Chalk Walk Festival and A Happy Fathers Day

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

to all the wonderful daddies out there!

My kiddos have the best daddy they could ever ask for. He was very happy he was able to spend the day with us and not on a train stuck in the middle of nowhere.

Yesterday the kids and I went to Crown Center to see their Chalk Walk.  Amazing artists from around the metro come to create stunning masterpieces all for people to see.  No money, no judging, no winners, no losers...simply amazing beauty and artistry!

There was also an area for the kids to try their chalk skills.  Her is James creating his "Tiki Mask" and Parker....well all he created was being chalky everywhere on his body.  He sat to draw for about two seconds and then was off to try to get all of the chalk that everyone else was using.  We need to work on those sharing skills that he lacks.

Here's James showing us his mad hula hooping skills...

After the Chalk Walk, we went inside Crown Center to eat at Fritz's. Yummy hanburgers that are way overpriced all to see a train run around the restaurant and bring you your food. It's all about the experience I tell ya.

Here is Parker watching the train bring our food down to the table.  So totally cool!

After dinner I let the kids play in the infamous fountain at Crown Center.  People will come to Crown Center just to let their kids play in the fountains.  If you visit {with children} you have to let them experience it.

All in all it was an amazing weekend and I'm not ready for it to end.  Now back to the grind of housework of "trying" to keep it clean while little ones come behind me only to make it a mess again.

We do have a birthday that we get to look forward to this week though...James will be turning "7" on Tuesday.  Until then, I hope everyone has a wonderful Monday {wait...it is Monday already since it's already so late}.

I'm off to bed...nighty night!

Need Some Inspiration?

See that button over there...

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that says "Patchwork of Awesomeness".

That's exactly what it is!  My patchwork of awesomeness of all good things that I find while surfing the web.  Now you can just click on the link and it will take right to my archive where I store all of it.  Cool, huh!  Check it out!  A big thanks goes to my friend Alisa from The Sweet Life for showing me how to get this on my blog.  GO HERE to read her guest post that she did this week if you missed it

There are some really cool ideas in there, all of which others get credit for.  Someday I will have the time to complete all of these projects.  In the meantime I get the ohh...and...ahh... over all the goodness.  Check the link often, I'm adding stuff to it everyday!

My Week in Snapshots

 

My Handsome Man!

Parker picking flowers!

James and his buddy at Tongie Days!

James bobbing for apples!

Parker eating his first whole apple!

James eating donuts off a string with no hands!

Among all the summer fun we had this week, James had his first lemonade stand and he make a whopping $19!  It helps that I called all of the friends we knew to see if they could come and pay him a visit, otherwise he might have only made what I would have "bought" from him if you can technically call it that since I bought all of the product to begin with.  Nonetheless he had fun being able to go and spend some of his money on things that I "never" buy him...
After I shot my pictures this week I realized that my poor daughter likes to run from the camera unless she is all "put together". She escaped this week but not for long!


Speaking of Alysia, her poor staph infection is back. Poor girl got rid of it for about a week and a half and is fighting it again. Not a good thing for wanting to hang out at the pool with all of her friends. Apparantly she will be fighting this for a long time. I guess once you get it and it colonizes you basically have to keep it from coming back. Doctor says she has to take a bleach bath EVERY NIGHT for six weeks. Poor thing! One capful of bleach per gallon of water. Any idea how many gallons of water fit in a bathtub?!?! Approximately 25 gallons of water fill an average size tub halfway. So geusstimating that we would use about 30 gallons, that is 30 capfuls of bleach! Bless her poor soul - I hope that kills every bit if staph on her skin after the six weeks is up. So much for her lazy summer days at the pool!

Inspired Spotlight

Hi there!  I’m Alisa from The Sweet Life and I am so flattered that my friend Beth asked me to do a post for her Inspired Spotlight. I’ve know Beth for several years {in real life} and she really is a great friend. Thanks Beth!
I am married to the love of my life and I’m a stay at home mom to 3 great kids. I have one in pre-school, one in elementary school and a high schooler so I’ve got all ages running around my house. Life is very full and fun most of the time. I called my blog The Sweet Life because even though life isn’t always perfect it is always made SWEET knowing that I have a Lord that loves me and sent is Son to die for me {and you}.

The best things in this life are but a glimpse at the sweetness of eternal life with a heavenly Father.

I began blogging about 18 months ago and have been hooked ever since. I started out reading blogs and getting so much inspiring information from all the talented ladies around blog land that I figured I had to start my own.  There is just so much good stuff out there it is hard not to be inspired. 

As a mom and a wife, I think that my greatest inspiration for what a Godly woman is supposed to look like is found in Proverbs 31. It is long so I won’t post it here, but if you want to look at it you can find it here.

These versus inspire me to want to do my best in every area of my life, whether it be as a wife, a mother, a neighbor, a homemaker or my integrity and character. I am far from being perfect in any of these areas, but I do my best and ask God to help me in each of these areas daily.

My blog is kind of a mixture of many different loves.
I love to cook {most of the time}.   This is one of our favs, Mexican Pork Bowls .

 
I love to sew. Here is a little dress I recently made for my niece. 
I also have an Etsy shop with some fun things I’ve made.

 
I like doing projects around the house. I recently redid my bathroom.

 
I also really enjoy photography. I’m still learning and love to visit all the great mom photographers out there in blogland. This summer I am hosting a little blog party called A Summer in Snapshots. I hope to encourage moms to get their cameras out and use them everyday to catch all the precious moments big and small before they are gone. So come on over and join the fun.

I really appreciate the opportunity to share with you about what inspires me to be the best mom and wife that I can be. I hope you will pop over to The Sweet Life and say “hi” sometime. Thanks again Beth!

Love Games

Stephanie over at Marraige Tales started this cute little thing called Love Games.  It took a bit to get my husband to be serious for these questions but in the end, he was willing.  Only when he was out of town, on the other end of the phone while texting me.  Catching him in a hotel is much better than trying to get anything out of him at home when Call of Duty is "needing" his attention.  I seriously can't stand that game...

On to the questions...

1.  What is the first thing you noticed about your wife when you met?  How pretty she was.  He is soooo sweet.  After almost eight years he still looks at me with a twinkle in his eye and calls me beautiful almost everyday.

2.  What is something that your wife does that drives you crazy?  How easily she gets distracted.  LOL-This is so true!  I don't even have a rebuttal for it because there is no excuse for how distracted I get.

3.  If money wasn't an option what is one thing you'd make sure you always had done for your wife?  She would get her hair done whenever she wanted.  Honestly, I wouldn't want to spend a lot of money on my hair all of the time but it's very nice that he thinks about that.  I do care about what my hair looks like and definitely don't get it done as much as I should.  I go when I "have" to and can't take the mess anymore.

4.  When do you find your wife most attractive?  Honestly, everytime I look at her!  Remember how I told you that he tells me almost everyday that I'm beautiful.  That's true.  He's my Prince Charming underneath it all.

5.  What does your wife do for you that you appreciate that you would totally miss if it was gone?  I love it when she calls me Big Papa.  This was seriously, all he could think of?!?!  I don't know what to think about that.  I'm thinking this is something I need to work on.  He says that I gripe to much when he asks anything of me.  Hmmmm.....I want him to have a better memory than Big Papa.

6.  If you had your wedding day to do all over again and you called all the shots would you keep everything the same, change something, change everything, elope?  I actually love it and wouldn't change a thing.  He's right.  It was perfect!!

7.  What's one beauty upkeep that you wish your wife didn't do?  Or what's one beauty thing you wish she would do?  None I would want her to change.  I do like when she wears lipstick though.  I don't wear lipstick very often at all...like almost never and when I do he always compliments me on it.  I need to remember that more.  I love him so much!

8.  If you could go or be anywhere in the world with your wife right now, where would it be?  Bed.  I don't think this needs any clarification.  He's a man in love with his beautiful wife, what more could you ask for.

9.  What is one moment you wish you could go back and relive with your wife just to experience it again?  Would you change anything?  I loved being on the couch with her when we used to snuggle.  I did snuggle with him just the other day.  I didn't know how much he liked it.

10.  What do you love most about your wife?  When she laughs, really laughs.  Adorable!

I have to admit that doing this little "love game" showed me a lot of areas where I need to focus more of my attention.  I have a wonderful husband that I don't show enough of my love to.  He is very good at showering me with his attention and more often than not, after being with kids all of the time, I just want to be left alone.  There are very limited times when we get to actually reconnect with each other since we can't ever seem to have date nights.  It makes our relationship so much better when we are able to.  That needs to be an important goal for me - to make more time with my husband!

Go here to link up and participate.

MindBloom

This is an amazing concept!  Taylor over at Mary Janes and Galoshes posted about it and I'm going to make my tree right now.  Check out this short video that tells you all about it.  Come along with me, if you will...pretty please :)


Mindbloom the Life Game™ from Mindbloom on Vimeo.

It's great for accountability and keeps all of your goals in front of you.  It's a more than just a "game" that you can play along with your friends.  It's a great way for you to keep track of your goals and accomplishments!!

Will you join me?  I'm going over right now to plant my tree.  Be my accountable partner and we can grow every area of our life together.

Simply Ahhh-mazing

Every so often you come across something that just moves you.

Something so simple yet so grand to you.

If you don't know yet, I love the Internet.  I am a junkie of some sort when it comes to reading and following people's blogs.  I don't know what it is about peering into the lives of others that just mesmorizes me.  It makes me want to do so much more with my life.  You see that list

<=====

over there...

of people that inspire me

I found a new one tonight that is absolutely amazing!

Come Sit By My Fire by Relyn

I skim a lot of things that I read.

Not with Relyn.

Her writing capitvated me and I kept reading...

every

single

word

Such simpleness...yet so moving to me.

Another thing...I despise music on blogs.

Many times when music starts I mute it immediately.

I can juggle many tasks but listening to music and reading is not one.  Can't do it.

Until I visited Relyn!

I don't listen to a lot of musical pieces, but I have to say that her song choices are AMAZING!

Such power {to me} in such peace.

We are all unique individuals in this world and her blog may not move you as it did me...

Peace

Tranquility

Happiness

Serenity

Love

Meditation

Contemplation

Provoking

Calmness

This is what her blog brought to me on this ordinary evening.

Go visit her.

You'll be glad you did!

Thanks so much Relyn for letting us see into your heart.

Keep doing what you are doing!

You are blessed!

UGH!

This REALLY, REALLY irritates me when I can't get my header to look right.  It's either too big, too small, not centered...you name it.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong but the stupid white bar on the right side really *irks* me.  And to boot, blogger keeps having "technical issues" which means everytime I try to change something with their new design software it keeps kicking me off.  Either I need to go to bed, or blogger just doesn't think what I am doing looks right.  Whatever it is, it's making me REALLY frustrated.

I'm thinking of leaving it and saying to heck with it!  I'll change my mind on the look of it again next week anyways.  I'm never content with how it looks.  Some days simple, some days frilly, some days exotic...

Tis the story of my life...the most indecisive person ever!

And the WINNER Is...

I did a Guest Post last week on Shabby Chic Cottage and held a giveaway on the bag that I did my tutorial on.  Random Generator picked number 17 which means -

The winner is ... SUSIE M.

susie.m said...



HI Beth... Just found your blog and I love your ideas!! I'm gonna put you in my favorites right....now!

Hey Susie, email me with your address details and I'll get the bag to you right away!  Thanks for the wonderful comments!

Inspired Spotlight featuring A Little Knick Knack

Welcome to my first Inspired Spotlight!  Today you get to meet Megan from A Little Knick Knack.  Like many of the bloggers that inspire me, I came across her blog one day and immediately fell in love.  I am sure you will to when you "meet" her.  Welcome Megan!!

Hello All!

My name is Meg and I have a blog called A Little Knick Knack. This blog is exactly what it says! I love to work on little things that make a house a home and occupy my mind in ways other than diapers and grocery shopping. I have 3 young kids and I'm blessed to stay at home with them and watch them grow. They are full of energy and keep me on my toes, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Beth was so nice to invite me to share a little bit of what inspires me as well as some fun projects that are easy and thrifty to do.

I love making things for my kids. Like...

Mini Chalkboards

Baby Appliques

and activity books made from placemats.

And, I also have fun creating things for around the house. Like...

A French-inspired flower bucket

A funky towel rack

And a wreath stand made out of an old chair.

I also enjoy making things for other people. This week, I'm in the great state of Texas, visiting my mom. She had a great idea to make a fun platter for her kitchen. It was so easy! I told her I would help her (little did I know that would mean doing the entire thing....).

We started with a fun tray found on clearance at my favorite store in the whole wide world - Hobby Lobby (for those of you that have one in your town--thank your lucky stars! I have to go all the way to Texas to enjoy the treats of HL).

Mom picked out a font she liked and printed out "EAT" so we could trace it on to the tray. To transfer the words on the tray, flip over the paper and trace in pencil. Push hard to make sure the carbon transfers to the tray.

(The fun part of doing this with my mom--I get to be in the photo shoot! Hi everyone!) Next, take the paper and put it on your tray and trace again, with a pen or other sharp writing utensil.



Next, take your trusty black paint pen and begin to fill in the letters. Make sure you have them centered correctly!

Another view....

Ta-da! Finished product. Nice. So fun to do with my mom!


Thanks, Beth for having me as a guest on your fun site. It's been so fun and I hope ya'll can come visit me at A Little Knick Knack! Have a great day!

Thanks for sharing with us all Megan!

A Day In The Life...

I would really like to know how all of the other women out there pull it all together!  This is what I feel like at the end of the day...

I love my neighborhood, I love the kids that my kids have to play with, I love staying home with them, I love that they are able to have some freedom when school is out in the summer, I love that we can do what we want when it comes to outings.  The problem is that we never really have any routines which makes me a little insane {and honestly I think the kids need it too}.  I try and try and try to have a set way of doing things and it never seems to work.  At the end of the day the kids and I both seem to have accomplished nothing.

I have tried in the past to have some structure during the day but I can never seem to fit in what I think needs to be in a schedule.  Chore time, craft time, story time, play time, lunch time, quiet time, movie time, etc.  I crave a home where there is structure but still time for my children to be able to play with all of their friends. 

How do you do that though?  What is your schedule at home like during the day with children?  Do you have set quiet times, chore times, reading times, etc.  Seriously, I need someone to break down for me exactly how they go through their day.  I feel so crazy saying that I need this type of guidance, but nonetheless, I do.  I think what convicts me the most is that my son wants to spend time with me when it's time for bed and that's only because he played ALL day with his friends and never spend any kind of quality time with the family.  Bad, I know. 

Am I even crazy to think that such structure is possible?  I feel like my kids running in and out all day isn't doing them any good other than getting entertainment and being out of my hair {which I'm not complaining about} but for some reason I don't feel good about it at the end of the day.  I need strcuture but I also have a hard time following it.  Does that make any sense at all?  I have to be able to look at something and say "Okay, this is what we are doing now."

I know there are momma's out there that have some sort of schedule to their day and I would love to know what you do and how you do it.  Don't get me wrong, I want my children to be able to have fun with their friends but I also want to feel good at the end of the day about my job as a mother in guiding them. 

Please help....I will forever be grateful!

Inspired Spotlight

I am starting a new series called Inspired Spotlight and I want you to be a part of it.  Many of the people I have met through blogging have been such an inspiration to me in so many diffferent ways that I thought it would be a great idea to Spotlight them.  I will have a geust posting every Thursday with a new Inspired Person.

Email me if you want to take part in it or have someone that inspires you that you would like me to Spotlight.  Be on the lookout this Thursday for the first one!!

Guest Post Today

Hey all, I am so excited to be guest posting today over at the Shabby Chic Cottage.  Gina was so nice to let me take over her blog today to share a tutorial with everyone.  It's a placemat bag!  Go check her out.

Come back here and leave a comment for me to get entered into a giveaway for the bag.  I will close the giveaway on June 9.  For another entry leave another comment telling me you have become a follower.

Thanks!!

Oh So Yummy...Oh So Bad!

I {heart} cookouts.

My hubby makes the best hamburgers....so much so that Ashley and Alex want them at their wedding!  They are delish but I tend to favor hot dogs a little more - this year it is the

Johnsonville Chili Cheese Brats.

Have you had them?  They are ohhhhhh so yummy!

Grill 'em and they taste just like Chili Cheese dogs.

DON'T reheat them in the microwave.

You won't like what comes out...literally!!

This is what mine looked like when I heated one up for lunch. 

Y-U-C-K

N-A-S-T-Y

G-R-E-A-S-Y  F-A-T

I don't think I will ever eat another Johnsonville Chili Cheese Dog again...