Arts and Crafts

I love my daughter's baby book. It's beautiful. It's wrapped in dupioni silk. Her monogram is fancily displayed on the front cover complete with a bow. The pages within are classically themed in a Peter Rabbit design. It cost an arm and a leg. …and I've written in it exactly zero times. She's two years old. Yikes. I don't get much free time, and writing in her baby book has just never been high enough on the list of things to do while she naps or sleeps. This makes me a little sad, especially when I think of her opening it one day and seeing a bunch of empty pages (and also, how much it set me back in dollar-dollar bills y'all),...

Mother's Day. Such a well deserved day but usually forgotten by the ones who deserve it most.  I can say that I am absolutely guilty of pulling the "Oh, I don't want anything" card when it comes to Mother's Day.  I seem to always find something better money can be spent on, and time with my boys is all that really matters.  But what I'm also guilty of is down right spoiling all the mommas in my life. I absolutely love it!  In my opinion, if most moms are like me and don't see the need for any special treatment, it truly means that much more to be surprised with a little unexpected happy. In our family, we have a lot...

Here is a simple, all-natural way to dye your eggs this Easter! And it can be done with things you already have around the house. Start a new, beautiful tradition as you follow these steps: 1. Start with a dozen of your sister-in-law's fabulous "home-grown" eggs. (Well, at least my sister-in-law's. I'm lucky.) Aren't they pretty? If you don't have a family member who raises chickens, you can most certainly get a dozen eggs at the grocery store. 2. Take out a pile of onion peels from standard, yellow onions. Just save the skins of the onions you cook with (like I do) or go to a grocery store and ask if you can clean out their onion bins. They'll be...

Spring is coming! Weather will be warming up, flowers will be budding, and lots of pregnant bellies are getting ready to pop! When those new babies arrive, there are many traditional ways to welcome. Maybe you received flowers, cards, balloons, or new blankets and clothes. However, it is always nice to think outside the box and give those new moms and their bundles a memorable and useful gift that shows your love and joy. Here are three, unique ways to welcome baby (with a chance to WIN one of them below!) 1. Fill the Fridge and Pantry In those first few weeks back home, moms are worried about taking care of their newborn and themselves (and most likely other children.) Dad...

Scarves.  Goodness gracious I LOVE me some scarves! I remember wearing scarves about 8 years ago teaching junior high students who relentlessly made fun of these funny looking things around my neck.  And I remember telling those shiny little faces, "You don't know warmth until you know a good scarf!" Scarves are still used for warmth, but now are a huge fashion piece!  My scarf hoarding reached its peak last Christmas.  It was a bundle of colors and fabrics and fringe all rolled into a big MESS!!  I set out looking for a way to help me organize these scarves so that I could see them displayed in all their glory.  If you are like me and are tired of rummaging...