Vroom Room

This is just a little quickie quick update to what I've been doing in the boys room.  The last time I talked about this we were moving Hunter into Jagger's room and converting everyone into a toddler bed.  Well after a spontaneous trip to home goods, I walked out with a theme and a better understanding of what I want going on in there.  It all started with this beauty I found

If you at all know me, you know I'm terrified of hanging things on the wall.  TERRIFIED.  So actually buying a piece of "art" and hanging it was a big step.  I have a feeling once more things start happening in this room this canvas might get moved to the striped wall...but for now it's amazing that it's just UP.

I also decided to bring the boys car rug and bean bag chairs up into their room, regardless of the protests of my husband.  I TOTALLY get that we have a big ol' basement that they can use for their playroom so why clutter their room with toys and such.  The answer is simple....because we adults also deserve some space in this house.  I find it unfair that we have a teeny space for our computer, I sew at the kitchen table, and we use the ENTIRE basement purely for mass amounts of toys.  NO MORE!!  Time to SHARE the house....after all....we stress sharing all the time.  Why not start with us.  So bean bags UPSTAIRS.  Besides, it really does make a nice little reading nook and it's great to be able for them to play while I do the laundry or whatever and not have to worry about being 2 floors away from them, fearing that one is poking the other's eye out.  It has happened.  The poking of the eye...not the actually "out" part....

I also got them some little auto and train throw pillows for their beds.  I'm DYING to get 2 twin size big boy beds in here...but see those cribs?  Yes they are the convertible kind that you can use as a headboard and foot board and all that jazz.  Which is FANTASTIC...but not for someone like me who changes their mind every 2 years.  So husband is determined to use them...and I keep stressing that we will store them and in the next house, when they have their own rooms, we will upgrade those twins that I want to full size for them and all will be good so peace be with you.  That man takes alot of convincing, and I'm still not there.  Not to mention, 2 full size beds will NOT fit in this room.  Anyway...I also have to figure out what to do with that center curtain in the car pattern...nix it? Add a panel to the bottom? Maybe switch it with the panels that are above the bean bags? Who knows....but you know it will be 8 months before I get to it.  #lazytiredmom.

Happy Thursday y'all!

chuRROS

Odd looking, but still totally delicious!

One of our neighbors and good friends threw a Mexican fiesta over the holidays, and I was charged with bringing dessert.  There is almost nothing that I would rather have for a Mexican desert than churros….trust me that’s where my money goes when I’m at Disneyland!  But since the Magic Kingdom is nowhere near New Jersey and I’m not totally willing to spend $3.50 a pop to feed a crowd (myself maybe…but not others.  I need to work on sharing…), I thought I’d try my hand at making them.  I used this recipe here and it was so simple and SO easy.  The only thing I might change is to get a larger star tip, as mine was a bit wimpy and they came out looking a little wormy.  Still, these were so worth the effort and are definitely going to be a staple in my quick comfort food arsenal!

 

Good Tidying I Bring..

Ever year around this time, I get clean frantic.  It’s like spring cleaning, but mine comes in winter.  Maybe it’s because I’m spending more time in doors since it's below freezing out, or maybe its because when I just want to curl up on the couch it takes me an hour to clear off the books and toys, find a blanket, find my pillows that have been thrown everywhere, and then I’m just tired and want to go to bed.
So, since I have a few days off now without kids (yes I take them to school/daycare on my days off….how else would I get anything done?), I’ve decided to tidy ONE small area of my house at a time.  Not rooms, not whole closets….one, measly thing.  I know it doesn’t sound like much, but with my time, energy, and lack of ability to finish large tasks in one day because I keep getting sidetracked with little details…ONE small area works for me.  So my last day off was the dresser in our master bedroom.  Not the drawers…just the top.  This is what it looked like before I began:

Ugh its so ugly.  And it’s been like this for, well, ever.  Sometimes it gets neat and sometimes its worse than others…but overall it usually look like this.  Love that I have Hunters “sick” cup just sitting there….hasn’t been sick for at least a week…

Ugly alarm clock.  I know Craig doesn’t think it’s that bad, but guess what’s going to be in his stocking for Christmas??  Oh!  Just what I’ve always wanted!!    And then we have random knick knacks that actually have meaning to us but we aren't displaying them like we should.  Bad Lani….
More random crap….
Not random crap…but why aren’t these pics in frames?  Oh…because I am a slacker.  I admit it now.  Hi, my name is Lani, and I’m a design slacker.
And ugly phone.  We never use this phone.  I don’t even know if this phone works.  If anyone were to call us in the middle of the night they would call my cell.  So why do I have this phone in my room….

So, after clearing off the dresser, giving her a good rub down and dusting, shopping my house, arranging and rearranging, and of course, using the power of pix messaging to get Heather’s opinion…It now looks like this!

Hooray!  It’s neat, it’s sort of asymmetrically balanced, it’s not as offensive to the eyes, to say the least!  I plan on adding a mirror above the tray and perhaps some kind of collage effect to the rest.  And I’m sure this will change like every month….but for now I’m really enjoying the neatness.
These vases were a snag at Target!  I think the large was $6 and the medium was $5.  They were part of this whole equestrian themed display and I just fell for the stud detail on them!  Then I placed the “brick” with mine and Craig’s name and anniversary on it front and center.  It was hidden behind the ugly alarm clock.  The brick is one of those places outside Disneyland and this little acrylic piece is a copy of what it looks like.  Craig bought the brick as a wedding present since we were married at the Disneyland Hotel.  And why was this not displayed properly before?  (see slacker note above)

I grabbed this tray from downstairs, and I’ll probably change the fabric that’s below the glass.  I finally framed one of the pics that were laying around, and displayed my new gold bowl and white urchin from the Nate Berkus collection at Target.  Hello Nate Berkus….welcome to my bedroom.
I’m loving how clean and simple it looks and am really just glad that the dresser is clear.  Now that I have a day off today…I’m finding another little thing to clean off before I start my frantic clean-for-Thanksgiving-so-none-of-your-guests-think-you’re-a-hoarder spree!  Yay!

SANDY???

Tell me about it....stud...

Yup...I've got chills...they're multiplying   Because of this dang hurricane!!!  How unbelievable is it that 2 hurricanes make land fall in NJ 2 years in a row?  Last year I felt like I was ultra over prepared with my kit and everything...ready for anything..



This year this hurricane is supposed to basically take a direct left turn into New Jersey and hit us hard..and what am I doing to prep?  Laundry and baking muffins.  What...isn't that what you're supposed to do?  Just in case our power goes out I want to make sure everyone has clean underwear and fresh baked goods.  I'm happy with that...

{My owl-ys getting their bake on}

{pumpkin muffins}

So I'm home today with the boys as their school got closed, living the SAHM life again.  Some creativity may explode and Ish may get done because I basically have a whole extra day at home...but no promises will be made as I am horrible at keeping them.  Hope everyone affected is safe and happy and prepared...and if you're insane like I am...happy puddle jumping as well.

Medieval Times–East Coast

It’s like an old skool coastal rival….Knight style!  Whhhaat….
Like Heather told you all on Tuesday, we were fortunate enough to be contacted by the folks at Medieval Times to be their guests to experience a show “together.”  It’s really actually very awesome that our families were able to do this together and talk about the show and who’s knight won and all that while being so far away.  I’ve been to the show in California when I was a senior in high school, so it was fun going to a different castle and seeing it there.

The castle in NJ is about a 2 hour drive from out house, so we were a little worried with naps in the car some attitude when we got there….but the boys didn’t disappoint. They were ooo-ing and ahh-in at the castle from the outside, but right when you go in the first thing you do is take a picture with the king and Hunter wanted no part of it. He’s not the best picture taker ever, always looks down or away, but this picture he had his full back to the camera….WOULD NOT TURN. Fine, just take the pic. Those poor people tried to do everything possible to get him to turn around…but no dice. Stubborn like his momma.


And like Heather said before, the food is a part of the experience as much as the show. Being that my kids (Hunter again) is not the BEST eater ever…I was a bit nervous and ended up packing little snack boxes with cheese, crackers, grapes, and turkey pepperoni…just in case. Lo and behold…he didn’t disappoint again. I take that back…a little. The kids cups (which were shaped like knights helmets) were a big hit. My kids do like kitsch. He loved the focaccia bread, tried just a little of the soup, took one bit of chicken, but wouldn’t touch the rib. I don’t blame you really, Hunter, I’m not the biggest fan of “bone in” meats….but the food was gooooood. Jagger ate a little better, and fully dived right in with the non use of utensils. That child embraces mess.


Once the show started….the attitudes of the kids TOTALLY changed. Meaning…everyone was smiling and laughing and enthralled with the horses. Hunter finally put on his crown and really enjoyed chanting with everyone for the green knight. I even got a flower….apparently because I am a pretty fair maiden. Not sure if that’s pretty fair….or pretty and fair. Either way. Flower was thrown to me (in no way did I push a young girl out of the way and dive into the aisle to catch it ala wedding bouquet style.) Both boys enjoyed my little snack packs halfway through the show, so I was quite glad I planned ahead for that, which was fine by me because the show lets you take home your leftovers and I made a delectable chicken salad the next night from uneaten bone meat.

Jagger had a little trouble sitting still after our green knight died….booo….so I took him out to the lobby to run around. It was actually great because nobody was there and he could look at all the little tchotskys in the display case. Like the good sales people they are trained to be…one lady let him hold a light up magic wand….so you know I was “forced” to buy 2 because Jagger didn’t want to let it go and I couldn’t get him something and not Hunter. S’okay…I would have probably bought one anyway. Attention all retailers everywhere….I’m a sucker for souvenirs. Put something in my hand or my kids', and I’ll probably get it…just and FYI. And you know it’s a good time when the kiddies fall asleep in the car…still clutching their new toy.





It really was a fantastic time and Craig and I were already saying that we cant wait to go back in a few years!  This is something that will definitely be on our do again list!  Thank you for having us Medieval Times!

Medieval Times–West Coast

Medieval Times snuck on to our Summer To Do list somewhere in between squirt gun fights and roasting marshmallows on a campfire. There are lots of summer birthdays in our family, and since I started a let’s-go-do-something-super-fun trend with going to the San Diego Safari Park, we thought a trip to Medieval Times would be super cool. Most of my family had never been before. I went with my mom over a decade ago! Swords, horses, knights in shining armor – It’s definitely a 3 year old’s idea of a good time, so Will was on board.

The food is just as much a part of the whole experience as the knights.

Delicious vegetable soup in a bowl with a handle. Some tasty garlic bread. Chicken on the bone, ribs, potato wedges. Finger foods galore! And of course, this 3 year old, self declared “Big Boy” of ours had to do it all, all by himself. He didn’t want his dessert, so me and Hubby got to share that bonus morsel.

We also got very familiar with the location of the restrooms thanks to the frequent refills. We had a great waiter, too!

Let the games begin!

Go Yellow & Black Knight!

That’s the look of defeat:
Our Yellow & Black Knight almost made it until the very end. Will, aka our Iron Man enthusiast, wasn’t too upset since the Red Knight won!

Smiles all around!

Call it fate when Dennis from Medieval Times emailed us & asked us if both Lani and I wanted to take our families to see a show. Who knew that they have a couple of castles scattered across the country! There aren’t many things that both of us at Diapers&Divas can experience on either coast. A big THANK YOU to Dennis and the Medieval Times crew for hooking us up with an awesome experience! Dinner and a show!