I'm Excited for MCNO!

Since we are making something for Easter and we had trouble coordinating our schedules for March's "Mom's Craft Night Out", we decided to do it tonight!

We are using these supplies:

Come back in the next couple of days to see what we made!

I'll also have step by step instructions with pictures!

Have Fun!

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A Present She Can't Resist!

What do you do when your Mother tells you not to get her anything for her birthday? When she says she doesn't need anything and to save your money? When she tells you that if you got her something to take it back?

Well. You make her something that she can't take back and she can't resist!

What grandmother could refuse a picture of her favorite ;) granddaughter in a frame made by her favorite ;) daughter?

Not my Mother. Not when I used her favorite picture of Allison.

Not only was I able to give my Mother a birthday gift without the hassle of "you should not have" but it also cost me $1! That's right friends! I bought the unfinished craft frame at the craft store for $1! All of the other supplies I had in my scrapbooking/craft stash and it only took me under an hour to make! I say it was a win-win situation!

Here it is! You can click on the pictures to get a closer look.

The Supplies: unfinished craft frame, acrylic paint, 1 sheet of scrapbooking paper, ink pad, ribbon, silk flowers from a Dollar Tree flower bush, a button and a metal word plaque.

The Tools: a foam craft brush, scissors, a pencil, Xyron adhesive, a sanding paper block and a hot glue gun.

The Steps:

1. Paint the outside, inside and back of the frame using a foam brush with two coats of acrylic paint.

2. After the frame is dry, lay it down on the scrapbooking paper face down and trace the outside and inside of the frame. It doesn't have to be perfect...just get it as close to the edge as possible.

3. Run the paper through a permanent adhesive Xyron machine to adhere the adhesive. You could also foam brush a thin layer of white glue on the back.

4. Using a sanding paper block or sand paper, sand the edges of the paper until it is smooth with the edges of the frame.

5. Antique the outside and inside edges of the frame using the ink pad. Rub a little on the front of the paper to give it that aged look.

6. Tie two pieces of ribbon around the frame. I actually hot glued it a little the the inside ledge where the photo goes so it wouldn't interfere with the photo placement. The ribbon I had was white and bright blue and too bright so I rubbed it on the ink pad to tone down the white and blue.

7. Hot glue the flowers to the frame and then hot glue the button to the center of the petals. I also rubbed the button on the ink pad to age it a little.

8. Add the word plaque. My word plaque already had double stick tape on the back but you probably could hot glue that on too.

9. Put your favorite photo in the frame and you're done!

Have Fun!

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Happy Birthday Ba Ba!

Today is my Mom's birthday. We (all three of her children, my Curtis and her three grandchildren) surprised her yesterday for her birthday. I think she was shocked when we all walked in within 5 minutes of each other. She wasn't expecting it. I actually lied thru my pearly whites and told her that we were going to Curtis' Mom's for dinner with his brother and his girlfriend. Ooops! We didn't do anything big or special. We just ordered pizza and I stopped and picked up a cake I ordered from Kretchmar's Bakery in Beaver, PA. There's no cakes like theirs but that's a whole other blog post!

Here she is with her three grandchildren. Mine is, of course on the left, and my brother's two are on the right. As you can see, it's hard to get a picture without my brother's kids being silly. Mine has been trained well and usually (but not always) poses nicely. Good girl!

They were getting ready to blow the candles out and Allison backs off. I don't know what it is right now but she mini freaks when there are lit candles or if the oven is open or too close to the stove top. My Mom is trying to reassure her while the other ones are ready to blow!

See. She's still not sure about it. I hope this phase passes soon!

Have Fun!

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The Moms Dabble in Acid!

Yes. We did it. Last night was our monthly "Mom's Craft Night Out" and us Moms experimented with acid!

I know you are thinking that last month they "tied one on" and this month they are doing acid?

No. We didn't DO acid, we DABBLED it...on this month's project!

We etched our names on our Pyrex casserole dishes with glass etching cream.

It's not an original craft. It's an idea I picked up around blogland. Don't you just love blogland? The blogs that I stalk...I mean read are so informative and have such great ideas!

Anyway. Here's one of my dishes. I ordered the vinyl stencils from Erin at Vinyl Masterpiece. We were able to pick different fonts and do-dads at either end for our stencils. I was partial to the flowers but the others were cute too!

A couple of sister-in-laws applying the vinyl.

Busy at work!

After applying the glass etching cream, we let them sit for 30 minutes while we snacked on the yummy food buffet that Susan D. (this month's snack hostess) set up for us. Hey Susan...can I please have the taco dip recipe???

After they sat for 30 minutes we washed off the etching cream and voila....personalized casserole dishes. By the way, if you are interested in doing these, save yourself the headache and buy yourself new Pyrex. The older ones do NOT etch. They were made with a different compound. Trust me on this...I tried and NOTHING happened!

Here is another one of the dishes...aren't the paw prints cute?

It was hard to get a pick of this but can you see the apples. They are just so yummy!

This month's Moms with our projects...even though you can't see the etching. Left to right are Cindy B., Nettie, Susan C., Me, Susan D and Diane.
I can't tell you how many blessings that have come out of this "Mom's Craft Night Out." Moms are so busy trying to juggle so many things that we all need a little girlfriend time. It's been wonderful to rekindle old lifelong friendships and also foster some new ones with some exceptional women.

Friendships, Crafts, Food and Pepsi...outside our families, it doesn't get any better than that!

Have Fun!

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Busy!

Thanks for the emails. I'm okay. I've just been very busy the last couple of weeks. I have a lot on my plate and calendar right now. I'm trying to juggle them all and blogging has been moved to the bottom of my list of stuff needing my attention.

Tonight is "Mom's Craft Night Out" and I am SO looking forward to it! I need a little down time to just chill!

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Happy Valentine's Day!

Yes, Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!

May your day be filled with Love & Sweetness!

Here's my little hippie child. When Aunt Alesia was visiting in December, she took Allison shopping and out of the blue, Allison asked Aunt Alesia to buy her a tie dyed shirt. Where that came from I have NO idea! There wasn't any in the store and I am pretty certain that we have never looked at any at anytime. It just popped out of her mouth from that overly cluttered brain of hers!

Anyway. This is the first time that Allison has asked Aunt Alesia for anything specific and of course, Aunt Alesia is not one to let Miss Allison down. So...about a week ago a package was delivered here from some tie dye shop. I was instructed to add it to the stuff that Alesia had given for me to give to Allison on Valentine's Day. I ended up giving it to her yesterday because I am working today.

Well. Let me tell you! She opened it and freaked out! She was so excited! She said "I am putting this on right now!" I only let her take off her top shirt and made her keep the turtleneck on with it because it's a little chilly today. As you can see in the picture, she loves it!

Thanks Aunt Alesia!

By the way, we had some errands to run last night and when we were on our way home she said...

"Isn't it crazy that your daughter got her first tie dye shirt today? You KNOW I'm wearing this to bed tonight!"

My response was "You are?" to which she replied...

"Yes! I am wearing this for 24 hours, 7 days a week, 30 days a month, 12 months a year and 100 years a century!"

So...I guess the shirt was a home run!

Thanks Aunt Alesia!

Hmmm, if all she had to do was ask Aunt Alesia once for a tie dye shirt and it shows up in our mailbox....maybe I should encourage Allison to ask for an old farmhouse in the country with a little land that her Mom could fix up!

( : : : wink, wink Aunt Alesia : : : )

Have Fun!

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The First Step!

I mentioned at the beginning of the year that when I look ahead to 2009, I see change in my life. One of the big changes I want to make is to our home. I love to decorate and it's been a while since I've done that. Sure. I've made changes here and there as Allison grew up but now I need more. My plan is to change every room in our home. I need to.

You see I'm a nester by nature. I need to build a nest for my family. When you look up "nest" in the dictionary, this is the description for me: "A place affording snug refuge or lodging; a home." Sure. Okay. Our place is a refuge from the world but it certainly doesn't make me feel snug. It used to but not anymore. When I walk in, I feel stress. Of course this is not what you want when you walk in to your home. You want it to hug you tightly as if to say...Welcome home. I've missed you and I'll keep you warm and loved in your little corner of this big world." Right now my house says.."Run for your life and don't look back!" It never use to talk to me like that but it's gotten a bit sassy! I think it wants a makeover too! So the bottom line is that every room in this house will be changed by the end of 2009!

I've got some plans and ideas but I need to wait on those just a little. I know what my first step is and it's not pretty. Nope. It's not. At all!

I need to declutter and downsize the stuff in this house!

Aack! That scares me just saying it!

You see when we moved in here over eight years ago, we thought we had all the space in the world.

And then....we added a child!

Why do they come with so much stuff???? Do they seriously need THAT many stuffed animals? Or that many pony tail holders? I could go on and on but you parents out there know what I'm talking about.

I have to be honest here though. It's not all her fault.

Curtis is to blame too!

I was in the basement the other day and noticed there are 3 sets of headers for this race car that he is building. I don't know much about race cars but I think they only need 1 set! Oh...and how about all the car magazines he saves? We have enough to wallpaper the entire house!

Alright! Alright! It's not all their faults either!

I'll take some of the blame here but it's really not my fault.

I'll admit right here on my blog because I know you all are my friends.

I'm sick.

I have the "I can't get rid of it because we might need it someday" syndrome.

There's no cure but they say it can be treated so I'm hopeful.

I have to take baby steps and it's one day at a time.

One thing that does make me feel better is that show on the TLC network called Clean Sweep. Have you seen that show? WOW! I realize when I watch it that I am no where as sick as those poor people are! I feel bad for them. They must be really desperate to cure their sickness if they call a television show to come film their mess for the whole country to see!

So as you can see that with my syndrome coupled with the fact that I'm sentimental, I have my work cut out for me!

I'm hoping that I can get through every cupboard, drawer, closet, cubby and the basement by the end of March so I can start my redecorating in April.

If you have any organizing ideas that work for you or any organizing sites that you love, please send me and email and let me know. I need all the help I can get!

Also, be sure and stop back. I'll share my messes along with my solutions with all of you. I need you all to keep me motivated!

Have Fun!

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"Yaaaawwwwnnn"

I'm a little tired today. I went to bed a little early last night and got up an hour later this morning but I'm still tired! I better be careful I don't fall asleep on my desk! If I do, here are a few responses if I get caught!

NUMBER 5: They told me at the Blood Bank this might happen.

NUMBER 4: This is just a 15 minute power nap they raved about in the time-management course you sent me to.

NUMBER 3 : Whew! Guess I left the top off the White-out. You probably got here just in time!

NUMBER 2: Did you ever notice sound coming out of these keyboards when you put your ear down real close?

NUMBER 1: (Raising your head slowly while making the sign of the Cross) ... in Jesus' name, Amen.

Have Fun!

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Pittsburgh Made History Yesterday!

Yes! That's right!

Pittsburgh made history yesterday and you can read all about it in this great article I found on the Orlando Sentinel's website. Click here to go there!

They also have some great photos on their site.

Here are a few of my favorite:

Our Quarterback "Big Ben" Roethlisberger holding up our 6th Lombardi Trophy!

Yes friends, Pittsburgh now has a 6-pack!

Photo Credit: Gary W. Green, Orlando Sentinel

I love the smile on Coach Mike Tomlin's face as he celebrates with LaMarr Woodley (left) and Troy Polamalu (right).

Photo Credit: Gary W. Green, Orlando Sentinel

Hines Ward taking a moment to thank the Big Guy!

Photo Credit: Gary W. Green, Orlando Sentinel

Have Fun!

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Bring It Home Boys!

We are waving our

Terrible Towels

for you!

GO STEELERS!

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