Holiday card preview

Here it is the picture we're putting on our holiday cards this year:

What a big change from last year:

Family Fun Day: Cranberry Bogs and Plymouth Rock

It's almost Thanksgiving and in New England that means CRANBERRIES!  

So off we went down to Flax Pond Cranberry Co. to see their bogs.

Unlike the Ocean Spray commercials this particular bog is dry harvested which means that you can see the foliage in the bog.
I love the deep burgundy of the cranberry plants.  I asked Kathy (our guide) about the color.  It turns out that the color isn't from the cranberries themselves but rather from the leaves that change color in the fall just as the trees do.   

 We watched them sort out the cranberries.  Garrett thought it was funny how they bounced about.

He also hammed it up for the camera a little bit.  Which was fine with me because I love this shot.

 After that we got in the car and drove the next town over to Plymouth.

 Where apparently I am selling fried dough.

The park was full of re-enactors from different time periods.

 And a tent showing off pelts and other things that can be found when you visit the Plimoth Plantation.

No trip to Plymouth is complete without seeing Plymouth Rock.

Or the Mayflower 2, which always reminds me just how small the Mayflower was.

Garrett helped daddy walk down the street.

And then we decided to share a cup of hot cocoa and call it a day.

It was loads of fun.  Other then the cup of cocoa (and gas) we didn't spend a penny.  I hope that Garrett will grow up learning about the interesting things that surround him.  The history is truly amazing.

Searching for Swag

I'm not usually one to gush about this sort of thing but I've been having lots of luck with Swag Bucks
Maybe I just want to show off my latest swag from their store.  I scored this adorable pink pearl necklace.

In an age where so many people want something for nothing Swag Bucks gives me something for doing what I do every day.  Searching the web.  Yup, it's that simple.  I use their search engine to search for things and get awarded swag bucks which I can redeem for swag like the necklace.
They even have a widget so you can click and see where there are special codes for bonus swag bucks hiding on the site.


I installed their toolbar and get even more points just for surfing the web.  Even when I don't have things to search for I can still get points by searching for my regular comics (instead of just going directly to the page).
It's fast and easy to accrue points and I've gotten several other swag items.

Who could argue with getting things for searching the web?

Great gift ideas: coffee cup cozy

Lets face it, these days just about everyone enjoys a cup of coffee (or tea) in the morning.  Whether you buy a cup from the shop, brew your own, or bring your own cup to work you still have to hold that hot cup in your hand. But why use a cardboard sleeve when you can make your own custom cup cozy?
I'm in love with this simple pattern. It doesn't require a lot of skill or time.  Since it's fast you can make one (or many) in a short about of time.  I'm a big fan of projects that let me use up my fabric scraps and extra buttons. 

It's fun and easy to make one for everyone on your list.  Just swap out fabrics and buttons to make each one more personal for the recipient. They make great stocking stuffers or give them as a gift with a gift card to their favorite coffee place. Just think of the compliments they'll get walking around with a one of a kind cup cozy.  Plus you'll help keep those cardboard sleeves out of the trash.

Boston for Beans

Let's face it, finding something to do on the weekend with your toddler can be expensive.  In Boston there are museums, aquariums and tons of cute stores.  Like most parents these days we're on a budget and need to find ways to have fun without spending tons of money. 
Since today was a lovely day, a crisp 60 degrees Fahrenheit, we went into downtown Boston. Instead of taking the car and looking for parking we decided to take the T.

 Before we got on the train I noticed some inspirational graffiti.

We decided to walk down historic Charles St in the Back Bay.

You can have modern signs.  Even the post office fits in with the Colonial vibe.

A sure sign that winter is upon us: fat squirrels!

A walk through Boston Commons and a stop at the playground before lunch.

We brought our own lunch and sat in the park and ate.  After which we continued on towards the water.
We walked down by the State House (where the Boston Massacre occurred) and on to Faneuil Hall (you can see the clock tower in the background) and Quincy Market.

We stopped for a little while to watch a performer at Quincy Market.  Yes, he was juggling a chainsaw.

On to the Aquarium.  Instead of paying to get in we stood outside and watched the Harbor Seal exhibit for a while.

We were all pretty tired so we took a walk along the water to get to a T station.

We did a lot of walking and had a wonderful time together without spending more then a few dollars.

Even if you don't live in a larger city you can still have fun exploring your city or town.  It's an inexpensive way to have a great day out together and discover more about where you live.

Mommy is the best medicine

Being both a child and now a mother I understand this on many levels. However this weekend I wanted my mommy when I ended up in the ER with the stomach flu.   I was so dehydrated that I needed 2 bags of fluid in addition to all the water they had me drinking.
My mom lives in North Carolina.  I'm in Massachusetts. I miss the days when we could go see her any weekend we wanted to.  None of our family lives close by so when I'm sick I've got to suck it up.  But I wasn't well, and I needed my mommy.  So she hopped on a plane and flew up to Boston to help me out for a few days.  

With Garrett and I both getting over colds it's been very helpful to have her here.  Plus she gets bonus time with her grandson.  

Making your own fabric tags

Now that Halloween is done and Thanksgiving us coming up people are thinking about presents for the holidays.  Even if you don't have the time for the resources to make homemade gifts for everyone you can still make these simple and adorable fabric tags for all the gifts this holiday season.

What you'll need:
Fabric
Card stock
Iron on adhesive (double sided)
Scissors
Iron
Hole puncher
Optional items:
Old Towel
Eyelets

I found some great tag shapes searching on google but you can always do the shapes free hand if you prefer.  Cut card stock, fabric and adhesive.  Make sure to cut them larger then the finished item, after ironing them we'll cut them down.

Iron one side of the adhesive to the card stock.  If you are worried about getting adhesive on your ironing board you can always use an old towel underneath.

Peel the paper off the adhesive and iron the fabric on.  Now it's time to trim it down.

Use your template and trace the outline on your card stock and cut it out.

I punched a hole and added an eyelet for a clean edge.  Or rather Ben did that while I took a picture.
String some ribbon through and tie it to your gift and you've got a one of a kind tag for your holiday gifts.

If you have a sewing machine you can add a little more flair by doing a decrative stitch around the border.












You can make these in lots of shapes and sizes.  It's a great use of fabric scraps and a nice personal touch to add to your gifts for your loved ones.