Happy Hapa Makes Us Very Happy - Mermaid Towel & Barbie Dresses

My friend Sharon makes the coolest mermaid tail towels made out of soft terry cloth.  The ties and bias tape are handmade using coordinating batik fabric. The ties are long enough to tie around the front or the back.  Ever since I first saw them on Sharon's blog, I just knew that ER would love one, and ordered a special one in the Cinderella shade of blue that's her favorite color. 

She looks so cute with it on!  All summer long I planned on taking a picture of our little mermaid enjoying it at one of our Great Lakes but due to being pregnant and then because I'd had a C-section we didn't spend nearly as much time as I'd have liked at the beach.  So you'll have to get a look at it, in our bathroom, where the shower curtain goes well with it, don't you think?

I thought that since our time at the beach and pool is coming to an end, man has it been cold in Michigan, that the mermaid towel would be getting put away until next year but ER's found new uses for it.  She loves playing dress up in it, I guess she finds it to be a much more girly version of a dress up cape!  I'm glad, because it's just too cute to put away!

Here's a close up of the fabulous batik fabric from Sharon, it's just gorgeous!  ER is not the only one in the house dressed up in her Happy Hapa finery.  At the same time I ordered the mermaid towel, I also got her a polk dot and mermaid dress for her Barbie dolls.  The girls look very fashionable and ER loves the dresses because they are so easy for her to get on and off by herself.   

Check out my friend Sharon at Happy Hapa. We love her creations like my camera strap and I've got my eye on a hooded towel, like this one, for my next purchase.

Pinwheel, Pinwheel, Spinning Around

Last weekend we had an unseasonably warm day.  We all had to dig out shorts to wear and it was so lovely to open the windows to let in some fresh air.  I love that I caught ER enjoying the breezes and watching her flower pinwheel spinning and spinning.  I think it just captures the little moments of life, which certainly seem to be speeding by rapidly.  Today is kindergarten registration, which makes me a little sad, my preschooler is almost gone forever! 

A note on this post's title, do any of you remember that show on Nickelodeon?  I sure do, here's a link to the theme song if anyone want's a trip down memory lane.

Shared at Wordless Wednesday on: Five Minutes for Mom, Go Graham Go, Two of a Kind Working on a Full House, and Wordful Wednesday at Parenting by Dummies.

Dancing in the Rain

Because sometimes you've just got to...Part of Wordless Wednesday at Five Minutes for Mom, Jolly Mom, Go Graham Go, Two of a Kind Working on a Full House, and the new home of Wordful Wednesday:

PS: In case you are wondering, our cute rain outfit is from Kidorable. You can see my previous review, here.

A Love Note

We've been working a lot on writing lately, and recently ER asked me to write "I love Mommy" so she could copy/write it all by herself. I think I'll be keeping her first attempt at almost four years old forever♥

Part of Wordless Wednesday at: Five Minutes for Mom, Go Graham Go, Two of a Kind Working on a Full House and Wordful Wednesday at Seven Clown Circus.

Playing Beauty Shop

Almost everyday, I receive the star treatment from my own personal hair dresser. Now if only we could agree on just how many barrettes look good in at a time! She's got one side done and is busily working on the other. Besides the crown I am also wearing a lei to complete my look. Aren't I gorgeous? That's what she always says when I'm done, "Now your all gorgeous Mama!" Moments like these I want to remember forever.

Do your children have a favorite game or activity that you find yourself doing everyday? If so what is it? I'm always curious to know what has captured a child's facination!

Spider with Egg Sack

We went to the Creepy Crawlies Nature Event last week with some friends. For part of the time everyone went bug collecting and my friend Rachel picked up this spider with her egg sack still attached for ER. I'd never seen a spider's egg sack before, it was kind of irridescent and neat to see. I thought some of you might be interested in seeing it too.

Part of Wordless Wednesday at: Five Minutes for Mom, Go Graham Go, Two of a Kind Working on a Full House and Wordful Wednesday at Seven Clown Circus.

Summer Fun: Reaching New Heights

Last week we went to a new playground for the first time and ER was immediately drawn to this rope climbing structure, like usual. Takes after her Daddy in that! They are both climbers, I prefer both feet on the ground.

She wasn't satisfied until she'd mastered it and could get almost to the top. She would've gone all the way, only Mommy wouldn't let her. What new adventures have you had lately?

Last Day of Preschool

ER's last day of 3 year old preschool was yesterday, at the end of class each of the kids got a little certificate. I can't believe how fast the year has gone, it seems like the first day of preschool was yesterday!

Shared at the following Wordless Wednesday: Five Minutes for Mom, Jolly Mom, Go Graham Go, Two of a Kind Working on a Full House and Wordful Wednesday at Seven Clown Circus.

Sprinkler Fun

Yesterday we got our first play sprinkler, it was an impulse buy on a humid day while grocery shopping. ER saw this Dora themed one that spins around and just had to have her.
Naturally, we had to try it out right away. No matter that it was five o'clock and most people were heading inside for dinner.

Looks like ER is pretty satisfied with her choice. I told Brad that maybe our grass will stay green longer this year, we'll just have to rotate where we place Dora each time.

Part of Holly's Tickled Pink linky at 504 Main, even though I know it doesn't have to be something actually pink, I do think ER is pretty cute in her new ballerina swim suit. But mainly, it's linked up because hearing squeals of happiness tickles me pink and who doesn't remember the sheer joy of being young and and running through the sprinkler on a hot day☺

Everyday Adventures: Biking the Neighborhood

Now that it is warmer we go on a bike ride every day around the neighborhood, almost always along the same path. ER has specific names for the things we pass along the way, that if you hear her describe things, make our life sound a lot more exciting.We always go by the "really big, big lake"...aka drainage pond, so glad we don't live right on that!

Then it's past the "spooky old tree" and into the "forest", otherwise known as the dead tree right before this part of the neighborhood path, lined with trees.

It's a good thing Mommy is usually along to keep everyone safe, thanks to Grammy for taking this picture of us and for watching ER while I had my test yesterday. Went well BTW, results next week. Thanks for the well wishes!

In the forest we always have to stop by and see if the fairies are home. Then it's onto the little park for some play time! If we time it right, the kids are off the bus from school and she gets to see the "big kids".

What sort of everyday adventures do you have?



As always, even though there are some words, still very brief for me and part of: Wordless Wednesday at Five Minutes for Mom, Jolly Mommy, Go Graham Go, and Two of a Kind Working on a Full House, as well as Wordful Wednesday at 7 Clown Circus.

Love My Library

About a year after we moved to our hometown, the neighborhood library moved into a brand spankin' new building. It's got three floors, open space, and lots of windows so it's always light and bright. It's really a beautiful community resource. Before you get too jealous, you should know our library used to be in a long really old building and we were crammed in. When you walk in can either go upstairs to what ER calls, the grown-up quiet spot. We don't spend too much time up there together, just long enough for me to get a quick peek at the craft and cooking sections. One day I'm going to go over by myself and enjoy the reading room upstairs. It's even got a fireplace and looks like a great spot to relax with a book.

Downstairs is where the monthly Friends of the Library Sale takes place and all the big fun activities. We're there a lot for the Summer Reading Program special events. Year round we can usually be found on the main level. It's where the new releases, DVDs, juvenille computer section, and all the kids books are. There are lots of tables and chairs to sit at so you can look through the big non fiction titles with lots of cool pictures. Today ER choose one of the big comfy chairs instead.

Look at the pretty view we get, it's next too a community park. If you look closely you might catch a glimpse of the river that runs along the library. A train track also goes right by the windows in the children's section and if you are lucky you might catch one. That's always cause for big excitement.

Recently ER discovered the non-fiction section and always asks to look at the book on dancing first. She especially loves the ones that show ballerinas. It's right next to the kids cookbooks and crafts so it's a great spot for both of us to start out our visit.

Before the move the children's section was very cramped, stuck in one little square shaped room. Now we've got lots of space to spread out and access to a lot more books, which is great. They've also set up several tables for playing on, have wooden puzzles, and even a puppet theater. It's a great place to spend a few hours.



Today we're linked up the the Love My Library link up over at Little Page Turners. Head over to see all the other community libraries enjoyed by our friends.

My Cool New Phone!

This is the cell phone I've been rockin' for the past oh FIVE years or so. Yes so shameful, especially for a blogger huh? At the conference last February everyone was tweeting nonstop and using theirs to upload photos nearly instantaneously. Needless to say, mine stayed in my bag. I'm embarrassed to say I couldn't even really ever figure out how to text on it.
But it has been a good phone for quite awhile, it did what it need to. Kept me in contact with Brad so we could call him if we car problems and I used it all the time to chat with friends. I remember how excited I was that it took pictures, when we got it. That was a big deal for me back in the day, LOL! Well the day finally came; it broke. Oh darn.

Look what arrived yesterday!!! Can you believe they overnight the phones when they're purchased online? Saved us a $30 activation fee for each phone, that we would've incurred it we upgraded our phones at a major electronics store too. The ever frugal Brad picked one of the free phones, the Samsung Intensity, although it too is quite a step up from the old ones. He was sweet enough to agree for a major upgrade for me. Yay!

I'm sorry for the horrible over exposed pictures, I had to take them late at night. That was the soonest I could get everything charged and stuff transferred over. I wanted to show it all lit up with the screen looking pretty. I am so super excited, guess what? It has a touch screen, oh boy do I feel super "cool" now. Never mind that I haven't figured out how to do most of the cool things with it yet. The camera is a lot more advanced, it even has settings, WOW. Plus I can use it to listen to music and a nice little calendar and scheduler are part of it too. For some reason the tip calculator also got me real excited too. Get this, it came with Tetris preloaded on it. I can also add more applications, if and when I ever figure out how to do that.

Here is the inside, isn't she pretty? Brad says she is way too much phone for me, but we'll see. He even sprang for a slight upcharge so I can text and do pic messages as well as upgraded my plan for a data package. Hey I have to get him to go as nice as possible, while I can. It might be five more years before I get another one. He's already set up an online account so we can track my usage and prevent me from going over. I have a feeling I am going to love being able to access my email and Internet. So I'll have to watch it.

Want to know some more fabulous news?

Since I didn't insist on the unlimited access plan for Internet etc., which is $30 extra bucks a month! Can you believe it? I didn't want to add that much to the bill without knowing if I'd actually use it and make it worth it. Plus I was worried the screen on the phone might be too small, I don't have the best of vision and thought it might be tough for me to see on it. Happily I can already tell that's not going to be a problem.

Anyway, we're going to get a Netbook and install a WiFi system in our house. Now I'll be able to surf the Internet while ER's on the playscape or playing with sidewalk chalk. I won't be tied down to the computer upstairs. It's so nice to have a husband who understand that kind of stuff and can do it himself. I can't wait!