fun finds: top valentine's day gifts for dads

1. buoy by turnstone -- i get it. it may not seem like the likely top pick for our valentine's guide....but i'm telling you this: it's amazing. genelle and i have been testing out the buoy's in our own homes for a few weeks now and we are seriously in love. i am such a convert to this awesome chair that i have donated my previous desk chair and i am never looking back. they have a large variety of color variations to choose from so there is sure to be one to fit your valentine's style. it will be the best valentine gift he has ever received. truly. 

2. bose quiet comfort headphones -- the very best for the daddy that travels or needs to get some work done at home and might need a little help drowning out the noise from your munchkins.

3. mens leather travel case -- why should us mama's have the cute travel toiletries bag? give your love one of these beautiful, personalized, leather ones.

4. love quote -- "every story is beautiful, but ours is my favorite." add a beautiful new piece of artwork to the walls of your home or of his office. it's truly lovely. 

5. love shirt -- tell your man you love him with this fun, artsy love tee. he is bound to feel the love but not get teased by his friends.

6. jack black luxury shave set -- there is just something super sexy about a really close shave. i love the look of an old fashioned save set on the counter and who doesn't love a really, smooth face on their love sometimes?

friday fun finds: amazing artwork

today i am on the hunt for new, beautiful and inspiring artwork to adorn the bare walls in my home. i am drawn towards quotes, it seems. what do you think? which one is *your* favorite?

be who you are--$75

i love you a bushel and a peck-- $18

playroom rules--$59

every little thing--$88

birds on a wire--$150

the help--$7

in this home--$179

god grant me vinyl wall lettering--$13

love is patient--$75

today i will--$23

you are my sunshine--$50

gobble gobble and grub

photo credit and sign maker 

happy thanksgiving to our internet family. we are humbled by all of the love and support that we have received from all of you since starting on this blogging adventure 6 months ago. we are so very thankful for all of you and wish you a day filled with love, laughter and thankfulness.

gobble. gobble. 

xoxo

chach + nellie

ps--

wondering what to do with all of those amazing turkey day leftovers? try this super yummy casserole. you won't regret it. love.

thanksgiving leftovers casserole

2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, chopped
2 cups of leftover vegetables (whatever you have: peas, green beans, mushrooms, etc.)
2 cups of leftover stuffing
2 cups leftover turkey (you could also make this with honey baked ham, or another meat)
2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
2 eggs
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. preheat the oven to 350 degrees f.

2. melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat and saute the onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. stir in the remaining vegetables and the turkey. mix together and remove from heat.

3. in a casserole dish (9×13-inch), spread the stuffing over the bottom. add the turkey and vegetable mixture and spread evenly on top of the stuffing. in a medium bowl, mix together the mashed potatoes and the eggs until thoroughly combined. spread this on top of the turkey and vegetable mixture. top with the shredded cheese.

3. bake for 25 to 30 minutes. let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

friday fun finds: i am a blogger

i love you, blogs and coffee--$25

keep calm and blog on--$9.99

i am a big deal--$22

will blog for food--$15

i love you blogs and tea--$9.50

keep calm and tweet on--$8.49

blog--$15

diy art project: little hands and feet paintings

interested in a fun and easy art project that makes a *fabulous* gift and preserves the memory of your little ones tiny feet and hands too? i just made these for my hubby's birthday and they turned out sooooooo cute!

supplies:


4 canvas' 10x10 (i bought two of these packs of 6 and am saving the remaining 4 for another project...or maybe the same one for grandma & grandpa.)

2 colors of acrylic paints (nothing fancy, just go find colors you like at michaels).

lots of patience :-)

directions:

take your two colors of contrasting paints and paint a solid coat (or two) onto your canvases. paint two of the canvases one color and the other two the remaining color. (this step can be done days before adding the hand & feet prints).

once dry, here comes the fun part......i figured out that the best way to complete this part of the project was with the kiddos in the bathtub and ready to be scrubbed down as soon as we were finished. (this part will also be easier if you have another adult there to assist you). simply squirt out a bunch of each color of paints onto separate paper plates. with a paint brush (i used one of the foam ones), paint one of your child's hands and press it onto 2 different canvases of the same color. (you can also take this opportunity to paint each hand separately and make one print onto each canvas, it is up to you.) from experience, i have learned that using the paintbrush to apply paint to the hands and feet makes a much cleaner print than simply dipping the hand or foot into the paint.

once you have the hand prints done, switch colors and paint the feet making one single footprint onto one of the canvases and multiple walking feet on the other canvas.

after the handprints were done, i painted my own hands and printed them near my little ones. :-)

you may want to test the contrast of the colors before you add the hands and feet prints. although the grey and green (see below) looked like a strong enough contrast when wet, you can see that it is harder to see than the tan and chocolate brown.

be sure to write the name of your child and the date on the back.

here are the finished products:

the finished product hanging in our playroom! (ignore the one on the far left that is hanging too low.....i need to fix it!)

i am happy with the results. what do you think?

let us know if you make these on your own and send us a photo of the finished products!

enjoy!

friday fun finds: state & city love

i love the idea of displaying artwork that is inspired by states or cities you have lived or are living in. i found some fabulous pieces that i know i would proudly display in my home. enjoy!

chalkboard state map

the artist has them in *tons* of different states, so you are sure to find your favorite.

golden state wall art--$150

swatch usa illustration--$20

washington dc print--$20

fun and funky. love the color!

oklahoma state series - letterpress print--$15

chicago street map - print--$22.50

oregon print--$11

hand embroidered south carolina pillow--$149

they also make them for different states and i think they are *fabulous*. wouldn't it be fun to have one on the couch for every state you have lived in?

friday fun finds: anniversary gifts for your hubby

my hubby and i just celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary. (yahoo!) here are some creative ideas for anniversary gifts to give your husband that i hope you enjoy (including what i ended up getting mine).

recycled bronze collar stays--$54

personalized subway sign with important places & locations to you as a couple--$299

I Am Completely In Love With You - Eye Exam Chart Print--$15

copper hand stamped customized guitar pick--$39

personalized family name sign--$32

giant customized wooden letter tiles (3 letters)--$27.50

anniversary/wedding date pillow--$25

custom family portrait--$120

"you're right" felt pillow--$89

custom individual letters--$10 each

what do you think? what one is your favorite? what do you think i ended up getting my hubby?

friday fun finds: peacock madness

i have a slight obsession for everything peacock this week....and who knew that there were so many fabulous things to chose from? who else loves this fine-feathered friend?

belt + buckle with vintage peacock image from a 1960's children's encyclopedia--$38

fingerless gloves with peacock feathers in aqua felted cashmere $42

orchid + orange peacock feather linen pillow--$60

peacock print--$22

set of 2--peacock feather screen-printed dishtowels- $12

teal blue + white peacock feather coin purse--$22

the counting peacock - 5 x 5 numbers print-- $13