Sunday, March 31, 2013

Fun Easter or Spring Activity for Kids.
1. Plant the magic jellybeans
2. Water the magic jellybeans
3. Leave overnight 
(We put our's outside so the Easter Bunny could sprinkle magic dust on it.)
4. Wake up to find your jellybeans 
grew into Suckers!

0

Friday, March 29, 2013



You may have seen these AVANI Dead Sea Cosmetics at a kiosk in your mall.  You know, the kind of kiosk that you don't make eye contact with its attendant and speed up your walking or you immediately pretend find the window display in their opposite direction incredibly interesting.  Well, my mother who (bless her heart) falls pray to these kind of sales approaches on the regular gave me one of the AVANI Dead Sea Cosmetic Professional Nail Buffers.  I watched a YouTube demo on how to use it because there is no way I'll be visiting the kiosk to ask them.  I also visited their website and apparently they sell other products to use along with this buffer...in a kit even.  Being a frugal SAHM I don't allow myself to get hooked on products that need expensive replacing or replenishing.  BUT the buffer is awesome in its self and no need to keep up on buying other crap wonderful products. 

Why I love it: 
No extra purchases needed.  Provides me a service I miss aka getting a manicure.  I get results in just a couple minutes.

How I Use It: 
When I look down and say WOW these nails are embarrassing I get out a little pouch for a fast and dirty nail 911. (I'll share a picture below on my 911 nail pouch) I clip, file, moisturize and then I use this nail buffer for shine.  This buffer is the secret weapon.  The shine is so good it looks like you have a clear coat on them.  

May not be spa worthy manicure but it gets the job done in a snap.  If you want to kick it up to spa-worthy at home mani maybe check into the other AVANI products to go with it.

0

Wednesday, March 27, 2013


Proud Mama just has to share an image of Emerson wearing her upcycled leg warmers! 



1




0

Friday, March 22, 2013



Slip these on when your feet need a break! Fold up and fit tightly the carry case for you to carry them in your purse whenever you need them! I have thrown a pair of flip flops in my bag or purse as an emergency get-these-high-heels-off-me-before-I-throw-them option.  I just never do because my outfit is cute and the flops are way to causal for it.  I mean, I'm not in college anymore so I "try" to reserve flip flops for the pool, beach, quick run to the store for milk while praying no one sees me in my pajama pants and hooded sweatshirt.  Anyways, back to the point...these rock! 

0

Monday, March 18, 2013

My husband bought me this gorgeous sweater a couple years ago. I wore it a couple of times.  I loved how soft it felt on my skin, but never really liked the fit.  So I decided to upcycle this sweater into items I will wear.  For some, being a stay-at-home mother means there isn't much in the budget for fashion accessories.  Solution - utilize what you already have! 
Old cow-neck sweater yields two infinity scarfs and leg warmer cuffs (the look of leg warmers without sweaty legs). If this were a long-sleeve sweater it could make full-length leg warmers.
0

Sunday, March 17, 2013




Ok, It's is now 5:00 PM on St. Patrick's Day.  You've seen all the over-achiever Mommies on Facebook or Pintrest sharing their craft projects they have done with their kids and think to yourself...I wish I would have thought about doing something with the kids.  You're thinking to yourself.... I didn't plan anything, I'm not that artistic or crafty, I don't have time to run to the store for supplies.  Well, busy Mommy these crafts are for you!  I bet you have the time, artistic ability, and the supplies to pull these off, make dinner, and post your pictures on your Instagram or Facebook account before the bedtime routine begins! Let's go!

Make Your Own Lucky Blarney Stone

1.) Go out to the yard.
2.) Pick out a rock.
3.) Bring it inside.
4.) Get out the green paint you have stashed away somewhere.
5.) Let your child paint the rock.
Done!

(Note: You may want to explain a head of time that they need to wait for the paint to dry before kissing their stone for good luck. Never assume a toddler knows anything. Ha ha The paint came right off his lips with a wet wipe though. Ha ha)


Green Squishy Sensory Bag for Baby

Let's not leave the baby out.  I read somewhere, probably a blog or Pintrest that giving babies Ziploc bags with goo in them is good for them to play with.  I believe they call them sensory bags.  Look it up later... you don't have time right now.

1.) Squeeze some green food coloring (or whatever you have that is green..even a box of green jello powder could work) in a Ziploc bag.
2.) Add some flour and water.
3.) Make sure it is closed tight and squish it all around to make green goo.
Done! Give to darling baby to touch, poke, and inevitably try to put in their mouth.

Hand print Leprechauns

If you have some finger paint, a marker, and some paper you are good to go.No artistic ability required. Very low level of drawing difficulty.

1.) Paint hand red and make hand print on the paper. This will be the beard. (Hint: fingers point down.)
2.) Take the marker and draw eyes (they can just be dots), a nose ( a curved line), a mouth in the beard (a larger dot), and pointy ears (think Spock).
3.) Use your finger and glob on some red hair.
4.) Use some of the green paint from the Blarney Stone and paint on a hat.
5.) If you want to go all out, give the hat a yellow buckle.
Done! Hang that baby on the fridge for months to remind everyone, in case they forget, that you are one Rockin' Mommy! Ha ha

0


0

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

This is less of a religious post than it is a "how stinkin' cute is Mason" post.  
He hung out with me and watched the election of Pope Francis I.  
He's so sweet. He tells the Pope thank you and bless him. Ha ha :)

0

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Mason's Preschool is having Teacher Appreciation Events this week.  They encouraged the kids to make a card at home to bring in to their teacher and teacher aids.  This is what Mase and I came up with using his hands. A spin off of the same card used as an "I Love You This Much" card we found online. He helped me trace around his hands. 

0

Friday, March 08, 2013


This Friday Faves seems to have 
an unintentional Mommy Theme.

Coming Soon! to a house party near you....These are lockets you design yourself to tell your story.  You pick the chain, the locket, the charms and/or stamped metal plates for inside, and add dangling charms if you'd like.  It's like combining the thought process of a Pandora charm bracelet with the new stamped metal charm necklaces into one.  I think it's cool that if it is small enough you can add just about whatever you want inside without buying a bunch of the charms.  I think it would be cute to add a photo.

What a brilliant idea! The mission of the Nanny Caddy is providing essential child care items as needed and on-demand. Nanny Caddy has 35 machines in 11 states, according to CEO Patrick FitzGerald and plans to expand in the coming months to popular city destinations such as the Empire State Building. I hope more and more family focused venues follow suit. 
The items range in price from $2 to $10 and include such essentials as diapers in three sizes ($3); Band-Aids ($2); Similac formula ($10); spot stain remover ($3) and pacifiers ($5), among others.

“We try to stock all the essentials that if you left them while you’re on the go, you’d be totally lost without it,” Lentz said from her Phoenix headquarters.

Fabric Diaper Bag by Maria Buzina
 
This eclectic looking bag is not only huge, but it 100% hand made with fair labor from truck canvas (tarp) and other recycled fabrics. ‘Each mark, each hole, each spot in the chosen canvas has many stories to say’, making each bag unique and one-of-a-kind! Patterns, colors and designs may vary which means that no product is identical to another, giving exclusivity to each piece. 

I love all the neat ideas I am seeing all over the internet making different furniture items have a chalkboard finish.  I haven't tried any out of pure laziness.  I think this product might help motivate me to tackle one.  Now I'm off to look around my house for a surface to chalkboard-ify! 

0

Thursday, March 07, 2013



Ya know how we say, "There just isn't any cool clothes for boys." Check out Aven Clothing - they are having a 50% off sale right now. I got Mason the black hooded pull over (picture on the left) and he says it is his "cool kid hoodie" aka "cool skater guy shirt". Ha ha :)
0