Kitchen Makeover

We just finished updating the kitchen!

Here is the before picture: This is what the kitchen looked like when the previous owners lived here.

And, here are the AFTER pictures!

We purchased new hardware for the cabinets.

And, added a tile backsplash!

We purchased a new sink faucet.

And, the tile on the other side of the kitchen!

Here's to hoping that these small updates will add to the resale value of our house!

Buying handmade Hair Bows.

By now, you all know that I make and sell hair bows. I wanted to spend some time explaining why I think it's important to buy these (and other products) handmade and things you should look for when buying handmade hair bows.

Why buy handmade?

-You are supporting every day people, not large corporations. Many handmade products are made by women (or men) who stay at home. I feel more comfortable sending my money to help support a family rather than to help support wealthy executives.

- If someone sells home, you know that they love their craft! You'll know that each piece was hand crafted for you! You can't get the love that goes into each product from a machine! I have read and looked through tons of shops and blogs, and you can tell by simply reading, how much they love their products and their craft!

- Handmade products make better gifts! You'll purchase an item, that you can't find in a chain store, you'll know that love has gone into making the gift. Have you ever been to a child's birthday party or a baby shower and brought the exact same gift as somoene else? Buy hand-made and that won't happen, often times you'll have the best gift there!

- Skip the traffic, parking lots, and standing in line. Who doesn't enjoy shopping from home in their pj's?

What should you look for?

- When it comes to hair bows, you want to look for someone that has experience. You want to look at the fluffiness or fullness of their hair bows. Look around and compare prices. Ask the seller, if they can price match for you. Make sure that the seller can and will make custom pieces for you. I would also look at shipping costs, forms of payment the seller accepts, and if the bows are hand sewn, versus tied, and make sure that the clips are either partially, or fully lined. Ask them what kind of ribbon they use. Often times, satin does not hold it's shape. If the seller sprays the hair bow, see what kind of spray they are using. You can spray with fabric stiffer, hair spray, or with spray starch. I do not spray bows with hair spray because it's flammable. Most importantly, look to see if they have happy customers, ask your friends who they purchase items from, and check the seller's return policy.

If you haven't purchased homemade, I hope you'll consider it!

Take the pledge to buy homemade here.

St. Patty's Winner!

Jenny Rose- the Luck of the Irish is with you!

Random choose your coment, #5, as the winner for the St. Patty's day clip!

Because there were 30 entries, you'll also receive a FREE bow!

I'm sending you an email, so check your inbox!

Congratulations!

Splish Splash!

I wanted to do a quick update on Gretchen, for my family and friends.

For those of you who are new to my blog, I'm warning you, that I do blog about EVERYTHING! Not one topic is off limits to me, and I love to blog about my family!

I have a 2 year old daughter, who is my inspiration behind so many things. She was acting silly at bath time Tuesday night, so I decided to get my camera and snap a few pictures. I'm hoping that I can photoshop some of them and frame them for her bathroom. She enjoys drinking the tub water. It's disgusting, I know, but she does this every bath time. Followed by coughing and giggles.

As soon as she saw the camera she posed and said "cheese". I love this picture.

She was busy splashing away, giggling and screeching the entire time! We consistently remind her to make "little splashes". This doesn't always work.

And, one more adorable picture.

DJ and I have been encouraging Gretchen to say her name. As a speech therapist, I knew that she that her being able to say her name would be a difficult task. "Gr" is a blend, which doesn't develop until age 5, the /g/ won't develop until age 3 or 4, and even the /r/ shouldn't develop until age 7 or so. "Ch" is also a difficult sound, that doesn't typically develop until 5-6 years. So, I knew that her name would be pronouced "Deten".

Knowing all of this, I did not realize that she would think her name was something entirely different. DJ often refers to her as "baby girl". So, when you ask her what her name is she'll respond "baby girl"! If I ask her, she'll respond "mommys baby girl", and if DJ asks her then her name is "daddys baby girl". It's cute what kids come up with, huh?

DJ if you read this- we have to stop calling her baby girl!

New Items

You all know that over the past week or so I have been working on expanding my product line.

I wanted to take some time today to share pictures of some of the items I've been working on!

Above: Pink/brown infant tutu with pink/brown damask bow and interchangeable headband. I had a college sorority sister order this for a gift for one of her friends. The tulle is so soft, and I love how the brown tulle shimmers between the pink. Plus, pink and brown are such classic color combinations right now! Suprisingly, this is the first pink and brown tutu that I've made and I love it!

Above: Just the tutu. I might have to make one for Gretchen when she starts dance classes (hopefully, this fall!)

I love the blue bunny shirt. The product tester, did not want a tie applique for her son, so she asked me to come up with something for Easter. I didn't want to do an egg, because it would just be an oval, and I had this blue material. I sewed it on using green and I love how it turned out! Colin will be so cute Easter Sunday for his very 1st Easter!!!

I can't remember if I've shown this mod circle tie, but I love it! I've had a second order for this shirt, and finished it last night. The one above is going out to a product tester!

And, a hair bow. I love the pink and purple dots, and how it can be worn with so many little girl outfits. Plus, it's so springy!

You can check all of these items out, and more, at Honey Pie Accessories.

Giveaway ending tomorrow!

The St. Patty's day giveaway ends tomorrow- Friday, February 5th.

If, I can get up to 25 entries in the giveaway, the winner will receive an EXTRA hair bow!!!

Go HERE and sign up!

Shutterfly Turns 10!

Shutterfly is turning 10 years old this month. Use coupon code March10 by March 11 and receicve $10.00 off your order!

Tortilla Pizza's: Recipe

I needed a quick, easy dinner for Gretchen and I last night. DJ was working a basketball game, and I usually don't cook when it's just the two of us, but I didn't want chicken nuggets again!

There is a fabulous restraunt in Arkansas, Tropical Smoothie, that has wonderful tortilla pizza's. I decided that I would whip up my own last night.

Ingredients: mozerella cheese, pizza sauce, whole grain tortilla's, pepperoni. Place tortilla's on a cookie sheet or baking stone, and spread pizza sauce on top.

Cover with cheese.

Add pepperoni

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly, and tortilla is crisp.

This is a great recipe for kids to help in the kitchen. Older kids could really do it all, as long as you handle the oven! Be creative and add your own toppings!

Bring on the Luck!

Need a little luck in your life? St. Patrick's day is right around the corner, so make yourself lucky and go find some of these adorable items found on Etsy! (Well, some of them!)

If your little honey needs some green to wear this St. Patty's day, you can order this shamrock applique shirt for only $12.00 at Honey Pie Accessories.

Last year, I made Gretchen green eggs and biscuits for St. Patricks day, but I know she would flip over these adorable cookies from TabbyCat13.

After making Gretchen's birthday banner- I've been crazy for them! Check out this banner from CraftySweetheart. It's very reasonablly priced at only $19.99, which is the most reasonable I've found!

The next two items are from the same seller! I love the simplicity of the decor, it would fit into any room in my house! You can check out both of these items at Woods 'n Stiches here. I love how she has items that coordinate together.

I hope that you'll have a Lucky day, month, and year! With these items- you are sure to!

* If you're feeling extra Lucky- enter the St. Patricks giveaway- it ends this Friday! If I can get 25 entries, i'm throwing in an extra bow!

Anyone Else Have a Day Like This?

I hate Mondays. Usually I can survive them, but today, no thank you. I'm ready to crawl into my bed, and if it weren't for The Bachelor finale, tonight, I'd be there.

I started my morning with a visit from Aunt Flo. Sorry, mom, not pregnant. Then, my husband got upset because with all of my sewing and applique's, I made the iron and the ironing board sticky. Let's just say he was not happy. I left the house with a toddler who barely ate breakfast, carrying two puppets that she would not put down, and having 2 more in her bag. And, I was a few minutes late to work.

Finally, after surviving the work day, I ran to Hobby Lobby. The lines- long, and I got stuck with the cashier who irritated me a week ago in the fabric department.

I picked up Gretchen from daycare, and went out of my way to the grocery store. Our dog hadn't had real dog food since Saturday. As I was driving, Gretchen said "peepee, mommy!".... Sigh.... I told her she had to hold it; we didn't have much of a choice. Knowing that I had to run to the grocery store, I asked her sitter if she had pottied recently, she had, only about 15 minutes before, so I figured we'd be fine. Nope, she peed in her carseat. I changed her clothes in the parking lot and took her in. For some reason, she's discovered the t.v. carts. I dreaded the day when she would discover those, and it came sooner than I thought. I bribed her into the other buggy, because I didn't have a dollar, and promised her a ride on the penny horse when we were finished. My daughter had to carry the box of tampons through the store and throw them down a few times. She wouldn't let the box go at the check-out. Again, I bribed her with the penny horse. We had to wait our turn though, and thankfully she did well. She rode twice, and threw a fit when I told her we were finished.

Back to the peepee carseat we go. I put a burpie down in the seat, and drove her home. Battled with her to get her to go into the house and stop playing in the garage, while I also battled the monster Britax Boulevard carseat that we have. I had to take it out of my car, and read the instruction book just to get the cover off. It's finally in the dryer, but DJ is going to have to re-install something so I can take her to daycare tomorrow.

I fixed yucky chicken nuggets for dinner. DJ wasn't home, and after all of the recent happenings- I was not cooking. And, I decided that I was too tired to give Gretchen a bath, yes, even though she peed on herself, she'll get one tomorrow.

I haven't been to the gym since last Wednesday. I feel like I've gained 10 lbs. It doesn't help that I baked delicious pumpkin bars yesterday.

As tired as I am, as much as I want to crawl into bed, how can I not enjoy life? Especially with this..... This was taken about a week ago. She saw the camer and begged me to take a picture.

I do give her baths... this was Saturday night after her bath, playin with her Minnie Mouse sticker- she loves Minnie Mouse.

Is it bedtime yet?