Home Again

We drove through the night into the most beautiful sunset on the 20th. In our yearning to be with family for Thanksgiving, we blocked from our memory the horrible drive that separates us. The memories quickly resurfaced however, as we hit the sixth hour and we were only half way through North Dakota.
But this was waiting for us. Cooper and Cylie, Bridger and Brook, Lacey, Tyler, Denver and Cade, my sisters and Travis, and their spouses, and of course my Dad were there to greet us. Well...eventually....as we pulled into town bright and early...we had to wait before seeing EVERYONE!! It was so worth the drive. Let me tell you just a bit of our holiday vacation.
We celebrated Tyler's birthday. We set up my Dad's Christmas tree....and some (not even close to all) of the decorations.
We laughed until we literally couldn't breathe. We cried and cried with laughter. There were a few nice comfortable silent moments when words were unnecessary. It's nice to be with people who just "get it" no explanations needed.
Jo and Kim and I got pedi's. So nice to relax and chat without having to wonder what Miss Cylie was up to.
Pretty toes!!
We started a craft. We made muffin tin advent calendars. Such a funny/stressful/wacky afternoon.
We danced and danced. The joy at being together was just contagious.
We made donuts. 'Nuff said!!
Lacey read to the little kids. She is becoming such a beautiful young woman. She is wiser that her 1o years would suggest.
Miss Cy...into anything and everything. She climbs up or in to any place she wants to play in or explore. She has the BEST personality.
Beauty. She is so sweet and caring. Just like her Grandma.
Ah, yes, Cade. He has the world by the tail. What 18 year old doesn't?
Travis loved that Cooper wanted to play with him. They were so cute together.
Not one to wait for an invitation....Cy decided to see what Lacey was doing.
This was actually on our way home. She was hanging out with a big ram right on the side of the road as we summited the pass at Big Sky.
Denver just couldn't seem to hold still. Bridger was able to "freeze" when asked...but Denver just had to keep moving.
Like I said....on or in everything!!
Jo took her camera and some cousins downstairs to play. She is one of their favorite people in the whole world.
Two cute girls.
That Brook is a riot. Jim loved visiting with her this trip. He always has fun with Bridger, but this time Brook had is attention a lot too. She tells him, "You know, Uncle Jim, we never talk any more." And then proceeded to ask him all kinds of funny questions like "Where would you run away to?" She is a funny girl.
My CyCy. What a doll.....a naughty girl!! hahahaha
Now you have seen a incredibly long with way too many pictures nice recap of our Thanksgiving trip. I have only a couple of regrets. Jim's parents and sister moved before we got to see them and I didn't get to see any of my friends. Other than that it was THE PERFECT THANKSGIVING. I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful family.

Still Here

Just so you don't worry....I'm still here. My internet connection is spotty right now but I am working on projects and blog posts about my life. Hopefully by next week I will be back up and running. Stay tuned.........

Crazy For Coasters

I am always in need of an inexpensive gift to take as a hostess gift. Or how about those neighbors who drop a gift by and in your rush to get that one last perfect gift for someone special....you've forgotten to put them on your list?
It happens. So this year, I am going to be prepared. Not only am I giving these to some of my friends, I will be making extra to have on hand. They are SO easy to make and stinking cheap dang inexpensive too. I spent $.16 on each tile at the orange home improvement store. I estimated that they cost about a dollar a piece...and there are 4 in a set....SO CHEAP!!
I found this tutorial and loveloveloved it. I couldn't find any napkins that made me happy so I went to my scrapbook paper stash and found some that I thought would work. I cut them in to 4 inch squares...(the tiles are 4 1/4 x 4 1/4) it was easier. I found that after placing the paper on the layer of Mod Podge it was best to run my library card over the top to seal it down really well. If not it could look like this poor unfortunate soul.....
There are BIG bubbles under this snowman tile. The rest turned out much better. I topped them all off with another layer of Mod Podge and after they were dry I used some spray sealer over the top and OH LA LA!! Purty!

I used felt dots on the back....A- because they were cheaper and B- because they were cut in circles, thus eliminating the extra work of cutting cork......duh....
I mixed the stripes and dots into sets and put the snowmen together and I feel very good about giving them away.....except for the bubbly snowman.....he has to stay with me......darn!
And there you have a quick and easy (and cheap) project. I am linking this with Between Naps on the Porch. Head on over there and check out the party. You'll be glad you did.

A Quick List

Just a quick list of things I am thankful for.

1- My family.....all of them. I couldn't have asked for better people to be with for all of eternity!!

2- My friends....I am so blessed in this area. I have friends in every city I have lived in that I still keep in touch with. I have received so much comfort and joy from my friends.

3-My hubby's job. In this economy that is one thing I am SO thankful for.

4-The Gospel of Jesus Christ and my testimony of it.

5-My job. I love that I am able to work with the special needs kids that I love.

6-My dogs. There is nothing more wonderful on a cold Minnesota winter than to snuggle on the couch with Nellie and Darla.

7-My car. It will take me to the place my heart lives very soon.

8-My new found craftiness....I do love the sprat paint and glue gun madness that has taken hold of my free time.

9-Getting pictures of my son in Texas. Few things give me more joy than that.

10-Toe nails....love 'em

What are you thankful for?

Wordless Wednesday

Backing Up Just a Bit

I know that I have some of my Christmas decorations up. I have been told how crazy it is. I know...but it's how I roll. I was blog hoping the other day and came across this blog. She had some fun pumpkins that I wanted to try.
I could have waited until next year...but lets face it I would definitely probably forget. Also, the pumpkins are on sale now at Hobby Lobby and other craft meccas.
The ribbon is on sale right now too. I used hot glue to make sure the ribbons stay where I wanted them.
I like how she did her ribbon at the top. I forget exactly what it looked like while I was doing mine.
I left mine multi-colored too. I like the variety. I put raffia on one stem and jute on one and left the other without anything. Next year when the pumpkins come out these three will look good in the pumpkin patch that my living room becomes.

I am linking to Met Monday (as usual). Run on over and check out all the fun projects and maybe pick up a few ideas to incorporate into your own home.

It's Begining to Look a Lot Like......

You guessed it!! I am digging out the Christmas decorations. I was going to wait...but...I have been locked in my house waiting for the carpet guy to install a teensy bit of carpet in my house. I have NOTHING TO DO!!! So...I dug into the boxes of fun and memories and got a jump on the season. I have seen some wonderful blogs full of beautiful Fall's Bounty type decorating....but I am all about the red and silver and green and gold....I crave it all year. This year I am even trying out hanging ornaments from the light over my dinning room table. ((Just a side note...as soon as I find a light fixture that I can't live without...this baby is HISTORY!!) The usual decorations in their usual places....with a few new-comers mixed in. I scored BIG TIME at Target last year. I got A TON of stuff at 75% off!! LOVE THAT RED STORE!!!
I am looking for a Santa hat to put on ole' Uncle Sam there....he needs a bit of Christmas cheer!! I am waiting to set up my big tree. I just can't seem to wrap my brain around doing the lights and the actual branch placement by myself this year. Kev is the best tree guy I know. I'm not sure I can do it without him.....we might not have a big tree this year.....In the mean time, I got this little cutie pie for five bucks last year. He is a little small...so I put a box under him. I like that he is miniature. That way I can put him in the tiny space that I have available in the TV area. I plan on putting some snowman ornaments on him and maybe some snowflakes....I put him up before the carpet guy was scheduled to come. He is waiting patiently in the sun room to be set back out for all the family to enjoy. Speaking of the carpet guy....hahahahaha....He is SUCH a nice man. But really?? First impressions being what they are....
WOW!!! I was sure the rest of ZZ Top was coming through the door in some bizarre reality show!! Let me just say that HE IS A REALLY GREAT GUY. But...wow....He and his wife have raised 5 girls and he has been a carpet layer, installation specialist...guy for 35 years.
( Please don't judge me by what the back of my carpet looks like....not all of the grossness was from us....this carpet is old....) He was here ALL DAY yesterday. I turned down 2 sub jobs for the day. And then he tells me he will be here most of the day today!!
It is looking great. I am so excited to have it done and the mess cleaned up!!! I will post some pics of the whole finished project in a few days. Until then, my friends, crank up the Christmas music (carpet guy does in fact think I cam crazy!) and enjoy the day!!!

Wordless Wednesday

The Longest Project EVER

Meet our powder room......very oak-ey, very country, very beige. It didn't bother me for a long time. In fact, when we moved in, I was sure I would like it as-is forever.... Yeah....but after a while....
It started to look dated and boring to me. And the more I looked at it, the worse and more horrible looking it became. Then one day while I was sitting around doodling in my inspiration notebook (do you all have a notebook to jot down random ideas?) it hit me.... I needed to paint the cabinets in the bathroom.....black.....oh....and then it would need some bead board....and paint. Oh and then a new light and faucet would be required.....my fingers were flying across the paper as one idea after another came to mind. And then the clincher....I would use snowmen to decorate ALL YEAR ROUND!! WOOHOO!! Oh then the excitement just bubbled over and I began to take the before shots so I could document this glorious transformation.
I left the date stamp on them so everyone could see the actual amount of time this was taking. In the beginning I estimated being done in 2 weeks. But true to construction codes....I needed twice as much time and double the budget of the original estimates.
The black was a definite improvement. I was jazzed. But then DH left town for a few days and I was left without a right-handed-man (hahaha...because I'm left-handed....hahaha??? OK never mind). So I kept planning. I chose some paint colors for the walls.
I liked this red and considered it for my kitchen...but went with a slightly warmer red in there. So I put a big stripe of it on the wall and decided I liked it.
Next the wallpaper had to come down. Now the boarder in my laundry room came down so easy that I just assumed that this stuff would follow suit....no such luck. I am pretty certain that they used Acme Industrial Strength Wallpaper Glue to get it up on those walls. I was using language that would have made a sailor blush and ready to make a deal with the devil himself when I discovered something.....in my perfectionist ways....I was doing it all wrong. I was trying to take it down in one piece.
I was peeling a little down, squirting water on it and waiting....and peeling it down a little more, and so on. I have never really had to work at peeling this crap off the wall before...what I figured out is one must pull the front picture-water proof-mess off the paper and glue backing and spray that before any real progress can be made. WOW!! It took me an hour and a half to get one quarter of the way around this dinky little bathroom before I figured that out. The rest of the boarder came down in thirty minutes.
When Hubs got home...out came the power tools. I bought a pneumatic nailer. OOOLALA! One of those air compressor driven jobbies. I felt so like Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor at that point. So invincible.
Up went the bead board. Of course I am leaving out all the disagreeable moments of the bead board process and the less than fun time I had at the orange home improvement store. I'll just focus so hard on the positive aspects of the project that the others will just melt into the periphery.
I will admit to being in love with the instant transformation that was caused by the bead board. I loved the contrast with the green wall. I just knew that the red trim was going to look DYN-O-MITE! I was getting a little impatient. This had already taken one whole week!! We weren't even close to being finished and we had used up half of the allotted time....
The lamp had to be brought in because the light was being changed out. You know....it's a tricky thing, painting in the dark.... but.....OH!!! THE LIGHT!!!! I LURVE IT!! I got it here. They had a really good selection and it was reasonably priced.

I used trim for around the HUGE mirror and a hook instead of the strangely placed towel bar that was there. DH changed the faucet for me too. It looks great. I got it at Overstock.com. They have great faucets there for about half of what I would have payed here in town.
I have to buy longer screws for the brushed nickel knobs I bought (on e-bay) for the drawers...so they will go on later. This is about as completed as it's going to get for a while. There are just a few finishing touches before I can call it all done. I might con my friend Heather into helping me tile the floor next summer....we'll see.
For now this is it...a marked improvement, if I do say so myself....I am linking up with Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch. Go and check out all the great projects that are linked up. I am also linking up with the Before and After party at Thrifty Decor. Such good ideas are out there!! You really should go check them out!!