Resolutions.

I know most people make a few resolutions each New Years ( or at least think about making resolutions). This year I have a few of my own... 

1. Play more. I tend to forget to relax and have fun. I want B to remember a Mom who worked hard to make a comfortable home for her but also always had time to sit and play with her. 

2. Be less critical. Of myself and others. And be others I mean mostly Matt. He does ALOT right and I need to remember that more. 

3. Exercise as a family. 

I think three is good. :) If I stick to those I think 2011 will be even better than 2010! 

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from 2010 ( not in order) ... 

Enjoy your New Years! :) 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from all of us and see you in 2011! 

A little of this, a little of that...

First, a few things that make me smile...

Bristol LOVES these boots,,, doesn't matter what is going on- she puts those on and we are good to go! :) 

Her new favorite place to play- forget the playroom we re-did for her- she will take a small wooden box. 

Our matching pedicures

Matt and B in matching game day clothes.

Now on to what I did this weekend...we had a Christmas party and I worked so it was a busy weekend! Lately, B has been really into carrying her doll around and pushing her in the stroller. So cute! :) Anyway her doll's blanket was always falling off so I thought I would make a blanket that would hopefully stay put...

Top of blanket- I made it from B's old oncsies.

Back side- I attached velcro to the opposite corners to close over  her doll.

B's doll all warm and cozy :)

So we had a fun family Christmas party this weekend... here are a few pictures we took before heading out the door...

Hope you all have a good holiday week and Merry Christmas!

My Christmas Tree is dead.

This week its been one thing after another. Ill save you the boring details but tonight was the last straw...So Im sure you remember me talking about this tree fiasco we have been on. Well after three trips to get lights, then the right stand, and finally finding time to decorate it... a week and a half later its dead. I mean DEAD. Like fire hazard- looks pitiful- dead. Matt said we have to take her down tomorrow.  Im pretty sure it went something like this..

"Matt I think something is wrong with the tree"
" Amanda water it"
" Matt their is a small lake in our living room- its not that" ( me now annoyed)
" Hold on, when I get home Ill look at it"

4 hours later... ( tree is now looking even more dead - if thats possible)

" Wow Amanda yeah thats bad. We have to get rid of it this weekend"
" Matt CHRISTMAS isnt this weeknend - we were supposed to have this tree till after our New Years Party!!!!!!!"
" Sorry Manda, she has to come down" ......

                                                  Ok week of December 13th- you win.

Craft Supplies

After doing " Cheap Craft" week I thought about the supplies I have on hand. It has taken me a while to accumulate these supplies through various project but how frustrating is it to get half way into a project and realize you have to run to the store?? So I figured I'd throw up a list of things that someone who is just getting into crafting might want to think about getting- good all around craft supplies.

Hot Glue Gun-  When we were moving and mine was packed I missed her terribly. They aren't too expensive and the projects ( and repairs) you can do are endless! 

A GOOD pair of scissors- When I first started crafting I used my "craft" scissors for everything. Fabric, paper, wire, whatever. Bad idea. Keep your fabric scissors just for fabric etc. It really does make a difference. 

Water Soluble Marker- I love mine. My drawing skills aren't the best so I love to be able to draw then erase if needed. 

Good cutting/ crafting surface- My parents got me this last year for my birthday and I love it. I can cut and craft without worrying about my kitchen table or bar getting damaged. Plus with the pre-measurements on the board it makes things so much easier! 

White Spray Paint- Ok maybe this isnt something everyone should have but I use it on everything 

( much to Matts dismay).  Small projects or large- I love it. You would be surprised what a coat of paint can do...

Supplies minus the spray paint- I used the last of it the other day. 

 Im sure their are more things that you can think of but right now those are a few I came up that I use constantly. Well B and I are off to a Kiddie Christmas Party. She hasn't napped so this should be interesting. :) 

Already getting into trouble... 

Instead of napping, B thought it was more important to catch up with Hoda and Kathie Lee.

Happy Wednesday! 

Cheap Crafts Day 5... White Pitchers

On this craft I kinda cheated. I did this about a month ago. I had seen white pitchers like these from Pottery Barn, but at $40.00 each I had to come up with a cheaper way to get my white pitchers. :)  

So I found three UGLY pitchers at Goodwill and spray painted them white. ( I wish I had taken a "before" but I forgot -ops) Im still working on my spray painting skills but they came out pretty good overall. If you do mess up you can just sand down a run lightly and re-apply spray paint. 

Happy Spray Painting- and don't forget to use a drop cloth- or dont try and spray paint on a windy day - near your husbands truck. He gets annoyed when he has to wash little white flakes off of it. So Ive heard. 

Slacker...

So you may be asking " What happened to Day 5 of C.C. week?"Thats a great question... long story short. Im slacking. Actually, we had a really busy weekend and I haven't been home to do anything much less blog about it. Ill throw up C.C. Day 5 tomorrow. Okay? Okay. For now here are some cute pictures of my crazed child getting ready to go play in the snow... :)

Cheap Crafts Day 4

(Sorry the pictures did not turn out very good... I need to adjust the lighting in the breakfast area. )

OK before you all stage a wreath intervention this craft was SUPPOSED to be "Gumdrop Trees." However, my Dollar Store was fresh out of foam trees so I had to go with what they had. ( Although after doing the wreath I have to say trees might be a bad idea because I think the sugar from the gumdrops would constantly be all over the table.)  A few things about this craft I would change:

1. I probably wouldn't do it. No-seriously. It may be cheap but it took a long time to attach all those gumdrops. :) So unless you have lots of free time - maybe skip this one. 

2. I would have spray painted the foam wreath form white before attaching the gumdrops. 

3. How I did it: I bought a foam wreath form, box of gumdrops, and toothpicks= $3.00. ( I should have called these Dollar Store Crafts!) Then I just started sticking them all over. I didn't really do a color pattern or anything... and Gumdrop Wreath- Done! 

Ok maybe a wreath intervention is needed. Ha. ( But two of them are moving...) 

Bristol's Birthday Dress

 Danielle of D & G Stories made Bristol this dress for her birthday. She is super talented and lucky for me she is also one of my best friends! :) She had asked about things Bristol liked and I told her Gage, our black lab mix is Bristol's best buddy. So she added a black dog onto the dress - I love it! So does B, she keeps pointing to the dog and saying "Gage" 

Playing with some of my Christmas Decorations...

The Bow! I LOVE bows on little girls! Also, apparently mullets.  Poor B. 

Mom can I go play please?


While we were snapping pictures B wanted to show you around her Crib...

Her mailbox...

Doing a quick repair on the flower box... its winter so cut her some slack on the landscaping....

Her library... B loves all holidays- and to be prepared. Right now she is reading an Easter book.  

As you can see the library is in close proximity to the kitchen- incase she gets hungry. 

Now on to her workshop...

There you have it - B's Crib. Ill be back later to post  the Cheap Craft Day 4- :)