July Nail Art Share

I had a great nail art month this month. I was really inspired and creative for a change. I am still having an issue getting the polish to even last through the work week but I still really enjoy being creative on Sundays and then Wednesday or Thursday I paint just a solid color to get me through the rest of the week.

 

 

 

 

I try to do something for 4th of July celebrations and this was what I came up with this year, granted it took me over 2 hours to get it done!

 

 

 

Is there anything that screams summer more than watermelon?! I was pretty happy with how these turned out, but if I do them again there are a couple things I will be tweaking.

 

 

I finally got a chance to get together with one of my best friends and she saw how much stress I have been under and wanted to pamper me. So she did my nails and they are so simple and elegant, I loved them.

 

 

At the end of that week I ended up breaking a nail and ripping it hallway up the nail bed. It hurt just to have the air touching it, let alone use the keyboard. So I came up with the idea to use a set of my pre-painted false nails from this Etsy Shop. I love her nails because she has the active length which are perfect for me and they are always beautifully done.

 

 

And finally last weekend I totally freaked out that it was August and summer was quickly coming to an end. So I wanted something really bright and summery.

 

 

 

 



Bedtime Story: Otter in Space by Sam Garton

 

Synopsis: "Fans of picture book characters like Pete the Cat and Clark the Shark will love the curious, charming, and playful Otter, who made her debut in I Am Otter. In her second book, Otter in Space, she and her best friend, Teddy, set off on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure--to the moon!

Otter's utterly winning voice and Sam Garton's classic yet fresh artwork combine to create a truly hilarious and unforgettable friendship story, with a classroom hook. Otter in Space is all about creativity, problem solving, and the power of imagination."

My Review: This was one of only a few books that I could find having to do with space in the book stores. It is a cute book about Otter and some imaginative play. While Munchkin enjoyed the pictures he still kept asking me when Otter was going into space, he wanted to see the moon and stars and rocket ship but couldn't quite grasp that Otter was pretending. Maybe in another year he will really come to enjoy this book and all its creativity.  

 

My Rating: We were both hoping for a little bit more space in this book. It is very imaginative and cute but it lacked the astronaut in space factor that Munchkin really wanted. We give it a rating of Three Paws.

 

 

Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

After Dark Review of Burn by Maya Banks

I have added After Dark Reviews to my blog as a way of notifying you of a review of a book with Adult themes and scenes. From now on I will keep my reviews of all books I read that have explicit scenes in them for late night posts for those of you who prefer to avoid them or easy to find for those of you who seek them out ;)

 

 

 

Read for: Mount TBR & Audio Challenge

 

 

Synopsis: "Ash, Jace, and Gabe: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Ash, it’s the woman who changes everything he’s ever known about dominance and desire...

When it comes to sex, Ash McIntyre has always explored his wilder side — extreme and uncompromising. He demands control. And he prefers women who want it like that. Even the women he’s shared with his best friend, Jace.

But Jace is involved with a woman he has no intention of sharing. And now even Gabe has settled into a relationship with a woman who gives him everything he needs, leaving Ash feeling restless and unfulfilled.

Then Ash meets Josie, who seems immune to his charms and his wealth. Intrigued, he begins a relentless pursuit, determined she won’t be the one who got away. He never imagined the one woman to tell him no would be the only woman who’d ever drive him to the edge of desire."

My Review: Both of the previous books in this series kept saying that everyone assumed Ash was the charming one but that he was the harshest of the three men, so I was a hesitant going into this book. Turns out that was a lot of nonsense, he may have been much more protective but I don't think he was any more demanding than the other guys. I was okay with Josie, it was nice to see female character that was at least a little confident. I was reasonably enjoying the book until it got to the classic romance book conflict that sends the characters apart, it felt like complete BS. It was a completely ridiculous reason to separate, it wasn't even a good misunderstanding but of course it needed that separation to cause an even worse conflict to bring them back together and realize what they have. It really killed the rest of the book for me. I must say I am rather glad this series is over and even though there appears to be a branch off series or at least plans for one I don't plan on reading any more of Banks' books.  

 

My Rating: It wasn't a bad book by any means it was just the worst example of a conflict I think I have read recently. I give it a rating of Two Paws.

Pen to Paper: Stationary Paper

So did your hand cramp up while writing your long letter mission? I know even though I am getting used to writing more letters, my hand and wrist were both pretty sore after writing a 3 page letter to a new pen pal.

 

 

 

So we spent all last month chatting about our desks, both dream desks, the obscure desks and well, our lack thereof.  So  I thought maybe we could chat a little this month about the paper we actually write on, stationary. There is a huge variety of stationary specifically for sending letters to your friends and loved ones.

 

 

 

First off there are 2 main sizes of stationary, first is referred to A5 sized (5.83" x 8.27") and the other most common is regular Letter sized paper (8 1/2" x 11").  There are obviously many other sizes, you can write a letter on anything from a tiny sticky note to a giant sheet of roll paper, but these are the most common sizes you will find when shopping.  You can see the size comparison in the picture below of my own stationary.

 

 

 

Another variety option to think about with your stationary is whether you want it lined or not. If you don't want like you can find a huge variety at any office supply store, they have beautiful ones, seasonal, etc. If you prefer lined (like myself, I can't write in a straight line to save my life) it gets a little more difficult to find actual stationary. You also then have the option of bold lines or faint lines that are only a shade darker or lighter that the background. Of course if you find unlined paper that you love, you can always take a pencil and a ruler and draw faint lines on the paper (though I still struggle with this, I just can't do straight lines).

 

 

 

Once you decide on the size and whether you want line or unlined paper you can get to the real fun stuff and decided if you want to decorate or doodle your own or if you want to buy already printed paper. I love having a bunch of different styles of stationary paper, I try to pick the paper to match my personality, the receiver's personality and the mood of the letter. You can really have fun with this, you can even pick one specific style that says you and stick with it for all your letters so people start to know just from the paper that the letter is from you.

 

 

 

 

The world of stationary is a fun one but it can be addictive! Next week I will get into where I like to find my stationary paper.

 

 

 

 

Your Mission for the Week: Try to write on something new. If you have been using postcards, try sending a note card or stationary letter instead. If you have been using lined paper, try unlined. Spread your wings, maybe you will find something that fits you even better.

Audio Book Review of Classic Love Poems

 

Synopsis: "For anyone who's in love - or hopes to be - what greater celebration could there be than to hear the world's greatest love poetry read lovingly by Richard Armitage? With 15 poems by William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and more, Classic Love Poems is a listening treat for Valentine's Day - or any day.

Included in this collection are:
• "How do I love thee?" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
• "Sonnet 116" by William Shakespeare
• "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe
• "To Be One with Each Other" by George Eliot
• "Maud" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
• "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell
• "Bright Star" by John Keats
• "Love's Philosophy" by Percy Bysshe Shelley
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
• "Meeting at Night" by Robert Browning
• "The Dream" by Edna St. Vincent Millay
• "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" by Christopher Marlowe
• "I carry your heart" by e. e. cummings
• "She Walks in Beauty" by Lord Byron
• "Give All to Love" by Ralph Waldo Emerson""


My Review: This was on of those freebies from Audible and I definitely would have paid for it. It had a beautiful variety of love poems for all tastes. The narrator definitely really made this one too, I can't quite place his accent but it just added another beautiful element to the poetry. His phrasing was also spot on, something that I find lacking when I listen to poetry a lot of times. It was without a doubt perfect and something I will return to often!

 

My Rating: I really do go far too long between reading poetry, and this collection was fantastic. Granted I had read or heard many of them before but it never hurts to return to them. I loved the poems and the narration so I can't give it less than Four Paws and a Stump Wag!

Tasty Attempts: Green Noodles and Ham

Last year I had started posting What's For Dinner. While I really enjoyed those posts, it was hard to keep up with a weekly post, especially since Munchkin is getting a little more picky about his diet and we are having a lot of repeat meals (sometimes the same thing several times a week). I still wanted to keep posting tasty recipes but include a little more variety (like the appetizers and desserts that I make for various parties). So I am now posting Tasty Attempts every other Tuesday. The posts will include a variety of recipes, maybe some of them turn out tasty, maybe others are failed attempts.

 

 

 

Munchkin has definitely hit that phase when he becomes a picky eater, well not really picky because he will eat everything but he just has to be in the mood for it. We have having a difficult time getting him to eat protein but he loves pasta, so I have been trying to sneak it into pasta dishes. I picked up a new cookbook for Munchkin, one he will be able to grow into called Cooking Rocks!

 

This cookbook has a wide variety of recipes and they are all pretty simple. So for our first one out of this book we picked Green Noodles and Ham

I did make some adjustments to the recipe, it calls for 1/4 lb. of prosciutto, and that is crazy expensive and I wasn't sure if Munchkin would eat it, so I did half regular ham instead. I also added the ham & prosciutto at the very beginning because I like it fried up and crunchy instead of just warmed up.  Munchkin really liked the peas in it too. My only complaint was when it was reheated the pasta got dried out.

 

 

 

 

 



July 2015 Challenge Update

Why does it always feel that once you hit the halfway point of the year, the rest goes rushing by and leaves you grasping for days? I am still trucking along on my reading but with no where near the momentum I had at the beginning of the year. I am starting to wonder if I will finish all of my challenges!

 

 

Personal Re-Read Challenge

My goal is to read 15 books. I am about caught up with this challenge, still running a little bit behind schedule. I think if I fail at any challenge this year, this will be it.
1. North of Need

2. The Mane Event

3. The Beast in Him

4. Nobody's Princess

5. Nobody's Prize

6. Beowulf

7. Om Kas Toe
8. Secret Santa
9. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Personal Children's Book Challenge

This Challenge is COMPLETE! I of course will be reading many more over the rest of the year. I am going to TRY to cut myself off at 120 books for this year.  I need to save some for the future challenges!
1. Peter Loves Penguin

2. No Two Alike

3. The Hat

4. T is for Touchdown

5. Snowy Day

6. Curious George in the Snow

7. Owl Moon

8. Goodnight Football

9. Five Little Penguins Slipping on Ice

10. Sheep in a Jeep

11. Tigers Sails & ABC Tales

12. Mr. Clumsy

13. Again!

14. Duck Goes Potty

15. Sweet Child of Mine

16. Mr. Happy

17. Perfect Soup

18. I Love You, Sleepyhead

19. The Big Snow

20. Delivering Your Mail

21. Grandpa and the Truck

22. A Friend for Merida

23. Puma Sight Sails the Harbour

24. Mr. Messy

25. Polar Bear Polar Bear What Do You Hear

26. Out of This World
27. Potty Time!
28. Elmo Says
29. Potty Time with Elmo
30. Trucks: Whizz! Zoom! Rumble!
31. I am a Garbage Truck
32. Sweet Dreams, Curious George

 33. ABC ZooBorns
34. Mr. Grumpy

 35. I Took the Moon for a Walk
36. We're Going on a Bear Hunt
37. The Little Red Caboose
38. Happy to Help!
39. Pony Brushes his Teeth
40. A Hole in the Road
41. The Lost Dinosaur Bone
42. Grandpa & the Truck 2
43. Emergency Vehicles
44. C is for Cornhusker
45. Curious George and the Dump Truck
46. Curious George Goes Fishing
47. Mr. Mischief
48. The Best Show & Share
49. Frogs!
50. The Mitten
51. Curiouse George Goes to a Bookstore
52. Oscar the Almost Butterfly
53. Elmo ABCs book with Sound
54. Happy Easter, Curious George
55. Littlest Bunny in Rhode Island
56. The Happy Man and His Dump Truck
57. The Thank You Prayer
58. Pout Pout Fish in the Big Big Dark
59. Scuffy the Tugboat
60. I'm a Bulldozer
61. The Pout Pout Fish
62. A Rainbow of My Own
63. Follow the Leader
64. The Bear Went Over the Mountain
65. Five Green and Speckled Frogs
66. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
67. Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree
68. Jesus Loves Me
69. Winnie the Pooh
70. Tadpole Trouble
71. Mr. Cheerful
72. A Cuddle for Little Duck
73. Time Together: Me and Mom
74. Wheedle and the Noodle
75. Just a Little Music
76. Mr. Noisy
77. Rain!
78. Storm Song
79. The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear
80. The Best Teacher Ever
81. Tow Truck Trouble and Lights Out
82. Pete the Cat: Rock On Mom and Dad
83. Look, A Book!
84. Mr. Perfect
85. Outer Space Bedtime Race
86. Pete the Cat: Construction Destruction
87. Meet the Penguins
88. Mr. Strong
89. The Sandcastle
90. Otter in Space
91. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day
92. Curious George Gets a Medal
93. Numbers! Take the Dog Out
94. Whose Nose and Toes
95. Mr. Funny
96. Llama Llama Mad at Momma
97. Llama Llama Home with Mama
98. No More Hitting
99. Letters from Felix
100. Elmo's First Babysitter
101. Astronauts
102. Bye Bye Mom and Dad
103. Little Critter Astronaut
104. The Night before Preschool
105. Mr. Slow
106. Octonauts and the Undersea Eruption
 107. The New Bear at School
108. Slowly, Slowly, Slowly said the Sloth
109. Sweet Dreams Pout-Pout Fish
110. Daylight, Night Light
111. Octonauts and the Colossal Squid
112. The Jolly Postman
113. Giraffes Can't Dance
114. Pete the Cat and his Magic Sunglasses
115. There's No Place like Space
116. Look and Find Elmo



Personal Beginning Reader Challenge:
This Challenge is COMPLETE! My goal for this challenge was 30 books and I have a few more I would like to read this year but the rest of the ones I own will be saved for next year's challenge.
1. Charlie's Snow Day
2. Monsters Munch Lunch
3. Brave Dragon
4. Kick Pass and Run
5. Charlie The Ranch Dog: Where's the Bacon
6. Big Bear, Little Bear
7. Chase on the Case
8. Look for Lorax
9. Curious George, Dinosaur Tracks
10. Danny and the Dinosaur
11. Curious George Colors Eggs
12. Penguins!
13. Pete's Big Lunch
14. Dusty Flies High
15. Ponies Love Pets
16. Just Saving My Money
17. Go, Go, Go!
18. Play Ball
19. Biscuit and the Lost Teddy Bear
20. The Three Little Grouches
21. To the Rescue
22. Just Helping My Dad
23. Little Critter: This is My Town
24. Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp
25. Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping
26. Going to the Sea Park
27. Life in Space
28. Best Chef in Second Grade
29. Dixie
30. Mittens at School
31. What's That Mittens
32. Dixie and the Class Treat
33. Moonwalk



Personal Read Across the States Challenge
Obviously there are 50 books in this challenge (though I might add a few for the country in general).  I made a really good push on this challenge in July and made a lot of progress! I am down to only 16 books left on this challenge, I wish I had the time to push and get through it this month but most of the books are print.  I will keep really pushing on this challenge.

Alabama  -
Alaska - If you Lived Here
Arizona - Veil of Roses
Arkansas - A Suitable Wife
California -
Colorado - Calves in the Mud Room
Connecticut - A Whole Latte Life
Delaware - A Catered Affair
Florida - Because of Winn Dixie
Georgia - Deep Dish
Hawaii - Birth
Idaho - Whatchago Stew
Illinois - The Untouchables
Indiana -
Iowa - Little Heathens
Kansas -
Kentucky - Bluegrass State of Mind
Louisiana - Taste the Heat
Maine - Stone Bay
Maryland -
Massachusetts -
Michigan -
Minnesota -
Mississippi -
Missouri - The Borrower
Montana - The Smoke Jumper
Nebraska - C is for Cornhusker
Nevada - The Missing Ink
New Hampshire -
New Jersey - The Fighting Ground
New Mexico -
New York -
North Carolina - Peach Keeper
North Dakota - Codename Zero
Ohio - Dragons of Spratt Ohio
Oklahoma -
Oregon - Rose Suitors of Seattle
Pennsylvania - The Turncoat
Rhode Island - By the Sea Tess
South Carolina - Girls in Trucks
South Dakota - Buffalo Gal
Tennessee - When Love Finds you in Camelot Tennessee
Texas -
Utah - Wright on Time - Utah
Vermont -
Virginia - Crazy VA
Washington -
West Virginia - Locking Horns
Wisconsin - Blankets
Wyoming - Stone Fox



Audio Book Challenge
This challenge is COMPLETE! I am still working through the audio books I had on my list for this year and with time constraints I am also adding some audio books for the ones already on my TBR list.

 1. The Fighting Ground
2. The Last Valentine
3. Deep Dish
4. The Tao of Pooh
5. Little Heathens
6. Veil of Roses
7. The Borrower
8. Winnie The Pooh Classic Tales
9. Rush
10. The Song of Achilles
11. The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America
12. The Smokejumper
13 The Turncoat
14. Fever


Graphic Novel Challenge
This Challenge is COMPLETE! I don't really have plans to read any more this year unless the mood strikes me, I need to keep some for next years challenges and readathons!

1. Tiny Book of Tiny Stories Vol. 3
2. Blankets
3. Shadows of Endor
4. From Fabletown with Love
5. The Books of Magic
6. Mouse Guard: Winter 1152
7. Korgi Vol.2: Cosmic Collector
8. Thor: God of Thunder Vol. 1: The God Butcher
9. Fables are Forever
10. Fables Vol. 4: March of the Wooden Soldiers
11. Saga Vol. 1
12. Saga Vol. 2
13. Hinterkind Vol.1: The Waking World
14. Ravine Vol. 1
15. Ares: Bringer of War
16. Donald Hamlet, Prince of Dunemark
17. Loki Vol. 1 Agent of Asgard: Trust Me
18. Persepolis: A Story of a Childhood
19. Fables Vol. 5: The Mean Seasons
20. Swamp Thing Vol. 1
21. Hinterkind Vol. 2: Written in Blood
22. Northlanders Vol. 3: Blood in the Snow
23. An Age of License
24. Fables Vol. 6: Homelands
25. The Unwritten Vol. 2: Inside Man
26. Camelot 3000


Series Challenge
With a goal to read at least 5 full series, if not 7. I am finally making progress on this challenge and completed 2 more series.  I am really struggling with some of the series because they are all in print but I do have at least one more in ebooks that I should be able to fly through and another that is half print and half audio. At least I know within the next month or 2 this challenge will be complete!

1. The Hearts of Anemoi - Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, Book 4 - COMPLETE
2. Pride Series - Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, Book 4, Book 5, Book 6, Book .5, Book 7, Book 8, Book 9 - COMPLETE
3. Princesses of Myth Series - Book 1, Book 2
4. Warrior Series - Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, Book 4, Book 5, Book 6 - COMPLETE
5. Bluegrass Series - Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, Book 3.5 - COMPLETE




TBR Challenge
I set a goal of 50 books without thinking and have already COMPLETED this challenge! I guess I will shoot for double for the heck of it, and I am nearly there too!
1. Girls in Trucks
2. Because of Winn Dixie
3. Athena the Brain
4. Nubiana
5. Persephone the Phony
6. The Fighting Ground
7. Aphrodite the Beauty
8. The Last Valentine
9. Artemis the Brave
10. By The Sea, Book One, Tess
11. Hickory Daiquiri Dock
12. Locking Horns
13. Stone Bay
14. Dragons of Spratt, Ohio
15. Deep Dish
16. Stone Fox
17. Dragon in the Sock Drawer
18. Birth
19. The Tao of Pooh
20. West of Want
21. South of Surrender
22. Taste the Heat
23. If You Lived Here I'd Know Your Name
24. Fish Perfume
25. More Than Pancakes
26. Reading Between the Lines
27. I'll Never Forget
28. This Point Forward
29. Risking It All
30. East of Ecstasy
31. Sand Dollar
32. Glassblowers Apprentice
33. A Whole Latte of Life
34. Every Sunday
35. Missing Ink
36. Little Heathens
37. Toe to Toe
38. Warrior Beautiful
39. Buffalo Gal
40. To Serve a King
41. Veil of Roses
42. Francesca's Kitchen
43. Wright on Time - Utah
44. My Favorite Witch
45. Aure the Topaz
46. A Catered Affair
47. The Scot The Witch and the Wardrobe
48. Storm Glass
49. If You're Reading This
50. Sea Glass
51. The Borrower
52. Spy Glass
53. Whatchagot Stew
54. Into the Wild
55. Rush
56. Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale
57. Fire and Ice
58. The Mane Attraction
59. The Song of Achilles
60. Crazy, VA
61. A Suitable Wife
62. Forest of Secrets
63. The Mane Squeeze
64. Rose
65. Rising Storm
66. Beast Behaving Badly
67. The Last Continent
68. Big Bad Beast
69. A Dangerous Path
70. Howl For It
71. The Smoke Jumper
72. Darkest Hour
73. Bear Meets Girl
74. Bluegrass State of Mind
75. Dead Heat
76. Risky Shot
77. Wolf with Benefits
78. The Turncoat
79. Bite Me
80. Codename Zero
81. Fever
82. The Peach Keeper



Requested Reviews My original limit of only 25 books this year is obviously not going to work. Netgalley has definitely made this too easy and the loyalty I have with some of the authors I review!
1. Dear Hank Williams
2. Jesper Jinx and the Sneezing Season
3. Calves in the Mud Room
4. Gooseberry Island
5. Dizzy Miss Lizzie
6. Just Not Ready Yet
7. Poole's Paradise
8. Darkness
9. Don't Forget Me Bro
10. Paint
11. Spawn of Medusa
12. The Queen's Dagger
13. One of the Guys
14. Me and Grandpa
15. The Unleashing
16. Jesper Jinx and the Turkish Pepper
17. The Novice
18. HA Rey Treasury of Stories
19. Irona700
20. Parsen Holt- Slinger
21. Rules of Riders
22. Persephone
23. Ratha's Creature
24. Paladin



Goodreads Challenge My Goodreads challenge is out of control of course, I am already at 294 of my original goal of 312. I am definitely way ahead of schedule with this challenge, I am looking at a potential of 400+ books this year!


As far as my other goals and resolutions . . .
-I continue to write to friends and family and even new pen pals!
-I really got on a roll with my nails this month and can't wait for you guys to see them!
-There was a lot more family and Munchkin fun to be had this month. More of them were local or at home but they were still fun adventures!



Points Earned this Month:
Points Spent this Month:  -50
Pages Read/Time Listened this Month:

 

Monday Reading List

Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Share what books you have finished in the last week, are currently reading and what might be coming up next!

Reviews Posted Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

 

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Hard to Let Go by Laura Kaye (After Dark)
Danny and the Dinosaur go to Camp by Syd Hoff (Beginning Reader)
Meet the Penguins by Daphne Pendergrass (Bedtime Story)
Ares: Bringer of War by George O'Connor (Graphic Novel)

 

 Books Finished Last Week:

Reviews will be posted at a later date

Moonwalk = 1pt
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight = 5pts
Look and Find Elmo = 1pt
No Place Like Space = 1pt

 

Currently Reading:

Burn by Maya Banks - Audio - 83%
Daughter of Earth and Sky by Kaitlin Bevis - Kindle - 16%
Searching for Someday by Jennifer Probst - PB - on page 71 on 384


 Books to be Read Soon:

True Grit by Charles Port - Mount TBR/ Reading Across the States
Friday Night Lights by HG Bissinger - Mount TBR/ Reading Across the States
Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas - Mount TBR/ Series Challenge
Searching For Series by Jennifer Probst - Mount TBR/ Audio/ Series Challenge
 

Total Points Earned
 227 points + 8 points earned = 235 points

Pages Read/ Time Listened
37,839 pages read (232 read this week)
118:08 listening time

Books Added to Shelves


Interesting Tidbits on the Web:



 



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So last week was a really shitty week, not only because I got such little reading done but also with life.  The office has been extremely busy and super stressful lately and that is starting to wear on me. Also we have had on going construction projects at home that my husband rushed into and was poorly planned so has taken up way more time, money and effort than it should have (which has left me trying to help him and still trying to stay on top of the house and everything scheduled already). Munchkin has also been extremely difficult lately, he has hit the three year old stage and it is awful.  We butt heads non-stop and every thing is a battle that ends up with screaming and tears (for both of us), it has sent me scrambling to the internet and books trying to find a way to make our lives a little less awful.

So with all of this going on, it made me want to skip ahead to next year in hopes of better days. So I have already been setting up my reading goals, challenges and resolutions for the 2016. I also ordered my first Erin Condren life planner! I am excited to try to get all my lists and calendars onto one planner and hopefully reduce at least some of this stress.  I have also picked up an adult coloring book for use at the office, hopefully a few moments a day will help bring this tension level down (especially right before I have to go get Munchkin from Preschool).

Fun with Munchkin: Galaxy Playdough

I have decided to add a new post to my list of things that could happen on the weekends.  As part of my resolutions for 2015, I wanted to do more fun things with Munchkin and as a family.  I will be posting sporadically about some of the fun adventures we are having together.

 

 

 

So as I think I have mentioned before, Munchkin has decided he wants to be an astronaut.  As a result we will be having a space/astronaut themed birthday party for him. As part of the favor bags I thought I would make this galaxy playdough I found. I remembered my mom making playdough for me and my brother when we were kids all the time but I had never made it before. So I thought we could run a test batch first. I cut the recipe in half and it still made a bunch!

 

 

Cooling off on the counter

 

I took it all outside to mix the glitter into it, because loose glitter in my house has become a major pet peeve since becoming a parent.  I dumped the glitter into the playdough and let Munchkin go to town, he had a blast (and honestly so did I and even my mother-in-law).

 

 

 

 

 

The playdough came out so great, the food dye didn't stain hands, clothes or the parchment paper, and once the glitter was worked into the dough it didn't come out either.  Now we just have to test its staying power before making a couple big batches to giveaway to his friends.