My diamond in a rough....

I am so excited to show off what I found today. To start off with I see so many bloggers that find great deals on furniture that just needs a little TLC. Well check this out, all of my searching craigslist has finally paid off. Isn't it pretty?

I can't wait to get started, now I just have to decide if I want to paint, which I doubt it that wood grain is too nice, or stain. I leaning toward staining, the current stain does not really go with the rest of my decor so I will have to strip the whole thing. Unfortunately this will be a spring job, it's just too cold outside. Dang Oklahoma winters, it did get above freezing today, barely I think the high was 36.

After looking at it some more can you guess how much I paid? This is the best part....$15. That's right a mere $15. It is made very solid, I took my builder, handyman, contractor and furniture re finisher (aka step-Dad) along with me to make sure it had good bones. He gave the thumbs up. Heck, for $15 you can't hardly go wrong. One last look, check out the molding. I can just see it all finished. I will post updates after I finish it.

I will take any suggestions on tips and ideas. What's the best face lift project you have tackled?

Toddler Chore Chart

After much debate and deliberation I decided that my 3 year old daughter needed a little help and motivation to help remind her life isn’t all fun and games and there is responsibilities. My solution to this issue was to make a very simple chore chart that lists daily tasks that she needs to do. I did not find exactly what I was looking for after searching the internet; I did find lots of ideas and inspiration. These are the chores that are on her chart right now. I may change them a little over the next few months.

-Put Away Toys
-Comb Hair
-Brush Teeth
-Feed Lil Girl
-Take Vitamin
-Listen
-Go to bed on time
As she completes each “chore” we put a sticker (or star drawn with marker if stickers are MIA) on the chart. I do not have a reward system in place yet. My idea is to decorate a container; I have a large empty oatmeal canister, and inside put slips of paper with fun and creative activities we could do. I don’t want to spend a lot of money on these activities or make them too involved or messy. Any ideas would be great. I have nearly two weeks off from work so I'm hoping to get several craft projects marked off my never ending list. After I get the canister decorated I will post pictures.

Ribbon Storage

I have self diagnosed myself with a ribbon addiction. I love ribbons, I definitely do not discriminate. Every size, texture and color is welcomed in my collection. I’m not sure when this addiction started although I secretly suspect it has something to do with Hobby Lobby’s half price ribbon sale. I wonder if I could hold them responsible. Imagine headlines “Hobby Lobby blamed for woman’s dependence on ribbons.” Somehow I don’t think that would work. Since I couldn’t find a class for RA I had to come up with a solution for storing all of my ribbons.

Evidence Number 1

Evidence Number 2

Evidence Number 3 (Why do computers have a mind of their own? No matter what I did this picture kept turning side ways.)

The above box is a cute storage container I purchased at Hobby Lobby to help me store my ribbons. It has a dowel rod to hold spools in place and a convenient clear window to view ribbon collection. When I purchased it I was sure it would solve all of my problems. Too bad on that same shopping trip I got more ribbon than the box would hold, not to mention what I already had. Oh well, it is a cute design and I’m sure I will use it for something.

I’m always looking for ways to organize my home; we could all use a little inspiration. I recently stumbled across a very unique and cute way to store ribbon. It seemed as though Chris @ Just a Girl also suffered from the same ribbon addiction. She very creatively wrapped and organized her ribbon around cardboard, take a look at it here. Just a Girl: Ribbon 411 (and a sneak peak!)
Seeing this inspired me, I decided I would give it a go. This is how I attacked my spools.

The first thing I did was find a container I wanted to store my ribbons in. Hobby Lobby has boxes that are for photo storage, they come in different colors and patterns. (Even Christmas.) I use these boxes to store other things in and I really like them because they are cute, sturdy and have label holders. Not to mention they are only $3.99 and they go on sale for 50% off every few weeks. This is the box I had on hand so I used it. Notice my label….

After I chose my container I then had to find some cardboard. At first I was going to purchase some foam board so it would be pretty and neat. After tripping over the HUGE box WalMart sent my rain boots in for about the twentieth time I decided I would just use it. This solved several problems, first it got rid of the box I was tripping over, second I recycled which is always a plus, and third I had my cardboard and I saved money. Now I can use the money saved for some more ribbons to invest in a high yield stock. 

When I cut the cardboard I cut it a little shorter than the box allowing for the layers of ribbon. I then attached one end of ribbon using a piece of tape and started to wrap. I like to use small sewing pins to hold the loose end down. I personally think it does better than tape just because you don’t waste any ribbon from the tape pulling threads. So I started the process of tape, wrap, pin and repeat. This is pretty much a mindless task so I watched Christmas movies with my daughter while I did this.

It took a couple days to finally get all my ribbon wrapped however I didn’t work on it nonstop, an hour here and there. This is all my ribbon wrapped, I ran out of pins so I switched to taping the loose end down.


While looking at all the colors of ribbon I have I noticed I have a lot of pink, white and black. After thinking about this it came to me why I have so much of these colors…..dance class. My daughter takes dance class and of course her outfit is pink, white and black. I couldn’t find any bows that I liked so I decided to make her ONE for dance class, yes I said one. I found so many cute ribbons that I couldn’t decide on which one to buy. Oh well, at least she is cute……


My final box is all ready to be put on my craft shelf. Now if I can just find a way to store my fabric.

Is there anything better than apples and Nutella?

My little one after a snack of apples and Nutella.
I don't know if she got more in her mouth or around it.
Look at that smile, she looks like a little donkey.

If you have never tried Nutella you must try it. It is found in the peanut butter section at most grocery stores. Nutella is made from hazlenuts and chocolate, a delicious blend that is so creamy and rich. The flavor can only be described as enticing and addicting. A favorite afternoon (or morning, or midnight or anytime) snack of my daughter and mine is to slice apples and dip in Nutella.

A cheap and easy Holiday update.

This year my Mother gave me several of her Christmas decorations from my child hood. One of the decorations included two bells that have a little rustic looking roof over them. I have always admired these decorations and to me it wouldn't be Christmas without them. These bells have to be almost 30 years old so it looks rather dated. A few years ago I helped my Mother update them by adding new greenery picks, the old ones were the really fake looking plastic kind, very 70's. I decided to take that a step further this year by removing the ribbon (a red velvet that had seen better days) and ggreenery and starting with all new. My theme colors this year are purple and pink, us Punky girls like our girly bling. The process was very easy to do, I used some ribbon and greenery picks I purchased from the dollar store on clearance after Christmas last year. All the "new" items cost less than a dollar, not bad for a dramatic change.
The materials and tools I used:
Staple gun and staples (Already had, it's a "staple" in my house. Get it, staple, I'm weird I know.)
2 greenery picks (2 for $1 purchased for 50% off)
2 inch wide ribbon ($1 purchased for 50% off. I only used about 4 feet of a 9 foot roll.)
1/4 inch wide ribbon (I have tons of ribbon from making bows. I used about 2 feet of white.)



This is after I ripped everything off.

The first thing I did was remove the greenery pick and ribbon. I used the old ribbon as a template for how long to cur the new ribbon. My first step was staple a loop of approximately 3 inches on the back of the house to serve as the hanger. The next step was cut the purple ribbon to approximately 10 inches long then reassemble the bell using a piece of white ribbon approximately 6 inches long. I stapled both ribbons to the inside wall. Finally I stapled the greenery pick in place. I am very happy with the way they turned out. They are the same and different at the same time, just like my Mother and I. (Corny I know.)

After and Before.
The purple ribbon is so shiny it kept causing a glare on my picture.

Grocery Store produce versus Farmer's Market produce

Weird title, yes I know however it does have a very good meaning. For my nutrition class I am supposed to decipher and explain if produce purchased at the Farmer's Market is more expensive than produce purchased at the Grocery Store. So far I'm not having very much luck. The few webistes I have found are all located in sunny produce rich states like Florida. That information doesn't have a whole lot to do with life in Oklahoma. I know the answer my teaching is looking for...."no shopping at Farmer's Markets are cheaper and of course the produce is fresh because it is grown local." I don't fall for the whole Farmer's Market thing, the couple of times I went to the one in the next town over the produce was packed in the same exact packaging with the same numbered stickers on them that I buy when I go to Wal-Mart or Reasors. Not to mention the prices were much higher, why would I pay $3 for strawberries when Reasors has the same exact thing on sell for $2. Of course there is a few exceptions to this. Oklahoma has some great berry farms where you pick the produce yourself. Blackberries so big, sweet and juicy you can't help but eating a few while you fill the pail. I would gladly pay more for such fresh produce but the weird thing is you don't have to. The prices are better. This is the webiste for my favorite black berry farm.  http://www.owassochristmastreefarm.com/blackberry.html If you are ever in the area during summer check them out, but wait you would have to be crazy to visit OK in the summer, it's soooo hot. Or you could just live here like the rest of us Okies.
Oh well, enough of my ranting I just can't figure out what my reply should be. I wish I could take a poll and see what other people think.
*****Update: I turned in my assignment and I got a 100% for it, I think I deserve a sticker. After debating about my answer I decided to write about the advantages of both places to shop. I then included my own personal experience in my essay to round it out and give it a, well more personal feel. I am so happy....mainly because this semester is over and I have a few weeks off until the new one starts. Combine that with two weeks off work and it's time to clean of course. Don't you do winter cleaning?

Achoo...Bless You!

I love fall time in Oklahoma, the leaves are turning jewel toned colors of crimson, gold, copper and amber. There air just has the feeling of of cooler weather ahead. The fair has came and gone, Halloween is just around the corner and I can't quit sneezing.



View from my yard on fall afternoon



That's right it is fall allergy time. In spite of having the constant sniffles and caring around a Kleenex every where I go I can't think of a better time of year. Fall is so much more than the change of colors it signifies the holiday season is about to start and so will the cozy days spent inside making cookies and crafts with my daughter. This holiday season will be so enjoyable, my daughter is finally getting to the age where she can understand and do more.



My little pirate 2009



Last year we made a ginger bread house for Christmas, it was so much fun. Our house was...one of a kind but we had fun. I learned that ginger bread houses from kits do not taste good at all, kinda like cardboard. So, I bought a kit when the store put them on clearance after the holidays. I already have this years house all I need to add is extra candy for decorations, leftover Halloween candy words great for this. And we will make some cookies to decorate and eat, hopefully the will not taste like cardboard. I don't know who is more excited about the house me or my little one.



Gingerbread House 2009



First Blog Ever

I'm very excited about exploring the great world of blogging.

I have always enjoyed writing and this seems like a great way to let creative juices flow. I want to share what my life is like with other people, not that it's especially interesting. I'm just your normal single Mom that works full time and goes to school full time. I work hard so hopefully I can give my little girl the kind of life she deserves. It's hard only getting 5 hours a sleep a night but when I look at her cute face it's all worth it. Being a Mom is the best job anyone could have. Right now as I watch her eating grapes my heart melts. She is a perfect angel...most of the time.