a creative, health conscious blog
Decorating the estate was a serious joke this year. Partially due to Monkey Magoo redecorating of all things tree. The Christmas tree, you see, was not a tree, but a feast for his newest obsession-his animal collection. Tiger eats leaves! Giraffes eat trees! Plus Moose enjoyed ramming the tree with his trusty tryke that we let … [Read more...]
By the end of my 7th year of teaching, I amassed 1,500 candles, 74 bottles of body lotion/shower gels, and 45 coffee mugs. Please for the love of consumerism, do not buy these for the teachers in your child's life. Of course, I appreciated all gifts. It just becomes a running joke after you open that 45th: Best … [Read more...]
Pottery Barn had these darling glittered spider vase fillers on their site a month ago {they are no longer available}. I knew I had to knock them off for a fraction of the price. Pottery Barn listed the materials as styrofoam, wire, and black glitter finish. Any crafting goddess worth her glue gun could easily remake these. Inspiration … [Read more...]
Yup. This month will be all about Halloween. 31 days of Halloween projects, crafts, ideas, stories, and recipes galore. This October, I will celebrate my favorite month of the year for Nester's 31 days project. I'm tackling Halloween, because last year, I epically failed on that front. Now, I'm accountable. This post will serve as … [Read more...]
Back by popular demand...This blog has resurrected the art teacher in me. I look forward to each holiday like I did when I was teaching. Plus, having decorations for Saint Patrick's Day marks the end of one very long Chicago winter. Here's an easy and cheap Saint Patrick's Day craft. Even get the kids involved. All holiday decor at the … [Read more...]
{reposted from last year}Believe it or not, this entire project cost me less than a gallon of $3.60 gas here in Chicago.Less than $2.-gift boxes {yup I ask for them whenever I go shopping}-Free-magenta colored Christmas picks {70% off at Michaels}-29 cents on sale-damask fabric that I scored for $1.20/yard at Joann's Black Friday sale- {used a half … [Read more...]
Now that the decor's on sale for 70% off, and Santa is comfortably relaxing in Florida...we can safely say the madness of Christmas is over.Here are some ideas to help you for next year...1.) Wrap as you buy, and label everything with a post-it! Also keep a running record of what you bought, and keep all receipts together. I did a MUCH better … [Read more...]
As was the case with our epic failure of a gluten-free gingerbread house, the boys were not interested in the process, but rather, the product. And the dough. Monkey was caught at one point escaping to the basement with a ghee-coconut sugar covered beater.Moose managed to shove this little fingers in the dough.The product was so perfect. This … [Read more...]
Just a mere two days away from Christmas, and I wanted to update where we are at on our bucket list. I set the bar low this year, so here's the original list I made a few weeks back...1.) Elf on the Shelf was shelved til next year. I don't think my kids will really "get it". I think next year that would be fun to start on Black Friday. Note … [Read more...]
Welcome to the Christmas Decor Tour of our "estate" here in Chicago. Term used loosely. It's really a frat house shoved inside a 1938 dollhouse. Here's the president and vice-president of our fraternity: Alpha Sigma Sticky Floors. Our front room entry cabinet acts as my mantel.Simple with my two unbreakable homemade table top trees:diamonds … [Read more...]
Given the amount of crap in standard chicken nuggets, I had to recreate my own version that can still please the kids, but isn’t loaded with garbage ingredients like soy lechitin{which is a waste product of the soybean…ew}, oil, and preservatives. My son Moosey went through Chicken Nugget Rehab. It wasn’t pretty. He wouldn’t touch [...]
Back in my gluttonous gluten days, I was a breakfast house junkie. I literally have eaten at every pancake house and breakfast joint in Chicago. I sorely miss those days. Luckily, with my mad 1950s housewifery skills, anything is possible. I present to you, the most kick-ass of all waffles. Even if you are [...]