Hello! It's Me!

I know!  I know!  It has been forever since I have updated, posted, or even LOOKED at my blog.  It seems that my life has been on fast forward for several months now, and even more apparent that my pause, stop, or even my play buttons are all broken.  When things get that insane, something has to give, and unfortunately it has been this blog.

I have missed it!  I have missed the energy, creativity, and inspiration that writing brings, but most of all...I have missed the communication and interaction from my virtual friends.
So, Hi everyone!  This is what we have been up to...
This Sweet Boy turned 1!  We had a fun Monkey party and enjoyed many chocolate cupcakes.  I still can't believe he is no longer my infant.  The past year is such a blur!

We have taken a few road trips to Louisiana.  Mostly for the babies to get spoiled by Granny and Papa Joe, while Jer did a little fishing in Sportsman's Paradise.

This Miss Priss turned 6!  She was counting down the days, and couldn't wait!  As soon as this birthday past, she began her countdown for number 7.

We had some beautiful family portraits made by Watermelon Photography.  As you can see, Sweet Baby Jude was more interested in climbing stairs than saying "cheese"! I just love this picture!  Even though at the time all I wanted to do was cry.

My office made a huge move to Dallas.  It is a much further drive, but the offices are amazing!  I also have a new carpool partner.

Yep!  My sweet hubby Jer and I are now working at the same company!  It has been an adjustment for our entire family, but at the same time it has been such a positive change and rewarding experience for us both.

That is what we have been up to.  What has been going on in your world?

Reminder Board

You may have seen my post this past fall about my Gratitude Board.  We are still using it as much as possible.  It is such a great reminder of our countless blessings.
My blessings aren't the only thing I need to be reminded of lately.  I am still suffering from Mommy brain. It must truly be lack of sleep.  Jude is teething and Jack is having nightmares...sigh.  
I find that I have lists and post-its all over my desk to remind me of daily details I need to take care of while sitting at my desk.  You know, the little things that you need to do while sitting in front of the computer, calendar, or contact list...well, I have forgotten many of those lately.  Forgetting them makes life just a litte more hectic and completely drives me insane!  Who needs more hectic!?!?
So, I decided to make myself a Reminder Board to write all those little "to-dos" that need to be done for the day/week.  Excuse the awful pictures.  They were taken in the middle of the night with my phone...thanks to those toddler nightmares!

It is simply a picture frame with patterned paper inserted.  I added a few ribbons to take the cute factor up a notch, and used a dry erase marker to make my list.  You can get the full instructions here.

I erase my "to-dos" as I complete them, and add new ones as I think about them.  This might actually help my case of Mommy brain.
I also have made one to use to announce sales and such at my Vintage Couture Trunk Shows.

Another quick and easy project!  You should try it!

Ribbon Easter Eggs

I wanted to dress up some plain, white, plastic Easter eggs, while really committing to using just items from my stash.
I tried covering them in glitter...FAIL.I tried a pattern of buttons...double FAIL.I tried fabric and modge podge...triple FAIL.
Then, the light bulb finally went off and I tried my ribbon scraps...

SUCCESS!!!

They turned out to be adorable with very little effort and money.  I {heart} little effort and money!  These did take a little longer than the wreath.  It took one 2 hour episode of Dancing With the Stars vs. an hour of Grey's Anatomy.

Babies and Bluebonnets

Even before I had children, I have always wanted to take pictures of my babies in Texas bluebonnets.  Today I  finally pulled it off!
At first, it wasn't looking like a promising photo shoot...

Thankfully, we dried the tears quickly and got some great shots of the boys...

Mission accomplished!

Easter Wreath {Tutorial}

I've been a really bad blogger lately, and an even worst crafter.  Life has just been crazy with my work, Jer's school, and such.  Now that things have settled for the moment...I am back!  Ready to craft for Spring and Easter and share with the two or three of you who are so sweet to read The Telelporting Toddler.  I {heart} you!

I was in the mood to make an Easter wreath while spending as little cash as possible.  I have been wanting to make the cute wreaths I have seen around with fabric scraps, so here is my Easter version...
You really just need a coat hanger and some cute, fun, "springy" fabric scraps.  I added a couple of more embellishments, but it isn't necessary.

Bend the coat hanger into an egg or oval shape.

Cut the fabric scraps into strips about 1 inch wide and 6 inches long.

Cut enough strips to fill your hangers.  I used about 1/4 yard of each of the four fabrics shown above...it was plenty for the basic hanger I used.

Begin tying the strips of fabric to your hanger with a simple knot.

Alternate the different colors of fabric as desired.

Keep tying until the coat hanger is full.  Fluff and shape into an Easter egg shape.

I found a cute little bunny pick at Hobby Lobby for 50% off.  I just broke off the pick, ran some ribbon through her ears, and hung her in the middle of the wreath.  I added a big tulle bow on top....tada...a cute super easy Easter egg wreath!  I did the whole project while watching Grey's last night...it is that simple and quick!

Check out some other fun projects at:

The Centsational Girl

Reflecting...

This week I have been sorting through old pics in efforts to finish begin Jack's first year scrapbook.  Jack turned 2 in January...I am a little behind.  This pic is of him at about 3 months old, which was 2 years ago!  Time flies.  Baby Jude is about to turn a year old, and I haven't even started Jack's scrapbook or even thought about poor Jude's. 

It really bugs me.

It bothers me that I am so behind.  Not scrapbooking major events for over 2 years is just not me.

Neither is...

allowing the floor of my car be coated in cracker crumbs and fruit snacks,

tolerating mixed up colors of play dough and paint,

not noticing the smell of sour milk,

driving with an expired inspection sticker and registration,

enjoying an Imagination Movers concert,

putting on a t-shirt inside out,

preferring Diego over Dora,

getting excited about a sale at Carter's, and not even knowing the dates of Nordstrom's half yearly sale.

Becoming a mother is an incredible adjustment.  I've changed my sleep, personal life, work load...the list goes on and on.  I think I have handled those adjustments fairly well.  I have the occasional, sometimes frequent, meltdown.  But what I never expected, was that I would have to adjust to a new me.  The me that lets things go and is a complete mess at times.  It's hard.  It's not easy to look down at my inside-out t-shirt, covered in sour milk.  It's nearly impossible not to think of the me that would have been wearing a crisply ironed, white shirt, with stain-free khakis, while wearing those cute new heels I picked up at the Nordstrom's sale.  

Just like going to college, moving into my first apartment, getting my first real job, getting married...I changed.  Motherhood is the same.  It brings a change of self much more overwhelming, but with many more benefits.  So, I'll give myself a break and embrace the change.  Except maybe the car inspection and registration.  I probably should take care of those.

Throw Me Something Mister!

"Throw Me Something Mister!"  That is Jack's new favorite phrase to yell throughout the house while throwing leftover beads in the air.  You will be happy to know that I didn't swipe all of them from the kids while they slept.  I just had them past them out to all their friends! hehe
What a fun trip!  My first Mardi Gras as a Mommy was a success, and surprisingly very little drama.  The children were fun, content, and well-behaved.  The food was heavenly.  The weather ended up being enjoyable and the parade was a blast!  A few of the kids (and Roxy, the dog) got pegged in the head with throws, but no permanent damage.  Oh, and no one choked on the baby from the King Cake!
Here are just a few shots of the fun that was had...

Brooke, Delaney, Izzy and Roxy waiting for the parade to begin.

Me and my siblings...Tricia and Troy.  Yes, we are Tracey, Tricia and Troy.  What can I say, it was the 70s?

Iz and D enjoying the scene.

It's fun seeing floats now run through my childhood neighborhood.

Jude catching who knows what from tasting the beads!

Jack wondering how in the world he is going to get untangled.

D weighted down!

Sweet Macey enjoying her first parade.

Jer and being silly with the Bug.

There is nothing better than being surrounded by all the ones that I love most!