Valentine Craftin'

My house was sooo ready to move on from winter decor ... so I've been checking out some cool crafty Valentine ideas online lately and decided it was time to jump in on the fun.

I used all items that I already had to make 2 really cute Valentine frames.

This is what I started with - cute, yes - but the photos are old and I liked the long frame so I decided to re-purpose it ...

First, I wrapped some burlap around the poster board that came with the frame. I used hot glue to hold the burlap in place ...

Then I popped the burlap covered poster board back into the frame ...

I had these glittered hearts that I bought last year AFTER Valentine's day for about 75 cents ... I decided to use one of the small ones for the 'O' in LOVE.

Then I cut out the l, v, and e by drawing the letters on white paper, then flipping them over and tracing them on the wrong side of some cute scrapbook paper I had ...

After the letters were cut out I backed them with some white cardstock to give it a little more pop ...

And added some glittery jewels with hot glue ...

Then I used hot glue {again} to attached the letters and the heart in place on top of the burlap! I "love" the finished result!

Next project! I used another frame I already had and some more scrapbook paper ... I glued the paper onto the back of the frame ...

This is a close up of the paper...

OK - I skipped a couple steps when I was taking photos, but then I layered the glittery heart over another piece of white cardstock - then added a cute tag that says 'Because you love me' and voila!

And those, my friends, are my two crafty Valentine projects! As soon as I get my house in order and finish decorating I will show you where I decided to display them in my home.

Have a great weekend friends!!

I'm linking this post to the Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatortots and Jello ... go check it out!

Menu Plan {and other stuff}

Hey friends! Sorry for the lack of posts this week. It's been a busy week and we've had a lot going on. I have a few random things to share but I'll do the menu plan first ... so if you're not interested in the menu just skip to the bottom!

Mon - since it was a holiday we spent the day with Bob's family so we could celebrate Christmas together. So we didn't get the menu written until Monday night and then groceries bought today ...

Tues.
BF - Cereal & Yogurt
SN - Bananas & PB
LUN - Meatball grinders {using up leftovers from Sun.}
SN - Fig Newtons & Peaches
SUP - Soup & Salad
DES - Pudding

Wed.
BF - Oatmeal & yogurt
SN - Pears
LUN - Deli Sandwiches
SN - none
SUP - early, easy supper before we head out for Awana - Ravioli
DES - Apple crisps

Thur.
BF - Eggs & Toast
SN - Bananas & PB
LUN - Spagettios
SN - Fruit cocktail
SUP - Pork tenderloin {in the crock pot so it will be done when we get home from basketball practice}
DES - Jello

Fri.
BF - Muffins
SN - peaches & cool whip
LUN - @Grandma's
SN - @Grandma's
SUP - Girls @ Grandma's - hubby & I DATE night!

Sat.
BF - waffles
SN - yogurt
LUN - not at home
SN - ?
SUP - Chicken Parm & pasta

Sun.
BF - eggs sandwiches
LUN - at a friend's house
SUP - ?

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I asked you all to pray for our friends from church awhile ago. At the time the husband, Sean was going through pancreatic cancer. I wanted to share with you that Sean was called home to glory last Tuesday night. Would you join me in continuing to pray for Jen {his wife} and their two precious boys, John & Hunter? I'm so thankful that 'Because HE lives, we can face the tomorrow' and I know that Jen CAN and WILL face tomorrow and WILL get through this with the strength of our Father's hand. But I also know that grief is a terrible thing that can knock you down and crush you under it's weight. I know Jen would appreciate your prayers on her behalf. {The funeral will be this Saturday morning if you'd like to pray on that morning.}

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Our oldest daughter Hope scored her first basket this Saturday! She is playing basketball through Upward which is a fabulous Christian organization. The first week she got hit in the face by a ball in the first 15 min and since she has braces the ball made her braces cut her lip. She was very much shaken up. But this week went off without a hitch and she was THRILLED to score a basket!

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We have had a lot of snow this past week. The girls have been loving it and even though it's been freezing cold, they've been out playing in it pretty much every day. I'm so glad they can get outside, the fresh air is so good for them.

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I've been doing a lot of reading and crafting lately. Trying to make reading a priority as I have so many awesome books and I want to read them all.

Well, I sorta feel like I'm rambling. Hope everyone is having a good week!

1,000 Gifts {aka photos from our week}

*working with fantastic friends at the flower shop on NYE - they make work so much fun!

*hosting a group of fun friends here at our home on NYE - good food, good friends, lots of laughter - good times!

*a day to rest and re-group

*brownies and coffee on a Saturday afternoon

*watching movies together

*a Sunday school that is bursting at the seams

*groceries to fill our pantry and fridge

*dinner out with my family {and awesome hush puppies w/ maple butter - YUM!}

*a brand new school semester

*a chilly winter walk in the woods

*being back to routines

*ice skating with my family {ie. PE class!}

*yummy hot cocoa

*a good chiropractor for when you're silly and injure yourself tripping over a cardboard box

*Panera with a good friend

*a great walk by myself in the cold winter air - a good time to reflect, pray and just be at peace with my thoughts

*a really great school week - accomplished SO much more than I had hoped for the first week back

*a fantastic music teacher for the girls!

*enjoying my cup of eggnog coffee while I read 'Bringing up Girls' and take notes

*the blessing of being part of our MOMS group

*the gift of good health and an able body

*an awesome hubby who likes to cook and doesn't mind doing it even after working all day

*Hope's first basketball game - and even though she got injured early in the game - she overcame and stuck it out with her team till the end.

*being part of a sports organization that cares more about the kids and their character than about scoring points

*American Girl tea parties with my girlies on a snowy, cold, Saturday afternoon

*LOTS and LOTS of fresh snow this week!

*laughing, giggling and being silly together

*going to a birthday party and seeing friends we haven't seen in a while

*more ice skating! yay!

*the whole family helping me grocery shop

*learning to wake up early - and finding the most gorgeous blessing of it when I look out and see an amazing sunrise!

*girls who LOVE to read!

*My Dad - who has been in glory for 7 yrs as of today - he was an amazing man, who taught me so much and had faith that would move mountains.

*My Mom - whose faithfulness, strength and Christlikeness are such a great example to me.

*my parents - who together had a wonderful marriage and raised me to know and love the Lord. I am forever grateful!

*my friend, Lynn. She has been the hands and feet of Christ in a BIG way lately - she is truly a fantastic example of Christlikeness to me and I'm so thankful to have her in my life.

*how simple pleasures, like pudding in a fancy glass, can bring smiles aplenty!

*puppy hiccups

{{1,000 Gifts #246-283}}

Menu Plan Monday

OK friends, one of my new things I'm trying to do is be more on the ball and intentional with my menu planning. I feel that we spend less and eat healthier when I plan ahead and have necessary items on hand. Since I was successful with this last week I figured I'd try again this week. My family and I all sat together at dinner on Saturday night and made a plan for the whole week. I love that we ALL contributed to it!

Here we go!
Monday
BF - Muffins/yogurt
SN - 100 calorie pks/applesauce
LU - Deli sandwiches
SN - granola bars
DIN - Chicken Chimichangas
SN - pudding

Tuesday
BF - cereal/yogurt
SN - bananas & PB
{the girls spend Tues afternoons with Grandma and Grandpa and my hubs is at work - so I'm on my own for meals that day}.
LU - @Grandma's
SN - @Grandma's
DIN - @Grandma's
SN - @Grandma's

Wednesday
BF - Baked Oatmeal
SN - apple & cheesestick
LU - Ravioli
SN - smoothies
DIN - Sandwiches {Awana night so it has to be simple}
SN - apple crumble

Thursday
BF - Eggs/toast
SN - canned fruit/ fig newtons
LU - Soup
SN - bananas/PB
DIN - Crock pot whole chicken {cooks while we're at basketball and ready when we get home}
SN - jello

Friday
BF - cereal/yogurt
SN - crackers and cheese
LU - deli sandwiches
SN - smoothies
{family movie night}
DIN - homemade pizzas
SN - sherbert

Saturday
BF - waffles
SN - yogurt
LU - leftovers
SN - **treat**
DIN - turkey burgers and fries
SN - Prob won't have one since we eat dinner kinda late on Saturdays ...

I'm sure we will add in some side dishes and veggies to most of these days - but at least we have a pretty good idea of how things will go. Last week I wrote **treat** on Saturday afternoon and the girls were begging ALL WEEK to know what the surprise treat would be ... they were very excited when I pulled out brownies from the freezer and we had them with an American Girl tea party on Saturday afternoon!! {more on that later!}

Happy Birthday Gracie-girl!

Our puppy Gracie is ONE year old today!

This is the photo we got of her when we were trying to choose a puppy - we loved the mix of colors on her face and just thought she was adorable so we chose her to be ours! Her name was already Gracie and even though it rhymed with our other dog's name {Casey}, we decided we liked it and kept it for her.



This is her first day at home with us! She was so cute and cuddly when we picked her up!

Some of the early days when we first had her ...

Casey looks HUGE compared to her in this photo - Casey looks like she's protecting her! hahaha

When she was little she would LAY DOWN to eat her food from her bowl - we thought she was sooo lazy!

She would sleep in her crate with her head hanging out ...

These two girls simply ADORE her!

This picture cracks me up ... I have never known a dog that actually liked to sleep on it's back - but Gracie does! She still does it even now! She will still snuggle on my lap and if I start petting her she will roll over on to her back, spread her legs and want me to rub her belly! Then she'll fall asleep like that and snore away! She loves it! Too funny!!

The girls put socks on her one day and it was so funny!

She loves to lay on or sit in her bowls, this girl is always hungry and just sits there until someone gives her something! hahaha

There have been some crazy moments this year when I've literally thought that I wanted to give her away. She's a very high-spirited dog and can be so crazy and out of control sometimes.

But she's also a sweetheart who loves to cuddle and who we have really enjoyed having in our family. She cracks me up almost daily with her funny antics. Sometimes she gets so revved up that she will crash into walls because she's not paying attention to where she's going. Last night the girls and I were playing Chutes and Ladders and were spinning the spinner thingy - suddenly Gracie leaped onto the table and went after the spinner! We all jumped because it totally took us by surprise! She does funny things like that all the time.

So despite the moments when I want to kill her ... she really is a great addition to our family and we love her very much!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Snowglobe!

This morning I woke up, went to let the dogs out, and saw this ...

It's like waking up inside a SNOWGLOBE!

I LOVE how the snow is clinging to the trees, every branch is totally covered. I drove my daughter to her basketball game and every tree on every road was totally covered in snow, I LOVE that!

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found? ~J.B. Priestley

In the car today my daughter said 'Isn't it amazing that God made every single snowflake unique? I mean, just look at how many there are. If I were God I would have run out of designs a long time ago - but He didn't. He created more unique designs than we could ever imagine!'

A snowflake is one of God's most fragile creations, but look what they can do when they stick together! ~Author Unknown

Goodwill

This week has been so busy that I find I'm seriously lacking in things to share here! LOL

I know this is the boring, every day stuff but I just have to document that we are having a fabulous week so far. The girls have done SO well about getting back to routines - even when I have to wake them up each morning to start our day.

They have done well with their school work this week and even though some of it has been tough, they are choosing good attitudes and working through it.

I have been forcing myself to go to bed earlier and also have been waking up earlier. It's so nice to get up and have quiet time with the Lord, check my email and be ready for the day by the time I need to wake the girls. It really makes my whole day run soooooo much smoother when I do this!

A couple things to pass on - "Bringing up Girls" by Dr. James Dobson is a fabulous book. I'm currently working my way through it and finding MANY things I'm jotting down in my notes. I plan to share more about that at another time, but if you have daughters I strongly suggest you read this book.

Right here I found this great chart you can use to track your daily food intake. So much easier than counting points or calories and such. You simply check the boxes for each food group each day and it works out to be just what your body needs for a day.

Here is a great FREE download if you are interested in keeping track of all the many ways you are blessed. I started the 1,000 gifts journey about a year ago and I love that this is something I can write on every single day.

I gotta just tell you how much I LOVE consignment shops and my local Goodwill store. My daughters are growing WAY too fast for me to keep up with and I often choose consigned clothes over NEW ones because quite frankly they are cheaper and in near perfect condition. My youngest was in need of some new pants so I popped into Goodwill yesterday and found her 3 pairs of pants for under 10 bucks! One was a pair of beautiful Levi's jeans with jeweled buttons and they were very cute for their small $3 price tag! Gotta love it! I also got a couple shirts for myself and a neat canister set that I will use for my tea bags.

Lastly, how cute is this scarf??? I am determined to figure out how to make one for myself!

The first week

It’s the first week in a new year. I’ve been menu planning, re-organizing most areas of my life and home, and helping the girls ease back into a regular routine.

Funny how it all happens at once!

I just finished reading ‘The Thorn’ by Beverly Lewis, and began reading ‘The Heart Mender’ by Andy Andrews. I’m also working my way through ‘Kaleidoscope’ by Patsy Clairmont which takes a look at several Proverbs. Reading it this morning brought me to the verse ‘He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.’ Proverbs 17:27. Talk about fitting perfectly into my study of WORDS and TIME! I love it when God does that! So that is the verse on my mirror this week.

I have a feeling that as we try to get back into school routines after such a long break – there will be many moments where my patience will be tested and I will feel resistance from the girls. I pray that this verse will encourage me to remain calm in spirit and just carry on.

This week also brings us back to Awana, basketball practice, dance and Hope’s first basketball game. Oh and of course our MOMS get together will be this Friday morning too. So it’s going to be a busy one but I’m very thankful for the back-to-routine time. It was a great December and I know we can make it a great January too.

A friend wrote about things she planned to do to keep away the winter blues – I like that. I need to purposefully PLAN for FUN things that will help keep those winter blues at bay. Today we took a walk in the woods – it was very cold out – but so worth it to get out and move our bodies a little. So here’s to purposeful planning and a great week ahead! 

~~Kathy~~