tunes for tuesday

today's pick:

staycation postcards - free download!

i've been wanting to do a few projects like this for a while, sort of a giveaway without all the mucking about with comments and winners. so...this is my first (what i would consider) really good free download—the staycation postcards. i thought this might be good for anyone who isn't going anywhere in particular this summer, but would like to send a nice note to family about what they HAVE been up to (just because you're not going to some fabulous destination doesn't mean you haven't done wonderful, fun things afterall).

so all you have to do to win (ha!), is download the pdf here, print it out (i recommend printing on cardstock)...

then score...

fold...

cut...

and glue together. voila!

two notes: my printer has water soluble ink, so if the postcards get wet, they'll run. if you're really concerned, you can always use them with envelopes. AND i designed these to be a bit oversize (5" x 7"), so they're going to require a little extra postage. you can always scale them down when you print to get them within the USPS regulations for standard postcard rates, but that's up to you.

recently—a lengthy recap of semi-interesting tidbits having to do with sam

last thursday sam capped off a day of playing "let's test mommy's patience" by being sent to bed early. an hour later i found him coated head-to-toe in buttpaste in his big, red chair (which was also coated in buttpaste—along with large splootches on the floor, wall, and smeared on the window).

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sam has recently become quite the conversationalist, often referring to his favorite topics:

"how is your day good?", "daddy? you big daddy?", and "mommy? you big mommy?" (the last two topics to be used when mike and i are having a conversation with each other, and not with him). however, every once in a while, he'll come up with something new and unexpected. for example, a conversation we had earlier today:

sam: i am here now

me: yes. i'm glad you're here now. i'd be sad if you weren't here.

sam: you lost at store.

me: i'd be lost at the store if you weren't here?

sam: *nods knowingly*

interesting. and another:

sam: i'm going zoo. my hair is too long. and blond also.

me: ?

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we have invested in a small, inflatable pool for the backyard. originally we thought we'd get a summer family pass for the public pool, but i really couldn't see myself getting all geared up to hang out knowing that we'd probably be there 10 minutes before sam would be too bored, or too cold, or start having meltdowns because some kid has a better toy than he does or someone splashed him or the fountains were too scary, etc. so we have been playing in the pool in the hot mornings before lunch. afterward we've been having freeze-pops on the front porch. sam thinks this is the bees knees.

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today we found a (deceased) cicada on the driveway. sam must have found it relatively interesting, because he kept asking to go back out and stare at it.

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we also made chocolate chip cookies. sam is a great helper when it comes to dumping things in the mixer, though he has a hard time waiting for the "taste testing" portion of helping.

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sam has also been doing a lot more scenarios when playing with me and his cars and trucks. recently it he wants to play "let's go to the zoo" or "it's time to get new trailers!" the games are still not exactly thrilling, but they are getting more involved (i.e. have to come up with dialogue. i never thought i'd need practice conversing with cars.)

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last wednesday sam got into trouble at daycare for following around his friend tabitha and taking anything away from her that she wanted to play with (this apparently encompassed any leaf she managed to find on the ground). our daycare provider said that he'd probably be better if he had a sibling. thanks for the advice. apparently she's never heard him fighting with HIMSELF in the backseat of the car over which hand gets to hold the toy first. the boy doesn't need a sibling. he needs a therapist.

tunes for tuesday

this week it's sam's turn:

tunes for tuesday

sam and i are big music fans. i am constantly looking for something new to listen to, and sam is usually looking for something to sing (i was pretty distraught a couple of weeks ago when my mp3 player threatened to kick the bucket, let me tell you). so, i thought it would be fun to start a "tunes for tuesday" post. sometimes they'll be my picks, sometimes sam's, but i think it will be fun to go hunting for new music to share and i hope you agree.

my pick for this first tunes for tuesday:

whoa buddy…let's back that blog up a minute

here are a few of my favorite photos from the fourth of july weekend.

we really had a fabulous/busy one (as usual).

summer accessories

i'll admit it. i bought one of those straw hats/fedoras i've been seeing on other bloggers' "must have summer fashion" posts (well, a cheaper version, anyway). i still haven't had the courage to wear it outside the house, but i have been admiring it sitting in a corner of my bedroom (and occasionally on my head in front of the mirror). i've been mostly relying on my extensive (some might say "excessive") collection of scarves and homemade bead necklaces for a bit of summer accessorization (if it wasn't a word, it is now).

do you read those "must have" posts? if so, what have you been coveting? if not, what is your "go to" accessory that gets pulled out every summer?

and our winner is…

random.org has chosen missy! congrats!

i was so glad to have a few new visitors, and hopefully i'll be doing another handmade giveaway soon!

have a sweet holiday weekend

i baked a batch of good ol' "to my valentine" oatmeal cookies for mike's fourth of july work cookout today. this is probably my most favorite iced cookie recipe because they not only look really fun and festive, but they have a bit more flavor than a sugar cookie (sam performed the quality control for me, of course.)

i'm sure i've blogged about these cookies before, but i'm not sure if i included the recipe or not. so here it is, just in case:

To My Valentine Oatmeal Cookies

2½ cups flour 2 Tbs milk

1 tsp baking powder 1 egg

½ tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla

¾ cup sugar 1 cup oats

¾ cup butter or margarine

1) sift dry ingredients into bowl

2) add butter, sugar, milk, egg, and vanilla; beat until combined, about 2 minutes

3) add oats and mix well

4) roll to ¼ inch thick and cut into hearts (or stars)

5) bake on a greased cookie sheet at 350° (moderate) 12–15 minutes or until lightly browned

6) frost with a glaze made from powdered sugar, vanilla, food coloring, and enough milk to make a spreading consistency

(you can download a recipe card here.)

we're off to visit family and eat yummy stuff, celebrate a birthday or two, and see some fireworks. huzzah! what are your plans?