My Signature Necklace

A couple of years ago, I talked about buying myself a "signature necklace". What is a signature necklace you ask? It is a necklace you wear (all the time, if not more than any other piece of jewelry). It is where people look at your necklace and think of you because you wear it so much. It is just a part of you. You know like your favorite pair of jeans. Well, I never purchased that necklace. I guess I didn't find a necklace that I loved. Until now. I bought this little beauty (in silver) and I think (but I can't say for certain until I start wearing it), but this might be my signature necklace.

Isn't it the cutest little thing. I wasn't going to buy it, but then when I ended up thinking about it every day for a month, I figured I better just buy it.

Come to think of it, I think I have a signature necklace already. It is gold toned necklace with my initial on it from Anthropologie. My husband gave it to me last year for Christmas and I do love it. And I end up wearing it quite a bit. But I figure I need a silver one too, so hopefully this one hits the mark.

Trip to the Coast

What a crazy last few weeks. Tons of family trips and family in town, it has been more than fun. But to start it all out, a few weekends ago we went to Pacific Grove, Ca for a 24 hour trip. Grandma and Grandpa Brimhall were there, so we thought why not go and crash the newly renovated beach house and go to the aquarium (since it was a 3-day weekend).

So, we went and arrived Sunday night just before the sun set. So, we went to Lover Point Park and went straight to the beach and Hannah and I started collecting sea shells (just like I did when I was a kid). Ella definitely had to check out the water and rocks. Then we walked back to the house. It was nice and you could tell the girls just loved the ocean and the sea air. We enjoyed watching the Olympics, looking through binoculars for sea otters (which we saw a lot of) and everyone stayed up late.

Then on Monday morning, we got up and ready to go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Grandma watched Jake while the rest of us went to the aquarium. We walked there and on the way we got to see all the sea lions basking in the sun. The girls loved that! Then after an hour or so, we got the the aquarium and enjoyed seeing the fish, otters, penguins and schools of sardines. Ella loved touching the star fish (and Hannah did too, which I was really surprised about). Then we went to lunch on Cannery Row. Back to the house and some naps for everyone. Then on the way out of town, we all went to Ghirardelli for ice cream sundaes.

A fun quick trip. It was great for the girls to see something new and so much ocean wildlife and they loved every minute of it.

PS - It was also nice to go somewhere other than Disneyland. I miss Disneyland, but it is good to visit other places in California!

Activity Day - Primary Song Service

This last week for Activity Days, I asked the primary chorister if she wanted the girls to make posters for the primary songs she will be teaching in the next few months. She jumped at the idea and so with the help of my assistant, we got the supplies (poster, cardstock, popsicle sticks) and the clip art and had the girls cut, color and paste the songs for primary.

They loved it and it was a great way for them to help their own primary. They were excited to know that they will see their craftiness in primary through the next few months.

CandyLand Hunt

Here are the details to the CandyLand Scavenger Hunt. I gave each the kids a personalized paper bag, so they could collect their goodies. Here are the clues and goodies that I gave for each clue. Click on each clue to read better.

Mr. Mint - candy canes and spearmint candies
Jolly - large and small gumdrops
Gramma Nut - trail mix
Lolly - dum dums
Princess Frostine - cotton candy
King Kandy - box of candy and a ring pop

Valentine Album

It seems every holiday, the Target Dollar Spot has adorable little 8 page photo albums for only a $1. So, for Valentines, I bought their albums and had Hannah put together a cute little picture book for her grandparents. I printed out photos, got her some stickers (for the Dollar Spot) and let her have at it. This is what she created and gave to her grandparents for Valentines Day. It was the perfect project and gift to say I love you!

Candyland Details

I have to say, putting together this Candyland party was so much fun. The possibilities were endless. I had to stop coming up with ideas since I was running out of time. But here are the details of the party in all its fun and glory.

I created a "Welcome to Candyland" banner. I used my Cricut machine and then glittered the letters up with Martha Stewarts glitter. Which as a side note... I love. Her glitter is so fine and sparkly... i loved using it. I seriously want to glitter everything now.

For lunch I bought tupperware and put a napkin in and the kids had sandwiches, applesauce, cheese sticks and grapes. and of course a piece of chocolate.

For their Thank You favors. I got the giant pixie sticks and attached a toothbrush (from the dollar store) to it and again used my cricut to attached "thanks".

For the cupcakes I used the Sprinkles Strawberry Cupcake recipe. I frosted them and sprinkled them with nerds and made the "CL" (for CandlyLand) toppers and again used Martha's glitter on the CL.

I had my entry table all decked out in a Candyland theme. Giant Candy made out of paper lanterns and cellophane and ribbon. a little candy buffet in glass containers and our prizes and Candyland game.

I found on ebay a lady that makes Candyland wrappers for Hershey's miniature chocolate candy bars. I was able to personalize them with Ella's birthday information. They were so cute and helped add a personalized touch.

I already talked about the invites earlier last week... click here to see them.

The kids had a candy Walk. I used 12X12 paper (in various colors) and on about seven of them I put the Candyland characters on them. We had the walk and when the music stopped, I would pull out a candyland card and how every was on the card with that character won a prize. I handed out as prizes: the personalized chocolate bars, Candyland puzzles I found at Target and a Candyland game.

The kids made candy neckaces using Fruit Loops (but only because the were younger kids), but here are some other great Candy necklaces that older kids would have a blast making. Candy Necklace 1 and Candy Necklace 2.

And lastly, we went on a CandyLand Scavenger Hunt. The kids all got personalized bags (with "CL (again for CandyLand) on the front and a tag with their name. They took this bag with them as the clues took them around the house finding candy left by the Candyland characters. (I will post another entry with the details of the scavenger hunt soon).

That is it. As you can see, the ideas were plenty and it was really a great theme for this 2-4 year olds. They loved every minute of it as did I.

happy birthday Ella

Ella had her third birthday party today. It was a candyland party and I am pretty sure the kids have a great time in candyland....oh yes. They kids walked in and went straight to the table of candy and ate for 10 minutes straight.

We had to pull the kids away to make candy necklaces. The kids strung Fruit Loops on licorice ropes.
Then the kids went on a candy walk (just like a cake walk) but instead of numbers we had Candyland characters (such as Mr. Mint, Princess Frostine or King Kandy). The kids loved this (such a great game for little kids) and they loved winning prizes (like more candy, candyland puzzles and one lucky winner won the Candyland game).

Then the kids went on a scavenger hunt as the Candyland characters gave them clues about themselves and took them around the house to find their goodies. Then of course, we sang "happy birthday" to the birthday girl and she blew out her candles. Ella loved that part as she had this huge smile on her face and couldn't wait to blow out her candles.

It was great birthday party. Ella (and all the kids) loved having free access to so much candy. It was great to spend time with friends and let the kids just have a ball eating, playing and having fun. Kids birthdays are the best!

PS -Scavenger hunt and details of the party to come soon.

Swimsuit Adoration

I have to share this adorable vintage swimsuit. I am so in love with it. Mostly the back... how cute is it! Now, I think you would have to be a size 2 to pull it off and the price tag is a bit much... but if I were thinner and richer... I would be all over this little gem. But for now, I will just share this little bit of cuteness with you.

Picture and swimsuit from Ouma Clothing

New Logo

I have another great photography logo to share with you. Nicole from Dorothy Nicole Photography asked me to create a new logo for her and I love the one we came up with. So simple, yet makes a strong statement. Love it. Thanks Nicole for letting me work with you!

Activity Day - Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

For our Activities Day activity this week, we talked about the Day of Delight... keeping the sabbath day holy. I had the girls read this talk "Day of Delight" by Robert L. Backman. Then I wrote up a quiz for them to take (all answers are in the talk). For each answer they got right they would get a topping on their ice cream. (That was motivation for them to really take the test seriously :-).

Then I gave them another worksheet and we discussed different activities that were good or appropriate for Sundays. Then we had an object lesson. I told the girls that there are many things that are good to do (like reading Harry Potter, or practicing a sport you are good at or watching a specific TV show, etc), but they might not be the best thing to do on the sabbath. Then I pulled out some ice cream and said "ketchup is great on a hot dog, but it probably isn't the best thing to put on ice cream." and poured the ketchup on the ice cream. And mustard is great on a sandwich, but probably not the best on ice cream (poured it on). And relish is great on tuna fish but not so great on ice cream. And bacon bits are good on a salad, but not so good on ice cream. (you get the picture). Just like this ice cream sundae, certain things are good on other foods but not on ice cream.... certain activities are good during the week, but aren't good on the Sabbath day.

One girl dared another to eat the ice cream with the gross toppings. I said if she did it she could have all the toppings on their sunday regardless of how many answers they got right. The girls loved that she ate the ice cream! Then we went into the kitchen and made ice cream sundaes.

CandyLand Party Invites

Ella's third birthday is coming up soon and I was struggling trying to come up with a party theme. Snow White was the obvious choice, but with most of the invitees being boys, I didn't think that would work to well. Then there was always the backup Dora theme, but I just wasn't feeling it. Then it hit me. Candyland. Ella loves candy. She got Candyland for Christmas and has been playing it daily and it is such a great theme, so BINGO that was it.

Here are the invitations I made for her party. I love the way they turned out. So, cute and life-like. I have been working daily to get ready for the party, so in a couple of weeks I will show you the end result. Wish me luck.

iLove

Okay, these are so cute. And if I didn't have a birthday party to plan the day before valentine's day I would probably be all making these. Although I can't make them, maybe you can. They are so cute and pretty darn easy. Here is the link to how to make them.

The picture I used came from Full of Bliss. Using cute paper makes them even cuter.

These are cute too!