Teach Me Thursday: Raised Hands

I mentioned that we made at least one gift for each member of the family this Christmas season.  It is always a safe bet to go with hand-print gifts for grandparents.  We made plaster hearts with raised hands from each kid for Nana and Papaw (my in-laws).  I wanted something different than the classic imprinted hand-print.

This was possibly the easiest gift made.

I did remember to snap the final product.  

{almost Wordless Wednesday} Happy Birthday to Me

Last Thursday I turned 35.  We celebrated the following Sunday.  

The Strawberry Laced Vanilla that turned out good enough. 

The best picture of Hubs and I ... only took 8 takes because ... 

Somebody takes after her Daddy making silly faces whenever the camera is near.
6 of the 8 pictures of Hubs and I he had a silly face.  One I had my eyes closed.

Little Mister makes the hugest mess eating anything, except cake. That he get's it all in his mouth, mostly anyway.

Before the party Little Miss made me a cake for my birthday. 

and strawberry ice cream.  She even brought me a spoon to eat it.  

{Tell Me About It Tuesday} Birthday Must Have

This is a different {Tell Me About It Tuesday}.  I usually pose a question or post a review.  I am not reviewing anything per say.

With our living situation I really think God is trying to make me realize that I can be much more flexible than I thought I could.  Things don't have to be just so.  But then again there are certain things that you just don't mess with.  One of those things is the time that it takes to make a proper cake and the tools that you need to do it.

Leaving out all the not so flattering details areas where God would like to work on me/us {things like errands that ruined the night, shopping that got put off, timing that fell apart, seriously this post could take a major nose dive} I will just get to the cake process.

When you are making a cake {not just any cake, but the cake that I must have for my birthday every year - Strawberry Laced French Vanilla} you need to take the proper time to get it done correctly.  The cake itself should be made the evening before it is frosted.  Why you ask?  So it can cool COMPLETELY before you frost it.

You also really need to have the right pans.


All of my baking supplies are in storage.  I did have access to this ...

 

Now although I love this pan and do have one of my own.  This is not what you need to make a Strawberry Laced Vanilla Cake.  I figured I could just use the bottom to make the cake and it would be somewhat level.  I could just cut some layers and go from there.  The concept seemed to be okay.  I didn't have a level cake cutter, but I did have a large knife.  See I am flexible.  

I get the cake made and throw it in the freezer to cool it faster.  I make the frosting with an antique hand mixer {seriously, this thing is old!  It works fine though.}  I pull the cake out and cut the layers.  It's still steaming in the middle.  I put it back in the freezer cut to cool some more.  I start frosting it and the layers start sliding.  I finally get it frosted "good enough" and throw it back in the freezer hoping to keep it together until it is time to eat.

Another thing about not taking the proper time to get the job done.  The result is not the same.  The cake was okay at best.  

So we ate ... then we ... danced.  I love Just Dance.  I have played all 4 games now.

I have great fun with all of them.  My nephew got 3 and 4 for Christmas.  I think 4 might be my new favorite for this reason alone.  

Yeah that's right, the Avatar for Rick Astley is a dancing superhero with suspenders.  I was laughing so hard I could barely dance!


Tell Me About It! - What is your one must have on your birthday?  Rick Astley on You Tube?  ME TOO!

{Teach Me Thursday} Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!  One of the best days of the entire year. 

For years Valentine's Day was my favorite holiday.  This was even before I had found the Love that God created for me.  This was before I ever experienced the love of someone other than my family.  I am all about hearts, pink and red, and love.  I love the idea of love.  I love being in love.  I love sharing love.  I love LOVE. 

We have had a few rough years and I have not been able to celebrate Valentine's day the way that I would want.  I am looking forward to next year being different.  I am not even referring to the expensive dates and gifts.  I am referring to things like ...

14 Acts of Love

Making fun crafts and Valentine Cards for the people we love.

like this placemat from The Domestic Notebook

or this great little craft

How cute is this?  

I want to do a count down to Valentine's Day with I love you because ...
I want cute Valentine's Day decorations. 
I want to make cute Heart shaped foods. 
I want to make my family a special meal and eat them on Valentine's Plates. 

Valentine's Day is all about love.  Love is who I am.  This holiday just fits me. We will have Valentine's Day traditions, just like we have Christmas Traditions.

So share some love today!  Happy Valentine's Day to you from all of us here with The Hickman Five. 

{almost} Wordless Wednesday - Somebody turned 3!

Mama is so behind on things.  December is such a busy month for us and this year there were all sorts of other dramas.  We did have a spectacular party though!  (even if it was a month ago!)

Little Miss turned 3.  She is turning into such a pretty little girl.  Yes, I am biased.  Look even Hickman #5 was dressed for the occasion.

Our theme - Yo Gabba Gabba - specifically taken from Super Spies with Jason Bateman.  Seriously, Bateman fans you need to watch this.  The whole episode is about balloon art.  So these are our character balloons.  Little Miss had to have Plex and I had no yellow balloons.  Therefore, the multicolored one.

I am not tooting my own horn, but that cake turned out to be AMAZING!  Looked just like her invitations.

Of course Little Mister was there.  He had as much fun as Little Miss and  her girl friends.  We ended up with  4 of her girlfriends being able to make it to her party.

Don't know what do do for entertainment at a party?  Make a balloon drop.  Now this did go with our theme, but it could be done at any party.  Lace together two halves of a disposable tablecloth.  Tape it to the ceiling and fill with balloons.  During the party pull the strings unlacing the balloons and let them fall.  HOURS of entertainment!

She is such a grateful little girl.  Her friend made the card for her and Little Miss didn't even want to open the gift because she loved the card so much.  Gift is also well loved, Sleeping Beauty.

She didn't really know how to handle everyone singing to her.  She couldn't get her candle blown out so all her girlfriends helped out.  Side note - check out those balloon flowers - adorable right!?! Yeah, never making them again!  

This was by far the least expensive party I have ever thrown.  "Goodies" were any balloons they wanted and a Yo Gabba Gabba coloring book we made by printing off coloring pages from a variety of websites.  The only money we spent were the supplies for her cake and pink streamers.  Everyone had a blast, that was the important thing.

Little Mister is ONE!

Collages Created Using MyMemories Suite

Gift Guide for the Beer Drinking Guy

It is half way through August. If I listed what we have going on from September 1st to December 31st your head might start to spin. But let me be honest about one thing. I LOVE IT!

 I don't love the go go go of it, but we have so much family stuff the end fo the year, it is just great. August is a planning month. I look at when everyone's birthdays are and start looking around for gifts.

So guess what I am bringing to you. My Awesome Finds!

I do have to be cautious though.  Certain awesome members of the family might stop by for a visit from time to time ... so their awesome finds might not make it here.  *cough* Dad *cough* Sister *cough*

What do you get the person that says, "Oh, just give me a gift card." for every single gift giving circumstance?  You need to just start thinking about them and what they like.  I won't get into it, but gift cards are not an option.  I will let you read that on your own.  You can see it here.

So what does this person enjoy?  Scuba diving, hunting, camping, fishing, beer drinking.  Last year I asked this person, "Have you ever thought about brewing your own beer?"  the response was positive ... so let's see what we found.



You can click on each one to get information on the items.

I am thinking that a book on how to do it would be a great idea.  There are several different options.  There is even a Home Brewing for Dummies.  After some things I have observed about him over the last year I also think maybe a book on growing his own ingredients might be a worthy gift.

Then of course there are the kits themselves and the bottles.

I am not sure this is the route we are going to go, but these were some fun finds to share with you.

Forth of July Adventures

So I am behind on things.  Does this surprise any mom of 2 under 3?

I recently posted this page as a speed scrap.  Probably not my favorite page.  I will be making a few other pages to make the day complete.  Within the last few months I have discovered digital scrapbooking.  I love it!

This page highlights what we did on the Forth of July.  Little Miss loves parades.  So since her cousin was going to be walking in one we had to go to it.

We played on the grass while we waited.  

We hear the band!

They had horses!  

The last several parades that we went to did not have any horses.  

It was hot, but we had a great time.

That evening we had a indoor cookout and played with our indoor fireworks.

Last Minute Fourth of July Decorations

Have I really been this behind on things that I am now just posting about our Fourth of July.  {hangs head in shame} yes.

So I had decided the Thursday before the Fourth we were going to do something on the fourth, just the four of us.  So I headed over to many people's favorite obsession.  Pinterest.  That is where I found the blog AliLily.  She had 20 Fourth of July crafts nice and organized.  One or two were her's and others were links to other sites.

We set out to make some fun decorations and activities without more than $5.

Pull String Indoor fireworks.  

{They look cute, but didn't work so well when it came to pulling the string.  They either pulled right down, or wouldn't open.}

Bead and Pipe Cleaner Fireworks.  

Don't you love the look of concentration on a toddler's face.

Firework Painting.  

I put the paint on wax paper so it would spread around easier.  

I also made a wreath frame with newspaper; however, I started to take pictures and didn't take them all.  SO I am not including it and I will be making it again another time.  

How did we do with making our decorations spending less than $5.  Great.  With the wreath, I had to buy crepe paper streamers ($3).  And that was it.  I also cut out a USA from craft foam and covered them in glitter.  

We a simple fun day.  The best part?  Daddy was home with us all day!  What can you really do when the holiday falls on a Wednesday?  

{almost} Wordless Wednesday

I love my MyMemories digital scrapbooking software.  This whole page only took me 30ish minutes.  I was getting upset that it was 10:30 and I had nothing posted for today, and it is {almost} Wordless Wednesday.  

So here you go!

My lovelies at the Fourth of July parade.  What a great picture of my two favorite guys.  Both so into whatever was passing by at the time.  

And who knows what has gotten Kaitlyn's attention.  

It was a nice parade.  Keith is really wanting a parade with more than one marching band.  I am thinking we are going to have to go to New York's Macy Day parade for that.  

Okay maybe I am just trying to get to New York.  

Mother's Day 2012

I know it was 2 weeks ago and it was just Memorial Day.  But while going through, organizing and backing up the pictures.  Hey I am only sorting and backing up May! Woot.  I am on it with this.  I realized I never posted about Mother's Day other than the gifts we made.

Sunday morning I get woke up in the usual wake up method these days.  One of the two kids needing my attention.  This particular Sunday Kaitlyn walked in.  "Hey Guys!" (where did she get that?) She crawls into bed with us and asks for Disney Jr. I am more than happy to oblige because then I can ease into my morning a little.

We had done the whole family thing on Saturday, so today it was just us.  It was nice, except for the rain.

Keith asked me if I wanted my gifts now, I said sure.  "Babe they are not wrapped so close your eyes."  How did he get away without wrapping gifts?  Anyway.  "From Alex Mommy"  I open my eyes to find a yoga mat in my hands.  So I close my eyes again and get something dropped into my hands.  "From me" In Style magazine - which I find out is a subscription!  Finally, "From Dadddy" - Ralph Lauren perfume.  It's a new one of his.  It smells really good.

"So, a yoga mat so I can go to the gym and get my skinny on.  My magazine subscription so I can get my entertainment on while I get my cardio on at the gym.  And perfume so I don't smell like I was just at the gym.  I love them all!"

Then we go to church and Kaitlyn runs out after with a picture.  "Happy Mommy's Day!"  It was a hand print flower.

I am pretty blessed.

Pin-spired Make it Monday

This may or may not be a known fact - I love to create things.  I especially enjoy creating gifts for others.  These usually are in the scrapbook variety of things.

I found these (pinned through my sister - shout out to Hipster's Guide to Road-Tripping)

The site for this pin is not working - if it is yours please email me and I will link to your site. 

The caption on this picture is that you get tiles from Home Depot, and Modge Podge the paper onto the tile and seal.

SO ... That seemed super easy, and I could adapt it.

Here is what I did.

1. We made Hand-Print Mums:  Make a fist and paint the pinkie side of your fist green.  Using your finger prints make all the flowers.  Make them all over the place!  Mum plants have tons of blossoms.
2. Take funny picture of your family making the mums.  - Get everyone involved. Yes, I even had the baby get in on the action.
3. Go buy the following: Modge Podge (craft store) Tiles (home improvement store).  If you need it foam paint brush.  If you want to recreate what I made you will also need a really, really strong glue and a bamboo placemat.
4. Cut some art work and the mums to fit on each tile.
5. Slick some Modge Podge onto the tile and lay the paper over it.  Hold it in place.  Repeat for all tiles.
6. Let dry for 30 minutes and cover with another coat of Modge Podge.
7. Let dry for 30 minutes.
8. Cut a piece of cardboard just smaller than your placemat and glue onto the placemat.
9. Glue the tile to the other side of the placemat and let dry for 24 hours.

Last two pictures - Picture one for Nana - 8 4 inch tiles.  Mums in the middle, and random paintings on the sides.  Picture two for Sister-in-law 6 3x6 tiles.  One handprint Mum painting but positioned in different ways to give a different look.  If you want to make coasters, just glue felt on the bottom of the tile. 

PS - This was so easy!  I will be making more of them! I want my own hotplate.

PSS - Funny things happen when we let Hickman #1 get involved.  Hickman #3 (Kaitlyn) was mesmerized by him looking like a kitty cat.

Do we have to wonder where Hickman #4 get's his amazing blue eyes from?

Is it weird?

I love all these hand-print crafts I see all over preschool sites and Pintrest.  Seeing that my kiddos are not in preschool how am I going to get these cuties?  I am going to make them with my kids - Is that weird?  Sure it ruins the surprise, but if I want the fun crafts I will take it on myself.

Look at these little numbers!

These are kitchen flour sack towels.  I used fabric paint (that stuff that comes in the squeeze bottle) and painted it onto their hands.  Alex's was not easy by any means, but that is what makes it so darn cute!

Easter: Collage Review

Easter morning Kaitlyn runs into our room - "Hi Mommy! Hi Daddy! Happy Easter Day!" 

"Good Morning Pumpkin." 

"BASKET DAY!"

I really don't know where she got all this information about Easter baskets and the Easter Bunny, because we have not mentioned all that much about it.  Anyway, we go downstairs and Daddy tells her that the Easter Bunny might have left her an Easter Basket, but he likes to hide things.  She finds Alex's basket first.  Then Daddy helps her look for her basket.  After the goods are found they are inspected, by both kids.  Alex was really into looking into his basket.  The tradition of candy for breakfast has begun.

We were having brunch at my brother-in-laws house.  So, I got everything ready that we were taking with us. 

She really got the hang of the egg hunt after being guided to an egg or two.

We hung out and just spent some family time together.  Four peeps later the sugar high kicked in.  Kaitlyn was a bigger ham than usual.  We played "Plate" (frisbee) and ball.  Alex loved all the cuddles.  

Jesus has risen and we celebrated.  

Easter - A Secular and Sacred Celebration

With the flowers and trees starting to bloom we know that Spring is here, even though it is technically still Winter.  The grass here is already green.  In Cincinnati, we actually had to pull out the summer clothes already. It's actually pretty insane.   Seeing that Spring is here, that means ...

Easter is right around the corner.  

As Christians Easter is a big, big deal.  Sometimes as Christian parents we have a hard time explaining these Christian concepts to our young children.  

We have written a short eBook to assist with your Easter Celebrations.  It gives you a brief history of Easter and the symbolic reasons behind the Easter Egg, the Easter Bunny and other symbols of Easter.  We discuss ways that you can share the story of Jesus with children as young as 2.

Not only do you get a history you get:

• Great activities to make your Easter Celebration one to remember.
• Crafts for some great decorations
• Recipes for a DELICIOUS Easter Brunch.

By enjoying the life God blesses us with we are celebrating all that Jesus has done for us.  

This eBook is $0.99 and available now! Get your copy by clicking the Buy Now Button.  Once you payment is verified you will be sent your copy of Easter - A Secular and Sacred Celebration within 24 hours.

$0.99 purchased in March, 2012

Truth or Dare?

Happy Birthday to ME!

Let's be honest, if I had my way the day would come and go, we would have cake and go on with our lives. My family claims this sort of birthday celebration is not acceptable.  Especially since we let no one else get away with such non-sense.  Since everyone had plans this past Saturday I am celebrating my birthday this up coming Saturday.  Even though I have plans that day I now am squeezing a birthday celebration in on top of it.  If I get everything mostly done on Friday I will be able to enjoy my  conference on Saturday without stress.  Besides hubs can take care of things too.

I am turning 34 ... 34!  At this point in my life I have made a few decisions and discovered a few truths about myself.  So do I dare to share 34 truths about myself with you, my fabulous readers?  I dare!

These are not necessarily in any order.

1. I am a child of God
2. I am a good Mother
3. I am a good Wife.
4. I still have a teddy bear that I was given when I was 3.  His name is Burnout Bear.
5. I am a business owner.
6. Gallbladder attacks are worse than labor.
7. Recent Truth:  I am SUPER SENSITIVE to eggs.  
8. I like living in my newsless bubble.  If it is important I am sure I will find out somehow.
9. If I could I would be a HUGE fashionista.
10. I love shoes and handbags
11. I love accessories.
12. I didn't see the ocean or a mountain until after 30.
13. Sunrise over the ocean in the top 5 most beautiful things I have ever seen.  Top two are Kaitlyn Alexis and Alexander Michael.
14. I love to entertain.
15. I believe a party is in the minute details.
16. I love my friends.
17. I have moved more times than I can remember.
18. God had big plans for me.
19. If my house is a mess I cannot productively work.
20. I enjoy pencils.
21. A clean house does not include a clean living room (I have a 2 year old, this is where she plays.)
22. Coffee is better in lattes and mochas.
23. I have always wanted to be a fashion designer - just lack the talent.
24. I am a girly girl.
25. I am married to a sports fan and don' care that ESPN is on my TV a lot.
26. I have a hard time sitting through a movie at home.
27. I like to read/work/play online while watching football.  Even though I always end up missing the big play.
28. I love to get lost in a good book.
29. Perfectionism is not my friend.
30. I love to decorate.
31. I love to craft
32. I miss Friends and watch it daily.
33. My next hairstyle is "Rachel season 1" cut and color.
34. The only reason I want to be famous is to wear the gorgeous award gowns. 

There you go, 34 things you may or may not have known about me.  Feel free to comment!