Monday, January 30, 2012

Snowy Owls

I saw this project via pinterest. This project is found at Kid Artists.  The Snowy White Owl is making a rare appearance in our county.  MSN had some more information. I haven't seen any Snowy White Owls yet despite being on the look out. There have been several articles about how they have been spotted out on Sandy Point.  I believe there have been 3 spotted out there.

I thought it would be fun to make some snowy owls .  The boys even gave this shot. They turned out interesting.
Big E
The Diva's
I made mine in trading card size to put in my project life.

Chuckles



Sunday, January 29, 2012

Project Life - Weeks 2 & 3

I am realized that I hadn't posted. These didn't scan too well so I ended up taking a picture. I am really enjoying documenting life this way.  I seem to collect bits and pieces of stuff and now I have a place to put it all. I am using baseball card protectors because that is what I have on hand.

Week 2

WEEK 3
More details about project life can be found here.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Heart Tree Carving Embroidery

Last week during the snow, I found this Heart Tree carving Embroidery Pattern via Pinterest.  I decided to give it a go.  I just so happened to have some fabric and thread on hand.  I am crafty like that.  LOL  The pattern is from the Modern Lady Blog.  I did my stitching on the tree a little different.  I think it turned out really cute.I think it will be a good addition to the LOVE wall grouping I plan on my upstairs hallway wall.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Longest Line Art

I saw this project on pinterest.  The Diva gave it a go today.  I think hers turned out really great.  Something like this is what I decided to do for my Valentine's. (More on that to follow) The directions can be found at Splish Splash Splatter.  Below is their sample via Pinterest.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Jewlery Stand Display

When I put away my Shiney Brites after Christmas, I discovered a box of pocket watches that belonged to Pappy.  I wanted some way to display them.  I had seen these neat jewelry stands at TJ Maxx and thought it would be perfect to diplay these watches. It seem a shame not to have them out.


Now that it is nearing Valentine's Day, I put these glass hearts that were in my Christmas stuff on the stand.  I think it ties in neatly to my whole bird decor.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Whatcom Reads 2012

Ever year the Whatcom County Library System picks a Washington Author's Book to read as a whole county- Whatcom Reads. Along with the book picked there are all kinds of activities as well.  I have yet to make it to an actual author talk but maybe this is the year.

This year's pick is Elizabeth George's In the Presence of the Enemy.

Hailed as the "king of sleaze," tabloid editor Dennis Luxford is used to ferreting out the sins and scandals of people in exposed positions. But when he opens an innocuous-looking letter addressed to him at The Source, he discovers that someone else excels at ferreting out secrets as well.
Ten-year-old Charlotte Bowen has been abducted, and if Luxford does not admit publicly to having fathered her, she will die. But Charlotte's existence is Luxford's most fiercely guarded secret, and acknowledging her as his child will throw more than one life and career into chaos. Luxford knows that the story of Charlotte's paternity could make him a laughingstock and reveal to his beautiful wife and son the lie he's lived for a decade. Yet it's not only Luxford's reputation that's on the line: it's also the reputation—and career—of Charlotte Bowen's mother. For she is Undersecretary of State for the Home Office, one of the most high-profile Junior Ministers and quite possibly the next Margaret Thatcher.   (Amazon)

I read this on my Kindle. I really enjoyed this mystery.  I had forgotten how much I enjoy a good who done it. This one kept me guessing to the very end. I am looking forward to reading more Elizabeth George.

One activity  I plan to do is the letterboxing activity similar to geocaching.  They will be releasing clues to letterboxes located  in the library.  The letterboxes have image stickers you collect to form a rebus (a visual puzzle). So far, 2 clues have been released.  There are 5 clues total. Once you collect all the stickers and solve the rebus.  You can enter the drawing for Elizabeth George's next book Believing the Lie. So if you are local, give this a go.

I have read previous Whatcom Reads selections but so far this is my favorite.  Previous Selections have included The Absolute True Diary of a Part Time Indian, Border Songs and Old School.

Friday, January 20, 2012

LEGO ALERT


Army of Mini Figs clawing their way out of snow drift
For those Lego Nuts out there on Saturday on the National Geographic Channel's show Ultimate Factories the Lego Factory will be featured. Thanks for the alert from Lego a Day . It looks like it is on from 8 - 9 pm. Here is the show synopsis from National Geographic Channel
It's one of the most popular construction toys in the world. In the age of unprecedented competition for children's attention--from videogames to TVs to countless activities--they still spend over 5 billion hours a year playing with LEGO bricks. But building simple modular toys with interlocking bricks is a lot more complex than it seems. Their most popular set--the police station--is completely redesigned every few years to keep up with the times. From R&D and engineering to robotic assembly lines and the most fickle test market on the planet, Mega Factories: LEGO takes you behind the scenes as a real life police station turns into a playground for the imagination.
This Dino Mini Fig is showing how I feel about the SNOW!
Below is a neat video about some Lego Street Art
This was sent to me below and it is funny!


Last but not least this AMAZING lego office set up.  Chuckles would never want to leave this room.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Surf Report or should I say Snow Report

Looking down the Hill to Church
taken Jan 19
10:30 am
Snowed in here!  I haven't left the house since Sunday.  I have a little CABIN FEVER and to top that off I am also a single parent this week.  YEAH ME! I have been spending entirely too much time on the Internet and Words with Friends. Thought I would do some linky love.

Here is some Internet stuff worth reading

I Can't Do It Like Extreme Couponing (Coupon Mom) - A very good perspective on how to coupon right and it doesn't have to look like Extreme Couponing.  It is about saving money and time!

28 Ways to Stop Complicating Your Life - I found this link in Ali Edwards 52 Creative Lifts Newsletter. This was in week two and it was all about subtracting things from your life.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Valentine Design

Yesterday, I was trying to come up with a design for my Valentine.  I have a lot of ideas floating around my head.  Below is a technique I was using with a dollie and sharpie.  My technique needs a little work.  I was able to pick up some dollies in the Christmas Clearance. 

The original idea came from Pinterest.  See below.
I also experiment with the heart below I colored in. 

The heart coloring page is from Scribble Prints. Something like this has possibilities.  Usually my valentines aren't about fancy materials but more about time put in.This coloring one would be pretty time consuming.  The hunt continues for the perfect Valentine design.

Snow Fortress


We have SNOW!  Lots and Lots of Snow!  The kids in the neighborhood spent most of the day working on it.  It is pretty amazing.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Tigger's First Snow

This past weekend was Tigger's, our puppy's, first time being in snow.  He didn't know what to do at first. We were throwing snowballs for him to catch and he kept missing them.  Then he got confused because he couldn't find the ball.  It was really funny. Snow makes puppies really tired too. 

Sunday, January 15, 2012

First to Find

Chuckles holding the Geocache
On Saturday morning in spite of  the snow, Chuckles and the Giant Man Child set off to be the first to find a geocache that just recently been placed. They were the first to find it! In Geocache talk it is called a FTF.  They found it just as the tide was coming in. Our team has never had a first to find so that was really cool.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Reflection

I was out and about with Mrs Epi and I saw this cool reflection of gas prices reflected in a nearby window in a building.  The writing almost looks Chinese.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Book it 2012 - January

I am joining Life as Mom's Book It 2012. Check out what everyone is reading.

The first book I finished in the New Year was The Reversal by Michael Connelly. Connelly is also the author of  the book The Lincoln Lawyer that was made it to a movie.  The Reversal is about a killer that is being retried for a crime that was committed 24 years ago.  A child was abducted from her front yard and later found dead in a dumpster.  As in the Lincoln Lawyer, Micky Haller is back but as a lawyer for the prosecution as a one time gig.  I really liked the book.  It kept me riveted. If you like mystery and crime Micheal Connelly doesn't disappoint.

My library is VERY big into merchandising their books. This book was in their display of books for, I guess, for the New Years. (You know health and fitness/New Year Resolutions) I am a sucker for these displays.  I am an impulse checker outer.  That seriously is a real term.  Anyway, I picked up The Great Fitness Experiment - One year of Trying Everything by Charlotte Hilton Anderson. All kidding aside Charlotte spends a year testing diets and workouts with her gym buddies.  She shares what her and her friends learned doing CrossFit, Kettlebells, Karate, and Jillian Micheals etc. She also reveals that she has a eating disorder in the form of an exercise addiction. It is a very real and approachable book and the next best thing to exercise.  She writes at the Great Fitness Experiment.

Life as Mom booking it book was One Bite at a Time by Tsh Oxenreider.  I downloaded this to my Kindle.  Wow, this is a book that you read and let marinate.  I think I will be revisiting this book a lot.There is a lot of good information.  She had me at the first chapter with eating the frog.  Doing your most undesirable task first.  I have to tendency to put off the task I really dislike. So that is what I am really concentrating on. I also liked the chapter about Kaizen.  Kaizen is the Japanese term for small continuous change.  That really resonated with me.  I have a child on the spectrum(HFA) and change of any kind is difficult but when implemented in small bits change is possible.  Lastly, this quote also resonated with me in the book by  Meagan Francis of TheHappiestMom. com
"I used to feel really weird about 'outsourcing' certain parts of my life to outside help. I had this idea that MY mother did it all, all the generations of women before HER did it all, and therefore I should be able to do it all, too. Then I started paying attention to the housewives in the 18th and 19th century women's fiction I love, and realized - wow, all classes, even the tough-as-nails(and not rich) pioneer women often had a girl in the kitchen or they sent out their ironing.   I have come to realize that being an efficient homemaker isn't about doing everything yourself -it's about managing the home and all the tasks that go along with running it. That means knowing what makes sense to to do yourself, and what you either don't enjoy or don't have time for so you can delegate. "

I think that quote deserves an AMEN! As Mom's we get so much pressure to do it all and all by ourselves.  That just isn't possible.  That is an inaccurate stereotype. This good book whether you are a long time homemaker like myself or just starting on this journey.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Home Goals

I thought I would join Nester's linky party to discuss some Home Improvement Goals.  These are my top goals that I would like to accomplish this year.

On my list is to complete our little hot tub area.  Our California Lilacs on one side are growing like crazy and make a nice screen to our dog pen.  Now I would like to concentrate on the other side.  I saw this inspiration picture.

Lowes Creative Ideas
July/August 2008
The homemade stepping stones and gravel path would be really great.  I also like the slightly raised planter . This post is the original plan and here is better idea what it looks like currently. We started this project in 2009 and I really just want to complete the whole area.

2. I have an empty wall upstairs and I would like to make a Love Picture Gallery.  I don't know if I am explaining that exactly right.  I have these really neat Valentine's from Loveland, CO.  They are more like art. I also have this cool photo of my son spelling out," I love you", plus some really neat heart photos  

Eye love you
I can't decide on a wall grouping.  I think I need a DIY statment piece.  These pinterest things are inspiring me.

I like the love part on the old shutter.  Or should do more of a saying as the center piece?

I have a lot of ideas just not a clear plan. I also like this photo collage - I love you


3. TAKE CARE of our out of control MOLE problem in the front yard.  So far smoking them out has not worked. Any suggestions? Can you tell we aren't yard people? I think this would improve our curb appeal.  We are that place on the street with the MOLE problem.

4. Finish updating the office.  It was part of my 31 days to a Better Nest series.  A lot of progress has been made here but there is some more to go.  I would like to add shelves, larger magnet board, end table for the chair, and change the rug out.  I want A LOT - LOL

5. Fence the entire backyard so the puppy has more room to roam.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Felt Heart Garland


I saw this on pinterest.  So, the Diva and I whipped some of these hearts up. 


I am not sure I like the stringing of these.  I need to think of a better way to do that.  The hearts kept flipping over. Though it might not be an actual problem once it is up and the string is taunt. This is a great beginning sewing project.  The Diva made most of this all by herself using the sewing machine.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Project Life Jan 1-7

My scan of my page isn't the greatest.  I decided to give this a try. I had a burst of creative energy and just used what I had on hand.  I am using a baseball card protector. Becky Higgins sells a whole kit for Project Life.   This is my very low budget version.  Here are some more details. For more inspiration, Ali Edwards also shows off her project life pages. This is really neat.  I don't know if I will do every week but this is very doable. This can be as much or as little as you make it.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Gyspy, Tramps, and Thieves

Over on Facebook, some people are putting the top song the week they were born.  Here is mine - Cher's "Gyspy, Tramps, and Thieves.  It just cracks me for some reason. 


No, I wasn't born in the back of a gypsy wagon.  At least to my knowledge, I wasn't. Though growing up, I got a lot of the phrase, "were you born in a barn close the door."

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

All I need Today

Found this little note on the counter from Chuckles. It made my day!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Caching in the NEW YEAR!

3 musketeers
Big E, Chuckles, and #1 Son
Don't you know we went geocaching Jan 1, 2012.  We have a geocaching addiction.  LOL  We took our little buddy Big E with us, too. 

It's all about stealth in Caching
Big E and Chuckles
We were lucky to have him too as we needed his little hands to grab a cache for us. We found 5 geocaches.
The guys in pursuit of a cache