animal kingdom / good finds

things you might like

We are slowly transitioning to the time change this morning. Birdy gets it, but apparently her sisters are still on the old time. Emma continues to argue bedtime based upon "old time", and I'm trying to remind her that the old time is just that, old. Tomorrow, I'm afraid the child won't be able to get the pleasure of sleeping in. This mama's going to start cracking the whip. 

A few little things this morning….

First of all, THANK YOU. There has been no offical announcement, but have you seen the voting on circle of moms?Really. I don't know what to say. I had some great "campaigners" out there. Thank you. Really.

Be sure to check out the bottom of the Action Pack giveaway post for the winners! 

a V.I.D.

There is a very important date on our calendar…yes, the birthday marathon is about to begin–3 in 3 weeks! But there is another date that my girls are very excited about it. And when I mentioned on twitter that I was gathering supplies for some new chicks to take up residence again in our downstairs bathroom, I started getting lots of questions about the hows and whys of what we were doing. And since 140 characters is a pretty tough way to give chick advice, I've decided to work on a little "Raising Chicks 101" series to share with you all here on the blog. I'm no expert, but I'm no longer completely intimidated by the process. And I'd love to empower a few other chicken farmers out there, if I can! :) 

Blog sponsor Stubby Pencil Studio is up for a Green Award. I loved reading what they'd do if they won. Take a second to check it out and cast your vote! 

I've been sharing a few favorite links on the mommycoddle facebook page, but here are some highlights:

I would love this on my sofa.

This tutorial is such a great idea for a baby gift.

I love this idea...hmmmn. maybe it could be incorporated into a first birthday gift? 

This is on the menu. And this. And this. 

I have a really wonderful giveaway on Momformation right now. If there are any baby plans in your future, you'll want to take a look. 

Some people stay up late playing word games on the computer or checking Craigslist Farm and Garden (okay, I do that, too)… I stay up late doing this and this. Don't tell my children but geography is my weakness. We won't discuss how many attempts it took for me to get this correct. Or how easily my 9 year old could complete it. Hmph. 

Happy Monday, friends!

We are slowly transitioning to the time change this morning. Birdy gets it, but apparently her sisters are still on the old time. Emma continues to argue bedtime based upon "old time", and I'm trying to remind her that the old time is just that, old. Tomorrow, I'm afraid the child won't be able to get the pleasure of sleeping in. This mama's going to start cracking the whip. 

A few little things this morning….

First of all, THANK YOU. There has been no offical announcement, but have you seen the voting on circle of moms?Really. I don't know what to say. I had some great "campaigners" out there. Thank you. Really.

Be sure to check out the bottom of the Action Pack giveaway post for the winners! 

a V.I.D.

There is a very important date on our calendar…yes, the birthday marathon is about to begin–3 in 3 weeks! But there is another date that my girls are very excited about it. And when I mentioned on twitter that I was gathering supplies for some new chicks to take up residence again in our downstairs bathroom, I started getting lots of questions about the hows and whys of what we were doing. And since 140 characters is a pretty tough way to give chick advice, I've decided to work on a little "Raising Chicks 101" series to share with you all here on the blog. I'm no expert, but I'm no longer completely intimidated by the process. And I'd love to empower a few other chicken farmers out there, if I can! :) 

Blog sponsor Stubby Pencil Studio is up for a Green Award. I loved reading what they'd do if they won. Take a second to check it out and cast your vote! 

I've been sharing a few favorite links on the mommycoddle facebook page, but here are some highlights:

I would love this on my sofa.

This tutorial is such a great idea for a baby gift.

I love this idea...hmmmn. maybe it could be incorporated into a first birthday gift? 

This is on the menu. And this. And this. 

I have a really wonderful giveaway on Momformation right now. If there are any baby plans in your future, you'll want to take a look. 

Some people stay up late playing word games on the computer or checking Craigslist Farm and Garden (okay, I do that, too)… I stay up late doing this and this. Don't tell my children but geography is my weakness. We won't discuss how many attempts it took for me to get this correct. Or how easily my 9 year old could complete it. Hmph. 

Happy Monday, friends!

15 Comments
babyhood / family / MOTHERHOOD / out and about

we’d do it all over again

♥ a side note : voting ends some time tomorrow for Circle of Moms Top 25 Creative Moms. You can vote once a day. Would you mind taking a moment to cast a vote for me? Thank you! ♥

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

all packed up, still not ready to go

I travelled a lot as kid. A father working for commercial airlines meant the freedom to explore lots of places and states, countries, national parks, attractions…

But with all this traveling, many of the "attractions" just a few hours drive from my home, are places where I have never been. 

And so, when given an opportunity through Dan's work to take a (free!) weekend to Ocean City, Dan and I knew that despite our lack of attraction to the beach scene (not to be confused with scenery), we had to cash in on the offer. 

first beach

My children (who apparently don't get out much) were through-the-roof excited about the trip. (In hindsight, I'm thinking I could have saved myself a lot of repetitive clarification and re-telling of every minute detail about the trip, if I'd simply sprung the plan on them 20 minutes before departure.)

DSC_0026

Anyhow, from the roadtrip (that excitement lasted about 20 minutes), to the hotel stay, to the pool, to the dinners out, and to dream-of-all-dreams: a visit to Assateauge Island, the girls were mildly enthusiastic.  Since January, every journal entry (65 more days until Ocean City!), every dinnertime prayer (thank you God, that we get to go to Ocean City!), every bedtime conversation (How many hours does it take to get there? How big is the pool? Will we really see wild ponies?) has had something to do with the trip.

assateague island md

And so, last weekend it finally arrived. Ocean City is a quiet place in the dead of winter. But in a way, it was kind of nice. The beach is cold and windy and seventeen different shades of grey. And it is beautiful. 

this is what we came for

We went to the beach. We ate hotel food and sat through banquets and videos about the history of Dan's company and International Harvester. We swam in the hotel pool and spent dollar upon dollar on wacky arcade games. We collected shells and saw wild ponies.

looking for the ocean

We had meltdowns.

We (meaning me) wondered at which point the parents begin to have fun on vacations. 

DSC_0051

And we slept like rocks that first day back home in our beds. Birdy, clocking a 15 hour sleep.

5marDSC_0019

And I've decided that for me, the best part of vacation is this part. The looking back. The relief that it's over and the joy that we did it. 

beach

The forgetting of the maxed out tired baby, the endless laundry, the packing and unpacking…

And the remembering of their pure joy and excitement and enthusiasm….

showing her how it's done

And that we'd do it all over again.

♥ a side note : voting ends some time tomorrow for Circle of Moms Top 25 Creative Moms. You can vote once a day. Would you mind taking a moment to cast a vote for me? Thank you! ♥

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

all packed up, still not ready to go

I travelled a lot as kid. A father working for commercial airlines meant the freedom to explore lots of places and states, countries, national parks, attractions…

But with all this traveling, many of the "attractions" just a few hours drive from my home, are places where I have never been. 

And so, when given an opportunity through Dan's work to take a (free!) weekend to Ocean City, Dan and I knew that despite our lack of attraction to the beach scene (not to be confused with scenery), we had to cash in on the offer. 

first beach

My children (who apparently don't get out much) were through-the-roof excited about the trip. (In hindsight, I'm thinking I could have saved myself a lot of repetitive clarification and re-telling of every minute detail about the trip, if I'd simply sprung the plan on them 20 minutes before departure.)

DSC_0026

Anyhow, from the roadtrip (that excitement lasted about 20 minutes), to the hotel stay, to the pool, to the dinners out, and to dream-of-all-dreams: a visit to Assateauge Island, the girls were mildly enthusiastic.  Since January, every journal entry (65 more days until Ocean City!), every dinnertime prayer (thank you God, that we get to go to Ocean City!), every bedtime conversation (How many hours does it take to get there? How big is the pool? Will we really see wild ponies?) has had something to do with the trip.

assateague island md

And so, last weekend it finally arrived. Ocean City is a quiet place in the dead of winter. But in a way, it was kind of nice. The beach is cold and windy and seventeen different shades of grey. And it is beautiful. 

this is what we came for

We went to the beach. We ate hotel food and sat through banquets and videos about the history of Dan's company and International Harvester. We swam in the hotel pool and spent dollar upon dollar on wacky arcade games. We collected shells and saw wild ponies.

looking for the ocean

We had meltdowns.

We (meaning me) wondered at which point the parents begin to have fun on vacations. 

DSC_0051

And we slept like rocks that first day back home in our beds. Birdy, clocking a 15 hour sleep.

5marDSC_0019

And I've decided that for me, the best part of vacation is this part. The looking back. The relief that it's over and the joy that we did it. 

beach

The forgetting of the maxed out tired baby, the endless laundry, the packing and unpacking…

And the remembering of their pure joy and excitement and enthusiasm….

showing her how it's done

And that we'd do it all over again.

24 Comments
book reviews / good finds

Action Pack giveaway!

COVER.800px.Whipup.ActionPackMARCH

 

I was really excited when Kathreen contacted me about sharing her new project from WhipUp–Action Pack–with all of you. The opening page of the magazine says it all :

This action-packed mini-mag for kids will inspire creativity and healthy habits, as it feeds inquisitive minds and challenges the imagination. 

Issue I features activities and crafts with paper and beeswax–(perfect timing as I have a ton of leftover beeswax from Christmas gifts.) The chapters include Crafts, Science, Cooking, Facts, Art and Printables. The layout of the magazine is beautiful. The artwork and illustrations are clear and enticing and remind me of something from the pages of my long-ago favorite Martha Stewart Kids. This issue ties in crafts with beeswax, and recipes and facts about honey and bees. 

It is clear from the pages of this magazine that Kathreen really knows how to inspire creativity in kids. This mini-mag is well thought-out, beautifully presented, and I can't wait to see what other Action Packs come in the future. 

Whipup.ActionPackMARCH.600px.page1_

Kathreen is generously giving away 5 copies of Action Pack to five lucky readers! Simply leave a comment on this post to be entered. I'll announce the winner on Friday. Meanwhile, you can purchase and download your own copy of Action Pack for just $5 from the whipup shop and get started crafting right away! 

The 5 winners are:

Laura who said: Ooh, I saw something about this about a week ago and thought it was such a neat idea. I don't have children of my own, yet, but I am studying to be a teacher, and this would be such a great resource for teaching, as well as for when I get to be a mother someday. Thanks a bunch!

Stephanie who said : My daughter might be a little young yet but I bet we could find a few things in there to have fun with!

Gypsy Forest who said : I know some kiddos in my house who would LOVE to check out this magazine 🙂 What a fantastic giveaway…. and I am glad to have found your space too 😉

Amanda {the habit of being} who said : we have lots of beeswax on hand from making lip balm and hand creme – i'm sure my kids would like to put it to good use!

Alina who said : ooooohhh, how fun? Thanks for the giveaway 🙂

Please send me an email mommycoddle *at* gmail *dot* com so I can pass your email address on to Kathreen!

Find a source for local beeswax at localharvest. It is also available at craft stores. 

Disclaimer: Kathreen sent me a preview copy of Action Pack for this review…and I loved it. 🙂


COVER.800px.Whipup.ActionPackMARCH

 

I was really excited when Kathreen contacted me about sharing her new project from WhipUp–Action Pack–with all of you. The opening page of the magazine says it all :

This action-packed mini-mag for kids will inspire creativity and healthy habits, as it feeds inquisitive minds and challenges the imagination. 

Issue I features activities and crafts with paper and beeswax–(perfect timing as I have a ton of leftover beeswax from Christmas gifts.) The chapters include Crafts, Science, Cooking, Facts, Art and Printables. The layout of the magazine is beautiful. The artwork and illustrations are clear and enticing and remind me of something from the pages of my long-ago favorite Martha Stewart Kids. This issue ties in crafts with beeswax, and recipes and facts about honey and bees. 

It is clear from the pages of this magazine that Kathreen really knows how to inspire creativity in kids. This mini-mag is well thought-out, beautifully presented, and I can't wait to see what other Action Packs come in the future. 

Whipup.ActionPackMARCH.600px.page1_

Kathreen is generously giving away 5 copies of Action Pack to five lucky readers! Simply leave a comment on this post to be entered. I'll announce the winner on Friday. Meanwhile, you can purchase and download your own copy of Action Pack for just $5 from the whipup shop and get started crafting right away! 

The 5 winners are:

Laura who said: Ooh, I saw something about this about a week ago and thought it was such a neat idea. I don't have children of my own, yet, but I am studying to be a teacher, and this would be such a great resource for teaching, as well as for when I get to be a mother someday. Thanks a bunch!

Stephanie who said : My daughter might be a little young yet but I bet we could find a few things in there to have fun with!

Gypsy Forest who said : I know some kiddos in my house who would LOVE to check out this magazine 🙂 What a fantastic giveaway…. and I am glad to have found your space too 😉

Amanda {the habit of being} who said : we have lots of beeswax on hand from making lip balm and hand creme – i'm sure my kids would like to put it to good use!

Alina who said : ooooohhh, how fun? Thanks for the giveaway 🙂

Please send me an email mommycoddle *at* gmail *dot* com so I can pass your email address on to Kathreen!

Find a source for local beeswax at localharvest. It is also available at craft stores. 

Disclaimer: Kathreen sent me a preview copy of Action Pack for this review…and I loved it. 🙂


68 Comments