Day 6: On a Magnet Kick

When I purchased yesterday's pizza pans, I also picked up some small magnets. I figured the kids could have fun making their own magnets from random objects. Of course I wanted to try it first so I used what I had and tried a Pinterest idea. Super easy.

Large glass gems/rocks, scrapbook paper, glue, and magnets.

I cut the scrapbook paper to the size of the gem, dabbed some hot glue (you can also use craft glue) on the rock, and pressed the paper to the rock firmly (I placed them on the table and pressed down). Then I glued the magnet to the back and trimmed off any excess paper or glue. Done!

I only had three clear gems, but would love to make more of these. And I am thinking these might make great Christmas gifts, too!

 Old magnets. BLEH.

New ones. MUCH BETTER!

Inspired by: Pinterest

Day 5: Easy Magnet Board for Playroom

Today's project only took a couple minutes and it received much applause.

The kiddos do not have anything to stick their magnets to, other than the fridge. And I am one of those weird people that likes to keep the front of her fridge free of "stuff".

I picked up three pizza pans, for 96 cents a piece. Then I added some Command Strips (my current LOVE) and stuck them to the wall in the playroom. Instant magnet boards!

Post note: After taking a pictures I realized how much this look like a traffic light. I think I am going to have to bust out the red, yellow, and green paint for a little pizazz!

Day 4: Thankful For My Thanksgiving Wreath

My door was looking rather blah after I took down all the Halloween decorations. So I figured I would make something fall-ish. I knew I wanted simple and wanted to use felt. 

I started with a piece of round cardboard (from a frozen pizza, ha ha ha) as my starting point. Using some felt I already had and a hot glue gun, I created the first covered round. 

Then I started on my flowers. Again, I wanted simplicity, so I took leftover squares from blanket making and trimmed them into circles. The I cut the circles in a spiral pattern. I then took the rounded end for the center, and wrapped each layer accordingly. I secured the end piece with a dab of glue and then flipped the flower over and used hot glue on the back as well, to make sure they kept their shape.

 

When all the flowers were complete I arranged them on the cloth covered circle. I thought it looked cute, but it needed another color to lighten it up. I also wanted the wreath to be a bit bigger. So, I cut another circle out of cardboard, covered it in cloth and then adhered it to the back. I liked this look much better :)

 Next for the ribbon. I went with brown to accent the brown flowers. I cut the desired length of ribbon for the hanger, and then started working on the bow. This bow was super easy. Just take a few strips of ribbon (descending sizes if you want the loops to be smaller in the middle), fold so the ends meet in the middle, angle slightly and then glue together. Use as many or as few as you wish. I wanted a small but somewhat full bow, so I continued to layer until my liking.

Once the bow was set I decided it need some bling. I added varying size faux pearls to the centers of my flowers to make them pop a bit. For the top bling, I added a dab of hot glue on a piece of wax paper and then arranged the pearls in the design I liked. (You have to work quick before the glue dries). Once set, I peeled the arrangement from the wax paper and glued it to the center of my bow.

After I attempted to hang the wreath, I realized I needed another loop of ribbon at the top because the wreath hook was so large. I just cut another strip of ribbon and glued it to the back. I made it small enough so it would blend in with the bow.

And here is the final product :)

Day 3: The Stand Will Stand Again

I have this little plant stand that I have been hiding from my husband for years. He has tried desperately to rid of it. Every move, spring cleaning, bulk pick-up, and even some trash days he has asked to put it out. But I think it is cute. Old and beat up, but cute nonetheless. Well, I finally found the spot for it and gave it little make-over.

Silly me, I forgot to take a "before" picture, but you can probably picture it - old, dingy, boring brown wood with knicks and the case of the wobblies. Well I fixed the wobblies (just needed a little tightening) and took the idea from Pinterest to use Elmer's glue to create a crackled look. While I love the rustic look of the crackle, something about it seems too "country-ish" to me. So, I decided to use some more modern colors (really, can you go wrong with black and red?) and then add a clear gloss over top for some shine.

Here are some pictures before the gloss overcoat. (It was just too matte for me and I really wanted the red to pop more). To get this I applied a layer of Elmer's glue directly to the wood, using my finger. Waited a bit for it to get "tacky" (but NOT dry) and then took my paint brush with color (acrylic - red with a bit o' black) and lightly went over the glue. Only use one stroke on an area and only go in one direction, otherwise the glue will not crackle correctly. I let the first coat dry and decided to add another. I could still see some of the wood beneath the colors, and wanted to cover it up. I repeated the previous steps and really liked how it looked. Talk about instant gratification from watching the crackle start after only a few minutes. Pretty darn cool if you ask me. And the best part?  I did it with inexpensive school glue and acrylic paint I already had. Score!

(Note to self: Stock up on school glue next time it is like 25 cents a bottle)

Before gloss:

 

After gloss:

 

 

Post note: Now that the gloss has had a few days to set, it is not quite as shiny as above.

It turned out perfect! I can't wait to use it for photos and plants.

Inspired By: Pinterest

Day 2: Fall is in the Air...and it Smells Divine

I love when I walk through the front door and there is an inviting scent welcoming me - especially after a long day. This quick recipe is just the right thing to make that happen.

The directions on Pinterest called for orange peels and cinnamon.  I didn't have many oranges in the fridge, so I threw in some apple peels and a couple drops of vanilla too. It smelled heavenly and the scent lasted all day :)

Directions: Add orange peels and a Tablespoon of cinnamon to boiling water and reduce to a simmer - VIOLA! (Yah, it really is that easy)

Inspired By: Pinterest

Day 1: Spaghetti n' Dogs

I am always looking for new recipes that the kids will enjoy. (What parent isn't?)

I saw this on Pinterest and thought I would give it a go. It seemed simple enough and only consists of spaghetti noodles and hot dogs - pretty impossible to mess up.

 2 Ingredients: Hot dogs & uncooked spaghetti noodles

 Slice up as many hot dogs as you think you will need. This picture shows 

four dogs, sans the ends. Then add the spaghetti noodles one at a time. 

(I used about 8 noodles per hot dog slice.)

 Add noodles and hot dogs to boiling water and cook to desired noodle flexibility :)

 Drain noodles and dogs. 

(And "ooooh and ahhhh" over how awesome they look)

 Serve with a side of ketchup...or whatever else you prefer.

I actually thought they were tasty by themselves. No dipping sauce needed.

Super easy, fast, and yummy!

Inspired by: Pinterest

One A Day: The Art Vitamin For Me

I've given it some thought, and I am pretty certain that art makes me who I am. Now while art alone does not define me - as I am so many others things as well - it does make up a rather large portion. You know that expression, "She was born with glitter in her veins"? Well that is how I feel...only light on the glitter. I truly feel like art runs through me. The ideas, the process, the final piece - it all awakens me from within. I know, sounds deep, huh? I am trying not to sound like a nut, but I can't find any other way to put it. I think and then I create. It is me, I am it. Get where I am going with this?

Since my artwork tends to be large in size and take some time to complete, I feel an uncontrollable need to create smaller things in between completions. Mostly "crafty" things that interest me along the way. Things I see somewhere and say, "oh, I need to try that".  They are usually things with the kiddos, for parties, or some type of house decor. Crafty things. And while they are usually simple, they keep my artistic side updated and fresh.

I've found that if I do just one thing that provides instant (or almost instant) gratification, my day seems more complete. And since I have been told by others that I should blog these things, then perhaps I will do just that. Some day's projects may be simple and others may be more complex, but I will attempt to, for one full year, create something new and share it on my blog. That is 365 "things"... I can do it.

So follow along if you so desire and I'll lead you to my soul...er, uh, ummm.....creations.

Oh, and one more thing. I am a complete Pinterest (www.pinterest.com) addict so a lot of ideas and projects come straight from there. Something I re-pinned today pretty much sums it up:

Pinterest is to women, as fantasy football it to men :)

Foamie Sticker Fun

I feel like I should post my daughter's latest artwork too.

I needed something to keep her busy during my son's football practice yesterday. It was a total impromptu thing and for a 1 1/2 year old I thought she did pretty good - even added some dimension. And the best part...it kept her busy for almost an hour. One point for foamie stickers!

Items:

* Heart-shaped foamie stickers ($1 from Dollar Tree)
* Scratch pad paper (I would have rather used card stock, but only had the scribble pad with me)
* Large black foamie sheet (To create a border and make it more sturdy for hanging)

Pretty cute!

I'm Back (and Outdoor Fun!)

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I left my job (well, the one that pays). There has been no rest though. With a new house, wedding, two munchkins and a loving husband.....this girl has been busy! After finally getting the playroom in order yesterday I feel like I have accomplished something so I treated myself to a little art project today.

School starts in a few days for my big third grader, so I thought I would jump start his creativity. That, and it is actually really nice outside today and I know there won't be many days like this left. So, an outdoor activity it was!

Our  playroom (loft) has a blank wall that is in need of some color. Since most of the toys and furniture in this area of the house are primary colors we just went with those.

What you'll need:

*Acrylic paint (I didn't use the expensive kind. Michaels had them on sale today for 77 cents a bottle. )
*Something squishy to throw. (We used these great rubber balls that I found at Target for $1 a piece)
*Drop cloth (And old sheet would work great too)
*Blank canvas(es) (If you wanted to make this a more "simple" project paper would work too.)
*Thumbtacks (Or something else to hold up the drop cloth. A clothesline and clothespins also works)
*Paper or plastic plates or bowls (I find that plastic plates work best)
* Something to prop up the canvas (This goes behind the drop cloth so it will be protected from paint)
* A place you don't mind getting a little messy! (We took this project outside!)

 Getting Started:
-Set up drop cloth (We pinned it to two trees, used rocks for weights and a hose container for the prop)
-Place canvas on the drop cloth (against the prop)
-Lay out the plates and add paint.
-Roll the balls (or other objects) in the paint
-Stand back and THROW!!!!!

What we found worked best:

A hose nearby for occasional hand washing and to rinse of the balls if the colors started to mix is nice to have.
Different angles, speed of the ball, and proximity to the canvas creates different designs.

We can't wait to hang these in the playroom!
(We will use non-marking velcro to hang the canvases on the wall since the backs are flat)

SOLD!

Well........"Sale Pending"

But can I get a big-ole WOOT WOOT!!!!!!??????

So excited! 12 days on the market and full asking price. We are so incredibly thankful!

Now, on to find a rental unit to stay in until our house is built. I never in a million years would have thought that I would be looking for a rental again. Wow. But, the search is on!

Or Maybe We'll Got With This Model

We have moved on to a new home design and a different neighborhood.

So now our plans are to go with this: (if we can afford it, of course :)

FIRST FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR

BASEMENT

Elevation C:

Elevation B:

Open House on Sunday 5/1

We are hosting our first OPEN HOUSE on Sunday, from 1:00-2:30!

EXCITED!

And It's Officially Listed!

I wonder if there will be a For Sale sign in my yard when I get home?

Here are the listings: (Our Listing Agency is Remax)

http://www.statecollegehomesales.com/mls/listingDetails.php?origin=nrl&mlsNumber=33509&category=New-Residential


http://www.1kbb.com/real-estate/State-College/16801/Home/168-Harvest-Run-Road-N.php

Mulch & Money

There are two things that tickle my fancy right now.

1) H & R Block's FREE online filing

2) RubberStuff Mulch


I know there are people out there that do it, but I have never paid to file my taxes. Granted, mine are fairly simple so they are probably easier to do than some, but still, I just don't think I could ever bring myself to pay someone to file them for me. So, that brings me to the first of the tickles - H &R Block FREE filing! Woo hooo! It is so easy to use and with the electronic filing I get my return super fast (usually in less than a week). In my opinion, it is the way to go!

And the second of my tickles - RubberStuff Mulch. We have wanted to use rubber mulch around our house for quite some time, but when it first hit the market it was rather spendy. I few weeks ago I was at Sam's Club and found a pretty good deal. RubberStuff Mulch had the right color, at the right price ($8/bag). So we thought we would try it out. LOVE IT! We loved it so much we went back and purchased more. Originally we were just going to do the front yard, but now we have decided to also do the side yard. If we weren't putting our house on the market today, we would be replacing all of our mulch with RubberStuff. I hope Sam's Club keeps it in stock, because we definitely want it for our new house :)
If you aren't familiar with it, check it out:

100% Recycled Rubber and Made in the USA!

http://www.americanrubber.com/shop/product/rubberstuff_landscaping_mulch

https://www.facebook.com/pages/RubberStuff-Mulch/268856882119?sk=wall#!/pages/RubberStuff-Mulch/268856882119?sk=wall

Sneak Peek at Monday's Listing

We finally have the house pictures taken and sent off to our agent.
It goes up for sale on Monday...crazy!

I thought I would share. Warning: picture OVERLOAD!

Wanted: New Cool Room for 8 Year Old Boy

My son has wanted a bunk bed for quite some time now. My problem with them though, is that they are so chunky and a lot of them waste more space than actually create it. Aside from that, a really sturdy bunk bed is a bit on the spendy side. After looking through some of those awesome sites I posted just a bit ago, I think I have come up with a solution. Hubby agrees with it and I think we could pull it off at the fraction of cost for a retail bunk. This is what I am thinking:

I really like that there is minimal space used for this design, which allows for more "play" room. I am all about the fact that there are two beds and they hardly over-lap at all, giving both beds ample head room.

Challenges:
1) Finding a ladder that would work in that area. I would want one that is removable or hinged, that way the storage area under the bed could be utilized and easily accessed (SCORE for added storage area!)
2) Getting the right measurements for the desk area. I don't want it to be too small. I do love that it is hinged though, and can be folded up to allow even space.
3) Finding the right chair.
3) Make the desk top wide enough (after closure) that a laptop will fit inside. Of course this will mean that wires will also need to run through the back of the desk for connectivity. Although SCORE for being able to hide those wires in the storage area!

Changes:
1) Make the back of the desk area out of cork.
2) Add a light under the lip of the bed frame above the desk. Since the desk is hinged, a desk lamp won't really work, but a small "under counter" light would be perfect.
3) Colors. I like the green and yellow, but they aren't really my son. I have other colors in mind.

With the two beds and desk on one side of the room, it leaves plenty of room for a dresser and bookshelf along another wall - maybe even a little lounge area in the center.

I am super stoked about this! Hope the kiddo likes it!

http://www.modernhomeidea.com/modern-bedroom/loft-bedroom-ideas-with-small-spaces/attachment/lower-ceilings-loft-bedroom-ideas-with-small-spaces/

_____________________
Pulled some colors and ideas together. This is what I am thinking...

Oh Wonderful Sites, How You Trap Me and Won't Let Go...

My decorating style is modern/contemporary and I am very much a minimalist. Clutter and busy-ness do not mesh well with my taste.

I heart this kind of stuff:

http://www.interiorarcade.com/
It's kind of hard to navigate with all the ads in the way. But, if you go the the right side of the page and look through the categories there are some GREAT ideas. LOVE Tumeidi!

http://www.modernhomeidea.com/
I want it ALL!

http://www.chiasso.com/
The stiletto doorstop and invisible bookshelf will be mine.

http://www.burkedecor.com/
Way spendy, but way awesome.

http://www.decorpad.com/index.htm
Love the paint gallery feature.

There are of course many others out there, but these few have done a grand job at sucking up any free time I have right now.

Family and Art...My Two Loves. (Aunt Cindy)

Two things I love:

1) My family
2) Art

So when the two come together, well, it just makes it over-the-top special to me.

My Aunt Cindy has been an amateur photographer for as long as I can remember - since before my times I'm sure. She has an unbelievable ability to trek into nature and come back with amazing shots that make you feel as though you were with her the entire time. She captures natural settings just as they are, letting life carry on around her as not to interrupt. The love of all living things pours from her photography, and allows you to step back and appreciate those smaller moments in life that make the bigger moments so special.

She has never publicized her photographs until now. Like most Americans today, she is feeling the economic crunch, and is trying to find an alternative for funds. Blessed with her gift of photography, she has turned to her outlet as her means of reaching out.

I am happy to share her link with you, and am honored that she is my family. Have a look, enjoy her work (there is more to come!), leave some comments, and if so inspired, purchase a photograph (or two...or three!). Her style may not match with yours, but there is always a friend or family member, co-worker, child care provider - someone - who would love the gift of nature displayed in their home (...office, studio, etc.).

This is the link to her site. I hope you all enjoy ;)

http://www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?MID=d3d9d524-9fff-495a-9c7e-08d54124b140

Time to Build a New Nest

Although we love our current home, we have outgrown it. And with the possibility of more kiddos in the future, we really need to find something else.

Of course this does not stress me out in the least bit. I have this odd fascination with looking for houses for sale and going to open houses. Love it. Sometimes we just pack up the kiddos and drive around for a few hours looking at houses. Of course the kids don't consider it the most fun thing to do, but it really helps the hubby and I relax. We have time to talk about something (other than the kids) and it gets our creative juices flowing. Some of the best landscaping and decorating ideas have come from just browsing, or attending open houses. Even more so, it gives us insight on what we would NOT want in a new home - which I think is extremely important.

So, I have been following home sales for the last year or so, every since we began thinking about what our next step would be. We have been undecided about buying vs. building. They both have their pros and cons.
We have made offers on homes that would suffice (i.e, meaning we weren't IN LOVE with the house, but it had most of what we wanted and we would just have to work on those things it didn't). Both homes we made offers on fell through (on the sellers end), and so we just took it as a sign. (We tend to see signs like that all the time - keeps us optimistic!). So in the end I think we have come to the conclusion to build.

Of course if any of you have ever built a custom home, you know all the crazy stuff that is involved. Part of me is sooooo excited to jump right in, and the other part has me so uneasy about making decisions I may regret later.

So as it stands right now, we have a hold on a lot, and after much consideration have found the floor plan that we like the most. There of course are some adjustments that need to be made to get the things we really want out of it, but the layout is one that we think we will be really pleased with.

Now, of course, we have to put out current house up for sale. Oh joy! (insert sarcasm here). Don't get me wrong, I am excited to get it out there, it's the prepping and staging (and lack of energy and time) that I am not so thrilled about. Our goal is to have it up on Sunday. Today is Thursday. Think it's possible?

I'll be posting pictures of the process....probably more details about house stuff than anyone wants to hear - so, sorry. But it is good to know that I will get some great feedback and opinions along the way. If you know me, you know that I am a very open person. So please, suggest away!

Here is the floor plan of the model we have chosen. I am hesitant to even post the pictures of the front of the house that they have on the website. The elevation they have pictured is hideous! It looks like an box with awkward windows. Gag. Please keep in mind that the front of our new house will not look like the one pictured :) The interior layout is what I want you to see most. Check it out...

First Floor

Second Floor

Basement (unfinished for now)

I have been inspired!

I have, for years, been in awe of beautiful blogs created by awesome moms. Art tips, recipes, creations, remodels, pictures of their kiddos - I love it all.

So it finally hit me today that I should just create one of my own. I get caught up in the world of FaceBook, but perhaps this will become a (better?) alternative.

So here it goes....