Junk Room Reveal

This room is one of the "extra" spaces in our downstairs. I've always called it my craft/junk room. It has needed a cleanin for a very long time, but for some reason I never cleaned it up. I decided today to take it on while my sweeties were napping. I couldn't get it all done of course, but it looks so much better. Don't you think?

BEFORE

AFTER

My Day Off

Yeah for snow days! I love being a teacher. I love being a mom even more which makes snow days that much sweeter. Not only do I get to stay home from "work" I get to spend time with my kiddos.

During my youngest child's morning nap I got inspired and worked on a very short project. I was visiting some of my favorite "make-stuff" blogs. You can find them on the right side of the screen under "my blog list." I had this old sweater that has been in the "good will" box forever and I just didn't know if I really wanted to get rid of it or not. It didn't fit me right so I knew I would never wear it. Well, I had an idea after looking at the other blogs. Here it is.

I cut the sleeves off first. I turned up the wrist end and sewed it. I turned in the upper end and sewed elastic around it. I haven't sewn with elastic for a while so I don't think I did it the best way but it'll work. And there it was . . . leggings. Sometimes Elaina doesn't want to wear the stuff I make for her :( but she liked these.

Then I got another idea! The leggings kept slipping down and I thought. . . leg warmers! So I pinned an adorable crocheted flower a friend made me (handmade baby gifts link under blog list) just below the knee. CUTE! I don't know why I think these are so cute but I just love them. Total time invested? 18 minutes! Can you believe it? It took me longer to post this than make the leggings if you can believe that.

Looking too old!

I tried very hard to get a good picture of the two together and failed miserably.  I started thinking it was because I'm their mom and no kids sit still and smile for their mom. . . right?  Well, I took them to a studio. . . . yes I know that's not like me, but I was desperate and I had a coupon.  So I thought the worst that would happen would be I'd be out 8 bucks.  Jack and Elaina were in a great mood and they got us right in.  Well, their was this awesome photographer "in action" when we walked in.  She was so sweet and child friendly.  She went a little overboard with all the sounds and cheesy motions but hey. . . it got the kids that she was photographing smiling.  I thought this was going to be great, but of course she told the other lady that was working she needed a break when it was our turn.  So we got the grumpy, not friendly, in a hurry lady, and the second Jack saw she needed his attention he flipped out!  I mean. .  . it was like he saw a scary monster or something.  The lady was cute just not the kid friendly type.  It took Jack 15 minutes to warm up and trust her and by then Elaina was acting wild and crazy.  She wouldn't sit still or do anything the lady asked.  And to top it off the photographer kept saying, "you need to stop and listen." It was just weird hearing a photographer try and get a kid to smile by telling them they weren't listening.  I thought at that point Elaina would start crying or act shy, but no she continued on her crazy streak.   J.J and I were both so frustrated and ready to pull our hair out by the end.  After 42 pictures only 4 turned out cute.  I wanted them black and white and they told me the coupon didn't work for black and white. Are you Kidding me!?  Please remind me to never go to a studio again.  I'm starting to think it might be worth paying the $150 for one of the on location photographers to take their pictures. . . Ne. . . I'm not that desperate yet, but if anyone knows someone that does that for a great price let me know.        

You could win a Christmas CD

Check out my blog list on the right, and click on the Happily Home blog for your chance to win an amazing Christmas CD.  My friend Angie is the artist and what a beautiful voice she has!

Candy Beware!

I have been on a new diet for about 5 months now and I hope my heart is telling a difference.  The main difference I made in my diet was taking out partially and hydrogenated oil of any kind.  You see the FDA allows companies to put ZERO grams of trans fat per serving on the box as long as each serving is less than .5% Well that's all fine and dandy if you are only going to eat one serving per day and that's it.  I have found that if the box says: ZERO GRAMS OF TRANS FAT period and that's it than it is true but if the box throws in the "PER SERVING" after it than watch out.  Well, since candy if one of my weak areas I thought I would help some of you out.  The ones who are jumping on this band wagon anyway.  I'm going to list the candy that I have found with NO partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oil in them.  Believe it or not there are some out there.  

Reese's Cups (the original not any of the newer Reese's candy like the crunch or pieces etc)

Kit Kat

Plain M&Ms (most others are not good sorry peanut butter M&M lovers)

York peppermint patties

Hershey Kisses (the original)

100 Grand

Milk Chocolate Ghirardelli

Life Savers hard candy

I'm still doing some research so I'll list more soon

Here are a few to STAY AWAY FROM!

Skittles (I know. . . I can't believe it either)

Starbursts

tootsie rolls

Tootsie Pops

Baby Ruth

Heath Toffee Bar

Chewy Sweetarts

The best thing for you to do is take a second to flip over to the list of ingredients and look for hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil.  If it has it than you know your body is getting trans fat which have been proven to cause heart disease.  That nasty stuff stays in your body for 51 days too.   

 

Virginia Creeper

We had the lovely opportunity to join a group of friends from church last weekend and do the Virginia creeper. When we were first asked to go I wasn't quite sure. I heard 17 miles and I knew it wasn't for me. After all, I wouldn't consider my self the "biker" type. But, when I heard "down hill" I said, "well count me in on this one!" The scenery was astounding and the weather was perfect. We stopped about 4 or 5 miles into the trail for some lunch and visited the old train station they have there at the rest stop. It was set up like a little museum. Very neat! Then we were off again to coast down hill about 12 more miles. Never once did the thought of me wrecking cross my mind, but it happened. I don't exactly know how, but it wasn't pretty . . . no matter what people may say. At least I didn't hit my head. I do remember purposely holding my head up high as I was falling so I would "hopefully" keep from hitting it. After a few minutes I was ready to ride again, but sweet Kelly traded bikes with me so I could reach the ground better. I blame my wreck on me not being able to reach the ground on my bike. My tip toes barely touch the ground when I sit on the bike. It's pretty sad I know. My wreck has nothing to do with me not riding it in about 3 years and not having good balance. . . no . . . not at all ;) So Santa better put some biker gloves in my stocking this year. . . and elbow pads, knee pads, a helmet, oh what the heck he better throw in a face mask while he's there too.
But on a serious note. . . I am very lucky that I didn't get more hurt than I did. I hope I have learned my lesson. I guess I'll find out next year because I do want to do it again minus the wreck of course. It was truly fun and I can't wait! Here are a few pics. The one of the dirt is in memory of my fall. LOL!

This made me laugh

I don't know if this story will be as funny in writing, but I found it quite hysterical just a moment ago. Elaina was doing her usual pee pee dance so I asked her if she had to go to the restroom and she said, "umm, yeah." Then she starts to hold the back end too. :) She says that she has to do both. We make it to the potty and as soon as she finishes her first job she says, "pee. . . check" (like she's checking it off her list of things to do) then she finishes her second job and says, "poopie. . . check." I'm not sure where she got this, but it made me laugh. I hope it made you laugh too.