Friday, June 29, 2012

Pin-ed It Made it Party 29/06

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Summer time is here! People are on vacation and the weather is HOT!
We’re going to be taking a break from the linky party for July and August and will reevaluate come fall. There hasn’t quite been the growth in the number of links that we were hoping for and it takes quite a bit of time to put the party together each week. So, we’re going to take a little summer break, revamp things and start back up at a later date!


Top Viewed:
Cinnamon roll waffles

Canned Cinnamon Roll Waffles from Little Sprinkles of Fun!

Brandi & Meig’s Pick:

We love these Chicken Parmesan Sliders from The Grant Life! They look so yummy! Thanks for sharing. :)
 
Melanna’s Pick:
Shrink Plastic Curly Bead Necklaces by The Silly Pearl


My girls would totally think handmade beads would be a fun project. Thanks Steph for the idea!
 
Jennifer’s Pick:
These sandwiches look divine! Might actually be something my hubby would eat! Thanks so much to Eating in Neverland for sharing!
 
Please Remember to...Follow ALL 3 hosts.
Post our fabulous button on your blog so others can join the fun. (its on my sidebar)
Visit a couple of the other links and spread some love. We all love comments :)
For all projects linked to the “Pin-ed it, Made it” category, please ensure you link ONLY projects you were Pinspired to create and that the original post that inspired your project is properly sourced. We want to play nice :)
For the “Everything Else” category, please do not post giveaways, items you’re selling or other link parties.

Pin-ed it, Made it:


Everything Else:

Friday, June 22, 2012

Pin-ed It, Made it 22/06


Welcome back to another addition of Pin-ed it, Made it!

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Top Viewed:


We ALL love these faux-TOMS by Kelley from The Grant Life!


Melanna’s Pick:

A mason jar soap dispenser has been on my list forever too! Thanks Sam (From The Junk House) for showing us yours.

Meig & Brandi’s Pick:

YUM! Mojitos are one of our favorites. Thanks to The Grant Life for sharing this great drink recipe!

Jennifer’s Pick:
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Love the Father's day hand-stamped washer key-chain from Julie at Crafty Imaginings. I've had a stamp set hanging around the house somewhere... time to get it out and make something clever too!

Please Remember to...Follow ALL 3 hosts.
Post our fabulous button on your blog so others can join the fun. (its on my sidebar)
Visit a couple of the other links and spread some love. We all love comments :)
For all projects linked to the “Pin-ed it, Made it” category, please ensure you link ONLY projects you were Pinspired to create and that the original post that inspired your project is properly sourced. We want to play nice :)
For the “Everything Else” category, please do not post giveaways, items you’re selling or other link parties.

Pin-ed it, Made it:
 
Everything Else:

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Pin-ed it, Made it 15/06


Hey Everyone! Melanna here (just so you know which of the three of us is talking this week...)

I'm thoroughly addicted to Pinterest. When I first started pinning I had a board called something like "projects to make." Ha! I had no idea that I was essentially creating an impossible to do list.

So I went the normal route and organized my pins by categories. Then when I'm in the mood to make something, whether it's baking, dinner, a craft or activity with the kids or a sewing project, I have inspiration right in front of me.

That doesn't mean I don't have a "list" of things I want to finish!

Here are some pins I'm dying to try:
strawberry lemonade bar recipe
(pinned here the ingredients to this one are actually in my kitchen waiting for me. Hopefully today!)


(pinned here We only ever have 2 hot weeks in July. But wouldn't it be wonderful to lie on a giant bag of water? Yes. Yes it would!)
(of course I have a sewing project waiting in the wings! Or 50... Pinned here. I've only made my girls skirts and dresses. I really need to venture into shirts (especially since Mady's torso is SO long). How cute is this shirt? So darling!)
But of course it's not enough to just have things on the to do list. Which is why we party here each week showing off the stuff we've actually done! Success or failure! So let's get to it, show us all that stuff that you Pinned and actually made!

Here are our top picks from last week:

Top viewed:

Soap Cloud from Moore Babies. Looks Like Fun!
Jennifer's Pick:


There is so much inspiration in this post and I am LOVING the DIY art created by Covered in Grace!
Meig and Brandi's Pick:

We love these washi tape cards from Crafting and Creativity. So simple and cute! Thanks for the great idea, Sarah!


Melanna's Pick:
I'm Canadian, so I have to show some love to my fellow citizens! Sarah at Crafting and Creativity has a whole post of ideas of fun ways to celebrate Canada Day.


Please Remember to...Follow ALL 3 hosts.
Post our fabulous button on your blog so others can join the fun. (its on my sidebar)
Visit a couple of the other links and spread some love. We all love comments :)
For all projects linked to the “Pin-ed it, Made it” category, please ensure you link ONLY projects you were Pinspired to create and that the original post that inspired your project is properly sourced. We want to play nice :)
For the “Everything Else” category, please do not post giveaways, items you’re selling or other link parties.


Pin-ed it, Made it: Everything Else:

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Happy Birthday Madelyn!

Dear Madelyn,

I know you thought this day would NEVER come and that you've been (im)patiently waiting for it to arrive for the past 7 months, but today you are FINALLY 4! (or as I'm sure you'll put it, almost 5!)

(Freshly born, age 1, age 2, age 3, age 4!)

You are my sing-song kid. You have a song in your heart and you just have to get it out. You don't care where you are or who is listening or even what you're singing about, you just always are. Thankfully the pitch and rhythm has greatly improved. :)

Some things that I'm enjoying about you right now:

  • This year has sprouted a whole bunch of independence from you. Sometimes this is great, other times, it's not my favourite. :) But I love to watch you grow and learn and I love how excited you get when you figure something out for yourself.
  • You are so perceptive. If I go a different route home or to a store you are aware right away.
  • You have taken quite the fascination in letters. I think you'll be reading before too much longer. Once we get the lowercase letters under our belt and can remember all the sound combinations.
  • Purple is your favourite colour.
  • You learned your first "stupid human trick" and can curl your tongue into a clover. You show everyone who will look.
  • You love peanut butter and honey. You would eat it every day if I let you.
  • Ever since you cut your hair you're obsessed with how "long" it's getting. You don't seem to understand that it doesn't grow overnight by 3 inches.
  • You don't like vegetables. I don't actually enjoy this. But I like the creative excuses you come up with for not eating them.
  • You love to dance. And twirl. If every skirt I made you spun like your pettiskirt, you would be in heaven. I don't know how you don't get dizzy.
  • I love how you take care of your sister (when you're not fighting with her). Especially when you're playing with groups of kids you always watch out for her, even without being asked. You do that for other younger kids too. It warms my heart.
  • You are OBSESSED with Toopy and Binoo. You think they're SO funny. I can't say I feel the same way. But I'll give them credit for teaching you all about patterns with their online games. So I guess it's not all bad.
  • You are full of anticipation! I have to be careful not to tell you about things too early or you'll talk about them obsessively and whine and fuss about how it's taking so long for that day to come. But I sure love your excitement about things! Even little things like someone coming over to play or going to a favourite store in the morning.
I'm sadly aware that this is the last year of you being a preschooler and I intend to gobble up every minute with you this year. How did those years go by so quickly?

(while going through pictures I found some of Mady and Makenna at each birthday party. Aww!)
Know that we love you and love all the fun and joy you bring to our lives. Daddy and I often comment on how boring our life must have been before you came along!

Happy Birthday!


Love Mommy, Daddy and Kaitlyn

 

Monday, June 11, 2012

A Fun Zoo-Day


I'm having such a hard time finishing the year. I'm SO in summer mode! It's less than 2 weeks before the last of our scheduled activities are done for the year. I love this time of year because with such nice weather the girls will spend hours outside.


This leaves me with wonderful amounts of time to get things done.

Except I don't. I have no motivation in the summer to do anything productive. I want to lay around and read books, or nap. Do we train ourselves to do that because growing up we have every summer "off?"

The other day I was having a particularly lazy day. The girls were outside and the only thing that could be counted as productive was the fact that I had showered.

Then my phone rang. It was my friend wondering if we wanted to join her and her son for an impromptu trip to the zoo. I'm totally aware at how spoiled we are to have a fabulous zoo right in our city for us to visit whenever we want!


Well, I spent the next 20 minutes rushing around packing all the supplies we would need for a day at the zoo (for an overcast, could rain any minute, kind of day) including lunch and then we were out the door.

 Our zoo recently got penguins and this was the first time we had gone to see them, so that was a fun treat. And the peacocks who roam the grounds were feeling particularly show-off-y that day with their tail feathers. The kids thought this was the greatest thing ever.



We had a great time and all that fresh air meant good naps in the afternoon! I love that!


 

Friday, June 8, 2012

Pin-ed it, Made it 08/06

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Your hosts are Brandi & Meig from Crafty Girl Squared, Melanna from Rhapsody of Cacophony& Jennifer from Finding My Way in Texas

Top Viewed:

Penny Coffee Table from Haute to Sew!


Jennifer’s Pick:

These Nuetella Stuffed Crepes from Confessions of an ADD Housewife totally make me want to ditch my diet!!! I will definitely be trying these out in the not too distant future :)


Meig & Brandi’s Pick:

We love these boy Valentine's Day tshirts by Crafty Meggy! What a great idea! Those boys are really cute, too. :)

Melanna’s Pick:



I've often thought that I should've been an English teacher. I'm always SO attracted to ways that help kids understand this crazy language we all speak. That's why I love this contractions project that Megan did on her blog Preparedness with Megs.

 
Please Remember to...Follow ALL 3 hosts.
Post our fabulous button on your blog so others can join the fun. (its on my sidebar)
Visit a couple of the other links and spread some love. We all love comments :)
For all projects linked to the “Pined it, Made it” category, please ensure you link ONLY projects you were Pinspired to create and that the original post that inspired your project is properly sourced. We want to play nice :)
For the “Everything Else” category, please do not post giveaways, items you’re selling or other link parties.

Pin-ed It, Made it:




Everything Else:



Wednesday, June 6, 2012

A Fancy Nancy Soiree

This past weekend was exhausting. I had two huge choir concerts for which Mark's family was in town and so then I decided to throw Mady's party the same weekend so they could attend (they don't like to miss anything). It all went great, but I spent Monday putting my house mostly back together and yesterday just being tired and completely useless.

BUT, I knew I couldn't put off this party post any longer. You guys have been WAY too patient for all the details (and with me being pretty much absent)

This year we hosted a Fancy Nancy Soiree (that's a fancy word for party). Last summer I introduced Mady to Nancy and that was pretty much the end. The theme was decided. She just loves her. She has been asking about when her party is going to be since about Christmas time and counting down the months, weeks and days. Needless to say, she was very excited.

It wouldn't be a Fancy Nancy party without a fancy ensemble (that's a fancy word for outfit). I wasn't sure what to do, so when my sister suggested a pettiskirt I knew it was perfect. But then I'm cheap and there was no way I was paying the ridiculous prices for them. So I made them. And now I know why people charge ridiculous prices. And let me tell you, people, you're getting a steal of a deal! But I love them and they love them! I made the shirts (which are cupcakes if you can't tell) to match using leftovers from the skirts and other stuff from around my house.

Let's start with the invitations. I cut out little purses with my Silhouette, printed all the party info to put inside. Added a flower, ribbon for the handle and some velcro to keep it closed.


I know I could have gone crazy making them more fancy, but sometimes it's just better for me to stop. Apparently quite a few of the kids liked them as I had a few parents calling or emailing me for the party details because their child had wandered off with them! Ha!

Let's just take a quick peek at the decor and then I'll show you the actual party and what we did.
Clockwise: Framed print on mantle, French Happy Birthday Banner, Door Sign, La Chic Boutique sign
 I missed taking a picture of the big pink poms and ruffled streamers between my living room and upstairs (it's a sunken living room), but you can imagine they were there.
Clockwise: Tea Party Set up, King's Crown Sign, Place settings, Food labels, Tea cups with Pinkies up and Mustache Staws

When the kids arrived we played Mady's Fancy Nancy Parfait game until all the kids arrived. I didn't get pictures of this as I was still completing a few last minute food things. But it's a great little game that Mady loves and doesn't torment me as a parent to play so I highly recommend it.

Next we read Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy. I chose this book in particular because it's probably Mady's favourite and it introduces Mrs. Devine.


 I have a fabulous friend, Eve, who agreed to come and play the part of Mrs. Devine (Fancy Nancy's neighbour who taught her all about being fancy) and she was perfect! Mady was completely star struck. It made me giggle! It was even better because Mady has never met Eve so she didn't recognize her as my friend at all.


So then Mrs. Devine suggested the kids all get fancy for a fashion show. I had set up the "La Chic Boutique" with all sorts of dress up supplies. For the boys I had some less girly sunglasses, top hats, ties and moustashes. I even found some less feminine rings. For the girls there were necklaces, boas, rings, coloured "hair extension" clips (which Stanley was a huge fan of), and sunglasses.


Then Mrs. Devine showed them all how to walk with a banana on their head (Nancy does this with her sister in one of the books) and for those willing to participate we did a little fashion show.
I had a frame that I painted pink for some extra pictures. I somehow did not get everyone, so if you were at the party and got pictures, you may have kids I missed.



Last we played Mrs. Devine May I. Which most of the kids didn't get. Probably should have gone with Simon says vs. Mother May I. :)


Then we went up to the table for a tea party.



We had peanut butter and jam or honey sandwiches cut into the shape of crowns (my mother in law made them all for me and was so kind as to follow my crazy instructions for how to cut them).

 






My sister in law put together fruit kabobs for me, and we had "tea" in their cups, which was really just raspberry lemonade. And, of course, Mrs Devine showed them how to drink with their pinkies up.

After they finished eating we took them outside for the pinata. This was pretty much the only request from Mady for her party. I had a bit of trouble coming up with an idea for how to make a pinata fancy. Then I remembered seeing one somewhere in blogland that was covered in tissue paper roses. So that's what I did. 250 roses later we had a fancy pinata. One that was apparently not made thin enough for dainty 3 and 4-year-olds to break.
Good thing we had a Dad close by to help! Once it was broken they discovered candy necklaces, ring pops and some pink jelly beans inside (and I put them all in bags before so that it was fair. Maybe that's a kill joy, but I figured at this age all the kids probably don't really understand the candy scramble so if I didn't there was going to be tears).

Then they came inside and decorated some boxes with stickers and such. I tried to gather the nerve to bring in paint, but decided I couldn't quite get to that point of mess. Maybe when she's five... The plan was that they would be jewelry boxes, but since we had boys I didn't call them that. They put various treasures in from the boutique.

Then we had cake, cookies and parfaits.


And lastly we opened presents.

At the end of the party, each child got to pick a Fancy Nancy book to take home as well as keep the butterfly place mat that I made them from the table setting (you can find the tutorial here).

My kids are blessed with such wonderful friends! Thanks everyone for coming and making Mady's fourth birthday so special.


(and thanks Katie for the pictures I stole off of your facebook page of all the things I missed...)

And there you have it! And now I have less than 6 weeks to get the next party together. :)






Ps - I collected ideas from all over the internet for this party. Know that some really fabulous people helped to inspire this party and I couldn't have done it without their ideas.
Here are the ones I could find the inspiration websites for. If I missed something you know is your work or idea, please let me know and I'll add you to the credits.
  • For the Pettiskirts I followed this fabulous pettiskirt tutorial. One of these days I'll explain how I did it because I made it more work than necessary and sometimes that comical.
  • The t-shirts were inspired by the shirts found in this etsy shop. I'm cheap and was running out of shipping time and since I had everything on hand to make them, I did. But if you're lazy, or not crafty you should buy them from her. And she has TONS of chiffon, at great prices, which I found AFTER I purchased all my non non-fraying kind. Which made my skirt making a pain...
  • The fancy pinata was inspired by the pinata in this post. Her's was much prettier. But like I always say, my versions are always slightly dorkier/wonkier/floppier.
  • Um this cake is amazing. And I couldn't quit thinking about it. So this is the cake that I modeled mine after. Minus the crown because I got all creative with modelling chocolate, which then fell apart.  -
  • Invitation Wording – I pieced together from various invitations I found online and now I can't find any of the sources. Sorry. If you recognize your creativity, please send me an email and I'll give you credit!
  •  Same with the party signage.