Saturday, January 21, 2012

I'm not dieting...................

I hate dieting. And I hate talking about it. I love to cook, I love to bake, and I LOVE to eat. I try very hard to make healthy meals and snacks for my family, but I continue to be frustrated at that extra 10 lbs that I've been carrying around since my daughter was born. (She's six!) So, after careful consideration, I decided to join Weight Watchers online. I have to say, it's all thanks to Pinterest. (I know I mention that site a lot, but it's just so fun!) I have a board with pictures of yummy meal ideas, and I noticed a lot of the pins were Weight Watchers recipes. I decided to join to get the recipes, as they look like things I would love to try anyway, and maybe I can fool myself into believing it's not really a diet. If you're eating what you like, you don't feel deprived......right? We'll see. I signed up yesterday, and am starting today. I figure if I talk about it every now and then, it will keep me accountable. We'll see how that goes too. :)
On my way out, here are a few pics of some tasty looking treats from Weight Watchers!






Yum, right?!

Friday, January 20, 2012

Snow day =Pajama day!

"School is cancelled due with weather." What a great text to wake up to this morning! I know we'll have to make it up at the end of the year, but there's something about getting to stay home, lounging in pajamas, on a beautiful snowy morning. I do have things I could be doing, but I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't get to them. My to-do list includes:cleaning out and organizing my closet; doing laundry; organizing kids rooms & closet; organizing laundry/craft room/storage room. Hmmmmmm...........that's WAY too much organizing for a lazy day like today. I'm thinking I may opt for cookie baking and movie watching with my kids. We have an incredible sledding hill out back that is calling our names, but with the temps barely above zero here, that might have to wait.
Before I head out, thought I'd share some cheery "likes" from my Pinterest page. Doing the calico floral print theme today. :) Enjoy your day!



















Tuesday, January 17, 2012

My latest folk art snowman on etsy

This past weekend was a bit of a bummer. Had lots of fun plans, and ended up home with a yucky case of strep throat. Was feeling much better this morning and went to work, only to have to leave after an hour with my daughter Abry, because she was complaining her throat hurt. :( As bad as I felt, I'm hoping I can get ahead of it with her. Can't stand to see my kids sick and hurting. She's tucked snugly in bed right now watching cartoons, while we wait to go back to town to pick up her medicine, so I'm sneaking in a few moments here. I finished my latest folk art snowman last week, so thought I'd share my etsy listing. Hoping to work on my shop a bit this afternoon while Abry rests. Here's wishing you a germ and sick free day!



BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE! January 2012 has been SO confusing in this small Iowa town, as is seen by the expression of my snowman's face. He got all dolled up and ready for winter, only to find Spring like temps! Well, the temps have finally dropped, a blanket of fresh sparkly snow has fallen, and my frosty guy is ready to make his grand appearance. :)






This snowman is probably one of my favorite folk art pieces. Lots of time and thought went into his making. His head is sculpted from paper clay, then painted and glittered. His body is a painted wooden window finial. He wears a felt hat with the addition of vintage sequins, a sparkly pom pom, and mini turquoise pom pom trim.
His collar shows off more vintage sequins, a band of pretty baker's twine, and is "fastened" with a vintage painted button. He rests in a bed of faux evergreen decorated with primitively painted bells, all settled in a vintage tin mold. From the base to the tip of his hat, he measures in at approx. 11". I love this little guy, and will have a hard time seeing him go, but know someone out there will love him, and give him a great home! :)

******Excited to say, a few days after my post, my little guy SOLD! :)******

Friday, January 13, 2012

Chalkboard Paint

The new year is here, and with that, I've had great intentions of blogging more. I lay in bed each night, thinking I have a head full of ideas to share. Unfortunately, as usual, life just seems to get in the way of my blogging fun! This morning, I'm finally at it. We have a day off from school, and it's snowing outside, (YEAH!), so I feel like tackling a project. I'm thinking it may be my dining room table..........
There's a bit of a story to it. I have two of the same. My parents had bought my husband and I this farmhouse table as a wedding gift, then went back to the awesome store they bought it from,(The Calico Hen's House!), and bought one for themselves. My table, after three kids, had seen better days. It's soft pine, so anytime my kids decided to draw pictures, their designs were etched into the table top. One night at dinner, my husband decided he'd add to it.
Not sure if he was sweet, or crazy!

Last year, my parents did a complete remodel of their kitchen,including the purchase of a new dining table. Which, may I add, is gorgeous! Mom asked if I'd like her table, since it was in impeccable condition. I moved mine down to my work area, replaced it with hers, and had every intention of making sure it stayed the way we received it. I think that lasted about a month. My daughter is in kindergarten, and very much in to practicing the letters and words she's been learning. I had asked my kids to use a magazine under their papers when writing to save the table, but she "forgot". Now I have the abc's, 123's, and several other little princess drawings etched into this table.
So, what to do............
I've looked at pretty tablecloths. There are lots of nice options.
Like this one from Target.....


I've also considered having a top made, similar to this table from Ballard Designs.
Hmmmm......It's on sale...........

Last night another idea popped into my head.........What about painting the top with chalkboard paint?! When I mentioned the idea to my husband, he shook his head no. IF I decide to go for it, I'm just going to pretend I didn't see him. :) I love chalkboards. I have a great old one that I change out with the seasons.
I could see writing fun sayings on the table, like "EAT, DRINK, BE MERRY", or celebratory sayings for different family occasions. Wouldn't it be cute to draw a birthday cake with candles and balloons on the table for someone's special day?!

Before I dive in, and just do it, I thought I'd hit Pinterest and look for some "pinspiration". :)
Here are a few tables I found.



Cute ideas to ponder. I figure worst case scenario, if I don't like it, I'll repaint it and distress it, or just go to the first idea, and throw a pretty table cloth over it!

Before I sign out, I have to share some of the other chalk board paint fun!













If that's not enough for you, go to Pinterest and type in chalkboard paint. The possibilities are endless!

Enjoy your day! :)