Update on my Summer Goals

Posted on 9 June, 2015 by admin

As expected keeping up with my blogging while the kids are at home can prove to be challenging. But, so far I have managed to maintain. So, I thought I would drop in to let you know how I am doing with my Summer Goals that I wrote about here.

1. Reading for Fun. Well, I actually checked out two physical books from the Library. It has been forever since I read a physical book. I figured that the real book would keep me from being distracted by all the buzzing, and beeping going on while reading on the iPad. That hasn’t really gone too well. I have already had to renew the books once, and I am literally on page 89 of the first book. Hmmm…. I am honestly struggling with just giving up on that one and moving on to the other book. Blah!! Once I get through these two I am going o start on this Reading List. Maybe it will be a little easier.

2. Handwritten Cards & Letters. I still have not done this one yet. But… I did order Personalized Photo Father’s Day Cards for the girls to give to Hubby, does that count? Interested in doing this too, check out the Card Store.

3. Connect with Family & Friends. I did good on this one. One of my oldest friends and her Mom came into town, and I was able to go and hang out with them for a couple of hours, without the kids. That is major!!

4. Romantic and Mushy TV – I watched the Fault in Our Stars which I loved. Still working my way down the list… Anyone have any suggestions for me?

5. Trying new Recipes with the Kids – Check Us Out Making Memories in the Kitchen.

6. DIY Projects – During the winter I bought an old Lazy Suzan, it was wood adjacent, lol, well I thought it was real wood when I bought it. Once I started sanding it, I realized that wasn’t the case. But, after applying several coats of paint, it almost looks usable. I plan to put it on my kitchen table, to hold napkins, etc. etc. (Pics to Follows)

7. In preparation for the Fairs we plan to attend in the Fall, we have been stocking our Etsy Store with Printables. Right now they are digital, but we plan to offer the Physical Prints when selling in person, and hope to add this to the Etsy Store as well. I am still hunting for a good printer in the Metro Atlanta Area.

Even though it really feels like it has been a while. We are really only in the second week of Summer Break. What are your Summer Goals for this year, consider leaving it in the comment section below?

Ready to Start Blogging – User Friendly Resources to Get You Started

Posted on 18 February, 2015 by admin

Ow Congratulations!! You have decided that you are ready to start blogging, and open up your little corner of the world to others. You want your blog to be a reflection of who you are and what is important to you. You have picked out your blogging platform, Blogger, WordPress, etc. And, you have maybe even picked the Theme/Layout for your site and secured your domain and or blog name. Now what!!

Well, if you decided to blog, I am pretty sure that you want people to both read and receive what you have to say. In order to do that, you have to make sure that the first visit that they make to your blog is a memorable one. You want them to return over and over again. Even, if you are not blogging for profit, you still want to develop a community, (a following of sorts). If people are returning to your site, they are interested in the information or the opinions that you are imparting. So, content is the most important part of blogging.

Style/Design is a very close second and equally important. I am by no means a professional Graphic Designer, but I have taught myself a thing or two or three(wink). People are visual by nature. So, a relevant well placed photo to accompany your blog post goes a long way. In addition to that, a well placed font over your photo draws attention to the pictures on your site. They can even make them Pin Worthy (Pinterest), which in turn will bring traffic back to your blog. Whether you are using pictures that you have taken from your own camera or pictures that you find around the web, Photo editing software can make all the difference. Most people swear by PhotoShop and I use this software religiously, but it’s quite an investment right out the gate. So, I’ve listed a few more economical options. Lastly, the Fonts you use can be just as important as the picture. Think about how many times the words and font draws your eye to an advertisement or a picture. See The Quote Below as an example – Note the Use of Different Fonts, as Well as Different Sizes.

Here are a few resources that I think will start you on your way, at least they did for me.

There you have it. Jump in and get started and if you find anything else that you think should be added to this list, let us know. Each one – teach one. Comment below.

Fun Friday – All About V-Day!!

Posted on 30 January, 2015 by admin

Wow, did this week fly by for anyone else but me? Today’s Fun Friday is ALL about Valentine’s Day!!

Do you miss those days when it was just the two of you? But, that just isn’t the case anymore, now that you have little people running around, who seem to be sapping your romantic flow. But, you want your guy to know that he is still #1 in your book. No matter how tired you may be.

Most men are simple. And, most men don’t really give a hoot about Valentine’s Day. Even still, you care, so make sure he knows that you do too. Keep in Mind, that this year Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday (what a treat). So, you have the whole day to make your love feel special.

Here are a few Quick & Hopefully Not Too Dirty Ideas:

Start with Breakfast — In Bed or Out (your choice)

It doesn’t have to be anything GRAND, you know your guy. Add a Sweet Card, a Love Note, or even an IOU (for later fun). Running low on time in the morning, consider prepping your guys breakfast the night before.

Babysitter or Not –

Can you get a baby sitter to stay with the kids so you can have some alone time? What works better for your family? Are you going to hit the movies with your honey during the day, or are you going to make it an official date night and don the heels and flirty dress?? Whatever you do, make sure the plan is put in place long before that weekend. Remember reservations are nearly impossible to get around this time of year.

Of course, if a Baby Sitter is not an option for you, then you have to either plan V-Day around the kiddies, or include them. When my oldest daughter was much younger, we both dressed up one year and had dinner with my hubby. It was super sweet and we all enjoyed sitting at the table together for dinner. She enjoyed being included and making a Valentine for her Daddy.

Here are some fun ideas for sharing V-day with your little ones, that I found around the web.

12 Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Your Kids

4 Sweet Ways To Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Your Kids

To Dine –

If you are lucky, maybe you are one the of the couples who manage to get time alone, reserve your table far enough in advance, and are dressed to impressed for a Night On the Town. Leave everything else on the back shelf for the night. You have pulled off a major coup!! Make tonight only about YOUR LOVE. No talk of work, daycare, or diapers. Relax and Enjoy Each Other.

Every Day is Special with the One You Love, but Valentine’s day should be even SWEETER.

V-Day Stories –

And, if you got all the way through this post, Good For You!!

So as promised, here is your Free Valentine’s Day Pencil Tag (PDF File) with instructions. Click to Download and Enjoy!!

Trend Alert – Over-sized Letters and a Quick DIY!!

Posted on 29 September, 2014 by admin

For as far back as when my youngest daughter, (now 4) was born, I think I have been obsessed with typography and lettering and the custom/personalized feel that it brings to Home Decor. Over the last couple of years, I think that I have become enamored with over-sized letters specifically. And… so the hunt began. Of course I would see them EVERYWHERE. But, the catch is always the same, either they don’t have the letters that I am looking for, I can’t find the size I need, or the price is astronomical. (Or at least as far as this Momma is concerned)

So… I was at my 2nd Favorite Fabric Store….. you guessed it, Joann’s Fabric on a totally unrelated quest, when I ran smack dab into these HUGE Cardboard Letters, which of course were going to come home with me.

Admittedly, I had no idea what was next, because as much as I was stalking all the Over-sized Letter pins on Pinterest. My intention was to buy them and not to turn it into a DIY Project. Naturally, you would think the next step would have been to look up directions. But, NOPE. I decided to go home and see what I already had in my Craft Closet (also known, as the JUNK CLOSET). SCORE!!

I sprayed the letters with Krylon Short Cuts Hobby Craft Paint. And, to be honest, I loved that look and could have just left it at that. It had a leathery rustic look. But, since the A was actually an addition to my dh’s office decor. It had to tie into the Chalkboard Walls, that are soon to come.

What do you think?? I like it Brown.

I know that there should be a picture of the final step with the Martha Stewart Multi-Surface Chalk Board Paint. But, I had to download all my pics from my iPhone to make room for the iOS 8 upgrade.

Here is the completed project!! As you can see it hasn’t made it to its intended home yet, because Hubby’s Office is still a work in progress. All in all, the whole project probably cost me no more than $7.00.

Who can be mad at that?? Have you decorated any spaces in your home with Lettering? What was your favorite project? I’d love to hear about it!!

DIY Scripted Glitter Letters

Posted on 10 December, 2013 by admin

Looking for an Alternative to Monogrammed Stockings? Last year we bought some Luxe Stockings, which I am still very much in love with. We wanted to personalize them, but without actually having to alter the stockings. So we settled on Scripted Glitter Letters instead.

This was very simple to do. I purchased the Scripted Wooden Letters, from Hobby Lobby (my favorite store according to my 4 year old).

I guess you could sand the letters if you wanted to, but we opted for a more rustic look, so just went ahead and painted them. Once the paint dried then we applied the glitter spray. Both items pictured below:

And, there you have it the completed project!!

According to my dh, my projects always turn into his, so I should add that.. we did throw in some”Hubby Elbow Grease”!! To see more of how we decorated our home for the Holidays check out Our 2013 and 2014 Christmas Home Tours.

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Tag Archives: DIY

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Here are a few resources that I think will start you on your way, at least they did for me.

Places to find free images:

Fonts –

Photo Editing –

Layouts/Templates –

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Here are a few Quick & Hopefully Not Too Dirty Ideas:

Start with Breakfast — In Bed or Out (your choice)

Babysitter or Not –

To Dine –

V-Day Stories –

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