It's almost Valentine's Day! yay. Are you looking for a quick project to pretty up your door? Look no further. This project took 2hrs to make including drying time and $10 cost.

First Gather your supplies:

• Glue gun and regular clear glue
  
• Mini pom poms
  
• Wooden door sign, ready to paint
  
• Valentines word, or anything you'd like for the middle. It would also look neat if you arranged the pom poms by colours into heart shapes.
  

Step 1

• Take the hardware off of the door sign so no paint gets on it.
  
• Paint the wooden sign (let dry)

Step 2

• Attach hardware again
  
• Glue middle Love word on
  
• Glue Pom Poms on with Hot Glue or regular glue. 
  
• Keep gluing until whole sign is covered.

A new year, means new beginnings. I have been wanted to create chore/responsibility charts for the girls for a while. I just wasn't sure what I wanted to put on them and what kind of reward system I wanted to implement. My girls are 5yo and 3yo (this week) so you can imagine that the charts can't be the same as my 3yo can barely get on her bed, let alone make it :)  So my charts are different. Choose age appropriate chores or responsibilities to put on the charts otherwise your children won't be interested.  My 3yo needs to work more on behavior stuff, so hers is mostly behavior based, while my 5yo loves to help out around the house, so I've included a few chores on her list. The point of the responsibility chart isn't to nag my girls. I'll put it up on the fridge and I may remind them that its there... if they choose to do something from the list then they will get a tick or check mark on the day for the item they did. At the end of the week I will give them a penny for each check mark. I think this will go over well with Sophia right now as she is into learning about money and loves to put pennies in her piggy bank. We'll see if Charlotte is as excited or not. 

OK... on to the tutorial.

Step 1: Gather supplies
paper
printer
self laminating sheets
magnets
white board marker

Step 2: Create Chart and print
At the bottom of this post you will find two downloadable files. One is a psd file that you can download and use to customize the chart I have made if you have Photoshop. The other file is a plain pdf file of just the blocks, so you can print it out and write your own stuff on it. You can also draw up your own on your computer or by hand. Or perhaps get the kids to help. It's your choice. Either way, create your chart and print.

Step Three: Laminate
Use your self laminating sheets to laminate your charts. If you don't have sheets or can't buy them, there are places that you can get them laminated for little money.

Step 4: Magnets
Glue on four magnets on the back... and ta da! Your done.

Now all you have to do is hang on the fridge and it's ready to go. I can't wait for my girls to come home today to see their new charts. I know they will be excited.

Here is my entry for the bust a gut photo challenge. This is proof that a "toot" or fart can still make 35 year olds bust a gut! Head over to I Heart Faces to see more awesome pictures.

Here is my entry for this week's black theme. This was a picture I took of my daughter while trying out my new backdrops I purchased for my birthday Photo Party. You can see more pictures from the party here.

Check out more fabulous photos at i heart faces

Meet Wiggles! She loves tomatoes! She loves them for breakfast, she loves them for snacks... she loves to eat them like apples. Yesterday Sophia found our first ripe tomatoes in our garden...picked them and started eating. Her newest favorite snack is blueberries and mini tomatoes mixed together. As a parent... I won't complain. Way better then a bowl of Lucky Charms right?

I was going to just post this picture, but then decided that I should post one of our favorite poems to go with it.
The Spider and the Fly
Mary Howitt


Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly, 
'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy; 
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair, 
And I've a many curious things to shew when you are there." 
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain, 
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again." 


"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high; 
Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly. 
"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin, 
And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!" 
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said, 
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!" 


Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, " Dear friend what can I do, 
To prove the warm affection I 've always felt for you? 
I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice; 
I'm sure you're very welcome -- will you please to take a slice?" 
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind Sir, that cannot be, 
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!" 


"Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise, 
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes! 
I've a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf, 
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself." 
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you 're pleased to say, 
And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day." 


The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den, 
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again: 
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly, 
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly. 
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing, 
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing; 
Your robes are green and purple -- there's a crest upon your head; 
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!" 

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly, 
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by; 
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew, 
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue -- 
Thinking only of her crested head -- poor foolish thing! At last, 
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast. 
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den, 
Within his little parlour -- but she ne'er came out again! 


And now dear little children, who may this story read, 
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed: 
Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye, 
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.

With life being so stressful sometimes it's important to stop and enjoy the little pretty things in life. 

Took a break from the cranky kids today to enjoy some alone time eating these tasty treats!