Playing under the bed

When I was a little girl, I loved to play under my bed! Even as a teenager, I can recall falling asleep under there (weird, I know). Anyway, we still play under our bed- yes, all three of us fit under there...

she found me...I was hiding under the bed!

searching for the much loved General Lee Car

 

This is one of my little girl's fave place to play! Just goes to show, the simple things are those that kids like best!

 

~Angela

Birdhouse: A Homemade Gift

this is an old post that I never published...hence why my little girl looks so young!

On a recent trip to Michaels, Bundle latched onto this little birdhouse and carried it around the whole store. Not being one who allows my child to get something each time we go to the store, I told her we had to put it back when we were leaving. I was prepared for a fight after a recent trip to Michaels ended in a bit of a tug-of-war between Bundle and I. She simply said, "No, Uncle Matt."  I asked if she wanted to buy it for him and she said yes, so we also picked out some paint and paid for it. She did not forget we got it for Uncle Matt (nor did she let go of the birdhouse) for several hours.

A few days later after I painted a base coat with the blue she picked out I asked her again what we were going to do with the birdhouse. "Uncle Matt." was her response. Bundle painted it with white (her choice) washable paint at her craft table.

Uncle Matt loves his birdhouse!

She loved this project so much and we made several more as gifts for people we care about, at her request.

~Angela

How to Make Play Makeup

My little girl loves all things girly, but I do too, so I suppose that is where she gets is from. The sparkly shoes, the ribbons, the nail polish...she loves it all.

Lining up all the nail polish is a favorite activity

So it is no surprise that she loves to put on makeup with me, just as much as she loves to organize it (hm...wonder where she gets the need to organize from?) She sits on the bathroom counter and duplicates what I do.

However, as you can see from the photos, the makeup I wear is not so flattering on my little girl as she applied it to look like she had a black eye!!  (I hope I did not look like that on this particular day!) 

After we got that cleaned off (Baby Oil- a miracle invention!) I thought maybe she needed her own makeup. I gave Bundle her own brushes and empty containers, however, that was not exciting enough. So I made it more realistic by giving her colored "make up."

I have an abundance of nail polish and thought I would use some of the mostley empty bottles up

All I did was pour the nail polish into the containers I already had and let it dry (this took about a whole day), careful to remove the metal balls that also poured out of the nail polish.

 Now Bundle's "make up" is much more fun!  She loves it!

This was a huge hit and very simple! It took more time to blog about than to actually make them!

 ~Angela

Autumn Gifts

I am glad to live in the midwest where we get very four very distinct seasons. I enjoy all of the seasons, but this fall- the warm weather (up until a few weeks ago), the colorful leaves, some still in the trees and some underfoot- was pure bliss. We have taken full advantage of autumn this year, slowing down and filling our days and evenings with nature walks, jumping in leave piles, bike rides, runs, hikes and boat rides around the lake. Armed with my camera, I've been able to capture the trees bursting with color, the hidden but beautiful trail behind our home, dates with my husband and the delight of my little girl as we've taken advantage of these simple gifts of autumn.  Most importantly, I have captured my family and our friends soaking up nature the best way we know how- together...

 

 

 

 

 

My little girl with "nature" in her hair, worn proudly by someone who truly loves the outdoors.

~Angela

Northshore Inline Marathon

For 13 years I have skated this race, followed by a weekend spent with my extended family who cheers me on at the same spot at the last curve of mile 26, just before the finish line. Anyone who knows me, knows I am a sucker for tradition, not willing to give up on the tradition even skated this a few years ago while I was 4 months pregnant. I've participated in this race with friends, strangers who later became friends and my husband. But really, I prefer to skate it alone.

This year, I did not have my my mom, grandma and aunt with me (which I really missed!) and I skated the race alone, taking advantage of the scenery along the north shore of Lake Superior. It was about a two hour break from reality, a break from my phone, from a schedule and time to just enjoy my skate. I don't listen to  music while I skate, I listen instead to the sounds around me...to the waves along the shore of Lake Superior, the wheels spinning on my skates and of those around me, the cowbells, the cheering, the wind in my helmet. It is a peace I rarely find in my day to day life.

Other highlights of the day included discovering a note from my husband and daughter wishing me luck, tucked into my skate only to be found just before the start of the race.




And seeing my daughter and husband (AKA my superfans) cheering me on along the way.



 I do love surprises such as these...

~Angela