Flower Necklaces

After we had a picnic in Central Park, Grandma showed Ella how to make flower chains. 

She used to make them as a child and now Ella can say she did too.

1. Find a field of wild flowers and ask a child to pick the flowers, leaving the stems long.
2. Using your nail, slice the stem down the middle about 1/2 inch.
3. Pull the slits apart, forming a hole.
4. Get a new flower, pull it through hole
5.  Pull taunt. Not enough to break the chain, of course.
6. Repeat steps until you have the desired length for a necklace, crown, or bracelet.
7.  Admire your creation, then flolic in the fields.

Did you make wild flower necklaces as a child? I didn't, but I plan on making up for lost time this summer.

Guest Post: Tips for dressing toddler boys

Today I'm a guest writer at Say Yes to Hoboken.  I give some tips for dressing toddler boys. One of my tips: Dress boys in girl jeans (see pics below). What do you think? Too tight? Too girly? Too awesome? Click through to see the rest of my tips and join the discussion. Thanks Liz!

Art Everywhere: Rainbow Beehive in Central Park

 We bought this box of extra bright chalk from Target for $3.99 and headed to Central Park to create something beautiful. We stopped on the sidewalk that surrounds the Great Lawn. It was Ella's spontaneous/brilliant idea to start coloring in all the hexagons on the sidewalk. If anyone wants to color the entire sidewalk surrounding The Great Lawn, count us in. One rule: Ella gets the credit, unless it's somehow against the law or already been done before.

See the rain drops? It started raining soon after we started, so Ella quickly turned our creation into a rainbow volcano spewing rainbow lava (of course.)

Staten Island Ferry (it's free!)

We took the grandparents on the Staten Island Ferry today. I keep showing them the countryside version of NYC because that's what I'm attracted to.  I promise to show them Time Square or something crazy before they leave.

My Tip for the Staten Island Ferry: For the best views of the Statue of Liberty, as soon as you enter the ferry, stay put. Don't walk up the higher levels or deep into the boat. Stay at the boat's enterence. Everyone will pass you by to the higher levels and deep into the boat. You'll be left standing alone with great views! Once on Staten Island, we stopped by the September 11th Memorial, had a picnic and threw rocks in the water. Then took the boat back. Simple beautiful hot day.

Found: The Christian Louboutin of flip flops are Here! 

Cheering Section

Jordan Ferney is having the best blog week ever. First the announcement of her Paris Trip for Two Giveaway and now the feature on Design*Sponge. Go Jordan Go!

Photo

Cheap Art

I found an old photo strip of me, Ella, and Rob in the junk drawer. So I blew it up 60 inches long. I used Pro Image and I was extremely happy with the results. I bought everything in-store, but you can use their online printing services. If you do happen to live in NYC, I recommend signing up for their savings club for in-store coupons. You have to wait a month for the first coupons to be emailed, but it's worth it. Every month they have different savings. Luckily, last month, they sent me a coupon for 40% off enlargements. I went a little crazy enlarging all my favorite pics.

The huge photo strip is hanging on a door at the end of the hallway. Reminding me off the good ol' days when my entire family could fit inside a photo booth. 

Poor photo I know. It's late. My hallway's dark. It looks better in person. Promise.

Escapes in NYC

 Awhile ago I took a day date with Rob. On our walk, we stumbled into the massive Cathedral Church of St. John Divine. It was the perfect escape in this loud crazy city. And my loud crazy kids. It just so happened to have a high school group from Texas singing hymns. It was such an unexpected moment that I cried by the time they finished their first song! Motherhood has made me such a cry baby.

We went back today to show Grandma and Grandpa. It was their first day in NYC. Although we started them off with a couple of NYC classics like The Museum of Natural History and Tom's Restaurant (Grandma is a huge Seinfeld fan), the Cathedral was also a magnificent place to visit. It's grand, the garden is beautiful, it's unexpected. Tour groups do stop by (as we were leaving, a bus pulled up), but both times I went, it was just as it trying to be: Divine! Even when my kids were inside.

My pictures in noway do this place justice. The indoor length is two football fields long. The stain glass is unbelievable.  Once inside, you'll feel like you're in a different country and century. Love it.  My favorite was listening to Owen and Oscar try to whisper. Three year olds whispering. Oh geez. They were still so loud, but almost got it! Strained shouting would better describe their whispering abilities.