't up on the NFL draft, well let me tell you…it is a very big deal. At least in my house it is 🙂

Life Out Here {Enjoying the Pleasures of a Simple Country Life}

For many years, I dreamed of living in Manhattan. I felt such a pull inside of me to be there after I visited it the first time, and every time thereafter. I looked into going to NYU for a Master's degree in Art Therapy. I have a BA in Psychology and always wanted to work with children in a therapeutic setting. 

It's such a cliché, I know, but I imagined my tiny apartment, a cool job, riding on the subway, walks in central park, and being surrounded by an energy that can be found nowhere else on earth. 

5 Rainy Day Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers {Volume One}

With spring comes many rainy days around these parts. That means we need to get creative on the days we stay inside. Those of you who care for young children during the day will understand this. Today I will be sharing the first "volume" of activities that I have done with my own little ones on days we played indoors. I will be sharing later volumes in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned! (And even if you don't have young kids…you might just enjoy seeing some personal pics of mine throughout these posts!)

Hazel’s Vintage Nursery {a look back}

I am excited to share with you the second in my {a look back} series, where I am sharing snippets from life when I was away from blogging. One thing that I never got around to sharing during that time, was Hazel's nursery, so I am going to now!

I had so many hopes and dreams for this room before she was born. Lots of plans were made and vintage items collected just for this special space that I wanted to create for my first child. I knew I wanted it to be cream and white with neutral, vintage touches throughout.

Recycled TP Roll Easter Bunny and Egg Stamps {Kid’s Craft}

I know that Easter is coming up quickly, and I have a super fun and easy craft to do with the little ones this week. This project is perfect for toddlers or preschoolers. I have one of each, and they both loved it!

One day when I was collecting a bunch of toilet paper rolls to put in the recycling, I started looking at one and wondered if I could make it into an ear for a bunny (what??? yeah, I am weird, I know). I did another one and realized it would probably work to make a bunny stamp. (My creative brain, seriously, never stops working even in the midst of the most mundane household chores like cleaning the bathroom).

Whimsical Woodland Deer Birthday Party

I began this post last summer and I am ashamed to say I never finished it! Until now that is. I guess I did better than with her first birthday which had a "country fair" theme. I never finished that post at all. Maybe I still will…hopefully before she moves out of the house 🙂

If you have a party to plan this spring or summer and are looking for whimsical, woodland inspiration, you have come to the right place. The whole party came together with lots of help from extended family and turned out beautifully. I have left what I had originally started writing, only added on to it. 

Hope you enjoy (even though it is so late!)

Mason Jar Photo Gallery {DIY}

I have a simple DIY for you today. I love old mason jars and have a huge collection. The ideas for them seem to be unending. One that I have enjoyed doing for the past couple of years is to put photographs in them. I am always looking for unconventional ways to display our family photos, and this is one that works well with my industrial, farmhouse decor. It is a nice modern twist on a vintage item.

Top Ten Posts of 2013 & a Free New Year’s Printable!

It is so hard for me to believe that 2014 will be here in a couple of days!

This past year seems to have flown by. Guess that is what happens when you are busy caring for two under two, which is what I did for half of 2013…and then a 2 year old and one year old for the second half.