KSL Blog Of The Week

I was so honored to be chosen as KSL's blog of the week! I was starting to panic a bit last night. I still have my head cold and sound like a frog. I had broken out thanks to generous pregnancy hormones. And I wasn't quite sure of what I would wear - I wanted to show some artistic flair, but that's hard in the 7th month of pregnancy.

After a whirlwind morning and dropping my girls off with the most wonderful neighbor ever, I was finally ready for my television appearance.

If you would like to watch it, feel free to click on over here!  Thanks so much KSL for having me and welcome to my new readers!!

Vintage Easter Craft Inspiration

I have been well most of this winter even with the girls getting the flu -strain B and numerous colds. However, my body finally succumbed to an awful head cold. I have however become a netti pot fan! 

A couple of evenings ago, I really needed to do some creative work to ease my spirit. I dragged out some materials that I've been hoarding for awhile - vintage tart tins and yarn cones. I searched my random Easter ephemera and scoured Pinterest for some ideas. Here is my spin on vintage Easter decor! A number of these will be carefully wrapped today and sent to those I love.  

 

Domesticated - Painted Plaster & Encaustic Art

I raised to respect and love the domestic arts - and I do with all my heart.

 My latest art piece, "Domesticated"  is an ode to one of my favorite hobbies - baking! 

Using my new favorite methods.. Layers of plaster on a wood plaque.. Shallow carved using Urban Threads embroidery designs.  Truly, there are soo many ways use to embroidery patterns beyond it's intended use. A fabric and lace apron dusted in chalk, stamped, and covered in beeswax...

A few more layers of paint - reminiscent of those fun, flour messes that build in our home after a day of baking cookies.

Easter Cupcakes!

Mmm... Easter treats by far are my absolute favorite! I love the colors, I love chocolate and honestly I do enjoy nibbling the ears off milk chocolate bunnies. I've been searching Pinterest for some cupcakes to knock my socks off. I love single serving desserts -- helps me with portion control and it's really easy to ship the rest off with my husband to work the next day.

As I was searching on Pinterest, I mentioned these Cadbury Egg Cupcakes to my hubby and he was literally drooling before I could finish my sentence. He's a Cadbury Egg maniac! Well my short search was over, I don't think I would be allowed to make anything else. These amazing creations were created by Pizzazzerie - head on over for the recipe.

Now what color to decorate them with?? 

A Rebuttal Of Sorts

As I was settling down this evening and surfing the internet, I came across a blog post that has kept me up now for a couple of hours. I'm not going to link to it, mention it by name or in anyway give this person more attention. And when I'm done posting this, I'll be done this with this matter entirely.

Here is the gist.
There is seems to be a shift in this country. Everyday I see angry adults, bullies posing as adults, adults ready to judge anyone different than them. It is out of control, folks.
I firmly believe that this is a major cause for the bully issues in our schools and violence in our country.
Children are being fed anger by over sized spoons.

I take holidays, birthdays and the average Wednesday to an extreme.
I love to create and celebrate. I love to find joy.
I love searching blogs and Pinterest for new and fun things to do with  my children.

I am not doing this to punish my fellow mother friends.
I am not competing with you.
I am not keeping tally.
I am not singing, "Neener, neener, I'm better than you" behind your back.

I am keeping my sanity.
I stay at home most of my days with two young kids and a bun in the oven.
I get bored playing Barbies on the floor.
I won't let my kids watch TV nonstop.
People, I'm looking for something fun to do with them.
I'm trying to grasp on to their innocence and surround them with it for as long as I can.

I Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, Pin, etc. just about all our major fun activities.
I'm not trying to make you feel bad, insecure, insufficient, etc
I'm actually trying to connect with you.
I'm trying to inspire you.
I'm trying to have fun with you.

I have tons of flaws.
A crap load.
But do you want to read that on a regular basis?
I'm pretty sure tons of my warts are there for the public viewing anyway.

The bottom line is every parent is just trying to get by.
We are trying to do as well as our parents did.
We are trying to have our kids avoid doing drugs, having sex or creating violence.
None of us were given a manual.

So please, back off.
If I do more silly antics with my kids than you do, I'm sure you were better about reading to them.
If I serve them a fun and healthy meal, I'm sure you had a more meaningful playdate.
I don't care.
And you shouldn't care what I do in my home.

If you don't want to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, then don't.
But could you please keep the pee out of my Cheerios, because we're just here trying to have a good time.

((end of rebuttal))