I need your help! BIG TIME!

So, the bad news is that Nick has to work on Valentine's day and we won't get to celebrate it until he is off on the 18th. But the good news is that this set back gives me a little more time to get things together and for this darlin' outfit I ordered from Etsy to arrive! I really hope it fits because I can't imagine a more perfect Wilderness Explorer outfit.

I have decided on doing an Up! inspired Valentine's day, except I am making a few changes to the whole shebang because it is the day of love afterall and pink, red, blue and white are a lot more appropriate than the traditional wildernesss explorer colors on a day like this.

To do:
+ Make 3 Badge Sashes
+ Make lots of little badges to earn as they complete tasks
+ Make Wilderness Explorer pennant flags to wave around
+ Make Wilderness Explorer Handbook filled with challenges
+ Make "My Adeventure Book" for Nick
+ Make little house with tons of balloons tied to it

Challenges:
+ Homemade Trail Mix
+ Learn a Hiking Song
+ Swimming (bathtime!)
+ Recycling Project
+ Tub Fishing
+ Build a Tent for a living room campout (bedtime!)

Please send along more toddler-friendly ideas that can be completed inside. It's a bit too cold and snowy to fly kites, go on a hike, collect rocks, build a fire, or complete any of the more fun (sad face, mad arms) camping tasks.

A Happy Little Giveaway

Alrighty, so the blog geek within has me convinced that it is time for me to do a giveaway on my little corner of the net. I have always wanted to do one of these but did not really want to hold one without any rhyme or reason. In the midst of a winter wonderland, I figured a bag full of happy spring loot would be the perfect pick-me-up for many of us! It certainly put a smile on my face putting it together.

What's included??

(*) Reusable Oilcloth Picnic Lunch Bag
(*) Green Polka Dotted Tissue Holder
(*) Haley's Signature Spring Flowers Hair Bow
(*) Brown Muslin Upcycled Pin Cushion
(*) Sweet Bird Patterned Pouch for your goodies

To Enter simply:
(1) Follow my blog and leave a comment about your favorite spring activity on this post
(2) Recieve an additional entry for commenting on a previous post (grab a cup of tea and please stay awhile)
(3) Recieve an additional entry for posting this giveaway on your blog (and please note that you did)

If there's enough interest, I will be drawing 3 names and be sending out 2 additional spring-themed zip pouches :)

Drawing will be held Wednesday, February 10th!
Good Luck, Sweet Friends!

Finally...

Be still my heart, my little lady is growing up! It only took about 2 and a half years, but Haley will finally let me stick bows in her hair without throwing an all out temper tantrum. Everyone take note of that SMILE! Now, the length of time she'll keep them in varies, but I will take what I can get. I want to make her a million more of these. They are simple and quick and I feel a new upcycling project coming up.

We are all about back to 100% health and to celebrate we are doing a little spring-themed giveaway.

Stay tuned...

taxes, taxes, taxes

Nick and I had a date last night. It lacked all romance and was more like a trip to Vegas, but I suppose that's typical of all tax-completing dates. Unless you have a cute accountant. We used Turbotax, which has a bit of a slot-machine nature to it and definitley adds a bit of excitement to the whole dreaded tax-filing process. Those who have used it know exactly what I mean. There is a "totals" section in the top right corner of the screen that shows both your federal and state returns and it increases or decreases, digit by digit, as you fill out each section. Thankfully for us, there was a whole lot more increasing than decreasing going on!

What plans do y`all have for your returns? We are saving some, using a chunk to buy a washing machine (finally!), paying off some credit cards and doctor's bills, and I am splurging on this perfect-in-every-way camera bag I found on Etsy.

I believe things are starting to look up!

Happy Weekend and Happier Filing, my friends!