Projects

Aside from preparing Vada's preschool curriculum I have been doing other projects around the house. 

I found these old cast iron trivets at yard sales and at some local antique shops. I like them, I think  that they're pretty cool. 

I couldn't decide if I wanted to paint them each a separate color of if I wanted to keep them black. For the sake of saving money I choose black, for now. Their going up on my kitchen wall as soon as I figure out how I want to display them.

On Pinterest I saw some really cute ideas on how to decorate with buttons, so I have decided to do something with this lamp shade.

The only problem is I cant decide what I want to do, decorate only the trim or the whole shade. What do you think?

I may be aging yself on this next one but I like to crochet. I didn't say that I was actually good at doing it but only that I enjoy it. So I have been working on this throw for our living room.

I intentionally bought different colors because I want each line to be its own color. There is no rhyme or reason to this blanket just a whole bunch of color! I like it so far.

A Village for the Fairies

Last summer I shared this post. Kiliegh and I had made plans to make our own village. In fact, im pretty for sure that the very next day I had gone out and bought the supplies to begin our own fairy village. Well, last night, nine months later, we finally started...

Paint Blowing

Paint blowing is exactly what it's name says it is. The process of blowing paint.

Whats the point? Why do it? Well, to create beautiful art while using a less traditional method therefore being even more artistic. Really, its just a lot fun! --Unless you pass out from doing it. Seriously!!! I don't smoke and I am in good shape but I had to quit after doing it for about half an hour. I truly felt as if I were going to fall over onto my face if I kept going and I was already sitting down. Kiliegh, however, spent about two hours on hers and it turned out beautifully!

It was funny watching her because she got into all kinds of oddball positions, reminding me of the game Twister.

As long as no one sucks in instead of blows out, this is a great craft and was a great opportunity for Kiliegh and I to spend some quality time together.

Paint blowing. It's how we spent our Monday afternoon.

My First Try and Give A Way

I am in the process of launching my first give a way!

Truthfully, I am a little excited about it! It's nothing noble and it's nothing promoting a great cause which I hope to some day be a part of, but it is something fun and crafty and to one of my readers it's going to be free!

Some of my favorite past times are blogging, photography and scrapbooking and that's why this program is especially exciting to me. By using this program I can combine all three of these activities together but don't necessarily have to.

Within the next couple of days I will be posting more information not only on the program but how you can win a free copy of your very own-- from me!

Now, I realize that this example is not overly impressive but it is my very first attempt. Time has been limited and I hope to get some more done soon and I plan on sharing as I make them.

Stay tuned...

The Market

Today was the grand re-opening of one of our local Farmers Markets. This one is open year around and is an indoor out door market. It's been re-located due to flooding which was why today was the Grand re-opening. As soon as we started walking from our car towards the market we were greeted by a marching band, which was just the beginning of a good time!

We arrived around noon, giving us a little over an hour to look around and shop before the market closed up for the day.

Our first stop was the Pappardelles pasta stand. My mouth is watering from thinking of this 8th wonder of the world! This was by far my favorite stop! I'm eager to come back and to try the different pastas, which I plan on doing over the course of the upcoming summer! We actually have a check list that was provided at the stand. All of the noodles that Pappardelle's offers is on this list so we plan on checking off as we go. Its seems kind of fun. The only problem is making up our minds for our next purchase!

Today, from Pappardelles, Justin and I picked out Spicy Thai Linguine and the Cracked Pepper Fettuccine. Tonight, Justin will be making us Grilled Chicken with Tamarind Orange Glaze with Spicy Thai Pasta. It's the recipe that was given with the pasta. Were going to make each recipe that comes with each pasta that we try. It'll be fun too. I am excited to buy The Roasted Red Pepper Lasagna. Doesn't that sound delicious?!? I think however, it may be something that we have to order verses picking up from the market. Justin and I mis-understood what was being said, so we're unsure if they were just out of these noodles when we came, or if they didn't carry them a the market. We shall see. I plan on going back quite a bit over the summer... especially for this stand!

I'm looking forward to later in the season when all of the vegetables really start coming in.There were quite a lot out there today but none really stuck out. That would have been that we came later in the day after everything had already been picked through or it could have been that it is still early in the season. Either way,  I want fat juicy tomatoes, big squashes, cucumbers and all of the colored peppers. I want juicy fruits too and soon.

Another fun stop was the jelly/jam stand. There were tons of flavorful favorites of Justin and the girls. I personally have issues with dipping from community dips, so I tried nothing but lived vicariously through them Unfortunately, everything that they likes was already sold out. Again, the risk you take when coming late.

One dip stand that had Justin and the girls excited was The Dip-Orium. They had like twenty different dips ready for our sampling pleasures. There were sweet dips, veggie dips and even hot Hot HOT dips. We purchased Garlicky Garlic, Veggie Patch and Tomato & Horseradish. I personally am looking forward to making and eating all of them!

Since the sampling didn't fully fill Justin and Jasmine up they decided to try some of the other food that was being sold. Kiliegh and I were happy with our lemonades.

On our way out this was one of the last stands that we walked by... Looks good doesn't it?!?

Have I mentioned that I had a great time? Well, I did! I soooo enjoy doing stuff like this. I like seeing all of the vendors, the crafts and the homemade foods. I like talking with the people and seeing the different people and I enjoy purchasing our foods locally. Its something that I also enjoy doing with my family. The only thing missing was Vada. I know that keeping her away from everyone right now is whats best but I missed her. I look forward to the opportunities we will have in the near future.

Pom Pom People and the Places They Live

Tonight Kiliegh had been pacing the living room creating tiny unseen circles on the carpet in front of were I was sitting. Her version of looking 'oh so cute' in hopes to persuade me into turning on the television. There are occasions during the school week when I do turn on the t.v. for the girls to watch. Typically, if the t.v. is on during the week the shows are Sesame Street, Blues Clues or something comparable. These are shows that I choose, not them. These are shows that are educational and at the same time catch Vada's attention which in return creates a window of opportunity for me to do something, like cook dinner.

I knew that Kiliegh was bored, the pacing that she was doing in front of me told me so. Jasmine was in the bath and it was too windy to be outside her boredom made complete sense. I knew that sooner or later her sweet voice would begin to cry about how there was nothing to do, but I was determined to make her think for herself.

While she paced, I thought.

Once those words came out I already had my reply. It was so simple. "Kiliegh, there are plenty of things to do. I can pick something out for you or you can figure something out for yourself."

"Okay." she replied, "what would you choose for me to do?" (Smart girl, testing the waters and feeling out the situation.)

"Well, you could dust, or rinse off the dishes in the sink, or...." That was enough. She told me that she would figure out something to do and she did.

The girls have been playing with these Pom Pom's off and on for quite sometime now. It was Jasmine's idea that she had originally picked up from another child in her class. They have begun to design houses and furniture as well as people and pets. It's pretty cute and because I chose not to let my children watch t.v; tonight they used their imaginations to create something new and they did it togeteher.