Wall Art

Now that I have a child in school I LOVE when he brings artwork home.  I don't want to be one of the parents who saves everything but I want to for sure look at it for a while.  Their minds work hard to create these Masterpieces.  I was on Pinterest and came across this very cool idea.  I want to do this but not sure where I will display them yet.

I will display art work and then keep important art work in a memory tote for each child.
I also take a picture of all the artwork and then put in a scrapbook for each of the kids.

Summer Activities

16 days to go before Summer Vacation begins.  This will be my first summer home with the kids, besides when I gave birth to Bryson.  I am started to compile a calendar of things that are going on around town or places we could go throughout the week.

(I will add more to the list as I get them)

Ideas so far:

• Farmington Hills Splash Pad at Heritage Park (we spent lots of time here last year)- FREE
• Canton Splash Pad- FREE
• Livonia Public Pool- $4 per visit per resident, $7.50 per visit for non-residents
• Detroit Zoo- $12/adults, $8/kids, $5/parking
• Toledo Zoo- $11/adults, $8/kids, $6/parking
• Greenfield Village- $22/adult, $16/kid
• Livonia Library Events
• Nanna's Pool
• Lakes- variety of beaches around the lakes area
• Playgrounds- of course we will be making our rounds to different playgrounds especially within the neighborhood
• Domino's Petting Farm- $5/adult, $4.50/kid
• Kensington Metro Park
• Turtle Cove Aquatic Center- $8/adult, $6/kid- Belleville Lower Huron Metropark
• Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum- $9 ages 2 and up
• Compuware Sports Arena Drive-In Theaters- $9/adults, $6/kids- Sunday through Thursday in Plymouth
• Playdates

I would love to find more FREE things to do as well!!

• Livonia Spree- June 21-26th 
• Plymouth Art In the Park- July 8th-10th
• Mud Day- Tuesday, July 12th - 11:00am-1:00pm at Hines Park-Nankin Mills Area in Westland
• Farmington Founders Festival- July 15th-17th
• Thunder Over Michigan- July 23rd-24th- Willow Run Airport

I found lots of things in the Metro Parent's Going Places magazine that I picked up at the Library.

Pinterest

My new favorite love in life is Pinterest!!!  It is a website where you can search all sorts of things that people "pin".  I am getting the hang of it. 

This is some of the ways Pinterest works: (from their website)


What is Pinterest?
Think of Pinterest as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can create collections of things you love and "follow" collections created by people with great taste.
People use Pinterest to collect and share all sorts of things -- wedding inspiration, favorite T-shirts, DJ equipment. You name it, people are pinning it.
We know you have great taste in something. Our mission is to make Pinterest the best place for you to share your taste with the world.
How do I start pinning?
The easiest way to pin an item is to use the Pin It bookmark. This is a special button that lets you grab an image from any website and add it to one of your pinboards. When you pin from a website, we automatically grab the source link so we can credit the original creator.

You have to be invited to join.  If you want to check it out, let me know at salbegs@gmail.com and I will invite you.  SO MUCH FUN!!!  I just love seeing others ideas and creativity!!!

Funky Vintage Lovely

I found this amazing store through a blog that I follow.  You have to check her adorable jewelry out.  www.funkyvintagelovely.com

I have ordered a few things and waiting for them to arrive.  I also placed an order for Bryson's teacher for the end of the year.  I can't wait for them to arrive!!!!

These are my favorite and what I ordered:

For me!  Love this because one I need this saying and two you can separate them:)

For me!

For the Teacher!!!

Menu Board with Apron Hook

I am a big meal planner...I plan every week.  They are not always complex meals but they feed the family.  I used to print a menu for the frig but I figured there was a way to save time and printing cost.  I also had nowhere to put my apron.  I would hang it on the coat rack but it was too far away for me to use consistently.

So this is what I came up with.

I bought a picture frame that could be drilled for a hole.
I drilled the whole for the my knob.  I just picked out a knob from Home Depot that I liked.
I took a picture of the piece of fabric that I liked one my apron.  I put it into IPhoto and then designed my sheet in Powerpoint.  Then I printed to make sure it was what I wanted.  I LOVE IT!
I put the menu in the frame and hung it on the wall.  Now I can use a dry erase marker and write my menu for the week and have my apron in arms reach!!!

It adds a cute touch to the kitchen too!

Mosquito Plant

So my mother-in-law was at Eastern Market and one of the vendors was telling her about the Mosquito Plant- so I bought a few for outside.  This way we can actually enjoy being outdoors this year.

Here is a website with some info about it:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2237704_use-mosquito-plants.html

Spring Cleaning Week 3

This week was focused a lot on the basement and getting ready for the garage sale.

• Cleaned the upstairs windows
• Declutter Basement
• Got ready for our garage sale- sorted through clothes and toys
• Made a trip to Salvation Army
• Cleaned Refrigerator
• Planted Hostas on the side of the house
• Planted Garden
• Front of the house landscape

The landscape could not have happen with out the help of my husband and father in law - they pretty much did everything I helped with the mulch:)

Tomato, Mozzarella & Basil Salad

I LOVE this yummy combination of foods. It is light and refreshing too.

 

Ingredients

• 6 small tomatoes (4 medium)
• 1 pound fresh mozzarella
• 10 to 15 basil leaves
• 3 tablespoons good olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella and arrange casually with the basil leaves on a large platter. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve at room temperature.

I like to add some balsamic vinegar too- my fav!

 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/tomato-mozzarella-and-basil-salad-recipe/index.html

Spring Cleaning Week 2

A little late on this post but here is what I accomplished last week...yes a little behind schedule but I will get it done.

• Wiped down the hallways walls and stairway.
• Cleaned the garage and reorganized- now I still need to get out there and throw away stuff but it looks SO much better.  I just have to keep my hubby out to keep it organized:)
• Threw away those miscellaneous toys in the garage.
• Washed and put away all the Winter Gear- GOODBYE! 
• Cleaned the downstairs windows

We were outside a lot this week so the sun took over my life.  Next week should be better.

Spring Cleaning Week 1

So I made some progress in my spring cleaning but not in the order I thought I would do them.

• I cleaned out the upstairs bathroom and the linen closet.  I threw away old meds, bath toys (my kids like showers now and those toys just get so nasty), scrubbed down the walls and floors, sink and toliet.
• Cleaned and reorganized Keelin's room and closet.  Got lots of stuff out of her room for our garage sale.
• Cleaned and reorganized Bryson's room and closet.  He wanted to keep SO much stuff but we managed to clean some stuff out for the garage sale plus put away clothes he has grown out of.
• Our room- rearranged and some what cleaned out our closet.  Washed ALL our bedding- Mattress Cover, Heated Mattress Cover, Duvet Cover...So refreshing!
• Hallway Closet- Reorganized and washed all our winter gear and put it away for the summer!  I still need to get a basket to complete this project for the workout DVDs I have in there.
• Cleaned and reorganized the kitchen and wiped down the cabinets and walls.
• Cleaned and wiped down the walls in the dining room.

It was a start to a great feeling of organization and cleanliness!!!!  HAPPY SPRING!!!