the weekend + some things.

do you have any plans for the weekend? i will be thinking about all of our friends and family who live in the northeast and who are buckling down in preparation of hurricane irene. i know my sister has already evacuated from her beach house. i hope and pray all are safe and well.

since we are not expected to receive any of the predicted storms, the girls and i will be cheering on slade and his team at the first football game of the season on saturday. and, i plan working on a few small projects around the house. maybe I can even get my kids to help.

whatever your plans, i hope you enjoy the weekend and be safe if your in the path of hurricane irene. here are some things you might enjoy this weekend too-

diy - easy flower garland
a new braid to try
a breakfast banana split... yum!
crazy wall art
mood boards to love
create a fun lunch for the kids

hope the weekend is a good one!

have you seen this yet?

of course... i seriously want to make this. how very cool and fun! my kids will absolutely love this art project. i first saw it here.

{image via whatever}

cookies and cream cupcakes.

just before the school year began, we got together with some of our closest friends to celebrate the last weekend of our summer break. i was asked to bring along a dessert to share and when i saw these cookies and cream cupcakes via bakerella, i knew the kids would love them, especially mine. not only is there a whole oreo cookie on top of each cupcake, but there is a whole oreo cookie inside too! you definitely must try these! the recipe and directions can be found here.

personal note: the recipe says it makes at least 12 cupcakes. i had enough batter to make 12 regular-size cupcakes and 24 mini cupcakes. i used bite-size oreos for the mini-cupcakes-inside and on top.

just because...

he is soooo cute!!

my little boy slade is playing football this year and he looks so darn cute in his uniform i can hardly stand it. (i know slade would rather me say he looks tough, but cute he is!!)

already sunday.

hope your weekend has been happy! it's already sunday evening and i am feeling like the weekend has truly flown by. although we have been back in school for almost a month now and it really feels like it should be fall, it is still very hot here. all weekend long, i have been dreaming about being back on the beach.

whatever you're dreaming about or doing this weekend, i hope it's been happy!!

right now loving... baubles by the handful
and amazed by sticker walls
exactly what i wanted to do to my dining room chairs.
and, i am such a fan of white in the kitchen
i bet sia would love this donut sandwich
do you look like any of your relatives?
i will be stopping by home depot to pick this up

hello monday. hello happy moments.

don't you just love moments when your children seem so extremely happy and content? when even eating an ice cream cone turns into an absolutely hysterical event. lately it seems, my children have been so very silly and giggly together. they love to make one another laugh and love to see who can be the silliest. i love all the laughter. and i love to remember wonderfully happy weekend moments again on monday. hello monday. hello simple happiness.

back to school: for the teachers.

we gave these giant calculators to the teachers during the first week of school. this clever idea (via eighteen25) was the perfect gift to give, especially since all three of my children are very happy to be back in school and already loving each of their teachers. we found the giant calculators at the dollar store (yes.. just a dollar!) and the tags are printable here.

do your children like to give their teachers a back to school gift?

homemade waffle cones.

since my entire family loves ice cream and we always have it in our freezer, last week i decided to make homemade vanilla waffle cones. with this recipe and a pizzelle iron, they really were extremely easy to make. i don't think i will ever buy another box of ice cream cones again.

good morning monday.

good morning first day back to preschool for sia.

to my husband.

happy anniversary to my amazing husband.

can you believe it's been nine years already?
(i am so excited that you are coming back home tonight to me!!)
i love you... XO

back to school.

two of my three children headed back to school this morning. both slade and elle were anxious, excited and nervous as they waited for the school bus this morning. although, we've done this before, i was still a little sad to see them go off for the day. the house seems strangely quiet and empty. now, i am anxiously waiting for the school bus to arrive again this afternoon. i cannot wait to see their smiling faces and to hear all about their first day back at school.