A Wonderful Website

A few days ago I found this amazing website called The Toymaker. Aside from being beautiful to look at, the site is filled with wonderful paper toys that you can download for free! You simply print, cut, fold and glue. We haven't done one yet but I have my eye on several, especially this Biplane.

Image via: The Toymaker

How Cute Is This?

My Little Red Hen notecard was featured Monday on an adorable blog called Cutable. You can check out the post here.

Photo via: Cutable

Higher Learning

Every week at school my son is given a list of focus words (aka spelling words). To practice, they have to use the words in a sentence. The teacher lets them make up their own sentences and the results are hilarious. Now, he makes a point of trying to come up with the something funny each time.

I Love This Print

Today I found the Etsy shop humusjan. I fell in love with this print as soon as I saw it. It's called "great hat my friend". I just love artwork that is whimsical and stylish at the same time.

Photo via:humusjan

Quite Possibly The Best Children's Book Ever

The Good Night Sleep Tight Book by Mircea Vasiliu is quite possibly the best children's book ever. Out of all the children's books that I love (and there are so very many) it is my favorite. If these pictures don't convince you then I don't know what will. The story follows several children and the delightful adventures that they have after floating off to dreamland. There are mermaids, pirates, treetop houses, fairies, witches and the Queen of Lollipops to name just a few. The illustrations are double paged and wonderfully detailed. I cannot remember how many times I read it as a child and now I read it to my own boys. Unfortunately, this book is out of print but it is worth it to hunt down a vintage copy. And if it has a few scribbles and drawings in it, so much the better.

I Miss My Garden

All winter long I miss my garden. A few years ago I planted two Sweet Autumn Clematis vines on either side of the steps leading down from our deck. This past summer they went wild. When they finally bloomed it was glorious. I can't wait to see them again.

Weird Science

My son was given a microscope for Christmas so we spent part of the afternoon playing mad scientists. We looked at celery, a leaf, a flower petal, bark and algae. When we ran out of premade slides he came up with some specimens of his own-fuzz, a strand of hair and a pair of plaid boxer shorts.

P.S. I apologize for the post title. If you're anything like me, you'll be singing that song all day.

To See What All The Fuss Is About

Lately, in the blog world, it seems that everyone is posting about macaroons-making them, buying them, eating them. I had never tried one before so when I came across them at the bakery the other day I decided to buy one of each flavor just to see what all the fuss is about. They really are quite tasty. The lemon ginger was my favorite. Next up are the ice cream filled macaroons at the previously mentioned Jeni's. Yum.

Date With A Mummy

Mummies may not be the first thing that comes to mind on Valentine's Day. Nevertheless, that's whom I had a date with today. With my three males in tow, we went to the museum to learn about coffins, linen wraps and the surgical removal of internal organs (There are two other types of removal but I'll spare you the disgusting details. Needless to say, my son was fascinated.) Other highlights included trying on these amazing helmets that looked like Egyptian gods and having our picture taken in front of a phony backdrop of the pyramids as well as having our names typed out in hieroglyphics. You can see mine at the top. Afterward we stopped to see my favorite piece-a gorgeous glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly. All in all, a wonderful day.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Awesome Tulips

We go to Whole Foods Market quite a lot. Our first stop when we step inside is the fresh cut flowers. Right now they have an amazing display of tulips. As we were ooohing and aaahing over the paper wrapped bundles of snowy white tulips, my son found one that had a single pink tulip in the middle. "That one is awesome!" he told me. So we picked it up and brought it home to grace our dining room table. They really do look awesome.

P.S. I can't wait for spring.

Boy With His Hedgehog

My husband gave me this painting several years ago for Christmas. It's still one of my favorites. It's called Boy With His Hedgehog and it's by the very talented Stacey Bear.

A Flocking Success!

For months I have dreamed of making flocked cards. I've always loved the idea of flocking to give something a wonderful, velvety texture. It also has sentimental value for me. When my two boys were just babies, my wonderful grandmother would send them flocked cards for Christmas, Easter, birthdays and what-have-you. They loved to hold the soft cards in their chubby little hands and carry them around. Now, I've finally succeeded in creating my own and I'm so happy with the way that they turned out!

Coraline

My husband and I went to see Coraline last weekend. I was afraid it would be too spooky for the kids and it was. However, it was amazing. I loved it. There were quite a few changes from the book (which is much, much better) but the movie really had its own charm. I highly recommend it. I also recommend the website which is where I made these wonderful pictures. The mouse one is so cute I think I might just print it up and frame it.

Shoe Score!

I am in love with this shoe-the color, the ruffles, the strap, the bow. It's called the Selena Ruffled Mary Jane flat from Target. I found it on clearance for $4.98. $4.98!! That breaks down to $2.49 per shoe! I got the same pair in black. Two pairs for less than ten dollars! Hooray for Target!

A Delightful Afternoon

Last friday I enjoyed a delightful afternoon. My littlest son, who is four, stays home with me so we are like two peas in a pod. We both love to be out and about. We love to snuggle and we love to indulge. And really, it's so much more fun with a partner in crime. After lunch he suggested we have some ice cream. So we sat side by side at the table and I served us both some Jeni's. If you have not had Jeni's ice cream then you really, really must try it. He had lemon yogurt and I had dark cocoa peppermint gelato along with a cup of coffee. It was heaven. Afterwards we headed outside to play in what was left of the snow. There was just enough to make our tiny snowman, complete with a sprig of old dill for hair. Does it get any better?

And A Storque Article too!

I was so happy to be included in an Etsy Storque article today! You can check it out here. I'm all the way at the bottom.

Front Page News!

This little card of mine made it to the Etsy Front Page! Hooray!