Photo Tile Coaster POEM for Card

I have had many requests for my poem from the Photo Tile Coasters. There is a link for it, but it isn't working for everyone. So here is the POEM I made up to go with the Photo Tile Coasters. I do these for parent gifts in preschool, and the parents love it so much- so now I do it every year. You are welcome to copy and paste this for PERSONAL USE ONLY. Please do not copy this and claim it as your own or publish it in any form. Please link my website and post to your blog if you want to share this with your readers. Thanks and Happy Holidays!

PHOTO TILE COASTER POEM FOR GIFT CARD:

You’ll never have to ask, “Was that my cup?” again,

When hanging out with family or enjoying a meal with friends.

Because now you have a coaster with my handsome happy face,

To put your drink of choice on and in its proper place.

So when you are with loved ones this happy time of year,

Just use your personalized coaster when you toast to Holiday Cheer!  

Merry Christmas!   LOVE,

Updates, Priorities, Thoughts...

Apparently someone out there is still reading this little blog because my traffic more than doubled yesterday- almost to what it used to be. That is fun to see...but it isn't super important to me. Since having a significant birthday, having twins, and finding out I'm lucky to be alive after having the twins.... I have really looked at my priorities. AND...while I'm still working on them, I have really realized the only things that really matter, are my children and my husband, and my relationship with God. When it comes down to it, people, family, and faith are what matters.

Easter Sunday 2014

With that said, I am not sure what direction I'm going to take this little blog. I have turned a little more private with my use of the internet. I have very limited time with two babies, and four other children. However, I really enjoy the wonderful people I have met through blog connections. So I am not "closing shop", and I hope to find time to post a little more frequently. So for now, here is a glimpse into my days, via instagram.

January 2014-first ride in this stroller

 February 2014 -sick lots, on the nebulizer all. the. time. 

 One of the many fun school projects from this year! 

 Big birthday- last year my husband was in the hospital on my birthday...this year ....

 He sent me to a spa and a night in a hotel by myself!

 Somehow these guys reached 6 months!! I can't believe it! We survived!!

 A little reunion with some of my favorite ladies! Such a sweet experience! 

The twins just started doing this trick! 

 One of my kids was awarded a new bike at school for being the TOP BOY READER in his grade! So fun! 

 It's the little things- like being able to put your babies in a shopping cart instead of bringing a stroller and getting a shopping cart! 

 What a great preschool year so far! Such a sweet group of kids this year! 

 Festival of Books! So much fun for my reading boys!

 That one time when I went to JoAnns' in December to find that they copied my idea and were selling it!  I made these up in 2009.....and in 2013  found them for sale at JoAnn's. 

Go ahead, do a search for "burlap ornaments" and you will find my unique design that JoAnn's copied exactly....still not sure what to do about this. They could have at least used a different font, or size, or ribbon, or something! Geesh. Not cool JoAnn's....

 5 Months old...sporting their football jerseys....

I'm in the midst of finally potty training this sweet guy. He had to get glasses-- hope it helps him! He can't see. 

I wish I could tell you I've sewed up lots of quilts, and have a designer nursery, and I had tons of organizing tips, or a bunch of new recipes. But that is not the case. I have six wonderful sons who keep my busy and make my tired. They are loud, dirty, happy, and give me hugs and kisses. They suck up all my time and energy- especially the twin babies.  My house has never been so messy, but my heart has never been so full. I love them so much! But I tell you, I dream of a late night crafting or sewing. I plan on getting there...it is just taking some time! 

I'd love to hear from you via comments or email! Thanks for reading! 

Apple Star Story Visuals

My twins hit the 6 month mark! I am not going to tell you it is lots easier now, though it is a little bit, but our house is still a mess, I am still really tired, and I still look pregnant! I have had a lot of comments and questions lately- about where I got things on posts, so I am going to try to answer them. Since I have had several requests for the "Apple Star Story" visuals here they are!  This is actually a repost. I guess some people never saw the first ones I posted three years ago- so here they are again . :) They are nothing exciting. I drew them or traced them and I'm not artist.  Left click on the photo. Click SAVE. Save on your computer, then print them on white cardstock and laminate.  I cut up the story and put the part that goes with it on the back. It's funny how such a simple story with simple pictures can really engage children! There is also a blank apple tree- I used for a game.  Let me know if you have any questions! I'll will try to answer them as timely as possible. Here is the link to the story.

Featured on Bob Vila { the guy fromThis Old House}

I just discovered a very cool feature on Bob Vila's website. This guy has been around a lot longer than any blog or blogger. I remember watching This Old House on PBS growing up. I found that he has a post on DIY Kids Furniture and he featured and linked our play kitchen made from a nightstand back in 2010.


There are a lot of play kitchens out there....it was pretty neat to have a DIY celebrity notice ours! Thanks Bob Vila, or can I call you Bob?

Popular Posts from 2013

As you may have noticed, I did not post much in 2013. This was due to the TWINS that joined our family in September! It has been a crazy wonderful ride, and we have learned and are still learning a lot about being parents of multiples.  There were definitely a few "gems" that I did post-the most had over 10K views, and the lowest shared here was about 500 views.  I hope to share a few more posts from 2013, that I never had time to post. Twins sure take a lot of time! Here are the most viewed posts from 2013. {Click on words above the photo to go to that post. Photos are not linked to the posts.}


Disneyland Tips and Hints

Preschool Color Songs Free Printables

Loft Makeover

Colors Quiet Book

DIY Disney Autograph and Memory Books

The Best Blueberry Muffins

Disney Car's Birthday Party Ideas

Nutella Swirl Blondie Bars

Front Door Wreath for $2

Wishing you a healthy, happy, creative 2014!!

A Word about Blogging and Copyrights.

Hello....if anyone is still reading this, then you have probably noticed that I had twins this past fall, and whoa...that has really changed my life and priorities.

I have also become a bit discouraged by the amount of bloggers out there for the "money". It seems that everyone these days is blogging to make some money, and they are using everyone else's ideas to to so. This doesn't really sit right with me.With the creation of Pinterest, your ideas are really be thrown around the internet too.  I have also had a few of my original ideas "ripped off" for lack of a better word. I found one of them during the holidays- that you will not find anywhere else, and it was being sold at  JoAnn's of all places! I have been advised on this, but have not had the time to completely follow up due to being very busy with twins and 4 other children. I was also advised, that when you publish an idea, with an attached date, even if it is just on your own blog, you are the owner of that idea, and if someone else claims to have created or made it up it,after you, you are the owner of the idea, due to the fact that you published it first. If they reproduce the exact thing, and sell it for profit, you can sue them even if you have not a patent or trademark. You have a copyright, just by the fact that you published it where it is dated,  and that is all you need. This is how I was advised.

This sort of thing has happened to me more than once when I have published something I made up on my blog. If I see an idea somewhere else, and create the exact thing, I will give credit to that person and include a link. I do this often with recipes, even if I change it a little, I will link where I saw the recipe when I share the recipe with you.

 Obviously I am not going to take the time to be the blog police and go after everyone who has taken my work and claimed it for their own or sold it for a profit. {cough...cough...car...cough...cozy.....}

So if you find me not sharing as much as I would like to, you will know it is for two main reasons:
one- I have 3 month old twins, and a lot going on with my family; and two- I don't appreciate others stealing from me, even if it is an idea from a blog it is wrong no matter what, and I don't have time to let it upset me, so I'd rather just keep my ideas to myself sometimes.

I know I am probably going to get some "mean mail or comments" from this post. I want you to know I am just going to ignore them. THANK YOU to those of you who have followed me and read this little blog over the years. I'm not ending it, I just may change the direction it is going, and save my good ideas for those who are going to respect them instead of steal them. I appreciate those who have encouraged me, read my posts, and blogged along with me over the  years! Wishing all my readers a very happy and healthy 2014!!

Thanks for reading!

Delicious Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Cake

Hello! I thought I'd take a second to share a family favorite recipe- great for the holidays. I actually started this post in the summer -- and then twins and life took over!

This is rich enough to be dessert, but we eat it for breakfast! It was a hit at our house and is one of our family favorites! I lowered the amount of butter a little from the original recipe, but it is still very rich, moist, and delicious! You can make substitutions-{flax seed for eggs, soy milk instead of dairy, etc.}  in this recipe and it still works and turns out great.

Delicious Cinnamon Roll Cake

3 cups flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup butter, melted
TOPPING:
3/4 cup softened butter (1 cube plus a half)
1 cup brown sugar
2 TBSP flour
1 TBSP cinnamon
GLAZE: 
2 cups powdered sugar
5 TBSP milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare a 9 by 13 pan by spraying it with cooking spray. 
In your mixer, combine flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, milk, eggs, and vanilla. When that is combined, slowly add the melted butter. Pour into the prepared pan. 
Next, combine the topping ingredients 3/4 cup softened butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 TBSP flour, 
1 TSBP cinnamon, until creamy consistency. Drop evenly over the batter using a tablespoon. Swirl it into the cake using a knife. 
Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.
GLAZE: Combine glaze ingredients-powdered sugar with 5 TBSP milk and 1 tsp vanilla. Use a wire whisk to combine well. Drizzle all over the warm cake. This can be served while still warm or later...it is great either way. 
{recipe adapted from Chef In Training}