Max's 2nd birthday IDEAS...

 PARTY PLANNING!

I do realize that Max's birthday is 5 months away...but as you all know I had quite a thrilling time planning his 1st birthday. I spent months and months bargain shopping, crafting, and getting prepared and all of the effort really paid off! His birthday turned out exactly how I wanted it to! So my plan now is to start compiling ideas of things I will be doing over the next 5 months while we await this next BIG BIRTHDAY! Another aspect as to why I really need to be on top of this is because we are also planning our commitment ceremony in September- so the more planning I do now the lighter on the budget and less stressful it will be! :)

Here are some ideas that I've found that I thought I would share and give me YOUR input on ideas too! I would love to hear them :)

So obviously I'm thinking along the lines of Carnival/Circus. I think Max would LOVE it! I can see the face paintings, cotton candy, and popcorn now! MMMMmmmmmmm.....!

XOXO LOVE,

Party Planning Mumma

Homemade Christmas gifts 101

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

I wanted to share with everyone some of the Christmas gifts that I made for friends and family! I LOVE making gifts. Not only is it usually cheaper for me then something bought in the store, but it's personalized, and means alot more to the recipient :) This year I made soy candles with different essential oil aromas, whipped coconut body butter, wine cork drink trays, cookies, fudge, and ornaments w Max's picture inside! They were all pretty easy to make, and super fun and creative! Everyone really loved these gifts this year and it filled me with HOLIDAY JOY! :D 

-Heres the breakdown of what you need, around how much it cost, and how easy it really is! 

Soy Wax Candle: relatively easy, cost around $8 to make each. What you need: bag of soy flakes (found @Hobby Lobby-used 40% coupon on website), Glass jars (HL during 50% off glass sale), wicks (HL) and essential oil of your choice- I chose lemongrass and cinnamon/apple. The candles I made took about 3 1/2 C soy flakes to make each and an entire bottle of essential oil (or half and half if you're mixing two scents) each. Once you have your jar, attach your wick with hot glue or all purpose craft glue and let dry. Using a microwave safe bowl cook your soy flakes for 3 minutes, stopping a few times to stir. Once completed liquified add essential oil and pour into jar slowly. I put a spoon on the side of the wick to make sure it stayed straight while drying. Once dried, trim wick and cover! Easy! And AWESOME!

cooling/hardening

                                                                                                                           

all finished! EASY!

Whipped organic coconut oil body butter: ridiculously easy! I purchased a large container of coconut oil at Super Supplements (around $20), flip lid jars at Hobby Lobby (during 50%off glass sale). You can add essential oil if you'd like, I didn't because the coconut oil smells great alone. All you have to do is put all of your coconut oil in your KitchenAid mixer for 15ish minutes and VOILA! You have body butter! Coconut oil is very stable (so it lasts at room temperature for a long time) or you could keep it in the fridge if you'd like. Anyone could use this gift! It's sooo moisturizing! Love this one! And its "organic" for those crunchy friends! ;)

brand i used

whip it up for 15 minutes and VOILA!

Cork tray: Easy/time consuming/could be FREE! So drink up! And save your corks from your wine bottles! Or ask around to friends, families, bars etc to start saving them for you. I made two trays-one custom, one vintage. Dustin built the tray for my custom sized one I needed for my mom, and I found the second tray at a thrift store (vintage yay!) Lay out your corks in whatever pattern you LOVE, and hot glue down. This is great for a coffee table, ottoman, ANYWHERE! Downsize and make coasters instead for a spin on my idea! My mom and sister loved theirs!! Ho! Ho! Ho!

custom tray built by my man and whitewashed

finished product! Gorgeous!

So now EVERYONE has some ideas for gifts throughout this year or can get started early on Christmas gifts for 2013!!! All of these were super fun and pretty EASY! And Max was able to help with all of them!

Happy Crafting!
XOXO LOVE,
Super Crafty Mumma





Seattle children's museum

So max and I hit up Seattle Children's Museum today and had. BLAST! There is SO much to do there you could seriously spend the entire day! I can't believe we haven't gone sooner! But with this dreary weather upon us, now is the perfect time!

We spent about 2-3 hours there and I already know what we could do differently next time to make it easier for Mumma and more fun for Max! Here is what we did this first time around and I'll list below what I will do next time!

There is parking everywhere around the Seattle Center, but it's pricey. As far as I know there isn't really another option. Alot of the pay lots are cheaper if you arrive before 10am. I paid 15$ for 3 hours, but it would've been 10$ if I had gotten there before 10am. I parked right next to the EMP (5th and Harrison). This was the perfect distance to the museum. I will park there again. :). I brought our stroller, not knowing how far Id end up walking and here's where it got tricky. You do need something to get from car to museum, but then once inside they prefer you to "park" your stroller at the entrance. I had brought my huge purse, my peacoat, a blanket for max all along w my big jogging stroller. I didn't feel comfortable leaving all of that at the entrance (that you can't see) so I pushed it all around the museum (pain in my a**). So I would suggest baby wearing (ergo,moby,or carry them) to get into the museum, or bringing an umbrella stroller that is easier and cheaper (if someone had the balls to snag it). I also wouldn't bring my purse, just money and phone/camera.

Another aspect to think of is food/snacks. You are able to come and go with a hand stamp, and there is a great food court upstairs. I decided to check it out w Max today. Great stuff but PRICEY. There was a kids friendly restaurant which was great. I got Max PB&J w/ grapes and chocolate milk. And he wouldn't eat the sandwich (they made it with really chunky wheat/grain bread, sunflower butter and jelly. And it cost 9$. Shoot. So next time I will bing his lunch and maybe go eat upstairs and get something special for myself :).

So all in all we had a super fun day, and now we know what to do next time! The entrance fee is totally worth it (7.50$ each, 6.50$ for grandparents). I plan to go often now :) I can't wait to go with Daddy, girlfriends, and auntie! And maybe for Maxs bday we will get a year pass :)

So don't forget:
-park close and cheap
-baby wear
-bring lunch unless you don't mind spending 20$ for you and bb
-remember you can go in and out as much as wanted

Hope to see you there soon!
XOXOX LOVE,
Museum-smart Mumma

Back to work Mumma

I write this post with a little sadness and a little excitement too! I am officially starting work as of Wednesday. I absolutely cannot wait to be making money and having the freedom to do whatever I want with Max, not worrying about how much I'm dipping into my unemployment check. Max will head back to daycare two days a week, and spending one full weekend day with Daddy. I know he will have fun with his little friends at daycare, and he will DEFINITELY have a blast with Daddy on Saturdays. So in reality, Max will be happy. But me on the other hand will be a little bit sad. I will deal with him crying as I leave daycare, him possibly being asleep when I get home at night, sore full boobs throughout the day, and missing my little booboo more than anything. I have had almost 4 months off of work with him and its been the best 4 months we have spent together. I have made sure to do something really fun at least every other day (playground, play date, lunch date, crafting, shopping). It has been a really special bonding time for us. I would give anything to be a SAHM, but working 3 days a week is close enough for me I suppose.

In the past 4 months Max has changed right before my eyes. He is now running not walking, he is (most of the time) sleeping through the night. He is talking SO MUCH. I just love that I have been able to see every little change right up close.

There are a few things I would like him to know in this transition of Mumma going back to work:

-when I leave you,I will always come back
-if you go to sleep before I tuck you in, I promise to whisper I love you while you're sleeping and I check on you
-I promise to make our 4 full days together just as good as these past four months
-I love you to the moon and am only working to make our life that much better

This "mommy guilt" is something only moms can relate to. And don't we all know the feeling so well??? The last thing we want to do is leave our babies crying with someone else, or have them put to sleep without our hugs and kisses. BUT I just keep reminding myself of that paycheck! And all the great things I can do with that!

This transition will be difficult for sure, for both of us, but it'll also be GREAT for both of us.

Cheers to 2013 and the new beginnings for me an my family this year :)

What new things are happening for your family this year???
Xoxoxox,
Employed Mumma