Goodwill Redo

So, did you ever buy anything that in the moment seemed really really cool?

That is what I thought about these wood printed pieces when I bought them..

75% off at Goodwill which was changing locations and having a massive sale.

 I brought these beauts home with me for under $1.00 each. 

And then when I got home I had a WWIT (What Was I Thinking) moment. 

I tried to rationalized by telling myself maybe they were just not my style.

So, I offered them up to my two BFF's

And when they both said, "Umm..that's not really my style"

I realized that they were really not that cool! 

So, I looked in my fabric supply and found two great Amy Butler prints that I had been meaning to use in our bedroom for a project, and stared at the one giant white wall that needed something colorful...

Floating Buds Grey and Lotus Water Lilly Grey

Got out my hot glue gun and went to town. I did not use any batting underneath because I was not looking for the "poofy" look. 

they look awesome hanging in our room! More to come on that later..

Fox River Park

So..apparently picnics in October are fairly common.

I spent an entire day trying to reserve a park pavilion

for Lilly and Elise's birthday party.

These are some pictures of Fox River Park

Now..just  hoping for good weather!

right now its a whole lot of brown..

when I am done with it, it will be a a whole lot of 

PINK! 

Baby Toys

One of the big things I have learned about having babies is that they love toys.  Lilly and Elise have 2 baskets full, but for some reason on some days they would much rather play with Tupperware, wooden spoons, ice cube trays, remotes, pillows, shoes, etc. Basically anything that is not a toy is really the best toy to them. But, on other days they love their little books, blocks, and stuffed toys.

Spending full price on baby/kids toys can really add up These are some of the deals that I have gotten!
These toys are SO cute :)

Fisher Price Laugh and Learn: Story Book Rhymes

Retails at Babies R US $17.99

My mom got this at a garage sale for under $1.00

Fisher Price Classics Chatter Phone

Retails at Babies R US $15.99

FREE from a co-worker (and its pink :)

Lamaze Musical Inchworm

Babies R US $15.99

Garage Sale $1.00

Infantino Tag Along Chime Trio

Babies R US $12.99

Garage Sale $1.00

The World of Eric Carle Developmental Ladybug Toy

Babies R US $14.99

Garage sale in Michigan $0.25!!!!Brand NEW!

Little Tykes Discover Sounds Guitar

Amazon $16.98

Garage Sale $1.00

Fisher Price Little Super Star Classical Stacker

Amazon $14.10

FREE from a co-worker

If I would have spent full price on these toys I would have spent

$109.03

My total out of pocket cost was $4.25

OVER $100.00 SAVINGS!!!!

Publish Post

Tiny Mullet

I tried to comb Elise's tiny mullet over to the side on Sunday before church

it just kept getting funnier 

Faith

Whenever I stop fully trusting in God..He finds ways of showing me that He is always in control and that His plan is far more amazing than I could have ever imagined. I was just complaining to telling a friend yesterday about how I was frustrated by the lack of response for the Toy Drive that I was organizing. I thought with all of the people that I know that have kids I would have a van full of toys right now to give to the Milwaukee Women's Center. God showed me today that he does not need all of the people that I know to touch the lives of the hurting and poor. He only needs a special few.

One of those special few came into an extra $75.00. I know that there is a great story behind how she came into this money, which when I hear the full story I will share with all of you. The long and short of it is this;  she could have taken that money and done a hundred different things. Pedicure, shopping, gas, food..the list goes on. But she didn't. She emailed me and told me that she had signed the check over to me to use for the  Toy Drive. WOW!

God, thank you for always showing me that I could do NOTHING with out You! Help me to trust you first, before I start to doubt what I know was your direction in my life. I am a work in progress..

"If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you. Luke 17:6

More Deals

1. Glass canister 50 cents

2. Slightly weird faux birds 75 cents 

3. Scrap booking paper 5 for $1.00

4. THE BEST DEAL EVER. I researched this on Amazon when I got home. 

It currently retails for $67.79!

Hello. 

I paid $5.00

One of the Many Reasons

that I am 100% still in love with Russ. One word. Flowers.

                                         

                                

and what is even more impressive is that he got to the flower place 15 minutes after they closed. The owner was outside taking care of the landscaping and he talked him into re-opening to get flowers. impressive. Nothing says it like a badge..
Kidding..I am pretty sure he did not use his badge..but that would have really added to the story..

speaking of flowers..I would love to win this! Check it out at
LittleMissMomma

Toy Drive for Milwaukee Women's Shelter

I am organizing a toy drive for the Milwaukee Women's Center, which
provides services and treatment for women, men, and children whose
lives have been affected by domestic violence, substance abuse, mental
health issues and poverty. 


 Milwaukee Women’s Center provides emergency care to women and
children fleeing abusive relationships. The Emergency Shelter operates
24 hours per day, seven days a week and provides emergency
transportation, safe housing, meals and personal items. While in
Shelter women benefit from counseling and support groups that address
domestic violence, mental health, addiction and healthy parenting.
Children receive special services and support through the Children’s
Program. The Shelter also provides fully accessible accommodations to
meet the unique needs of older abused women. The goal of the shelter
is to provide consumer-focused support and advocacy to help
individuals and families transition out of abusive relationships. You
can read more about the services provided at  www.mwcinc.org. 
They are always in need of infant and children's toys, as most women
and children that come to the shelter leave home with nothing but the
clothes on their backs. The director of MWC informed me that they
almost never have enough toys for the children that are at the
shelter. So, lets help them :) 


They are in need of new or gently used infant and toddler toys.
Stuffed animals must be new due to allergy's etc. She also told me
that they would be able to use books for children, new or gently used
clothing for children age 10 or under, and blankets (All clean and
folded). 


Target  and Walmart have great deals on toys, many for under $5.00
each, as does the Dollar Tree and even garage sales..Please help with
whatever you are able! I will be dropping off all of the donations to MWC on August 1. 


If you live in Milwaukee contact me to arrange picking up donations.
If you live anywhere else: Feel free to ship donations either to myself or directly to the Women's Shelter 
(address is located on their website) Walmart offers 94 cent shipping on many items :)


Thank you!
Heather

Red Box

We have just discovered Red Box.
I am not a huge movie or TV fan, but if I am going to sit at night and watch something
I would rather have it be something with out commercials..
and that I did not spend a lot of money on..

So, $1.00 movies are perfect!
Red Box locations are everywhere..perfect for long car trips..just find the red box on your way
and trade out movies..

Hoot Hoot!

I am having a blast planning Elise and Lilly's 1st birthday party. I realize that they will have NO recollection of this event, its much more for Russ and I. Its a way of saying "thank you" to all of the many friends that have helped us through the hardest year of our lives! Its a WE SURVIVED party..

and I love fall.the smell of leaves, apple cider, chunky sweaters...its my favorite season, so what better way to kick off fall then a party with our friends!

These are some of the things that have inspired me so far..

Tova's party

Tissue paper is about the easiest most inexpensive way to decorate 

You can get 30 sheets for a $1.00 at the dollar store

Invites from kottageon5th

Seriously..could they be any cuter

Baby food jar favors (I have been saving my jars thinking that

I would use them for something...)

with cute labeled lids..

dollface charms

24 for $2.99

you can design them anyway you want! 

And last but not least..

I know..it just makes you smile..

that is why I love them..

Jamie's Shower

I am very bummed that I am working today

because I am missing my friend Jamie's baby shower.

But I made her some fun girly things and sent them to the shower..

you simply can't have enough burp clothes

and its really hard to find absorbent ones that don't fall apart

so I sewed cute fabric on cloth diapers

and then..

I decided to go a little over the top..

and a whole lot of tulle later..

just tulle knotted on elastic..could not be more simple

I lined the top with blanket binding for a more finished look

I clipped a hair clip from hblackberry for a little added detail

I am making Lilly and Elise each one of these for their 1st birthday party

9 Month Stats

I have no idea where the last 9 months have gone. Seriously. In three months my babies will be one year! (a preview of the party we are throwing later..)
The girls and doing great developmentally

Lilly
Height: 29 inches (this is the max allowed for their car seats..time to start shopping..) 90% percentile
Weight: 17.12 lbs 35% percentile


Elise
Height: 23 3/4 inches 75 percentile
Weight: 17.4 lbs 25 % percentile


At first I was concerned about their low weight percentiles but my doctor assured me that this is normal as babies start crawling and eating finger foods. They are burning off an enormous amount of calories and not taking in as many as eating baby food. Both girls would rather feed themselves than eat baby food. Lilly has 2 teeth and Elise is getting two but they are not through yet. I am so thankful for healthy, happy babies!

Farewell Facebook

for now. I am realizing that I know WAY too much about people I almost never see and I am not spending enough time in person or on the phone with the people that mean the most to me. Facebook is also extremely time consuming. You start looking at someones picture who had a baby, which leads to reading the captions on each picture, which makes you notice someone else you know in their picture, which sends you to that person's profile to see what they have been up to...and so it goes..

speaking of people that mean the most to me...or should I say the God the I live for. How did my quiet time with Jesus get put on the back burner to browsing the web? I am not sure..but its time for that to change.  Its easy to say that I am "so busy with twin babies" as my excuse not to have daily devotions, go out of my way for Russ, serve in my community, exercise, etc. So, I am getting back to living for an audience of One.  I was listening to a Marriage Today podcast on my way to Michigan and one of the comments that stuck in my mind was this, "Boring Christians are the worst advertisement for a Great God." How true! Facebook makes me boring! I need to be living out my own dreams and adventures..not reading about other peoples (this is my same TV philosophy) So here we go!

If you share in our days through our blog, thanks for reading! Feel free to comment or share your stories and insight.