Design consultation...

Happy happy happy!  I got a design consultation over here at one of my favorite,  inspirational design and decorating blogs...  take a look!

The Shabby Nest

Inspiration and Planning...

One reason I enjoy blogs and blogging - ideas!!!!  Ideas, ideas, ideas.  I can not get enough.  Before I discovered blog land (about three years ago) I purchased and subscribed to magazines.  The truth is I do not purchase near as many magazines now - given how many folks put their decorating and crafting ideas on their blogs and other websites.  Pictured above is a tear-out from Southern Living... who knows what year.  But I fell in love with the photo wall behind the table.  In my family room we have a large wall and I knew I wanted to reproduce that idea.

Ten black frames... purchased over time from my local craft/decorating store when they place their frames 50% off.  I spent $50 on these frames.  I took some of these photos of the kiddos and a few were professionally taken. I need to change a few out... my photography skills have gotten better... I'm happy to report!

The next thing I'd like to do is replace the over-sized denim sofa with a large farmhouse table... that will seat  8 - 10.  Yes... 10.  I want to have a place for everyone to sit when we have guests over for dinner... and I'd like this one please...

photo from Pottery Barn...

So, I'm looking for a good deal.  And I still need to map it out and sell this idea to my husband.  But I think it will work right there in front of those photos... I just think it might.

Linking today to:
Finding Fabulous - Frugalicious Friday
My Romantic Home: Show and Tell Friday

derby 2010

Our first experience with the Pine Wood Derby with our Cub Scout pack... Danny and H worked hard on their Pinewood car.  They made it from a block of wood - together and H painted it all himself.

The boys were fortunate to get to go to this place to have our race... we were right in the middle of the track in a garage.  (I'm thankful the weather was not too cold.)

8 o'clock in the morning... bright and early we're ready to race!

A few of H's den buddies... they are all so excited about this...

And there it is... "The Green Machine".  Star W*rs stickers and all...

On your mark... get set...

Go!

H's car did very well for his first time.  He never came in last... and he never came in first!  But he got to race his car 8 times... we're in a great group who are really in this for the kids.

my new machine...

So, here is a close up of the banner... made in minutes with this little machine that I got (from my husband) for Christmas.

added: check out their blog for give-aways and more how to's...

I don't know if you noticed... but it's a little pricey.  And I was hesitant to even receive this as a gift.  I do not have any other scrapbook-type machines - I'm a purest.  But this seemed really perfect for me because I'm always printing out letters and then meticulously cutting them out.  Not any more... !!!

We did get this with our 40% off coupon and a gift card... lessened the blow. You can buy other gadgets and tools, too.  I have not purchased any of those...

The slice comes with the basics 1 disc. Each disc has a ton of shapes and letters you can cut out from 4 inches to 1 inch in size... love it.  The battery charges - cordless! It's small... just look:

Black circle cut at 4", turquoise 3.5", black toile 3"...

Letter is 2"... and here are my favorite adhesives.  Guaranteed not to fall apart... I used the glue lightly on the letters... the double stick tape on the circles.  Glue can tend to cause wrinkles in the paper if you're not careful... trust me.

shower for Baby Sadie...

 

 The completed banner... made with this machine.  I will give more details on this Monday.  I'm glad you all were curious about my new little slice machine. 

 Invitation and flowers... in milk glass vase with frog!

added:  oh, the bird!  That is at H*bby L*bby right now in the picnic/spring section.  They have some black and white items.  I just mod podged the toile paper on the wing.  It had another design painted on the wing.

Gift tag also made with slice machine... easy and fast.

The momma-to-be and Emma - in the shower colors! (Em's dress came from Belk for $7 - got it last week.)

Sweet shower cake from this bakery...

white with butter cream frosting.  Yummy!

We had a fun time together... my sweet friend received great baby gifts.  Many women from our church came to the shower.  Emma was a great little hostess.  She's a learnin'!

Tomorrow... details on the Slice Machine

Also need to post pictures of the Pinewood Derby...

we had a great time!

TGIF?

 Hero waiting for Daddy... this is what he does for hours until Dan comes back in the house.  Pitiful, isn't it

We have one busy weekend ahead of us...  It will be fun filled and full of people... which we enjoy.  Just takes a lot out of us all... but I can't complain. I love being able to open up my home and enjoy others.  I have so many projects un-done in my home... it's weekends like this that I wish they were all complete.  But if I waited for all those things to be done and perfect, I'd never host events or have people over.

What we've been up to:

   

 Pinewood Derby this weekend...

Hudson painting "The Green Machine".

 

Father and Son working on their Derby Car... 

praying this thing works on Saturday.

 

 Yes, they are hammering on my table! 

They are just lightly tapping... don't worry!

I'm loving this maching... have you seen this???

It makes fun things like this...

Putting together a banner for a baby shower...

 Happy Friday to you!

Wordless Wednesday

(can you tell what I'm working on today? 

And procrastinating with this lovely post...)

Menu Plan Monday

Monday

Fish, rice and veggies

(our usual Monday meal - fast, easy, healthy - not very exciting... but we're eating to live not live to eat, right?)

Tuesday

Subway

(actvitiy day -dance & Cub Scouts - still sit at table together as a family even if it's short!)

Wednesday

Roast Chicken with Balsamic Bell Peppers

* new recipe - will post review*

with Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes

(from Cooking Light Jan 2010 issue)

Thursday

Chicken Tacos (using left over chicken)

homemade guacamole w/ baked chips

Friday

eat out

Saturday

Baby Shower food / left overs

Sunday lunch (small group here at night)

Amy's Bean Burritos with salsa and baked chips - love these!

Why I plan:  If I can do anything right as a mom and wife - it's important to me that we eat together as a family at the table as many times as possible during the week.  It's also important to me that we eat as healthy as possible.  Some nights are better than others...  For our family dinner sets the pace for the rest of the evening.  We eat pretty early... then it's get ready for tomorrow - lunches, backpacks, bath, books and bed.  This allows us to have relaxed enjoyable time together... most nights!  That's the goal anyway...

California dreamin'...

On a winters day...

 Rainy and in the 40s here... and I'm scrapbooking our beach vacation from the summer... what was I thinking?  I'm having some spring fever pretty bad...

Also dreaming about having some "before and after" photos for my whole house in 2010... this post by Centsational Girl has truly inspired me. (her whole blog is motivating.)

I want to make an area like this in our play room for Emma...  I have a hand-me-down kitchen set that I can't wait to spray paint.

And Angry Julie makes me giggle and has some good tips... particularly she has inspired me to have a closet like this post.

So... I guess I should get busy.

Happy Saturday to you...

added:  happy happy!  The sun is coming out... perhaps I'll get out of my winter funk!

My weight loss tips...

It is January after all... and everyone usually has weight loss goals.  Kelly's "Show Us Your Life" inspired this post along with me just needing to get back on the wagon after the holidays.  Something about my blog that holds me accountable.

My tips - things that have worked for me - I'm not an expert but I do know about struggles in this area...

#1 Plan your meals.   I write ours down on a white board in our kitchen.  Nothing fancy.

#2 Write what you eat down. Count your calories.  Know what is your calorie goal and stick to it.  You will lose excess weight.

#3 Try to avoid these...  ha!

Of course working out is especially helpful...  to ward off disease, general health, weight loss and maintenance.  We've got to move.

My weight loss journey... When I did boot camp I lost over 11 pounds and a lot of body fat in a short period of time.  I was in good shape - for me.  My core was solid.  I was working out at 5:30 AM Mon-Thur with the boot camp group and doing cardio burning at least 300 calories 4 times a week.  I ate well.  I lost weight fast.  Fast forward a year later... I could not maintain that kind of work out with life and schedules.  (I was working out SO much.)  And the weight crept back on (+ 5 lbs.).  A year ago... we got a gym membership.  I was able to work out with more flexibility.  Not at such a rigorous pace but work out I did and have.  I'm back down 12 pounds... but I'd still like to be down 10 more.  Those 12 lbs. took a year and I enjoyed the holidays.  I did not gain over Christmas.  I've done things much slower this time... and I think much more maintainable for my metabolism. 

I plan to begin posting my meal plans.  We're in a healthy meal rut - so I hope to try some new things and post those recipes and reviews.  We're also part of a produce co-op and get a ton of produce.  I hope to get more creative in our journey of eating well.

Here's to being healthy in 2010!

"Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, 
do all to the glory of God."  1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV

Zinc Placecards

I love my Christmas gift from my fun neighbor... who now has a blog and will share all her fun decorating secrets with us all!

I'm making this and this for dinner with friends tonight... I SO hope it all turns out.  If not we'll just order pizza - ha!  These enchiladas were a lot of work... they better be good and worth the caloric in take!

That's all I got...

added:  the enchiladas were GOOD... the rice didn't cook in time.  But once it was cooked it tasted like Mexican rice...  it was okay.  But I'll make those enchiladas again for sure!

Monogram madness!

 Inspired by this creative design by Susie... Naturally I think, "I can do that!"  I had left over wood from another project and decided to give this monogram a try... I'm pleased with the result.  I still need to finish it off with Minwax... and I'm elated about that little trick, too.  Yes, I guess you can see that I've found a new blog to stalk.  Thankfully Susie posts tutorials so we can all do it our self!

 

 We hosted the cub scout den meeting in our home last night... Hudson had the idea to make these yummy little treats and we decided it would be fun to just use the cub scout colors... The ideas are endless with this little treat!  How fun would it be to make these with Valentine M&Ms?  Got your wheels turning?

It's a new year...

Hudson is writing in his journal... Em is waiting for him to finish so they can go and play... I'm cleaning.  Cleaning and packing away Christmas... and dreaming.  Now that Christmas is over there are SO many projects around the house I want to begin and complete.  I always feel a little depressed when the holidays are over... all the hype... and now it's all over.  But blog land has come through for me... and I'm getting inspired by so much...

Painting my bedroom this color - comfort gray...

I want to make some curtains like this...

Paint my laundry room and make it pretty like Bless our Nest's...

So many ideas... so little time.  Can't wait to have before and after photos to show you!

Pray.

I know.  Pray.  Yes, that's my "one word" for 2010.  I really tried to think of another.  I did.  But I could not come up with another word.  I wanted to work on one of the fruits of the spirit (Gal. 5:22)... like I have in years past... but no.  Pray.  That is the "one word" that kept coming to me.

*sigh*

I truly wanted to avoid any words that might be a Christian cliche'.  (Christian cliche's are such a pet peeve of mine... but that's another blog post for another day.)

Pray.

Honestly... It's an area in my life that needs work.  My heart has been burdened to pray more purposeful... more diligently... more expectantly.

John Piper, in his book Future Grace, says we see [in the Bible] that prayer is for God's glory.

"Amen affirms God's inexhaustible future grace to respond to our need in the very best way for His glory and for our good.  Prayer has the wonderful capacity to highlight our emptiness and God's fullness at the same time.  It is wonderfully suited to express our inadequacy and God's all-sufficiency.  When prayer looks away from our flaws and deficiencies to God for His future grace, He gets the glory he deserves and we get the good that we need."

Pray.  Yes... I have been praying.  It's not that I have not at all.  I pray in my day.  We pray before meals.  We pray with the kiddos before bed.  But I need to cry out to Him for the salvation of my kids... my family.  Cry out that He might draw Himself closer to Me and those around me.  Pray with an expectant heart that believes He hears, He listens and that He is good.

"Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16 NAS

Find more New Year Resolutions at Kelly's Korner 
"Show Us Your Life"!