A bed for a princess

When we moved into our house about 3 years ago, Callie needed a bed. Thanks to Craig's list and a can of white spray paint we ended up with this...

(ahh it was simpler times, back before the toys took over)

So her lovely big girl bed, has a little secret, the people who sold it to us also gave us the bars to make it is hideous canopy bed. I have kept the bars hidden in the basement, I don't know why I didn't just throw them away... 

Which brings us to a few weeks ago. Callie was roller skating in the basement and using the bars to her bed to propel herself across the concrete (super safe, huh?) and I slipped up and said "Callie don't use your canopy to push yourself around the basement Oops. She stopped, immediatley with, "What canopy? My bed has a canopy? Put it up, mom!" Boo! I did not want to do that. I tried to convince her for days that she did not need one and then I gave in and said we could look around for some at the store. 

Holy moly these things are expensive! So I thought that maybe curtains would be a better idea. I would get a couple of panels and just throw those us. There were a few problems with this. First they are expensive as well, as I would need 8 of them! They are also super long and I would need to hem them, too much work.

$400, no thank you!

                                               
Enter the experiment. I made a trip to good old Hobby Lobby. I wasn't sure exactly what I would need, so I just got some materials and I figured that I would wing it. And wing it, I did. I ended up buying 12 yards of super bright heavy tuile. I was thinking maybe 3 yards per post. Then I thought, how am I going to hold up this stuff? So I got some matching ribbon.

I took my loot home and got to work straight away. It was tricky and I experimented with some ideas before I finally figured it out. I unfolded the fabric then I refolded it long ways. I wanted it to be doubled to add a little weight.

Then, on the fold I measured (okay I eyeballed it) about inch down, then I poked a hole through the netting with scissors.

Next, I threaded about 6 inches (again with my eyeballs) of the pink ribbon and then tied it to the poles of the canopy.

Whew! Were my arms ever tired! On the corners, I probably should have cut the fabric, but I was losing interest in this project fast, I just wrapped it around the post and kept poking and tying.

It was pretty easy once I figured it out and got going. This was a relatively easy project, a little labor intensive if your arms are out of shape. but it came out okay, not super amazing, but okay.

To Callie, however, I am mom of the year. The squeal of delight when she saw it after school made it all worth it!

Removing tree sap, oh the joys of summer

Over the memorial day weekend, which was lovely by the way, my little monkey decided to climb a tree. Full. Of. Sap. Awesome. It was in her long hair and all over her skin and clothes. Yikes. And all over me because I was the lucky parent who touched her.

I could hardly look she was up so high. Scary!

Everyone seemed to have a suggestion wd-40, olive oil, lotion. Finally, thanks to google and aunt Jenn we came up with a solution, rubbing alcohol. How simple is that? However we were at my aunt and uncles house and the best they could do was some hand sanitizer. We doused her hair (no open flames for this girl) and rubbed it on her arms and legs. It totally worked! No damage, no stains, no rashes and no having to chop off all of her hair. No more sticky sap! Who knew?

Getting out tree sap=alcohol, or in a pinch, hand sanitizer.

What I wore Wednesday

Casual clothes are where it's at this week! I don't know why, but it's so hard to get out of school clothes mind set and just thrown stuff on... I will have to work on that!

My Saturday running errands apparel

Top: H&M thrifted

Cargo capris: Kohls

Flats: Old Navy

Packing up my classroom 

Tee: Gift from my aunt

Tank: Target

Jeans: 7's thirfted

Flip Flops: Target

Memorial day, I could not find any red :(

Tee: Target

Tank: Target

Capris: Walmart

Flip flops: Target

My first day of summer break bliss

Tee: Old Navy (old)

Tank: Target

Denim capris: forever 21

Flip flips: Kohls

Dropping off Callie, I only wore this for about 20 minutes, then I promptly changed into painting clothes so I could touch up all the baseboards!

Tanks: Target

Plaid shorts: Old Navy (old)

Sandals: Target

summer bucket list (it's a pinterest kind of summer)

Well summer is officially upon us, yay! I love the summer and not just because I don't have to go to work for 2 months, but because I get to spend time with my babies and get my house in shape for the long school year ahead. One day I was walking out the school building with a fellow teacher, on the last day of school and he said, "We will never have more summer vacation than we do at this minute." I loved that! And now the last day before each break we have, summer or otherwise, I think that to myself.

Every year Callie and I make a list, we like lists. Each week we try to do a craft or activity, make a special recipe and go some where fun. Enter the list...

As you can see, we are going to be very busy!

I am loving this schedule, as it's usually what we do anyway!

Some of the things that I really want to get done are:

Get my laundry room decorated

Plant flowers in the front and back yard

Finish my collage wall upstairs

Make canvases for family room

Some places we want to go include: 

a visit to the reservoir

Brien and I want to tour a microbrewery in the mountains

Hanging lake and 7 falls

Let's see how we do!

Chicken burger melts: More adventures in dinner

One meal that never disappoints at our house is chicken burgers, sounds weird right? It's not totally strange. Its another childhood meal, that I have modified a little from my mom's recipe. But it's easy to throw together and there are almost no dishes to load or wash after.

Here goes... you need:

1 can of of shredded canned chicken 12.5 oz drained (or cooked and shredded yourself, this was just easier)
1 cup of shredded cheese, I used colby jack
2 stalks of celery finely chopped
about 1/2 cup of light mayo (You can use more depending on how creamy you want it)
 1 package of 8 hamburger buns
foil cut into sheets large enough to wrap the individual buns

First preheat oven to 375.
Next,  mix all of the ingredients together in medium sized bowl.
Split the buns and spread on the chicken mixture.
Wrap the buns in foil and arrange on a cookie sheet.
Cook for 10-15 minutes.

Then unwrap and enjoy the melty, gooey goodness! We eat ours with chips or fries, I guess you could throw together a salad if you are into that.

Kellen is 8 months old!

Oy Vay! Kellen, this is going by a little too fast. This month was interesting to say the least. You are still my big huge man. We had to go to the doctor a few days ago and weighed in at 21 lbs and were 27 inches long. So that puts you at 70% for weight and like 13% for height. You are your daddy's boy.

This month was a little rough, sickness wise. About 2 weeks ago you were super cranky. Which was odd because you are such the happy baby. So the next day you were still in a slump and we were not sure what to do. When you got home from school Miss Charlie said that you felt a little warm, so we decided to take your temp. Holy Moly kid! It was almost 104. I rushed you to urgent care and they said that you had a bad ear infection. Whew, that was huge relief. The next day daddy tried to give you your medicine and you promptly barfed up everything that you had eaten all week on him. It was horrible. I called the urgent care the next morning and they said to try to mix your medicine with your food and you would never notice the taste. I tried it and it worked like a charm for about 4 days. On Thursday when you woke up you had like a few little pink spots, we thought nothing of it and sent you to school. I was working to clean up my classroom when Miss Charlie sent me the most awful picture. You looked like a raspberry!

Yikes! Another trip to the real pediatrician and she said that you have an allergy to amoxicillian. No more of that stuff. She gave you some benedryl and a steroid and now you are almost totally back to normal. Crisis averted!

Kellen you are crawling!! I cannot believe it. We were at home one Sunday afternoon and we started wiggling across the floor. It's almost like you are doing the worm, but you can sure boogie all over the place!

Not sleeping, playing peek a-boo and crawling all over!

You have 4 teeth coming at one, on top. It has been a little rough!

You are so ridiculously happy, it kills me! This month you have discovered the art of clapping. It's really hard to take a good picture of you actually in the act, that's not blurry. But you love to clap. At anything.

You love splash bath time. I get drenched, you get clean, it works. This month we tried real big boy baths, in the big tub. That did not go swimmingly (ha ha) because you keep rolling over and trying to swim around. I am terrified that you are going to bang your head or drown or both. So back to the little tub for you. We will try again next month. 

You are sleeping a titch better at night, which is a-ok with me! You are wearing a 9-12 in clothes. You haven't tried a food that you don't like. Last month we busted out the net food things and you ate so much watermelon that I was worried you would get sick.

Loves: Callie,  Playing peek-a-boo with yourself and others, playing on the floor, toys, screaming, FOOD!

Not a fan of: Sitting up for long period of time, sitting still, loud noises, naps.

Firsts: Crawling, clapping, watermelon, cup of water, ear infection, trip to the grocery store (not in a car seat)

Ending the school year (and packing all that junk)

The end of the school year is always crazy for all parties involved, teachers, students, my own children.
It is delicate balancing act really... Report cards, field trips, field days, movies, end of the year assessments and assignments, and oh yeah, packing my room...again.

I have become kind of an expert in the process of packing and organizing my room as I have moved classrooms 7 times in 5 years. I have a pretty streamlined process. Here are some ideas that have worked for me in the past!

1. About 2 weeks before the last day of school I have a group of nice volunteer girls come in and help me organize and throw things away. I try to keep it small like 3 or 4 kiddos. If there are too many there is not enough for them to do. OR they get ambitious and want to tear apart everything! I assign them jobs such as:

*packing my teacher books and resources
*Supplies we don't need any more
* packing up all my lessons and resources from the file cabinets

2. Next, as we get closer to the last day of school, I have the students take home their binders/notebooks. One less thing to have to look at and worry about. I also require students to turn in their books from our classroom library so we can organize and get that all packed up. As students turn in their books and I throw their library cards away, indicating that they do not owe me books or money. The left over cards, I turn into the office and they hold their report cards ransom until their fines are all paid.

Each class has a box and each student has a card to keep track of their books.

3. The last week of school I have my sweet volunteers remove everything from the walls. I have this old art portfolio that I bought in high school painting class in 2001 for like $10. It is worth it's weight in gold! I store all of my posters, anchor charts and pre-cut letters in here.

 A few years ago, a retiring teacher left me this map box which is perfect for storing all the boarders.

4. Last, I pack up all of the things in my desk and file cabinets in clear containers. They are the first things I unpack when we start a new year. I also pack up all my planning resources and beginning of the year files in clear boxes so I can find them and access them right away, when we return for the new school year. I also put a treat right on top, so when I open the box I don't feel quite so overwhelmed, this year is was new markers. It's the little things in life really.

What I wore Wednesday, the last day of school and crazy weather

It is never boring around these parts... So first, what I wore this week...

Tunic: Old navy

Cardigan: Charlotte Russe

Jeggings (I hate that word): Forever 21

Flats: Target

Top: Very Jane

Skirt: Very Jane

Flip flops: Target

Tank: forever 21

Dress: Target thrifted

Cardigan: Limited

Nude heels: Target

Belt: Target

Seersucker dress: Forever 21, thrifted

Cardigan: Target

Flats: Target

Necklace: Dillard's

Dress: Target 

Leggings: Very Jane

Cardigan: Old Navy

Belt: Target

Scarf: Gift from Callie's Meme

The last day of school should have been amazing, but thanks to the weather and some not so amazing planning it was a little bit of a flop...

First it was a wacky Wednesday, when the kids come at 10 and we have professional development all morning. I took this opportunity to pack my room (again) more about that later... Then I had my 1st period kiddos, we finished reading the last chapter and watching the last 10 minutes of the Outsiders. Then I had like 30 minutes to kill, so netflix it was!

Then was plan time, more packing. Next a quick lunch and the field day! Yay! Nancy (my amazing literacy partner) and I were running the sponge relay, where you run back and forth with a wet sponge and try to fill up a bucket and do it faster than the other team. It was going pretty well until the sky clouded up and it looked like the end of the world. Lightening and whipping winds drove us inside early. 

Once we got all of the student back in class, we had about 3 hours to kill. We started a movie and the intercom came on and we were under a tornado warning and had to take shelter in the hall way. So we spent the better part of an hour in the hall, playing telephone, singing songs and telling what we were doing for the summer. FINALLY the warning was lifted and were able to go back to our classes. I ended the day with my favorite groups of students watching frozen and signing year books. It was a weird way to end the year... a little anti-climatic.

There was some crazy destruction outside...

Not snow, hail. That's right, hail.

The black (green?) top of Callie's playground..

The left-overs after the storm.

 It was a wild way to end a wild school year! Tomorrow is our last "Official day" with no kids, just moving our classrooms and get things tied up for the year and then we are FREE!

Cowboy casserole (Looks like dog food, tastes delicious)

Casserole season is almost at an end, I get that, but old habits die hard! Cowboy casserole is a super easy, throw everything in, kind of recipe. One time when we were eating it, Callie said "This is like cheesy mush." But, it is seriously yummy.

Mine did not look pretty, I borrowed this picture from Taste Of Home

Here is the original Recipe

I modified a little...

Cowboy Casserole

1 1/2 pounds ground beef (I used 92/8)
1 medium onion, chopped
3 tsp minced garlic
1 can (15.25oz) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
1 bag (30 oz) frozen tater tots (I used the grocery store brand)

In a large skillet cook the onion until tender and translucent. Add the chopped garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the beef and cook over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain the mixture and place into a large bowl and set aside.

In a small bowl combine the soup, milk and sour cream. Whisk until smooth. Add to hamburger mixture and stir to combine. Add corn and 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Gently mix to combine.

Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer half of the tater tots on the bottom, pour the hamburger mixture over the top and then layer with the other half of the tater tot. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes!

We mix it up in a gooey cheesy mess, like Callie said, the tater tots don't really hold their shape once you get to eating it!

What I wore this week and slowing down

Another wild and crazy week at the Wood's! Monday, I had muffins for mom at Callie's school while the weirdo spring blizzard continued to dump snow on us. Tuesday I had interviews for student teachers next year, Wednesday was meetings. Thursday Kellen came home from the babysitter with a super  high fever, so we spent the evening at urgent care. He has a wicked ear infection. Friday we had Callie's school carnival, which got cut short due to Kellen's projectile barfing, what a time we are having with this poor guy's medicine. Summer break cannot come soon enough! 

Blouse: Target

Skirt: Target

Pink Heels: Dillard's

These shoes and I have been through a lot together!

Dress: Target

Cardigan: Target

Bracelet:?

Boots: Sheplers

Top: Thrifted

Skirt: Old Navy (super old)

Heels: Target

Bracelet: Jane

Blouse: Old Navy Thirfted

White capris: Banana Republic

Heels: Dillard's

Pearl Bracelets: ?

" Pinned it and did it": "Cookie Cutter" art

I have bare blank beautiful green walls in my downstairs powder room. It has been finished for about 10 months and I cannot decide/find anything worthy of these walls, that doesn't cost a fortune. I skimmed my pinterest craft board for inspiration. I finally found something that I had been wanted to do forever, that was super affordable and easy. One rainy Sunday Callie and I needed some crafts in our lives so we started this project.

We needed some canvases. I found these at Hobby Lobby in a two pack for like $11. Then we picked the paint, I wanted some bright colors, because the furnishings in the bathroom are pretty neutral. Last we rummaged through our cookie cutters. I have this old set of tin cookie cutters from my Nanny and we found a lovely star and Callie chose a diamond.

Then we went to work, first we painted the canvases with a good thick layer of one color. After letting it dry a little we started stamping those cookie cutters. It was a little tricky to find a container to put the paint in. At first, we started using a bowl, but it was hard to get the paint on evenly. So, we switched to a paper plate. That was a no go because the plate was starting to leak. Then I thought about pouring the paint on a sponge. That worked the best.

There is no rhyme or reason to this process. I just gave Callie the cookie cutter and said, "Go nuts." She loved it.

After they dried we hung them on the bare blank wall in the bathroom. Mission accomplished!

Here is the original pin!

http://www.agirlandagluegun.com/2010/05/in-case-you-missed-it.html