Some things accomplished

I've had a good and fast Christmas Break so far.

I can't believe we're already into the second week, but here it is.

I have gotten some things accomplished though, which is always good.

School scrapbooks are finally up to date...

 

We rearranged Grace's room, and added lights.

We even completed a project I saw on Pinterest.

 I LOVE it.  We just cut a large posterboard in a heart shape, added the pictures, then hung it on the wall with thumbtacks.  After that, we added the lights.  What a cool way to display pictures!

Then with a window from my Grandpa's and some chicken wire, I made a new memo board,

and hung it in the living room.

I even convinced Brent to help me with a project.  He didn't want to, but I wore him down.  There are only so many things I can do alone.

I first painted Evan's old train table, distressed it, and added an old window frame from one of Brent's job sites.  

It's a bigger coffee table than we had before, and I'm getting used to it, but I like it.  It'll grow on me.

I have more things to finish this week, so I'd better get to it.

4 about me

So, I was reading The Pleated Poppy's blog last night, and decided she had a really good idea.  She posted 4 things about herself, in many different categories.  You can find her post here.

I've been in a little blog rut lately, and haven't had time to put any craft tutorials on because I haven't had much time myself to do any crafting.

Sad but true.  I plan to do some on Christmas break.  I'll share later.

So, anyway, I'm borrowing Lindsay's idea, and sharing some 4's about me.

4 about me

4 jobs I've had:

1.  secretary at real estate office

2.  graphic designer

3.  kindergarten aide

4.  speech assistant/preschool paraprofessional

4 movies I've watched more than once:

1.  Elf

2.  Love Actually

3.  Ocean's 11, 12, & 13

4.  Under the Tuscan Sun

4 places I've lived:

1.  New Paris

2.  Costa Rica (one semester of college)

3.  Goshen, IN

4.  New Paris (can't help but come back)

4 TV shows I watch:

1.  Downton Abbey

2.  Scandal

3.  Castle

4.   Modern Family

4 places I've been:

1. Phoenix, AZ

2.  Orlando, FL

3.  Chicago, IL

4.  Atlanta, GA

4 Favorite foods:

1.  Mexican  (ANYTHING!)

2.  Buffalo Chicken wraps

3.  Fish (broiled, baked, or fried)

4.  Chicken (cooked any way)

4 places I'd rather be right now:

1.  Napa Valley, California (never been there)

2.  Cancun, Mexico

3.  Chicago, IL

4.  My bed!

4 things I'm looking forward to this year:

1.  Finishing more crafts

2.  Summer break

3.  Mini vacation with friends in 2 weeks

4.  building my ETSY business

4 places I love to shop:

1.  Anthropologie

2.  Target

3.  Hobby Lobby

4. White House Black Market

I hope you all have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner

It's 9:45am, and I've already done a ton of stuff.

It's a Saturday, I remind you, but one that I thought would be kinda bad, has turned into one kind of good.

I was up at 5:45am.  Gulp.  NOT my idea for a Saturday.

We were supposed to have an all day junior high basketball tournament at school today, and the girls were going to cheer.  We were supposed to be to school by 8am.

I had to wake two very sleepy girls who were out late watching a movie last night, and then crashed at my house.  (Don't worry, it was Grace and her bestie Christina.)

I woke them up at 6, cause you know, cheerleaders HAVE got to look pretty, especially when your boyfriend is on the team!

I went downstairs, made them pancakes, got the coffee running, and made my breakfast.

The girls came down, sleepily ate their pancakes, and I got a text. 

THE TOURNAMENT IS CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER.

(It's snowing to beat the band here.)

Hallelujah!  And I'll say it again...Hallelujah!

I sent the girls back to bed, then put in a load of laundry.

Meanwhile, Brent and Evan got up, ate breakfast, then got dressed and went outside.

We are selling some ewes today, and the boys are headed 45 minutes away to the sale barn.

I remind you, it's snowing to beat the band here..  Sometimes sideways.

Brent asked if I could come outside to write down their ear tag numbers, so we know who we sold.

Sure babe.  I'll be right out.

The ewe in the back, our first one, Lambchop, the tamest one we have, the one in the middle, licorice, cause she has black lips!

I came in from that little excursion and did some more laundry, changed the sheets, got ready, put some things away, wrapped some small gifts, and got out all the ingredients to draw the WINNER for the giveaway I had this week.

Remember, this is what you're winning...plus, maybe some extras cause that's how I roll.

I did the drawing quite scientifically (ha ha), cause I couldn't get the random widget to insert into my post and randomly pick a number associated with a name.

I wrote all the names down, put them in a bowl, and drew one out.

I wish you all could have won, but the shipping would've killed me, not to mention the labor of making all those items again.

So, LESLIE DEERING is the winner!  I'm so happy for you Leslie, and I just sent your ETSY purchase out this week!  Hope you have a wonderful Christmas with a little something extra to make your day.  I'll send out your prize Monday.

To wrap up, here are some Christmas pictures from around the house.

Love Languages and a GIVEAWAY!

Years ago when Brent and I were dating/engaged, as part of the process of planning our wedding, we had to meet with the pastor who was going to marry us. 

It was counseling and prewedding talks to get us ready to be man and wife.

We were supposed to read the book Love Languages, and each week when we met we talked about what we had read. 

Over the course of the book we discovered Brent's love language(s) were physical touch and words of affirmation.

Obviously.  Both are on his top ten list!

Mine were time and gift giving.

I actually LOVE to give gifts.  LOVE IT.  I cannot wait for my kids to open their gifts from me at Christmas and their birthdays.

I used to have an unspoken "contest" of homemade gifts with a set of friends we had early on in our marriage.  The wife and I were big Martha Stewart lovers and we tried making her crafts all the time, and then giving them to each other.  It was great fun. 

So, in the spirit of Christmas, I want to give someone a gift. 

One of you.

Here's what I plan on giving away.

Some are things I make and sell in my ETSY shop, and some are things from Target, my favorite store.

This Live canvas is one of my favorites.  I loved making it.

Everyone could use a little glitter at Christmas, and these magnets could be used to clip Christmas cards to your fridge, or hold all the important school papers.

Aqua and white bakers twine can be used for ANYTHING.  I use it to wrap gifts, and string up ornaments, etc. 

A mustache notebook and a glittery pouch and ornaments...who wouldn't want these?

And lastly, one of my homemade adjustable rings and some music garland.

To enter, you'll have several chances.

1 entry for becoming a new follower of mine (enter on the sidebar), and commenting to let me know.
1 entry for already being a follower and commenting to let me know.
1 entry for following my etsy shop (link on the sidebar to my shop), then commenting to let me know.
and 1 more entry if you purchase something from my ETSY shop and then comment to let me know it was you!

I will announce the winners on Friday, Dec. 13.  Friday the 13th will be one winner's LUCKY Friday the 13th.

Check back, and enter as many as 4 times.

Good luck!

A Christmas Craft

A couple of years ago, I happened to stumble across a craft purely by accident.  It has been since sold in my Etsy shop, and adorns my Christmas tree as well.

It makes use of old, forgotten, and sometimes dusty-smelling books or hymnals. 

It's book page flower garland.

I'm linking the original tutorial/blog post here so you can read about it and make your own.

I currently have one strand of this in my Etsy shop, and last night I made more to list.

I'm also planning a Merry Christmas giveaway in the next couple days, so please stop by again and see.

Merry EARLY Christmas!