Monday, July 23, 2012

Boo Boo Bunny

Believe it or not I actually made something NOT from Pinterest. Actually, I learned how to make boo boo bunnies from a PERSON! Can you believe that? Not the Internet?!?! LOL

My Nanny used to make them for us grand kids and we'd use them every time we got hurt. Not familiar with the boo boo bunny? Here's what is looks like...



They are super cute and boy do they work miracles. I remember any time I had a bump or bruise and my mom gave me my boo boo bunny id magically be all better.

Last week my future sister in law asked me to throw her, her baby shower. Since she wanted it before August I had to think of some quick simple decorations and favors that could be made pronto but still be cute, of course. A friend of mine had a shower for her second baby a few months back and her sister came up with this brilliant idea for a "shower/sprinkle" theme. I had seen some cute ideas online and decided that would simple enough to pull off last minute. Then, after talking to my mom I decided to make boo boo bunnies as the favors. Even though it is summer, I correlate showers with Spring and Spring with bunny's. Does that make sense? It is just how my mind works.

In case you wanted to make some for your kiddos, or kiddos in your life here's how. It is super easy.

First you take a cheap-y washcloth, the thinner the better. I got 8 for $3 at Target.

You roll the sides in to meet in the middle


Then you fold it in half, and grab about 4 inches down and pull it back and fasten it with a rubber band.

There you have your bunny body.

 They you can get googly eyes at the dollar store, puffs for the nose and tail I got at Michaels because the dollar store only had crazy colors. You could go that route too but I was sticking with neutral colors.

Here is my army of boo boo bunnies...



There is also a cute poem that goes with them


If a boo boo has you feeling crummy,
Stick an ice cube in my tummy.
Hold it to your boo boo tight,
Soon everything will be all right!

So cute!  

xoxo

-Leah 

Friday, July 20, 2012

Pinterest addiction

It's amazing. I cannot say its bad. I've learned so much from it. From crafts to ideas for teaching Enzo, beauty tips, and most useful are the gazzillion recipes I've tried.

Here are just a few of the photo documented pinterest inspired things I have tried:
Not an actual pinterest project, but insprired
I couldnt take a pic of the pick apart garlic bread before the boys devoured it
Reading Tent
Irish Whiskey dark chocolate cup cakes with Baileys frosting
Hair Do
Door wreath
Italian Easter Bread

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

DIY Miracle Mask

How is everyone doing this fine Thursday morning? Great I hope :) I woke up so relaxed this morning. It was a nice change. I actually slept last night, and woke up to a babbling baby. Love that!

Last night I took some time to myself. I gave myself a facial and tried a new DIY mask. I watching some ATM (America's Top Model) and fell asleep reading my new book. It was so nice. It will be every NICER when our bathroom is done and I have a huge soaking tub, candles, and music to listen to, too. But for now, my couch does the job since standing in the shower isn't too relaxing to me.

Ever since this pregnancy started my face has been breaking out like im a pubescent teen. Its gross. I hate it.
Ive been using proactive for years now and even that wasnt helping these hormone breakouts. I have this new favorite blog, barefoot blonde, shes got some wicked style ( like my super northern slang?) and had some great beauty tutorials. Last night I tried this DIY mask she suggested.

 One word: AMAZING

My skin looked and felt new. Not run down like it has been. And this was even before I rested so I know it is a miracle mask. It was so easy to make and I had everything in my cabinets.
All you do is mix
a tsp of honey, 
a tsp of nutmeg
 and tsp of cinnamon into a paste and put it on your face for 30 mins. Then wash is off with warm water and stare at your beautiful self.She warns if it burns from the cinnamon to wash it off, but I didnt have that issue.

Anywho just wanted to share that.

xoxo
-Leah

p.s. My mom always told me girls steal your pretty, so if it turns out not to be a girl than this is going to be one beautiful boy! I never felt/looked like this with Enzo :)



Scarey I know! But this is what the mask looks like

Excitement is Getting the Best of Me

Needless to say, the excitement is making my insomnia much MUCH worse. I was up until 2 a.m. brainstorming last night. Just lying in bed thinking about what I want to do with the nursery and stopping every few seconds and yelling at myself to go to bed.

So here is what I figured out :


I found a "theme" at Babies R Us I would pick, here is the cost break down
9 Piece Bedding Set                                                            $209.99
(includes: bumper, 1 sheet, bed skirt, 2 valances
that I wouldn't use, diaper stacker, very small toy bin
and a small decorative pillow)

Hamper                                                                             $47.99
Mobile                                                                               $53.99
Panels (set of 2) (i need 2 sets)                                           $61.99 (woah!)
Wall Art                                                                             $30.99
1 Fitting Sheet ( ill need at least 3)                                       $24.99 EACH!
Changing pad cover ( I need 2)                                           $33.99





That totals a whopping...................................$584.99!!!

So my goal is to make all of this: 

Mobile
diaper stacker
plastic bag holder
changing pad
crib sheets
ruffled crib skirt
bow holder
pom pom pillows
crib bumper
panels (2 sets) 

For under $600.

Wish me luck!

xoxo
-Leah

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Nursery Plans

I love to decorate! Planning a  room from nothing and making it into exactly what you want is my cup of tea. When Enzo came along we went straight to Babies R Us and found this animal/sports theme that we just LOVED. So we painted the room to go with it, got the carpet that matched. Bought each and every little detailed piece of the matching theme from the night light to light switch.

Talk about $$$$$$$$$!!

The lamp alone was $40! and the bedding ( not including the TWO window valances) was over $300! WITH a coupon! I think back now and want to smack myself. Why did we spend soo much money on a babies room? After we sat down and calculated the ridiculous amount of money we spent on a baby room, that 897343097490357894869736409 other babies also live in, I promised that next baby we would find a less expensive route.

Since I found out I was pregnant again I have been gathering ideas for a nursery. I knew if it was a boy I wanted a nautical theme and for a girl I wanted grey and pink. Yesterday they told us we are having a little girl! It is early and the tech seemed sure, but just in case I'm just gather ideas until we have the 100% from the doctor in a later ultrasound. (However, I will be slightly devastated if it is not a girl now.)

Like everything I do lately, I found on pinterest a similar idea of what I want for Giovanna's room.
I'm debating a chevron grey and white accent wall? Also I like dark wood, but this is just to give an idea. I also have decided I want to hand make everything (mostly) for her nursery. I found some great tutorials for :
Crib bumper
Crib sheets
Ruffled bed skirt
These adorable pillows
 Drapes

My plan is to document and blog about each project and hopefully it all works, and helps us stay under budget.

Until next time xoxo

-Leah

Here comes... a little lady!

Last week we had our first prenatal appointment. I thought it was pretty far in for our first appointment as I was already 13 weeks, but they kept assuring me it was fine. I just am a worry wort sometimes and wanted to hear the heart beat and know our little miracle was ok.

Our midwife is awesome and she let us hear the heart beat before the exam because she knew that is what we were so excited about. She also ordered an ultrasound right away so we could see our newest addition. With Enzo they made us wait FOREVER. The midwife thought I might be further along than I had calculated. So this one might be a new years baby.

The lab tech wasnt the friendliest of persons. First she wouldnt let Enzo in, then she decided she would but made Narcis and Enzo wait outside until she had the pictures for the doctor. And then she wouldn't let me watch as she took 2837489273590274920 ultrasound pictures.

I was pretty upset by the time she allowed Narcis and Enzo in. I was not going to even ask her, but I figured it couldn't hurt so I asked her if she could guess the gender. She said yes and showed us our baby. She went from head to toe. We saw the little face, the little heart beat, the hands and feet, and finally she showed us the lady parts! I was so beyond excited! I have always wanted a little girl. I kept telling Narcis to prepare for 10 kids because I can NOT leave this earth without having a little mini me! I love that she will have such a great older brother too. The tech said if she were to guess she'd put me a little further along than 15 weeks. But she wouldn't say to much she said we have to wait for the doctor. Our next prenatal is not until the beginning of August so we will see. I know they will call if anything is wrong, so I am hoping for no calls.

Now to plan the nursey, and figure out where to have the play room....
Giovanna Marie's blurry face

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Bloglovin

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Monday, July 9, 2012

Getting Caught Up

Let me start by saying that I have been meaning to write for months. Literally months! I have no idea where the time went?? Last thing I remember I was prepping for Enzo's first birthday party (which was AMAZING) and next thing I knew life happened.

I am sure you can all relate. Life. Happens.

 I am starting a new chapter in my life as my family prepares to welcome a new life in January. We could not possibly be more excited for another little Smiles to enter the world. Between the morning sickness, the complete lack of energy, raising a 1 year old, two pups, and a grown babyman,  blogging has fallen wayside. I can no longer commit to blogging weekly, no matter how much I have to say or how badly I want to. It is just not realistic for me right now. So with that being said, I am revising my promise ( because I can :) ) and saying that I promise to blog sometimes.

Woah, that feels good. Much less pressure and guilty feeling when I don't blog now.

I had been wanting to share Enzo's Circus party with you all. I spent so much time putting it together I really wanted to showcase here in my little corner of the interweb.

Back when Enzo was three, yes just 3 months, I decided that his first birthday would be a circus themed celebration. I loved that it involved bright colors and animals, and clowns, and the food. OH THE FOOD! Hot dogs, and cotton candy, and corn dogs, and yummmm.

I started planning the April party back in October because I figured that it would take me some time to gather supplies and make the decorations and also so that it didn't all come out of my pocket at the same time. Less painful for the wallet that way.

The first thing I made was the circus tent. I found this adorable reading tent on pinterest. I loved the idea of a special spot to sit and read, so I figured I could use it in the play room after the party. And what kind of circus does not have a big top tent?? Sorry for the blurry picture but I forgot to take one the day of.

Next I made the party hats, because I didn't want just plain red ones and I couldn't find polka dotted ones. So I went to Michaels and got some puffs, some cray paper and card stock and spent hours ( i had no idea it would take so long) making my own.
The food took forever to prep and thank god for friends (courtney) and family because we spent the entire night before as well the entire next day (party was at 3) prepping and cooking. I got most of my ideas for treats on pinterest of course. I made chocolate chip cookies stuffed with oreos ( my version of deep dried oreos), cake batter sprinkle cookies, cookie dough dip served with animal crackers. They were all so great. Plus I had a friend of a friend make Enzo's smash cake and cupcakes and they were just too cute for words.




Enzo, mommy's cookie monster
The back yard we decked out with blow up animals I bought on ebay, and we rented a bounce house, and Narcis had just finished the swing set so the kids had ton to keep busy.


I am big on details. And so I also made ring master mustaches for the straws from card stock, and I had clown noses for the guest. I made a balloon wreath for the door. If you know me and have been to my house you know there is always a wreath on my door.

Sign in for Enzo's scrapbook and favors

Clown noses

Enzos circus wreath

The unfinished ball toss

In addition to sweets we also had corn dog muffins( in the clown cups) and popcorn and peanuts of course.


Hot dogs, fruit kabobs, pretzels, and lemonade too.


I LOVED planning this party. I loved watching Enzo's eyes light up and he was running around not even knowing where to go play next. I hope everyone who came enjoyed it as much as we did. I am already getting ideas ready for his second birthday, but first my sister in laws baby shower!

xoxo until next time!
-Leah