Ashley – Page 4 – the MAD creative

EASTER GIFT IDEAS

Post author:Ashley
Post published:March 22, 2016
Post category:KIDS PLAY
Post comments:0 Comments

We went to the mall Easter bunny today. Mya thinks that since you sit on the bunny’s lap like Santa, you need to tell him what you want for Easter. And she wants a nightstand. Oh how I love my practical girl. Derek and I each have a nightstand with a drawer and that’s what she wants because she “needs something to set things on and put thing in by [her] own bed.” She also prefers it to be dark blue with sparkles. Duly noted, Mya.

But since I’m guessing most other kids aren’t asking for a bedside table, I thought I’d throw together some fun kid gifts in case you wanted to add some last minute pizzaz to their baskets. (Since this post was published, some products have become unavailable. We have updated some alternative links to the pictures below.)

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DIY KID ABSTRACT PAINTING

Post author:Ashley
Post published:March 7, 2016
Post category:KIDS LEARN LOVE PLAY PROJECTS
Post comments:1 Comment

A couple weekends ago, Mya had a 102 degree temperature and a faucet for a nose. (You’re welcome for that visual.) The weather was beautiful– a whopping 60-something degrees in February– and we all needed to get out of the house… even if it was just the back patio. So Derek set up a pretty stellar paint station and Mya– in between blowing her nose– worked her magic. If you only do one craft with your kid this year, THIS should be it. I can’t tell you how warm my creative heart was watching Mya paint a large scale piece of art. It is most definitely one of my favorite things we’ve done together. We’ve painted a lot, but never at this scale. It was so much fun seeing Mya go all out and all in on something so big. She felt pretty special doing it. And she was so proud of the final product that she insisted it be hung in her room.

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“COLOR YOUR HEART OUT!” VALENTINES

Post author:Ashley
Post published:February 10, 2016
Post category:KIDS LOVE
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On Monday night, my Mama mind blipped and I thought Mya’s Valentines’ Day party was the next morning. Last year we used crayons to make valentines and it was inexpensive and fun. So I did what every other Mom-in-a-jam would do and got on pinterest, specifically searching for a crayon craft. Mya and I raced around the house gathering the needed supplies and I think they turned out pretty cute. And Mya is proud of them which is all that matters to me!

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BABY LEAH’S ROOM

Post author:Ashley
Post published:February 9, 2016
Post category:DESIGN HOME KIDS LIVE PROJECTS
Post comments:2 Comments

We’re finally getting around to showing you Leah’s baby room! I took these pictures back in early November, but not much has changed since then… except now we actually get to enjoy baby girl’s room with her! There are still some small things left to do, but if I wait to reveal before every little thing is “finished”, you might not see it until 2017! And I’m just too excited not to share…

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DIY NUMBER PLAQUE

Post author:Ashley
Post published:February 1, 2016
Post category:HOME KIDS LEARN PROJECTS
Post comments:1 Comment

Never before has the number 4 seemed so much larger than the number 3. Since Leah joined our family unit just over a month ago, I have learned that little projects (or heck– even just the laundry!) are more tedious tasks than ever before. I have never felt more victorious than when I drove in the car with both girls weeks ago by myself to run errands. Extremely exhausted, yet victorious. Today’s errands consisted of two Leah blowouts, Mya constantly needing “more snacks!”, me not being able to collapse a double stroller in the parking lot, two Leah feedings, and a mysterious something sticky all over Mya’s pants… all within an hour and a half. I might never leave the house again. And yet the number 4 has never seemed so beautiful.

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LEAH LYNN

Post author:Ashley
Post published:January 7, 2016
Post category:KIDS LOVE PLAY
Post comments:13 Comments

Get ready for picture overload, people! Since I’m having trouble formulating sentences on little sleep, I figured pictures could tell this story better than I could right now. Our little Leah Lynn finally decided to make her debut three days after her due date. I started having mild, regular contractions around midnight on the 27th. We had just gone to bed and I think I was in a state of disbelief/ denial, not wanting to jinx it if labor wasn’t really happening. But we took some deep breaths, gathered our bags, and were at the hospital by 2 AM. I had an epidural and they later broke my water. After that, it was game time. The midwife said I could basically laugh and the baby would pop out. So that’s what I did. Ok, not really. But with just a few pushes, Derek was scrubbed up and ready to catch our second daughter, Leah Lynn…

Sunday, December 27th
10:17 AM
8 lbs 12 oz
19 3/4 in

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DARBY SMART: DIYs for EVERYONE

Post author:Ashley
Post published:December 12, 2015
Post category:LEARN PLAY PROJECTS
Post comments:0 Comments

DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post brought to you by Darby Smart. The opinions are 100% my own.

My least favorite part of any project is gathering all the supplies. Don’t get me wrong– I love the weekly outings to the hardware store, but if it takes me more than one store to gather all supplies needed, the project quickly loses its luster. So when I found out about Darby Smart, a company that offers hundreds of creative craft ideas and then delivers the supplies to your door?… I became a super fan! “Yes, I want to make that. No, I don’t want to drive to three stores to get supplies. Yes, I want it delivered to my door like a spoiled warrior princess.” Enter Darby Smart!

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DIY CANDY GIFT POTS

Post author:Ashley
Post published:December 11, 2015
Post category:LEARN PROJECTS
Post comments:1 Comment

I totally felt like a goober last year when some neighbors came by to drop off cookies for the holidays and I had nothing in return. I know they didn’t expect anything because that’s not what the holidays are all about, but how great would’ve it been to say “Oh! Hold on just a minute! We have something for you too!” Basically, I’m trying to redeem myself from last year… with some tiny clay pots, paint, and candy. And these cute little guys were so easy to make and super economical.

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HOLIDAY CARD WREATH

Post author:Ashley
Post published:December 7, 2015
Post category:HOME LEARN PROJECTS
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Mya and I love getting snail mail during the week. And since the holiday cards are already starting to come in, it has added even more excitement to her Christmas spirit. It’s also making me realize that some people seriously have their acts together if they’re sending out their holiday cards by early December. That is certainly not the case with us! I gave up on that a long time ago. And we send ours out for Valentines’ Day. Because it takes me that much longer… two more months. Womp womp. But I did want to somehow display everyone else’s cards; and with some already-owned supplies, it was super easy.

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GROWN-UP GIRLY GIFT GUIDE

Post author:Ashley
Post published:December 1, 2015
Post category:FOOD HOME LIVE LOVE PLAY
Post comments:4 Comments

I was going to compile a list of maternity items that’ve helped me through this pregnancy. And then I realized that they’re not maternity items at all because I was too cheap to buy much of anything that I’d only be able to use less than 9 months. Especially when I can live in sweatpants everyday. And I’ll probably have stretch marks because I didn’t get a bellyband; and I’ll probably have back problems because I didn’t get a pregnancy pillow. But I got a super soft infinity scarf, a mommy journal, and some other goodies instead. So I think the tradeoff was totally worth it. And I’m hoping these items will bring you comfort too… if not for you, for some other special gal pal. And most are great stocking stuffers, so just drop some hints to your man friend and make his job a little easier this year.

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ADVENT CALENDAR IDEAS

Post author:Ashley
Post published:November 24, 2015
Post category:LOVE PLAY
Post comments:0 Comments

Sorry I lied. I didn’t get my stuff together last night for Mya’s birthday post. Too. Many. Photos! (So, hopefully it’ll come together next week.) Buuuuut, I have some joyous advent calendar ideas for you… because December is just 7 days away. (Insert wide-eyed emoticon here.) I’m here to tell you, “It’s ok. Take a deep breath. Don’t freak out.” Some of these are super easy. If you have some paper bags or toilet paper rolls, you can make something work for you in no time!

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BUTTERFLY SNACKS

Post author:Ashley
Post published:November 13, 2015
Post category:FOOD KIDS PLAY
Post comments:1 Comment

Truth: Mya’s napping and I should totally be making food for her birthday party tomorrow or cleaning the house… or sleeping. But I’d rather blog about the silly butterfly snacks we made for her preschool class. Priorities, am-i-right?! Yesterday was Mya’s 3rd Birthday(!) and she had school for a couple hours in the morning. We wanted to bring treats, and her teacher requested something besides sugary cupcakes or cookies to make her job easier. (Hey, I get it!) So we opted for some of Mya’s favorite foods: grapes and cheese (and popcorn on the side.) And since Mya loves herself some butterflies, here’s what went down…

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