Entitlement Trap Giveaway

In May, I attended a great Power of Moms retreat at Linda and Richard Eyre’s home. The retreat was perfect for me. Among other things, I came away with an increased determination to be a deliberate mother.

The Eyres discussed their soon-to-be-released book, The Entitlement Trap, which helps parents raise children who are responsible and do not feel entitled. By teaching this principle, we help our children develop the motivation to work for what they want in life.

The book will be released on September 6^th and today, the Eyres are reaching out to parents by establishing a National Entitlement Awareness Day. They are hosting a giveaway where, if you pre-order the book for about $12, you can email your receipt and receive:
1. a link to a free audio children's book about honesty;
2. the chance to win amazing prizes like two tickets to a Power of Moms couples retreat, or dinner with the Eyres.

Sounds like a wonderful book and opportunity for prizes as well. You can read more about the giveaway here.

Saving the earth one less Ziploc at a time

I want to buy my kids reusable sandwich bags for their lunch boxes. So I did a little Google search and spent waaaaaaay too long looking through options.

I think I've decided one of these at the Container Store:

Klip-It Lunch Cube



Colorful Klip-It Lunch Cube

But you can see others at The Might Nest, Lunchskins, Reusies, WasteNot Saks, SnackTaxi, Jaq Jaq Bird, Itzy Ritzy, Kid Konserve, Wrap-N-Mat (or here), EasyLunchBoxes.com, Goodbyn, and Lock & Lock Lunch Set.

And, this is a great blog post on Stephmodo about going trash free.

Our view of the world

My grandmother is moving out of her home soon and we were lucky to inherit three huge wall maps from the early 1980's. They're totally old school with the Soviet Union boundaries.

I'm planning on putting the US one and one of the world maps on the long walls of our downstairs family room and center that decor around our travels complete with travel photos and some of our favorite treasures.

The other world map will be perfect in my two big boys' bedroom with some of these pillows from PB Teen.

One of the maps is an ocean floor map of the world. This one would be cool with that map on the wall.

As for this one, I think I just need it somewhere in my home.
(found on DesignMom)

Boden's sale

I love Boden clothes... just not their prices. I was thrilled when I few things a love went on sale in a major way. I had to buy them all.

Love, love love this Scallop Coat. I was so thrilled when it went on sale.
Originally $198. Now $79.

This Fabulous Clutch really is quite fabulous. I wanted it in gray but it was sold out so I bought the pink. It may be a little over the top in that color but it's still fun.

I bought this Ribbed Skinny Cardigan for my daughter just because I wished they had it in my size. So cute with her new Converse sneakers and jean skirt for fall.

This pink Silk Party Dress is perfect on my daughter's slender frame. The price was just right at $18 (down from $62).

I bought this Broderie Shift Dress in white (but the details don't show up well in white on the screen so I posted the poppy color instead).

Bibs for two!

My amazing friend, Megan, had twins in May. I am still trying to put my life back together but she, on the other hand, is already back to her crafty self. She recently mailed me not 1, not 2, but 8 bibs for my big boys! They are our favorites and I use them at every meal. For their first birthday.

Each bib has two designs and each has rick-rack, my favorite go-to embellishment.

It's fun to have generous, talented friends! Thanks, Megan!

Cards by Less Ordinary Designs

Last fall, I found Less Ordinary Designs on Etsy and used her to create our twins' birth announcement. For $15, she'll customize a design and email you the file, which you can have printed anywhere. She also has afffordable printing options, which we used. I think we'll use her again this year for our Christmas cards. Here's a style I like that I may use for the twins' first birthday party invitations but with some of the wording from this one below: Let's celebrate how far we've come ... as H & B turn one!

Triplets - yikes!

I think twelve photos of twins could be a little busy so I think the two photo design of this one might be perfect.

I love the design on it. This may be the one I choose for our Christmas cards.

I like some aspects of this one for B's baptism next summer but with the classic styling of the one below.

Love the simplicity of this moving announcement.

I'm loving...

Ever since I saw Anne Marie Barton's home in Utah Style and Design a few years ago, I wanted photos of it for my files. I love her classic contemporary style. Her website has great photos like the one above of her kitchen.

As I'm trying to make my Christmas gifts more personal and thoughtful, this blog about gifting (ideas, etiquette, etc.) is a must read.


Maria Killam's blog, Colour Me Happy, is a wonderful collection of advice like her posts on creating focal points, painting the kitchen cabinets white, the secrets to selling your house, and hiring a designer.

Maybe it's because I'm updating our front door, or maybe it's because I love using initials, but I love this wreath from the Nesting Place.

I love modern design and this alphabet poster from Century Finds is just too much fun.



My crafty daughter would LOVE to make one of these Ragamuffin Garlands from Nesting Place for her newly decorated bedroom -- only in pink, of course.

This fur wreath is just so unexpected and fun for winter. And, with this easy tutorial from Nesting Place, I might actually be able to do it!

Confetti Crafting

Max and Belle would love this project. It's just a large sheet of paper with Elmer's glue in the shape of a letter. Then, drop confetti on the glue and let it dry.

So fun for kids! We'll have to try it.

Found on Cookie's Nesting blog.

Toys for my Boys

Max and Simon love anything with wheels. Simon's favorite vehicles include anything that pulls something else. And, Jeremy and I love the look and feel of wooden toys.

These toys from Craftbury Kids would be perfect.Car Carrier $34

Woodsy Pick-up Truck and Car $22

Projects on my list

When will I make the time to create these cute, useful things?Belle has the perfect pair of jeans that are too worn out in the knees but would be perfect in a skirt.
I'm hoping to make a few of these nursing covers for me and a few moms-to-be.

Road Play Rugs

Wow! Almost a month since my last post. Pathetic, but inconsistency is probably what to expect from me for at least the rest of this pregnancy. Once the twins arrive, blogging as I know it will probably be even more inconsistent for a loooooong while.

We are planning to rearrange our bedroom situation so I've been thinking about Simon and Max's new shared room. They both love cars, trucks, motorcycles, or anything else that transports people or stuff. I think we're going to buy them one of these play rugs for their new room.
This one is probably my favorite (sorry about the white space around the images - don't know how to fix it). The 3'x5'ish rug is sold for $49 on JustKidsRugs.com. I love the parking spaces, many intersections, etc. The possibilities seem endless.Max's favorite thing is Cars (as in the movie, Cars). This one would be fun too. It's around 3.5'x4.5' and is $22 on Walmart.com.

This 3'x7' rug is $48 at HodgePodgeGames.com.
This Giant Road Carpet seems fun too and could fit easily into different spaces since it is the size of a runner. It is 2'x7' and is $55 (but comes with the vehicles and signs shown) on Highlights.com.

A Bigger Kitchen Remodel

I'm not one to frequent yard sales but a perk to early Saturday morning runs is sometimes, I spot the PERFECT little something at a fresh yard sale. Such was my luck on Saturday when I found this little cream hutch and stove.

I stopped and asked the woman how much they wanted for the hutch.
Really nice woman: "We're asking $10 but we're willing to take less if you think that's too much." (not much of a negotiator)
Me, trying to hold in my shock: "Um. That's fine." (not much of a negotiator either)
Really nice woman: "We have a stove too for $7."
Me, still trying to sound normal: "Um.... I'll take them both."
Then, I hurried home to get the kids and the car. I had to get back before someone else discovered she's asking barely anything for such cute things!
They are perfect with our first kitchen purchase on the right. After we refinish all three pieces, we'll have a cute little kitchen set for $29 plus supplies! And, the hutch came with a surprise: it was filled with adorable dishes, including the totally retro "Tupperware Toys" pictured in the hutch above.

Here's our inspiration from The Land of Nod.

Paint all three white with red stove knobs. Maybe green on a few accents. We have chalkboard paint we could put on the hutch doors. The hardware will be silver. I'm going to see if I can get two 13x25 scraps of linoleum for new countertops.

So fun!!

A Great Playroom

I love this playroom. The colors, the storage, the magnetic and chalkboard cabinet doors.

So fun!

A Kitchen Remodel

A friend of mine is refinishing a beautiful child-size hutch for her little girl. I felt inspired so Belle and I searched the local thrift shop for a similar project.

We found this little treasure for $12.

She and Max have grand ideas about paint colors. They've decided to paint it green. I suggested white as an accent color. Belle informed me the stove top will be black like ours upstairs. I suggested we lose the heart that reminds me of 1988. Belle wants to paint the heart red. The kids will have the final say and we'll all do it together. We already purchased new handles.

It'll be a fun little project! I'll post photos when we are done.

Read with me

After seeing these Sarah Jane vintage-inspired prints on DesignMom, I've wanted one for Belle. You can even specify the hair color and overall color. I'd buy one in pink with blonde hair.

So precious.

Pretty Playroom Storage

My sister, Ali, is redecorating her playroom. I wish I lived closer so I could help. Since I don't, I'll just supply ideas. Here's a great storage area around a window from The Land of Nod. I think it wouldn't be hard to make it cheaper with items from Target or Ikea. I love the colors too.