Mother's Day grandkids sign DIY

I pinned this picture on Pinterest a long LONG time ago.  I finally took the time to make my version when I realized that the pin didn't lead to the actual post.  (If you have the original source please share it with me so that I can give proper credit)

I wanted to make something for Mother's Day for both my mother and mother-in-law that my children can give them.  I thought that this was perfect.

I started our with a piece of wood I had handy.  Mine happened to be a piece of laminate and I cut it into two pieces.

You will want to stain or paint your wood before the next step.

I then cut out the word Grandkids in two different fonts using some adhesive vinyl and my cricut.  You can also use stickers if you do not have a cricut or similar cutting machine.

Adhere the stickers to the pieces of wood.

Now choose your paint color and start painting.  You are going to paint over the entire piece of wood (don't forget the sides)

Once the paint is dry remove the stickers and using a hot glue gun adhere the correct number of clothespin to the bottom of the sign.  I used mini clothespins but you could also use large clothespin and paint them to match.  Add your wallet sized pictures and a hook to the back for hanging the sign and you are finished.

* The pictures above were pictures that I had on hand in my desk drawer, I will be getting new pictures of each grandkid to put on the actual sign.  I can't help but laugh that 5 of the kids are my mom's grandkids but the handsome man on the right is my cousin.  Makes me think that this would be a cute cousin sign.  Hmm, might need to make one for my house!

Wacky Wednesday

Today is Wacky Wednesday day at my daughter's school.  She picked out her outfit this morning, got dressed and then asked me to make her hair wacky.  I think she looked adorable and according to the comments that I received after posting this picture on Facebook and Instagram, I wasn't the only one that thought so.

After she left for school one of the twins said she wanted wacky hair today like her big sister.  I thought it would be a good idea to show you exactly how we did it in case any of you would like to go a little WACKY today.

First, brush hair

Then seperate into three ponytails starting with the top

here is a view of the back

if you have a little girl, odds are you have some of these lying around

just start adding them around the ponytails in any order you want (or in a pattern)

at this point you are finished.  UNLESS you have a cute headband, hankerchief or scarf that you want to add!

HAPPY WACKY WEDNESDAY



Thing 1 and Thing 2 shirts

Happy March reading month!  At my daughters school they are celebrating reading month Dr. Seuss style.  Thursday is Thing 1 and Thing 2 day and when my daughter got up this morning and asked to do a craft (she doesn't have school today) I had the perfect idea.

I googled Thing 1 and Thing 2 printable shirt and found This blog Fussy Monkey Biz and her post about how she made shirts.  I looked at the supplies I had on hand and didn't have everything.
I printed out her Thing 1 and Thing 2 images onto card stock, grabbed some red fabric I had and just traced the image using a black marker.  I then ironed the red fabric onto some wonder under that I had in my "stash" from Joann's. 
I also had two black T-shirts in my "stash" for a project I never made.  They are the basic t-shirt that you can pick up at Joann's for $3.00.  They aren't they best fitting shirts so I cut the neck line and the sleeves a little.
I cut out the circle, peeled off the under wonder layer and ironed it directly onto the black shirt. 
We then made the Thing 2 for her BFF at school to wear. 
This project only took about 45 minutes from start to finish and only cost me the supplies I had on hand.

I actually like the look of the different color shirt!  What do you think?

Valentines day cards

With a daughter in Kindergarten this year and a snow day today we took advantage of the time to create this cute valentine for her classmates.

I received a $20 email credit from shutterfly and ordered this cute picture Valentine card from them.

I wanted to find some cute lip shaped suckers and do something like this 

* photo credit Funky Polka dot Giraffe

but I had a hard time finding the correct size suckers and/or sucker molds.  Then I remembered the adorable photo props that I won last year from Eye Candy Event Details which are similar to these that she is selling.  I printed, cut, punched holes

and stuck the sucker behind the card.  Now, the kids can take the sucker out, put the photo prop back on and be silly.

Which of course my girls had to try out:

Happy Valentines Day!

MUAH

365 day challenge:February 1st

day 32: green smoothie with floating kale (not so tasty)

day 33: worked out doing the WII biggest loser challenge

day 34: was able to put coffee back into my diet, cleaned entire house on a caffeine high!

day 35: spent some time alone working on a furniture project, enjoyed the piece and quite

day 36: Made whole chickens in the crock pot for the first time and then made homemade chicken stock

day 37: Made homemade chicken noodle soup using left over chicken and chicken stock

day 38: enjoyed a date night with my husband

Pico de gallo

Day 12 of the 28 day cleanse and I feel great.  The headaches were gone by the third day and my clothes fit so much better.  We have been spending a LOT of time in the house lately, the 5 year old brought home a nasty stomach bug and slowly passed it to everyone in the house.  It was very difficult to stay on the cleanse during this time but I did it!

Last night I decided to make turkey tacos for dinner.  I can't have any of the jarred hot sauce yet so I decided to try to make pico de gallo for the first time.  This might sound shocking to some being that my husband is 1/2 Mexican BUT I hadn't ever made it before.  I do not like tomatoes.  I am trying very hard to  get over it, for me it is a texture thing.  I love salsa, tomato sauce, ketchup, etc. but to actually eat a tomato...YUCK!  I conquered my "fear" last night and I must say it was delicious!

6 small Roma tomatoes chopped
1 medium onion chopped
1 jalapeno finely chopped
1 fresh glove of garlic finely chopped
Juice from 1/2 a lemon
approximately 8 cilantro stems (leaves only) finely chopped

Mix together all ingredients and you are done!

365 days to a better me!

day 24: tried out a new recipe on the 28 day cleanse, Pot-au-feu, YUM

day 25: Made grilled cod and salad for dinner

day 26: Made grilled salmon for dinner

day 27: Sick with stomach flu, not a great way to loose weight...YUCK

day 28: Still a little sick, even took a nap which I never do so YES that counts :)

day 29: Made steel cut oatmeal for the first time EVER

day 30: Tried out some new eye products (makeup)

day 31: made homemade pico de gallo, conquered my tomato fear



28 day challenge

I went up north for the weekend with two of my best friends in the world.  To say that we had a great time would be an understatement.  We did NOT eat very well and there is a good chance we consumed a few adult beverages.  I came home nervous to weigh in the next morning and it was bad, really bad, I was back up to 173.  But, I was stress free and in a great mood.  I was ready to start what was coming the next day!
On January 21st my husband and I started the Whole Living 28 day challenge.  It is a total mind and body cleanse.  We actually did it once before a couple of years ago and really liked it so we are doing it again.  The first two days we both had caffeine withdraw headaches but today, day 3, they are gone.
In just the two days I have been on the cleanse I am down to 169 and feel great.  I am actually craving water.  For dinner last night I made the Millet Bowl with black beans and vegetables, it was very filling and tasted pretty good.

and my lunch has pretty much been a salad with lots of greens, avocado, sunflower seeds, cucumber and onion with vinegar and oil

Here are a couple of pictures from my girls weekend: My BFF Trisha, BFF Lisa and that is me on the right

365 day challenge:
day 16: gave myself and my girls a manicure with polish

day 17: new haircut and color

day 18: I used the crest 2 hour advanced white strips on my teeth, loved how it worked
day 19: Left for a weekend away with two of my best friends, stress relief
day 20: Danced and laughed until my stomach was sore
day 21: Went out to lunch with friends and I ordered a salad, I NEVER do that!
day 22: Started the Whole living 28 day cleanse, gave up all caffeine, YIKES
day 23: New recipe black bean and millet bowl
Today my weight is 169, down 5.4 pounds

It isn't my fault, the cookies told me to do it!

I am only 15 days in my 365 days to a better me and biggest loser challenge and it is hard.  We had company over the weekend which means PIZZA for dinner and the girls and I made homemade chocolate chip cookies.  They love to bake and I thought that it would be easy to not eat the cookies but it was almost like they were speaking to me, they were saying EAT ME, how could I say no??

My overall stats aren't horrible, I am still down but it could be better.  Starting weight was 174.4 and today my weight is 171.  That is over 3 lbs but I can do better.  I am a little worried about this weekend, I am going on a girls weekend with two of my best friends.  Hopefully we will dance off all of the calories that we eat and drink.  I will try very hard to be good!

365 Days to a Better ME:

day 10:  Had my eyebrows waxed finally

day 11: Went to the drugstore and bought new makeup, lotions, etc!  Stuff for me!

day 12: Started using the Neutrogena face wipes before bed

day 13: Made cookies and ate a few, hey, a better me is still a happy me and making homemade chocolate chip cookies with my girls made me happy and eating them was the icing on the cake, mmmm, CAKE! :)

day 14: Gave myself a pedicure

day 15: Started using a new lotion after the shower