15 Today!!

15 years ago today our family was changed forever when God blessed us with a precious little girl.  She has brought so much joy into our lives from the moment she was born!!   So, today I celebrate with 15 things I love about my girl.

15.  She's courageous.

14.  She's full of smiles and laughter.

13.  She's passionate.

12.  She's kind.

11.  She's tough.

10.  She's determined.

9.  She is beautiful inside and out.

8.  She knows how to laugh at herself.

7.  She loves to bake - YUM!

6.  Those freckles and those eyes.

5.  She's not afraid to be herself.

4.  Her sense of adventure.  She's willing to try new things even when she's terrified. (That's her in the orange coat on the ski lift even though she's not crazy about being up high)

3.  Her devotion, when she loves she loves deep.

2.  She's dependable.

1.  She loves the Lord with all her heart.

Happy Birthday Amanda!!

On a side note it is also this guys birthday!!  Yes, she was born on her daddy's birthday!!  He was and is perfectly fine taking a back seat to her on their special day :)

Happy birthday to the man of my dreams!!

Heart Day Mantel

The rain here today has been refreshing to my soul.  It is such a glorious sight and sound!!  We were under a tornado watch when I woke up this morning which is always fun, but hey.  So, instead of doing the painting I had planned on doing today.  I decided to work on some Valentine decor.  I don't usually decorate for Valentine's Day but I have to confess my mantel has been bare since Christmas came down and I was finally tired of looking at the emptiness.  Sometimes for me emptiness is good for a while - cleansing maybe.  Anywho....I have seen so many cute things floating around the blog world so I decided "why not".  Here is the big picture.  

I spent around $5 a couple of weeks ago on some cute variegated yarn and started making some hearts - following instructions that I found here.  If you can crochet, these are very simple and quick.  (And, by the way, if you start to crochet something and forget how to do a stitch because you haven't done it in a long time - youtube is your friend.)

Aren't they cute??  When I had all the hearts I wanted I decided I wanted to make a garland so I made a chain using a large hook and double strand of yarn.  Then I very carefully (not) tied the hearts to the chain in a somewhat symmetrical pattern.

I also purchased some felt pieces in pink, red, purple, and white of course.  I didn't know exactly what I was going to do with them until I started putting things together today.  And this is what I came up with.  You may have seen something similar with paper doily hearts, but I didn't have any of those and today was all about using things I already had.  

I have been scared to try the whole chalkboard writing thing.  Because I don't think my handwriting is that good.  I tried several tricks that I found here and there and none of them worked - probably because I was doing them wrong.  So, I just decided to take the leap.  I started with this 

and ended with this.  

Not too bad I think.  I added some ribbon to the frame to dress it up a bit.  I have had this chalkboard hanging in my kitchen forever.  Sometimes with a verse, sometimes with a list, sometimes with a schedule, sometimes with a menu.  It has served many purposes, and all the while with that plain store-bought frame.  :)

The last piece of the puzzle was another pinterest find.  I have seen several different versions of these with all different sorts of words.  I am in love!!  I had the frames and the paper in my craft closet - I just picked and font and sent the paper through my printer.  

Here is a side tip that maybe you already know.  How to remove sticker residue.  These frames had been sitting in the closet for over a year with the price stickers still on them.  So, when I got ready to take them off, of course they did not come off easy.  So, baby oil and a cotton ball (and some elbow grease) to the rescue.  Tear off as much as you can by hand and then rub over the spot with the cotton ball coated in baby oil.  

In just a minute or two it will all be gone!!  Way better than killing your fingernails trying to scrape it off!!

I love the finished mantel and that it was cheap.  

Things have been crazy busy around here lately and I don't see any signs of it letting up anytime soon, so I was happy for the rain as an excuse to stay in and do some crafting!!

Linking up at Our Fifth House today.  Lots of fun Valentine's day projects over there to check out!

Label Love!!

Oh My Goodness.  I am so excited with the way this project is turning out I just had to share it with you, even though I'm not done.  Like I have said before I need to see results quickly, and today delivered!!

I am still in the midst of organizing my kitchen - UGH!!  I just have trouble deciding what I want to use for storage and organization.  I had plenty of ideas pinned on my pinterest board, but several of them would not work with my non-standard kitchen.

This weekend I purchased some containers at walmart for my dried baking goods.  For me and my family plastic works best.  I love these containers because of the shape, and the handy handle on one side.  I purchased all they had in stock of the 2quart size. - $1.97 ea!!  

(They have a larger one that holds a gallon for $2.97, but of course it was too tall for the cabinet it was going in.)  The labels peal off super easy if you take a little time.  Make sure that you have them completely dried out before you put anything in them.  The containers are great and all but my favorite part is the labels!!

I have seen many different applications of chalkboard type labels and I love the look.  When I saw this at Hobby Lobby a little while back and knew it was the perfect option.  Lucky for me it was on sale this  last week!  Then I used my 40% off coupon to purchase a really large circle punch - 3 1/2" on loveliness.

Then, using the lovely punch I cut circles from the chalkboard vinyl.  If you haven't worked with this type of vinyl, it's just like contact paper, with a peel and stick backing.  

Easy peasy!!  Place your label where you like it and voila!!  

I have these wonderful chalkboard markers that I love because they don't wipe off like chalk, but are easily erased with a damp cloth.  Perfect for labeling things that are going to be handled often.

Love!!  Love!!  Love!! the look!!  Notice I turned the one in the back sideways so I could see the label easily.  The only drawback is that I cannot get a 5lb bag of flour in this container, but that's okay with me, I will store the extra in the freezer to keep it fresh.  There is quite a bit of this vinyl on the roll and I can't wait to go label crazy in the rest of the kitchen and many other places in the house!!  Wahoo!!

Linking up with Thrifty Decor Chick here and
here

Friday Thoughts

Let me just say that this week has been a little crazy!!  And, today as it comes to an end I'm having some thoughts.  

Satan is real, and working against us everyday.  Yes, I can say I had a few days this week when I felt like I was face to face with him.  

God is bigger and we have victory through Jesus!!  Amen and amen!!  I won each time :)

Don't sweat the small stuff.  The small stuff is what will get you hung up in a rut, e.v.e.r.y.t.i.m.e.

You cannot make everyone happy.  No matter how hard you try.  It's just not possible.  For fellow people pleasers like myself.  This truth is really difficult to take.  But I dare you to grab on and hold on tight and see what freedom and peace you receive.  The One you should aim to please is The Master.

My kids are getting older right before my eyes.  They are able to do things that they couldn't do before.  They are so much more independent then they used to be.  They just don't need me as much.  I really thought I would welcome this, but as they pull away more I find myself running after them saying, "wait, let me..."

Time moves so quickly and I don't want to waste an ounce of it by 

• fighting a fight that has already been won (you know against that satan guy).
• worrying about the little things (God is into the details and He will take care of it).
• trying to please everyone (just not possible people, I speak truth and you know it).
• making a mental recording of every inch of my children (I want to hold onto this time and these memories forever).

Excited for a long weekend, hoping to get some stuff done, and spend some quality time with those not-so-little guys.  

Blessings to you and yours!!

Tablecloth Into Window Treatment

Well, I got a little derailed when I started my kitchen organization project the other day. And, I was reminded that I had indeed tried to do this last year and why I stopped. Apparently I do not have "standard sized cabinetry". Any simple drawer insert I looked to purchase would not fit. :( So I am working on plan B. I did get some purging done which was good and I am hoping to do a little more today. But, I wanted to share with you the project I quick whipped up last night, trying to get my groove back. (I was so bummed by the kitchen stall that I had done nothing for days.) 

As I was doing some straightening yesterday I came across a purchase I had set aside and kind of forgotten. These lovely tablecloths I found at Target before the holidays - they were with the Christmas stuff.

Now, typically I will not purchase anything Christmas related until after Christmas when the good sales hit.  But, I just kept coming back to this and one day it was on sale (like 20% off) and I just had to have it.  I knew I was not going to use it for a tablecloth - I had the perfect place for it, so I purchased two of the longest rectangle tablecloths that they had.

Several months back I shared with you this photo

And this inspiration photo

Photo Credit: Muraca Design, Inc.

I was still planning on doing this but when I saw this tablecloth, I had a new plan - because I loved it and I knew it would be a lot less work.

So, first I hung up one tablecloth as is with the clips I already had, and then determined the length I wanted and measured how much I would need to cut off.  I bought extra long in order to have extra on purpose (maybe a pillow or two, or a table cover...).  Then I took it down and my hubby fixed the rod - new anchors were purchased to replace the destroyed ones that were causing the rod to about come out of the wall.  

I first ironed both tablecloths, then measure from one end, and trimmed off the excess.  

I had decided to create a wide hem at the top just to make it a little sturdier where the clips would be holding on.  I simply folded down the side with the hem still intact the desired amount and pressed the fold to a crease.  

When I got to the end of one of these hems, I found that the piece was not completely straight.  No worries, I just folded the excess fabric in so it wouldn't show.  No one will ever know.  :)

Then, on to sewing.  I chose a simple rolled hem for the bottom.  And stitched the top hem close to the edge of the rolled hem already there.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy.  

Then comes probably the hardest part in my opinion (mainly because my slight ocd kicks in) getting the curtain clipped up EVENLY.  Grrrrr!!

Well, here it is after - pardon the pics I could not figure out the best way to get a pic in light or dark, blah blah blah.  Of course, after I put them up there was my next project glaring me in the face.  Can you guess what it is?? 

I love it so much better than before.  One more step in my lightening-up process.  

Linking up here

Time To Get Started

Well today is my first day to myself after our Christmas break.  No work, kids are back at school and hubby went to work.  I am relishing in the quiet and catching up on my blog reading.  We spent the last five days enjoying the mountains with some long time friends skiing.  Van and Garrett were the only ones who had skied before so we knew it was going to be an adventure.  I was a complete failure - let me just say I am a weakling and I need to start working out (although I really hate exercise of any form); and I really don't like feeling out of control.  So...I attempted to ski one day, and everyone else had a blast the other two days!!  The kids LOVED skiing, so I'm afraid I will have to go back.  Maybe next time I will be more prepared (stronger and in better shape) and be able to get the hang of it (not feel like I am flying down the hill at the speed of light straight for the trees). 

Now that I am back home and things are back to regular-scheduled-programming, I feel the need to get started on something.  My kitchen is probably the only area that didn't get a lot of attention in the purge and de-cluttering of last year so this is my first mountain to tackle here.  It is completely overwhelming to me and I think that's why I haven't done it before.  I start thinking about all the problems and how this doesn't function, and that doesn't work, and how I desperately need a pantry, and I just throw my hands up and say "forget it, it's hopeless - let's just gut it".  But, then my husband talks me down from my hysteria, as he often has to do, and ever so gently reminds me that would cost a lot of money (because he knows my taste), and that we have to work with what we have.  Blah.

So, last night as I was perusing my kitchen pinterest board, I decided I needed to take it apart and do small pieces at a time.  I need to see results quickly or I lose interest.  So, today I am going to tackle my drawers.  Here are some photos I snapped this morning of the worst culprits - don't judge you know you have these drawers.

Yikes!!  So, this is what is on my agenda today - purging - getting rid of things I don't need - and organizing - trying to find a system that will fit each drawer to make it more purposeful.  Oh and also you know what else is staring me in the face after vacation?  This...

Ugh!!  Wish me luck!!

2013 Home Goal List

There are going to be lots of changes happening around here in 2013 and some of them will hopefully include my home.  I thought it would be fun to make and list so that this time next year I can see how I did.  Not to stress myself out, just to keep myself on task.  I tend to be a little all over the place when it comes to home improvement.  Like I said before, I'm a starter and not always a finisher. 

One thing that I worked hard at all this last year was decluttering, and cleaning out.  What I have discovered about this is that it is addictive.  Once you start throwing away and clearing out the stuff you. can't. stop.  So, even though I have pared down quite a bit, I will be doing more.

So...

 #1 on my list is De-cluttering - everything!!

#2 Organizing - everything

#3 Kitchen redo - including decluttering, organizing and updating (hopefully)

#4 Redo Craft closet

#5 Finish doors in hall - painting and molding

#6 Garage redo - clean out, organize, blah, blah, blah

#7 Kids bathroom update

#8 Backyard landscaping - making it a more usable space

#9 Fireplace update

#10 Finish Master bath update

#11 Master closet update

Wow, what a list, I am anticipating that it will not all get done.  Life is going to happen as it always does.  These are in no priority order.  That's just not how I roll.  I will do whatever suits my fancy and my budget.  :)  I have been pinning away on my pinterest boards, collecting ideas of how I want things to look and function.  Wish me luck!!  I'm gonna need it!!!