Category Archives: baby / tots

baby / tots creativity

Paper Bag Puppets

January 25, 2012 – 10:12 am

Yesterday I got out our giant craft box, handed Ava a bunch of supplies, and watched her create these ‘Ava & Pixie’ paper bag puppets.

I helped by cutting out a few things she requested [hair, ballet shoes, etc] and she did the rest herself.  I think they are pretty cute and wanted to see what kind of paper bag puppets other people were making.  I’d love to see some of your own creations too!

I love this pirate!  By Amanda Formaro on Kaboose

From ‘The Star Wars Craft Book‘ by Bonnie Burton, Admiral “Sackbar”! LOL [via boingboing]

Toothy Guys by Michelle M. of Isle Tri

Rrrribit!  Cute and Simple Froggie from Learning Ideas

I am crazy about this owl made by Denise Sharp.  I think I’m going to buy a pack of brown paper bags today!

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baby / tots creativity life

The Best Gift

January 13, 2012 – 3:40 pm

This year we brought a few of our family members to tears with this gift -

A mini book about little miss Ava.  It came out soooo cute!  We did a pic or two for each month of her existence and a few extra pages for some of her artwork and photos with family members.

We used Blurb to make the books and were really happy with the outcome.

I’m sure we will be making more books in the future … I’m thinking a wedding book would be great since I know I’ll never get around to printing photos and putting them in an album.

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baby / tots decor

Cuteness Alert – Cat Pillow by birdenvy

July 29, 2011 – 2:16 am

Omigosh.  This pillow from birdenvy is beyond adorable …

Perfect for a child’s room or someone that just loves kitties.  Made from chenille and tweed.  They also make owls.

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baby / tots life local | chicago

Weekend at the Cabin

May 27, 2011 – 2:15 pm

Last weekend I planned a surprise getaway for Mike’s birthday.  I wanted something close, something serene … somewhere we could just relax.  I found a secluded cabin just an hour and 15 minutes away from Chicago, nestled on 80 private acres of woodland and spring fed ponds.  I did all the packing and grocery shopping in advance and even picked up two fishing poles [Mike has always wanted to take Ava fishing].  It is amazing how much stuff we had for just a two night/three day stay [most of it for Ava - kids don't pack light!].  Mike drove us to our destination, guided by “Matilda” [the name we gave our mobile navigation voice] and was pleasantly surprised as we turned down the long private drive to the cabin.

The surroundings were beautiful – lush spring forest, lily pad laden ponds – ahhhhh nature.

While I sorted things out inside the cabin, Mike busted out the fishing poles and he and Ava dug up some worms and headed to the pond.  She caught a baby bluegill on her first cast!  She ended up catching a total of two … Mike, zero.

We kicked off our night by making a fire in the firepit and roasting hot dogs and marshmallows.  I thought Ava would love s’mores, but she said she didn’t like marshmallows “with brown stuff”.  She did enjoy waving her marshmallow stick around though!

On Saturday we went exploring [we were only 15 minutes away from the Michigan Harbor Towns on the beachfront] and picked up some local morels and sausages from a farmer’s market.  Ava spent lots of time outdoors and especially loved the tree swing out in front of the cabin.

Saturday night, Mike and Ava headed down to one of the ponds with a flashlight and net and brought back a bullfrog and a tree frog.  [If Ava spots a gnat or fly, she totally freaks out - but frogs and fish, love at first sight!]  She held the treefrog for quite a while and wanted to bring him home with us [um no.].

The next morning, Mike made a stellar skillet breakfast using our fresh morels and some wild onions, scrambled eggs, local bacon, and potatoes.  Yum.  Then he and Ava headed down to the pond one last time and found a few tadpoles.  [Not bringing those home either!]  By the time we had to leave, we were just getting into the rhythm of cabin life [isn't that how it always is on a vacation ... just when you start to relax it's time to go].

I have a feeling this won’t be our last weekend getaway for the spring/summer.

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baby / tots life

I’ve Been a Very Bad Blogger

May 20, 2011 – 1:08 pm

Yes, I admit it.  Lately I have been a very bad blogger.  I haven’t posted anything in 44 days.  Yikes.  Shame on me.  Now I am going to have to make up for lost time by going on a posting rampage.  I’m not even going to make any excuses for my neglect except to say I was sucked into a black hole or a time warp or something … because motherhood can feel like that sometimes.  Things we have (or make) time for slowly inch their way down the priority list to make room for bigger and better stuff … like …

Learning to ride a tricycle:

Finally being able to pump the swing:

Climbing a tree:

(With Daddy’s help, of course)

Holding a baby lamb:

And planning a weekend getaway … which we are leaving on today.  It is Mike’s birthday weekend [official b-day Monday] and we are whisking him away on a surprise trip so I can’t share any details with you … yet.  XO

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baby / tots creativity life

Making Play Dough!

April 6, 2011 – 4:29 pm

The other day, Ava and I decided to make our own play dough.  I found a no-cook recipe on instructables, gathered the ingredients [flour, salt, water, food coloring], and sat down at the table with a very excited little girl!

I covered the table with some scrap paper and handed her the measured ingredients to dump into the bowl.  Then I gave her the spoon and let her mix it up – her most favorite part of helping me in the kitchen.

Once the dough was thoroughly mixed, I divided it into three lumps [I had to keep adding flour until the dough wasn't so sticky] and then added the food coloring.  [I would really recommend wearing disposable gloves for this part, unless you want red, blue, and green hands like I ended up having.]  Just keep kneading the dough until the color is blended.

Hooray – play dough!

After I just reminded her to NOT smash it all together.

After I reminded her that once you smash them together, it’s very unlikely to have three separate colors again.

“Oh well, mom.  I’ll just make a rainbow worm.”  And that was perfectly fine with me. :-)

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baby / tots creativity

Cute Crochet from Frolicking Leaves

March 2, 2011 – 2:18 pm

I can’t sew, I can’t knit, and I sure as heck cannot crochet.  I did try to make a pillow for Ava once while I was pregnant … didn’t turn out too bad, but there is still an opening on one side because I never learned how to do the closing stitch.  The closest I’ve come to knitting or crocheting [and this is quite a stretch] is doing one of those latch hooks rug kits when I was a kid.  For some people, wielding a pair of long needles [or hooks, I think they're called] and turning a ball of yarn into something other than a potholder is second nature.  Etsy shop owner, Angie of Frolicking Leaves, is a great example.

Angie lived with her grandmother while she was student teaching in 2001 and from those skilled hands, she learned the craft of crochet.  She refined her skills, began creating her own fun designs, and opened up her shop in October ’09.  Once she perfects a design [which can take days of starting to crochet, pulling apart, starting over, and finally nailing it], Angie can stitch up a pair of booties or an adorable hat in couple of hours.  So jealous.

Over the holiday season, these felted crochet ballet slippers [omg i love them] were selling fast, just like her current line of hats.  One lucky reader will even WIN A HAT just by leaving a comment.  [View Giveaway Details]

Angie is also a mom – two kids, ages 6 and 22 months – and spends a lot of late nights crocheting while the kiddos sleep.  She has even helped her daughter open up her very own Etsy shop [Greta's Paper Art] to sell her crayon creations.  What a cute idea!

Just like any mom, we need to find ways to unwind.  Angie’s, of course, involves crocheting … as well as a good cup of coffee and an episode of Little House on the Prairie.  Don’t laugh – I actually love that show too.  :-)  Thanks so much to Angie for taking the time to share a little of herself with me … and don’t forget to check out the Frolicking Leaves Giveaway!  XO

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baby / tots life

Winter Picnic

February 16, 2011 – 3:45 pm

I have spring fever … or maybe it’s just cabin fever, but either way I am longing for sunshine and warm breezes and days spent playing outside.  I guess that’s why Ava and I decided to do something different for lunch the other day.  We had a picnic.

A sheet, little sandwiches, veggies, and homemade blueberry muffins brought a little bit of sunshine to our winter routine.

Ava thought it was pretty cool to not have to sit at the table.  She cleaned her plate and then danced around the room singing, “we’re on a picnic … la la la la la”.  We might have to make this a regular thing.

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baby / tots life local | chicago

“I’m going to have so much fun, you guys!”

February 4, 2011 – 12:57 am

That is what Ava said when we told her we were going to go outside and play in the snow on Wednesday morning.  Totally worth venturing out into the aftermath of the blizzard here in Chicago.  Our parking lot was covered in drifts so it was the perfect spot for some snow play without having to dig out the car.  We may only have lasted about 15 minutes in the cold, but seeing her have so much fun [as she kept telling us every few seconds] was pretty priceless.

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baby / tots life

Kisses & Curls

January 5, 2011 – 4:59 pm

I tried out my new ceramic curlers set yesterday [an after Christmas gift - yeah giftcards!].  I didn’t brush them out or put any product in my hair and they lasted all day.  Ava told me my hair was pretty and I got to steal this kiss.

Can’t get much better … XO

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