Some Valentine's Pretties and a Real Cutie

I really did buy these cookie cutters to make cookies. But they look so cute displayed on the window sill. We'll use them to make cookies this weekend, I think.

I love this little heart bowl. I bought it last year at a thrift store.

It used to look like this until I spray painted it. Oh spray paint how I love thee. 

I bought this wooden heart last year too for really cheap. Again, red spray paint. <3

It looked like this when I bought it...

The red is just so much more Valentine-y.

A cute little jar I picked up at the thrift store for 50 cents.

You want to know who my Valentine is this year? I bet you can guess. 

So the other night Regina wanted me to watch Layla while she took a shower. It was cold that night. So I wrapped Layla in her warm fleece blanket (made by my fabulous friend, Brady). She just looked so cute I couldn't help but snap a few pics of her. Okay so I ahhhh *ahem* took 75 pics but whatever. You have to admit, she is C.U.T.E. Right? :)

Here are a few of my faves from our little photo shoot...

Don't tell me this doesn't make you laugh out loud! She is like WOAH turn that flash off!

She is thinking...I wonder how many pics this Gamma person is going to take...

Look at that cute, wispy hair...

Now there's a smile (for her mommy)...

Silly face....

The very last pic of the night...I think Layla is thinking...she is FINALLY leaving with that camera.

~*~*~*~*~*~

If you've made it to the end of the post, thanks for humoring an obsessed doting Gamma.

Reading Together

We love reading at our house! We take lots of trips to the library. Last year, I used to post "reading together" posts to share books I was reading with my kids. I just stopped for some reason. Recently we went to the library and checked out a bunch of fun books. So I thought I'd share a few today that we've read that we really like.

Image and description found here.

This book has marvelous illustrations.

A magical and amusing tale set in Japan about Norio, a little boy who sees double, Saru, a good-natured monkey who also sees double, and a little wild pony named Hoki. 

Merle the High Flying Squirrel by Bill Peet

A cute squirrel takes a trip out west.

Bird Child by Nan Forler

 
A girl makes a new friend by sticking up for her when bullies are picking on her.

That Book Woman by Heather Henson



A fun way for kids to learn the start of libraries. 







If you're like me at all, you're always looking for new book ideas to read with your kids. I always welcome ideas. I hope someone is inspired by this.

An Outward Display

Baptism is the outward display of the commitment we have made to accept 
Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer who I live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

Today...

Image from Valley Family Church.

Regina and I were baptized!

We were saved in November 2007. 

Today was our day to show ourselves in public.

Jesus is our Lord and Savior.

Our redeemer.

He died for our sins.

We are saved.

Hallelujah!

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see so clearly


Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away, washed away

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed


When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing Your praise
Than when we first begun

~Grace Like Rain by Todd Agnew~

If you've never heard this song, it's a must-listen....

All for Love (Valentine's Mantel)

I've been wanting to participate in Beth's mantel parties since she first started them. So today is my first time participating (albeit a little late but oh well)! Woo hoo! My Valentine's mantel is pretty simple. I think it turned out really cute. I *do* still need to put a wreath up on the mirror. I feel like it's too blank.

The kids didn't have school today so it was a family cleaning day. I told Rhiannon (my 9 year old) this morning, "We need to get the living room cleaned up. I want to put out the Valentine's decorations." She replied, "Of course you do". Hmmmm does that mean I am a little addicted to decorating for holidays??? haha Joey (my 6 year old) said "Mom, you are a master at decorating!" Isn't that so sweet? :)

Okay here we go with pics of my mantel...

I would like to change out the lighting fixtures eventually. And the mirror, I have been going round and round about painting it. I want to paint it a nice cream color but Regina likes it gold. What do you think? I'd really rather paint it. I bought it at a garage sale last summer for $10.

A close-up of my apothecary jar...

The white hearts are Christmas ornaments I already had, the pink paper shreds I stole out of Rhiannon's Easter basket (don't worry I'll put them back), the curly ribbons are from the dollar store (I bought them last year), the Love heart is from the thrift store for 25 cents.

Love art made with a thrift store frame spray painted red (I had this for awhile), scrapbook paper and punch out scrapbooking letters. I had all of the paper supplies as well.

The little glass jar ($1 at the thrift store)  is filled with the same pink paper shreds as the large jar, the 2 little white birds I've had since last year, the white feather garland was an after Christmas purchase in 2008. The red taper candles were purchased at the thrift store in the wrapper for 25 cents each, the white holders were $1 each.

The three candleholders I had from when I sold PartyLite a few years ago. The Sweethearts were a $1 per bag and I used about a 1/4 of the bag so let's say 25 cents worth. The red heart candle is from Goodwill for 50 cents and the white pitcher was $1.

So what do you think? Do you like it?

I like it.

The total cost (well, money spent recently within the last month) is:  $5.50. Not bad, huh?

I still need to accessorize above the shelves on both sides but that's for another day. :)

I hurried and snapped all these photos about 4:30 p.m. today when I realized the natural light was going away so hopefully the color doesn't look too off for you.

Thanks for looking!

Now go check out Beth's blog for the rest of the mantel party participants.

Cutting clutter, getting organized and some pretty photos

I am having a HARD time getting organized and getting rid of clutter. I know, I know, January is supposed to be the month where I get organized. So far it hasn't happened. My mom knows. She was at my house yesterday. It was a MESS! It's not that I don't clean and organize. It's just that it doesn't STAY that way. I know I can't possibly be the only one out there with this problem. So today while perusing bhg.com, I found some ideas that got my  mind moving and I thought I'd share (along with some inspirational photos). I am sharing this for my readers and for MYSELF. Maybe it will be the final push to get me motivated to take care of our messy house.

Problem:  All the clutter by the back door.

Use baskets by the door for shoes and other clutter. Our shoes are always everywhere. I thought buying the bench below was a good idea, you know for sitting while putting shoes on/taking them off. Not so much. It just ends up being a catch-all. There are drawers but not big enough for shoes (I use them for cold weather accessories). You can even see the clutter in this photo (it's from Christmastime, no I still don't have my Christmas decor up)...

What would have been a lot more useful is something like this (from walmart.com) so we could store shoes inside:

 

The shoe issue is not the only problem in the kitchen. I need to designate containers for the recycling and pop bottle/can returns. I think for now I can just use plastic storage containers. It'd be nice so if I need to "hide" it, I can just put the lids on.

I posted here about my storage issues in the living room. I think this storage ottoman (from walmart.com) would definitely help to store games and other stuff that goes in the living room that I don't necessarily want "displayed". 

When I posted about my DVD storage issue, my friend Karol suggested  using a CD/DVD binder to store them in. You know removing them from the plastic cases...duh. Pure genius! I definitely think this is in our  near future...

 

Problem: The dining room table is so cluttered, it's hard to find room to eat dinner.

 Not my dining room, of course. But it's lovely, isn't it? A little formal for us but still pretty. I would love to have that built-in corner cabinet. In fact, I *need* a corner cabinet. That is on my thrift store/yard sale list.

We don't have an office nor a craft room so everything gets done at the dining room table which leaves lots of clutter around, including craft supplies and homework/school papers.

BHG says:

Designate a bin for whatever tends to find a temporary home on the table. This can be permanent storage or a way to move things to their rightful room.

I suppose I could do that until I get some shelving/cabinets/buffet.

What I wouldn't give for something like this from Pottery Barn.

Of course it's WAY out of my price range. If we did have this, it'd be filled with less dishes and more books and paper work.

Actually something like this would work well for the wall in my kitchen too. My mom said then I wouldn't have a wall to hang all my pretties on. I say pretty schmetty. I need storage and function!

Okay I have WAY more organizing issues than what I've talked about in this post but I think that's all for today. Next time...the living room coat closet. Eek!

So let me recap (this is mostly for me)...

1.  Since I can't run out and buy a storage bench for the kitchen, I need to put a basket in the kitchen for our shoes.

2.  I need to designate storage containers for recycling and bottle returns.

3.  Look for a storage ottoman or some kind of storage that looks nice for board games, etc in the living room.

4.  Buy a DVD storage binder.

5.  I need a bin/basket for the dining table to put all of our clutter and papers in. Otherwise, it just gets stacked up and set all over the place. Then we can't find stuff when we need it. If the clutter is contained, we will be able to eat dinner at the dining room table!

I hope to be able to update with my progress by the end of next week!!!

~*~*~*~*~*

Edited to add:  I had a question from Karol..."Do you have a place in your garage where you could put a shelf/rack for shoes?"

Sadly, no. We don't have an attached garage. I wish so much that we did! That would solve A LOT of problems!

A great pair of jeans...

Every girl needs a pair!

A great pair of jeans can make you feel skinnier. Prettier. Taller.

Your legs look longer, your butt smaller or bigger (whichever is better).

A great pair of jeans can make you feel more stylish.

 And most important, a great pair of jeans can make you feel comfortable in your own skin.

 

We've all had that pair of jeans. Do you have that pair now?

Sadly, I do not. I need to go jeans shopping and I am dreading it.

I have a feeling it's not going to be an easy task.

And I sure won't look as cute as Layla does in her jeans...

I'm normally not a fan of zip-up hoodies on babies because they bunch up but she sure does look cute in this one. Huh?

I took these pics with my phone so they're not the best quality but I wanted to snap some pics before she went to daycare.

It's definitely time for an "official" photo shoot. :)

So what kind of jeans are your favorite?

Boot Cut?

Flare?

Skinny?

Straight Leg?

Do you like low-rise? Mid-rise? At waist?

It seems like high waist pants/jeans are making a comeback much to my chagrine. haha  They are just not flattering.

My favorite are slightly boot cut with a mid-rise (just below the waist).

All jeans images are from oldnavy.com.

Just a Little Something Pretty

 

I like to accessorize my large apothecary jar with the seasons/holidays. I had it full of ornaments for Christmas. It now looks like this. It has glittery snowflakes, yarn ornament balls and a white heart. It's hard to see the details but it looks so pretty.

The kids keep saying how plain the living room looks now without all of our Christmas decor. I agree.

I really need to get the living room painted.

Mr. Snowman is still hanging around. He'll be here all month. :)