Creating

I love looking at craft blogs. There are so many wonderful ideas out there.

I am finding that I have a ever growing list of things I want to make or repurpose. So, I started with something simple and much needed.

I have a bunch of ribbon. Why not put it to good use?

Aren't they cute?!

All you need is:

. ribbon

. buttons (or something for the center if you wish)

. a needle and thread

. a hot glue gun (to secure the embellishment in the middle)

. a lighter/matches (to keep the ends of the ribbon from fraying)

Here's a video tutorial . You only need to watch the first 3:30 minutes to make the flower.

You pretty much just do a simple running stitch along the very edge of one side of the ribbon and pull the thread tight to gather your flower. Then, you tie it off. There's not really much more to it. You can get creative with how you decorate the outside or the center. The sky is the limits with this one really. That's what I love about it.

You could attach them to a purse or shirt (anything really). I just attached them to clips for Madi's hair. I really needed some smaller bows/flowers for her hair and these are perfect!!

Happy creating :)

Family Blocks

This project was started about 2 months ago...

I finally sat down during nap time yesterday and finished it!

I love how it turned out. It's a great way for Madisyn to see the faces of all her adoring family :)

I just used the 2 photo cubes I got from my mother in law for Christmas. The idea was to put family pictures in them for Madi to play with. I thought I'd go one step further and put a little design into them. They were really easy. I just used photoshop and put each square together individually. Then, I printed them 4 to a page, cut them out, and slipped them in. Presto! We have a finished product to enjoy. Better yet, Madi LOVES them!

P.S. Madisyn knows pretty much everyone by name now (even those away at college or on a mission) Take a look!

Click here to view this video

Young Women

Since the beginning of the year, I have been serving in the Young Women's organization at church. I was called as the Young Women's Personal Progress Leader as well as the Ward Girls Camp Director.

Honestly, I was so excited to receive the call! I have been in Primary for quite some time and this is a very refreshing change. David is in Young Mens and Kathy (my mother in law) is the Young Women's President. I couldn't ask for a more wonderful group of people to serve with, could I?

We have a wonderful group of girls who are so strong. I look up to them. Honestly, they are light years ahead of where I was at their age. It is so amazing to see these girls "stand for truth and righteousness".

We had a great activity a few weeks ago. It was titled "Personal Progress Poluck Pizza Pajama Party". We had lots of treats that started with "P" and everyone wore pajamas. We made "personal progress pockets". That's the cleaver name we came up with. Basically it's a cloth booklet holder. It has a place for a personal progress book, the journal, a pen, and a for the strength of youth booklet. They turned out so cute!!

I am loving getting to know these girls :)

Homemade Gifts

Don't you love blog hopping?I know I sure do. If it wasn't for that lovely pass time I would have never found the tutorial for these adorable scarves! It really was pretty simple and I was so excited to give them to the wonderful ladies in my life :)

Me Time

Madi nap time = Me time!

Sometimes I spend "me time" taking a shower (pathetic I know), blogging, editing pictures, reading (still loving Jesus the Christ), cleaning, or napping. I'm sure there's something else I'm missing. Anyways, yesterday I decided to do some repurposing with some jewelry I'm not too fond of anymore. There were quite a few necklaces and earrings I just don't wear. I just took the beads off and made a few pieces that I will actually wear! I'm lovin how these first few have turned out.

Matching necklace and earrings :)

I needed more pink in my life and now I've got some!

Gotta love ME TIME!

Pesto Pasta

My day started off with a phone call from the sister missionaries in our ward reminding me that I signed up to have them over for dinner tonight. Then, she added "oh by the way, the elders will be joining us too, oh and one of the elders is a greenie (spelling?). It's his second day on the mission field! So, can you make the dinner green?" I was a little caught off guard, but it's fun to have guests for dinner. My house was anything but put together. So, I spent most of the day cleaning while Madisyn was stuck to my leg like a leech. She was so winey! Oh the joys of motherhood :) I racked my brain for what I could make that's not only green, but yummy too. I found a few recipes for pesto pasta, but didn't like certain things about each one. I just took what I liked and went for it. It was SO very good! I usually shy away from "creating" my own recipes because they very rarely ever turn out. I'm much better off with a good recipe :) To my surprise, this one turned out so great that I just had to share.

Sorry I didn't take a picture :(

Pesto Pasta

adapted from Taste of Home

-22oz spiral pasta (you could use less...I just had 6 adults to feed)

-6 oz cream cheese (cubed)

-1/3 cup fresh basil leaves

-1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves

-1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

-1/4 cup motzerella cheese

-6 T olive oil

-1/2 teaspoon salt

-2 garlic cloves quartered

-1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

-1/2 cup pine nuts

 
Cook pasta according to package directions.

Meanwhile, in a blender or food processor, place the cream cheese, basil, parsley, parmesan, motzerella, olive oil, salt, garlic and nutmeg. Cover and process on low for about 1 minute or until creamy. Drain pasta; top with pesto and toss to coat. Garnish with  pine nuts and a little extra cheese. (You can also add some fresh parsley on top for presentation.)

YUMMY!

I just love surprises!

Ok, how cute is this apron!?!?!  It's so springy and get a load of those polka dots :) [Yes dots make me smile] 

The mail man brought me this adorable gift from Sarah yesterday. [The mail man has been good to me lately!] I won a giveaway she was having, but I had no idea what she was making for me, or when I would get it! I had no doubt it would be awesome. She is so talented...especially when it comes to sewing. What a great surprise!

This is totally my new favorite apron! Look...even Madisyn likes it :)

THANK YOU SARAH! You made my day =)

Operation birthday tutu has begun...

Update! After a quick trip to get more tule this morning....

Sorry...you will have to wait until Tuesday to see Madi in her in her tutu. Emerson [the elephant] will have to do for now :)

Original post.......

Just a sweet moment this week =)

Well...

So, I put up a post about a giveaway a few weeks ago, here. The first 5 people to follow the instructions and leave a comment letting me know they did so, are the winners. There's only 1 winner so far (congrats Sarah!). Hum....I decided to repost it. There's 4 more winning spots up for grabs. Follow the directions and leave a comment on this post. Giveaway ends this Friday, Feb. 28th. If there's still only one winner, then I guess Sarah gets one really good homemade prize!

Love Day

Start off with...

David had to work all day :( When he got home we went out for some yummy mexican food...with Madi of course. Talk about romantic ;)

End with...

After all was said and done, it was a good day!

Today Was A Good Day

These are the ingredients that when combined made my day!

First you need some yummy breakfast and a little sunshine (Madi is my sunshine)

Next, you need a good laugh...and let me tell you when I found her like this I was LAUGHING! Oh boy look what I have ahead of me. I know this is only the beginning :/

Then, during nap time...you add some of these (it was my first time using my new sewing machine!)

And this...blue pillow from the thrift store $1. And of course some very cute paisley fabric!

Next, you need some time, patience, a little talent (I mean very little) and a lot of luck....then vuala you get this :)

Then, you need a nice craigslist couch to display your handy work...oh I am so proud!

Finally, you add this little cutie on top and have a ball! When I showed Madi the pillows, she grabbed one, squeezed it and layed her head on it. Awwwwwe even Maid loves them!

To top it off, you can throw in some papa murphys pizza, and a few cuddles and kisses with the one you love!

Yes today was a good day =)