snow day 2010

Déjà vu

Way back when....all the way back in November 2007, Miss Divine was taking a little dance class. Her very first dance recital role was a wee Lady of the Court in Nutcracker.

Cut to November 2010...Petite Artiste has earned her role as, you guessed it...a Lady of the Court. How freakin' adorable is that?!?

And how amazing that I put both girls in almost the same hair style. I didn't even realize that I had done that until seeing the pictures tonight. Too wild!

Miss Divine's dance class in 2007

Petite Artiste's dance class 2010

Miss Divine today is one of Clara's Cousins. Her class is pretty adorable.

Pretty Girls!

the gang

I'm currently entering a contest to win a fancy schmacy camera. I've been drooling over fancy cameras for quite some time so when I discovered this contest, I jumped. Of course it's a photo contest and all I have is a point and shoot but 50% is judged on creativity. And, if there is one thing we've got...it's creativity.

The kids and I put our heads together trying to come up with something fun. We decided to put on our Halloween costumes and head to the train depot. Velma shed a few tears at first, but eventually we won her over.

Even though the gang and I got a few strange looks, we had fun. Here are a few of my favorites.

marshmallow dreams

Last night I came across Stephanie Lynn's blog: UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING. It's lovely and beautiful and inspiring. Qualities I love in a blog. I clicked on her site this morning and discovered her newest post on homemade marshmallows and hot chocolate. M'm! I loved her step by step directions and pretty photos of the process. I feel the urge to make some of my own....

and the winner is ...

Meet Petite Artiste. My unofficial official of contest winner picker.
(That is her official title)

She took her job very seriously as you can see.

A lot of shuffling pursued.

Until I said: "just pick a winner chicky!!"

So she did.

And the winner is...

Congratulations Stephanie!!!

Send me your email address here and I will have your $35 gift certificate from CSN stores on it's way to your neck of the woods very soon.

Thank you to all who entered the very first little irish giveaway!!

new crushes

The tortoise and The hare

two little dicky birds

FAT MUM SLIM

raggedy ann and andy

One day I stumbled across a blog that featured very fancy birthday party pictures of a Raggedy Ann and Andy theme. Of course I fell in love. Shortly after I put up a couple shelves at the top of the stairs to house all the kids books, including my old childhood reads. Amongst them was a couple dozen Little Golden Books. We started reading them at bedtime and what do you suppose we find? Yes!

"Raggedy Ann and the Cookie Snatcher". And, like a jolt of lightening, those fancy pictures from that fancy birthday site flooded my frontal lobe.

Not more than a few days later, I happen to walked past a thrift shop's window. From the shelves these two were staring back at me as if it was a sign. However, I left them there on the shelves of the thrift shop. Trying to be frugal that day. But I couldn't shake the image of them sitting between gobs of candle holders and forgotten tchotchkes.

I decided that if a week later I drove back to that same thrift shop and the pair was still there awaiting my return. Then it was meant to be. I was meant to purchase them and bring them home. And, begin planning a fifth birthday party for Petite Artiste.

As you can see....one Miss Raggedy Ann and one Mr. Raggedy Andy were quietly awaiting my return and the party planning began.

But it didn't really hit full stride. It's just in the beginning stages of being planned. More of a collection period really. After all, Petite Artiste's fifth birthday isn't until March. However, armed with an idea, I can come across fun things and save them. Which is what I like to do.

You might be wondering if I have birthday themes for Miss Divine (June) and El Fuego (August) too. The answer is....yes. Yes I do. I know it's so CRAZY!!! Some might think it's silly to have birthday parties in the works for a year. But I really do enjoy the planning of my kids' birthdays. I love anything with a theme!!

Anyway....

One rainy morning I pulled on my comfiest clothes and headed out with a dear friend to a tiny town to hit up a rather large antique shop. Because I have these party themes always in the back of mind, I tend to scan for items wherever I go. This rainy morning was no exception. I scored a Raggedy Ann Wilton cake pan, a twin sized sheet made into a bed covering that I'll use as a table cloth, a cute little framed print and a couple dolls. (The largest Raggedy Ann was mine as a child.)

And, yesterday at one of my favorite local Holiday Bazaars, I found this adorable little dress.

I am so excited!!!

happiness

I love me some Ucreate parties!! Newest blog to the Ucreate team. I fell head over heels y'all while drooling over the fabulous parties posted.

Don't get left behind. The first ever little irish giveaway ends this Friday. Become a fan/follower and leave a comment telling me so. You could win a $35 dollar gift certificate from CSN Stores which has over 200 online stores where you can find anything you need whether it be a stylish handbag, a classic dining room table or even cute cookware!

guessing game

Can you guess what fun I have up my sleeve?

Here's a hint:

Need help?

It has to do with this:

happy halloween

We had ourselves a weekend filled with pumpkin carving and trick or treating fun.

Happy Halloween!

I really drug my feet on getting this holiday started. I love fall and Halloween. It is my favorite time of year. However, October was super busy and flew by in a flash. The kids didn't seem to mind and it was fun cramming every haunted and ghoulish themed thing into one weekend.

We were invited to trick or treat with some friends in their rockin' neighborhood. Reports from our hood was zero costumed youngsters to be found roaming the streets. So it was nice to hit up houses along with loads of kids.

Behold the Mystery Inc gang (minus Fred and Scooby Doo)

LtoR

Petite Artiste as Velma

El Fuego as Shaggy

Miss Divine as Daphne