It's been a while, but I've been busy!

My dad bought me a sewing machine!!!  I was so scared at first b/c sewing has always seemed out of reach for me.  My mom was the most amazing and talented seamstress I know so to try and live up to a fraction of that was very daunting!  I'm sure in a way it would be a no brainer to carry on what my mom was passionate about, but for me it was a bit intimidating.  My dad talked me into it and now I have used that machine everyday for the past week!  I'm a bit OCD so when I find something I like I tend to go a little over board. I don't do patterns, I don't make clothes (my mom made my clothes and I felt like the biggest fashionista ever! She was amazing, not a minute goes by that I don't miss my mama!) I don't do bedding (another thing my mom rocked at, every bedding I had in college-yes I said "every" that was the advantage of having an awesome mama that could sew, when my style changed so would my bedding!  I was so darn spoiled it is silly!!!!!) BUT I do PILLOWS!  That's my new obsession.  I tackled the pillow with fringe, not a fun project but I can say I did it!  Here is what I've been up to...

This room is my baby!  I will have to  post pics of this room prior to me redoing it, it was very stuffy and I HATED it!! Now this is my room that I come sit in everyday to blog or check emails.  I LOVE it, not only b/c I did everything but b/c it's happy and soothing. There are my pillows!  I didn't do the solid blue but I did all the others!!!

The other sofa, I always sit on this sofa right next to the table and lamp.  It's my happy place. Is that strange, I hope not?! I'm a big homebody, I LOVE my home!!! I actually miss it anytime we go out of town.  It cracks Craig up, but I think it's a compliment to him and our family.  That man works hard so when he comes home I want him to enjoy our home and be able to relax.  I'm so blessed to have what we have. 

 

I recovered all 8 chairs in our dining room.  I told Craig to trust me on the zebra print, he's usually not a "flashy" person.  The reason I wanted to do zebra or something 'zingy' like that is because our furniture is very ornate.  In reality I would love to get a new table and chairs but... that won't be cheap! I looked into getting new chairs, parson chairs with linen covers, over $1000!!! Not happening. So I recovered them with fun zebra to counteract the ornateness then I'm getting rid of the busy, colorful rug and replacing it with a jute rug.  I'm so excited about this, it will change the whole room.  Once I have the rug in and the walls painted I will post a pic of finished product. I'm dying to get it all done. Again, OCD!!!

I made a new table "thing" I stole this idea from my hairdresser.  She actually bought a small throw at H.L. and put it on her table.  That is what I had for years and loved it but I wanted to add color so I did the blue.  I think once the walls are a different color, different rug, etc.. it will be perfect.  Oh I'll also change the candles and maybe candlesticks. Maybe some mercury glass-love that!

I recovered my seat cushion on the front bench.  I really like how it turned out.  I am going to make some pillows for the bench, (shocker, more pillows!) I have to find a better way to keep them put.  Right now I have them tied to the back of the bench but I don't like the look of that. I might add some rocks or something, see if that works. Darn wind tunnel, I swear that's what our street is.

Here's my little dinoSTAR! Mille was a Triceratop  for her 1st grade program. I covered her clothes with "scales" and made her a tail.

She is the cutest purple dino I've seen, move over Barney there is a new dinosaur in town!!!

I've been busy but it's been fun!

This is an older event but here is Mac's 9th b-day party

Mac loves donuts, so her 9th b-day was a donut party!  We invited 17 girls to the house for a p.j. party!  It was super fun!! I baked mini donuts for one of their party favors, I think there is like 120 donuts! By the end of the party I was a little tired of donuts.  I will tell you the pics in this post aren't the best.  I took them at night and they are dark...bummer!  I have better ones but they're on my ipad, I'll have to figure out how to transfer them.

This is another party favor which they also used during the party.  I LOVE these cups!!! I've used them so much because who doesn't need a cute cup. I picked cute paper and then just used random letter stickers to make their names.  I also made little flags on their straws, so easy but it was one of my favorite little decorations. I also made a bunch of felt donuts with little beads and hot glued them to the center.

Dark picture!!!! Ugh! This one 1 of 3 tables.  I took pillow cases and hot glued a giant felt donut that I made to the back.  Then I made a little banner that said "Happy Birthday MacKenzie" I dangled little donuts from the chandelier (I'm telling you that at the end of the party I hated my circle cutter or maybe it hate me! It did the job though! 

This is an up close of the banner.  I just picked fun paper in different colors.  I wish I had a better picture because it was really cute! I actually saved it to use for Mille or reuse for Mac.

Ok so the table is busy!!! That's because this was the gingerbread decorating table. I made little milk cartons(yes I said made! I couldn't get any from the dairy and I couldn't bring myself to get a bunch and pour them out.) and covered them with graham crackers.  Then I glued them to a cake circle that I covered with cute paper. I also glued a little music button that played Christmas music, they were .50 at Hobby Lobby! Mac loved that feature. You can also kind of see on the busy table that I made little place mats for each girl.  I made a donut shape and then used glitter glue for sprinkles. I then laminated them so they could keep them for a while. I will tell you that the glitter made the laminate bumpy. The center pieces are cans from like tomato sauce or something.  I covered them with cute paper then I stuck some floral foam in the can and stuck the donut into the foam.  I also covered the foam with cute tissue paper.  I liked how they added height to the table.

Close up of the gingerbread house and place mat.  I made then little runner as well, just picked fabric and then hot glued(love hot glue!)the fringe.

I always make a sign for the girls, so here is Mac's.  It's a giant donut with cute letters on it.  

Another table that was set up.  This table was used for painting ornaments.  I also had a station set up on my kitchen island where the girls painted picture frames.  While everything was drying and the girls played I stuck a picture of the girls that we took at the beginning of the party. It was super cute.

This is a bad picture but I guess it's the only one I have that shows the party favor.  I got little crates from H.L. and printed out their name and put a donut on the crate. Then inside they put their frame, ornament, gingerbread house and cup. I also made milk cartons and filled them with the mini donuts, there is a little baggy filled with Cheerios labeled "donut seeds"I also made little pony tail holders that have felt donuts on them.  That was a last minute thing I came up with and they turned out cute. Now that I type it out it was a lot of stuff for a favor but I got everything %50 off at H.L. and I kept adding projects for the kids to do b/c I was afraid they would run out of stuff to do.  It was a really fun party!! Mac and I have started planning for next year, she's so like me it's scary at times!  We are doing a baking party but with only 6-7 girls. 

Now I'm off to start planning for Mille's party.  I have the color scheme and party theme just have to come up with invitation and decorations. I'm excited just thinking about it, I love planning a party!!!!

Valentine Treats! I finished...finally

For the girls' class I got in my mind that I wanted to do a treat bag.  I thought it would be fun for them to each get their own bag, plus since they can't have a "party" it's easy for the teacher to pass out. In the treat bags I stuck homemade rice crispy treats.  A fact about me, I can make a great cheesecake and many other yummy things but for some reason I suck at making rice crispy treats!

I put each one in a little baggy and stapled it closed.  Again I wanted it as easy as possible for teachers and kids.

37 rice crispy treats waiting to be eaten!  

I used tortillas and a cookie cutter to make pizzas.  Easy and cute, doesn't get better than that!!!

I used 2 sizes of cookie cutters (actually I think they're for fondant...whatever) 

I stacked the pepperoni together then cut them into the heart shape.  Again, EASY & CUTE!!  It's the little details that count.

I lined the baking sheets with wax paper, sprayed with Pam and then put the tortillas down.  I put a little marinara on each one and then spread it.

I covered them with yummy cheese and added the pepperoni.  I then baked the pizzas at 320 for bout 10 minutes.  I made sure to watch them so they didn't burn.

This is the little treat bag, again cute and simple.

This is what is inside the treat bag.  I hope they like it, I know I would.

Here are all the bags stuffed in my awesome "Mixed Bags" that the girls sold.  Those things rock!!! Now off to school to deliver the treats and Mac's library book, stinker forgot it. :o)

Happy Valentine's Day!

My sweet husband has a big trial coming up and  he's been working long, hard days.  He asked if we could celebrate V-day early so we did it last night. I cooked some of he's favorite things (I didn't take pics...I forgot!) we had beef tenderloin, twice baked potatoes or 'boats' as Craig and then girls call them, and fresh green beans (my mom's recipe!!) It was delicious!  I normally would have baked the dessert (I love baking and prefer it over cooking!) but the last minute notice and the fact that Sunday was going to filled with making 37 valentine treats for the girl's class....I bought for the first time! I bought a red velvet cupcake, it was yummy. I also bought a chocolate truffle cake, Craig and the kids liked it but i didn't care for it.  I'm not a fan of the HEB's cupcakes or cakes and they used the same cake base for this truffle.  Of well the fam liked it and it saved me several calories!!! :o)

The table was elegant meets shabby chic. I used my china (that stuff hasn't been used in 10 years!! CRAZY, we're using it at least once a week now! I mean what's the point?  All those lovely people spent a fortune giving us plates that sit in a china cabinet. I feel guilty just thinking about it, it ends now!) and nice stemware but then mixed it with my favorite natural twine place mats and cotton napkins. 

I also put out some of my favorite candlesticks. We actually ate by candle light!  Cheesy, right? Craig pointed out how quiet everybody was, even sweet Mille! WE might eat by candle light every night!!!  The girls loved the candles, Mac wanted to turn off ALL the lights. But I told her mom and dad might cut off a finger while cutting our steak if we did that.

There is the pretty (but not so yummy-sorry it wasn't very good) chocolate truffle cake and the huge red velvet cupcake.

I bought my favorite flowers, tulips and hydrangeas!  I just threw them in a white pitcher, nothing fancy or full of thought.  Simple and pretty.

This I had to add b/c it's so darn cute!  While I was finishing up with the cooking sweet thing fell asleep with my other baby, Granger!  She had a big day of playing with the neighbor outside, what a gorgeous day it was!  I had all the windows open while I was cooking.  My sweet baby is so precious when she sleeps. One day I need to do a collage of her sleeping in this chair, some are too funny. One she's sitting straight up and another she is asleep with her head on one arm of the chair and hers legs on the other, her torso is barely touching the cushion of the chair. So funny!!!  That girl can fall asleep fast and fall asleep anywhere!

My babies in their t-shirts that I made.  They were excited.  Sad side note, if Mille looks a little sad it's b/c 5 seconds before this pic her dad said all her allowance was taken away!  They start out each week with $5. If they don't complete chores they get .50 taken away. Well sweet thing was down to $3 (she'll get it one day, right?  Love her, but wow she's a hard egg to crack!) When Craig went to take out the trash he saw that she left her scooter on the front curb.  Oops! I think I would have taken $1 but....maybe she'll get it. My fingers are crossed!  

Craig laughed at the head bands but the girls thought they were cute, that's all that matters!

Sweet thing striking her pose! She still had $3 in this pic, they're out of order.  My poor baby, no pun intended!

Update the old!

I bought a couple of ottomans at Target a while back.  I liked the size and shape but the leather was just a little dark.  I actually had them in my bedroom but now they're in the front living room.  This fabric is awesome, I think I could cover my entire house with it!

Easy project, just unscrew the top and staple gun the new fabric on then screw it back in place.

I decided to put them in the newly redone living room.  I like the idea of extra seating, we'll see what Craig says. I never know with that man. :o)

Yipee, it's done!

Gum ball necklace

I had seen this precious idea on one of my favorite blogs (I don't remember which one-oops!) We at one time had enough gum balls for me to make 2 necklaces but...a certain little someone ate them with her friend. :o)  So I was only able to make one, they can always share.  It's very simple and very sassy!

Pick out the colors of gum balls you want and then get cute ribbon.  Then carefully (I actually hurried and stabbed myself- I don't recommend that!) use either a metal skewer  or a meat thermometer and poke a hole through the gum ball.  Pinch the gum ball and put it on the table, this will prevent breaking and sliding. You'll want to poke a hole on either side so it's nice and clean. Then get your ribbon and cut a point on the end. I even covered it with tape so it would slide through the hole easier.  After you slide it through the hole just tie a knot after each gum ball and finish it with a bow.

I know the girls will love this I can't wait to see what they think when they get home. I hope everybody stays warm, this weather is nuts!!!!

On my other model!  The funny thing is she even had on a tunic with gum balls on it! 

Sweet treats

The girls like to give candy to friends and I thought this was a cute idea.  I think I got the idea out of Family Fun magazine.  You just take any kind of candy that's in a roll and wrap scrapbook paper around it.  The message says "I like the way you roll!" Very simple and sweet. I think the girls want to make valentines too, so we'll probably make some handmade ones this weekend.  It's funny because before having kids I was never a huge Valentine's Day person, but now it's so fun. We love to make fun things together, so this is just another reason to do it. 

Valentine shirts for the girls

It's so hard to find cute shirts for the girls that aren't super expensive or lame in one form or another.  So I try and make them cute shirts for the holidays.  I usually go to my favorite store Target (I love Target!! I know the lay out better than the workers. It amazes and frightens Craig at the same time! It's one of my happy places!) and get t-shirts, this t-shirt was probably $8. Then I visit my other favorite store, Hobby Lobby (another happy place!) and pick up the accents. I envisioned doing 3 hearts and then I wanted to try sewing lots of beads on one because I thought it would look neat.  Here is the finished product, they turned out cute. 

This is Camille's t-shirt. At the last minute I put the "C" on it. I just used felt and cut it out free hand. Hopefully you can see the beaded heart. I love the result but seriously those things took way too long.  I made them while Craig was out of town, so I just sat in bed till wee hours in the night sewing on tiny beads.  I don't sleep well when he's gone anyway so this was a good project.

This is Miss Mac's t-shirt. With her beaded heart it was a little easier because I sewed all of the buttons and bigger beads on first then filled in with little beads.

My sweet Mille in her shirt.  I need to get one of Mac, she was at a party when we took this pic. 

Bottom line, the girls love their t-shirts and can't wait to wear them.  A mom success!!!!  All it took was fun felt, t-shirts, beads, buttons, needle, thread, and love. :o)

Mille's Valentine box

This box screams my sweet little Camille. She loves bright colors (green is her favorite!) and she loves zebra print. I had saved this awesome box from a pair of boots I bought the girls, perfect size for valentine cards. I decided to cover it with material because it never fails that my kids want to keep their boxes and they are always "so pretty!" ;o) So since her room is pink/black/& white I thought this would fit in just fine.

It's covered with material and then I used a zebra ribbon to accent the opening. This is one of those projects that I grabbed whatever I had in the craft closet, no planning involved! Those are the best sometimes. I used pink ribbon and sewed them into a cute bow and then added beads to "fancy it up!" The other accent is scrap material that I folded and did a running stitch down the middle and then pulled it tight to make it scrunch up . I'm sure there is some name for that but I don't sew so I just  try random stuff out. I think I had seen this done before on HGTV, who knows!

Pam (Mille's teacher) said to add a picture so it would be easy for kids to identify while passing out their cards. So there is my sweet Mille.  When Craig got home I showed him her box, all he could say was "WOW!" I assure you it isn't from the hard work and creativity I put in while making it, it was because he said, "it's SO loud!!!" But when I explained that it's for Camille he agreed that it was perfect, like he said...LOUD! Wouldn't have it any other way.

Valentine's Day Fun!!!

This next entry is going to show the odd way my mind works, so get ready! I was on one of my favorite blogs, Sweet Designs (blog.amyatlas.com - search snowman) and she had the cutest snowmen made out of milk bottles.  I fell in love with them right away, and I knew I had to make them at some point. The only problem was a lot of kids are allergic to milk and transporting these little guys to school would be a pain.  Well, several weeks went by and I kept thinking about those cute little snowmen, how was I going to make them work? So one day when the fam and I were at my in-laws farm my mother-in-law had these cute little water bottles. That is where you see how my strange mind works, who cares about water bottles? That would be me!! As soon as I saw them I knew they were going to be my version of the snowman! I went to one of my favorite stores (Hobby Lobby) and collected supplies. I bought styrofoam balls and some red fleece. I would have picked a fun ribbon but since it's  for boys and girls and for Valentine's Day I went with red. I used a melon baller to carve out a space for the lid of the water bottle and then I cut a black pipe cleaner into little pieces for the eyes. I didn't want to do that for the mouth so I just used a marker! Then the nose is a little orange bead.  I hope you think they are cute.  My plan is to put the water bottle, a little mini heart pizza, and heart shaped rice cake in a white bag for each child in the girl's class.  I figured it would be easy, fun, and cute!