tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57051992602608911032024-03-05T18:00:27.912-06:00maison|rayeliving simply. living well.Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-74237075753324348502016-08-29T21:34:00.001-05:002016-08-29T21:34:20.884-05:00Project Date Night '16: JulyWe did this date night/family fun night in the last part of July, but it's been crazy busy and I haven't had a chance to post about it until now! Enjoy this installment of Project Date Night!
We began this month's date night as a Family Fun Night. I don't know about you, but July is pretty much the dog days of summer for me... it's HOT and as much as I love camping, I do not love camping Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-22451715263734723622016-06-27T14:46:00.000-05:002016-07-14T14:48:24.611-05:00Project Date Night '16: JuneWelcome to this month's installment of Project Date Night... 'How to do a Drive in Movie at Home'...
Our original plan for June's date night was to attend a drive in classic movie at a farm in our area. But, the event was canceled last minute, so we just did our own 'drive in' instead.
yep, we looked this good...
First thing you need.... a location...
We had already hired a Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-39670848496240952442016-06-21T21:06:00.001-05:002016-06-21T21:06:51.793-05:00Little Blue Truck 3rd Birthday PartyRy's favorite book is Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle. He has it memorized and loves all the sounds the truck and farm animals make. To celebrate his 3rd birthday, we got down on the farm.
I wasn't as on the ball with this party as I usually am, but we had fun anyway!
Riding his new 'tractor' with some help from Dad. (Can't quite reach the pedals yet!)
Invitation
I found this free Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-45862512302494324062016-05-13T14:48:00.001-05:002016-05-13T14:48:59.348-05:00Project Date Night '16: MaySo, I don't typically "celebrate" Cinco de Mayo, but it gave me an excuse for a themed menu for date night this month... and there you have it.
Side note: I didn't realize it before, but Cinco de Mayo isn't actually widely celebrated in Mexico, is more of an Americanized holiday. But anyway, Cinco de Mayo actually commemorates a big battle between the Mexican army and the French. Learn more Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-51419284765275784282016-05-04T14:45:00.004-05:002016-09-08T17:04:24.984-05:0010 Things New Moms Need to HearNow that I have few years of this "mom thing" under my belt, I feel it's ok to share some things... I think sometimes we forget to be sensitive to the struggles people around us are going through. I struggled a LOT with new motherhood. A combination of new responsibilities, moving to a new state, health issues and lack of sleep made every day a challenge. Here are a few things that I desperately Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-9766519156304633572016-04-18T14:04:00.000-05:002016-04-26T09:04:09.510-05:00Project Date Night '16: April (Star Wars!)For Project Date Night this month, M and I did a dinner and a movie date with a Star Wars theme. Yep, I confess...I'm a Star Wars junkie. I've been eagerly awaiting Episode 7 on DVD so I could do a date night - it was fun!
Setting the Mood
To get us in the Star Wars mood early in the day, I took a picture of my screen (high-tech, I know) with the R2D2 love note up on my screen and texted it Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-90751493942210619012016-03-28T21:18:00.001-05:002016-03-29T15:24:39.734-05:00Project Date Night '16: MarchDid you know that March 14th is National Pi Day? And notice I said 'pi' as in math... as in 3.14....... get it?
Not sure who was the brainchild behind that awesome excuse for pie eating, but whoever you are, I thank you.
Any excuse to eat pie is a win in my book. Now, pie gets a little complicated when you've got food allergies. I typically cheat and eat crisps or crumbles or sloops or Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-45629542321053792262016-02-27T15:58:00.000-06:002016-03-01T06:55:52.492-06:0050 Books for BabiesIf you know us at all, you know we LOVE books! I've been reading to Ry pretty much since he was born, and now that he's almost ready to start preschool, I thought it was high time I posted a list of our favorite books.
This is a list of books Ry loved to look at from birth until about 18 months of age. There are a few we occasionally still flip through, but they're not as 'Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-49411400624634214712016-02-16T19:22:00.001-06:002016-04-12T15:06:01.796-05:00Project Date Night '16: FebruaryFor Valentine's Day, we typically prefer to skip the crowds, stay in and spend some quiet time together in the comfort of our own home. We introverts are like two peas in a pod.
This year, we had the added "blessing" of a gut-healing special diet program on top of my usual food allergies, so eating out wasn't an option for us anyway (as well as chocolate, dessert and candy of any type beingRayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-36994674566088696922016-01-23T14:00:00.000-06:002016-01-29T14:02:31.515-06:00Project Date Night '16: JanuaryWe enjoyed Project Date Night so much last year, we've decided to do it again this year. Our theme this year will be "Cheap or Free", so we'll be doing mostly at home dates. I am saving up for one bigger date out, maybe for our anniversary or Christmas.
Our best "Scared of Dinosaurs" faces.
To start off our year with a roar, we stayed in and did the Jurassic World date from Dating Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-68061810343116397482015-12-31T13:55:00.000-06:002016-01-04T14:13:27.020-06:00Christmas Countdown 2.0 (Week 4)Hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone and 2015 is coming to a close. It flew by! Our Christmas countdown is also at an end. Here's what we did the final few days leading up to Christmas.
Day 22: Christmas Coloring Pages
The original plan for Day 22 was to drive around and look at Christmas lights and decorations in our town... but... it was a really rainy, foggy, Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-85084957402063627902015-12-22T20:29:00.000-06:002016-01-04T14:11:12.632-06:00Chistmas Countdown 2.0 (Week 3)As the third week of our Christmas countdown comes to a close, I'm thankful for the many blessings in my life. It's been a busy week, but we were able to spend a few days with family and Ry had such a good time with Grandma and Grampy.
Day 15: Make Snow Angels Nature Walk
Still no snow. I told a friend the other day that I feel like I'm living in a scene from the Bing Crosby movie "White Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-287462711133804552015-12-16T20:52:00.000-06:002016-01-04T13:59:03.518-06:00Christmas Countdown 2.0 (Week 2)We had a fun second week in our Christmas countdown. We had to make a few minor changes to our original plan because of weather, but that's ok. See what we did this week.
Day 8: "Gingerbread" House
I made Ry a cardboard house and glued on some Velcro so we could 'decorate' the house with felt, pipe cleaners, and pom-pom decorations. I think Ry had more fun 'Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-27158385214847840172015-12-14T14:17:00.000-06:002015-12-21T14:22:11.922-06:00Project Date Night: DecemberSince December is such a busy month, we decided to go simple with our date night this month.
M was able to get some discounted movie ticket vouchers from his employer to use at any movie. Hmmm.... choices, choices. We decided to see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, and we loved it!
Funny side note, if you're not into crowds, try going to a movie on a Sunday afternoon. There Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-79994994383123954242015-12-08T12:39:00.000-06:002016-01-04T13:59:40.373-06:00Christmas Countdown 2.0 (Week 1)As promised, here's a look at the first 7 activities we've done as part of our Christmas Countdown this year.
Day 1: Deck the Halls
Fa-la-la-la-laaaaaa...... Decorating at our house means that I get out the snowflake and Nativity window clings and let Ry stand on his little stool and stick them to the windows. Then, peel them off. Then, stick them on in a different order. Then, peel Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-39351934348364345082015-12-03T21:15:00.000-06:002015-12-08T18:11:01.472-06:00Christmas Countdown (Advent Calendar) 2.0Remember my frugal Christmas countdown from last year? It was fun, right? We thought so. We plan to do it again this year. In case you're new around here, let's recap:
What's the Christmas Countdown?
I wanted to have 1 activity a day December 1-24 that emphasized being together and having fun as a family and de-emphasized the "gimmes" (giving to and serving others). The Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-60143899460303959732015-11-21T07:51:00.001-06:002015-11-21T13:30:59.381-06:00#ipackedashoebox: Touching Lives With Operation Christmas ChildLast year, I began a new tradition with Ry. I wanted to teach him at an early age that Christmas is not about 'getting', it's about 'giving'.
I came across Operation Christmas Child (OCC) online and love the idea of giving something tangible to another child on the other side of the world.
What's Operation Christmas Child?
OCC is a ministry of Samaritan's Purse, a non-profit Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-85815457708572266672015-11-20T12:45:00.000-06:002015-12-22T12:48:21.835-06:00Project Date Night: November
It's no secret to those who know me well... I love stand up comedy. Not trashy, raunchy "comedy" (totally not necessary), but just people making funny observations about life in a witty way. M and I have a short list of our favorite comedians... and we often quote them in our day to day life... the material doesn't get old.
This month, our Project Date Night theme was "Comedy Club". I'mRayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-81017836239525403882015-10-30T14:24:00.000-05:002015-12-10T14:28:33.533-06:00Project Date Night: OctoberDid you know that October has more rainy days on average than any other month of the year? At least that's what M tells me. It feels true, regardless. Rainy, chilly weather makes me want to stay in and stay warm, so this month's Project Date Night was perfect!
The original plan was to learn to ballroom dance in our living room, inspired by watching the movie, "Shall We Dance" last year. But, Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-51832696547855919542015-09-18T19:47:00.000-05:002015-10-23T19:53:54.727-05:00Project Date Night: September + Apple Crisp for Two Recipe
September is a great month for all things APPLE! This month's Project Date Night was an extension of a family fun night. We went apple picking at a local apple orchard and stocked up on my favorite apples - Macintosh! I bought some cider, cider syrup and utility apples (the not so pretty apples that are a great value when you're baking or making applesauce, or in my case apple butter).Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-51882743679373240922015-09-04T14:51:00.000-05:002015-10-23T19:58:04.378-05:00The Big 3-0Well folks, its happened. I've crossed over into the land of the mature, responsible adults. Or at least, that's the rumor. What's with that, anyway? When you're "in your twenties" you're supposed to be this wild, carefree bundle of energy and no one thinks you know anything, but "in your thirties" you're suddenly expected to be responsible and have aRayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-75919559417847138372015-08-31T19:59:00.000-05:002015-09-28T20:10:43.889-05:00Project Date Night: August (and a recipe!)
Can you believe we're into month 8 of Project Date Night? I'm loving it - it really gives me something to look forward to each month and I've been enjoying sharing our date night adventures with you as well.
I came across this water balloon basketball date night idea and thought it was just too cute to pass up. Bummer though, I don't have a basketball hoop. Aha moment: water balloon toss Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-38013732860653133702015-08-29T20:36:00.002-05:002015-08-29T20:36:36.229-05:00Project Date Night: JulyHere's the post I started writing back in July our Project Date Night: July... and then promptly got distracted and forgot to finish and actually post. Yep, it's been that busy around here. But never fear! I do remember to get back to things, eventually. If you're new around here, read all about Project Date Night here.
July 25 was humid, rainy and 73 degrees. It for Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-69774016152909420712015-06-15T07:45:00.000-05:002015-07-14T09:27:58.312-05:00Ry Guy's Construction Theme 2nd Birthday PartyWhat do you do for a little boy who is pretty much obsessed with all things related to wheels and tools? Have a Construction Theme birthday party, of course! Notice our awesome t-shirts. Fit right into the theme!
Last year, we kept it simple and had a small party with mostly adults Ry Guy was comfortable with. This year, we focused mainly on the kiddos with some simple activities, but Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5705199260260891103.post-66467726391748438262015-06-10T13:33:00.000-05:002015-06-26T13:35:48.031-05:00Project Date Night: JuneWhat's Project Date Night all about? Read all about it here.
Happy Anniversary to us! Hard to believe it's been 5 years already. Time flies when you're having fun, right? Or is it, 'time flies when you're chronically sleep deprived parents'? I don't remember, as I'm falling asleep on my keyboard as I type this ZZZZzzzzzzzz . Sorry.
We need to have some better Rayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17379034771090193271noreply@blogger.com1