What I've been up to...

Been wondering where I've been?? Didn't think so...Just kidding!! I cannot believe its been over a week since I last posted. I wanted to post photos of Fisher's first birthday party, but since my camera hates me and my mom can't seem to upload her pictures, it'll have to wait.
Sooo, Hadley came to visit this weekend. I had so much fun meeting her the first time and couldn't wait for her to come here. She, I mean, we, had intended to craft, but when she saw our craft/school room and then the garage, she said that we would work on that. Hadley is AMAZING!! Everybody needs a little Hadley in their life!! Seriously...see the photo below. Scary, right??

This is basically what I have been living with since we moved in. Give or take. I know some of you are cringing and rocking in the corner just looking at it. ;)

Here is another angle for your viewing pleasure.

Hadley and I stayed up until 3 am working on it and then again in the morning up through this afternoon. It looks so much better!! The bookshelf holds a small portion of the children's books. My craft/decorating books are on another shelf along with some craft supplies. The two doors lead to one long closet. In it is fabric, seasonal decor, and some other necessary junk.

I plan to bring in the kid's wooden picnic table and hang the chalkboard on this wall. I also have these bird flashcards{I guess that's what they are...they are 8x10} that I am going to hang on the wall.

In this old cabinet I have some more sewing stuff. Eventually, I want to get a table to put in its place for my sewing machine.

This is the view from the doorway. The black cabinet was in Lilly's room previously. I think it works great in here to hold my ribbon and other crafty necessities. I am lovin' the clean new space and cannot wait to create in here!! Thank you, Hadley, for coming and helping out with this monstrosity!! Can't wait to come work on your playroom next!!

These photos are really blurry if you try to enlarge them. I need to get the camera fixed.

Go Fish!!

Happy Good Friday, y'all!! When we were pregnant a year ago, we didn't know what we were having. I mean, we knew we were having a baby, just not the sex of the baby!! We did know, however, that if our baby was a boy, we would name him Fisher. At first, we just thought it was a really cool name and hopefully NOT in the top eleven like our other two!! We also like the idea that he would be a fisher of men. We are called, as Christians, to share the Good News of Jesus. Of His death and resurrection and how we are not hopeless, but rather, can be forgiven of our sins and have eternal life through Jesus and His ultimate gift, His death. It is not by works or anything that we constantly have to work for, we just have to believe.
Okay, I am sure you are wondering about the banner above. Our little Fishy boy is about to be one year old. We are having a little party at my mom's home tomorrow. I was originally going to go with a typical boy's one year party. I knew I wanted to make a banner, but Jen, my West Coast BF, and I came up with it being a Go Fish, Goldfish party. I already knew I was putting snack size Goldfish packets in the goodie bags, and we are going to serve them at the party. Then Jen suggested that I make the orange parts of the banner fish shape{which she so kindly drew and emailed to me-Heart you!!}. I loved the idea!! I think it looks so cute. Then, she said that I should make a banner with Go Fish cards. I am going to look for them at Wal-Mart today and maybe even stamp Happy Birthday on them. If I get a wild hair, I will make those jello aquariums with the fish in them. We will have cupcakes with blue frosting and blue sugar crystals topped with a gummy fish. I am going to look for fish shaped cheese also. I know I have seen them before. I love party planning and am so excited to see this one come together. I cannot wait to share pictures next week!!


Here is a little close-up of the rag tag banner. I was inspired by the one Jen made for her and her husband's twenty year dating anniversary. I just ripped the fabrics, folded them over twine and sewed around three edges. Easy as pie!! Easier, really, because yesterday, I was watching Food Network and the people were in a contest for piemaking and I had no idea what all went into making a pie. I am all about a pre-made crust and some pudding mix!! :)

Here is another view. I used greens, blues, oranges, and burlap for a little texture. I am really pleased with how it came out!!

Okay, go spread the Good News!! Go Fish!!

Best 50 cents I ever spent.

Yep, that's right, I got this beauty for fifty cents at a yard sale this past Saturday!! I knew immediately that I would clean it up, give it a makeover, and the jars will holding glitter. Not bad, huh?? Well, its nastier than it looks. I emptied out the spices and have the jars soaking. They are still sticky, and you don't even want to know about the wood holder. Yuck!! Any advice about how to de-grease this??
Stay tuned for its makeover!!

Here comes Peter Cottontail...

I have been a little slack this Spring about getting my Easter stuff out, but had to do my mantle before Easter actually got here. Now, I know Easter is really about Jesus' death and resurrection, but I love me a bunny or two. I searched high and low Friday and Saturday for a gate or bit of fencing, but came up empty. I did happen to look in that scary garage and find this window. I cleaned the window, tied a grapevine wreath on it, and propped it up on the mantle and arranged some bunnies and a huge felt carrot around it. I think I like it!!

*If you click on the picture to make it bigger and its fuzzy, its not the photographer's lousy picture taking abilities, the camera needs to go to the shop. The auto focus is messed up. :(

Lavender Vanilla Sugar Scrub

Lavender Vanilla Sugar Scrub
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup baby oil{I use equate Aloe Vera & Vitamin E Baby Oil}
10 or so drops of Lavender Essential Oil
Couple teaspoons vanilla extract
Mix all together in a bowl and store in an airtight container. Use a small amount and rub over your body for super soft and silky skin.

This makes a great gift. I gave it to my Mom and Mother in law for Christmas one year and they loved it. In fact, my Mother in law has been requesting it ever since. I gave this jar to her this morning along with some Ghiradelli dark chocolate{she loves dark chocolate} for her birthday. She will also be getting a framed photo of the kiddies, but that will be after Easter, when they are all dressed up and we aren't getting flooded. ;)

You can use any kind of container. I usually pick up the jars in the photo from Goodwill, but I haved also seen similar ones at Hobby Lobby and World Market. Truly, I don't measure the oil and vanilla, but just wanted to give y'all an idea of how much to use. I just shake it in until I like the scent. Y'all will have to let me know if you try it.

Look what came in the mail today!!

I finally bought one of the Cora Paige pins from Julie of Joy's Hope. I love the pin!! I love that Julie donated the proceeds of the sale to Cora's Playground. It is so huge and wonderful and I love the fresh colors!! Julie is no longer doing the Cora sale, but you can find other fun pins and headbands in her Etsy shoppe.

Dummercracks and Birdie Swaps

First the funny, then the pretty!! This morning Lilly found this Presidents and the First Ladies thing we got from Chick-Fil-A and wanted me to read it to her. We started with Woodrow Wilson. I said, "Woodrow Wilson was born in X date and passed in Y date, he was a democrat like Obama..." As soon as I said the part about democrat, Lilly said, "Ew, Jackson, he's a dummercrack like Bomer!!" I thought I would die laughing!! You just can't make that stuff up!! :)

Okay, on with prettyful things. Here is what I sent to Heidi, my partner for Lori's Birdie Swap. Heidi doesn't decorate in bright colors, just lots of white with touches of blue and brown. I made her a scrapbook papered D, for her last name's initial. That gorgeous paper came from Michael's and is new there. I then made yo-yo's in varying sizes and sewed them together making a brooch that she can either leave on the letter or wear. I made the sign, the bird silhouette, the tag, bought two birds, an embroidered tea towel, and some eggs.

The sign was made from a drawer front I rescued from an old home that was being torn down. I just stenciled the word NEST on it and shabbied it up a bit.

The eggs in their little nest of spanish moss and sheet music.

I loved this towel as soon as I saw it. I should have gotten myself one. Maybe they will be there when I go back??

I made the bird silhouette from my Storybook cricut cartridge and layered the images on top of toile scrapbook paper.

Here is a closer look at the D. I tied the yo-yo brooch on with light cocoa colored velvet ribbon.

Okay, thanks for looking!!

Oh, on a side note, my in-laws are moving to Chicago and are leaving tomorrow. If y'all would pray for safe travels for them that would be appreciated and also, my mother in law spilled hot coffee in her lap the other day and has 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree burns in areas you wouldn't want to be burned so if you would pray for her comfort on that long drive, that would be great too.

Happy Thursday!!