Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!!!!

Okay, I'm a day early, but it's the weekend, and I'll be busy with church and spending time w/ my two fabulous honey's tomorrow!

We don't have any special plans, but we do plan on spending the weekend together. DJ is working a girls basketball game this afternoon, but we'll get out after Gretchen's nap to do some shopping. We are picking out tile for a backsplash in the kitchen, and for Valentine's day we're getting new pillows! Can you believe that after 4 years of marriage, we are using the exact same pillows that we grew up with as a child! Disgusting!!!! I really want luxurious pillows that I can sink into at the end of the day! We also plan on eating at a local pizza place! It's been our tradition, since we moved to Indiana. We take Gretchen and enjoy a nice dinner. Well, as nice as a dinner we can have with a two year old!

I wanted to share a few pictures with you as well! These were taken yesterday: Gretchen received a cupcake from a friend at daycare, so she was able to eat it when we got home. She did very well eating the top half only and with her spoon as to not make a big mess!
And, she wore her Retro Valentine's t-shirt that Gee made her! I've already washed it so she can wear it again tomorrow!

Wishing you a wonderful Valentine's day! Enjoy yourself and those you love!

Valentine Treats

I decided that I wanted to make a few treats for the kiddos at Gretchen's childcare. Her sitter only watches about 7 children a day, varying in ages from a few months to 4 years. I chose to make chocolate dipped marshmallows, that are similar to the marshmallow suckers found here.

These were very simple to make, especially since I had a lot of the supplies already. I purchased an extra bag of marshmallows from the grocery store this week, and some multi-colored sprinkles.

I melted white chocolate, and colored it purple and pink, by adding food coloring. I dipped the top 1/2 of the marshmallow into the chocolate and then into the sprinkles. I left some of them, plain without sprinkles. Once they had hardened, I put two marshmallows into each bag. I purchased these bags years ago for treat bags at work, but I haven't made treat bags in a few years. I placed in a sprinkle marshmallow and a plain dipped marshmallow into the bags. I cut out a heart shaped from left over tagboard paper that I had from making Gretchen's birthday banner. Then, I cut ribbon to tie the bags together.

Voila! Adorable treats that I can take to daycare. This took me all of an hour to make- very easy if you need a last minute treat! I have about 30 extra since I dipped a bag and a half, so I'll take those to work tomorrow to share at Valentine parties!

Tutu Cute!

I had a recent order from my college friend, Kat. She's a teacher in Little Rock, and has 2 co-workers having babies! She placed an order for a bling onesie, tutu, and a flower headband for each of her co-workers!

I haven't had many orders for bling onesies recently, so I was excited to do them again! I also haven't done many flower headbands because Gretchen always had so much hair that she hasn't had to wear headbands. I pulled the onesies out of the package, and realized how small they were! They were only 3-6 months, but in 2 years, I've already forgotten how tiny baby clothes are!

Sorry, this picture is sideways, but featured above is a "J" bling onesie with a black crocheted headband and "bling" pink flower headband.

The tutu above goes with the "J" onesie!

This bling "A" onesie matches the purple tutu (below), and has a white crocheted headband with a large green flower headband.

My neice is turning 2, so I made her a funky tutu for her birthday. It's lime green and turquoise! I love this color combination!

Won't the babies look so adorable in their tutu outfits for portraits? I love the look of tutu's on infants, and tutu's can be worn all the time! Playing around the house, over jeans and leggings, on a mommy date, or during dance class!

St. Patty's day is coming up- do you need a green tutu for your little honey to wear?

You can also order a softer one for Easter Sunday! Tutu's can be made in white, pink, yellow- there are so many color options available and they start at only $15.00!!!!

ClaudiaMarie Etsy Shop

Claudia Maria is a NEW shop on Etsy! She features beautiful acrylic works of art in her shop.

What inspired you to become an artist?
Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved creating art. I used to draw ALL the time. I'm an only child, so I needed creative things like art to keep busy so I could have fun by myself. Ever since then, I've loved art.

How long have you been painting?
I used to play around with watercolors as a kid but only once in awhile. I started painting with acrylics about 2 years ago when I was 19.

What are your favorite items to work with/what do you use most often?
My favorite is acrylics. I haven't tried using oils yet. I also enjoy pencil sketching.

Do you take custom orders? How should a customer go about requesting a custom order?
I'm pretty new to etsy, so I haven't had too much experience with custom orders yet, but I'm pretty open to the idea! If someone wants something that I think I can do, then sure! The best way to request a custom order would be to send me a convo on etsy.


I perused her shop to find some of my favorite works of art to share with you!
Above: Love Birds acrylic $20.00..... I think this would be great for Valentine's day! Aren't those birdies so cute!

Swirly Tree acrylic $30.00 I love the bright colors that she's used here!

Orange Jellies acrylic on cardboard $4.00 This is probably my favorite! I would never think to use cardboard as a canvas, but I think if you frame it, this piece would be adorable in a child's ocean themed bedroom!

Aren't these wonderful? Head over here to check out Claudia Marie's shop on Etsy!

I also asked Claudia to tell me something fun about herself, since we all have several unique talents and traits. Get this- she's a musician, and you can hear some of her music on Myspace; find her here.

Thanks Claudia for letting me pick your brain a bit, and for letting me share these fabulous paintings! I wish you the best of luck with your Etsy shop!

*If you would like for me to do a feature on your shop, please let me know!

Brr!

Gretchen must have decided that it she was cold on Sunday! She used our kitchen rug as a blanket......

My Version: Valentine Wreath

I posted a picture of this wreath, that I found on Etsy, last Friday. Since, I have no Valentine decorations, I decided that I would attempt to reduplicate it. I purchased a foam heart shape from Hobby Lobby, along with some yarn. I looked at some other Valentine pieces to add, but decided against it, since I wasn't sure how mine would turn out.

This is what I came up with:

It's so snowy here, that I don't really want to hang it on my door outside, but it is propped up on my dining room table!

Snow Day!

Last Friday, we had a snow day!!! DJ has finished the recruiting season for next year, so he had the day off! I had to go into work for inservices, and when I left around 3:30, there was tons of snow on the ground! Even though, we've had snow this season, we haven't taken Gretchen outside to play in it. I knew that Friday would be perfect for her to actually feel the snow falling rather than watching it, and we could show her how to make snowballs! I bundled us both up, and we headed outside. She would take a few steps and fall forward because she was so layered up and because the snow was so high!

It didn't help that the snow was blowing in sideways!

Sorry, I'm not sure how to turn this picture around, but she had fun playing with daddy, and he taught her how to make snow angels!

We are suppose to get more snow this week, but I'm not sure if we'll get out and play in it again. We have huge drifts and built up snow from shoveling our driveway, though I am hoping for a few 2-hour delays or school closings!

25 Uses for Coffee Filters

COFFEE FILTERS Coffee filters .... Who knew! And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing even the large ones.

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome... Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters..

13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.

14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."

15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.

16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.

17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.

18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.

19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.

20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies.. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.

21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.

22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.

23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.

24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book..

25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc

Valentines Day Decor

I've seen some adorable Valentine's day crafts and decorations on various blogs throughout the past week. For some reason though, I just cannot get into it, like I wish I could! I think I'm just exhausted from Gretchens party and all of the planning. Not to mention, Valentine's day is such a stereotypical holiday for husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend, etc.

As Gretchen gets older, I hope to get out of my Valentine's day funk! V-day is the one holiday, that I have ZERO decorations for! Maybe this year I'll be able to purchase some on clearance after the holiday, and get expired to make some of my own.

I decided that I'd browse on Etsy tonight to see the adorable Valentine's items the sellers had in their shops. Also, hoping that i'd be inspired to want to enjoy the holiday!

Here's what I found: Above: Valentine's heart garland. These are handsewn heart shapes, that can be placed anywhere to add a little love!

I thought these pillows were adorable! I so wish that I could sew a pillow! I think I could, but the stuffing it, and sewing up the rest just scares me! Anyway, I have two chairs that these would look adorable in! And, I do want new pillows for Valentine's day; but I'd prefer large comfy down pillows that I can sink into at the end of the day!

Okay, this Valentine's wreath is my favorite! It's also something that I know I could copy if I had the time! I'm fairly certain you can purchase heart shaped foam pieces. Simply hot glue some yarn around it and add felt hearts. Adorable- I just don't have the time!

I thought this wreath was fun too! It's a ribon wreath, and again, I'm certain that you could recreate the look using various shades and type of ribbon.

I'm inspired, but feeling a bit lapsed on time. Next year though! (Which, I tend to say every year about Valentine's day) but seriously, next year!

A Few Recent Orders

I have been busy working on custom orders over the last several weeks, and wanted to share a few with you! Above: White boutique bow with butterfly ribbon center. I was asked to create a M2M bow for a Christening dress. The mother purchased a non-traditional Christening gown, so her daughter could wear it throughout the next several months. The dress is white and has hot pink butterflies fluttering around the bottom. I haven't made a butterfly ribbon in a while, but when I saw the dress, I knew that's what I wanted to do! I created a white boutique bow, and adorned the top with a grosgrain ribbon butterfly; I love that it adds a unique custom touch to the dress! I'm sure Kaylin will look beautiful at her Christening this Sunday!

I've also had tutu's to make for my two adorable neices! I made a beautiful soft pink tutu for Gracie, who turned 5 because she takes ballet! I'm sure she'll be stunning in twirling in her ballet tutu!

I had another order from Abby, that wanted to me to make a tutu for her daughter's winter wonderland theme birthday! This tutu features ovver 50 yards of tulle in white, silver, and blue! I added a beautiful blue bow that can be worn on the front, side, or back of the tutu. I also thought this would be adorable in blue and white for any Carolina fans out there!