Flea Market Friends and Finds!

A couple weeks ago I met my sweet friend Holly

from Heart Break Kids

at the Kane County Flea Market.  

{me, Holly}
Melting in the sweltering heat, a true test of friendship and
the love of "junk".

It had been awhile since I had gone, 

and it is an amazing flea market!!

The plus I got to spend time with a friend I cherish!

I will {briefly} tell you how I met Holly.  

It was one of those things where we kept bumping into

each other in unlikely places.

Once we only ran into each other because

Holly had forgotten her wallet

and come back into the store

E and I just walked into..weird 

{in a good way}.

Just those moments you know God is helping along.

I found out she was a triplet, and was so relieved!

She was so "normal", wonderful really and

she came from a set of multiples.

I could do this! Quads no problem!

As she says, we do grow up!

She has been an encouragement to me ever since,

even to start blogging again.

{I hope I am to her too!}

OK, you all know I am so not concise.

My mission was to find a few 

things for the boys 2nd birthday.

Of course I came across quite a few more treasures

like these...

{never any shortage of inspiration}

I just love them, funky and cool, the cushions are heavenly!

These tables are all-the-rage-lately and I understand why.
I was eyeing the metal organizing bins, what I could do with those!

Even an area with some sweet vignettes...

{whose sexy legs are those?}
mom legs {grin}

{sorry to these two women, you are now immortalized in my blog!}
everything in this little shop was gorgeous!

Holly's DIY project potential

Can't forget the alma-mater
{Go Purdue!}

So, here are my {big} purchases!

The little red wagon was only 10 bucks, 

we said "yes" and ran!

The rain has cleared up here...

hope this Saturday is gorgeous for you!

{michelle}

Thank you for showing up.

Happy Friday!!

I want to say thank you to all of our followers.

Lately in blogland there has been this

I-don't-care-how-many-followers-I-have-trend

and I don't buy it. 

I would ask those same people

if you went online tomorrow to see your

blog had ZERO followers, what would you do?

Honestly?

I think we've heard of this before...

throughout elementary school, highschool, college, and now.

I am always skeptical when someone starts off

with I don't care but...

I am just not one to pretend.

I am not in any way trying to take away

the fact the people blog for many different reasons.

Nor am I saying that the main reason people

blog is for followers.

I don't believe that.

I simply believe it matters.

I do this for me, my boys, and to share this journey. 

If it makes one person realize their child can overcome,

that having boys is really fun,

that being a mom is exhausting but so amazing,

that it's not that you messed up but what you're going to do about it,

then it is even more worth it.  

If that happens at all, which I am truly humbled by,

it's not anything about me anyway,

that's all Him.  

So  thank you for showing up and 

keeping tabs on us.

I may not blog because you are reading, 

but it's nice you care about what we're up to!!

via

I always said early on when my boys came home

and we had some really special people here helping us,

wanting to be in their lives {and still 2 years later in their lives},

that is so amazing to me.

They don't have to care, but they do.

It's the same way I feel about our followers!!

So, thank you for showing up,

I promise we'll keep it fun and we'll keep it real!

Have a wonder*filled weekend!

{michelle}

Calling all Wild Kratts Fans! Creature Power Suit Tutorial!

Chances are if you have a child

{no more criteria needed}

you've heard of the Kratt Brothers,

they were behind Zooboomafoo and now

Ethan's favorite show on PBS Kids...

E is the Kratt Brothers biggest fan.

This is self-proclaimed, in a letter he wrote

awhile back.  I didn't correct his spelling.

Love it and his way..if he believes it, well then it's true.

My favorite part, 

I love nature and animals like you! 

When I grow up I would help animals. 

Sounds great to me!

Since he's their biggest fan and all,

it was our job to make sure when

they came to Chicago he got to see them.  

They didn't do a meet n' greet, 

so I'd say we did pretty darn good

stalking...err...waiting on those elusive Kratt Bros.

 

Before going E wanted me to make him a creature power suit.

Ladies and Gents, my oldest child has major expectations of me.

{a reenactment}

Guess what I got you a surprise!

What we're going to DisneyWorld?!  NASA named a new planet after me?! 

Hmmm...

Well then the black and white cookies I brought home

from your favorite place may not measure up next to those

imaginative {and crazy!} ideas! 

He is a super grateful kid don't get me wrong,

just super talented himself.

I  look at it that he believes I will deliver.  

Me, the mom who only learned to sew

because I wanted to make my hero a cape,

so you can definitely do this!  

So here goes, it may not seem big,

but I know anyone whose kid enjoys this show,

will love this....CREATURE POWER!

Supplies:

fabric, I purchased 1 yard green, 1 yard black 

shiny jersey stretchy fabric in the dance section 

of our fabric store, it has an awesome "official looking" sheen to it. 

E wanted a two-toned suit instead of all black. 

I will be making a coordinating blue one for when a friend comes to play.  

coordinating thread

felt, black, any other colors for badges you'd like to make

scissors, pinking shears

velcro strips {sew on style}

an old t-shirt the exact size you want to make

fabric marker or pen

First take the t-shirt and trace it onto the fabric,

if the t-shirt has arms fold them forward, you'll want this to 

be sleeveless. 

cut out the traced area from the black fabric, 

then trace onto green and cut out again

Pin both the front and back fabrics up 1/2" at the 

bottom onto wrong side of fabric to create a hem and prevent fraying

Stitch the hem at the bottom of both fabrics.

Next cut 3 strips of velcro, 

I'd say these are about 1.5-2"

Separate the rough side from the fuzzy side.

Sew the rough side onto the front 

of your green fabric (or front side fabric).

Cut one large black circle 

{I used the lid to an oats can for a template}

and three small black circles

{these were by hand}.

Put the large black circle over the velcro

so you have its placement.

Then sew on the three smaller black circles 

to finish the pawprint.

The large black circle will be the part

to remove and place on all the new, fun badges you 

{painstakingly make}.  

Then pin together the right sides of both fabrics,

go slow because this material slips and gathers. 

Sew along the edge, remembering

not to sew the arm or neck holes

{obvious I know but maybe not if you do your projects at the hours I do}

Turn inside out and your lil' Kratt is ready for fun!

Badges

First to see the badges up close,

you'll have to let your kid wonder play

the Wild Kratts Game

{doubt you'll hear any objection to that one!}

While they are earning their favorite badges,

you can cut out the felt circles 

{using the badge colors}.

Here I cut the yellow the same size as the black 

from the paw .

the cut the green slightly smaller {eyeballed it}.

Found a spool of ribbon and used it

to cut out the white circuit like part {just winged it}.

Then another circle over that cut the same size as the white.

{got that? 4 layers}.

Glue all together using Tacky Glue. 

By then biggestwildkrattsfanever had earned his badge!

I then {not officially recommended}

blew it up, printed it and outlined

the cheetah his fave. 

Glued it onto the felt and 

voila ready to go!

You can of course make as many badges

as your sweet little fingers can produce!

As I always ask and do myself, please source this post, my blog, etc.

if you use this tutorial and write your own piece. 

{much appreciated}.

Seriously, who doesn't love making their kid's day?!

Sharing this week at these fantastic linky parties!!

Our {Wonderfilled} Week 3

Phew! These past few days we have been going at warp speed
trying to soak up as much of what is left of summer
before school starts next week.

For this wonder*filled week, I am especially grateful for the time
we have spent making these memories together
with friends and our little family of seven.
Getting out together is our priority right now,
it takes much planning and effort
physically, financially, but every time
we do something
our bond grows even more.
Not that we can't do the same
hanging out at home,
but there is something so special
about watching 5 of your boys excited, thrilled,
and happy all in the same moment.

From fire safety days to a water park party,
 to a spontaneous Friday night swim,
to the PBS Kids Chicago Fun n' Run,
to a few hours out with my main guy
to celebrate a friend,
to watching dreams come true...
Beckham and Griffin "driving" fire trucks
and Ethan seeing the Kratt Brothers up-close.
I am thankful for so many treasures this week!

We also filmed a spot for WTTW 11,
Matt and E talked while I stared into the camera.
The boys did great, I took the directions a little too literal,
look into the lens and smile,
apparently I thought that meant don't breathe or blink.
Lucky I didn't pass out!
Obviously not a big fan of the spotlight,
but I am sure my boys were adorable, so who cares!
Just if you see it, don't mention my zombie camera face
if you still want to be friends ok?!

{in pictures this time}

Linking up to the woman who has 

inspired the gratitude movement...

Well I may be slowing down a little this week 

to grab those moments with E before school begins,

I will be posting about all things Wild Kratts...

if you have kids between 3-8 years of age,

you of course know them!!

Including a tutorial for your very own creature power suit!

I have a super cool giveaway coming up soon too

that I can't wait to share!  

Wishing you all the best end-of-summer memories!! 

{michelle}

Our Playroom and New Project

I thought I would share the little boys' playroom

with you just because I love it so and it has a special story.

Originally, it was a very DIY project that Matt and I took on

to surprise E on Christmas.  

He was 18-months old, we had moved in a few months

earlier and I had been working on a playroom design.

We have yet to finish our Master Bedroom,
but playroom is priority!

He loved it, his friends that came over loved it.

We were a little sad he was outgrowing it

and there would be 

no other little ones to 

create, grow, learn, and laugh in that space.

Little did we know...

So now it gets so much use. 

While we'd love to move it into the basement, 

because we seriously clean it up

{thank God for Matt}

every night and I pick-up a few times throughout the day.

The space is part of a great room that connects to the kitchen/dining area.  

It is really wonderful.

I have no doubt my boys have grown so much 

because of all of our time spent in there.

My philosophy is that we don't have to be slobs, 

even with 5 boys, 

but who cares if people see toys,

I have kids living here.
{why does that sound like I'm trying to rap? I promise I'm not!}

Someday I know I will wish

for the days of tripping over trucks and trains.

{It's good to remind myself of that!}

I'll apologize for the weird photo lighting now.

I took these pics tonight, and that room gets so much natural light

but not at the hour I took the pics {grin}.

Here she is...

yep the playroom is a girl, 

same as pretty much every

inanimate object and space in this home {ha!}

{sign: No Girls Allowed by Order of Management, how long do you think that'll last?!}

Projects: Chalkboard, Dry-Erase boards, mounted and framed.
Felt board created and framed.

Still love the lighting fixture, Pottery Barn Kids,
the colors, green, orange and navy blue,
{yes there are fancier names on the paint cans downstairs}.

My absolute favorite fixtures are the bookshelves from Target.

There are times that call for 4 of everything...
ball poppers, Radio Flyer Scoot n' Zoom, Green Toys dump trucks
{it's called keeping the peace!}

The other would be the NILO train table,
these boys love trains!

My favorite thing in the room is the artwork from
my boys {sweet}.
E's hangs on a pulley and cord, easy to change out
with all the new stuff he creates.
The boys first finger paintings are framed.

I am big into researching new toys
so this room is filled with favorites!

Loving the new book sling project I created in
about 30 minutes tonight.
The boys love when we add/change things in the playroom.
While it holds only a fraction of our books,
they are so easy to get to and to change out.

I used some really fun fabric,
and as always if I didn't create the tutorial I source it...
Step-by-Step fabulous instructions.
Book Sling Tutorial

Teaching ABCs?
This wall is awesome.
I am starting it up with the little guys,
reincarnated from big bro.
Pictures from our daily life
in magnetic photo frames by letter {foam stickers},
attached to magnetic strips from The Container Store.
{fun and easy!}.
E loved being out and finding things to put on
our letter wall.
Can't wait to fill it up with
more pictures of great finds by the little guys.

Our boys love pretend play and can be found
wearing hats from daybreak to sunset.
So I keep a variety out on these hooks,
along with their smocks, aprons, etc.

Here's silly man Griffin sporting the smock-pirate combo
{which somehow looks more like a bull fighter now? hmm...}
while E was running "day camp" {his quote}.

Finally, our favorite playroom resident...
Bubbles 3.0

Next time I'll show you Ethan's playroom!
Yes, his very own
{until we separate the 4 lil' bros into 2 rooms}
and it's super fun!

Now get your PLAY on!
Happy Friday!

{michelle}

This week I will be linking up the playroom and my ABC wall to
these lovely parties!!

Linking to.