Cultural Fair

The past few weeks around here have been insanely busy!  I have been working with a team of hard core Moms and of course my awesome hubby to create a the Northwest Pacific region of the States at our kid's school for the annual Cultural Fair!  Here are some of the pics that I snapped yesterday!

The Mercantile Store (exterior) 

This used to be a jail prop.. but I painted it up and transformed it into a store front.

Interior

This is the backdrop that I drew.  Then the ladies and I had lots of painting parties to get it done.. we shared countless hours, tons of paints and lots of laughs in its creation!

Here is more of the interior with the countertop that my hubby created from an old palette.

The kids got to come into the store and create their own list of supplies on mini chalkboards.

Independence Rock  

This is the halfway point on the Oregon trail where the pioneers would sign their name in celebration!  My friend Kerri and her kids created it out of paper mache and all the kids signed their initials.  The S.P.I. are my middles guys initials!

Alaskan Mining Camp

This is the tent city that was created to show how the miners lived in the late 1800's during the Alaskan Gold Rush.

And my favorite part of the Whooooole display is the Conestooga wagon that the hubby and I created (it was the sneak peek from yesterday!)  So here it is within the display up against the backdrop of the Oregon trail that I created from sheets in my driveway!

And of course I HAVE to share just one more pic of it!  It was made from an old palette, a sheet and some pvc pipe.

Hope you enjoyed your pictoral tour of the Northwest Pacific!

Now I am off to the fair to help out again and give the kids a tour!  I'll be back tomorrow with pictures of all the other areas so you can see all the A-mazing work that was created!
I am sharing with

Love,

Pinkapotamus

Pink Hippo Party #73

Happy Monday Pink Hippos! 

Sorry I have been MIA this week..but it was a super crazy busy, celebratory hard working week and weekend!  We spent the week celebrating my 33rd birthday with an Iphone, sushi lunch and of course.. ice cream cake! 

Then the hubby and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary!  Whoo hoo with dinner out and a bottle of wine!

We had story time with our new bunny!

Then this weekend we had the Girl Scout Brunch with my favorite girl~

Then off to the Blue and Gold dinner with my favorite Tiger Scout!

And of course we spent the entire past two weeks working on a HUGE project for the kids school to be revealed tomorrow.. but since I haven't been around.. here is a sneak peek!

Ok.. so enough about ME .. now I want to know all about YOU! 

Show me what you got!

Link up, grab a button,

<br /> <a href="http://www.pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/"_blank"><img src="http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee431/amieirwin/Pink%20Hippo/PinkHippo005-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Pink Hippo Party" /></a>

be a follower and share some love!

Love,

Pinkapotamus

Sponsor Spotlight ~ Crayon Freckles

This week's Awesome Sponsor is Andie Jaye

from Crayon Freckles who creates the most beautiful mixed media and subway art!

Andie Jaye is a SAHM who homeschools.  She is an avid photographer who loves to create art... both digitally and with her hands in mixed media.  She has a blog, Crayon Freckles, where she documents all the activities she and her son do during their days.

Here are some of my favorites from her SHOP

Goodnight Moon

     

Baseball Subway Art

Rising Sunset Print

What Faith is Made Of

And my favorite item... The Little Boy Toolbox Bag!

And as a special treat for all of my Pink Hippos.. Andie Jaye is generously offering Free Shipping.. just add in the code PINKHIPPO at checkout!

So stop by .. say "Hi" and add her to your Etsy favorites.. I know I did!

Love,

Pinkapotamus

Pink Hippo Party #72

Happy Monday Pink Hippos.. boy I am I glad last week is over!  It was a rough one, starting with a car accident (everyone is fine) where I totaled my front end, my littlest guy and the stomach virus, lots of frustration in planning a Girl Scout event, tons of work for a cultural fair, hosting my son's family party.. and probably the highlight of the week rescuing this lost little bunny!

Who needed lots of veterinary care!

Also I had my first adventure with fondant.. not sure how I feel about it yet... btw it's supposed to be a skate board.

Now onto bigger and better things!  The winner of this week's Crafterbowl is..  drum roll please..

Amber from http://salttree.blogspot.com/

with her Printed Burlap Postcards

She is the lucky winner of a beautiful print (any one)

from Crayon Freckles

Now.. who's ready to party?  I know I am .. so be a follower, link up, grab a cute button,

<br /> <a href="http://www.pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/"_blank"><img src="http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee431/amieirwin/Pink%20Hippo/PinkHippo005-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Pink Hippo Party" /></a>

and share the LOVE!

Love,

Pinkapotamus

Crafterbowl I Salt Tree vs. Snugasabugbaby

Welcome to Round 5 of

THE

This week's competitors are Angry Alisha from

Snug as a Bug Baby

and Aggressive Amber from http://salttree.blogspot.com/

Alisha is a stay-at-home mom who takes on life with a baby on each hip, a sewing needle and a glue gun in one hand and a camera in the other. She is the face behind SnugasaBugBaby.com...where she shares her sewing, decorating, crafting, cooking and other such adventures along with her thoughts on life and motherhood.

Amber started SaltTree while on maternity leave with her now, 17 month old Son as a way to tap back into her creative side. Oh how wonderful it has been! She loves to work with so many different mediums from crafts to food and photography. Having a blog has been a wonderful outlet and has introduced her to some fab people in the blogging community."

This week's crafting challenge is : BURLAP!

So here are this week's exciting projects!

Here is Alisha's Burlap Flower Bouquet

Full post HERE

Here is Amber's Printed Burlap Postcards

Full post HERE

Now it's your turn to vote!  Winner will be announced next Monday at the Pink Hippo Party.. so link up and find out who moves on to the next round!

Love,

Pinkapotamus

Pink Hippo Party #71

Happy Monday Pink Hippo!  The mini hippos and I had a great weekend..outside..!  And my little girl and I crafted with the sewing machine!  She made this sweet little purse for herself..

she even crocheted the little pink handle!

Now for those of you who have been waiting.. and waiting .. and waiting to see who won this week's Crafterbowl.... The Winner is ..Holly from My Sister's Suitcase

with her adorable Cutie Pie Button Picture

She is the lucky winner of this sweet golden tutu

from Twinkle Toes Tutus

So now it's your turn to share your craft goodies!

Link up, grab a button,

<br /> <a href="http://www.pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/"_blank"><img src="http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee431/amieirwin/Pink%20Hippo/PinkHippo005-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Pink Hippo Party" /></a>

be a follower and share the love!

Love,

Pinkapotamus

Sponsor Spotlight ~ Twinkletoetutus

This week's amazing sponsor is Donna from

 Twinkle Toe Tutus

Donna makes the sweetest, most adorable tutus.

When Donna became a first time grandmother to a beautiful little girl this year she decided to try and make her a tutu.  She enjoyed it so much and got such a wonderful response from people that she decided to start an etsy shop and make some more. She loves to watch the little girls when they put her tutus on and let their imaginations run wild. They are fairy princess and angels fluttering around the yard, in the mind of a child a little tulle makes anything possible.

Donna is a lady after my own heart.. cause tulle really can make anything possible!

Here are some of my favorites from Donna's shop:

Purple and White Tutu with Wings and Pearls

Hawaiian Fun Tutu

Angel Wings and Multicolored Tutu and Fairy Wand

And my personal favorite:

Woodland Nymph Tutu with Leaf Wings

So stop by her shop, show her some love and give her Grandma love!

Don't forget to vote (before Midnight) for your favorite in The Crafterbowl .. the winner gets a beautiful Tutu from Twinkle Toe Tutus

Love,

Pinkapotamus

Whatever the Pantry Holds Granola

I Love, LOve LOVE granola.. but what I don't love is the price tag.. Seriously I find it offensive that a box of granola is like $4 bucks.. uggh.  But really I eat it on EVERYTHING, yogurt, ice cream, with milk, without it as a hand snack, with fruit, as a smoothie topping... well, you get the point!

So here is my cheap, quick version with things that are almost ALWAYS available in my pantry!

Ingredients

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1/4 cup honey
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups oats

1 cup of Cherrios

1 cup of Rice Krispies

1 cup of Rice check

1 cup walnuts

1/2 cup cranberries

(optional) 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Combine oil, butter, brown sugar, molasses, honey and vanilla in a small pot.  Bring to a boil then set aside.

In a large bowl combine oats, all cereals, walnut and cranberries.

  Top with syrup and mix.

Then place on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Once done, toss in the chocolate chips.. then ENJOY ... on everything or straight out of the bowl!

I am sharing with

Love,
A very happy, granola munching Pinkapotamus