Easy Birthday Money Card

This is the day the LORD has made; 

we will rejoice and be glad in it. 

Psalm 118:24

Although birthdays come around the same time every year, I still find myself struggling to keep up with them!

Finding the perfect gift for someone happens at times, but I have no problem giving cash or gift cards as presents.  In fact, I prefer it! Sometimes it is hard to know what someone wants or what toys kiddos already have.

And then there are cards...

Occasionally, I don't mind spending a few bucks on a card, but usually I just fold over a piece of construction paper and let my little blonds make a card. Those sweet cards can mean more than store bought cards anyway.

This weekend we headed to a party, and like usual, didn't have a gift purchased ahead of time.  We decided on a cash gift (what kid doesn't like a little cash!).  Instead of my go-to homemade card, I had an idea to make a card and money holder in one! I hope you can get some use out of it too.

Print on regular white copy paper, colored paper or cardstock.  

Fold in thirds.

Staple, glue or tape up the ends to make a pocket for your cash, check or gift cards. 

And one birthday I will never forget...the one that made me a momma! 

Happy Birthday to my firstborn son today! :)

Elephant Baby Shower

My friend threw a beautiful baby shower for her daughter over the weekend. As a mother of boys, it was different and fun to be around so much pink. I arrived early to help with a few finishing touches. I snapped a few pictures with my phone before the party began. I wish I had taken more! There were so many beautiful and sweet touches.

On display by the entry was the mother-to-be's baby gown and bracelet. So sweet!

Diaper cake with tutus

I hung two plastic tablecloths to make a gift table backdrop with paper elephants cut from this modified to look more like the Wild Safari party supplies used from Oriental Trading Co.

Homemade burp cloth bouquet

Baby Ella "Elephant" Banner

Another plastic table cloth backdrop (attached to a pvc stand) behind the cake table.

Plastic tablecloth pompoms made from this tutorial.

The star of the day...the cake!

Belly cake with footprint in light pink and white animal print.

Nail polish favors with elephant on one side and a thank you note on the opposite side.

Rock candy bouquets

Baby buggy fruit bowl

It was a beautiful celebration of baby Ella and the new mommy to be.  

It was so much fun to be a part of this special day.

Boys' Bathroom Update {Progress}

Having company is a sure fire way to inspire you to finish up a project. Thank you, 4th of July!

On the summer to do list is our hall bathroom used by the boys and guests. It was a jumbled up mess of different styles.

The original design direction for our house was to transform it to look more like a 1900's craftsman and less 1997. We used some dark greens and brown paint to help achieve this (hence the green vanity).  At some point this shifted to a more cowboy-chic direction in the bathroom, and I added a teal & blue shower curtain, iron accents, and blue-green walls....but left the vanity dark green.  Oh my. Then my taste shifted again from turn of the century craftsman to old farmhouse.

In an attempt to transform the whole bathroom into one cohesive style, the vanity was painted white, two layers of trim were added to the wall (along with paint), and a new shower curtain was purchased (Target).

The boys aren't capable of hanging their towels properly on a traditional towel bar so the hooks were added.

The white vanity and walls brighten up the dark, poorly lit room (new lighting to be added soon...hopefully).

Art, accessories, new countertop, and a new light fixture are still on the to do list, but I'm very pleased with the transformation so far! 

Happy Independence Day! 2013

We had a lazy morning snacking on cinnamon rolls and talking about our nation and the significance and importance of the 4th of July.

We cruised the annual Hot Dog Festival downtown, ate lunch, and got overheated.

On our way home, we picked up an inflatable pool to help cool off while taking breaks for watermelon stars and blueberries.

We will be watching the fireworks across town with family and friends tonight from our driveway as we celebrate our nation's independence.

Hope you are all enjoying your 4th with family and friends!