Yo Gabba Gabba Giveaway!

If you have kids around Ingrid's age, you probably know about Yo Gabba Gabba.  It's no secret I love this show, as does Ingrid.  It's one of those kid's shows that is entertaining for the parents as well, which is key.  If I have to listen to the songs a million times or see the same show over and over, I want to like it, too!  Gabba does a good job of having guest stars like Jack Black and Elijah Wood, and having music acts like Weezer and Mates of State, people I listen to already.

I was SO excited to see they were doing a Yo Gabba Gabba Live tour with a stop in Detroit!!  We'll be going to the Fox Theater on October 8th and I just cannot wait to see Ingrid's face when she sees where we are!  Check it out here to see when they'll be in your town.

Recently I was asked if I wanted to do a giveaway to help promote the upcoming tour.  I of course said yes!  I know a lot of people that read this blog have younger kids and would be thrilled to get the Yo Gabba Gabba!: Music is Awesome Volume 1 CD ~AND~ the Yo Gabba Gabba! Clubhouse DVD.  (And don't forget that Music is Awesome Volume 2 will be available at Target on August 24th!) 

All you have to do is leave a comment here if you want to be entered to win the CD and DVD, I'll leave this open until August 6th, and then randomly choose a winner!  Be sure to leave me a way to get in touch with you should you win!  Good luck!  (Open to US and Canada only.)

Old Timey Playgrounds

The family cottage we go to in Wisconsin is awesome.  Not only is the cottage itself cool, but the park it's in is fun for kids.  There is a beach with a huge old metal slide in the water, and tons of little parks scattered around.  Most of these parks are from the 60s or 70s, filled with painted metal death trap toys.  Awesome!

Modern Kiddo did a post awhile back about how cool old playgrounds were, even if they did cause a bunch of bumps, bruises, and broken bones.  How true!  Here are some pictures from a couple of the playgrounds in the cottage park.  I just love those horse swings!!

As safe as the new plastic playgrounds should be, they just aren't so fun to look at.  Nothing is in the shape of an animal.  I really hope that no one decides the old things should be torn out and replaced with new toys.  That would really make me sad.

Back From Vacation!

We went to see friends and family in Wisconsin last week, and boy did we have fun!  We left on a Friday afternoon, which worked out really well.  Ingrid was mellow in the car, Chicago traffic was light and easy.  Although getting Ingrid to a new place at 10pm and expecting her to go right to bed was a little stupid.  She was up until midnight and then up bright and early at 6am, but luckily Grandma and Grandpa are up then, too.

Fun highlights from the trip--going out to eat with our friends.  The dress Ingrid is wearing is an original from Bron and Pepper!  Right before we left for our trip we got a package from them with this dress, a cute tank top, a skirt and some hair clips.  I was in heaven, thanks so much guys!! 

We also went to dinner with Brendan's parents to this place on the river that has a really good fish fry.  Oh fish fry, I love you!  True Wisconsin!  Ingrid is in love with her grandparents, in case you can't tell...

And at the cottage fun was had while wearing nothing but our bathing suits.  Ingrid had a blast going to the beach and running through sprinklers and playing at the numerous playgrounds.  And she slept like a champ after all that fresh air!

A really fun memorable thing we did was take her to the Kid's Dance.  The cottage Brendan's parents have is in an association that has been there since the turn of the century, when all the people from Chicago would come summer by the lake.  Apparently this dance is something they've been doing since Brendan's dad was about ten years old, and they still do it!  And Ingrid loved it!  She danced her way through two Chicken Dances, YMCA, and the Hokey Pokey before she got wild and started throwing herself all over the concrete floor.  That kid has some moves!!

Summery Weekend, and a Scare

There was a carnival across the street from us this weekend so we took Ingrid over after dinner Friday night.  It was a typical carnival--lots of rides that went in circles and would make me puke even if I weren't pregnant, overpriced fatty foods, and trashy people.  But this time going was fun because Ingrid is big enough for rides!  She loved the little train, and tried the boats but was no impressed.  I remember loving those kinds of rides when I was a kid!

Ingrid also got to wash the car with Daddy yesterday.  Silly me forgets as long as you have a hose at your house you can wash your own car--I always do the drive through ones.  She had so much fun using the hose and having her own special rag to help Daddy. 

The scare was that I ended up in the ER last night.  Again.  I should get frequent flier miles there!!  I have had some bleeding, but they took an ultrasound and I saw a healthy 176/minute heartbeat and saw a little peanut in there, moving and kicking and looking healthy.  I'm supposed to rest all this week and not exert myself and I have a follow up appointment with my midwife tomorrow.  I was scared until I saw that heartbeat--it made me feel tons better!  Keep your fingers crossed for me this baby stays put and continues to grow and thrive!

Etsy Junk and Vintage Stuff

Lots of stuff going on at Applesauce Crafts!  I got a few orders this past weekend, which made me realize how depleted my store had gotten.  I have not sewn in weeks, this pregnancy is kicking my ass right now!  But this week has been productive.  First, I got a custom order felt book, which was fun to do.  I love that this kid's name is Fox, it's so XFiles! 

Then I sold almost all my blankets I had made, so I threw together these three:

I need to get some of my vintage sheets cut up for a cool baby quilt too, but that's another story.

And as for vintage stuff, Ingrid has been sporting some ultra cute vintage dresses lately!  The fourth of July one is a Polly Flinders, found at Salvation Army last week.  And we saw a post from Lishyloo on Facebook and made an impulse buy for this little gingham number.  OMG, so cute!

I also have another one I got when I was at my mom's, it's got little flowers embroidered on it.  Why don't they make cute things like this anymore?? 

Haircut, finally.

I am not a fan of long hair on myself.  Turns out, if I have to take care of Ingrid's hair, I'm not a fan of hers being long either.  She looks so cute with ponytails in, but she cries and doesn't want me to put them in, and/or takes them out as soon as I manage to get them in.  I've been talking about cutting it back to a cute short bob for some time now but never got around to it, but last night I couldn't take it anymore.  So outside we went with the sewing scissors.  It's really hard to get a 2yr old to keep her head in one place for more than a milisecond, so of course the hair is uneven and wonky.  But wouldn't you know it, it's still pretty cute! 

Happy 4th of July!

Ooh, we have already had a busy day and it's only just past noon.  This morning Ingrid and I headed downtown to go to the fourth of July parade.  I just love hometown parades, they're so fun for kids!  Ingrid thought that running into the street to pick up candy was just about the best thing ever.  And she loved the fire truck and school bus that went past.  Also a hit were the baton twirlers.

It is hot and sunny out and it was a strenuous walk home, but I'm glad we went and I am once again so glad we live so close to what's happening in Ann Arbor!  No more driving everywhere, it's so refreshing.

I just got the cupcakes out of the oven and we will be decorating them after naptime.  Brendan invited some friends from the lab over for a cookout this afternoon, so we will be having even more fun this afternoon!  I love holiday weekends :)  Hope yours has been good, even if you aren't in the US and don't care it's the 4th!

Sprinklers and Cupcakes

The other day it was hot hot hot out.  We headed over to a friend's house and spent some time in our underwear.  Okay, not me, but oh how I wish I could be as free as a kid on hot days!  I wasn't sure how Ingrid would like the sprinkler since at splash pads she doesn't really like the water spraying in her face.  But Jami put the water on low enough that I think Ingrid felt okay.  She loved it!! 

I may have to go buy a sprinkler for her.  To add to the slide, kiddie pool, and sandbox in our tiny backyard!

Yesterday we went to get groceries.  This is a tricky thing now that I'm pregnant.  On the one hand the thought of food can make me sick.  So making a menu for dinners is hard.  On the other hand, anything and everything else that catches my eye could be the ONE THING I cannot live without and just have to shove in my face.  So wandering down the aisles I usually come away with some things I normally wouldn't buy.  The other day it was ham salad.  For those not in the know--ham or bologna diced up with pickles or olives and mixed with mayo.  Totally disgusting and yet I totally could not live without it.  Last week.  This week it's totally disgusting again.

Anyway, yesterday it was cupcakes.  We walked through the bakery and wouldn't you know, they had day old cupcakes in a neat little two pack, just the perfect size for a mom and her daughter!  We ate them when we got home.  I'd like to think I was a bit neater than Ingrid was.

And did you notice the swollen eye?  That was from being out in the sprinklers--tons of bugbites and all swollen ridiculously.  Poor kid.