Forgetful....But always trying to find inspiration to share...

As I sit here, C is sick, J is exhausted and soundly sleeping, M is in Florida and I am trying to catch up on a lot of things at the same time. I was just Skyping with friends, and now I checking email, uploading photo's and trying to keep up with things before the holiday bustle really starts!!

I have been searching BLOGS lately, as I like to do, but because I am on Facebook AND Pinterest I sometimes forget I have this little blog too.....I find recipes, crafts, inspirations in so many places.  I keep them on my computer but forget to share them. Lately, I have been emailing my bestest friend K, each morning with something to make her smile when she gets to work.  We do not live close to each other, but each day I like to let her know I am thinking of her.  It is a little thing I have enjoyed doing.  I got these from Pinterest and they have been a few of my favorites to share with her.....

Sometimes I find free printables online and save them for the shadow box frame I have in my kitchen.  They are an easy way to decorate for the season or holiday.  Currently I have this one displayed

Soon enough I will print this one for the winter season

and then ofcourse I will have to have this out for a holiday party or something...I mean really, who does not love Buddy!

But in all of the busy of my every day life, I have accepted a part time job!!  Last school year, I helped plan and execute a HUGE event in our school district with the Harlem Wizards. (Remember this post??)  I loved every minute of it, loved the show, the Wizards, the company...everything....A few weeks ago, the Wizards called and asked me if I would be interested in helping "sell shows" to schools in Illinois.  After many questions being answered, many conversations with Mark and my parents, and learning more about the job, I accepted it.  This is a new position for the Wizards to tap into a somewhat unknown area in the mid-west.  It is part time, I can work from home, with no travel, unless I choose to travel and perfect for someone who knows a thing or two about planning one of these events.  I am most excited to share my excitement about this team and these events!  The best part is that it gives me a little something to do, when I can.  When we told the kids about the job, after leaving a Wizards game that was played locally, J said "Mom, are you going to be playing with the Wizards?"  Clearly this child thinks mommy has mad basketball skills, but I let him down easily saying "No, I will be working with the guys to play at other schools like they did for us".  He was fine with that answer but is eager to see them play more around here!


So while I am adding another "thing" to my list resume, my first job will always be mom and wife.  That job is the most rewarding....

Knee Deep into Fall!

I love seasons...I think that is why I love living in the mid-west, we see seasons, the changes in the outdoors, and it just makes me happy!  We are into fall here at our house....Granted the high is to be 73 today (and Friday it could be 78!)  Indian Summer is ok with me too! 

C and I made a plan to make oodles of pumpkin muffins today, no matter what! I made 2 dozen 8 days ago and the family ate them in 3 days.....Breakfast, with lunch, snacks etc.....They are a hit!  So we made another 2 dozen today along with a pound of bacon for breakfast this week!  (Time saver tip!  I usually make a pound of bacon on Sundays to give the boys all week long at breakfast to give them some protein in the morning, but we were busy this weekend!) 

Those of you that "know" me, know I do not bake....Nope, I am a cook, and measuring is NOT my thing....Baking to me (and my boys) is using a box mix and adding some other items (as per the directions!)  Our favorite pumpkin bread "mix" is from Trader Joes

Like the box says...Just add eggs, oil and water...Now that is baking to me! :) 

My kids love it, as do M and I!  We even add a few chocolate chips to the tops to make it "better" (as per J & C).  

We are off from school for a long weekend so we have some fall fun planned.  A trip to a pumpkin patch, perhaps apple picking too and we are working on crafting more pumpkins for our indoor and outdoor decor!  I have recently become addicted to Pinterest and have been inspired by some of the things I have found.  My hope is that we can make some fun new things to add to our decor without breaking the budget!  

Oh me oh my!! I just found a fun craft for me AND the kids can help (maybe!) 


I found a new blog from an old favorite that I check often.....This new blogger gave a tutorial on how to make frosted jars for floral arrangements.....I have an idea brewing in my head for my mantel and I think this could be the perfect (and cheap) way to do it!! 


Had to share, now off the to grocery store before the rain starts and I am not motivated to leave the house with the boys!

Summer Lovin---Havin a Blast!

Summer break left me with little time to blog...Sorry....All 3 readers!  LOL

Besides the fact that we left our home in mid-July for almost a month to spend at our summer house, we got a lot of pool time and fun in before that! 

 

C & J painted gifts for M and my dad for father's day in the gorgeous sun!  It was easy too!  Some cheap canvas boards, paint and brushes!  They were very excited about it....So much they took their shirts off!!

For Father's Day we went to an antique car show close to home.  The boys loved all of the cars, but this one was great since the owner let them sit in it!!!!!  A 1963 Austin Cooper! 

Once again my parents hosted a 4th of July parade party! (Perks of living on the parade route!) and some of our closest and best est friends came to celebrate the 4th with us.  Later, some of them joined us for our annual BBQ and then we headed off to fireworks!  Such a great day!

And the boys (4 of them, 2 obviously are NOT mine) had a blast at a park honoring all of the American wars.  Although the kids enjoyed the history, the tanks that they could climb on was a way bigger hit. I think I sat on a bench for 2 hours letting them climb!

Those were our fun highlights., besides hitting the pool every day that it was sunny!  Sure there were some not so fun moments too...like losing power for 56 hours in June, then again for 36 hours in July.  NOT FUN, but grateful for a friend who loaned us her generator saving our groceries and letting me try to cook "generator style"!!!

I have lots to catch up from our summer vacation at the cottage too.....Stay tuned....

My new project

I have this screened in porch off my kitchen.  It is officially called "mommy's space" and through the years I have been adding to it.

Last fall my parents took this out of our summer house and gave it to me!

 

I sat and looked at it all winter trying to get inspired how to paint it.  

Then, over the weekend it hit me.....Use the colors from this birdhouse (that my dad used to make me another amazing table....coming later!)

This is one side of my beloved porch with the unpainted table..

 

There are four wicker chairs in the space....so I took inspiration from the green and pink.....Think Lily Pultizer....

C and I started the taping off and painting yesterday...

 

C was most helpful in painting the stripes!  We had to give it two good coats (since his accuracy was slightly off) but when we were done, the top of the table looked awesome~

 

So today we are adding some more stripes to the side, some yellow below the top stripes and I am not sure about the legs.  It is a work in progress, but has been so much fun!  

Here is the birdhouse table my dad made me a few years ago.  He has made many for friends and family as well.  He originally just made one for my mom for our summer house, but has made at least 6 more since...

 This is my happy space. I could sit out there for hours (and I do!) When the kids are in bed, I read out there, gaze into the yard, talk on the phone....It is so peaceful and lovely (until the annoying neighbors start to blare music....do not get me started on them ruining my peace and quiet!)

Stay tuned on the table. I am going BIG with color and am so excited!  

Crafty Friday

This weekend I am making a craft for J's school.  I have had an overwhelming amount of teachers at J's school that want to participate in the Harlem Wizards event.  It is amazing! With that said we can only supply 5 teachers from his school for our team so I had to figure out how to get the kids involved and let them vote. 

After much thought I decided on a PENNIES FOR PLAYERS voting system.  I have been collecting milk jugs like a crazy woman (thanks neighbors!).  I have made up signs for each jug that will be glued onto one jug per staff member. The kids will get to bring money / change from home to vote for who they want to represent our school.  The teachers with the most amount of money will be on our team! 

Today I will be making the signs and laminating them.  I will *try* to remember to take photos' of the process. 

My idea could also work on kids!  J is saving his money right now for various "things" he wants before we leave on vacation!  He really wants a new DS game:

 

credit: Amazon.com

So with my left over milk jugs I will make him one too for his money.  Nightly we seem to count the money and he is up to $ 6.50.  Since we will go to Game Stop for this purchase, chances are he can get it used for less money.  M thinks we could help him, but I would like to see him earn as much as he can before stepping in to assist. I think this is a great learning experience for him!

My momentum of organizing has hit a stand still.  Sadly life is getting hectic before vacation time.  Since we are heading west to see my parents, we are trying to pack early and ship our clothes so we do not have to pay to check bags.  It is most difficult to pack for 3 weeks from now.  Even though I am not wearing shorts and t shirts these days, it seems to be a tough task.  It was easy to pack up the boys boxes, they have enough clothes for 10 children (opps!).  I on the other hand wear everything (ok, almost everything) in my closet.  To be without some tshirts and shirts for weeks at a time could make me feel like I really do have NOTHING TO WEAR!   

Jars!

I was amazed to find out we have a Goodwill store close to our house.  C and I jumped in the car to head over to see what we could find~ he was less than thrilled, but the bribe of a thin mint made it all better!

I was not sure what I would be looking for since it was my first trip but I knew I could find something!  And I did!

Look at these cute jars!

I have always loved jars!  I think they are interesting to look at and a clever and cute way to display things. I had to have these!  After a good soak and washing they will be used in my soon to be (hint hint M!) craft desk and storage area.  I can see thread stored in them, decorative clips....I want more so Goodwill will now be my new "stop" to see if they have more!  At .99 and 1.99 for these babies they are a great find!  I would love to have a shelf of these jars above my imaginary craft desk!  Then I see some for my pantry for flour, sugar, pasta etc! 

I am off to ana-white to get some inspirations for this craft desk that I want M to build me this spring. I think she will have plenty of ideas and then we can draw something to make it just perfect for my ribbons, papers etc. 

Creative juices

I have had the crafty itch since the raffle finished.  I just could not figure out what I wanted to do!  I scoured the internet and my favorite BLOGS and came across centsationalgirl's post on this tray. I knew right away I could do this, or at least my version of it!

I went down the basement where I store "stuff", you know the stuff we buy but do not really need. The stuff on sale that we swear we will do...someday...I happened to have a tray!  Now, M & I have a wedding song, but for the life of me, I cannot ever remember the name of it.  He was in charge of ALL music for our wedding.  (He was a piano major...I got through 5 weeks of the flute where the music teacher told my mom "She does not have to sign up again". I did not.)

Instead of sheet music, I decided to collage it with my favorite wrapping paper, and then one photo.  The paper was the easy part. I knew this tray would sit on my screen in porch. The only room in the house that I can truly make girly because of this house of boys.  It is pink and green and very LILLY.  I love it.  It makes me happy.  So I used my beloved LILLY paper and covered the front, back and sides of the tray.  (Here is where a good Blogger, would insert a photo, but I am not that so there is no photo!) 

I then had to let it dry....and dry, and dry some more. Mod Podge is awesome but I tend to put it on thick, making the impatient me not happy about long drying times!

Finding the perfect photo is the challenge.  Should I use a wedding photo?  An outdated family photo of all 4 of us or should I just keep the tray LILLY and call it a day.  I am still mulling that over, because, well, the darn tray is STILL drying!

I am assuming this will be dry by spring  (lol) meaning I have plenty of time to think about what I want to do.  Since this is my porch, and it is all girly, I am leaning towards leaving it alone.  I have time. Spring will not be here anytime soon and the porch is closed up for the season and storing a lot of winter stuff (you know, sleds, boots, boot trays, shovels etc). 

I promise to take a photo when it is dry....come spring!