Cardboard Princess Castle

Alex was starting to question my stash of cardboard rolls in the hall closet, so I did what any mother would do and went straight to Pinterest for some crafty inspiration so that the girls and I could put those babies to use. There were some really cool ideas like these binoculars, this Ring Toss Game and this super cute butterfly, but when I came across this carboard Castle and Loo Roll Men, I immediately pinned it and logged off -- my work was done here! You see, there comes a time in every little girl's life where they are utterly obsessed with princesses...

Normally, we do our arts and crafting during the week while Daddy is at work, but it was a particularly hot, humid and rainy Sunday last weekend, and Daddy had gotten caught up in a craft of his own.

McKenna and Kendall were over playing dress up and all movied out, so it was time to get this princess castle rolling.

Here's what you'll need:

Small cardboard box

4 paper towel rolls

4 toilet paper rolls

Masking tape

Felt

Scissors

Hot glue gun

Box cutter

Acrylic paint

Buttons, rhinestones, stickers, glitter, etc. to decorate

First, using a box cutter, VERY CAREFULLY carve out the crenellations on one end of all four of the paper towel rolls; these will be your turrets. Next, VERY CAREFULLY carve out the drawbridge, leaving the bottom intact. (Did I cut myself with the box cutter? No, why do you ask...) Using masking tape and the four toilet paper rolls, form the top tower. Then secure all of these pieces to the box with masking tape (turrets) and hot glue (top tower).

I couldn't get the paint out fast enough; the girls were ready to get to it!

Add glitter.

Some to the castle, too, if you like ;-)

Once the paint had dried, I cut out a semi-circle of felt and hot glued it to the top tower to form the pointed roof while the girls rummaged through the odds and ends in our crafts supplies for decoration. 

Ta-da!

We love you, Daddy!

The rain spoiled our plans to hit the beach this weekend for Father's Day, but we were just happy to have Daddy home with us as he's been traveling a lot for work lately.

English muffins were BOGO at Publix, so we had a pizza party!

It's the little things.

:-)

Hotlanta!

Last year, Alex and I traveled to Atlanta to see one of our favorite comedians, Louis C.K., perform at the Fox Theater. It was an early Valentine's Day gift to each other and a much-needed weekend getaway for mommy and daddy - our first trip without the kids!

Don't get me wrong, I missed the little boogers, but the freedom... was glorious.

Our first night there, we went to a trendy burger joint called The Vortex. Sooo many delicious gourmet burgers to choose from, an impressive booze menu, and... TATER TOT NACHOS. Like bar food, only better. Much better. *Wipes drool.* Afterwards, we ventured over to the Laughing Skull Lounge for a few giggles from the local comedy scene before heading back to the hotel to hit the sack. We were waking up bright and early the next day to visit the Georgia Aquarium!

It was such a beautiful experience; my first trip ever to an aquarium. The Beluga Whales were my favorite by far (bottom center) - so peaceful and elegant... I bought a Christmas ornament from the gift shop to bring home. We grabbed a quick bite at The [famous] Varsity on our way back to the hotel to relax a little before getting ready for our big night with Louis.

"If you're divorced, or middle-aged, or afraid to talk to women, or overwhelmed by parenthood, or otherwise quietly desperate... he is laughing with you and at you." Joel Lovell described Louis perfectly in an article in GQ that I randomly picked up at a recent trip to the doctor's office. His raw sense of humor has you nodding in agreement and clutching your sides the entire time from laughing so much. The show did not disappoint!

Before heading home the following morning, we stopped by West Egg Cafe for brunch. I had some sort of egg-and-potato-dish that was nothing to write home about, but the coffee... Ohhh, the coffee was the best coffee that a coffee lover could ever dream of.

Lavender. White. Mocha. Mmmmm, I bought another for the road on our way out.

It was a really great weekend. Three whole days of uninterrupted quality time with the Mr., waking up on our own accord, hanging up the diaper bag for a real purse, dressing up, letting my hair down... I think we're overdue for another weekend getaway, Mr. Murphy!

Let's reminisce about the last trip you took... pictures please!