Minnie Mouse Crochet Purse

My teenage daughter is so creative and crafty.  Remember how she carved/decorated her Halloween pumpkin HERE?  Well, she learned to crochet last year and has made a few things besides hats and scarves.  She doesn't even follow a pattern.  She knows some basic stitches and when she sees something she likes, she just starts making it.  

And that is exactly what she did with this Minnie Mouse purse.  

Her 2 year old cousin loves Minnie Mouse so she made this for her as a Christmas gift.  Good thing my daughter got some yarn as an early Christmas present.  

She found her inspiration on Pinterest HERE.

And just so her cousin's baby brother wouldn't feel left out, my daughter crocheted him a hat.

If you're wondering about those brightly colored baby toys, they are THE perfect baby gifts.  You can find them HERE and HERE.  They will keeps babies entertained at home and on the go.  Perfect to stash in your purse or leave in the car or stroller.  Oh, and older kids like them too.  My 4 and 8 year old kept playing with them after I bought them, so I had to quickly gift wrap them.

Subscribe to CONTROLLING Craziness and get my blog updates via email.   Don't miss anymore posts, click HERE to get email updates.

And don't forget to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

Sexy Socks

I never know what to get my husband for the holidays so recently I've been using candy as my go to.  And yes I'll get him some candy for Valentine's day but I also couldn't resist getting him more sexy socks.  A couple Christmases ago, I spiced up his sock collection with some bold Argyles.  You can read about that HERE.  I found similar socks in red the other day and just had to get them for Valentine's day.  Of course I couldn't wait until Wednesday and wanted to give them to him earlier so he could wear them to church.  I made a cute little tag and put them in his sock drawer.  What a cute way to surprise him in the morning when he gets ready.  

The tag I used on this pair of socks says "A little something to spice up your socks life".

What do you get your sweetheart for Valentine's day, or any holiday for that matter?

Subscribe to CONTROLLING Craziness and get my blog updates via email.   Don't miss anymore posts, click HERE to get email updates.

And don't forget to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

Christmas 2017 recap

I'm having a hard time getting back into the swing of things.  Being off for the holiday and sleeping in was great.  I got used to it real quick.  The kids first week back at school wasn't too bad since 3 out of the 4 days had a delayed start due to the weather, so I was still sleeping in.  This week however, has been a little rough.  The super cold temperatures didn't help either, but yesterday and today are warmer, if you can call 40° warm.

I'm finally getting around to recapping our Christmas.  I know it's 2018 and I've already taken down my Christmas decorations, but I'm still going to write about it.  Then I'll share some Valentines decorations I've been making.

This Christmas seemed to fly by and we didn't get around to doing all the fun traditions we've done in the past.  But there is always next year.  Some of the fun and FREE things we did included:

* Making a gingerbread house at Home Depot.  I was quite impressed that my 7 year old did all the work herself

OK, she got a little help painting from her brother.

* Along with a wooden gingerbread house, we also made the edible kind.  I think more candies were eaten than actually put on the house.

* My little guy just loves trains.  So of course we had to take him to a train garden.  Actually he got to go to several of them thanks to relatives taking him as well.  He loved being able to press the buttons to make things move.  

I think he could have stayed there for hours.

* The two youngest and I went to see Santa and one of his reindeer.  You can't tell by his worried expression, but my son was so excited to pet a reindeer.

* The Elf on the Shelf came back.  You can read about how and why we brought it back in THIS POST.  This was the first time my son was involved in this tradition.  And since the elf was only around for a week, which is a lot more manageable than a month, I think she'll be coming back next year too.

* We went to Bass Pro Shops and played in their Winter Wonderland while visiting with Santa.

Once again my daughter impressed me with her skills, this time it was shooting.  She had pretty good aim for only playing this game once a year.

The 'dirt' was brown kinetic sand and the kids loved playing in it.  We have kinetic sand at our house and I'm thinking of recreating this.  I could put the sand in one of those underbed storage containers along with some vehicles and sand toys and let them play with it that way.  We usually just have it on a baking sheet and use cookie cutters and plastic knives to play with it.  This would bring a whole new dimension to our kinetic sand play.

And let's not forget about Christmas morning.  I don't know who was more excited me or the kids.  Three of the kids got some big gifts.  They didn't cost that much, they were all bought second hand, but they were large and so I didn't wrap them.  You can see in the picture below how I like to separate out my kids gives so we have 4 piles.  On the left is my 7 year old's pile.  Her presents are stacked upon a pink and black leopard print high heel shoe chair.  My 3 year old son's pile is next and behind it is a tall Fischer Price Little People City Skyway race car ramp thingy.  And that big red bag conceals my teenage son's punching bag.  My teenage daughter didn't get anything very large.  Her gift requests were small items like books and art supplies.  I tried to make up for the smaller size with more items by individually wrapping the 13 book set she got.

Since some of the gifts were unwrapped, I didn't want to spoil the surprise (or spoil the change of me seeing their faces when they first see the gifts.  Because of the openness of our house, the kids can look down from the second floor and see right into the living room, I wanted to cover up the gifts and unveil them when I was there to see their expressions.  I just used some bed sheets.  The kids were definitely interested in what was under there making those weird shapes, but they did wait for me to unveil it for them and boy were they surprised.  

And then I took the obligatory Christmas morning photo.  My 7 year old's face was pretty much frozen like that all morning.  She's the most dramatic of our kids and it was so fun to watch her open her gifts and squeal in excitement over each one.  

This year we did pretty good with the presents.  We got stuff the kids actually liked and would use or play with.  That hasn't always happened.  Sometimes it's hard to know what they'll like/play with since birthdays are just a few months before Christmas and the kids already have so much.  To cut back on the amount of stuff, we've tried getting the kids 'experiences' such as pool passes or a trip somewhere but we also like them to have fun stuff to open. 

Here are some of the things the kids got (go ahead and plan ahead for next Christmas or think birthdays, or Easter baskets gifts):

3 year old boy gifts:

Magformers Magnets in Motion 37 piece set

Superhero dress up costumes - these are great to pick up on after Halloween clearance.

Toob animals

Books

Little People Wheelies

7 year old girl gifts:

Little Live Pets Bird

Fingerlings Monkey

Sequin color changing storage bin

Books

Glittery wedge high top sneakers

Teenage girl gifts:

Books - mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, how to draw, how to paint, creative writing...

Art supplies such as canvases, paints, gel pens, high quality markers, fabric markers....

Clothes - robe, pajamas, shirts...

Teenage boy gifts:

Lock picking set

Ceiling fan - because he says he's always hot at night.

Books

Punching gloves

And here's a fun family gift they got - The Claw Arcade Game.  They loved it and practiced much patience in playing it.  It has been fun to play with their friends too.  The novelty has worn off like I knew it would, but I plan to use it for the kid's birthday parties too.  You can change up what you put in it from candy to small toys or even money.  In the video below you can see how intense the kids are in trying to get something.  It's much easier than the claw machine at the arcade.  Depending on the type of candy/toy you put in there, you could be a winner every time.

Hope your Christmas was a merry one and that 2018 has been off to a good start for you.

I would love for you to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

My Favorite Things - Baby Edition

I'm back with another edition of "My Favorite Things".  In case you missed the last one about my favorite inexpensive kitchen tools, you can check it out HERE.  This time I'm talking baby items.  So if you have an expectant mom, new mom or baby to buy for this Christmas, you can't go wrong with any of the items below.

Being a mom of 4 kids, I've used my fair share of baby stuff.  With my first baby, I wanted everything and anything I might need, and the cuter it was the better.  Over the years I've learned a few things about what works and what you actually need.  By the time my fourth baby came along, I was ready for a minimalist approach.  If my house was going to be overrun with baby gear, I only wanted the essentials, not the clutter no matter how cute it was.  Here are a few of my favorites.  

Essentials for baby to wear

Nuroo Baby Swaddler

I've blogged about how much I like this swaddler HERE.  I received one as a gift with my fourth child and wish I would have had it for all my babies.  This makes swaddling so easy and it grows as your child grows. 

Zip Up Onsies

So much easier to get on and off baby with the zipper rather than snaps.  Attached footies means you don't have to worry about loosing socks or cold feet.  My babies lived in these for the first couple of months.

Robeez Soft Sole Leather Shoes

These shoes are great for beginning walkers.  They stay on their feet and the soft sole makes it easy to maintain balance.


My Favorite Baby Gear

baby bjorn carrier

A good baby carrier is a must have when you have more than one child.  This is a great way to keep your baby close yet your hands are free to play, work, clean, whatever.  Also it's a great way to travel with baby when a stroller isn't an option such as hiking or in a crowded place.  Some of the carriers/slings/wraps feel like my baby could fall out and I use my hand to hold onto them just in case.  Not so with this one.  I felt like my baby was safe and secure.

Pack N Play with Bassinet and Changer

Having a second place for baby to nap or to change a diaper is great if you have a two story house.  I didn't have this exact model but I did have those features.  I kept mine in the living room so I could keep an eye on my other kids too.

Snap and Go Stroller

If you are looking for a minimalist approach, then this stroller is for you.  You just snap the car seat in here and off you go.  Once your child outgrows the infant carrier type car seat, you will have to get another stroller, but that is when I start using the umbrella strollers.  No need for big bulky strollers if you go that route.  

Chicco Lightweight Stroller

Having a lightweight stroller is handy.  So much easier to store in the back of your car.  I started using one when my babies were about 6 months and could sit up pretty well.  This is not a cheap umbrella stroller.  It is small and light but it's sturdy too.  I've had several and I prefer the Chicco brand.  There is a basket for storage on the bottom and the seat part is larger than most - great if you have big kids.  I had this for 3 out of my 4 kids and then accidentally ran over it so I had to get a new one for my 4th.  I found a used Maclaren which I thought would be better since it's a more expensive brand.  Nope, I much preferred the Chicco.

Jogging Stroller

OK, so here is a big bulky stroller and it's worth it if you take your baby on a lot of walks.  Having only one wheel in front makes it more easily maneuverable than the other strollers.  Plus the large wheels are great for traveling over gravel and grass.  My youngest is 3 and has outgrown the umbrella type strollers (yeah, he's big) so this is the only stroller we use now.  It's bigger than traditional strollers but it also accommodates bigger/older kids so you'll be able to use longer.

Chicco NextFit Zip Convertible Car Seat

I've never used this car seat, but my friend raves about it.  Her daughter had an unfortunate accident in it and taking off the cover to wash it was super easy.  She didn't even have to uninstall the car seat to clean the cover.  As one who has had to do that several times due to sick kids and diaper blow outs, that's a life saver right there.

Vibrating Bouncer

and Swing

I had both of these.  One on the main floor of the house, another upstairs in my bedroom or bathroom so I have a place to put the baby while I'm getting myself ready for the day.  They made my life easier and the baby loved sitting in there.  It also was a safe place to put the baby so siblings could interact with him.

Feeding Must Haves

Since I had gotten rid of all my baby gear by the time I had my fourth baby, I got to pick and choose what to buy instead of using a hand me down.  I went through several high chairs before finding one I loved.  Good thing I bought them used and was able to resell them for what I paid.  I thought I wanted something nice, not plastic, so it would blend in with our home a little better.   The first high chair I got was a Graco wooden high chair.  It looked nice, the dark wood matched our kitchen cabinets, however, it was a pain to clean.

All those nooks and crannies for food to get stuck in.  And even though the cushion was machine washable, it was just another part that needed to be cleaned.  Since my little guy was a messy do it yourself eater, this chair was more work than it was worth.  I sold it when I found something different.

My second highchair was sleeker and more modern looking, the Keekaroo Height Right Highchair with insert and tray.


It had several height adjustments and could convert from high chair to booster chair.  Again, it was wood so it didn't look all cheap and plastic-y.  The seat cushion was rubber and much easier to clean than the fabric cushion of the Graco high chair.  However, once again, food would get everywhere:  in the seams/joints of the wood parts, under the cushion.  This also became a pain to clean and I knew I had to get rid of it too. 

That led me to do an internet search for an easy to clean high chair. 
The Antilop high chair from Ikea got rave reviews about how easy to clean it was. 
And for only $20!

Even though it was plastic and not as nice looking as the wooden high chairs, I instantly fell in love with it after my son's first meal.  The seat is all one piece so no joints or seams for crumbs to get caught.  It was a breeze to clean and I wish we would have gotten it sooner.  I wouldn't recommend it for a baby just starting out in a high chair since it doesn't have much support to hold them up, but for an older baby or toddler, it's definitely the best high chair around.

Kangaroo Bib

Long before I had the perfect easy to clean high chair, I had the perfect easy to clean bib.  I actually found this at a yard sale and bought it for my 3rd baby.  It's a kangaroo bib.  It's plastic and has a food catcher at the bottom.  I just wipe it up after every meal and it's clean and dry in seconds.  I used this bib multiple times a day for a few years. I don't think they sell it in stores, so here is a link to a similar one on amazon.com

Metal Silverware for toddlers

I like to use metal utensils when my child gets enough coordination to feed themselves.  The plastic ones or the metal with plastic coating on them, never really picked up or held onto the food like the all metal ones would. 

Silicone divided plates

I like these because the silicone provides a little bit of grip to them, making it harder to just slip away.  The divided sections are great for separating out food since many toddlers don't like their peas to touch their carrots.  

Gerber Graduates Spill Proof Sippy Cups

A lot of sippy cups say they are spill proof but they aren't.  I've used a lot of different kinds, and I can say these truly are spill proof.  I Still use these on car rides just to make sure there aren't any accidental spills.

And A Few More Things 

Lansinoh Lanolin

A must have for any breastfeeding momma out there.  

Light Blocking Curtains

I have these Light Blocking Basketweave Curtains from Target in both my master bedroom and my 3 year old's room.  Our bedroom has the tan color, while my son's room is done in blue. The darker the color, the more light is blocked out, but compared to other light blocking curtains, these are the best I've found for the price (about $25 per panel).  If you have windows that get direct sun, these will help keep the light out and you can get more sleep, something that is a precious commodity when you have little ones.

I'm planning to do at least one more edition of My Favorite Things, so check back in a few days to see what toys have stood the test of time with my kids.  Happy Shopping!

Subscribe to CONTROLLING Craziness and get my blog updates via email.   Don't miss anymore posts, click HERE to get email updates.