Visit Irvine Park!

Get to Irvine Park in Chippewa Falls this holiday season! Your kids will love cozying up in the car: pajamas and slippers are a must; and going to view the holiday lights display at Irvine. If the kids are old enough, treat them to their own little travel mug of hot chocolate or apple cider - this is a tradition they are sure to love!

Hint: December 12th is "walk through" when no cars are allowed. You can pull your kids on a sled, push a stroller, or just run in the snow!

Being (Un)Crafty - Felt Advent Calendar

I am really not very crafty. In fact, I consider myself best at really "uncrafty" projects like this one. I saw this cute advent calendar in a catalog and decided I could create one to make the countdown to Christmas a little more exciting. Its all made of felt, glue, and some other adhesives - no sewing or fancy stuff like that. Let me know if you want more info on how I created this little gem...oh...and if you have any great ideas of what to fill it with for my two year old!

Thankful

We are so thankful for so many things this year. Each year brings new blessings, new trials and new struggles. Admidst it all, we seem to have more and more things each year that we are so grateful for. This year, I made a Thankful Jar with some friends to have on our mantle. We were able to add cards with what we are thankful for - and our 2 year old could participate, which was a great lesson. And, hey, being thankful for the neighbors' dog is a pretty good start!

Bathtime Buddies

As you will quickly learn, I am a sucker for all things cute. The result makes me a total consumer - always on the look-out for the cutest addition to any activity, routine, or room in my house. I'm also a sucker for anything that will make the daily routine a little quicker, easier, and more fun for my kids! Bathtime is a superfun time at our house and I'm convinced its party due to our friends: Frog, Moby, and Shark (among many others).

The Boon Frog Pod is awesome! We registered for this gift on our baby registry at Target before the birth of our first son and its been a great item to have in the baby bathroom! The frog is equipped with little shelf that will hold your baby shampoos (Burt's Bees Baby is our favorite!), and a quick-drain removable scoops that allows your baby's bath toys to dry without any work from you! The kids love visiting the frog at bathtime...beautiful! You can see the Frog Pod and other cool Boon products at: www.booninc.com.

We also really love "Moby". Made by SkipHop, Moby is a bath spout cover for your bath that ensures your little ones won't bonk their head in the bath. This is the cutest, most versatile spout cover I could find - and so clever! At bathtime, the kids are excited to see Moby start up...he's our bathtime buddy. Easy to fit any bath spout and easy to remove for cleaning, this is a hit! Check it out: www.skiphop.com.

That brings me to our new favorite bath towels! The Pottery Barn Kids Bath Wraps are totally awesome and fun! These supersoft, thick bath wraps are superior quality and come in so many fun critters - you just can't resist! This would make a great holiday gift (on sale right now!). My favorite is the shark...it actually has a cute fin on the back - ADORABLE! You know the website, but I'll spell it out for you anyway: www.PotteryBarnKids.com.

{un}crafty - chalkbaord pumpkin

My favorite pumpkin this fall is our little pumpkin painted with chalkboard paint.  It says "Happy Halloween" now and can read "Happy Thanksgiving" after Halloween is over.  

So easy...so fun!  So worth it!

My New(born) Favorites

I love love love baby items - especially if they are extra special and unique. I have so many favorites...I promise to share often! Don't forget to comment and share your own favorites too. Here are some of my current favorites for little babies:






Sophie Giraffe: This totally adorable and nostaligic teether is made of 100% safe materials. As a mother of an infant, I love this cute little chewy. More info at http://sophiegiraffeusa.com.
















Little Giraffe: This company has created the most luxurious little baby blankets. In my opinion, its a "must have" for your newborn. Use it for your newborn photos - you won't be disappointed! More at www.littlegiraffe.com.

Hanna Andersson: These organic cotton sleepers are silky soft and footless (great for big, long, growing babies like mine!). I can't get enough! More at www.hannaandersson.com.

An "I Can Do It" Day

Today was an "I Can Do It" day. I'm not sure I've had many days like this, or if they've just gone without notice. As I woke up to my husband playing with our two-year-old and began nursing my three-month-old, I was overwhelmed with the many "To-Dos"of the day ahead.

However, as the day progressed, I found myself able to take on even more than was necessary, thriving with each new task I accomplished. Among the tasks I can recall: attending music class, buying paper products for a party this weekend, organizing the pantry, playing at the park, fighting for naps, four loads of laundry, three meals made, two baths given, and one phone call to a friend. Granted, not all of these should be considered lowly "tasks". Music class with my boys, a playdate at the park, and actually finding time to phone a friend at the end of the day are all wonderful accents to an ordinary day. Nonetheless, each "task" accomplished is a victory - every mom knows this!

Today was such a great day that I have decided to use today as my inspiration for all days to come! "Can I do it?....YES, I can!" A positive attitude to an overwhelming week, day, afternoon, or hour can surely help to get me through with a smile on my face and an extra hug for my beautiful boys!

Hello Valley Mamas!

This is your new resource for ideas, opinions, and info about our daily life as moms in the Chippewa Valley!