Creating Moments That Matter
CrazyMamaof6 is hosting such a cool giveaway! It’s called the Purse Pal and it holds your designer purse off the ground when you go out.
I haven’t seen anything like it and what a fabulous idea! So stop by her blog and enter her giveaway. Be sure to tell her Laurie sent you. 😉
The “Emma’s Garden Party” for church was rescheduled for last night. I sat at the blogger table with Mandy, Jen, and Carrie. It turned out to be a fun night – the food was so yummy!
Needless to say, set up was a lot faster and we included a few extra things to make it even better. To add to the good fortune (Karma and I made up), the men were playing basketball that night. So guess who batted some eye lashes and got all 8 of my trees loaded into my van with out lifting a finger. he he
I’m thinking we should change Enrichment night to Tuesdays, so the guys can clean up the tables and chairs every activity. That solves the “clean-up” committee problem. 😉
Afterwards, Trish and I went to see The Other Boleyn Girl. I had read the book for book club and really liked it! Of course the book goes into more detail which is worth the read – but the movie was so well made and a must see, A-.
My family is going through more drama {{sigh}} but while I was watching this movie, I could look on the bright side. At least my parents never tried to pimp me out and I’m blessed to have an amazing relationship with my sister. How’s that for positive thinking. 😉
Finally, Liesl gave in to peer pressure and made her blog public for us all to enjoy! She’s a hairdresser in Orem, Utah and such a fun girl. Lisa and I met her when we made an impromptu appointment to get Lisa’s hair done. We all hit if off immediately.
I’m hoping that she’ll put lots of pictures of her clients new hair cuts on her blog so I can keep my locks up on the latest trends. {{giggle}} I love to talk hair!! I’m currently looking for a new style. {{hint hint}}
Be sure to head over to Liesl’s blog and say hello! Let’s make sure we welcome her properly. K!
Another fabulous swap completed. I’m pretty sure I could get addicted to this. I received the loveliest package from Christie!
She said that when she saw this Rome box, she immediately thought of me. (That’s where I’m dying to travel.) In the meantime, she suggested that I tuck in pictures and wish lists inside. What a beautiful reminder and great tip to help me achieve and look forward to my goal!
She gave me a wallet-sized photo album to showcase some of my best vacation spots. (Notice it’s pink!) I like to have pictures of my kids when I travel so I’ve already inserted a couple of those.
Christie put a lot of thought into this! In my ‘must have travel’ purse she included Pond’s make-up removing towelettes, chapstick, hand sanitizer, lotion, candy, and gum. All things I forget to pack in my rush to get out of dodge.
Thanks so much Christie!! I ADORE my package and felt so special when I received it. I felt like you personally hand picked every item just for me! {{squeal with delight}}
Here’s what I sent to Christie:
Christie is a Pride and Prejudice fan, so I made her a Don’t Eat Darcy game. She can play it on the airplane, on a girls trip, or just bring it along for some yummy eye candy. {{giggle}}
Last, but not least, I made her some Pride and Prejudice luggage tags. I was so nervous when I mailed the package, I didn’t want her to be dissappointed. Iwas relieved to find out she liked her package as well. Whew.
If you want to make your own Don’t Eat Darcy game or luggage tags just click on the links and print them out.
Where’s your dream vacation?
I’m featuring my OTT bathroom make over for Tip Junkie’s Talk to me Tuesday!!
My sister, Lisa, came into town over the weekend. So you know what that means – Project Time!!
This time we did a huge make over on my downstairs power bath room. It’s been completely ignored and needed some TLC. Here’s the before picture.
Before (brown iron)
After!!
I’ve been designing this project in my head for months. I had originally planned on doing this in my upstairs guest bathroom but the ceiling isn’t as tall and it’s a funky shape – so the concept wouldn’t work. After much deliberation, I decided to just Go For It!
Lisa took video of the bathroom so you could see it. Thanks Sis!
First, we taped the baseboards and measured out the stripes. I was completely inspired by the trash can (pictured below). I kept the base paint color the same (Monarch Summer Suede) and painted the stripes using BEHR’s Pearlescent Gold Veil. (pictured above)
I was inspired by the towels and reproduced the images on them by painting them on canvas. (If you don’t paint, you can have Whitney them for you! She can match any bedding, towels, etc.)
Just my luck, Drake found them in my room last week and decided that he would add some finishing touches. Grrrr!
After way too much time repainting the canvas art, here’s how it looks on the wall. I added some black ribbon to outline it. I decided it needed some kind of border after hanging it on the wall.
We spray painted the iron towel rack and soap holder black.
I used the iron from my banister as the design for the wall. I just traced it onto a posterboard, cut it out, then used it to draw the design onto the wall.
I LOVE it! This is the first room in either of my homes that hasn’t been painted blue, dark blue, light blue, brown, or some sort of neutral color. I’ve decided that this is my new Time-Out spot. If you need me – I’ll be in the bathroom. 😉
Lisa you ROCK!! Thank you so much for all your help and motivation. I love you so much and had the best time painting with you. ‘God made us Sisters, We made us Friends.’ xoxo
I’m featuring my OTT bathroom make over for Tip Junkie’s Talk to me Tuesday!!
My sister, Lisa, came into town over the weekend. So you know what that means – Project Time!!
This time we did a huge make over on my downstairs power bath room. It’s been completely ignored and needed some TLC. Here’s the before picture.
Before (brown iron)
After!!
I’ve been designing this project in my head for months. I had originally planned on doing this in my upstairs guest bathroom but the ceiling isn’t as tall and it’s a funky shape – so the concept wouldn’t work. After much deliberation, I decided to just Go For It!
Lisa took video of the bathroom so you could see it. Thanks Sis!
First, we taped the baseboards and measured out the stripes. I was completely inspired by the trash can (pictured below). I kept the base paint color the same (Monarch Summer Suede) and painted the stripes using BEHR’s Pearlescent Gold Veil. (pictured above)
I was inspired by the towels and reproduced the images on them by painting them on canvas. (If you don’t paint, you can have Whitney them for you! She can match any bedding, towels, etc.)
Just my luck, Drake found them in my room last week and decided that he would add some finishing touches. Grrrr!
After way too much time repainting the canvas art, here’s how it looks on the wall. I added some black ribbon to outline it. I decided it needed some kind of border after hanging it on the wall.
We spray painted the iron towel rack and soap holder black.
I used the iron from my banister as the design for the wall. I just traced it onto a posterboard, cut it out, then used it to draw the design onto the wall.
I LOVE it! This is the first room in either of my homes that hasn’t been painted blue, dark blue, light blue, brown, or some sort of neutral color. I’ve decided that this is my new Time-Out spot. If you need me – I’ll be in the bathroom. 😉
Lisa you ROCK!! Thank you so much for all your help and motivation. I love you so much and had the best time painting with you. ‘God made us Sisters, We made us Friends.’ xoxo
I’m featuring my OTT bathroom make over for Tip Junkie’s Talk to me Tuesday!!
My sister, Lisa, came into town over the weekend. So you know what that means – Project Time!!
This time we did a huge make over on my downstairs power bath room. It’s been completely ignored and needed some TLC. Here’s the before picture.
Before (brown iron)
After!!
I’ve been designing this project in my head for months. I had originally planned on doing this in my upstairs guest bathroom but the ceiling isn’t as tall and it’s a funky shape – so the concept wouldn’t work. After much deliberation, I decided to just Go For It!
Lisa took video of the bathroom so you could see it. Thanks Sis!
First, we taped the baseboards and measured out the stripes. I was completely inspired by the trash can (pictured below). I kept the base paint color the same (Monarch Summer Suede) and painted the stripes using BEHR’s Pearlescent Gold Veil. (pictured above)
I was inspired by the towels and reproduced the images on them by painting them on canvas. (If you don’t paint, you can have Whitney them for you! She can match any bedding, towels, etc.)
Just my luck, Drake found them in my room last week and decided that he would add some finishing touches. Grrrr!
After way too much time repainting the canvas art, here’s how it looks on the wall. I added some black ribbon to outline it. I decided it needed some kind of border after hanging it on the wall.
We spray painted the iron towel rack and soap holder black.
I used the iron from my banister as the design for the wall. I just traced it onto a posterboard, cut it out, then used it to draw the design onto the wall.
I LOVE it! This is the first room in either of my homes that hasn’t been painted blue, dark blue, light blue, brown, or some sort of neutral color. I’ve decided that this is my new Time-Out spot. If you need me – I’ll be in the bathroom. 😉
Lisa you ROCK!! Thank you so much for all your help and motivation. I love you so much and had the best time painting with you. ‘God made us Sisters, We made us Friends.’ xoxo
We had a power outtage on Tuesday which toasted my router. So I’ve been without internet for the past couple days. Not able to work and respond to e-mail; I was cursing Verizon all day but finally had a change of heart and decided to make the best of it!
With Denae’s closet make over challenge recently, I was inspired to finally take the time to tackle my Pantry! I’ve been wanting to do it for a while. Here’s the before picture.
You may think that it didn’t look too bad, but it was GRODIE! I went all out and I scrubed and painted the shelves and walls.
I had alot of help from Drake and Ed who tried out all the new tubs and baskets.
While I was painting, they played with the garbage cans. I learned all kinds of things you can do with them such as: push them around, throw balls and toys in them, and of course jump off of them. 😉
Here’s the finished product! I was inspired by this pantry – gorgeous! When the boys came home from school they were so impressed! Davis said, “Wow Mom. You had a great day!” I thought that was cute. Dylan took the time to read every label and inspect what was in each one.
I got all the tubs and cloth bins at Wal-Mart. I was amazed at how much extra room I had by using the bins. I just grouped everything into catagories. I also got rid of most boxes. For instance, I dumped out all the breakfast cereal bars into the bin – which gave me so much more room.
I also made some rules like after school they can have something out of the snack bin. After dinner they can have something out of the treat bin. You get the idea.
What’s your pantry system?
How appropriate that this is my 200th post!! It’s about friends, a fun party, and a fabulous idea I’ve been sitting on for months. (he he)
I realize it’s customary to host a giveaway or do something unique to mark such a special event. But I can’t add one more project to my over-scheduled life. Sorry Ladies! However, I do feel like the idea I’m going to share with you is a worthy treat. So enjoy!
Last night we had our Mavens (girls night out) Christmas party! Can I just tell you that I adore these ladies. They laugh loud, tell stories, are real, and put up with my “flippant” remarks because they’re endlessly talking about Jane Austen/British/PBS related topics.
Yes, I’m able to look past our differences and love all the other things that are great about them, which are numerous. {{giggle}}
After catching up with each other, we started the annual gift exchange. It started off so polite and congenial. Then the fun started and the claws came out. (Totally kidding. These were reenacted for your benefit.) Totally appropriate having the picture of Christ in the background, don’t you think. 😉
Yep that’s the same gift, stolen again! Rochelle’s gift, of course.
Speaking of RO – She got Katrina’s gift, the Hairspray calendar featuring cutie pie Troy Bolton. I mean, Zac Efron.
Needless to say, there were so many great gifts that people were finally able to exhale once the gift exchange was over.
What did I bring? Well, thanks for asking. First, I made these place mat purses as gift bags. Just like the one I received from Kara for the Witch Switch.
Inside, were these block plaques I purchased from Deidre. I made the one “I am only as strong as the caffeine I drink, the hairspray I use, and the girlfriends I have!” in black. I bought the other one for myself. 😉
Ok here’s my fabulous idea: This year I am giving ‘The Red Plate’ tradition as my friend gifts! I made the cute red and white place mat purses to put them in.
Basically how the tradition works, is that you use the ‘You are Special’ red plate at meal time when someone accomplishes something, gets a good grades, has a birthday, etc.
I made it out of a charger and vinyl lettering. You can order the white vinyl lettering for $2.00 on Executive Homemaker. You can’t eat, dishwash, or microwave this one. But it was easy on the budget and a wonderful tradition I’m excited to start with my family.
I feel like I’m giving more than a gift this year. I’m giving them warm memories, and hopefully, a tradition that will last generations. Merry Christmas!
There are so many amazing 38+ women at my church that I want to get to know. I’ve lived in this house now for almost 2 years, and I realized a while ago that if I want to become friends with these women, I’m going to have to MAKE the opportunity. That’s when I hatched the idea of the “Cougar & Kitten Luncheon”.
Did any of you see that TV show ‘Age of Love’ where the 30-something dated women in their 40s (Cougars) and 20s (Kittens)? Anyway, it’s that concept. I invited my friends and Jolyn (pictured above) invited her friends. It was so much fun!!
For the party favor, I made these party cones and filled them with chocolates and an inspirational bauble magnet.
I made this runner and these simple centerpieces.
It was potluck (of course), so the food was so yummy! Jen hooked me up with one of her recipes. Thanks Jen!
It was important to me that when the lunch was over, I felt like I got to know the Cougars better. So, I had each person write down a question they wanted to know about someone in the room. We shuffled the cards and then each choose one. One person read their card at a time and then we went around the room and each person got a chance to answer that question.
I also invited my good friend Julie so she could get to know these amazing Cougars as well. Let’s just say, the cougars at her church are not having the same experiences that she is. 😉
It was a BLAST!! I learned so much about these women in 2 1/2 hours that I normally wouldn’t have ever figured out. Even though I’m still exhausted from my Utah trip (Lisa and Melissa wore me out!) It was so worth it. I feel like my world has oppened up just a little bit more and now I have these amazing women to learn from. YEAH!
