Tired mommy

Phew, what a long weekend.. glad to be relaxing in bed on this Sunday night.

Friday morning we packed up for a 3 hour drive south for a funeral. It was my husband, our girls, and my sister in law and brother in law. It was a nice time, unfortunatly the circumstances were not, but it was good to see a lot of family that we haven't seen in a while.
Our trip started out a little rocky though. I sent my husband out to get new pacifiers for the trip because I wasn't going to only travel with one for each girl. Madeleine decided that he bought the wrong color pacifier and so she refused to take either of the new ones we brought. So the whole ride down she fussed and whined, then nap time came at the hotel and she fell asleep with no paci. Night time came, and again fell asleep with no paci, and she was still throwing a fit about the "wrong colored" ones. I felt so bad for her, it just broke my heart watching her go cold turkey. The way home the next day was a little better, she slept the whole 3 hours. When we got home I gave her the yellow one that she was just dying for on our trip, she put it in her mouth for one second and pulled it right out with a disgusted look on her face and said, "that's yucky mommy," and that was that. NO MORE PACIFIERS!
This child is an angel.. potty trained after a week & gave up her "fappy" all by herslef.. another proud mommy moment for the books. [Luckily I took Josie off at 4 months, and she really only like them in bed or the car.. hopefully it stays that way.]

The last few weeks I have been meal planning for the week [just for dinners] . I have tried it here and there before, but now that my husband has some classes in the evenings it is so much easier on me to do this. I really think it helps save money and groceries too since I know exactly what I need for the week [& the essential groceries of course]

So this weeks menu so far is :

M: tuna noodle casserole

T: grilled cheese & tomato soup , corn

W: spaghetti, garlic bread & zucchini

Th: bbq chicken, mashed potatoes & cooked carrots

F: salad & pizza 

They are always subject to change ;]
mmm.. I'm already getting hungry thinking about all those yummy meals.

[& can I say Taylor Swift is so freaking cute, watching the Grammy's right now and I loved her dress.]

Thank Heaven for Little Girls..

This can always make me smile.

I hope this never changes.

On a warmer note.. I am dreaming of 75 degree weather..

 25 days until Disney World!!

 I'm hoping Florida just keeps warming up.

Party.

Like I said, Maddie's birthday party was a hit. We had lots of friends and family that came for all the fun!

I still can't believe she is two, and lately she has definetly been acting like a two year old. I think this is the only time at her party where she sat down, and this was so everyone could sing to her!

She was so proud of her Hello Kitty cake, made with love from her mommy [I tried to get her to help me make it but she was too distracted, maybe next year]. She had to take everyone over to show them.

I didn't have a 14' round cake pan like I originally wanted to use so I just did a double stack of the size pan I did have. It turned out pretty good!!

My sister-in-law made these yummy cupcakes..

I found this cute idea a while ago [I can't find the blog I got it from, when I do I will link it!!]. I printed out a bunch of pictures of Maddie from newborn up until now and then just used clothes pins to hang them from some pink craft string. We double sided the pictures too.

It was so cute!

is it Friday yet?

I have had a crazy busy weekend, and not to mention a sick little girl all night last night.
Birthday party Saturday was a hit, hopefully will be able to blog all about it later today!!
Happy Monday everyone !
xo

Happy 2nd Birthday Madeleine

Today is Maddie's 2nd birthday. We had a great day. Started with a trip to Target, always a hit, and ended with her sitting watching golf with her daddy. We had some family over for dinner and cake.

I still can't believe that she is two already, she amazes me everyday, and I learn so much through her. I love being her mommy and can't wait to watch her grow this year.

1/19

Its been a long day, ending the day sitting on the couch with my husband taking turns laying the girls down, they are both fighting sleep tonight.
Tomorrow Josie will be 8 months old, and today she tried her first chocolate chip cookie. Her big sister decided she wanted to share one with her. Thats what I get for thinking I can clean up lunch. I couldn't resist but to grab the camera, I couldn't even get upset it was too cute. I told Maddie good job for sharing.

As you can see she enjoyed it.

Also, tomorrow Maddie will be 2 YEARS OLD!

We are having dinner at our house with our families.

We started potty training December 30 and she pretty much picked it up right away. It was one of my proudest moments as a mother so far! She is very proud of herself too...

Add it to my wish list:

I need to invest in a great address book, I borrowed my mom's a while ago, and I'm sure she is wondering when she will get it back. All of my other addresses are just jotted down on scrap paper.  I was looking around online and found this adorable one from Papaya Art, its so me.. & only $14.00- what a steal. I only was looking for an address book but don't get me started on these super cute art panels they have.

Tomorrow should be a great day!!

Taco Night.

We managed to do a trip to the grocery before dinner tonight. I like to annoy my husband and make it a family thing! It actually went very smooth, no meltdowns or accidents. We did tacos tonight, they are always so fast and everyone loves them!

Madeleine's 2nd birthday party is next Saturday, we have everything taken care of at this point I think, just the actual doing, putting together, and baking left to do. My husband ordered food [we have lots of family and friends lots of hungry mouths to feed] I am making [attempting to] a big Hello Kitty cake and my sister in law is going to make cupcakes.

I found these cute little ring cupcake toppers.

Mads already got her hands on one of course. 

For decorations I just thought I would get some pink and yellow streamers & I found these adorable flowers to make, from the one and only Martha Stewart. They seem easy enough and I'm not planning on making that many!

Pretty in Pink.

I am watching the Golden Globes tonight, probably more or less for the fashion. I missed the red carpet, but I'm sure I'll see a rerun on E! at some point this week. I have seen a couple dresses that I love though! I think these ladies always got it right tonight. I'm really into this light nuetral pink. Emily Blunt looks gorgeous in that color and Drew Barrymore (in Versace) always looks great to me. If you saw Drew on camera then you could really see how her dress sparkled and really caught your eye. I can't wait to see all the fashion critics opinions. I wish I had an excuse to wear a big beautiful gown like that, I think every girl does at least once a year!

a Saturday night live.

I have been having an off day today.. Luckily I have a great husband who understands this can happen once in a while and he took over and I even got to take a nap, I almost forgot what a nap felt like!
Its hard not to feel better with these little ones around..  

These pictures are from when we went sledding last week. We have a golf course across the street from our house and it has GREAT sledding hills. I have been dying to get my toddler out there, and of course she loved it! My little one didn't mind it either. We have this little blow up duck bath tub that we used as a make-shift little sled for her. It looked quite comfy!! My husband took Maddie down the big hill first, as I stood back clenching my jaw, just waiting for screams of terror or a big spill, but the only screams I heard were ones of complete joy. Its so amazing everytime your child tries something new, its like I tried it all over again for the first time. When I took Maddie down the hill I was squealing like a little kid right along with her :) 

I have been looking around for the perfect new high chairs for my girlies. I have a friend who has these cute wooden ones, I have been looking around for some that a durable, easy to clean, and that look good of course (and don't break the bank).

Right now we have two different booster seat type chairs that sit on top of our dining room chairs, and I'm sick of scrubbing and scrubbing and still not getting into every creves..

and they are not that great to look at either.

This is kind of what I'm looking for, I am still looking around, but you get the idea. I would really love one that would turn into a junior chair that we could just push right up to our table. Any suggestions ???

Hopefully this next week will be super productive for us.

 Where is the sunshine when you really need it?!

Countdown to DisneyWorld.. 35 days!

TGIF.

A couple years ago I read the book The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold. I always thought that it would make a great movie.. so I'm excited that it is finally here. I know it will be a sad movie but it is really a great story in the end.

I won't ruin it but it is basically about this girl who was murdered and she is watching her family grieve and trying to figure out what happened to her body & who killed her.
It was a great book ( I always like the books a little better than the movies) so I'm hoping the movie is good too!



Hoping to get a lot done this weekend! Maddie will be 2 on Wednesday & I have a birthday party to start working on for next weekend. Can't believe it is almost the end of January already, where does time go? Especially when you have a million things to do!

Also remember to pray for the people in Haiti. My heart aches for those in Port au Prince, I try to watch to coverage but as a mother it is really hard for me to watch. It truely makes me appreciate so much more than I already do.

a Few Things from Today.

All day today I kept thinking it was Friday, Almost! I think because the sun made an appearance and it was [omg] almost 40degrees, it just seemed like a good day, and I think thats why I thought it was Friday all day!

I got a little something in the mail today. I received a gift card to Sephora for Christmas from my sister & brother in law. I knew exactly what I wanted, I am obsessed with NARS makeup on my skin. I have been around the block with makeup and trying to find what works best for me. I started using this a year and a half ago, my color for this firming foundation is Monte Blanc but they only carry that shade online and the shipping was free!

I am looking forward to tomorrow night ! I'm going out of town for one of my girlfriend's birthdays & to see her new house. Should be a good time & I could really use a girl's night out, I'm sure you all know how that feels!

New Do.

I am in desperate need for a haircut, not to mention mani, pedi, facial, massage.. and the list could go on, but I'd settle for a new cut & some kind of style! I have been trying to grow out my hair since I chopped it a little over a year ago & with having 2 babies its hard to fit in a haircut anyway. I am trying to even out some layers that I have left over. I love Nicole Richie's haircut in this picture. I think this is from a couple years ago when she was growing her hair out.. My hair is dark brown though, but I love this & it looks easy to maintain, which I need also. So I think my hair is finally long enough for this cut. Then hopefully my hair will be much longer next time I need some major maintenance.

in 2010

I am really ready to take this year on! I am getting back into a great routine after all the holiday fuss. Back to pilates class tomorrow [and its probably going to kick my butt] & I got my toddler potty trained in literally a week, that already feels like a huge accomplishment for this year.

 I have been getting things organized [slowly but surely] and getting little things done around our house to make it more homey and more of our personal "touch". We painted our bedroom, and are starting the bathroom this week. It really is amazing what a little paint can do for a room.
I can't wait to get everything back into our room and give it a new little mini makeover. Right now it feels so empty with even our dresser still camped out in the family room.
Hopefully things will be back to normal by this coming weekend.



I found this little wooden book shelf in our attic, left here by the previous owner. Its nothing special, but I thought a nice paint job wouldn't hurt & it was FREE, so why not use it?!
I have been wanting a great YELLOW piece to really pop in our dining room & I think this will do. I have only cleaned it so far, tomorrow I hope to prime it.

Just had to add this in: I was reorganizing my jewelry and jewelry box today.. I absolutely love my earring holder from Urban Outfitters . Doesn't it make my earrings look fabulous?! & if I remember correctly it was only like $10!!

Withdrawl is rough..

..shopping that is. Trying to save some money for Disney World next month. & Wondering why I get Anthropologie catalogs!!

YES PLEASE

Just a thought :]

Just for fun.

I ordered the cutest hats for my girls today. I have seen them all over and I found ones on Esty that are adorable and very resonably priced.

Etsy

I purchased different colors than in the picture, but I don't think you can really go wrong! I love Etsy I get really sucked in sometimes, but even if I'm not buying, just looking around the website is great inspiration. A friend of mine makes these clever little light fixtures. I love these colorful ones, for a little girl's room.

              

Etsy

Lazy Saturday Night.

Sitting around watching football with my husband, after a LONG day of painting our bedroom. My mom watched our girls all day so we could get some work done. It is amazing how much you can get done with no kids around! I really wish we could do this weekly. It doesn't hurt that my sister, brother, and a new puppy were at my mom's to help wear out the girls.
Both are sleeping soundly in bed. Ahh.

Petunia Pickle Bottom

I was reading My Favorite Things and saw this cute diaper bag she posted. I was started thinking about this Petunia Pickle Bottom [gotta love the name too] bag that I asked for  Christmas, but I guess Santa forgot ;)  Some are a little pricey from the website but I found some brand new ones on ebay for half the price.  They have all sorts of colors and different styles. Of course I am partial to the pinks because I have two little girls.

.. I guess I spoke to soon. Maddie and Josie just had a 2 minute scream off in their room. My toddler and 8 month old are sharing a room and I love it, but the only problem is, when one wakes up the other does. Does that ever stop?? I thought they would get used to one another but still they hear each they will both just start up!! Any advice from all you wonderful mom's out there?

Deepa Gurnani headbands

I bought myself an early Christmas present a couple months ago, a couple beautiful headbands by Deepa Gurnani. Even though I'm wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt, just having this great, girly headband makes me feel good. There are tons of colors and styles, even the undersides of the headbands have great prints!

Deepa Gurnani is a hot young designer from India that weaves an inspiring and unique tradition into her modern designs. She is now based out of NYC and does work for other top designers.  I purchased mine at my favorite little boutique here in my town, but they are easy to find online, and I have actually seen them a little cheaper online!

Party Planning.

My daughter's 2nd birthday is coming up and her birthday party is creeping up fast. We've decided on a Hello Kitty themed party. I found this great birthday cake I am going to attempt to recreate. I have faith I can throw something cute together! Hopefully I will  be able to recrute my wonderful sister-in-law to help make mass cupcakes. I love the colors on this cake too! I love looking in the dollar section at Target, they always have great Hello Kitty knick-knacks and other goodies for the kids too.

Snowed In.

We were hit with about 4 inches of snow today. I guess it could be worse, but that is enough to make me want to stay cozy inside by the fire! That is a picture of the golf course across the street from our house, but you would never guess with all the snow!

Since the girlies and I were snowed in we got out some paint and had a little too much fun..
My [almost] 2 year old is a little artist. She was concentrating so hard, and her picture did come out perfect.. and I gave my 8 month some carrot baby food to paint with because she is into eating EVERYTHING (she even ate the paper so that went too), so I figured I would spare myself the trouble and just give her something she could eat. I think at this point she couldn't get anymore off her tray.

My husband and I are getting things organized and ready to paint our bedroom this weekend. Hopefully I can post some great before and after pictures as soon as it all done. We have lived in our house for going on 3 years now, but between having two babies and working on the rest of the house we have put our room on the back burner. Well the time has come! I'm looking forward to having a really warm and calming room where we both can just feel so relaxed in it. Right now our bedroom is a dark blue/grey.. it feels dark too so I'm looking forward to the "glazed pear" color we picked for the walls, should be a big change!!

xo.