Birthday Party Sweat Shop

Today is Bryce's 10th birthday. I am amazed at how fast time has flown. I'm the mother of a TWEEN!

As a result, it's been a birthday mad house around here. I have been making all of the decorations. Pom poms, pinwheels, banners- you name it, I'm creating it. Darn you, Pinterest, for all of your inspiration pictures and tutorials. It's creating a lot more work than just going to Party City and buying a Spiderman birthday in a box. (Would anyone like to play pin the tail on the Spiderman?)

And the baking. I don't think my oven will be turned off today. I'm trying my hand at cake pops...wish me luck. Plus, I have to make a snack for Bryce's class, too? Really? Once again, I blame Pinterest for all their cutesy, over the top ideas. I can't handle it.

Random question: why are birthday parties so stressful for moms? They're supposed to be fun, right? There's just so much to do in so little time. We work so hard to buy supplies, make stuff, set it up, and clean the house. Oh gosh, then the party.

All kidding aside, I am happy to create parties. All the effort pays off in the end. I'm super pleased with the results, so far, and I will post pictures soon. To give you an idea of what my week has looked like, I attached a picture of my work station a.k.a. birthday party sweat shop. Time to go, the timer for the cake is going off.

Have a great weekend and HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRYCE!!!

What To Give To A Teacher

Bryce started at a new school this year and I wanted to start off the year right. What better way to initiate a relationship with a teacher than with a gift? Now, it was time to decide on what to give. Hmmm, what is cute, low cost, and not the traditional red apple? Luckily, I found a tub of caramel corn at Safeway on special for $1 and used the paper bag and ribbon that was extra from the boys' birthday parties. I love the results and so did the teachers. 

More Free DVD Rental Codes

Whenever I come across codes for free DVD rentals, I always like to pass them on. These codes are eligible at any Blockbuster Express through September 12th. Each is good for one free night movie rental (excluding hot lists movies).
75TTDR3
34PGAR2
72KRVF5
38RMAQ4
89AGSF7
83TPLD4
76DMNP2
29SPNF9
68MMKC2

 Enjoy catching up on all those movies that you didn't want to see in the theatre!

Mini Makeover

We have lived in our house for 9 months and Gavin's room was still unfinished. Every night as I put him to bed, I would look around trying to figure out ways to make his room look more complete. Fortunately, I received a voucher from Benjamin Moore for two free pints of paint as a "welcome to the neighborhood" gift. I also received some planes from Ryan's grandparents that to needed to be hung up. After a $12 trip to Home Depot for paint supplies, I was ready to makeover Gavin's room on the cheap.

Here's a before picture. The room looks decent, but it is missing artwork and the bedspread does not stand out from the wall.

 Taping off the wall and rolling out the paint went really quickly.

 The big reveal was a bust. Most of my time was spent cleaning up the paint that bled through the tape. I'm still kicking myself for not springing for the more expensive painter's tape.

I'm loving the results. The bed now pops off the red wall and the additional wall art fill up the space perfectly. For a grand total of $12, this mini revamp was well worth it!

My Son is Three!

Today marks the three year anniversary of Gavin's life. I cannot believe how fast time has flown. He should still be in diapers and I should still be frazzled as I attempt to interpret his different cries.

We celebrated his birthday on Saturaday by taking him to the Sonoma Train Town Railroad in Sonoma, California. For you Sacaramentans, it's like Funderland except larger and train themed. They feature a 20 minute train ride where you a dropped off at a tiny town complete with a church, jail, and petting zoo. Their rides selection catered to both the big and little kids. Check it out:

It's so fun that you're kids leave screaming because they don't want to leave. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAVIN!

Mommy Likes...Buchon Bakery

Nestled in the Napa valley, Yountville, California is home to Buchon Bakery. Owned by renowned chef, Thomas Keller, Buchon offers the greatest little treats. When you arrive, don't be intimidated by the serpentine line out the door. This is the norm on the weekends, as Buchon is that popular. When you finally step foot inside, you are greeted with a warm smile and wonderful baked delights. 

It was my turn to order and I didn't want to miss a thing or mess up my order because it took so long to get inside. I felt like Jerry Seinfeld with the Soup Nazi, except these guys were friendly. Looking quickly, yet meticulously at all they offered, I opted for a couple of macarons and a vanilla latte. 

I was not disappointed. The macarons were sweet, pillowy perfection and the latte was unforgettable. If you live in Nor Cal, you must try it. I'll save a place for you in line.

Mommy Likes...Packing Lunches

School is right around the corner and with it comes the responsibility of packing lunches again. Is it just me or does it seem like kids never like the lunch that their parents pack them? As a kid, I don't remember getting terribly excited about my school lunches. I see the same look of delight when I tell Bryce that I made him yet another peanut butter and honey sandwich. Maybe my son will never be thrilled with everything I make, however, I know he will definitely be excited about how it's packaged. Below are my picks for elements of a great lunch:

laptoplunches.com offers these great bento boxes. They come in different color combinations and what kid doesn't love opening little containers to see the surprise that awaits them? 

I chose this bag because of the Hello Kitty lover within me. I found this bag on reuseit.com and I love the cutesy, Japanese look. What a pleasant looking sandwich! How often is that statement made?

It does not matter how old your kid is, they always like notes from you. Instead of scribbling a note on a napkin, give them a mini lunch note. Each card has a colorful animal on the front and space on the back for a hand-written note. Check it out at potterybarnkids.com