Valentine’s Day Crafts

DIY Valentine’s Day Craft Projects

Valentine’s Day is coming fast!  I wanted to find a couple DIY projects that you might enjoy.

I did some searching on the internet and found a couple things from Martha Stewart.com and also Disney Family Fun.

 Romantic Candle Garden

I must really like the idea of the candle’s in coffee beans because I showed you one the other day I liked from pinterest too.  But how simple would this be to do?  Grab a few of those pillar candles that you probably have in a drawer somewhere, find a neat bowl or basket, pour in some coffee beans, place your candles and wah-la.. you’re finished!

Candy Hearts and Flower Arrangement

I think this would be super easy. It might take a trip to a craft store, but just for the jar and flowers.  You could use either real or artificial flowers in this, but personally I would suggest artificial if you want to feel ok about eating the candy hearts.

How cute would this be sitting on your daughter’s bedside in the morning?

 

Heart finger puppets Disney

These next couple ideas came from the Disney site.  This would make a cute craft for the kids and would also make fun home made Valentine’s Cards. They could write their messages on the back of them.

Your a blast

I’ve seen a couple people who have made this project, on pinterest. They have said they use Rolo candy in the center tube to stabilize. This would also be a fun craft for the kids to make for others, or something easy to make for them.

Valentine’s Day Coupon Checks

I loved things like this when I was young.  You can print these coupons for the kids to fill out for Valentine’s day gifts.  Another idea if they planned to give them to parents, siblings and Grandparents would be, if you have your old checks from a closed checking account sitting around – let them use those. If they are going to close family members you wouldn’t have to be so concerned with getting personal information off before using.

What kind of crafts does your family do?

Organizing and DIY Link Party

Easy Craft, Organizing and DIY Ideas

Enjoy seeing the organizing and DIY ideas that some of you linked up to last week. Thanks!

 

Love that Vanessa from The Rookie Seamstress used duct tape to decorate some old boxes to make them useful storage. With all the fun and decorative duct tape that is out there now, the ideas are endless.

Great idea by Ginny from Organizing Homelife on how to label your left overs. Time flies with when you have left overs in the re-fridge. It is amazing how fast things can turn green! lol

 

Utilizing clear shoe door organizers can be used for a multitude of purposes. Margo from Joyful Homemaking shows a variety of ideas.

 

Jo-Ann from Growing in Grace made a plant hanger and address plate to decorate her her home.

 

Link up to my Linky Party! I’d love to see the ideas you create yourself or find from other inspiration online!

1) Link to your specific post – not your blog
2) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link (url code under button tab )
3) Blog post related to Organizing or Cleaning or DIY or crafts or decorating are WONDERFUL!
4) No sales pitches or web sites.
5) Feel free to link up more than 1 post.
6) By linking up to my post, I might use your pic (with link and credit to you) next week in my post!

 

Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list. If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple. If You Are On A Reader and Want to View All the Great Link Up’s on this post please Click here 
This party will be open until May 6, 2012 at 11:59pm est.

Fav Pin Friday Pinterest Linky Party

Easter Ideas from Pinterest!

I love finding fun things on pinterest!

There are some of the cutest ideas for Easter floating around out there!  Who doesn’t love bunnies and all the spring colors.    I saw this idea from Pinterest and thought it was SO cute!

Peep S’Mores

Make a Peep S’More.. at home!   You use your typical graham crackers and Hershey chocolate bars – but you add a Peep for the Marshmallow (after all it is marshmallow).  You put just the bottom half (1 cracker, chocolate and Peep) in the microwave for about 8-12 seconds I think. I know marshmallows really puff up huge in the microwave. I can’t wait to try this with the kids!

You can find this post at Eclectic Recipes 

Lori found the Peep S’mores on Pinterest and she put another spin on them.  What a neat idea this is! She made up Peep S’More packs for her kids parties at school.  She got the little bags and then she printed up the instructions and put on the back.  Hopefully the kids will wait until they get home to open and make them, rather than opening and just eating all the ingredients out first!  I LOVE this idea!

You can find this darling idea at My Wood Spoon

Bunny Cupcakes

Isn’t this cupcake darling?  So simple, yet looks so awesome!  I first saw just the backside shot of the bunny in the cupcake. When I went to the post I found this pic with the front of the bunny done up too.  It is a blog written in spanish, but some awesome recipe. Worth hitting the translator for.

You can find this idea at Cupcake Perfecto.

Angry Bird Easter Eggs

How cute are these?

You can find the post for these on The Tip Junkie party ideas

 

Would love for you to link something you would like pinned!

Guidelines

1) Add a link from one of your blog post you want pinned.
2) Be sure to use the picture you want pinned for the picture we see on here.
3) Would love for you to tweet this out, or stumble or pin it. (Only pin my Fav Pin Friday button, not any of the pics I put up from pinterest please – those aren’t my pictures.)
4) Be sure to pin a couple other pins you see on here too!
5) Please click on the pictures, it will take you to my pinterest boards where I pinned these pics.  Please repin these pictures, as it will help the people who originally posted the picture. Visit their posts to help them out.

If you like the pinterest parties you can go to Kim’s at Crafty Mama of 4. She has Pin it Friday 

If you need some help knowing how to link up, this link party tutorial should help.

Organizing and DIY Link party – Week 8

Link Up Your Posts or Get Some Organizing and DIY Ideas

You can find some really awesome organizing and DIY ideas if you just look around the internet. I went back to the Better Homes and Gardens site and found some more neat ideas for you guys.

Make a cute bathroom set that will match perfectly. Just grab a couple of those terra cota planters that you can find at garage sales for practically nothing and decorate them. You could use these for many purposes other than in the bathroom.

 

A screen door transformed into kitchen storage – I LOVE this! I don’t have a kitchen it would work for, but would be so cute in the proper place. Take an old screen door and paint it, put in plexi-glass and some screws and you have a perfect storage area that looks great.  This could also be really useful on an screened in porch.

Look carefully at this towel rack. It is the back of an old chair.  There are shower knobs at the top to hang the shower brush off of.  Really cute.

Share your DIY, crafts, decorating, organizing projects!

You can find the link for my button on my top “Buttons” Tab. (right now I only have the Organizing Mission Monday button, so it is fine to continue to grab that) 
1) Link to your specific post – not your blog
2) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link (link just above underneath my button)
3) Blog post related to Organizing or Cleaning or DIY or crafts or decorating are WONDERFUL!
4) No sales pitches or web sites.
5) Feel free to link up more than 1 post.

I also have a Pinterest Favorite Pin Friday Linky Party! Be sure to watch for that!

Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list. If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple. If You Are On A Reader and Want to View
This party will be open until Feb 26, 2012 at 11:59pm

Organizing and DIY Link party – Week 7

Link Up Your Organizing and DIY Posts

Do you have any ideas for organizing and DIY for Valentines day? Do you do anything special for Valentines Day?

What is Valentine’s Day like at Your Home?

We have a special dinner which is a bit different. We have chocolate chip pancakes! I did it one year for fun and the kids haven’t forgotten. When they mention Valentine’s Day, they mention chocolate chip pancakes! I have done them in heart shapes, but I didn’t last year when I took these pictures. We’ll see what tomorrow brings when I make them this year.

This is what Dave had waiting for me for Valentine’s day one year. I came in late that night from a trip and this was on the table for me.

Share your DIY, crafts, decorating, organizing projects and Valentine’s Day posts!

You can find the link for my button on my top “Buttons” Tab. (right now I only have the Organizing Mission Monday button, so it is fine to continue to grab that) 
1) Link to your specific post – not your blog
2) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link (link just above underneath my button)
3) Blog post related to Organizing or Cleaning or DIY or crafts or decorating are WONDERFUL!
4) No sales pitches or web sites.
5) Feel free to link up more than 1 post.

I also have a Pinterest Favorite Pin Friday Linky Party! Be sure to watch for that!

Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list. If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple. If You Are On A Reader and Want to View
This party will be open until Feb 19, 2012 at 11:59pm

Organizing and DIY Link Party – Week 6

Link Up Your Posts for Organizing and DIY Link Party!

If you are looking for some organizing and DIY ideas, then check out the links on the linky list!

I wanted to share some organizing ideas I found on the Better Homes & Gardens Blog

This is your typical plastic door shoe holder used for kitchen gadget storage.  They have it labeled nicely and secured it well at the top.  Check out that tiny trap door at the bottom! What’s up with that? Is it for a small dog, cat or a friendly mouse? lol

 

This mobile office could really come in handy for someone without an actual office in their home.  It could easily slide into a closet or the corner of a room.  It could also be transformed easily for a dinner party (change out the pencil/pen cups and put silverware cups in it’s place).

 

I always love these message centers.  Using the inside of your cabinet doors.  The key is to make sure you have the space to close the door. Especially where they have the sticky note holders, you would have that much less room for storage inside the cabinet.  Not an issue with the chalkboard section.  You can also use some metal as an insert and have a magnetic board. But it can still prove to be a very useful solution for many.

Share your DIY, crafts, decorating, organizing projects!

You can find the link for my button on my top “Buttons” Tab. (right now I only have the Organizing Mission Monday button, so it is fine to continue to grab that) 
1) Link to your specific post – not your blog
2) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link (link just above underneath my button)
3) Blog post related to Organizing or Cleaning or DIY or crafts or decorating are WONDERFUL!
4) No sales pitches or web sites.
5) Feel free to link up more than 1 post.

I also have a Pinterest Link party on Fridays!! Be sure to check them out! Favorite Pin Friday!

Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list. If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple. If You Are On A Reader and Want to View
This party will be open until Feb 12, 2012 at 11:59pm

Pin It

Fav Pinterest Pin Friday – Linky Party

Link Up A Post You Would Like Pinned on Pinterest

Do you want something pinned on pinterest? Helping each other is considered teamwork. Link it up! Also check out other posts that people want pinned and help them pin theirs.

If you are going to help pin on this post, please only pin my Fav Friday Badge (which I would really appreciate).  I do not want anyone pinning pictures that aren’t mine.  I did link the pictures up to my pinterest board where they are located. I would love for you to go and repin those, and that will help the person who originally pinned the item.

 

Look at the awesome use of space under these stairs.  I love this.  You do have to have the proper set up to be able to use this space. In my home, you can’t get under the stairs like this, so I couldn’t do it.

But I have also seen this used in basements (and the shelves hold extra pantry goods or such). I’ve seen it in a garage /workshop where there was an upstairs room.  He had his tools and had organized containers to hold his supplies and had them on the stairs.

 

 

If you know me, you know I have shoe envy.  I can’t wear these, but I sure do appreciate and love them!

 

Aren’t these darling?  Someone pinned them as Valentine boxes for boys, but I went to the web site where she made them. They are actually Tattle Monster boxes.  She made these for the teachers, and the kids can put their “tattles of other children” in here, to help reduce the tattling in the classroom.

Guidelines

1) Add a link from one of your blog post you want pinned.
2) Be sure to use the picture you want pinned for the picture we see on here.
3) Would love for you to tweet this out, or stumble or pin it. lol
4) Be sure to pin a couple other pins you see on here too!

If you like the pinterest parties you can go to Kim’s at Crafty Mama of 4. She has Pin it Friday 

If you need some help knowing how to link up, this link party tutorial should help.

If you would like an invitation to join Pinterest, please let me know in the comments and I’ll invite you.

Organizing and DIY Link Party – Week 5

Dresser Drawer Organizing and DIY ideas

You can get some ideas for organizing and DIY ideas from checking out the links others have linked up on the linky list.

Do your dresser drawers look like this?

 

Or do they look more like this?

It isn’t hard to organize your dresser drawers.  I did a post on Organizing Your Dresser Drawers and showed you how easy it is to do.  I used organizers that I found at Ikea and a few I also found at Old Time Pottery, but you could also use shoe boxes or other boxes that fit into your drawers and achieve the same thing.

Share your DIY, crafts, decorating, organizing projects!

You can find the link for my button on my top “Buttons” Tab. (right now I only have the Organizing Mission Monday button, so it is fine to continue to grab that) 
1) Link to your specific post – not your blog
2) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link (link just above underneath my button)
3) I’d love if you’d follow me on google and/or FB. The google is new and I’m trying to build it
4) Blog post related to Organizing or Cleaning or DIY or crafts or decorating are WONDERFUL!
5) No sales pitches or web sites.
6) Feel free to link up more than 1 post.

Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list. If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple. If You Are On A Reader and Want to View
This party will be open until Feb 5, 2012 at 11:59pm

Fav Pinterest Pin Friday – Link Party

Link Up A Post You Would Like Pinned on Pinterest

Check out those that have linked up their posts on the linky below and pin them on Pinterest.  Link up what you’d like pinned also!

There are SO many fashions that I see on Pinterest that I wish I could wear! The shoes… the dresses and darling outfits! But I can still add them on my board as things I like!

Look at this black and white beautiful dress!! I love it!

I found this on pinterest, but it originally came from the Lace & Tea blog

I’ll add one to get things started.

Guidelines

1) Add a link from one of your blog post you want pinned.
2) Be sure to use the picture you want pinned for the picture we see on here.
3) Would love for you to tweet this out, or stumble or pin it. lol
4) Be sure to pin a couple other pins you see on here too!

If you like the pinterest parties you can go to Kim’s at Crafty Mama of 4. She has Pin it Friday 

If you need some help knowing how to link up, this link party tutorial should help.

If you would like an invitation to join Pinterest, please let me know in the comments and I’ll invite you.

Organizing and DIY Link Party – Week 4

Organizing and DIY and Cute Hats

Have you seen some of the cute hats? What do they have to do with organizing and DIY? Well, if you are talking about organizing them or making them, then you have a valid statement. But I just thought they were cute and wanted to share them with you all.

Aren’t the hats that are out now SO cute?  My step daughter asked for a panda hat for Christmas. I had no idea what she was talking about. She went on to explain that it was white and had a scarf attached that had paws she could put her hands into. She also told me it was at Kroger (grocery store) of all places.  Sure enough… I went in and found it.  She was thrilled!

We also found this had for one of my step sons.  An OSU mohawk hat. He LOVED it! lol

I  know these pics aren’t organizing projects, crafts or decorating projects…. but I thought they were fun for today.

Share your DIY, crafts, decorating, organizing projects or hat posts!!

You can find the link for my button on my top “Buttons” Tab. (right now I only have the Organizing Mission Monday button, so it is fine to continue to grab that) 
1) Link to your specific post – not your blog
2) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link 
3) I’d love if you’d follow me on google and/or FB. The google is new and I’m trying to build it
4) Blog post related to Organizing or Cleaning or DIY or crafts or decorating are WONDERFUL!
5) No sales pitches or web sites.
6) Feel free to link up more than 1 post.

Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list. If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple. If You Are On A Reader and Want to View
This party will be open until January 29, 2012 at 11:59pm *Closed*

Giant Eagle Market District in Pittsburgh

Visit to Giant Eagle Market District in Pittsburgh

I drove about 3 hours to Pittsburgh PA last December 2010 to go to the Giant Eagle Market District Store.  I wasn’t even sure that it was the actual grocery store that I was going to, until I was there. (shows what a dingy I am).  I just knew it was called the Market District and I also knew that I was going to do some cooking!  There were five bloggers,  Kim from www.Crafty Mama of 4.com and Beth from www.The Plus Size Mommy.com were both there, and they were from the Pittsburgh area.

I loved the candy section, can you tell?

and one more!

Ok… now for some healthy stuff!

The store was pretty amazing.  Of course you had your normal food items, but then there were so many speciality foods – get this… they grow their own lettuce there!!  They also sell other lettuce, but isn’t this cool?

How often have you seen sugar cane at your grocery store?  Beth was laughing because her husband is from Jamaica and she said she wanted to get him one for Christmas.

Just how items were displayed was unique. I loved this sausage … it reminded me of garland.  Maybe I’m just a little too much into the Christmas decorations right now?

This was a bin of coffee beans…oh did it smell good there.  There are things like oil and vinegar bars there. You purchase your bottle and you can come back and refill it from all the different kinds of oil and vinegar. Who knew?  Not I…. I don’t use enough oil and vinegar to even think about it.  Obviously…. gourmet cook I’m not.

There is an entire area for cheese!  I looked at what looked like some really crazy fancy dessert and asked about it.. it was a dessert cheese! Never would have thought!  I am realizing I am just a regular ol’ gal! LOL

Just had to take this picture!!  I just thought it would be a cool picture.  Big barrel of pickles….. now I do know what those are!

We toured around this massive grocery store, stopping at the beginning of our tour for a smoothie. I got a peach one and had supplements added of antioxidants and protein.  It tasted pretty good… maybe a little too yogurtery for me (in other words…. it had that healthy taste to it – although it was still very good)

There is a restaurant in the store. You can sit down and eat a meal – tour the open food bars, get a piece of pizza or make a crepe – and then sit down with a glass of wine and eat.  In Pittsburgh being able to buy alcohol in grocery stores is something unusual. But they got a permit with some very stringent regulations. The alcohol has to be rung up on separate cash registers and there has to be a separate entrance – those are just two of them, I’m sure there are others.

After our tour we went up to the cooking school as you saw on the video. That is something that I would take advantage of if I lived close. What a fun evening for a group of ladies or several couples to have a date night. They also have kid classes – we saw the beginnings of the gingerbread houses that were going to be decorated the next day by the young class.

Our cooking class was fun! There were two teams of 4 people each. We each had our own stove tops and food trays. I did some cooking, but I was having too much fun taking pictures to cook much.

My favorite was the Porcini scented mushroom risotto. I’ve never made it. After you sweat (yes sweat.. a new cooking term for me too) the shallots – you add the Arborio rice. It has to toast and the shell start to crack….you then add in the broth slowly… I mean really slowly. You add 1/2 cup and then stir, until it soaks in… another 1/2 cup…and so on and so forth – until you add 4 cups. It took us about 20 minutes to make it. Then you add in heavy whipping cream and Parmesan cheese.
Then cooking sous vide was of course all new too. Sealing your food in a bag… then cooking in a hot moving water bath… just seems almost simple to me. I mean, it makes me think of cooking frozen food – like vegetables. But the water bath units are very expensive, and they move the water around. The advantages – you can cook the food all the way through evenly adn uniform every time. So for the filet mignon, if 4 people want medium rare steaks – you just set the temperature to the specific temp to get that done and they will all cook the same, all the way through.

Donna was such a great hostess to us! As we toured Giant Eagle we had several people behind the counters telling us we couldn’t take pictures. All I had to say was, “I’m with Donna” and point to her. They would all say, oh.. ok. LOL

I always love to do things with Kim and Beth. We have such a good time together.

Disclosure: I was sponsored to go to the Pittsburgh store for the night I had to stay over by Giant Eagle.  I also received a gift bag.  I did not receive any cash compensation for the actual traveling to and from Pittsburgh. The pictures, video and thoughts are all my own.

(Reposted from 1/9/12)

 

Favorite Pin Friday Link Party – Week 1

I’ll Share My Favorite Pinterest Pins with You, Please Share Yours With Me!

I have been having so much fun with Pinterest  lately and I know many of you have been too.  I wanted to be able to share some of my favorite pins with you and I wanted to be able to follow your boards, and of course have you follow mine.

I am taking screen shots of my favorite pins and linking them back to my pinterest boards I have them on.  My suggestion to you, if you like them, go to the board and grab and repin it. You will see who created the pin (these are NOT from my blog.. I found these pins on Pinterest and love them) It will benefit the person who originally posted the picture on their blog and you can credit them for their awesomeness!

You can see this pin on my “Fashions I love but Can’t Wear” board (click on picture),  but it is also on my Favorite Pin Friday Board

 

I love this idea.  How simple and useful.  She took shower curtain rings and put them on a sturdy hanger. Great way to hang your scarves!

You can find this pin on my Closet pinterest board (click on picture) but it is also on my Favorite Pin Friday Board

This is a great way to use space, keep things organized and also a cheat sheet for your measurements.

You can find this and more on my kitchen pinterest board (click on pic) but it is also on my Favorite Pin Friday Board 

 

This is such an awesome way to store the kids balls in your garage! So simple… so cheap and yet so useful!

You can find this pin on my Mud Rooms and Garages board (click pic) or you can find it on my Favorite Pin Friday Board 

Link Up!!

I would encourage you to create your own  ”favorite pins board” OR I’ll be happy to try and link you up to mine (we have to follow each other, but sometimes it still won’t let me find you (any hints I’d appreciate it)  OR make a post on your blog like I did (with a different name please) and link.

I just created the #FavPinFriday hashtag. I searched for it and there were NO results for that or #FavoritePinFriday… so coolio! So use it when you create your posts or tweet out your board.

1) Link to your specific pinterest blog post
2) Link to your Favorite Friday Pin Board
3) Or link to any of your pin boards – It’s easy!
4) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link -if you can. If you are linking just to pinterest, I would appreciate a tweet instead.
5) Please follow my pinterest page!
6) Follow the Favorite Pin Friday Pinterest Board – and I’ll do my best to add you as contributor if you leave a link below & you have followed it (if it will let me.
7) I in no way am trying to “steal” anyone or not give them credit.  I did a screenshot of pictures I have on my board, you can see the creator in the upper right corner. Their pins will get more attention, and hopefully more repins, which will benefit them greatly! Thanks for repinning them!
8)Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list. If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple. If You Are On A Reader and Want to View All the Great Link Up’s on this post please click at the top of this post to go to my blog. (I end up always messing up that link, so it’s easier to click up top! lol)

This party will be open until Thursday at 11:59 January 12, 2012

Organizing DIY projects

Organizing, DIY & Craft Projects

I’ve done a couple DIY projects that people have seemed to have really liked.  One of my more popular DIY projects has been my chalkboard labels. I used chalkboard contact paper  and chalkboard markers to create them.

You can use these labels for most anything.

I had so much fun with this project and still love them on my counter.

I loved my easy and cheap cord organizing solution, using toilet paper rolls and duct tape.

And also the organizer I made out of the toilet paper rolls & duct tape to keep all those link cords & connector cords organized.

Organizing Mission Monday Link Party – Week 50

Christmas Ornaments

Do you get new ones each year? Buy a special one for the kids or your family? Are they dated?

When the kids were young I used to get them each a new ornament each year. I wanted them to have something for their trees when they got older. So far, I still have most of them. lol I do think my two oldest have taken some of their ornaments the last few years to have on their own trees though.

Over the last several years I have just gotten a new “family” ornament. I used to find them at the craft shows and would have our names and year put on them. But the last couple years I’ve not been able to find someone who makes them when I go to the shows. This year and I think last I didn’t even go to any craft shows.

I’ve found a kiosk in a local mall that has really cute ones. As my family has grown (with four step children and now a daughter in law) it has become more difficult to find ornaments with enough spots for all of us.  I hate to say it, but I had to get what I’m sure is a “grandparents” ornament this year. But… with Dave having white hair and I wear the reading glasses… it worked. ugh

Here are a couple others we’ve had the last couple years.

2010

2009

2008- I just did the kids we had at home this year.

Link up to My Linky Party

I’d love for you to share your Christmas DIY projects, decorating and recipes,  but as always you can link up any organizing or cleaning or DIY post to my link party.

You can find the link for my button on my top “Buttons” Tab.
1) Link to your specific post – not your blog
2) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link (link just above underneath my button)
3) I’d love if you’d follow me on google and/or FB. The google is new and I’m trying to build it
4) Blog post related to Organizing or Cleaning or DIY or decorating
5) No sales pitches or web sites.
6) If I feature you I will use one or more of your pictures with a link back to your blog.
7) Feel free to link up more than 1 post.

Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list. If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple. If You Are On A Reader and Want to View All the Great Link Up’s on this post please Click Here.
This party will be open until December 25th, 2011

Organizing Mission Monday Link Party – Week 45

Halloween Revisited from 2005

I was looking through old Halloween photos and realized how fun this Halloween was with the kids.  The triplets were 4 years old. I think Drew was 11 and Tim was 12.  We went to Boo at the Zoo that year at the Columbus Zoo.

I think this one is my favorite. One of my older son’s John came with us. Elise thought it was so funny that she was on his shoulders along with her horse! I just love the laugh!

Hope you all have a fun Halloween.  Our trick or treating is tonight, so I didn’t have any pictures from outfits this year. But what can beat the young kids costumes?

Link up to My Linky Party

What is happening in your life this week? But as always you can link up any organizing or cleaning or DIY post to my link party.

You can find the link for my button and also my “Proud to Be Featured Button” on my top “Buttons” Tab.

1) Link to your specific post – not your blog
2) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link (link just above underneath my button)
3) I’d love if you’d follow me on google and/or FB. The google is new and I’m trying to build it
4) Blog post related to Organizing or Cleaning or DIY or decorating
5) No sales pitches or web sites.
6) If I feature you I will use one or more of your pictures with a link back to your blog.
7) Feel free to link up more than 1 post.

Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list. If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple. If You Are On A Reader and Want to View All the Great Link Up’s on this post please Click Here.
This party will be open until November 13, 2011

Organizing Mission Monday Link Party – Week 44

The Kids Put On A Surprise Party For Their Dad

My husband is turning 51 this week.  We have his kids every other week and last week was our week to have them. I knew they would want to celebrate, so I decided to give him a little family surprise party.  But the kids did most of the work.  (This picture was when he walked in the door)

Dave is one who doesn’t want money spent on him. When I asked what he wanted for his birthday he kept telling me nothing. Funny thing is that he really means it.  But, I just don’t go for that. He is a hunter and I was trying to think of something I could get him for that, but couldn’t think of anything he really needed.  So I decided getting him some clothes that he can always use would work best.

The kids were off school on Thursday of last week, so we planned the party for that night. No sports practices or games to worry about (and that is unusual)  We headed to Kohl’s and I led them over to sweaters that he likes. They picked out a sweater and shirt that they liked.  Then Zach found another shirt he really liked and Alex wanted to get him a flannel shirt. We picked up a couple pair of jeans and were set.

Once we went home the kids went to work.   Elise wrapped the gifts while Alex and Zach baked his birthday cake.  They made chocolate cake and chocolate frosting. Their added touch was mixing in Heath Bar candy pieces into the frosting. They knew his favorite candy bar was a Skor bar, and Heath bar is about the same thing.

Zach worked on his “mega card” while Elise and Alex made a Happy BDay banner.

They also carved their pumpkins with some assistance, not too much from their older brother. They had the safety pumpkin carvers so I didn’t have to worry. That was what Dave thought we were doing that evening (but I knew he wouldn’t mind if that chore was finished when he got home.)

They decorated the chalk board by the front door and helped clean up the house.  It is me on the left and Dave on the right.

They arranged everything on the table for him.

They were SO proud and excited I can’t even tell you.  Other than taking them shopping at Kohls, they did it all. I was working in the family room.

After he came in from work and they did their surprise, he opened gifts…  Zach’s mega card is on top.

He was so excited for his Dad to see it. It was actually a “quiz” card.  He went and got Dave a pencil to fill in the answers. lol

Dave realized how hard he worked on it.  Zach tends to think he isn’t as smart as his other triplet brother and sister and tends to let them do the thinking. I told him he had to come up with his own idea because they were no smarter than he was… he just had to engage his brain. This was his idea entirely, and he was just beaming!

Dave read his other cards – from Elise

His card from Alex

This was the other card the Elise made him.  It was a flower. She handed us each a white piece of paper to write our Birthday message on for him, then folded them, added the color pieces inbetween and made it into her “card – flower”.

He opened his clothes and then we surprised him telling him we were taking him to dinner. But we wouldn’t tell him where.  (He figured it out about 5 miles from the restaurant)

Dave’s kids had never been to a Japanese Restaurant and Dave and I had talked previous about trying to get them to one.  So I knew he’d love it.   Dave and I were disappointed when we left. I hadn’t been to this particular restaurant for a long time, but it was the closest one to us. This was the first time that our chef was not Asian. Ok, that is no big thing, but this guy hardly talked to us, did no knife throwing and generally didn’t put on much of a show at all. He did one fire thing at the beginning and did a little onion volcano and that was it.  The kids knew no difference, so they still loved it. But it will be the last time I go to that restaurant.

We came home and had his cake (which was very good. I did have a little piece)

Link up to My Linky Party

What is happening in your life this week? But as always you can link up any organizing or cleaning or DIY post to my link party.

You can find the link for my button and also my “Proud to Be Featured Button” on my top “Buttons” Tab.

1) Link to your specific post – not your blog
2) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link (link just above underneath my button)
3) I’d love if you’d follow me on google and/or FB. The google is new and I’m trying to build it
4) Blog post related to Organizing or Cleaning or DIY or decorating
5) No sales pitches or web sites.
6) If I feature you I will use one or more of your pictures with a link back to your blog.
7) Feel free to link up more than 1 post.

Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list. If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple. If You Are On A Reader and Want to View All the Great Link Up’s on this post please Click Here.
This party will be open until October 30, 2011

Organizing Mission Monday Link Party – Week 43

Halloween Is Fast Approaching

Are you a big Halloween buff?  Have you started decorating the outside of your house in lights and accessories?

I have seen several houses in my town that have up more Halloween decorations than most people do for Christmas!  It is amazing how big this holiday has become.

I have to admit that I’m not a huge Halloween participant.  We have fun with a few little decorations, carve jack-o-lanterns and take the kids trick-or-treating – but I don’t have major parties, or do the blood & guts decorating or costumes.

How extensive do you do Halloween?

Here are some photos from our recent visit to Pigeon Roost Farm. We just discovered this place this year and loved it.

They had So much for the kids to do. There were a couple gift shops, food to eat, animals, and all kinds of pumpkins of course.

The corn maze was huge!!  If you looked at it from an airplane you would see the outline of a rooster.  There is Alex & Elise coming out of the maze.

 These tubes were a favorite of the kids.  There was a big area and several of these tubes that everyone took turns in.

The kids each picked out a pumpkin before we left. It was a pay per pound system.  I think they averaged out to $5 per pumpkin, which was pretty much the going rate for the sizes they picked out.

Elise got one of those gross warty pumpkins. I can hardly stand to look at those things!!  It should be interesting carving that one. She plans on making it into a witch.

Next up will be carving the pumpkins!

 

Link up to My Linky Party

What is happening in your life this week? Feel free to post your halloween preparations this week! But as always you can link up any organizing or cleaning or DIY post to my link party.

You can find the link for my button and also my “Proud to Be Featured Button” on my top “Buttons” Tab.

1) Link to your specific post – not your blog
2) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link (link just above underneath my button)
3) I’d love if you’d follow me on google and/or FB. The google is new and I’m trying to build it
4) Blog post related to Organizing or Cleaning or DIY or decorating
5) No sales pitches or web sites.
6) If I feature you I will use one or more of your pictures with a link back to your blog.
7) Feel free to link up more than 1 post.

Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list. If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple. If You Are On A Reader and Want to View All the Great Link Up’s on this post please Click Here.
This party will be open until October 30, 2011

Organizing Mission Monday Link Party – Week 42

Staying on Target!

Maintaining Focus and Concentration

Do you have difficulty doing this? I’ll admit to you that I do! When it comes to certain tasks I have trouble staying on task. It is so easy to get side tracked. Other times I can become “hyper-focused” and go into what I call “work mode”.

I have trouble when it comes to reading and focusing to do written work. I have to (and have always had to) have it completely quiet to concentrate. If the kids are around, tv is on or there are distractions I have a lot of difficulty. I can read the same paragraph a dozen times before I actually “get” what it is saying.
When I do get into the “zone” I can go like gang busters and get a lot done. But don’t interrupt my focus!

Of my four boys, all four of them are ADHD or ADD. My oldest was evaluated when he was young but determined not to have ADHD. As an adult in the Army now, he has been diagnosed with it. It came to light during his intensive 6 month training as a lab tech.
The other three boys were all evaluated young. My middle two were in 3rd and 4th grade. My youngest was three years old.

Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to realize that you aren’t alone! I don’t want you to feel like you can’t achieve things because you have trouble focusing or you have ADD. It might take you a little longer to finish the task. You might have to adjust to the situation (for instance: putting on headphones to bring in “white noise” to block out other distractions) but you just have to find your “focus zone” and work it.

Link up to My Linky Party

What is happening in your life this week? But as always you can link up any organizing or cleaning or DIY post to my link party.

You can find the link for my button and also my “Proud to Be Featured Button” on my top “Buttons” Tab.

1) Link to your specific post – not your blog
2) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link (link just above underneath my button)
3) I’d love if you’d follow me on google and/or FB. The google is new and I’m trying to build it
4) Blog post related to Organizing or Cleaning or DIY or decorating
5) No sales pitches or web sites.
6) If I feature you I will use one or more of your pictures with a link back to your blog.
7) Feel free to link up more than 1 post.

Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list. If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple. If You Are On A Reader and Want to View All the Great Link Up’s on this post please Click Here.
This party will be open until October 16, 2011

Organizing Mission Monday Link Party – Week 41

Homecoming Weekend!

Homecoming weekend! The cooler air, high school football, bonfires (well at least we used to have a big bonfire each year.) We also had floats for our homecoming celebration each year.

The kids high school doesn’t do the floats, but they do have a homecoming court and on the Saturday night of that weekend they have their homecoming dance.

My son Tim’s girlfriend won homecoming queen this year! We are so proud of her… what an honor to have your fellow classmates vote for you. It isn’t all about looks, personality plays a big part in it. (But she is so cute too! lol)

Here are some shots of Tim (Tim graduated last year, but his girlfriend is a senior)  and his date and my stepson Drew and his date.

Update on Sadie my dog: Her vet saw her this last Saturday again. He is leaning more towards the thyroid cancer. The only real way to know which it is would be to get a biopsy. He said they are inoperable and he doesn’t advise it. I don’t want to put her though anything more than necessary either. She lost another 2 pounds this week.
Oh… he did say to take her off the Blue Buffalo food. He said it is good as a natural product, but it is too high in protein. He wants her to have more carbs. She has high kidney labs (not good…beginnings of kidney failure) and he wants to get her level down. Too much protein is harder on her kidney. He had me get Hills Science Diet Active Longevity food. So off to the store we went. I’ll work on mixing it with her other food for a smooth transition. It is still expensive food, but better than the Blue Buffalo…so that’s a good thing!

Link up to My Linky Party

What is happening in your life this week? But as always you can link up any organizing or cleaning or DIY post to my link party.

You can find the link for my button and also my “Proud to Be Featured Button” on my top “Buttons” Tab.

1) Link to your specific post – not your blog
2) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link (link just above underneath my button)
3) I’d love if you’d follow me on google and/or FB. The google is new and I’m trying to build it
4) Blog post related to Organizing or Cleaning or DIY or decorating
5) No sales pitches or web sites.
6) If I feature you I will use one or more of your pictures with a link back to your blog.
7) Feel free to link up more than 1 post.

Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list. If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple. If You Are On A Reader and Want to View All the Great Link Up’s on this post please Click Here.
This party will be open until October 2, 2011

Organizing Mission Monday Link Party – Week 40

Sadie might have Thyroid Cancer

Sadie is my 9 year old Lab/Shepherd/Husky mix that I got as a rescue pup. Her litter of seven pups had parvo and had been left to die (one did). But a vet took them in at the Annhurst Animal hospital and treated them.  He then adopted them out.  My neighbor at the time got Lexie, who looked like a Shepherd.  I decided to go look at the pups after she was telling us about how cute they were.

Sadie became my soul-mate dog from the first couple of days.  We connected.  She is a extremely smart, but she is also highly scared of loud noises, storms, gun shots and fireworks.

I found a lump on her neck and took her into the vet.  His first thought was that she had thyroid cancer.  But he drew blood work and after we said she wasn’t acting the least bit sick, he thought it might just be thyroiditis.  Her kidney & liver labs were showing she was in the beginning phases of kidney & liver failure.  He treated her with antibiotics, suggested we switch her food to get her away from the corn & wheat.

But I’ve been noticing some changes.  The lumps on her neck are worse.  She is snoring, has a runny nose a lot, has had a pale tongue several times, has lost 5 pounds, and even though winter is coming… she is shedding like crazy.

We took her back to the vet on Saturday. They did more blood work, the kidney & liver functions looked better (so I am a believer now in the high quality food) It was not our normal vet and she suggested we wait and talk to him on Tuesday to hear his plan of action, but she felt that if it had been the thyroiditis, the lumps would be gone.. not worse.  She said that if it was the cancer she might have 6 months to a year to live.

I did some reading on the net about it.  After reading several people who put their dog through the surgery and chemo and or radiation… I feel almost certain I would never put her through that.  But I’ll wait and talk to the vet and see what he suggests.

I can’t imagine losing her, although I know she is a dog and I’d be losing her in the next 5-6 years anyway. But I’ll admit that I will be a basket case when the time comes.

For now.. she still seems healthy, other than a few minor things that otherwise I might not have even noticed.  So if this is the case… I’ll be her doggie hospice… and will do my best to give her the best last several months that she can have.

Link up to My Linky Party

What is happening in your life this week? But as always you can link up any organizing or cleaning or DIY post to my link party.

You can find the link for my button and also my “Proud to Be Featured Button” on my top “Buttons” Tab.

1) Link to your specific post – not your blog
2) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link (link just above underneath my button)
3) I’d love if you’d follow me on google and/or FB. The google is new and I’m trying to build it
4) Blog post related to Organizing or Cleaning or DIY or decorating
5) No sales pitches or web sites.
6) If I feature you I will use one or more of your pictures with a link back to your blog.
7) Feel free to link up more than 1 post.

Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list. If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple. If You Are On A Reader and Want to View All the Great Link Up’s on this post please Click Here.
This party will be open until October 2, 2011

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