worley house

March 1, 2012

{Giveaway} Pull-Ups Potty Training Goodies

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Alicia & Vanessa please send me your address YOU'VE WON!

Happy Thrusday Everyone!

This is the first of a few giveaways coming up in the next couple weeks! Get excited!

We're starting the potty traning process with Ava. So far we've just introduced her to it, but she's showing signs and we think she's ready to start for real.

Today I have a fun giveaway for you! Are you ready to start potty training your little one?

Have you tested the waters? Pull-Ups has some great rescources for parents and today I get to giveaway 3 fun party packs to help you kick off potty training with your little one!

Each gift pack will include:

Pull-Ups® Potty Dance Sticker Sheets

Pull-Ups® Potty Training Success DVDs

Pull-Ups® Potty Day Dance Instructional Manual

Pull-Ups® Potty Dance Progress Charts

Pull-Ups® Potty Dance Door Hangers

Pull-Ups® Potty Dance Inflatable Guitars

Pull-Ups® Big Kid® Club Information Cards with Point Code

Pull-Ups® Potty Dance Coupon Books

Sounds fun right?!! Here's how you can enter:

- you must be a public follower of this blog. {sign up with GFC to the right if not.}

- only US residents only

I'm trying something new, use the Rafflecopter below to make all your entries!

You can enter all of these options, or just 1. You choose. Giveaway will end Sunday. I'll announce the winner Sunday night.

How We Document Life

Creating memories and capturing them are a huge part of The Worley House! A camera is never to far away from my hand, and I'm always looking for the best ways to preserve those memories for my family. One of the ways that we document life here is through photo books each year.

I used to be an avid scrap booker and always printed off my pictures. But, in an effort to save time and money I've gone digital in the last 5 years and now make photo books for my family.

These are great to look back on every year, we keep them on a shelf under our coffee table. They are a great conversational piece for when guests come over. They are a great way for my to show off my sweet little family.

I made an album for Ava of her first year, and now I'm finishing up my second book for her. I hope to one day give them to her when she's 18 or married so she can take her memories with her.

I use Shutterfly to make and print my books. I've used other sites as well in the years but I've found {in my opinion} that I prefer Shutterfly to some of the others. They have great layouts, pre made designs, lots of embellishments that you can use, and anyone can make a book with their site tools. I also really love Shutterfly for their prices and discounts. I always let my book sit in my "cart" until a 40% or half off code arrives in my email. Then I purchase my books for a cheaper price.

Here's a preview of some of the layouts I've created in Shutterfly;

I also use Picnik & FotoFlexer sometimes to create collages and upload them into my books. They add a little something extra to my books.

I always keep and extra copy of the year's Christmas card, Another thing that I do is add the years Christmas card to the inside of our book, you can see this on the right. I just tape them to the inside of the book so that we can remember that year's card.

There are some really great options for documenting life, this is just one option that really works great for me and my family. I hope that it inspires you to dust off those pictures and put them in an album for your family to remember.

For a great article I found on creating layouts for your family albums, I recommend this one. Another great source for creating albums & documenting life is from Becky Higgins using her Project Life, Check it out here.

How do you document life? I'd love to hear them in the comments.

{I also want to mention I am in no way affiliated with the links & sites mentioned above, I truly love their products that's all.}

February 28, 2012

My Mommy Morning

Last week was a hard week, mostly because Ava was sick. Last Monday, Hubby had the day off and he took Ava to the doctor because Sunday afternoon she got a 102.6 fever! Yikes! Come to find out baby girl had a double ear infection. So for three days we fought the fever, and everything else that comes with your baby being sick.

I ended up taking Thursday off work to be at home with her since she was still sick. But, by the end of the week I was beat. Friday afternoon I decided that I needed a day. Some me time. You know what I mean?

It's been a long time since I've run errands just me, or gotten my hair done and enjoyed a relaxing day. I don't get that much anymore. And it's ok, because I love being with my family. But, every now and then you need some time for yourself I think. To do something for you. I think it keeps me sane, and in turn makes me a better wife and mother.

I couldn't take a whole day, so I decided I was just going to take the morning hours. Grab coffee and do whatever else my heart desired for a whole morning.

Friday afternoon while Ava napped I baked muffins for Ava and Orion to have while I was gone Saturday morning.

Saturday morning I grabbed coffee and headed to the Dollar Store, I love that place. So many fun things there. I was on the hunt for a few things for Ava's birthday party and a few other things.

I always buy coloring books and crayons there. They are cheap. And with a dog who eats half the crayons and the way Ava goes through a coloring book it's a great solution.

After that it was off to the salon where I spent the rest of my morning. Being pampered, getting foiled up!

By the time my hair was done it was already noon and I stopped by the grocery store before heading home. Feeling glad that I was able to get away and make time for myself even just for a few hours.

What have you done lately for yourself? How do you like to spend a morning, day or hour kid free?

February 27, 2012

Sausage & Potato Soup

This is a little soup recipe paying homage to my German roots. It's a hearty soup, and a great comfort food. I make it all in 1 stock pot, and it's super easy. Here's how you can make it for your family.

What you'll need:

1 qt/ 32oz. of chicken stock

4 medium size potatoes chopped in cubes

1 Kilbasa Sausage sliced

1 cup carrots chopped

8 oz. shredded cabbage {I buy the pre shredded stuff in a bag, makes it easier}

4 cups water

1 tablespoon seasoning salt

salt & pepper to taste {I add this in towards then end after I've tasted it, since there will be salt from the sausage & seasoning already.}

Parsley

Here's what you'll do:

Use your stock pot and on medium heat fry all the sliced sausage, just getting a golden sear on both sides. Once cooked add in your stock and water, then add the potatoes, carrots and cabbage. Stir and add in the seasoning salt. Bring all ingrediants to a boil and cook on medium heat till the potatoes and carrots are tender.

Spoon full your bowls and add some parsley on top to garish.

Enjoy!

Linking With: A Bowl Full of Lemons, Get Your Craft On, Tuesday's Treasures

Blog Roll Monday: Moriah Makes

Blog Roll Monday is a weekly feature where I high light one of the blogs on my reading list, and tell you why you should be reading it too!

*****

I've been following Moriah's blogging journey from the beginning. Formally known as Josiah's Nest. Moriah and I went to church together when we used to live in Minneapolis, and I've loved keeping in touch with her through her blog! She is a wife, Momma of 2, handmade shop owner and has a passion for sharing with others! You can find out more about her here.

One of the things I love about Moriah's blog is her desire to share with your women who are passionate about what they do! She has a series every Tuesday called 'Pursuing Her Passion' where she high lights other women and how they are using their God given talents to impact their world! You can check out the entire series here.

Besides being really cute and very funny, she also has a handmade shop with lots of little goodies for yourself, babies and friends! I have 1 of her necklaces and I love it! It's always a fave of mine and I get so many compliments when I wear it. Check out her shop here.

Can't say enough awesome things about this lady! So go check out her blog today, her babies are cute too!

February 23, 2012

{DIY} Zebra Print Cupcake Toppers

I'm back with another fun birthday party post! I've bought several cupcake toppers like this from various Etsy shops and loved them. I decided this year to try and make my own, they are so easy and they are a great way to get rid of all that scrapbook paper I've got sitting around! Here's how to start making your own:

Here's what you'll do:

I like to choose two paper colors for contrast, but you could always just do 1 color. This is just a method you can switch this up anyway you like.

I knew I wanted to make 24 cupcake toppers. I used the scallop punch to punch out 24 zebra print circles from the zebra paper. Then I used the circle punch to punch out 24 from the turquoise paper. Once you have them all punched out, set them aside for the next step.

I used some small foam squares to "glue" them together. Plus it added a nice 3D effect that I liked. If you can't find these or don't have any you can just glue the two circles one on top of each other. When you're done all of them will look like the last picture. Now, you're ready to glue on your lollipop sticks.

I used my hot glue gun to glue on the sticks to the back. Just use a small dab of glue and attach the stick to the back. Keep repeating this step until they are all glue on. They will end up looking like this:

Now you're ready to put them on top of your cupcakes!

Aren't they cute?! I can't wait to add these to her party decor! If you don't feel like making your own lucky for you I made a few extras and I'm selling them in the shop!

Happy Cupcake Topper Making!

Linking Up With: Pity Party @ 30 Handmade Days, Sundae Scoop @ Iheart Naptime, Weekend Wrap Up Party @ Tatertots & Jello, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Get Your Craft On, Tuesday's Treasures.