Preparations for a mermaid party!

I'm going to do a short post about my preparations thus far for Teagan's mermaid party.  My youngest has been sick with a fever and gunk, and now I think I'm ailing as well.  So this post will lack my normal wit and humor.  (At least I like to think I'm funny...!)  

So far I've made Teagan's tissue paper puffs.  I have almost the whole table back drop ready.  And really, with all the sickness that has been wreacking havoc here, a little imagination and rearranging will suffice so that I don't have to make more.  (Some of them have fallen down....)  

I've made Teagan's mermaid tail (follow these instructions if you want to know how to make one yourself, but I didn't use this for hers, I winged it....!), her shirt (again, winged it, sorry no directions), and her crown that I based off of this tutorial (only I used styrofoam cones, not paper mache).  Here's my mermaid:

I was going to sew all the little girls mermaid tails (because it doesn't take long) and make the boys pirate shirts.  If this week continues as it has begun, that won't happen!!

Teagan's real birthday was yesterday, and we went to the aquarium.  A perfect place to go for a little mermaid!  I can't believe she's 3.  Or can I?  Time is flying, and I'm trying to enjoy it!!  Thanks for stopping by.  Sorry this was short.  But I wanted to get something documented while the sick baby is asleep!  See you on instagram.  (Find me... newleafrags.)

"there she goes again"

It's true.  HERE I FRACKIN GO AGAIN.  But I have this inkling that in the next months to come I might have blog worthy stories.  So I'm going to try BLOGGING.  AGAIN.  Victory shall be mine.

Eh hem.  For those of you who don't know me well, let me explain.  (no, that will take too long, let me sum up....  just a little Princess Bride reference for my fellow nerd girls...)  I'm a HUGE instagram addict.  Newleafrags is my screen name.  I'm the luckiest mom in the world to three precious kiddos.  An almost 5 year old girl, and almost 3 year old girl, and one crazzzyyy baby boy (14 months currently).  

I'm in the process of planning two birthday parties.  A 3 year old "Mermaid and Pirate Adventure" to be happening in less than a month, and a Superhero 5th bday bash in like 6 weeks or so.  I LURVE planning parties.  If only I had more money....then I'd be the best around.  But, I have a serious budget, so I DIY lots of things.  So far on my agenda of things to do in the near future:  

*make a mermaid princess worthy costume
*make mermaid tails for the guests, and pirate shirts for the boys
*banners, banners, and more banners.  (I like me some banners....)

I didn't list much, but I'm kind of a "fly by the seat of my pants" kind of gal, and I just basically throw shit together and hope most of it is congruent.  My attitude?  It will all work out just fine in the end, whether it was exactly what you wanted or not.  And it's true, it really will all be more than adequate in the end.  Just got to level out my expectations along the way.

I'm also VERY, SUPER, and ridiculously excited to be planning our first vacation in 3 years!!!!!!!  It's not a beach or mountain resort, or even a fun family theme park.  But we've planned stops along the way at the Omaha Zoo, a great family hotel in Sioux Falls that boasts a bodacious indoor water area, and a few typical and RAD roadside stops at places like "188o's Town" and wax museums.  Ahhhhh hell yeah.  As long as my 1 year old is copacetic on the drive, and learns to sleep peacefully NOT in his bedroom, I foresee a fairly successful trip.  Also, we are, as of now still, planning on going with another family.  Call us crazy, but we don't even know them well.  It's a friend of my husbands from years ago, and I'm not friends with her on Facebook and she's one of my favorites to "FB stalk".  (She's SUPER funny, and I have a true soft spot for hilarious people.)  Our girls are mostly the same ages and we all are "foodies" and I think overall, we will mesh pretty well!  Hoping to get a cabin in the Mt. Rushmore area and stay a few days there so we can watch Independence day festivities with a real 'Murica! mentality.  'Murica!  

So also, my family is getting back on the healthy bandwagon.  I loathe telling you we've even been eating a tad bit of fast food.  **shuddering**  My true fall back point will always be my  pastry loving, coffee drinking, sweet tooth.  So anyway, plan on hearing about healthy eating.  I'm talking a little vegan, a little paleo, all as clean as we can make it.  I tend to not fall into any one "camp" or "team".  I simply think people need to educate themselves on what they put in their bodies.  Food is medicine.  Whether you choose to be vegan (do it RIGHT, folks....vegans can be just as unhealthy as anyone if they're still eating processed, man-made crap, oh and SUGAR...) or choose to be paleo, or vegetarian or pescetarian, blah dee blah.  Just be healthy and listen to your own body!!  Which is what we intend to do.  But with a little kick start.  TING!  (that was my kick start noise....)

So, as I'm a huge IG nerd and addict, I shall leave you with a few of my more recent photos. Until my next post (which knowing me, could be 6 months...).  

30 valuable insights in life from a 30 year old...

Ok.  I started this 4 (YES, FOUR) weeks ago.  For heaven's sake.  So to try to create in myself a better sense of "stick-to-itiveness" I'm going to follow in the footsteps of a lovely young mom I've met through instagram (my most favorite social network of EVER).  She blogs, too.  Her 30 days blog, found here http://allwaysontop.blogspot.com/2012/06/30-days.html, was inspiring.  I so often whine and complain about my "hard life" (I know it's not that hard, but some days my littles really do get the best of me, something which I work hard at every day...).  I think I need more focus on the light!  On the bright!  On the shiny!  So here goes!!

Number One....

I am thankful for creativity.  Without which, I would be at about half my exuberance level.  (So when I go months without being creative, I find myself in a SERIOUS slump....)  I have been in the sewing room again for about the past 3 or maybe 4 weeks.  And it's home.  It's just home!  I get to combine all the ridiculous (and maybe fabulous) aspects of my personality up here to ultimately reap the biggest reward....a finished and *hopefully* gratifying project.  I get to be anal with details.  I get to have fun with color and pattern.  I get to think deeply about something that isn't political, religious, or environmental (all which I like to think about, but let's face it, I can be a WEE BIT CRAZY when I start down those paths...)  So yes, quite thankful am I for creativity.  

I will try to carry on with my blogging.  If any of you have helpful tips on how to make this blog look nicer (that are easy and quick) let me know!!  I'm not savvy to blogging.  And now I'm off to create a doll for my middle child!  Will post pics soon!

I've often wanted to start a blog.  Actually, I have before.  A few times.  But I'm making some friends on instagram, and I think some big changes are on the horizon for my family which could make for good story telling.  Also I think I need some mommy venting space.  So where to start.....


I'll talk about how truly mundane today was!  I've been sleeping downstairs because I'm a light sleeper and we don't have a room for my baby boy (7 months).  But the bed downstairs was occupied by my mother in law last night so I slept upstairs with the hubs and the baby boy, and the monitor in my 2 year old's room.  Prettttty sure I was woken up about every hour by the kids.  Which is why I sleep downstairs.  So I was tired today.  I think my baby boy has another tooth or two getting ready to break, so he's been a clingy little dude the past few days.  Which realllllyyyyy stresses me out.  I don't even start house cleaning projects when he's this way.  My 2 year old didn't nap, so afternoon and evening were atrocious.  My 4 year old was my big girl today and I always appreciate when she's my rock!  She even ate her dinner without any fits or fights!  WIN!  My allergies have been kicking my ass so I basically ignored all minor responsibilities and focused solely on feeding faces, wiping butts, and not losing my temper.  I did read more Game of Thrones in my apathy to start any big project!  


So yes.  Mundane day!  One of those days where you just hope it goes fast, and then beat yourself up for wishing away the preciousness of your kids.  But some days just need to be over.  I ended my night in the bath tub trying to massage out a clot (I breastfeed).  BUT, I had a Guiness and I rarely drink these days so it really helped me get through the pain.  


I hope my posts aren't always so dreary!  But I'm woozy from the one beer (can you say lightweight??!) and I'm not in my favorite mindset (cheery and witty).  I'm in a slump today!  


So goodnight internet.  And may tomorrow be brighter!!