Meet Little Scarecrow, AND...

...my cousin Jessica! She JUST recently started a blog and she has lots of treasures tucked away in her head! For example, look at these incredible cupcakes that she created!

How cute is this?

They look like they're from a magazine not her kitchen!

You can visit her new blog HERE. But today, I wanted to share a Fall Project that she recently did. This isn't MY project...I don't sew! But I thought it was so adorable that I immediately asked her if I could share it here.

Here are some basics Jessica gave to
making your own little October Scarecrow:

JESSICA SAYS...

-Start by cutting fabric of your choice into a circle. (Make sure you cut this LARGER than your desired size of head because it will be sewed and stuffed!)

-Cut more fabric into a rectangle with a neck pattern for the body

-Sew your head piece and body/neck piece together leaving an opening in the head and one in the side of the body to stuff your scarecrow.

-Put a produce bag in the bottom of the body and fill it with 2 lbs of pinto beans for weight. Tie it off with a twisty tie.

-Then stuff the head and body and sew it up!

- Cut eyes, nose, and mouth out of felt and hot glue them to the face.

- Then, cut raffia for hair and hot glue in to the head in the shape desired.

- Attach a hat over the hair with thread and a needle.

- We dressed the scarecrow in 24 month old clothes that we found at goodwill.

- Then cut more raffia for the hands and feet. Take string and tie the raffia inside each limb with a bow.
- On the back of his head cut a small rectangle and and sew it for a broom handle to fit into. Then wedge the broom handle in the bale of hay sting and hang your little guy on the broom handle.



- He will fold up for easily storage too!

~A little idea~
Try using BURLAP for your fabric, you'll have one stylish little Fall Scarecrow.

What a perfect touch for your Autumn front porch!
You'll want to squeeze him every time you walk by.

If you have any questions, ask Jessica. And remember, I don't SEW, therefore asking me won't work. {wink}

For More Works for Me Wednesday Ideas, Click on the button below!







I am linking up to the FALL PARTY at DIY Showoff too!

Party On...Creative Party Place *Feature*

I'm sort of giddy right now {doesn't take much}!

The BLACK AND WHITE CHECKER party I did last Summer
for my Dad's 50th Birthday has been featured
on an amazing Party Idea website: Creative Party Place.

If you've never been to there, you're missing out! Creative Party Place features many unique and creative parties that
will fuel your imagination for the next party you host.


And if you click HERE, you can see my black and white checkered party on THEIR site. I'm re-posting some of the fun party shots and links on my blog today as well!

The original post on my blog for the featured party. CLICK HERE.

ALSO!! A week later,
this posh little 50th party bash
for my Mom was featured on
Creative Party Place as well!

this one was the Pink and Black: CLICK HERE.

PS I have three boys, as most of you know, and am ALWAYS looking for party ideas for the Boy theme...if you have any excellent ideas, please share. :)

Walls Wrapped in Charm

It's time for the big reveal that I discussed HERE!

I was patiently waiting for my window coverings to come in before I posted this BUT I've just been informed that they are on backorder until November 27th!! I am overly tired and bored with wood blinds so I was searching for an alternative! Needless to say, I'm not waiting...you'll just have to see it without the window coverings.


I have always wanted beadboard in my home sweet home. In fact, we had some put up in our first home that we bought shortly after we were married. I've wanted beadboard AGAIN ever since! When I came across an idea on the Lettered Cottage for a photo ledge {with beadboard} I was instantly consumed with the desire to transform my dining room! And if you know me, once I get "instantly consumed", I can't stop until it's accomplished.

I am sure many of you have had your jaws drop over the incredible changes at the Lettered Cottage. (Yes, it is one of my favorite web sites too!) Layla and her husband are exceptionally talented...Thank you both for this exciting inspiration!

I was still mesmerized by the photo ledge I saw on their website when my brother came over for dinner one night. I excitedly showed him the photos of it and he jumped out of his chair and suggested that we leave for Lowe's right that instant and get to work. It was past 8pm and I thought he was crazy! But that is one thing I love about him: he gets things done and helps everyone else get it done too. Indeed, we rolled up our sleeves and worked well into the night and beyond.



OKAY, onto the good stuff:

BEFORE: not bad, just boring

DURING: One, Two, Three, Four
Yes, I enlisted a total of 4 men to help me!

AFTER: dining room wrapped in charmI took the leaf out of the table
to give this room a more "everyday" look
This French postal bag is from the always amazing, Ballard Designs

The biggest difference that struck me was my dining room now has it's own identity. Before, all the rooms ran together and your eyes got lost. This change made it pop and set it apart, creating it's own little cuddly corner.

A tip for you to remember if your house has an open floor plan. If you customize a room, it may help set your rooms apart and avoid the maze of everything running together.

All the decor and details for you lovelies to see...
(and a poem!)

Overheard in an Orchard
by Elizabeth Chaney 1859

"Said the Robin to the Sparrow...

I should really like to know...

Why these Anxious human beings...

Rush about and worry so...

Said the Sparrow to the Robin...

Friend I think that it must be...That they have no Heavenly Father...

Such as cares for you and me."

One more time! {wink}
My oldest son just memorized this poem in school
and it is simple and beautiful.

Overheard In An Orchard

Said the Robin to the Sparrow
"I would really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so."

Said the Sparrow to the Robin
"Friend I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me."

--Elizabeth Chaney - 1859

La Dolce Vita

UPDATE EDIT 11/02/2009: I won this contest and the necklace!! Thank you SO much friends for helping me with your comments!!

I get lots of excitement out of little things in life! I was so happy when Kristen Andrew asked me to do one of her weekly features over at her blog, La Dolce Vita! Her blog was one of the first I looked at when I started creating a blog. She is such a loving momma and super skilled at creating jewelry!

It would mean SO much to me if you would sneak on over and read the feature. I would love to hear your own views and feedback on the questions she asked me! I think it's fascinating to hear other people's perspective.

PLUS!! Here is the extra happy part {for me}. She is offering a contest where I have a chance to win one of her handmade pieces of jewelry. If I get the most comments on the post over there I win.

So if possible...pretty please...would you comment on the post
and help me win
by clicking here, or here, or here! ;)

The Game is SO on! Thank you lots!

This necklace has been my long-time favorite!
I always say this phrase to my boys and they know it by heart.
You can click on the photo above to visit her Etsy store!

Thank you Kristen.

Cameron's Birthday, The Beginning of a Family

Cameron Skyler is 9 years old now. I suppose that officially makes me an adult! It took 9 years for that reality to set in! I'm the one making the judgment calls and calling the shots. Wow. Possibly this reality has been difficult for me to grasp because I was a young mother, pregnant at 17 and a wife and mom at 18. I had to instantly grow up even if I didn't feel like a "grown up".

I wanted to share a post I actually wrote several years ago when he turned six:

Our oldest son turned six years old 2 days ago. On the eve of his birthday I thought back through the brief six years and am amazed at what has transpired. The terrifying, complex fear of being young and pregnant...to the rapid changes that pregnancy brings...followed by a memorable labor (the sort of labor where you wouldn't change a thing!)... and of course the indescribable joy that every new mom must feel of holding her baby for the first time, his warm little finger wrapped around mine.

I remember with amusement the three of us making a home in our cozy 5th wheel for my baby's first few months of life... Always happy and in love in spite of our beat up car and cramped living quarters. Selling the 5th wheel brought a surprising sadness as it drove down the road with our memories.
The day we bought our very own first home when we were 18 years old is forever highlighted in bright yellow as one of the most exciting times of my life! Even a few years later, living in different brand new, fancy homes, my first little home was the most thrilling to set my baby's nursery up in, to cook our first dinner in, and to watch Cameron crawl across the new carpet after we worked so hard to remodel the old place! Cameron enjoyed three birthdays there before our life took another turn as we reached for yet another dream of ours: COLORADO! We've had the joy of watching Cameron and his brothers adopt this land as theirs, building memories in the mountains.
Every birthday is a milestone, a reflection of dreams gained and some lost along the way. Cameron's age marks our family history, from the moment he was conceived life changed course and it continues to wind along in new directions. We celebrate success and we bear disappointments. But especially right now, we celebrate our oldest, the one we're so proud of: Cameron Skyler. Happy Birthday to my baby.


How true this post is even 3 years later.

He is our blessing and a constant source of peace to me and Chris.

Puppy Heaven

We lost our Sweet and loving-spirited dog yesterday and our family's hearts are broken. She was truly a GOOD dog in every sense of the word and barely over a year old. We have nestled her close in our hearts, which gives us greater capacity to love more as we move forward.

(photo courtesy of google search)

We miss our friend and gentle companion.
This was the day we got her last September.

And this is where I found Kotah yesterday when I looked out the window
after we told the boys.

"A dog is the only thing on this earth that loves you more than he loves himself."

-Josh Billings

Who Gets a Pocket Full of Posies?

Who knew doing a giveaway would make me feel so..........


terrible?!


Over 200 of you entered and there can only be 1 winner....

this means MOST of you won't like reading this post!

{I'm sorry!!}

However, I am so
grateful and happy for the response this had!
Thanks to each one of you for entering!

Based on Random Sequence Generator:

Congrats to Shannon Mangerchine !

You're the lucky one to receive those pretty posies straight to your mailbox!

Making a List, Checking it Twice

Boo. In true October spirit I'm going to frighten you all away by talking about Christmas today!

July. October. December.
I'm one of those Christmas lovers who can talk about the holiday on any given month.
I'm the one who feels happy when I see Christmas decorations at the stores right now.


I have a SIMPLE yet EFFECTIVE secret that will make your Christmas holidays a breeze. I'm sharing the idea in October so you can actually enjoy December: A CHRISTMAS FOLDER.
I have kept a Christmas folder ever since I was 14 years old!
I can tell you what I gave everyone in
1998 or 2008.
See, the photo below are pages of my archives of gifts I've bought through the years.

This folder has 3 sections:
1) TO DO
2) GIFTS AND CARDS
3) RECIPES AND MEAL PLANS

1) TO DO
We all have a never ending TO DO list in December. In this section I keep a master list, a weekly list, and a daily list. You can also print off a December calendar page to slip in there to keep track of events. Trust me, you won't forget any details if you make these lists!

2) GIFTS AND CARDS
Here I store my archives of lists for all gifts given and received in the past. It works as a great tool for budgeting and comparing what we spend from year to year. I also keep a current year's list of what we're giving, and a box to check off once it's been wrapped. This list serves to show me what "STATUS" each gift is at: in the mail, needs to be ordered, needs wrapped, etc. I also keep my Christmas card list here.
(Remember to check out THIS post HERE for ideas on budgeting for Christmas!)

3) RECIPES AND MEAL PLANS
I keep the pages of this last section in clear avery pockets to protect the pages from food. It contains all my favorite holiday recipes and my master meal plans that I've used for Holiday Meals throughout the years. This really assists in keeping food traditions. I also keep a master list of our favorite holiday cookies here. A fun detail is to print your recipes on Christmas paper like shown below. Notice the clear plastic sleeves and the holiday paper. You can double click the photo for a better view.
I even keep some fun info in here like napkin folding "how to's" and different notes on what worked for the Christmas meals and what didn't work.



PS... Slid into the pocket of my Christmas folder is some artwork Skyler made for me a couple Decembers ago...and of course, it always makes my heart smile every year when I pull it out.

This is super easy to make
and once you tweak this idea
and make it your own
it really will work for you!
It will definitely
sprinkle some peace into your December.

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Handy Girly Girl

See what THIS PROJECT started? . . .
now I'm on a roll . . .

I've tried a lot different things so far in this little life. But I just broke through some new ground and I am super excited about it! I've never ever done anything like this before!

I've painted a bit (I'm too impatient to do it often),
And I've hammered a few nails,
but that is it.

Be on the lookout, because I'm going to reveal my new project in the next week or two. It has to do with:

me in my new fantastic safety glasses

AND

this beast

In fact, I'm convinced that I now need one of these cute little girly tool belts!
And maybe some pink Snap On Tools?? I found this adorable tool belt here on etsy
(don't you just love etsy?!).

The most intriguing thing about trying something brand new is what you learn about yourself.
This project that I'm talking about is something that I thought I would dread and hate...BUT, after trying it, I am loving it! I anticipate waking up each day and doing more! It is addicting.

I have always LABELED myself. For example, "I'm organized but not at all creative". I've said that about myself for years. But now, I'm learning new things.
It is so fascinating to see what happens when we allow ourselves to escape from the box we place ourselves in and cut away our self-imposed boundaries.

-Who are you really?

-How have you labeled yourself?

-Are you who you think you are....or is it possible that there are things you don't yet know about yourself?

-Take a little challenge to go out there and try something that you never envisioned yourself doing...what are the possibilities?


P.S. The reveal is coming soon...