I am always surprised when we hear grown people shrug off thank you notes. No, it doesn’t matter if grandma was sitting with you as you opened the gift from her; you still owe her a formal thank you note. An email won’t do either. And yes, even if you have horrible handwriting, you must still sit down and hand-write a card to each person who was kind enough to give you a gift this season.

With all of that said, I do understand that the thought of writing thank you cards can be daunting, especially if received a lot of gifts. But there’s really no reason to become paralyzed. Here are four simple tips that will help you organize yourself so that you get yours done before the week is out, and without breaking a sweat.

1. Keep a List.

It sounds simple, but it’s amazing how often this little thing is overlooked. Keep a pad and pencil handy as you and your family open gifts. Document who got what from whom and then when it comes time to write your thank you notes, there won’t be any confusion about who gave what to whom.

2. Set Up a Stationery Stash.

You must have a stash of thank you stationery and some stamps on hand before you can get to writing. Shopping for stationery is the fun part. We recommend going with a classic design you like rather than something funky because the funky option might not be appropriate for everyone, and you don’t want to have to buy multiple sets. Stay away from full sheets of paper, as you don’t want your thoughtful note overshadowed by lots of blank space. Note cards are ideal, and if you prefer postcards, there is nothing wrong with using them either.

3. Use the rule of 3.

There are generally three components to a well-written thank you note. The first is a simple statement of thanks, such as “Thank you for the lovely flowers.” Don’t worry if it sounds too simple, that’s the point of a note like this – it’s supposed to be a simple expression of your gratitude. Second, note how you have used or will use the gift. Again, keep this statement brief; it’s nice for the giver to know how you intent to use their gift, but they don’t need a whole paragraph about it. In addition, avoid the temptation to lie here. Even if you received a gift you truly dislike, like a pair of wool socks, there is always something to appreciate, like the color or the fact that the wool keeps cold toes warm. Finally, wrap up the note with a final statement of thanks, and if appropriate, a nod to when you will see them again. For example, “Thanks again for such a thoughtful gift – I can’t wait to see you at Johnny’s graduation.”

4. Write three notes a day.

While sitting down to write twenty notes may seem overwhelming, if you set aside twenty minutes every evening for the next week, and dash off three notes in each sitting – you’ll have crossed this to-do off of your list in good time and without suffering. Don’t turn on the TV or go to bed without having at least written three notes a day until you are done.

{feature photo credit: Paper Source}

Do you believe in thank you notes like we do? How do you organize yourself to get them done in a timely fashion?

It’s no secret that my five-year-old boy, Will, is obsessed with monster trucks. So it only made sense that we theme his fifth birthday party accordingly. Good friends and family gathered in our back yard for a monster of a party. While I’m hardly a master with the camera, I snapped away with abandon, hoping to be able to share the secrets of this absolute scream of a party with all of you here on this blog.

So, without further ado, here are all the details! Hope you enjoy reading about it as much as I enjoyed putting it all together.

The invitation

I leaned on Hollie, our fabulous graphic designer here at GetButtonedUp.com for some help with the invitation. Thank heavens I had a photo of Will behind the wheel of a car that she could cut out and use!

Game #1: Pin the Plate on the Monster Truck

The first game we played (about 15 minutes after the start of the party) was a twist on the old birthday party classic pin the tail on the donkey.

We designed a personalized New York license plate for each attendee and printed them out on regular paper using our Epson ink jet printer. I cut them out and then put some double stick tape on the back of each one. Lacking a proper bandana or blindfold, I used a pink pashmina from my closet. Somewhere the Monster Truck Gods shuddered. But the kids didn’t care. We tied it around their heads so they couldn’t see, spun them around once or twice, and off they went to pin tape their license plate on the poster.

I am telling you, they had SO much fun with this game! It’s perfect for 5-6 year-olds. The winner got a high-five and lots of accolades from the parents & kids assembled.

Game #2: Monster Truck (Spoon) Race

After the thrill of pin the plate on the monster truck, we switched gears with a twist on the old egg race favorite. Rather than a relay race in which two teams compete to see who can complete the race fastest with a fragile egg balanced on a spoon, we had them race with a monster truck on their spoons instead!

We created two “lanes” in the yard using croquet hooks and string. The kids counted off in “1s” and “2s” and were assigned teams accordingly. Mom sent the racers off with a blast from an air horn – and – well…they sort of got it.

It was a pretty close race. So close, in fact, that we all decided it was a tie. (Note: this game might be a tad advanced for this age group, but little twists made it fun. They insisted I blow the horn every time someone finished their leg of the race. It was a hoot, although I’m not sure the neighbors were too appreciative!)

The Cake

I made the monster truck birthday cake myself after trolling the internet (thanks Pinterest!) for ideas. It was incredibly easy to do.

First I baked two, 6″ round chocolate cakes for the wheels (I actually made a spare just in case something went horribly wrong with one of them). I used this road-tested recipe passed down to me from my mom:

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups water
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/3 cup cocoa powder (I use Ghiradelli – it makes a big, big difference in terms of taste)
1 cup butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Frosting

Instructions
Heat the oven to 350º. Grease and flour two 9-inch round pans and set them aside. In a microwave-safe liquid measuring cup, measure 1 1/2 cups water. Add the unsweetened chocolate squares to the water. Microwave for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring after 1 1/2 minutes or until the chocolate has melted. Stir in the cocoa and set the mixture aside.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter for 1 minute; add the granulated and brown sugars and cream for another 2 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add the eggs individually, beating well after each one. Beat in the vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Beginning with about a third of the flour, add the flour mixture and chocolate mixture alternately to the butter and sugar, stirring well after each addition.

Divide the cake batter evenly between the two pans, scraping the bowl with a rubber spatula. Place the pans on the middle oven rack and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cakes comes out clean.

Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes. Then place a cooling rack atop each pan and, holding the edges to the pan, flip the cake onto the rack. Cool completely before frosting.

The finished wheel cakes cooled while I made the yellow cake for the car body.

To do that, I used this delicious birthday cake recipe from Smitten Kitchen to bake one 13″ x 9″ rectangular cake. I cut out the wheel wells and the front windshield by eye. Then I used food coloring gel to outline the various shapes for the monster truck, including the big “5″ for the door. Next up, the icing. I kept it pretty basic:

Recipe for the frosting
Cream 3-1/2 cups of confectioners’ sugar with 1/2 cup of butter (at room temperature). Add up to 5 tablespoons of milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. Stop when you reach the consistency you desire. Beat in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.

Once the icing was done, I applied the white to the back and windows. Then I separated out the remaining icing into three different bowls, added some food coloring…and voila, I was ready to decorate.

The result was better than anything I could have hoped for, considering that I have never decorated a cake before in my life. The look on Will’s face when we brought it out was priceless. The kids all clamored for a piece and devoured every bite.

On an existential note, it made me seriously reconsider my dependence on “convenient” solutions. If I can bake a birthday cake like this, perhaps we all have it in us to create more than we give ourselves credit for…

Game #3: The Car Wash Sprinkler

Finally, after everyone’s tummies were filled with pizza and cake, it was time for some sprinkler fun. My DH followed the instructions to a deluxe kid car wash made out of PVC pipe that one of our Facebook fans recommended I check out on Family Fun. He put it together in the garage the night before – it took about an hour to assemble the parts (and 2 beers). Once he was done with the basic structure, we both decorated it with colorful pool noodles and sponges I had gotten on sale at Walmart.

Our tip: skip the swinging arm entrance. But otherwise, it’s a pretty perfect design plan.

The result – well – I’m sure the squeals of delight could be heard all the way down the Eastern Seaboard! We’ve trotted it out pretty much every week since the party for backyard summer fun.

It was certainly a day to remember. I am so happy that I took the time to really plan a great, homemade party. I don’t know if I’ll do that kind of thing every year, but it filled me with joy to do – so I might just keep up the madness.

How about you? Have you ever surprised yourself by pulling off an amazing party without much background in crafting? What was the best party you threw? What did you do?

If you’re interested in getting either the invite or pin the tail on the monster truck poster & license plates customized for your truck fiend, send an email to Sarah at getbuttonedup dot com.

Back-to-Basics Birthdays

What ever happened to the “come over for a slice of cake” birthday party? Remember when it was perfectly acceptable to have a few toddlers over without an entire petting zoo in your backyard? From kids who hear “Happy Birthday” sung by the cast of a Broadway musical to sweet (or not so sweet) 16 parties that equal the cost of tuition for a year of college, kids’ birthday parties seem to us to have gone well over the top. To a lot of people, it’s not just about keeping up with the Jones’, it’s about crushing them when it comes to throwing the coolest birthday party for your perfect little Dinosaur-lover or princess fairy. And don’t even get started on the favors. That idea should have trashed (along with all of the junk) a long time ago. It’s not that we’re haters – we love parties. It’s just that we’re advocating a simpler way. You know the old story about the kid who gets piles of gifts but plays with the box instead of the shiny new toys? It’s the same philosophy. Ever notice the power of a simple water balloon or a piñata? Kids don’t need a lot to make them happy. They just need their friends, a few treats, and the permission to have fun. So when the next birthday rolls around, resist the urge to book the Kid-o-Rama and go old school. Just because it’s back-to-basics doesn’t mean it’s boring.

Five Simple Rules for A Simply Sensational Birthday Party

1. Ditch the Favors.

Please. As parents ourselves, we can attest to the fact that the kids really don’t give a hoot about these little throwaways. Nobody really ever needed another bouncy ball from the dollar store. They are a waste of your time and money and just end up in a landfill.

2. Go Simple.

Kids love simple games. Tag, duck-duck-goose, pin the tail on the donkey, or whatever
floats their boat. You don’t need to hire a magician to see the magic that is created when kids get together and are allowed to run around and have fun.

3. Give It a Theme.

Themes really do wonders. Sarah’s throwing a low-key, backyard birthday for her soon-to-be five-year-old with a “monster truck” theme. The kids will play pin the license plate on the monster truck, red light/green light, and then cool off in the monster truck carwash (aka the sprinkler). If you’ve got a princess in your house, get some glitter nail polish and paint all the little toes and fingers and you’ll have a happy group of little girls.

4. Don’t Think You Need to Be Martha.

The kids aren’t going to realize that you whipped up that icing from scratch so unless you love baking, make it easy on yourself. Get a boxed cake. Same goes for food. You don’t need to be carving flowers out of carrots to impress kids. They’re thrilled if they see a pizza delivery man.

5. Invitations.

It’s the invite that counts, not what it looks like, so don’t fret over embossed invitations. Email is easy for everyone and sites like evite.com make it foolproof to send out invites. Don’t be afraid to express yourself and be funny – one mom even skipped evite and just put the date and time of the party in the subject line. Did the kids care? Nope. They were just happy to find themselves together on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

What other basics can you think of? What easy but really fun themes have you used or seen? Let us know!

The Secret to Becoming a Gift Hero

Oh goodie, another birthday party. What is that, the twelfth one this month? Instead of making the usual pilgrimage to Toys R Us, Target, or Walmart with your hair on fire at the last minute, consider a much saner alternative: creating a birthday closet. Your budget will remain unscathed, and you’ll have something on hand the next time your kid is off to a party. And the time after that, and the time after that.

If you’re not familiar with the term “birthday closet” and you’re worried you don’t have an entire closet to spare for birthday gifts, fret not. It’s just shorthand for a stash of birthday gifts that you buy once or twice a year rather than one at a time. If you live in a small apartment, you could store them in a bin or box under the bed, or like I do, on the top shelf of my linen closet.

I like to stock up on age-appropriate gifts every September, once I get the class list (my boys are still young enough that they get invited to every classmate’s birthday party). Rather than heading to the generic superstores (online or offline) to comb through mountains of toys in the hopes that I’ll find something I can actually feel good about giving, I do all my gift shopping at GiftHero.com. It’s a lovely site created by two busy moms who were tired of the birthday gift scramble – and decided to do something about it. They’ve carefully curated their toy selection and have made it really easy to shop by gender, age, price…or all three. They also always offer free shipping on orders over $75 – perfect for people like me who buy in bulk!

I also am in love with their gift bag, which is a wonderful eco-friendly (and inexpensive) alternative to gift wrapping. It’s a reusable, drawstring bag that’s actually useful for the recipient because they can then use it as a tote bag or as storage for toys. It also allows me to “sneak-a-peek” in the gift bag to make sure I’m grabbing an appropriate one for the party I’m headed to.

Here are my top picks for boys

• Magic Shakes Magnetic Construction Blocks $18

• Stacking Construction Vehicles $20

• Pretend & Play Emergency Rescue Set $28

• Zoobmobile Dragster $25

Top picks for girls

• Pretty Purse Fill and Spill $20

• Abby & Emma dress up doll set $20

• Slice & Bake Cookie Set $20

• Decorate Your Own Jewelry Box $13

Top picks for unisex

• Smart Snacks Trail Mix $17

• TOMY water symphony $24

• Chickyboom game $25

• Quercetti Filo Design Set $25

It’s My Birthday and I’ll Travel If I Want To

By Nancy DePalma, Buttoned Up’s Travel Expert

It is said that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, and while I’ve never been one to shy away from jewelry, something else catches my eye even more – travel. Give me tickets over trinkets any day. For me, nothing rings in a special occasion quite like a memorable trip, whether it’s halfway across the world or halfway up the turnpike.

For me, it started when I turned 16. My friends and I visited New York City for the day, and though it was just a little over an hour north of my family’s home in New Jersey, it felt a world away from my everyday existence. We window-shopped at Saks and had tea at The Plaza. We felt like princesses living the glamorous life, even if it was just for the day. I was hooked. As the years passed and more birthdays rolled around, I tried to do something unique for each milestone birthday. Some were more memorable than others – my 30th birthday was in a hospital delivering my first child. As my husband stares down his 40th birthday, I started thinking about ways to celebrate. It is a big one, after all, and I wanted him to have something to remember. With that in mind, I came up with some fun and new ways to blow out the birthday candles this year. Who ever said that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

For the Big Kid

Sometimes, being an adult is great. You get to make your own rules, eat whatever you want for dinner, and even put your feet up on your coffee table if you want. Still, adulthood is not always that much fun. There’s a mortgage and bills to pay, yardwork to be completed, and cars that need to pass the inspection line at the DMV. Perhaps the worst part is the loss of summer vacation. It could be said that summer vacations are wasted on the young. I mean, how stressful is 4th grade really? The kids just don’t know how good they have it, so if you or yours is searching to recapture that youthful, fun-loving spirit, send them to camp. Yup, that’s right, camp. No, not that kind, where you make glitter macaroni picture frames and drink bug juice. I’m talking about surf camp.

Yes, it might be a little bit like rolling one mid-life crisis into a week-long vacation, but can you think of a better way to break free of the grind, master something new, and maybe get a little tan at the same time?

Whether you want to surf the waves in eco-chic Costa Rica, laid-back California, exotic Bali, or head to Hawaii, there’s a surf camp program for you. Can’t slip away for a week or two to catch the endless summer? Opt for day programs in convenient places like Florida, the Jersey Shore, and Montauk (The Hamptons), New York. Surf camps run the gamut. Las Olas caters exclusively to women and is located in Mexico. It combines surfing “safaris” with activities like yoga, salsa dancing, guacamole making, and other fun activities. One of the biggest brands in surfing, Billabong,offers surf camps in a variety of spots, including Southern California, Mexico, Mid-Atlantic region, and even Canada. Their website, www.billabong-camps.com, offers great one-stop shopping for programs ranging from day programs to weeklong getaways.

For the Inner (or Outer) Artist

Unless you’re celebrating your 21st birthday, it’s likely that it has been several years (or even decades), since you last sat behind a desk, listened to an enlightening lecture, and learned something new. If you never had the opportunity or time to take a year abroad and while away your hours painting watercolors by the Seine, now’s your chance to indulge your creative side.

Triple Creek Ranch is a posh resort in Montana. It’s the kind of place where you can live out the whole “Go West, young (wo)man” fantasy without having to forsake life’s luxuries. It didn’t win a “World’s Best” award from Travel + Leisure Magazine for nothing. They offer the requisite sporting adventures like fly fishing and horseback riding, but if you’d rather enjoy the outdoors while holding a paintbrush, they hold fantastic workshops and special event weekends run by acclaimed photographers and painters.

It’s owned by Robert Redford and home of the famous Sundance Film Festival, so it’s no wonder that the Sundance Resort is a haven for creatives. If you don’t want to take out your paintbrush, there’s plenty to do here (outdoor activities are plentiful and there’s a great spa), but it would be a shame to miss one of the Art Shack’s workshops. There’s jewelry making, pottery, drawing, oil and watercolor painting, and photography sessions and they’re even open to those who aren’t staying on the property.

For the Foodie

Whether you’re addicted to the Food Network or whip up more of a disaster than dessert, there is a cooking school for you. Just like the surf camps, there are many different options, including everything from afternoon programs to very serious programs lasting several weeks. You can learn to cook traditional French or healthy spa cuisine. There’s truly something for everyone, but unless you want to change careers or earn a certificate, go for one of the programs where cooking is integrated with other activities.
One of the premier hotel cooking programs is offered at The Ritz in Paris. This hotel is the grande dame of international hotels. Ernest Hemingway once famously quipped that he thought Heaven would be very much like the Ritz. It’s all very posh (and pricey) but certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The Ritz Escoffier Culinary School, named for the famous chef Auguste Escoffier, has programs teaching everything from baking bread to classic French cooking.

For something a little more casual, tip your hat to the Lake Austin Spa Resort. Set in the Texas Hill Country, this resort centers around well being. The highly rated spa is a focal point of the resort, but wannabe chefs or those who want to revamp their cooking style will love the “Culinary Experience.” It’s a one-week program offered throughout the year and features different chefs from around the country. Programs focus on everything from gadgets and ingredients to healthy cooking techniques.

For the Adrenaline Junkie

Feel the need for speed? There are plenty of places to put the pedal to the medal. Skip Barber Racing School is the granddaddy of them all. Skip Barber trains professional drivers, so you’ll learn from the best. Programs are held nationwide at a variety of tracks (depending on the racing style: Formula One, Mazda race cars, etc.) and are offered in one-, two-, or three-day programs. Charlotte, North Carolina is the home of NASCAR (the Hall of Fame was just opened there) and one of the sport’s top race tracks. The Charlotte Motor Speedway has several driving schools by some of the biggest names in the business. Ever heard of Jeff Gordon, Mario Andretti, or Richard Petty? Visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com for more information on their programs and schools.

NANCY DEPALMA has been telling people where to go, what to do, and where to eat or stay for almost a decade while writing extensively about travel and fine dining. She has authored or contributed to eight books and has been featured in a variety of magazines and websites. She writes about travel at her new website and blog, www.thedestinationmaven.com. Email her at nancy@nancydepalma.com.

Anyone with kids knows that June marks the beginning of “Birthday Party Season.”

For your child’s next birthday, rather than bogging down in planning details, stay focused on the big picture and on having fun. Use this checklist to sanely plan a party.

Download this form now! (PDF)

Baking is my Organization Meditation

By Caroline Lubbers of www.whippedtheblog.com

Oh, Organization! We play a little game of cat and mouse, the two of us. Organization is my spirited toddler who is always one step ahead of me, out of reach and causing a little trouble. However, I will never stop chasing him. Somehow, I seem to stay the most organized when I am in constant pursuit of organization.

Let me explain…

I like to keep my life packed and if I ever get too close to being under control, I scheme up a new project to tip the load. I manage my own marketing consulting business, write a food blog, have a 2-year old, a dog and a new house. In the past months, I started my first-ever vegetable garden, took a family trip to Mexico, made plans for a trip abroad this summer, took on two new clients and ensured that my daughter had a homemade, sprinkle-topped four layer cake for her birthday.

The old me used to beat myself up if one of the 20 balls I am juggling dropped. The new mommy-me has come to feel proud that only 2-3 balls drop now and then in my pursuit to “have it all.” Running a business, being a mommy, growing my own vegetables, entertaining friends… I want it all. And, though I now firmly believe that you can’t have it all, all of the time, I am happier if I keep trying. And so, my juggling continues…

Naturally, I am cluttered. If you saw my desk or peeked in my cupboards, you would likely think I am a disaster. But, hiding under the piles is a binder system and in the kitchen is a lined pad to make lists and notes. A month later, the binder turns to sticky notes and the pad gives way to a chalkboard wall. By continually thinking about and trying to hone my organizational systems, I revisit my to-dos and somehow keep my head above water.

Baking is one of my favorite hobbies. I love food and sweets and strive for the best, most deliciously perfect baked goods. Achieving that requires exactness and organization. I tend to choose complex recipes so I get a chance to measure, sift, whisk, melt, beat, level, layer and frost. After all the ingredients and the recipe at hand are ready on the counter, I find my way into a baking trance.

Though I love teaching my toddler how to cook, I find true pleasure in working alone in the kitchen. There is no option when baking but to be organized. The best cakes and cookies require careful measuring cups, proper temperatures, even scoops and perfectly level cake layers. As I place the cookies on the cooling rack or apply the sprinkles atop a layer cake, I always find myself more relaxed than when I started. The scattered, multi-tasking me has taken a break while the meticulous, organized baker has meditated her way to another beautiful, delicious cake.

Below is the recipe for my standby Chocolate Birthday Cake. Other favorites are this wonderful yellow cake, carrot cake, banana cake with cream cheese frosting and red velvet cake. Happy Baking!

The Best Chocolate Birthday Cake

For the cake:
3 ounces fine-quality semisweet chocolate
1 1/2 cups hot brewed coffee

3 cups sugar

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)

2 teaspoons baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

3 large eggs

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups well-shaken buttermilk

3/4 teaspoon vanilla

For the frosting:
½ lb. butter
8 ounces cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar
½ cup cocoa powder

Preheat oven to 300°F and grease two round 9-inch pans. Line bottoms with rounds of parchment paper. Finely chop chocolate and combine in a bowl with hot coffee. Let mixture stand, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.

Into a large bowl sift together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another large bowl with an electric mixer beat eggs until thickened slightly (about 3 minutes with a standing mixer or 5 minutes with a hand-held mixer). Slowly add oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and melted chocolate mixture to eggs, beating until combined well.

Add sugar mixture and beat on medium speed until just combined well. Divide batter between pans and bake in middle of oven until a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes.

For the frosting, mix together room temperature butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla. In a separate bowl, sift together sugar and cocoa. Add the sugar to the butter mixture little by little until spreadable consistency. Refrigerating will firm up the frosting if needed.

Cool layers completely in pans on racks. Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert layers onto racks. Carefully remove parchment paper and cool layers completely.

To assemble the cake, level both cake layers with a serrated knife. Place the first layer on your serving plate. Spread about ½-2/3 cup of frosting on the cake. Top with the second layer of cake. Spread a thin layer of frosting on the top and around the sides of the cake. If you have the time, put the cake in the fridge for 30 minutes. This will make a firmer surface to spread your final layer of frosting. Remove from the fridge and spread the rest of the frosting around the sides and on top. Add sprinkles, chopped nuts or decoration of your choice.

Chicagoan Caroline Lubbers runs her own marketing communications firm and, on the side, writes the food blog, Whipped (www.whippedtheblog.com).

For a slice of cake or a slice of life, visit Caroline Lubbers’ blog, www.whippedtheblog.com.

Julie Ames, the artisan behind The Broken Plate Pendant Company, deliberately breaks plates selected from thrift stores, antique shops and department stores in order to turn the shards into jewelry.

She first got the idea after making a mosaic mailbox for herself and was left with more broken shards that needed to be repurposed. Once she made pendants, the orders started rolling in and her business was launched.

Now, she also does custom orders where she turns broken but sentimental pottery like a wedding plate or family dish into wearable heirlooms. So despite the name, she makes plates into rings, bracelets, and earrings too. You can see more of Julie’s designs at her Etsy Store. They are just adorable and make great gifts!

For her second birthday, Milla’s awesome grandparents repurposed an old TV entertainment center to make her this amazing play kitchen!

It all started with this TV unit that they got for $30!

Click here or the image below to see the full transformation!

My family and I recently celebrated three of my five nieces and nephews birthdays over the past two months.

Julia turned three, Carolyn five, and Nathan six. While the weekends were filled with various parties to celebrate the little one’s, it seems like a big birthday blur in my mind–time truly does fly by.
Thankfully my sisters are always on the prowl for wonderful mementos to help us cherish the memories. My sister Katie absolutely adores a book titled “Your Birthday Book“.

“Your Birthday Book” is a baby book of sorts–but more so a year-by-year documentation of your little ones up till they are your not-so-little ones.

Each of the eighteen years has a section crafted to capture certain aspects of your child’s life at that time, with questions, photo spots, and built in envelopes to store their artwork, and other various keepsakes. You can buy it on Amazon for a very reasonable price. What a wonderful way to capture those priceless memories! I can’t wait to look through it at each of their eighteenth birthdays! ; )