I Almost Spoke Too Soon

A week ago today my dad put Jack's toddler bed together. It was a bitter sweet moment for this mama but I also felt really excited for him to be moving forward. I know I wouldn't like sleeping in a cage.

Night one: The child crawled into that bed like he has slept in it his whole life and just got off a 3 day bender. He was out before I could even get ready for bed and I didn't even get to do his night routine with him. I guess sweet child was ready to be a big boy.

I was feeling a little cocky. I'll admit it. I was even kicking myself a little for not doing this earlier.

Night two: We did our night routine. I turned out the light and he. went. to. sleep. Y'all, I was strutting my stuff thinking that moving to a toddler bed was the greatest thing ever. MY child is going to sleep in his OWN bed and he is going to sleep at BEDTIME. ha.ha.ha. Someone should have slapped me, but I didn't know. I just didn't know.

Night three: Jack feel asleep in my bed while watching tv and so I just moved him to his bed. I didn't like that he went to sleep in my bed but all was good still. No harm done, right?

I almost wrote the post on Friday about how well Jack was doing in his toddler bed. I was ready to brag. I was. I'm glad I didn't.

Night four: I like to call night four hell night. If there had been any liquor in the house I would have fixed a drink (or two). 1. He would NOT stay in his bed. Thought it was hilarious when he jumped off his bed. I was playing it cool. "Jack. Sweetie, no jumping off our bed. It's night time". Yeah that wasn't working. 2. He would NOT stop talking/laughing/rambling. He really was like that drunk friend who won't go to sleep.

I was putting on my best Super Nanny face and just calmly putting him back to bed. Y'all, I'm not lying, I got up to put him back into his bed at least 20 times. I gave up. I did. My body was worn. My knees starting cracking from getting up and down so much. He slept with me and even that was a fight.

It isn't any better. We always start out with J

ack in his bed but then he puts up a fight. We battle. I loose. I think I could possibly win the battle if it wasn't so late and I wasn't so tired. I tried letting him get out of his bed for a little while and see if he gets back in himself. He doesn't. Like I waited 15 minutes last night and he was playing with trains. I even turned all the lights out thinking he would be too scared to get out of bed. He wasn't. It was freaking dark too. I stubbed my toe on his dang bed. I think he has natural night vision. It's part of his torture device.

I'll take your help.

Countdown to Halloween//Non-Candy Treat

Jack's daycare is having their Halloween party on Friday. Each parent has been asked to bring each child a little something to stick in their treat bag. I knew I wanted to do something that wasn't candy. Not only will they get plenty there but trick or treating is the very next day.

I found some very sturdy flashlights at Wal-Mart for a buck each. All the Halloween colors were gone so I went neutral with gray.

I don't own a Cricket and my printer ink has been out since this post. I used a pumpkin cookie cutter to draw out pumpkins on cardstock. I wrote "Click" or Treat on the pumpkins, punched a hole at the top, and used a green pipe cleaner to attach to the flashlight.

I'm happy with how they all turned out and I also feel happier knowing that each child will have a flashlight to take with them trick or treating.

It's Time [Jack is Going to a Toddler Bed]

Y'all. I'm nervous. Like real nervous. At bedtime Jack is a crazy one. It is very rare that he goes down with ease. I'm worried that a toddler bed is just going to make things even worse. Currently, his baby bed is about to fall apart due to his shaking it like crazy as it hits the wall. I've already turned his bed around (one side is taller than the other) and now he is moments away from being able to crawl over the tall side. I knew it was time to place the order for a big boy bed. 

This bed is due to be delivered on Wednesday. Oh I hope it goes well. Y'all I'm seriously nervous that the fight to keep him in his bed is going to be extremely difficult. I'll be sure to write about it later in the week. Also, if you have any help to offer please share. I'll take any help I can get. 

A Stress Free Christmas

I wanted to share with you what I have been doing in hopes of having a stress-free Christmas. Last year was just too much and I can't bare to do it again so I decided to get organized and find some solutions to my problems. I hope to stick to the schedule and have the best and most relaxed Christmas yet. I'm keeping this all in my Christmas notebook in hopes that I have the Christmas that I dream of and I can just build off this notebook for next year. I'll update everyone afterwards to let you know how it goes. 

Here are my goals/plans for this upcoming Holiday season:

October
1. Get a Christmas notebook to put my Christmas plans in
2. Find the sugar cookie recipe I want to make
3. Decide on what Christmas crafts we want to make and buy the materials (no more than 2)
4. Write down the holiday movies we want to watch
5. Buy birthday gifts for the months of November and December and get those out of the way so we       can focus on Christmas gifts (we have lots of birthday's during this time of the year, including             Jack's)
6. Decide on which Christmas candies I want to make, write out recipes, and make out grocery list
7. Write out Christmas gift budget
8. Make Christmas lists for myself and Jack (share with family via email)

November
1. Pull out Christmas decorations from storage and put on back porch(before Thanksgiving)
2. Put up tree and decorate (after Thanksgiving)
3. Make one Christmas craft (after Thanksgiving)
4. Start watching Christmas movies (after Thanksgiving)
5. Decide which food I'm going to bring to the work Christmas party, write out recipe, and make             grocery list
6. Make cookie dough and freeze (before Thanksgiving)
7. Make Christmas punch and freeze (before Thanksgiving)
8. Decide on what I'm bringing to Jack's Christmas party and buy
9. Decide on Santa picture outfit
10. Write letter to Santa
11. Design and order Christmas cards (before Thanksgiving)
12. Go to the movies
13. Learn Christmas songs
14. Buy Elf on the Shelf
15. Finish coming up with Elf on the Shelf ideas
16. Buy Secret Pal Thanksgiving gift
16. Buy Ugly Christmas Sweater

December
1. Visit Santa and take pictures
2. Send out Christmas cards (before the 5th)
3. Do a Christmas craft
4. Watch Christmas movies
5. Decide on, write down recipes, and make grocery list for Christmas day menu (before the 20th)
6. Print off holiday gift tags (before 15th)
7. Read Christmas books
8. Wrap gifts (before the 20th)
9. Go look at Christmas lights
10. Make gingerbread house
11. Make Christmas cookies (December 24)
12. Make Christmas jars for Jack's teachers (before the 15th)

Jack's Birthday Wishlist

Let's Go Fishin' game
I really think Jack is going to enjoy playing this game. As a mother I want this game to work on his hand/eye coordination. I see us sharing lots of laughs with this one.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Backpack
Jack really needs a backpack for school just for all his papers that come home each day (remind me I need a system for organizing all those pesky papers).

My Truck is Stuck
Jack's current favorite word is stuck so I know he will love this book. Any time he can't do anything he will say "I'm stuck" or if he can't get to something then it is "stuck". he says it in his little kid voice and it is so cute.

Jack-in-the-Box
These classic toys are classics for a reason. I remember having one as a child and I really believe Jack will love it. He loves being surprised. He is going to be jumping around laughing. I'm already really excited for the first time it shocks him. He's gonna love it!

Construction Flashlight
Jack adores his PawPaw's flashlight but it is so heavy. I wanted to get one for him and I found this one that he will think is really fun. It is also a little nightlight.

Halloween Songs for Kids

I have found that this 28 minute video of Halloween songs is the perfect entertainment. Jack has had so much fun learning the songs and laughing to the animations. We play this on the ipad and on my phone. He is learning a lot about Halloween and giving me lots of laughs. Watching Jack do the Skeleton Dance seriously cracks me up. I hope you enjoy this video as much as we have.

Another Day in the Motherhood

Daycare called me almost 2 weeks ago due to Jack having diarrhea. It took 48 hours for him to finally stop pooping nonstop. However, the actual diarrhea hasn't went away. It was time for a doctor's visit. I have to keep him on a 48 hour liquid diet. Fun, huh? Nothing more exciting than denying your baby food. I also get the privilege of scooping up some of his poop and taking it to the hospital to be tested. Since I'm waiting of him to poop, I bet he holds off. Isn't the saying a watched butt never poops?

Saturday we attended the birthday party of friends. Jack had a great time painting pumpkins. We painted pumpkins at home last weekend so he knew just what to do. Why do some people stick out their tongue when they concentrate? I've seen other people do this. For all I know I do it also. I know my grandma does it when she sews. Thankfully she's never been on a computer so she'll never know I told you this.

The rest of the weekend was just a lot of relaxing at home. I read a book and started another. We watched football and ate too much food. It's hot here today but the promise of a cool day tomorrow is making it a little better. I need to wear scarfs Mother Nature! I don't think she's too into fashion. 

My Three Step Face Cleaning Routine

You will not be seeing pictures of me with no make-up on. Just wanted to set that straight right away. However, I did want to share with you my face cleaning routine that I do morning and night.

I start out with these amazing wipes.

I've tried to use the generic version before but it just isn't the same. To me, any other face whip is too oily. 

Next I use this toner. I can not recommend it enough. It makes my face feel amazing! I have never felt it so clean.

I then wrap things up with this moisturizer which isn't too oily. It makes my face still feel clean but also moisturized. 

Do you have a face product that you just couldn't live without?

Best and Easiest Punch for Any Occasion

I make this punch each time there is a need for punch (which is very often). It is the punch recipe that all of my friends use and is always a big hit at every event (or random Saturday). 

What you need:

1. a box of flavored jello (choose flavor on what color you want your punch to me)

2. sugar

3. water

4. big can of pineapple juice

5. gallon sized Ziploc bag

6. 2 litter Sprite

How you do it:

1. Boil one cup of water

2. Add in jello and sugar/mix until dissolved

3. Add in some of the pineapple juice to cool it down

4. Pour mixture into Ziploc bag and add in remaining pineapple juice

5. Freeze

6. Add Sprite to frozen punch about a 1/2 hour before event

BOO Hand Print Art

While we did a little pumpkin painting this weekend, I decided to go ahead and use the paint to create a cute Halloween art with the boys. I just painted their hands black and pressed them on white cardstock.

While the hands were drying I turned to picmonkey to print off a "scary" B. Here is mine (feel free to use it). 

I then used some white paint to make little ghost eyes and mouths (I am no artist). I cut out the cardstock hands and taped them down to the B page I had printed. I put into a $2 frame from Dollar General. 

You are probably thinking "shouldn't those ghosts be white?". Well yeah but sometimes you just gotta work with what you got around. Plus, I think they are still really cute and the boys kept saying "B. O. O. Boo!" while screaming out the Boo in a scary voice. They loved it. 

Pecan Pie M&M Cookies

This is a very simple and delicious cookies recipe that is perfect for fall.

What you need:
1 box of yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1/4 cup oil
Pecan Pie M&M's

Mix together the first three ingredients and then fold in the M&Ms
Roll into a ball and then flatten a little
Cook for about 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees

Pumpkin Patch 2015 in Pictures

October + What We Are Doing + Goals

I think October is my favorite month. This morning as I was getting in my car I started giving it some thought. It felt amazing outside! It was October 1 and it finally felt like fall. It felt like a gift. I snapped this picture so I could remember what it looked like when fall came rolling in.

The view from outside (the side of the house). 

October is a busy but great month. I want to jam pack this month full of wonderful things. Every weekend we have something fun planned and I'm just super excited.

Today though Jack has a slight stomach bug so I'm home. He is acting fine, just lots of diaper changes.

I was able to finish up our Halloween banner that I've been working on the last few days.
You can make your own by clicking on this link. It was lots of fun getting to look back at old memories. The only work involved was printing.

This isn't where it stayed but it gave me the space I need for a panoramic picture.

I'm loving this cardigan I picked up at Walmart. You can read about my love of Walmart fashion here. My favorite part is the sleeves. This is the best picture I have of it. I wasn't planning on writing about it but I ended up loving it so much that I felt like it needed a little air time.

Now for my October goals!

October Goals

1// Create a budget. Living with my parents has its pros and cons. Things in my life are finally settling a little and I'm ready to start looking into the future. Creating a budget with the focus on saving money to move out is one of my October goals.

2// Buy two of Jack's Christmas presents. I seriously have no ideas on what to buy him. Since I'm saving money, I don't want to over buy (like I may have done last year).

3// Start preparing my Christmas bucket list. I've been having dreams lately where it is Christmas Eve and I realize that I haven't gotten to do all the things I wanted to with Jack. I'm pretty sure that is a nightmare. Dreams where I forget things are the worse.

4// Go to the pumpkin patch/Homecoming game/Noah's birthday party/zoo

5// Find the perfect gift for Miss Maybree. My niece is due to arrive on November 2. I really want to get her some type of jewelry. I'm looking at this and this.

6// Do as many fun fall things as possible.


I'm keeping the not so fun stuff to a minimum this month because I just want this to be full of fun month. It's gonna be busy but fun and that is the best kind of busy.

Baby Shower Favorites

On Sunday I hosted a baby shower for my sister Samantha. She is due to have Maybree Lynn on November 2. Her best friend Wendy was also a hostess. Wendy is much like me and loves crafting. I am an awful blogger and didn't take many pictures. It is really hard to host and take pictures. I should have asked someone to take over photography duties. Since I don't have a lot of pictures of the actual shower I will share with you a few of my favorite decor items. Our theme was a girly woodland theme.

1// It's hard to see from the picture but the pumpkin was spray painted coral. Please don't pay attention to the stem. I meant to tie a burlap bow to the top and it ended up not happening as time became an issue. I use a gold paint pen for the M and the dots. I am no artist!

2// I created this print using Picmonkey. My now plan is to print this again but on burlap. It will be super cute in her nursery. 

3// I picked this chalkboard up from Target for $3. The woodland animals were from a $1 cardboard wreath I purchased from Family Dollar. 

4// I ordered this print from this Etsy shop. It was only $5 and it fit the theme perfectly. It is also going to be displayed in Maybree's nursery. 

5// I can't take credit for the spray painted pine cones (my co-hostess did them) but I loved the pop they brought. I had a super cute metal leaf tray for them to be displayed in.