Bus Driver & Aide Gifts (with printable!)

My son started his first year of pre-school this year (super late, but that's a different story.) And almost everyone in his class takes his bus and for the first 2 days I did his pick-up/drop-offs he was SO sad he couldn't get on the bus! So he started taking the bus & his thrill and excitement did NOT dwindle, friends! He could not get on that bus fast enough.

I cried his first day of school, and so of course I was anxious about sending him on a bus all. by. himself. But thankfully he had 2 amazingly sweet & kind drivers and equally wonderful aides that kept me as ease.  So on the last day of school I gave them each a special treat!

This free printable is available below, and has 2 "driver" and 2 "aide"s on each paper.  Before I cut them out,  I had my son write his name on each and then took a little water color to splatter them. I cut them, attached with glitter tape and tied with baker's twine. 

They were so appreciative for them and it made me so happy to give them just something little to show my appreciation for making the process so easy on my momma-heart!

PSST! If you want to see the end-of-the-year treats I did for 2016, go HERE.

Arizona bloggers are pretty awesome.

Last week I got to go and paint tea towels at Anthropologie with Lexy of Proper blog. Doesn't that whole sentence just sound like perfection?! Don't worry....it totally was. It was so small & intimate, beautifully styled and Lexy is a dream & so friendly! 

(above photos: source // photographer)

I'm so glad Anthro did this for Mother's day and Lexy made it so awesome! I'm so lucky to live in a state full of awesomely talented bloggers.

Friday Favorites: Kids Books

We (okay, mostly me) picked out our top 4 favorite books right now. My son will be 4 in July and has always loved books & I've loved buying "big kid books".

But they are so expensive! Can I get an amen?! So I often do 2 different things: 1. Ask for them for him for Christmas/Birthday. 2. Find them at a thrift store. I'm always amazed at some of the books I've found there that are new or practically new!
So let's start with 2 Dr Seuss classics...

 "Oh, the Places You'll Go" has always been popular & well-quoted especially for graduations.  I love it's encouragement, but also it's message that sometime, things WON'T go our way and when they don't, we have to push through them and keep working hard.

The second is a Seuss book that's maybe a little lesser-known but equally as good. 

"Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?" focuses on other character's poor circumstances to remind us that our life is pretty grand and we should never take our situations for granted, because there are others who have it harder.

Not a "classic", (yet) but we're loving "Press Here" by Herve Tullet.

My sister-in-law introduced us to this book & while it doesn't have a "message" it's so interactive and entertaining! Plenty of giggles and excitement always ensue when we read this book together.

Last but not least, is a book I consider a classic because I read it growing up as a child and I was SO excited when my son got it a few years ago and I'm even more excited that he is obsessed with it.

"Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" by Bill Martin Jr & John Archambault is all about the alphabet & goes through the whole thing twice, presenting plenty of opportunity for kids to see the letters.

And our favorite part? On either side of the book is the whole alphabet and my son has loved matching his set of letters to the book! 

 Those are our TOP 4 current favorite books! There are plenty more we have in rotation, but at least on of these is always picked in our bedtime reading session.

Happy Belated Mother's Day!

I hope everyone had a lovely Mother's Day, whether you are a Mother or not I hope you had a relaxing weekend!

(photo via instagram: @katiecarranza)

I had a great morning & then the car battery was dead right as I was loading stuff up to head to church. And then later that night as I put my son to bed, he woke up with vomit all over his bed & I got to spend the majority of my night doing that over & over again. It was a Mother's Day I'll never forget! And not in a good way! ha!
BUT I was in charge of doing some decorations for our church's luncheon for women on Sunday. So I real quick wanted to share a few shots of the decor I did.

I made that giant flowing book-page sign and I was in LOVE. And one day I'll take some good pictures for a tutorial, rather than shots I took on my phone on a raining day.  Petite Party Studio is my newest addiction in party supply, and I'm lucky enough to have them a few minutes away. The fringe & small honeycomb balls are from them. 

I also whipped out this "tablecloth", which I am excited to use over and over again.  I put it in quotes, because it's just a simple piece of muslin that I painted words onto with watered down black paint.

Also, follow me on snapchat (which for some reason is suddenly becoming popular with bloggers?), but I often share some fun stuff (creative and personal). My name is katiecarranza.

Happy Monday!

Cinco de Mayo Decorations

My last name is Carranza so obviously it'd be a shame if I didn't get some full on Cinco de Mayo festive decorations happening....and not a day too soon! 

Pinata Frame

Easter's over and the next major holiday is....Independence Day? That means I need to start remembering what my "normal" home decor is...luckily there IS Cinco de Mayo as another excuse to have some holiday decor! And this pinata frame will do just that...my only regret is not making it GIGANTIC!! So start by gathering your supplies:

Cut your tissue paper or crepe paper (streamers are also a great alternative) into 1 inch stripes then fringe them, either with fringe scissors or using regular scissors.

I opted to 2 layers of tissue paper for each "row".  So start by putting a very thin layer of white glue down on the frame. A little goes a long way- you don't want your paper soaked. Then gently add more glue on top of the paper and layer the second strip of the same color on top.

Once you've filled up the frame, it'll look like an overgrown shaggy pinata.  Let it dry completely.

Working from the back to better see the frame, give it a trim all the way around & inside.

Fill that frame with an appropriate print, like the one I that one shared a few days ago (here), and all your need is some tacos and margaritas! Happy Fiesta-ing!

Toddlers are HARD

Believe it or not, I actually had a completely different post written and scheduled to post today.
But I just finished ugly crying while trying to get Clayton (my 3 1/2 year old) to sleep.  I wasn't crying because getting him to sleep is hard....at least not any more. But Sundays have suddenly become that day of the week I dread. And I hate that. Sundays were so relaxing, full of spiritual uplift at church, finally having a child old enough to be entertained during sacrament meeting and obsessed with nursery. That all changed this year.

I don't frequently talk about my church on this blog, but those who have been "long-time readers" or instagram followers, will know that I am LDS or Mormon.  If you're unfamiliar with my religion, I encourage you to ask me questions or go: here.
At the beginning of this year I was pulled from being a teacher in the Relief Society to teaching Nursery, to teaching the 4 year-olds. Quite a big jump, and I honestly had to humble myself immensely to really enjoy and love teaching the little class of 4 year olds.
Also at the beginning of the year, Clayton was old enough to move from Nursery into his "big boy class" in Primary. And this is the thing that brings the anxiety to me every. single. sunday.
Clayton is very active and not used to sitting still, and as a toddler has a hard time just sitting and listening to someone teach without actively engaging him. The past few days I bribed him with a new Thomas the Train toy IF he behaved and stayed in his chair during Primary. I repeated this promise to him so many times it made my head spin. I tried this tactic because so many others haven't worked. (Serious talks, practicing at home, reminding all week, taking "rewards" away...)

We went into Primary I sat him in his class RIGHT in front of my class and he already lost it. He begged for his snack. Then he turned around and sat on his knees while eating his snack, he whined loudly, he sprawled across the chair next to him, he fell on the floor to whine. While we and his teachers are kindly talking to him to get him to sit on his bum. We took him out twice and on the second time he made his way outside with his dad I had to hold back tears.
"Is the the reason I got put in this calling, as punishment?"
"Why can't he just sit still for 15 minutes?"
"He behaves so well during Sacrament meeting!"
"Do they think I'm an awful parent?"
"What can I do to help him?"
"WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?!"

Guys, toddlers are hard. I'm at my wit's end. As I laid him to bed tonight and he sweetly asked me for a cuddling, the emotions from earlier today rose up and I sobbed in the dark. Parenting is an absolute roller-coaster ride...feelings of such complete happiness with nights of feeling like the worst mother ever.
So I come to you. Please, I beg of you, give me some tips, tricks, advice! Thank you. And from the bottom of my crazy toddler-mother heart, thank you to Sunbeam teachers everywhere.