Rock Star

Do you ever finish a craft and feel like a FRICKIN' ROCK STAR!!! Huh...no...well...I do. It's not often mind you..but it does happen. And this project was one of those times. So remember the sock wreath I made for the 4th of July? Well, I did another one...and ya know what? I like it even better. It's true. Want to know why....Because it cost me less to make this one. How?? Well, let's start with the socks. I got them at Good Will (brand new) for $1.58 a pair. And they are knee socks, so I only needed 4 pair per wreath. Yup! Then I got the little embellishments for a buck a piece at Hobby Lobby (swoon). The ribbon was 50% off there too. YAHOO! They didn't have any fabric that thrilled me so I got a little creative. I used some cloth napkins (that I bought at the dollar store) and the ribbon to make rosettes.
See the really long socks...so perfect!!
Look how perfect they look on my dollar store wreath base. Magic, I tell ya!
Since I showed you all how to roll the flowers and all the details in the other post, I'll just skip to the end....PERFECT!!!
Seriously....rock star worthy. I don't usually decorate for Halloween....not my thing....but I think I'll be fer keepin' this one.
Also a big shout out for my second fav.....and I think I know just the girl to give it too. I have some little girl clothes to send any way.....Do you think she'll like it?




Since this craft was just at $10 I wanted to link up to this party. Have fun looking at the amazing projects!

The Date

On Labor Day weekend Jim surprised me and planned a day trip for us. I was so shocked....it's just not something he does a lot. I will admit to being a bit skeptical at first. Mahoney State Park didn't really sound like my thing. But I was so jazzed that he planned something that I was determined to enjoy it no matter what. There was a lot to do and see. It surprised me.
We got out of the truck and hiked a bit. There were a couple of little lakes. On one of the bigger lakes they have paddle boats to rent.
The cool old dock on this lake really drew my attention.
It was warm and windy but the sun was shining.....and that my friends, is something that I can't resist.
Walking out to see if the fish were jumping. As we pulled into this parking lot there were two fishermen getting off the lake with a bucket of fish. Jim will probably bring his Scouts back here.
Can't resist a pic of the flag, flapping in the breeze. LOVE IT!
Then we headed to the observation tower to take a look. I'm not a huge fan of heights and the wind had the platform at the top rocking a bit much for my comfort level. Didn't stay up there very long!
There is a name plaque for everything here (typical for a state park...no?)
The view from the top was worth the climb. Not the grand mountain vistas I am used to seeing, but beautiful just the same.
I loved the fence around this "prehistoric burial site". Apparently, this was the home of some ancient Indian tribe. They lived, worked and died right here.
The butterfly garden was beautiful. Not a lot (or any) butterflies....but beautiful just the same.
Gotta love a gazebo in the middle of nowhere.
No, I really do love it.
We went to the air museum that they have right next to the park. It was cool. We saw spy planes and bombers and prototypes that never were developed into anything useful. It was very interesting.
Something that I didn't get pictures of was the miniature golf course that Jim and I played. At first I poo pooed the idea. So not in the mood for mini golf....but I chose to do it anyway. Turns out that was my favorite part of the day. Smooching my honey at the end of each hole was more fun than I imagined. I even got a hole in one! Lots of fun there!!
And back to where we started. I loved this day date. Even a late lunch at the weird "stake house" was interesting. My camera battery died or I would have taken a pic of the sign announcing the Testicle Festival. Apparently an all-you-can-eat extravaganza. Yeah....I had the chicken strips. They seemed safe. All in all I give Mahoney State Park two thumbs up as a day date. Lots of sweetheart time, lots to see and do together.

Some Musings on Change

So my life has been turned upside down over the last 3 months. We have a new home in a new state. We have a new school for Jo
and a new job for Jim. We have a new ward and new church callings. We have new people waiting for us to get settled and get on with life. My Dad is adding a new member to our family as well. Lots of new going on around here. In case you didn't know....new is hard for me. I like old. I like constant and reliable. Change is hard for me. I guess that is why it is so prevalent in my life. When I am having a hard time adjusting to the changes life has thrown at me, I tend to withdraw. I am content to sit in my house and work on decorating or organizing or a paint project or two. I know that it is hard for new people to meet me that way....but that is their problem...right? I am content with the amazing friends and sisters in my life that love me, quirks and all. But here is the rub....I get to set an example for my daughter on how "normal" people get out and meet new friends. Sheesh, I am SO not qualified for the job. She has to go to a high school with 1600 other kids....about twice the size of her last school. I will tell you that not one of those kids in her classes has extended an invitation to sit with them at lunch or hang out after school. The church kids have been OK, but she doesn't see them at school....it's that big. How can I teach her to adjust to change when I myself struggle so hard with it. I have found that I tend to internalize her pain along with my own. Not a good idea....as I tend to "eat" my feelings. I have tried to change that long developed habit. I am able to do other things to fill the holes in my heart...but there are times when it is too strong, and I am too weak. So here we are, no right answers in sight. Looking for the end of the tunnel and hoping there isn't another train coming in the mean time. Are you good with change? How do you cope?

I Hate Change

I do. I hate change. It kind of gives me a rash. But Blogger, in it's infinite wisdom, has decided to change some things. Until I get it all figured out....bear with me. All I wanted to do was change the font color. Of course, that meant following the trend of change. I will accept it and gripe about it the whole time. That, my friends, is truly how I roll.


Just a note...
I figured it out. Take THAT Blogger!

A Touch of Aqua

Lately I have been diggin' all things aqua. I even painted my laundry room a startling shade of aqua. It is surprisingly bright. It does look better with stuff on the wall. I am hoping to tone it down a bit more with some curtains. Then I can show you...my friends who don't judge me....the finished project. I am waiting to show you the finished project because it bugs me to show anyone until it is finished and fabulous. Just how I roll. That being said I found THE CUTEST little owl EVER! I was looking at Hobby Lobby the other day....just scanning the fall decor when I came across this little gem.
There were 3 sizes but since they weren't on sale yet....I only got the littlest one. The thing I love the most about him are his eyes. It's hard to tell but the lines around his eyes are aqua. Yep...one thing I love (owls) enmeshed with another of my loves (aqua). I really heart him!
And then at the dollar store...there was this little guy. Cute...but the most awful shade of nude. A sad washed out hue of peach. I like a lot of variation in my pumpkin display....But I just couldn't love this color. So....cue the spray paint. (You're shocked, I know)
So here it is just plain old aqua. Beautiful, simple....a bit boring.....
I do love the simple look, but I figured I could do better. So, I brought out the glaze and the q-tips.
Now he has some dimension and personality. And he is SO fabulous.
He makes a statement without saying a word ;) I do love the unexpected pop of color. My other pumpkins seem to like him too. He's a keeper!
Bring on Fall. I am SO ready!

And I'll be linking to a few parties...

Toot Your Horn Tuesday
The Pumpkin Patch
The Creative Juices

Butterflies....in the Zoo?

It's true. They have butterflies in the zoo. And a nursery too...they have hundreds of chrysalis's that hang around until they hatch and are set free in the butterfly enclosure. They are really pretty. And just a little FYI...Papillion means butterfly....in French. Just sayin'.







So, there you have another reason to visit the Henry Doorley Zoo in Omaha. C'est magnifique!

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh....and Gorillas

This is my third trip to the zoo this summer. This trip included Jo, Reid, Mitchell and Melanie. The weather was about 15* cooler than it had been on my previous trips so the animals were a bit more active. The lions are always a favorite. We were checking out this female lion that was right next to the glass when the big male decided he wanted in on some of the people watching too.
He was seriously huge. Jo wasn't sure how safe she felt next to the glass.
So then she was going to sneak up on him....RAHR!!!
He was just stinking cool. AND HUGE!
She decided to roar a bit for us. I loved the zoo today.
For you Mel, this one would make a beautiful coat!!
Sorry for some of the glare. The sun kept bouncing off the glass that separated us from the animals in their indoor enclosures. The outdoor shots are a bit better.
This guy had just finished eating his raw meat breakfast. Tasty......
The Sun Bear looked as if he might like to jump the fence at the top of his cage here.
Making a leap for it.....
Just kidding. He just needed a better seat to scratch is bum...
More glare.....sorry...He was so contemplative. You could almost hear him hatching an escape plot......
And these are the best! There was one guy outside that seriously changed posses for me about ten times and finished it off by flipping me the bird. AWESOME!
There was a chase in the inside enclosure. The little one was playing tag with the big silver back. When they ran next to the glass they banged on it to scare the watchers. They like the reaction it gets.
I'll post some cool butterfly pictures and our Build a Bear trip soon. I need to go work on my newest paint project. I'm making a ribbon holder from Jim's 8th grade wood shop project.