Wood rounds Christmas ornaments

We're hosting Christmas for Jeff's side of the family at our house this year and I'm really excited.  I'm hoping to find a nice size tree to decorate and thought these would make easy ornaments and everyone could take theirs home if they wanted to. 

All I did was find a few logs from our fireplace log pile and used the miter saw to cut 35 round discs.   I didnt sand the flat side but I did lightly/quickly sand the edges to knock off the roughest parts.   Melanie used a paint marker to write all the names on the front and Amberly used a black sharpie to write the year on the back.  Strung a piece of cording through for a hanger and that was it.. All done.. and in less than an hour I have lots of ornaments for the tree.

Hoping to make some clothespin snowflakes one night soon to go with these. 

Homemade Gift Exchange

I participated in an Homemade gift exchange this year through Craftaholics Anonymous.  I was paired with a fellow crafter from South Carolina.  I'm always a little nervous when making things for others because I don't know if they will like them or not.  I ended up going with two things that I make fairly often and I also made an infinity scarf.  I hope she likes them..

I hope to join in the next gift exchange in June.. for details on how to sign up go to www.craftaholicsanonymous.net . 

a new sign

Finally getting around to doing a few projects,, Jeff saw a sign recently that said "There will be no WORKING during DRINKING hours"  so I thought I'd make him one.  From start to finish, here it is. 

I just got Jeff to cut down some 1x4's to 27 inches and then he painted them white for me.  I printed off the quote in Microsoft Word and using the method of rubbing pencil on the back to trace the words onto the board. Then I just painted in with a paint pen.  After it had dried overnight I sanded it a little bit and wiped on some stain.  Really easy way to make a sign. 

Simple DIY drop cloth stockings

I had grand plans to make a garland out of these stockings that I made using a drop cloth.. as of right now they are still waiting to be strung together using thick jute twine.   I made enough for myself, hubby, all my kids, the grandgirls and the girls husband/boyfriend. 

They are more for decoration than anything else but you could stuff some small trinkets and candy in there. 

How I made them..

I made a template of a stocking using a sturdy piece of cardstock/cardboard type thing.   My stocking was a little taller at the top to account for the fold down part.    I doubled my drop cloth (after prewashing it of course)  and just used a pencil to lightly trace around the stocking until I had enough traced out. 
Pin around each stocking and then cut around about 1/2 inch from your pencil line. 
Once all the stockings were cut out I folded the top down about an inch and a half or so, repinned, and then sewed directly on top of the pencil line using a zig-zag stitch in red thread. 

I wanted these to look a little shabby/chic/rustic,, whatever you wanna call it.

I have no idea why this picture won't rotate,, 

They measure about 7 1/2 in to 8 inches long.   

I wished I had taken photos as I went along but I got the idea and just ran with it.  Still debating on whether or not I should add names to each at the top.?? What ya think?

Ill be linking up with the Shanty Sisters  at  www.shanty-2-chic.com

Christmas Yard art

Hey everybody ( if there is still anybody reading.. LOL ) Im still in a funk over here.. I have lots of things I'd like to do but finding the time and the energy to do them is another story.  So I thought I'd share somebody elses creativity. 
My husband has an aunt (Aunt Brenda ) that lives on the coast and does all sorts of painting and creative artsy things.  Here are some things she has been working on for Christmas.  

If you're in the Pascagoula, MS area and are interested in any of these let me know and I will get you in contact with her. 

 this is what will be on the this years Christmas tshirts.





I love this wreath!



Update on to do list

I wrote this post back at the beginning of the year and I DID start it by saying that I am horrible at keeping resolutions,, well as it turns out Im not any better at making a list of things to do and actually doing them... Here's my update. 



Im the worlds worst at making or keeping resolutions. So this year Im doing this instead. 52 things I'd like to do or finish in 52 weeks.  (Except I only made a list of 26 )


1. Take my breaks everyday at work.. whether Im super busy or not.. I deserve them !! And better yet,, walk during break!  Nope - still usually work through my breaks


2. Have a date night with my hubby at least once a month. We have had maybe 2 dates since the beginning of the year --ugh! We did go to the movies one afternoon after work.. that was really nice. One night we headed to the movies but there was nothing playing neither of us wanted to see so we went to HomeDepot instead and got started on #8 below.


3. Declutter my house – Yep, I know, that’s a big one. Im a pack rat and like to keep stuff that I MIGHT use one day. Yep - I have been doing this slowly through this year.. still more to clean up/out.


4. Don’t pay A N Y overdraft fees this year. I would have a nice little rainy day fund with all the fees I’ve paid this past year.   I'll just avoid this one !

5. Try to drink more water and cut waaaayy back on the coke. ( and I hate drinking water) .. Yeah right
6. Do at least 5 fundraiser type walks (hopefully with my girls ) ..there are several coming up soon.   I did 3 so far,, maybe I can work in a couple more before the end of the year.

7. Repaint Tyler’s room and make new camo curtains and pillows for the bed. .. Uh , nope
8. Start replacing carpet (it has to go) all through the house with wood flooring. .. yes, we finished our bedroom and replaced flooring in the kitchen
9. Start and finish some pinterest projects that I have pinned. .. still working on this
10. Spend lots of time with my grandgirls. I know too well how fast they grow and I don’t want to look back and wish I had taken more time with them than I did.   Now this I have done,, as much as I possibly can and have enjoyed every exhausting minute of it.

11. Go hunting at least one time with Tyler. Yes!

12. Try try try to get pictures taken and cards made in time to send out Christmas cards next year.. I love getting them in the mail.   we"ll see,, hopefully I can do it this year


13. Start (and hopefully finish in time) both of the grandgirls a blanket/quilt for their 1st birthday. .. Didnt get it done for the first birthday but Im hoping I'll have them started and finished by Christmas.

14. Find out what my healthy weight is and get there. .. Found it out now to just get there
15. Keep all the bills paid to date and stop paying late fees. .. Did pretty good on this one
16. Go to the movies with the kids, sisters and mama. .. havent yet

17. Start eating healthier foods. Cut out the snack cakes and “sniff sniff” not so many Sonic stops. .. NOPE

18. Paint some of those signs I’ve been saving boards for. .. NOPE
19. Go to the St Patricks Day parade with all the family.. YES we did,, both babies went to their first parade. 
20. Go to the Canton Flea Market either in May or October ,, missed both times
21. Go out of town for the weekend just me and Jeff  ...,, WE did go to the coast but Tyler went with us.. It was still a lot of fun

22. Invite family and friends over more.. cook and just hang out ..  failed miserably at this.

23. Throw Jeff a big birthday party. .. something came up
24. Help Tyler keep his grades up and pass 11th grade .. He DID pass 11th grade.
25. Mardi Gras feb 18th at the coast.. Go.. have fun!!  .. We went but it stormed so we left early and missed the parade
26. Find myself a new hairstyle and go a little bit shorter.  .. still thinking on this one.. my daugther said this ecard sounded just like me.. ha ha ha,, its true! 

My week in pictures

We've had some nice cool mornings and nights this week and I love it.. makes me want to stock up on soup ingredients and break out all the long sleeve tshirts.  Im ready for Fall! 

My husband and I celebrated our 25^th anniversary

Have they all been easy years?  Nope! But I love him more and more every day.  He's always been a good daddy but he's even better with his grandgirls.  I love seeing him play and talk and spend time with Emmie and Skyelar.  It's so sweet.  They have stolen his heart for sure.  Jeff, the girls and the babies surprised me and came to my work and ate lunch with me.  So fun showing them off to everybody.  He also surprised me with a very pretty ring.   I love it.

Our first grandchild turned 1 year old  on the 19^th  

Cant wait to celebrate her birthday next weekend.  I know she's gonna have so much fun.  So hard to believe that a whole year has passed.  This little munchkin is growing way too fast.  Walking everywhere and

into everything. 

Skyelar helped her celebrate at the daycare with delicious cupcakes..

This little sweetness is changing and growing so much.  She'll be 9 months next week and is turning loose and taking 3 and 4 steps at a time and has two teeth coming in on the bottom..  Loves her mama and loves playing with Emmie.  I'm so glad they are close, I hope it'll stay that way forever. 

That pretty much sums up my week.  Getting off early today and have lots to do.  Staining a rocking chair for Emmie's bday and working on another project also. 

 

Have a great weekend,,  Enjoy the weather cooling down some !



post for the grandgirls

There is so much I want to work on right now but it is just too hot... so I keep myself busy playing with this precious little girls when I can. 

She is walking a little bit and a finally has two teeth breaking through the skin.. one on top

 and one on bottom. Yay! 

She is pulling up on stuff , army crawling everywhere and is busy busy,, loves to take a bath and splash.. so funny. 

and these are our other girls.. who thank goodness have decided to start laying eggs,, averaging about 5 a day right now. 

Senior year 2013

So hard to believe that my last baby is starting his senior year today.. time really does fly.  Praying he has a successful and fun last year of high school.  

We love you Tyler ! 

New kitchen floor

We have been saving and picking up a few boxes of this Allure tile for a few weeks.  Jeff and Amberly surprised me and had my kitchen floor put down when I got home the other day and I love it.  We're taking it slow and doing some home improvements a little bit at a time.  The old kitchen floor drove me crazy.  It didnt matter how many times you swept or mopped it still looked dirty. 

Now on to other kitchen projects..

onesie and fabric flowers

Hello Monday, you sure did come around quick.  The weekends just fly by but I did find time to make a couple things this weekend for the babies.  First I found this tutorial last week at the Make-it Love-It blog.  They are the cutest fabric flowers and so easy to make.  I plan on making a lot more of these. 

I've been wanting to make one of these ruffle butt onesies for a long time and just never got around to it.  Pretty simple but I had a little trouble getting the ruffles lined up without sewing over top of the previous ruffle that had been sewn on.  I wanna make a few more of these too to practice a little bit. 

and for a little extra fun rolled up some of the ribbon and sewed across it a few times and added it to the front of the onesie and one to a hair clip. 

Thats it for me today,,  Hope everyone has a great week. 

High Five for Friday

High five for Friday... just wish it wasnt gonna be soooooo HOT!   

1.  My new favorite snack,, I seriously almost ate the whole bag the first day I bought 'em.  Yum!  And the best part is nobody else in the house likes them...LOL.. so they're ALL mine. 

2.  Happy Anniversary to the best parents ever... 44 years today.  Love you lots and lots Mama & Daddy













3.  Visited some of the kin folk here the other night ,, rode the girls in the wagon (6 mos and 9 mos now)



and  will be headed there tomorrow for Smith Family Reunion.  Really nice campground. 

4.  It dont have to be Friday to high five the Sonic drink.. this is an every dayer for me. 



5.   My mother-n-law passed this book to me a couple weeks ago and I just started reading it last night,, pretty good so far.  Have you read it?? 

 Thats my H54F .. linking up with Lauren at My Grey Desk  .. Hop on over and join the fun.