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by: Kara Noel Lawson

Birthday Cupcake Dessert

(Tutu made by Cheri. Check her out here.)
A few cupcakes + sprinkles + awesome cake plate + whimsy candles =
Kick a&$ Birthday Dinner Dessert!

Cora made this funny face the whole time we sang to her…

She got used to the whole thing as soon as she had a cupcake in her hand…

It’s so easy to make birthday’s special for you little ones! She’ll have a party on another day but on her actual brithday we always do something!
(Since Cora’s bday is on Valentines, we have another tradition I’ll share tomorrow… and I’m going to want your opinion if you have a holiday birthday in your family!!)
Do you do a birthday dessert or something else special on your kiddo’s actual Birthday?
(If you have a post about it leave the link in the comments! I would love to get ideas!)

by: Kara Noel Lawson

Blogs I love button!

Instead of having the blogs I read in my sidebar I’m giving them a button.
“Why?” (you ask)
Easier to keep updated!!
So from now on just click on this little beauty to see the blogs I frequent!

I promise you’ll adore them!!

The best thing for you do would be to visit each of them and add them to your reader 🙂

 

My all time favorite blog…

Great blogs in no particular order…

by: Kara Noel Lawson

Happy Cora Jane Day!

Two years ago today Hot Hubby and I received the
best Valentines Day gift ever.
Cora Jane
 8 pounds 6 ounces of pure snuggle.
She still totally rules!
In case you celebrate whatever (lame) holiday it is today…
here is a simple garland you can make this afternoon!
Cut felt hearts and sew right down the center. I ran them through once with red and again with pink. Love it!

by: Kara Noel Lawson

Hand into Heart – Valentine’s Day Craft

I love this sweet Valentine’s Day craft!
So simple.
And it doubles as a V-Day decoration and childhood keepsake.
Kinda like the Hand print Turkeys!

~Paint one sweet little hand like this:

~Stamp. (I did Cora in pink and Eli in red)
~Repeat on the other side, making a heart shape on the paper.
Do a few practice runs, especially if you are doing it on a canvas and only get one shot.
(I had to press their pinkys down on the paper because it didn’t get enough paint on the paper without an extra push.)
~Frame (couple of bucks at IKEA)
~DONE!

Need something Valentine’s Day-ish to decorate your pad.
Check out these votives.

by: Kara Noel Lawson

Donut Shister

We like donuts.
The white cake with chocolate frosting and sprinkles.
We have come to the realization that the donut place by our house is a bit chincy with the chocolate frosting.
What do you think?
How much do you love the doilies!?!
They are on one of my maternity skirts (thanks Rachael).
I’m going to modify it to regular after baby because I love it so much!

Side Note:
We only eat the tops of our donuts around here.
When will a donut place smarten up and cover the whole thing with that thick sugary goodness!?!

by: Kara Noel Lawson

Bosh Images

A few months ago I met Noel from Bosh Images through the wonders of the internet!
Of course I had to comment on her awesome name (the second part of my name!) and I quickly discovered that she is an amazing local photographer!
And she offers some pretty awesome classes for those of us who aren’t as amazing with the camera.

See the Bosh Images portfolio on their website here.
Check out their blog here.
A bit about the classes here.
(P.S. Their next class is sold out BUT a little birdie told me
Eli’s Lids will get to giveaway
a seat for one of the
upcoming classes.
Check out their sites and keep posted for the giveaway.)
I got to do a little interview with Noel. She’s great see…

Tell us a bit about your family…

I have one adventurous five year old, and one active thirty-five kid that i take care of daily. I was a teacher for 10 years when my son was born, and I knew I needed to find something to do that would allow for a much more flexible schedule so that I could play a more active roll in my sons life.
When did you start Bosh Images…
Growing up with two parents that were photographers, I have been taking pictures with a SLR camera since I was 11. It was only until just recently that I began to charge people so that I could afford to quit my teaching gig. It has been one of the best decisions of my life. Following your heart can have huge rewards that cannot be measured monetarily.

I love the concept of “anytime-art!” How did that idea develop?

Anytime-art stems from two concepts that I dealt with daily. After I quit teaching, I missed the opportunity to help others learn. I longed to be back in the classroom for that reason. Secondly, I had moms asking me daily how I was able to take the pictures I took. Realizing that many of them had as good a camera as I did, I began to realize the need for the class. Meeting Mali just sealed the deal!
What inspires you?
Inspiration? Inspiration comes from everywhere. The first time I saw a Gauguin painting in real life, it took my breath away. I am always inspired by the art around me. Watching the sun in the early morning, snow falling, wildflowers growing, kids playing all inspire me to create. Most of all, when you are a creative person, you have a need/desire to create, and that is why this class has been so successful. Creative parents are inspired to create a memory of their child how they see them everyday. That is the power of being able to create art using your children as the subjects.

Thanks for the chat Noel! Can’t wait for the giveaway!

by: Kara Noel Lawson

Valentine Candy Necklace Craft

This is a craft your kiddos will beg to do with you.
Make these as Valentines for the whole class!
You’ll need:

Cut the plastic wrap to about a yard long then lengthwise. So you’ll have 2 long skinny strips.

Be sure to leave 1-2″ in between each candy. You can do more than one candy in each section. I did 9 sections total.

I thought we were going to lose fingers with this next step…

Tie a 3-5″ ribbon inbetween each of the candies or candy clusters.

Curl the ribbon (or not) and wear!

I’m going to go pass out now… I mean, I ate like 40ish pieces of chocolate.
 I think baby #3 is going to be born addicted to sugar!

by: Kara Noel Lawson

Potty Break

What’s going on back there?!?

More Wordless Wednesday fun go here.

by: Kara Noel Lawson

Perspective…

 

It seems that every year or so a buzz word finds it’s way into my brain and shapes my views of life and parenting.

 
I’m not talking slang buzz words like radical, bitchin’ or whatever.
Last year it was intentional.
As in…
Be intentional about date nights with Hot Hubby.
Intentionally be silly with the kiddos everyday.
When we go places be intentional about teaching children about other cultures and helping the lost and needy.
Fold the laundry… God knows I gotta be intentional about that!
Get the idea?
This year my word has been perspective.
It came to me when…
(photo by Suzane Broughton over at Alive in Wonderland)
While Eli was in preschool Cora Jane and I would get to go on Mommy Date Days.
Library, park, lake… sometimes laundry.
This day our date was at the Irvine Spectrum.
I let her loose, and basically just followed her around anywhere she wanted to go.
Around the planter 14 times. Sure!
Splash a bit in the fountain… maybe even dangle our toes. No problem!
 
It’s her time.
Cora quickly discovered the giant Ferris wheel.
She was in awe.
She plopped her dimpled diapered bottom in the middle of the walkway to watch the wheel’s slow turning.
I plopped with her.
She clapped.
She danced.
She was brimming with delight only a child has.
We watched that lovely lazy spin for half an hour.
How wonderful that I got to see those giant pieces of steel and mechanics through my daughter’s perspective.
We had just enough time left to go to golden spoon (Side note: I worked at golden spoon back in the day and it’s still my favorite of all the frozen yogurts).
We sat outside so I could people watch… I mean so Cora could still enjoy watching the Ferris wheel.
The Irvine Spectrum is an awesome place to people watch.
REALLY! Put on your best people watching sunglasses… the big dark ones and head on over.
Quite a few stereotypical Orange County women walked by.
Laden with shopping bags, fake hair, plump collagen lips, perky silicon boobs and of course, personally trained bodies.
Wow… wonder about her perspective!?!
Then a group of mentally challenged adults came by with their caregivers. They were in their late 20s and 30s. You could tell they were excited about their outing. Chatting about things they wanted to buy and restaurants they were going to try. Their caretakers were great and you could tell everyone was happy. The group sat near us for lunch.
Then one of the men noticed the Ferris wheel.
He was in awe.
He clapped
He danced.
He was brimming with delight only a child has.
He watched that lovely lazy spin for almost half an hour.
How wonderful that I got to see those giant pieces of steel and mechanics through this man’s perspective.
Then for some reason I started to weep.
Not cry.
I mean full-on shallow breath flooding tears weep.
(Thank God I was wearing my people watching sunglasses!)
I’m not sure why I was so touched by the 3 perspectives.
Was it because plastic OC lady was sucked into a world of self?
Was it because the man I was watching, never experienced getting his license on his 16th birthday, or will probably never get married, have children or be completely independent?
Because he will forever be a child and stare in simple wonder at things like the Spectrum Ferris wheel?
Or because someday my daughter won’t?
Perspective.