Rock-A-Bye Baby

Trying to put the twins down for their afternoon nap or bedtime can be a struggle... Sometimes, instead of just quietly rocking them in my arms before they sleep, I play some soothing music as they lay in the crib. It works wonders! Sometimes, my two and a half year old sleeps to it, too :) Music that has worked for us consist of a lullaby radio station on Pandora, children's music I've found on Spotify, a couple of CD's I've borrowed from the library and a Discovery Toys album my mom used to play for my sister and I when we were young. Out of all of these, I have compiled some of my personal favorites, and made a couple of lovely playlists for you on Spotify! See below for links and references to all the music we've been listening to! Enjoy!

Welcome to The World {A Lullaby Playlist} - Click here to listen on Spotify 




Run Barefoot {A Get Up & Dance Playlist} - Click here to listen on Spotify

Discovery Toys : Sounds Like Fun

1. Muffin Man
2. Adding Things
3. I Love You So Much
4. Letter Sounds (apple apple aaa)
5. Counting by Tens
6. Months of the Year
7. Where Has My Little Dog Gone
8. Opposites Are Fun
9. One to Ten in Spanish
10. Buenos Dias
11. Magic Words (Manners)
12. Sweet Dreams
13. Three Little Kittens
14. Counting 1 to 30
15. I Had a Little Nut Tree
16. Hey Diddle Diddle
17. ABC Chant
18. Hickory Dickory Dock 
19. Twelve Month of the Year 
20. Counting Sheep 1 to 30


Click here to PREVIEW all the tracks from the Discovery Toys : Sounds Like Fun album that are listed above! Here, you will also find the biography on the lady who sings these songs, Barbara Milne!


Also, below, I want to share an album from one of our favorite children's group, Renee and Jeremy. It's called Welcome to this World. Find out more about them and listen to more of their great music, click HERE!




*Side Note: We try to keep the twins on the same schedule for everything. It just makes our chaotic life easier and everyone's happy :) Plus routine helps our days run smoothly. I'm proud to say, most of the time, all three kiddos take their afternoon nap at the same time. Yippee! Free hands for me to get things done!

Vintage Awesomeness

I snagged these awesome canisters from my grandmother's house, last year, when we were helping her clean out her house. She was getting rid of some older things and this canister set was one of them! She was about to send them off to Goodwill! I was like, ummmm...I'll gladly take those off your hands! By the way, these weren't the only vintage goodies we snagged from her. I'll share more later on. Hopefully some DIY upcycles!

Anyway, I just recently found them, again, because I've been packing for our move. We have boxes everywhere. I've had some awesome stuff saved in boxes labeled "For When We Have a House", that I haven't set out in our apartment. These little guys have been waiting patiently to be used. More like, I've been waiting to use all this amazing stuff I've saved to decorate with!! Obviously, I cannot wait to embellish our new home now that we will have the space for it.

They kind of look like Pantone swatches, yeah?
 

I have a set of four. Two large and two small.

Now where to put them...the studio or the kitchen? I think she originally had them storing small things in her kitchen. What would you do with them? Suggestions? Thanks grandma for saving these and passing them down to us! Who knew we would be using them today.

Reality Check Monday : Moving On

I have some exciting news that I have been wanting to spill for the past couple days. It's been a long time coming but...

We are moving out of our 2 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment into a 4 bedroom 2 1/2 bath house! We could not be more excited!! Since our little family grew quite quickly over the year, we've needed a little bit more space. More details on this to come...but I just wanted to express my excitement already! Oh the joys of everything that comes with moving into a new home! Let the planning begin.

Along with the exciting news we just shared, I want share a prayer from my favorite prayer book called, "A Gift So Rare" by Helen Lowrie Marshall. This book was handed down to me from my mother. I really love these prayer poems because everyone can easily identify with each of them, in their own sense. I like Marshall's writing because it's realistic and comforting. The poem that I'm currently praying is called "You Never Know." I'd like to share it with you. Enjoy and have great Monday.

You Never Know

You never know when someone
May catch a dream from you.
You never know when a little word
Or something you may do
May open up the windows
Of a mind that seeks the light—
The way you live may not matter at all,
But you never know—it might.

And just in case it could be
That another's life, through you,
Might possibly change for the better
With a broader and brighter view,
It seems it might be worth a try
At pointing the way to the right—
Of course, it may not matter at all,
But then again—it might.

Friday Feature : RR Cherry Pie (Japanese Candy and Miniature Toys)

My daughter stumbled upon these videos while watching some How-To PlayDough videos, on YouTube. Yes, I let my daughter watch YouTube, under my supervision. Technology and kids these days! Anyway...once we saw one video, posted from RR Cherry Pie's feed, we had to search for more! RR Cherry Pie provides videos on how to put Japanese candy and toy kits together. Some of them remind me of what you do when you "cook" with an Easy Bake Oven. Check them out for yourself. They're actually pretty cute, because everything is mini! Here are a several of her favorites. Go to RR Cherry Pie's sites for more here - RR Cherry Pie on YouTube & RR Cherry Pie's Blog.




Since she's into this kind of thing, but may be too young for it still...I decided to look into getting her some Bento boxes and lunch accessories for fun! I think she'll enjoy these. Maybe I'll get them for her birthday or turn it into a birthday party theme. Click the pictures for source link. Have a great weekend!

Mixie Finds : Out and About

While I'm running errands, I always find fun products that catch my eye. Ninety percent of the time, I gravitate towards office/school supplies and stationary items! Oh the temptation... The designer in me always wants to buy anything Sharpie®. Here are some things I've found, recently, while I was out and about. I did not purchase any of these items (except for the pastel Sharpies®. Can you blame me?)...I just found them and photographed them for future reference and now sharing them with you! I'm going to start doing this from time to time.

Reality Check Monday : Desktop Clutter

I'm finally back to "normal". We've gotten over our yucky sicknesses!! Thank goodness. Now I can get some things done around here. It's back to reality. And I have lots of little fires to put out. Here's what my lovely desktop looks like, at the moment...It pretty much sums up how my mind is currently mapped out – full of a bunch stuff chaotically "organized".

I'm starting to drift into vacation mode and I've let stuff like this happen. It's ridiculous, I know. I hate when it looks like this...So I decided to design a new desktop wallpaper to motivate me to get back into gear. Once I clean my desktop, the pic, below, will be my new wallpaper. It's a picture I took from a resort in Cabo San Lucas, a couple of years ago. Ahhhh...longing to feel the ocean breeze...dreaming of the beach and some much needed time with family I haven't seen in a long time.

Since I'm feeling extra generous, today, I'm also giving it to you, for free. I've added a downloadable link. Happy Monday, my friends.






This free download is for PERSONAL USE ONLY. Thanks and Enjoy!

Reality Check Monday (a day late) : Yuck.

Hi friends, sorry for the late post. The whole family got sick over the weekend. Runny noses, coughing, sore throats. It's been a long couple of nights...running on no sleep. Yesterday was the worst of it. It's definitely difficult to try and take care of your sick family, when you're not feeling well either. I made some classic thin noodle soup in chicken broth with egg for comfort. Hopefully today is better day. I have lots of things to accomplish, this week!!

Thanks a lot, MONDAY. Can't wait until next week.

I leave you with a little inspiration, I found. Trying to look on the bright side.

Image source: WorkIsNotAJob.com

Friday Feature : Magno Studios

In case you didn't know, Magno (that handsome man, above) is my dad :). This is a photo of him, I took at his painting space at Essex Studios. He's one of the main reasons why I went into the Visual Communications field. His creative energy has definitely inspired our whole family. You can check out his official website at this link - www.magnostudios.com.

Here are some portraits he has done of our family. (L-R: Magno (my dad), mother, me and my sister).

I asked him several questions about himself, and here's what he answered. I'm loving his responses :) I have also showcased some of my favorite paintings of his, below. Be sure to check more out at his website. Thanks and Enjoy!

"Glass Jar" oil on panel

 
Describe yourself as an artist in 3 words.
Contemporary Realist Painter

What are you mostly inspired by?
I'm inspired by creative people who produce outstanding work. It can be in the field of music, literature, architecture, art, sciences, engineering and even in cooking....a great and creative dish can be an outstanding work of art. These delicious and wonderful things feed my heart and soul, not to mention my stomach as well.

"Purple Onion" oil on canvas

Who's your favorite artist and/or idol?
My art professor in college Mr. Ibarra dela Rosa. He is a rebel with an artistic cause. He taught me how to see the beauty that can be found in nature.

"Fountain Square" oil on canvas SOLD

Name 3 artists you’d like to be compared to.
I have been trying to produce art that is uniquely my own, so visually, I don't want to be compared to anyone. But as far as my personal respect towards an artist is concerned, I like Rembrandt, Monet and Picasso.

What wouldn’t you do without?
I have a wonderful family. My lovely wife, my awesome daughters, my grandchildren. I could not even think of not having them.

"Fountain Square Skaters" oil on canvas Private Collection

*Remember, if you'd like to be featured on one of Mixie Studio's Friday Feature posts, please contact me for details! I'll be happy to showcase you!!

Need outfit inspiration for the whole family for July 4th?

This is what we wore over the weekend at a friend's Fourth of July cookout! Since it's difficult to get our picture as a full family, all dressed up, I photographed the pieces. It was fun coordinating our outfits with the red, white & blue theme. Hubby picked out his own, not even knowing the rest of us were matching hehe ;)

We found the best deals for the cutest stuff at Target and H&M!

I wish we would've gotten a picture of all us together! I'll try harder next time. It's like pulling teeth to get us all in one, nice picture, you know? Have a great holiday!

Reality Check Monday : What a Mess!

I have received an OUTSTANDING response to the "Keeping the Kids Busy: Toddler Boredom Busters" post!! Thank you all for your comments and feedback!! It has been very inspiring. A particular person responded, "I think a lot of bloggers get so wrapped up in making things look pretty...". This comment brought great insight to me! So, I have decided to create another weekly post. It's going to be called, "Reality Check Monday". Every Monday (or most Mondays), I'll be talking about topics that aren't quite as "pretty" or glamorous. We ALL have those kind of days...or weeks...or even months. Of course, they'll be posted on Mondays, cause well, you know, everyone has a case of the Monday's. And a reality check, is good, once in a while. I just want to show that our everyday is NOT perfect, by any means. Just like everyone else ;) So, to kick it off, my first "Reality Check" post is about our current situation, MESSES. Yes, we have messes, too. Raise your hand if you're in the same boat.

Summertime is always the busiest season. They're family gatherings, Summer cookouts with friends, birthday parties, graduation parties, vacation...and so forth. So, I feel as if our weekends are just crazy packed with things to do! Busy is good, but sometimes (for this mother of a toddler and twins) it doesn't leave room for a breather to get anything done around the house. Usually, I like to clean or at least tidy up the house before we head out the door. This is because I LOVE coming home to a clean house. Who doesn't? But this weekend, I just let it be. I embraced the mess. These pictures display a corner of our lovely living room...as is. This is what it ends up looking like, hourly, before I clean it up. But this particular (busy) weekend...I left it like this.

A game we like to play daily is "Where's Jazzie's pacie?" Ellie always puts her finger over her closed mouth and says, "hmmm...".

Since, the twins are learning to crawl, we have their toys sprawled on the floor and a blanket down for them to scooch around on. Ellie (my toddler girl) loves to play "picnic" with her kitchen toys and dolls...so add that to the mix. Since all the kids are still in diapers (and Pull-Ups), we have those and the wipes in a Pamper box cause they won't all fit in a diaper organizer. If we do any crafts, Ellie and I will either do them on her vintage Little Tikes play table or in the dining room on our large dining room table. So needless, to say, we need a toy chest...and/or a bigger place!! It's something we are working on...

As far as, cleaning up and organizing goes, I've come to conclusion, that a mess is a mess and get over it cause if I clean it right away, it'll get messy again (in five minutes) anyway! However, as I say that, I can't leave a mess there for too long. I'll go CRAZY and the cycle goes 'round again. Usually, when naptime approaches, this will all be tidied up! SO, to help myself get out of this rut, I have done some research on inspiration for organizing. I still have some more researching to do, so I will post my findings, this week, to share with you!

In the meantime, do you have any organizational tips or advice? Or toy chest suggestions? What kind of things have helped you in organizing at home? Feel free to share your thoughts. Enjoy what's left of your Monday :)