WHAT’S UP WEDNESDAY – All I can think about…

I find out TOMORROW what I am having and I am so excited!!!  It’s pretty much all I can think about!!!  I can’t wait to be able to call my baby a he or she.  I love finding out because I feel more connected with my baby plus you know I’m dying to work on some projects!!!  Of course it doesn’t matter to me if I’m having a boy or girl, just hoping everything is fine with the baby… But knowing the sex of the baby is one of the exciting milestones of pregnancy and I am SO excited!

- Cammie

TASTY TUESDAY – Raspberry Lemonade

A few weeks ago we celebrated 3 birthdays in the family; Emily, our brother-in-law Marcus, and our Mother-in-law Kathy.  We had a BBQ and 3 different cakes; a cheesecake, strawberry shortcake, and rainbow cake, so there was plenty of eating happening!  My mother-in-law brought a homemade raspberry lemonade that was SO delicious, in fact my 8 year old liked it so much he asked her for the recipe!  I wish I would have taken a picture since it was in such a pretty pitcher!  I’ll be making this several times this summer, it’s the perfect summer drink!

Raspberry Lemonade

1 Cup Frozen Raspberries

6 Cups Cold Water

½ Cup Sugar

1 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice (from about 6 lemons)

Combine berries, 1 cup water, and sugar (or chosen sweetener such as honey or Agave) in a blender and puree until smooth. Strain through mesh sieve to remove seeds. Combine in tall pitcher with lemon juice and remaining 5 cups of water. Serve over ice.

- Cammie

MANIC MONDAY – Organizing Kids Art Work

I have 3 kids so I have TONS and TONS and TONS of art work they either make at home or bring home from school.  And if your kids are like my kids they are SO proud of EVERY SINGLE project and picture they do!  But I love it!   So we have several ways we “organize” their art.

I made two clip boards so they can clip their favorite pictures.  I made this almost 2 years ago, my thoughts were that they would rotate the pictures but they just keep on adding to it…so if I took a more recent picture it would be FULL of pictures galore!  They love it and are so excited to add to it, and when I walk by and see all their pictures it makes me smile!

Another way I display all their art work is in picture frames!  I got these bright picture frames from Ikea, so affordable and I love the colors!

These ways work well for us but I still end up with SO much they HAVE to keep!  And since school is almost out my kids are going to bring oodles and oodles of Art and worksheets home…what else can do?

I found several great ideas:

Create a book out of their art work!!!  I found this site Tikatok where kids can make a book out of their art work…my boys would LOVE this

Or I love this idea, where you have a filing system for each kid and add their favorite art and pictures to each grade: (I can’t remember where I found this picture..so sorry)

And last but not least I love the idea of making folders for each grade and adding the BEST art for the year like The Idea Room does:

Good luck organizing your kids art work…I really hope I can get mine organized the way I want! 

- Cammie

FREEBIE FRIDAY – May Calendar, a little late (oops!)

I know, it is way May…so this calendar is a little late, but May’s not over quite yet!  Hopefully you can get some use out of this!  It’s way cute!

 
Click on the picture to download.

TEACH ME THURSDAY – Potty Training 101

Who HATES buying diapers as much as me?!  Who hates having 2 kids in diapers at one time?!  MEEEE!  I know, it could be worse, but it is still no fun.  But, recently, my oldest (who is 2 1/2) has been showing those wonderful signs that he’s ready to start potty training.  Hmmm, maybe I don’t hate buying diapers enough at this point to fully commit to potty training.  But, when I do get over myself, this is seriously the best idea, and so perfect for me!

While Cammie and I were spending the weekend in AZ, Cammie’s sister-in-law (her brother’s wife) told me all about her potty training method (she has 2 boys), and I just have to share.  Don’t you love that I’m making it a “tutorial”?! 

Well, here it is: let your kid run around naked in the backyard for a couple days.  Sounds crazy, but I LOVE it!  Now I know you can’t realistically keep the kid outside ALL day, so when they are inside, make it fun for them to go pee in the grass.  Then when they’ve got it down that they have to go somewhere to pee (like the grass), start pointing them towards the potty.  Then, when that makes sense and is working,  make a huge deal about number 2ing in the potty too.  Cammie’s sister-in-law swears by this method, and used it for both her boys.  I figure it’s worth a try!  There are SO many different ideas and ways to potty train, why not try the crazy, yet easy, one first!  Don’t they say that it really all comes down to whether the kid is ready or not?  If he ain’t ready, it ain’t gonna happen no matter where you’re telling him to pee!  Wish me luck!  I’ll let you know how it goes, as I’m sure you will all be just waiting to hear!

-Emily

WHAT’S UP WEDNESDAY –Bloggy Boot Camp and New Pockets

Boot Camp

Let me just say…FUN!  Cammie and I seriously had so much fun at Bloggy Boot Camp hosted by the SITS girls.  The blogging conference was all day Saturday, but we spent the entire weekend in AZ with NO KIDS!  It was such a nice break!

We met TONS of awesome bloggers…Laurie from Tip Junkie, Cindy from Skip to my Lou, Stephanie from Somewhat Simple (we did a giveaway on her site last year, so it was super fun to meet in person!), Tiffany from SITS, Angie from Seven Clown Circus, Jyl from Mom It Forward (hilarious gal!)…the list goes on! 


Here we are with Stephanie from Somewhat Simple.

Here we are with Cindy from Skip to my Lou.

We LEARNED so much too!  And we can’t wait to do all the stuff we learned!  We’re starting most if it right away.  So, be looking for some updating and changing going on around here.  We’re planning a big switch-a-roo to Wordpress and going .com!  We are now officially active on Twitter @pocketsisters.  We’ve got quite the list!  Hopefully you’ll stick around to see us through!  I forsee many coupons, discounts, and giveaways coming very soon!

New Pockets

What else is up this Wednesday?  NEW POCKET DESIGNS baby!!  We are just selling like crazy!  Hopefully, we can keep up!  We are so loving this!  Check out our new stuff and happy Wednesday!

-Emily

TASTY TUESDAY – So much going on…and a GIVE AWAY!!

Wow!  What a weekend!  Cammie and I attended that Bloggy Boot camp, hosted by the SITS girls, in Pheonix this weekend and had  BLAST!!  Seriously, so much fun!  We are finally back home and trying to get back in the swing of things.  So, for today’s tasty Tuesday, here’s a little giveaway we’re having over at Organizing Junkie…mmmm sounds good to me!  Good luck, it ends tomorrow, May 5.

Don’t worry, you’ll get to hear (and see) all about our awesome trip…coming soon!

-Emily