Good clean fun!

I have to say what a fun suprise it was to find myself over at Today's Creative Blog! I am not sure what was more fun- getting to be featured on the blog or the fact that being featured on the blog alerted me to such a fun fun blog. If you haven't already, run over and check it out. Great stuff- plus Kim is a local girl so that is fun! I got a few emails and a comment or two asking me about how I put together the auction lampshade so in the next week or so I will do a little tutorial so keep your eyes peeled!

This evening starts the holiday of Ayyam'i'Ha and part of that is giving gifts so the kids and I whipped up some soap for them to give to their friends. It really could not be easier so it is a great project for most ages. You just buy a big block of glycerin soap from Michaels, cut it up into 1" (or so ) size pieces and melt them in the mocrowave. After they are melted, stir in a little soap food coloring and fragrance and pour it into molds. We put little plastic toys and glitter in our soaps. I love the way this yellow fish pops out of this purple and the way he is swimming through his glitter.
This hammerhead is also a favorite. We are completely shark crazy over here. So tonight we will wrap them up in nice cellophane bags and get ready to gift them all away. Except the starfish, which was gifted to me today from my lovely girl.

Finally!!!

It has been a long time since the last good estate sale. I mean a loooooong time. We found one saturday and we were not disapointed. What is it about buying other people's crap that I find so great? The little yellow cat is actually a pencil sharpener- you sharpen your pencil in the hole in his belly and then the feet swivel around so you can dump out the shavings. I had this very one when I was little so it was a buck I was happy to part with. I got the enamel pin and earrings for $5. The earrings are clips that would have you bleeding in a matter of minutes so I need to figure out how to make them posts. They are so cute and perfect for spring. That little basket of fruit is a keychain or something. Just too cute to leave there. Next we got a bag of buttons for $5. I quickly pulled out some of my favorites- there are a lot of good ones. I am going to pick out the ones I love and then let the kids do whatever they like with the rest.
I love those little swirly goldish glass ones. We also got a nice hose reel with lots of hose for $9. We have a large yard so it will be a nice addition- that poor lilac in the very back corner may get watered this summer. We got to have a date to the Garden Show yesterday. We try to go every year- there is still so much to do in our yard it is nice to get some inspiration. I have to say that one day I will build a big brick outdoor fireplace. There is just something so great about a big fireplace outside. The show was not as good as last year but we played games to make it more interesting- you got a point for every mullet, crazy knitted sweater and lost husband you could spot. We also had a good chuckle from the guy who looked deep into my husband's eyes and asked him how "How is your nozzle working" and the old guy walking around with his ,F@@k milk, Got Pot?" Tshirt on. We were able to buy some great Dahlia bulbs and this year I will put them somewhere safe as last years Dahlia bulbs came home in a paper sack and my husband put them in recycling. Recycled $35 worth of bulbs. He also recycled a bag full of vintage children's sewing patterns but that is a story for another day...

My Favorite!

I just love Valentines Day. It's quick- not too much build up- just a fun day of sweets and nice words wrapped up in frilly pinkness. I like to make M something festive to wear for Valentines Day and I got this remnant for $2 at Joanns. I added the ruffle and other fabric but all in all, very cheap and she was thrilled with it. She really is a skirt or jeans only kind of girl and the skirt she will be able to wear for awhile. She is like a little amazon princess- so tall. Isn't that print just adorable? I so dig those boots- I had to hunt them down on ebay because that was the only place I could find them. She had these when she was about three and wore them all the time so I had to find another pair. I wish I could have found the turquoise again but the pink is fun too.

We had a bake sale on saturday with a bunch of other kids to raise money to buy movies for one of the local children's hospitals. We made coconut balls from an old Martha Stewart Everyday Food. One of our favorites- Yum!

And I made caramel apples for the first time in...well, probably ever. I may have made them once in my childhood but I just can't recall. I melted guittard milk choclate chips (soooo good!)and drizzled them with it so they were big and so yummy looking. Didn't eat any but they looked good. I didn't know it at the time but the chocolate all over them prevented them from sticking to the bags which was very helpful. They were a big hit. Everything everyone made was a big hit and we managed to make $300! Not bad! That will buy plenty of movies. We did a similar thing in the summer and all the kids raised $283 to go towards a cow through Heifer International. We try to do regular things like this so that the kids really get a feel for how they can help other people. Happy almost Valentines Day! Don't eat too many of those little necco hearts!

More lampshade upgrades

So M decided this lamp was hers now and I was happy to have a new brighter lamp in her room as my old lady eyes are finding it harder to see in dim light. We looked in the window of a cute little boutique next to the chocolate shop and they had a shade all covered with fake pink roses. She loved it so I suggested we go pick out some flowers and do our own- she liked the idea so off to Michaels we went. She picked orchids and other ruffly flowers and is thrilled with how it turned out. Here is a full length- I love the little flower on the end of the pull chain-It is amazing what you can do with a three dollar hot glue gun.

We are all pretty over winter here so it is nice to have a little springy touch in her room. We did manage to have two snow days, though you east coasters would laugh because an inch of snow here practically shuts down the city. I love this photo of Dusty in the snow. Even though you can't see his face, the contrast is nice and you get a good feel for how absolutely snuggly this dog is. And here is our tiny little snowman that L made. It was melted and gone by 1:00 p.m. I have to say though, that waking up to a suprise snow is just magical.

It's that ime again!

First off, The kids picked lucky number 1 so Tricia, the Valentines are yours! Please email me your address so I can get them off to you before Valentines Day.

So the lamp above is this year's auction project for my daughter's kindergarten class. I find I usually want to be decorative and practical-ish in the auction projects I do with the classes. Though last years project was sort of a funny shape to be too proactical. Another Mom helped with my sons class so there was just one project this year and that was fine with me. I think the little drawings are so sweet. There is one on there with a tiny face drawn and a big "I love you Mom!" What parent could resist that? Here is one more shot: Just fabrics from the stash and a five dollar Ikea lamp. I will probably make another for her teacher appreciation gift as I had the kids do two drawings each. Pays to plan ahead so that teacher appreciation gift doesn't sneak up on you.
I have been trying to work more fun projects in and I will tell you, if you don't watch tv at night, there is no end to what you can accomplish. The banner is from some linoleum blocks I carved up the other night. I have been wanting to do that for some time and it was so relaxing and fun and they turned out with better detail then I thought they would. Plus I didn't carve a big chunk of flesh out of myself which felt like a pretty real possibilty as I was digging through that linoleum so that was a pretty big plus.

New blog Valentine giveaway!

I made the move. My blogging efforts have been less than stellar and I felt the need for something new. My first blog was on blogger back in the day so I have gone back to my roots. Mommo was feeling tired. To celebrate, I have some Froy and Olo Valentines in my stash that I would love to share. I have closed the Froy and Olo site for the time being so these will be the opnly F&O valentines going out this year. Too much work and not enough play was not only making me dull, it was making me crabby and resentful so it had to be done! So just leave a little comment and I will pull a name in a few days. Thanks for stopping by!