Weekend Highlights

Hope everyone had a lovely Easter weekend!

I'm grateful that we had a little snippet of good weather so at least the

kids could hunt for eggs outside. 

My sweet nephew had a superhero party and since then, 

J Boy has been a superhero non-stop! 

He even had to wear it for the Easter egg hunt. We have to call him Superman and 

he has saved us quite a bit. I love how he stays in character while dressed up. 

Adorable.

  

After years of thinking about getting chickens, we finally did! 

Just in time for Easter. The kids have already had fun taking

care of them and holding them.

Yellow Owl Workshop Stamp Sets at Modern Palm

We've been having a little fun with these Yellow Owl Workshop Stamp sets. 

I have to admit, I may have had just as much fun, if not more, as my kids.  

Here's some fab art that we created, and I even framed a few...

I think when they're framed it makes them look so pro!

These are a few that my oldest 3 put together, cute no?!

I love that the creative possibilities with these sets are endless... 

you can just use one set or mix sets to make the scenes unique.

These are the sets we used for these projects, but we've only just begun.


Modern Palm is very excited to now carry 
Yellow Owl Workshop Stamp Sets! 

Can't wait to see what creative masterpiece y'all can come up with! Send us your photos and we'd LOVE to post them and share. Oh! now that would be fun... Please send us yours!

More art is on it's way, and maybe I'll show what we create. :)

Miss Lisa's Little Book Club

My friend and neighbor, Lisa, is so crazy creative and amazing! Just a few months ago she started My Little Book Club, and lucky me, I get to benefit... well, my children get to benefit. My kids love and adore her and count down the days until they get to go to book club.  Each week she chooses a new theme, new book, and has projects that correspond with the book.  I don't mean she just does a little project... she goes all out. People sometimes find their niche in life, and this is for sure Lisa's niche.  

I just think this is such an amazing idea and am so grateful that my children get to have such good experiences with reading and learning. Thanks Lisa!

Catimini Clothing

While on a much needed girl-trip to California  a few months back, my friends and I came across a darling French line for Children, Catimini.  While I loved the boys clothing, I was extra obsessed with the girl clothing (of course)!  These are just a few samples of the adorable line.  Oh, how I wish it were more affordable because my Ashy girl would look so darling in these outfits.  Regardless, they are still fun to admire.  From what the girl at the store was saying, we are limited in the USA on the Catimini clothes, but Europe, specifically France, has quite the selection. Darling, no?

American In Paris

How adorable is this Paris themed line from the Gap? I have a serious weakness when it comes to buying clothes for my sweet Ashy. I would love every outfit in this line... but, I think this will just be used as an outfit-idea inspiration board for now.  Ashy is already starting to dream about going to Paris.  The boys in our family are talking of a "someday" trip to Alaska.  Well boys, you go-for-it! My girl and I will have a nice little "someday" trip to Paris then! I can't wait to take her there. Can't wait.

Side Story:
I remember being little and being obsessed with the idea of going to Paris. I took junior high french, chose the French name Francoise, hung Paris posters, wore Paris perfume, and even wore barrettes (I have a tragic 6th grade picture to prove that), did reports on France whenever I could, and perfected Crepes.  I even did a big report/acting thing in Humanities on Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (my friend was Henri and I was one of his Can-Can girls. For reals!) I saved money, dreamed big and planned on the "someday" trip.  Then, it all became possible.  My first "dream" to actually realize. After studying in Jerusalem for a bit, a group of us extended our layovers in France.  One of the guys in our group had served an LDS mission in Paris and had a family he knew that we could stay with.  So we got the full Parisian experience.  We stayed in a Parisian apartment with a Parisian family and had a guy with us that could completely communicate with everyone. Plus, he already knew the city like the back of his hand. Needless to say, my first experience in France was a.m.a.z.i.n.g! I can't wait to go back... "someday!" I still remember sitting by Notre Dame surrounded by pigeons, savoring a tasty raspberry tart...

Baby Shower, Gift, & Decor Ideas: Modern Palm Boutique

Do you have a baby shower coming up? 

Know of a friend or family member who is having a baby? 

Or, are you having a baby?

Modern Palm 

has some fabulous gifts for babies, baby rooms, and children! 

Oh! and let's not forget the all important mom! 

Modern Palm also has great items and gifts for the mom, as well.

***Just a note to you, my blog friends***

Modern Palm is my new online store, and I would be so forever grateful if y'all 

could take a second or a minute and become a friend on my Modern Palm Blog,

or on FB, or Twitter, or just sign up to be on the email list.  

Fabulous Finds. Fresh Designs.

If you like what you see, please pass the love along and 

spread the word about my boutique. 

Being new, I can use all the love I can get!!! 

Thank you so very much.

Here is a sample of some of the plush animals, darling art prints, journals, decorative pillows, aprons, books, bamboo baby mobiles, hooded towels, art cards that are in the Modern Palm Boutique.

There are so many more fun, unique, and darling gifts... 

come take a look!

My Children's Play Area

So, today I thought I'd show you my basement play area for my children. 

About 2 years ago, we made the space under the stairs into a little "Beach Shack" 

and had someone come paint some different beach themed items inside and out of the shack. 

My kids love playing in this little space and I like how it doesn't scream

"children's area" but it still is cute for kids to play in.

This room does scream "children's area," but that is ok since it is
their actual playroom in the basement.
My children enjoy Nemo, but we mostly choose this theme
because they love playing "GO FISH" with this card game we have.  

We also had a big salt-water aquarium and they have cute small turtles as pets, 

so this ocean/sea animal themed playroom was their idea!

I know a lot of people thought I was crazy for using this turquoise color, but I'm glad I did.  

My kids really like how fun this room is, 

and I think the playroom is the perfect room to use a bright color like this.

Blurb Photo Book

I just got back today from a little trip to NYC with Mr. D.  

We went to have a little get-away and we also went to visit my 

brother and his wife before they leave NY.  My brother has been going to Cornell 

and is graduating next week. I'm super proud of him and it was a lot of fun to spend a

few days with them in NYC. I'll share some fun things we did on our vacation in a bit...

But first, this is what I did for Mother's Day this year. 

I finally finished a project I started last year.  I wanted to do something with all of the cute photos 

I had from a photo shoot with the kids, and from Baby G's new born pics.  

I haven't been good about printing my pictures and placing them in photo books, 

so I decided to make a  Blurb book.  I can't tell you how much I loved the Blurb program.

It was extremely easy to use and I was very impressed with the quality of the book.  

I printed a book for both my mom and my mother-in-law,

then I printed a book for each child to have when they get a bit older.  

My goal is to make a Blurb book each year, 

so that I make sure I'm doing something with all of our digital photos. 

At the suggestion of my sister-in-law, Brooke, 

I'd like to start the books with each school year and then end with the summer.  

I like that idea of organizing it with the school year, since that is how I tend

to think of the year anyway, with a grade.

 I am really excited to have a hard copy of all those pics I'm taking that are normally just 

saved on my discs and hard drives. 

I have also seen people make normal books with Blurb as well.  

If you have an idea for a book, but don't have a publisher, you can just make your book, 

text or photo, and print it to sell until you get a publisher.  

Once again, the quality is fantastic!

Happy 3rd Birthday J-Boy!

Three years old.

WOW! How time flies.

I love this little guy so very much.

He is so sweet, so cuddly, so daring, or crazy.

Pinkalicious, Purplicious, and now... GOLDILICIOUS!

If you have a princess in your home, and you have yet to discover these three cute books, 

you might want to check them out. 

I wrote some time ago on my daughter's favorite books: Pinkalicious and Purplicious by Victoria Kann. 

Just wanted to inform those who may not know yet... Goldilicious is the new fave!
She loves Goldilicious because it involves a unicorn. Did you love unicorns when you were little?
I so remember loving unicorns, what is it about unicorns that is so enchanting?

 Another thing that is enchanting...
watching a child learn new skills.  I love to see how excited children get when they are
discovering and learning new-to-them things.
I think that is why I was a teacher, once upon a time.  The process of learning is just so exciting!
 A-girl has become quite the little reader lately.  She is one determined girl!  It is so cute to see her get frustrated, shut-down, find her determination, try again, succeed, and rejoice with excitement when she tackles another little reading book.  What a little spunk I have on my hands!
Thank heaven for little girls.  I love and adore my Ashy!

Red Super Hero

How is my little, loud, red super hero 14 months already? Where does time go? 

I know...chasing him, cleaning up after his disasters, and making sure he survives each crazy day.

Love you Baby G!