Mommy Files: Toddler Chores + Free Printable

It may seem hard to believe, but my two year old loves chores. I am sure that he will be growing out of it soon, but mama is taking full advantage of the situation right now. Ha. But really. I love the structure of having chores for Noah to help with throughout the day. From things like feeding the dog (with my help) to cleaning up his messes to vacuuming with his tiny dyson sweeper. I think that it is beginning to instill a certain responsibility for Noah. Which again may sound crazy, but hear me out. 

The other day Noah tripped in the kitchen while carrying his chocolate milk. I was cooking eggs for the family, so I made sure Noah was ok, but I figured I would clean up the mess after I was finished with the eggs. I turned around and Noah by himself had gone in and gotten a towel and was cleaning up his own mess. It was such a proud momma moment for me. It makes me feel like despite these crazy terrible-twos that I am dealing with I am getting through to him at least on some levels. It was just so surprising to me that a two year old without being asked went to so much effort to clean up after themselves. I could be getting totally over-excited about this, but I was so impressed. 

I don't really feel like there is a magic formula to getting young kids to do things or learn things because every child is different. But I have learned that structure seems to do well. Don't get me wrong it is a hot mess over here a lot of the time, but I try to keep somewhat of the same routine each day and week to keep us on track. The list just really helps make me feel like we accomplished something even if we've had a rough day. 

I had been just keeping the list of chores in my head and I would call them out as we would work on them throughout the day. But I decided that it may be more fun if I had a little chart that Noah could mark on every day. So now I thought I'd share it with you. There are four color options: red, blue, pink, + mustard. Just download, print, and fill it out. 

PS. I hope he is forever this excited to vacuum :) xo Britt

DIY Mini Splatter Paint Shoes

You know how when I made the mini name bracelets, I said that everything was extra cute when it was tiny? Well I wasn't lying. 

Check out these little splatter paint shoes! 

I have had this little pair of shoes since Noah was a baby. He wore them one time and then his little chunky feet grew too thick for them to fit anymore. I had put them in Sophie's Shoe drawer before she was even born, knowing that someday she would fit into them. 

I was going through her shoes the other day and I saw them again. I got this crazy idea that I should do something fun with them. And for some reason splatter paint popped in my head. I am still not too sure how my brain works, but I decided to go with it. 

Supplies:

• shoes
• paint
• paint brushes
• tape
• newspaper

I taped around the soles of the shoes, as to not get paint all over (that was actually the hardest part and it took the longest). I placed some newspaper down and went to splattering.

I put an ample amount of paint on my brush and then used another brush to tap the paint off. I did a few practice splatters on my news paper to get the hang of it before I went crazy on the shoes.y

I think the pink adds a fun and girly touch to the otherwise neutral shoes. I love how they turned out + I hope you do too! xo Britt 

Gift Wrapping + 3 Printable Gift Tags

There is lots of gift giving this time of year. There is graduation and wedding season is back in full swing. Not to mention those people with summer birthdays. So today we have some super cute wrapping ideas + a free printable too!

The printables are simple but they make a big impact on a gift. Use craft supplies you have laying around the house to dress them up for different gift wrapping options.

Supplies I used:

• craft paper
• printable tags
• scissors
• washi tape
• string
• hole punch
• felt
• glitter letter
• hot glue gun

Download, print, + cut out your tags. Wrap your gift. Use tags to dress up your gift. That it! Scroll down to see different ways that I used the tags to dress up my gifts. 

What events do you need gifts for these days? Whose gift will you use the printable for? xo Britt

Mommy Files: Getting Over Being a Perfectionist

I used to be a perfectionist. Well I still am, but it's different. Being a mom of two under two it can be hard to get stuff done. If I manage to actually get it done it's most likely not going to be how I was picturing it. I have learned that's ok.

It's really freeing actually. It feels good to not get freaked out by things that I would have been all bent out of shape for in the past.

The day that I took these photos and decided that this was an important topic for me to post about, I was folding towels on my bed while I was waiting for our sheets to dry. I had several towels folded and stacked up. Noah came in and tackled everything that I had done.

My initial reaction was to have a mini freak out and try to quickly fold everything while attempting to distract him. And then I realized that I didn't care if I got all of the laundry folded. Hey. Getting it clean is the important part, right?

We instead decided to have a pillow fight right on top of the towels. We wrestled and had a tickle fight. We had so much fun! After Noah lost interest in those shenanigans, we started playing a game that consisted of me messily folding the towels really quickly while Noah tried to knock them down. Ha. But hey I got them folded, no matter how messy they were. 

I think its important not only for you as a mom to feel ok with having things messy or not perfect. But I think it is more important for your little ones to see it too. I like that Noah + Sophie have changed that for me. They have helped me realize what is really important. And that even if I want things to be perfect, they aren't going to be, so we might as well embrace the crazy and the mess. Because frankly its more fun anyway.

Thanks for letting me share with you. xo Britt

DIY Pacifier Clip

We are down to one pacifier. We had four and now there is only ONE. Little miss Sophie is notorious for just spitting them out when mamma isn't paying attention; two of our four MIA pacifiers were lost while grocery shopping. I kept saying that I needed to get her a pacifier clip, but I just kept putting it off. Well now it is super important that we keep track of the lone pacifier. 

Most of the pacifier clips that I could find in the store weren't very cute and the ones I like online were pretty expensive. So I decided to make my own clip for her and I am so happy with how it turned out. It has already proved to be totally worth the time I spent making it. 

Here's what you need:

• cord

• wooden beads

• metal pacifier clip

I cut a section of cord about 10 inches long. At one end, I made a loop and tied a knot. Then I added the wooden beads. Next I made a loop at the other end and tied another knot. And that is it.

It is seriously so simple! I especially love it because the pacifier and the metal clip are attached using a larks head knot, making it super easy to change it out.

This pacifier clip is perfect because it is gender neutral and it can go with literally any outfit. But I will probably make a few different colored strings and change them out if I want to. Because you know Soph is a little fashionista :) xo Britt