My favorite wall in our home!

Last year, I made this DIY kids art gallery wall and I have cherished it every day.  My Kenzi absolutely loves art and she feels such pride when she sees her art displayed.  This give us something positive to focus on as we walk through the hallway towards her bedroom.  

Here are some quick easy steps to make your own!

Here is what you need:

- as many frames as you'd like

- a roll of Velcro that is sticky (I think they call it Velcro tape).

- clothes pins

- spray paint 

- nails

- hammer 

- time!

1. Go to goodwill and find various frames!  (Or your basement storage if you're like me.)

2. Remove everything except for the frame itself.  

3. Spray paint the frames in the color of your choice. (They have sparkle spray paint at Lowes now too!)

4. Get out your clothes pins and your Velcro!  The picture speaks 1000 words.  I chose to attach the art this way because I like the natural look and I like that it's easy to remove the clothes pin to replace the art. 

5. Hang your frames however you'd like!  I like to lay them all out on the living room floor first to see what configuration I like the best.  The key is to not over-think it and just start putting some nails in the wall.  No measuring.  Just eye ball it.  This would drive my husband mad! Ready, set, go!  

6.  Let your child pick their favorite art to display! 

7. Let friends and family initiate conversations with your youngster over their masterpieces.  

8. Let your heart overflow as your watch your child's face fill with pride.

Why are my white mums turning purple?

After googling, I found that they're not just turning purple because they know it's my favorite color (I know, not funny).

Here are some reasons why your white mums may turn purple or pink ...

-mums change color as they age (before they die)

-mums change color according to the pH of the soil 

-mums change color as the weather gets colder 

Personally, my color is affected by all of these things too.  Mums, I totally get you.  

Practical Decor - Jewelry Storage Frames

I love when my decor is practical!  I am always trying to declutter and simplify my life.  I found that using these Pottery Barn jewelry frames has helped me keep my jewelry simple!  I don't own more than what these can hold.  (Ok, I have a few pairs of studs in my bathroom drawer.  I have tried to balance them on the wire string but they just don't seem to stay.)  I really only wear one pair of earrings every day and the rest of the jewelry is meaningful.  Wait, I spy Kenzie's Olaf necklace!

Pottery Barn doesn't offer these particular jewelry frames anymore but it does seem like it'd be relatively easy to recreate the look with some frames from goodwill, tools from Lowes and some milk paint!  Oh, and some time and dedication!  I am extremely good at starting projects.... but finishing them!?  I do not have any tutorial instructions, just ideas.  Story of my life.  Have a great day!!!!  :)

PS.  I just looked on Pottery Barn's website and it looks like they offer these Metal Clad Frame Jewelry Hangers!  Oh how I love the gold look right now!!

Teal Pumpkin Project Ideas

Why do people have a teal pumpkin on their porch?  What is the teal pumpkin project?  It's a fabulous idea that encourages people to offer non-food items for trick or treaters.  Here are some not-so-fun facts about food allergies...

• Researchers estimate that up to 15 million Americans have food allergies.
• This potentially deadly disease affects 1 in every 13 children (under 18 years of age) in the U.S. That’s roughly two in every classroom.
• The economic cost of children’s food allergies is nearly $25 billion per year.
• According to a study released in 2013 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food allergies among children increased approximately 50% between 1997 and 2011.
• The number of people who have a food allergy is growing, but there is no clear answer as to why.

Facts provided by https://www.foodallergy.org/facts-and-stats

I count myself extremely lucky because my little one has an "intolerance" not an "allergy".  Also, imagine what the statistics would look like if they included food intolerances too!  I asked our gastroenterologist why he thinks food allergies and food intolerances are on the rise and he brushed it off saying, "ohhh, there are several theories, no one really knows."  Period.  Although Kenzie's Milk Protein Intolerance did cause her to have colitis as a baby, at 3 she can now handle most dairy.  But just because her little belly can digest dairy with mild discomfort, we still give her alternatives.  And many times she requests the alternative even when we do offer her dairy.  More on this another time.  All this to say, the teal pumpkin project is a great idea and I love seeing moms support one another.
Where can you find reasonably priced non-food halloween treats for your trick or treaters?  Here are some places that I have found for those that plan ahead, those that buy 2 days early and then those super last minute moms (we've all been there).

• Orientaltrading.com - better buy early!
• Amazon.com - Yay 2-day free shipping with PRIME!!  
• Target!  This year Target has awesome steals.  Not only do they have fun things like packets of 10 spider rings for $1 in the dollar spot, but they have great non-food halloween treats in their Halloween seasonal section.  Love that store!

Here are some ideas for non-food Halloween treats.

• Stamps
• Mini Play Doh
• Glow Sticks
• Fake Glasses
• Plastic Vampire Fangs
• Eyeball Bouncy Balls
• Eye Patches
• Small Plastic Animals
• Slinkies
• Pencils/Erasers/Halloween Pens (for older Kids)
• Fake Spiders
• Spider Rings
• Small Sensory Balls
• Fake Mustaches

If you literally search amazon for "Halloween toys" you'll have a prime list ready for you!  Yes!

Art Therapy

My sweet Kenzie absolutely loves art and I have come to the conclusion that one of her top love languages is "Quality Time".  She asks to do art quite a bit and it usually sounds like this, "Mommy, will you sit and do art with me.  I need you to sit close."  Since she is a lefty, she also requests that we color on the same page!  I love that she is my first child and I am able to do this with her!  And I honestly don't know who loves it more, me or her!  I've never been very good at art, but I find it so relaxing.

The other night, Kenzie Lou wanted to color her pumpkin some more so I decided to go ahead and make our teal pumpkin for halloween.

Why do people have a teal pumpkin on their porch?  What is the teal pumpkin project?  I'll post about this separately.  :)

Family Photos with Kenzie & Bobo!

2015

 photo credit: http://www.missyeckertphotography.com/

2014

 photo credit: http://www.missyeckertphotography.com/

 photo credit: http://www.missyeckertphotography.com/

 2013

 photo credit: http://www.bobbiandmike.com/

 photo credit: http://www.bobbiandmike.com/

A girl and her dog. 💙

Here is a Halloween costume idea for your little Elsa!  Bring her sidekick, Sven.  The reindeer antlers are already in stores for Christmas.  So cute!!  Kenzie and Bobo loved it!!!  More child and dog costume ideas to come... 

We love our Bobo so much!!

My sister, Priscilla, lost her beloved basset hound, Obadiah, this year.  I also had two coworkers lose their dogs this year.  I just can't imagine and I don't want to try to imagine.  Bobo is our first dog and I can not imagine our life without him.  What a good boy!

On a different note, my sister Sarah posted this funny comic strip on my facebook page last night so I decided to go ahead and take a video of Bobo doing just this!  He very carefully and gently invades your space!  If you are sitting on the floor, Bobo approaches you happily, gets as close as he possibly can and then sits!!  And then once he is comfortable, he lays down.  It is so funny!!

Off the leash daily dog cartoons credit.  Gentle giant carefully sitting on his mommy's lap!

Frozen Birthday Decor Ideas!

Here are some fun ideas for Frozen Birthday Party decoration ideas!  Frozen birthday parties are so fun!  Who doesn't love Olaf!  The Olaf under his own little snow cloud was my favorite!  And those balloons last for weeks for your little one!

Olaf under a cloud of snow!  Giant Olaf balloon.

Sugar inside a cute vase with little Frozen figurines.

Elsa and Olaf inside cute glass jar with sugar "snow"!

The kids loved these little water bottles with "melted Olaf" but in hindsight, I would've written "melted snow".  Oh, Olaf.

Olaf popcorn.  These are mofoing messy.

Cute snowman snack mix.

Kristoff's ice!  Nice little variety of cubed, white cheese.

Sven's Antlers.  Who doesn't like pretzel sticks!

Olaf Noses!  Just come carrots with a little bit of ranch!

Frozen Grapes!  So these tart grapes will turn your fingers, mouth and white furniture blue!  Just a warning.  After washing your grapes (while they are still wet) you literally just roll them in a bowl of jello and then lay them out on a wax paper lined cookie sheet and stick them in the freezer.  I've also seen people put the wet grapes in a big ziplock, add jello and SHAKE!  

Who doesn't love cupcakes!  Here are some homemade cupcakes to save a few $$.

How To: Buttons

DIY for the day.  How do you sew on buttons without a needle and thread?  Safety pins!!