Beach Bum's

Last weekend we traveled up to the North Coast of Ohio to celebrate my cousin Joe's wedding and to have a little vacation on the beach. The wedding was beautiful and Isabelle, Grace, and my neice Abby were the belle's of the ball and little dancing queens to boot. My Aunt Shiela even had the DJ play Put A Ring On It so that Grace would do her little dance. She did for a while, until she noticed everyone watching her. I think it was just too much pressure!

Here is Joe doing the dollar dance with Isabelle and Grace (and just about the only good pictures I got at the wedding!)

Unfortuntely, we are noticing a trend in vacations for the Michael Family. Whenever we go near a beach and use the "V word" (vacation) little black rain clouds follow us. So we rented a little cottage near Lake Erie, and went to the beach, but we didn't do much swimming because it was dark and broody and the lake was pretty rough. Oh well. It was still fun!

Playing in the sand with Opa


Grace in her hot pink lifejacket. saftey first!


Walking to the beach with Aunt Jona, Uncle Eric and Abby


Aunt Jona and Oma reading a book to the girls before bed


Taking a bath in the mini bathtub in the cottage. So very 1950!

Hair Bow Holder

With all of our new hair accessories we needed something to do with them. On the other hand...we've always needed this! So I found an old picture fram, which consequently had an old picture of Conrad in in, dressed up as a Pirate, with blue eye shadow on (snicker snicker). I took the lovely picture out, and being unable to part with it, put it on the fridge (snicker snicker)

I then spray painted the maroon frame white. I cut a piece of cutsy scrapbook paper out and put it in the frame. I then hot glued some ribbon to the bottom. I put the headbands over the top of the frame and put the bows on the ribbon. Not sure what to do with it, I set it up on the towel rack in the kids bathroom? I can't think of anywhere else to put it??!

What I love most about this project? It didn't cost me a red cent.

A Few Informational Linky's for Wednesday

I have read some interesting articles lately and I thought I'd share some links with you. Firstly (is that a word?), some of you may know that for about 8 months our little Grace had something going on. It seemed like a cold that just wouldn't let go. One night she even had a febrile seizure.

Anyway, during that 8 months or so, she would cough and cough at night. That would be the only symptom that would hang on in between colds. She was on four rounds of antibiotics and it would go away for a week, maybe two, and then come back. Every night she would cough and throw up from coughing so much. It was terrible!

Finally, after some prompting from a good friend, Christy, who's son had the same thing, we forced our pediatrician to see if it was a rare form of asthma, called Cough Varient Asthma. Sure enough, after treating it as a bacterial infection, and as allergies, to no avail, we tried an asthma medicine and the girl hasn't thrown up in two months!

All of that to say, I recently read a blog post from a Shaklee distributor about the effects of regular household cleaners, and aresol sprays on pregnant woman and the baby. This stuff is scary, but I'm beginning to wonder if my favorite Scrubbing Bubbles didn't cause Grace's Asthma!? Needless to say, the last time I cleaned the bathroom I was covering my mouth with my shirt, waving my hands wildly, and yelling at the girls, "Get out! Danger! Danger!" ha! Anyway Check out the article at House of Grace. I'm definatley re-thinking my cleaner situation.

While I'm on the bandwagon, I've still been mulling over organics and what-not. We have made the switch with dairy, and recently with meat, including grass fed beef (thank you, Food, Inc.) but now I'm feeling pressure to start buying organic produce. Not that my kids eat much produce. Sorry, I hate to give up that parent of the year award, but unless I hide the veggies in something, they aren't having it. My manager, who is a dietician, by education, sent me this article on how the nutritional value of fruits and veggies has gone drastically down because of genetic engineering, while organics have gone up. To read this article she forwarded from her Nutritionist Newsletter. Again, it makes you think!

And lastly, on a lighter note I just saw this article on the (college) class of 2014. Did you know that they don't teach cursive writing anymore? I had no idea...

Moving on Up

Isabelle graduated to a booster seat today. She is only too happy for, what she feels like, is sweet freedom. She can now get in and out of the seat all by herself.

Pinkalicious Galvanized Tub

For Isabelle's birthday I wanted a pink galvanized tub. I couldn't find one..at least for a reasonable pricce. I ended up finding a white one at Target for 9.99. I had resigned myself to the white tub instead of what was in my mind. I know, get used to disappointment, right?

While I was at Jo Ann's, I found some nifty intricate die cut pink paper. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it, but I bought two pages for $1.99 each. Then, to finish birthday sabelle's present, i had bought some Modge Podge. When it came down to it, I chopped up the scrapbook paper into equal sections and modge podged it on, all around the tub. It turned out very cool.


If you can't tell I have been on a crafty kick lately. While I was looking for a wreath to make for my front door a couple of months ago, I accidentally stumbled upon The World of Craft Blogging. Wow...I got so many ideas and it really was light years away from your old country craft and macrame plant hangers. So if you are feeling thrifty or want to beautify your home on a budget...check out my list of crafty blogs I read on the side bar

Hair Bow-O-Rama

In light of my sucess with the last hair bow experience, I thought I'd try again. I wish I had a "tutoral" for you, but I didn't know my attempt was going to be successful, so I didn't take any pictures! So I'll just tell you what I did: First I got an old shirt I bought at good will that I thought had some cute red, pink, and white plaid material (which Isabelle was sure to tell me she didn't ike. It wasn't all PINK or PURPLE, therefore, not a favorite)

I also found an old pink sparkly headband that Isabelle loved and I hate. Don't tell her that I hot glued her most unfavorite material over that headband. She'll freak out.

Anyway, back to the "tutorial." I cut the shirt into strips, twisted them around and around, until they were thin strips. Does that make sense? I then wrapped them around and around in the shape of a swirly lollipop, securing it using hot glue. I also cut and glued the same material all over the before mentioned favorite sparkly headband. I then glued the roses to the top. I think it's lovely.

I also made the same rosettes and hot glued them to a regular ole' clippy. It looked really cute on grace and stayed in her hair very well.

Hello Kitty Cake Balls

Along with Cupcakes, i wanted to try my hand at Cake Balls. These scrumptious little pastries are easy to make but really...NOT EASY. I almost put my head in the oven before I had these made. Isabelle loves her some Hello Kitty so i thought these would be a big hit. Bakerella has the tutorial, but they weren't as easy or as pretty as her's. They ended up a little on the lumpy side, and about a fourth of them ended up on the floor/stairs/freezer/floral styrofome and in the chocolate. The one you see here is by far the best one. They looked good from a far and really, they were quite yummy!

Pinkalicious

Saturday we had a birthday party for Isabelle. I LOVE having little girl parties. There isn't much more fun (for me) than planning a kids party. We invited a few girls and boys over and lot's of family! We grilled hamburgers and had cupcakes. Nothing too fancy...but it was ALL. WRAPPED. IN. PINK. The Fairy Princess that graced our signs and invites came compliments of my very talented cousin, Shannon @ Etsy. Later, I'll highlight some of my favorite Do It Yourself projects we did for this party. In the meantime...enjoy some pic's!

We played pin the crown on the princess, attempted some water ballon games, and brought out the church's waterslide. All the little girls got wings, tutu's, flower tiara's, and magic wands (of course). The boys got Pirate hats and swords...because I didn't think pink tutu's would go over so well with small boys.

Happy #4 Bella

Isabelle just turned four years old! The last four years have been amazing, blessed, beautiful, work, lovely, and awe-inspiring. One of the most surprising things about parenting is that you really don't have time for enough reflection and enjoyment of your little blessings. That's what makes blogging so great. it kind of makes you take a step back and count your blessings.

And Isabelle is just that: our first little blessing. I can't believe she's growing so much. She is so beautiful and smart. We love to hear her take on life and her funny "isms" that you read occasionally on the Micheal Chronicles. We also love her fierceness and how she takes care of her baby sister. Everything about Isabelle is full of energy and life! Baby, we love you and love watching you grow!

Isabelle @ Birth


Isabelle @ 1 year


Isabelle @ 2 year


Isabelle @ 3 years


Isabelle @ 4 years

Lunch-able

Today conrad and I went to the North Market for lunch. It's a wonderful downtown market within walking distance to our office. And they have vendors that sell WONDERFUL stuff. My current favorite is the Bluecreek Farm Meat, where I can get organic, grass fed, fresh lamb, beef, and (nitrate free) bacon. We also buy or chicken from the Chicken Lady there. You can REALLY REALLY tell the difference with meat.

All of that to say, we are grilling out on Saturday for Isabelle's birthday and needed some good ole' hamburger. And we got there just as the owner was grinding it up! Yum!

Usually when we go to the North Market, we religiously end all meals there with Jeni's Ice Cream. But today we (Read: I, since Conrad didn't even get one solitary bite of this goodness) decided to branch out and try a Taste of Belgium Waffle. Oh my. It was like no waffle I have ever had...and I make some tasty waffles.

We were actually served by the owner, Jean Francois, who is very Belgium. He was telling two smiling, flirting blondes, how the Waffle Truck in NYC is "Nothing. Frozen Cardboard. My waffles are fresh, made from scratch, just like they are made in Belgium." ...but you have to imagine it with a snooty Belgium accent.

That being said, I think Belgium-inians might have a right to be snooty when it comes to waffles. I am currently writing this and thoroughly enjoying my crispy, dense waffle, topped with berries and whipped cream. Next time you are in downtown Columbus, you have to try one for yourself!

The Craftiness Continued

I really go in spirts of creativity. Lately I have been in a crafty mood and riding the wave. I kept seeing these great hair accessories for little girls on Etsy and thought I'd try my hand at one for Isabelle. She LOVED it and wear is everyday. What do you think?