Earth Day

What, you don't celebrate??

You should.

(Yes, I jump on any excuse! I have limited time before my children forbid it.)

OK, this one I normally don't, aside from reading The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, when I remember.

The ideas came after cleaning out the pantry. See if I do that again...

I was a bit overwhelmed at the number of plastic bags I had. Lots and lots just doesn't cover it. I have issues throwing them out I guess. We do use them as garbage can liners and Sophie (the dog) bags.

But I think I bring in WAY more then I take out... I have "invested" in the reusable bags that are all the rage. I forget them in the house or even in the car. Oops. I think I have used them twice...

I decided we needed to do something for Earth Day, since it is so highly publicized this year.

First, I decided to make a wreath. An all recyclable wreath. Husband asked if I was serious. I was.


My oldest LOVED it (He is my "save the Earth little man")! I think it took a LOT of time and it is NOT cute, but it makes me grin.

I used WAY too many Walmart bags, and yet still have more. After today I am taking them all, wreath included, to the recycle bin.

Then I made the kids more shirts.

Really, I did.

(If I add that I LOVE them, would it make it seem less weird? Cause I do... SO MUCH)





Husband's response to the shirts? "Did you recycle, reuse, or renew anything in the making of them???"

Nope.

I bought new shirts, used toxic paint and I'm gonna do it again...

For dinner we are going veggie... and dirt pudding for dessert.


I just realized they will be in NON-earth friendly plastic cups.

Shoot.

Let's say this "save the planet" thing is a work in progress for me...

This morning the plan was to take the kids on a walk after school and pick up rubbish in the neighborhood. It is snowing. Hard. We are changing plans. Maybe pulling out the colored paper... sorry trees.

We are also taking the kids to see Oceans ~ the boys are SO excited!

Happy Earth Day!

Easter

So, Easter is over.

I didn't accomplish all I had planned. Shocking.

I did however make the kids cute Easter shirts.


That should totally count for something... right??


I also fell in love with, and made, these cute dangles from The Wood Connection.



Yes, I am doing one for every month. I am so excited!!

Easter Ideas

Tomorrow we take down the green and put up the spring!!

I am so excited to get started on my Easter crafts. I do wish we had a little longer to prepare and enjoy.

I loved these cute carrots I found at Sassy Style.


and I liked this nest idea I saw at May's Homemade.



Plus I have a few ideas of my own... now to get them done before Easter is over!

St. Patrick's Day

IT'S GREEN DAY!!

The kids woke up to their green gifts a-waiting.


Of course I HAD to get new green shirts, but this year I made the ones for the boys. I think they turned out pretty cool!! (I got the idea HERE. Who knew bleach could be so fun?!)



I knew Miss Diva would refuse to wear one, so I found a green one with pink on it for her.


They also got hooked up with LOTS of green treats and toys.

For breakfast we had Lucky Charms and green fruit salad (Green grapes, apples and kiwis).

The boys came home to spinach smoothie pops - I mean green popsicles (don't tell my kids the other name) for an after school snack. So yummy!



We had green tortellini with pesto, parsley garlic bread, spinach salad (with green peppers, green onions, sugar peas, avocado, cucumbers with green Ranch dressing and green juice for dinner. I did shake things up with dessert... Pistachio Almond ice cream, usually we have Lime sherbet.

I know, I am a wild one!

We had a very fun green day!

Starting Over

So, how do you re-start a blog? I started this blog for the first time in 2008. This past year has been a difficult one, many changes and realizations. I stopped blogging for over a year. During this time I have realized that I am a better mom with a project... something that is just for me. When I first started this blog I wrote an introduction. Since this is a starting over, I felt I could re-post...

I have a family blog, dedicated to the kids, but this is for me. Problem is; I don’t know how to do just me...

I am a SAHM (can't believe I gave in and used that) of 3 wonderful, perfect, precious and VERY buggy kids. I have 2 boys (10 and 8) and a girl (3). I adore my children! I live for my children. I have lost myself in my children. Am I sad? No! I won't change a thing, but I do feel like "I" need to change. I sometimes feel like I am "just a Mom" and I hate that feeling! (Yes, I used "I" 14 times!)

Here is the thing; I can’t write, I am not sure how much I dare share and I know NOTHING about computers. So what am I doing? Writing for myself. I am trying to focus on me, and only me, minus the parts about the kids! Through this process I hope to improve my writing, see the treasures in daily chaos and find out what I want to do with my life. This is for me. My journal. My way of making changes to truly grow, improve and learn each and every day!

So if you stumble upon this blog, I would love to have you along for the ride. I could use all the help I can get!

So here we go… I am a wife, a mom of 3 and a blogger!! This is me!
(For those of you counting, "I' was used 33 times!!)

I love Flickr.com - Thanks hownowdesign

My Sister's Keeper

by Jodi Picoult


I have start out by venting a wee bit… I was unaware of how this book ended until I had just a few more chapters left. I started reading reviews from Goodreads... never again! I read a review that TOTALLY gave it away. Aahhh! A bit of advice when it contains a spoiler, say so! Especially right at the beginning of your review! I couldn’t miss it!!! Buggy, buggy Amy...

This said, the review below contains NO spoilers!!

I absolutely loved and hated this book at the same time! I got so wrapped up in the story that I HAD to keep reading just so I would have some resolution. Even though I knew the idea of the book before I read it, I wasn't prepared for what an emotional and intellectual battle it would be. At one point I was sitting on the couch holding my 2 year old (who was trying to watch cartoons) and sobbing... what would I do in the same position?? Jodi Picoult took such a controversial issue and wrote in a way that I had to think about it. The conflict alone is what makes this book fascinating.

I also liked how the story was told from the characters' points of view. Knowing what everyone was thinking and where they were coming from added even more drama and definitely pulled at the heartstrings.

I really liked Sara’s thoughts when she said; “I realize then that we never have children, we receive them. And sometimes it’s not quite as long as we would have expected or hoped. But it is still far better than never having had those children at all.” I took many lessons from this book; NEVER JUDGE! Who knows what I would do in the same situation. Cherish each and every day. I am so grateful for the health of my family. Most importantly, it brought a greater awareness of the blessing that come from my faith. I can’t imagine going through a trail such as this, not knowing there was a greater purpose, a plan and a loving Father in Heaven to turn to. This book gave me another reminder that I am truly blessed.

A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens


The time is at hand to admit… I had never read this book until now. This was my first! I have seen many cartoons, movies and plays retelling this classic story, and though it was hard to read without picturing Scrooge McDuck, Jimmy Cricket and all the rest of the Disney gang (Truth be told, the characters did fit! How scary is that!!), the book is always better.

Once I put the cartoon aside I loved reading Dickens’s words. His descriptions are vivid and fun and there is really nothing like the way he can tell a story. All through out my reading I kept thinking of the Christmas song: "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year." One specific line…

There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories
of Christmases long, long ago

Is this linked to Dickens? Who really tells ghost stories if not. Regardless, I liked the connection. “A Christmas Carol” is a classic and a tradition for a reason.