Happily Mother After

{Aqua}rd

2012-03-07T16:54:00.000-05:00

Is it just me or does it feel awkward to drink eight 8oz glasses of water every day?

Yeah, {aqua}rd.

Maybe it's just me. I know plenty of people who drink a ton of water every day...and enjoy it.

I'm definitely not one of those people.

I feel like I'm drowning on the inside when I drink that much water.

Plus, I'm not going to lie, water tastes bland and I get tired of it quickly.

So that's why I decided to do a little digging and get to the bottom of this daily water requirement as my next step in this month of wholesome choices.

After reading several articles online, both actual scientific research and articles citing scientific research, here are the conclusions I came to:

No one really knows where the 8x8 rule originated. {8x8 rule: drink eight eight-ounce glasses of water per day}
There is no scientific evidence to back the 8x8 rule.
Being thirsty does not mean you are already dehydrated. It just means your body is telling you it is time to drink so that you do not reach dehydration.
If you feel thirsty, then drink. If you don't feel thirsty, then don't drink unless you just want to.
Not all of your daily fluid intake needs to come from water. Much of our fluid intake comes from the foods we eat as well as other drinks such as coffee, juices, teas, and sodas. So, contrary to popular belief, caffeinated drinks should count toward the daily fluid intake in the vast majority of people.
The only drinks that produce a net loss of fluids are those containing alcohol.

The above information applies to the general population of healthy adults in America. However, your fluid intake should be increased {regardless of a feeling of thirst} in certain instances:

During exercise
Extreme environments {such as hot or humid weather, higher altitudes, and heated indoor air during winter months}
Illnesses such as fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Certain health conditions {speak with a physician} such as bladder infections or urinary tract infections. On the contrary, certain health conditions require you to limit your fluid intake due to water retention. Be sure to speak to your physician if you have any concerning health conditions.
Pregnancy or breast-feeding

While you may certainly still find articles and physicians advocating the 8x8 rule, I simply want you to be aware that there is no hard evidence supporting this rule that seemed to appear out of thin air. Pay attention to your body and what it is telling you. Drink when you are thirsty. In my opinion, that rule is even more simple than the 8x8 rule! {It certainly leaves me feeling a lot less guilty.}

I'm thankful to McDonald's for this wholesome choices challenge. It has motivated me to get to the bottom of some of my most basic health-related questions. It has helped me to sift through what is fact and what is fiction.

McDonald's is committed to giving us more delicious choices to feel good about in the months and years to come. Regardless of your dietary needs, you'll find nutrient-minded choices at McDonald's.

You can follow McDonald’s Atlanta on Twitter @McDonaldsATL and check out their website for real-time promos, meal ideas and how to make the most of your McDonald’s experience:
http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/food_quality/nutrition_choices.html

Disclosure:
McDonald’s partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in its “Wholesome Choices” Blogger Program. As part of that program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. McDonald’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Oh Snap!shots of the Week {22}

2012-03-02T07:30:00.000-05:00

If this is your first time linking up you can check out the details about this party here.

******************************************************

Thanks, everyone, for being patient with me the past couple of weeks. I have just had so much going on and this link party {along with the rest of my blog} had to fall by the wayside. I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things very soon...which means you'll be hearing all about what has been keeping me from blogland very soon.

I combined the last two weeks into one large party, and here are our winners:

Everyone's favorite photo was of this beautiful flower full of beautiful shades of pink.
{Please forgive the thumbnail. I'm waiting for permissions from the photographer.}

Photography by Diane at Butterflies in Time Photography

Diane, this badge is for you!

My favorite photo from last week has me dreaming of a vacation....or at least summer. Isn't this sunset amazing!?

Photography by MG at I Wanna Be In Pictures

MG, this badge is for you!

This week I chose to feature a little cutie named Jack. Don't those curls and blue eyes just make you smile from ear to ear?! :) You have to check out this mom's creativity. She captures her boy almost daily {at least every week} with a new, creative homemade background.

Photography by Jack's Mama at Jack's Paper Moon.

Jack's Mama, this badge is for you!

*******************************************************************

I snapped these photos just yesterday as I took Brody for a walk at a nearby trail. The weather was absolutely amazing and even though I had a million things on my to-do list, I couldn't resist the flawlessly blue skies and perfect temperature. Oh how I wish for a day like today everyday!...Or at least once a week.

*******************************************************************

"Brackfist"

2012-02-28T15:48:00.000-05:00

Brackfist.

The most important meal of the day.

Yeah, you heard me. Brackfist.

At least that's what my mom and I say. But you might know it as "breakfast."

I have to literally think of eggs to say it correctly.

Br-EGG-fast.

It works for me most of the time, but my poor mom still struggles to say it right.

I'm sure you've heard it before...Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I've always known it. And I've never had a problem eating breakfast. From the minute I wake up, I'm "starved." So I've never had to be convinced to eat the most important meal of the day. In fact, I've never been able to skip breakfast and make it until lunch before eating. People that do that {ahem, Jonathan--my hubby} amaze me.

If I skip breakfast I get hungry, cranky, and shaky. You pretty much don't want to be around me until I've eaten. So I've always eaten something in the mornings within an hour of waking up.

Until recently.

When I became a full-time stay-at-home mom a few months ago I noticed one drastic change in my life. I was skipping breakfast more often than not. Weird, right? Staying at home should make it easier to eat a meal each morning, but I find it more difficult. By the time I make Brody something to eat and get him situated for the morning, many times I find myself less than enthused about preparing something for myself...even if by "preparing" I mean pouring a bowl of cereal.

But lately, skipping breakfast has taken it's toll on me. That's why I decided my first "Wholesome Choice" would be to get back to eating a healthy breakfast regularly.

To give me a little kick in the tail pipe, I decided I would check out the Mayo Clinic's suggestions for a healthy breakfast. They had a pretty good list of options that I thought I'd share with you...

Cooked oatmeal topped with almonds or dried cranberries
A whole-wheat pita stuffed with hard-boiled eggs
Leftover vegetable pizza
A tortilla filled with vegetables, salsa and low-fat shredded cheese
A smoothie blended from exotic fruits, some low-fat yogurt and a spoonful of wheat germ
Whole-wheat crackers with low-fat cheese or peanut butter
A microwaved potato topped with broccoli and grated Parmesan cheese
A whole-wheat sandwich with lean meat and low-fat cheese and as much lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and sweet peppers as you like
Multigrain pancakes with fruit and yogurt
A whole-grain waffle with peanut butter
Egg omelet with vegetables (use more egg whites than yolk)

If you're more of a cereal monster like Brody and his Uncle Chad, here are some things the Mayo Clinic wants you to consider...

Fiber. Choose cereals with at least 3 grams (g) of fiber per serving, but if possible, aim for 5 grams per serving or more.

Sugar. Having sugar doesn't automatically make a cereal unhealthy. But the healthiest choices have 5 or less grams of sugar per serving. Check the Nutrition Facts label. This lists total grams of sugar per serving, which includes both naturally occurring sugar and added sugar. Some cereals contain dried fruit, which has natural sugar and adds to the total amount of sugar. But these cereals may still be healthy choices if eaten in moderation. Avoid cereals that list sugar at or near the top of the ingredient list, or that list multiple types of added sugar, such as high fructose corn syrup, honey, brown sugar and dextrose.

Calories. If you're counting calories, choose cereals lower in calories, ideally less than 120 calories per serving. Some cereals have more calories per serving but can still be healthy choices.

Remember to top off your bowl of cereal with some sliced fruit and low-fat or skim milk. Or if you're on the go, take along a piece of fruit, a container of milk or some yogurt.

And if cereal bars are your on-the-go breakfast of choice, consider this...

Cereal bars also may be a good breakfast option. Just be sure to look for those that meet the same guidelines as dry cereal. Also, don't forget some fruit and low-fat milk or yogurt to round things out. Even fruit or yogurt cereal bars won't satisfy all your nutrition requirements for breakfast.

If you're really on the go and you need to stop somewhere on the way to your destination, McDonald's offers a variety of whole-grain meal choices on its breakfast menu, available all day. The Fruit and Maple Oatmeal and the Apple Cinnamon Walnut Oatmeal are both 100% natural whole grain oats, rich in fiber and freshly prepared for you. {Or, you can always grab Brody's favorite Micky-D's breakfast item...a yogurt granola parfait.} McDonald's is committed to giving us more delicious choices to feel good about in the months and years to come. Regardless of your dietary needs, you'll find nutrient-minded choices at McDonald's.

Thankfully, the fast food industry is beginning to come around and give us healthier options to fit our on-the-go lifestyles. Keep in mind, however, that your healthiest choice is always to eat at home rather than grabbing food to go. But at least we have some good back-up options available now when our pantry is lacking or it's just faster to go to a drive-thru. Kudos to McDonald's for working on giving us healthier options.

***The wording in blue print contained in this post was directly taken from the Mayo Clinic's website {found here}. Check out the link to get more detailed information about the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast and more good ideas to make it easier for your family.

Oh Snap!shots of the Week {21}

2012-02-24T07:30:00.000-05:00

If this is your first time linking up you can check out the details about this party here.

******************************************************

Because I am out of town and have enjoyed being with family way too much this past week to put together a new party today, I decided to continue the party from last week. I hope you guys understand....I think we all just need a break from the norm every now and then. I usually visit each and every one of your entries, but I have also slacked on that this week. I promise I will view them all this coming week. I did glance over the them and noticed we haven't had many votes, so please be sure to vote for your favorite photos. If you don't, how will I know who to award as everyone's favorite next week?!?!

I'm looking forward to catching up with all of you over this next week and seeing all of your creativity flow! You guys are awesome!

***********************************************************

McDonald's "Wholesome Choices" Blogger

2012-02-20T21:42:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to announce that I am partnering with McDonald's on their Wholesome Choices Blogger Program!

I was contacted several weeks ago to participate in the Greater Atlanta Area McDonald's "Wholesome Choices" Blogger Program. Seeming to be a bit of an oxymoron.....McDonald's and Wholesome Choices....I was curious. But after doing some research and finding out more about the program, I decided to jump on board.

This program isn't simply about promoting McDonald's and convincing all of you to eat there. It's about making a choice to take control of your life and your health. Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing my own tips and ideas for making more wholesome choices in your everyday life...while sharing with all of you how I am making wholesome choices and changes to my everyday life.

I hope that you too will make the choice now to commit to making some wholesome choices in your everyday life over the next several weeks. I'd love for you to share those changes you are making, so please feel free to leave me a comment below. Let's encourage each other!

Follow McDonald’s Atlanta on Twitter @McDonaldsATL and check out their website for real-time promos, meal ideas and how to make the most of your McDonald’s experience:
http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/food_quality/nutrition_choices.html

Disclosure:
McDonald’s partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in its “Wholesome Choices” Blogger Program. As part of that program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. McDonald’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Oh Snap!shots of the Week {20}

2012-02-17T07:30:00.000-05:00

If this is your first time linking up you can check out the details about this party here.

******************************************************

Last week's "people's choice" favorite was this oh-so-messy photo of a sweet little boy named Josh. Here he was creating his very first masterpiece. I have to hand it to his Momma-good for you-allowing the mess for the simple pleasure of having fun! I need to learn from you!

Photography by Kelly-Marie at Our Footprints on the World

Kelly-Marie, this badge is for you!

My favorite photo from last week's party was this double-exposure of a guitar and a field of flowers. I love the way these two blend together in perfect harmony! This photo comes from a newbie, so be sure to check out her blog!

Photography by Danielle at SHAKA

Danielle, this badge is for you!

And lastly, I just had to feature this photo of "bugs in a field." How creative is this?! There are several other fun works of art in this same field and you can view a few more of them on Jessica's blog. {Jessica is also somewhat of a newbie to the party so be sure to spread the love!}

Photography by Jessica at Suitcases and Sippy Cups

Jessica, this badge is for you!

**********************************************************

My favorite photo this week was taken at my college bestie's wedding on Saturday. The wedding was simple but detailed, sweet but chic, and one I will always remember {mainly because she is a friend I will never forget}.

I have never witnessed a wedding where the couple kissed more throughout the day/night than Chantal and Brian did that day....usually when they thought nobody was watching. It was special to see, and I am so very thankful she found a good man that I know will always take care of her. They compliment each other in the best possible way.

Congratulations, Chantal and Brian!
We love you both and wish you many years of happiness together!

***********************************************************

"Hand"-made Valentines

2012-02-15T23:02:00.002-05:00

This year, giving Valentines from Brody was so much fun. He was an active participant in the process, whispering and scheming with me as we crafted something special behind closed doors for his daddy and both sets of grandparents.

I saw {this} cute little handmade card on Pinterest several months ago and pinned it in anticipation of Valentine's Day. I could hardly wait to make these with Brody, and I was pretty pleased with how they turned out.

I love how excited he was to help with this project, and I can't wait to see what else we can create together next year for the ones we love. :)

My Funny Valentine

2012-02-14T22:10:00.000-05:00

Growing up, my mom and dad always had a special treat waiting for each one of us {my brothers and I} on Valentine's Day. My mom would usually leave her special something for us on our beds and my dad would find a way to give us a special surprise throughout the day.

So the past two years I carried out my mother's tradition, hiding Valentine's surprises in Brody's bed. And this year, Brody's third Valentine's Day, he still found a special Valentine from me in his bed {even though we are in Florida at Wynni and JimPop's house}.

It was much more fun to watch him find his Valentine present this year though, as he is beginning to understand each holiday as well as the joy of giving {and receiving, of course!}

He enjoyed the cookie.

He enjoyed the toys and books.

But I think one of his favorite parts was reading the musical card. That boy loves music and he loves to dance! He has been playing with the card I gave him as well as the card his JimPop gave him {also musical} over and over again.

Happy Valentine's Day to My Funny Little Valentine!

Oh Snap!shots of the Week {19}

2012-02-10T07:30:00.000-05:00

If this is your first time linking up you can check out the details about this party here.

******************************************************

Last week's "people's choice" favorite was this amazing photo of water dripping from a faucet. Can you believe it? I had no idea what I was looking at when I first came across this photo, but if you check out Jaymi's blog you can read a great tutorial on how she made her dripping faucet look amazing!

Photography by Jaymi at Live, Love, Travel

Jaymi, this badge is for you!

My favorite photo from last week was this sweet shot of little hands clasped for prayer. There is just something about seeing little ones bowing their heads in prayer that makes me happy. And I love how the lighting around those precious fingers gives this photo an angelic feeling.

Photography by Lori at La-La's Home Daycare

Lori, this badge is for you!

I decided that last week's "runner-up" for y'all's favorite photo should be this week's featured photo. Meet Cleopatra. Aren't those eyes beautiful?

Photography by Ana at 365+1 Project

Ana, this badge is for you!

***************************************************
My favorite photo from this week was taken yesterday when my mom and I took Brody for a little walk in the sand. The beach was overtaken with seagulls which made the walk a thousand times more exciting for B.Boy. He ran along the shoreline screaming, "You go away birds!" and giggled with excitement as they flew away. :)

****************************************************
Before you begin linking up, I just wanted to throw out a quick little "bonus" for each of you at this week's Oh Snap! party. Capturing Couture is offering 20% off in celebration of Valentine's. Just click the image below to check out all of the beautiful camera accessories on their site and enter CCLOVE2012 at checkout to receive an incredible 20% off!

{I bought my camera strap at Capturing Couture and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!}

Capturing Couture LOVE sale

2012-02-10T00:44:00.001-05:00

Capturing Couture is offering 20% off in celebration of Valentine's. Just click the image below to check out all of the beautiful camera accessories on their site and enter CCLOVE2012 at checkout to receive an incredible 20% off!

{I bought my camera strap at Capturing Couture and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!}

Oh Snap!shots of the Week {18}

2012-02-03T07:30:00.000-05:00

If this is your first time linking up you can check out the details about this party here.

******************************************************

Y'all's favorite photo from last week was this beautiful snow-covered tree. I think I loved it so much because I was able to enjoy it from someone else's lens rather than dealing with it myself. Is it just me or is anyone else glad we haven't had any snow in GA this year? I'm lovin' the warmer winter!

Photography by Jaymi at Live, Love, Travel

Jaymi, this badge is for you!

In keeping with the cold weather theme, I picked this amazing shot as my favorite from last week. Don't you just love how the ice has encompassed every branch on this tree as well as the leaves? So pretty!

Photography by Emily at Scattered Horizons

Emily, this badge is for you!

This week I wanted to feature Dina from 4 Lettre Words. She took this cute photo of her kitty which is quite simply darling. Dina always takes beautiful photos and she is one you'll want to keep your eye out for at these weekly parties. :)

Photography by Dina at 4 Lettre Words

Dina, this badge is for you!

************************************
Before we begin linking up photos, I just want to share a little goodie for those of you linking up. My friend Vanessa, is hosting her very first giveaway on her blog, Daily Delivered. If you've hosted a giveaway, you know how exciting your first giveaway can be and how anxious you are about people actually competing for the prize. So please take a moment to check out her blog and consider participating in her giveaway. It's worth $20. But hurry, because the giveaway ends today {2/3/12}. You have nothing to lose and the odds are in your favor as her blog is new-ish {which means a low entry for the giveaway!!!} So go on, link up your photo and then head on over to her blog for a chance to win something awesome!

Twenty-9

2012-01-30T22:34:00.000-05:00

We celebrated Jonathan's 29th birthday on Friday. Unfortunately, Jonathan had to work on his special day, so Brody and I took him out to lunch for a little mid-day celebration. We stopped by his office to pick him up and brought him a special little "bouquet" of candy and balloons.

Then after work his sister and her hubby dropped by our house to go out to dinner with us. We enjoyed some yummy tapas and great company before heading home to gobble up some delicious cookie cake {a tradition of ours}.

The cake reads "29 and holding on"

It was pretty low key, but that's the way we like it these days. Although, we are thinking of going a little bigger next year...maybe a cruise to celebrate the big 3-0 since our birthdays are only a month apart???

We are open to suggestions though....

Oh Snap!shots of the Week {17}

2012-01-27T07:30:00.000-05:00

If this is your first time linking up you can check out the details about this party here.

******************************************************

A big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in last week's Oh Snap! party. We had a great turn-out with many newbies to speak of and some of my favorite faithfuls. :) I hope you guys are checking out all the other awesome blogs that surround you each week.

Be sure to vote for your favorite this week. With many more bloggers participating each week it makes picking a favorite even more difficult, so I need your help! You are welcome to vote for as many as you like. You are even welcome to vote for your own...just be sure to vote for someone else's photo as well too please! :)

Last week's most "liked" photo was this cute B&W of a big brother and his adoring little sister. How can you not love that huge smile on her face and the way she is holding her toes in excitement. Too cute!

Photography by Scarlett at House of Emery

Scarlett, this badge is for you!

My favorite from last week was this adorable, colorful photo of one of the most darling little models I've ever seen. Don't you just wanna squeeze those little tootsie roll arms?!

Bonus: You can find some useful photography tips on Jessica's blog. :)

Photography by Jessica at Living Our Love Song

Jessica, this badge is for you!

This last photo I wanted to feature for a couple of reasons: 1. My husband made me watch Planet of the Apes last night for the first time. Trust me, it gives a whole new perspective to this picture! 2. The photographer of this photo leads an interesting life...having lived most of her life in third world countries. I thought some of you might find her blog quite interesting.

Photography by Shanda at A Pause on the Path

Shanda, this badge is for you!

**********************************************************************
As for me, well, I'm breaking one of my own "rules" this week. I'm pulling from the archives...before my DSLR days. Back to the simple days of point-n-shoot. :)

Today is Jonathan's birthday so I thought I'd share a picture from his birthday two years ago...Jonathan's first birthday as a Daddy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HANDSOME!
Elephant Shoe!

****************************************************************

So let's get to it. Link up your photo{s} and visit at least two other blogs surrounding you. Be sure to leave a comment so they know you stopped by!

Oh Snap!shots of the Week {16}

2012-01-20T07:30:00.000-05:00

If this is your first time linking up you can check out the details about this party here.

******************************************************

Last week's most "liked" photo was this shot of a beautiful model at Union Station. I have to say...she definitely makes traveling look laid back. I'm guessing she doesn't have any kids! :)

Photography by Jaymi at Live, Love, Travel

Jaymi, this badge is for you!

My favorite photo from last week makes my bottom lip pooch out. I guess because I'm a mom of a boy myself that I have a weakness for little boys snuggling with their favorite toys. And isn't the look on his face just precious?!

Photography by Melanie at Rocking My 365 Project

Melanie, this badge is for you!

This last photo I just had to feature this week. It was taken at the funeral for an officer gunned down while on duty in Utah. You have to go and check out {Audrey's blog} to read the story and see the rest of the photos in the set.

Photography by Audrey at The Daily Wyatt

Audrey, this badge is for you!

**************************************************************************

My favorite photo this week is of my little man showing off his work of art. He made this {with my help} for his long-distance friend, Nora, who lives in Germany. Nora sent him a birthday card back in May with a drawing she had colored just for him. It was pretty fun for him to get a card in the mail from Germany as this was his first piece of international mail! How cool is that at two years old?! We decided to send Nora a "hand"-made butterfly for her special day. Brody was pretty tickled with his masterpiece. :)

************************************************************************

Now it's your turn! Grab the button up top and link away!

Please don't forget to visit the other blogs around you and vote for your favorite. You never know if your photo might be everyone's favorite next week! And you never know who might be your newest follower just because you left a sweet comment for them. :)

Kiddo Krafts {"Hand"-made Butterfly}

2012-01-19T23:50:00.004-05:00

A few days ago Brody made this butterfly {with my help} for his long-distance friend, Nora, who lives in Germany. Nora sent him a birthday card back in May with a drawing she had colored just for him. It was pretty fun for him to get a card in the mail from Germany as this was his first piece of international mail! How cool is that at two years old?! We decided to send Nora a "hand"-made butterfly for her special day. Brody was pretty tickled with his masterpiece. :)

Oh Snap!shots of the Week {15}

2012-01-13T07:30:00.000-05:00

If this is your first time linking up you can check out the details about this party here.

******************************************************

Last week's most "liked" photo was taken during a maternity session--a day after the couple found out they are having a precious little boy! You have to go check out {Part1} of this maternity session. There are some cuuuuuute "It's a boy!" photos.
Photography by Jaymi from Live, Love, Travel

Jaymi, this badge is for you!

My favorite photo from last week makes me giggle every time I see it. :) Don't you just love this face?!

It was taken by a newbie to the Oh Snap! party so be sure to stop byChristina's blog and say hello.

Photography by Christina from Tillicum Daily Photos

Christina, this badge is for you!

The featured blogger this week is Georgia. I wanted to feature her for her boldness in public. It's not always easy to whip out your camera in an unusual place and ignore the stares of others. I struggle with this myself. How about you guys? But she overcame her fear and ended up with gorgeous photos!

Photography by Georgia from Simply Silver

Georgia, this badge is for you!

*********************************************************************************

We've been under the weather around here for awhile now, so we haven't done much....resulting in very few pictures to choose from yet again this week. So, I chose this shot of Brody. You can read the story behind the picture {here}.

Go ahead...link up your photos! I can't wait to see them. :)

One little request though....please be sure to include the grab button on your blog {you can find the html code at the beginning of this post} or at least a link back to Happily Mother After so that others can party here too. Thanks!

Marshmallow Maturation

2012-01-11T20:43:00.000-05:00

While I was cooking dinner a few nights ago, Brody snuck into the pantry. He found a bag of marshmallows and quickly pulled them out, causing them to spill all over the floor.

"Mommy, they spilled!" he said.

My initial reaction was to clean them up for him but something stopped me.

"Well, you're going to have to pick them up and put them in the trash," I replied. "This is why Mommy told you not to go into the pantry."

He obediently began to pick them up off the floor and walk them over to the trash can.

As I stood near him cooking dinner, I noticed how he was only able to grab a few at a time before his little hands were so full that he had to make another trip to the trash can. I felt bad for him, thinking I should go help him so that it will not take him as long. But again, something stopped me.

Then I heard, "Mommy, can you come help me?"

"No, Brody, you need to pick them up by yourself." I felt bad, but I knew there was a lesson in it for him.

In that moment, God reminded me of how many times we call upon Him for help but he tells us "No." There is a lesson in the "no" that we must learn on our own. It's not because He is mean or because He is too busy or because He doesn't hear us. He wants to help. It makes Him sad to leave us alone in the task because He knows He could make it so much easier for us. His hands could carry so much more of the burden then our little "child-sized" hands. But, if He helped, then we wouldn't come out of the situation as a more mature individual.

So I left Brody to pick up the marshmallows all by himself. He worked hard and diligently to get them all cleaned up, but he didn't seem to be putting a dent in the mess.

A few minutes later, Jonathan came home from work.

"Hey, Buddy! What happened?" Jonathan asked.

"I spilled the marshmallows," Brody answered.

Then Jonathan knelt down next to him and began scooping the tiny marshmallows into his hands. I almost told him not to help--that Brody needed to do this all by himself.

But then it hit me. Sometimes God's "no" isn't really a "no." It's a "wait." It's a "you need to do this on your own for now, but once you've matured a little more I will send help."

It's funny how God reveals things through your child. There are so many truths that I grasp now that I am a Mom...truths that I thought I understood before, but have come to understand on a much deeper level now that I am a parent.

For instance--just how deeply God loves us. I can't imagine how anybody could love anyone more than I love my Silly Little Mister. But God loves His children with an even greater love. A love more pure than we can ever begin to know.

I Heart NY

2012-01-10T23:38:00.003-05:00

On December 7th I celebrated my 29th birthday.

My mom and I talked for years about flying up to New York during the Christmas season, but this year we finally did it. She found some great airline tickets that she couldn't pass up and treated me to The Big City for my birthday!

After one very long and frustrating day in the airport {due to the airline's incompetency}, we finally arrived in NY where we were greeted at the hotel by my brother, Josh, and his GF, Anna.

I can't seem to find a way to share in words the excitement of the trip, so I figure I'll just share the pictures I took with my iPhone. {I was too scared to carry around my DSLR since my lens cap was missing}

We enjoyed walking the streets during the day, browsing in and out of the beautifully decorated shops and taking in the beauty of the surrounding buildings. We also came across many cartoon characters in the streets, so I decided to get my picture taken with Elmo and Cookie Monster. Brody loves to scroll through the pictures in my phone so I knew he'd get a kick out of seeing his mommy with the characters from Sesame Street.

Central Park was gorgeous and I am dying to go back there when the weather is warmer so that I can bike, run, or walk around the entire park.

The City was beautiful during the day, but once night fell and the Christmas lights filled the streets, our excitement reached a whole new level.

My mom and I trekked our way to Rockefeller Center, through the unbelievable crowds, three seperate occasions trying to see the 74' tree all lit up. The first time was before sun set so the lights had yet to come on. The second time was around midnight, and they had already turned the lights off for the night. {Isn't that crazy?!} So finally, on our third attempt, we beheld the sight we had waited so long to see.

It was definitely a sight I wouldn't have wanted to miss.

But my TOP 3 MOMENTS in NYC were as follows:

1. Spending time with Josh and Anna. It was short {only a day} but special since I rarely get to see them.

2. The Empire State Building. We arrived at the perfect time. The sun was setting on the horizon, leaving a rainbow of colors over the city on one side....

...And on the other side, a blood red moon emerged through the darkness of night.

It was AH-mazing!

3. But my absolute favorite memory of NY was on Broadway. My mom and I happened to be in the right place at the right time and scored two tickets on the 10th row to a SOLD-OUT show...the #1 show on Broadway...Wicked!

It was unbelievably GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!! And, to top it off, I just happened to run into Chandra Lee Schwartz {who played Glinda, the "good" witch} as she was leaving behind the theatre. She was sweet enough to give this geek her autograph and a picture with her. :)

Yes, my first trip to NY was something I will never forget. Thank you, Mom, for an awesome birthday present!

{And next time I will be sure to have a lens cap with me so that I can take some better quality photos with my Canon!}

Coffee Filter Snowball Ornament {DIY Tutorial}

2012-01-09T15:50:00.003-05:00

HMA's Twelve Crafty Days of Christmas are over and Christmas itself has come and gone, but I can't help but share one more DIY tutorial before I lay the season to rest.

If you're a devoted follower, you probably saw my tutorial for the Coffee Filter Snowman I like to refer to as Java Jo Snow. It was while I was making Java Jo that I came up with the idea to make coffee filter snowball ornaments to adorn our Christmas tree.

You may have already seen them if you read my recent post, A {Johnson} Christmas Poem. :)

Here is what you will need:

{no snow required!}

Small Styrofoam balls {I used a package of six}

Coffee Filters {I used around 800 to make all six ornaments}

Hot Glue Gun

Glue Sticks

Safety Pins

White Ribbon {or any color of your choice really}

Here is how you make them:

{a lot of time and patience IS required so flip on the TV or some good music!}

Step 1: Fold a coffee filter in half, then in half again, then in half again.

Step 2: Roll up the coffee filter from the tip about 1/3 of the way.

Step 3: Put hot glue along bottom of coffee filter and secure onto styrofoam ball in rows.

Step 4: Repeat process {for what feels like a gazillion times} until the ball in completely covered.

Step 5: Thread ribbon through safety pin and tie the ends together.

Step 6: Stick safety pin down into your Styrofoam ball.

Step 7: Hang the snowball ornaments on your tree, then sit back and relax...you deserve it!

Oh Snap!shots of the Week {14}

2012-01-06T07:30:00.000-05:00

If this is your first time linking up you can check out the details about this party here.

******************************************************

Thank you so much to everyone who linked up over the past three weeks. I hope you all had a blessed Christmas and a very merry New Year!

Now it's finally back to some normalcy. Can I get a "whoop! whoop!" I've been craving normalcy for over a month now. How about you guys?

So here we are at another Friday--so many new blogs to check out each week. We always have a few newbies to link up that you've never seen before. I hope you guys are taking advantage of that and checking out other blogs, making friends, sharing tips, and exchanging "followership." {Is that a word?...Well it is now.}

So let's get on with it...

Last week's most "liked" photo comes from a talented landscape photographer. She took it inside this time though and shed some holiday light on all of us. Beautiful!

Photography by Emily from Scattered Horizons

Emily, this badge is for you!

My favorite photo from last week's party took my breath away. Oh how this picture makes me envious! I want to be right there...wherever that is.

Photography by Pioneer Photography

Pioneer, this badge is just for you!

Finally, this week's featured photo comes from a unique blog. It's a blog published by two friends, one in Portugal and one in California. Each week they both publish a photo with a specified theme. The photo they each choose is a surprise to the other just like the rest of us.

Photography by Ana at Sixty-Two Thousand Miles

Ana {and Christian}, this badge is for you!

****************************************************

There's nothing special about my favorite photo this week...except for the people in it.

Brody and his JimPop {my dad} are the best of buds. You can see the joy on both of their faces whenever they are together....

And that is all it takes to make this photo my favorite!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Okay now faithfuls and newbies, show us what you've got in 2012!

A {Johnson} Christmas Poem

2012-01-05T20:27:00.000-05:00

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
A creature was stirring; twas a large hairless mouse.
He scuttled and hurried to get the job done
For Christmas was near and his son needed fun.

Brody was nestled all snug in his bed,
While the mouse sat there scratching his bald little head.
And I with my Canon- snapping away,
Couldn't wait to see Brody's face the next day.

When morning arrived and the sun shone its light,
His little feet hurried down a carpeted flight.
When around the corner he spotted the toys,
His face lit up full of wonder and joy.

He knelt down to play with a car loop-the-loop,

Ignoring the others in the same little group.

Santa left a car track, that he might pop the clutch;

Who cares about puzzles and games and such?!

When off in the distance the door bell did ring,

"Santa! It's Santa!" he could not help but sing.

As the door opened slowly, his heart-it stood still.

Santa wasn't there, rather Sessa and Phil.

Now with Sessa and Phil along with JimPop and Wynni,

Our Christmas was anything but tiny or mini.

Though plenty of loved ones were missing that day,

We thought of them fondly while they were away.

Then as preparations for breakfast began,

We each ate a cute little donut snowman.

Sugar and chocolate and some orange candy corn,

Began celebrations for the day He was born.

Eggs, bacon, and biscuits to follow,

The food was so yummy, it was easy to swallow.

There is one delish item I'm not qualified to make,

So I enlisted the hubs to make Christmas pancakes.

We chowed and we chewed 'til no more we could,
Then we shuffled our feet across the hard-wood.
Into the family room we each took a spot.
Under the tree we found the jackpot.

Throughout the morning, joy spread as we gave.
It seemed clothes and gift cards were all the rave.
Then one by one {no we didn't conspire},
Began an impromptu show of attire.

Hours passed by and we tore the last one.
{All but dear Brody...seemed he'd never be done!}
Then off to the kitchen to prepare Christmas dinner;
One thing's for sure, we didn't leave thinner.

That night 'round the table each of us sat,
And read of the story how Christmas begat.
Born of a virgin, innocent and pure
Jesus came down to earth- our only cure.

Mary wrapped him tight in swaddling clothes.
I imagine she cried and kissed his nose.
Then she layed him to rest the only place she was able.
{Or as Brody would say, "A stanky, stanky stable."}

So to honor our Savior we sang "Happy Birthday;"
And Brody blew out the candle- Oh what an airway!
The tradition is special, it's my favorite one.
So I passed it down to my sweet little son.

'Though all the excitement, the night had to end,
So we sent him to bed with his little stuffed friends.
But I heard him exclaim, as he ran out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

The Lion Is Coming!

2012-01-04T21:25:00.000-05:00

Each year I try to find at least one special ornament for Brody. I keep a list on my computer of what year he received the ornament and the significance of each one.

This year I bought him a lion ornament from Macy's in NYC.

The lion symbolizes the unveiling of Brody's imagination this past year.

Out of nowhere one day he came running into our room yelling, "The lion is coming! The lion is coming!"

This quickly turned into a game we played every day for months {and still play from time to time}. He will run around the house yelling, "The lion is coming! Hurry! Hurry! The lion is coming!" And, reacting as if we have lions roaming through our house all the time, we reflexively scoop him up in our arms, high-tail it out of the room, and find a safe place to hide until the lion is gone.

It wasn't long after the lion arrived at our house that we began hearing other random, imaginative comments fly out of his mouth.

One day he was roaming through my purse when he found a receipt. He looked it over, studying it ever so carefully. Then, with a stern look on his face he yelled, "Sixty dollars! Are you serious?!"

I almost died of laughter that afternoon. To this day, I have no idea how he came up with that statement. Not once have we ever looked at a receipt and said such a thing. What a ham, that boy!

Not only do I remember the day he expressed his imagination for the first time, but I can also remember the day his imagination developed even further as he began role-playing with an imaginary friend. Brody and I were hanging out in a hotel in Lakeland while Jonathan was busy at work. Brody was pushing Clifford {The Big Red Dog} around the hotel room in a stroller. I was sitting in the living room when all of a sudden from the bedroom I heard him say {in a child-like voice}, "I wanna go! Can I go?" Then, with a stern voice he replied, "No! You can't go. You stay here!"

Nothing has made Jonathan and I laugh more than his funny little off-the-wall comments. We hear them just about daily, and each time it catches us by surprise. With tears in our eyes, and smiles from ear-to-ear we always look at each other as if to say, We are so blessed! We have the funniest, cutest little man that God has ever made.

I know these stories probably won't strike you as funny as they do Jonathan and I, but I've been dying to document them. I never want to forget these little moments. I can still hear his voice and see his little expressions as I remember each one of these stories. I hope I never forget these "nothing" days that mean everything to this mommy.

Our Top 11 Moments of 2011

2011-12-31T23:34:00.000-05:00

Inspired by our 2010 Christmas card, I decided to make a short and simple list of our most memorable moments of 2011 {in chronological order}....

1. Brody won the battle and gave up his Binky!

2. We traded the Durango for the Murano. My brother, Josh, traded us the Durango for my {2 door} Honda Civic the day before we delivered Brody so that we would have a more practical car for our growing family. When the Durango began progressively breaking down this past year, he traded us the Murano for the Durango. I'm a blessed sister!

Our first and last days driving the Dodge Durango. Thank you, Josh!

3. Brody {with some help from JimPop} caught an Atlanta Braves baseball during batting practice.

4. Brody went on his first train ride and loved every minute of it.

5. We celebrated Brody's 2nd Birthday with a Mickey Mouse Choo-Choo Express party.

6. We took Brody to see his first movie in the theater. {Cars 2, of course}

7. Brody broke out of his crib and is now sleeping in a toddler bed.

8. Praise the Lord!...We survived potty training! { #1 and #2}

9. Jonathan and I left Brody with my parents while we escaped to the lake with some great friends.

10. We took Brody to the Magic Kingdom for the first time in October for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

11. I quit my part-time job and became a SAHM {thinking we were going to be living in South Africa for 6 months}...though we never got to go to South Africa, it remains one of the best decisions I have made to-date. I get to pour more of myself into my little guy each day. Plus, we are free to pack up and travel with Jonathan for business at a moment's notice.

And just because I can...I decided to throw in a little bonus moment from 2011 that I wasn't able to share with Jonathan and Brody....

My mom took me to New York City for my birthday! It was my first time in NYC and I can say that I now understand why everyone is so in love with that city. I can hardly wait to go back. I haven't blogged about that adventure just yet, but you can be sure it's coming in the weeks to follow. :)

I hope your 2011 was just as memorable, and I am looking forward to an even better 2012!

Happy New Year!

NOEL

2011-12-25T23:52:00.000-05:00

Oh Snap!shots of the Week {12}

2011-12-23T07:30:00.000-05:00

If this is your first time linking up you can check out the details about this party here.

******************************************************

As I mentioned last week, we are continuing the same party through the next couple of weeks. No awards will be given this week or the next due to the holidays. Just link up another photo from this past week and enjoy all the photos around you. :)

This past week mostly consisted of shopping for gifts and decorating our home for Christmas, which required 2,598 trips up and down the attic stairs. {Or something like that...I lost count.} Since we were gone for an entire month we didn't even have a Christmas tree until this past weekend!

My favorite photo this week was taken during our annual trip to Hunter's Christmas Tree Farm. After we found our tree {which took awhile since they were all picked through by the time we arrived}, I had Jonathan and Brody pose beside it before we cut it down. But, boys will be boys and the photo-op turned into rough housing...

And just for kicks I'm sharing my hubby's best photo of the week {with a few of my edits}...

So I want to know...do you have any Christmas tree-pickin' traditions?

~Can't wait to see your pictures this week!~

Too Smart for his own {Elf} Britches

2011-12-19T22:59:00.003-05:00

So, our Elf on the Shelf was a little late this year. He just showed up at our house this past weekend. Of course, we just showed up at our house last week too {we have been out of town since before Thanksgiving}.

So I guess in all fairness, maybe he arrived the day after Thanksgiving, saw we weren't home, and traveled back to the North Pole until we arrived.

Who knows?!

{Last year} was the first year we met our crazy little elf, Alf. Brody enjoyed waking up to look for Alf each morning, so I was excited to see that Alf finally arrived safely back this year. I couldn't wait to once again see Brody's excitement each morning as we looked high and low to find Santa's silly little helper.

But, much to my surprise, Brody hasn't had quite the reaction I expected.

Take this morning for example...

As Brody stood at the top of the stairs, he looked down to see Alf perched upon our security system. To which he replied, "Alf! There he is! There's Alf!"

What's wrong with that reaction?

Nothing is wrong with that reaction. He was excited. That made me excited! It's what came out of his mouth when I asked Brody how Alf got down there last night...

"You did it, Mommy."

"Um. What? No, I didn't do it."

"Daddy did it."

"Uh...no. Daddy didn't do it."

"Oh...Alf did it?"

"Yeah, Brody, Alf flew back to Santa last night while you were sleeping to tell him if you were naughty or nice yesterday. Then he flew back here before you woke up."

I'm still not sure he bought it. We keep reading him the story and reiterating it throughout the day, but I think he knows something is up.

I never realized how hard it would be make your child believe in the magic of Christmas. Sheesh! I thought we would be dealing with this sorta thing when he turned 7 or 8 at the earliest. Never in my wildest dreams did I think my two-year-old would be smart enough to recognize something is up with this whole Santa and his elves gig.

Oh boy...

Oh Snap!shots of the Week {11}

2011-12-16T21:09:00.001-05:00

If this is your first time linking up you can check out the details about this party here.

******************************************************

I hope you guys will forgive me for posting this party very late in the day.

Due to the holidays, this party will continue through the next two weeks. Please feel free to link up as many photos as you like over the next few weeks and enjoy looking at the new photos linked up periodically. :)

Last week, we had a tie between several pictures with the most "likes" {though mostly because there weren't many votes at all}. So, instead of choosing the photo with the most "likes" I chose the photo that was viewed the most. That's how I arrived at this darling picture...

Photography by Pioneer Photography

I fell in love with this one the moment I saw it. What's not to like about this picture? It looks like it belongs on a CD cover or a billboard perhaps. I love the lighting and colors..and of course the cute little all American blond on the tricycle!

This badge is for you, Pioneer Photography!

This badge is for you, Life-n-Reflection!

Lastly, I decided to feature Leovi from Abstract Photos. Leovi is a "Faithful" to the Oh Snap! party. {Thank you!} I love the colors in this one....

Photography by Leovi from Abstract Photos

Leovi, this badge is for you!

********************************************************

My favorite snapshot was taken in New York this past weekend for my birthday. :)

But more on my first trip to NYC next week. All I will say for now is I heart NY!

All right Faithfuls and Newbies...Bring it!
Show me what you've got this week {and the next two}.

Reminder: This link party will be open through the next two weeks so you can link as many photos as you'd like during the holidays. Also, please be sure to "like" the photos that stand out to you. :)

12 Crafty Days of Christmas {Day 12}: Edible Holiday Scenes

2011-12-16T15:21:00.002-05:00

Welcome to {Day 12} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas here at Happily Mother After!

If you missed any of the previous crafts, you can catch up with the rest of us by taking a look {over here}.

Today we're ending the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas on a sweet note. {I guess you could call it a bitter sweet note since it's the last day of this series.}

Michelle from Sugar Swings! Serve Some blogs about the tastier side of creativity. I really never knew how many ways you can make food fun for kids until I came across her space in the blogosphere {check out her most recent creation, Gingerbread Super Heros}. My mouth began to water and my mind started racing with all the possibilities...that's when I knew I had to ask her to be a guest here at HMA.

*************************************************************

.....hey there everyone...I'm michelle from SugarSwings! Serve Some and I'm really happy to be guest posting here with Lauren!....

...this is another super easy holiday goodie....edible holiday scenes!....i have 3 kiddos, a 7 year old and 4 year old twins, and these were a big hit and actually you can have your kiddos help with these too...

....you'll need these:

(btw-i'm kinda addicted to all the different holiday themed marshmallows that kraft has been putting out for the holiday seasons!....and you'll need a bunch of your favorite sprinkle mixes and some icing (i had some left over royal icing which worked great as snow and to "glue"on the sprinkles....

....then just decorate any way you like.....i sprinkled them with some wilton shimmer dust in silver and pearl (but totally not needed).....and i made them for snacks for the kiddos and added their names but you could probably use them as edible place cards too for your holiday table (kiddo table or adult table!)....

...anyway, hope you like them and thanks to Lauren for inviting me over---fun!...happy holidays to all and have a great new year....can't wait to see more of the fun holiday crafts and treats from all over the world!.....

-michelle from sugarswings

********************************************************

Thanks, Michelle, for sharing this idea with us! I think this is a perfect activity for all of us moms with toddlers since it's easy enough to just hand over the materials and let your favorite little man or lady go at it {which, if you have a two-year-old, you know how much they love to do things all by themselves!}

Thank you to everyone who has "tuned in" to the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas. I've had so much fun and I hope you have too. I'd love to see your version of any or all of the Christmas crafts you found here at HMA, so please share them. :)

Wishing you a very merry and crafty Christmas!

12 Crafty Days of Chrstmas {Day 11}: Snowman Pancakes

2011-12-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to {Day 11} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas here at Happily Mother After!

If you missed any of the previous crafts, you can catch up with the rest of us by taking a look {over here}.
Today's guest blogger loves to throw together chic and cute parties for her Littles, and that is what enticed me to her blog. I love me a good kid's party! That's why I recently created a Birthday Party Page where you can share your parties with all of us and find inspiration from the other parties linked up. {Check it out here!}
You will find a few of Mariah's parties on HMA's Birthday Party Page but the others you can search for on Mariah's blog. She recently put together a Gingerbread House Decorating Party and a North Pole Breakfast. They were both just darling! You should stop by her blog to check them out after you read what she has to share with us now...

*************************************************************

Hi, Happily Mother After fans! I'm Mariah and you can find me at Giggles Galore where I share my passion for crafts, sewing and parties. I am a busy mom to three sweet kids and at times our house can be a little chaotic, but there are always giggles galore. I believe in making the ordinary extraordinary and love celebrating the everyday moments.

I am excited to be here today sharing a fun way to celebrate with your kids this holiday season. These snowman pancakes will transform an ordinary breakfast into an fun and memorable tradition.

My kids love eating pancakes on Saturday morning and I am always looking for fun ways to enjoy our time together in the morning when we aren't rushing around. What better way then to create an interactive breakfast with something they love. I started with my super yummy vanilla pancake recipe and then made snowman shapes on the griddle.

Fill a muffin tin or muffin cups with goodies the kids can use to decorate their snowman. Our muffin tin had red hots, marshmallows, gumdrops, chocolate chips and a fruit roll up.

Let the kids get creative and decorate their snowman.

It is a treat to have all these sweets for breakfast (we have made them with healthier options like blueberries, strawberries and bananas before) and it is funny to watch them and see how much they can pile on!

After everyone has enjoyed making their snowman pancakes we snuggle up on the couch and watch Frosty the Snowman in our pjs. I love creating memories and enjoying the little moments like a simple breakfast with my family!

-Mariah

********************************************************
Thank you so much for sharing this simple but adorable idea with all of us today, Mariah! I just love that this is an easy tradition to keep throughout the years. I have a special place in my heart for traditions!
What about you guys? What are your Christmas traditions? Do any of them involve pancakes? :)
Be sure to check back tomorrow for the last day of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas series.
Also, don't forget to check out the Birthday Party Page for inspiration and to link up some of your parties for all of us to drool over!

12 Crafty Days of Christmas {Day 10}: Pillow Case

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to {Day 10} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas here at Happily Mother After!

If you missed any of the previous crafts, you can catch up with the rest of us by taking a look {over here}.
Wow! I can't believe we are already at {Day 10} of this "12 Crafty Days" series! I hope you guys have been enjoying all the wonderful crafts that our guest bloggers have been so graciously sharing, and I hope that you have become inspired to create some of these for your own family.

Today we have another special guest blogger, Jennifer from Sunny Vanilla. Jen and I have one thing {among others} in common that makes me smile from ear to ear. We married our high school sweethearts {both are baldies now. Ha!}.

But besides our love for ~~high school boys~~ our HS sweethearts, we both have a love for all things creative {as I'm sure is true of you if you are keeping up with this series}. But Jen is way ahead of me on the creative outlets scoreboard. She loves photography, design, interior decorating, crafting, cooking, writing, and sewing.

She's here now to share with us something sew cute...

*************************************************************

Hi there! My name is Jen and I blog over at Sunny Vanilla.

I am a wife, a mom, and a lover of all things crafty. I started sewing as a teenager, but really didn't do much with it until I decided to leave the working world to stay at home with my daughter. Since then I've been addicted!

I'm happy to be here with you all today to share a fun and easy little tutorial.

Last month, a group of crafty and talented gals got together to sew several Christmas themed pillowcases for the cancer unit at a local children's hospital. We had such a great time! It was truly a feel-good project and to top it off, the pillowcases turned out wonderful. So nice, in fact, I decided to make a couple for our home.

There are lots of great tutorials online for pillowcases you can find here, here, and here. There are also lots of Christmas prints on sale now at your local fabric store, so it's a good time to try out this project.

Materials:

3/4 yd. Christmas print for main body

1/3 yd. Christmas print for trim

thread

scissors

First take your 3/4 yd. of fabric and fold it in two. Cut a rectangle that's 20.5 x 26 in. Set aside.

Now take your trim fabric, fold it in two and cut it 20.5 x 11 in. Unfold the fabric and refold it lengthwise {like a hotdog}. You will have one long piece of 41 in. x 5.5 in.

Now unfold the main body portion of the pillowcase and align the raw edge with the raw edges from your long piece of trim. Here's what it should look like:

Sew a 1/2 in. seam. When you sew your raw edges, you can use a zig zag stitch to prevent fraying.

Open seam and press with an iron.

Now take your fabric and place the right sides together. Sew a 1/2 in. seam on your two open sides.

Flip your pillowcase right side out and now you have a beautiful Christmas themed pillowcase.

I'd love to "meet" all of you! You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or my blog.

Thanks for hanging out with me today! I hope you have fun with this project!!!

-Jen

********************************************************Thank you so much, Jen, for sharing this cute little pillow case tutorial with us. It seems so easy if you know what you are doing with a Singer. Sewing is definitely something I have the desire to learn but have yet to take the time to actually figure out. Ahh...One day though.

Besides making pillow cases, Jen has been designing other adorable Christmas thingies such as this Whimsical Christmas Tree Garland from old sweaters. I'm telling you, this girl is crafty. Go check her out.

~~~~~~~~

Be sure to check back tomorrow for {Day 11} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas series.

12 Crafty Days of Christmas {Day 9}: Gingerbread House T-shirt

2011-12-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to {Day 9} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas here at Happily Mother After!

If you missed any of the previous crafts, you can catch up with the rest of us by taking a look {over here}.
I am full of giddy again today as I introduce you to {seriously} one of the best blogs I have ever come across. At little pumpkin grace you will find simple but oh-so-adorable crafts as well as chic and cute party ideas.

I promise this is a blog you will not want to miss, so check out the following tutorial from Jessica at Little Pumpkin Grace...then I give you permission to head on over to her space and get completely lost in the enchantment of it all!

*************************************************************

Hi! I'm Jessica and I'm excited to be guest blogging here today! You can usually find me sharing party ideas, crafts, projects and more over at little pumpkin grace, my family's blog. I'm married to a boy I met in the 8th grade and we have two precious littles, Grace who is 4 1/2 and Hudson who is 2 1/2. I love celebrating all of life's little moments, not just the big ones.

We just had a very fun North Pole Breakfast to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season...here's a little sneak peek and you can read all about it {here}.
Today I'm going to share with you how to turn a plain $5 tee into a super cute & girly Christmas applique shirt for a special little girl in your life.

Grab a tee and some fun fabrics - scraps are great for this.You'll also need some steam-a-seam or similar fusible web, your iron, a button, and some embroidery floss if you want to finish it by hand. You can also use your sewing machine's zig zag stitch to go around the applique if you don't want to do it by hand.Today we're making a gingerbread house, so we need a gingerbread house template. I draw most of my appliques by hand, but.........my little girl is crazy about Lalaloopsies, especially the mini ones, so when she got this one (Bea, the school girl), the package was just the perfect template for a gingerbread house! So that's what we'll be using today.Actually, we'll be using the back side of the mini Loopsie package...see that cute little door? You can use that too for your gingerbread house door or you can draw one by hand, which is what I did. And while you're at it, you can copy the roof too, adding some cute details - this is the fun part, you can make it as you go!Start off by tracing around the template on one side of the Steam-a-Seam sheet (follow the directions on the Steam-a-Seam package to know which side to draw on).Then cut around the gingerbread house on the steam-a-seam sheet leaving a bit of a "seam allowance" HA! - just leave some border all around what you just traced. Place that on the underside of your fabric and then in one step cut out the gingerbread house steam-a-seam sheet & your fabric {this sounds more complicated than it is...once you read the directions on the s-a-s package, it'll all make sense}.

Sorry I didn't take any good pictures of this step - I was working around Hudson's nap! - but when you're done, your gingerbread house will sort of look like this:You can see I drew and cut out two roofs, a candy cane chimney and a little door. I used a manila folder to draw my templates on because it's sturdier than plain paper, but you can draw your pieces on cardstock, construction paper or whatever you have lying around! Trace each of the house pieces on the steam-a-seam and follow the steps above to cut out your fabric pieces.
Once you have everything cut out, you're ready to lay it out on the shirt and fuse it {again the steam-a-seam will have specific directions}. Do one layer at a time. Here I started with the candy cane, followed by the house, then the two roofs, and finally the door.When you have all the pieces fused onto your shirt, it will look like this: {and yes, I switched t-shirts halfway through because I liked how the fabrics looked against a white tee vs. the blue polka dot tee} You're now ready to either stitch around the applique using a zig zag stitch on your machine or finish it by hand using embroidery floss. I like the little extra oomph hand embroidery adds, so that's what I usually go with. I like DMC floss and I use 3 of the 6 floss strands that come bundled together as one. Just pull 3 little strands of floss, thread your embroidery needle and you're ready to go! Simply go all around the applique using a basic straight stitch......and in no time you'll have this!Here's a close-up...I think next time I'll use white embroidery floss around the roofs so it looks more like "snow" :)Add a cute pair of knee socks...and you're all set!Such a cute & easy way to transform a plain tee for a special little girl in your life! Or a little boy...just switch out the gingerbread house for a gingerbread boy!!Thanks for letting me share with you today! Stop by {my blog} for more tutorials and party ideas!

Merry Christmas!
Jessica

********************************************************

Seriously, are you guys impressed or what? How cute is this shirt for the special little princess in your life?! If you decide to use this tutorial to make a similar shirt I'd love for you to share the link with the rest of us.

Jessica, you are a girl after my own heart! I love your blog. I love your crafts. I love your parties. I love it all! Thank you very much for sharing this tutorial with all of us today!

{And I must add...your model is too cute!}

~~~~~~~~

Be sure to check back tomorrow for {Day 10} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas series.

12 Crafty Days of Christmas {Day 8}: Gingerbread House Kit

2011-12-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to {Day 8} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas here at Happily Mother After!

If you missed any of the previous crafts, you can catch up with the rest of us by taking a look {over here}.
Today our guest blogger is Kara from Happy Go Lucky. You may recognize her blog because I have linked up several of my crafts to her Shine on Fridays link party. She is here now to show us how to create a fun {and cheap!} little gift for the special kiddos in your life.

*************************************************************

Hi everyone! I'm Kara from Happy Go Lucky and I'm delighted to be Lauren's guest.

Today we are going to make our own gingerbread house kits. It doesn't get any easier than this - I promise!

All you need are the following:

1 bucket

1 container of icing

Candy (I bought 3 different kinds and split them into 2 buckets)

1 package of Graham crackers (1 of 3 from box)

All of these items were found at the Dollar Tree except the Graham crackers.

Place everything in the bucket, close the lid and have fun giving this fun gift to that child who already has everything.

I can't believe I was buying those store kits when I could be making my own for half the price! These simple gingerbread kits are easy to put together and cost less than $10 to make two. The best part is it can be personalized with the child's favorite candy.

I made one for Connor and I made one for my nephew. I can't wait to show them the kits this weekend and build gingerbread houses together. It is going to be a major hit!! I plan on using the lid to the bucket as the base for their houses.

Thanks Lauren for having me! It was so fun to share this easy gift with you all. I hope you'll stop by Happy Go Lucky and say Hi - I'd love to have you!!
********************************************************

Thank you so much for sharing this craft with us, Kara! What a simple but fun idea. This would be a great gift to give your child's friends and classmates. It would also be fun to have a Christmas party for children {maybe cousins or nieces and nephews} and make a kit for each one in attendance.

How would you guys use this gingerbread house kit?

Be sure to check back tomorrow for {Day 9} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas series.

Oh Snap!shots of the Week {10}

2011-12-09T07:30:00.000-05:00

If this is your first time linking up you can check out the details about this party here.

******************************************************

Ten weeks? Have we really already entered the double digits?! Wow! Time flies when you are having fun! I know I have said it before, but thanks again to all of my loyal photographers who link up each week. You make me smile each time I see your little thumbnail pop up on my blog. :)

We have had several newbies linking up recently too {some really talented ones}, so be sure you are visiting the other bloggers linked up around you. You never know what jewel of a blog you will find!

Last week's "most-liked" photo {based on your votes} was this adorable black and white of a sweet little 4 month old boy named Lance. This was his "before" shot taken before he got his first haircut. Is anyone else's lip pooching out right now?! I'm a sucker for two things...babies and b&w photos.

Photography by Shondra from Walk With Me

Shondra, this badge is for you!

My favorite photo from last week comes from one of my favorite photographers and photography blogs. I love the angelic lighting surround these three adorable sisters. I think she really captured the innocence of the girls!

Photography by Ashley from Ramblings and Photos

This badge is for you, Ashley!

Photography by Halie from Psychemage Photography

Halie, we are happy to have you here partying with us! This badge is for you.

************************************************************

My favorite picture this week is my favorite simply because it is of my brother, Chad, playing with Brody {along with my dad}. Brody doesn't get to see his Uncle Chad very often so this was a moment to capture....the boys being boys!

Chad was admitted to the hospital last night, so please say a prayer or two {or three} if you think about him.

Now it's your turn. Link up your favorite photo from this past week. It may be your favorite because it looks like it belongs in a museum, or it may be your favorite because it holds sentimental value to you. Either way, share it with the rest of us!

12 Crafty Days of Christmas {Day 7}: Etched Glass Ornament

2011-12-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to {Day 7} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas here at Happily Mother After!

If you missed any of the previous crafts, you can catch up with the rest of us by taking a look {over here}.
Have any of you been wondering how I found some of the most talented crafters for HMA's Christmas series? Well, I can tell you exactly when I fell in love with today's guest blogger. I was googling ideas for homemade decor when I just happened to come across these Anthropologie-inspired blooms at Homemade Ginger. As soon as I saw them I just knew I had to ask Megan, the mastermind behind the chic flowers, to be a part of this series. Then, as I read her "about me" page something popped out at me:

"He {God} has given me every ability and continues to form and shape me daily. We create because God creates." -Megan from Homemade Ginger

I just love that! We create because God creates. Simply stated and completely true. So, for reasons on many levels, I am happy to introduce you to Megan today!

*************************************************************

Hello Happily Mother After readers! I blog over at Homemade Ginger and I'm so honored to be guest posting today. I love crafting, sewing, cooking and anything else "homemade". Right now I'm in the middle of a year long series called the 30 Days Project, where I'm challenging myself to something different each month. Feel free to stop by and say hi!

I'm excited to share an easy ornament project with you all today!

It's a great way to make a personalized gift for someone...or for your own tree! These are the supplies you'll need:

You will need some letter stickers and any other shape that you want to add to your ornament (I did dots and stars), a glass ornament, a sponge brush and some etching cream.

First, you will make your design on your ornament with the stickers. You could do a monogram, polka dots, your last name or anything your heart desires!

Next, you will brush on a thick layer of the etching cream.

Let it sit for a few hours. I actually forgot about mine and it sat overnight and it turned out great! You just don't want to remove the cream too soon.

Then, wash off the cream and peel off your stickers and you have a beautiful etched ornament!

Tie a pretty ribbon on the top and you're done!

Happy crafting and thanks for having me!
********************************************************

Those ornaments are just darling, Megan! Thank you so very much for sharing this tutorial with us today. I am putting these down on my to-create list right now! What a precious personalized gift to give someone you love this season.

Be sure to check back Monday for {Day 8} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas series. Happy Weekend!

12 Crafty Days of Christmas {Day 6}: Christmas Book Craft for Kiddos

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to {Day 6} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas here at Happily Mother After!

If you missed any of the previous crafts, you can catch up with the rest of us by taking a look {over here}.
Today, I am pleased to introduce you to Lorie from Reading Confetti. Because of her background as a reading specialist, she is an excellent resource when it comes to educating your Littles. She shares so many wonderful kid-friendly crafts on her blog that will help develop your child's love of reading.
Because Brody loves to read {and because I love that he loves to read}, I was excited when I came across Reading Confetti. I'm a fairly new follower, but I have already seen so many ideas that I want to ~~steal~~ re-create for Brody.
Here is just one example...

*************************************************************

Hello! I'm Lorie from Reading Confetti and I am so excited to be here today sharing a children's activity with you. I'm a reading specialist turned SAHM so my blog is all about encouraging a love of reading through activities and crafts. This is an activity we had lots of fun with so I hope you and your little readers enjoy it too!

A Wish to Be a Christmas Tree is a beautiful story about a pine who wishes to be chosen as a family Christmas tree but he's grown too tall. When he begins to cry, the forest animals that he has provided food and shelter for want to help him feel better. As a surprise, they decorate him in their own version of a Christmas tree. The rhyming text and excellent message make it a big hit with my preschoolers, but it is also very suitable for older readers.

Before we read the story we made some handprint tree puppets. I traced my kids' hands on green construction paper, glued them together into a tree shape, and attached them to large craft sticks.

After we read the story, we decorated our trees.

Thanks so much for letting me share today. If you liked this activity, I hope you'll stop by Reading Confetti.
Here are a few things we've been up to:

Book Advent

Handprint Reindeer

Christmas Word Sort

********************************************************

How fun! I have never read A Wish to Be a Christmas Tree before, but sounds like a sweet little story. And now that Lorie has given us this cute little craft to go along with the book, I'm going to have to head out to purchase a copy for Brody soon! And, aren't you loving the Christmas tree word sort pictured above?! ...A definite must on my list of to-do's for B. Boy!

Thank you, Lorie, for sharing this wonderful children's craft with us today. You are so creative when it comes to educating preschoolers, and you are truly inspiring to me!! I can't wait to try some of your ideas with my little man. :)

Be sure to check back tomorrow for {Day 7} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas series. Kara from Happy-Go-Lucky will be here to show off her mad skills!

12 Crafty Days of Christmas {Day 5}: Burlap Embroidery Hoop Wreath

2011-12-07T14:08:00.001-05:00

Welcome to {Day 5} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas here at Happily Mother After!

If you missed any of the previous crafts, you can catch up with the rest of us by taking a look {over here}.
Today, I am beyond excited {more like giddy} to introduce you to one of my newest obsessions. I recently came across Lolly Jane Boutique and fell in love. {They had me at their header!} There is just not enough time in the day to rummage through all the goodness that dwells on their site!
After finding one cute DIY craft after another on their blog, I decided to ask them to guest post here for all of my readers to discover their awesomeness. And {to my shocking surprise} they said YES!
I booked them for today, on my birthday. Consider this my birthday present to all of you, my loyals! :)
So without further Adieu, I give you Lolly Jane!....

*************************************************************

Hello there HMA readers!

We are so excited to be part of the cheery series 12 Crafty Days of Christmas here on Lauren's cute site and to show off our burlap embroidery hoop wreath for the upcoming green & red holiday:

It was so fun to make!

But first we'd like to introduce ourselves...

we are twin sisters Kelli & Kristi of Lolly Jane, a craft blog filled with DIY's, furniture revamps, home improvement tips and a yummy recipe or two. Feel free to stop by anytime!

Now back to the project ;)

To create your own, follow along:

We first painted a 10" embroidery hoop white then backed with burlap. To create the bunting, we cut the JOY dies as well as 3 of our fav nesting die style with our Epic, folded them in half and glued the letters on. We also glued the newly created JOY tags around green striped bakers twine that was strung from 2 upholstery tacks.

To create the accordion paper flowers:

We followed these instructions then customized them for our project using the Santa Silhouette and Flourish dies, both from the Be Splendid line. We used the nesting circles dies which we love love love because there are so many sizes in one package and as you can tell, Santa is taller than Mrs. Claus so that came in handy ;)

After gluing everything together, adding a bit of toile and a pop up dots to make the Santa Silhouettes stand out, we had our final product that will look great paired with our holiday decor...

... that's it!

Such a fun craft for the front door or to mix in with your holiday decor throughout the house or on the mantel.

A big thanks to Lauren for letting us guest today!

We wish you all a very cheery Christmas season and would love for you to stop by our FB page, tweet with us or check out our Pinterest boards :)

XOXO

********************************************************

Cute! Cute! Cute! If you've followed my blog for any length of time, you know I love me some burlap! And mixing burlap with Christmas...well that's just perfection!!

Thank you SO MUCH, Kristi and Kelli, for spreading some adorable cheer here at HMA! Keep on rockin' over at Lolly Jane and the rest of us will ~~stalk you~~ gather around at your place to drool over your creations. :)

Be sure to check back tomorrow for {Day 6} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas series. Lorie from Reading Confetti will be here to share a fun way to create some Christmas magic with your Littles!

12 Crafty Days of Christmas {Day 4}: Beaded Ornaments

2011-12-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to {Day 4} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas here at Happily Mother After!

If you missed any of the previous crafts, you can catch up with the rest of us by taking a look {over here}.
Today, I am excited to introduce you to Amy from One Artsy Mama. I have been following Amy for quite some time now. On her blog she shares cute little crafts she does with her "Little Crafter," and she has given me some great ideas for crafts to do with Brody. She also has weekly link parties where you can show off anything crafty you have been working on, which is where you can find me linked-up most weeks!
{I also think she is great because she featured one of Brody's crafts on her blog not too long ago!}

*************************************************************

Hi! I'm Amy, aka One Artsy Mama, and I'm excited to be here today to share a holiday craft with you. I've been married to my best friend and dance partner for almost 10 years now, and we have an adorable 3-year-old son I like to call my "Little Crafter."

I'm passionate about my family, ballroom and latin dance, and Jesus. I'm addicted to Starbucks. Peppermint mocha, anyone?

I love doing artsy-craftsy things of all kinds and am happiest when I'm creating something.

I especially enjoy making things with Little Crafter.

Today, I'm going to share with you a holiday project that can be done with or without a partner in crime. I made the first few as a "big girl craft," then let the little man help with one.

Hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

BEADED ORNAMENTS {or pendants or pins}

I was inspired to try these by my bloggy budy Kate over at Cheap Crafty Mama. Later this month, I'm having a birthday celebration complete with a massive ornament giveaway, which Kate is participating in. She wrote up a post about the beaded cross she's putting up for grabs and I loved it so much I wanted to try and make a few myself! I made a few crosses, including a small one I turned into a pendant, and we also tried a star. Here's how we did it:

Materials: assorted beads in various sizes, shapes and colors {this is a great way to use up spare beads!}

thin wire {24-26 gauge}

thick wire {12 gauge, I think}

needlenose pliers

wire cutters

STEP 1: Gather your beads. We used approximately 50-55 for the star and large cross.

STEP 2: Bend thick wire into your desired shape. It doesn't have to be perfect; the beads will cover it. Kate has a great pic for how to bend the wire for a cross.

STEP 3: String beads onto your thin wire. Try to vary the colors, shapes, and sizes for a fun effect. This is the part Little Crafter helped with. I just gave him the wire and a pile of beads and he went to town. He did a great job!

STEP 4: Begin wrapping beaded wire around your shape. Keep the beads on the top side.

STEP 5: Once all your beads are on, do a bit of wire wrapping over top to finish up.

STEP 6: Attach ribbon or cord to make it an ornament or wall hanging. Or, add a magnet, a pin back...whatever you like. You can make a miniature version and turn it into a pendant with a jump ring.

Here's a look at the full size cross.

This is the mini necklace version...and a size comparison. I used mostly seed beads for the pendant, while the larger ornaments had more 4-6mm beads.

It was pretty simple, and I love the fun effect of all the colors. I think the ornaments will look great on the tree when they catch the light. I'm also glad to have a good way to use up spare beads that haven't gotten used in other projects. If you try something similar, I'd love to see how yours turn out!

Special thanks and bloggy hugs to Lauren for the opportunity to share this with you today!

I would love to have you visit One Artsy Mama sometime; I typically post about all kinds of things from kids' crafts to jewelry to parenting to home decor and graphic design. I also have an ongoing {Our} Home for the Holidays party full of great seasonal inspiration that I'd be thrilled for you to visit and join.

Stop by and say hi, after all,

Have a wonderful holiday season filled with blessings, joy, and of course, crafting!

***************************************************************

Thank you, Amy, for sharing this darling ornament tutorial with us. What a great fine motor skill to practice with the kiddos!

{And, Amy, I'd be more than happy to share a Starbucks Peppermint Mocha with you!}

Be sure to check back tomorrow for {Day 5} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas series. Kelli and Kristi from Lolly Jane Boutique will be here to show off their DIY skills!

12 Crafty Days of Christmas {Day 3}: CD Envelope Cookie Holders

2011-12-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to {Day 3} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas here at Happily Mother After!

If you missed any of the previous crafts, you can catch up with the rest of us by taking a look {over here}.
Please help me welcome Keri from Pressed Down, Shaken Together. She is our first guest blogger of the series and I am just thrilled she is here to share her creativity! You guys are going to love what she is sharing with us today.******************************************************

Hi there, Happily Mother After fans and friends!! I am so excited to be a part of this fun guest posting series and I have an inexpensive but adorable way to package some of your homemade goodies for holiday gift giving!!

I guess I should take a minute and introduce myself ... I'm Keri and I blog over at pressed down, shaken together! I am a mom, wife, blogger, crafter and lover of lists, vocabulary, reality tv and exclamation points!! Each week I share a recipe for {taste this tuesday} and a craft and tutorial for {create this friday}! I am also hosting a fun {holiday sweet swap} link party all the way until December 31st and it's a great place to link up any of your holiday/seasonal sweet treats! And you can also connect with me on Facebook and Pinterest :)

And now, let's get down to business! Today I'm sharing a sweet way to say thank you to teachers, perfect party favors for a holiday get together or sweet treats for your neighbors ...

CD envelope cookie holders!

While your favorite cookies are baking, grab a few supplies:

To get started, print out my printable "have a sweet holiday" labels on white card stock. Trim them into what ever shape you like ... circle, square or scallop. I inked both the tag and the envelope (run an ink pad around the edge of the paper) to add a quick little dash of color!
Slip a piece of card stock into your envelope to add a festive touch. Now, place a cookie (or two!) into your sleeve. Punch a hole in the envelope, tag and chipboard snowflake and use bakers twine, ribbon or even jute to tie them on to close the cookie holder.

Pop them in a basket by the door, add them to a gift bag or hand them out door-t0-door to spread a little holiday cheer in your neighborhood! If you are a classroom room mother, this would be an easy project to make with your class, too! Hope you were inspired to {create this}!

Happy holidays and hope to see you again soon!
Keri**************************************Wow, Keri! What a simple but oh-so-creative way to spread some holiday cheer to those around us. Is anyone else loving the fact that literally anyone can re-create this craft in very little time?! Such a smart idea.
{And, Keri, if you couldn't tell...I love me some exclamation points too!!!}
Be sure to check back tomorrow for {Day 4} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas series. Amy from Fun to Craft will be here to show off her DIY skills!

Oh Snap!shots of the Week {9}

2011-12-02T07:30:00.001-05:00

If this is your first time linking up you can check out the details about this party here.

******************************************************

Phew! The hustle of this holiday season has already kicked up ten notches! {Am I alone here?!} But I'm loving it because what is keeping me so busy is all of the fun crafts I have been working on now that I've been inspired by so many fellow bloggers. If you haven't already heard...The 12 Crafty Days of Christmas series has already begun here at Happily Mother After. If you've missed any of the crafts, you're missing out BIG TIME so go check out what you've missed {over here} and come back daily for new inspiration.

But I digress.

Over the last two weeks, you guys submitted some beautiful photos. Since we combined two weeks into one link party, I decided to give out two awards in each category.

You guys picked these two gorgeous photos as your favorites:

Photography by Vanessa at Daily Delivered

Vanessa is a good friend of mine who is fairly new to blogging. Please go check out her blog and show her some love!

Photography by Sarah at Buckeroo Mama

But the award really belongs to her model, little Miss Zoe. :) Isn't she beautiful?!

Vanessa and Sarah {and Zoe}, this award is for you guys. :)

I picked these two {okay, really three} stunning photos as my favorites:

Photography by Tezzie at Not Always Picture Perfect

Photography by Sarah at Naptime Momtog

Tezzie and Sarah, this award is for you guys! :)

And I think these two photos deserve a special mention as well:

Photography by Marcy at Don't Be Too Timid and Squeamish
This photo deserves a feature because this required some major editing skills. You have to check out her blog to see how she did it.

Photography by LeAnne at Photos By LeAnne
Can you believe this squirrel was just hanging around, as if waiting to be photographed?!

Marcy and LeAnne, this award is for you guys! :)

*******************************************************
With all the chaos of Thanksgiving I didn't get out my camera much this past week. Sad, right?! I should have been snapping like crazy since we were around family. But, I did manage to get a fairly cute shot of Brody and his cousin Ava riding behind a John Deere that Jonathan was driving down the lane in the orange grove.

I know...not very interesting photos. They don't even excite me and it's my family! Forgive me for not stepping up to the plate this week.

What about you guys? Did you find the time to take some great photos?

12 Crafty Days of Christmas {Day 2}: Coffee Filter Snowman

2011-12-02T07:30:00.000-05:00

Welcome to {Day 2} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas here at Happily Mother After!

If you missed yesterday's craft, you can catch up with the rest of us by taking a looksie {over here}.
Today I'd like to show you my little twist on the coffee filter wreaths that you have more than likely seen {and drooled over} on several other blogs and all over Pinterest. The wreaths are simple and chic, and I have debated many times on whether or not I wanted to make one for my home. But, since I like to mix things up a bit and I have a thing for snowmen, I decided to create this little guy that I like to call "Java Jo Snow."
Coffee Filter Snowman

You will need:

Three Styrofoam balls {small, medium, and large}
One Styrofoam disc big enough to set the largest ball on top
Lollipop sticks or skewers
White coffee filters {about 400}
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Marker, pen, or pencil
Pop-poms {black and red} for the eyes, nose, mouth, and buttons
Scarf or ribbon

*I think a hat would be a nice touch too if you have one.

Here is how I made this fluffy little ball of cheer:
Step 1: Stack your Styrofoam balls on top of the Styrofoam disc, using a lollipop stick or skewer to keep each one in place.

Step 2: Stick a marker into the center of one of the coffee filters and fold down, surrounding the marker.

Step 3: Add a dab of hot glue to the top of your coffee filter and stick onto the Styrofoam, holding down for 3-5 seconds.

Step 4: Repeat steps 2-3 about 400 times until the balls are covered completely with the coffee filters. {It helps to have Christmas music playing in the background so that you don't loose your mind while repeating the same process for an hour and a half}. Tip: Begin by placing your coffee filters along the bottom perimeter of each ball. Then fill in the gaps. Trust me, I learned this the hard way.

Step 5: Tie a ribbon or scarf around your snowman's neck and add the pom-poms to create eyes, nose, mouth, and buttons.

Although this craft took awhile to complete, it really was fairly simple to assemble. This snowman measures around 2 feet tall, but you can of course make a larger or smaller one to fit your needs. I would love to see how yours turns out if you decide to re-create him!
Be sure to check back Monday morning for {Day 3} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas series. Keri from Pressed Down, Shaken Together will be here to show off her DIY skills!
*********************************************************************I'd LOVE it if you would help me spread the word by posting the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas button {found on the left sidebar} somewhere on your blog or just simply blog, tweet, or tell your facebook friends what is going on here at Happily Mother After. :)

12 Crafty Days of Christmas {Day 1}: Burlap Snowman Wreath

2011-12-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to {Day 1} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas here at Happily Mother After!

I am so excited you are here because I have been sitting on pins and needles waiting for December 1st to arrive so that we can get this series started!
I have lined up some of my favorite crafty bloggers to share their creative Christmas DIY projects and recipes so that all of you can sit back, watch the creative juices flow, and get inspired to re-create some of these jewels just in time for your holiday guests to arrive. Some are kid-friendly projects while others are projects to save for nap time, but all of them are AH-dorable!
I'm kicking off the series with today's craft:
Burlap Snowman Wreath

Pin It

For this snowman, no snow is required. You just need 3 wreaths, a couple yards of burlap {natural and black}, a few ornament hooks {or other flexible wire}, four skewers, glue {I used Gorilla but hot glue should work as well}, a scarf, a little decorative piece to dress up your new friend's hat, and a lot of time.

I picked up three wreaths from the Dollar Store {one 18" and two 15" wreaths}. I chose the Dollar Store wreaths over others I found because they were cheap and the greenery was loosely attached to a circular wire.

I removed all the greenery from each wire {it was only attached in three places so this was easy peasy}. Then, I cut {roughly} 12" x 1" strips of the natural-colored burlap and began tying each one with a knot around the wires. Repeat a gazillion times. This is the step that requires time and patience. It's an easy step but it took me about 1.5 hours because I wanted my snowman to be full/thick.

With the last wreath {one of the 15"ers}, I stopped about three-fourths of the way around and began tying the black burlap {same size strips}. After securing a few black strips, I stuck two of the skewers down through the knots {see below}, leaving most of the skewer sticking straight up out of the "head" of the snowman. This will become the snowman's top hat.

Then, with Gorilla glue, I attached two more skewers perpendicular to the previous two skewers {one across the top and one along the edge of the wire wreath}. I used chip clips to keep them in place while I continued working. Side note: I think hot glue would be a better choice than the Gorilla glue as it would dry quicker and hold just as well.

In addition to holding the skewers together with glue, I also secured each "junction" with a burlap knot.

FYI: the point of the bottom skewer is to create the effect of the rim of his top hat as you tie knots outward along the skewer. Oh, I sure hope this is making since!

From there, I just continued tying knots with the black burlap all along the skewers, just as I did the wire wreaths.

Once you have covered every inch of the skewers with the black burlap, you can use a pair of scissors to trim around the edges of the "hat" to make it more of a structured and obvious top hat rather than a burlap mess.

Lastly, attach the wreaths together, forming your snowman {with the 18" wreath on bottom} by using some flexible wire to "twist tie" them together. I used ornament hooks like these which were flexible enough to do the trick.

For some finishing touches, wrap a scarf around the snowman's "neck" and throw a little holly or other decorative detail into his top hat. Then, hang outside to enjoy for the rest of the winter season. :)

Phew! I really hope you guys followed this tutorial. That was not an easy project to explain, but it really wasn't as hard as it might seem. And I just love coming home to him hanging on my door...he makes me smile every time!
Be sure to check back tomorrow morning for {Day 2} of the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas series!
*********************************************************************I'd LOVE it if you would help me spread the word by posting the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas button {found on the left sidebar} somewhere on your blog or just simply blog, tweet, or tell your facebook friends what is going on here at Happily Mother After. :)

Kiddo Krafts {Santa and Jesus Hand Print Ornaments}

2011-11-30T23:38:00.001-05:00

Is anyone else addicted to Pinterest besides me? I just recently joined up even though I got an invitation several months ago. I waited to join because I just knew I would become obsessed and waste many hours pinning things I would never actually have the time to re-create {because I would still be pinning away!}.

So when I quit my job, I decided I would join. I could spend some time on Pinterest during nap time rather than writing patient notes. It didn't take me long to fill up several boards full of wonderful ideas. One of my boards is devoted directly to Christmas while another is devoted to crafty ideas for art time with Brody.

Today's Toddler Treasure is a "knock-off" of {this ornament} I pinned, and it encompasses both Christmas DIY's and kid-friendly crafts.

Santa Hand Print Ornament

Brody enjoyed sticking his hand into the dough {I bought this dough kit on clearance at Michaels}, and his face lit-up when he saw that his hand print had become Santa Clause {with just some paint and a Sharpie}.

Once I finished molding the hand print Santa, I realized that I had enough dough leftover to make another ornament {I wasn't about to just throw the dough away!}. I wanted to make a different type of ornament...one that reflected the real reason we celebrate Christmas. So, I came up with this idea to imprint one of Brody's fingers {index finger} into the dough and turn it into Baby Jesus lying in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Baby Jesus Finger Print Ornament

After making it, I realized how cool it is to think that Brody's finger print made the form of a Baby Jesus since we were created in the image of Christ. For this reason, I inscribed Romans 8:29 to the bottom of the ornament and wrote out the verse on the back.

²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Maybe it's a little cheesier looking than the Santa Clause, but I think it's a wonderful reminder that each of us were created in His image.

I'm partying here:

Giving Thanks {When I Don't Feel Thankful}

2011-11-29T15:49:00.000-05:00

It’s so easy to be thankful when things are going just how you imagined or hoped they would. But what about when things are going all wrong?

That’s where I am. Things are all wrong.

I thought we would be in South Africa right now. Six months ago Jonathan’s job was preparing us to travel to Sandton, South Africa. There was a client there who needed Jonathan’s skills for a five to six month contract. We were scared and anxious about going when they first approached us. We worried about our safety and the overall well-being for our innocent two year old son, Brody.

We prayed. And we asked those who were closest to us to pray about it for us. Then, one Sunday in June, as we sat in church at Northpoint and listened to a message by Gavin Adams, God began to work in our hearts. The message was part of a series entitled Amazing Stories. That particular Sunday he was talking about David and Goliath. It's such a popular story that most of us know, but the message that day was a more personal account of what David must have been thinking and feeling as he faced the giant. I couldn't do the sermon justice even if I tried, but you can find it here {part 2} if you are interested.

Jonathan and I left church that day and went out to lunch with South Africa on our minds. After a lot of conversing, we finished our meal in the agreement that if the company in South Africa still wanted us, we would agree to go.

Jonathan told his boss the following day that we were all in. I began researching the area in great detail, looking for homes to rent, noting the security of each one. I checked on the CDC's website for all the things we needed to be sure to do before we left. We were lining things up. The more we heard from his company that it was looking like a sure thing, the more we did to prepare. I went to get a passport for Brody and I. Jonathan and I went to get immunizations and a yearly check-up. We began telling more friends and family about the possibility and lining up visitors who were willing to travel across the world to see us and keep us company. Then, in August, Jonathan's job told us they were 99% sure we were going to be needed over there at the beginning of October. So, I quit my job.

I had to tell each of my little patients {I'm a pediatric physical therapist} that I would no longer be coming to visit them each week. I introduced each one them and their families to their new therapist, taking pictures and giving big hugs before I left. It was bittersweet. I hated to leave such sweet babies and kiddos who needed me, but I just knew I was headed on the right track.

Our living expenses would be covered in South Africa...and then some. We would be able to pay off over half of my hefty graduate school loan. We would be able to immerse ourselves in a culture I had always dreamed of one day visiting {thinking I would be lucky to spend a day there...much less six months}. I would be able to focus on nothing but Brody and Jonathan for half a year. Just our little family was all I was going to have to worry about for the first time in my life. That made this little momma's heart overjoyed!

October came and we still had not heard. We were sent down to Florida for another client which gave us the opportunity to spend some time with my parents {Jonathan's parents were out of town} before going to South Africa. My parents set up their home for Christmas before we got there and let Brody unwrap gifts once we arrived since they wouldn't get to spend Christmas with him this December.

With Florida and our families behind us, we traveled back to Atlanta at the end of October. That's when we heard. The deal had fallen through. We weren't going to South Africa. Ever.

What, God??

How did this happen? How was I so sure this was what you wanted for us? So sure that I quit my job?

I still don't have answers to those questions. But I do know that I am happier as a full time stay-at-home mommy....even if we are still in Atlanta and not South Africa. I always knew I wanted to stay home full-time with my little ones. I just somehow lost sight of my desires when I ended up pregnant my last year of graduate school. I felt the pressure. I had gone to school for seven years...acquired my doctorate...acquired a hefty loan to go along with the three little letters at the end of my name. How could I not work?

So I accepted that even though we weren't going to go to South Africa and come back nearly debt free, I became a SAHM because of the situation {and that was worth the six months of uncertainty}.

But I haven't been completely at peace. There has been something else going on these past six months. Amidst the uncertainty of South Africa, we have been trying for another baby. Trying but unsuccessful so far.

Please hear me out before you continue reading. In no way do I equate my six months of trying to the trials of those that have been facing infertility or difficulty becoming pregnant for many years. I am beyond close to many of those that struggle with these issues, so please understand that I know my trials are so very small in comparison. Really.

But my heart hurts nonetheless.

It was so easy to get pregnant with Brody. We weren't trying at all. In fact, we were protecting against, but God knew he was the perfect little baby for us and bypassed all we were doing to keep from having a baby at the time. {And PRAISE THE LORD He did!}

When I was pregnant with Brody, I didn't have a single friend who was pregnant nor one who already had a baby. I felt alone as a new mother. I didn't have anyone to express those new mother feelings to that could validate the way I was feeling. If you are a mother, you know the feelings I am referring to. They are difficult emotions to face alone. All I wanted was someone to connect with on that level.

So now here we are, trying for our second child, and almost every friend I am close to is pregnant or just had a baby. But, we can't seem to get pregnant as easily as we did the first time.

Why, God?

Things are all wrong.

At least that is what I thought...until this past Sunday morning. We attended my old church in my hometown where the message from Titus Greene was about giving thanks when it's not easy to find a reason to be thankful.

You can listen to the message here. {It's the message entitled "Thanksgiving" from November 27, 2011}

Because I could never reiterate the message, this may not make any sense unless you listen to the message above.

But through Titus, God taught me that His will for me is to give thanks in all circumstances, even the difficult ones.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice Always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

In learning to give thanks through the difficult circumstances in our life, God is molding us to be more like Christ.

James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

So that is where I am right now....learning to give thanks for even the seemingly bad situations. When I become discouraged that we are not in South Africa getting out of debt and when my heart feels saddened that we are not yet pregnant, I begin to give thanks. I give thanks because I trust God and what He is doing in my life right now. Even though it is hard and the thought of it is bringing me tears as I write this. I trust Him.

Thank you, God, for not allowing us to go to South Africa. Thank you for not blessing us with a child just yet. I don't know why you have withheld these things, but I trust you and I am thankful that you know the plan even when I don't.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Oh Snap!shots of the Week {8}

2011-11-25T14:34:00.001-05:00

If this is your first time linking up you can check out the details about this party here.

******************************************************

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones and that you are beginning to recover from your Turkey hangovers.

Please forgive me for starting this party so late in the day. We are out of town, and time is limited as we are trying to enjoy our weekend with Jonathan's family.

For that reason {and because I am sure many of you are doing the same}, this week I am extending the party from last week. Please link up your photos to last week's post {even if you already linked one up last week}.

This will give you the chance to visit some of the others you missed last week, so look around and share the love with your fellow bloggers!

And don't forget to vote for your favorite by clicking the "like" button under the photo. I will award the bloggers for the most liked photo, my favorite photo, and a few others I want to feature at next weeks party.

As for me, my favorite photo this week is of my Funny Guy climbing into his Daddy's suitcase. I guess he wanted to make sure he was going to Florida to see Grandma and Grandpa too!

In case you are wondering...Yes, we let him come. He fit quite nicely into his Daddy's suitcase with plenty of room to move around on the nine-hour trip down here. :)

{Disclaimer: I was only kidding. Brody did not ride in the suitcase. He was buckled safely into his car seat the whole trip. Please do not call DFACS!}

Alright, now's your time to shine this week! Link up your photo by clicking the blue link below the photos that reads "Click here to enter."

Kiddo Krafts {Turkey Hand Print Cookies}

2011-11-24T14:56:00.000-05:00

This week Brody and I, with the help of his Daddy this time, baked some Turkey Hand Print Chocolate Chip Cookies. Brody selflessly volunteered his hand for the cookies, Jonathan helped make the dough, and I frosted our masterpiece. Then we took them to Florida to share with Brody's cousin Ava. Cookies are always better when you share them with a friend!

Feel free to link up if you want to party like a toddler. Please, just grab a button to let everyone know whose crib you're partying at!

I'm also partying here...

Oh Snap!shots of the Week {7}

2011-11-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

If this is your first time linking up you can check out the details about this party here.

******************************************************

Thank you so much to my "Faithfuls." I just love that I can count on you guys each week to show up! And thank you to my newbies. I'm so glad you decided to hang out here! {I hope that you become one of my "faithfuls"} Welcome to the party :)

Last week's "most-liked" photo was a picture of Lilah, a little blond cutie in pigtails. How could you not like that sweet face?

Photography by Amanda at Lilahbility

Amanda, this badge is just for you this week!

My favorite was this stellar photo of the moon. Is anyone else drooling over Alyssa's telephoto lens?

Photography by Alyssa at AlyGatr's Everywhere

Alyssa, this badge is just for you this week!

This week I decided to feature this photo of a gorgeous golden tree. It looks like the leaves were spray painted gold. Ahhh...Fall, how I love thee!

Photography by Autumn at Stay Gold, Autumn

Autumn, this badge is just for you this week!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So now who is ready to party this week?

My favorite photo this week is of Brody {big surprise, right?!} eating his ice cream. This was a special ice cream because he earned it from his Poo-Poo Choo-Choo chart. Which, by the way, is really irrelevant now as he is a regular business man. We really are just doing it more for fun now. He is no longer scared of meetings and attends them two to three times a day like a champ! {go back and read the post if you're lost}.

I also must include this "after" shot of his rainbow nose and milk 'stache. I love that nose!

So what are you waiting for? Link up!

Please don't forget to "like" at least one other photo. Please!

Kiddo Krafts {Thankful Turkey}

2011-11-17T17:33:00.001-05:00

Even though we have been stuck in a hotel all week, we managed to get a little creative today. Brody made a "Thankful Turkey" using one foot, both hands, some paint, googley eyes, and a thankful heart.

We talked about what it means to be thankful and I gave him examples of what I am thankful for. He acted like he understood until I asked him what he was thankful for. He just looked at me. {He's only 2--I wasn't surprised} So I asked, "Are you thankful for{fill in the blank}?" And that is how we decided upon his Thankful Turkey's feathers.

In my experience it is never to early to begin explaining the hard stuff. You never know when the light bulb will go off.

He may not understand what it means to be thankful just yet, but at least he knows what a turkey says now. :)

{Gobble Gobble Gobble!}

Yes, his big toe is the turkey's Wattle {and yes, I had to google what that red thing was called}

I'm loving this Toddler Treasures Thursday! I will have many great masterpieces to look back on when Brody is older. That's pretty exciting to a sentimental Momma like me. :)

Feel free to link up if you want to party like a toddler. Please, just grab a button to let everyone know whose crib you're partying at!

I'm also partying here...

Time Travel to Huntsville {plus winner revealed}

2011-11-15T15:11:00.001-05:00

We're in Huntsville, Alabama, {my birthplace} this week. Jonathan is working with a client over here while Brody and I enjoy a change in scenery.

Though I was born here, my dad's job relocated us to Florida when I was around 18 months old. We never came back to visit when I was a child, so I am not familiar with the city whatsoever.

The first time I came back to Huntsville, I came with Jonathan on a business trip because I wanted to see where I was from. We were talking just last night and trying to remember when exactly we were last here. We tried to remember Brody tagging along with us {thinking his age would give it away}, but we quickly realized he wasn't with us. We knew I was pregnant either {as I can remember doing cartwheels in front of my parents' old house one day}.

So, I went searching through over 18,000 pictures on my computer to find the pictures we took when we were last here. Turns out we were here in April 2008, over three year ago. Time flies!

I was joking with Jonathan about the value of blogging; and how, if I had been blogging back then, we could have quickly looked up when we were last here and read about all that we had done. Since I didn't, we can't.

However, I can provide a flashback with two pictures we took last time {so at least we will have this reference point next time we are here}.

The hospital I was born in.

The first house I lived in. {I was doing a cartwheel because it symbolized where I would have grown up playing if we had never moved}

**************************************************

Thanks for following me down memory lane.

Now it's time to reveal our winner from last week's giveaway. The winner was randomly chosen using www.random.org.

And the winner of the $15 shop credit to Purple Possom is....

{insert drum roll here}

Lucky number 18...Mommy F (Chenoa) from F is for Family!

Congratulations, Chenoa! I think the perfect winner was chosen this time as we celebrate preemies this month. {I promise I did not rig it this way} Chenoa is a brand new Mommy to a sweet little miracle named Sophia. Go check out her blog and their amazing story!

And I want to say a very special THANK YOU to Emily from Purple Possom for sponsoring this giveaway! So many of you expressed how excited you were about the chance to win onesie stickers. I'm sure Emily would love to hear all about how much you love her stuff to, so please take a moment to stop by her shop and let her know you came from Happily Mother After!

I'm headed there soon to purchase some gifts and maybe something for myself!

Oh Snap!shots of the Week {6}

2011-11-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

If this is your first time linking up you can check out the details about this party here.

******************************************

Forgive me for being short on words this week. Blogger ate my first draft {right before I went to publish it...UGH!} so I'm writing this post for the second time. Blogger how I loathe {and love} thee!

Let's get right to it.

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who participated in last week's party. We had a great turn out and I was impressed by so many of your photos! I feel honored to have some amazing photographers partying here at Happily Mother After. :)

Last week's "most liked" photo award actually goes to two bloggers this week.

Photography by Sarah at Naptime Momtog

Photography by Lisa at The Enlightened Bug

Great photos {and costumes!}, Sarah and Lisa. Please grab this badge for your blogs!

Lastly, I couldn't resist featuring the other costumes in last week's party.

Dinosaur by Guillian at Building Bumps {Can you believe she made this?!? Impressive!}
Batman and Robin by Helene at I'm Living Proof God Has a Sense of Humor
Pumpkin by Amanda at Lilahbility
Sam I Am by Sarah at Better Together
Scooby Doo byJessica at Dramaticmama

Great costumes, you guys! Please grab this badge for your blogs.

**********************************************************

Now on to this week's party!

I'm cheating. We just got back from Florida; so with all the unpacking and cleaning, my camera has acquired a bit of dust this week.

Therefore, my pictures this week are actually from our trip to Florida and were taken two weeks ago. {Gasp, I know. Please forgive me}

Love him.

The sunset was gorgeous. And this little ham thought he was posing for GQ!

The Lifeguard on Duty

There's nothing like playing in dirt for little boys.

Now show me what ya got!

Please, don't forget to visit the other blogs around you and let 'em know you came for a looksie.

{And "like" your favorites}

Kiddo Krafts {Pilgrim Hand Prints}

2011-11-10T16:53:00.001-05:00

Brody is all boy.

Cars. Trains. Trucks. Planes. If it has wheels, he wants to play with it. Everything else to him is just so-so.

In order to {attempt to} expand his horizons, I've been trying to come up with fun crafts for us to do together.

But, this isn't always easy for a clean-freak momma. The potential mess involved can be daunting at times.

So, I'm keeping myself accountable by sharing our creations each week.

And I hope that along the way you find some inspiration.

Today we had a lot of fun turning Brody's handprints into Pilgrims sailing on the Mayflower.

If you and your child want to join in the fun with me I'm leaving it open for you to link-up your crafts {or your version of my craft if you'd rather not come up with your own}. I'd love for you participate, but either way I am sharing our artwork each week to hold myself accountable to being a better mother. :)

Also partying with...