Easter baskets and gators

Remember the twins here? Their mom ordered them Easter baskets to match their outfits. I think they are pretty darn cute if I do say so myself.





Love the BIG pink bows.







I wanted to do something a little different than the Pottery Barn- monogrammed -liner -thing. I liked these little pinked edge patches.








My oldest is out for spring break this week. We went bargain hunting together - something we like to do together occasionally. He found a new basketball for $2, I got a pillow for his new "cool" room, (not his "uncool" one seen here). I scored a pair of Seven jeans that fit perfect for $3.49, and 2 end tables that I am sure will be adorable when they are finished.



He cracked me up when we stopped at a local thrift store (it always has the best furniture). He kept watching this admittedly odd looking man. He finally said, "Mom, that guy is weird. He just tried on a pink belt. What would he want with a pink belt??"



Loaded question.



Maybe it was for his wife?? I'm not so sure...



The little guys got to enjoy one of the perks of a dad that works for John Deere. (He's a rep for their golf/turf line). Every now and then he brings home a gator to ride around the neighborhood. They love it.







They rode one earlier in the day at my mom and dad's house. This is my dad's 'work' gator.



My mom drove them around as they fired toy guns playing cowboys and indians - a game I am sure is no longer PC.



I can assure you my mother doesn't care.

LittlebitsDesigns.com

Random twos

It's late, I'm over working, and I'm not ready to fall asleep. So, how about a random blog post that might make you think I'm nuts??









It's Top 2 Tuesday at the Undomestic Mama. The topic - 2 random things about yourself.

WARNING : You may not like me after this.





1. I hate chocolate and chick movies.

Yes, you read that right. I have never, ever eaten a Snickers, and I may have only seen one or two Meg Ryan movies. My husband thinks the chocolate thing is ridiculous, but he's pretty happy about my taste in movies. He has never had to suffer thru "The Notebook" while trying to act romantic.


2. If you fall down, I will laugh at you.





I can't help it. When people trip/stumble/fall I lose it. I don't mean to, it just happens. It even happens with my own children. As soon as I know they're OK, I start laughing. One of my favorites is The Grape Lady Falls .The noises this woman makes kills me. (She was ok, just had the wind knocked out of her - so you don't think I'm really mean..)

If you know me, you probably already knew these things. If not, I promise I'm not a cruel weirdo. But while I'm at it, I might as well admit I don't really like pizza either.



LittlebitsDesigns.com

Hydogen Peroxide is your friend.

Hydrogen Peroxide is great for so many things...






My favorite use is to clean the carpet in my car. My kids have found some really creative ways to stain it, and the peroxide has removed it all. (well, except for the red icee..)I have found that using a fresh bottle works much better.

A lot of people use it for everything since it is so" green". I like it because it's cheap! In a funny coincidence, my sister did a post about using rubbing alcohol to clean with here.

Five Question Friday

1.Did you pass your driver's test the first time? Yes, but the lady that tested me was really irritable when the "automatic" seatbelt in my dad's car messed up the bun in her hair. She spent the whole time looking in the mirror fixing her hairdo. (did anyone else have one of those seatbelts?)


2.What is your most embarrassing moment? When I was a senior in high school, I got a job doing office work for a home healthcare company. I was very excited, it was so "grown up". On my first day of work. I woke up feeling nauseated. I couldn't call in sick my first day. I took a big dose of Pepto Bismol and tried to convince myself I was fine.I showed up on time, feeling very grown up in my white blouse and skirt. I met my new boss and co workers, and started training. About an hour into it I knew I was in trouble. I broke out into a cold sweat, and bolted for the bathroom that was out of the office and down the hall.
I didn't make it.
I threw up all over the door, floor, and myself. A very nice, and I'm sure grossed out, lady told me she would call maintenance to clean up. Meanwhile, I cleaned myself up the best I could, and took the walk of shame back to my new offfice. With bright pink, Pepto Bismol vomit stains covering my shirt, I humbly asked the boss if I could go home early--after a whopping one hour of work. They were so nice in the long run, no one ever mentioned it again. (to my face anyway...)



3. What TV show would you rather be on, Oprah, The Biggest Loser, or What Not To Wear? Honestly, none of the. I would rather be on Wipeout!

4. Would you ever get plastic surgery, and what kind? I would love a lift, but not on my face if you know what I mean.

5.What are your favorite jeans to wear? Anything I can find short enough. I'm 5 ft, and they are usually about 8" too long.




LittlebitsDesigns.com

5 Guilty Pleasures

This week's Friday Fives - Guilty Pleasures

1.A tan.
I don't bake myself in baby oil, but I do enjoy a nice tan. I may be all wrinkled one day, but at least I will like what I look like in the old family photographs.

2.A good haircut.
My hair is soooo complicated, so I always appreciate it when someone does it well.

3.Downy.
I love fabric softener. I even like that it makes my house smell good when I'm running the dryer.

4.Porter or Pratt and Lambert paints.
There is no comparison between good paint, and cheap paint. Once you have used the good stuff, you will never have paint mixed at Wal Mart again. Pratt and Lambert's colors are just gorgeous, and the staff at Porter Paints is unbeatable.

5.Trips to the Nashville flea market with my mom and sister. Even if we don't need anything, we always enjoy this outing. We always come across something we love. Sometimes, we just have to look past the tube socks and out of date Avon to see it.




LittlebitsDesigns.com

Musings at a Waterpark

Changing out of my jeans and sweater into my bathing suit just seems odd. But, that's exactly what I did last weekend at the indoor waterpark in Sevierville, TN. We met up with our good friends and neighbors for a weekend of waves, waterslides, and chill bumps.






It's funny what you find yourself thinking at a waterpark.

When you first walk in - "Isn't it amazing how God made us all so similar, but yet so different."


While standing in line - " I wonder how the guy in front of me got that scar on his lower back? Was he in an accident? Did he have surgery? Either way, it's gross."


While in the hot tub - " If that enormous, hairy guy gets in here, I'm out."


Upon seeing all the teenage girls - "What a cute figure she has."



Okay, this is what I was really thinking.. "Yeah, you might be all fat free now, but just wait till you've had 3 kids..."


I enjoyed the fun times with the kids. The half naked strangers - not so much.


I did see a few funny things on the road trip. I'll share ...






I spotted this magazine on a bathroom stop. The cover model looks to be , oh, I don't know, ......12!!!??



Love the chain link fence backdrop. Did you spot the 'other' cover model?







The dog next door. Classy.





This pig greeted us as we entered a BBQ place, he doesn't make me want to eat.







That's a catchy slogan. "OLD BUT CLEAN"

It was definately old. I'm not sold on the clean part.





No offense TDOT, but I'll stick with TomTom.




LittlebitsDesigns.com

Coca-Cola Baby!

This week's topic was 2 things you can't live without. That's easy.



My all time #1.......A BIG COLD COKE. The real deal. None of that diet stuff for me.

I know all the nutritionists say it rots your guts and will kill you. Trust me, if that was true, I would have dropped dead.

#2 A cold one of these babies.

Let's face it, it's really just a substitute for #1.

I am 35, I've had 3 babies, and my metabolism isn't what it once was. These satisfy the craving without any calories, sugar, or artificial sweeteners. I know I am making it sound oh so delicious.

The grapefruit ( or pamplemousse if you want the fancy french) is my favorite flavor.

I get my La Croix water at Kroger, Publix, or Target. I mentioned it once before here.

Littlebits Designs.com

Pineapples!!

If you don't like pineapple, you might as well hit the back button(and get your head checked :). That's all this post is about. Random, I know....

I LOVE fresh pineapple. If you have an Aldi store nearby, they have Dole fresh, whole pineapples for .99!!

That is a fabulous price, the cheapest I have ever found. I bought 3, and I will flash freeze 2 of them for smoothies. I learned a trick a while back on how to make the most of your whole pineapple.

-Put the pineapple upside down in your refridgerator for one hour.
Sounds easier than it is, they aren't exactly designed to stand on their head. I empty one of my door shelves temporarily, and it holds them in place.

It might seem like a weird thing to do, but it redistributes all the natural sugars through the pineapple before you cut it, so it is equally as sweet the whole way through.

To flash freeze, I cut it up into pieces, and lay them out onto a cookie sheet covered with freezer paper, or wax paper. Once frozen, I put them into a ziploc freezer bag. This way, they freeze into individual pieces, not a big lump, and I can grab a handful out of the bag when I make a smoothie.

Iknow, this isn't pineapple, I haven't done mine yet, but I wanted a photo and you don't get much when you Google "flash frozen pineapple images".

(this photo is from Kelly @ Fathful Provisions)

For my smoothies, I use lowfat vanilla or plain yogurt, frozen fruit, a little skim milk, and some ice. I sometimes use fresh fruit, and if I do I add more ice. I like them really cold. Plus, the ice addds bulk, making you feel fuller.




They are also good with bananas and a little peanut butter. I even add cooked, plain oatmeal occasionally. Sound gross? I promise it's really good. And, again, very filling with very few calories and no fat.

You may not have wanted to know any of this, but I guess if you didn't, you didn't make it this far down the page!




Littlebits Designs.com

Easter, erasers and marbles

The creative juices were flowing around here today. I got a lot of work done, and my little Baker got creative in my desk drawer of office supplies. Just look at what he made for me...

A little eraser man.

Complete with paper clip arms and legs and pencil eraser feet.

Can you see the little bit of pink feather hair? He nabbed it from one of Lilly's princess dresses.

He made me something else too....

Oh yes. This is a bracelet. A rubberband, paper clip, tape and marble bracelet.

Priceless.

Look out Harry Winston.

I wore it all day, but had to take it off the 10th time it snagged my sweater.

I finally did all the measuring and math (which I stink at), and bought the supplies for Lilly's Easter dress. I have less than 2 weeks, and these dresses take me forever. I thought I might document the process. I could lie and say I make them for her. But, the truth is, I make them because I like them, and I just love dressing her up in them.

This type of sewing is called French hand sewing by machine.I only make one a year. The supplies are expensive (this is not nasty, acrylic , pageant lace - they are nice, actually from France, and the fabric is $24 a yard- yikes!).

This is last year's dress. It was all ecru and white swiss cotton batiste. It's sort of hard to see the details in this photo.

So sweet.

I guess I could have shown pictures of the dress itself, but I love my sister's photography much more than my own. This is much better than a dress on a hanger.

I will try to post my progress (because I know you are just on the edge of your seat --- sewing is sooo exciting).

I just posted this one because I love it. This is how I always pictured "'my little girl.

"

This is what I see most of the time.

She's even better than I ever imagined.

LittlebitsDesigns.com

Technologically challenged

I am new to blogging.

I am new to Twitter.

I am actually new to reading my email daily.

When I was in school, email was still new. (guess that shows my age)

I didn't have a cell phone until I was married. (I married really young. )

I have run my business from home for the past 11 years, with very little need for a computer....until now.

This time last year, I couldn't even copy and paste. I've come a long way.

I labored over putting up a website. I had a successful business without it, did I need it? Would it really get out to anyone?

So, I was super excited today when my neighbor called and told me that Kelly from Kelly's Korner had written something on Twitter about my website!!

Some of you may not know who she is, but she writes one of the few blogs I read. She is a cute little mom, and a christian making a difference. She writes often about her faith, her family, and is always spreading the word when prayers are needed. She is the Oprah of Mom blogs.

I tried to tell my mom. When I said she "tweeted" about me, I got a blank stare. She had no idea what I was talking about. I tried to explain. She pretended to understand.

I think I need to convince her how important it is for her to learn her way around her laptop. Especially if she wants to ever communicate with her grandchildren once they hit their teens. If I can do it - so can she.




I mailed out a cute little pillow today. Here is the bedding I needed to match. It's called Sumersault Geo.




I see Lilly playing with balls, her kitchen, crayons and play-doh. But, what is it about seeing her play with dolls that makes my heart flutter?? I just love it.




Here, her dolls were sick. All four of them. It must have been an epidemic. I think she's giving baby #1 a shot.

I always seem to be posting pictures of Lilly and not the boys. But, Jackson has school everyday, and Baker just can't seem to keep his shirt on. I'm not sure where he got the idea that clothes are just for 'going out'. His around the house look is often not blog appropriate.

I don't want to be the Jerry Springer of mom blogs.

Baby Chicks

I should be working, but it's 9pm and I'm beat.

Playing Go Fish and making Shrinky Dinks can really drain your energy.

Of course, I did other things - but painting, etc. wasn't one of them. As I was getting some things out of my storage room, Lilly spotted a box of Easter decorations.


(see that picture on the floor..she drew that. It's supposed to be me. I don't think I'll be putting her to work for me anytime soon :)

I let her look thru them, and she found these little chenille baby chicks. I think I bought them at Big Lots about 7 years ago. Obviously, not special to me - but to her, they were magical.




I gave her some little crocheted Easter baskets I saved from childhood. An elderly lady we went to church with made them a loooong time ago.




She liked to put them "to bed" in the eggs.


She played quietly with them for a couple of hours.
Whenever my children play quietly, it's blog-worthy.

Since I didn't paint today, how about a photo or two from a while back?? cause tonight I am oh so lazy.....

I almost forgot, I re-posted last weeks grocery post. I somehow messed up in posting it, and some FB folks told me they couldn't view it. So, all my fellow coupon dorks, go here.
....and, I added a new blog to my short list. Reflections on Being Present. It is written by my friend Jenna, who I have known since high school. She is seriously one of the coolest people I know, and I don't say that lightly or often.