starbucks wreath: my version

If you will remember, I shared a photo of the starbucks wreath last week. A lot of patience, yarn, hot glue and time led to my own version which I will say, I love! I took advantage of the Dollar Tree for most everything you see here. Instead of covering styrofoam balls in yarn, I covered ornaments which is a much cheaper alternative. My wreath form is from the dollar store too, I forgot to take pictures but it is a light colored grapevine style which worked out just fine, and again, for just $1, the price was right. I still need to determine the best way to hang this. The grosgrain ribbon may work just fine, I need to shorten it and iron it to see if that is the proper solution though. What do you think? (Oh, one skein of yarn was from JoAnns and the other from Walmart).

I shared this project here:

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happy thanksgiving

I am thankful for so many things today. First and foremost, my family and friends.
I am thankful for Flickr. Above is a small sampling of my favs found there. For details on the projects visit Flickr.

I am thankful for the companies that employ me and allow me to work part time and enjoy a very flexible schedule so that I can also have plenty of time for my girls and their school and activities.

I am thankful for healthy kids (those St. Jude commercials and specials are really moving).

I am thankful for a safe and warm home (even though I would like to gut and remodel almost every bit of it).

Have a great day. I am headed to my Mom's for the first feast of the day and I cannot wait for my favorites like her sausage dressing and sweet potato casserole. I also cannot wait to see my girls who have been there for 24 hours! Pin It

crafting, creating and trying to get christmas-y

Thanks to my awesome family, I have had most of the day and I will have all of the night, to myself! I have done some computing and office cleaning, which led to a bit of crafting but I did not have plans for anything specific so I moved on to a list of gifts I will need to procure.
Finding that nothing I was currently crafting was likely going to work on that list, I moved on to my annual calendars.

So as not to ruin the surprise, these are just snippets of the final product. A much different look than I have done in the past, and in a smaller size, 4x6. I am loving them! You can purchase this calendar kit, with most of the work done for you, at Little Dreamer Designs.

I will have these spiral bound this year. Although last year's stand was clever, it was not as sturdy throughout the year.

It has gone from gloomy, to sleeting to all out raining now. A good day to be inside and uninterrupted. The UPS driver just delivered my Shutterfly book...the one I just completed on 11/20. It looks great although I found two typos. Darn it.

I completed my wreath but because it is so dark, I will have to take a photo in the next few days.

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shelby

was here.

and here.

Happy feast today.

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wreaths

While keeping Olivia company in the family room, I brought down an in progress project to work on--my Starbucks knock off wreath. Above is a photo of one in Starbucks from a few years back. I actually began by wrapping my first ornaments (from the Dollar Store, much less pricey than styrofoam) with white yarn so my color scheme is going to have to be different. Or, I could start over and buy a few shades of green like this one?? And fill my large apothecary jar with the while yarn balls and all the silver ornaments I already purchased. Geez, I should have looked at this photo before I began.

Anyway, it is an easy craft but a bit time consuming. I hope to complete one in time for holiday decorating next week.

If you want a bit more eye candy/inspiration just look what comes up when you Google starbucks yarn wreath. Pin It

Ocean Isle 2010 8x8

Click here to view this photo book larger

I got my vacation photo book finished with two days to spare before my Groupon expired! I had purchased an 8x8 album via Groupon for just $10. In order to complete it in a timely manner, I scratched my previous plans for a custom scrapbook and used their pre-made options. With the additional pages and shipping, I checked out owing only $18.

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fun links and such

I have fallen into the poor habit of searching the internets non stop for great ideas but than falling short of either purchasing cute finds, or making them myself. Today, I take action because a certain holiday is sneaking up FAST!Just today I happened upon this adorable blog, above is her booth at a craft show. Darling, right? What really caught my eye are these brightly painted frames---inside they are magnetic chalkboards---made to hold a recipe card. LOVE this idea. Her shoppe is currently sold out of them but I put her in my Reader to keep tabs on the inventory OR I may attempt these myself.

Another idea that I made before, are the purse tissue holders, like this one. These are simple and so cute. My mom, my sister, the girls and I went to a craft show this weekend they had tons of them for sale. If I were to sit down for an hour, I bet I could make 4-6 assembly line style and then use them for holiday gift giving. Heck, I think the size would even work to tuck a gift card inside.

I have yet to take a holiday photo for this year's card so I think I may take full advantage of all of our great summer vacation shots. And call me crazy, but I think I might drop said photo into a premade template, order prints, mail and call them done. Cute cards are everywhere:
Leora Sanford
Margot Madison

What to choose?! Pin It

the last few days

I have been trying to test out uploading blog posts from my iphone. Twice it says it was successful, and two times I cannot find my words or photos! So here we go...

My two girlies sorting through their Halloween candy. We are going to send a big box to a friend who is overseas in the Army. Hi Craig! They both filled two, one gallon zip locs to the brim.

This morning we were stuck in a HUGE traffic jam on 275 for over an hour. I traveled about one half of a mile during that time before finally arriving at a spot where I could cross over the highway and turn around. I took this photo b.c the van cracked me up, especially being pulled by the RV. I found out later that two people had died in the accident and the highway was shutdown from about 9a to 1p. Accident report HERE.

And a few days ago I received the cutest wristlet in the mail that I won from a blog giveaway. I am a big fan of Gussy Sews and her signature ruffles. I was not the least bit disappointed when I opened my package and I cannot wait to carry this little number out on the town...or to the grocery which is frankly, much more my speed. Visit Maggie's shop and do some Christmas shopping. Your friends and family will thank you. And Maggie from Gussy, thank you!

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sharing

I am caught up in all sorts of busy-ness: work, school, home, family... but along the way I have found some super cute and cool things.

Vintage Sheet Stockings


Handwritten cards from Jones Design Co.
A circus themed wedding to inspire an upcoming circus themed school event.

And a little something by me...a handmade pom pom to top a hostess gift. I really want to take time to make a bunch of pom poms in advance for my Christmas gift giving. And for the giving of pom poms to others to adorn their gifts. Sounds like a good TV watching activity.

Share what you have found fun and inspiring. Pin It

fun friday recap

First I attended a pep rally at the girls' school. The 3rd and 4th grade boys football team is competing in the City championship on Sunday so the school held the pep rally, the first ever. Yes, it was loud but also beyond cute. School spirit in the 5-11 set is very adorable.
On Wednesday, they assembled a handful of girls with a desire to cheer and taught them a few simple cheers and then allowed them to lead the assembly. Front row, 4th from the left is my Olivia!The football team, with shirts and ties under their jerseys. Seriously, I just about teared up and none of those kids even belong to me!

Next, I had a great night with friends I have known since high school + our moms and an assortment of sisters and one niece (mine, but she is taking this picture!). Oh my did we laugh, eat, drink and enjoy each other's company.

I am so lucky to have these ladies in my life. I don't care if they get mad at me for showing their picture either!

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TGIF!

Hooray for Friday! I am so looking forward to my girls' night out at my friend Mary Jo's house. I offered to bring a few desserts. I made these yummy chocolate covered, peanut butter filled, Ritz crackers.

And a very easy Pumpkin bread. I skipped the icing and added chocolate chips instead. The batter was SOOOOO good I wasn't sure how the bread could be better, but it is! The recipe is on the Parents website but to view it, you have to register (boo!). It is the Shortcut Pumpkin Bread and honestly it is good enough to take the time to register :)

If I have time yet this afternoon, I am going to make chocolate peanut butter bark.

Today there is a great Fab Friday Giveaway at the Brides Buddy blog. You can win 50 custom Holiday cards from Margot Madison Creative. Anyone can enter, not just locals and not just brides so get on over there!
Before I head to Mary Jo's house, I am stopping by a 10th anniversary gala at the Essenza Studio. I have known Angela a long time, she is a wonderful photographer and now that I am involved in the local wedding industry via Brides Buddy, it is even a bigger pleasure to be included in this event. Friends and Family are welcome. Pin It

when momma ain't happy...

...ain't nobody happy!

That pretty much sums up life over here especially in the department of meals. I have had some stomach bug since Monday so the family has survived on Chef Boyardee, toast, Skyline through the drive thru and a wide assortment of other not homemade and mostly not good for you, foods!Here are the girls prior to trick or treating on Sunday. Sunday---the day I ate several kinds of chili, one bite of soup, many sweet treats....hmmm...maybe that is what happened to my digestive system!

I am looking forward to feeling better and a super fun night on Friday with high school girlfriends, all of our moms and sisters and nieces too! Pin It