All the Small Things...

Hold Onto Your Knickers...

I have a cooking tip!

This is a RARE event indeed.

 

Okay, so it's not exactly a cooking tip, BUT it's something I always do when I cook and it saves me time and energy, so I thought I'd pass it along.

 

Let me introduce you to the-

So here's the deal:

This is a huge pot that ALWAYS sits on my stove. I think I put it there originally because it didn't fit anywhere else, but then I grew to love it there, so it stayed.

Now for the tip!

So, in the morning when I am prepping for dinner and checking what ingredients I will need for it, instead of leaving the ingredients in the pantry until I'm ready to use them, I throw them in this pot.  

Also, when I get home from the market, I toss the night's dinner ingredients in there too.  

Then when I'm ready to cook, I just grab my pot and I have most of the ingredients in one neat condensed place.

 

Ok, so it's not rocket science, but it helps me, so I posted it.

Baby #4 Has Flown the Coop...

Okay, so he hasn't "technically" flown the coop-- I suppose I have about 15 more years until that happens-- BUT this is the first step and I don't like it one bit!

Pre-school is the gateway drug to Kindergarten.

Soon after that he'll be mainlining hardcore elementary school- ALL DAY, EVERYDAY!!!   

Again, I don't like this one bit!

 

First of all, he's about the sweetest, easiest kid to have around, so why would I want to send him off somewhere?

Second, do I really want to have FOUR schools to contend with?

Third, he's only 3 and that just seems way too young.  He was just an embryo 36 months ago!

Fourth, one more lunch to pack.

And fifth--- I'll miss him

...a lot.

 

 

SO, I put on my big girl panties and sent him off with a lump in my throat the size of his Lightening "LeQueen" (as he says it) lunchbox.

And you know what happened?

 

 

He loved it.

 

 

 

 

Yes, Dan, In Case You Read This Before Getting Home...

I framed the thermostat.

I KNOW it's ridiculous.

I KNOW there are so many other things I could/should be doing with my time.

I KNOW I wasted 6 perfectly good dollars and a perfectly good frame from Home Goods.

I KNOW I have about 70 frames throughout the house that are missing photos in them.

 

 

 

BUT... I like it.

In fact, it's a freaking masterpiece.

☺

 

Apparently I'm Now Decorating Fridges...

(note to self-- CLEAN the fridge before taking pictures next time)

 

Okay, so last week I showed you my kids' BACK TO SCHOOL pics where they were holding a cute chalkboard frame with their grade on it.

Well, this is where that cute frame from Paper Source ended up!

No more "What's for dinner?" 10 times an afternoon- AND I AM NOT EXAGGERATING!

 

So, decisions, decisions--

do I actually write in the words Topper's Pizza or do I write "oven baked pizza?"

hmmmmm...

 

I Love You Because...

(click on image to enlarge)

If I do say so myself... I LOVE this craft!!!

It's so fun to be walking down the hallway, see the frames, think of something I want to say to the kids, erase the old saying with my finger and then, with a dry erase pen, write in something new!

Will the kids remember this 20 years from now?

I know it!

 

I seriously LOVE this and I can say that (without bragging) because I totally copied it from Becky Higgin's site, BUT for MUCH less and personalized!

 

Instructions:  

1) I simply printed out the 5x7 images on photo paper.

2) I placed the images behind $3 Target 5x7 frames

3) Then write on the glass with a dry erase marker whenever you want!

 

I know it's not personalized, but here is one I created for you... just add your own name-- or not!

Download Pdf i love you because

Enjoy!!!

Oh, and one more thing... think of this for Christmas gifts!!!

How AWESOME would it be to get a set of these for your family?!?!?!

Who wouldn't LOVE this!?!?!?!

This is probably now one of my very favorite things in my house!!!

Sports of All Sorts...

  Needless to say, the Greding's have VERY packed Saturdays.

This Saturday was no different.

3 soccer games and 1 cheer-- and a lot of fun!

Love to watch my girl cheer!  What she lacks in coordination, she makes up for in enthusiasm! ;)

 

And then The Boy... oh how I could watch him play all day long.  He was SOOOO brave to play with his skateboard injuries, but that's Patrick-- my brave boy.

 

And then there are the fans... the adoring.  

You name the place and they are there!

 

As much as I dream of a carefree Saturday afternoon, I wouldn't trade all this for anything.

 

*Chandler didn't play this week-- can't wait for more craziness this coming Saturday!  yikes!!!

The Apple of Our Eye...

Back to School Garland...

 

Instructions--

1. Use any flash cards.  These are Eric Carle ones that I got from Pottery Barn Kids.

2. Using a sturdy punch, put holes in the upper corners of each card.

3. Using coordinating ribbon, thread ribbon through holes and tie cards together making a chain.

4. Hang garland and voila!  Cuteness!!!

 

 

I linked up at:

30 Handmade Days

Shabby Nest

Simply Designing

 

Welcome September...

 

It's here!

My favorite time of the year!  

Oh, how I love the Fall.

And yes, I know... it's not technically the Fall, but it's September 1st and that alone makes me giddy!!!

So in honor of September I have a few things going on around the Greding house...

 

A few corners of my home--

This is currently what my fireplace looks like, BUT-- I change things around CONSTANTLY, so tomorrow it could look completely different.  It just depends on what I find that I think will look fun or what one of the kids brings home from school and I want to add. 

The glass jars hold Pretzel M&Ms and Apple Cinnamon Popcorn.

That CUTE owl purse is from World Market and it's Scarlet's, but I'm obsessed by it's cuteness, so for now it will stay on my fireplace.  (remember what I said about changing things up?!?!)

Those white balls that kinda look like pussy willows light up and look amazing at night!  I bought them for Halloween, but my kids died over them and insisted I keep them out, so I added the apple branches to them and now we are both happy!

Oh, and I love a wreath on a mirror.  I actually have a hard time not decorating all mirrors.  It's something about their blankness and a frame.  LOVE that for some weird reason.

This is the THE most transitional spot in my home.  I change this bureau up even more than my fireplace.  It is ALWAYS seasonally decorated. 

Right now I'm loving the garland I just made.  I LOVE Eric Carle and a flashcard makes my heart go pitter patter!  

The ABC wipeboard is from Pottery Barn Kids and I'm loving using it for decorating.

I also like my mini chalkboard with our family math problem on it! :)

 

I'm telling you... it's the little things that make me heart happy.

 

One more thing--

Candles--

I'm burning Apple Pie in my family room 

and Cinnamon Spice in my bedroom

And I must tell you... my house smells divine!  

I'm telling you, the scent of a candle can change my mood in a second!  It's 85 degrees outside and I'm in the mood for sweaters, apple picking and a football game!

 

 

Inspiration--

My favorite inspiration year after year, season after season always seems to come from folk art.  I don't know what it is, but looking a a drawing of a barn with a clothesline in the background, or a wagon pulling a pile of pumpkins sends my heart into a frantic twitter.

I usually always have some kind of folk art drawing as my screen saver and it is usually always a seasonal one.  

Here's my current favorite...

I want to be "there" right now!!!

 

So there you go... a few things that make me happy, right now, in SEPTEMBER!

 

Go Team!...

One of my FAVORITE things about Fall-- a new football, cheerleading and soccer season!!!

I LOVE watching my kids' sports.

They all work so hard and I'm always SO impressed at what they push their bodies to do.

 

SO, in anticipation of the upcoming season, I thought Wednesday Jones needed these...

C'mon!!!  How stinking cute are these baby leg warmers!?!?!  And a really good price too!

I grind my teeth at the mere thought of her chubby thighs in them!!!

 

Can't wait to get them!