The Weekend in 3 Acts

Of course that's not make up, it's marker.  He's no joke, he's a break dancing clown.  

Act One:
The Circus Came to Town Our House 
On Friday night, the kids put on a show.  They sold tickets and each had an act--Peyton was a strong man, Lucy walked the balance beam, JT was a break dancing clown and Wade floated in and out of every act.  The show ended with the whole family dancing and laughing.

Lucy killing the big dance number 
during the finale of their circus.

It was in deed the greatest show on Earth.

Act Two:

The Fortune Teller

Later that evening, Tim and I celebrated how this whole show started.  We celebrated the anniversary of our engagement.  Fourteen years ago on February 15th, Tim proposed to me with a special note tucked inside a fortune cookie.  (Yes the 15th of February, not Valentine's Day--because duh, Valentine's Day is way too predictable and not what circus people do.)

Almost every February 15th, we get Chinese take out from the same place Tim got it 14 years ago.  That place has changed ownership and names over the years, but it's still there.  Sure, our house is more crowded than the restaurant even on a Friday night, but they are still there.  And I love that.  (Although, I will admit to feeling a little nervous the past couple of years about eating the food.  Why aren't there more people there?)

Act Three:

It Is Art

I told the kids one of my New Year's resolutions was to learn to play the Ukulele.  I'm over the losing 10 pounds, being more organized and all that practical resolving.  I wanted something fun and I love the ukulele. 

After pricing some on eBay, my ukulele resolution became like every other resolution, not done.  Ugh. Whatever.

We don't get each other anniversary gifts or Valentine's Day gifts usually.  But this year, the kids presented me with a gift they had been working on for a couple weeks with Tim.  

"It's a ukulele!," JT squealed.  "Your very own, just like you wanted!"

It was JT's idea and everyone jumped on board.  Tim encouraged the kids to draw up plans and helped them cut the wood.  Together they put the screws in to hold the wire for the strings.  Together they painted the heart.  Together they made me the best gift ever.  It is art.  It is wood and wire and paint and love.  

I was so moved that they even listened to me.

My ukulele now hangs in our kitchen.  Our kitchen, the heart of our home, the center ring of our circus, where we laugh and dance and eat and cook and create and do homework and have family meetings.  My ukulele, to precious to play, is on display as a symbol of being heard, creative expression, working together and love.  It is art.

Life IS a circus and I love it(busy weekend #1,255).

Yeah, maybe my New Girl, Zooey Deschanel mini-obsession has something to do with why I want to play ukulele.  But come on, wouldn't it be nice if I could play like this video?!!?

Christmas Miracles

Merry Christmas!

The past 24 hours has been full of mini Christmas miracles.  

Wade's rash was diagnosed as a creepy, weird sounding autoimmune problem that will eventually go away and IS NOT CONTAGIOUS.  Thank you Father Christmas, Dr. Pediatrician, sir, you just made our Christmas Eve so much better.  Not only will my whole family not be covered in the hideous rash that is all over baby Wade, but we were able to all go to church and be a part of the Christmas pageant and head over to grandma's afterward.

This is the sign I made and pinned to Wade's shirt for the church nursery.  He ripped it off after a few minutes however.

It's a good thing we made it to the pageant seeing how our family took up half the roles: Peyton was an innkeeper, Lucy and I were angels, Tim and JT were Roman soldiers.  The mini Christmas miracles continued with a rousing performance by the Youngbloods, well, er, at least none of us forgot our lines completely.  Sure we kind of made the finale our own when the Roman soldier (Tim) put his arm around the Angel Gabriel (me) and gave her a kiss as we all hovered over the baby Jesus (played by real baby Jimmy).  But I think it worked.

As we left church and headed to my mother-in-law's house, snow began to fall.  It was going to be a white Christmas after all.  

We stayed up late and the kids woke up early.  (And Tim and I are f#&*ing exhausted.)  

Everyone was happy with the gifts they got.  We are not a supersized Christmas morning family, but it honestly doesn't seem to bother the kids.

We spend Christmas day at home all day and all night, playing, resting, eating, resting and having fun together.  

The kids had fun trying out JT's new bow and arrow in the back yard.  I said they could all be Olympians if they practiced enough.  They said to lay off mom because they were just playing hunter. 

Hope you've had some Christmas miracles and happiness at your house this year too.


Here's one of my favorite Christmas songs from She & Him- Christmas Wish.

Love, Joy and a Giveaway

The last few days have broken me open.  

I've tried not to read the updates online or watch the news.  I've deliberately tried to avoid reading the stories of the CT victims.  But I can't escape the reminders of what happened.  Every time I look into my children's eyes, especially my own sweet first grade little boy.  The past couple days at the car loop dropping off my children, picking them up. The holiday parties in their classrooms this week. All reminders of the families and their tremendous loss.

But my soul hasn't just broken open to fear, sadness and vulnerability.  It's also been broken open to more compassion, deeper appreciation and true joy.

I wear these awesome bracelets as my new manifesto. I do believe.  I do have hope. (Check out how you can win this arm candy of hope at the bottom of this post.)

My love is stronger, my empathy is bigger, my eyes are clearer.

I posted this video last week, but now, like most everything, it seems sweeter and even more joyful.


Let me get really real here too.  Yes, I've hugged my children more often and held those hugs for what felt like an eternity to them I'm sure.  But I've also gotten frustrated and sent them to their rooms for bad attitudes, taken Wii privileges away and had to apologize for snapping at them at breakfast this morning.  

It's real life, but my god, I even appreciate all of that more.

In honor of joy and love and hope and gratitude, I'm giving away a gift card to one of the most joyful, amazing stores/web sites I know--catching fireflies.

We are lucky enough to live in Metro Detroit (honestly not a sentence I've said that much in the last few years) and within walking distance to one of the catching fireflies stores.  Lucy and I love to go, simply walking inside the store makes us happy.

Here's my Lulu picking out gifts for her teachers.

The store is full of color and art and happiness.  It's the perfect place to find hostess gifts, funny magnets and creative gifts for all ages.

catching fireflies is sponsoring this giveaway with a $34 gift card. The winner will also win a HOPE bracelet along with other a few other colorful bracelets that are made from recycled plastic, and are awesome (see picture above).  The bracelets were bought at the catching fireflies down the street from me.

All you have to do is leave a comment here about what brings you joy or what is filling you with love right now.  The winner will be chosen by a random drawing (using Random.com) and will be announced on Monday. 

Pinterest Poser Challenge Holiday Style-Bleached T-shirts & Susanna Hoffs

It's time again for the Pinterest Poser Challenge.  In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,* every week I  detail a new Pinterest challenge whether it be a new recipe or a craft.   
**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.** 

This is the third installment of Pinterest Poser For the Holidays.  Or otherwise known as, four weeks of gift reveals for some of my favorite relatives.  Luckily, most of my relatives don't read this blog so they won't see the potentially crappy homemade gifts they will be getting.

Except this week, there's nothing crappy about the homemade gift. And in a weird way it involves Susanna Hoffs, you know, the lead singer from The Bangles.

The gift idea this week is: Homemade Personalized T-shirts.  And I am IN LOVE with how easy it was and how much fun it was.  Not only would these shirts make a great gift for, well, anyone, they would also be a fun craft project to make with older kids.

The idea was pinned from the amazing Designmom.com.  I love everything about her site, click here to check it out.

Supplies: 
T-shirt on sales for $3.99 at Michael's.  
Duck Paper (a totally rad product I didn't know existed) $1.99 a sheet at Michael's.
Bleach $1.29 from the grocery store.
Scissors, pen and blank paper.

Designmom.com used one of those fancy Silhouette machines to make her letters and designs.  I used a piece of blank paper out of my printer and a red pen.  I wrote down the phrase and cut it out. I then traced it onto the Duck paper and cut that out too.  I placed the letters where I wanted them on the shirt.

Then put a towel inside the shirt as a blocker and then started dabbing the shirt with straight bleach.

***Be careful not to use too much bleach, because it will bleed through the tape.***

I threw the shirt in the dryer for a bit and then peeled off the tape.  BAM! Totally cute shirt for my girl Lu. Merry Christmas!

So what the hell does Susanna Hoffs have to do with all this?  Did anyone out there see her big screen debut in a classic  movie called The Allnighter?  Circa 1987?  

Well, if you didn't you missed a great movie.  It was my favorite movie in my tween years.  I watched it all. the. time.  

Click here to watch the trailer.
It's so 80s.

Susanna Hoffs? Eh, she was okay.  But there was a deeper message that I took away from that movie that still rings true over 20 years later.  You see there were two surfer dude friends in the movie that were taking different paths after college.  One surfer dude (Killer) tells the other surfer dude (CJ) "You be you."

Brilliant. And while the movie poster lacks a worthy message for my daughter, the surfer dudes' quote is perfect for her.

Have a favorite movie from the 80s that you want to quote on a T-shirt? I highly recommend this project.  Make a shirt for an old friend with an inside joke only the two of you get.  Make a shirt for your son who loves Mickey Mouse--that's my next project to make one with Mickey Mouse ears for my son Wade who is obsessed.

Even my husband was getting in on this project.  He started drawing ideas.  Now I have to go get more T-shirts.

Check out last week's amazing projects (click here) from guest Pinterest Poser Challenger Amy (follow her here on Pinterest for more ideas).

Or click here.  to see week one's gift idea.  It involved writing on plates and cups and should only be done by people with pretty good handwriting.

Are you planning on making any gifts for people this holiday season?  

Do tell. 

Share your project ideas or gifts that you've 

made before in the comments.

Check out some of the other Pinterest Poser Challenge projects I've made in the last month:

Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here

Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click here
The Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here

Please share what you're working on in the comments here or over on Facebook.

Oh yeah, and come on over and follow my Pinterest boards too.

And just because, here's one of my favorite Bangles songs, their cover of Hazy Shade of Winter from another 1980s classic movie Less Than Zero.

Win A Wii U from MommyBear Media

I don't know much, but I do know that on each of my children's Christmas lists this year is some sort of electronic device.  It would even be on the 3-year-old's if he could write, I am sure of it.

If your children have a gaming system of some sort on their list here's a chance to win one: A Wii U Nintendo.

This giveaway is brought to you by Mommy Bear Media, a wonderful site for family friendly entertainment (that I also happen to write reviews for from time to time). Check out the giveaway details and enter in the Rafflecopter form below.  It's super easy and think of your child's smiling face if you win.


We have an exciting Giveaway for you! Just in time for the holidays. We are giving away a Wii U Nintendo gaming system. With the Wii U you can play games while experiencing up to full 1080p HD for the first-time ever on a Nintendo gaming console. And of course, you can interact and share with your friends, family, and the world! The Wii U Game Pad, which connects wirelessly, can also be used as the remote control for your TV.  


The Wii U Nintendo Gaming System- New For 2012!

Hosted by Mommy Bear Media- Proud to have Stay A Stay At Home Mom, Simply Sherryl, Lots2Save, 4 Hats and Frugal, This Mama Loves Her Bargains, My Mommy's Neighborhood, and Fabulous Fun Finds as Co-Hosts.

Mommy Bear Media has teamed up with several bloggers to bring you this fabulous prize. 2012 has been a year that we grew to love and respect bloggers, new customers, and social media. Through social media we have met many of you and we do know that many of you have purchased family friendly movies through us, and we thank you!

Mommy Bear Media is branching out- we will be bringing you family friendly video games in the very, very near future! You will want to stay tuned for this. Mommy Bear Media offers family themed entertainment to everyone in your family. Mommy Bear Media continues to educate and keep parents informed in regards to good, clean, family entertainment. This is sure to be one of the hottest items this holiday season! 

We want you to win.....Enter through the Rafflecopter form below. We want to make your holiday season a little more joyous! Connect with Mommy Bear Media on Facebook and Twitter for daily updates! This Giveaway Ends December 20th at 11:59 P.M., and is open to Continental US Residents, ages 18+. Mommy Bear Media is responsible for shipment of the prize. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pinterest Poser/Try It Tuesday Challenge Holiday Style

I look a little maniacal in this picture, which is how I feel during the holidays anyway so it works.

It's time again for the Pinterest Poser Challenge.  In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,* every week I  detail a new Pinterest challenge whether it be a new recipe or a craft.   
**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.** 

This Tuesday I'm kicking off Pinterest Poser For the Holidays Four Weeks of Gift Ideas.  Or otherwise known as, four weeks of gift reveals for some of my favorite relatives.  Luckily, most of my relatives don't read this blog so they won't see the potentially crappy homemade gifts they will be getting.

The first gift idea comes from two separate pins.
Here:

via: http://www.brooklynlimestone.com/2011/10/diy-make-your-own-halloween-dinnerware.html#.T7PwvUVYtfG

And here:

via: http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/31-insanely-easy-and-clever-diy-projects

So, I headed to the Dollar Store and bought a couple mugs and a plate, looked up some good quotes online and grabbed my trusty Sharpie.  

And I sat staring at the hardware.  I forgot I hate my handwriting.  Like seriously hate.

Ugh.

My handwriting sucks and I'm not very good at straight lines--walking in them, living in them or writing in them.

But oh hell, giving it my best shot is what this whole I'm not a poser exercise is all about.  So, here's what I ended up with...
This:



And this:

And this:

Double Ugh.
Pinterest fail?  Quite possibly.

I baked them for 30 minutes in my oven set to 150 degrees. Ran them through the dishwasher to see if the whole baking thing really ensured the Sharpie wouldn't come off.  The baking worked, sort of, only a little bit of my god awful handwriting came off. I would reccomend hand washing the finished plates/mugs even after baking.

"Well they can't all be masterpieces," my sweet husband said reassuringly as he walked by my Sharpie-d messes.

Okay, the plate, I could live with.  I could even give as a gift to someone who loves me and accepts my inability to be a straight-line, neat-writing kind of gal.

This is an incredibly easy and awesome homemade gift idea for all you people with sweet handwriting.  So easy and personal.

Are you planning on making any gifts for people this holiday season?  Do tell.  Share your project ideas or gifts that you've made before in the comments.

Check out some of the other Pinterest Poser Challenge projects I've made in the last month:

Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here
Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click here
The Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here

Please share what you're working on in the comments here or over on Facebook.

Oh yeah, and come on over and follow my Pinterest boards too.

You can also find me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood and Instagram @JumpingWithMyFingersCrossed.