What Peachy Wore Wednesday

There are blogs that detail what the author wears on a weekly basis. And there are blogs that show what their little cuties are decked out in. I am adding a twist to that today. Here it is, What Peachy Wore Wednesay (WPWW).
You see, I usually try to aim Peachy in the direction of an acceptable outfit at the beginning of the day. An outfit that we could be seen around town in. They are not always the most coordinated of ensembles, but they are not awful either. However, throughout the day, Peachy does her best to add her own Peacharific flair to the previously acceptable outfit.
Today's WPWW is a perfect example.

We started the day with a nice basic purple pants and tee shirt set. As the day progressed a pink petticoat was added to the top of the pants. (Please note, she would have simply put the skirt on without pants, but I insisted on the pants.) Shortly after the addition of the skirt, she asked that I help her add her play apron to finish the outfit off. And there you have it. A Peachy of an outfit that is 3 and one half year old approved!

Thrift Store Score

It seems every blog I read has a story about a some little thrift store score. Until now, I really didn't have a story of my own. I just don't frequent thrifts stores enough. (Perusing a thrift store's selection isn't easy with a toddler and preschooler in tow.) Last month found my little gang of three in a local thrift store looking for materials for a new project. On the way in some colorful beaded necklaces caught my eye. I ended up walking away with four necklaces, two yellow, one read, and one aqua. I haven't quite decided whether I will keep them all intact or rework some of them. I have already worn the small yellow and the red one, though.

And the girls have each taken their turns wearing them as well.

Besides the thrill of the hunt and never knowing what you are going to find, thrift store pricing is another great perk.

Can't beat that!!
Do you thrift? What is your greatest score?

Its Beginning To Look . . .

a bit like Christmas!

 Since we are usually gone over Thanksgiving, it is hard to get Christmas up right away. A certain little three year old has been asking since our drive home last night when we would be decorating for Christmas. So, after getting some of the unpacking done today and getting the house a bit picked up, I conceded in putting up a few items.

Since I had all of the pieces to make the candle centerpiece I blogged about here, I got to work. After ten minuted I had a new Christmas centerpiece. I added one of my favorite table runners from my mom, re-did the chalkboard, and we had an instant touch of Christmas in our dining area.

 (I love the idea of decorating the end of our table. Mr. Cherry was just discussing with me his disdain for decorated tables as they have to be cleaned off before every meal. This way, I can leave the table decorated all season long without having to worry about clearing it everyday.)
While it may not clearly be about entertaining, I think I will still link up to Kim's Dare to DIY . . . Entertain. At least it is a better entry than I had a few years ago.

Christmas Confession

I have something to admit to all of you. It has to do with seasons and Holidays and you may not all agree. For some reason, this year, I am all about Christmas. Normally I wait until after Thanksgiving to break out the Christmas cheer, but right now I am all about bringing on the jolliness. I have about 75% of my Christmas shopping done. I have the girls' Christmas dresses ready. Last week I bit the bullet and ordered our Christmas cards from Shutterfly.
Although I have yet to start decorating, I keep pinning and pinning items on Pinterest for Christmas. And I can't wait to start decking the halls here. Today I am going to share with you some of my favorite pins for Christmas.

For Decorating:

1. I am loving this easy, yet beautiful, ribbon star from Beyond The Picket Fence. (Now if only I had a stash of old barn wood sitting around.)

2. Another simple and stunning little project. This candle scene is from this Swedish blog: http://tradgardsflow.blogspot.com/. (Lucky for me I already have some large glass hurricanes courtesy of my sister's wedding this summer and just picked up from burlap ribbon to complete the look.)

3. I love this frame with the ornaments as a wreath or hung somewhere on the wall. This is an image from Pinterest that is uploaded by a user. However, it was featured on the blog This Flourishing Life.

4. Another use for those glass hurricanes! Check out these great painted pine cones from Julie of Joy's Hope featured on Under the Sycamore. (Now if only I could find some pine cones that aren't cinnamon scented.)

5. I can't wait to try something like this with the old window I have hanging out in our living room. Check it and some other great ideas out at Funky Junk Interiors.

For Eating:

1. Wouldn't this be super fun at any Christmas party? I would imagine you take mini wieners and wrap them with crescents arranged in a circle on a baking sheet. (The link for this image is to a Christmas page from Oriental Trading that appears to be no longer available.)

2. I think Peachy and I will be making some of these fun Cheerio Christmas trees this year from tablespoon.

For Kids:

1. I am a little concerned for the safety of our tree this year. Cream is just so into touching everything! Maybe if I make the girls this tree from Confessions of a Sewing Addict they will leave our big one alone, right? 

2. Here is another Christmas tree project for Peachy and I. Real Life, One Day at a Time posted these great decorated paper plate trees made into a garland.

3. I don't have the patience for making real gingerbread houses, but this flat one from Betty Crocker I could handle.

For Crafting:

1. What sewer doesn't have a ton of scraps laying around? This tutorial for scrappy Christmas stockings from Stumbles and Stitches would be perfect for using some of the up.

2. These wire angels from Auntie Kara's Crafts would be great gift toppers. You could even tuck a name card into the top if you wanted.

3. Here is another fun gift tag idea. Life Create Blog made these cute snowmen with paper punches.

Thanksgiving Art

This year I didn't get out many of my fall decorations. However, I have been wanting to get some Thanksgiving decorations made and out. Thanks to Kim at Newly Woodwards and her annual Dare to DIY link up party I met the deadline by over a week and a half! (I know!!)
I started with a blank canvass. (Don't most projects start this way?) After several coats of brown acrylic paint, this is what I had.

I tried to find some sort of paper embellishment at the store, but couldn't find what I was looking for. So, I took one of my leaf stamps and with my Versa Mark ink, I stamped the image onto some orange paper. I cut it out and double stick taped it onto the canvass.

I then applied some fabric letters that I had purchased at JoAnn to read Give Thanks.
Simple as that. I had a thanksgiving decoration.
While I was at it, I printed up these pennants to spell THANKFUL from Shabby 2 Chic. I attached them to the hutch and had two Thanksgiving decorations up!

I was on a roll and decided to change the chalkboard while I was at it.

And finally, here is the shelf when you come up the stairs at our house. I had the table runner, pumpkin, and garland up, but I added a canvass print I got from Canvass People from our recent photo shoot.

Ah, now it feels like November and now we can celebrate Thanksgiving.
Thanks for hosting and encouraging, Kim.

http://www.newlywoodwards.com/

Foodie Friday: Thanksgiving Leftovers

I am looking forward to next week Thursday. Getting together with family over a full Thanksgiving spread. This year I find that I am also looking forward to the day after Thanksgiving. I have been seeing all of these yummy ideas for Thanksgiving day leftovers.
Starting with these Cranberry Turkey Sandwich from number-2-pencil:

Followed by this Turkey Cranberry Salad from the craving chronicles:

And finishing up with Thanksgiving Leftover Nachos by CHOW:

So bring on Thanksgiving and bring out the leftovers!

The Hazards of Blogging with Children

Sometimes I am asked how I have time to blog with my children around. The truth is that I just work it into our regular everyday activities. Sometimes I do have posts set to publish ahead of time, but not always. Take this morning for example. I intended to blog about a great thrift store score. I just didn't have the pictures to go along with it. So, I set up a little photo area in the kitchen and got ready to take some pictures.    I immediately had two little helpers by my side. So this is what my pictures ended up looking like.

See the photo bomber in the bottom of the shot. I decided to humor her and add her in.

Oop, there is photo bomber number two. Time to get her in an the action.

Such a photogenic child, too. Do you like her outfit? Here is a better shot.

She woke up this morning and wanted to wear her turkey shirt from last year. Okay, next week is Thanksgiving. However, the jeans that I had chosen for her were not what she had in mind. Why not some tights? Okay, I can handle that. It is a pretty nice day here. And then, to top it all off? Her Christmas skirt from last year as well. (I am not sure whether this bodes well for her future fashion sense or not. Will she be so creative with her ensembles that she will be thought of as cutting edge or rather eccentric? Time will tell!)
There you have it, while it is not the post I had originally intended for the day, it is true to my life. And that is really what this blog is about.

Sunny Side Up Headband

I like to create fun homemade items for the girls when we have pictures taken. For our recent fall shoot, I quickly whipped up these clips using eyelet lace and a covered button. I put Cream's on a headband and Peachy's is just a clip.

Since I made them so quickly I don't have any pictures of the process, but I will try to walk you through the steps.
1. Cut a circle out of felt. (Mine were about 1 inch in diameter.)
2. Using a glue gun, I coiled the eyelet around the circle. I went around once on the outside and one more time just a little bit further in.
3. I made a covered button and glued it to the center.
4.  Attach to a headband or clip and you are done.

Working Woman

I dipped my toe into the working world over the last week. I had the pleasure of returning to the preschool that used to teach at as a substitute. The girls were left in the hands of good friends, and their dad one day. Peachy was sad that she couldn't come to preschool with me. She made this note for me. This side says "real preschool." The other side said my name. I think she intended that I wear it around my neck while I taught.
In the end it was fun to be back in the classroom. I enjoyed being with the preschool set again. It was pretty relaxed since I was the teacher's aide and the main teacher took over lots of the roles. I didn't necessarily enjoy getting the girls up and out the door at a certain time. Also the fact that it coincided with daylight savings time ending made for a little rougher time. (For some reason this year the time change has really kicked me in the pants.)
For now I will not be quitting my day job, but it was fun having a little time back in my old role again.

Pumpkin Mug Cake

I am a fan, make that a huge fan, of all things pumpkin. Combine that love with my love for a nice carb loaded breakfast and you pretty much reach euphoric levels here. And if you can give me both of those things in under five minutes I am weak at the knees.
And so today I am willing to share this pure happiness in a mug with you, my dear, dear friends. Here she is, the Pumpkin Mug Cake. One single serving of pumpkin pleasure.

Pumpkin Mug Cake
(adapted from {2 Minute} Coffee Cake in a Mug)
Ingredients
1 Tbsp butter
2 tbsp sugar2 tbsp pumpkin puree
vanilla extract, few drops
1/4 C All Purpose flour
1/8 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 Tbsp finely chopped pecans
Directions

1. Soften 1 Tbsp butter in microwave in mug. Stir in 2 tbsp of sugar and mix until well incorporated. Stir in pumpkin, vanilla, flour, baking powder, and pinch of salt; stirring until just combined. Smooth the mixture into the bottom of a mug.
2. For the struesel topping: Combine 1 tbsp of butter, 2 tbsp of flour, 1 tbsp of brown sugar, and 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice. Using your fingers, pinch together until toppings form a rough consistency  Pour over top of the cake mixture and top with pecans. 
3. Cook in the microwave for 50-80 seconds depending on your microwave. Make sure to check it after the 50 second mark to make sure you don't over cook it. (Believe me, you will not want it to be over cooked.)
4. Enjoy warm and if you really want to make your day, top with whipped cream.

It may not be as healthy as my pumpkin pie oatmeal, but it is worth every extra empty calorie.

'Tis the Season

Can you feel it in the air? We are in the thick of the Holiday season. Halloween is done and now it is time to prepare for Thanksgiving with Christmas following closely on its heels. And while I am excited about everything that this time of year brings, I am really excited for all of the fun seasonal food items that are hitting the shelves.
I was grocery shopping at Target the other day and I found myself loading down the cart with tasty treats. There is something about the flavors and then something about the fact that you just can't buy them year round. I couldn't resist.
1) Market Pantry Pumpkin Cookies (with Cheesecake Filling!!!) I couldn't fund these on the website, but I did find a few other blog posts about them. And let me tell you, if you see them, snatch them up. Yum!

Source

2. Market Pantry Candy Cane Chewy Cocoa Granola Bars: I haven't cracked these open yet, but I figure you can't go wring with chocolate and peppermint.

3. Yoplait Yogurt Apple Crisp and Pumpkin Pie: Its like eating dessert, only its yogurt!

4. And finally International Delights Salted Caramel Mocha Creamer: I have fallen for this new offering from Starbucks and am loving the creamer for DIY at home!

Don't worry. I am not getting paid to promote these products. Just sharing the love!

Peachy: Three and One Half Years

Being a parent is an amazingly wonderful experiences  Don't get me wrong, there are always going to be challenges and struggles. But in the end it mostly boils down to awesomeness. Peachy has recently gone and grown up into a little lady. I daily catch glimpses of the person that she is becoming and it is one of the neatest things.

She is at a point now where she is understanding more and more of how the world works and paying more attention to life as it goes on around her. Seeing her gears turn brings me such a feeling of pride. While she can be slow to warm up and be herself in new situations, it is fun watching her talk to those she knows well and tell them about the goings on in her life.

She is physically looking so much older as well. She is tall for her age and lately her face has really started to narrow. Her hair is still a beautiful shade of red and her eyes are as brown as can be. Such a pretty combination!

As for the big sister role, there are times Peachy relishes it and times she really could care less about Cream. All very typical. :o)

She is always saying funny things. One night she was really testing me during bedtime and I told her I was running out of patience. She replied with, "No, I think you still have one patient in you." Another time I was telling Cream that she need to wait as the world didn't revolve around her. Cream responded with, "No, it revolves around me."

Peachy is now old enough to attend Sunday School at our church. She is loving being old enough to go into the classrooms while we attend Bible Class. She has sung in church with the Sunday School as well and I have to tell you, I was almost crying when I saw her up there.

Our Peachy has such a joyful outlook on life. She is laid-back and almost always coming up with little projects to do. I am really spoiled by a three year old who is able to entertain herself so well. I can't wait to see what the rest of this year brings to her.