Pumpkin Bird Feeder

I love Fall.  I love pumpkin everything.  I love pumpkin patches.  And I love that they give you a cute little free pumpkin.  

One day a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon an article on Martha Stewart about what to do with the seeds from your pumpkin.  One of the ideas was to make this super cute bird feeder.  

Braden really loved carving pumpkins this year so I knew this would be a project he would enjoy.  So one afternoon while baby brother was napping, we picked out one of the pumpkins we took home from the pumpkin patch and got to work.  

We started out by cutting the pumpkin in half and pulling out all the insides.

Then, we made a ridge around the rim to add the seeds for some decoration.  We also found a couple little sticks to add for a place for the bids to land on.  To hang the feeder, we found some twine that I had already and cut 2 equal strands and attach them to the bottom with a thumbtack and tied the ends together at the top.

Braden was so proud of his little feeder!  

He had to get up in the tree and admire it.

And just because he's so cute....my little pumpkin patch buddy.

 Picking out his pumpkin

Happy Fall and Happy Pumpkins!

A Pirate-y Halloween...

I have never really been a big fan of Halloween.  I remember dressing up as a kid to go trick-or-treating but I don't ever remember just loving it.  This year Braden was ALL. ABOUT. IT.  He has pretty much talked about what he wanted to be since this summer.  He wanted to decorate the house with bats and spiders (um, no.)  He is really enjoying all the dressing up lately and very into pretend play.

So back in August after we went to this awesome pirate show in Myrtle Beach, SC on our family vacation, he kept telling me he wanted to dress up like a pirate for Halloween.  I found him a cute costume online at Target and went ahead and ordered it.  He pretty much wanted to wear it everyday!  Then I decided that Cooper could be a parrot to go along with Braden's pirate costume.  

About a month ago, Braden started saying how he HAD to have a ship for Halloween.  Oh boy.  How the heck do we get a ship for Halloween??  I tried putting it off for a few days but he was NOT having it.  SO I put my thinking cap on and came up with an idea.  We will use the wagon!  I had just bought his new car seat and had this giant box sitting in the garage.  I went out and set it on top of the wagon and low and behold, it was just the right size!  Hallelujah!  We cut one side off of it and a hole on the other side and it slid right over the top of the wagon.  We painted it black and added port holes made from cardstock to the sides.  I thought this was good and he would be satisfied with his wagon/pirate ship.  OH no.  We HAVE to have a sail!  Of course we do.  So we headed over to Hobby Lobby to see what we could come up with.  I ended up buying 3 dowel rods, one that was pretty thick and the other 2 a little thinner.  We also bought some canvas.  I had some twine left over at home.  We painted the dowel rods black and constructed our sail.  Then added his pirate flag to the top.  Wow.  I have to say....it was pretty fun!  And pretty easy too!  And it definitely made trick-or-treating fun having the wagon to tote our little parrot in!

And I give you....Captain Braden and his parrot in their awesome ship...

Braden had a great time trick-or-treating and loved all of his loot!

Cooper was just along for the ride but always loves riding in the wagon, err, ship!

Who knows what we will come with next year.  Braden already has ideas.  Batman, a fireman, a cowboy.  He is just full of imagination these days!  

Featuring.....Dress TWO Dream

About a month ago, a friend of mine from high school contacted me about a new business she and a friend had started.  The company specializes in dress up attire for little ones - mostly capes and tutus.  She had noticed all of my posts and pictures of Braden loving super heroes, and most importantly Oklahoma State, and selected him to make a special OSU cape.  In return, I promote her business.  I am so, so excited to do this for her, not only because Braden got a cool OSU cape, but the philanthropic concept behind the business.

Dress TWO Dream is based out of Phoenix, Arizona where its two owners live with their families.  Here is the description from their Facebook page:

 

"Dress TWO Dream takes pride in enabling parents and children the ability to make a difference and give hope to children in need and make dreams come true. For every tutu or cape purchased, Dress TWO Dream will donate one tutu or cape to a child in need or in the hospital. To complete the pact, Dress Two Dream has attached a half heart embellishment to each dress up item purchased and the coordinating half is donated to the child in need. Also, shortly after the donation is made, a member from Dress Two Dream will follow up with a short story about the life that was impacted because a tutu or cape was purchased. This follow up email or letter will allow the child the opportunity who purchased the item to realize the impact of that purchase.

Donations are made, but not limited to:
-Children's Hospital
-Ronald McDonald House
-Special Olympics/Best Buddies
-Preschools
Specializing in dress-up, holiday and special event inspired attire, Dress TWO Dream provides children with the means to create and explore the depths of their imagination, and channel the creativity that is inside of each one of us.

Dress TWO Dream was founded by Cianne Hensley and Veronica Frost. Cianne is blessed with two boys and Veronica with one girl and all are the inspiration for this shop. Our passion and heart is raising our children and having the ability to make a difference in the community, and Dress TWO Dream enables us to combine our passions and instill the same love and passion in our children.

All products are $30, and custom orders may have additional charges, keep in mind that all capes are reversible. Please contact us with ordering requests via a facebook message or email us at dresstwodream@gmail.com.

"You're off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So...get on your way!" -Dr. Seuss"

What a great way to show love to others!  I am just so honored that they chose Braden to receive one of their special products.  He was SO excited when it came in the mail and literally wore it for the whole day.  He puts it on almost every day to play super heroes....or to take a walk to feed the ducks.

Here are a few pictures of his awesome cape...

  
My favorite part is the little heart.  I was also very impressed with the quality of their product.  It will definitely last a long time and through many super hero adventures!

Cianne, thank you again.  We are so proud to show off Braden's cape and even more proud to tell people about your business and the heart of its owners.  Many lives will be blessed by your generosity!

To order a creation from Dress TWO Dream, here is a link to their Etsy shop and Facebook page.  They just posted some new capes and tutus in time for Halloween.

Now, GO CHECK IT OUT!

It's Orange Friday, y'all!

 

Whoohoo for Friday.....and College Football is back!!  We had a great time last Saturday being in our favorite place....Stillwater, OK....to cheer on our Cowboys!  Started the season off right with a major blowout!  Go Pokes!!

So I thought I would share with you a few of my favorite ORANGE things so far this season...

I bought these awesome shorts from JCrew this summer and they are my favorite!  I wear them at least once a week usually more...and now EVERY Friday!  They are the perfect length for me and can really go with so many different tops.

 

One of my best friends, Jenn, put this necklace on her blog....so of course I had to get it in ORANGE!  It was about $15 including shipping...can't beat that!!  I love it so much and it can go with just about anything as well.

 

 



My neighbor alerted me to a cute boutique shop located in Weatherford, OK.  "It's All About Moi!" has some great tops and adorable dresses for both OSU and OU, as well as some really cute Thunder apparel {I might have to go back for basketball season :)}  Since our cousins live in Weatherford and we don't get to see them very often, the boys and I loaded up for a play day with our cousins and a quick shopping trip for mommy!  And I bought this....

LOVE IT!  And SO comfortable!

 

For my birthday last year, my awesome sister sent me a super cute bracelet.  It came from this Etsy shop and I LOVE it.  I love that it has the different pictures and highlights some OSU but mostly our wonderful state of Oklahoma.  And you can add other bracelets to wear with it.

 

 

This is my absolute favorite time of the year.  I can't wait for the temperatures to get cooler so it will really feel like fall - and then I can find some cool weather orange favorites!

 

From our family to yours...

 

 

 

Happy Friday and GO POKES!!!

a book theme baby shower

I don't know what it is but there is a huge baby boom going on around here.  Just about everyone we know is either pregnant or has had a baby within the last year.  It is so much fun to see our friends become parents and welcome these sweet little babies into their families. 

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of hosting a baby shower for one of our good friends, Alison.  She is due with her first baby in September.  Our Sunday School class helped organize the shower as well as our pastor's wife and worship pastor's wife.  It was so fun to plan and decorate. 

I just wanted to share some of the ideas we used.  We wanted to start a library for the baby so we asked everyone invited to bring a book, along with their gift.  All of our decorations were centered around books and we used the colors that Alison is using in the baby's room. 

Photographs taken by Lindsay Burnett at LK Images and a few by myself.

 

I wanted to make a banner with the baby's name, so I found some scrapbook paper at Hobby Lobby with writing (it actually had Bible verses written all over it, which I loved!) and then solid colored paper to match the colors of the shower.

 

 

I also made some tissue poms, love those things, using a great tutorial I found on Pinterest. So easy and cheap! 

 

One of the hostesses had a couple different collections of children's books so we stacked those and scattered them around to keep with the theme.  She also was so crafty and made the adorable frames.  She used children's books torn into pieces and mod podged them onto a wooden frame, then made a bow for the top.  She printed out popular quotes and added those to the center of the frame.  This hostess also made a cardboard book into a utensil server, super cute!

 

Our crafty hostess finished it off by making these adorable favors to pass out.  I love the quote on the bookmarks. 

 

We had such a great time visiting and celebrating this precious baby and his parents.  I am so thankful for their friendship and cannot wait to meet their newest member in a few short weeks!

 

And just because I love her so much....

 

HIGH FIVE for Friday

It's Friday!  Hallelujah!  I feel like this week has been a long one.  When we do not have a regular routine of going to school, the time just seems to drag.  BUT....Friday is finally here and we are so excited about next week because...

1.  It's time for our trip to Myrtle Beach....hooray!!!!  We have waited and waited all summer for our trip to get here and it is FINALLY time!  It's been nice to have something to look forward to.  Hoping to see a little of this every day...

2.  I get to spend a whole WEEK with my family!  We are little scattered across the country right now and don't get the opportunity to spend a lot of time together so I am really looking forward to that time.  All together under one roof, with 3 kiddos.  I love my family! 

We've grown by a couple members now, but I just love this picture! 

3.  Getting to play in the sand with my babies.  It has been almost 2 years since we have been to the beach.  Braden was only 18 months old the last time and he LOVED it.  He still somehow remembers building sandcastles with Grandpa.  And this will be Cooper's very first trip to the beach and ocean!  Excited to see his reaction.

He looks so little!





4.  We get to celebrate my parents 35th wedding anniversary.  So special that they wanted to take the family to celebrate their wedding day.  We are so thankful for them and their example of marriage in our lives!

5.  Our home away from home for the next 7 days.  I can NOT wait to be there!!!  I guess I better go get started packing!

Go link up with Lauren from "From My Grey Desk" for High Five for Friday!  I've just recently discovered her blog...and it is a new fave!

Calling all Superheroes {and Super Moms}

Braden, my 3 year old, has become obsessed with superheroes and the idea of "good guys vs. bad guys".  I blame this on his Mother's Day Out school.  They did a superheroes theme for their second summer session, based on the verse "I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13.  I love it.  They were teaching them to be strong and courageous.  Braden fell in love with the whole theme.  He was so excited to go to school each day and loved showing me all of his cool super hero stuff that he colored or made when I picked him up. 

One day a few weeks ago I found a link on Pinterest, of course, for some cute super hero masks.  So, as any cool mom would do, I pinned it to my "kiddos" board, naturally.  Towards the end of this summer school session Braden just had to have everything Batman, a new shirt, jammies, etc.  We even watched a few Batman cartoon episodes (which I had to put an end to pretty quick, I had no idea how violent those shows are!  Not a good cartoon for a 3 year old to watch!  I think we will stick to Mickey and happy shows for awhile).  But he was just loving the idea of being a good guy and helping others - we will stick with that theme and maybe just hold off on the super hero shows for a little while, I mean forever!

So this week, since he has been out of school for a little break, I have been trying to find fun activities to keep him busy (which is hard to do with a 6 month old and extreme heat in Oklahoma).  I remembered that I had pinned the fun super hero masks, so to bribe encourage Braden to be good at his brothers doctors appointment, I told him we would make a Batman mask when we got home.  OH boy!  He was elated! 

Here is the link to the blog that I pinned, including the templates for all our favorite super hero masks.  AND for all those princesses out there, she has another blog post with templates for some super cute crowns!

And, now, I present to you.....dun, dun, dun.....Batman Braden....

You can all feel a little safer now....

And of course, we couldn't leave Spiderman out! 

An easy, and cheap, afternoon project made for lots of laughter and lots of fun chasing away the bad guys!  Oh, how I love my little super hero!