MommyCoddle

A few things for Friday + an ask

I found this scan of an old family picture when I was doing some cleaning out this week. Yes, I’m the somewhat mischevious-looking one holding the stick. And if I remember correctly, I probably got scolded for smacking the stubborn steers as my sister and brother worked with them, walking up and down our long driveway.

History repeats itself, except this time with lambs. The girls and I are walking, tugging and pleading with these stubborn lambs up and down the lane every night. Each night I silently cross my fingers that we’ll have a breakthrough. That the lambs will realize that it’s way more enjoyable to walk than to be pulled. So far, no luck. And time is ticking. The fair is exactly two weeks away.

Our mother would send us up and down the driveway with our steers, our lambs, probably even our pigs at some point. And now, I’m demanding the same of my girls.

In the meantime, here are a few things for your Friday….

*This is my yearly PSA, reminding you to see your dermatologist for a skin cancer “head to toe” check. I went yesterday, and was reminded how important it is.

*Made these. So easy. So good. No hot baking required.

*Today’s rain and cooler temps means I’m making more of this.

*Shameless request. I was chosen as a finalist for the Red Tricycle Awards for best Mom/Dad blog AND most beautiful Pinterest boards. Woah. Mind blown. Would you take a moment and vote for me? I owe you.

Mom and Dad Blog:

Pinterest Boards

*The lovely Caravan Shoppe just launched a project on Kickstarter.

*I’ve really loved the direction that Erin Loechner has been taking Design for Mankind. This post, while announcing the launch of her new eyeglass frames collection is just a small example of her lovely words and perspective.

*Love this: Mini-herb garden, rethinking the hanging planter

Happy Friday friends! More soon. xo.

Our mother would send us up and down the driveway with our steers, our lambs, probably even our pigs at some point. And now, I’m demanding the same of my girls.

In the meantime, here are a few things for your Friday….

*This is my yearly PSA, reminding you to see your dermatologist for a skin cancer “head to toe” check. I went yesterday, and was reminded how important it is.

*Made these. So easy. So good. No hot baking required.

*Today’s rain and cooler temps means I’m making more of this.

Mom and Dad Blog:

Pinterest Boards

*The lovely Caravan Shoppe just launched a project on Kickstarter.

*Love this: Mini-herb garden, rethinking the hanging planter

Happy Friday friends! More soon. xo.

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home / Woodlawn

Love it: Land of Nod Fall Collection

This summer is flying by and my summer to-do lists are sorely neglected. June was crazy. And July is definitely trying to give June a run for its money.

But one of the things on my Woodlawn to-do list is to get the girls’ bedrooms into a somewhat organized, cleaned out, and paired down state of existence.

E + M’s room: Before move-in. And before a good mopping, obviously.

This summer is flying by and my summer to-do lists are sorely neglected. June was crazy. And July is definitely trying to give June a run for its money.

But one of the things on my Woodlawn to-do list is to get the girls’ bedrooms into a somewhat organized, cleaned out, and paired down state of existence.

E + M’s room: Before move-in. And before a good mopping, obviously.

The move to Woodlawn meant that Mary and Elizabeth are sharing a bright, airy bedroom together. Not only does it have a closet (Before, we had ONE closet in the whole Thomas Run house!) but it also has a fireplace, for pete’s sake! Now, whether we ever really fire that thing up is yet to be determined, but it is a lovely space that needs some attention and love.

Inspiration: Land of Nod, black & white

Like any move, I feel like we kind of threw them into their bedrooms. They are functional in the sense that they have dressers and beds and bookcases and light to read by, but they aren’t streamlined. And they don’t have that put together, warm and cozy feeling yet.

Inspiration: Land of Nod, Eastern Shores

So before school starts back up in the fall, I’m determined to get them in order. I’ve been storing away things here and there–some shelving for above their beds, little reading lamps, curtains.

And I’m also officially on the hunt for new dressers. They are currently using a pair of dressers that were salvaged out of “the boys house” on my grandparents’ farm. And I’m not even sure they’re dressers. More like a series of small, square drawers. And when you’re a little kid trying to remember which drawer has your pjs and which drawer has your long-sleeve tees, it gets a little disorganized. Not to mention the fact they they have drawers that stick or don’t close all the way, and drawers missing hardware. It’s sad and sorry.

Inspiration: Land of Nod, Swan Lake

What does this have to do with Land of Nod, nothing except–hello eye candy! I have a serious obsession with Land of Nod. I’m pretty sure there isn’t a single thing in their catalog that I don’t love. I could do all my kids’ rooms, their little “study rooms” and probably my own office space in Land of Nod.

Just a few days ago, they released a preview of their new Fall Collection and I’m totally smitten. Never would I consider myself someone who’d go all “fairytale” in her kids’ rooms. But fairytale done by Land of Nod? I’d consider it.

Inspiration: Land of Nod, Woodland Fairy Tale

If nothing else, I get so much inspiration from their asthetic and the way they create such happy, creative and comfortable spaces for kids.

Now, if only I could press pause on summer to make some progress on this project. I’ll keep you posted!

However, if you may want to buy your kids a tv bed, there is a store like the TV Bed Store that offers the best and latest TV Beds that provides a luxurious tv to watch and an extreme comfort that will enable them to have a good sleep, too.

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Woodland Fairy Tale // Eastern Shores // Swan Lake // Black + White

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favorites / HOMESCHOOLING / making

Washi tape crafts: Washi tape bookmarks

My husband and I have very different habits when it comes to reading books. In fact, when I read one of “his” books, he’ll often cringe as he hands over the copy to me. “Don’t bend back the pages. And please, don’t dog-ear the pages.” The man babies his books.

I should have known it was trouble when I met him while he was studying for his Masters Degree and underlining his books with a ruler. The man loves books. And takes great care with them.

Me? I’m a bit different. I’m a page dog-earer, a read in bed until I can’t keep my eyes open and the book falls to the floor beside me, underline, highlight, write in the margins-kind of girl. When I recently picked up this book by Martha Stewart (side note: Does this mean I’m getting old? I think so.) and she gave me permission right there in the introduction to underline, dog-ear and make the book “work” for me, I showed the words to him with glee. Matha gave me permission.

But good marriages are built on give and take, right? So I’ve found my new making obsession,

When I got married, my husband and I almost liked the same thing even for the casino games we played on 666casino. But…My husband and I have very different habits when it comes to reading books. In fact, when I read one of “his” books, he’ll often cringe as he hands over the copy to me. “Don’t bend back the pages. And please, don’t dog-ear the pages.” The man babies his books.

I should have known it was trouble when I met him while he was studying for his Masters Degree and underlining his books with a ruler. The man loves books. And takes great care with them.

But good marriages are built on give and take, right? So I’ve found my new making obsession, that also happens to keep my marriage in tact. Okay, not really, but people these are simple to make and slightly addicting. I find myself sitting at my desk, when I should be writing, banging out a new set.

Why use a boring old bookmark when you can make a totally cool corner bookmark, pocket thingie for your book with washi tape, no less?!

They are a cinch to make. With some sturdy paper, or cardstock, folded and cut on an angle, and washi tape to close the open corners, they’re pretty much the cutest bookmarks I’ve ever seen.

Not only am I making them for myself, my books, my moleskine and my cookbooks, I’m making them for the girls too.

When we do school, I often send them off with a book telling them to start on a certain page and end on another. Now, instead of boring old post-it note flags, I can put these adorable “start here”, “stop here” bookmarks in their books. Boom. Love it.

So when you need a mindless and fun little craft on these hot and sticky days of summer, save a book. Make a bookmark.

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