Keelie's Wreath Party!

It's time for Keelie's wreath party! I have already taken a sneak peak at some of the creations and they are great! So now it's time to display mine. I was so excited about getting started that I didn't think to take any pictures of the process, but I'll tell you how I did it. You won't even need the pics because it's not at all hard. I started out with a grapevine wreath. this one is oval shaped. Found some leafy garland in the colors I liked (red-how do you like that Red Writing???) and added it to my wreath.

Then I came across some glittery, sparkly thingies that I just couldn't pass up. Because if it glitters and shines I'm on it,

just like a bug on a light at night!

These were so simple to add because they're picks that I just stuck in the wreath and then twisted the wire ends around to make them hold.

Made a bow from this net looking stuff. Here's the extra that I had left over.

Think I'm going to drape it across my dining room table and put some fall goodies on top of it. I also found a cute little feather clip that I thought would add a softer texture to the wreath and attached it to the bow.

And last of all I tied the cross in the center of it all (that is after I super glued it back together), just to give it more of a focal point. What do you think?

Here's another fall idea you might like. I found it at:

let--it--shine.blogspot.com

It is located under the post "Personalized Topiaries" on Wednesday Sept. 16th. ( Apparently I have no idea how to link you directly to this page!) But nevermind that, because these are so cute, you're going to want to make the trip to her site!

Great for fall, easy, and cute any where you put them!

Thanks Keelie for all the fun!

Channing's Journal

Yesterday as I was cleaning up Connor and Channing's room I came across a little notepad that Channing had turned into her journal. I think it is one of the sweetest things I have ever read! And funniest...and most precious...it's one of those priceless mommy things.

It's the journal that almost wasn't. You see while we were out shopping last weekend she had asked me for a notebook. I told her no, because we have several of those around the house that she can use. (And we do!) Well apparently God knew she needed that notebook. So much so that when we stopped off at McDonald's later and ordered a happy meal, there it was...the notepad was the toy in the happy meal! She was happy and I was happy that she was happy. Of course she couldn't wait to start writing in it and had me digging around in my purse for a pen the minute we got back in the truck. As I went around finishing my shopping list, she sat in the truck with Dad and began writing. And I am so glad she did. I decided I would have to scan the journal because I know that one day she will see my post and never believe she wrote this stuff! Hope it puts a big smile on your face, like it did on mine.

The cute little journal. Not bad for a happy meal toy.



How cute is it that she has her entries labeled "secret" and "not secret"?

Ok I know what you're thinking..."You have got to get that girl a bunny for Christmas." Well we'll just have to see about that....

And I seriously didn't know the girl had so much confidence! Thank goodness she doesn't go around telling people how pretty she is. She just saves it for her journal! I absolutely love this entry!

Another display of that confidence that she has somehow kept to herself!

What mommy's heart wouldn't melt to see the bottom entry in their child's journal? I'm sure I'll be whipping this thing out during her teenage years to remind her just how precious we are to her!

Now she's boosting my confidence! Love it!

"Double Secret"...it's getting pretty serious!

Now this is the one this has me shaking in my boots! I think I better gear myself up for the teenage years!

Well that's all the secret, double secret and not secret entries that her journal holds for now....but don't worry because now I'm off to sneak this back into her room so she can put some more intimate details of her life in here for me to share with the world!

A Wreath Party and Scavenger Hunt

I've recently discovered some new things about blogs. It's not just about reading or getting ideas, it's also about playing! There are a couple of contests going on right now at some blogs I am following and I aim to win me some prizes!!!

The first one is at my friend Keelie's blog spot. redswriting.blogspot.com Not only is she a wonderful crafter and writer but also an excited Christian who shares about her love of God. I enjoy all her posts and am sure you will too. Anyway she has this thing for fall. Loves everything about it and has even made me look forward to it. (I'm more of a summer gal.) So as a way to celebrate it's arrival she is having a "Wreath Party" at her site. I can't wait to showcase my own wreath and see everyone elses. I know it will all be great. If you would like to participate, just go to her blog and look for the August post titled "as requested". But hurry because it all ends on Sept. 22nd. Happy Fall Y'all!

Here's another great and simple idea Keelie has on one of her posts. I even picked me up some little birdies, so I can do my own interpretation of this transformation. Mine will be for Christmas.

She turned this

into this!

A simple but huge difference, wouldn't you say?

On another site that is rather new to me I spotted a "Scavenger Hunt". This lady has a lot of neat and wonderful ideas and the scavenger hunt just happens to be one of them. This hunt sends you to a lot of different blog sites to find the clues and all the while you are searching you're also encountering all kinds of wonderful ideas that you just can't wait to try. If you would like to play you can find out how at this spot: thediyshowoff.blogspot.com The contest ends this Friday the 18th, so hurry on over.

Here's another favorite project I like and found at the DIY show off. Once again, simple yet makes a statement. How cute is this going to look on my front porch?

You'll want to visit both of these great blogs. But make sure you have plenty of time when you do, because you won't be able to tear yourself away anytime soon!

I already told you there are PRIZES, right???!!!! So what are you waiting for?!

An American Girl Birthday Party

This year for Channing's 7th birthday and Connor's 11th birthday, we had an American Girl Party. All of my girl's birthdays are very close together, so we usually celebrate 2 of the girl 's birthdays at the same party, if not all three. However, since Kerra is getting on up there (15), she had her own party. (Post to come later.) I used to get pretty creative with the parties, but here lately I was doing the fun but easy swim party. Apparently too many years in a row. Not so this time around, because my girls informed me they wanted to do something different. So now I had to come up with something new that both age groups of girls would enjoy. Knowing that Connor's group was nearing the "too old" category for this type of party, I thought I better hop to it, before it was too late. It turned out to be a lot of fun, and a lot of work. But it was sooo worth it! They loved it and that's really all that matters,isn't it?

The invitation.......

I have a computer program from Hallmark, that I made these with. They were cube shaped with all the party info on the sides. I put them in a clear cellophane bag that had some black and white paisley like designs on them. (Hobby Lobby) I also added some confetti and dinner mints. (Because it was a dinner & a movie birthday party.) We used a brightly colored piece of netting to tie them up with, then the girls and I set off to deliver them to their friends. Of course I forgot to take a picture of them, but trust me, they were cute!

The location.......

Well I knew I needed a big space for all I had planned and access to a kitchen. That place turned out to be our town's community room. It was perfect and the price wasn't too bad either, $25.00! No that's not a typo! I even had access to it the day before, so I could begin setting things up.

The party.......

We were going to do it all! This was a dinner & a movie party where the girls got to do the cooking. As they walked in the door they were each given an apron with their own name on it. (Hobby Lobby on sale! My friend did the names with her sewing machine for me! What a great friend, huh?)

I hung all the aprons on the wall for them to see when they walked in.

The craft......

After putting on their aprons, they were sent over to the craft table where they got to make their own napkin ring. (Using the same netting that tied up the invitation bag.) The big girls helped the little girls as needed. When they were finished they placed their napkin ring on the table where they were to be seated later on in the evening.

The cooking.....

Hey Good Looking! Whatcha got cooking?!

Now it was time to get cooking! I had three tables set up, each with their own recipe, ingredients and supplies. I also had an adult at each table to oversee the little chefs at work. The recipes came from the American Girl cookbooks that I bought on sale for $5.00 each at the American Girl website.

The menu:

Kit's Cincinnati Chili

Samantha's Corn Oysters

Kit's Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Felicity's Sally Lunn Bread

Molly's Frozen Fruit Cups

The salon.....

Each group finished at different times, and when they did it was their turn to go to the Doll Salon. This was a table that was set up with doll salon chairs, doll brushes, water bottles and all kinds of hair goodies for the dolls. I had a friend of mine bring some of her daughter's many American girl dolls for those who didn't have their own. The little ones of course got into this a bit more than the older ones, but they all had fun with it.

The movie......

When everyone was finished making their recipes, it was movie time while some of the recipes were still simmering. Our movie was Kit Kittredge. I even had a movie snack prepared for them out of one of the cook books. The plan was to show it until the food was finished, then seat everyone for dinner. I would let them finish it up after the meal, before their parents arrived to pick them up. We had some technical difficulties however, so we used the time by opening the presents instead. We watched the movie at the end, and this might have even worked out better.

The snack.....

These were also from cookbooks. Molly's Frozen Fruit Cups...mmm mmm

The dinner......

The tables were set and each girl was directed to her name card. Birthday girls sat at the head of the table. They all enjoyed getting to eat their creations and many came back for seconds. Then it was time for the birthday cake. I opted for birthday cupcakes instead, from the Cupcakery. They were beautiful, colorful and glittery. Now does that say little girl's birthday party or what? After each birthday girl picked the cupcake she wanted, the others got to pick the one they liked best. They were all so beautiful and yummy that no one was disappointed with what they picked.

They all did a terrific job on their dish....and by terrific I mean edible! :)

The pink table was for Channing & Friends, the lime green for Connor & friends. Did you notice the cute little napkin rings?

A close up of the delicious, glittery, yummy cupcakes!

While they were eating I packed up each apron in a goodie bag and also put in the napkin rings they made. This way everything was ready to go and there was no frantic searching for their things at the end of the party.

Now back to the show.....

After dinner we turned the movie on to wait for parents and also gave them the option of going back to the doll salon. It was doll salon for the younger ones and movie for the older ones. All in all it turned out to be a fun party for all the girls.

The end.