Flamingo Cookies

Monday, August 31, 2015 1 comment
 A few weeks ago the teachers headed back to school.  Last week, the students headed back. I made some water bottles for our new teachers, but for a few of the 'old' teachers (that understand my sense of humor)-I made these cookies.
I attached a little note on day one....with the number of days until summer vacation...JUST in case.  Keep your eye on the prize, teachers, keep your eye on the prize.  I love teaching...I do....I'm just really good at the summer thing too!  I used this recipe for the sugar cookies, and a flamingo cookie cutter.  For the black, I bought a tube of decorators icing and added about a tablespoon of karo syrup so it would harden.  I have a lot of problem with the colors red and black...so I usually just buy it if I need it premade instead of fighting with dye.

Closet Redo

Friday, August 28, 2015 2 comments
 Two summers ago, I redid my bedroom.  Here are those photos.  I decided it was time to redo my closet this summer.  It had become a place I just shoved things into.  I wore the same outfits weekly, which would be fine...if I didn't have so many other options just collecting dust!  So...every good post starts with a before.  Don't be scared....
 Oh my goodness, I didn't even like opening my closet.  I went on the hunt for closet ideas, and I found a post that I pretty much copied down to a T at ViewAlongTheWay.  I fell in love.   I usually just gather ideas, but in this case...I pretty much loved each piece.  The original is much better, I had to stick with what I was capable of.  For instance, I ordered this garden lantern.  She restrung and rewired it to be the light bulb.  My light is attached to the ceiling with a fan, so I just hung it below to catch the lights.  Maybe someday...but in the meantime....I love it...and I think it really brings out the popcorn ceiling.  ;o)
 I did add some other hanger options.  I bought some velvet, some wood, and then I sprayed some plastic hangers I already had with gold.  These separate skirts from dresses from shirts.  I blogged about them earlier this week.  Fun, huh?
Before:
After:
 I went ahead and kept my shoe cubbies.  I had my brother build me some low shelves on one side I could someday use for shoes, but for now....they hold pants and shorts.
 I didn't need as much room for jewelry etc b/c I have mine stored in a dresser in my room, but I wanted something a little frivolous.
 I bought tons of baskets from Home Goods along with the rug and the seat (to throw on shoes etc.
 Last up, I ordered this wallpaper from Anthropologie.  I did a terrible job of putting it up...I tend to sort of charge forward with life and the second sheet is bubbled and wrinkled and it's really a crying shame...but, oh yeah, it's a closet, so....it's going to be OK.  I can be OK with imperfect.  If you sign up on their site, you get a birthday discount (15 percent I think?) during that month....this is probably why I fell in love with the original closet.
 My dog approves.  In fact, it was impossible to get shots without her in the picture.
 I found this frame at Hobby Lobby.
 I also bought these antlers to hold bracelets.  I don't know...I needed it.  I was going to paint it, but....decided not too.  There is also a hook I got from Anthropologie.
My goal the whole time was to make it look different from my room-not shabby chic....more modern and gold.  I kept finding myself buying vintage mirrors etc, rustic tin wall hangings etc....I guess my room is getting a few additions b/c I had to then go and grab something 'not so me.'  I love it...now I just have to figure out what to do with all those boxes that used to live in this closet!
OUTTAKES:  This is what every step of the project involved....June running around the house with old....and new pieces from the closet. 

San Antonio

Thursday, August 27, 2015 No comments
 This summer was probably the busiest of my life.  Not only did I travel to two separate continents.  I took four (about to be five) mini vacations in the states.  I left the day after I got out of work and came home to wash clothes, pack and leave again.  I know nobody that knows this will believe this-but I really am a homebody.  There is nothing I love more than figuring out if I can wear my pajamas all day and playing with my crafts at home.  But....it was a summer of adventures.  One of those mini vacations included a stop in San Antonio.  My cousin turned 30 and she said she wanted to go somewhere she has always loved-Sea World.
 They have these statues all over the park that are made out of trash that was recovered from the ocean.
 I remember some of the shows from when I was little, like the ski jump.
 We ate lunch with the whale trainers.  It requires reservations, but it was interesting to have Killer Whales swimming next to you while you ate.
 It was hot, man!  I remember now why I don't vacation in San Antonio in August-specifically in places with this much asphalt, but man....it was crowded, so it's fair to say ocean life beats the heat for most folks.
 Baby animals-always a good thing.
 Seals balancing balls-if that's not the iconic photo op I don't know what is...
We spent one day in San Antonio, and the next I headed down to the Riverwalk for Mexican food, a quick tour of some of my favorite Texas stops, and ice cream at the Menger Hotel.  It was good to revisit some of the paths I walked when I was young.  San Antonio is always a good idea.

Gold Hangers

Tuesday, August 25, 2015 1 comment
 This summer I had a long list of things I wanted to get accomplished.  I did two.  I painted  a hall in my house...the very smallest 'room' with the least painter's tape necessary, and I redid my closet.  As I type this....all the things that used to live in my closet are currently stacked to the ceiling in my bedroom, but by golly, the closet is done...almost....minus some clothes I haven't managed to squeeze in, bubbling wall paper, and whatever else falls over night.
One thing that needed to change were my hangers.  I started by buying some wood hanger at Ikea.  I bought 25.  Ha.  25.  Ha.  No.  So then my friend, Kelly, told me about these velvet hangers that prevent your shirts from slipping.  I bought about a hundred of those.  I still needed more.  The wooden hangers look great, but....they take up a lot of space.  The velvet hangers are great, but....I had hundreds of these stupid plastic hangers.
I decided to go grab some spray paint.  I've seen it on Pinterest, and if it's good enough for pinterest, it's good enough for me.  So, shirts get velvet, dresses get wooden hangers, skirts get gold hangers.  Shorts and pants get shoved on a shelf b/c I hate wearing pants and shorts.  More to come on the only thing I got accomplished this summer.

Gingerbread Fan Blade

Monday, August 24, 2015 4 comments
 It's August.  I'm back at work.  I'm trying to look at my glass as half full.  Sure...I'm working again, but this means that cool weather is on it's way.  Fun holidays.  Good food.  So...in honor of that...here's a little Christmas craft I did this summer.  I have a ton of fan blades I've painting I'll be posting soon...one for each season it seems.
I replaced a fan in my house and took a feather from my friend, Terry, and repurposed them.  I've been working on my painting skillz....once I get down some good techniques I'll do a video...I think the key is...I need more brushes!  I'm also learning...less is more on the paint....I used to have huge globs..not in that Starry Night way..more in the...where is the closest trash can sort of way.  I originally saw some gingerbread men like this painting on a rolling pin...I've added it to my list, but since it's fan blades and not rolling pins I had on hand....that's what got painted.
Friday, August 21, 2015 No comments
Yes, I know it's August, but Christmas is always in season....just go to any craft store right now and you will see.  ;o)   I saw a onsie kind of like this a few years ago.  If you have a Cricut or some sort of cutting machine, you can use a reindeer die cut, but you can also just print off a reindeer outline online and use it to cut the shape out of iron on vinyl the old fashion way....scissors.
 I found this vinyl with sparkles at Hobby Lobby.  I used a coupon, so it was about 8 dollars for four sheets, which is more than I usually would spent, BUT....I can get two deer out of it, and then I'll definitely find a use for the other pieces.
 I cut out the shape of the deer, and used the shape to cut out a circle for the nose.
 You put it on your shirt/onsie and then put a towel over it and press down with a heated iron to adhere it.
A deer that sparkles....be still my heart!

Squash Casserole

Thursday, August 20, 2015 3 comments
I've posted some summer squash recipes before.  They are good.  There is a little something different about each one.  I tried out this one recently via plainchicken and I loved the seasoning in this get up!  It's a keeper for sure.  If you too collect squash recipes....or just like squash and need a new one, might I recommend:
Squash Casserole
Ingredients:  2 lb yellow squash  (sliced to about 1/4 inch pieces), 4 T butter, 1 small onion (chopped), 1 small green pepper (chopped), 1/2 c mayo, 1 egg, 4 t salt, 1/2 t pepper, 1/2 c cheddar cheese (shredded), 1/2 c bread crumbs
Instructions:  In a skillet cook the squash, onion, and green pepper in butter (until soft).  Pour into a bowl and let it cool for ten minutes.  Add the mayo, eggs, sugar, salt, pepper,  half the cheese, and half the bread crumbs.  Stir to mix.  Pour into a greased 9x9 pan.  Top with the rest of the cheese and bread crumbs.  Bake for 40 minutes.
*You can also refrigerate your casserole just before baking (overnight) and pull it out to bake next day.

Water Bottles

Wednesday, August 19, 2015 No comments
Just a quick little project share.  I found these super cute bottles at 99 Cent Only Store.  What?  I love them, they are really very sturdy.  We have five brand new teachers this year....though lots of new teachers at my school.  These five latest will have their very first first day of school, so I put together a little something to put in their box.  I'll add a note later.  I love vinyl.

Watermelon Card

Tuesday, August 18, 2015 No comments
 I recently bought a box of polka dot cards from Hobby Lobby.  They were on sale, so I got them for 5 dollars, which was a total steal.  I decided to make as many of my own cards this year as possible.  I have so many scrapbooking supplies I need to actually start using!  Of course, every time I buy a card, I end up going and buying more stuff to bedazzle it, so....at least the recipient is getting a one of a kind card even though my pocketbook hasn't seen the benefits.
 I was recently invited to a watermelon themed birthday party, so I put this little card together.  I found a piece of pink paper (red would work too) and I cut the corners off into a curve.
I used this scalloped circle punch to create a 'bite' out of the top and I cut out some seeds...and added some sparkles.
I stamped a message inside, but....I'm thinking this would work just for a fun summer greeting.