posh boutique found!!

oh, girls! for everything super fun and cute for your baby girl, you need not look any further than little old ashland! hidden away in the middle of downtown, is a shop called "backdoor primitives". i discovered them at the craft show here in wooster and grabbed up their card when i saw their awesome tutu's, tutu leggings, birthday shirts, homemade infant shoes and boutique hair bows. and... here's the kicker.... at REASONABLE PRICES!! if you'd like a little taste of what the shop is like, go here. what am i loving? tutu's for 12 bucks, the hats pictured online, and the sweet little crocheted headbands. if you'd like to find them online, visit www.backdoorprimitivesohio.com , you will be instantly in love!!

babylegs at 25% off.

babylegs sent me a note this morning: We are excited to announce that BabyLegs is the WINNER of the 2011 Cribsie Award in Fashion for "Cutest Socks to Build an Outfit Around"! It's an incredible honor for us to win such a coveted award and we owe it all to you, our fans, for casting your votes for BabyLegs. Thousands of you took the the time to vote for us, and we would like to thank you for your suport by offering you 25% off site-wide! Use the code CRIBSIEWINNER for 25% off our socks, legwarmers and tights at www.BabyLegs.com between March 28th and April 1st.

congrats, babylegs!! and thanks for treating your customers to a special surprise! looks like we might be getting some "layer cake", and soon!! :)

sydney sale!

it's almost spring, and sydneysosweet.com is clearing out bins of clippies and bows and hats and other assorted goodies to make room for new items. you can check out the spring cleaning clearance sale here. any purchase over 25 dollars (and seriously, can you keep it under 25?!) ships for FREE and if you use the code FBF10, you get 10 percent off your order. it just might be time to stock up on felt flower clippies in school colors, or get headbands and korkers and boutique bows for fantastic prices! don't know about you, but can't wait to see what the new spring/summer merchandise looks like! i saw something about sequin headbands... too fun!!

Craft show.

If you have the opportunity to go today, check out the craft show at the Greenbriar Conference Center. It is, in a word, FANTASTIC!! There are three gigantic rooms and additional hallways of vendors. If you're a mom looking for boutique bows, tutus, and hats, this is your lucky day. Need something springy to perk up the housse after the long winter? Want a gift for the hard to buy for guy in your life? Hurry there!

st. patty's sale.

ahh... my favorite part of the holidays has arrived: the clearance sale on unsold holiday items! today at pat catan's, all st. patty's stuff was 50% off. i got a shamrock shaped muffin tin (oh, yeah, i am soooo trying the muffin tin concept from below!) for 4 bucks, some "tutu hairbows" in white and green with shamrocks on the ends for 60 cents, and some other little odds and ends super cheap. if you want to "get lucky" and "save some green"... head out to your nearest craft store.

jo-ann had their st. patty's stuff for 70% off. if you remember where you put it a year from now, you could get lucky and score some majorly lucky loot! :)

...oh, i can hardly wait till the pretty pastel easter stuff is marked down!! :)

muffin tin mom.

here's a little more in depth look at the whole muffin tin concept. the muffin tin mom has it going on!! :)

muffin tin mondays.

here's a great idea for getting kids to eat a variety of foods, instead of saltine crackers all day (what? who does that?). i love the idea of having a few small portions so that it doesn't seem as overwhelming to kids, and i love all the little muffin cups in different shapes. what a fabulous idea!

thanks, little wonders days!


and just as an aside, you might wanna get a jump on a summer bucket list from the same site. fun ideas!!

busy bags!

a ha! here is an idea that i came across a while ago in blog land, and could never re-find once i left it. however, it really left an impression on me and i have never forgotten the concept behind it.

busy bags are bags filled with quiet (or not so quiet) activities that kids can do when they are on the go. they can be car games, or games for when you are waiting, or activities for when you just need the kids to concentrate on something else other than running around for a little bit (like maybe in church?).

you can check out the posts here on this page and find linked up pages (that's other reader submitted ideas) here.

i am so psyched to have found this resource, as the car toys that i have for the kids are getting to be old. (cue the whining and crying from the general direction of the backseat only halfway down our street..)

many thanks to my delicious ambiguity for sharing!

lucky day!

today at sydney so sweet, through sunday at midnight, you can save 15% site wide by entering the code PATTY15 at checkout. All orders over 25 dollars ship free, as well!

this is the perfect time to stock up on all the easter hair clippies you may need, or want for easter baskets. since her store is out of wadsworth, shipping is lightning fast.

happy clippie shopping!

give and get at gap brand.

go here for access to the 30% coupon to all gap brand stores. that's banana republic, gap, and old navy, as well as the outlets of gap and banana. the coupon is good today through the 20th.

Homemade angry birds.

Getting our ipad for christmas means that we inevitably joined the angry birds craze. That is why i adore these homemade angry birds. So stinkin' cute!

Check out all the great ideas at make and takes!

more play space inspiration.

i was searching for some more ideas for things i want our play room to have, and thought that i'd share my findings here in one post.

green and red playroom here, on design dazzle

chalkboard crazy on mad boastings of a cheapskate mom

plethora of ideas on tip junkie

i miss this magazine... frog room and living room to playroom by wonder time

sophisticated on centsational girl

stay all day and peruse the ideas at a perfect playroom

Party ideas.

This post will be dedicated to great kids parties i come across in blog land. Keep checking back, i will keep adding to it.

Mad scientist party.

Farmyard party.

Waiting games.

Here is a post about what kids can do while waiting. I also really like the idea of keeping some of these games and activities on hand in the car. You can buy a plain bag really cheap (like a dollar) at the local craft store, and keep some of these activities inside it, that way you always have them when the need arises. I bought a few bags at pat catan's that i want to decorate with the kids... One for the car, one for restaurants, one for library books, etc. If the kids decorate the bags, i am thinking that they'd be excited to cart them around and use them.

If you haven't yet, check out the rest of the picklebums site. The link is on the top right side of this page.

Sprinkles!

I know, a few too many posts about cakes and cookies today (i am trapped in my house on this rainy day with two sick kids and am sick myself, after all), but this one has nothing to do with those sweet confections. This is about siblings for your first child... You know, the one that got the baby shower? Well, this idea is along the same lines as a baby shower, but on a smaller scale, hence the "sprinkle". It is a party geared toward your second or subsequent kid! Just search "sprinkle baby shower" online for some great ideas on how to make mama and baby feel special on that next go-round!


Here are some super cute ideas! Thanks, hostess with the mostess! Check out the site here.

Breastfeeding center.

I just found this great resource for breastfeeding moms and babies. It is located in massillon, which really isn't that far away, considering the great stuff that this place has. If you need help breastfeeding, or are looking for things to make breastfeeding easier, this could be your place!

Cookie pops!

I am really hungry for cookies right now, evidently. And things on lollipop sticks. This post seems like the solution to my problem. What could be better than cream cheese, cookie crumbs, and chocolate coated goodness? Not much, baby. Not much.

Starbucks petites.

Have you checked out the new starbucks petite treats? I stopped in yesterday and got a tiramisu cake pop... Hello, yumminess! Now you can try out their petites for free during their tribute days. Stop in between 2-5pm on March 10-12, and get a petite treat for each handcrafted beverage you purchase. You can choose from cake pops, mini-cupcakes, whoopie pies and a few other things.

While you are there, you might want to grab a gift card and register it for rewards. For each purchase you make, you get closer to reward status, which includes free syrup additions, free soy milk, free birthday drinks and other assorted rewards. Ask the baristas about the program, and then keep reloading your gift card after making purchases. Really good reward program for people who frequent the 'buck a lot. :)

heartland point.

so last month, i posted about the crochet class that i took. i took it with a friend, and she has completed her class hat, another hat and is working diligently on a beautiful blanket. crochet is just one of many interests you can explore deeper at heartland point.

here is the class schedule. you may want to note the button necklaces class taught by one of our very own moms, karrie mcallister. you may also be interested in the "fur, feathers and scales" class, or the kite making class for kids. moms can take some time for themselves and attend the spring brunch class, or easter flower arranging class.

heartland point is such a gem... so unique and an asset to the community. it's my hope that we will help support it. if classes don't interest you, then surely the sandwiches in the cafe will. and if not the sandwiches, then surely the buckeyes will. oh my gosh, the buckeyes are heavenly! (grab one before a class!!) :)

the wilderness center.

Growing Up Wild: Exploring Nature with Young Children at The Wilderness Center
Sat., Apr. 23, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Both formal and non-formal educators are encouraged to join Jamey Graham from the Ohio Division of Wildlife for Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children, Project WILD’s early childhood education curriculum. Like traditional Project WILD, the curriculum builds on the learning styles and interests of young children (ages 3 to 7) to foster an interest and appreciation of wildlife and the natural world around them. A variety of activities build positive impressions of nature while aiding children’s cognitive growth and development. This workshop is designed for anyone who works with young children and wants to teach youngsters about wildlife conservation using fun activities. Lunch is not provided–bring a sack lunch. Free, but registration required by Apr. 15. Min. 10; max. 30. Age 16 and up.


Check out the upcoming calendar of events here.

Learn more about The Wilderness Center here.

Thanks, Karrie!

toddler sewing basket.

i thought that this was such a clever, fantastic idea, and i will be copying it super-soon for my kids to work on their fine motor skills. a toddler sewing basket! and the update! if you haven't taken a little bit of time to peruse this site, you need to. full of fabulous ideas!!

crayons.

have about a million crayons saved up from various restaurants and don't know what to do with them? here you go. (and rainbows, no doubt!)

play space!

after being here in this house for almost a year, and not having done anything special to the playspace down stairs, i wanted to declare that this post has inspired me to get moving on it. i have visions of how i want the space to look, what i want it to be like, and this site has inspirational ideas to that end! check it out!!

gingerbread playdough.

here's a recipe i found for gingerbread playdough. makes me want gingerbread cookies, stat!!

hello, cuteness!

a petti-tutu?! super adorable, and added to my mental to-craft list. :)

salt painting.

my son did this at school, and brought home the most gorgeous picture. i think that i want to give salt painting a try!

going barrette crazy!!

i know that i have a post a little lower on here about the barrette's that i/we wore in the 80's... the ones braided with the pretty long ribbon tails. i just found a "twist" (ha! love me some puns!) on that same barrette, which also feeds into my current love for all things floral! check it out here!

thanks, prudent baby!

one last one for the day: art supplies for kids.

the lovely lady behind the blog pink and green mama put together a few posts about age-appropriate art supplies for kids. a pretty good read, i must say. here are the links:

art supplies for toddlers

art supplies for pre-schoolers

art supplies for school-age children

time to create!! (and eat some gummy candies...)

felt food, a craze sweeping the nation!

i have to admit that i am in love with this felt food. totally-super fun, and reminds me of the creative little set of clay foods that i created in fourth grade. the sky is the limit for creative felt foods. and they fetch top dollar in stores like pottery barn kids. if anyone wants to make any of these felt foods for me...ahem, i mean the kids, we will totally accept them. and i will make you some sweet, cute-as-a-button felt flower headbands or brooches in return. for reals.

glimmer paints.

here's a fun craft to do with the kids: glimmer paints. seems easy enough... i think that we may give this a go soon! :)

thanks to family fun magazine!

spring at the square!

Thought that I would help get the word out in the community. If you'd like to attend the dinner (details below), please send an email to wearemomsgroup@gmail.com and indicate how many tickets you'd like to purchase. There are 200 seats available for dinner (which are anticipated to sell quickly!), and also carry out is an option. Please consider helping JSC help women in our community.




As we wait expectantly for spring to arrive, the ladies of Junior Service Club are once again busy planning our largest fundraiser of the year. However, we are making some big changes to what was formerly “Spring Fling,” including a new name, format, and location.

This year's event is called Spring at the Square and will be held on Thursday, April 14, 2011. The City Square Steakhouse is graciously hosting our dinner and will dedicate that evening to our event alone. Rather than a ladies’ only event this year, men are now also welcome.

What hasn’t changed, however, is that the goal of the evening is to raise money for scholarships. These scholarships are then granted to area women who have had their college education interrupted or delayed (non-traditional students).

Last year alone, Junior Service Club awarded $6,500 to 5 deserving women from Wooster and the surrounding area. An additional $6,500 was granted to local charitable organizations, fulfilling requests for tangible programming needs.
Junior Service Club is once again turning to area business people and leaders such as you to help make this year's dinner the most successful yet. Whether it is an item from your business or a monetary donation, no donation is too large or too small. Every donation will be recognized in writing at the dinner.

Your donation is truly appreciated and will be put to great use. Successful applicants for scholarships will receive money as early as this summer (based on need). As always with Junior Service Club funds, 100% of proceeds are disbursed at the conclusion of our service year.

Monetary donations should be written to “Junior Service Club” and mailed to the address below (send an email, and contact info will be sent to you). Receipts for tax purposes will be issued upon request for all donations. Please consider donating to this worthwhile cause.

If you are interested in purchasing tickets to Spring at the Square, please contact Jen at the wearemomsgroup@gmail.com address. Tickets are $40 each which includes an appetizer, entrée, dessert, soft drinks, tax, and gratuity. You may select the time of your choice to dine between 5:00 and 9:00 pm. Carry out dinners are also available. We would love to have you join us!

Thank you for your support.

say no to auto!

kristen duke is a photographer that has been featured on the idea room blog for the past several months. she put together an e-book called "say no to auto!" which gives helpful hints about how to use your digital camera in manual mode. i thought that since we have a few camera enthusiast mommies, you might be interested in the book. i know that i am, and it's on my birthday wishlist. you can find it here, along the right side.

making whoopie.

some of my best memories from when i was a kid revolve around the food that my mom used to make. one of our very rare and very delicious treats was whoopie pies. i can still hear the plastic wrap rustle off of one, as we tried to keep all the crumbs contained while eating. heck yeah, you save the crumbs! you eat every last morsel!!

here is a post about whoopie pies... the classic version and then some modern updates thrown in the mix like salted caramel filling, or ideas for rolling the edges. yum!! if i come across anymore fab recipes, i'll post them here!

(thanks, mom, for the delicious and fabulous childhood memories. i can still see my six year old self peering anxiously into the oven with the light on, thinking that they'd never be done. waiting for them to cool so that we could frost them and sandwich them together seemed to take an eternity!! but gosh, was it worth the wait...)


here are some other noteworthy whoopies...

holy whoopie pies!! check out the spicy pumpkin ones!!

whoopie, it's heaven!!!

hello, rainbows!

ahh... i have been craving little projects to do for st. patty's day that involve rainbows. here is one that i just may have to try. rainbow cupcakes!


and i'm not sure where i saw it, but i saw some gray and white striped knee high socks cut off at the ankle to make leg warmers, and a little shamrock patch attached at the top! so cute! jo-ann has some st. patty's themed knee highs right now that have green shamrocks and RAINBOW shamrocks, and you better believe that i am sooooo doing this! i'll post the link to the post when i re-find it in cyberspace again... (wouldn't those leg warmers look super cute with a green tutu and a green crochet headband with a RAINBOW bow attached?? no one will be pinching my baby girl this year for lack of green...)

or how about rainbow pancakes? a rainbow party? a rainbow cake? rainbow lollipop cookies?!? want some other st.patty's day inspiration?
(i lovelovelove the idea room!)

Try rainbow bracelets here.
oh, i can feel the spring excitement building! i just need to find that pot o' gold.... a ha!!

more kids in the kitchen posts.

i previously posted about how great this mini-series was, but forgot to follow up on it. i restumbled upon it just now, after giving our little site a spring face lift. if i were you, i'd do the computer clicking equivalent of "run, don't walk" over to the page and check out all the posts. they are fantastic!!

and if you have extra computer time, check out the rest of the blog. i bet that you get bitten by the crafty-mom bug, too!! thanks to make it and love it and our best bites, for the great series! i think that the next hot dog we have in this house will be cut into an octopus shape...

pop-up pancakes.

trying to beat the breakfast rut that we seem to be in (another toaster waffle, anyone?), i tried the pop-up pancakes featured on one of my fave kids blogs, make and takes. they were really good, and did pop up and deflate, just like it said they would. if you want to try them out, too, just for something different (and easy), go here for the recipe. they would adapt very easily for a group, as i got 20 pancakes from the recipe given.

next up on my list of breakfast items to try from that same site is semi-homemade donuts. um, hello? total yum!

family fun, craft edition.

yes, it's that time again! head out to your local superstore and pick up the latest special edition of family fun magazine, this time devoted to kids crafts. it is on newsstands starting today! want to see what it looks like? go here. i have the dinnertime, christmas and halloween special editions and love them all! i'm sure that this one will be no exception!

kid concoctions... part 2.

i posted about kid concoctions before, but thought that my new find was worth mentioning.

so, ever since i quit facebook, i've been spurred to try to create things. when that feeling arises, there really is no place else to go than pat catan's and jo-ann in this town, especially if i need the feeling satiated soon. wandering around pat catan's, i found a line that they carry called "kid concoctions". i bought the video for less than 2 bucks, the cookbook on clearance for a dollar, and then found a 10th anniversary set made by them for the bargain price of 5 bucks! it includes things like paint brushes, paint sponges, color/dye, gooey glue, glow in the dark liquid to add to the concoctions like slime or silly putty, a bowl, four spoons, and a pop-up wire/mesh container, and a book that is four of their books in one volume. the price tag says that it's worth 79.99, but retails for 5 dollars! of course i snatched one up for us, one for my nephews, and one for a birthday gift! if you'd like to get one for yourself... ahem, i mean your kids... they are along the far right wall of the store in brown cardboard boxes. they have one on display above the boxes so you know what you're looking for.

Spring cleaning, recipe edition.

Want some great inspiration for wrangling in all thoses recipes that collect over time from various places? Check out this post.