The Ladybug and Bean launches online store

The Ladybug and Bean online store is finally launched! Please take a moment to check out at all of the chic fabrics available! I look forward to hand creating a blanket for that special little one. ♥

 

Inspire Your Van Gogh

Bored? Need a fun activity to help get you all through the day? Try painting outdoors!

Activity: Art/Following Directions/Colors

Age: 1 year+

Materials: small-medium painting canvas {Hobby Lobby has buy one get one free specials - got 2 for $8!!!}, non-toxic paints, various sized paint brushes, small cup of water, paper towels

Inspire your little "Van Gogh" with this painting activity. Place the different colored paints in a row, as well as the different sized brushes. Identify each color and brush size to your toddler then ask them to repeat.
Have them start with the small brush and a specific color and draw a line. Then have them clean the brush in the water, then move on to another color that you select. After going through each color you can start showing them what happens when you mix colors {yellow + blue = green; red + blue = purple; red + white = pink, etc.}
After this activity you will not only have a happy toddler, you will have a new piece of art to hang on your wall that you will cherish forever. ♥

The Ladybug and Bean is "Giving Back"

I'm sure that you have known someone with cancer, or have dealt with cancer yourself. Five of my relatives have lost their lives to cancer, and luckily my dear sister WON the battle when she was only 21 years of age.

An acquaintance of mine posted a link on her Facebook page regarding a 19 month old girl, named Alana. Alana was diagnosed with AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) at the age of 9 months. Sadly, she passed away a couple of days ago due to this terrible disease. 

As heart wrenching as this video was for me to watch, it really made me realize that cancer is non discriminating. It doesn't matter your age, size, race, gender, or ethnicity....

I am a few weeks from finally launching The Ladybug and Bean website and online store. When I do, a portion of each sold Criblanket will go to the Children's Cancer Research Fund. Also, I will have a "Give Back" Criblanket category that will go toward the ASPCA and the Susan G. Komen Foundation, featuring animal and breast cancer ribbon Criblankets, respectively.

Hug your loved ones a little tighter today, think of the ones that have passed, and love like you have never loved before. ♥

Go Texan Day!

You may have noticed that I have been on a little hiatus for the past weeks. Things have been crazy in our household {a few colds, traveling, getting Criblankets produced, 5th Disease attacking my 2 year old,  doctor's appointments} and I can write an entire entry about everything we have been doing!

But, let's get back to the swing of things....today is Go Texan Day in Houston as we get ready to kick off the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo! The rodeo has been around since 1938 in our city and the Go Texan Day movement was launched in the 1950's, with a little help from an ad agency. I can recall being a child and getting so excited for February because it meant that the rodeo was finally here. Now that I'm a mommy (and married to a Californian who hasn't truly experienced a rodeo before), I'm thrilled to introduce this tradition to my family. There is an overwhelming feeling of state pride at this event - and with awesome music, the amazing food aroma engulfing the air, and livestock shows to entertain the kids, this will surely be an event to remember.

The Ladybug and Bean Original Criblanket woven labels

 

YIPPEE!!!! My woven labels are now in production! There have been many obstacles in the past month keeping me from launching the online store, but now things are back on track. I just wanted this opportunity to show you the woven labels that will be on The Ladybug and Bean's Original Criblanket™, burp cloths, and clutches. Aren't they cute!? :)

My Latest Obsession

I have been extremely busy trying to get The Ladybug and Bean website up and running that I really haven't had time for fun/creative projects. Since I don't have any tips today, I'm going to tell you about my latest obsession.....long, beautiful lashes. I've looked into products like Latisse and quite frankly I'm scared to use them only because I'm super clumsy {my hubby and daughter can attest to this}. With my luck I'll smear the brush over my eyeball which will only lead to bad things. Fake eyelashes are great, but I don't have the time to apply them and I've never been able to put them on straight.

A few days ago I was visiting my favorite Ulta Salon getting my eyebrows waxed at the Benefits Bar when I saw a pamphlet for Novalash Eyelash Extensions. From my understanding they use the best adhesive in the marketplace and each synthetic lash is bonded and applied to a single natural lash. The entire process can take anywhere from 2.5-3 hours. They last approximately 4 weeks and to keep the "look" consumers need to get them touched up monthly as natural lashes grow and fall out. No mascara is needed and you can wash your face and they won't fall off.

The cost is anywhere from $150-$250 for a complete set then approximately $50-$75 monthly for the touch ups {which is pretty expensive in my opinion, so it will remain an obsession}.

Nosefrida

With the various colds going around right now, it was of no surprise that my 4 month old contracted one of the strains. For a little over two weeks she has had an abundant supply of mucous build up that has provided sleepless nights and fussiness {which is not good for anyone involved}. We tried the common bulb syringe but it failed miserably. A steamed bathroom works, but once we're back in her room the symptoms return. A humidifier is also good to help clear the nasal passage but our pediatrician in past recommended against long term use due to possible mold build up regardless of how often it is cleaned.
I happened to be on YouTube one evening and stumbled upon a video of a woman using the Nosefrida The Snotsucker.  I was immediately appalled. The idea of sucking snot out of my child's nose was so repulsive that I almost gagged. However, as I watched I learned that there is a filter in place that protects from mucous reaching the caretaker's mouth. Also, unlike a bulb syringe, nothing ever enters the babies nose. The tube is merely a suctioning device that is placed at the nostril opening so the lining of the babies nose is never compromised. Lastly, it's super easy to clean. After watching the video I was sold. I ordered it online through Amazon and received it in 2 days. I admit, I am a little squeamish so it was difficult for me to even try this, but I did and it works like a charm.  If you want to avoid sucking on a tube there are battery powered aspirators out there as well, but they cost a little more out of pocket.
Happy Sucking! :)