Nesting // Big Brother Bag

Baby #2 has arrived - October 25th to be exact!  And big brother Luke is so excited about his baby brother, Callaghan.  To make the transition from a family of three to a family of four easier on our 3 year old son we did what any amazing parents would do....bribed him with gifts.  I created a Big Brother Bag for Luke from his baby brother using the good ol' wear, read, want, need method.

1 // Tote Bag - This DIY monogrammed tote bag is the perfect size for Luke to take to school and he was pretty stoked that it was personalized with HIS letter "L."

2 // T-Shirt - There's something about these "Big/Little Brother" t shirts that make me all warm and fuzzy.

Gifts For Dad Roundup

Father's Day is right around the corner - this Sunday, June 16th, to be exact. Whether the Dad in your life loves music, grilling or just a bold buffalo - this roundup of gifts is sure to show that special guy how much he means to you.

1) The Wifi Music kit from Legrand tops the roundup because each of the dads in my life (the hubs, the dad and the dad-in-law) would do a sweet fist pump-kick combo to open them up on Father's Day.  The Wifi Music kit seamlessly connects to a wireless network and can be controlled via a smart phone or tablet.  Plus, combined with the Adorne system, you can utilize multiple pairs of speakers (up to three pairs) throughout the home.  They even sound pretty rad to me...late Mother's Day gift?

2) Cape Buffalo Print from artist, Patrick Logue, is bold, beefy and would be a great addition to the man cave.

3) Reclaimed Wood Cutting Board from Etsy shop, triple7recycled, is gorgeous, practical and perfect for a socially conscious Dad or a guy who just likes to chop things.

4) Tomanohada Soap on a Rope from Thomas Sires  - this soap on a rope is a fresh twist on an old classic.  The traditional Japanese welcome soap brings good fortune and the Tai fish symbolizes prosperity and wealth - I don't know anyone who would be unhappy with that.

5) Hermetus Bottle Opener from Kaufman Mercantile is the beer lovers dream - well, a good beer lover's dream.  Yes, we're beer snobs - not so much snobs since we'll drink pretty much anything - we just prefer really good beer.  Why the Hermetus?  Well, I'll let their witty description win you over, like it did me.

The first sip of a freshly opened beer is the closest that anyone can get to understanding a brew master’s true intention. The fragrance of the hops, the tingle of the carbonation and the depth of the flavor consume your senses — it is almost as if the tipple is whispering brewery secrets into your taste buds. This fleeting moment is the wedding of wet to whistle and, for the true beer enthusiast; the honeymoon should last as long as possible.

If you’re sitting with a 12-ounce of Coors, you probably won’t need to pop open the top then close it back up before finishing. But the size of regular beer bottles are getting larger and craft beers, lambics and ciders are sometimes sized for more than one sitting. This bottle opener and resealer is a great pocket-sized gadget to have in order to make sure that not a drop of that dear brew goes to waste.

Once the resealer is slid into place, the seal is tight enough that none of the liquid will spill even if tipped completely upside down.

6) Bobby Flay's Boy Meets Grill is the perfect resource for that man behind the grill, with more than 125 recipes for mouth watering meat, poultry, and fish dishes, as well as soups and salads that can be prepared partially or completely on the grill.

Say Merry Christmas With A DIY Personalized Mug

First off, Merry Christmas!  I hope you all are enjoying some quality time with your families.  After all that has happened it's these little things, time spent with family and friends, that seem so important.  So cuddle up, stay up a little later and cherish every moment.

This quick and simple DIY gift is perfect for the coffee lover in your family or any last minute gift giving.

I know I'm not the first one to venture into sharpie drawing craziness (my neighbor made some adorable stick figure mugs for her Mom), but I thought I'd share this easy DIY gift idea, anyhoo.

A Few of My Favorite Things: Five Under $30

With Christmas looming around the corner I'm in total gift buying mode.  I usually spend the year thinking of things to get people and am pretty much done buying gifts by the time December rolls around.  This year is a whole 'nother story and I'm feeling the pressure. Luckily, I have an arsenal of go-to favorites when I get in a bind.  Like, right now.

One, Two, Three, Four, Five

 So what about you guys?  Have any favorite gifts that you love to give?

DIY // Date Night Jar & A Little Kismet

Four years ago today I was blissfully being pampered - getting ready to walk down the aisle.  I was nervous and excited and ready to party down as Mrs. Padgett!  It's amazing how fast the years go by, how much changes in such a short amount of time and how we haven't suffered a single itch.  I'm still feeling pretty lucky.

We used to celebrate our anniversary by returning to the place where we spent our honeymoon, Whistler B.C. - where we'd gorge ourselves on the best fried calamari we've ever eaten at Ric's Grill, get all wrinkly in the outdoor hot tub and sleep in late in the amazingly comfy beds at the Adara Hotel and drink far too much wine.  Keeping within our budget, we won't be taking refuge with the Canucks this year and will instead be taking a few days off much closer to home.  But just because our spending has been dialed back doesn't mean the sentiment had to be.  And nothing says I love you more than homemade gifts, right?

I've been meaning to make us one of those date night jars for SO LONG.  It's a popular idea on pinterest and one that would take little skill to make.

Pinterest Challenge Summer Edition: Good (re)vs. Evil Kid's Cape

Guess what time it is????  YEP!  It's...

Jumping up and down?  Me too!

The lovely ladies, Katie from Bower Power and Sherry from YoungHouseLove along with the equally lovely Kate - better known as Centsational Girl and Michelle from the blog Ten June are the hosts for this summer edition.

Handmade Gift Exchange: Hand-Painted Tea Towels

I was so excited to take part in the Summer edition of the Handmade Gift Exchange. Twice a year, Linda from Craftaholics Anonymous, hosts a Handmade Gift Exchange where you give and get a handmade gift! So, what's my fascination?  I've always had a fondness for pen pals.  In high school I had a pen pal from England who I wrote for years and when I first met my husband, and still to this day, we write each other while he's fishing in Alaska.  There's something so exciting about getting something (other than bills) in the mail and something even more exciting about gifts in the mail.

My giftee was Rhonda from the amazing Mrs. Greene who hails from Michigan.  I totally failed at being super creative (especially as I see all the other gifts that were made), but I hope that I was at least a little creative in creating two Michigan inspired hand-painted tea towels.

Father's Day BBQ Gift Basket {Tutorial}

While all of us Moms are still being treated like the queens we are {yeah right}, let's not forget those awesome Dads in our lives that help keep us sane.  With Father's Day only one week away, I made a gift basket that'll show that master behind the grill how much you care and put that tired tie of yesteryear to shame.  You might have first seen this when I was helping Allison out during her maternity leave by guest posting over at A Glimpse Inside.  Keep in mind, this one includes all the instructions to make this, so it's a bit of an epic!

So what's the lucky guy getting?