Jen and Juice

A Halloween Retrospective

2010-10-18T05:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, we all know it's that time of year...even though the stores are shoving Christmas down our throats already, in a little less than two weeks we will don our best costume and strut up and down the street, jack-o-lantern bag in tow, ringing door bells and saying "Trick or Treat". Well, you might be doing that. I'll be having a BABY!

I got to reminiscing about the Halloweens we've celebrated with our son. When he was born we lived in Iowa and they celebrate "Beggar's Night." Same as Halloween, only a day earlier and the kids are supposed to tell you a joke before receiving candy. (And boy, did we hear some doosies!) Our block was known for really awesome Halloween candy...and EVERYONE dressed up, adults included. They even bussed kids in to the neighborhood. I loved this! I really miss this celebration. We had good weather the 2 years we celebrated Halloween on Ashby Avenue. Unfortunately that hasn't been the case in recent years. (Sorry Des Moines friends!)

This year we're unsure how Trick or Treating will go down. Isaac will be with my parents while we're in the hospital. I hope he makes an appearance there in costume...perhaps the OB nurses will appreciate a Trick or Treator in their ward.

Officials have set Halloween for Saturday the 30th in our small community. We were out of town last year to see if we had many door-ringers. And Isaac didn't particularly enjoy going door to door; he was more interested in handing out the candy. But now that candy is like gold around here, he just might get the hang of it, and FAST!

This is the little nugget just about 2 months old. We handed out bananas in honor of our little monkey that year. Surprisingly, some kids actually preferred the bananas over the candy!

Our second Halloween, I made this postal uniform and delivery truck. He had a yucky stomach virus that year and didn't do much Trick or Treating..but he got plenty of goodies from Mother's Day Out and our close neighbors. (Wouldn't you want THAT smile to bring your mail?!)

Last year, he was a Smore's. I must have a thing with cardboard...or recycling...because I used it again! I think right before I took this pic he did his first EYE ROLL directed at MOM!

This year I found a Thomas the Tank Engine costume, new in the package, for $3.00. I couldn't pass it up. My craftier side was struggling, but I'm happy I didn't take on the task of making a costume this year. I don't have pictures yet, but I will soon.

What are your kids dressing up as? Are you dressing up this year? What's your favorite Halloween activity?

Isaac's New Room

2010-10-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed I like orange??? And have I mentioned my son likes trains? Put the two together and you get this:

I made a uphostered head board out of cheap muslin and left over MDF board. Enlisted the help of two really HOT and talented ladies to help me paint the train silhouette, and paid my husband and dad to hang it on the wall for me! We would like to add two old lights hanging from the cieling on either side of the bed and some vintage train posters on the wall with the window. But for now, the little man is happy with his NEW ROOM.

Nursery Pics!

2010-10-09T18:06:00.000-07:00

Let's see if I can remember how to do this. Ya know...blog. (Sorry readers...)

We are pretty much done with the baby's nursery. It has been a process and one which would have never happened if it weren't for the help (blood sweat and tears) of some very important people. Grandma and Grandpa (my mom and dad), and my sweet friend Kelsey, painter and idea gal extraordinaire! And of course, Dan and Isaac. The little man gave up his comfy down-stairs room for a smaller, more "grown up" room upstairs. (I will dedicate a new post to this room later, promise!) I would also like to thank Home Depot, Lowes, Fabrics.com, and EBay, and I cannot forget my very durable and reliable $50 sewing matching, purchased on Craigslist still in the box.

Do you remember my Color Inspiration? Well, I stuck with it despite my frustration at not finding the PERFECT fabric or bedding or, well, anything that really matched 100%. But that's okay. Matchy matchy is out, right? Hodge Podge is in?

There are still a few things to do, and probably will be an ongoing project of sorts...accentuating and accessorizing. So, without further ado, here is the future room of one Miss Aubrey Lynn McGuire:

The crib was Isaac's.

The bedding was made by my mom (sheet saved from Isaac's stash which is a pale blue/grey, we will be adding more homemade sheets to the stash later.

I added a "ribbon bumper" to get more color and I'm sure it won't stay on long....for safety reasons as well as changing the sheets will probably move them all around.

Crib dust ruffle copied from HERE, which I'm in love with and SEW easy, right mom?)

The cornices above the bed and window (see below) was made by my dad.

The rocker cushions were originally blue, but again, by my mom's magic were recovered in that lovely pumpkin orange damask fabric. What a process! But so worth it!

The bird cage was my mom's at one time and has undergone many spray paint treatments. I added chandelier crystals and rigged it up as a lamp

The chandelier was purchased in 2002 on eBay when I lived in a tiny apartment and thought I could use it in the future! (Don't worry...no candles!)

The grey fabric behind the crib was a $6.00 king sheet I found at Ross marked "irregular"!

I'm going to add ribbon to the holey (not holy) mirror on the wall, which was also made by my dad a few years back. Same goes for the white tray on the table next to the rocker

Do you recognize THIS POST ABOUT THE UGLY ARMOIRE? I salvaged it after it didnt' sell in our garage sale and instantly knew it had to be grey. I think I'll put some razzle dazzle on it at some point...vinyl decorations or something that matches the scrapbook paper inspiration. I'm happy no one (no suckers) bought it! The yellow cieling tin was a junk market find I've had in my stash for several years. I am going to hang it on the wall so more accessories can fit on the armoire.

This soft yellow damask fabric is very much like the pumpkin used on the rocker. I didn't have good lighting so you can't see it very well. It's a simple panel swagged to one side. We plan on getting REAL blinds soon to replace the year old paper ones from our move-in day...over a year ago!

And my ALL TIME FAVORITE space saver of the century: A changing table in the closet!! My dad simply cut a 1x12 in half (right?) and the two parts fit perfectly above the clothes rod as a shelf. They are screwed into place ontop of the wood that holds the clothes rod. It's a little high, but later on it can just be removed! I am going to get a few baskets to hold diapers and supplies next to the changing cushion. And we can STILL hang clothes below because there's a space above the rod! LOVE THIS!

The baby's initials were put in 12x12 scrapbook frames using the inspiration paper and an orange paper I had in my stash. The white letters were a steal at Hobby Lobby.

So, whatdoyathink? Besides a baby (only 3 weeks left!) there are a few things missing that we can't put our finger on. Nothing big, just more customizing or more "baby-ish" type items. I am thinking vinyl words or a fun flourish somewhere....but we're happy as clams it's complete and ready for a new life!

Looking for a Tutorial

2010-07-18T16:53:00.000-07:00

Help! There needs to be a one-stop search engine for creative tutorials! I am looking for a tutorial on how to dress up a plain t-shirt. Someone I met had one on this weekend that was grey, with black ribbon flowers going up the side. Paired with a pair of black capris, it was ADORABLE!!! She said her son bought it for her from {insert name of fun teeny-bopper store here} but now I can't remember even where she said it was from! My instinct said, "Hey, you can DO THAT YOURSELF."

Do you have any suggestions? Even if it's just how to make those cute ribbon flowers, I'd be grateful!

Color Inspiration!

2010-07-06T14:57:00.001-07:00

I think I have found the inspiration for the color scheme in the baby's room!

This is a scrapbook paper line by Basic Grey, the Ambrosia collection. The particular pattern is called Marmelade. I know the pattern is a little busy but if this was framed and just used as wall art, not a window treatment, I think it wouldn't be too overpowering. Now we just need to find fabric! (I'm not big on using characters and don't really have a "theme" in mind, but with these colors anything is possible!)

And it doesn't hurt that I started painting an old armoire that we had in the background grey color. I really wanted to use orange but felt that JUST orange was too much. With the other colors it will really pop, dont'chyathing??. But, with that said, do you think this scheme shouts "MODERN" becuase I'm more of a vintage gal. Help!?

Dan & Isaac Speak

2010-07-06T07:51:00.001-07:00

This is a two-for one. A "Dan Speak" and "What We're Saying" double punch.

Dan: I think I'm going to start a record label called "Tru Dat Records."
Me: But honey, you don't have any industry experience.
Dan: Tru Dat.
(walked right into that one!)

We were discussing baby names and Amelia came up. I could see him pondering it over when he busted out with the song, "If I had AMELIAn dollars..."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Isaac is pretty much potty-trained. It has clicked in the past few weeks. But the comments after completing his task have been priceless:

"Mom, that is almost as big as I AM!!"
"Mom, could I please have some PRIVACY!!!"
"Wow! Mom, that is SOOOO Cool!"

-He woke up from a nap and when I went into get him he was itching his leg. I asked if he had a bug bite, "No, not yet."

-Isaac has really taken to the idea of having a baby sister, and talks to my belly frequently. We spent the July 4th holiday with my parents and shared a room. He woke up one morning, patted my belly and said, "You are really going to like Grandma and Papa's house."

-We have tought Isaac who our president is from seeing him on TV so frequently. I didn't realize it had sunk in outside of that scenario until this weekend. We were at a large furniture store going down the escalator to a different area of the store when a salesman, who happened to be African American, went down in front of us. "Look DAD! That's UNCLE OBAMA!"
(Apparently all men are uncles...since he as so many!)

Name Roundup

2010-06-24T14:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone for your girl name suggestions! You are so creative! Here is a running list of the ones people have mentioned intermingled with ones Dan has thrown out there. I'm not saying what we like so far. Mainly because I don't know.

Kate
Maggie
Julianne
Emily
Annmarie
Quinn
Anna
Annalise
Hope Lynn
Jazmine Lynn
Morgan
Keely
Kinsey
Cora
Elizabeth
Amelia
Mary
Marlow
and from the little neighbor girl who obviously doesn't know the origins:
Jezebel!

If we decide before she arrives, you will be the first (okay, probably the third or fourth...to know!)

You've had that for HOW long?

2010-06-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

I am so tickled that this piece of "Ebay junk" I have carried around for over 7 years might ACTUALLY get used! I bought this chandelier BEFORE I was married thinking it would be SO cool to hang somewhere in a really frilly bathroom or swank office space. Ha. It has hung in a closet for 7 years. It has moved 4 times. It will never go out of style! And just think what a dab of spray paint and some killer candles would do to dress it up! (Don't worry...I'm NOT going to burn candles above a crib. Remember, I live with a safety professional!)

Which brings me to some killer web-spiration on Girl's Nurseries. Holy cow. I could get carried away!

I've noticed birds and trees are really "in." And not just for kid's rooms...but anywhere!

From Little Crown Interior's Photo Stream on Flickr

Nina Bedding From Posh Tots (retails for $570!)

Kate Baby Bedding from Post Tots (Retails for $389) (oops...it's actually made by Serena and Lily)

From alistbaby.net and HGTV

And this is something I clipped from a magazine...I am so sorry I don't have the link but it was probably Better Homes and Gardens. I love the window treatment and chandellier in the small pic...sorry for the quality!

Soo...any Ooohs and Ahhs? Yeah, me too!

Forgive me....

2010-06-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

For I have committed Blogging sin. I haven't blogged in....oh...what was it, Kat....like over 55 days. Longer than the BP oil spill. Longer than the Great Flood. Longer than I care to admit. But I'm not here to give you excuses or whine about my "busy life" or tell you to have pity on me because I am preggo and tired. I'm just here to tell you I'm sorry. I'm going to be better at blogging because I really do MISS it. And I miss you. I miss this funny community of people and all your comments.

So...to begin I'm gonna tell you BOY do I have some work cut out for me! Namely...DECORATING A LITTLE GIRL's Nursery!

That's right...this little human growing inside me is a little girl! So for my first post after a LONG and overdue return to blogging...I'm gonna ask for some opinions.

1. Names. We were all set on a boy's name. And unfortunately it just won't work for a girl. What do you like? What "goes" with us? (Dan, Jennifer, and Isaac?)
2. Nursery Themes. In the coming days I will post some drool-worthy pics of professionally decorated nurseries. Then we can all scoff at the price tag and brainstorm how we can do it on the cheap.

So, am I forgiven? Can I start on a fresh foot and still have your readership?

I missssssssssssed you!

What We're Saying

2010-04-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

Like Father like Son. Isaac has really been dishing out the one liners lately. Here's the latest stand-up act by the 2 year old (2 going on 10!)

1. We sometimes play the rhyming game at night. He'll say a word and I'll say what rhymes with it or visa versa. He started out with the usual "dog" "cat" then he moved onto "ring." I repeated the word. But before I could say a word that rhymed with it, he said, "Put a ring on." I laughed and said, "Put a ring on?" "Yeah," he said, "Put a ring on it. That's what the ladies sing." Watch out Beyonce.

2. He's very into my iPhone. He can work it better than most adults. When he grabs it and I ask "What do you think you're doing?" His response: "I'm just checking my email." Oh, brother!

3. I caught him running through the house looking in drawers in our bathroom. I asked him what he was doing, "I'm just chilling, mom." Great. Chill till your heart's content. Just don't paint the walls with my deoderant.

4. He knows we are going to have a baby brother or sister in the future. And he has figured out he gets brownie points when he talks to my belly. Only the other night he pulled up Dan's shirt and said, "Dada, I want to talk to your baby."

Mother's Day Gift Idea! (repost)

2010-04-23T14:15:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure today of helping a good friend make some adorable silhouettes of her two boys for Mother's Day gifts. I wanted to share the link to my previous post HERE and ask if anyone would want a tutorial written up on it? I hate saying tutorial because I'm sure there are a billion already out there and I'm NO EXPERT; but if you had some basic instructions would it be beneficial?

What are you doing for Mother's Day gifts this year? Do you get things for the Grandmothers or other moms in your life?

Springing into Action

2010-04-16T14:07:00.001-07:00

Wowza! This is the time of year for big projects! I'm lucky enough these days to get the dishes loaded in the dishwasher or start a load of laundry before the day ends...but sometime in the near future we want to tackle the following:

-Start work on finishing our extra (currently) unfinished room on the second floor. We're thinking PLAY ROOM.
-Continue working on the flower beds out front. Right now it's 5 plants and some mulch. Must do more!
-Build a shed so all the things stored in wake of the first project have a place to go.
-Change out the light bulbs on a cieling fan that is over 14 feet high. Yowza. What was the builder thinking? Giants were going to buy the house?
-Decide where to put the new baby's room. Keep our almost 3 year old on the first floor and the baby upstairs or visa versa? Eeek!
-Baby's room!
-Start a garden. Well, that's my idea, the hubby has no idea this is on the list.
-Organize my crafts. I'm mentioned this plight before. I have not made any progress.
-Plan on enhancing our back porch. Right now it's a 5x5 slab with our grill and sand box! BORING!

Whew. I'm tired just typing about all of these things! Let's get started! Or let's just take a nap!

Theme Park HELP!

2010-04-14T13:19:00.000-07:00

Hey readers! I need help! In a few weeks my family will be going to Florida for a vacay. Much needed, I might add. My question is this: What parks should we hit while there if any? We're not staying in Orlando but will have access to the roads via a rental car and want to do at least one park. Let me break it down for you in numbered question form:
1. If there was only ONE day to visit a theme park, keep in mind we have a 2.5 year old, my parents and my adult sibling as well, which one would you go to?

2. If you had TWO days; which TWO parks would you go to?

3. Are there any parks that will cater to the whole family?

4. In other words, Disney vs Universal. Magic Kingdom vs Epcot. etc.

5. Is there a better day to go than others?

6. What should we know before we go?

7. Are there ticket deals? How much for meals?

Aack...I need to do more research!

Thanks for any input you may have!

Dan Speak

2010-04-11T07:21:00.001-07:00

Me: What in the WORLD is a bagpipe player doing on American Idol?
Dan: Well, the Beatles are from Scotland. (He was dead serious!)

(Watching a scene during our favorite TV show Lost, a gentleman appeared to get "fried" by a big man-made electromagnetic death machine)
Dan: "Well, we all know he should have Locked-out-tagged-out." (Dan is a safety manager for a large manufacturing plant. Injuries happen when people don't follow the proper safety protocol.)

We indulged in a fast food breakfast yesterday in which French Toast Sticks were purchased. Isaac looked at them quizzically when presented with the fried sticks. "If you don't like these, son, there WILL be a paternity test!"
Luckily no bloodwork is needed. The FTS were a hit and father and son high-fived the breakfast fare!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Oh, Baby!

2010-04-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

****I can't really apoligize for slacking off in the blog posting department. But what I can do is provide a good explanation...you have to keep reading to find out why!!!*****

I've told you all before about the exciting opportunities to try out new products via BzzAgent; the online "buzz spreading site" that sends you products in return for sharing how you feel about them to everyone you know...or even those you don't. So it was really exciting when they asked me to promote a new movie heading to a theater near you this Mother's Day. I love movies. I love babies. So...if you put the two together...what's not to love? Here's a great description of what's to come: "..... this visually stunning new movie simultaneously follows four babies around the world - from first breath to first steps. From Mongolia to Namibia to San Francisco to Tokyo, BABIES joyfully captures on film the earliest stages of the journey of humanity that are at once unique and universal to us all."

And as part of being a BzzAgent, I get to help spread the word by providing you with the awesome trailer and link to become a fan on Facebook!

There is something in it for me. Anytime you click on the trailer or visit the links I provide, I get "credit." The more people who view the links the closer I get to winning prizes. A year supply of diapers, a brand new stroller, a new car seat. BUT, there's also something in it for YOU. You can enter to win the sweepstakes as well. Both by the link below or by following the information on the Facebook fan page.

Now...I promised you something at the beginning of this post. You see...I haven't been keeping up with my blog in the past few weeks for a very specific reason. And it ties in to this post and the movie QUITE WELL!

WE'RE HAVING A BABY!!! Little Isaac will be a big brother in November and we're over the moon excited! I just have been too exhausted to craft, or sew, or crochet...more or less blog. My blog time has been eaten up by napping, resting, or trying not to lose my lunch. But I have missed my bloggy friends and I do plan on keeping more current with Jen and Juice. Please bear with me as the hormones level off and I feel more like my old self. I can't wait to share more about our growing family in the future! Oooo...I feel a room remodel in the works!

So, drop what you're doing, go and watch the BABIES Trailer and let me know what you think!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T12:40:00.001-07:00

I'm being lazy and wanted to share a post I wrote a year ago for this holiday. Please check it out HERE and then come back and read the rest:

I believe in angels. And we met one on our Honeymoon in 2004. Her name was Bridget Keating and she was hand-picked by the BIG GUY himself to help us in our quest to locate family in Ireland.

We had been traveling in the area we thought was where Dan's family lived before they took the voyage over to America. We had information from Dan's dad from his visit in the 1950's and some family history; but what we didn't have was solid addresses or names. Who knew in that amount of time if any of them were still there; or for that matter, living?

We stopped at a cemetary near the small town of Cross in County Clare. The name "Cross" rang a bell with Dan so we figured we'd stop and take a look. We turned up no McGuire headstones and began getting discouraged and headed for the car. A lady was also in the cemetary and asked us if we needed any help. Help? That was an interesting question. We told her our names and who we were searching for. I still get goosebumps when I remember her answer:

"Ahhh.....yes...the McGuire's. I know of them. Yes. Mrs. Johanna McGuire Keane's son still lives in the area....come with me and we'll give them a call!" (Johanna would have been Dan's great aunt...which makes her son Dan's second cousin.)

Huh??? Is this really happening? Did we just meet a stranger in Ireland who knows Dan's family?

Our Angel takes us TO HER HOME and calls up the Keane residence. Mrs. Eithne Keane answers. Bridget explains that she thinks Sean Keane's relatives from American are visiting. I hear a gasp and a yell to her husband, under her breath saying "Oh, he'll curse the family tree for interrupting his yard work." LOL! Sean gets on the phone and he and Dan confirm the relationship. Sean is Dan's cousin! And we make plans to meet the next day! We could not believe our encounter with this generous stranger. She wants to make sure we know how to get to our meeting place for the following day and takes us to the Loop Head area pub, The Lighthouse Inn. We have a drink and snacks with her and her granddaughter, Evytte. She tells everyone in the pub we're relations to Sean Keane. People congratulate us and smile. Like we're really not just tourists...but REAL Irish people! Ha!

Our meeting with Sean and the rest of the family was just as amazing as how we came to know them. We really know what they mean when they say "The Luck of the Irish!"

Dan, Bridget, Evytte, and myself outside the LightHouse Pub.

Leprechaun Hats

2010-03-11T12:26:00.000-08:00

I found this adorable idea over at Twiggle Box Blog a few days ago and knew I needed to make them for the little Leprechauns in my life!

I couldn't find green licorice but the green sugar crystals worked alright, and no tiny clover candies so I improvised with candy dots; using yellow as the hat buckle. I also didn't make my marshmallows as nice and smooth as Hollie did, but I was really just trying to not make a mess! Ha! That's impossible with this treat....but in a good way!

You will need:

-Keebler Fudge Stripe Cookies (I used 20....but you can make more!)

-Marshmallows

-Chocolate Chips (your pref on sweet or semi)

-Toothpicks or skewers

-Knife or spatula

-Double boiler or reliable microwave

-wax paper

-green licorice or green sugar crystals

-candy shamrock or other small candy item for center (m&ms would work well)

1. Melt the chocolate in your double boiler or microwave. (I prefer double boiler simply because I can control how hot the chocolate gets.)

2. Meanwhile, lay out your cookies on a sheet of wax paper.

3.Using your toothpick, dip the marshmallow into the chocolate using a spatula or knife to smooth.

4. Place the marshmallow on the cookie so that the melted chocolate adheres the marshmallow on to it.

5. You can add more chocolate to the top with a knife or a small dab from the spatula once it is on the cookie.

6. Allow the chocolate to harden. I stuck mine in the freezer for 10-20 minutes although this made them sweat when I got them out. Hey. I'm impatient!

7. I used the left-over chocolate from the double boiler and put it in my Pampered Chef icing squirter thing. I'm sure it has a proper name.

8. I added a thin line of additional chocolate at the base of the marshmallow and then sprinlked the green sugar over it.

9. Add the buckle accent while that chocolate is still soft...right over your green sprinkles.

Whala!

Thanks, Hollie, for this fun treat idea!

Going Green

2010-03-10T13:56:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share this quick little banner made from $1.17 chip board letters from Hobby Lobby. That comes to a grand total of $5.85 plus $1.50 for the half-price ribbon by the roll.

I was going to go verticle with it and hang it on my front door...but the wind has been fierce this week and I don't know how well a nail in the front door would fly with my hubby. And just to add another excuse I stuck the wreath holder in with the Christmas decor and THERE's NO tellin where THAT is!

I will be sharing more Irish Shennanigans later in the week! I'm having a little get together and I know there will be fun things to post!

I'm linking up to Somewhat Simple's Strut Your Stuff St. Patrick's Day Ideas party

Shopped the House and Made some Progress

2010-03-10T13:12:00.000-08:00

Until recently I had overlooked our master bath for anything other than the occasional scrubbing (ha!) and a few candles for *ahem* ambiance. But I really wanted to spruce it up a bit so I "shopped the house" and enlisted the help of my dad to hang some shelves that were originally in my son's room. (It had a nautical theme when he was younger but we're moving on to trains so it just didn't need sea shells and boats anymore.)
Sorry no before pics.

I realize now that unless the other guest bathroom is full; no one but my family will ever see these behind the door....but I'm happy with it...and I even got a compliment from my husband! (This should go in a "Dan Speak post" After seeing the shelves: "Honey, I'm beginning to think you know what you're doing with all this decorating stuff." Oh, thanks, dear!)
I made these canisters by spray painting the lids of cheap ones from Hobby Lobby black and then adhering the finials with E600 glue. The finials are from the dollar store! Sweet! And I plan on making my own bath salts to put in the empty canister. (Yeah...some day!)
My dilemma is this: Do I even bother putting up a window treatment? The window is frosted....but I like the idea of softening up the space with something. What do you think?

I'm linking up to Amanda's Show me the Progress Party!

You say tomato

2010-03-06T09:48:00.001-08:00

I didn't like tomatoes until I "grew up." But apparently Isaac has a much more sophisticated palate.

May your weekend be a fruitful one!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Saint Patricks Day Wreath

2010-03-03T07:15:00.001-08:00

This is a quick St. Patty's Day project that helped use up scrapbook paper bits and pieces in my stash.

1.25 inch wide strips (or around that size). 12 inches in length.

A little 1x2 vintage postcard image (purchased images from etsy...link to follow)

Fold strip accordion style all the way to the end.

Hot glue end...

And bring ends together.

Squish center together...

And hot glue like mad!

Adding the 1x2 helps keep the circle together.

Get you dollar store wreath form...

And start glueing.

Overlap as neccessary.

Stand back and admire a nap time well spent.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

2010-03-02T14:10:00.001-08:00

This is a test post from my iphone. I hope I can learn to use photos. Eeeek!

-If you see the pic above it means I've been successful...and you get a sneak peak at my current craft!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Hello and Welcome!

2010-03-02T08:37:00.001-08:00

Everytime I log into blogger I notice my "followers" number. Usually I pay no other attention than to see it up in the corner. But recently that number has been inching up! I just wanted to say "Hello and Welcome" to all the new readers at Jen and Juice and thank you for taking the time to FOLLOW! This is a really fun pasttime for me and I enjoy sharing a little bit of myself with you. I also enjoy reading YOUR blogs...so if you see YOUR numbers going up....you'll know why!

Thanks again and Happy Crafting/Parenting/Antiquing/Sewing/Blogging/Thrifting/And all the other rad things you do!!

$12 Wall of Maps!

2010-02-25T15:17:00.000-08:00

I can't find the image from Pottery Barn; but I'm sure you've seen the high-end decor catalogs with the framed maps as wall-art? I've been visiting the dollar store over the course of a few weeks to pick up various frames. The secret is making sure they have hardware on the back so you can hang them; otherwise you'll be hot-gluing ribbon on the back! (From experience!)

I found a gold mine of old maps in the history book I told you about in THIS post. And I was on a big map kick for several years after our wedding and trip to Ireland and indulged on a few cool maps from ebay. (Remind me to tell you about the Christmas our golden retriever decided to EAT a map of England we were going to have framed for our brother in law. OMG!!!)

Cue spray paint!

(I love the black matte cheapo stuff! In case you haven't noticed?!)

After inserting the maps in the frames, (very little skill went into this; I didn't mat any of them, just cut them to size) I arranged them on my bedroom floor to get a feel for how I wanted them on the wall, spacing, etc. Then I cut out gridded wrapping paper to match the size of each frame so I could visually see it on the wall without making huge mistakes and multiple holes with the nails.

I numbered the pieces of paper from top left and attached them to the wall in numerical order. (no pic) I am an awful picture hanger. NEVER taking time to measure. I guess I am just not patient enough!

Then I simply hammered a nail in place through the paper and hung the frames according to their corresponding number. It helped to take a picture of the frames so I could refer to the spacing and order as a guide. (What would we ever do without digital cameras?)

My only glitch was that the wall which I chose to do this project is in the hallway upstairs. I would have had to hang off the banister to get a good shot; but these will do for now...until I get my tight-rope license next month.

And now for the finished wall:

I'm linking up to The Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday Linky Party! Go check out other frugal decorating ideas!

and Frugalicious Fridayat

and Feature Yourself Friday over at Fingerprints on the Fridge

Craft Block

2010-02-23T12:55:00.000-08:00

First it was Craft ADHD, and now it's Crafter's Block. Like writer's block but with more hot glue.

I'm in a rut.

I have a closet full of inspiration, and nothing to show for it. (Except a crazy-mad-messy closet.)

Let me show you what I'm talking about. (I can't believe I'm doing this. Close your eyes, mom!)

This is my craft closet. It is in the same room as our computer...so one pulls me in...and the other beckons me. I'm torn. Read blogs....or start a craft? Work on organizing or watch a movie? Listen to Glenn Beck or watch CNN? (Just kidding!)

Now I'll dissect it further: (click to enlarge...if you dare.)

And what this doesn't touch on is ALL the great space that is wasted by just having things on the floor as opposed to using the great space below the hanging racks. Perhaps my first step should be to admit that I have a problem. Seek help, and then commit to the twelve step program.

And in case you were wondering; here are the twelve steps:

1. Give yourself a big hug; because, let's face it. You're alone in this one. No one is going to bail you out of your heaping pile of junk.

2. Run to the nearest Starbucks. Order a Venti of anything and come back home in a better mood.

3. Scour the web for inspiration and cheap closet organizers.

4. Begin by throwing out the unnessessary items. Ticket stubs you're never going to put in a scrapbook, etc.

5. Take a deep breath.

6-10. Repeat steps 1-5.

11. Call in the big guns. Apply for HGTV or Martha to help you! Don't they do makeovers for people who live in the middle of nowhere?

12. If #11 fails, you've got a big problem and should probably just face the truth. Clutter is a sign of creativity! So get that hot glue gun plugged in and the modge podge out and start crackin!

On the Vinyl Bandwagon....Again!

2010-02-17T13:04:00.000-08:00

(Only this time...THERE WAS NO way I could have made this on my Cricut... )

I have been following Scribble It! on Facebook for some time...having seen them on another blog (or twenty!) and falling in love with their vinyl designs. A few weeks ago they posted a TERRIFIC deal on Facebook for half-off any Monogram. Dude! I could not pass this up! I had been wanting to put something above the transom in our entry way below a large window and above the door. I think this fit perfectly!

BEFORE:

(I enlisted the help of my BIL for the ladder work! Thanks, Mike!)

AFTER: MULTIPLE VIEWS

I loved how it turned out! Please go drool over the great designs at Scribble It! And tell them another happy customer referred you! (Did I mention...shipping took like Nano-seconds! They have amazing customer service and super fast shipping! Thanks again!)

Maniac Monday Part 4: Affair of the Heart Vendor Shout-out!

2010-02-15T13:35:00.000-08:00

Saturday I took some friends to OKC's bi-annual craft and art show, Affair of the Heart. Over 850 booths of Crafty Goodness!

There was a lot of stuff to see but these adorable headbands from Pink Bench were a hit! Please don't judge my horrible roots. I need a spa day!

I've worn my headband 2 days straight and have never felt like taking it out because of pressure or pain on my head. Usually I'm wondering why I have a headache when I wear the plastic headbands......and not so much as an itch with this one! Plus...I have not had to adjust my headband today because of slipping. Seriously folks! This product is genious!

My pictures don't do them justice. GO to their website, check out all the adorable fabrics and the easy to follow demo, and tell them "Molly Ringwald" sent you! (I think they'll remember me! I'm sure it was a long weekend for them!)

Maniac Monday Part 3: Peace Love and Rock-n-Roll

2010-02-15T13:27:00.000-08:00

Happy Belated Valentine's Day! This is what Isaac wore to a Valentine's Party with our Mom's Group:

I made it using clip art images; scrap fabric, and iron on fabric adhesive on a red shirt he already owned. (FREE!!! Yeah!) My intent was to applique them on with matching thread, but time got the best of me and we just winged it with the fabri-tac.

PEACE, LOVE, and ROCK-N-ROLL!!!

Maniac Monday Part 2: Super Hero Cape

2010-02-15T13:07:00.001-08:00

Have you seen quilts, pillows, purses, etc made out of men's neck ties? (Great inspriation HERE at Artful Ties. About a year ago I purchased half a dozen or so with the intent on making a purse for myself. I meticulously ripped out all the seams, ironed the silk parts flat, and then sewed them together lenght wise. I had no idea what to do after that. They sat in my fabric stash for over a year. I got them out recently and was inspired to use them.

I didn't take pictures of the process; although I wish I had so I could provide a pattern. I was in a hurry to get it done because it was the Thursday of the "STORM" (sorry....I know I've talked about it so much!) and I wanted to sew it all together before we lost power!

I basically left the two end ties a little longer for the front so I could adhere velcro to keep it on. The other ties were left with the angles at the bottom and then I sewed basic muslin fabric like you would a lining for the back. I basically used about a 3/4 of the ties lenght on the ends and half in the middle.

I hemmed the edges of the longer pieces and did not attach muslin. I cut these at an angle so they met evenly and used two sections of velcro to keep tthem together and for easy removal.

My little Super Hero loves his new Super Cape!

Maniac Monday Part 1: Pics from the STORM.

2010-02-15T12:53:00.000-08:00

It's Monday. I haven't blogged in awhile. I have a lot to share. Bare with me.

Here is what all the fuss was about a few weeks ago....and part of the reason I haven't blogged this week...I feel like I'm starting to get back into a groove. Plus last week my dance card was full. Full I tell ya!

" Mamma..Why can't we play outside?"

"This is why, honey. It's really cold. Really icy. And Really dangerous!"

Thank goodness we were only without power for a week. It could have been worse!

Ballard Knock-off (Sort of)

2010-02-05T17:50:00.000-08:00

This weekend I helped transform a shabby window pane to a new piece of wall decor for my mom. We purchased matching windows a few years ago at an antique store. Alas, my window was somehow ~~thrown out~~ misplaced by my dear husband in one of the 3 moves we've had in the last 5 years....but my mom hung onto hers and it was finally time to do something with it!

I'd like to think it looks a little like this Ballard Design Gem:

But way less than the $700 price tag...

...and minus the pretty arch at the top...but I'm not going to be picky for $20!!

I cleaned and measured the glass panes and ran to the closest Lowes. Did you know they will cut mirrors for free??? (That is; if you purchase the mirror there! Go to the millwork desk!) But they seemed reasonably priced, and with my measurements I needed the largest mirror; it was around $20. I just gave them my demensions and about 45 minutes later I had 8 small mirrors in the size I needed.

And then on to the trusty Gorilla Glue. Be sure to follow the directions with this bad boy! You have to dampen your surfaces and allow the glue to expand before letting the two meet. I adhered the mirrors directly to the glass in the windows.

I'm linking up to the following parties:

"I made it without my Hubby" over at Shanty2Chic

DIY day over at A Soft Place to Land

Metamorphasis Mondays over at

Between Naps on the PorchMake Your Monday over at Twice Remembered

Heart of the Matter Picture Parade and a Winner!

2010-02-05T17:06:00.001-08:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in Wednesday's Linky Party! It was fun to see all of your hearts! I hope you all visited each other's blogs and saw all the cute ideas...and cute babies! Here are some pictures submitted via email:

Leafs by Marsha

Clouds by Debbie

I love those hearts found in nature gals! Thanks for sending those in!

And to alleviate all the suspense I have decided to announce the winner of the $10 Hobby Lobby Gift Card instead of waiting until Monday!

*Random.org chose entry #2! That is Sew Much Ado. She made this adorable fabric flower wreath Here. Thanks so much for participating and please claim your prize by emailing me with your mailing address at jenlaser2015 (at) yahoo (dot) com

*If anyone has a quick tutorial on how to save a screen shot of random.org to post in your blog please let me know! My mom was my witness...she can vouch that I didn't pick the winner myself. I wish I could send everyone a gift card! This was so fun!

Can I be Cool Too?

2010-02-04T12:08:00.000-08:00

Amanda over at Serenity Now is having a fun little party called:

I totally love this blog and wanted to participate. You see, so many (cool, neat, fortunate, awesome, talented, courageous) bloggers are hauling butt to the Blissdom Blogging Conference...and for those of us who can't go....we need a little outlet to tell others why we're so cool. What a great idea, Amanda!

So, without further adieu, here are 5 reasons why my blog rocks...or why you should read more of my posts...if you dare!

1. I kinda have a funny husband.

2. I don't sell anything. Yet.

3. I'm a shameless kid bragger. Just wait until he's old enough for sports.

4. Sometimes I get it right.

5. Sometimes I don't. Which means I'm human. Just like you.

Why does your blog rock? Or, just why do you rock in general? I want to know...because I bet we're cool....just like Amanda's party-participants!

The Heart of The Matter Linky Party and a Giveaway!

2010-02-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

I wasn't sure if this was going to happen. The BIG storm I mentioned in my last post? Well, shortly after I posted it our power went out. It has been out since. Yes. That was Thursday and this is Monday. But thankfully we have family in the state and while the weather was too bad to travel we were holed up in a hotel. I am so grateful we are with my parents and some gracious friends are housing my husband this week while we wait for the over 1000 utility poles to be replace or fixed! So, it would be really encouraging for us if at least ONE person participate in my linky party. Ya know...just a nod from the universe that someone out there reads this and has a small interest in THE HEART of the MATTER.

Grab the button from my sidebar and tell others about it! I have a small prize to giveaway to one lucky entrant. A $10 Gift Card to Hobby Lobby. Without that store, my life would be so much less creative! So link up! If you do not have a blog and would like to share a heart with us; please email the pic to jenlaser2015 (at) yahoo (dot) com. I will post a parade of pictures along with highlights from the linky party over the weekend. Monday I will chose a random entry as the winner of the gift card using random.org.

I want to see the craziest, sweetest, most amazing hearts you can photograph. It can be something you made and posted on your blog. It can be something you baked. It can be the box of chocolates you got from your husband. It can be a heart drawn in the sand, made of pebbles, carved from stone, formed from clay, sliced out of an onion. It can be your kid's school Valentine's Cards, your heart-shaped locket (ala Reba McIntyre), your heart-shaped ivy topiary you've worked so hard to cultivate.
I want to see creativity and I want to see lots of hearts! So spread the word, email your buddies and pass along the word!

A Little Winter Weather

2010-01-28T07:53:00.000-08:00

In case you don't live in Oklahoma....we are experience a "storm." And by storm I mean debilitating rain, ice, wind, and future snow. This would be no big deal...in let's say Alaska...but here it gets all the media attention and frenzy of a visit by the Pope. So....what do I do in times of winter crisis? (As in "the power could go out any minute...go cook something or do some laundry before you have no more water?")
Well, friends...I CRAFT!!! That's right! I am currently sewing a super hero cape for my son out of a very unexpected material and I can't wait to show it to you! I also made headbands last night out of panty hose! Can't wait to show you those either! But...I think I should go pay attention to the weather and capture some pictures of the ice on the trees!
Pray we have enough electricity today to watch a few more episodes of Dinosoar Train!

Heart of the Matter!

2010-01-20T19:34:00.001-08:00

<----Did you see the new button on my sidebar????

I am so excited to announce my first ever linky party! Mark your calendars for Wednesday February 3rd! I will be hosting a very different sort of blog party. (*you don't have to have a blog to participate.)

Please read on to find out the details:

Tuesday night I was cooking dinner. (I can hear your eyes rolling.) I grabbed a potato out of the sack. ("Where is she going with this?") And this is what I pulled out:

I kid you not. A heart-shaped tater! This made me laugh out loud. But what was more funny was trying to act nonchalant in front of my neighbors as I posed my spud and began to take pictures outdoors where the lighting was good. Ha! Lighting for a vegetable! This totally gives new meaning to "Eat your Heart OUT Annie Leibovitz!"

And then, much to my amusement, I took out two more potatoes and got this:

What? Don't see it???

I swear on my Irish heritage that these came from the same bag on the same day in the same kitchen where I cut up thier cousins and served them with a little Mrs. Dash.

Now comes the Linky Party part. I want to see the craziest, sweetest, most amazing hearts you can photograph. It can be something you made and posted on your blog. It can be something you baked. It can be the box of chocolates you got from your husband. It can be a heart drawn in the sand, made of pebbles, carved from stone, formed from clay, sliced out of an onion. It can be your kid's school Valentine's Cards, your heart-shaped locket (ala Reba McIntyre), your heart-shaped ivy topiary you've worked so hard to cultivate.

I want to see creativity and I want to see lots of hearts! So spread the word, email your buddies and pass along the word! This is going to be fun...and hey....there might be a little incentive for a lucky participant. Wink Wink.

Now, like I said, you don't have to have a blog to participate. When we get closer to Feb 3rd I will post more instructions and an email address you can send your heart photographs to. I will then post a photo roundup and highlight some of the links. Don't forget to grab the button from my sidebar to show others you are participating. I can't wait to get down to "The Heart of the Matter!"

A Trip to the Zoo

2010-01-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

Sunday we met my parents in OKC for a visit to the Oklahoma City Zoo. It was slightly cool but overall nice weather. Isaac couldn't contain himself when we told him early in the morning what our plans were. And it was just icing on the cake that Grandma and Grandpa showed up!

I can't count how many times we heard "Let's see some more animals, Papa!" Needless to say; this was a terrific day for a toddler! And the adults had fun too.

Here's a photo round-up of the day.

(Bengal Tiger in the background)

This was one cool cat! She was sunning herself atop a hill. I think it looked pretty peaceful up there!

I guess we only had our camera out for the cats and Gorillas. Next time we'll take pictures of Isaac's favorite: THE SNAKES!!!

No-sew window treatment from a sheet!

2010-01-18T12:22:00.000-08:00

In my quest to be more resourceful I have been racking my brain to find window treatments for the eat-in kitchen area. I'm so tired (yawn) of the paper blinds we've had since move-in day. I found some inexpensive tab-top curtains at Ross a few weeks ago....but I really needed two packages (or four panels) instead of just two...but I couldn't find another set.
So I hiked it upstairs to my linen closet and came down with a bed sheet my grandmother gave me when I was living by my myself in a one-bedroom apartment. (Ahhh....those were the days.) The sheet's purpose at that time was to separate my bedroom (with no door) from the other parts of the apartment. And by parts I mean the living area and kitchen in the same small space! My grandma sewed a hem to make a pocket for a tension rod that I hung in the make-shift doorway.
That sheet is now being put to work in the large window; flanked on either side by the tab-top curtains in the skinny windows. I think it is a good fix for now.

I haven't sewn it yet; but the gathers at the sides and the section in the middle are all being held together by safety pins! The ribbons are doing some of the work as well.

I love the scalloped edges and embroidered birds! I can't remember if my grandmother said she sewed this or if this was one of my great-grandmother's creations. I need to get the story!

I sewed the same colored ribbon on the tab-top curtains going across the top. (Ouch...you just caught me in a lie. I said "No-sew curtains"...which is only true of the middle section. But if you saw my seams; you would agree...a monkey could sew straighter than that! Thus...NO close ups!)

Vinyl Art Take 1

2010-01-14T12:02:00.000-08:00

I'm linking this post to Somewhat Simple's Strut Your Stuff Thursdays.

You know your husband loves you when he incourages you to buy the only roll of vinyl from the craft department while simultaneously filling your shopping cart with a $$$ paper cutter. (Or has he calls it... THE ROACH....ya know...cricket....roach...bugs??) Yes...sorry...this is another Cricut brag session.

BUT I CAN'T HELP MYSELF!

I originally had these 4 frames on the wall by themselves. Although they are great pictures, the vast wall just swallowed them up.

So I added a backless frame from Hobby Lobby in their 66% off clearence asle and the vinyl letters "Family Matters."

Here you see that without the addition of the large frame and words..the pictures would be really lonely and sad.

I have two new Cricut cartidges on the way; and when I get them I will be adding a "flourish" above the frame to balance everything out.

(If you are looking for cartridges...please don't pay FULL price. Look on ebay and with some patience and luck you can get them >$25. Some stores even have free shipping.)

First Order of Business

2010-01-13T15:20:00.001-08:00

I've been happily playing with my new toy! (A Cricut....in case you missed the post!) Besides watching with awe as the blade stealthily cuts hearts and stars and letters with precision; I'm putting it to use on a few projects I started before the wonderful distraction.

Isaac received a vintage-looking train sign for Christmas and I wanted to mount it to wood and hang it in his room. This is what I've come up with; and although I haven't hung it in his room or put it 100% together, I am pleased with how it turned out. Mostly because I did the "wood work" myself. Which included a saw, wood glue, and horrible measurements....but who's gonna notice???

Ignore the dirty laundry.

The scrap wood was left over from THIS project. One of my New Year's goals is to be more resourceful. No money spent!

I glued the slats that I sawed onto the board spaced apart to give it a "old" feel.

I lightly white-washed the slats. Keeping with my goals...I grabbed the builder's left-over paint...not noticing it wasn't latex paint! What a stink Enamel paint makes! Lessoned learned!

I hammered the train sign onto the dried board with spare tacks from the abyss that we call a tool box.

Next comes the part where I get to use the Cricut. I had another piece of plywood left over the same size as the train sign that I wanted to transform into a chalk board.

I cut the letters for "Arrivals" using my cricut onto drawer liner or con-tact paper. (There is actually a good use for that crap after all!)

After several coats of chalk-board paint, I peeled the letters off to reveal the un-painted letters.

Whala! The two boards will be hung in my "Train Fanatic's Room" as soon as I get my hands on some eye-hooks and metal chains. I will post the finished-finished product as soon as possible.

I'm linking to the party over at The Shabby Chic Cottage?! Join the fun at
Transformation Thursdays!

At Last.....

2010-01-10T11:50:00.001-08:00

"At last....my love has come along. My lonely days are over.....and life is like a song....AT LAST!!!!"

Sorry Etta James. I couldn't help myself.

If I go missing for a couple of days...please bring food and water to my craft room.

Dan Speak

2010-01-07T07:20:00.000-08:00

Another edition of the funny things my husband says.

(What can I say? He's been on a roll lately. And for this post I have to give some background.)

1. On his lack of eating fruits and vegetables:
Him: "What are those little juice-capsules you brought home from the store? They're so good."
Me: "They're called grapes."

2. On his lack of being able to find anything that he is looking for....no matter how recently he had it in his hands or whether it's looking at him in the face:
Me: "Did you find that kitchen utensil you were looking for?"
Him: "No."
Me: "Did you look in every possible location or did you just give up?"
Him: "What husband are you talking to?"

3. On his demanding job in a manufacturing environment:
-He was rough-housing with our son and a football. He jammed his finger and winced.
Him: "Ouch. I just jammed my thumb really hard. Will you rub my hand?"
Me: Eye roll and a shake of the head.
Him: "What?? You are married to an industrial athlete. I can't afford to be injured."

Vintage Valentine's

2010-01-04T11:20:00.000-08:00

Several years ago I was on a huge Ebay kick. Okay.... ya got me...I haven't recovered...I still kick it with Ebay....just not as much.

I purchased several sets of vintage Valentine's Day cards. In previous years I displayed them using a red-spray-painted grill rack and minature red clothes pins. But this year....and I'm not kidding you...TWO seconds after the Christmas decorations came down...I had to get them out and set them up:

Another Ebay purchase: Vintage Glass Bottles. I used them at our wedding as centerpieces and now they're finally getting out of the box again!

This one is my favorite! What a cute cowboy!

The miniature clothes pins were spray painted red and used to hold the cards on the lip of the bottles. These sayings on the cards are so darn corny that it makes them cute. For example:

(On the baseball one) "If I make a "hit" will you be my Valentine?"

(A Cat licking a sucker) "Don't be a sucker, be mine!"

(Kids walking a dog) "Dog-Gone it! I like you!"

(A violin) "Life would be just one sweet song and never be off key if you would only be my bow and string along with me!"

(Two eskimos) "It's SNOW joke, You're the one for me!"

Do you decorate for Valentine's Day?
Come back for more Valentine's projects and link up to these great blog parties!

DIY Day over at A Soft Place to Land.

Metamorphasis Monday over at Between Naps on the Porch.

Strut Your Stuff: Valentine's over at Somewhat Simple.

Dan Speak

2010-01-02T19:06:00.001-08:00

Another installment of the funny things my husband says.....

Me: We're supposed to eat black eyed peas on New Year's Day.
Dan: Can't we just listen to their album instead?

Me: I was really impressed with the movie "The Hangover."
Dan: No? Me either. BUT I have had some pretty impressive hangovers before.

At a children's birthday party with friends:
Other guest: Your son seems really laid back and easy going.
Dan: Thanks. He's crate-trained.

One more thing SANTA!

2009-12-30T19:42:00.000-08:00

I left one thing out when writing my Christmas wish list:

So, Santa...if you're not too worn out...I would really love to attend....could you work your magic for one more last minute gift? (After Christmas sale, perhaps?) Mrs. Claus and I could be roomies! Certianly SHE has a blog...I bet it's called something like:

"Living with a Work-a-holic!"

"Cold Hands...Warm Heart"

"My husband dresses in Red Tights"

"I'd Rather be in Cancun"

"North Pole Dancing"

"Blitzen Got a Bad Rap"

"It really does shake like jelly"

"Best Claus Scenario"

"Ice-Road Truckers has nothing on us!"

"No More Mrs. Nice Claus"

"Crafts from My Claus-et"

"How to decorate an Elf Workshop on a Budget"

"Black Friday-Red Velvet."

"My Sleigh Is Faster than your Smart Car."

Interested? Check out the BlissDom Conference Website here.

Let me know if you are going!!! I would love to hear if you've ever been or know someone who has!

Blessings to You This Christmas!

2009-12-23T12:27:00.000-08:00

As we busily pack and wrap and prepare and bake and hustle and bustle; I wanted to take time to thank each and every one one of my friends, family, and subscribers for reading my little happy place. I enjoy it tremendously....even though I know my thoughts and posts are scatter-brained and infrequent...I truly enjoy your comments and support. Maybe one of these days I will launch one of my millions of ideas for a blog that is centerend around one specific idea rather than mixing my love for crafts and my latest family drama. But until then, you are stuck with my babbling and craziness. HA!

Blessings to you this Christmas and may you find Peace and Joy in 2010.

Love,
Jen

Nothing that a little candy cane won't fix.

2009-12-22T13:34:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I did a little shoe shopping with my mom. It was for me...but we ended up only finding a pair of shoes for Isaac. However, this did not come easy....

I couldn't get a good shot...but do you see that goose egg over his left eye? He tripped in the store and caught the side of one of the "shoe-trying-on benches." I swear it was immediately apparent he was going to have a HUGE bruise. The store manager was very attentive and brought us ice and a Candy Cane. Guess who forgot all his worries pretty fast after the sugary treat??? And guess who asks for a Candy Cane anytime I mention how his head feels?

Cheers to everyone with little boys!

Holiday Open House

2009-12-22T12:35:00.001-08:00

I was fortunate to get to go to my friend Amy's Holiday Open House on Sunday. She is a dear friend from college and I hadn't been over to see her new pad since she moved in. (SIDE NOTE:Amy, her mom, and my other great friend, Misty, did some serious damage in Canton, Texas a few years ago at their First Monday Trade Days. I'm hoping to recreate some of the mayhem again soon.)

LET ME TELL YOU....THIS GIRL HAS STYLE! She (and her parents) are SO creative. She graciously allowed me to take pictures of her home all jazzed up for the holidays. But DARN IT if I forgot to take pictures of all the wonderful FOOD! (May have been because I was eating it all!)

Her home as 2 fireplaces (Jealous!) and this little bistro set (to the left and in the second pic) stole my heart!

One of her trees was all dolled up OSU style! The Cowboy Ornaments were amazing! I couldn't count how many Pistol Petes she had...but it was a lot! (I didn't get a pic of the other tree..but it was all decked out in Blue and White! Our sorority colors!)

I believe this was a ceramic tile....so cute!

Isn't that orange swag so pretty?

An orange chandelier....perfect!

In front of the other fireplace this gorgeous arrangement found me breathless...can you tell what the vessel is????? A DRUM!!! (see the sticks hanging out?)

And in keeping with the musical theme, this vignette was TDF! (That's "TO Die For" in JenandJuice-ese!) Here dad gave her the old bongo drums he used to play with as a child! So cute!

This lad's name is Rosco....I almost put him in my purse and brought him home...but Amy would have killed me! Luckily for her...

Those puppy dog eyes told me I had better be a good girl!

As I was leaving I asked someone to take our picture....I didn't realize we were dressed alike!

Love ya girl! Anytime you want to lend me decorating help....please come over!

25 Cent Wine Glass Markers

2009-12-20T08:23:00.000-08:00

We had a Christmas Party at our house last night for some of my husband's co-workers. Now that it's over I can breath and actually not worry about how my polenta turns out. (It was okay....I found out it's best served pretty quickly after it's done and doesn't perform as well when kept in a crock pot for an hour.)

I found 20 spare minutes yesterday while preparing for the party to whip out these easy-peasy wine glass markers. Literally they cost 25 cents; because all I used was a sheet of white card stock.

You simply trace the bottom of your wine glass on the card stock and cut out the circle. (Use the first one as a template for the others.) Trace a smaller circle in the center using a washer or nickel and then cut a line from the outside to the inside circle. Cut the smaller circle out and there you have it!

Then, using fine-tip markers I wrote the names of Christmas songs and lyrics onto the wine glass marker. At the ends I drew holly or trees or whatever floated my boat. Our guests actually thought they could use these as clues to my Christmas Trivia Game. LOL! How wrong they were!

Frugal Pedicure

2009-12-17T21:19:00.000-08:00

I wish I had a ginormous amount of holiday deocrating and craft tips I could share....but I'm plum out of the Christmas gutzpa. Not that I don't feel festive, I just want a change of pace.

I want to share is a tip my mom gave me last winter as I complained to her about my cracking skin....espcially my HEELS! Ugh! Do you get that cracked Sahara Desert on your feet in the winter??? She had heard that by rubbing your heels with an Oxy Pad (YEP! those pads for acne!) followed by a thick moisturizing lotion and socks, your heels will feel like you just stepped out of the salon! (If you don't like sleeping in socks you can just wear them for a few hours. I am a sock wearer so it doesn't bother me.) The salicylic acid breaks down the dry skin and helps exfoliate. Do it for a week or two and you'll see the difference!

I can't remember the last time I had a pedicure; but for the cost of Oxy Pads and the lotion you already have in your medicine cabinet, anyone can afford soft feet in the winter!

Christmas Tour

2009-12-15T16:40:00.003-08:00

As promised....here's how I decorate at Christmastime:

I made this wreath with instrument ornaments and gold ribbon. It was a pre-lit wreath from Old Time Pottery.

Next year we'll put lights on the peak above the wreath. It has been too windy for Dan to get back out there.

I love those vintage blocks! And the two chubby guys are from the Martha Stewart website...I made them last year and they were so fun!

Thanks to Dan's brother, Mike, for helping with the staircase!

Our little OSU tree! GO COWBOYS!

I made this little pinecone and frame "wreath" in 20 minutes during nap time!

Several years ago I purchased vintage Christmas cards on Ebay and used a floating frame with red card stock to create these:

BUT the most important part of my Christmas "decorating" would have to be these guys....still at it with the train.

I hope you enjoyed this little tour. I don't vomit tinsel....I like to keep it pretty simple! (Totally did not anticipate rhyming in this post!)

I'm linking (rather late) to The Nester's Christmas Tour Linky Party! THere are over 900 people who linked up! Whoah! Hop on over to get some inspiration!

Christmas Tour ASAP

2009-12-15T07:49:00.000-08:00

I know I've been slacking lately! I want to share a few pics of my house all decked out for the holidays and I will....just not right now!!! I will post ASAP! And by "all decked out" I really mean as much as I could....I don't go overboard. My husband decided two weeks ago to host a work Christmas party at our house this SATURDAY!!!! Can you say "WHAT WAS HE THINKING?"

From the Mouth of Babes

2009-12-13T09:51:00.000-08:00

A few nights ago Dan was putting Isaac to bed. Isaac burped and said, "Excuse me, I burped." (We're trying to teach him manners early on...hahaha)

A few minutes later he had gas. Sheepishly he said, "Excuse me. I burped in my diaper."

Too cute not to share!

My apologies to Super Cuts

2009-12-09T12:54:00.001-08:00

I promise I do not get joy out of torturing my child. But when a little boy needs a hair cut you just do it. Ya know?

Every Wednesday after story time, we meet the mom's group at the mall for lunch and then play time in the Germ-Zone. Or, rather the play area. I decided we should stop at the Salon to trim the little guy's hair for the Holidays. Because Santa likes neat hair.

I was living off a euphoric experience in September when the planets were aligned and my son happily let the barber trim his hair while smiling and talking and eating a sucker. Papa was there, too. He can vouch.

I did my best to recreate the environment. (This means I brought a candy cane to bribe him with.)

I sat him in the chair and the beautician put the pretty silk dinosaur shmock around his neck. I handed him the candy cane and his eyes got as big as silver dollars. This was working!!!

THE NEXT THING I KNOW the clippers were on, hair was flying, candy canes were leaking red froth and snot was pouring from his nose. THIS WAS NOT GOING WELL. Tears and screams and "Hold me MAMMA!" could be heard all the way down to Sears.

His candy cane had turned into a hair magnet with snot syrup. The poor beautician could do nothing but nervously laugh. (She must not have kids; I smugly remember thinking.) She offered no assistance or advice. Just kept on working as though this happens all the time. World War III was going off in her chair and she was giggling!!!!

After the fiasco...I ran my son into the bathroom to wash off the hair-snot-candy-cane trio and tried to explain why he couldn't have the candy cane anymore. THAT WENT OVER LIKE A LEAD BALLOON.

My drive home was difficult. No mamma likes to hear "Why you throw my sucker away, momma?" for 30 minutes.

I promise honey, the next time you need a hair cut, your Dad will take you!

A little Christmas Magic

2009-12-06T17:50:00.000-08:00

In the early 60's, my father-in-law purchased a toy train for his kids. 50 years later we have the privilege of putting together this classic around our Christmas Tree. It gives me goose bumps to see Isaac helping his dad and Uncle Mike with the switches, couplings, coal cars, milk car, oil cars, and engines. (And I get to expand my train vocabulary!)

Here are a few pics and a video of the action.

(My personal fave.)

The Stockings Were Hung....

2009-12-04T13:06:00.000-08:00

The scene: Our first married Christmas.

The date: December 25th, 2004

The players: Jen and Dan

Act 1:

We were getting ready to go to Grandma's for Christmas. I had eagerly gotten up before Dan that morning to put the finishing touches on his stocking stuffers. Nothing fancy; probably underwear, fruit and candy.

After breakfast I asked, "Aren't you going to check your stocking, honey?"

Dan opened his gifts. I looked in mine. There was nothing there. It was okay. He just forgot. I left the living room.

Act 2:

Sensing my dissapointment, Dan looked for something to put in my stocking. When I came back he was beaming with pride. "Aren't you going to check YOUR stocking, honey?"

"Oh" I thought. "He wanted to wait until I wasn't looking to fill my stocking."

Act 3.

I ran over to mantel and just as I was about to grab my stocking from its hook.....

CRASH!!!!

The stocking and its contents fell to the floor. The tiled floor. The hard tiled floor that breaks things when dropped on it.

I opened the stocking to find an exploded bottle of Head Country Barbeque sauce! Dan had grabbed the first thing in the kitchen when I stepped out and put it in my stocking so I wouldn't be without.

Why the BBQ sauce, honey?? Why?

And that is why I will never forget our first married Christmas and will never replace our stockings with the next latest style because they are full of memories.....

And trimmings fit for a summer party!

Photo Garland

2009-12-04T12:37:00.000-08:00

Update: I am linking to Wendy at the Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday Linky Party! Go check out all the other great frugal Holiday Decorating Ideas!

Hello. My name is Jennifer and I am a pack rat.

Is there a 12 step program for that? I mean...how many Christmas cards can one person keep? Well, I've kept them all and I don't regret it; not for one minute. And to prove that pack rats are humans too, I want to share what I do with my treasures.

I make a photo garland with them! I cut them out using Christmas Cookie Cutters as guides for some of the shapes. (Some of the pictures I didn't want to cut, so I left them in their original shape. I try to remember to label the back with the date and the names (in case I forget who you are! NEVER!) and I tape each picture on a ribbon with scotch tape. I only have one strand on the tree when this picture was taken but I will add last years ASAP. As you can see these pictures are so important that they are the only decorations on the tree so far!

I figure that these are the friends and family who have meant the most to us throughout the year; and they took the time to send a card which truly means a lot to me. I want to look back and see how our friends and family, our neighbors, our dentist office, the realtor, The Culligan Man and nieces and nephews we didn't even know existed grow and change! (Just kidding about the nieces and nephews. I can account for all of them; all 18 of them....I think.)

It's like a garland scrapbook...only without all the expensive embellishments.

What do you do with Christmas Cards? Any interesting ways of displaying them? Do you chuck them after the holidays?

I am linking this post up to Centsational Girl's Ornament Party! Such great ideas! You should definitely check them out!

Spreading the Buzz: Aveeno Baby

2009-12-02T12:42:00.001-08:00

As a BzzAgent member, I receive samples of products in the mail in return for spreading the "buzz" about the product. My blog is another avenue of getting the word out. As you can tell; I blog about lots of different things. I'm thinking of starting a blog about blogs. Just kidding. (This sounds like a Seinfeld episode!)

My latest BzzAgent campaign is Aveeno Baby. I received a full-size sample of Aveeno Essential Moisture™ Shampoo and several smaller samples of both the Soothing Relief Diaper Rash Cream and shampoo. Although I have not had the opportunity to try the diaper cream, I have enjoyed using the shampoo on my 2 year old. Bath time is supposed to be relaxing; moms shouldn't have to worry about drying out our baby's skin with harsh soaps or question"Will this sting his eyes?" In either case, it won't.

Toddlers aren't very patient in the bathtub, so I have to rinse when I have the chance. (Fast and furious!) This often means letting the soap just run down his face. Using the Aveeno Essential Moisture™ Shampoo, I haven't had to worry about the sting factor. Plus, I've been pleased that his skin hasn't looked or felt dry. With colder temperatures creeping upon us, this will be key for chaffed cheeks, hands, and all his other cute little parts.

If you have a wee one or know someone who does, go check out the other Aveeno products. A basket of Aveeno Baby products would make a cute Christmas or baby shower gift!

Spam

2009-12-02T12:07:00.000-08:00

I have been getting daily comments on previous posts from spammers. I am so sorry but I will be putting the word verification back on the comments form. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment on top of having to type strange things like "verizolly" "tzarness" and "boxcutters". I appreciate it.

And if you silly spammers are reading....LEAVE ME ALONE!!! I don't need viagra!

Dec 1st. A little Panicky.

2009-12-01T07:08:00.000-08:00

I always get a little panicky around this time of year. Especially since I'm ~~trying~~ ~~ruining~~ ~~winging it~~ doing so many handmade items for gifts. And....well....let's just say I have a long way to go before I complete them. Eeek!

Yesterday was Cyber Monday. I was able to find a few good deals but only placed one order. Why all the pressure? Seriously? I know if I keep my eye out and stick to a budget, Christmas will still be great and fun and wonderful. Who cares if not everyone on my list gets this:

OR This:

Or This:

I mean, I don't want to out-do anyone. (Wink!)

But one thing that has kept me grounded is my little 2 year old. Even though this is his 3rd Christmas, it's still very new to him. Exciting, new, and scary all at the same time. While talking with his Uncle Griff on the phone the other day, Griff asked, "When will I get to see you next?"

I told Isaac to say, "Christmas time." But he got a worried look on his face and said, "No. No

Santa at our house." The little guy is scared of Santa and we haven't seen him in over a year!

Last night we drug down our Christmas tree to start the assembly process. After getting the parts out and daring to stack them in the tree stand (Faux is the way to go! But I do miss the real thing!) Isaac greeted it by saying, "HELLO CHRISTMAS!!!! Hello! How U doing? O, Daddy. Very Nice Christmas! Very Nice." I wonder if the tree is what defines Christmas to him at such a young age? I guess I better get to work on it then!

Is your tree up yet?

Most Surprising Gift

2009-11-30T12:58:00.001-08:00

TARGET is giving away $100 gift cards to bloggers for answering this question: What is the most surprising gift you've ever received?I found this cool discussion over at Twitter Moms. Go check it out; and read the other Surprising Gift entries!

Dan and I had been dating for over 3 years when Christmas rolled around in 2002. I can remember thinking that it felt like a LONG time back then. Like long enough to know if "he was the one." That year, many of Dan's siblings were coming to visit his parents for the holidays...a perfect time to introduce his new fiance to his family. I felt like there was magic in the air that Christmas. We had a beautiful snow on Christmas Eve and things were just buzzing along in my little world. I had moved to "the big city" from my college town and lived in an apartment all by myself. Dan was living at home so he could save money while working full time and getting his MBA. "THIS WAS IT!" I thought to myself that December. He's going to POP THE QUESTION.
And to add fuel to my fire, Dan kept hinting around that I would really, really like my Christmas gift this year. I felt confident that I would be getting THE RING and a proposal. I didn't sleep at all the night before we were to exchange gifts. And something he said on Christmas Eve as a "hint" really got my imagination moving.
"You're going to like your gift. Just think about big numbers. Like in the 60's."
"Wow!" I thought to myself. "If he's talking Carats then HOLY COW. Even POINT SIX carats isn't too shabby."
The details of the next few days are a little hazy. I can't remember if we exchanged gifts in front of our families or if we just opened them in my apartment. But what I do remember was the blush of embarrassment and surprise when I opened my gift from Dan.
It was a large rectangular box; rather heavy for a ring. I think it even made a sound. A clanking sound. I tore at the wrapping paper in excitement thinking this was just a teaser. The real gift was in his pocket I thought.
I removed the paper and gasped. Dan had chosen a 64 Piece Silverware set as my Christmas gift. There was no proposal and no ring. No surprise engagement party or champagne toast. I think it was a long time before I ever told anyone my premonitions about that Christmas. However, I did have beautiful knives and forks to eat with at my apartment in the big city.

Obviously I eventually DID recieve the proposal I had been waiting for! Just not that Christmas!

Be sure to check out all the other surprising gift blog posts over at TwitterMoms!

A little late....

2009-11-30T07:10:00.000-08:00

We were out of town last week and I tried my hardest to post by using my husband's iPhone. It wasn't very blogger friendly. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. What did you do? Are you recovered from all the food?

We were celebrating not only the holiday but also my husband's parent's 50th Wedding Anniversary! All 9 children of my in-laws were able to attend this exciting event! They live scattered across the country and to be able to come together at the same time was a huge feat! (My husband is the youngest of 9!!!!) It was a special week and choc full of memories.

I will post pics of our trip as soon as possible. I think I have a travel hang-over.

Plus...I can officially start Christmas decorating!

Zoology Lesson

2009-11-19T07:47:00.000-08:00

This was my conversation with Isaac over breakfast:

Him: "Mamma read books about animals."
Me: "After breakfast we can read. Hey. What is your favorite animal?"
Him: "Giraffe."
Me: "O, really? (this is a new development...) What does a giraffe look like?"
Him: "Dolphin."
Me: (giggling) "Oh, wow. Where do Dolphins live?"
Him: "Oklahoma"
Me: (really laughing) "Don't you think that dolphins live in the Ocean?"
Him: Getting a really concerned look on his face, "Oh NOOOO! What do we DOOOOO?"

I guess we need to make sure the Dolphins get saved from the ocean. I don't think they'd make it very long in Oklahoma. But then again we have 2000 miles of shoreline and over one million surface-acres of water here.

This post brought to you by the Oklahoma Tourism Department. "There's a lake for everyone."

Playing Around

2009-11-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

I would love to be able to take amazing photos like The Pioneer Woman , or my friend Katherine Forbes, or this drool-worthy stuff from Yana Glezina. But for now I'll settle for the wonderfully easy and trusty Canon Power Shot my husband got me for my birthday last year and the minimal knowledge I have of shutter speed, aperture, and contrast. Which is basically how to spell each of those words...and that's about it. Why would I want to add another project or hobby when I'm perfectly happy keeping busy with all my other 10,00 interests?

With that being said, I wanted to share some shots that I did while playing around in the gorgeous sunset we had a few days ago. I will be sad when our builder starts work across the road on a new house and blocks our amazing view of the Wichita Mountains and the Windmills. (They are SOOOO beautiful {sarcasm}........and mesmerizing.)

Crochet Ole!

2009-11-18T11:28:00.001-08:00

I have been furiously crocheting the last few weeks, only to don one of my creations and have my husband tell me it looks like an oversized Hajib. Okay...it's really not that bad but I will need to re-work the pattern a bit. But I did want to share a project that I am happy about. The pattern came from Failed Feminist. She is a mad crafter and someone I met in Des Moines when being interviewed for an article about mom bloggers. Thanks for sharing this pattern, Cara!

You know how I've told you I like the motto: "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful" from The Nester? Well....in this case I'm not going to point out the imperfections with my scarf. No one will know but me. And maybe Cara if she reads this.

Look for more crochet love in future posts!

Michael's Handmade Holiday Contest

2009-11-15T19:20:00.000-08:00

I entered my Curly Paper Tree project in the Michael's Handmade Holiday Contest and a chance to go to NY to see Martha Stewart! If you have a sec, please visit http://www.michaelscontest.com/uploads/839 to rate my project. Visitor ratings account for 33% of the final decision. And if you missed the project post please check out This Post for all the details!

3 Strikes and I'm Out!

2009-11-15T18:50:00.000-08:00

I really wanted to be able to say "I Heart Estate Sales" on this blog post. But I struck out this weekend while visiting my parents. We first went to a "30 family garage sale" (I was thinking GREAT DEALS) but in reality it was a fund-raiser for the local HS Baseball team and lacked anything truly great. The only thing we found there was a lot of children's books. So the little guy has about 10 more to add to his collection, not a total strike out but certainly not a diamond in the rough.

Our next stop was the Re-Store. Usually a good place to find something to fix up or transform. Another bummer. However, I was drooling over a tufted headboard....and I'm not even in the market for a new headboard. More or less a MUSTARD colored KING SIZE headboard. I could have also come home with a $100 Orange and Black Surrey. You know...."Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry When I take you out in the surrey, When I take you out in the surrey with the fringe on top!" From the musical OKLAHOMA?? It would have been uber cute all lit up for Christmas along with a fake Santa and wrapped packages in the back. I just couldn't justify the cost....and how in the world would I have gotten it home and stored it? (But now....I'm kinda wishing I would have made them an offer!) In case you need a visual; a surrey looks like this:

And then came the #1 bummer and our third strike. We went to an "Estate Sale" in a decent neighborhood. What was inside baffled my mind. It felt like a crime scene. There was even what appeared to be blood on the floor (Red paint perhaps?) and the "owner" or "person in charge" seemed to be stoned out of his mind. I felt lucky to get out of there with my life....but had I brought a pickup truck I would have purchased a GEEEE-OOOR-GEOUS formal dining room table for $50. There was just no feasible way to get it home. (However, the stoner did say...I'd be glad to help you with it. I said, "I don't really live around here. You probably couldn't get it down to Lawton." His response: "Dude, I don't even know where that is." Of course you don't. You probably don't even know where YOU ARE RIGHT NOW!)

So, I guess this was just a winding down of the great "Summer of Estate Sales" I've had. I need to buckle down and work on Christmas gifts and decorating for the holidays anyways! But in case you missed my terrific finds this season you can check them out HERE, HERE, and HERE. I'm sure there are more that I've missed, but this will give you something to munch on while you're waiting.

ADHD Crafter

2009-11-13T06:51:00.000-08:00

I was just taking stock yesterday in my mind of all the things that I have ~~ruined~~ crafted in the past and all the things that I want to get done before the holidays. Either for gifts (can anyone say "handmade Christmas?") or for decorative purposes. And it got me to thinking that I might have craft ADHD.
Here's some of the things I have tried or currently working on:

Quilting
String Art Earrings
Sewing
Scrapbooking
Crochet (my newest obsession)
Stamping
Painting (on canvas, on walls, on my face.)
Burlap Wine Bags
Tie-Die
Framing/Matting
Jewelry Making
Furniture Making
Upholstery
Tile Coasters
Stained Glass
Photography-I had hopes of printing a coffee table book some day. Of old barns. Have I ever taken a photograph of an old barn to date????
Wire and Bead work
And thanks to my friend Amy's patient mom, I had a 3 hour love affair with Knitting back in 2004 (Remember Misty?). But I'm a one needle gal!

....and the list goes on and on.

Are you a concentrated crafter? What is something that you wish you could learn to do? I really want to hone a talent. Maybe I'll try basket weaving. Yeesh!

(Kara H. and Laurel Q....If we ever have a craft night again....you might have to get me some Ritalin.)

Perfect Segway

2009-11-12T11:47:00.000-08:00

WARNING! LOTS OF PHOTOS!

This week we took a trip with some friends to the Oklahoma City Museum of Science. (Formerly the Kirkpatrick Center....if you are old school like me.) And if you haven't been there since the early 90's like I'm sure it was for me; give it another go. There are lots of new exhibits and some throw-back crowd pleasers like the Echo Tube, the shadow room, and the aviation museum just to name a few. (All of these were there when I was 7! So cool!)

Our favorite (okay..MY FAVORITE) stop was the Segway Obstacle course. If you have never ridden a Segway, it LOOKS easier than it IS. I have seen Polo matches on Segways, but I was lucky to make it around in a circle without getting wobbly and falling off!

Isaac was excited to try it; and even let the Segway lady lead him around as he held on to the middle post. I think he was just digging the helmet. Here are a few pics and a video to prove his bravery:

Looks like an old pro!

"Dude...I got this in the bag!"

"Don't embarrass me, mom!"

"I could live at the miniature train place."

We could have spent a lot more time at the museum. We didn't get to see the planetarium, the Science Live show, or an OmniMax film. Definitely worth the drive and money. We will go back again!

And finally, because I like to find the humor in the mundane, I snapped a pic of a sign in the museum that had me giggling all to myself:

La Papier

2009-11-06T21:32:00.000-08:00

Head on over to Kimba's and check out the other fabulous projects going on at her weekly DIY Day.

I feel like speaking in French today. Mon Cherie. Oooo... That's bad. Sorry for the ridiculous attempt...'round here we call it OkieFrench. (Mrs. Avila...I preferred your Spanish class anyways.)

As the title of this post suggests, I'm up to my elbows in paper. Now in my last crafty project I told all of the "Furniture Purist" to stop reading whilst I painted and disassembled a piece of furniture. Today I'm telling book publishers and authors to never come back because they'll hate this next gig. Seriously. Don't read it. Just go back to your Chaucer's and your Homers and your Hemingway's.

(Photo courtesy of Living with Lindsay, see link below)

This project posted by Living With Lindsay is what got me inspired to use some of the old books I told you about in THIS post. (Pretty cool story actually...go check it out.)

What I came up with is sort of Shabby Chic meets the Grinch that Stole Christmas. (Think Cindy Lou-Who)

Are you curious?

A Curly Paper Tree!

First I cut pages out of the vintage book The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table (sounds like a real page turner). Sorry Oliver Wendell Holmes. I will not be providing a book report on this one!

I believe I used about 20 pages. The pages are on the small side and I suppose you could use less if you made your curls bigger.
Then I started shredding the pages into strips.

I used a sharp pair of scissors to curl the paper just like you would if you were using ribbon on a package. Just be careful not to pull too hard, otherwise you'll rip the strip of paper. (Note: since this book was ancient....I got a lot of paper lint all over. Do this in an area you don't mind getting dirty!)

I then started hot gluing the paper on the bottom of the Styrofoam cone. Note: Hot glue will melt the Styrofoam...so be careful. I'm sure there's an adhesive product out there that would do a better job... but this is what I had on hand. (The Elmer's glue is there for back up.)I kept layering the paper curls around the cone overlaping as I went so there were no gaps.

At the very top of the cone, I used four curls and set them one on top of eachother at 12, 3, 6, and 9:00 o'clock. (The surface of the cone was flat at the top.)

I then hot glued the cone in the urn (half off at Hobby Lobby.) You could also use a dowel rod in floral foam or some other type of anchoring device. I bet this would be cute on a topiary!

Whala! A good start to my holiday decorating!

I'm participating in Just a Girl's I can Make THAT! Party

Frugalista

2009-11-06T21:17:00.000-08:00

My Iowa buddy, Amy, has started a really awesome website called Housewife Hacks. This mother of 3 and knitting ninja delves into that realm of quantum space that I have not yet dared to enter; Coupon Clipping and living a more frugal life. I want to spend less and save more. I want to find good deals and I want to be a frugalista just like Amy, but I don't know how. So....join me in 'a learnin' and follow her as she shares her tips and wizardry (I think that's one of your terms, Amy?) on how to cut your grocery budget and only spend $75 a week on groceries.

Also, check out Amy's interview from Channel 13 in Des Moines that gives some great ideas on how to organize your coupons:
http://www.whotv.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=f8320c5d-c9eb-48c7-addc-e0572e4b817b&src=front (sorry I couldn't get it to load on the page...but the link should work!)

Add her button to your side bar! You'll be glad you did! (Hey...IT's FREE! I'm already learning!)

Dan Speak

2009-11-06T18:08:00.000-08:00

Another installment of the funny things my husband says.

Me: Hey. I was thinking maybe we could apply to be foreign exchange student host parents. We have that extra room upstairs.
Him: No. No way.
Me: Why?
Him: Because they're not a tax deduction.

Me: Honey. You really should start reading my blog.
Him: Why?...I AM your blog.

And because we're a little light on content here's one from the little guy:

Me: (laying down on the floor)
Isaac: "Mamma COME ON!" (wanting me to play with his trains)
Me: "Not right now; mamma doesn't feel good."
Isaac: "Iyack get medicine for mamma?"
Me: "Okay."
Isaac: (Runs into kitchen, opens junk drawer and brings me the Elmer's Glue)
"Here mamma, here medicine is." Puts tip of Elmer's Glue on my wrist.

Where do they get this stuff?

Monkeying-Around

2009-11-05T06:55:00.000-08:00

In case you missed my post yesterday, I mentioned how excited I was to join the sisters over at Shanty2Chic for their "I made it with Gorilla Glue Party." Well....here we are! Do you have your party hats on?

I first showed you this sweet little $5.00 table on THIS post:

I had drop down sides and cute chippy paint on the legs. This is where you need to read carefully. If you are a "Furniture Purist" (and I am coining that phrase...please see the Decorating Dictionary soon) DO NOT READ FURTHER! You will not be happy with me and you'll curse the paint I used.

So....without further ado:

I REMOVED THE DROP DOWN SIDES!!! GASP!

Can you see where I'm going with this?

I purchased two shelf brackets at THAT ORANGE STORE and my new BFF, Gorilla Wood Glue. I knew that this project probably could have used screws to hold it all together, but I had faith in the glue. So...NO POWER TOOLS, ladies!

Prepped and primed the wood with sand paper and a light coat of spray primer (okay...I didn't have primer, but I used a brown base coat....I'm lazy.)

Applied my top coat of Matte Black in El Cheapo Spray Paint. Allowed to dry the recommended time. NOT.

Sanded the edges to give it a distressed look.

Applied the wooden bracked to the underside of the shelf (making sure to line it up with the back of the shelf so it hangs on the wall properly) with Gorilla Wood glue. Allowed to dry the recommened time. NOT.

Using the enclosed hardware that came with the brackets, I hung my new shelves!

Hi, Sweetheart!

(Sorry for the shadows....our big TV hutch is hoggin all the daylight!)

I'm still playing around with the accents; I was up late "shopping my house" for the photos and couldn't quite get it right. (Thus the crummy lighting) But, I know I will continually use these througout the year for the seasons and holidays and general knick nacks.

Thanks for indulging me in a little Monkey Business. Be sure to tune in for what will happen with the OTHER part of that table! I think I have a plan in mind! Be sure to check out all the other projects over at Shanty2Chic's Gorilla Glue Party!

Hog Heaven

2009-11-04T12:11:00.000-08:00

The calendar says its Autumn but we are having a heat wave! Can I get a "what-what" for the Indian Summer? And to celebrate I found the little man a turtle sand box at the ReStore for $10 (Sorry...I totally started that sentence with "And". But this is my blog and grammar sometimes just get's tossed out the window) That's my kind of out-door toy, ya'll! (Dang it! I just wrote "ya'll." Sorry Mrs. Aldridge, my middle school english teacher. I really did like your class. Honest.) Yesterday, being the first day to use it, I snapped these photos of my little sand creature in all his sand-covered glory:

'Cause that's how we roll in the McGuire house. Either you go full out and put the sand in your pants or you go home.

And while *SOMEONE* was entrenched in a 2-hour love fest with mother nature (hey...silica is from the earth) I was busy working on a project that I CANNOT WAIT (said in a high pitched squeal) to show you.

It's all in preparation for Whitney and Ashley's "I made it with Gorilla Glue" Party tomorrow! Their blog Shanty2Chic has become one of my favorites....their projects are so flippin adorable. Inspired...those two gals! So come back tomorrow and see what I've been up to...besides sandy diapers!

PB Knockoff!

2009-11-02T13:01:00.001-08:00

Do you remember THIS post? I found an empty oval frame at an estate sale and have been playing with ideas on what to do with it.

Here it is in it's orginal state after the estate sale.

I sort of wanted to leave it as is. But my craftier side took hold and I added a chalk board:

(Isaac preferred to play with it. "Use little chalk please?" Thus the "train tracks")

But I still wasn't feeling groovy about it. The color was just a little weird and even the husband commented that it didn't really go with any of our stuff. (Wha? You noticed?)

So I found the extra burlap fromTHIS project and turned it into a Pottery Barn Knockoff!

A little black spray paint, foam board cut to fit, left-over burlap, and a few layers of cotton batting and whala!

(Can you see my inspiration in the upper middle? Photo Courtesy http://www.potterybarn.com/)

I also made these super easy push-pins out of vintage Bingo chips! Ool-la-la!

Hot glue and push-pins that I already had!

I'm linking this project to Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday

and

Kimba's DIY Dayat A Soft Place to Land

Meeting the Pioneer Woman

2009-10-30T12:30:00.001-07:00

Last night at Full Circle Books in Oklahoma City I met Ree Drummond (a.k.a. The Pioneer Woman) who is on a book tour for her newly released cookbook "The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl." (Buy it on Amazon HERE)

I knew I needed to get there early, and my plans to be there at 4:30 were squelched when I stopped to purchase the items I wanted to include in the gift I was taking her. Yep. I'm that kind of weirdo. The kind of weirdo who packs a "Book Signing Survival Kit" for someone I've never met. But, alas. I made it to Full Circle right at 5:15. My other mistake was not purchasing the book in advance. Had The Pioneer Woman not brought her own stash of over 200 books, I would have been left out in the cold with only my checkbook for her to sign.

If you know me, you know how much I have loved reading her blog and drooling over her fantastic photography and hilarious antics online. A friend turned me onto PW over two years ago when she wrote in an email that I needed to check out the Olive Cheese Bread on some cowgirl's blog (p. 206 in the cookbook). I was giddy like a tween at a Jonas Brothers Concert last night waiting in line for my version of a celebrity crush. And I was not alone. I can only guess how many people were there, but all I really know is that after waiting in line for 3 hours (I got to her table at a little after 8:10) that she still had a line out the door and then some. I imagine there were some dissapointed souls who were not able to meet her last night.

There weren't really THAT many people ahead of me; but Ree was signing 5-10 books per person AND chatting with each individual. I bet she is one tired cowgirl. Perhaps the best part of the evening, though, was meeting two special ladies who were my "line-mates" and who held my place when I frantically went to the Full Circle check-out line to puchase my books so I wouldn't miss out. Melissa and Laura were so nice and we got to know each other like old friends in the 3 hours we stood together. Besides loving PW, we had a lot in common. That's what PW does. She brings people together in unexpected ways. At the dinner table, on a blog, and at her book signings!

Meeting the Pioneer Woman was worth all the miles and all the waiting. She is, and always will be my favorite blogger of all time and the sweetest cookin' cowgirl I've ever met!

Workman's Comp

2009-10-23T19:53:00.001-07:00

This is what I get under the harsh working conditions I'm subject to as a SAHM and crafter extraordinaire (said with sarcasm):

That is a huge dollop of hot glue. And by hot I mean stick your finger on a hot ember and sizzle HOT. (There might have been a few choice words said after this incident).....and as I'm writhing in pain, I took a picture to prove to my boss that I need a raise. In the form of jewelry, tech gadgets, monetary donations for my Etsy fund, or days off. And by days off I mean....to do more crafting.

I'll have Smore's!

2009-10-23T19:30:00.001-07:00

It was over a month ago that I started planning a costume for the little guy. But my original idea:

somehow got nixed (more about that later) and I wound up with this:

Isaac SMORES!

I promise I didn't see it on Better Homes and Gardens/ first; but you know what they say....there's rarely an orignal idea! Plus...theirs is much more professional looking! I had to do this out of neccessity and because our pile of cardboard was getting too high!

Oh, and let this be a lesson to you. I was attempting to sew on strips of fabric to a black turtle neck in the manner of above-mentioned caterpillar. WHEN you sew non-stretchy fabric horizontally on a stretchy fabric it yeilds a garmet that is NON STRETCHY! I couldn't get the caterpillar shirt over Isaac's little head! He cried when I tried it on! My mom had to save the day and rip out all the stitching so I could use the shirt for the smores!

Isaac will be wearing this to a party tomorrow afternoon. The mom's group is having Trunk or Treat as part of the festivities and this is my treat:

Spooky Ghost and Goblin Finger Preztels. mmmmm.......

We are THAT family!

2009-10-21T06:46:00.000-07:00

I love reading Kristen's Blog We are THAT Family. She's not afraid to let it all out there; in a good way. Her humorous posts and Christian perspective get me through the day and anyone can relate to being "that" family.....so today I'm helping her celebrate her "blogoversary" by telling my readers and all of blog land why WE are THAT Family....

You know the ones:

1. who still have paper disposable blinds up in their house...and don't plan on taking them down for a LONG time.

2. who considers a shrimp boil better than turkey on Thanksgiving.

3. who once traveled across three states with 7 puppies, a cat, and a bird in the same car...and made it there ALIVE.

4. who accidentally gave their brother a black eye the night before his wedding. (Sorry Jim, Dan still claims it wasn't his fault!)

5. who served Calf Fries at their wedding rehersal. Yep...that's right.

6. who let their child eat food out of the cart in Wal Mart so he doesn't get cranky. (Is that universal?) And then asking the chashier how to pay for the eaten banana. (***You weigh one uneaten banana twice! I've got that down!)

7. whose first date with their future spouse was to an arcade; where HE said he LET HER win at air hockey. Whatever!

8. who recycles cardboard in the form of Halloween Costumes because they're too cheap to buy the store version.

10. who throws grasshoppers in big spider webs with their Grandma because they like to see the spiders in action. My grandma is so cool!

11. whose husband got stuck on our roof (while his new baby and wife were taking a nap) and had to yell down at the niehbor (who was doing yard work) to call the Fire Department to get him down. (Luckily we had another neighbor who was a fire-fighter and we avoided the sirens and an actual fire truck....but I bet they had a chuckle down at the station with that one!)

So...what makes you part of THAT FAMILY??? Go check out Kristen's blog and today's list of other bloggers who are joining the FAMILY at The Carnival and Blogoversary Celebration! You will get a chuckle and perhaps find out just how normal you really are!

Photo courtesy of Katherine Forbes Photography, Denver area. Please....please...if you live in Colorado....or anywhere else....CHECK HER OUT!

"Learning about Thinking"

2009-10-20T12:30:00.000-07:00

This is the article that proves I really did perform as a Court Jester as seen on this post from yesterday. I was on the front page of the Abilene Reporter-News back in July 1989! (Poor Isaac, he's too young to understand how I will truly be able to embarrass him! Just wait little guy...I have more tricks up my sleeve besides this rabbit out of the hat bit!)

The caption reads: "Jennifer (last name) does a trick for her classmates" and the article goes on to describe what the Threshold Program entailed. I was part of the "grade 5-10 program in which we enjoyed a medieval banquet; the conclusion of a week-long study of medieval times. Although costumes were strictly voluntary, every participant had taken the time to research the time period and dress the part. For example, Jennifer (last name) costumed as a medieval court jester, performed magic tricks, such as pulling a rabbit out of a hat."

Bwaahahahaha! Thanks mom, for keeping all this stuff! All I have to when Isaac is older is to threaten him with pulling out all these old memories in front of his friends and he'll be putty in my hands!

Ghosts of Halloweens Past

2009-10-19T20:24:00.000-07:00

I get a chuckle every time I think about it. Back in grade school I was in 4-H. We did a unit on clowns....or was this the unit on sewing and I just decided to sew a clown costume? Either way...this blue and yellow clown outfit still (sort-of) fits and I am daring to reveal it to you today. It came in handy after that remarkable 4-H project. I wore it to a summer program for gifted students. I took a class in Medieval life. My medieval name was Guinevere. That's pretty close to Jennifer, right?

Then...on the last day of summer school we had to dress up. Naturally I chose to be the Court Jester.

(Yes, I did sew this...down to every last jingle bell.....right, Mom?

Isn't it funny how life imitates art? Or how wrinkley something can get after being in the bottom of a pile of winter clothes for 2 decades? (haha. Just kidding...my mom had it hanging up before she ~~dumped it~~ gave it back me to again....I was the one who shoved it in a plastic storage bin for the last year!!)

I'm pretty sure this outfit was also useful for Halloweens...although I'm not sure I was brave enough to wear it after middle school. I am brave enough to do it now...I just don't want to scare any young children.

What will you be for Halloween?

What We're Saying

2009-10-19T09:18:00.001-07:00

1)After doing his #2 business, we asked Isaac if he was "poopy." His reply:

"No, I not poopy, I am Isaac."

Remind me again not to ask that question.

2) Twice this weekend I was told to "Go away mom" as he was racing around with his uncle and once when I checked on him playing trains with his dad. AND THEN I sad down at the dinner table with him after Dan had left only to hear, "No, mom, that's dadda's chair."

Geesh...I get no respect!

3)I was coaxing him to come down the stairs (he prefers to take them sitting down) I told him to stand up like a big kid like mommy and he said, "Momma, I little kid." You're right, son. You're right.

I Heart Estate Sales!

2009-10-18T18:53:00.001-07:00

I think this could be considered a "flea market find" even though I KNOW THIS estate had no fleas...in any case....I love flea markets too...so I'm linking this up to the Flea-Marketeer-Party over at Flea Market Style Mag Blog (THIS will be in my blog roll now!) Yipee!

I have so much to blog about! Another project gone wrong; then turned uber awesome with the assistance of a certain parental unit. A birthday week of awesomeness, and a fabulous time at OSU Homecoming in Stillwater. But...I will spread out the Juiciness and just leave you with my finds from an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G estate sale we went to on Friday night. Let's just say I was drooling the whole time but had to limit myself....and drag myself away from the $17,000 Steinway Piano. Ummmm...yea right.

First up an oval wood frame that was screaming for me to take it home and give it a fresh look. (Can't wait for this project! Will you help me pick a color?)

The details make me giddy!

Even though its a little "cracky" I think a fresh color and either 1) a mirror or 2)putting a chalkboard in the frame will make this baby come back to life! What would you do with it?

And my other find:

A sweet little child's table with drop down side panels! Did your heart just skip a beat or was it mine?? We were trying to figure out if the paint was made to look cracky or if it just had so many layers of paint that it naturally cracked like that. Either way....I say C-H-A-R-M-I-N-G.

My thoughts on the table are to 1)Keep it as is and use it for it's intended purpose or 2) Try to finagle new, taller legs so I can use it as a bedside table (which we have none of...so YEAH!) and then re purpose the legs into something. Let's hope whatever I do end up doing to this table makes an impression on Dan because I have a feeling if it doesn't get a new life soon...it will be in the trash pile...Dan doesn't see the POTENTIAL!!!

I hope you had a great weekend!

Eye on You

2009-10-12T19:04:00.000-07:00

Shhh.....I've been carrying a Halloween decoration in my pocket for almost 3 years.

Take that, Martha Stewart!

Damask Pumpkin

2009-10-07T15:12:00.000-07:00

Okay...couldn't resist throwing this post out there today. Usually I'm all tuckered out after doing a project like THIS but while my son was painting his own pumpkin, I got inspired.

Meet my muse:

That is a pillow from my bed (seen IN THIS POST )

And this is the decor it inspired!

I started out trying to trace the pillow's pattern but it was going to be too big (scale-wise) so I just eye-balled it with a pencil. Towards the end I didn't even draw...I just let the paint-brush do the walking. I got a little lazy towards the end...that's why you don't see the back side! I think I could make a bushel of these little cuties! The possibilities are endless! (I used black acrylic craft paint....if you couldn't tell!)

I'm linking this toA Soft Place to Land's DIY Day! Please hop on over and see the other wonderful projects!

Dilemma Solved! Burlap Sack Wall Hanging

2009-10-06T19:17:00.000-07:00

OK. Have you ever gotten half-way through a project and knew it just wasn't going to work out? I was attempting to take the advice of my fellow bloggers (AND THANK YOU all for your advice! So many good ideas!) from THIS POST, (and previous entry to the Decorating Dilemmas Party) and I ended up having to scrap my oringinal plan or rather, my original penny-saver project turned more than I wanted to spend project. However, I think I finally got it right and am please with the results.

I started out trying to use a foam poster board from Hobby Lobby, and at 50% off...who can blame me? (2.50 a piece!)

I didn't even get a picture of the final outcome because of several reasons:

1)The foam board would not hold the staples I used to adhere the burlap. They just slipped out.

2) I tried using upholstery tacks along the edges but they too, would not stay in. I thought E6000 glue would do the trick but didn't want to glue the whole thing on for fear I would hate it and regret committing!

3) When I showed the result to my husband he just gave it a blank stare...which clued me in that my instincts from #2 were correct.

So today I put my big-girl panties on and went to Lowes to try and redeem myself. I walked straight in like I owned the joint and found the wood cutter guy (ya know...cause that's his Job Description) and had a nice piece of 2ftX4ft birch cut down to SIZE! ($12 a piece, 20 inches by 32 inches for this particular project. Scraps=other projects.)

(Do you like my work-bench?)

I used spray adhesive to adhere quilt batting (I had it on hand, otherwise I would have had to buy the nice upholstery foam.) I used 3 layers of the batting. I think I could have gone with one or two more layers...but I had to save some for the other sack.

I stapled the sack onto the back using the pull and stretch technique. Tucking in the corners like making a bed. (so technical!) Very pleased at this point that my staples are holding and not falling out like from the foam board!

I then started hammering away at the uphostery tacks on the front side. Sorry, no pics of this step but if you need advice on how to measure let me know. I had a pretty good system going.

I was bummed that we are out of hardware to hang things on walls, so until I can get back to Lowe's I had to improvise for the final results: (It's resting on my son's booster seat!)

Whala! New art for my dining area walls! I hope to finish the second burlap sack tomorrow in the same fashion! (My husband thinks I should add more tacks. What is the consensus?)

Please hop on over to Serenity Now and see all the other entries in the Decorating Dilemmas Party !

Monogram Oval Frames

2009-10-05T17:38:00.000-07:00

and

Estate sale find:

" BLAH "
(when was gold Victorian in style? I must have missed that era!)

To Boutique!

I removed the backing and glass. Then spray painted the frames black. After drying, I glued the glass into place with E-6000. Printed off our monogram using a font from Microsoft Word (yep...because I'm high tech like that.) and painted the letters on the back side of the glass with black acrylic craft paint using the print off as a guide. (That way you don't see the bumpy uneven paint on the front side!) I originally tried to cut out the letters using white tack-paper (for drawers) and then coloring in the letters with a black sharpie. But it didn't look as good as I'd hoped. I know there are others who've used it {the drawer liner} for various other crafts (it's basically the do it yourself vinyl letter craze....only I apparently can't DIY!)

This was a fun and easy project. I hope to find more cheap frames for Halloween silhouettes!

I'm linking up to Between Naps on the Porch's Metamorphasis Monday! Go check out all the other fun before-and-afters!

and DIY Day at

A Soft Place to Land

Everyone Loves a Mystery!

2009-10-05T11:26:00.001-07:00

Several weekends ago I went to an estate sale in Stillwater. and I snatched up these two wooden crates:

The bottom crate was full of what we thought were encyclopedias. (duh!) We weren't able to bring them back home with us from my parent's that trip, so later in the week my mom called me and said, "Jenny, did you look at those books in that crate?" I responded, "No, they're just encyclopedias. I'll probably throw them out or use them for crafts."

"Well, you need to take a look at them again. They are classics like The Scarlet Letter, Robinson Crusoe, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, and they say they are from a school." Well, that was exciting....kind of. I mean...it's not like I am going to ya know....Read Them. (ha ha ha. Maybe I will!)

(This is just a sampling...there are probably 20 more in my garage...waiting for their photo shoot!)

I had the chance to clean them up yesterday (they were filthy and full of spider webs and bug carcases!) and the inscriptions on the inside were pretty cool!

THIS is the exciting part! Do you see that date? 1907!!! Over 100 years ago someone used this book at Ft. Jefferson School in Ohio. I've done a little research and not much has come up about Ft. Jefferson. It would have been near Greenville, OH in Darke County.

And this inscription was found in the book "General History for Colleges and High Schools." It appears that a Mr. Clarence W. Gehrtman (is that a capital G?) used this book in Sept 1912. I can't find any Clarence W. Gehrtman on Ancestry.com but I'm not giving up hope of getting little tidbits of information on these neat old books. There is even a printed syllabus that I found inside the History book entitled:

"Division of Work by Months For the Elementary Schools of Darke Co, O., 1916-'17" Those poor students had to read from "Overton's Personal Hygiene" in Physiology Class!

So, who was this Mr. Gehrtman? Was he a teacher, student? What happened to Ft. Jefferson Public School? Are these old books worth anything? Should I go on Antiques Road Show, or just hunker down and read them all? Oh how I love a mystery!

Get your "Curlz" On!

2009-09-28T16:56:00.001-07:00

My pal Danielle has just opened up an adorable Etsy Store and blog called Little Curlz Couture. LETMETELL ya friends, if I had a little girl, she would be "STYLIN and PROFILIN" with all the adorable stuff over at LCC! Please hop on over to Little Curlz Couture and leave a message saying where you saw her and enter to win some pretties! Let's support a great gal and add some bling to your little darlins! This is a FREE GIVEAWAY, Ya'll!!

Niftie Gifties

2009-09-28T12:16:00.000-07:00

Added to Somewhat Simple's Strut Your Stuff Baby Ideas Party!

A friend had a baby this week and while I was visiting my mom I enlisted her help getting these ready for the little bundle of joy (WELCOME baby Trevor!)

(Sorry for the poor image quality.)

I cut out the appliques and ironed onto the onesies with Heat-n-Bond. Then we hand stitched 3 out of 5 on with various applique stitches. Two were machine sewn. I got the neck-tie pattern here: Crap I've Made

The cowboy hat (bandana for fabric), Halloween bat, and collar/pocket were free-hand patterns and the car was traced from a book.

Super easy and fun!

LOL

2009-09-24T21:41:00.000-07:00

Tonight I was trying to wrestle Isaac to bed (it was way after 9:00! YIKES!) I was impatient and more importantly, my TV shows were paused on the DVR!
Isaac insisted on taking two things to bed with him. Spencer the Train and a microphone toy. This microphone makes you sound like you have an echo; or are from the planet Ork.....or a mixture of the two.

I rush through a Thomas the Tank Engine Book and say "Let's do prayers now." Holding onto his toys, Isaac says, "Father, Son, Holy Spirit....." puts the microphone up to face and loudly says "AMEN."

(It was like a lounge performer leaning into the mic saying "Thankyouverymuch" all run together...only WAY cuter.)

And here's yet another LOL:

We're visiting my parents and sharing a room. Upon waking one morning I urge him to go down the hall and look in on my mom and dad. (Ulterior motive: perhaps 20 more minutes sleep for me!) He ran down the hall. Came back and said, very dramatically, "CANT. FIND. PAPA. ANYWHERE!" Pausing for affect at each word.

What has made you LOL?

One Final Hoorah

2009-09-22T12:41:00.000-07:00

The weather is beautiful this time of year. A transition time for air currents, (that's my scientific observation) plants and animals alike. This morning it was in the upper 50s with showers and a breeze. A nice cool change from the hot temps we've had. The butterflies in my mom's garden are celebrating with one final "horrah" before it gets too cold. (Although....it could be a teaser!) Here are some of my favorite pics from the last two days:

And here's a teaser of my own:

My latest crazy idea....I'm making Isaac's Halloween costume. He will be a version of this Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar. I will blog my progress!

Dan Speak

2009-09-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

Another installment of the funny things my husband says:

Me: "I want a cat."

Dan: "Jimmy {a co-worker} has a cat. He's cool. You walk in the house and he offers you Cheetos."

Me: "Let's have a Chili cook-off someday."

Dan: "Only if it's a break-dancing-chili-cook-off."

Dan: "This beer is non-alcoholic! Good thing it has THAT warning label."

Dan: "There are a lot of strange people here."

Me: "There are strange people anywhere you go."

Dan: "Yeah, but they're highly concentrated here."

Heart of the Home

2009-09-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

(Does the above image intrigue you a little? Keep reading!)

We spend a majority of our time at home together in our living room. It must be why, way back in the mud-hut days while carving stones and tanning leather....they started calling it a living room. "This section of our hut is where we live. Ugh Ugh. Pass me the stone for scraping hide. Grumble Grumble."

Not that our family has come very far from grunting and hitting each other over the head with a club, but I'd like to think advances in Mud Hut design have fared well for us. We play there. We eat there (Just kidding, mom. We always eat at the table.) We watch The Office there. The occasional Word World episode. (okay....every Word World episode) and we entertain there. I love the vaulted ceilings, the openness. I like playing with the fireplace remote. It is the Heart of our Home.

And because I am honest and truly crazy, I am going to show you the state of my living room on a typical day at any given time before 5:00pm.

This photo shall be forever known as THE ANATOMY of a LIVING ROOM:

(click pic to enlarge)

So why am I risking shame and humiliation to show off my "It-looks-like-a-bomb-went-off" living room?
Because I need your help. I need your help winning a pair of these beauties:

This is being GIVEN AWAY to a lucky blogger who can obtain the MOST blog comments on a post about the HEART of YOUR HOME courtesy of Samsung Home Appliance and TwitterMoms

Please check out these websites. If anything you can drool over the pretty shiny appliances with me.

So, basically I'm shamelessly asking you to forgive me for my messy room and to leave a comment on this blog telling me where the heart of your home is...or just saying, "Hey, you are crazy." "Go clean your house" or any combination of "Hello" "Good luck" and "Don't ever ask for anything ever again." What's in it for you? If I win the washer and dryer, you will get the pleasure of seeing a picture of me just like the lady above (who looks absolutely smitten with her clean white shirt) dressed HEAD To TOE in Oklahoma Sooners garb. Now....for someone who is a DIE-HARD Oklahoma State Cowboy fan, I think my skin would burn...but I would do it for the washer and dryers. So....click on "comments" and get to work! Tell your friends and come back every day to leave a comment!

Brain Washed

2009-09-14T12:29:00.001-07:00

The brainwashing started early for our child so that he would know which college team he should root for, win or lose. Ha! Like he has a choice! With his parents, grandparents, and countless Aunts, Uncles and cousins part of the OSU Alumni Family, he has been fully indoctrinated into ORANGE PRIDE since birth.

I was asking him in the car today lots of questions to see what he knew:
Mom: Isaac, what is our favorite team?
Isaac: "Pete" (For Pistol Pete, the OSU mascot.)

Mom: Isaac, what is our favorite color?
Isaac: "Ono" (his word for orange. hey...it's a hard one to say!)

And because we always cheer on the good 'ol USA (no matter which side of the line we stand)...I had to throw this one in for good measure:
Mom: Who is the president?
Isaac: "Bama" (I think that's pretty close. Don't you?)

This is a short video clip of Isaac getting ready for "The Walk." A game day tradition; similar to a parade where the coaches, players, band, and cheerleaders walk from the OSU Student Union to Boone Pickens Stadium.

Keep your eyes peeled for the 2025 OSU Football Roster.

Ride 'Em Cowboys!

Decorating Dilemma: Burlap Coffee Sacks

2009-09-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

I'm participating in Amanda'sDecorating Dilemmas Party over atSerenity Now. Go check it out!

We've had these two burlap coffee bags since our family trip to Kauai in 2006. (They were $5 each! Woohoo!) I have gone back and forth on what to do with them but now I'm certain I want to frame them and put them in our dining area.

Here and There

The problem??? HOW??? I have some ideas in my head but not sure on the execution.

1. My husband says fork over the cash and have them professionally framed. Please, honey. You don't want the bill for that.

2. Stretch and tack them on a board and cut some wood moulding (painted black, of course) to go around as a frame. This might be too heavy; again, not sure about how I could pull this off.

3. Tack them on a board over foam and do a "upholstered look" using upholstry tacks ala Pottery Barn or other fancy catalog.

4. Your ideas please!

Another delimma....Help me get back to Hawaii! I'll take you in my suitcase!

Child Labor

2009-09-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

It is our goal as parents to prepare our children for life after leaving the nest. Hopefully that includes teaching them to be a good driver, how to cook a few things, sharing with others, how to change a tire, and save money instead of spending. I also hope my kids learn a thing or two about doing laundry. It only took me once forgetting to check pants pockets before I realized the importance of removing cell phones and wallets. (Sorry, honey!) It's that kind of stuff that will help them in the early years of life "on their own."

Here at the McGuire household we like to start young:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ElAX-Lhk2E&feature=player_embedded

I've tried 8 times to get the video to upload here on blogger so you could watch it here...but it is rather long and I can't figure out how to edit it. So, please go to youtube to check it out! Again...sorry for the length!

On Top of the World

2009-09-02T12:25:00.000-07:00

Sunday we took the short drive to the Wichita Mountains to explore Mount Scott and the Medicine Park Area. This feature of southwest Oklahoma is really neat; it looks like it doesn't belong here...but here's a quick history lesson:

"The Wichita Mountains rank among the oldest ranges on earth. Formation of these mountains began some 500 million years ago when stratified layers of eroded silt were deposited. Through the ages climatic forces have chiseled and sculptured the mountains until all that remain of once lofty escarpments are weather-reduced knobs and domes." and "Geronimo, famed Apache chief, was imprisoned for many years at nearby Fort Sill. Lone Wolf, Kiowa leader, purportedly is buried in an unmarked grave on the north side of Mount Scott." (Taken from This Site)

I love that we live just a short drive to something unique and fun! For those of you who aren't familiar with SW Oklahoma....the "mountains" are not like Colorado mountains, but still beautiful in their own right.
As an aside, the ascent to the top of Mount Scott can be done by car, by foot (not recommended) or by motorcycle, but there are NO GUARD RAILS. Just boulders lining the small shoulder to keep you on the road! In the late 80's my family drove up the mountian, and my younger brother, maybe 7 at the time, was so freaked out that he SCREAMED the entire way up. Over 15 minutes of ear-piercing shrieks. I can vividly remember his tonsil swaying in the back of his throat as he appeared to be clawing for his very life. We all laugh at this memory when we get together now, but let me assure you, having re-lived the climb on Sunday...it IS just a tad scary! Sorry Bro! I won't make fun of you anymore!

Here are a few pictures from the trip:

Yes, that is Isaac on a custom made Hog. The nice couple who built it insisted he get to sit on it after hearing him say "BIG Bike, Mamma!"

It was a fun adventure and one we will surely enjoy doing many more times with friends and relatives who visit. So...when are you coming over?

Fall Fever: HomeGoods Giveaway Entry!

2009-09-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

I love Fall. And I'm not just saying that because The Inspired Room is giving away 3 $200 gift card from HomeGoods. I just really love this season. There are so many things to enjoy. The cooler weather (well...maybe not until late October here in Oklahoma); football season, Mums, Halloween, crisp Autumn Leaves, Pumpkin Lattes from Starbucks...and so many, many other reasons. One of the things I'm most looking forward to is decorating the front door area. But I need some serious help. Our houses faces West, so we get the hot hot sun in the evening. My two planters have suffered this summer. I'm hoping we have better luck with mums, or whatever we decide to use (cheaply) for our decor. Here is what I need help with:

I'm picturing a Wreath on the window and two planters flanking either side of the door. (By the way; black doors in the Oklahoma red dirt don't stay clean...like....ever.)

In the window area I'd like to add a bench with gourds, mums, and pumpkins. Maybe even a wreath in the center of the window and some sort of wall-hanging on the bricks to the left.(ignore the big blue X on the window on the right. It is being replace since the builder's mowing people broke it.)

So...what do you think? What would you do to spice up this spot for Fall? What are you doing to get ready for this great season in your home?

Please stop by to enter your
Get Inspired for Fall ideas. I will be checking them out to get inspired!

Barnyard Puppet Theater

2009-08-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

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and Metamorphosis Mondays

I was busy last week preparing for the birthday celebration but I also was busy making a Puppet Theater. A puppet theater you ask? For who? Well...only the other coolest 2-year old I know. Here's how it all shook out:

The finished product was not filmed in its intended place: a doorway or hallway hanging from a tension rod. And the lighting here is not very good. But you get the idea. The barn doors swing open and attach with velcro which makes the 'stage' part. The bandana at the bottom is a puppet holder for those puppets not in action. Upon my husband's insistance I did not cut off the bottom to make it actually fit a doorway; therefor it is too long to hang but you can tuck back the excess or pin it up. I will try my best to explain the method behind my madness:
I used:
-twin sheet, cut in half vertically

-craft paint, paint brushes

-scissors,

-sewing machine

-2 bandanas (pocket and child's name at top)

-fabric glue for name

1)Cut the twin sheet in half vertically. Save the second half for the back side of the puppet theater. I was lucky the sheets I purchased had a loop of fabric at the top that when cut was perfect for a tension rod. If your sheets do not have this you will need to sew a hem of fabric by folding down about 4-5 inches and sewing across the sheet to make a loop.

2-Sketch your design. I used extra packing paper left by the movers. I wanted to see it up on a wall so I taped the paper on the wall and began sketching. This was fun....because Isaac could play with play-dough and I could pretend to pay attention. Just kidding! I cut out my design so I could work with the space and make sure everything would fit.

3-Transfer your design the sheet with craft paint. Put a layer of newspaper down so if the paint bleeds you won't ruin your table or work surface. Don't be intimidated! You can't make a mistake! Get creative! Leave enough room to put a name at the top if you desire.

I used a cupcake pan with cupcake paper to hold my craft paint. Less cleanup=happy mom!

4-Once you have your design painted, allow it to dry. (If you put a puppet pocket on you will need to sew it on the top layer as shown before sewing the two sheet layers together.) Sew the two layers of sheet together right sides together; making sure you leave either one end open or enough room to turn the layers back the correct way. I left the top open because I just stitched the top together and then cut off the excess top from the second layer; making only one loop of fabric from the top of the sheets. (hard to explain.)

5-I then sewed the two layers of fabric together around the painted doors. So when I cut the doors open to make the puppet theater the two layers of sheet did not flap apart. I had to go back and sew the opening of the two sheets where the doors were cut so the fabric did not gap. This is hard to explain so I did my best in the following picture to draw where I sewed:

6-I used adhesive velcro dots on the doors to hold them open. You could use the velcro dots that are sewn on as well.

7-I used a second bandana to cut out the name for the top. I just printed off the letters on my computer with a large font and taped them to the back so that when they were cut they were not backwards. Adhere to sheet using fabric glue. Allow to dry.

I really wish I had gotten a picture of the puppet theater in a doorway. It looks a lot better than on my floor! Two year olds aren't quite tall enough to do this puppet theater themselves...but I'm sure they'll grow into it! For now...mom and dad will have to be the entertainers!