In my purse...

I have always been a small purse kind of girl. The inner depths of my handbags have never been very exciting, nor have they ever had much of a story to tell. Wallet, phone, keys... good to go.

I still prefer a smaller bag size, but I have noticed a change in the items tagging along with me at any given moment. Motherhood has changed me as a person, and now it has changed the contents of my purse!

Yellow Daisy Festival #Atlanta

The Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain Park is the south's largest arts and crafts festival - and it is coming back next weekend!

The festival features more than 450 artists and is consistently voted one of the nation’s top arts and crafts shows by Sunshine Artist Magazine’s annual “200 Best” survey. This year’s show will be held September 6-9 at Stone Mountain Park’s Special Events Meadow. With so many activities and crafts for young and old, it should be a fantastic family event.

WW: House style

Home sweet home!
Wordless Wednesday: some favorite little style elements in our house

open foyer

My baby's eyes and strabismus

So, we have been on our "eye adventure" for 10 months. Amelia has strabismus, a condition where her eyes do not stay aligned all the time. Originally, hers floated mildly outward, called exotropia. We noticed this intermittently for most of her infancy, especially when she was very tired. We thought it would go away.

Disney wishes everyone a Happy National Dog Day!

Walt Disney Studios’ FRANKENWEENIE wishes you a happy National Dog Day this Sunday, August 26th!

What makes me smile

Aside from your kids, pets, your husband, your coffee and your wine...what makes you smile?

Whiskers.
Fuzzy faces with round dark eyes.
Adorable small furry animals make me smile!

My daughter will be quick to tell you: she has no brother, no sister, no dog, no cat!

Mammoth Cave - with style

Prior to our Shrek and friends experience at the Gaylord Opryland last weekend, we spent two nights in Kentucky to visit Mammoth Cave. I was wary of how Amelia would like the adventure at first, but quickly realized I need not worry. Armed with her trusty flashlight, she took on the cave with gusto.

Tips for getting kids excited about Mammoth Cave:

• Let them hold their own flashlight (you may want to find one with a wrist strap) 
• Before you go, learn about caves and bats and the history of the area
• Make up a story as you travel in the car - featuring cavemen and a creative cave animal, then talk about the story or act out characters as you descend into Mammoth Cave

Following our 2-hour long adventure down stairs, through crevasses, and up hills, she insisted on a second tour! Thanks to my FitBit tracker, I know that by the end of our Mammoth Cave adventure day, we climbed over 35 flights of stairs and traversed 5.5 rocky, undulating miles.

She did not complain once.
(My feet, however, had a lot to say!)

The final first day

Today is the first day of Amelia's final year at her preschool. It has been an amazing experience.

I still remember the dilemma I faced a few months before her birth - to work or not to work? My job at the time had undeniable flaws, but I loved the work. I had hopes for the future there. Steve and I toured day care facilities around our home and my office, and each time we left feeling apathetic. They were nice enough places, but something was missing.

Disney update: Avengers news!

I admit, I am not a big super hero movie fan. But I know many who are! It seems Avengers fans are pretty serious about their interest, and Disney shared some pretty exciting news this week.

Avengers sequel in the works!

She's playing, I'm typing

I am the mom at the play place with an iPad and an iPhone, reading and thinking and typing away. Sometimes I feel like other moms judge... Why isn't she playing with her kid? What is she doing? She's not even paying attention!

#WW Shrek & Friends, Opryland

The Shrek and Friends experience at the Gaylord Opryland resort is fantastic! It runs a few more weeks, and is well worth it. We had a blast meeting the characters and exploring the gorgeous "jungle hotel".

Quick giveaway 8/15 - Medieval Times #Atlanta

I wish I could win this one for myself! We have never been, but I have Medieval Times on our family to-do list. Some Atlanta-area bloggers previewed the newest show recently, and they all had a lot of fun. Check out Render Me Mama's Medieval Times review or Medieval Times: Know Before You Go via Field Trips With Sue.

The two-hour long live jousting tournament is exciting and a lot of fun for kids of all ages. Tickets to the show include dinner, served to you from the kingdom's wenches and serfs.

Disney update: celebrities & new film trailer

GREEN (not red!) carpet premiere of The Odd Life of Timothy Green took place in Hollywood on Monday night:

Saturday kid who lived for the movies

Every now and then, I come across a poem or piece of writing that makes me smile. And of course, I want to share it with you - happy weekend!

The Saturday Kid
 by Alan Gilbert

I was the Saturday kid
Who lived for the movies,
That magic arena
Where fantasies play.
I rode on the prairie
And dived in the ocean,
Then stayed in a rapture
The rest of the day.

#WW: A cabinet of memories

I have a china cabinet, mostly to hold the wedding stuff we got (that we, sadly, never use). I was looking at it the other day and noticed this little corner; the items tell a tale of a decade past.

Crystal wedding gifts.

A small token from a deceased grandparent's home.

A silver baby spoon from my lovely OB's office.

Time... in a china cabinet.



School days, school days

That time of year is almost upon us again. For some of you, it began this week. Pencils, pens, long lines at Target - school is back in session!

I entrusted my most precious baby girl to the same people for a full four years; since she was a squishy, wiggly three-month-old. In two weeks, I will pull up to the traffic circle, wave goodbye, and watch her prance her way into her final year of preschool.

One day I will watch her hike up her backpack in the latest style, barely glance at me, and amble coolly over to her friends.  One day I will push away a nervous knot in my stomach as she turns they key in her car, driving herself to the last few weeks of high school. One day I will help her pack most of her belongings to bring to college.

This time of year is exciting, but it also breaks my heart just a little bit.

Four years down, and I am still not used to it.

Olympics fun for little ones!

I can take no credit for these awesome crafts and ideas... but let me tell you, Amelia has a fantastic preschool! She has been attending her school camp all summer long. Each week has a theme for the entire school. From decorations to crafts and activities, these theme weeks have been just perfect.

Last week? The Olympics, of course! Check out the crafty gear she came home with on Thursday:

The Tortoise, The Hare, and Other Aesop’s Fables

We had another wonderful visit to the Center For Puppetry Arts today!

A new show launched on Thursday, The Tortoise, The Hare, and Other Aesop’s Fables. This one is intended for a younger audience, perfect for ages two and up. It was performed in the smaller "downstairs theater" at the center. The downstairs theater is intimate, with twelve rows and about 175 total seats, all positioned at a sharp enough angle so every seat has a very good view.

Disney Update: Weekend of 8/4

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

opens on August 15th!

This looks like a pretty good one.
When Timothy Green unexpectedly shows up in Stanleyville, he changes the lives of the people he meets forever.

For more information, videos, photos, cast bios, and downloads, check out The Odd Life of Timothy Green.  You can also visit the new Disney application that allows fans of the film to upload and share photos of magical moments from their own lives. When a photo is submitted, it becomes a part of Disney's Magical Moments Photo Collage - cool!

Also, our favorite, Disney Junior, is launching kid-friendly but parent-targeted short-form programming under the "Disney Junior Night Light" banner on September 4th.

#WW: Ahh, summer!

Now this is a girl who knows how to relax on a lazy summer afternoon!

It went by so quickly. School begins in our area over the next few weeks.