Getting to know me...

Yes, I know, I don't blog enough. BUT...I recently read Disney's post on rufflesandstuff.com and it was all about getting to know her. Love it! Some of the things that she said really inspired me to share a little of who I am, maybe even my "unlovely" side.

So, about me, let's see...

*I definately like to stay busy, it's a sickness really. If I don't have a project to do or somewhere to go, I might lose it (and it might get ugly). I have this innate sense that I need to be doing something and not sitting still, otherwise I feel not good enough, like I'm not doing all I should be - does that make sense?

This tends to lead to extreme burnout and bad attitudes. All of this tends to make for a very sad, and tired, husband, because I married a man who likes to do nothing but be at home (which definitely is cheaper and has it's good side too). My husband's motto is "I pay good money for this house, we should be here more often)...well said.

*I tend to be very spontaneous! Sounds fun, right? It is, but just not when it includes my friends who are less than spontaneous. I think every one of my friends knows that I could show up at their door, at any time, for any reason. While this makes me happy, I can see where it could add some stress to someone who isn't programmed that way. I'm honestly trying to get better at "planned visits". :-)

*My fave radio station on Pandora is "Melody Gardot", it's awesome! They play some Norah Jones, some Amos Lee, but one of my favorites is Madeline Peyroux. She mostly sings in french that I've heard, but she's so relaxing and fabulous! I love music that really speaks to my soul, even when I have no idea what she's saying! he he

http://s0.ilike.com/play#Madeleine+Peyroux:J'ai+Deux+Amours:93239:s7114339.13761931.34687.0.2.216%2Cstd_18e4289076ed4f2892ea63151ea75430

Isn't she fabulous?

*I love to create!!! I don't care if it's not practical, I just feel this overwhelming urge to make the everyday things in life a little more beautiful! I lay in bed every night with a million creative ideas going through my head on how I can cover that lampshade, or make that table runner, or redo that tshirt, anything! And the part that tends to drive my husband crazy is that I love to give it away. I've tried Etsy, and taking orders from friends, but it's not half as fun as making something (like an apron - which is my favorite to make) and then showing up at their house (probably unannounced) and bringing them a gift.

So cute!!!

*I love the Lord, and I love my family and friends...those are the things that get me through those times in life when I feel that I can't go any further. You know those times? Then you remember that you're not alone, that He never leaves you, and that He has a plan for you, and in that plan are some beautiful, talented, awesome sisters to stand by you! I'm thankful for each and every one of the people God has put in my life!

Have a great holiday weekend everyone!

Ya, ya...it's been a while, 8 months actually, but here I am now, doing my best. I wanted to get on here and let you know of a few ideas on the web right now that I really love!

Someone made me one of these recently, and I can't tell you how much it touched me! As someone who sees the love in a handmade gift, to receive one is the "icing on the cake" to a great gift! the funnest part of this project is coming up with rules that fit your family! And the combinations of paper/fabric, font, colors...well, it's endless!Since my camera's currently not working, here is a picture of one I found online -

Also, rufflesandstuff.com is my FAVE blog right now, she is so amazing and talented! And, she's a pastor's wife with a really great attitude about family and ministry, who doesn't love that? Here's something she showed how to make recently which is adorable! You will definately see me wearing this very soon -

One thing that I've been loving lately also is pearls...pearl necklaces, pearl trim...and it's been fun to go thrift shopping to find antique gold/silver necklaces and watch faces to pair with a pearl necklace for a different look. Although this is somewhat different than what I have, you get the general idea -

Anyway, just some ideas for now...maybe some of these will inspire you like they do to me!

p.s. One friend is going to start teaching me to knit, and another is teaching me to make homemade bread (I currently have a fear of making bread, it never turns out right!), so I'll try to have pics of that later!

Summer time woes...

Here we are only 1/4 of the way through the summer and it's already 105 with all that humidity! How does life survive here in Texas?! By getting in a swimming pool each and every day, or else not leaving the house, that's how!
I've been sewing a lot of odd projects around the house lately, I will try to post some pictures up soon; from fabric coasters, to matching dad/son "tie" tshirts (which turned out pretty good by the way), to burp cloths - which I am most proud of! Due to the number of new babies coming here in our church, I have a feeling that more and more and more burp cloths are in my future. They are my favorite kind of project...quick, easy, and beautiful! I love it when you don't have to do much, not even cut exactly right, and it looks like you spent a lot of time on something, that's definately a fave of mine.
I'm having my husband work right now on some designer cards to put my paperclips/clothespins/etc. on to maybe add onto Etsy. Etsy has become my FAVORITE website in all of the internet! Problem...I could sit for hours and look at it, just browsing and getting ideas and thinking how brilliant some of these people are who can make these beautiful things! It's not very productive to sit for hours and do this, I do not recommend it. :-)
So, that's all for now, and as I said earlier, I will try to post some pics of these items later! Thanks for reading!

Back again...

Wow, how long have I been gone? At least 3 months or so, whew! What a whirlwind, good news is we're now homeowners! Got a little crazy there for a while putting offers on houses and then waiting, getting our offer accepted and then waiting even longer in underwriting. Not my favorite word this year by the way, underwriting. A horrible place to be for 2 months!

But now I'm back, and hoping to start getting more project on here. I've done so many little decorating projects; some spray paint here, reframing there, painting a fireplace here, new bedspreads there...needless to say there were no "before" pictures taken in the midst of all this, but we'll see what we can do!

My eldest daughter, K, just graduated from 8th grade, and she had such a great graduation! I could not be more proud. My friend, Emily, came to see her graduate with us, and let's just say there were some tears, happy ones.

Better go for now, more to come! Bye ya'll!

Another successful dollar store trip!

Ok, so it's spring break, and yesterday my husband says "why don't you take the kids out somewhere fun and spend $30 or so, how about Chuck E. Cheese?" Immediately my brain starts racing with pictures of kids running and screaming this way and that, and germs - oh wow, the germs that are in that place (in case you don't know this about me yet, I have a bit of a germ problem, I am always on the lookout for any germs that might attack myself or my family - but I'm not weird about it or anything :-) ya right)! So, I put my Mommy thinking cap on and decided, what's funner than Chuck E. Cheese? A trip to the dollar store where they can pick not one, not two, but 3 items each! Wow, were they happy, I was Mommy of the hour! Of course, while there I saw their family "plan it" calendars on sale for $.39/each! Amazing, these are great calendars! So needless to say, I got some for my friends.

What's even better than this, is that there was a little money left over for me to walk down the sidewalk to Michael's and look into their dollar section (which is now larger than ever before and in the BACK of the store now), and wow, the deals I found! I found some paper to use for my clothespins I had been wanting to do, some cute "farm" magnets for my dear friend Tasha who is GOING to be a farmer some day, and some VERY cute recipe cards to match the paper I had gotten. This got me thinking (you should know first off, that my love language is gifts, this will help you understand my constant thinking of who I can get something for next), I could throw a quick gift together for some friends that I am seeing for lunch today.....thus, an afternoon of crafting was born! It was so wonderful, and here are the fruits of my labor!