Are We There Yet?

Vacations are tricky.  Especially when you have kids.  The tricky part is making sure that you actually get to enjoy it. 

This year is our first REAL family vacation.  We have never taken one before...not all four of us at the same time.  I was thinking, "Shelby, how can you keep the girls busy on a budget?"  Because I want to spend my money ON vacation not FOR vacation.

I am obsessed with license plates from other states.  There was one on a Jeep at the mall the other day from Hawaii.  There was one in front of me earlier today from Texas. I don't know if this is something everyone does...but I do, and so my kids do, too.

Now, I can't take credit for the idea because my husband read about it online and then passed it on to me but it is genius.  It is so simple and easy.  I went to Google Image and searched US maps.  I had the girls pick out the one they liked and printed out copies.  Then I laminated them.  I have a laminator, but if you don't they have laminating pages that just stick together that work well, too.

The map the girls picked out.

Now, when you see a license plate from another state you just cross it off.  And even better, Crayola just came out with dry erase crayons!!!  Perfect for the trip!

Crayola rocks!  These can be used on glass, too!

The other side is blank so they can use it to draw or write notes to each other.

Global Creativity (I need some help)

This is a project that I need some help for.  My girls and I have been tracking all of the countries in which people have viewed my blog.  They are having a blast finding all of the countries on the map.  I have also been trying to tell them a little about each country.

We mark the country with a pink star

Now here is what I would love for you to do...
If you are from somewhere other than Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania please leave a comment (or email me at crazycreativeshelby@hotmail.com) and let us know the city and country you are from and a fun fact about where you live.

Here is an example:
My name is Shelby and I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.  My city has three rivers, the Monongahela, the Allegheny and the Ohio.  Where they all meet is called The Point.

The girls want to get every state, too, and Blogger doesn't track states, so please leave your state and city if you are from the US.

I look forward to hearing from all of you and promise to keep you updated on our progress!  Thanks!!!

Catching Up

So the first thing you probably noticed was that I changed the look of my blog page.  Last week I came on to write a new post and spent the next several hours playing around with the design instead...hence, no blog written, but beautiful redesign.

These past couple of weeks I have spent finishing some old projects.  It took total dedication and concentration.  Who am I kidding?  It took nagging and guilt.  Oh, and shopping bags...lots and lots of them.

On that note I am happy to report I have finished the recycled bag tote and it turned out better than I could have ever imagined.  It will be taking the trip with us to Maine this summer and I have high hopes that it will meet my expectations of the ideal beach bag.  And now you want a picture, don't you?

The bag measures 21" long by 17.5 " wide.

I stayed with the red, white and blue theme.  I ended up with a little extra blue at the end so I added a sassy flower to it.  Who says plastic flowers can't be trendy?

You know you want one!

Ok, so is this project worth the time, energy and recyclability?  (I know it is a made-up word).  Probably not, but it gives you some awesome bragging rights and you can customize it to your taste.  I let you know how it actually hold up at the beach!


Update:  Took it to the beach and it worked out PERFECTLY!  When we left the beach and continued on I used it as our dirty laundry bag.  Four people make a lot of laundry and I was really happy to have it.  I had tons of compliments on it and even demonstrated to one very nice woman how to make one.  It was just what I needed for vacation.  Yeah!

Handmade With Love

My Gram passed away this week and so I am going to dedicate this blog to her.  Love you, Gram!

My cousin Stephanie, me and my Gram at my cousin Chris's wedding

Growing up your mom always tells you that the gifts you make are the best ones.  If you are like me you never really believed her.  Now, as a mom myself, I know that is actually true. Gifts made for others are the ones that are kept and cherished.  You can't return them with a gift receipt and you can't re-gift them.  When you pull out the handmade gift you always know who made it for you. 10 years later I have no idea who got me which wedding gift, but I know who made me gifts I've had since childhood.  Many of those gifts were made for me by my Gram.

Mia is modeling bedding made for me by my Gram

This is a baby doll bedding set my Gram made for me.  If I remember correctly, my uncle made my sister and me baby doll beds and my Gram made the bedding.  The bed is long gone, but the bedding remains and is now used by my 5 year old for her beloved American Girl twins.

My Gram and I spent plenty of time discussing crocheting over the years because we both had a passion for it.  She was always excited to hear about any new project I had going.  Following in her footsteps, I have also made some baby doll items.

Mia and Daisy modeling hats I crocheted for them

My Gram made blankets for each of my daughters when they were born.  She crocheted one for my youngest even though it must have been painful with her arthritis.

Comfy blankets made by Great-grammy

When I was in High School she painted this porcelain doll for me.  It is now on a shelf in my daughters' room.  I have moved 6 times since she painted it for me and I have carefully relocated it each time (if you knew me you would realize this is actually an amazing accomplishment).

I am so pretty, don't you think?

My daughters have a talent for painting porcelain figurines, also...it must be genetic.

Colorful

So, just remember that the next time you think that a gift made by you isn't good enough, it is.  And that person will know that you love them.