Grace's Donut Birthday Brunch and {Chalkboard Party Favor DIY}

I think I know why fall is my favorite season... October and November are full of holidays and opportunities to celebrate! Last year, Grace didn't really seem to care about her birthday, but this year she was so excited for her big day.

I can't blame her. Turning 3 is a pretty big deal. We decided to celebrate with donuts (my Grace's favorite) and her closest pals. She even got a special visit from her Auntie Jen!

Thanks, Auntie, for making Grace's special day even more special!

I created this invitation and then had it printed with Vistaprint. 

We planned to have the party outside and crossed my fingers that it wouldn't be raining or too cold. The week of the party the weather app kept showing Saturday's temperatures getting lower and lower. After much debate, we decided to move the party inside. I was worried there wouldn't be enough room and the kids would be bored, but it turned out perfectly and the kids were thrilled to play with the toys, eat donuts and run up and down the stairs. We just decorated with some pink table clothes and streamers and these cute little donuts that I printed and cut out. (We also used them for decorating our thank you cards.)

Source: Free Printable from Oh Happy Day

Our guests decorated their party hats with sparkly stickers and polka dots when they arrived. I was surprised by how entertained they were doing this. More proof that simple is better when it comes to toddlers. 

Decorate Your Party Hat Station

The "brunch" menu was very simple:

• LOTS OF DONUTS (from Donut Country, a Murfreesboro favorite)
• Yogurt (greek for the adults and Gogurts for the kids)
• Bananas
• Cheerios (otherwise known as donut seeds)
• Coffee, milk, chocolate milk, OJ and water

Grace sang right along as everyone sang her "Happy Birthday," and she had no problem blowing out her candle, which we stuck in the middle of a coma-inducing cinnamon roll. 

Grace's extra large frosted cinnamon roll with sprinkles

Cheerios as "Donut Seeds" 

I had a lot of fun creating the party favors for each of Grace's friends- monogramed chalk boards inspired from here!

The process was super easy, but did take a couple nights to finish all of the coats of paint on each side of the letters. My goal was to give our guests something that they would use and that wouldn't add more junk to the toy box. Here are the DIY instructions if you want to make your own chalkboard party favors:

How To Make Monogramed Chalkboard Party Favors

Supplies:

MDF Letter 
1 Bottle of Chalkboard Paint
Paint brush
Chalk

320 Grit Sandpaper
Small rubber bands
Jute and/or Ribbon

1. Following the instructions on your chalkboard paint, paint 1-4 layers of paint onto the letters. Make sure you use solid strokes alternating horizontal or vertical for different layers. 
2. Once you've painted all sides of your letters and they are dry, rub the 320 grit sandpaper over the entire letter to smooth it down. (This will make the chalkboard easier to use and erase.)
3. Prime each letter by rubbing chalk on all of the surfaces and then wipe clean. (If you don't do this, the first thing you draw on your chalkboard won't ever completely come off.)
4. Attach a few pieces of chalk using a rubber band and some jute to the letter. 
5. Add your party tag and some curly ribbon, and you're done!

Putting the finishing touches on the party favors. 

Overall, we had a wonderful party and felt so lucky to be able to celebrate our baby's third birthday with our new Tennessee friends. Grace was over the moon! I was so proud of her throughout the whole party. She was kind to her friends, shared her toys and used good manners when opening her presents. I really do enjoy being able to throw her birthday parties, but I also want her to be a gracious host and to be appreciative for all she has.

We had a polka dot themed party when Grace turned one and an ice cream party at a farm for her second birthday.

P.S.

A maternity update!

#30 weeks

Cravings: Pumpkin Pie with whipped cream (Let's not talk about how I ate half of a week old pumpkin pie with a can of whipping cream on the couch while I watched Revenge.)

Feeling: Rotund 

I can't believe we're in the final stretch until baby Anderson gets here! I am so excited to meet him!

Lilacs and Lemons: Grace Starts School and That Time I Didn't Watch Divergent

Welcome to my first Lilacs and Lemons write up- brimming with the good and the bad from the week!

Lilacs: 
This week Grace started preschool! She's going two days a week, and has been so excited to get to use her new backpack and lunch box.

She got up early on her first day of school, and could hardly be persuaded to eat breakfast. I had to stall her for two hours until it was finally time to go to school. I felt like an impostor as we were walking into the school. How could I possibly have an almost-three-year old to drop off for school?

Once we got to Grace's classroom, she got worried that I was going to leave her. I tried my best to put on a cheery face, distract her and sneak out, but she was definitely crying (along with 8 of the other 12 kids in her class)! I did not expect to cry, but leaving her crying in the classroom really did break my heart. Would she be ok? Would the other kids treat her kindly? Would she eat paste?

I knew she was in good, loving, capable hands. I knew she was going to love preschool. I knew I was excited for my 5 hours...BUT....I still felt sad to leave her!

When it was time to pick her up (my five hours flew by), I showed my ID, and Grace spotted me. She ran to me with a huge smile, flung her arms around me, and said, "You came back!" Awwww! *heart melting* 

She wasn't very forthcoming with the details of her day. All I know is that they couldn't go outside because it was raining and she told the teacher when she had to go to the bathroom. Her lunch was gone and she had scribbled very impressively with orange crayon on a piece of paper. I'm so proud!!

Lemons: 

I can't tell you the last time I successfully rented and watched a movie.... It's been probably over a year. It just never works with my schedule/priorities/timing, and I'm cheap, so I don't like keeping a Redbox movie for more that one night. That combination means I'm stuck with TV or Netflix. Anyways, I decided I wanted to watch Divergent. I read and loved the books, and I'd heard good reviews about the movie. My husband couldn't be persuaded to watch it with me, so I thought I would try to watch it during Grace's nap and when she went to bed.

FAIL.

The disc I rented was Blue-Ray.

My Blue-Ray player was mysteriously not working. Apparently because the Comcast guy used the HDMI cord from the Blue-Ray to connect our cable box. WTF! (I can not even imagine trying to call Comcast to ask them to bring a replacement cord...I'm sure that will only take 75 minutes and me entering my information 14 times!)

My computer doesn't play Blue-Ray.

The Wii doesn't play Blue-Ray.

Whatever. I'll watch it when it comes out on Netflix in 2025.

My Lemonade: I'm thankful that I have so many blessings, that complaining about a missing cord and an unwatched movie rental are a reality in my life. Of course there are many more serious, frustrating, frightening and heartbreaking things happening in my tiny world and the great big world around me.

#19weeks

Cravings: Cereal

Feeling: Like my pants are tight 

Math In My Head Lives On + (18 Weeks)

I started this blog about 4 years ago when I found out we were expecting our first baby. We were also PCSing to North Carolina to begin Life In The Army: Round Two. Since then, my blog has highlighted our daughter's birth, a new house, surviving a deployment and getting my AFAA Group Fitness Certification to teach Stroller Strides. It's been a place where I post birthday wishes, recipes, crafts, DIY home projects and writer's workshops. My loyal readers include my parents, my sister and some of my closest Facebook buddies. Despite my low subscriber numbers, I've surprisingly passed 25,000 page views, mostly from Pinterest traffic! 

Recently, I've been struggling to find time to update the blog with purposeful posts. For a while I was toying around with the idea of changing the name of the blog from "Math in My Head" to "Lilacs and Lemons." I liked the sound of it better and I was hoping it would make a better title and more focused blog. BUT... after playing around with logo designs (fun) and looking into changing the blog address, I decided to leave the blog as Math in My Head. It works for what I use it for- family updates, ramblings, and creative projects- and I like that there are people of the "interwebs" who find my posts interesting or useful. What do you think of my new header logo design?

I'm sure the next year will bring many more changes, challenges and adventures both personally and for my family. Meanwhile, I enjoy having the outlet to write down memories and share stories and ideas. My goal is to continue posting announcements and milestones, but I also want to have some weekly and monthly features:

• Lilacs and Lemons will be a wrap-up off the week highlighting the good and not-so-good. 
• My Dinner Menu will be, well, my weekly dinner menus for the month. Revolutionary, I know! I've been trying to do a better job of meal planning, so this seems like a great way to keep track of what works and get some more ideas. 

We'll see if this is too ambitious, but I will adjust as necessary. 

Now for a little update. We are starting to feel settled in Tennessee, but we definitely wish we lived closer to my parents, so that we could be nearby to help and support my dad as he undergoes radiation treatment for Prostate Cancer. Down goes Cancer!

Cole and Grace are getting ready to start school (MBA for him and Pre-K for her). I'm surprised by the number of supplies required for a 2-almost-3-year-old!

Practicing dressing up. 

I'm feeling extra motivated to get some projects done around the house. I ordered some curtains for the bay window in the living room and got some new throw pillows for the couch. Surprisingly, I chose a gold/mustard yellow color... I hope that it makes the room feel warmer and more homey! I also hung a gallery wall of pictures in our office/den and rearranged the desk and rug. Next up window treatments for the kitchen and shelves to organize the downstairs closet.

Not the greatest picture, but I'll get a better one when the drapes are up. 

Hung using craft paper taped up as a template. Now, to update the photos...

I'm counting down the days until my sister, Jennifer, comes to visit in October! We can't wait to show you middle Tennessee and introduce you to some our new friends!

Baby Anderson # 2 is growing, and I can feel little movements now. We should be able to find out if we're having a boy or a girl in 2 weeks! I'm excited to start planning his/her nursery, and Grace is very curious to find out if she will have a little brother or little sister. She started commenting that my belly is big because it gets in her way when she tries to sit on my lap.

17 weeks

18 weeks with this cheese monkey!

#18weeks

Cravings: Hot lemon and honey, turkey sandwiches 

Feeling: Bigger, but more energetic 

Baby Anderson...

...is due to arrive in January 2015!

3 + 1 = 4

We are excited for our newest addition to join the family, and we hope know Grace is going to make a great big sister!

#14weeks

Cravings: Anything spicy + decaf iced mochas

Feeling: Sleepy and nauseous, but pretty good most of the time. 

Our Love: Blooming for Ten Years

"Forever" ago, Cole and I decided to get married fresh out of high school. Afterwards I decided I would plan a big "wedding" vow renewal ceremony for our ten year anniversary. It would be everything our little wedding wasn't; it would be a big party with all of our friends, open bar (because we could actually drink), a DJ and a sexy dress. I would plan it in my head most nights before I fell asleep. It wasn't that I didn't love our wedding-I did. I just had it stuck in my head that it was supposed to be something grander, like the pictures in the bridal magazines.

Ten years ago our wedding was a small get together in my husband's grandparent's garden. It was a hot July day in northern California. Our closest family were there. My dad walked me down the grassy aisle in a slick black vest. My bridesmaids consisted of my 2 best girlfriends from high school and my twin sister, Jennifer. We bought my garter from a little boutique in a strip mall on the way to the wedding.  Our cake was decorated with tiny pink polka dots and my bouquet held pink roses and big yellow sunflowers. We toasted with sparkling cider. My papa was the officiant and witness as I kissed my handsome soldier husband for the first time.

It was, actually, perfect. The flowers were blooming, just like our love. Flawed, simple and true.

Since that kiss, we've shared our life together in Nevada, North Carolina, Arizona, and Tennessee. We've graduated college, been through good times and tough times, survived deployments and life with a newborn. Ten years feels like just the first chapter in our story. I couldn't be prouder of the man I'm married to. He is strong, loving, funny, faithful and determined. I love seeing his features in our daughter and knowing that he will be by my side as we watch her grow up.

I no longer feel the need to plan an elaborate vow renewal ceremony for our 10 year anniversary. (Good thing, because it's here, and I didn't plan one!) I guess I've learned over the years that love is something that should be celebrated and lived each day. Kisses goodbye each day and splitting a bottle of wine on a Friday night are just as important (maybe even more) as a fancy dress and a big party. Instead, I'm happy to spend the day (after) with my sweetheart just enjoying each other's company-kid-free to boot! We are also lucky enough our anniversary will always fall the day before the 4th of July holiday, so we can celebrate with fireworks as our love continues to bloom.

Happy 10 years to my love! 

 Write a blog post inspired by the word: blooming

Happy Father's Day!

Oh, hey there little blog. It's been a while. Sorry...we've been busy, though!

We went swimming,

picked strawberries,

played baseball,

 ran around like superheroes,

 

and played in the rain puddles!

Today is a special day, though, because it's Father's Day! A day to stop and say thank you to the men who make the world better just by being rad dads!

Grace is so lucky to have such a wonderful daddy, and I could not be more proud of the wonderful father Cole is. I love that he can play "bad cop" to my "good cop," he makes Grace scream with laughter as the Tickle Monster and plays music for her, "so she'll have good taste." Happy Father's Day, Cole! Thank you for all you do for our family! We love you!

Grace made a card all about her Daddy. (With a little help from her Momma.) 

Grace drawing Daddy, who apparently looks scribbly and orange.

Find your free printable at 30 Days Homemade

I decided Grace couldn't have all the fun, so I made one for my Dad, too!

Cheers to all of the wonderful fathers who love, support, nurture, play with and teach their children the important lessons in life. It is a privilege to be my dad's daughter and to watch my sweet husband be Grace's dad. 

Grace and Daddy "watching" TV together

At the finish line of the Nike Women's Half in S.F. 

UNR Graduation 

Happy 

Father's

Day!

We can't wait to see you, Dad, in just a few days in California! We're due for an ice cream date, our treat! Love you!!!!

Happy Half Birthday to Grace!

Our sweet girl is half way to three and sweet as can be...except, of course, when she's a raging tyrant! Grace is smart and funny and loves to run as fast as she can despite the number of times she trips and falls. She loves pirates, bubbles, trains, accessorizing, princesses, pizza, her puppy and music. She is picky, strong-willed and dramatic. She knows her ABCs, shapes, fruits, veggies, animals, and can count to 20!

Wagon ride with some buds!

We've been busy settling into our new home, going on picnics, play dates, walks and bike rides on the river. Grace is learning baseball and starting swimming lessons. We very much miss being near our friends from NC and our family members, but we are enjoying life with a toddler and all there is to do in middle Tennessee.

Here are just a few of the conversations we've had recently with our hilariously precocious Grace:

Me: Do you need to go potty*?
Grace: No, no thank you, Mama. I ok. 
Me: Are you sure?
Grace: I good. 
*Potty-training is still an ongoing struggle.  

Grace: I like your necklace. Mama, you talk to animals? 
Me: Yes, just like Sofia. 

Daddy: Hi Grace! Can I have a hug? 
Grace: No, no, Daddy! Get me outta here!

Grace: Mama, I so much huuungry. 
Me: Would you like some apples or goldfish?
Grace: I want to eat goldfish in my mouth. 
Me: How do you ask?
Grace: Puuleeeeease.

Me: Are you a baby or a big girl?
Grace: I baby.
Me: Are you sure you're not a robot?
Grace: No. I not robot. I baby. 

Grace: Where's your elbow, Mama?
Me: Right here. Where are your elbows?
Grace: My elbows are right here. Where's Daddy's elbows?
Me: On his arms.
Grace: G's elbows on his arms, too?
Me: No, they're on his legs.
Grace: My elbows are on my legs, too.

Building sand castles with Griffin and Grace!

SOLD!

We arrived in Murfreesboro just a few weeks ago, but we've been busy making Tennessee our home...

Our new townhouse right across the street from a great park!

We should be unpacked and ready for visitors in early April! Who wants to be our first house guest?!