The Countdown is On.

  

Until the final Viefhaus sister ties the knot.

Just 48 days until these lovebirds get married.

I cannot wait.
But, I really have to, because there is still so much left to do…

Here is the flower girl inspiration.
My girls all have their cowgirl boots and the most adorable sweater dresses.
Now, I just need to make their flower headbands.
(You all know I have already recruited Erin to assist me in this quest.)

 
My hair inspiration is the girl on the far right. 
Yay or Nay?

I just purchased these cute shoes to wear with my flowy green gown on the big day.

And, I will say, the search for shoes was my least favorite so far.
Wearing a 10.5/11 is always a challenge, which I’m well aware,  but I was so stunned to see that all the search results for size 11 were for men who liked to dress as women.  Weird. 
If I may, I’d like to remind the shoe industry that real women wear size 11 too.

As Maggie and Austin’s wedding inches closer and closer, everything will work out.
The to-do list items will get checked off.
It will be a perfect day.

However, the most important question is, will Maggie and Austin conduct a better “train” at their reception than Steve and I did circa 2002?

Only time will tell, but I seriously doubt it.

Happy Monday!

three little red Valentine’s Day dresses {a sneak peek}

I made my girls some fun and festive dresses for a Valentine’s Day party at my husband’s parent’s house this past weekend.
It was a sea of red. 

Mia, like I have mentioned is six and a half now and is so over skirts, dresses and most hair accessories these days.  She was a bit skeptical of wearing a dress for the big party. However, when she paired it with some skinny jeans and her new favorite boots from Aunt Adie, she gave it two thumbs up. 
I was relieved, because there’s nothing like taking the time to sew up something fun for her to wear, and then her vetoing it in the end. 
Have I mentioned how excited I am for the teenage years?

Here is a glimpse at a series of the sea of red as we were about to walk out the door…

 

I had to throw in this one to remind myself of the long photogenic lacking journey I’ve taken with Gracie.

Mia, striking a pose.

 

Sophie was so excited to wear her Dorothy shoes for this red-filled occasion.


 
Proof of a very improved photo-posing Gracie.
Duckie, her flower necklace, lips purse and all.
(Proof of her hoarding problem.)

And here is a shot of all the cousins at Nana and Papa’s house. 
(The only part of Maddie you can see is her boppers from behind the table!)
I must say, after looking at this picture again, I couldn’t help but sigh and mumble to myself, “Poor Ethan.”

Are you ready for Valentine’s Day?!

snow full of craft

When life gives you snow, and you are trapped inside for a few day, what should you do?
Make things!
Yesterday during nap I came across this cute idea and knew I had to make one. 

I can’t tell you how frustrating it is when someone comes along mid-afternoon, right smack during nap time (for eight kids mind you!) and DING DONG!  
Our two black labs bark like crazy and I want to cry. 
Don’t people know how precious nap time is for my sanity, workout and craft time?  Apparently they do not. 

So let’s see if this helps the sitch here at Haus of Girls…

My version. 
A friendlier way of saying, “If you DARE ring my door bell you will have one raging mad Momma answering the door.”
 

Sometimes I wish I never had a door bell installed whenever we were building our home.  That’s how annoying it is.

But since I don’t have a time machine and there is the occasional time I can’t hear atomic bomb, much less a knock at the door when I’m in my basement/playroom/workout room/sewing room, it will just have to stay put.

Now onto my next snow day project. 
Three Valentine’s Day dresses for three little girls to wear to Nana and Papa’s Valentine’s Day party tomorrow. 
It’s really February friends?

Thank your for all the sweet comments yesterday, by the way.  Most of the time I feel this blog is an alternative way of communicating with myself.  I talk-type to myself and document all that’s happening at Haus of Girls, not knowing who is even reading along with me.
So it’s nice to hear from others who are indeed stopping by and reading as well. 

Your input and responses, in a way, make me feel a bit less of a “talking to myself” kind of girl at home all day with eight silly kids. 
Adult reinforcement and encouraging words are always appreciated, as children don’t always have the vocabulary or desire to articulate, “keep up the good work!  You are doing a great job!”  

So thank you to all who stop by Haus of Girls to check in on me!

Have a fantastic (more snow’s a comin’) Super Bowl weekend!
Who is making this?
Or this?
Or both?
You know I am!

What I Whipped Up Wednesday- Life is Beautiful

 

My friend Kimmie has been doing a fun “What I whipped up Wednesday” post on her blog, Sugar and Dots, for awhile now.  
I am finally joining in on the fun and showing some of the things that I whip up on a weekly basis. 
It’s amazing the creativity that flows when you are stuck inside for six days straight due to snow!

Luckily, after somewhat mastering a daily routine with eight kids (ages 10 months, 2, 2, 2, 2.5, 4, 4 & 4) I am able to get them all to sleep at the same time for two hours each day.
Pure awesomeness. 
Awesomeness that gives me plenty of crafty time as well as getting-back-in-shape time after taking two months off due to all the winter diseases Haus of Girls has endured. 

What I whipped up the other day, after being inspired by a fantastic wall of photos in, none other than, Kimmie’s very own home, is a vinyl cut out of “Life is Beautiful.”
I just love this phrase and had to find somewhere to incorporate this in my own home.

 

Here is Kimmie’s adorable wall, that inspired me.

 

And here is my version in our front sitting/computer room.

I already had all the photos, plate and other fun decor hanging up, but by simply adding a little phrase at the top, it has made it even more personalized.

I love this little reminder, right next to all my favorite photos, that life is truly so beautiful and that I am blessed to have so much love, joy and richness in my life. 

My next project? The phrase ”It’s a Wonderful Life.”
One of my favorite movies of all time.  I just need to figure out which wall to put this on. 
Then I think I will make some silhouettes of the girls for their bedrooms.

Look out What I whipped up Wednesday, I am on a snow day crafty binge!
Hope you’ll follow along with Kimmie and her What I whipped Up Wednesday fun as well!

Happy whipping up Wednesday!

Random Randomness

What do you get….

when you mix these three crazy girls…..

with some post-Christmas decorating celebratory Junior Mints?

A sweet princess jammy wearing Russian hockey player.
Duh.

We are back in full swing here at Haus of Girls after a very long, yet much needed, Thanksgiving break.

I did lots o’ sewing for my first craft fair coming up this Saturday….

and also just for fun…..

I made Sophie some fun ruffle leggings….

and a gift for a friend’s sister’s new baby.

And I was even also able to finish, after finally narrowing down some cute fabric and receiving the cuteness in the mail, my girls’ three Christmas dresses.
Just in time for Santa’s visit next Saturday!

I may or may not have gotten breakfast in bed on Thanksgiving morning.

I don’t know who was more excited, me or these two.

We decorated, like I mentioned above, but Gracie also became an even more intense hoarder with a few new items.
Can you say “cow hat?”
It’s really a Dalmatian print, but she thinks it’s cow.
I am not correcting her anytime soon.

The tree all a glow.

We also fit in a road trip to my sister Haley’s house on Saturday to celebrate her husband’s father Frank’s 70th birthday!
It was a fun night filled with cakebread and cake.

December begins in just two days.
My favorite time of year is upon us.
Let the memory making fun begin……

Zebra Wings

It's a Zoo around here.

Zebra Wings and all.

Sophie had a fun day with Daddy at her preschool field
trip where they spent the day with farm animals!

So of course she had to dress the part
and wear her cowGIRL boots,
Horses on her skirt,
and some Zebra wings on her tank.

(I saw this fun tutorial on my friend
Julie's blog. She found it here!)



Amazing what joy a few Zebra wings
will bring to a four year old's life.

Turq {oise} du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil, as many of you know,

means "Circus of the Sun"

However, my post today titled Turq du Soleil

translates to "Turquoise of the Sun."'

This really makes no sense.
But do I care?
Heck no.

I think it's catchy.

I found a fun shade of turq when I decided to make Julie,

a blog friend fave, this necklace for her birthday last December.

The spray paint is called Blue Ocean Breeze & now

I always keep it in stock.

Last Saturday I decided to put it to use after getting a few random

household items from a neighbor who was moving out of town.

Random household items + turq spray paint =

Super Saturday fun!

Who spray paints their utensil holder? I do!

A fun pop of color on the fridge.




Love.


More turq on the entertainment center in my living room.



This is going to look so cute with my new curtains I am working on.

My fave of the day.

This table was ivory with a few painted kelly green flowers.
The turq did me proud.

So what are YOU waiting for?
Grab yourself some spray paint & add a little color in your life.