I'm here!  Really!
I'm swamped, but I'm still here!  :)

 

This month I have been painting my little heart out for The Hearthside Collection.  I have over 50 pieces completed and am on the home stretch.  I owe a HUGE 'thank you' to my husband for being a terrific support!  In addition to spending some quality time with the kiddos so I could paint, he's been sanding and prepping cabinet doors for me to paint for Prairie Hearth.  I couldn't do it without his help.

 

Right now I have two card tables and two 8' tables set up in my studio space.  There are decorative plates and trays as far as the eye can see.  :)  I hope the weather cooperates because I have to conduct an outdoor photo shoot within the next week.  (I have the toughest time getting clean color-true photos indoors sometimes.)

 

I am SO EXCITED with some of the large cabinet door designs I have spinning around in my head.  Stay tuned!  *spoiler alert*....I've bought chalkboard paint and am going crazy with it!

 

On a side note, a very dear friend of mine has introduced me to www.myfitnesspal.com.  This has been a life changer.  For starters, it's free!  You set up an account with your basic info such as height, weight, age, activity level, etc.  You enter your goal weight and how much you want to lose a week.  (It won't let you go crazy here...I think 2 lbs. a week is the max.)  Then, it calculates how many calories you should eat a day to meet that goal.  You enter your meals (either by using their awesome data base or entering your own info) and it will produce a food journal for you- - keeping track, item by item, what the calories are, etc.  An exercise log is included (which is a motivator because it shows you how many more calories you can eat that day because you've exercised!) and even a water tracker (if you want to use it).  It's user-friendly and AWESOME!  Using it has really opened my eyes.  Also, I have found Classical Stretch on public television.  Try it.  Seriously.  You will not believe how such gentle movements can kick your buns!  It feels like I'm waking up my body every time I do it.  It's a little tai chi, a little yoga, some crunches, etc.  I've had ACL knee surgery twice and am trying to work with my shoulder instead of getting surgery...and Classical Stretch feels TERRIFIC!

 

Okay, I gotta get back to painting.  Take care all and thanks for hanging in there with me.  Stay tuned for some photos asap!

 

Hi all!

Thanks for stopping by.  I've been a busy bee lately....being a momma, painting my heart out and starting a new adventure.  With preschool just around the corner for my little guy, I decided that we need to try some structured learning time in the mornings.  After digging through homeschooling and preschool lessons on Pinterest, looking through what we already had (...which was getting lost in all the stuff around here) and doing some brainstorming on my own, I decided to organize a few months worth of activities.  Here is a glimpse at the craziness that then took over my living room floor this weekend...

My goal was to plan enough projects for Monday-Friday from now thru May.  I know....what was I thinking.  I finally got to the point that I decided I needed to organize these 'lessons' based on the alphabet.  We weave in colors, shapes and numbers as we go.  Oh, I also wanted to take advantage of holiday, celebrations, etc. so those activities are sprinkled throughout.  We are officially on day #3 and so far so good.  I am shocked at how well my little guy is doing and I feel A TON better knowing that we're making an effort to not only use day-to-day life experiences, but also some more structured time.  Hopefully his transition to preschool in the fall will be smoother because of it.  Plus, I am loving the time with him...I am amazed at what he can do and it feels good to give him lots of positive encouragement. 

 

So, in addition to 'table time' as we call it, I've also been trying to paint some pieces for Prairie Hearth.  I'm focusing on some 'family' and 'welcome' signs.  Here is a sample...

 

Several of these new paintings will be available later this week at Prairie Hearth.

From now until mid-April my paint brush will be swirling as I dive into another collection for The Hearthside Collection.  I have excitement in my heart about this line.  I have lots and lots of ideas for designs.  I am so blessed to have this wonderful opportunity.  This is the stage of design that really gives me butterflies...in a great way!  The excitement of brainstorming and setting design ideas into motion is so much fun. 

Some of the new items recently delivered to Prairie Hearth...

 

Books...

Wood Block Photo Holders...

PINTEREST

Hi all!

It's official!  I have a Pinterest account!

Look me up:  Michelle Kildow.

 

I have been collecting all sorts of fun stuff for my pinterest 'boards'-- from things to do with the kids, to color inspiration, to fun do-it-yourself projects.  Pinterest is a great resource for teachers, creatives, moms, brides-to-be, etc. etc.  Love it.

 

Also, I'm in the process of creating a collection for Prairie Hearth's Open House.  Stay tuned for images!  Schedule a visit out to Fremont, Nebraska for a boutique full of wonderful handmade creations.  They will reopen January 26th.

 

 

 

Many, many thanks to Aunt Marilyn for the adorable Fancy Nancy Tea Party book this Christmas.  Fancy Nancy details all one needs to do to host a successful tea party- - from recipes to fancy french words to proper attire.  Macy and I read that book from cover to cover and her eyes lit up with each page! 

Since the kids are officially over the flu bug, I figured winter break was the perfect time to try a tea party of our own.  So, Macy made invitations that she hand-delivered to baby brother and daddy.  I got out the vintage 'crystal' luncheon sets, bud vases, table clothes, etc.

We made plates of bite-sized yummies and even orange juice in the punch bowl- -which was one of the highlights of the event for the kiddos.

Who knew that the tea party would be a good learning lesson for 'mommy'?!  Getting down the vases, using the fancy (and very breakable) luncheon sets with the kiddos, using a cloth table covering (even though I new it would be one more thing to add to the laundry that day), etc. etc. was all worth it!

I'm realizing that maybe THIS is the very thing I need to focus on for my New Year's resolution. 
1.  Use 'the good stuff' each and every day
2.  Slow down and put more effort into making magical memories

 

I wanted to start a new family tradition.  The kids are getting old enough that I thought a Random Acts of Kindness week before Christmas would be a terrific learning lesson and bonding experience.  So, we brainstormed, shopped and made a schedule that included conducting Random Acts of Kindness every day last week.   
Things started off great, but then quickly turned challenging.  We experienced a blizzard (literally) and Influenza (literally).  ugh. 
So, here's what we were able to do early this past week and some other RAK's that we'll do as soon as possible...

 

I am loving the million dollar candy bars from the Dollar Tree!  We wrapped them with a strip of paper, embellished with 'thanks a million'.  Our mail carrier received one, as well as the three librarians at our local library (prior to the blizzard or Influenza)- - who go above and beyond to host children's reading programs, fun family events and even allow the kids to go behind the desk to 'beep' (scan) their own books.  They are wonderful!

We made 'care kits' for our local church to give out to people visiting their food pantry...

Although not delivered yet, we made bags of goodies for our family doctors.  We thought coloring books and crayons for the waiting/exam rooms would be appropriate.
We also made a bag with canned soup and spaghetti (with a jar of sauce of course) for our local fire and rescue department.  Thank God for them! 
I had fun jazzing up the white bags...

 

I am SO EXCITED to be doing this RAK project as a family....getting the kids involved, listening to their ideas, watching them take the lead, seeing them show appreciation. 
Wouldn't a summer Random Acts of Kindness week be fun?...hmmm....my wheels are turning....   

 

Well, here she is...in all her glory.

Let's just say cake decorating is not one of my talents.  HOWEVER, Macy was thrilled with her 'Barbie birthday cake' and that's all that matters.  I found a few recipes on Pinterest, borrowed a Fire King bowl from my mom and it all worked like a dream.

 

I also found a cute scavenger birthday party game on Pinterest.

The parent drew/photoed images of locations (refrigerator, welcome mat, etc.) and put them on recipe cards hidden around the house.  Kids ran from clue to clue until, at the end, the last card pictured the host.  When the children ran to the host they were given a prize.

Rather than use images, I wrote rhyming clues.  Here's what I came up with....

 

Clue #1

Let's celebrate Macy's special day

with a scavenger game to play!

Follow each clue and work as a team.

No running or pushing.  Adults will scream!

So, here's Clue #1 and you can't lose...

Go to Macy's room and look

where she takes a snooze.

(The clue was hidden under her bed.)

 

Clue #2

Macy loves to watch movies

like Tinkerbell and Nemo.

Check out "Monsters, Inc.",

and off to Clue #3 you'll go.

(The clue was hidden in the "Monsters, Inc." DVD case.)

 

Clue #3

Congrats on finding

Clue #3!

Now that you're downstairs...

look at the movie about a bee.

(The clue was hidden in the "Bee Movie" DVD case.)

 

Clue #4

WOW!  What fine detectives you are!

Clue #5 is hanging...

with the keys to the car!

(The clue was hanging on the refrigerator.)

 

Clue #5

You guys are good!

You can't be beat!

Now look for Clue #6...

where we keep the socks for Evan's feet!

(The clue was hidden in Evan's sock bin.)

 

Clue #6

Just a few more clues...

'til you get a prize that's cool.

Look inside what Macy puts on her back

when she heads off to school.

(The clue was hidden in Macy's backpack.)

 

Clue #7

Holy cow!  You are on a roll!

Check under the computer desk...

Clue #8 is the goal!

(The clue was under the computer desk.)

 

Clue #8

WOO HOO!  You did it!  Way to go!

It's the end of the game.

To claim the prize, see Michelle

and say the birthday girl's name!

 

 

 

 

This upcoming week the kids and I will be celebrating the holidays by doing some random acts of kindness.  Here's a sneak peek.  Stay tuned for all the details.

Happy Holidays everyone!!!