A Little Pinterest Post!

Sorry for the lack of a Monday post, but I was just waiting for our power to go out. I am feeling very lucky this morning that we didn't lose power or have any significant damage in my area, but am in awe of how hard people were hit closer to our coast. Thoughts and prayers to everyone that had to deal with a much more intense storm then I did.

Katey is in the process of packing up her house in Canada and getting ready to move back to the US so she won't be around much in the next week or so. She will be back soon with a review of the educational website k12 though!

I have a little cabin fever today, but my Liza doesn't seem to want to leave the house. I let her win the battle of home vs. errands because we are both fighting colds and I want her to rest.

I spent a lot of time on Pinterest last night while we were waiting out the storm. Here are some of my favorite pins!

I need to do this in my bathroom. I could put all my hair products in it. I could even put wash cloths and the like!

I've been planning on doing something similar to this for Liza because I think she would really enjoy it, but I forgot about it. I'm glad I saw this pin because it's now back on my radar! Be on the lookout for my version sometime soon.

I am trying to figure out what to do for the new baby boy. Do I set up a crib in Liza's room and try to have them share a room? We don't plan to stay in this house too much longer so I'd hate to totally re-do her room, but I need to think of  a way to make it a girl AND boy room. I'm loving this map. Maybe I'll do something similar. Hmmmmmmmm....so much to think about!

That's all I have for you today, my friends. I'll be back tomorrow with a Halloween post!

Be safe!!!

XOXO Sarah

Snap Shot of Her Life

 

This week we've been linking up to adventuroo this week as part of her "Week In My Life" challenge.

I decided to approach this project so it would be a little diary of what Liza does during the week. I hope that someday she enjoys this!

October 21-25, 2012

Sunday:

We tagged our Christmas tree today!

Um, how gorgeous is my town?!



This is what happens when your husband is a lot taller than you...I look like a floating head.

I need to wear more makeup :)

Monday:

We had a laid back morning. I tried to keep you busy so I could get some housework done.



Painting your pumpkin

 We made pumpkin muffins with chocolate chips. Yummy!



 You painted a canvas that I've been meaning to use forever.

Mommy fail: I got distracted and forgot to take the tape off right away.

 Mommy cuddles!

Tuesday:

You have gymnastics today, but we need to change the slipcovers on the couch first! You have fun jumping and climbing on the cushions.



After your nap we went outside to play. We raked some leaves and you loved having your own rake.

It was a beautiful fall day!

You look like me as a toddler in this picture!

Wednesday:

We are tired this morning. You did not sleep well last night and kept me up for a few hours in the middle of the night. Starbucks was a priority for mommy!

 Then it was time for music class! You LOVE Miss Joanne from Tunes 4 Tots. We have been attending her classes since you were about 7 months old and you've made some cute little friends.

Next, we made a quick stop at Target and you insisted on walking the "balance beam."

 While you were napping, construction started (again!) outside of our house and I said a little prayer for you to sleep through the jack hammering!

At this point in the day, I wasn't feeling very well so I gave you some paper and glue. This kept you busy for a bit :)

 Pancakes for dinner! Making pancakes with your daddy is one of your favorite things to do!

Thursday:

Another lazy morning. Mommy feels sick with a stuffy nose, but laundry, floors washed, and meatballs made all before lunch. Go me :)

I snuck up on you and filmed you singing your favorite song.

 You also, played dress up.

Emptied your piggy bank and were busy counting your money...did I mention that you wouldn't nap today?

We picked up your favorite person at the bus stop-



My sweet niece who is worried that her new baby cousin won't love her as much as Liza does!

Spaghetti and meatballs for dinner!



And I almost forgot, 26 week baby bump!



How's your week going?!

Don't forget to check out the adventuroo blog and all the fun link ups!


XOXO Sarah

A Look At Our Week

We are participating in  the "A week in my life" challenge from Adventuroo.

I am going to put a little spin on it by combining two days in one post. :)

So here it goes.

Monday: 

Our morning started with Ariana and Mady waking at 5am and coming to my bed. Daddy was already at work. It was way too early, so they both got into bed with me. It took a little bit for us to all fall back to sleep, but we finally did. Ariana didn't want to wake up for school. We had to move fast so she wouldn't miss the carpool pickup. If you know Ariana moving fast is not part of her vocabulary. She lives on slow time.

Off to school Ariana went, but Mady stayed in bed until almost 9am while I got dressed and fed Jake.
I had to feed the Starbucks addiction early since I ran out of k-cups. After Mady woke up I dressed her and we went to pick up Starbucks and to meet my friend at her house.

In the afternoon, I picked up Ariana from school. When we got home, I prepared dinner and then took off with Ariana and Jake to tutoring while Matt stayed home with Mady and put dinner in the oven.

While Ariana was at the tutor I brought some clothes to the goodwill bin, and took Jacob to the park.
He had fun playing in the leaves and swinging.

When I got home from all that we had dinner, did homework, and I have the kids a bath and put them to bed.

Finally at the end of the night I edited pictures from a family photo shoot I did on Friday.


Tuesday:

Thankfully we had a lazy day today. It rained all day, and it was very gloomy.

After breakfast and getting my big girl off to school the littles played nicely together and watched Mickey Mouse in the playroom.

My friend Elisabeth came over with her newborn baby, Makensie. She is so sweet, and it was nice to have some company and get my baby fix. :) Of course I took out my camera for a few snapshots. She is a beauty!

 She is her mama's fourth baby and only girl!

While they were visiting, Jake decided he was hungry and went to look for a snack.

Mady was right behind him hoping to get in on the action.

When Daddy came home in the afternoon he made some homemade vegetable soup which was nice to have on such a lazy, rainy day.

We ended our night with the kids dancing to to "Gangnam Style." Daddy did video tape it but it's on his phone and I don't have access to it right now.

I hope you enjoyed a bit of a glimpse into my week. In the upcoming weeks you may not see much of me on the blog since our movers come on Monday and we move November 4.


Hugs,
Katey

Tasty Tuesday: Baked Barbecue Chicken

It's Tasty Tuesday. Below is a recipe I would like to share with you. It is super easy and is absolutely delicious. I actually make it, not my hubs. LOL

I got this recipe from the Gooseberry Patch cookbook.

Sorry its upside down I can't figure out how to rotate it here.

Baked Barbecue Chicken

Ingredients:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup of all purpose flour
6-7 bacon slices
1 - 1/2 c. Barbecue sauce ( I use sweet baby rays)

Directions: Coat chicken breasts in flour; arrange in an ungreased 13x9 baking pan. Lay bacon across tops of chicken; bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes. Drain. pour BBQ sauce on top. Bake 15mins longer. Serves 4.

Sarah and I both love getting new recipes. If you have one you would like to share or a link to one please comment below.

Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday!

Hugs,

Katey

Pumpkin Hammering

This is something that I have seen around preschools for many years and I was excited to try it with Liza this fall.

I love presenting Liza with activities that she will enjoy and at the same time promote her development. Pumpkin hammering is a wonderful way to promote fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Here is what you need:

• Pumpkin
• Golf Tees
• Hammer (we used the play hammer from Liza's tool set)

For this activity, I showed Liza exactly what to do because I knew she would need some direction.
It was difficult for Liza to hold the golf tee and hammer at the same time, so I helped out by holding the tee for her.

With a little practice, she was able to hit the top of the tee with her hammer. I also stuck the tee into the pumpkin skin a little bit so she would be able to hammer it in easier.

Older children wouldn't need as much assistance. In fact, I've only ever seen this activity done with preschool aged children (or older), but Liza rocked it. She sat at her table for an hour and hammered the tees in then pulled them out.

She soon figured out that she could re-hammer the tees into previously made holes without any assistance from me. It was extra fine motor practice that I had not thought about beforehand!

We did this last week and she has gone back to it almost everyday. You can see the holes are looking a little gross now! I bet it would look cute carved out with a candle inside. A polka dot pumpkin!

And that's how we spent last Sunday morning! I hope you get the chance to try this out with your littles!

Have a wonderful day!!!

XOXO Sarah

100 Things About Us!

Happy Friday!

This has been a super long week for us both and we thought it might be fun to do something a little random around here!

Here are 100 things about us that we know you've always wanted to know :)

Sarah - 

1. Mario Lopez once put his arm around me. But I wished it was Mark Paul Gosselaar. Swoon.
2. I am super sentimental. I really don't like it when things get changed up. Especially holidays.
3.I didn't like Oreos until after I married my husband. He converted me.
4. I wish I had more time to do things like refinish furniture and sew.
5. I married my only boyfriend.
6. I love Grey's Anatomy and miss drinking wine with my friends while watching it.
7. Target is my happy place.
8. I hate shopping for jeans. I loath it.
9. I am 31 and still can't do my hair.
10. I don't really have a favorite song. Or a favorite movie (well, I do LOVE Meet me in St. Louis).
11. I have a tendency to listen to music, but not really listen to the words.
12. I am SUPER indecisive about things like chosing a resturant to eat at.
13. The only beer I truly enjoy (when not pregnant!) is Blue Moon with an orange slice. I love me some red sangria (especially if my bff's hubby made it!).
14. I was the kid who was always grounded. For rolling my eyes. I was obviously a rebel.
15. My bff and I wore pink boas when we went to our last Britney concert. We were so cool.
16. I have always struggled with self confidence, but my 30's have been good to me. Motherhood has been good to me. I'm winning the battle :)
17. Saved By The Bell is my all time favorite show, but I am loving New Girl. Seriously cracks me up every week. Can you tell I like TV?
18. I still think my husband is the cutest guy around.
19. Someday I will have an awesome themed costume party. My husband is not in love with this idea.
20. I am not nervous about bringing another baby into the house. We'll figure it out.
21. I try very hard to be kind and loving to all people. Even if I don't agree with you.
22. My niece is one of my favorite people in my world.
23. Sometimes I like it when it rains because I don't feel too bad about cleaning my house. It seems like such a waste of time on a sunny day.
24. I love to entertain and cannot wait to have a house big enough.
25. I didn't realize that I resemble my grandmother until after she passed away.
26. I once totalled my car when I hit a curb. Now I am scared to drive in the fog.
27. My first car was a 1984 Toyota Camry. It was a stick shift, had no radio, and I didn't need a key to start it. But it smelled like my grandfather and I kind of miss it.
28. I wanted to be an actress for a very long time. I would daydream about being discovered.
29. I never knew that I am smart until I went to college.
30. I worked my butt off through college. I went to school full time and worked a minimum of two jobs all the time. I can't even tell you all the different places I have worked, but I know I have held at least 12 different "professions."
31. I love when my girl looks at me and smiles while she says, "That's my mom, right?"
32. Clearance finds make me happy.
33. I enjoy blogging. It gives me an outlet.
34. I used to be a cat person. And then they got fleas.
35. I wish my California cousins lived closer.
36. I can be quite feisty. Don't mess with me or someone I love.
37. I love Judy Garland. I spent many high school hours reading biography's and watching all her movies.
38. I have Liza Minnelli's autograph.
39. I can never seem to drink a full cup of coffee.
40. I decided years ago that I don't really enjoy Dunkin Donuts coffee, but I drink it because it is convenient.
41. I don't feel like I am a grown up.
42. I have no sense of direction. I get lost all the time.
43. Ever since having a baby I cannot watch movies unless they are chic flicks, Everything else stresses me out.
44. There is a moment everyday that makes me stop and remember how incredibly blessed I am to have my family.
45. I feel lucky that I was able to travel to Europe. I felt at home in Italy. It's hard to describe, but I just knew I was from there.
46. When I was young, people would often ask if I was Alyssa Milano. Um...THANK YOU!
47. The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth.
48. My right hand pinky is crooked. I broke it when I was six and playing basketball. I had a cast up to my elbow.
48. Loud chewing grosses me out.
49. If I won the lottery I would buy a freaking dishwasher. I've been living with a broken one for too many years.
50. I want a power drill for Christmas. A pink one, please.

Katey - 
1. I met my husband Matt at a restaurant/bar. We have been together ever since.
2.I have a thing for Jason Aldean. (Shh don't tell my husband)
3.I am a southern girl at heart. I should have been raised there. :giggle
4.Chik-fil-A is the only fast food I love - if you have never tried it you need to!
5.Country music has been my favorite since I was in high school. I started with listening to the Dixie Chicks, and Garth Brooks
6.I used to sing all the time at church, and in school. It was my thing for a long time.
7.I wish I could play an instrument because I enjoy classical music.
8.I used to be in the drama club in middle and high school. I have played the spirit of Christmas past, and a dumb blonde in the Jury Room. It was so much fun!
9.When I was 20 my doctor told me I might not be able to conceive children. Now I have three.
10.I suffer from endometriosis.
11. I have moved more than 10x in my life. In fact we are moving in two weeks.
12.The beach is my favorite place.
13.Starbucks is my addiction. I have some sort of drink from there almost everyday.
14.I love to dance but I am not great at it. I would love to take lessons.
I still watch a soap opera General Hospital is my favorite. It was upsetting when they cancelled One life to Live.
15.I am having a difficult time parting with my baby stuff even though I don't necessarily want anymore children. I guess it's just hard to get passed this stage of my life.
16.My first car was a Chevy Celebrity named Valerie because it has an oil leak and I had to constantly fill it with valve line oil. Ha!
17.I minored in Women's studies in college. I consider my self a semi- feminist. I thought Hilary Clinton should have been the Presidential candidate.
18.My favorite color is and always has been purple.
19. My favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip or if its from Somerset Creamery it's Chocolate Mint.
20.I have too many products from apple and I am looking at ordering the iPhone 5.
21.I enjoy taking pictures and sometimes obsess over them but suck at printing them
22.I am a Yankee fan
23. I love wearing flip flops
24.I drive a Toyota sienna minivan and absolutely love it!!
25.My first time at Disney was when I was 20 just after 9/11. I did the college program and worked there for three months. I have been in love ever since. Hopefully we get to go there again soon!
26.Sunday is my favorite day of the week.
27.I enjoy a good red wine
28.I hate packing but love going on vacation
29.Our best family vacation was to California.
30. I have to sleep with a blanket.
31. I am a little claustrophobic.
32. My favorite holiday is Christmas.
33. It bothers me when people are upset with me.
34. I forgive too easily sometimes.
35. I don't do the grocery shopping or cooking. My husband takes charge. However I can cook.
36. I haven't worked outside the home is two years, this is the longest stretch of time I have not had a full time job. ( other than the kids of course)
37. My favorite tv shows are Private Practice, Grey's Anatomy, Criminal Minds, The Middle, and scandal.
38. I enjoy staying home because its easier with the kids.
39. I miss the Florida sun and our friends there on a daily basis.
40. I understand most spanish but can't really speak it.
41. I am nervous and anxious about moving back to Massachusetts.
42. I have two dogs Zoey and Ruby. When I was young I had two bunnies Popsy and Midnight.
43. I have three great kids, but they also push my buttons and require lots of patience.
44. If I could have a college do over I would have gone into nursing.
45. If we have a fire outside I can't go to sleep unless it is completely out.
46. Every night I am paranoid that I didn't lock my car outside. So before bed I routinely press the lock button.
47. At 31, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.
48. I hope to go to Italy someday.
49. I don't put the toothpaste cover back on the toothpaste therefore we buy one that has it attached
50. I don't like to eat the same thing for more than two days in a row.



A giant thank you to the lovely Carla at All Of Me Now for challenging us to make this list. It was quite the exercise and we really enjoyed it.

Now it's your turn. Leave a comment here or on our facebook page and tell us something we don't know about you!

Enjoy the weekend!

XOXO

Sarah & Katey

Halloween Costumes

Today we thought it might be nice to share some really adorable DIY Halloween costumes that we have found floating around Pinterest (where else?).

This Raining Cats and Dogs costume is super cute and we bet you have a lot of the supplies at home already.

Any Office fans? This Dwight costume is simply hysterical!

Here's another adorable one. Dinosaurs are fun for all kids! I think adding a matching sweatsuit would be perfect for a New England Halloween!

Look, here is a baby dino version! Basically all you need are some cut up sponges!

Sarah will be attempting this super cute owl costume for Liza this year.

This shark costume looks easy and cute!

(Really, you could just hot glue felt to a hoodie!)

This looks super easy and we're not monkeying around.

What plans do you have for your little ones costume?