Instead of blogging, I've been.......

......seeing the Sights.  The Chicago sights, that is.

We do love our botanical gardens.  Remember previous visits here and here?

Today we went to the Chicago Botanic Gardens.

Ginger is officially a toddler now.  No stroller can contain her.

Eleanor fancies herself a leader, of course.  Map in hand, ready for kindergarten I dare say.

This is my little piece of heaven.  Watching happy girls play.

And looking at flowers through their eyes.

I mean, what's cooler than a spiderweb with water droplets on it?

Okay, maybe a fountain in the middle of a lake.

And Zinnias.

And the way they grow their cherry trees!  Too cool!  

So....all this to say that I got through phases--do you?  I'll go through a few weeks of so much creating that I have a backlog of blog posts.  And then I have weeks where I can't motivate.  I just don't feel like it.  Then I read all of these blogs and they are constantly creating and I think to myself, don't they have these days like I do?  Don't they just feel like sitting on the couch watching Rio with their kids?  (Which, incidentally, is exactly what I'm doing as I type.)

Anyway, next week we're headed east for a big family event and after that, I think I'll get my mojo back.  Because after that......SCHOOL STARTS.  And then, that means I really live in Chicago.  I'm not just on a permanent vacation.

Terrarium Trend

Remember my indoor terrarium? I made my own after spotting this one (from Twig Terrariums) in Real Simple magazine last month.

Ever since I made mine, I've been noticing terrariums everywhere! I even came across a beautiful book all.about.terrariums.

There is a terrarium out there for everyone (I'm sounding really nerdy right now, aren't I?). Here are my current favs available for purchase. But, of course, if you want to DIY and create your own (inexpensively, I might add!), see how I made mine here.

For those apartment/condo dwellers, there's Tiny Terrain's Sweet Little Sugar Bowl Moss Terrarium.  How sweet is this little guy?!

For those seeking a beachy terrarium OR if you'd like to DIY your own, check out Sea and Aster's Sea Side Kit:

OR their Beach Kit:

If you are wanting something colorful, funky or modern, Wendiland has some fun (and affordable!) terrariums.  These would make great gifts!

And finally, for all of you big spenders, we have Anthropologie's Translucent Droplet Terrarium:  (Seriously, who would pay $1,450 for a glass terrarium!?!? And plants aren't even included!)

Indoor Terrarium

I was intrigued by an indoor terrarium that I saw in Real Simple this month. We live in a condo, so we don't have a garden or a yard. We've tried (several times) to add plants to our decor, however the whole "watering" thing always gets the best of us. And, I'm not usually a fan of fake flowers or plants. Indoor terrariums are supposed to be low maintenance (LOVE!) , so I decided to make my own this weekend. Oh, and I think this would make a fun summer activity to keep the kids entertained. :) Check out this website & this one too, for instructions!

What I used & where I bought it:

Jar (Michael's)

Stones (Michael's)

Activated Charcoal (Petsmart)

Potting Soil & Moss(Home Depot)

Sand (Michael's)

Plants (Home Depot)

Decorations (Michael's)

Step 1: Add stones or gravel

Step 2: Add layer of activated charcoal

Step 3: Add layer of moss


Step 4: Mix soil & sand together

Step 5: Add layer of soil/sand mixture

Step 6: Add plants, flowers, etc.

Step 7: Add decorations

Care Instructions:

Water lightly, every few weeks!

Put in bright light, but not direct sunlight.

Scenes From My Yard

I have total creative burnout.  

Well, that's not entirely accurate.

See, I'm not really "creating" anything lately.

No sewing.  No crafting.  No cute necklaces with vintage jewelry.

Which, btw, I get TONS of compliments every time I wear it so GO.MAKE.ONE.

All of my energy has been going into absorbing my new surroundings.

Like watching the family of bunnies that cohabitate with us and the neighbors.

And checking in every morning to see if my peony bush has bloomed yet.  Nope, couple more days maybe?

And wishing that somehow the snowblower would magically move itself into the garage from the spot where the movers put it.  

(Honey, if you are reading this....)

Admiring the girls "stepping stones" that we made at Garfield Conservatory out of plaster of paris and sequins. 

Relaxing and not worrying about the girls AND my dishes getting covered in mud.  It's being a kid, right?

Yuck.  That one had to go in the trash.  Oh well.

That one I hung onto for the baby's Cheerios.  NOT.

Anybody else in a creative funk OR are we really just expending our creative juices in a different way?

You be the judge.

Sometimes it's the easy things....

Do you ever wake up in the morning and wonder, "what the ?!*<@# am I going to do with the kids today? Okay, well, in a less perverse way anyway?  I do.  Especially since they've been out of school since the end of March (moving stinks) and camp hasn't started yet because the normal families are still in school.  

I took the girls to a tot hour at the Garfield Conservatory the other morning.  (We love that place.) 

I had this revelation while there that it really doesn't take that much to entertain these guys.  All it takes is a spray water bottle and some plants.......

Some dirt....

shovels, buckets and fake bugs (don't be afraid of a lil dirt peeps).....

So, my fair readers, do YOU have any EASY ways of keeping the kiddos entertained during summer that you'd like to share?  

Inspiration

from my garden.

i couldn't

pick

just one picture
to share.

can you blame me?

what inspires you?

someone suggested
that pictures of a three sister would be good
on our blog.
i tried.
i had some taken
of me
in my garden
but
i like the flowers better.


EEK!