Mommy's chore chart

I ALWAYS need a chore chart in order to stay motivated to do housework.  I really like the latest!  It's behind glass so I can use a dry-erase marker to mark off my "chores" and write in the events of the week.

If you want a word document of your own, just drop me an email!  wink@asurfer.com

Greatest recipe book EVER

Bloggers from all over have donated their favorite recipes to make this recipe book to benefit the American Red Cross!

100% of your donation will go to the American Red Cross to help the many people who have been affected by recent natural disasters around the world.

I can't wait to order my copy!

Just click on the button below to order yours!  If you want more information, visit Little Birdie Secrets.

The Bean

Seriously?!?  Aaahhhh!

I have been camped out on KSL's classifieds for months looking for the perfect trailer.  One was sold out from under me minutes from my arrival to pick it up.  These teardrop trailers are SO hard to find!  Just as I was getting ready to make an offer on a 60's trailer, this one popped up and you guessed it!  I am the proud owner of my very own 1950's teardrop trailer!!!

Isn't she lovely?

My head is swimming with ideas for her!



Faith's Hair book free printable!

At Rahel's salon there is a photo book with braid styles she can choose from.  I thought it would be such a good idea for Faith to have one of her own.  In the morning, she can thumb through her hair book and choose a style.  How fun!

This would work better in a small album.  I didn't have one so I concocted my own - ahem...

Yes, those are paper clips bent into rings...  Don't ask.

We had a hair styling party in the living room and did every style mommy knew how to while the girls watched movies.  We had so much fun putting this book together!

Here's the picture I created for the cover of the book.  You are more than welcome to copy it and print it for your own!  I printed mine as a 4x6.

Faith's 6th birthday!

Faith's "camping" party (o:

We went on a scavenger hunt after eating dinner

Nothing but lovely sweetness!

After doing the scavenger hunt and feeding ducks on the pond, we headed in to open presents.

We discovered all kinds of treasures!  This is Faith with a baby praying mantis

The night ended with shadow puppet shows on the side of the tent. We all had such a good time. By the end of the "show" we were all cracking up (o: The party ended with a bang (the sprinklers turned on for us)!

Here's our S'mores cake - Faith wanted a giant S'more for her birthday!  I made a graham cracker crust and put icecream in a layer and chocolate texas sheet cake in a layer then graham crackers.  It actually turned out and was yummy too!

Motivational punch cards

We're all punch cards around here lately.  Do you find that something motivates your children but only works for so long?  We have to change up our chore charts etc. periodically.  Here's our latest:

Baby blessing dress

For Pioneer day, Faith and Rahel insisted on dressing up like pioneers and asked for more and more stories of their pioneer ancestors.  While watching a special on the trek west, Handcarts were introduced and Faith excitedly exclaimed:  Look Mom!  Finger carts!

Here is a family heirloom.  It was my blessing dress in my infancy and we also dressed Faith in it for her blessing and Rahel also for her blessing.  It's beautiful and I'm glad it's finally on my wall!

Butterfly art

The girls' room needed some color and this worked perfectly!  I started by painting an 8x10 frame pink and cutting striped scrapbook paper to fit.  The butterflies are from the Cricut and glued along the body and antennae.  The wings are folded forward (you can't really tell from the picture).

A fun birthday gift recipe holder or picture display

I got the idea to make this from Shanty 2 chic.  They have a tutorial here.

I LOVE these!  I've made them in every color for every occasion!  So cute and so easy!

No more naked Barbies!

Who isn't tired of looking at naked barbie's perfect body lying around the house?

I put my nail polish to the best use it's had making swimming suits for the girls' barbies.  The one on the right was already painted. The girls were pretty excited to see their barbies in swimming suits ready for the pool!

I have received some valid comments from readers who have understood that I am teaching my girls to be ashamed of their bodies.  I hope I can end your anxiety over this and let you know my reasons for the swimsuits on the barbies.  Like these readers, I feel very strongly the importance of teaching my daughters the beauty and sacredness of their bodies.  We talk freely and openly about our bodies in our home and in covering them up around others, we are showing respect for our bodies.  Our bodies are so special and beautiful, we don't feel that they are to be flaunted for the public to see.  We demand respect for our bodies from those who we associate with.  We should NEVER be ashamed of our bodies.  My girls know this and are very comfortable in their own skin.  As beautiful daughters of God, my girls have love and respect for the amazing blessing of beautiful female bodies. 

 I hope this eases anxiety any of you are feeling about my decision to teach my girls respect for their bodies.  If not, please know that I have the best intentions in my heart.  Please keep comments respectful.  My girls visit my blog and it is meant to be uplifting and edifying for them.  Thank you for your concern.

Super cute grocery bag storage container

This is the greatest idea for bag storage ever!  You can throw one in your car and one under your sink.  Isn't this so much cuter than wadding your bags up and stuffing them somewhere?

I got the idea from Tatertots and Jello.  Be sure and check out the tutorial she posted.  There is a special way to roll the bags so they come out just like wipes!  It's way easy and so worth the little time it takes!

Instead of doing mod podge first and using spray adhesive, I hotglued the edges of the fabric to my container and then put a coat of regular mod podge.  Easy peasy!  Faith and Rahel each made one - They love doing projects with me (o:

Houston, we have Hair!

Isn't she beautiful?  Sigh...

Although I love natural hair the best, Rahel's hair is finally at a length that I just don't have the time or patience to deal with it being natural.  We drove to Salt lake and spent the day at the salon getting Rahel's hair braided with these fun curly extensions!  She LOVES them!  "Look Mom!" - while running, "Look Mom!" - while jumping, "Look Mom!" - while flipping her hair over her shoulder (o:

Ahem...Faith got a little jealous, so she got a braid too (o;

Here's our night time look - hahaha!  She can't sleep on all the hair so I pulled it up - so funny!  I think there's more hair than head there!

Our 4th of July

Faith is the queen of fireworks

Breanne's red white and blue hair

The girls did some camping and made s'mores out on the balcony.  So fun!  The fireworks were amazing this year!  Hooray for new legal fireworks!

The camping ended up inside in the end.  Fireworks were too loud!

We packed a picnic and headed up Big Cottonwood canyon to hike doughnut falls.  The girls had a blast!  We all got so dirty!

Some hikers we passed were wearing these crazy shoes!  I had to snap a pic.

Here's the cliff we scrambled up to see the top of the falls.  Rahel even climbed it.  You can't tell from the picture, but it is very steep and very high.  We had such a good time.

Owl buddies

This is a late Christmas post actually - oops!

I made these owls for the girls and they weren't sure exactly what they were - Monsters maybe?

The owls grew on the girls and they finally love them.  They can't sleep without them!

Personalized chess board

I've been making these fun chess boards with a temple and wedding date painted on the back.

I rough them up and make them look vintage.

The pieces are from the dollar store and I store them in a small jar with some twine around the top.

So cute!

The picture quality is pretty bad on these.