I Made It and I LOVE It!

I follow lots of crafty blogs, but there is one in particular that I love called Make It and Love It that gives some of the coolest ideas and tutorials out there! On Sunday, I finally mustered up the courage to try the clock that Ashley made for her craft room (which, by the way - I LOVE and will be stealing lots of ideas from for mine)! Off to Jo-Ann's I headed to find fabric (and lots of other goodies) to get started! The clock was my main focus on Sunday and I finished, but I did start several other projects (that included spray painting) that afternoon and had every intention of crafting yesterday to finish those, but I got really sick, so in bed I stayed. Yuck. Today, however, I am feeling a little better, so maybe I will finish a few more!

Anywho - back to the clock! Here is my version of Ashley's from Make It and Love It (if you click on her name, you can see hers and her tutorial)!



And to think that the clock started out so plain and boring! Here is a how-to if you want to try one for yourself too!
1. Start off with a plain clock (I found mine at Ikea, LOVE that place! I think it was $6!?)
2. Pop the plastic middle out, you are going to use it in just a second.
3. Trace that middle plastic piece around the fabric of your choice. Cut it out when you are finished.
4. Mod Podge, your best friend for this project! I forgot how much I loved this stuff!
5. Mod Podge the top of the clock and then place your fabric on top, using your fingers to smooth out any bubbles that you might have. Start at the middle of the clock and work your way to the outside and edges. I recommend not doing the sides until your top is almost dry. When it is, do the same thing for the sides.
6. When the Mod Podge is dry, you are going to put another coat right on top of your fabric! Make sure that you are using a good amount and putting it on evenly.
7. To get the sides, I propped up the clock with the plastic center piece that I popped out in step 2! Made it easy to rotate and I knew it wouldn't stick to my table.
8. (not shown) When the clock is dry, pop that plastic piece back in!

Now, it looks good just like that, but I wanted to add those little flowers too!
These were easy and hard to do at the same time! Maybe they were just more time consuming. I started off trying to make them all perfect and not having any of the frayed edges come out, bad idea. They not only looked bad, but they didn't have any personality to me, so after several tries, I figured out that the messier they looked the better! I started off with about a 15"x2" strip of orange satin (think that was the biggest size flower that I made) and then kind of eye balled the other ones from there, as they are all different sizes. Hot glued at one end and just kept rolling the fabric over and over each other to make a circle shape, hot gluing when needed to keep it together! Then, I hot glued them in the pattern that Ashley did and Make It and Love It, because I am a copy cat and LOVED everything about how she did her clock!

Can't wait to hang it up in my craft room, but I have a few more things to do in there before anything goes up on my walls or before you get to see pictures of the space that I get to create in! Just thought I would show you a little peek for now...

A Little Bit of This...

...& a little bit of that! Had a few things to say, so instead of separating all of them, I just squished it all together into one random post!

As promised, a backyard update for you as we get them! On Thursday, the landscaper asked if he could come over and measure for the gas/electric lines in the backyard - no problem! Kyan and I were over swimming at a friends house (my mom had Lola) and this is what we saw when we came home!
RED! We just went out back to make sure the gate was shut - we had no clue that they were actually going to outline some of the parts of the backyard! I know it is just a little spray paint, BUT we were so excited and spent the next 30 minutes looking at what they had done! Kyan discovered his bike path around the yard and we walked the whole thing (that is what you see in the bottom left picture). The top left is the outline of our outdoor fireplace - I love how it is going to be curved! Top right is the markings of the outdoor kitchen and the bottom right is looking out from the already covered patio at the patio extension! Please excuse the weeds, we have not bothered with keeping up the dirt and have just let the weeds grow as they want this past year! I can't wait to see those bad boys GONE! We meet with the landscape company on Tuesday to finalize plans! So excited!

Ok next order of business. So many of you commented or sent emails to me on Lola's little shirt from my last post, asking where you could snag one of your own! If you didn't read all of those comments and catch that I made it - I DID! HA! I really put that thing together in about 15 minutes before I took them on their random (hurry and get in the car NOW!) photo shoot. I did bribe them with cinnamon rolls though, and they turned out exactly how I needed them to for the new header! Ok, back to the shirt! It was easy to do, an Old Navy tank top, a very long piece of satin that I ruffled, a rhinestone button, a little sewing and waaaahlaaaa! It has been through the wash and still standing, but the edges are very frayed (more than before). Anywho, lots of your sweet words (thank you, by the way) got me thinking...I told you I was wanting to do another giveaway soon and I need to get into my craftroom (which is in the works of being remodeled and close to showing you pictures) and get busy so I will let you in on a sneak peek of just a little something-something that I might be planning! It helped that Old Navy was having their $2 tank top sale today only! Anyone else go and get a bargain?

And last I leave you with my LOVE for the mailbox (and the reason that I like to do giveaways myself)! My girlfriend Candis (if you haven't seen her baby shower pics, just click on her name, it will send you to Rosie J. Photography and her shower) sent me this beauty and I plucked it out of the mail this morning!
Isn't it pretty?! The second that I opened it I put it right onto my camera strap! There was the sweetest little note in there too! I love her and my new camera strap! Thank you frien'!

WAIT! I almost forgot - sorry, that last one was NOT last. If you are interested in making your blog look just a little prettier and are wanting to change the handwriting font on your Post Titles & Sidebars it is pretty easy (but is very time consuming, must warn you! At one point you do feel like you are looking for a needle in a haystack - but the end results are so worth it) follow the links ~

Click on the link below to pick your font (there are 100's to choose from...have fun!)
http://kevinandamanda.com/fonts/fontsforpeas/

Then follow these instructions here (here is the hard part and when you read it you might think, not for me! But, if you follow the steps just as Amanda tells you to - pretty handwriting for you in about 30 minutes)!
http://www.kevinandamanda.com/whatsnew/tutorials/how-to-use-a-cute-font-for-your-blogger-post-titles.html

I searched google to figure out how-to add a signature to the end of all of my posts and this blog had the best instructions! Do as she says and in minutes you too can have your very own signature after every post! LOVE IT!

Ok, that really is it - hope it was somewhat helpful! Let me know if you have questions!!! Sorry for the randomness, just had a lot on my mind! Peace out girl scouts!

Cloud Number Nine

From where I am sitting, it has a pretty fantastic view!

To say that I have had a pretty amazing start to summer would have to be an understatement! I have LOVED every second of it, from staying home with the kids (something I can only dream about) to swimming, to crafting, to...ok, you get the picture! Summer 2010 has me sitting on cloud number nine for sure!

Thought I would share some of the reasons why my view is so spectacular:

1. The time that I get to spend with my kids during the summer is priceless! They are wonderful children and make every second of my day special! They are so different and unique in their own little ways, yet they LOVE each other so very much!
Kyan, is the quiet, easy going kid. He usually lets everything roll off of his shoulders and is very, very, very patient. He loves movies (he could watch the same ones over and over again) and playing video games! He also loves to shoot hoops and could play basketball for hours upon hours if you let him! We have lots of little secret "things" we do (like secret handshake, kisses, etc.)!
Lola is a diva! She knows what she wants and she usually wants it RIGHT NOW (hmmmm, wonder who she gets that from?). She bosses her brother around, even though she is younger than he is. She is sassy and very much a girly-girl! Pink is her favorite color as of late! With all of that attitude that she gives out, she is very snugly and affectionate.
Kyan and Lola are perfectly balanced and keep every day new and wonderful for me! WOW, I really those two!

2. My boo! We have had a lot of QT together since the parents - another reason for my happiness - have been in town and let me tell you it has been nice to have evenings with just him! We were talking about being together for almost 9 years (dating for two of those, will be married for 7 this year) while sitting on the couch. My mom piped in and gave her two favorite memories of our wedding day with big tears in her eyes just out of the blue. It was so sweet! I love him more and more each day and will forever remain "Calmer than you are"! Love you Chad.

3. We FINALLY made a decision about our backyard. We have been in our house almost a year and have been staring at nothing but dirt and weeds for far too long, so this week has been major for us! What you see below is a very rough copy of what it will look like and some of the things it will feature! If it sounds and looks like a lot - IT IS! Our backyard is huge, think that is why it has taken us so long to find someone we like, trust (I am kicking myself for waiting so long to call my former student's dad, who owns his own landscape company - we love all that he has offered us!), and who can make our dream happen without making us break the bank! I plan on showing you guys the entire process, so here is the start!

4. My mean blog winning streak has been going strong and I have received lots of fun things in the mail this week, including a dress from Matilda Jane for Lola and 3 pairs of BabyLegs! The Little Gym even gave Lola a yellow tutu that I have been begging to buy off of them for the past month and a half! Can't wait to take Lola on a little photo shoot to show off her goods! I LOVE getting the mail when I know something good is on its way! Thinkin' it is time to do another giveaway myself soon (now, what to give?)!

5. And last, but certainly NOT least, I was one of the two featured bloggers on Shabby Blogs today! I love everything about that website and when Megan contacted me to ask me if she could feature me on her blog I was truly honored (and I did squeal a little too)! I mean, her blog is a pretty big deal with well over 6000 followers and she picked mine to be featured?! I took that as a pretty big compliment! So if you are here stopping by from Shabby Blogs, welcome! I never dreamed 423 posts ago that my little old blog that I do for myself, children, family and friends would ever be worthy of that kind of status, but...I guess I was wrong and I must say that I feel kinda like a big deal today! So thanks Megan for making the view from my cloud that much more fabulous or should I say shabbulous!! If you haven't checked out Shabby Blogs and all of its freebies (don't forget to donate to the "cause" too) GO! What are you waiting for?

Thanks for stopping by! I think I have some pretty great bloggy blog friends (did I tell you that I try and get everyone I know to have a blog? No. I left that part out. Well I do!) and I hope that I will get a chance to meet some new ones through this whole experience too! So don't be shy!

Question for You?!

Ok, so without googling the answer, can you name the first 10 Presidents of the United States? Go ahead try, I will wait...

...HA! Don't be embarrassed, I couldn't do it either! But do you know who can? My 2 year old, Lola! Yep, and today I recorded the proof!



She amazes me every single day! I love this little girl!

Just in case you had a little trouble understanding her, here they are in order (play it again, bet it makes more sense now!):
George Washington, 1789-1797
John Adams, 1797-1801
Thomas Jefferson, 1801-1809
James Madison, 1809-1817
James Monroe, 1817-1825
John Quincy Adams, 1825-1829
Andrew Jackson, 1829-1837
Martin Van Buren, 1837-1841
William Henry Harrison, 1841
John Tyler, 1841-1845

And no, sadly I can't take the credit for teaching her (remember, I said I didn't know them) it is all her caregiver Rennie! Both of my kids have learned so much throughout the years that we have been going to her (almost 5!). We love her and love how much she teachs our children! We am so grateful to have someone as wonderful as she is care for our children during the day while we are at work! She gives us a detailed list of what she eats & drinks, when she goes to the bathroom, and the activities they do daily! She has everyone on an amazing schedule! Even though Kyan doesn't go there anymore, she always thinks of him and sends him little things when she sends home stuff with Lola! Thank you Rennie for all that you do! We are truly blessed to have you in our lives!!!

Another Busy Roseland Weekend and Some BIG News!!

Yes, we had another busy weekend for sure! It was non-stop and I think that my first break will be tonight, when I hit my pillow!

Friday mom my came over (and she will probably KILL ME for posting this picture) and started cracking her cleaning whip (I say this in the most loving way, without her, my house would not look as beautiful as it does now! THANK YOU MAMA)! By the afternoon, everyone's closet had been reorganized and swept clean of anything that hadn't been worn in far too long! A trip to Goodwill and laundry piles starting to look smaller, life was great! She even took the kids back to her place with her so that Chad and I could have an evening to ourselves! We had a wonderful dinner at Ah-So, just the two of us!

On Saturday evening, we met up at Olive Garden (birthday girl's choice) for dinner before heading to Jesterz to watch their improv comedy troupe! My sister-in-law, Kristen (birthday girl) RAVES about this place and has been several times, but it was Chad and I's first time there! We laughed the entire hour and a half that we were there! It was a blast and somewhere that we would like to go back to, to watch another show soon!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTEN!

This was not an easy picture to take! My father-in-Law was NOT cooperating and was silly in every single shot I took! So - serves him right that his silliest one would show up here!

On Sunday, we headed back to the waterpark for anther day in the sun! Our friends, the Garretts, the Casillas', Cameron, Holly, and Sydney joined us! I didn't get to socialize as much as I would have liked to with them this time because I was having so much fun playing with Kyan (usually it is daddy, but on Sunday it was me)! He even talked me into going down "the dark slide" and I screamed the entire way down! It was scary! But, I can say that I did it and will NEVER do it again! I had so much fun playing with him! Lola loved the water as usual, but crashed on daddy's lap after hour number 2 of being in the sun!

My favorite picture of the day (because it is few and far between that one like this ever happens)!

After swimming, we headed over to my parents house for pizza and playing in the fountain! That fountain has to be the ugliest thing that I have ever seen and my dad talks constantly about getting rid of it, but the kids stick to it like glue! They played on/in it for about 2 hours! They created a sculpture on the angel with all of their toys even! They were so focused and busy at work!
And this brave little hummingbird (we have a special place in our hearts for hummingbirds, they are our favorite and have much to do with when Kyan was born) came around the fountain while the kids were busy at work on their sculpture! He was either really fearless or really thirsty because he kept coming back for more and more!

Our weekend really didn't end Sunday, it carried right on over into today! My mom came over bright and early and woke us all up and cracked her whip again! This time we cleaned out the garages (we have two, one for our vehicles and one for toys). You can now actually walk into our single car garage and find what you need! When we moved in we kind of just shoved any and everything into that baby without really organizing it, sad, but true. Today, we fixed that problem and off to Goodwill (again) I went!

Now, for the BIG news!!!
{insert drum roll please}
We, well me actually, met with the landscaper today and got a quote back that we could NOT refuse! And yes, oh yes, we will have a pool in our backyard before summer is over! Not sure how much use we will be able to get out of it this summer, but a pool is a pool! I do not have every last detail squared away yet, but things are looking up! We have had major issues when it has come to our backyard, so today was a great day! We have been in this house for close to a year, we have stared at nothing but dirt and weeds in the backyard for far too long, so we cannot wait for the work to get started on in the next couple of weeks!

Ok, hope everyone's weekend (I know, it is really not even the weekend anymore) was great! Off to take my break now!

Just Because She is Sweet!

Our kids call all of our friends' by their name, but use the term "auntie" or "uncle" ahead of it. Now, they aren't true aunts or uncles by blood, but they are as close to my children as any of their real aunts and uncles are - sometimes closer, as we spend lots of time with our friends!

In return, I am an Auntie Jenni to many, as so many of our friends have children. Not really sure who/why/how we started this, but we are all like family and it just kinda stuck!

One of the things I remember growing up was how cool it was to go with my Aunt Heidi (real, my mom's sister), just her and I, and she would buy my swimsuit every year! It was our special thing. Our girl time that we got to spend together, just the two of us! I loved and cherished every second of that! So Auntie Heidi (who also showed me how to make those fantastic cookies) if you are reading, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule for just me. I know I have said it before, but it really was special and I thought you were the coolest. Thank you!

Ok, I got a little sidetracked I know, but I swear I am going somewhere with the story and the whole Aunt thing! One of my "nieces" is very special to me. Her name is Amaya and she is the best helper, (she does things just because and will always ask you if you need help) an all around great kid and as sweet as can be! Well, I started thinking about those that made an impact on me while I was growing up and at an impressionable age (I had many strong, beautiful, wonderful, positive influences in my life ~ yes, I was blessed) and I thought that maybe I could be that for Amaya. So, I made a hair appointment for her (after she expressed a little concern that her mom got a hold of the scissors and that she didn't really like the way it turned out) and planned a few surprises to make her feel special! Based on the permanent smile she had the entire time I was with her, I would say it was a great night! One I hope she will remember for a long time and look forward to doing again in the future!

The only thing she thought she was meeting up with me for was her haircut. When she sat down, I had a little package for her, but told her that she couldn't have it until her hair was all done (it was a new dress, we were going to take pictures of her when she was all finished)! She was so excited during her haircut and she really just smiled through the whole thing!


When she finished with her hair, she went and put on her dress and then I took her to get her nails and toes painted! She wanted bright colors to match the bottom of the dress!

After her hair and her nails/toes, I took her to my favorite spot to snap a few photos of just her! She was the perfect model and looked beautiful with her new haircut!

I guess I am in a black/white mood - LOVING how these turned out!

Isn't she just beautiful?!

I had a great time with you Amaya! I hope that we will have many more days like this to come! I think that you are one of the smartest and most beautiful little ladies that I know and I am proud that I have moved from "auntie" to "like a mom" status to you! Love you lots!

PS- Do/did any of you have special "aunties" in your life now or growing up that made impression on you? I would LOVE to hear about them!

A Memorial Day (More Like Weekend) to Remember

Sunday afternoon we got together out at the Estrella Waterpark for a splish-splashin' good time! My parents went back and forth with where to host their annual party (their place at the point or at the Waterpark) and I am so happy that the Waterpark won! I think all who came had a blast!

Thank you mom and dad for a wonderful time and for always inviting our friends to join in on the fun! I am proud to say that you guys are REALLY COOL PARENTS (I don't think I thought that while in high school, but I am proud to shout it now)!
LOVE YOU!

Oh, how I LOVE that they LOVE each other so much!

A major feat that Kyan tackled this time around was that big giant water slide! Last summer there was NO WAY he was going down that thing, although he climbed to the top on more than one occasion to try.
This time, it took Kyan's friend Gianni to show off just once before he was joining in on the fun! Then, there was no turning back! He had to have gone down that thing several dozen times! He even went down the "dark slide", as we like to call it, towards the end of our afternoon, not once, but twice! I was a proud mama for sure!

And Little Miss "Thang" loved her some water! She had so much fun getting twirled around by yours truly and splashing in the fountains that shoot up along the beach front entrance into the pool! Lola was in her element and is a water baby for sure!

I begged for Chad to take pictures of me with the kids during the day, and I mean begged. I think I might have whined a little too (ok, maybe a lot)! He just got them of Lola and I, but that was because Kyan was off playing with his friends and being Mr. Independent (they grow up fast)! One of the things that I love about Estrella's waterpark is that you can see the kids from just about anywhere you sit and lounge (see next picture - I did a lot of it)!

This is pretty much what I did all day.
It was pretty perfect!

I adore the girls that I work with - they even started blogs this summer! OK, to be fair, Angela has had one for awhile, but she just started updating a little more faithfully just recently, and Kristin is a newbie, but she is getting good and just started adding yummy recipes!
Did I mention how much I love bloggy blog friends? No. Well, I do!

He really is my little fishy! He can swim so good and his favorite way to swim by far is underwater!

While kicking it with grandpa (that top picture that you saw, my dad pretty much laid around all day holding down the fort for everyone, just relaxing, visiting, and reading the paper) Lola found some flowers that grandpa helped her pick! She loved them and held them so gently!

By the nights end (after the waterpark we went for a pizza party back at the house) the kids were pooped! They did fall asleep on the way home, but got their second wind for about an hour when we got home! So, after getting ready for bed, they both laid together and watched cartoons until they crashed!

I love sleepy time pictures. My heart officially melted (gosh, it seems to be doing this a lot lately, must be summer) when I saw them like this.

But our Memorial Day celebrating didn't end Sunday night...
On Monday, my mom, Linda, and I snuck off to the mall for some serious shopping (and sales)! I was kid free and took full advantage of some much needed mommy shopping time! I made out like a bandit too! Some new tops from my favorite store on the planet (Anne Taylor LOFT), a new swimsuit (my first one piece in a long time and I am in LOVE) and a new Coach purse (I am a Coach snob, I hate to admit this, but I am. It is like a disease, I swear)!
I couldn't hang with the old ladies (haha - just kidding girls, I love you!) too long, they are serious shoppers, they could seriously shop from store open to store close, because we had another party to go to!
The Butler's had a little get together for friends from school! It was nice to see everyone (again! We saw some of them Saturday and Sunday too) and hang out in the backyard with for swimming, food, and fun! See the proof below!


Watermelon! I would say that she is a fan!

Swimming!

Lola's new favorite way to be in the water! She calls it her goldfish!


She is silly!

He could play all day long!


Hands down, this one has to be my new favorite picture of me and the hubs!

Now, with everything that was so amazing going on this weekend, I did not forget what Memorial Day is and why we celebrate it.
I am grateful to the Armed Forces and to those that spend each and every day protecting and serving our country. I thought about my little brother all weekend (I even got a chance to talk to him on Monday!) over in Bahrain, doing just that. Protecting and serving our country so that we can be safe here at home. Yes, I wish that he could have been with us celebrating too, but I am so thankful for him, and those like him!
Thank you little brother. I love you.