Los Porchs

Yep.  I'm basic.  And I made basic play dough for my basic two-year-old.  Because if you can't celebrate the seasons out loud, what's the point? I did some research (thanks, Pinterest) and went with this recipe because it's quick and easy.  And it smells amazing.  We didn't add any color to it and it's a pretty nice light brown that smells just like pie.  Charlie has been enjoying it.  I like that it's soft and doesn't have that Playdoh smell.  And I like the natural coloring as opposed to neon pink. Our house is filled with all things pumpkin spice and we are happy to live in an area that affords us four gorgeous seasons to enjoy and celebrate.   We still need to get over to the pumpkin patch... maybe next weekend.  October has just kind of gotten away from us. xo Mama Porch

If you follow me on Instagram , you know we made some homemade finger paints today that Charlotte was all about.  I had some washable paint but questioned whether she'd attempt to eat it since I haven't really done much painting with her.  One quick Pinterest search lead me to Red Ted Art's recipe and it was too simple not to try! 3T sugar 1/2 C corn starch 1/2 t salt 2C water Combine all ingredients in a small sauce pan and warm until it thickens; cool, then pour into small containers.  Add food coloring. Looks pretty similar to frosting ;) Add tiny human. I prepared this while she was enjoying her morning nap.  It was cooled and more than ready for her to enjoy in the afternoon.  The texture ended up being similar to Vaseline and caught me off guard.  But watching Charlotte use them, it was allllll good.  Really good.  Like let's do this again every day for the rest of my life good.  I had to wrestle the tray awa...

You know what sucks?  Pinterest.  I suspect you already knew that, especially my mommy friends who strive to make everything Pinterest-perfect for their children.  I have a love-hate relationship with Pinterest for a different reason. It both inspires and crushes me. Those stupid pins with cute ideas about how to announce a pregnancy?  Blow me.  I LOVE to pin them and start to feel excited about the possibility of someday needing them.  And then moments later, feel totally deflated by them.  I noticed when I first pinned something baby-related, people jumped right in with the, "Is this your way of telling us something?" comments.  I love you all.  And please know that my family and close friends will not be notified via picture or some other crafty method I find on Pinterest. That's for the social-media and acquaintance world.  Not family.  Do you think anyone wants to find out that they're going to be a grandmother via Facebo...

Mrs. Porch's Wish List of Shit to Accomplish (So poetic): I'll just go ahead and cross these off as I finish them... and if I know myself the way I think I do, I'll be adding things I accomplish that weren't on the list, just to be able to cross them off. Clean & organize the guest bedroom closet Organize the craft room Organize our closet Read an entire professional development book Make a dinner I find on Pinterest Complete a sewing project Complete any project Read [at least] one non-professional development book Spring clean this joint Finish my first NAEYC portfolio Let my mind wander

I've officially been on vacation for 2 hours and 15 minutes and already am drawing comparisons between my coffee cup & Essie nail polish (they're identical and I kind of love it).  Clearly, I need some bigger ideas of what makes a good staycation because the joy of having my morning coffee from a "real" mug as opposed to my customary travel mug is kind of weaning. They are almost a 100% match. Mint Candy Apple by Essie for curious minds. I already considered, now 2 hours and 18 minutes in, going into the office to see if I forgot to do anything.  Nothing would drive my team crazier faster than my popping in all week to check in on them so I'll just keep waiting for them to call or write or miss me... I assume this is what parenting feels like, no?  Whatever. In an effort to save my sanity as well as Porch's, perhaps I should construct a wish list of shit I'd like to accomplish while off of work for this 2 week window.   Side note:  I don...

After enjoying some drunken gummy treats in La Crosse at this year's Oktoberfest, Porch & I agree that they are delicious.  And Porch, like always, had a hypothesis and the scientist in me just couldn't resist: What would the gummy bears taste like if they were soaked in bourbon? Seeing how I am not  a bourbon gal, I agreed to partake in the study if I could also make the control, vodka gummy bears, to his variable. It's not often that Porch agrees to try one of the many projects I've seen on Pinterest, so I jumped on the chance to involve him in the cooking process.   Did you see our post about Jolly Rancher Vodka ?  Still anxiously awaiting the tasting of that delicious concoction.   And hey, it's Friday night, so why not?! Porch's experimental batch  {just keep swimming} {control} The process is really quite simple, provided you have patience.  Depending on how large your container is, add the gummy bea...

While visiting my parents this past weekend, I had the opportunity to taste the "Jolly Rancher Vodka" that I had seen on Pinterest many times over.  There's something both fantastic and scary as hell about a vodka that tastes like hard candy without the bite.  Fantastically scary?  Consider it done. I made it my mission to create such a thing that we could enjoy while up north this winter fall.  Let's be honest, who wants to wait until winter?!  After work today, I practically skipped over to the grocery store near by and picked up 2 (!!!) 1.75s of vodka.  Los Porchs totally endorse/support Svedka.  Delicious and without the cringe after sipping a drink made with it.  PLUS!  I also picked up some Jolly Ranchers and canning jars.  While I hope  I appeared to be a Becky Home-ecky, I'm almost positive I just looked like a backwoods drunk. Step 1:  Buy your shit  For real.  TWO.  It didn't hit ...