Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Sewing...Again...

I have been busy sewing more goodies!  
My goal is to start stock piling pillows, dish mats, 
and banners ready to sell!
Now all I have to do is figure out how/where 
I'm going to sell these babies :)
 

Yesterday I made a curtain that was supposed to go in the downstairs bathroom 
but it just didn't look right when I put it up.  So, I took it to our 
master bath and it fit in much better.  I love being able to have the blinds open to let all 
the beautiful sunlight in while keeping all the important parts from being seen :)

~Maris

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Good Conversation and Getting Crafty..

This morning the girls and I had our neighbor friends over and had a great time talking about decorating and family {thanks for the cinnamon rolls Molly!}  We have declared to get together more often since we have soooo much in common {maybe a trip to Anthropologie too}  It's always nice to have grown up conversations {oh how I miss them}!

Anyhooo...at Beanie's preschool they have a sensory table and my girls love it!  They could play with it for hours.  So, today I decided to go through the pantry and see what I could come up with.  I found a large serving tray {all I had to do was close the handle openings with tape to keep the corn kernels from escaping} and filled it up with corn kernels then gave Bird a bunch of measuring spoons, cups, and containers.  She was a happy camper!  Success! 

I took a couple of pics of the banner at Beanie's school...pretty darn cute if I don't say so myself...

~Mar



 Love all the colors!

Monday, March 28, 2011

Pictures from our weekend...

Beanie playing Princess Chutes and Ladders solo...
 More Chutes and Ladders...
 Going to cousin Kelley's birthday party
 The birthday girl and beanie
 Cousin Alicia and beanie
Bird and me {I'm trying to bite the head off of my nephews Spiderman...makes me laugh!}

Have a great Monday!  Back to school...whoohooo!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

New/Old Light Fixture...

As promised...here are a few pics of the re~purposed chandelier.  This is way better than what was there before and the light it gives off is so amazing!  Thank you hubby for installing it! 

I'm also starting a new book called The Happiness Project.  Will tell you more about it after I read a few chapters :)

~Maris


Saturday, March 26, 2011

Finishing Projects and Exciting News...

Happy Saturday!  I will start with the exciting news first...I'm gonna be an Auntie again to a little baby boy!!!  My sis in law just found out the sex of the baby and we are sooooo excited!  Now she will have two boys and we have two girls {perfection!}  Now we just have to wait for him to finish cookin' :)

I finally finished the alphabet banner for Beanie's preschool and I can't wait to take it in and hang it up {will share pics Monday}  So happy that lil project is done!  I have been busy sewing pillows and placemats.  I added a new pillow to our master plus changed the bedding a little {much better!}  I have come to the realization that I like solid colored bedding {no prints}...but will make what I have work!  Take a look...

 Our little reading nook...
 I used the old comforter along with the new Shabby Chic... {cannot seem to make those pillows look fluffy in pics} They are great in person!
 Close up... plus a new globe {got for a steal!!!}
 Yaaaaayyy it's done!
 I {heart} Amy Butler fabric!
I have a mild obsession with pom pom trim...can you tell!?!

I also figured out a way to use the old builders chandelier that we took down {replaced by a Pottery Barn beauty...thanks mom and dad} in the dining room and moved it into the entry.  I was able to take off the ugly glass covers and move the arms so they face up towards the ceiling {I hope this is making sense}  I will show you pics a soon as I get new light bulbs for it.  The light it puts off is stunning!  I love the change!  

Ok...I think that is all I have for right now...have a great weekend!  Spring break is almost over {thank goodness!} we are ready for school!  We are off to a birthday party...happy birthday cousin Kellie!!

~Mar

Thursday, March 24, 2011

We have eggs!!!!!!

It's a long story so I will share the cliffs notes version with you...

Finally, after a year of raising chickens we have eggs!!!  These two eggs have cost us approximately $800!!!  No...that's not a typo!  We have learned a lot about raising chickens/eggs by trial and error.  First we raised two roosters {the girls loved those little guys!} obviously we had no idea they were roosters till we noticed we weren't getting any eggs and they were making a lot of noise at 5:00 in the morning {haaahaa}.  So, off they went to our friends farm. 

Then my husband found a lady nearby that was selling some of her chickens so we loaded up the girls in the pouring rain and picked out our new chickens...they were the ugliest chickens we had ever seen but neither my husband or I had the guts to tell the lady we didn't want her ugly chickens.  The experience did provide some comical relief...I almost wet myself watching my hubby chase chickens in the mud!  Where was the video camera when you need it!?! {We got totally ripped off...learned yet another lesson the hard way}

So...not even two weeks go by and I notice one morning that Laverne {we named them Laverne and Shirley...loved that show!} was laying down on her side by the nesting boxes {not normal}.  I go outside and take a closer look and what do you know the damn chicken is DEAD!  Of course the little ones are always two steps behind me...so I tell them that the chicken is taking a nap and immediately call my husband at work.  The next day we tell the girls that Laverne flew off {I know it's bad to lie people but what would you say to a 4 and 2 year old about their "pet" dying!?!} 

Months go by and still no eggs!  That was until yesterday when my hubby found two perfect little eggs in Shirley's nesting box!  Somehow it makes it all worth it!

~Mar {aka scared to death of birds...go figure!}
 Chicken says what?
Hubby built this amazing chicken coop!  Will be expanding soon.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Current Projects...

I'm making an alphabet banner for beanie's school...it has taken much longer than expected!  It really has been a labor of love!  All I have left to do is attach the letters and string them through some twine...phew!  I'm very pleased with how they have turned out!  I had to cut 52 pieces of fabric...that is a lot of fabric for one project!  I will be sure to take a picture once they are hung at school.   Next project will be to complete 3 pillows for Nonna {hubby's grandma} and make a few dish mats :)  Will post those goodies later...

 I love all the different fabric together!
 My cutting area...
 Thank goodness for the cutting mat and rotary cutter!

 Inspiration board...
Now I have to go and get my ingredients ready for a new recipe I'm trying...pork carnitas {crock pot} will let you know how they turn out!  Have a great day!  

~Mar

Monday, March 21, 2011

Around The House Today...






The girls and I had to go to the market to get some hamburger for spaghetti tonight and found these beautiful tulips {of course that had to come home with us}  It's amazing what fresh flowers can do to a room!   I would have them around all the time if I could afford it! 

The girls and I have been hanging out at home all day...doing multiple loads of laundry, cleaning the bathrooms, sewing, reading together, and playing in the toy room.  It has been a very relaxing day!



 I had a nice surprise in the mail today...the print that I ordered from The Wheatfield arrived {etsy}.  I love all the colors and it's a much needed saying in this house especially for my youngest :) She's a little pistol!!




 Bird being super cute!  Looks innocent doesn't she...?!? Not so much...just ask her sister :)
Beanie being wonderful!  She makes me smile!

Have a great Monday evening!
~Maris

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Hi...I'm still here...

Hi!  Sorry for my absence...I have been dealing with two sick little ones {I'm very tired!} It is no fun sleeping in a twin bed with a toddler that is a bed hog! 

Anyhoooooo...funny story...we bought a nice/expensive {hubby's idea} Nikon camera over a year ago and still have not figured out how to use it.  All the pictures I have posted of our house have been taken with a little cheap~y camera {that I know how to use...can't knock it too much}  So, I finally decided to bring out the  fancy camera {none of them have been photo shopped...that is still to come} and give it another try...tell me what you think...

 I {heart} this fan!
 Yes...fake flowers...shame on me!

 I painted the stool again...wasn't loving the yellow
 The top of the tv cabinet is changed once again...{I do this kinda stuff all the time}

 We painted the mirror above the bed and I love it!!!  A nice soft blue/gray
I have been sewing a ton!  I have more pics of the craft room and the goodies I have been making...I will get those posted soon!  Thanks for stopping by...

~Maris