Dressing up some shirts

I made this one for B and it looks so cute on her!

I found different tutorials on different blogs a few months ago on making fabric flowers and ruffles to put on shirts. Here are some that I did and I must say they were for the most part pretty easy. Time consuming because it was my first time, but doable. I just took a plain t-shirt, then took fabric (I used knit for the flowers so they wouldn't fray) cut out flower shapes (2 layers for the roses and about 4 for the other flowers) then pinched them together, stitched them to keep in place then sewed on where I wanted them. For the ruffle I took the material, cut a long strip (at least twice what you need) fold in half, sew closed, turn inside out, sew zigzag stitch over knitting thread down the middle then pulled out to ruffle (I don't sew and don't know how to explain this at all). Then pinned on shirt and sewed it on. I will try and find the blogs that had them because they had step by step instructions, plus they deserve the credit.

Mini Kisses

I found this on a blog somewhere and thought it was such a cute idea. You wrap chocolate chips in foil with a little strip of white tissue paper sticking out. So easy and ours turned out great. We made these little bags for teachers at church for Valentine's day. -Hopefully you can see the kisses in the bags, it's the only pic I took of them.

Stain-glass Hearts

Boston and I made these stain-glass hearts the other day. Actually, I don't really know what to call them so I made that whole stain-glass thing up. :) They are super easy! Here's what you need:

Contact Paper

Tissue Paper - precut into little pieces

String - to hang it up

Lay out a piece of contact paper sticky side up. Have the kids stick the tissue paper onto the contact paper. *important info - make sure that it's only one layer of tissue paper. I usually shake it off and pull off the extra paper on the chunky spots* Then place another piece of contact paper on top, sticky side down. Cut out your heart, punch a hole, and hang it near a window so you can see how pretty it is when the sun shines through! :)

Heart Crayons

The kids and I made these heart crayons out of some broken crayons we had. They were really easy to make and they turned out cute! Give them a try! Here
is where you can find these.

Choo-choose cupcake

For Malia's Joyschool Valentine Party I made these cupcakes. Or at least I tried :) I got the idea here.

Furniture Uplift

We have been working hard on re-doing our table and chairs. My friend Carley gave me these chairs right after I got divorced (wasn't that sooo nice?!). The table is that round one that Jaime had, then she gave it to Kacie who then finally gave it to me. ;) We decided that they needed an uplift. After a lot of blood, sweat, and tears - well more like a lot of striping, sanding, and painting - we can finally enjoy our beautiful dining table and chairs! Here are some pictures to document the process:

The chairs looked like this:

Then we sanded them and they looked like this - actually, this one isn't sanded! I guess we didn't document too well. This one just has the seat removed :)

Then we painted them and re-covered the seats with some fabric I had:

Then we painted the table... ta-da! (we also covered the seats with some plastic - I don't know how long it's going to last, but at least it will protect them right now)

Here is our centerpiece I put together tonight - a tray that I had, plus some candles and shells!

*Disclaimer: I put that little wandering shell back into the tray... I didn't notice it was there when I took the pictures. :)

Valentine Window Art

This is a quick, easy, and fun art project. All you need is 3D craft paint, Parchment paper (you could also use wax paper or freezer paper), and some happy helpers.Using the paint, make some shapes onto the paper.

We chose hearts in honor of V -day. Let them dry, then peel off the paper and stick them on your window for all to see! (puffy side on the window)

Sooo easy. I forgot to take a pic with them on the window, so you'll just have to try it yourself!

(I got the idea from my friend Megan)

Get Your Craft On!

That's right, ladies, get your craft on! It's about time we share our ideas/projects with each other, and what better place than our blog?! We are all creative and we have so much we can learn from one another. I know many of you have great ideas of crafts you do with your kids that I would LOVE to do with mine. Not only kid crafts, but why not ones we make for fun?! And not just crafts, but other hobbies as well. I mean, Shayne's an amazing decorator - I would love to get some tips from her! Kenna makes awesome stamps - how fun is that?! Not to mention all the great kids crafts she knows how to make, Kacie is always coming up with cute activities for her kids, Jaime makes fun crafts - I love that she made an ordinary shirt sassy with some fabric flowers (I would love to see where you got the idea!), Ronni is just amazing with all her talents, and Kelby has great ideas too. I mean seriously - with seven of us, we can come up with some great things! So - POST! Share your fun ideas, crafts, decorating tips, whatever you want. (Can you tell I'm pumped about this?!) If you got your idea from a great site - acknowledge it so we know where you got it! Let's GET OUR CRAFT ON! :)

So, since I'm so pumped about it - I'll go first. The most recent thing I have made was a little tutu for Josie. There are so many different ways you can make tutu's - this one just happens to be my favorite one. It's so simple to make.

All I did was measured how long I wanted it to be on Josie, then I took 2 yards of 2 different colors (usually I use 3) of tulle, cut them to the desired length (I make each layer a little shorter than the one underneath) and sewed them together. Then I took 2 1/2 inch ribbon, pinned it across and made a casing out if it. Once I sewed that on, I put elastic through it with the help of a safety pin, and then sewed it together. I then made a little bow to put in the back. It's so fun to embellish these tutu's with bows, gems, buttons, etc. You can do anything. I just decided to leave this one simple and plain. I got the great idea from my friend who had made one for Lydia a while ago.

So simple, cute, and fun! It sounds more difficult than it really is. I can't wait to see all of your ideas!

I wanna be FrEsH

This is random, but I thought that I'd pass it along.

Since it is Summer and everyone sweats, I thought that I would let you all know what my favorite deodorant is! I don't know about you guys, but I feel like I have tried countless deodorants trying to find the one that I really truly like.

I don't know if it was the climate change or what, but in the beginning when I moved back home I would sweat like crazy!! And I mean crazy! I would have sweat on my neck, my face, and it would even drip down my "wanna-be" cleavage, etc. I was just sweaty! I always felt like my deodorant did an 'ok' job but I noticed that when I started to sweat I would smell a really strong deodorant smell- whatever 'flavor' of deodorant I had on. I already knew that I hated the Dove brand- I hate the smells throughout the day- so I started trying the Secret brand (I had heard some really good things).

Through trial and error... I have finally found a deodorant that I LOVE! Here she is:



This deodorant is amazing! It doesn't have a strong smell and when I start to sweat, I don't smell anything!! That's right ladies, I don't smell a thing! I'm super fresh and smell oh so delicious! :) You should try it too!

The Shopping Cart

OK, I know this is completely ridiculous and silly, but it drives me CRAZY when I'm shopping and people take up the whole isle.  I mean when they park their cart on one side of the isle as they are shopping for an item on the opposite side of the isle, thus blocking the whole isle altogether.  I know people are thinking they're being polite by moving their cart out of the way and placing it to the side so people can get by, but because they are looking for something on the opposite side their cart is on they are blocking the whole isle!  Am I making any sense?  I am not immune to this action, I have caught myself doing the same thing and then I quickly will put the cart in front of me on the side I am on as I browse the shelf so that people can pass me on the opposite side. Just notice the next time you're at the store how many people do this.  And please, stop the madness and keep your cart and yourself on the same side.  I might just be shopping in the same store at the same time and you'll be making my day!

And to make me feel better about this crazy ranting, let me hear your ridiculous pet peeves.

Happiness

So I've been thinking a lot about happiness lately.  I live in an area with beautiful weather, where jobs are still good, and where no one I know can not provide the necessities of life (and more) for their families.  Yet there is still discontent, unhappiness, a wanting for more of something or another.  Listening to friends and other people talk about their discontent with one aspect of life or another has caused me to reflect on my life, things that maybe aren't perfect or cause me unhappiness.  While thinking about this I realized (or have had to re-realize which happens from time to time) that happiness is a state of being, an inner way of feeling, not something that can be achieved through acquiring things, your surroundings or other outside influences.  Sure such things can add to or take away from a feeling of happiness, but true happiness is only found within.  You can have everything you've ever wanted in life and more and be completely unhappy.  Just as you can have nothing and be truly happy.  I realize this information isn't something we don't already know, but sometimes I need a reminder.  Happiness truly is found within.

Raising the Future Generation

I'm not being selfish. I like to think of it as being AMBITIOUS.

What about you?


And what do you think of the Octomom controversy?

"Bloggernacle"

Saw this article "Birth of the Bloggernacle"  thought you might like to read.  

Secrets

A secret can be a very powerful thing.  Amazingly powerful.  I just finished reading a book -Drowning Ruth- and there was one secret that over time effected many different lives.  As I finished reading I couldn't help but think of the power of a secret.  How sometimes something we feel should be kept a secret at the time maybe really shouldn't be.  If we could see the lasting effects of that secret we just might feel differently about how much we want it to remain hidden so no one will ever know.  

I also know some things are better left a secret, some things don't need to be shared.  But what about the secrets that involve other people's lives, secrets that only by being kept don't require change, admission, truth.  

What secrets do you keep?

Treat board

Here's a little part of a treat board I made.  -Sorry the picture isn't better, and I took it after and these were the last two treats left.  There were about 30 treats on the board.  I got a foam poster board, covered it with wrapping paper (you can also cover it with fabric or scrapbook paper), I got treat bags at Michaels.  I put a treat inside, folded it over and stapled the bag, then took a piece of paper covered the top flap, punched two holes and put a ribbon through.  You can attach them to the board with double sided tape (it did take off some of the paper when people were pulling them off) or pin them on.  It was actually pretty easy to put together- especially if you have help (thanks Mom).  You can have it near the door to thank guests for coming to a party or get together.  You can even put a little sign on the board saying "Take a treat"  -You can fill the bags with any kind of goodies you want.  It worked out perfect as a little thank you for our event.  Just thought I'd share!  -I got the idea from a couple different blogs. 

Save the Date: February 15

Season 14

CBS

Commercials

What is the deal with commercials these days?  I mean is anything fair game?!!!  We were recently watching the College BCS championship football game when it was on and I swear the first two sets of commercials were for horror movies coming out.  This is at like 5:30 in the evening, kids are around, and watching, after all it is an exciting game to watch.  I didn't think I'd be giving them nightmares by letting them watch a football game!  And have you seen the horror trailers?  They are not mellow, and the music and screaming instantly make the kids look at the TV.  Whatever happened to filtering the content of such things during the hours children are watching?  And sure football isn't a children's show, but it's a family show.  All I have to say is thank you to DVR, for the ability to pause the game for a bit and then we can fast forward through all commercials.  This isn't even covering the commercials advertising underwear and erectile dysfunction- can't wait for the kids to ask me what that means.  

The Sippy Cup

As I was out and about the other day, my little guy wanted a drink and I was checking to see if I'd brought his sippy cup when a thought came to mind.  Don't those coffee cups that adults carry around remind you of sippy cups?  They are cups with lids designed to keep the liquid contents from spilling and have a small specific spot to drink out of.  -Very similar to the sippy cup I just handed to my child.  I can just imagine the person who thought of the idea- it probably hit them when they were filling their kids sippy cup up one morning and a light bulb when on.  It had to be designed to look sophisticated, nothing like the plastic cups they give their children or it would never be accepted as something cool enough to carry around.  And so the adult sippy was born.  And now, I will never be able to look at those cups the same way again.

After Midnight

OK, what's the deal with children and sickness after midnight?!! I mean, why is it that the middle of the night is when an illness likes to make itself known? Can't it wait until morning? -When Dr.'s offices are open, stores and pharmacies? When we as parents are most competent, aware and able to do our best caring? Seriously, what's the deal? I never know if my child has an ear infection until the middle of the night when they wake up screaming in pain. And this is always the time the stomach flu hits with a vengeance. It is so sad to see their tired sweet little bodies so sleepy and yet so uncomfortable; when they have to be woken up, put in the bath and then back in bed just to throw up all over again. I don't think I'll ever understand it. The next day, there's all the laundry to do, beds to remake for the tenth time, and a sick little child that just wants to be held all day long, and us parents left feeling just as tired as the night before. Ugh! Here's a plea to all illness, please, PLEASE, wait until morning!

Dinner

So yesterday being Sunday (fast Sun.) I wanted to go a little more out of my way to make a nice dinner.  So I got a turkey roast, made homemade rolls, stuffing, some veggies and thought it was going to be a great dinner.  Well, I somehow forgot how I always have trouble with turkey roasts- how they never quite turn all the way white inside and because I'm such a freak (major) about salmonella I cook them longer and longer waiting for the meat to turn white.  This time however I had my trusty thermometer, yet still it wasn't getting to the correct temp, so finally after everything else was done I got impatient and just put it in the microwave for a few minutes.  To make a long story short(er), Michael ended up asking the kids if they liked the "turkey jerky" we were eating.  -they even all smothered it in BBQ sauce trying to make it a little better.  To their credit, they ate it, but after a little C said "I like it, but it's kind of too hard to eat."- nice.

Fast forward to dinner tonight.  I decided to try and make up for last night.  So it was fajitas with fresh bell peppers from the farmers market, corn on the cob, refried beans, guacamole, and pineapple salsa.- yum!  So we sit down to eat and halfway through the meal I've asked C politely if he'd PLEASE chew with his mouth closed- he's been having difficulty with that lately. After not stopping at all, I finally said that if he did it again that he would be excused from the table and have no more to eat tonight.  Still it continued and I not wanting my child to go hungry kept saying things like "what should you be doing?", "remember." etc. Finally, enough is enough, call it tough love (for table manners), I said that's it your done.  So B, A and I are eating and B is complaining about the little bell pepper in her fajita.  I told her just to eat that one and if she ate it with her chicken that she wouldn't even taste it.  She of course saved it for last and as she took little tiny bites of it would kind of gag and drink some water and be all dramatic about it.  I told her she needed to eat it- so after taking a big bite, chewing, gagging, drinking water and swallowing I thought she made it.- except about 5 seconds later she PUKED!  Gross!!!  All over her clothes, chair and floor.  UGH!  What could I do but die laughing.  So that ended my dinner, she cleaned up her mess and then happily ate her corn on the cob (what she really wanted), and A just sat there eating chips and guac and salsa oblivious to it all.  Hmmmm, maybe it will be takeout for us the rest of the week.