Valentine Craft: Sparkly Heart Garland

Here is what a trip to the Dollar Store, $5.00 in ribbon, glitter and crafty time will get you:

Sparkly Heart Garlands

True to form these days, this “simple” project took me over two weeks of after Charlotte’s bedtime to accomplish but they really did turn out festively adorable.  Think I like the red garland better and may attack the pink one next year with ribbons but for now, DONE!  

Gone are the days of lazing around looking for inspiration and then accomplishing my vision in one day…ahh parenthood and all the time requirements and responsibilities.  I would not change having my wonderful, sweet and smart baby for anything.  But if I could just eke out a few more hours a week to craft…well; let’s just say my mental health MIGHT be a little more balanced!  :)

Charlotte’s Valentines

Thought I’d share some pictures of Charlotte preparing her Valentines this year.  We started with Olivia valentines (obviously, Charlotte’s favorite cartoon of the moment) for her preschool classmates and teachers, cousins, grandparents and (isn’t she sweet) her parents.  Charlotte amazed Wayne and I with how particular she was about who got which Valentine.  I read through each “type” of note with her and needed to reread them a few time but she just went to town picking who would receive which one.  She even changed her mind a few times…funny!  It was interesting that several times she wanted to give a “Girls Rule” valentine to some of the boys in her class.  I kept saying things like “Charlotte I think that one is for girls, maybe we should save that for a girl”, etc.  After saying this quite a few times Wayne just cracked me up when he chimed in with “Erin, maybe she is trying to make a point!”

Here she is painting valentines for her Granddad, Nanny and Grandma.  I’d originally envisioned Charlotte making very clear pictures of hearts with this neat foam roller I found.  However, I did not taken into consideration that she would not really understand how to use it, enjoying slathering on the paint more than anything!  Charlotte really did have a great time making the paintings but I think the final project is best summed up as “hearts in a snowstorm.”   Perfect, thanks Grandma for the apt description!

  

To go along with Charlotte’s offerings I also made chocolate heart cookie pops for her classmates and blueberry muffins for her teachers.  

 

 

Happy 3rd Birthday Amelia

This morning Charlotte and I headed out to Chapin Station Park in Winter Garden for Miss Amelia’s 3^rd Birthday Party.  Amelia and her Mommy are friends from Mommy & Me.    

We arrived a TAD late because Charlotte was giving me a heck of a lesson on two year old negotiations.  She has started insisting on bringing an entourage of baby dolls and stuffed animals with her for every car ride/event/outing.   PLUS they must ALL be dressed appropriately …usually in Charlotte’s clothing… and yes, this includes underwear/diapers and a sweater if the weather is cool.  UGH!  Like any parents, we try to happily indulge her – to a POINT – while simultaneously encouraging Charlotte to HURRY IT UP.  Because, Charlotte NEVER decides that she needs SIX attendants until we are rushing out the door TEN minutes late!!!!!  The worst part???  Once properly clothed and toted to the car the “guests” are forgotten and usually can be found at the foot well only to be further humiliated by being smashed under her feet! 

I digress – we were LATE, as usual - and arrived just in time for the big Happy Birthday moment, which was adorable.  Amelia promptly chomped on her cupcake and was wearing very pink icing all over her face within seconds!  Adorable!

Charlotte did manage to have an amazing time with her friends playing on all of the playground equipment and tromping through a butterfly garden.  I am so impressed with how fearless and determined she can be when it comes to heights or difficult climbing.  She went down one VERY HIGH slide many times and I am not embarrassed to admit that I pulled the “Mommies can’t ride on those slides because they are only for kids” because it was too scary-high for me!  :)   

At one point – and I point out I was thrilled she even remembered to “bring” it with her – she insisted on taking her stuffed (and fashionably dressed) koala (thanks Uncle Tyler) up a spider web climbing –thingy…one handed no less!

 

 

We both had a great morning visiting with friends, playing in the playground and celebrating Miss Amelia’s big day!  Happy Birthday Amelia and thanks for having us!  

Happy 3rd Birthday Cristiana!

This morning Charlotte and I were able to help her friend, Cristiana, celebrate her third birthday!  Cristiana is one of Charlotte’s friends from Mommy & Me, so the girls (and families) have known each other for basically their entire lives. :)

Cristiana had a jungle themed party and it was so adorable thanks to her creative mama, Maite.  CHECK OUT THIS CAKE – yep, Maite MADE this work of art!

The kids played all over their hugely kid friendly backyard, decorated their own binoculars and made bracelets with animal shaped beads.   

Charlotte brought her blue stuffed dog (thanks Uncle Tyler) as her "date" today and even made sure he was given a bite of Cristiana’s birthday cake, a seat next to her during craft time and a ride in the baby swing!!!!  She is very generous like that!

Charlotte has played at Cristiana’s quite a bit but today she especially LOVED jumping on their huge trampoline.  It’s great because the kids just go crazy while each parent mans one “edge” of the trampoline.  Parents even manage to “visit” with each other at the same time!   {Now we just need side tables to hold our wine, oh and we need wine too…I’ll add that to my list for our next visit!}

Happy, Happy Birthday Cristiana!  Thanks for including us in your big day, we had so much fun! 

Charlotte’s 3rd Birthday Party Prep, Part I

So, it’s begun….preparation for Charlotte’s 3^rd Birthday party.  

Ok, let me be honest – I’ve been working on it for over a month already…what can I say I love to throw a party!  Anyway, this year we decided to do things a little differently, aka NOT a park {over the top, invite EVERYONE we love} party.  It means something new and fun for Charlotte but does not allow us to include all of her friends, which is disappointing.  Hopefully her friends will understand and Charlotte can go back to having a big bash for her next birthday!  Anyway, I have been slowly organizing the big picture for the party and have some fun projects in the works – you know any opportunity for me to get crafty and I am on it!  Plus, for me the time and thought that go into it are, I think an expression of how special Charlotte is to us and how much I love my little girl!  Besides, I don’t think Wayne would appreciate sewn and ruffled streamers for his next bash!  {Which… I really need to work on…the countdown begins…}   

Since there is no pressure to out- do her last party (1^st birthday, published in a local magazine, ahhhhhh) I have been taking it easy.  Is anyone out there buying that?  RIGHT, I didn’t think so!  So, Charlotte’s party is going to be small but with big details!  I’m going for a vintage meets modern yellows and pinks candy extravaganza.  Stay tuned to see if I can pull it off…

Last night I worked on faux candy for her birthday banner.  Gather together a few dollar store supplies and you’re off…

Today I am working on the ruffled streamers – vintage meets modern, right?  Again the dollar store comes thru with CHEAP supplies that I hope are made a little more special with some of my attention.