Dollar Store Heart

I have been holding on to this heart for a while easily since last year. I decided to paint it and glue the word, "love", to it. The letters are from Micheal's from their Christmas clearance.

Valentine Photo Ideas

I like to take a Valentine Photo. My photography skills are limited and most of time my models are not cooperative. The picture above is of my little guys in 2004. #1 Son is in Kindergarten and Chuck was about 2. We had just arrived in the Pacific Northwest and were still staying in a hotel. This year Big E really got into it. Big E is the Kindergartner I watch occasionally. The picture below is of him. I think this one turned out fab. He really got into the building of the lego love and taking the photos.

Chuck made a Lego Valentine last year. While my photography skills haven't improved my photoshop skills are vastly improved.

Here are some other ideas for Valentine Pictures on other blogs Kirsten*Can and I really like this one that looks like the kid is holding the sucker at Crap I have Made. I haven't done a Valentine photo with the boys yet. I have a couple of ideas. We will see if we can get some cooperation. Do you like the whole Lego theme? I just noticed that every picture I posted has some reference to Lego's.

The Buried Life

There is a new program on MTV called the Buried Life. Mrs Smartypants(13), expert on all things cool, turned me on to this program. The basic concept is that 4 guys are trying to cross things of their bucket list, list of things to do before they die. They also help random people cross something off their list. It is a reality show. What I love about the program is that these guys were doing this before MTV discovered them though one of their goals or on their list was to get on TV. The previous episodes can also be viewed on their website. Do you have a list? It is something I have thought about but I don't have it in a formal list. (hmm, I might need to do that)

Simple Conversation Heart Picture

Last week, the Diva made this conversation heart picture. I got the idea from here. We used a dollar store frame and traced a heart on pink construction paper. The hearts are glued with Elmer's. The glue held the hearts just fine and I was very uncomfortable using the glue gun with a little one. We just waited for the glue to dry before placing it in the frame. The heart is covered only in one layer of hearts. I think it turned out really cute and because there was only one layer of hearts the glass fit just fine.

French Seam Pillowcase

I have been wanting to try this for a while. I have very beginner sewing skills. This is pretty straight forward BUT I had to rip it all out once. The complete details are found here. I loved the visual details. This is also called a sausage pillowcase. Here is a link to a youtube video which was helpful as well. My body fabric was bigger as I used queen sized pillows. This is a project best done with out distractions. The one pictured above I made for #1 Son. The spider fabric was discounted clearance for $1.50 a yard and other was left over stuff from my fabric stash.

My youngest just cracked me up as I was doing this project. Chuckles told me he wants to sew just like me and could I teach him on his birthday. He told me it would be a cheap gift. That just made my day. I didn't heart to tell him at the time that I was ripping seams out because I messed up. Oh how, I wish they would stay sweet forever. I plan on making Chuckles a pillowcase next. Hopefully, I learned something from the first go around.

Random Interesting Links

I have been following the story of a local family who adoption in Haiti was disrupted due to the earthquake. Please pray for them. There is also a facebook page with more updated information.

Stumbled on this link about a woman who planned out meals for the whole year. Check it out. I wish I was this organized and dedicated. I am lucky if I can menu plan for the whole week.

I have been seeing Ana's Knock Off Wood blog listed everywhere. I finally checked it. If you are somewhat handy or have some handy spouse, she has plans for some great woodworking projects which are knock-offs from Pottery Barn, Ballard, etc.. It is incredible. Dad, if you are lurking, you got to check this out.

Last but not least, my youngest son, Chuckles, has been struggling with spelling. He is definitely right brain. It is hard for him. On Everyday Mom, I found some wonderful hints to help with this. I am going to give these a shot.

Falling off the Side of the Earth

It has been a long week. The lack of posts is due to a new computer and I haven't loaded my pictures or photoshop back on this new improved model. I am a single mom this week and my computer support person left for Vegas. That is just wrong especially since he is my spouse. I haven't fallen off the face of the earth or done any crazy cleanse this past week. I haven't even been called to the Principals office. I swear I will get my act together and share some of the wonderful finds and interesting or not so interesting adventures soon.

Remailing Valentine's

Are you looking for a cheap Valentine activity or a neat way to send your love a special Valentine wish? Try remailing your Valentine's and get a lovely cachet/stamp on the front by remailing them through Loveland, Colorado. How to do this? Address your cards just like normal though I advise writing the address slightly higher to leave space for the cachet/stamp on the front though they will stamp it on the back of the envelope if there is no room. Place all of your cards in a larger envelope addressed as follows:

Postmaster - Attention Valentines

446 E 29th St

Loveland, Co 80538-9998

More details here and here on as most of the Valentine's must be received before the 8th to be stamped with cachet. They also have a special Valentine each year created by an artist that is available for purchase as well. Each year the cachet is different as well. I have been remailing Valentine's for many many years as Loveland is my hometown. Valentine's is a big deal in my family as it is also my parent's anniversary. They were married in Loveland 40 years ago this Valentine's. I usually send out more Valentine's than Christmas cards. I love to make homemade cards and plan on doing this year too so stay tuned to see my Valentine's card for this year.

Makeshift Valentine's Banner

I don't know what it was about this Monday but I needed some cheer. After hanging up all the clings in the window with the Diva's assistance. Things weren't looking Valentiney enough. So this banner seemed to fit the ticket. It is just hearts clipped to a string with clothespins. The heart in the middle is by Ms Diva. The hearts spell out " Be Mine". I saw this other banner/bunting from Oh So Crafty featured on One Pretty Thing and I thougt I might try to make it too. However, for right now this is working. Just keeping it simple.

The Return of Chef E

Chef E and I decided to experiment. It was our first cooking project of 2010. We made Gummi's today. I saw on the Skip to My Lou blog her rendition of gummi's so I thought we would give them a shot. They really turned out good. Chef E asked if we could make these again, soon. We used heart ice cube trays for our candy mold.

The ice trays were found in Target in the dollar spot area except they weren't a dollar but $2.50. The trays are a little deep but they turned out fine. Our heart gummi's were made with lime jello. If anything I would do different is buy more jello as it doesn't make a very large batch with our deep molds.

Thrift Finds

Things have been pretty steady on the thrift front. People donate a lot of stuff at the end of the year. I wanted to show you want of my latest finds. My friend, Mrs Epi, literally stubbed her toe on this Flexible Flyer Sled. The sled is in awesome condition. It really pays to look low in Goodwill and other thrifts. I have been looking for a sled to sit by my door during the winter months. It was a done deal for 9.99. I got a lot of comments from various people as I carried it around Goodwill or GW as one of my thrifty friends calls it. Doesn't GW sound more upscale? The general consensus was it was great deal.

This is what I imagine it will look like during Christmas and the winter months. I think I will go for a smaller wreath. The snowman I got at an awesome discount from Rite Aid of all places. This whole vignette is a whooping $16. That is a little high for my taste but snowman sledding goodness is hard to resist.

I am out of Mind

The elimination diet thing and green drink smoothie. I was only able to make it through 1 day of the leafy twig drink. It didn't taste bad but the texture. I hesitate to say what happened to me. I puked. I know that is part of detoxing but I don't do puke. I willing to do the other parts but the puking part. I am out. I am working on phase one which isn't so limiting though you are suppose to be drinking one of those green smoothies everyday. So basically, this has been a fail for me but it clearly did show me I can eat better and how food effects your mood.

Impending Doom

This falls in the catorgory of "I wouldn't do it if I thought about it". I was talked in and highly encouraged to do the Whole Life Nutrition 28 day Elimination and Detoxification diet. It basically starts with a two day green smoothie fast. It is basically green leaves(kale, collard, and cabbage), pears, green apples and cranberries. Doesn't that sound yummy! I am starting this morning. I will let you know how it goes. It sounds like a one way trip to cranky town. I have decided this year to live better that includes diet. This is a step in the right direction even if the direction is to the bathroom.

Book It 2010

I was reading at Life as a Mom her reading goals. I usually share what I hope to read in the next year. I also belong to a book club that meets pretty irregularly. These are my top 5 that I hope to read in the New Year.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned while Editing my Life by Donald Miller (Ali Edwards recommend on her blog)

Storycatcher: Making Sense of our Lives through the Power and Practice of Story by Christina Baldwin (also an Ali Edwards recommend on her blog)

Old School by Tobias Wood - This school is part of the Whatcom Reads Program. I read their selection last year too. We did it as a book club It is kinda cool as the whole community reads the same book.

The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jaime Ford

The Wildwater Walking Club by Claire Cook

I love to read it my guilty little pleasure. There is nothing better than a good read.

Morning Ruined

Don't you hate it when things change sometimes? I have been listening to the same morning show for 12 years. The DSC (Dave, Shelly, Chainsaw) morning show in San Diego has been my morning show of choice. When I moved away from San Diego, I have still listened on line virtually every morning. I was shocked and saddened this morning when I tried to tuned via Internet this morning and found the shocking announcement that their contract was not renewed. Here is a link. Where ever you are DSC thanks for all the laughs. You cracked this Mom up every morning. Things are not going to be the same.

New Signature Dessert

My husband has had a signature dessert. It was a lovely cheesecake. But this Christmas, his Mom got him ramekins and a torch. (Yes, a torch) So goodbye cheesecake and welcome Creme Brulee. #1 Son calls this burnt creme. Oh my, this is so good and a much more manly as you get to torch it.

Once in a Blue Moon

Once in a blue moon, I do something cool according to my children. You know I just have been dying to use that Blue Moon Phrase. On New Year's Eve, we made funnel cakes. Chuckles was calling these pipe cakes. I saw these on Syndiluhu's blog and just had to copy her. I used the same Martha recipe and same cooking method. It was really easy and a big hit. For a few hours, I was cool. We also made Italian Soda's.

Can you get a sugar hangover? I swore I woke up with one.

New Year, New Word

Ali Edwards once again is doing is doing her One Little Word for the year. I like this better than New Year resolutions. My word for 2008 was "Seek" and my word for 2009 was " Stand". For 2010, I choose LIVE. I want to live life to the fullest. I want to be great today. I want to be intentional (said in my best Oprah voice) I really liked the post that Motherhuddle did on Works for me Wednesday. Here is some more food for thought about passive barriers.Whether you choose 1 Little Word or make a resolution, I hope you have a great New Year. Welcome to Twenty Ten!