Monday Mission: Plan an Easter Egg Hunt

in FIVE days! :)

Busy Bee and I were talking about what fun it would be to host an Easter Egg Hunt with her friends in the neighborhood and I heard myself saying, "Maybe next year..." because I was thinking that it was getting too late to send invites. Then I asked hubby his opinion and he was game. Then I checked the weather. High 70s with tons of sunshine! It has *snowed* on Easter before - so I figured that we might as well as take advantage of the weather and go for it!

I'm a party planning girl by nature. As in, I start to plan next year's birthday party the day after this year's party. I pore over the design of the invites and collect ideas and goodies for months. Scour blogs for inspiration. I run through the set up and decor in my mind like it's a military exercise. I have trouble falling asleep the night before because I'm so excited. It's crazy!

But, because of the timing - the Easter Egg Hunt has to be more on the impromptu and simple side. (As simple as 250 filled eggs can be, right?)

I don't *do* simple! But I'm gonna try...

Today Busy Bee and I delivered these adorable (if I do say so myself, LOL!) invites to the guests along with an egg filled with chocolate treats. And before you say, "Not more candy!~" I do plan on finding a good many nonedible treats for the egg stuffings.

When I told Busy Bee that the hunt was on - she said, "Yeah, you are SUPERMOM!" I can't turn back now! :)

I'll let you know how it goes!

Bee Happy,

Wednesday Words

I wanted to share a video with you today. Be sure to have a tissue handy. I promise you that nobody gets sick or passes away. It's just a gentle reminder to savor every single day with your own busy bees. Before you know it, they will be leaving the hive... Enjoy!

Bee Happy,

More Rainbow Fun

We finshed off St. Patrick's Day fun with more rainbow activities. First up, we planned a rainbow dinner and made sure to include something for every color. We even had rainbow striped plates!

Next we created rainbow bracelets with colored fruit cereal and string licorice so our creations were totally edible! We took some time to discuss favorite colors and patterns.

We read this book and then took a look at some of Van Gogh's masterpieces and the use of color.

Last but certainly not least was what Busy Bee had been looking forward to and planning for months! We had billed it as a boring plain old vanilla cake with vanilla frosting. If you've been around the blogging block before you know what's coming. If you are offended by technicolored food - click away and come back tomorrow. :)

Here is the finished cake- please keep in mind that I iced it in a matter of 5 minutes while trying to occupy Baby Bee with silly faces and in between having playdates with Busy Bee's neighborhood friends.

If you decide to tackle this cake here are two tips:

use Wilton gel food coloring and be sure to get the ones with "no taste" and

use disposable cake pans (you can use them afterward for crafting purposes)!

We had a few of Busy Bee's friends over for the big cake reveal and I have to say that it did earn me a few points in the "Cool Mom" department.

I'm off to go feed Busy Bee nothing but organic food for the next few weeks to counteract this colorful concoction! :)

Bee Happy,

Wednesday Words

May you always find

Blue Skies Above your Head
Shamrocks beneath your feet
Laughter and joy aplenty
Kindness from all you meet
Good friends and kin to miss you
If you ever choose to roam
And a path that's been cleared
By the Angels themselves
To carry you safely home.

-Irish Blessing


Bee Happy,

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

The other day Busy Bee and I made some yummy chocolate chip banana bread! It was so good that we wanted to share the recipe with you!

To create the cute heart shaped pat of butter, we simply softened some butter in the microwave and used a knife to press it into a candy mold. We popped the mold in the freezer until the butter was solid. Simple & sweet!

Recipe

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup mashed ripe banana(2 to 3 medium)
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom only of 9x5-inch loaf pan.

2. Combine all ingredients except chocolate chips in large bowl; blend well on medium speed of mixer. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan.

3. Bake 60 to 65 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack. Makes one loaf.

Bee Happy,

Backwards Letter from The Leprechaun

A few of Busy Bee's friends get a visit from a leprechaun on St. Patrick's Day! He does all sorts of silly things like color the milk green, turn things upside down and leave a trail of mini footprints and green sugar in his dust! If they are lucky, he leaves them a treat or two!

I'm not sure if the leprechaun will visit inside our house this year. He may create some silliness in the yard and leave this note and a treat in the mailbox.

I was thinking earlier this evening of a new printable to share with you, a letter from the leprechaun for him to leave behind, but I wanted to make it extra special! That's when it hit me - do it in reverse!

Simply have your busy bee hold it up to the mirror to see the message left behind from lucky the leprechaun!

It reads:
Sorry for all of the mischief and mess...
I hope that this St. Patrick's Day is the best!

Love,
Lucky The Leprechaun
(I also have a no name/blank version in case you have been doing this in year's past & your leprechaun has a different name!)

Hop on over here to download a copy for yourself!
No name version



Bee Happy,


I'm linking up @

Coffee Filter Crafts

We've been busy working on coffee filter crafts in our house!

We wanted to share a few with you!

1. Shamrock

Gather markers in varying shades of green.

Have your busy bee scribble all over the coffee filter.

Spray lightly with water from spray bottle until the colors run together.

Lay flat and allow to dry.

Once dry, fold in half 3 times. Trim to this shape (think half of a heart).

Save excess for stem.

Open to reveal your shamrock shape and add your stem!

I plan on framing this and adding it to my St. Patrick's Day Decor.

2. Rainbow

Gather a rainbow of colored markers.

Fold Coffee filter in fourths and color like a rainbow.

Trim bottom in arch shape.

Spray lightly with water from the spray bottle until the colors run together.

Lay flat and allow to dry.

When finished you can trim to make 4 half rainbows or 2 full rainbows.

We framed a half rainbow and hung a full rainbow in our window like a sun catcher!

Rainbow Scavenger Hunt

Today we've been working on rainbow crafts and activities in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day! We started off this morning with a rainbow scavenger hunt! We kept it to one room, the playroom and tried to find items that were solid in color.

My favorite moment was when Busy Bee told the chair to "Say Cheese!" (She took all of the pictures!)

                                  

We also read one of our favorite books...and while I realize that Indigo is missing - it is still a pretty cute read as the rainbow unfolds in the form of a ribbon rainbow!

                                       

What Makes A Rainbow by Betty Ann Schwartz

Check back soon to see our other rainbow crafts and activities!

Bee Happy,

Wednesday Words

When I was expecting Baby Bee, little sibling to Busy Bee, a friend shared this poem with me. Now I want to share it with you! Luckily for us, it was adoration & affection from the start between Busy Bee & Baby Bee. It's amazing how in the span of a few moments - you can't imagine life with a second child and then you can't imagine life without them.

Loving Two

I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand,

basking in the glow of our magical relationship.

Suddenly I feel a kick from within,

as if to remind me that our time alone is limited.

And I wonder, how could I love another child as I love you?

Then she is born, and I watch you.

I watch as the pain you feel at having to

share me as you have never shared me before.

I hear you telling me in your own way,

"Please love only me" and
I hear myself telling you in mine "I can't".

Knowing in fact that I never can again.

You cry, I cry with you.

I almost see our baby as an intruder
on the precious relationship we once shared.

A relationship we can never have again.

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached

to that new being, and feeling almost guilty.

I'm afraid to let you see me enjoying her

-- as though I am betraying you.

But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity,

then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine.

The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.

But something is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just us two.

There are new times -- only now we are three.

I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other,

touch each other. I watch how she adores you, as I have for so long.

I see how excited you are by each of her new accomplishments.

I begin to realize that I haven't taken something from you,

I've given something to you.

I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you.

I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are,

but equally strong.

And my question is finally answered to my amazement.

Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you, only differently.

And although I realize that you may have to share my time,
I know you'll never share my love.

There's enough of that for both of you --

you each have your own supply.

I love you both and I thank you both for blessing my life.

Author Unknown

Bee Happy,

St. Patrick's Day Printable - Kiss Me I'm Irish Sign

This one speaks for itself! It is sized for a 5 x7 frame or opening!

Head on over here to download it for yourself & have some instant St. Patty's day decor!

Bee Happy,

Moose Juice

Busy Bee headed to Grammy's to play

and to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday.

They put their heads together
and started to think...
not of a treat that you eat...
but of one that you drink.

The ingredients they gathered
and blended and poured.
Tasting the silly concoction,
they were floored!
It was orangy and frothy
and oh so yummy...
and just hit the spot
in their rumbly tummy!

They toasted to Dr. Seuss
the 'Rhymer Extraordinaire',
with a cup full of Moose Juice...
here's the recipe to share!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup orange sherbert
1/2 banana, sliced
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon whipped cream

Directions

1. Combine the juice, sherbert, banana, and extract. Mix it in a blender until smooth.

2. Pour it in a glass and top with the whipped cream. Enjoy! A bendie or silly straw is a must!

Recipe from:

Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook by Georgeanne Brennan

Bee Happy,

Boy Playdate Card

As promised, here is a version of the playdate card that isn't so girlie!

Head on over here to download the pdf. I have fit 2 to a page for your convenience. Have fun planning those playdates!

Up next on my design to-do list is a fill in the blank thank you note! Stop back soon for that one!

Bee Happy,

Pipe Cleaner Bracelets

I'm not sure why I didn't think of this idea sooner! We love to make jewelry together but threading a thin string can be a bit of a challenge. Enter my stash of pipe cleaners! With a selection of colorful & alphabet beads we created cute bracelets for each other! Be sure to tuck the ends of the pipe cleaner into the last beads so that the sharp end doesn't poke out.

We loved the ease of this project so much that we plan to do it our Spring Tea Party... more on that soon!

Bee Happy,

St. Patrick's Day Printables

One of my new favorite things is cupcake toppers! I whipped up these St. Patrick's Day ones to share with you and then Busy Bee and I got creative and made them into a pin and hat decoration! We may just print a bunch out and make a mini banner too!

Oh, and please don't laugh at my round cutting skills - I had a little helper *and* was using elephant shaped scissors!

We hope that you have as much fun with them as we did! Enjoy!

Download your own cupcake toppers/pins/hat decorations :) HERE!

Check out my Kiss Me I'm Irish Sign too!
Download it here!

Wednesday Words

In the blogosphere, it's popular to do a Wordless Wednesday where you'll find a blog post that is only a picture. I've decided to do the opposite of that with a 'Wednesday Words'! Today Busy Bee melted my heart when she said that she wanted to be just like me when she grew up.

It reminded me to be aware of my interactions with all of my loved ones in my life and even strangers... and made me think of this little poem:

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my

first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each
other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of
your time and money to help people who had nothing,
and I learned that those who have something should
give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn' t
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and
wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn't looking.

Bee Happy,

Mini Rain Stick

When Busy Bee and I were contemplating what to do with an empty oversized Pringle's can, I remembered back to a project that I had done in High School Child Development Class. It was a favorite of mine and will hopefully be a favorite of Busy Bee's.

Materials:

-Can similar to a large Pringle's can or mailing tube
-30-40 nails
-hammer
-dry ingredients such as rice, cereal, beans etc.
-clear contact paper
-decorative scrapbook paper
-double stick tape

and

On the Pringle's can there was a diagonal seam that we followed. We simply  hammered the nails in around 3 of the seams creating a "spiral staircase of nails" inside. No need to be even about anything - just eyeball everything. The inside will look like this:

Fill with about 1/4 of the dry goods.

Using double stick tape, adhere the scrapbook paper to outside of can.

Use the clear contact paper to cover and seal the lid to the can.

Very slowly tip the can from one side to the other and you will hear exactly why this is called a rain stick! Maybe with all of the snow that we have been experiencing, Busy Bee and I are hopeful that a Spring rainshower is just around the corner!