Curly Birds

Secrets to Magical Moments at Disney World

Last week we had a glorious vacation at the beach in Sarasota, FL. The highlight of the trip was surprising Nola and Kira with a trip to Disney World!

We made it all the way to Orlando without the girls even suspecting anything was up. We told them in the hotel room right before taking them to Downtown Disney. They freaked out! They were literally bouncing off the walls and the beds and squealing with delight.

It was one of our favorite parenting moments that we will never forget.

When the Curly Birds Met MollyMoo

We extended our trip to England for a week and flew to Cork, Ireland to stay in the house of someone I know so well, but had never met. Michelle McInerney of MollyMoo. In the last three years we have bonded over kids, crafts, and blogs.

In Ireland we got to meet for the first time. It was surreal and yet so comfortable. Michelle and I quickly felt like old friends. We spent the whole weekend catching up, making plans, and laughing. Yes, there was lots of laughing.

Our girls, who probably don't remember a time before they were looking at each other on Instagram, got to play. They were insparable.

Our families were so relaxed, that it felt like we always hang out in Ireland together. Or maybe that is just my dream.

That feeling when you know someone so well that you don't have to say anything... We got there.

And We're Home...

Hi Friends, 

After almost 8 weeks of vacation in England and Ireland, we are home. Phew. I'm working on a series of travel related posts and will be back with lots of crafts as well as back-to-school posts for Spoonful. 

My mind is still in a daze of jet lag, relaxed happiness, shock that life has resumed, and happy memories. 

It is good to be home. x

From England

Hello Dear Readers,

Sorry for the unexpected break... I'm typing to you from Bath, England where we will be spending the summer!

We are having a fabulous time. While Curly Birds may be a little quiet, I'm sharing all kinds of fun pictures from our trip on Instagram and facebook. Do follow along.

Check back soon and I'll be posting a lovely craft tutorial from one of my very favourite bloggers... Molly Moo. 

Cluck, Cluck, Cluck, CLUCKAAAAAWWWWK

In case you haven't noticed, Molly Moo is one of my favorite blogs and Michelle is one of my favorite bloggy friends.

In fact, we extended our holiday to England for a week to take a trip over to Ireland at the invitation from Michelle. 

When Michelle put out a Hen Challenge to her fellow bloggers, I knew I wanted to make some little curly hens who were looking forward to their visit.

The challenge was for papier-mâché. I got to the masking tape part and realized that I only had pretty tape. And then I couldn't cover the pretty tape up, so my hens are a little deconstructed.

Check out Michelle's hens. And lucky for you, Michelle just opening a store where you can purchase a pattern.

A Wordless Picture Book: Inspired by Tea

I was quite delighted when the folks at Tea Collection asked me to create a craft inspired by the dresses in their new Spring 2013 South African Style catalog.

 

I was so taken by the vibrant colors and beautiful flowers in the dresses, and I loved the descriptions of the clothes that included 'blazes of color' and 'twirl factor.'

As I thought about the clothes, I could imagine Nola and Kira twirling in the dresses. I created a little story book for my girls. I really want to wrap the dresses up and top the packages with my book as the gift card.

 

It is a wordless picture book with endless story ideas. Our version goes a little like this:

Nola and Kira put on their new spring dresses and thought that something was missing.

 

The girls looked around to see how they could make their dresses more colorful.

Nola took her paint brush and dipped it in the dazzling yellow sun.

Kira found pretty wildflowers and used the purples, blues, yellows and greens to make her dress feel more like spring.

  The girls were so happy in their beautiful dresses that they danced and twirled all day long.

The End!

 

Nola's dress was inspired by the Woodstock Twirl dress.

 

Kira's dress was inspired by the Strandveld Wrap-Neck dress.

 

Visit the Tea Collection blog to see the latest in spring fashion, South African culture, and children's global incentives.

 

Follow Curly Birds on Facebook,and Pinterest.

House Hunters International

This summer we are taking the girls to Bath, England for a month. Eric will be doing research at the University of Bath and the girls and I will be playing. We are hoping to extend the trip by a few weeks to do a little traveling and visit my family. Yea!

(And by yea, I mean I'm doing a happy dance around the living room).

I have narrowed our accommodation down to a few places. Here is my short list (descriptions taken directly from Bath Holiday Rentals)

COTTAGE IN THE COUNTRYThis charming period home on the southern slopes of the city will win everyone over. With a combination of stylish and luxurious interiors, great city views, pretty terraces, a short 5 minute stroll to the city centre or rolling green hills to explore, this house will be everyone`s cup of tea. 

 

Hello Summer

We have just come home from a very fun week at Grayton Beach - perhaps the most beautiful beach we have ever been to and our new favourite. I have been waiting for two summers to take pretty pictures of the girls in these white dresses. This year we finally did it. I was envisioning sweetly smiling girls sitting next to the dunes. No, these girls ran in the water and the chased waves!

 

I'm up early this morning for a little quiet time before the girls wake up - we are looking forward to a laid-back summer filled with visiting family, play-dates, swim school and plenty of messy painting. We wrote a list of things we want to do and Kira included making sand castles out of sand we brought home from the beach, drawing a cook book, and making popsicles.

I've seen some great summer bucket lists floating around the internet - here are a few for inspiration for your summer holidays...

200 fun ideas from Creative Family Fun

Create your own summer bucket list from Living Montessori Now

Make the bucket and the list from Mom with a Lesson Plan

 

And I just saw this on-line kid's photography class via Design Mom. I think my girls are still a little too young for it, but it looks really cool and in a few years we'll be there. 

Preserving Childhood Vacation Memories - Part II

The girls each made a special photograph album that is just for them. I printed out a selection of photographs from our trip and they each chose their favorites. Next, they stuck the pictures in the album using photo mount squares. They then decorated the pictures with pretty beach stickers. Each girl dictated their memories of the beach and we attached the page into the books. 

 

Preserving Childhood Vacation Memories - Part I

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Preserving Childhood Vacation Memories - Part I

We recently made oil pastel and water color pictures of our trip to the beach. The girls were able to take their fondest memories from the trip and make gorgeous pictures of their experiences.

Kira :: Swimming with Daddy

Kira :: Dolphin and Sand Dollar

Nola :: Shells on the Beach

I framed the pictures and displayed them in our living room for the girls to visit often.

 

Preserving Childhood Vacation Memories - Part II

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