Photos galore

I have been looking for a way to merge my iPhone and Instagram pictures in with the regular photos I take of the girls or our life. This is something I was on top of when I first had Giada, now not so much! It's pathetic that I haven't even printed any pictures for Nicolette and I only have Giada's first year in albums. So as the days and months pass by I'm feeling extremely intimidated to now take on I the project. That's two children's photos for TWO years.....I'm sweating thinking about it. 

One thing I love about Instagram is that you are able to find all sorts of small business owners that run predominantly through IG. Two weeks ago I stumbled upon Chatbooks. My prayers were answered!  One problem I was having with my Instagram photos was when you save them to your camera roll they save square. And when you print them sometimes they don't come out centered and the print is ruined. Doesn't make for a happy Mama Scala. 

Back to Chatbooks....it's an app that takes your IG pictures and put them in a book with your original comments, hashtags and even emojis!! #winning. So you pretty much are turning your Instagram photos into a book. The photos print 60 per book. So I needed 7 and have half of my eighth. I know what you're thinking.....tons of photos!!

You are able to name the series, Casa della Scala was only fitting!  You also have the ability to choose your cover photo and remove pictures you don't want printed. And they put the date on each photo!!  I fell in love. The app is extremely user friendly. I literally had my seven volumes ready for print in less than an hour.  And if you don't want print your whole series there is an option to make a custom book. I swear these people were in my head before they created Chatbooks. 

If you don't have an iPhone, no sweat! Chatbooks is working on an app for android. 

The paper quality is great. Just like any other custom book you would make on a competitor site.  See those cuties!!

Go download the app.....oh yeah it's free!!  This is the best kept secret around these days!! 

Ima get me some gator!

This weekend we took the girls to the Everglades to see some gators and take an airboat ride. This was Daddy's surprise and we had a blast!

We live quite close to the Everglades and I've never been before. And I do like to watch Swamp People.....I was channeling my inner gator girl ;) Everglades Holiday Park is a cute little spot. They offer airboat rides, gator shows and a little spot to roam around and see peacocks. 

This is also the park where the Gator Boys handle gators they capture. Unfortunately, we didn't see them. Maybe next time......

Giada the Gator Girl......or you can just call her triple G!

Junior gator girl?

And then we have this fool!!

First we went on the airboat ride. That was mostly why we went there. I have been wanting to go on one for a LONG time. 

It was an hour long and we really learned some interesting facts about the Everglades, wildlife and plant life. 

The girls really enjoyed the ride. Nicolette only got a little restless once and it was to take off the life jacket, which I don't blame her her. That thing was pretty nasty!

Observing.....

This is Vulture Island. They entire thing is full of hundreds of vultures. Cool yet super creepy. 

The ride was quite relaxing and peaceful. All while I was waiting to see me some gator!

And there he was! This guy's name is Tripod. Strange I know, it's because he only has three legs!! Say what!

I see you watching me. No snacks over here Tripod. 

Nicolette loved when they went fast! So did mommy for the breeze. 

So did Giada, just not the noise!

That's one awesome daddy right there. Always so patient and teaching the girls new things. 

After the boat ride we waited for the gator show. So of course the girls wanted a gator balloon animal. When in Rome. 

Rawwwwrrr!!!

Nicolette was a little hungry. She wanted some gator bites. 

These guys are in the gator pen for the show. They are nuisance gators that were rescued from canals, backyards and even private pools!  They are not safe to go back into the wild so they live at the park. 

This was Giada's favorite part. She has been taming her souvenir alligator since we got home. Hence her new nickname, Triple G. 

This was a fun and different outing for the day. If you are ever in Ft. Lauderdale hop on over there for a visit with a gator or two!

A day of firsts

Today was the first day of school for my little ladies!

We had two firsts going on. Nicolette's first day of school and Giada's first day of being the big sister at school!

Today started with their usual morning breakfast together.

Then it was picture time! I have to make sure I capture every moment with them because they are growing up way too fast!!

Their excited faces look like we are headed to Disney. Nope just school ;) hopefully they continue to be this excited for school as they get older!

They would barely stand still once they had their bags. 

I was dreading one or both of them freaking out and crying hysterically. My money was on Nicolette.  Let's just say I'm glad it was pretend money. 

We dropped Giada off first. She was a little shy at first but after about a minute or two she was playing and having fun. Off we were to drop off Nicolette. She ran to her classroom from Giada's. That should have been the first sign I was wrong putting my money on her.  She ran into the room and gave her teacher a big hug!

So a little back story. Nicolette's teacher was also Giada's teacher last year. So Nicolette was very comfortable around her and couldn't wait until it was her turn to stay. And today was the day. She kissed me goodbye and never turned back. 

I was having mixed emotions. She's my baby! And this is her first day of school and she didn't cry for me. I'm happy and sad all at the same time! But also relieved that she had such an amazing transition. 

I went back to peek in on Giada, the school has "spy rooms", and she was her usual social self. 

So here I was......the one teary eyed. I wonder if the girls had bets on Mommy?!  This is a great time for all of us. The girls get to flourish and blossom and this is time for me to get things accomplished around the house or on my list of to dos. This way when we are together all of my time will be on them and what we are doing not them and household things. I do not plan on going back to work. Their time at school is very short and they are still my main focus and "job".  I am extremely blessed to be able to stay home with them, so I am currently living in the present with my girls and husband. 

In a nutshell today was an amazing day and I'm so happy the girls were happy!  Hopefully Wednesday will be like today, fingers crossed. 

If at first you don't succeed, try again!

Hey it's me! I'm still here. Last week was my last week enjoying the girls so that's what I did :)

In the midst of enjoying them I was also dealing with a curtain fiasco in Giada's room. I know fiasco is a bit dramatic, but when your child is complaining about the sun in her room in the morning and getting up at 6am......it's a fiasco. 

I had plans to get new curtains anyways. It just happened much faster than I thought it would be. And I still hadn't found any I liked! Ahhhh!!  Sure I found tons of cute sheers, but no black out drapes. It is much harder to find black outs than I thought. Then I realized I had not checked out Pottery Barn Kids. And then score! I found these ruffle trim blackouts that I loved because they were simply chic yet girlie with the ruffle trim. 

Of course I couldn't wait for them via snail mail, so I sent my darling hubby for them. I know what you are thinking.....why didn't I get them? Well the only two Pottery Barn Kids around are each an hour away in opposite directions. And Chris just happens to have some work by one of them! See I'm not mean ;). I couldn't wait for him to get home so I could iron those bad boys and get them up. Honestly I could not handle Giada waking at 6am one......more......time!

So here is her room before. 

And here is her room after I ironed TWO of those huge drapes. 

I hated it. Nothing about them I liked. Oh and when I pulled them shut, you know the reason for me getting them, oohhhhh emmmm G! It looked like I went to walmart, purchased the plainest white sheet and hung them. Ummmm not a cute look, neither was the one I had on my face!

Here's another just in case you were still on the love/hate fence. Then it made sense to me why on the website the only photo they had was one of the drapes drawn back. I should have known!

So back to the drawing board it was for me. And I obviously needed to return these things. So the next day my mom and I hopped in the car and headed to the other Pottery Barn Kids to scope out their options in PERSON this time!

I know why I steer clear of going to these stores. I wanted everything! 

Back to the drapes. After liking a few and imagining them in her room I fell in love with these trellis design blackouts, in lavender of course. I got home, ironed them and got them hung. 

And here they are.......

What a difference!!! I love it and couldn't be happier. They help to tie the lavender together in her room, but are still delicate and girlie looking. Oh and I love them pulled drawn shut also. This picture is with the lights on. 

And off. Oh and see anything else different?  Yep, I moved the little storage bench from under her window to the foot of the bed. Now there is so much room on the other side of her bed also. And the bench really finishes off the foot of the bed. 

Today is the first day of school, so I will now be crying my eyes out. Literally.......

Little Princess Spa

So in preparation for school to start I thought it would be a good idea for the girls to get a trim. I love their long growing hair, so a trim it was! I think a cut before school starts will be a good tradition for the girls. 

I was excited because this was Nicolette's first haircut! Her hair has really started to get long and thicker. It was time for a trim to even out her ends. And I hoped it would make her curls even curlier, and it did!! The stylist gave me her little baby lock to bring home. I'm not the only one who does that right?! And now it is tucked away in her baby book. 

We went to the cutest little girls spa. I found them on Facebook and began following them. The place was so cute I thought it would be a fun idea for a little date with my ladies!

Giada went first. She was nervous it was going to hurt. Which is understandable since her last cut was almost two years ago!

The stylist was super nice to the girls and made them feel very comfortable. 

Nicolette was running around waiting for her turn. And did a little modeling on the catwalk too! Since we were the only ones there she was able to do whatever she wanted, one of her favorite past times ;)

At three and half Giada already has the hang of being at the salon, she was sooooo chatty!

At the end of her cut she got a braid and some pink glitter. True princess style!  See the mischievous photo bomber in the background!? 

Strike a pose!

When it came Nicolette's turn she hopped right into the chair and sat SO still. Like she is a natural. 

Such a proper little lady with her hands on her knees. She sat this way the whole time!

Giada decided to lay down for a massage while she waited for her sister. The spa offers manicures, pedicures, hair and massages! And is so dainty!!

She also got a little braid with some pink glitter. Of which I am STILL trying to get out of her hair!!  We won't be doing that again!

"Look at me Mommy!"

And this was the highlight of their visit. They were so excited they couldn't even look at me. I took about 15 pictures with the princess fairy. 

They are pretty much ready to start school next week!