Saturday, December 31, 2011

Farewell to an amazing year...

    As the final hours of 2011 wind down I have found myself reminiscing as I am sure many of you are doing as well....

    2011 was a year full of triumph and defeat, soccer and basketball games.... life! The year started for us with the transition of my schedule. First after years of full time work and daycare into part time and then finally full time stay at home mom with a part time emphasis on dental billing.

    Just as we adjusted to our new routine an even bigger transition was headed our way. In early March a routine weekly visit to the baby doc sent us to the hospital a week early as the onset of HELLP threatened our health....the grueling fourteen hours of labor during which my husband never left my side....

    Yes 2011 was a terrific year. Heartache and challenges were never far but always taught us who we are and what we are made of. Rising up from our defeats to dry our eyes and try to smile...

Summer came and went

Fall found us in all directions preparing for the best of all....

I wonder what is in store for us in 2012?

    Happy New Year friends! Count your blessings! Give thanks for your health and of those you love! Pray for the needy and the weak. Bless their hearts with the joy you have in your own!

Much love!

 

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Happy dollidays....

    How was everyone's Christmas? Ours was truly grand....and it continues!

                                                                         





    During a three A.M. delirium with baby K my eyes wandered to her diaper changer. She is growing! Nearly too tall for it we were coming to the end of its use. As I sized the changer up wondering where it should go next I got the idea for dolly beds!  Our older kids are growing too! If you have girls then you know all about AG dolls! My kids are fans! I always find their dolls in dresser drawers or other strange "beds".....It was perfect! Santa brought a new girl and I have not seen my girls all morning:)

Saturday, December 24, 2011

A tale of two trees...

   
We finally got our real tree for upstairs last weekend. It is really looking like Christmas around here....in the nick of time! Baby K loved supervising daddy!

     We let our older children decorate our artificial tree downstairs. We began this new tradition last year and the kids enjoy it very much! This is our sixth Christmas together! I can hardly believe in the blink of an eye we have come this far! The star on top of our kids tree is the first gift I ever gave my husband. We began dating in the weeks prior to Christmas 2005...It was one of those awkward situations....to give or not to give:) Turned out to be the perfect first gift and every year it will don our tree and reminds us of all our shining moments!

    Merry Christmas! We are now just hours away! Wishing you and yours all the best! Thanks for all the encouraging words and new friendships!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Believe...

  

 I love that Holiday commercial where every one is celebrating their triumphant finish of Christmas jobs... We are nearly there! In fact mere moments to the beloved Holiday I may be able to collapse in triumph of my own!

    This has been one of the craziest pre Christmas preparation years we have had in awhile. Honestly I m not totally convinced it is all to blame on the Holiday... The fact is the world still turns in December. The bills are still due. Friends and family still get sick. Hearts still ache...

     That is the point. Finding peace amongst chaos. Remembering the true reason for the season...

    I stopped long enough to catch the news last night. The story I caught brought tears to my eyes and made me wonder. Secret angels are paying off the layaway accounts of perfect strangers. Famillies who may not otherwise have gifts for their children are being blessed by mysterious benefactors.

    Need is in the hearts of many this season and many other days for that matter. I think of our own Christmas mischief and the lesson our children do not even realize they are learning...

    Maybe my self imposed list of tasks is not as daunting as I have made it. Perhaps I need to listen to the magic playing out around me. Possibly I am too wrapped up in getting to the finish line that I am missing the joy...

Certainly I am counting my blessings.

5 days to go!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Our final favorite and a winner!

 Nothing says the Holidays like warm sugar cookies! Always awesome made from scratch... Betty saves us a few steps! A delicious favorite!

Congratulations Cathy Peterson!

You are our lucky winner of the Favorite things 2011!

Thank you to all my followers who participated! Your kind words and encouragement are amazing!

Merry Christmas!




Friday, December 16, 2011

Burlap scarves and more felt fun....

 
  Back to the burlap project! We are scheduled to have family pictures this Saturday.  I am a T shirt and jeans girl all the way! My idea of dressing up is heels and jeans! This is the first time since my husband and I were married and had our little one....not to mention that my sister has gotten married and also had a child since our last family pictures were taken, so we are overdue! I want my family to look their best but my simplicity for dressing up overpowered me as I shopped yesterday for new shirts. I arrived home to find I had a very simple theme that with just the right little touch could be darling...


    
Trust me! I know what you are thinking....Even now I am anxious about the itchy burlap and the whining of children! My strips of burlap dyed to the perfect shade of grey! That was when I started looking around the house. I found an old grey shirt that was sheer and using liquid stitch I place a collar of sorts inside the neck portion to hopefully keep itchiness at bay long enough to take some great shots!

   
I loved the way the burlap frayed throughout the process! I used some liquid stitch along the edges working it into the fibers to prevent it from fraying too much.



Using the ruffle bottom of the shirt I made a flower.



Old buttons, some jute, my famous felt...


 I did the same on the second scarf. Only changing colors.




  I had bought a Candies sweater for myself and decided to brighten it up as well. Adding a pin to the back of my flower made it perfectly optional! 



Thursday, December 15, 2011

My love of felt continues...

     So as you know I have been working and figuring my way with felt out... My Christmas presents this year consist of knock off pillows I spied with my mom at Gardner Village this fall. I have been cutting and gluing felt since October! Finally my vision comes to fruition! I found these white pillow forms at Wal Mart for under $7.00! It was cheaper and less time consuming to buy the pillow forms and dye them. So here we go!
     I started with RIT pearl grey fabric dye.  I pulled out the guts of three pillows...can you believe three little pillows had this much fluff?!
 Preparing my water bath...
     EEK! Holding my breath! Yes, that is burlap soaking with my pillowcases! Wait till you see what I have in mind for family pictures!!
 Rinsed, washed, and dried they turned out perfect!
     So I was wondering what if you could change up your pillow deco? I applied Velcro tabs to my felt flowers....

 Played around a bit....

 Some of my favorites!

    I applied four Velcro tabs and then included four different flowers so the appearance could be changed up and fun!

Any orders! I love them!!




 Looking for a fun Christmas craft idea! Visit Kids Creative Chaos for a fun idea and great giveaway!

  http://www.kidscreativechaos.com/2011/12/cholula-cap-decorating-contest-enter-by.html

           

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Of baby food and Christmas chaos...

Life is most definitely a dance....

    As the Christmas Holiday quickly rushes upon us I can't help but find myself standing still amongst the whirring crowds. Standing still to catch my breath. Catching my breath to keep up. Keeping up with a most hectic life. Living a hectic life to it's fullest....

   Counting my blessing and understanding all to well how life can change on a dime. Hoping and praying for those who are in pain. Laughing in this moment and living as if the next blessed moments are priceless gifts not yet in our grasp....

   Grinning up at me from the floor below blue eyes sparkle and wonder fills a sweet angel face. Each day is new and fresh to sweet baby K. Every thing she sees is still so brand new. I wonder if we could learn something from life through her eyes...






Our #5 favorite!

     Have you seen the new Sally Hansen salon effects nail strips! They are awesome! Easily a favorite!

    Don't forget to become a GFC follower before Sunday December 18th to have a chance at winning all of the featured favorites! Good luck! New followers be sure to comment so that I can follow back:)

Monday, December 12, 2011

Still looking for that perfect gift!

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Searching the archives for an old fav...

   

This is a post I originally wrote a few years ago....Many things have changed since this post was written however the message is still the same and will always be at this time of year! Enjoy!




Ahh Christmas bliss! Or is it?


    One of my most important priorities each day is picking up our girls on time from the babysitter. This stems from the old single days when our precious babies spent the entire duration of each day in the care of others. It was what they knew. My husband and I both have, and do work hard each day. Now that the kids are both in full time schooling it is a bit easier. Now instead of eight to ten hours it has been minimized to a mere two or three. Still I find myself rushing home so that we have the maximum time together each evening.

    My evening commute usually on a good night takes thirty minutes. My husband who works a little closer can sometimes get caught up. Because our kids are such a priority we often "arrange" times when one or the other is going to be late. A little courtesy we share with one another.

     Last night was my turn to be the late arriver. Paycheck in hand I hopped in my car to run some routine errands and pick up my Christmas crafting supplies. Although earlier in the afternoon I had panicked when I glanced at the calendar and noticed my window of Christmas prep time was quickly closing. I seemed to have blocked out that this fact also pertained to everyone else as I braved my way into the pre Christmas delirium.

      I am naturally prepared. If I can survive the zoo like afternoons in my office, what does a little Christmas crowd have on me? My first stop into the hardware store was a breeze. Items in cart I raced back to the car. I was making fantastic time! Then with a sudden and snapping effect...the heel on one of my favorite black shoes broke! Screeching to a complete halt in the slush and mush I quickly glanced around. Hah! No one in sight to witness my mishap. I trudged through thick grey slush the rest of the way to the car. I opened the hatch poised to heft in my purchases. As I did this my purse handle caught the edge of the hatch. A box full off eight crystal bricks smashed to the pavement! Good thing they are packed solid. At this point I am still smiling. Not too quick to be defeated. "OK!" I think out loud. "What next?" As I strategize my next move my stomach begins to growl. No matter I will get a snack. Just a light one. My husband is busy cooking dinner as we speak.

Game plan in mind I make my way to Wal Mart....

    This is where it all ends. This is where my ten hour day catches up to me. I have everything carefully mapped out. Christmas section first. Food aisle last. "Don't forget to pick up milk!" My husbands parting words earlier on the phone. I have so got it in the bag. I bust through the door ready for serious damage. The ensuing drama involved Twelve screaming children. Eleven shoppers fighting. Ten songs a blasting. Nine different choices. Eight dollar ice cream. Seven silly stockings. Six ways to fall down. "Five gold Rings!" Four people wrestling. Three more children screaming. Two frozen turkeys...and Did I mention I had broken my shoe!

    When I opened the door to my home, the smell of something fantastic greeted me. I could hear the children reading. I stopped just to listen. He poked his head around the corner. Taking the sight of me in. Purse hanging by one strap. Hair in a wild tangle. Mascara under my eyes that would put Alice cooper to shame, and slightly leaning to one side. "Honey? Where is the milk?"

Merry Christmas!

Friday, December 9, 2011

Our # 4 favorite...

    Bath and Body Works "Oh So Cozy" socks will keep your tootsies warm and uplift your spirits with a wonderful scent!

    Remember one lucky follower from GFC will be randomly selected on December 18th to win a basketful of all our featured favorites!

Good Luck!

Check out this awesome project...

all things purple: Christmas Decor DIY Project:

I love this! It is so stinkin cute!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Thank you!


I was so happy to recieve this fun little award from Creative Chaos
Make sure you check her blog out! It is one of my favorites!
 
    The Liebster award ("Liebster" is the German word for friend or love) originated in Germany. The aim of the award is to bring attention to blogs with fewer than 200 followers.
 
These are the rules for accepting the award:
      1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.  
2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog. 
3. Post the award on your blog.                                                                           
4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the Internet-other writers!
 5. And best of all - have fun and spread the Karma!                                               
               6. Right click on the award image to save it to your computer and then upload to your blog!  
 
 I choose to pass this award onto:

                                                                     Sandbox Gems

Consider becoming a follower of these fine blogs:)

Hells Bells I am having a hard time with the HTML on this post! Please excuse its sloppy appearance! Thanks again!

Baby food lid rattles...

 
     Unto the baby food jar lids.....My intention is to hang them from the handle. If this looks upside down to you then simply turn the bow and deco and attach a hook to the top of the lid:)

   
    I started with my old friend floral wire! Loop around your jar and secure.

 
     Fold wire in half, looping around your finger to create the handle. Twist your wire back down the length of  the stem and secure. Add a drop of hot glue to secure the base.

 
      I used Krylon's Sterling Silver spray paint.

 
     Hobby Lobby is having a wonderful sale right now! Certain scrapbook supplies are 50% off! These 3D stickers were regularly $4.00 and I got them for half price!


    Decorate and enjoy! Again, all I need is my tree:)
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