Neighbor Gifts- Snowman Boxed Candy

I love to give cute little gifts to my neighbors, mailman, etc. at Christmas time but being on a budget tenders to hinder my GRANDIOS ideas. I got this idea from my SIL A. She gave this gifts in her singles ward and I loved the idea. You take a simple box of store bought candies, wrap it, decorate it, and Ta da! An inexpensive gift!

1. Take your store bought candy (mine was $1. SCORE!) and wrap it in white tissue paper.

2.Put a small line of hot glue on the edge of the hat fabric (I used felt but you can use anything) and glue the other edge to it.

3.Glue the hat to the wrapped box.

4.Take another small strip of fabric and glue it around the box about 1 1/2-2 inches down from the hat.

5.I then took embrodery floss (it was right there since I'm working on another project but you can use regular thread too) and needle and sewed a running stitch parallel to the top of the box.

6.It wasn't tight enough for my liking so I wrapped the floss around the stitching and tied a knot.

7.Then I cut 1/2 inch strips in the fabric to make a hat.

8.With a preminate marker, I drew on a face and buttons. When the hubby came home from work and saw what I made he announce that it needed a carrot nose so I'll cut small orange triangle out of felt and glue that on too.

I hope you like this easy gift and if your one of my neighbors, watch out! You might get this soon!

Wordless Wednesday- Sunning Myself

Sunny Sundays- Easter

"And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: For I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead..." --Matthew 28:5-7

Wordless Wednesday- Playground Fun

Sunny Sunday- Jennifer Garner

"Beauty comes from a life well lived. If you've lived well, your smile lines are in the right places, and you're frown lines aren't too bad, what more do you need?"--Jennifer Garner

Fun Fridays- Steak and Mini Golf

Today's Fun Friday is also this week's Date with Nate. Last week, we got our tax return and decided to spurge a little and go out for steak! (You've heard about my obsession with meat so this was perfectly fine by me) We invited Jesse and Serena (like always) and went to Ruby River. It was so good. We all had steak but I think the best part of my dinner was the Cinnamon Butter Yam. It was heavenly and I didn't even have the cinnamon butter. Sweet Potatoes (yam's in the US are Sweet Potatoes) are my favorite veggies!

Nate with his non-alcoholic Peach Daquiri


Jesse and Serena

After dinner, we went to Trafalga in Orem. Nate and I are lucky that my mom bought us the Pass of All Passes for Christmas last year. Now we have dates anytime we want and it doesn't cost us a thing (unless we play arcade games). We played mini golf this time and guess what?!...I actually won! I never win! I was so happy! So! While we were playing, Nate spotted this written on the wall. He says he never wrote it so maybe it's the universe telling us we are meant to be! (At least I like to think that!)

This is me and my stash of tickets. We won over 900!!!


This is Nate playing his favorite game. It actually kicks like a real gun!


I love this picture of Jesse and Serena! This is their everyday faces!

We had such a great time! I recommend everyone get the Pass of All Passes! It is well worth it!

Sad day

Since the day I moved into my house, we've had a free wi-fi signal. It's been great! I get to use the internet and my "smart" phone (don't get me started on how not smart my "smart" phone is) without having to pay for it. But now the free ride has come to an end. I don't know who disconnected their wi-fi but now I don't have one. Sad! Now I have to pay for it like everyone else. Sorry to say there will be a short break from posts until I get hooked up again. Let's hope it's soon!

Wordless Wednesday-Shopping is Hard

Cute Clipboard

This year, I decided to start coaching girl's softball. No! I don't have a child playing. No! I don't have a niece playing. No! I don't have even a friend's child playing. I just love the sport and since I am too old to play (and I'm NOT playing slow pitch), I'm coaching. "If you can't play, coach!" Right!

Anyways! Tuesday was placement try-outs and I wanted a clipboard to write on. We bought a clipboard from Walmart for $1 and I decided to dress it up and give it so style.

Supplies:
Clipboard-$1
Mod Podge-$8
Scrapbook Paper-$.59 (unless on sale)

Difficulty: Easy
Time:30 minutes

1. Spray paint the back and sides of the clipboard. You can keep it wood if you like it but I wanted something different.

2. Trace around the metal part of the clipboard. I don't think you can Mod Podge on metal but I could be wrong.


3. Using a foam brush, paint on an even layer of Mod Podge on the clipboard. Lay your scrapbook paper on the clipboard, making sure that the bottom edge is even. Then paint on an even layer of Mod Podge on top of it. Don't wait for the bottom layer to dry before you do the top. You get more air bubbles that way and (as seen below) when you have an air bubble, you can't get it out.


4. My paper was a little smaller than the board so I cut strips of solid colored paper and put it around the edges of the clipboard.

5. I had an air bubble and I thought that I could just pop it but it ended up ripping.

6. Being crafty as ever, I just made a circle and glued it on top and then put another layer of Mod Podge on top. I Love it!!! Too bad they had clipboards at try outs so I didn't use mine. Oh well! Now I have a cute clipboard.

Sunny Sundays-Taxes

"I am proud to pay taxes in the United States. The only thing is, I could be just as proud paying half the money" --Arthur Godfrey

April Fool's a Little Late

I have a confession to make... I love to be "cutesy". I come up with ideas for holidays, anniversaries, birthdays, even just puns on words. I decided I wanted to do something special for April Fool's Day (I know that this is WAY late but like I told you in an earlier post, giveaway week killed me). I'm not a fan of practical jokes. I just wanted to do something fun so I decided to make a mixed up dinner. We had cupcakes for dinner and chicken nuggets for dessert. It was so much fun!


We invited a couple of our friends over for dinner and once they picked up the nuggets they knew something wasn't right. Jesse at one and said, "Hey that's not chicken nuggets!" It was a fun. The Nuggets are pound cake dipped in a glaze and rolled in crushed peanuts. It was super sweet but still fun. The Cupcakes are meat loaf with mashed potatoes on top. Jesse said that these were the only cupcakes he's ever liked. Now I guess I have to make them for his birthday every year! :) Just a fun idea for new April Fool's Day!

Fun Fridays- Bowling

The weekend of my birthday, my dad and step mom came up from Vegas for a visit. We had so much fun! We shopped and played and ate and laughed and talked. We had such a great time, I didn't want it to end! One of the fun activities we did was bowling. The hubby LOVES bowling and always tells me that while he was on his mission, he went bowling every week on this prep day. We don't go often and G has never been so this was a special treat!

Daddy helping G bowl

Strike!


Papa Zoom Zoom helping G bowl like a big boy


Nanny and G waiting for the ball

It was so much fun! G loved it so much! It was hard for him to wait for his turn. After everyone else's turn he would stand up and say "G--------'s turn!" Super cute! He had to tell him, No! You are after Zoom Zoom. We all had a great time. Zoom Zoom won and then it was Me, Nanny, Nate, and G (though he was better the majority of us for a long time). If you haven't been bowling for a while, grab the kiddos and go. It is well worth it!

Old Shoe Makeover

I know! I know! I've been slacking on my blogging duties but to tell you the truth, Weekend Week killed me. I am so tired and (don't say it too loud) I haven't been interested in crafting. I know it's terrible but true. I'm back on track now and ready with a super cute makeover.

These are my favorite flats! I love them so much I wear them almost everyday and you can see it's taken it's toll. They are dirty and the insoles are falling out so I decided to fix them up a bit.

Supplies:
An old pair of shoes
Scrapbook paper
Mod Podge

Difficulty: Super Easy
Time: 30 minutes PLUS drying time
Cost: Pretty much free is you have Mod Podge

1. Take out the insole of your favorite shoes. Mine were falling out already so it was pretty easy.

2. Trace the insole on some cute scrapbook paper.


3. Cut out the scrapbook paper. Cut it a little smaller than the insole. It will make it easier to put it back in your shoe.


4. Put an even layer of Mod Podge on the back of the paper.


5. Put the paper insole back into your shoe (this was the hardest part for me. I didn't cut the paper small enough). Make sure to get out all of the air bubbles then put a few layers of Mod Podge over the paper. This is where I made the mistake. I only put one lay and thought it would be good but then the paper ripped and came off. So make sure you do lots of layers.


6. And here you go. Still dirty and well used but a lot cuter. Now I just need to find my Magic Eraser and clean them up!

Wordless Wednesday- Daffodil

Another Date Night Jar Winner

Our last winner of the week is...

Wendy Tingey!!!

Congrats Wendy!!! I'll contact you on facebook and get the Jar to you soon!
Now I know you all are sad that this is our last giveaway but I'll try keep the giveaways coming (but not for a while. This week has worn me out!).

Giveaway- Another Date Night Jar

Okay! I know I've already given away a Date Jar but I love them and I want everyone to date their spouse so I'm giving away another one.


Like always, there are 3 ways to enter. 1-Be a follower of my blog 2-Post a comment on this post about the silliest date you've been on (mine was our DI and Dinner date) 3-"Like" my blog post on facebook. No entries after midnight.

More Marble Winner

The winner from yesterday's giveaway was....

Rachel Miramontes!!!


Rach!! You finally won!! And now I have an excuse to come see that boy of yours!!!

Giveaway- More Marble Magnets

I have some of my Mable Magnets left over from the last marble giveaway so I thought I'd give away 6 more.


3 ways to enter. 1-Be a follower of my blog 2-Comment on this blog something you'd like to win (anything, a car, maid service, a brownie, anything) 3- "Like" my blog post on facebook. No entries after midnight.

Apron Winner

I had 45 entries for yesterday's Apron giveaway! Crazy!! That must mean you like what it. It's crazy to thing that other people like my ideas and crafts. Thanks for following my blog. It means a lot to me! NOW! To the winner... The Winner of the cute Apron sewn by ME is....


Heidi Sue!!!


Congrats Heidi! I've almost got it finished and I'll get it to you.

Giveaway- Cute Apron

Today I thought that I would make one for my cute aprons for the giveaway. This is the picture on the pattern. I've made 2 of these aprons before (1 for my mother in law and 1 for me) and they turn out super cute! The one I'm giving away is white with bright pink flowers and a bright pink trim.


You can enter up to 3 times. 1-Be a follower of my blog 2-Post a comment here about your favorite thing to bake (apron...baking... get the connection?) 3- "Like" my blog post on Facebook.
As always, no entries after midnight.

Crocheted Head Band Winner

The winner of yesterday's Crocheted Head Bands are...

Kim Saling!!!


Kim, I'll send you a message on Facebook and I'll mail you the headbands! I hope you like them!

Giveaway- Crocheted Head Band

Today I decided to giveaway a bunch of my crocheted head bands. I love these and I've made some in all the colors that I have so I'm giving away 4 of them- black, gray, rainbow, and a variegated pink one.



Like yesterday you can enter 3 ways. 1-Be a Follower of my blog 2-"Like" my blog post on Facebook 3-Comment on this post if you can crochet and if you want to know how. Before I learned I really didn't have a desire to learn. My mom and grandma knew how to do it and I thought it was an old lady (Sorry mom) craft but then I started see all these cute 'hip' crafts and HAD to learn. (No Entries after Midnight)

Greeting Card Winner!

Today's Winner of the assortment of Greeting Cards is....

Deb Allred!!!

Congrats Deb! I'll probably bring them by on Saturday!

Giveaway- Greeting Cards

I love to make cards and I usually make them and never give them to anyone so I'm giving away an assortment of cards. 2 baby cards, 2 birthday cards, a get well soon, a thinking of you card, and 2 surprise cards. 8 cards that you can give to whom ever you'd like. (Sorry I'm not feeling well today so no pictures)

I've decided that you can have up to 3 entries today. 1-Be a follower of my blog 2-Post a comment on this blog post about giving cards (random I know, but I love to give cards for no reason) 3- "Like" my Blog Status on Facebook. No entries after midnight.

Magnet Winner

Today's Winner of the Flat Bottom Magnets is...

Jan Tranchell!!

I'm super excited for this giveaway! I think these are the cutest! Jan I'll bring the magnets by later (probably later today or on Sunday).

Giveaway-Marble Magnets

Today's Giveaway is 6 of my super cute Marble Magnets. To enter you need to be a follower of my blog and for an extra entry comment on this post about some cute home decor items that you want to make for your home. No entries after midnight. Winner will be announce tomorrow.

Date Jar Winner

I used a random number generator to pick our winner and it picked....

AMY MEREDITH!!!

Congrats Amy!! I'll get the jar to you soon!

Giveaway- Date Night Jar

Ok! I know I said that I was going to start my giveaway week on Sunday but I was having so much fun with my family that I didn't even turn on the computer. So I'm starting my giveaway now.


Today's giveaway is on of my Date Night Jars. There are over 70 different dates in the jar. To enter the giveaway, you have to be a follower of my blog and to get another entry comment on this post and tell me one of your favorite dates. No entries after midnight. I'll post the winner tomorrow!

Sunny Sunday- Birthday

"The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age."
--Lucille Ball

Wordless Wednesday- I'm Lovin' It

Growth Chart

I've been planning to make G a growth chart for months now. I've even had the supplies but with the weather being COLD and me being a SLACKER, I haven't done it. But the weather was in the 60's the last couple of day so I thought that I would get outside and start crafting.

Supplies:
Wooden Fence Post
White Paint
Colored Acrylic Paint
Wooded Shapes (Optional)

Difficulty: Easy
Time: an Hour
Cost: $10 if you have to buy white paint

1. Start off by sanding your board.

2. Paint it with the white paint. 2-3 cost best for even coverage.


3. Use a measuring tape and measure out feet and mark it on the board and paint it with the acrylic paints.

4. If you don't want to decorate your board then you are done (and truth be told, If I hadn't already painted my circles I would have called it good) but if you want you can buy a bag of wood shapes at JoAnn's for $2. Paint them with the same acrylic paints that you painted your numbers and let them dry.


5. Then using wood glue, the circles to the board and to each other. And Puff! A pretty awesome growth chart!


So...On a side note, I have an amazing helper. G loves to help, no matter what I'm doing. While he was playing outside I thought I could run inside and grab the same paints off the table (I forgot them). When I came back out (literally not more than 10 seconds) this is what I found. I asked him if he stepped on mommy's board and he looked me straight in the eyes and lied to me...What do you expect from a 2 year old? Honesty? I think not!


More of my awesome "helper". You can still see the gouge marks where he "painted" but it will be a great story to tell when he's older and asks...why are there all these marks? Because of you my boy...Because of you!