Outer Banks Fun

All morning at the beach...

means fussy girls in short ride home...

but nice longgg naps!

Girls went down around 1:30..
Sophie woke up at 3:50.. Sienna after 4:30!

House smells soo yummy with the barbecue pork in

the crock pot for pulled pork sandwiches tonight..

We've been having so much fun just relaxing and spending time together.

Here's an Instagram overload..

because we can't stop taking photos of the cuteness. :)

This is our first beach vacation..and we are loving it.

Feeling very blessed and trying to soak in every minute.

It's so fun seeing the girls hold hands and run around together..giggling..

Sienna wasn't so sure about the sand..still has moments of "freaking out"..

it's all fun and games till she tries to blow it in her hand and ends up eating it.....lovely. 

I think by tomorrow she'll be more confident with the whole experience.

But I don't mind her being my little partner in

sitting in the chairs and snacking on gold fish and grapes. :)

Sophie went for a walk with daddy and saw a boy who caught a sting ray..

she was terrified. cried.

wouldn't stop talking about the yucky fish. haha.
Sophie: "I don't like that fish. I was crying cause I didn't like it. Go back in the waterrr"
Sienna then follows up with "backkk watterrr ::points somewhere::"

Sophie has been finding lots of shells and loading up her bucket!

She has a little watering can..favorite toy so far.

She has alsooo been telling random people there is a baby in my tummy...

and that it's going to pop out.

Yesterday we were playing on a playground..and sophie says: 

"Mom.. I'm feeling angry and mean because I'm hot.

Water will make it better. and AC.".......

Best part was that she said it fake pouting (not grouchy at all) with her arms crossed. ;)
Photo below of sienna on ben's shoulders was when we were "watching" the sunset..
It's so pretty here!

Looking at these photos..I turned to ben and said

"Can you believe we have kids that are this big??"

haha..seriously though...we have toddlers. this is insane. and awesome.

Hope you are having a great week!

Thanks for following along on our little family adventure..

Preview Post- DIY Felt Board!

Ok...was going to wait till this

DIY Project was completely finished..

But I'm too excited!

Here's a preview post of the Felt Board

I've been working on for my girls!

This is only a tiny tinyyyy portion of the little creations I've made for it so far.. 

It's been so fun!

I have been taking photos of the process..and tracing my patterns..

I'll be scanning some of them in for you to be able to download and use yourself!

I can't wait to share the rest of the fun details....

We have the two girls below(shoeless)...

and sophia requested a prince for each of them...

I also made a church with a steeple..a castle with a horse and carriage...

we even have wardrobe changes!

I love all the farm details(shown below)...

they count out the pumpkins and apples. :)

I'll share all of the fun crafty stuff soon.

Have you made a felt board??? Share the links!

We are off for vacation this week so I'll only be posting occasional cute

photos of my girls in pink tutu bathing suits..

yummy food we are cooking/eating and the adventures we are having!

10 hour car ride..........I have strategized and I'm ready for you!

(this is my motivational pep talk directed at the car ride..

because that makes sense..)

We are beyond excited!

First "vacation" as a family..

and first beach trip for the girls!

photo overload coming first thing next week.

you've been warned.

Baby Book - 13 Weeks Bump

BLANQI Girl

I've been feeling more tired during the day..

but the daytime sickness has gone away...now it's just night.

and worse. but I can handle that..the girls are sleeping! ;)

Sienna is very hands on with this pregnancy..little cutie.

I have realized saying "please don't touch mommy for 5 minutes" isssss.....pointless. ;)

Starting to warm up..

I love letting them play outside..

because I get to SIT DOWN and cheer and clap from my chair. :)

We got a sprinkler today.

Officially the best mom in the world.

Pulled out their swim suits from the bins they were packed away in...

Sophia was IN HEAVEN.

and I LOVE this photo..because it is totally her. that pose=my sophie.

Sienna....not loving it so much.

She walked back to the have another look when I went to turn it on....traumatized.

I think she'll get brave enough to try it out soon.

but today she just looked cute in her swimwear. ;)

(She wanted to pose like her sister.....hehe.)

  

Can't wait for this little bambino to get in

on the snuggles and play time. :)

Sophie, in bed, avoiding going to bed: "when the baby pops out it's

going to walk into my room!"..........

Seriously, she says "pop out" 5 million times a day....... haha

Sophie: mom, the angels put the baby in there?...

The angels will help you pop it out."

Me: "I sure hope so. ;)"

Sophie's Lemonade Stand + Free Lemonade Banner Printable

Our big girl had her first lemonade stand

this weekend during our Garage Sale!

It was sooooo fun seeing her get into it.

She made bank.

She would see potential customers in our yard and walk right

up to them and ask if they wanted some lemonade.."it's 50 cents!"..

and it was hilarious seeing how barely anyone could say no to her. 

and the ones who did made a face like I feel like I am so cruel..

She took the first rejection sad..

but I got her to say "thanks anyways!" to the ones who said no.

One lady payed 3 bucks for a cup...

some payed and didn't even take some!

She was cranking out the lemonade.. we had to make 2 more pitchers and keep adding ice!

Sophie was loving it...and I was loving watching her have fun.

She was charming the crowd.. ;)

Lemonade Stand Supplies:

Ikea Chalkboard

A old school desk we found and I had spray painted pink. (was in playroom)

Plastic Lemonade Pitcher from Walmart 

(husband put ice in container instead of center piece.. that's why there is tape holding it down....lovely right? ;)

Blue Colander (TJMAXX) full of lemons (or balls to sienna)

Lemonade Banner I made/printed/stapled to ribbon/taped to desk

If you would like to use this lemonade banner printable

for your kid's next lemonade stand..

click here to download!

I'll have it up for a limited time..and then I'll be selling it for $5 in my etsy shop.

Lemonade Banner Printable- Two letters per page. 4 pages.

(print full size or reduce in printer settings)

Sample:

Sophie got the hang of filling up the cups.

Sienna on the other hand...I kept looking over to

find her turning the spicket on and walking away.... ;)

Sienna being a big helper and Ben.

(during one of the few slow moments at the garage sale.)

Sienna was so funny..she saw sophia filling up the cups over and over and went to try it.

she filled it up an inch and gave it to the lady haha. She was very proud of herself.

She spent most of the morning throwing a lemon around..and moving the "50 cent -stuffed animals on the blanket " off the blanket.... ;)

We let sophia pick out something from the neighbors

garage sale with some of her lemonade stand earnings.

They are in love with bubbles right now....so this was a hit!

Hope you had a wonderful Weekend!

Baby Book - 12 Weeks Bump

Morning Sickness has slowed this project down..But better late than never!

Going to do a Baby Book with notes to the baby and a bump update.

I've seen these on pinterest and they look so cute.

I did something similar with the other girls but not the note..

I think it'll be fun to look back at the image/note combined.

Doing the weekly photo of me in my Blanqi...it expands easy. :)

Going to turn it into one of those videos documenting my growing belly!

Baby # 3..and my tummy popped out even faster than with sienna!
I guess it remembers this whole process.. haha.
Found these AMAZINGLY comfy maternity cropped cargo

pants at Burlington the other day (first purchase there ever but so happy)

I needed comfy. :) 

Target Tank and Cardigan.
Old Navy Flip Flops.

Day old hair in pony.

Sienna is all over this baby bump.

the popped out belly button is just too fascinating I guess.

Sometimes ben asks if she is trying to get back in the womb.

You know how when you are pregnant..and sick...and don't want to be touched.....

yeah........almost 2 yr olds don't get that. ;)

She loves this baby.

Sophie wouldn't let daddy just take a photo of me and the bump..

she would have posed forever..

sienna...not so much. hehe.

Sophie chit chats with my bump.. saying good morning and what we've been up too. :)

DIY Teacher Appreciation Treat Bag Inspiration Board

The end of the school year is coming!!

I rounded up some of my DIY Treat Bag Ideas as Teacher Appreciation Gifts..

A cute gift idea to say THANK YOU to the

wonderful teachers you know or work with!

I sell the printables in my Etsy Shop, Pretty Paperie for $10

 if you would like that part taken care of for you.

Just print, cut and staple to bag!

(2 styles per pdf.. And you can print as many as you want!)

1. You are One Smart Cookie! - Printable PDF

2. Thanks a 'Latte' for your hard work! - Printable PDF

3. Thanks for a Picture Perfect Year! - Printable PDF

4. You are Sweet! - Printable PDF

5. We need S'MORE Teachers like you! - Printable PDF

If you have a custom phrase request just send me a message!

I made up this design for a client last week..

She was filling them with lifesavers. :)

Hope this post gives you some ideas of

what to do to say Thanks!

To my Amazing Mom...

Hope all of you had a wonderful mother's day!

I just want to post on my mom.

She is such an amazing woman and role model.

One skill she has..that was not passed on to me...is her green thumb.

She can take a twig and turn it into a blooming bush!

Her deck is full of plants she is bringing to life..We call it her plant infirmary. :)

Hope you don't mind me bragging about you mom.. love you!

Yummy FAST Homemade Wheat Pizza

This recipe has become a staple in our house..

Homemade Pizza.

and every time I instagram a photo of it people

are always asking for the recipe..

so here's the revised version of how

I've been making it lately...

I've been making this recipe a lot lately using wheat flour. (for the hubs)

But ended up liking it even more this way!

I follow the same recipe as below but add in a little more olive oil to

soften up the dough as I knead it a little..

and I add a little more honey... :)

I'm also heavy handed on the seasonings.

It's soooo good! 

(here's a shot of when I would make smaller ones with regular flour)

I am always searching for tried and true favorite recipes..

and this one has become a favorite ever since we first tried it.

I felt amazingly domesticated when

I made my own doughhhhh.::CROWD CHEERS::

so go feel awesome about yourself and make this. :)

I have tried lots of topping varieties...using whatever I had in the fridge.. 

but it's really good with fresh sliced tomatoes and mozarella....and very pretty too.

....................................................................................................................................

This is a Easy Pizza Dough recipe that you can make during 

Dinner time instead of having to prep it earlier in the day! 

Only Takes 30 minutes to rise..divide up, rests for 10 minutes..and ready to use! awesome.

I was so impressed with how fast this came together and how delicious it was!

My husband ben loved it!! It didn't dry out at all it was soft and crunchy.

This is a must try. your loved ones will think you are amazing..which you are. hehe.

instead of ordering out tonight....cook this up!

found this recipe on the lovely ezra pound cake blog! go visit!

Adapted from Ina Garten’s “Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics”

Makes 6, 8-inch pizzas

Dough Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups warm (100 to 110) water

2 packages dry yeast

1 tablespoon honey

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for kneading

Kosher salt

To Make The Dough:

 1.Combine the water, yeast, honey and 3 tablespoons of olive oil in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. When the yeast is dissolved, add 3 cups of flour, then 2 teaspoons salt, and mix on medium-low speed. While mixing, add up to 1 more cup of flour, or just enough to make a soft dough. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes until smooth, sprinkling it with the flour as necessary to keep it from sticking to the bowl. When the dough is ready, turn it out onto a floured board and knead it by hand a dozen times. It should be smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a well-oiled bowl and turn it to cover it lightly with oil. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and allow the dough to rise at room temperature for 30 minutes.

2. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.

3. Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces. Place the doughs on sheet pans lined with parchment paper and cover them with a damp towel. Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes. Use immediately, or refrigerate for up to 4 hours.

4. Press and stretch each ball into an 8-inch circle, and place 2 circles on each sheet pan lined with parchment paper. (If you’ve chilled the dough, take it out of the refrigerator approximately 30 minutes ahead to let it come to room temperature.)

5. Add the topings of your choice! (what i used is below.)

6.Bake the pizzas for 10 minutes, until the crusts are crisp and the cheeses begin to brown.

Toppings for my Mini Margharita Pizzas:

-I drizzled olive oil over the dough

-some shredded Mozzarella cheese 

(but fresh mozzarella or a blend of cheeses would be tasty)

-A can of whole tomatoes 

(I just squished them over the dough and

tore up pieces- put on top so they don't melt off cheese)

-spices: salt, pepper, oregano, basil, garlic powder 

(or fresh if you have it.)

Toppings for my Wheat Crust/Cheese Pizza: (FAVORITE)

-I drizzled olive oil over the dough

- Spoon some Jarred Pasta Sauce on and spread

(We use Giant Eagle Brand but just use your favorite!)

-some shredded Mozzarella cheese 

(but fresh mozzarella or a blend of cheeses would be tasty)

-spices: salt, pepper, oregano, basil, garlic powder 

(or fresh if you have it.)

You could go crazy with different toppings!

I've tried barbecue sauce and chicken with cheddar cheese..so good.

The possibilities are endless..

and a good dough makes all the difference.

enjoy!