Autumn Wreath

 

It's so hard to see from these pictures, but our doors are BIG.  It's the first thing people always say when they come to our home for the first time, "Woah, this is a huge door!"

So I have been working on making giant wreaths for the giant front door. :)  I finished this one up over the weekend:

My favorite thing is the little guy peaking out at people. Isn't he cute?? 

Lunchbox notes

With the boy being back to school-- I did some playing in photoshop and came up with some fun little notes to slip in his lunchbox for a mid-day bit of inspiration.  {Master copies to print below!}

 If you'd like to use them, just right click and save these masters:

Here is an example of mine-- I printed them on our home computer, cut, inked the edges, and mounted on cardstock.

Enjoy!

back to school printable

I created these back to school candy bar wrappers in photoshop:  You can just click, save, print and celebrate the first day back to school!

If you have photoshop or another photo editor you like to use, you can customize them more:

Yes, I have to do little projects like this to feel better about sending my sweet girl off to Kindergarten!!  It's better than curling up in the fetal position on my bed and crying all day, isn't it??

epoxy excitement

I sometimes go through craft "phases" where I get hooked on some new idea and do it over and over again.  Right now my phase is EPOXY!!

I have been collecting trays and plates and using epoxy to secure them to candlesticks to create unique trays and stands!!  I can't go anywhere these days without looking at their plates and candlesticks.  It's such a fun and inexpensive way to add some variety to your serving dishes at a party!!

 This fruit stand is made all from things from Walmart!  Oh how I love a good Walmart find!! 

 These stands are made from things from Hobby Lobby that I got 50% off.... I LOVE HobbyLob! 

I use the Gorilla Glue epoxy and just follow the package directions.  It's so fun!  And have I mentioned CHEAP?  {Although the addition to the house my husband is going to have to build to store all of my stands is NOT going to be cheap!!}  :)

table pretties

I have a friend who told me that she thinks married women need to start throwing each other "decade showers".  As in, "Celebrate a decade of marriage and family life!  And holy cow, after a decade of marriage and family life, all that stuff you got ten years ago needs replacing!!!" 

We are coming up on a decade + one, and I agree!  I could use another bridal shower or a decade shower at this point!  New towels, new tupperware, new pots and pans, please!  Some of the things I have used happily and daily for this long could stand to be retired.  :)

I do a lot of entertaining, so imagine my embarrassment at Ryan's birthday dinner, when I'd invited over two other families.... and I realize I only had FIVE plates left!!  Ten and a half years and three kids have been a little bit rough with the original dishes {hand me downs from my aunt who was replacing her dishes!}  I couldn't believe we'd broken so many plates and I hadn't taken stock!  I set the "kid's table" with our kid friendly plastic set and then set the adult table with what I had... one place setting short.  I was trying to figure out what to do when I decided to set a special place setting for the birthday boy. 

Time to buy some new dishes!!!!

I grew up with Grandmothers on opposite ends of the dining experience spectrum.  I have "fancy dinner Grandma" and  "paper plate Grandma".  One of the things I remember from my childhood was the thrill that I got eating "fancy dinner Grandma's" house.  I remember being young and marveling over her table, spoons and forks placed where they should, pretty tablecloths and napkins, little crystal coasters with individual crocheted doily inserts!  Table pretties just speak to my soul.  I always had to be careful in the newlywed days when budgets were TIGHT about going into a Linens & Things or Bed, Bath, Beyond... if I was in the table linens section, it was all over.  Grocery money was spent on cloth napkins.  I couldn't help myself!

After the birthday party, Ryan told me to buy new dishes.

He didn't have to say that twice!!

I perused online for two days.  I had an idea of what I wanted, but needed to see things in person.  I spent at afternoon driving around the valley looking at dishes.  I came back home and read more online reviews.  I hemmed and I hawed and I thought, thought, thought, thought!   I wondered what fancy Grandma would do. 

I found a set on dillards.com that I really loved.  It met the requirements: simple and white, to go with all seasons and decor.  But it was fine porcelain china.  I thought it would be toast in my children's hands!!!  I was back to googling the merits between ironware and stoneware and somewhere in there, a reviewer RECOMMENDED china for families with young children.  I did a double take!  Really?  They said the durability was superior to both ironware and stoneware, both in chip resistance and shatterability when dropped.  Our kitchen is tile with granite countertops, so I was HIGHLY concerned about both of those things!! 

I did some more hemming and hawing and thinking.  I showed Ryan picture after picture online of dishes {met with blank stares!!}  I conducted a highly scientific facebook study.  I almost got down on my knees and prayed about my dishes!!  :)  Finally, my mind was made up:

China it is.  {But in the back of my mind I was still thinking: please don't break please don't break please don't break!!}

While I'd been searching, I discovered a line of serving pieces that I fell in love with.  I ordered my dishes and a few pieces of serving ware. 

After MUCH adieu, may I introduce:
Mikasa Antique White

It is SO BEAUTIFUL in person!!!  We have been using them daily for about two weeks now and I am SO THRILLED with them.  I dropped one of the tea cups putting them away and my stomach just dropped... but it literally just bounced off my granite countertops and didn't even chip!!  I still make Grace eat off the plastic {you would too!} but Ben and Leah have used these NO problem.  They are dishwasher, over, microwave and freezer safe.  They make me GIDDY with excitement every time I set the table.  I LOVE THEM!!!

 Servingware: Arthur Court Fleur de lis:

{Someone recently told me they thought Deviled Egg Plates were a joke.  You know who you are, LANAE!  With Easter coming up, we will be pulling this baby out all the time!!  Ryan and our children are big egg fans- deviled eggs and egg salad and egg salad sandwiches all the way!  It was an acquired taste for me but I have to say I'm on board these days.  Especially served on a pretty plate!!!}

I ordered a few servingware pieces: salad bowl, salad servers, pitcher, egg plate, cheese and cracker tray. I selected things with family dinners in mind and will continue to add to the collection as the years go by and as Ryan needs hints during gift giving occasions!!

Right before I placed my order on the Dillards website, I did a quick google search just to make sure I was getting the best price.  Imagine my SHOCK when I found both my servingware and dishes on amazon.com, HALF THE PRICE and with free shipping!!  Not only that, but amazon frequently has a "3 for 4" deal on home things where you buy three qualifying items, and the 4th is free!!  I was so excited with my find and ended up spending a whole lot less than I was planning! 

Well, there you have it: the story behind my new table pretties!  {OR, more information about what is on my dinner table than you really cared to know!!}

When can I expect you for dinner? :)

Pi Day!

Because I'm all about raising math awareness. 

Lego Party

Ben chose "Legos" as his party theme this year, then started throwing all of these stipulations at me!  "No dorky games" "It has to be at night" "I want to have pizza"  I realized he was going for a more grown up party!! 

I still did a few little things to decorate and make things feel festive, but not nearly the way I normally would.  When did I become so embarassing???

 I found these crush bottles that fit our colors so I wrapped them and they were cute!

 I made these lego head suckers out of marshmellows and peanut butter candy melt. 

 Lego cake!

 We fed the boys pizza, cake and ice cream, and then I called them together for a lego competition.  I was nervous this may have been a "dorky game", but it went over well. 

 ryan judging the competition.

Happy Birthday, Ben!!!

birthday treats!

It's hard to believe Ben has turned NINE!  When did my cute little guy get so big??  Every year I make up some little treat that Ben can take to his class for his birthday.  In Utah, it has to be storebought {no homemade treats to school!} I put a capri sun and airhead in a ziplock bag, and put a bag topper on each that said, "Happy 9th Birthday, Ben!"

sewing projects

When it is this cold outside, I just want to pop a movie in for the girls and sit down with my sewing machine!!  Here are are few winter projects I've completed while dreaming of spring:

 {Ryan bought my a ruffler attachment for my sewing machine for my birthday!}

 {sweet little slips with crochet trim}

I love sewing for my girls!