Autumn Chalkboard

We did some rearranging at our house this weekend.  And when I say some, I mean A LOT.  My whole house is upside down even though I worked until I collapsed at 10pm last night.  We had to move everything out of the Bub's room and the spare bedroom, which means most everything temporarily ended up in our bedroom or in the hall and kitchen.  It felt good to work that hard, but I was really exhausted when I went to bed.  And I only had a little time to do anything creative.  I made this chalkboard Saturday from a post I saw on another blog.  I love the quote and tried to make mine look as beautiful as the one I saw.



It turned out pretty close to the one I saw.  I need very sharp chalk to do really detailed lettering and I didn't have any, so I did the best I could with regular chalk.  I kinda like it, especially in that beautiful old frame.




And here it is on the table in the entryway.  It needs a little something else...maybe a burlap runner?

So, that's all I have for you today. Oh, I did get my fall mantle done and I'll show you that later this week when I hope to post my completed LR re-do. I just have to finish my pillows and the LR will finally be done! I'm determined to get it done before my back to back craft shows coming up.

Today, I'm linking up this post to Savvy Southern Style and to a linky party at http://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/get-your-diy-on-chalkboard-projects-features/ and http://www.thehankfulhouse.com/
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/
http://www.ellaclaireinspired.com/

Toodles, 

Total Change Of Plans and My Most Unattractive Character Flaw

Hey Y'all! For those of you who don't know me, I'm a HUGE planner and list-maker. My personality demands that everything in my life be organized and planned out. Sometimes I dislike that trait, other times it really pays off. But when a wrench is thrown into my "plans", it just completely throws me off course and I lose my motivation. If I can't get things done when I want them done, sometimes I just say forget it. I know, it's a serious character flaw. I'm working on it, I swear. I've had big plans for the spare bedroom since I moved my craft operation to the garage and have been working on it a little at a time. Now that it's getting closer to completion, the Bub informs me yesterday that he would like to move his bedroom to the spare bedroom because it's bigger and he can turn it into more of a "man cave". The Hub thinks this is a good idea as well. So, since it's hard to say no to my baby, I said okay. It's not like he's asking for anything material - just a little more space to spread his manliness. So everything is on hold until Sunday when both of my guys will be home to get his loft bed taken down and moved into the spare bedroom. Of course, the carpet will need to be cleaned in his room before I move the guest bed in there. I'm sure there's plenty of teenage boy funk on the floor!

Another change of plans happened yesterday as well. My day off was interrupted by a long work meeting in the middle of the day that lasted three hours. It was tedious and boring and just drained me of my motivation to do what I had planned to do. So I didn't get anything done in my craft area. Not one single thing. I did some cleaning in the house, took a nap, and cooked supper. That was all I could muster. And decorating for Fall - that's a whole 'nother issue. I have had shoulder surgery and try not to lift anything super heavy unless I absolutely have to. I've asked the Hub several times now to bring in my decorations from the barn and I still don't have them, so it looks like I'll absolutely have to do it myself. Since I'm giving the Bub the bigger room, I bet he'll make time to help me before he gets deep into his homework.

Like I said before, I'll start to lose my motivation if things I need to do or finish pile up and I get overwhelmed. Sometimes I have so much stuff to do that I just take a nap instead like I did yesterday. I need my house back in order and decorated for the season so I can relax. Does anyone else have this problem? Maybe I should start an online support group for the motivationally challenged and see how many people sign up. The first step is admitting you have a problem, right people?

Toodles,

Last Minute Post

I had a little free time this afternoon, so I thought I'd introduce all of my pets to you. Yes, we have a miniature zoo in our house, but what the heck, the more the merrier, right? You've all heard about Ducky, that little rascal, but the others are characters too. So, without further adieu...




Y'all remember Ducky, yes?



Here he is on his first trip to the beach last Thanksgiving.  At dinner, he said he was thankful for birds to chase and waves to catch.

This is Daisy hanging close on the porch with Mama.  She's a pound puppy.  The adoption fee was $107 and I had exactly $107 in cash in my purse, so it was totally meant to be.  She's been a great dog and she and Ducky adore each other.



Look at that funny little face.  Daisy Dooks!



Watching election night coverage with Mama.  Daisy's a Republican and she wasn't as happy with the results as Mama was.



This is Fonzie, aka Fat Louie.  He just luuuuuvs it when Mama holds him hostage on her lap.  We'v had him since the Bub was four years old - he was a birthday gift. He gets along with everyone in the house and loves to hang out with us when we're taking showers. Definitely everybody's favorite because he's floofy, soft, and sweet.



Dooks and Fat Lou - "May we help you?"

This is Bean, aka Beanie Bagga Donuts.  She is a grouchy little thing and has a pretty bad attitude with almost everyone in the house except for Daisy.  She does have sweet moments, but they are not a daily occurence.  We love her anyway though!

She is definitely the Bub's girl.  He can do just about anything to her and she's okay with it.  He has the magic touch. But that look on her face - I can't quite tell what it is. It's either "I love you sooo much" or "I'm gonna kill you in your sleep".

And last, but not least, this is Ginger.  We call her G-Money because she came from the mean streets of Ardmore Farms (our neighborhood).  She is blind in one eye and has tons of street cred.  Tiny for her age of seven years, she packs a mean punch.  Just ask Daisy - she's terrified of her!  She pretty much lives under our bed, ready to pounce at anyone who enters her territory.

But with us, she's super sweet and loving.  When I'm curled up in a chair or in bed, she has to be right up in my face, as close as she can get, so that I can't breathe.  She's my baby girl for sure.

That's a lot of pets, you say? It is, but they bring so much joy and laughter to our home that we just don't know what we'd do without them. I think the Bub might have a hard time when he goes off to college. It will be the first time he's ever lived without a pet in his whole life. That just means he'll have to coe home more though, so I'm okay with that! Besides, they say people with pets have lower blood pressure and live longer. I've got to get a cat for my Mom and Dad!Tell me about your pets and what they mean to you in the comments - I'd love to hear all about them.

Toodles,

Halloween Pretties and I'm Famous!!!

Just kidding. Not really "famous", okay? But I've had one of my posts featured for the first time on another blog! Abby at Just A Girl And Her Blog included my owl wreath in her "Get Your DIY On" linky party. She chose it as one of her favorite submissions and I'm just super excited about it, so go check it out! And people please, no autographs. ;)

The craft show was kind of a bust on Saturday. It was rainy and dreary, which is never good even if the show's inside, and the show was in a new location this year. Maybe people just didn't know about it, who knows? But I did make a whopping $53.00 and I'm gonna try not to spend it all in one place. The owl wreath that I made to sell was the first thing I sold, so I think those cuties were a hit. I actually sold ALL of the owl items that I had. So now I'm on the hunt for more owls... We had a lot of new Halloween items that are really cute too and I took some pictures to share.



A gorgeous wreath that my partner made and some really cute witch pictures.  And, of course, a snowman for good measure!



A giant bowl for Halloween candy and some darling Halloween garlands.  Creepy hand was just for effect - not for sale!

A feathery crow wreath and my Boo! owl.  A sweet little girl got the owl to hang on her front door!

Spooky crow on a stand.  Cute and creepy at the same time!



The skull looks like a monkey - his teeth are weird.  The creepy crow again and some bottles of poison and witches brew.



A fall platter that I stenciled and a few other fall things.



More bottles of poison and witches brew and a sparkly poison sign.  Poison goes down easier with a little bling, ya know!

Well, the good thing about not selling a lot at Saturday's show is that I don't have to break my neck trying to make more stuff for the next show! I have two weeks to do a little at a time - whatever creative idea hits me. My craft space in the garage looks like a tornado tore through it, so that's what I'll be working on tomorrow on my day off. If I get brave, I'll post some "before" pictures so you can see what a slob I am when I'm getting ready for a show! On second thought, every girl always needs to keep an air of mystery about her, so maybe I'll just post the "after" shots. Have a great day everybody and stay happy!

Toodles,

Beautiful Fall Wreath and Upcoming Craft Show

Hey Y'all! Hope everybody is having a great day. I sure am and I had a great day yesterday too - I got a lot done on my day off. I worked just a little in the spare bedroom. There's not much else I can do until I get some furniture moved out. Note to self: don't plan projects that involve heavy lifting during football season. My guys are either exhausted and asleep or gone to practices, games, or competitions this time of year. One thing I accomplished was not all that pleasant, but it HAD to be done. I cleaned out my fridge. Did you know that lettuce turns to liquid when left in the crisper too long? Well, it does and it is GROSS! But the best thing I did yesterday was make this beautiful Fall wreath for my front door...


Remember these tacky little fellas that I got for 50 cents? First, I painted them with orange glitter spray paint. That stuff worked great and covered really well.

Then I made a small burlap wreath using a wire wreath form. It was really easy and only took maybe 5-10 minutes. I chose some pretty fall floral picks and glittery leaves to add to the wreath. And I made a bow out of some of the burlap - I love how the ends naturally curl up. I didn't attach anything permanently so I can change out things for each season and use the wreath over and over. How's that for thrifty?

Here's a close up view of the owl. I just love him - I think he turned out really cute! The Hub was pretty impressed too. He thought I was crazy for buying those tacky plastic owls. But never fear, dear Hubby, I always have a plan! And this plan turned out pretty fantastic, don't ya think?

So, what about the other owl, you ask? I'm making another wreath almost exactly like this one and it will be for sale at the craft show I'm doing this weekend. If you're going to be near Kernersville, NC on Saturday, I'll be at the Kernersville Klassic Kraft and Kar Show. It's from 9am til 2pm and will be located at 365 West Bodenhamer Street. Please come by and see me if you get the chance - there will be cars for the dudes and crafts for the ladies! Fun times for all!
Today I'm linking this post to:
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/
http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/
http://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/get-your-diy-on-week-2/
http://southernhospitalityblog.com/
http://www.ellaclaireinspired.com/

Toodles,

Spare Bedroom Progress

Hey y'all! So...what do you think about the new look for my page? Do you love it? I certainly do! I'm so pleased with the way it turned out. I never could have done it by myself, so many thanks are due to my new friend Casey at hotbliggityblog.com! If you have a blog and are thinking about fancying up your page or are ready to start a blog, Casey is great to work with and she's the real deal. I mean, just LOOK at my page!

So, I promised y'all a look at my spare bedroom. I got a pretty good start on it yesterday, but my two muscle men were both gone most of the day, so I didn't get it all done - I needed some help with some heavy pieces of furniture. Normally, I would just bite the bullet and move it all myself, but I have a sprained wrist that I've been dealing with for a few weeks and I really need it to get better. So, I wait. But here are a few pictures of what I got done - a sneak peek!

I got the curtains hung and I love this pattern. It breaks up all the tan in this room and makes a good accent color.

I love the smell of lavender and this bunch will go on the bedside table. The little Eiffel Tower was purchased on our honeymoon and will go somewhere special in the room.

I painted and distressed this small cabinet to go in this room. Just a little pop of white to brighten things up!

Here's a close up view of the pillows on the bed. I got all of these for $6.00 at a consignment shop and have been saving them for this room. They look pinkish in this picture and I'm not sure why, but they're really more of a burlap color.

And here's the new bed. We got a twin size to save on space and because the only people who will probably sleep in it will be our niece and nephew.  Of course, Ginger had to check it out and do her final inspection.  I'm assuming it was approved since she slept on it all afternoon!  It's still a work in progress - I don't like the bed pillows showing, so I think I'll get a couple of white European pillows to go behind the decorative ones and I need to find a pretty white bedskirt too. The quilt was a bargain at only $20.00.

It's not quite finished, but it's getting there. I always have such BIG plans to get so much done on the weekends, but you know what they say about the best laid plans...I'll have better pictures for the final reveal - I took these at night and just couldn't get the setting right. I want to hurry and get all of my projects finished so I can really enjoy Fall, my most favorite time of the year, which is way too short in my opinion!

Have a great Monday everybody and I'll see you soon!

Toodles,

Fancy New Look To My Blog!

The beautiful new look to my page will be up any time now, so things will look very different and much more "professional"!!! I'm so excited, so please leave me a comment and let me know what you think. If it's not up when you read this post, please check back and give it a look! Have a great day!

Toodles,

Nine Eleven - The Saddest Part

A day none of us will ever forget and will always treat with reverance. Such a beautiful September morning. I still feel like I can't breathe when I think back to that day and what it felt like to watch it unfold in real time. My sister was getting ready to board a plane that morning and I was in a panic to get to her when I saw the second plane hit the towers and knew this wasn't just an accident. Thank goodness all flights were grounded before hers took off. I remember being afraid that the attacks were just going to keep coming. I was glued to the TV all day, which was difficult, because I didn't want my four year-old to see what was going on or to see me crying or feel my fear. I couldn't sleep that night because I was waiting for reports that many survivors had been found under the rubble at Ground Zero. But there were only a few. I was haunted by the images of New Yorkers covered in ash walking like ghosts away from the destruction. Those pictures still make me shudder.

But for me personally, what was so sad about that day, is that in one terrifying instant I realized that my son would never know a world without the very real fear of terrorism here on our soil. The "new normal". As a child, I knew terrorism existed, but not here. Not in my country - not in the greatest city in the world or in our capital city or in a field in the middle of nowhere. In my childhood innocence, I thought the United States was the greatest on Earth and that most everyone respected and appreciated us. I didn't have any reason to think otherwise. But children who are old enough to remember 9/11 won't have that luxury. Today's children will grow up in and raise their children in a world filled with increased security measures, terrorist chatter, and periodic warnings about heightened levels of concern. And they will always have the knowledge that there are people out there who truly hate us and want to hurt us. I guess if that's your normal, it's not that difficult to accept. But it still makes me really sad. President Obama stated very eloquently this morning, "Today, we can honor those we lost by building a nation worthy of their memories." Wouldn't it be wonderful if our nation was always as united as we were in the days and weeks following 9/11? That was a lovely feeling in the midst of all the anger and grief. We should strive for that everyday.

In Loving Memory,

I'll Choose To Be Thankful

Gorgeous shade trees. 82 degrees. A light breeze and low humidity. Saturday was a perfect day for a sale...or so you would think. Although it was a lovely day to be outside, it turned out to be a rotten day to sell. I made $35.00. Now, I'm not complaining - that's $35.00 more than I had when I started, right? These sales are pretty much a crap shoot - you never truly know what to expect. You might make $5.00, you might make $500.00. I'm seriously looking forward to the day when I make $500.00! This time nobody was buying anything, at all, from anybody. People weren't even really looking, which is unusual. Anyway, the space was free and we got free lunch, so that was a plus. But setting up a tent and all of our wares, then trying to sell for hours is a lot of hard work. It's really discouraging when you don't sell much, but there were some people who didn't sell anything at all. So I'll choose to be thankful for what I did sell and hope for better luck next time.

I took some pictures of our booth, showing the types of things we make and sell. We didn't bring all of our best stuff or very many Fall items - we're saving those for bigger sales coming up. But here's a little peek...




This is one of our disply tables.  It shows a good variety of the types of things we make.



Another small display table.




Another display table.  This table held all of our chalkboard trays - these are very popular.

 

We sell a lot of empty frames.  These are all white shabby chic style.



More shabby chic frames.



Beautiful decoupaged bird bowl.



Love that big pineapple.





A chalk/pegboard made from an old window and a giant fork and spoon.

 

Burlap utensil display.



Blue utensil display.





Paris tray, trophy cup, and tiny chalkboard tray.

 

Gold chalkboard.  Cute kitty, you say?  It's the ONLY thing I can draw!

Burlap magnet board.

Chicken wire memo boards/jewelry holders.

At our next show, we'll have lots of Fall and Halloween items. My FAVORITE time of year. I'll post info about the sale when it gets closer - it's still a couple of weeks away. In the meantime, I have to get really busy making things for Christmas. Santas and sleighs and snowmen, oh my! Thanks for stopping by - I hope you had a great weekend and enjoyed reading about mine.

Toodles,
Marie

Are You Ready For Some Football? And Some Cheese Fries?

Last night was the NFL season opener and even though the Saints weren't playing, I was still just as excited. You see, I LOVE football. NFL football, college football, high school football, pee wee football, flag football, the football you play with a paper ball and finger goals instead of doing your schoolwork. I love it ALL! February through August is a rough time for me. No football for six months. Sometimes I watch game re-runs on ESPN Classic or the NFL Network. I anxiously await the NFL draft, because it's a little taste of what's to come, and I desperately count down the days until pre-season football starts. My team doesn't play until Sunday, but we will play the Falcons (or as I like to call them, the "Dirty Birds") at home in the Superdome, and it will be a great game. Our coach is back, our team is strong, and we've got a lot to prove. I can't wait. For the game AND for the delicious food that always goes hand in hand with football!

So, I thought I'd share one of my family's favorite game day recipes - ooey, gooey, yummy, messy Cheese Fries. We had these at a sports bar type restaurant years ago and they were pretty good. But I thought I might could make them better at home, so I gave it a shot one Sunday evening. They turned out even better than I expected and the Hub-n-Bub gobbled them up in record time! Now they are a Sunday tradition during football season and since the Bub has gotten old enough to cook for himself, he fixes them when he has friends over. That requires COPIUS amounts of fries and cheese for big teenage boys, you know. Give these a try for any occasion - they are fantastic!

Game Day Cheese Fries

1 bag frozen french fries

Ranch dresssing

1 bag shredded cheddar or mixed cheese

8 slices crumbled bacon

2 Tablespoons green onions, chopped

Large platter or plate for serving

Preheat oven according to french fry directions and bake for the recommended amount of time. In the meantime, chop your green onions and prepare your bacon. When I'm pressed for time or just don't feel like frying bacon, I use real bacon bits (not the crunchy, fake kind) and crisp them up in the microwave. Spread a layer of ranch dressing on your platter or plate. Place cooked fries on top of the ranch dressing. Layer bacon, green onions, and cheese - I usually use a little more than half the bag - on top of the fries. If your platter is oven proof, you can stick it back in the oven for the cheese to melt or you can just melt the cheese in the microwave. Drizzle with more ranch dressing before serving. Play ball! I mean, ENJOY!

Do you have favorite game day recipes that your family loves? Share them in the comments if you like. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Toodles,
Marie

The Cutest Delay EVER!

Hey everybody! I hope you're having a great day in your world. My world is pretty awesome today, I must say. Except for one. little. thing. That one little thing would be my dog, Ducky. I love and adore him. More than I should. He's the wind beneath my wings. Okay, maybe not, but he's pretty special. 'Cuz he's the cutest, yes he is! Who's a cute boy?! And he has, like, a million nicknames. Nubbin McStubbin, Little Legs, Duckroll, Duckmunch, Duck Dynasty, Duckadoodaloo, Roly Poly Pumpkin, Short Round, Happy Duck, Long Duck Dong, just to name a few. Oh, and my personal favorite, Dorky. Our other dog's name is Daisy and we call her Dizzy. So, there's a non-stop loop of "The Dizzy and Dorky Show" at my house. And I mean 24-7, people.

Just look at that sweet, happy, Fuzzy Face that is always - and I mean ALWAYS -smiling.

Macaroni Toes has decided, for some unknown reason, to start "marking" my new rug. Yep, the chevron rug that I love so much. Maybe he enjoys seeing me lose my mind over a stupid rug, who knows? I have a very sensitive nose and I knew he had marked somewhere Tuesday when I was collapsed on the floor after doing an exercise video. But that's another story for another day. So, I sniffed around, found the spot, and set about cleaning it up. Then about an hour later, that little Poofy Sploot went and cocked his leg on my rug again RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!! I admit, I did lose it a little. Geez, Turkey Leg, you can't even wait until I leave the room to deface my beloved rug??!! Anyway, I yelled at him and he went slinking off to a corner to pout. After I cleaned it up, I retreated to my chair to pout too. He knew he was in trouble, so he didn't venture too close. But he did lie down across from me where I couldn't avoid looking at the Nugget.

Monkeyduck didn't take his eyes off of me for probably an hour, telepathically willing me to forgive him and allow him back into my lap. Either that, or he was trying to seduce me. Not sure. He's such a Sexy Sausage.

I eventually relented and all was well, until I noticed yesterday that Hobbit Feet had done it several other places too! So, before I can finish my LR re-do, I need to get this rug outside and hose it off and clean it really well. You see, I was smart for once and bought an indoor/outdoor rug for this very reason - you never know what might happen when you have pets! Now I just have to figure out how to keep Sir Ducksworth from doing it again once I bring it back inside. All helpful tips suggestions welcome and appreciated, my friends. I'm still mad though...

Who am I kidding? All is forgiven...who could stay mad at that cute little Poofy McPantaloons?!

Seriously folks, if you have any suggestions on how to keep the little Bologna Snatcher from soiling my rug, I would be forever grateful! Hopefully, I'll get it taken care of tomorrow and get back on track with my LR re-do and be able to post the final reveal soon. Hope you caught ALL the nicknames!

Toodles,
Marie

A New Rug and a Small Pop of Color

Hey y'all! I hope everybody had a great Labor Day weekend. It was nice to have an extra day off of work, for sure. I was SUPER lazy and really didn't do a whole lot except enjoy the beginning of a new football season - both high school and college. The Bub is in the marching band at his school, which is my alma mater also, so we went to the game. We were playing our arch enemies and that game is always fun. We NEVER beat them, which is not the fun part, of course. The fun part is hoping we DO beat them, trading jabs, and fantasizing about celebrating and storming the field when we finally do! Oh, what a glorious day that will be!! Now, the Hub works for a local university in the Sports Medicine department and their season starts tomorrow night on national television (Go Rams!!), so there's been lots of preparation leading up to that. It's an away game, so I won't be able to go, but I'll be watching and I can't wait for the first home game. Yes, I'm a football widow come September, but that's okay - I always spend every weekend watching football anyway! Even if I'm not sitting right in front of the tube watching, I just love having the game on in the background - it's so soothing to me when I cook or clean or work on projects. My dream would be to have a screened in porch where I could watch football in the warm afternoon sun. Who am I kidding? I'd be asleep in about five minutes!

On to the issue at hand...I thought I'd give a small sneak peek at some redecorating I've been doing in my living room as of late. I admit, the LR had gotten pretty bland. When the Hub complains that the room is "too tan", you know it must be bad! I'm not afriad of color at all, I've just always liked to keep the LR neutral so I can change pillows and accessories whenever I feel like it. So, I decided to go about finding ways to bring some color and variety to the space. My first purchase was a gorgeous chevron striped rug from Ballard's in a really pretty blue and ivory combo. I had a credit from something I had returned to them back in the spring, so the rug was relatively inexpensive. It lightened up the room so much. I was unsure about having such a "trendy" pattern in my home on such a big scale - the rug is 7'x10' - but I absolutely love it and I think it makes the whole room.

But then, I found the piece de resistance! It was a totally unexpected find and I surprised even myself by buying it, but I'm so glad I did. One morning a couple of weeks ago, I walked into the Salvation Army Thrift Store and right inside the front door was a really cool orange chair. Yes, orange, but not a bright orange. A really soft orange, like a terra cotta color. I walked around it several times, then went on about my business. Came back and sat in it. Really comfortable. Hmm...I just don't know...it IS 50% off today. Ultimately, I left the store without it. Hours later, when I couldn't stop thinking about that dang chair, I went back on the off chance that it might still be there...and it was! I immediately paid for it and waited for someone to help me haul it to my car. Just as we were getting ready to load it, a monsoon (seriously, a MONSOON) came and I had to wait an hour before it was safe to take it home. I sat in it the whole time and five people tried to buy it out from under me! The Hub was already home when I got there, and he was like "Oh Lord, what are you dragging in this house now?!" Once he saw it in all it's glory, he was actually pretty proud of me for buying it! Yes, finally some bold color in the LR and now I can't imagine what took me so long. So without further adieu...here she is...

I'm making some throw pillows that will tie in the big dark blue pillow, the blue in the rug, and the orange from the chair. By the way, the big blue pillow is a Pottery Barn pillow I got at Goodwill for $3, no kidding. I shopped around and found lots of throw pillows that I liked with all the colors I wanted, but they were anywhere from $30-60 each. No way, Jose! I bought a shower curtain at Home Goods for $16.99 and I can make all the pillows I want for next to nothing. I'm almost done with the LR makeover and I'll post a room reveal when I get it perfect!

Thanks for joining me today. What pops of color have you added to your home? Tell me about it in the comments.

Toodles,
Marie