Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers

I'm glad you liked it :)

2012-05-25T08:47:57.798-05:00

I'm glad you liked it :)

It was very hot yesterday. So I decided to try thi...

2012-05-25T05:54:54.434-05:00

It was very hot yesterday. So I decided to try this one out. And I must say it was worth all the trouble.Its very delicious!

I didn't actually grow up there. My mother is...

2012-05-24T11:01:05.696-05:00

I didn't actually grow up there. My mother is Icelandic and met my dad in college here in the states. I grew up a Navy brat, but my mom's whole family was in Iceland so it was the constant. I lived there for about 6 months when I was very young (2) and again I lived there the summer after I graduated high school, and of course we visit as often as possible.

For tourist things, the area covered by the Golden Circle Tour is breathtaking and a can't miss, so you are covered there. Bláa Lónið (Blue Lagoon) is a nice place to spend a few hours. It's kind of crazy, you'll go in and find a hot spot, but the hot spots drift, so you drift to find new ones.

My favorite things are the little farms and such in the countryside, and the lava fields, I'm not sure how to help you with those though because we've always had family take us or we were visiting a friends farm. If you are renting a vehicle, someone can direct you to the lava fields. Not sure if Skógar is included in the Golden Circle Tour, but there is a very cool turf house museum there.

If you can, go to Perlan for a meal (not cheap) but the food and the views are amazing. You can go up just for the views though, you don't have to eat there. Hallgrímskirkja is pretty impressive, it's in downtown Reykjavik. There is Solfar, a viking boat sculpture which is right on the bay which is a nice photo op. I assume you'll be walking around downtown at least one day. There are silver shops that sell jewelry all around downtown Iceland, and a lot of replicas of old pieces of jewelry so they are very unique compared to what you find in the states. Viðey is neat to go to for a night tour if you have a lot of time in Iceland. It's across the harbour, so it eats up a bit to go over and it's a nice place to see, but if you don't have a lot of time, skip it. You can take Icelandic horse tours, there are some out of both Reykjavik and Kopavogur. I've always wanted to go by the Vestmannaeyjar (Westmann Island's) and see the Puffins but it would depend on how much time you have in the country. I never go because I'm generally there to visit family, not sight see so we only spend a day really going down south to "sight see".

Eat dessert as often as possible, in the states dessert is all about the sweet... there you will get amazing fruit and cream things that are yum. Ponnukokur are an absolute must try.

This company comes highly recommended for the "off the beaten path" tourist adventure: http://icelandactivities.wordpress.com/
Based on the photos they take you to some of the types of places I love to see the most... the houses built right into the land, natural hot springs, stuff like that.

I can give you more personalized advice based on what you like to do as well. Right now I'm just trying to think of all the general touristy stuff.

For instance, my 2 year old daughter is going for the first time, so we'll be spending a lot of our time up north with my Aunt and at my cousins farm where the sheep have just finished birthing so there are a TON of lambs and new ponies and she is going to LOVE it. Depending on how old your niece is, there are farms in Iceland that allow tourists to visit. And a farm in Iceland is nothing like a farm in the states. Anyway, feel free to email me (zayabibu@gmail.com) for more help. I leave tomorrow though and I won't be back until after you leave, so the time frame for questions is limited I'm afraid.

Hi. I stumbled onto your blog through Creative Itc...

2012-05-23T22:24:39.045-05:00

Hi. I stumbled onto your blog through Creative Itch and I was so excited. My sister, mom, niece and I are traveling to Iceland on June 2nd. I wondered if you could give some advice on things we absolutely should do. We don't want to miss a thing. This country (I think you grew up there) looks so beautiful. We are going on a Golden Circle Tour. Thank you for any advice you can give us.

Thank you Carrie! She's loving it so far! I...

2012-05-23T12:53:27.283-05:00

Thank you Carrie! She's loving it so far! I'll add a link to your blog as well, I didn't realize you and ladybug blessings were together. :)

Very cute and fun! How timely for all these road ...

2012-05-23T12:44:44.092-05:00

Very cute and fun! How timely for all these road trips coming up! Thanks for sharing at our Handmade Tuesdays party.

True, t-shirt for mommy will be added! They are r...

2012-05-21T17:16:16.151-05:00

True, t-shirt for mommy will be added!

They are removable glue dots, so she can stick them together. I found paper dolls and accessories. She isn't interested in getting them dressed, but I did elves in different colors and paper dolls with animal friends (horse, puppy, kitty and duck, I think), Raggedy Ann and Andy and the camel with the wrinkled knees, etc. Then I have some "scene" photos printed out in a small handheld photo album. She can put the characters in the scene with the removable dots, take them back off and put them in a new scene. And since they are just print outs I don't care how wrecked they get. I'll take pictures and post that this week :) I have to post about the I-Spy bags I made first, which I'll do tonight.

Loving these travel lists Barbara. May I suggest a...

2012-05-21T16:14:19.081-05:00

Loving these travel lists Barbara. May I suggest an extra t-shirt for yourself. Nothing like a long flight with throw up/spillage on you all the way :)

And how do you play with the glue dots and printable sheets? That's a new one for me.

It seems like a silly place for it, but it really ...

2012-05-18T11:58:00.142-05:00

It seems like a silly place for it, but it really does help. Some things stain no matter what I do, it's not like they rinse her off at daycare right away! :) So my goal is, of course, to get rid of the stains, but if I can't get rid of it, to minimize the appearance of it.

Thank you Tamy!

2012-05-18T11:53:00.537-05:00

Thank you Tamy!

It's good and super easy, I hope he likes it!

2012-05-18T11:52:36.273-05:00

It's good and super easy, I hope he likes it!

Great idea keeping the menu in the closet!

2012-05-17T19:02:35.074-05:00

Great idea keeping the menu in the closet!

Hubby's favorite, I'll be trying this.

2012-05-17T19:01:56.790-05:00

Hubby's favorite, I'll be trying this.

So happy for you that you're finally a mother ...

2012-05-17T19:00:38.189-05:00

So happy for you that you're finally a mother and glad you had such a fun day.

Thank you! I hope the stain guide helps, I have i...

2012-05-16T13:04:12.382-05:00

Thank you! I hope the stain guide helps, I have it laminated in my laundry room.

Thanks for the tips in getting those stains away f...

2012-05-16T06:17:44.004-05:00

Thanks for the tips in getting those stains away for good. I can pretty much use those suggestions for those untouchable stains that keep my clothes from rotting away in the closet forever. And by the way, you have such a lovely child.

laugh Thank you Becca!!!

2012-05-12T22:50:23.314-05:00

*laugh* Thank you Becca!!!

Innocent? Oh, that's not the page I signed. :)...

2012-05-12T21:41:38.941-05:00

Innocent? Oh, that's not the page I signed. :) The book is so sweet all the way through!

I'm glad to hear it works for you, I'm rea...

2012-05-12T01:16:50.757-05:00

I'm glad to hear it works for you, I'm really hoping it makes life easier! And I can handle just making more of what I have planned to make 4 meals, but making 4 separate meals? Too much work! I like your idea of an every other week rotation, it'll be a little more work for two weeks, but then free up 6 weeks! I can go for that :D

I'll definitely do an update on the recipes I've picked and how things go over the next couple of months. I think it'll be worth it.

Thank you Susan! I have a LOT of fun throwing tog...

2012-05-12T01:11:00.646-05:00

Thank you Susan!

I have a LOT of fun throwing together books in Shutterfly now that they have their custom path books. Complete control! Muahahahaha! I never take the time otherwise. I made a book for hubby as a sort of story of things they do together last year, and so thought it would be a good idea to do one for this year, just more of her whole year, not just her and her dad. Then I got the brainstorm to use it as a guestbook and I'm so glad I did. It'll be nice to have for her when she's older.

So Barbara, I think we have some psychic connectio...

2012-05-12T00:48:09.356-05:00

So Barbara, I think we have some psychic connection going on...and it feels like things between us are starting to get a little woo woo!

I have been researching and dabbling in freezer cooking for a while now and realize that the freezer cooking where you cook one day and have meals for a month just doesn't work for me either.

I just can't give over one full day to cooking and freezing and all the prep that goes into it for a day or two before hand. Our family dynamics right now just don't allow for it.

What I have found successful is to plan my menu for the month, prepeating several of the meals on a two week cycle. So for example when I cook each day of the first week I double, triple or quadruple the ingredients and freeze the extra dinners for later that month and beyond.

When I quadruple I have a meal that we will eat four times over a two month period. Prep time is not very much more but hugely less than if I prepped the same dinner at four different times over the two months. Overall this system works great for me.

I'm keen to hear how you progress with this.

Wow Barbara! I love this idea. I am a digital scra...

2012-05-12T00:32:25.760-05:00

Wow Barbara! I love this idea. I am a digital scrapbooker and hadn't thought of using the blank pages in the book to record messages/notes/memories. I am working on digital annual albums of our family. How fun it would be to have everyone write standout memories for the last the year in the book once it is completed.

What a creative lady you are! These will certainly be books to treasure :)

Thank you, he's her favorite friend. :) They ...

2012-05-09T11:16:33.918-05:00

Thank you, he's her favorite friend. :) They are so sweet with each other.

It is! I've made cakes in the past for nieces and nephews parties, but I wasn't doing the rest of the planning too. I love making cakes and decorating them, and it'll be easier to do more of that stuff when she's a little older. Right now I have 2 hrs each day between when she goes to sleep and when I do where I can get stuff done and sanity is a good thing!

Thank you! I loved her first party, soooooo pretty :D From now on it'll be about her loves, not mine :)

Oooops I forgot about that! I even took pictures for the post. I'll post that tomorrow :)

What a fun looking party! The photos of Kirsten wi...

2012-05-09T10:16:14.408-05:00

What a fun looking party! The photos of Kirsten with her family and friends are wonderful. I particularly love that last shot you posted :) Sweet hand holding.

Btw, that cake shop seems a great resource. I bought Caitlin's red velvet cake for her birthday party last weekend. A little part of me was disappointed but with a scrapbooking session, school auction, Ashley and my music recital all happening the same weekend I figured I would remain saner if I just bought the cake. Caitlin didn't mind and I ended up having lovely family time when I would have been otherwise making the cake :)

Kudos to you Barbara. You throw quite the party.(I also loved what you did for her first party).

Oh, and can't wait to read your guest book idea :)

Well you are a dear friend that I met through blog...

2012-05-08T11:21:11.386-05:00

Well you are a dear friend that I met through blogging :)

I do think it's the season, at least for me. Once spring hits I no longer want the "weight" of the winter months... all the little things that have piled up begin to bug me. All the extra blankets and pillows draped, piled, hung up around the family room bug me. They're little things, but I stop seeing them during the winter I think because I'm inside and they are constantly in my sight.

Congrats on the shelf! Each little thing I did last week made me feel better and lighter, hopefully you feel the same :)

The house isn't perfect, far from it! But it's bugging me less and I'm feeling less stuck with each thing I get done. Your post made me realize I'm not alone in that feeling which motivated me to keep going with the clearing, organizing, purging, what have you :)