MOD PODGE UTENSIL HOLDER

Since I have painted my kitchen red and am slowly replacing everything that used to be red, white and blue, I needed something to keep my utensils in - ya know all the BIG stuff that won't fit in your normal size drawers.  My kitchen is WAAAAY to small for all of my crap.  Okay, so if I'd get rid of the junk in the junk drawer and maybe get rid of the taco sauce, parmesan, ketchup packets etc. from all the take out, maybe I would have room for the big stuff, but let's get real...it's not gonna happen anytime soon. 

The black utensil holder container thingee that I want at Target is $14, which isn't bad, but I really want the paper towel holder too, which is $17 and I just can't let go of that money because I keep thinking it'll go on sale eventually.  So, in the meantime, I've been using a large glass container that used to house snacks.  The problem is, it's just a big ole container and it's kind of plain.  I've been thinking about using chalkboard paint on it, but decided to give this a try instead. 

First, I found a label at The Graphics Fairy and added the word utensils.  Then I printed it off on plain copy paper. 

Then, I took my trusty ole Burnt Amber craft paint, watered it down and antiqued the plain white paper a bit.  I dried it with a hair dryer and cut it in an oval shape.

Then, I just used my trusty Modge Podge to adhere it to my glass container. 

I'm thinking that I should've made it a little smaller.  Maybe I'll redo it.  I don't know yet.  I'll live with it for awhile. 

I'm linking up with Xazmin at This Is The Year for Modge Podge Mania.

EASTER DRESS AND A GRUMPY GIRL!!

I finished E's Easter dress.  Well, sort of.  I finished the actual dress and picked it up from my friend Julia (my monogrammer).  It's a simple eyelet pillowcase dress.  But, I can't decide on the ribbon.  I can't decide whether to tie on one shoulder or two?  Probably two.  I think it looks kind of lopsided with a bow that big just on one shoulder.  Here's the picture. 

Please excuse Her Majesty Grumpy Britches!  How DARE I interrupt Veggie Tales just to dress her up and take a picture! 

Anyway, as I was saying, I haven't cut the ribbon yet.  Right now it's 3 yards long which is enough for a hair bow and 2 ribbons to be tied on each shoulder. 

I'm linking up to Whatever Goes Wednesday agt Someday Crafts,Women Who Do It All Idea Sharing Wednesday, Fingerprints on the Fridge
 and


 

HOT CORN EASTER TRADITION

Easter is just a few days away therefore, I have Easter/holiday food on the brain.  I thought I would share one of my family's favorite recipes for EVERY holiday that comes up.  It is so simple and so yummy!  I know this is a popular recipe in the south, so some of you probably make this already.  For those of you who don't, try it.  It's AWESOME! 

The ingredients are:

White Shoepeg Corn (5 cans)
1 stick of butter
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese and 1 (3 oz.) cream cheese
fresh jalapenos (about 3) 
Crock Pot 

Put butter and cream cheese in crock pot and melt in microwave.  Drain corn and add to crock pot.  Dice jalapenos (I take out seeds and veins first).  Add jalapenos to crock point.  Stir and microwave for 3-4 minutes.  Let cook on low in crock pot for at least 30 minutes on low.    Enjoy.

So sorry I don't have a picture, but I'm not making this until Sunday. 

I'm linking up with Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam and

**This dish is not HOT if you take out the seeds and veins in the jalapenos.**

SPRING IS HERE AND I WON!

The weather is beautiful here in Arkansas.  The sun is shining and it's 64 degrees.  WOW!  What a beautiful day!  The birds are chirping, the breeze is blowing, the flowers are blooming, the pollen is falling, the noses are running, the kids are sneezing, the tissues are GONE!  UGH!  Don't ya just love spring in Arkansas?  Hubby's usually red truck is a lovely shade of yellow/green.  EEEWWW!  But, it is a lovely day.  It almost makes me want to not eat oreos in preparation for summer at the lake.....almost.

The weather isn't the only reason I'm feeling, well, springy, but also because.....

THIS came in the mail today!  YEA!

It's from Amanda at Serenity Now.  I am so excited!  I NEVER win anything!  YEA!  Boy, this magazine is AWESOME!  There are some amazing recipes.  I cannot wait to try the Strawberry Muffins with Strawberry Butter!!!  I'll let ya know how they turn out!  There are some amazing party ideas in here with menus, themes and recipes included.  I'm so excited!!!  Seriously, y'all might want to pick this magazine up. 

Thanks again Amanda!  You totally rock!  XOXO

SPRING BREAK IS OVER!

It's the last day of Spring Break.  I have had a wonderful and busy week with Hubby and the kids.  We visited the museum and the zoo and visited with family. 

Fun on the zoo train.

The kids outside the museum.

As I said, we've had lots of fun, but wow has my house suffered.  It's a pit!  Boy, do I need to spend some time cleaning.  It's a good thing I finally got E's Easter dress finished today.  Back to the grind tomorrow.  But, for now, I think I'll sit a little longer and visit some of my favorite blogs. 

I AM AN ITALIAN RENAISSANCE GODDESS

So, Hubby was on the couch watching the History Channel today when he announced, "Look baby, there you are on TV."  I looked up to see an Italian Renaissance type painting with a naked Adam and Eve (I don't know the name of the artist).  There she was in all her glory - her pear shaped body and big ole thighs, hips and tush.  Yep, that's me (In his defense, I often refer to myself as Botticelli's Venus because of my pear shape).  Anyway, while it has taken me nearly four decades to get used to my junk in the trunk, the fashion designers have yet to evolve to my way of thinking.  They design for people like this: 

NOT this:

I cannot find anything cute to wear for Easter because sadly, I'm closer to the second picture than the first.  What's a girl to do?  I refuse to buy anything expensive as I am TRYING to get some of this weight off.  Normally I would have been hitting the gym really hard the last few weeks, but because the flu hit our household two weeks ago, that hasn't happened.  So, I'm still the chunky chick in the painting.  Oh well.  More of me to love I guess.  Maybe I should get some sun or one of those Mystic Tans before Easter.  Fat looks better brown. 

And to all the designer of women's wear out there - make some cute stuff in Extra Beefy Jumbo sizes, would ya?  Something that is cute, flattering and inexpensive.  OR, I could just lay off those durn Crack Golden Oreos!  Nah!

I AM A RULE BREAKER!

My name is Tanya and I am a rule breaker.  No, I wasn't one of those kids who got sent to the principal on a daily basis.  I'm not one of those people who breaks important rules, okay I do speed...sometimes..okay, most of the time, but that is not the kind of rule I'm talking about either.  I'm talking about decorating rules.  Do y'all follow any decorating rules?  Which ones do you disagree with?

#1   I know you are supposed to avoid using overhead lights and use lamps and natural light.  HOWEVER, what if it's broad daylight and your blinds are open and you have to run butt naked from the shower to the living room on the other side of the house to get your drawers (Arkansas hick for underwear) that are folded and stacked on the couch 'cause you were too lazy busy to put them up when you folded the laundry?  What if you have four kids and a large dog at home who act like monkeys and climb stuff and dance and are extremely klutzy and knock things over daily basis?  Then would you want a bunch of lamps around to fall off of the tables and get broken?  I don't!  Therefore, I use overhead lighting.  I am a rule breaker! 

#2   I know that when you have a fireplace, it should be the focal point of the living room, NOT the TV.  OOPS!  While I do love a good fire, I'm not gonna watch it for hours on end like I do my TV.  The fireplace is not even a little entertaining, unless you're sharing it with your significant other and don't have four kids around interrupting the romance with "Mom, I need some more chocolate milk, please."  OR, my personal favorite, "Mom, I need you in the bathroom."  I love my TV!  Although, now that my flat screen is on the mantle (another broken rule, I am sure!), I can kill two birds with one stone.  I'm considering this rule, just bent, not broken.

#3  I have always been told that you shouldn't put photographs of the family in your living room.  I'm not sure if people who abide by this rule have a family room and a formal living room, but I DON'T!  I have photos of my kids, parents, in-laws, nieces and nephews, sisters and brothers, wedding pictures of Hubby and I all over my living room.  They are, after all, God's art, right?  You decorate with what ya love!  I am a rule breaker. 

So, what decorating rules do you break?

WINDOW TREATMENTS ARE FOR HIDING DIRTY WINDOWS, RIGHT?

A few weeks ago, I purchased some drapery weight fabric from Hobby Lobby.  I wanted to make a roman shade, but soon realized how much work, not to mention tools, were involved.  I just wasn't sure what to do.  I love the look of a roman shade, but I've never made window treatments before.  I usually stick to clothes when it comes to sewing.  I knew I could make panels, etc, but the hardware involved in making a roman shade was going to cost a small fortune plus shipping (I couldn't find anything locally) and quite frankly I knew I would get bored, frustrated and distracted WAY too easily.  I swear I have adult ADD.  That's why I don't quilt.  I stick to clothes because I love that I can finish a whole project in a hours or days, not weeks or months. 

Anyway, I was at my wits end, riddled with indecision, when I came across this tutorial at Thrifty Decor Chick.  I liked the look and that it could be raised or lowered, so I got to work.  This is how it turned out.

(Please excuse my NASTY windows.  Hubby power washed the porch not long ago and got the window all yucky and I have been too lazy busy to clean it.  That's what window treatments are for, right?  To hide the grimey windows?)

YEA!  You have to understand that until yesterday, I've NEVER had a window treatment in the kitchen.  NEVER!  I could never find anything that I like that wasn't terribly expensive and I just couldn't see spending a lot of money to cover a window when I needed/wanted so many other things (like food, clothing, medicine, insurance, etc.).  YEA!!!  I can hardly contain my excitement.  I feel like a grown up. 

this fabric is regularly $15.00 a yard at Hobby Lobby and I bought it for 30% off.  I used a tension rod I bought at Wal-mart for less than $3.00.  Everything else, I already had.  Grand total for this window treatment:  about $14.00 plus tax.  WOW!!!  YEA!!!!

I'm linking up withFrugalicious Friday, and Fingerprints on the Fridge and Tatertots and Jello Weekend Wrap-Up and Someday Crafts.

NO MINI MUDROOM HERE

If you've been lurking around blogland long, you have seen many versions of the mudroom.  First of all, let me just say that I am extremely jealous of y'all that have room for one.  I've seen the room full of gorgeous beadboard, hooks, baskets, knobs, shelves, and lockers, etc. - something like this:

Photo courtesy of Kitchen/Bath Ideas (which is weird since it's a mudroom, not a kitchen or a bath)

Anyway, like I said, that is my dream.  This is my reality:

I know I should be embarassed, but.....oh well.  This is what happens when six people unload every coat, backpack, diaper bag, hat, glove, dance bag, hat, glove, purse, oh and things that need to be returned to Target, all in one place.  Oh, and let's not forget the car vac in the black bag on top as well as a slinky I took away from the kids because they were fighting over it.  Just for the record, yes, that is a coat closet beside it, but it's full of other coats, vaccums, umbrellas, etc.

Other than the obvious need to get rid of the crap, I'm not sure what to do with this piece of furniture.  It's finally warming up here, so I'll put the coats away for six months or so along with the other winter junk.  This furniture was given to me by my sister in law when they relocated out of state.  It was a pretty yellow.  When we painted our walls gold, I painted it white.  Now, I'm trying to decide if it needs to be repainted and if so, what color?  I am so in love with black, but I don't want to paint every piece of furniture black.  Maybe a pretty green?  or should I keep it white?  and maybe put and glaze on it?  I'm undecided.  Advice?  Opinions?  Maybe I should have saved this for Amanda's Decorating Dilemma Party.  Nah!  I've got plenty of dilemmas!  So, what do y'all think?

His Plan Worked! AND Happy Birthday E!

Ya know how when kids are little, you have to force them to share?  You have to threaten to put them in time out, etc. if they don't share their toys or DVD's.  UGH!  It's so frustrating.  BUT, if it's something you don't want them to share, like say their germ filled sippy cup, they can't wait to pass it off to their unknowing younger sister.  It's as if he's saying, "Here baby sister, have a little pharyngitis with your snack!  It'll be great!  We can hang out fighting over mom's lap and forcing her to watch Thomas the Train and Sesame Street for hours on end while the laundry is piled up to the ceiling.  We'll be stuck in the house for another week accomplishing absolutely nothing and having virtually no groceries in the house.  Mom won't have time to take a shower until Daddy gets home after work.  She'll get smelly with ratty hair with chocolate milk stains on her clothes.  She won't lose weight because you can't take sick kids to the nursery at the gym.  We can request all the sick kid food we want, like pancakes and milkshakes.  We might even get to play musical beds at night.  Sounds like fun?  Have a sip of my chocolate Silk and let's give our plan a whirl."  I think that's pretty much how it went down.  I'm sure that's what he was thinking right before I screamed "NO!  Don't share sippy cups" and I went lunging to rip it out of her mouth.  Apparently, I was too late.  E woke up from her nap yesterday with 102.4.  GREAT! 

On a good note, I do have very loving sick kids, but it makes for a rotten way for E to spend her 4th birthday!  She turns four at noon today.  WOW!  Seems like just yesterday she was turning blue in the O/R (C-section) and scaring us to death.  Boy, how time flies.  Happy Birthday E!  You were the happiest surprise of my life - still can't figure out how ya got here - product failure I guess.  My sweet little girl who is supposed to be taking a nap is in her bed singing If You're Happy And Ya Know It Clap Your Hands as I type this.  She makes every day better!  Okay.  I'm gonna stop before I cry.

I did manage to get an order finished yesterday.  LOVE this fabric.  TOO CUTE! 

 

For Baby Grace and Baby Patterson, twins.  Isn't the fabric sweet.  I'm in polka dot heaven!! 

Okay, I'm off to unpile some of the laundry and get it into the wash while they're in bed.  I hope it's not stuck to the ceiling!  EEEWWW!  Praying the two big kids don't get it next...or me...or Hubby!  That would be AWFUL!!!! 

Have a good weekend!!! 

P.S.  Does anybody have any good suggestions for taking a paci away from a four year old?  I told her when she turned four, we had to send her paci to a baby because big girls don't have pacis.  I feel sure that's why she's not asleep and is in bed singing right now.  I know, I know, I am a bad mother!  But, in my defense, she only had her paci at bedtime.  She didn't walk around with it all the time or anything.  Anyway to ease the transition? 

I am linking this post to:  1CraftyMommy's April Baby McLinky Party.

WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO

As y'all know, I've had a sick kid this week, but I did manage to get a little work done.  This is what I've been up to. 

 

and

I've got three more orders to take care of so I better get busy. 

Hopefully, I'll get time to sew up my window mistreatments next week, that is unless my son decides to share his germs and gets another kid sick.  

I'm linking up with Tatertots and Jello, It's So Very Cheri, This Girl Creative Just Something I Whipped Up, Someday Crafts Whatver Goes Wednesday, 1Crafty Mommy's April Baby McLinky Party and

  

 

Show Me The Progress Party

This has been a crazy week for me because I have had a sick baby this week, but I had to post my progress for Amanda's Show Me The Progress Party.  I haven't made a lot of progress, but I have made a little.  This is my before picture.  You can see the original post here. 

My problem was the space on top of my cabinets.  There is only about 12" of space up there so not much room for display not to mention I didn't know what to display.  I talked about losing the whole red, white and blue theme. 

This is the progress so far. 

I FINALLY got my kitchen painted red.  I've been living with red splotches on my wall for over a year trying to find the right color and I finally found it!  YEA!!!!  It's Sherwin Williams Stolen Kiss, if anyone is wondering.  Other things have improved since this picture was taken.

1.  My fridge is cleaned off.  My Hubby nearly thought I had bought a new fridge since he couldn't remember what it looked like.

2.  I bought some GREAT fabric which you can see here.  I plan on making a faux roman shade for the kitchen window.....someday. 

3.  I'm planning on getting new canisters, but I'm torn on what kind.  I'm loving plain old clear glass.  I'm torn on whether to get fancy toppers with a fleur dis lis or something with a silver top and maybe the cute chalkboard labels with Flour, Sugar, Tea, etc. written on them. 

4.  You can't tell so much in the before photo, but my cabinets were COVERED with junk mail, small appliances, etc.  I got a new piece of furniture for my adjoining dining room that stores my junk so my countertops are much cleaner.  YEA!  

5.  As for the space on the top of the cabinets.......I'm still torn.  Cherish gave me a great link for painted plates, which I LOVE.  I bought some plates and paint, but I haven't had time to get to them yet.

I haven't made much progress yet, but considering it took me FOREVER to paint, it may take awhile to do this too.   

Okay.  I'm off to check on my sick baby.  Y'all don't party to hard without me.

NEW SCARF TUTORIAL

I consider myself a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl.  I don't dress up very often (because I don't get out much).  I always go for comfortable cute over 4 inch heels.  As I have said before, I am a big ole dork and falling is inevitible when I wear heels while I'm trying to chase kids around.  So, I prefer jeans and t-shirts.  I totally love the current scarf trend to dress up my jeans and t-shirts.  So, I thought I would try my hand at making a scarf.  I can't knit or crochet, but I can sew. 

This is my beloved Tina Givens fabric that I have been hoarding for several months.  I LOVE it!  It's if the most beautiful shade of purple.  I hate that the color doesn't show true in these photos.  Anyway, I bought it to make something for my daughter for fall, but couldn't decide which pattern to go with and time got away from me so it's been sitting waiting for inspiration to hit me.  I had two yards so I decided to use a yards for myself.  I never make anything for myself.  So, I decided I would just this once.  I seriously almost cried when I cut my fabric.  I love it that much.

I started by ironing my fabric (it was also prewashed) and then I cute it into four strips of 42" (full fabric width) by 7" using my beloved rotary cutter (it makes my life so much easier).

Then I pinned the short ends of two strips, right sides together and sewed them using a 1/2" seam.  Then press your seams out.  Do this on twice so you have two very long strips. 

Now, pin both long strips, right sides together.  Leave one short end open and fold downr 1/2" and iron.  Sew using a 1/4" seam, but leaving the short end you ironed open.  Basically, it'll look like a really long, skinny pillowcase. 

Now, trim around the corners and turn inside out.  Iron your scarf flat and fold the open side in and pin.  Top stitch all the way around the scarf as close to the edge as possible (about 1/8").  Trim your threads and you're all done!

Sorry about the picture.  I didn't have much makeup on and my hair, well, EEWW!  Sorry the bottom got cut off.  This is what happens when you ask your husband to take a picture of you in your new scarf while he's busy watching people beat eachother up (also known as boxing). 

This is my first tutorial so please forgive me if this is hard to understand.  Feel free to contact me if I completely confused you!

I'm linking up with It's So Very Cheri, Making the World Cuter, Skip to My Lou, and The Girl Creative and

CHALKBOARD PAINT TRAY

I've been wanting to experiment with chalkboard paint ever since I saw this post by Amanda at Serenity Now.  I LOVE her chalkboard and have been scanning flea markets, Goodwill, etc. for a pretty silver tray.  I have found exactly NOTHING!  Today, after checking out all of my bloggy friends' dollar deals, I decided to visit my local Dollartree store.  I found this.

Okay, so technically it's some sort of plastic, not silver, but....it'll do for now.  I immediately drove to Wal-Mart and bought the $8 can of chalkboard paint I have been dying to buy. 

I painted two coats, probably not allowing enough time to dry in between.  It has a slight smudge from my

finger, but it's not REAL obvious.   

What do you think?  I think I need another coat of paint and perhaps a cursive writing lesson from my son's 2nd grade teacher, but other than that....it'll do for $1.09 plastic tray OR at least until I find a great non-plastic one to replace it with. 

I'm linking up with Frugalicious Friday, Tatertots and Jello Weekend Wrap Up, Making the World Cuter and It's So Very Cheri and

LOOK WHAT I GOT!

This is going to be a crazy short post.  Have you ever had one of those days when you have so much crammed into one day that everything doesn't get done, even though it seems as if you should have had time to do everything?  That is today.  I had LOTS of errands to run, but I did manage to at least do cardio at the gym this morning before I headed out to run errands.  I'm sure the folks at Hobby Lobby appreciated that I smell and look like a big sweaty ball of yuck!  Anyway, because I have to shower, eat, do laundry and leave in an hour to go pick up the kids from school, this is gonna be short. 

I just wanted to show you what I bought at Hobby Lobby this morning.  I'm sooooo excited that I can hardly stand it!!!!  

What do ya think?  I got several yards of this and several yards of a gold/black houndstooth and both were 30% off!  WOO HOO!  I love this picture that I totally stole from Thrifty Decor Chick.

The center is through a door knocker, which i just happen to have.  I'll have to test it though.  My dining room window is big so it may not work there.  We'll see. 

Okay, I'm off to stuff my face with my Lean Cuisine and try my best to stay out of the crack filled Oreo cookies!!  Have a great day!

BABY ON THE WAY

Those of you who know me are probably freaking out.  Nope.  I'm NOT pregnant.  I'm linking up with Elizabeth at Confessions of a Working Mom for Truthful Tuesday.  Today's topic is How Did You Tell Your DH (What does that stand for?  I know H is Hubby, what is the D?) and Family You Were Pregnant? 

Hubby and I got married five days after my 30th birthday in 2001.  We had been married for three months and I had just gotten off the pill a few weeks before.  I had lots of friends who had been trying to get pregnant for years and I was terrified that because I was 30, I would have trouble getting pregnant.  Of course, this is before I realized that we could share soap and get pregnant. 

So, the story goes, I had been up all night with a stuffy nose/sinus yuck going on and I wanted to take some DayQuil before I went to work.  I was only a day late, which is not uncommon for me, but I thought I would take the test just in case.  I'm really freaky about taking medicine when I'm pregnant.  Hubby was still asleep.  I went ahead a took the test KNOWING it would be negative.  It wasn't. 

When I saw that big ole plus sign, I was stunned.  I went running (actually it was a really small house, so it was more like three very fast steps) to the bed and jumped on top of a sleeping Hubby and yelled, "Get up!  get up!  Oh my gosh!  Get up!"  It took him a few minutes to focus on the test I was holding in my hands and while he was very excited, he was very mad that I hadn't included him on the peeing on the stick part.  Needless to say, I was forced to promise I would NEVER pee on a stick without him again.  He was there with a stop watch for the next two peeing on the stick events.

Thanks Elizabeth for the fun McLinky party.  It's been a fun trip down memory lane, especially since that baby will be eight this month.

NEW FURNITURE

Bloggy friends, today I would like to introduce you to my new piece of furniture.  Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to me!  YEA! 

Isn't she gorgeous?  I would LOVE to tell you that I got it at Goodwill for $35 like my friend Holly, but that would be a big fat lie.  I did buy it on sale, but not for $35, unfortunately.  I got it at a kids furniture store.  It was in the bedroom furniture section.  We paid for it and they put it in the backroom until we could come back and pick it up.  When we got home, we realized they had left it FULL of duvet covers, pillows, curtains, etc.  It was so full the doors would barely shut.  There was easily $1,000 worth of merchandise in there.    It's a good thing I'm a honest girl!  I returned it all the next week.  Boy, were they surprised.

Anyway, look at all the crap stuff I can fit in there. 

Isn't that GREAT?  I know I should be really embarassed to show you all my junk, but considering all of this stuff used to sit out in the open, this is AWESOME!  I have a place for cookbooks, homework, crayons, Play Doh (which, BTW, I HATE!), platters, crock pots, etc.  YEA! 

We'll be painting the kitchen this weekend (hopefully).  YEA!