Kindling..

Day 3 of Pass IT On!

I am so so glad this day is done.  It has been a long one that started at 5:30.  Non stop All. Day. Long.  Lovely FL humidity.  Leftovers. and Frogs.  I am so glad to be sitting in bed ready to relax and read probably 2 pages before i fall asleep.  wait! I don't have pages to turn... maybe i can read a few extra (conserving the energy that would have been spent turning pages of course).

I LOVE my Kindle.  Love it!  I have not read this much since probably 6th grade when i was still reading like mad to find out what adventures Claudia and Mary Anne (.. you know it! Baby-sitters Club!) would find themselves in.  After that I didn't really read for pleasure at all.  Kind of sad actually.

Two years ago at Christmas my parents got me a Kindle.. seriously the best gift ever!  Since that day i have read so many book and many more book previews.  I love that you can preview a book for about a chapter or so to see if you will like it.  .. i sure hate when i would actually buy a book and it turned out to be a dud!

I read so much faster.  I know that sounds silly.. but i promise it is true!  My theory is that I am used to scanning things on a screen so that translates into faster reading.  Just a guess.

I have multiple books "opened" at the same time, so with a few clicks i have shut one book and opened another. I've never done that before.. it is so nice to be able to choose what I'm in the mood for and then change my mind but never get out of bed.  I can even choose to download a new book :)

I've used the highlighting and note taking features a little bit.  I don't love the note taking.. it's not fast enough for me but i do like highlighting.

For sure need the Kindle cover with a light.  A must.

I have expanded my library preferences. Again, I can't really explain why.. but for some reason i venture out of my normal books.  my favorite book by far is one that i would have never tried to read.. the sheer thickness would have put me off from the get go.  it's called "Unbroken: A World War II story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption"
Amazing True Story!

Why else do i love it?
      I don't have the clutter of books i've already read.  Never have been one to read a book more than       once.  I could read "Unbroken" again.. it was that good! 
      I can lay in bed and not get that cramp in my shoulder from propping my self up to read and turn pages.
      I take it with me all the time.  It's great for when i get stuck waiting in the car for one reason or another.  Or when I wait at dance class or ... hey.. i do a lot of waiting!
     There are free and very low priced books to be found.
     Kindle gift cards rock!!
     It's a fun treat for the kids.  They think it's so fun to read in the dark with the kindle light.  We have even read by camp fire with it.. that was fun!

So no.. I'm not telling you anything earth shattering ... but if you wrestle with "I think I might like it??  But i really like the feel of the actual book."  I'm telling you.. you will get over that really fast :)

ok.. i'm going to read now...

Anyone else love to read again because of your Kindle??  (ps: i'm sure the Nook and ipad and other devices are equally as satisfying..)

Pass It On!

a little out of order... this should be day one.. but i'm doing a little catch up :)

With encouragement and instruction on button making from my friend, christie, over at my walk with eden, i have decided to go ahead and jump into the 31 days.. on one topic challenge that is hosted by a great blog,  nesting place.  if you would like to find out more about the idea behind the challenge, click here:  31 days.

I saw Christine's post today and i commented on face book that i had wanted to do the challenge.. but missed out yesterday so i figured it was too late.  She wrote back so quickly, which i loved.. like we were having a conversation, and said that i could still link up and i should do it.  I kind of needed that push :)  oh but then there was the "button making" thing that i had no idea how to do.. i am quite "dumb" about anything but the very basics on blogging.  But she gave me some easy instructions and really in not much time.. I Did It!  I believe i wrote back to her "I am fully ignoring my kids.. but i have a button!"  classic.

so here's my button for the link party...

sorry, you can't click on it... i don't know how to do that yet!

cute though, right? 

So what is Pass It On ?  It is something i have been thinking about lately.. well, really for a long time.  A way to share those:  Great ideas. Make life easy Tips. DIY. ... really it could be anything.  Anything that is worth sharing and passing on to a friend :)  There is so much out there for us to look up, research, or try out.. it's really overwhelming to me and i don't have time for that.  I really appreciate little tips, suggestions, and advice that i get from people i interact with daily.. even if it is though face book or blogging!  It's that connection of knowing someone you trust suggested an idea for you to think about, check out, or dump if you want!  It makes me feel better about it.  Anyone with me?

So i'm going to try this 31 day project and see what happens.  I hope something i share.. as little as some of the tips can be.. helps you somehow in your day :)  Blessings!

if you missed "day two" post... you know b/c it came before day 1...  check it out :)  DAY 2

a fall wreath

i've been wanting to make one of the Pinterest saturated "address number" wreaths for a while.  I know.. everyone has one .. or one with a big Initial for their last name on it.  but i love both looks and really, no two are alike when it comes to DIY creations.  so... here we go with the address numbers!

i had an old grape vine wreath that needed new decorations

Grape vine wreaths are soooo EASY.. just shove the stems where you want them and they stay nice and tight

trim some extra accents to add with the flowers.

I don't know what these little Styrofoam picks are really called.. but they came in all different colors and add a great contrast to the flowers.  These I got at Hobby Lobby and I especially like them because the stem they are attached to is very twiggy.  I cut some of the curling twigs off of it as well and stuck them in there for more dimension.They are hard to see in the picture below, but they are there off the top and bottom.

First new wreath for my New home

So this is very fall.. and i love it!  oh wait!!  the address :)   I spray painted some wooded numbers a brushed silver.  I like.. but i didn't really want to permanently put the numbers on.  I know me and I like to change and move things around when it comes to decorating so I have a feeling those numbers will need to come off and make and appearance somewhere else.  I can also see this wreath back.. and who needs address numbers if you are already enjoying a glass of wine on the lanai! (sort of a perfect image right?)

I figured i would wrap fine wire around the numbers to attach them to the wreath... thinking it wouldn't show b/c the numbers are painted silver.  I was wrong.  Didn't like it at all because the wire was pretty obvious. "Well.. I guess I will just hot glue them"  i told my husband.  ............ from a room away i hear... "Why don't you just use fishing wire mom? You won't be able to see it!"  .... 2 things here.
     1. I hate it when my 8 year old is smarter than me.
     2. My 8 year old (though creative and resourceful) has really really good hearing!

Well, thank you my dear Garrett... the fishing wire worked and the numbers are on... with intent to come off when i cut them off :)

WELCOME!

this is linked to the nesting place... where she is hosting a "31 days of" one topic party this month!

Put yourself in a cage!

In a cage?? what?  No, i'm not talking about an extreme form of time out.  I'm talking about PLAY.

The other day while talking to a mom whom I truly admire... I was humbled by the extreme PLAY that goes on at her house.  Humbled because it is She who is joining in.. big time!   I tend to think I'm doing  ok if I get in some good make believe time with the kiddos.. a tea party, helping to build a fort, making train and truck sounds.  You know, the usual.  Usual.  Usual holds nothing to playing "Zoo" and pretending to be an animal in a cage!!  Yep, she did it.  Later I was thinking about it.. and I'm not sure I would have been up for it. I don't know if I would have let myself be completely immersed in the play.  I would play "Zoo,"sure, ... but i kind of think I would volunteer to be the zoo keeper.. to maybe sneak some cleaning of my own  while i cleaned the "cages".  

And there lies the problem. "My Own".  Lately I am so focused on: getting things done, what needs to be done, and what isn't getting done that I end up turning "play time with the kids" into  

"My Own time.. with a side of playing.. till I can sneak away and do My Own thing".

 Does this sound at all familiar?  Please tell me I am not the only one!  Oh sure, it is a good tactic.. sometimes.  Just as (in my opinion) so is an occasional TV show to keep the peace in the dinner making hour.  But i think lately, sometimes has become the new Usual.  I guess with moving and having many many things that need to be done.. this is easy to do.  But I am thankful for this reminder to go ahead and get in a cage!  The work will still be there when the zoo closes!  ;)

I am sure this mom friend had no idea what she sparked in my mind... or how much I learn a lot from her- my little sis! :)  I love my sister and I love going through this mothering journey together.  The ups and downs are plentiful.  The frustrations are understood. The laughs are many.

Thanks Meg for taking "Zoo" to the extreme!  Next time, i will get in a cage!  LOL

here's a few pics of our kiddos this summer... it was a Super reunion!

lots of boys and one princess

my sweet sweet nephew, Reid

My older nephew, Alex, with Addie and Garrett playing with SLIME!

so "cool"

the orange vase

i have missed crafting.  i needed to do something.. even if my house isn't completely done and ready for all the fun accents.

I want to add pops of color in various ways through out the house... one way is to use vases.   I saw some great orange vases at Hobby Lobby the other day.. but even at 50% off i didn't feel like it was a great deal.  I have a bunch of vases at home... they just need color.  I found the paint isle and bam! color :)

i chose this warm orange.  it's called pumpkin :)  perfect for fall.  and grabbed this vase from the plethora of vases i have saved for just this occasion. 

i painted the inside of the vase .. wanting to make it look like colored glass and not painted. this took about 5 minutes.

it dried a few hours and i added another coat.

add some beautiful Hobby Lobby flowers.. 

put it on the lanai.. and smile :)

Fall meets beach.   love.

linking for fun:
Today's Creative Blog
Skip To My Lou 
cherished bliss

beautiful yellow and gray

i couldn't wait to do a room in yellow and gray!  i just love it.  and while it is uber trendy right now.. i don't care.  and even though it's only a small bathroom.. i don't care.  i love it!  

"light french gray" by sherwin williams & check out that trim work.. no tape baby!!

see? no tape! & I am wicked cool with my head lamp on.. i know it.

new curtain and towels.. thank you Kohl's for great sales!

a little yellow and some gray sea shells .. call it accessorized!

so it's my "happy place" since it is Done, Organized, and Pretty.  most everywhere is crazy and a work in progress.. but not this happy bath :)   now.. why can't the rest fall into place like this? oy!

where oh where has my little blog gone??

man, it's pretty much been forever since I last touched base here... it has been B.U.S.Y. to say the least.  Truth be told, I miss my little out let here and have almost daily written *brilliant* posts in my head. Too bad they can't directly be dumped into cyber space!  that would be cool.. and a little creepy too. 

So... we have moved!  and that, my friends, is what has taken away my time, energy, and money!  :)  but it has been fun fun fun!  I'm looking forward to sharing with you some of what we are doing and going to do.  and... i can't wait to get some DIY going on!  so many ideas! 

Here are a few pics from the day we closed on the house... our First Real Home!! (.. not renting)
Before it became cluttered with stuff.
Before a can of paint was opened.
Just waiting to be lived in.. don't you agree?

HOME SWEET HOME

I may enjoy cooking now

oh the decorating possibilities

snug  as a bug on a rug