Easy Christmas Craft

I thought I would post this easy Christmas craft as this is something I saw and thought I could make cheaper -- and yes, I did make it cheaper.

Take 2 candlesticks -- can be anything, as long as it holds a taper candle. THEN get 2 ornaments of your choosing -- I found these last year after Christmas for about $2 -- you can't tell in the picture, but they are about 6" tall, very nice glass.




Glue the ornament onto the candlestick. I put a TON of glue into the candlestick and then held my ornament there for a few minutes b/c these are going on a table for decoration next week. I then added the maribou trim around the base where the ornament and candlestick meet! I think they turned out REALLY CUTE!!  The ones I saw in the store were over $25 each - I made these for about $5/each and they match my decor.  I'm hosting a Christmas coffee next week and my table is going to be black/white toile with silver and red accents - VERY shabby chic!!  

Fundraising and a "Girls Night Out"

These pictures are out of order, but I'll go ahead and tell you what went 'down' these past few days!  On Friday night, Shawn, her daughter McKenzie and me went to see "Twilight" - McKenzie was reading (or has read about 10x) the entire series and so I picked up the first book and had read the entire series within 2 weeks.  COMPLETELY addicting -- not a masterpiece, but your typical romance book for young adults -- yes, I said young adults!! 

We went to eat at Cheesecake Factory first - my all time FAV-O-RITE place to eat.  It was so yummy.  Then we headed to the movies, walked in, and I actually commented that the line wasn't that bad --- OH YEAH RIGHT --- it was completely wrapped around and we had to wait a good 20 minutes before they let us into the theatre.  BUT it was so worth it.  There was a group of older ladies (I'm talking grannies) sitting next to us -- it was so funny.  I loved it though.  I said to Shawn on the way home "You know, he's cute and all, but I think I'd be scared to date a vampire - with all that comes along with it, ya know" and she said to me "Do you realize you just said that out loud??" -- it was funny!!  

In the movies:

me and Kinz -- my FD (Foster Daughter -- we love her)

Eating at Cheesecake Factory:

Thursday night, Shawn, me and Rebecca went to support our friend Danielle and the Mom's Club of Lithia fundraiser.  It was a BUNCO night and we played to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  I had only played BUNCO one time before and it was a really long time ago -- but I was an old pro by the end of the night!  I LOVED IT!!!

Here we are at the end of the night with all of our raffle winnings:

I won 3/5, Shawn won both of the ones she wanted, and Rebecca won a TRIP TO NC!!!

Shawn about to roll -- she got the lei because she rolled a 'bunco' -- there were 2 leis that went around all night, by the end of the night, whoever had the leis on, went home with a prize!

That's all for now -- Chad and I are going to church tonight to participate in "Feed the Bay" and then off to a friends house for dinner -- should be lots of fun and I'll post pics tomorrow!

I'm BACK!

First of all, the event was AMAZING! I have to say, Shawn and I did it and we went out with a BANG! We have both decided to pass the baton on next year, as this was our 3rd year. Everything, well almost everything, went perfectly! I'll share more of that later ~ but to my friends that read this blog, that were at the event, I will say this:

The dove, IN CHRISTIAN CULTURE, signifies HOPE

Y'all should get a good laugh out of that -- I'm not trying to be funny, but like I said, I'll explain more later!


Well, as promised, my martini party is this Friday! I have been working SO hard getting the house ready. Chad has been out of town and so I've been able to really get at it. I can't wait until he gets home, because he does help out a lot and never complains. He does require some 'nudging' but he gets it done.

Here is my guest bedroom - I wanted to go for a beachy, dreamy feel and I think I got it:

The armoire was a medium wood with dark brown accents -- I painted it cream and then literally rubbed the glaze over it.  I wanted it to look like it had been sitting on a beach for years and years.  I added the appliques' (CHEAP) and the knobs.  There is a glare on the armoire ... it's not lighter.  I also need to add something to that apothecary jar up there -- any ideas?  That mirror used to be with a dresser and I painted and distressed it -- so glad I never got rid of it.   I love grabbing things from other places in the house and re-using them in other rooms.  It really does allow for a 'change' without spending any money!

This is the view from the doorway.  EVERYTHING is stuff I already had.  This is a small room, so I couldn't fit a whole lot in here, but it works for what I need it for.  You can see a bit of the hardwood floors we installed over the summer -- again, everything purchased on clearance and ridiculously cheap!

I'm so happy with the way this room turned out.  I do have fabric for a duvet and dust ruffle that are brown toile, but I have to wait until I see my Mom -- too scared to sew it and ruin the fabric! 

Tomorrow:  PLAY ROOM!

We interrupt this blog ....

This is my final week of preparations - to all my friends that read this blog and haven't heard from me in about 4 mths, well, we've been planning.  Seriously planning.  With the economy the way it is, it has been difficult to get money donated for the event.  We've had no problem getting services and decorations, photographers, etc ~ really that has been incredibly easy.  We've had more auction items donated then we know what to do with - well, we know what we are going to do with them, but that just creates more work for some very tired girls!  

I plan to be back in full swing with regular daily-ish posts ~ so don't give up on me.  

In the meantime, I encourage you all to go vote.  Exercise your rights as Americans - no matter WHO you vote for, just go VOTE!

I'm such a loser ....

So it's been FOR-EV-AH since I've updated ... and I've been totally inconsistent! It's because I have been co-chairing an event that takes place in just 11 days ~ 11 days people!! There are SO many things left to do, but I am convinced it will all fall into place. It has to! We are at a new venue and we're totally changing up the pace, so I'm excited for it to get here, but nervous all the same! We are expecting over 300 people!!  Please pray that God will continue to have His hands in our event -- he has already shown up in so many areas!

So here's a sneak peek at some family photos we just had done .... Torrie is one of the BEST!!   She always does an incredible job of capturing our family.  I can't wait to see the rest!!

Another year older ....

So today I turned 33 ~ nothing exciting, just another day it seemed.  I have ALWAYS embraced my birthday -- I love it and TRULY believe in birth'weeks' -- some people don't like to celebrate their birthday, but I say it's completely acceptable to celebrate because it is BETTER than the alternative!!

I had to work today, and I mean ALL DAY!  We are having a HUGE festival here and it is being sponsored by the Foundation that I volunteer with - so I signed up to work a booth not even REALIZING that I signed up to work it on my birthday.   I went to bible study this morning and my total blessing of a friend, Shawn, brought me an ice-cold coke (my caffeine of choice) and then I went to a meeting!  They had the most beautiful cake for me!!

I am big 'mail' person ... I LOVE to get mail (that isn't bills) and I had 4 cards in the mail today!!  

I have a big weekend ~ I'm modeling in a fashion show Sat morning and then Sat night we are going to a gala and I hope to celebrate some there!!  

You can tell I'm tired ...... I'm just barely posting .... 

What we've been up to ....

I certainly have been neglecting my blog ... not on purpose though .. we certainly have had a lot going on. Last Friday night, Kennedy and I went to a lock-in for her cheerleading team. I chaperoned ... I slept 2 hrs. It was fun but I will bring an air mattress the next time.

This was right before we left - I had to take a picture by placing the camera on a table and hitting the timer.  My lil' punkin had a GREAT time though ...

I made these cute little signs for the kids.  I saw it on another blog, but she had to paint her letters.  I found these black glitter letters in the $1 section at JoAnn's and then I used .87 orange ribbon and 2 upholstery tacks to put it all together!  Not bad for 2 signs (I did one for each kid).   This is Kennedy's door -- she is endorsing Chad Brock for President ... and I think a Bratz for VP .. but wait ... what does that say in the pink??

"Cheer for Jon McCane" ... THAT'S OUR GIRL!!  Now, I don't normally talk politics and I WON'T on this blog -- BUT it's my blog -- and I still visit the ones daily that endorse Obama and that's fine -- because we live in the great UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, we have a choice. She said "Daddy, why don't you like Obama, he has our name?" and Chad threw a t-total fit and said "NO HE DOESN'T, blah blah blah" ... you know, like she's 30 and all and having a real conversation and she said "Yes Daddy, his name is Brock Obama ... DUH!" -- DUH!!  

  

She made a pom pom ... and when she runs out of space, she just fits it all in - God Love Her ...
Finally, we've been chasing around this new little munchkin ... this is Star.  She melted Chad's heart at the studio last week and so we adopted her from the SPCA.  We have her sister, Macy, also.  She hides a lot.  Until I can coax her out from underneath our bed, I'll get a picture of her as well.
Have a great week - hoping to post bathroom pictures soon - I painted (just repainted - same colors and used leftover paint) and just waiting for the fixtures to get here!