My Little Pony Tray

Ugh--nothing goes right when I need to finish things in a hurry. I can't find my card reader, so I am upstairs on the computer. I don't know how to shrink stuff fast like I can on my laptop..... Thought I would post this little StarSong pony; my followers can see why I have been so quiet, and my etsy friend can preview her tray. Hope everyone has had a great weekend!!

Coldwater Creek

I am busy, busy painting all my last minute Easter orders. I am taking a break to share some good news. My mom and I love Coldwater Creek; she got an email from them about a sale. The whole site is 40% off, but I think you can use the code listed below for 50% off. I didn't see anything I "needed" this time, but maybe someone else will. Happy Shopping!

WHH1699

We Are So Blessed!

My family has had a pretty expensive couple of year's medically, but I still feel so blessed. I recently heard about a young single mother with three children. She has a four year old, a 2 year old, and a 1 year old. The one year old was born with half a heart. It broke my heart to hear about her situation. A doctor from Mississippi volunteered to fly her and her sick baby to have his surgery. I was told about this family by someone asking me for clothes, but my girls' sizes didn't match what the young mother needed.
Mattie Claire and I made a WalMart run today and bought these three kids Easter baskets. We got each child an outfit, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bubbles, panties... I tried to get things the kids would enjoy, but the mom would appreciate. Thank you to my favorite retired teacher :-) for helping buy the stuff. I have shared this story to ask that if any of my local followers would like to add a little goodie to the baskets just give me a call. I will probably send them to her at the end of this week.

ROARRRR--That's My Stomach

Ugh--I started Weight Watchers today; not the meetings, just plain old writing the stuff down, blah, blah, blah! I wasn't going to share that on here, because of all the local readers.... Anyway, I just reached a new low! I got on etsy to check my convos, AND I started drooling over some yummy looking confections on the front page--they were fake! They were little earrings and stuff, so please pray for me. This is going to be harder than I thought.

There are several reasons I am doing this. First, my out-of-town friend is going to do NutriSystem (cuz she saw it on QVC). What is with that, am I the only one that doesn't watch QVC? I have 4 friends that keep their credit cards on file with them. Anyway, I don't want to do NutriSystem. I decided I could go to Wal-Mart and buy crappy tasting/nasty looking food for a little less--not knocking it, cuz it worked for Marie; honestly, I am just too cheap. Second, we are going to Great Wolf Lodge. I am not going for bikini body here; I am just going for not embarrassing my family in shorts and t-shirt body. I would love to hear from anyone that has done Weight Watchers. What are your favorite meals? Do you have any good, EASY recipes that are low in points? I also just heard about a blog: My Journey from Fat A%$ed-ness. I think I will have to look that one up.

By the way, I have all this free time today, because I am home with a sick Molly. I guess I spoke too soon last night, because she started running fever again.

Well, I'll Be!

Friday, my kids partook in a lovely picnic in the daffodil field. Yesterday, Mattie Claire spent the day at the lake with my parents playing outside.... Today, it is snowing! Not just flurries, but it is full on snowing. What is this: a southern thing, a Louisiana thing, an end of time thing???

Spring Break comes to an end in the morning at 5:45. We have spent about half the break sick. I only ran fever one day, but poor Molly had it the worst. No fever and seems to be feeling much better today, even if she still sounds awful. Well, at least we are better for back to school!

FYI

We are working on planning our summer vacation. The beach is always a given, but are planning just a little something else. We are thinking about staying at Great Wolf Lodge. It has been featured in Southern Living and Parents lately, so it's gotta be good. Would love to hear about your experiences here. Sounds like the perfect place for my pasty children.
While at the GWL, we will be visiting American Girl. Julie is now a member of our family, so we have to include something for her. I thought Molly needed a baby to take too, and it is no fun if you can't get her hair fixed. I wanted to get her a Bitty Baby, but no hair. The only baby, baby dolls with hair are the twins, well I don't need two! FYI, stores can sell individual twins. I called the catalog and asked, she very politely referred me to the store--big store only in LA, NYC, and Chicago. The "call center" was super nice, and a blonde haired, blue eyed girl will be delivered soon. Surely I can't be the only one with this problem of not needing two, but needing hair, so I thought I might share.

Time for Your Closeup

Here is platter #2. It is for another mom in the same class from earlier post. I also included a closeup. These pictures just don't quite do them justice!

Spring is in the Air!

Have I said this week that I have some great friends and I love spring time? There is a daffodil field in my area. A lady planted in memory of her husband and opens it to the public the end of February every year. However, my friend is her niece!! She planned a picnic today for her daughter and friends, and we were included. My girls had so much fun--eating on a blanket, blowing bubbles,... Not only is my friend a great picnic planner, but she and her sister are photographers. Don't judge them by the pics below, because I took those. Hopefully, I will have some of theirs to share soon.

My sweet, shy babies getting ready to join the party.

MooMoo standing in just half of the field!
Is it wrong to love something I created??!!, because I LOVE this platter. A mom at a private school asked me to create a platter for the spring auction. Each student and teacher in one grade made a thumbprint on the platter. I turned each print into something Eastery. I think it turned out cute, and I am thinking I just might need one of MC's class.

Too Much Information

I want to say that this post may have a little TMI, so stop here if you can't handle it. I have found a blog that I LOVE reading. The TMI comes in that I make sure I have been to the potty before I start reading, because I usually end up doubled over laughing, leading to..... She is too funny. I had intentions of sending my 26 (actually 27, but mom doesn't know how to sign up) followers her way later this weekend, but...SHE PUT A COMMENT ABOUT ME ON HER BLOG! I was honored, but she may have just felt guilty for hating on my family that is already wearing shorts. I promise you won't be disappointed; she is too funny.

semislackermom.blogspot.com

(Sorry I am not a fancy blogger.

I wish I had skills enough to make this link work. I will work on that!)

Beach Buckets

I try to accomodate all budgets with my etsy shop. I have the big rope pails, but I found these pails again this year to offer a cheaper party favor. Jason was aggravated that I bought more stuff to paint, but he will be happy to know that I sold almost half of what I bought as soon as I listed them on etsy. This supply will be limited, so let me know if you need any.

Create your own visitor map!

Happy Spring Break

Wow, today was one of those days! We spent the whole day at the doctor. Both girls had checkups, and Mattie Claire started running fever yesterday--soo good thing. First stop was the pediatrician, who told us it was a virus and expect the whole family to run fever and get runny nose. Molly's soft spot has not closed, so we went for lab work that did not go well. They stuck her and dug, then pulled out to stick the other arm--ugh! Mattie Claire has some bumps, so we had to wait around for the dermatologist. The wait was an hour, but the visit was only 5 minutes. Good thing on the 5 minutes, because Molly was on her most embarassing behavior. From the looks the doctor was giving me, I don't think she has kids. Good news is no thyroid problem; the soft spot will close. Second good news, we have a new prescription lotion for these upper arm bumps; they told me the name, but sorry, I don't remember--k-something. Whew, I am loving spring break!!

Family Fun Weekend

I talked my dad and stepmom into meeting us in New Orleans for a fun weekend. We did the aquarium and shopped on Saturday. The aquarium was packed!! I don't think I have ever seen it so busy. Sunday, we went to the Insectarium and zoo. The Insectarium was wonderful! I really think this was the girls' favorite part. This new exhibit is worth the trip to New Orleans, but I know not everyone has a child as obsessed with insects as I do! The zoo was a different experience; it was Soul Fest. It was like being in Disney World with all the people.

Mattie Claire and Molly playing in the zoo.
Of course, Molly would find the only phone in the whole Insectarium!

Mattie Claire eating a yummy chocolate covered cricket at the Insectarium. She loved them, so I hope the Easter Bunny leaves some in her Easter basket.

:0) Count: 6

A friend sent me a text and asked me to stop using the icon--:0) I am a little bummed, because it is my favorite! That little circle nose is too cute:0); however, I love my friend. I want her to read my blog, so RIP :0)

By the way, I told said friend that I would stop using :0) when she stopped dropping her favorite __ bomb! She hasn't uttered an ugly word all day:0) What an awesome friend, so only for you will I give up:0) Can You Feel the Love is playing softly in the background!

Footprint Plates

I have done this post before, but I guess it is that time of year again. With Mother's Day right around the corner, I think it has everyone in the mood for a little footprint pottery. Word has gotten out that I bought a kiln and can paint:0) I have two parties lined up for the same day at the end of this month. If you are interested in hosting a party, you just need to get five friends who each want to buy a plate, and you will receive yours free. Sound like fun?

I had to come back and add.... Mattie Claire had some birthday money, extra money from me, and some art contest winnings, and we thought she might like a Nintendo DS. Someone suggested an Ipod Touch would be better and do much more. After a little research, we agreed and ordered one. It came in today, AND no one told us you needed an Ipod PhD to figure it out. UGH!! I am sure there is some simple secret no one has told us, so this is turning into an all night job. Please tell me the secret and clue me in on some great app's for a 6 year that is probably as technologically inclined as her mother and father:0)

Little Giants

I have always been one to root for the underdog and have loved the movie Little Giants forever. I turned it on "for the girls" today, and I have sat and watched the whole thing. The Giants just won, and I am CRYING! What is wrong with me????

Skippin' That One

I recently saw a post on another blog asking who was going to see the new Alice in Wonderland. I replied that my family would not be seeing that movie; poor Mattie Claire is scared of her own shadow!

The commercial came on, and I asked Mattie if she wanted to see that. Her 6 year old reply was, "No, I couldn't even handle the cartoon. I tried, but I had to turn it back to Noggin." I guess we will be the first in line if they release a new Dora movie.

March Madness

What a cute party idea--March Madness??!! Someone contacted me on etsy requesting totes. She wants basketballs for the boys and cheerleaders for the girls in Maryland colors.
Thank goodness for Jason--he is cooking supper, AGAIN!! He was diagnosed with shingles on Monday, but seems to be doing well. I say after the year we've had, shingles are just a blip on our radar. We have had more surgeries than we know what to do with!

THE Cat & Puppies

I got my first Cat in the Hat party request this week. I think she is going to do the buckets as favors. I am not a huge fan of Dr. Suess, but I enjoyed painting this guy!

I had to share this pic of the little butterballs!! The picture below was taken at two days, and this one was taken at two weeks. I had no idea how fast they would grow. Yes, we are one short. The little runt, Wilbur, didn't make it.

Easter Basket Time

These are my newest creations

peace, love, & bunnies!

A local gift store has always done the cutest Easter baskets, but last year they closed! Several people asked me to start creating baskets. I began last year adding to standard white baskets, and this year I am even painting some. I have my baskets at the Pea Patch in town, and I am considering adding some to etsy. I fill the baskets for some of my customers and wrap in cellophane too. I am sure there will be more pics to come.