Congrats, Grads!

The Minis are growing up! *sniff*

Yesterday Fresh graduated from nursery, and Chick graduated from kindergarten. Way to go, guys! We're very proud of both of you!

Congrats grads! Let the summer begin!

p.s. Speaking of summer, Gymboree is having a super sale on shorts and tanks for $4.99 and under!

First Ceili & Pin Curl Results

The Ceili (pronounced "kaylee") was a blast! Chicky was so cute and did a great job!

I was worried about her hair, but the curls came out great and lasted all day and night (even after coming home and riding bikes with a helmet, she went to bed curly).

Chicky got lots of compliments on her dancing and her hair (some people thought it was a wig).

Way to go, Chicky! We're so proud!

p.s. Next year I'm buying a wig (that was a LOT of work).

Wish Chicky Luck (and, how to make Irish Pin Curls)

Tomorrow is her first Ceili (Irish dance recital). She went to bed with over 80 curlers in her hair (poor little thing!).

Since Chicky is a beginner who has not yet competed in a feis (pronounced "fesh"), we haven't purchased a wig (which is what most Irish dancers wear). So, in the tradition of Irish dance, we attempted to make our own pin curls.

I'm not sure if our technique will work, but after surveying some been-there-done-that moms, here is the system we used:

1. Start with dry hair.


2. Part hair as close to the way it will be worn as possible (in our case, she will be wearing a headband, so I just went with her natural part).


3. Use spike rollers, thin bendy rollers, or the smallest sponge rollers you can find (what we did).


4. Have a comb, styling gel or setting lotion, and a cup of water ready.


5. Gather a tiny section of hair (as small as a dime on the scalp), and dip the comb in the water.


6. Comb the piece of hair to make it damp, and then put a tiny dot of setting lotion or gel on your fingers and smooth it down the piece of hair.


7. Hold the tip of the piece of hair on the curler and roll it up vertically. Clip it tightly to the scalp, but not so tight that it hurts.


8. Repeat until the entire head is completed.
   Note: This process takes about an hour. I gave her a quick stretching break every 15 curlers. :)


9. When complete, spray the entire head with a generous amount of hairspray.


10. Blow dry until you cannot find any damp pieces (pay special attention to those near the nape of the neck).


11. Let her sleep on it. Some girls like to wear a hair net or pair of underpants on their head to keep the curlers from falling out. Chicky did not want anything over her curlers, so I'm crossing my fingers that they stay in.
    
12. In the morning, spray the whole head with more hairspray and blowdry.


13. Remove the curlers, starting at the bottom near the neck, and work upward.

Fingers crossed that this process worked! I will post an "after" picture tomorrow. We did a trial run earlier in the week (without the blow drying) and found that some curls were still damp and fell right out.

Chicky was a very good sport, but I can see this process getting old quickly. If she sticks with Irish dancing we'll be sure to purchase a wig next season.

Slainte!

Still Recovering from Easter

Pardon my absenteeism. This post was supposed to be here yesterday, but blogspot kept crashing on me. Hmm.

Anyway, I hope you all had a great Easter. We're still recovering from the weekend, 3 days later.

Saturday went by in a whirlwind, and before I knew it, it was 11 something at night and I was still hemming Freshy's suit. By the time my head hit the pillow I was completely wiped and drifted quickly into a deep sleep. Unfortunately, I was awoken just as quickly by Fresharinski jumping on my belly to inform me that the Easter bunny was hopping around downstairs.

"He is weally big and makes a lot of thumps, you know, Mommy. I keep hearing him thumping."

After an hour or so I managed to convince him that he should get back into his own bed just in case the Easter bunny were to check on how many kids live here. I told him if the bunny didn't see two kids, he might only fill one basket.

Okay, so maybe it was slightly mean to imply that a big bunny would be creeping around our house after I already knew his imagination runs wild. What can I say? Desperate times call for desperate measures. Little man was back in his bed in no time, and Mommy was fast asleep. That is, until, Fresh thought he heard the bunny again.

And again.

And again.

Finally, around 5 a.m., I gave up and did what any good parent would do. I scrambled for the remote and put on the first show that vaguely resembled kid TV (remember, it was barely 5 a.m.).

At 6:30 I let him wake Chicky. Unlike Freshy, she loves her sleep and it took a bit to wake her.

We had a great Easter, despite the lack of sleep, and both kids were thrilled to celebrate the day.

The Easter bunny brought Freshy a little crocodile and Chicky an Eaglet (in her purse).

We had gorgeous weather and enjoyed an outdoor Easter egg hunt and time with the fam.

Happy Spring!

Thank goodness the next holiday is MOTHER'S DAY!!! WOO HOO!!!

Removing Easter Egg Dye from Hands

Happy Easter Saturday! The Easter preparations are underway.

After enjoying a morning at the park, the Minis were thrilled to come home and dye Easter eggs. Unfortunately, Freshy has not mastered using an egg dipper, and resorted to sticking his hands in the cup. The results:

If only he were wearing green tomorrow. Unfortunately, I didn't think this look would work with his seersucker suit and watermelon tie.

To clean his hands I first tried antibacterial foaming handwash. It made zero difference (actually, they looked a bit brighter green!).

Second, I tried dish detergent, and his hands still looked like they belonged to a mutant Smurf Hulk boy (and this was after some serious scrubbing):

Lastly, I made a thick paste with baking soda, and it worked great. There is still a slight tint in the hard-to-scrub crevices, but I'm hoping a bath will finish it off:

Thankfully, Chicky is a much neater egg-dipper. Now, if only baking soda would remove the "learning-to-ride-a-bike-with-no-training-wheels" marks:

Have a wonderful Easter!

What I Meant to Say Wednesday

The doorbell just rang. It was our neighbor, Steve. He brought us these:

What I said:

Thank you so much! That was so nice of you!

What I meant to say:

MARRY ME!!!!!!

Pillow Sham Project

Freshy's bed has a hand made tractor quilt. The person that made it for him gave me a TON of left over fabric. I am going to attempt to make some sort of a quilted pillow sham, and maybe a throw pillow or two.

This is the tutorial I am going to attempt to follow:
Pretty Patchwork Pillow Sham Tutorial

I will post pictures as I go. Wish me luck (I'll be sure to need it)!

Bunk Beds: Night 1

He did it! Daddy-O worked long and hard, but finished the bunk bed assembly just in time for the Minis' bedtime routine.

We went over bunk bed rules and came up with:

• Always use the ladder.
• Never stand or jump on the top bunk.
• Never pee on the top bunk.
• Never let a dinosaur in the house.
• Never share your bed with a peacock because it might peck you.
• Never try to fly out the window from the top bunk.

The kids slept well, but took a looooooong time to fall asleep.

Off to guzzle some coffee (and chase it with a few Diet Cokes). Happy Sunday!

Hooray for Bunk Bed Day!

As I type this Daddy-O is assembling the Minis' super cool Maxtrix bunk beds. They are beyond excited...who am I kidding? So am I!

This is pretty much the set we got (with two drawers under and shelf for the top bunk):

The only difference is our set has ball-shaped finials. For any locals, we ordered our set from Bedrooms on Route 1 in Saugus, MA. We worked with Luke and he gave us a very reasonable price.

We sold the old bed frames a couple of weeks ago, so the kids have been sleeping on mattresses. Although they have had fun with it, I am happy to be getting them back into a bed. I am also happy that I no longer need to explain to teachers, strangers at the grocery store, and neighborhood kids' moms what Freshy means when he says "are we sleeping on the floor again" or "will we sleep on the floor forever, Mommy?"

Stay tuned for actual pics. Right now Daddy-O is plugging his way through 13 boxes of white boards to assemble. I better make him an Irish coffee before he gets grumpy. ;)

Easter Attire Hunt Ended Prematurely

A few weeks back I posted about how the Easter attire hunt was on. I was looking at top designer brands on ebay, scoping out the perfect matching outfits for the Minis. I searched and searched and found two dresses that I was about to bid on when the mission was prematurely aborted by Mimi Fashionista (aka, my mother).

Mimi Fashionista, who is very shoportunistic (especially when it comes to the Minis), heard that her precious darlings did not yet have Easter outfits. Imagine? A month before Easter and they didn't have outfits? Shame on me. Thank goodness the world didn't end. ;) She immediately set out on a mad shopping trip.

The outfits are not designer labels. Nor are they a custom creations. They are not from Europe, or even a trendy shop on Newbury Street. They weren't even on sale. They ARE, however,

totally.

utterly.

cute.

Gymboree Tulip Dress - on sale now for $24.79!

Beige and cream-striped seersucker suit with white dress shirt and salmon sailboat tie -

on sale at Target for $22.49!

I would like to take this opportunity to inform my readers that, although I do love finding $200 Susanne Lively dresses for $25 on ebay; and, although I do love dressing my kids in fashions that well exceed my budget, my # 1 kiddo fashion rule is and always will be--nothing is a better value than free, so never turn down a grandmother's charity.

Besides, it keeps them happy!

p.s. She's giving me her Gymbucks, too! Woo hoo!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow Party Theme

One of my favorite cousins is planning a party for her little girl's 4th birthday. Her daughter has requested a "Wizard of Oz" theme.

Since I live for opportunites to brainstorm overly themey kid party ideas, I have jumped on this opportunity to supply her with some unsolicited party planning tips. So, strap on your seatbelts, here we go:

Invitations
It's pretty easy to find rainbow printer paper at office supply stores, Wal-Mart, and Target. Even easier, an evite might do the trick!

Here's a sample wording idea to give either invite that "Oz" touch:

Calling All Munchkins!
Follow the yellow brick road to _____'s 4th Birthday!
at the Emerald City
123 Main Street
Sometown, MA 01234
RSVP to the Great and Mysterious Oz at
emailaddress@email.com or 781-555-5555.

Or, search for "wizard of oz invitations" at ebay and etsy for some adorable custom invites.

Party Supplies

Make your own using rainbow-colored decorations and red glittery confetti, or buy decorations at the local party store (they're easy to find).

Alternatively, you can order online at places like http://www.birthdayexpress.com/.

Click here for Birthday Express coupon codes.

Be warned, if you order from them, you will receive enough catalogues in the future to kill 10 redwood trees!

Activities

• Rainbow Pinata: Quick, easy, affordable fun. Who doesn't love a pinata?
• Craft: Decorate wands, make lion masks out of paper plates, or make lollipop scarecrows.
• Coloring Pages: Click here for free Wizard of Oz coloring pages.
• Games: Limbo under the wicked witch's broom, play the magic wand goes round and round (instead of a ball, pass a sparkly good witch wand), or freeze dance to "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" or "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

Ambiance

• Music: Use Grooveshark or Playlist to create a Wizard of Oz playlist, or play the movie on your tv.
• BUBBLES! It would be pretty cool to rent or borrow a bubble machine to place outside your front door when the guests arrive (in honor of Glinda the Good Witch, of course).
• Costumes: If you have 'em, wear 'em! If you don't, they are pretty cheap and easy to find, as they are very popular at Halloween. Check e-bay and your local party store or thrift shop.

Cake

We bought this rainbow cupcake pull-apart cake from our local Shaws for Chicky's 5th birthday. It was a big hit and easy to serve. For a Wizard of Oz flare, eliminate the party hats and add some figurines or tiny ruby slippers.

Here's a link to some homemade Wizard of Oz cake ideas.

Or, you can check out your local supermarket. I am pretty sure I have seen a pretty cute Dorothy cake in the sample books.

Favor Ideas

• Swirly large Lollipop Guild-style pops.
• Sparkly wands (check the Christmas Tree Shops, as they regularly have them there for very affordable prices).
• Bubbles
• Little baskets (Toto style) filled with treats (e.g., Wizard of Oz stickers, little stuffed dogs, Wizard of Oz fruit snacks, rainbow anything, etc.).

Best wishes for an Ozalicious party! Send the birthday girl our best!

What I Meant to Say Wednesday: Volume 1

What I said...

To Miss Teacher at the Minis' school:

Did the kiddos have a good day?

What I meant to say...

Please tell me that my children did not hit, kick, tackle, or pinch other children. Likewise, it would be just fabulous to hear that they did not sneer at or act cheeky towards the teachers, climb on anything they weren't supposed to, pee or poop somewhere they shouldn't have, or rattle off any words that they sure as hell heck couldn't have picked up in our home.

GoodNites Bedtime Theater Kit Review & Giveaway

My friend Kmama over at The Daily Dribbles has reviewed the GoodNites Bedtime Theater Kit, and is holding a contest to give away the following:

The kit (valued at approximately $175) includes:

• An iPod Shuffle
• A $25 iTunes gift card
• Logitech speakers
• A Brookstone Cuddle blanket, and
• A Patagonia bag

Click HERE to learn how to enter.

Once you read the details on how to enter, you'll be on to me.

BUT, I promise, this isn't just a shameless attempt at a contest entry. It's a plug for a pretty great blog, too! Check her out.

Bostonians: Primigi Sale at the Red Wagon

A little bird (aka "Mimi Fashionista") told me that the Red Wagon on Newbury Street in Boston is having a Primigi shoe sale starting tomorrow. I do not have any details about the length of the sale, but Mimi mentioned prices in the $35-40 range.

The Red Wagon

A Fire Fighter Fourth for Fresh

Freshy has been loving fire fighters ever since they visited his preschool a few months back. It was his idea to have a party at the fire station!

I felt silly, but called the local fire department to ask if it would be possible to bring the kids by to climb on a truck, or even to take some pics with one. The generous Lieutenant invited us all down for a behind the scenes tour. It was fantastic (and FREE, except for a small donation that they didn't even ask for)!

The fire fighters taught us about fire safety and also gave us a full run down of each of the rooms and vehicles.

Each of the kids got to slide down the pole (1/2 way)!

After the party we had a pinata and cake at our house. Not only was this a fun and affordable party, we all learned a lot, too!


Thank you, Windham Fire Department and Fire Fighter Pat!

Happy St. Paddy's Day & Happy 4th B-Day to Freshy!

May you live a long life full of gladness and health,

With a pocket full of gold as the least of your wealth.

May the dreams you hold dearest be those that come true,

The kindness you spread, keep returning to you.

Fashionable Cupcakes

I am a novice baker. I confess that these cupcakes came from a box mix (funfetti, to boot!).

However, I followed (umm, more like copied) my friend's piped frosting, and it made a world of difference in my typically messy cupcakes. I have attempted piped frosting in the past, but never successfully.

• I used the buttercream frosting recipe on the back of the box of confectionary sugar (but melted the butter and added an extra 1/2 box of sugar).
• Then, I mixed the frosting with the hand mixer for a good 5 minutes.
• I scooped some into a baggy and cut a tiny hole in the tip. Well, actually, I cut a large hole (it seemed small at the time) and had to use the opposite corner and frosting was pouring all over my hand from the first too-big hole. Whatevs.
• Lastly, I slowly piped it on. Voila!

More Finds for Little Buckaroos!

The room is starting to take shape. Hooray!

We are working with the existing Nantucket white bureaus and mirror, and we are making subtle changes to better use the small space. Daddy-o has added a fresh coat of pale butter yellow paint to the walls, and white to the trim. I'll post pictures once our bunk beds are in.

I found the perfect lamp at The Christmas Tree Shop for $14.99! It is white wood with a thick straw basket weave shade. The shade was too beachy, so I painted it with a sample of Benjamin Moore courtyard green. Here are the results:

We also hung the big horse painting over the wide bureau (pic to come) and moved the mirror over the small bureau (so that the kids have an easier time looking in the mirror):

Check out the cuteness for over the door. The seller is going to add an "s" on the end:

Listed on etsy for $10 by designaline.

The Minis' "Mini" Bedroom Makeover - Teaser

The consensus is in. The Minis' new bedroom theme will be: "Little Buckaroos."

It wasn't easy to find a theme that works for both a girl and a boy. Those that know Chicky & Fresh can probably guess that tractors and horses may have had something to do with this (they are both just a tad obsessed).

Let the fun begin--I am now on the hunt for: lamp shades, quilts, and wall decorations.

I will share each piece as I find them, starting with the piece that inspired the theme.

GINORMOUS Horse Painting:

Faux Oil Painting found at Homegoods for $40.

This One's for the Boys (Receiving First Holy Communion)

I was at a jewelry party Friday night at my friend "Martha's" house, when I heard some moms venting about the high prices and limited selection of boy's First Communion suits.

In stores the suits are priced around $75 (basic polyester) to $150 (light wool). Online, stores such as http://www.catholicchildrenscompany.com/ and http://www.theperfectpear.com/ offer basic white single-breasted suits (jacket, vest, pants, and tie) at the lower-end of the price spectrum ($73 and $78); However, those prices do not account for the additional $10 fee for sizes 10 and larger, or for the cost of shipping and handling.

Some other online boutiques make claims like "70% Off First Communion Outfits." Upon getting to their sites the suits are priced pretty cheap (e.g., $40), but they charge so much for each size over 5, that between the shipping and size charges, the price is still around $80.

Where are the bargains?

The only bargain store in which I have spotted white suits for boys is the Burlington Coat Factory. However, I have heard the supplies are dwindling and interested shoppers should get there fast (as in-TODAY!).

Other Options:

• Friends and family: I'm thinking white suits do not typically get more than one or two uses (the big day and a picture day). Finding a white suit for a 7 or 8-yr old boy that does NOT have a stain will be the trick.


• Consignment: Call and visit local consignment stores.


• E-bay: Score! There are many new with tags suits listed by several sellers, ranging in price from $39-49! The best part--free shipping! There are also HUNDREDS of used "like new" suits for sale for very cheap prices. This might be the best bet for finding a higher quality (light wool) suit at a low price.

Gino white Communion 5-piece suit listed for $44.99-49.99 by Fairytailes (free shipping).

• Google your fingertips off. There has to be better deals out there, but they will take some digging. If I find an awesome deal I will add an update. If any readers know of any, please send an e-mail to minifashionistas@comcast.net (as the "comments" functionality is currently not working).

Hair Pretties

One of my favorite places to order hairbows is etsy.

Custom artisans offer a wide range of colors, sizes, styles, and prices (starting at under $1). I like to go to the etsy site, search for "hair bows" and then sort using price, low to high. I usually find what I'm looking for fairly quickly.

When I do not find what I'm looking for...

• If color is the issue I select a bow style that works and I contact the seller to request what I need. Typically sellers are happy to accommodate custom requests.
• If it is a completely custom bow I am looking for, I open an alchemy request. Alchemy requests allow buyers to request a particular item at a particular price. Etsy sellers will then bid on the request. For example, if I were to request a bow to match an outfit, I would include a picture of the outfit, the size and style of the bow I'm looking for, and the price I am willing to pay for it. Within hours I am typically flooded with e-mails containing all sorts of gorgeous designs to choose from.

Here are a few bows I found while browsing:

Easteresque

A sweet bow with a cute bunny button. Perfect for Easter fashionistas!

Listed for $3 by My Monday's Child.

A Bit of Whimsy

Paisley birds are all the rage in the baby fasion and design world. What a fun touch this would add to a spring outfit!

Listed for $3 by The Pickled Pumpkin

Made to Match Gymbo

If you are looking for a bow to match a Gymboree outfit, simply search "M2MG bows." You will not be disappointed. Gybmoree shoppers must be custom bow lovers, as there are always a ton of M2MG bows to choose from. The following clippy bows were made to match the peachy pink and soft green colors of the Gymbo tulip line.

Listed for $5 by Aerochick.

The Easter Attire Hunt Has Begun

What I've decided:
To stay under $30 per outfit per child.

What I've discovered:
There are lots of dresses in the stores for $30; however, I don't like any of them.

What I'm doing about it:
Scouring ebay for the following brands:
Florence Eiseman, Anavini, Biscotti, Strasburg Children (heirloom), Hartstrings, Therese, Susanne Lively, Sarah Louise, and Willbeth.

p.s.
Dear Children's Place,
Please stop bedazzling your girls' clothes.
Thank you,
Mommy Fashionista

Some Spring Sale Action

Enjoy a Saturday morning comfy-cozy in your pajamas, sipping your favorite warm beverage, and shopping these great sales:

• Nordstrom's Shoe Clearance Event
• Hanna Andersson Dress & Swim Sale
• Children's Place - 15% Off Spring Pass

Happy Weekend!

Return of the Mini Fashionistas!

Just in time for spring, we are back!

Sorry for the hiatus, folks. I have a super good excuse:
Work has been hectic.
The minis keep getting sick.
Our dog ate the keyboard.
Blogspot does not get along with my computer.
I have the attention span of a goldfish.

I hope you will all pardon my several-month disappearance. I am excited to get back to blogging. I am bubbling over with things to share!

In the coming days I will be posting links to spring sales and coupon codes, this year's latest in Easter fashion, and the mini's bedroom makeover project.

Freshy and Chicky have spent our time away growing

together in friendship and brotherly and sisterly love. Ahhh...they're so sweet.

Brings a tear to their Mommy's eyes.