35 Times Around The Sun - Rainbow Craft Birthday Brunch

I celebrated a Milestone Birthday recently

and it was a lovely celebration,

surrounded by close friends,

enjoying brunch, 

crafts, 

and a beautiful RAINBOW Birthday Cake!

(baked by the music teacher at school, Bene,

who also happens to have a cake business

and gifted to me by my very good friend

and kindergarten teacher, Sharon)

It was Rainbow inside

and out!

 Good Drinks. 

(Champagne Mimosas)

Good Food...

 Spinach Quiche.

 Cheesy Potato Awesomeness. 

Baby Arugula Salad.

Anyone recognize my beautiful Table Cloth/Art Quilt?

It's from Martha Miller's Etsy Shop Brainstorm Studio

(Mother's Day gift to myself this past year!) 

Good Friends. 

Etsy Rainbow Waldorf Star Votives

From Green Baboon Design's Etsy Shop

(Birthday gift to myself- because what husband

 is going to know to order them!)

Art Studio tables decked out in 

Contractors Paper.

We made Pressed Leaf Lanterns

(with Mod-Podge) 

some of the leaves stuck better than others. 

 It was a bit of a craft fail.

But MOST of them turned out. 

We also made Kite Paper

Window Stars. 

(I order my kite paper here from Palumba)

Favor Bags to take home Glass Leaf Lanterns

(with Paint Chip Name Tags)

 My Awesome Card from "E" ; ) 

(Color Wheel printables from One Charming Party's

Free Printable Art Gallery Party)

I have the best friends a girl could ever ask for.

A perfect way to celebrate

35 times around the Sun. 

Fondly,

pink and green mama,

Thanksgiving Traditions

Today, I thought I would share a few of our favorite 

Thanksgiving Day Traditions.

One of our favorite activities

is our annual Turkey Bowl,

a flag football played 

on the street in front of our house.

It's a multi-generational event.

My husband's family always hosted one 

on the street they grew up on...

we've continued the tradition 

with our own daughters. 

 Friends, 

Family,

and Neighbors gather for 

the big game!

I mark the end zones

(and the 50 yard line) 

with white flour.

Fresh cider, doughnuts, and hot coffee

are served on our front yard.

After hot showers/baths, we head over

to Grandma and Grandpa's house

for the yummiest dinner ever

(cooked by my dad the chef)

He's a jack of all trades -- 

he MADE that cute, little, 

glowing pumpkin village

on their sideboard.

Then, we all take turns signing

the cotton table cloth at my mom's house. 

(we use sharpies and put a magazine underneath 

so we don't ruin the table!)

It has notes and drawings

 from each person present at Thanksgiving Dinner

every year. 

First hand prints, 

Hand Turkeys,

Poems, 

Gratitude Lists...

They're all on there. 

Signing the table cloth,

Thanksgiving 2009.

Big sister, "E" adding an elaborate drawing!

Tracing my niece's hand for her 

very FIRST Turkey Day last year. 

That table cloth has first thanksgiving hand prints

from all three little cousins, 

"E", "C", and "A" 

That tablecloth is priceless. 

What are your favorite 

Thanksgiving traditions?

Gobble, Gobble. 

Fondly,

pink and green mama

Countdown to Christmas: Homemade Family Advent Calendar

Last year, my daughters and I 

made this Family Advent Calendar

to countdown to Christmas.

Each envelope contains a daily family activity

to help us slow down and enjoy 

the month of December. 

We can't wait to set it up again this year.

In case you want to make your own, 

I wanted to post again this week so you would

 have time to make one before December 1st!

Here is our Harris Family Advent List

1. Candlelit bath for the girls!

2. Make Paper Snowflakes and Decorate the Windows

3. Make a CD of Christmas Music for the playroom/mom's minivan.

4. Rootbeer Floats!

5. Bake something yummy with Mama

6. Make Christmas Cards for Friends/Family

7. Have hot chocolate with marshmallows.

8. Make a pipe cleaner candy cane or wreath.

9. Make a Paper Chain.

10. Use puppets to tell a Bedtime Story.

11. Have an indoor picnic.

12. Family Game Night (Wii, board games, puzzles?)

13. Make and Decorate a Gingerbread House.

14. Dance and Sing to Christmas Music.

15. Set up the Mouse Nativity.

16. Make a Christmas Craft.

17. Make a Christmas Ornament.

18. Dress Fancy for Dinner tonight.

19. Fashion Show with Clothes made out of gift wrap!

(Recycled from opening presents with grandparents)

20. Make and Hang Edible Gifts/ornaments for the Birds and Squirrels.

21. Surprise a neighbor with an act of kindness.

22. At Home Pedicures!

23. Watch a Christmas movie with popcorn.

24. Pick your Favorite Christmas book for mom (or dad) to read aloud.

25. Open Presents!

Happy Countdown!

Fondly,

pink and green mama, 

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things (and people!)

As Christmas, out of town visiting family, and

winter break from school all arrive this week,

I'm trying to slow down and enjoy the little things

that make me smile throughout the day. 

No crafts or projects to post today, 

I'm just going to share a few of my favorite things, 

(and favorite little people) around here. 

 First Snow of the Winter!

It was only about 2 inches but they still managed

 to sled in it for three days.

 New batch of re-cycled crayons

with Wilton heart pan, Ikea starfish molds and Ikea fish molds. 

We'll stick with the heart molds-- the others break too easily!

 Big sister reading Christmas books to little sister

on the couch in the morning

while I make breakfast. 

 Playing "Orchard" on the family room floor

in Pajamas. Nicely. Without Bickering. 

Best. Game. Ever.

 "C" Over the moon to have finicky Daisy Cat settled in on her lap. 

 Playing Barbies under the Christmas tree.

I think the whole world should be lit in Christmas tree light.

Wouldn't they make pretty street lights? 

 My beautiful, German, winter light from Mom and Dad

(favorite birthday present this year along with my wool felting set)

This will be up all winter, not just for Christmas.

Little girls playing under the tree...again.

"E" twirling in the Tree Skirt 

the day we set up the Christmas tree.

Dimples just like daddy!

Baskets of Good books=

lots of extra couch snuggling.

Happy Favorite Things 

and Happy Holidays!

Remember to slow down this week and enjoy the little things

and little people who make your days worthwhile. 

Fondly,

pink and green mama,