Royal Bingo

Are you going to watch the big wedding tomorrow? I've got it on my DVR list -- excited to watch, but definitely not going to sacrifice sleep to do it! Boden published a fun wedding catalogue, filled with trivia and DIY projects to celebrate the wedding. My particular favorite -- and what I will make my mom and sister play with me when they come visit next weekend and we watch together -- is the wedding BINGO!



I especially like how it is described as "A game of buttock-clenching concentration and endurance," and I might even make them put some money on the game just to spice things up a bit.



I wonder if I could get my kids to start saying "buttock" rather than the abbreviated version? I'm sure that vocab word would fit right in on the playground here in North Florida.

And what would make it even more fun, would be to play with these mini gold pencils:



[Twig & Thistle Mini Pencils, $3/one pack of 10]

Download your very own set of BINGO cards for free right here!

A 7-yr-old

Our 7-yr-old.



How can it be? When he was a baby, I'd see older kids and think to myself "No way he's ever going to be that old. And carry a backpack." But here we are, and my snaggle-toothed little man is 7. And he has a backpack. And has lunch in the cafeteria without anyone making sure that he eats his healthy food first.



He'd rather kick a soccer ball or dribble a basketball more than pretty much anything else. Besides having sorbet. Yes, sorbet. When we go to the ice cream shop, he chooses Mango Sorbet. Or Lemon if they have it.

Six has been my favorite age with him so far, so I'm a little sad to say good-bye to it. His sweetness, his earnestness -- hopefully those qualities will stick around even through moody-snotty-teenage years.

Happy birthday, my sweet boy.

Easter Weather Whiplash

This past Easter, we celebrated in 90 degree weather:



A far cry from Easter in Cambridge, where the boys would wear hats and winter coats to hunt eggs!



Somewhere in the middle of these two extremes would be nice...just sayin'.

And thankfully, my kids also have cuter Easter baskets now. That one Spencer is holding looks like it came from some mail order sausage and cheese company. He can barely get his little hand around the handle!

The Winner!

I put our empty Easter eggs to good use to pick the winner of the Minted giveaway...



Spencer helped me with the stuffing and the picking [he made that box special, too]:



And the winner is...





...comment #27, which is Shannon!! Congratulations!! I'll be in touch with you about how to redeem your Minted gift certificate. Thanks to all of you who entered -- I think I need to make a new road trip mix now!

Hoppy

Howdy, and Happy Friday. We've got a weekend full of soccer games and Easter celebrations. My kids asked me if the Easter Bunny was going to come to our house, and I pulled the "Oh, um, I'm not sure, but I'm super busy washing dishes right now" parenting technique. We've never celebrated Easter that way before, and it's too hard for me to pretend that a giant bunny hops over and brings gifts. Plus, that's not really what I want the focus to be. But if I tell them there isn't an Easter bunny, then what do I say about Santa and the Tooth Fairy and Leprechauns? Would the gig be up?

Anyway, on to less conflicting matters. How great are these paper puppets by Ferzechan?





They are $10 each and would make an excellent little puppet troupe.

Comments for the giveaway are now closed! I loved reading what you guys listen to on the road. Stay tuned for the announcement of the winner, that lucky duck...

Purple

I've never really considered myself a purple kind of person, but this room [from Angie Hranowsky] has me thinking otherwise:


And the art situation going on in here?


It's perfection.

And that's just the living room! Have you noticed that a lot of sleek and modern kitchens look cold and frightening? Frightening because I'd be afraid that if me or one of my kids dare set even a pinky toe on the floor, it's steely zen vibe would be shattered. It would sense that it was only be a matter of time before fruit smoothies were dripping down it's custom cabinets and Peanut Butter was smeared on it's pristine countertops. But that's not the case with this one; this one is both parts sleek and inviting, a perfect combo:



And the kids' rooms, well...they can speak for themselves:



[Check out the entire portfolio for more inspiration]

And there's still time to enter for a chance to win the $150 Minted gift certificate!

The Big Giveaway!

Here it is, folks -- Minted is going to give one of you lucky readers a $150 gift certificate toward anything on their site! That's right, $150 to spend on anything you see at Minted.com.

Whether you're looking for the perfect gift for Mom on Mother's Day:



[Initial Wreath by Althea and Ruth]



[Mod Stacks by Annie Clark]



[Spruce by Palm Papers]

Or a fantastic way to share the Easter holiday:



[Blessings Easter Card by SimpleTe]

Or maybe you're expecting a little one:



[Our Little Sprout by Karen Glenn]



[Bright Hello by Moglea]



[Preppy Button by Kelli Hall]



[Mod Floral Minibook by Gakemi Art+Design; Minibook designs give you multiple pages inside to showcase your little bundle]

Or want to celebrate someone about to have a baby:



[Shower Probability by Catherine Lalonde]



[Modern Folk Shower Invitation by Oscar & Emma]

Or someone who's about to get married:



[Floral Showers by Potts Design]

Minted has it all! Since they feature designs by indie designers, the selections are always fresh and new. There are MANY more beautiful designs than the ones shown here -- it was so hard to pick.

To enter to win, leave a comment answering this question: what is your favorite road trip song?

In High School, my answer would have definitely been Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse of the Heart. On our last trip, though, we were jamming to Adele's Rolling in the Deep. I think it might actually be impossible not to rock out to her stunning voice. And of course, there's always the old standby -- Justin Bieber's Baby.

You have until Friday [4.22] at noon ET to leave a comment!

The Anatomy of a Cupcake

Because I love cupcakes, diagrams and good photography, this print caught my eye a few weeks ago. I bookmarked it, then forgot about it, then saw it again on JHill's Pinterest, still liked it, and thought you might like it too!



Also, be sure to check out the short video of how the print was created. You know how I like a good behind-the-scenes clip.

I think I need to create a diagram of some sort, something deconstructed. Hmmmm...any ideas? Anything you're itching to see deconstructed? And don't forget -- the giveaway will be announced tomorrow! And you're going to like it. A lot lot.

[Print by Allen Hemberger, via black eiffel]

All that Glitters

This is not going to be a cutting edge craft post, but recently, I happened upon some sequin confetti, and thought "where has confetti been all my life?" You guys, it's the best. It's so easy and uncomplicated to enjoy, and adds the perfect little embellishment to drawings. We don't do a ton of art projects around here that involve more than paper, markers and colored pencils...and the occasional stamps, but only when M isn't around. Why, you ask? Because of more than one traumatic kid-crafting experience that ended with all of us nearly in tears.

But this. This is an easy, surefire way to make all involved happy. We grabbed some construction paper, crayons and glue, and went for it. I like to cover my tabletops with Kraft paper whenever glue is involved. Spending my evening scraping up glue bits is not my idea of a good time. I'd rather be watching Swamp People, you know?



Can we please just take a moment to observe the state of our crayons:



No matter how many new boxes I buy, the majority are reduced to pieces in no time. This would have driven me batty when I was little.



S is almost always the first one to jump into anything art related.



I love the open-mouth concentration look.



And I love how these little feet don't touch the ground.



At first, H didn't want to fool with the sequins, but I finally convinced him that there are few things scarier than a dragon with sequin eyes.



So in conclusion, it's all about the little things -- especially sparkly little things. And projects that don't lead to tears. And yelling. And locking myself in the bathroom.

Have a great weekend, and be sure to check in next week for a big giveaway! I know, a giveaway? Yes! And it's going to be huge...

18 MONTHS

M actually turned 18 months at the end of March, but I guess this is what happens with the 3rd -- the milestone is recognized, maybe just a bit late. And knowing what I know of her little personality so far, I'd bet that she'd think it was funny. This girl's got quite a sense of humor, and has managed to wrap us all around her little finger, even the baby boy, who wasn't so keen on her to begin with. At this point in her little life, she's got about a thousand nicknames: magaloo, loo loo, mags and the like. And sometimes "bobby" because she screeches like a bobcat when she doesn't get what she wants.



And she's a wild one. We made it through two rounds of toddler boys, and it's our girl who chips her tooth! I don't know if it's because she has two brothers, but so far I can't tell much difference between boys and girls. If they are wrestling, she will jump right on top of the pile-up. I like a girl who isn't afraid to jump in and let her presence be known, all with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

Clever

Fantasticly clever idea for eco-friendly business cards:



Not only are they easy on the environment, but they also reinforce what the advertised business is for [environmental consulting]. Plus, who doesn't love a stamp?

[from createYU]

Color Me Happy

Don't these kid clothes from Maan make you smile? They're so colorful and cheerful. I mean, they even have smiley face buttons on the mannequins -- what's not to love?! Not that I could get any of my kids to actually wear all of the items together at the same time, but that's beside the point.



Happy weekend!

Best in Show

Our best neighbor friend had a birthday last weekend, and I enlisted the talents of Yasmine Mol to create custom pet portraits of her two pups.



When they arrived, I literally wanted to hang them straight up on our walls! This is the second time I've worked with Yasmine, and not only is she crazy talented, but she is great to work with. She was traveling through Asia -- in Vietnam -- but completely got it done for me in time for the big day.



I decided to mat them since I was giving them as a gift. White mats, white backing boards, some artist tape, and clear bags to top it off:




I always feel much better once things are wrapped in clear plastic bags. It's only a matter of time around here before something gets spilled or drawn on.

If you or someone you love [wait. isn't that normally followed by "has been injured in an accident?!] has a pup they hold near and dear, I'd highly recommend contacting Yasmine. It's a sure hit!

Best Hospital Newborn Pictures Ever

I don't know about you, but the newborn pictures they offered me of my kids at the hospital looked nothing like these. They were more of the alien/weird lighting variety.



That hair. Those cheeks. Really? I could just eat him up.

A Nephew!

This little bundle of sweetness arrived today into the arms of my older sister. We have three precious nieces, and I love adding a little man to the mix. I only wish I were there to give him lots of snuzzles! It really is almost painful to look at his picture and talk to my sister and not be able to be there with them. Hopefully soon I will get to meet him! Love you, Baby J.

A Day in Atlanta

Okay, so this may totally bore you if you aren't like me and, well, nosy. Last Friday, I documented [most] of my day while we were visiting in Atlanta. When we visit, I usually have lots of things to check off my list, so this is a typical errand day. Next time, I'll try to document a kid day there because there are so many great things for kids to do in Atlanta.

9:22 -- I start out with my sister in the passenger seat.



I was born and raised in ATL. Born at Piedmont Hospital and lived in several different houses in Buckhead, Vinings and near Chastain Park. My parents used to be house flippers, and I was known to tell my mom "My room is dirty. It's time to move." All this to say that I can get you around town using mostly back roads, which is definitely my preferred method because not only can you avoid the gnarly traffic, but you also get the scenic route.



Spring is by far my favorite season in my hometown -- the hydrangeas, flowering trees, green grass, tulips -- it makes me so happy. Yes, I think I'd have to say the snowball hydrangeas are my all time fave.



Weez wanted me to show you this house:



It's one if her faves with the ivy crawling up the front. This gal has got great things ahead, and I'm excited to see the guest house she's going to build me one day. Just sayin'.

We are headed to get some bloomers for Mags at The Children's Shop.



Are monogrammed bloomers a Southern thing? She doesn't wear them all the time, but I have a dress that I bought for her in Copenhagen last summer that didn't come with bloomers and I'm trying to match it. I ordered white bloomers with a circle monogram in cream. Can't wait to see how they turn out.

Next stop, checking out Laura's studio! I was so excited to see what was going on, and I love her new studio. It's right in the middle of everything, but feels calm and peaceful inside.



I wish this picture wasn't blurry [all these photos were taken with my phone] because it is amazing.



[Check out more of her beautiful work here]

11:15 -- We race to my 11:00 haircut appointment. If you are in the area and looking for a good haircut, call Seldon. She's the best.



She's opening up her own salon next month that will be on Pharr Road off Peachtree. I decided at the last minute to get bangs. Loved them at the salon, but then got back to the horrendous humidity down here and realized they were probably a mistake! Oh well -- I like trying new things and can always pull them back.

1:00 -- Lunch. We ate at the Buckhead Bread Company and it was scrumptious.



That dude in the back is all "are you taking my picture?" Why yes, I am. For my blog. Anyway, I ordered Potato Soup and a Fried Green Tomato BLT because when in the south, do as the southerners do. Weez and I actually halved our sandwiches, so I also got to have the chicken salad. It was fantastico.



After lunch, we hit Lenox. Can I just tell you how much I look forward to going here? Is that weird? Because malls aren't usually the most fun places.



But there are so many great stores here and I have so many memories of being here in High School, racing around the giant speed bumps behind the mall in my friend's white Jeep, listening to Rusted Root. Plus, practically speaking, I can't get a lot of things where we live that I can at Lenox. And there are always better sales here, too, and I love a good sale.

A few hours later, we make a stock-up stop at T.Joe's [forgot the camera]. On the list: coffee, Stockyard beer, Fig bars, Sunflower Butter and Sweet and Savory trail mix. Plus some other things that found their way into my cart.

Now we are headed back home for dinner. I can't remember what time it was at this point, but probably around 5? The littlest munchkin is waiting at the door. She was with her dad and some friends at Piedmont Park and the Botanic Gardens. Both excellent places to take kids, especially when it is so pretty outside.



With Weez around, I know dinner is going to be good. Tonight we are having Jeffrey's Roast Chicken, Roasted Butternut Squash and Stilton and Pecan salad. Mmmmmmmmm.



The boys had been at the zoo with my parents, and had a blast. I'm sure all the cotton candy and toys had nothing to do with it, either.

After the kids are bedded down, we caught the Swamp People marathon. You guys, I'm hooked. Who knew there was so much drama in reality alligator hunting? There's this one guy named Willy who is a complete Bad-A when it comes to catching those rascals.



And a bonus picture for any of you still reading this! Saturday, my dad came downstairs to see about building a shelf in the TV armoire. Weez and I were watching The Real Housewives of the OC. Guess who took a load off in the chair next to me?



He says he was still inspecting the armoire, but we knew better.

That's all for now! If you need any recommendations for ATL, let me know!