I’m in the midst of shopping for my daughter’s birthday and boy is it hard to make a choice!

Some background: Back when I was a new mom I thought it was great to get that cheap plastic and cardboard play food in great quantities. Fast forward 3 years and we have had a ton of it that was just finding places to find around the house. One of those cases of quantity not quality.

So we had little talk with our Peanut and made the decision to donate our excess of pretend dishes, food and such and replace it with just a few pieces of well thought out pretend food based on how she plays. She says “Okay”.

Our daughter has this great love for Thanksgiving. Ever since her school program spent a month going over the Pilgrims, Native Americans, being thankful etc she prepares Thanksgiving dinner on a daily basis for her stuffed animals.

Sooo…

We decided to get some play food for that meal and some new dishes. You see her previous set included 2 teapots, about 8 plates maybe more, several pots, ice cream cups, regular cups, a juicer, a pitcher… really it goes on but there was so much I’ve forgotten all of them. Her kitchen set, which we spent more thought on, came with one stock pot and a ladle which we are keeping.

Now after browsing around I found myself on Etsy again (I love Etsy, people are sooo talented) and fell in love with felt food. This is not my first time seeing felt food. My aunt has several books laying around with it in there and has been trying to get me to make some to no avail but this time it spoke to me. So cute and fluffy. All the lovely things you someone else can make. It’s so beautiful.

So I’ve already ordered the main dish from mudpiekids…

We’re discussing dessert. She REALLY likes pumpkin pie so mommy24cs is looking good for this…

And The Birch’s Perch Shop has adorable crackable eggs, peeled bananas and shucked corn I have my eye on.

As tempted as I am to overindulge and get Breakfast, and lunch, some fancy desserts and more I think this will keep Peanut happy for some time and I really need to try my hand at making some (right before posting this I made a very ugly pancake with a pat of butter and some syrup).

If you’re looking to buy some felt food ,besides Etsy (which I think has the best), you can also find felt foods at…

• Oompa Toys
• Cillerenda’s
• Lillybean
• Felt Food Creations

Or if you’re creative and talented you can get patterns and supplies to make your own felt play food at…

• Lillybean
• Etsy
• Keeper of the Cheerios (links to tons of free patterns)

I’m on week three of Queen of the Castle and it’s like Lynn is watching me or something. She KNOWS what is going on in my life.

You see last week I realized I needed to start taking better care of myself. I fall of the vitamin bandwagon much too often and I have the telltale signs. Listless and last night after dinner I had a cramp in my foot which can be a sign of a calcium deficiency. I’m not a big milk drinker and they had stopped carrying the yogurt I like at my local grocery store. I hadn’t bothered to find a replacement, I’m not a big organge juice drinker and I let my calcium supplements gether dust.

Well Lynn KNEW! You see week three in Queen of the Castle is all about taking care of mom. Knowing when you’re feeling run down that it’s time to take care of you. Seriously who takes care of us if we don’t?

So mom if you’re feeling a bit run down about now make a few changes. It could be a litte more sleep (it’s okay to say no). Or maybe eating a healthier breakfast for good energy. Or even just making it a regularly scheduled even to have a pampering session while someone else watches the children.

Take good care of mom.

I had a lot of Barbies as a child. I had Japanese Barbie, Superstar Barbie, Christy actually and when Darci came along I snapped her up too. More interested in their surroundings than the dolls themselves I made sure Barbie had a decked out home choosing to make her furniture myself from cardboard, fabric and such rather than buy the plastic pieces.

My sister was the complete opposite. She actually didn’t like dolls much at all but would consent to play with me as long as she could do all the dressing and hair styles.

Fast forward 30 years (good grief!) and my young 4 year old daughter has discovered a rogue Barbie in her grandmother’s home. She has taken to endlessly changing her shoes and helping her with her hair. She decided that Barbie’s clothing was a bit innappropriate (we said nothing) and asked her grandmother  and aunt to help her do something about it.

This is the result (hair by 4 year old).  A sweater created from a pattern in Nikki Epstein’s book Knits for Barbie Doll
and some pants made on the fly with more outfits to come.

My aunt is the family knitter. We all have tons of socks, sweaters, gloves and hats from her. She drags me to a few knitting expos every few years where I tend to pick up the knitters hand lotion rather than anything else. The Knits for Barbie Doll is one she has been dragging around the last several weeks and the clothes in it are SO CUTE!

But I digress. Seeing how much my daughter is enjoying the doll I started thinking ahead to her birthday and how she might enjoy one. But being only four I wanted to get her a something a little less well endowed. Voila! The Only Hearts Club dolls

These cute dolls look like little girls so sssshhhh! I’m going to get her one of these

I like sewing…some.  I got into sewing about 18 years ago when I saw this gorgeous navy blue wool jumper at the Laura Ashley store in town but couldn’t afford it on a student salary. My aunt gave me evening sewing lessons, we bought a pattern and some wool and I made my version of the jumper. 18 years later I still have the jumper and another one I made from black wool, this time lined, and a wool lined, long sleeved, sheath dress made shortly after getting married 12 years ago.

All this to say I have forgotten how you can satisfy your fashion needs by making what you can’t find in the stores. Not to knock anyone’s style but I don’t seem to be able to find the elegant classic pieces I prefer in my once favorite stores anymore. I happened upon this blog where Carolyn has this great way of organizing her wardrobe pieces based on the seasons and colors she is using.

I still have a ton of patterns I never got to and I just might whip out one or two after being so inspired.

Thank you Carolyn~

I’ve been traumatized lately. When I would go to get the mail at these new dandy one stop fits all mailboxes I kind of noticed that a few bees, wasps, I never really got a good look, would drift in and out of the one behind me. I kind of thought to tell the mailman because we’ve had a TON of wasps in the neighborhood. They really like our house too. They were starting to build in the front posts by the door when I decided I had enough. They dive bomb me as I go to the car. I’m sorry I’m squeemish. I know they are supposed to be good and all for the garden but I was not handling it well.

So a few days later our neighbors tell us they saw the mailman get attacked while trying to deliver the mail. Then he disappeared for a couple of days. No mail.

Now I did not blame him and told my husband I had no intention of getting the mail until November.

But being the follow through man that he is my husband went to the post office to let them know about the situation…just in case. Turns out they knew and we’re coming to take care of it. (Yes I did thank God profusely for this. Over and over and still every day).

Also being the curious man that he is my husband went and took a video of the offending creatures. He also got a few still photos and here is one below.

Bees? Nest

My sister says it looks like some sort of animal mouth and well she’s right!

I’m having a magazine subscription itch. I love magazines and have a hard time getting rid of them. This is not good for optimal organization.

My current subscriptions are…

Taste of Home Health Cooking (just like it says. Healthy cooking from Reiman Publications)

Reminisce (about the good old days)

Reminisce Extra(more about the good old days)

Above Rubies (LOVE this magazine. This is a Christian homemaker’s magazine. Free but they do take donations.)

Ones I let expire…

Country Woman (For women who do live and want to live in the country. Country living and simple pleasures)

Farm & Ranch(For ranch type people. Visit ranches and stuff. A lot like Country woman)

Cookie Mag (this was a freebie and not really my taste)

Victoria (I let this one expire a long time ago. I liked the much older version best).

Ones I’m thinking about…

Real Simple (I go back and forth on this. I like the magazine occasionally and used to subscribe).

The Old Schoolhouse (this is a fabulous magazine for homeschoolers. I’ve been buying it at the local bookstore but I really just need to subscribe. It’s got everything from homeschooling to homekeeping. Great authors too.)

Mary Janes Farm (I was introduced to this by my aunt who is into all things fiber arts. This is a delicious magazine for anyone liking to cook, organic stuff, and some homemaking stuff. Right now I’m devouring my aunt’s issues.)

Old ones I’ll never let go (for more on these magazine visit Vintage Homemaking)

Modern Priscilla

Good Housekeeping

Ladies Home Companion

The Delineator

Oh well.  A look into my bookshelf and a really bad habit.

You know this is what every mom combs the internet for. Ways to keep young kids active and busy. With summer upon us even moreso although you will get a lot of respite when they take the play outside.

At four my daughter wants to live outside (rain, sleet, snow, you name it) but there are times when she is indoors.

I’ve been waiting to see what captures her attention as THE activity to immerse herself in. Most children have one (or two) things they love to do and can’t get enough of. For my nephew it was legos and trucks. Trucks still have him wrapped around their wheels but legos have kind of moved on.  At 16 that’s to be expected.

For me it was Barbies and baking. I didn’t start fixating on these until a little older than four but that was it for me…and playing office/library.

My daughter is captivated by bugs and bubbles. She will spend all day playing with her pet ladybugs and whoever else she manages to get a hold of. This is not good for me because I’m one of those that run screaming down the middle of a crowded street if I hear buzzing near my ear. And for some reason I always hear said buzzing because bugs love me. Blech! THEY LOVE ME! (’scuse me I’m getting itchy).

But when the squirming gets too much for mommy I can always turn her head with bubbles. She loves bubbles and has since she was old enough to sit up. If you are like me you don’t have endless hours to sit blowing bubbles for your young child to pop and something about the battery operated bubble gun seems to leave the enjoyment of blowing them in the wind. Something about too many bubbles and not perfecting your pucker and blow.

So low and behold on my last trip to the store I found a little bubble contraption for young kids. It’s made so that if they knock it over, or hold it at a precarious angle none of the solution runs out. It has a little slot in the end for the bubble wand and is small enough for little hands. It’s called Zoo Friends No-Spill Bubble Tumbler Mini
It’s the first thing my Peanut asks for when she wakes up and the last thing she puts down before getting ready for bed. We take it on walks, in the bath, everywhere.

It recently ran out of solution so I looked up a recipe to make some online. Found this great one and it does make some nice strong bubbles for her.

I’ve been waiting for a deal like this. Since I’m officially going to start ‘real’ homeschool (kindergarten) this fall I’ve been doing my best to be prepared. Reading too much and relaxing too little. The Peanut is very excited and has been ‘organizing’ her pens and crayons and such.

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine is having a subscription sale. For just 48 hours, a one-year print subscription is only $15! Plus, as a bonus,new subscribers get 5 FREE We E-books of their choice. It’s the TOS Take/Get 5 subscription sale and it’s only good until midnight on May 26.

The Old Schoolhouse magazine CAN help you with homeschooling and is packed with well written, interesting tidbits for the homeschooling family.

Articles on how to start homeschooling, support for the homeschooler, tips for keeping it together while homeschooling, reviews on various curriculum, homeschooling products, homemaking tips (yes homemaking tips by resident Home Ec Columnist Molly Green), the latest news in the homeschooling world, and even short stories to entertain.

Starting as a small ebay business The Old SchoolHouse magazine has grown to be THE place for homeschool information.

If you’re nervous about homeschooling, or looking for good articles, tips, and stories to keep you motivate as you take on this wonderful position of teaching your own children then The Old SchoolHouse Magazine is the source to turn to.

It’s a beautiful full color, glossy magazine that is worth every penny. Christian parents with a heart for homeschooling will truly enjoy this magazine and what it has to offer.

I had been picking it up at the local bookstore but this beats the cover price anyday.

The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Magazine

Sarah Zeldman is looking for 8-10 women to join her “Beta’ Family Manager Coaching Group for FREE.

The group will run for 8 weeks and will feature one teleclass per week, recordings of the sessions (in case you miss one) and an exclusive forum where you can track your progress, get support from the group and have liberal access to me.

In order to join this group you will need..

1) Patience: As this will be the first group, there may be some snags along the way.

2) Feedback: Your comments, concerns and grievances.

3) Testimonials: A testimonial from you and a review on your blog. (Be honest, but gentle please!

and one more little thing…

4) *Optional, but strongly recommended* — Please pick up a copy of Kathy Peel’s latest book The Busy Mom’s Guide to a Happy, Organized Home: Fast Solutions to Hundreds of Everyday Dilemmas. Each coaching session will be focused on the content of a chapter of the book.

If you are interested in joining the Family Manager Makeover AIM “Beta” Group  simply send Sarah an email send her an email and let her know that you’d like to join.

You can read more about Family Manager Coaching here=> http://www.solutionsforbusymoms.com/family-manager-coaching/

Okay it wasn’t my backyard but it was my mother’s. So that’s near enough. It was a quiet Saturday afternoon. My daughter and I were visiting my mother who lives in a townhome with a teeny backyard cement slab thingy but I won’t get into that right now. My daughter was happily playing some toy or another and I was kind of deciding should she and I go outside when she seemed so content but I wanted her to get some air… yada, yada. Things I struggle with.

Anyway then I see this cute little starling bird come traipsing across my mother’s patio thingy and I was just about to call to my daughter who is a nature buff, although she enjoys bugs the most but she would appreciate a bird, when a hawk comes out of nowhere and grabs it. Okay my mouth is sort of hanging open in shock when seconds, I mean seconds, later a cat jumps up from the bottom to try and get in on the action.

The cat by the way is the clawless pet of the neighbor and realized soon enough that he was not in a position to enter this fight.

By this time my daughter has realized I’m catching nature in action and she wants to run out there. But I encouraged her to just sit back and let the food chain have it’s way. The hawk quickly flew off and all I could think was….

WHERE IS MY CAMERA!!!!