Tank is One!!!

The thing I hear the most,  "Enjoy your kids.  They grow up so fast."  As much as I don't want them to, it really is happening that way.  With our every day hustle and bustle, I find myself at times having a moment of reflection just soak up just how big they are getting.  So it's official, I now have two toddlers and call me crazy but I would go for a third.

I had lots of fun putting things together for Tank's birthday but my time had to be a little more calculated to get things done.  Our goal was not to go crazy and over spend, so I tried to be a little resourceful and use what I had on hand.  So here is what came together.

Goodie bags were made out of plain brown paper bags.  Just dressed them up with a little neck tie which was perfect for the occasion. 

I know I wanted to repurpose some of Tank's baby food jars.  So I searched Pinterest for the perfect "Cake in a Mug" recipe that would fit nicely inside.  I used a cupcake liner and hemp string to top it off. 

Chocolate lollipops in the shape of mustaches served as good decorations and favors.

My local supermarket wouldn't free hand the mustache so I decide to do it myself with a little frosting that I found in the baking aisle.

Blue frosted cupcakes sat in those liners (forgot to take a picture). 

We covered the artwork in the dining room with plain brown paper. 

You can't go wrong with good ol' crepe paper streamers.

A dollar store tablecloth goes a long way when you change it up just a tad.  Lined the brown paper with some mustache tape and a nifty little table runner was born.  

Tank and Daddy

Tank and Titi, at this point he didn't know why there were so many people in the house. 

Tio & Daddy

Releasing some energy is great for the kids AND the parents.

Someone was not very happy that he needed to shave. 

Sister pulled off the facial hair very well.

So did little friend.

Tank did not like the cake in the beginning at all...

... until our friend told us to put yogurt on it.  He will eat yogurt on anything!

And he did!

It was a small gathering with our friends who have all become like family to us.  I was happy to see everyone had a great time. Thank you Papa Dios for such a great day!

Organization Tips/Tricks

I am always looking for ways to simplify the day to day things I do as a Mommy.  Throughout this journey some things have worked and some have not.  That is why when I do find something that has been successful I love to share it.  Here are a few things that help keep my sanity,  for the most part.


You can find one of these over the door shoe things at just about any store.  I went the inexpensive route and found mine at Walmart.  It is made out of canvas and the pockets are mesh which I like because they have a tiny bit of stretch.  Originally, I kept complete outfits for Tink when my mom watched her in the beginning because I always found she got creative with the baby's outfit selections. So, to keep it fast, simple, and coordinating, I loved this option.

Now that Tink is developing an opinion on some days and doesn't want to wear what I select, she is given the choice to pick something in a pocket.  It's working out well.  With 24 pockets there is plenty of room to prepare 2 weeks worth of outfits and still store some shoes.  This is a great time saver for any working parent and it takes the guess work out.  As I fold the laundry I coordinate outfits to slide away.

This was a big one for me.  My lovely sister has blessed my child with a wide selection of hair accessories.  Thanks sissy!  For a while I didn't know how to organize/display them for easy selection.  After keeping them in Ziploc bags for while I discovered this nifty jewelry organizer at a bargain store.  You can clip them on or slide into the pockets.  It is double sided and has pockets of many different sizes.  I just love how everything is displayed and it makes the selection process much quicker.    

I have gone through a fare share of diaper bags and when I had one baby the cute ones seemed to work ok.  With two kiddos now I find that I need my hands a lot more so I opted for a hands free approach.  Between two sets of diapers, wipes, snacks, sippy cups, etc. I always drove myself crazy with multiple little bags.  So, I found this backpack on clearance recently and figured I'd give it a try.  Sorry, practical won over cute and I might add that I like love it so far.  It is lightweight, has many pockets/compartments, and water resistant.

Two smaller pockets in the front for quick access items like cell phone, paci, etc.

I keep my wallet here along with the kids snacks and cups.  Has plenty of room for more.

Diapers and Pull-Ups along with some wipes.  I can even fit an extra change of clothes for both.

This is what it looks like with pockets open.

Here all pockets closed.  It's not bulky like I thought it would be and fits nicely in the stroller basket.

So there you have it.  This is what works for me and maybe can work for you also.  Good luck!

Creations - Miami Heat Painted Canvas Shoes

Getting ready to mail these babies out to my nephew tomorrow.  He is a total Miami Heat fan and I hope he likes them.  It was really fun making these.  I will be making a few different pairs to sell and I will post pictures in case anyone is interested.  I can always be reached at happinesscove@gmail.com if there are any inquiries about what I can make.  Here is the link for the shoes I made my daughter.

Boy's Sports Room

So, I have a tiny little neighbor to the right of my bed that I think needs his own space.  Sorry Tank, Mommy doesn't want to evict you from our bedroom but you need to enjoy your room.  We have taken a little while to complete his room for various reasons.  Hubby and I knew that he would at least be in our room for 6 months like we did with Tink but his stay was sort of extended.  I don't mind at all but you kind of just know and feel when it's time for them to be in their own space.

Through many Pinterest inspirations we knew we wanted a "Sports" feel (seriously which Daddy doesn't). Here is the inspiration.  There really wasn't much else but the picture to go by so off to work we went.  Here are the before pictures.

We knocked it off pretty fast I think.  The hardest part was taping the focal wall and getting the lines straight.  Painted the white and let it dry to then tape again to paint the blue and green.

And Ta-Daaaaa!  It's always intimidating when you work with vibrant colors but I am very pleased with the results. I originally wanted to paint the other walls green but I am so glad I changed my mind to gray.

Some of the details include this green trim.  I thought it would be kind of cool to make it look like football field markers.  It looks so awesome in person.

I originally was going to do this free hand but since I have a handy dandy Silhouette Cameo, well why not get some good use out of it.  Used white craft vinyl and cut out all the letters, numbers, and shapes with the machine.

We are currently letting all the paint fumes go away and will then move all the furniture in.  I will post an update on the finished room.  I hope Tank enjoys it!


                                         ***  Click this link to see the finished room. ***