healthy choices

At the dinner table tonight...

Mommy: "Camden, which veggie would you like- carrots or peas?"

Camden: "Umm... lollipops and cookies."

"Pa-ewk?"

"Park?" is usually one of the first things out of Camden's mouth each morning. En route to drop off the big kids, she spots many an inviting play structure along the way, and the lingering layers of ice (I always point out) never seem to convince her it's too early for the park!

Yesterday was the first day of the week nice enough to hit up the pa-ewk in the morning. {Check out those blue skies!} Stinky couldn't get her 'Convewse' on fast enough!

Gotta love sunshine! How much longer 'til summer?!

Wordless Wednesday

Cookie Monday

{Five words: Girl Scout cookies are in.}

thankful.

{i have the best husband ever.}

Farewell, Mates!

Yesterday we bid farewell to one of our favorite families, the Reitsmas, who are moving to Australia. Kevin and Mike are long-time buddies, and over the years I have been lucky enough to befriend his wife, Andrea (native Australian). Our kids enjoy each other very much. It was sad to say goodbye. A great excuse, however, to holiday down under sometime soon!
We'll miss you!

Still in my jammies.

Following yesterday's Storque article (Etsy's blog), there has been an overwheming reponse by more Etsians wanting to participate in the Cora benefit... almost 50 more! This brings our total number of amazing sellers to around 130!

The sale is still in full swing, as we have decided to make the big group donation on Cora's birthday, March 5th.

I took the past two days off from my organization duties to prep for my first catering gig on thursday night (for 500), and a dinner party at our house last night (for 4). Two successful, fun, dramatically different events!

This morning my inbox was full of participation inquiries, and I have been busy sifting through comments, convos, and emails, ensuring nobody falls through the cracks. Please support the Cora Benefit Sale by spreading the word. New items are being added by the minute!

You can even shop in your jammies.

Wordless Wednesday

Good Times Tuesday

Camden (aka Poopy Scoopy) loves the '80s!
{February 2008}

Golashin'.

Cookie Monday

French Meringues

Inspired by this recipe... I added a few drops of pink food coloring for a swirly effect. The kids love these, and they are so easy! You can't argue with two ingredients.

underway.

{image courtesy my favorite things}

Shop & Pray!

For a list of the awesome shops participating, head here.

please join us.

We could never have imagined how this little girl could have affected our lives. When we complain "times are so tough," Cora helps remind us what truly matters.

We could never have guessed so many could come together, many who have never even met the McClenahans, in an amazing movement to honor Cora's memory.

And now, we- a group of over fifty
talented, generous artisans- request that you
please join us here tomorrow to help support the building of
The Cora Playground.

Spread the word. Let this be bigger than
anything from our wildest dreams!

For Cora Paige.

Valentine's Treats III

Cookie Decorating Station

For Chloe's class party,
I set up sugar cookie heart cutouts,
colored royal icing {in plastic squeeze bottles},
and pink & red sprinkles for each kid to decorate their own.

Every cookie was unique,
from the simple:

...to the extravagant:




Sweet!

Valentine's Treats II

Hugs & Kisses Parfaits

These treats were for
Chayse's class Valentine party.

I layered: vanilla & berry yogurts and sliced strawberries,
then topped with: fresh {lightly sweetened}
whipped cream,
and finished with: X & O Trader Joe's cinnamon ABC cookies
& heart sprinkles.
XOXOXO

The Cora Playground Treasury

We now have an Etsy Treasury, featuring just a handful of the incredible handmade goodness, created in Cora's honor. The goal is to make it to Etsy's home page, spreading the word as much as we can!

Please stop by Etsy (Treasury page is here), sign in, and leave a quick comment.

Thanks, Etsians, for all of your support! We are currently working on a compilation of participating sellers.

Cora's Playground Etsy Benefit Sale

So many of us in the blogging community have been touched by Cora's story. If you haven't heard on Joy's Hope, we are trying to get as many talented Etsians as possible together for a sale benefiting Cora Paige, all proceeds going to the building of a playground in her honor. Since Julie will be spending the next million years catching up on her many, many rosette orders (thank you!!), Molly, from My Favorite Things, and I have happily taken over the organization part. The sale is set to kick-off on Monday, February 16th. You can help whether or not you have an Etsy shop! Please comment if you're interested in participating, or pass this along if you know someone else who might. Please grab the adorable Cora button in my sidebar to add to your blog, and keep checking back for updates! Thank you so much!

Not all yogurt is created equal!

While yogurt is a powerful SuperFood, sadly much of the "yogurt" we find at the store is no more than a (processed) sugary custard. Don't even get me started on those yogurt drinks- you know, the neon-colored type, with enticing cartoon characters on the labels?! Here's a good article from the SuperFoods Rx Newsletter, to help clarify what to look for in a good quality yogurt. My personal favorite is Trader Joe's Organic lowfat yogurt in Vanilla Bean!

Recycled Roses

Found this cute idea here and thought it would make the perfect teacher gift! Chloe and Chayse each made a bouquet.

Valentine's Treats I

{Double Chocolate Drop Cookies}

LOVEly day

My felt creature shirts were featured on 30days yesterday! I even inspired a brand new 30days theme: Sunday Spotlight; my project being Volume 1! Wow, thanks Mique!
***
The girls' fun rosette headbands were inspired by Julie at Joy's Hope, who also loves any excuse to use big buttons. I changed it up a little by using wide grosgrain ribbon on Camden's and adding yo-yos (another favorite Julie & I share) to the centers of both. These were my first endeavor on the sewing machine!
***
a Sunday downtown...

Pray.

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." Philippians 4:6-7

{Today my thoughts are with my sister-in-law, Jessica, and with this family.}

heartFELT

Completed Valentines shirts, inspired by the
kids' favorite creatures.

{Chloe}

{Chayse}

{Camden}
Photographs including the models coming tomorrow!