More Mehndi, Henna designs - fun with the family -

Henna, Mehndi Designs
Last night I just wanted to chill. While at the Indian store this week my daughter picked up a couple cones of henna, so we decided to have some fun with it last night. While this wasn't our first time, it has been a pretty long while since we last had this done, so we were both pretty excited.

With the help of my dear friend Khadija over at Creative Mind. and all her wonderful henna designs I had no problem getting inspired. So I got to work trying to recreate a beautiful design myself. While I always use a picture as inspiration because I'm just not good at coming up with designs myself, I can never duplicate it exactly. I always start doing my own thing, and I guess thats what makes it so much fun. It's like taking a pen to paper and you just keep going. Our hands were the canvas, and I had an entire cone to use up :)

The smaller hand and foot are my little princess, and the Japanese writing was my oldest sons. He tried to do the top of my hand, but said it was too hard, lol. It is hard holding a henna cone. You really need to get used to it. I am such a beginner, but hopefully both of us can work on it, and get better. I really need someone to help do my right hand, he he. (Big B that would be you), not to mention he is an amazing artist. That would be so fun, and maybe one day I'll let the princess do it too.

Do you want to check out our previous Henna designs? Go HERE to see!!

Was that fun or what? Have you ever tried doing henna, or mehndi?

Before I go just wanted to remind you all that there is only 4 more days until I pick a winner.

Have you entered yet? Have you even checked it out? You do not want to miss this!

Back to school shopping - how to teach kids about money-

Happy BACK to SCHOOL everyone. 

Here are some pics of my kiddos on the first day of school, like always. Big B, used to be as small as Dino D seven years ago when we moved in this house, and I have a pic of them right there in that spot every year. Hurry someone hand me a tissue, I'm bawling over here. How the heck did they grow so fast? Princess was still in my tummy when we moved here, now she's off to 1st grade. Dino D is going into pre-k, and mommy will be alone. I am despite the sadness, and tears, VERY much looking forward to ME time finally after 13 years of non stop kids by my side every moment of the day, EVERY moment I tell you. In fact the little one STILL sleeps with me. Oh boy!!

At the end of the post I want to share with you how I got my kids to be responsible shoppers. It was awesome, and I highly suggest you try it too. :)

I may be their mother, but DANG they are the cutest things ever. I love you kiddos.

My one and only princess.

My boys, trouble all around. 

Yup he had to change his shirt, when Dad got home, and showed him the shirt my friend from Cali sent him, he did a quick switcheroo, and was ready for school. Gotta say that shirt ROCKS.

Since Dino doesn't start school for another week, he insisted on doing his studies anyway. Boys, and crayons, the funniest thing ever. At least he finally gave in to holding the crayon the right way, lol. 

Ok, so are you ready for my story about shopping with the kids. 

It's easy, I gave him a budget, in my case I gave him $150 bucks to spend. 

Mind you this may seem like a lot, or a little depending on who you ask, but I thought it was a perfect number and he should be able to buy enough clothes with that amount. If he was careful. 

So we went from I NEED these amazing high top skater shoes, and a pair of school shoes, and an extra pair just in case, TO.....

finding a really great pair of Puma tennis shoes, on clearance for $50, and I got another pair for half off, YAY... The other pair was for dad, so he didn't need to pay for those, lol. 

We went from checking out Macy's and Abercombie and wanting a pair of jeans from there, BUT not wanting to spend another $60, TO....

finding the perfect fit skinny jeans at OLD NAVY for $10.00. Score, he got 2 pairs, and a shirt, for half of what it would have cost at the other places. 

I also got him to go shop at Platos Closet, a trendy goodwill kind of place. He scored on a couple shirts there, and another pair of awesome skinny jeans. 

He stocked up on some cool shirts at Target too, so all in all a success.

Lesson learned, he could care less about labels, YES, and he doesn't mind second hand clothes, YES, and even though we could totally afford to shop at more expensive places, we'd rather NOT, and spend our money on other things. 

So NO new backpacks, NO way. ONLY one pair of new shoes.  The only new clothes they got were things they really needed, NOT wanted, which is a big difference. I love my kids. They are awesome, and I think I've taught them pretty well so far. 

What about you, do you go all out for back to school shopping? Do you feel bad shopping clearance, sale, and second hand stores? What if you COULD afford it, would you still be frugal, or would you be happy to buy at those expensive places?

Amaze me August #45 ~ Summer with the KIDS~

Welcome to the 45th edition of

Did you know that next month it's August, and around here, that's pretty special. It marks my blogs ONE YEAR anniversary, and it will obviously be the ONE YEAR mark for my weekly party. I simply can't believe it's already been a year. The time has flown by. I've made so many friends, and have enjoyed blogging so very much. I'm still trying to decide how I will be celebrating, I will let you all know when I've figured it out, lol. 


How's your summer been going so far? Mine has been BUSY, BUSY, BUSY. I wanted to share a few things we've been up to, and some pics of what my life is like, living with these kiddos of mine, MAINLY 2 crazy boys. My princess is an angel, lol. The boys, well. the pictures will speak for themselves. Needless to say there is NEVER a dull moment around here. 

My two oldest have been studying TAE KWON DO for three years now, and will be testing for BLACK BELT in January. TODAY however was the first day for DINO D and I. Never did I think that at 32 I would start studying martial arts, but I am so excited. My kids were awesome, they never once laughed at me, even though I was dying within the first 5 minutes. Seriously, how did I pick today for my first day, they were like doing boot camp over there. I could barely do 10 situps lol, and we had to do 30. We lost a race, so my whole team had to do 20 pushups, I was so struggling. By the end of the class, I think I had lost 5 pounds, just from sweating so hard. I am so happy though, I just know that this will get my booty in shape like crazy, and I can't wait to start getting strong. GO MOM!!! 

Very typical of my boys. This is what they look like half the time, and without the photo booth. Doesn't matter what I tell them, they always seem to have this look on their face, like HUGH, what did you say mom? WHAT planet do I live on????

Yeah, not really that funny, I promise. I almost think he did it on purpose, thinking he would get out of doing dishes again, but he learned the hard way, NEVER to fill the dispenser with dish soap, DUH!! It's not like this was his first time loading the dishwasher, still can't figure it out. He thought it was pretty funny though!!

Just a couple days after the dishwasher overflowing, the kids managed to clog up the toilet. After someone did number 2 in there. Once again BIG B, was sent to clean it up, since it was probably he who did it to begin with. Am I just blessed with boys who clog up toilets with their enormous poop, or do any of you have this problem too. Gosh, again, he was laughing, for about 10 seconds, at which point he promised NEVER EVER EVER to clog up the toilet again, lol. 

Menace number 2.

My little DINO D, is cute as can be, but if there is trouble, he will find it. 

Unless he is sleeping, of course, which is sooooo cute when he does. This is at a swim meet, where he just passed out. Those competitions are long, and it is hot, so he usually clonks out. 

This is usually the kind of stuff he is up to though. Thinking he is a big boy, he tried serving himself some mango lassi. He looks so sad, but knows that he can't be in so much trouble if I've brought out the camera, lol. 

Trying to figure out what went wrong. He was so looking forward to having some of that, lol. 

He got stripped down, and told to go eat his breakfast. He was so shy that I made him stay in his undies, but gosh he looked so cute trying to hide from me. 

My princess. Swimming ruled our lives all summer. We had practice everyday, at 8am, until 10:30am. Competition every Thursday night, from 4pm till 11pm. It was a lot, and finally it is over, YAY!!

BIG B, used to swim year round, and wanted to take a break for a couple years, but now they are both asking to start again. So soon we will start training year round again, along with Tae Kwon Do, Kumon,  Music, Theatre, and school, we will be running around like CRAZY!!!

My princess recently had to have a small surgery on her toe. 

Have any of you ever had a planters wart before. I have, my oldest has, and now princess had one too. I tried all the ways I knew to get rid of it, so she wouldn't have to go get this procedure done. It kind of sucks, I know, because I had the same thing done to remove mine last year. I just couldn't get rid of it, and when I saw that it getting bigger and start spreading, I took her in. 

She was sooooo brave. Cried for about 10 seconds, when she was getting her shots to numb her toe. Especially the last shot, hurt so bad, but the rest, was a piece of cake. 

Sorry, but just had to show you what it looked like after, lol. Literally the doc, burned the whole wart out, it was gross, but she feels so much better now. Amazingly this completely heals over within a couple weeks. So people, take care of your feet, and ALWAYS wear flip flops, trust me, you don't want to get a planters wart, they suck!!!

That's about all for now. So now that you know what I've been up too, show me what you've been up to. I can't wait to see it all. Link up and tell your friends. 

I can't wait to see what you've been up to this week. Show me what you got, and please don't forget to link up to my new party. 

Party Planning Tuesdays

You can link up ALL your party planning ideas. 

All party related decorations, themes. 

All your most incredible party food recipes.

All money saving party throwing tips, and tricks.

And of course, all those fabulous party CAKES!!!

This party is ALL ABOUT PARTIES, so help spread the word will ya. It's new, and I need your help to make it awesome :)

FIRE, FIRE, Where's the FIRE? In my trashcan, thats where.

YUP, yesterday while I was cooking some bean soup, kinda like this one HERE, but without the yummy ham bone. 

Also without the yummy bread.

If you want to see this recipe, CLICK HERE.
Yeah while this was cooking away on the stovetop, and I was putting some laundry away, and my little one was watching T.V. I started smelling something burning. 


I run to the kitchen to find my little one, NO LONGER watching T.V. but watching smoke coming out of the trashcan, saying "Mommy don't spank me, I'm a good boy". Rest assured little one, right now, I have to put out the fire, BUT you are gonna get it, REAL BAD. I hosed down my trashcan, and flooded my kitchen, and then spent like 20 minutes trying to kill my fire alarm. Then I had to take the melted, roasted chocolate he threw in the fire, on the stove, and clean that, and clean all the ashes that flew all over the kitchen, and of course TRY to clean the trashcan. Not that I can't go buy a new one, BUT shoot, I love my little trashcan, EVEN though it is pretty ugly now. REALLY UGLY, and SMELLY. 


Just how did he start that fire. Glad you asked. I had a bunch of wooden bamboo skewers, in the drawer right next to the stove. Little guy, thought it was the coolest thing to stick it in the fire, and you know with them being all long, I guess he didn't realize it was burning HOT, until it got to close to his fingers. That's when the little guys decides to throw it in the trashcan. NOT bad thinking, I guess. I can think of a bunch of places that would have been a lot worse, and this little ordeal, could have become a much larger one. So in the end, I am thankful, that he had enough sense to do that. 


Are you wondering if my little one ever got IT? Yeah I can't spank after the fact, and he got lucky, that I had a fire to put out, otherwise I'm sure his bum would have been on fire, if you know what I mean. I can't believe that little guy. 


Here's some cute pictures of him, just so you can say AWW,,, lol. Seriously these kids kill me sometimes, and then looking at this little face, just makes me melt. Darn it, why can't I be more harsh. 

I'm sharing this over at my new party.

Click the button to go read more funny stories.

Be prepared to pee in your pants, girl, they are that funny, be prepared, with extra undies in hand. 

Don't forget to LINK up to my weekly party. 

AMAZE ME AUGUST

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