It's the Dad Life.

Strawberry Goodness

Lately shopping is pretty much the last thing I have time to do.  My usual shopping time is about 2.5 minutes in a store before my kids start to fall apart.  So thank goodness for online shopping.  But today I had a rare opportunity to shop!  After spending part of the morning with a friend at the mall's play area, and then lunch, the boys were in fine form to spend a bit of time shopping.  We whipped in and out of Gymboree, Children's Place, Baby Gap and....Janie and Jack.  All to look and see what is out there.

This is out there.

Oh my.  I almost contemplated the effects that buying this jacket for Noah or Luke would have on them, but I stopped myself before going any further with that thought (mostly because the sales lady was showing me another CUTE dress so I was distracted).  From someone who grew up in a rainy province rain coats, gumboots and hats are not just a cute accessory, no they are a necessity!  And if only they made sweet strawberry rain jackets in my size, you bet I would be wearing one proudly on the two days that it rains here in Arizona.

Oh and this is the dress that the sales lady was showing me.  Sigh, such sweetness.

All found at Janie and Jack.  

La Coffee Shop

It's a really good thing that I don't currently have cable in my house.  I am a total Food Network nut. Diners, Drive In's and Dives?  Love it. Ace of Cakes?  Amazing.   But one thing I did discover the last time I watched Food Network (the family cabin does have cable) was Cupcake Wars!  Oh boy.  I love cupcakes.  I was so excited that I may have ignored all of those around me for the hour that it was on.

Even more exciting was the fact a local girl was one of the competitors; she is the owner of that little coffee shop right beside Joe's Farm Grill.  They even won!  So in all of my excitement I decided that a fun family outing last night would be to head out and try one of these delicious cupcakes.

Now I am so sad to say this but, so disappointing.  Tragically so.  My cupcake euphoria basically was shattered upon entering the store.  They had three.  That's right THREE cupcakes left, all of the same kind, and looking oh so sad in the display area.  The man who served us must have also been tragically sad because he was very hostile towards us or was it the lack of cupcakes that made him so?  And then when he gave us the runt of the litter AND charged us an exorbitant amount of 3.50 for one cupcake (wish I had a photo of hubby's face during that whole exchange).  All hope of a yummy cupcake was dashed.  How could I even enjoy this?  I had no choice, the guy wasn't all that friendly and upon eating the cupcake? It was almond flavored.  Oh sad.

The best part of the whole experience (hey have to look on the bright side right?).  Was Noah was able to run off all of that sugar (he ended up eating most of the cupcake) and we had some great time as a family.

La Coffee Shop (I know it's not the name, but I don't want for them to google find me) big thumbs down.

Next time?  Sprinkles in Scottsdale!

Hangers

I saw this idea on this blog.  I loved the idea of making decorative hangers as well as the closet organizers as gifts.   Original, very easy, and too cute for words.  I went with a theme for the hangers that has been on my mind lately.  I refuse to redecorate the nursery for the sole reason that I don't want to drive my hubby insane but if I could I would redo it into a wood/forest animals theme.  Couldn't you just see L surrounded by owls, trees and birdies, (oh my!)?

This is where I got my cute little friends "The Green Stack" by DCWV.  I just cut them out one evening (takes a bit of patience and a pair of scissors that can cut small details) and modge podged them onto the hangers!

Photo Jewelry

Oh I am so in love with photo jewelry.  I had no clue whatsoever how to actually put it together but the internet is a beautiful thing for those of us who love to craft!  Many bloggers are wonderful enough to post their how to's and I get to learn through them how to make sweet things like a photo pendant.

What inspired me to make this was a project that my mother in law's bead store sent me two packages of Swarovski crystal flatbacks. We were to then create a variety of projects for the store to showcase how crystals can be utilized.  Um hello?  I would say that is right up my creative alley!

Now it is time to make another with Noah's photo!