Dining table centerpiece

I bought this pumpkin (minus the stem) to use in my pumpkin tower.  I didn't like the size/shape so I decided to stick a few picks in it to make a cute centerpiece.  The leaves and berries are from the extra strand of leaf garland that I had left over (other strand is hanging on my mirror in the entryway).  Overall it cost a little over $2 for this cute festive centerpiece.

The pick was $0.25 and I took it apart before sticking & hot gluing each piece into pumpkin.

Habitat for Humanity

Today was my 2nd day to volunteer at Habitat for Humanity.  I really enjoy volunteering there and meeting new people.  Mondays are hectic since I also volunteer at Sadie's school in the afternoons.  I left the house at 8 am and I didn't get home until almost 3:30.  The window guy finally showed up at 4:00 and we got our basement window replaced.  My house is a wreck so I am hoping to get it cleaned tomorrow since I don't really have any other plans.

Getting ready for a craft fair.

I am thinking about joining a craft fair so I decided to get out my beads and get to work making some stuff.  Since earrings are the quickest and cheapest to make, Sadie and I made 18 pairs last night.  I haven't made earrings in a long time so it was fun to be making stuff again.  My palm is hurting this morning from using the jewelry pliers so much. 

Still trying to figure out what to charge for them.  Any suggestions?

Project of the day

I have been wanting to replace our ugly outside sconces since we moved in.  They were really rusty which is unsettling considering our house is only 4 years old.  Instead of buying new ones, I picked up a $6 can of rust-oleum spray paint in a hammered metal finish.  I cut the power, removed from the wall and went to work. I had to completely take them apart to get a nice even coat and also to take the glass out and wash it. It took me almost the whole morning since I had to apply several coats of the spray paint and I had drying time in between.  Re-assembling the first one took awhile since it is hard to try to screw and hold the glass together at the same time, but the 2nd one went a lot quicker.  I got them re-hung and one of them wouldn't turn on so I had to remove it from the wall and tighten the wire connections.  They are both up now and they look great.  This was my first time doing anything that envolved electrical wires.  I was nervous, but it was pretty simple.  I guess I will attempt to replace the electrical socket in our master bath that I blew out a few weeks ago (said incident also lead to the demise of my flat iron).

Before

During

After

After re-installation



Ready for Fall

I have finally got all of my fall decorations out (just need to add a few things at Halloween and some turkey stuff at Thanksgiving).  Those of you that know me well know that I am "thrity."  Most of my decorations were super cheap and a lot came from thrift stores.  My scarecrow was new with a $18.99 tag, but I only paid $0.95 for him (the easel on the back was missing a screw).   Got my glitter pumpkins for pennies and added the glitter to them myself.  The fall garland hanging on my mirror was $1.75 for two 6 ft stands (still looking for a place to put the other strand).  Most of the stuff in the jars I got on clearance last year and if I remember correctly I paid $1.00 for the potpurri (I added a few pumpkins and gourds).

Welcome fall!  I am ready, but I wish you would stay around a little longer.  Not much of a fall season here in SE Idaho.

Entryway

Front door



Glitter pumpkins

Martha Stewart made some cute glitter pumpkins so I thought I would try to make some as well.  I got the big pumpkin (with top cut off) at a thrift store for $0.25 and the smallest one came from the same thrift store and was $0.20.  I am so happy with the way they turned out.  I am heading back to Michaels tomorrow for more of the brown glitter.  Once I finish the brown I will glue them together and set them on my porch.

Supplies: pumpkins, glue or mod podge, paint brush or sponge brush, extra fine glitter, newspaper (so you don't get glitter everywhere).

Instructions:

1. Use a paint brush or sponge brush to apply glue to pumpkin (work in sections so the glue doesn't dry too quickly).

2. Sprinkle glitter over the glue and let dry

3. Shake off excess glue and put in back into the container  (I did 2 coats since I didn't want the orange showing through).

I won a giveaway

I usually don't enter giveaways, but I noticed that the vinyl company I purchase my vinyl from was doing a giveaway on facebook.  They wanted to see pictures of vinyl projects that use their t-shirt vinyl.  I posted a picture of Sadie's lunch box & backpack and I won a gift certificate.  I am so excited! 

Brown Face

Sadie about broke my heart last night.  A girl in her class told her she didn't want to be friends because she didn't like Sadie's "brown face."  I am not naive by any means and I know that this stuff happens a lot, but it was the first time my baby has experienced it and it really upset me.  Luckily, she seemed more upset that she no longer had a best friend (her old best friend is now best friends with this girl).  I knew we would face this issue one day (especially living in a place where there aren't many african americans and even fewer bi-racial people) but I wasn't prepared to deal with it in the 3rd week of school.

I discussed it with her teacher today and she said that she was glad that I told her and that she would talk to the class.  Pray for me on Monday when I have to go back up there and spend an hour with the class.  The odd part of this whole thing is that I don't think the girl is white either (she looks hispanic and she has a hispanic sounding last name.)

Recess Duty

Yesterday I volunteered at recess and then helped in Sadie's classroom until school was out.  It was such a nice day out and the kids enjoyed being outside.  Once we got back inside, the kids did an art project (painting fire trucks). It was fun, but a little messy. It is amazing that the teacher can keep 16 kids calm and quiet.  I think I would go crazy with that many 5 year olds.  I am on the list to volunteer every Monday so that is where I will be from 2:00 to 3:00.  Following up yesterday's rant, it did take me an extra 5 or 6 minutes to get to school this morning with all the construction.  I guess we will try to leave a few minutes early tomorrow.

Under construction

Ugh!  Old Butte Rd (across Broadway from us) has been closed off and under construction since before school started.  From what I understand they are widening the road so they can install a stop light on Broadway & Old Butte.  I think the traffic light is a really bad idea and it is just going to cause Broadway to back up in both directions.  We have a ton of INL buses that travel that road so the mornings and afternoons are going to be horrible.  About a 1/4 mile west of us the speed limit is 65 so cars coming from that direction will have to slow down or stop for the stupid light. I haven't seen any work being down on the other side of Old Butte in several days and this morning they started working on our side of Old Butte. I really wish they would finish one side before they start on the other (or better yet work on them both at the same time).  Luckily I was able to get in and out since they had one lane open, but if they completely shut it down like they did the other side I have no idea what I will do.  I think there might be a back way, but I have never taken it.  It already takes me 20 minutes to get to Sadie's school and this construction is just going to add more time to that.  Okay ~ rant over.

Porch spruce

I don't use my front door since we come and go through the garage, but I never really liked it.  Since a new door isn't in the budget right now (maybe next year), I decide to try to spruce up the door and porch.  We have been talking about buying a power washer but since we haven't gotten one yet I just used a broom to clean the siding (it was really dusty) and sweep the porch.  I would love to paint the front door, but since I am hoping to buy a new one later I just added a vinyl  "Welcome" sign to it.  I also cleaned and spray painted my cheap ugly planters (that I bought last fall at a thrift store for $1.50 each) and they look so much better.  It is amazing what a $0.97 can of black glossy spray paint can do.  I also moved my poor dying flowers onto the back patio where they will get more sun.  Since it is fixing to start freezing here (I swear I saw some frost this morning), I got some artifical mums to fill my newly painted planters.  I need to buy more mums since they aren't as full or big as I would like.  I hung my "Autumn Greetings" pumpkin wreath and now my porch is so much more colorful.  Hopefully we will be adding some pumpkins soon.   I am wanting to get a bench to put on the left side, but I haven't found one that I like yet.

Before

After

Planter Before

After

2nd week of school

Sadie just finished her 2nd week of kindergarten.  She loves her school, teacher & classmates.  Since she attends a private christian school she has been learning a lot of things about God and she is even learning a few bible verses.  On Thursday they have chapel at school and the pastor sings songs and gives a bible lesson.  Today she had her first hot lunch. Pizza!!!  She eats lunch at 11:15 so she is usually starving when I pick her up at 3pm.  Her school requires the parents to volunteer at least 10 hours a year and I am on recess duty Monday at 2:00 (I guess I will be doing it every Monday).  Since it takes 20 minutes to drive there, I will probably hang out at the school and see if Mrs. Harris needs any help.

Sadie got invitated to a birthday party for one of the girls in her class.  After school today we went and picked out a gift and she is so excited for tomorrow.

I have a blog!!

I have been wanting to start a blog for awhile and now that Sadie is in school, I finally have time.  I love crafts so I will probably be blogging about my crafts and of course about my family and our life.  Since I am new to blogging, please bear with me while I get everything figured out.