Small Things Are Big Things

Grab your guns! My friend Julie is starting a revolution.

OK, not that kind of revolution.

A revolution of kindness!

Everyday of this week she has given her readers a simple task to spread the love and featured an amazing charity. (You know I love love love a good charity!!) AND she has (along with some friends) gifted a new adorable printable each day!

FUN FUN FUN!!

All the daily challenges can be done at anytime (kiddo friendly!) and the more often the better!!

Here is a quick recap of the week so far, but you’ll have to visit Joy’s Hope if you want more details.

Day 1: Bring a treat to a neighbor.

And you can use these sweet tags made by Mique of 30Days.

Click HERE and HERE to download a printable set!

Charity – Sharlie’s Angels. Sharlie is a mommy with Cystic Fibrosis waiting (and saving) for a Heart/Double Lung Transplant from Stanford.

You can support Sharlie by shopping for cool stuff here (I’ve bought 3 things… so far!)

Day 2: Write a note. As in with a pen or pencil… remember those?

Emily from Hope Ink created the cutest cards! One is blank so your kiddos can color their own. Click here to print your set.

I used to be so good at little notes.

Not anymore!

This little challenge helped me to remember how fun it is to write a note instead of asking a question on Facebook! I did two notes, but cheated a it by making one a long overdue thank you note!

Charity – Sending notes and gift cards to Wren a mommy of 3 fighting stage 4 cancer. 

Day 3: Gift card for the homeless.

Love this one!! We saw Mike Yankoski speak about his book Under the Overpass and our perspective was forever changed about homeless people. We always have a bag-o-stuff to give out when we pass a homeless person – socks, deodorant, toothpaste, gum, easy open canned food/pantry items etc. (Note: never put hand sanitizer, mouthwash or cold/allergy medication in a homeless bag because it can be used as alcohol or to make illegal drugs)

Charity – Compassion Christmas Catalog. This is one our family’s favorite yearly traditions. There is nothing like giving a needy family in Africa a goat. REALLY. Try it. (This is really fun to do with a group of people pitching in for something big.)

Day 4: Book for a friend.

Buy a book or gift one you read and loved. Maybe purge some of those kiddo books before Christmas?!?! AND for those books you want back print up a few of these adorable little book name cards here from Heather at Life Made Lovely.

Charity – The Joyful Life Library. They donate children’s books to hospitals so parents can snuggle up and read with their kiddos.

I so wish I would have known about The Joyful Life Library before Eli’s birthday party. We collected over 400 books in loo of gifties for the Susan G Komen American Book Drive and they were horrible to work with. REALLY!!!

Day 5: Refresh someone.

Get a few (or a case) of ice cold water and head out in the world (or your local park) and refresh peeps. Printable by Living Locurto

Amy from Living Locurto made these water bottle tags Get them here and here.

Charity – Charity Water

Day 6: Thank someone in service.

I haven’t done this one yet but I sure can’t wait!! Stephanie from Homegrown Hospitality made some fun doodles to help you spread the thankfulness. Print them here.

Charity – Wounded Warrior Project

Day 7: Blessing Bags

You’ll just have to visit Joy’s Hope tomorrow to find out the details!!

Printable by Joy’s Hope

Charity – Samaritan’s Purse

I’m alive!! (just got internet figured out and found the camera cord!)

The move went great and so far we are in the 10% of boomerang-ers who are doing awesome back at home.

I just wanted to do a quick post today about the last of our Fall adventures!

Halloween Zootacular…

          

Zootacular is over but you can always check out the Irvine Park Railroad railroad anytime! For more information call 714-973-6846 or visit the OC Zoo website here.

 

If you haven’t already, you can follow OC Parks (@OCParks) or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OrangeCountyParks.

Orange County Zoo. 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869.

And Halloween…

I love dressing up for anything… add a family theme and I’m so on it. Unless I just moved the day before! We were (and are) still getting settled but we had the best time trick-or-treating in the neighborhood I grew up in…

          

AND the winner of the Beverly Hills Basics JP giveaway is Hollie from Holls Goes Social!! YAY!!

We are moving this Saturday!

To my parents’ house.

Yep.

Our family of 6 will be squeezing into the 2 bedroom 900ish square foot upstairs.

Cozy.

I’m going to pretend we are urban cool and living in an upscale NYC apartment. Wouldn’t 900 square feet be like a mansion in NYC, right??

We’ve taken an unofficial survey among our friends and random strangers I stand next to in lines (yes, I’m “the overly chatty line girl”) and according to the people who have lived with their (or their spouse’s) parents – about 90% say it’s horrible and 10% say its awesome.

Only time will tell.

I’m pretty sad to move. I absolutely L-O-V-E south county – our friends, our church, Eli’s school and the home we’ve been renting for 2.5 years.

Since I’m so melancholy, I’m trying to only think about the things I won’t miss and what I’ll be excited about as we embark on this new journey in our lives. Starting off with getting to use phrases like “embark on this journey,” because when can you ever say that???!?!?!

What else?

Mmmmm…

Our current place has these in every bathroom:

I hate these. Hate hate hate!

That’s all I can think of right now.

Any tips or trips for living with parents???

One another note, do you know what you’re going to be for Halloween yet? My big kiddos pick theirs (pirate and Rapunzel) Cy is going to be a matching pirate with Eli (poor 3rd child has the hand-me-down costume). Hot Hubby and I are going to be Popeye, Olive Oil (hells yeah, we dress up!) and Tess is Sweet Pea.

I just saw this costume and I’m not sure I can pass it up! Only $19 at Old Navy!!

(If you know what my hubby does for a living you can REALLY understand my moral obligation for this costume!)

What are you going to be??

Family theme??

We were invited to go check out Knott’s Berry Farms Camp Spooky.

So fun!!

We started the day with breakfast at Lucy’s Lunchbox as the Peanuts characters came around to meet us – dressed up for Halloween of course! There was one friendly monster that most kiddos weren’t too hot on… I’ll let you guess which one it was… (monster pic stolen from my friend Kyla) 

      

Kiddos are encouraged to dress up and get trick-or-treat all over Camp Spooky but parent costumes aren’t allowed. As much as I love to dress up for Halloween I LOVE this rule. It made me feel good to know adults who might dress too scary or skanky wouldn’t be allowed with the kiddos.

Camp Spooky was decorated for fall – even a haystack maze. And you know a trip to Knott’s wouldn’t be complete without rides rides rides…

MORE FALL SUFF:

~ The Discovery Science Cube has their Bug Invasion Exhibit again! YAY! I didn’t get a chance to go this year but check out my post from last year. It’s super fun. Especially for lil’ boys. Also it is a hop-skip-and-jump away from the Pumpkin Factory. So you can check out the bugs then get all your pumpkin fun done in one day. They have games and kiddo activities galore!

~ The Cube is also hosting their annual Pumpkin Launch event on November 5th. We have never been but it looks like SO MUCH fun. It’s at Cal State Fullerton (where I got married) and I’m 99% sure we’ll be there this year!! Meet us!!

~Pretend City has a new program called Baby Steps. It’s pretty cool! They close down the Library, Café, and Construction Site from 2-3:30pm certain days and parents get to engage in age-appropriate facilitated activities with their infants, 0-16 months old! If you are interested the next one is this Monday the 24th, details here!

AND…

…the winners for the OC Mommies Discount Club Cards are

Christine

Jami

Kyla

Naomi

Congrats all!! I’ll be sending you an email for your address to send out your card!!

Our favorite Halloween tradition is BOOing! (see last year) You make a simple “BOO” sign and put together a fun treat or goodie bag, then secretly put it on your neighbors’ door at night. Included is a fun poem which instructs them to do the same to two other neighbors. It’s a chain letter of fun! Before you know it your whole neighborhood is covered in BOO signs (unless you have a neighbor who returns your BOO… still in shock about that!!). It’s super fun for the kiddos (and parents).

We let the kiddos go crazy at the dollar store for the goodies and we did 6 BOOs to get a healthy start in our neighborhood.

We got our night camo on (aka washable black marker) and of course our Lids…

 

(side note: Tessa’s Lid was a bit loose so I put one of those crochet headbands under the brim to keep it snug.)

                                   

(when am I going to learn to put on make-up before we do something I KNOW I’lll blog about?? Blarg!)

Every time a car goes by we all dive into the bushes or hide behind trees. We looked pretty shady jumping into shrubbery with our double stroller in tow, but the kiddos take this all very seriously and we had to follow suit.

Isn’t being a parent soooooo rad!!!!!

We always pick the houses with the most décor because I think they are more likely to actually do the BOO fun!

Who knows.

One neighbor had a fog machine and I almost stole some wreaths from another neighbor.

Is it odd that I think we would be friends because we have the same taste in wreaths?? I also peeked in their windows and we have the same style. (You can’t deny it’s fun to be a window peeker!! The non creepy kind… the I wanna check out your decorating kind.)

              

We go Booed the next night.

And the circle of BOO love came… um… full circle.

And now we get to do two more houses.

Doesn’t get better than that!

Side Note:

Cy is growing up. Is there any way to stop time because I’m going to go cry in a corner now…

(Cy BOOing at 4 months & 16 months)

 

I know.

I was going to put up this giveaway on Friday.

But one thing led to another and I was changing diapers, nursing or crying..

I’ve got the baby blues.

Boo.

Maybe because I still look 5 months preggers (ok… more like 8 months preggers) and I’m in my jammies all day. Did I mention all the poo I have to put up with at my job??? (Not my Eli’s Lids job, that’s awesome!) More like this kind of poo…

That’s why this sweet giveaway is close to my heart!

New jammies!!

Wendy over at Beverly Hills Basics sent me these awesome owl jammies AND is letting me give a pair of jammies to one of you!! YAY!!

The Beverly Hills Basics line is made in the USA, the fabrics are beautiful and top notch quality! I love that the tops are nice and long… aka you can answer the door and not feel like you are exposing the goods to the neighborhood. I actually like the top so much I might upgrade it out of the PJ drawer and into the tank top drawer!

The cuteness of the pattern can totally take your mind off a crying baby or laundry on the floor that needs to be folded.

See…

They have all sorts of styles…

 

Prize:

One Beverly Hills Basic PJ of your choice!!

 

How to win:

Leave a comment on this post with a favorite movie or show you love to watch in your jammies on a day at home. (I’m looking for more nursing shows!!)

Extra Entries: (you know you want them)

~Go to Beverly Hills Basics and leave a link in the comments section of this post with your favorite Beverly Hills Basics PJ style (5 entries)

~Like Beverly Hills Basics on Facebook (1 entry)

~Let your friends know about the giveaway in your FB status with a link to this post: http://www.smallthingsarebigthings.com/Beverly-Hills-Basics  (2 entries)

~Like Eli’s Lids on Facebook or let me know you already do (1 entry)

~Follow Beverly Hills Basics on twitter (1 entry)

~Follow Eli’s Lids on twitter or let me know you already do (1 entry)

~Subscribe to the Eli’s Lids Newsletter or let me know you already do (5 entries)

For every extra entry, be sure to leave a separate comment on this post! i.e. If you follow Eli’s Lids on Facebook, and Facebook about the giveaway leave 3 separate comments!

***Giveaway ends Monday October 24th, 9pm.***

Sometimes after folks buy Lids they send me pictures of their adorable kiddos wearing them (or post them on our Facebook page).

I love it.

Like really LOVE it.

Because I really think people who buy Lids are my friends.

Is that weird??

Anyway, each Sunday I’m going to feature one of the Kids in Lids pictures sent to me!

My friend Shelby (you should check out her blog) tweeted me this picture last week of her son Tyler (5 years old) in the Black Snowboarder Lid she won from the Register’s OC Moms blog! The caption said…

“101 degrees out, but he wants to wear his new @elislids hat.”

 

Does this kid have style or what?? Thanks Shelby for sharing! I hope Tyler didn’t pass out from heat stroke.

I’m linking up with Life Rearranged’s InstaFriday. I just love love love to document my phone pictures. (Don’t you love your phone pix too? We have our phones on us all the time and catch the cutest moments!)

Baby girls have the best clothes!

Ruffles on bums are awesome.

Hot Hubby got 3 weeks off for Tessa’s birth. It was fun!! Long enough to help for the first bits of babyland. I will miss sleeping in while he held down the fort but I was ready to start a routine of my own. So blessed he works for the best company on the planet!

           

We were invited to see the fun-ness of Camp Spooky at Knott’s Berry Farm. I’ll do a post on it soon!

Remember Hot Hubby had 3 weeks off work? His idea of watching the kiddos – tying them up, and seeing how long it took them to get out.

They loved it.

Dads are way funner than moms.

I took my first lil’ gal out to get our nails done. My post pregnancy feet needed some TLC (you know what I’m talking about fellow moms!) and Cora Jane need rainbow nails.

I got something fun in the mail from Beverly Hills Basics! Giveaway coming later this evening!

         

We had some rain here in So Cal (though it has been 100 degrees the past couple of days). Kiddos looked awesome in their Lids and I made the mistake of blow-drying my hair. What a waste of time.

Cyrus got tubes in his ears because of his ear infections. The afternoon of his procedure he finally started walking! I’m so thankful we got it done. I had no idea how much it was affecting his balance and speech!

My mom gave me this locket from my grandmother. It is beautiful AND has pix of my grandfather inside. And it has the best back story: My grandfather owed money to someone and vowed not shave until he paid his debt. He was in downtown Fullerton to pay the debt and get a shave. A local photography shop owner asked to take his photo to hang in his shop window. My grandmother (sweet on my grandpa at the time) saw the photos and bought them. then she put the photos in her locket long before they were even dating! (story courtesy of my aunt)

          

I’m sitting on the couch nursing a lot. I’m craving trashy reality TV and Sci Fi.

Who doesn’t?

Trash – I’ve watched Pretty Wild, The City and now I’m into wedding shows and The Hills.

Sci Fi – I’ve gone through all the Star Wars (hell-o hottie Han Solo!!) and Narnia and I’m thinking I’ll start Battlestar Galactica soon.

Now the secret is out… I’m a big nerd.

###

New giveaway coming later today!! (during nap time)

Don’t forget to enter the OC Mommies Discount Club Giveaway!!

Tessa is 3 weeks old and I’m finally getting into some sort of routine (aka Hot Hubby is back at work after his 3 week leave).

I’m excited to get back to the blog (I’m so sorry if I haven’t responded to your comment yet!). In honor of being back on the web I have two fun giveaways! Today I’ll share one for local Southern California folks and tomorrow I’ll share one for all over! (Here is a sneak peek for tomorrow)

Eli’s Lids has partnered up with OC Mommies and added a fun discount to their Discount Club!

AND OC Mommies gave me 3 Discount Club Cards to giveaway!!

Yay!!

You will not believe all the places offering discounts! See the full list of participating businesses here.

If you don’t win be sure to join the Discount Club for only $11.95! (Let them know you’re  from Eli’s Lids!)

 

Prizes:

The three winners will each receive one Discount Club Membership Card which grants you access to some of the BEST discounts in Orange County. Just show your card when you book a service or about to make a purchase! Online stores (like mine) will offer coupon codes.

Easy Peasy!

How to win:

Leave a comment on this post with a restaurant or store in So Cal (or online) where you wish you had a discount.

Extra Entries: (you know you want them)

Like OC Mommies on Facebook (1 entry)

Let your friends know about the giveaway in your FB status with a link to this post:  (2 entries)

Like Eli’s Lids on Facebook (1 entry)

Follow OC Mommies on twitter (1 entry)

Follow Eli’s Lids on twitter (1 entry)

Subscribe to the Eli’s Lids Newsletter (5 entries)

For every extra entry, be sure to leave a separate comment on this post! i.e. If you follow Eli’s Lids on Facebook, and Facebook about the giveaway leave 3 separate comments!

***Giveaway ends Thursday October 20th, 9pm.***