NEW SUMMER PINAFORES

Finally finished and ready for the shop are two sweet pinafore sets that I have been working on. I just had to show them off to you. Since I made them in a size 6, Hailee of course couldn't wait to try them on and has claimed both as her own. I just love the red and black one with the funky chickens all over it. They make me giggle every time I look at them. The blue one is just beautiful with big colorful corn flowers scattered all over it and the coordinating pink bloomers really make it stand out. The great thing about these cute pinafores is that the are reversible! The other side matches the bloomers and they can also be worn with jeans or with a blouse underneath in the cooler months. Available in sizes 2t to 6x, they are now for sale in my etsy shop so please stop in an take a look. I will be making more of these cute outfits along with many more fun summer dresses, shorts, and tops for your little girl or boy, so drop in frequently to check out whats new!

Erin

MAMA MERIT BADGES

Finally! Is this a great idea or what? Merit badges for us moms! Somewhere stored away in all my "childhood treasures", I have a collection of merit badges from Girl Scouts, Campfire Girls, Brownies, and Bluebirds, all clubs that I belonged to as a young girl. Earning merit badges required a test of some sort or the completion of a project and they were usually handed out by our troop leader in a small informal ceremony with our moms and dads present. For the most part these badges came in the form of a cloth patch that our moms would sew onto our uniform but occasionally the badges would be in the form of a pin that we would attach to our lapel. I can remember working very hard to earn those badges and feeling extremely proud when awarded one. It actually became a competition of sorts between myself and a couple other club members to see who could acquire the most.

Now that I am all grown up, I no longer belong to the Girl Scouts or Brownies, however I now belong to a much more adventurous club. No there are no meetings on Tuesday evenings with the troop leader, and no, there are no camp outs at the nearby State Park, but there are those exciting nights staying up half the night with a sick baby (should be worth at least one badge at least), all those fast paced afternoons of carpooling kids to ball games and dance lessons ( I'd say this one is good for no less than two badges), and let us not forget all of those weary nights after a long day at the office, spent cooking dinner, bathing the kids, helping with homework, reading stories, packing lunches, and doing laundry ( the badges for this one should be trimmed in GOLD).

Ladies, Someone out there is thinking of us! Yes, it is true! Amy, over at Mama Merit Badges, has heard our cries! She has come up with the cutest iron/sew-on fabric badges for us mama's to display proudly on diaper bags, denim jackets, jeans, scarf, purse, fridge (attach to small magnet), or wherever you want to "show it off" proudly! These little cuties are 1 1/2 inches in diameter and are 100% embroidery. You can either iron them on or sew them on for added durability and they come individually wrapped and only cost $5.00 a piece. There are several to chose from and would make a great gift.
-------Below is a brief description of these wonderful badges of honor------

* The Sex Badge: This lusty badge is for the drastic changes in your sexuality since birthing.

* The Breastfeeding Badge: This badge is to commemerate the nursing relationship, whether for a week or for years.

* The Shopping Badge: For the first time you take your newborn to the grocery store and strangers come up and touch his or her face during flu season and you maintain control.

* The Birthday Badge: This one is earned after you throw your one year old a party that was as expensive and fancy as a small wedding.

* The Diaper Badge: Has your baby ever peed in your mouth while changing his diaper? Have you had to perform gymnastics in order to prevent your child from stepping in poop? How about finding and scooping out poop from the bathtub? Yep! This award is for you.

* The Medical Badge: Ever had to break out the tweezers to retrieve a pea from your little ones nose? How about having to hold you child down in order for the nurse to give him a shot? and yes, he is SCREAMING in your ear!! Well, you have now earned this one.

* The Travel Badge: This one is earned by having to sit in your seat with a child who is potty training or a curious, shreiking climber for an hour on the taxiway or having to take a sleeping baby from a sling so you can walk through a metal detector. Your bravery and grit are honored with this badge.

* The Sleeping Badge: Have your kids slept with you part of or all of the night? Have you ever woke up with a porcelain doll's head jammed in your neck? Does your babysitter have to attend a special training seminar to figure out your kids bedtime rituals? Only get about four hours sleep a night? This badge is for you.

*The Reading Badge: Have you read the same book to your child so many times that you have memorized the text, the images and even the wear and tear patterns? Iron this one onto your library bag to remind yourself of a job well done.

* The Eating Out Badge: If you have ever picked up pasta from a filthy restaurant floor, have ever gotten your kids to eat a vegetable, have maintained your composure while attempting to snatch you little one out from under the dining table while eating out, than you have deserved this one.

And last but not least,

*the Tantrum Badge: This badge is earned early on in most parenting careers. This one is for enduring all of those times when your 5 year old has thrown stuff at you while slamming doors and screaming " whatever! I hate you"!, or the times in the grocery store that your child has thrown himself in the floor screaming and kicking because you have refused to buy him the cereal with the toy in the box, even though it's a cereal he hates and everyone is looking at you like "OMG....what an awful child"! I think some of us could earn this one several times in one day for not shaking, striking, or screaming at our children when this occurs!

Please visit Mama Merit Badges to order several of these badges ( cause I KNOW you have earned them!)


After looking through all of the ones that Amy has come up with, I feel as if I should order them all. I know for sure that I have earned each and every one many times over. How about you?

LEST WE FORGET

Many of us are off work today and enjoying a long weekend filled with barbecuing and outdoor parties. The kids are out of school and we are celebrating the beginning of Summer while planning our long awaited vacations to the beach, Disney World, or any place that we can get away for a few days and have fun with our families.

Let's not get so busy today however that we forget the meaning of the holiday itself. Memorial Day is a day set aside to remember and pay tribute to our brave men and women that are fighting for our country everyday. There are many ways to involve your children in today's festivities as well. Talk to them and tell them what this holiday is really all about. Show them pictures of how our soldiers are being remembered all across our great country. While the U.S. Department of Defense is asking us NOT to send letters or packages that are not addressed to a specific service member, there are some excellent ways to communicate your support to our military troops.

Here is a list of ways to show your support:

Operation Dear Abby

Send e-mail messages to deployed troops of any service from your home state at http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/


Defend America

Sign an online thank you card to troops at www. defendamerica.mil/nmam.html

Operation USO Care Package

Contribute to the purchase of a care package of items requested by troops such as sunscreen, disposable cameras, prepaid calling cards, and toiletries at www.usocares.org/home.htm

Operation Uplink

Contribute to the purchase of phone cards that will be distributed to military personnel and hospitalized veterans at http://operationuplink.org

Also to support our military and their families:

Offer your time and resources as an individul, an organization, or business to give families of deployed troops help with activities, such as household repairs, spring cleaning, or yard work. You can also volunteer by contacting one of your local chapters of one of the following organizations.

American Legion

American Red Cross

Boys and Girls Clubs of America

National 4-H headquarters

Veterans of Foreign Wars

You can also get more information on how to help our service members and their families on the Website of the USAFreedom Corp, a government-sponsored volunteer organization. USAFreedomCorp

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday today, but, please.....let us not forget the ones that put their life on the line everyday to defend our great country!

Happy Memorial Day!

Erin

If you are like me, and probably alot of other mom's out there, there is a good chance your kids have clothing that they have either out grown or just don't wear any more, for one reason or another. If this is the case, than check this out!

There are numerous creative ways to turn no longer used items into new and fun things that are once again useful, in other words----RECYCLE that old tank top, pair of jeans, or tee shirt!! Here are a couple of great ideas to get you started......

Take an old tank top (see picture above) and cut a small slit in hem. Insert a ribbon and run it through the hem casing until it comes back out of the slit (this is MUCH easier if you attach a safety pin to the end of the ribbon and then push the pin through casing, as it will automatically pull ribbon through). This will make a "drawstring". Tie the two ends of the ribbon together, pulling the bottom of the tank top closed. Voila!! You now have a cute tote bag. The arm holes are used as "handles".

Now, those old jeans that your daughter claims are too short..... well, cut them off into shorts or even capri's and add some cute fringe to hem or jazz them up a bit with a little "bling" by adding rhinestones on the pockets. Use your imagination, and you can come up with all sorts of ingenious ideas to recycle those old, unwanted pieces of clothing and your kids will think they have something "brand new".

Have fun!

Erin

USE YOUR NOODLE!

Mommy, I'm bored! Sound familiar? On those rainy days when the kids can't get outside and they can't find ANYTHING to play with (because of course, they have NO toys at all!!!), try trowing some pasta at them. Not literally of course, just gather the little ones up around the breakfast or dining table and then go dig out all of the boxes of noodles such as penne, lasagna, wagon wheels, bow tie, or any other pasta that you may have in the pantry. Now, this is where your imagination comes in. Use the pictures posted here as examples of fun little trains or princess tiara's that are easily stacked and glued together to create cute "toys". The kids will have a ball, and this project will keep them busy for quite some time. Like I said, let the kids use their imaginations while creating all sorts of fun things "using their noodle"! For the tiara above, all you need is a little plastic headband and of course some pasta. lay some newspaper down and either spray paint the little noodles different colors or use a paint brush and water colors to create a one-of-a-kind crown for your little princess! Just stack and glue the little pasta shapes into the desired shape on the headband, and voila! Your little Cinderella has a crown of her very own.

The train pictured here is also a lot of fun to make also. As you can see in the photo above, by using a little ingenuity, your little engineer can create a locomotive that all of his friends will envy! By gluing wagon wheel pasta to the bottom of lasagna noodles, and then stacking and gluing penne and other noodles together, you can create a a fabulous train. Also try painting it different colors. The trick here is to let your kids come up with all sorts of fun things using pasta. String noodles onto yarn or string for a fun necklace, glue onto poster board to make a sweet Fathers Day card for dad, paint and glue a few small pasta shapes to a hair clip for a cute hair accessory. The items that you can create are endless. All it requires is pasta, paint, glue, and a little imagination!

Have fun!

Erin

BOTTOMS UP TO THE NEWEST HEALTH CRAZE!

With better health being on every one's mind these days, including my own, the market has become flooded with all sorts of drinks, powders, vitamins, etc... that claim new and improved well being, energy, immune builders, and more.

It seems that the newest and most popular antioxidant rich, exotic sounding "health food" out there at the moment actually comes in a bottle! Kombucha tea is flying off the shelves of all health food stores with it's claims of providing better health and improved energy. This drink, which actually is a "mushroom" tea that derived from a region in Russia, where studies show that people there live far longer and have much better health due to this tea's benefits, claims to detoxify your liver, give great energy boosts,and improve your overall sense of well being. Although it is is reported to have a slightly sour, vinegery taste, it is naturally fizzy (but not carbonated) and some say it is "refreshing" and "clean" tasting. Another enticing claim is that the bacteria found in this tea is a form of probiotic bacteria, similar to what you would find in yogurt, which helps maintain intestinal health as well as overall immune system health. HMMMM!!!!

We have all been there, done that with chai tea, yerba mate, the grassy tasting South American tea that is drunk from a gourd and through a straw, and roiboos, the antioxident rich (claims reported) tea from South Africa that is made from a red bush native to the cape region. We, or I should say, a large number of us "overly" health concious folks continue to try new and reportdly "better" health remedies no matter what the cost in hopes to revive our innerbeing (or live longer)!!

Kombucha is a form of tea that is fermented using colonies of bacteria and yeast, which results in production of various vitamins, amino acids, and mild acids including acetic acid found in vinegar. It is said too that you might even find bits or "chunks" of it in your drink, but not to worry, those are some of the strands of the live cultures dancing around.

Many health food stores carry this tea now, and one popular version of it is available at Whole Foods and is called GT's Synergy, which is 95% kombucha, but also 5% juice, and 60 calories per bottle. This particular brand also has about 8-14 mg of caffeine - and most kombucha has a lot less than traditional teas - which is considerably less than most bottled teas.

I don't know about you, but I am rushing right out to find some of this "miracle" tea so I too can live to be 120!!!! Theres is ALWAYS something, isn't there!!!!!

Erin

Erin

CLEVER IDEAS

I am constantly thinking of new ways to use things that I have around the house. Take those little soy sauce packets for instance. You know, all the ones you have accumulated from your Chinese take-out dinners and stashed in a drawer in the kitchen for using later. Well, did you know that those little packets make great mini ice packs for those little boo-boos that your little ones frequently have? Just toss a few into the freezer and the next time you need something cold for that ever so tiny bruise, there you have it! You can also use those leftover mustard, ketchup, and mayo packets. They work great!

Here are a few more household items that you probably have around the house that can be used in ways you never thought of:

* Vinegar - For shiny hair, rinse hair after shampooing with a little vinegar mixed with water. Removes soap buildup and leaves hair super shiny.

* Coffee Filters - Great for little disposable snack bowls for the kids (for popcorn, chips, crackers, etc...). Also very good for cleaning mirrors with, wrapping around a Popsicle to stop drips, keeping in the car for napkins or quick cleanups, for use as a mini cutting board for chopping (not slicing) an onion or tomato, to line the bottom of a pot when re-potting a plant (water will pass right through but will keep dirt from washing away)

* Fabric Softener Sheets - Place one under the seat of your car for an "air freshener", tuck inside shoes in your closet to keep them smelling nice, place a sheet inside your underwear drawer to keep things smelling nice, I even place one in the bottom of the wastebasket in the bathroom to keep bath smelling fresh.

* Ice Cube Tray - Great for drawer organizing. Place inside a dresser drawer to store and organize earrings or other small trinkets. Also great for storing bobby pins, hair elastics, etc... so you always have them handy. I also use these with the kids when crafting. Ideal for organizing or seperating beads, or mixing different colors of paint.

* Baby Wipes - Last, but not least, you can never have too many of these stored in the car for messy cleanups, in your purse for a quick freshen-up, in the house for wiping of sink fixtures, wiping up sticky spills, or for use as a great quick cleaning on leather sneakers or sandals. These little jewels work wonders on so much more than the baby's butt! I keep zip-lock bags of them everywhere!

MOTHERS DAY TRIVIA

With Mothers Day fast approaching, we all are making plans to send our beloved mom's flowers and cards or do something really special for her in some way. Well, I've always wondered how Mothers Day came about. Not to insinuate that all of us mothers don't definitely deserve a holiday all our own, but just out of curiosity. I came across this article on the history of this wonderful holiday and wanted to share it with everyone, just in case, you too were curious (courtesy of Real Simple magazine).

Buy bouquet of flowers, sign greeting card, eat brunch. This is the typical Mother's Day routine. But have you ever stopped to wonder how this holiday came into existence? In 1906, a year after her mother's death, a Philadelphia woman, Ann Jarvis began campaigning for a day on which all Americans would celebrate their moms. After spreading the word through church meetings and writing letters to government representatives and businessmen, she had nearly all 46 states observing Mother's Day within three years, and in 1914, it became a national holiday.

Since then, Americans have found different ways to show they care, including wearing pink or white carnations in honor of mom, making her breakfast in bed, and buying her expensive jewels. As for Jarvis, she devoted her last years to decommercializing Mother's Day, because she felt it's original meaning had been lost. So when you honor your mother this year, remember Jarvis's simple description of the day's purpose. " To let mothers know we appreciate them, though we do not show it as often as we should". Here is a a look at how we have celebrated our mom's over the years:

* People in ancient Greece paid tribute to Rhea, the mother of the gods, with honey cakes, fine drinks, and flowers at dawn. This was the earliest Mother's Day celebration.

* In Britain, during the Middle Ages, it was customary for the wealthy to give the servants the day off on Mothering Sunday (the fourth Sunday of Lent) so they could visit their mother's bedroom and gently tie her feet with ribbon or string. To negotiate her release, the mother gives the children small gifts. (Not much in it for mom, but she does get to lie down for a bit).

So how will you celebrate Mother's Day this year?

Erin

MOMISMS FOR MOTHERS DAY

As a mom, I have favorite quotes, or tidbits of advice that I have learned from my mother and have since used on my children and now find myself using on my children and grandchildren. I honor of Mothers Day, I thought I would share some momisms with you that I love. We always hate hearing our mothers use these phrases to teach us a lesson or scold us as a child, but somehow find ourselves missing them as we become adults. These motherly sayings go a long way to build our character and strength and make us better people as we grow up, and I personally remember my mom using these harsh sounding bits of advise on me when I was younger and thinking how ridiculous they sounded. How ironic that I now find myself using these same momisms with my own kids. My two girls think that they sound ridiculous just as I did as a child and hate it when I spout one out at them. Stephanie and Ashley are all grown up now and have children of their own so I am anxious to see how long it will be before they too begin passing down these somewhat humorous sayings. Below is a collection of great "momisms" that I have been known to use from time to time and if you look closely, many are probably ones that are familiar with you as well.

* Money does not grow on trees you know.
* Don't make that face or it might freeze like that.
* If I talked to my mother the way you talk to me....
* Always wear clean underwear, you never know when you might be in an accident.
* Be careful or you'll put your eye out.
* So what if everyone else gets to do that, if everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you do that too?
* You have enough dirt behind those ears to grow potatoes.
* Close that door. Were you raised in a barn?
* If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.
* Don't put that in your mouth; you don't know where it's been.
* Be careful what you wish for, you may just get it.
* Don't eat that, it will stunt your growth.
* I'll always be proud of you no matter what you accomplish.
* When you grow up and have kids, I hope you have kids "just like you" (also known as "the mothers curse")
* Because I am the mother, that's why!
* If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times.
* Eat your vegetables. Those poor children in China would be happy to have some broccoli to eat.
* If you fall out of that tree and break your leg, don't come running to me.
* Yes, I **AM** the BOSS of you! ( my personal favorite)
* Because I said so, thats why.
* Just wait til your father gets home.
* No dessert til you clean your plate.
* I brought you into this world, and I can take you OUT!
* I've got eyes in the back of my head, that's how.
* Just you wait til you have kids of your own....then you'll understand.
* I slave for hours over a hot stove, and that's the thanks I get.
* Honestly...you'd lose your head if it wasn't screwed on.
* Bored? how can you possibly be bored? why, when I was your age, I didn't have near the amount of toys that you have to play with.
* Maybe everyone elses mother does let them do that, but I am NOT everyone elses mother, and YOU are Not going to do that.
* I am so sorry you are soooo deprived!
* Get over it!
* If you think Jimmy's mom is such a better mom that me, then maybe you should go live with Jimmy!
* You have it alot better than most kids.

There are more that I probably use occasionally, but you get the idea. How many of these have you used with your kids?

Erin

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO

For those of you that celebrate May 5th, which is Cinco de Mayo, I hope you all have a wonderful time today eating lots of great Mexican food, listening to wonderful mariachi bands, and drinking some great tequila (responsibly of course)! For those of you that really don't know much about the Mexican Holiday, then let me tell you a little of the history behind it.

Many people think this day is to celebrate Mexico's Independence, but it is not. That is celebrated on May 16th and not to be confused with Cinco de Mayo, or the 5th of May. The Battle of Puebla occurred on May 5, 1862, when an army of more than 6,000 French soldiers descended on the town of Puebla in southern Mexico. A smaller Mexican militia force led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, consisting largely of peasants, routed the occupying French troops to earn a single, decisive victory.

In modern Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is not a National holiday. It is celebrated only in certain regions, namely in the state of Puebla. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated widely in the United States. It has become an annual display of Mexican Culture., much like St. Patrick's Day for the Irish or Octoberfest for the Germans. Typical festivities on May 5th in the United States include dancing, eating, and gathering with family.

I personally love Mexican food and look forward to this holiday every year because a favorite local Mexican restaurant in our town has live Mariachi Bands playing and has really good specials on Margarita's (although I have to take it easy on those). I hope everyone has a great Cinco de Mayo in their hometown!

ME?....IN A BIKINI?....I DON'T THINK SO!

Lets face it, most of us, especially those of us that are, say, over the age of 40, DO NOT belong on ANY beach in a bikini! Me, personally.....well lets just say my body needs a little time at the gym....lets rephrase that....a LOT of time at the gym before I would feel comfortable leaving the four walls of my bedroom in even a one piece swimsuit.

Take the cute designs here, for example. See that adorable little blue two piece one there with the ruffles across the butt? Well, I don't know about you, but the LAST thing that my butt needs is more attention! And it certainly does NOT need any added accessories such as ruffles for god sake!! Don't get me wrong, its really cute alright, but do ANY of us really want to draw more attention to our derriere? And lets not forget the cute little price tag that goes with all those ruffles. The top alone is $88.00, and those little ruffled "Ava Gardner" bottoms, well they will set you back another $98.00 alone! Now take a good look at that cute little polka dot two piece there. Yes, it's quite fashionable. Yes, it would look great on someone about 110 pounds with NO cellulite and great abbs, but get this.....it has a price tag of $380.00!!! Yep, that's right girls, that's 380 smackaroo's!! For me to justify to myself, not to mention to my husband spending that kind of money on that small of an amount of fabric, I would have to have the body of...lets say......CENTERFOLD quality!!! Moving right along..... we now come to the black and white striped one piece beauty there. Now THAT one I really like. Yeah, back 20 years or so ago, I would sport one of those cute little bikini's that were small enough to have made out of a hankie, but even then, my butt didn't need to be emphasized by ruffles!! Now days, after having two children, becoming a grandmother, a YOUNG grandmother, but a grandmother non the less, my body would laugh histarically at me if I even thought about a bikini. This little black and white number, however, I think I could pull off. It is very classy, has just the right amount of conservativeness, yet would be flattering to most any figure. Yes, it is still a little pricey (to my standards anyway) at $177.00, but considering the price of the other two, it is not so bad, not to mention that you get a little more fabric for your money with this one!! Now the pretty green one here is, I guess the most conservative one in the bunch, yet is very fashionable and another one that I would consider wearing out in public these days. The price tag on this one is right up my alley too, with it running only $88.00. Isn't it amazing that the ones with the LEAST amount of fabric cost MORE than the ones with MORE??? Oh, and did I mention that this particular bathing beauty is sold at "J. Crew" ? HMMMM!! Wonder if we will see our First Lady, Mrs. Obama sporting this one this summer??

HOORAY FOR AWARDS!!!

One of my very best bud's, Veronica over at "of Mice and ramen" has honored me once again today with two special awards. "the blooger buddy" award and the "zombie chicken" award". Really Veronica, you shouldn't have!!! Somehow she always knows how to brighten my day! If you have not visited her blog, PLEASE......I beg you to stop in on her over at "of Mice and ramen" because this girl ROCKS!! She has the most AMAZING pictures that you will EVER see and she will crack you up with her antics and good spirits! It's always a pleasure to visit her! Thanks so much Veronica for these two wonderful awards! Once again, I am HONORED!! I will pass these awards on to some other great gals that deserve them! And will try my very best to do these fab awards justice!!

I guess I do need to let you in on the "wrath" of the Zombie CHicken award! So here goes.....The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace, and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regulary produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all.....

I too fear the wrath of those two chickens, so I am passing this award on to at least five wonderful bloggers that I feel really deserve it!

Erin

PLEASE......NO ELBOWS ON THE TABLE!

Okay, WHERE is it exactly that you draw the line? In the few years now that I have tried my hand at teaching Andrew proper table manners, it seems that there are a few of them that never really are remembered somehow! I came across this delightful book by Emily Post a while back while visiting a local bookstore and have found that it is really very helpful in teaching basic as well as not so basic table manners to your little ones. As she points out in this wonderful book, the suggestions here are not just for fancy parties and dinner at grandma's house. It's basic information you can teach your children to use every day to improve their social life. I don't know about you, but I have had a really hard time trying to convince Andrew that being GROSS is not a GOOD thing! Like any typical six year old, the more disgusting you can be, the better! So when I tell him that it is not nice to chew his food up and then open his mouth and show it to his cousin, Hailee, because it's GROSS, well, he just laughs and does it again, because after all, he WANTS it to be gross! I then try to explain to him that being GROSS is not a GOOD thing while at the dinner table. We DO NOT put our elbows on the table , we DO NOT chew our food with our mouths open, we Do put our napkins in our lap, we Do say please when asking for more of something, we DO say excuse me when we belch (accidently of course),etc..... are all of the things I have tried to teach him over and over and I must say that for the most part he has done pretty well. I have found the "Table Manners for Kids" book quite helpful in at least convincing Andrew that I am not "making table manners up", that there is actually a BOOK on the subject and that other moms and dads DO have these rules at their homes too (although he swears his friend Mattox's mom would NEVER actually make him use a napkin)! Oh, there are still the occaisional times that he "forgets" (conveniently) and finds it hilarious to slurp spaghetti noodles up through a straw, or fling a pea or two across the table at Hailee when I'm not looking, but for the most part he sits up straight (when I remind him), he uses his napkin to wipe his mouth (when he catches me giving him "the look" as he starts to use his sleeve instead), and says please and thank you ( when I pretend not to hear him when he says "pass the potatoes" instead), I guess the real test of how well I have done will be when he takes a girl out on a date in the future and remembers NOT to show her his half eaten food while sharing a nice dinner together! I only hope I live long enough to bask in my triumph!!

Erin

MANNERS.......OH MY!

KREATIV BLOGGER AWARD

There are so many wonderful ladies that I have met through my blog, and one in particular has been gracious enough to present me with a sweet award this morning. Jerri, over at Simply Sweet Home was very kind to pass on to me the Kreativ Blogger Award. I really appreciate the nice gesture and feel honored. There are times that I don't really feel all that creative while writing, but if I can make one person smile with a funny story, or make one person feel good inside with a nice comment, I guess that's all that really matters, isn't it? My hope is that I can leave at least one person that's visited my blog each day feeling better about their day ahead, and if I can do that, then that's wonderful!!!....I've accomplished my goal and I feel good knowing I made someone smile! So thank you Jerri for the terrific award. YOU have made MY day today!!

EARTH DAY .......AMAZING GOODIES

Earth Day is becoming more and more recognized these days and I think that it's a good thing. Maybe we should consider making it a National Holiday that is a mandatory "day off from work" day. Yep, I think that our world, and at least our country would be better off if we all took a day off once a year and planted a tree, cleaned up litter in our community, or volunteered with a local organization to better our eco system for ONE day. Just think about all the newspapers and magazines we read and throw in the garbage, or all of the sodas and water we drink from plastic bottles that we toss away. Well, take a look at these wonderful (not to mention, fashionable) purses. Guess what? They are made from old rolled up recycled newspapers! That's right, and aren't they beautiful? Green Veranda, an online store that focuses on products that are made from recycled newspaper specializes in trendy, fashionable, stylish purses. However, they also carry many other wonderful items made from the same products. Each item is handmade and often takes the designer 1 to 2 full days per purse, making each one unique. The products offered are designed by Green Veranda in conjunction with a co-op of 32 women located in Brazil. They believe in the global supply chain and say that it's usually the laborer's physically making the products that are paid the least. With a strong belief and involvement in the "fair trade act", they make sure the producers recieve a fair percentage of the total.
Every item that you see at Green Veranda is Eco-Friendly and is guranteed to change the life of someone. For every item sold, Green Veranda will plant a tree in the USA. In addition, you have the option of selecting a non-profit organization which will recieve 10% of their profits for the sale.
Green Veranda was created out of a life long dream of one very special woman to do something about the social and environmental condition of our planet. The founder, Denise Marques,realized that she was not alone in her purpose. Thus, the birth of her company which is based on principles such as Saving Our Planet, Fair Trade, and Giving Back.

It takes a brave person to to truly realize that our world needs a change. It also takes a brave person to act and make a difference.

It's your choice.

Let's do it together! Choose Green Veranda! Choose Green for life! And still show off your good taste!

Denise Marques

Please go check out Green Veranda at www.greenveranda.com. You will be utterly amazed at the handwork of the wonderfully talented women of Brazil.

Happy Earth Day!!!!

Erin

FABULOUS KIDS BIRTHDAY CAKES

I always love making Andrew and Hailee's birthday cakes instead of ordering a premade one from the bakery or grocery store because I have so much fun with it. I must admit that I don't always have as much time as I would like to spend on them, but I do the best I can with the time I do have. In February, I made a "pirate ship" cake for Andrew's 6th birthday and it really turned out cute. I just used my imagination pretty much and went to the dollar store and picked up a package of plastic pirates (there was even a cannon, barrels, and flags in the pkg.) for decorating the cake with. I baked a sheet cake, cut it into the appropriate looking pieces, and played around with stacking it, etc... until I got it the way I wanted. I took wooden shish-ka-bob skewers from the kitchen and snipped off the pointy end, and made paper flags, poked the skewers threw and stuck in the "ship" cake. I used brown frosting for the sides of the ship and ran a knife through it to get the "woodgrain" effect. Andrew, as well as everyone else at the party loved it. Last year it was a "race car" cake, the year before was a "John Deere tractor" cake (that one was amazing, I must say) with the farm, barn and all. I even made the top of the cake looked "plowed" just like a field with rows of "planted" veggies (which were actually candy corn(orange) pushed into the frosting "dirt" with a little green frosting piped on top to resemble carrots, rows of "cabbages" were also "planted in the frosting "dirt" using the same green frosting piped in little swirls to resemble tiny cabbages. Needless to say, it was a big hit at the party, and almost too cute to cut! For Hailee's 4th birthday last year, she requested a "tea party" themed birthday party, so I thumbed through the "birthday cake cook book" to get some ideas. There wasn't a teapot cake featured in there anywhere, but after looking at a few princess cakes, butterfly cakes, and cute "purse" cakes, I came up with something. It turned out really nice and she loved it. I just basically made a sheet cake, trimmed it into the shape of a tea-pot, with handle, spout, and all, and then had a ball with the frosting and decorations. Using pink frosting for the background, I piped white frosting to outline the tea-pot, and to make the "lid". Adding some glittery sprinkles and fancy (but easy) swirls here and there, it was very cute. I even made a few little "tea cups" and "saucers" with the left over trimmed off cake. It was a big hit at the party and she bragged to everyone that her "MiMi" made it! I was in histarics while watching all those little girls looking at me like I was some kind of "hero" or "celebrity" or something. Hailee's birthday is coming up again in June and I wonder what it will be this year.....a butterfly, a Barbie, a princess.....who knows with her, it could even end up being "Spider Man". LOL!! I really like this doll house one and think I will show it to her to see what she thinks. It reminds me a little of a "gingerbread house, except decorated a little different. Anyway, I came across these cute ones and thought I would share them with everyone. If you check out the Parents Magazine website, you will find these two along witha few more and they even provide step by step instructions (and a video) of how to make them. So head on over and try one for your little ones next birthday party. He or she will think you are "the greatest" and you too could become a "celebrity" for the day at their big bash!


Erin

GEORGIKIDS SPRING FLING SALE

Okay, I keep telling myself that I am going to focus more on my etsy shop on this blog and share all of my creations with everyone, but until now it seems that I have been so excited about featuring other interesting and fun things, that I have neglected my poor little boutique. I truly have some really cute things to show off to you all too, so I've decided that today, I will feature some sweet Spring outfits that I have made recently and show them off a little. Oh, and also offer them to everyone at a fantastic price this week.

Thats right! Georgikids is having a sale this week and it's a big one! Almost everything in the shop is marked down for this Spring Fling event. If you haven't visited my shop over at Etsy, please take the time this week to pop in and take advantage of some real bargains on cute Spring custom boutique clothing for your little ones. I have added some sweet new outfits to the collection and will be adding even more wonderful items all week long (with equally great prices)! This sale is only through Friday, so don't miss out. I also take custom orders, so if you have something in mind that is not in my shop, just let me know and I will be happy to make it to order at a super duper price! I can make any item listed in boys or girls and in infant through size 6x. All items can also be made into your choice of shorts, bloomers, capri's, long pants, or jumpers at no extra charge. And don't forget, with any order totaling $25.00 or more, you receive a free hair accessory of your choice. How great is that??? I even ship international, so head on over there and check out the adorable outfits I've made for the Spring. I think you will enjoy yourself and it may just put you in the mood for Summer! Thanks so much!

Erin

GIVE YOUR BODY A TREAT

If your like me, you love wonderful smelling and skin silkening bath soaps. Even though most of us mama's rarely have the opportunity to indulge ourselves with an hour of our very own to relax in a nice hot tub without the bathroom door being continuously banged on with a little voice on the other side crying out.....mommy, what are you doing?, I'm thirsty, can I come in?, I can't find my doll.....you get the picture, We do want the little time that we do have to be as enjoyable as possible. Well, a very good friend of mine, Johnette, over at FlintRiver Soaps makes the most luxurious, skin softening, glorious smelling bath goodies and is kind enough to have sent me a few to try out. Each one is cold pressed and handcrafted to make the most of your bathing experience. They ALL smell wonderful and I can truly say that I love the way they make my skin feel. The Fromme Pear is lightly fruity and fresh smelling and is one of my favorites. I also love the Lime in D Coconut scented one. It turns your bath into a "tropical experience". All you need is a Pina' Colada in your hand, some good beach music playing, and you will be transformed to the Caribbean while in your bath tub. I must say that I was hesitant to try the Banana Pudding soap she sent me for fear my hubby would take one smell of it and be chasing me around the house with a spoon and a can of whipped cream!LOL! Being a southern girl though and loving banana pudding, I had to try it. It was so dreamy feeling and the fragrance was incredible, with a very subtle smell of banana, and it felt wonderful on my skin. I have to admit I was surprised, but pleasantly with that one. I have since visited her etsy shop and have picked out several other luxurious soaps that I want to order. If you haven't visited FlintRiver Soaps over on Etsy, please do. You will find a treasure of yummy scented soaps to choose from and Johnette is offering a buy 3 bars, get 1 bar free special this month, so I hope you will stop by her shop and pick some up for yourself, a friend, or as a gift for someone special. I promise you won't be disappointed!

Enjoy!

Erin

GOT TO HAVE IT: GRAFFEETI SNEAKERS

Aren't these so cool? I came across these in Parents Magazine and had to share. As stated in the article, as long as there is is school boredom and pens exist, kids will doodle on anything within reach. One shoe company, thankfully has been paying attention to that fact. Graffeeti Sneakers are kicks that can be drawn on... again and again. Available in low cut or high top style and many different styles, they feature three dry-erasable areas (one on each side and one on the toe) where kids can "channel" their inner artiste, as well as a holster for one of the six colored pens that come with the shoes. What's even cooler is that the pens are specially formulated so the artwork comes off with a simple swipe of the hand and the ink won't stain skin.

The two geniuses behind this concept are civil engineers for the city of Roseville, California, with no background in in fashion or children's apparel whatsoever. They came up with the idea from working with dry erase boards, tossing out too many of their own kid's shoes and being lifelong shoe doodlers themselves. Another great incentive to purchasing a pair of these adorable and fun sneakers are that a percentage of your purchase goes to children's charities. To purchase a pair for your little doodler, go to www.graffeetisneakers.com. Cost for a pair is $41.00 for high tops, and $39.00 for low tops. Oh, and get this... backpacks are now availble with this company using this same concept. What fun! Wish they had them in adult sizes too!!
I know Andrew and Hailee will be begging for a pair.

Erin

ARTISTA - Creative Safari's for Women

Okay girls, this REALLY caught my attention so I had to include you all in this experience. Just think, a safari for US! To create, to express, to unite!! Wouldn't that just be glorious!

Artista safari's is the artistic branch of Manifesta Safari's, offering world premier vacations for Women since 1997. The commitment of this group of fantastic women is to help their guests reach their full potential by providing life altering experiences.

The inspiring location of Carmel-By-The-Sea, was established as a bohemian artist and writers colony after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Since then, it's been the home and inspiration for such guests as Jack London, and Ansel Adams. Today's Carmel has that same sense of beauty and and promise.

Carmel-By-The-Sea is breathtakingly beautiful. It speaks to your body and soul. While hiking and and meditating among the rocky cliffs of the Point of Lobos Reserve, which is known as the crown jewel of California parks, the sea air rejuvenates, colors become your palette, and the hues and rhythms recharge your very being.

From the plein air painting festivalsto the Sand Castle Contest, Carmel-By-The-Sea naturally attracts and inspires a wide range of artists and their patrons.

It is said that "Here, fine art is a way of life and here is where we create".

"Carmel's Landmark Hotel since 1029", the Cypress Inn serves as accomodations for everyone that visits. Complete with courtyard, tapas restaurant, and full-service bar serving afternoon tea daily, the Inn is owned and operated by Doris Day and Dennis LeVett.

With just a short walk to the ocean, the Cypress Inn's Mediteranean facade hints of old world charm while making you feel right at home in the intimate lounge or garden courtyard.

Workshops and activities are scheduled throughout the day to best suit your own pace. Classes in Abstract Painting, Impresia Printmaking, and Encaustic Painting are all offered, along with massages, spa experiences, and other activities to enjoy while there.


This experience intrigued me so much and just reading all the details on the website had me wanting to call my travel agent right away. You really have to go visit them on their website to really appreciate all they have to offer. It is amazing!! I think this would be a great "girls" retreat and I personally hope to indulge sometime soon. If you are interested, please visit this fabulous site at Atista-safari's for women and be delighted as much as I was!

Enjoy!

Erin

THE MAYFLOWER INN AND SPA

According to "Good Morning America", this is the #1 spa in America. Located in the idyllic town of Washington, Connecticut, and less than 2 hours from New York City, this wonderful Manor sits amongst the abundant and breathtaking beauty of 58 acres of century old rhododendron, endless trees, and luxuriant grounds. Guests also can enjoy the tranquil beauty of the lush lawn, the contemplative Shakespeare Garden and the meandering paths of the American Poetry Maze which offers superb relaxation and rejuvenation.

The perfect getaway to unwind and relax, this glorious retreat is now offering a stimulas package of it's own to help you shake off the less than positive projections and get you headed in the right direction for 2009. This package is designed for corporate teams to energize and stratigize for the year ahead, however, single packages are available and very much worth the price. The "Mini Luxe Experience" is tailor made for people with limited time who need maximum relaxation. This includes a luxurious two night spa experience.

This fabulous package includes:

* UNLIMITED access to all scheduled classes and activities.
* Accomodations in one of 30 sumptuous rooms or suites.
* Three healthy Spa cuisine meals a day with Personal Spa Advisor Services.
* Treatments and private fitness sessions available on an a'la carte basis.
* warm-up suits
* Logo T-shirts

Two nights from $1,350, normally $1,750 and offered Sunday through Thursday.

Are You ready to sign up?

Erin

EASTER PARTY WINNER

Congratulations goes out to Rhonda over at Giggles and Sugar Kisses. She is the winner of the Georgikids Easter Party giveaway and as the winner, she gets to choose an outfit of her choice from the Georgikids Etsy shop to be custom made for her in the size of her choice. If you haven't visited Giggles and Sugar Kisses, you must stop by, Rhonda has a great blog and she has some great giveaways over there as well! Congrats Rhonda on being our winner and I hope you enjoy your outfit.

Everyone else that visited the Easter Party last week will be receiving "goody bags" filled with yummy and fun stuff, so make sure you get you address e-mailed to me so I get yours in the mail! Thanks to all that came to our party and I hope everyone had a great time! I know I did!!

Erin

UPTOWN BANANA PUDDING

Does this look yummy or what? Down here in the South, we love banana pudding! After seeing this recipe for Banana Cheesecake, I almost drooled! Of course I had to try it and I don't think I've ever eaten anything as good! It is DELICIOUS! Of course mine didn't turn out quite as pretty as the one here in the picture, but it was darn close and everyone loved it! This is the perfect dessert for your Easter feast. It's rather easy to make and even the kids love it! If you like banana's or cheesecake (and who doesn't), than you must try this! You will be amazed at how fast it is gobbled up!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups finely crushed vanilla wafers
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 large, ripe banana's, diced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
3 (8oz. pkgs.) cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon coffe liqueur
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Meringue

Preparation:

Combine first 3 ingredients in small bowl. Press evenly into bottom of a lightly greased 9-inch springform pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Combine diced bananas and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a small saucepan. Stir in 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Place over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring constantly for about 1 minute or just until sugar has melted. Set aside.

Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer 3 minutes or until smooth. Gradually add 1 cup granulated sugar, beating until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Beat in coffee liqueur and vanilla. Pour into prepared vanilla wafer crust. Spoon tablespoons of banana mixture evenly over top, and swirl gently into cream cheese mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 - 45 minutes or until center is almost set.

Drop spoonfuls of Meringue gently and evenly over hot filling. (recipe below)

Bake at 400 degreesfor 10 minutes or until meringue is golden brown. Remove from oven, and gently run a knife around the edge of cheesecake in pan to loosen. Cool cheesecake completely on a wire rack. Cover loosely and chill for 8 hours. Release and remove side from pan to serve. Makes approx. 10 - 12 servings. YUM!!

Meringue

3 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons sugar

Beat egg whites and salt at high speed with an electric mixer until foamy. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until soft peaks form and sugar dissolves (about 1 - 2 minutes).

Enjoy!!

Erin

QUEEN FOR THE DAY!!

I have been honored with the "Queen Blogger Award" this morning and it has made my day! Veronica, the wonderful gal over at " Of Mice and raMen" has kindly passed this award on to me, so many thanks go out to her. You have GOT to drop in on her and say hello. Her blog is terrific and has the most amazing photo's you've ever seen! This sweet lady has also awarded me the "Fan" award and the "Best Blogger Buddy" awards recently, so I am feeling very special today! I too am going to pass these awards on to some of my favorite ladies that I just love! Thank you again Veronica! Your the Best!!

Erin

MUST HAVE EASTER GOODIES

As we all know, Easter is creeping up on us fast, and many of us are finding ourselves scrambling around looking for last minute "basket stuffers". I must admit that I am one of those people and have been dropping in on a few of my fellow Etsians for some handmade goodies that are "one of a kind". I came across some wonderful artisians the last few days and wanted to share a couple of my favorites with you. The first one is THE CUPCAKE GIRLS Etsy shop and do they ever have some CUTE things. I giggled out loud when I saw this cute bunny stuffed inside a carrot. Made of all felt, and measuring in at 5", it's the perfect size for a little one and fits nicely into a Easter Basket. The little bunny even comes out of the carrot for play and has a poofy little tail. Along with this sweetie, THE CUPCAKE GIRLS have lots more adorable little felt items that you will just love, so stop by their shop on Etsy and check everything out. These girls are fabulous!!!You will want to fill your shopping cart full!!

Next I want to tell you all about WHEEZIES! This little Etsy shop really packs a punch! Their adorable scrabble tile necklaces are so unique and well made that you will want to pick up several (not to mention, the price on them is sensational). I just love this cute Peter Rabbit one and it makes a perfect gift for the Easter basket. All you need is a sweet pastel plastic egg to stash it in. Every little girl (or even your big girl) will love wearing this charming scrabble tile necklace all year long. All the necklaces in this wonderful shop are upcycled from real scrabble tiles which makes them one-of-a-kind and oh so charming. With the purchase of this Peter Rabbit tile, you will receive a pretty silver chain free to wear it on, although they do offer several sweet coordinating pastel cords in which to chose from also. The great girls over at WHEEZIES also seal all of their tiles to be water resistant, although they do recommend that you do remove before bathing, showering, or swimming so as to not get them extremely wet since they are not water PROOF! WHEEZIES even packs these wonderful creations in their very own gift box so they are ready to give as soon as they arrive. Please stop by their delightful little shop and pick up an Easter basket full. I'm sure you will love them as much as I do.

HAVE A HOPPY DAY!!!

Erin

EASTER PARTY COCKTAIL

Our Easter Party just wouldn't be complete without a signature cocktail to sip on while bunny hopping! This drink is one you've got to try! It's not only easy to make, but delicious and makes enough to share with a friend or two! So go ahead, whip a batch up and enjoy!

SANGRIA BLANCO

Ingredients:

1/4 cup sugar good white wine (750 milliliters ea.)
3/4 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves (optional)
1 cup orange liqueur (such as... Grand Marnier)
2-3 cups lemon-lime soft drink, chilled (sprite or seven-up)
2 lemons, thinly sliced
2 oranges, thinly sliced
1 pint fresh strawberries, thinly sliced

Preparation:

1) Bring sugar and 1 1/4 cups water to a boil (this makes a simple syrup)in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, and let stand 10 minutes.

2) Combine sugar mixture, white wine, and next two ingredients in a large container; cover and chill for 4 hours. Stir in lemon-lime soft drink and next 4 ingredients just before serving. Serve over ice if desired.

Enjoy this with Easter brunch, Easter dinner, or just for yummy refreshment anytime you like!

Erin