Two Year Old Christmas Gift List

Okay, so my son isn't quite two yet.. you caught me! But he will be in only a few months and of course I like to think ahead!! Where do you stand on your Christmas shopping so far? I've been shopping like crazy this week for Carter's Christmas gifts and I'm about half way finished! I don't want to be too last minute getting everything together again this year.

I can't explain to you how much I LOVE shopping on Amazon. I have always had the best experience with them. Great customer service, speed lightning shipping, and did I mention the unbelievably cheap prices?! If you want to make your shopping and searching a lot easier.. End it here. Just click on the link and add each one of these items to your cart. I promise they will be a happy tod on Christmas morning!!!

I wanted to share with you all some of the gifts we have bought our little man. I literally have gotten at least one package with a smile on the box everyday this week. I've saved so much money using Amazon this year.. I can't even believe it!

#1: KidKraft Kitchen.
Does your toddler love to help you cook? Well mine is obsessed so he is going to be so overly excited about his own kitchen set. The best part about this is that it isn't super "kidish" looking. I love that it matches our white kitchen so I wont even mind having it out in the dining room!




#2: Cookware Play Set.
I wanted to get some pots and pans that look realistic. Have you ever tried getting your toddler a toy remote or camera and them knowing instantly that it's not real? Yeah, he wont have anything to do with fake "big kid" stuff. I think these will defintely fool him. Especially if I put them on my stove a few times!




#3: Bilibo.
Until I started hunting for the best toys, I had no idea what this thing was. Honestly, there is no explanation. Just watch this video and you'll be amazed too. I love that it encourages them to use their imagination! My husband is already wanting me to buy more!







#4: Vehicle DVD Player.
Long trips in the car definitely require a set of these. You can also score some cheap movies on Amazon too! I got three new releases for under $5 each!!




#5: Magnetic Doodle Board.
I have a feeling this one is going to be a huge hit. He's played the drawing games on our iPad but gets frustrated because when his other fingers touch the screen it throws him off. I think the pen and stamps are going to be perfect.



 #6: WASHABLE Markers.
Did you read that "washable" part? Markers in clothes and on carpet are no fun! I am excited to bring craft time into our daily routine.. Because I'm "that mom" (;



 #7: iPad Lifeproof Case.
We recently bought an iPad for the family. And a case was a necessity! My husband and I both have lifeproof cases on our iphones and it has made things SO much easier. These things can go underwater, in the dirt, thrown across a hard floor. Virtually indestructible. Well worth the money to not have to worry about it breaking!



 #8: Magnetic Bathtub Boats.
Because what little kid doesn't want to have these. It's a little train of boats... How cool!



 #9: Basketball Hoop.
Because they need to learn this skill young or they end up like me. A grown up who cant get past kindergarden in the game of school.



 #10: LeapFrog LeapPad 2.
I realize he may not fully understand every part of this little gadget.. But I'm sure he will catch on in no time. I mean, he can work my iPhone.

 

#11: Rody Horse.
We came across this little guy in a small toy store downtown. These things are so awesome and help develop balancing skills and coordination.



#12: Activity Table for Legos and Train Sets.
Because I don't want to be that mom who steps on legos all day long. I'm hoping this table gives him his own space for his legos and cars.. To where he wants them to stay in/on the table. Plus, it is a pretty awesome design and will look pretty nice in his new toddler room that we're working on!

 

#13: Tunnels.
There is a reason Chuck E. Cheese, McDonalds, and any other kid play areas always have tunnels to crawl through. Kids love them!! I love that this folds down practically flat for storage. I can just see him and his daddy playing and rolling around in this thing!



#14: Outdoor Playhouse.
My toddler love, love, loves to be outside. He is SO going to enjoy his new playhouse with a built in slide! We love this also because it can be moved around easily.



#15: Books.

This is a given. Books never get old! We have so many, I really need to find a good bookshelf also. Let me know if you have any suggestions! I read this book to my little sister when she was a toddler, so I knew it needed to be a part of Carter's library!

Toy Organization and Storage Solution

So if your babes is anything like mine, he has more toys than he knows what to do with! His toys were slowly taking over my house and he was quickly getting bored with his toys.  I needed a solution to keep both of us happy. Well, voila! This is what I came up with. I hope it helps some of you mommies keep your house under control and also helps keep your little ones happy! Carter acts like he gets a brand new set of toys everyday.. It's like Christmas!!!!

I keep Car's toys at the top of his closet and it's part of our routine in the morning to get it out.. Diaper change>Get dressed>TOY BOX!! Woo hoo (: You could stack these boxes, but I feel like it would be more of a hassle getting them out and putting them up. Especially since some toys stick out of the top. I looked everywhere for a functional affordable storage bins.. I was buying seven of them so price was something to really consider. I found these plastic storage bins at Target for C-H-E-A-P. You can see them here.

You can get a set of my daily tags just by left clicking the photo below and printing your own. I laminated mine, cut them out, hole punched them, and tied them through the holes in the box with twine. Im sure there are many different ways you could attach them though..

Enjoy!!

Christine Brown

Dirty Dishes

Do you ever hear a song that really touches your heart? Well this one did that for me today. It reminded me that all the hard work we put into raising our little boy and giving him the best life we possibly can is SO worth all of the hard work and lost hours of sleep. It reminded me that we should thank the Lord for noisy children and slamming doors, and clothes scattered all over the floor,  a husband working all of the time.. dragging in dead tired at night, and a never ending messy kitchen. I just love when I find a song like this. It's worth it all!!

Scotty McCreery - Dirty Dishes

Mama hollers "Supper time,
And don't make me tell you twice
Wash your hands and wipe your face.
The table's no place for your toys,
And try to use your inside voice,
Don't dig in 'til we say Grace."
So we put down our forks and bowed our heads
And then she prayed the strangest prayer ever said:

"I wanna thank You Lord,
For noisy children and slamming doors,
And clothes scattered all over the floor,
My husband workin' all the time,
Draggin' in dead tired at night,
My never ending messy kitchen
And dirty dishes."
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s/scotty_mccreery/dirty_dishes.html ]
We all got real still and quiet,
And daddy asked "Hon, are you alright?"
She said, "Dear, ain't nothing wrong,
Noisy kids are happy kids,
And slamming doors just means we live,
In a warm and loving home,
Your long hours and those dishes in the sink,
Means a job and enough to eat.

So I'm gonna thank You Lord,
For noisy children and slamming doors,
And clothes scattered all over the floor,
A husband workin' all the time,
Draggin' in dead tired at night,
A never ending messy kitchen

For my little busy bees
Beggin' mama, mama can we please?
Always wantin' me to call their name
Loads of laundry pilin' up
Crayons crushed into the rug
And those little sticky kisses
And dirty dishes,
And dirty dishes..."

I hope you all are having an amazing weekend with the ones you love!

Because somedays.. I need some inspiration (:

Do Everything.

On the way home a few days back, a song came on the radio. I felt like it was written just for me and I couldn't help but smile. I have always known being a mother was one of the most important jobs. I know it is the most important job I will ever have and I take it very seriously, as any mom should.

Being a stay-at-home mom is tougher than I ever thought it would be. We have our wonderful days. Day's when he wakes up smiling and he just wants to cuddle with me while he fully wakes up. When we go out shopping and we stop by the park on the way back just because. Days when naps are taken and food is eaten without fusses. Days when we play pick-a-boo through the living room curtains or when I set up a water-mania outside with a nakey baby running around laughing. Yes, those are the good days.

But we also have the days where I just need TWO minutes to myself, and the second daddy gets home I sigh of relief when he takes him to play outside. Then when I glance through the kitchen window out at the two most important people in my life, I realize that those two minutes weren't really important and I get my shoes on and go spend time with them.

I hope the words to this song remind you too that no matter WHAT you are doing in life, the most important part of that job is doing it in the glory of God. He is the reason you are blessed with that little angel.

Do Everything by Steven Curtis Chapman

You're picking up toys on the living room floor

For the fifteenth time today

Matching up socks and sweeping up lost Cheerios that got away

You put a baby on your hip and color on your lips

And head out the door

And while I may not know you,
I bet I know you wonder sometimes does it matter at all

Well let me remind you it all matters just as long

As you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you

Cause He made you

To do every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face

And tell the story of grace

With every move that you make and every little thing you do

You may be hooking up mergers, cooking up burgers

But at the end of the day

Little stuff big stuff in between stuff

God sees it all the same

And while I may not know you I bet I know you

Wonder sometimes does it matter at all

Well let me remind you it all matters just as long

As you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you

Cause He made you

To do every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
and tell the story of grace

With every move that you make and every thing that you do

Well maybe you're sitting in math class

Or maybe you're on a mission in the Congo

Maybe you're working at the office singing along with the radio

Maybe you're dining at a five star

Or feeding orphans in Myanmar

Anywhere and everywhere you are

Whatever you do it all matters

So do what you do don't ever forget to do

Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you...

I hope you are all having a great weekend!!

Umbilical Hernia Repair Surgery and All My Heart Shop is back open!!

I everyone. I'm so sorry it's been so long since I've blogged. life has been so busy and I'm lucky if I get to wash my hair once a week!! Ahhh. But I just wanted to fill you in on my surgery I had at the beginning of this month and let you know why I needed it!

So a LITTLE lady carrying a BIG baby looks a little something like this..

Then, after all those months of growing a precious angel, I got to hold and love on this..

Once my organs were finished going back into place, I was hoping my belly button would go back down too. Nope. It hung around. So I was then left with this weird looking thing..

I had my doctor take a look, a year after baby, she told me it was an umbilical hernia and that it would just get worse before it got better. So off into surgery I went. Afterward it looked so small it must be an easy recovery. Umm, no.

I wasn't able to get up out of bed, the pain medicine made me nauseous, and I couldn't pick up my 28 pound toddler for AT LEAST 3 weeks. So my mother in law came up to NC to take care of Carter. I love it when mom comes to the rescue!!! But in all actuality, she took care of Carter, me and hubby. Great woman right? Then after about a week she had to head back home to Florida and Carter's great grandma came to watch after him and help me around the house. It's been a little over two weeks and I'm finally feeling pretty good. I was able to make one of my "normal" Target trips.. which my husband thinks means spend all day at the store and buy everything you can fit in the cart! Silly men. But now that I'm feeling better I was also able to open up my Etsy shop, All My Heart! That was pretty exciting since it's been on vacation for so long! I have some new items up, and I'm planning to create some more new things within the next few days so keep your eyes open!

Come take a looksy at the shop:

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I hope you all have a great rest of the week! Toodles (:

Helpful Tips For Selling On ETSY

Do you want to start selling on Etsy or do you want to increase your sales to a shop you've already created? I can tell you from experience to get a shop up and running with steady orders it takes time and commitment. When I started my Etsy Shop, business was S-L-O-W. I maybe received an order a week.. Maybe. I slowly began to find little things here and there that could use some improvement! I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a super successful Etsy shop. I haven't been featured on the main page, and I am not in magazines. But I am however happy with the pace of my shop's growth and the amount of orders I receive daily. I wanted to share a few tips from one shop owner to another! If it helps someone improve their shop.. Well then my little list was worth sitting down to type out!! Here it goes, in no particular order...

We all know one way of getting those first few sales on Etsy right? To get people who know and love you already to buy. I don’t see anything wrong with that concept.. just don’t be a nuisance to those close to you by over advertising your shop on your Facebook or Twitter page.

Brand your shop. Invest in a graphic designer. Be sure that your banner and buttons have the same look. Make your packaging match the 'theme' of your shop as well! When people see your logo, you want them to say, "Hey that's so-and-so's shop, I love her work"!

Make sure your item's picture is cropped to where none of it is cut out when you look at it from your public shop. To do this, make sure the focal point of your item is centered and crop it so that it is 570 pixels wide!

Use similar backgrounds when you photograph your items. For example, I tend to use wood most of the time. It makes your shop look put together when it is being viewed as a whole!

Your shop will not be an over night success. It takes time to build a reputation on Etsy. So respond quickly to convos and emails. Also, be kind to every single person you meet.. After all, they are the reason you have a business in the first place!

Choose the products you want to make.. And stick to it! Shops that are full of similar products tend to do the best. You want them to remember your shop for jewelry, paintings, or baby gear; Not a mix of things!

Explore other shops with similar items you sell. Compare prices, titles, and tags. DO NOT by any means copy.

Stock Up – You have to have stock to choose from…make 25 items or so to open your shop. Do you like to shop in stores with only 5 products? Most people don’t. Over time your stock will grow.. Which normally means your sales will too!!!

Use all of the picture slots that Etsy allows! People want to view your product from different angles so they can decide if they want to purchase it or not! Also, make sure your images are clear and not fuzzy!

Pack it pretty!! Your packaging is the first thing your customer sees when they open your box or envelope. First impressions are big, make it count!

Take part in giveaways! Don’t be afraid to approach bloggers about doing a giveaway on their blog. Many will be happy to and you get links to your shop and lots of exposure.

Never stop improving your shop. Sales can go up and down for no reason at all.. Stay positive during slow times and work on creating more!

I hope this post helped you out! Now get out there and kick some Etsy booty (: