a simple advent calendar

I found this easy, no frills advent calendar idea over at Simple Mom and as soon as I saw it, I knew I would create it. Easy, no frills and free (I had all the supplies) = my kind of craft!  I love Simple Mom's idea of using post it notes for each day. I had a bunch of them around the house and they allow you to be flexible with the activities by removing or switching days easily.

For my calendar, I used an earring display I made for my booth, cut up some 8.5x11 card stock into strips 4.25x2, folded them in half, wrote numbers with black colored pencil and added the post it note inside the flap.The kids and I decorated the cards with simple patterns. Then I hung them on the thread. Easy peasy!

I chose a mix of activities for the month: some crafty, some fun, some magical and some that give to others. Here are some of the activities I have planned:

• Attend a holiday play
• Visit a holiday light display
• Make paper snowflakes
• Drink hot chocolate and watch a holiday movie
• Donate to the Phoenix Children's Hospital
• Bring treats to the kids teachers
• Drive around town to see lights
• Tape quarters to toy or game machines around town
• Pop popcorn and watch a holiday movie
• Buy toys to donate to toys for tots
• Go ice skating
• Bake cookies
• Go through books and toys for donation
• Make gifts for teachers
• Open a gift and bake cookies for Santa!
• Have a Merry Christmas!

My 5 year old wondered what we were making and when done he asked me to read a few activities. The wide eyed happy look on his face made me really excited about them too!

kids art holiday card

I tried something new with our cards this year.  I asked my kids, ages 4 and 6,  to each draw a snowman and then I used their art to create our family holiday card. It turned out really cute!  I love that we were able to share their artwork with our friends and families, many of whom we don't get to see often.

My only itty bitty change for next year is to make the card bigger.  I created it this size because I had a bunch of A2 envelopes on hand and this size fit.  However, once hung up with our other holiday cards though it looks pretty itty bitty. It's still cute though!

thankful

I count my blessings for my two happy little boys, my caring husband, and for all the amazing family and friends who enrich our lives every day. I am also very grateful for our home, good health, laughter, art supplies, the library, yoga and time to create and re-connect with myself regularly. Last but, certainly not least, I am thankful for all the wonderful people who have inspired and supported me and Creative Stash this year.  My family and I are so very grateful to you. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!

intuition and things my mother has taught me

I painted this picture frame for my mom for mother's day (it will be mailed soon, I promise)! I wanted a frame that matched the feel of the family photo we are giving her and something I know would feel at home in her decor so, channeled the creative every day theme intuition as I painted. Here's the end result ...

My mother has been so important to me throughout my life. I respect her strength and wisdom and feel honored to be her daughter. I'd have to say the most important things that my mother has taught me are:

• Be generous.
  
• Live in the moment.
  
• Carve out time for yourself.
• Family comes before everything.
  
• Be social and spend time getting to know people.

Thank you mom, I love you! xoxo

To see what others have been working on this week for the intuition theme, click here.

national turn off your tv week

This week is National Turn off Your TV Week!

Simple Organic is hosting Make Week, celebrating a week of TV turn-off. Simple Mom wrote a great article on 5 Great Reasons to Not Watch (much) TV.

I’m excited and think we'll all enjoy a week of shutting the TV off and doing something else. We do enjoy TV entertainment however, I will admit that we sometimes have the TV on by default, while eating and some days it does feel like it is our main source of entertainment. *Gasp*

Personally, I am not a huge fan of TV. It wasn't all that important in my house growing up. I don't enjoy the sound of TV in the background (hearing people talk irritates me), I do enjoy music and I LOVE the sound of silence. Even better I love when it's so quite in the house you can hear outside sounds like birds, trees, wind.

I am looking forward to shutting off, the rest of the family ... well ... just have to see how that goes. I did make sure to talk about it over the weekend quite a bit so it's not a shock to their system and I have activities in mind to do instead like picnic dinners, gardening, board games, art & crafts, story time and imaginative play. Fun!

I encourage you to take part this week, keep your television turned off and do something else. If you do let me know! Do you think your family would happily accept the challenge of a week without TV?

Update: We made it through 2 days with a few minor protests. Bert had the hardest time with this "experiment" with Ethan a close second. Instead of watching TV we went to the gym, built a fort/tent, played board games, created recycled robots and read books. in my opinion, it was a lovely 2 days!

happy earth day!

Happy Earth Day!

On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was held. People all over the country made promises to help the environment. Everyone got involved and since then, Earth Day has spread all over the planet. This year is Earth days 40th anniversary!

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. ~ Native American Proverb

We are laying low tonight, I have a couple of earth love books to read to the boys and we'll take a little outdoor nature walk and may be a good night to finally watch Food, Inc. Please give mother Earth a little love today and always.

washcloth bunnies

Petite Planet shows you how to make these adorable washcloth bunnies for your Easter baskets. Choose washcloths in a festive color and bring them to life as cute little bunnies! They may then be used as washcloths for bath time or you can put an ice cube in the little loop you formed for their body and use as boo-boo bunnies to cool any bumps and bruises.

Via Craft: Blog

happy st. patty's day!

Happy St Patty's Day! Family, fun, beer and all things green! What's not to love? To celebrate, I'll be enjoying a few brew-skies and baking my great-grandmother's Irish Soda Bread. Her recipe originated in Ireland and has been passed down to my grandmother, then my mother and now me. Cheers!

St. Patrick's Day Toast
Here’s to a long life and a merry one.
A quick death and an easy one
A pretty girl and an honest one
A cold beer – and another one!

happy valentine's day

Hearts made by Hudson, 2010

I'm feeling the love today ... I am so grateful to have such wonderful people in my life. I love my family and friends and all of you that stop by, read, comment and support me in my art and my life dearly. Wishing everyone lots of love today and always. Happy Valentine's Day!

new year, new goals

I have to say, I love making new year's resolutions. Being the goal-setter and list-maker that I am, that’s not surprising. It's my favorite way to start the year fresh. Looking back and thinking ahead. Although, I do need help in learning how to stand still in the present sometimes. This year I want to continue in the direction I've been headed; simplifying, healthy living, creating and peace. I narrowed my list of creative and personal goals down to my top 13.

1. meditate and journal every week
   
2. plan a date with each of my kids once a month
   
3. create 4 new paintings
4. save $1,000 emergency fund
5. work on how to respond calmly rather than react when situations become tense
   
6. work on my fitness 4x a week: yoga, zumba and weight lifting
7. reach next weight loss goal of 18lbs. lost by the end of the year
8. learn how to use my sewing machine
9. grow herbs and vegetables in our backyard
10. continue to make healthy eating choices and work on cutting out sugar and hfcs
    
11. volunteer my time and energy to those less fortunate at least 2 times this year
12. engage in outdoor activities: hiking, swimming, picnics and evening walks
    
13. create, grow and network etsy store & freelance design (20 hours a month max)

Many wishes for health, happiness, growth and peace in 2010!

holiday happenings

"So much time, and so little to do! Strike that, reverse it." ~ Willy Wonka. Oh my, Christmas only 4 days away?! Eek. We are sort of, kinda ready. Ready or not, we have been very busy this year enjoying the holidays! Here is what we've been up to ...

Let it Snow
We kicked off the holiday festivities with a little snowfall. 7 pm every night it "snows" at Tempe Marketplace.

Santa visits Falcon Field Airport
We joined some friends to see Mr & Mrs. Claus fly in on a bomber plane. Too cool! We visited Santa and toured the aviation museum.

Breakfast with Santa
We had breakfast with Santa at our community center. Ethan saw a few kids from his kindergarten class so, that was pretty exciting for him. Santa walked around, said hello to all the children and gave each child a present.

Gingerbread House
Hopped on sugar we had a blast building, decorating and eating our gingerbread house!

Playgroup Holiday Party
We had a holiday party with our playgroup at the park. We have been a part of this playgroup for almost 3 years! Here the kids are decorating sugar cookies.

Mesa Temple
Each year this church creates a beautiful display of lights and has music. Nancy, a friend from our playgroup, plays in her church bell choir and she was preforming so, we headed down to enjoy the music and lights.

Natal Circle Neighborhood
We met up with some playgroup friends to see Natal Circle in Mesa light up the holidays! The entire street is lit up with elaborate holiday light themes. Residents hang out in their driveways next to fire pits and in awesome garages party rooms.

Holiday Pen Pals
Each holiday our playgroup matches up a holiday pen pal for the kids. The boys always enjoy making, sending and receiving their pen pal cards! Here are the cards the boys made.

Whew! We have been busy having holiday fun and are so excited to celebrate Christmas day! Hope you and your family are enjoying all the season has to offer. Many wishes for a very happy and healthy holiday!

gift wrapping

Here I used the Peace Joy Love wrapping paper & gift tag I designed to finish a friends gift. You can print the gift tags and wrapping paper at home. An inexpensive way to finish your holiday gifts in style! Free art downloads are available over at the Soft Flex Company website.

vintage figurines turned ornaments

I had a few vintage Christmas figurines lying around with no home. They are tiny and really didn't really fit into any of our holiday decor. After seeing the gnome ornament by Heidi Kenney of My Paper Crane yesterday I knew just what to do with them. Turn them into ornaments of course! I twisted up some pipe cleaners and with a little glue gun I gave them a purpose.

They are so stinkin' cute, aren't they?!

christmas ornaments

I love creating handmade ornaments to adorn our tree. I blogged last year about the handmade ornaments I have created since 2002. Ethan is still swiping ornaments from the tree this year, I think he has a special place in his heart for them too!

Last year slipped by me and this year I'm cutting it close but, the more I thought about it the more I realized I want to create a new ornament this year and keep the tradition going. There are so many wonderful ideas online for homemade ornaments to create. Shall I choose recycled, re-purposed, beaded or painted?! hmm... I haven't made up my mind yet, although I do know I will be using what I already have around the house mixed with the wonderful ideas I've stumbled upon below.

Recycled Paper Roll Ornament by Regina at Creative Kismet
[via Creative Every Day blog]

Gnome Ornament by Heidi Kenney of My Paper Crane
[via Craft blog]

Plastic Toy Ornament by Heather Sitarzewski
[via Craft blog]

Recycled holiday card ornaments
[via marthastewart.com]

Cookie Cutter Ornaments
[via marthastewart.com]


Tree Bling Ornament by Jamie Hogsett
[via softflexcompany.com]

Beaded Snowflakes
[via marthastewart.com]

Pipe Cleaner Snowflakes
[ via marthastewart.com]

free printable gifts tags & wrapping paper

I designed some gifts tags & matching wrapping paper for your holidays gifts. Print these full color gift tags and wrapping paper at home. An inexpensive way to finish your holiday gifts in style!


Simply download the holiday gift wrap file, print on printer paper and wrap a small gift with it. Then, download the free holiday gift tags file, print on card stock, cut and attach to your gift with tape or a pretty ribbon. Free downloads are available over at the Soft Flex Company website.

holiday wreath

I created a holiday wreath for our front door from an old spring wreath that had seen better days (many years ago) combined with poinsettia and holly flowers I found when going through our Christmas storage. Here is what is looked like before ...

feeling grateful

I was not feeling well this past weekend and wanted take a few moments today to reflect upon the things that I am grateful for this holiday season.

I am forever grateful for my family. I'm thankful for my husband Bert and the patience, love, support and friendship he shares with me every day. I couldn't have asked for a better partner in life or father for our children. I'm thankful for my children; Ethan shines with limitless happiness and excitement and Hudson sees the world with wonderment and creativity. I am extremely lucky to have them in my life and see the world as they do.

I am grateful for our home and all that we have. The kids and I went through our toys, clothes and household items this weekend. I was amazed and humbled at just how much we have and just how much we are able to donate to help others.

I am grateful for my extended family and friends. Without them, I wouldn't be me. They have helped see me through so much in my life and I am thankful for all their love and support. My good friends (old and new) help me to smile, laugh and appreciate others. And for that I say thanks.

I hope you had a lovely weekend, enjoyed your holiday and took a moment to give thanks!

pumpkin fritters

This fritter recipe was passed along to me by my good friend Erica. It has become a recipe I look forward to making each year during pumpkin season. I took this recipe to a pumpkin picnic last weekend and the kids gobbled them up. The fact that I called them pumpkin donuts instead of fritters I think made the kids want to try them. My kids get giddy whenever donuts are mentioned.

I use real pumpkin but, you could try it with canned pumpkin and that would be yummy too.

Pumpkin Fritters (aka Pumpkin Donuts)

• 1 small pumpkin (2 cups mashed pumpkin)
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 - 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp salt
• oil for frying
• confectioner's sugar

First remove seeds and peel the pumpkin. To easily peel the pumpkin I roast it in the oven for about 15 min covered until the skin easily peels away or is at least soft enough to easily cut away. Then chop, boil, drain and mash the pumpkin. Combine 2 cups of mashed pumpkin with sugar, whole wheat flour, vanilla and salt. Heat oil in tall saucepan, spoon in mixture and fry. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar.

This year I decided to make 3 small pumpkins at once. After I prepared the pumpkins I portioned out 3 containers with 2 cups of mashed pumpkin in each. I fried one batch up right away, refrigerated one for the following day and froze one to save for Thanksgiving. This way, I just combine the ingredients and fry without the hassle of preparing a whole pumpkin each time.

Hope you are enjoying pumpkin season! I sure am.

thank you veterans!

Happy Veterans Day to all who have served (and currently serve) our great nation. Thank you for your courage, dedication and sacrifice. Thank you for our freedom and for protecting our families. Many thanks and blessings.

happy halloween!

Bert & I and some of our oldest and dearest friends are all in Indio, CA right now enjoying a 3 day music festival put on by the band PHISH. This Halloween we are experiencing lots of treats and maybe even a few tricks! The boys are spending the weekend with Nannie and enjoying many treats of their own I'm sure!

Here are our little cuties in their costumes this year!

Hudson the Bumble Bee sharing some cotton candy.

Ethan and his schoolmate Caleb both dressed as Super Mario Bros.

Costumed kiddos doing the limbo!

Ethan running through a spooky haunted house!

Here are some blasts from Halloween pasts:

Halloween 2008

Halloween 2007


Halloween 2006

Halloween 2005

Wishing you and your family a Safe and Happy Halloween!