Monthly Archives: November 2011

Give Me Glitter

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This post is part confession and part product review.

First the confession: A part of me will never grow up. That’s OK, right?

I am a 30-year old woman who wears {and loves} sparkly nail polish.

 

Crown Me Already by OPI

Now for the product review: This is Crown Me Already by OPI.

Isn’t that a great name?

It has all different sizes of silver glitter in it, and I bought it to wear over all different colors {like this and this}.

Today I didn’t have time for all those layers, so I decided to see what it looks like on its own.

I dig it. 

I think everything should sparkle at Christmas time. Nails included.

And in case you are worried,  I am still married. I find that I wear my wedding rings a lot less when I’m in the house 90 percent of the week.

Also, I don’t have to go back to work until next year. I’m not sure how confident I’d be rocking these nails if I had to go into the office. Oh, how I love maternity leave!

And Christmas.

And glitter.

Attention Co-workers: If I happen to wear sparkly nail polish to work in the future and blame theBABY by saying she insisted I wear it, please forget you ever read this and just go along with it!!

Why I Write it Down

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One of the reasons I journal {and write this blog} is to revisit recent history to remember how things happened. Today I did just that. And you know what I discovered?

This happened the last time I had a baby, too.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t remember what I had for dinner last Friday night, let alone what it was like the first few weeks home with theBABY two years ago. I’m always so glad I’ve recorded things when it comes in handy like it did today.

Enough about why I {and you should…you really should!} keep a journal. 

Let’s talk about this newBABY of mine! 

He’s three weeks old today.

He’s beautiful.

He’s a good sleeper. Though today I’m wondering if he’s done sleeping the day away for good – the catalyst for this post in the first place!

His cry is like he’s screaming in your face telling you, “No, dummy! Don’t do it like THAT!!” 

He started smiling this week, and it’s adorable. Two dimples just like Daddy and Sissy.

He likes his pacifier.

And a good pat on the bottom.

And sleep.

Which is good because I like sleep, too.

This Girl is Grateful

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It’s Thanksgiving once again! To celebrate, here’s a list of what I’m most thankful for this year…

It’s the small things in life, like…

  • Post pregnancy nails (yes, they’re healthier when I’m not pregnant!)
  • Glitter nail polish (what? Yeah, I admit it. And look at what I found.)
  • Diet Coke (Enough said.)
  • Holiday scents like Frosted Cranberry and Fresh Balsam (thank you, Bath & Body Works) and Snowberries (thank you, Partylite)
  • Fully-caffeinated coffee
  • Target (aka – the happiest place on earth. Can someone tell me why that’s so true?? It’s just a store, right?)

And then there are the big things like…

  • A warm, cozy home
  • Food on the table
  • An all-wheel drive vehicle

Then comes the huge things, like…

  • The healthy newBABY
  • The smart, funny, loving firstborn
  • The hardworking, thoughtful husband
  • The generous grandmas, aunts, uncles and friends who are helping us adapt to life with two kids
  • A church with leadership I can trust who teach the Bible like it’s their job (probably ’cause it is, right?)

So there you have it. My official list.

Will you do a favor for me? Will you please leave a comment and tell me what small, big or huge thing you’re thankful for this year? I really, really want to know!

Easy Christmas Craft {And a New Baby}

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It took less than a week for our new baby boy to both pee and poop on me. I’m talking firehose style.

Many people warned me about the pee, but the poop I never saw coming.

So yeah, we have a new family member. The most perfect baby boy who looks just like his dad (even if he doesn’t see it). The newBABY fits right into the family, and we’re all feeling so blessed to have him join us on our journey.

With a new baby comes some time away from my full-time day job. {Yay!} And this time around that means lots of extra time with my big girl.

I want to make the most of our time home together, so I decided to do something special leading up to Christmas Day.

Here is the super easy, 20-minute project I did during nap time today. And, yes, I was too lazy to get up off the couch to take these pictures. Enjoy!

Christmas Countdown Activity Chain

First, I cut scrapbook paper into 31 1.5″ strips.

Then I wrote a Christmas-related activity on the back of each piece of paper.
{I looked at a calendar to include things we already have planned.}

That’s when theBABY woke up from her nap.
{Maybe it’s time to stop calling her theBABY?}
She helped me tape the strips of paper into a chain.

Ta-da!

We’ll start all the countdown fun the day after Thanksgiving. That day happens to read “Pick out Christmas tree and get ice cream!”

UPDATE: Here are a few more ideas for activities in case you need some inspiration!

  • Help mommy wrap a present
  • Listen and sing-a-long to Christmas carols
  • Drive around to find Christmas lights
  • Color a Christmas card for grandma
  • Make Christmas cookies
  • Watch a Christmas movie

Also, I’m linking up to Tatertots & Jello’s Weekly Wrap Up party! Check out all the great ideas over there!

Have You Smashed Anything Lately?

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It’s not because I’m 40 weeks pregnant {today!} that I’m writing about smashing things. And it’s not because a certain doctor told me four weeks ago that the newBABY would be early, either. Although, just thinking about that does make me want to…never mind.

I’m talking about SMASH* books. Have you seen them?

If not, let me introduce you.

SMASH books take the best things about journaling and the best things about scrapbooking, and smash it all into one, incredibly fun keepsake.

Why are they called SMASH books? I think the EKSuccess YouTube video can show you better than I can, but I’m going to give it a try.

With a SMASH book, you can write full paragraphs as you would in your journal, if inspired. Or, if you don’t have time for that, just make a list of your favorite whatever-it-is-this-month. 

You could use a SMASH book to keep your wedding plans together.

Or to jot down favorite recipes.

Or to document your travels.

Or to collect all of your ticket stubs.

Or to keep all your lovey dovey mementos from your significant other.

Are you getting this?

So here’s the deal, these books come with an all-in-one-pen-and-glue-stick that attaches right to the thing, making it easy to grab it and go. No special tools required.

The books come in different themes and colors to suit whatever it is you decide to do with yours. I have two (for now) different themes. I use the Retro Blue Smash Folio for my own stuff. Mostly I use mine to keep my notes about what theBABY is doing at certain stages, mementos from concerts and conferences, vacation memories and photos, etc. all in one place.

Pre-SMASH, I would have a journal for this and a journal for that, PLUS a scrapbook for this and a scrapbook for that.

Now, tell me, who has time for that? On to the goods.

 

My SMASH supplies.
Note: it’s not all SMASH brand. Use what suits you.

 

Sample page: Planning the Beachy Boy Nursery.
See the paint and fabric swatches smashed into place?

 

Another Sample: I never knew what to do with the old paint swatches
from theBABY’s nursery, until my SMASH habit started.
Now they share a page with my summer vacation 2011 memories.
 

And here’s my favorite part.
I love my SMASH book so much (and hate my store bought baby book so much),
that I decided to use the Simple Orange SMASH Folio for the newBABY’s baby book!
I’m in love. I WANT to update it!

 

Ready to start yours? Lots of places carry SMASH products, but here’s a link directly to the source. Check out the blog on the site to see what others are smashing.

K&Company SMASH

Disclaimer: I did not receive ANY freebies for posting this, though I would certainly not be opposed to receiving them now that I’ve declared my love.