DIY Halloween Crates!

oh so fabulous!
heidi at my paper crane has a tutorial for them

 

that includes the labels.
LOVE it!!!

DIY Freezer Packs!

what a FANTASTIC idea from my kitchen escapades!!!
just had to share!

Felted Wool Balls

girl. inspired is a fantastic blog, you really should go visit.
she made the cutest garland with felted wool balls

 

and has instructions on how to make it.
i think i need this for macy's room!

I'm in love

with this blog! Jill is one talented gal.
from her cooking to her crafts she has got a lot of
fantastic things to share on her blog!
REALLY. GO there.
recently we have had a run-in with lice. EWWW. i said it. yes. lice. and while searching the internet about ways to get rid of the little buggers i stumbled across her blog.
she shared a recipe and tutorial on how to make your own coconut shampoo.
(which by the way has MANY benefits other than the fact that the lice don't like it)

ANYWAYS!!!
this morning on facebook brown paper packages shared a very tempting, must make recipe for chilled apple cider that i will be making for my quilt class
(i will share those details later).

To make a LONG story SHORT.
i headed on over to print out the recipe and found THIS!

a really stinkin cute DIY jewelry holder with an old QUILT for the back! STOP it! i LOVE it!
i WILL be making this one!!!

you can click here for the complete how to and step by step instructions!



so anyways. go on over to this blog. you can thank me later!
love ya!

We Remember...

Breezy Point, NY 9/11/ Memorial by yellowecho

My Twin Buildings
Written by {a then} 12 year old Chelsie Isa

I put the buildings up. It was a beautiful site.
They were shining in the radiant sun.
They looked so brilliant in the day and at night
that I knew my work was done.

I woke every morning seeing the tall buildings right in front of my eyes.
They were so tall and beautiful they looked as if they rose to the skies.
But one morning it was not the same, I didn't feel the joy.
I felt, right then, that something was wrong.
I didn't expect the towers to be destroyed.

An appalling crash and a screeching yell told me what had happened
My towers were about to go down and I dropped on my knees and cried
I sat in my room and thought how this could be
but none of the reasons could I comprehend
So many people were gone, so many died.

My wonderful towers, they were destroyed and many lives were lost
I had no idea who committed this crime, but who ever it was would pay the cost
People might say they are very saddened by this tragic event, but I know in my heart I am the saddest of all
for this moment is stuck in my head like the first hardened cement wall.

I will never forget that day.
It is imbedded in my mind.
Fow now I am getting ready to put up another tower and I know that this time
it will be perfect and more brilliant than ever before
And there will be no more terrorist attacks knocking at its door.
by Chelsie Isa

my mother in law brought this over this morning. i had forgot about it and decided to share it.
i, too, remember that morning like it was just last week.

we will never forget and will continue to keep the families of those who lost their lives in our thoughts and prayers.

With love,

Strawberry Jam

shawn has wanted to make jam for awhile,

so a few weeks ago, he and his mom made wonderful strawberry jam

 

 

 

and did a little bonding...

Happy BIRTHDAY Puter!!!

i CAN NOT believe i have a {twenty THREE} year old!!!
but i am SO GRATEFUL that i do!!!

you know what i LOVE love LOVE about you???

i'll share a few things...
your HYSTERICAL personality! {you really are pretty funny}
your DOG! {hehe}
your STRENGTH!
your dedication to HARD work and the willingness you have to do it!
{ryan may or may not agree ;)}
i LOVE that we share pinterest!
{um and can i just say that your taste in fashion is RIGHT up my alley!}
your beautiful, contagious smile!
i LOVE your independence and the MATURITY that you have shown in handling it!
your {sometimes} OUTspoken way of handling things that reminds me, all too often,
"the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree" :/
your ANTARTICA"ness"
the love you have for your family
{even when it's sometimes difficult to like them}
that you still sometimes "need" your mom
and even more that you talk to me pretty much on a DAILY basis! thank you!
your FRIENDSHIP.
the way you do that stupid thing with your hands and face to get out of TROUBLE
{even now! i'm laughing at the thought and i know you are too!}
i LOVE your can do attitude
and that you can fix a car!!!

chels. i LOVE you a TON! i'm super PROUD of you and where you are in your life. you've accomplished much because of your attitude, your willingness to learn, your hard work and most importanly...not giving up, even when it was REALLY hard and it would have been SO EASY to come home. you stayed with it, you worked through it and you are AWESOME!

this year is gonna be GREAT! i know it!

i hope you have a fantastic birthday
{even though it's on a sunday and i can't send you cupcakes!}

smile, laugh, and enjoy all that you've accomplished!
we love you!!!

here's a little year in review to make you smile!



papa, two cute pooches!, brotherly love, a little sass! fireworks

a little more sass, antartica!!!, christmas wishes, "friends", family


more family and great cousins, cute nolan & that darn stick!, your wanna be twin!

and we will never forget our trip to see you,
and your trips to see us!

your beautiful, inside and out, and we all wish you the very best that
{TWENTY-THREE} has in store for you!

love you so very much!
mom

Small Gifts for {Fall}

pumpkin spice cupcakes

acorn adorned paper bags
that hold a special treat

 

i found the acorns at michaels.



p.s. can you tell i'm ready for a change in the season!

Waiting for {Autumn}...

and not so patiently i might add!
just thought i'd share a couple of fall wall hangings.



this one is from the book {we gather together} by jan patek

and one of my very favorites,
a design by renee plains from the book {a bird in hand}

First Day of {Pre-K}

oh my gosh, he's just so darn cute!
and HAPPY!!! i just love love love it!


he was so excited to go back to preschool
he picked out his clothes and packed his backpack with the truck he wanted to share.

rosie was excited just to get her picture taken
and couldn't wait to go pick him up!

he wanted his picture taken in this spot.
laughing as usual. he had the greatest day ever!
he made new friends but couldn't remember their names
but there is 4 boys and 1 girl and the girl has white hair.

miss rose just wanted her picture taken...
"take a picure me, take a picure me!"
cute!
next year she goes to preschool and "no no" goes to kindergarten.
boy they grow up sooooo fast!

August Midnight Madness

the last midnight madness was super fun and packed as usual!
i love that it gives me a reason to make quilts and have a party {of sorts}
last months theme was lemons...



i got a little carried away with the desserts...
darn!

the sharing time is always a favorite!
we always have the most talented gals!

and speaking of the gals...
here's a few



great ladies, great fun
and lots of quilting!
i love it all!

Watermelon Slices

last month's monday's best class was this cute summer wallhanging
by cheri



roxanne shrinks everything. here is her cute mini version of the wallhanging.
everything looks cuter when it's shrunk!

keeping with the watermelon theme,
i put together these cookies...

made watermelon on a stick
{great idea found on pinterest!}

cupcakes
{i can't remember where i got the printables...it's been too long.
i know i went on etsy and searched for watermelon printables}

watermelon juice by minute maid was delicious
and waayyyy easier than homemade!

happy quilting!