Occasionally, I do write more than 2,200 characters (thanks for the limit, Instagram), and when I do, you will find those words here. I also love participating in Calling It Home’s One Room Challenge, which happens every spring and fall. You can find past rooms I’ve worked on here. Want some help with your own One Room Challenge? Let me know so that we can get planning for the next round!
It’s week 2 of the One Room Challenge and it is time for a game plan. Last week, we discussed why I am working on this room. Quick refresh: our family needs a play space that is slightly out of the way, but close enough for kitchen time supervision (not hard in 1,100 square feet). We would also like to keep the TV out of the main living room.
Read MoreConfession time. I’ve been stalking the One Room Challenge for the last couple of years. It is the source of some pretty amazing ideas – both from professional and amateur designers. This challenge seems to feed really good design. It showcases places that you really want live in. And I want to accept the challenge. I almost have. But putting yourself out there is tough, especially when you are putting yourself out there with something as personal as your home or even something as personal as (gasp) your dream job. What if no one likes my room? What if no one even reads this?
Read MoreLast summer, on a random Thursday, I threw a cowboy party for the kids. I gathered up some hats and bandanas, made some cookie dough, added balloons, and it was a party.
It was not a big deal in terms of preparation. It was certainly no mermaid party. But it was a fun surprise for the kids and all of them – even the teens – had a great afternoon.
Read MoreEvery time I throw a party, there is at least one point in the preparation stage, typically two or three days before the party, when I think to myself that I must by absolutely crazy to be doing whatever it is I am doing at that very moment. Last week, that moment came when I was painting glitter scales on a cardboard mermaid photo backdrop. For a birthday party. For five-year-olds.
Read MoreIn case you’ve been in a social media black hole, Mother’s Day is right around the corner (May 10th to be specific). And while it should not be necessary to have a separate category of cards and gifts for the non-bio moms in our lives, today we are going to talk about cards for step-moms. But first, we are going to talk about step-moms.
Read MoreFive years ago today, I was life-flighted during a hail storm from my local hospital to the nearest hospital with a neo-natal unit. It sounds totally dramatic and I suppose it was, but I was so drugged up, I remember very little of it. My sister-in-law can tell you the details. She got to fly in the co-pilot’s seat since the three nurses (dubbed “The Charlie’s Angels” by my sister-in-law) and I took up all the room in the back of the plane. It was a small plane.
Read MoreRemember a few weeks ago (ok, seven weeks ago, but who’s counting?) when I said my twins were already getting into planning mode for their 5th birthday? Do you also remember how I told you that the twins had decided on a knight and princess themed birthday party? They were dead set on the idea. They were pinning things. We bought a dragon piñata. We searched the dollar store for decorations. They were all, “Mom, let’s make swords.” And “Mom, can we [editor’s note: “we” always means “mom” when my kids use it in this context] make everyone dragon tails? ” And “Mom, what if someone doesn’t want to dress like princess? I can ask everyone what they want to be and then you can make them all a costume.”
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