Letter Wreath knockoff

Ballard Design knockoff.  Their "B" is for $36 on sale.  I made mine for $4.oo.  Any type of greenery could be used but because my last name is B I thought it would be easier to intertwine 2 wreaths together.  If you have a string of greenery that has wire in it you can cut that its just a matter of bending in the same place back and forth until it snaps.  That way you could manipulate it to be whatever letter you needed. If you believe that it would be hard to make a letter yourself don't forget that most craft stores have wooden letters for a $1-$3 and you could hot glue greenery to or pine cones or cover the wooden letter in Christmas scrapbook paper .  I usually place my wooden B with scrapbook paper in my tree as an ornament, its a great tree filler if you have a bare spot.

 

 

I leaned it up against the paper towel roll to give you an idea of the height of it.  To make this was less than $2.  Wrap it in Christmas wrapping paper if you don't have scrapbook paper. 

Change up what you got

Got a hutch in your dining room that you wish you could change just a bit without messing with the wood?  Or just wanna dress things up a bit.  This is a hutch that was passed to me from my mom, it belonged to my mom and dad when they first got married so its old and I dont want to mess with the color of it or atleast while they are alive...just kidding mom.   Its a great piece of furniture but I didn't like the backing on it,  it was a dark pressboard -see picture below.  I covered the entire backing of it with scrapbook paper to lighten things up a bit.  The nice thing is that you could use any scrapbook paper, any color, change it up often and it wont hurt your hutch. 

 See this picture, if you look closely you can see star war fondant pieces leftover from my sons bday.  Doesnt everybody keep dried up cake characters in their hutch?

Christmas signs

Christmas signs made with scrapwood, leftover red paint , vinyl lettering and cricut.

Leftover wood found in garage or you can actually buy wood remnants at Home Depot for about 50 cents.  Red paint is leftover from my kitchen walls.

If you didnt have vinyl lettering you could still make this using paper letters that you cut out with a cricut and modge podge.  Or use a stencil.   If you have great handwriting, I do not, you could free hand with paint .  Think outside the box when it comes to signs, got a leftover cabinet door-use it and hang it on wall using ribbon or lean it against your mantle.  Have a wood sign that you bought years ago that just doesn't fit into your decor anymore-paint over it and make a new sign.

$50 Topiary knockoff for $5.00

Here is the Ballard Design boxwood topiary.  Its $50.00/each, yep you read right each.  I decided to make my own cone for the upcoming holidays.  Since its boxwood leaves and not evergreen you could keep this out all year long.

 It starts with this boxwood from Hobby Lobby that is 50% off right now so its $4.oo

 And then this styrofoam cone from the dollar store.

 Pull the leaves off the stem of the boxwood, they pull right off.

 Using a toothpick "predrill" the holes to make it easier to insert the boxwood leaves.

 At this point you will need to start cutting the leaves so that you have different lengths to give you the cone look.

 Save the bottom half of what you cut off you can use those to fill in any spaces later.

 At this point if you find any stems sticking out further just snip them with your scissors.

 You could leave as is or put inside a container. I bought this red container for $1 on clearance after the holidays.  I knew it would come in handy someday.

I wont lie this is not a 30 minute project, it took me about 2 hours to finish but with a kid at home there was a lot of stopping and starting.  Total cost of project $5.00 ($4 for boxwood, $1 cone)

Cinnamon Pretzels

Cinnamon Pretzels anyone...here is all you need for a sweet treat !

• 1 -16 oz package small pretzels
• 2/3 cup of vegetable oil
• 1/ cup sugar
• 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a large roasting pan or any other large dish that you can put into oven  combine oil, sugar and cinnamon, stir well.  Add pretzels into mixture and toss so that pretzels are covered.  Bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 300 degrees,   stir twice.  After 30 minutes spread pretzels onto waxed paper to cool.  Then EAT.

Want snow-try epsom salt

Wanna add some sparkle to your candles for a fraction of the cost.  Here are the items needed to sparkle your candles.

• If you don't already have candles get yourself some candles from the dollar store, any size, any color, any smell.  No sense in buying expensive ones, these are getting covered anyways.
• Epsom Salt (box of Epsom salt can also be found at dollar tree store)
• Modge podge or any other glue
• Sponge brush usually 10 cents at hardware store
• Old pan or aluminum pan that you can throw away afterwards or take out plastic container or small shirt box just enough room for Epsom salt to cover bottom and you can roll your candle.
• If you don't want to cover entire candle put a rubber band at the stopping point on the candle
• Wax paper to set candles on afterwards to dry

Cover the areas on the candle with your glue that you want to have sparkle on.  Roll the candles gently in the Epsom salt.  Let them sit to dry.  Afterwards you can add an ornament to it that you already have or leave it as is.

Epsom salt can also be used to look like fake snow around the house for the holidays,  please remember to keep away from kids and line your tray with wax paper.  Have mason jars? Why not put some sand or Epsom salt and a simple candle (these are tea light candles from dollar store) in and set on mantle for a Christmas glow.

Holiday recipes

I love this site for recipes, whether its everyday recipes or holiday recipes,  Its step by step instructions with pictures and oh so yummy!!!  http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/

Easy to make decor

Wanted to share this easy idea for decorating on a budget.  At your local dollar store, ours is called Dollar Tree they have tons of glass.  Glass plates, glass candle holders, glass vases, you get the picture.  You can use these items for decorating your house during the holidays or anytime and you can make cake platters that would look gorgeous with all goodies that most of us will be baking soon. (click on pictures to enlarge)

Get yourself some of these from the dollar store,  this is a vase and a candle holder.  At Walmart  you can purchase glass glue for about $2.50 a tube.  The tubes will last a long time, I have glued atleast 20 things and still haven't used half the tube.  Either E-6000 or Quick Grip will work and they can be found in the craft area near the hot glue guns.

 

Glue the candle stick holder to the bottom of the vase and this is what you get and this is what you can do with it for decor.  This is a candle with coffee beans and the other has ornaments.

 

Purchase a glass plate and do the same thing by gluing the candle stick holder to the bottom of the plate and you have yourself a cake pedestal or put ornaments on it for decor.  Any size plate would work, any color and any style.  Buy an extra candle stick holder and a smaller size plate and make yourself a 2 tier platter.

Grateful A-Z

November is grateful month so here is my grateful A-Z list.

A-the smell of baked apple pie
B-Boy, he brings such joy to my life
C-My brother Christopher
D-my dad
E-excitement of the upcoming holidays
F-family
G-girlfriends and grandparents
H-is for Hope, helpful hands, and hubby
I-the I love you's that flow in and out of our house
J-my sister Jennifer
K-kindness of others
L-my husband Lowel
M-my mom
N-nighttime, sometimes it cant come soon enough.  The best bridge between dispair and hope is a good nights sleep.
O-outside I love the outdoors.
P-patience with Preston
Q-quite times to read a book
R-relaxing days
S-sunny days and smiles
T-technology to keep me in touch with everyone
U- Ubiquitarianism which is the belief that Christ is everywhere ( I totally looked like that)
V-vacations
W-working as a stay at home mom
X-my rights to vote, get it--- where you put an X for your choice, its all I could think of so work with me.
Y-you
Z-zumba cause thats what Im doing right now at the gym

Tale of a redhead

There once was a redheaded girl, who had a brown turtleneck sweater, who couldnt bare the throught of throwing it out even though the turtleneck was stretched out and she hadnt worn it in a year.  The redheaded decided to keep the brown sweater turleneck because it was a great color to compliment her redhead.  One day she decided to cut the turtleneck off and make her own sweater into a masterpiece.   She made flowers out of the turleneck material by setting her sewing machine on the highest tension to create a tight gather.  This is what the redheads sweater looks like now.  The End

We had a great weekend.  We went to a surprise birthday party for a friend and hung out with wonderful friends.  The kids had so much playing with each other they didnt want to leave the party. 
  Preston got his haircut today, man his hair grows fast.  All summer  he had a mohawk so it was time to cut that off .  Tomorrow I am working at the school for election day and then Wednesday Im in Prestons room volunteering.  Thursday Im helping a friend with some Christmas ideas for the upcoming season.  No she isnt already decorating for the season but she wants to get ready and be prepared with some fresh new ideas for decorating.  Right up my ally!   Today I bought a few Christmas presents for the kids, usually by now Im almost done so this year I am really behind.   Have a good one!

2010 Trick or Treat smell my feet

We had trick or treating here on Thursday and had a blast.  We had 2 other families over for some food, trick or treating and a good time.  Preston went as darth vader and got a ton of candy...to much candy!

This post if for the hubby.  Im so proud of him, he is now the Technical Director for  Sales Performance and Operations at Nationwide.  I have no idea what that means but it sounds important and even if it isnt Im very proud of  him.  He got called into his boss's office the other day and walked out with this title!!!!  Im going to say that his boss liked my pumpkin spice cookies that I made him for his birthday and that they were so good that he decided to award Lowel.  Im sure it had nothing to do with the long hours, weekends, and stressful work that Lowel does.....its all about the cookies. 


Congratulations!!!

First the dog ate Lowels glasses while he was in the shower, and Lowel is blind without his glasses so luckily we had a  backup pair but still had to order new ones.  Then the car needed to be worked on so its been gone for a week.  And to top it off the washing machine broke the other day and we had to order a new one cause there was no fixin the old one (we tried).  Its been an expensive 2 weeks for us. Atleast I know what Im getting for Christmas.....a washing machine.

How my day has gone

Preston:  Mom dad just said dumbass to his computer.

Me-Lowel stop cussing at your computer, Preston stop tattling.

 Both boys answer with an Ok and their heads hung down in shame.

Who was your favorite celebrity as a child?I had a huge crush on Andy Gibb-so dreamy!!!!
What is your favorite color?
Green
What word describes you best?
spunky
What is your greatest accomplishment?
Preston-the best creation ever!
What drives you every day?
My husband, child and family
What is your favorite food?
mexican food
Where do you like to vacation?
anywhere as long as there is a beach
Who do you admire?
My sister
If you were invisible, where would you go?
Id probably try sneaking into Heaven but Im pretty sure that wouldnt work so then Id sneak into a Krispy Kreme donut store to eat a couple dozen donuts and get the recipe of course, and then I would probably go watch Preston at school to see how he acts when Im not around. So far no complaints from his teacher so we must be doing something right.
What is the kindest thing anyone has done for you?
To many to count.  My husband leaves me cards all the time.  I think my friends and family do kind things for me all the time.  I have wonderful neighbors who have suprised me as well.  Im very blessed to be surrounded by kind people.
What would you do with a million dollars?
Pay off our house, our parents homes and our siblings homes then make sure that Preston and Trinity are always taken care of whether we are around or not.
If you had three hours to yourself, what would you do with them?
Id head to Target and my first stop inside Target would be at Starbucks for a latte.

Lowels work requires that employees and spouses have annual preventative doctor visits each year as part of the health plan.  This has to take place between Sept-December of each year so I went the other day.  Not the most pleasant way to spend my time although its not nearly as bad as having to visit the woman doctor for a rape and scrape (sorry dad if your reading this but thats what I call it) . Anyways last year my EKG came back with some issues, big shocker there considering I have had heart flutters since I was about 10 years of age.  Another EKG was done and upon comparison it has gotten a bit worse.  Guess it really is time to see that cardiologist like the doctor has been suggesting to me.  Cant I just go to a doctor any doctor at one time and come out with nothing wrong.   Have I ever walked in and walked out and they say Heather your doing great you look and have the body of an 25 year old...hey a girl can dream cant she.  Oh and I have blood in my urine according to the doctor after making me pee in a cup the size of a cap on top of a medicine bottle.....bonus!!!

Who I am.......

Im the woman who is always in a rush, who wakes up with crazy hair cause its to darn long, I go out all the time without an ounce of makeup, I feel most comfortable in jeans, I get a lump in my throat every morning Preston gets on the school bus as if some strange person is taking my child away, I secretly peek into Prestons school room when I'm working at school in a different area, I sing and dance when no one is looking, I eat candy, I sometimes don't get around to making the bed till after lunch, Im crafty, optimistic, I love to laugh, I rarely eat breakfast, I love to vacuum. I look horrible in yellow (who doesn't), I could wander around a home decor store for hours and hours and still not find what Im looking for, I have my husband wrapped around my finger (he knows), I love to run, I love donuts (good thing I love to run), I read decorative blogs and then copy the things I see on them for my house, Im great at shopping for bargains, I have lots of friends, I miss my family sometimes, I want another baby, I hate cold weather, my son has me wrapped around his finger, I change my mind a lot, I have to have coffee in the morning,  I believe in angels, I love my natural hair color,  I love my blue eyes, I can fill out a pair of jeans, I hate my knees, I change my purse every 2 weeks to a different one from my closet, I love girl movies, I love to bake and do it about twice a week, I cry sometimes, and I am who I am.

Relay for life skate party

Friday the kids didnt have school so our Relay for Life team had a skating fundraiser party.  Lowel took off work so that we could take both kids and just have fun for the day.  It brought back some great memories for me.  This was Prestons first time skating and he had a blast.  We raised some money, laughed, enjoyed ourselves...what a perfect time.

Life imagined

Live the life you have always imagined. 

Is anyone really doing that?  Dont get me wrong I love my life, I love being a stay at home, I love the part time job that I do, the volunteering I do and everything but is it what I dreamed about when I was young. No.  But then again when I was young I wanted to be so many different thing....a teacher, a nurse, a brain surgeon, wonder woman, a bakery owner, and the list could go on and on.  I guess in some sense you could say I have accomplished some of that, being a nurse, teaching my child, and baking for my family and friends.  I knew that I always wanted kids growing up, I imagined the type of man I would marry who would come home from work, we would eat dinner together everynight, we would hold hands, kiss passionately, have family fun and I have that and I feel blessed for that.  However, there is always something lingering out there of what else can I do, something that would make a difference to me, something that has meaning to me, something that my heart desires to do, something crafty and fun.  I hope that I can figure out what it is I am being pulled to do and even if I never figure it out I hope that my life is full of excitement, happiness, and love.

If I could be like anyone I would chose Leigh Anne Tuohy (The Blind Side).  I loved her character!

Dear Jennifer,

I cant believe its time to write another letter to you and thats it been 4 years since your accident where God took you and your daughter Hannah to join him in Heaven. I gotta tell you even though 4 years has passed its not any easier. It still feels like the crash was yesterday and I know its been a while since I visited your grave but its so hard to go there because it makes it all so real. Just even writing this is making me cry cause I wish I would of spent more time with you and told you just how much I loved you as a friend. Tears still roll down my cheeks when I think of you. When we drive into TN it takes all I have not to burst into tears as we drive past your exit. I have seen pictures of your daughter Sarah, your mom sends them to me and she is so beautiful. She is happy and looks a lot like you. I know that your parents love having her around. Not a day goes by that I dont think about you and miss you. Its so hard to accept the fact that your gone and not here, you were my best friend growing up. You were such a big part of my life and the last time we saw each other was at your baby shower. I miss you more than words can say. I know that God loves having you and Hannah with him but I loved having my best friend here as well and as much as I understand that life takes those we love away not God sometimes its hard to swallow. I hope that you are living it up in a big pink barbie house just like the one we used to play with.

As much as I believe the following passages with all my heart I still weep and Im still brokenhearted but knowing that you are happy, safe and not suffering from any pain from the wreck is comforting.

Psalm 30:5 Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

I miss you and love you.

Today is my grandmothers  (Mammy) 97th Birthday.  Preston called Great Mammy and told her she was only 3 years away from 100 yrs old.  Im sure that just made her day.  Its such a blessing to still have her and she is such an important part of my life and Prestons.  I love the fact that Preston has a Great Grandparent still around and that he enjoys seeing and talking to her on the phone. 
Happy Birthday Mammy!!!

Girly girls come from New York, sweet girls come from Texas, prissy girls come from California, but we Tennessee girls have fire and ice in our blood! We can ride a 4-wheeler, be a princess, throw a left hook, hunt and fish with the boys,  hunt, bake a cake, love with passion and if we have an opinion, you're gonna hear it!!!!

A box full of happiness

Happiness for my boys (hubby & son) comes in a pink box and is at Target right now for $2.50 and can rarely be found throughout the year.  Trust me I have searched many stores and they dont carry it throughout the year here.

 Trophy day for football.

Preston with some of his best buddies.

Party

Tonight is the 31 purse/bag party at my house so you know what that means....I have to clean.  Who knew I had so much crap laying out on my dining room table.  Im excited about the party and to get the chance to hang out with friends, a reason to bake and proceeds from the party go toward my relay for life team.  If you couldnt make the party but would like to look at the products you can do son online here. http://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/catalog.aspx?eventId=E278871&from=DIRECTLINK


Gotta get back to cleaning which basically means following the dog and Preston around and cleaning up after them, they generate a lot of dirt.

Always, Sometimes, Never

I always...
check my facebook
kiss my husband and kid goodnight
put chapstick on before bed
drink a cup of coffee every morning
wash my face
kiss Preston goodbye before getting on the bus (not sure how long he will let me do this one)

I sometimes...
eat breakfast
work out at gym
wonder what Preston will be when he grows up
think about running for city council here in our town
say shit
put on makeup

I never....
stop thinking about ideas
want to stop baking
sleep enough
think that Im doing enough
get enough milk
stop missing my family
go a day without speaking to my husband at work

Just for the girls:   I saw this sign and thought it was funny.
The sign said
I laughed so hard ,Tears ran down my legs.