I chose to have my babies close together, which means I need to finish Amos’s invitation before Griffin’s party has even happened. It’s cool. Stress is energizing!

So, after enlisting my party planning committee (I love you Kim and Elizabeth!) to help with comic book banners and popcorn cones, I sat down and designed this invitation. I wanted the look of a vintage state fair poster with some classic symbols of the county fair. I also wanted to include a picture of Amos somehow but couldn’t make it work.

I’m still very, very happy with the results. Sure, it’s not a complete comic book but Amazing Amos made it an appearance in that as well… so he technically got two invitations!

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Celebrations

Felix's Winter ONE-derland

Celebrations

This weekend we hosted a Winter ONE-derland party in honor of Felix's first birthday. Considering this child was born during a snow, it seemed like an appropriate theme. Well, the weather had other plans and it was 70 and sunny! I could have hosted the dang party outside!

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Comic Book Birthday Party

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Play-Doh Factory Party

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Happy Labor Day Weekend

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Celebrations, Holidays

How I STOPPED ruining Christmas

Celebrations, Holidays

My journey with Christmas began in 2009. Up until that point, Nicholas and I had always traveled to our family’s and spent the holidays in someone else’s home. When Griffin was born, we spent our first holiday season in our own home and it was wonderful. The next year we traveled to Nicholas’s family for the holidays, which was hard, but we still only had Griffin so the trip itself was easy.

As many of you already know, 2011 was the year that changed everything for our family and how we celebrate the holidays.

Nicholas lost his job in mid-November and we decided to celebrate Christmas without Consuming. We borrowed a tree. We canceled our Holiday Open House. We gave gifts of time and energy instead of presents.

In many ways, that Christmas was the best thing that ever happened to our family.

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Celebrations, Holidays

Celebrations, Parenting, Holidays

The Secret to my STRESS-FREE Holiday Season

Celebrations, Parenting, Holidays

This is a guest post by my dear friend Jessica on an exciting co-venture we're launching!

When it comes to parenting, I get quite a big wrong. My kid eats mostly sugary food for breakfast. He asks for dessert after EVERY meal. Last year, I handmade pretty awesome “Camp Ryan” birthday invitations (complete with old maps cut and folded into envelopes) and then forgot to mail them. And recently, I tried teaching him that if you’re smart, you should probably find other ways to express yourself other than using adult words (i.e. profanity); so now whenever he hears a four letter word, he blurts out, “Mom! That person isn’t smart.”

Oh geez.

I realize these aren’t exactly end-of-the-world parenting failures, but they’re not necessarily things I’m proud of or like to publicly acknowledge.

Luckily, there are a handful of things I seem to get right. Planning for a memorable and less stressful holiday season is one of those things. My type-A personality combined with a history of infertility fuels my passion for ensuring we wring every drop of magic and excitement out of Christmas.

While there wasn’t anything specific that happened, I just remember being very frustrated that the joy of the holidays continually lost out to the rush and stress of this busy season. My initial plan was to cut back. For two years, my husband and I didn’t exchange gifts. Then, I didn’t host any holiday meals or get togethers. Maybe we saved some money and a little bit of frustration, but ultimately, cutting out items moved me even further away from any Christmas joy.

A few years into cutting back, nothing seemed familia

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Celebrations, Parenting, Holidays

Celebrations, Parenting

Unique birth announcements for boys

Celebrations, Parenting

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Celebrations, Parenting

Celebrations

Turbo Themed Birthday Party

Celebrations

Amos's birthday request was simple.

"I want a Turbo party!"

Then a Turbo party you shall have my son.

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Celebrations

Diagon Alley-Themed Harry Potter Birthday Party!

Celebrations

I love throwing over-the-top birthday parties. I LOVE Harry Potter. And I love my son.

Put these three things together and you've got yourself one heck of a Diagon Alley themed Harry Potter birthday party.

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Celebrations

Chocolate Chip Cookie Themed Baby Shower!

Celebrations

In celebration of Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, I thought I would share photos from Amos's baby shower. Chocolate chip cookies are my favorite food. Plus, incorporating Famous Amos cookies made the theme perfect for mom and baby!

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Celebrations

The Amos County Fair

The Marshmallow Test

Roasted Summer Vegetable Penne