Classroom Valentines

It is very well known that i am extremely competitive when it comes to decorating, and trying to be the best at home decorating ( which i fail miserably) and i try to be the best mom- another big FAIL-- but i do my best and that's all that matters. i've learned in the last year that i love to take on WAY too many projects and try to do it all. ITS.NOT.POSSIBLE to do everything- i've found out many panic attacks later..
Some of you may remember that i made fun Ipo*s for mini me's classroom last year with chocolate kisses and conversation hearts- this year i was stalking blog land and found the CUTEST idea from i believe the blog called La*t*da.. i snatched up her idea and ran with it.
Once again, mini me came home with all of her classroom valentines and said : "mom, all the kids LOVED theirs from me!" I went to the dollar tree and bought the cotton candy - buy it in the YELLOW package if possible and i bought sugar cones and triangle shaped cello bags at Hob Lob. I made a little tag that said : "Valentine, you make my heart melt"
Easy, crafty and not the STUPID, repetitive cardboard valentines they sell.. I HATE those.. and seriously, the kids dont care about that anyways, they want SUGAR ( Uh... lets be real, who doesnt want sugar? ) And so.. its on to more blog stalking for more great ideas ;)

X's and O's from Georgia!!!!

I'm a holiday freak- but There's something special about Valentines day to me.. maybe its all the LOVE, the SWEETS ( i am a self proclaimed sugar junkie) , the colors of red and pink, or giving gifts to the ones i love.. Today - were making some sugar cookies for our nieghbors to show them some LURVE- in leiu of sugar cookies for you, since we cant send them thru the computer...

Here's wishing you a special day from our family to yours!!!

(X and O from Hobby lobby and the fronts of these letters are now glittered in red and standing on a pink and red vintage looking plate from Michaels, and on a red cake stand- )

This much snow- First time since 1985!!

Wow--- what a suprise to have the weather men RIGHT this time with predicting snow and actually having it happen! It started around 2 ish in the afternoon- i ran some errands getting mini me's hair cut and then to Wally world for some pull ups for the muffin- News crews were at the store.. it was pure chaos!! By the time we got home, there was enough fluff to play in ( thank goodness daddy was home, because i'm SO not an outdoors, playin in the snow kind of gal!) Wanna know something special about lil muffin's snow pants? NO LIE- they were MINE as a little girl! LOL-

After hours of playing in the snow last night - while i sat next door at a neighbors to gossip, we all came home about 8 pm.. i went to throw some dinner together and all the lights went out..
So, we lit some candles and ate sugar wafers ( !!!!!) in bed for dinner and all slept in our bed- apparently the power came back on around 230 this am-

This was the view this AM from our back porch- i LOVE living out in the country!!

Poor little cocoa just didnt know what to do!!

Subway Art!!

First off.. my midterm went really well and i ACED it!!! that's right... 100% baby!!! Thanks for all of your prayers!!

Now.. i've had MANY people BEGGING for me to post the directions on how to make this- SUPER EASY, just extremely time consuming. I got this idea from the blog Tatertots & Jello- CUTEST blog ever, my new fave!! SO, these are her directions, re-iterated: "Here's what I did:

* I bought a 12 X 16 canvas @ Hobby Lobby using a 40% off coupon- you can get them @ Michaels too ( and if you sign up for emails, you can get coupons too)


*I researched what typeface the original subway signs used and found out it was Helvetica. I used Mircrosoft Word to make my lettering, and it did not have that font, so after a little more research I found out that Ariel is an offshoot of Helvitica. So that is what I used.

* i thought of words associated with Ryan and Stacey- marriage, etc

*I used three different types of Ariel -- Ariel narrow, Ariel bold and regular Ariel.

*I printed out the fonts and arranged them on top of the canvases to see how things would fit. Then I took a picture so I could remember where I was going to put all of the phrases. ( i actually just left all words on canvas - after it was dry and worked my way gluing from bottom to top)

*To make this project easier, I printed out the fonts using the highlight option - using black highlight so the font inside is white. Note: For best results, take this file to Kinko's and have them print it out on their color copy machine. It will cost a few dollars, but the black will be a true black.
* i went to FEDEX/Kinkos with a zip drive and had them print my words
* I painted the canvas all black, using black acrylic paint
* i cut out each word as best as i could, and mod podged the back and stuck it on canvas


* I started at the bottom and worked my way to the top- once they are all on there, i mod-podged over top of all the words- Note it will look MILKY when you do this, but DRIES CLEAR~

* you can buy mod podge at any craft store, as well as Walmart in the craft section

I think the total of my project was 8 dollars BECAUSE i already had the paint and the mod-podge! This was the FIRST gift she opened at the shower and i literaly had people asking if i took orders.

I LOVE the black and white...so clean, mod and BOLD!

RANDOMNESS UPDATE!!

Hey y'all!!!!!! As you can imagine, life has been busy- as posted in prior posts, this is my first term BACK in school in 11 years!! those of you that knew me in my prior highschool life know school was definately NOT my strength and would be SHOCKED to know that i am going into my mid-term with an A! yup, you read that right! so..excuse the fact that i've not been blogging, but i'm trying to be a responsible "big girl" and prove myself this time around ;) Midterm's tomorrow, PLEASE send lots of prayers out for my test taking. I've been known to have SERIOUS text anxiety and would love to CONQUER that issue

Is This NOT the cutest BATHING suit you have EVER seen? THIS is the reason i love having a little girl- perfect for your baby, or a baby in your life.. seriously!! they have it in canary yellow as well and since i'd look like a friggin LOONY toon wearing it, why not live vicariously thru my toddler ;) ps- they are @ old Navy right now, AND they are on sale for 10 smacker-oos.. IF you have an old navy, Gap or Banana card, not only can you get FREE shipping, BUT you can ALSO get 10% off on TUESDAYS!!! i know, i know.. i know WAY too much, and as my neighbor kelly would say :" you've got issues.. "why yes, i do ;)

And lastly, this sweet sweet ball of fur is going in to get fixed tomorrow, so lift her up in your prayers as well- If you've been following my blog, y'all know that my lil Jewel passed away and so now lil Cocoa has my heart.. I want everything to go smoothly cause Lord knows, i cant handle another health issue in my life right now.. i have enough issues of my own- im pretty sure the nut house would come a knockin ;)

There have been MANY requests for directions on how i made my "subway art" canvas for my girlfriend's wedding shower- THAT WILL be my next post!!! SUPER easy and SO SO reasonable.. we're talking UNDER 10 BUCKS, baby!

A Suprise visit, Sort of...

Growing up, i didnt see my Grandpa too much- my family lived in Oregon and he lived in the Midwest. Once We moved to Georgia, things changed ;) He drives down to Florida every winter, and makes a little stop to see us. Last year was his first time here, but this year was his FIRST stop at our new house. We never really know when he'll come due to weather and roads. Last sunday,i got a call that he was 250 miles away- He stayed the night, was able to meet some of our neighbors and friends and we ate a yummy dinner together. We cant wait to see him again and treasure EVERY moment with him. I LOVE that the girls are able to see their great - grandpa.. and WISH they could see their other grandparents more often ( yes.. that's a guilt trip. You need to plan anther trip out, Mom and Dad!!)
Dinner with Great Grandpa - doesnt he look FANTASTIC for 80?!

Mini Me with her Great- Grandpa

Hurry up and come back, Great Grandpa!! XOXO