Bird Nests

I am ready for spring—cold weather I am done with you!  Sadly, I think we might get one more dusting of snow this week—guess I can postpone shaving my legs and bustin’ out my sunless tanner for a bit longer.  Ha—okay kidding aside… I have seen so many cute crafts out for spring!  Zoinks!! I am on overload and I want to try them all! 

The lovely blogger of Bugs and Fishes has made a new slew of birds and has a book coming out soon.  I find her work so inspiring along with her idea sharing!  You should check it out! 

Are you ready to have the cuteness meter shoot through the roof? Check out this blogpost by Pink and Green Mama.  This girl is Aaaaamazing!  Whenever I am going to host a play date I make sure to checkout MaryLea’s latest ideas.  They are great and so kid friendly!

Finally, my friend Janet from The Empty Nest sent something through my facebook feed about bird nest cookies.  That version looked fancy but it reminded me of a quick version I had not enjoyed since Kindergarten.  I thought it would be the perfect project for Lil one day after preschool.  These are so simple you can easily crank out your own before Easter.

Here is what you will need:

chocolate chips

butterscotch chips

Chinese noodles (I used about 3 tins worth)

and “eggs”  (we used Whopper eggs cause I liked all the speckles on the candy shell—more life like right?

Heat chips over double boiler and slowly melt down.  Stir in Chinese noodles.  My little one loved helping with this part but be careful—super hot still!  Spoon onto wax paper and make nest indentation with the back of the spoon.  Quickly add in the eggs and then they will stick to the nest as it cools.  So easy and fun!  Plus we shipped these nests off to preschool the next day and they were a huge hit with the kids.  Awesome!  My question for you is what do you like better… the chocolate nest or the butterscotch?  Enjoy!!

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Jewelry Tree

I wanted and needed a way to display all of my earrings and I wanted it to be pretty.  Time to call on Mr. Magillie.  Jake really is such a good sport about all of my projects.  I had admired some metal trees by this etsy seller but being a frugal I wanted to do it  on the cheap.  A little bit of a different look but still pleasing… I got my idea here.

You can make one too—it is easy! 

1. Locate a good tree branch on the ground or prune your trees a little. :)
2. Get a piece of scrap wood for the base and make it a pretty shape.  Sand and smooth as necessary.
3. Drill a hole-roughly the size of the tree branch.
4. Fit tree in the drilled hole.  If you have extra space you can secure with wood glue or putty.
5. Spray paint with color of your choice.  ( I used with and then coated with a glitter layer of spray paint.  I thought it had a nice winter (ie) feel.)
6. Arrange earrings on your new display piece!  So easy and pretty!!

  

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Before and After…

Caleb got his first big boy haircut.  I can’t believe how much he looks like a little man—Jake in particular.  Love – Love- Love!

This Cold Weather…

 is for the birds!  I am desperately hoping that Puxatony Phil’s prediction is correct and that spring will be on its way—pronto!  Here are a few bird houses that Lil and I made out of an old orange juice container and an old milk container.  I rinsed them out and let the Goose paint them up and voila!  The birds were certainly pleased and we loved watching our “bird t.v.”.

   

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*Sigh*

Have days when you are tired of parenting?  I know I do.  Well, a few weeks ago I threw in the towel and let my daughter take a bath…in her Halloween costume.  At least she was a Mermaid.

 

 

 

 

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Picture Perfect Portrait…or not

Before embarking on the whole stay-at-home gig, I taught art at a local middle school.  I love it and miss it and was reminded of a lesson the other day.

Portraiture.

A hard beast to tackle ,I think , even for the best portrait artists.  I would practice with the children how the face is divided down the middle for symmetry.  The face is then divided into thirds and then we would place the facial features.  It was always fun,and all were great, although none were “perfect”.   Myself included!  One of the hardest habits to get the kids to kick—eye placement.  I would joke—“move the eyes down-ya need room for your brains!”  Eyelids would also go to the wayside.  “Are you surprised in your portrait?”  “Be sure to include eyelids.”  They usually show almost all the time—surprised or not.   Right??

Perhaps I should take a look in the mirror.

 

 

Where the h- e- double toothpicks are my eyelids?  Seriously.

 

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New Year’s Resolution…write in blog more often

Oh dear.  Resolutions are already slipping and Christmas was over in a flash.  Like all, we had a bustling Christmas and New Year.  The dust had finally settled and I thought a break would be given before Goose turns 5.  No such luck.   Parenting skills are currently being tested with a round of the stomach flu.  Yee Haw.  But in all seriousness—life is good and I have many new projects to share.  For now, I will back track and finally post some holiday pictures.Lillie and Caleb’s photo taken for the o-so-standard Christmas Card.  Are you happy Gammie??  Ha ha!  To see a past (and way more fun) card click here.

Time to open stockings.  Great Eva knits every family member a stocking with lots of  TLC.  After Caleb was born—his stocking arrived in a flash.  I wish I could get things done like that—wowee! *On a side note*  Perhaps I should put a new robe on next year’s list?  New sheets too—less pattern.  Oh the glamour of being Mom.

  Lots of gift opening and even a “jewel” from Santa!  What girl doesn’t want some bling for Christmas?

                                       Patient…very patient cousins.

Caleb hanging out with Papa.  He is wearing the bib G.G. made for Lil.  I love it!!  He must have just had a bottle-has those glazed over, calorie-coma eyes. 

Lastly…a picture of me opening my gift from Jake.  More details on that in a later post.

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