Crafting with my daughter!

**Update: double sided tape works great to stick the candy on the tray! I will do this from now on!

It's been a fun weekend!

Friday night Hillary came over to START a couple of Halloween crafts. It was so fun! We didn't start until 9ish and I thought we would call it a night at about midnight.... but NO! Hillary is such a task master! "We are going to get these done!" Well! OK!

It was lots of fun and I'm glad she made me get them done! tee hee!

Here are the pics!



We got this idea from here. It was SO easy and fun! We got our frames from Walmart, paper, paint and wood letters from Hobby Lobby and we already had the glitter! If we didn't have to wait for drying time this would have taken like 15 minutes to make! It's definitely an Easy Peasy craft!




This was our next craft! I've had several people ask me HOW we did this, so I am going to explain here! We got the link from the above blog and it took us here. We changed it up a bit. Instead of cutting the strips like she suggests in her post, we used one paper (a black and white polka dot) as the base for our project. The cookie sheet (we got this at Walmart for $4) was longer than 12" and not as wide, so we trimmed the paper to fit and we corner rounded the bottom two corners. Then we cut another piece of the polka dot for our topper. We corner rounded the top two corners of our topper. After we sanded the cookie sheet we mod podged the paper down.

While that dried we cut our squares. (Our paper was made by Echo Park Paper Co. We got it at Scrapbook Etc.) The squares were cut 1 3/4 inches. We had 5 different prints. You can't really see them in this picture, but they will be very cute as the candy comes off! The paper we used was printed on the front and back. So we used both sides of some of our papers.

The next step was to mod podge the squares and the top of our tray. While that dried we worked on our numbers. At the blog we got the idea from she has a free print out of the numbers. So we printed our numbers out on white card stock and used a circle punch the right size to punch them out. We used hot glue to glue the clear glass stones on the numbers. If you don't have a punch you could just glue them on and then cut them out by hand. We got our clear glass stones from the Dollar Tree for $1!

We used the Cricket to cut out the Halloween Countdown header. We used card stock that matched our paper. The font is Lyrical Letters - Jack Sprat. I don't remember the exact size. Hillary kinda did this part - she probably remembers, so if you need that info let me know and I'll get it! (Better yet, maybe she'll leave a comment!)

We mod podged the letters down. We used a purple pom pom trim that we got at Scrapbook Etc. to cover the seam between the header and the count down! (SO CUTE!) We put that on with glue dots! We glued the numbers on with a dab of elmer's glue - cause it was on a plate in front of me from the first project! We put them in the upper left corner of each square so the candy would fit! I found a sticker sheet at walmart that I thought would match...and it did! It had spiders eating candy! I used those on the header and the number 31.

Now, the number 31 was treated special. We couldn't fit it on the tray... So we decided to make it longer. We cut the printed paper and mod podged it to a piece of chip board. We mod podged the top of it and then glued it with hot glue to the bottom of the tray.

Vaughan drilled holes at the top for my ribbon and then it's ready for the candy!

After everything dries really well just tape your candy on. I originally just used cellophane tape, but my candy is falling off some, so I am going to try double stick tape and see if that works better!

That's it! It was really fun and went pretty quick! I was in bed by 3am! tee hee!

Book Love

I LOVE this book. But I don't always "get" it! OK - I'll admit it. I hardly ever "get" it.

I was feeling especially frustrated with myself a few months ago - 'cause I WANT to read, but it's so hard to actually read when you know you aren't going to understand - and then there's the whole mind wandering thing. DUMB! It seriously discourages me and makes me feel SO stupid. So I avoid. Really.

Then my sister was talking to me about this book she was reading that was helping her with her scripture reading. It sounded really COOL! And she kept bringing it up. And bringing it up, 'cause you see, she was REALLY REALLY excited about it.

So, on one of our date nights I asked Vaughan if we could stop at Deseret Book and I showed him what I wanted to buy. It was kinda expensive. But so worth it. And I did. Buy it, that is!

And now I can say that this book

Is helping me love this book even more!

There are THREE books that cover the Book of Mormon. I bought number two, because I seriously think I have 1st and 2nd Nephi memorized I've read them so much. Book number 2 starts with Mosiah and goes through Alma. I already have book number 3 because my one and only bought it for me for my birthday! (I guess he thought I read faster!)

I am taking my time reading. Sometimes I read a whole chapter - which in this book is sometimes 5 or more pages. Sometimes I read less. Sometimes I read More! I try to read each night before I go to bed. Sometimes it's hard to put down. I LOVE the understanding and enlightening that is in these books. It has made the Book of Mormon come alive for me.

So, if you are struggling OR even if you aren't, check them out! It's like going to institute and this time I'm finally getting it!

An Update on our Update

So, in case you've forgotten, I decided that my kitchen needed some updating. And Vaughan agreed. Or I should say, he agreed to go along with my idea. We decided we would do it Labor Day weekend because we couldn't go anywhere anyway. *whaaaa*

By Monday afternoon I was wishing we would have just gone to the movies or something. Anything.

First off - it felt like we were moving in S L O W motion. We got started late on Saturday. Things ended up costing more than I had figured. (I never was good at math) My house looked like CHAOS. I don't do chaos very well. But I really wanted this beautification so I was practicing my deep breathing! LOL.

By Monday I was ready to be done. There was really only so much I could do, so I started working on my laundry room. I painted. And painted. And painted. But I have to say it is BEAUTIFUL! CLEAN! Now, I keep checking to see if there is any laundry to do - nope... Darn kids, can't they dirty some clothes?? (seriously kidding here - but I do go in there and bask in the loveliness!) I painted some cabinets in there that have been there forever. All I kept saying is "WHY haven't I done this already?"

(Here is the before... before paint or organizing)

(Let the painting begin...)

(White, clean and fresh! Oh, and a few decorations thrown in! Notice the cabinets painted white at the top of the picture!)

(I love the decorations...I want to come up with something laundryish to hang from the hooks on the dress. I already had the clock, I painted it black. The frame I updated by painting it black and rubbing some red paint around on the inside of the frame... you can't see it, but it's cute. I can not tell a lie - I got the picture from the internet and copied it on photo paper. I know I'm naughty. But I love it!)

After I had finished the Laundry room I attempted to help Vaughan. We were ready to remove the baseboards in the dining room. And that is when it happened.

Our kitchen update STOPPED because we discovered a leak from our bathroom was coming into our kitchen. Not so fun. After the shock wore off and we realized that we weren't going to be able to continue in the dining room we reconvened in the kitchen.

My husband is my hero. He tirelessly worked into the LATE night hanging the bead board on the back splash and around the bar. He knew I needed to get my house "put together" because I babysit on Tuesday.

It looked pretty good on Tuesday, but it wasn't done. My Dad - my other hero, came Tuesday afternoon and helped Vaughan cut out the damaged wall. He said it wasn't as bad as we feared. The next step is for Vaughan to tear out the shower. *sniff* Then we will assess the damages and see if we can close up the wall on the kitchen side and continue hanging the bead board.

I've decided it was actually a Blessing that we found the shower leak was actually coming into the kitchen sooner than later. This could have been SO much worse. And besides, who needs more than one shower anyway! LOL!

So every night this week, my sweet husband has been working late into the night either hanging bead board, trim or trying to demo a bathroom!

The kitchen got done on Wednesday. I LOVE it. And now I'm more than happy that we started this project. Vaughan finished demo-ing the bathroom Friday night. Ugggg. What a mess. It was pretty bad. But thanks to a sweet son in law - trained by my brother in flood damage - it looks much better and is drying nicely. James helped Vaughan on Saturday install a couple of new outlets and hang drywall on the kitchen side. Vaughan taped it and then we had to leave for a ward party so that is where we are at.

(my back splash before any demo)

(after demo - but before I realized I didn't need to remove the border! hahaha!)

(The finished back splash - same spot as the above picture!)

(More of the finished back splash - it's beautiful to me! I've already changed those canisters, but I'll post about them later. Let's just say vinyl and chalk were involved!)

(Last one for this post...but I'm not promising anything about later!)

This week we will finish hanging the bead board and I will paint, paint and paint!

And then the fun - decorate, decorate decorate.

I swear it's like taking an energy pill! I can hardly wait to get it all put back together! I'm not changing much, just using what I have and updating it! So, the next update on our update will hopefully be soon!

Did I forget to mention . . .

that I got a new calling? Yep. I. did. I was released as the 10/11 year old Activity Day Leader. *sniff* and called to be the compassionate service leader. Not sure why. Except I am sure I have some learning to do. I'm still looking for the "Compassionate Service for Dummies" book. Let me know if any of you locate it.

The problem is I'm following one of the most compassionate, sweet and service oriented people I know. (Yes, Krista - you know you are!)

I already had my first funeral - we ran out of ham.

I work with an assistant, who handles the new babies - she is ultra sensitive and I've already offended her and she called me and gave me an assignment that she didn't want to do and I still haven't done it. (See how compassionate I am?)

*SIGH*

Mostly, I feel like I'm supposed to be doing something, but I'm not sure what and so I do nothing. I suppose that is good - that there is nothing to do - that means everyone is healthy and well, right? I hope so. I would hate to think that I'm not doing my calling. Besides the aforementioned oversight that I really shouldn't be doing but I'm not really sure what it is I said I would do.

Well, that's it. That's my new calling. And now you know!

Oh, Happy Labor Day!

(I made this USA banner this summer - thanks to the inspiration of my friend Lyndsie!)

This year we are celebrating Labor Day in the literal sense!

While some of you are enjoying the fresh mountain air, boating at the lake,
or swimming in a pool, we will be LABORING.

I was feeling *sorry* for myself that I couldn't do anything FUN, so I decided to create fun.
OK, it's not that it's fun, but it will be rewarding.

It's time for home improvements!! So - here are the goals:

1. Paint and install baseboard and trim around closet door in the girls room.
(it's only been a year since this should have been done, but who's keeping track?)

2. Paint east wall in laundry room and cupboards which have never been painted and
have been hanging for like . . . 20 years? This will clean up and brighten said room.

a. Hang cute laundry-esc decor and paint clock black so it will match decor.
b. Paint top of chest freezer.

3. Install and paint bead board in kitchen nook, back splash and under the bar.

a. Install and paint new base board and trim in kitchen nook.


This will NOT finish the kitchen, but it's a start! I'm so excited to finally do some
much needed updating. There is nothing like a fresh coat of paint!

Vaughan and I went to Home Depot yesterday and made lots of plans!
My mind is whirling with all the home improvements I'm ready to start.
Of course, money is required to do them and that will slow me down some...
but at least I have goals!

Before and after pictures to come soon!

Menu Planing in the making!

I am SO excited I just have to share! I subscribed to this website that sends daily email on organizing. I know cool huh? It's called I'm An Organizing Junkie. I have loved it. It's done really simple and doesn't take very much time to read. Lots of the time I open it - think "I'm not interested..." delete. But today I opened it and it's titled "Organizing your Freezer". I'm ALL over that. So I check it out... which led me to this.

MEAL PLANNING MAGIC!

So I check it out. It is so cool. If all you do (which is mostly what I've done) is check out her resource guide I think you will be amazed!

I have been wanting to clean out my freezers (yes, that is plural - I have 4 total and no, I do not have a problem. They aren't all BIG ones! tee hee) and do some meal planning with what is in them and *MAYBE* (I'm afraid to commit) make some freezer meals. I think making the freezer meals would be an answer to prayers. But as of now, there isn't room. And I know there is some mystery food in my freezers that need to be tossed or identified! :)

Anyway, I just wanted to SHARE! I hope you get as excited as I did! OK, maybe not that excited. But I hope it helps in some SMALL - or small way!

Summer Vacation

We spent the month of July in Forest Lakes at my parents cabin! I left July 1st at 10 pm and didn't come home until July 27th. We had SO much fun.The first two weeks I got lots done.

I bottled 3 cases of tomatoes, 3 cases of pinto beans and 2 cases of chicken. I made some wood blocks that say AMERICA. I watched movies and visited with my family.

We celebrated the 4th of July in Heber! I love the Heber fireworks!

The last week and half I started reading - I got 4 books read and lots more movies watched! It was pretty relaxing!

It also started raining...and raining...and raining! It pretty much rained everyday! It was heavenly. One day we had a pretty amazing hail storm. Being the Arizonans that we are, we took lots of pictures!

I LOVE visiting with my sister and sister in laws. They are some of my favorite people! I think I enjoyed the visiting the most!

My girls spent most of their time playing games with their cousins, riding bikes and swinging!


The last weekend was Pioneer Day, so we went to Snowflake. Heidi and Holli were at girls camp, so it was just Hope, Vaughan and I. We had so much fun. Hope stayed for the rodeo and LOVED it. Could we have a cowgirl in the making???


It's definitely been a fun summer. It was hard to leave the cool air and the carefree life style. (Did I mention that I only wore makeup on Sundays!) But - it's time to be responsible once again! Thank you Vaughan for holding down the fort at home so your girls could play!