Teal Pumpkin Project

As a child, I LOVED Halloween! Nothing better than dressing up as a scarecrow (because that's the only costume that would fit over a snowsuit) and getting free candy and staying up way past my bedtime on a sugar high!

But, times do change and now with Evelyn's allergies, I'm very concerned that she may end up eating something that could cause her to react. 

So, when I heard about the Teal Pumpkin Project that FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) started in 2014, I jumped on board! 

FARE's Teal Pumpkin Project promotes safety, inclusion and respect of individuals managing food allergies. This nationwide movement offers an alternative for kids with food allergies, as well as other children for whom candy is not an option, and keeps Halloween a fun, positive experience for all!

This year, we purchased a bunch of cases of glow in the dark mini water bottles to hand out. I figured it was something that they could drink right away if they wanted or save for lunch the next day. But here is a great list of other alternatives. All of these can be found at your local dollarstore, party store or even online for a low cost alternative to candy and snacks. 

• Glow sticks, bracelets or necklaces
• Pencils, pens, crayons or markers
• Bubbles
• Halloween erasers or toppers
• Whistles, kazoos, or noise makers
• Bouncy Balls
• Finger puppets or novelty toys
• Spider rings and vampire fangs
• Mini notepads
• Bookmarks
• Playdough
• Stickers

The Ways We Parent

So, have you heard of the blog, The Ways We Parent yet? If not, you definitely need to head over and indulge in some real life parenting articles.

The hope, with The Ways We Parent, is to create an extension of your “parenting handbook” by sharing with you interviews of everyday parents and topic specific blog posts with commentary from you, the parents about issues that affect you. Rebecca truly knows how to ask the right questions, and keep her readers involved using both tears of laughter and sadness. 

I was recently honored by being featured on Rebecca's blog, focusing on Evelyn's allergies, the struggles our family faces and my postpartum depression. 

I hope you enjoy it and thank you Rebecca for helping to normalize everyday and not-so-everyday parenting struggles.

Baby Bumpkins

As many of you know, I not only LOVE to take pictures of my family, a trait that seems to be passing down to Sammy! If you have yet to see her blog, Snapshot Sammy, it is a blog dedicated completely to pictures taken exclusively by her!

Another thing I LOVE to do with my girls are crafts! Anything from a monthly baby hand or foot print to a fun and creative bum print. Yup, that's right, you ready that right. I said bum print!

A friend of mine originally sent me this pin as a "challenge"...well friend...challenge accepted! I grabbed my orange paint, grabbed a blank canvas (because clearly this will need to be hung on the wall), and jumped on the opportunity while at a KW Moms Club Baby Basics art day.

Poor Evey was stripped down, cold orange paint slathered over her bare bottom and shmooshed onto a canvas in one fowl swoop. Not once, but twice!

Thankfully, the Baby Basics group was having a fun edible paint day and Evey was actually able to enjoy herself quite a bit after her bum was depainted and rediapered.

After the paint had dried and Evey was washed clean, I added few finishing touches to my baby's bum print and it was ready to make the perfect birthday gift for her Nana!