if you are looking for the giveaway winner

it's posted here at Little Ant.  A big THANK YOU to all that participated.  Check back often for some new giveaways that I am planning.

what you do matters

I saw this video on a friends blog and thought that the words were encouraging for any parent, mom or dad, to hear.

a breakthrough

For those that know me well you know that I have a huge aversion to being alone at night without Derek.  I guess you could say I'm scared of the dark (which doesn't help in explaining my weird fascination with Halloween - the dark holiday according to my mom)  

Whenever Derek goes out of town the kids all sleep in my room where we can be safely locked in for the night.  I lock the doors, hide a steak knife within easy reach and move a file cabinet in front of the bedroom door.  I also have been known to place grocery bags around the door knob so that I will have an audible sign if any crazy molester types try to get into my room.  Don't judge me just love me in spite of my kookiness.

I seem to be on the mend though.  Derek left for New York last night and get this...the kids all slept in their own rooms and I did to.  I slept in my room all by myself (at least until about 3:30 this morning when Luke crawled into bed with me giving me a big hug and kiss hoping that he had done enough to not have me kick him out - I didn't)  Do you understand how big this is?!?! I slept by myself with no locks, knives, file cabinets or plastic bags.  I'm healed!

trip report - cenote

My kids will be leaving for college by the time I get our Mexico trip all posted.

After sweating all day at Coba and Tulum we decided to do some swimming at a local cenote.  It was refreshing to say the least - the water was chilly!  It was also a beautiful area.  I mean really beautiful.

When we all finally got brave enough to get in the cold water we swam out to the rocks in the center of the cenote.  This picture is bad but it will give you an idea of the set up.  Cenotes are water systems that run underground.  The rocks we are sitting on in the picture below are actually the collapsed roof of the cave.  This whole water area was underground until the roof collapsed.  There are tunnels and caverns off of this cenote that is why there are a couple of scuba divers in the water.  They were practicing their cave diving.
The kids happy to be out of the sweltering heat of the ruins
Not sure what it is about this picture of Luke but I love it.  How cool is the water?


Remember one of my first trip posts about cliff jumping?  This is the same area where we jumped. Derek was the lucky water chauffeur that got to drag a kid filled life preserver from the entry point of the jump to the stairs out of the cenote.  This reminds me of a camping trip we took and Derek spent a ton of time getting kids fishing poles untangled.  The dads always get the hard, dirty work while the mom giggles behind the camera documenting all the "fun"
Finishing off our cenote swim with big smiles on everyones faces.  This was a great conclusion to an already great day.  
Note to Derek...remove wallet from swim trunks BEFORE diving into a cenote.  When we got into the taxi after our swim Derek passed out wet, soggy bills to all of us so that we could hold them up to the sunny windows to get dry while he spread out the rest on the dashboard.

guest blogger

I was asked to be a guest blogger over at Create My Events.  I just posted my first post - kind of exciting.

get your spook on at my new blog

I'm moving out (at least my party posts are)  

Recently some of my parties have been getting some attention and they tell me they like it.   I tried to shelter them but the pull of the world has them running from home looking for more excitement.  So I'm cutting the apron strings and sending them off to go live over at Little Ant Design.  

This is a work in progress so if you visit the blog please be kind.  I am trying to get it all organized so that it will be easy to find party ideas and inspiration but it may take me a while.

It will be nice to not have people digging through a billion family posts just to find a party idea. It will be easier on them and lets face it - do they really all need to be up in my family business?

For those that visit here to check up on our family - keep stopping by but if it's parties you are looking for head on over to Little Ant and see if you can be inspired to throw a shindig of your own.

get your spook on - somebody set the table

I just finished setting our table for the holiday season (no, not Christmas - the other holiday season) and I think it is one of the easiest ways to add some fun to your decor.  

I must throw in this disclaimer...this is a much nicer idea when you have a dining room separate from your everyday eating area.  We do not have that luxury (cut me some slack, real estate is pricey in Orange County)  This tablescape gets pushed around more than any bullied kid I know to make room for homework and dining.  

Yes, I said it - dining.  We move the beautifully set table so we can eat on our everyday, sturdy white Ikea plates.  Crazy?  Probably, but my husband loves me in spite of it all so all is right with the world.

The "trees" down the middle of the table are from Ikea - seriously love that store!  I purchased them forever ago on sale for like 25 or 50 cents a piece.  I'm not sure why they were marked down so low since they still carry them (current price is just around $5) but I'm not arguing. I originally bought them thinking they would be cute with family pictures tied to them as a family reunion centerpiece.  When I needed something not too big for this table I decided that these would work as a modern take on spooky dead trees.

The place settings consist of orange wooden chargers bought on clearance at Z Gallerie.  Keep an eye on the clearance area of all your favorite stores - you can decorate an expensive looking table for little money if you just shop for bargains.  Want to mimic the look but can't find a good deal on chargers - cut some mdf board or wood from the local home improvement store into the size you want and paint it. Better yet find an orange stain and stain the wood allowing the wood grain to show through.

The silver boney hands also came from Z Gallerie (I think)  I believe I paid full price for these because "I just had to have them" - you know how that goes.  I think that these could be reproduced cheaper with plastic skull hands and silver metallic spray paint.  If anyone tries it let me know how it turns out.

The orange napkins can be found anywhere and then just add your own silverware.  A big pat on the back to anyone that can tell me what movie our silverware has been seen in.
The orange soda bottles I found at Cost Plus (another favorite party store).  I'm not sure of the brand.  You could use Jones or some other orange soda.  I chose this one because it had  plain orange cap with no writing.  The label I made on the computer using s clip art skull and Dead Secretary as my font.
I may add some candles at some point but for now it's good.  I love seeing the traditional orange and black table set up every day and the bonus...it helps with house cleaning since we can't pile bills, papers and other garbage on top of it.

Make some plans to decorate your dining room table for this Halloween.  I even give you permission to wait until it's a bit closer to the 31st so you don't have to push around the place settings you big bully.

get your spook on - terrifying type

Ok, so it's not really terrifying but it is type.  I also realize that this idea won't work for everyone - only those that happen to have a cool vintage typewriter.  So perhaps today's tip is really just for me - my apologizes.  Let's make this yesterdays tip since I just realized I didn't post one yesterday

Remember my happy closet?  That is where the typewriter I found at Goodwill (awesome find, huh?) resides.  I ran across this photo today and the ideas started to swirl in my tiny little Halloween obsessed brain.  

My plan...cover up some of the keys with black and orange paper (I think I will go with circles - not spiders like in the photo) leaving some of the keys exposed.  I like the idea of the letters left spelling out something almost as if a presence from beyond is trying to leave a message.  I'll also need to find a place for my ghost writer typewriter to occupy during this Halloween season.

No typewriter?  Try a ghost writer approach with something else. How about magnets on your fridge or magnet board?  What about using some of that Christmas snow spray on your window or mirrors and handwriting a spooky message in it - it will give the impression of someone scrawling a message on a steamy mirror or foggy window. What message from beyond is your resident spook trying to share?

new blog

In an effort to keep my party jive all in one area I will be moving over party related ideas to a new blog over the next week or so.  This should be reason to celebrate for some of you that stop by just for party ideas but have to sift through a bunch of family posts.  Yes their my family and I love them but I recognize that post after post of family going-ons is not everyones idea of fun. 

TIME for a giveaway

An abundance of Halloween creepiness keeps finding it's way into my home and my garage is going to burst.  My inability to stop spending money on Halloween decor means good things for you.  I'm hosting a giveaway to make room for Halloween.

There has been a lot of interest in my TIME to Celebrate party that I posted about here. Thanks for all the views and comments and a big thanks to Sheena over at Totally Tabletops for her post about my party.  To show my appreciation and like I mentioned to make way for Halloween one lucky blog reader will win the goodies from my party .  You will win... 

8 clocks/plate chargers

6 color block picture holders 

6 watches (tied to picture holders)

This giveaway will get you on your way to having a great little get together.  Whip up some cupcakes to complete the centerpiece or add your own touch by using flowers.  Add your favorite silverware and glasses.  Make it your own.  

To win simply leave a comment and a winner will be chosen randomly on Tuesday the 23rd (my daughter Emily's birthday)  If you send a friend to the giveaway have them leave your name as the person that sent them - not only will your friend be entered but you'll be entered again for more chances to win.

get your spook on - cutest little creepy

I just ran across this adorable vinyl spider and fell in love.  Well lucky for all of us this little guy can be yours if you win the Studio JK Vinyl giveaway.  Not sure how long the giveaway lasts so head over there right now and leave a comment.  If I'm the lucky winner I plan to give him a home on the window by our stair landing.  

I also have some other Halloween ideas that use vinyl wording.  I plan on heading back over to Studio JK to see if she does any custom work. If my idea pans you'll see it in a future get your spook on post.

JUST ADDED:  I went for a longer visit over on the Studio JK site and saw that the giveaway ended today - big fat hairy spider bummer!  You should still check out the site and the cool vinyl creations she has.  

whatever, martha

I have to admit - I'm interested in seeing this show.  

trip report - tulum

After spending a few hours in Coba we hooked up with with our taxi driver for the day - Victor. He ended up being our driver for most of the trip giving us his cell number so that we could call whenever we needed him.  It proved to be very convenient in that we didn't have to wait for taxis since Victor was always waiting for us.

We sped off from Coba and headed to Tulum stopping for lunch on the way and inviting Victor to join us.

After lunch we did a quick reapply of suntan lotion.  Maybe I should rephrase that - the kids and I did a quick reapply and then waited for Derek to apply his sunscreen.  I'm not sure if it takes so long cause he's whiter then the rest of us or because he's whiter and taller - I guess it takes a while to get those long legs covered.  We love him anyway :)
To get to Tulum you can take a shuttle (I'm sure it's over priced) or do what we did and just take a walk.  It seems like a bit of a walk because of the heat but still doable.  Besides we were able to stop and see some cool things that we wouldn't have seen from the shuttle.  Can you see what Luke is running towards?
It was this little guy.  They were everywhere and they creeped me out a bit.  I kept thinking about the movie Holes and the scene with all the creepy crawlies climbing on the two kids in the hole.
As beautiful as the beaches and water are in this part of Mexico I think the jungles are equally as beautiful.  This part of the walk was amazing - I loved traipsing through the foliage - it brought out my inner Indiana Jones.
After you walk through a bit of jungle you get to the wall of the city.  
Tulum is a must see site - it is beautiful.  we like to refer to it as the Newport Beach of the Mayans.  Can't you see yourself living in the structure behind us?  Just tell me when I can move in.

I loved being at all these archaeological sites with my kids and seeing their interest. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that Nate couldn't stop talking about being an archaeologist one day.

My one disappointment with Tulum is that it has changed a bit since Derek and I were there last.  All of the structures are roped off now where they weren't before.  I understand the reasoning - so many people visiting these sites can quickly deteriorate them but it is such a cool experience to walk on and feel the structures.  
Look at that water!  The pictures don't even do it justice.  I know I have already said it in previous posts but this area of Mexico (Yucatan) is on of my favorite places - it is beautiful!

At this point in the day we have now spent literally hours climbing pyramids and exploring in the heat of the sun at Coba and Tulum. Luke's face sums it up best - he was done!  Our kids never complained and they went along with everything we did this day so this picture cracks me up because it shows his true feelings.  We were all feeling a bit like this - we were ready to be out of the sun!

get your spook on - eye candy

I can't get pictures to copy over to my blog for today's Halloween idea so drop what you are doing and click here and go to pages 11 thru 16.  This masterpiece of a Halloween table is from Amy Atlas and it's fabulous.

I want to have a table like this set up in my front living room so that when trick or treaters look through the door this what they see - can you imagine how the kids eyes would light up?!?!  The problem I see is that we live in a world that most parents (myself included) wouldn't let our kids touch any unwrapped candy or goodies.  Maybe I can come up with something similar with packaged treats - it just wouldn't have the same impact as these gorgeous homemade morsels.

trip report - coba

Better late then never...an update on our summer trip.

We spent one of our days exploring the history of the area.  We started the day with a trip to the archaeological ruins at Coba

Coba is where we took the picture I posted about.
The Mayans must have been some tiny folks because although the kids could walk uprightly through must of the tunnels and walkways

Derek and I could not.  Derek especially would have been a giant amongst these people.  

Let me throw in a disclaimer here...it was beasty hot and humid where we were.  Yes we are dripping sweat in all these pictures making us shiny and repulsive to look at it.  I apologize for subjecting you to such horror and disgust.  However these posts will soon be part of our family blog journal and so the hideous pictures must stay for posterity - avert your eyes if you must. This one of Derek and I is especially bad because not only are we a sweaty mess but we look possessed of the devil.
After climbing a few smaller ruins we headed off for a walk in the jungle.  At this point we sang praises because of the shade (although we still sweated like pigs - nice visual, huh?)  The walk was beautiful.  It was neat to see un-excavated areas amongst the trees.  A majority of Coba has yet to be unearthed.  We would see big hills and mounds all around us that were evidence of more ruins since the area is naturally all flat.
We also saw lots of cool little wonders - this spider being a highlight.  His yellow color was amazing. 
After the walk we arrived at more ruins.  This skull was in the ground in the middle of a Mayan ball field used to play an ancient game.  Stories differ but from what we've heard either the winner or the loser of the game would get a part of his body pierced with a sword or knife (yes, that part of the body) and then be put to death.  eeekkkk!

Note:  I decided to see if I could find anything about this ancient game.  If you are interested you can read more here.
We finally arrived at our destination - Nohoch Mul.  Derek and I have climbed this pyramid before but we were anxious for the kids to have the experience.  This is us before we headed up to the top.
I love the texture of this sign that is on the top of the pyramid off to the side of the temple entrance. Not sure what it says - probably something about plummeting to your death.
At the top - after a steep, hot climb up crumbly stairs that are not remotely safe.  See the little dot off to the side of Emily's shoulder?  That's another pyramid off in the distance.
The whole family -proof that I sucked up my fears long enough to get to the top.  Unfortunately going up isn't the worst part.  On the way up I just didn't look anywhere but up - coming down is a whole different story.
This is us towards the end of our descent.  The pained look on my face is fear that at any moment one of us is going to slip and fall and sacrifice ourselves to the mayan gods.  While my whole family walked down the pyramid I slid down it on my bottom.  The only time I stood coming down was to take pictures.  Looks like I'm not alone though.  See the guy behind me? He came down behind me and spent a good deal of time on his bum as well.  So there, now I feel better about myself.
After the climb our sorry selves were not up to the long jungle walk so for $6 we hitched a ride down the long jungle path.
Our mode of transportation?  These sweet little bikes powered by some tougher than me folks. Biking tourist back and forth in the heat and humidity doesn't seem much fun but we are grateful that there were nice men there willing to do it.  It made for a much more enjoyable trip back to our cab.
For anyone thinking about going to this area of Mexico add Coba to your list of must sees.  It's one of my favorite places even though I must risk death to fully appreciate it.

get your spook on - etsy

Looking for some Halloween inspiration?  Have you been invited to a Halloween party and want to take a unique hostess gift?  Need a fun little Halloween treat for your child's school teacher? My suggestion today is to head over to Etsy and check out their Halloween guide.  

really? you want that for dinner?

Today we are celebrating a birthday - Luke is 7! I can hardly believe that my baby is 7 yrs old.


One of our family traditions is letting the birthday boy or girl pick what we eat for dinner. Today I contemplated doing away with this tradition.


Here is what Luke picked...macaroni and cheese - not homemade, mind you (and I do make some pretty good homemade macaroni) but good ol' Kraft macaroni and cheese - the cheesiest! To round out the meal we had chicken noodle soup, corn and cantaloupe - a colorful meal if you like shades of yellow and orange. Not my favorite birthday meal in case you are wondering. I'm going to have to prep him a bit before he turns 8 so we can eat something a little more enjoyable.
He also requested a Lemon cake (there's that yellow color again - what's up with that?) with sprinkle frosting. He wanted a Pokemon theme and asked that Nate decorate the cake. I guess he's a kid that knows what he wants. I am assuming that Nate was given cake duty because Luke was probably worried that the rest of us did not have enough Pokemon knowledge to pull off a realistic cake.
I mean look at this cake. Does it not look like it came right our of a scene from the show?!?! I am sure I would never have pulled off such fine work - way to go Nathan!

So in honor of the birthday boy here are 7 things about Luke that you may or may not know...

1. Luke was my biggest baby weighing in at a respectable 10 pounds, 9 ounces. Yes, you read that right.


2. Luke is the comedian in the family although we let Derek think it's him.


3. Although Luke has the bottom bunk bed we very rarely find him in it when we go up to bed. He usually has set up camp in the hallway, on the floor in his room, Megan's rooms or Emily's room.


4. Luke can get his groove on like nobody's business. The boy has a mean booty shake.


5. Luke has an active imagination and can keep himself entertained for hours if he has some action figures, cars or other toys.


6. Luke picks nasty meals for his birthday dinners.


7. Luke is affectionate and cuddly. He is always willing to climb in your lap for a big squeezy hug.


Happy Birthday Lukey - we love you!