Change is a comin'

Husband is painting the half bath as I type. Yay!! Two rooms down{almost}, many more to go...

What I gave Jen...

Okay, so y'all saw what Jen gave to me for our Valentine swap, so now I am showing y'all what I gave her. Ruffled apron, you can find the tutorial here. I did make a few changes, but for the most part used her directions. An embellished dish towel, salt dough ornies that I made and painted, shutter ornies for Jen's tree, a tassel-Jen said she would like a tassel. That's what is great about being such good friends, you can make special requests and its okay!! I also painted unfinished X's and O's from Michael's. Jen loves typewriters so I gave her some typewriter stickers. I also gave her a tag I made for her and a cherub that started out life as glittery gold, and a G I covered in sheet music scrapbook paper.

Here is a close-up of the tassel. I got the topper at Hobby Lobby. It was a Christmas ornament. I love the zebra print ribbon. Joyfullness got me started on that one!!

The tag...The cherub...Salt dough ornaments...

The shutter slats I stenciled are reversible.

Here is the other side of them. Had I thought about it, I would have made the other side to say something like Joy, Noel, Peace. Hindsight, y'all...

The apron in all its glory. I have a funny story about the iron. Once upon a time, we had a white plastic-y iron and it died. I borrowed my friend, Amy's{different Amy-church Amy}, iron. Well she needed hers back, so I went to Wal-Mart and got one. I loved the old-fashioned look and weight of this one. When my husband got home later that night I still had it sitting out and he said, "Dang, how old is Amy's iron?" I told him that I just bought it. Hee, hee!! I got a good chuckle out of that one!! Love my vintage, wooden ironing board, too!! I just feel so June Cleaver!! Ha, ha, ha!!

A close-up of the G.

I have a question for y'all now...I do plan on opening an etsy shoppe in the very near future. Would y'all like to see things like the letters similar to the G in it?? How about the aprons?? I have quite a few ideas, I would just like to know what y'all would be interested in...

Thanks!!

Happy Saturday!!

Oh, Joy, I will take a picture of my Valentine tree in all her glory hopefully today. I still have to take down the Christmas tree{yes, that thing is still up} and clean off my countertops and then I will share some lovey touches throughout my home. And, I received some of my goodies from Lori today from another swap{yes, I'm an addict!!} and I will post that soon, too!! It has been a very fun mail week!!

Fireside in the Winter

I came home Tuesday after a long day of ballet and shopping{it takes a lot out of a girl, you know!! ;)} and my husband had built a fire for me. I was so excited that I lit the candles to take a picture for y'all. I feel like something is missing up above the mantle, but I really don't want to start randomly nailing holes. For now it will do. I wanted just a simple, serene winter look. I just love cozy, winter evenings, don't you??

Valentine Goodness

Emilie was going to host another mini swap, a Valentine one, but then said to pick a previous partner and swap with them if we wanted. Well Jen and I decided to partner up again. Then Emilie decided that she would do the swap after all. Jen and I had already been conversing about the swap and just kept each other. I have to say I am so glad I did!! My package arrived Tuesday as I was walking out the door to Ballet. I had all afternoon to look forward to opening my package.

Jen had everything wrapped so cute!! I spy a rag garland...

Look at all the loot she made for me!! Wow...that was all I could think as I was opening the goodness. I did let my kids help. They had fun!!

The heart with the wing attached...so cute. Jen also has one in her etsy shoppe. Love it!!

That tag is enormous!! Don't you just love it when people get you?? I was emailing back and forth with Jen and embroidery hoops came up. I sent her a link to where some people had put fabric in them and hung them on the wall for decoration. That February 14 sign is adorable, too!! I seriously don't know where people get all their ideas sometimes. I am a copier, mostly. Though I can come up with a few original ideas myself. :)

Jen found the cute LOVE card at Target and framed it!! A girl after my own heart!! And that R, covered with scrapbook paper is just perfect!! A little bling...The Valentine card is from her great grandmother's collection. Thank you for sharing a bit with me, Jen!!

I was so hoping I would get one of these envelopes with the hearts and key. If you want one for yourself, go to her etsy. Super great price!!

Indulging my love of squirrels with a silhouette of a squirrel with their beloved acorns.

Look at those amazing paperclips that Jen covered with paper. And the cards, so cute!! Somebody loves deer, too!!

Putting some of my goodness to use.

Close-up of my dough bowl with my goodies. The cherub I found at Michael's after Christmas. They were gold and I just painted it silver instead. Much better!! The kids and I made salt dough ornaments a few weeks ago. Some of them were made as bowl fillers, the others are on my Valentine tree. I just inserted wire into the dough before baking them. You can find the inspiration and recipe here.

Hope you weren't too bored listening to me rambling on. Imagine knowing me in real life!!

Thank you so much Jen, for a lovely swap!!

lil' junk jar giveaway and settlin' in??

Jen, over at Lipstick and Laundry has come up with a new line for her etsy shop, Worn Acorn. These lil' junk jars are the cutest, little bit of happy in a jar I have ever seen. She is hosting a giveaway for one of these bits o' sunshine on her blog. So go visit Jen and have a little look see at her cute lil' junk jars, buy one, heck, buy them all!! You will love them and her!!

Rambling Girl, you are so sweet to ask if I am settling in. By the looks of the garage I would have to say no. However, I do have most of my crafty stuff and decor unpacked, so in that way, I say a big yes. I mean if I have the essentials, then what is a few boxes and other piles gonna hurt, right??

Y'all see that ugly brass chandelier staring you in the face?? That thing is getting a makeover as soon as its not rainy outside or 30 below. Who am I kidding...its not 30 below here, never is, but it is c-c-cooold. It will get done before the 31st. Yep, that's my deadline!! So was December 6th, but who's counting...

Okay, go check out Jen's lil' junk jars now!!

***Karol, I got the chandelier at a thrift shop in town called The Potter's House. I don't think they are just local to me, you might look online at Yellow Pages. I have seen them a lot at yard sales, too. In fact, I passed one up this summer because we didn't need it in our rental. Like anything secondhand, its hit or miss.

Ladies, leave your magazines lying around...

Exibit A: On the floor of the half bath. If you surprised me right now, this is what you would find.

Exibit B: On the back of the toilet also. I would hate to be bored on a long trip!!

The result: Chicken Parmesan...cooked by The Husband after reading one of my mags. See...it pays off to leave junk lying around!!

scavenger

I'm never one to turn down free food...I went to my best friend, Amy's{high school Amy}, baby shower today. This is Amy's first baby and they are having a little boy. Anyhow, we played a guess the baby food game and ever so resourceful that I am, I asked if I could take home the rest. Amy's sister in law said, "Sure" Score!! I saved anywhere from $6-$12 today!! I love it when God provides.



Here is Amy and her husband, Matt. Matt normally doesn't have facial hair. Its his Super Bowl look. I am so excited for the two of them-this has been a few years coming. I cannot wait to see Baby Boy B.....