First week of school success + back to school treats

So we made it through the first week of school. It went so much better than I could have even expected. This being the first experience for Angelo going to any type of school or class environment, ever, I really didn't know what to expect and for me,and for Angelo, the unknown is always the worst. He not only had he never attended prek he really has never left me for more than a few hours unless it was with my mom, who he stayed over night with a few times. So this was an entirely new experience for both of us. I tried to prepare him the best I knew how by checking out books on starting kindergarten from the library, talking with him about what to expect and also having his older sister share and talk with him about what she loves about school. Even with all that I still was so unsure how it was all going to play out once he actually started. Well...he love it! "I actually like it" were he's exact words. I couldn't be happier! It makes it so much easier watching him walk on to the bus knowing he'll come home with stories of all the things the did that day. He has grown up so much in these last few months and even more in this last week, it's hard for a mama to watch her "baby" grow up sometimes but I honestly couldn't be any happier with the amazing little person he has become.

Here are a few back-to-school treats I made for their first day back.

These are Oreos dipped in the candy melts, found at Michael's, with a pretzel and a leaf made out of a gumdrop.

This is just a roll of Smarties, the extra large ones, I found at Old Navy for a $1, then I attached this great smartie pants printable 

First Day of School and Kindergarten! {2011}

 It's here! I can't believe the day I send both kids off to school is really here. I'm a mix of emotions. Excitement for this new chapter and nervous of not sure what that will look like. But more than anything I am confidant that I've raised two beautiful, smart and self-sufficient children and I can feel good about them going off to explore, learn and form new relationships. I have been blessed to stay home over the last decade to raise and watch my children grow to the wonderful young people they are today. I would not change a thing and that feels good.

Be back in a few days....

Summer fun {sailboats}

The summer sure has "sailed"by quickly! One of our last summer activities was making sailboats and taking them up to our little pond in our neighborhood.

The supplies we used where 3 wine corks per boat, hot glue, craft foam cut down to size, a toothpick and some twine. Simple,cheap and easy...my kinda craft. Basically it's pretty self explanatory we just hot glued the corks together, cut the craft foam to resemble a sail, inserted a toothpick and then stick the toothpick into the cork and finally added some twine so our little boats wouldn't sail to far from us. Oh and a stick for easy reeling in.

We had a really fun time and it was actually not too hot out maybe in the 90's! So crazy to think that's not bad but with 100+ and sunny, the days have been rough. Not much you can do outdoors except swim or like us wait until the sun is setting.

Only a few more days until this comes true. We will be spending a few days on the coast for the last weekend of the summer. Can't think of a better way to spend it. You can find this beautiful print at on of my all time favorite sites, Etsy.

Hello cupcake!

In honor of my lovely sisters birthday today I decided to make some pretty cupcakes as part of my gift to her plus I needed an excuse to try these rose frosted cupcakes!

I think they come out really prudy and they where really easy. For the two toned swirl effect I just painted red food color down the sides of  the piping bag before piping. I also found this video which showed me exactly how to make the rose.

I think I'll try it again, maybe on a cake next time, like this.  I boxed a few cupcakes in a pastry box I found at the dollar section of Target. Which completed the presentation.

I had a few left over so I made some fun ones for the kids!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful, sweet sister! Hope you had an amazing day!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to one really great Dad!

Favorite things{mason jars}

They're just so versatile, love 'em. From cold yummy drinks to eclectic vases. Really the uses for them seem endless.

So long 3rd grade...hello summer!

I still can not believe I will have a child in 4th grade! Crazy.

We celebrated by going to dinner and checking out a local drive-in where we watched Indiana Jones. It was a great way to start off the summer!





My new favorite place to be{Pinterest}

I've been spending a lot of time over here lately. I'm enjoying having all the inspirational ideas, photos and just plain neat things all in one place and all organized just the way I like it. My only complaint is so many ideas and too little time. But I have manged to complete a few of the crafty ideas and have even tried some new recipes this week.

Here's one project I completed over the weekend where the inspiration come from one of my pins.

I think they came out pretty cute and I already had everything so it was free. I think these would be so cute in some brighter colors too, like yellow or turquoise.

If you're interested in making some here's what you'll need....clean jars w/ labels removed, I think mine where salsa jars, rubber bands and spray paint. That's it. Just put the rubber bands in whatever pattern you like, you can overlap them then just spay paint right over them. Give paint a minute or two to dry and remove rubber bands. So easy and you've got some new candle holders or even a vase.

Phoot Shoot with my two favorite models

You've got mail

What a creative, fun way to deliver "mail" to the kids. Why didn't I think of this sooner? My daughter and son loves getting mail. In fact they play mail man and deliver little notes to me and each other all the time and usually just slip it under the door. This would be a fun way to give each other special little notes, letters and presents to each other. I think I've seen these little mailboxes at Target. Can't wait to get one.

image via On-hand Modern

Photobooth Thank You cards

So after having a very successful birthday for my daughter my next project was the thank you cards. Trying to stick with the photobooth theme I came up with these.

I made 4 word bubbles out of poster board, bought 2 at the Dollar Tree, then used a permanent marker and wrote out one word for each bubble. This of course could say anything you like. I first thought to write "Thank you for coming" but not everyone who was invited came but very generously gave a gift so I wanted something that included that as well. Then took 4 pics of Bella holding the bubbles and put the pictures into the photo booth strip program at Bighugelabs.com. I've used this awesome web site before but didn't realize they had this until just a few weeks ago. I was beyond excited. It was just so perfect for what I was wanting to do.

Here are a few more photo booth strips I made for all the guest who participated in the photo booth. I mailed these along with the thank you strip.