DIY Topiaries

So my friend and I were happily strolling through a fancy shop in the quaint, historic part of her town and we spied these amazing topiaries.  At about $65 retail price, I was shocked.  My friend mentioned how easy it would be to make them.  And of course, I agreed.  *smiles*

I'd been wanting to find something tall and "natural" for the dresser in our master bedroom.  The topiaries were the perfect idea!  I decided that I didn't like the clay pot look, and used some chalkboard paint I had purchased earlier.

A run to Hobby Lobby, a quick stroll around my backyard and voila!

(If you wait until each item goes on their 50% off sale, you can make these topiaries for about $6.50 each.  MUCHO cheaper than $65 per green thing.  Yes!)

Looks navy blue when you open the can!

One coat, with a foam brush, was all I needed.

I opted for the pre-made greenery balls.
There really wasn't much of a price difference.
You could make your own for a more custom look.

One package of moss covered the tops of all 3 pots.

Chalk markers, or pens, are simply amazing.
Favorite new find.

I can write whatever words I'd like - seasonal, some special note, etc.

Standing tall on the dresser.

Vintage Gun Cabinet to Jewelry Hutch

Habitat for Humanity has a great store not far from our house.  One time we just "stopped in" and this is what I fell in love with...it was only $25.

This cabinet was supposed to be for a spot in our guest bath, but at some point an idea jumped into my head...a jewelry hutch!  For years and years I've been trying to come up with some way to store ALL of my accessories in one place.  The jewelry chest my husband bought me a few years ago was nice, but all my chunky vintage pieces well, they didn't fit.  So I had the jewelry chest, and a hanging bag and a pile, and then another hanging bag...all in the same closet!  Nothing I have is valuable, so it's not like I needed a way to keep things "safe," but a way to keep all my pieces in one place would change my life!  *winks*

Original Hinges

Gun rack and support for old shelving.

DIY Chalk Paint via I Heart Nap Time

Paint will be very thick, keep stirring!

I just loved the swirls!  *smiles*

I chose a $3 Oops! paint for my shelf color.
(More coral than peach in person.)

The Vaseline trick via really works!

With the Vaseline, paint just wiped right off.  
(I did use a chisel to scrape off the old white paint in the places I wanted that chippy look,
so the  natural wood underneath would show through too!)

A good soak in hot, soapy Dawn helped the old paint peel off!

Hobby Lobby and their 50% off hooks afforded me a great vintage style look.

My husband is so handy.  He's helped me with every project I've ever wanted to do.  He's full of marvelous ideas.  *pats husband on back*  He knocked out the gun rack and extra shelf supports.  Put in another board on top for screwing the cabinet into the wall and well, everything!

Here's the finished product...I'm in LOVE with it!

My husband hung this massive cabinet on the wall - top hooks I can just reach.
An insane amount of bling fits in here!
(I will stack more of the wonderful bamboo cases on the 2nd shelf - after I go back to get more!)
When all my "jewels" are displayed, it's amazing!  *smiles*

Wood Block frame I made here holds a vintage Scripture found in an old house.
Hands business card holder serves as a great cocktail ring holder!

IKEA paper towel holder for bracelets - was on sale for .50 cents!

Oatmeal box  - headbands fit great!

Product Review - Shout Color Catcher

About two years ago, I took moooost of a quilting class with a friend at her church.  *BIG grin*  There, the ladies introduced me to an amazing laundry tool - Shout Color Catcher.

After ruining a new red and white striped rug, an newly made quilt, a few baby clothes and the like, I grabbed on to these Color Catchers.

The size of a dryer sheet, you simply toss a Color Catcher into the wash and it literally catches the colors as they run.  Colors run onto this sheet instead of onto your clothes.  It's simply wonderful.  This product works.

Now, when I wash a new garment for the first time or washing something old or super nice (if I'm worried about the colors running) instead of washing it alone and wasting all that time, water and energy, I merely toss in a Color Catcher and wash a full load!

Five outta Five is what I give the Shout Color Catcher.  My stamp of approval for sure.  Try it.

Like the Shout on Facebook to get coupons and special offers!

*I was not paid to give this review.  I did not receive product to review.*

Disney Princesses. Fairy Tale or Reality?

Disney Princess Clipart

I have a problem.  And this problem is a tricky one.  I don't like the Disney Princess culture.  It bothers me.

Another part of this problem is that my daughter is noticing the princess stuff everywhere we go - everywhere.  (Standing in line at Lowes they're selling Disney Princess color books!)  She's really drawn to it and loves being a princess.  Thus, why it's on my mind.

Let me set the record straight...

I love dress up.
I love pretend/make believe.
I love girlie-girl.
I love, true love stories.
I love true princesses.

But I don't love having my daughter bombarded with fake-ness.  The original fairy tale stories are wonderful, but it's how Disney has manipulated and over sold them hits me wrong.  I feel Disney has capitalized on a natural part of a growing girl - learning about herself, her self-image, her dreams.  (Smart business move!)  Every girl wants to be thought of as pretty.  Every girl wants to be loved and adored by someone.  Every girl wants to be strong and confident.

GearFuse

Somehow this artists rendering of Belle seems a bit more accurate.  Not all little girls are teeny tiny.  But if you get a steady intake of Disney Princesses, you swallow the lie that you have to be super skinny to be a princess and get the prince.

Also, to be a real Princess, you're going to have to rebel against something.  Your dad, your mom, your culture - something.  You're going to have to fight (as a child, or very young adult) to get what you want or what you believe in.

The original Princess stories were about a damsel in distress - Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella - true make-believe, fairy tale stories.  Their handsome prince comes to fight away the evil and save the day.  Disney started with a sweet foundation and twisted in various religious beliefs, self-centeredness, self-sufficiency and a lack of respect for authority.  (And more!)

This "not-so-current blog" has much to say on this issue, PrincessCulture also has this link to a clip from ABC News back in 2007.

PrincessProduction is also an "out-of-date" blog, but one that makes some great, more detailed points.

Please, if you have a precious princess of your own, take some time to consider what I and the blogs above have said.  Don't just buy in to a culture for your little one that was created by a business move.

I believe if we allow our children to become absorbed with any one thing for an extended time - a food, an action character, a series of books, etc. - it can become harmful for them.

As far as this house, we are going to continue playing dress-up, purple eye shadow included.  But we are not going to glorify the Disney Princess culture.  We are not going to have a favorite princess, or on purpose buy as much Princess pinkness as my daughter's heart can handle!  We will graciously accept Disney Princess gifts from those who don't know my view.  (Honestly, we may exchange the gift for something else if possible.  If we can't, then we will gratefully play with the toy!)

I want my little one to enjoy being a child.  I want her to play pretend.  I want to to experiment with hair, make-up and clothes.  I want her to have fun, giggle and read books with me - lots.  But I also want some reality thrown in - honesty, respect, hard work and a firm foundation about what she believes and who she is in Christ.

So Bibbity-Bobbity-Boo...to you!  (As we creeeep towards October.)  *winks*

Garden Fresh Salsa

So, as I posted a couple days ago, my daughter and I just returned home from vacation.  My friends had a wonderful, wonderful garden going full steam.  The tomatoes were so ripe and begging to be used.

Somehow in all my years, I've never made blender salsa.  This seemed like a task a toddler and Mommie could tackle.  (My friend of one her kiddos also joined in!)

Being away from home, my computer and "regular" internet (yup, out in the boonies!) I turned to my phone for Google.  "Blender Salsa" turns up some significantly different recipes, so I blended my own blender salsa.  Turned out super yum if you ask me...and my friend, and my husband, and my daughter, and...and...*smiles*

Ingredients I used...not measured, but a handful, a dash and to taste.  *winks*

Tomatoes

Cilantro

Jalapeno

Yellow Onion

Cumin Powder

Garlic Powder

Salt

Pepper

Honey

If you're a stickler for exact cooking, here is a marvelous looking recipe similar to what I tried...

Mountain Mama Cooks

Kids Get in the Way

MizWhiz

All I wanted to do was get my house clean.  Company was coming over and I wanted to "put my best foot forward."  It was one of those "distract my child as easily as possible day" so I turned on Ni Hao Kai'lan, Curious George, Pooh and whatever other "babysitter" that was needed.  But, all SHE wanted was her Mommy.

"Mommy hold me."

"Mommy, come play with me."

"Mommy, sit with me."

"Mommy, rock me."

"Mommy, read me a book."

"Mommy, eat with me."

"Mommy, help  me go potty."

My child was in the way of me achieving my goals.  I had this list of things that needed to be done, and I mean needed.  And there she was, causing me to literally stumble over her.  My little ankle biter was crawling up my legs.  Crying for me.  Begging for me.  Seriously, she was getting in my way!  A couple hours into this that wave of conscience, or better judgement or whatever you call it hit me,

"What better to do with my day then spend it with my daughter?  She is my life's work.  She's more valuable than a clean house or the reputation of being one of those "put-together moms" who has a perfect house."

There I was with a self-conscious need to "look good" for company, while my daughter had a genuine need for some TLC from her Mommy.  This is a lesson that is so hard for me to learn!  

Kids get in the way - but in the way of what?  Yes, my life has to slow down.  Yes, my sleep is interrupted.  Yes, my goals are often put on the back burner.  Yes, that nap or fussy time made me late.  Yes, I was embarrassed at my child's behavior during dinner.  Yes, I don't get to spend as much time crafting or practicing music as I used to before baby.  

But are kids really in the way, or are they helping us get our priorities right?  Do all those little "getting in my way" scenarios help me see my own self-ish, self-centered heart?

If she doesn't do this exact thing, my exact way, at my exact time, there's something wrong with my child - she's strong-willed, disobedient, etc.  Perhaps it's not the child (granted, it might be, depending on the instance!) but instead, is it me trying to live my life around my kid, instead of living joyfully with them?

Airport Etiquette - The Make-Out

MommyGaga

Dear Dramatic,

Kissing your 20(ish) year old, foul mouthed, headed to the Navy boyfriend, in the terminal for 5 minutes straight - while crying, and groping his head, with everyone standing in line ready to board the plane -  really does nothing but prove that...you're desperate, over-emotional, silly and quite immature.  At least, that's what your behavior would make things appear.

A nice kiss, maybe 2,a hug and a few tears with a goodbye are all that are needed in public.  (And you're lucky, in some cultures that's waaaay over the line.)

I appreciate your exuberance and feelings, but next time, say the dramatic goodbye before you go your separate ways.  Or like everyone says, "Get a room!"

Thanks.