The Apple Clicker

Parenting is a tricky business.  Just when you think you're ahead, you screw something up and have to start all over again.  Actually, that's not only parenthood, that's life most of the time.  In parenthood and in life, there are those small victories, those moments when you feel like a beam of light is shining down on you and there's an angel chorus  singing "Ahhhhhhhh" in your honor.  And we have to hold onto those moments for dear life to get through all the screw ups.

Last week, Tim left for his bi-annual retreat.  Twice a year Tim goes to his parents' cottage a couple hours away to retreat from the stress of being the sole provider of such a large family and being the guy we all love to spend time with and constantly ask questions of, and work and coaching and not fixing stuff around the house.  I dig that he goes away because he gets the sleep he so desperately needs and he gets sort of sappy and sweet.  It's like he gets the opportunity to feel what well rested feels like and take a look at all the good stuff we have in our life.  It's great.

And I love it because I am in charge.  There's no negotiating or communicating every decision about the day or the kids or what show we watch at night.  I have all the power.  

This time, I had big plans.  I was going to be the most fun mom ever, write a ton of work to submit everywhere I'd ever wanted to be published, go here and go there and watch The Real Housewives on the big TV in the living room instead of the bedroom because Tim can't stand it, and I was going to fix some of the things around the house that needed fixing.  The only problem was that Tim was going away for four days not 40.  My expectations were grand to say the least.

The first day he was gone started really well.  I cleaned behind the refrigerator and the stove, which by the way I didn't even know we were supposed to do that.  I found the house key that Peyton lost and everyone had supposedly looked for.  I filled out a job application and ran a couple miles.  I was feeling like Super Woman.  Feeling heady with accomplishment and power, I declared that "I will find the Apple TV clicker!"  The stupid Apple TV clicker had been missing for over a week and that meant no Netflix and so we had all been a little on edge.  The Apple TV clickers are small and skinny, which some call a sleek design and I call stupid.  Stupid because it is just asking to get lost in our house of horrors.  

It took me two hours of obsessive digging and searching and the living room looked like robbers had ransacked the place with all the couch cushions in the middle of the room....but I FOUND THE STUPID APPLE CLICKER.  It was one of those moments when the light was shining down and angels were singing.  I was amazing. Ahhhhhhhhh!  "You want to watch Daniel Tiger?" I asked Wade.  "Well, you can, right now, because of me."

As I was reveling in my amazing-ness, I realized I better go pick up my oldest at school.  Peyton had stayed after for basketball tryouts and I was pretty sure the time I was supposed to pick him up was 6.  He hadn't said anything differently when I texted him earlier in the evening.

It was dark and cold and rainy, the kind of night you want to be inside.  Reluctantly, I gathered up the other children and we got in the minivan and headed to the school.  There was Peyton standing outside.  He got in the van and I greeted him with a Mrs. Doubtfire-inspired "Helllloooooo."

"Mom, you are 40 minutes late," he said angrily.  "I was locked out of the school and my phone died. I've been waiting in the rain and the dark.  Where were you?"

"I am so sorry, I had no idea," I said apologetically.  There were no angels, no light shining.  "Um, well, I found the stupid Apple clicker," I added hoping he would be impressed.  He wasn't.

I went from being the hero who would bring the masses their beloved streaming television shows to being the idiot who got the time wrong and left their teenager out in the rain.  

Somehow I found a way to blame the whole mess on Tim.  "Well, your dad gave me the wrong time and you know how he is," I said.  

It may not have been the nicest way to handle the situation, but to be fair I was still on a power trip and Tim was napping in peace when all of this went down.  

I wish I could say these situations were rare, but they aren't.  Every damn day is filled with small victories and small (or big) screw ups.  It's a roller coaster, a big one not for wimps.  It's highs and lows and happy and sad and "you're the worst mom!" and "I love you mom!" and getting it right and getting it wrong.  It's a ride, it's a trip and it's mostly pretty damn amazing.  And those moments with the whole light shining down and the angels singing? Yeah, you got to hold onto those moments.

Pre-K Moments and What I Know For Sure

Last week, I went to Wade's Pre-K Halloween party.  Each of the kids got up on a mini-stage and modeled their costume and told their classmates and parents what they were.  Each one of them took very deep breaths and carefully stepped up the tiny steps to the mini-stage.  It was a pretty huge moment for them.

Wade got up and told everyone he was a knight.  

I smiled looking at the proud knight who wears his big brother's old baseball pants and his shoes on the wrong feet and just happens to be my baby.  

I've been to a lot of Pre-K parties over the last 13 years and I  can honestly say they just never stop being so cute and sweet and sincere.  These moments are huge for the Pre-K kids and they are right there in those moments....they aren't worried about friends, bills, jobs, futures, just the moments.  

I've been so distracted lately by worries and grown up things like bills, jobs, futures, etc.  I almost forgot to be right there in the moments.  I am grateful to Pre-K parties and my proud knight for reminding me to pay attention and be present for the huge, simple, wonderful moments, I know that for sure this week.

Leaf piles were everything to Wade this past weekend.  He was loving the jumping in the leaf pile moments for sure.

Here's what else I know for sure this week:

• I am LOVING a new docu-series from the Foo Fighters called Sonic Highways on HBO.  Now that I am done with the Roosevelt's on PBS, I'm all about the Foo Fighters.  No joke, it is so damn cool.  They travel to different cities in America to record songs and they discuss the history of the music from that town and interview different musicians.  It is fascinating!  A MUST watch.  Check out the trailer below.

(Click here to watch the video.)

• The candy is pretty much gone.  We have eaten almost all of the Halloween candy we got one week ago.  I'm a little embarrassed because it was A LOT of candy.  But doesn't Halloween seem like so much more than just one week ago?

• There are gardens and amazing people in Detroit.  Check it out...this makes me love people.

(Click here to watch the video.)

• I would love to have 100 subscribers on my YouTube channel by Christmas.  I'm only 10 away.  If you want to help me out, click here to subscribe.

• I can't help myself, I am excited about watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. 

• Stores being open on Thanksgiving still doesn't bother me.  I know it's a hot debate right now, again.  But here's the what...not everyone's Thanksgivings are so great and maybe going to work and being around people is actually a positive thing.  On the flip side, maybe shopping with your family is some sort of awesome bonding thing that makes you better family members.  I mean, right? And maybe we need to be having hot debates about so many other truly meaningful, impactful topics like people going hungry all year long and schools not adequately supporting all different types of learners and prescription drug abuse and the challenges of caring for people suffering with mental illness and the horrors of child abuse and spousal abuse and so many other issues.

• Wade got a uniform for his birthday (at his much belated extended family birthday party) and he hasn't taken it off.  

• I'm so excited to announce that I'm co-producing/directing Listen To Your Mother in Detroit again this spring.  Woot. Woot.

(Click here to watch the video.)

What do YOU know for sure this week, right now?  Share here in the comments or over on my Facebook page. 

Have a great weekend!

Missed Opportunities

"Appreciate the democratic process!," I screamed out of frustration to my used-to-be-a-tween-but-now-a-teen son.  "Isn't this amazing?"

He rolled his eyes at my enthusiasm.  I mean I sort of understood that parts of the process weren't that amazing.  At that particular moment we were standing in the cold rain going door to door in a neighborhood full of strangers and reminding people to vote. 

But honestly, despite the puddles and the constant, cold drizzle, I was still amazed.  I can't help it, I think the process is fascinating.

After every election, no matter the results, I am filled with enthusiasm for the process coupled with frustration for people that don't get it.  I want to scream "appreciate the democratic process!" at all the people that don't volunteer and/or don't vote.  People that passively sit back and watch elections, and life, happen.  I can't wrap my head around it.  How? Why? 

This past Wednesday, I asked my kids if their teachers talked about the election results and both my elementary school age kids said no. No?!  It was a gubernatorial election in our state, it was a big deal and they didn't even mention it?  I am dumbfounded.  

Missed opportunities--that is the fallout of elections and this year's midterms.  Missed opportunities to get in involved, to teach, to learn, to build community, to connect, to make a difference.

I love getting involved and rolling up my sleeves and doing something.  There is an energy to being a part of a group, a community working together for a common goal.  There is a respect among fellow volunteers--there's a fist bump of solidarity at the campaign office, a nod and a knowing glance when you meet a fellow canvasser.  There is so much to learn from all of it--how the polling works, why canvassing and going door to door is important; and so much to learn about people and our neighbors and even ourselves.

As I walked through the rain with my kids during the 11th hour on election day this week, I was confronted with my own prejudices.  We were in a neighborhood that had abandoned homes and homes with families living in them but no glass in the windows.  We were in a neighborhood in a town right next to ours.  At first, I was afraid and uncomfortable.  I wanted to just leave a flyer on a couple doorsteps and get out of there.  But I didn't want to expose my thoughts to my kids, so we did what the volunteer coordinator told us to do.  We knocked on doors.  And we met some very nice people.  People greeted us with smiles and talked to us about the weather and the election.  JT walked up and knocked on the doors and rang the doorbells and wasn't afraid...he hadn't prejudged like I had.  

Watching the results later that night, I was sad that a few of my candidates lost.  But I felt like I had won so much--time with my kids, insight and inspiration from them, solidarity with new friends, admiration of people who devote their lives to service and put themselves out there to run for office, and a desire to help all those nice people I met have better, safer neighborhoods.

So, I will keep screaming to appreciate the democratic process.  I will keep screaming to get involved in elections, and in life.  You don't have to be angry and debate or even go door to door if that makes you extremely uncomfortable....you just have to do something, start now.  

My rowdy crew of volunteers having a little fun in the rain.

5 Random Facts

I was an oversharer way before Facebook, way before I wrote a blog.  I was what people call an "open book."  If people asked, I told them.  Even if they didn't ask, I usually told them.  So, when my buddy Leigh Ann (from Genie In A Blog) tagged me to write a post naming five random things about myself, I was worried there wasn't anything I haven't already shared.  I want my random things to be fresh random things, not boring I've heard it before random things.  After giving it a little time, I came up with five fresh random things to share.

Random quote.
Photo credit.

Five fresh random things about me....

1.  I love John Candy movies.  

I'm instantly comforted when I watch a Planes, Trains & Automobiles or Uncle Buck.  Right?  I mean he plays the funny, imperfect guy, the down on his luck guy and I can totally relate to that guy.  And then right when you think he's all fun and games, he says something poignant and brutally, beautifully true.

One of my favorite scenes from Planes, Trains & Automobiles:  
Fun fact- When we were teenagers, my brother used to say I was just like Dell (John Candy's character) and that my stories never had a point. Whatever!


(Click here to watch the video.)

An amazing/funny scene from Uncle Buck that I feel so hard as a parent.


(Click here to watch the video.)


2. I make my bed every damn morning but I don't really clean the rest of the house unless company is coming over and I rarely have company come over.  

It's weird about the bed though, you'd think I wouldn't care right?  But I do, if I don't make my bed, my whole day, my whole world, is totally off.  Weird.  Random.

3. When I am not feeling well I make myself a scrambled egg sandwich preferably on white bread, with Miracle Whip.  

That was the sandwich my mother made for me when I was sick as a kid and I was sick as a kid a lot.  I had severe allergies and ear, nose and throat issues. I was doped up on drowsy meds for a lot of my early childhood and missed a lot of school. My mom made me THE sandwich on those days and I ate it while I laid on the couch watching soap operas.   

Things got a little better in middle school, but I was still what my doctor called a "mouth breather."  One time on a group date, I was so embarrassed by my stuffed up nose mouth breathing self.  I was in eighth grade and sitting next to Pete G. in the movie theater watching Cocktail.  I was sitting there wondering if Pete G. was going to try to hold my hand.  He leaned over slowly and with a bewildered look on his face asked "my god, is that you breathing so loudly?"  I was so embarrassed.  I went home and cried and my mom made me a scrambled egg sandwich.  

Pete G. never held my hand, getting a little surgery on my deviated septum helped the mouth breathing a bit and every now and then I make THE sandwich if I'm feeling sick or run down.


4. I attended the same university as Freddie Mercury from Queen. 

That's right Thames Valley University in London, England.  Yeah, we werent' there at the same time because Freddie was waaaaaay older than me, but I walked the same halls.  And yeah, I pronounced Thames incorrectly when I first arrived in England (FYI it is pronounced t-e-m-s with a short e) which didn't make me very cool at all.  For three and a half months I walked Freddie Mercury's hallowed halls at TVU in the Burough of Ealing in West London.  I was 19 and unafraid of much of anything.  I loved England and being on my own uncool, but wonderful adventure.

Fun Fact- Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" just happened to be my favorite song in second grade.


(Click here to watch the video.)



5. Thirtysomething is still one of my favorite shows ever even though I am forty something now. 

After Wade was born, Tim bought me the first season on DVD.  Some mamas get jewelry as "push presents" (oh my god, I hate that term so much), but I prefer TV shows.  TV shows are my love language.  And Thirtysomething has some of the most amazing writing ever. I LOVE it.  

There you go...totally random stuff about me.  Now you can go about your day.  Ha!  

Actually this is where I get to tag some friends.  I want to know random things about my Listen To Your Mother co-producers Angela Amman and Jessica Watson from Four Plus An Angel.  Tag, you're it ladies.

Honoring 13

My oldest son, Peyton, turned 13 yesterday.  Thirteen? What? How can that be?  My first born, my first baby, is now a teenager.  It feels huge.

In the last couple weeks leading up to the big day, I was researching ways I could honor the huge-ness of turning 13, of becoming a teenager.  I felt like we needed to DO something.  We aren't Jewish, but I love the idea and the traditions involved in a Bar Mitzvah.  I love the idea of celebrating and honoring this milestone.

And I love ceremonies.

I came up with a few ideas that involved chanting, torches and possibly sleeping out in the woods overnight.  But none of those ideas seemed like something we could totally get into.  I wanted to honor Peyton, not embarrass him or make him feel uncomfortable.

This past week was busy with Halloween prepping, class parties, grocery shopping and list making and job hunting and helping kids with coughs and colds get better.  My ceremony research got lost in the shuffle of life.  

Then, we got the incredibly sad news that our friend had died from complications of Leukemia.  The funeral was this past Saturday.  It was packed with people, young and old, there to honor the life of this man, a father of two, and to support his wife and their kids.  The pastor asked people to come up and share their memories and stories.  One friend after another got up and told stories about what they remember, what they love and what they will miss.  They told jokes (a few that made the more conservative folks in the church blush), they laughed and cried.  They were real and raw and inspiring and full of so much love.  It lasted for almost two hours and nobody wanted it to end.  It was beautiful and meaningful.  

I got in my minivan to head home and I cried.  I cried for the tremendous loss. I cried for the wife that lost her best friend and the kids that lost their dad.  I cried for everyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one.  I cried because I felt vulnerable and afraid of what I could lose.  I cried because I felt grateful for my husband and my kids and my life.

That night was busy with breaking up wrestling matches between brothers, cleaning up the house, taking care of a husband who was a little under the weather, remembering to set the clocks back an hour and trying (but failing) to stay up to watch Prince on Saturday Night Live.  My grief got lost in that whole shuffle of life.

I woke up yesterday morning, heard the kids talking in the living room and realized I was the mother of three kids and one teenager.  Peyton was 13.  I also woke up knowing what kind of ceremony we would have to celebrate and honor the huge-ness of it all.  It would be a ceremony inspired by the stories I had heard the day before.

At breakfast I told the kids to think of at least one story about Peyton to share when we had birthday cake later in the afternoon. A funny story, a good memory, whatever they wanted to share about Peyton.

We gathered around the table later that day with cake and candles.  We sang and then we shared our stories.  

Lucy talked about how they used to make forts on the couch together and jump into the piles of cushions singing "I believe I can fly!"  JT talked about playing football in the backyard.  Tim and I talked about the day he was born and how we were so unprepared to take him home from the hospital.  We talked and laughed and hopefully helped Peyton understand how much we all love him.  Hopefully through our stories he understands how important he is to each of us.

Stories connect us, help give us history and an identity and purpose and strength.  Stories help us tell people we love them and tell the world how much and why we love them.  Stories are what we cling to when we want to hold onto a memory or a moment.  Stories are a bridge to our past and to our future.  Telling stories is the perfect ceremony for celebrating and honoring our grief, our joy, our hope, our love and becoming a teenager.  

We asked Peyton what else he wanted to do on his birthday and his two requests were: a trip to the new baseball card/sports memorabilia shop in town and a family football game.  Done and done.  It was an amazing afternoon with my first born, my first baby, who is now a teenager.

The huddle.

Happy Halloween and What I Know For Sure

Happy Halloween.  Today is going to be filled with three classroom parties, one parade, approximately 342 pieces of candy, possibly a few tears and a few laughs.  Even though there is lots of hoopla today, this Halloween season has seemed a little bit more mellow than other years.  Maybe it's because we've been busy with a million other things and life has been sort of stressful the past couple weeks.  Maybe it's because the older kids are getting older and less into the idea of dressing up and trick-or-treating.  I don't dig stress and kids growing out of cute stages, but I totally dig a little more mellowness.

But I am still getting into the season a little bit.  We carved pumpkins last week and Wade was so excited.  Peyton, my tween who is officially going to be a teenager this Sunday (What?!?!?), wasn't as excited.  He chose watching college football over carving.  So, the other day while the older kids were at school and Wade was doing a craft, I carved Peyton's neglected pumpkin.  I took my time, designed a goofy grin and gave the pumpkin ears and eyebrows.  I should have been cleaning the kitchen, doing laundry, replying to emails, organizing and managing the lives of my family.  But nope, I was carving a badass pumpkin.  

What I know for sure this week is that taking holidays down a notch isn't such a bad thing and neither is carving a pumpkin at my own pace just for the fun of it.  

Hope you all have a delightful, somewhat mellow Halloween filled with lots of candy and a few laughs.

Here's what else I know for sure:

• Pumpkins make great canvases. Wade and I had so much fun painting pumpkins the other day. And then we threw glitter all over them.  So.much.fun.

• On of my new favorite shows is Marry Me.  I accidentally watched it one night and it is fu-uuuuunny. Love it.

• I miss falling asleep to the Roosevelt's every night.  I finally finished the Ken Burns PBS documentary and I miss it.  That family is fascinating. 

• Sending a card in the mail is a lost art.  I am lucky to have a friend who still sends them just when I need them.  She writes notes and sends quotes that I love.  

• Football season is over for my boys and I sort of miss that too.  I love having more time, but I miss cheering them on and watching them play.

• I am going to buy Amy Poehler's new book Yes Please this weekend because I love her.  Click here to listen to a wonderful interview with her about her new book and click here for an fun review of the book.

What do YOU know for sure this week, right now?  Share what you know here or over on my Facebook page.

Come play with me on Instagram. Click here.

Dance Fever, A Cautionary Tale (31 Days of Dance)

I'm almost done with my 31 Days of Dance challenge and my kitchen dancing videos haven't exactly gone viral.  I may not be a YouTube celebrity just yet, but I realize fame takes time.  And maybe it's not about being famous at all...maybe it's about being in love with dancing and life. It is actually a lesson I learned early on in life from Nan. 

Nan was one of my dance teachers in the early 1980s.  She was young, tall and skinny.  Her hair was yellow blond, like straw, awesome looking straw.  She was the epitome of coolness in my 8-year-old mind.  Her walk, her leg warmers, her attitude.  Her sweatshirts were over the shoulder and ripped just like the ones in Flashdance and this was before Flashdance had even come out!  Nan was the shit.  

We all knew that she was made for more than teaching little kids a few dance moves in tiny dance studio in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  When she told me and the other girls that she was heading to California to try and make it as a dancer, we all nodded in "of course you are, it's where you belong because you are so damn cool" solidarity.

After she left town, I used to daydream about the gigs Nan was getting.  I just knew that one day I would turn on Solid Gold and she would be dancing behind Marilyn McCoo and I could not wait.  

I wasn't just any old student in the studio to Nan.  She and I had danced a duet in the recital the year before.  None of the other girls had done that.  I got the pleasure of rehearsing one-on-one with her and learning from her.  In the dance number I played the role of Nan's inner child and it involved an impressive lift like the one in the movie Dirty Dancing (and this was waaay before Dirty Dancing had even come out).  We practiced and practiced.  I would go to the studio after school and work on learning to trust that she wouldn't drop me and making sure my legs were straight.  I'll never forget the first day I nailed the lift and of course the performance on stage...I felt like I was flying.  There I was dancing with the coolest chick in town to the Eagles' song "Witchy Woman" and she was lifting me in the air and spinning me to this lyric "ooooh, witchy woman,  see how high she can flyyyyyy."  We were the shit.  I felt a little bit famous.


(Sadly there is no video of my dance with Nan, but here is a performance of the classic hit Witchy Woman by the Eagles.)

When we got the news that Nan was going to compete on my second favorite dance show ever (second only to Solid Gold), Dance Fever, I was beyond excited.  I was so proud of my duet partner.  She was on TV, she was really, truly going to be famous!


(This isn't Nan's Dance Fever clip, but I did watch a lot of old episodes last night looking for hers.)

My family popped popcorn and watched Nan's episode together.  She danced to one of my favorite songs "Electricity" from one of my favorite albums ever made Midnight Star's No Parking On the Dance Floor.  Nan and her dancing partner were electric indeed that night, but sadly they didn't win the $50,000.  They were beat by some high stepping, folksy couple from Dallas if I remember correctly.


(One of the best songs from my childhood. Dance to this now!)


A few months later Nan showed up back at our tiny little dance studio in Kalamazoo.  She looked thinner and angrier than before she had left for California.  She didn't tell us stories of palm trees and opportunities.  She didn't show us pictures of her with celebrities or hanging out in Beverly Hills.  Instead she stood in a corner and smoked, every now and then she'd remind us to point our toes.

I left that dance studio after my mom got in a fight with the owner just like on Dance Moms (and this was waaaaay before that show came out).  I'm not sure whatever happened to Nan.  But I learned a few things from her.  I learned to never expect fame to come easy. I watched Nan and even in my young mind I understood that you could be the coolest chick in town and not go home with the cash prize on a dance competition shows judged by celebrities like Dick Van Patten. I learned that Dick Van Patten made a better TV dad (on Eight is Enough) than a dance judge.  I learned that bitterness and disappointment don't look so cool.  I learned that sometimes you dance just because you love it.  It's not about cash prizes, validation or videos going viral. You practice the lift, you compete on the shows, you go for your dreams, you post your videos on YouTube for the joy and the fun of it all. 


If you do want to catch some of my kitchen dancing, just for fun...click here.

Here are a few dances from the past few weeks of 31 Days of Dance that I've been doing this month all montaged up:


A little #TBT & #31DaysofDancing on Instagram:

#TBT #31daysofdance edition--I used to dance to Tina Turner's song "Better Be Good To Me" before going out or after a break up in my early 20s. It was my theme song for dating and life.

A video posted by Angela Youngblood (@jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed) on Oct 10, 2014 at 5:34am PDT

DIY Artemis Costume (A Halloween Pinterest Poser Challenge)

In a world full of inappropriate Halloween costumes for girls and women, I was particularly pleased when Lucy informed me she wanted to be Artemis, the Goddess associated with protecting chastity and purity.  I mean right?  

Last year I encouraged Lucy to pay homage to strong, interesting women from the past like my favorite Frida Kahlo or Amelia Earhart.  She wasn't feeling it and decided to be a pirate.  This year, I didn't encourage or suggest anything, Lucy came to me on her own and asked if she could be a goddess.  She has been obsessed with mythology since reading all the Percy Jackson books this past summer.  

I asked her why she liked Artemis and she said because "she is sort of really strong on her own and doesn't need men and she protects children and hunts animals and kills anyone that sees her naked."  Wow.  That led to a conversation about what feminism is and how women don't have to dislike men to be pro-woman and pro-equal rights and equal pay.  It.Was.Fascinating.  We talked about beauty and self-respect and modesty.  

It was one of those conversations if you planned it, it wouldn't have worked out, it would have been weird and uncomfortable.  This was one of those spontaneous you better put down the iPhone and pay attention because there's a real connection happening kinds of conversations.  

I was feeling very proud and possibly a bit cocky, like I was a pretty great mom until I saw her face when I told her I was going to "make her the best Artemis costume ever."  All the excitement and energy she had turned into frustration and disappointment.  "You? You are going to make it?," she asked.  "Can't we buy one? Please?"

"Ye of little faith, I will show you," I said matter-of-factly in a bad Scottish/Irish accent for no reason other than I love accents.  "You are going to be one fierce Artemis, I promise."  I promised matter-of-factly in a bad accent without a plan or any extra costume making/buying money.  

So, today's Pinterest Poser Challenge* is an inexpensive DIY Fierce Artemis Costume.  After scouring Pinterest and YouTube, I put a costume together and I'm actually super excited about how it turned out.  And I'm even more excited because Lucy loves it.  

*In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,** every week I detail a new project/idea/recipe inspired by Pinterest.
**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.

Supplies needed for this costume:
Fake leaves- $1.79 from Michael's
Gold spray paint- $3 from Michael's
Thick-ish gold wire- $2 from Michael's
Very thin, fishing wire thin, gold wire- $1.50 from Michael's
Gold Ribbon- $1 from Michael's
White sheet
Bow
Safety Pins

Step one- The Crown
1. I used my trusty snowman scissors to cut the leaves off the branch. 

2. Lucy and I spray painted both sides of the leaves.

3. While the leaves are drying, measure the thick-ish wire around the chosen goddess' head and use wire cutters to make it the right size.  Wrap the thin wire around the open ends to hold it together.

4. Then thread the thin wire through two sides of the leaves and wrap them around the crown.  Secure the thin wire by wrapping the edges around the back of the crown.  Use as many leaves or as little as you like. 

Step Two-- The Sheet/Dress
1. Wrap around the body and safety pin it together.  Use the extra and twist into a rope and drape over the shoulder and pin to the back.  

2.  Honestly, do whatever you can and pin wherever you can to make it look like a dress.  I watched tutorials and ended up doing my own thing.  And each time I did it on Lucy, I did it differently.  Just make sure the pins are secure, everything is covered and the sheet isn't too long and your goddess won't trip while trick-or-treating.

Step Three- The Belt
1. Tie gold ribbon around the waist. Done.

Step Four- The Armband
1. wrap the extra thick-ish gold band around her arm several times.  Then use the wire cutters to bend the ends so they won't scrap or scratch or pinch your goddess.

Step Five- Admire Your Work
1. Stand your goddess in front of a mirror and tell her "I told you I'd make you a fierce Artemis."  Yeah, go ahead and gloat for a minute.  And then just be so happy that she's happy.

 We accessorized with plastic weaponry we happened to have around our house-- a bow, a dagger.  

What are your kids dressing up as this Halloween?  Did you make their costumes? 

Have you made anything inspired by Pinterest lately?  Let me know in the comments or over on my Facebook page. 

Come follow me on Pinterest (click here).

Here are some of the Pinterest projects I've done/made/attempted.

Taking Pictures of Your Kids- click here

Gluten Free Pretzels- click here

Cinnamon Sugar Doughballs- click here

Painted Lockers- click here

Melted Beads- DIY Suncatcher- click here

Tissue Paper Pom Pom Garland-- click here

A Delightfully Simple Birthday Party--click here
Make An Awesome Omelet--click here
Outdoor Lights Inspired by the show Parenthood- click here
Herb Garden with Chalkboard Pots- click here
Backyard Graffiti Art with kids- click here

Happiness Notecards- click here

Gluten Free Rainbow Cake- click here

Fruit Roll-Up Fortune Cookies- click here

Make Your Own Magnets- click here

DIY Painted Clay Necklace- click here

Dixie Cup Lights- click here

DIY Ornaments-click here

Gluten Free Clay- click here

Make Your Own Stamps- click here
Birthday Shirt- click here

Gluten Free Pop Tarts- click here
Front Porch Kid Art Display- click here
Door turned into Table- click here

Summer Wish List Chalkboard-click here

Peanut Butter Nutella Cookie Sandwiches-click here

Painted Mason Jar Vases-click here

Cinco de Mayo Paper Flowers- click here

Earth Day Cupcakes- Click here
Nail Art-click here

Homemade Photo Booth Fun- click here

Fake Bangs- click here

DIY Subway Art- click here

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 hereThe Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here