From gaudy to Oh Lawdy!!

Y'all have all seen those gaudy gold paper mache reindeer, right?? I got some from Goodwill a few years ago for next to nothing. Then, sometime later, I got some pinecones that had spanish moss and glitter on them. That gave me the idea for these deer.

Here are the deer before...

And afterward...

What?? You want to know how I did it??

Okay...assemble your ingredients.

*You will need the gaudy deer. You can find them at Michaels. Or Goodwill.

*Glitter...I used Martha Stewart Smoky Quartz.

*Mod Podge

*Spanish Moss
What to do...

*Put your spanish moss in a large bowl and attack it with scissors. You want small pieces of it.

*Water down your Mod Podge.

*Using a sponge or brush, paint on your watered down Mod Podge, starting at the bottom, sprinkle the spanish moss, then sprinkle the glitter. Lather, rinse{or don't}, repeat. Enjoy your beautiful, non-gaudy, woodland deer!!

Oh, I also made the wreath, using some sugar pinecones from my sister-in-law's cabin, little pinecones from Michaels and a grapevine wreath. I just used my glue gun to adhere the pinecones.

I need your opinion, please...

Hey Girls...I need y'all's opinion, please. I am thinking about the children's outfits for Christmas and pictures with Santa. Originally, I was going to do the green polka dots with the red and white polka dots. Then, I got a super sweet deal for the boys' sweaters and it totally changed up my plan. This is where y'all come in...

I plan on making the pink style dress, with layered gathered tiers in the way I have them laid out here.

Here are the boys' sweaters. I got Fisher's from Goodwill for $2.60 and its originally from Holland. Love it!! I got Jackson's from my new favorite thrift shop for 50 cents. Makes Goodwill sound like highway robbery, huh?? Anyway, I am thinking the boys will wear khaki pants?? We already have those and I am all about saving while I spend, you know what I mean?!?!

Okay, here is another view of Lilly's fabric choice. I plan for her to wear tights and black maryjane's. I am going to make more yo-yo's to either cover the headband or cluster to the side.

I plan on getting this sweater from Target to wear with the dress.

My questions are...

*Do y'all like the black, red, and white together??

*Does it pass for Christmas enough??

*Does it look too Disney or UGA{Georgia Bulldogs}??

Thanks in advance!!

Christmas Goodies

I went to a couple Christmas Open Houses this past Thursday and I got a few little goodies. It was so much fun!!

This NOEL sign is HUGE!! Now, I just have to find the perfect spot for it...

Love the candy cane sign and it will look cute hanging on my backsplash by my jars full of candy canes. The cards and snowflake ornament were from Amy{for my birthday}, along with a gift certificate to one of the antique shoppes we went to. Thank you so much, Amy!!

Are y'all putting out your Christmas decor yet??

Feelin' Hoopy...

I have finally completed{for now} my wall of fabric filled embroidery hoops. I've been collecting the hoops for well over a year now to do this very wall treatment. I love it!!

My Mom bought the cookoo clock for me in Germany. I love how it looks surrounded by all the hoops.

I got this Pottery Barn pillow cover at my new favorite thrift shop. I paid pennies for it, like less than a dollar for sure. It didn't have a button. No problem, I just made a covered button for it and I like it better!! Original PB price...$25.99. I believe I like my price much better!!

My Mom watched the kids this weekend and it was bliss!! Cory and I went out yard saling and antiquing and I found a night stand. Love it!! I'll share it with y'all soon.

Hope you all have a great week!!

Tidbits...

Thank you all so much for my birthday wishes!! It made my day so much more special!!

We've been trying to enjoy the last few days of fall here. Tuesday it rained cats and dogs. It was great, though. Wednesday was super windy and yesterday was just perfect. We took these photos on Monday before all that. The tree in my front yard is pretty much bare now. I think this is the first time we've ever raked leaves and jumped in them and the kids had so much fun!!

I also got a few swap packages that I wanted to share. I have other things to share that I've won or purchased but still need to take pics of.

I participated in Emilie's Thanksgiving Mini Swap and got a super cute leaf garland, pumpkin, and squirrel brooch. So cute!!

Oops, the photos are flipped!! Anyhow...here is the pumpkin and squirrel. Jenna made the squirrel. Isn't it cute?!?!

Here is one of the leaves on the garland. Such detail in the stitching...love it!!

I also joined a Christmas swap. Here is what I got, minus the popcorn and M&M's and bowls to serve them in. I got a lighted rag garland, a candle, an ornament, dishrag, mini stocking, cards, and little NOEL tags to tie onto pinecones. Oh yes, a copy of The Christmas Box.

I forgot that the bowls weren't in the photo when I was taking it, so I took a pic of them awaiting a bath. Hahaha!!

Thank you, Jenna and Angie!!

Do y'all remember when I was all in the mood to watch Elf and craft?? Well, Cory ordered Elf on demand for me and I made this garland. I am quite pleased with how it turned out!!

Here is a little more detail. I used homespun, ticking, and calico. I love the color and print combo.

If you hung in here this long, bless you!! Hahaha!! Hope y'all have a great weekend!!

Happy Birthday Elise

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Elise, Happy Birthday to you!

Love ya...

*This is the beauty of having your friends blog info {I hacked into it} ;) ~Jen

Happy Birthday, Jenny!!

Today is my best blog friend's, Jenny, birthday!!!! In honor of Jenny and our friendship, I've compiled a list of qualities and things I like about Jenny.

1. She's a friend of Jesus!!
2. She is uber crafty and is willing to share of her knowledge!!
3. She is an awesome swap partner{y'all knew that already, right?!?!}!!
4. She shares great recipes...ones that my family loves{so its like she's right here with us}!!
5. She is a great friend and we talk multiple times daily!!
6. She has lots of wisdom and though we are only a few years apart, she just really has that seasoned, Christian, Godly, wifely, motherly WISDOM!!
7. She makes me laugh!! Jackson one time asked me why I laugh so much when I'm on the phone with Jenny. Just do!!
8. She will talk to my family if they answer the phone and they talk right back to her as though they've known her forever. She's just really easy to get to know.
9. No fun until work is done. A "Jenism" that she taught me. Works great when applied!!
10. Most of all, she is just a really great friend!!

Fun Fact:
Jenny and I were both born and both got wed in the same month only 2 days{and a couple years} and a week apart, respectively.
I am so happy that God brought us two together and I look forward to the day when we actually get to meet in person!!
Now y'all go over and wish Jenny a Happy Birthday!!

Wish List...

I thought I would share my wish list after reading Lori's. With my birthday and Christmas coming up, I thought it might help my loved ones out. ;)


Here are some of my favorites, links included...

I love me some Farm Chicks!! So wantin' the cookbook!!

I have loved this print from Marmee Craft ever since I laid my eyes on it. Y'all might notice a recurring theme here!!

I am in love with this dishtowel from Anthropologie. Like, really LOVE it!!

This mug has such a sweet personality, I think.

I'll take an "R" please...

Can you figure out why I love this plate?? Also from Anthro...

I have wanted this Jim Shore angel since seeing her at my friend's, Dana{hey Dana!!}, house. She is the November angel. How appropriate!!

Love these squirrel salt and pepper shakers from Pottery Barn. Are they not adorable?!?!

I think that about completes this list. Of course, I always love cold hard cash and I wouldn't turn down a giftcard from my craft stores, Hobby Lobby, Michael's, or Joann's. :)

Y'all tell me, what's on your wishlist??

Feelin' Jolly...

I don't know about y'all, but I am getting in the mood for Christmas something fierce. I don't necessarily want to put my tree up yet, but I am dyin' to watch elf and NONE of my neighbors seem to own it. Whaaaa....

I also feel like I'm cheating on my beloved Fall, who seems to have already passed me by. I guess I will enjoy my Fall decor for another week or so, and work on some Christmas versions of this.

Tell me, are y'all as ready for Christmas as I am, or have you already been playing Christmas carols and decking your halls?? I am crazy?? Certifiable?? Ready for the loony bin??

9

Just Kidding!!
Have a great day, y'all!!

8

Today is our eight wedding anniversary!! Cory knew we would marry before he even called me. His mom set us up...and got my phone number for him. I waited a while for his call. Our first date, November 18th, 2000 was a double{blind for us} date with his parents. A little less than a year later we were hitched!!

I cannot say it was bliss, but we had determined that we would not even so much as mention the "d-word". It simply isn't an option. If we have a problem, we have to work thru it.

I am so very thankful to have Cory as my husband!! Thank you for eight, sometimes not so great, other times great years!! I love you, Cory!!

7

I cannot believe my first baby is already seven!! A few weeks, or more like a month or more, ago, Jackson told me he wanted me to make a sock monkey for his birthday. How could I resist that?!?! Oh, he also specified that he wanted it waiting in front of the fireplace first thing on his birthday morning. We normally do the gifts at night when things aren't rushed. In typical fashion, I wait until the night before to start on the monkey. My dear sweet husband stuffed the monkey for me. Um yeah...


Here is the monkey after his "liposuction". It took me over an hour to de-stuff the little guy!! I was pulling out baseball size balls of stuffing out of its tail forever!! I'm not complaining though, Cory did it with love.

Jackson, so excited to see his sock monkey. He was so excited about the fact that "Banana" has a sleeping cap!!

We decided to make homemade donuts and sausage links for Jackson's birthday breakfast.

My big seven, toothless wonder boy!!

We had chesscake that night after dinner. Didn't have enough matching candles... :)

Onto the birthday party...

This is the wreath I made that greeted our friends at the front door.

The chandy got a spookified, spidery makeover curtesy of Jenny.

I made a spider web cake and cupcakes. Jackson really wanted a cake and not cupcakes, but cakes are not my forte. Clearly...

The spider cupcakes. Yes, I do know that spiders have eight legs, but...

A. I couldn't find licorice strips

And...

B. I couldn't fit enough of my rigged up chocolate covered pretzel stick legs into the cupcake.

I think they turned out okay, though.

The food...Artichoke dip, grapes, cheese, pizza dip spread...

Jackson saw the recipe and picture of the Spider Web Pizza Spread on the back of a Ritz cracker box. It was super yummy and went with the theme.

We got the spider web bowl from Target's $ section.

Singing Happy Birthday...

Opening a few gifts...

Happy Birthday, Jackson{almost a week late}!!! We love you!!