Lanai Update

I often joke that I want to sit out on my lanai and eat cheesecake to solve the problem at hand by using stories from "back in St. Oloff".. like the Golden Girls of course :)   Well, come to think of it, I have sat out here (I'm enjoying it right now!) so many times with my family, chatting on the phone with my sister, getting to know some new friends over a glass of wine or coffee... and it's my favorite place to craft :)   We love this area of our house, it's an extra room for us since we can use it practically year around.  ... the "winter" in FL usually allows for it to be used in the day and the hot humid summers often only allow it to be relaxing really early in the morning or really late at night.

 

Still, it's pretty perfect. 

 

This week I've done a few summer like upgrades .. it feels so cozy and beachy!!!

 

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 I saw these napkins at World Market. I didn't know what I was going to do with them yet (I did know we were not going to be wiping bbq sauce mouths with them though!) 

Love the colors. The beachy prints. And they were on sale.

 I tied the napkins to some rope using thin twine.

 

I used small command hooks on the sides of the aluminum frame (discovered it was aluminum after my first idea didn't work.. magnets. Uh!)  I used the ones with a toggling hook so it allows for some movement with the wind. 

 





It's hard to get all three windows!

Seriously, look how well they match!

 

Also at World Market I found these FUN lanterns!  They are really light.. so I'm hoping the Command hook will keep these babies up there!

I tied the rope to the hook on the lantern and then another knott in the other end where I looped it through a hook extender (also World Market) so it could hang from the ceiling. 



 

Who's coming over to hang out with me??

Cheesecake, wine and coffee :)

(ok, probably just wine..)

 

linking to:

 

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!

Travel Clip Board Cases

I was going to get the kids some cute travel cases with a clip board lid... hand painted all cute... but then my DIY mind took over and said "do it yourself!" (what else did you think a DIY mind would say?!)

I got the bins at Target... they are great because they are squat yet fit papers with out bending. Good for little laps that need to be creative during a long car ride across the country!

I had clip boards already that I had inherited a while back.  I used a few for teacher gifts when i made the Chalkboard Clipboards.  Happy to use a few more!

I got patterned Duct Tape.. been wanting to try it!

oh and i used my new Exacto knife with a swivel blade.. love it!  (it's just a cheapie but works!)

These are so easy and take no time!!  Make one before your next summer trip :)

Garrett's finished Clip Board Case

I stretched the Duct Tape from one side of the lid to the other.  Be sure to press down into the groves of the lid and along side of the clip board.  Trim at end.

For the extra space on the top at each side of the clip,  I laid the tape down and used the Exacto Knife to trim around.

I did Addie's first.. and i laid the tape vertically.  I noticed it started to bubble up in the middle.  So when I did Garrett's I laid the tape horizontally and creased it into the grove and up and around the edge of the lid.  I think that way works best.. so I suggest that :)

 

 

Car Ride.. Here We Come!!

(oh yeah, I'm convinced these will prevent all "are we there yet?" questions.  NOT!)

a new addiction...

i see a new addiction forming ... "nomorerack.com".....
stumbled across it this morning... not even sure how i got there now!

it has DEALS!

it's kind of a cross between zulily.com and overstock.com

check it out via this link :)

www.nomorerack.com/?cr=7839890

i ordered two new maxi dresses today.. ready for summer! and they were only $17 :)
i probably need to find a good tutorial now for hemming :)

DIY Challenge

I have been wanting to try this DIY Mercury Glass that i found on Pinterest for a while.  I bought the stuff actually many weeks ago, many here would probably mean sometime in February.  So this UFO (unfinished object) DIY challenge link party got me to do it.  It took NO time at all.  Seriously, it took me longer to find the metallic spray paint that i knew i bought!

You need:
glass vases (i got these at the dollar store)
water bottle
metallic spray paint

Spray the glass with water all over
Immediately spray with the spray paint.

Let Dry.
Repeat the process if you want it to be less see through.
I did repeat.. though not by choice.  Addison decided to help me.. and sprayed the vases with water again, after they had dried.  I just sprayed the silver over them again.  I'm actually glad "I" did that .. :)

                                                                          i like.

                                                                liking the textured look.

                          i need to work on my photography skills.. but i am liking the craftiness!!

Linking to:
a link party at hosted at The Bean Sprout Notes, The Money Pit, One House, One Couple, ADD Housewife, Double-Wide in the Sky

I Heart Nap Time
Today's Creative Blog
Tip Junkie
Mommy by day Crafter by night 
wonderful wednesday link party at printabelle.com




Project credit: found it at Everyday In Stilettos

sparkly st. patty's spirit fingers!

it's no big secret... i love glitter!

Addie and i did some fun nails for st. patty's day..
with green nail polish (affectionately called "peanolish" by ms addie).

we did 2 coats and then... sprinkled with extra fine green glitter :) then a coat of clear.

FUN!!!!





they are also perfect Spirit Fingers *\o/*
to cheer on my OHIO Bobcats...
a cinderella team going to the NCAA tourney!
Go Ohio!!























linked up!

some faves

These are a few of my Favorite things.. lately

This has been my lunch for like the past two weeks... love! the pitas are from "hungry girl "and only have like 45 calories. the balsamic is delicious (yet another thing i miss from Coronado). I feel like I'm in college again .. eating the same thing every day (then it was a bagel sandwich.. sometimes with italian dressing or for a change BBQ sauce. followed by frozen yogurt with cinnamon toast crunch.) Ive been trying to eat a little healthier and this has been easy at lunch. i love hummus! never thought i would say that!! it's a good spread to add just a little flavor and protein.
(it also reminds me of my favorite friends episode... Phebe gets hummus on her fancy dress and puts a big christmas ornament over it. when asked about it she says "hummus. i got the hummus." lol. it's also the one where Rachel "corresponds" to prove a point. and Joey does Lunges! in all of Chandlers clothes!!).... That was a blast from the past fave. and now that i like hummus, i can say i have done all three!

***

Peanut Butter Cheerios!!! have you tried them?? oh my. yum. and with chocolate almond milk... it's like having a peanut butter cup for a snack! again.. love.

***
should i list something besides food?? goodness!
got my hair trimmed the other day. not only did i get to go alone.. thanks to a new friend! but i also finally like it. i like the length. but my fave thing here is this new product i bought,..
it's a mattifying powder that adds lift. it's made by Osis. you just sprinkle a wee bit where you want lift, tossle your hair a bit with your fingers.. and boom! it even has some sort of "memory" so that you can fix it through out the day. it's awesome!
since we are talking hair... look at these sweet curls...

missing tomato paste

tonight i made spaghetti. pretty much a staple around here. i realized though that i didn't have any sauce except one 15 oz jar of plain tomato sauce. for whatever reason, i did not feel like putting olive oil on it so i figured i could just spice up the sauce a bit. the kids would eat butter anyway, as they are on a red sauce strike. so i sauteed an onion, added garlic and basil, but it was still way too thin. tomato paste! and wouldn't you know it... i was out. i guess it became a little challenge for me.... i kind of felt like when i was young and my sister, my friend Jamie, and i would raid the pantry and make some wild concoction. .. except this i wanted to eat. and i wanted it to taste like tomato sauce :)

boom! i saw it... canned pumpkin. same consistency. a little sweet. ohhh.. i was excited.

i used half of a 15 oz can of pumpkin. it thickened it up perfectly! it was yummy too!! i may be out of tomato paste more often.

i didn't tell matt.. and he commented on the "new sauce". surprise!! pumpkin! then addie tried it and she said "i like this now that i'm older." ok whatever that means... ;)

i was kind of proud because cooking is so not my thing. but i like when something works out like this. just thought i would share in case you are ever in need of a tomato paste substitute.

chio!